Ries had only been in Ortus for a few weeks and thanks to Ava, he was adjusting better than even he had expected. He was still living in the safe house even though some of the other refugees had already moved out and found homes they could make their own around the town. Ava hadn't missed a single training session since Ries had come into town and they'd started training together. Ries had even started learning about healing just so he could keep up with Ava who was always drawn to helping those who needed it. He loved how compassionate she was, and not just because of the compassion she'd shown him. He watched her around others, even when she didn't notice. He was always paying attention to how she loved working with her godmother, helping her with her work, how she couldn't turn away whenever she saw a problem she could solve or at least source for help to solve. He couldn't deny how gifted she was and how sharp she was with her gifts. Something about the way her mind worked even in the simplest of tasks drew him to her. Ortus to him was like paradise and although Ava was a huge part of why that was, he had other reasons to think so. Ortus was full of people who were committed to peace and harmony, who understood how cruel the world could be and ensured their town was a safe place for themselves, their loved ones and those who needed a safe haven. It was new for Ries, being in a place where people didn't step on each other just to get ahead even if just an inch, where everyone found a way to work together and work with the nature around them to make sure everyone was taken care of, where they all appreciated each other's gifts and abilities instead of condemning and persecuting each other for it. A place where he knew if he was in need of help or support, it was available regardless of who was around. A place where the people were not ruled by fear, greed and insecurity. He would do anything to make sure he was a part of nurturing and protecting his new home.

"Ries! Come on! You need to focus!" Angelina called out from a distance. Ava and Ries were training in the backyard of the Fanum with the high priestess. Ava was busy trying to materialize the objects Angelina had instructed her to and Ries, well, he was supposed to be practicing his telekinesis but he was too busy stealing glances at Ava. "Ow! What was that for?!" Ries cried out wincing as he cradled his hand. "Well if you weren't so distracted, you'd have caught the log before it hit you," Angelina replied trying to hide her chuckle. She thought it was cute, how absolutely besotted Ries was with Ava, but Ries didn't need to know that. "You're getting really good at this, Ava, and much faster," Angelina said as she observed Ava's handiwork. "Maybe you can help Ries with his telekinesis now that you've successfully completed your morning tasks," she added with a sly grin as she took a step back to give them space. Ava might have been fond of Ries, maybe even had a crush on him, but when it came to training she was something else completely. "Catch!" Ava shouted from the other side of the backyard. Ries barely caught the logs Ava had thrown at him in succession without any prior warning. He loved how fierce Ava was when it came to training, she always kept him on his toes whether he liked it or not. Angelina couldn't help but laugh as she watched them train. Poor Ries! Ava was totally sweating him out and he had no choice but to keep up. They'd make a wonderful couple when the time came, Angelina thought to herself. After all, she was a seer and she'd seen all she needed to see when it came to those two.

By the time Ava and Ries were settling down for lunch, Ries could barely keep his breath steady. It took him a good minute to catch his breath after the session Ava had just taken him through. He didn't know how he would survive the physical exercise sessions in the afternoon. He winced just at the thought of the hand-to-hand combat session he knew was coming. Ava's father Janan was in charge of their physical exercise and he didn't make it easy. "Ries! Ries!" Ava called out snapping her fingers just inches from Ries's face. "Oh, uh, huh?" Ries stumbled over his words. He had completely zoned out he hadn't heard a word anyone said. "I was trying to tell you that my dad sent word that he won't make it for this afternoon's session, he has to go settle a conflict in town," Ava giggled. "Oh! Uh, so does that mean we get to rest?" Ries asked hopefully. "Uh, no way! He left me in charge of today's drills," Ava replied, her words half muffled by the food in her mouth. Inferna! Ries internally cursed. He was definitely looking forward to spending more time with Ava, the training part, he wasn't so certain. He knew he had to prepare himself for the bruises he'd no doubt be sporting from the combat session.

Ava was having the time of her life training with Ries. She was more motivated to push herself even more than she had before she met him. She hadn't had much of a chance to train with her peers especially because her training was different, more intense. Her family was doing their best to make sure she was well prepared to lead their people and defend their home if need be especially with the Venator Order growing more vicious in their quest to hunt down and eradicate the Donatus. "I see your new friend has had quite the effect on you," a voice giggled from behind Ava while she waited for Ries. Ava jumped and quickly turned around, startled, but all she saw was a shimmer. "Lyra? Why can't I see you?" She whispered squinting her eyes at the shimmer. "Pretty nifty glamor, isn't it?" Lyra laughed, materializing. "How did you know where I was?" Lyra asked tilting her head as she did whenever she was curious. "Uh, I could see a shimmer," Ava answered like it was obvious. "Really? That's rare, most people, even Donatus cannot see through a sylph's glamor. But given your bloodline, I can't say I'm surprised," Lyra replied. "So, how's training?" She asked. "Oh it's been wonderful! I haven't felt this fired up in quite a while!" Ava giggled, bouncing on her heels excitedly as she spoke. Lyra couldn't help but laugh, clearly her friend was happy to have someone closer to her age to train with, but there was more. "Oh! Here comes your friend! I better put my glamor back up," she said in a rush before her form disappeared into thin air as Ries walked up to Ava. Lyra was still hanging around and having quite a bit of fun watching the two train, Ava could tell from the giggles and playful commentary.

Ries was completely exhausted by the time he got back to his cozy room. He'd cleaned up before dinner and once he was full, he felt like the exhaustion had tripled. He fell face forward onto his bed and before he could gather his thoughts, he was fast asleep. Ava, on the other hand, still had some energy to spare. Once she was done with dinner, she sat with her parents in front of the fireplace in their living room enthusiastically playing Mancala. When she went to bed, it didn't take her long to fall asleep. Her day, busy and intense as it had been, had been fulfilling. The next morning she was woken by a hummingbird pecking at her window. It was the same hummingbird that was always hanging around her when she was a child. She'd even named it Bella. She laid in bed for a few minutes, her eyes closed in silent meditation. As was her routine, she greeted her ancestors and spoke to them, then she opened her window and greeted Bella and the spirits of nature before heading to the bathroom to clean up and get ready for the day. It was Dies Reliquum, a day of rest that was honored in all of Ortus. It was tradition for the people to gather at the Fanum to give thanks and honor the Gods and Goddesses at a time of their choosing. It was also tradition for them to gather wherever they chose, tavern or homes, to eat and drink and be merry. Ava was excited to spend some time with Ries away from training. She wasn't allowed to drink mead but lucky for her, she loved to eat and play games.

"Honey, you're up! I thought you'd be sleeping in today!" Eva called out in surprise as she saw her daughter rush down the stairs. "I'll have time for sleep later, I thought I'd get a head start on today's enjoyment," Ava answered with a broad smile as she kissed her mother's cheek and rushed to the kitchen. It was her tradition to make desserts for the day on Dies Reliquum. Janan was already in the kitchen brewing tea and frying eggs for breakfast. "Ave, sweetheart! You're up early!" He greeted as he kissed his daughter's forehead. "Blame it on Bella," Ava giggled. "Oh! I have sweet fruit cakes in the furn and they're almost ready, could you take them out for me?" Janan asked as he took the eggs off the stove. Ava and both her parents loved to cook and often times she had the pleasure of cooking with one or both of them. Creativity ran in the family and that definitely showed in everything, including and especially in the kitchen. Ava and her father shared playful banter while they made dishes for the day while her mother plucked fruits and flowers from her special garden, chatting with the garden gnomes and the Hortus Spirituum. Eva could tell her daughter was torn as she looked at the delicacies laid out on the dining table. "Why don't you go and bring Ries, Ava? I think it's a good idea for him to be around people he knows who care for him on a day like this," she said. Ava immediately perked up. "That's a good idea mom. I won't be long," she said changing into her boots and rushing out.

It wasn't long before Ava and Ries walked into the mansion laughing. Eva smiled to herself as she heard them, their friendship was adorable and so was their secret crush. She'd made sure to give her husband a stern talking to while Ava was out to make sure Janan would be nice to the boy in light of his crush on their daughter. Ries may have still been grieving his family and his best friend but he sure was grateful to have landed in Ortus and blessed with people that cared for him. Angelina soon joined them as they sat and enjoyed breakfast together before going to the Fanum. As high priestess, Angelina had to be at the Fanum before the townspeople started flocking in. Ava always preferred to do her devotion before the Fanum got too crowded. "Hey, Ries, I have to go do something. I'll be back before you know it," Ava whispered to Ries before rushing out of the Fanum after her parents. Ava and her parents walked home where they accessed River Lumen through underground tunnels. They communed there with their ancestors with Ava staying a little longer than her parents at the request of the Goddess Lucia. When Ava got back to the Fanum, she found Ries in the backyard, laid on his back with his eyes closed as he enjoyed the warmth of the sun and the coolness of the light breeze. "I'm back!" She called out approaching him in long strides. Ava and Ries spent the rest of the afternoon and evening together getting to know each other, playing and enjoying delicious snacks.

The next day it was back to the usual routine, training. Ava and Ries were in the backyard engrossed in their physical training when Angelina came in a rush. "Ries! I need you to come with me immediately!" She called out, her voice firm and a seriousness in her eyes that gave Ries the impression that something was wrong. "Go, I'll see you when you're done," Ava said to him noticing his hesitation. Ries followed Angelina into the Fanum and the sight before him completely stopped him in his tracks. He couldn't think, he could barely breathe. How in inferna was this possible? "He came in last night with a handful of other refugees. I took a peek in his mind while I was healing him, I know who he is to you," the high priestess spoke quietly. It was his best friend, Hilarid, laid out in the healing area and still unconscious. When Ries finally broke out of his stupor he rushed forward to his best friend. Angelina joined him, placing her hands on Hilarid's forehead and mumbling in a foreign language that Ries didn't understand. Hilarid's eyes fluttered open and his body stirred as he regained consciousness. Ries didn't know what happened until it happened. One moment Hilarid was on the floor, the next he was crouched down against the corner. "Please! Please don't hurt me!" He cried, holding his hands out in front of him. "Hilarid, it's me," Ries softly called out to him, approaching him slowly. It took Hilarid a moment for his mind to catch up with the sight before him. When he finally gathered his bearings he lunged forward tackling Ries in a hug, sobbing in his arms. Ries held his friend, comforting him, while Angelina stood at a distance.

"What happened? I thought you were dead!" Ries inquired as they sat on the steps in the Fanum. "They beat me to within an inch of my life and took me before they left my family to burn in our house. They said they had use for me," Hilarid explained trying to sniff back his tears. "May I take a look?" Ries asked understanding his best friend was in pain. "H-how?" Hilarid stuttered. "I'll help him, just close your eyes and try to relax," Angelina said approaching the boys. She knew Ries would need help looking into what happened, he'd been practicing his telepathy but this would require more than that. Hilarid took a few shaky breaths and closed his eyes while Angelina placed one hand on his forehead and the other on Ries's. Tears flowed freely down Ries's face as he saw what had happened to his best friend; the beatings, the interrogation, the torture, the escape, everything. The Venator Order had been determined to milk any and all information they could out of Hilarid. That and the fact that they wanted to break him so he could work for them as one of their trackers. So that's how they were able to find his kind! He could hardly believe it. Given the state his best friend was in when the refugees that had found him brought him in, he was surprised that he was alive, let alone functional. He'd known Angelina was a powerful healer but this was on a completely different level. When he finally opened his eyes he looked to Angelina as if to say something to her but she simply nodded and gave him a small smile. "I know, I saw," her voice echoed in his mind. "Hilarid, you'll have to stay here a few more hours while I continue to heal you, your body has healed up well but your mind needs tending to," Angelina said out loud looking to Hilarid whose only response was to nod. Ries had wanted to stay but he'd have to wait until Angelina was done with his best friend so he went back out into the backyard.

"Hey! I got us lunch," Ava said as Ries approached. Ries hadn't even noticed that it was already in the afternoon until Ava mentioned lunch. "Sorry I was gone longer than I thought," he said with sorrow in his voice and Ava knew something had happened. "Do you want to talk about it?" She asked tentatively. "I don't know if I can, but I want to. How about you take a look for yourself?" Ries said gently taking her hand in his and placing it on his face. He knew she didn't need to touch him to access his mind but he needed to feel the warmth of her hand. Ava sifted through his memories with her eyes closed. When she opened them back up, they were brimming with tears. She not only saw what Ries had experienced and seen but she also felt it. Ries knew she could feel him by the shock that went through his chest while she was in his mind. Ava didn't know what to say, she simply wrapped her arms around Ries as he cried into her shoulder unable to help himself as his emotions overflowed. All Ava could do was whisper words of comfort as she held him. Training was postponed for the rest of the day and as soon as Angelina was finished with Hilarid, Ava helped Ries find his best friend a room close to his in the safe house and get him settled. Hilarid had been drained from the process and Angelina had given him a sleeping elixir to help him recover while he slept. Ava went to help her godmother while Ries kept his best friend company until he woke up.

"Honey! I came as soon as I got word from Angelina. Are you okay?" Eva called to her daughter rushing towards her. "Not really, but it's Ries I'm really concerned about right now," Ava said somberly as she hugged her mother. "I know darling. How about I help you and Angelina with the healing work for the other refugees and then we can make them some food after?" Eva asked and her daughter nodded in response as they walked up the steps to the working station where they prepared elixirs and potions. Janan joined his family in the Fanum before evening came. The air was filled with a heaviness that neither of them could shake off. Before they realized it, it was time for dinner as the bell in the safehouse alerted them. Ava went to fetch Ries and his best friend while her godmother and her parents ushered the remaining refugees from the Fanum into the dining hall and began to serve dinner. It seemed Angelina had done a pretty wonderful job of patching up Hilarid's fractured mind as far as both Ava and Ries could tell as they observed him during dinner. Once they were done, Ries and his best friend went to his room to catch up while Ava went to find her parents and her godmother. She found them in the Fanum speaking in hushed tones, no doubt about the fact that the Venator Order was using other Donatus to track and hunt their own kind. She sat at a distance, waiting for them to finish their conversation before she and her parents could go home.

That night Ava could barely sleep and as she usually did whenever she was disturbed, she climbed out of her window, spread her wings and took off into the sky above. She flew high above the clouds where Lyra found her floating in the sky looking down at Ortus. The town looked so much smaller than it actually was from up there. The thing that disturbed Ava the most about what she'd seen was the part where other Donatus were taking part in the torture and breaking their own kind to recruit them into service for the Venator. She'd seen the hatred in their eyes and couldn't help but wonder why they hated their own kind so much as to subject them to such treatment. She was in the middle of venting to Lyra when a golden orb appeared from above them floating towards her. She was about to go on the defensive but Lyra convinced her that it was okay. Suddenly the golden orb transformed into a beautiful being, one that seemed neither male nor female but both. "They are the Angelum," Lyra whispered to her as they watch the being in awe. "The sylph is right, my kind and I have worked with your predecessors for millennia," the being said, their melodic voice echoing loudly in both Ava and Lyra's mind even though their lips didn't move. "Forgive my intrusion, I am Florian. Lucia and Lucjan sent me to look after you," the being said, tilting their head in a respectful bow. Florian had golden eyes, golden curly hair and golden iridescent skin just like their majestic wings. "Why now?" Ava asked furrowing her brows in confusion. "I've been watching over you for a long time but it was imperative that we meet now. You will need a lot of preparation to face what's to come," Florian said, their lips tilting up ever so slightly. "What does that mean?" Ava asked again. "The Venator Order have become a problem that cannot be ignored and a time is coming where the supernatural realm will have to intervene. You are part of that plan, given your lineage and your future position in Ortus," Florian explained. "I will be back with more information, for now, we only needed have an introduction. See you soon, Ava," Florian said, this time their lips moving as they brushed their palm over Ava's cheek before flying away and disappearing into the night.

Ava and Lyra had spent a bit more time together before Ava was back in her room. She couldn't help but ruminate on Florian's words. What did they mean? What was coming? Did it have something to do with her nightmares? Ava felt like her mind would explode. She laid in her bed, closing her eyes and silently calling out to Lucia, Lucjan and her ancestors for guidance and answers. It didn't take long for sleep to wash over her after that. Her dreams were eventful, full of flashing images that both terrified her and offered hope. When Ava awoke the next morning, she felt different. There was a strength about her that wasn't there before and a sense of clarity and determination. She had received the answers she needed and she knew she had much work to do. When she went downstairs for breakfast she found Angelina and her parents in the living room speaking in low tones. Angelina was the first to notice her and she stood up in a rush. "Ave, my child. Come, we have something important to discuss," she said motioning for Ava to join them. Once the greetings were out of the way, they got down to business. "I know Florian came to you last night. I also understand you received some vital information from the ancestors while you were asleep, so did I," Angelina started. "We need to change your training up a bit, you'll be spending a lot more time in the caverns below around River Lumen. I trust you already understand why that is?" She added. Ava simply nodded. She knew what was coming, she knew a day would come when she would have to face the Venator Order with her people and she knew she needed to prepare for that day.

Over the next few months Ava spent most of her time between the River Lumen and the skies. She still saw Ries and Hilarid, occasionally training with them and spending time with them, but not as much as before. Most of the time she went into other realms through Lumen for her training where Lucia, Lucjan and her other ancestors trained her personally on how to maximize her abilities and how to use them in battle. When she wasn't there she was with Florian who taught her many skills in fighting on land, in the air and in the water. Ava also met many other spirits of nature, learning about each one and how to work with them to nurture the land and her people and also how to work with them in battle. Eva, Janan and Angelina also had to go through training, learning new information and new tactics so they could be there for Ava and their people, preparing the young ones who were in training and also preparing the land by learning new methods of warding, glamor and other skills. Every time Ries saw Ava, she looked and felt different. Something about her energy glowed brighter and brighter each time and he felt more and more power oozing from her in waves whenever they had the chance to spend time together. He was in awe but also concerned since Ava hadn't shared much with him in the way of her training and what she was preparing for. On the other hand, he was glad to have his best friend back. He was grateful that his best friend had recovered and adjusted so well, that they both were living in a place where they never had to hide. It took Hilarid a while to get accustomed to the training though, exhilarated as he was to explore his abilities. It didn't escape him how his best friend looked at Ava. Their unspoken feelings were loud in every room they occupied together. Hilarid was grateful that his best friend had someone who cared for him so much. Over time he'd come to admire Ava a great deal, she had been welcoming and kind to him and as an extension, so did her parents. After just a few months Ava's parents had taken both him and his best friend in, wanting to give them a more permanent home and a family. When Ava's parents first asked Hilarid and Ries they were shell shocked but soon after they moved in, they started to get a better understanding of where Ava got her strong empathy, her kindness and her compassion from.