Chapter 6: The End of One Adventure, the Start of Another

The ship back to Victoria Island was calm and quiet. It was no surprise. Everyone was busy feeling the wonderful view on the deck, feeling the breeze, as they reflected on their past six-month trip. Even Riex was quiet as the three friends gazed at the island, where they had their first adventures, that was slowly disappearing on the ocean horizon. Leonard left the company of his two friends for a bit. There was no need to be hang out all the time. They all needed some alone time to look back at what they have finished and the new bonds they made. He walked along the side of the ship, though a bit disappointed that he never bought a souvenir. The scroll he found a long time ago was supposed to be his to keep, but it served its purpose when it saved the lives of his friends and him. Mai got savage when the four saw her half naked after one of their training sessions. They would have been badly cut if Sora had not used the scroll on Mai's scimitar and broke it. The scroll had a 70 chance of succeeding but a 30 of failing and breaking the weapon at the same time, but among the few things you have to give Sora credit for was his resourcefulness and luck. He climbed up the stairs on the deck to meet the captain, whom he remembers and whom remembers him. The captain seemed to understand what everyone was going through and decided to keep the bells silent and gave only a nod to Leonard as the beginner set his sight on the engines at the side of the ship. He came to Maple Island alone, but left with his friends, and one more. He was in his own world, playing back the events of the goodbye to his thief friend.

The hall was packed with graduates saying their goodbyes. Leonard, Riex and Arweild's ship wont leave until noon, but Sora's was about to depart. The three was up on the balcony in the hall, looking at those who boarded the ship. There they saw Sora waving his hand and the three waved in return. They could still remember Sora's words from a few minutes ago: "Stop by Kerning sometime and I'll show you around"

Nothing much happened after Sora left. The group walked around and enjoying the nostalgic feeling of setting foot on familiar ground. They tried out a few food places that they never been to as well as the markets in Southperry. And before they knew it, their ship was ready to depart.

The sun was setting by the time they reached Lith Harbor, so they took a taxi to Perion, where they parted ways upon arriving. Riex went west to his family's mansion, Arweild east for the fighter dojo and Leonard waited on a bench. Looking up the sky, he gave an annoyed expression. Why won't the moon come out already? I miss them both. After being away for half a year, the least I want is for mom and dad to see me back.

The market was still crowded with people of all kinds, but most of them were warriors. There were other classes, but they seemed out of place in his dessert homeland. Out of the bustling crowd came a man with a tall and strong stature. Leonard's eyes gleamed as the man approached. The man gave off a strong yet warm and kind aura. His Devil Sunrise was a perfect fit for his height and his face showed a welcoming smile. "It's been a long six months. Welcome home, son."

"Dad, you're here!" he said excitedly. His father gave him a pat on the head, much like any father would do.

"I can tell that you've gotten stronger. Did you learn anything during your time away?"

"I learned plenty. But I did miss watching you fight the monsters around town. Every time we would go field training, I tried copying your moves but it's really hard to get it right."

"Hahaha. Don't be discouraged by it. It took me a long time to master my weapon skills, but those aren't as important if you don't know how to survive in the wilderness. What you learned in Maple Island will be the first step you take in becoming a proud warrior."

"It's not that important. I still think that being strong is way better. I want to be as strong as you dad."

"Someday son. Someday." His father said, still patting his head.

"Excuse me Sir, are you Sir Jerin, the renowned Dessert Tiger?" A voice came from outside the conversation, disrupting the moment. It was an old man, the owner of a small noodle shop just outside the market.

"Please sir, no need for formalities. Just Jerin is fine. Leonard, can you give us a minute?" He said

"No no, no need for that. I just stopped by to say thank you for helping my granddaughter this morning. She told me that you had rescued her from rouge fire boars. For that, I am in your debt." He gave a polite bow.

"Ahh, so you are the grandfather of that little one. No need to thank me sir, I only did what everyone else would do."

"Oh, but there is a need to thank you. My granddaughter is very important to me. So, if you ever have a craving for noodles, come to my shop and I'll whip you up some of my best noodles. My shop, though small as it is, serves some of the finest noodles in Perion." The old man said another round of appreciation and bid them farewell.

Jerin returned his attention to his son, who was waiting patiently for him to finish. "Sorry about that Leonard. This is supposed to be our quality time."

"No, its ok. I know how it is with your reputation. I'm used to it by now." Leonard said, shaking his head, a smirk never leaving his face.

The father and son walked across the still busy market of Perion, shopping for a new set of Lolica armor. It was a long search, but none seemed to match, so they decided to postpone it until another time. They walked out of the market and proceeded west for more quality time. It was not long after that they met another warrior who just entered Perion through the west entrance. This man also held a Devil's Sunrise, but he also had his Commodore armor. Leonard took a closer look at the insignia on the right arm. There it shown; a crest of wild flame beautifully lined with gold around the edge and streaks of red emanating from the centre of the flame and stretches farther along the arms of his armor.

That crest. Leonard thought. That's Riex's family crest. Is it Riex's father?

Jerin broke the moment when he saw the red-headed man walk towards them. "It's a rare sight to see you in full armor old friend."

"Jerin. Good evening to you too. I see that your son has returned. That means Riex is also back at home correct?" He asked Leonard.

"Yes he is. He said that he'll head straight home." Leonard responded politely before the man who is at he same status as his father.

"I see. Thank you. I'm sorry I can't stay and talk, but I have to get home and start on my son's lesson plans." His voice had a tone of seriousness ever since he spoke and it seemed to have gotten more serious after hearing Riex's return. Leonard pondered on why this man and his father were completely different when his friend and he had so much in common.

"Are you sure you want to start his training right now. Don't you think you should let him mature a bit? Take is slower?" It was the first concerned remark that Jerin said all night. He knew that Riex had potential, but this training might be pushing him over the edge.

"Jerin old friend. We went and fought in the war together. You should know that I do not take careless actions. I will not train my son if I think he cannot handle it. Besides, the path of a Knight is long and hard. It is best for him to start now, save any regrets later."

"I understand. But a boy of fourteen to start difficult elemental studies as well as warrior training… I guess its not my privilege to say what you should and what you should not do. I am a Crusader after all." Jerin's voice had some concerns, but it still reflected some reassurance of his old friend's methods.

"Well then, I thank you for understanding my situation. Now if you would excuse me, I have to confront my son about his weapon choices. You should talk to your son about it soon. A warrior first leap starts with a weapon after all. Goodnight." With that, Riex's father simply walked past them and took the path for the mansion on the west side of Perion.

"Hey dad…" Leonard spoke with a soft, slightly confused voice.

"I already know what you're going to ask. I know that it is strict, but don't hate him for his decision. He bears the crest of his proud family line. It's only natural that he wants Riex to continue his legacy." Jerin placed his hand over his son's shoulder. "Don't let it bother you so much. You know very well what your friend can do. He'll be alright."

"I know… But you said that it was too strict."

"There aren't many Knights among the warrior population. There are more Crusaders like me out there. Riex does carry a big burden; being born in a family of renowned Knights places tremendous pressure and expectations. But remember, he is not the only one struggling. Many of the young warriors are also in this position. Take Arwield for instance. His parents died in the war and he lives with his grandfather, the headmaster of the Fighter's dojo. He is also given the great expectation to rise up and become a powerful Crusader for the front line of every battle… And… you too." Jerrin walked over to the bench and they both sat.

Leonard looked at his father, baffled at what he just said. "Me? I don't feel pressured at all. You were fine even if I chose not to be a warrior."

"True. But that doesn't mean that others don't have high expectations for you. You are the son of the Dessert Tiger after all. Don't get me wrong. The title I have doesn't mean much to me. I never came from a family with high expectations either, however, thanks to that title, other warriors want you to follow in my footsteps. I apologize for bringing this to you… and to your mother as well."

There was a brief silence between them. Leonard understood his father's situation. His father worked hard to support him as well as help the city of Perion. He contributed much during the war and the transition between the war and peace times. His title was preserved and he became a living legend because of his vigor in battle. Even now he still does all he can, working with high ranking officials, to keep the peace.

"Don't worry too much about me dad. I'm mature enough to understand your situation. And though still can't be seen outside with mom, I'm fine because I see her every night. Don't forget… you also have a big responsibility as the Dessert Tiger. Mom understands that too."

"Yeah… You know… It was a hard decision that your mother had to go through… I would have given up all my authority, that was no problem with me, but you mother wanted the best for you. She is a Chief Bandit who is married to a renowned warrior. If the news spread, it would be catastrophic. Not everyone would accept her. But I don't blame them either. The war has left scars… I can still remember the night you were born. It was when we had settled in Perion. It was also the night when she decided to hide her marriage with me. It was so that you could grow with the people knowing that you are the son of a great Crusader, a proud warrior. Even now, I feel incredible guilt when I lie about being married to a Perion-born lady who died after your birth. I'm sure that she is also lonely, being unable to introduce herself as your mother. Whenever I see her with tears, I always told myself, if only I had met her earlier, then maybe none of this would have happened. However, she always reassures me that she is fine, and I would believe her beautiful and honest smile. Leonard, you are very lucky to have a loving mother. You should be very proud of her." Jerin was looking at the night sky while he talked, then he looked at his son's face, seeing a very proud look in his eyes and tears of happiness ready to flow.

The young man closed his eyes, with his mouth still showing a smile. "I am very proud dad, of both mom and you. You two are my pride and I promise to work hard so that I don't let you down."

"Hehehe. No matter how hard I try I can never imagine you letting us down." Jerin got up and stretched his arms. "We should head back. Cynthia should be home by now. I'm sure you want to see her too."

"Alright… The usual?" Leonard readied himself in racing position and beckoned his father to do the same. "Last one washes the dishes."

"Hehehe. You're on." And they raced at the count of three.

They passed the Perion market in a flash and went north, with Leonard taking the lead. Up the cold stone stairs was where Jerin caught up, but the 14 year-old pulled away at the peak. Both father and son enjoyed their little race, like they always did. Winds rushing on their faces and the rush of keeping the lead reminded them of all the times they raced the very same route, betting the messy chores on the line. As he neared the small two-story house at the end of the dirt road, Leonard realized what others may have not noticed; he was truly back to his hometown, back to where it all began, back in the dessert city, back in Perion…

Tears started forming in the young man's eyes as a woman stepped outside the small house and into the cold night. She knelt down and opened her arms wide to her son.

"Mom!" Leonard called out as he jumped into his mother's arms and into a loving embrace.

he was back home.

"I'm home." He whispered, and she held him tighter.

"Welcome home my baby." At first sight, this woman could not be recognized as a Chief Bandit. That was because during her embrace, she was neither a Thief nor a soldier; she was a mother, to the two boys in her life.

Dinner finished and Jerin walked down the stairs after setting Leonard to bed. They had been talking for hours and it was past midnight. Cynthia was cleaning the table when Jerin walked over to her. He held her tightly as if she had been gone for months and she held him back.

"My little boy is growing up" she mumbled. "And he's chosen to be a strong warrior like his father. I'll leave his training to you're care. He does get his strength from you."

"Uh-huh… But he also gets his speed from you. I can never catch up to him in a race. That means were both going to teach him about battle." He looked at her and smiled. "I'm going to Dances with Balrog with him tomorrow to get his weapon. Are you heading off to Kerning?"

"I have to, but don't worry. The Dark Lord's been very understanding of our situation and he's only given me missions close by. I can come back tomorrow night. I should also get some lighter armor for him there. At least those look better on him than those Lolica set you used to wear. I still remember when we first met. You wore that Brown Lolica and it was a major turn off."

"Hahaha. How true… You look tired. Get some rest. I'll clean the dishes."

"You lost to him in a race again didn't you?"

"Hehe. He is my son after all. Goodnight." Cynthia went up the stairs to Leonard's room before retiring for the night. As she closed her eyes, she envisioned her son as a strong man like his father.

"Grow up to be the best you can be, dear."

Sunshine penetrated from the cracks between the mountains in Perion. It was morning. Many are already awake and have set to train before the searing heat during mid day catches up on them. Leonard and Jerin left their house about the same time as everyone else but their goal was not to train, it was to head for Dances with Balrog to choose a weapon for Leonard. A warrior may choose any weapon that he or she likes but they don't usually decide on one particular type of weapon until the second job rank. That's when they explore deeper into the weapon's capabilities. However, often the warriors who are best at controlling their weapons are the ones that stick to that particular type right after they become promoted as a warrior. Jerin, Riex's father, Arweild's grandfather, and the stronger officials of Perion know this by instinct and understand it by experience. Thus is the Perion saying: The holder chooses his weapon, the weapon chooses its holder. The reason why most warriors are not told to stick to one type weapon is because they are still do not have what it takes to judge whether the weapon is rightfully theirs or not.

They had reached Dances with Balrog's gate. It was a tall and made of the strongest metals it made Dances with Balrog's home seemed like a natural fortress. It was only open for the public during the afternoon, but those within the higher ranks have been granted a key to open these gates, and Jerin is one of them.

"Leonard, you haven't seen me open these gates have you?" Leonard shook his head. "Alright. Watch carefully. You see these small slits on the gate? These oversized slits are actually keyholes that only specific keys can open. Now-"

Jerin pulled his Devil Sunrise from the holster on his back and showed it to Leonard. "-notice my sword. Tell me what you see."

"I don't see anything different about it, besides the crest on the blade near the handle."

"Yes, at first glance it looks normal, but look closer at the transition between the sharp edge and the centre of the sword."

He took a closer look and noticed that the transition wasn't in a straight line. A barely noticeable difference between Jerin's Devil Sunrise from normal a Devil Sunrise was the key-like formation of the transition between the sharp blade and the centre of the sword. The more noticeable difference is the crest that came with Jerin's title. It is the head of a sand-yellow and black-striped tiger with its right paw lunged forward. It revealed its ferocious fangs and sharp claws, displaying a façade of great strength.

"This is… a key?" Leonard questioned.

"Right. Now watch how I open this door. I thought it was so cool the first time I did it." Jerin withdrew his sword to the side with the blade horizontal in stabbing position. With the blink of an eye he lunge it towards the slit on the gate. clank clank clank Gears could be heard from the other side slowly turning and locking onto the sword. A long vertical slit behind the outer locks extended from the top of iron door down towards the radius from the sword's centre.

"Now for the fun part." Jerin rotated his Devil Sunrise until the slit was parallel the longer slit then suddenly forced his sword upward, knocking open the outer locks. There was a loud bang from the force used to open the door, and then silence. Jerin re-sheathed his blade and the iron door crept open to reveal a dark room lit by torches, and sitting in the centre was a big man wearing a large head ornament. It was Dances with Balrog, awaiting their arrival.

"Jerin, Leonard, I have been expecting you. Come in and sit with me for a while." The two sat and began a conversation.

"How did you know we were coming Sir?"

"Your friends have been here earlier this morning and chosen their weapons. Only you have not done so." He faced Jerin. "Has your son developed a sense for a weapon he can call his own?"

"That is the reason we're here. But please explain to him how it works."

The Perion chief nodded. "Listen my boy. Perion youngsters are born with unrivalled potential for great strength and stamina. We may not be the fastest of all the job classes but we can accomplish what to others may seem impossible to some degree. Our advantages make us excellent in close combatants more than anything else. But before we go into battle, we would require a weapon. These weapons may just be plain sticks or sharp edges to others but to us, they are far greater than they appear. In the hands of a skilled warrior with his chosen weapon, a simple hunting knife may seem like a wall of swords for his opponent. However, this is not always the case. Usually, young warriors have not developed a sense of which weapon perfects them. It is not simply a matter of choosing among the group, it is more like a feeling, a sudden surge that the holder feels. It is hard to describe with words but once you have developed that feeling, you will be able to tell whether a weapon is something you can call your own or not. This is why only those who are taking the second job advancement are required to choose their own weapon specialty. Think of it as time for the warriors to mature and develop their unique judgment. Now, have you any idea of what kind of weapon perfects you?" Dances with Balrog's speech left an impression on the young man as he had not thought of any of these.

"No Sir. But I do want to become strong like my father, so if it is possible, I'd like to have a sword like his." Leonard looked at his father and the chief and saw disagreeing faces.

"It's not that easy son. If you do not pick the weapon that was meant for you, it would be much harder to stay at the same level as others in your group."

"But dad! I want to be strong like you."

Jerin sighed. "Being strong does not mean that you have to be a sword Crusader like me, you can choose any weapon and still be strong."

"Jerin, why don't you share your experience when you first chose your sword?" Dances with Balrog said as he stood and prepared all the available weapons that Leonard may choose from.

"Alright. Son, when I was choosing my weapon, I never thought that it was going to be a sword. I was the first in my family to be a warrior so I was very clueless the first time I had to choose. I thought that since I don't have to stick to any one particular type, I could try out everything and decide on my second job. By the time I reached out for the sword, which was my last choice, I felt something. It's hard to explain but it was like a rush. The moment I held that blade was the time I knew that it was perfect for me. That's about all I can say. I just had what it took to recognize my equipment earlier than others, that's all."

"Then… do you think I have the right judgment?" Leonard asked, still confused but there was an expression on his face that seem to reveal that he knew that feeling his father and the Chief was talking about.

"There is one way to find out." Dances with Balrog laid down the weapons in front of him. They were nothing special. From the left it was a spear, a sword, then an ax, followed by a blunt weapon. "Let us begin."

Dances with Balrog handed him the first weapon, a spear, but to the adult's surprise, Leonard ignored the spear without even looking at it and reached straight from the sword. Both of them thought that it was his goal to become a sword Crusader like his father and decided to let it pass. The new warrior held the sword first with one hand, then both but nothing came to him. Neither a surge nor any feeling that pointed to his attachment to the sword.

"Try using it." His father suggested. Leonard swung the blade with one hand, then the other, then with both. He swung vertically, then upwards, then a small hoping slash, but still nothing. Both adults saw nothing but a saddened aura within the child and the sword. It was most likely not his weapon or maybe he has not matured enough to wield it properly. He returned the sword reluctantly to the Chief and once again ignored the spear that was held in front of him. The end result repeated itself and the two have noticed that he was avoiding the spear, but they did not have any proof until the last weapon in line left him empty.

"Now," The Chief said. "this spear is the last. If you still do not feel anything, then I will conclude that you are still not mature enough." Leonard gazed at the spear in front of him and fear started to arise within him.

"M-May I try with the sword once more?" He stammered. Dances with Balrog merely shook his head.

The young man reached slowly for the spear. His hand trembled and this left the other two baffled. No sound could be heard in the room other than Leonard's own rapid breathing. He was distressed, very distressed with just grabbing the spear. Jerin focused his attention to his son, who looked like he was reaching out to a monster that would devour his very being. He wondered what could have made his son so mortified. It was just a regular store-bought spear, one that many have held, yet his hand trembled and sweat drifted down his cheek. Leonard recalled a similar incident that happened some years back and it renewed his fear that the same terrible experience would once again resurface one he touches it. He closed his eyes and used all of his courage to snag the spear of the Chief's hands. He immediately felt a tremendous shock traveling from the spear to his entire body. It was like a bolt of lightning paralyzing his senses. His entire body felt numb and his limbs were giving in. It struck him like his heart had been pierced. Leonard eyes shot open and he witnessed a silhouette of a gigantic, demonic dragon with one of its black claws pierced straight through his chest, reaching past his back. GRRRRAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH. It's ear shattering roar echoed within his ears but he was too panicked to think and his body was paralyzed. He was completely helpless as the dragon pulled its claw, ripping the boy's heart out. Leonard dropped the spear, coughing out blood on the sand covered floor. It all happened in a second.

"LEONARD! Leonard!" Jerin yelled loudly as he rested his son onto his arms. The boy's eyes were slowly closing and his consciousness faded.

That night, Dances with Balrog appeared in front of Jerin's door. It was Cynthia who answered it. Unlike most of the people in Perion, Dances with Balrog was one of the few who knew of the couple's marriage and supported it, but the marriage was hardly the issue to be discussed that night. "Good evening Cynthia, I see that you are doing well… I have to speak to Jerin. Is he inside?"

"Good evening Sir. Please wait one minute." There was worry about her son's health within her but she knew that it must be talked over by the men.

Jerin and the Chief walked outside and sat under the night sky. "… That… was the first time I've seen something like this happen during a weapon selection." Jerin remarked first.

"Indeed… It was such a violent reaction that I do not know what to make of it." The Chief responded.

"Maybe it was just his way of reacting to his weapon. Everyone's is different. I remember this one time when someone trembled after holding his weapon and…"

"Jerin…" Dances with Balrog abruptly cut his speech. "He dropped the spear and coughed up blood. Not a second after touching the spear, he dropped it and collapsed of exhaustion. Such a strong reaction must mean that spear type weapons are not only perfect for him, but he was destined to wield them." Jerin remained silent, staring at the cold ground.

"The weapon chooses it's holder." Dances with Balrog continued before he handed the spear over to him. Jerin took it, it's hilt still stained with blood. "If he wishes to be a great warrior, then he must not fear holding his chosen, no, his destined weapon…"

Jerins eyes lit up, realizing that he was worried for nothing. He had faith in his son's abilities since he is the only child of a strong Crusader and Chief Bandit. He has great potential… this I just realized, but he, like all others he, needs guidance.

"Jerin… you should have realized that he has great potential. With the right guidance, he can grow up to be stronger than you… and stronger than me, so do not let this incident get to you."

"Yeah. That I knew even before the test. I'll talk to him and try to encourage him."

"Then I must take my leave. Goodnight to you and your wife." Dances with Balrog made his way back and Jerin went into his house to explain everything to his wife. After the talk, Cynthia walked up to Leonard's room and saw him awake.

"How are you feeling?" She asked and the boy replied with a mumble. "That's good… you know, the Chief just talked with you're father. He said that you have great potential in you, and I believe them."

"I don't know if I'll ever hold spears again. It was terrifying." He whispered, feeling somewhat ashamed for what he considers as his failure.

Cynthia placed her hand on his forehead then placed her arms around him for an embrace. Softly, she hummed a lullaby, the one that she always sung when he was a child. He listened intently to her mother and absorbed the time with her. "Do you remember why you wanted to become strong like your father?" She asked. "You made that decision all by yourself. During that time we saw in your eyes the determination that only appears when fighting for a cause. As your parents, we will always support you. That is why your father and I asked for more time we can spend with our family."

Leonard was adrift in his mother's words. He recalled the whole reason he wanted to be a warrior in the first place. It was so that he could protect his parents and friends, and to help in building a world free of any discrimination between classes. It was so that he could walk along the cities during the day with both his parents beside him, happy as any other family.

"The world can be a harsh place" she continued. "Your father and I had to overcome great challenges and multiple struggles in the past up until now, and we did. It was all because we love each other, our home, and we love you."

Tears formed in his eyes as those soft words played back in his mind. All of his fears, worries and doubt were replaced with renewed hope and a strong drive to finish what he started. It was all thanks to his parents, his source of pride and courage. He wiped the tears from his eyes and faced his mother with a smile. "Thanks mom." He whispered softly. "I have to talk to dad."

"He's downstairs, waiting." He nodded and went down to meet his father.

Jerin was outside getting some fresh air when his son approached him. "It's about time." He said. "Mind telling me what happened?"

"Sorry about that. It's just that I saw a terrifying vision when I touched the spear. It was just like that time years ago. I'd awoken one night and went downstairs. There I saw a spear with a red multiple-curved blade along with your equipment. I felt like it was calling out to me, so I reached out and touched it. That was when I first saw that vision. I panicked and ran upstairs. The next day I saw that the spear was gone and I thought that all of it was nothing but a dream."

"What kind of vision was it?" Leonard searched his mind but the shock he recalled made it difficult to find the correct words to describe it. Jerin noticed this and decided that he'd be better of not to describe it. "Never mind, it is best that you don't ponder over it too much… Leonard, are you sure that you still want to walk on this path?"

"Yes… I am." Jerin smiled.

"Then you will need this." He took out the spear from before and laid it in front of his feet. "You are destined to hold it. Take your time." Jerin then went back with Cynthia.

Why was I so afraid? It was one of the many questions that plagued his mind. My parents faced their fears and struggles so that they can become strong enough to protect what is important to them. But I… I was cowering away from the goal that I wanted to achieve. I want to be strong not for my sake but for my parent's. I'll show them and everyone else that I too can surpass all challenges that are thrown at me. Everything will start…

Leonard reached out for the spear, but he was gleaming with the courage and determination that his parents had granted him. He closed his eyes and picked held it high. ... with this spear! His eyes opened and he once more saw the dragon, hearing it's menacing roar, but he never faltered, he stood against it like wall and began to speak to it with loud commands.

Leave you monster! I am not afraid of you or any challenge that you lay on me! Leave now or I will make you perish! The dragon's words only seem to grow louder, but as he said the last few words, the silhouette slowly vanished and he returned to reality, holding the spear tightly. His heart was still beating wildly but he felt a triumphant, and the spear no longer embedded him with fear or worry, instead it became a source for his power and security. I had won… but my new journey has just begun.

Within the deepest part of the sanctuary in the ant tunnel, shadows leap and stride across the frozen floor and crumbling supports. No sound is heard, nothing but droplets of water. Nothing can be seen within the pitch black darkness but these shadowed figures gathered by the hundreds before a tall impenetrable gate. Inside there were only a few shadowy figures forming a large circle. Still no sound is made until…

"The key" a figure stated.

"The key" the other responded.

"… is accepted" murmured the last.

A voice echoes from within the gate. "Let it all begin."