Morning had come yet again, and we were headed to San d'Oria to resupply and see how the repairs were coming after our battle with the Shadow Lord. The forest of Ronfaure was so peaceful at this time of the year... birds nesting in the trees, the wind flowing through my hair, the sound of flowing water in the steams. I found it to be like a paradise compared to what we had been through thus far... all of the chaos, and none of them deserved it, yet they bared through the hardships and came out on top. They were the true heroes of Vana'diel.

"Kazu, what's taking so long? We've got to see the King!" Nighthawk yelled to me, which snapped me out of my daydream and let me notice how far behind I was.

"H-hey!" I yelled back. "Wait up!"

I finally caught up with them, and by that time we had arrived at the gates to North San d'Oria. The people seemed more at ease now, and very few gave me the cold stares they did when I went by the name 'Batosai'. I finally believed I could drop my guard, and be at ease.

...How wrong I was indeed.

"Kazu!" Kirith shouted. "The King's in danger!"

I ran to the Throne Room, and saw King Destin being held by his neck by a Hume.

"Drop him." I said, readying my lance. "Now."

"...And why should I?" The Hume asked in a cold voice.

"Less talk, more killing!" Kirith yelled, firing an array of arrows at the attacking Hume.

"Pathetic!" The Hume said as he threw the King into the air, repelled the arrows at us, and then caught the King in the same grip. "I had heard rumors of your strength as a group, but apparently I heard wrong. You just can't handle me!"

"You don't have any idea of what we can handle." Hogosha whispered, beginning to call upon Fenrir.

"That won't be necessary," the Hume said, beheading the King quickly. "because he's already dead."

I panicked as we saw the head of King Destin roll along the floor, I had no idea that anyone like this could still exist.

"Now, be free from your prison, Emptiness of Ronfaure. Kill all which plauges this land in the name of the Dynamis Lord!"

The ground shook hard, tearing apart the infrastructure. "We've got to get out of here!" I yelled, motioning towards the Chateau Gate.

"You're not going anywhere, Batosai." The Hume said, placing an energy barrier around the gate just after Konami escaped.

"Are you crazy?" I asked. "You'll die too!"

"I don't care..." he said. "as long as I get my vengence!" The Hume revealed his face, and I realized he was my brother, Kousaten.

"No..." I said. "you died!"

"Ha, indeed I did," he began. "but my lost soul found its way to the shrouded realm. Once there, I met with the Lord of Dynamis... and he gave me a new body and a full meaning of life- to take my revenge with my own two hands!"

"Kousaten, revenge is an empty emotion to fill your heart with. That was one of the first things father taught us." I said to him with a sigh.

"I feed on the emptiness and despair of others now, Batosai. I don't need emotions to take vengence!" He yelled before lunging at me with the sword I recognized as father's sword.

As we fought, the Chateau came crumbling down to the ground, crushing all those who were trapped within...