A/N's: Surprised to see an update so soon? Nah. I said I'd be getting this done. Didn't I? I don't know. I don't even trust the things I tell myself sometimes... Anyways, enjoy the chapter! I gave up on my homework and updated early... Haha.


Chapter 8: The Fourth Sword

A spark passed between the two beings. One, a being of the living, possibly living in a story that he had been pulled into. The other, a spirit belonging to the story that had arrived in the existence of their dimension. Needless to say, they weren't friends, nor would they be friends. However, the two of them had one thing in common and it was to protect a girl, who they each called by a different name, but was, essentially, the same person. Their reasons to protect her were entirely different, but their goal remained the same. As they faced each other, that thought was made obvious to the both of them.

"This sword was the weapon I wielded in the story. I am well aware that this isn't our world. When all the spirits are gathered and the maiden puts us back into harmony, we will return to our story." Terrane pointed to the hilt, where there were four holes. Two of them had been filled: One with a white jewel, and the other with a green one. "These four spots hold a piece of a crystal containing the power of each of the Four that the Maiden has gathered. As you can see, the white crystal contains a part of the wind's power and the green crystal contains a part of the earth's power. As the Maiden completes the main tests, a small part of their power is transferred to this sword." He offered it to Fakir. "I know how you feel about the Maiden. We spirits can sense emotions, especially strong ones. That is probably why Reina targeted you. While looking for Ahiru you were most likely overwhelmed with your worry over her. The spirit of darkness most likely picked up on that. If you wish to protect her, I will lend you my sword." The other seemed to shocked to move.

"Why?"

Terrane blinked. "Whatever do you mean?"

"There has to be another reason for this. And there is, isn't there?"

Terrane chuckled and smiled. "Take the sword, Fakir. You know it as well as I do. We must protect the Maiden. If we happen to fail, we'll never get our happy ending... and you'll never get yours." Fakir held the hilt, but didn't necessarily take the sword from his own hand. His eyes held a steady determination.

"And what about Ahiru?"

Terrane nodded. "Take the sword. If we succeed in our endeavours, all will be well. We'll all get the happy ending we deserve."

Fakir also nodded at this, and finally took the sword from Terrane. He waved it around in the air fashionably and smiled.

"This is an incredible sword."

Terrane smirked at that. "It's mine. Of course, it is." Fakir rolled his eyes. "Now, let's go find the Maiden, and get Myune to add her power to the sword. I'm sure they're done by now."

"You mean, Ahiru passed?"

Terrane gave him a strange look. "Why wouldn't she?"


Ahiru took a huge breath of air. She had broken through the ocean's surface and looked around. Myune wasn't anywhere. Her hand subconsciously touched her chest, where her necklace should be. She gasped and shock when she realized that it wasn't. She went into a complete panic when she also noticed that she couldn't feel the presence of any of the crystals. She looked all around her. Did it fall off while she was swimming to the surface? Where was Myune?

The waves grew rougher. They grew taller, stronger, thicker. They became dangerous. They rolled over her and crashed into her until she was below the surface again, without breath. She closed her eyes tightly and tried to calm down.

Myune... this isn't... this isn't part of her test!

When she opened her eyes again, she saw someone holding her hand, before she felt it. Then, her eyes locked with another pair of blue eyes, and in a swirl of motion, she was being held and the scenery disappeared.

Both of them lay gasping on the shore of the lake. Ahiru coughed up some water as Myune watched her. The spirit pushed herself up.

"Are you alright, Maiden?" Still coughing, the girl nodded as Myune sighed before smiling. She offered her a hand. "I apologize for my actions earlier. Maybe Leah was right in choosing you."

Ahiru looked up at her hopefully. "Do you mean that I ... I passed?!"

Myune laughed. "Are you really that surprised? The others never had any doubt that you would. Why would you?"

She looked down at her now soaked shoes. "Well, you didn't think I would, didn't you?"

"Perhaps. But, you've proved me wrong." Ahiru looked up at her again. "Did you know that our old Maiden never fought us either? She danced a bit, yes, but in order to bring us back, she told us stories. She wrote for us. She loved stories. If she was anywhere, she would mostly likely be in the library. Even when she got sick, she'd be there. If there was a storm, we all knew where she was. The library. Somewhere where she could sit and read a book. That's part of who she was. And, sometimes, the things she wrote came true. That's how we joined her. I vowed to protect her... yet, somehow, something happened and she disappeared. So, we also... disappeared. The world we left was shrouded in darkness, forever more."

Ahiru's eyes were wide with sorrow. "A tragedy..."

"Yes. But, don't worry about that." Myune rubbed Ahiru's head. "I guess your wings really are growing in after all, Ahiru. Congratulations on passing."

"Stop right there!" The two of them froze as soldiers came out from behind the trees and surrounded them. Myune glared at them and stood protectively in front of Ahiru.

"Ah, Myune..." The spirit of water glanced over her shoulder.

"I'll get us out of this. Just run when I tell you to run. Use Luke to increase your speed. I'll catch up."

Without waiting for a response, Myune stepped forward. She called forth her own power and with a wave of her arm, cast her own spell.


The time had finally come! The boy was writing with a strange gleam in his eyes. Yes! After all of this time, and after all of the work he had put forth to setting this up, he would finally get what he deserved. He wrote one last line, before smirking to himself and pushing his glasses. The candle light reflected off of the glass darkly, giving him an eerie look.

Then, he vanished. The candle went out and the story lay on the table, unfinished and ready to spin into a whirlwind of chaos.


Myune whacked away another wave of soldiers with her power of water. She made a large whip, made out of water, and used it to move them out of their way. They managed to make their way into the middle of town. Ahiru had summoned Leah's power to fingertips and blew some of them away. Sadly, there seemed to be an endless amount of them.

"AHIRU!" A voice yelled out. Myune smirked.

"It's about time they found us."

"Fakir!" Ahiru cried as she recognized the two figures running towards the fray. Terrane simply turned a few of them into trees as Fakir charged forward with a sword. He knocked some them away. One solider tried fighting him off with an axe, but the weapon was mysteriously blown away. Soon enough, the four of them grouped together, with Ahiru behind the three of them. They heard someone clap and the soldiers backed off. They stood side by side and formed a path for a man who had a crown on his head. Terrane and Myune tensed but didn't move. Ahiru stepped closer to Fakir.

"Ah, Fakir..." He turned and smiled down at her. Being unable to resist, he pulled her close and embraced her in a tight hug. He buried his face in her hair affectionately.

"Ahiru... I'm glad you're safe."

"Sorry to ruin the moment, you two, but we have a problem at the moment," Myune hissed at them quietly. The man before them clapped.

"Good show! Good show! You really are the spirits of the crystals that the Maiden has gathered. Hah! My soldiers didn't stand a chance against you at all. Obviously, it seems, if I want to beat you, I'll need a better weapon of choice."

"What do you want? We don't have time to waste."

The man smirked. "Well, I am the new King here."

"King? Kinkan town has never had nor needed a king!" Fakir shouted. The 'King' seemed to ignore him.

"And, as King I get what I wish for. And I want the Maiden." He pointed at Ahiru, who was quickly blocked from view by both Terrane and Myune.

"Hold on!" Another voice cried out. There was a swirl of light and another boy appeared. This person though, Fakir and Ahiru clearly recognized. "I am the true King!"

Fakir nearly dropped the sword in shock. "A-Autor?!"


What is Autor up to and what is his plan? Ahiru has passed three of the tests and only the Fire and Light element remain. How will she reach them? Fakir was given the Fourth Sword, the same sword that Terrane wielded in the story. Was there really a hidden intention for Terrane to give him the sword? More to be learned... in the next chapter! Please Review! They make me smile. =) ~L-F OUT!