Swordmaszter: Hello everyone. Wow, it's been months since I've even thought about this story. But at the request of a reviewer, I've actually decided to continue it. I've thought up a lot of new ideas and twists for the story and the storyline itself, so I expect to be working on this story constantly. I am still accepting requested characters for this story. And if I like the idea of them, then I will add them. Enjoy!

CHAPTER 2: THE JOURNEY BEGINS

Neo awoke the next day in a bed, and was covered with layers of sheets. He shot up, and quickly jumped onto the floor. He saw his sword lying on the ground next to the bed, and without thinking, he grabbed it. Neo unsheathed it and looked around. Where am I? What happened to the monsters and the beasts? Neo saw a door leading out of the room he was in, and he slowly walked through it. Once he got outside into the next room, he knew for a fact that he was in some kind of cottage. He looked around the place to see spell books and, and magician rods. Neo had no idea where he was, or what had really happened the night before. He saw another door, and ran out of it. He found himself outside, and it was daylight. He saw that he was high in the mountains, and was surrounded by rock.

"So…you're finally awake?" sharp voice said behind him. He looked behind him to see a man standing on the roof of the cottage he just exited. He had long purple hair, and was wearing a purple mage robe. (The Dark Magician without his normal clothing).

"Who are you!" Neo demanded to know.

"Calm down. My name is Zakiyo. I am also known to many people as the Dark Magician." Neo gasped.

"You're the Dark Magician? I'm puzzled as to how I ended up with you! The last thing I remember was I was in my hometown, Ghai. And something terrible had happened. But…I can't remember it all." Zakiyo's face expression changed into a very serious one.

"It is not I who must tell you what happened. You must see for yourself." Zakiyo jumped from the roof and onto the ground.

"Follow me," he said. Neo followed him back into his home, and into the room with all of Zakiyo's magician's equipment. He grabbed his rod, and put on his magician's clothing.

"What are you preparing for?" Neo asked. Zakiyo looked at him.

"I don't trust whatever is out there. Now that I know the Shadow Empire has set foot on this continent…then I have no choice but to always be ready." Suddenly, some of the memories from last night began to flash through Neo's head, and he fell to the ground. It's happening, Zakiyo thought. Zakiyo walked past Neo and headed for the door.

"Get up, we must get going." Neo slowly got off the ground, wondering what he just saw in his head. He then got the idea that maybe Ghai was attacked. He chased after Zakiyo, who was already walking down the mountain.

"Tell me what happened!" Neo screamed running down the mountain. Zakiyo paid no attention to him.

"It's not my duty to do that. We will reach Ghai soon enough. There you will remember what happened. If I tell you…it wouldn't be right." Neo sighed. "Then we should hurry…" Zakiyo agreed and they both ran as fast as they could. Minutes later, they reached the entrance to Ghai. Neo saw the dead bodies and the burnt houses everywhere throughout the town. He fell to his knees, as tears continuously poured out of his eyes.

"WHY DID THIS HAVE TO HAPPEN!" he yelled. Then every last image of last night flashed through his head, and it all came back to him.

"AHHHHHHHH!" he screamed and yelled. He saw everyone in his town being killed by the Shadow Empire's army. He saw blood…death…and pain. It was too much for him. He brought out his sword and held it to his neck.

"Would your mother want you to do that? After all she went through…you'd end it now?" Zakiyo asked him. Neo dropped the sword. "You know what you have to do. Defeat the Shadow Empire, and you would have avenged all of the friends and townspeople who died yesterday. The Shadow Empire is the enemy here." Neo looked at Zakiyo.

"I can't…I'm not that powerful." Neo cried.

"Well thinking like that, then maybe you should have killed yourself. Being a coward won't bring back your mother…." Zakiyo said. That got to Neo's head. He rose to the ground, and picked up his sword.

"I'm no coward!" he yelled. Zakiyo smirked.

"Then prove it. Journey to the Shadow Empire and defeat those responsible for your pain."

"That would be the right thing to do! So I will do it. I will do what must be done…to avenge my friends and family." Neo said, honorably.

"Well done…" Zakiyo said. Neo walked through the remains of the town, looking at all of what was lost, the people…the memories…the happiness. It was all gone, and it was because of the evil that had slaughtered everyone he knew last night. Neo was determined not to let any of this go. He was going to accomplish what he said he was going to do. He wasn't going to back down anymore, and nothing was going to stop him. Zakiyo walked up behind him.

"We should be going now. The sooner we leave, then the faster all of this can go away." Neo nodded. Neo said goodbye to everything, and he and Zakiyo proceeded in the direction of the Shadow Empire.

Swordmaszter: Yes, I know this chapter was very brief and boring. And this will probably be the only one like it. So expect more from me very soon. I'm trying my hardest to work on this story now. Remember to review, and to submit any new character ideas you may have.

Chapter 3 Summary: Neo and Zakiyo reach the small town of Rei, only to soon meet up with members of the Shadow Empire. Also, a new main character is introduced.