Tasia awoke as the sun danced into her window. She tossed the covers off of her boady and swung her legs over the edge of her bed. She yawned and stretched and she stood up. Tasia sleepily glided over to her vanity where she brushed her hair and attempted to wake herself up. She decided that some fresh air would help so she stepped out on her balcony and enjoyed the crisp but welcoming breeze. She inhaled deeply and closed her eyes enjoying the breeze. After a moment she turned and stepped back into her room. She slumped out of her night gown and dressed her self in her usual attire, fitted black pants and shirt, her favorite belt and her light jacket. She pulled her on her boots and grabbed a few papers of of her desk and went hoping down the stairs. She grabbed a quick bite of the breakfast that had been prepared and went to her father's room.<br/><br/>Cyrus met her in the hall with a portfolio, "Glad you are up, I know how you fancy the disgusting mountain region and your little twiggy friend there. Take these prints to them. I'm in need of large order of weaponry." Cyrus cared not much of his daughter as she was not the one who carried on his name. He didn't see her fit to take the throne. He had always planned for his late son, Emmet, to take over. After Emmet's honorable death in battle and the death of his wife, Cyrus cared for nothing but rum, women, and war. After he handed his daughter the portfolio he left, heading for his calvary's training grounds.<br/><br/>Tasia took the portfolio from her father with a crisp smile. She turned from him and grabbed her long, heavy overcoat from the forier and headed for the barn. She took out her horse, Ares, and saddled him. She tossed her over coat over his withers for safe keeping until she got to the mountain region where it was cooler. She knew this would be atleast a week trip. But that was a week she didn't have to deal with her father or anyone else. Tasia climbed upon her steed and started out through the forest.<br/>_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________<br/><br/>Simon awoke with a nearly frozen body. He had no fat to insulate him. Just a small twiggy frame. He shuffled around his little mountain cottage and put on his clothes. He only had 3 outfits. His work clothes, which he wore every day; his semi nice clothes, these were for special occasions; and his battle uniform that was assigned to him in times of an emergency. Every able body was given one. Simon was poor. His family had always been poor. He worked in the weaponry crafting shop. Making weapons for kingdoms. He enjoyed it for the most part. The heat from the fires gave relief from the cold air of the mountain. If he had the chance he would sleep in the shop to lessen his chances of hypothermia. It had been 6 months since he last saw his friend. Tasia was really the only person he called a friend. He mostly steered clear of everyone else as they were much stronger and would probrably just pick on him.<br/><br/>Simon pushed his feeble, poorly constructed glasses up his nose and stepped out into the cold frigid air and made his way to the shop. This was his everyday routine. Shiver all the way to work. Get comfortable in the warmth of the moulting meatal then shiver home. The shop was in the town and he lived in a run down shack on the edge of town. The path of the town was usually covered with snow and his shoes were only barely present. His feet grew numb during his trek to work.<br/><br/>Once he got to the shop he began working on projects, but first he let his feet greet the warmth.<br/>___________________________________________________________________________________________________________<br/><br/>Tasia made her way through the forest the portfolio in one saddle bag and her papers in the other. She also had a blanket and a hammock in her saddle bags. She cantered through the forest easily. Stopping at night fall to rest. As she made her way on, she came upon the canyons which took up more time. As she and her horse had to carefully weave through the maze of cliffs and level ground. On the other side of the canyon was the always beautiful and peaceful plains and Lake Serene. She stopped at the lake to refresh her self and her horse. She foud a gord and made it into a water container. She knew she would need to cary water along to make it through the desert. They rested there for a good while and then continued on. The desert was one of the roughest parts of the journey. As they carefully made their way through the desert sharing the water she had brought along. Tasia tried to sheild herself from the sun's harsh rays. The sand went on forever. Several times she dismounted and led Ares through the desert so as to make sure he didn't over exert himself. She stopped in the small Ximid Dynasty, and picked up a small box that she had requested through a letter.<br/><br/>Finally, she could see the mountains. They finished off the water and hurried off to them. As they entered the foothills, Tasia pulled on her overcoat and they carefully made their way up the steep mountains, and jumping the occasional small chasm she mad her way up to the village just outside of the castle. She rode through the village ignoring the stares of the people. She rode up to the weaponry shop and tied her horse up. She dismounnted, grabbed her pappers and her father's portfolio out of the saddle bags and walked inside.<br/><br/>________________________________________________________________________________________________________________<br/><br/>Simon grinned and greeted his friend with an inviting hug, Tasia of course greeted him back. She handed him the portfolio firt. As Simon took it he noted "This is your father's portfolio. I know this isn't all you brought me." He looked at her through his large feeble spectacles and she laughed, "Of course not, Simon. She handed him her papers, "Of course this will all be on father's ticket. But as usual i brought you my sword design, and a new design i did for you. A new pair of glasses. Stronger ones." She smiled And handed him the box. "Here are the lenses." The two friends talked for a while as he worked.