Chapter Four: Dreams, Opportunity and surprise.

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Mazinaru stood near a burning building, not knowing how he got there. Looking around he saw there were flames and corpses everywhere, suddenly a young mother ran towards him with a child in hand and her husband close behind. "Please help us, we must escape!" She yelled as she grabbed his shirt tightly. Before Mazinaru could respond the demon in the apes skin floated around the corner, the mother screamed and ran the other way but, Mazinaru recognized him immediately. The demon was the one who had destroyed his village, Mazi grabbed his sword and leaped towards the demon, screaming it's name in anger and hate but, before the blow landed; he woke up.

Mazinaru found himself still in Ferro's home, covered in a cold sweat. He was also somewhat confused as this had been the first dream that he could remember after waking.

"Have a rough night Mazi?" Ferro said with a concerned look. "My wall sure did!" Mazinaru looked at the wall across from him to find his sword firmly placed into it. "Ah! Well, uh, sorry!" Mazi blurted out, rather embarrassed. Ferro just laughed, "Don't worry about it, it's not the kind of thing you notice in a place like this. As long as you're ok everything will be fine." The two may not have realized it at this point but, truer words have never been spoken.

Ferro began to go about the house collecting various items. His staff, food and some other assorted items. "What are you doing Ferro?" Mazinaru asked as politely as he could. Ferro smiled as he replied "Gathering my things, I seemed to have gotten your attention when I spoke of our neighboring village yesterday so; I figured we could go visit it for awhile." Mazi saw this as his chance and grabbed his gear, after asking he also got some food and had a quick breakfast as he walked outside.

After about an hours waling the two reached the outskirts of the village. They were met with nothing but scorched ground and silence; Mazi standing with both his bow and sword at his back and Ferro using his metallic staff as a convenient walking stick. "Wow, I didn't think it would be so empty, you can literally see the entire village from a hill" Mazinaru said seeming ever so slightly upset. "This brings back memories of my early days with Sensei, arguing and asking why I couldn't come here. But, he would never say. Your right though, about the temple building, shall we go inside?" "Sure, no harm in a little exploring"

As the two got closer and closer to the temple building in the middle of the village the weather slowly changed for the worse, as if in anticipation of their destination. The winds grew stronger and the clouds had already dimmed the sun. The two pressed on, however; and eventually made it to the temple door.

Mazinaru felt like the building was calling him, he was sure now that this was his home. He quickly ran the stairs with Ferro close behind or, so he thought. When Mazinaru turned around to see where Ferro was he found him simply standing outside the grassy patch. "Ferro, are you not coming?"

Ferro had a rather confused look on his face as Mazinaru spoke. "Mazi, I can't go in there; in fact I don't know how you are able to go in there."