• “So who’s the guy in the corner,” the woman asked the tavern owner. The middle-aged man replied, “Don’t know, sits in that same spot every night.” The woman thanked him and walked over to the hooded figure in the corner. The woman looked to be in her mid-twenties, she had black hair, electric blue eyes that seemed to change to white in the dark and she had pale skin. She was wearing simple leather armor and had twin swords belted to her back, each of them had a ruby the size of a walnut set in the pommel. She sat down, leaned on the table and said, “So what are you doing here all by your lonesome, brother?” The man sat there for a few moments and then removed his hood. His hair was black like hers, his eyes, unlike hers were blood red in the dark and fire seemed to flicker deep within them and his skin was paler than hers. He was wearing a cloth vest over a chainmail shirt and was wearing platemail leggings and boots. He gave her a look like he was about to tear her throat out. She didn’t seem to pay attention until he spoke, his voice was low and gravely as if throat was dry, “What do you want Shima, you owe someone money again?” She gave him a look of disgust and said very sternly, “You mean I can’t say hello to my LITTLE brother and no I don’t, Sakon.” They both sat there in silence until they both started laughing their heads off. Then they stood and embraced, after awhile they both sat down and Shimas’ became serious and Sakon asked what was wrong. She slowly said, “He’s back, Sakon, father has returned.”