Here's the next chapter. Read and review! Enjoy! More Warriors of Vale come around!

After resting a day at Belinsk, the group walked towards Port Rago. There, they were hoping to find a ship that would take them to Champa, and then, Yamata city, where they'll meet up with Eoleo and then Himi.

The group reached the city without too much difficulty. The monsters that usually ran into them had ignored them, and were slowly advancing towards the areas still controlled by the Turaparang. They surely wanted to join the army of darkness.

The Adepts wanted to stop them, but they didn't have time. They had stopped the advance of the Turaparang on the earth, but they hadn't stopped their advance on the sea. The servants of hell had taken over Harun Village, found on a small island which lay on the middle of the eastern sea, just above Okta Island.

But that was not the end of the bad news. There was rumor which said that the city of Kaocho had joined the Turaparang, and was attacking Ayuthay. Fortunately, the allied city had managed to defend itself with the help of Passaj and Harapa, but unlike last time, the city which contained the Alchemy Well had finished the war, far more injured than expected. They had lost a lot of men, and they had lost the capacity to trade with Passaj, so they had a limited amount of equipment.

So Matthew, Karis, Tyrell, Rief, Amiti, and Sveta knew that they had to act fast if they wanted to win the war. Kraden, had left with them for several reasons.

1)He knew he could be some sort of help against the Turaparang, 2)As their tutor, it was his job to continue teaching, and 3) he wanted to return to the Apollo Sanctum to try and learn more about it.

When they reached the eastern city, the group began to search for a boat that would accept to take them.

"Hey kids!" someone cried.

The group turned and looked at the direction from where the shout came from. Piers

was standing on a ship, waving at them.

"Piers" Kraden exclaimed.

The Piers in question was a tall, well-built man in his thirties. He had turquoise eyes with long blue hair. He was also handsome.

They walked to the area where the water Adept was, except for Rief, who ran like hell. He leapt, grabbed the man by the collar and yelled

"Brother-in-law! Where's my sister?"

Confused but grinning, Piers looked at Rief "Brother-in-law? What's the big idea Rief?"

"Where's my sister?"

"Rief! Let go of him." Kraden said

The young water Adept released Piers. "Where's my sister?" he repeated.

"Boy you sure don't want to be driven away from the subject. You're sister's fine. She's in her cabin." but just as Rief began to run to the cabins, Piers caught hold of his shoulder. "We're not married yet Rief. You don't have to call me brother-in-law. Or at least not yet"

The young teenager nodded, and ran to the stair that led under the deck, and to the cabins.

Piers turned to the rest of the group. "Sorry about that. It seems that you want to take sea right? Well I'm your man. Climb aboard."

The group climbed aboard the ship. Kraden then turned to speak to his old student. "I heard that you're engaged to Nowell. Congratulations."

"Who's Nowell?" Sveta whispered in Karis's ear.

"Rief's older sister. What I heard from her the last time was that she was in love with him. I never thought that they would actually marry."

The two girls stayed silent after this.

"HI GIRLS!" someone cried right behind them.

Karis yelped, and leapt two feet in the air. Sveta suddenly shuddered. The two wind Adepts turned around.

"Dad!" Karis cried, hugging Ivan, the veteran Adept. The old wind Adept, laughing hugged his daughter. Ivan had a broken arm, which seemed to be nearly completely healed. His blond hair was dirty, and he was covered with dirt.

"Ivan!" Kraden, Tyrell and Matthew exclaimed.

"Where are Isaac and dad?" Tyrell asked.

"Right here son." Garet said behind the two boys. He looked exhausted, and he was bandaged around his forehead. His clothes were ripped in some areas, and he had a lot of scars, but he was still standing strong.

Tyrell threw his arms around the veteran fire Adept. "Dad! I'm so glad you're okay!"

Matthew looked around for his own father. But he couldn't see him anywhere. Disappointed, the young earth Adept turned away. Piers, sensing Matthew's feeling approached him.

"Don't worry about Isaac." he said. "He's all right. He's with Jenna and Mia at Tonfon city. I just dropped them off. They immediately went to support our most precious ally. You won't have to worry about your parents."

Matthew nodded.

"Dad, why are you so dirty?" Karis asked. "And what happened?" she gently took his bandaged arm.

Ivan smiled. "I just came back from a battle with Garet. The Turaparang sure take advantage of the dust to attack. Good thing that Garet could create a circle of fire. It slowed them enough to give us the ability to counter. As for my arm," Ivan shook his head "It should be gone in a few days."

"As for me, I simply tripped and fell over. You know how clumsy I can get." Garet explained, a bit embarrassed. "Don't think it's a scar of a heroic move."

"Not that I'd want to break the family reunion, but we've got to get going." Kraden said. "We've got to get to Champa before the end of the day."

The two teens looked sadly at the old man.

The two veterans climbed off the ship. "Take care!" Ivan cried, waving his hand.

"Don't worry about us! We'll be fine!" Garet added.

The ship quickly took speed with the wind, and the land was soon out of sight.

Kraden, Karis, Sveta and Amiti went to pick their cabins. Tyrell stayed on deck with the crew, with Matthew, who was standing in front of the ship, feeling the wind brush his face.

The conditions for sail were perfect. The light wasn't too bright, there enough wind and there wasn't a cloud in the sky. Not to mention that the view was fantastic. The ocean spreaded to the infinity, and not a speck of land could be seen. The sun's light was reflected by the ripples, giving the ocean a beautiful light blue color.

"Isaac used to do the same." Piers said behind Matthew, making him jump. He hadn't heard him approach. "Whenever we sailed, he would always be on the deck, admiring the view." he looked down at Matthew cheerfully. "But I ran into Eoleo about a month ago. He said you always hid in the cabins with everyone else. How come?"

"He sings while steering the wheel."

"So? What's wrong with that?"

Matthew gestured to the stairs that led to the cabin. Sveta had returned to the deck, and was standing in front of them.

"So? Sveta turned deaf for more than hour because of this."

Piers laughed. "So where are we going next?"

Matthew thought. "Well we were supposed to reach Champa, but I think it would better to go to Yamata first. Himi is there, and it's relatively close to Harun village. The Turaparang will certainly go there next."

"Then Yamata it is!" Piers announced, spinning the wheel. "We'll be there tomorrow if the weather stays like this. Now will you tell me why you have an exhausted look on your face?"

Matthew looked at him embarrassed. "Something happened."

"No kidding. What?"

"Well Amiti's miniature brain took Tyell's joke so seriously, that we fought, and ended up hanging in the air at the edge of Talon Peak, for nearly all night."

Piers looked confused at him. "What was the big joke?"

Matthew turned red, and looked away. "It's none of your business."

Piers flashed at him an irritating grin. He peered so closely into his eyes that their foreheads were touching.

There was a small ball of brown light that left Matthew's head, and entered Pier's. Piers then summoned Flint.

Matthew's mouth dropped open. "How did you do that?"

"I switched djinns." Piers said cheerfully. "Now Flint, what was Tyrell's big joke that caused Amiti and Matthew to fight?"

The Venus djinn laughed. "Ready?"

"FLINT, IF YOU TELL HIM I'LL KILL YOU!"

"It has something to do with girls."

"IT'S NOT TRUE!"

Flint seemed to think. "If I recall, I think that Matthew is a lovebird."

"PREPARE YOURSELF!"

Matthew chased the Venus djinn around the deck.


The young warrior was standing in a puddle of blood. It soaked his face, hair, clothes and hands. He looked around the empty battlefield. Corpses were lying on the ground like broken wooden toys. The sky was dark, and the dark clouds began to swirl above his head.

The warrior drew his blade from his victim. It was drenched in blood. The warrior turned his victim. The man was barely recognizable. But he knew who it was. He dropped the body.

He looked at the blood on his hands.

The blood of his best friend.


Matthew woke up, sweating and panting. His lungs were whistling, and his heart was pounding loudly. The old scar that the Foul Glutton had given him when he was still in Ayuthay was burning. He gently placed his hand on it, and suppressed a yell. Pain exploded all over his back.

He sat up on his bed.

"Matthew, are you okay?" Tyrell's concerned voice could be heard in the same cabin. Matthew just noticed that the lights were on.

Unable to speak, Matthew nodded.

"You've been moaning for half of the night. I couldn't wake you up. I was beginning to get really worried." Tyrell said.

Matthew said nothing. This was the second nightmare ever since he left Ayuthay. This could be a coincidence, but his scar was burning. Not only that, but the dreams were so…real. He got up.

"Where are you going?"

"I-I think I need fresh air. I'll be on deck." Matthew stammered.

"Are you sure you'll be all right?"

Matthew nodded. He left the room, feeling Tyrell's stare on his back. He suddenly grew very scared of his friend, though he didn't know why.

Matthew left the cabin, and looked around. Everyone under the deck was asleep. The earth Adept quietly walked across the wooden plank, until he found the canons. As quietly as a mouse, he slipped in between two of them. He then, summoned Flint.

The Venus Djinn looked happily at him, but when he saw the look on his face, he became all serious and worried.

"What's wrong Matthew?" he asked.

"Remember the scar I got when I was attacked in Ayuthay?"

Flint nodded.

"Can you check it? I want to know if it's gone."

Matthew took off his shirt, and turned to face his back to Flint.

"Well let's s-" Flint fell deadly silent.

"Flint?"

No answer. The teen turned, and looked at his friend. Flint was very pale, and had a shocked look on his face.

"What's wrong?"

"Your…back." Flint managed to pronounce. "It's horrible. It looks like it's breaking apart."

Matthew shivered at the thought. He looked at one of the canons. It was shiny enough and flat enough to be served as a mirror. He looked at his back, and gasped in horror.

The old scar was bright red. Lines had slowly left the marks, and had crossed half of his entire back like fissures in bricks. As Flint said, it looked as if it was about to break apart.

Fearfully, Matthew pulled shirt back on. He slumped against the cold metal which the canon was made of.

"You should tell Rief. Or Kraden. They'll be able to help." Flint advised.

The earth Adept shook his head. "I'll take care of this myself." Flint looked fearfully at him, and returned within his master's body.

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