SoYa just remained grinning in his typical, unassuming way.

“There are Dragons on the horizon!” a voice called from the hall outside of TsuYa’s door. “Lord Zemi is coming!”

There was a great stirring that followed the sound of the call, the Cyngan all in a flurry to rush from the compound and greet the Dreigiau’s return. The dim halls that were usually still and calm suddenly sprung to glistening life with surprising vitality. There was even the sound of joyful singing somewhere off in the distance.

All the better for me to just stay put.

TsuYa scowled at the commotion outside his door. His bandaged chin was propped on top of his folded arms. His elbows perched upon where he leaned idly against the smooth curve of the windowsill. Though he had little interest in getting caught up in the trivial-mindedness of the winged people’s welcome, TsuYa couldn’t help his dark eyes from straying with expectation at the cloud-dappled sky. The thought that perhaps he’d get a glimpse of the Dragons flying in kept him there.

Father… finally… you’ve come back.

He felt a twinge of hope for the first time in coming to the floating lands. TsuYa had no doubt that Father would return with an answer to everything… to the terrible dreams… the patch on his skin… and now the gashes on his cheek.

But what will he say when he sees it?

After the appearance of the slashes on his face, TsuYa had no choice but to offer up some sort of explanation to Aunt SaRa and JouKa. Though he didn’t tell him the whole of the story – there were far too many things about his dreams that he did not understand well enough to speak of – he did break down enough to tell them of his nightmarish experiences.

And what did they do about it?

Absolutely nothing.

TsuYa’s greatest concern was that upon discovering his dark secret, Aunt SaRa would have ordered him retained… locked up… confined. It was the logical thing to do – no one knew what he had been tainted with or what the outcome of such a thing would be.

I could very well be a danger to each and every person on this Island. Yet…

Aunt SaRa had only mothered him with growing concern and affection, easing his fears by assuring him that Father and Lord Zemi would be returning home with answers soon. No confinement. No mistrust. Simply a set of bandages to bind up the wounds on his cheek.

Sometimes… I really just don’t get her.

Of course, there had been the initial shock in reaction to his story… and JouKa seemed to have taken it far less calmly than Aunt SaRa did. The winged girl even attempted to deny the truth of his story at first — until he pointed out the darkened patch of skin and the gashes on his face.

Though, I guess that’s to be expected.

In the end, Aunt SaRa had made JouKa promise to keep TsuYa’s secret quiet, just among the three of them. And from that point out, one of the two women were almost always present to keep a watch over him. If there were any signs of strange behavior or that he might be phasing out into another one of his dreams, they would be there to act upon the situation right away.

Which means… I never get any time to myself now. What a bother.

TsuYa shifted his position with a deep huff, the motion causing the gashes along his cheek to ache again, a sharp stinging burn. Though had been a few days since the wounds had been inflicted upon him in his dream, they seemed just as fresh and painful as they did the very first day. Aunt SaRa had done all she could to treat and dress the wounds, but they remained wide open and burning, oozing a sickly black liquid that was neither blood nor puss. All that they had been able to do was keep it covered, and to change the bandages as often as we needed – which was far more often than TsuYa liked.

But maybe, now that Father is coming home… I won’t have to worry about it much longer.

It was a small hope. But it was all he had left to hold on to. If anyone could find a way to help him, it would be Father.

“TsuYa!” the door slid open without warning. JouKa stood on the other side, dashin the hair out of her face with a ruffled expression. “What are ya doin’?!”

He sat up with a disgruntled look on his face. “What does it look like I’m doing?”

“Not getting’ ready to go out to see Lord Zemi’s arrival, that’s fer sure!” she chided him sharply, arms spreading in exasperation. A few steps carried her across the room to where he sat. Then one hand planted on her hip, the customary look of disapproval on her face.

She certainly doesn’t treat me any nicer now that she knows. I guess that’s a bit too much to hope for.

“It’s a mess out there. I’m in no rush to get caught up in the crowds,” TsuYa informed her, crossing his arms and leaning back.

“Give me a break,” JouKa huffed, wagging a finger at his nose. “It’s yer Father comin’ ‘ome too? Ya wanta see ‘im, now don’t ya?”

“Of course I do.”

“Then get offa ya lazy tail and get out ‘ere!” she grabbed him by the sleeve and gave a jerk. “Hey… watch the robe!” he grumbled at her, partially to cover up the fact that he was complying with her demands. Getting to his feet, he brushed a hand through his bangs, ignoring the sharp sting of his cheek as he did so.

“We can’t ‘elp much ‘ow ya look right now. Let’s jus get goin’!” JouKa scolded, though there was a playful tone to her words. She knew he took a lot of pride in his well-groomed looks. And she knew all the best times to mock him about it, too.

His scowl was covered up by her crusade out the door. TsuYa was left little choice but to follow her out into the hall and to do what he could to dodge the masses of white winged people who were thronging out of the compound to the grassy hillsides beyond.

With a thrill of awe, TsuYa’s breath caught in his throat despite himself. By the time the two of them wove their way through the front doors, the Dragons were already overhead, making slow looping passes above the Islands. He could make out three Dragons in total – two which shown crimson-bronze in the sunlight. And the largest of the three, a great white Dragon that could only be Lord Zemi.  Even though he had always served as a Dragon Apprentice since his youngest days, he had rarely ever had contact with the vast creatures. And never had he really seen Dragons in such flawless, graceful flight.

“Awesome, aren’t they?” JouKa’s eyes were fixed on the cloud-dappled skies above, a distant moment of bliss on her face. For all of her grouchiness about being stuck up there on the Islands, there still seemed a part of her that responded to Lord Zemi’s presence the same way that the other Cyngan did.

TsuYa didn’t reply. He simply watched as the Dragons made a final tilted swoop towards the large clearing in the rainbow-hued meadow not too far away. His eyes strained to try to make out the dark figures that rode astride the huge beasts, suddenly finding himself excited at the thought of seeing Father again.

And SoYa, too… I wonder how SoYa did out there on the journey? The crowd was filled with cheers and enthusiasm as the Dragons skimmed over the top of the compound, kicking up leaves and stray blades of grass. Out of respect, no one stepped closer to the clearing, giving the great creatures more than enough room to make a landing.

Never bound by what everyone else did, TsuYa pushed his way forward, weaving through white feathers, happy faces and waving exclamations. His eyes were fixed upon the Dragons, trying to make out the shapes of the riders. Hoping to see those whom he suddenly realized he had missed quite a bit.

“TsuYa! Where are ya goin’? You can’t do that..!” JouKa exclaimed, one hand trying to catch him back by the robe. In the middle of the excitement, she was jostled back the other way, unable to catch up with the wayward Apprentice before he broke away from the rest of the crowd.

That’s when he found himself free… away from the other pressing bodies… just the rising majesty of the landed Dragons in the soft green meadow before him. His long white hair streamed behind him from wind from the huge wings churned up. His feet carried him forward with little heed to the voices behind him or the beasts before him.

That’s when he heard his name called.

“TssssuuuYa!”

His head jerked up as a familiar face strode from behind one of the Dragons. His eyes caught the gaze of his brother and froze for a moment. “SoYa!?”

SoYa’s face broke out into a wide, joyful grin as he rushed forward. Just behind him, AsaHi appeared, giving a happy squeal and waving excitedly while repeating TsuYa’s name over and over again.

Before TsuYa knew what was happening, SoYa had reached him and caught him up in a brotherly hug. “Tsu! I’m so relieved..! You’re alright!?”

“Y-yeah?” TsuYa nodded, a hint of smile crossing his own face as the two of them drew away. That’s when he was able to get a good look at his brother.

SoYa’s… changed?

It wasn’t the sort of change-feeling one gets from someone that they had been separated from for a while. It was a real change.

Something about the way that SoYa held himself spoke of confidence that had never been there before. Something within his eyes was more knowing, more aware. Even the clasp of his hand on TsuYa’s shoulder was more sure and bold. And the feeling he gave was far stronger, his presence felt somewhat like…

Father..?

SoYa just remained grinning in his typical, unassuming way. If he sensed anything that TsuYa was thinking — and being a mind-sucker, TsuYa didn’t put it past him — SoYa did not let on.

There was a sudden wrinkle upon SoYa’s brow, the question coming out of the blue, “Tsu… what happened to your face?”

“Uruuhm…” TsuYa cast around desperately for an excuse. But he was saved by the call of another voice.

“Tsu!”

The two brothers turned to see their father approaching. The winged man’s face was brilliant with a calm, radiant joy as he extended his hands to his youngest son.

Something within TsuYa’s spirit rose and leapt at the mere sight. He found himself calling back, embarrassingly boyish in return, “Father!”

But Father was already there, catching TsuYa up in his second hug of the day. Though the Apprentice would have usually shrugged off such public displays, right now he just didn’t care. He didn’t even care that they were being overshadowed by the watching figures of the great Dragons… or that there was a tall, dark-haired stranger observing the reunion not too far away… or that all of Ceiswyr was their audience.

A rare spark of hope and happiness had snuck up on him in the arrival of his family.

When Father finally pulled away, holding TsuYa by the shoulders at arm’s length, a sudden quizzical expression covered the winged man’s face. “Tsu… what happened to your face?”

TsuYa coughed with a slight grimace. “Uruhm… this… isn’t exactly the best place to talk about it, Father.”

“Alright, then?” Father put his grin back on, then faced the waiting crowds that had gathered in welcoming.

Both hands raised, wings unfurled wide, ZenToYa greeted the people of the Dreigiau upon his return to Ceiswyr. And just behind, the Dragons trumpeted the joyful reunion to the brilliant azure skies.

With a slight twist of the wrist, Aur forced the Apprentice to tilt his head back until the bandaged area on his cheek was exposed.

“So you are TsuYa, the son of ZenToYa?” the deep, calm voice intoned across the expanse of the Gathering Room. Now that the welcoming festivities were over, sound seemed to carry and stretch through the open space in an unusual way.

“Yes, that’s right?” TsuYa gave a startled glance up from his thoughts and lingering after-scents of dinner, not having realized that he wasn’t alone. The golden-eyed stranger stood there – a man who had been only quickly introduced to him earlier. All that TsuYa knew was that he went by the name of Aur. “Why?”

Without so much a word of explanation, the large man reached out one hand and took TsuYa firmly by the chin. With a slight twist of the wrist, Aur forced the Apprentice to tilt his head back until the bandaged area on his cheek was exposed.

“Wha.. what do you think you’re doing..?!” TsuYa protested with a sharp snap, trying to dislodge himself from the stranger’s grasp.

At that moment, Father appeared in the room, returning from helping put away the dishes from that night’s big supper. The winged man took one glance at his son’s struggle and quickly demanded, “Tsu… hold on! Don’t!”

TsuYa had already recoiled a good three feet away from the golden-eyed man, crouching low and ready against the assault. As the sound of the voice rang out, the Apprentice turned, giving his father an odd stare, “But he’s…”

“He’s trying to help you, Tsu?” Father glanced between the two of them. There was something about his stance that seemed on edge, as if a lot was riding on whatever was about to take place.

“Help me..?”

Aur just watched him with quiet, hooded eyes.

“What do you mean?” TsuYa turned back to the stranger with a frown.

“I haven’t had much time to explain, I know,” the winged man answered. “But just give me a chance here… let me try?”

The Apprenticed nodded, falling silent, though still stiff and at ill ease. It was true that they had all had very little time to talk after the Dragons’ arrival. There had been a huge reception in the compound with lots of celebration and a big feast that followed. All the things that had lingered upon TsuYa’s mind to discuss were pushed far out of his reach for as long as the festivities had continued. But now that dinner was over, things had begun to quiet down.

Maybe now… I can get some answers.

Father spread his hands toward the stranger with a respectful motion. “I know that you were only quickly introduced before. I’m really sorry about that. As you know, this is Aur. He has traveled back with us from the Spiral where he was originally…”

Why the words trailed off, TsuYa didn’t know. Even Aur was watching the winged man with a hint of curiosity.

“Well, he was…” he paused again and glanced over at the golden-eyed man. “You know, I don’t even really know what you were? We always just called you something like the ‘Creature from the Time Before’… but that sounds awful… I dunno… weird to use as an introduction..?”

TsuYa felt his quick gasp of surprise before he heard it.

The Creature from the Time Before… the Golden Lion that they spoke of? The one that might have the power to…

Shoving all of his racing thoughts aside, the Apprentice stepped forward, hands spreading wide as he asked, “You are the one that Father went to look for, then?”

“And you are the son that he worries greatly about,” Aur gave a slow nod to confirm. Then he added, “ZenToYa has requested that I help you.”

TsuYa’s whole being responded, perking up at the words. Once again, the bubbling sensation of hope rose in his chest. “Can you?”

“Perhaps. But I must be allowed to survey the illness first.”

“Oh..?” he said slowly. One hand inadvertently touched the bandages as he realized what that would include, “You mean… take off my…”

“Yes,” Aur nodded. “I sense infection.”

TsuYa choked at the term.

Infection? Is that what you call it?

“What infection?” Father’s glace had grown concerned, his hands clutching nervously at the back of the nearest dining chair. His eyes were puzzled as they studied his son’s face.

So far, TsuYa had been able to escape explaining the meaning of the bandages on his face. But not for much longer.

Still, if this guy can really do something to fix me… then it’s worth it.

“May I see?” Aur asked politely. Obviously he had gotten the clue that the Apprentice didn’t like to be forced into touchy-feely situations.

TsuYa swallowed and nodded slowly. “Alright… it’s not pretty though…”

“I did not think it would be,” came the grim answer.

TsuYa’s hands shook a little as he began to fumble with the bandages upon his face. Despite the fact that he was often the one to dress his own wound, somehow, exposing it like this made the process far harder to do.

What will Father think of me when he finds out everything that’s been going on? Will he be ashamed of me for being so weak? Already he’s had to put his life on the line to bring me a cure for this mess I made for myself.

The sticky sound of gauze peeling away from skin was loud in his ears. Carefully, he pulled back the white cloth to reveal an underside stained black with frothy, thick liquid. As soon as the bandage was pulled away, the gashes on his cheek began to ooze freely, an uncomfortable wetness that he was compelled to wipe away constantly.

Father’s eyes merely widened, just ever so slightly. Though it was obvious to TsuYa that he was fighting to suppress his real reaction.

“It is a Mark,” Aur stated quietly.

“Mark?” TsuYa’s eyes tore away from his father’s reaction to the grim-faced stranger. “What’s that? What does it mean?”

“When Arweinydd choose to take a servant, that servant is Marked in some way,” Aur explained, the fingers on one hand spreading in represenation. “For example… the marking that Zemi uses is in the eye color of those who serve him.”

“The golden eyes?” TsuYa asked. Then he realized, for the first time, that Aur’s own eyes were golden.

“That is correct.”

“But this Mark…? Aur, what is it?” Father’s voice creaked between his lips, his knuckles growing white where he gripped the chair’s back increasingly tighter.

“I assume it is the Mark that Zerom has placed upon your son,” Aur replied grimly. “And by the nature of the Mark’s manifestation, it would seem that… Chaos… has taken root.”

“Chaos? In Zerom?” the winged man hissed, eyebrows lowering.

“Yes,” the one word seemed to hold the weight of all the fears of the world within it.

TsuYa had no idea what that meant. But the pressure of silence that fell over the room spoke all that needed to be said.

Something big is going on… and it has to do with Zerom.

It took a while before Father aligned his thoughts well enough to speak. When he did, he asked, “Tsu, how did you get this Mark? You didn’t leave the city, did you?”

“No… I didn’t!” the Apprentice spoke up quickly, shaking his head.

“Then, what happened?”

His glance flickered back and forth between Father and Aur, thoughts churning through his head.

I wonder… if I should tell them about what I saw in my dreams? I don’t know if it was real or not. I’m not even sure what I did see. But maybe it is important.

TsuYa took in a deep breath and began to speak. At first, it came slowly, difficultly. The very thing he had been fighting so hard to keep secret was elusively complicated for him to finally put to words. He told them as much as he knew about the nightmare world… and of the things he saw there… of Zerom… and eventually of the thing in the globe that Zerom had called his own son.

That was the point where Aur stopped him, “Did you say… son of Zerom?”

“That’s what he called it. But I don’t really know how it could be his actual son – I mean, it was being developed in this glowing globe,” TsuYa mimed the shape of the globe with his hands.

After a moment, Aur turned to look at Father. His voice was graver than ever, “Do you realize, ZenToYa, what this may mean to us?”

Father shook his head, giving the golden-eyed man his full attention.

“If there really is a creature, even created, that is the son of Zerom…” he paused before he continued, “We may well have the creation of a Sygnus on our hands. Along with the possibility of a Chaos-touched Arweinydd.”

“Hedd-ynad…” the winged man whispered.

“I had thought that it was Zemi who would bring such a threat,” Aur intoned.

They talk like I’m not even here in the room…

TsuYa frowned, digging at the floor with the toe of his boot, “Well, like I said, it was just in my dreams. So I don’t really know how real any of it is.”

“That Mark on your cheek is real enough,” Aur pointed out. “This is not something to take lightly, even if it was just a dream.”

“What should we do?” Father turned and asked. His tone gave the impression that this situation was far too large for him to handle on his own. And that in itself gave TsuYa shivers.

“This… is not what I would normally suggest. But I really do not see a way around it,” the golden-eyed man grimaced. “I believe we should inform Zemi of this, right away. As much as I do not support the idea of Arweinydd fighting Arweinydd… and as unstable as either of the two may be… the truth is that it will take a power such as Zemi’s to combat something of this magnitude.”

Father gave a long, ragged sigh, one hand rubbing at his chin. Then he turned to look at TsuYa, “We need you to come with us, to Zemi… He needs to hear about everything you can remember from your dreams.”

The Apprentice closed his mouth with a quick nod, a sudden overwhelming feeling rising in the pit of his stomach. One line of thought echoed and repeated through his mind as he watched the other two men make their way out of the Gathering Room.

What have I gotten myself into?

The dim silence offered him no answer. There was nothing else that TsuYa could do except follow them… and move forward. Approaching the dark unknown one step at a time.

Instead, he found himself greeted by his two younger sisters, Zazo and Zeni.

“Girls? What are you doing here?” Zemi asked, realizing instantly that he wasn’t alone upon arriving at the Host Gate.

-We could ask you the same thing,- Zazo gave a thin, wolfish grin. Of course, that probably was due to the fact that her form had manifested there in the shape of a spectral wolf… or a creature pretty similar to one.

Not very far away, the small bird-form of Zeni perched on an outcropping of stone. The tiny beaded eyes observed her brother’s appearance with something akin to warm welcome. Tiny peep-like sounds issued forth in a repeated chirp: -Zemizemizemizemizemi!-

He expected that the Host Gate would stand void and vacant after the tear in the dimensional fabric had given the Arweinydd the chance to step into the world of the physical. Instead, he found himself greeted by his two younger sisters, Zazo and Zeni. For the first time, Zemi realized that the two of them must have followed him from the Arweinydd realms, and may even be very aware of the situation brewing between their two older brothers.

It seemed that neither of his sisters had yet discovered the way to take on a true physical form…. which was probably for the better considering what their other brother was doing with that sort of knowledge. Much like Zemi once did, the two Arweinydd had manifested into spectral creatures, ones that seemed to reflect something of their innate potential personas.

Zazo, the eldest of the two sisters, had taken the form of a large, sharp-faced she-wolf. There was a sense of cunning and control… power and pride… and a certain amount of hidden aggression seething behind the speckled light of her eyes. Even the chill wind seemed unable to ruffle the graceful flow of her fur where it glowed with an otherworldly sheen.

Zeni was the youngest of all the sibling Arweinydd. A more delicate creature of great intelligence and potential curiosity, she had taken on the form of a small, bright-eyed bird. Always one to look up to Zemi as a mentor in attempt to follow his big-brotherly example, she was the one that he was least surprised to see there.

-So, old Dragon, what have you gotten yourself into this time?- Zazo’s jaws opened with a lolling pant that seemed both playful and chiding.

-Is it true that you’ve become Rhoi’r? Is it true? Can it be? Really, Zemi?- Zeni hopped forward with a few short bounds, coming to alight on his shoulder.

The Dreigiau gave a long-suffering sigh and nodded. “Yes, beloved. You have heard rightly. Things aren’t quite going as I would have wanted them to.”

-When do they ever, Zemi?- the she-wolf gave a yawn.

“You never give me a break do you?”

-Nope.-

Zemi gave a low frown and peered around the long-discarded cave. It seemed as if no one had been there in a very long time. The stone of the main entrance showed the lack of care that the Apprentices once showered on the little cave. The floor had grown gritty and cold with lack of use and the passing of the Dreigiau’s presence from within the depths, a sign that there had been no Apprentices making their pilgrimages to this site after the School had been invaded by Zerom’s presence.

Only the two Arweinydd were there. But why they had chosen to remain there, he didn’t know.

“So now that you know that I’m Rhoi’r for sure, what are you still doing here?”

-You think you’re going to get rid of us that easily, Zemi?-

Zeni added, -We’re here because we sense great trouble within the nearby Earthian establishment.-

“Yes, it is Zerom…” the Dreigiau murmured grimly. He ran the fingers of one hand through the wild wisps of mane, an unnoticed habit he had picked up from watching Zento.

-He’s up to his nonsense again?- Zazo snuffed, shaking her head.

“It’s more than just nonsense. I’m really afraid for him at this point,” Zemi turned with a dismal frown. “I have reason to believe that Zerom is getting in way over his head… and that Chaos may be beginning to taint him.”

-How do you know?- Zeni peeped.

“Something has been really off with him ever since he chose to follow after me into this dimension,” the Dreigiau explained. He spread his hands wide with a frown, “To begin with, I believe that he’s been altering some of the Earthians that live in the settlements not far away… and the results of this have not been pretty.”

-Yes… we have seen the creatures of his making. Pitiful things.- Zazo noted with little sympathy in her voice. Just factual unconcern.

Something about it grated on Zemi’s nerves… even though he knew it wasn’t really her fault. Despite their efforts to be there, Zazo and Zeni really didn’t understand the way of the Earthians yet. Much the same way that Zerom did not.

He also knew it wasn’t going to be easy to state his case here. Even though his sisters were listening to his explanation, it was true that Zemi was just as guilty of a number of the complaints that he would raise against their brother. However, if he could get Zazo and Zeni to understand and to side with him on the issue, he might have a much better chance to face their brother and contain him before Zerom became so lost in darkness that he could not be redeemed.

“Zerom also seeks to acquire and gain control over the son of my Myfyriwr. It was through this that word came to me that Zerom’s methods may be leading him towards the Chaos,” the Dreigiau continued.

Zazo gave an indelicate sound, -Zemi, Zemi, Zemi… are you still playing with your little dolls? What have we told you about the Earthians time and again? They aren’t worth so much fuss that you make of them!-

-I think they’re rather cute,- Zeni offered.

Ears pinned back, Zazo showed her fangs, -Of course YOU would.-

Zemi pursed his lips, hard pressed to keep his defensive thoughts to himself. “Regardless of that, the point stands that Zerom seeks to take these creatures against their will and use them for his own ends.”

-Is that not what you do?-

“No. I don’t,” the Dreigiau’s eyes suddenly glinted fiercely, a sharp warning at the eldest sister.

-Alright, alright. Don’t get so heated.- Zazo flicked her tail back and forth. -These Earthian emotions really do get the best of you, Zemi. You should see yourself sometime.-

-I think it’s pretty funny,- Zeni offered.

-Did anyone ask you?-

-No? But I still think so!- the bird cheeped cheerfully.

“Girls..?” Zemi lifted both hands, waving them to silence. When he had their attention, he shook his head, “That is not all of it, by far…”

-Okay. What else is there?-

The Dreigiau leaned back, his shoulder to one wall, and turned his face away. Somehow, he wasn’t sure how he was going to break this sort of news to his sisters. And even when he did, he wasn’t sure if they would understand the danger that he spoke of.

-Zemi?- Zeni peeped encouragingly. -Zemizemizemizemizemi?-

“If my sources are correct, we think that Zerom may be attempting to construct a Sygnus,” Zemi finally told them, deciding just to get it out and over with.

The silence that followed was undecipherable. It was impossible for him to tell if they were just stricken with the idea or if they simply did not know what in the world he was talking about.

Finally, Zeni offered, -It is the DarkStar…?-

Not wanting to alarm his sisters, Zemi tried to buffer it a bit, “Well, we don’t know that for sure… yet…”

-But it is possible.-

“Yes, it is possible.”

There was another passing moment of silence. Then Zazo shook out her fur, rising up with flashing fangs, legs stiff and back arched in displeasure.

-Zerom! That… absolute… IDIOT! What does he think he’s doing!?-

A tremor of surprise rushed through Zemi… he had no idea that Zazo could respond to something in such a purely Earthian emotion. But he decided that at this point, with such news, there was no other way that could be more proper to respond.

-This is very bad…- Zeni agreed, fluttering her wings in the light of Zazo’s agitation.

“As I said,” Zemi pressed on, patting himself on the back for earning some of their disapproval for Zerom, “It has not been confirmed yet. But I plan on finding out if it’s true.”

-So that is why you have come here?- Zeni seemed to muse. -After you have been away for so long a time?-

“That’s right,” the Dreigiau nodded. “I need to find out what Zerom is really doing in Nefol. I’m pretty sure that is the place he’s chosen to take for his experimentation. But I’m really worried that he would get hostile towards me if I were to try and confront him about this.”

-So what is it that you plan to do?-

“It’s really hard to say,” he peered down at his feet, then glanced back up. “I came here to establish a rifting point that would be close enough to Nefol to travel to… but far enough away as to not alert Zerom. I am going to bring a number of my warriors here and we are going to attempt to make our way into the School and see what we can confirm.”

-Do you think that Zerom will want to fight you, Zemi?- Zeni asked.

“I don’t know. Ever since he’s come to this world, he’s become quite unstable and hostile towards me,” Zemi grimaced.

-That is an amusing thing,- Zazo replied, the tip of her tail waving. -It is the same thing that Zerom was telling us about you.-

“Is that so?” his voice lowered a bit. Perhaps the day had not been won yet.

-But I like you more than Zerom. He’s such a big grouch.-

“So does that mean you believe me?” Zemi asked with an arched eyebrow.

-Maaaaybe.-

Zeni offered, -Zemi has been nicer than Zerom lately.-

-A fight seems like an entertaining idea, though.-

“Zazo, I’m going to try everything I can to stay out of a fight with Zerom.”

-Awww, now. Don’t destroy my hopes.-

“You’re impossible,” he grimaced.

-As are you,- she pointed out with a canine grin.

-But when you find the Sygnus, what will you do? You will eliminate the creature, yes?- Zeni inquired.

-Of course, silly. What else is there to do?- Zazo chided quickly.

Normally, Zemi might have agreed just as quickly. But for some reason, he found himself hesitant to answer positively. Instead, he told them, “We have to find out if there really is a Sygnus first, girls.”

-True, true…- Zazo eyed him with a slightly suspicious look. Or, at least as suspicious as a she-wolf-Arweinydd could look.

But Zeni, who didn’t seem to notice, simply offered, -Is there something that we can do to help, then?-

“Actually, since you happened to ask…” a slow, fangy grin slipped over Zemi’s face.

-Whatever you do, don’t stop running...!-

“What are we supposed to be waiting here for again?” TsuYa asked, shivering into the depths of his robes against the bite in the air. His breath clouded out in great puffs of white as he spoke.

Everywhere Zento looked, the land drooped under unnatural freeze. The trees, once lush in the summer light now bore the darkened branches of deepest winter. All signs of animal life were hidden from the winds. And the sky had grown dark and grey in lament of a season taken before its time.

No doubt, this could have only been from Zerom’s influence. For the land had shifted, growing more and more devoid the closer they came to the gates of Nefol.

“Zemi just told us to watch for the wolf,” Zento finally replied, eyes squinting across the dark, frozen hillsides. Though the plan he was given seemed to be lacking on details, once again, the winged man had chosen to keep the thought to himself and trust Zemi’s instructions.

TsuYa, however, didn’t have the patience for such a thing and spoke his concerns straight aloud, “Was it such a good idea for us to separate like this?”

“This is the plan, Tsu.”

“I know it’s the plan. But I’m wondering if it’s a good plan.”

“It’s what Zemi told us to do,” Zento added, glancing over at the scowling face of his youngest son.

TsuYa was scratching idly at the bandaged area on his cheek, absentmindedly. “Yeah, well, from the looks of it, even Zemi can be wrong sometimes.”

“That’s true,” Zento fiddled with his bhinod, making sure it was secure within its sheath. If everything went as he thought it would, there would be little doubt that they would be seeing battle before the day was over. “But this is a very serious situation and I doubt that Zemi would tell us to do something that might put the mission in jeopardy.”

TsuYa grumbled quietly to himself, still looking doubtful.

“Besides,” the winged man added, “I doubt we’re heading into this without some sort of guide…”

“Fine… so where is he?” the Apprentice crossed his arms with a discontent huff.

-She…-

“What?” TsuYa peered over at his father with a puzzled look.

“Hrrmm?” Zento looked back.

“What did you say?”

“I didn’t say anything,” the winged man spread his hands.

“I swear I heard…” TsuYa wrinkled his nose.

-You did hear.-

“Wha…?”

Both father and son turned on their heels, peering at the source of the strange voice. As one, they startled back as a huge looming shape took form upon the rock outcropping only feet away.

A silver-white wolf, much larger than any wolf had a right to be, stood there crowned upon the hill. Calculating, intelligent eyes watched them with a disdainful blink. A strange pattern of light seemed to flow from the creature’s form, marking it as something far more than ordinary.

A canine grin crossed the wolf’s face as the words flowed into their minds, clearly as any person might speak. -Perhaps Zeni is right… Earthians are cute. Just a little.-

Finally, Zento found his voice and managed to try to formulate some sort of greeting to the creature, “Hello… you must be the wolf that Zemi spoke of..?”

-Zemi spoke of me?-

“Yes…?”

-He better have said nice things or he’s in trouble next time I see him.-

“Actually,” the winged man gave the wolf a puzzled look, “He just said to watch for you.”

-That’s all?-

“That’s all…?”

-Well, now isn’t he just Mr. Elegant? He can’t even do his own sister proper introductions.-

The wolf gave a cynical flip to her tail as she began to make her way easily down the steep face of the hill. What would have been impossible for a normal creature to make, she traversed without a second thought.

“Si…ster..?” TsuYa’s eyes boggled.

Landing lightly on the ground before them, the large she-wolf glanced at the Apprentice disdainfully. -Oh, that’s right. You and your little Earthian pre-school tends to forget that the rest of us even exist outside of Zemi.-

TsuYa wisely took a step back.

“Please,” Zento offered, a soothing voice attempting to appease. After all, if this creature was really the sister of Zemi as well as their guide, there was no way that they should allow themselves to fall on her bad side, “Forgive our ignorance, Lady… uh…”

-Zazo,- she informed them with a self-important air.

“Lady Zazo…” the winged man bowed genteelly.

-That’s more like it,- the wolfish grin crossed her face again. -Now. As for business. We’ve got some Sygnus hunting to do.-

“Sygnus hunting?” the Apprenticed echoed.

-Correct. I am here to guide the two of you into Nefol to seek out the presence of the Sygnus. –

“I see,” Zento gave a grim face, rubbing his chin.

“What are we supposed to do once we find it?” TsuYa asked pensively.

-That’s not my business,- the she-wolf flipped her tail again. -I’m just supposed to help get you to it.-

“Well…we probably shouldn’t be putting this off too much longer, then,” Zento took in a deep, biting breath then nodded. “Are you ready to go, Tsu?”

His son nodded, somewhat reluctantly. Zento understood why – after seeing the transformation that had overcome the forested lands of their home, it was hard to look forward to what may have become of the city itself.

Unsheathing his blade, Zento peered over at Zazo, “Alright. Let’s do this.”

-Now you’re talking.- She began to lope down the hillside with a casual pace that was enough to make a man run to keep up with her.

But none of that mattered to ZenToYa. His mind was already phasing the unnecessary out, readying itself for whatever was to come.

His gait became fleet. His age was temporarily no longer a factor as he started out after the she-wolf. Zento could sense the presence of his son not too far behind.

TsuYa’s chilled breath grew panting as he strove to keep step with their rapid pace. The black-bladed scythe was slung over one shoulder, balanced with a practiced hand. An assurance that the Apprentice had spent time on the islands keeping his fighting skills honed.

Nefol… the kingdom that was once my home. The city that I established for Zemi…

The landscape blurred by them like a dreamscape. The land that he had once known was now unfamiliar and inert. When the first glimpse of the Spire appeared upon the horizon over the twiggy brush, Zento was surprised at how much ground they had covered.

How long has it been since I entered the city? I haven’t been back since my exile…

The expanse between the forest edge and the city gates was wide open with only a few dipping hills for shelter. Though silence veiled the desolate path ahead, Zento could feel it. There were a number of creatures moving, as if on patrol. From the lack of self-awareness and the overwhelming sense of taint, Zento could tell these beings were not people.

It’s almost as if they’re being fed information… controlled by something else…

Zazo pulled up to a stop upon the crest of a hill. Her tone was disdainful as she glanced down at the city gates, -Zerom’s little pets.-

“The Marked?” Zento asked.

As soon as the words crossed the warrior’s lips, he watched the color drain out of his son’s face. Though TsuYa did not say a word, it was obvious he was thinking the worst. Thinking that he was only a hair’s breadth away from becoming like the dark servants of the Arweinydd.

Not yet, Tsu. He doesn’t have you yet.

The winged man reached one hand out, placing it on his son’s shoulder for comfort. For once, TsuYa did not shrug him away, the dark eyes gazing across the clearing with a silent dourness.

We’re going to beat this. You and I… I refuse to let him have you.

-Well..?- Zazo turned to peer back at them over one shoulder.

Zento nodded, tightening his grip on his weapon. Grounding his heel into the rocky soil, the winged man crouched, ready.

“Okay…” TsuYa breathed, taking a hold on his scythe.

The three of them sprang out of the crevice, the spectral light of the she-wolf pulsing around them in silvery-white wisps. With all the speed they could muster, they dove across the sloping ground towards the darkened gates of the city.

Instantly, the air shattered with countless shrill cries. The sound was so horrific that it nearly froze Zento’s blood in mid-stride. Seeped in the depths of Chaos, the vicious, animalistic screeches shot at them from every side.

His limbs were heavier for some reason. The weight of induced fear tried to drag him to the ground. His breath caught like gritty lumps in his throat as the shadows churned in a dizzying dance.

-Whatever you do, don’t stop running…!- the words of the she-wolf reached his ears through the terrible wail.

As if the voice alone held the power to snap him from the mesmerizing hold, Zento found himself lurching forward again. It felt like the world had just unfolded from underwater slow motion.

The Marked!

Sickly shapes skittered over the ground in formless packs of malice. Everywhere he looked, Zento’s vision was filled with darkness. His mind reeled back from the rot that festered behind the black, soulless eyes.

The thick taste of disease filled his mouth as Zento choked on the putrid air. With eyes watering, it became difficult to make out the path. Only instinct led him to follow the protective light of the she-wolf.

Somewhere behind him he could hear the sound of TsuYa’s screams. He couldn’t tell if they were of pain, terror or battle. Just as he was compelled to turn to his son, he was intercepted.

-Move, ZenToYa! Move!-

One glance over his shoulder was all he was afforded. It was all that it took to confirm…

TsuYa was in the midst of battle. A viciousness that was terrible to behold had transformed his face, as his scythe left trails of long, black residue through the air.

His eyes were darker, almost as dark as the creatures that leapt at him. The penetrating sound of the Marked screeches had no effect upon the Apprentice. He phased through the darkness, a smooth liquid motion of man, weapon and death.

TsuYa!?

Never before had Zento seen his youngest son fight or move in such a way. At that moment, he realized that the Marked were far more of a threat to himself than they were to the Apprentice.

-Move! Move! MOVE!- Zazo’s silver-white blur shot past him. -The boy can take care of himself here. You can not!-

Zento pivoted on his heel and began to follow the lead of the she-wolf. His heart swelled with fear and longing for his son. But, he couldn’t sense anything of the battle beyond the taint and evil.

As they drew closer to the gates of the city, a wall of darkness rose to greet them. What it had once been, Zento could not tell. There was nothing indefinable but bits and pieces of things that looked to have once been alive, churned together in a swelling mass of shadows.

What in the name of the Seven Universes is…

Zento opened his mouth to scream. But the stench of death was so strong upon that he nearly fell to his knees. His throat tightened, an illness sweeping over him.

His stomach churned and heaved against his will. A round of gagging shook his frame. His watering eyes once again obscuring his vision.

The streak of wolf leapt ahead, undaunted by the forces of death. With fangs that were not fangs, Zazo tore straight into the sickly mass.

A spray of black exploded from the center of the gash. An unearthly gurgle rose up in response, the creature flailing and lashing in desperation. All at once, it was overwhelmed by the brutal jaws of the Arweinydd.

Almost… inside… just a little further…

Holding his breath, Zento leapt through the shower of decayed remains to slip over the slick black-tinged stone. His hands groped in front of him, catching the rough-hewn wall of the gate’s threshold. Skidding sharply around the corner, he pressed his shoulder to the wall. His breath finally wheezed through his open mouth.

What’s wrong with me… why couldn’t I take those things?

It was a rare day that found ZenToYa running away from his adversary. But something in the way that Zazo had demanded him to run… something in the fear that had prickled over his entire body at the simple shrieks that the Marked had made… told him that had he remained out on the field, he would not have lasted very long.

And yet Tsu could…

A wave of concern rushed over him. Against his better will, the winged man found himself moving back towards the arch of the front gates. His mind was fully bent on apprehension for the son he had been forced to leave behind in battle.

As Zento poked his head around the corner, a gentle pressure touched the back of his mind.

-Stayherestayherestayherestayhere…-

His eyes flicked upwards, focusing on a strange white bird that perched on a nearby wall. Tiny wings fluttered as the bright eyes watched him, with a churrup that seemed like a warning.

Zento found himself so enthralled by the creature that it was only the bounding form of the she-wolf that shook him from the daze. Zazo was totally unscathed from her own battle in front of the gates and not the least tired from her run. Though she didn’t so much as touch him, the winged man felt himself pressured backwards, away from the open door.

-Don’t give yourself away. It looks like many of them were patrolling outside.-

“But… Tsu..?” he startled with a ragged breath, glancing away from the tiny bird.

-You gotta do something about that wheeze… it’s not becoming of Zemi’s Rhyswyr.- Zazo noted.

With a grimace, he took a step forward, only to find himself riveted in place.

-Wait.-

“But..”

-Trust me. He will come.-

Though anxiety demanded action, Zento stood fast at the Arweinydd’s command, shifting his weight from one foot to the other in agitation. After a short passage of time, the sound of struggle outside of the gate had vanished. All was silent again. Even the little bird had vanished.

And a shadow paced through the arched gateway, the dark outline of a scythe slung over one shoulder.

“Tsu!” Zento rushed forward at the sight. Part of him was reluctant, unsure of what he would find. The other part was balanced on the bursting point of a terrified father.

TsuYa turned his head at the sound of his name, a slow and calculated look in his face. His eyes were still darkened and there was a strange flowing motion to his gait. Despite the battle that he had just fought, he hardly seemed winded at all. His voice came calm and distant, “Father…”

-Told you he’d come.-

Yes… but… what’s wrong with him..?

Zazo snuffed at the ground for a moment before perking her ears at the Apprentice. -Well, I got you in the gate. Now it’s your turn… lead us to the place that you saw in your dreams. Show us where the Sygnus sleeps.-

How is he supposed to do that… didn’t Tsu say he didn’t recognize the place he saw in his dreams?

Much to Zento’s surprise, TsuYa nodded. It was a distant nod, as if he was listening to something far away that only he could hear.

“We’re close,” with a wave of one hand he turned down the nearby street, leading them into the depths of Nefol, “Follow me.”

Though his face was handsome and finely-sculpted, there was a glimmer of eager malice behind the dark eyes that left SoYa chilled with revulsion.

“Hedd-ynad!” SoYa exclaimed for the fifth time in the space of ten minutes.

He clung tightly to AsaHi from behind, head ducked down, eyes clamped shut in the howling face of the wind. Their cloaks snapped around them in the frigid air, made all the more cold by the height of their altitude. The motion of the huge white Dragon underneath them was unsettling despite the fact this was the Apprentice’s second time on Dragon back.

I don’t know how AsaHi does it so well! It must have been all the time she spent with the Dragons back in Wyndor.

Then, again, it didn’t help the case that the Dragon they were riding happened to be Zemi himself. And at this point, it was just the three of them… himself, AsaHi and Zemi… striking out on this branch of the mission, heading to infiltrate the Spire of Nefol.

Something in SoYa was waiting and leery that the Dreigiau would change his mind about the promise he had made. Especially since it was Zemi himself that had surprisingly asked for SoYa to be part of this group. Still, at this point, there was no one else there to stop the situation if things got out of hand.

Not Father… or Aunt SaRa… or anyone. Oh… I’m not going to get back to the Islands alive, am I?

It didn’t help that he could sense it… the strange connection that traced back and forth between AsaHi and Zemi. SoYa wasn’t sure exactly what it was, but it was strong… a bonding of understanding, communication and emotion that even his mind powers were at a lack to define. For the very first time, the Apprentice got the sinking feeling that, just maybe, AsaHi had her own feelings for the Dreigiau as well.

What am I thinking? This isn’t supposed to be about me, Zemi and AsaHi!

SoYa shook out his head, righting his gaze towards the horizon again.

This is supposed to be about what’s going on in Nefol. Concentrate, SoYa.

His hands gripped tighter around AsaHi’s waist, face growing grim. Ahead, he could make out the cloud banks as the dipped and seethed, becoming darker and darker the closer to the Spire that they came. A streak of electric violet shot through the sky, as strange, unnatural lightning slashing through the frozen air. Where it struck, SoYa didn’t know… but the resounding crack rattled his entire body. The great white Dragon flew on, undaunted.

This isn’t going to be easy… There’s no telling what we’re going to find when we get home.

If the place could even be considered “home” anymore. The ground that stretched below them was dead and unmoving. Only bare branched trees remained groping up to the skies with claw-like agony. Everywhere he looked, SoYa could sense the overwhelming pressure of anguish and death.

The Chaos… Is this what it looks like?

The Athrylith found no answer or solace in the world below. As the Dragon began banking downwards, SoYa was forced to duck his head again, sheltering his eyes in the folds of his cloak. Only the motion underneath him spoke of their descent. The pounding of his heart within his ears rushed a jittery feeling through the whole of his body which was accented by his shivering against the bitter winds.

Then, there came a jolt. Anticipated, yet unexpected at the same time. And SoYa knew that Zemi had finally touched down. It was the hardest thing for him to pull his arms away from the warmth of AsaHi’s body as the Dreigiau’s huge wings buffered the winds for their dismount. The stiff jolt of sliding from the Dragon’s back onto the slick ground left SoYa stinging for a moment, both hands still upraised to help AsaHi down.

However, she seemed to have very little trouble getting down on her own – in fact, it seemed far easier a feat for her than it had been for him. It was only after she was already on the ground that AsaHi’s sheepish expression spoke of her realization that he had been offering her his help. Playing it off the best that he could, SoYa wrapped his arms around himself and proceeded to rub his shoulders for warmth.

“This way…” Zemi’s gritty voice rose effortlessly above the din of the wind. Suddenly no longer a Dragon, he was standing in the arched doorway on the top platform of the Spire, waving a hand to beckon them forward.

What? When did he turn back into..?

“Come on, SoYa,” AsaHi grabbed him by the hand, following after the Dreigiau in a quick trot.

With no room to argue the point, and not wanting to stand out in the cold any longer than he had to, the Athrylith jogged along side of the girl, his breath misting out in wide clouds of white. This place was somewhat familiar to him – it was the top platform on the roof of the Spire itself. It wasn’t a place that he chose to go very often, especially after Aunt SaRa’s warnings about the dangers of falling from such a height.

TsuYa liked it up here, though.

Why that thought occurred to him, SoYa didn’t know. It was a sudden rush of memory… the image of his brother as a young teen, leaning out upon the uncertain railing, no fear of falling. But then, TsuYa never seemed to be afraid of anything.

Not until now…

SoYa didn’t know the whole story of what was happening to TsuYa. But he hadn’t forgotten the strange dream-vision that he had seen when crossing the Passage in the Cleft…. the dark skin, dark eyed, black-haired image of one who held his brother’s features, yet was so far removed.

And with that image alone, he knew why TsuYa was afraid.

It’s not going to happen! I won’t let this Zerom-Arweinydd take Tsu…

His thoughts scampered from his mind as they passed through the doorway of the Spire into the inner chambers. What had once been a large, vaulted room of great beauty now dripped before him in dark decay. The walls and ceilings had been built of a transparent material, once affording a vibrant view of the entire city from the top of the Spire. But now, the light that spilled into the room from the windows was dimmed by the dark underside of the churning clouds.

The first thing that struck them was the scent of decay, so powerful that the crunch of AsaHi’s step on stone faltered. Her hand tightened around SoYa’s at the same moment that he felt a gasp rip from his throat. Her voice was weak and tiny in the face of the mounting shadows, “Zemi… What is that?”

The Arweinydd did not answer. His back was to them, attention fixed straight ahead.

Part of the room had caved in on the far end, leaving the chamber wide open to the biting winds that ripped at the shredded banners that had once marked the beauty of their civilization. In the center of the room, there seemed to be some sort of make-shift throne. It was a distorted, twisted structure that looked to have been woven from strands of dark, rotting tissue draped over malformed stone and bone.

Loping around the foot of the throne’s dais were things that might have been alive once, but were now so marred by the touch of death and decay, they were far beyond recognition. Some might have been various animals that had once lived in the nearby forests. Some were once people, now twisted into the grey-skinned forms of the Marked.

SoYa felt his whole body responding in sickened repulsion as the countless black-pit eyes turned to regard their approach. AsaHi’s hands gripped at his arm, her hands shaking as another violet bolt of lightning shattered the air around them, striking not far outside.

Sitting upon the throne was a figure so seeped in darkness that the rest of the room seemed light in comparison. His robes were of a similar make to those that the people of Nefol wore, yet the violet cloth was embellished with strange golden symbols that SoYa did not recognize. Symbols that almost seemed to warn his eyes away, a deep dread stirring up in the pit of his stomach.

Though he looked like a man, there was something about him that screamed of monstrosity. Though his face was handsome and finely-sculpted, there was a glimmer of eager malice behind the dark eyes that left SoYa chilled with revulsion. And though a smile crept to his lips upon the sight of the three of them, its intent held no joy or kindness.

Is… it… Zerom?

The man rose from his place on the throne, feet not seeming to touch the ground as he made his way down the dais towards them. His hands rose, outstretched towards Zemi in a gesture that might have been welcoming… if the feeling of hatred had not clung so tightly to every motion that he made.

“Brother-mine,” the voice was cold and dead, sounding much like the icy winds outside. “Welcome be to you.”

A snarl rose within the Dreigiau’s throat, a sound so fierce and unexpected that SoYa was suddenly glad he could not see Zemi’s face. “Zerom, what are you doing?!”

The smooth voice replied, “Awaiting your arrival, of course.”

“You’ve given yourself an Earthian form?” Zemi accused sharply, obviously shaken by the fact. “After you lectured me about the dangers of it?”

A slow smirk crossed his face, eyes burning under the wisps of light and dark hair. “As brilliant as you are, big Brother, I figured there had to have been some merit in.”

“Don’t try to sweet talk me, Zerom,” the Dreigiau slowly strode closer, everything in his stance spoke of contained violence. A crackle of pale energy had begun to snap from the edge of his form.

“So hostile, Zemi?” the other said, lifting one hand calmly. “And after I have waited so very long for you to decide to return to Nefol, too.”

“These people… these lands… this place… was not yours to do this with!” Zemi grated, fangs bared.

“Oh, I see. So you are saying these people belong to you?”

“Yes!” the Dreigiau barked, answering on emotion-torn impulse.

AsaHi took a sharp intake of breath, her hand clutching ever tighter to SoYa’s shoulder. As if the sound was magnified a hundred fold, Zemi’s focus broke, his gaze shooting over to take in the horrified expression on the girl’s face.

“Really?” Zerom’s voice was a sly reminder, prodding the Dreigiau to recognize the meaning of what he had just said.

“Wait… It’s not like that!” Zemi blinked, shaking out his head as if to clear it, “I meant, these people…”

“They are your little pets, aren’t they?”

“No!”

“You just said they belong to you?”

“I said no!” frustration flooded through the words as Zemi bit them off sharply.

As the Dreigiau’s anger grew more pronounced, SoYa felt himself shrinking back. A pressure filled his mind — a power so vast, so terrifyingly overwhelming. He could almost see the pale energy shifting to a looming darkness around Zemi’s outline, a force that felt not too different to that which clung to Zerom.

No! He’s trying to pull Zemi into the Chaos!

Zerom’s dark eyes flickered over to the Apprentice-SoYa’s breath whooshed raggedly from his lungs as he nearly crumpled under the power of the gaze-then returned his focus back upon the Dreigiau.

“Zemi… Zemi… dearest Brother-mine,” the voice was soft, chiding and affectionate as it turned the tide of the conversation away from his own transgressions. Casting the weight fully on the Dreigiau. “Isn’t it time you stop playing these games? We all know very well what it is you have come to this world to seek. We all know that you gather your power from these pitiful Earthian creatures… and that is the only reason you pretend to care about them. Everything you have given to them only turns to benefit you in the end.”

“That’s not the only reason!” Zemi’s voice was strangled in pain and outrage. His balled fists quivered with the flood of emotion, shadows sweeping around him in a wild caper.

“But you cannot deny that what I say is true.”

SoYa felt himself shivering as the presence of darkness grew stronger with each word that Zerom spoke. It seemed to feed on Zemi’s emotion and doubt, for each defense the Dreigiau cast up, Zerom overshadowed the room more and more.

“I…. I’m not…” As if the Chaos itself was contagious, Zemi stumbled back, struggling to come to grips with his own self. Struggling and visibly losing… his fangs seeming more pronounced, face sharpening as it was consumed with vicious rage, his eyes alternating between fiery-brilliant and deathly-dark.

AsaHi’s voice was a quavering sound in SoYa’s ears, “What’s happening to Zemi?!”

“The Chaos…” was all he was able to choke out, eyes wide in terror as the vast power and darkness unfolded before him.

As he stepped up to the structure, a thrill of shock rushed over him.

“It felt more real in my dreams…” TsuYa murmured as the door to the chamber fell open to Zazo’s command.

There, stretching before him was the room of his nightmares, which was, much to his surprised a place that was locked deep within the lower vaults of the School itself. How TsuYa had known where to find it, he did not know. But a presence had drawn him there. It was the same presence that haunted his dreams.

And now, the room spread before him, no longer a dream. And the strange, humming mechanisms stood in the center of it all, just as it had always did. The same tubes and globes… the switchboard of lights and buttons and readings.

The scent of decay and clinging death struck his senses, seeming more surreal now than they had in the haze of sleep. The floor crunched under his boots, sticky with dried dark liquid. The air was stale and almost too heavy to breathe. A familiar dread and tingling burn itched at the dark patch of skin on his chest.

It was only when Father peered into the room from over his shoulder that Tsu remembered that it wasn’t his dream… and he wasn’t alone this time. A visible revulsion was written on the winged warrior’s face. Father had a very difficult time getting through the streets and chambers of Nefol… especially whenever they were forced to take on a group of the Marked. Watching his father’s reaction had left TsuYa puzzling at how little these things seemed to bother himself.

Maybe it’s just because I’ve seen this dream so many times. The first time I dreamt of it, I probably felt the same way.

Zazo nudged him into the chamber from behind. -What’s the holdup? This is what we’ve been looking for.-

Biting his tongue against the protest that formed in his throat, TsuYa stumbled forward, one slow step at a time. His eyes fixed upon the globe, a tightness gripping his chest in apprehension.

There’s no telling what’s inside that thing…

“Inside?” Father echoed, obviously picking up the apprehension in his thoughts.

“Father…” TsuYa shot him a disapproving look. If there was one thing he didn’t like, it was people prying into his thoughts… even if it was his own father.

The winged man gave a sheepish look and rubbed the back of his head. “Sorry… Couldn’t help but catch that.”

-So the Sygnus-thing is inside the globe?- Zazo snuffed sharply at the strange mechanism in the center of the room.

“I think so,” TsuYa nodded slowly.

-Then we should break it open!- the she-wolf loped forward with an impending step.

“Wait, no…!” Father reached a hand up. “We don’t know if that might set off something. Or even kill whatever is inside!?”

-The point in finding the Sygnus is to kill it, is it not?- her ears perked forward, gaze deep and penetrating.

“Well…” his words were uncertain.

-This creature will bring the destruction of all that you know, ZenToYa. Don’t forget that.-

Father shook his head slowly. “I know you’re probably right, but Zemi hasn’t told us what we should do once we’ve found it. I don’t want to jump into something I don’t know about.”

-Bah!- Zazo shook her head out in disapproval. -You’re no fun.-

“Forgive me, Lady Zazo…” the winged man grimaced, walking closer to the mechanism.

-Yeah, yeah… Whatever.- she shook out the ruff of fur on the nape of her neck.

For a long moment, Father studied the control board with all of its switches and buttons and lights. A perplexed expression rose on his face, growing more and more uncertain the longer he looked. It was obvious that he had never seen anything quite like it.

Father glanced over at Zazo, “Do you know how to get it to open?”

-We could break it?-

“Aside from breaking it?”

-Nope.-

The winged man gave a long suffering sigh with an appealing look to his son.

Some good she is…

The she-wolf turned with a snuff at the Apprentice. -I heard that.-

“Well if you’d keep your nose where it belongs, you wouldn’t have,” TsuYa grimaced at her. Why he suddenly found himself gutsy enough to back-talk an Arweinydd, he didn’t know. It was just as surprising that she retorted right back.

-My nose is right where it belongs; on my face. Where else would it be?- Zazo’s tail swung back and forth, something akin to teasing.

“Nevermind…”

Father glanced over at them with a frown, “So what do you think we should do?”

Zazo paced around a few steps and finally stated, -Hit the red button.-

“Red button?” the winged man squinted at the board, then back at the she-wolf. “Are you sure?”

-Do you want to stand around all day?-

“No?”

-Then hit the red button.-

“Alright…” Father grimaced, moving his finger to carefully hover over the button on the panel. Then with a quick jab, he clicked it, yanking back again as if afraid of being bitten.

A whooshing hiss suddenly rose around them, the silvery mists churning throughout the chamber as a stream of racing bubbles traced down the long tubes that fed into the globe. A cloud of froth began to pour from the surface of the globe and the clear capsule began retract and folding back upon itself, slowly melting away from the top down.

“It’s opening?” TsuYa gaped, taking a step back.

Father glanced over at Zazo, “The red button… how did you know?”

-Easy,- she told him. -It says “release” underneath it.-

“Oh..?” the winged man turned back to the control panel, eyes brushing over the strange runes that were scripted onto its surface. No doubt they didn’t make any more sense to him than they did to TsuYa.

-Be ready. The Sygnus is released.- Zazo’s warning brought their attention back to the globe.

TsuYa’s throat tightened to match the gripping feeling in his chest.

What’s going to happen now? If this really is a Sygnus, are we doomed?  Or do the Arweinydd know something that we don’t?

The silver mists were now pouring out of the center of the globe as it folded away to its furthest extent. Silence filled the room, only the haunting fingers chilling his skin as the mist brushed past him, swirling across his vision in eerie patterns.

Father slowly crept forward, his wings folded back and hand hovering over his sheathed weapon. Carefully, his eyes probed the mists, searching to find what secret peril the globe held. As he stepped up to the structure, a thrill of shock rushed over him.

“Father… what is it?” TsuYa found his voice nothing more than a rasping whisper.

The winged man said nothing. Instead, he reached up and unclasped the cloak that hung around his shoulders. Then stooping down, cloak within his hands, he gave a soft, uncertain murmur. “Tsu…”

TsuYa drew closer, peering around his father’s side into the bottom half of the globe. His eyes widened as his eyes fell upon what looked to be…

A child…?

A young boy, who looked to be no more than four or five years old, lay cupped in the misty crescent of the globe. His skin was pale to the point of near radiance, his hair wispy and long, the color of molten silver. He did not stir even as Father wrapped the soft blue cloak around his thin body.

-This is the big, terrible Sygnus-thing?- Zazo looked somewhat disappointed. -It figures… leave it to Zemi to overreact.-

A shiver still rippled over TsuYa’s body as he peered down upon the child. The flicker of sound rose to him. A name. And he found himself speaking, “LuShi.”

“What?” Father turned with a quizzical look.

“That’s… his… name…” the Apprentice said quietly. Then he added, “I heard it in my dream.”

-”The Bane”? Oh, how pleasant.- Zazo gave a wolfish grimace. -I say do away with it. Save us all the grief that it’s going to cause.-

TsuYa’s eyes instantly flicked up to his father’s face. There was uncertainty there. And reluctance. It was easy to understand why.

If this kid really will destroy everything… then maybe Zazo is right… we should stop this before it starts.

LuShi made a quiet little sound, peaceful as he curled up within Father’s blue cloak. The mists alighted around him, giving him an air of illumination, the tiny face full of unknowing innocence.

But he’s just a little… kid…

Even TsuYa felt himself choke as he gazed down at the sleeping child. A pang of struggle rippled through his body, the same uncertainty that was mirrored in his father’s stance. And he knew that there would be no death in that room that day.

Face awash with ambivalence, Father reached down and lifted the little boy from the shifting mists. His eyes were heavy with indecision, a choice that he would be unable to make. But there was one thing that was certain.

“We can’t leave this child here… Sygnus or not. As long as Zerom has this boy in his grasp, he will be used against us,” the winged man spoke as he wrapped the child deeper within his cloak, away from the biting cold that would greet them in the outside world. Then clasping LuShi to his chest, he turned and nodded.

Just as TsuYa began to grimace, a shiver ran over the entire chamber. Something deep under his feet began to moan, shifting the ground where he stood and nearly dragging him to his knees. With a startled exclamation, he found himself knocked against the side of the mechanism.

Zazo’s ears flattened back. -That’s not good.-

“What is it?” Father’s eyes rose, peering up in concern.

-The boys are going at it.- she informed them.

As the whole Spire began to shake, trembles of stone and cloth breaking free from above, TsuYa didn’t need a definition on who “the boys” might be.

Zemi… and Zerom are fighting?

-We must move. We can’t stay here. This place might come down on our heads.-

“Let’s go!” Father was already moving towards the exit, double time. He held the boy tightly to his chest as he ran, eyes sharp on the ground ahead of him.

TsuYa followed, clutching the weight of his scythe over one shoulder. He could feel a heavy weariness falling over his body — the result of the battles earlier in the day. His footsteps seemed leaden as he struggled to keep up with the pace of the winged man ahead. And something in his chest had begun to burn…

“Aurhg…!” the Apprentice suddenly choked, doubling over as pain spiked through every limb.

“Tsu!” Father turned on his heel.

But Zazo would have nothing of it. -Fly, ZenToYa! Fly and do not turn back! You must not remain here!-

“Father!” TsuYa croaked, his voice cracking.

The feeling. He knew it. It was the mind of Zerom closing in on him.

He’s found me!

“I can’t! I’m not leaving Tsu!” the winged man protested sharply.

-I will take care of TsuYa. You have to keep going!- fangs snapped sharply, a no-nonsense snarl rising over the she-wolf’s body.

The pain increased, pulsing over the Apprentice’s entire body. And through the fog that rose in his head, he heard himself saying, “Father… go… you’ve got to go!”

-Trust me, ZenToYa!- Zazo prodded.

With a broken sound, Father staggered back a step. Then he turned on his heel and leapt into the streets. His wings unfurled as he took flight, the last glimmer of white in the dead lands.

Father….

TsuYa’s eyes misted over, the image blurring and fading away. The sound of the crumbling School rained down around him. The torture of Zerom’s Chaos ripped through him, scorching his skin like a cold flame.

As he slumped over in the darkness, his last thoughts questioned if he would ever see his father again.

TsuYa found himself leaning forward, flattened long over the she-wolf’s back, his knees pressed into her sides and fighting to hold his balance.

The voice echoed into the dark recesses of TsuYa’s mind, slicing through the thick curtain that obscured his awareness. His body felt heavy, as if it was no longer his own.

-TsuYa, open your eyes…-

The voice prodded him again, a dull pulse within his internal ear. Every instinct shied away from it, fearing to answer… to move… to be discovered.

Zerom…no! I won’t!

-Oh, come on. Give me a break, here!-

Instantly, something responded in surprise, a jolt strong enough to bring him around.

Zazo..!?

-What are you, gonna do… just lay there and give up? I didn’t think you were that much of a wuss.-

TsuYa’s eyes flipped open as a rousing anger brought him out of the shadows. There was still a dull ache that thrummed in his chest. Lying on his back, he could see the sharp-nosed she-wolf standing over him, her muzzle only inches away from his face.

-That’s better. Get up. We’ve got places to go.-

The Apprentice coughed, choking up something thick in his throat as he attempted to talk. It tasted like rotten meat, but there was little he could do to clear his mouth of the sensation.

-Don’t waste your energy. We’ve got a long road ahead. I managed to pull you out of it… but I can only hold Zerom off for so long.-

What… do you mean…? What happened to me…?

Zazo tilted her head, tongue lolling out. -Let’s just say you owe me big time.-

Owe you? For what?

TsuYa gave her a sharp frown, struggling to gather strength enough to get to his feet. But much to his dismay, he could hardly force himself up to a crouch.

-As I said, don’t waste your energy.- Zazo chided.

Where is Father?

-He’s gone, probably far away from this place. And a lot safer than you are.-

That’s right… he flew away… with LuShi…

-I still think it’s a BAD idea to leave that thing alive. But you do what you will. Things are sticky enough up top without me crossing Zemi, too.-

For the first time, TsuYa realized that the ground under him was still unsteady, shaking and rolling under powerful impressions. Outside the great arch, he could see flashes of lightning in the icy sky. And in his mind he could feel the tumult of Chaos that rippled over the land.

They are fighting…?

-I’m not sure.- Zazo replied. -It’s probably none of our business. The only thing I do know is that you have to get out of here. You don’t have a lot of time before my wardings on you wear off. And then…-

TsuYa nodded in weak comprehension. Again, he struggled to find the strength to push himself to his feet. And again, he was denied.

-Pathetic Earthian. Do I have to do everything for you?- Zazo snuffed, tail flipping back and forth as if she actually was enjoying herself.

I didn’t ask you to do anything.

-No. You didn’t. But I’m not giving you a choice.- The huge wolf crouched next to him, eyes flickering as she moved closer.

What do you think you’re doing?

-Carrying you out of here.-

You gotta be kidding me!

-Stop arguing with me! Just grab on!-

Grab on to wha…

Before TsuYa knew what was happening, his fingers had entwined in thick, silvery fur. Something about it felt unreal, as if the true nature of fur itself was not completely known to its maker. Yet it was solid enough for him to grasp… and he found himself lifted up astride the she-wolf’s sleek back.

A strangled sound of shock escaped his lips as he felt Zazo’s first great bounds taking them out into the frozen streets of Nefol. Afterall, he had never actually touched an Arweinydd before this… much less ridden on one. TsuYa found himself leaning forward, flattened long over the she-wolf’s back, his knees pressed into her sides and fighting to hold his balance.

If any of Father’s riding skills ever got passed down to me, please let them show up right about now!

Though no streams of breath came from her mouth as she ran and no paw prints were left in the cold soil behind, Zazo certainly felt just as solid as any real creature would. Still, TsuYa could see flickers of the blurring ground through her shape now and again. It was such an unsettling thought that the Apprentice decided to simply shove it to the back of his mind and not peruse it any further.

-Keeping your mouth shut for once?- Zazo’s voice filled his mind, chiding.

TsuYa gave no answer. He simply grimaced, dark eyes squinting ahead into the streets. All of his concentration was bent on using what strength he had left to cling tightly to the Arweinydd as they sped over cobblestone and past the hollow, empty-shelled buildings of the city.

-Get ready. They’re coming.-

The warning came just a split moment before he heard it. The terrible, inhuman screech of the Marked shattered the air from every direction. Clinging tighter to the scruff of the she-wolf’s neck, TsuYa cast his eyes upwards.

Dripping shadows emerged from the narrow side roads. The Marked were everywhere. Within the buildings. Along the street. And blocking the wide stone exit gate.

What do we do?

Panic flooded through the Apprentice, his breaths coming in frantic gasps. The sky above was growing darker by the minute, casting the streets of Nefol into premature twilight. The clouds split with fierce tongues of violet lightning. One bolt struck a building just a few streets over, sending a spray of stone through the air.

-You got your weapon still?-

TsuYa flicked his eyes back over his shoulder where the weight of his scythe hung.

Yeah….

-Then you better get ready to use it.-

What? You’re kidding… I’ve never fought cavalry style!

-Figure out how… real fast.-

No more words were exchanged. The she-wolf simply flung herself forward in a stiff-legged twist. TsuYa felt the world churn around him. His knees pressed sharply into her sides in a desperate attempt to stay mounted.

The intensity of the screeches shattered the air. His eyes could make out the dim shapes closing in from the darkness. With a quick hiss, TsuYa drew the sickle-blade from its clasp on his back, both hands gripping the haft.

He found himself suddenly moving. Twisting along with the wolf, he was carried forward in great, measured leaps. Somehow, he managed to stay astride, weapon gleaming in the dull light.

With a howling snarl of his own, TsuYa swung into the onslaught. All of his concentration was bent on motion, reaction and pure survival. He could sense more than see the Marked as they came. They filled his mind with the pressing stench and groping decay from every side.

Yet he found himself unafraid. An internal calmness carried him — guiding his swings and holding his balance. The she-wolf continued to bank and bound, never once breaking stride.

The ground gave a vast heave underneath them. The earth groaned and jolted them up through the air. The Marked also felt the impact, scattered across the stones of the street. It was the headway they needed to break away from the groping darkness.

Zazo’s strides were like flight as she dodged past the Marked that were struggling to regain their feet. Her nose pointed straight for the open gate. Leaning down over the she-wolf’s neck for speed, TsuYa held fast.

Come on… come on… come on…

The earth rolled beneath them again. But just as aptly as the first time, Zazo used the jolt as leverage for her own bounding strides. They passed through the gates of Nefol like a silver-tinged arrow, speeding into the unnatural night that had fallen over the land.

One glance over TsuYa’s shoulder filled him with a sudden sense of sorrow. Behind him, steeped in darkness, lay Nefol, his childhood home. The very stones of the city groaned, splitting and buckling in torrents of grey. The shadows of death shrieked, filling the air with wraithlike lament as the Spire began to tilt.  The sky lit in patterns of fury, lightning ripping through the heavens, striking time and again at the earth below.

And then the vision was gone, lost behind the curve of the dark hillside as the she-wolf carried him away.

AsaHi’s hand gripped his sleeve more tightly, her breath gasping as she, too, responded to the alterations that had begun within the Arweinydd.

AsaHi’s scream was sharp in the air as SoYa felt himself thrown, scattered across the floor. Then he began to slide.  The entire Spire was leaning, groaning as the two Arweinydd locked in upon each other in the throws of silent mind-battle.

Jolts of energy crackled through the structure, the forms of both Zerom and Zemi taking on a strange, wavering-edged appearance. It seemed like they were shifting, changing… transforming under the force of Chaos that now saturated everything around them.

No…. Zemi!

SoYa had cried out, begged, beseeched… But his pleading had gone unnoticed, a tiny voice lost in the tempest of power that tore them all from the grips of reality and threw the chamber into pandemonium.

One glance through the windows told SoYa that the world had altered — as if they had been dropped into some alternate state of existence. The Apprentice could see the black froth of clouds swirling and churning endlessly around the tilted Spire. Streaks of eerie blue flickered and flashed underneath them, a brewing of pulsar energy gathering at the command of the Arweinydd. Somewhere far in the distance, a single point of white light flickered, throbbing like the fragile heartbeat of a world that awaited the final word.

SoYa could feel AsaHi by his side. He could see the terror reflected in her eyes as she gaped at the shifting, irresolute form of Zemi. He could sense the fear that filled her soul, but he could also sense her longing… her desire to rush up to the Dreigiau… to yank him away from the clutches of the Chaos that was bent on consuming him.

To save Zemi.

How…. how…?

He wanted to take her by the shoulders and ask her.

How can anyone stop what’s happening?

Still, SoYa couldn’t shake the sense that AsaHi’s thoughts were resolute. As if she knew something that he didn’t. As if she knew what needed to be done.

The otherworldly glow flickered in the depths of her soft eyes. AsaHi was completely focused upon the two Arweinydd who were still locked within a battle that SoYa’s senses could not comprehend. There had been a long time of silence where will and whim alone had fought. Finally, when the voice of Zerom came again, it was distorted and mangled, nearly beyond understanding.

“Can you feel it now, Zemi?” the dark eyes burned upon his brother, “This is the real power… the real potential… and you will be the one to open the way to it for me.”

“Open the way to what, Zerom? What have you gotten yourself into?” the Dreigiau growled.

With a startle, SoYa realized that Zemi’s voice was also distorted, sounding nothing like it usually did. AsaHi’s hand gripped his sleeve more tightly, her breath gasping as she, too, responded to the alterations that had begun within the Arweinydd.

“The great Dreigiau… choosing his path in such naivety? I can hardly believe it. In fact, I don’t,” Zerom sneered. “You aren’t fooling anyone here… pretending you were some benevolent higher being watching over the Earthians.”

A snarl broke over Zemi’s face, his form wavering threateningly, almost losing all grasp on physicality. “You don’t know what you’re talking about!”

“And sucking them dry… all the while, you became more powerful,” his sneer grew more twisted. “Well, you were too slow, Zemi. I discovered your secrets. I discovered the power that you commanded… and power even beyond that.”

“You’ve discovered nothing… all you’ve done is take what was already here and tear it to pieces,” the Dreigiau argued, lip curling back.

“Exactly,” Zerom’s eyes flashed, a sudden feverish look shifting over his face. His own motion mocked Zemi’s, his hair streaming behind him in strands of white, grey and black. “You’re a fool, Zemi. Spending so much time pouring your energy and essence into these worthless creatures. They only linger shortly, then pass and die. The real power is found in their death… in the release of their connection to this world. In their destruction.”

Zemi hissed sharply, visibly taking a step back.

“In the Chaos.”

A shiver rushed over SoYa’s body as the final word fell heavily over the room, lingering heaviest upon the Dreigiau. Zemi gave a choked sound, his form crackling and sparking, threatening to fall apart.

“And your fall will be the most delicious of all, Brother,” Zerom’s fevered expression became more and more delirious. One slender hand reached out, dark energies gathering, pulling from the very core of his existence. “If I could gain this much power through the destruction of these worthless, pathetic Earthians… I can’t dream of what will come from you.”

A deep, distorted growl shook through Zemi’s body as he fought, his image wavering into near transparency. The impact of the Chaos knocked the breath out of SoYa, even where he crouched watching the struggle, seeped in a crushing weight of hopelessness.

Zemi was now gathering his own strength, readying himself to make a counteracting assault upon the darkness. But the more energy he gathered, the more transparent his form becaome to SoYa’s eyes. As if pulling up a defense only served to cast the Dreigiau deeper into the fray of Chaos.

But why? If Zemi is trying to fight against it… if he’s not giving into the Chaos… if he wants to strike out against Zerom then-

The words of Aur sprang back to him as his thoughts flew back into action again. The creature had said that the power of two Arweinydd opposing each other would cause great destruction. And that the heart of Chaos lay within the power that was released through the act of destroying.

Zemi’s about to do exactly what Zerom wants him to!

All thought froze in SoYa’s mind as the realization fell upon him.

If Zemi’s energy clashes with Zerom’s, then the destruction will not only start a reaction that will feed Zerom’s power… but also possibly take everything with it!

The Apprentice’s eyes fixed upon the flow of light and darkness that gathered within the hands of the two Arweinydd. And though he felt tiny… though he felt like a nothing, an insignificant Earthian in the vastness of the events unfolding before him, SoYa found himself fighting to stand. His face hardened in determination as he fought the tremors of fear that rippled over him. And he knew what had to be done.

“You can’t do this, Zemi!” SoYa’s voice resounded through the twisted chamber, far louder than he had imagined it could ever be. His feet slipped in the shadow-coated floors as he struggled to push forward against the force of Chaos that shook the stone underneath him.

There was no reaction. Neither Arweinydd seemed to even notice his pale, shivering form only yards away.

“ZEMI!” he cried again, a burst of dark energy cutting his shout short. Doubling over, SoYa reeled, catching himself on his palms and knees. The skin on his face stung from the blast, almost singed, though there was no flame.

The Apprentice watched as the Dreigiau lifted his hands, green slitted eyes fixed upon the form of his brother. The gathering of power swept around Zemi, only moments from release. And Zerom loomed over it all, awaiting fruitation, his twisted sneer gleaming from the shadows.

“NO!”

Shoving upwards with all of his strength, SoYa fought to gain his footing again. The stone floor reeled, ever more violently, as if knowing his intentions. His mind swam with the overwhelming pressure of Chaos and conflicting energy. The Apprentice grit his teeth and bit back the pain as every muscle in his body ached to put one foot in front of the other.

“Zemi, don’t let Zerom trick yo–”

Unhearing, Zemi’s hands dropped. A release of power. Pale white energy leapt viciously from the Dreigiau’s open palms towards the shadowy form of his brother.

NO! ZEMI!

There was no time to think. No other way. As the pulse of brilliant energy flew from the Dreigiau’s hands, SoYa launched himself forward with the strength he could find. Both hands outstretched, he cast a pitiful last-moment attempt at mind-protection before the blow.

The Apprentice threw himself before the Dreigiau. His body crumpled like a discarded piece of parchment as Zemi’s pale-white blast struck him.

A gurgled cry of anguish ripped from SoYa’s mouth. The world flashed through a vision of painful white. His weak mind-warding shattered, sending him recoiling as if he had been struck with an arrow to the brain.

Zemi… don’t…

Though he expected instant death, he found that he could still see, though as if from a distance. The world reeled and spiraled in flashes of light and dark. He could hear the grief stricken sound of AsaHi’s cries.

Then her face hovered above him, looking somehow dim. He reached for her hand, grasping it weakly. SoYa managed to force three final words from his throat before darkness overcame him, “AsaHi… help Zemi…”

“Zemi... Zemi, please! Zemi help him..!”

A dull, pounding numbness filled Zemi’s being. The heaviness of Chaos hung within the back of his mind. His eyes flicked down as a strange pulse rippled from the ground, tremulous through his wavering form. Everything within him responded with a terrible, stricken shock.

The realization of what he had just done.

AsaHi sat cradling SoYa’s limp body in her arms, head thrown back, broken wails shaking her body. Over and over she called the Apprentice’s name. The name of the one that was Promised to her.

The girl’s love seemed to take on a spectral appearance to Zemi’s senses, a shimmering glow that rose and fell with SoYa’s faltering breathing. All of her longing and desire wrapped around her Promised, a desperation and keening loss. A love that was tearing AsaHi’s soul to pieces before his very eyes.

A terrible sorrow placed upon her by his own weakness and short-sightedness.

Zemi could only watch, his breath turning cold in his lungs. It was as if he, too, could feel what death was like. The stillness that was neither joyful nor sorrow, but simply was. A spirit stolen away before its time, leaving a void within the living realms that should have never been.

The Dreigiau’s hands were shaking — something that had never happened to him before. And he knew. He knew exactly what had just happened.

The shock of emotion had pulled Zemi’s awareness from the grips of the Chaos that had nearly taken him. Somehow, the Earthian had known better than he… the Earthian had been more aware than he had… and had acted with the only power he had to keep the Dreigiau from being swept away entirely.

SoYa had been willing to sacrifice his life to save them all. So fearless was the act, it was staggering to the Arweinydd. And looking down upon the still, small form of his Apprentice, he could recognize for the first time just how much the Earthians stood to lose. How priceless life was… and how easily death could come.

“Zemi… Zemi, please! Zemi help him..!” AsaHi’s face turned toward him for the first time. Her hand reached out, grasping his sleeve in desperation. And though he was afraid of what he might find when he met her gaze, Zemi’s glowing eyes turn downward towards the girl, ready to meet her verdict.

There was shock and grief written in her expression… but not accusation. There was not a trace of the blame that he had expected to earn from her. AsaHi’s pleading jerked his thoughts from under the veil of numbness and self-accusation. A sudden pang of overwhelming emotion tightened his throat as his mind turned outward, shifting from blame to concern.

Zemi felt his senses clearing, his connection to the Drei’distau returning as his soul responded to AsaHi’s biting agony. His shock and regret reflected in the tears that streamed down her face, warmness spreading through his chest once more.

“ZEMI!” Zerom’s furious howl shattered the air in the Spire. It rebounded from the walls, ripping to recapture his brother’s attention. To regain the hold that Chaos had nearly won over the Dreigiau.

Zemi’s head turned, taken aback at the sudden change in the other Arweinydd’s tone. For the first time ever, real rage and hatred broke through Zerom’s calm outer visage. That which had always been covered by the unmoving, emotionless mask now began to flake away, the terrible truth unfolding.

He felt AsaHi’s grasp tighten on his sleeve and heard her distant scream. The Spire groaned, a jolt ripping through the foundation as the howling winds of Chaos tore through the darkness of the chamber, a vortex fixed upon the distending figure of his brother.

Zerom’s form began to distort and change, the porcelain perfection cracking, consumed by the gathering of the Chaos that he had absorbed. Swaths of alien blue mutation surged outward to extend beyond the hem of his robes, growing tangled and groping. His face was twisted in hatred, no longer recognizable as anything Earthian or Arweinydd.

Zemi felt revulsion, followed by sorrow for the one that had once been Zerom. The one that he had chosen as his brother. Consumed by the Chaos and lost to the endless hunger of destruction that could never be fully satisfied.

“Zerom..us…” Zemi’s voice cracked as he spoke. But it was too late. Zerom had chosen his path willingly.

“Fight me, Zemi!” the creature hissed as it rose up, looming and monstrous.

“No…” Zemi’s voice came as a hoarse whisper.

“FIGHT ME!!” the Hatred howled in demand. Waves of Chaos snapped forward, trying to cage the Dreigiau within the sway of darkness once more.

Zemi buckled back, attempting to resist. But the pull of Chaos was tantalizing, overwhelmingly desirable. He felt his fangs bare, a vicious snarl once more cross his lips. And he knew he was falling… falling back into the hatred again. Back into the place from which he could not return.

Images of memory flashed through his mind…

…the smile of a young boy… ZenToYa… sitting on the stone floor of the Host Gate… …peering up with trust and love at the vision of the strange white Dragon… the creature whom brought the boy knowledge of power that was far beyond the Earthians’ reach…

…visions of the early days of Nefol… the people who chose to leave their safe Gatherings to learn…. they would become his Apprentices…

…the children of ZenToYa… SoYa and TsuYa… the struggles and heartache that both had to live through due to their heritage… due to their destiny…

..the winged Awakened that awaited upon the floating Island….

…his beloved servants, the Dragons…. KaiShi… Kudako…. Brunswik… Islay…

…his sisters… Zazo… Zeni… so young in the ways of the Earthians, yet… would they follow the path of Chaos or Creation…?

…then the girl… AsaHi…

…the one who had come to him mysteriously… the one that he knew would come… the one that opened the path to his freedom… the one that had begun to teach him the meaning of love…

…so many people… those who trusted him… those who he would hurt, just as he had hurt SoYa… if he fell to the Chaos…

“Zemi!”

A pinprick of light filled the confusion within mind. A gentle touch — it was AsaHi’s hand, touching his own.

The tiny girl sat, reaching out as far as her arm could. Light green eyes met his gaze — pleading, fearful, full of anguish. He felt himself pulled toward the light that he saw there.

And the Chaos scattered from her touch. The darkness bled away from him, the Dreigiau safe and protected by her will… her strength… her understanding… and her love.

A howl of tremendous rage shook the Spire as swaths of blue groped maliciously towards AsaHi. The thing that had obstructed Chaos’ control.  Seething Hatred spat forward, driven by the desire of destruction.

Her eyes turned from the Dreigiau, pale face luminous against the immensity of the shadow. There was no fear there as she watched what was once Zerom bear down upon her. The girl did not flinch. Her grip on his hand did not loosen.

She remained by his side. True. Solid. Unyielding.

Instantly, Zemi responded. A brilliant light bloomed from the midst of the wavering vision as his own form shifted and expanded, taking on the transformation of the Dragon. His white wings rose and spread huge, bursting through the fragile stone walls of the Earthian building. His majestic head reared back, his tremendous roar shaking the heavens.

“Zemi..?!” AsaHi gasped.

She was just a tiny shape on the ground, hovering over SoYa’s motionless form. Staring up at him in wonder and awe. For now the Dragon was far more radiant than white – his power strengthened from within by the bond of understanding between them. The Chaos shed away, melting as the Dreigiau reared up, the light of Creation burning in vast contrast to the dark.

The choice had been made.

Gently, Zemi reached down with one enormous claw, carefully enclosing the two. Protecting them from the onslaught of the Zeromus. Again, the approaching shadows melted away, like paper eaten by flame. Then with one effortless bound, the Dreigiau took to the skies, carrying them away. Though his once-brother’s enraged howl trailed after him, no longer did it have any influence over his being.

The churning clouds folded away at Zemi’s command, the Chaos scattering from the brilliant white light that now consumed him. The tiny form of the Zeni-bird wheeled and capered through the sky-mists nearby. This went unnoticed… for the only thought that now hung within the Dreigiau’s mind was deep concern for the life his Apprentice, SoYa.

Two small faces peered expectantly down upon him, as if he were some curious new discovery found out in a sunlit filed.

For a long time, there was nothing but wavering darkness behind SoYa’s eyes. A stiffness hung over his body as his limbs refused to acknowledge his mastery over them. The feeling of time having passed in long, deep sleep.

But then, something changed. A shift of consciousness within his mind. There came a stirring within him, responding to some unknown, outside power. It was an essence that SoYa had never felt before – both vast and strange. And though it pierced through the shadows that blocked his vision, calling him from the folds of darkness, something about it made his spirit cringe.

“Lucci? What are you doing?” a little girl voice spoke, hovering somewhere above him. “Master ZenToYa said that we weren’t supposed to bother him.”

Slowly, the Apprentice managed to force his eyes open. Sight came to him, blurry and dull. Shapes loomed over him, unfamiliar. Struggling hard, SoYa tried to force his body into compliance.

Another voice came, a child’s voice, too. This time, it belonged to a boy. “Master ZenToYa will be happy for this. Don’t worry.”

SoYa felt a small, cool hand upon his cheek. Then, miraculously, he found his vision clearing, the room coming into focus. Two small faces peered expectantly down upon him, as if he were some curious new discovery found out in a sunlit filed.

One he recognized as the black-winged girl, Suzume. Except, he realized with a start, that for the first time ever, she stood looking down upon him with her eyes uncovered. They were large and black — reminding him with a passing shiver of the eyes of the Marked.

The other face belonged to a silver-haired boy, a child that SoYa had never seen on the Islands before. And unlike the rest of the children on the Islands, he bore no wings upon his back. It was the boy’s delicate, tiny fingertips that were touching SoYa’s cheek.

The room behind them began to take shape as his senses began to function again, though everything seemed at first unfamiliar and seen through tunnel vision. A soft white glow filtered through the window to one side, drawing patterns of light over the sheets. There was the rainbowed blur of a pot of flowers sitting on the bedside table. A soft breeze filtered through the room, smelling of warm grass and summer ponds.

“Wow..!” Suzume exclaimed. “He woke up!”

The Athrylith wheezed, his first stuttering statement completely out of the blue, “Suzume… you can talk?”

The little girl gave him an odd look. “Of course I can talk.”

Not that he hadn’t known that she could talk… But it had been the first time that SoYa had heard a single sound come out of the girl. However, he left that question lying where it was with the realization that there were more important things to ask.

“Where am I? What happened?” SoYa inquired, blinking between the two children.

“You’re in your room, silly. In Ceiswyr.” Suzume replied with a wrinkled-nose face.

“How… did I get here?”

Flashes of hazy memory lit his mind. The darkness of the Spire in Nefol. Of Zerom’s battle with Zemi. And of how he had leapt between the two as the Dreigiau struck out against his brother. All of it was fuzzy in his head… but he knew it a miracle that he was still even alive now.

“Zemi brought you here,” the little boy told him, face quiet and serious.

“Zemi…” SoYa echoed. “Then Zemi is okay?”

“Oh no!” Suzume sudden put her hands to her face. At first SoYa thought it was in response to his question. But then he could sense the child-like mind working in a completely different direction. “We need to go teeeeeelll them that you’re awake! Master Zemi would want to know!”

The silver-haired boy gave her an odd look. Suzume grabbed his hand, yanking him along behind her as she ran out the door. SoYa watched after the vanishing children with a quiet blink. Then he laid his head back against the soft pillows and took in a long, deep breath.

I’m still alive… How can that be…?

“I realized what was happening at the very last moment. I was able to deter a good deal of the blast,” a gravelly voice answered from the foot of the bed.

SoYa’s head jerked up, giving a wince as the room spun dizzily. It took a moment before his eyes focused again and he found himself peering up into the face of the Dreigiau. Involuntarily, SoYa reacted in shock and a tinge of fear. A shivering gasp escaped his mouth as he was unable to voice so much as the Arweinydd’s name.

“Relax, SoYa,” Zemi said, lifting both hands up as a motion of calming. “You’re safe now.”

Instantly, he found himself soothed by the gentle power of the Dreigiau’s voice. And by the fact here was Zemi, still very much himself — no longer caught up in the grips of Chaos as SoYa had last remembered.  His relief must have been very apparent, because the expression on Zemi’s face shifted, turning regretful.

“Zemi…?” Sensing the heaviness between them, SoYa struggled to make a motion forward, only to find the dizziness returning.

“I… don’t know the right word to describe the feeling I have right now,” the Arweinydd admitted truthfully, glancing down at the floor, then up again.

“Earthians call it… remorse,” SoYa answered slowly, surprised at his boldness to reply.

“Remorse,” Zemi repeated. “It is not a strong enough word to express this emotion.”

“Words rarely can,” the Athrylith nodded. “But I suppose that’s the perk of being a mind mage… You don’t need to explain. I already know.”

“That may be true, however,” the Arweinydd blinked at him, “I wanted to speak it to you in my own words. I… don’t… know how that situation got so far out of hand. I don’t know how I was so easily pulled in by the Chaos… I should not have allowed it. I am ashamed – is that the right word?”

“Yeah, ashamed,” SoYa replied. “But… you shouldn’t be. It wasn’t completely your fault, Zemi…”

“Yes, yes it was,” Zemi disagreed. “I should have been able to fight it. Was I too weak?”

“No,” the Athrylith shook his head. “I don’t think it had anything to do with being weak. I just think that… living here among the Earthians, there’s one rule you have to learn.”

“Which is?” the Dreigiau peered over with curiosity.

“There comes a point in life where everyone needs a little help from the people around you who care,” SoYa gave a hint of a smile.

“And… are you… a person that cares… for me?” Zemi continued to watch the Apprentice quietly. “Even after the situation with AsaHi?”

“Well, I’m your Apprentice… I should–”

“No,” the Arweinydd interrupted. “I’m not talking about serving.”

“Then, what do you mean?” SoYa puzzled.

Zemi closed his eyes. “You risked your existence… I nearly took that away from you. I can’t tell you how… deeply… sorry and ashamed that makes me. Because I sense that you didn’t do it completely out of a servant’s loyalty. There was personal concern, too…?”

The Athrylith let out a quiet breath, “Yeah. That’s true… I didn’t want you taken, Zemi. I mean, I know that I’m not much of a friend but…”

“Friend?” the Dreigiau stopped him with an upraised hand. “Yes…”

“Y..yes? Yes what?”

“I like that concept,” Zemi gave a slow fangy smile.

Before SoYa had a chance to reply, he heard the sound of many voices coming from down the hall. His attention turned, but for a second, and when he looked back again, Zemi was no longer there.

“SoYa!!!!” AsaHi was the first in the room. She dove for him, arms out stretched to ring around his neck, despite the fact that he still sat in bed. “You’re finally awake!!”

“Uhh…” he was left speechless, something simply responding to feeling AsaHi’s arms around him. He caught her up within his own arms, though the embrace was weak, and held her to his chest.

“Leave it to SoYa to get all mushy on the girl first thing,” a snort carried from across the room. TsuYa stood there, one hand on his hip and a mock-disdainful scowl on his face.

SoYa found himself doing a double take at the sight of his brother.

“Tsuuu…. what did you do to your hair!?” the Athrylith choked on the words.

For all of his life, TsuYa had prided himself on wearing his hair long, in imitation of Father’s. And now… it had all been chopped short. There was nothing left of it except for a set of unruly white streams that fell in his eyes.

“Decided to get it trimmed,” TsuYa grimaced, looking out the window to avoid feeling the questioning glances of his brother’s eyes.

“Trimmed? Hewn off is more like it!”

“It is part of what Aur is working on as a cure,” Father interjected, now standing there, framed in the doorway.

“Cure…?” SoYa sucked his breath in sharply. “A cure for Tsu?”

“It is possible,” the winged man nodded. There was a lightness to his face, as if all the worries he had been carrying for so long, since their arrival, were somehow working themselves out. His smile was warm and kindly as he strode over and put his hand on SoYa’s shoulder. “How are you feeling?”

“I’m… about as good as I can be,” the Apprentice nodded. One glance past his father showed him that the two children, Suzume and the silver-haired boy, were also peering in at the happenings within the room. “How long have I been asleep?”

“About four days,” Father answered with a frown.

“We were so worried…”AsaHi informed him, as if he couldn’t already tell. The tearful relief in her eyes as she remained in his arms filled him with a warmth and sense of comfort. “And Zemi has hardly left this room in all that time.”

“I know…” SoYa peered at her. “I already talked to him.”

“Really? What did he say?” she gave a concerned look.

“I think… it’s going to be okay,” he answered.

“Yeah,” TsuYa snorted, “If you don’t count the fact that we’ve got a Chaos-crazed Arweinydd running around down on the mainland.”

“Tsu…” Father gave him a look of disapproval.

“Hey, it’s true,” the Apprentice grimaced and leaned back against the wall.

“Well, next time, we’ll be ready for him,” SoYa stated, surprised at the firmness in his own voice.

“Hrm…?” TsuYa glanced over, obviously surprised too. “Did you hit your head or something, SoYa? Or did you just say…”

“I said we’ll be ready for the next time,” the Athrylith nodded, then glanced at Father. “We’re not just going to let him take our city and the people without a fight, are we?”

“Well…”

AsaHi glanced over, wringing her hands in the blankets, “Master Zento… there are still people out there… like my family. They can’t all have been taken to become Marked, can they? They would need our help against Zerom, wouldn’t they?”

“Yes…. you’re right,” Father nodded slowly, his face thoughtful.

“See? Grown-ups are always so serious,” came the sound of child-talk just outside the door. Suzume was looking at the silver-haired boy, informing him of the truth of adulthood with a grim face.

“Suzume. LuShi. What did I tell you about coming near this room?” Father’s normal easy going countenance had suddenly turned stern. Rarely before had SoYa seen him speak so rigidly to children. As SoYa’s eyes tried to trace the path of his father’s gaze, he realized it wasn’t both of them that he was scolding.

It’s just the little boy?

The boy backed away a step under Father’s stern frown. Suzume, however, puffed up a lip, “We weren’t hurting anything. Actually, it was Lucci who woke Master So–”

Lucci poked the winged girl in the side with one finger, bringing her to silence. There was a pitiful sadness about his little face, as a child who was seeking approval but only got a scolding. “I’m sorry, Master ZenToYa…”

“The two of you go wash up. It’s almost time for supper,” Father instructed, not even taking notice of the apology.

Suzume gave a put-out look at the injustice of it all. Then she took a hold of Lucci’s hand again. There was no doubt that the two children were close friends.

But… who is he? He wasn’t here in Ceiswyr before this, was he?

As if the silver-haired boy could sense SoYa’s thoughts, he turned to peer at the Apprentice in silence. Feeling a little sorry for the stern approach of his father, the Athrylith offered a kindly, encouraging look. It was met with Lucci’s hopeful smile, just as the two children vanished around the corner.

“SoYa…” AsaHi gave a soft breathy sound, wrapping her arms around his neck again. The way she always did when she wanted to pull his attention away from something tense. “I’m so happy that you’re awake! And I bet you’re starving?”

It wasn’t till that moment that SoYa realized she was right. He was ravenous. And his stomach gurgled an embarrassing complaint.

“I guess that answers it,” she giggled. Then planted a soft peck on his cheek, “Let me go get you something from the kitchen.”

After AsaHi had left, TsuYa arched an eyebrow, “Smooth use of bodily functions, Lover Boy.”

“Hush,” SoYa grumbled affectionately.

Father drew up a chair next to the bed. TsuYa settled down on the windowsill not far way. And for that time, there was just the three of them — brother, brother and father – sharing a connection, a closeness brought by the strife.

And the knowledge that through it all, they were finally together, once more.

“So…” Father was the first to break the silence. “How about you tell us what really happened in the Spire?”

SoYa took in a short breath. He ran his fingers over the hem of the sheets as his mind swam in attempt to find a starting place. “You’re not going to believe…”

Tugging restlessly at the end of his shorn hair, TsuYa gave his brother a half smirk. “Try us.”