I did try to make a long chapter... but It just seemed that if I made it longer I would have passed the chance to make an INTENTIONAL Cliffhanger... Chapter 11's cliffie wasn't on purpose... it just turned out to be one. Now, Chapter 12 and the intentional cliffie... author laughs maniacally

Disclaimer:Everyone already knows what they own. I do own this story, but not all characers from it. I do wish to own a fast-working mind to write this story faster, but I can't ask for much.

Meanwhile Rayne reveals a dark secret:

"Hang in there brave fellow, just another application of the herbs and a drink of it's juice" I said gently making him drink the juice, afterwards I rubbed the gel-like material on his chest and back.

"It's not as if he is going to die if you don't do that, you know?" said Stricken cruelly.

I stopped everything I was doing and looked directly into Strike's eyes.

"Maybe that atittude was your problem after all" I answered coldly taking off the eye contact. "You don't treat most people like they should be. Right now, this guy needs our care and you're telling me that I don't have to worry so much, he ain't going to die!?"

"And it's still the truth." Strike answered back.

"You don't understand" I told him getting angry by every second that passed. "Your family didn't accept you because you aren't a pure-blooded mage. It's because of your way!"

"Shut UP!" he yelled at me, his staff's rod changing to intense red. "You don't know hell of my life! Don't pretend to justify my family's errors by saying that I'm the one with the problems! Besides, you're the one that always attacks low. You had to talk about that, didn't you? You know that I hate my family because of their stupid pure blood, like any full-blooded mage I see."

A moment of silence went by and I cleaned my hands.

"I guess this finishes it" I said drying my hands.

"So, now you can be happy. Sure, you make me remember my hateful past. What don't you understand of I just want to forget those who were my family?" Stricken told me... making me feel bad.

I did understand him. I had run from home when I was old enough to do so. I never did like my parents... they just didn't care about me. And I guess Stricken has a point. I shouldn't be pointing him the nightmare of his past... I just couldn't say anything to him... so I just did something I thought I would have never done with him after the things we had gone through...

"I'm sorry" I told him when I crossed my arms around him. "I forgot how that felt."

He didn't answer, I looked at his eyes and they were closed... I feel totally responsible of what may happen because of what has just happened. (A/N: You thought that she was going to kiss him... maybe, maybe not)

Presenting Nanta's power of nature:

'Who would have thought I would have such a terrible ending, after all I've been through' I thought when we were falling. This wasn't the first time that my lack of trust got me, and others, to trouble. But I just can't help it. And it has saved me from time to time... putting others in danger. I can't stand it anymore. I should know by now who I can trust and who I can't... but if the other person betrays me like happened with my brother... To hell with it. This people need me right now. I've got to save them.

We kept falling and falling and suddenly we fell into a bed of vines. I had done it. I could alter nature once again. Ztal and Kiomi were unconscious. Zeph looked at me amazed. I just remained silent and giggled. I kept controling the vines and made them go upwards, towards our goal. Then I saw that Ztal had recovered, and Kiomi had her normal skin tone. I was really preocuppied about her.

"Are you better?" I asked.

"Yup... Don't worry, it was the cold that made me lose my consciousness" she said, then moving her to another place.

Really, really, really... I didn't believe a word she said... But, I won't bug her now... she's not feeling well. We kept going up.

"Is no one going to ask if I'm okay?" said Ztal, I think a little jealous.

"No, you're the mighty dragoon that resists cold..." Zeph answered in a mocking way and I couldn't stop my laughter.

"Because of that you're getting of the peak alone" warned Ztal.

Once we reached the peak I could breathe again, I didn't stop laughing until we reached it. I did notice that Kiomi was too serious... well, to start, she's the kind of Fairy that CAN'T be serious at any time, and if she's like that... something's wrong, but I just can't talk to her right now. She'll keep lying, so I'll have to wait, for the right moment... ignoring the Guardian Beast we had found. Wait... did I just write down Guardian Beast?

I soon stopped our movement, any kind of sound would wake the sleeping monster. It was enormous, had four wings, one tail and was tiger-like. Looked like an enormous and evolved Coeurl. I took my bow, I didn't want to be careless. We got out of the vines and started walking towards the Myrrh tree silently... What a coincidence that the Guardian Beast was sleeping right next to it... don't you think so? We did fine... until Zeph was completely covered by the snow that fell and Ztal tried to help him. When he touched the floor... well he didn't touch the floor... He was standing on the beast's tail. It seemed as if the monster hadn't felt it so we continued towards the tree. Ztal, more scared than a mouse when it sees a cat, placed the chalice on a rock. The drop of myrrh fell swiftly, as if dancing, in the chalice. After the sound of the drop diving into the chalice and a small change of temperature (the drop had frozen before touching the water, but then it melted back to its original form) we celebrated, silently of course, our acomplisment of the goal. I hugged Ztal and Zeph, and Kiomi looked at the chalice with a huge smile on her face, at least she was happy. Then the myrrh started trembling. Kiomi's eyes widened and she held her sword with a strong grip. I took my bow and prepared a poison arrow, and I saw the Guardian Beast's reflection on the chalice. Without thinking it twice I shot my arrow towards Kiomi, and she sent it to the monster with a fiery trace. Then it hit him, leaving him wounded but still powerful.

Zeph was throwing a lot of spears thanks to his multiplying technic, and Ztal focused his attack, and with a little help of Kiomi, he fire-attacked the enemy, leaving him ablaze. The monster decided to go up, and the fog around the place did not permit me to target the beast. Zeph and I waited helplessly, until we saw a huge dark violet blast. Then the beast fell on front of us really hard. It was knocked out cold, but I tied him with some strong whips. I really don't like taking risks... not that much! I then saw an orb incrustated in its forehead. I pulled it out with an arrow and the jewel shone a beautiful jade. Rapidly it stopped shining, but I knew it would shine again, sooner or later.

We went down the mountain all cheery and stuff. I did really notice that Kiomi was ecstatic, this time she didn't even stop talking. She had Ztal bleeding by the eras, if you know what I mean, and if you don't... keep reading!

We arrivet at the bottom and showed the completely full chalice to Strike and Rayne. Bothe of them looked surprised at me, but then returned to their normal selves (Rayne enjoying things with us and Strike in his normal I-don't-know-you-guys way). Then I looked at the poor Viktor, and saw a blue light around him, and the jade one around me. The others also had a color glow around them. I don't know why, but I lay my hand on Viktor's forehead. He then stood up fast, and took a fighting stance. All the orbs stopped shining.

"I'm okay! Woo-hoo! I'm cured! Thank you!" and Viktor continued shouting thinks like that for the rest of the trip until we got to the place I think Zeph lived.

"My home" he said with pain in his heart.

I looked at what I thought was a house. A lot of wooden panels were on the floor. It was all crushed. Zeph went towards it and picked up some broken eyeglasses and a dirt-covered book. I didn't want to see him... I knew I would have cried... So I looked at the opposing horizon and saw a giant shadow moving slowly with a giant sword.

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Now... it was short and cruel... wasn't it? I liked this chapter, it showed a lot of stuff some people already knew glares evilly at SsAnImE the review-reader But it was worth it. Now, what could go wrong... after what we have witnessed? Well... I just have to say... I'm called Higeki Kuroi for a reason and one of them is because I always think about the worst that could happen, so... thinks CAN and WILL get worst.

Cheers! .