Prologue

"You first, The White Tiger of the Night, be cursed."

With those words, Zaha Torte conjured a large spire beneath a levitated Chocolate Misu. Striking her in the back, it impaled her straight through her body. She screamed with intense pain.

Below her, a stunned Carrot Glace felt as if he had been impaled as well. In vain, he reached out to her. "Chocolate!"

Glancing down at him, she fought her pain to speak, "Darling...I love you..." and then, she turned to stone.

It was as if Carrot's own heart had been torn out of his chest. "Chocolate...NO!!!!!"

"NO!!!" Carrot woke with a shout of desperation. As he got his bearings, he held his hand to his face, gasping for breath.

"Darling?" A familiar voice caught his attention. He looked beside him, and there was Chocolate, sitting beside him with a concerned look on her face.

"Oh, it you, Chocolate," he answered. "I see that you snuck in bed with me again."

"Is something wrong, Darling?" she asked, obviously surprised that he didn't freak out at the sight of her.

"I had a nightmare. It was when we fought Zaha six months ago," Carrot's eyes began to tear up. "I just felt so helpless. I couldn't save anyone. Not Marron, Gateau, Tira, or even you! I was in so much pain when I lost you."

"Oh, Darling," Chocolate said softly as she gently embraced him. "You don't have to always place the burden on yourself. I'll always be willing to share it with you."

Carrot could feel the warmth of her body as he returned the embrace. "Thank you, Chocolate. Could you please stay with me a little longer?"

"However long it takes to get rid of those tears, I'll always be here for you, Darling."

It was mid-afternoon, and Carrot was walking around town, trying desperately to clear his mind. 'Damn', he thought to himself. 'I thought getting out of the church would get that nightmare out of my head, but I just can't shake it.' Pondering on what to do, a sign on a nearby building caught his eye: NOW OFFERING SWORDSMANSHIP LESSONS: MASTER RUEBEN.

'What a stroke of luck,' he thought. 'It's been ages since I've used my sword and this will be a great way to occupy my time.' With much anticipation, Carrot entered.

"Hello? Master Rueben?" he called out as he entered the front office. Apparently, the master wasn't there, evident by the sign on the front desk: CURRENTLY TRAINING. FEEL FREE TO ENTER. Shrugging, Carrot removed his shoes and entered the training hall.

The training hall was of reasonable size, big enough to accommodate ten people, with wooden practice swords hanging on the various wall racks. Hanging from the middle of the ceiling was a large sand bag, apparently used for training. And not too far from it, stood a man of average height, long blond hair, and bronze tan skin. He was dressed white training robes with a sword tied to his belt. As he leaned back, ready to draw his sword, he seemed completely oblivious to Carrot's entrance. In two quick motions, he unsheathed his sword, performed an upward swing on the sandbag, and then swiftly returned the sword to its sheath; a moment later, the sandbag split cleanly up the middle, spilling sand onto the floor.

Carrot couldn't believe his eyes; this man was incredibly skilled. "Excuse me, Master Rueben?" He called.

The swordsman finally responded. "Ah, I see that someone want to learn the art of the sword from me. I'll be more than happy to teach you. Please tell me your name, young man."

"Carrot Glace."

"Oh yes, I've heard much about you, Carrot." Rueben commented. "Your achievements alongside your fellow Sorcerer Hunters are well known throughout the Spooner Continent. We can start right away. Please get me two wooden practice swords from the wall behind you and we can begin."

"Of course, Master," Carrot replied as he respectfully bowed.

As his new student went about his task, Rueben lightly smiled to himself. 'I knew this day would come, Carrot,' he thought. 'You are now on the path to your true destiny, one that even Zaha never knew of.'