<div class="floatright">(http://i.imgur.com/sNngXC3.jpg)<br/><em><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 8pt;">Ignore the cats and the wine glass</span></em></div><br/>Lunari took what seemed like a bit of a long time in the bathroom, with the door closed, giving Nirael time to ponder and look around.  The house that Nilari lived in was clean, though there were elements of living wood everywhere among the home, and so it was also rather natural at the same time.  The soft scent of some sort of soap permeated the house, along with whatever wax was used on the finished woods and the smell that seemed to be present in every forest; living breathing wood.<br/><br/>When Lunari came out, she was holding an inky black sack.  She was dressed in a plain white robe that contrasted her lavender skin but let her snow white hair fall softly about her shoulders.  Gone were her ever present bracers and the illusionary armor that it created, and it seemed as if her skin glowed from a thorough scrubbing.  Her hair was still dry, but the white robe she wore clung to her womanly curves slightly, showing that the skin beneath it was just slightly damp.  Nirael realized that the black sack she was holding was actually her inky void cloth, and likely her possessions were wrapped up inside of it.<br/><br/>No words needed to be spoken as the pair ascended the staircase, Lunari taking just a moment to rest her inky bundle on the weapons rack where her mother’s sword and cloak hung.  But the double doors at the top of the stairs were open, revealing a short hallway with three rooms  splitting off.  Directly ahead and to the left were closed doors, but to the right the door hung open.  It was very dark inside but Lunari’s glowing eyes reminded him that an elf probably didn’t need lights anyways.<br/><br/>Nirael knocked on the doorway and heard Nilari’s voice entreat them to enter.  It took a moment for his eyes to adjust to the very dim light, but eventually he understood what he was looking at.  Along the far wall sat a few chars, in one of which Nilari reclined.  Her braids had been undone and she sat waiting patiently wearing nothing but a silken robe of white.  Behind her a window allowed the only light in the room as rays of moonlight shone through.<br/><br/><strong>“Welcome to my training room,” </strong>she said as she stood, the moon light shining through her sheer silken robe, giving a good sense of her figure beneath.<strong>“Before we begin I would like to say a few things.”</strong><br/><br/>Nirael had the time to look around a little more now that his eyes had adjusted and he realized with her words the function of this room.  It was largely empty and while it was a fairly large room, easily twenty feet by fifteen, it was mostly empty.  Woven reed mats covered the floor, softening the hard wood flooring, and likely able to lessen the blow of a fall or tumble.  Along the walls hung weapon racks, replete with both real weapons and also wooden training weapons that looked like they had seen a lot of use.  In the center of the room however, almost invisible to Nirael’s changeling eyesight, was a dark circle, painted onto the mats, obviously intended for sparring purposes.<br/><br/><strong>“First off,” </strong>Nilari continued as Nirael looked around,<strong>“Allow me to say how pleased I am that Lunari has returned home and understand that I am grateful that she came home safely, in part due to your actions master mage.  Secondly, I will follow the rules of my Matriarch, but I do not have to assist you overly much.  But, if you pass my test to my satisfaction, I will assist you.  For if my daughter thinks you are worth this, she has passed her rites of womanhood and I must respect her wishes.  I know by law she is an adult and my rights as mother have passed, but I will always love and care for her.”</strong><br/><br/>Lunari made a soft heavy breathing sound, and her face was inscrutable in the dim light, but she said nothing as Nilari continued,<strong>“Finally since you are new to our world, allow me to explain a few things.  What you see here may be strange to your eyes, but understand that our world is different than the human world.  We live for centuries and our ways and rites may seem odd or deviant to you, but they are as we have always been, elven.  If you wish my acceptance, then you will give us yours.”</strong><br/><br/>She stepped to the edge of the circle and pointed it out.<strong>"I will call you one at a time into the circle.  Once in the circle you may answer my questions as I ask them, and if you wish, you may ask in return, though I am not bound to answer you.  If you are outside of the circle, you must wait patiently and silently.  Speaking or interacting in any way other than observing when outside the circle will be recognized as a failure to hold to the rites.  If I feel I am being deceived or lied too, I may call it as a failure.  If either of you earn three failures, the rites end and I will dismiss you from my home.  Nod if you agree, leave now if you do not.”</strong><br/><br/>Lunari nodded silently and Nilari waited for Nirael to do the same.  Then she shed her robe, revealing her athletic and nude form, save the gleaming pendant of Eialastraee, beneath and stepped into the ring.  She gestured at the two and said,<strong>“Disrobe, expose yourselves fully, and Nirael may enter the circle first.”</strong><br/>