The Grey Tower

Felix listened intently as Angelique talked about her childhood. He noticed that others were coming in to the room, many to get hot chocolate. Others were pulling out homework and books, set to study. A few women in white dresses with white dresses just like Angelique wore. The young ladies waved to Angelique and she waved back then she asked, "We may be joined later by others, if that is okay?"

Felix's first reaction was to say no, he flinched back an inch. The flinch was barely noticeable and he recovered quickly. "I don't mind, it would be nice to meet some other people. If they are friends of yours they must be nice people so, yes definitely. He had not meant to say yes but now that the words were out of his mouth he was happy. He spoke truth to Angelique, it would be nice to meet new people and maybe even make some new friends.

He waited for a minute and thought about what all Angelique had said of her family. He was surprised she had lived such a normal life being surrounded by such extraordinary people. Maybe he would feel different if he had parents that could channel. He could have inherited something other then a sword and a broken forgotten nation. He wondered if her brother could channel, maybe he was a soldier like himself.

Felix envied Angelique a little for growing up in a safe environment, surrounded by some of the greatest warriors in the world, the Gaidin. "Have you met who you will bond upon reaching the shawl. That is if you plan on bonding anyone." His cheeks turned cheery red as he realized that he had asked a very personal question."

"I'm sorry that was extremely personal, are your parents still here at the tower? How about your brother, is he a student here? Oh gosh that was even worse. I'm sorry again, ill shut up!"

Angelique smiled at him, feeling very positive about today. "I'm glad. They're always complaining we never get any one new at the Tower, so they'll be very excited to meet you too. And I'll make sure I introduce you to some other Soldiers so that you can meet some of the people who channel the same side as you." Her eyes went wide after a moment as he spewed forth all those questions that he found too personal. Normally able to prevent awkward situations from occurring, this caught her by surprise and she started to laugh, a heart full bodied laugh. It took her a moment to calm down, and she trailed off with chuckles, wiping a tear from her eye from her laughter.

"Felix, it's okay. I'm very open about my family for the most part, as well as my life." She said with a smile. "I have met the man I will bond upon reaching the Shawl, and he's promised to wait for me." She shifted to maintain a comfortable way to sit, before she nodded. "My mother is. Father passed away a few years ago, and she's been falling in love with another Blue Asha'man for a little while now." Angelique's eyes took on a slightly dreamy look. "They're old friends, were learning ranks together, trained in weaponry together, and until now, other things pulled them apart, but the pair have been best friends for so long, that many were just wondering when they'd get together." Her eyes lost their dreamy appearance, before she swallowed. "He was a student here for a while...but he ran away, and we've only heard of bad things from him since. But never actually from him. We know of his persona and the things that persona does are terrible...He's the black sheep of the family if you will." Her voice trailed off, before a small group of 3 Novices and 2 Soldiers walked up to them. There was a petite blonde Novice, named Nanci, a brunette Novice with startling red eyes name Brandy, and a black haired Novice with a scar on her cheek named Cassandra.

The Soldiers looked like twins, medium height and both with blue black hair. One was Harri, the other Edward, but it was difficult to tell them apart some times.

"Awww the Angel is talking about her devil again." Nanci said with a pout as she sat down next to Angelique. "You know me too well." Angel replied with a smile. "Who's this strapping young man?" Brandy asked as she regarded the other Soldier. "Oh, where are my manners? This is Soldier Felix Kal'Sarak, Malkier from Shienar. Felix, this is Novice Nanci al'Hare, Novice Brandy Maplas, Novice Cassandra Tager, Soldiers Harri and Edward Pengath. Felix is new today, so please help keep him out of time till he's used to being around here guys." She paused and glanced at Felix with a smile. "This is my circle, my study group, and my friends. We look forward to including you in what we do."

Felix listened to Angel speak, she always knew what to say. He felt better within minutes, the color returned to normal in his cheeks as his embarrassment faded. Felix noticed that she did seem very open about her family, her brother seemed like a sore subject. Felix was interested in the brother but decided not to open that old wound, he understood losing a sibling. She finished talking when her friends walked up, he wished they would have arrived a few minutes later. He wanted to sympathize with her, he had lost his sister it was not the same thing but losing your brother or sister to trollocs or to the dark one, both were horrible.

Three novices walked up in their white dresses, Felix wondered for a minute how all of the dresses stayed so white. Two soldiers followed close behind, the thought that they had to be twins or at least brothers passed through Felix's mind. He looked both of the soldiers up and down discreetly, they were cute.

Angel introduced everyone to Felix after a pointed question from the brunette novice Brandy. Felix gave a shy smile when she asked "Who's this strapping young man?"

His smile widened when Angel said "This is my circle, my study group, and my friends. We look forward to including you in what we do."

"Thank you Angel that is so nice, it feels nice to be included. How long have all of you guys and ladies been here in The Grey Tower? Angel and I were just talking about our homelands. Would you like me to grab a few hot chocolates for everyone?"

"Oh don't you dare. First day here? We'll get them ourselves this time. But next time we'll include you in the duty sharing." Nanci said, as she got up, moving over to collect hot chocolates for the whole crew that had showed up. Once she got back, she sat down next to Angelique with a smile. "You asked how long we've been here. I'm approaching my second year here, and I hail from the Two Rivers." She said as she sipped on her drink. Brandy spoke up next. "I'm from Tear, and I've been here for less then a year. I used to work with my father in his blacksmith shop." The brunette smirked at Felix, as she sat down next to him, and nodded her head at Cassandra to continue. "I hail from Illian, and I've been here the longest at 3 years, outside of Angelique because she was basically born here. I think I'm nearly there for raising though, so I'll be moving up soon I hope." She replied with a smile that pulled her face weird because of the scar.

The twins glanced at each other and fidgeted a little bit. "We're from Amadicia. We were nearly caught by Whitecloaks, and it was really dangerous for us before coming here. We've been here for 2 years as well." They said in unison, something that many people found a little disconcerting, but it was just who they were. They were rarely without each other, and they were very pleasant to be around once you got used to them both speaking at the same time. Conversation flowed around them, each learning more and more about each other, and when supper bell rang, they merely turned to the nearest table, and ate together. Once they moved to head to their own sections, the twins took care of Felix, making sure he got back to the right room without any issues.