Disclaimer: I do not own Maplestory in anyway.

A/N: I would like to take this moment to thank MysticMoon for reviewing. I was extremely happy to read your comment. I hope you continue to enjoy my story! Also I hope the OzxEckhart in later chapters are to your liking! For those who dropped by, thank you for giving my story a few minutes of your time by reading this. Now carry on to the lovely new chapter!

Update: I sort of fixed the chapter so… for those who read the first copy, you might want to read it again. Most of the change was near the bottom. Oh and MysticMoon, you are a fast reviewer! That made me happy. Oh the OzxEckhart might be a long ways in so it might be awhile.

Chapter Six: The Child with a Dark Yet Pure Soul

The moon shimmered against the strong bright sun. The heavy mist that had set during the night slowly dissipated as the sun rose in the east. The howling winds had died down to a gentle breeze. Evahart woke up to the silence of the ticking clock. She sat up in her bed and brought her knees to her chest. She hugged them tightly as she tried to rid herself of the phantoms in her dreams. For being as young as she was, she couldn't understand all of the dreams that she somehow managed to see. The constant low ticking changed to a loud chime which shook Evahart out of her little world. The sun had somehow managed to defeat the curtains that hid the window. Sighing softly to herself, she got off her bed and went to wash up for the day. She could hear her mother messing around in the kitchen downstairs and her father grinding away in his office. What bothered her most was that there wasn't a sound coming from the room where the man, Eckhart, laid. After finishing up her usual morning routine, she knocked gently on the door. No reply. With a hidden worry, she opened the door hesitantly and walked inside. Eckhart was sleeping peacefully with the blankets wrapped around him snuggly. Umbra was standing next to the window with a slight frown.

"Something bothering you, Mister Umbra?" Evahart asked quietly, afraid that it might wake Eckhart up. Umbra hit his head against the window pane at her sudden inquisition. She watched as Umbra rubbed his head to ease the pain. "I'm sorry. I thought you heard me knock on the door…." He looked at her and sighed.

"You are awake quite early this morning. Are you always an early riser?" Umbra studied her as she spoke. She was now dressed in a sweater and jeans. Umbra noticed that she held herself in a manner that was full of confident. No fear yet something about her was still bothering him.

"Yes, my family is always busy so they have me help around the house. I occasionally, actually quite frequently, end up doing the chores and cooking." She paused for a minute in embarrassment. "I'm sorry; you probably didn't really care to know all of that…."

"No, it's alright. I don't really mind at all. In fact, since he's always sleeping it's nice to have someone to talk to." She nodded and pulled out a few things from the closet. Umbra came over and watched her work. "What are you doing?"

"I'm working on something that could keep this room a bit warmer. Usually this room is freezing due to it being used pretty scarcely. I hope it wasn't uncomfortable for Mister Eckhart. I tried to keep the fire going…." She said dejectedly. Umbra was confused. The more he saw of the girl, the less he was able to understand her. One minute, Umbra thought he understood her for being one way; then the next second she would be something he wouldn't have expected. "I puzzle you don't I?" His eyes widen in surprise. "I'm sorry if I somehow manage to confuse you. I've always been different. The other children sometimes call me bad things, since I'm so different from them. The only one that seems not to care is an annoying friend of mine named Ryan." Umbra watched as she quietly finished up making whatever it was. There was suddenly an unusual aura that surrounded the area. Evahart looked up sharply, turning her head to the side as if listening to some silent sound. Umbra walked over to the window cautiously. The clock ticked extremely slow to their ears.

"Both of you relax. The aura isn't something dangerous." Both heads spun toward the bed where Eckhart had sat up in. "It was only there for a few seconds. Six seconds to be exact." Eckhart rubbed his temples while muttering under his breath, "At least not yet." Umbra walked over to him and looked him over. "You know, it's not like I'm going to die. Now shall we go explore this village while it isn't ready to blow us like chopped trees?" Evahart laid the materials on the table and brought over his crutches. Eckhart smiled in thanks. She looked away as he got up. "You're different that is true; however I prefer the you that is in front of me. There isn't anything for you to feel ashamed of. If they can't see you for who you are, why bother with trying to be someone you're not?"

"Can you read people's minds?" Evahart asked with curiosity. Eckhart laughed softly to himself.

"I highly doubt I could. In fact, I think it was merely me being able to read your eyes. Plus you were talking about it before I woke up." Evahart smiled faintly before opening the door to the hallway.

"I'll tell my mother that you're awake so she can make you something to eat. I'll show you around the village after you eat." She walked around the door frame and disappeared.

"She is really something Eckhart. I have such a difficult time understanding her." Umbra said quietly. Eckhart nodded and got ready for the morning. "Do you think you'll find what you're looking for here?"

"I don't know. Whether or not I find it is something I don't know. The future holds the unknown. I can only hope that it'll give me a lead on what to do next."

"What exactly are you looking for anyway?" Umbra asked with curiosity. He realized that he never asked before. Eckhart smiled softly to himself.

"The people that will be important in the future, that is what I'm looking for. It will be impossible for me to defeat the Black Mage on my own. I'm worried that he might be able to break the seal…." Umbra nodded and stared at the mirror.

"What about that secret organization?" Umbra asked. Eckhart looked at Umbra by the mirror. The room held silence; only the sound of the rushing water was heard. The room felt cold to Umbra.

"I can't find anything that would help us. Information about them are very scarce. There's nothing there! Nothing at all…." Eckhart said softly. "There's nothing I can do right now in my current condition."

"You have time to recover Eckhart. There's no need for you to do anything reckless right now. For the time being, you need to be able to regain the strength you lost due to the injury, and grow even stronger." Umbra helped Eckhart down the stairs after he finished washing up. When they reached the bottom floor, Eckhart and Umbra could smell the fragrance of the warm soup and freshly baked bread. They blinked at each other.

"Oh good morning, I hope you're both hungry. I made a lot of soup and bread." Evahart's mother said sweetly with a smile. "Now boys please take a seat. Evahart dear, go call your father down for breakfast." Evahart nodded and ran off.

"Is she always quiet like that?" Eckhart questioned with curiosity. Her mother nodded sadly. "What's the matter ma'am?"

"I'm afraid that it might be mine and my husband's fault." She paused before resuming, "Evahart isn't really our daughter. She has always known that she wasn't our child. We've both tried our best to treat her as our own child. She simply realizes things that most children her age wouldn't think about. That's why we find it difficult to help her through her problems." Her mother quieted as she heard footsteps from the hallway. The table was set by the time they entered the room. They ate in silence after they finished, Evahart cleaned the table and helped Eckhart into something a bit warmer. Umbra unsummons himself. She led Eckhart around the little village. The villagers smiled and waved at Evahart, in which she would return with a soft smile.

"Find anything interesting to you? This village doesn't have much to give to travelers so it might be a bit plain." Evahart whispered loud enough for Eckhart to hear.

"It's a nice village. It has a calming and relaxing atmosphere." Eckhart replied. He noticed her smile sadly to herself. "Something bothers you?"

"Do you enjoy traveling?" Eckhart stopped walking and looked at her. "I mean it probably has its perks and downfalls…."

"Listen; what you want to do, sometimes you have to do it. People will try to stop you, but you have to fight against it. Or you won't get what you want."

"I suppose…." She looked at him and tilted her head. "You want to go to the hot springs when you heal?" There was a light of excitement in her eyes.

"Of course, I don't mind. In fact that sounds very nice." Eckhart replied. Evahart nodded happily.

"That's good. I need to get some stuff. You want to tag along? Otherwise you're free to return home." Evahart said quietly.

"I'll come." Eckhart said with a smile. They would spend the morning out and return in time to make lunch. Eckhart and Umbra spent the next few weeks getting back into shape, while Evahart watched from the side. Some of the attacks that they practice, she later copied which earned her a few laughs from Eckhart or Umbra. They taught her a few moves during their free time.

It was mid-afternoon when the doorbell rang. Evahart looked up from the book she was reading. When she heard no one go for the door, she sighed softly to herself before getting up. "What a pain, I was getting to a pretty good part too." When she opened the door she saw Ryan standing in the doorway.

"Can I come in? It's pretty chilly out here." He was smiling with his little cheeky grin. Evahart opened the door wider for him to slip inside. She closed the door and watched him put his coat on the coat rack. "I was wondering if you'd like to do something today. You know for old time's sake."

"Okay, what did you have in mind? I mean I'm sort of boring if you know what I mean…." Evahart said gently.

"We could mess… wait did you just say that you're sort of boring? What are you thinking? There's no way that you're boring. You're just unique." Ryan replied with shock. Evahart looked away.

"That means I'm weird. If you haven't realized most of the other children have a problem with me being around them. They think I'm some sort of bug or amoeba." Evahart replied sadly. Ryan tilted his head sideways.

"When did it start to bother you if you were different? Plus, didn't I say that you are better the way you are? Why would you want to be someone you obviously aren't?" Ryan said while pulling her into her kitchen. He opened her pantry looking for something. She merely stood there looking at him.

"I don't know. Maybe they'll hang out with me more…."

"I don't understand why you'd want something like fake friendship. It won't last you know." Ryan smiled as he found what he was looking for. "I hope your mom doesn't mind if I use the stove." Evahart turned toward his voice.

"What are you doing? Don't tell me you plan to burn the house down!" Evahart exclaimed with fake worry. Ryan laughed.

"Oh yeah, I'd totally do that, and then I wouldn't have a fun place to crash when my parents are out." Evahart blinked.

"What do you mean your parents are out?" Ryan stopped pouring the milk into the pot. He stood like that for a few minutes before resuming. "Ryan, what aren't you telling me?"

"It's fine Evahart. You don't need to worry about me." He flashed her a bright smile. Eckhart watched the interaction from his spot in the kitchen nook. His eyes were looking at them from the top of his book. Something was off about the boy Evahart was talking to. Umbra was completely silent for once. Something must be wrong if Umbra was this quiet and hidden from sight. Umbra had unsummoned himself once the doorbell rang. Eckhart sighed quietly before returning his focus toward the book. "Anyway, I hope you like hot chocolate. Since it's so cold outside and all."

"Ryan, why did you decide to come over so suddenly? Not to mention that you're acting this nice again. You were pretty rude to me a few weeks ago." Evahart pointed out. Ryan looked away from her.

"I was wrong Evahart. I shouldn't have to force you to hang out. Not to mention that I was pretty mean with my word choices. I'm surprise you let me in the house after what I did." Evahart blinked as he served the hot chocolate. "Oh I made one for you as well... um…." Ryan looked at Eckhart with a frown. "I never asked for your name…." He stood there awkwardly.

"Eckhart." Ryan looked at him surprised.

"What?" Ryan barely muttered out. Eckhart raised an eyebrow and chuckled.

"I'm Eckhart, and thank you for the drink. I appreciate it." Eckhart replied. Ryan nodded in return and looked over at Evahart who was laughing at him. It was like music to his ears. Eckhart smelled the drink before actually taking a sip. The feeling he was getting from Ryan was worrying him. So as a precaution, Eckhart didn't want to be poison or anything, he smelled it for anything dangerous. He was sure the other two merely thought of him taking in the fragrance of the drink. Eckhart could feel Umbra moving about restlessly in his mind. He watched as the two of them talk about their school projects and the fun they were going to have over break and what not. Plus a few games of tag and hide n' seek. It seemed all pretty normal to him. Ryan stayed until after dinner before going his own separate way. Evahart merely returned to the book she was reading before Ryan came over. "What are you reading?"

"A legend that dealt with the atrocious Black Magician and how five heroes gave up their lives for the sake of the Maplers on Maple World. Do you think that a legend like this is true? If it is, I wonder what the heroes were like and what made them decide to fight for humans like us?" She said softly. "Mister Eckhart, do you think you'll end up being like a hero and would you like being a hero?" Eckhart thought about it and sighed.

"I couldn't say if I end up being like a hero, but I don't think I'd like being one." Eckhart replied gently. Evahart tilted her head.

"Why?" Eckhart's eyes twitched. She had to ask that question.

"Well, I don't think I like the idea of having the burden of the world on my shoulders. It would be such a heavy burden, but I suppose that if I had to; if it was my duty to shoulder that burden, then I would no doubt carry it."

"Why do you think heroes were given their strength?" Evahart asked with curiosity.

"To protect the Maplers from anything that means them harm. I suppose anyway. I'm not quite sure about it myself and all." She nodded and stood up.

"Don't stay up too late Mister Eckhart." Eckhart frowned.

"Don't call me Mister; it makes me sound like an old man. I'm not that old." Evahart giggled softly and nodded.

"I understand, Eckhart. I guess that also applies to Umbra. Good night Eckhart, Umbra. See you when the moon hides from the eyes of humans." Evahart walked quickly up the stairs and toward her room.

"That boy that came over, you might want to keep an eye on him. Something about him bothers me." Umbra said softly, in which Eckhart merely nodded.

A few days went by in an extremely slow pace. Eckhart was walking through the village when he noticed a shadow in one of the abandon houses. Curious, he walked over and listened in, not daring to look into the window. Eckhart could hear a deep and sinister voice.

"You'll have to show me you're allegiance to me. You're village holds something of great importance to me. However, it seems like I'll have difficulties acquiring such an item. Therefore, I want you to do it for me. Will you do it?" Eckhart strained his ear to hear the response.

"Of course Master. It shall be done." Eckhart disappeared from the door as he heard footsteps. The voice was oddly familiar to him. Yet he couldn't place his finger on whom it could have been. Eckhart waited for someone to come out. No one came out to his surprise. Eckhart sighed softly to himself.

"What do you think Umbra?" Eckhart asked while walking at a nice pace back to Evahart's house that had housed him for a few months now.

"Something dangerous might happen in the near future. Hopefully nothing to dangerous will happen. This village doesn't deserve anything dangerous." Umbra replied.

At the end of the weeks leading to his wounds healing, Eckhart, Umbra, and Evahart went to the forest to practice the moves she learned. Eckhart listened to Umbra and Evahart argue over the silliest things. It had somehow gotten darker than they had first anticipated. Yet for some reason the horizon didn't seem to be all that dark. There was an orange hue in the sky and grey clouds overhead. As they got closer to where the village stood, they could hear women screaming and the crackling of wood. Evahart ran toward the village in fear. Eckhart went after her only to stop frozen to his spot at the sight that lay in front of him. Smoke was rising from the buildings and fire was engulfing the entire village. Evahart ran toward her house in worry.

"Mother! Father! Where are you?" Her voice yelled with panic. "Mother answer me!" She ran inside the burning house and turn into the living room. The smell of burning flesh assaulted her. She pulled a cloth and covered her mouth and nose. The sight made her fall back against the wall for support. On the floor of the living room were her parents bleeding and dead. Evahart couldn't even scream. She could only feel herself being dragged outside of the collapsing house. Looking up she saw Ryan standing next to her, all the while holding his bleeding arm.

"Are you crazy? You could have been killed by a plank of burning wood." Ryan said austerely. He turned toward her. Evahart felt a chill run down her spine. "Of course, that wasn't my plan at all."

"Plan…?" Evahart said weakly. Ryan smiled wickedly. He pulled her up to her feet.

"I only did it for us. So now we can be together." Evahart backed away from him slowly. There was an unusual glint in his eyes.

"Wha… what did you do Ryan? You mean to tell me… that you killed all of… them?" Evahart watched in horror as his smile curved with pleasure and delight.

"Well yes. I killed every one of them. I only sent them to a better place all for the sake of my Master. However, you should have seen the look in their eyes. Such fear such passion such love. Heehee." Ryan was now laughing like a manic.

"You… murderer! How could you do such a horrible thing? What happened to you?" Evahart screamed at the top of her lungs. Ryan merely looked at her with so much hatred.

"Simple, I saw the true world. This world is merely a huge flaw. Everything here is a flaw. The people are nothing more than selfish beings who believe that the world was made for them." He paused; his sadist smile was plastered upon his face. "You're next Evahart." Evahart gasped in shock and sprinted into the forest as fast as she could. Ryan followed her. "You can't hide Evahart. This forest won't be your ally." His crazed voice echoed around her. She ran into a small meadow and tripped on an unseen tree root. Turning around she was pinned to the ground as Ryan was on top of her. "You can no longer run from me."

"What happened to our promise?" Evahart whispered frightened. "You promised me that you'd protect me. This isn't protecting me!" Ryan had frozen and looked at her. There was a hint of some unknown emotion in his eyes, before it was replaced with his evil grin.

"Good bye Evahart; I'll be seeing you when I cleanse this world." Just as Ryan was about to plunge the dagger into her chest, she quickly sent him soaring toward a boulder. The dagger managed to cut through her skin and lodge itself in a muscle near her heart. She gasped as she stared at the weapon. Ryan had gotten back up and was coming at her with another dagger. A star stopped him a few feet away from her. Ryan looked around him and then at Evahart. "You're lucky Evahart." He disappeared into a dark portal. Eckhart jumped down from his spot and came over to her worried. Blood was soaking her shirt. Evahart tried to keep her breathing as normal as possible.

"This might not be good…." Evahart stared dumbfounded at her wound. Umbra walked over to her and examined the wound.

"It doesn't seem like it pierced her heart. However, she is in dire need of some medical care." Umbra looked over at Eckhart who was being extremely silent and observant. "Eckhart?" He picked her up gently.

"You know how to return to the village right?" Evahart nodded slowly. "Good." Eckhart moved quickly toward El Nath. Halfway there, Eckhart had to stop and make sure Evahart was still conscious. As the town came into view, Eckhart disappeared and reappeared at the house that contained the five job instructors. He quickly knocked on the door urgently. Looking down at Evahart, he could tell she was barely hanging on. The door opened to reveal Tylus at the door frame. "Is Robeira here? She needs medical care immediately." Tylus merely nodded and led them inside to a bed, while Robeira and the others came into the room. Robeira went to work while Eckhart sat downstairs by the fire. Arec stood off in the shadows, watching Eckhart.

"You must be Eckhart. The Victorian job instructors have been fussing about you for a while now." Tylus said with a voice that could almost shake the very foundations of the house.

A/N: Well I hope all of you enjoyed this new chapter. Also as a heads up, my stories/chapters might be coming out more slowly nowadays due to my heavy workload. Thank you for understanding. Please read and review!