In the snowy weather of his hometown, Clyde didn't have much to do outside besides from picking herbs. The gray skies over the worn down manor was gloomy as usual, and the freezing weather that only got warm and better in summer was inviting itself inside from the never repaired window of his uncle's room.

"Uncle?" The ginger headed kid gently shook the old man that was breathing silently. Suddenly, the warm stare coming from the blue eyes of the elder calmed the kid who thought he had succumbed to the cold.

"Yes, Clyde?"

"Ah, nothing. Do you want more blankets?" Clyde tried to hide his actual reason for talking, but his uncle's eyes didn't miss his unusual way of speaking.

"We can talk about it if it is bothering you." The man slowly raised and took a sitting position on the bed, inviting his nephew to sit next to him.

"N-no, you need to rest..." He tried to refuse.

"I say this old man has rested for enough time!" His uncle laughed with an enthusiastic voice. Clyde decided to sit next to him.

"It's about dad..." The blue eyes of the kid got slightly moist as he spoke.

"I had guessed as much." The old man's face showed a pained expression. "Is that bruise on your arm from him?" He pointed to the arm of the child.

"Yes... I-I'm sure he had a reason to be mad at me... I couldn't collect enough money for you again." He looked at the ground.

"No way, he shouldn't have hit you in the first place! I'm fine without the medicine, boy. You need to buy yourself some clothes." The old man replied, but soon got caught to a coughing fit, prompting his nephew to run downstairs to get him a glass of water.

"You need medicine..." The kid turned his face away.

"I don't, I don't! I'm still as strong as a bull." The man laid back down as the freckled boy approached him.

"I still feel horrible, but I'm not sick at all..." He felt tired.

"Well, physical health is not the only one that is important, my boy."

"Yeah, mental health is important too, but is it just bad to notice things?" Clyde asked in a suspiciously frustrated tone. "I-I think dad hates me because of mom." Clyde started to break down.

"No way, he loves both of us, I'm sure. It's not your fault your mother didn't..." He waited for a few seconds, realizing just then that he could have used better wording.

"She died when I was born... You know... I don't blame father if he does hate me." Clyde kept leaking silent tears.

"Clyde, please don't say you will apologise for being born..." the old man looked really concerned.

"I... I'm better when I'm with you, uncle." Clyde changed the topic and tried to invoke some sort of small talk to lift the spirits of both his Uncle and himself.

"That's... I don't know what to say, Clyde. I didn't think you had endured this much." Bryce voiced his concern after hearing Clyde's story as they were walking towards the stable.

"So you were orphaned on top of these harsh stuff... That's..." Merlin couldn't complete his sentence.

"I... That's not the whole thing..." Clyde went on.

Shortly after his uncle's eventual death, the gloomy weather snowed despair over the manor that the kid stood in. Every glance at the empty room was a sharp stab in the heart. His father being even more violent than usual and having nobody else to talk to, Clyde started to feel the pressure and all of his unwanted feelings slowly being bottled up inside. He wanted to try and support his father, so he kept collecting herbs and mushrooms just like his uncle taught him to. His new medicines were selling more than usual, but it was still a few pieces of money in the end. It surely wasn't enough to satisfy his father. The man who once worked very hard for his brother's health, and had even forced his own son to work at early age, was now slowly distancing himself from everything. The manor was even more gloomy inside ever since, and Clyde soon lost the purpose of talking. He was not happy in these conditions, and he felt so pressured under everything, that he had finally discovered a new emotion: Hate.

He hated his father and his actions, his now pointless chase of wealth, his broom, the broken window in the familiar room, the cold breeze freezing him by leaking inside, and even himself... He started to feel a growing sense of hate for each of these things. Until one day...

His father's room was silent. Thinking that he finally decided to fall asleep, Clyde slowly stepped down the creaky stairs and wrapped his torn cape around him. He had nothing to take from the manor. He didn't belong in here anymore. If he wanted to live, he wanted to do it in a place that would make him happy... Even if it meant leaving his father alone in the manor. He felt selfish and horrible, but he hated in here, so why did he have to stay? He had tried to be kind to everyone in there, and for what? Once his uncle was gone, it changed nothing.

Feelings compelling him, Clyde took one last look at the worn out manor right behind him, and started to run on the scattered snow that was already treaded on by travellers. The town should be near, thought Clyde. He wanted to see the town one last time, as well.

The snowy weather had painted the town white, as well. Houses made from oak and stone was scattered around the place, only loosely connected by the cobblestone path that was placed on the surrounding terrain. It was in the middle of the night, so nowhere was offering any kind of service. Even the inn was silent. Looking at the old inn, Clyde remembered a small memory from when he was a small child, when his uncle was still healthy and would take him and his father to the inn to play instruments and sing. Clyde always loved those songs. But now, even that made him feel hollow inside. Taking his final stroll through the town, Clyde started mumbling a melody of his own.

Empty streets, empty streets

No one is home

Empty streets, empty streets

There is no hope

I have given up from wanting anybody's touch

Even around all this people, it's alone, it's miserable

Empty streets, empty streets

Even when it's full

Empty streets, empty streets

Lonely, beautiful

I have given up from wanting anybody's love

Even if I'm among people, I'm alone and so are they

Nobody notices they're on their own

Taking his last step, Clyde didn't look back. He went inside the dark, shadowy forest and decided to go wherever the forest takes him. Surely, it'd be a better place than here... Thought the child as he disappeared into the green.

"So, what you're saying is..." Bryce was startled. Several drops of tears were flowing from his eyes from listening to his apprentice's story.

"That was... That was the lie." Clyde looked down at his feet once more. "I'm not an orphan... I never was."

"But why did you lie?" Bryce asked curiously.

"W-wouldn't you take me back to my father if I didn't?" Clyde replied.

"I see..." Bryce tilted his head forward.

"I'm sorry, Bryce... I don't deserve to be... your apprentice." Clyde started breathing heavily.

"What are you saying? It's not like you ran away on a whim." Bryce objected. "Besides, we've already started our training. You aren't getting rid of us that easily." He smiled gently.

"B-bryce..." Clyde couldn't hold his tears in once more.

"Are you guys going to cry for the next weekend? It's getting really boring." Merlin teased the duo.

"Well, my apologies, Mr.I-Tied-Up-A-Writer-Because-He-Was-Writing. We'll cry less from now on." Bryce replied with lightning speed.

"Ugh, don't make me recall that... We just need to free him, then it's time to get the turnips. So you lot better hurry up!" Merlin started to walk faster. Bryce and Clyde followed after and the trio reached the stable after a few more minutes.

"I was starting to think you' never come back!" Gilbert uttered tearfully as Bryce removed the ties on his wrists and ankles.

"That was the plan, but Bryce here couldn't bear to do it." Merlin said in his usual sarcastic tone.

"Gale... Where did Gale go?" Clyde looked around the stable desperately.

"He is fine. We just sent him back." The dark haired ranger answered.

"Don't you worry Clyde, everyone here is just fine." Bryce told his apprentice. "Well, except there's the fact that..." as his mentor said these words, Clyde looked at the new, smoky cream colored horse Bryce turned his face to. His mentor looked rather troubled for a short moment.

"Feder decided to retire after taking an acidic mist to protect me." He shortly explained. Clyde nodded as he knew the rare acid could easily harm an old horse to that extent.

"Well, to look at the brighter side, everyone else is safe, including this fellow." He pointed at Gilbert, who was still struggling to get up.

"We took good care of him!" Pfeil chimed in excitedly.

"Yes, I can see that." Bryce replied as he helped the writer up.

Ace kept silent, only showing affection to his master who was busy grooming him.

"So, what happened and what's the plan?" Gilbert looked at the rangers expectantly.

"Uh... Who is this guy?" Clyde asked to his mentor in confusion.

"Oh, this is going to be one big story. Come along, let's go to the inn." Bryce smiled at his apprentice as he finished taking care of his horse as well.

"Okay, that's enough. Aren't we getting off track with all this talking and having fun?" Merlin asked rather furiously.

"Not at all!" Bryce reacted very calmly. "I thought that we could share whatever information we have, as well. Clyde and us have the two halves of the same story, after all."

Seemingly convinced, Merlin made no sound. The group slowly proceeded to the inn.

"So, do you know anything about the cultists, Clyde?" Bryce said as he sipped his coffee gently. He was making sure he made no additional noise in the already noisy inn to listen to his apprentice's words.

"No, I mean... I do recall some things, but..." The ginger headed boy said, flustered.

"I see. It's fine, we can figure their plan out in other ways." Bryce replied.

"N-no, wait... I remember something." Clyde suddenly jumped.

"Let's hope it's important." Merlin leaned onto the table and looked at the blue eyes of the apprentice.

"I'm listening!" Gilbert said excitedly. Though nobody said anything about it, he felt like he was part of the group now.

"When I was... In that state, I think I recall something... About... an invasion, maybe?" Clyde forced his mind while speaking.

"Yes, that's exactly what we should be worried about." Bryce replied with a serious tone.

"I don't recall... where it would happen. Sorry..." Clyde hung his head down.

"So, that confirms that they are planning for a take over. I doubt we have much time left." Merlin said quickly.

"But, where will we find them?" Gilbert asked. He was pulling at his lavender clothes nervously. Despite being interested in the cult, he was also afraid.

"We need to pull ourselves closer." Suggested Bryce.

"And how? They know that ginger boy over there, so it would be hard to peek." The writer argued.

"You're a writer. Don't try to outsmart us." Merlin said in a condescending manner. "We will find a disguise..."

"...and they will lead us right into the heart of the conflict." Bryce completed the sentence of his friend.

"We need... Caution..." Clyde said anxiously.

"Does every one of them has those red gas, Clyde?" asked Bryce.

"No, only about... five people." The apprentice replied.

"Fine. We can do it." Said Merlin indifferently.

"Then we better fetch some red fabric." Bryce stood up, starting to walk towards the counter of the inn. A plan was about to come to fruition. On the other side, another plan that was far more scary was about to be realized as well. This attempt could very well be the last one for the rangers, but they had made their minds.