[Athilea Majiri]

Books filled every available spaces on the shelves housed within the Temple of Knowledge. There was very little sound in the vast library aside from an occasional hushed conversation, or the gentle rustle of a page being turned. There were tables situated in a precise alignment to either side of a circular desk that dominated the central floor. Even this was filled to the brim with books.

A young, recently ascended Daeva descended the stairs that led into the darkened hall. When her feet touched the fllor she closed her pure black eyes and inhaled deeply, enjoying the musty smell of old volumes. When she opened her eyes again she noticed that a few of the libraries occupants were staring at her oddly, Athilea smiled nervously as she brushed a few strands of short-cropped black hair from her face. She nodded politely to the Asmodians who still watched her and then made her way to the starway that was located at the rear of the Temple.

Athilea was a Cleric of average height with a suprisingly toned figure for one that seems to live in the library. There were tattoos around her eyes intended to bring attention to them, and a small mole just over her lip. She could usually be found in the Temple of Knowledge wearing the same armor that she hunts in. Normally the armor is kept in pristine condition, but it can sometimes be seen with specs of blood marring the chain mail.

When she finally reached the section of book shelves that she preferred for pure entertainment she began to chew on her lower lip. She always found it to be a difficult decision when it came to choosing what to read. There were to many favorites on those shelves and not a single volume had be left unread by her. After much debate she settled on Asmos and Ellie, a book that she had not read as often as others.

The Daeva found a comfortable place to read in a dimly lit corner. An overstuffed chair had been placed there and she made constant use of it. Athilea leaned comfortable back and opened the musty pages of the worn book. Her dark eyes drank in even the smallest details of the story. Hair fell in a short curtain around her face, but she made no move to brush it aside. Only a short time had passed when she finished that story and found another, and still another. When she could no longer keep her eyes open the Cleric drifted off to sleep, her head tilted slightly against the high back of the chair and a book still sitting open in her lap.

Dreams, they always haunted her. Nightmares came every time she slept, filled with memories that felt a thousand years past. The world of her dreams was twisted and wrong. The people were but shadows that neither moved nor spoke. Even the air was wrong, colder by far then what the Asmodians had grown accustomed to.

Athilea chewed her lower lip fearfully, hard enough to break the skin. Blood, its taste filled her mouth and its scent hung heavily in the still air. She took a step forward on the cobbled path, the sound hallow to her ears. Another step and another, each coming more quickly thank the last and with them came the fog. Her feet moved of their own accord, speeding her along the path, even while her mind screamed for them to stop.

After what seemed an eternity the Cleric fell to her knees, her chest heaving as she struggled to catch her breath. Her head was bowed and her eyes were focused on the smooth stones beneath her hands. As she sat, desperate for a breath that did not burn her lungs, a shadow fell over her. Athileas' eyes widened, the breath catching in her lungs. Slowly her gaze moves up, taking in the details of the figures clothing and body. A small, terrified sound escaped her slightly parted lips when her eyes topped on the face of an Elyos man.

With a start Athilea sat forward, sending the book clattering to the stone floor. Sweat beaded on her forhead and strands of hair clung wetly to her face. One of the historians stared at her in surprise. Their eyes were locked for only a moment before she stood and all but ran out of the Temple.