Sunday in Windia...

I'm awake... I think... Frank thought to himself as he slapped his nightstand, looking for his glasses. After slipping said spectacles onto his face, the Persona User let out a loud yawn before stretching and popping his back. Frank stumbled out of his bed, and made his way to his dresser, passing Neko-Chan's bed.

Heh... she's still asleep... not like I'm surprised... Frank let out a small smile as he passed his adopted sister. The Persona User actually stopped, and looked at the nekomata, who seemed to be dreaming about something pleasant. Probably dreaming that she caught the largest sea bass that Windia had ever seen... Not that I'd be surprised... Eventually, Frank reached his dresser, and looked at himself in his mirror.

"Jeez..." Frank muttered to himself. The Persona User just calmly reached out, and touched his reflection. "I look like hell... Nothing that a shower and some breakfast couldn't help... Damn, I've got practice with Tellka, Kate, and Chris later today..." The Persona User grabbed a towel that was hanging on a hook on the back of his closet door before heading out of his room. Frank walked down the hallway above The Reverse Edge, making his way past the kitchen, and toward the bathroom.

Wait a minute... Frank walked back a few more paces, and glanced back into the kitchen. Of course, Jess was there, making breakfast. But...

The Persona User just rubbed his eyes, noting the extra faces in the kitchen that morning. After a few moments, Frank decided to speak up. "... Brad? Mrs. Terranama? Sonya? ... What are y'all doing here? I thought..." Frank would have continued, but was soon cut off by Brad, who was just staring at Frank and laughing continuously.

"DUDE!!!" Brad said, pointing at Frank's hair. "You've got some serious bed-head, bro!"

"Brad!" Mrs. Terranama said as she affixed a stern look toward her son. "First off, you are a guest here in the Rorins's home. And second..."

Sonya took a moment to zip around the egotistical Persona User before stopping in front of his face. The pixie just hovered in place, beating her wings so she could stay eye level with Brad. Sonya just stared at the Persona User, narrowed her eyes, and placed her hands on her hips before speaking. "He's your friend! Now you had better apologize to him!"

"Okay, okay... sheesh..." Brad said as he turned to Frank. "Sorry man... it's just that..."

"Man... don't worry about it... I was just about to shower, when... Wait... why are you back here? I mean... you just went back home yesterday..." Frank said before scratching the back of his head and letting out a loud yawn. Brad was about to reply to his friend, when Jess interrupted him.

"Son..." Jess said as her tail waved back and forth idly. "The Terranama's are going to be staying with us for a bit... I'm going to be helping them open up a business near here..."

"Frank..." Brad said quietly. "Dude... Dad... left my family while I was out of town... ... I thought it'd be best if we came here to restart. ... That, and my sister was in danger back in Lunarvale."

Frank Maynard just stared at his friend in shock. This was obviously a side of his friend that he never had seen before. Honestly, Frank never knew how bad it was in the Terranama household. Sure, he knew how drunk Brad's father could get, but he never knew...

Wait... "Your sister?" Frank asked while running a hand through the mess known as his hair. "Brad, for as long as I've known you... you've been an only child..."

"Well..." Brad said before rubbing his neck. Before the egotistical Persona User could say anything else, Shayla walked into the kitchen, passing Frank. The dark elf took a seat at the table, and looked at Brad, Sonya, then Claire before registering the look on Frank's face.

"Dark elf..." Frank said quietly. The Persona User just stared at Shayla for a moment, before making a move to raise his fists. However, just as soon as he did that, he lowered them back to his side again. "... You may be a dark elf... but... You're nothing like the others I've encountered... Your chi and resonance... and your aura... nothing's chaotic..." Frank just smiled at Shayla and extended his hand. "My name's Frank. And you are..."

Shayla just looked at Frank for a moment, trying to size up the Persona User. He seems so... sincere... And... I think he's telling the truth... There's no reason for him to lie... he seems like... an honest person... ... Just like Doran was...

The dark elf just cracked a smile. Instead of taking the Persona User's hand and shaking it, Shayla offered him a flourished bow as her ears twitched back and forth. "My name is Shayla Ra'Zaddan, formerly of house Ra'Zaddan. It's a pleasure to meet you, Frank."

"Likewise, Shayla." Frank said as he cracked a slight smile. "Erm... there's no reason to bow..."

Shayla just giggled at Frank. "I'm sorry... it's only habit..." The dark elf looked around the kitchen as her ears twitched back and forth curiously. Shayla glanced out the window, and turned back to Frank. "Brad was telling me that I'd be safe here... How..."

"Well... First off, Shayla..." Frank started as he wandered over to the fridge. The Persona User opened it up and pulled a jug of orange juice out, before closing the fridge and setting said jug on the counter. "Have you noticed any of the races here?"

"I have... cat beings... Brad told me they're Woren, correct? And angels... Come to think of it... The races here are quite diverse." Shayla folded her arms and thought for a few moments. "Wait... ... There aren't any elves here?"

"Actually..." Brad said as he approached his adopted sister. "There is now. You. And only you. There's no chance in hell that your kin could find you here, Shayla."

"Brad's right. ... And even if they did... ... Hey, I'd help to keep them away from you..." Frank said before taking a swallow from his orange juice. "Man, I've got to take a shower... if I'm late for practice... Tellka will kill me... Hey, you and Brad want to come with me? It's just at the coliseum. And I'm sure you'd like to see more of Windia..."

"If it's all right with Miss Terranama..." Shayla replied. The dark elf glanced at Claire Terranama, who seemed to be nodding in approval.

"Go ahead..." Claire said as she sipped her coffee. "I've got to talk to Miss Rorins anyhow..."

"Right..." Frank said before downing the last of his juice. "Let me go take a shower, then we'll head to the coliseum..." The Persona User placed the jug of orange juice back into the fridge before leaving the kitchen so he could take a much needed shower.

"So... sis..." Brad said as he placed a hand on Shayla's shoulder. "How... do you like it here?"

The dark elf turned, and looked at the egotistical Persona User. Before answering, she looked at Jess, Claire, and finally Sonya. "I think... it's going to be the start of something beautiful..." The dark elf looked out the window, and smiled for the first time in a long time.

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