Riku looked from over his shoulder to see Shockingfighter shutting the window he had just exited from. Now he saw her leave the room shutting the door behind her. He looked up at the sky. From what he could see in-between the trees of the forest a few lights flickered up in the sky. Riku looked straight ahead of him now. The forest alone was huge. Judging from what he had seen and heard about this world so far. This forest was just one of many. Riku shook his head in disbelief. The rivaling clans wouldn't be his only challenge.
Finding Sunflare amidst these large woods, however, would be the true test. Better get started with that Riku's walk turned into one at a quicker pace. When he came to the edge of the forest. Riku recognized the large rocks that he had seen earlier in the open field. This was the same area when he had been spotted by Ghoststrikers clan members. Riku paused shooting a look at the sky again. Stars filled the sky along with a bright full moon to the way.
"It shouldn't be to hard to spot rivaling clan members with a night this bright." Riku whispered to himself as he kept moving. He went to his left entering another forest or maybe it was a part of the same forest? Riku couldn't tell. What he could tell however, was that this was the same direction he had come a crossed. Only knowing this because he was now standing in front of the few trees that had been toppled over. That Riku had come to a few days earlier. There was something strange about only a small selection of trees being torn down. Riku looked around at the first two. Nothing out of the ordinary with the first two. The last one though he noticed what appeared to be two carved letters that trailed up the tree. Riku climbed up and sure enough there were more letters carved into the large plant. A message that read:
"The people of the planet honored and worshiped a sun deity. For many centuries, the world prospered under the care of the dragon goddess. Peaceful times lasted for many years. Until the people of the kingdom began to fight. They formed clans and wars were fought over ownership of land in hopes of gaining control of the planet. A great evil was born from the hearts of these warriors. Their greed manifested into a demon."
"Light and darkness fought one another. Neither triumphing over the other. Moments before her slumber. Savitri manifested some of her eternal light. This light transformed into a human. This was the state she took when she first ruled the planet. The other part of her reformed into an elegant looking jewel. This dormant part of her was hidden away at the goddess's request by an unknown servant. At this, she ran off and was never spotted again by the people of this world. Should war happen and the two parts of the soul become one? The great dragon will be awoken. All shall suffer and the stars will begin anew."
Riku stopped to think for a moment. Then it hit him. "A queen dethroned in centuries past. Ridding the world of demon's life. Married later down the line. A young prince born to her in times of strife." Riku repeated to himself. What was Sunfire's mother's name? The potion had worn off before the answer had been reviled by Dreadhunter. What was the deal with Ghoststrikers brother Secretkeeper not telling his wife's name to his own brother? The pony had spoken highly of her mistress.
"Safe oh, no she's not safe. However, she is a mother to some, the devil to others, a teacher to those that wish to learn. Finally, she is judge, jury, and exchanger." These are the words she used to describe her mistress. Positive and negative used in such a way that they could have been nothing but the truth. In the high praise, the pony had spoken of this woman.
That's when it hit him. Riku felt his heart pound hard against his chest. Sunflare wasn't just any nobleman. He was so much more than most would realize. Riku leaped off of the tree and made a dash through the thick trees. "Please don't do this Ghoststriker." Riku thought in a panic. "No good will come from it." Suddenly something snagged on his came pulling him down to the ground. He heard a pound on the forest floor and it was right next to where he lay. He rolled to his right giving him enough time to get to his feet.
He summoned his Keyblade and looked around frantically. There was nothing to be seen. Just then a fierce blow was sent to his back. Making Riku stager forward. He swung the Keyblade in the direction he was attacked. It did no good as the blade sliced through the air. Riku felt another blow received to his midsection. As he was forced to readjust himself. He leaped in the air for another strike. As such he miscalculated on his part causing him to miss the unseen opponent. Riku looked around for some kind of sign. Movement is really what he was looking for. Could they have been striking from the trees?
Riku glanced up for a second only to be tackled to the ground. He fought to get his attacker off of him but to no success. His opponent kept throwing punches one another the other at Rikus head. Luckily the warrior's strikes kept missing as he moved his head in time. He needed to think fast. Maybe trying fire or thunder from spells he was taught over the years. If one spark hit a tree the whole forest could be set ablaze. Riku knew what to do at that moment. "Blizzaga." He called allowed as he pointed the Keyblade in front of him.
A cold blast of air forming into ice shot from the tip of the weapon. A howl of pain came from the opposing side. Green and yellow colored armor began to flicker as the enemy was now visible. When his foe took a few steps back. Riku used this opportunity to rise to his feet. He now saw that the enemy was now clutching his arm. The only thing that had been encased in ice was the vambraces on both of his arms. So that was the source of there cloaking magic. Through the technology of the vambraces. That is if such things could be referred to as magic.
Riku darted forward taking several slashed at his foe. Landing blow after blow as his attacker was thrown into a tree. Knocking the opposing clan member out. Looking down at his former foe. Riku made a mental note how each one of these clan members had two blasters. One in each holster. He hadn't been accommodated with the blasters or a cape when he had first arrived. These were just two of the things that all of the clan members had on them. Had this clan member used his blasters he would have possibly won. Riku had only knowledge of how to use his Keyblade and no such knowledge of how to use his vambraces.
Was this all about a deep respect for the forest or an honor code? It was probably both if Riku had to guess. The warrior saw he had no blaster but instead a sword. Waiting for him to approach at the right time then strike. He now knew one thing the vambraces could do. If he was going to survive the night. Riku would need to move quickly and quickly to get through it all.