CHAPTER 2 – Pains of the Past

The cold night breeze of the desert awakens the Assassin Reewa from her sleep. She felt something vile and threatening starting to creep the gloomy night.

"It is time." She murmured mysteriously.

Clad in her black cloak she left her tent and strode the empty street of Morroc towards the Great Pyramid.

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Cupping his hand in the cold river, Galad, a Knight from the capital drank the cold water and tried to splash some in his face. It was almost dawn, the sky getting lighter and the animals are starting to wake. He gazes up and saw a flock of white birds crossing the almost bluish sky.

"Such death is a curse." He whispered as he reminisce a sad experience.

Sighing he got up, buckled his sword and headed back to the forest where he left his Peco-Peco. As he made his way to the forest, something from the side of his eye caught his attention. He stopped and squinted as he tried to make out what he was seeing. It was like a woman lying unconsciously. He hurried down the riverbank and saw a young woman with golden hair lay motionless on the stony ground. Torn priestess dress and bruises covers her.

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Reewa cut her way through the third level of the Pyramid. Killing Mummies and Drainilar in a second. Her blue eyes glinted dangerously as any Assassins and her moves are like lightning in speed. No one besides her is in the Pyramid. From the first level up to where she is, she hasn't seen any adventurers or parties roaming the Pyramid. It would not be a surprise for since last month something terrible began to happen.

FLASHBACK

"We will send a troop to the Pyramid to find what kind of evil threatens its walls." The Chief Assassin said to a three groups of skilled Sins. Reewa who was not included listened at the back her eyes lingering on a brown – haired Assassin who stood at the front of the first group. "Many adventurers are said to be missing and doesn't return after they entered the Pyramid. And the monsters inside are getting more aggressive and threatening. As part of our territory, we must ensure its safety." The Chief Assassin paused then, he turned to the brown haired Assassin. "Your group was chosen to lead and investigate. I give the trust of the guild that you will bring us back good information. Your journey will start tomorrow morning." The Assassin only gave a tight nod in recognition. And with that, the Chief Assassin dismissed them.

While discussing, Reewa approached the brown-haired Sin. "Khrizlle." Reewa called.

The short brown haired Assassin turned to Reewa; his deep green eyes soften at the sight of her. "Reewa, what are you doing here?" he asked.

"We need to talk." She whispered.

Khrizlle turned to his party who was silent and was waiting for him. Then he turned back to Reewa. "I still need to finish our meeting. I'll just meet you after." He said hoping that Reewa won't be offended.

"Include me in your party. I want to help." Reewa said hurriedly.

Khrizlle stared at her for a moment and sighed, "You know you can't. You are bound to protect this temple."

"But you need all the help you can get. You don't know what is waiting for you in that place. You could…"

Khrizlle patted her cheek and smiled, "You don't have to worry. We can handle everything."

Reewa stared at him. She and Khrizlle are close friends that she wouldn't want anything to happen to him. He was the one who helped her become an Assassin and was always by her side. Now that his life is at risk, she couldn't let him go.

Khrizlle saw the stubbornness in Reewa's eyes and knew that his friend won't give up. "Don't you trust us?" he asked silently. Reewa lowered her gaze. "You know that we are not easy meat." He joked hoping to lighten things up. "We can handle this. Don't you worry. Now I think it is better if you go back to your place." He smiled and returned to his group.

Reewa stared at his back. She knew that her friend can handle it, but something is bothering her. A fear she couldn't explain and an anxiety she never felt before.

END

She halts at the portal that leads to the upper most part of the Pyramid. "He must be killed. This is the only way." She thought and she took a step towards the portal.

The place was empty. Silence ruled and an eerie atmosphere surrounded the place. Her footsteps echoed as she made her way to the north side of the place. Then a slithering noise started to envelope the place. It seemed as if large snakes lurk the dark walls of the Pyramid. An unpleasant smell also began to cover the place and an eerie sound started to echo. Reewa watched the place warily. Her eyes narrowed as large snake like figure began to appear from the columns of the Pyramid. And green decaying hands started to emerge from the ground. Reewa then readied herself for battle.

It was a long fight. As she advances, she killed the monsters with her Jamahadar. With her fast dodges and cunning ability, she was able to survive a group of Isis and Ghoul that attacked her.

A cloud of purple smoke started to scatter that poisoned the Isis and Ghoul making them easy to kill. But as her opponents die, more and more started to turn up.

"Sonic Blow!" Eight cut of her Jamahadar killed the remaining Isis. And with the last Isis, everything lay in stillness.

A clap was suddenly heard and Reewa looked back in time to see a Rouge coming out of the shadows.

"I can say that that was a very nice fight for a woman." He said his dark eyes glinting evilly. A mocking smile curves his lips.

"Xienn the Marauder of Life." Reewa murmured.

"So you know me. Am I that famous?" Xienn snickered. Reewa prepared again, her Jamahadar ready to kill. "Did you come to challenge me just like those pitiful worthless Assassins you sent before?" he advances to have a good look of Reewa. He smiled evilly.

"What did you do to them?" Reewa asked as she felt anger inside her.

"Don't be mad. It is not nice to see a beautiful face like yours in an angered expression." He said as he advances more.

"Where are they?" Reewa stared at Xienn with hatred that she wanted to kill him immediately, but she has to be careful. A soldier of the Dark is not easy to kill and she must not let anger rule over her.

"It is useless to ask that question. You won't find them anyway." Xienn laughed. "But don't you worry you'll soon follow them."

Reewa narrowed her eyes.

"I like the way you stare. Very dangerous and I can see something that is similar to ours."

Reewa launched and attacked Xienn giving him her fast blows but the Rouge dodges her attacks with ease. "Don't you compare me with your lot." She said as she made another blow.

Xienn was able to avoid it but a small deep cut on his right cheek didn't escape him. He smiled and touched the blood that started to flow. "This is going to be exciting." And he suddenly vanished.

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Tomaeto woke with a start her mind was spinning that she clamped her hands to hold it. She couldn't remember what happened. As her head stopped spinning, she gazed at her surroundings and wondered where she was. She was lying on a soft bed with warm blankets. A small window tells her that it's almost afternoon. She got up and looked outside the window. Soft breeze touched her pale face and the scent tells her that she was in Payon.

"Payon…" Something struck her mind that she clasped her head as if not wanting to remember what happened.

The door of her room suddenly opened. Tomaeto turned and saw a handsome Priest with long fair colored hair and dark blue eyes.

"Oh." The Priest said as if he wasn't expecting to see Tomaeto already awake. "Umm…you're awake. Are you feeling alright?" he asked as he entered.

Tomaeto straightened up. "Yes, I am. Are you the one who brought me here?" She asked softly.

"My party mate and I brought you here. We found you down river. Are you sure, you're ok? I think you better have some more rest." He said as he noticed Tomaeto's pale complexion.

"I'm fine. I thank you for your kindness." She said bowing slightly.

"It's nothing. We are happy to help." He smiled. "Umm…do you mind if I ask you your name? I think it would be better if we know where you come from."

Tomaeto was silent for a while then she said. "My name is Tomaeto." She gave a weak smile.

"Hmm…Tomaeto, nice name. I'm Rhys and the Knight who found you is Galad. You'll meet him later." He stood beside Tomaeto by the window and watched the silent surroundings of Payon. "Galad found you down river unconscious and wounded. He brought you in our camp and I healed your wounds but…" he hesitated before he continued, "there is something I cannot heal." He stopped and watched Tomaeto with great concern. He waited for her to speak and tell him what happened but Tomaeto kept her words to herself.

Sighing Rhys asked, "Do you need anything?" Tomaeto just shook her head. "Umm…well, if you need something, just call me." He smiled but Tomaeto wasn't looking at him. She seemed to be in deep thought. Rhys sighed again. "Alright, I'll leave you now so you can rest." He walked and placed a clean cloth in Tomaeto's bed. "I'll just leave your new dress here."

"Thank you." Tomaeto said softly. Rhys gave a slight nod and with a last look, he left.

From the window, Tomaeto gaze at the quiet surroundings. Everything seems normal and as if, nothing happened. Tears started to form in her eyes as she feels the soft breeze of Payon. "Nothing is the same anymore." She whispered. "I let them die…"and slowly she sank in her knees and cried silently with her heart.

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Blade clashes with blade as Reewa fought her enemy. Wounded and staggering she prepared again as her enemy once again vanished. He kept on using Backstab and Intimidate that Reewa was having a hard time finding him.

"I wouldn't fight anymore if I were you." The Rouge mocked. His voice echoed through the place.

"I won't give up. This fight is not over yet." Reewa thought her eyes shinning like fire. Then she put her Jamahadar down and felt her enemy's presence.

"That's better. Give up for it is the end for you." He laughed and as he approached Reewa, swinging his blade, a sudden rush of thick blade hit him at the center. Reewa was able to shield herself from the attack and buried her left Jamahadar in her enemy. "How…did…you…" The Rouge backed away blood running from his front.

"It is not only the eyes that can see." She said flatly. And with her last strength, she slashed her enemy. The Rouge screamed with fury as he turned to black smoke. "It is finished." Reewa whispered.

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A purple tongue of fire flicked and snapped dead. The dark chamber where the Sorceress sat in her throne was full of different colors of fire. Each tongue of fire represents one of her followers.

"That useless Rouge, defeated by a puny little Assassin." She hissed and she took another fire. "Awaken and serve."

The bluish fire suddenly began to twist and roll vigorously and a woman with long blue hair and red tilted eyes appeared. "Order and I obey Great Mistress of the Dark."

"I want you to find those heroes of the prophecy and kill them. Do not return unless they are all dead."

The woman bowed and suddenly she vanished.

"They cannot stop me. I will rule this world! And it will be soon…" She laughed her voice echoing through the chamber.

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