Hello there, Elsword fandom!

Many of you might not know me, but I recently got really into Elsword. (Ara is the best okay I love her) and since I just finished my Yama Raja mission, I figured it was high time to create, oh yes, fanfiction.

Many thanks to a lot of my friends for helping expand my limited knowledge of the Elsword universe and my inability to level Little Devil. You know who you are!

I greatly apologize if I have made any mistakes in this piece, as it is my first and I am still quite new to the storyline of this wonderful game.

Includes all characters up to Add, since I do love adding everyone in.

The Halls of Water were exactly as one would have expected, given that a being had time to sit down and ponder on the glory that had once been the kingdom of Hamel. However, for a certain group of heroes, thus was not that they had the time to wonder, but rather that they were caught in a rather deadly battle.

The entirety of the Elgang had put their all into this battle that would decide the fates; it was very personal for a certain member that, although new, was part of the family and would be considered as such, no less no greater. All of them fought to the hardest of their ability, but destiny had it be with her wretched hands that the enemy was stronger, better equipped and better trained.

Certainly, if one was to look back in retrospect, the Halls of Water were rather beautiful. With sparkling marble columns settled firmly on tiles entwined with ivory, ivy played a dance around the upper corridors of the palace, the greenery firm as a result of years of neglect. It was hardly an arena for battle, rather a place to greet plump nobles and host beautiful dances with gaudy dresses and ballads played high.

However, this was the dream of many youths, unexperienced in the world and doe-eyed with the prospect of prosperity and honour. Certainly, it was not the thoughts of a certain black-haired, golden-eyed male that spun his tale through blood and loss, who had overcome a curse unfamiliar and rumoured by all.

Indeed, Raven, once a simple merchant with a beautiful lover and a future steady, hailed now as the Blade Master, the owner of his mind and the keeper of his memories. The enemy of all, the heir to his sword, was not one to wonder about things he could not have, and he was not one to keep true in faith and trek blindlessly on. He fought his way swiftly and mercilessly through the ranks of monsters that invaded from all sides, closing in on the Elgang.

He was not one to believe in fate, nor hope.

At his side, blonde hair flickered to and about as streams of mana sprouting from orbs that flickered bright emerald, dancing transparent through the seams of marble as they enchanted monsters and lured them to their deaths, like nature sirens. Arrows shot from pure energy, concentrated from one's mana, made their way into the tiniest cracks between the tightly plated armour of their enemies, and just as the monster roared in pain and anger Rena swiftly hopped away, maneuvering with such grace and elegance it was hardly a battle move, more of a dance, just as the monster collapsed and was swiftly swept away by the wings of death.

The pair moved in harmony; it was Raven that quickly sliced his way through the hoards that were nearing in on him and the Grand Archer, and it was Rena that shot from a safe distance and eliminated any nearing enemies that threatened Raven's safety as he battled within range of injury.

A small distance away from them, gunshots echoed throughout the halls. The noise was something the two were used to, in fact it assured them that everyone was all right. From the corner of his eye, Raven saw the glint of Deadly Chaser's Silver Shooters as sunlight reflected off them, a luminescent sight as he gunned down every single monster that came near.

Next to him, a queen mercilessly murdered every single monster within target with sharp, carefully directed lazers. Her face a blank mask, Eve had been a battle machine ever since she had discovered her new code, hailed with a befitting name: Code: Battle Seraph.

Though some argued that emotions were too high a price to give up for power, Raven thought differently. Bitterness cloaking his vision for one moment, between his carefully trained memories slipped the thoughts of a dress, a smile, and eyes blinking pure. Ser…

Before he could fade into the familiar state that enveloped him late at night, a sharp arrow, ringing with melodies of wind created by the speed it travelled, dug straight into the neck of the monster he had been facing just seconds ago. Looking up, Raven met emerald eyes that glittered back at him, creasing up as the owner smiled for just a brief second.

"Eyes on target, Raven," Rena chided, almost like she was talking to a small child. "We're almost done."

Raven didn't bother asking how the elf knew of their whereabouts in a place they had never explored; he was aware that she was the most mature of the small team they had assembled, and her elfish senses were something he could never understand. Instead, he nodded and turned away, blocking a hit from the side with his nasod arm and then raising his sword to quickly slice down and end the being that had dared attack him. The maneuver would have worked the other way around, with a sword on defense and his arm on offense, but Raven always preferred to use his weapon, gripped tightly in a hand he could control, rather than something he would possibly regret later.

To their left, the self proclaimed leader of their group raised a sword, shouted a command-that was met with an angry retort back, and charged the monsters at full speed. Lord Knight Elsword, though honoured by most soldiers they met on their travels, was not at all respected by Aisha, a Dimension Witch that was extremely proud of her exports and her regained powers.

However, the two worked well enough together, with Aisha dealing magical damage as Elsword charged to everything he saw. Though the red-headed boy seemed mindless and idiotic in his skills, Raven had sparred with the male since joining, and through his learned eyes he could clearly see improvement and skill in the way Elsword handled his weapon and held his posture. Raven did not miss the fact his eyes flickered every few minutes he could spare to Aisha, just to check if the mage was doing all right.

The way of the sword was right for us both, Elsword.

However, the swordsman need not worry for his comrade, as Aisha was doing exceedingly fine. As much as the mage annoyed him sometime, Raven had to admit that she was as skilled as she was rude, noisy, and oh too prideful. With sparkling balls of magic shot one by one, she exploded enemies with a terrifying small laugh and twirled her intricate staff, fixed her hair, and readied herself for even more monsters to face.

Raven deflected another hit from behind him, and then jumped and spun around quickly, slicing down the attacker as he did so. Landing softly, he looked up and saw Rena standing, calmly notching another arrow onto a taut string and letting the weapon fly through the halls with deafening precision and deadly grace.

Just as he looked forward to check on the three newest members of their team, the wall exploded.

Rubble spilled like blood gushing from the wall that once was, beautiful marble suddenly a weapon of destruction as it tumbled through the halls, landing on allies and enemies alike. Many a monster perished beneath the harsh, large pieces, and Raven jumped up, trusting in his teammate.

As Raven leapt, Rena bent down. Their hands met in perfect synchronicity, and with all her strength the Grand Archer swung the Blade Master up and let go. Raven landed perfectly behind her, standing up to dust off his jacket.

"Nice one." He turned back to the battle scene.

"Glad you got away," Rena replied, looking down at the marble mess that had filtered into where Raven once stood. "Are the others all right?"

Raven scanned the area, looking around. Elsword and Aisha were perched nearby, though the two seemed to be having some kind of argument. Looking the other way, he saw Eve floating elegantly nearby, Chung at her side with a cannon loaded ready. Further from them stood Elesis, Elsword's long lost sister that the knight almost proclaimed dead. With a sword in one hand, she held the other up towards the skies as a storm of fire and magic swirled around, forming incoherent shapes. The very air around her swirled in tune with the intense heat of magic coming from her being, and Blazing Heart pointed her appendage at one large piece of marble that came rushing towards her, and the material promptly shattered into little shards as the red-haired knight was left untouched.

Some ways away from Eve stood yet another magic user and someone Raven did not quite trust; as much as he hated Nasods, he was on...simple terms with Eve, but he did not trust Add at all. The man's insane ways and uncanny interest in Nasods and reviving the ancient race did not sit well with Raven, not at all, and so the Blade Master had taken to calling the Lunatic Psyker quite loony indeed. His battle skills, though excellent, were not something Raven would call fair play.

However, beside him Rena walked so that they were shoulder-to-shoulder on the small platform. Turning towards him, the elf wore an expression of worry. Raven gave a small incline of his head as to inquire why.

"I don't see Ara," the female replied.

Indeed, as the Blade Master looked out once again to check, he noticed that he had not sighted the girl all. Ever since choosing the path of darkness and destruction, giving into Eun and becoming the Yama Raja, a noticeable change had overtaken Ara. Though she was still sweet and mellow and all of the good things in a person, the Gumiho was much more cocky and confident in her abilities, which could lead to...unfortunate circumstances.

Yet, they needed not to worry. For just next to an arguing pair, the marble exploded in a shower of stone and dust, cloaking the surprised Elsword and Aisha. White emerged as a tail flickered around.

"Oh no." Next to him, Rena spoke.

Raven just sighed.

"Aren!" Ara emerged from the fading shadows, her hair down and flowing white, draped across nine pearly tails that swirled around as if they had a life of their own. "Brother, where are you?"

The emotion in her voice would have stirred up something in the Blade Master had he not lost so much already. Instead, he simply blocked Rena from taking a step forward.

"Let Ara do this."

The archer turned towards her comrade, surprised by the utter monotone of his voice. "How can you say that? She's-"

"Brother, come out! It's me, Ara!" The Yama Raja continued screaming to the skies, her voice echoing across an otherwise silent battlefield. "Come out...please…"

Raven stood his ground, his face blank. Glancing around, he could see that Chung and Aisha both wore faces of distraught akin to Rena's, as Elsword grit his teeth and Elesis readied another fireball in her hand.

Suddenly, Raven felt Rena shift. Turning, he was surprised as he looked into her eyes and saw that there was nothing but grim determination.

"I'm going to help her," Rena said.

Raven reached out for her shoulder. "Listen, Rena-"

She slapped his hand away, an unusual act of aggression for the normally placid elf. "She's hurting, Raven. She needs her friends to help her."

"There's nothing to help," he told her. "She's always been hurting. She has no one."

Rena turned at that, surprised at the sudden bitterness in the Blade Master's voice. "Raven…"

Go."

The Grand Archer looked as if she wanted to say more, but then Raven gave her a small nudge and repeated his words. "Go. You want to help her, right?"

Rena came towards him, and looked deep into his eyes. Raven, surprised by this sudden action, took a small step backwards.

"Maybe he used to have no one," Rena whispered softly, "but he should know he has us."

Her arms entwined him, and she held him there for just one split something. "Always."

Then she was gone, leaving Raven surprised and slightly confused. Was Rena always that way? Did her eyes always sparkle with happiness and understanding, did she walk among the stars like angels of the night?

From the collapsed wall emerged a figure, not quite the person they were expecting. Massive and bulky, Victor roared once and then attacked Ara, who had fallen to her knees, clutching her spear tightly between her fingers.

Rena, who was running at a speed only the highest of elves could achieve, quickly intercepted. Though her delicate bow was not made for such uses, she blocked the hit and quickly nudged Ara out of the way, into Aisha's grasp. The Dimension Witch, who had snapped into action by watching Rena place herself into such danger, now set the lamenting Yama Raja down on the pillar she and Elsword had taken refuge, and stood up, ready for battle. By now, Elsword was at her side accompanied by Chung, Eve, and Add, and across the clearing Elesis raced towards the scene.

Only Raven stood there, watching the play unfold as if transfixed.

To be true, There was no way anyone saw it coming. Elsword and Aisha worried over Ara, who sat completely unresponsive, and Chung was rather bothered by Add's speech to Eve in the middle of battle, something about taking her apart to inspect her insides, but in a kind manner, of course. Elesis was still across the clearing, and though she fired fireball after fireball it hardly bothered the hulking Victor, who was angered that someone dared to intrude when he about to spill fresh blood.

And Raven stood motionless.

Victor's heavy arm came crashing down on the petite figure of the elf, just as his other came up and swept the archer like a boy playing with marionettes. He sent the female crashing into the ground, her bow strewn far from where it had escaped her fingers when he threw her high and let her fall to the ground.

"No!"

Raven isn't sure who the scream came from, whether it be the distraught Aisha, Ara whose head had suddenly snapped up, Chung who had dropped his cannon, or he himself, but he found his body moving of its own free will, as he rushed in just as Victor prepared to smash Rena into oblivion. He isn't sure what is passing through his mind-it's moving fast, too fast, so fast he can hardly breathe, so fast that his thoughts come in shattered pieces, that memories abiden rise from that one night, that one deadly night that had changed his life forever. Had she not laid the same way? Had she not had time to cry out, had she not had time to say goodbye?

He dashes in, uncaring for his own being as Victor brings his massive, edged arm down.

However, the pain never comes. As Raven scoops Rena up into his one arm, his sword abandoned as he had started his flight, his other arm had reacted as if on its own will. The Nasod monstrosity had crushed Victor's attacking arm, holding the stone firm in its grasp as sizzling fire made it melt like hot butter.

Yet, Raven could not find it in him to end the monster once and for all. As soon as the arm had done its deed, it fell to his side, useless. Faintly, from the corner of his eye, Raven was aware of the Battle Seraph and Lord Knight disposing of the wretched creature.

All he knew was that he stared at Rena, who lay motionless, who lay exactly as S...S...had done all those years ago, on that one night.

He heard Aisha whimper beside him, he heard Ara stand up. He heard Add and Elesis move to restrain their teammate, he heard Ara break down and cry.

No! He's still in there! We have to save...we have to save Aren!

We have to retreat. Rena is injured.

No! No! No! I can't leave, I can't leave after we've come so far...I can't leave without Aren! Brother, brother, where are you?

He hears Add hit Ara on the back of the neck, knocking the girl out.

The only thing he doesn't hear is the one thing he should. He doesn't hear Rena's calm, steady breathing.

And like that, Raven breaks down and cries.

Seris.