She rushed briskly through the main gate of the city of Elysia. She let herself blend into the crowd and there was no way the man could follow her without causing a big commotion. She couldn't sense anyone chasing her, so she let the thoughts of the woman drift to the back of her mind. "Something to discuss with Minos," she thought as she stepped onto the glossy obsidian streets. Artisans were busy preparing for the Day of Sagacity but the storm had the shopkeepers struggling to put protective spells on all of the merchandise they had set out. Hired members of the Houses of Magic were assisting the fancier uptown shops and the other shop owners were using magic devices produced by the charm factory. The temporary spells were advertised to protect themselves during the storms." If I ever find him, " she grumbled to herself, as she moved through the busy foot traffic of the city.

The wind whisked and she could smell the storm brewing. Up close, the view of the sky above the palace was growing more and more ominous. She felt the hairs on her arm raise in her amazement at the grand fountains of the two sages she saw almost touching the dark sky. "Wow," she thought as she pulled her cloak tightly around her, wisely picking up the pace in fear of the storm. It was too late. The alarm warning people of the storm sounded just before the rain came pounding to the ground. The ground seemed to shake as the thunder echoed over the shrieks of the people. "I have to find somewhere to go," she thought, determined to remain calm despite her growing fear. She glanced at the sky blanketed in darkness, dusted with lightning that could hardly be seen. The air was thick with a steamy fog caused when the chilly rain hit the dark pavement. Hard droplets fell all around Nina as she gasped for breath, barely making it into the main street of town before the worst of the tempest struck.

Just move.

Nina watched in amazement at the chaos as people ran left and right to escape the cold, hard rain, shrieking at the terrifying sound of thunder. She quickly noticed how The High Born, those belonging to the Court of the Royal Magical Houses, maintained their composure. Many of them vanished out of sight before a drop of rain could touch their expensive garments. She frowned at how quickly they abandoned the shop owners who they had hired. "Wow," she watched as their magic briefly illuminated the spot where they vanished, lighting the darkness in bursts of blues and reds. The quick flashes of light lasted but a longing second. She took off again, pausing only to avoid being drawn into someone's portal. After the Royals left with no hesitation, the rich shop owners were prepared for the worst. An annoyance of Nina's, they quickly used their portable portals and vanished. Because of the strength of the magic, it was easy for Nina to be pulled into one. "Ugh," she grunted as she moved out of the way of one of the portals.

Abandoned in the dark, the common people scrambled to the public portals that, for a fee, would transport them quickly out of the rain. Many were digging for loose change to pay for the suddenly inflated fares common in the city. The Royal Magic company would inflate portal travel prices and Spirehorse lifts to maximize profits. Nina stopped for a moment to watch the chaos. "I wonder where Minos would be in all of this?" she thought, watching as the privileged factory pulled out their company-issued portable portals, vanishing with no issue.

The common magic folk, but with no special, amount of magical powers mostly worked for the Charm Factory. They were enticed to work there to gain access to the many magical items that enhance their magic. It was convenient because most public magical carriages wouldn't take them to their homes in the lower levels of the city, too dangerous for anyone who had even a glimmer of wealth. The ground soon became slick with wetness and the sounds of lightning shook Nina from her entrancement of the chaos around her. "I should stick to the shadows," she quickly rushed to the nearest back street, deeper into the city, hoping to avoid most of the crowds.

.In cities like Elysia, a rich pleasure city, the Low Born and common magic folks run the lavish entertainment section and top-notch security for the many High Born royals that visit. She wasn't surprised to see high-level security begin to block the lower entrances to the inner city. They only allow guests of the Court of the Royal Magical Houses or those with deep coffers into the gates of Alasia, the capital palace building of the city. It was more like a miniature city within a city. Different portals inside the gate led to different levels within the palace for the Royal family and those with Royal clearance. "Why so soon," she groaned inwardly, changing her direction once she realized security was on the streets. She knew why they were moving so quickly. Everywhere else in the city was potentially dangerous in the rain because of the cursed Desperate.

Chills ran down her spine at the thought of the cursed Desperate. They fed off the magic of others and followed the chaos of the storm. She knew, like everyone else, it was only a matter of time before they would find their way there. Reaching the point where she started, she paused, taken aback by how many people had fled the area. The obsidian streets blended into the blanket of darkness that now completely covered the city. Soon the chaos would become still and dim yellow lights from the windows of buildings would disappear in the denseness of the rain. The rain began to fall harder and Nina ran towards the lower city. "In the old legends, rain meant a flourish of magic, bountiful crops, and a promising harvest," she thought, running, remembering the stories Minos told her. "For the people in this world, rain meant all of that but also death, despair, and fear."

Stumbling down a rocky hill, she ran into the ruins of the lower city, careful not to go into the lower territory of the common folk living deep in the lower city. She could feel the pulsing energy heading to the city. In fear, she rushed into the ruins of an abandoned temple dedicated to the Sages. "How will I look for him now", she thought, pulling her cloak around her as she found a spot to rest amongst the rocks and dust. She smiled.

I always feel safe in places like this.

The wind was howling around her but she couldn't feel the breeze. It had fallen silent and she knew that everyone just wanted to survive the night. Nina suddenly felt a chill. She sat with her back on a wall and knees to her chest in the darkness. "I guess on rainy nights like these, most would all be happily indoors with their families or companions protected by the protection charms of the inner city or their little magical protection spells." She groaned out loud. She knew Minos would be upset with her for complaining, but she never cared. "The Desperate are going to hunt me down in the dark and I have no clue where Minos is," she thought, annoyed.

The Desperate were considered lost souls, those who were magically deprived, afflicted, and cursed with a magical illness that makes them manic for magic. Nina knew that the sickness was a curse on the land. Suddenly, she heard a loud shriek.

They're here.

She shuddered. The night will be filled with the continuous sounds of the Desperate attacking and the screams of those unfortunate of encountering one.

She could feel the rush of energy as it entered the city. The sounds of fighting began and she could hear them attacking each other and everyone left in the streets. The darkness was lit with flashes of light as many had control of makeshift magical items converted into weapons. Her stomach churned as screams and sickening cheers began to add to the noise of the storm. "Damn bastards," she grits her teeth in disgust. She hated how the Desperate cheered each other during their attacks.

The explosive spells made the temple shake but she could feel the energy of the Desperate lightens as it began to move into the distance, closer to the inner city. She listened intently and when all she could hear was the storm, she finally exhaled. She hadn't realized she had been holding her breath. She was lightheaded. She laid back on the dusty floor. "It's not like I'm afraid of the Desperate," she thought, closing her eyes. "It is significantly safer in Elysia than it was when it rained in The Moors or even in Arlac forest, but I'm always cautious." She let out a sigh before sitting back against the wall. She knew that the Desperate could sense magic and Minos had trained her to always take caution when dealing with them.

Lately, I seem to attract them.

She was relieved that they had decided to move towards the inner city. She looked out at the rain and thought of the many rainy nights in The Moors. The distance sounds reminded her of the horrific nights filled with the screams and sounds of flesh being torn. She shuddered at the thought of The Moors. It always caused her skin to crawl. She pulled her shawl even closer around her body. "Ugh, he should have taken me with him in the first place," she huffed aloud, flinching at the sound of the thunder.

Refusing to feel fear, she clenched her eyes shut and began to hum a tune without words, something she did to boost her courage when she was alone. She could suddenly feel the presence of another. Quickly opening her eyes, she began to mutter a spell but before she could finish, a hand covered her mouth. Flailing her arms, she attempted to free herself.

"Calm down," said a familiar voice before gently letting her go. She spun around, with wide eyes, grinning in the darkness.

"Minos," she whispered, as he released her mouth. A mischievous smile graced the corners of his lips and, even in the dark of the night, his eyes seemed to glow.