Disclaimer: I do not own Maplestory in anyway.

A/N: I would like to thank The 21 blue dudes and EK12 for their reviews; I really appreciate it. They made me extremely happy to read them. Hopefully Eckhart doesn't mind what happens! Please continue to support my writing and stories. ~KairaKara101

Chapter Four: Meeting with the Job Instructors

Athena was sitting patiently at the circle table. Nanayki stood behind her. Grendel was sitting next to Athena there was a little girl with red hair standing behind him. Her bright green eyes were shining brightly with innocence. All of the Victorian Job Instructors were there except the Dark Lord. Dances with Balrog was tapping his finger on the table impatiently.

"Where is the Dark Lord? He's late, which isn't like him at all." Dances with Balrog exclaimed loudly. Athena sighed softly to herself.

"Dances, you need to relax. Yelling won't make him come any faster." Grendel replied calmly. Right after Grendel finished, the door opened and the Dark Lord came in.

"I'm sorry for being late. A problem arose that I needed to deal with. What is this meeting about?" The Dark Lord said while sitting down in his chair.

"It concerns your precious student. Over the past two years, Eckhart came to us for guidance. What are you planning?" Dances questioned harshly.

"You don't understand Dances; Eckhart left my care over three years ago. I have not seen or heard from him since. What that boy has done since then was not under any orders. It was merely his own choice and judgment. Therefore you cannot get angry with me." Dark Lord replied sharply.

"Stop arguing among ourselves. That boy carries a heavy burden; a burden that even I can't comprehend. Eckhart has our approval. Should he ever go against our trust and teachings, we will deal with him accordingly. This has always been the way we did things." Athena said softly. "I've seen heroes rise and fall. It does not surprise me if heroes disappear, just like he did so long ago." Athena whispered the last part. Dark Lord sat quietly, and Grendel sighed gently.

"What that boy is doing is something we cannot see. His path has shown itself to him and only him. Like Athena said, if Eckhart betrays us; he must be dealt with accordingly. However, until proven otherwise, Eckhart has my permission to excel." Grendel said in gentle reply. Dances sighed loudly.

"Then where the hell is the boy? Have anyone of you here other than our lovely friend Dark Lord seen him? Since we know he hasn't returned to Kerning City lately." Dances asked with his booming voice. None of the instructors spoke up and looked away with downcast eyes. The little red-headed girl behind Grendel spoke up softly.

"Last time I heard from him was before he decided to go to Orbis, but that was fourteen months ago."

"Grendel, who is this? She has been coming to these meetings since a year ago." Dances inquired with curiosity. Grendel motioned the little girl to step up.

"This is Oz, my apprentice. I decided that she should learn about how these meetings work so I brought her along." Grendel replied calmly. Oz merely bowed in respect and stood back where she belonged.

"So you have seen Eckhart over fourteen months ago? Did he tell you why he was going to Orbis?" Dark Lord asked.

"No. He didn't. He only told me not to go looking for him. He usually comes by to show me a few random things about his travels though." Oz answered honestly.

"What would he need to do over there?" Athena questioned with confusion. Dances stood up and walked around the room thinking. Dark Lord looked at his dagger. Eckhart had sent him a letter over sixteen months ago. It told him very little only that he was fine and he was constantly learning things. If he was seen by the girl fourteen months ago, what happened to him? How did he manage to completely disappear from them? Dark Lord sighed and rubbed his eyes tiredly. "I guess we'll take a break for lunch." Athena suggested after seeing the Dark Lord so tired. The other instructors nodded and got up and left. Athena and Dark Lord remained in the room. "Dark Lord, you do not look so well. I'm curious about that problem that arose."

"It was merely a small riot that happened back in Kerning." Dark Lord answered softly.

"If that is true, how is it that you're so tired?" Athena asked with worry. It just wasn't like the Dark Lord to be tired over a small riot.

"Danger is approaching. I can feel it and it leaves me uneasy. I'm worried about Empress Krystal's safety." Dark Lord admitted. "Something is coming. Eckhart told me in a letter that a storm is approaching. He just didn't know what it would be. All he knew was that it would shift the balance of powers."

"Eckhart wrote to you? I never thought he was the type to write." Athena replied with interest. "If that is true, we must try to prepare our students. Why did you not share this with the entire group?"

"Dances was being too hot-headed. I needed him to cool down before then." Dark Lord stood up. "I'll be going. We don't want to starve." He laughed quietly. It was merely a breath in the air. Athena stared at Dark Lord as he left the room.

"Nanayki, what do you think?"

"He's not telling us everything. Something else must have happened." Nanayki replied with worry evident in her voice. "I really hope that Eckhart is alright out there."

"He'll be fine. That boy is extremely stubborn so nothing will stop him until his destiny has been fulfilled." Athena said as she motioned Nanayki outside to get lunch.

Somewhere in the World

Eckhart was holding onto his bleeding arm. He looked up at the beast that was attacking him. There was an unusual glint of rage in the beast's eyes. Eckhart took a deep breath and walked up to the beast. The beast tried to swat him away, but it was in vain. Eckhart merely dodged it and waited for the right moment to calm the beast down.

"It's alright. They were ignorant to your reasons, because they could not understand you. I can help you, just relax and I'll help." The beast calmed down not at the words, but at the aura of darkness that was being emitted from Eckhart. "That's right. They didn't know what you wanted." The beast felt trapped inside a black hole with the only escape being death. "Thank you." The next moment the beast was nothing more than a corpse.

"You need to work more it still isn't good enough. You'll kill the giant fish soon." A dark voice said. Eckhart merely sighed and walked off to the next mission. "Are you listening to me?" He merely nodded slowly.

"The storm is approaching quickly. I must be prepared…." Eckhart whispered under his breath. The owner of the dark voice followed Eckhart annoyed.

"Stop talking to yourself. You should only do that if you have no one to talk to." Eckhart only shrugged and walked deeper into the cold forest. The wolves where howling in the darkness of the trees. The blood on his arm was dripping carelessly leaving a nice trail of crimson red staining the snow. "Shouldn't you bandage that wound?"

"Why bother? It's just going to get injured again." Eckhart replied absently.

"Do you want it to get an infection? Eckhart, are you even using that brain of yours?"

"Oh alright, you act like a mother, Umbra." Eckhart pulled out his first aid kit. Taking out the bandages he wrapped up the injury with expertise. "Umbra? What do you think the future has in store for us?"

"Whatever it is that the Goddess Minerva has decided for us." Umbra replied while walking next to him. "I only hope it isn't something that kills you." Eckhart nodded and continued going deeper into the forest. "I just have one question; where the hell are we going?"

"That is a very good question. I'm merely walking where my feet takes me." Umbra sighed softly.

"You're always like this. Time waits for no one Eckhart."

"Time is something that man made up. A mere illusion, a huge trickery upon people, created for man's certainty." Umbra looked at Eckhart carefully. His aura was different than it was two years earlier. It was still dark but had a gentle feeling to it. Umbra could hear the small quiet voice in his head telling him things he didn't want to admit. Eckhart had lost the mummy outfit and sported a different outfit. He wore a plain porcelain mask and black thief clothing. On his hands were fingerless gloves. The destiny that was written in stone was something Umbra had wished to avoid. Just what was the meaning behind the little Eckhart's statement? "Umbra? Something wrong?"

"No nothing is wrong. I was just thinking about something." Eckhart chuckled softly. The sound of the snow crunching under his feet was extremely loud in his ears. There was a sudden crack in a twig which made Eckhart alert. His hand rested on his weapons. Umbra stood still tense. There was another crack. Umbra searched around wary of the unknown cause. Eckhart felt his body cut through the air as his back hit the tree trunk with such force that he could hear his bone snap. Umbra's eyes snapped to the source of the attack. The ground shook with such a great force that Umbra had trouble standing. Umbra saw the monster's two huge tusks and murderous red eyes. Its growl made the snow on the trees fall to the ground. Umbra glanced over at Eckhart who stood up unsteadily; blood was dripping down the side of his mouth. "Eckhart be extremely careful this one is named Cerebes. The monster is known for his endurance and attack strength." Eckhart merely shrugged half-heartedly and sighed. Cerebes growled and the air from his growl forced Eckhart back a few feet.

"He's extremely feisty don't you think Umbra?" Eckhart asked as he threw his throwing stars at Cerebes's right eye. Umbra rolled his eyes annoyed. Eckhart flipped over the monster and used Vampire on it. Cerebes charged at him immensely angry. Eckhart's eyes widened at the speed of the monster. "Oh how splendid…." Eckhart pulled out a dagger from its sheath and attacked his tusk, managing to keep the monster from squishing him. Cerebes shook his head in annoyance.

"Eckhart! Get out of there! He's going on rampage!" Umbra watched with horror as one of the tusks snapped Eckhart's arm. Eckhart bit his tongue to silence the yell that was coming up his throat. "Eckhart! What are you…?" Umbra suddenly felt himself disappearing. There was a dark aura that had taken over the area. Umbra worried looked around him. As he turned his head, one of the shadows moved and disappeared. "What was that?" Eckhart moved around the monster with great agility and stabbed it in the head just as it was able to bite down on Eckhart's left leg. That was the image that Umbra saw last as he disappeared.

"URGH!" Eckhart felt himself hit the ground with the weight of the monster on him. He tried to pry the mouth open with his only arm. He struggled with the mouth for a few minutes before somehow managing to loosen the jaw. Eckhart slide out of it and applied pressure to the wound. The crimson liquid quickly drenched his hands. He digged through his pants pocket and pulled out a roll of bandages and alcohol to clean the wound. After wrapping it up, Eckhart stood up and walked unsteadily forward deeper into the forest. The bandage was quickly turning red from all of the blood. His vision blurred and he swayed before falling into the snow, a dark shadow hovered over him as he lost consciousness.

Meeting Room, Victoria Island

Dark Lord was the first to return to the room and sat down at his place at the round table. He took out a few pieces of paper and a pen. He started writing down what came down from his mind. There was an unconscious wave of sadness as he wrote. Why? He could not understand. He laughed softly to himself at the thought of Eckhart running around in Orbis.

"What is so funny Dark Lord?" Grendel asked as he sat down. Oz was right behind him.

"I was merely thinking of Eckhart and what kind of chaos he could cause." Grendel smiled softly.

"I cannot see how Eckhart would cause such chaos, but I agree that he's definitely capable of bringing chaos." Oz looked sadly at the name. Grendel looked at her. "What is the matter, Oz?" Dark Lord looked up at the little red head. An uneasy feeling washed over him. Danger.

"I thought I heard someone yell out in pain. Master Grendel, does one feel sad when someone they know is hurt?" Oz asked with curiosity and worry. Dark Lord waited patiently for the explanation.

"Well, Oz dear child that is a very good question. I expect that in a true sense that you might be able to know. However, it is very unlikely that it will ever occur. There has been no evidence that there was ever someone who could feel someone in danger." Dark Lord watched Oz carefully. She didn't seem satisfied with the answer that was given to her.

"It seems that the others have arrived, Grendel." Dark Lord said softly. Grendel looked around the table, and true enough; the entire group was in their chairs. "Shall we start? I'm sure we all have things that require our attention back in our cities." The group nodded. Dark Lord explained to the group about Eckhart's letter and the monsters that have started to grow extremely violent over the course of the year. They came to the conclusion that they must be very cautious for the future was turning. Dark Lord was assigned the task to get into contact with the Empress.

Shiver Village, El Nath

The village was covered in snow; there was no soul outside of their warm and cozy homes. In one particular house, the fire place burning brightly and the sound of footsteps could be heard through the hallways. A little girl with angelica hair and blue eyes was running around in her winter white coat, sky blue goggled beanie, white mittens, and beige golashes.

"Honey, stop running around the house with your wet golashes and take them off." Her mother said sternly. She slid to a stop and blinked. She looked down and laughed sheepishly.

"I'm sorry mother, I'll clean it up." After cleaning up her mess, she walked into one of the guest rooms and watched her father work on the young man on the bed. Her father was the doctor of the village and very well liked. The young man had a huge bit mark on his leg and a few broken bones. "Father, will he be alright?" Her father smiled and wiped his hands clean of the blood.

"Yes, he needs plenty of rest to allow the bones and injuries to heal." Her father cleaned up his supplies. "Can you take care of him for me?" The girl nodded and went to the kitchen to get a bowl of cool water and a small towel. Her father patted her head as she walked back into the room. "Take good care of him."

"Yes father." She dipped the towel into the bowl and watched it soak up the water before squeezing it out. She laid it on the man's forehead. He groaned softly. There was sweat along his face. She wiped them and washed the towel in the bowl. His black hair was matted to his face. His breathing was a bit laborious. She tended to him in all hours of the day. As night approached, the howl of the wolves and the strong winds rattled the windows and doors. She looked up and noticed the moon slightly covered by the clouds. A chill ran down her spine as the moon turned blue with a hint of red. "Sadness or death?" The young man did not wake for a fortnight.