Disclaimer: Same as always, I don't own Digimon.
TK stared at the girl for a second. She had long black hair in a braid, emerald green eyes, and tanned skin. But, she also had a strange green marking on her face. It was a thin line that curved gracefully from one jaw bone up her cheek, across her forehead, and back down to her other jaw bone. On her cheeks a few branches curled off.
He noticed curiously that, on her right hand, there was a stone similar to his, only white. The metal curled around her wrist, went over the top of her hand, curled around her first and ring fingers, and went back down to her wrist. The stone was centered on the back of her hand. However, the metal didn't seem to hinder her hand movement, as she was flexing it while she stood there.
After looking at her face and wrist, he noticed her clothes. She was dressed in a tight black sleeveless shirt with a high neck. She had a small white cloth armband on the upper part of her left arm, as well as a woven hemp bracelet on her left wrist. She was wearing tight black three-quarter pants with a black belt. She too was barefoot. On a final note, he saw that she wore Isan's collar as well.
"Did you saw you were a…a Light Mage?" TK asked, after what she had said sunk in.
"Yes," she looked at him, confused. "Why? Aren't you a Mage too?"
TK mirrored her look. "Actually, I don't know. You see, I'm not exactly from around here."
"Oh?" she tilted her head. "Then where are you from?"
"Japan. On Earth," he added, seeing her confused look.
Her eyes widened. "Earth? You-you're serious?"
"Of course," TK replied, confused. "Why would I lie?"
"B-But, if you're from Earth, then you must be…"
"Must be who?" TK asked, starting to get weirded out.
"You must be the Shadow Mage," she replied in a breathless whisper. "It was said you would return. But, I didn't think I'd be around to see it. I mean, sure, I prophesied that I would, but sometimes I'm wrong. I just can't believe it. You're really here."
"Umm...I'm not sure who you think I am, but I'm just a normal kid. Well…sorta anyway. I'm no…Shadow Mage."
"But you can control Darkness, can you not?" Katya inquired forcefully.
"Well, yeah, bu-"
"And you can sense evil, can you not?"
TK nodded. How did this girl know all these things?
Katya smiled triumphantly. "Then you are the Shadow Mage. You are one of us four who will defeat Lord Isan and rid Hiata of him forever."
"Woah, woah, back up," TK said, holding up his hands. "I can't go against Isan. If I do, he'll hurt my world and the people in it."
To his surprise, Katya laughed. "No he won't silly. He doesn't have the power to pass into your world. Not anymore."
"What are you talking about? He and his creatures seemed to have no problem before," TK stated bitterly.
"He was using a transport amulet before," Katya stated as though it was common knowledge. "One that only allows eight trips. You see, that shadow that was following you, that Breathstealer, took up two trips, going there and coming back. The same goes for Shaukaka and Isan. But, when Isan brought you and Kari back with him, that took up another two trips. Do the math, and that equals eight."
TK stared. "So, he's been using me this whole time, and he can't even back up his threat!"
"Shhh. Not so loud," Katya hissed. "But, yes. Pretty much."
"That-that- ugh! When I get my hands on him I'm gonna-"
"Not so fast," Katya said, stopping his rant. "First we gotta get out of here. Then we can get revenge. Do you know a way out?"
TK thought. Yes, he knew how to get to the outside door. He didn't know if it would be open though. He told Katya as much.
She shrugged. "We have to take that chance. But, we also have to find Hiroki and the Wind Elemental."
"Hiroki and the who?"
"Hiroki, the Flame Elemental, and a girl who is the Wind Elemental."
"A girl? Do you mean Kari?"
Katya shrugged. "I don't know her name. But I prophesied that she would come with the Shadow Mage. So, I suppose it is this…Kari. Oh, I just realized, I don't know your name."
"Oh yeah," TK replied, surprised he had forgotten to tell her. "My name's Takeru, but most people call me TK."
Katya tilted her head. "Takeru," she purred. "I like that better than TK. May I call you that?"
Usually TK hated his real name, but he couldn't bring himself to say no to Katya. "If you want," he replied.
Katya smiled. "Alright…Takeru. Let's get out of here."
"How? The stupid pixie locked the door."
Katya smiled mischievously. "We'll use our…abilities. Aim your Darkness at the lock after my Light surrounds it. Okay?"
TK nodded, he had no idea what they were doing, but what could it hurt? After Katya sent her ball of Light Energy to surround the lock, he formed his own Energy in the palm of his hand. He easily aimed it at the door and released it. As soon as his Darkness touched her Light, a chaotic reaction occurred. The two energies seemed to repel and attract each other at the same time. Mixing to form a grayish mash, the strength increased dramatically. Then, without warning, the energy ball exploded, like a mini bomb.
"Woah," TK said, awed by the damage that the small energy ball had done. He turned to Katya. "How did you kn-"
"Later," she said cutting him off. She grabbed his arm and dragged him into the hall through the hole in the door. "Come on, someone will have heard that. We have to find the other two Guardians and get out of here while we still can. Then I'll explain everything."
TK nodded again as he was pulled down the hall by a rather insistent Katya. "Do you know where we're going?"
"No, do you?" she replied simply.
TK sweat dropped. "Isan keeps Kari on the opposite side of this place, I'm pretty sure. He doesn't want us to interact. Maybe we should head there."
"All right," she replied. "Maybe Hiroki has found her already. Let's go." She headed quickly down the hall. She was about to round a corner when TK grabbed her arm and pulled her back.
"What?" she asked, annoyed.
"Something's in that hall. One of Isan's guards."
"Just one?"
TK concentrated a bit "Yeah, just one. Magically, it's weak. But physically, it's pretty strong."
"Must be a pixie," Katya mused. "Well, we'll just do they same thing to it that we did to the door."
TK stared at her, wide-eyed. "But, won't that--won't that kill it?"
"Of course," Katya replied simply. "That's the whole idea."
TK shook his head. "Count me out," he said firmly. "I won't kill anything. Ever."
Katya sighed. "You will if you want to survive. Look, believe me, I know how you feel. I didn't make my first kill until a few weeks ago, and I didn't want to either. But I realized that I needed to. I realized that if I didn't kill it, it was going to kill me. I'm not sure how Earth works, but this is Hiata. Kill or be killed. Plain and simple."
TK scowled. "How can you talk about killing like it's an everyday, every-one-does-it, normal thing?"
"Because it is an everyday, every-one-does-it, normal thing. Stop being so naive, we have to kill it. If we don't, then we might not make it out of here. And if we don't make it out of here, then Hiata is doomed."
"What do you mean Hiata is doomed if we don't make it out?" TK asked, confused.
Katya replied softly, not wanting the pixie to realize that they were there. "Legend states that only the Shadow Mage, Light Mage, Wind Elemental, and Fire Elemental have the power to save Hiata from otherwise inevitable doom. We must lead The Sword against Isan and his Axe forces. Our ancestors prevented Isan's plan from being completed 12 years ago, and now it is our time."
"Wait, you're saying that Isan's been working on this world domination plan for over 12 years?"
"Yes."
"Then why hasn't it worked yet?"
"Because of the fact that it takes just over 12 years to develop the stone that he will use to create oblivion in Hiata. Then he will rebuild Hiata the way he wants it. Completely loyal to him."
"What stone?"
"It's simply called the Chaos Stone. As I said, it can wipe out an entire world if he wishes it to. Our ancestors destroyed the last Chaos Stone, but the price they paid was their lives. They have passed their duties to us, we must destroy this new one. Now do you understand why we must kill the pixie and anything else that stands in our way?"
"But…isn't there another way?" TK asked, head still spinning from the story Katya had just told him.
Katya shook her head. "This is war. There is no other way. We must to do what we must to do. Now, are you ready?"
TK thought carefully. If what Katya said was true, then it had to be done. And she seemed so confident of herself when she was telling him. Maybe, there was no other way. Maybe, he had to do this. Whether he wanted to or not. Turning to Katya he nodded slowly.
"Good. Now, our powers are strong separately, but they are the most powerful when used together. So I will surround the pixie with Light and you will hit it with Darkness. Can you tell me where it is exactly?"
"Eleven feet down," TK replied quietly. "He's not facing us."
Katya nodded and formed her Light in her hand. Peering around the corner, she let it go. It zoomed down the hall, zigzagging. Then, when it got behind the pixie, it expanded and surrounded it. The pixie dropped it's staff in surprise.
"What the-"
It didn't have time to finish because of the small explosion. TK looked down the hall sadly. He was a murderer now. But, it had to be done…right? And what Katya had said was true, it would have eventually killed him if he hadn't killed it. But, if what he did was right, then why did he feel so guilty?
He looked up as Katya placed a hand on his shoulder. "It'll pass. The guilty feeling, I mean," she told him comfortingly. "You did what you needed to do. What your destiny dictated that you do." She paused. "We need to get moving. Are you prepared to do that again? Perhaps several times more?"
TK sighed and nodded. What did it matter now? He had already killed one being, why not make it a thousand, he thought cynically.
Katya smiled reassuringly and led him down the hall. "Let me know if you sense anything else," she said as they walked.
"Katya?" TK asked quietly, still staying alert.
"Yes?"
"Do you truly believe that we are the ones meant to save Hiata? And if we are, do you believe we can do it?"
"With all my heart," she replied just as softly. "I know we are the ones, and I know we can do it. It is in our blood. "
"Everyone keeps saying that," TK sighed. "'It is in our blood.' What does it mean? I know my parents, and I can tell you that my dad is not BlackWolf. For one thing, he's still alive."
"Karina will explain everything once we escape. Now, concentrate, do you sense anything?"
TK closed his eyes. "Isan and Shaukaka are about sixty yards away, in a room back towards where we left. They aren't moving. There is a Garian about fifteen yards to the right of us moving away and a pixie about eighty-five yards ahead and to the right. He's…pacing. Well, floating back and forth anyway. That's all."
"He must be guarding the Wind Elemental's door. Let's go. Up and to the right, you said?"
TK nodded and took the lead. "This way."
Katya followed closely shifting her vision back and forth, searching for movement. They reached a corner and crouched down. Peeking around the corner, Katya saw a pixie, just as TK said there would be.
'Ready?' she mouthed to him.
He nodded somewhat sadly. She turned back around and surrounded the pixie with Light as TK, milliseconds later, hit the Light with a small ball of Darkness. It quickly exploded.
Katya gave him a smile which he weakly returned. How could she not be bothered by this, he wondered? She strode out and stood by the door that the pixie had been guarding. She surrounded the lock and looked at TK expectantly. He sighed and added the finishing touch to create the explosion.
They were about to walk into the room when two figures walked out. Kari and a boy. The boy smiled at Katya and went over to her excitedly.
"Katya! This is Hikari, she's the Wind Elemental! Now we only need to find the Shadow Mage."
"No we don't Hiroki," she replied calmly.
"What do you mean?" the boy asked, looking confused.
"This is Takeru," she said, indicating him with her hand. "Also known as the Shadow Mage."
Hiroki looked at him, eyes slightly wider. "Yo-you're the Shadow Mage?"
TK looked back at him. "That's what I've been told. And I'm guessing you're the…Fire Elemental?"
Hiroki nodded. TK looked him over. It wasn't difficult to figure out what his element was. He was dressed in khaki pants and a fire red tight shirt. A red stone was attached to his left upper arm by a wide solid silver band. Barefoot, like the others, he too had a 'slave collar' on. His spiked red hair made him stand out, as did his blue/green eyes.
TK looked down, slightly surprised, as Kari hugged him. He blushed slightly. While he thought of Kari as no more than a friend, it was still awkward. As he looked down, he noticed, with surprise, her new look.
Surrounding her wrist was a thick bracelet with a light blue stone in the middle. A 'slave collar' adorned her neck. She had a slightly tight, sleeveless, button up blue blouse on, along with knee length skin tight pants. Around her lower half was a blue skirt with a large slit in the front to allow regular movement. She, like the other 3, was barefoot.
'Geez,' TK thought. 'Don't evil beings believe in shoes?'
He carefully detangled himself from Kari. "Are you all right?" he asked.
She nodded. "Majorly freaked out, but okay. What about you?"
"Ditto." He froze.
"What?" Kari asked. "What's wrong?"
"It's Isan and Shaukaka," he replied quietly. "They're coming this way."
"What!" Hiroki exclaimed rather loudly. Kari, TK and Katya quickly shushed him.
"Come on," Katya said urgently. "If we hurry, maybe we can avoid them. After all, Takeru knows where they are. Maybe we'll be undetected."
"Yeah," Hiroki said sarcastically. "Because it's not like we have bad luck or anything. I mean, everyone gets captured by sadistic beings nowadays."
"Be quiet Hiroki," Katya and TK said in unison. Kari just rolled her eyes at him. "Let's go."
They quickly walked back the way they had come, sticking close to the shadows. Once they reached the corner, they darted to the nearest window.
"Oh no," Kari exclaimed. "The metal hinges are all rusted, we can't open it!"
"Hurry," TK warned. "They're getting closer."
"Step aside," Hiroki said, quickly pushing everyone out of the way. He called up a flame in his hand.
"What are you-"
Katya was shushed by Hiroki. He concentrated on the fire until it was so hot that it was blue around the edges. Then he brought it up to the metal hinges and began to melt them.
"Faster Hiroki," TK hissed urgently. "They're nearly here."
"I'm going as fast as I can," Hiroki hissed back. "There!" he exclaimed seconds later.
"Good, now move!" TK ordered, Darkness in his hand.
Hiroki quickly obeyed. TK shot small energy balls at the two weakened hinges. They were instantly destroyed. TK and Hiroki began to try to push the window out.
"It's stuck," Hiroki grunted.
"My turn," Kari said. The two boys moved.
With minimal trouble Kari created four balls of wind and shot them simultaneously at the four corners of the window. It creaked for a split second before falling out of the frame and landing with a thump outside.
"Move it," TK urged, "They'll be able to see us in less than a minute!"
"Okay, okay," Hiroki said, looking out the space where the window had been. "We're about twenty feet up, but there's some ivy we can climb down."
"Then climb!" Katya said.
Hiroki glared at her for a second before grabbing Kari's hand. "Ladies first."
Kari rolled her eyes, but didn't hesitate. She swung down on the ivy and began the short climb down.
"Katya next," TK insisted, helping her out of the window. She flashed him a smile before disappearing into the twilight too. He turned to Hiroki. "Now you," his tone left no room for argument.
As Hiroki climbed up onto the window frame TK glanced nervously down the hall. Isan and Shaukaka were a mere ten seconds from rounding the corner. As soon as Hiroki was safely out, TK climbed up into the stone windowsill too. Grabbing the ivy with his hands, he gracefully swung himself out of the building.
He saw that Kari had reached the bottom and Katya was near it. Hiroki was about ten feet away, and he himself was about fifteen feet away. He quickly began to climb down the cold, slick ivy. He could sense than Isan and Shaukaka were in the same hallway that they had been in not very long ago. And they were nearing the window.
Hiroki dropped to the ground, followed closely by TK.
"Katya, light please," TK said. Katya complied.
They saw that they were in a barren place, with sharp little pebbles all across the ground. TK jerked his head up as Isan and Shaukaka stopped by the window.
He moved forward and pushed Hiroki ahead. "Move it! They're right by the window!" he hissed.
"Oh damn!" Hiroki cursed. He grabbed Kari's arm and began to run as fast as was possible.
TK grabbed Katya's arm and followed suit. He didn't hear anything from behind him, and didn't sense any movement, so he figured that maybe they had actually gotten away.
Ahead of him, Hiroki cursed again.
"Y'know, it would be so much easier if we had shoes," Hiroki growled as the pebbles dug into the skin on the bottom of his feet.
"Maybe the whole point of not giving us shoes was to deter us from running away, ever think of that?" Katya replied smartly, ignoring the cuts on her own feet.
"Oh shut up. Hey, Shadow Mage?"
"What?" TK asked.
"Are they following us?"
"Not that I can tell. But, I can't sense them at all anymore."
"Then I guess we can slow down," Hiroki said, slowing to a walk.
"Do either of you know where we are?" Kari asked.
Hiroki and Katya shook their heads. Suddenly TK froze in place.
"What is it Takeru?" Katya asked, slightly concerned.
"I-I'm not sure. I can sense them, but I can't get a fixed location. They keep…fading or something. But they're getting closer, that I know."
Katya's eyes widened. "Fading? That means-oh shoot! We gotta get outta here!" she grabbed TK's arm and pulled him along.
"What are you talking about?" Kari asked, stumbling as Hiroki pulled her ahead.
"She means," Hiroki replied, panting, "that they're using a transportation spell."
"A transportation spell?" Kari questioned.
"Yeah. They must be using it to search the grounds. If they find us…we're dead meat."
Kari and TK's eyes widened.
TK stiffened. "They're getting closer!"
All four tried to run faster, but they were already pushing their physical limits. Suddenly, a rumbling sounded, like in the hospital. The ground split a little and the four fell on their faces; Mages on one side of the crack, Elementals on the other.
They looked up slowly, not sure what to expect. They saw a dark vortex in front of them, just spinning there.
TK grabbed Katya and began to edge her away, Hiroki did the same to Kari. They only got a few feet when a flash came from inside the vortex. Another flash, and they were faced with two livid Shadowlore.
"You shouldn't have done that," Isan said in a scarily calm voice. "Now you have to suffer the consequences."
He slithered towards the two Mages with exceptional speed as Shaukaka dove towards the two Elementals.
Thinking fast, TK pulled Katya up and to the side. "Run!" he yelled, pulling her along. He saw a forest in the distance and figured that they had a greater chance of surviving if they had someplace to hide. Besides, it would be harder for Isan to move if there were trees.
'Only a hundred yards,' he thought, as they raced there. He saw Hiroki and Kari heading in a different direction, but there wasn't much he could do about that right now. "Come on!" he urged Katya as she stumbled. He saw that Isan was closing fast. He knew they wouldn't reach the trees in time.
Suddenly, an idea came to him. 'Why didn't I think of this sooner?' he wondered.
"Katya, listen to me. We have to use the combo attack you showed me to at least slow him down. Okay? We need to buy time to get to cover."
Katya nodded, she was breathing too hard to speak.
"Alright, on three. One…two…THREE!"
On 'three' they stopped and turned to face their 'master'. Katya called on as much of her strength as she could and sent the Light towards Isan. However, he was so large that it only surrounded about a quarter of him. TK quickly added his Darkness to the equation. A large explosion followed, smoke clouding their vision.
"Did we….get him?" Katya questioned quietly.
Through the smoke a maniacal laugh sounded.
"I don't think so," TK replied, fear in his voice.
As the smoke cleared, they saw that Isan was laughing, head thrown back, undamaged. They also saw that he had used the smoke as an advantage and set up a 'boundary' with his tail. They were stuck.
"Did you really think that your pathetic attacks would hurt me?" he asked mockingly. "I taught you those attacks, did you think I would teach you something that you could use against me? Pathetic, that's what you are. But I'm willing to give you another chance. Come back with me, my loyal pets, and I will consider forgiving you. Obviously you will be punished, but maybe your training will recommence in a couple weeks. Well? What say you?"
"Forget it!" TK spat, stepping in front of Katya. "You used me, and you couldn't even back up your threat! Why would I go back with you? And Katya's not going either. We refuse to be your pets for any longer!"
Isan growled, leaned down quickly, and slapped the boy roughly. "Mind your tongue pet!"
"He's not your pet!" Katya yelled back. "Neither am I! Do what you want to us, we will never bend to your will!"
"Is that so?" Isan asked, leaning down again so that his face was mere inches from hers. He continued in a hiss, "I do believe you'll change your mind as I can be very…persuasive."
Katya spat in his face, glaring. Isan roared, rearing back. "Little bitch!" he yelled, backhanding her and sending her to the ground.
"Katya!" TK cried out, running over to her. "Are you alright!"
She nodded, still slightly dazed. TK stood up, spun around, and fixed Isan with a death glare.
"You'll be sorry you hurt her," he growled at the Shadowlore. "Nobody hurts my friends."
"Friend? You haven't even known the girl a full hour."
"So? That's long enough to know that she is my friend. You, on the other hand, are my enemy. And I knew that the second I saw you. Now, I'll make you pay for hurting her."
"Oh, I'm so scared," Isan scoffed.
"Well," TK said, getting that strange purple/black aura around him, "You should be."
He closed his eyes and focused. He had never tried using this much energy before. He formed a Dark Energy Sphere in each of his palms. He kept feeding more and more energy into the spheres until they were at triple the energy they had ever been before. He opened his eyes slowly and stared into Isan's face. The Shadowlore actually looked worried.
'Good,' TK thought. 'Maybe he finally realizes how much he underestimated me.'
Staring into the beast's eyes for a second more, he released all the energy towards Isan. Isan's eyes widened and he tried to bring his tail up to block it. But he wasn't fast enough. The attack hit him straight in the chest, knocking him backwards. He fell on his back, scorched, but otherwise not hurt. He thoughts twisted in rage. He was going to make that half-demon bastard pay for humiliating him.
TK watched as Isan fell on his back. From the start, he knew he would not have enough energy to seriously hurt the Shadowlore, but he had enough to give them an opportunity to escape. He turned to Katya, who was on her feet, staring at him in shock.
"Come on!" he said, pulling her out of his daze. They darted towards the forest again. Only twenty-five yards now.
They sighed slightly as they rushed into the trees. Daring a glance behind, TK saw that Isan had managed to get up and was heading for them, deathly rage in his eyes. Katya looked back and saw it too.
"What now?" she asked frantically.
TK looked around. He saw a small space between the ground and a rocky overhang. It was the only place to hide that he could see. "There," he said pointing.
She nodded, and headed for it. When they were close enough, they slid under and scooted as far back as they could. They lay tensely, both panting slightly, TK more so as the attack he had sent had weakened him greatly. Their breath caught in their throats as Isan slithered by slowly. He paused by the overhang, but moved on after a minute or so. Both Mages sighed quietly in relief.
Their relief was short lived as a sickening crunch filled the air as Isan broke away the slab of rock shielding them. Several small rocks fell on top of them, the sharp edges leaving many cuts on their skin. Isan threw the slab to the side and started towards them menacingly.
They gulped and tried to scoot further backwards, but they were stuck between a rock and a hard place. Literally. Isan flexed a clawed hand and reached down slowly, trying to draw out their terror.
TK placed an arm on Katya's back and used his hand to push her head down. He shifted and tried to shield her body with his own. He would have tried to blast Isan again, but he still felt so weak from the last one. Not even his concern for his friend would give him the energy he needed. He ducked his head too, unable to look at Isan's foul-toothed smile any longer.
He sensed Isan's hand getting closer and he heard the Shadowlore chuckle softly at their apparent fear.
'Oh Kami, I don't want to die! I need help. We need help. Patamon, Matt, anyone! Someone, please help us!'
Because his head was down, TK didn't notice the stone on his arm flash.
Just as Isan's hand brushed his head, fierce growls were heard and the hand was knocked away. Isan howled in rage and pain. TK dared a look up and gasped, causing Katya to look up too.
There, standing in front of them, was a pack of huge black wolves. The largest one, supposedly the leader, growled and launched himself at Isan. It sunk its teeth into his forearm, drawing dark blood. The other wolves followed suit, all growling and sinking their teeth and claws into the Shadowlore, pulling away chunks of flesh.
Isan growled as he flung his arms and tail to try to dislodge the wolves. But the wolves had a very firm hold on him. However, after a few hits against the ground and some trees some of the wolves were forced to let go. They weren't deterred, though. With rage in their eyes, they jumped right back on him, creating new wounds, spilling more blood on the forest floor.
Isan growled again, but softer this time, as the blood loss began to affect him.
'He actually has physical limitations,' TK thought. 'Who knew?'
With one final growl Isan turned back towards his fortress, realizing his defeat.
"I'll get you yet," he hissed at the children. "Believe me, I'll get you yet." The two stared back, surprised that he was giving up so easily.
Even more surprising was that the wolves let go as soon as he had left the forested area. Then, all but the lead wolf and another disappeared into the trees. The two wolves walked towards the Mages slowly. The children shrank away instinctively, afraid of these blood thirsty creatures.
/We mean you no harm./ TK heard in his mind. He jerked and looked the lead wolf in the eyes. Was he losing it, or had that wolf just talked to him.
/Yes, I am talking to you. In your mind at least. My name is Rage, and my pack and I are here to protect you my Lord Takeru./
/What/ TK asked, picking up on the mind-talk quickly. He still wasn't sure if he should trust this wolf. /Why did you call me 'Lord Takeru'? And just who are you anyway/
/Shhh./ Rage told him soothingly, coming closer and bowing his head slightly. /Sleep now my master, things will be explained later./
TK was about to protest when he got a very dizzy feeling in his head. He tried to fight it, but darkness began to overtake his vision. The last thing he heard was Katya calling his name. And the last thing he saw was the giant wolf standing over him, red eyes glowing, Isan's blood still dripping from his fangs.
A/N:Positive reviews would be greatly appreciated, and I'll need some if y'all want me to continue. And don't hesitate to ask questions, I understand that it might be confusing to some of you.
