A new day had dawned, and the search for Storm would continue...

The report was that she was dead... She had died in her house... Or at least that is what the reports around town said. The people he had met so far were not exactly willing to talk about anything either. This was going to be interesting. This would be the night. He was going to sneak into Storm's burned down house and see if there was anything he could find.

Assadar left the Inn. On his way out, he made sure no-one watched him leave. He didn't need anymore trouble than he already had. He made his way toward Storm's house, making sure to stay in the shadows. He got there in the cool of night. He figured it to be around midnight. He was in the shadows of a nearby house. He stayed there for ten minutes or so... It was dark and was hard to tell the time at that point...

Now or never, he thought to himself. His heart was pounding... He had never done anything like this, and was not sure what he would find.

He made his way across the street. Still nothing. The house was pretty much ash. He knew if he was caught there, he would be blamed, and probably never see the light of another day... The elf-woman Shea he had met the previous night would most certainly make sure of that.

He entered through one of the openings in the structure. He began to look around. Some of the people in the Inn the night before had told him to search the Temple District, Pish Posh, the Temple District, who do they think I am?

He was looking around. For the most part, everything had been reduced to ash. There were some wood panels left most of which seemed to have splattered red... Thats when it hit him. He moved in close and began to examine one of the panels... Blood... Whose it was he did not know. From the way it was splattered on the panel though, it would seem that there was some sort of struggle. Hmm... If there was a struggle, and the report from the local authorities said something about burning flesh... Did that mean that Storm was in the house? No... She couldn't have been... But if she was... Did this mean she was dead? The blood that Assadar observed certainly pointed to that end. But if she was dead, than who could help him?

Suddenly he heard a noise. There it was again. It was footsteps. If he was caught there, he would be dead. He ducked down, and fast. With his stomach pushed to the ground, he listened...

The footsteps stopped...

Did you see something?

What? See something... I think you are just getting spooked cause of the burned down house... You're a guard of the city, and you are scared of a little burned down house?

No, I swear I saw something... Maybe we should check it out...

Are you kidding me? We would be killed if we disrupted that scene...

Who's scared now?

Alright, come on, lets have a look.

The footsteps started to get closer... Oh God, I am done for, thought Assadar. Closer and closer... Here it comes...

There... See... Nothing. Let's get back to our post...

Alright, Alright! Let's head back, this place gives me the willies...

The sound of footsteps returned... This time making their way away from Assadar's position. After what seemed like an eternity, the men resumed their chattering, this time to far away to be clear as to what was being said.

Assadar let out a sigh of relief. He hadn't even realized he was holding his breath. He got up and left the house immediately. He made his way back to the Inn in the shadows, and entered the Inn very cautiously, trying not to be noticed. He made his way back to his room to ponder the new discovery. Had Storm been killed? Was there a struggle? Was her house the sad outcome of arson? He had found one clue, yet more questions seemed to be arising. One thing was for sure though. If Storm had been murdered, he was going to find by who. Until tomorrow though, he would sleep.

>Black. There was nothing but blackness all around. Then three figures appeared. Out of the darkness, three figures appeared in the haze.<

Assadar! Where have you been?

I have been out my lords. I was in the West Sanctum. There have been reports of elementals being spotted everywhere... These reports are not of elementals created by the gods however... These seem to be...

>A sudden voice from the darkness<
Nonsense Assadar. Nothing that is in our world has not been created by the gods?

But sires...

Assadar... There is something we need of you. The rest of the council is dismissed. The three elders of the council shall stay and talk with young Assadar.

>No one came or went... It was only the three and Assadar... In the darkness.<

Assadar... We know of these elementals. They are not created by the gods... At least not the gads that we know.

They have come to ravage our homelands. They know what we seek, and they wish to take it from us... The people must not know.

So why me? What can I do?

Assadar, for ten-thousand years our people have been in search for power and magic. Magic that will not deplete. Yet we are still searching... These elementals... Although not created by the gods... They hold... Power. A power that can sustain us. The problem is... We lack the knowledge to control this power.

So what am I to do?

There is a place Assadar. A place known to us as Rhy'din. You must travel there.

>The speech of the Elders suddenly became broken and random<
Yes, Assadar, there are gateways there. Gateways that lead to the elemental realms...

There are elementals there that can teach you Assadar.

You are a young mage...

>The voices began to grow faint<
Go there... Learn the ways...

There is a coming Storm Assadar...
>The voices were louder<
Storm...
>Louder<
Storm...

Assadar awoke from his sleep...
Where am I? Oh... My bed...
Then it hit him...
I must find Storm...

Darkness...

Where was he...

RhyDin...

Why...

Elementals...Power...Storm...

Assadar awoke form his meditation. What time was it? He struggled to take in the light. How long had he been meditating? Things started to come into focus. He had gone into a trance on Friday evening... it had to at least be Saturday...

Shoot. Have I been out for that long? I wonder if anybody noticed I was missing...

Assadar had been searching for Storm. He had tried his hardest. He had focused all of his power into his search for her through the elements. He thought he had might have felt her at one point, but having only felt her two times before, it was hard to tell. He decided he would wake up and go for a walk. He through on his black night cloak. Looked in am mirror, and through the hood over his head. Who knows who he might meet... He walked out and went through the bar. He walked outside, and started to stroll down the street. It was late, so he did not want to look to conspicuous. He decided to take a seat next to a building across from the inn, and observe if anyone of importance would walk his way.

::The voice came as a surprise. He lifted his gray eyes to see whom had approached him. He was surprised that anyone noticed him, let alone that Shea would even acknowledge his presence::

I have been... busy... ::He Pulled his hood back behind his head:: I was actually sitting here waiting for you... I have been looking for you lately. I have some...information... But what can I do to help?

::What was the next move...::

::His gray eyes visibly brightened. She was alive? Storm was alive? He knew she couldn't be dead. Did Shea proposed she could train him? There was so much going on in his head... Standing to his feet, he let a little bit of a smirk form... :: Did I hear you correctly? You are willing to train me until Storm is ready? ::He could hardly believe it:: Shea, if you promise to train me, I will not go near Storm until she is either ready, or she approaches me! ::He didn't know what else to say, except:: Thank you!

::Training...With Shea of all people... Talk about unexpected... Well, he had to be ready in one day. He turned and headed toward the Red Dragon Inn. Until then he would meditate. He put his hood back over his head. He couldn't get cocky... No, he wouldn't get cocky. His training on a whole hinged on his training with Shea. He got to the door and opened it. He shuffled his way through, not making eye contact, or removing his hood. He made his way up the stairs, and into his room. He shut and locked the door behind him. HE sat on his bed, and began to slow his breathing. As he did, he opened himself to the elements around him... He could see them working together...

Air: What we breathe... Formless... Peaceful...

Earth: What we stand on...What forms the world around us... Strength...

Water: What gives life... Three phases... From formless to forms... Change...

Fire: Destructive... Death...Chaos...

The elements...To concentrate and learn them, he would have to be like them... Peaceful, Strong, Ready to Change, and Chaotic...

His home held in the balance... His people in his hands... Thank you Shea...

Darkness