The Newbie makes and Impression

Maxsodin was on edge as she watched. Nexan and little Nyxick were sparring. His yellow eyes shone as he threw his hatchet, which was promptly deflected by a flick of Nexan's scythe. He reached out, tongue protruding in concentration, and the hatchet returned to his hand. He looked at Nexan in triumph. She gave him a quick, encouraging smile before she took at sweep at him.

Maxsodin felt her whole body tense as it happened. Nyxick deflected it with ease, of course, but it still made Maxy jump. She looked blankly at the black ball of darkness summoned in her hand. She let it die out.

"Great work, Nyx!" Nexan said. Maxsodin looked up to see he had his hatchet at her chest. Max smiled. Though Nexan might have been going easy on him, his victory made her feel more proud than even Nyxick himself.

Nexan dismissed him and he ran promptly over to Maxsodin.

"Did you see? Did you see?" he was hopping with excitement. "I beat her, I won!"

Max beamed and gave him a playful noogie. "Sure did!" she laughed, allowing him to squirm from her reach.

"What now?" His eyes seemed as full of electricity as their color.

Maxsodin shrugged. "I don't know. How about you go see Xahssa."

Puzzlement crossed his face.

"You know, the girl who brought you here."

Realization dawned on his face and he smiled again. "I like her. She's nice!"

Max crossed her arms and nodded towards the door. "Go on now. Be off."

He scurried to the door, halting mid-step in the door-frame, whirling around. "Where is she again?"

Max laughed. "Most likely in the kitchens, fixing lunch."

He smiled his thanks and hurried off, not yet realizing he had no clue where the kitchens were.

Max was still smiling fondly towards the door when Nexan stood beside her.

"A bit of favoritism?" she asked.

Max shook her head, suppressing a smile. "And what gave you that idea, Superior?"

Nexan gave her a playful shove. "Stop toying with me, you dolt! You know we all are obsessed over that little guy." She shook her head. "I see he's had a great impact on you."

Maxsodin looked distracted. "Oh? How's that?"

Nexan gaped. "Look at you Max! Your almost completely normal again!"

She gave herself a quick scan. "I wouldn't say completely normal, Nexan. There are still things that will never go back to being normal. We'll just have to work with it."

Nexan considered this for a moment, then sighed. "Whatever you say. I'm going to escort young Nyx to the kitchens. No doubt he's wandering aimlessly through the hallway." She chuckled as she headed to the door. "Bye Max! Oh, and if you see Braxyd, tell him I would like to speak with him."

"Will do." Max said. "Bye Nexan!"

Nyx was indeed wandering the hallways. He stared up at the tall, looming walls with awe. He didn't see the cloaked figure until he ran smack into him.

"Hey watch it!" Braxyd growled, he himself too distracted to notice the small Nobody.

"S-sorry...!" Nyx fumbled to push his hood back off his head.

Braxyd stared at the member, head tilted to one said. "Hey... are you the new member?"

Nyx stared up with his innocent yellow eyes. "Huh?... oh, yeah, that's me."

Braxyd smiled, half patronizingly, half genuine. This was the new recruit everyone was all hyped about? He was no more than a child... no, he was a child, Braxyd thought.

"So kid..." Braxyd waited for a name.

The boy caught on right away. "Nyxick." he said promptly. "But you can call my Nyx."

Braxyd, was glad he had someone to toy with. Ever since Maxy got "sick", he wasn't allowed to tease her, and everyone else was too stressed to take a joke. Maybe this kid would be different, he hoped.

"Alright Nyx," he said. "Tell me about yourself."

He blinked, naivety joining the innocence in his gaze.

Braxyd sighed. "You know, power, weapon... that sort of stuff."

"Oh," he smiled foolishly at Braxyd. IV had to admit he was cute. "Well, my power... that's temperature."

"How so?"

"I can control the temperature of things. Turn water to steam, or ice, if I choose. Then I can control it. I can even make blasts of hot air or cool down a sunny day!"

Braxyd had to hide another smile. This kid was quite passionate about his gifts, he thought.

"Weapon?" Brax prompted once more.

"Oh, that's my hatchet." He said, summoning the weapon with some trouble. Braxyd eyed it curiously. It was by no means intricate. Simple and effective, he thought. It was small, but it fit the kid's hand. Nyx held it in such a way that Brax was positive he knew how to use it, and use it well.

"That's cool." Brax said, remaining impassive. Nyx put his hatchet away and stared at Braxyd.

"May I ask you something?" he said disarmingly.

"Shoot." Braxyd said, folding his arms.

"Can you tell me about yourself?" he asked.

Braxyd struck a heroic pose. "The name's Braxyd, Number IV, the Scheming Flame, power of fire, weapon of halberd!" He summoned his weapon and flourished it expertly.

"Cool!" Nyx said, grinning at Braxyd's performance, which he had found quite comical. "And one more thing, Mister Braxyd..."

"What?" Braxyd un-summoned his weapon.

"Do you know where the kitchen is?" He asked.

This time, Braxyd had to laugh out loud.

"Come on, kid!" he said, still laughing. "I'll take you there.

Brax smiled to himself. He had only known VIII for not even five minutes and he already liked the kid. It was a new record for both Braxyd and Nyx.