I'm lacking the creative ingenuity to provide a clever and witty name (Character Chat 5)

She smiled and bit her own lip, lowering herself so she was straddling his stomach, then leaned down and started peppering kisses over his face.

"Oh, you big baby," she cooed, pulling back with a smile. Her eyes were bright with joy for once.

She rolled her eyes. "I'm not starting this again," and she promptly shut him up by capturing his lips with hers in a lazy and gentle kiss.

She was content with just making out this morning, so she just slid her hands up to his shoulders and kept them there.

"I'm glad you two are getting along well."
Tessa's eyes flew wide open and she jumped back with a yelp, effectively falling off the bed and landing with a loud and painful sounding thump.
Rhianon simply stood on the other side of the room with her hands clasped behind her back, looking unconcerned by the recent events.

She cocked her head. "A few minutes. Long enough to see you two get cozy."
Tessa swore colorfully and rushed out of the room, deep pink staining her cheeks.

Rhianon perched on the edge of the bed, turning to look at Runner. "What about?" Of course, that was why she was here. She knew he wished to speak with her.

"That is an ambitious goal. You'd need extensive training. Use those around you to help you get the upper hand." She paused, letting him pick up what she was laying down.

She pinched her lips together. "There are very few people who are as highly trained as they." However, she did have a group in mind.

Rhianon tilted her head. "Not enough. Magic isn't enough. Runes are powerful, yes." She gestured to all of the runes tattooed over her gray skin. "But you need warrior training as well. There is a group of highly and specially trained warriors. Alaunians. They're winged warriors with dragon forms as well. They have mysterious powers that have yet to be fully explained."

"They are low in numbers and eager for a trainee. A war that decimated their homeland also massacred their people. I can count on my fingers how many of the hundreds of thousands are now left." She paused. "But I would be careful about what you say around their Empress. Especially about who you know."

She shook her head. "I mean it, Runner. Do not mention to her or the Emperor or the citizens of that empire that you know or have even heard of Cinthia or Theresa."

"Cinthia was the adoptive daughter of the Empress and Emperor. But she was flawed in more ways than one, and the royals and the people saw that as unacceptable. She could not use magic, fell into fits of anxiety, depression, insanity. Had insomnia. Got sick easily. You name it. She looked nothing like her little brother or her parents. She was called a 'witch' when she took the memories of the people who suffered horrible nightmares from the massive war that destroyed the empire years before. There is more, but the gist of it is: They do not like her. She died to save the empire from Kali and came back to life more powerful than ever. She was exiled from the Empire, forbidden from ever setting foot on that continent even though she had allies on neutral grounds. Demitri, perhaps the only surviving childhood friend she had ever had, smuggled her out before Ascha's guards could throw her out."

"There are gods who reside there. They are aware of Cinthia's position, and they adore her like a little sister. She has an adoptive little brother and some friends that would love to meet you and see how she's doing. The Alaunians are also fond of her. As long as you stick with people who are mutual friends, you should be fine."

"As long as it takes." She leveled a look on him with her black eyes. "If you are to kill your father, you must be at your best. You cannot risk this to be with your girlfriend. Mind on the mission at all times. If not, you will fail, and you will die."