Disclaimer: The following is a story made using elements not belonging to the author. Such elements belong to their respected owners. Any similarities with other stories from other authors, either living or dead, are purely coincidental.

"Kat, time to wake up."

A muffled moan came under the sheets. Shaking his head, Jays grabbed a handful of bed sheets and pulled. The cloth flew off the bed, revealing a girl hugging a large pillow. She was very much asleep.

The swordsman sighed.

"Kat, c'mon. Wake up already."

"Hmmm...I'm the greatest knight that ever lived." Went the barely audible reply.

Jays let out another sigh. He had been with Kat for almost two years now, training and guiding the now ten year old swordswoman. For him those were two years well spent. He could no longer see himself without the girl by his side. She always made him smile and laugh, lighting up the dreary wonderer's life he had always known…

…there are, however, disadvantages in being fifteen and living with a person five years your junior.

Thinking of how to wake up his young charge, an idea came into Jays' mind. He decided to put it into action.

"Hey, Kat. Santa Poring is here. He has a present for you."

Immediately, the little girl sat up and began to look around the room.

"Santa Poring? Where? Where?"

Failing to see the folklore figure in question, Kat looked up to her mentor. He was looking at her with a smirk on his face.

"Santa Poring isn't here, is he?"

"Nope, sorry."

The little girl's shoulders slumped. Jays couldn't help but smile at Kat. She knelt on the bed with her hands rolled up in front. Her slumped shoulders made her right sleeve sag, revealing her shoulder. There was even a pout on her lips

'She's so adorable.' Jays caught himself think.

"I really hate it when you do that, you know, Jays."

"Well, if you woke up when I told you to, you might have seen him. Now, get up and take a bath."

"Aw, do I have to?"

"Yes, you have to. Even the greatest knight of all must start her day right."

Kat puffed out in annoyance but did what her mentor said. After a few minutes Kat was out the bathroom, wearing her swordsman uniform blouse and skirt. The two then began to help each other put on their armor. Soon enough, they were in front of the mirror, finishing up their attire.

"Okay, I'm ready!" Kat said in an excited voice.

"No. Not yet."

The little girl looked at her mentor with a questioning look. She was surprised when he handed her a nicely wrapped box. She looked back at Jays.

"What's this?"

"Didn't I tell you that Santa Poring came with a present for you?"

Kat looked at the box again and carefully unwrapped it. She lifted the lid and gasped. In the middle of the box was a brand new kitty band. Jays looked at how speechless the little swordswoman was and smiled. Taking the accessory, he pulled Kat in front of him and put the cat eared headband atop her head.

Kat then spun around and hugged Jays. He hugged her back.

"Shall we go now, miss 'Greatest Knight in the World'?"

"Meow!" said the little cat-girl swordie.

As the morning broke that day on Juno, birds sang in the branches of a tree. The sunlight drifted through the window as the young lady occupying the room awoke. She sat up, yawned and stretched. She felt really refreshed today.

The room's door opened and the young lady smiled at the new comer.

"Good morning, Debora."

"Good morning, Kat. You seem happy this morning."

"I am. I had nice dream last night. "

The sage smiled at this. It was good to hear that the crusader slept well even after that harrowing experience with the book.

Kat then noticed a piece of parchment on Debora's hand.

"What's that?"

"A letter from master Psyke."

She gave the letter the Kat, who quickly read it.

"We're being summoned." Said the crusader.

"Not only us." the sage responded "The entire team."

As the morning broke in Morroc, dozens of people were already making their way around the dessert town. Merchants were quick to set up their shops as thieves were equally busy preparing for a new day of thievery.

From the second floor window of an inn, a young man with sandy hair observed the activity. His hair fell in front of his face, covering his eyes. He was wearing the trappings of a rogue, minus the shirt at the moment.

A knock on the door was heard. The young man stood up and opened it.

The inn attendant looked through the slightly opened door and on to the occupants. She saw the young man with shadowed eyes…

…and the half naked little girl sleeping on the bed.

"Had fun last night?" the attendant asked, looking at the child under the covers.

"Yes, it tired her out though."

The attendant smiled. "So what happened?"

"Aki, do you need anything other than the highlights of my night life?"

The attendant pouted then pulled a letter from her apron.

"This came in this morning."

The rogue quickly skimmed the letter and looked back at Aki.

"I have some things to do in Geffen and I'm taking the little one with me. Would it be okay if I asked you to watch over the room while we're gone?"

"Sure, no problem." Aki said. "Just don't forget this month's rent. You just paid last month's yesterday. I never understood why you're always late on your payments. I mean, you're the best arena fighter in Morroc and you win EVERY night. Plus you're a rouge and…"

The rouge closed the door. He didn't want to hear the young lady's rants right now.

He went to the bed where the little girl slept. Putting a hand on her shoulder, he began to wake her up.

"Wake up, little one."

Slowly, her eyes opened. She then was greeted by the shadowed, yet smiling face of the rogue.

"Damon?"

"Still tired, Iza?"

"Yes." the little girl said, "That blacksmith and her orc warrior were stronger than I thought."

"Well, we still beat them." Damon said. "Anyway, you'll have to sleep on the road. We need to go to Geffen."

"Very well."

With the movement of the sheets, one could see Iza move her lower body. But instead of legs, a long, brown, scaly tail touched the floor.

Iza was an Isis.

She began to slither towards the bathroom. She was half way there when Damon called her.

"Iza."

"Yes, Damon?"

"The next time you sleep beside me, I think it would be better if you were to wear a top. Aki knows what's going on between us, but other people might think differently."

Damon looked strait at Iza with loving eyes

"Is that alright, my daughter?"

Iza smiled.

"Very well, father."

As the dawn broke that day, the city of Alberta was already awake and bustling. Merchants were setting up their goods as sailors and harbor workers readied ships and cargo. It seemed another uneventful day for the port-city.

BBBBBBBBBAAAAAAAAAAMMMMMMM!

An explosion was heard in the direction of one of the large mansions of the city. Smoke was clearly seen coming from one of the small warehouses beside it.

Hearing the explosion, a crusader and priestess tandem quickly began to run towards the area.

"Don't bother."

They were stopped by a female voice. They were surprised to see it came from one of the local town guards.

"Didn't you see what happened? Why are you stopping us?" the crusader asked.

The guard walked up to them.

"You two obviously aren't from around here. That house belongs to a very rich family. Their daughter lives there. She's an alchemist and a darn good one at that. She's really nice but a bit eccentric sometimes.

It's a common occurrence here nowadays. No one ever gets hurt and some people even use the explosions as a wake up call, since it happens at the same hour at the same day every week"

"What do you think she's doing in there, making some new kind of flame bottle?" The priestess asked

"Nope"

The guard began to walk away.

"She's trying to make instant coffee."

Soon enough, a young lady with blue hair tied into four ponytails shuffled out of the smoking warehouse. She had a dizzy look on her face (J.A.: think squiggly lines for eyes) and was covered by a substance that distinctly smelled like coffee beans.

After walking a few crooked steps, she collapsed with a slight thud. A few seconds later, she suddenly sat up, produced a notebook and pen out of nowhere, and began to scribble.

"Trial number 626 was still a failure, but I will not give up. I will become the benefactor of mankind. I will become a proponent of its advancement…"

The alchemist stood up and stuck a pose.

"…I will invent instant coffee. (insert maniacal laughter here)"

"But not before you get yourself cleaned up."

In a flash the alchemist found herself brought inside the house, stripped and submerged in a bathtub inside one of many bathrooms in the mansion. She was getting scrubbed down from head to toe by several maids. A tall and stern looking lady was beside the tub and looking down at blue haired young lady.

The alchemist looked up to the woman.

"Aww, Nana. Why did you take me from my dramatic moment just now?"

"Dramatic moment?" the lady said indignantly, "I beg your pardon, lady Marie Curie, but I cannot allow you the just stand out there covered in that filthy substance for passerby's to see. Its bad enough you have to wear such inappropriate clothing. Honestly, I can't believe such a dignified and honorable organization as the Alchemist Guild would actually allow their female members to where such revealing clothing. "

"But I like that uniform. It makes me feel sexy." Marie said with a grin on her face.

The governess was about to comment on the answer when another servant came into the bathroom with a letter to the young mistress. The older lady was about to read it when Marie snatched it away.

"Oh boy. We have a mission. That means I'll be able to see Damon."

The governess flinched as she heard the rogue's name. She's always had reservations about the uncouth young man and how much the lady Marie seems to be smitten by him.

But at the moment she had other worries.

"Lady Marie, get yourself clothed first before going out!"

As the morning broke that day on the abbey of St. Capitolina, its first rays entered a large room, wherein burned several candles on stands. In the middle of the room, a monk sat in meditation.

Or more appropriately, levitated.

The monk was young. Yet in contrast, his hair was bright white. Another peculiarity on the young man was his blinker. This was an odd choice of accessory considering he was already blind since birth.

He had been like this since last night. He had meant to go to sleep, until a vision came upon him.

In this vision, he beheld a battle. There, on a battlefield of ruined structures and blighted ground, were three figures. One seemed completely made up of shadow and darkness. The others were knights, one wearing black armor and carrying two swords, the other clad in white armor wielding a great shield.

The armor clad warriors where a tandem, a fact revealed as they fought together, side by side, against the shadow. Their styles of combat where different from any the monk has ever seen. The way they complimented each other were also different. The sword wielding knight blocked the shadow's attacks while the one with the shield was more clearly inclined to be on the offensive.

During the course of the battle, the shadow was able to seize the obsidian clad warrior. It seemed sap out the dark knight's energy as the white armored warrior looked on helplessly. For a moment the shadow seemed please by this turn of events, but as it tried to let go of its prey, the black warrior clung tightly to the shadow. The shadow soon began the wince and squirm, as if it could not contain the power gathering within.

At this point the white clad warrior began to act again. It summoned it energy into its shield. This was to be the final blow, yet the white one hesitated, afraid of hitting its dark companion. The black knight looked the white one and nodded.

And with that, the final blow was struck.

It was here that the vision ended, and the monk started to meditate on its meaning.

'A battle with a force so great that the powers of light and dark must join forces.'

He had heard of the recent incidents in Glast Heim. The possibility of the dark city being the battlefield had crossed his mind, yet the kingdom of Rune Midgard has many ruined cities, so it could be any on of them.

'A sword that defends and a shield that attacks.'

Of all of the warriors and the battle styles he knows, crusaders were the most known to use shields as an offensive weapon. Their discipline also allows them to use holy or 'white' energy.

But the black knights were a different story.

There were on only two known black knights the monk knew of, the Abysmal Knight, and its more powerful counterpart, the Bloody Knight. Both had the power of darkness at their disposal, both were covered in black armor, and, unfortunately, both didn't use double swords and both were unlikely candidates for aiding the light.

'Too many questions, too little answers. That's not good.'

The monk's contemplating was interrupted b a knock on his door. An acolyte came in.

"Brother Lorenzo, a letter has arrived for you."

The monk took the piece of paper and ran his hands on its surface. He may be blind, but he could feel the impressions on the paper left behind by the pen. He could even discern different handwritings through this means.

As his fingers scanned the parchment, Lorenzo moved his lips as if reading the message itself. From the imprints of the pen strokes, he knew it was from someone with not much physical strength, but with a great bearing of authority. The wear on the paper gave the impression of urgency. Even the smell of the paper told him where it was written. The monk immediately knew who it was from.

When he reached the bottom, he lowered the piece of paper and looked to the acolyte's direction, as if he could see the lad.

"Please tell Pastor Muhae that I would be leaving for Geffen immediately. I have business to attend to."

The young man bowed and left the room.

'The vision's meaning will be revealed to me in due time.'

Lowering his feet to stand up, the monk tucked his hand within the folds of his cloak, taking out a blue gemstone. Rolling the azure stone in his hand for few seconds, he then returned it back in its place.

'Nah, I need the exercise anyway.'

As the dawn broke that day on Comodo, several of the city's establishments could be seen cleaning up after another night of partying. Clubs and discos were being turned inside out in order to make sure they would be well prepared for the coming nightfall. Service crews were taking in their orders of food and drinks as security personnel made sure last night's earnings were transported safely to where the were suppose to go.

Observing the activity from the balcony of a large house, a pink haired young woman stood leaning against the railings. This had always been her routine. She would wake up, make herself some tea, and watch the rising sun and the waking city as she waited for her partner to rouse himself.

A sound to her right caught her attention. A young man wearing a sparkling suit and holding a bouquet of flowers was trying to climb to her balcony using the scaffolding for her vines. He was babbling about how beautiful she was and how he loved her and how he wanted her to be his bride.

A large vain began to show on the young lady's forehead. Out of nowhere she took out a whip and hit the young suitor on his hands, causing him to fall in to a fairly large rose bush. He jumped up and ran screaming from agony.

"Another day, another cactus suitor, eh Lucky?"

The young lady in question turned around and saw a young man with brown hair coming towards her.

"They never learn, Kirk. Everyday they trespass on our property and ruin my peace and quite. They were asking for it."

Kirk stepped forward and took the fuming girl in his arms. Lucky instantly began to calm down as she leaned back to put her head on the young man's shoulder.

"Can't they understand that we're already married?"

Kirk and Lucky had been the best of friends ever since their childhood days in Payon. Fate, and their parents, seemed to have conspired to make sure they would always be together and by the age of nine they were already engaged. Not that two minded this small detail. Both had become hopelessly in love with each other.

So by the age of eighteen, they were man and wife.

Both were accomplished archers. But they found their calling in dance and song. So it came as no surprise that they took the road to stardom together. They became the bard-dancer tandem known as the Elves, a name given to them because of their choice in earpieces. For a while it was fun, until their fame began to interfere with their personal lives. Because of that, they decided to announce their exit from the stage life.

"Don't worry." Kirk said as he stroked the hair of his child bride "We'll be retiring from showbiz today, remember. Frankly, I'm also getting tired of those fan girls. I like being a bard with his dancer-bride, but the simple life is starting to appeal to me again."

"It seems that the Elves will be saying good-bye soon." Lucky said.

The couple's sweet moment was broken when a knock was heard at their door. Kirk opened it and saw it was a house maid. He took the latter, thanked the girl, and went back in.

"It seems the Elves still have one more show to perform." the bard said and gave the letter to the dancer in front of him.

"Well, I can could get tired of showbiz, but these missions never grow old." She said with a smile.

As the dawn broke that day on Glast Heim, the ruined city remained gloomy and dark. The thick, black clouds that hung above its ruins prevented any form of light or heat to enter the city.

In the middle of this shadowy place, a pair of ruby eyes slowly opened. It blinked once, and the body it came with jerked up. The ruby eyes looked around, confusion apparent in their scarlet depts. It was not the place where these eyes had opened up to that caused them such bewilderment, but the act that it has just performed.

Alice woke up.

The eternal servant girl had not once fallen into slumber, not once closed her eyes to rest, not once laid her head to sleep. Never in the past centuries had sleep come to visit her and scatter his sand upon her eyes. This had been her first night's sleep in a very, very, very long time.

Whatever power that bound her to the lord of the city seemed to have released her from such essential mortal needs as rest and nourishment. So it came as a great surprise that she had just awoken.

And there was another thing.

Alice looked at her hands. For some strange reason they looked different. Not only that, her entire body felt different. She could not put her finger on it, but she felt somewhat lighter inside. She felt as if a great constricting weight was removed from her. Her eyes seemed to see clearer now. She ran her fingers across her body and sensation that had become foreign to her started to come back.

It was then that she noticed that her abysmal knight was nowhere to be seen. Any trace that was left of him with her was the dark cape covering here, and the nightmare that stood watch over her.

Climbing down the slab of stone she lay on, Alice walked to the ghost horse. Slowly she lifted her hand to touch the beast. It snorted and shook its head, making her flinch. Gathering her courage, she tried again. This time, it allowed her to touch it. Alice smiled. It was a strange feeling. It was like touching fog at first, but as she went further it began to solidify slightly.

"D…do…you…know…w…where…m…m…my…papa…is?"

Alice was slightly surprised at the sounds that came out of her mouth. One moment she was thinking the words, the next thing she knew she was speaking them.

Speaking. It was another thing that had become alien to her. She had never said anything through her long years in Glast Heim. She had all but forgotten the sound of her voice.

As if understanding the servant girl, the nightmare took a few steps forward then looked back at the girl. Alice knew it was signaling her to follow. They walked through the courtyard until they came to what they were looking for.

In front of them, the servant stood swinging his sword at invisible enemies. He had his mask and most of his armor off. His hair flew around with his every movement. His eyes held an intenseness in them. He was fully concentrated on what he was doing.

In the corner of his eyes he saw the nightmare and Alice approach. He lowered his sword and walk towards them. When they were but a few steps apart he stopped and regarded the servant girl with a scrutinizing eye. Her wounds seemed to be quickly healing. He also noticed that there was something different with her, though he couldn't put his finger on what it was.

Alice felt a great deal of anxiousness as she stood under the gaze of her abysmal knight. Her eyes wondered around to avoid his, and then rested on the black cape in her arms. She promptly lifted it to the man in front of him, who took it, turned around and draped it over himself. He took a sideways glance at Alice. She stood there looking at his sword.

"Do you wish to learn how to fight?"

Ruby eyes went wide with surprise as they looked at the abysmal knight. Once again he spoke.

"Do you wish to learn how to fight?"

After a few seconds Alice nodded her head. The servant walked back to where he was practicing his sword play and beckoned Alice to follow. He gave her a long branch, almost as long as her broom. He then began to instruct her.

It was almost second nature to the servant. He chose to teach Alice the ways of the spear, since the girl had handled brooms of the same length in the past. He taught her basic strikes, maneuvers, and countermeasures. He was patient with her, letting her take her time to familiarize herself with the new information.

Teaching her seemed so familiar to him, yet at the same time so distant.

'Had I been your teacher…'

'…Kat?'