The beginning

Soren looked out the window, a bemused expression on his face. "What do you believe he meant by that, becoming more like him?" He asked.

"I'm not sure, sir," Cala said quietly.

Soren nodded in understanding, deep in thought. He looked out the window towards the hazy city. "It seems the gods have decided once again to bend the laws, Cala," he said quietly. "There will soon be great change along this horizon, in each of those souls down there."

Five watched Athen climb the tallest building and sneered. "You're out of practice," he chuckled, taking a knife and tossing it at the peak of the building. "You should know better than to be so predictable."

Athen planted his feet sharply into a window sill and stopped, the dagger plunging into the surface of the building, near his face. He snarled and looked in the direction it came. "Five..." he hissed. "You coward. Come fight me like a man!"

"What? This isn't manly? I thought it was pretty impressive." Five tossed the cigarette from his mouth onto the ground. "I think it would impress a few ladies. Maybe you're too uptight?"

Athen dropped from midway up the building and started running for Five. "Fight me like a man or perish like a rodent!" He lunged, his sword drawn. "I won't be disrespected in this manner!"

Five smirked and dodged easily. "Come on. With that spell, you're not going to get much done. Shouldn't you save the fighting for another time, when you're not restrained?"

"Even at half capacity," Athen growled, "I'm stronger than you!" He swung the sword violently, barely missing intentionally.

"But you're not as smart and that's going to make all the difference." Five chuckled to himself. "Are you still mad I stabbed you? I had to."

Athen grabbed Five by the shirt and threw him to the ground. He held him there and held the point of the blade against his throat. "You're still the cowardly Miser you were one hundred years ago..." he scoffed. "You're like a parasite that won't leave me!"

"Isn't that why you like me so much?" Five laughed. "Because I'm the only thing you have to remember the past by? Everything else is gone, even your feelings. Without me, I doubt you would remember what a friend was. Face it, I'm the closest thing you have to one. Even if you don't like me, you can't kill me because then you'll have nothing."

"Do you really thing that is such a great thing? The only reason your life is spared is because you're a filthy memory, like a stain that can't be removed?" Athen sneered. "This is why Misers have bad names. You don't even have the dignity to be something of value."

"At least I know I won't be forgotten," Five chuckled.

"You are filth," Athen muttered and shoved Five against the ground, releasing him. "I should kill you now. You're lucky your brother begged me to spare you those years ago." He stood and dusted himself off.
"I want to find Asterianna. Where is she?" he demanded.

Cala nodded at her mentor, looking down at the town. "There's many Misers in the camp," she said, not looking away. "Sir,... I still don't understand why we can live peacefully together until we know our differences. How am I different from the Miser that was here? If I become more like him, will you exorcise me?"

Seth pulled him out and slapped him on the back, almost knocking him down. "Ha, you're weak," he snickered. "How have you lasted six months. My name is Seth, by the way. I don't normally associate with the humans."

Soren sighed and leaned against the window sill. "Cala...it is difficult for everyone to coexist because of fear. The humans fear what the Misers can do, and the Misers fear what the humans would do." He looked out over the hazy ruins of the city. "There are also Misers that have too much darkness in their hearts...they instill the fear that feeds the differences."
He checked his pocket watch and looked at her. "It is our job to exorcise the evil Misers that feed upon the human race." He smiled softly as his voiced quieted. "I believe you have the heart and the strength to overcome any darkness, even within your own heart. I am not worried about that." His voice took on a lighter note. "It is why I chose you to be my apprentice."

"Thank you for the faith, sir," Calla replied. "Can I make you some tea or coffee?"

Moa stood near Tira's side, watching the other Misers fleeing at her command. He glanced at the female Miser, toying with the tip of his horn. I'm bored standing here. I should have requested to be deployed with them.

Tira watched gleefully as her minions prepared for their new mission. "Moa..." She breathed absently, flexing the long claws of her hands. "How many humans have been stupid enough to wander into the city in the past month?" She gazed curiously at a teetering skyscraper within view through the hole in the roof.

"Only a handful," Moa replied while scratching the base of his horn. "We counted ten from the nearest safe camp."

Tira pouted and dug her claws into the throne's arm. "They're getting smart," she mused. "This is a no-no. We need their bodies for sustenance."
She sighed and rested her chin on her propped up arm. "We need to be strong for when he comes..."

Moa stuck out his tongue and rolled his eyes to himself. "We could just attack the camp," he suggested.

Tira rolled her head until she was looking at him. "If we did that, then we would have to go a long way to another camp, and another, and another, and another until there are no more camps and lots of stuffed Misers!"
She stood up again and walked around the room with her claws behind her back. "We have to have some control. We're not complete monsters..." She couldn't help but giggle at her last sentence. "Okay, maybe we are..."