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Over 400 years ago, The Witch was not The Witch. She was a simple girl leading a simple life in a simple realm, though, such is the way most stories of eccentrics start. Always a simple person before something inside snaps and they become so different. So if one were expecting different? It's best to turn back now.

She was Eleanor Legarde'. She was an only child to a very well known, wealthy family. She attended a prestigious school of magic to practice the higher arts of healing and holy magics. She was a soft spoken, well mannered, sweet and modest girl. She was very close to her parents, had a small group of close friends, was moderately popular at her school, never had a problem with her teachers, always showed up on time, too shy to talk to boys, was self consious of herself, and believed there was nothing special about her, that she was like every other person, normal.

To a degree, that's true. There was truly nothing remarkable about Eleanor Legarde'. There was no reason for her life to change the way it did.

Until of course, he showed up.

But we're getting ahead of ourselves here aren't we? To first understand why a situation turned so tragic, one must know exactly where it was Eleanor Legarde' grew up.

As stated before it was a simple realm. A realm known as Caramen where the undead dared not show itself. Those buried remained so as the entire realm was a holy ground of sorts, more blessed than the holiest of holy waters. The dark arts were expressly forbidden in Caramen, those who practiced it were executed, not that anyone dared attempt such a thing. The only magic practiced in this realm was the holiest of magics, of healing and excorsism.

So blessed was this realm, the sun never left, and the moon never came. It was truly every vampire's nightmare...not that the realm had vampires mind you, it's simply a theoretical statement.

Eleanor Legarde's troubles first began when she was 16. She showed no natural ability in the arts of holy magic, and no matter how hard she studied or worked at it, it just didn't come to her like it did the other students at her school. She was not blessed.

So she began to seek alternatives.

Eleanor could feel her cheeks flushing at her clumsiness. "I..I'm so sorry sir..." Those brown eyes remained down, fixated on his boots, very fancy... black, smooth, small buckles... She just couldn't bring herself to look up, especially with tears still in her eyes. She had already seen him, if only briefly. A handsome man, with brilliant eyes, light brown hair...who dressed so elegantly and foreignly.

The man looked over her a moment, before allowing his aquamarine gaze to wander over the bottle once more. White gloved fingers traced the bottle as he studied it, studied the contents... that green goo didn't look to be much of anything, but he had seen her little...demonstration. Finally he put on a good natured smile, gaze moving back to Eleanor. "My dear, I'm anything but a 'sir'." He reached down, gloved index finger carefully moving beneath her chin so he could tilt her head back and get a better look at her face. Brows furrowed upon seeing her teary eyes. "You mustn't allow those..girls to upset you dear. This?" Holding up the container. "This is impressive... just how potent is it?"

The touch of the man's finger upon her face only made her blush more. She blinked a few times, it was an attempt to get those pesky tears to dry from her eyes. "I..I'm not sure." She shook her head, pulling away from the man just a bit. "I've only tested it on small cuts...but..I'm sure it can't be that powerful."

Rather self-effacing wasn't she? His lips pursed a bit as he studied the container once more, now drawing his hand back from the girl. "Well, I'd be more than happy to volunteer to an experiment to find out just how potent this is." That smile returned as he leaned down, aquamarine eyes locking onto hers. "Anything in the name of...science."

Eleanor shifted a bit, watching her nervous reflection stare back down at her within his glasses. "I don't know... it might not heal serious wounds of any kind... It might not...uh.." Again her gaze fell back down to his boots.

"Well dear, there's only one way to find out." He reached over and past her, snatching up the pouch she had nearly left behind on the table and held it out for her to take. "I really don't mind..."

A reluctant glance up before she took her pouch, slinging the handle over her shoulder. A faint, thankful smile was offered to the man. "I guess, if you really don't mind then... of course."

"Wonderful." Though, he'd rather not try such a thing out in the open, especially with that librarian watching them. He looked around briefly, adjusting his glasses as he did so. Spotting a discreet area towards the back of the library, he was sure the shelves there would mask what it was they were doing. The signs reading 'Biographies and History' made it even more perfect, who was going to be roaming around back there? A gloved hand extended in that direction. "Ladies first my dear."

Eleanor looked towards where he was gesturing curiously. "Oh..you wanted to try this now..here?" Well, when else? She shrugged her shoulders slightly, why not? "Alright then..." Head lowered, she started on that way, moving quickly and quietly. She slipped between two shelves and turned to face the man, who wasn't far behind.

With a sling of his right arm, the thin cloak he wore was thrown back over his shoulder. That container of 'green goo' was held out for Eleanor to take. "Could you hold this?" His reply was a nod before she reached out, quickly taking it. "Thank you my dear." Another smile before he began to work on his right sleeve, undoing the buttons of his cuff before he started rolling it back, until his entire forearm was exposed. Skin was pale too...he could really stand to get some sun. Left hand dipped into his pocket to pull out a small, yet functional knife. A flick of his wrist would extend the blade, which was then lowered to the base of his wrist. Frowning, he turned towards the girl, her brown eyes now widening with worry. "My dear, perhaps you should turn away..."

Eleanor shook her head, working to open the container. "No..it's alright.." Already she was prepared to act, scooping up a generous amount of that goo onto a couple fingers.

Such a reaction...he couldn't help but smile at it. Jaws clenched together tightly as he braced himself. The tip of the knife was dragged quickly from the base of his wrist to the crook of his elbow. A sound resonated deep in his throat at the burning sensation of it. He hadn't gone too deep, but this was certainly more than a mere paper cut... It didn't for long however, as Eleanor was quick to react. She stepped foward, carefully rubbing that goo along the fresh wound on his arm. It felt better already, much better as a matter of fact. Not only could he see it, but he could feel it... the stop of blood flow and his skin mending together. And soon? There wasn't a wound at all, just smooth skin. "Impressive..."

She too, was impressed. Not to mention shocked! Eleanor didn't think it would work that well, though, she had never tested it to that extent... "It..it worked?" Brown eyes did a blink blink, and yet another as she peered over his arm. The sight of smooth skin had her...smiling.

"My dear...you are simply amazing." A smile to accompany his sincere words to her. "To create something like this at your age...in this realm with such limited resources... You're brilliant."

She was working to put the top back on her container when she heard those words, and her cheeks turned a brilliant crimson when she did. The container was dropped back into her pouch, the strap of it nervously toyed with. "I'm...I'm really not..."

"You should give yourself more credit than that my dear." He rolled his shirt sleeve down, rebuttoning the cuff around his wrist. "You made something wonderful, be proud of that." Reaching up to his shoulder, he pulled his cloak back around and smoothed it out a bit. "Even I am not able to create items of healing like that." A gloved finger went up into the air as he waggled it a bit. "You know...I have a book that might interest you..." He reached underneath his cloak, pulling out a small, dark blue leather tome, probably about an inch thick, and held it out for Eleanor.

She studied the book a moment, it certainly didn't look familiar...not like it came from Caramen. Though she took it, curious eyes peering up at the man. "Are you sure..?"

"Of course, though...I'm only lending it to you my dear." A sly smile touched his lips then. "Look it over tonight... and meet me back here tomorrow?"

Truth be told, Eleanor was rather excited about what might be in that book... it could have all sorts of wonderful information! She couldn't wait to read it, though she restrained herself, and slipped the book into her pouch. Finally she glanced up, looking into the man's eyes with an almost, almost confident smile. "Of course...I come here almost every day..." Her voice however, still oh so lacking of confidence.

"Then I shall see you then." He pushed his glassed up the bridge of his nose a bit more as he studied her, aquamarines suddenly widening a bit in realization. "You know, I haven't even introducted myself..." He cursed himself internally for the lack of basic manners. He extended a gloved hand outwards. "I'm Johan Marquis...just call me Johan. Might I inquire your name my dear?"

Oh, she could have introduced herself by now too! A slight flush of cheeks as she reached out, awkwardly taking his hand for a shake. "It's nice to meet you...Johan." It felt so strange addressing him by his first name... "My name is Eleanor Legarde'."

Johan smiled at finally hearing her name. Not only did he return her hand shake but he leaned down, placing a soft kiss upon the back of it. He was a gentleman after all.

"It is a pleasure to meet you...Elly."