Takuya woke slowly, his head pounding and his mouth dry, and peeked at his surroundings cautiously. All he could see were white walls to start with, not the forest of the Gods' realm where he had previously woken. He sat up slowly, and was rewarded with his world spinning for a moment, before settling down again, and he looked around. He was clearly in some sort of hospital ward, with clean, made beds lining both walls with a corridor between. The room was well lit, and clean looking, with light colours, apart from dark wood trunks at the base of each bed. Looking to his right, he could see two occupied beds, the occupiers black hair suggesting that this was where the twins were still sleeping peacefully. He could see someone moving at the far end of the room, near the doorway, who obviously hadn't noticed that he was now awake.

Knowing that both he and his friends were safe, Takuya turned his attention to his own condition. His right hand was bandaged lightly, and as Takuya flexed it slowly it gave off only a little pain. He checked over his chest, then blinked as he realised that someone must have undressed him to the extent he how was, and then blushed slightly. His token still swung from his neck, for which he was glad, and other than for his hand, he didn't seem to have bandages anywhere. That left only one more thing to check.

Takuya closed his eyes, searching in his mind for the place his magic lived. As always when he found it, it bounded up, wanting to know what fun thing it could do now. Hush, puppy. I just want to check up on you. It seemed his magic was recovered, and Takuya started to withdraw, then stopped, feeling a tingling at the back of his neck. It wasn't the feeling he associated with magic, more like a combination of that feeling with the way his magic felt flames. The puppy bounced happily in his minds eye. You feel that too, huh? Think you can tell me where? The puppy took Takuya's uninjured arm, tugging him forwards a little and down, before letting him go, sitting back, and looking very satisfied. Well done, said Takuya, mentally patting it, then withdrew out of his magic, opening his eyes.

He was bent over the end of his bed, to where a large storage chest sat. His palm rested on the top surface, against the wood. Curious, he slipped out of bed, then grabbed at the bed frame as his legs started to give way. "Woah!" He ended up in a sat position on the floor. Okay, obviously my legs haven't been used for a while… Let's just be slow. He crawled over to the chest, and after fiddling with the catch for a few moments managed to pull open the lid. Inside rested the rest of his clothes, his boots, sword and coin purse, and dagger. And the sword from the altar.

His sword.

Takuya braced himself, then picked it up again, expecting the same reaction as before. Instead of making his magic run wild, however, the hilt just felt slightly warm to his touch, and seemed to stoke the fire inside him slightly, but no where near to the same extent as before. It also was the source of the strange feeling, which died as soon as Takuya took hold of it. He drew it out of the chest carefully, and examined it in the light. It was a finely crafted piece, which fitted perfectly into his hand, as though made for him.

I guess it was made for me.

Unfortunately, it was then that the initiate watching over the infirmary chose to notice that Takuya was awake, and hurried over, badgering him to get back into bed, as he had no business moving until a healer had checked him over and made sure that his hand was okay.

Takuya just sighed and did as he was told, hoping that the twins would wake up soon.

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After the healer had checked his hand and left, Takuya found the end of his bed occupied by Jeb, who was watching him nervously.

"What?" Takuya shifted uncomfortably under Jeb's gaze.

Jeb shook his head slightly. "I never thought it would come to pass. While I thought you could be, I never really believed. Prophecy that has existed as long as yours has never seems like it would come to pass, let alone within my lifetime." He smiled at Takuya. "You're everything I hoped for in a Warrior for the people, lad. You're kind and loyal, and even blind to external differences, like those of the twins. You're friends with boys that should be our ancient enemy."

"Yeah." Takuya looked at the still sleeping forms of Kouji and Kouichi, remembering the Goddess's assurance that she approved of his and Kouji's feelings for each other. "I just never saw evil in them for how they were born."

"Aye. And that's what makes you different. Makes you worthy of this fight." He shifted forwards, eyeing the sword propped against the wall. "You know, lad, most of the initiates are fair afraid of you now. No one knows what happened in the catacombs, save ye, me and the twins, just that you went in, and there was a fire, then you slept a week away, as your burnt hand healed."

Takuya looked at his hand. "Guess it happened when I took the sword. My magic just went crazy."

"Not just yours," said Jeb. "While you were covered in flames, the twins…" He shook his head. "Kouji shone like the midday sun, and Kouichi was cloaked in darkness black as midnight. You truly are the ones. I've never seen such powerful magic being used, let alone by mere boys." He shivered and looked at the twins again. "Then there was the howling. Like wolves."

"I remember that." Takuya looked at the twins as well. "Was it them making that sound?"

"Aye. They're not human like us, Takuya, so the sounds they make…" He sighed. "The healer hopes they'll wake soon, but she was none too sure of elf healing, or even what is wrong with them, as they had no burns like you did. You just all fell to the ground."

Takuya got up slowly, remembering what happened the last time, and moved to sit by Kouji, stroking the half-elf's hair gently. "I'm sure you're okay, Kouji, and that it would take more than a trip to see the gods to stop you from doing much." Kouji stirred slightly at Takuya's words, but didn't wake.

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It wasn't until three days later that the twins woke. Takuya was sat, clothed on the side of Kouji's bed again, watching them, when first Kouichi began to stir, followed quickly by Kouji.

"Ugh… Feel like there's been a mudslide on top of my head," complained Kouji, sitting up. He then ended up loosing his balance as Takuya grabbed him in a vicious hug.

"Kouji!" Takuya held him close, ignoring the way that Kouji stiffened at his touch. "I've been so worried for you both. I've been awake for days."

Kouji slowly unfroze, and patted Takuya's back gently. "It's okay, we're fine. Our blood just isn't the same as yours, so we react differently."

Kouichi stretched slowly. "I guess… it wasn't a dream, was it? We did see the Gods, didn't we?"

"I think so," said Takuya. "And we still have our weapons from the altar. And the knowledge of what we must fight."

Kouji sighed. "It's not that easy. We must assemble an army of sorts first, get peace between the peoples of tree and earth. That's our current goal, before we try to face the darkness."

Kouichi nodded. "That way, if we… if you fail, there's a strong defence waiting to stop it until another can be brought forwards to take your place." He hugged his knees to his chest.

Takuya tilted his head slightly. Something is up with Kouichi. He's not usually so down. He shrugged. As little as he understood Kouji sometimes, it was often worse with Kouichi, who would put on a happy act, rather than just talking about his worries.

Kouji shifted away from Takuya slightly, and held out a hand to his brother. "Kouichi, you're important too. If not to the Gods, then certainly to me."

Kouichi took his hand slowly. "I can't fight the darkness, because I am darkness. I'm useless to you, and am only here as the balance of you."

Takuya shook his head. "That's crazy. By that argument, I should have a twin who controlled water, or ice, or snow. You're your own person, Kouichi."

Kouichi sighed, letting go of Kouji's hand. "If you say so," he replied slowly.

Takuya looked up as an initiate and a healer approached slowly. "Looks like you're going to get checked over."

"Master Fire-mage?" asked the initiate nervously, playing with the hem of his sleeve. "Will you tell them that the healer needs to check them over?"

"We do speak the language of men," replied Kouji coldly. "It is just not our first choice for how to speak when we have only just woken up."

"Oh. Um…" The initiate seemed a little put off by Kouji's mastery of Common. "Of course. I didn't mean… um…" He gestured at the healer. "Mistress Fairfax needs to check that you aren't injured." He retreated, leaving the somewhat confused healer behind.

She carefully checked the colour of the twins' skin, their eyes and pulse, and seemed vaguely satisfied. "Well they match each other, even if they don't match human standards. So they're either both fine, or both sick."

Kouichi smiled. "Then I'd go with the fact that we're both fine. We're totally healed from what happened." He shifted slightly. "Now can we be allowed to leave?"

...Anxious to get back to our mother?...asked Kouji.

Kouichi blushed slightly. ...I want to get to know her, and all our human family. This mission can't afford to be stopped because we were uncomfortable with the people that we'll be staying with....

The healer nodded, oblivious to the conversation of the twins. "You're free to leave the infirmary, if that is your wish, although I'd suggest not travelling on until tomorrow. Your bodies are still weak from what you've been through."

"Then we're leaving," said Kouji starting to rise from his bed.

Takuya nodded. "Thanks for your help, but we have things to be doing. Important work."

The healer nodded nervously. "Of course, a warrior and two generals must find an army to lead."

Takuya grinned. "Don't worry. Fancy titles don't mean anything, really. But we've got work to continue from before this trip. Something we're uniquely suited for."

The healer just looked mystified.