Barren Cross
Ch.3: Twisted Fates

CFTC: Yahiro, Yuni, Velskud, Argenta, Irene, Deckard, Elena, Tristitia, Camelia, Edan, Angelica, Shian, Triana.

[Yuni's POV]

Three days have passed after our arrival. We've asked the townspeople of the whereabouts of Edan, yet all of them say the same thing, "We do not have knowledge about Edan." I gave out a sigh as we walked around some more. Deckard of the Free Adventurers' league approached us, "Greetings, are you the two clerics that's looking for Edan of Mana Ridge?" he immediately asked us, "Yes, have you learned anything new about this matter?" Yahiro responded, "I'm his league master, he's in the Valley of Mourning right now, I sent in 10 men earlier before they went in the valley, however only 2 of them came back. Please, save them!" Deckard had explained. There was no time to lose, and knowing Yahiro I already knew what he wanted to do. We had run through Crystal Stream and through the Dead Man's road, the stench of dead rotting monsters were excruciating. We finally arrived at a sign saying "Hark! The Valley of Mourning tis nigh!" seeing the skeletons of humans and monsters on the ground gave an obvious reason why they called this place the Valley of Mourning.

[Yahiro's POV]

We ran in to monsters left and right. I was taught not to hate, however, I am beginning to despise running in to monsters like this. "This is ridiculous!" she exclaimed, I could already tell that she was tired; I needed to get her out of here. I let out my rage, I'll ask forgiveness later. We entered a cave and surprisingly, it was cleared, fresh corpses lay on the ground of the cave. We had exited the cave and there we saw Edan and other adventurers on the ground as we saw Velskud carrying a red-haired girl on his arms, as he looked back, I saw a furious dragon staring at us. It was the same sensation I got from the siege at Saint's haven. I'm scared. Yuni tugged on my tunic but I couldn't move my body. He jumped off the cliff with the girl, I thought to myself that he couldn't have had survived that, so I calmed down slowly. Yuni tugged on my tunic again, only then did I turn to her, however, she was in tears. She was shivering, scared, terrified… worried. I keep forgetting that she was a girl. I stroked her head and placed her head upon my chest, she was so scared that she held me so tight that I almost had a difficulty breathing… "DEAR LORD! We forgot all about Edan!" I exclaimed, as we rushed to him. He grunted, he pointed to a sorceress, a boy and an elf girl then whispered "Please help them first." I casted sacred healing on all of them. Edan stood up, we were relieved, and that told us that he was alright. The elf girl stood up and Yuni carried the sorceress under by her arm, I carried the boy with his sword. We went back to town.

We talked to Deckard once more, apparently the red-haired girl was "the Prophet" that has the power to rid this world of darkness, however, evil seeks to manifest her power and to spread darkness. I was confused about how Edan got expelled from the order and joined the Free Adventurers' League and Velskud, he had a furious yet sorrowful aura around him, but what does he want with the Prophet? "Stop him." A voice whispered to me, as I looked around then at Deckard, "You must stop him." The voice whispered again. "Did any of you hear that voice?" I asked them, however they only stared at me like I'm crazy, "Come on Yahiro, maybe you're just tired." Yuni told me as she dragged me back to the inn. I suppose I was just tired. A day had passed and Edan and his companions had already set out for another quest, it was time for me and Yuni to help the division of the order here in Carderock. I have a feeling this is not going to be pleasant.

[Yuni's POV]

Morning came to pass. I sat up from my bed just woken from my slumber; my birthmark at the nape of my neck was hurting again, it's hot like a fire burning on my skin. Quickly I grabbed my clothes and got dressed. Today is going to be a bad day, back then my birthmark would only sting until morn, however, even until noon it still pains me. We went to Ashen Ruins just across the northern gate of town, these ruins served as a reminder that mankind is not as powerful as others think we are; the place became barren land after a siege of monsters occurred. We ran into the "Temple of Sleepers," and to our surprise we haven't encountered any monsters until we reached the sanctum. We entered the temple, and there he was. Velskud taking the prophet away and then there was Edan and his companions lay wounded on the ground, never have I felt fear more in my life as if I was looking at a real dragon before my eyes. "Did you cause all of this?" Yahiro asked, however, Velskud didn't answer. He left. I was looking around again when I saw a silver haired woman also lying on the ground, immediately I told Yahiro and so he ran toward her like there was no time to waste. He casted the Sacred Healing spell that they taught us at the order on her, slowly her eyes began to open. Yahiro offered her his had to stand up, "there is no way I will receive pity from a mere…" she looked up to Yahiro, then a tear fell from her eye, "human…" she took his hand, she hugged him. "I never thought I would be able to see you again, I'm glad you're alive." She had said to him, my chest was hurting. Yahiro gently pushed her away, "I am sorry, but have we met before?" He asked, her relieved face turned into a hurt expression as she burst into tears, "after that day, I never thought I would ever see you again, yet here you are, you even look the same as that day. That's right… you don't remember anything from the day you died…" she said as she wiped away her tears then her face became as if she was annoyed. "What?" Yahiro asked, "Never mind." Was the only thing she said, "Can you heal these lot here too?" she had asked, Yahiro just gave a nod, and casted sacred healing around them, I noticed the confused expression Yahiro had in his face, even I didn't understand this woman. I felt the warmth of his spell; grunts rang from the Edan and his companions.

"I'm still confused about the things which you had said, but I'm not the person that you think I am." Blaze explained

"But…"

"I'm sorry" Blaze answered

We started to walk away when she said these words to Yahiro, "Farewell… Tristitia…" He stopped walking, and then walked again. I'm worried.

[Yahiro's POV]

"She called me 'Tristitia…' but Tristitia was a dragon. I over thought, maybe her friend's name was just Tristitia. Was she trying to say her friend was a dragon? I'm a dragon? No…' I thought to myself as I looked at the stream in Carderock, "I look perfectly human." I said to myself. "Are you okay?" Yuni asked me, I tried to look her in the eye and smiled, "I'm fine." She frowned. My mind is full of things that I cannot comprehend right now, "Journey into the Valley of Mourning." The voice whispered to me once again, I had no control over my body, "we're going to the Valley of Mourning I told Yuni and started to run to the valley.

When we arrived at the Valley of Mourning, I could hear the whispers of the dead in my mind. "Why are we here Yahiro?" Yuni asked me; however, I also don't even know myself, why did I follow that voice's instruction? Quickly I saw some dark elves carrying a girl into the valley, I had no time to think, and we followed them. When we caught up to them, I realized they were only dragging a puppet as they turned around. I looked behind me and dark elves had already surrounded us in all sides, following them here was a bad decision and now, I dragged Yuni into this. Alas! We're surrounded by monsters.

Sweat is falling, blood was spilling, bodies are falling, there's no end to this. A dark elf caught my blindside, I fell down as the metal claws pierced my side. "Yahiro!" Yuni yelled out as a dark elf in red grabbed her by the neck, "Humans, mindless creatures aren't you? To think that you would invade my territory again. How dare you!? Just who do you humans think you are!?" the dark elf in red said. A loud cheer from the monsters brewed for the dark elf, "You humans feel shame when exposed to public right? How about you clerics? This cleric is a girl too, first time I've seen one, but… so dad, you have to learn your place." She announced as she ripped her tunic off. Yuni squealed, I couldn't do anything but close my eyes as I was held down with a dark elf's claws still piercing me. "A big turn of events!" the dark elf in red said, I opened my eyes and saw the dark elf staring at the nape of Yuni's neck, "We've found the key to the fall of the Astral Coven! However, the other one seems useless… hmph, do whatever you want with him, kill him for all I care." She added, I was paralyzed scared and furious. The dark elf that pinned me down pulled her claws out from my side, is this really the end for me? "No!" Yuni yelled out as she casted avoid spell on the monster that was about to kill me, but how did she use that type of magic? A monster knocked her down, the one family that I had left, is being hurt, hurt right in front of me. "Do you want to fight back?" a voice whispered to me.

"Yes"

"Take action, and in doing so I shall grant you my strength to do so." The voice had said to me.

I wanted strength, power to fight back, "Give it to me." I had said. In an instant my body was hurting but I felt as light as a feather, I had done sin a divine knight should never commit. I let my anger take control of me, my vision blacked out.

[Yuni's POV]

I feel pathetic; I promised myself I would get stronger in order to protect him, yet, here I am lay on the ground ashamed, scared. I looked at Yahiro and he had a different aura around him, why is this happening? What's happening to Yahiro? He's not the Yahiro I know, something's taken control over him; the Yahiro I know would not have a dreadful aura or a heartless look on his eyes. His eyes contain the emptiness of a void. A dark elf tried to lunge for him but he caught the elf by the face, a shock of electricity came from his hand and ran through the dark elf's whole body, when he let the elf go, she fell to the ground like her soul just left her body and blood ran down from her eyes, mouth, and nose. It was a reverberating site, after he killed the elf he went on and killed more, "How did I not sense this beforehand? He's not human! We need to report this to Yuven, troops retreat!" the dark elf in red exclaimed in panic, quickly she ran into a cave, However, unfortunately for the other dark elves, Yahiro faced his right hand to the dark elves and released five bright beams of light and obliterated half of the retreating dark elves, yet his eyes are still void only this time, tears of blood ran from his expressionless face. I hate this; I hate what's happening to us, why is God doing this to us? I want my old Yahiro back, the one who always has a smile on his face, one who would think twice about killing any creature God made, the one who would only kill if necessary, The Yahiro whom… I loved.

The dark elves have left, yet Yahiro's expression is still void. "Yahiro?" I called out to him, however, he only looked at me and said the last thing that I wanted to hear from him, something that I couldn't comprehend, "I am Tristitia, I am Blaze, we are one and the same, yet different and separated at the same time."

"I don't understand, what did you do to Yahiro? Give him back to me! The Yahiro that I know is-"

"Different" a soft voice cut me off.

It was the woman that Yahiro and I helped earlier, "How nice of you to join us Argenta." Tristitia had said, "It seems like you came back to your senses." Argenta replied, "No, I'm only out for one reason, because he wanted power to protect this human here." She frowned, "Wait, what do you mean by human? Aren't you humans yourselves?" I asked, "Have you been reading your Bible dear? I am Tristitia and Argenta here is one of Sentinel's offspring, in other words, we're dragons." Tristitia replied, "We only look human to blend in, if dragons weren't that special we would stay being a dragon." Argenta added, now I understand why we couldn't fine gigantic creatures that big in this world so easily. "Anyway, while I'm out and you're here Argenta, as you know this boy is my vessel, however, this will be the last time I will be using a vessel, it is time a new guardian is born… a new Tristitia will take my place." Tristitia said to Argenta, "This human boy?" "To put it simply, yes." I was confused, "What do you mean by the new Tristitia?" I had to ask, "He means that this boy will become the new Dragon of Sorrows." Argenta explained. Yahiro, no, Tristitia took off his tunic leaving only his chainmail on as he places his tunic on my back, "It seems that you are special too, you possess the mark of the Grand Arcane" Tristitia had said, "Really? That human?" "Yes it's at the nape of her neck." Both of them conversed. I started weeping, I want him back badly enough that I want to die, "please, give him back to me… I just want my one family back; I don't want to lose him!" I wept. Tristitia knelt down at me, "You will get him back, I must announce 1 thing before I go, Argenta, I'm going to release all my restraints from him, and I need you to be his guide." Tristitia said. Argenta gave a horrified look, "You're going to kill him! All that power released at once, you'd basically destroy his body!" Argenta exclaimed, "I know that, however you do not understand the capabilities of this boy's body, he can withstand and contain any power in his body, in other words he will not die so…" He looked at my terrified expression, "You don't need to worry about losing another loved one." He smiled as his presence faded, like his soul just left Yahiro's body. He fell forward and I caught him before a single strand could even touch the ground, I held his head on my chest. I cried once more.

[Yahiro's POV]

I'm in a pitch-black room where I cannot see a single thing. I was a lone until I saw a dragon fade in right in front of me, I tried to reach for my mace, however, it wasn't there. "Fear not my child." The dragon spoke in a very familiar voice,

"Who are you? Are you the voice that called unto me?" I asked

"I am Tristitia."

"The Dragon of Sorrows? That can't be right; this must all be a dream." I said as I pinched myself to assure that this was indeed a dream. I felt no pain, "Ah so this is a dream." I said and felt relief, "Not a dream Yahiro but your subconscious, in this world, you cannot wake up until I permit it." The dragon answered.

"But I am merely human, why would you appear to me?"

"Child, you comprehend nothing, therefore you have not a clue… you, have the strength of a dragon inside of you, strength that anyone would throw away their own being only to obtain this power."

"Inside? Me?"

"Yes, and to put it in simple terms child, I am you Yahiro. God has a plan for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, and I will reveal everything you need to know when the time is right, however this I tell you, I will release all restraints I had bestowed upon your body, you will receive my full potential, but it will give you a long, hard and suffering pain. Keep in mind, when I release my restraints and you have my potentials, you will not be able to turn into a dragon, or not yet at least. The pain from the broken restraints will awake you from this slumber, until I see you again, farewell." He vanished into the darkness, once again, I was alone, and as he said… the pain started to kick in. I woke up.

I woke up in intense pain, it felt like I'm being scorched inside, memories that don't even belong to me started to enter my mind. A soft hand held me down to bed. A girl in a red dress was at my bedside, I looked at her then her face shifted from worried to terrified then worried again, it's like she can't acknowledge what to feel. "You looked terrified when I looked at you, mind if I ask what is wrong." I asked, and then she met my eyes and suddenly looked away saying "Your eyes." Still being in pain, I forced myself out of bed looking for a mirror but, the pain had its way of restraining me. I fell to the floor writhing in agony, "where's a mirror!?" I asked furiously, quickly she took a hand mirror from her bag and showed myself to me to save the cost of moving. I found myself staring at the mirror, looking at the bloody red eyes of a beast that was me. I slapped the mirror out of her hand and broke it; she picked the mirror up as she knelt to it and wept. It had seemed like the mirror meant something important to her, and I broke it… I couldn't say anything anymore.

A few moments later, Argenta arrived in the room with an impatient look on her face and a set of clothes. "It's ridiculous how humans hold value in material things." She had said as she threw the garments to me, "And I suppose you don't." I said mockingly, she only gave me a bored look, "First of all at least put some clothes on, second, meet me at Ashen Ruins when you're done, we need to talk." She said to me, and then she left. With two memories forged inside me, my thoughts are mixed up, "Damn this!" I thought to myself… moments later the pain had stopped, I got dressed. The girl in the red dress was still crying, I knelt down to her, "I'm sorry, for your mirror, I know it meant something important to you, I know I seem like a jerk and a monster to you, but I'll pay you back, I promise." I said then stood up, "Irene…" she whispered, "Excuse me?"

"Irene… t-that's my name."

"Irene, I'll remember that. Farewell." These were the last things I said as I left for Ashen Ruins.

Argenta was sitting under a tree in the ruins with Yuni and Edan with his 3 other companions; the first thing I noticed about Yuni was that she was wearing an Astral Coven robe, the one the sorceresses wear, I'm not one to speak but why an Astral Coven robe? "Great, now that we are all here, I guess I have to explain some things to these two." Argenta started to talk as she looked at me and Yuni, "Um… how about a LOT of things to explain." I had added then she looked at me with an annoyed look, "First of all, Yahiro's friend here has the mark of the Grand Arcane so in conclusion for he, she doesn't belong in the divine order. Then of course the big part, Edan?" "Yes Argenta." Edan handed Argenta a letter. She opens the letter and clears her throat, "The letter says this, 'Now that we have knowledge why our brother Yahiro of Kaleon took our first sister Yuni with him in the mission I myself had given him,' then blah blah blah, 'The Order hereby states that our brother Yahiro and sister Yuni expelled from the Order for acts of treason and declared as Astral Coven spies.' And that concludes the written decree of Bishop Trent." Then she tore the letter into pieces. I couldn't understand any of this, Astral Coven spies? Expelled? Why is this happening!? I thought to myself. "Yuni will go to Mana Ridge so that she may learn how to make use and control her power since she holds the mark of the Grand Arcane, in other words, she will be trained to be a sorceress." She added as Yuni walked toward me. Her eyes and mine meet, she had a shocked look in her eyes, and then it softened, softened that I could almost see a flower in a meadow. "I'm going to miss you Yahiro." Yuni spoke to me as she gave me one last hug, "As she said I'm going to be away for a good while." Tears started to fall from her eyes, I held her in my arms. "Promise me you won't die and that we'll meet again."

"I promise."

"Goodbye." Was the last word that she said.

She kissed my cheek and started to walk away, I wanted to do something… "See you again." I corrected her, she stopped and looked back and said, "Definitely." Then she started walking again. As she had already left Argenta gave a small remark I did not like, "Finally the drama's over." I looked her in the eye, then she became quiet for a second. While Argenta sent Edan and his companions out for "chores" as she might say, she has been training me and teaching me the basics that I need to know about being a dragon and the history of what has happened so far. I've learned some pretty unique stuff I've never known or heard about like lustres, other dragons, what we can eat, what we can't eat, how long we could stay alive without eating which is about 20 years maximum, then she taught me about who our enemies are and what their goals are. She hasn't taught me how to fight using Tristitia's power so I'm just going to have to deal with it by still using Divine magic. 2 days have passed, Deckard banged at my door at dawn only to receive news that poison would soon consume all of Carderock Pass. After he left, I ran outside with people packing bags and the look of despair trace on their faces, I also saw Edan rush to Deckard that morning panicking and when he finished saying something to Deckard, they both ran off. This was bad. I ran to Argenta in Ashen Ruins, "About time you got here!" she yelled at me, "I have something for you to do, my slaves here have found a book that can purify the poison-" she added as I cut her off, "And how did this happen and who's responsible?" I asked her, however I did not like what her answer was, "Elena, the queen of the dark elves, you know the puny little red dark elf that almost killed you and your friend."

"What do you need me to do?" I asked

"Well since she's dead now and she's not a problem anymore, I want you to help those idiots get the proper tools for this so called purification device, your first stop is at Sanctuary Nexus, Edan and the others are already there, I just want you to keep them out of 'serious' trouble."

"Understood." I replied, then I went on my way, "And Yahiro…" I turned around, "Be careful… alright?" I smiled at her and confidently said, "Of course."

I finally arrived at the Sanctuary. This place used to be a temple of the Ancients, but ever since the Ancients were gone, this sanctuary had been in ruins like the Temple of Sleepers. Dead monsters everywhere as I was running further into the Sanctuary, the sight of blood frightens me yet fascinates me as well… I thought it was because I was a dragon now. I finally caught up with Edan and the others. "Edan!" I yelled out, him and his companions turned around, "Why Yahiro, to what honor do we have you here in our ranks?" Edan asked me.

"Argenta sent me to help you." I replied.

"Argenta? Sent someone to help? Ha! I can handle this on my own but I have these guys to babysit." The swordsman said proudly, then the sorceress slapped him at the back of the head, "Yeah, you're so strong that you got your butt handed to you by a goblin slinger." She had added "Well, we're doing fine right now. By the way, we haven't introduced ourselves properly yet.-" and so we sat down for a moment after they had just battled a group of goblins and orcs on my way here. Edan was a Divine Knight of the Order but same way with me, he got expelled for a reason he doesn't want to talk about. Then there's Angelica, a sorceress who wasted away her training money away to gambling. Shian, a swordsman that needs to get stronger and beat Varnak one of the 6 heroes form 50 years ago to see his father once again. Triana, a free elf who is out to find her telezia (destiny). I could already see in the way they act that they've gone through something that is not easy to overcome, especially Edan.

Only an hour had passed when we went back on our way to retrieve this so-called pure white orb. Well, judging by the name, this journey is not going to be easy. After a battle with more orcs, we finally reach the chamber where the orb lies. As we got through the gate to the chamber, Elena was there covered in her own poison with the pure white orb in hand. I was given another chance to take my revenge for the humiliation she gave us, I was the first one to charge in, "Yahiro! Stop!" Edan cried out, but I didn't listen. As I charged at Elena, I had not seen Elena's moves, her kick got to me and caused me to slide back, that's when they all attacked her at once. After a couple of hits, they knocked her down and got the orb back, "That was easy." Shian announced proudly… "It's not over yet." I had said, I sense a dark presence trying to escape from Elena's body, "Move!" I exclaimed as I pulled them all aside as a shadow monster erupted from Elena's body and shot spikes directed at Triana, luckily I got in front of her in time. Blood is running down on my garment and sleeve, the shadow pierced my left arm and abdomen. "Yahiro!" Edan cried out while Shian attacked Elena's shadow, and as the spikes retracted and pulled out of my body, I fell down on my knees with excruciating pain. I held my right arm out and pointed it at Elena's direction, "Move!" I yelled out to warn them about an attack that I was about to execute, and so they moved. I focused my mana on my hand and released 5 beams of light, "Disintegration" as Argenta called it, which was a pretty appropriate name for it since it disintegrated large parts of Elena's Shadow. The shadow was absorbed by the earth, we were relieved, however, the work is still not done. Goblins and orcs are still in the area and just when we thought that it couldn't get any worse, a hobgoblin (genetically augmented goblin) jumped out from the walls with a poochum (a dog), we were prepared to die fighting but these wounds and blood loss rendered me useless, not to mention all the mana I had to use to do that spell.

A quick turn of events, just as Shian was about to get killed, the hobgoblin defended him and slaughtered all the other monsters. I suddenly sense the same evil presence with Elena earlier, a shadow popped out of the ground right behind Edan, and right before I could even warn him, the hobgoblin took hold of the shadow and threw itself with the shadow off the cliff side.

Triana tended my wounds as we rest by a campfire Shian and Angelica put together, Shian got the firewood and of course Angelica being a sorceress and all, just lit the firewood in a flick of a finger. "She doesn't talk much does she?" I asked, "She does, she's just shy around strangers, just give her time." Shian answered defending, laughter followed. "I will release the next seal." Tristitia murmured, "Wait! Right now!?" I tried to ask him but he never answered. "No! Tristi-Agh!" the pain kicked in before I could even finish my sentence. This pain is like no other I've experienced and it was worse than the first seal being released. I fell down to the ground; they all came to me with devastated looks as I writhe in pain on the ground. "Yahiro! What's wrong!?" Shian exclaimed

"He's Hurting! Edan!" Angelica cried out

"I know!"

They were all panicking, and then Edan decided to cast sacred healing on me yet the effect only made the pain spike. "What the heck!?" they panicked once more. I wanted to die; I couldn't take this pain anymore. The pain was still here then a soft voice came from the forest in a song in elven language, it eased my pain little by little, "The song of new beginnings." Triana mumbled out. As they heard the song go through, they calmed down. Finally they remembered I was here and panicked again. The voice was soft and sweet until the last note; I closed my eyes and rested. They were still panicking until Triana whispered in a sweet soft voice "he's alright now." I was saved.

It was midnight when I woke up, surprised that my pain was gone. All of them were asleep until I noticed Angelica was gone, so I walked around searching for her and found her sitting by the edge of a cliff. "What are you doing up in this hour?" I asked her, and then she stood up with a worried look on her face, "what about you? Are you sure you should be walking around now?" She replied as she rushed to me to help, "I don't need help Angelica, I'm fine now, really." And so she calmed down and sat down at the edge of the cliff again. "Have you ever wondered what's out there?" she asked me, "To be honest I have been wondering, but I want to focus on Altera first… you can't sleep can you?" she stayed silent for a while, "Yeah… I'm tired of acting all mighty and rude to everyone, being a sorceress is giving me a hard time to find friends…"

"Are we not your friends?" I asked

"You're right you guys are my friends… and Edan…" a hint of red was on her cheeks.

I chuckled then she changed the subject. "The stars are so pretty tonight." She had said as she looked up in the sky. "Let's head back before the other's start searching for us and get any ideas, you don't want Edan to have any ideas now do you?" I said mockingly, she pouted and threw a rock at me, and so we went back on our way. When we got back to the campfire, Edan was there standing with his eyes closed, I somehow sense a dark presence from him. How did I not notice this earlier? He was a holy man but right now I can see his body is tainted with some kind of presence. I called his name out to confirm that it was him, but then the presence suddenly disappeared like it was suddenly sealed. When the presence had disappeared, he had fallen to the ground. I yelled out his name while I ran to him, waking Shian and Triana up and getting Angelica to run to the camp, "What happened!?" Angelica cried out as everyone came to Edan. All of us were panicking, "Heal him." Tristitia had said to me, and so I tried. I casted sacred healing upon him, however, something was not right, I feel like I did something else than heal him. As Edan started to breathe normally again, we all gave a sigh of relief. "Thank you." Tristitia told me, "Yahiro, what did you do?"

"Why do I feel light?"

"How come our soreness is gone?" they asked me,

"I… casted sacred healing." I replied.

"No, it was something else, the sensation we felt just now was not a part of sacred healing." Angelica protested.

"Well, anyway, at least we know that Edan's alright, let's go back and rest, we have more work tomorrow." And with that, Shian ended the conversation.

It was dawn when we had woken up and prepared to return to Ashen Ruins, Triana tried to help me up even though I refused to have her help me and as for Shian, he used his sword and made a crutch for me out of wood. I kept telling them I was fine but they told me not to act tough especially when my wounds might open again. "I keep telling you and telling you that I feel fine now, are you guys daft?" I told them seriously, "Okay then mister tough guy, why don't we test you out? Hand in hand combat, you and me." Shian provoked me, and I accepted. Even though they tried to stop us, there was no way I'm not backing down right after you try to pity me. We took our stances; Edan threw a coin up in the air. Time began to slow down as the coin was dropping. When the coin hit the ground, the test started. Shian and his cocky mind charged at me blindly, and as he came for me with a punch time was still slow and I was prepared. Quickly I dodged his punch, grabbed his arm and flipped him over. Even after I flipped him over he quickly recovered and started striking again and as for me I kept dodging. When I found an opening I took the chance and struck and hit this abdomen hard enough to make him slide back. "That was a strong shot, you have recovered. However, this still isn't over. Shian's movements became suddenly swift; I couldn't see any pattern in his movements. "Let's see if you really have recovered that fast." He announced as he disappeared in front of me. Suddenly I feel a punch hit my left arm, I thought the wound would have opened fortunately it didn't. He was targeting the spots where I was wounded. Hit after hit came, my right shoulder, left arm, my stomach, yet I still can't feel any wounds opening. They should've opened by now. "Shian stop!" Triana cried out, and so Shian stopped. "Remove your coat and your shirt if you would please." And so I did as she instructed. I removed my coat and shirt leaving only bandages covering my upper body. "What are you planning on doing Triana?" Angelica asked. "I don't know… but we're about to find out." Triana replied as she removed the bandages from my body. As soon as Triana removed the last set of bandages on me, they all had a shocked expression on their faces. "Your wounds… they're gone…" Triana had said as she backed away, "No scars, marks, or anything. No blood trails or even spots…"

"How can this happen?" Edan asked

"Your ability to recover is none like I've ever seen." Triana Added.

"It's a miracle from God…"

Morning had broken as we arrived at Ashen Ruins where Argenta lay under a tree. I saw a smirk at Argenta's face, but it disappeared when I found her staring at my left arm. "How did it go?" Argenta asked mockingly, "We got the orb, but in return Yahiro got badly wounded at the fight for it." Edan replied, "Yeah, I thought Elena stabbed him good and done for but this guy's tougher than we thought." "Triana patched him up, then he fell down in pain, it looked like he was agonizing, so now I think he was faking it." Shian and Angelica added. "But when we tried to help him earlier he refused our help, we tested him and he moved like he didn't even get stabbed. I took off his bandages and there was no wound nor scar nor trace of him being stabbed anywhere." Triana informed Argenta, "It's as if he's inhuman." Silence befell the scene. I looked at Argenta with a look saying not to tell them that I am inhuman, she understood. "Non-sense, I know a human when I see one. Now, what are you still doing here? Don't you have a purifier to take care of?" Argenta announced in a mocking tone, "We know, we're going! Let's go, come on Yahiro!" Shian exclaimed. We started walking away when Argenta pulled me aside, she felt my left arm as she whispered, "Idiot, don't get yourself killed." "I won't." she had me lean toward her and gave me a silvery kiss on the forehead, "Tristitia, don't die. May you be blessed upon." She had given me a good luck charm, "Thank you, Argenta." I parted ways with her and Joined Edan and the others.

We were on our way to Prayer's retreat. "How come you and Argenta are so close?" Shian asked me. I stayed silent looking for an answer; finally I found the right words to say, "She's… a friend, a childhood friend. Like Yuni." I lied, "Really? So she can actually have a soft spot too." Shian replied trying to hint something to Edan and Angelica, they all giggled and laughed. We finally arrive at the entrance, "Alright, let's make this quick and kill that Saslavan Guardian guy." Shian said enthusiastically, "Do you even know what we're up against?" I asked, "The town sorceress said that it was something called a manticore." Shian, Edan and Angelica answered. I stopped walking, "A manticore… and you guys just said it like we're going to be dealing with one small poochum." I tried to explain, "We're going to die if we go against a manticore." I added. "What's a manticore?" Shian asked, this time Triana raised her hand, we asked her what was wrong, "A manticore is a beast with the torso of a lion, a head of a goat, and the tail of a snake. It's as big as three houses combined. Is my description correct Yahiro?" She had asked me, I was shocked as we all stood silent, her description couldn't be any more accurate. Shian laughed and said "Don't be ridiculous Triana, I'm pretty sure your description is very—." "Accurate." I cut Shian off, "say that again please." Shian asked nervously, "I said her description couldn't be any more accurate." I replied. We all stayed frozen for a second, "It's okay, because I'm here, I'll take care of that thing in no time!" Shian exclaimed enthusiastically, and so we pressed on.

We ran into the temple not knowing the dangers that was upon us. Monsters were attacking us and a few flights of stairs came at us left and right. We heard some explosions coming from the upper flight, "It sounds like Camelia's here." Angelica informed us, "Who's Camelia?" I had asked,

"A nosy, but very strong kid." Shian answered

"Kid?"

"Yeah, but this I tell you, she can fight pretty well." Edan responded

"She?"

"Mhm, she has pretty neat stuff too." Angelica answered.

We ran to the next flight of stairs where the explosions were, and they weren't "kidding," this girl maybe young but she can fight. She had on garments I have never seen before in Altera, and she had some kind of cannon that she holds and she has this friend in a metal suit. Apparently, she had fended off these monsters for an hour even before we arrived.

We took a rest after we had just purged the room of monsters, yet how do these lot have no worry about what we are going to face after a few chambers? "Who's this?" Camelia had asked looking at me. "This is Yahiro, Argenta's… friend?" Shian answered very unsurely. "Argenta has a friend besides Geraint!?" She exclaimed. "Wait, who's Geraint?" Edan asked "Well, Geraint is Argenta's only sibling." She answered. Every one of us jumped out of surprise. I thought about it for a while, so if Argenta has a sibling and she's a dragon… so does that mean there's "Another dragon!?" I whispered and they all heard me and looked at me like I was out of my mind. "A dragon? You're crazy, everybody knows dragons are extinct." Camelia countered me with a slight laugh, "Yeah, don't mind me, I really just feel kind of off right now." I added then we all laughed. Camelia may be a kid, but she seems to believe history more than stories.

Resting was over, we started venturing again. As we stood up, Camelia signaled me to kneel down to her height, do you know about the dragons? About Geraint? And Sir Velskud? What about the Monolith?" she had whispered these questions upon my ear, she had me fooled. She does believe that dragons still exist. She had a very expecting on her face.

We had finally arrived at the last gate, however monsters were fiercer than ever, what's worse is a minotaur is the last guardian before the manticore. The minotaur struck Shian with its axe, luckily Shian blocked the attack with his sword. Edan summoned a lightning relic from the heavens, I see that he had chosen the path of a priest. I casted a binding spell on the minotaur so that it could not move, and as it struggled to break free Shian and the others struck the minotaur. The area was clear… or so we thought. "Shian! Time has come for you to meet your doom in the hands of yours truly! Landslide Krag!" an orc from a floor up exclaimed, the orc jumped down and lost his balance then struck a pose. "Ugh, when will you learn your lesson Krag?" Shian replied as he lunged on the orc with a stab and a slash. The orc was still breathing; only twitching, the orc didn't move. "I do hope you've learned your lesson from this Krag." Shian added. Now the area was surely clear.

Sweat was flowing down from our eyebrows, fear was shivering our bones. The manticore was nigh. The gate to the last chamber has opened and the relic in the middle of the platform had retracted to the ground. The pure white orb was reacting as soon as we walked in, however, no manticore was in sight. We were relieved, however it was way too early for us to have had a conclusion that the manticore wasn't there. As soon as Triana stepped in the platform, the gate closed shut behind her then a deafening roar came from all sides. I was scared even though they stood tall ready for anything; I really wished I was like them. Finally a flying monster roared from the heavens above us and dived down to meet us; a frightful sight. "Take the first strike." Tristitia had whispered me, and so I obeyed. I was the first one to strike. The manticore fired a series of poisonous spikes from its tail; however the spikes became too slow as if my reflexes sharpened. I grabbed onto one of its horns and climbed the manticore's head and got to strike a strong blow right before it shook me off of its head. Triana fired a shot and hit the manticore's left eye while Shian kept hitting its head; this was easier than we thought.

The unexpected happened. The manticore stood up on its two feet and slammed its two front paws on the platform creating a huge wave of rubble, dirt and wind. It was a blast so powerful that rubble wasn't the one that wounded me but the wind. It blew us away; I hit the wall, Triana's hanging on the edge of the platform, Shian stood fast with his sword pierced on the platform, Edan and Angelica formed a barrier protecting each other, while Camelia was protected by her companion of metal. As soon as I fell to the ground the manticore had lunged on me and pushed me onto the wall, squeezing my breath out of me. Angelica tried to help me out by casting a spell that rains boulders on the manticore; however, it only suffocated me more. I spurted blood out of my mouth, and I felt a bone crack or two, "Look the beast in the eye" Tristitia whispered, and so I did. As soon as I looked the manticore in the eye it loosened its grip then backed off. I noticed that it was somehow scared; I felt Tristitia's presence within me. I took control of this power as Edan and the others kept on the offensive against the beast. The manticore flew up and fired spikes of poison again and luckily we all dodged them. "Hark, tell them to go behind you then put your arm out and focus on making a barrier. The beast is going to plunge in to the platform." Tristitia had informed me, and so I followed his instructions, "Everyone! Get behind me! Now!" I exclaimed and they followed. I focused my mana on making a barrier however, I can't sense that I was making any progress, "What are you planning Yahiro!?" Shian asked me, I didn't answer; I just focused on making a barrier. Suddenly the winds have stopped, "Brave yourselves." I had said to them. Finally the manticore dived into the platform causing a big wave of rubble and wind again. At first I thought the barrier didn't work until I felt only a slight push of the wave. The wave passed and the manticore was distorted; we commenced the final strike.

Angelica casted raining boulders unto the manticore once more, Shian kept on hitting, and Triana kept of firing arrows. Edan was with me keeping up the enhancement spells; he enhances their aura and protection while I enhance their fighting power. What I don't get is that camellia is just sitting behind while her companion does all the fighting for her, as expected from a kid. I gave out a sigh. My whole body started to crumble, the broken bones the manticore had inflicted me with is starting to kick in. I fell to the ground, coughing up blood; blood ran through my mouth like a waterfall. I'm dying… "I'm going to release the next seal. It's the only way I can save you." Tristitia muttered. I closed my eyes when Edan and Camelia ran to help me, worried, that I might die in a split second. The pain kicked in, however it wasn't as bad as the other day but the sharpness of the pain was still there. "You will now have my mark, and it will be placed on your left eye." I opened my eyes and looked at Edan and Camelia then they stepped back with fright in their eyes. I was a monster. "W-what are you?" Edan asked me but all I gave was a sorrowful smile. A smile that recognizes that I will be discriminated, condemned, and judged. The manticore struck Shian and maid his sword land in front of me. I took up his sword from the ground. "Shian… I'm going to borrow this!" I yelled out to him.

I took up his sword and forced my mana into it. I lunged at the manticore and continually attacked it; each attacked stopped it from moving. While Edan and the others just watch me go wild, I had cut the manticore's wings off. The final blow; I climbed onto its head and plunged the sword to the nape of its neck and ran the sword from its neck through its torso. The battle was done, and we have won. As I was walking back towards them, Edan and the others shared the same expression. The expression of fear was upon their faces. As I neared them all of them took one step back except for Camelia. I tried to give Shian his sword back but he only stepped away. I was a monster to their eyes as well. I struck the sword to the ground and took the pure white orb to the purification device and did what had to be done. I looked at them still paralyzed, staring straight at me. I heard a very low cry from the manticore's body; I approached the corpse to see what had made that small cry. To my surprise, I had found a newborn manticore, small and innocent… and I had just stolen her of her mother. I picked her up and focused my mana on my legs getting ready to depart. "Wait!" Camelia called out, I looked at her with the best fake smile I could ever put up. I leapt into the forest toward Ashen ruins to talk with Argenta. From this day forth… I was no longer human.