Among glowing towers (for sunshine11)

[Uncertain]

Elor walked with a brisk pace through the city streets, the brilliant lights casting away the darkness that was inherent to night in most other places. The great cities where the magic workers were kept were always a wonder to behold and those that lived within them. Yet today Elor's eyes were fixed soley on an emblem clasped in his hand, after years of applications he'd finaly been accepted as an apprentice to the order. Mages were thought to be disctructive creatures, things that needed to be dealt with utterly without mercy, and soon he would join his brethren in keeping them peaceful and sedate.

As his feet carried him on toward his home his smile grew broader still, his mind filled with thoughts of telling his sweetling of the honor that had been bestowed on him and the great source of pride the it would bring to their house. He'd finaly be able to give her all the things she needed and desserved, rather than scrimping and saving. There had been one small sacrifice however, his hair once a long blond mane was now cut short and tight in the standard form of the order.

[sunshine11]

Alice was sitting curled up in the corner of the small couch, in their small living room, in their small house. She was waiting on Elor to get home. She didn't know exactly where he was, he had refused to tell her. With a small sighed she stood up and started walking around the living room. She was so jumpy lately, so scared and uncertain. She knew she was a mage, she had known for quite some time. The signs had started to show some months ago, and recently she had been doing a lot of magic by accident and then tried to hide it from Elor. She also knew that if she didn't hide it well she would be taken away. Taken away from her Elor, her only safety.

Alice was a rather small little thing. She had just turned 18, but if you didn't know her you would have thought she was younger. She wasn't especially tall and she was very skinny. Other then this she had long, blond hair and big, blue eyes.

[Uncertain]

Elor stalked on toward the humble home, his height made the quarters somewhat uncomfertable, ducking under doorways had become an action so deeply ingrained in him that he'd even lowered his head entering the great hall with doors towering over him. He wasn't the same bulky statuesque figure that usual made their way into the ranks, but with diligance he'd overcome his comparitively slgiht frame and earned his apprentiship at last.

As he fit his key into the lock a small smile passed onto his lips, imagining just how proud Alice would be of him. It was a sad thing that mages could not be with their loved ones, but what he was doing would keep the both of them safe, and allow them a better home. Shakeing away fantasy in favor of reality he pushed into the room with a sharp wistle to announce his return.

[sunshine11]

Only seconds after Elor entered Alice was by his side, hugging him. Only after she let go of him she noticed that something was wrong. "Oh God" She said, her hand flying up to cover her mouth. "What have happened to your hair?" she asked as he brought her hand from her mouth up to feel it to see that it was really all gone. Well, almost all gone any way. Then a thought came to her mind. The only other people that had hair like that were members of the order. Members of the order that locked away every mage they could find and that would gladly lock her away if she couldn't keep hidden.

But Elor couldn't have joined them, could he? He wasn't that short sighted. He was a smart man... No, he just couldn't, he simply couldn't.

[Uncertain]

Elor laughed at the obviouse suprise, tilting his head so that he could feel the short bristles that had once been long locks. He'd never given much thought to the plight of the mages, if they were as their leaders said then the mad things were better under lock and key. "Alice, sweetling, calm down. I know you'll miss it but it's a fair trade I think." he said in a soothing way, turning the emblem over in his hand to reveal his new occupation.

With the suprise revealed and thoughts doubtlessly churning in her mind he felt wonderful. Invincinble, a god among men as he waited for praise to roll in.

[sunshine11]

"A fair trade??" She said, obviously more then a little upset. "I don't care about how you cut your hair!" As she looked at the emblem she instantly backed away from the man. "No, you are not joining them, you are not" She said, sounding as though she was trying to convince herself. She was currently fighting back tears. Her only safety just had turned into someone that wanted nothing more then to lock everybody like her away.

"They are people. People with feelings" She said, and with that she turned around and stormed out the door. She just wanted to get away. She needed time to think, time to figure out what to do.

[Uncertain]

"Alice!?" He barked in suprise and confusion as she fled, the explosive nature of her reaction leaving him dumbfounded. He, of course, made a rash attempt to catch her once his feet began to obey him once more, but by the time he was through the door she was well out of sight.

"Gods' blood, what got into that woman?" He breathed in wonderment, she'd always had a strong will but he'd never seen her act quite like this. Of course the mages were people! Of course they had feelings! That didn't mean they couldn't be dangerous. He would have to have a long talk with her about such matters when they were home and safe, but for now the issue was see that she actualy made it home.

He'd always been somewhat paranoid about her walking the streets at night, even in the great cities there was bound to be a crinimal element of some sort. They'd only shared their home for a short time but even before that he'd insisted on walking her to her destination after sun down. throwing his hands up in surrender to whatever fates had set this path before him he made his way out into the city, trusting tht gods to bring him to her or bring her home.

[sunshine11]

Alice was a fast little thing, that's for sure and it didn't take long before she had gotten somewhat far away from the house. Then she sat down on a bench, curling up into a small ball, tears running down her cheeks. How could Elor do this?? Of course, he didn't know that Alice was a mage, but that didn't change the fact that she felt betrayed. Betrayed and alone.

She didn't know how long she sat there, but she sat there for quite some time without moving. She defiantly didn't plan on going home anytime soon.

Even though she was angry with Elor at the moment she couldn't help that a part of her wanted nothing more then to feel his arms around her and hear his voice telling her that everything was going to be alright.

She knew he didn't like her being outside alone after sun down, but right now she couldn't care less. She wasn't a child and she was able to take care of herself for fuck sake!

[Uncertain]

Elor's wandering was a slow and akward affair, his mind dwelling on all the places that she liked to go and trying to pluck out and discard the ones that would be less than soothing. Whatever was wrong with her it had brought her nearly to tears, and she would seek a place of solitude and comfort. As he walked his mind treated him to fantasticly horrible images of whate fates might befall him along side terrifying visions of her leaving due to his decision.

He couldn't understand what about the order had angered her so, it had always been a group dedicated to peace and preservation of well being. He'd heard of descenters who wished it's disolution but he'd heard suspiciously little of their reasons.

He'd apologize, the thought barged forward through the rest as an unwelcome guest in his mind. He was prideful, but he'd changed bother their lives in a drastic way without ever seeking her council. Even he could see the fault in that.

[sunshine11]

Alice just sat there, her head rested on her knees. It was the place she always ended up when she was upset for some reason. In this exact spot, in this exact position. It was where she had gone when her father died, it was where she had gone every time something went wrong in her life. After a while she sighed and rubbed her eyes, trying to pull herself together. She would just have to deal with this, some how.