Sorin took a deep breath, rather liking the cool air of the mountains in the Land of Dragons.  Even if it was rather predictable of him Sorin couldn't help it.  This was just the perfect world for him to go and train.  Most of the time he could train by himself and not worry about anything.  But right now he had a rather specific reason for this training.

Ever since he lost his old powers Sorin had lacked any kind of move he could call a finisher.  He wanted to have a move that could finish fights but he just didn't have any spells that could do that.  That is until he got his latest spell when he helped rescue Cheryl and Kalas from the White Night.

The spell, Enrise, immediately reminded him of an old move he used to do.  However that move was a limit with a specific person and Sorin couldn't do it anymore with him gone.  But with Enrise it could be used once more.  Sorin smiled to himself.  Of all the old moves he could use again he was happy it was this one.  Another way to honor his best friend.

The Samurai set up a couple of heavy training dolls.  It was going to take some time to get this to work but Sorin was ready to do that.  Once he is able to figure out the first part the rest would come naturally.

"Enrise."  Sorin said as he sent the tunnel of dark wind at the target and frowned as it was knocked down the mountain.  "This might take longer than I thought."

====

(This takes place for Mary in during the transition in Death in the Darkness, after chapter 4 and before chapter 6.)

Mary was back in the Land of Dragons. She had been there earlier to undergo a spiritual rebirth. In doing so, the ninja ad lost her previous skills but obtained a unique magic of her own in exchange. She had also met another Interference here as well, by the name of Shane. A good guy but the ninja believed he would've at least combed his hair.

Still, the reason why she returned to this world was because she had reached an epiphany during her visit to the world of Nirn, on the continent of Cyrodiil. After learning about the Order from Azumi Ian,  it made the ninja relieved she wasn't the only one willing to turn to subterfuge to protect those she cared about. Especially when it's possible some of the members might be Interferences she knew.

Also, Mary had wanted to meditate on what she learned. She was feeling a heavy weight on her back, trailing her every move. Follow each of the ninja's steps and never leaving her presence, making itself known on her wake. "Why is my body exuding so much smoke? Have I lost control of my magic or is this a sign of sorts? Probably both, considering my experiences."

Any further thoughts were pushed out as she saw something be pushed out of the mountain. The ninja ran ahead and found the area filled with a couple of training dolls. Mary pushed one and noted it was heavy. Her eyes then fell on the only person in the same area as her.  Someone she hadn't expected to see in a long time. "It is good to see you are still diligent in your training, Sorin."

====

(For Nicole this is set after the thread "Just Your Average Barfight" at Port Royal)

Drifting through the worlds with no goal, Nicole somehow found herself at The Land of Dragons, walking across the snowy path. Her body was covered by an old but useful brown cape with a collar long enough to keep her neck warm. While she really hated the cold, she found the serenity of the mountains quite pleasing, specially when she was dealing with her own inner thoughts.

Not so long ago, she left the smell of the sea and rum of Port Royal behind, after dealing with crazy situation. A bar fight ensued, where Nicole ended up fighting against a powerful Interference.

That vampire, so he seemed, was someone Nicole ended up underestimating heavily. His skills, as much as she didn't want to admit it, were greater than her own. An combination of great speed and power, was something she had a lot of trouble dealing with, specially after his eyes locked on her. While she was still able to fight back, she felt he still got the upper hand.

Soon that thought was cast aside when she noticed a pair of people not so far away. Her curiosity peaking, she decided to approach slowly and from a moderate distance.

====

Sorin looked up and blinked several times.  "Mary is that you?"  Sorin asked as he put his weapons away and walked over to her.  While there were some changes she still looked to be the same.  "It's been a while Mary.  I think the last time we saw each other was back in Deep Jungle.  How have you been?"  Sorin said, smiling slightly at the old friend.  Of course bringing up Deep Jungle might have been the smartest thing to do considering what happened but Sorin had forgotten that part.

It probably would be best for Sorin if she forgot about it as well.

====

"That it has, Sorin. I see I am not the only one who changed since the last time we've seen each other." Mary replied, bowing to Sorin. While there was no need for her to be so formal, she did it for a reason. The ninja was hiding her blush since the last time she and Sorin had met each other, he had seen her all au natural. "Anyway, how have you been? A lot has changed since we last saw each other. How is Audrey?"

====

[i]"Who're these people? No way they are from this world. Two of them seem to know each-other...hmm..."[/i]Nicole stood quiet as another person approached the two. She quickly changed position, hiding behind a big snowy boulder. She then took one more glance at the three, they didn't seem bad. Yet she stood hidden, unsure about the individuals true alignment.

However, lady luck was not going to go easy on her this time. Because just as a soft cold breeze blew across the area, Nicole's nose started to feel somewhat itchy...

"...ah......ah....[size=5]ACHOO!![/size]"

The sneeze was loud enough to be easily heard by the other Interferences, completely blowing her cover-[i]"Dammit! I hate this stupid cold!!"[/i]-Nicole cursed in her mind. She quickly got her bo staff out and carefully moved away of the boulder.

====

Sorin gave Mary a strange look as she bowed to him.  He did not remember her ever acting this formal before.  Then again he had not seen her for some time so there was plenty of time for her to change.  It wasn't really his place to question it.  Not that he would have a chance to as that was the time someone interrupted.

Sorin didn't recognize the guy and he said he was new so he was a newbie.  Sorin hadn't seen one in a while.  "Hey.  I'm Sorin and this is Mary.  Who are you?"  Sorin asked politely as he rested his katana on his shoulder.  Didn't want to scare off the newbie after all.

However someone seemed to have sneezed then.  Sorin wasn't too worried.  "Who is there?"  Sorin asked simply.

====

Maybe they didn't hear it, or maybe she could be able to sneak away before they notice, she thought. Of course she knew very well that was obviously not gonna happen once the young man named Sorin called for her to reveal.

With a sigh, Nicole stood up and walked away of the boulder, rising her arms to show she didn't looked for a fight. Her grip on her staff still tight, just in case-"You got me. I really gotta step my game up next time I try to sneak up on someone, stupid snow..."

"Name's Nicole"-she introduced-"I wasn't sure what kind of Interferences you were so I kept my distance. I guess you can't be evil, otherwise I'd be wounded on the snow by this point"

She took a short look to their surroundings before asking-"So, what are you people doing here anyways?"

====

Mary was thankful for the new arrival and the distraction. The latter had gotten her to unsheathed her tanto and quickly move in the direction of where the sneeze came from. And then a girl appeared, her arms up in the air but still holding onto her weapon, a staff. The ninja lowered her guard a bit but kept the tanto out just in case. "It's not a smart move to sneak up on someone, especially a stealth expert like myself. Still, you gave your name I shall introduce myself. I am Mary and this is Sorin. We don't know who the other boy is. Frankly, I just arrived here for some meditative training. As for Sorin, I believe he is in the middle of some training." Mary replied to the girl, Nicole. She stared at the other guy. "We still haven't heard your name."

====

Sorin watched the girl as she came out of her hiding spot.  She seemed nervous which is understandable so Sorin didn't change his stance.  He was still watching her in case she tried something but this way he seemed less threatening than usual.

He turned to the now identified William and nodded.  It might be a bit confusing because of Will Tarin but Sorin figured he would just refer to William by his full name.  But Sorin felt bad for him.  If he really was dropped here by someone he probably he has no way to leave on his own.  That would be an awful thing to do to a new Interference.  "Well once I am done here I think I could offer you a ride to Radiant Garden.  You should be able to get your own Gummi Ship there."  Sorin offered.

====

Mary decided Nicole wouldn't be any trouble and sheathed her tanto. She did raise an eyebrow when the newcomer introduced himself as William Sentinel. This reminded her of another Interference she knew, Will Tarin. Oh the irony of her meeting with Sorin and someone named Will after so long. This wasn't what the ninja had expected when she decided to return here. Still, it was better than having to deal with a psychopath wanting revenge against a death cult and stealing a plate from a corrupt count. "So what brings you to here?" Mary asked, looking at Nicole and William.

====

"Well..."

Nicole thought for a moment. She really didn't had anything big to do in this place. She mostly arrived here to ponder on what to do next, and to forget her foolish defeat against certain vampire...

"I just decided to take a look into this world. That's all..."-she replied to the ninja-"Sorry if I don't have a very interesting reason like you guys"

Out of curiosity, she decided to pick on Mary's comment about being a "stealth expert"-"So, I guess you two been in these Interferencing thing for a while?"

====

"Well I am sure one of us can give you an actual lift once we are done here."  Sorin told Will before turning back to look at Nicole.  "Yeah we have.  I am considered one of the oldest Interferences.  Mary has been around for a while too though not as long as I have."

While they would talk Sorin would set up the next training dummy.  Right now his main goal was to use Enrise to catch the dummy and hold it in the air.  If he could get that done then he would be able to finish his technique.  "Enrise!"  Sorin called out as he threw out another column of wind but once again it just knocked down the dummy.

"Damn it."

====

Seeing how Sorin continued his training, Nicole decided the give it a try as well. On her visit to the world of Weyard, she was able to unleash a new power of her Thunderstorm Magic. Still, after that dire situation, she has not been able to pull it off again, much like Sorin here with his own move.

She walked towards one of the fallen training dummies-"You don't mind if I practice a little bit too, do you?"-she asked Sorin as she placed the dummy back into place.

She then got into a battle stance before the dummy, the wisps of cirrus clouds quickly forming around her arms as the strange markings on her started to glow slightly-[i]"Okay....focus..."[/i]

She took a deep breath, trying to concentrate. Currents of air started to swirl around her, slowly becoming more and more strong. soon enough, these air currents also started to show sings of carrying electricity as well with fast sparks flashing around Nicole with each passing second.

Now charged with energy, Nicole had to release all that power. However, things didn't work as planned. Rather than the air to expand, it just implode in place, hurting and slightly electrifying Nicole who was able to fall on her knee after the blast.

"D-dammit..."-she cursed under he breath. she was having much luck with her new powers either.

====

"Not as long as Sorin but just as strong if not stronger." Mary replied, not mentioning more about what she meant. Only Sorin would understand what she meant since it had been when the two last thought against each other and it had been a friendly yet intense match.  The ninja walked into a secure corner after making sure it wouldn't interrupt neither Sorin nor Nicole's training, she sat down, legs crossed. Placing her hands on top of her legs, fingers and thumb closed together and closing her eyes, she began to meditate. Her mind began going back to when she first arrived to Nirn, to the province of Cyrodiil. The ninja reflected on her experiences there, unaware her body was beginning to exude a lot of smoke.

====

Sorin rolled his eyes at Mary's comment.  "You still bring that up?  Mary that fight was years ago.  Not only that you but we knocked each other out and you advanced because of the judges.  It's not exactly a decisive victory."  Sorin said as he focused on sending out another Enrise this time it didn't just crash into the dummy but seemed to lift it up.

Finally things were starting to work out.

====

The thunderstorm-user wasn't going to give up that easily. As she continued to hear about Sorin and Mary, she attempted once again to pull off her new move.

Again, starting it was easy. The wind and electricity manifested in mere seconds. The hardest part was to be able to contain that amount of energy then release it.

Sadly, this second try ended in similar fashion as the previous one, with no shockwave unleashed and Nicole just receiving all the damage of her own attack. Nicole was now on her knees and panting. It looked like this time it hurt her even more.-"G-goddammit..."-she cursed once again.

Her focus, however, shifted towards Mary, who was releasing tons and tons of smoke around her as she meditated.

"Um...is she alright?"-Nicole asked Sorin. Funny she found that odd, considering five second ago she was surrounded by electrifying currents of air, which is no way more normal than that.

====