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.

His hand reached for it. He discovered his palm was now broad enough to grip a sword of this size without any trouble.

“It can float over the water too?” Lucci declared with amazement as the Current Skipper cruised its way through the ocean waves, towards the dark structure in the middle of the bay.

“Of course it can!” Master NaDo proclaimed cheerfully. “A ship isn’t a real ship if it can’t take the water as well as the sky.”

For a moment, their passage over the ocean’s surface was enough to take Lucci’s mind off of exactly what they were approaching. But the closer they came, the larger the obelisk loomed in his vision. It wasn’t long before he could make out the etchings and patterns along the face of the stone – they were identical to the etching on the stone floor back in the sand plaza.

The whispers in his mind had returned again and seemed to be growing louder the closer they came to the obelisk. Lucci did his best to push the sound out of his thoughts. But it was hard. And just as afraid as he was of the strange visions they had given him… he was curious, too. Afterall, the whispers had helped him to raise the obelisk from the waters. So it didn’t appear that they were trying to keep him from going inside.

Master NaDo piloted the ship forward, unaware of all that was passing through the youth’s mind. He gave a concerned look every now and then. He did not appear too fond of the idea of going inside of the waiting obelisk, despite his proclaimed sense of adventure for the sake of science. But when the time came to disembark, they found out very quickly that it wasn’t going to be an issue.

Lucci slipped down the ramp and took a quick leap from the ship to the slick stone steps. He turned around to reach his hands out and help Master NaDo to follow. But the moment the winged man made a move forward, wavery blue energy drew up around the obelisk, repelling him.

Lucci sucked a breath in.

Master NaDo frowned and tried to step forward again. Again, he was firmly pushed back. “I can’t..?”

“What do you mean?” the youth exclaimed, a jolt of apprehension rushing through his body.

“I can’t come closer,” the winged man put his hand out for demonstration. Again, he was pushed back.

Lucci was almost in tears at this point, shivering all over, “But, I can’t go in there alone!”

For a long moment, the two just looked at each other, locked on either side of a barrier that they could not see.

“Listen to me…” Master NaDo’s voice was level and quiet when he spoke again. “I don’t know or understand everything that is happening here. And I know it’s scary. But you were led here for a reason, Lucci. You were given a vision and so far all of the things we have done have opened the pathway to this place. Remember why you came here to begin with. You must always follow through with the things you start.”

Lucci swallowed, looking up into the serious face of the winged man… the man he had grown to admire so much in so short of a time. A man who truly cared about him, despite all that he knew. And the man, along with his family, that had given him a place to stay… a home… that would be hurt if Zeromus were to have his way.

Silver eyes searched green eyes for a long time. And though fear still shook his hands and made his knees weak, Lucci nodded slowly. “Okay…”

This is what I have to do. This is what I came for. Master NaDo is right… I have to follow through.

“Thatta boy,” Master NaDo smile gently. Then he reached out to clasp Lucci’s shoulder. “Be careful. I’ll be right here when you get back.”

“Thank you for everything, Master NaDo,” the youth forced a smile. He didn’t mean for it to sound so final. But it did.

The winged man leaned back in his casual way, a soft grin on his face, “You’re always welcome, Lucci. Now, get in there. I know you can do this.”

The youth took a deep breath before forcing himself to turn and face the great maw of the obelisk. One foot in front of the other, he began to make his way into the great stone structure. At first, he was afraid that there wouldn’t be enough light to see by. But then he realized that there were many small windows lining the inner walls to allow the sunlight to filter through. Where windows did not reach, bunches of frondy sea plants had attached themselves to the floor, giving off a quiet orange glow.

Lucci’s feet sunk and squelched as he walked. The floor was covered with layers of dark sand and shells. Every now and then, there was a pool of sea water that had remained captured in dips and indentations in the stone. Here and there, dark things squirmed and reeled about – bottom dwelling creatures – frantic that their once safe haven of darkness had risen up above the ocean floor into the light.

The youth didn’t know exactly what he was trying to find, his mind focused ahead of him, listening to the ebb and flow of the whispers that echoed throughout the halls. They weren’t directing him to any one place, so all he could to was to keep moving, trying to find their origins.

Lucci began to climb up a slick-stepped, curved stairwell that led him around and around the rim of the interior wall. It was a long, long ascent, he soon discovered. One glance over the edge told him that to go back down would take just as much time as to continue upwards. And whatever might be at the top was probably of more interest than the slodgy floor level that he left below.

As he made his way up the stairs, he noticed that the structure of the stone along the wall had started to change. First, it faded in color from the golden-sandstone to a soft, grey-white pearl coating. As Lucci watched, he began to discover the first faint signs of script… and more excitingly, pictures. His silver eyes grew wide, focused upon the walls, where vibrant murals of glittering colors rose from the curve of the stairway on every side.

Lucci didn’t understand everything he saw there. But he knew that it was beautiful and sad at the same time. It was a story by those who had once lived in that land. Those who had lived under the protection of the Vision Stone and the obelisk. Those who had been destroyed in the cataclysm that had sundered the earth.

Just like in my vision.

There were pictures that depicted the stars — many, many lights that twinkled and glowed against the dark reaches of the spinning skies. He could feel a mystic and alien power from the larger lights as they swirled through the reaches of space. Some of the lights were shown embracing smaller spheres among the stars – Living Planets.

Lucci had never seen a picture of a whole planet before. And he didn’t know how he knew what it was. But he just did.

There were also pictures of Dragons. But these Dragons were different from the ones that he had met on the Islands – those had been Lord Zemi’s servants. They were different even than Lord Zemi himself.

Some of the Dragons looked large and cruel. The murals depicted them with maws opened wide, teeth glittering, about to devour the shimmering lights that came from the sky. Some of the Dragons seemed to reflect with a brilliant inner light. They were shown with wings stretched wide as if to protect the shimmering lights.

The youth didn’t understand what the pictures were trying to say. He had never seen any of the Dragons act in such a way. They certainly didn’t go around eating lights from the sky or fighting with other Dragons. But he didn’t have much more time to ponder the strange images as he found himself standing at the top of the stairway, peering into a tall hall of arched doorways.

Is this it?

Lucci’s breath caught in his throat, shivering from the chill wind that howled down the length of the corridor. The stone here had been coated a slick black color. Despite having been under the water for so long, it still had a sheen so bright that it reflected the hazy shape of his image.

I think it must be.

The whispers were no longer whispers here, but full voices, all layered upon one another. Some seemed to be arguing. Some seemed to be weeping. Others were crying out, as if looking for someone dear to them that was lost. Lucci instantly clamped his hands to his ears, trying to shut out the sound. But it was in his mind. Not in the air. And the only thing that he could do was move forward.

I have to… finish what I started…

The air was thick and cold. It became harder and harder for him to keep moving. Lucci forced his eyes straight ahead. He had made the mistake of glancing aside once, only to see the image of other people reflected there in the black stone. People that he couldn’t see or feel in the hall. But they were there, watching him with burning white eyes from the walls.

Lucci realized that he had reached a closed door at the end of the hall. He studied it for a moment, noticing that it neither had a handle or hinges like doors usually do. Then, he reached out his hand and placed one palm against the door.

The stone rewarded him with a groan, a silvery light outlining the shape of Lucci’s hand in response to his touch. Surprised, he almost pulled back. But the light was fascinating as it spread across the door in all directions. Before he knew it, there was no longer a door there. Simply a blinding white light.

Lucci instantly threw up his hands to shade his eyes. Though the light did not hurt, it was such a stunning contrast to the dark hall that he had to stand there a moment before his eyes could adjust and pick out shapes in the waiting room.

What is this place…?

An ancient, sacred power thrummed like a tired heartbeat through the stone. The room itself felt alive with its own breath, mind and awareness – as if everything the nameless whispers had once been had all been drawn from them into this one point of existence. The moment Lucci stepped into the room, he felt the power drawn to him, swelling in a massive force that pounded through his skull. As he reached his hands out, he could see that his own form was taking on the silver-white glow of the room.

But any thought of consternation was wiped away. The power filled him to overflowing from the inside out. Lucci knew that what was left of the whispering people was being drawn to him. Absorbed. Just like the spirit of the Cyngan soldier had been that day, back on the Island. It had left Lucci forever changed, locked in a battle for his freedom from the grips of the spirit world.

“No! NO!!” his agonized howl went unheard.

Lucci clutched his head, crumpling back against the wall. There was no one there to save him, not like there had been before. Everyone was far away. So far away.

And all the things that they told him that he would become flashed through his mind. As the ghostly light surrounded him, he felt himself teetering, fighting against that which was foretold. Fighting to hold on to himself… to the person that he had just lately become. The happy youth that had spent time with the Tu Family. With people who truly cared for him.

I can’t… become the Bane! I can’t become the thing that destroys them! Please!!

The light in the room had gradually fallen dimmer as the light within Lucci had grown. Something about him had grown with it, leaving him transformed. Even as he caught the sight of himself within the mirrored walls, he could hardly recognize himself. Lucci’s reflection was no longer that of the gangly youth… but now a young man… tall and strong built with long, streaming silver hair. Along his jawline he could see a faint outline of silvery markings that had never been there before.

Somehow he knew they were the Mark of the Sygnus.

The light behind his eyes burned eerie and cold, like spiritlight. Faintly, these eyes could make out the trails of silver mists that had begun to seep out around him once again. Faintly he could feel the distant gaze of Those who watched as They returned to him. But this time, They returned with the sense of submission, as a servant would return to a Master.

The quiet, child-part of him recoiled from all of this in mute shock and horror. But the spiritlight behind his eyes drew his gaze to something else that was reflected there upon the walls. He could make out the shape of something suspended within a shaft of light, there in the center of the room…

It was a sword. A very long, slender blade, sheathed in a cloth so black that it seemed to drink away the light. The hilt was glowing silver, ornately inlayed with glittery black patterns that gracefully drew down the length of the grip. As his mind focused on the sword, he felt both great hope and dread fill him.

Is this it? Is this what I’ve been looking for? The weapon that can destroy Zeromus?

Lucci paused, feeling a trickle of alarm. He had never thought about destroying anything in his life.

I mean… defeat. Not… destroy. Defeat.

The silver mists boiled through the room, rising up around the shaft of light. He found himself mesmerized, unable to do anything but move towards the blade.

The sword of the Sygni… from the Time Before.

His hand reached for it. He discovered his palm was now broad enough to grip a sword of this size without any trouble.

If I bring this back… I could become a hero? I could protect Ceiswyr? Then maybe…

Lucci’s fingers closed around the grip, a spark of silver light flowing between his fingers and the sword.

…people… will like me…

Power. Unbearable pain and power.

As his fist closed around the hilt, Lucci could feel the meshing between himself and the artifact. Two cold energies that were drawn to each other, flowing through him, binding him. Empowering him with knowledge and skill of those that had gripped the blade before he did.

Images flashed before his eyes. Memories. He could see it all. He could feel it all. The lives of those who had come and passed. Those who had lived in that place in a time before time remembered. And the lives of those that the blade had taken.

A flash of another vision. Lucci watched as his hand began to draw the blade free from the scabbard. The hand did not look like his own. The black-silver blade glittered with malice… as it came free, he could see that it was stained with blood.

He stared down at the length of the sword, numb with power. Numb with the sheer amount of emotion. Numb with memory over memory over memory drowning out his own vision.

“Lucci!!” a voice shouted his name. A familiar voice, rising from the Mists.

The sound, so unexpected, pulled him back from the brink. Fighting for his senses, he tightened his grip on the blade, as if holding it within his fist would give him mastery over it. Silver eyes flicked upwards. His mouth opened, his voice different, deeper than before. “Kaz? Is that you?”

A pale form stumbled out of the Mists, a form attached to his friend’s voice. As if having gained shape as Lucci had gained power, Kaz was no longer a simple outline of light. A man stood there. A man with bright eyes and a somewhat disheveled look – as if his pale hair hadn’t been brushed in far too long and he needed a good shave.

The spirit’s face was one of astonishment as he stared, seeming to be questioning if this was really the youth he once knew. “Lucci-boy?”

Everything else fell away as a rush of joy filled him. “Kaz! I thought I’d never see you again!”

Kaz quickly shook his head to clear it. His face was serious and concerned as he walked forward with an intense step, “No time! We’ve gotta go! There’s trouble!”

“Trouble?” Lucci echoed.

“For your friend outside!” Kaz’s hand snagged the edge of Lucci’s sleeve. It was far more solid a grip than he could have imagined it to be… and it looked to be growing more solid the longer he stood near to the young Sygnus.

In answer to all of his questions, a blood-freezing shriek echoed from outside the corridors of the obelisk. Lucci had heard that sound before. It was impossible to forget.

“Esgyll!?” his silver eyes widened with horrible realization. “No! Master NaDo!”

What… what happened to me..?

When KoGuRai came back to his senses, he found himself covered in blood. His first reaction was probably not befitting of the dark Champion of Zeromus. His head reeled back, body tense and contorted, and let out an air-slicing shriek of agony.

What have I done?!

He had seen it all. He hadn’t been spared one moment of gristly detail, even though his body was responding to something else that was not his own desires. He could only watch, detached and helpless, as weapon, claws and fangs tore through villager after villager.

Those men… they were running away. Retreating. They weren’t even trying to fight me.

Of course, he had wanted to escape from the cage. Of course, he had expected resistance when he finally put his plan into action. Possibly even a fight. But KoGuRai had not planned on slaughtering the people there… not after they had provided him with surprisingly hospitable amount of nourishment and healing.

What… what happened to me..?

He felt sick. Like whatever last meal he had taken from the villagers was threatening to inch its way back up his throat. But he wasn’t even allowed that luxury. Darkness still had its cruel grip on his mind. His body was only partly responding to his commands. Each second he didn’t know if it was his own… or if it belonged to something else.

-This sniveling is not befitting of you, KoGuRai.-

The cold, hissing voice filled his mind. His dark eyes rose to glare at the large, dark-skinned Esgyll that perched on a rock outcropping just a short distance away. How a creature from the Inner Realm had managed to track him down over such a long distance, KoGuRai did not know. Of course, it was not as if it was merely a mindless beast.

This one watched him with red, intelligent eyes – animated by the very awareness of his Master, Zeromus. And the voice that rang through his mind was none other than the Dark Arweinydd, communicating to him through one of his own distorted creatures.

KoGuRai had still been locked in the jaws of the cage when the Esgyll swooped down with wings of black death over the village. It had freed him from his confines and proceeded to destroy without remorse. It had flattened houses, mowed through militia and started fires from the smoking totems.

If only I could say that it was the only source of destruction.

But KoGuRai knew better. He knew that whatever dark spirit animated the huge winged monster had also seeped into his own limbs. Urged him into a bestial rage that sent him tearing through anyone that came near.

I don’t understand why those people were killed. They had nothing to do with our goals… they were just protecting what was theirs.

The Esgyll gave a low snort and a lash of its tail.

-Perhaps you don’t comprehend how this all works yet, KoGuRai. The world will learn the fate that befalls those who attempt to hinder my Champion. Anyone that dares to defy our progress will be consumed.-

A chill rushed over KoGuRai’s body as he stared back at the burning red eyes. The sick taste rose up in the back of his throat again, hanging thick in his mouth, coupled with the pressing feeling that he was sinking deeper and deeper. In over his head.

KoGuRai had never been given much of a choice about what would happen to him from the moment that he was captured and brought into Nefol. Zeromus had offered him the position of Champion, though he was never sure why, and he chose to take the position rather than become dead and mindless like the other Marked.
Things had started out fairly well, considering all that was done to him. He was the leader of the dark forces and the other Marked obeyed his commands. He was gifted with wings and enhanced physical power – speed and strength. He was promised a place as the new ruler of Nefol once the people of the Dreigiau had been dispatched. And most of all, he had been promised the hand of JouKa, the one that he longed to see again.

But something had changed over time — what had once been an honor had degraded into servitude. KoGuRai had become less of a leader and more of servant to the Dark Master’s wishes. The promises he had been given were uttered less and less as the enhancements on his body had begun to fade. Like the other Marked, decay began to show – only he was aware that he was withering away, unlike the others.

And what had happened there at the village had sealed it. His very will had been stolen. His choice taken from him. He had become, as TsuYa had told him, nothing more than another one of Zeromus’ tools for destruction.

His black eyes slid up to the dark beast. A feeling of hopelessness weighed him down. Knowing that not only had he lost his humanity… but also his dignity.

The Esgyll gave quiet, calm look, answering the swirling tempest of doubts.  -I came here in order to help you and retrieve you from your prison. I did what had to be done to preserve you against great odds — afterall, it was you versus all of this village. And the promises that I have given to you I have not forgotten. You will receive your rewards for your loyalty, KoGuRai. Do not doubt that.-

He pursed his lips, face growing solid and focused once again. There was nothing left to hold on to but what the shadows offered him.

-Now, pull yourself up. Your power has returned. You are once more whole. I have very pressing business that I need for you to attend to.-

The tone of the voice was so unusual that KoGuRai paused in the middle of his self- assessment to listen to the mind-voice of the dark beast. Though he had never really heard true emotion from the lips of the Dark Arweinydd, there was a certain quality about the statement that came alarmingly close.

Something is going on. And from the way that sounded, it must not be good.

The Esgyll intercepted that line of thought before it started. If there really was some sort of trouble going on, Zeromus certainly did not seem to want to let him know the urgency of it.

-It is nothing that I am certain you cannot handle, my Champion. Now, lift yourself up and be ready. We must find the trail of the young Sygnus again.-

“Sygnus?” KoGuRai murmured with a frown. “Is Lord Lucci here, then? In the Outter Lands?”

-Yes. He is indeed. In fact, all of those who met within the Cynosure have come through to this side. They travel not that far away from this position.-

“TsuYa?” the Champion ground his teeth, brows lowering. Then pausing, he realized something more.

JouKa. She was there. She was there and she saw me… Does that mean that she has travelled here too?

-Yes. The one that you seek has followed. However, she is meshed with those who wish to destroy you.-

KoGuRai felt something sink in the pit of his stomach again. Surely, no matter what he looked like… no matter what he had become… JouKa would remember him. She had called out his name that day at the end of the battle in the Cynosure. And the sound of it had been one of longing and pain.

“JouKa wouldn’t…” he couldn’t bring himself to voice the rest of the statement. He wanted to sound sure of himself when he spoke of her character. But it had been so long since he had last seen her. And now, she was one of the Dreigiau’s people… one of the winged people from the floating Islands.

Everything that she used to tell me. Everything that she once was. Has she really compromised it all to follow Zemi Dreigiau?

-Those are things that you will have to search to find out for yourself, KoGuRai,- came the winged beast’s cryptic answer. But if Zeromus’ goal was to reanimate his low-spirited Champion into action, he was off to a very good start.

“What do you need me to do,” the Champion pressed his lips together, slowly rising to his feet.

-As I have said, the young Sygnus is here within this land. He searches for ancient relics of the Time Before… weapons that were once used by the Sygni of long ago to battle against the Arweinydd.-

“How is that possible?” KoGuRai’s frown grew more pronounced. “Master… I thought that there was nothing of the Earthian realms that could be a threat to the Arweinydd?”

-Those who are wise… know that spoken absolutes rarely exist in actuality.-

“Hmmm..?”

-The truth is, weapons were crafted that could be wielded against us. The Sygnus boy now seeks this weapon without knowledge of the consequence of what he is about to uncover. Previously, I sent you to persuade or capture the boy. But now, the game has become more dangerous… just as Zemi orchestrated it.-

“Then, Zemi is the one that is sending Lord Lucci out to find this item?”

-I cannot see how the boy would know about its existence any other way.-

“It seems a little self-defeating to instruct a Sygnus on finding a weapon that could be used against the Dreigiau as well,” KoGuRai mused, half to himself. Then again, he had learned that the Arweinydd rarely made much sense.

-My brother is a foolhardy soul. He always has been. His reckless nature will lead to the destruction of all that we have worked for… including your precious Nefol and the one that you love.-

The Champion lowered his eyes in deep thought for a long moment. Then, he reached up both clawed hands, taking hold of the stringy flesh of the winged beast. In one sweeping motion, he was mounted upon the Esgyll’s shoulders.

“We ride. I will capture the boy-Sygnus and bring him back to you, Master,” KoGuRai said, voice low and cold. His choice had been made. There was no turning back now.

A hungry dangerous shadow filled the void of his eyes as he threw up his weapon, point-down, aimed to spear the warrior from above.

-Aur is sure not much of a mountain lion, is he?- Zazo scoffed as she sprung spryly from stone to stone up the face of the mountain.

TsuYa didn’t say a word. It was all he could to just to hang on to the Arweinydd’s back as they made their way further and further from the safety of the ground. If it wasn’t for the mere seconds that her feet touched the rock before the next launch, he would have considered it flying.

I’ll leave the flying to the Awakened, thank you…

Somewhere below them, he could hear the sounds of Aur as he made his best attempt to follow in Zazo’s impossible paw prints. Of course, the She Wolf was having the time of her life during this whole scenario, not a once stopping to remember exactly what they were really climbing the mountain for.

Not like I really know what we’ll find when we get there. I don’t know why LuShi would have come all this way just to get himself cornered in the mountains. There’s gotta be something here he’s after…

A particularly rough jolt sent him sprawling closer down against Zazo’s back. TsuYa gritted his teeth, pinning her sides more tightly between his knees. “Will you watch it!”

-You think too loud, Earthian. Keep quiet. You’re breaking my concentration.-

“I thought mighty Arweinydd didn’t need concentration,” he snuffed.

-Would you like to experience the sensation of free fall?- Zazo growled.

He wound his fingers tighter into her fur, “Don’t you dare!”

-Then you’d be smart not to…-

From somewhere above their heads, a bright pulse of silver light flashed brilliant into the storm-darkened sky. The mountain began to shake under Zazo’s steady strides, though the wolf continued upward, unhindered.

Aur and JouKa were not so lucky. TsuYa could hear the girl’s shout coming from below. Though he couldn’t make out her words, he could tell that the tremors were making their climb far more difficult.

“Zazo! We can’t leave them back there!” TsuYa protested.

-They will be fine. We can’t afford to lose the time,- she replied sharply.

“But…”

-We weren’t the only one that saw that light.-

Before TsuYa had a chance to ask the Arweinydd to clarify her words, a twisted shriek shattered the air over the mountainside. He reeled his head back just in time to catch the blurred dark-winged creature swoop down and vanish into the rocky cliffs above them. There was little doubt that where the monster was flying was exactly where LuShi would be.

“Crap! Esgyll!” he spat from between clenched teeth.

Zazo didn’t need anymore encouragement. She was already making her way towards the cliffs, wide open mouth showing gleaming fangs. All that TsuYa could do was lay as flat as possible to give her speed… and hang on in hopes that a mis-step didn’t send him tumbling off to the depths below.

Finally, one last great bound sent them surging over the edge of the ledge like the breaking of a huge white wave. For a moment, TsuYa felt himself lifted through the air, hovering inches above the She Wolf’s back. The next thing he knew, they were face to face with the looming dark form of the Esgyll.

“Zazo!” TsuYa’s shout was hoarse in his ears. One hand was already pulling his scythe from over his shoulder, dark eyes focused with deadly intensity on the monster before him.

Fearless, the Arweinydd shot forward, carrying him on a streak of white towards the massive shadow. His hand tightened on the haft of his weapon as it burst into a defiant deep blue flame.

With a rush of wicked exhilaration, TsuYa felt his blade carry forward and up. His strike was focused and lethal, slicing into the under-jaw of the creature as it brought its head down. Zazo’s fangs ripped into the throat, the momentum of her leap tearing a huge gash through the decayed flesh.

The Esgyll shrieked a gurgling cry as it thrashed back from their attack. The motion caught on the hook of TsuYa’s scythe, shredding the lower half of it’s maw as the warrior fought to pull it away. For a moment, TsuYa felt himself knocked from his mount. But one deft turn of the She Wolf in mid air caught him before he could fall.

As if the huge winged monster meant nothing to her at all, Zazo leapt past the writhing form, towards what looked to be two huge doors in the side of the mountain. All sorts of runes and writings were lit up along the pillars that made up the threshold. But they were moving so fast that TsuYa didn’t get a chance to see anything else before the shadows of the chamber beyond filled his vision.

Where are we going? That thing’s not dead yet!

-Then we’ll give Aur a little present once he gets up here. There are more dangerous things to deal with.-

The intensity of the She Wolf’s tone told him to sit down, hold on and shut up. So he did. It didn’t take long before TsuYa understood exactly what she was talking about. A deep, choking darkness rose up before them in the heart of the mountain, spreading with dark wings that blocked out the silver glow of the chamber ahead. Wings that were familiar… and slightly transparent.

“KoGuRai!” TsuYa hissed between bared teeth.

Though his voice was low, the Champion still seemed to hear. KoGuRai’s head turned, misshapen face appearing to TsuYa’s vision. The darkness behind his eyes had grown more intense, more unstable… almost neurotic in nature. An animalistic snarl broke over his lips as his focus fell completely upon the young warrior.

A soft cry echoed through the chamber, drawing TsuYa’s attention away from his rival. For the first time, he noticed that LuShi was there, struggling against the powerful grip of the winged creature. Though the boy Sygnus was tall, KoGuRai seemed to possess far more strength. LuShi had nearly been pulled off of his feet in the confrontation, but so far, he seemed unharmed.

We got here in time.

-Naturally.-

Hands tightened around the grip of his scythe, TsuYa sprang at full speed from the back of the She Wolf. For once, he could feel Zazo’s astonishment instead of it being the other way around.

-What are you doing!-

This one is mine… stay out of it, Zazo!

-You are insane, Earthian! He is the Champion of Zeromus… you cannot beat him by yourself!- Zazo wheeled about, snapping at him with her teeth as if to catch him and pull him back.

We’ll just see about that.

Dark eyes glittering as he met KoGuRai’s equally dark gaze, a slow smirk broke over TsuYa’s face. For years, the Apprentice had to sit by and bite back the frustration and disgust he felt at KoGuRai’s near-treasonous tendencies in Nefol. So many times had there been something shady or something a little off… usually aimed at taking out the well being of SoYa. Usually aimed at redistributing the power from those who should rightfully rule the School.  And now, TsuYa was finally getting the opportunity to repay all the treachery.

I’m going to enjoy every second of this.

The Champion threw LuShi roughly against the nearby pillar and drew his weapon with a low growl. His dark wings stretched wide over his head as he stalked towards his rival, blade held low and ready to strike.

“You honestly think you have any chance against me, TsuYa?” KoGuRai snarled, a twisted glower covering his face. “You don’t even have your Daddy’s wings yet, little boy.”

“I don’t need wings to rip yours to shreds,” TsuYa sneered in return, crouching low and watching the motion of his opponent’s blade carefully.

“My… are we arrogant,” the Champion’s voice was smooth and taunting. “Just because you’re growing into your Marked powers… doesn’t mean you can take me on.”

TsuYa choked.

Growing into my what…?!

“Why, TsuYa… didn’t you know?” there was a gleam of victory in KoGuRai’s dark, soulless eyes. “You don’t believe that Master Zeromus’ power will be turned forever by a worthless little enchanted trinket.”

“Shutup! Like I’d believe anything that you’d say!” TsuYa spat, making the first strike.

His scythe whistled through the air far faster than he even believed possible, a burning blue flame trailing behind. As the naginata rose up to catch the blow, sparks of blue and sickly red-black exploded between the two weapons.

“You’d only be fooling yourself,” the Champion intoned in an offhand way. He was far stronger than the warrior could have imagined. “Especially since now, Master Zeromus’ power is growing. How long do you think you have before you will bow to him… and to me…”

“FORGET IT!” a cry of fury broke from TsuYa’s throat as he began to swing, blow after blazing blow. A heated anger rushed through his limbs, carrying his blade forward with a blinding speed. Suddenly, he found himself matching the Champion’s strength, strike for strike, even knocking the startled-faced KoGuRai back with a few of the more focused blows.

KoGuRai didn’t respond in words, though the sounds that issued from between his black teeth were ones of wonder and frustration. No more banter came from his side of the battle as he found all his concentration bent to hold his ground against the wrath of the relentless scythe.

-Well… well… you’ve got more to you than I thought, Earthian.-

The runes that spread over the floor began to flash and respond as TsuYa pressed the winged creature back into the center of the chamber. They dimmed the moment that KoGuRai stepped near them only to be relit with a brilliant blue, angry light as TsuYa claimed the ground. Sparks rained across the room as time and again their weapons clashed. Energy crackled around their two forms, exchanging blows that went unseen by the normal eye.

A powerful sweep of the scythe sent a stream of blue flame straight over KoGuRai’s shoulder, through one wing. Where TsuYa expected to be met with the resistance of feathers and bone, he found nothing but a ripple of darkness that parted… then drew back together again. The warrior’s dark eyes narrowed as he drew in a sharp breath of realization.

“Your wings…” TsuYa hissed. A twisted smile broke over his face, accenting the Mark on his cheek with the glow of blue from below. “They’re not really real.”

“Don’t be foolish!” KoGuRai snapped, reeling back from the words. That’s all that was needed to gage the truth. “My wings were a gift from Master Zeromus himself!”

“Just an illusion,” the warrior snorted. “Boy does he have you strung along with his pretty offers…”

“They’re REAL!” the Champion’s voice rose up in furious intensity. He was nearly frothing at the mouth, flecks of dark spittle dotting his lips as he hissed.

Man… he’s touchy about this. He should have never let me know.

“What a poser,” TsuYa taunted with an off-handed flip of one wrist. “You and all your talk of controlling this or that. I bet you’re not even a real Champion.”

KoGuRai gave a wild shriek, wings spreading vast over TsuYa’s head. A hungry dangerous shadow filled the void of his eyes as he threw up his weapon, point-down, aimed to spear the warrior from above. The motion was so unexpected that TsuYa found himself twisting in a desperate attempt to throw up a defense against the blow. Something told him that it wasn’t going to be fast enough.

“KoGuRai!!!” a high, frightened voice screamed out the Champion’s name.

And just like that, it all ground to a complete stop.

Bathed in the soft light of the pillar runes, JouKa stood in the doorway. Her own wings were spread, a hint of terror in her face as her green eyes drank in the scene within the chamber. One hand grasped at the stone of the pillar as if her legs were threatening to give way on her from the shock of it all. There seemed to be tears in her eyes… something TsuYa had rarely, if ever, seen since he had met her.

“Jou…Ka..?” KoGuRai stammered with a strangled sound. His face was turned towards her, an expression of distress and dismay. The weapon still remained upraised in his hand, but all thoughts to strike had completely flown from his head.

“RRRRRAHHH!!” TsuYa’s battle shout broke the stillness of the room.

It didn’t matter how they knew each other. It didn’t matter what was going on between them. All that mattered was that KoGuRai, his enemy, was standing prone in front of him. And he wasn’t going to pass up this chance to make his strike.

JouKa gave a sharp cry as she saw the flash of the dark scythe slash upwards.

The Champion reeled back with a choking gasp as a spray of black burst from his midsection. He stumbled, slipping on the slick floor, straight back onto one of the pulsing tiles. Unlike the other tiles, this one didn’t go dim upon his touch. Instead, it lit up with a brilliant flash… and when the light faded, KoGuRai was gone.

He hoisted himself up on a few lower-jutting stones, stretching his hand up towards the smooth spot.

Lucci was breathing heavily as he scrabbled his way up the last few feet of the steep incline. Small stones and dirt rained down behind him in long, slender trails while he got the final foothold and kicked himself up over the edge of the overhang. The youth had never attempted to climb a mountain before… so in with that consideration in mind, he told himself that he was actually doing quite well.

That should lose them… shouldn’t it?

-I wouldn’t bank on it too much, Lucci-boy,- Kaz told him. -Once they figure out that we’ve gone up… they’ll be on to us faster than we’d like.-

Though he was tired, the words spurred him to find his feet and continue forward. Lucci wasn’t exactly sure where Kaz was leading him to. It was a place that the spirit called the Cynosure. It was there, he said, that the secret Pathways that led across the whole planet connected in the Time Before. Though Lucci wasn’t so sure about things with big names like Cynosure… he hoped that Kaz was right. That they would be there soon. Because he was tired and they were now being chased.

Lucci was first warned about his pursuers two sleeps ago by Them. They couldn’t seem to make out exactly who was following – if they were creatures of Zeromus or of Zemi. But either way, the youth didn’t want to be caught. Creatures of Zeromus would certainly be up to no good. And creatures of Zemi would only seek to catch him and return him to the Islands.

We’re too close now… I can’t be taken back.

Despite the fact that Lucci knew they were traveling at a supernaturally accelerated speed, those who followed them appeared to be traveling just as fast. In fact, they had done nothing but continued to gain ground over the past day, much to his dismay. He knew it was not the time to rest. Not when Kaz assured him that their goal was near.

Are you sure that these Pathways will still work, Kaz? If they’re from the Time Before, won’t they be too old?

-The Pathways were embedded into the energy flows of the planet itself. It would be quite hard to destroy such a thing… though I suppose it could be possible,- Kaz answered.

What do we do if they’re not there?

-Let’s just hope they are. It’s the risk we have to take right now.-

The youth knew that Kaz was right… as much as he didn’t like to admit it. As much as hope and good wishes had proven to fall through for him, time and again. This time, all Lucci had to go on was an ancient legend, a misty light and a desperate hope.

Where are we going from there?

-Let’s just concentrate on finding the Pathways first. See that dark area of rock up there… above your head, to the right?-

Lucci paused and peered up at the face of the mountainside. Sure enough, there was a patch of darker stone that seemed to be strangely smoothed and slightly indented. He wouldn’t have noticed it if Kaz hadn’t pointed it out to him, however, for it was posititioned right underneath the drooping branches of a sickened bush.

Yes! I see it!

-Can you reach up there and put your hand on it?-

The youth nodded slowly. He hoisted himself up on a few lower-jutting stones, stretching his hand up towards the smooth spot. It wasn’t too difficult for him to reach, the stone cool against the palm of his hand.

-Good. Now… we need to take this slowly.-

What do you need me to do?

-The Cynosure lies within the heart of this mountain. We’ve got to open the door to the chamber. However, it’s designed to respond to only certain kinds of energy signatures,- Kaz explained, a sifting silver mist already beginning to gather.

Do you think you can do it?

-I’m gong to give it my best try. So I need you to concentrate with me… help me to project my energy,- the spirit told him grimly. -Chances are, I’ll only be able to open the door, if that. So once it’s open, it’s open… and we’re going to have to move fast.-

Lucci nodded, his silver eyes focusing on the spot under his hand. The sifting of mist grew thicker. Stronger. It gathered around his body, a cool and damp sensation, streaming around his shoulders then down the length of his arm to his outstretched hand. Though something within him wanted to flinch, he forced himself to sit absolutely still.

The tickling in the back of his mind, his awareness of the presence of Kaz, began to grow. It quickly became a swelling pressure that filled his ears with a muted roar, like the sound of the winds on a troubled day. The youth sucked in his breath as sweat beaded along his face. He could feel the vast, deep power rising from beyond a distant time and connecting into his own essence.

Kaz!

He almost panicked as an abrupt rush of energy flowed through his body. For a fleeting moment, Lucci felt his knees weaken and his stance waver. His breath choked, frozen cold within his lungs. The world swam in front of his eyes, threatening to grow dim.

-Hold on now. Just a little more!-

The stone under his touch began to shake as a silver light began to expand, first in an outline around his hand, then streaming along the cracks of the stone wall. His eyes fought to make sense of the vision. Millions up on millions of tiny etched runes began to burn, like the scripture written of the finest-point pen, glowing brilliant in tall columns that slowly formed into a doorway. The stone shifted and began to recede like a dark ocean tide.

-Here it comes, boy! Watch it happen!-

When the mists drew away and Lucci’s senses came back to him, he found himself staring into a huge entrance built into the face of the mountain – large enough to even fit Zemi’s Dragons through. The doorway seemed like a simple rectangle at first. But as he moved his head to stare at it, the structure gave the feeling of shifting and changing, as a liquid would.

“Wow…” at a loss for words, it was all he could say. His voice came out in a hoarse croak and he realized that his whole body ached from channeling the amount of energy that it took to open the lock on the chamber.

-If you think that’s neat, wait until you see inside,- Kaz told him. Though there was enthusiasm in the tone, there was also the sense of weariness. As if he, too, had been taxed by taking on such a feat.

Lucci took that as a cue that it was safe to enter the chamber. Carefully, he strode forward, the only sound came from the stone under his boots. Abruptly, the sound changed from a gravelly crunch to the click of his heels on a slick, solid floor. The youth looked down just in time to see a silver glow illuminate the square tile around his feet, reacting to his touch. The light caught like wildfire, pulsing from one tile to the next until the whole floor of the chamber was humming with a cool, quiet energy.

“It’s beautiful!” the youth caught in a sudden breath.

The Cynosure rose above him, a tall structure of gentle slopes and great pillars. The walls and the floors looked to be carved out of the heart of the mountain itself, made of a serene crystalline stone. Everywhere Lucci looked, reflections upon reflections upon reflections shown, leaving a hazy and unreal feeling about the whole room.

There in the center of the Cynosure, a fantastic circular pattern was etched into the crystal. Long looping designs and exquisitely ornate script crossed from one point of the circle to another. Lucci realized after studying for a moment that it was like a giant compass – like the ones that he had seen on some of Master ZenToYa’s old maps. Except this one was far, far more complex. At certain points on the circle, patterns converged into spirals and stars – tiles that seemed set apart from the rest of the design. There looked to be some sort of logic in their placing on the floor, as if they held an important function to be discovered.

If only I could read that script on the floor. I wonder what it says?

-It is the name of the Pathways,- Kaz told him. -The writing is in the language of those who lived in the Time Before.-

Lucci bent down in curiosity, reaching his hand towards the nearest tile.

-Careful! Don’t touch that. There’s no knowing where it will lead you if it transports you!-

“Sorry!” the youth drew back with a wide eyed look.

-It’s okay. I just don’t want us getting sent off somewhere impossible to return from. There are a lot of Pathways that don’t have a connection back to the Cynosure. You can travel to them, but not back from them. That wouldn’t be good right now.-

“No… it wouldn’t. You’re right,” Lucci nodded, staring at the tiles in wonderment. “So this place.. this Cynosure… allows for travel all around the world?”

-Yes.-

“Like… to everywhere?”

-Just about. You can find your way to any place you want to go eventually from here.-

“So why did it get closed up?” the youth tilted his head, looking back at the designs that spiraled far above his head.

“Do you really have to ask that. Or are you truly that naive, Lord LuShi?” a deep, cold voice echoed across the chamber.

Lucci rounded on his heel with a look of alarm. He had been so engrossed in the energy of the Cynosure that he hadn’t felt the presence of someone else entering. And for some reason, even They had not alerted him to it. In fact, They were almost silent to the point of non-existence since he had entered the chamber.

The slick, disfigured smile and the black, glittering eyes was all that he needed to see.

KoGuRai? How did he get here?

-I don’t know. But I don’t think he was the one that we’ve been running from.-

You mean… there might be more?

-I don’t know that either. But my advice to you – watch the one that’s here and worry about the others later!-

Just as Lucci was about to take that advice to heart, a large fist shot out from the folds of KoGuRai’s cloak, grabbing him by the shirt front. The smile had twisted into a vicious snarl as the putrid breath seeped out from between the blackened teeth. “I’ve been looking forward to meeting with you again, Lord LuShi. This time it’s going to be just you… and me.”

SoYa grabbed AsaHi's hand as a second Esgyll swooped down towards them, out of the flashing battle skies above.

“Quick! This way!” SoYa grabbed AsaHi’s hand as a second Esgyll swooped down towards them, out of the flashing battle skies above. The girl gave a soft sound as he led her towards a nearby grove of trees, just on the fringe of the Compound.

“Zento!” she cried, looking back over her shoulder at the lone winged warrior.

The name alone almost made SoYa’s step falter. But he forced himself to keep moving. He knew that if he looked back, he would never be able to follow his father’s instructions. That he would want to stay and face the dangers instead of leading AsaHi to safety.

If there is safety anywhere on the Islands now.

“Keep going!!” Father’s shout was muffled, strained with the sound of intense battle. A flash of brilliant light from behind told SoYa that the winged man had called on the power of his arfogaeth. “I’ll come to find you! Just don’t stop no matter what!”

He could hear the sound of AsaHi’s sobs between her gasps for breath. It was hard to know in the pressure of battle what was right. What was wrong. Which way was up or down. Father had taught him that everything in war was about survival — because you couldn’t help anyone else if you were dead.

Still, these were the hardest steps that SoYa had ever taken in his life. Even if it was to protect AsaHi.

We’ll find help and come back for you, Father. I’m not leaving you alone here to face the Esgyll by yourself!

Not that the winged man wasn’t perfectly capable, SoYa had learned. Wounded or not. The moment that Father had leapt out of the doorway to the Compound, he was already slashing through the waiting creatures on the other side. The thick scale-bone hide gave just as easily as the flesh. The first Esgyll had fallen to Father’s blade with a gurgling shriek before SoYa even had a chance to gather his wits about him.

But that had called the attention of more Esgyll. And seeing the demise of one of their own, these Esgyll would not make the same mistake as the first.

The sound of leaves crunching under his boots alerted SoYa to the fact that they had reached the tree line. The swooping Esgyll must have responded to Father’s diversion because they had not been followed. Still clinging tightly to his hand, AsaHi collapsed in the thick underbrush, fighting to find her breath between choked sobs.

“Zento…” she sounded more afraid than he had ever heard before.

“I know… I know…” SoYa wrapped his arms around her protectively, stroking his hand through her hair to calm her. It was all that he could do not to join her lament.

This wasn’t the way this battle was supposed to happen. We weren’t ready again. There are a lot more than there were the first time.

Something in SoYa’s mind chided him that he should be out on the battlefield rather than hiding in the brush. But to gaze upon the destruction that lay everywhere — the crumpled walls of the Compound… the thick oily smoke that spoke of the tell tale signs of a fire getting out of hand in the distance… the splurts of flame that shot across the sky… and the flickers of white that indicated the approaching Cyngan troops — it all seemed too big for him to take in.

How am I supposed to get AsaHi to safety… when there isn’t even safety for someone like Father?

Squinting hard, SoYa could make out the lumbering shadows of the two Esgyll in the midst of battle in the field. Every now and then, a flash of brilliant blue spoke of Father’s presence as he battled. And though he fiercely believed in the strength that his father possessed, he could only suck on his bottom lip and wonder how long it would be before the wounds and loss of blood would weaken the winged man’s blow.

Where do we go? Maybe we shouldn’t have left him out there.

Just as his mind began to swing towards disobedience, he heard a muffled gasp escape AsaHi’s lips. She grabbed tightly to the sleeve of his robe and jerked once to get his attention. “SoYa! Look!”

The girl pointed up towards the churning clouds. The Athrylith’s eyes lifted opening wide in a shock of fear. Two huge shadows were bearing down upon the battle near the compound from above, rocketing groundwards in a blinding speed.

“Father!” SoYa choked, stumbling towards the edge of the brush. He knew that no matter how fast he would run, he could never make it that far fast enough to warn him. “Father… no!”

“Wait!!” AsaHi grabbed the edge of his cloak, yanking back with all of her strength.

“But..!” he protested over his shoulder.

“SoYa, they’re Dragons!”

It took a moment for his brain to process the words that the girl spoke. When the meaning finally struck him, he didn’t know whether he should laugh or cry, “Dragons…?”

As the two shapes corkscrewed down through the parting clouds, SoYa began to make out the descending forms. A glint of gold reflecting against the blue. Wide, elegant wings. Silken spun mane. The Dragon form of Lady KaiShi skimmed the tops of the bushes as a plume of flame erupted from her open maw. The blast took one of the Esgyll by surprise, causing the creature to rear back, writhing as its back half ignited and burned in a flare of greasy smoke.

In the glow of flame and darkness, SoYa could see Father’s form peering up at the sky. His wings glittered silver as his hair swept back in the warrior’s knot, his hair flung by the blast of air from the Dragon’s wings. Next to the great battling beasts, he looked so tiny.

AsaHi gave a shout that sounded like a combination of joy and a call to get the Dragons’ attention. SoYa almost reached to stop her as she rushed out of the treeline, waving one hand around wildly. But then he realized that Dragonback might be their only way out of there.

A tremendous roar shook the Islands, cutting off AsaHi’s cheerful display. SoYa’s hands flew up to his ears, pressing against them desperately. Though the girl had fell silent, she remained out in the open, head raised and eyes fixed with a glittering light on the sky above. He could feel it — the pressure of a huge presence that swept around him like the dislodged leaves as the winds whipped through the trees.

The glimmering white Dragon was suddenly above them, the belly just barely cresting the tops of the trees. SoYa felt his breath ripped from him as the thunderous sound of beating wings reverberated the ground. The creature was so huge that it seemed as if he could reach up and touch the white scales, despite the distance that it had from the ground.

“Zemi…” AsaHi’s awed voice was tiny to SoYa’s ears.

But then, everything was tiny in the wake of the Dreigiau.

It felt so unreal. As if time itself had come to a stop to watch the Arweinydd’s approach.

The white Dragon’s great head reared back, gleaming fangs showing in the firelight. A stream of pure white light burst from the Dreigiau’s throat, so huge that it would surely take out the entire Compound in one blast.

SoYa felt his throat tighten as the world was bathed pure white. The light was cooling. Healing and gentle. He felt it race over his limbs, strengthening both body and spirit with a rush of power unlike any he had ever felt before. For just a moment, he wondered if that was what it felt to Awaken.

When the light had faded, the Esgyll were gone. Not even a charred body remained laying there in the field. Simply gone. Where the light had given healing to those who followed the Dreigiau, it had blown away the darkness of their enemies without question.

SoYa craned his head back as the enormous white Dragon landed. The Dreigiau’s wings stretched towards the sky, towering far above the blue and silver of his Champion. And though there wasn’t really a sense of fear in the back of his mind, even AsaHi seemed hesitant to approach. Though SoYa had seen Zemi’s Dragon form back in the cave of Wyndor, it wasn’t quite the same as standing before the Dreigiau in his full, uncloaked battle form.

“Trying to take on the whole army by yourself again, Zento?” the deep rumbling voice filled their ears with in droll, almost amused tone. The huge white head lowered until it lay unceremoniously upon the ground.

“Did you expect anything less, Zemi?” Father grinned back, approaching the Dreigiau without a hint of fear. He placed one palm upon the white nose, a smile of gratitude playing on his lips, “You’re late.”

“I am right on time,” Zemi replied with a twitch of his ears.

“Late,” Father repeated.

“You’re not dead? Therefore, I am right on time,” came the half purred response.

AsaHi had gathered herself up during the exchange, chancing an approach towards the two. SoYa got to his feet as well, not wanting to appear to be the only one to look as shaken as he was.

Everything… will be okay now. Right?

Not far away, the golden Dragon of Lady KaiShi stood watching, proud head arched back, seeming to be testing the winds. Somehow, she gave him a sense of comfort and encouraged him to continue forward simply by being there.

When the two of them finally stood before the Dreigiau, all SoYa found he was able to do was stare. There was the constant feeling of shrinking there in the presence of a creature so large. Zemi, however, seemed completely oblivious to this, acting as if nothing was out of the ordinary at all.

“Father…” SoYa’s voice croaked in concern.

The winged man turned at the sound. For a moment, the Athrylith thought he saw a strange blueish light glimmering around him. But it was gone with one passing blink.

“SoYa. AsaHi,” Father walked towards them, hands outstretched. Any wounds he may have suffered from the fight were completely gone. “Are you alright?”

AsaHi nodded. Then with a quiet sound, she ran up to the winged man and hugged him tightly, choking with relief.

Father’s face was awash with surprise. “Now… what was that for?”

The girl didn’t answer. Instead she broke from the embrace and stumbled up to where the Dreigiau’s head lay in the grass. Somewhat shyly, she placed both of her palms up upon his muzzle. After a testing moment, she placed her cheek against it, too.

SoYa coughed, feeling a strange, biting emotion rise up in his chest. An emotion that he fought to strangle down as quickly as he could. Afterall, Zemi did just save their lives.

And I would be a real Grade A idiot to even think like that…

Instead, the Athrylith shook his head, forcing his focus back on the winged man, “Father. What about Tsu and Lucci?”

Father’s face grew grim, his green eyes shifting towards the two waiting Dragons.

“What is this about TsuYa and Lucci?” KaiShi asked with a slow flick of her tail.

“TsuYa has been out here on his own during the battle. We returned to the Compound after training before he did,” Father winced, attempting to skirt around the details the best that he could. From the look on the golden Dragon’s face, he wasn’t pulling anything over on her. “And LuShi ran out after him to bring him his weapon.”

Lady KaiShi unfolded her wings, “I did not see any sign of them as we flew over. But then, I was not looking to find wayward boys in the forest.”

“We must find them,” Zemi’s head slowly lifted, a rumbling sound of concern in his throat. “There are worse things attacking the Islands than just the Esgyll.”

What does that mean?

SoYa shifted uncomfortably under the weight of the statement. But before he could say anything, the large form of the golden Dragon was crouching next to him on the field. “Come with me, SoYa. You’ll be safer if we fly together.”

His reply caught in his throat as he blinked at the creature’s gentle face.

“Are you afraid to fly?” she asked.

“No, Ma’am. Of course not…” SoYa shook himself out.

“Then let us go and find your brother?” Lady KaiShi extended one slender claw to him.

Hoisting himself up on the claw, he managed to grab a hold of the silky mane and pull himself up upon the golden Dragon’s back. It took a moment for him to righten himself and find his balance. He was still no where near as skilled at Dragon riding as AsaHi was, but he was learning and getting better.

There seemed to be silent words spoken between the girl and the Dreigiau. For neither said anything as AsaHi made her way to the white Dragon’s side and climbed up his great shoulder. With a practiced motion, she was mounted, her fingers woven into the wild white mane, face unafraid. As if the huge beast was an extension of herself — a source of power and comfort.

Father had already taken to the skies, winging up from the broken ground into the dizzying heights above. SoYa watched his father’s movements, wishing for the courage and the surety that the winged man always seemed to have. He was jolted from his thoughts as the golden Dragon under him shifted, rising to her feet. As the wings spread, the Athrylith gripped the mane tightly, laying flat against her back.

In a smooth sweeping motion, the ground vanished underneath them. The sound of vast wings flapping told him that the Dreigiau was not far behind.

Brother… we’re coming. Just hang on.

ZenToYa reached over towards the nearby counter and grabbed a long wooden-handled broom.

“SoYa? Are you back?” AsaHi called, wiping her hands on a rag as she walked out towards the dining area. The plates that Lucci had taken with him were sitting on the long table, though one plate already had a number of sandwiches missing.

I swore I heard his voice! He’s always late for lunch… or just eating and running. I wonder where he’s gotten off to now?

As if in answer to her thoughts, she heard a shout from the side hall. There was no mistaking the sound of SoYa. “Lucci!! No!”

What?

AsaHi thrust her head out of the doorway. Zento and SoYa stood there, both staring down the hallway. Following their gaze, she could make out the silvery-white form of the boy as he vanished around the corner, despite SoYa’s upraised hand and shout.

“What’s goin–”

Before she could finish voicing the question, the floor began to quiver. It followed with vicious jolt that sent her sprawling straight into the back of the winged man. Behind her, she could hear a large clatter as the long dining table tipped over on it side, spilling sandwiches and plates everywhere.

Somehow in the middle of feathers and limbs, Zento managed to twist himself around well enough to catch AsaHi in her fall. She gave a choked gasp, peering up into the worried light of his eyes for a moment before she felt her feet touch the ground again. A strong, steady hand held her firm.

“SoYa? You alright?” Zento’s voice was direct as he cast a glance around for his son.

“Owww!” came the whimpered reply, “No, I’m not!”

Turning, she could see that SoYa had not been as lucky. His fall had been broken by the large planted sticky-tree that had served as decoration right outside of the doorway. Hung up by his robes, he struggled to pull himself off the jagged branches. His hat had been cast halfway across the room.

“Hold on!” she told him.

Quickly, AsaHi rushed over and grabbed his hands, helping SoYa to his feet. Before she knew what was happening, she found herself pulled to his chest in a protective embrace. His voice murmured in her ear softly, “Thank Light that you’re okay.”

“What was that?”

“We’re under attack! We have to get you somewhere safe!” he told her urgently.

“Attack?” she whispered, feeling a rush of fear tingled through her body.

“We should find Zemi — she’d be safest with him.” Zento frowned and added quickly, “Then we need to figure out where the troops are gathered so we can put up our defense.”

“How?” SoYa’s voice wavered. Even to AsaHi, it sounded like a big undertaking.

“The Dragons are already dispatched… I can hear them fighting outside,” the winged man informed them. “That should give us some cover and possibly transportation. Chances are, one of them will know where Zemi is.”

A thunderous crash resounded down the hall near the living quarters – back the way that Lucci had run. AsaHi was thrown forward, clinging tight to SoYa’s robes as she felt the Islands once more give way under her feet.

The moment that they had found their balance again, they were moving. Waved on by the urgent motions of Zento, they rushed back towards the kitchen. “This way! Quickly!”

The walls behind them groaned and buckled as if bearing a great weight. The structure held for a moment before the stone exploded inward, a huge grey claw coming down through the roof of the dining area. The table splintered to pieces as the rest of the body burst through behind. Then a blunt, eyeless head snaked down through the hole, massive jaws opening in a silent, chilling hiss.

“Esgyll!” AsaHi gave a shout as she threw a glance over her shoulder. She had seen this creature once before, the first time that the Islands had been under attack. She knew the sort of mindless carnage and death that it could create.

“Keep moving! Go! Go!” Zento shouted back at them, teeth bared in a sharp scowl.

A piercing, high pitched screech shattered the air. This time she didn’t dare to turn around. There was only one sort of creature that made a sound like that… and it wasn’t something that AsaHi wanted to see again.

“Father! They’ve got Marked with them, too!” SoYa voiced her deepest fears.

“Marked riders… Figures.” Zento pressed a hand to one side of his head from the sound as he ran.

There’s so many of them! What do we do?!

She fought down the rising panic that bubbled in her chest as they skidded around the corner into the long kitchen chamber. Pots and pans lay skewed in every direction, jumbled by the unsteady ground. Food that she had been preparing was splattered over the counters and across the floor.

All of this went unnoticed by the warrior as he led them rapidly towards the door at the far end of the room. They had hardly made it halfway there before a seething shadow fell over the rows of double windows.

“Down!” Zento shouted, lunging for the two. He grappled SoYa by the shoulders and pulled them both down to the stained floor, his silver-blue wings arched over them like great feathery shields.

The pressure in the room tightened a moment before all of the windows blew inward. A sharp spray of glass flew across the room leaving tiny red streaks over the back of the Champion’s wings. AsaHi clamped her hands over her head, huddling into SoYa’s chest for protection. Through squinted eyes, she could see tiny crimson streams dripping from the tips of Zento’s feathers.

Zento… no!

SoYa’s face was ashen as he stared into his father’s face. If Zento was in pain, he didn’t let it show. There was nothing but a stoic determination written there – something that reminded her instantly of Kudako.

“Stay down,” his voice was hoarse.

From back down the hall, she could hear the sound of creatures approaching with a shuffling gait – what could only be the Marked. From outside the shattered windows, the shadow of the waiting Esgyll grew large and pronounced.

Both exits were blocked.

How are we going to get out of this…?

Zento turned his grim face towards the girl, as if hearing her thoughts. He gave her a soft smile and touched her nose with one finger, “Trust me.”

AsaHi blinked, shivering against SoYa’s chest. But she nodded. Trust in ZenToYa – the great warrior of legends — was all she could have.

“Father. The Marked,” SoYa warned in a low tone.

“Are they armed?”

The Athrylith twisted his head to look. “Some of them are.”

“Good,” Zento answered, much to AsaHi’s surprise. Then he rose to his feet, wings outstretched in challenge. “We need to arm ourselves with their weapons. Are you ready, SoYa?”

AsaHi’s fingers were latched tight on the front of his shirt, unwilling to let go as he moved to rise to his feet. SoYa murmured reassuring words to her as he freed himself from her hold. “Stay close, AsaHi…”

She took a step back, face flooded with concern.

The Marked leapt from the shadows of the hall, their motions jerky and mechanical. A stream of thick oily darkness trailed after them over the floor, their lifeless eyes focused unwavering on their prey. Blistered and torn lips curled back, a spluttering hiss rasped through the air as they charged.

A blur of motion, ZenToYa reached over towards the nearby counter and grabbed a long wooden-handled broom. He spun it between his fingers as if to test the balance of his new-found weapon. Then he leapt forward to meet the nearest armed Marked with a battle cry of his own.

AsaHi’s mouth fell open as the Champion swung forward, now armed with the very same broom that she has often used to sweep up the kitchen in the late afternoons. A resounding crack shook the air as Zento dodged under the swish of the Mark’s blade. Splinters flew in all directions as the broom handle made contact with the creature’s decayed head. The blow ripped part of the face completely off.

A spray of black exploded across the kitchen. A gurgling shriek echoed from the stone walls. In no time, Zento had disarmed the flailing creature and planted its own blade straight into its chest.

The other Marked did not even notice the demise of their comrade. Instead, they leapt straight for SoYa and AsaHi, vicious nothingness etched into their faces. The Athrylith quickly drew himself up, both hands spreading in front of him.

A blinding flash of light burst from SoYa’s open palms, causing two of the three Marked to reel back with a squeal. The flash of a rusted blade indicated that Zento was readily bearing down on them. The resounding screes indicated that short work was made.

SoYa’s eyes narrowed on the final charging Marked, an electric green light flickering from their depths. With bared teeth, he thrust out one hand, all fingers pointed forcefully at the creature. His voice rose up, like sudden thunder as he barked the mind command.

The sound reverberated within her skull, sending AsaHi stumbling back against the slick counter. Both hands were cupped over her ears against the power of the word.

The oncoming Marked jerked back as if a great, invisible hand caught it around the neck and flung it headfirst. Cartwheeling through the air, it landed with a fatal thunk over the top of the center counter. Its back arched, broken in half, the head hung limply upside down. Black ooze dripped from its open mouth to puddle on the floor.

“Uuugh…” SoYa stumbled back, covering his face with the threat of illness.

Gathering her wits about her, AsaHi rushed to his side, catching his arm and touching his face with one cool hand. “Are you alright!? SoYa? Speak to me?”

“I’m okay. I’m okay…” his voice was hoarse, eyes watery when he finally looked at her. “You’re not hurt, are you?”

“No. I’m fine,” she reassured him.

He nodded, catching his breath and choking all the more from it. The whole room reeked of Marked decay.

“SoYa,” Zento’s voice called.

The Athrylith turned towards his father with a questioning face.

“Well done,” the winged man nodded with the ghost of a smile. He tossed a bent-up pole arm over the counter. “Here. It’s not much, but it’s better than nothing.”

SoYa caught it with trembling hands. He gave the weapon a grimace, then glanced at AsaHi.

“We’ll make it through,” the girl told him, touching his hand with hers.

His shaking grew less noticeable as he gazed down upon her. Swallowing down the sickness that glistened on his face, SoYa nodded.

“AsaHi,” Zento strode over to her. He held out a short, blunted staff. “Just in case.”

She took the weapon between both hands, wrapping her fingers around it with a determined expression. When she looked up at the warrior, she could still see the streams of blood that ran from his feathers. “Zento… you’re hurt?”

“Later,” he murmured. “We’re not done here yet. There is an Esgyll outside.”

AsaHi sucked in a sharp breath, looking uneasy.

No wonder he gave me a weapon…

“It knows we’re here. I don’t think we have much of a choice but to take it,” Zento’s voice was low.

SoYa made a frightened sound in the back of his throat.

“Are you ready?” the winged man asked, giving his son a prodding look.

The Athrylith nodded weakly, holding tightly to the haft of his weapon.

“Okay. Let’s go,” Zento pivoted on his heel.

The last thing AsaHi could see were streaks of red-on-silver as the warrior drove head on into the shadows waiting outside the Compound.

The stone gave way to his command, parting like liquid to his touch.

“Is there anything I can do to help, Morh-AsaHi?” Lucci’s silver eyes peered down at her hopefully.

She turned to smile at him from where she was placing the last few fixings on one of the lunch plates. The fact that she was standing up on a step stool to reach across the counter and she still hardly crested the height of his shoulders made him feel momentarily awkward. But it was fleeting as the kindness of her smile soaked into his spirit.

Lucci could only smile back.

“If you could take a few of these plates to the table for me, I’d really appreciate it?” Morh-AsaHi nodded at where neatly folded sandwiches lay on circular plates. There was enough for everyone in the Compound.

“Okay!” he nodded quickly, taking the large plates between both hands.

Being that she was one of the few women that had remained behind after the Migration, Morh-AsaHi tended to take to heart far more than her fair share of cooking duties. Though Lucci was often in battle training, he returned to the kitchens to visit with her and assist with the daunting task of feeding the hungry warriors. He had spent a lot of time there in younger days, helping Aunt Sara and Suzume with household tasks. Something about setting plates and clearing dishes was calming to him in the midst of the tension of war.

As Lucci placed the platter down in the center of the large rectangular table in the dining room, he heard the sound of a heavy door closing down the hall. He didn’t need to hear the sound of voices to know who was there.

“I’m sorry, Father…” Master SoYa’s voice sounded tremulous, as if finally working up the courage to say something that he was afraid to say.

“It’s not your fault, SoYa,” Master ZenToYa paused in the hall, turning to look at his son. There were tired lines under his eyes. “You couldn’t have known. I couldn’t have known.”

“Don’t be too angry with TsuYa,” the Athrylith sucked on his bottom lip. “He’s just… been getting more and more frustrated with things lately. I’ve been watching him – he spends most of his time out training, even when he’s not training with us.”

“I know,” the winged man murmured with a nod. “He pushes himself so hard. That’s why I’m worried. He’s so impatient to find his strength.”

“Tsu’s always been that way…” Master SoYa sighed.

“I don’t remember him being like that before I left,” Master ZenToYa shook his head, running his fingers through the length of his bangs. “I guess I’ll talk to him when he’s ready to come back. It’s so hard when he’s always running off alone.”

Concern sifted through his own mind — Master TsuYa was the closest thing to a teacher, next to Lord Zemi, that Lucci had.

“I guess I would run off, too, if I had all these mind mages around who could–” the Athrylith paused, green eyes flicking up towards the far room, “Oh… hello, Lucci?”

“Uh!?” The boy gave a soft sound in his throat, realizing at the last moment that what he had been doing would be considered rude eavesdropping. Not that he had meant it that way.

The two of them just seem to be so worried about Master TsuYa. I wonder what’s wrong?

Master ZenToYa greeted him with a long, disapproving frown, “LuShi, what are you doing?”

“Helping Morh-AsaHi with lunch,” the boy replied, tensing a bit. He held up a sandwich for the winged man to see as testimony. Just at that particular moment, his stomach let off a particularly long and loud response to the smell of food.

Master ZenToYa arched a slow eyebrow.

Lucci winced in embarrassment. He hadn’t even realized he was hungry… but then, that was usually the case. It came and went with him. At times he found himself ravenous and quite able to eat enough for five. Other times he didn’t feel the need to eat at all for a whole day. He never knew how to explain it… it seemed about as abrupt as what Lord Zemi called his “growth spurts.”

“Sounds like lunch came right on time?” Master SoYa gave an easy grin, walking over and snagging a sandwich for himself. He took one bite, as if to encourage the boy to join in, making a long sounds of enjoyment as he did. “AsaHi’s cooking…. mmmm….”

Unable to contain himself a moment longer, Lucci grabbed a sandwich of his own and began to follow suit. It didn’t matter what was on it. He hardly tasted the food at all at the speed he was eating.

“You should have one, Father?” Master SoYa encouraged. His way of trying to ease the winged man’s apparent stress.

“I’m alright, SoYa. I’m going to shower off.” There was a momentary pause, and then, “LuShi?”

It wasn’t until he realized that both Masters were watching him with dumbfounded looks that he stopped to look. Almost half a plate of sandwiches was now empty.

“Are you going to leave any for the rest of us?” Master SoYa laughed gently.

“I’m sorry…” the boy gave a sheepish look.

As the Athrylith opened his mouth to reply, an eerie, high-pitched keening sound filled every inch of the Compound. Master ZenToYa’s head jerked up, eyes sharpening as if they could see even beyond the solid stone of the ceiling. Lucci didn’t doubt that he could.

“Father?!” Master SoYa choked, his knuckles whitening where he gripped the back of a chair.

“We’re under attack!” the winged man stated with a grim rush to his words.

The words that Lucci had been dreading to hear day after day. The words that he had been readying himself to face, day after day. Words he knew would come. But he still felt the shiver of fear rush over his body now that they had sounded.

The Esgyll…

“Oh no… Tsu! He’s still out there!” Master SoYa’s face fell pale as his eyes widened. His gaze shot over to his father, looking for direction. “And he doesn’t have his weapon?!”

“Tsu!” Master ZenToYa choked, taking a few rapid steps towards the doorway.

“Father, wait!” the Athrylith spoke urgently, knowing exactly what the winged man meant to do, “You must go rally the troops — they need you to lead them. I’ll go back to find Tsu!”

Lucci’s mouth fell dry as his breath rasped between his teeth. All thought of food had vanished as he began to feel a pressing darkness drawing closer, somewhere outside. From the sky. And the thought that Master TsuYa was out there, alone, with the Esgyll coming in left him shaking all over.

Master SoYa needs to be there for the troops too! And someone has to warn the Trine!

“You can’t go back there alone, SoYa! Don’t you feel them? There are way too many,” Master ZenToYa argued, moving quickly across the room towards the halls. His voice was a low mutter, “I can’t lose both of you boys…”

If I can help find him… then maybe Master ZenToYa will be happy with me.

Lucci suddenly piped up, rushing over, “I’ll go! Just let me grab his weapon! I’ll find Master TsuYa and bring him back!”

“LuShi, hold on!” Master ZenToYa’s voice cracked, a tinge of worry hidden behind the usual gruff tones. It was enough to almost make Lucci stop.

Almost.

“I’ll be okay! Don’t worry!” the boy called back at them, taking off with a long-legged run down the hall towards the living quarters.

“Lucci!! No!” Master SoYa implored.

But the boy was already gone, rushing around the corner. And there was far too much to do for them to try and pursue.

Lucci ran straight for a long ways, the flickers of light and shadows flowing over the hall where windows shown in. He knew where Master TsuYa’s room was. And he knew exactly where the black bladed scythe would be.

I can do this! Master TsuYa needs my help! For all that he’s done to try to teach me, I’ve gotta try!

A crackling sound filled the air above the Compound as the ground suddenly shook under his feet. Lucci gave a small cry of surprise, rolled off balance to slam into the wall. Shaking his head out, he jerked his chin up. Then he froze.

Just outside the round window, a dark shadow swelled, blocking out all vision entirely. Lucci felt his skin crawling as his senses screamed of danger. He choked on his breath, fighting to get back up on his feet just as the shadows began to shift.

What is that!?

A single, huge eye socket appeared on the other side of the window. Hollow and dripping grey matter, somehow it focused on him with a frightening intensity. A vision without vision.

Esgyll!!

Lucci gave a quiet whine of fear as he lurched up on the balls of his feet, running once again at full speed. The wall behind him imploded as the large, powerful head came slamming through it. Great jaws of black teeth opened with a terrible rasping hiss as the slender grey neck craned around, lithe for all the spikes that adorned it.  But for all that it tried, Lucci was already far out of its reach.

The boy didn’t even glance back as his feet flew him forward. Arms pumping at his sides, lanky body thrown in full speed, all his thoughts were ahead. The room. The scythe. And hoping that Master TsuYa would be able to hold on for the time it would take to find him.

Again and again the Islands shook under his feet. And though Lucci did not come in contact with another Esgyll so closely again, he could only wonder what was happening to the rest of the Compound. Every now and again, he would rush down a new hall only to find collapsed stone and open sky where the building once stood.

I hope that his room is still there!

Lucky enough, Lucci found upon turning the last corner that it was. Though the hall was dark, as if all lighting in that area of the Compound had been sucked away. Swallowing, he rushed forward, pulling up short in front of Master TsuYa’s doorway. That’s when he realized the one kink in his plan.

I don’t know his lock code.

The boy glanced over at the dim plate of symbols that sat just below arm level on the wall. One had to have the right combination of symbols in order to open the door. And knowing Master TsuYa, his would be very, very complicated to break.

I have to get inside! What do I do?

Lucci drew in a deep breath, the echoes of battle somewhere distant on the other side of the building. His mouth pursed in a firm line as he stared grimly at the unyielding door. Then he took one look over his shoulders in both directions to see if anyone was there.

There was no one.

I know he won’t like me doing this… but I have to help…

Both hands placed, splayed on the face of the door, the boy began to concentrate. His eyes traced the outside form of his hands. Studied the essence of the stone in the door. Searched the hollow area in the room that lay on the other side.

A silent silver mist began to spread, draping across the floor of the hall around his feet. A mist that he didn’t completely understand… but one that he recognized. He knew that it was somehow a part of his power, for the mist always seemed to come as he was gathering concentration and energy around him.

Let… me… through…!

The mist suddenly plumed out from his open palms, spreading in a strange twisting ripple between his hands and the stone of the door. The stone gave way to his command, parting like liquid to his touch. Lucci found himself able to walk forward, pressing through the door as if it had been no more than a curtain.

That’s it!

His steps were unsteady as he stumbled into Master TsuYa’s chamber. It was a room that he had been in many times before, so he spent no time looking around. Instead, Lucci went straight to the corner where he knew the scythe would be. A breath of relief passed his lips as his eyes fell on the dark, cloth-wrapped shape. It had toppled to one side due to the impacts against the Compound. But otherwise, it was untouched.

Lucci reached down and carefully picked up the weapon. Then turning a keen eye, he peered around the room one more time, pausing to look at the rack of weapons on the other side of the room. He didn’t know where Master TsuYa had collected them… but there were a number of swords, spears, and a dagger or two on display in his quarters.

I know he wouldn’t want these to be used, but I don’t have much of a choice. My weapon is all the way on the other end of the Compound.

His hand reached out and carefully pulled a medium-length blade from its casings. He unraveled the sheath and strapped it at his waist, sliding the sword safely to. If there was anything that Master TsuYa’s lessons had taught him… it was to respect the danger presented by any drawn weapon.

It had taken a while before Lucci had begun to understand the complexities of the youngest son of the High Guide. It was hard for him to pick out the truth because Master TsuYa was good at covering up things, both inside and out. However, during the many training sessions they had spent together over the past weeks, the boy had found a growing comprehension about the seemingly stand-offish young warrior.

Once you could get past the cold and calm exterior, Lucci had discovered that there was a tempest of emotion churning behind Master TsuYa’s dark eyes. There was also the capability for compassion and gentleness, though both were skewed, showing through in odd ways. But it did come out, mostly at unexpected times.

There isn’t much time.

His hands hooked tightly around the wrapped scythe as he forced them to stop shaking the best that he could. Then his mind reached out through the choking darkness to attempt to pin point a feeling – the location of his teacher.

Without another thought for himself, Lucci pressed back through the door, out into the raging battle beyond.

His body poised to throw the stone as far as his strength allowed.

TsuYa stormed through the curtain of leaves like a tempest, the branches swaying away as he pressed through them. The weight of the stone was slight in his balled fist. Almost non-existent.

What’s wrong..? You wouldn’t know, would you, SoYa!

His feet carried him away from the calls of his brother and father, eventually past the final break in the forest. TsuYa stopped when he found himself standing right on the edge of the island itself. With a broken breath, he stepped closer, looking down at the dark clouds below for a dizzying moment.

Of course you wouldn’t. You were always the good one. The loved one. The one that would be given everything.

A sneer crossed his face, the Mark on his cheek seeming more pronounced for a moment.

And now you’re the powerful one. The great mindmage – like Dad.

The darkness below wavered, stretching down into the dead lands. The tops of the clouds churned and boiled as streaks of violet lightning crackled and chased the edges of their forms.

And me? I’m just an afterthought… the mistake.

TsuYa shifted his weight, back from the edge, though his dark eyes still followed the motion of the storm. Something inside of his chest felt like it would burst. The pain that he always felt when he thought back to the folly of his choices back in Nefol. And the Mark on his cheek ridiculed him constantly in the eyes of others – for all that Aur had done, it could never be healed or removed.

I try so hard to be like Dad… but I’ll never be good enough, will I?

A heavy feeling draped over the back of his mind. Something dark that left his vision hazy. A quiet voice nagged him, cautioning that it was a warning sign… that maybe he shouldn’t let his anger drive him to such loathing thoughts. But at that moment, it had all welled up within him — everything that he had held in calm silence for so long. Frustration and fear choked his senses. He felt like screaming everything down at the dark clouds below.

I bet they just feel sorry for me. Or maybe they think it’s funny to watch me fall flat on my face over and over again!

One hand reeled, ready to hurl. The hand with the blue stone.

This isn’t a gift of honor… it’s all Zemi’s idea of a big joke!

Teeth bared. Standing on the edge of the drop. His body poised to throw the stone as far as his strength allowed. To watch it fall away, swallowed in darkness.

Why did they even bring me here..?

The sting of bitter hot tears blurred his dark eyes.

If I’m so much of a burden, they should have left me to the Marked!

As TsuYa stood there, inches from the drop, a soft breeze whispered past his cheek. A gentle cooling presence stroked along the Mark and tangling through his short white hair. The presence was a familiar, calming feeling… something that reminded him, unexpectedly, of a happier time in his childhood.

When Mother had still been alive. And Father’s eyes weren’t so sad. When wings and wars and Arweinydd had been unreal.

Startled, he turned, seeing no one there. The lazy white clouds sifted in the pale sky above, a stark contrast to the storms below.

And TsuYa found himself standing on the edge, somewhere in the middle of two worlds.

Zemi…?

Though there was no answer on the winds, the Apprentice was certain of the presence he had felt. And for some reason, just thinking that the Dreigiau might have been watching… that the Patron was aware of his struggle… eased the sharpness of the pang in his chest.

TsuYa felt his arm lower, then drop next to his side. He drew his shaking hand into the safety of his pocket, placing the stone within. When his dark eyes fell back upon the storm below, no longer did he feel compelled.

What am I doing?

TsuYa shook his head slowly. A clearing of senses.

What am I thinking? I don’t hate SoYa… He’s my brother! He was the one that practically raised me!

He threaded his fingers through the short wisps of hair with a grimace. There was sweat on his face. It stung where it had seeped into the crevices of the Mark on his cheek. But he ignored it.

What’s happening to me? I thought I had this beat.

Suddenly, he felt ashamed. Ashamed for how he had just stormed off, leaving his father and brother to call after him. Right after his father had honored him with a gift of Arfogaeth – something that young Apprentices could only dream to have.

And then I had to go and act like that. He’s probably furious with me. He’ll probably take the armor back. And I don’t blame him.

TsuYa’s fingers traced along the chain of the amulet around his neck. Something wanted to push the blame off. To swear that it was some outside force at fault for his childish tantrum… but that was too frightening a thought to cater to. Besides, he could only blame bad behavior on the darkness for so long.

I can’t let this keep happening. I’ve got to be stronger than this.

Regret dropped him to his knees at the edge of the Island. Anger now passing, all that was left was a cold silence where fire had once burned. His thoughts tumbled over and around each other, stumbling in the way of peace of mind.

Thoughts of his family and the loss of his home. Of the Islands and of Zemi, the Patron he supposable served. Zazo… the Arweinydd who had taken a strange sort of interest in annoying him. Then of Zeromus… the Arweinydd who reached to pull his soul into darkness. Of the war. Of the boy Sygnus that stood in the middle of it all – the boy he had taken as his unofficial student, despite the disapproval of others. He never understood that choice, either.

There was so much he was doing lately that confused him. His own actions. Thoughts. Feelings. They didn’t always seem like his own. And he had no voice to express the terror that came from that sensation.

For a long while, TsuYa sat upon the edge of the world, watching the churn and flickers below. When his thoughts finally fell silent from the exhaustion of it all, there was nothing but the sky above and below.

That’s when he saw it. A strange liquid shift that folded parted the shapes of the stormclouds far beneath the Islands. It wove chaotically, bounding over the cloud caps, causing them to scatter into a rain of dark mists in every direction.

What..?

TsuYa squinted, rubbing at his eyes, thinking that the soreness of emotion may have muddled his vision. The shift in the clouds remained, coming closer. The Apprentice could feel the hairs on the back of his neck rise in response coupled with a cold pressure in the back of his mind – another thing that he had been experiencing lately. He had learned that almost always, danger followed.

By the time that he had gotten to his feet, TsuYa could make out many more shifts rising through the clouds. The fact that they were coming from below, from the darkness of the lands, could only mean one thing.

Esgyll..?

Dropping all forlorn thoughts right there, TsuYa dug one heel into the rocky edge and with a twist, began to speed back in the direction of the Compound. Mouth wide open as he ran, he sprang over anything that fell in his way, kicking up loose soil at his feet.

DAD! SOYA!!

Even though he wasn’t a mind mage, he knew quite often that his brother and father could pick up on mind shouts. Especially if they were in distress.

ARE YOU STILL THERE? WE’RE UNDER ATTACK!

No answer came from the blur of leaves and trees as he ran. Somewhere far above his head, there was a spark of light. Streams of blue and gold shimmered down, fading like fireworks over the horizon. TsuYa’s heart began to thunder in his chest, his stride never breaking. He didn’t know exactly what the flashes in the sky meant. But he did know that the same thing had happened back during the first big attack.

ANYONE?

TsuYa broke from the depths of the forest into open ground and hit the path at full speed. The sound of his boots crunched on the dirt, a trail of dust left in his wake. His mind frantically calculated the distance between himself and the Compound.

I’ll never get there in time!

But he didn’t stop running. Even though the back of his legs burned and his chest felt like it would explode. His thoughts were on his father and brother. On those in the Compound who would be caught unaware.

A huge shadow fell down over his path, casting an eerie chill down upon the grassy hills. TsuYa looked up with an expression of dread. The shifting was straight above him – expansive and churning, blocking out the view of the sky as the liquid pulsation grew darker and more solid. It was only a matter of moments before the outline became apparent, the winged form of the sickly-grey Esgyll materializing from the wavering illusion.

So that’s how they get in undetected! They have some sort of invisibility magic?

With a wild leap, TsuYa threw him out of the sight of the huge monster, rolling into a set of nearby brush. He didn’t know if he had been spotted or not. But having been running out in the open as he was, he figured he would have been really hard to have overlooked.

I wonder why I could see them this time. I couldn’t before…

Curiosity drained from him as sky began to darken. One by one, the bulky shapes of Esgyll began to shimmer into view, sweeping down over the Islands. From a distance, the battle call of Dragons rang in the air. But they were far away. And there were many more Esgyll appearing now than there had been in the first attack.

The land that stretched between his hiding place and the waiting compound seemed eternal. Though safety wasn’t promised anywhere on the Island at this point, at least he could have fought along side of his father and brother if he were there.

My fault for running off like that… I’m such an idiot!

As the nearest shadow stretched over TsuYa’s hiding place, a chill of fear choked his breath. That’s when he realized that he was also completely unarmed.

“I want to help, Lord Zemi! Just tell me what I need to do!”

Just hold your breath, stay quiet and hope that maybe people will forget you’re here.

Not likely, Lucci knew. But hopeful thinking was better than hopeless thinking. If nothing else, that’s what Lord Zemi always taught him – how to try and make the best of things. Something about life, lemons and lemon aid. Whatever that meant.

At least Lord Zemi’s here, now.

Lucci always felt far more protected from the world when the Dreigiau was there within reach. Never did Lord Zemi allow people to speak dark words about him outright. Nor did he allow the children to make fun of him. In fact, the whole world seemed to brighten just for Lucci whenever the Dreigiau was there. Unfortunately, with all the fighting going on, time with Lord Zemi had become more and more rare.

Nothing would make me happier than for this battle to finally end.

Not to mention, stopping the battle would probably do a lot to ease the anger of all the Cyngan towards Lucci. Afterall, they seemed to claim that this Zeromus, the Dark Arweinydd and enemy of Ceiswyr, was his father. Though Lucci didn’t know how that could be… the closest thing to a father he ever remembered having was Lord Zemi.

But if we can catch Zeromus and make him stop fighting, then people might like me!

Again, unlikely. But again… life, lemons and lemon aid. Whatever that meant.

When talk at the Assembly began, thankfully, it didn’t begin with Lucci. The boy heaved a quiet sigh through his nose, silver eyes focusing on the Dreigiau as he headed the table.

“So, Aur,” Lord Zemi began, “What news is there from the Spiral?”

The golden-eyed man strung a glance down the full length of the room in silence, picking his place to begin carefully, as he always did. “We are making headway in our attempts to reverse the effects of the Implants. With the help of the refugee scholars that came from Nefol, we have seen a great improvement in those who have allowed us to test out the newest procedures.”

“Then you’re getting close?” Lord Zemi asked with a hopeful expression.

“It is still hard to say,” Aur replied with a slow twist of his wrist – an elaborate motion of one hand. In the time that the Creature had spent among the Earthians, he had begun to pick up a number of gestures and expressions that he had not had when Lucci had first met him. “Sometimes what seems to work well for one person doesn’t work so well with another. We are still working on it the best that time allows.”

“Sounds promising,” Master ZenToYa commented, the first words that he had spoken since the Assembly had gathered.

“That is what we hope, too,” Kudako answered. “As Aur says, it is still very much being tested. But the addition of those who came from Nefol has certainly sped up the process quite a bit.”

“And how is the Colony doing?” AsaHi tilted her head, both hands pressed against the table as she leaned over to get a good look at Aur and Kudako.

“Foundations have been set and the basic buildings are established,” Kudako answered. “All is going as we scheduled it.”

The Colony was the name of the new settlement that the refugees of the Inner Realms had begun to establish on the mountainous outskirts of the Spiral’s forests. With Zeromus ravaging all life down upon the mainland, the first order that Zemi had given was to find and begin evacuation of all the people living below Ceiswyr.

For the first few months, Master Zento, Master SoYa and Master TsuYa had been at the head of three different search parties that searched the lands high and low for any signs of people that had escaped the fall of Nefol or had lived in the surrounding cities and gatherings. Through the use of newly-designed travel structures, Zemi’s Dragons were able to transport a large number of the people out of the Inner Realms to the safety of the Colony near the Spiral.

It seemed that so far, Zeromus hadn’t been able to make a move outside of the Dragon’s Cleft. However, the people of the Spiral that were under the command of Aur made it their duty to watch the area that surrounded the Passage for anything that seemed abnormal.

“I also must report,” Aur added, “Relations between the Colony and the Spiral people are improving. Though we do have our problems with the renegade clans in the forests, for the most part, it seems as if understanding between the two people could be possible.”

“That’s no easy thing,” Lord Zemi murmured, drumming his fingers on the surface of the table. “Especially since they’ve both been set against one another for so many years.”

“Indeed,” Kudako nodded. “But I think they both sense the danger that is present within the Inner Realms. The warriors of the Spiral will know to seek out the true enemy of the time. And the people of the Inner Realms must rely upon the kindness of the Spiral people for the land to establish a place to live. In the middle of all this, some differences are being set aside.”

Master Zento nodded slowly, “That’s more than we can say for some of the people in the Inner Realms, however.”

“Is there still problems with those of the gatherings?” Kudako asked with a grim frown.

“Unfortunately,” the winged man replied.

“We’re still having trouble evacuating some people?” Master SoYa peered over with a surprised furrow of one brow. “Even after it’s become so obvious that it’s not safe to live on the mainland anymore?”

“Just this one radical little set of people,” Master Zento grimaced. “No matter what we said to them, they wouldn’t take our help. They just spouted off all this talk about Neffies and the Bane and things like that. Said they’d rather die than have anything to do with a bunch of cursed magic users.”

“What?” Master TsuYa broke his silence, leaning forward with a troubled look on his face.

“Their words, not mine.”

“What happened to them, Father? Do you know?”

“I don’t know. That was a few months back, Tsu. Things have gotten a lot worse down there since then,” Master Zento glanced over at the pale face of his son. “Why?”

“Nothing…” he returned his eyes to the surface of the table, falling back into silence again.

“Mmm…” the winged man watched his son’s reaction, but did not press the issue.

“I have heard word that things aren’t much better up here, either,” Kudako turned the tide of the talk with a flick of his ears. “What is this of new creatures that Zeromus has been sending against Ceiswyr?”

“You mean the Esgyll…” Lord Zemi replied slowly. There was a heavy distasteful frown pasted on his face, one fang gleaming in the pale light.

“Then it is true… there is something that can challenge the Islands?” Aur inquired quietly, studying the Dreigiau’s reaction.

“They took us by surprise,” Master Zento interjected. “That’s all. We’ll be better ready to handle them if they come again.”

“Which I’m certain that they will,” Lord Zemi spread his hands, though his tone was grave. A strange thing to hear. “We don’t know exactly what they are, but there is no doubt they were sent, possibly created, by Zeromus for the express reason of attacking the Islands. They are nearly as agile in flight as my Dragons and are very clever in moving unseen…”

“The big problem we had was that they somehow got through all the shielding, the Dragons and the lookouts as if they had been completely invisible,” Master Zento added, balling one fist and opening it again. “I still have no idea how we could have lost so many to them before the Dragons could intercept.”

“You had casualties?” Kudako’s ears flatted low.

“Yeah,” Master Zento admitted. “Too many… and too many wounded…”

“Which is why I say we really need to consider an evacuation of the city,” Master SoYa spoke up, glancing across the table. By the tone in his voice, this had been a topic that was touched on often before.

“I’m not leaving without a fight!” Master TsuYa met the Athrylith’s glace with a sharp-eyed look of his own. “We haven’t had a chance to meet them one on one yet. Just because we had one sneak attack doesn’t mean we need to throw up our hands and pass them the city like a plate of peas!”

“At least get the children and the women to safer ground…” Master SoYa spread his hands with a reasoning tone.

AsaHi made a huffing sound in her throat.

“Not you, of course?” the Athrylith sunk down in his chair a little, seeing that his suggestions were being chewed up and spit out. “I mean… the ones that need protection. There’s a lot of children here… and there were a few that we lost during that attack that weren’t warriors…”

“What the boy says has some merit,” Kudako noted. “Noncombatants on the Islands will only give the creatures more undefended targets to strike. My suggestion is that evacuation of any unnecessary civilians is mandatory should you decide to hold the city.”

Lord Zemi was nodding thoughtfully. “I understand… and I think maybe you’re right. I believe that Wyndor has enough in the way of room and supplies to provide for the Cyngan on the need of evacuation.”

Master SoYa leaned back in his chair, seeming relieved that someone was finally considering something that he offered to the Assembly.

“But I also believe that every person who is willing and able to defend Ceiswyr should have the opportunity to do so,” Lord Zemi’s tone shifted a little, his deep eyes falling upon Lucci.

The silver-haired boy shivered, realizing that the moment he had been dreading was about to come. As if on cue, the focus of the room fell upon his lanky shoulders. And no amount of squirming could shrug it off.

“What are you trying to say, Zemi?” Master Zento’s tone held a hint of caution. As if he didn’t really want to ask the question. Or possibly that he was warning Lord Zemi to be sensible of whatever answer was to come.

But Lord Zemi didn’t seem to notice. His eyes were still upon the boy. “Lucci-boy… how do you feel about joining us in the fight to protect Ceiswyr?”

The breath choked in the back of his lungs as shock washed over every inch of his body. Before he realized how he must have looked, Lucci bounced up in his chair, nodding vigorously, “I want to help, Lord Zemi! Just tell me what I need to do!”

The waves of silent darkness rose up from the opposite side of the room, contrasting the sudden joyful outburst of the silver-haired boy. Lucci did not dare to turn his glance that way… he knew he’d see the heavy disapproval hanging over the heads of the others. Especially Master Zento and Master TsuYa.

“Well, that’s good to hear,” Lord Zemi’s grin was wide and warm. “I figure that you’re about the right age to start learning how to handle yourself in a fight. I’m sure we’ve got an extra weapon around here that we could train you up on – you tend to learn things real fast?”

Lucci simply beamed his brightest and most eager grin in return.

I can’t believe it! Lord Zemi wants me to help!?

It was the first time ever that any of the adults in Ceiswyr had acknowledged him as capable of doing the things that the other boys were allowed to do. Most boys who were far smaller than him had already experienced far more training in the ways of magic and weaponry than he had. In fact, he had never been allowed to hold a weapon… ever.

“Well, now that that is settled, we just gotta figure out who’s going to take you under wing for a bit of training…” Lord Zemi’s comment traced across the table, with an obvious target. There was only one man in all of Ceiswyr who was known to be the best when it came to training students in weaponry.

Instantly, Master Zento’s head turned the other way, a deep silence freezing his face cold. For a long time they remained like that… Lord Zemi watching the winged man, waiting for a reply. But no reply came.

A sinking feeling washed all the cheer from Lucci’s body. He found himself hunching back from the clash of will between the Dreigiau and his Champion. Swallowing deeply, his silver eyes met the surface of the table, hope fading.

Does that mean… I can’t help…?

As if the Dreigiau could sense the disappointment in the boy’s demeanor, his gravelly voice rose again. “I see. Well… I guess you’ll just have to put up with my shoddy teaching, then. I hope you don’t mind?”

Lucci shook his head, a tiny hint of smile, hope rising once again. All he had to make sure to do was not let himself look at the glaring disapproval of the winged man that sat across the table.