New Faces (Introducing a few NPC's)

Winter was bored. Not only had she finished cleaning all her weapons, she had fought everyone who would fight her, went through the obstacle course at least ten times, and taught the first year squires a few tricks on how to disarm an opponent.
There was nothing else to do. She walked out to the small garden that was near the drawbridge and promptly plopped down under a tree.

She laid there for at least ten minutes with her eyes closed, when suddenly, a voice came in breaking her thoughts.
"Winter."

She opened her eyes to see one of the Knights, Sir Eldridge, standing over her with a girl Winter faintly recognized beside him.
"Yes?" she asked, trying to figure out who this girl was.

"I need you to take this young lady up to the registration office," he said. "Then I need you back out here. We have a few new people coming."

Winter nodded, rising. She looked over the girl. A richly ornate sparring outfit covered the girl's body and she was tan. Really, really tan. Suddenly, she knew who she was.
"Farrah Delion," Winter smirked. "What brings you to the Academy again? I thought your parents were sending you on an extended trip to Arcane."

"Well, I decided not to go," Farrah snorted. "I decided to come back here instead."

"Sure," Winter replied sarcatically, helping the richer girl with her things. After she took the girl and her belongings up to the fourth floor, she camp back down to the drawbridge. Coming over the bridge was a carriage with a few people on it.
She heard a yell and a laugh.

Oh no, she thought to herself. She closed her eyes and breathed sharply.

"Winter!"
She was suddenly engulfed by a bear hug.

"Put me down you oaf! Don't make me beat you with my sword!"
There in front of her was none other than Taren.

"What are you doing back here?" Winter asked as she was sat gently on the ground.

"I was kicked out of the royal guard training," the tall, bulky man replied. "So I decided to come back here. And I brought a friend!"

Winter looked around. Standing beside Taren was another man. He was tall and handsome, with dirty blonde hair and green eyes.

"Winter, this is-" Taren started to say.

"I am Riolin Illisp," the other man said. "I am pleased to meet you, Lady Winter."

"Oh, there is no 'lady,'" Winter replied. "I am far from any royalty or nobility."

"Oh... Taren had told me of how well a swordswoman you were, so I assumed..." Rio replied.

Winter smiled, blushing a bit. "I am not the best swordsperson at the Academy. My friend Sarea is amazing too. Well, you'll meet her and see her in action." She looked around. "I do wonder where she is."

*Tap, tap*

Winter turned around slowly, Sarea stood behind her. The brunette was smirking, ever so slightly, but it vanished quickly. She tipped her head curiously towards the new three.

"Sarea, meet Farrah," She guestered to the girl, "Taren," The very tall young man, "And Riolin."
Just as she finished introducing the three, Madoka stepped out of the shadows and bowed.

"It is a preasure for Sarea-Sama to meet arr three of you."

((I'll introduce Nyx in my next post~! ;D ))

"The pleasure is mine," Rio said with a bow.

"Arcanian?" Farrah asked, wrinkling her nose.

"And Modoka is Japanese," Winter added.

"Ugh," Farrah replied.

Winter rolled her eyes. "Shall we get you and Taren signed in?"

Rio nodded. "If you please. But, I think I see some other people coming up the road. Shall we stay to greet them?"

Winter shrugged, "If you'd like."

"A young man," Madoka noted with sharp eyes. "And his escourt."
The Asian woman frowned softly as the new boy neared them, but said nothing.

'Doka-Nee. . .' Sarea thought, but got no reaction. She sighed and turned her attention to the young man infront of her, how had he gotten there so quickly>!

"Well, quite a welcoming party." He said softly as he approached, his voice halting. Sarea blinked in surprise, he was rather. . . Handsome. . . But his skin was very pale, and his eyes two differen't colours.

'Brown and Blue. . . Just like. . .'

He bowed slightly, eyes traveling over the group. "Hello, I am Nyx Stravos. I assume this is The Palandor Knight Academy?"
Sarea nodded, snding a glance to Winter.

"You assume right, Nyx." Winter replied. "Welcome. I'm Winter Le'ali. This is Sarea, Riolin, Taren, and Farrah." Winter added, taking a great pain to put Farrah's name last.


"Psh, I'm out of here," Farrah said with a roll of her eyes.
She turned and left.

Nxy looked confused.
"Don't mind her," Taren said. "She can be a brat sometimes."

Winter nodded, "You can say that again. Well, shall we go and get you registered?"

"That, sounds wonderful." Nyx replied, as they started off.
Sarea fell in step a bit behind the group, taking in the new members in her usual silence. Smiling slightly as Winter continued to chat freely with them, and how Madoka kept at the very edge of the group as a guardian of sorts.

Nothing unusual.

Even so, Sarea was still curious over Madoka's reaction to Nyx arriving. It hadn't been anything big, just a frown! But with Madoka being, well, Madoka. . . That could mean anything. . .

"You are a mute, hm?"

The question jarred her from her thoughts. The soft voice had come from right beside h-
. . . .How had Nyx gotten there without her taking notice?
She almost became irritated at the question, until she noticed how serious he seemed to be.

Sarea gave a single nod to reply.
"Ah. The young woman, in the kimono, she is a translator of sorts."

"I am." Madoka's voice came light, but emotionless. "I am responsible for the protection of Sarea-Sama." she finished, wording the sentence carefully as she looked at the boy with bi coloured eyes.

Nyx studied her for a moment, before simply nodding and coming to a stop as the group ahead of them did.

Winter got the papers for the new comers from the registration office.
She had everyone sign, then escorted them to the tower.

"You're all on the too floor of the tower, so I hope you all like each other, else it could get kind of... Drama-ish..." Winter said, opening the door to the top floor.
The men went into the room.

"We'll be in the sparring arena if you want to find us after you get unpacked'" Winter announced. The three young women left the tower.

************

Down in the sparring arena, the three women were checking their weapons. There was no one else in the sparring arena, making it quiet.

Winter turned to Madoka. "Would you like to spar?"

(( GAH. . Sorry it took so long to reply. . . I am horrible at remembering these things! ;3;))

Madoka blinked in surprise. "Me, Winter-San? Oh. . . I am sure you would rather sparr with some one of equal level! I am no warrior. . ."

Madoka. . . Please?

The white haired young woman glanced back at Sairea, who's crystal blue eyes pleaded her to accept the challenge.
"Werr. . ."

Winter smiled softly. "Your choice."

". . . Arright. I accept."

((I can remind you every single day (except Sunday!), but something tells me it won't help too much. XD))

"Something tells me you are too modest about your fighting ability," Winter said. "I promise to go easy on you if what you say is true, but if I am right, I won't be going easy on you for long!" She drew her blade, a long sword.
"Ready when you are."

Madoka nodded, sliding her katana part way out of it's scabbard, then replacing it. She then drew it fully.

"En guard," Winter spoke, taking the defensive.

And so the fight began. Winter and Madoka circled, watching each other for signs of an opening.
Winter saw one and attacked first. Madoka parried quickly.

Winter measured the strength of her parry. It had been strong enough, but not quite to the standards of herself or Sarea's parry. Maybe Madoka had been telling the truth about not being a warrior.