Authors notes: The final chapter! I wished to address Dagran's feelings before the final battle. He is my favourite character so I'm sure those who have read a lot of my stuff was not surprised that I saved him for last ^_^

After this I will retire from this section and only work on my TLS crossover stories. I wish to thank those who have reviewed and followed this story to the end.

The final battle is drawing near, but it was with a heavy heart Dagran walked towards the large chamber where the Outsider dwells. All emotions inside him were in chaos, and anger slowly built within him. The power of the Outsider did not feel like he had imagined and it something dark was created within his heart...

Invitation To Madness.

Power swirled inside him, raw, brutal power. It both invigorated him and made him more confident, though his thoughts were in a state of chaos. His doubts about his friends had been well placed. After their separation on the bridge he had feared their friendship had been damaged. Even though it had hurt like never before, he had stayed on his path. His pride was all that he had left, and it had not allowed him to go after them.

They do not deserve your loyalty...

Dagran had always placed everyone before his own needs. When he loved it was unconditionally, but if crossed he got even. That was the way life had forced him to become. He thought that he had understood his friends. Since they had followed him though all tough times, he had assumed they had the same dream. The dream to gain a better life and to raise themselves above their stations.

You know have enough power to do that...

The only personal goal he allowed himself to have, aside to help his group of friends was revenge. He both craved it and needed it. His soul would never find peace if the man responsible for his childhood's destruction yet lived. A life for a life, plain and simple. It had felt amazing to end Asthar's life, to finally be able to move on. His whole being at peace and his honour towards his family fully restored. His beloved family had finally been avenged.

To kill all who wronged us...

But things had gone so wrong. His friends had chosen another path. They had turned their backs to him instead of telling him the truth. Had he only known what was in their hearts, then he had never pushed himself and them so hard to become knights. Instead they had simply walked away, like they did not even give a damn about it and him.

Thrown them aside like they did to us...''Lowell...''Dagran murmured softly, while tightly fisting his hands. His footsteps slowed slightly, his own conviction faltering slightly. It had pained him to hear about his death. They had shared a deep understanding, and he would miss him.….Am I really doing the right thing?

''Have I not fulfilled my father's dream already?'' Dagran murmured softly, running a hand down his face. Memories from his childhood washed over him. Flashes of faces of his dearly departed family. Bits and pieces of words echoing in his mind. One memory stands out more clearly within him, and it's his father's wish for his sons to become knights.''I am a knight in training soon to be dubbed...''

Why not re do the whole system? Punish those who let the atrocities done to your family go unpunished...

''No! No more revenge, they are at peace!'' Dagran answered the strange voice inside his head. His heart raced faster when he felt anger run though his veins. Fear and worry started to grow inside him. Something felt terrible wrong, and his heart screamed out to go back towards his friends, while something in his mind made him stay rooted to the floor.

Were their friendship really so long gone that it could not be repaired? Was not the years they spent together worth more than power? Dagran thought to himself. His feelings and his pride were battling each other ferociously. All that time they had spent together, struggling, fighting and bonding must have meant something.

Have you already forgotten how little they cared for us?

'Apologizing to me ain't gonna change owt now, is it? You bastard!''

''It is not my fault he died...'' He angrily whispered, his eyes once more hardening. The strange feeling inside him multiplied when Syrenne's word echoed in his mind. An uncontrollable anger flared his temper, blowing away all rational thoughts.''Damn it I did not kill Lowell!''

Dagran shook uncontrollably, and his breathing became ragged. Hate filled his thoughts alongside the harsh words thrown at him from his companions. He was nothing to them, they did not even care for him. They were ungrateful and forgetful. All good he had done was suddenly erased the moment he had chosen to stand by Count Arganan.

Yes...give in to me...I will ease your pain..

''What is happening to...me?'' He said though gritted teeth, as he the mark on his hand ached. Something was wrong, he could not control his own feelings. Zael's power never did something like that, why did it affect him so?.''Stop talking!''

Succumb to me and I shall help you with your last dream...

''My last dream?'' Dagran whispered softly, wiping away sweat from his forehead. His strength was slowly depleting from suppressing the alien power within him. His very own childish dream of recreating the world as he would want it could never come true. For that he needed both status and power, and most important of all, good allies.''That is not possible...I will not believe such lies.''

You have enough power to re create the whole planet..all we need to do is to use the Outsider.

''But...that means..killing-'' Dagran couldn't even bring himself to say the words.''No, I can't! I will not do that!''

They will only know pain for a moment, before we re do the world. You can have everything back, everything you always wished to regain.

Dagran knew then and there. His fate was sealed. His one weakness had always been living in the past. He could not truly move on. His future looked grim, without his friends. He could gain it all back, everything and everyone that ever mattered to him, and create a better world. With his final clear thought in mind, he saw the world he wanted, before his whole soul was consumed with hate, anger and madness.

Yes! Such strong hate and anger...I shall obliterate them all...

''Balancing on the edge of a knife. That's how I'll always live my life..''Dagran whispered to himself from within his heart. He had done it. Made the gravest mistake of all time. He had given into the temptation of his well hidden anger. He already knew he was doomed, but he was too weak to fight back. So he did the only thing he could, he broke through to the spell to coax his friends into killing him. He told them his honest reasons and then lied them straight in their faces with the last of his power.

''Don't you get it? I used you and everyone else...'' He brutally told them, his heart breaking from the looks he received.''As pawns to get my revenge...''

''There is no turning back for me. But, I will say one thing, Zael.'' Dagran calmly stated, already loosing his own vision again.''Looking back on it all...we had some good times...''

Fin.