"Alright, we're here"

The 'Main Characters' and Lione looked at the sight in front of them. Snow, Light, Flora and Star were already there, fighting off any ghouls that came into sight.

"Are those black things... ghouls?" Fine asked.

Gale nodded.

"They look..." Rein trailed off.

"Not exactly pleasing to the eye." Gale finished. "They are not things that belong here, after all."

"So... we're supposed to fight them?" Lione asked, looking away the ghouls.

Sun nodded. "Follow my lead, I'll show you how to get rid of them without getting close."

The three of them looked at each other, before following Sun and helping the others fend off the ghouls. Eventually, they learned how to defeat the ghouls and began taking on a few by themselves. Despite killing off many ghouls, the numbers kept on increasing as time went by. Sun turned to Gale.

"We have to leave for now, these numbers are too much to handle, even with us six and their help."

Gale nodded in response. "Alright, I'll go tell the others." With that, she rushed off in the direction of the other members.

Sun went to the 'Main Characters' and Lione and told them to return with her while getting rid of some ghouls. Soon Gale returned with the other members, and they all went back to their base.

"So... how was the experience?" Sun asked the three girls.

The three of them remained silent. After a short pause, Rein spoke.

"Sun... were those ghouls... actual people?"

Sun's eyes widened in surprise before laughing awkwardly. "Of course n-"

"So what if they were?" Gale cut in all of a sudden, looking at the three girls. "What would you have done if you knew?"

The three girls remained silent once again.

"I... don't know..." Fine said. "I don't even know what I could have done if I knew."

"If someone was to take your life, would you let them kill you just so you won't have blood on your hands?" Gale asked. "This is just how this world is, only the strongest get to live. I guess we have kept you three in a safe bubble for too long that you three have completely forgot about the rules of this world." With that, she turned her back on the three girls.

The three girls looked down. Gale broke out into laughter.

"Of course, those ghouls are not actual people. To be accurate, they're more like corpses that were brought back to... "life". So no, you three did not take anyone's life. I was only testing you three."

"R-really!?" The three girls said in unison.

Gale nodded, smiling. "Besides, if it really came down to it, we would be the ones doing the dirty work, so don't worry about that part, just focus on training for now."

The three girls nodded. Gale turned to Sun. "Sorry for interrupting you there Sun, I hope you don't mind~"

Sun laughed. "Even if I did, it'd be a bit too late now to get upset with you."

The two of them smiled at each other before turning to the girls. "Well, rest's over, time to train again!"

"Awww!" The three girls groaned. Sun clapped her hands. "No complaining!" she said before leaving the room with Gale.

"Shade."

Shade turned to around. "Mother, is something wrong?"

"There's something I need to tell you." Malia said. "It's something... concerning our family and the Akiro family."

Akiro family? Shade thought to himself, is this about Bright?

He followed Malia to the office, before sitting down in a chair not far from Malia.

"You are at the right age now, It is about time that you have a clearer understanding of the history between our family and the Akiro family."

"I'm listening, mother." Shade said as he straightened his back.

"Our family... was originally a side bloodline of the Akiro family."

"What!?" Shade stood up in shock.

"Now, now." Malia said calmly. "Sit down and let me tell you the full story."

"The Akiro family was once the strongest and most powerful noble family. At the time, Dark Elementors were, in fact, non-existent, therefore there was no family that could rival their power. They had a main bloodline and many side bloodlines. And the largest side bloodline, was the one that our family originated from."

"They remained as the most powerful family for centuries, until a few decades ago. For some unknown reason, members of their side bloodlines began experiencing elemental changes. The Light Element they possessed became corrupt and became the Dark Element that we possess to this day. The Light Elementors that became Dark Elementors were deemed as outcasts and suffered terribly. It went on for a while until the leader of that side bloodline decided to cut all their ties to the Akiro family and formed the Tsukiyoru family, and many members followed."

"How did it impact the Akiro family so much if it was just a side bloodline?" Shade asked.

Malia chuckled. "The Akiro family did not have as much people in the main bloodline as they do in the side bloodlines, after all, our family is not only made up of the largest side bloodline of the Akiro family, some of the other side bloodlines that experienced elemental changed joined our family. Therefore, in numbers, our family can easily rival the ones of the Akiro family."

"Well, now that you know the history between the two families," Malia said as she stood up. "I hope that you can make the right judgement. I do know what you have been up to these days, Shade."

With that, Malia left the room.

Shade looked down as he got lost in his thoughts. So mother had knew what he was doing for the past few weeks and how close he was getting with Bright. One question in particular lingered in his mind. If a Light Elementor could become a Dark Elementor, then could a Dark Elementor become a Light Elementor?

It was a question that, perhaps no one could answer.

"Greetings."

Bright fell off his chair once again. Seriously, what was with him and unannounced visitors today? He turned around, only to see a cloaked figure in his room.

"Sorry, do I know you?" Bright asked, standing up and straightening his back.

"No." The figure replied. "But you soon will." Immediately after, the figure threw an attack at Bright, which Bright barely dodged and the attack left a cut on his cheek.

Now fully alert, Bright backed away from the figure. Eyes fixed on the cloaked figure. The figure chuckled before stepping back.

"Don't worry Bright, I'm only here to deliver a little... gift. Farewell." With that, the figure disappeared from Bright's room. Bright frowned. What did this cloaked figure mean by a "gift". It certainly didn't sound pleasant from the cloaked male's tone. He looked around his room, there doesn't seem to be any changes. He shrugged before returning to his previous task. He only hopes that this incident won't cause any trouble for him.

Off I go and work on the next chapter! :)

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