The Argonaut and The Child of Light

Season 0 Ep 4: You Will Be Warm Again

"Ah, I've frightened you to the point of no words have I? No fun at all…" The Fomorian said, sighing as he reared back its head. "Oh well then… BURN!"

"IGNITE HERITIC BLAST! WILL-O-THE WISP!" Welf yelled, kneeling, and thrusting out his hand.

The Fomorian had reared its head back ready to unleash the same torrent of fire I'd seen in my dream, but when Welf shouted out his spell, wind shot towards the beast. It shot towards the giant mouth fire was going to spew from, and with a loud explosion fire combusted in the beast's mouth.

"ARGHHHHH NOOOOO!" It shouted, falling to one knee.

Cian's eyes widened, he looked next to him, Ryuu, Bell and a very surprised Welf all stood watching the smoke begin to clear.

"That... that was too easy," Welf said, pulling back out his greatsword.

"You're right," Cian said, shaking his head. "These things… they spew fire, they must be resistant, part of my memories came back, I remember fighting them now!"

"Do you remember any weaknesses?" Ryuu asked, gripping her wooden sword.

Cian racked his brain, the memories were still fuzzy, but he could remember more bits of the battle against the creatures. Lady Scathach had sent Chu, Diarmuid and Finn into the fray first, while Fergus protected him and Uathach while they casted.

"They're weaker to other kinds of magic, just not fire!" Cian said, looking over at Bell. "Bell! You use your spell to draw his attention if it looks like he's targeting Lady Hestia! Ryuu, me and you can cast from below, Welf! Be ready to use your heretic spell again!"

"RIGHT!" The three of them yelled, nodding in unison, as they all turned back to see the smoke clearing.

"In battle, analyze the situation from the start. Always expect your enemy to have a counter for their weaknesses," Finn's voice came to him then. "When you're with a team, access your strengths and how they can be used to counteract what your enemy has going for them."

"He's slow… Bell, Ryuu!" Cian yelled, as laughter from the Fomorian could be heard. "Don't stop moving, Welf, you keep ready to stop his fire! I'm going to buff us!"

"Ahaha… oh, you humans, you mortal beings in your mortal shells," the Fomorian said, standing to his feet, his head looking melted from the fire. "I do enjoy watching you squirm beneath me. Now… FALL!"

"SCATTER!" Ryuu yelled to them, as the massive mace left the Fomorians shoulder.

"YES! Run before Mog," The Fomorian laughed. "GREAT BALOR! BEAR WITNESS!"

Its face had been melted when Welf exploded its own fire. However, it didn't affect the monster for long, like so many other higher leveled monsters he'd heard about from the dungeon, his clumpy, fleshy face regenerated, and when his mace hit the ground where they'd been standing, it shook the ground beneath them the very stones beneath them shot up, and Cian, Bell and Welf were thrown. He drug the mace on the ground towards Cian, and when he saw he shot up to his feet he chucked the red spear.

It smashed into Mog's hand, but it didn't affect him at all. He lifted his mace back up and flicked the spear off his hand as if it was nothing but a twig. Cian shot out his hand and the weapon flew back into his grasp, but just as he did, he saw the mace coming for him.

The massive bronze weapon was inches from him, and Cian was getting ready to dodge when he heard Bell scream.

"FIREBOLTTTT!"

Bell's fire spell didn't do much damage, but the Fomorian stopped inches away from Cian, giving him time to roll away, and when Mog turned to swipe at Bell, Cian saw his white-haired friend leap back just as it smashed into the ground again.

After that was when Ryuu leapt forward. She landed on the massive bronze ball and sprinted up the weapon and the monster's fleshy arm. Cian watched as she leaped and smashed her wooden sword across the Fomorians face. For the first time the monster was hurt, Ryuu's sword rang out with a loud crack as Mog's head spun to the side, and when he roared and tried to smash Ryuu out of the air, she kicked at his hand and flipped. She moved like a blur that Cian could only see green wisps off. She attacked the Fomorians hand, his elbow, his stomach, smashed against his head, and that was when Cian finally saw the opening.

"BELL, WELF!" He yelled, spinning the red spear, and beginning the chant as the three of them rushed the monster. "Oh, great gods of the Tuatha Danann, my allies and I humbly call upon your aid! To save the land and the people we fight so hard to protect, bless me and my comrades now, grant us the power of lightning, STOIRIM DEALANACH!"

As Cian ran the smell of sulfur hit the air, as lightning shot from his hand and traveled up the red spear. With a yell, he looked and saw all of himself, Welf and Bell near the monsters' legs as Ryuu smashed it above. Welf came down with his two knives and cut across the Fomorians calf, while Welf's massive greatsword was thrust threw the opposite leg, lightning shooting up Mog's body. The Fomorian screamed, and that was when Cian leapt.

"LIGHTNING SPEAR!"

In the air, the spear of lightning appeared in his left hand, and with everything he could, he saw Ryuu smash her sword across the Fomorians neck. Its head spun around and just as he let the two spears go, the red spear and the lightning spear, Ryuu leapt back and out of the way. With every bit of strength he had threw them both towards the Fomorians eyes.

And then… it dodged them. Cian's eyes widened, as Mog's head fell backwards. With more speed and grace then he ever expected from a creature so large, both the red spear and the spear of lightning soared past him, and Cian was suspended in mid-air. He only had time to see Mog's head snap back up, and a hand reach up to smash him out of the sky.

"CIAN!" Everyone yelled at the same time, before a green blur shot up in front of him.

Ryuu leapt up, grabbing, and pulling Cian back to the ground, before Mog's hand smashed into her and Cian heard her scream out as she got sent flying towards the forest.

"RYUU!" Cian's voice screeched out as he fell back to the ground.

He fell into the mud and looked to see Ryuu smash into one of the trees, Lady Hestia and Lillie rushing towards where she was.

And then, Cian's head exploded.

"ARGHHHHHHHH!" He yelled, grabbing his head, as the backs of his eyelids burned, and a scene flashed before his eyes.

The cave's only light were the small lamps the supporters from Lady Aife's familia had brought. They were deep inside the mountains, the cavernous walls around them already stained red with blood, as the sounds of adventurers dying, weapons clanging and Fomorians roaring filled Cian's ears. Lady Scathach had run off with Goddess Aife towards the inner sanctum, and she'd given him strict instructions to stay with Chu and listen to every word he said.

Cian had expected a battle, but what he saw that day was a slaughter. He saw dozens of Fomorians, he saw the trap they'd sprung on them, collapsing a section of the cave to cut off their retreat. Chu had ordered them to make a stand near the river leading out of the mountains, and told Cian to stay near the river and at the first sign of danger to himself, to jump in and swim for it.

And Cian listened. He stood there, his legs shaking, his spear in his hands, as his familia fought. He had never seen Fergus wide eyed, as his massive greatsword cut through a Fomorians leg, before Finn had to let loose a spear to save him from another. Diarmuid moved swiftly with his sword and yellow spear. He cut through Fomorians with Chu not far behind him. They were trying to create a corridor to link back up with Goddess Aife's familia to try and make a stand, but they didn't stop. Some of them were nothing but shadows, some were able to take form, Cian saw the massive, twisted, deformed creatures everywhere… and as his familia died he could only stand there.

That was until he saw Uathach.

A few meters away, he saw her glowing staff, her long knife covered in lightning. She moved like a blur, her blonde hair matted with blood. She leapt and stuck her knife into the chest of one Fomorian, concurrent chanting the entire time before landing and unleashing a beautiful torrent of magic light which seared and burned through a Fomorians skin, but in doing so, she hadn't seen another massive beast with a club coming up behind her.

Cian's legs moved, he rushed towards her, ducking under an axe that was throw, dodging a body that had been tossed towards him. He moved up a ledge and leapt just as Uathach turned around to see the club ready to smash her.

"LIGHTNING SPEAR!" Cian threw the spear he was holding and the spear of lightning.

And the Fomorian he'd been aiming for spun around with more speed then he'd thought for a monster so large. It turned and dodged both his spear and lightning spear, as Cian landed his legs crumbled out beneath him. The Fomorian laughed and stalked towards him. His legs shook, his skin was on fire, and he fell backwards towards the wall of a cave, having tripped over a dead body. It toyed with him, laughing as he stalked towards him with an outstretched hand. Cian managed to get up, but it followed him, until finally he couldn't run anymore, and just fell.

It laughed, and when it went to swing its club, that was when Cian heard his name.

"CIAN!"

Uathach had come, and shoved Cian just before the club smashed into her and sent her flying towards the wall.

"UATHACH!" Chu's voice yelled.

She slammed against the wall. Her body had been twisted, arms and legs bent at the wrong angle. Uathach had been dead before she even hit the wall.

Trying to save him.

"NOOOO! NO, NO DAMMIT YOU BASTARDS!" Diarmuid yelled, as Cian saw his yellow spear fly and impale another nearby Fomorian.

But the one who had killed Uathach looked back at him and raised its club to kill him. Still, Cian couldn't move.

"Stalic dealanach…." Chu's voice said, deathly calm, before a massive ray of white lightning cut forward into the Fomorians arm, severing it, its blood spewing over Cian.

The monster screamed and turned, as Chu appeared in front of him. As light as a feather on his feet, he didn't look back at Cian. The Fomorian tried to crush him with his other hand, but Cian reached up with his free hand and caught the monsters fist, crushing it and tossing it aside. The Fomorian cried again, and that was when Chu's hair stood straight up.

And then… that was when Cian watched Chu drop the red spear in his hands to the ground. He watched in memorization, as before it hit the ground, Chu kicked it back up into his hand, and spun it under his arm, over his head, and around his body before rushing toward Fomorian. The Fomorian tried to swing at him again, but Chu kept dodging and spinning the spear in such a precise way, Cian knew it was that special kata he always saw Chu rehearsing. It tried to smash its remaining fist down on Chu, but Chu snapped the spear back under his air and leapt back to avoid it.

Then, he thrust out his arm… and the red spear burst with red light.

"Oh, great spear of the Tuatha Danann, spear of Ulster, spear of-."

"CIAN! CIAN SNAP OUT OF IT!"

"FIREEEBOLTTTTT!"

Something hard smashed into him, and Cian finally stopped screaming. The pain in his head, the burning behind his eyelids went away as he looked up to see Welf with black soot on his face grab him by the arm and pull him away just in the nick of time before Mog's mace could have crushed him. Cian's eyes shot up to see Bell's firebolt smash into the Fomorians hand. Welf got Cian to his feet, just as Mog turned to see Bell rushing towards his feet.

"CIAN?! Come on, snap out of it, you okay?!" Welf said, picking him up to his shaky feet and grabbing his shoulder to steady him.

Cian rubbed his head, his eyes wide, as he saw both Uathach and Ryuu. "Ryuu! Is she-."

"The Goddess and Lillie got her, she's fine," Welf urged him. "Bell's gonna buy us some time, we need to try and get out of here!"

"What!?" Cian said, turning back to the Fomorian. "BELL!"

"FIREEEBOLT!" Bell yelled, aiming this one towards Mog's head.

The Fomorian laughed. "DO YOU BARE WITNESS GREAT BALOR?! TO THE FILTH THAT INHABITS YOUR WORLD?! PITIFUL HUMANS!"

Mog smashed his mace into the ground, and taking a page from Ryuu's book, Bell leapt onto the mace itself. Cian heard Hestia yell, and so did everyone else, as Bell leapt up, digging both his knives into the Fomorians arm, and when it tried to throw him off, Bell pulled them out and was tossed into the air. Mog lost him in the sun, and when he came down, Bell buried both knives into either of the Fomorians fleshy shoulders.

"FIREEEEBOLT! FIREBOLT! FIREBOLTTTTT! FIIIIREEEBOLLTTTTTT!"

"ARGHHHHHHHHH!" Mog screamed, as the fire shot through Bell's knives into the Fomorians body. The fire exploded inside Mog, and even though he was resistant to fire, it still made him fall to one knee, which almost flung Bell off.

"YOU DARE HUMANS?!" Mog reached back, and grabbed Bell, tossing him to the ground, making him drop both of his knives, and all of them screamed. Mog reared back his head, "BURN!"

"IGNITE! HERITIC BLAST! WILL-O-THE WISP!" Welf yelled, shooting out his hand, but just as he did, Mog's head spun around to them.

Cian's eyes widened as Mog must have been waiting for that. Instead of unleashing fire, he spun and smashed his mace into the ground. The earth itself shook and shot forward, it threw Cian, Well, and Bell all backwards towards the forest.

Cian lost track of them as he fell, rolling back and smashing into a rock on the lake shore. His vision was blurry again as he got to his knees and saw Mog standing now in a clear field. Welf and Bell had been sent flying towards the forest. Lady Hestia ran towards them, while Lillie tried to arose Ryuu, tears streaming down her face, as Mog laughed.

"You all dared to attack a servant of the great Balor," Mog said, hefting his mace back towards his shoulder. He shook his misshapen head and stalked towards them… towards Lady Hestia who'd just gotten over to Bell and Welf. "You false gods, will all perish in the name of great Balor. HE SHALL HAVE HIS THRONE!"

"LADY HESTIA!" Cian screamed, shooting to his feet towards Mog. "LIGHTNING SPEAR!"

The spear shot through the air and hit Mog in the head just before he could unleash his fire. Cian had seen in his dream, remembered the battle, saw the town, he knew how deadly that Fomorian fire could be. He had a reminder scared across his chest. If that fire unleashed it could destroy the entire forest, along with all of his friends.

"CIAN STOP!" Lady Hestia yelled, as Cian got to Mog and leapt.

"LIGHTNING SPEAR!" Cian yelled again.

The spear of lightning left his hand, and just before it could hit Mog in the head again he leaned back, letting it sail into the sky. Cian was falling when he swung out his foot. Mog's massive foot smashed into him, and that was when Cian finally felt his breast plate shatter.

"CIAN!" Lady Hestia screamed again, as Cian was sent flying backwards towards the water.

He rolled and felt his chest erupt as he coughed up blood when he fell into the water. On all fours the water was halfway up his arms as he looked and saw the sorry state of himself in the waters rippling tides. His black hair was blown in every direction, chunks of it missing, his face covered with bruises and a long scar from where Mebd's swords had cut him. His armor was in tatters, and when he looked up… he saw Mebd cowering, shaking behind a large boulder on the shore.

And he almost found it ironic, how that girl had just almost killed him.

All of this… I should be dead, he thought as his reflection rippled along the water. He looked up near Mebd… and saw the red spear and heard his friends frantic screaming. Cian's heart sank, but I'm not… thanks to them. They've all protected me… and we could all die now, just like last time. Just like last time… I'm the one that must be saved.

"That's the problem!" He had told Ryuu. "I don't want to be protected! I want to be the one who protects!"

Cian shook his head and scoffed. "A stupid dream… for a stupid little orphan boy."

"CIAN MOVE PLEASE!"

He heard a whoosh and looked up to see Mog's mace swinging towards him. Cian's instincts took over and he leapt backwards. It barely missed taking off his head, and Cian fell backwards. His back hit the water, and he looked up to see the giant misshapen face of Mog smirking down at him.

Cian heard muffled shouting, but all he could see was the surface, the sun getting further and further away. He blinked a few times, and he could see the surface getting darker, his vision getting darker.

And in that moment, Cian knew he was crying. Despite being submerged in water, he knew there was water coming from his eyes.

"Maybe they'll run now… maybe I won't have led them to their deaths," Cian thought, blinking as he could feel his throat constrict. "I'm sorry Bell… Ryuu… Welf… Lillie… Lady Hestia. I'm sorry I brought so much trouble to your lives."

The back of his eyelids started to burn again, his eyes staying closed for even longer periods of time now. He wanted to cough, but for some reason, kept his mouth shut, his throat started to close… and Cian thought perhaps this could be for the best.

"I won't get anyone killed anymore this way…" He thought, blinking, and seeing the color red. He recognized this red, eyes that had always been so comforting to him. "Lady Scathach… I'm sorry too, sorry you ever had to waste your time on me…. I guess I never was worthy… to be a member of your familia."

And then, Cian's eyes closed… and he waited for it to end.

But the end didn't come.

"Honestly kid, do you ever stop throwing yourself pity parties like this? It's getting old fast, your stories going to make a really depressing book if you keep this up."

"HUH?!" Cian's eyes shot open, and he wasn't wet anymore.

He blinked and he floated, he looked around for the source of the voice, unwilling to believe he had heard it.

But when he found it… he choked, and then he really did cry.

"D…Diarmuid?"

Diarmuid looked just as Cian remembered. His black hair was slicked back, his golden eyes full of life, with that stupid mole right under one of them.

He crossed his arms and smirked at Cian. "Do you not remember what I told you before squirt? Every hero must have confidence, that's how they inspire people around them, nobody wants to hear or read about your pity party."

Cian stuttered. "D… Diarmuid what-."

"There's a difference between confidence and bravado Cian," the yellow lance said, a real smile coming to his face. "People often mistake one for the other… but what's important is you know how to balance it out. Never stop smiling, always believe you'll kick ass in every fight!"

"What?! D how… what are you…. I… I can't, I can't beat-."

"If you don't see a way, then you probe until you find one, nobody is without weakness," Another voice said, a bit of condescension to it. "I thought I taught you that."

Cian spun, and his hand went to his mouth. "Finn?!"

Finn Mac Comhail the Master Tactician shook his head. "Look at everything from every angle, analyze, improvise and adapt. A problem wouldn't be a problem unless it has a solution."

"But you don't understand!" Cian cried, shaking his head. "These things they… they killed all of you guys! What hope do I-."

"Remember Cian, you gotta master this," A voice said, before he felt a tap on his head. "Before you can master this."

"Fergus…" Cian said through his tears, falling to his knees as he turned and saw the massive man with his greatsword on his shoulder.

The massive man who had been the gentlest person Cian ever knew smiled in that black void. He tilted his head and tapped his own head again.

"You wouldn't have been one of us Cian, if you didn't have the aptitude for it," Fergus told him, patting his own massive muscle. "A hero only gets about fifty percent of his muscle from his own arm."

"Fergus I… I can't-."

"He's right! The other fifty percent comes from those around him, the people he holds dear," a higher pitched, sweet voice said. "You're only as strong as your willingness to help the people you care about."

And that was when Cian really broke down. He turned and saw her, tears coming from his eyes as he fell to his hands and knees. He could only look at her next to everyone else for a moment, the shame that washed over him too much to bear. Shaking, he gripped at the ground beneath him and shook his head, watching his own reflection cry in the water in the black void.

"Uathach… I… I'm sorry, if… if I hadn't-." He started, but he felt a cold, relaxing finger touch the bottom of his chin, and raise up his head.

And now Cian had to look at her, as Uathach smiled at him. "You can't go on like this Cian. Me, and everyone else, we died because we loved you, we would have done it for any one of us. It's because we're a familia. That word does mean family, now doesn't it?"

"Don't ever think you were a burden squirt." Diarmuid said again. "Bratty, loud, whiny and ate way too much? Yeah, a lot of the time, but a burden? No… never, you were one of us."

"And you remain that to this day, even now that we're gone," Finn said as well.

"We may not be there now to rub your back when its bowed, but we'll always be right here," Fergus said, smiling as he tapped his head again, before poking his chest. "And right here… always."

"You see?" Uathach said, smiling and titled her head, those beautiful eyes full of life. "And, you have new friends, another familia to be there in your times of need. You're not replacing us Cian… because you don't need to, we're always here."

"She's right kiddo, we didn't save you because we felt pity for you, or we felt you were a burden, we saved you, because you were one of us," the final voice said, as Uathach and the others made way for a figure in brilliant blue armor. He knelt, and the seemingly all-knowing smiles met his eyes. "And that's why you're going to get up, right now and kill that ugly son of a bitch. Because you're one of us."

"Chu… I… I…" Cian said, looking through tears, as his captain smirked and clasped a glowing hand down on his shoulder. "I… I can't… I can't be like you… no matter how much I want to be."

"You said that same thing to me after your first day of training," Chu said, smirking at him with his blue eyes as he shook his head. "And what did I tell you? Good heroes will face down challenges yes… but great heroes-."

"They… they go out looking for them, with their head held high and spear leveled," Cian said, snot running from his nose, as he looked at everyone smiling at him. "But… but I can't be a great hero. I'm nothing, I've always been nothing."

How could they all be smiling at him? He couldn't describe the black void with water beneath his tattered boots. Why couldn't he smile? Was he actually dead, were they all just figments of his imagination?

Even if they were, they felt real… and his tears were very, very real.

He looked up through teary eyes at Chu. "I'm not a leader, not like you were!" He looked to Diarmuid. "I can't fight with a spear like you, I'm not as smart as Finn," he looked from the Master Tactician and Yellow Lance, to Fergus, and Uathach. "I'm not as strong as you Fergus! I… I can't use magic like you can Uathach," his vision fell back to the floor. "I… I'm no hero-."

"Enough of this Cian!"

And Cian, like he'd been drilled to do for almost and entire year shot to attention. He sat up on his knees, and through the crowd of his old familia… was her. Cian's blood warmed, and he wanted to scream, cry more, bow, stand, everything. He wanted to do everything at once, as his goddess looked down at him.

"I won't have anyone put down my children, berate them in any way, even if it's themselves," Lady Scathach said, her long purple hair flowing over her shoulders, her red eyes stern as she looked at him. "Do you understand me Cian? I will not have you insult yourself, now or any time in the future. You are my child, therefore I will protect you from anyone, even if it's yourself."

"La…Lady… Scathach…" Cian choked out, not wanting to fall to his hands and knees again but crying as his goddess looked down at him.

He met her eyes finally, and when he did… she sighed, and her stern look, was replaced with a soft smile. She knelt down, level with him, she reached out her hand and wiped one of his cheeks dry.

Her red eyes looking directly at him she spoke softly now. "Do you remember Cian, what the first thing you told me was when we met? After I told you that you needed to bathe? What did you ask me?"

Cian choked for a minute, sobbing, as he shook his head, not wanting to look away from his goddess for even a minute. "Please… t…teach me to be a hero."

Lady Scathach nodded. "And? Is that still what you want to do?"

"I… I can't I… I let you all die and I-."

"Cian," she spoke, her voice stern for a moment, before she shook her head. "Do you still want to be a hero?"

Cian looked up, around him at the smiling members of his old familia. He'd never forget the first time this had really happened. It was after he'd killed his first group of goblins, everyone had cheered, Fergus had put him on his shoulders… it was the first time he really felt like an adventurer.

A hero. A hero of the Scathach familia. It had been the first time he believed he could be one. The reason he had always wanted to be one… was so he could be like them. To help people, to save people like they did.

And looking at them now… he wanted to be that more than anything.

"Yes… yes I do," he said, as Lady Scathach held his cheek, not letting him look away.

She smiled and nodded. "Good… now heroes need people to save. Who is it you want to save now?"

Cian's chest exploded.

"L… Lady Hestia! Bell, Welf, Lillie Ryuu!" Cian said, remembering the face of Mog smirking at him from above the water… remembering all his friends near dead. "I need to save them! I… I have to do something but… but it's a Fomorian! You guys couldn't beat them, I'm no strong-."

"Ha, that ugly bastard?" Diarmuid laughed. "Even you can kick its ass squirt…. Just remember, never stop believing in the strength of your spear."

"Remember to analyze, improvise, and adapt, in battle," Finn told him.

"Keep your cool, even in the heat of battle," Fergus added in.

Uathach smiled at him. "And don't forget you're not alone! Use all you have to your advantage!"

"And remember… above all else, the best heroes will get knocked down," Chu said from next to Lady Scathach, "but they'll always get back up."

"But… but I'm no strong enough! This thing is three levels higher than me," Cian said, shaking his head, balling his fists and looking at the black, watery ground. "Maybe… maybe we can escape? I don't have a chance, I'm not-."

"A hero's true strength, doesn't come from their level, their stats, even their weapon," Lady Scathach said, crossing her arms and smiling at him. "It comes from the limit of his willingness to protect and save others, no matter the cost. The strength of his will. Cian… you will wake up, and you will defeat this monster."

"You have the best of all of us Cian!" Uathach said with a smile excitedly. "We're all with you, we all live on inside of you!"

"She's right squirt," Diarmuid said too. "We taught you all we can, we wouldn't have done it, if we didn't know you could handle it."

"But… but I… I don't…" Cian stuttered, still utterly clueless what he could do. "How.. how can I-."

"You swore on the spear, didn't you? And your goddess?" Chu said, stepping forward and reaching down to grab his shoulder. He smirked at Cian and shook his head. "You can't go back on your word after that can you? You have everything you need… you're going to win."

Cian's eyes widened as the spear came to his mind. "But I can't even remember it's name! I can't remember its name, it's incantation, how to use its real power! I'm not you Chu!"

"If you were, it wouldn't respond to you…. You always remembered Cian, it's all right here," Chu told him, tapping his head. "You couldn't remember… because you didn't want to believe it was real… but it is."

Cian's brain felt fried, but he shook his head. "Even if that's true, I'm not worthy of it! I can't… I can't use your spear! You only gave it to me, so the Morrigan familia couldn't get it… it's okay I know-."

Chu laughed in his face, and smirked. "Are you kidding me kid? The Goddess and I had planned on you taking it one day from the start. Cian… that spear is part of your destiny."

"Wh…what?" Cian said, his heart coming up from his shoes.

Chu smirked at him again, ruffling his hair and taking a step back. "Just remember that first kata I taught you."

"The one I always messed with you about getting wrong," Diarmuid said with a smirk.

Chu nodded and winked at him. "You don't think I taught you an advanced kata like that after only a month because I was cruel do you?"

Cian's eyes widened…. He did remember the kata. And now that he saw it in his head, he realized, it was the same one Chu practiced every single morning.

It had really been right there, this whole time. And… had he really remembered the incantation this whole time? He wracked his brain, and when Chu's hand left his head he shook it.

"I… I still don't know the words," Cian said, but Chu fell back behind Lady Scathach.

All of them walked behind Scathach, who reached across and wiped the tears from his face again. After she was done, she smiled at him.

"They'll come to you… I promise you this Cian," she said, before smiling and folding her arms. His goddess cleared her throat and met his eyes. "Cian Mac Gallagher! I'm herby giving you're your final orders as your goddess!"

Cian froze, tears returning. He had known. He knew this was all a dream, a figment of his imagination as he fell towards the bottom of his lake. He very well could wake up dead.

But… he never ignored an order from his goddess.

Yet still… he sobbed as he stood at attention, arms at his side and nodded. "Yes… yes… Lady Scathach."

Lady Scathach smiled for a moment, before narrowing her eyes and nodding. "Cian Mac Gallagher, my hero, my adventurer… my sweet… sweet child. Your orders, are to destroy the Fomorian, rescue your friends and familia."

Her stern eyes, turned soft, and she smiled at him one last time. "And… after that, you are to live a long, prosperous, happy life. Am I clear… my dear child?"

"Ye…Yes… Yes, Lady Scathach," He said, sobbing, shutting his eyes and shaking his head. "I… I will see your will done, my goddess I swear!"

"Good… never forget we are with you Cian," Lady Scathach said, as she smiled and fell back in line with the rest of her children. Her smile grew, and her head titled to the side. "Oh… and do try not to give Hestia too many heart attacks like you have already… alright? Now… go… wake Cian."

"I love you… I love all of you…" Cian said, crying as he wiped his shoulder, as the light slowly… slowly faded, until even with his eyes closed, he knew he was alone again.

Only… he wasn't alone, he never truly was.

"I… I will see your will done! I swear! Lady Scathach!" Cian yelled, wiping his face again, his head shooting up into the black void he was in. "I… I'M GOING TO LIVE FOR YOU!"

And like that, he was choking. He blinked and he saw a school of fish swimming in front of him. He clawed at his throat and looked up to see the faint orange light above the waves.

"Live and long, prosperous, happy life. Am I clear… my dear child?"

Yes… yes… you are, my goddess, Cian thought, as he shut his mouth, and kicked his feet upwards.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

"CIAN!"

It hadn't been his goddess who he heard first when Bell came through, it was Ms. Ryuu instead. Goddess Hestia was shaking him from one side, Lillie from the other, and when he could finally see Bell could see Welf out cold a few inches away from him, Lillie moving over to him after he opened his eyes. The ringing in his ears from being hit didn't stop, and it took Goddess Hestia shaking him again before he could finally regain his bearings.

"BELL! Bell oh thank the gods," Hestia cried, tears streaming down her face as she grabbed onto his waist, normally Bell would blush, but he looked and saw Ms. Ryuu fall to her knees.

"G…Goddess…. Cian where… where," Bell started, as Lady Hestia looked up, wiping tears.

"Bell… Cian he… that… that thing it…." She said, before shaking her head. "I let Scathach down… I let her down. CIAN!"

She turned as Bell finally saw the monster.

And his heart fell to his boots. "C…Cian…"

"A weak waste…" The Fomorian's deep, grizzled voice said, before it turned back and hefted up its mace again. "Ah, you elf! Now you, will make a fine sacrifice to great Balor!"

"I'LL KILL YOU!" Ms. Ryuu screamed, in a blue rushing forward and lashing out with her wooden sword.

Ms. Ryuu clashed with the monster, but all Bell could do was look at the water.

Cian… Cian you… you can't be… he thought, thinking of the friend he'd saved weeks ago, the only other member of his familia.

His friend.

"No… no…"

"Master Bell!" Lillie said, coming over with tears in her eyes. "Master Welf's awake… has… has Master Cian-."

"DAMMIT!" Welf screamed, and Bell saw him with tears in his eyes as he punched a rock, unable to fully stand yet. "Cian you… you little… how the hell could he…"

"YES! GREAT BALOR WITNESS MY POWER!" The Fomorian's shout came, cutting them off, as they all looked to see Ms. Ryuu locked in combat.

She struck out with a series of blows against the Fomorian's head, and no matter what it did, it was simply too slow to catch her. Ryuu fell down towards the ground, and when the Fomorian's mace came down she leapt onto it, rushing forward and pulling out one of the short swords at her belt. She landed it in the monster's shoulder, and fell, dragging it down its body, before she leapt back away from the mace again.

"She got it!" Lillie yelled hopefully.

But Bell saw it regenerating, and his chest exploded.

"RYUU!" Bell yelled, his mind blank, as all he could see was the Cian's face. He could lose another friend, not now.

That was when he heard the tolling of bells, and his right hand started to sparkle white and blue.

"FIRREEEEBOLTTTT!"

Ryuu leapt out of the way as flames exploded from Bell's hand. The Fomorian didn't have time to avoid it. It smashed into his arm, and the monster screamed as Ms. Ryuu landed next to Bell. The flames kept erupting from his hand, and the entire arm of the Fomorian turned black. The flames were so hot they turned white, and after it finally finished unleashing from Bell's hand, he looked and saw the singed, burning arm of the monster.

It's gold, massive eyeballs widened, as it cackled, grabbing its mace with its other hand, and looking over towards them all.

"ARGHHHHHHHH! YOU BLESS ME THIS DAY!" The monster screamed, as with a massive swing it brough the mace down on his blackened, smoldering arm. "GREAT BALOR BARE WITNESS! IN YOUR NAME I SHALL DESTROY THESE INSOLENT HUMANS!"

"EVERYBODY RUN!" Ryuu yelled, turning to them all, as the arm the monster smashed off was already starting to grow back.

It bled everywhere, it spilled over the stones of the lake shore, before it turned and showed the rows of its massive, jagged, yellow, blood stained teeth.

"GODDESS HESTIA!" Bell yelled, turning and picking up the Goddess who'd gone stiff with fear, while Ryuu got Welf over her shoulder.

"Wait… wait I… I can…" Welf started, before falling to his knees again.

"BURN IN THE NAME OF BALOR!" The Fomorian shouted, as they all turned to see him rear back his head. "THIS SHALL BE-."

"LIGHTNING SPEAR!"

A massive BOOM erupted at the Fomorian's head, and all of them turned towards the water where it's come from.

"CIAN!" Ryuu was the first to scream again, and everyone else did too… but Bell couldn't.

Just like one of the heroes in the old stories he read, Cian stood at the lake shore, his body and what was left of his armor smoking from the lightning and dripping wet at the same time. He was covered with clumps of seaweed but stood tall with his hand out as the Fomorian turned towards him.

"INSOLENCE!" It shouted, rearing back its head again. "HOW DARE YOU SURVIVE! BURN!"

"CIAN NO!" Lady Hestia yelled, as Bell grabbed up his knives and rushed forward with Ms. Ryuu.

"CIAN MOVE!" Bell yelled, pulling up and throwing up his hand. "FIREBO-."

"NOOOOOO!" Ms. Ryuu yelled, leaping up, but she wasn't in time either.

Fire, hotter than anything Bell had ever seen shot from the Fomorians mouth. The torrent of flames spread out the width of the lake, and it smashed right towards where Cian was standing. Bell's screams were silent as all he could hear was the sound of roaring flames. Behind him, Goddess Hestia cried, as the sunset lit beach was engulfed in fire.

And Cian stood his ground.

"Ci…Cian… CIAAAAAAAANNNN!" Bell screamed, coming to a stop next to Ms. Ryuu.

"C…Cian… this… this is…" Ms. Ryuu said, falling to her knees next to him. "Again it… it was me… I didn't do anything… again."

Bell could barely hear her. He looked out over the spot where Cian stood, tears coming from the corners of his eyes as he shook his head.

No… no… no Cian wouldn't die like that! He thought, looking as the flames continued to shoot from the Fomorian's mouth. He… he has to… I KNEW IT!

"Ms. Ryuu!" Bell yelled to her, gripping hard to both his knives, and when his elf friend looked up, she saw what Bell had seen.

In the middle of the flames, Cian still stood. The red spear was in his hands.

And he spun it. He spun it so quick in front of him, standing tall as he did the flames shot around the spinning spear away from Cian, and when they finally disappeared, he spun the spear around his body once and held it out in front of his chest.

His eyes narrowed, and in them was a look Bell had never seen in Cian before. It was almost like he was seeing his friend for the first time.

"Bell, Ryuu! You and everyone else hit him with all you have! I'LL KEEP HIS attention on me!" He shouted.

And next, Cian did something odd. He dropped the red spear towards the ground, but before Bell could shout out to ask what he was doing, he saw Cian's foot shoot out.

He caught the red spear on his foot, balancing it perfectly.

"No… that… that spear…. HOW DID I NOT REALIZE BEFORE!" The Fomorian yelled, his eyes going wild as his arm finally grew back fully. He yelled and rushed towards Cian to swing. "IT'S ONE OF THEM! YOU WILL DIE WITH THAT SPEAR!"

Just as he rushed forward towards him Cian kicked the spear into the air. It spun multiple time and Bell started running again as he saw the Fomorian rear back his hammer to crush Cian again. Bell went to scream, thinking his friend really was done for, but at the last second, the spear fell back into his hand, and Cian spun it around his waist, before leaping up onto the Fomorians mace and then behind him, all while spinning the spear.

"BELL WE NEED TO MOVE!" Ryuu yelled to his, before dashing forward.

Bell was moved from his shock when he saw the murderous gaze in the Fomorians eyes as he targeted Cian. He swung his mace wildly, smashed his hands into the ground, all while Cian twirled and moved the spear over his head, under his shoulder, spun it around his waist. Bell watched mesmerized for a moment; never did he think he'd ever see someone use a spear in such a beautiful way. It was almost as if it was a ritualistic dance.

The most mind-boggling part was Cian didn't attack. He performed the spins and moves with his spear purely to keep the Fomorians attention. His armor was either broken or soaked through, he was bleeding everywhere, but still Cian moved, Bell saw his eyes narrowed and focused as each movement had a purpose, and it allowed Ryuu to leap in to smash across the Fomorian, all while Cian didn't get hit once, and never stopped moving.

And I need to start moving! Bell thought, running forward with both his knives. I have to trust in Cian's plan! We're a familia!

XxxxxxxxxxxX

"I remember…" Cian whispered, as he spun the spear under his arm, before leaping over Mog's mace which came smashing down to him, each move invigorating him. "I… I remember! I remember! I REMEMBER, I REMEMBER, I REMEMEBR NOW!"

Mog smashed and drug his mace across the ground, but just before he could smash away Cian as he performed the next move of the kata, Ryuu was on the Fomorian. She ran up his arm again and with a scream unleashing all her power she smashed her wooden sword against the Fomorians nose. It broke with a loud crack, but Mog simply looked past her, and towards Cian, and towards Cian's spear.

My spear… it's mine now…

"IT'S MINE NOW!" Cian yelled, tossing the still spinning spear into the air, before snatching it back and leaping back from another attack.

He could remember it as clear as day now. He would never forget first watching Chu perform this very same kata his first month with the Scathach Familia, and thinking his old captain was crazy for having Cian try to master such an advanced technique so soon into his training. Diarmuid, Finn, Fergus, Uathach, they all knew a simpler version of this kata, was what Chu had told him. Chu had explained the kata he was teaching Cian was one only he and Goddess Scathach knew.

It hadn't made sense then why he taught I to Cian, but now it was clear. With each spin, each movement of that kata then, Cian felt his mind becoming clear. The clouds inhabiting his mind parted, and while some still lingered, he could see Chu moving with the spear in the same way Cian did now. He saw the kata step by step, a kata now only he knew.

Because… because this spear… it's my destiny! I have to use it! And more importantly…

"I'LL FULLFILL THE ORDERS OF MY GODDESS!"

"FIREEEEBOLTTTT!"

Bell came swooping in after Cian leapt back with the spear. In a flurry of attacks Bell lashed out along Mog's innder wrist with his knives. The runs on the black 'Hestia Knife' Bell owned glowed to life as he stabbed it into the Fomorians arm.

"FIREEEEBOLLLTT!"

"ARGHHHH! INSOLENT!" Mog yelled, swinging and trying to fling Bell away from him, but Cian's white-haired best friend was ready as he leapt back.

After he did, Ryuu took the opening and smashed into the beast again. From his feet all the way to his eyes Ryuu struck. She lashed out with anger in each strike, knocking Mog off balance with each blow. Finally, the Fomorian roared again smashing his mace into the ground and sending he earth upwards with shockwaves. Bell and Ryuu leapt back to avoid it, and finally he turned to Cian again.

Not yet! The kata isn't finished! Cian thought frantically, ready to dodge again, but that was when a new voice yelled.

"I WON'T LET YOU HURT ANYONE ELSE!"

"LILLIE!" Bell yelled, as a massive BOOM rang out, a torrent of lightning shot towards Mog and slammed into him.

Still moving his spear, he saw Lillie, her cape and hood having gone, holding a now crumbling magic dagger.

Mog was singed, his sinewy flesh starting to melt as he turned towards the prum. "You believe… that you won't BURN AS WELL!"

"IGNITE! HERETIC BLAST, WILL-O-THE WISP!" Welf's voice came as Cian leapt back.

The fire erupted in Mog's mouth and sent him stumbling back and grabbing his cheek. His gold eyes widened as he spun his mace around him, making everyone leap back before he raised it into the air.

"BALOR! ON YOUR NAME I WILL NOT-."

A loud CRACK rang out, as Ryuu had leapt to smash her wooden sword against Mog's head, spinning the Fomorian around, just as Cian leapt back with his feet ankle deep in the water.

"THAT'S IT, DON'T LET UP!" He yelled to his friends, who all looked at him.

And when they did, he snapped the spear back under his arm.

He could feel energy bubbling inside him like cauldron, his magic power, his energy, his very life, everything flowed through his arm, down towards his hands, to the tips of his fingers, and finally, out towards the spear.

"Cian… that spear is part of your destiny."

"This spear… it isn't just me," Cian whispered, as when he felt his energy reach his fingertips and transfer to the metal of the spear, it erupted, he closed his eyes… and he saw them all. "It's all of us… you're always with me… thank you… everyone."

"C…Cian!" Bell yelled, as Cian's eyes stayed forward, on Mog in the sandy shore staring at him in horror.

With a flash of light, the red spear erupted with red light. Light bolts of lightning the light traveled up his arm, towards his body. It was a brilliant yet violent light which sent Cian's body into overdrive. His heart nearly shot through his chest and for a minute he nearly fell.

But like any good hero, he stood up, and looked out to his new familia.

The people that were going to make this life he'd been given worth it.

"GO DON'T STOP, GOOOOOOO!"

"YOU HEARD HIM!" Ryuu yelled, pulling out her wooden sword again.

Mog's eyes went wide, mesmerized by looking at the light from Cian's spear, as the sun set over his back. "No… NO, NO I WILL NOT ALLOW IT!"

"You couldn't remember… because you didn't want to believe it was real," Chu's voice said.

"But it is real…" Cian said, looking down at the bright red energy around the spear. "I don't have to worry though… because you're with me… always."

"FIREEEEBOLTTTT!" Bell screamed. "FIREBOLT, FIREBOLT, FIREEEEBOLT!"

A barrage of firebolts shot from Bell's hands. They all smacked into Mog, who's eyes were fixed on Cian. Cian watched a barrage of crossbow bolts come in from Lillie, as Bell, Ryuu and Welf yelled and moved in. They smashed into Mog's lower half. Welf's massive greatsword cut deep across the back of his leg, Ryuu smashed in his knee, while Bell leapt and dug the Hestia Knife deep into the back of his opposite leg.

But Mog only had eyes for Cian. "DIE WIELDER OF THE-."

"Oh great spear of the Tuatha Danann, spear of Ulster, spear of mortal death," Cian said, as if the words were written on a page in front of him.

Mog's mace came down for him, but Cian leapt to the side, and with the spear absolutely erupting with energy, he cut it deep across the inside of Mog's forearm.

"Every enemy's weakness can be exploited," Finn's voice said. "Bigger enemies are stronger but have bigger weak spots."

"Lend your power to this mortal body of mine so that I may protect the land and its inhabitants!" Cian chanted, underneath Mog now, cutting his spear across the Fomorians calf.

"Always remember with concurrent chanting to keep your focus!" Uathach's advice came next. "And be sure to use your familia! Fight together!"

Cian turned with his entire arm now engulfed in red light. Mog turned to smash his mace down, but Bell leapt up as his arm was up and slashed both of his knives across the Fomorians wrists.

"FIREEEEBOLT!" Bell screamed as he was falling, a fiery blast hitting Mog in the face.

"YOU DISGUSTING HUMANS!" Mog shouted, smashing his mace towards the ground.

A small part of Cian's chest wanted to cave in, but he stood strong and leapt up.

"Remember, master your own emotions before you master your weapon," Fergus's voice told him next.

A few hours ago… he may have wanted to run, but now he had one goal. To fulfill his goddess's wish.

"Fill me with the strength of the gods," Cian yelled, rushing around Mog in a circle, as Lillie peppered him with crossbow bolts, and Ryuu kept up a relentless assault on his upper half, Welf and Bell slashing away at its legs. Cian came to a stop, the red energy traveling across his chest. "Let my strength join with your power to fight for a new and free tomorrow!"

"DIEEEEEEE!" Mog yelled, smashing towards Cian in an all-out assault. He swung and reared back his head to spew fire.

"IGNITE HERETIC BLAST! WILL-O-THE WISP!" Welf shouted as he fell to one knee.

After he took one step the fire in his mouth exploded, but then… Cian heard the chiming of Bells.

"I WON'T LET YOU!" Bell screamed, coming in front of him with his hand outstretched, sparks of white and gold in the palm of his hand. "RYUU! NOW! FIREEEEEBOLTTTTTT!"

"I CAST LUMINOUS WIND!"

Ryuu's magic came out of nowhere, Cian hadn't even heard her chanting. Cian leapt back to finish his chant, as a beautiful gale of green wind smashed into Mog from behind, burning him as it did, just before the massive torrent of flames on par with the fire Mog himself shot came from Bell's hand.

Mog screamed as both spell hit him at once, and the body of the Fomorian melted before Cian. It sent up a massive plume of smoke, but Cian knew that it still wouldn't be enough.

"CIAN!" Bell turned, leaping out of the way with Ryuu. "GOOOOOOO!"

Cian yelled as the light from the red spear was so intense it shook his entire body. He struggled to stay on his feet, but as he saw the smoke clear he could see Mog already reforming the damage he'd taken from the blast.

I… I can barely stand! How the hell… no. no!

"Good heroes will face down challenges yes," Chu's voice reminded him, and Cian could see his smirk. "But great heroes seek them out and face them head held high, and spear leveled."

"A hero's true strength," Lady Scathach said in his mind. "It comes from the limit of his willingness to protect and save others, no matter the cost. The strength of his will."

The smoke cleared, and Mog turned with his face half melted, his gold eyes going wide at the red energy pulsating from Cian's arm. "No… NOOOOOOO!"

"I call on your power, oh great spear of the gods, AS YOUR MASTER CIAN MAC GALLAGHER," Cian yelled, dropping the spear to his foot again. He caught it on his right foot, and just as Mog started rushing towards him again, his body half melted Cian kicked it up into the air then leapt up and snatched it into his hand in mid-air looking down at Mog as he charged.

"BEHOLD THE RED FANGS OF ULSTER!" Cian shouted, the name of the spear finally at the forefront of his mind. "BEHOLD THE POWER OF MY WILL AND THE GODS! GAEEEEE BULGGGGG!"

The bracer on his right hand shattered the minute Cian said the spears name, the red energy erupted and shot from surrounding his body to his arm. His eyes nearly fell out of his head they were so wide as the spear left his hand; a massive gust of wind blasted next to his ear. He had thrown it with so much strength he fell forward, and nearly landed face first on the ground.

All of Cian's friends leapt out of the way as when he fell to the ground the minute his feet touched the sand, his knees fell out from under him. Falling to them, he looked up and saw the Gae Bulg shot from his hand with great speed. It closed the distance to Mog, who only had seconds to dodge.

"CIAN!" Bell yelled, sliding down to his side as they turned to watch the spear. "That… that was… no… NO!"

Mog saw the Gae Bulg coming, and at the last minute slid and leaned his head back. The red spear, crackling with red light as if it were lightning soared past the Fomorian. It went out into open air, and that was when Bell managed to get Cian to his feet, as a very worried looking Welf, Lillie and Ryuu joined them.

Mog cackled. "BAHA! YOU ARE WEAK WEILDER OF GAE BULG! DO YOU NOT SEE-. ARGHHHH!"

Mog turned just as the red spear shot back through the air towards him. It grazed across his shoulder, but he was quick enough to move again.

"What… what's going on?!" Lillie asked frantically.

Welf scoffed. "Cian are you doing that?!"

"It's… moving on its own," Bell said, as Ryuu turned to them.

"Lillie! You and Welf get to Goddess Hestia!" She ordered.

Welf and Lillie nodded, before Cian looked up with the help of Bell, to see Mog screaming as he swung his mace wildly.

Like he was trying to smash an insistent insect out of the air, the Gae Bulg kept coming back again, and again, and again, aiming for the chest of the Fomorian. Mog would knock it aside with his mace, only for it to glow even more brightly in that sunset orange sky, before it came back with more vigor. It soared through the air in a bright red whirlwind, trying to enter Mog's body by any means necessary.

"Cian… are you not moving it?!" Bell said.

Ryuu shook her head, answer for me. "No… he isn't. The Gae Bulg… I remember that story now. I never imagined I'd see it."

"That's the name?!" Bell said, his eyes growing wide as he looked at Cian. "Cian you remembered!"

Cian nodded, and took a step away from Bell to stand on his own, limping out in front of Ryuu and him, feeling as if his body had just been sucked dry of blood.

"Gae Bulg… I finally did it," Cian said, watching the spear move on its own. It soared forward and hit Mog's mace, sending the Fomorian stumbling back. "That's… all of us… I'll miss you guys…"

"NOOOOOO!" Mog yelled, finally as the spear knocked aside his mace. It shot forward after it did, and with a loud squelch it dug itself into Mog's chest. "ARGHHHH ACCCKKKKKKKKKK!"

"Yes! It hit him!" Bell cheered, coming up next to Cian.

"CIAN!" Lady Hestia's voice said, and Cian turned to see his tiny new goddess rush towards him, hugging him again. "You did it! You remembered Scathach's spear!"

"I've never seen anything like that before…" Welf said in amazement. "Lady Hephaistos is never gonna believe it when I tell her."

"That was amazing Master Cian!" Lillie said wide eyed. "I've never seen anything like it!"

Cian in the midst of it all, got a little red, pure adrenaline keeping him moving. "Ha… it… it wasn't a big…. A big deal…."

The adrenaline wore out, and Cian fell to his knees. Bell yelled and grabbed him before he could fall, Lady Hestia grabbing his other side. Cian's head slumped, every bone in his body screaming out at him.

Lady Hestia simply smiled and leaned her mouth to his ear. "Scathach's very proud of you Cian… and so am I."

Cian through it all… smiled again.

"AARGHHHH HA! HAHAHAHA!" Mog yelled, turning, his massive footsteps still shaking the ground beneath them. His now oozing clumps of fleshy skin dripped onto the ground as the Gae Bulg stuck out of his chest.

He stalked towards them, and Ryuu stepped in front, her wooden sword out. "Dammit… he's still moving."

They all looked worried… but Cian could only sigh. The fight was over, he knew it.

"You… you believed a servant of great Balor… can be defeated by… by…" Mog said, stepping closer and closer, before falling to one knee and putting a free hand to the spear. "By… by a puny weapon forged by false gods?! You… you are… ARGH! ACKKKK! What… What… ARGHHHHH!"

Cian shook his head and limped forward on his shaky legs. He put a hand on Ryuu's shoulder, who looked at him like he was crazy. She tried to pull him back, but Cian met her eyes, and shook his head.

"CIAN! What are you doing?!" Lady Hestia shouted, but Cian walked right up towards Mog, who still had one hand on his mace.

When he saw Cian, blood spewed from his mouth, his body jerking in every direction. His eyes went wide when Cian was within striking distance and raised his mace.

"D…DIE! For… FOR GREAT-. ARGHHHHHH!" Mog yelled out, coughing up a puddle of blood in front of Cian before he dropped his mace and glared at him. "What… what did… what did your puny weapon of false gods-."

"Don't insult my goddess's spear," Cian said, his hands balled in fists next to him, as he started down the creature slowly turning to smoke in front of him. "The Gae Bulg is one of the three divine weapons of Ulster."

I remember… I remember now.

Cian shook his head. "It's the spear of death. Forged from the bones of the great sea monster Curruid. It re-writes the laws of cause and effect when thrown, so long as my willpower is greater than that of my target, it will always find its mark. You were dead the minute I called out its name."

Mog fell now to his hands and knees. The Gae Bulg was still stuck in his body, its back end hit the ground, but the spear didn't move. "You… you believe… that you have bested-. ACKKKKKK!"

"Once inside the victim's body, the spear's point breaks off into new points, spreading barbs through every single part of your insides," Cian said, taking another step forward as Mog fell, and spun onto his back. He stood over the monster, his hands shaking. "There's not a single joint or muscle in your body currently not penetrated by one of these barbs… it drains me like hell to use, could kill me even… but if it's used, you die…. That's for Lady Scathach."

Mog coughed up more blood and slowly shook his head. "You… you think I will be the last boy?"

"No… but any other who comes will meet your same fate," Cian said, as he looked into the monster's wide gold eyes, as its body finally, turned completely to dust. "But… I will follow the will of my goddess… and live."

A massive magic stone fell to the ground.

The Gae Bulg clattered to the ground as well. He could remember Chu's stories about it clearly now. If used on a monster, the monster turned to dust. However, if you used it on an area of space, or even worse a person, you'd need to cut the barbs the weapon spewed out before retrieving it.

But now… all he saw was the red spear.

And he could finally stop calling it that.

He held out his hand and sucked in a breath. The spear shot from the ground into his hand, he spun it once, and turned to his friends… all of whom looked at him with wide eyes and awed expressions.

And Cian… he smiled.

He finally felt the need to smile.

"Well… you guys can hit me now if you want," He said nervously rubbing the back of his head, letting the breath go and smiling at them. "I guess I deserve it, don't I?"

"Are you kidding?!" Bell yelled, rushing towards him. "That was amazing Cian!"

Cian's face got red again, as Bell smiled ear to ear, both his fists raised in excitement as he stood across from him. He didn't know what to say, because he could barely process what happened still himself.

"You… you really think so?" He said, meeting Bell's excited eyes.

Red, just like Lady Scathach's.

"Of course, I do!" He said excitedly, holding both hands on Cian's shoulders. "You did it, you really killed him Cian! You're sure to level up after that, more importantly, you avenged your familia, you remembered the name of the spear, you're amazing!"

"Ha… I… I really don't think…" Cian said, blinking rapidly, as the world began to spin. "It… it wasn't that… that big… a deal…"

"CIAN!" Bell yelled.

Every muscle fiber in Cian's body screamed at him then. They wailed as if they were being ripped apart at the seams, as all the energy he had to even stand up was now gone. He fell backwards, and felt his eyes start to close. He knew that this was a side effect of using the Gae Bulg. It took up an incredible amount of magic energy from a person. He was surprised that he hadn't gone mind down yet, and he probably would have, if he didn't feel a pair of arms catch him from behind.

"Just relax, don't try to move on your own yet," Ryuu's now calm voice said.

And just like that first night, he blinked, and saw her blue eyes looking down at him.

"R…Ryuu…" Cian said, as she slowly brought him back up to his feet, she put a hand on his chest, as Bell helped her get me upright for the moment.

Finally, she let out a sigh and held both his shoulders and stared directly at him. She opened her mouth to say something, but words came from Cian's mouth before she could start.

"Thank you… for coming for me," He told her, his vision and mind still hazy, but he knew one thing. That he owed Ryuu his life yet again. "You saved me… again."

Her eyes widened for a minute, and then softened. She squeezed his shoulders and shook her head. "I was going to hit you, for doing something so foolish… but I'm just glad you're alright."

But then, she narrowed her eyes and gripped harder to his shoulders. "But don't you ever do something as reckless as this again. I was… well… everyone was worried about you. Mr. Cranel, Syr, all of them, so please, don't do this again."

Her face got the slightest bit redder.

Is… is she…. No, no I'm just delusional, and can barely stand.

But Cian smiled at her. "I promise… all of you."

"She's right Cian," Bell said, as he got under Cian's arm to help support him and looked up at him from below his arm. "Like we promised, we're a familia you and me. Let's face everything together from now on."

"Good… now heroes need people to save right? Who is it you want to save now?"

Goddess Scathach… Chu… Uathach… Diarmuid… Finn… Fergus, thank you… for everything. But now… now I have a new familia. But that doesn't mean I'll forget about you… ever. I'll grow strong, protect this new familia and friends that I have now, and one day, I'll make sure you're all avenged!

And most importantly… I'll live, for all of you.

Over the last few weeks, he knew Bell's reasons for wanting to grow strong, but for that short time Cian had forgotten his true reason. He thought it was to remember the name of the spear, to be able to make his old familia proud, prove he belonged with them.

And all that was true… but not the true reason he wanted to be strong.

No… the true reason, was to one day avenge them, and to never let anyone else he loved die in such a way, too be a hero and protect others who from suffering his fate. And now, to follow the will of his goddess, her last order to him, he'd live a long life.

"Yeah… that's what I want too," Cian told Bell, nodding, and grasping hard onto his friends back. "Let's grow together, let's fight together from here on out, and get stronger together Bell!"

"We'll be the heroes we always wanted to be!" Bell said excitedly, as Ryuu smirked, amused at them both.

"CIAN! BELL!" Lady Hestia yelled, and Cian turned to see her running towards them with Lillie and Welf.

She rushed and got under Cian's other arm. "That was amazing Cian… I… I'm so happy you're okay. You… you really had me worried. I thought I'd failed as a goddess, failed Scathach already…"

"Lady Hestia…" Cian said, but before he could say anything else, Welf came up and took the goddess's place.

"Ha, I've never seen anything like that! You kicked its ass Cian you killed it like you said!" The red-haired smith said, laughing and patting his back. "And that spear! Ha, you really are something else, you and Bell both, that was awesome!"

"It really was Master Cian!" Lillie said, falling to her knees with her pack in front of him. She dug through the bag, and pulled up a potion for him. "Here, drink this!"

He shakily got to his knee, and Lillie even poured it back into his mouth and everyone stood around him, smiling at him, they went on about what an amazing thing he did.

And it was as if they were glowing, just like his familia in the lake had.

"You… you guys… I'm sorry," Cian said, cutting all of them off, as he dug the Gae Bulg into the sand. All of them went quiet, and looked at him oddly, as Bell and Welf held him up.

"Cian, you don't have to apologize again," Lady Hestia said, stepping in front of him and smiling. "You already-."

"No… I need to apologize again, and for something else," he said, taking a step away from Welf and Bell, shakily on his own, before looking over at all of them, tears welling in his eyes. "I… I was foolish and stupid for coming here on my own and making you worry, I'm so, so sorry. I'm sorry for assuming what you were all thinking of me, and… and most of all…"

His knees shook, and Bell rushed to him. He grabbed Cian before he could fall, and Cian could only smile at him, before looking at everyone again.

"I… I'm sorry for not being genuine," he said, tears coming silently as he looked at them. "I… I was in a way, trying to convince myself I was fine. That even after what happened I was okay to not worry you all. I… I was almost trying to replace my old familia with all of you, but… nothing will ever replace them. So, please, forgive me for using you all like that."

He bowed quickly and almost fell but steadied himself. Before any of them could protest, he shot back up and smiled through the water falling down his cheeks.

"But… I learned that nobody could replace Lady Scathach and the others, but that's okay," he said, sobbing a laugh and wiping his face. "Because, they may not be here, but they're always with me, because of the memories I made with them. And… all of you, you're your own people, people I've come to really, really care about, and want to be with."

Finally, he managed to step off from Bell's help and hold out his hand to all of them. They looked up at him with wide, happy eyes. All of them smiled, none of them chastised him, none of them yelled or looked angry.

No… they all just looked like they cared.

"So please, let's start over," Cian said, managing to smile now. "All of us. I promise from here on out I'm going to be my genuine self, and together, we'll have lots of adventures and grow strong together! So… will you all forgive me?"

The first one he felt was Bell put a hand on his back, and turn to him, smiling. He didn't say anything, only smiled that massive Bell smile he always had… and then he hugged Cian. Cian barely had time to react, before Welf threw an arm around his shoulder, and Lillie rushed to hug around one side of his waist, dropping her bag.

"Huh…? Just… just like that? You guys…" Cian said, starting to tear up again.

Welf smirked and shrugged with his arm around Cian. "You never even needed to ask us to forgive you. We talked about it last night… we knew Cian."

"What?!" Cian said, shocked, and now red in the face.

Lillie looked up and smiled at him. "We knew you were holding back. We knew you were still upset about your old familia, that you were just saying you were fine."

"And… we're here for you, we're a party after all," Bell said. "And most importantly we're your friends, we'll be here for you like we know you'd be for us."

"But… but I…" Cian said, looking at them all smiling at him, "you really… really-."

"I know you miss Scathach Cian," Hestia said, coming and hugging him too. "I do to… I never even got a chance to say goodbye. I… I'll never be like she was, but if you need to see me as her to be comforted I will be. If you need me to fight for you, I will. Scathach was always there for me… and now, I'll always be here for you too."

Cian felt warm. After weeks of feeling cold, he could finally feel the warmth again.

He felt like he was home again.

"You… you guys I… I…" He started crying before he could finish… and when everyone finally hugged him again, be sobbed. "I… I'm sorry!"

And so he cried, and they all stayed there, smiling and hugging him.

Welf scoffed a laugh. "Ha, we know you are. Now stop crying! Come on, you're getting snot all over me, use little bit's cloak if anything."

"You better not!" Lillie squeaked at Welf, glaring daggers at him. "Don't put ideas in his head Master Welf! Master Cian don't listen to him!"

Through the tears, Cian laughed. Bell laughed. Lady Hestia laughed… and eventually so did Welf and Lillie.

"I… I can't wait to adventure with you guys…" Cian said, sobbing and moving to wipe his cheek as he looked at all of them. "We… wait… Ryuu? Ryuu where-."

"I hate to interrupt your moment," Ryuu said, and all five of them turned around to see the elf step past them, reaching to her belt for a short, curved sword. "But it seemed you all forgot in the fight that someone else is listening!"

The knife flew from Ryuu's hand and Cian's remaining strength that had been brought back by Naaza's potion that Lillie had given him helped him turn around. Everyone else turned with him, and Cian shot out his hand. The Gae Bulg flew from sand into Cian's waiting hand. It hit his palm, and it hummed vibrantly. Chu had been right, Cian was realizing.

In a way, the Gae Bulg really was alive. The red weapon responded to Cian's energy and seemed to be thrilled it could finally be called by its true name again. Cian snapped it under his shoulder, and shifted his feet, as Ryuu stepped forward towards where her sword had landed in the sand.

"You don't have any option here other than to surrender," she said, holding out her wooden sword, as Cian, Bell with his knives, Welf with his greatsword, and even Lillie and Lady Hestia stepped next to her. Ryuu shook her head. "Don't do anything stupid."

Mebd. Ryuu was right, Cian had completely forgotten about her. She seemed even worse now. She looked at them wide eyed as he armors was in tatters, and she shivered from having fell in the water. Her red hair was mangled and full of blood. Her swords were gone, and Cian could see her arm was limp. He'd been trained in enough first aid and seen enough injuries to know it had to be broken. She was also pale, having more then likely used almost all her magical energy. Still, she stumbled, and looked over at the massive magic stone and bones still smoldering where Mog had been killed.

Then, her eyes turned to Cian, and to his spear.

"You… you killed him… they… they can really be killed," she said, stumbling and falling to her knee, but still looking at the Gae Bulg in Cian's hands. "The Gae Bulg… one of the divine weapons. That… that's why the captain is so obsessed with you."

She fell to her knees, and Ryuu moved as if ready to deflect an attack. Cian even shifted defensively herself, he could start to feel his cheek throbbing. She had cut him good when the fought, and Cian really would have been killed by her if not for Ryuu and Bell showing up when they did. He'd probably have a scar for the rest of his life on his right cheek.

Not to mention Mebd was a part of the Morrigan Familia, a familia who was supposed to be wiped out, but Cian now knew was responsible for the trap left Lady Scathach and the others. It was Morrigan who had opened a crack and let some of the Fomorians come back into the world. It was them who was responsible for Cian being in this situation, he knew he should hate them with every fiber of his being.

And he did, he hated them. If he could help it, he'd hunt them all down. He had no idea why they were coming after him now, if it was this 'captains' obsession with getting the Gae Bulg or another reason, but Cian knew now who it was that had sent him that dream the night before he left. It was Morrigan drawing him into this trap.

So if they were going to come to him, he'd figure out what else they were planning, avenge Lady Scathach and put and end to them. Mebd was a part of that.

But… all Cian saw now, was a girl crying on her hands and knees. A girl who if her story was true, was just as angry, hurt, and lonely. The only difference was he found Bell and everyone else, she hadn't.

Mebd was on her hands and knees, and she sobbed. "Fer… Ferdiad used to tell me stories about the Gae Bulg…. Ferdiad…. Big brother I… I…"

She cried, and all Cian could do was look at her, his spear lowering.

Welf next to him sighed. "She's just a kid… what are we gonna do with her?"

"We should take her back with us, to the guild," Ryuu suggested, a hint of venom in her tone. "If we do, they'll question her, and more then likely imprison her."

Lillie scoffed. "I don't like the idea of taking someone who tried to kill Master Cian and all of us back on that long trip. She could try and escape of kill us in our sleep!"

"But… she's hurt," Bell said, looking over at Lady Hestia. "Lady Hestia, we have to do something for her, don't we?"

Hestia chewed at her lip and grabbed her chin. "Cian… who is this girl?"

Cian shook his head, watching Mebd cry. "She… she's a member of the Morrigan familia. Morrigan… she's the goddess who put the crack on the Fomorian seal. Master Finn, he told me that the Morrigan familia, they were part of-."

"Evilus…." Ryuu said, her tone even darker now, her eyes shooting wide, as she spun and looked at the girl. "This girl couldn't have been anymore then ten five years ago."

Ryuu twitched, and Cian's eyes widened. It looked as if at any second now, she would dash forward and cut Mebd down.

"Fer… Ferdiad… I'm sorry big brother I… I…" Mebd cried, and upon hearing that, Cian stepped in front of them all.

"Cian wait!" Ryuu hissed at him, along with everyone else staring at him like he was crazy.

And… I probably am for this.

"Ferdiad… Ferdiad…" Mebd cried, shaking her head as she looked at the sand on her hands and knees, her arms shaking, her skin pale. She'd pass out any second. "I… I… I didn't kill anyone… I didn't kill any of them… no… no the captain said I didn't have too so I… I… I just-. GET AWAY!"

Cian had closed the distance between them, and knelt to reach towards his belt, towards the potion ouch Naaza had given him before setting out. Cian's eyes widened, as Mebd had fallen back onto the sand stained with blood, wincing and grabbing her arm. She looked at Cian, her eyes bulging as she looked at his hands.

He had set the Gae Bulg aside, and in his hand, he held out to her a potion and a free hand.

"What is this?! What the hell are you trying to pull?!" She hissed, sitting up and grabbing her arm.

Cian shook his head slowly. "You're hurt… at least take this."

He tossed the potion between her legs, and she looked at it, then back up at him.

And she cackled. "HA! You… you're insane, how the hell could you do this?! I just tried to kill you! I-."

"You remind me of me…" Cian said quietly, meeting her eyes. He looked deep into her green, panicked eyes, and for a minute, he saw her go red, before she looked away. "Do you remember what I told you," he said, making her turn back to him. He urged his hand at her. "It's never to late, or the wrong time to do the right thing. Please… let me help you, let's do the right thing."

Mebd didn't say anything, she looked at him, at his hand, her face getting red again. Her entire body shook, and Cian knew it had to be a matter of time before blood loss and her fatigue got to her. He didn't break eye contact with her the entire time. The sun was a beautiful orange color behind her, he had no idea how Mebd saw him right now. A savior basked in sunlight? Or an enemy waiting to take her out.

"I… I…" She started.

Cian shook his head. "I'm sorry about your brother. But… I think he'd happy you loved him so much."

"You… you…" She started, looking from his eyes to his hand. And for only a second it was there, but Cian could see it. Her eyes were softened. "I… I don't-."

She didn't get a chance to finish, before Cian heard the whistling that came through the air.

"CIAN!" Ryuu shouted, seeing it before Cian did.

Cian spun around to see Ryuu jump in front of him. In a second she sliced up her wooden sword and a loud CLANG rang out as Ryuu's sword hit the spear that had been thrown and sent it off course. It passed right between Cian and Mebd, inches from his head, and crashed into a large boulder that was at the edge of the lake. It smashed the boulder to tiny pieces. Medb scrambled back as the ground started to shake, and Cian looked at Ryuu, who turned around and grabbed under his arms.

"EVERYBODY BACK!" She yelled, leaping back with Cian as a loud, booming voice echoed throughout the lake shore.

"SHATTA TALUN!" The voice was followed by a massive BOOM, as the very ground that had been between Cian and Mebd was uprooted, a massive new long crater formed, as Ryuu landed with Cian, next to a stumbling Bell, Hestia, Welf and Lillie.

"Cian!" Lady Hestia yelled, rushing up next to him. "Are you okay?!"

"I'm fine…" Cian said, his heart shaking, as he looked to Ryuu. "Thanks for that."

"It's nothing…" Ryuu said, with a shake of her head, before spinning with fury in her eyes ta Mebd who had stumbled back but was still unable to stand. "He offers to heal you, give you another chance and this is what you do?! What the hell are you-."

"Don't speak to her that way, elf," A new voice said, as the smoke from the massive blast of magic that had shattered the earth started to dissipate. "You also didn't have to bother yourself knocking my spear aside. If I had wanted, I could have skewered him and you at the same time."

"Who the hell are you?!" Ryuu demanded, holding out her wooden sword as the smoke cleared.

And when it did, Cian's heart dropped. His knees became weak, and Bell had to grab onto him. His head began to throb, as one man stood there in the smoke, while another knelt next to Mebd.

"C…Captain…?" Mebd said weakly. "Du…Dullahan?"

"Don't talk Mebd, don't waste the energy," The tall man said, swiping a spear through the smoke, finally making it disappear, before his intense eyes narrowed at all of them. "Now, look at all of you, the mighty heroes who saved the day. Huh? Oh will you look at that?"

Cian's heart jumped out of his chest. The Gae Bulg was still in the sand, and only a few steps away from the new mysterious stranger. He was tall, muscled, and wore black combat armor with shoulder pads on both shoulders, with armor showing off the muscle in his chest. He had messy short red hair, and piercing blue eyes and pale skin, and with each movement Cian practically felt the ground shake, that was how powerful his presence is.

And he looked directly at the Gae Bulg. He reached his hand down, and that was when Cian shot his hand forward.

"GET AWAY FROM IT!" He yelled, and just before he could pick it up, the Gae Bulg shot from the ground back into Cian's hand. Everyone of his friends stepped up with him, as Cian weakly got into a fighting stance. "Answer her question, who the hell are you guys?! Morrigan familia?!"

"Well, look at that, how very perceptive of you," The man said, leaning a long black spear on his shoulder as he lazily looked into Cian's eyes. "That much be why that hag Scathach and the old man took you in, definitely isn't your fighting skill from what I saw. Always knew they were both slow in the head."

Cian's head throbbed, and his chest burnt. He gritted his teeth. "Don't talk about my goddess like that, her or Chu! Lady Scathach was twice the goddess any you know is!"

"Key word was," The man said, narrowing his eyes. "Because she's not exactly around anymore is she? Her, or that worthless old man. Both are back in the dirt where they belong."

"SHUT UP!" Cian yelled, spinning the spear forward.

"What? Did I touch a nerve?" He said with a sigh. "Honestly, can't believe a second rate goddess and washed up old man would be anywhere else. They're exactly where they're supposed to be now if you ask me-."

"I'LL KILL YOU!"

"CIAN STOP!" Bell yelled, as Cian stepped forward, going to drop the spear to his foot.

He could take insults to his own skill, his own appearance, he didn't care.

But nobody spoke ill of his goddess.

The only problem was, the minute he stepped forward, he stumbled. He caught the spear as it dropped, and Bell had to stop him from moving. His body was on fire, it wasn't just the scar on his chest, his brain felt like it was about to explode. Something about this man… why did he fell like he should remember him? Of course, he was part of the Morrigan familia, but Cian just felt like there should be more.

"Cian, don't move, we need to run," Ryuu said, stepping in front of Bell and him. "This man, is at least a low level six, he could kill every one of us."

"Elf's right," The man shouted, picking up on Ryuu's whispering. "Level six, not that the number matter too much. And she's right I could kill you, could have the minute you all stepped into the village, but lucky for you… I have more important things to worry about."

"She's alright, I used a potion to put her to sleep," The man behind the one with the spear said, coming up next to him.

Cian's eyes went wide, as the rest of his friends ran to join him, Ryuu, and Bell. The new man wore only padded leather trousers and was even more massive than the level six. His rippling pale muscles were bigger than Cian's head, and slung across his back was a massive axe, Cian guessed he was the one with the earth magic.

"C…Captain…" Mebd whispered before her eyes finally closed.

Cian's stomach lurched. "Captain… that's you?! You're the captain of the Morrigan familia!"

"The captain?! And… if they helped take out the Scathach familia," Bell said slowly, pulling out both of his knives.

The Captain smirked and clapped. "Ding, ding, you got it right. Truth be told I couldn't give less of a damn what that hag wants, but yes, I'm the captain of that band of misfits."

"BASTARD!" Ryuu yelled, grinding her teeth and stepping in front of Cian. "You were with Evilus, you… you BAS-."

"Stop screaming, jeez, you Orario adventurers are all the same," The Captain said with a wave of his hand. "It's true, but those idiots were a means to an end. Gotta admit, Morrigan's plan of letting us be 'defeated' by Scathach back then worked out splendidly. Now… now well, there's only one thing that I want, fuck all her plans."

His eyes turned to Cian, and something changed in them. An animalistic snarl came to his face for a moment before he sighed and shook his head. Finally, he gestured to the massive man next to him.

"To finally answer your question, my large friend here is named Dullahan," He said, before pointing towards Cian. "My name is Connla, the rightful owner of the Gae Bulg," he narrowed his eyes at Cian and shook his head. "And I'm going to give you one chance Cian Mac Gallagher. Transfer ownership of the Gae Bulg over to me now. If you do, you'll never have to worry about Dullahan or me again, we'll leave the Morrigan familia for good and leave you be."

Cian's mouth fell open. He had been around powerful adventurers before. When he had talked to Finn from the Loki familia, while he was small in stature, Cian could practically feel the power he had as a level 6. This man-Connla- felt even more powerful than Finn had. His eyes were familiar in a way to Cian, how he didn't know, but they were familia and terrifying. Connla didn't look away from Cian, away from the Gae Bulg in his hands.

"Cian, don't," Lady Hestia said from behind him. "You can't be-."

"And… what will you do if I don't hand it over," Cian yelled, both Ryuu and Bell ready to move at a moments notice. "Will you attack me and my friends now? If your so powerful you shouldn't have any problem."

Connla scoffed. "True, after killing that old fool Chu Chulainn, I'm as close to level 7 as you could be. Dullahan here just ranked up to six. We could kill you in seconds," he started, and for a moment, his tough act break, before he spat out again, "but… we have more important matters right now. If you refuse me here, Cian Mac Gallagher, then it's simple. The next time I see you, I'll kill you and take it myself. If any of your friends get in the way, I'll kill them as well. Nothing will stop me from possessing that spear, I promise you that. So… make your choice."

Cian's tongue felt numb. He tried to wrack his brain, tried to remember, he knew he had to have seen this man Connla before somewhere but where?! After a moment, he wasn't worried about that anymore, because his mind caught onto one thing Connla had said.

He… he killed Chu… no… no that must be impossible, Cian thought, but the man had no reason to lie besides simply trying to intimidate Cian.

He had imagined Chu was killed by an overwhelming number of Fomorians; it had been an improbable thought another adventurer could take him down.

"Cian, they will kill us if we try to fight," Ryuu said quietly to him. "We need to escape."

"I know…" Cian said, looking at the Gae Bulg in his hands. "But… we don't know how powerful the Morrigan familia is…"

Cian knew what his answer would be… but a small part of his brain was thinking of his friends. Not just his friends, but all the other people of Orario. Refusing to give the spear to Connla know, was effectively declaring war between himself, his friends, and the Morrigan familia. He had no idea how strong they were, he couldn't remember much to his annoyance. All he had to go by, were these two men in front of him, and if they were the strongest… he shuddered to think what the rest of them were like, or even how many of them there were. Mebd seemed to be the youngest, and she had nearly killed him.

So, what would the others be capable of? If he gave the spear to Connla, that would eliminate the two most powerful members, a man who had killed Chu Chulainn from coming after Orario or his friends. It seemed logic dictated he simply hand the spear over.

But… he already knew his answer. Chu and Lady Scathach had given him one final order before he died, to remember the name of his spear, and use it to keep him safe.

And Cian never disobeyed his goddess or his captain.

"Cian… we're here," Lady Hestia said from behind him, holding onto his shirt. "Do what Scathach would have done… we're ready."

Cian looked back, and nodding at him, were all his friends. Bell next to him, stepped closer and nodded, the same with Ryuu on his other side.

And finally Cian le tout a breath he'd been holding and turned, meeting Connla's gaze.

"I'm sorry, but the last order I received from Chu and Lady Scathach was to keep this spear," He said, shaking his head as he didn't look away from the man. "So, until the day I die I won't let anyone have it. Anyone who tries to take it, you, Morrigan, Fomorians… anyone who does," he gripped tighter to the spear and used the last of his strength. "WILL HAVE TO KILL ME FOR IT!"

Connla's face didn't change, he didn't seem phased at all by Cian's declaration, and why should he have? Cian was banking now that the man did have some kind of heart, as it was clear he had come to save Mebd. If Connla decided then to attack, there was nothing they could do.

The man only scoffed and shook his head. "Well, I offered. That means I can kill you with a clean conscious now," he turned around. "Dullahan?"

"She's stable, but needs to be treated soon, we should hurry," The massive man told Connla, Mebd's chest slowly rising and falling.

Connla nodded and turned to Cian again. "You got guts, Cian Mac Gallagher, I respect you for that," he said, before turning his back to them all, his head turning back to Cian. "But you've made your choice. Do me a favor and prepare yourself, grow stronger. So that when I kill you, I'll at least face some modicum of a challenge. Dullahan, now."

"Of course," The massive man said, reaching to a pouch on his waist. He looked up and met Cian's eyes as well, shaking his head. "Farewell, brave child of Ulster. Prepare yourself for the battle ahead."

"MOVE GET BACK!" Ryuu yelled, as Dullahan tossed the pouch between our two groups.

Cian jumped back with Bell, everyone else did as well just as the pouch hit the ground. A massive plume of black smoke went up from it, and everyone began to cough or gag. Cian covered his nose, and darted form the fog, the Gae Bulg in his hand, and when he escaped it, he just had the chance to see Connla and Dullahan leapt up towards the surrounding forest.

"WAIT!" Cian yelled, a question burning in his throat. "I NEED TO KNOW SOMETHING!"

Dullahan kept keeping from the trees with Mebd, but Connla, Cian saw stop. On the branch of a tree just within the treeline. He turned with his spear on his shoulder and looked down silently at Cian.

Cian gulped but yelled. "WHY?! WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS?! IF YOU JUST WANTED THE SPEAR, WHY ALLY WITH MORRIGAN AND THE FOMORIANS?!"

Connla looked stunned, but eventually shook his head. "BECAUSE… I MADE A BAD CHOICE WHEN I WAS YOUNG," he turned from Cian but still screamed. "AND SOME PEOPLE…. THEY JUST CAN'T CHANGE!"

"THAT'S NOT TRUE!" Cian yelled, shaking his head. "BUT IF YOU COME AFTER MY FAMILIA AGAIN…. YOU'LL SEE HOW STRONG I AM!"

Connla turned back around, and even from the distance, Cian saw him smirk. "I LIKE YOUR FIGHT…. GROW STRONGER, AND ONE DAY WE'LL FIGHT FOR THAT SPEAR!"

Connla leapt off, just as the sun was near set. The night was growing dark, and Cian soon lost him in the trees, just as the smoke cleared behind him.

"Cian! Where did they go?!" Bell yelled first. "Cian… what… CIAN!"

That was when Cian's chest finally settled, and the entire last few hours caught up to him.

And he collapsed in the sand beneath him.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

"Her injuries healed well enough," Dullahan said, only the dim fire lighting his bearded face as he tied the wrap around Mebd's arm. "She'll be able to walk."

"How far is Orario?" Connla asked, looking off into the trees.

"About three or four days from here," Dullahan said, standing up next to him.

"Good," Connla said with a sigh. "She won't run into them will she?"

Dullahan shook his head. "No. They're more then likely encamped at the lake now to heal their injuries. She'll make it before then. Are you sure it's wise to send her there? She'll encounter them again."

"She'll be fine… she's tough," Connla admitted, looking back at the girl. "Besides, that kid… he won't harm her. He's smart enough to know she wasn't really involved."

"It's not him I'm worried about," Dullahan said with a shake of his head. "How do you know she won't attack them again?"

"I'll make sure of that."

"How?"

"You'll see," Connla said, letting out a sigh and leaning against a tree. "That kid… what do you make of him?"

Dullahan sighed as they both looked out over the hills. They'd ran for a few hours, and with how fast they moved, they had to be even closer to Orario then the Child of Light and his party. Mebd had been fine after Dullahan looked at her injuries. The girl's arm was broken, her magic energy drained, she could have died if they hadn't gotten there.

Or maybe she would have survived, because Connla knew the kid would have treated her injuries. She would have been fine either way. That was why Connla had decided last minute to act. If he had just left her be, she could be healed now as well.

But he knew that she wouldn't betray him, and would have forced them to eventually have to kill her. That was the problem.

"He seems honorable enough, with a strong will," Dullahan said, shaking his head. "He unleashed the Gae Bulg with no issue. Logic dictates, it was foolish of us to let him leave. If he grows stronger, it could pose a threat."

"I know…" Connla said, sucking in a breath. "But… I'm trying to keep what miniscule shred of honor I have left in this body of mine. Besides, if he's stronger it'll be more fun that way."

"Is that truly why?" Dullahan asked, seeing through him.

Connla sighed, Dullahan could read him like a book. "No… I suppose not. The part about the honor is true… but, what you're implying is also true. He's needed to defeat her."

Dullahan shook his head. "I promised to follow you, Connla, I will until my death. But I will never understand you."

"I don't understand myself either Dullahan," Connla said with a shake of his head. "I'm a selfish, cruel bastard, who also happens to be a hypocrite."

He wanted Cian Mac Gallagher dead, so that he could finally have the spear, because if he did have it… it could be the one thing to help him forgive himself for all his sins. It could help him finally be the hero he always wanted to be despite all he'd done. He hadn't been lying to the boy before he left.

Some choices, you could never take back.

Betraying his father, and his goddess was one of them.

He wanted Cian Mac Gallagher dead so he could have the spear, yet as part of him also wanted the boy to survive, so he could kill Connla, kill Morrigan, and put an end to her twisted schemes.

So yes, Connla Mac Ness, was a hypocrite, and he always would be.

Dullahan placed a hand on Connla's shoulder. "Sometimes, a hypocrite is just a man in the process of change."

Connla shook his head. "Don't quote Scathach at me Dullahan, we lost that right."

"Perhaps you're right," He said, looking over the rolling hills with them. "This feeling I have in my chest since their death, you've had it as well, haven't you?"

"I gave you the chance to backout," Connla reminded him. "You're the one who chose this path with me."

"I know, and I do not regret it," Dullahan said, meeting Connla's eyes. "The only thing I would have regretted more then our deeds, would have been letting you go on this path alone."

Connla managed a smile, which was rare those days. He patted Dullahan's massive shoulder. "Thank you my friend… for everything."

"Thanks, are not necessary," Dullahan said. "The only thing I require is to be by the side of my best-friend."

"You've gone soft on me Dullahan," Connla smirked. "Come on, we should-."

"Ca…Captain…? Captain!" Mebd moaned, started to panic as she slowly sat up from the bed roll they had both fit her in. Her green eyes went wide as she looked at them. "What… what happened?! I… I'm sorry, I'm so sorry you had to-."

"Quiet Mebd, don't waste your energy," Connla said, as Dullahan walked to her side and knelt, placing a hand on her back.

"Lean back child," Dullahan instructed her in a soft voice, pulling out a potion that he had made and poured it down her mouth. "This will help restore your strength, you need rest."

"But… but what about Cian Mac Gallagher?!" Mebd said frantically, looking up at the Captain, and Connla saw fear cross her eyes. "Captain… did… did you-."

"You were hurt, you needed to be treated right away," Connla said, leaning down next to her as well, looking and meeting her eyes. "I'll track him down later, after Dullahan and I retrieve the sword."

Mebd got red for a minute looking at him, before tears started welling in her eyes. Her gaze fell down to the blanket over her and she shook her head.

"I… I'm sorry I failed Captain, I'm sorry you had to waste time on me again," She said, squeezing her eyes shut. "I really am pathetic, I couldn't even-."

"No, you did all you could. You would have killed him had that elf not shown up," Connla assured her, the fire burning and illuminating them growing dim. "For now, just rest, you'll need your strength for what's to come."

Her eyes widened at that, Connla felt the small fraction of his heart that hadn't turned yet, begin to slowly turn black.

Mebd stuttered. "Is… is Lady Morrigan angry?! I swear, I swear I'll make it up to everyone!"

"Mebd…" Connla started, looking at Dullahan then back to her. "Just relax you don't-."

"I'll find him again! I'll fight and beat him this time, I'll even fight the elf too, I'll grow strong enough to beat her," She started, climbing to her knees and reaching out for Connla's shoulders, absolute terror in her eyes. "Please Captain, tell her I'm still useful! Tell her I can still-."

"Mebd, calm down," Connla said, his voice sterner, and the girl deflated.

Her red hair fell over her face as she looked at the ground. Connla sighed and took hold of her forearm gently. This made her jump, as Connla helped her back to her sleeping bag. She looked at him wide-eyed and red-faced as Connla sighed.

Just do it Connla, you could do all those other things you coward.

"Mebd, you're dead as of now," He told the girl, and sure enough she started to panic again, so Connla held a hand out to calm her, meeting her gaze. "I'm going to go tell Morrigan, Leanan, and all the others that you were killed by the Child of Light. Only Dullahan and I are going to know you survived."

"Wh…what?!" Mebd said, shaking her head. "But Captain I can help! I can still help you-."

"No Mebd, you can't help me. Not with what I want. You're useless to me and what I aim for, you always have been since the moment you joined."

"Connla…" Dullahan said slowly.

Mebd started shaking, as she looked at him stuttering with tears welling in her eyes. "Wh…what, Captain you… you can't-."

"You're three days walk from Orario, you won't run into the Child of Light's party," Cian said, reluctantly letting go of her arm and standing up to look down at her. "Go there, tell the guild you're a free adventurer, join a familia there. Become and adventurer there, and never attempt to find me, Morrigan, or anyone of us ever again."

"You… you can't mean that," She said, crying as she stood up slowly. She cried more as she grabbed at Connla's shirt, looking up at him with those big green eyes full of tears. "Captain please… please you can't send me away! I… I promise I'll be better, I can help you, really I can! I-."

"You're too weak Mebd, face it," He said, not moving as she desperately looked up at him. "You can't do the things I need to be done, so I'm doing you a favor and sending you away."

"But… But Captain…" She cried, burying her face into his chest as Connla didn't move an inch. "I… I don't want to go anywhere else! I… I'll become stronger," she sobbed, and quickly sucked in a breath as she looked up at her. "Is… is this because I couldn't kill?! Is it because I let Mog do all the damage, and disobeyed Lady Morrigan's orders?!"

Yes… yes it is, I'm saving you from this life, you idiot girl….

"No, it's like I said, because you're weak, you'll be useless for what's to come," He said, taking a step back and turning around, putting his back to her, as he looked into the fire. "You always have been, and always will be useless to the goals I have. So do as I say… and go. Dullahan and I will leave, there's enough food here for-."

Connla didn't have to turn around. He held out his hand and caught Mebd's foot as she cried and tried to kick it up towards his head. Still, he didn't turn around, as he gently let it go, and heard her wail.

"I'll show you! Please, please Captain I don't want to leave you!" She said, going for another kick at his ribcage which he caught as well. "I… I don't want to leave you, and Dullahan, and Leanan. I… I love you all, you all took me in! How could-."

"JUST DO IT YOU STUPID GIRL!" Connla yelled, finally feeling his composure slip. The fire almost blew out, as he didn't turn to the crying girl. "Just do what I say… and leave Mebd. You don't belong here, and you never did."

Finally… I can tell the truth.

Connla wondered what Mebd say then… a monster? A betrayer? He felt like both, as he still didn't turn to her.

He wouldn't let her see his eyes starting to water.

"Captain… please… please don't do this," She said, as Connla heard her fall to her knees. "I… I need to avenge my brother. Please… for… for Ferdiad I… I need to make Scathach's child pay! I need to make Cian Mac Gallagher pay for-."

"Mebd…. Scathach's not the one responsible for your brother's death," Connla said, softer then he wanted, he sucked in a breath and spoke the next words. "I'm the one who killed him, so if you have any anger over his death, it should be towards me."

Silence lingered like a cold blanket over them. It was a miracle the fire didn't go out. Connla heard Mebd shallow breathing as she digested his words, as he waited for what was to come.

"You… you're lying, you must be lying. You're lying to make me leave," She said, as Connla heard her get to her feet. "That can't be what happened! Scathach rejected him, and a hellhound-."

"You think a hellhound could take down your brother?" Connla said quickly. "It was gnawing at his corpse after I killed him. We wanted to prevent someone else from joining Scathach, so I killed him, it was my choice and mine alone. I only saved you because I thought you may have more information Scathach's whereabouts. No more, no less."

Another long silence passed, and Connla prayed in his mind, come on you stupid girl.

And this time, he didn't stop the foot. It came up quick and with power, just like Leanan and he had taught her, rotation in the torso, keeping your head turned to see your foot make contact. It was a powerful kick too, a miracle considering the state she was in, it couldn't have been executed more perfectly.

It would have knocked any adventurer on her level or lower clean out, but unfortunately she had aimed for Connla, and he only winced as her heel hit his neck. After that he heard a sob as her foot lowered, and that final small piece of Connla's heart that wasn't black was finally corroded.

"Turn around… turn around now Captain," She said through tears, and Connla ignored her.

He earned a sharp fist to the spine for that. Her hand dug into his back, but Connla didn't move, only standing there with clenched fists.

"TURN AROUND, TURN AROUND DAMMIT!" She yelled at him. "I KNOW YOU WOULDN'T SO LOOK ME IN THE EYE! LOOK ME IN THE EYE AND TELL ME CAPTAIN! TELL ME-."

Her foot came again, and Connla finally turned around as he caught it.

He looked down, and me the girls now red stained eyes, her cheeks wet with tears as her breathing labored while looking up at him.

"I killed him Mebd," He said, looking down at her and letting her foot fall to the ground. "I'm the one who killed Ferdiad."

Dullahan behind her shifted, and met Connla's eye. He understood, and dint say anything, as Connla looked down at Mebd again, who had her eyes falling to the ground.

"Go to Orario Mebd," Connla said, walking past her, toward Dullahan and towards the forest. "Go there and join a different familia… it's where you belong."

So that you don't make the same mistakes… the same choices I did.

She didn't say anything, so Connla didn't look back. He only looked to Dullahan, who nodded and hefted his axe.

The minute he took a step, he heard the words.

"Gaoth…." Mebd whispered before Connla felt the wind pick up. "You… YOU BASTARD! I'LL KILL YOU, YOU HEAR ME I'LL KILL YOUUUUUU! CONNLAAAAAAAAA!"

"Dullahan," Connla said, nodding at his friend, just as the trees behind them started to shake.

"I'LL NEVER FORGIVE YOU! I HATE YOU I HATE YOU I HATE YOUUUUUUUU!" She screamed, a tree cracking from the pressure, as Connla leapt up towards the deeper forest with Dullahan, and yet still, they heard Mebd yell. "CONNLAAAAA I HATE YOUUUU! I'LL KILL YOU! I'LL KILL YOUUUUUUUU!"

Even after leaping from tree to tree, Dullahan behind him for what felt like an hour, Connla could still hear Mebd screaming. Her tortured lament, her screams of pain, he heard every last bit of it. And it felt so familiar.

He had screamed like that once, when he was her age.

Eventually, when they couldn't feel the wind from Mebd's magic anymore, him and Dullahan landed on the forest floor. The minute his legs hit the ground, Connla stumbled, and grabbed onto a tree to keep his balance.

Dullahan came up next to him. "Connla… how could you lie to her like that?"

"You know why Dullahan," He said, his breathing becoming heavy, as he coughed and soon vomited up all the food he had eaten the last three days, which wasn't much. "If… if she has to hate anyone… better it be me, so that she doesn't turn out like me."

"And… you truly won't even tell Leanan?" His friend asked.

Connla stood and wiped his mouth. "No, the less that know the better. This way, she won't even target the kid and potentially get herself hurt. No… this was for the best."

"If that is what you believe," Dullahan said, clearly not believing him. "What are we going to do now?"

Connla shook his head and looked towards the direction they'd come. "Like I told her, we tell Morrigan and the others she died. After that… we're going to go after the sword. If the Child of Light is going to get stronger… then so will I."

Dullahan sighed but nodded. "As you wish… I will climb up and figure out where we are."

Connla nodded, and Dullahan went a few meters deeper into the forest. After he was gone, Connla let out a sigh and look down at a shaking fist.

He heard Mebd's scream again in the distance.

"Fuck… dammit…" He cursed, turning on the tree he'd been standing on. "ARGHHHHHHHHHH!"

A loud BANG rang out, as his fist knocked out a chunk of tree's trunk. An even louder BANG rang out as the tree fell to the ground.

And Connla simply sighed, sitting on the new stump he just created.

"Old man… Scathach…" He whispered, shaking my head. "This is your fault…"

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Cian Mac Gallagher

Level 1 Level 2

Strength S 998 I 0

Endurance SS 1010 I 0

Dexterity SSS 1149 I 0

Agility SSS 1197 I 0

Magic SSS 1118 I 0

Magic: Lightning Spear, Rune Tracking, Elemental Rune Weapons

Skills: Lightning Rod, agility is doubled when in contact with lightning.

Cian thought when he finally saw it on paper, that finally growing to level two would spark something in him. However, as he sat there at the lakes edge on that starry, calm night, looking out over the crystalline blue water he'd almost drowned in earlier, all he felt was exhaustion. Even with the paper in his hands, the proof, Cian didn't feel any more powerful at all. No, he still felt like it wasn't enough.

No, even as the fire from their small campsite further away from the water wasn't warm. They had managed to set up enough tents for them all, and after fighting so much everyone had naturally been tired, so they hadn't stayed up long. Even now, everyone was in their tents except for Cian, who after having fallen unconscious was now for some reason unable to fall asleep. No, all he could do was sit there and look at his status, and out over the water.

And remember what had happened the last time he was in this exact same spot.

"Cian, what are you doing, you should be in bed," Lady Scathach had said, coming and finding him with his feet near the water.

That day was only a week or so before they had gotten summoned to the Tuatha Danann council, and sent on the mission to fight the Fomorians. He remembered that night like it was yesterday, clear water, a cool breeze, and a simmering fire at their campsite, yet Cian still didn't feel warm.

"Lady Scathach… do you regret letting me join your familia?" He had asked her, his head in his knees.

"What brought this on?" She asked him. "Was it Diarmuid again? I swear, I'm going to knock that man into-."

"No… no it wasn't," Cian had said, near tears. "I… I just haven't done anything substantial for you guys the last year. I wanted to be a hero but… but all I ever do is stand at the back trying to look like one. I haven't done well, anything."

"That isn't true," his goddess had said, sitting down next to him. "You've made tremendous progress. You'll have your chance too… Cian?"

Cian had started crying. "Today I… I almost got everyone killed. How come you or anyone hasn't yelled at me yet, scolded me."

That day, during their treck through the woods, trying to clear out a bed of high leveled dragonkin monsters, Cian had broken formation. That caused Uathach to chase after him, which almost got her burnt, then ruined a large amount of their already small supply caravan.

Lady Scathach shook her head. "Because, it was a simple mistake, we all made them before. You just-."

"But you all almost died!" Cian had said, crying as he shook his head. "All I've done since joining is be in your way! I know you and Chu say you're training me a different way, but that must be because I'm a burden, isn't it?! I'm not as strong as you thought, and you don't have the heart to tell me it was mistake, so you're trying-."

"Cian, I've made many mistakes since I've come to the mortal world…" Lady Scathach had said, grabbing his head and pulling it against her shoulder. "But finding you was not one of them."

Cian cried that night still, but Lady Scathach had been there.

She smiled and stroked his hair as he cried. "You don't realize it now… but many of the doubts you have are my fault, and for that I'm sorry. But know this, whenever you feel as if you cannot go on, be it from self-doubt or anything else… know, that I believe in you. I believe you will be ones of the greatest heroes not only Ulster, but this world has seen."

"Lady Scathach…." Cian whispered in the present day, looking out over that same lake he'd looked out over that night, squeezing the paper in his hands, and sucking in a breath, but with his eyes still watering. "I'll live like I promised… I'll grow strong like I promised… but… but first… is it okay if-."

"Well, I thought I'd find you out here," Lady Hestia's voice said, and Cian turned around, quickly wiping his eyes to see his small new goddess smiling at him. "You finally leveled up Cian, I thought you'd be at least a little bit excited for it."

His eyes widened, and he wiped his cheeks still, and managed to smile at her. He had grown so used to Lady Hestia fretting over Bell the last few weeks, it came as a shock to Cian when she'd been dotting on him for the last few hours. She had barely left his side until she'd gone off to bed. Now, her hair was down out of their normal pigtails, and she only wore a long white pajama robe, and her bright blue eyes were so full of love and concern, Cian went a bit red. He hadn't really realized how beautiful Lady Hestia was until then, and how much she cared.

He realized how horrible a child he must have been, running off on her like he had, and not even bothering to learn much about her.

"I… I am…" He said, looking at her as she sat down next to him. "I'm just thinking about… well…"

"That man, Connla," Lady Hestia said, shaking her head. "I've never heard of him… but I have heard of the Morrigan familia. Scathach was sure they'd defeated them five years ago, but it looks like it was part of her plan."

Cian shook his head. "Lady Hestia, how could she use her godly power without being banished from this world?"

Hestia met his eyes. "Even I'm not sure Cian… all I know is, I'll have to call for a Denatus, a meeting to discuss this with other gods. I… don't know how much weight my words will carry, but I must try, for Scathach's sake, and yours. I won't let them come after you without doing anything."

Cian saw her eyes narrow, and he was taken aback by her sternness for a moment. After that minute passed, he only felt guilt again. She really did care for him.

"I… I'm sorry I came here Lady Hestia," He said, unable to look at her now, only able to look at the water, the guilt eating at him. "I really didn't want any of you to follow me, I-."

"You were trying to look out for us, I know Cian," She said, before looking him, her eyes falling a bit. "But… I am upset with you. I was really worried about you Cian, I-."

"I know… you were trying to fulfill Lady Scathach's wish," Cian finished for her, he shook his head and still couldn't look at her. "She told you to look after me so-."

"No! No Cian that isn't it!" She said, grabbing hold of his hand, and making him turn around to look at her determined bright eyes looking up at him. "I was worried because you're my child now, and I care about you. Yes, I'm fulfilling Scathach's wish but… seeing you put everyone before yourself, seeing you work so hard for them, and trying to be strong. You're everything Scathach was Cian, and that's why I cared about her so much. So, I care about you like I did her, you're my child now Cian, I love you."

"L…Lady Hestia…" Cian said, feeling the tears return.

He knew she didn't love him like she was in love with Bell… but still hearing her say it, and seeing it was true in her eyes, Cian wanted to cry then.

She gave him a small smile and shook her head. "I'm nowhere near the goddess Scathach was… I know that. I'm no warrior, I can't command like she does… but I'm here for you. Whenever you're back is bowed, whenever you need a pick me up! I'm here for you, and I promise I'll do all I can, I believe in you!"

"Know, that I believe in you." Lady Scathach's voice came on repeat in his mind.

And it was then, that Cian finally felt it. Felt the cold cloth that had been draped over his heart for so long finally begin to be lifted. He was warm, very warm. Diarmuid had always teased him for crying so much, and Cian didn't like it, but that was just who he was. Uathach had told him there was nothing wrong with wearing his emotions on his sleeve.

It was just who he was, and who he was then.

Lady Hestia's eyes widened, as Cian finally sobbed. "Cian! What's wrong, did I-."

"Lady Hestia I… I…" He said, his hands shaking.

And then Lady Hestia took his head and leaned it down towards her shoulder.

"It's alright," She said, smiling, and just like back then, his goddess stroked his hair. "I know Cian… I've known since that first day you came to me."

"I… I miss her, Lady Hestia," Cian said through his tears, weeks of pent-up sadness, pent up emotion finally boiling out of him like sweat on a hot day. "Lady Scathach I… I miss her, so much… I… I miss her…"

"I know… so do I Cian…" She said, as Cian felt a small tear fall from her as well. "So do I…"

"And… and Chu, Uathach, Fergus, Finn… even Diarmuid… I miss them all," He cried still, unable to stop himself. "I… I miss all of them… all of them…"

"I know…" Lady Hestia said, crying herself and hugging him while she stroked his hair. "And it's okay, it's okay to miss them. It's okay… for you to be not okay Cian, because one bad hour isn't a bad day, and I promise a few bad days no matter how bad, is a bad life. I promise…I promise you will be warm again."

So, Cian cried. He didn't know how long he sat there with her, all he knew was that she was there, and Lady Hestia was right.

He'd be warm again.

He already was.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

"DAMMIT!" Leanan yelled smashing her hand into a table, cracking it in half. "I'll murder that little brat with MY OWN HANDS! DAMMIT! CONNLA!"

"What," Connla demanded of the amazon, all the eyes on him.

Her brown eyes were like balls of fire as she looked at him. "How the hell could you not bring her back?! Tell me where she is, tell me where her body is!"

"It didn't matter," Connla told her.

She slapped him, hard, but Connla barely moved. "I'm getting really tired of your act Connla, you may fool these idiots, but you won't fool me, you hear me you bastard?! TELL ME WHERE SHE IS! I'll get her myself you disgusting son of a-."

"Leanan, please, don't be so hard on poor Connla," Morrigan cut off from her bed of velvet pillows, swinging her legs over the edge and looking with a fake smile at Connla. "I'm sure dear Connla is just as bereft over poor Mebd's fate as all of us."

"DON'T SPEAK OF HER YOU WITCH!" Leanan screamed, turning on the goddess. "THIS IS YOUR FAULT, YOU'RE THE ONE WHO SENT-. GET OFF ME DULLAHAN!"

Leanan won't be happy, don't let her do anything stupid, drag her out if you must… good work Dullahan, as always, Connla thought, remembering what he told Dullahan before they had entered the tent.

The Fomorians at camp had only seemed to get rowdier and more destructive at the news of Mog's death. Apparently the Child of Light had issued a formal challenge to all of them by killing the beast. Now, each and every one of the Fomorians would want to be the one to kill Cian Mac Gallagher, that way they'd gain all of Mog's power along with his or something stupid like that. Connla only cared because now they were being even more destructive of the countryside, and if they didn't calm down, the Tuatha Danann would catch wind of their location.

And he needed to get the spear at least first, and the sword. After that, he didn't care.

At least that's what he told himself.

"I SAID GET OFF DULLAHAN!" Leanan screamed, trying to knee him, bite him, kick him, punch him, anything to get out of his grip, but when she saw Dullahan was unaffected, she turned back to Morrigan and Connla. "I DON'T CARE WHAT YOUR ORDERS ARE I'LL KILL THAT BRAT YOU HEAR ME?! I WON'T LET HIM GET AWAY WITH THIS, I'LL RIP HIM APART WITH MY-."

Dullahan finally got her out of the tent before she could cause any more of a scene, and Connla exhaled.

I'm sorry Leanan… you too, you stupid… brave girl, much braver than me, Connla thought, as Sluagh scoffed as she exited.

"Such insolence!" The tall level 3 hissed from next to Morrigan's bed, bowing at the witch, even getting onto his knees. "My Lady, I apologize for not stopping her outburst! If you wish I shall exact swift punishment for-."

"Oh, there is no need Sluagh," Morrigan said in her honey sweet voice, tossing back her black hair and shaking her head. "Poor Leanan is simply in mourning. She cared dearly for sweet Mebd, we will forgive her," she turned to Connla. "However, Connla, I must ask… are you certain young Mebd was defeated? You saw her body with Mog's yourself?"

"Yes," Connla lied, shaking his head. "We're wasting time on this, where are the twins?"

Connla could see it in the witches' eyes. She didn't believe him. He had suspected she would know right away, but he knew she wouldn't bother with Mebd anymore, not now that he'd told her about the use of Gae Bulg by the boy.

Morrigan leaned back, pulling her legs to a folded position on her pillows. "They have set out towards Caladbolg location. They will meet you, and escort you to the cave, which you and Dullahan will enter to retrieve the sword. After that, they will return here."

"Fine, and the boy?" Connla asked with a shake of his head. "He's nothing special, I'd just wait until I get back, then I'll handle him."

I did make the boy a promise after all, Connla thought, remembering the look in the boys' eyes.

He looked a lot like that when he had been his age.

Morrigan adjusted her robe and shook her head. "Oh, there is no need for that Connla. Retrieve the sword, I shall worry about young Cian Mac Gallagher."

Connla clutched at his arms as he crossed them. He felt his hair start to stand up. "What the hell do you mean by that? What are you going to do?"

Morrigan smirked. "Oh, dear Connla, you don't have to do everything by yourself now! You have a familia to help you… oh, Sluagh dear."

Connla's eye darted to the man near Morrigan's bed. Sluagh was strong he knew, but the idea of him doing anything other than licking Morrigan's boots was ridiculous to him.

Still, he stood there with no shirt, his muscular arms and body glistening as he ran to the front of Morrigan's bed and knelt on both knees.

"Yes! Yes, my goddess what is it your humble servant can do for you?!" He said, sounding more eager than a recruit.

Morrigan smirked and reached into her robe. "You Sluagh will travel to Orario. I have a letter here for you to deliver."

Sluagh took the letter with reverence, and Connla scoffed.

"You think you're gonna get a god in Orario on our side?" Connla said with a shake of his head. "You're wasting your breath, none of them will listen to us. We're supposed to all be dead."

Morrigan leaned on her side, hand holding up her head. "Oh, do have some faith my dear Connla," she looked to Sluagh. "Sluagh, you'll deliver that letter to the god Apollo, and follow the instructions placed in it, am I understood? Your mission, is to kill the Child of Light."

Connla almost laughed again. He didn't know why, but he didn't believe for a second Sluagh would stand up to the Child of Light, or his party.

Besides, the kid promised me he'd get stronger so we could fight… he doesn't seem like one who breaks promises, Connla thought.

Sluagh bowed low again. "I will see your will done my goddess; I swear! I shall depart at once!"

"Good… and you my dear Connla," She said, turning to him. "Do make haste in retrieving the sword."

Finally, the goddess stood, and smirked at all of them. "After you do, we will move into phase two of our plan. Soon enough, the entirety of the Tuatha Danann, and Orario will bow to all of us."

You fool, they're all fools, Connla thought, turning to walk from the tent. It'll be me and you, Cian Mac Gallagher. One day… we will clash, and I'll kill you. After that… maybe I can find some modicum of peace.

Next Time, Season 1, Episode 1: Pass Parade: After defeating the Fomorian Mog, Cian has finally grown to level 2, and earned himself a name from the gods. This means however, it's time for the Hestia familia to finally delve into the middle floors, where Cian, Bell, Welf and Lillie will be tested to their very limit! Meanwhile, Hestia works to convince the gods and goddesses of the threat of the Fomorians in Ulster. However, this is interrupted, when Bell and Cian don't return when they're supposed too...

AN: WOHOOOO FINALLY! HA, now i want to promise off the bat these chapters are 1000% going to get shorter. Probably anywhere from 8-14k words, instead of 20k plus. I just really, really wanted to lay the ground work for the plotline with the Fomorians and Morrigan familia in these four chapters, so that going forward I can weave them into the DanMachi plot naturally without anyone getting confused. As I've said, the plot with them is going to interweave with the DanMachi cannon plot.

SO, what does that mean? It means we'll get some Connla POVs, and intervention of the Morrigan Familia and Fomorians in this story without a doubt, and I hope that adds some flare. I thought it would be boring to just through an OC into DanMachi and nothing else.

Also, this plot, the celtic myth based adventure, is a story I kind of want to be an original one day, so this is sort of a test run.

Now, after these last two chapters, we FINALLY get the name of the red spear, I know my fellow Fate fans have been waiting xD I'm so glad I can finally call it the Gae Bulg, instead of the red spear. For anyone who doesn't watch Fate, the Gae Bulg is an actual weapon from Celtic mythology. It was the weapon of Chu Chulainn, which he received and learned how to use from the warrior woman Scathach. In the legend it does just what it does in Fate, and in this story, it never misses its target, and breaks off into smaller, deadly barbs inside someone. In the legends it has to be cut out of people its used on. In this story, this is going to be Cian's signature weapon, it's one of my FAVORITE weapons from mythology, and im hype.

Someone asked in a review, if its Gae Bulg the original, or the Gae Bulg Alternative, which Scathach uses in Fate Grand Order, and to answer that, it's the original Gae Bulg, but I will sneak in the alternative version eventually.

Now, in this chapter, we see its big for Cian. He's going to be very changed after this experience. I'll say it now, if you're someone who isn't a fan of characters who well, cry, show emotions and basically be well, normal people, this story isn't for you lol. Cian and the others will cry, they'll be beat, and they're going to show emotion, but I think that's what makes him feel real.

But like I said, Cian is going to be very changed by this, and you'll see how.

Also, we have more of Connla and the Morrigan familia! Connla I hope you guys love, he's obviously a bad guy, but… he shows some humanity and different sides, that I hope you'll find interesting. We're going to get to know ALL of the Morrigan familia better, as you can see Morrigan is already planning to mix things up in Season 2's war game!

That being said, I'll say for a FACT we haven't seen the last of Mebd either.

Okay, now… for the ship. As you can see by the description of this story, this story is going to be a main pairing of Cian and Mikoto. That's another reason I'm so excited to move on, because we finally see Mikoto next chapter! I was decided between her and Ryuu, and for the fact I think Ryuu just has so many other great stories about her, and I feel Mikoto doesn't have nearly enough content for her. She's a gorgeous, sexy samuri waifu, and I am SO excited for her to have more screentime!

Finally, I wanna go over what I'm going to write for this story. So, we'll have the DanMachi plot obviously. Other then that I'm going to write, "Familia Chronicle: Chu Chulainn" A very short story sort of like the Ryuu and Freya Familia Chronicles, detailing some stories about Chu Chulainn and Scathach in this universe.

Also, I'm going to write, "The Argonaut and the Child of Light: The Staff of Cethleann" which will be the 'movie' of this DanMachi Universe. I wanted to do the actual DanMachi move but… well I'd have to do it like right now before Season 2 lol There's no Mikoto or Haruhime in that movie, so I'd have to do it right away. Also, well I just feel like Cian being there would be redundant. I could have him be the 'Orion' instead of Bell, but then Bell would be redundant lol, but if you guys really want it, I'll adjust it and write it, let me know.

OKAY, that's finally it, I really hope you guys enjoyed these early chapters, expect the next ones much quicker, and with a lot more action! Next episode we have Mikoto and the pass parade, and I hope you're all excited! PLEASE, review and let me know what you think of the pot set up! I'll see you guys next time!