Chapter 9 – Divisions
Aranam, Vera, Dallon and the rest of the group continue along their path, most completely unaware of what had recently occurred just two weeks ago on that night. By now, however, their bonds are beginning to strain, particularly in the case of Aranam and Razon. It may only take the slightest disturbance to set the two off, at which point the team that Aranam has been trying so hard to hold together would become divided. This of course makes Dallon's job easier, but a new, much more dangerous idea begins to form in his mind, one that could have disastrous consequences for Arcceonn in the years to come…
"I'm telling you Aranam, we should head this way!" Razon shouted angrily, pointing behind him. "That's the wrong way; we're going the other way!" Aranam shot back. Razon and Aranam had been arguing over which way to go for over four hours and by now, everyone could tell the argument had reached a fever pitch. "…You're so indecisive; I can't believe Fenris chose you to be our leader!" Razon exclaimed. "Oh yeah, well I'm not the one who charges head-on into battle without thinking, losing an eye as a result!" Aranam replied furiously. Vera, Andre, Gallen and Elaine were getting worried; the two of them had been arguing so bitterly by now that it was only a matter of time before somebody did something they would regret. "You are a disgrace to your ancestor's and Fenris' legacy!" Razon exclaimed, catching Aranam completely off guard. Aranam was speechless, but by the intensity that his aura had flared up to, he was furious, and even that was the grandest of understatements. "Shut up!" Aranam shouted as he launched Razon into the air with Focus Punch, causing him grievous damage. What have I done? Razon thought, now regretting his words. Aranam lunged at him again using Close Combat, slamming Razon back into the ground with the last strike. Aranam landed on the ground and was about to finish Razon once and for all when Gallen blocked him. "Don't do this Aranam!" he exclaimed, "You'll kill him!" Aranam regained his reason, but was by no means going to forgive his comrade…no, his former comrade. "Get out of here Razon, now!" he shouted, "You are now banned from the team; get out of my sight!" Razon's eye widened in shock; he had never imagined he had harmed Aranam that badly. "Aranam, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that…" Razon replied desperately, "Please, don't do this to me! This team is my life!" "You should've thought about that before you said what you did" Aranam replied coldly, "Now get out of my sight before I decide to finish you off!" Razon struggled to his feet and looked Aranam straight in the eyes before saying, "I pity you Aranam, I really do…I'm sorry it had to come to this…" With that, he lifted into the air and glided away. "Good riddance!" Aranam exclaimed as he started down the path he had pointed out, "This way. Let's go." Everyone, too bewildered to understand what had happened, followed behind him, with Dallon bringing up the rear. "His Aura is becoming corrupted…perhaps it would be a waste to take Aranam out as planned, rather, if he can be turned, he can become a powerful ally…" he muttered.
"You didn't have to be so hard on Razon, you know?" Andre said suddenly. "Back off Andre, I don't want to hear it…" Aranam replied. Andre eyed Aranam suspiciously; he'd been agitated for no particular reason lately, as if something was really bothering him. There wasn't time to answer, as someone had just jumped in front of them. It was the Delta Force Four, having planned an ambush. "Well well, it's about time you showed up!" exclaimed Lucan. "We still haven't forgotten about last time, but this time will be different!" Matt shouted angrily. "You have a lot of nerve showing your faces again!" Aranam shouted back at them, his aura flaring up, but something about his Aura was unstable, as if there was some outside force influencing it. "Oh, someone wants to play?" Blaze taunted, "C'mon, show us what you've got!" In a frenzied rage, Aranam attacked the Delta Force Four alone. Lucan was first, but he was sent flying with a well-timed Sky Uppercut, himself being knocked out on impact. Blaze was next, with him falling for the same tactic. Zero was third, but was knocked out at long range with Dark Pulse. Finally, it was Matt's turn. Aranam stuck out his hand and waved towards himself in the classic 'bring it on' pose. Matt panicked, grabbed his comrades and ran off as fast as he could, not seeing that Aranam was pursuing him. Aranam soon caught up and launched the four of them into the sky with an Aura-infused Focus Punch. "Whoa…what happened!" Gallen exclaimed, "I haven't seen a four-on-one fight end that fast in my whole life!" Dallon smirked slightly at this development, knowing that the instability of Arana's aura was confirming his belief that he was corrupted. Perfect he thought.
That night, Dallon was again patrolling the edge of the camp when suddenly he heard someone walking up to him from behind; it was Aranam, and he seemed quite shaken. "What's wrong Aranam?" Dallon asked. "I don't know…just a strange dream…" Aranam replied, "I don't like what I saw, not in the least…" At this, Dallon paused to think before replying, "Enlighten me." "It was about Vera…" Aranam replied, "…she and I have become very close…" "Is that true now?" Dallon replied as is he wasn't surprised, "What about her…" Aranam walked over beside him and looked up at the night sky. "She…she was dying…and she was in pain…" Aranam replied, "I've seen visions of the future before on rare occasions, and they always came true…I don't want this to happen to Vera…" In Dallon's mind, he was nearly overjoyed; he had found Aranam's weakness, and all he would have to do was exploit it. "Aranam…have you ever heard the legend of Emperor Saul the Just?" Dallon asked, with Aranam shaking his head no. "I'm not surprised, it had forgotten by most, but I remember it…" Dallon replied, "You see, Saul was the first and only emperor of the great Wyvernian Empire. Despite being charismatic and an able leader, he had been given a strange power that enabled him to manipulate life itself…" At this, Aranam became much more attentive, indicating that Dallon had caught his interest. "This extended to the point that in some cases, he could enable others…to cheat death" Dallon continued, Aranam now certainly interested. "But of course, Emperor Saul disappeared, but I have reason to believe he is far from dead" he said, finishing his statement. "Is it possible to learn this ability?" Aranam asked, looking him right in the eye. At this, Dallon seemed to smile as he replied, "Not through conventional means…"