I'm back! Sorry about the delay on this one, I have been super busy of late. I want to thank Kristen Verne, HRC Stanley, and soraroxas123 for their reviews. I appreciate that more than you know. No further announcements, beyond the fact that we are beginning the next stage of this story. I've been teasing the members of Raelyn's new team for a little while now, and here we shall meet the first of those three characters. Enjoy and I'll see ya at the end!
Chapter 11: The Ghost of Twilight Town
(The Afternoon Streets, Kingdom Hearts II)
As Raelyn walked inconspicuously through the streets of the tranquil Twilight Town, he kept a close eye out for anything regarding his target. This was the first stop he had made on his new journey, and had come via his Keyblade Rider.
Despite its heritage as being the home of some of the LE Founders, Twilight Town did not have a large LE presence. As a smaller world already well-protected due to its position, the Keyblade Wielders focused their efforts on more important places. However, the Council's Hidden Legion did have an outpost within the city and served as the main organized defense forces.
Raelyn made his way carefully and quietly, seeing his face on posters scattered throughout the district. He had been labeled the LE's most wanted fugitive by Caleb, and his true identity was too dangerous to reveal. The light armor and cloak gifted to him by Dawnomar blended naturally with his surroundings, and with his hood up he seemed a mere traveler among the throngs of people in the common district.
He had come in search of his first recruit, who he knew only as a vigilante called the "Twilight Phantom". It was not much to go on, he kept saying to himself. He knew not whether he was seeking a man or a woman, or even what the Phantom looked like.
As he tried to find a place to begin his search, he kept his hood close over his face and walked up to one of the stalls. Smiling slightly as he picked up a piece of bread, he glanced up at the vendor. "Freshly baked?" he asked in a low voice. The man nodded.
"Just this morning. That's my first batch of bread in weeks." he said happily. Raelyn looked at him curiously.
"Did something happen to your stock?" he asked. The man sighed in a weary tone.
"Those rascals that were operating out of the old sewers, they kept hitting my suppliers on their way into town. I haven't been able to sell anything in almost a month." he explained. Raelyn grunted thoughtfully. Perhaps he was already on the right track. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a handful of Munny. He handed it to the vendor and took a bite from the still warm bread. It had a sweetness to it that he wasn't used to, and was very good.
"So what changed? They lose interest in targeting you?" he asked casually, trying to hide his eagerness to hear the tale. The man smiled and shrugged his shoulders.
"I couldn't say, but someone out there sure is looking out for us folks." he said happily. Raelyn smiled and leaned closer in order to whisper.
"I have heard the rumors. To be frank, I need the same kind of assistance that you were given. However, I do not know how to make my needs known." he said quietly. The man listened and looked closer at what he could see of Raelyn's face, as if surveying him.
"You're a traveler, for sure. What's your name?" he asked. Raelyn hesitated before answering.
"Michael Evis. I'm from Traverse City." he replied. The vendor stared at him for a long moment, debating on what to say.
"If you seek a helpful stranger, then there is little I can tell you. The Legion operatives are searching avidly for any such persons in the town. You do not find such help. It finds you if your need is dire enough." he whispered, and quickly stood back tall as if no conversation had occurred. Raelyn nodded in understanding and gestured to the man with what remained of his piece of bread.
"Congratulations on getting your stock back, and my compliments on the food." he said lightly and moved on.
Despite not seeming like he had been given much information, he had gleaned quite a bit from the brief conversation. He settled himself on the outlet of an alley where he could see the rest of the Tram Common district in order to finish his bread. He watched as the dozens of people walked past him and went about their daily activities.
The Phantom was helping the common people and had earned much loyalty from them. They would not willingly turn the vigilante over to the guards.
Raelyn narrowed his eyes as he saw a group of Hidden Legion operatives stroll into sight, questioning all passersby. They were searching for something, or someone. Was it the Phantom?
His heart sank when he saw one of the guards show the poster with his face on it to someone. The woman looked around and pointed over to the side of the district where Raelyn was currently standing. The guards nodded and began pushing their way through the throng of people. Raelyn cursed under his breath and shoved the last bit of bread in his mouth. He then turned and made his way down the back alley.
How could they already know he was in the town? It seemed impossible to him. But then he remembered.
"There is nowhere you can go that I cannot find you."
Lorne. He must have tipped off the guards to be on the lookout. Raelyn looked wistfully up as if expecting to see cameras around him. He did not know the extent of Lorne's new powers, and he was not eager to find them out.
He had to get off the streets and lay low until the sun went down. Perhaps under the cover of night, he would have better luck in finding the Twilight Phantom.
Making his way to the lower city by zigzagging through the side alleys, he narrowly avoided another Hidden Legion patrol by ducking behind a dumpster as they walked past the alley outlet. Once they had passed, he merged into the crowd that was heading toward the Sandlot. Even from here, he could hear the sounds of a Struggle tournament ongoing.
He had attended many tournaments with his father and brother when he was a child. Thinking of it pulled at his heart for a moment, until he turned his attention to a tavern on the side of the street. Finding it as good a place as any to lay low, he walked over and stepped inside.
As the door shut behind him, the sounds of the outside town were immediately replaced by the loud ruckus, laughs, and curses going on within the tavern. It was a small establishment with maybe a dozen tables scattered around and a bar at the front. Not wanting to draw attention to himself, he made his way toward the back. There were no empty tables, but the furthest one from the door had only one man sitting at it.
"Is this seat taken?" Raelyn asked as he walked up. The man smiled.
"Yeah, by the invisible man." he replied with a laugh. Raelyn rolled his eyes and sat down, keeping his hood about his face and looking down toward the table. He could feel the man's eyes staring at him, much to his chagrin.
"It's rude to stare, you know." he muttered without looking up. The man, unfazed, continued smiling.
"What are you looking for here?" he asked. Raelyn looked up as much as he dared.
"Excuse me?" he replied, not understanding the nature of the question. The man shook his head and took a large swig of whatever was in his cup. He then slammed it back down on the table and leaned in close.
"What I meant…..is what could be so important in Twilight Town that Raelyn Yoric comes searching for it?" he whispered. Raelyn froze in panic, and immediately moved his arm to summon his Keyblade. The man was quick enough to grab his wrist in order to stop him from doing so, and raised his other hand in a gesture of peace. "I'm not an enemy, but if you show off that Keyblade, you're gonna have Legion officers in here within seconds." he muttered. Raelyn stared at him with distrust for several moments, before wrenching his arm out of the man's grasp.
"Who are you?" he asked through clenched teeth. The man leaned back in his chair with a tired sigh.
"LE Journeyman Aidan Heras, sir; formerly, at least." he explained. Hearing this, Raelyn kept his guard up.
"You here under orders from Caleb?" he asked, but Aidan shook his head.
"The opposite, sir. As you know, the Journeymen spend their months in-between passing the Mastery Exam and ascension to full Masters traveling the worlds to try and find their own paths. I've yet to return from my pilgrimage. I was on my way back to Radiant Garden when Caleb overthrew you and your father. I was loyal to Turias, and Caleb will never be my Grandmaster." he explained. Raelyn, though still a bit distrustful, leaned back in his chair and slightly lowered his guard.
"So, you're hiding out in Twilight Town?" he questioned. Aidan shrugged his shoulders.
"As good a place as any. Never thought I'd find you here, though. What are you planning?" he replied. When Raelyn did not reply, he laughed and took another drink. "I suppose I wouldn't trust anyone either, in your position. But I can't help you if you don't give me anything." he added. Raelyn stared at him for a long time, trying to decide whether to tell him anything. Finally, against his better judgment, he did.
"There's someone in the city I need to meet. I'm here looking for them." he said quietly. Aiden raised his eyebrows.
"Ah. Would this be someone that the Legion officers are searching tirelessly for?" he asked in a knowing tone. When Raelyn offered him the tiniest of nods, he chuckled.
"Your only chance is at night. I'd bet all the Munny I've got left that your presence is already known by the person you seek. Go to the old mansion tonight under cover of darkness, and they will know you are there." he elaborated.
Raelyn listened to this information with interest. It could undoubtedly be a trap set by Caleb or Lorne, but for some reason he believed that it was genuine. As he stared at Aidan, he did not get a sense of guile or ill deeds. "How long do you plan to remain here hiding under drink?" he asked the other man. Aidan shrugged his shoulders.
"That depends. Do you have a plan to take down Caleb?" he asked in response. Once again, Raelyn had to decide how much to trust this new man.
However, he nodded. "I do. You have not earned the details, but I do have a plan to topple Caleb and I am working at it." he responded. Aidan nodded and tossed his cup aside.
"Then I'm done here. Knowing that you are still out here trying to fix everything is enough for me. I'll head back to Radiant Garden, and plant myself back in the LE. From inside, I might be able to rally those who are still loyal to the old ways." he explained and stood up from the table. Raelyn looked at him in surprise.
"Just like that?" he asked. Aidan looked down at him with a solemn gleam in his eye.
"Do not lose hope, Raelyn. There are still Keyblade Wielders loyal to you. We do not all blindly follow Caleb's insanity. So long as you continue to hope, we shall hope with you. You will not be alone when the time comes to challenge Caleb. That much, I can promise you." he explained. Raelyn heard his words and swallowed, taken aback.
"It's…good to hear that I'm not the only one left. I'll do my best to not let you down." he said. Aidan nodded and sprang to a brief salute.
"As far as I'm concerned, you are my Grandmaster. We will stand behind you, sir." he said firmly. Then, not wanting to attract further attention, he adopted a drunken attitude and staggered out of sight.
Raelyn chuckled under his breath, his heart lightened by the conversation that had just occurred. His fears had proven hollow. There were still Agents of honor within the LE. They were locked under Caleb for now, but they would stand for what was right when the time came.
Aidan had provided him with much information. Now he knew that he needed only wait for nightfall before trying to seek out the Twilight Phantom once more.
Unbeknownst to him, a hooded figure was watching him from the tavern's opposite corner and had seen the entire exchange. (end the Afternoon Streets)
LATER, NIGHTFALL….
As the dark of night engulfed the town, Raelyn emerged from the tavern's back entrance. The throngs of people were gone, no doubt in their houses for the night. The only movements on the streets now were the patrols of the Hidden Legion officers. He had a ways to go in order to reach the city's edge, and there were many guards in his path.
He stood covered in the shadows for a moment trying to decide the best way forward, but suddenly heard screams and the sounds of battle nearby. He looked over in alarm toward the noises and sprinted to the end of the alley. Reaching the first fork, he turned right and raced down toward where the sounds had occurred.
By the time he reached the alley's end, he found four men badly injured. Three were lying on the ground unconscious, and the fourth was pinned to the opposite wall by an arrow in his shoulder. Raelyn cautiously stepped over the first three and pulled the arrow out, causing the last man to whimper in pain and fall down. He gazed at the arrow with interest and knelt down to examine the men's wounds more closely.
"Hands in the air! We've got you now, you so-called Phantom!" a voice cried from behind.
"Damn…." Raelyn muttered and slowly stood to his feet. He angled his face down to hide it better with his hood, and slowly turned around to see five Legion operatives facing him with weapons drawn. Two were carrying magical firearms, and the other three bore shining swords. "I said hands in the air!" the man in the center yelled fiercely. Raelyn sighed and slowly did so, the arrow still clutched in his right hand.
"Finally, we bagged the Phantom. Captain Dylann will be pleased." another man said. The officers began to advance, at which point Raelyn threw the arrow forward. It struck one of the gun-wielders in the shoulder, causing him to cry out in pain. (Tension, Dissidia 012)
Not hesitating, Raelyn raced forward toward them. He would not be backed into a corner.
The other gun-wielder opened fire, but Raelyn countered with a Blizzaga that crashed into him and knocked him back. As the three swordsmen charged, he leaped to the side and planted his feet against the building. He then launched forward and front-flipped over their heads. Landing smoothly, he sprinted forward until he reached the exit and turned. "After him!" one yelled, but Raelyn waved his arm and erected a wall of ice to block them. Smiling for a moment, he turned and sprinted away, wanting to put as much distance between them as possible.
As he made his way through the city, he knew above all else that he must not summon his Keyblade. At the moment, they thought he was the Phantom. If they learned who he truly was, then every officer in the city would be upon him. Despite the tensions between the Council and LE, the Hidden Legion would not hesitate to arrest him for his alleged crimes if given the opportunity.
Such was his speed that he reached the Tram Common district within minutes. Three more patrols lay ahead, and he knew that time was not on his side. He clung to the shadows for a moment to try and discern his options. Seeing no less than fifteen officers blocking his path forward, he found an abandoned building nearby and took aim with his free hand.
A large ball of fire emerged and soared up through the air, exploding into the upper level of the building and catching it on fire. The officers hadn't seen where the fire came from, but saw very well the spreading flames. They hurried forward frantically to try and douse the fire, leaving Raelyn's path open. He hurried forward toward the other end of the district, praying to himself that no one had been inside the building.
Thankfully, he reached the city's wall without encountering further opposition. The hole in the wall from many years ago had now become an ornate doorway for the townsfolk to access the woods and the mansion where Roxas and Namine had lived in their retirement years. The city's lights faded as he passed through the doorway and found himself in the thick woods. (end Tension)
Raelyn ran further in and ducked behind a tree for a moment, catching his breath from the hard run. He glanced back around the trunk and listened for several moments, but heard no sounds of pursuers. Laughing quietly, he looked forward and followed the path up to the mansion. "Guess I've still got it." he muttered lightly.
It was incredibly dark in the forest, with almost no light filtering in from above. However, as Raelyn exited the tree-line and entered the mansion courtyard, the full moon shined down from above and painted the area in a pale light. He slowly walked toward the decaying mansion, which none now dared enter. The people viewed it as a sacred place, once lived in by the LE Founders Roxas and Namine.
He looked at the sign that had been placed before the locked gates, which read:
"The mansion ahead is very old, possibly older than the town itself. At the close of the Founder Age, legendary heroes Roxas and Namine made this mansion their home. As decreed by both the Twilight Town City Council and the Grandmaster's Office of the Light's Enforcers, the mansion is closed to all and stands as a monument to the Founders."
He had just finished reading the sign's contents, when he felt the slightest rustle of leaves behind him. He tensed his shoulders but did not turn around. "Are you the one I have been searching for?" he asked calmly.
"Do you even know who you are searching for?" a voice answered, disguised by some technology. He could not tell whether the voice was male or female because of it.
"I came to this place seeking the Twilight Phantom. I was told that they might be able to help me with my mission." Raelyn responded and slowly turned around. At first he saw no one. Then, as he peered closely, he could barely see the outline of a shadow among the tree-line. A moment later, the figure stepped into the moonlight. (Riku's Theme, Kingdom Hearts II)
A brown cloak and hood covered their back and head. Black and blue armor adorned their upper and lower body, and grey gauntlets and boots covered their hands and feet. The person's face was covered in a mask shaped like a wolf's head with glowing white eyes. A quiver of arrows and a bow were on their back, and a long knife was in place on the quiver's side.
Seeing their appearance, Raelyn no longer held any doubt that he was standing before the Twilight Phantom, vigilante and protector of the townspeople. "And what mission do you seek help with?" the Phantom asked him, their voice still disguised by the mask. Raelyn stared at the person for a long moment, trying to discern anything about them. However, he could not find anything by looking. This intrigued him, as he was usually good at reading people due to his experiences in the field.
"My name is Michael Evis. I'm putting together a team to topple Caleb Strouss, and restore the Keyblade Wielders to where they were before." he explained. The figure was silent and unmoving, staring at him through the white eyes of their mask.
"Why should I help you when you do not even offer me honest answers? I know who you are, Raelyn Yoric." they replied. Raelyn narrowed his eyes and threw back his hood, revealing his face.
"You're well-informed. I wasn't sure if I could trust you. I'm the most wanted fugitive in the Realm right now. Compared to me, you're small talk." he replied. The Phantom grunted thoughtfully and cocked their head to the side.
"I'm wanted far more than you know, but you are still correct to some degree." they said. Without further words, the Phantom reached up and removed the mask. They then pulled back the hood, at which point Raelyn saw the person's face.
A woman stared back at him, bearing shoulder-length brown hair and dark-green eyes. There was pain in her eyes, but also strength. "I saw some of your handiwork back there. You're a skilled warrior." he complimented. The woman nodded stoically and fingered the end of the bow on her back.
"I was the best archer in my battalion." she answered, not taking her eyes away from him. Hearing this, Raelyn lowered his arms in realization.
"You're Hidden Legion." he said. She nodded slightly.
"I was." she replied. She then glanced toward the trees as if worried someone would be there. Raelyn did the same and readied to summon his Keyblade, but she raised a hand to stop him. "My name is Drea Korian, and I've watched you since you first stepped into the town." she explained. Raelyn narrowed his eyes.
"I've heard that name. You're a deserter, aren't you?" he replied. She rolled her eyes.
"That's what they say. The truth's more complicated, as I'm sure is true with your story." she said. He shrugged her shoulders in acknowledgment and continued.
"Look, I need help with Caleb. He's taken over the…." he began, but she waved her arm again.
"I'm well aware of what Caleb's done. But, I'm not sure why you would want my help. There's plenty of other people out there you can ask." she said dismissively. Raelyn looked at her for a moment, sensing some cynicism within her attitude.
"I'm here because Zane Alkerias told me to seek you out." he replied, and that got her attention.
"The Ancient Councilor? Friend of the Founders?" she questioned, to which he nodded. "Why?" she asked. Raelyn didn't answer for a moment, as he had been wondering that very same thing himself. He then realized what Zane's reasons had been.
"Your background. I'm a former LE Agent, and you used to be Hidden Legion. It's going to take people from different places to get this done. The Council of Sovereigns is going to be instrumental in any path we take toward defeating Caleb, and maybe your past as a Legion operative will help in that regard." he wondered aloud. Drea scoffed quietly and looked away from him.
"I'm not exactly friendly with my former colleagues. Like you said, they've labeled me a deserter. What makes you think you want someone like that on your team?" she responded, glancing occasionally at the woods behind them.
"You told me that's not the full truth. Tell me what really happened." Raelyn responded, growing increasingly nervous that someone was going to find them. Drea hesitated for a moment, running her hands idly along the sign in front of the gates. She then let out a shaky breath, as if about to relive a painful memory. Finally, she met his gaze again with anger in her eyes.
"I joined the Legion at 16, and I was so good at my training that I was made a Specialist by 20. Over the past two years, I served that role faithfully, until…." she trailed off. Raelyn continued looking at her.
"What happened?" he asked gently. She sighed and closed her eyes.
"A crew of pirates led by a man named Talin attacked my home. They….killed my parents and my little brother. But the Legion, they….refused to take action. My commanding officers forbade me from going after the pirates or avenging my family. They kept telling me that my mission was a higher priority." she said in almost a whisper.
"But you went after the pirates, anyway." Raelyn surmised, and she nodded.
"I hunted them down, one by one. I wanted Talin more than anyone, but then I got the news about him." she continued, causing Raelyn to nod in understanding.
"My….former friend and I infiltrated his ship and killed him in orbit over Agrabah. So your family's been avenged then." he answered, but she shook her head.
"No. One member of that crew remains. I haven't been able to pick up his trail yet, and I've been laying low here until I can find him." she replied. Raelyn sighed and nodded sympathetically.
"Then you more than anyone can understand why taking down Caleb means so much to me. He killed my father and dozens of others all for the sake of grabbing power. But I can't take him down alone. I need your help." he explained. Drea stared at him for a long moment.
"Everyone that I trusted in my life turned against me, and they're still hunting me like a dog. The Legion wants me imprisoned as an example, all because I sought out my family's killers. How do I know I can trust you?" she asked him.
"What can I do to prove that I'm worthy of your trust?" Raelyn asked in turn. She looked him up and down, trying to get a measure of his strength.
"Like I said, one of my family's killers is still alive. Help me track him down, and you'll have my trust. We put my family's memory to rest, and I'll help you avenge your father." she told him and extended her hand toward him. He gazed at her, sensing sincerity in her face. Though they did not trust one another, he was certain that she was not deceiving him. He reached forward and took her hand, shaking it.
"You have my word." he promised. She nodded.
"And you have mine." she replied. Raelyn smiled and immediately turned his thoughts to the task at hand.
"I'll reach out to Zane and see what he can find out about Talin's surviving crew member. We should have some leads to follow within a couple days. For now, let's turn our focus to getting out of here." he said, and she nodded in agreement.
"You won't be able to get out the way you came in. The Legion already suspects that you've entered the town, and they've got a blockade in orbit above the town. There's only one way off of this world now." she replied. Raelyn raised his eyebrows.
"How's that?" he asked.
"We steal a ship from the Legion barracks that has a clearance code." Drea told him. (end Riku's Theme)
MEANWHILE, RADIANT GARDEN….
(Radiant Garden, Birth by Sleep)
The Council of Sovereigns in its entirety was assembled. Balorin, Heelia, Mervin, Shirke, Antonio Auditore, and Norah Harvey were seated in their seats and as usual were in agreement on the current topic being discussed. Likewise, Zane, Owen Fair, and Garret Cousland were leading the opposing arguments. Councilors Drudge from Camelot and Ronan Amicitia from Insomnia were caught in the middle.
"Caleb is out of control! He sent his lap dog to threaten me into backing down from this proposition! It is all the more clear that such a protocol needs to be passed. Caleb's actions are clear!" Shirke was arguing furiously. He was greatly angered by Lorne's attempts to blackmail him, and was more determined than ever for action against the LE. Roma's Councilor nodded in agreement.
"You were not alone. I was threatened by Agent Lorne, as well. For Caleb to pursue such actions suggest there are no lows to which he will not sink." Antonio added. Spira Councilor Heelia raised her eyebrows as she gazed at the other end of the room.
"I find it most interesting that our colleagues in opposition to Freedom's Fall did not receive such a visit. Perhaps they were involved?" she said in an accusatory tone toward Zane, Owen, and Garret. Owen leaped to his feet in anger.
"How dare you lump us in with Caleb?! You think we were in on you being threatened?! Here's a threat: accuse me of that one more time and see what happens!" he yelled furiously. Zane stood to his feet, equal fury evident in his gaze. Such was his bearing that the room grew silent as he drew himself to his full height.
"No one in this room is aligned with Caleb and his machinations. However, I remember quite clearly your talk accusing Turias of much the same things. Turias was a good man, and very dedicated to the upholding of this Council. You hated him when he was Grandmaster, and now we have Caleb in that role. Your condemnation of Turias undermines your justified arguments against Caleb in the people's eyes. You cried wolf, as it were, and now the people do not take you seriously when Caleb poses a genuine threat. The fault is your own for the current situation." he said elegantly but furiously.
"What are our options? Caleb cannot remain in control. He is already overstepping dozens of agreements made between our two bodies. Our contacts state that he is seeking out answers long declared forbidden by the Founders. Should we do nothing?" Ronan asked, one of the neutral voices in the room. Zane, however, raised his eyebrows at this information.
"What has been withheld from me regarding Caleb's movements, and why has it been kept from me?" he asked. Owen cleared his throat.
"This is the first I'm hearing of it, too." he added.
"I, as well." Garret said. Balorin, Heelia, and Mervin looked at one another, apparently backed into a corner. Finally, the Radiant Garden Councilor spoke.
"Our Legion contacts have informed us that Caleb is seeking the Divine Beings. He has already sent Agents to the ruins of the Temples, at least those who remain. The ruins of Corruption's Temple in Kamirran, as well as the Temple of Darkness in Roma; LE Agents have been scouring them for information on the Divine Beings. We do not yet know exactly what Caleb is wanting with them, but the Founders declared that knowledge forbidden for good reason." he explained. Zane nodded with narrowed eyes. This news was most unsettling.
What could Caleb want with the Divine Beings? Nothing good, that was for sure. He and the Founders had gone to great lengths to lock them away beneath the Golden City. If any of them were to be unleashed upon the Realm again, it could prove disastrous beyond description.
"The only way to prevent Caleb from achieving his goals is to pass Freedom's Fall." Mervin Mouse stated firmly, sucking his teeth like always. Zane looked up at him and shook his head.
"You know full well that is not the only option. It is simply this body's first choice in any situation. No good shall come of the Council trying to disband the Keyblade Wielders. We have had these arguments countless times." he argued.
"Then what would you propose we do in order to stop Caleb?" Norah Harvey asked. Zane glanced up at the young Councilor from Baron and met her eyes.
"We use legal means to expose Caleb for what he truly is. He is a murderer and a traitor who is seeking to unleash the most destructive forces Maechil ever created upon this Realm. If we can turn the people against Caleb and expose the truths of his actions, then he can be legally removed from his office. Another Grandmaster shall rise in his place, one who is loyal to the memory of the Founders just as Turias was." he explained.
"And how are you so certain that such a person would replace Caleb. There was only ever one lineage in which we could place such trust." Shirke asked him. Zane sighed.
"The Rikkisons may be gone, but they were attacked for a reason. Someone wanted the Rikkison bloodline ended, because they were the last best bastion of light in this Realm. But even though the Rikkisons are now extinct, there still remain others worthy of our trust. The Keyblade Wielders still have honorable people among them." he insisted. Shirke scoffed loudly.
"If Caleb's agents threaten this Council again, then I will not wait for evidence to remove him from power. I shall force a vote on Freedom's Fall." he declared. Owen groaned from his seat.
"The futility of that proposition lies in the name, you moron. If we have to pass Freedom's Fall, then it means we've already lost everything." he said.
At that moment, Zane heard a coded message in his earpiece and he tapped it to acknowledge. "We have deliberated long enough. I have other matters to attend to, so let the head Councilor declare us adjourned." he said, standing to his feet. Balorin nodded wearily and slammed his gavel upon his desk.
"As Zane says, we will adjourn for now and return to this conversation later." he agreed. The Councilors all stood up and began to scatter in different directions, and Zane walked out of the room to listen to the message Raelyn had sent him. Hearing what was needed, he made his way toward the archives in order to search for information on Talin's crew. (end Radiant Garden)
I apologize again about the delay on this one, but it has been a crazy couple of weeks.
New Characters Introduced:
Aidan Heras: A Journeyman in the LE who was loyal to Turias and refuses to align with Caleb.
Drea Korian: The "Twilight Phantom", she is a former Hidden Legion Specialist labeled a deserter for abandoning her post to hunt down her family's killers. She is most formidable with her bow but possesses great skill in all areas of combat.
Well, I've got nothing else for you at this time. Now you've met the first of Raelyn's new team and we'll see her in action next chapter! Thanks for reading and let me know what you thought! See you next time!