"WOW!"

"LOOK AT THAT!"

The two riders nodded at each other. In the blink of an eye, both sped towards the pillar of fire.

Sadistic Lunatic Presents:

A Light Interlude: Strangers

The duo reached their destination, both their eyes widening as they took in the the destruction in front of them. They have seen fortresses crumble and forests demolished but never had they seen an entire land reduced to barren death. A crater that seemed big enough to fit an entire castle lay in front of them, the ground in front of them blackened and sooty. Protruding from the smoking ground were what they assumed to be whatever was left from weapons- signifying that a great battle had taken place here before everything was reduced to nothingness.

"Some spell that must've been!"

Long cobalt hair danced with the wind. "You coming?" the man waved his trusted Heavenly Star Staff to get his companion's attention. "Maybe the guy who did this is still here."

The red clad man thought about it for a while then nodded. He took out his prized Twin Destiny Fang weapons and motioned for his horse to follow their companion into the smoke and deeper into the crater, covering his nose with his bandana.

"Stop that!" the red clad man scolded his friend. They were riding side-by-side in the forest path of, from what they've gathered, Kuput Forest. The man in red was getting really annoyed; his friend had been prodding the unconscious body straddled on the back of his horse with his stick four times already. . .

Poke

…Make that fifth. "HE'S ALIVE OKAY! JUST UNCONSCIOUS!" he snapped. His friend seemed to cringe as he covered his ears with his hands, accidentally hitting himself with his staff. After the cobalt haired man saw his friend calm down, he made another attempt at poking. "Stop poking him!"

The cobalt haired man withdrew his dark-bluish, dragon-tipped staff. Throwing his arms up in the air in defeat, he shook his head and sighed. "I can't help it! The kid hasn't moved since we picked him up two days ago!" he folded his arms, furrowing his brows. "Is he even alive? I mean, he's the most likely cause of that disaster but surely whatever he did came with a price . . ."

"I know." he looked up briefly to think. "That must have been some spell but . . . well, I'm sure he's alive. I mean, remember that Karayan platoon you hired those years ago? Despite how primitive they look, or maybe because of their lifestyle, they could survive anything." the red clad man glanced at the peculiar bundle in front of him. He lifted part of the sheet, checking if the boy had woken up. 'He looks the same as usual; unconscious.' he observed. Blonde-black hair framed the boy's head, his hair the only thing moving as he lay still under the sheets. The man in red placed his right hand on the boy's forehead. A bright broken shield appeared not too high above him as the man silently cast his spell…

"Battle Oath."

As soon as the light dimmed and the bundle emitted a burning red aura, the longhaired staff-wielding man questioned his long time friend.

"Why that spell? Why not use a one of your stronger healing spells?"

"I have tried the others before…" the red-clad man started, covering the boy once again with the sheet. "…But he hasn't shown any improvement since. At least with the battle oath, I can heal and amplify his will power. Hopefully, we can find a better healer in this 'Chisha' Village where my sister is.

"Why didn't you leave the boy in that village we passed? The one suspended above water?" The cobalt haired man questioned his friend further, running a hand through his bangs. His eyes suddenly turned serious. "Did you notice it too?"

"Yes…" short dark hair danced in the wind as they hastened their pace. "Yes, he does look like Lucia."

The woman sighed for the nth time, clearly bored out of her mind. She had been waiting by the gates ever since she heard word that her two companions were arriving that day. She wore baggy green pants and a durable pink silk blouse for her top. Wristbands decorated her arms, weapons hidden behind her. A pink traveler's cloak finished her attire as she had discarded the pink headband she used to wear. Sitting on the gate, feet waving to and fro alternately, it was no wonder why this woman suddenly ran to a familiar pair of travelers as soon as her eyes caught them, moving in break-neck speeds.

"Finally!" she exclaimed, her short dark hair playing with the wind as she ran up to the dismounting pair. As soon as the duo's feet were planted on the ground, the pink clad woman gave the boys a powerful bone-crushing hug with the strength that made muscle men like Leo, Bolgan, and Wan Fu green in envy. Needless to say, the two former rulers turned blue.

"S-sis…can't –gasp- breath!"

"Save…me…B-ugh…Swo-"

"What took you two so long?" the woman said, releasing the two. The duo immediately sank to the ground, drinking air like there was no tomorrow. As soon as their breathing became stabilized, they examined their third companion.

She still wore the same clothes as the last time they saw each other a month ago. Same height, though her hair did grow a bit past her shoulders.

"What?" She questioned, hands on her hips. A mischievous glint flashed in her eyes, she smiled at the two cutely, batting her eyelashes. "Oh my, did I become so pretty that even my own adopted brother fell for me?" She turned to look at the cobalt haired man, who had a comical look of disbelief on his face, and pointed at him. "You I can understand. After all, I am gorgeous."

Both boys turned to each other and sighed. "Same old, same old."

"What's in the bundle?" the woman asked, walking past the two friends towards the bundle on the horse.

"Long story." The cobalt haired man said, standing up and offering a hand to help the man in red. Said man took it and pulled.

"We'll tell you all about it once we've settled in." The man in red continued.