Celtic stared at the clothes Masaki had left out for him and smiled. Green. Typical but they felt good when he put them on. He sighed and went back down stairs to where the others were waiting for him. He grabbed his chosen sword and walked into the yard.

The fiend and the other warrior were waiting for him on the sidelines and Masaki stood in the center of the ring, sword ready. Celtic walked into the ring and held his sword up and ready. Masaki smiled at him and both took their stances.

In the first few blows, Celtic stayed on the defense and studied his opponent. He noticed the human used strength more than speed. He concentrated on his speed and in the next strike he moved out of the way and spun, slashing down towards the knees where the armor didn't reach.

His agility allowed him to get low to the ground and he scored a nice hit. He heard the other swear and knew things had just gotten harder for him. The warrior was now on his guard and Celtic planned to keep him there. He had to give it his all and not draw out this fight.

'This is for Dark!'

With that thought firmly in his head, he attacked Masaki, moving in quickly and confusing his opponent as to where he was and what he was about to do. He used all his speed and agility and finally managed to knock Masaki down. He didn't need to go any farther. He had won.

The stunned silence was his reward and he enjoyed it, turning to face the fiend. He lowered his sword and relaxed.

"Happy now?" The fiend nodded.

"Much."

Masaki had finally gotten back onto his feet and walked over to Celtic.

"You did very well, and for not having any training you are amazing. You chose right when you chose the sword." He smiled, but there conversation was cut short. The red eyes appeared in his mind again and he sensed them calculating his performance, but the results were unknown to the elf.

'My next test to you is this. Deal with your blood before your heart.'

The words made no sense to Celtic and in his confusion he lowered his guard against the attack. An arrow struck him hard in the side and he cried out in pain. When the next arrow struck, his world turned dark and he couldn't even call out in his mind.



Dark fell off Gadreel and cried out in anguish. The knight was at his side in an instant, helping him to center himself and try to fight off this unknown pain.

"What happened?"

"I don't know." he gasped and then he knew. "Celtic!" He cried out again and Gaia held onto the suffering magician, not knowing what else he could do.

"He's been hurt! He's dying Gaia." A tear worked it's way from tightly clenched eyes as Dark made it back to his feet. The knight helped him back onto the horse and steadied him.

"Which way?"

Dark pointed northeast and Gaia sent them off in that direction as fast as Gadreel could take them. The pain wouldn't kill Dark, but it would come close. Agony swept through his body again and he tried to reach out for his elf, tried to make Celtic hear his voice, but all he got was darkness and the pain that kept him half blind.

/They can't take you from me! Not now!/



His breathing came in short gasps that left him in more agony than before. He hurt and nobody was helping him. Dimly he heard raised voices and with nothing else to concentrate on, he focused on the sound.

"He's an elf! Like you! Why did you hurt him? He did nothing wrong."

"He's betrayed his blood. He chose the sword and let himself become a Card." He last word was said with such disdain that Celtic knew one of his own had spoken. Elves did not like the cards, he hated them.

There was silence for a moment.

"He's a card?"

"It makes no difference. There are many Free Cards here and they are worthy friends."

"Maybe for your kind, but not for ours."

"So you would destroy him?"

"Yes." Swords were drawn, the sound echoed in the room and in Celtic's ears. He felt panic rise within him. They may hate him, but they were still his kin and he wouldn't let them come to harm.

He centered himself and used the last of his strength to push himself up and in front of the elf whom had spoken. He felt a blade swing in the air and stop within inches of his wounded body. He looked up into the confused eyes of Masaki.

"I'm still an elf, no matter what they think of me and I can't let any harm come to one of my race."

Masaki's face showed his frustration.

"They'll kill you! We just found you, we won't give you up that easily, not like this." Celtic smiled sadly and shook his head.

"You don't have a choice." His legs gave out and he collapsed to a kneeling position. "Kin comes before friends, it's the stronger of the two bonds. I'm sorry, but you don't have a say."

"He may not! But I certainly do!"

That voice! It couldn't be!

'Things have just got more interesting.'

He ignored the voice in his head and moved his eyes to the newly arrived figures. Dark and Gaia stood in the doorway. The knight had his sword drawn and was clearly defending the magician. Dark walked over to him and knelt down.

"Would you have left me so easily?"

Red eyes looked into violet.

"I want to be worthy to be a card with you in the Pharaoh's deck." He heard the gasps of shock from those around them." But to do that I can't go against kin. It would go against my very being and would weaken me. I would be dishonored and would never be able to go with you." He closed his eyes and leaned into the arms of his beloved. "I'd rather die now knowing I made the right choice and had at least met you, than have to live knowing I could never be with you."

Dark held him tightly.

"For an elf, kin means so much. It's considered one of the strongest bonds and yet this elf would hurt you. Why?"

"He doesn't consider me an elf, he considers me a disgrace."

"But you are not. You are a warrior." The fiend had spoken and Celtic looked up at him. There was something more to his words than he was saying. A warrior? That's it!

The elf had wanted to kill Celtic because he was a disgrace to their race, it was part of their customs and Celtic would always be hunted now that it was know that he was made into a card and had chosen the sword.

/That's why they tried to get me to change my path./

But if he was right.then a new path had been opened to him. As a card, there were different classes, or 'races'. Warrior was one of them. He smiled and turned to the elf, it was someone he didn't recognize.

"I'm no longer an elf. I cut myself off from that people and that world. I choose instead to be a Card and a Warrior. You now have no obligation or claim to my life."

The elf looked startled but when he made a move towards Celtic, everyone in the room blocked him. Gaia motioned towards the door.

"I think it's time for you to leave."

Celtic heard no more. He finally gave into the pain, knowing now he was in safe hands.



Me: this chapter was inspired by the review I got from 'soul of the pure' sorry if it makes no sense will fix when I feel better..