“You made me… your weapon! You made me kill these people!”

The Vision Stone was cracked, a sliced that cut straight through the clear, flat face in the place where the rift had once reflected in blue light. The soft glow of the crystal spluttered, broken, weakening from its cankerous wound. No longer would it protect these lands… lands now marred by the darkness and the mists. Its power was waning. The Stone was covered in blood.

And the last gift it gave was the deepest, most terrible curse upon the one that had struck it.

Luccious lifted the two broken bodies in his arms, hugging them to his chest one at a time. But both were limp and lifeless. Their spirits had been ripped from their flesh, trapped within the mists, just as his own sanity had become.

They were dead. NaDo. Maru.

He couldn’t remember who else. Everything had happened in a terrible blur of raging power and destruction. He knew people were dead, though. And they were dead because of him.

As the Stone’s last light gave his mind a momentary clarity, the Sygnus collapsed next to the two unmoving bodies. He sobbed and wailed brokenly, like a child, his fingers tearing at the blood-stained grass.

Luccious had become the very Bane that the people had fearfully foretold. Now the people that he had love most were dead. And he was alone.

-Why do you cry, my son?- the hissing voice crept into his mind. -They have given their lives to give you power… to a bigger and better plan. To our domination.-

He lifted his tear-streaked face as the darkness began to take shape and grow solid. What appeared there was not person nor Arweinydd. Whatever had been Zerom once, so long ago, was consumed by the Chaos and the Hatred. And now, that Hatred had become a part of Luccious, too.

“You made me… your weapon! You made me kill these people!” Luccious’ voice started out low, growing in strength.

-I gave you the power to reach for your own destiny. I did not control what you did with it,- the voice told him smoothly.

“You knew this would happen! You knew what it would drive me to do!” he struggled to his feet, fists balling. “I would never have hurt them! I would–”

-Why? Because you loved them?- Zeromus sneered. -Do you really think they had any love for you? Do you really think that a monster like you can be loved? Do you really fool yourself to believe that you deserve their love?-

A low laughter rang in his ears. Tears streamed, hot and furious down Luccious’ face.

-Love is an illusion for the weak, Luccious. And we… are not the weak,- the voice goaded him smugly.

“No…” Luccious answered, suddenly finding the cold grip of the black blade in his palm. “We’re not the weak.”

Silver eyes flashed with a terrible wrath as the Sygnus leapt forward, lunging towards the gloating figure. The slender blade struck, hissing and crackling with fury, ripping down through the darkness, splattering black ooze and hissing shadows across the silent glade.

Luccious’ cry of redemption mingled with Zeromus’ screech of shock and pain, echoing from the darkness of the overhanging sky.

Then with one final flicker, the blue light of the Vision Stone faded upon the old world.

{——————}

Zemi had walked for what felt like an eternity. His form that had once been tireless, flawless and so formidable now flickered and faltered. He was growing weaker — he could feel it in every inch of his being.

His power was linked to the Nefolian world, a world that was now far, far away. He was bound to the energy of that living planet. Together, he and that world had developed and grown strong. He had become a Patron, a defender of the creatures of that land.

But that was all gone now.

This strange, new world, felt nothing at all like his home planet. There was life and beauty there. Peace and silence. But the connection that had once strengthened him was gone. And his people… they were gone, too.

The Dreigiau carried the limp form of SoYa in his arms. Something had happened when they stepped through the rift. Something unexpected and awful. There had been a cracking sound and a bright light — when Zemi was finally able to gather his awareness, he had found himself there, alone, with only SoYa at his side.

But SoYa wasn’t the same. He hadn’t stirred or shown signs of waking, but Zemi could feel it. The wings that had once graced the Athrylith’s shoulders were gone. Simply gone, ripped away, as if he had never been Awakened at all. And the feeling around SoYa was distant, like a stranger. As if Zemi had never been his Patron… as if there had not been a connection between them all this time.

In the drifting patterns of the Athrylith’s dreams, Zemi could sense the same thing. Memories had dulled and vanished, a whole lifetime of experiences unmade and torn from SoYa’s mind. It was the last strike of the Sygnus — if he could not destroy the Nefolians in body, he would erase their knowledge and destroy the connection to their Patron from the inside out.

And if this had happened to one as strong of mind as SoYa, there was little doubt that the rest of the people, wherever they had ended up, were in the same state or worse. There would be no finding them all… no reestablishing things. Not easily. Not now.

Perhaps… it’s better this way.

It was a terrible, anguished thought. Still, as Zemi peered down into SoYa’s sleeping face, he couldn’t help but wonder if the people of the Inner Realms would have been better off without the intrusion of Arweinydd.

All we have caused is their death and destruction. Now they have no home. They have no past. They, too, are alone in the loss of their identity.

A long, ragged breath escaped Zemi’s lips.

I made a promise to watch over Zento’s son and keep him safe. I will fill that promise…

He stopped walking, having reached his destination.

Maybe the only way I can keep them safe is by not being here at all.

Slumping to his knees, the Dreigiau gathered them both into his arms.

Zemi’s teal eyes lowered, falling on the tiny curled up form in the grass. AsaHi. She, too, was without wings. But still radiant. Still beautiful. Just the same as the first day he saw her. Something in his heart ached as he knelt down, placing SoYa at her side.

Slumping to his knees, the Dreigiau gathered them both into his arms. They had been his people… his children to guide. And he had failed them.

I will make sure… if you have nothing else left, that you will have each other.

Though he felt himself weakening, the Arweinydd reached around them, gathering the last of his power. And within that embrace, he wove a new knowledge for them. The distant memories of each other. The love that they had shared. And the courage they possessed to stand by one another, no matter the dangers they had faced.

Zemi’s form began to flicker and shimmer, tiny particles of light drifting upon the alien winds. When he no longer had the strength to hold him, he laid them down in the grass, side by side. And with a tired and sorrowful breath, the Dreigiau faded away.

{————–}

He opened his eyes. The world blurred around, vision swimming. His mind was cloudy, waking very slowly. He pushed himself up on his hands, feeling the cool blades of grass under his fingers. Then he peered around.

He wasn’t sure where he was or how he had gotten there. But it didn’t seem like a bad place to wake up. Everything was quiet. It smelled of earth and flowers and trees. He heard the buzzing of busy insects as they made their rounds over the fern-like bushes. Somewhere not too far away he could hear the sound of running water.

A water splash across the face sure did sound like a good idea.

As he rolled over to look around, he noticed he was not alone. A girl was curled up in the grass beside him. He was surprised at his feeling of surprise regarding this fact — was it odd to find a girl sleeping in the grass? Maybe it was. Maybe it wasn’t. Afterall, everything felt somewhat odd about this situation.

He leaned over her to get a better look at her face. It was obscured by waves of pale white hair. Specks of grass and flower petals dotted the soft strands making her feel like something that belonged there. Something of the natural world.

He reached his hand forward to pull her hair from her face and paused upon the sight of his fingertips. They were a dark color, almost as if they were dirty. But he knew they were not. The color didn’t burn or hurt. He sniffed it and it didn’t smell funny. But there it was, on his hands. So strange. Just like everything else.

While he had been inspecting his fingers, the girl began to stir. She slowly rolled over, bright green eyes fluttering open. It took her a moment until her vision focused, peering up at his face.

He had expected her to respond in surprise — afterall, he would have been surprised if someone had been staring down on him when he had wakened. But she didn’t. Instead, she gave a wide, beautiful smile.

“SoYa?” she asked.

“SoYa?” she asked.

He blinked once. Then realized that was his name. And that he knew her name, too.

“AsaHi?” he asked in a similar tone.

“Hi..?” she answered, looking a little shy.

“Hi?” he responded, brushing the stray curly hair from his eyes.

AsaHi reached up and stroked her fingers through his hair, moving along with his own fingers. Then she pushed herself to sit up next to him.

The sound of voices carried along the breeze. There were other people here, somewhere. SoYa could feel them. Sense them. He didn’t know how he knew. He just did. The feeling of slight confusion and wonderment. People waking up, just as they had.

“There’s other people here,” AsaHi gave him a quizzical look.

“I know,” he told her and nodded.

Then he got to his feet and helped her up. As he began to walk forward, he sensed something funny. Looking down, he could see AsaHi’s little hand wrapped around his own.

And something about that felt just right.

{——-}

The sound of the ocean was more mournful now, though Oren couldn’t understand why. The darkness had lifted from the forests, but even so, had left only a pale shadow of what the land had once been. As he rode along, even Drok seemed restless, ears twitching in nervous agitation.

Something really bad has happened here… I just wish I knew what it was.

He knew it had to do with the strange white haired people. Even after the KoGuRai creature had been slain, they were always in a huge bustle to get one place or another. But no one had stopped and taken the time to explain what the trouble was.

Just like the people of the Inner Realms. Thinking they’re so much above the rest of us because of their wings.

The people of the Spiral had also been on the prowl, heading further south than Oren had ever seen. The golden haired men were never one for conversation, though, and didn’t offer any information either. They just seemed to be searching and searching…

Whatever they were looking for, they don’t seem to be finding it.

Drok suddenly lurched to a stop, nearly sending Oren sprawling over his neck.

“Hey! Hey! What do you call that!” he complained, punking the creature on the shoulder lightly. “You need to warn me before you do something like that!”

Drok simply shook his head all the more and snorted. Squinting up the steep incline towards the forest, Oren could make out a glimmer of something white along the stones. Swinging down from his mount, he frowned and began to make his way towards it.

“You stay here,” he said back over his shoulder. “Not like you’d move anywhere anyway. Lazy thing.”

The closer Oren climbed, the more his astonishment rose. Soon his eyes could pick out the features of a person. A white-haired woman. Someone he knew all too well.

“Well, now. If this isn’t déjà vu,” he murmured under his breath.

Kneeling down, he checked her over for any sign of injury. She was still breathing. She didn’t seem hurt. But the wings that she once had… they were missing. Simply gone.

Something strange is definitely going on here.

Something strange is definitely going on here.

Oren pursed his lips and gathered her into his arms. Carefully he picked his way back down the incline towards where Drok was waiting.

The creature flicked its ears forward with an expression of smug expectation.

“Yeah, yeah. I know. You’re good,” Oren huffed, securing the woman on Drok’s back. “Let’s get her back to the camp and see if we can figure out what happened.”

Camp wasn’t too far away. It was mostly a cave they had found in the side of the stone near the ocean. It was somewhat damp and the fire could be stubborn at times, but there wasn’t much more one could expect when it was high tide.

Oren covered her in a hide blanket, did his best to make her comfortable among the saddle bags and put some fish on the fire to fry. He hoped that the smell of food would bring her around — she didn’t look like she had eaten in far too long.

Eventually, hunger must have taken its toll, because she did start to stir. He leaned forward to watch her, a big grin spread across his face.

“Good morning, beautiful,” he teased.

Expecting a disgruntled jab in return, he braced himself. But she merely blinked at him in confusion.

“JouKa?” gave her a concerned look.

She didn’t respond to her name.

“JouKa?” he asked again.

This time, she turned to him and asked slowly, “Do ya mean me?”

“Yeah,” Oren frowned. “That’s your name. JouKa. Don’t you remember?”

“Oh. Yes… of course,” she answered. “JouKa.”

Drok gave a concerned snuff from the far corner of the room.

“’Oo are you?” JouKa asked with a moment of hesitation.

He blinked, then gave a wide joking grin to cover his own worry, “I’m Oren. I’m the love of your life!”

Certainly THAT will get a reaction!

Her mouth opened wide. But instead of the customary shout, she mused in wonderment, “Really?”

Oren fell over backwards in shock, nearly upsetting the frying fish. When he uprighted himself, he waved his hands around, “Okay! Now I KNOW you’re really sick!”

JouKa looked down at herself, clutching the hide blanket tighter about her shoulders. “I… don’t think I’m sick.”

“Then, what’s wrong?” he asked.

“I don’t know,” she told him.

“How did you get here?”

“I don’t know.”

“What happened? Was there a fight?”

“I don’t know!” this time tears began to shimmer in her eyes.

“Whoa! Whoa! Wait… I didn’t mean it like that!” he waved his hands around.

Good job you insensitive lug!

There was a long uncomfortable silence. Then he scrubbed his fingers through his hair and slowly slid over to sit next to her.

“Look,” Oren said. “It’s okay if you don’t know.”

“It is?” she asked with a sad face.

“Yeah. It’s fine. You’ll be alright,” he promised her. “I’ll take care of you and we’ll figure this all out. Okay?”

JouKa didn’t say anything. She just nodded and leaned her head against Oren’s broad shoulder.

SCORE!

He couldn’t help the wide grin that spread across his face. Drok gave him a long, flat stare.

Oren cleared his throat and motioned forward, “So. Uh. I hope you like fish? How about some?”

A rumble rose up in Zemi’s throat, his eyes locked on the Sygnus.

“Kudako…” Zemi’s voice cracked as he spoke the name.

“Zem,” AsaHi took his arm in a comforting motion. “He’ll be alright. I’m sure.”

“No… He isn’t alright,” the Dreigiau turned his gaze downward, face pale and strained. Words didn’t have to speak the feelings that were emanated.

SoYa didn’t have to hear it. He knew. The Dragon Warrior had fallen and would not be returning to them. And despite the power of the great Watcher from the Time Before, he had doubts that even Aur could hold up against the darkness and death of the wild-minded Sygnus.

So many. We’ve lost so many… is there really nothing left for us to do but run?

“Lord Dragon! Please hold your concentration. You too, Lady Wolf!” NaDo’s voice cut through the moment of mourning.

-Excuse you! My name is Lady Zazo. Get it right, Earthian!-

It was enough to draw the Arweinydds’ attention back upon the task at hand. Everything that had been said about the Vision Stone was true. It rose up before them, a pillar of brilliant blue light that shown straight up into the sky. Where its light shimmered, even the darkness did not touch. Something about the glade surrounding the Stone felt safe and protected — but SoYa could not say how much longer that would last.

The machine that NaDo set up next to the Stone was a marvel of technology, even more so than his ships and the endless lines of gadgets that ran the length of the walls of the Shellab. All wires and hums and tall flat looking screens, it somehow managed to tap into the vast energies of the tall Vision Stone. Under the right hands, NaDo had said, the Stone’s power might even be bent to the user’s will.

It’s hard to believe that a little boy can trigger all this…

KiNa’s hands were little, but the right ones. The moment the child placed his palms against the slick touch pad of the machine, the stone had burst into a brilliant light. The distant sound of ancient song rustled through the winds of the glade. And the tallest crystal face along the side of the Vision Stone had flickered with an image.

Just as NaDo described…

The picture wavered, glowing before them. A land that was not their own. But a living world just the same. There was no sight of city nor structure. Just a rolling forest and long green hills. A place that gave the feeling of peace. Perhaps safety, if hidden away from the searching eyes of the Dark Sygnus.

As the three Arweinydd focused their powers around the machine next to KiNa, the image of the distant land became more and more clear. More stable. The shimmering ripples of a riftway had spread across the face of the stone. It had become a gateway into this strange new world.

And now, the winged people were filing through this rift as quickly as they could. Women and children were assisted by the soldiers, feet shuffling up the slick crystalline incline that lead to the rift. Their faces were haunted with the fears that hung just over the edge of the forest — they could feel the pressure of the prowling death coming ever closer. No one dared to hesitate — even a completely alien land was less frightening than the Dark Sygnus’ wrath.

There were so many people. So little time. And knowing that Kudako and Aur could only hold the Sygnus at bay for a short while, SoYa didn’t know how they would get everyone to safety.

“AsaHi,” the Athrylith took her by the shoulders and started nudging her towards the stream of moving people. “I want you to go.”

“What? SoYa! I’m not leaving you here!” she protested instantly, just as he knew she would.

“Please! I’ll follow you. Don’t worry! I just have to know that you get through safe,” he tried to reassure her. At this point, they both knew that nothing could be promised.

“Don’t leave me, SoYa…” AsaHi hung on to his shoulders, tears in her eyes.

“I won’t leave you. But I have to help make sure everyone else gets through safely. That includes you,” he told her.

A broken sound. An uncharacteristic sob. Her strength had finally been spent in the face of so much death and loss. AsaHi threw her arms around his shoulders, burying her face into his tunic. It was the hardest thing he could do to force her to let go. But he did, giving her a gentle kiss on the forehead.

One of the soldiers saw his plight and took AsaHi by the upper arm, “Come with me, Miss.”

“No!” she tried to struggle. But he was far stronger as he led her towards the rippling face of the Stone.

SoYa could only watch, his heart aching.

AsaHi turned and reached back towards him. She called his name frantically, but he couldn’t hear her voice above the hum of the machine and the rift winds. Then, in a flash of soft blue light, AsaHi had stepped through, fading into the crowd of winged people. Lost to his sight.

“Keep going,” NaDo coached. “We’ve almost got everyone. We’re doing a lot better than I had hoped.”

Despite the positive words, SoYa could only glance back over his shoulder with a worried frown. The shadows and mists were moving again. And approaching fast.

“NaDo… Maru… you should take KiNa and get through,” Zemi’s tone was concerned. He, too, saw the motion in the forest behind them.

“Just a little bit more, Lord Dragon,” NaDo assured him. “We have to make sure the machine is properly dismantled and the rift shut… or there’s a chance we can be followed. That would defeat the purpose, wouldn’t it?”

As the last of the winged people gathered through the gateway, SoYa saw a lone figure holding back. A figure he recognized instantly.

“JouKa, what are you doing?” he rushed over towards her. “You have to get through the rift.”

“We’re beginning the dismantling process,” NaDo announced. “Everyone get ready to make a run for it!”

JouKa turned with a silent, haunted face. “I’m not goin’.”

“What? You can’t stay here!” SoYa protested. “You’ll be killed.”

“Then I will. But I’m not goin’. This is my world… my ‘ome. I’m not lettin’ some winged freak push me outta it!” she gave him a hard glare.

He took her arm, “Be reasonable! You’ve got nothing to gain by getting yourself killed here.”

She jerked her arm away quickly, backing away with a snarl. “Gain? Everything is gone! KoGu is dead! TsuYa is Marked! Our ‘ome is destroyed. People are dyin’! Tell me what’s worth seein’?”

“Power down, eighty percent!” NaDo’s voice warned.

“JouKa!” he reached for her again.

She dodged back, “You don’t order me around, Neffie! Go save yer own skin. I’ll take care of myself!”

“Seventy-five percent!”

SoYa drew in a frantic breath. He could see that nothing short of forcing her was going to work… and they just didn’t have the time.

Before he could reach out for her again, a deafening crack broke the sky above. The shadows and mists rolled in, struggling to press upon the brilliant blue of the Vision Stone. But the Dark Sygnus strolled forward, unaffected, long glimmering black blade held ready in one hand. It dripped, heavy with gore and blood.

JouKa gave a horrified scream, reeling away from SoYa’s hand. He could only stumble back in shocked astonishment as the girl whirled around and took off running. Not into the rift of the Vision Stone. But into the depths of the forest, the opposite direction of shadows and mists. He shouted her name, watching helplessly as she vanished between the trees.

The Sygnus’ laugher was chilling as he advanced. His smile was hollow and void of any emotion. His voice low and level, “Zemi Dreigiau… you sent your pets to do an Arweinydd’s job. And then you mourn their death. How hypocritical.”

With a flick of his wrist, the Dark Sygnus heaved a heavy, curved sword forward, tossing it at the Dreigiau’s feet. It glittered with a deep golden sheen, decorated by the etchings of a long, majestic lion. It, too, was splattered with blood.

Zemi’s face contorted at the sight of it. A sudden rage burned in his eyes, focus breaking away from the rift, shifting to the harbinger that stood before them.

“Zemi! No! Don’t — crud! Energy levels dropping drastically! We need to get out!” NaDo shouted a warning.

“Hypocritical. Just like everything you’ve ever said to me,” Lucci hissed.

“No! It was never like that! Never!” Zemi snarled, moving towards the Sygnus with a deadly furor. “We took you in! Cared for you! Gave you a home and even trained you! How could you turn on us like this?!”

“Did you really think that your so-called care,” the Sygnus drew the word out in disdain, “Could stop what I was meant to become? I didn’t kill these people, Dreigiau. Your idealistic hope did!”

A rumble rose up in Zemi’s throat, his eyes locked on the Sygnus.

Lucci lifted his blade, ready. A sickly smile crossed his face, “That’s right. Let me drink your power, Arweinydd. You would give me far more than these little Earthians have.”

“ZEMI! RIFT IS CLOSING!” NaDo’s voice bellowed, trying to break through the rage.

Zemi didn’t flinch. It was as if nothing but the Sygnus existed to him at this moment — the clashing of wills, a face-off of natural enemies that stretched back into ancient times, back to the Time Before.

Sygnus and Arweinydd.

And if legends spoke rightly, the Arweinydd would lose.

I can’t just stand and watch this! I have to do something!

SoYa thrust his staff forward, focusing his power into the stone. The staff that his father had once helped him craft… back when he had first learned what it had meant to be what he was, an Athrylith. And all that time they had spent recently… Father training him so hard. Teaching him. And Tsu.

Tsu…

And Aunt SaRa. Now Kudako. Aur. They would never see the light of this new world, the memories and sacrifices lost to the old lands. They would not be there to guide the struggles of the refugees that would have to work to start all over again. He was the last of the Ya family line. He alone, would have to lead the people.

And it’s all… your… FAULT!

A pulse of multi-colored power lit the staff’s stone, sending a shaft of light straight into the fray, slicing between Sygnus and Arweinydd. Unexpected, Lucci reeled back from the blast, a crackling pulse spreading across his shoulder, smoking where he was hit.

“ZEMI!” NaDo demanded.

Finally, the Arweinydd jerked his head around. He stared at NaDo, then at the wavering rift in realization. Whatever had held the Dreigiau captivated had broken as the Sygnus’ attention swung about, focusing with a terrible intensity on SoYa instead.

“You… the son of ZenToYa…”

It felt like the breath was being crushed out of SoYa’s lungs. Shifting tendrils of mist crept over the ground, towards his feet. But no matter how much he fought and threw his will against it, he could not find the strength to move.

“You think you can fight me when your father could not?” the Sygnus sneered taking a slow step forward.

Searing pain raced through his limbs, shadows moving over him, gripping him. For a fleeting moment, SoYa was reminded of the shadows that had taken his brother.

“Would you really give your life for your people? What would you risk to defend your homelands?”

“Every…thing…” SoYa croaked, fighting for breath.

“Then you shall be bound to share the tainted fate of Nefol,” the chilling voice cursed him.

The Sygnus’ silver eyes bore into his own, stripping away all the warmth in the world. SoYa doubled over, the pain becoming too intense for him to bear. His shaking hands struggled to keep grip of his staff, knees trembling and dropping him to the ground. His watery eyes could make out the darkness that had begun to stretch across his skin, spreading from his fingertips and up his arms.

“Power at 30 percent! Now or never!” NaDo’s voice edged with worry.

Faintly, SoYa could hear Maru’s pleading voice. “Take KiNa! Take him, Lady Zazo!”

-Don’t you think I have enough to carry?- the She-Wolf growled as she bore the Marked Champion towards the fading rift.

“He’s just a little boy! Please, take him!” a mother’s cry.

Even Zazo couldn’t seem to deny that. With a huff, the Arweinydd clamped down on the back of the child’s tunic, lifting the boy between her teeth.

“Mommy!” KiNa cried, little wings stretching and straining, reaching for his parents. “Daddy!”

“GO! GO!” NaDo shouted, slamming his fist on the machine as if to keep it running just a few moments longer.

The She-Wolf whipped around, lunging for the rift, carrying child and Marked through the final flickers of the blue Vision Stone light.

SoYa felt himself lifted from behind. Strong hands pulling him up, off his feet. The world jolted around him as his senses faded in and out of awareness. Distantly, he could see Zemi above him, carrying him.

“Lucci! You don’t have to do this!” Maru’s voice echoed from what seemed an immeasurable distance. “We know this isn’t you! This isn’t what you’d want!”

The Sygnus’ step faltered, but only momentarily. His voice was grave, “It’s too late for that.”

“No! No it’s not! You have to stop this!” NaDo begged.

SoYa felt the trickling light surround them as Zemi ran, carrying him to the rift. He reached back towards the wavering images of NaDo and Maru as they moved forward. He watched as they put themselves between the Stone and the Sygnus.

“I can’t!” Lucci cried and lunged forward, his fevered silver eyes locked upon the retreating Dreigiau.

The black blade lifted.

The sounds of screams. A crack like thunder split the air. A brilliant blue light.

The sensation of falling. Burning agony and choking breath. A terrible pain ripping through his body. Pain so overwhelming that drove his thoughts and senses to nothingness.

His mind reeled, struggling to keep hold of himself. But then that, too, was washed away.

There was no sensation left… followed by a deep, dark sleep.

“I’m alright. Don’t worry about me.”

AsaHi’s tiny fingers folded over the back of Zemi’s broad hand as he strained to draw the rifting energy into the Cynosure chamber. He was shaking. Every now and then, a spasm racked his body, nearly causing him to fall. And every time, Kudako or Aur were there to offer him strength to stand.

The loss of Zento was more than just a painful, emotional void for the Arweinydd. He had lost a part of himself, his binding Champion who shared his power and bridged the connection to the planet itself. What had once been so easy and so careless to Zemi now took his full concentration to even attempt. It broke AsaHi’s heart to watch the Dreigiau struggle so hard just to fail… again and again as the rift energies seemed to slip right through his fingers.

All she could do was stay by his side and offer him what little strength she had left. It had been so difficult to keep herself from breaking down at the news of Zento’s death. Even though nothing had been formally finalized, the winged warrior had always treated AsaHi like a daughter. He had brought hope and guidance to everyone who knew him… and to those who even knew of him.

And SoYa…

She almost didn’t want to think of it. She had watched the strained composure on his face as he had reached out to comfort Zemi in the midst of his own grief.

He’s become so much like Zento… But I know he must be hurting so much right now.

She couldn’t imagine what it felt like to be in his shoes… to watch his family be torn away, one by one. It was the reason why AsaHi didn’t have the heart to argue when he had raced away on the back of the She-Wolf in desperate attempt to save his brother, the last true family he had left. If there was anything left there to save at all…

The sound of murmuring from the far side of the chamber caused AsaHi to peer back over one shoulder towards the entrance. Her mouth opened a bit, though no sound escaped as her eyes blinked, trying to figure out what it was she was seeing.

The She-Wolf Zazo padded into the room with a scoffing look, nudging her way past any of the winged people who weren’t quick enough to give her the space she desired. Draped over her back was a dark, slumped figure, streaming black ooze across the Arweinydd’s hind quarters. The moment her eyes locked upon him, AsaHi could feel the prickles of fear racing over her skin.

TsuYa..? They really found him. They managed to capture him! But how?

The answer appeared, only a moment later.

I don’t believe it..!

It was SoYa. His clothes were torn and shredded with the struggle of battle, lines streaked across his body where wounds seemed to have once been inflicted. Somewhere along the way, he had lost his hat and his hair hung about his shoulders in wild wisps of untamed curls. His eyes were deep and penetrating, flickering with an internal light that she had often seen when looking at his father. A pair of vibrant white wings arched from his back, shimmering with a luminosity that few other Awakened seemed to have.

Something awful must have happened…

AsaHi could remember how SoYa had hesitated the first time he had seen her wings. She remembered the look of awe and doubt that spread over his face. How he had stammered with uncertainty, trying to find the things to say.

She felt that way now. Everything she had always known he was deep inside was now so plain for the world to see.

There was also battle-worn exhaustion written on his brow and in the way SoYa leaned against his staff for support. AsaHi felt her concern outweighing her doubt as he stumbled up to the rifting stone, stopping to stand silently next to her. Everyone was watching him, though he seemed too tired to notice.

“SoYa…” her voice seemed tiny to her ears. “Are you hurt?”

He shook his head slowly, “I’m alright. Don’t worry about me.”

AsaHi reached out and gave his arm a gentle squeeze. When he turned to look at her, she forced a weary smile. Quietly, he returned her smile – it was the same SoYa-smile that she had always known, warm and comforting. No words were needed between them. Her fears were put to rest.

“Should we not find shackles for the Marked?” Kudako’s low voice intoned from somewhere behind.

-Shackles? Are you implying that I don’t have this completely under control?- Zazo gave a snuff.

“No, Lady Zazo. It is just the thought of precaution,” the Dragon bobbed his head politely.

-Well, for your information, everything is fine. Or perhaps your little Earthian eyes cannot perceive that,- she continued gruffly.

“He appears to be dripping on your fur,” Aur’s commentary was so smooth that it was impossible to accuse it of being the humor it really was.

-I know that!- Zazo barked. –I gave him permission to!-

“I see,” the Watcher lifted his eyebrow and gazed drolly at Kudako. The Dragon just nodded and crossed his arms.

-Overgrown mountain lion!- the She-Wolf sneered, bringing her burden up to where the Dreigiau stood. -Zemi. What’s the hold up? Haven’t you gotten that rift open yet? Your Sygnus pet is going to be here soon!-

“I’m trying, Zazo,” Zemi muttered.

-Not hard enough!-

“Would you like to do this?” the Arweinydd scowled.

-If I were doing it, it would have already been done,- she retorted.

“Then how about giving me a hand?”

-Fine! Since you can’t do it yourself!- Zazo barked back. Then, before anyone could say another thing, the She-Wolf poked her nose forward, right into the small of the Dreigiau’s back.

AsaHi jumped, yanking her hand away as the Arweinydd’s form burst into a brilliant shaft of white flame. She shouted his name, backing away, but everything that had been Zemi and Zazo were lost within the sudden vortex of light.

The runes along the floor began to pulse as the chamber rumbled. Multicolor tiles spread throughout the room casting up brilliant shafts of energy, bounding and rebounding from the etched glassy walls. Finally, the light merged and centered, feeding into the luminous glow of the rifting platform before them.

AsaHi’s breath caught in her throat as the wild spiral of light and shadow drew inwards for one short, shaky moment. Then with a wind that smelled of salt and sea, the huge spiral rift burst open, streaming sunlight and a vast arch of blue sky above them.

The darkness of the Wyndor caves melted away, the earth shifting under her feet. As she felt herself dangling in a moment of misplacement, her hand reached frantically for something solid and firm. She fell back, only to be caught and righted by SoYa’s strong arms.

What just… happened?

When AsaHi finally caught her breath, her green eyes flicked around in wonderment. She was leaning heavily against SoYa’s chest, her knees quavering more than she wanted them to. SoYa, too, looked a little stunned and disoriented as the cooling sea breezes ruffled through his hair.

Soft dunes of white sand billowed out in all directions around them, the quiet sound of rushes and reeds playing in the wind. The sea forests shown brilliant green, vivid and full of life — so different from the fear and decay of the underground chambers they had just come from. As the seascape stretched out in a quiet majesty before them, it was hard to believe that anything they had just experienced was something more than a bad dream.

“I know this place,” JouKa’s voice was hardly above a whisper. “We’ve been ‘ere before.”

“Yes,” Aur agreed. “We have.”

“Lord Zemi… can you walk?” Kudako inquired, reaching down to gather up the drooping Arweinydd.

Zemi had returned to his normal form now. Only the slight sparks of energy lingering in the air showed that anything had happened at all. Zazo, on the other hand, had taken the appearance of a summer time poof-ball flower. Her fur stood on end in every direction except for where the oily black blood of the Marked continued to drip.

-Sure. Sure. Be concerned over him,- she grumbled. -No thanks to me for getting us here.-

“Thank you, Lady Zazo,” SoYa offered quietly.

-Did I tell you that you could speak to me?- the She-Wolf huffed and stuck her nose up in the air. -We’re wasting time. Let’s go.-

“Go where?” AsaHi asked.

-To that ridiculous Shellab place. Where else?- Zazo began to pad across the sand, flicking her feet and grumbling.

“What’s a Shellab?” AsaHi whispered back over one shoulder to SoYa.

His puzzled look and slight shrug spoke his own confusion on the situation. Instead of answering, SoYa simply walked forward and offered Zemi his shoulder for support from the other side. The Dreigiau gratefully took it.

Then Zemi did a double take, teal eyes opening wide. He exclaimed with just as much surprise as anyone else, “SoYa! You’ve Awakened!?”

The Athrylith gave a calm laugh in reply as they made their way forward over the sands, “Well maybe… just a little bit?”

The great maw snapped open with a gleam of fangs. A stream of pure energy shot across the room as the Marked shadows began to boil at the foot of the cave door.

The sound of dragon-alarm echoed through the depths of the Wyndor chambers, startling AsaHi from her restless sleep. She didn’t know how long she had been sleeping or how much time had passed since they had arrived in the Dragon city, but she could feel that it had not been enough time to get things as situated as Zemi would have liked for the defense against the Marked siege.

Next to her, SoYa was stumbling to his feet with a groggy look. He, too, must have attempted to get what little sleep as was offered. His hair bushed out in all directions as he jammed the square-topped cap down over it. In better times, this would have made AsaHi laugh… but for now, laughter was dimmed as the sound of battle began to flood the hallways.

“AsaHi!” was all her Promised said before he took her wrist, urging her up and moving.

Getting her feet under her, she rushed to keep up with his longer stride.

They had hardly gone half the length of the room when a looming shadow burst through the doorway ahead of them. AsaHi stumbled back with a yelp of surprise as SoYa’s staff leveled forward, lighting the room with a brilliant golden glow.

“SoYa! Put that out!” Zemi’s gritty voice groaned from where the Dreigiau was squinting away from the light. “You’re going to alert every goo-dripper around that we’re here!”

“Oh!” the Athrylith sounded abashed as he lowered the staff. “I was just–”

“Yes, I know. Very courageous, kiddo. Now come quickly — follow me,” Zemi beckoned.

“Where are we going?” AsaHi rushed after the Dreigiau without a moment’s hesitation. SoYa was a little less eager to move forward, peering down the length of the shadowy stone halls before following.

“We need to secure the last of the children in the west wing before the Marked get this deep into the caverns,” the Arweinydd answered shortly. “We tried to gather everyone earlier, but we just haven’t had enough time!”

AsaHi peered ahead in the shadows to see the huddling forms and frightened eyes of a dozen young winged children. Among them, she could make out a few familiar faces, children she had seen and spent time with on the Islands before the Migration. Then, a dark haired girl rushed forward, waving a tiny hand in worry and calling her name.

“Suzume!” AsaHi answered back, coming to meet her.

“We’re under attack?” the little girl asked taking AsaHi’s hand with shaky fingers.

“It’ll be alright,” she attempted to sound reassuring. But it was difficult to keep the fear out of her voice.

-Yes. All will be well, but we must make haste,- a quiet voice echoed softly within AsaHi’s ears. Speech that was not speech.

A small white bird alighted down upon Suzume’s head, wings and tail flicking with what seemed to be agitation. Instantly, the girl recognized the shimmering sparrow form of the Arweinydd Zeni.  If Suzume had any surprise about acquiring the sudden feathered hairpiece, she didn’t show it — AsaHi couldn’t help but wonder at the casual demeanor between child and bird. Afterall, it wasn’t every day that an Arweinydd landed to perch on one’s head.

The roar of battle Dragons suddenly shook the walls, leaving AsaHi’s knees weak from the impact. Great voices and sounds of alarm came from the adjacent chambers.

“We’ve been blasting them down off the east wall, but they just keep coming!”

“How many are there!? The lower chamber is nothing but black and stench!”

“Those things are tearing the wings off of people! I saw it myself!”

“Hold your ground! Ready the flames. Torch anything that comes from the below!”

SoYa’s hand clamped around her wrist again, a frightened light to his wide eyes. He managed to squeak a few quavering words, “We better go!”

AsaHi nodded mutely, gathering Suzume with her free hand and rushing towards the group of shivering children, who stood frozen by the seeping aura of fear that hung heavily in the air. The side halls burst into red flame as the screeches of the invaders met with the molten fire, claws and fangs of the defending Dragons. The girl felt her breath whistling between her lips as she broke into a sprint. However, the frightened children before her only stared at the inferno glow with horrified faces, unable to move.

“Come, children! Come with me! Follow me!” AsaHi’s voice was strained with fear. She motioned with both hands, like a person trying to herd a flock of chickens away from danger. But still, they did not move.

Suddenly a pillar of white light burst up through the chamber. She only had a moment to turn and see the form of Zemi’s great white Dragon taking form – wings unfurling over them protectively, deep teal eyes glowing with a brilliant internal flame under the stream of shaggy Dragon mane. The great maw snapped open with a gleam of fangs. A stream of pure energy shot across the room as the Marked shadows began to boil at the foot of the cave door.

If the children had been frightened before, they were terrified now. But it was enough to get them moving, running as fast as tiny feet could manage. It was all AsaHi and SoYa could do to keep up and try to direct them to the same place. There were no signs of Marked ahead, only the screeches of battle and agony ringing out behind. The large, shimmering white form of Zemi followed distantly, driving the attackers off of their trail.

SoYa clutched his head now and then, squinting in pain as he ran. The sound of the Marked screeches were blood-freezing to everyone, AsaHi remembered, but were extremely painful to the Athryliths in particular.

She reached one worried hand over to grip his shoulder. Though she was too winded to manage words, he understood the motion.

“I’m fine… keep going,” SoYa replied through gritted teeth.

Before long, the winding halls forked off in many different directions. AsaHi pulled up to a stop – though she had spent much time in Wyndor before, she had never explored so deep within the mountain core. And she certainly wasn’t sure of picking her way to the west wing, as the Dragons had called it.

A few of the children were sniffling, on the verge of tears as SoYa turned around in a circle. His brow was furrowed, too, “Which way?”

-Come with me!- chirruped the answer. A streak of white zipped over their heads and down the path to the left as the tiny white Zeni-bird pointed the way through the shivering halls and chambers.

AsaHi opened her mouth with surprise. But Suzume was already tugging on her hand, pulling her forward.

“Zeni knows!” the little girl told them without a hint of doubt.

AsaHi peered at SoYa. The Athrylith only nodded.

The halls grew darker the deeper they traveled, making it more and more difficult to coax the children forward. Eventually, SoYa was forced to use his staff to light the way.

-Almost there. Don’t stop now.- The soft-spoken words brushed past her ear, somehow soothing. Renewing her determination.

“Zemi?” AsaHi turned with a questioning look. There was nothing there, no sign of the Dreigiau. But she could feel his presence, sense his awareness. She knew that the Arweinydd was there. Watching and protecting his people with the dedication and concern that of a true Patron.

She could sense it in him – the pain and fear and struggle that Zemi shared now with his people. A growing understanding of what it meant to live and die. To lose and mourn. And to fight to protect those that did not have the power to protect themselves.

In the midst of the darkness, battle and invasion, this came as a comfort. AsaHi knew that whatever happened, Zemi had found his way. He could hold his own against the threat of Chaos, now.

The Dreigiau would stand against the darkness and protect his people, no matter the odds.

“AsaHi! SoYa!” a familiar voice called their name from the end of the hall.

The girl had to squint before she could finally make out the beckoning form of JouKa, fully armed and looking ready to do battle. Without another word, the short-haired girl turned and pushed on the side of the rock face. There was a deep, startling rumble as what appeared to be a dead end in the hall began to shift and open. A brilliant, multi-faceted light burst from the widening cracks in the wall, revealing a huge chamber of shimmering wonder.

Despite the ripples of fear that still gripped her, AsaHi couldn’t help but give a long breath of amazement. Multi-colored tiles glittered and pulsed along the floors, some emitting tall shafts of rainbowed light towards the vaulted roof. Tiny, pin-pricked runes and patterns were traced along every inch of the rock, all focusing inward on one large, upraised panel of translucent stone. It was huge – big enough for even the Zemi Dragon to perch on. Staring into its swirling depths felt as if one had come face to face with heart of the universe itself.

“What is it…?” AsaHi whispered.

“A major rifting point of the Cynosure system,” Zemi’s voice answered from behind her. This time she felt his hand on her shoulder as he walked past her into the room.

“A what?” SoYa echoed with a furrowed brow.

“It be our ticket outta ‘ere,” JouKa told them with a somber look. “That’s why we’ve been bringin’ all the kids and women.”

“Go ahead. You’re safe now,” Zemi motioned the newest arrivals forward.

For the first time, AsaHi’s gaze slipped past the brilliant glow of the Cynosure stone to see a much, much larger group of people huddled in the safety of the far end of the room.

Released from their guidance, the children scampered across the chamber, hopping over the runes and shimmering tiles to join the others.

“So what exactly does it do?” AsaHi asked, carefully stepping through the doors.

“It’s a transportation system of sorts,” Zemi answered.

“Then, we’re going to evacuate?” SoYa inquired.

“If things start to turn against us, yes,” the Dreigiau nodded. “I promised your Father…”

“Then you had better call the troops in now and get these people out of here,” a ragged and broken voice intoned from behind them.

AsaHi turned with a worried frown, taking a moment to make out the shape that emerged from the shadows of the hall. She knew the man, though they had only met once before the attack on the Spiral, and she could not remember his name.

“You’re… that spirit… the one that was Lucci’s friend?” she stammered slightly.

He looked too real to be merely a spirit now. In fact, he looked just as real as anyone else there. He bore the grim and tatters of someone who had traveled a long and exhausting journey. His face was lined with a deep grief, the tips of his long ears quivering as they drooped.

“I am…” he answered hoarsely, leaning against the wall as if to catch his breath.

“How did you get here?” Zemi asked, lowering his brows.

“Are you alright?” SoYa asked at nearly the same moment.

“I’m fine,” the spirit nodded. “And how I got here is irrelevant.”

The Dreigiau crossed his arms with a frown, “Not to me.”

“Zem,” the man breathed out with a tired, pained look. “I’m here to warn you. You have to get your people out of here! You have to go to the Vision Stone… it can tap into the Ways… and it might be the only thing that’s going to save you.”

“Save me? From what?” Zemi’s eyes narrowed. For some strange reason, the Arweinydd appeared to be taking the message of warning seriously.

“It’s Lucci… I tried to stop him,” the spirit’s voice wavered, almost to the point of weeping.

“Lucci! Did they find him?” SoYa’s eyes widened. “We sent a Spiral search party for him after the battle… but no one had seen him.”

“He w-went… to face Zeromus…” the spirit choked.

“What?” Zemi moved forward, quickly gripping the other man’s shoulders. “Why?! Why did he do that without telling anyone?”

“He thought he could stop the battle… he wanted to defeat Zeromus… he wanted to protect people. But it turned out all wrong. The sword… the wings… Lucci didn’t even recognize me… I couldn’t stop him!”

“Wings?” SoYa breathed.

“Sygnus…” the spirit slumped forward. “Zeromus has Awakened the Dark Sygnus.  Luccious is coming… he’s almost here.”

Aunt SaRa lay with her hands folded over her chest, surrounded by Cred flowers.

-You can come down from there, now.- Zazo’s voice resounded in her mind. –They’re all gone.-

AsaHi looked up from where she had been curled up in the crook of one of the tall trees. Blinking, she realized that after the terror of the evening had worn off and she had found a safe place to perch, she had promptly fallen asleep out of pure exhaustion. Uncurling her wings, the girl leaned out over the edge of the branch to look down.

The huge white She Wolf was sitting at the base, peering up at her with slitted green eyes.

“The Marked are gone? Are you certain?” AsaHi asked, letting herself down for a slow glide to the ground.

-Yes.- Zazo answered, soundly strangely disappointed. –I have searched everywhere down here.-

The girl landed on her feet lightly, offering a slow frown, “Why?”

-I felt TsuYa.-

AsaHi opened her mouth. “Oh…”

That’s right… Zazo seems to like Tsu…

-I felt TsuYa. I’m sure of it. But when I got here, all I found was his wimpy brother!- Zazo whined.

“Hey!” AsaHi exclaimed, ruffled. “SoYa is not wimpy!”

-That would be your opinion.- And with that, the She Wolf rose to her feet, nose in the air as she pranced into the forest.

AsaHi took that to mean that she would be leading her back towards the entrance of the Stone Lair. So the girl followed quickly, asking, “Is SoYa okay?”

-He doesn’t matter to me,- was the short answer.

“Well, he matters to me!” AsaHi huffed with puffed-out cheeks.

Zazo paused with a canine snuff. –He was fine. I found him stuck up in a tree.-

“In a tree?” AsaHi answered.

-Light knows how the Earthian got up there.-

TsuYa… you put him there, didn’t you? To protect SoYa and keep him out of the reach of the Marked.

The She Wolf paused, glancing over her shoulder with a sharp look. AsaHi had forgotten that Zazo often read thoughts without shame.

-What was that?-

“N-nothing,” the girl shook her head and trotted faster to keep up. She quickly changed the subject, “What about JouKa and Suzume?”

-They are safe. They told me that you would be out here.-

“You said the Marked are gone… does that mean…”

-I think the battle is over for now. But something else seems to be happening. I think we are going to have to leave the Spiral.- Zazo told her.

“What? Why? And go where?” AsaHi’s voice rose in surprise.

-I don’t know the whole story, but I heard that over grown mountain lion saying that he thought the attack on the Spiral was just a diversion,- the Arweinydd answered with a note of impatience.

“You mean Aur?”

-I meant what I said. Overgrown mountain lion.-

“What kind of diversion?” AsaHi pondered.

-You ask way too many questions. I just don’t understand what Zemi sees in you!- Zazo gave a final flip of her tail as the forest thinned out, revealing the opening that would lead back to the surface.

AsaHi’s face was flushed with embarrassment. When she saw SoYa there, she tried to hide it. And hide any thoughts she might have had about her meeting with TsuYa.

Somehow… he wasn’t completely under Zerom’s control. He helped us get away…

But SoYa wasn’t paying attention to her thoughts. He was already rushing, stumbling over rocks and roots to reach her. When he did, he swept her up in his arms, hugging her tightly.

“AsaHi… I’m so glad you’re alright,” he choked. She could see that his eyes were ringed with red…. he had been crying.

“Were you that upset about me?” she teased him gently, touching his cheek.

But he didn’t respond to her chiding in the normal way.

“SoYa..?” AsaHi’s voice grew concerned. “What happened?”

“Aunt SaRa,” he answered, his voice cracking. “She’s dead.”

AsaHi knew that gasping wasn’t the most comforting reaction to have to SoYa’s pain, but she was so stricken with disbelief there was nothing else she could do. It felt as if the world had suddenly stopped spinning… or all the stars had fallen from the sky. Aunt SaRa was timeless in her wisdom, comfort and care. To think that AsaHi would never see the winged woman again left a sharp pang in the center of her chest.

SoYa was fighting back another round of tears. So AsaHi threw her arms around him and hugged him until they both cried.

-Hrmph,- Zazo’s disdainful voice cut into their grief. She shoved her nose between the two of them, pushing them apart. –She’s safer where she is now… than you are. You better get moving before they leave you behind.-

“Behind… why?” AsaHi creaked, wiping her eyes.

-Zemi has given the orders. We’re leaving for Wyndor.- the She Wolf answered curtly. –But if you want to stay here, I don’t really care.-

“Wyndor? But what about our stand here in the Spiral?” she asked.

-More questions. More questions.- Zazo grumbled, padding towards the dark stairway to the surface.

“Urf!” AsaHi responded with a sound of frustration. “Just answer me!”

That’s when the giant white wolf stopped, whipping her head around. With a sharp jab of her nose, she nudged AsaHi back. -Do NOT make demands of me, little Earthian! You may be Zemi’s favorite pet, but you mean nothing to me!-

AsaHi froze with a furrowed brow of heated anger. She rubbed her shoulder where the Arweinydd has shoved, massaging the ache there. As much as she wanted to clash wills, AsaHi chose to remain silent and let the She Wolf have her win. Afterall… SoYa was still hurting. And fighting had no place in the middle of grief.

With a flip of her tail, Zazo vanished into the shadows, heading back to the surface.

SoYa was there. His arms wrapped around her, one hand stroking her hair. “Are you alright?”

“I’m fine,” AsaHi told him. “I’d have taken her but there’s no point in arguing amongst ourselves right now.”

He gave a faded laugh, “Yes… I know you’d have taken her. You’re not even afraid of Arweinydd.”

AsaHi paused, realizing that more or less, it was true. Besides Zerom and his Chaos, she had no fear for the Arweinydd anymore. Not after having been with Zemi and watched him change in so many different ways since their first meeting in the Host Gate.

He’s changed again… here in the Stone Lair. Something’s given him a different sort of power. But I know he will still fight to protect us, no matter how he changes.

She frowned at the shadows of the stairway where the She Wolf had just disappeared.

That’s the difference between Zemi and the other Arweinydd. That’s why our connection with him can make him strong again.

“You’re thinking too hard,” SoYa told her quietly. Trying his best to support her and keep her moving forward, just like he always did. Even when he was the one that was hurting inside.

“Oh… SoYa,” was all she could say. She half wrapped her wings around him as they began to climb the stairs together. “We’re going to make it through this.”

“Yes…” he answered. Then he paused. Though she couldn’t see his face in the darkness, she could hear the sadness in his voice. “It’s just… things will never be the same, will they?”

AsaHi hugged him tighter, leaning into his chest. She couldn’t lie to him. “No… they probably won’t be.”

She could feel his faint nod. His coming to terms. As emotional as SoYa could be sometimes, there was a part of him that was very logical, too. A part that made sense when nothing else seemed to. He would struggle through this, she knew. But he would sort it out in time.

“We have to be there for your Father,” she didn’t know why the thought came to her. She knew that Zento would not be taking this well, especially not after having just lost TsuYa so short a time ago. It was hard to decide what was worse… the death of someone you loved, or knowing that someone you loved was still alive but suffering under the blight of Chaos.

“You’re right,” SoYa sniffed, trying to breathe in deeply through his nose. “Father… he’s going to be a mess.”

They didn’t say anything else the rest of the way, simply walked, leaning shoulder to shoulder up the flight of long stairs. For some reason, this time, it felt longer than AsaHi remembered. And when they arrived at the top of the stairs, the inside of the Lion’s Keep didn’t seem as radiant as it had before.

The first thing that AsaHi heard was the soft sound of music. Voices lifted in quiet song. As they made their way out of the Keep, a heart wrenching vision spread out before them in the square. People and Dragons stood ringed around the open area of the square, just at the foot of the Lion’s Keep. Their heads were bowed, voices somber in parting song.

They had laid the bodies of the fallen on beds of brush and sticks – both Spiral and Nefolians alike. Friends and family gathered around each pyre, torches in hand. Some sprinkled faded flower petals over the fallen. Some laid the most precious possessions beside their loved ones.

AsaHi’s eyes filled with tears once again. There were so many to mourn. The battle in the Spiral had taken so much from them all.

SoYa walked with her, keeping his head down as they made their way off to one side. There was little doubt that the feeling of grief would be overwhelming to an Athrylith, even on top of his own.

Aunt SaRa lay with her hands folded over her chest, surrounded by Cred flowers. To one side, Zento stood unmoving. Like his son, his eyes were fixed upon the ground. Next to him, Kudako and Zemi stood, both holding the torches. Others were there as well – JouKa and Suzume. NaDo, KaiShi and Brunswik. Other Nefolians and Dragons… those that Aunt SaRa had cared for in life.

Where’s Lucci?

Before AsaHi could ponder the thought more, SoYa released her and walked up to the pyre. With trembling hands, he reached out and touched the winged woman’s arm. For a long moment, he stood there, looking down upon her. Then he took a step back to stand next to Zento, having said his goodbye.

There were no words as Kudako and Zemi walked forward, lowering the flaming torches to the wood. The fire leapt up, catching quickly, burning with a strange hint of multi-colored light, reflecting off the bowed heads of the Nefolians and Dragons that paid their respects.

Soon, there was nothing left but flame and smoke. Other streams of smoke rose up into the sky, lifting the sorrow of the Earthians into the heavens. Carrying the songs of the final plight of the mortal soul up to the uncaring starlight.

“AsaHiiii…” her name escaped his lips in a rasping hiss. It seemed difficult for him to speak.

“What’s going on?” AsaHi asked, holding tight to SoYa’s shoulder. She could hear the muted sounds in the world outside of the Lion’s Keep. “Something terrible has happened since we went down to the Stone Lair… hasn’t it?”

“I don’t know,” SoYa told her. He was listening, too, eyes narrowed and flicking around from one end of the Keep to the other. “But Zemi told us to stay in here. I think that’s what we should do.”

“But there can’t be a battle, can there?” she pressed. “We left Zerom and his forces on the other side of the Cleft!”

“I don’t know,” SoYa answered again, patiently. Then he pulled her closer to his chest, holding her for reassurance.

Every now and then, the ground would rumble. It was a terrible feeling, just sitting there and waiting. Not knowing if there was a battle, and if so, who was fighting. Or if Zemi might have needed her help. Chaos still lurked outside, no matter what new power and strength the strange blue stones had given him in the chamber below.

After a while, the door to the Keep opened. Both AsaHi and SoYa leaned forward, faces painted with expectation. But when they saw JouKa and Suzume stumbling inside, all they could do was puzzle all the more.

“JouKa?” AsaHi called with a questioning voice.

The moment that the girl glanced up, AsaHi was overwhelmed by the pure absolute grief in her eyes. She had never seen the tough winged girl cry… but JouKa was crying now.

“What’s wrong?” SoYa was on the job instantly, making his way over to them both.

Before anyone could say a word, both JouKa and Suzume had attached themselves to the Athrylith, sobbing.

“Whoa… whoa. Hold on. Tell me what’s happened!” he waved both hands in surprise. “Please… I can’t help you if I don’t know.”

But neither of them seemed to be in any condition to explain.

AsaHi eventually managed to detach Suzume from SoYa’s waist and pull her to the side. The little girl just curled up under AsaHi’s chin, holding on to her with two shaking hands.

“JouKa…” SoYa’s voice was soothing and calm. The flows of subtle mind magic began to shift through the room. “It’ll be alright.”

“No… no it won’t,” she answered.

“What is it?” he coaxed.

“The Marked… and the Esgyll… attacked…” JouKa hiccupped softly. “Aunt SaRa. She’s still out there…”

SoYa swallowed, peering over with a concerned look at AsaHi.

So we ARE under an attack.

“Don’t worry…” SoYa was assuring her, “Aunt SaRa is strong. She’ll be just fine.”

JouKa’s voice wavered, “I don’t think so… not this time…”

Before SoYa could reply, there was a sound at the door again. Thinking someone was coming in, he got to his feet, lips pursed slightly. But after a time, the doors did not open, though the sound on the other side remained.

“Oh no…” JouKa whispered hoarsely, grabbing a hold of SoYa’s shoulder. “They’ve found us. They know we’re in here!”

At the tone of panic, Suzume gave a muffled little-girl cry. The sound carried and echoed in the Keep before AsaHi could cover her mouth. Suddenly, what had once been shuffling on the other side of the door became mauling, scraping, raking and banging. Animal like growls and hisses rose to her ears… the sound AsaHi knew as the Marked.

SoYa’s face paled as he took slow steps away from the door. The wood groaned and rattled on it hinges. Then suddenly burst inward as oozing black claws erupted through from the other side.

“What do we do?” JouKa held tight to SoYa’s tunic, shaking him. “This place is a dead end!”

“No… it’s not,” AsaHi glanced over quickly. Back towards the passage down to the Stone Lair.

“That’s right!” SoYa shook himself out, ushering JouKa back towards the doorway. Reaching up, he grabbed the nearest torch. “Let’s go!”

“Come this way, Suzume,” AsaHi took the little girl’s hand, leading her forward.

“But it’s dark down there!” she protested, face pinched with fear.

“It’ll be alright, I promise you.”

Without waiting for a reply, AsaHi plunged into the steep narrow passage that lead deep underneath the Lion’s Keep. There was hardly enough light for her to see by. The steps were slippery and damp. She ran one hand along the moss-covered wall on one side, holding tight to Suzume’s hand with the other.

When the sound screeching filled the chamber above, her heart nearly beat out of its chest.

“Go! Go!” SoYa hissed from behind, trying his best to shine the light ahead of them.

“Don’t stop!” JouKa repeated over and over and over again.

It wasn’t long before they could hear the sound of the Marked at the top of the passageway. Their shriek shattered the musty air and sent stone raining down around them.

They’re following us!

The shrieks also seemed to have some effect on SoYa, who almost dropped the torch. JouKa was quick to take the light and pushed to keep him moving.

“SoYa… are you alright?” AsaHi gasped, spitting out lingering cobwebs as she raced forward.

“Hurts…” was all that he could manage, stumbling after her.

Finally, a glint of light somewhere below indicated that the Stone Lair was getting closer. AsaHi half fell the last few steps as the stone deposited them into the giant, underground forest. She could hear JouKa’s sounds of awe just a moment before it was drowned out by the screeching from the tunnel behind.

SoYa took one look at the huge towering trees above, then peered back at the three girls. He spoke only one word, “Fly!”

“What?” AsaHi demanded, incredulous.

“Fly!” he pointed up into the trees. “They’ll never be able to climb and catch you quickly enough. You can be safe up there!”

“I’m not leaving you down here, SoYa!” she protested.

With the sound of the Marked pressing closer, JouKa grabbed Suzume by the hand, “Fly with me, okay, Suzume?”

The dark-haired girl nodded and sniffled. But she stretched her two black wings.

“I’ll take care of her,” JouKa told them. She glanced up into the trees, then back at SoYa before spreading her wings. Without another word, the two girls were airborne, lifting off into the endless trunks and branches above.

AsaHi and SoYa, however, were running again. And arguing all the way.

“I’ll be alright!” he protested.

“No! I’m not just going to leave you alone to face those Marked!” she snapped back. “They seem to do funny things to you.”

He muttered, “Just the sound of the shriek…”

“See! How can I leave you like that?” AsaHi scowled, dodging under the shadow of a tall mushroom-like plant.

“Well we have to find some place to hide or they’re going to catch us both!”

They were running haphazardly, she knew, dodging around the huge tree roots, in and out of bushes and banks. They had not had much time to explore the Stone Lair at all the first time they had been down there. So for all she knew, they could have been running in circles.

They made their way further and further, hand in hand. Never did they stop to catch their breath or figure out what direction they were moving. The pressure of the earth was heavy above them and the forest itself wad completely silent on every side.

It was in the midst of the silence that the ambush came — just when AsaHi had begun to think the silence meant their safety. As they turned the corner around the roots of a tree, a huge dark shadow dropped down upon them. She felt herself forcefully yanked away from SoYa’s grasp, watching as he was knocked away spinning, then slammed up against the trunk of the tree.

“No! SoYa!!” AsaHi cried, reaching for him.

It felt like a lash of cold iron had curled around her neck as she was pulled back and so easily lifted up off of her feet. Something immeasurably strong had captured her, one large arm curled up under her chin to hold her. No matter how she struggled, she could not loosen the grip.

And SoYa was not getting up.

“SoYa!! SoYaaa!”  Her struggles became more frantic, fighting against the unmovable strength. Her cries became more desperate. Just as quickly, her captor turned her around, and she found herself face to face with a terrible sight.

It’s just like everyone said…

She knew TsuYa when she saw him… no matter how different he looked now. Despite the fact he was now twice her size, and then some. Despite the grey skin, black eyes or dark hair and wings. Despite the wicked claws and fangs and black spikes that covered his body. There was something in that intense, dark gaze that was still the TsuYa she remembered.

As scared as she was at that moment, she almost wanted to cry.

“AsaHiiii…” her name escaped his lips in a rasping hiss. It seemed difficult for him to speak.

Her gaze locked with his, searching the depths of his haunted black eyes. There was something behind them, a look of distant recognition.

“TsuYa…” AsaHi whispered. “Is it you?”

“The Master wants you captured,” he warned her.

AsaHi winced quietly – TsuYa would have never called anyone “Master”… not willingly, at least. But she tried not to let it show. It was surprising enough that she even got him to talk to her at all.

“Why?” she asked.

“Because you can protect Zemi,” was the quiet answer. Then, he stumbled away from her with a snarl. “Run.”

“What?” AsaHi stared at him.

“Run!” TsuYa snapped, cold fangs showing.

She backed away, eyes flicking towards where SoYa still lay, “But…”

“He’ll be fine,” the Marked growled. “The Master only wants you.”

The sound of Marked screeches rang through the forests, coming closer. AsaHi realized she was out of time and options… and that perhaps being with SoYa was more dangerous than running somewhere far, far away from him.

Please be safe…

She swallowed, peering at TsuYa’s face one more time before she took a step away from him. For some reason, she trusted his word. Even if he was the Marked Champion. There was something within him that was still the TsuYa she knew.

“You’ll get in trouble for this,” she warned as she spread her wings.

“I’ll enjoy every second of it, too,” the familiar arrogant smirk crossed his face. “Now go!”

With a sweep of her wings, AsaHi launched into the air. Though her heart was beating fast, her flight was steady, carrying her away from the dangers below. With a heavy feeling in her chest, she couldn’t help but wonder if she would ever see TsuYa again.

Everywhere Zemi looked, the walls seemed to glow and pulsate with an inner life of their own.

It’s all there… Every last bit of it.

Images of Zerom’s coming. The fall of Nefol. The Migration from Ceiswyr. The battles with Zeromus. The fall of the Islands. And now the coming of a new leader to the Spiral lands.

But the images didn’t stop there. To Zemi’s growing trepidation, they spanned even into what appeared to be their future. Battles in the Spiral. A frantic flight into a deep, forested land. And a tall pillar of blue stone, that appeared to be much like the Vision Stone that NaDo had spoken so frantically about.

What is this…?

A light shown around the stone in the image. People were lined up, walking into it. The ones furthest away had wings… but as the people came closer to the light, the pictures showed people who were stripped of wings and a great looming darkness over them all. On the other side of the light was a round shape – the image of a world, Zemi knew.

What does this all mean? Is this what is yet to come?

Zento had given the images a couple of glances. But not making any sense of them, he simply shrugged and peeked further down the stairwell, leaving the Dreigiau to his thoughts.

“Look! Look at this!” AsaHi’s voice resounded from the narrow walls. Her excitement broke the Arweinydd’s concentration and he reluctantly turned to follow the rest of them down the stairwell. As they rounded the final corner, it was as if they had walked into another world.

This has to be the Stone Lair…

The chamber was enormous, looking to have been naturally weathered out from the heart of the stone over many, many thousands of years. It was the same sort of blue stone that the key was made of.

The same kind of stone that NaDo claimed the Vision Stone is made out of.

Everywhere Zemi looked, the walls seemed to glow and pulsate with an inner life of their own. Tiny streams of water trickled down the face of the walls from minuscule cracks far above, forming clear, reflective pools in lower parts of the cavern. Once, long ago, a river may have run through the underground passage, sculpting out many caves and tunnels through the blue stone, leading deeper and deeper than imagination could comprehend.

And though no sunlight was there to provide nourishment, plants grew everywhere. Strange, wondrous plants of many colors that reared tall above Zemi’s head. Treelike growths stretched up into eternity, vanishing beyond sight into the vaulted ceilings of the Lair. Flowers swayed, dripping petals down over the cool surface of the pools. The sound of scampering things darted through the wide glowing leaves, leaving them to wonder after the sounds.

This place… has so much life.

“Zemi, look!” AsaHi exclaimed, rushing up to him. She lifted one hand up, showing him the familiar form of a blushing red flower. “It’s a Cred! How did it get here?”

“I…” the Dreigiau gaped at it with a loss for words.

That’s impossible… those flowers only grow with the nourishment of Arweinydd power. I know – I grow them myself!

His teal-flecked eyes shot up to the pulsing stone of the walls around them, searching. For the first time, he could feel it. Whatever secrets that Aur had hinted at… there was something really there for him to discover.

“Zemi? Are you okay?”

That has to mean that this light…

The Dreigiau didn’t answer to the call of his name. His mind was focused, struggling to connect. To understand the feelings that were welling within his chest. With a glazed-eye expression, he shuffled closer to the nearest pillar of blue stone.

I have to know. Who are you? Where did you come from?

“What’s he doing?”

“I don’t know. Maybe he’s upset about the Cred?”

“Zemi? Where are you going? Are you sure we should mess with anything in here?”

Their voices began to fade away, replaced by a soft thrumming, almost like a heartbeat. It rose and fell with the pulsing glow of the blue stone. As he came closer and closer, Zemi could feel his own breath and heartbeat begin to slow, falling in time to the rhythmic cadence.

You have seen into the future. Can you show me the way?

The world dimmed around him as his hand reached out. The blue light filled his vision as the thrumming filled his ears. His fingers brushed the surface, meeting with a familiar jolt. Zemi felt the burst of pure power rush through his body. A deep rumble vibrated through his being, shaking the chamber as his form was ripped away.

The senses of sight and sound and touch were no more. The Earthian means of interacting with the world that he had studied and strove so long to imitate was wiped away.

Nothing but energy was left.

~Zemiiii…~

Something like a voice came to him from within the brilliant white nothingness. He gathered up enough awareness to focus on it.

~It has been a long wait, Zemi Dreigiau. But you have come to be here, just as it was hoped.~

Memory roused within him. The images that had been on the wall in the stairwell. Struggling to find his own words, he answered.

Then… this was all preordained?

Tiny specks of light drifted across his vision, swirling and capering. Space around him seemed to stretch into endlessness. His own light blurred and shifted. He found it difficult to hold on to even that.

~No. It was simply one.~

One? One what?

~One path out of the Infinite Ways.~

A flourish was felt rather than seen. Realization came to Zemi… that was where he was now.

The Infinite Ways… the place where the past and present and all worlds that might have been… meet together.

It felt strange to acknowledge it. As if the knowledge was coming from somewhere beyond himself.

How did I know that…?

~The same way that you know about the Time Before and the Mistake… though you did not experience them. This place is a part of the essence of all Arweinydd… though so few of our kind have stepped into the Ways. And those who have often find themselves lost to it.~

A flicker of surprise rippled over his awareness.

Our kind? Do you mean to say that you are Arweinydd?

There was a momentary pause. Then the space around him began to grow brighter. One by one, the tiny specks of light expanded, growing in strength until they were vast before him. How he wasn’t consumed by the enormity of them, he didn’t know.

~Yes. ~

Zemi flinched back, struggling to hold on to his own light. To not get lost in the draw of the Ways or the power of the Others. For the first time, Zemi felt truly small.

~We are all that remains of the essence of Arweinydd from the Time Before. We gave our life light to power the chamber of stone that you saw upon the Living World. It was there that we helped to shelter those who survived the Mistake.~

You mean like Aur… and the Dragonkin?

There was the sense of confirmation.

~As well as some of the Earthian tribes – though they do not remember. And… one small group of young Arweinydd. Including yourself.~

What?

But there was no answer to his surprise. The voice simply continued.

~ The balance of Chaos and Creation must be maintained. If it is not, things fall out of order. Paths in the Ways begin to merge and overlap each other unnaturally. And all can be lost. ~

Zemi felt a shudder ripple through his form.

~ The wars of the Dragon, Arweinydd and the Sygni pushed this existence into the Mistake. We have given all that we could to maintain life in the aftermath. We cannot allow such a thing to happen again.~

No… of course not.

The voice paused. When it spoke again, the weight of the words were heavy upon him.

~It is in your hands to bear the light of Creation and to maintain the balance and protecting the life of the Earthians you lead. This is, above all, the most important.~

I’m trying… I’m doing my best. But it’s impossible to protect my people if I can’t fight against the Chaos. Can you help me?

The voice did not answer at first. When it did, the words were not at all what Zemi was expecting.

~Zemi Dreigiau… Look around yourself. Look at the vastness of possibility and potential. The endless could-bes and might-bes. Do you not understand yet that though you are a great power among  your people, you are but a part of all that is? There is so much more to the events of time than merely your own efforts.~

Puzzled, the Dreigiau searched for a response. He found none.

I don’t understand.  Does that mean you won’t help?

~We will help you to achieve the part you are here to play. But you, alone, cannot hold up the fate of the world.~

Hold on. That goes against everything Earthians write about. There is always someone to save the world.

It was almost the sound of laughter.

~Yes, that’s their vision. But there is rarely a single champion that can overcome everything on his own.~

I know… I have lots of great people with me, too!

A slight sigh.

~Zemi, I don’t know how else to tell you. But, the champions of creation who are meant to battle the Chaos of Zeromus have not yet come.~

The Dreigiau’s tone lifted with incredulity.

What do you mean? We have plenty of great warriors right here!

~I understand that and agree. But Chaos will not be overthrown until Creation has found a balanced foothold against it. Right now, that just doesn’t exist… and it may take time.~

Are you saying that I’m not good enough for the job? That I can’t take on Zerom?

~I’m saying that it may not be your purpose to defeat him. But you have a purpose that is just as important… in paving the way to bringing about those who will.~

Miffed, the Arweinydd retorted.

Who are you to tell me what I can and cannot do! I am Zemi Dreigiau!

A shaft of pale white light shown from directly below, between the drifting clouds of the Ways.

~Zemi, wait! Don’t go back yet! We haven’t been able to tell you everything!~

The Dreigiau had already decided. If the shaft below as the passage back home, as the voice seemed to indicate, that was exactly where he was going.

I’ve heard enough of your talk. I look around the Ways and I am convinced… I can choose my own path with or without your help.

~Please Zemi!~

The voice was growing more distant. Slowly, Zemi could feel a sense of his form again. And heaviness.

~You must protect your people at all costs! You must take them to the world beyond..!~

Heaviness flooded through him, pulling him down. Down. Down through the shaft.

~You must take them to the Vision Stone before it it’s too late!~

Once again the world flooded into his senses. Earthian senses. The vision of the blue stone walls and lush gardens. The smell of flowers and leafy brush. And the vast sound of his own roar as it filled the Stone Lair.

Zemi’s head snaked back, Dragon jaws opening wide. His wings unfurled, stretching vast within the immeasurable flow of Arweinydd energy. The Others, despite his rebuke against them, were filling him with new power and strength. Once again, he was the great white wardragon. Once again, the ground trembled under his feet and quivered at his roar.

Once again, he was the Dragon Patron.

And with the newfound power, he would rise up to challe-

“ZEMI!” AsaHi’s sharp shout rose to his ears.

“Huh?!” his head snapped around to see the girl hanging off the end of his tail.

She gripped the tufted fur with determination, brows lowered as she glared up into the face of the gigantic Dragon. “What are you doing!?”

The Dreigiau’s ears folded back a bit. “I was…”

“You scared us to death, Zemi!” Zento walked forward with a similar frown. “It’s great that you’ve got your Dragon form working again. But could you at least warn us before you go on a rawring rampage!”

“Uh… uh…” Zemi shook his mane out, slowly coming back to his senses. “Sorry.”

“So what happened? What did you find out?” SoYa asked, daring to walk closer, too.

“I…” The more senses that returned, the more he felt his hopes sinking.

“Zemi?” AsaHi asked, face turning concerned.

“Just… give me a moment,” the Dreigiau rumbled, lowering his head to the ground. “And I’ll tell you.”

If there was one thing the Others were right about, it was the fact that he couldn’t do this alone.

“Zemi,” Zento murmured, holding his globe up to inspect the nearby wall. “Come check this out.”

NaDo looked like he was about to have a heart attack (as the Earthians often stated). His pen flew across the surface of the writing scroll, detailing each and every happening there within the Lion’s Keep. Every now and then, the winged man would mutter under his breath. Something that sounded like, “Amazing. Absolutely amazing.”

It hadn’t taken them long to figure out how to use the key stone that ShinRe brought. The Spiral Leader had been determined that the entrance to the Stone Lair was there within the Keep. So they had searched the chamber over, looking for some kind of passage or doorway.

Instead, they had found a blank spot in the center of a mural on the wall with an obviously tear-drop shaped indentation in the center. When they fitted the stone into the spot, part of the wall had rumbled and slid aside, offering a clear path down a narrow and dark flight of stairs.

That was the point when NaDo had lost any shred of self control. The scientist had paused in collecting his data and was now shaking Zento around by the shoulder.

“Don’t you see?” he exclaimed. “Don’t you see what this is?”

“NaDo, no. I don’t see!” the warrior grumbled at being shaken around. “Why don’t you explain?”

Zemi wasn’t so sure that was a good thing to ask. Afterall, his curiosity was piqued by the waiting passageway in the Keep’s wall. And the scientist could get awful long winded when he had something uber exciting to share.

We all adore you, NaDo. But you just can’t keep things to yourself.

“This here–” NaDo waved his hand over a patch of wide green on the mural, right around the place where the key stone had been inserted. “It’s a forest, right? And this here, this blue looks like an ocean to me. What do you think?”

Zento squinted with a frown, “I guess it could be. Why?”

The scientist stretched his palms forward. “I was right! There is a connection to this and the Vision Stone. This mural – it’s a picture of the forest and the ocean around our lab! And this little stone… see, it’s sitting in the middle of the forest as a representation of the Vision Stone itself!”

“Oooookay…” the warrior glanced over his shoulder.

“Are you sure of this?” Zemi asked, finding himself growing interested, too.

“Of course I’m sure, Lord Zemi,” NaDo told him. Once again, his pen was working over the paper, this time sketching out the image on the wall. “I’ve lived there for years. I know what it looks like.”

“Hm…” the Dreigiau rumbled a bit under his breath. He glanced over towards Aur with an inquiring look. But the Watcher would not meet his gaze.

He’s not giving anything away. That means NaDo must be right. There must be some sort of connection. I wonder why Aur won’t throw us a bone about it.

“Are you going to stay here or are you going to follow us down?” Zento asked with a sly look.

Instantly, the scientist perked up, losing interest in the wall. “Oh, by all means. I’m coming down.”

“That’s what I thought,” the warrior peered over at Zemi, handing over the situation without further words.

The Dreigiau nodded quickly, “Alright. Let’s get g–”

“Wait,” Aur spoke.

Everyone froze. All eyes turned towards the Watcher curiously.

“Only a few should go this time,” Aur told them simply.

“What? Why?” NaDo’s excitement had turned into disappointment.

“I understand that you want to study the phenomenon. But there are very important things that will happen the first time that the Stone Lair is opened,” the Watcher explained.

“That’s exactly why I want to be there to see it,” the scientist pouted.

“You will have plenty of time to study these things,” Aur reassured him. “But for now, Lord Zemi should choose a few to support him.”

The Dreigiau blinked around, at a loss. All of the Earthians here were good and supportive.

How am I supposed to choose?

“Zento,” Zemi began, the logical choice being his own Champion.

The winged man bowed with a slight grin on his face.

“AsaHi,” the Dreigiau then turned towards the girl. After what had almost happened to him, in the grips of Zerom’s Chaos, he was concerned about not having her at his side.

The girl nodded and stepped forward.

And where there was AsaHi, Zemi knew there had to be another. “SoYa.”

The young Athrylith straightened, seeming surprised that he was chosen. He didn’t say a word. Instead, he came to stand next to AsaHi, sucking on his bottom lip.

Zemi gave an abashed look at Kudako. He could already sense that he had probably chosen more than the “few” that Aur would have suggested. But he didn’t want to leave anyone out – especially not his most loyal of servants. The Dragon, however, didn’t seem offended.

“I will wait for you here, Lord Zemi. If you require my assistance, just call and I will come,” Kudako told him.

The Dreigiau nodded, thankfully. Then he turned towards Aur again. “Will this do?”

“It should be fine,” the Watcher replied with a nod.

“What about you?” Zemi asked.

Aur gave a hint of a smile. “I will not be going. There are secrets that you must find for yourself. I would do nothing but distract from the focus of these secrets.”

“I see,” the Dreigiau frowned.

Always talking in riddles. Darn Watcher is worse than us Arweinydd.

“Okay… are we ready?” Zemi turned and looked at his Earthian support team.

“Let’s do this!” Zento pumped his fist, already making his way towards the narrow passage ahead.

AsaHi nodded quietly while SoYa looked somewhat uncertain. But they both moved forward as the Arweinydd did. Zento led the way, spinning a soft blue light between his fingers. Carefully, he shaped the light into a small glowing sphere that hovered just over his shoulder — a “Zento globe” as he was so fond of calling it.

The stairway ahead of them was illuminated, soft blue on the golden stone. It was hard to tell how old the structure was, but it was obvious that it had been a very long time since anyone had opened the passage, much less traveled down the stairs. Long streams of silver-white cobwebs choked the air, getting tangled stickily in Zemi’s hair. In places, the dampness had soaked through the stone walls, spilling dark mosses and delving mushrooms.

The air was stuffy and gritty to breathe. AsaHi had already pulled her collar up around her mouth and nose while squirming to brush away any cobwebs that touched her.

“Ew! Ew… I sure hope there’s more down here than bugs and dirt,” her voice was muffled through the cloth.

“Yeah, me, too!” SoYa agreed, his own hand covering his face.

“Don’t worry… if Aur believes there is something to this place, then we should believe it, too,” Zemi told them. He brushed his own fingers through his bushy mane. “I just wish it wasn’t so hard on the hair.”

As they continued downward, it felt as if the world was lost for any light. The pressure of the Keep grew heavier above them. The smell of the deep earth and musty closure was all the air they had left to breathe. After a while, even Zemi started to have his doubts.

I wonder what is down here that would be so important? Maybe it’s not here anymore.

His companions didn’t speak another word of doubt. They simply followed the blue light deeper and deeper into the heart of the Keep.

If we don’t find something soon, we’re going to have to turn back.

Eventually, it came to the Dreigiau’s attention that the air had begun to grow cleaner and less gritty to breathe. Though it was difficult to tell due to the color of the Zento globe, he thought that the stone of the stairs had changed, too — becoming darker and cleaner under their feet.

“Zemi,” Zento murmured, holding his globe up to inspect the nearby wall.  “Come check this out.”

“Hmmm?” the Dreigiau responded, walking forward. He could feel AsaHi and SoYa following not too far behind.

The blue light of the globe illuminated tiny patterns of light and darkness that spread over the face of the stone, high above their head. It was hard to make out what it was they were seeing, but Zemi could recognize the same type of gem-encrusted mural work as the walls in the Keep above.

“Zento, can you give us more light?” Zemi reached out with one hand, brushing the thin layer of grim from the stones.

The Champion nodded, releasing his existing globe, already going to work on creating another. And another. And another. Until the whole passageway above them was lit by the glittering blue glow. The pictures on the walls glittered and sparkled with a surreal quality, tricking the eye to believe they were moving, even when Zemi knew they really couldn’t.

“What are they..?” SoYa breathed, staring up.

“Dragons,” AsaHi answered, holding tight to his arm. “Dragons… but they’re different?”

The mural portrayed with majestic beauty Dragons of every color. Wings wide, they seemed to glide with scales sparkling in the blue glow. Between them were sparks of light that appeared to be stars resting within the sky. The image left him with a profound feeling of inner peace and unity, though the Arweinydd didn’t know why.

“Yes. They were different,” Zemi told them, sadly. It had been a long time since he had thought of the Dragonkin, the first living creatures that he had met there upon that world.

“You knew them?” AsaHi asked.

“It was a very long time ago,” the Arweinydd answered. “They taught me how to take a Dragon form. They taught me a lot of things besides that… It was partly based upon their culture and civilization that I decided to found Nefol and Ceiswyr.”

“Dragon civilization?” SoYa asked with a furrowed brow.

“Indeed,” Zemi touched the wall, running his fingers over the length of one of the graceful Dragon images. “They, too, were creatures from the Time Before, originally. They never told me how they had come to be here or how they had survived as long as they did. All that I know about them, came and went in too short a time. Some died… but some vanished. I have never found another real Dragonkin since.”

“Dragonkin,” AsaHi breathed, touching the wall, too. “Is that what these are?”

“I think so,” the Dreigiau answered. “Dragonkin and Arweinydd.”

“Really?” Zento squinted. “Those look like stars to me.”

“They are Arweinydd.”

“How do you know?” the Champion gave him the arched eyebrow.

“I just do. Don’t argue,” Zemi shrugged and continued walking.

If there are images here on the stairwell, certainly we are getting close to something.

Zento just huffed and followed, silently ordering his army of globes to move along with them. Before long, the mural images began to change, as if depicting the passage of time.

It looks like there was some sort of fight.

The feelings of peace had faded away. The images of Dragons and Arweinydd became more and more at odds with each other, until the sky was awash with the colors of battle and war. The stones glittered more and more brightly, clashing with a light that was almost painful to look at. Until finally, the wall was covered with the brilliance of a great final eruption where the images of both Dragons and Arweinydd withered and fell. Followed by darkness.

The Mistake…

Zemi felt prickles over his form, not realizing he was shivering until he felt AsaHi’s soft hand on his arm.

“Is that…?”

“Yes,” there was a lump in his throat as he answered.

“That’s terrible…” SoYa whispered.

It was unspoken. But they all seemed to know what the images depicted.

“It doesn’t stop though,” Zento’s voice carried back to them. “Look at these!”

They all rushed forward just to stop and stare. What shown before them was almost impossible, given how long the images had to have been there.

“No way…” AsaHi breathed.

A star. It became a white dragon. And that dragon came to live with the Earthian peoples.

There were battles between the different kinds of people and many dragons that came to protect them. Then finally, a great cleft that was struck, breaking apart the lands and ending the war. Cities were built, both on the ground and in the sky.

Then a girl appeared, freeing the dragon and releasing him into the world. But shadows followed.

“Zemi,” Zento exclaimed, face pale as he stared up. “Zemi… this is about us!”

"I hope... there is more for you than just a single purpose. I hope there are things that bring you some happiness," she told him.

The heavy doors to the Lion’s Keep rumbled inwards, admitting the small group under the great stone arches.  AsaHi spun slowly around and around as she walked, trying to take it all in. Up until then, all she had heard were the stories and legends — especially the account made by ZenToYa of the pivotal battle between himself and Aur that led to the Guardian joining them in a struggle against the Chaotic Arweinydd Zerom.

Wow… it’s huge inside!

A vast circular room built of tawny colored stone unfolded before them. The walls were decorated with mosaic murals that depicted various strange runes, graceful interlocking spirals and lion-like images. The art studded the walls with a rainbow of glittering gems that seemed to glow with an inner light as Aur led them forward.

Long drapes of black and gold spun down from various vaulted arches that rose and fell in pillared rows. The stone floor was one vast multicolored spiral that began at the center of the room and spun outward. It, too, was flecked with crushed gems that were embedded into the stone, giving the whole surface a luminous quality. Looking closer, she could see that tiny runes had been etched in each glittering square.

I wonder who built this… and how long it’s been here.

Zemi seemed to have the same impression as he strode up to one of the ten huge, golden braziers that lined the walls, following the motion of the Keep’s circumference. Each stood nearly twice the Dreigiau’s height, etched with a large rune that would have been illuminated by the light of flame inside. Though now, they were all dim.

When the Arweinydd reached his hand out, a golden light sprang from the depths of the brazier. He cocked a wide grin as the keep lit up, “Not too shabby, Aur.”

“Why not try spending an immeasurable amount time locked inside of here and see if you would really like to come back,” the Watcher murmured with a slightly droll look. It seemed that he had been catching on to the idea of sarcasm and sense of humor more and more lately.

“Point taken. But this is where ShinRe said we could find the passage,” Zemi answered.

“Yes. He is correct,” Aur nodded slowly, peering around with hooded eyes.

“If he doesn’t have a heart attack before we even get him inside,” Zento added with a quick laugh. “That was a pretty crazy thing you did out there, Aur.”

“What was?” the Watcher inquired calmly.

“Singlehandedly installing a brand new leader at the head of the Spiral,” the winged man answered. “What made you suddenly do something like that?”

“It was not sudden,” Aur informed him simply.

“Well… it… kinda seemed like it was,” Zento pointed out.

“No,” the Watcher disagreed.

“No?”

“No,” was the final answer.

Zento leaned back with his hands folded behind his head, exchanging funny looks with NaDo. The scientist had jumped at the chance to explore the inner structure of the Lion’s Keep and had vehemently asked to be included in the group’s expedition – for the good of science, he proclaimed.

“You make it sound like it was something that you knew would happen,” Zemi approached from a different angle.

“Not exactly. But it was something I had hoped would come to pass,” Aur told them. Most of his attention was now fixed upon the glittering mural that spanned across the nearest wall. His fingers slowly stroked over the soft gems that depicted green grass, blue sky and violet trees.

“Then you really did know about ShinRe?” the Dreigiau prodded.

“Yes,” the Watcher answered. “We had exchange conversations many times before his exile. I knew the kind of leader he was. I made a point of knowing where he had taken the exiles to… until my energies began to fail me. It was my hope that he would return one day to overthrow the rule of the Armsmaster. But it seems ShinRe was content to live apart in his own encampment.”

“Auuuur!” Zemi nudged the Guardian with a growing grin. “You are such a plotter! I didn’t know you had it in you!”

“Excuse me?”

“You’re telling me that set all of this up!” the Arweinydd put his arm around the Watcher’s shoulders with a fake, melodramatic sniff. “You make your Patron proud!”

Aur responded with a long, quiet look. There was still some humor he didn’t quite grasp.

“That’s wonderful and all… as long as he doesn’t die of shock,” Zento grinned, too, rocking back and forth on his heels.

“He will not,” Kudako’s voice entered the chamber, stern. “ShinRe does not back down from his agreements. Even if this was all a contrived plot to put him into power.”

Blue fin ears were folded back. The Dragon didn’t look too happy at the way everyone else was gloating about the situation.

“Come on, ‘Dako,” Zemi answered easily, trying to smooth out the situation. “You can’t tell me that your brother isn’t the best man for this job. He’s straight and honorable… a man who knows the difference between the cruelty of the Armsmaster’s rule and the way people should really be led. Not to mention, he will quite likely be willing to aid us in the fight against Zerom.”

“That is all completely besides the point,” Kudako scowled. Then he murmured accusingly, “Lord Aur, I’m quite surprised at you.”

“I apologize,” the Watcher answered, looking as abashed as he appeared able. “I am not proud of situating things the way that I did. However, I feel that ShinRe is the most capable of seeing your people through our current crisis. My thoughts are always about protecting the Spiral people. Both ShinRe and the populace were given a choice in the matter.”

“Not much of one,” the Dragon answered, though significantly less miffed than before. It seemed that Aur’s council still affected his outlook on things, as well. “You knew that should the Golden Lion speak and name a new leader, then it would be so. You also knew that my brother would not turn down the leadership of his people in a time of need, based on his honor below.”

“Yes, I knew. I was counting on these things,” Aur admitted, brushing his hands over the mural one last time. “It is a troubled time, KudakoRe. We all have to make our sacrifices. I know that you know this, as well.”

Kudako lowered his head and turned slightly away. “Yes. I know. I am willing to make my sacrifices.”

“Then let your brother choose to make his. For the good of your people,” the Watcher told him gently.

The Dragon was silent for a long time. Finally, he nodded. “I understand and will say no more.”

For a time after that, no one spoke. They all waited, swallowed within the maw of the great Lion’s Keep. What they were waiting for, AsaHi didn’t quite know. Though she glanced at SoYa and Zemi from time to time, she didn’t dare break the silence to ask. She had learned long ago that happenings revolving around Arweinydd and Awakened and Watchers and Champion all had their own way of working out in awkward timelines.

So she spent the time studying the glittering pictures upon the wall, paying special attention to the one that Aur had been touching earlier. It was not very long before she felt a large presence at her side. Looking up, she saw the golden-eyed Watcher gazing on the mural once again.

“This has always been my favorite one,” he told her.

The statement took her by surprise. In order to have a favorite, one had to be capable of attachment and fondness – emotions that AsaHi didn’t think that Aur was capable of until just lately. But none of these things passed beyond her thoughts.

“I can see why. It’s very pretty,” the girl complimented.

“Yes,” Aur answered, his tone growing somewhat somber. “It always reminded me of what these lands were like before…”

The way that he left the statement hanging, AsaHi couldn’t help but ask, “Before what?”

“The Mistake,” the Watcher answered simply.

The girl felt a curdling feeling in the pit of her stomach at the word. Such a simple word. Such an understatement for what she could only sense really had happened. Something that so few of them knew anything about… except maybe Aur, himself.

Then it occurred to her, “We aren’t… doing the same thing over again. Are we?”

The golden eyes flicked over towards her. But he didn’t answer.

So she expanded on the thought with a frantic, quiet breath, “We aren’t doing things that might lead up to another Mistake. Or are we?”

Seeing her alarm, Aur spoke calmly, “I was left here in this Living World to see that such a thing could never happen again. That has always been my purpose.”

Something about the resigned tone in his voice made AsaHi feel really sad for the Watcher.

He must have seen so much… lived through so many difficult things. And yet, he’s still here, still working against all these big and frightening powers.

She reached her hand out, but paused, not daring to touch his arm. Or offer a kind squeeze on his fingers. Or any sympathetic motion that she might have given anyone else. She had always been reserved about Aur. But she didn’t know why.

“I hope… there is more for you than just a single purpose. I hope there are things that bring you some happiness,” she told him. The best offer she could make to let him know that she cared.

The Watcher gave her a quizzical look, as if he didn’t understand a single word that she had just said. He quietly shook his head, “My happiness is not as important as the promise of life to the Arweinydd and Earthian peoples. Without them both… and the bonds they can share… life may be lost once again.”

“But you’re a part of this life, too, Aur,” AsaHi argued softly.

“I have lived my life,” he told her gently. “I have no regrets. I will give myself to my purpose to ensure that the Chaos that would devour all does not succeed. In doing that, I have my happiness.”

AsaHi sighed, knowing that she was not going to win that debate. Instead, she lightly touched his arm, telling him in a tone of deep respect, “You are one of the noblest people I have ever had a chance to know. I hope that you will find something that brings you joy in time. Even if it is something you don’t expect or believe you need.”

Aur just responded with a quiet smile. It might have been one of the most genuine smiles she had seen from him.

It wasn’t much longer before the great stone doors of the Lion’s Keep grated open once again. This time, ShinRe walked through, carrying something between both of his hands.

“I’ve finally located it,” the Leader announced with a hint of relief. “I apologize for taking so long.”

“No problem,” Zemi grinned. “We couldn’t get the party started without you.”

“Party?”

“Er… nevermind,” the Dreigiau waved his hands to dismiss the train of thought. “So what is it that you brought for us? And are you sure this is where we should be?”

“Yes. This is where the entrance to the Stone Lair is hidden. I’m sure of it,” ShinRe nodded with pursed lips. Then he unfolded his hands to reveal a strange, tear-drop shaped stone. It reflected the dim light in the room, flickering with a gentle blue glow of its own. “And this is the key that opens it.”

AsaHi leaned forward with her mouth agape and eyes wide. The stone had a presence all its own, almost as if it was a living thing. Something in the back of her mind compelled her to reach out and touch it… to explore the answers to the mysteries that it would offer her. Judging from the expressions of everyone else, they, too felt drawn for the same reason.

“Hedd-ynad!” NaDo suddenly exclaimed, mirroring their unspoken excitement. “It’s… it’s…”

“It’s what?” Zento urged him.

“It’s just like a miniature Vision Stone!” the scientist blurted an exaltation.

"I... failed them..." Zemi heard himself say.

Why… is everything so fuzzy?

Something appeared to be wrong with his vision portals, though Zemi didn’t know exactly what the issue was. In fact, he didn’t even know where he was. Why he was there. And why the world was so white and floaty.

The sensation wasn’t painful or really that undesirable. His physical weight seemed nonexistent – something that he would need to tweak again later. His vision wasn’t projecting correctly. His audio was muted and dim. And his train of thought – when did he get one of those?! – was functioning far slower than it had a right to.

That’s the problem with these physical forms. Always requiring so much maintenance.

A nagging in the back of his mind told him that something had happened to cause this failure in his so finely-researched and well-crafted Earthian form. Only, he couldn’t remember exactly what the experience had been. So he decided that it must not have been that important.

Failure? Impossible. Zemi Dreigiau does not fail!

But every time he told himself that, the nagging returned. Oh, yes. Zemi Dreigiau had failed. And he had failed in the worst way possible.

You’re going to have to work a little harder if you want me to believe that.

And so the thought would recede, fading off into the distant haze. Until Zemi began to wonder once again why everything was so fuzzy.

He might have spent a small eternity pondering these questions if the voice had not come to him. At first, Zemi thought it had to be a trick of his malfunctioning audio receptors. For whatever strange sort of state he was in, it was not possible for any other willful presence to push its way into his awareness. Arweinydd were not the same as Earthians, after all. They didn’t have the same visual and aural mind activity… dreams… open consciousness… All the things that it took to tap in and create the sensation of mind speak and physical illus-

“Zemi!” the voice sounded again, this time more insistent.

“Augh!” the Dreigiau responded. “You aren’t real! Be gone!”

“I most certainly am real, boy,” the voice retorted hotly. Then it even forced a visual appearance to take shape right there. Though the form was wavery, like a reflection in a rippling pool, Zemi could make out the image of a man. Appearing there. Impossibly in his non-existent Earthian-like mental imagery.

“How did you do that?” Zemi grit his teeth, taking a step back.

“The same way you just did,” the form lifted one hand to point.

That’s when Zemi realized that somehow, he too, had imposed a physical representation of himself as a mental image within his own-

“Will you please stop trying to make sense of this? The how is not important, Zemi. You need to be focusing on the why,” the voice told him, becoming a bit more gentle.

“The why?” the Dreigiau asked, busy waving his hand in front of his face. It looked and felt solid enough for a visual representation of– He forced himself to refocus on the voice’s words, “They why what?”

“Not what. Just why,” came the answer.

“What?” Zemi was now thoroughly lost.

The voice sighed, holding up both hands. “Okay. Let’s try this again. From the start.”

“Alright…” Zemi answered, half attentive. He toed at the ground with one boot, curious about the manifestation of clothing and how he could possibly have physical contact with a floor-like structure that did not appear to have any visual-

“Zemi!”

“Huh?”

“You’re particling!” the voice informed him in a deeply worried tone.

“I’m what?”

“Particling,” he repeated. “Losing your physical form… returning to your origins of light.”

“I am?” Zemi looked down at his hands. They seemed just fine to him.

“Not here,” the voice sighed, motioning with one hand. “Out there. In the world of Awareness.”

“I’m not sure I understand,” the Dreigiau admitted slowly. His tone had grown more grim… there was something in the way that this strange being spoke that seemed very serious.

“Zemi… things have happened. Bad things,” came the quiet, concerned reply. “And somehow, in the mix of it all, you’re getting all separated.”

“Separated?”

“Your essence. Your awareness. They’re breaking apart from each other. You’re losing your connection to the physical world,” the voice explained. “If you don’t do something to stop it, you will return to what you were before — the Light without Knowing. And all that you have made… everyone who is counting on you… all of that will fade away.”

A sharp jolt cracked through the foggy white of his mind. As the words rang in his mind, memories suddenly bubbled up, carrying with them flickers of images. Dark images.

Himself. A Dragon. Flying into Zerom’s Chaos. With the tiny form of AsaHi on his back.

AsaHi… she…

Awakening. Her wings spread wide. Her struggle to save them as they fell.

As Ceiswyr fell. Raining like tears around them.

No! That couldn’t… it didn’t…

The pain of his people crying out to him. Feeling their spirits flicker and fade within his mind.

So many lost. So little I could do.

TsuYa’s Marked transformation. How they had lost the one that had meant so much to Zento.

Zerom’s triumph.

Zemi Dreigiau‘s defeat.

“It’s not over yet,” the voice broke in, fighting to overpower the sorrowful memories. Fighting to be heard above the Arweinydd’s grief.

“I… failed them…” Zemi heard himself say. His own voice sounded unreal to his ears. The words were even more unreal.

Zemi Dreigiau… does not… fail…

“No. You haven’t,” a soft wavering hand was on his shoulder. “Zemi, listen to me. I need you to hear me out.”

It was hard to hear anything. Everything was becoming more and more blurry. Shifting around him like a vast ocean of regret and defeat. Pounding within his mind. Tearing him down from inside out.

“ZEMI!” came the frantic shout. “Don’t leave them! They need you!”

No… they don’t…

“Yes! They do!” the voice argued. “Ceiswyr may be gone. There may have been people lost. But there are still a lot of people left alive! And those people need their Patron! Zerom and his Marked are sitting on the other side of that Cleft just sniffing for a way to get across. If you leave them now, then Zerom will win! He will take everything. And there will not be a single light left in this world that can stand up to that kind of Chaos!”

Zemi focused on the words… they had become clearer once more.

“But… I can’t fight it either…” the Dreigiau spoke slowly. “I can’t strike at him for fear of falling to the Chaos myself. All I have been able to do is struggle to defend… and fall back as his power grows. How can I… an Arweinydd… fight another of my own kind?”

“Zemi,” the voice was soft again. A reassuring touch on his shoulder. “There is more to you than you may realize.”

The Arweinydd glanced up with a quizzical look.

“You have so much power… so much strength,” it continued. “But that has all been tempered in your art. In learning about your people. In finding compassion and love for the Earthians. Not in battle… struggles… and war.”

“Then what should I do?” Zemi frowned.

“Realize that you haven’t reached your full potential. That, like the Earthians, you can still change and grow. That there is so much about your kind… and yourself… that you have yet to learn,” came the gentle answer.

“Are you saying… there might be a way that I can stand up to Zerom and his Chaos?”

“It’s possible. But you have to unify yourself and your energies first — all parts of yourself.”

“Parts?” Zemi frowned. “What does–”

“Now Zemi… if I gave you all the answers, that would take away the point of the journey,” the voice gave a quiet laugh. “There are just some things that you have to discover for yourself.”

“But–”

“Isn’t that what you say about your Earthians?” the image began to ripple and fade.

“Yes, but–”

“They’re waiting for you, Zem. Why don’t you see what your Watcher has to say about all this?” the voice became more and more distant. “Just remember… you haven’t failed them… until you’ve given up.”

“Wait!” the Dreigiau protested. “Where are you going? I wasn’t done talking to yo–”

“Zemi!” another voice rang through his mind. A voice that he recognized instantly.

AsaHi?

“Zemi?” the girl’s voice pleaded. It sounded so worried. So heartbroken. “Please, wake up!”

Wake up..? But Arweinydd don’t slee-

The room around him suddenly came into focus. Tiny dancing particles of light floated before his eyes, capering across the sunlight that streamed through the windows. They alighted gently on the bed sheets… the curtains… and in AsaHi’s hair.

The girl stood over him, face etched in lines of deep worry – worry all for him. She was just as beautiful as he remembered. The way the light reflected from her bright green eyes. The way her mouth curved… so small and delicate. The way her slender hand rested so lightly against his forehead.

If this is what I get for particling… I should try it more often.

A faint laugh rumbled in his chest.

“Zemi? Can you hear me?” Another face popped into view – SoYa.

All love-sick day dreams of AsaHi poofed out of his thoughts instantly. He tried to keep the grudging out of his tone, “Yeah… I hear you.”

“Oh… thank goodness!” AsaHi sighed deeply, hugging him around the neck.

That made the situation decidedly better again.

“Hey… I’m all good. Why the long faces?” the Dreigiau attempted a casual approach. Afterall, if he didn’t let them sense trouble, there would be no reason for them to think there was any.

“Because you haven’t been doing well,” SoYa told him with a grim look. He reached his hand out, capturing one of the floating specks of light. “Look, AsaHi. They… seem to be fading.”

The girl sat up, loosening her hold on the Dreigiau’s neck. He silently mourned the loss.

“Then they must really have been a part of Zemi, afterall,” she said slowly, giving him a quizzical frown.

“Particling” he said. I guess this is what he meant.

“Are you feeling any better, Lord Zemi?” came a smooth, calm voice from the far side of the room.

The Dreigiau pushed himself into a sitting position, teal-flecked eyes squinting through the light. It took him a long moment to figure out who he was seeing. Long silver hair… deep silver eyes… open and boyish concern… young Suzume hanging around one broad shoulder.

“Lucci..?” his voice creaked out despite all attempts to school it.

Now that… was unexpected.

The young Sygnus rose to his feet, crossed the room and stooped next to the bedside. He hesitated just a moment before reaching out to the Arweinydd.

Zemi took his hands, “You came back safely.”

“You sent people to help me,” Lucci replied frankly. “You believed I could find it… didn’t you?”

“Yes,” the Dreigiau nodded quietly. “I believe if anyone can turn this battle… it will be you.”

The young man’s eyes widened with surprise, as if he wasn’t used to people putting so much hope in him. He simply nodded dumbly, over and over and over again. “I want to help. I want to stop Zeromus.”

“I know. So do I,” Zemi told him, patting one hand fondly. “And we’re going to. If you can just be patient for a little bit longer.”

“What do you mean, Zemi?” SoYa inquired with a tilt of his head.

“I’m not completely sure. There are some things I need to check into first,” the Arweinydd admitted.  Then his eyes glinted with a new light, focusing on the faces around him, “But this fight isn’t over with. Not just yet.”

It was as if a warming wave of hope had just washed through the room — their faces had lit up with their own new-found strength. Their minds opened to the possibilities… to the power of a Patron inspiring his people.

Even Lucci broke out into an honest-to-goodness grin, “I was hoping you’d say that.”