Disclaimer: I do not own Dragon Knights. Never have, never will!

A/N: Okay, I'm back with a whole new chapter, hopefully ya like it, I wrote most of it while my mama was in the hospital (she's okay)! R&R and tell me what ya think! Oh yeah, I made a few minor changes to the other chapters, nothing to serious though!

The Book of Counted Sorrows

Chapter 3 – The Bloodline of Secrets

Lily and Rune were walking down the street, arm and arm, looking at the shops and vendors. Lily would stop occasionally to look at the jewelry or flowers, maybe look at some pretty fabric, or some weapons, but she never bought anything. Rune smiled at her happiness, she greatly reminded him of Tinlet. As he continued to watch her, he began to wonder what kind of person she truly was.

"Uh, Lady Lily, I hope you don't mind if I ask, but could you explain some things about you?" Rune asked, blushing. He hoped she would give him an answer.

She looked at him and giggled. "You're very curious for an elf," she said giggling a little more. Rune blushed a deeper red; everyone seemed to be making a comment about that lately. She smiled to ease his discomfort. "I don't mind," she said leading him over to a café table and ordered both of them some hot chocolate.

"What is it you would like to know about me?" she asked looking deep into his blue eyes. Rune caught under her heavy gaze, looked down at his coco, and blushed. He felt like she was looking deep into his mind, searching, and understanding. Pulling at his inner thoughts, as if she was reading his mind. It made him uncomfortable when someone looked at him like that, as if they knew every inch of his being. He coughed and took a sip of his drink before asking his first question.

"I'm going to frank and honest. How come you have your particular bloodline?" he asked bluntly, with a hint of curiosity. He fought off the blush that wanted to adorn his cheeks like cherries.

She laughed softly. "Well, Rune, that is quite the question." For a moment he didn't think she would answer it, but she continued. "Your answer is long and complicated, but that shouldn't matter," he nodded his head in agreement and waited for her to continue. She took a long drink of her coco, before she continued. "Where do you want me to begin?" she looked at him. "At the beginning I suppose," she said laughing. Rune let out a small chuckle.

"I guess it all begins with my great-grand parents or I suppose maybe a little farther back, I'm not sure. My great-grand father was Satoshi Spardas, he was human, and he met my great-grand mother, Anastriana Galanodel and she was an elf. They married and had my grand father, Michael Spardas, who was of both races. My other great-grand father was a youkai, his name was Lucius Draconus. He met my other great- grand mother, Geneva Levesque, who was human. They married and had my grand mother Cassandra Draconus. She and my grand father met and fell in love and had my mother, Mikanaei, therefore she was human, elf and youkai.

"My mother met a dragon passing through the village and took a fancy to him. I think his name was Dante. And then I came along. My mother died giving birth to me. There is more but I doubt you would want to listen," she said taking a sip of her now lukewarm coco.

Rune looked at her intently, paying close attention to her story. For the most part it was interesting and a bit sad, but he still wanted to know more. "Please continue…"

She looked at him and nodded her head. "Alright. Well I'm sure you would like to know what happened to them?" Rune nodded his head.

"Satoshi and Geneva both soon died of old age. Anastriana began to die slowly after losing Satoshi. Lucius poured himself into his work and study. It was quite by chance that they met. They fell in love and she bore him a child. But he died sometime after in a battle against the dragons. That finally snapped her heart in two after losing both of her loves."

Rune raised an eyebrow. How interesting. She was right it was getting complicated. Lily laughed at his expression.

"I know, but when I heard this story I was totally shocked. But anyway, when Anastriana and Lucius got together, she was soon with child and her heart was restored. She then gave birth to my grand uncle. They called him a cursed child because he was youkai and elf. Soon after her was born Anastriana and Lucius planned to marry, but Lucius was killed in battle as you know, and Anastriana died soon after. My grand uncle was raised by my grandparents," she said explaining in more detail about the lives of her ancestors.

"My grandmother died when I was three, but I remember her so clearly. My grandfather raised be after that and then," the look on her face told Rune that this story was about to turn grim. Tears pooled in her eyes, but she never let then fall. "When I was thirteen, Makototen was attacked my Nadil and his crazy youkai army. I think part of it was because Lucius had once refused to join his army even thought he was a Youkai Lord, himself and I believe that this was a form of revenge against him. I do not know the whole truth. All I remember of that horrible day was Nadil asking for something and my grandfather had refused to tell him. I tried to save my grandfather, but I was too late. Nadil then said he would come back for me someday and then I blacked out.

"The rest of my life, I've cursed Nadil and was raised by a family friend in Old Arinas. Three years ago I returned to Dusis to find Makototen, but I fear it has been lost completely." A stay tear ran down her check. She hastily brushed it aside. She finished what was left of her lukewarm coco and looked at Rune waiting.

Rune was still confused on one thing. He didn't mind that she gave no names other than that of her forefathers and foremothers. It was Makototen that he was curious about. "I have one question. Your village, Makototen, what was it like? I mean did all of your family live and meet each other there?"

A wistful look entered her eyes as she thought back to her home. "It was a wonderful and beautiful place where we all the races worked together in harmony. Until Nadil attacked we never knew of the troubles that lay outside our little world. I miss it dearly," she replied, continuing to stare off into space thinking longingly of her naive childhood and her training that made her the way she was today.

"Sounds like a nice place. Reminds me of my own home." He gave her a small reassuring smile. She smiled back.

She took a deep breath, and the smile left her lips. "Rune, there is something else about me that you should know."

The smile left his face as her saw her serious expression. "What?"

"Rune, I'm the…"


"SHE'S WHAT?" Rath yelled. The others covered their ears, expecting this kind of reaction. "So what you're saying we have the key to the world, the center of magic, the weapon of mass destruction, the Holy One, the harbinger of doom… right here, walking among us."

Lykouleon only nodded his head.

"There is no way… it can't be… You're not serious are you…?" Rath asked trying to rationalize this information. But the look on Lykouleon's face told him that he was dead serious.

"Holy shit," he said, and when Alfeegi didn't yell at him, he said it again. We have the center of magic, the dragon, and the Gods, walking among us, and her…" he begun to say after he had recovered.

"She is the Ainu, the Holy One. She is the Messiah." Lykouleon said with unquestionable certainty. The others noticed and did not question his authority on the matter.

"But, how?" Rath asked with confusion and uncertainty shinning in his eyes. It was just too much for him to handle. That woman with bright violet eyes and mixed blood was the true savior of the world. This had to be joke…so he looked to Thatz to see if he could find the punch line or at least an explanation, but he looked as shocked as them. Okay, so maybe it wasn't a joke after all.

"He's right you know," they heard a voice from behind them say. They all turned to see Lily standing on a hill not far from them. Rune had been behind her and now moved to join the rest of the group, not wanting to be smushed by what was to come. Lily had warned him, and was glad she had. Her once lively violet eyes were now hardened and cold. Her soft features had chanced to ice. Her pink lips were in a tight frown. She now looked like she had last night, only with few slight differences: she was neither wet nor muddy, and she only had one weapon with her (they figured the arrows always stayed in her hair).

The sky around them had darkened when she had spoken and now the wind seemed to pick up, making her hair fly behind her like bronze fire and serpents. Rune looked at her in awe, so this is what she was talking about. All different races flowing in her veins were now shown all mixed together, all as one. The others looked one as well, with astonishment clearly written on their faces.

"How you ask?" her voice was cold and dark, much like it had been last night, with a hint of mysteriousness. "I'll tell you how. My blood. For 18 generations there has been a Chosen One, the Messiah, the Ainu, the Knight of the Eternal dragon. And in each generation the One has the blood of all the races and they are called upon to wake the land. However, the 18th will destroy and give birth to a New Age. I am the 18th One. I am the true Ainu. I am the true Master of the Eternal One." She saw the uncertainty, the doubt, the fear in their eyes. She smirked.

She pulled out the sword that was on her back and held it high in the air. She leaned her head back and began muttering in an ancient language, her voice loud and clear, and very enchanting. Lightning stuck down on the tip of her sword, but it did not seem to affect her. Then all of the sudden a massive dragon came forth from the green jewel on the sword. Its enormous wings spanned the skies. It was green with eight white horns place upon its head like a crown. Just below the two center horns was a green gem the symbol of infinity upon it. It tossed its head, its long mane falling back like a cascading waterfall. She then settled next to Lily and went it its smaller from, the only difference was it now had one horn upon its forehead. It held up a card that said: Hi, I'm Nyra!

With her energy drained, Lily closed her eyes and dropped her sword as she fell to the ground. The sky immediately cleared and went back to the way it had before, as if nothing had affected it from it daily schedule.

:Mistress! Mistress: was Nyra's reply as she ran over to Lily, nudging her face. Thatz ran over to her fallen form and cradled her head in his lap. The others soon followed. Wordlessly, Lykouleon took out a tiny jar and handed it to Thatz.

Thatz unscrewed the lid and using his index finger, he took some of that stuff and placed it on her lips. It took a moment before her eyes fluttered open; there was a collective sigh of relief. She licked her lips, immediately coughing and sputtering.

"God, Thatz, you know how much I hate that shit. Yuck!" she complained taking the back of her hand and wiping that stuff off, before taking the hand and wiping its contents on Thatz's shirt. She sat up, looking around her, slightly confused. "What the Hell happened?" she asked sitting up.

"You were explaining why you were the Chosen One, and when your dragon came out and you passed out." Rath said walking over to them. "You dropped this," he said bending down and handed Lily's sword back to its rightful owner. "Whoever forged that has my compliments."

Lily smiled and looked at her sword. "I'm sure they already knew that," she said looking at him. He held out his hand, which she gladly accepted, and with the help of him and Thatz, she stood up. The others soon followed.

"Well this has turned out to be quite and interesting day so far," Alfeegi said out of nowhere. They nodded their heads. With a loss as to what to say, they all began to wander away to do whatever they do.

The sun had not moved that much since lunch, saying that it was nowhere near nightfall. Lily looked around and saw that it was just Nyra and herself, but she knew that someone was watch her, but she wasn't sure whom. So she continued to stand there and look around, but soon decided she would rather close her eyes and listen. She heard the faint sound of a fountain and decided to go look for it. She briefly wondered if the person watching her would follow, but decided she didn't care and walked on.

When she got there, she took a moment to stare in wonder at the giant stone structure. There were four dragons sprouting from the center. They each represented one of the four elemental dragons of earth, wind, fire, and water. Deus and Nyra seemed to be missing, however, that did not surprise Lily. Only those old enough remembered the lone dragon. Lily was sure that there was another statue some where of Deus. On top of each dragon's head, was a winged woman, holding her arms up. They seemed to looking up into the eternal sky above. It also looked as though they should have been holding something in their hands, but whatever it had once been, was now gone. (I bet Thatz took it!)

She sat on the edge, and patted her lap. Nyra gladly jumped into her mistress's lap. She moved around in circles, like a cat, before settling in one spot. Using one hand to support herself, Lily used the other to stoke Nyra lovingly.

Not long after that, Fire decided to walk by, but stopped soon as soon as he saw Nyra, and turned his head to the side in a cute manor, regarding the new dragon. He made a cute little noise, which caused Nyra to lift up her head and look at him in the same manor he had looked at her.. Hearts entered Fire's eyes as Nyra blushed cutely. (Do dragons blush? Well now they do!)

Lily looked on and thought that it was rather cute. But to the person watching Lily apparently didn't think the same thing. And so they glared at Nyra as she jumped out of Lily's lap and walked over to talk to his dragon. When he couldn't stand it anymore, Rath finally came out of hiding.

"You shouldn't be talking to her," Rath said grabbing his dragon. Fire struggled to get out of his Masters grip, and succeeded as he bit his hand. Rath dropped Fire and proceeded to look at his injury.

'What in the Hell do you think your doing? They were getting along nicely," Lily said standing up from where she had been sitting.

"I don't want my dragon talking to tours," Rath said rather childishly, moving to get Fire once again, but he flashed his fangs and flew away over to Nyra. "See, look what you've done!"

Lily glared at him. "What I've done? If you hadn't of interrupted them, none of this would have happened. Besides, what in the hell happened to you. You were all nice to me and now you're acting like a spoilt brat." Lily yelled at him.

"I'm not a child. So don't imply that ever again. Besides the moment you came I knew you were going to cause problems and you did." He yelled back at her.

"What have I done to you?"

"You're going to take Rune away from me!" Rath blurted out, but covered his mouth as soon as the words had left his lips.

Lily stared at him for a long time, before she started laughing at him.

Rath glared at her. "Stop laughing." When she didn't, it made him madder. "I said stop laughing!" he growled and gathered red energy in his palm. "STOP. LAUGHING." He yelled the words, finally losing his temper.

"I will once you stop acting so immature," she said, not laughing, but still giggling, tears streaming down the sides of her face. When she saw the red glow, she smirked and formed her own her own ball of energy, except hers was green. 'So you want to play like that, huh?"

They glared at each other for a moment longer. Their dragons looking on helplessly. Then all of the sudden, at the same time, they threw their energy. But instead of hitting the respective targets, their energy met in the middle and fused. All watched in horror as they saw what happened next. The energy split and then went flying back to Lily and Rath, hitting them in the stomach. Lily went flying back towards the fountain, her back slamming into its cold edge, knocking the wind out of her, and soon passed out for a second time that day. Rath went flying back too, but he hit a tree, his back receiving the same treatment.

Both dragons went to go check on their respective masters, before going to find some random person to help them.

Cracking one eyes open weakly, Rath looked around him. That was not what he was expecting when he threw that energy ball. He looked around and could not find his dragon or Lily's. Lily! He looked around, much more aware. He looked and saw her laying by the fountain. He barley managed to get and walk over there but did. He gently picked her up and carried her and himself to the sick ward, know that neither of them would be happy campers in the morning.

A/N: Okay there it is! I hope ya liked it. I know there are quite a few grammatical errors. Please don't point that out in your reviews, I know this already. The end I have here was not the original one I had in mind, I but like this one better, though I personally feel like there is something wrong with it. If you figure it out, please kindly tell me! Thanks everyone for your support! By the way, Lily has reddish-brown hair.