SUBJECT REPORT - Terua

(A faded report is stuck to this page alongside a rather new picture. Details surround a raid upon a Lepharist base)

"...upon breaking through the line all hostile subjects were taken down within a few minutes. Only slight injuries were suffered on our end. Thankfully this particular base was not expecting attack....and it also appears to be a research base"

"Research base? Anything discovered that could be of interest?"

"Not in the slightest...in fact some of my men insisted on leveling the entire structure...there are some things down here that you..."

"Tell me in a minute..now it states in your report that one subject was living from the raid. You didn't clarify on how this came to be. Lepharists never surrender. And what position did this one possess?"

"Well Sir...he's just a kid. Barely 8 years old from the looks. When we reached what appeared to be the residential quarters he was found all alone. Daego was the one who discovered him. And he reported that once found the boy immediately darted for a small dagger nearby, however Daego intercepted and knocked him out. I inspected the room afterwards...they had some strange methods to raising a kid from the looks of things..."

"What of the boy now. How is he mentally. Has he even given a name?"

"He's awake. No response so far however. He just stares at whoever goes near him"

"State of shock?"

"Well...no...it's like he's assessing everything about you. No fear in that gaze at all, just curiosity. But still, he hasn't said a word. And as for a name, the dagger he was running for had a name inscribed on it. Terua. Sir..what are we going to do with him? They obviously twisted his mind somehow. No kid looks at anything like that".

"He's young. He might be salvageable. If we can, he might provide some interesting insight to how the Revolution thinks. I have an idea. I'll get in contact with someone I know might help. There's an arms teacher who accepts just about anyone in the area if they are young enough".

"Tereman? That old battle axe of a teacher? Sir I don't know. This kid seems like a lost cause to me".

"He's just the kind of man to straighten this kid out. I'll get it organised. It'll be interesting how things will turn out in the future. Anyway. On the subject of what you found in the labs. I want everything analysed and......(The report becomes too faded to be read)

5. What it has come to

Today brought both good news and bad news.

Good news, my questioning the guards at Heiron brought some of them to locate a spirit bearing the resemblance of Rao. A young man bearing a staff with brightly colored hair in comparison to the other spirits. Even has a frozen grin upon his features whenever patrols got close enough to get a look before he vanished into the shadows of the area. I received the report in a letter today, though the timing couldn't have been worse being around several of my legion mates. But, after all this time I didn't really care, I had found another.

Rao always had a grin on his face, even when I drove him into the dirt in training, he'd look up and grin at me like some kid simply playing a game. Smallest in the group, he would always stand out with his bright red hair, even prided himself on it. Changing it daily into some other bizarre form of style to both amuse the others and to annoy me. He was master with a stave and possessed a sharp tongue to boot, he would make it a game of both having a conversation with his opponent...right before flicking his weapon into his opponents face or stomach or whatever other body part proved most open. All the while grinning...

He has been sighted multiple times, at multiple locations. Worst of it, is that Heiron has proved a challenge to me to navigate in search of him. The Storm circle for one has been home to many Asmodian raiding parties practically each time I venture near. Areas past the patrols are covered with many undead warriors and various other aether-based spirits. Things I don't have the strength to take on yet...curse this body of mine.

I had to ask for help. I went to Nanase. I knew her to venture into the deep parts of the Heiron dead lands without much effort. I told her about it, even showed her the old class portrait from the day they graduated so she could get a look at Rao. And, she agreed to keep an eye out for him. She'd inform me if she spotted him so I could go out and finally bring him rest. I should have been relieved by this...however.

I never felt so pathetic in all my life. I felt 'weak' asking someone so young. I felt 'old' asking someone so young. Despite my strength and size and bluster. This young woman was stronger then me.

This is something I have to change.

4. Return

So I finally decided to come back, no new leads on the whereabouts of the others though... Old bones can only take so much of the trials in the Abyss before it becomes a distractions and therefore a liability.

Before heading back to Sanctum I payed a visit to the grave site. Even bought a new suit for the occasion. Marking the 3rd year of my quest. 3 Years and only 2 found.

Coming back, everything is as much as it was when I left it. My commanding officer still has a weird fashion sense and changed his hair color (again), he didn't seem to notice me at the Outer Docks. Though I don't think he would've even asked where I have been, as he had something else on his mind with him and Nanase going to a quiet corner... The Legion roster has changed a little, names I never got to associate with faces gone and replaced once more.

I was discovered at the Tavern, thankfully I wasn't questioned too much on my whereabouts. The suit I was still wearing proved a great distraction and even a stealth technique, as people both mistook me for someone else (Toxa if that were possible, got silver hair this time around) as well as ignore me completely as if I was never there. Might come in handy someday.

Almost blew it however. Not finding any more information bothered me more then I came to realise. Attempted to smash the bench in anger when comments were made regarding missing comrades. Only managed to cause enough noise to startle my company, but the barkeep didn't seem phased, must have reinforced the woodwork for this exact reason. Rather then explain myself I stormed out, I needed to get my head back into place.

And so this journal has become a means to express my opinions rather then a means of identifying the corpse they may have found it on. Go figure.

3. Musings

Taking refuge in an outpost on the far rim of the upper reaches of the Abyss. Can't sleep since my ears still ring from some upstart Asmodian chanter who thought that spinning a pole around and shooting light could stop me in a hurry, all the while jumping and flipping about like some kind of manduri. Rather then engage him I pushed his efforts into the back of my mind and continued on my way, he gave up after a long while.

Can't be bothered fighting healing/flashy types. Especially considering I don't want to spend too much time on this. Still no clues of possible whereabouts of the 9.

Joining the list is one of my legion mates. Thinking back I remember Nanase mentioning him. Went missing in Asmodae and never reported back since. Liam I think it was. Figured if I venture there I might make the effort to locate him. Though I think the Little Miss may have conducted a search on her own already.

Nanase is a young sorcerer of our legion. In some ways she reminds me of one of my students in their starting days. Easily startled, unsure and not confident in her own abilities half the time. Though she is one of the most talented ones I've seen in my days. As much as I would like to teach her to get over her misgivings about herself...she seems to get startled just by me appearing.

Might have to try griffo candy, she seemed to be happy and more accepting of Alak, another gladiator as large as I am, when she turned him into a small, weak, annoying ball of feathers. Though it grates me...might be only way to start a conversation without her feeling intimidated.

2. The Beginning

Figured to start this journal might as well add something personal to the pages. Justification for the path I chose to take right from the first step out of the door towards ascension...

Also something to make me seem less than an old fool like I think most people believe me to be.

As a teacher I promised to watch over those in my charges. To instruct them as I was in the art of mind and body disciplines. I made a promise to watch over them until I returned to aether. My class produced 9 Daeva total out of 12. The remaining 3 became guardsman around settlements in Verteron as well as Eltnen and Heiron , I was equally proud of them all.

It then seemed to all fall apart.

Krall began heavy raiding upon the settlements. Zahleeand Selassa were killed in defence. Rao went missing in Heiron. The remaining 9 vanished not too long after. Reported to have engaged Balaur in combat the Abyss and did not return to their assigned obelisk.

I promised to watch over them, to lose them all before my passing...I couldn't accept it. So I vowed to find them all again and bring them home. At this point I knew I couldn't accomplish this in my human lifespan...so I took the step.

To date I have located and returned 2 to soil. Their names I have engraved upon a tombstone. 10 spaces are still left blank.

But I have all eternity now. Eternity of listening to people say how old I look, how big I am compared to them and all the while carrying the aches and pains of my age...

1. For Good Measure

Started my long absence. Didn't inform anyone of my intentions...if I was to go missing suddenly then I rather be written off as a Failed Obelisk Return from a skirmish then gone missing searching for possible dead people. Not that Toxa could have stopped me from going if he tried.

Picked up a journal before leaving. Could say it was a precaution, least if something was to happen there is a possibility of someone having an easier time finding out. If I enforced this method upon my students then I wouldn't be undertaking this...

IMPORTANT NOTE

This journal is or was under the ownership of (1. Tereman Krieve) It is a document of his journeys and memories of days until the point that he returned to Aether. If in possession of this journal return it to an acting officer of the IV Skye Lancer legion so that proper action can be taken.

Action may be as follows:

If the owner (See 1.) is alive and has lost it, it can be returned to him.

If the owner (See 1.) is alive and this journal has been stolen, forceful action may be taken unjustly against the individual who returned it on basis of being associated with the thief.

If the owner (See 1.) is dead but not gone, journal can be used to locate vengeful spirit in haste to prevent possible haunting and/or possession of the individual who returned it.

If the owner (See 1.) is indeed dead and gone, his records may be added to the archives.

END NOTE