((A/N: New story! (o-) This one takes place in Florien too. I hope you like it! Prologue))

A young boy—maybe only 16 or 17—was leaning against a wall in the great city of Nobelia. Though Florien didn’t have an official capitol, Nobelia might as well be it. It was the city young village children dreamed of going to. It had the largest schools of magic and other topics. Go to Nobelia and there was a road to practically anywhere you wanted to go to. The river flowed near it, and the forest was not too far away. It was a beautiful city, where many lived.

The boy was outside of a small café, one of many. If he was not in Nobelia, some people might stare at his strange appearance. A bandage covered almost all of the right side of his face, mainly his eye. He adorned a brown jacket and a high collared shirt. His black hair was messy and barley went past his chin. He listened in as a young couple talked in the patio of the café. The man seemed to be working in the Florien Militia.

“The Clan of Lesion has been terribly active recently. Destroying villages right and left,” he said, a great sigh escaping his mouth.

“That’s too bad,” the woman said, “Any idea where they might be?” The boy’s visible eye widened.

“Well, we’re not sure,” the man admitted, “They seem to be operating in a secret hideout. Lesion… he must have many to attack in so many places. Most clans who attack like this are easy to find, because we can find the radius in which they attack. But the Clan of Lesion is attacking all of Florien. They could be anywhere.” The boy sighed, looking at his feet.

“Damn,” another boy said from the opposite wall. He looked older, maybe in his early 20’s. His dirty blonde haired was pulled back. His sharp black eyes glared at the man. He too looked strange, with armor on his shoulders and a scarf hiding his chin. He kicked up some dirt, scuffing his black boots. He walked out with his hands in his pockets. As he walked down the street someone crashed into him, making him fall.

“Hey! Watch out, dammit!” he said, getting up. The person who had crashed into him was the one-eyed boy.

“Hehheh, sorry,” the boy said, smiling. “I’m Akira!”

“Okay and I care why…?” Why is he so happy?

“I’m very sorry for crashing into you!” Akira clapped his hands together and bowed. “Oh… have you heard anything strange about any clans?”

“No…” Wow, what a freak…

“What’s your name?”

“Uhh, Rengawa,”

“I’m very pleased to meet you!” Akira grinned. “Rengawa! What a nice name!”

“Okay, now I have to go to the police station…”

“No! Don’t turn me in!” Akira grabbed onto Rengawa’s arm.

“What the hell have you done!?”

“I… I don’t know.” Akira tilted his head to the side. Rengawa gaped at him.

Well he really is a nitwit. “You’re coming with me. You might be an outlaw, though I doubt it.” Rengawa grabbed Akira’s wrist and dragged him down the street.

“Wait! I don’t think I’ve done anything by eavesdropping a lot for information!” Akira cried.

“Information? On what?” This guy seems rather suspicious…

“It’s a secret” Akira stuck his tongue out. Rengawa’s eyes pierced him. “Okay, I’m looking for information about the Clan of Lesion.” Rengawa glared at him even harder.

Very suspicious! “Why?”

“It’s a secret” Once again Rengawa’s glare made Akira speak, “Okay, it’s for personal reasons.”

“Fine.” Rengawa let go of Akira’s wrist. “You don’t seem like you would have a bounty on your head. Just tell me anything you know about them.”

“I…” Akira’s expression suddenly changed to serious. “Don’t know anything about them!” His expression changed back to silly. Rengawa groaned.

“What help you’ve been,” he mumbled.

“Why do you need to know?” Akira asked, tilting his head to the side.

“Because…” Rengawa paused. “Money reasons.”

“Greed is a sin” Akira chirped.

Oh, screw you. Rengawa thought.

“But,” Akira said, “We both are after the same goal.”

“Don’t say that makes us friends.”

“No it makes us allies!”

“More like enemies.”

“We could travel together!”

“I work alone.”

“Let’s become travel-mates and put our skills together!”

“What skills do you have?” Rengawa said sarcastically. Akira paused and thought for a moment. “That’s what I thought.”

“I know some runes,” Akira said happily. “That’s my skill! Magic with runes!”

“Runes are weak,” Rengawa replied instantly, “Not to mention I don’t need magic on my side. All I need is bitter strength.”

“Ohhh… pleeeeaaaassseeee may I travel with you?” Akira’s eye shined tear-filled. “I have no where to go and I have money with me that could buy our food”

Rengawa groaned. “Fine. You can tag along.”

“Hurray!” Akira jumped up and down.

I’m going to seriously regret this…

((A/N: I hope you like it! Now to work on Water Mage Chapter 3…))