AN: Here goes... This is the sequel to Lost. I advise you to read Lost before reading this. You don't have to, but it helps. Alright, I'm gonna answer the reviews for the last chapter of Lost here, then Demon's Wake will actually start. Enjoy... Oh. Disclaimer: I do not own MapleStory. End o' story. Nuff said... Nuff said. And, although the name Seifer has been used many times before (including Final Fantasy and Kingdom Hearts II), the character Seifer has no relation to those characters. I just think it's a cool name.

Eien Kaosu: lol... Akuji'll pop up in the sequel. Everyone thinks Ryker's cool... Wonder if he'll have as large a fanbase after the sequel... Well, that doesn't mean he's not cool in this one, but he gets a bit of an attitude adjustment.

Judgment Flame: I did! I'm really sorry! I mean, judgment can be spelt either 'Judgment' or Judgement'... I had always spelt it with the 'e'... I am really sorry. I'll try to spell it right the next few times...

Cookie: That's kinda a long trip... Thanks for all the reviews by the way... I think you've got like 12 or something...

Victoria Island stood forsaken in the winds of time. Ruins were scattered across its once majestic surface. Human's had long left it to inhabite safer areas of the world. Thus, the monsters had free reign over the once bustling land.

Kronos, the demon lord that had caused Victoria Island to fall into desolation, wandered throughout his kingdom. He did nothing but observe; constantly moving, never changing the natural flow of events. He knew of the hidden human village that was located in the deep recesses of the dense forest outside of what was once Henesys. Fate directed Kronos, and it was Fate that cast its hand as the demon lord glared upon the visage of a certain rogue. "Ryker... So... nice... to see you again..."

"You can keep your pleasantries to yourself, bastard! I'm just here to kick your ass, then I'm gone..." Ryker had changed from the cheerful, optimistic man he once was. He had become cold and ruthless. He was the unspoken leader of the group of humans that resided in Victoria.

"What will your... Kryptos? That's what they're called aren't they? The Kryptos... Heh... Very quiant. What will your Kryptos do while you're gone?"

Ryker stumbled back, gripping his Cursayer tighter. His knuckles turned white with tension. Slipping a hand into his robe pocket, he cautiously fitted his Casters upon his hand.

"You will not need that claw. We will not be fighting here--"

"We sure as hell will be! Avenger!" In a fluid movement, Ryker swung his hand through the air, an immense shuriken whipped through the air towards Kronos.

Smiling slightly, the demon inclined his head and the throwing star passed by harmlessly. "You're too rash, Ryker..."

Snarling, Ryker lunged forward. His Cursayer was a blur as it weaved a steel web around the demon lord. Kronos's eyes flashed in recognition just as Ryker raised his gloved hand high. "Shadow Web!"

Kronos snarled as the still visible trail left by the Varkit strengthened into steel wires and wrapped tightly around him. "I do not have time to play today, Ryker...!" Kronos twisted in the air and the bonds unraveled.

Ryker gaped as the demon descended towards him. "What the--"

"Too slow Ryker..." Planting a single clawed fingertip at Ryker's throat, he drew a bloody line straight across his neck. "Oops... Look like you lose this round..." Kronos bounced back and prepared to leave.

Ryker lept forward to try and stop him. "No..."

"This round is over. I'll play with you more some other time..." Smirking, the demon lord disappeared into the underbrush.

"Dammit... I wasn't strong enough..."

XxX

The fire crackled darkly as the people huddled around it looked expectantly up at the young woman standing imperiously nearby. "I expect you'll want me to tell you a story, aye?"

A child near the front of the group nodded. "Y-yes, please!"

"Well... Okay. I'll tell you the story... The story of a young man. A young man who, in his years as a teen, lost himself in the works of the conspiracies of Kronos, the Crimson Balrog!" This drew an appreciative gasp from the listeners. Smiling slightly, the woman continued. "The boy's name was Akuji... He was a young hero who had the potential to be the greatest of all. But, as all heroes do, he had his weaknesses. One of these was a young girl named Tatum. One day, Akuji and Tatum were fighting in the legendary Dungeon, when Kronos appeared. Kronos killed Tatum cruelly and turned to do away with Akuji as well. Akuji fought back though; the death of his beloved pressing upon his mind! The epic battle..."

Seifer shouldered his Blue Screamer. Turning to his companion, an older man with dark, gray-streaked hair, he grinned wryly. "Looks like Aradia's got 'em hooked faster than ever. I think the last time she told this story they really got into it about the part where Akuji and Alex--"

"I know that part well, Seifer. I don't need reminding." Alexei remarked almost off-handedly.

Seifer knew his teacher well enough to know that he had tread into dangerous quarter. "Eh... Right! Sorry, teach..."

"I'm pretty sure I told you not to call me 'teach' anymore."

"Err... Yeah, I think ya did tea-- I mean, Alex, sir..."

"Good. Now, did you finish learning your charge attacks?"

"Errmm.. Yeah..."

"With a blunt weapon too?"

"N-not... Not exactly..."

"Seifer..."

"I didn't wanna miss the whole story-telling thing and--"

"Seifer, we live in a dangerous world. Beyond this sheltered island lies another, more dangerous island where--"

"That made-up demon lord lives? No one but you and Aradia seem to know about it--"

"Only because Aradia and I are the only survivors of the original group who fled Victo--"

"Yeah, sure. None of us has ever even been to Victoria... It's the place of legend! Untouched by human hands for centuries..."

"But there are humans over there."

"You mean the Kryptos? If the stories are true, they spend most of their time hiding away in their holes, waiting for night and then--"

"Enough, Seifer. I expect you to have mastered the element charges by tomorrow morning. If you'll excuse me..."

Seifer sighed and watched his mentor walk away. "Whatever..." He slunk over to the rack of weapons nearby and picked up a Leomite. "Might as well get this over with..."

XxX

Aradia stood and dusted the ash from her robes as she watched her listeners wander away, chatting animatedly with their companions. She turned to a young man standing hunched over neaby. "Hey! Hien! Come on! Time to go home..."

The boy shuffled over, tweaking his Dark Manute glove anxiously. "Y-yes, Miss Aradia..."

Sighing, Aradia led the way back to her house, keeping a casual eye on Hien. "Why do you have to be so quiet? I expect you to be outgoing! I mean, you have me to take as an example!"

Hien nodded. "O-of course, Miss Aradia."

"Will you quit calling me that? It's getting on my nerves... With your meek responses and the whole 'Miss Aradia' thing..."

"S-sorry, Miss Aradia.

"I said-- Ah, forget it..."

"O-okay, Miss Aradia..."

"Ice Strike!" Aradia whirled her Hinomaru fan swiftly as huge pieces of ice hurled themselves at Hien.

In a flash, Hien had drawn his Thorns, and had deflected the spell without a word. "M-Miss Aradia..."

"Argh! You're one of the most talented mages in a century and yet you're as meek as a mouse! I can't take this! I'm going to bed. Help Ayrill finish things up."

Hien watched passively as Aradia hurried into the house. "She's changed, hasn't she?"

Alexei slipped beside the young mage. Hien nodded in agreement and looked over at the master swordsman. "Y-you knew her when you were younger, right?"

"Yes. We were friends then, as we are now. Back then, she was serious and by-the-book. Now... Now she's gregarious and unpredictable..."

"W-what caused the change in her, sir?" Hien asked quietly.

"When Ryker left... It scarred her emotionally. I think she loved him, be it as a brother or a lover... His departure caused radical change in her attitude. I think the personality she dispays now is just a facade to hide her true feelings. Sad to say, at night, you can hear her sobbing."

"So... sad..."

XxX

A man, tall in stature, walked slowly away through a decimated town. His fist was clenched and tension was evident in his shoulders. Aradia watched, sobbing, as Ryker walked away. Had he turned around, she would have seen the tears coursing down his face...

Aradia's memories shifted. She was yonger, her presently long auburne hair was short and tucked behind on ear. Her bangs fell just short of her eyebrows. Her eyes, startling blue, betrayed a power hidden deep inside. She held herself, shaking, as an elderly woman bled to death. Energy leaked from her body and a primal roar of pure, animalistic emotion tore from her throat.

Aradia awoke from her dream, sweat dripping from her face as she clutched the simple blanket that served as the only source of warmth in her bed. Ayrill rushed into the room, gripping her Kage. "Aradia? Are you alright?"

Aradia looked blankly at her friend. "Ayrill... What?"

"You were having a nightmare. Do you need more of the... potion?"

"No... No, I'm fine. Thank you, Ayrill." As the blonde priest turned to leave, Aradia suddenly thought of something. "Ayrill? Do you miss Chase?"

Ayrill looked startled. "O-of course I do..."

"Then why don't you have dreams like I do?"

"I think... it's because I've been through it before."

"You have?"

"Yeah... My dad... My mom died early on, when I was only a little girl. Chase was becoming a young man, and my dad was middle-aged. After she died, Dad became distant. He sometimes left us on journeys for days at a time. Chase took care of me when Dad was gone. Soon, Dad's trips became longer, extending to weeks, then months, then he just disappeared. Chase took it hard and vowed to find him and make him come back. I guess Chase's departure was a little... I dunno. I was already numb from when Dad left. I guess it just didn't hit me as hard."

Aradia nodded and laid back down as Ayrill turned to leave. "Good night, Ayrill..."

XxX

Seifer set his weapon down wearily. Damn... It's so boring here... Looking up, he noted Hien wandering towards him. "Hey... How's Aradia? She really got into that story telling," He remarked as the mage sat down beside him.

"S-she's fine..."

"Good... So how much training did you get done? Alex is like a slave-driver! Wish I could get some down time and actually relax..."

"A-Aradia just had me practice a few healing spells. I f-finished them quickly."

"Agh... That's 'cause you're that super-almighty prodigy... Aradia practically dotes on you. Alex just tells me to shuddup and keep training."

"I-I'm sure he just wants you to be the strongest you can be..."

"Nah..." Seifer changed tack almost seamlessly. "You ever get bored here?"

Hien looked surprised. "W-what?"

"I mean, do you ever get tired of the constant training? Don't you want to go out there and fight monsters stronger than snails?"

"N-not really..."

"Argh! You're so small-minded! You gotta want more! Man... Sometimes I wonder... I wanna go to that... legendary island... I want to go to Victoria Island!"

"R-really? I th-thought you didn't believe in that myth..."

"Eh... If it's real... I want to go there and I want to fight this Kronos!"

"O-okay..."

"Jeez, Hien. What's with that stutter anyway?"

XxX

Alexei studied the two from a fair distance away. He's like Ryker... Wanting to fight, wanting to be in the legends... So much so, it's almost scary.

AN: Was it good? It was a bit longer than Lost's chapters, but... I don't know if all the chapter's will be this long. Reviews are welcome. Flames will be made the target of merciless jokes for the rest of eternity. Ehh.. Yeah. Next chapter should be soon, though if it's this long, it may take longer. 'Till next time...