One year had passed since we saved Windurst from the Shadow Lord, and he had not shown his face to us directly. However, the beastmen were gaining power, and becoming harder to defeat for the average adventurer, and sometimes even hard for expeditions from any of the nations. Yet, that didn't stop us from moving forward- we just delayed to learn of new ways to combat them. Eventually we reached Bastok, where we noticed the Galka of the area were being used as workers, while the Humes did all of the administrative work. This seemed wrong to me, but many of the Galka ensured us that they did not mind,since it helped to strengthen their nation against the neighboring Quadav.

"I don't like this at all," Kirith said, putting her hand on her hip in disgust. "not one tiny bit. Isn't there anything we can do about it?"

"This has been the way of Bastok since it's beginning," a large Galka to our left said. "it is not something that can be just stopped."

"Well," I said. "how do you feel about it?"

"To put it bluntly, I don't care. My only goal in life is to protect Bastok as a Dark Knight." He told us. Then it hit me, the only Dark Knight who didn't obtain his power and role from the Dark Project was Zeid, who saught such things on his own. It made me sad to see that there were still others who had not broken free from the control of the shadow power given to them.

"A while ago..." I told him. "I was known as Batosai, the Dark Knight of San d'Oria. Yet, I broke free of the shadows and found my own path of life, the path of the Dragoon.Is there anyway that we can help you?"

"I am Kalnor," he responded. "and, you can help me by getting out of my way. I've tried ridding myself of these powers since they try to make me harm the innocent, but that is not my way. I... convinced the President to make me a Guardian of Bastok instead, and so it was done."

"Kalnor..." Hogosha said after he left. "I could feel pain deep inside of his heart. He truly does not wish to have powers that bring harm to innocent people."

Later on that night, I could hear Kalnor and a hume talking outside.

"Please... tell me you have found a cure," Kalnor said. "being a Dark Knight is not at all what I wanted out of life, you know that more than anyone."

"I have found a way through alchemy, my friend," the Hume said. "but we must keep this quiet, and you must hide the transmutation circle that will be marked on you for all life."

"I understand... just please... help me."

The transmutation circle was drawn, and a dark violet aura became visible around Kalnor, it grew stronger and brighter, and then flowed into the Hume. A bright light flashed around them, and Kalnor fell to the ground while the Hume remained standing.

"This power..." the Hume said. "I cannot believe you have given such a thing away. Stupid Galka, your kind can never do anything right!" He kicked Kalnor, and that was when I decided to intervene.

"I suggest you stop hurting Kalnor," I said, walking towards them. "or I will be forced to take action."

"Ahh yes," he told me. "the former Dark Knight, Batosai. You were a legend amongst us all, almost as strong as Zeid himself. Now you're nothing more than a weakling, a Dragoon who wants to help the innocent. That's the most pathetic thing I've heard." He laughed and combined his new power with alchemy to create a sword similar to the one used by the Shadow Lord.

"Elkna..." Kalnor said. "you must... fight it. I know you have the will to do so!"

"SILENCE YOU USELESS EXCUSE FOR A SLAVE!" Elkna said, swinging his sword down at the defenseless Galka. "What is this?" He added as he realized his sword as being held back by my lance.

"I will not allow you to harm the innocent people of this land," I said. "and seeing former friends turn against each other due to the same dark power I once had is something that I cannot allow, either. Please, there must be some way you can defeat it, something you have must be greater to you than power."

"No..." Elkna muttered. "nothing is greater than power, I see that now. The blood of those I kill shall bring me more power, and will give my master power as well! The strong shall live under the master, and the weak shall be our food!" He gathered dark power into his sword, and swung it at me, releasing a concentrated wave of energy. However, the wave was stopped dead in it's tracks by Titan, one of Hogosha's avatars.

"We're here for you, Kazu!" Konami said.

"We are a team, right?" Nighthawk stated. "Then that means we fight together, not on our own."

"Besides," Kirith and Hogosha said together. "we can't let you have all the fun."

I looked at Mikan, who nodded in agreement. It was then settled, Midori was coming to full force to bring Elkna to his senses and break the power that controlled him. Kirith fired arrows at Elkna, most of which were snapped in half by his aura alone. Nighthawk and Konami used the magic of their songs to boost our strength and weaken the aura around Elkna, and Hogosha summoned Ifrit to help bring Elkna down.

There was nothing Elkna could do to stop us, his every attempt proved futile against our combined strength. "No!" He yelled in agony. "The weak are the food for the strong, that is the truth that I have been taught by my master!"

"Then it must be time for you to wake up," an Elvaan said walking towards us. "wake up from the false reality the Shadow Lord has put you under." He muttered something in a language I have never heard, and soon a light shot down from the sky and entered Elkna.
He shook for a moment, but soon stopped and looked at where the light came from in awe.

"I see now..." he muttered. "I see the truth of everything... it's all so... so..." With that, he fainted, and the dark aura around him was dispelled.

"Who are you, and how did you do that?" I asked.

"I am known as Atlan," he said. "and I cannot tell you how I did that, because I myself am not sure of how I can. It does look like your group is in need of medical assistance, though, which I can provide if you allow it."

"Medical assistance?" I asked him. Atlan nodded, and sent healing magic into all of us, including Kalnor, restoring us to full strength.

"I'm sure that our paths will cross again someday." Atlan said just before teleporting off somewhere in Vana'diel.

"That Elvaan certainly was a strange one." Nighthawk said.

"Are you alright there, Kalnor?" Kirith asked the Galka, who just got off his feet.

"Yeah..." he said. "but I'm a Dark Knight no longer." He used a protection spell on all of us, and added, "I am Kalnor, the Paladin. If you don't mind, I wish to travel along with you all. I know now that Bastok will be safe enough to survive without me, and if they are ever in need of help, I can always return to aid my homeland."

I nodded, grinned a bit, and said, "Welcome to Midori, Kalnor."