Chapter 3

"What is it now Elric?" Helious muttered indigently, sensing a frown from his former guild mate while speaking so. Even he noticed that his voice was weaker than before he started the spell. In fact, he felt so weak he could barely stand up right, let alone deal with someone like Elric.

"You were practising arcane magic again weren't you?"

"Elric, what do you want-"

"Don't try to change the subject Helious! I can feel the sickly aura of arcane around you, is THAT what you've been doing for this past few months!? For the lords sake Helious I've told you before that doing this is going to kill you one day! Look at you now!" the blue haired high wizard was raising his voice ever so slightly, causing a great annoyance to the darker haired one.

"Elric, do not preach me, I am no child." Helious spat back, a sudden hostility nicked in his voice, causing the other wizard to look back in shock for a moment. His friend had never been the one who would raise his voice.

An awkward silent descended between the 2 wizards, before Elric spoke once more.

"The guild needs you back, they sent me to get you, I just arrived from Geffen, thought that you were gonna be at Jada's but she said you were in Yuno. So I tried my luck here first, I'm glad I did...seemed as though I just stopped you from doing something incredibly stupid once more."

Helious cursed inwardly as his friend allowed himself inside his humble abode. He knew that the older wizard would not hesitate to preach him, Elric was only a year his senior, but Helious had long surpassed his friend, though it never did seem to bother Elric, who acted as his personal big brother, and best friend. The last he saw of the blue eyed wizard was almost a month ago when he had bumped into him while hunting for goat demon horns. But either way, it was both bittersweet to see his old friend.

"Why does the guild need me for? I left awhile ago."

"C'mon Helious, you know that you're always welcomed in the guild, how in the world did you get it into your head that there were people inside out to get you? Besides, I have something to tell you … it's about -"

"Its gut instincts Elric, I was almost assassinated countless of times, but it seems after I have left the guild my pursuers has also, magically disappeared." Helious muttered matter a factly.

"I wish you would stop cutting me off when I speak to you, you know, I'm also here to tell you about the assassins that were hunting you down. We hunted them all down and took care of them, I would tell you who was after you, but I don't know myself. It seems as though after we captured the assassins, they were found dead the next morning. "

Helious raised an eyebrow to his friend, his friend was never the one to lie to him, and never had. Why would he start now?

"And the remains of the bodies?"

"In the guild morgue, if you interested, who I think you would be, considered that they reeked of arcane magic like you do. Funny how assassins like them would be practising magic like that…"

"Tsch, fine fine, I'll go back to the guild when I wake up later. By the way why the hell did you come after me at this point of night? Do you know how un Godly this hour is?"

"Exactly why I came after you friend, I've known you for 3 years, and I've already gotten use to what you would do after hours. I still don't agree on your practising on this, and you know it too. Your old enough to think for yourself Helious, but take heed when I say that nothing good will come from dabbling in things that shouldn't be, you're lucky you have such good people around you, but I plead that you stop, arcane magic is still not viewed on lightly from the council of magic."

"I know, I know, I was in the council before, Remember?"

"Yea yea, and you never did let anyone forget about it." Elric replied, eyes rolling.

Helious smiled a satisfied smile, knowing that even after a period of absence from his friend; he was still exactly the same as he remembered him.

But that doesn't mean that Helious was the same man…

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"God, this place is as much of a dump as I remembered." Helious yawned as both Elric and himself walked through the familiar guild halls of the Silver Scar guild.

"Helena's looking forward to see you again."

"Great, what's she gonna make me do this time? Every time she comes at me and says that she need something from me, I always get into trouble, one way or another."

"Relax Helious; she only needs some help consulting on some runes."

"Why can't you read them for her!?"

"Because its arcane runes and you know I don't want anything to do with that kind of magic. Be thankful only Helena and I know about your eccentric tastes in magic in this guild…"

"Could you all Please Stop harping about me and arcane magic!? I mean this is what I get for being open about it to my friends… you people don't understand anything, yet you judge and judge and judge, maybe I won't be so generous to help Helena if you keep squabbling on about me."

"Ok, ok fine, I'll shut it I'll shut it… anyways, Helena's in the next room sparring with Antonio."

Helious nodded at his friend's answer, before opening the door that lead into the guild sparring room. Inside, he instantly recognized the familiar figure of 2 assassins cross's sparring in the room.

"Helena SLOW DOWN! What the heck has gotten into you today!? You're too damn aggressive!"

Helious raised an eyebrow.

Helena? Aggressive? Something was wrong with that, she was one of the most timid, book loving assassin cross Helious had ever met in his life, it was a wonder that she had even manage to pass through the assassin trials, let alone make it into the imperial group of assassin cross's. True enough that her scouting and spying skills were top notched, but she was always one of the weakest fighters in the guild.

But the sight in front of him clearly stated the assassin had changed in the short time his been away. In fact, it seemed as though she was beating the guild's top assassin, Antonio, into a pulp.

Antonio was already sweating profoundly, whilst Helena seemed unfazed.

"They've been sparring for almost 3 hours; it's amazing how Helena could keep up, much less overcome Antonio's strength. Must be some kinda feed back from her being so much of a book worm for too long, the master's pretty happy with her recent improvements, but it's weird to see our little Helena beating Antonio the eagle like she is now…" Elric whispered.

Helious agreed that it was a strange sight; it was as though Antonio and Helena had changed roles, Helena being the one who was usually worn out, and Antonio being the one yelling at her to get better.

"C'mon Antonio! What's up with you today? I thought you always wanted to see the day that I would match your speed? Didn't expect that I would surpass it so quickly eh?" Helena mused playfully towards the other assassin.

Without another word the smaller girl rushed towards the already tired assassin cross, drawing her daggers forth and pinning the taller assassin on the ground with her body weight. Helious could distinctly hear the older assassin groan in dull pain as Helena removed her weight from his body, offering a hand for him to be pulled up, only to find that Antonio had been pushed towards unconsciousness.

"I haven't felt this good in years!"

"Good to see that you're finally standing up for yourself Helena!" Helious yelled. He wasn't that fond of Antonio anyways.

"You think it'll be good to let him stay there on the ground?"

"Meh, I didn't do any real damage, just bruised him and knocked him around, that's all, and he'll be up in a few hours." Helena muttered uncaringly.

Wow. There had been a huge change since he had left after all.

"C'mon, I need to show you the scroll I found when I was in the dungeons hunting around for treasure..."

"Ook.."

Helious glanced impressively at the scroll that was presented to him shortly. It was no cheap shot scroll made by just any wizards, it looked ancient. And authentic, the writings were definitely in the language of Glast Heim. One of the main cities that were condemned and destroyed by the over usage and abuse of arcane magic during the Early AQ period. Helious scanned through the words, taking them into his mind and translating them as he went.

He could not believe himself, he could only understand a fragment of the scroll, the ones with words containing only of the most basic vocabulary of the arcane runes. The rest were too advance for him to understand. But the information that was known was enough to tell him that the scroll wasn't even a scroll. But a page from a tome. It seemed as though it was released from its bindings, torn at the edges were it would have been attached to the book itself. But what had shocked him the most, was the name that was written at the bottom of the page.

Barely readable, covered in dirt and what Helious assumed, was dry blood.

"Zhytrial Nightlom" Helious muttered the name aloud. Causing both the wizard and assassin beside him to tense.

The name of the accursed Dark Lord. The fallen bishop that had brought down the most powerful and beautiful cities in ancient history. The bane of Glast Heim.

The very reason why Arcane magic was banned.

"Don't tell me..."

"It's a big possibility you know... there is after all, too much blimps and blank darts in history, I mean, it is hard to tell the difference between what is real and what isn't... You know, seeing that what happened a hundred years ago pretty much shattered the believes in the church as well as the history they had painted for us all..."

"What the heck do you think this is then? A page from his diary?" Elric scoffed.

"No, it isn't. It's something more... I know it is.." Helious muttered darkly in return.

Zhytrial Nightlom, the most powerful arcane magic holder in all of history, the author of the Book of Remembrance. The legendary book that was said to have caused the destruction of Glast Heim, and also the origin of the Satan of Morocc.

"I can't understand almost the whole scroll, I'll need some time to translate the whole thing, till then there's really nothing much I can tell you..."

"Its cool, take as long as you want" Helena cheered.

Helious raised his eyebrow at his guild mate once more. At the corner of his eye, he noticed Elric shrugging his shoulders as well. Helena was also known to be the most protective of her treasure finds, especially something this rare, that could easily cost a mountain in the black market.

"O..kay... what's the catch Helena?"

She looked at him almost blankly.

"There is no catch, just translate it and get it back to me Asap, I wanna known what's written on it."

"Why?"

"So I can sell it to the highest bidder in the black market." She replied without a heartbeat.

Ok, maybe there were just some things that never do change in people.

"I think I've outstayed my welcome." Helious promptly replied, as the trio walked through the familiar halls of Helious's old guild castle.

"Nonsense! How many times do you want me to say that we like having you around? Even with your horrible sense of humour."

"No, really, its getting late, and I need to be somewhere."

"Where? back to your books? C'mon Helious live a little for once, for a wizard in his prime, you act as though you've faded into dust eons ago. We're getting to a bar, and I'm gonna get you drunk tonight, and we're gonna have fun! Right Helena?"

" I'm game for a bar, I haven't stepped into one for Ages. Well, as long as you guys don't do anything stupid again, we can call the old gang too! I mean I kinda miss seeing Kiyone and Tom..."

Both Helious and Elric stopped dead on their track. Glancing oddly at Helena.

"Who and who?"

"Oops sorry, they were characters in a book I read, they reminded me of Dustin and Eva." Helena sheepishly replied, a blush faintly brushing up against her cheeks.

Both Elric and Helious burst out in laughter at the younger member of their old group. Maybe it would do him some good to go out once in awhile. It did seem as though he was holed up with books for far too long. As the trio walked out, only to be caressed by the fresh Geffenian air. Helious once more, breathed, and felt as though his life would be better with such sunshine and company. Maybe he had been dwelling in the dark for far too long, I guess it was good to come out for some fun once in awhile....

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The Red Anolian was of the place where Helious actually did feel as though he was warped back into the times of guild wars and missions, It was always full of people from their branch guilds and alliances, drinking up a storm as well as causing mayhem as far as the eye could see in the small bar. Helious allowed himself to sink into the once familiar surroundings, enjoying the atmosphere of the buzzing noises as well as knights boasting of their kills, dancers prancing around handing drinks and slapping off wondering hands. Bards that would sing spontaneously as well as the never ending flow of booze and cheerfulness. Helious had to admit to himself that the cloud of gloom and frustration that was trailing over his head after he had failed his simple arcane spell was slowly ebbing away as the trio sat at their usual old table.

"EHY! DUSTIN! EVAAAAA over hereeee!" Elric yelled into the crowd, as Helious noticed the familiar signs of a minstrel as well as a gypsy making their way over to the table.

"Well well well, if it isn't our dear ol Helious! What brings you to this part of Geffen? Aren't you suppose to be trolling the deepest darkest dungeons for more of your so call 'knowledge hunting?' " Dustin grinned as he took his seat right beside the older wizard.

"Well, I missed you too much, so I crawled outta my coffin of books and musty old paper to come and see you"

"I'm touched."

"Don't be, you owe me 200 zeny, remember?"

"Shit, you actually remembered that!?"

The crowd burst into familiar laughter, as the night drew on and the beer continued to flow, Helious was feeling happier than he did for awhile now, but it seemed as though reminders of the lust he had for arcane magic was never too far away. There were just too many things that would remind him of his thirst.

"Hey, Hey check that out Hel!" Elric hissed as he nudged Helious as his side.

"What?"

"That girl over there! Look! God, you don't see those everyday." Elric grinned wolfishly.

Helious took a glance at the bar table to the girl Elric had pointed out.

"Whoa, that's a first, a priestess in a black robe." Eva muttered.

Helious froze as he once again found himself glancing at the haunting beauty.

Elvanna.

"Oh jeez! She's looking over here! God, is she checking me out?" Elric smiled at the steel eyed priestess, who had an amused smile on her face.

Without further notice she approached the table, Helious found himself somehow entranced at the way she walked. But snapped out as soon as she placed her hands onto their table.

"Helious, I've been looking all over for you!"

"What?"

Helious could tell from the surprise in his friends voice that he was not expecting that, at all.

"What is it? Elva?" he muttered a slight agitated reply.

"I've found some information and files that might interest you..."

He noted that she had trailed off, her eyes scanning the people that he was sitting with caution. That was right, she was another arcane magic user like himself, and there were some things that you wouldn't just spit out in public. Especially to strangers like Elric and the others whom she had not seen before.

"Uhh, is this a bad time? We can discuss about the findings later on you know..."

"No its Ok, I was just leaving.." Helious muttered as he stood up, his mind already whirling and wondering what on earth did the priestess find. His twinge of curiosity always did get the best of him.

He could feel the protest of the table, ranging from the slight groan that Elric was making, though he could not tell the difference whether it was from envy, or something else. But he knew that the look that the older wizard had given him was one that said they needed to talk about this, and that he couldn't run from the fact there was explaining to be told to his friend, on why he would be leaving into the evening with the raven haired beauty that stood before them all.

Helious gave his friend an indigently look before leaving the bar with the black robed priestess, already feeling his head clearing a little more, and his mind focusing back into the matters of magic. He could already feel his body longing for the secrets of the forbidden magic calling for him.

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"I'm sorry if I was disturbing anything festive."

"It's nothing, they dragged me into the bar without much thought on how I felt.."

"But you did seem like you were enjoying yourself." The girl smiled as they walked through the darkening streets of Geffen.

"Yea sorry, I had to admit, seeing them was enjoyable... But it brought back memories of the guild I would rather not recall back. All in all I guess it was a pretty fair trade."

"Thats good, at least you have friends that care for you, thats always a good thing..."

Helious noted a hitch in her voice, not wanting to sound rude or anything, he decided to ignore the strangeness that he felt coming from the shorter priestess. Why had he apologize to her in the first place? It was as though it was just a natural reaction for him, funny how only a few moments ago he felt pretty good being with his friends, but now, he felt as though it was all something so meaningless, his stomach seemed to turn inside out while he was walking with the priestess, battling unknown emotions deep inside himself.

"So what did you find?" Helious asked quickly, before the girl could say anything else, or ask him anything more. He noticed a grin lining onto the priestess's face.

"Your just gonna have to come with me to see."

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"What in god's name is...."

"Thats right, its unbelievable isn't it?"

Unbelievable was almost an understatement on what the black priestess had found. Helious gripped the old tome in his hand, looking through the pages in amazement.

"This.. this can't be right..."

"Well, it is, its a picture book of the church's exorsicm squad dating back a hundred years. And this, this is Lamia Lightstrom, the one that was mentioned in the journal of Xandria you found."

Indeed the pictures looked authenthic, it seeemed as though it was a memoir book for the souls that fought bravely during the time of the warring state. The group shot showed 7 priest's and priestess's, all dressed in black, though it seemed as they were all spoting half hearted smiles on their faces. From the hardship they faced maybe?

"There she is right there, the one at the top left corner."

"How can you be so sure its her?"

"Well, this was one of the few books I found in the exorsicm squad's library after you left yesterday. All the priest's and priestess's then were brilliant I have to say, much more then the priests you see running around these days. Each and every one of them had contributed something almost priceless to the church. But all under the name of bishop Lias....this is the only book of their memories and traces of Lamia in them. I couldn't find any records of her dating back though, as though her memories and her very being was destroyed from the church's normal records of high ranking priestess's."

"It was because she was accused of seducing the late bishop, she was hanged and killed, a disgrace to the church, well what so I have read in the journal of Xandria, but how are we suppose to prove anything with only a picture and a journal?"

"Well, what else did Xandria write about in her journal about Lamia then?"

"That she wasn't even buried in the Prontera cemetary......but..."

"But what?"

"But Xandria had stated that she had dug out her grave and replaced it with the late bishop's one at that time..."

"And the church would never unearth a late bishop's grave for the kicks...and if indeed the church did hold out on their own regulations...Than that would mean.."

"That Lamia would be in the late bishop's grave in the church cemetary."

"Well, only one way to prove that the journal she written was really ones of a mad women... or a piece of unofficial history on what had happened a hundred years ago. The hundred lost years prior to the war of dark matter...is to..."

Helious could already feel his heart beating ever so quickly, already knowing what the priestess would say next. He spotted a feral grin on her face, a glint in her eyes that showed no fear what so ever.

"We're gonna dig the grave up..."