[h3]Iron Enigma Team -- One Hour Ago[/h3] Luna took a deep breath as she looked up at the morning sun from the roof of the Iron Enigma Hotel. Being a Solar mage had the perk of that she never had to worry about staring at the sun too long. She gave that great big orb a small smile, one that quickly turned into a big beaming one. She felt its warm magic filling her up to the brim. She felt good this morning, and after a long moment she closed her eyes, feeling the soft flow of sunlight slide over her cheeks. Many envied her for being such a morning person while at the same time being able to stay up late into the night with little trouble.

The previous night, however, she had made sure to sleep well. While her thoughts of her guild troubled her, she managed to divert them long enough for the sandman to overtake her. This morning she had managed to wake up with only thoughts of the soft fire serpents and beautiful beasts of the moon that had oft offered her wisdom in her sleep, though she knew they were really only constructs of her own mind, she often felt their wisdom had brought her through so much in her life. They had offered no counsel that night however; they felt that they owed Luna enough to keep her thoughts free of the difficult choices that were inevitably laid out before her.

Luna sighed softly as she heard someone open the door, and she pulled her hood up. [color=0000ff]”[i]Light of the Eclipse[/i]”[/color] As she finally drew her eyes from the sun, she found Solux squatting on the roof next to her. She rolled her eyes.

[color=7424AA]”Keh, staring at the dumb orb again, Loo-nah.”[/color] Said the masked man. His mask was still broken from the fight the other day, and his sickly smile was visible to all. Luna briefly contemplated offering to sew the smile on, but shivered as it occurred to her that he might actually take her up on the offer.

[color=0000FF]”It’s not a ‘dumb orb’. Without that thing none of us would exist, so I think it’d rather useful. Thank you.”[/color] She’d look away, and back towards the sun.

[color=7424AA]”You’re always [i]worshipping[/i] that thing Loo-nah, yet you always cover your face in that velvet shadow.”[/color] His voice would go soft, almost sweet, as he reached the end of his sentence, and his hand would slowly reach out to touch her face. Luna scooted away so he couldn’t quite reach. [color=7424AA]”I’ve never even seen it. Can I see your face some time Loo-nah?”[/color] She shook her head, and just as Solux opened his mouth to speak again, a voice came from below.

[color=FFDDD0]”Luna, it’s about time to head off towards the Arena, if we’re going to walk, that is.”[/color] Saved by the bell.

[color=0000FF]”I’ll be right down Mark.”[/color] She called back as she moved to the edge of the building. With a gentle push from her foot, she had disembarked from the two-story-tall building, and she let out a soft oof as she landed slightly wrong. Shaking herself, and taking a breath, she looked up at Mark, who was still looking up at Solux, who was clearly contemplating how to kill the sun.

[color=FFDDD0]”Please tell me you didn’t seek that creep’s company.”[/color] He said so that only she could hear.

[color=0000FF]”Of course not. He’s an ass.”[/color] Mark turned and raised an eyebrow at Luna. Cussing was not her normal modus operandi. Luna just gave him an ‘oh hush up’ look, and he chuckled softly in response. [color=0000FF]”Where’s the rest of the team?”[/color]

[Color=FFDDD0]”Grant’s already there, no clue who our newest substitution is, and Jacob doesn’t exactly take a long to get there as the rest of us.”[/color] Luna nodded, and turned towards the street they were to head down. [color=FFDDD0]”I just wish we weren’t in the farthest nice hotel from the arena. The sights are nice and all, but by the time this is over I’ll never forget the path from this hotel to that thing they call an arena.”[/color]

[color=0000FF]”Who are you trying to kid? You’ve gotten lost there and back every time!”[/color] Luna looked up at him, but he just laughed and started walking. Luna kept up with his pace with ease. It was a while before there was anything else to be said.

[color=0000FF]”So, one of us is fighting today.”[/color] She stated softly. Mark shrugged.

[color=FFDDD0]”Both of us, judging by the reading Master Vale made me do. But that just means victory is guaranteed right? You’re second to one, and I’m the next one down the ladder.”[/color] Mark smiled at Luna softly, but she seemed unamused.

[color=0000FF]”Being cocky is how Grant almost lost.”[/color] Luna replied, her voice back to her normal cold monotone. Mark would sigh.

[color=FFDDD0]”Couldn’t of been the fact that teleporting enemies are really really hard to deal with. Or that the guy wouldn’t of been a cakewalk even without that ability.”[/color] Mark said, annoyance seeping into his voice.

[color=0000FF]”He could’ve done better than he did and we both know it.”[/color]

[color=FFDDD0]”I didn’t.”[/color] He retorted, growing sour.
[hr]The two did the remainder of the walk in silence, and when they reached the gates of the Arena Sheldon’s voice rang out, warning them is was only ten minutes to showtime. A minute later, one could see Jacob overhead.

[color=FFDDD0]”Didn’t get lost this time.”[/color] Mark said.

[color=0000FF]”No, you didn’t, which makes me think all those other times were on purpose.”[/color] Luna went inside with a sigh, waving to the the few of her guild members that were already there. They went up to their seats in silence, and Luna went and sat alone in the back row. She felt… Cold. Her thoughts about her guild hadn’t stayed away for long after Solux showed up. God he was a creep. Luna couldn’t figure out what his problem with her was though. Maybe some day she’d steal that stupid little black book of his, see him scramble and cry as he tried to find it.