Take every man and Dragon that you find to the Cynosure chamber for a full evacuation!

“Fall back! Fall ba–” the winged soldier’s words were sliced off in mid-sentence in a bubbling froth of blood and devouring silver mists.

Zento watched with wide horrified eyes as the man crumpled, then collapsed in a spray of red. Screaming and writhing, the mists surrounded him, ripping at the very fabric of his life energies and tearing the unwilling spirit from the once-living flesh. With a last jerky convulsion, they body lay still and slowly began to sink down, spreading into an oily dark patch of decay across the stone floor.

Within moments, there was nothing left.

Before Zento could gather his wits to shout a warning, the mists spread, a billowing cloud of death sweeping down over the rest of his men. The chamber was filled with the sound of unearthly shrieks of the dying, mingled with the screech of the Marked. The winged man staggered back, holding his head as the sound traced piercing pain between his ears.

Dragon flame lit the room as the majestic creatures swung about, releasing blasts of fire over the surging shadows. The heat cut through the mists, which only seethed and boiled back, spreading through the room.

“We must retreat!” Zento cried, finding his voice and making a dash for the flaming Dragons.

“We’re holding the lines, Master Zento!” one of the Dragons responded.

“There’s something else here! Something more than the Marked!” the winged man shouted, grabbing on to the great beast’s foreleg.

“Lord Zemi ordered us to remain!”

“Lord Zemi wouldn’t want you to follow his orders to death!” Zento shouted back.

But it was no use – the Dragons would not budge. They continued to blast at the swelling ranks of the Marked that now flooded the floor with dark ooze and decay. A pang caught in Zento’s throat as he took one look behind him, then rushed on ahead, searching for anyone who would heed his warning.

We have to evacuate!

Before he rounded the corner, he could hear the terrible bellowing and thrashing of the Dragons from behind.

Those mists… This place is a death trap!

Rushing into the far corridor, Zento was greeted by the Captain of the internal troops, “Master? Have the Marked broken through? Are we to engage?”

The Champion reached out and grabbed the soldier with a wild look in his eyes, “Orders have changed. We’re to make a full out retreat to the west wing. Take every man and Dragon that you find to the Cynosure chamber for a full evacuation!”

“Master!?” the captain’s face was grey and shaken. “I don’t understa–”

“Just do it!” Zento commanded, releasing the shaken soldier and drawing his weapon. He turned to face the dark corridors behind him, bracing himself for whatever evil would try to follow. Already, the silvery lines of mist were creeping at the edge of the cavern doorway.

The men gave a dubious look between themselves, questioning their leader’s unusual behavior. But not a one dared to challenge ZenToYa once his blade was in his hand.

“You heard the orders! Fall back!” the Captain echoed the command, lifting his own weapon. But time was working against them.

The Marked had moved fast with no Dragons to defend the passages and keep them at bay. The shadowy forms sprang in through the doorway, carrying the overpowering feel of dread and smell of decay. Claws and fangs and screeches filled Zento’s senses. Somewhere distantly as his blade began to whistle and slice, he could hear himself shouting for the men to keep moving, to press on to the evacuation.

The young winged Captain sprang up beside him, sword gleaming in one hand.

“What are you doing?!” Zento demanded.

“I’m not leaving you here to fight this alone, Master!” he shouted.

“Follow my orders, soldier!” the winged warrior was already feeling winded, as he spun and slashed one hand over another to drive the Marked back. Just long enough to let the others get away.

The Captain’s brows lowered, “I’m sorry, sir, I can’t do tha–”

He reeled with a choke, back arched in a painful snapping motion as Zento watched a long, slick black blade burst up through the man’s chest. With a flip of the sword, the man was flung with terrible strength and splattered against the far wall. The moment the broken body hit the ground, the silver mists rushed over it, devouring, ripping, leaving nothing behind.

Zento stumbled back against the wall, the chains of his Bhinod rattling as his hands shook. Two cold silver eyes slitted, peering at him from within the heart of the seething mists, tearing into his mind, the pressure paralyzing even his strength of will.

I can’t… move…!

The Marked sprang for him, sensing an easy target, their screeches pound and tearing pain through his mind. Zento struggled to pull up a defense, to force his arms to move, to raise his weapon… but nothing responded to his command, even as the shadows loomed over him.

The long black blade lashed again, this time shattering the leaping Marked into a spray of dust and decay. Black streaks splattered the walls as their dying screeches choked into a gurgling hiss.

What!?

A scene of madness unfolded before him. Both winged soldiers and Marked alike were ripped to pieces before Zento’s eyes. The mists claimed it all, destroying without prejudice. And in the middle of the massacre was a form twisted, yet too familiar.

LuShi..!?

Long silver hair hung ragged and wild, streaming down his back, into his face and haunted silver eyes. Blood, both red and black was splattered over his face, hands and body as the long black blade shown coldly in its unending thirst for death. His expression was contorted, caught between pleasure and disgust, his motions fluid and flawless as he tore through man after Marked without a hint of emotion. Huge, ghostly silver wings spread, half arched from his shoulders, giving him the appearance of being so much larger as the boy that Zento had once known.

There’s nothing left to him…

Nothing but the fevered and delusional light in his eyes as LuShi seemed to draw more and more power from the death that surrounded him. He had truly become the Bane… the weapon of terrible destruction, crafted through Zeromus’ Hatred.

SaRa died because of you, you monster! You took her from us! I won’t let this killing continue!

With the Dark Sygnus’ attention pulled from him, Zento found himself able to move again. Teeth gritted, the Champion lifted his weapon, a challenging shout ringing from his throat, “LUSHI! FACE ME!”

The black blade lowered as the Bane stopped to turn. The cold silver eyes focused on him, tracing Zento’s face as if searching for recognition. But like the Marked, there seemed so little there that had once been before. It was much to Zento’s surprise when the Dark Sygnus began to speak.

“Master ZenToYa…” the name was uttered as if a sudden revelation.

“I can’t let you do this, LuShi,” the Champion leveled his blade, posing in a strong, defensive stance.

“Do you really think you can stop me?” LuShi asked, so casually. So offhand. As if nothing at all was wrong in the world.

The first blow took Zento off-guard. Like a snake striking, the black blade blurred forward, slamming him back against the wall with a terrible, bone rending strength. He could feel something snap as he struck, a sharp pain piercing his side and ripping away his breath. Zento fought to keep his feet as his knees buckled… he could see the mists slowly surround him, lapping at his feet.

The Dark Sygnus took a slow step forward, voice low and dangerous, “How does it feel to have been right about me, Master ZenToYa?”

The blade crashed down on him again. This time, the Champion scrambled to throw his own weapon up, sparks flying from the chain of his Bhinod as metal struck metal. Sweat sprung out on his brow, his muscles aching with the tremendous effort it took to fend off the glittering edge of the Dark Sygnus’ sword.

“All I ever wanted was to earn… your… approval!” LuShi hissed, bringing the sword down on him again and again to accent the last three words. The final strike snapped the chain of the Bhinod, like a knife cutting through twine. “I never could… but maybe now, I’ve exceeded your expectations for me. Yes?”

Zento flattened his back against the stone, breathing heavy as the pieces of his weapon shivered in both of his hands. His green eyes narrowed, fighting the fear that threatened to drive him to his knees. Facing the Dark Sygnus alone and with the last of his honor.

“Could it have been different? Could this have been prevented?” LuShi asked with a somber tilt of his head. “Can even you can answer that?”

Then LuShi lifted his sword and drove it straight into the Champion’s chest.

Not a flicker of remorse. The pale boyish face stared down as the winged man choked, struggling for breath and staring at the blade in disbelief. Then with a flick of his wrist, the Dark Sygnus withdrew the sword, seeming to marvel at the sight of Zento’s blood on its tip.

A coldness crept over Zento’s body, numbing, washing away the pulses of pain. His face was heated by the sensation of tears. The pang of hopelessness… knowing that this time, he would be leaving his sons behind him for good. The frustration of loss… of not having the power to avenge the death of his sister. Of not being able to stop the Bane and protect the people of Nefol, the nation that he built and nourished from the ground up.

My family… my people… Zemi… I wasn’t strong enough…

The haunted silver eyes simply watched from above. Eyes that could see the world of living and dead. A creature who commanded the power to enslave the spirits and force them to do his deeds of death, violence and destruction.

“You will… take me…” Zento gasped hoarsely, wincing at the pain of trying to speak. “Just like… you took… SaRa…”

The Dark Sygnus did not make a move. The mists hovered over the floor, but did not reach to devour him, even as the pool of blood began to spread and coldness took the feeling from Zento’s body.

Finally, LuShi spoke, “I didn’t take Aunt Sara.”

“I don’t… believe you…”

“I know you don’t,” the Sygnus nodded his head slowly. “But, I didn’t take her. And I will not take you.”

The mists drew away, receding from the room as the Dark Sygnus leaned down over the Champion’s crumpled form. Carefully, somberly, LuShi placed the grips of the Bhinod in each of Zento’s numbed hands, arranging them in a way proper to honor a fallen warrior.

When he stood again, the silver eyes met green. LuShi’s voice was thick and struggling for sound. Again, he asked, “Could it have been different?”

Then, without another word, the Dark Sygnus lifted his blade and stepped over the fallen Champion’s body, heading deeper into the cave. In the direction that the escaping soldiers had fled, resuming his hunt.

“LuShi…!” Zento choked, face contorting. But his voice was too weak to carry. And soon he found himself alone in the growing darkness, the only sound his struggling, gasping breath.

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.”

“What more do we have to lose before you realize this is not working, Zemi?” Zento choked, forcing the words between his teeth.

The Marked army of Zeromus was on the move across the Outterlands. And they were moving fast, with renewed purpose. Zemi didn’t question. He knew there was only one place Zeromus would strike next – the mountain city of Wyndor.

With Ceiswyr in ruins, Wyndor was the last bastion of safety afforded to those who made the migration out of the Islands. It was the place where the women and children had gone to take refuge. And it was just like Zeromus to strike out at the weak and defenseless in order to tear at the hearts of those who had the will and power to fight the darkness.

Looking back over his shoulder, Zemi only had to get a glimpse of the haggard, lined face of Zento to know that to be true. Zeromus’ tactics had struck home with the death of SaRa, leaving the winged Champion in shambles.

Zemi didn’t pause to wonder how much fighting will was left in Zento. There was no time.

The moment the Dragons and scouts from the Spiral reported a mass motion of the Marked army away from the Spiral proper, Zemi knew what it meant. He had gathered what Dragons and men that remained able to fight and ordered a direct high-speed flight after the shadowy forces in attempt to intercept the attack on Wyndor.

The Spiral warriors, without wings to fly, had opted to stay behind, working to clean up their city and hunt down any straggler Marked that might still remain. There was also the strange report of one smaller band of Marked that had turned back and re-entered the Inner Realms by way of the Passage. Whether the report was true or not didn’t concern Zemi, though. The fewer Marked laying siege to Wyndor, the better.

Zemi’s whole being was focused forward, the great white war Dragon’s wings stretched, bending the wind around him as he flew with unearthly speed. His mind was locked on the movement of Zeromus’ armies. The heat of anger and vengeance coursed through his form, leaving light-flecked shimmers in the sky behind.

SaRa had been one of his own, like a child that he had raised. He had known her since she had been very small. Though he did not teach her as much as he had taught Zento, he had still watched her grow up to become a leader at her brother’s side. The thought that he would never hear her warm, chiding voice or feel her kindly hugs again… left a hollow sensation in the depths of Zemi’s being. Something that he could only define as the Earthian feeling of grief.

Someone would pay for this loss. Someone would feel the same grief that he did. And that someone would be Zeromus.

“Zemi,” Zento’s voice struggled to be heard above the wind. His fingers gripped the thick white Dragon mane where he lay against the Dreigiau’s neck. When Zemi didn’t respond, the Champion called louder, “Zemi!”

-I hear you, Zento.-

“Zemi, this is crazy!” Zento tugged back on the mane to accent his words. “The men are exhausted. We’ve just come through one battle and have had no rest. No sleep! You’re flying them too hard!”

-There is no time. Wyndor will be under attack and the Marked move quickly. They will not rest, and neither should we.-

“The Marked are nothing but soulless beasts! Of course they need no rest!” Zento half snarled.

-Soulless beasts? Is that what you would call your son? -

A deep silence fell from behind. Instantly, Zemi regretted his thoughtless words. But it was the truth, unspoken or not. Zento should know that – he should be realistic about the situation.

Finally, when the Champion spoke again, his tone was broken and somber, “Our men are not Marked. We can’t keep this pace, Zemi. Maybe you can go without resting, but the Earthians can not.”

The Dreigiau gave a rumble of impatience and slight frustration. Taking a break would put the Marked armies even further ahead of them than they were already. Soon, there would be no interception… and allowing the Marked into the halls of Wyndor was not permissible.

Receiving no reply, Zento pressed further, “What do you expect our men to be able to do, even if we do reach Wyndor in this condition? An evacuation takes planning, time and energy. That’s another long trip, likely with the Marked nipping at our heels.”

-Evacuation?- Zemi couldn’t hide his tone of surprise.

“Right… evacuation. That… is… what we’re going to do, right Zemi?”

-And just give up Wyndor to Zeromus the same way we lost the Islands?-

“You certainly don’t mean to fight! Not after all of this!” Zento answered incredulously.

-What other options do you think that we have?-

“That is not what you were instructed to do, Zemi. Fighting Zeromus has done nothing but lead us to loss and destruction! We’re just not strong enough!”

-I will make that decision for myself! No one instructs Zemi Dreigiau to do anything!-

A roar of frustration bellowed from Zemi’s throat, breaking the clouds in front of them. He could feel Zento’s hands shake just a bit where they still held fast to the white mane. Then the grip grew solid and resolved again — there was about to be an argument.

“What more do we have to lose before you realize this is not working, Zemi?” Zento choked, forcing the words between his teeth. “We’ve lost a lot of men… we’ve lost SaRa…”

-Are you blaming that on me, now?-

“No! I’m blaming that on that Bane Child Sygnus that you protected all this time. And now it’s just as I said it would be!” the Champion snapped with a grating voice. “This is just the beginning – he’s going to destroy us! He’s going to destroy you! And you’re going to walk straight into it… taking all of our people with you because you can’t see that–”

-ENOUGH!-

“Don’t you tell me enough, Zemi Dreigiau!”

-YOU ARE MY CHAMPION AND YOU WILL DO AS I TELL YOU!-

“I am your Champion because you don’t understand enough about your own people to know what’s good for them!” Zento retorted. “Well, I say enough! I am a Champion… and I champion my people! I refuse to watch you lead them into destruction because you’re too stubborn and proud to accept good advice when you are given it!”

Zemi gave a grudging growl, scolded and annoyed. But he gave ground knowing that the winged warrior spoke parts of truth. Zento had sacrificed much to follow the Dreigiau’s visions… and he had always acted as a bridge between Earthian and Arweinydd kind. It had not been an easy road for the Champion and his family. And it was rare that Zento’s advice regarding Earthians was wrong – he had an exceptional judge of character.

-Zento…- the Dreigiau approached with a quieter tone, -This has been difficult for us all. You are responding and talking out of your grief.-

However, trying to sympathize only earned the opposite reaction to what he had hoped.

“Zemi Dreigiau!” the Champion fumed, tone growing angry. “Don’t you dare tell me that I’m talking out of my head due to grief! I’m the only one making sense here!”

-And I don’t make sense just because I want to defend what is ours?-

“There’s a time to fight and a time to cut your losses,” Zento muttered. “We tried this with Ceiswyr. And honestly, we had a better chance at defending the Islands than we do fighting in a giant hole in the ground. But we still lost. We’re going to lose again, Zemi. This isn’t going to work.”

-You don’t know that.-

“Do you have some miracle up your sleeve that I don’t know about?”

Zemi fell silent. The truth was… he didn’t. He had nothing but the rage of justice within him. And the loyalty of his people to back him on his rampage.

For just a moment, a trickle of doubt traced through Zemi’s mind.

“You don’t, do you?” Zento’s voice was grim.

-I’ll think of something.-

“The time for thinking is over,” the Champion intoned brokenly. “Zeromus has taken most of my family from me. I will protect the one I have left… no matter what I have to do.”

-I see.-

There was no arguing with that, not once Zento got something into his head. Still, times were much too dangerous for Arweinydd and Champion to be divided in heart.

After a time, Zento spoke again, “I’m sorry if I’ve disappointed you.”

-You’ve never disappointed me, Zento.-

“I know what you’re thinking right now. You can’t fool me, Zemi.”

-I can’t fool you,- the Dreigiau admitted. -But I’m not disappointed in you. I chose you as my Champion because of your fearless spirit and potential. I knew that you would always do what you felt was right.-

“I try, Zemi…” the Champion sighed. “I know you try, too.”

That sounded positive. At the least, that Zento wasn’t still angry. He was never the kind to stay angry long. So it was a good time to pursue things.

-If you don’t think we should defend Wyndor, what do you think we should be doing?-

“Evacuating,” Zento answered.

-Evacuate to where? Zeromus will hunt us and find us. You know that.-

“We should try the Vision Stone. Like the voice in the Lion’s Keep suggested.”

-And how do you know about that?- Zemi asked quizzically. He hadn’t talked a lot about his experience in the Stone Keep and the voices that spoke to him who claimed to be Arweinydd kind from the Time Before.

“Let’s just say I pick up on more than you give me credit for, Zemi,” the Champion’s voice had a slight smirk to it.

Zemi sighed. -So you trust in what some unknown voice instructs me to do?-

Zento was quiet for a moment, “I don’t know. But there might be something to it. I saw the images on the wall, Zemi. Someone knew about us before we even existed.”

-How do we know that “someone” means us well?-

“I suppose we don’t. But sometimes you have to have a little faith in the unknown,” the winged warrior answered softly. “I don’t see how it would mean us ill if it was suggesting a way to escape from Zeromus.”

-Perhaps… but even if we did make the journey to the Vision Stone, there is no promise that we will find any help there. We’d be in the same situation as before… with no strategic ground to defend,- Zemi reasoned.

“I suppose that’s true, too. I just have a hunch… call it warrior’s Earthian intuition.”

-Aren’t you the one telling me not to rely on feelings, Zento?-

The Champion sighed and did not answer.

They flew on for a short while, the Dreigiau’s speed significantly slower than before. Something within Zemi yearned to find peace and unity with the winged warrior – Zento had been by his side through so many things. And it very well could be that this was their final stand together.

-Why don’t we give defense of Wyndor a shot? Then, if things start to look bad, we’ll head towards the Vision Stone,- the Dreigiau reconciled.

“Is that possible? Once we get in those caves, aren’t we going to be trapped?” Zento asked with a worried frown.

-Do you really think I’d hold my ground in a place that I couldn’t escape?- Zemi responded with a sly tone.

“Hmmm?”

-So what do you say?-

Zento paused before answering, “The men need rest if you want them to go into battle. Even if the Marked get there before us, it’ll still take them time to figure out how to breach the mountain fortress, right?”

Zemi was silent. Zento was silent.

Then with a short backwing, the Dreigiau turned about face towards the army behind him. His voice filled the sky, rolling off the clouds, seemingly effortlessly.

-We will stop to rest here for a time. Tend those who need tending. Eat if you need to. Sleep for a short time. Then we move on to defend Wyndor!-

A grateful sound from men and Dragons both came in response. Wings of feather and scale began an exhausted spiral down towards the ground for a much-needed rest. Zento offered a tired but thankful smile as Zemi’s wings folded, carrying them down for a short landing.

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.

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!”

Hanging out with the locals might just be a bit of fun after all.

“ShinRe,” Kudako shook his head slowly. “I thought you were dead… killed in the Raze!”

“I could say the same about you, Kudako,” a welcoming smile spread across the Leader’s face. He wasted no time in embracing his brother and ushering him through the doorway. “I looked for you, but I never found you. I could only assume you had been lost to the flame.”

Well, that’s a good sign.

Zemi arched his eyebrows and followed, making a subtle motion at the two behind him. There was no need to waste a perfectly good invitation and opportunity.

In fact, this is working out better than I could have hoped for.

The Dreigiau cast a quiet glace at Aur as they walked through the door. He couldn’t tell if the Watcher had known of the relation between Kudako and the Clan Leader before now. And none of Aur’s reactions offered a hint to what he was thinking. But it was very hard to believe that it could be coincidence.

We’ll discuss it later. There are more important things to attend do.

Like everything else in the spiral, ShinRe’s home was circular in build. And much like his younger brother, he appeared to have no lack in cleanliness and organization. A round woven rug fit snugly within the circumference of main room, looking to have once been speckled with many colors that had dulled with age. A heavy round table stood in the center of it all, lit with the flickering light from a few slender candles. There were books there, many books that lined a narrow shelf on one wall. Another wall was dedicated to a myriad of unusual looking musical instruments, all crafted from warmly painted wood.

The guards who had escorted them there were already rearranging the circular stools that ringed around the table. A few baskets of nuts and fruits had been placed out for them as a sign of welcome.

“Please,” ShinRe motioned forward. “My home is your home.”

Zemi picked a seat opposite of the Leader’s chair, hoping to get a chance to observe the man that Kudako called brother. They had hardly sat down before the clans men appeared again, placing broad, wooden dishes in front of each of them. One at a time, they began to fill the dishes with a soft blue colored liquid.

When the servant came to Zemi’s chair to pour, the Dreigiau quickly put his hand over the top of the dish.

“Please, Lord Dreigiau. Allow me,” the clans man asked politely, looking a bit concerned at the denied hospitality. Maybe even worried that he had done something wrong.

“No, no… don’t waste it,” Zemi told him in an assuring tone. When the man looked all the more puzzled, the Arweinydd added, “It’s alright. I don’t eat.”

“Uh…” clearly, the Dreigiau’s explanation only confused the man all the more. He glanced over at the head of the table for instructions.

ShinRe was also giving Zemi a rather strange look. The Arweinydd simply offered a smooth smile and shrug in return. The Leader then nodded and the clans man moved around to the next unfilled dish.

Hanging out with the locals might just be a bit of fun after all.

Once they were settled, ShinRe spoke again, blue eyes studying his brother momentarily, “How did you manage to find us here? We have done much to remain secure and separate from the rest of the Spiral.”

When Kudako opened his mouth to reply, Zemi quickly interjected, “Lord Zemi Dreigiau knows many mysterious things.”

The Dragon warrior turned towards the Arweinydd with a droll frown. One ear twitched, but he held his tongue.

ShinRe responded with interest, seeming to be impressed, “Then Lord Dragon of the North Clans is just as wise and cunning as the stories have said.”

“Or more,” Zemi’s fangy grin grew wide.

“Modesty is not one of his stronger virtues,” Aur murmured under his breath.

SoYa sniffed to cover his chuckle, flicking an amused glance across the table.

“And you said you are a warrior of the Nefolian Patron?” ShinRe asked quietly.

“Yes,” Kudako finally found a word in the conversation. Only one.

“I have heard that Lord Dreigiau bestows upon his servants great gifts of power,” the Leader’s statement held a hint of underlying question.

“It depends,” the Dragon answered, picking a fruit from the basket and biting into it.

“That would explain the… ah… changes…”

Not one to beat around the bush, Kudako stated quickly, “I’m a Dragon.”

“Dragon?” ShinRe echoed, eyebrows lifting.

“Dragon,” Kudako confirmed, taking another bite out of the fruit. Then he added shortly, “It was the agreement.”

“You agreed to become a Dragon?” he asked.

“It was better than the alternative,” came the answer. Then a short pause before, “I will have to discuss it with you at a later time. There is business to attend to.”

ShinRe leaned back in his chair, a quiet half smile playing over his broken lips. “Always business, Kudako. Some things never change.”

“We’ve been working on him,” Zemi offered waving a finger in the air. “Just taking him time. But we’ll get him there.”

“I should like to be there the day that you do,” the Leader laughed, a quiet near soundless laugh. But there was a tiny speck of mirth in the depths of his eyes. An openness that wasn’t seen often in the people of the Spiral.

This one isn’t so bad, really. I think we can get along.

“Before I forget my manners,” the Dreigiau said, as if he had manners to forget, “Let me introduce you to a few fine fellows.”

ShinRe sat watching with the appropriate amount of polite interest.

Zemi waved his hand around, “This is SoYa, the son of ZenToYa who is my Champion and founder of Nefol. And this is Aur, who is acting as the ambassador between the North Clans and the current Spiral establishment.”

“I welcome you both to my home,” ShinRe said before he pursed his lips. Then he continued, “Am I right in hearing you say that some sort of negotiations have begun between Nefol and the Spiral?”

“Yes,” Kudako answered. “The Armsmaster has been slain. Nefol has been working with the people to reverse the effects of the Implants. Aur has done a satisfactory job in working to make connections between the cultures, as difficult as that can be.”

“This is… a very interesting turn…” the Leader leaned forward again.

“The Spiral is finally free, brother,” the Dragon told him quietly. “It is as you would have wished, is it not?”

“It is good to see your optimism, Kudako,” he said. “But do you think the deep old magics that bound the minds of our people can be undone so easily?”

There was a moment of silence that was only interrupted by Aur’s subtle clearing of throat. At first, Zemi didn’t pay it much mind. Until Aur did it again. The Dreigiau shifted his attention to his Watcher with a thoughtful frown. The golden eyes flicked towards ShinRe, then back to Zemi again.

Did I miss something?

The Arweinydd paused, mulling over the Leader’s last few words, looking for the secrets that the Watcher seemed to indicate he should see. It took a few minutes. But then it came to him.

“Did you say magic?” Zemi found the words on his lips before he pondered the consequences of asking.

Magic was not something widely known or used by the Earthians. In fact, it was Nefol that claimed the first real magic users in the known history of their lands… something that Zemi had to help nourish from the start.

If there was something that could be considered magical within the Spiral that dated back that long ago… it must be something pretty significant.

“I don’t know if it was technically magic in the same sense the Nefolians use, but it was certainly something supernatural in nature,” ShinRe replied.

“You seem to know a lot about the Nefolians… for having lived in the Spiral all this time,” SoYa ventured, completely missing the important topic at hand.

Can’t blame the boy for trying.

“Well… that’s because I learned as much about the Nefolian providence as I could. Most of it was hearsay, of course, as I could never really see the city,” the Leader answered with a whimsical smile. “How I would have loved to… But. As it is, I used what I heard about your government and education as a foundation, if you will, for our own Encampment. I hope you don’t mind?”

“No, sir. Not at all,” SoYa shook his head. He, too, seemed curious about ShinRe and his methods of adaptation.

But that would all have to wait for another day.

“Can you tell me more about this… supernatural phenomenon that you say existed in the old Spiral?” Zemi folded his fingers into one another and balanced his chin on top.

“I will tell you as much as I can, Lord Dreigiau,” ShinRe’s expression grew more somber. “Our father was taken from us far earlier than I would have liked. Being the eldest son of the Clan’s Leader, I moved up to take his position. I didn’t have much time as the Leader before the Razing took everything from us. But during that time, I was brought into the circle of Elders and taught some of the Mystic Ways, as they liked to call it. I will repeat… I didn’t have a lot of time to learn of the secrets that the Clan Leaders passed through generations. But what I do know, I find no fault in sharing with you.”

“Thank you,” the Dreigiau tilted his head. “I know that I’m asking a lot… I don’t mean to poke my nose in things that are considered clan secrets.”

“Those days are over,” he spoke slowly. “The secrets that were held… were dark ones. Ones that were dictated by the intimidation of the Armsmaster over the family leaders. Perhaps it is time that the Spiral comes to know the truth of our history… so that such self enslavement never be repeated in future days.”

Pretty heavy stuff.

Zemi pursed his lips and nodded. There wasn’t much he could add to that. So he just let the Leader keep talking.

“There are, indeed, sources of energy locked under the surface of the Spiral that one might call almost magical in nature. We don’t know where these sources came from. But we do know that there appeared to be some connection to these energies and the great Golden Lion that offered our people council and guidance,” ShinRe explained.

Zemi glanced over at the Watcher. Aur was playing a poker face to die for.

“Did you ever get to see this Golden Lion?” the Arweinydd asked with a teasing grin.

“A few times, actually. Yes. Yes I did,” the Leader replied looking somewhat proud. Then his face grew somber again. “The people of the Spiral were not good listeners. They took the council of the Lion and chose to twist the message into something that they wanted to believe in. I really do not believe that our Guide would have wanted us to wage war against the Clans of the North in the way that we did. And he would not have wanted to see the use of Implants in our warriors in order to achieve this emotionless so-called perfection that the Armsmaster claimed it to be.”

“You are right,” Aur spoke quietly. “The war nature that the Spiral grew into was driven by one man’s bloodthirsty drive for pointless violence.”

“Yes… exactly?” ShinRe furrowed his brow at the Watcher curiously.

Aur said nothing more, hooded eyes watching the Leader in silence.

Seeing that the Watcher had nothing more to add, ShinRe continued, “The Implants… were structured from tiny fragments of a crystal-like stone that held a strange, magical property. Initially, these fragments allowed the Armsmaster to have unnatural suggestive control over the Spiral warriors… somewhat in the manor that mind mages are said to have.”

SoYa blanched and sucked on his bottom lip.

“But the prolonged side effect of the Implants caused people to grow more and more emotionless. Soon, the Armsmaster saw this as a great perk… for warriors without fear or true remorse were nothing more than killing machines at his command,” the Leader paused and gave Kudako a long, sad look. “Just as you have seen with the Annihilators who crossed into the Inner Realms borders.”

“So, it’s fragments of this stone that were implanted into the warriors to cause this?” SoYa’s face had grown more and more pale the more that he heard. “Does that mean that Kudako was…”

The Dragon frowned sharply, “A sliver of stone does not dictate my fate nor control my allegiance.”

“No… no… of course not,” the Athrylith swallowed and fell silent.

By now, Zemi had other interests. He was starting to understand why Aur had directed them there. “So tell me, do you know the origins of this strange stone?”

“Not precisely,” ShinRe answered. “I never had the chance to visit the Stone Lair. But I heard enough about it to have an idea of where it can be found.”

The Arweinydd didn’t speak, mulling over the proper words for the situation. Then he said, “I know it is a lot to ask of you… after you have already shared so much of your history with us. The outsiders as we are. But our situation is difficult and somewhat desperate…”

The Leader frowned at the sudden turn in the conversation.

“There is a darkness brewing on the other side of the Dragon’s Cleft,” Zemi explained. “A darkness that not even the proud and brave of Nefol could stem. Our people and cities have fallen to this foe. And it now stands on the other side, attention bent on finding a way to reach into the Spiral.”

“This is… grave news that you bring, Lord Dreigiau,” for the first time, a hint of concern shown in ShinRe’s eyes.

“I tell you this because we have very little time to mobilize our peoples. We must find a way to work together to stop this darkness…”

The Leader nodded in understanding.

“I also must ask that you help us to find the source of this ancient power you’ve told us about,” Zemi placed his palms on his knees, leaning forward. “I know it has been a source of sorrow and destruction to your people. But I believe that there are secrets that have yet to be unlocked… and under the right hands, may prove to be a power that we can use to protect your people instead.”

ShinRe seemed a little less understanding about this. He glanced over at Kudako, as if seeking his input.

“I cannot tell you what you should do with the Spiral’s secrets,” the Dragon told him quietly. “I stand by Lord Zemi, however. I believe as he believes. I hope that you will consider joining and assisting us. I have seen the destruction that this Chaos can create. I don’t want to see it pass into these lands as well.”

The Leader leaned back with a grim, thoughtful expression. He remained silent for a long time. When he responded, his voice was heavy with uncertainty. “This is… a lot to ask. May I have the night to sleep on it before I decide?”

Gnawing impatience pained the Arweinydd at the answer. But he knew there was nothing he could do to urge the Leader. Not at the risk of losing the already shaky alliance.

“Of course,” Zemi dipped his head slightly.

“Thank you. I will make my considerations tonight,” relief colored ShinRe’s expression. He then lifted a hand to them. “And we will make accommodations for you until the morning.”

Zemi dipped his head in a polite bow again. There was nothing else he could do but wait.

"You have so much sorrow to battle inside of you, ZenToYa... and all I can give you... is a hug."

The Spiral lands stretched out before Zento in every direction, reminding him how far he was from home. Soft rolling hills of yellow-tinged grass ran up to greet the edge of the lilac-leaf forests. Groups of stone huts huddled together in their tell-tale circular patterns. Banners emblazoned with a glittering gold lion snapped in the late summer breeze. Soon, autumn would be upon the land and the distant harvest fields lay heavy with anticipation.

ZenToYa had visited the Spiral on a number of occasions in his life. Sometimes as an enemy. Sometimes on a mission for his people’s survival. It had only been lately that he had come as a friend, despite the general unrest that the Spiral people still held for their white-haired neighbors.

But never had he come with such a heavy heart and shattered spirit.

They said it was here that Tsu was turned…

While the battle had raged hot in the sky Islands, a different battle had taken place here. A battle where his youngest son, TsuYa, had fought to protect the children of Nefol. It was here that the great warrior’s spirit had Awakened within him. But upon the Awakening, the wards that had protected him from Zerom’s shadows were destroyed.

He had so little time to know his Awakening…

All Zento had left of his youngest son were stories. Stories and the fleeting mind images from those who had been there. Terrible images and feelings he couldn’t bear to see. And so the winged man had fled, searching for a place far away from anyone who held the dark memories of his son’s fall.

We had so little time together, Tsu. That’s all you really wanted, in the end. For us all to be together.

His burdened mind wandered back to a time long ago, to the first time Zento felt such a crushing pain. The loss of his wife. It had been sudden. Unexpected. Unexplained.

YuKai…

Zento had been out in a hunting party — it had been nothing out of the ordinary. But when he returned home at the end of that week, everything in his life had changed. No one could explain what had happened to his wife. There was no body left behind to tell the tale. Nothing was left but a gaping hole in his heart that had once been filled with her laughter and light.

When you left us, the boys were never the same.

SoYa had grieved for the loss of his mother, as was expected. But TsuYa had been so young, so deeply affected. He had grown more distant, more serious… become so different from the happy little boy he had been while his mother was still alive. Left a widower father of two children, Zento had felt helpless to stop the changes he saw in his youngest son then. Just as he felt helpless to protect his son from the dark transformation that had changed him now.

I was his hero. But time and again, I have let him down.

It was too late, now. Zento’s world had shifted and spun out of control, once more leaving a gaping hole in his soul. For as hard as he had fought and struggled to find a way to save his child, TsuYa was still swallowed by the darkness.

Just as Nefol was.

Just as Ceiswyr was.

Just as we all will be…

He bowed his head, shoulders sagging with the burden of sorrow. The burden of a leadership that he didn’t know if he could rightly bear any longer. Telltale grey strands of hair fell into his eyes, sticking to his face where it was hot with shameless tears.

“That’s not true,” a soft voice carried to his ears from somewhere just behind.

Zento’s head jerked up in momentary surprise. He had not expected anyone to be able to find him, let alone reach the spot where he had chosen to mourn. And he certainly had not expected that anyone could sense his thoughts.

A soft hand touched his shoulder. A tingling sensation spread from the touch, a warm and comforting feeling spreading through his chest.

“Times feel dark right now, ZenToYa. But you must never give up the fight to save your son,” the voice sounded again, this time just beside his ear.

Zento stiffened slightly, head turning. A woman leaned over him, her slender hand soft upon his shoulder. At first, he thought she may have been one of the Spiral people, for she had a similar coloration. But her features were small and delicate, unlike the inhabitants of the Outter Realms. She seemed to glow faintly with a wavering golden light that accented her deep golden skin and pale blond hair. Her eyes shown with quiet violet wisdom and intense concern.

As Zento stared into her face, he felt at once that he should know her. But when he shook his head out, the nagging familiarity scattered away, blamed on a trick of the sunlight’s reflection.

“Zento,” she spoke his name again, a soft accent between slender lips. Her hand lifted from his shoulder, brushing his cheek ever so slightly.

A shiver rushed through his body, his mind reeling back instantly, reaching to hold fast to his internal dedication to his late wife. It was only then that he realized he could hardly remember what she looked like.

“E-Excuse me!” he gave a gasping exclamation. His wings flailed as he jerked away from the woman’s hand, eyes staring at her in shock. “Do I know you!?”

She pulled her hand away, face mirroring his surprise. Then calmness draped back over her features and an easy smile curved her lips. “ZenToYa… relax. You’d think I was a Dragon come for her prey.”

That’s when the voice clicked in his mind. And though he had never seen her person form before, he recognized her. The name whooshed out of his lungs in an embarrassed stammer, “K-KaiShi?”

The woman rewarded him with a silvery laugh.

“KaiShi!” Zento choked, caught somewhere between staring awkwardly and an immense sense of relief. “Why…”

“Silly Zento,” she answered, gently chiding. “I knew that you’d run off and find a secretly secret place to cry your sorrows out. What else would you do if I wasn’t there?”

He couldn’t help but swallow down the last of his discomfort, staring into the light of her eyes. KaiShi was someone whom he had always trusted with the deepest burdens of his soul. And when he came for her council, she always had known exactly what he needed to hear.

She turned her head, a subtle shyness showing, “I just didn’t think the Dragon would cut it this time.”

“What do you mean?” he arched one eyebrow curiously.

“You have so much sorrow to battle inside of you, ZenToYa… and all I can give you… is a hug.” Before he could protest, KaiShi wrapped her arms around him, laying her head on his shoulder. Her touch was vibrant and warm, once again spreading the soothing sensation through his grief-tightened chest.

Zento didn’t pull away this time. His strength had been stolen by the sorrow… a sorrow that, for the moment, was put to rest by the unexpected care of another. They sat there together, her arms comforting him, watching as the sunlight began slipping downward, setting the violet treeline aflame.

After time had passed, KaiShi was the first one to speak, “I know that is it difficult for you to show your pain to others. I know what it is like to try to remain the strong leader for your people.”

He leaned back on his palms, sucking on his bottom lip for a moment. Allowing her to finish.

“But no one expects you to be an unemotional, unmoving mountain. Especially not right now,” she told him.

“We’ve lost so much,” Zento picked his words slowly. “I have no right to show my grief for the loss of one life… when so many others have died. When I was unable to protect our homelands… unable to–”

“Shhh…” KaiShi reached up and tapped him on the lips, deftly interrupting. “What is it with you guys… always thinking the weight of the world must be born upon your shoulders alone?”

“But I’m–”

“You’re a man, ZenToYa,” she intercepted quickly. “You’re a great man. A man with so much power… but at the same time, so much love. You’re more than just some bedtime story legend told to children in Nefol.”

He found no words to answer.

“You’re a man… and you have a right to be a grieving parent if you need to be. There is no shame in that.”

Zento turned his head slightly. She reached up and gently turned it back with the touch of one finger.

“You have earned the love of your people. Don’t shut us out in your time of grief,” she pleaded softly. “Let us help you… let us help TsuYa.”

He furrowed his brow with a questioning frown, “You don’t think it’s too late for that?”

“I’ve come to believe almost anything is possible,” she lifted her chin slowly. “TsuYa has the same strong spirit as his father. I don’t think he has given up the fight to return to us. That’s why he needs us to keep fighting as well.”

Tsu… would keep fighting…

The thought had not come to him before now. Not with his mind clouded with so much grief. But he knew that she was right… if there was anything left of his son’s spirit, TsuYa would never stop fighting.

Then, I must keep fighting, too…

“That’s right,” she whispered quietly, the twilight glow reflecting from her eyes. “We must all keep fighting. You’re not alone in this battle.”

Not knowing what else to say, Zento lowered his head, “Thank you.”

KaiShi nodded and slowly pulled away, getting to her feet. He could feel a puzzling tinge of reluctance as she did, as if it was so difficult to let him go.  But her face didn’t let it show.

Instead, she straightened, peering off into the sky, “Please come back to us when you’re ready. We still need you.”

Zento nodded, trying to reassure her despite his lack of words.

She said nothing more… she simply took a few steps away. Then her form was encased in a brilliant shaft of golden light. The stone outcropping shook under Zento’s palms momentarily, his breath stolen from his lungs as he stared up. Great Dragon wings unfurled above him, reflecting the sun’s dying glow in unspeakable grace and beauty.

Then KaiShi was gone, a golden Dragon winging off over the crest of the Spiral lands.

And at the risk of being misunderstood… I do love you, Zemi Dreigiau!

Please… let me be strong enough…

AsaHi gripped the thick white mane in both of her hands, laying flat against the huge white Dragon’s back. All at once she felt very tiny and very vast – she was both the rider and the Dragon. She could feel and breathe the world with the immense senses of the Dreigiau. But at the same time, she knew that she was just the small, clinging and frightened girl on his back.

Please let me know what to do if Chaos comes…

Dragons and monsters swept around them on every side. Streaks of red flame. Flashes of dark lightning. Blood-freezing screeches and ear-shattering roars. All of it moved around her with an unreal quality.

Her mind flickered back to thinking about SoYa… where he was. What he would do through the battle. She was certain that KaiShi would never allow any harm come to him. But the girl still couldn’t help but worry about him. Afterall, Brunswik’s reports had not been exaggerated.

The Esgyll were far bigger and more dangerous than the ones that she had seen before. Obviously, they had been tweaked to better enable them to fight against Zemi’s Dragons. Everything had been altered — from their size, speed, to their new ability to shoot crackling dark lightning. And it made AsaHi all the more afraid.

Zeromus is learning how to enhance his monsters. Learning from his mistakes. He’s adjusting and changing things.

She probably shouldn’t have been surprised by this. Afterall, Zeromus was once an Arweinydd, like Zemi. Though, unlike the Trine, he was wickedly clever… using his power and influence to take control, consume and twist everything he came in contact with.

And now they were flying straight into the grasps of that darkness. Straight into the core of Chaos itself. Though how they could challenge such a power, AsaHi didn’t know. Their last struggle against Zeromus had only ended when Zemi fled the battle. Anything that he had attempted to do against the power of Chaos had only swayed his own energies towards destruction.

How do we fight it… how? Even if it is just to hold Chaos back for a little longer?

A crack of sharp lightning struck so close that AsaHi could feel the electricity. The sky had grown restless, dark and churning, everything circling around them. The girl realized that they had flown far from the reaches of the main battle, deeper into the heart of the shadows where Zemi was the only point of light that she could see.

Her slender hands gripped Zemi’s mane as she fought to keep the pressing fear from overwhelming her spirit. Everywhere surrounding her was a feeling of terrible dread and hopelessness. That which would consume light and beauty.

That’s when she realized that Zemi hadn’t spoken a word in a long time. In fact, despite all of her conflicting emotion, he had sent her no feeling of support or comfort.

“Zemi! Where are we going?” her voice was tiny in the midst of the violent cloudbursts. Lightning cracked again, so close to striking that it was deflected from Zemi’s own personal energy shields.

-We have to stop this.-

The girl was startled at the sound within her mind. It was the first time in a long time that Zemi had spoken to her through thoughts rather than words. Leaning forward, she could make out the wedge-shape head of the Dragon, pointing skyward.  Something about it looked different. More feral… less Zemi.

Chaos is drawing him in! And I couldn’t even feel it!

Fear leapt into her heart as she realized, she couldn’t feel much at all from Zemi. AsaHi instantly leaned across his neck, pulling hard on his mane, fighting to pull his attention away from the forces she knew were battling inside of his heart, “No! Zemi! Wait! We can’t take on the Chaos one on one! You know that!”

-I can stop this! I am Zemi Dreigiau! Zeromus will NOT threaten my people while I stand idle and watch!-

His lips curled back in a snarl, wings stretching ever wider, pushing them ahead faster.

“Zemi!” the girl began to feel desperate. “This isn’t about power, remember! We’re not supposed to take on Zeromus. We’re supposed to protect the Islands until Lucci gets here!”

- I have the power. Even if I am Rhoi’r, I am no weakling! I do not need to rely on the strength of a mere boy-Sygnus to win my battles!-

“No one is questioning your strength, Zemi!”

-Zeromus thinks that he can take my people from me!-

“He can’t take anything from you Zemi… we choose to stay with you. We choose to fight with you. But neither you nor Zeromus can own us,” she told him, fighting to keep a level voice. “We talked about that, remember?”

-I will own and take what I very well please! And no Earthian will tell me different!- The Dreigiau responded with a deep rumble that shook her to the marrow.

“Zemi! Listen to yourself!” this time she did raise her voice. “You’re starting to sound exactly like Zeromus! Is that what you want to be? No better than him?!”

This isn’t working! He’s not listening to me!

-Who do you think you are to challenge the will of the Patron of Nefol!- The huge white Dragon let up a tremendous roar, displeased by her warnings and words.

His flight had become erratic, his mind shut away from her connection, reaching for the call and temptation of the Chaos. As much as dismay filled her, she knew she had to fight it where he could not… that she couldn’t take his words to heart. That it wasn’t Zemi talking now.

“I’m someone who cares about you, Zemi. Someone who cares a lot,” AsaHi grit her teeth, hands struggling to keep hold. It almost felt as if the howling winds around them were trying to rip her from the Dreigiau’s back.

-You don’t care about me. You love SoYa!-

The voice in her head was so bitter. So accusatory. She had never heard Zemi speak with so much spite and anger. Stunned, AsaHi found herself without words. Stung, she fought to blink back the tears in her eyes. She had no idea that Zemi was still so angry about the situation … he had led her to believe that things would be okay. That he had accepted it.

-Then what I say is true.-

“No… no… Zemi… I.. I do care about you!” she choked on the words. “And I’m really scared for you right now.”

-Prove it.-

AsaHi straightened, a panic filling her. The last thing that she had expected coming there was for her motives and feelings to be questioned. “If I don’t care about you, then why am I here?”

A rumble was her response. As if the Dreigiau was trying to find a retort against it.

“It’s safer to go with SoYa… instead of facing down the void of Chaos with an Arweinydd who is about to lose his head!” her voice grew louder in her ears. “So why would I choose to put myself into a position where I know that I’m going to be the only thing between you and the Chaos?”

Another rumble.

“I’m just an Earthian, like you said before. Don’t you think I get scared?  Don’t you think I feel little when I’m out here in the middle of all these huge things — including you?” AsaHi began to shout to be heard as the winds grew more aggressive around them. “So, why am out here? Why? Maybe it’s because I do care about you in some crazy way?”

The rumbling became more distinct. As if the Dreigiau was trying for spoken words.

“Maybe I always have? I’ve made a Promise to SoYa… but that doesn’t mean that I love only one person in the world completely. It doesn’t mean that I can’t love other people, too,” she was flat out yelling now. “There are different kinds of love in the world! Not all of them end in Promises and Bondings but they are just as valid! And at the risk of being misunderstood… I do love you, Zemi Dreigiau!”

The words cracked across the clouds like thunder, stunning the girl with their power and intensity. The winds moaned and reeled, and as AsaHi watched, the top of the cloud bank suddenly gave way to monstrous, Chaotic form. A huge dark claw swung out at her, striking her from the protection of Zemi’s back.

AsaHi screamed. She was falling fast. Down through the flaming churn of Chaos. Pain wracked her body as thousands of terrible claws slashed through her face, torso and limbs, leaving long gashes of bleeding red as she fell. But her mind was on the Dreigiau that she had left… and what would happen to him now that the connection had been broken. Now that she was no longer there.

Zemi!!!

Suddenly, a voice filled her head. It was so overwhelming, so painful that all other thoughts fled from her mind. It was a voice that she had heard once before… terrible and hateful. The voice of Zeromus.

-YOU CANNOT SAVE HIM, EARTHIAN GIRL-CHILD. YOUR LOVE IS MEANINGLESS. YOUR MEDDLING IN THE STRUGGLES OF ARWEINYDD ENDS HERE!-

But another sound met her ears. A sound from without. A great, powerful voice… calling her name.

“ASAHI!!!”

Though her vision was blurry, the girl managed to tilt her head to look up. Everything was white, warm and brilliant, bursting through the darkness of the clouds… the form of the Dreigiau spread great and luminous as he dove with maw wide open. She realized…

Zemi is trying to catch me?

Despite what the Chaos would want him to believe and feel and do. Despite the fact that his brother-enemy was there to do battle… and only a moment ago, Chaos had convinced him to strike out. Instead, Zemi chose to save her.

There was clarity in the light in his eyes as he sped downwards, wings folded. Everywhere his light passed, the claws of shadows burst away, Chaos pushed back by Zemi’s intense will and emotion. For now, AsaHi could feel it in full… true emotion filling the Arweinydd’s heart and spirit. An emotion that he may not completely understand… but one that he had completely embraced. And in doing so, something about him had grown… in character, in strength and in ability to hold back the darkness that reached for his soul.

“AsaHi…” Zemi’s voice was gentle and calming as he swooped towards her. His huge claws reached out, carefully catching her between his cupped palms and drawing her closer to his chest.

The motion was so strikingly Earthian that AsaHi was lost for words. All she could do was hold on to him, relief flooding her mind… and soaking into his as she felt the connection return between them.

A vast, contemptful growl shook the skies above them as the clouds of Chaos drew inwards again, exposing the wavery, monstrous form of  Zeromus. It was as AsaHi remembered… long streams of blue, tainted black… but this time he was enormous, spreading across the reaches of the sky and trailing out into the clouds.

Her breath caught in her throat. And though she was safe within the hold of the Dreigiau, she felt a cold dread fill her mind.

-ZEMI DREIGIAU. YOU WILL FACE ME!-

“No! I will not fight you!” Zemi responded between clenched fangs. Any desire to battle was clearly gone. No longer did the Chaos tempt him to violence.

-YOU HAVE BECOME WEAK! THE EARTHIANS HAVE STOLEN YOUR PURPOSE AND VISION. THEY HAVE FILLED YOUR MIND WITH THEIR FEELINGS… EMOTIONS… THINGS THAT WILL BE YOUR UNDOING.-

“The Earthians have done nothing to me. I have chosen to become what I have! Their ways are far superior to ours,” the Dreigiau snapped back, holding AsaHi a little closer as he did.

-THEY HAVE DRIVEN YOU MAD.-

“Mad? MAD? You talk to me about madness! Have you looked at what you’ve become?”

-YOU CANNOT SEE IT. MY SORROW GOES OUT TO YOU, BROTHER.-

“Do not call me brother! You are no longer any brother of mine,” Zemi snarled, head lowering.

-THESE THINGS ARE BUT FLEETING, ZEMI. THESE PEOPLE WILL PASS. THIS WORLD WILL WITHER. YOU CANNOT HOLD ON TO THE THINGS YOU LOVE… EVEN THAT GIRL WILL VANISH ONE DAY. AND YOU WILL BE ALONE.-

The Arweinydd choked at the thought. It was obviously something that he had considered before. But his voice came back strong as he responded, “That will not keep me from caring about them… or this world.”

-YOU HAVE SET YOURSELF UP FOR DESTRUCTION, ZEMI. THERE IS NO WHERE LEFT TO GO BUT DOWN… LET ME DEMONSTRATE THE FUTILITY OF THIS FADING EARTHIAN WORLD…-

“What?” AsaHi gasped, a chill rushing through her body at the words.

It happened so fast, there was nothing that anyone, not even Zemi could do to stop it. As they had been talking, the clouds of Chaos had been drawing energy in, strengthening, readying for the great strike. Bolts of darkness leapt from the sky, streaming down from every direction above.

“NO!!” a shout burst from her lips as she lunged forward, holding fast to the white Dragon’s claws. Horror written on her face, all she could do was watch.

The bolts of Chaos struck, one after another after another, pounding from all sides at the fragile faces of the Isles of Ceiswyr. Smaller islands simply burst into a spray of stone and dirt. Larger islands began to burn, then crack, huge pieces of land falling away and raining down from the sky. Though they were too far away to hear the alarms in the Compounds or the screams of the frightened, dying men, AsaHi could feel it. She could feel them all through Zemi’s senses.

Every blow the Islands took. Every life that was lost. The Dreigiau flinched, responding like someone in terrible physical pain. Zemi cried out, reeling back, the cry of something being ripped apart from inside out. An Earthian cry of absolute torment and agony. A cry that rose, mingled with the voiceless cry of dying Ceiswyr.

“Zemi!!!” AsaHi called frantically, her hands clutching her head. Trying to shield herself from the overwhelming waves of pain that flooded her senses. Then suddenly, it was gone.

And with the silence, came the sensation of falling.

The girl opened her eyes, staring straight into Zemi’s colorless face. He was no longer a Dragon, no longer aware… Stripped of strength and power by the profound loss of all he had created. The loss of his people. The loss of their homelands.

The Dreigiau was now falling. Just as Ceiswyr had.

SoYa looked so different encased in the shimmering spirit armor.

AsaHi woke to a long, low rumble followed by a sharp crack. A jolt sent her sprawling out of her bed as the world tilted sideways. She scrabbled hand over hand to get a hold of her blankets, grasp her bed and get some sort of footing under her. As she jammed her feet into her tall boots, she heard the sound of yelling and barked orders out in the halls.

The alarms sounded out over the islands of Ceiswyr.

The girl rushed quickly to her closet and threw a half robe over her shoulders, then secured a wooden staff in one hand. Only a moment later, her door flung open, admitting a ruffled-haired SoYa. He was just pushing one arm through his vest, reaching out for her.

“What’s going on?” AsaHi didn’t hesitate to rush to her Promised. “Are we under attack?”

“It seems like it,” SoYa spoke slowly, getting that odd look on his face that he always had when he was relying on senses beyond what normal people possessed. Then he frowned. “We need to find Father. They’re going to need all the help they can get.”

Help? Me? How?

AsaHi was more than willing to do everything she could to defend their home on Ceiswyr. She wasn’t afraid to fight. She wasn’t afraid to face whatever Zeromus tried to throw at them. But she just didn’t know what she could do against monsters like the Marked or the winged Esgyll. The girl had spent time with the fighters and with Zento learning how to protect herself the best she could in the time she had. But that was a far cry from being of offensive value in a battle.

If SoYa felt her doubts, he didn’t respond to them. He simply led her briskly through the halls, passing out orders to the ground troops in a level, firm voice. He organized the troops where he saw confusion. Offering vibes of support and confidence to those who faltered in the fear of facing battle. With each step that he took, he carried a sense of hope and determination. And the men responded with a mixture of respect and gratefulness.

Even she could feel the effects of the soft encouragement of the Athrylith. And somehow, she found that she didn’t feel so inadequate in the face of what was to come.

SoYa…?

AsaHi followed, looking up at the eldest son of ZenToYa. And she saw, for the first time, the leader that he was becoming. The strength that had been developing, growing silently within him through his training and all of the hardships. Everything that he now wielded at this point, for this battle. Which they all knew would probably be the final turning point for them.

Word had it that Lucci has found a weapon we can use to fight Zeromus. If we can just hold out a little longer. He’s on his way…

And surely, Zeromus knew this as well. Even with the power of his Champion, he was unable to prevent Lucci from obtaining that which could be used to destroy him. This was a battle of desperation for both sides. Zeromus would seek to crush them… and they just had to hold out until Lucci could arrive with the weapon.

They were not taken completely unawares. Ever since reports came to Zemi that Lucci had been successful in his journey, they had been gathering resources, training doubly and running mock-up drills. They hadn’t known exactly when Zeromus would strike or what he’d strike with, but the people of the Dreigiau had done everything within their power to be ready for this battle.

I just hope it was enough.

As they rounded the corner, AsaHi could hear the voice of ZenToYa advising and giving orders to the troops. It was not so much unlike the voice of his son.

“Father!” SoYa led her carefully through the organizing troops.

“SoYa! AsaHi! Good!” Zento waved them forward the moment they caught his eye.

“Where do you need us positioned?” the Athrylith asked, his light voice talking the best that he could over the sound of alarms and men.

“You’ve been requested in the Dragon ranks,” the winged man answered.

“Dragon ranks?” SoYa asked with some surprise. He looked over towards AsaHi, seeming to think that the order was aimed towards the girl alone.

“Both of you,” Zento clarified. “By Zemi’s orders.”

“Huh?” the Athrylith’s air of certainty was beginning to flake away, taken by surprise.

AsaHi had perked up, however. Working with the Dragons was something she could do. Even riding, if she needed to – her riding skills certainly matched anyone else’s there on the Islands.

Not that winged people really need to ride Dragons… but…

SoYa, however, didn’t seem so thrilled at the thought. But he didn’t complain or argue. He simply gave a slow nod.

“SoYa,” Zento reached his hand out to his son. There was the look of age on his face, framed in long silvering strands of hair. It was a father’s face of worry and love. “Please be careful. I’ve arranged an escort to get you to the Dragon compound.”

“What are you going to be doing?”

“Leading the ground troops against the Marked. We’ve already had a breech in security on the northwest isle. No doubt, Zeromus is going to be pouring them down on us,” the winged man frowned.

Now it was SoYa’s time to look worried. “Father…”

Zento gave the softest smile he was able, then hugged his eldest son, “Protect AsaHi… and don’t forget your Arfogaeth.”

“Oh! My armor! Right!” the Athrylith exclaimed suddenly, as if reminded of something that completely slipped his mind. His hand clutched at the throat of his vest for a moment.

Zento reached around with arms and wings and hugged AsaHi to his chest gently. His voice was soft as he murmured, “Take care of SoYa… protect Zemi…”

The girl nodded, looking up into the Champion’s face. “I’ll do my best, Master ZenToYa.”

He cracked a grin and rubbed his hand through her hair affectionately. “You’ll do great. Just be careful for me. Okay?”

“Yes, sir,” AsaHi nodded. Then SoYa took her hand again and she was led off with the accompaniment of a troop of winged men. Heading towards the Dragon compound.

Mind mage or not, there was no holding back the look of open heart ache on Zento’s face as he watched them go.  And being led away, all AsaHi could do was make sure that SoYa didn’t turn around to see it.

As they stepped out of the safety of the Compound, the sky was alive with terror from above. Dragons were locked in terrible battle with the huge dark-winged Esgyll. AsaHi’s eyes were drawn to the streaks of flame and darkness that exploded through the sky above, just inches from the wavering dome barriers that were placed to protect the Islands. Every now and then, she could see the fall of a dark winged form plummeting out of the battle and into the cracks between the Islands. Whether it was an Esgyll or a Dragon, she could not see.

After darting between clumps of trees and buildings, they finally came to the open yard of the Dragon’s compound. The girl could already make out the figures of other Dragons there. As they came closer, she could hear the rumbling sound of Brunswik’s voice.

“They’re different this time, Lord Zemi,” the huge Crimson reported. “I don’t know what Zeromus has been feeding those Esgyll but they’re far stronger than they were in the first two attacks.”

“We’re doing what we can to keep them away from the barriers,” KaiShi flicked her tail with a dragon scowl at her companion.

“I mean, talk about just one chomp – just one — and a man is gone. Gone like that,” Brunswik continued, stretching his wings for effect.

“I see,” Zemi’s face was grim. Strangely, though he was meeting with Dragons, he has not yet taken his own Dragon form yet.

“Chomp!” Brunswik repeated, clamping his huge jaws together. “And gone!”

KaiShi eye ridge twitched with a hint of irritation.

“Thank you, Brunswik,” Zemi intercepted, patting the Crimson on the snout. “Your report was very enlightening.”

“Anytime, Lord Zemi!” Brunswik lifted his head proudly. “I’ll return to my post now?”

“Yes. And please spread the news to anyone who has not engaged yet that the Esgyll may pose a bit more of a threat than they did before,” the Dreigiau nodded.

“Yes sir!” with a hurricane swoop of wings, the huge Dragon winged into the skies, flying fearlessly towards the battle ahead.

KaiShi gave a long suffering sigh.

“He’s got a good heart,” Zemi answered the unspoken question. “And he’s a war machine in battle when the time comes.”

“I know… I know… ” the golden Dragon shook out her mane. Then her ears perked forward as she caught sense of the newcomers. “Zem?”

“Hrm?” the Arweinydd paused, turning and looking directly at them.

AsaHi felt SoYa pause a moment, then stiffen a bit.

“Lord Zemi,” the Athrylith gave a slight bow. “Lady KaiShi.”

KaiShi’s momentary irritation had turned to hope. “You got here safely. Good. Where is that scamp of a father of yours?”

“He’s leading the ground troops,” Zemi answered. “But I’ve asked SoYa and AsaHi to join us in our maneuvers.”

“Oh?” the golden Dragon seemed somewhat surprised.

“Everyone needs to be mobilized in flight for this battle,” the Arweinydd answered and offered nothing else.

AsaHi felt SoYa shiver under her hand at the statement. She didn’t know what the motion meant.

“Are we ready to head out then?” KaiShi asked, tilting her head downward.

“W-wait. Just a moment,” SoYa rasped, fumbling with the front of his vest. After opening his collar and doing a bit of digging, he produced a thin silver chain with a small, round stone on the end.

“Oh?” AsaHi knew what that was. Zento had one similar to it… though she had rarely ever seen it used.

“Arfogaeth? Zemi?” KaiShi gave the Dreigiau a questioning look. Afterall, the spirit armor was something crafted only by the Arweinydd and gifted to certain, special individuals.

“The boy needs to protect himself?” Zemi shrugged.

“I suppose so,” the golden Dragon frowned a little. “Very well…”

SoYa had walked a few paces away, face a blanket of concentration. He cupped the stone between his hands, sweat on his brow as he closed his eyes. It responded, giving off a soft, lilac light that slowly inched its way along the outline of his hands… then up his arms and along his shoulders.

AsaHi drew in a quiet breath as she watched the outline build itself, bit by bit, into long slender shoulder plates, padded vestments and sturdy plated gloves. Weightless and ethereal, tiny etched designs of loops and weaves spread along the white armor as it began to solidify. It was a good deal different from the armor that his father wore – more mage-like and ornate in quality. Embedded within the center of the chest piece, the small lilac stone gave off a quiet light.

“It worked?” SoYa stretched out his hands, staring at them in wonderment. Then he looked up at AsaHi with an excited boyish grin. “AsaHi… it worked! Look!”

“It’s… wonderful, SoYa?” AsaHi smiled warmly, lost what else to say. SoYa looked so different encased in the shimmering spirit armor. So grown. So steady and sure. Even the smile was one of knowledge and understanding that had come to him.

He looks so much like Zento sometimes…

“Well, someone has an artistic streak in them,” KaiShi commented as she watched. There was a hint of pride in her words.

“Must have gotten it from his mother,” Zemi’s voice rumbled far above their heads.

AsaHi blinked up in surprise. Staring straight at the huge muzzle of the great white Dragon. As SoYa had been discovering the workings of his armor, Zemi had also transformed. His huge wings half unfurled covered them all, even KaiShi, in a soft white glow that streamed down around them.

There was something that had changed about him, too. Something protective. Something caring and concerned. Not that he hadn’t been in the past… but the feeling of the Dreigiau’s mind was different.

It was as if he understood now exactly what he risked… for himself. And for others.

“Zemi…” AsaHi reached a hand upwards, pausing a moment before touching the white mane. Instead, she looked at SoYa, in concern of what he would think.

It was obvious what she was meant to do… that she would Ride the Dreigiau in facing the darkness. In hopes that her Drei’distau would be enough to protect him from the grasps of the Chaos that had taken Zeromus.

But at the same time, AsaHi had no idea what SoYa thought of it. That the Arweinydd who was in love with his Promised would sweep her away in Dragon wings.

The Athrylith was watching them, a forced look on his face. As if part of him was struggling with it. But the other part spoke instead, somewhat comforted by her concern, “AsaHi… don’t worry about me. We all have to do what we can to protect the people. This is your place in the battle. I’ll do mine.”

The words sounded so much like something Zento would say. Even the way he lifted his chin with the last few words. Enduring things that were personal struggles… for the good of other people.

“SoYa…” AsaHi suddenly rushed over, throwing her arms around SoYa’s neck.

The girl was awed and stricken by who her Promised was becoming. She wished that they had never had to live through times that forced him to be this way. That she had put him in the position of conflict with their Patron. That he couldn’t remain as he had always been — simple and kindly SoYa.

His embrace was gentle, though. And his voice was soft as he reassured her. SoYa offered a quiet smile as he leaned down and placed a kiss on her forehead. “Everything will be okay…”

AsaHi nodded and after a moment they parted, walking their separate ways. He, to the golden Dragon. And she, to the waiting Dreigiau.