We had continued along our journey, helping all those who we found who needed it in any form we could offer them. All of us were aware of the fact that Promathia was growing stronger within me- his energy could be felt through my body now. Even though by all means Promathia could not be stopped, we could at least give the people of Vana'diel one more day of peace... they needed that, at least. The horrors that the demon growing within me would release were too dark to inform anyone else outside of Midori. If Promathia is truly meant to come into Vana'diel, then let him come. We will find a way to put an end to him before he destroys this world, even if it takes all the strength from our bodies.

'Even though they know of what is to come...' I thought to myself, watching my friends play with the children or tell jokes with the older villagers, 'they are still showing nothing but joy and kindness towards everyone. I could have never have made such great friends if I hadn't found a way to repent for my actions as Batosai.'

I sighed, and just then a little hume girl came up to me and said, "Hi there Mister Kazu!" She pulled out a small flower made from folded paper and added, "Thanks a lot for keeping us safe for all this time."

'Showing compassion... to the one who will become the gateway to the end' I thought to myself, twisting the paper flower lightly in my hand.

"Alright," Kirith said. "we leave tomorrow morning and start heading out for Jeuno. If we keep the pace up, we should make it by nightfall."

"Sounds good," Konami responded. "now let's all get some rest. Kalnor, Hogosha, Nighthawk, and Kazu have the second room on the right. Kirith, you and I have the third room on the left."

"Will you two be safe by yourselves?" I asked.

"Hah, I can handle anything that tries to barge into this Inn." Kirith said boldly, pushing aside the fact that there was still one thing that she couldn't stop alone, no matter how strong she was.

"Good, stay safe you two. We'll switch guard through the night to keep watch on things." I said.

"I'll take first watch," Hogosha added. "so everyone else can get some sleep."

"Thanks, Hogosha," I said and nodded. "let's get some sleep everyone."

We entered the Inn, then went into our seperate rooms, with Hogosha taking a seat in the Hallway. While looking outside the window, I realized just how tranquil everything was in this small village. No one worried about Promathia and the fate of the world... this was a truly small, tightly bonded community.

'Kazu...'

I looked around behind me, wondering who said that, but found no one. "Just my imagination, I guess." I told myself, turning back towards the window.

'I am no imagination, you fool. I am that which exists within you.'

"My conscience?" I asked.

'Far worse than your past could ever go... deep into the shadows of the abyss. It is time for me to begin my awakening, and it is with your body that I shall cleanse this world of that which plauges it.'

I felt my body get suddenly cold, and then so numb that I lost complete control. I hit the floor, and then noticed I rose back up.

'I will make you suffer through this, Kazu, as I slaughter every single living being in this village with your own hands!'

"No, you can't do this! I won't let you!" I yelled, realizing then nothing was coming out of my mouth.

'Heh. Did you honestly think I would have let you warn anyone? By reviving the darkness within you, I can break away at whatever is stopping me from using your body as a portal, and to do that- you need to taste the blood of the innocent once again!'

'Hogosha,' I thought. 'can you hear me?'

'Yes, Kazu.' Hogosha thought to me telepathically. 'Is everything alright?'

'Far from it,' I thought. 'I need to ask a favor of you.'

'That would be?' He thought.

'Have Fenrir bite my leg.' I thought.

'What? Why?' He asked.

'I can explain later, but that's where my link to the power of Crimson lay dormant. If the point can be damaged, then Promathia just may loose his grip on me as a whole.' I thought.

'Alright...' he thought. 'I'll do my best.'

"Mister Kazu?" It was the same little hume girl that gave me the flower from before. "Why are you up so late at night?"

"To... kill..." Promathia said, using my voice.

"M-m-m... mister Kazu?" The girl asked as Promathia used me to grab her by the neck, and then took a knife to her throat. "But... why?" She asked, crying with her last breath. "You were... protecting us..."

"NO!" I yelled. "I WON'T LET THIS GO ON ANY LONGER!"

'What in the name of? My control is slipping!' Promathia said.

"Fenrir, ECLIPSE BITE!" Hogosha yelled just before I felt a searing pain in my right leg. The second birthmark shattered, and the power of Crimson Light flowed out of my body to create a physical form, which looked like a badly made clone of myself.

Control of my body had been restored, and I wasn't about to let the chance of finishing Promathia off pass by.

"Foolish mortal." Promathia said. "Did you honestly have any clue as to how weak you are in comparison to me? Let me show you... by granting your death wish!"

'Thank you...' the little girl's voice echoed in my mind as Promathia began his assault. 'for keeping us safe for all this time.' Tears flowed down my cheeks as I remembered her kindness, and then having to be tortured through her death, caused by my own two hands. I lost all grip on reality, and in that same split second, refocused my mind on everything somehow. A new power was flowing through my body, one that seemed strongly familiar... one that took the place of Crimson Light and then some.

"Such power... from one child of Altana?" Promathia said. "If Crimson is not the true power of the heirs to Altana, then what is?"

"Allow me to demonstrate!" I yelled, releasing a focused blast of energy at Promathia, knocking him backwards and negating the Crimson energy. "Without the power of the Phoenix," I added. "you can't survive in this world alone, and I won't ever be your host again. So... it's time for you to pay for what you have done."

"Heh... one who is meant to be judged is casting judgement on another for the same crime. How ironic." Promathia said, laughing.

"This is not for my own gains, Promathia, but for all of the innocent lives you have taken, both directly and indirectly." I said as I shoved my lance into his heart, slowly eating away at his body.

At last, the god of Twilight had been defeated. However... was the true meaning of twilight going to reveal itself? Twilight can be either of two paths, and both have times of intersection. It was honestly hard to say whether dawn or dusk would come next... but we will just have to wait and see.