The sounds of tires slipping on pavement and metal debris colliding filled Nova's senses as he braced himself by holding onto the back of the drivers seat. Morgan turned around in a panic to see if Nova was alright. "Young master! Are you hurt at all?!" Nova nodded his head as he reached for the door handle. "I'm fine..." He was a little surprised that there was actual concern in Morgan's tone.

Nova slowly opened the door of the car and began to step out. Morgan soon followed behind him.
"Morgan what happened?" Nova looked around him seeing what appeared to him to be scrap metal scattered about on the ground. Morgan bowed softly in an apologetic manner as she spoke. "I'm sorry young master, I was blinded momentarily by the head lights hitting something and reflecting back towards us." Nova frowned as he watched Morgan bow towards him. He waved his hand in a manner to disregard her apology. "Stop that, Morgan. Its not your fault." Nova continued to look around until he saw a girl off to the side of the road.
"Are you all right?"

Missy cursed in French for a few moments and scowled when addressed. She checked herself over for any major damage and sighed in frustration when nothing seemed to be broken, aside from her shopping bag. She picked up what she could still use and disposed of the rest in a public trash can nearby. "There's money well-spent," she thought to herself. The cellophane was completely useless now, and she'd lost two packs of gum. She tucked the rest of the gum and the pack of balloons into her messenger bag.

She turned towards the person who had addressed her before and shook her head. "I'm a slight bit startled, but not hurt. Were you in that car just now?" she said in English as she looked around for Knorad. When she saw the remains of his bin scattered about the road and Konrad himself a little ways off, she asked, "Are you dead yet, chivalry? I think your stuff is."

Konrad stood up and brushed the dirt off of him. He turned back and looked at Missy and only offered a glare in reply. He looked around for remnants of his bin. He found his sheets of kydex mostly unbroken. His rivets and other stuff not so much. Cursing in German he grabbed the sheets and dragged them to where Missy was standing. "Are these the owners of that vehicle?" he asked.

Nova nodded politely at both of them. "Reluctantly I was in the car and it is indeed mine." Morgan bowed towards the two. "I am terribly sorry... I was the one driving. I was taking the young master home after his flight here." Nova once again waved his hand at her. "You really need to stop apologizing for something that wasn't your fault, Morgan. Just call the house and have them bring a new car out to get us please." Morgan nodded and turned to walk towards the front of the car to make the call.

Nova watched as the young man began to pick up the bits of scrap littered across the road. He bent down and picked up a small piece of metal and held it in his hand. "I take it that whatever we hit was what blinded my driver and that it also belonged to you?" He out reached the metal to the young man. "My name is Nova Kondo."

Konrad took the metal out of Nova's hand. "My name is Konrad; and yes that was my metal. Now I'll have to wait another week to make my new helmet." He looked around at the driver and Nova. "I assume no one was hurt on your side?" He couldn't help but glare at them. All money he saved for this project pretty much went down the drain.

Nova imitatively noticed the look on Konrad's face. He understood that whatever the car had destroyed in the impact was something Konrad had worked hard to gather. Nova felt compelled to say something to him but before he could, Morgan had returned as she slide her cell phone back into her pocket. "Young master, they are sending a car to pick us up and should arrive here shortly." He nodded to mark his acknowledgment and remained silent.

"Another car? Young master? Wow, I feel like I've suddenly stepped into a shojo manga," Missy said with her arms folded in front of her chest and her scowl deepening. "So, Nova was it? I'm Missy Lockley. Are you new to town or just passing through? Nobody really drives in a town this small, so it has to be one of those two."

The wind picked up a little, bringing a quick rush of cold with it. Although the summer days were on the hotter side in the valley, the nights were equally as cold. Missy let her hair down out of its elastic band, letting it fall down to its full length where it swished down behind her knees.

Konrad started to rummage around the street picking up any salvageable pieces of metal. "Their relationship does seem something akin to a plot in a anime show." he piped in. He stepped beside Missy with an armful of metal scraps. "So I guess we can leave now that Master Nova here has another car to pick him up." Konrad turned to Missy.

Nova rubbed his eyes in frustration. He never carried for being called 'young master' nor has he ever felt so plainly insulted by it. "The choice to move here was not mine and neither did I choose what I am called by those who accompany me, but I shall not suffer snide remarks for it." Nova was clearly angry for the tone Konrade was using, and Morgan did her best to calm his anger. "Young master, you should act this way towards..." Nova glared at her and leaned against the trunk of the car.

Shortly there after a black limo arrived along with a tow truck. Two men stepped out from the limo wearing black suits. "Nova once again rubbed his eyes in frustration as he sighed with a slight sense of defeat. "So the chairmen found out about this little incident as well..." Morgan bowed apologetically. "I'm sorry young master... But I tried to be discreet about it." Nova sighed once again as one of the men walked up towards them.
"Nova Kondo, sir. The chairmen wish to express their disappointment with your continuous reckless behavior."
Nova laughed under his breath.
"You may tell them I received their message."
Morgan had a look of shock on her face which was soon replaced with regret and guilt. "Um... Young master..." Nova looked at Morgan and started to walk towards the limo. "Do as you like" he said.
"We would like for you two to accompany us back to the estate if you would so please."
She raised her arm to gesture Konrade and Missy towards the limo.

Missy raised an eyebrow. "Is this seriously happening, or did I get hit and go into a coma?" she thought to herself. She gave a shrug and said, "Sure. I have some time to kill before I need to lock up the theatre for the night." "If this is all a dream, I might as well milk it for all it's worth," she thought.

She stepped into the limo and scooted to the far end of the seat. She had never been within fifty feet of a limousine before, let alone ridden in one, but she did her best to keep any gawking to a minimum. She noted the fine upholstery on the seats and discreetly ran her hand over the material. "That feels nice," she mentally mused as she smiled inwardly.

Konrad eyed Morgan. "Very well, I will go with you." Konrad got into the limo taking care not to hit his head on the top. He had only agreed to go to keep an eye on Missy. He had spotted something in Nova's eyes. The look of a warrior.

Konrad sat next to Missy and whispered to her. "For the record I'm only coming to make sure nothing happens to you and I don't quite trust this guy. There's something about his eyes that I don't quite trust." He turned his attention towards Nova, trying to analyze him.

Morgan made another call to the estate to make preparations for two guests that were going to be arriving with them. After she was done and when all the passengers were aboard, she closed the door and went to sit in the front passenger seat.

Nova was sitting in a slight reclined position with his arms folded across his chest. He did his best to relax as the limo began to drive towards the estate. It wasn't hard for him to notice the look and tone, Konrade used towards him and he found it odd.
"Are you two a couple or something?"

Missy's left hand gave a slight twitch as she resisted the urge to smack Konrad. "Does he think me a child?" she thought angrily while giving Konrad a simple "Hmm" in reply.

When Nova asked if they were a couple, a myriad of emotions briefly flashed in her eyes, including shock, embarrassment, and rage. She crossed her arms in front of her chest as her body tensed in frustration. She glared out of the window at the dark scenery passing by and said, "No, we're not. He's just playing the role of a gentleman, and apparently I'm a damsel in distress."

Konrad looked at Missy. "It seems like I have been treating you like a normal lady when you are obviously more like the lady fighters, I will treat you as such from now on." He took more of a relaxed tone now. "Besides, being chivalric outside of the SCA is tiring and no one appreciates it." Konrad turned and looked at Nova. "I have you pegged as some kind of fighter as well, though of a more practiced kind. The way you carry yourself is either like a smug brat or disciplined fighter who is confident in their superiority." A smile crept into Konrad's face as he was sure he was right.

Nova smiled in a mocking manner at Konrade and closed his eyes with his arms still folded across his chest. "I carry myself the only way I know how, and whatever it is you see in me is of your own making." The smile faded from his face as he opened his eyes. "I shall show you my hospitality and suffer your insults for tonight but after that I will not stand for them, but I will have to ask you to keep your delusions to yourself."

Time had passed with relative quickness to Nova's surprise as it stopped in front of his late fathers estate. He didn't even notice when the limo had stopped for the massive gate at the entrance of the drive way. He didn't care nor did it matter much. They had arrived and that is all that mattered. Morgan was already out of the Limo and opened the rear passenger door to allow the three occupants to exit the limo.
"We have arrived, young master and honored guests."
Nova couldn't help but to laugh under his breath at the 'honored guests' bit but he brushed it off and exited the limo first.

Konrad sighed. Apparently he couldn't fix things by trying to lighten the mood. 'So much for trying to be nice.' He got up and got out of the limo without much difficulty. When he got out he was treated to the sight of Nova's estate. He whistled "Wow my parent's have some money to throw around but not this kind!" He laughed trying to lighten the mood again. He was determined to make nice to Nova or if possible confirm his suspicions about him.

Missy exited the limo and couldn't help but make a small noise of wonder at the sight of Nova's house. She immediately shut her mouth and blushed in embarrassment afterwards, though. "Your home is very lovely, even in the dark. I'm sure it's even more stunning in the daytime," she said as she glanced about the grounds.

Nova scuffed the ground at the first steps of the door and turned to look over his shoulder at Missy and Konrad. "This is the first time I've been here... I didn't even know this place existed until a week ago." He walked up towards the doors and pushed them open with a bit of unneeded force. As he entered, Nova looked around for a moment and then turned right into what appeared to be the waiting room for guests.

Morgan stepped behind Missy and Konrad. "The young master has been fighting with the chairmen of his late father's international company. He recently lost that... No, more like he gave in after several years. As part of the settlement the young master was asked to come to the states... But I suppose the young master knows it was to keep him far away from the Headquarters." She raised her hand to gesture them to go inside.

Missy frowned as they walked. "The financial world can be an ugly thing, ne?" she mused. "By the way, for what reason have you invited us here? If you're worried about us pressing charges, I doubt you should be concerned. We suffered no personal injury, after all."

Konrad followed them into the guest room. "Yes no harm aside from personal property." He frowned. "I'm curious as well as to why you've invited us." His cell phone buzzed to indicate he was being texted. Konrad grabbed his cell out of his pocket checked the message. It was from his Mother. 'We will be staying an extra week on our trip something came up. BTW good luck on your business project!' Konrad sighed and began furiously texting back.

Morgan closed the door behind them as they entered. "It was either ask you to come here or leave you with those men the chairmen had sent..." She followed them into the waiting room where Nova was already seated.

Nova was seated in an old fashioned dark leather chair but despite its age it looked like it was brand new. Clearly the furnisher throughout the estate was decades old but have rarely been used.

Missy seated herself on a dark leather sofa similar in design to the chair in which Nova was seated, brushing her hair to one side so as to avoid sitting on it as she did. The stiff leather whined and creaked at the sudden use. It was dry as a bone under her slim fingers, and she placed her hands in her lap.

"Although it seems a bit late to be asking this, should we be concerned about all this?" Missy asked with a suddenly cold, calculating face. "It seems odd that this... chairman... seems so concerned about something so simple."

Nova laughed under his breath. "Simple? Nothing is ever simple when those men are involved." He sighed in frustration. "Bringing you two here is just our way of saying sorry I suppose, and if you want to take something for your time or for the things you have lost then do so and leave."

Morgan was shocked by Nova's words. "Young master, you shouldn't be so rude."

Konrad flipped his phone back in his pocket and sat down in one of the chairs. "They're just suits Missy. They maybe register as a 3 on my threat meter." *bzzt* Konrad checked his phone again. 'We can always just loan you the money if you feel the need to pay us back.' Konrad replied and then looked up at Morgan. "Well my problem seems to have solved itself without your help. My advice to you Nova, being rich doesn't give you the license to act uppity." With that he got up to leave.

Nova smirked softly as Konrad began to leave. "Think what you want but I have no need for all these things nor have I ever asked for them."

Morgan stood in front of Konrad and bowed softly. "Please forgive the young master. He isn't used to having company."

"My, aren't we all civil this evening?" Missy drawled sarcastically. "Kondo, it's not wise to throw your assets away like that. Weber, stop being so prejudiced; it's rude," she snapped at the two young men with a fiery glare. "The two of you are both acting like children, and I hate children."

Her face softened suddenly as she looked at Morgan and said, "No no, please forgive us. It would seem this incident has caused you a great deal of undue stress."

Konrad snapped back at Missy instinctively "And I don't need you to act like a parent." His face went red in embarrassment at the sudden outburst. He blinked at Missy and sighed. He had let his anger get the better of him again. "Listen I'm sorry I snapped at both of you." He took a deep breath and exhaled to clear his mind and sat back down. "I'm open to ideas that will help satisfy all parties involved in this situation."

Nova relaxed in his chair for a moment to clear his head. "I am not all to sure what to do in this situation..."
Nova played with the bracelet that was around his right wrist as he continued to think.

Morgan stood behind the sofa in which both Konrad and Missy were sitting. "Perhaps we could allow them to come and go from the estate freely?" She said sheepishly.

Nova nodded in agreement. "Its simple but I am fine with that." He looked at both Konrad and Missy. "Though if you two have anything you want or need I'm sure it could be arranged."

Missy thought on this for a moment and gave a small smile. "Actually, there is something you could do for us. You see, one of Konrad's friends has been hospitalized recently, and we were planning on investigating the cause. Would you be willing to assist us in our investigation?" she asked calmly.

Konrad looked at Missy and shrugged. "He can come along and help, sure." He looked at Nova. "I don't suppose you've been around long enough to hear about the rumor of a bizarre ritual?" He asked. "My friend apparently performed the ritual and he's now in the hospital in a comatose like state."

Nova nodded at Missy. "I can help if you want. I do know a few of my fathers old contacts that we could use as well if need be." He turned his focus towards Konrad and shook his head. "I just got here this evening so I can't say I know much of anything around here."

"We'd like to recreate the ritual from the rumor, but I'm afraid we don't have the proper supplies.

"Apparently you're supposed to stand in front of a full-length mirror in a dark room while holding an unlit candle made of black wax. Then you stare into the mirror and say 'unveil your mysteries' to your reflection. It's said that an evil spirit haunts you if you do it.

"Since Konrad's friend is was admitted to the hospital after performing the ritual, I'd say there's something more to it than just a haunting. Something probably attacked him. We figure it would be safer to have more than one person around when we investigate in case it is something like that.

"So, what do you think? Are you still interested in helping? We have the candles, but we don't have the proper mirror. I figure a place this big probably has a dance studio somewhere with full-length mirrors along one of the walls," Missy explained.

Konrad nodded. "But we were going to do it tomorrow night to give us some time to prepare. I don't know about you but I'm not taking any chances. I'm gonna bring my gear and suit up for trouble." He smirked.

Nova placed his hand under his chin. "A ritual that someone willingly under goes to be haunted by an evil spirit?" Nova laughed whole heartedly. "I mean no offense. I don't doubt that there is such a ritual ,but why would someone willingly do such a thing knowing what the out come would be."Morgan, you reviewed the blueprints of the estate. Is there a room that might have a full length mirror?"

Morgan pulled out her cellphone and scrolled through it. "There isn't a dance studio but there is the ballroom with mirror walls."

Missy chuckled and said, "Sometimes kids dare each other to perform the ritual as a sort of rite of acceptance. Almost everyone says they've done it without having actually gone through with it. I think the last time something like this happened was... about fifty years ago? That's what I heard through the grapevine anyway. This ballroom sounds perfect. If we do end up fighting something, a large area like a ballroom would be ideal."

She then nodded at Konrad and said, "Yes, it would be foolish to be unprepared when we go through with this. I'll be bringing some basic gear with me as well. Although, how do you suppose we might fight an evil spirit? Holy water? Cleansing sutras? We're quite lacking in the information area."

Konrad frowned. "Weapons doused in holy water? Silvered weapons? Weapons that are blessed? With the scraps of metal I have left from the accident I could even bang out some pieces to cover your vitals and fix metal heads on my weapons." Konrad glanced at Nova and Missy. "I don't know your preferred weapons but I have a bunch I'll bring over for you to choose from if you wish to." He offered.

Nova folded his arms. "Are we even sure something will happen? I know its better to be prepared and all , but to go as far as to have weapons and armor?" He shifted in his seat slightly in discomfort.

Morgan nodded in response to Nova's comment. "It does seem like a bit unnecessary for a superstition. Perhaps your friend was just simply attacked by another person or was drugged."

"In that case, Nova, is there a way to be sure we'll be alone during all this? I'd like to eliminate as many variables as possible. Konrad, you might want to leave the weapons and armor for now. If you have some sort of spiritual protection, though, such as prayer beads or talismans, that may come in useful. We are supposedly dealing with some sort of spirit, after all. If nothing else they should provide some sort of placebo courage," Missy said calmly.

She let out a quiet yawn behind her hand and took out her cell phone. She frowned at the time; it was already nearing ten.

Konrad smiled at Missy. "I'm taking no chances with this. I'll have what I need to combat whatever comes at us tomorrow." If his math was right he had enough metal left from the incident to make his new helmet. Not only was it going to be new and shiny it also sported a brass cross that covered the face of the helmet. He yawned. "So I don't suppose you could give us rides home?"

Nova nodded at Missy. "The ballroom locks from the inside and I'll make sure that only I have the key if need be. And my father did like to collect oddities from his travels so I'm sure there is bound to be something of spiritual significance around here." Nova stood up from his seat and and stretched slightly before sliding his hands into his pants pockets. "Morgan can arrange for someone to take you both home if you would like."