As we entered the dining hall area I couldn't help myself but to look around for Dustin. He sat way in the back corner and when our eyes met he gave me a really dark glare. I didn't want to look away too quickly so that he'd think of me a coward, but if I stare him in the eyes too long it might piss him off more and I don't think I can handle a second go with him. Luckily my friends got my attention before I could decide how to play it.

"Don't let him get to you, Tyrian. I mean you did right by avoiding a serious fight with him earlier. I mean I wouldn't even go up against him," Lana said.

Noxos mostly agreed with her but said if I wanted he'd kick Dustin's ass for me in revenge. To which I asserted that that was unnecessary and told him not to do something stupid. I doubt anyone but Captain and Master could go up against Dustin. Which makes him a good asset to the guild and our enemies call him "The Demon of Distruction", which is a fitting name if you ask me.

Lillyana rest her hand on my arm bringing me out of my thoughts again and I sighed. She nodded and said she agreed with Lana's statement, but also said that if he ever tries that again I shouldn't feel ashamed in asking others for help. To which everyone at the table agreed with.

"Asking for help isn't a sign of weekness or an act of cowardess, it's an act of strength in knowing your limits," Diana said. Hadn't Master said something similar about knowing when you've lost?

I don't get it though, how can you improve yourself if you never test your limits? If your friends are at stake how can you give up a fight without giving everything you can to slow or stop them? Then again what good would dying do if the outcome ends the same? Words from my past hit me just as my thoughts ended.

'You have to choose your opponents wisely and should your apponent out match you then outnumber him,' Shay said.

Shay was the reason I managed to learn so much about fighting. I met him a year back and he gave me a lot of advice I took to heart. He wasn't a magic user, but he was a serious weapons and fighting nerd, for lack of a better word - Somewhat of a weapons collecter slash fighting enthusiast.

A few months ago he had aquired a rare magical sword and was murdered for it. We don't know, still, who did it, but someone may have received the sword from Shay before he died so at least it's safe. He knew they were after it and trusted me with it's safety. I never told a single soul about any of this and don't plan to. Not even Naxos knows of this and that's the way it'll stay.

Basically when Lillyana and Oliver asked me about improving my fighting skills without training, I sort of did have some training. I still surprised myself on how I had applied it in actual combat. Shay and I never sparred, but he had a lot of usful insight on fighting techniques and styles.

"Earth to Tyrian," Lillyana said and bumped me with her elbow. "Where'd you go?" She added when I looked over at her.

"Nowhere, sorry. I guess I just spaced out a little that's all," I said and laughed it off. "Anyways, you guys may have heard, but Captain approved of some friends of mine to come help us out with the evacuation process. I didn't tell them anything yet so if you guys could help me out when they get here that would be a big help," I said diverting the conversation.

"Really? You got the Captain to agree to outside help on the matter? I'm impressed you had the balls to even ask," Oliver said.

"Yeah well it's only for protection while the rest of our guild is in battle. I didn't think asking him to take some of our people out of the fight would be smart, plus a few of them have abilities that would help with our plan. Which reminds me, what do you guys know about the tunnels under the town?" I asked.

"Not much, only that a lot of them have collapsed and were blocked off. Oh and that they run through most of the city," Mara said. I nodded. So no one else has any more insight than I do.

"You're planning on evacuating the people under ground then? That's actually the most efficient way to keep them away from any battles and out of sight," Diana said.

"Yeah, but there is still the problem of a pannic and timing. We have no idea when they plan to strike and well if they do it before were ready we may be stuck in the crossfire. And if we do it too soon they'll notice if all the people disappear and that probably wouldn't boad well either," I said and sighed. There are just too many unknowns and I don't like it.

Everyone went silent and quietly ate. They were probably trying to think of something and if they aren't they probably don't like the odds either. Noxos punched me in the arm and smiled at me.

"You'll think of something, man. Plus, maybe once your other friends arrive they may have some input," He said. He's right, which is why I told the group planning the evac. we should start the first part of the plan and think of more later. I nodded and finished my burger.

"Speaking of your friends, I wasn't aware you knew anyone outside the guild. Let alone people from other guilds," Oliver said.

"I'll explain more to you guys later," I mumbled. It was going to be easier to explain how I met each person once they arrive. "Right now I'm going to head to bed. There is a lot to do tomorrow and I need some sleep for training," I added.

I left them all at the table and headed to my room. A lot has happened since my parents passed and in the last couple of years. A lot of the stories I have to tell are long and some bitter, but I'm not ready to share all my dark secrets with them yet. I mean they have become friendlier and kinder to me the last few days, but I wouldn't call them close friends, they're more like colleagues.

Once in my room I got ready for bed and laid down. With all the thoughts running through my head sleep evaded me for a good hour or so before I finally fell asleep.

In the morning Diana and Mara woke me for our run, which they got approval from Captain for. I didn't espect Naxos to join us however. I of course asked him why he was here.

"Isn't it obvious, you little dog? I'm here to make sure you don't get any ideas while being alone with two cute girls," he said. I grabbed the bridge of my nose in fristration and rolled my eyes. For the love of Pete does he ever stop?

Mara smacked him over the head and Diana shook her head at him. I'm assuming he's really here as an extra person in our group - upon Captain's instructions.

"Well regardless, lets go so I can make it to training on time today," I said and we headed out.

On the way out the door we ran into somone coming in and she kept apologizing for getting in our way. A person I knew and happened to be one of the people I called.

"Candice, I'm glad you made it," I said and she looked up from her bowing position. The others looked between her and me. "I hope your trip wasn't too rough," I added.

"Tyrian!" She said enthusiastically and hugged me like a little kid hugs their parent when they get home from work. I nearly fell over as she threw herself at me.

"Oww - oww, Candice get off of me," I muttered. She let go with a laugh.

"So is one of these girls your girlfriend? You affraid of her getting jealous?" She asked and I rolled my eyes. She's almost as bad as Noxos in trying to set me up with someone. However if I do ever decide to do that it would only be with one person, Lillyana.

"No one is getting jealous because I have no girlfriend and don't want one," I said. "Were going for a run, but I can get you settled when we get back," I added to her.

"I could just join you guys if that's alright," she said and set her bag down by the door.

"I don't see a problem with that," Diana said and I sighed. That'll work, I really don't have time to get her a room right now anyways and if we don't go now, I'll be late for training. Plus we can fill her in while were out. I nodded and we headed to the trail.

When we stopped for a water break I started explaining what was going on and the cover story of why I asked her to come. Not that I don't trust the others but I wanted everyone to be here for my real plan. I'm sure most of them would help my guild anyways once our part of the evacuation is done, but I also don't plan on sitting this fight out. No I won't loose another friend, I'll help in whatever way I can.

"So who else have you asked to come then? You mentioned 9 others and myself right?" She said.

"Well obviously I needed some earth affinitive magic users so I called in Ray and Amber. Then just a few other people I've met that I thought could be helpful for protection purposes," I said and shrugged. The others I called in are good fighters and could definitely be of help to the fight. A few weapon's users and fighters, plus spell casters and a couple of magic affinitive users that I know.

"That's vague," she muttered and I shrugged. It was vague for a reason. Plus even if I listed off the names she wouldn't probably know them anyways. I looked at my watch and swore, we had to go. Noxos understood and we headed back.

Once there Noxos said he'd get Candice settled and I hurried to change and headed to training with Master Faraday. Man I really wish there was more time between my run with Diana and my training cause this is wiping me out.

After about a half hour of dodging and fending off his attacks he called it a day then told me I should try and hit our gym after our sessions to try and build up strength. As he put it my punches and kicks "won't do a damn thing". I knew that I wasn't great in physical strength but still.

I knew of I added that to my training I'd probably over work my body so I started to think of a training regimen that may work. I could run every other day and hit the gym the other days. I could also start easy until my body gets used to training. Maybe start with simple push ups and sit ups and go from there. Kind of like with running start off slow and I will be able to do more and more, little by little.