Hey everyone, sorry for the lack of releases!

This one is fairly small, and kind of sketchy, but it delves into a bit more backstory behind the scenes of the story.

hope you enjoy!

Chapter 2: An Old Figure Departs

"Wander!" She cried back, embracing him fondly. "Wander, what happened? Where are we?"

"All hell happened Mono... they killed you...but I brought you back!" Wander said, cheer filling his long despair frozen face. "I suffered horrors of this world long since sealed away, I have done the impossible... but I'm not sure if I still have a debt to pay..."

"Debt? What debt?" Mono said, sitting next to Wander, curious to what he meant.

"Mono... let me explain everything." He said smiling.

"Yes, let's hear you explain!"

The two turned to this third voice, a metal clad warrior said, stepping forward, walking up the stairs from the forbidden lands.

"...Holleigh?"

…

Some time ago, while wander was trekking to slay the next colossi, a warrior priest from the village had caught up with him. He had gone on ahead of the rest of the priests, the others staying behind to rebuild the temple that wander had burned to escape with Mono's body.

The priest saw the familiar looking boy in the distance, resting on some rocks, looking over the horizon.

However, when this warrior priest took a step, Wander took notice, and his head snapped in his direction.

"Holleigh?" Wander asked, knowing him. They had been friends, not the best of friends, but friends in the past. Wander was shocked to see him here this quickly.

"Yes, Wander, I ventured ahead of the other priests, as I wanted to give you a chance to repent."

"Repent, repent for what?" Wander asked, anger building inside of him, drawing his sword as Holleigh drew his.

"You burned the temple. You stole the sacrificed girl." Holleigh said, stepping forward, slowly. "You have sinned more than enough since your venture here..."

"You would betray your village?"

With that, Wander snapped, before Holleigh could even realize it, Wander's blade collided with his, causing Holleigh to step back.

"BETRAY? BURN THE DAMN VILLAGE!" Wander cried, mercilessly assaulting Holleigh. "Your temple betrayed its followers! Your rich stole from the poor... YOUR PEOPLE KILLED MONO!" Wander roared, slamming his blade against Holleigh's chest plate, forcing him to the ground.

"I would betray the village, as I cannot forgive what you have done."

"Words of a heretic, words of an orphan." Holleigh said, rising. "The temple knew what was best, that seer saw the truth... look at you now. She caused..."

"SHE CAUSED NOTHING!" Wander said, tears now flowing from his eyes. "You... your damn temple caused this! You killed her, with this blade!" Wander added, holding out the sword he stole from the temple as he burned it. "The history of the temple is one of bloodshed. As they accepted me worshipping my way, I accepted their past... but... when they killed Mono..."

"The word of the temple is law in our village." Holleigh said, back on his feet. "They may forgive you if you leave her to rest."

Wander, smiled, and hung his head down starting to chuckle. "I don't want forgiveness. I'm never going back there, ever again."

"WHEN MONO'S ALIVE AGAIN, WE WILL NEVER NEED YOUR VILLAGE AGAIN!"

…

Wander had one that fight, easily, and left Holleigh for dead. Wander had taken the time during recalling that moment to explain his final fight with Dormin.

"Wander..."

"I meant what I said. I'm never going back there." He said, standing between Holleigh and Mono. "What they did to her was unforgivable."

"What you have done was unforgivable, you released Dormin!"

"I slayed him as well. These lands are no longer plagued by his horrid existence."

Holleigh seemed to flinch at this, drawing back.

"...Still, by order of the temple... I'm not to let you... or the girl... live."

"Take my life, but spare hers." Wander said, without hesitation.

"Wander, no!" Mono protested, running up to Wander. "I won't watch you die."

"Well then... I'll just have to kill you both." Holleigh said, withdrawing his sword. As he did, Wander embraced Mono and held her, turning so if Holleigh were to attack, only he would be struck.

However, Holleigh didn't swing. In the proper attack position the temple had taught him... he couldn't swing.

"This... doesn't feel right." Holleigh said, still poised to attack. "In my heart... I feel this is wrong."

"Then why don't you stop this!" Mono said, breaking out of Wander's hold. "Stop this violence, Wander has done more than enough to be forgiven for what he had done. He never claimed an innocent life. He returned the blade he stole. What more could he ask for, the gods to descend from the skies and proclaim his innocence!" She yelled, now standing between Holleigh and Wander. "Please... just please stop this..."

After that, Holleigh slowly sheathed his swords. "I'm going to go back to the temple, and speak to the high priests about this. I will tell them as you told me."

"But... the bridge..." Wander began.

"There is more than one way out of this place. If you go to the ruins of the bridge, I'm sure you'll find what I mean, and why I believe your excuses." Holleigh said, turning, and going back down the stairs.

"Best of fortunes to both of you." He said, before stepping out of sight.

There was a brief moment of silence...

Then a loud CRACK.

"What the hell were you thinking!" Mono said, to a dumbstruck Wander, with a deep red cheek, with what looked like a hand impression on it. "He would have killed you!"

"...better me than you a second time." He said, smiling. "I... I couldn't bear to lose you a second time."

She let out a sigh, seeing his face, relieved, even though she had just yelled at him. Then finally smiling herself. "Well... I'm just glad you're safe."

"Yeah, me too." Wander said, embracing her again.

As they held each other, they could feel a cold breeze fill the Shrine of Worship, as the sun set in the distance.

"We should try and leave in the morning." Wander said, smiling.

"Yeah." Mono said, mirroring his smile.