I havent had time to read through this section thoroughly for personal reasons. As a result it may not be as good as my past entries, but bear with it. I'll make up for it in the coming installments....

Chapter 3: Jagara and Harmona- Disintegrating family bonds

"That's what they said, 'a treasure of the ancient world', sounds enticing, no?" The melodic voice of a young woman broke the all-consuming silence which had taken root between the three travelers. She passed one of her dainty hands through her flowing mass of golden hair before turning to face her companions.

They stood upon a large hill, under which the towering ruins of what may well have been a city, now unrecognizably desecrated by centuries of robbery and decay. The streets of cracked pavement spiraled about the half standing buildings, resulting in a complex labyrinth which would impress on any traveler a feeling of dread. Protruding from the center of this foreboding relic was a sepulchral castle. Any negative sentiment one might feel from the town itself would instantly be swallowed by the uncondensed mixture of terror and sorrow which perspired from every wall of this monstrous golem. It was as if the misfortune which destroyed its residents in those centuries past still lingered, waiting to infect anyone who stepped into its realm.

"Are you certain, sister? A strange emotion fills me whenever I look at this place." Another woman, her voice more gentle and cautious than the first, spoke at last. She was focused on the castle as she said these words, her soft blue eyes casting it a sympathetic glance.

"That's called excitement, Harmona dear; I imagine you're not used to it with that stuffy lifestyle you lead." Her sister's reply came in a friendly tone, but one could notice an icy expression cross her countenance.

"That's not what I-" Harmona began her retort, but was interrupted by a soft chuckle from the young man next to her.

"I was told that this was an important matter, but now I see it was just another of Jagara's charades." A soft smile crossed his lips, and he shot Jagara a patronizing look. She took a step backward in reply; a feint hurt expression on her face.

"Not you too, darling? I put a lot of thought into coming here you know." She pulled away a small scrap of paper which she had fastened to the sheath of her sword, and flattened it with her palm. "Apparently, some three hundred years ago, a nameless petty nobleman found an ancient machine buried deep within the earth. It was a vehicle which was designed to reach the stars if memory serves, anyway the nobleman got it into his head that if he repaired it he could ride it off to heaven and escape the end of the world. A lot of people believe the world is coming to an end, you could hardly tell by looking at it now. Back to the legend, before he could embark on his journey a plague came and wiped both he and his people off the face of the earth. Since then, the machine has remained in the center of his keep."

"Sounds like a groundless story to me." Darcia said simply. Jagara shrugged at this, her full lips curving into her most charming smile.

"Perhaps and what if it is? Every legend has a little truth to it, Darling, and finding the truth of the world is the meaning of life. Besides, it's not as if you have a more pressing engagement to attend." Darcia considered this for a moment. His grandfather's lapse of sanity certainly provided him with an endless amount of free time, but he would much rather spend it in that private hideaway where he had whiled away countless days before. He was going to reply, but there was no need. Jagara could guess what he was thinking; he would rather be alone with Harmona.

A surge of rage passed through Jagara's body, and she shot a quick glare in the direction of her sister. Yes, how she abhorred Harmona. Her darling sibling, identical in appearance but opposite in disposition, had become the object of her deepest hatred. Perhaps it was because she served as a mirror of truth, enhancing Jagara's every flaw with her subtle perfection. Harmona, who spoke volumes with silence; Harmona, the kind, she was all these things that Jagara was not. Worst of all, however, she was the infatuation of the last descendant of the Darcias. Of all her crimes, this last one was unforgivable.

Time and again she considered ridding herself of her. She spent a good portion of her time wondering exactly how her sister would react if she tried to strangle her. Would she writhe, kicking and biting as the life poured out of her? No. Jagara didn't doubt that she would simply stand there, with her usual smile, confident of her superiority until the final breath parted from her lips. It was because she knew this was how her sister would die that she did not kill her, for such an event would fail to abate her rage. She wanted Harmona broken in body and spirit, just to see her miserable for a moment would prove endlessly satisfying.

"Are you alright?" Harmona asked with her usual concern. How patronizing her kindness was! Jagara pushed her thoughts back into the deep recesses of her mind. Any trace of resentment vanished in an instant from her face.

"Why wouldn't I be, Harmona dear?"

Tenmei was completely enshrouded by darkness. In the end he could make out not a single shape or shadow regardless of how he strained his eyes. He didn't mind, this was how it always was with the white wolf. The ancient creature had for years resided in darkness, giving orders to his many followers while never making his face known to them.

"I can see why you wouldn't want the noble in paradise, but it's not like he can make it anyway. Why bother with any precautions?" Tenmei declared to the darkness. He waited for a moment, but carried on when he received no reply. "Honestly, you're the second old guy to give me the silent treatment in the past six hours. I find it offensive." Still no sound, save for the echo of his voice against the walls, could be heard.

"Regardless of what you say, I'm not gonna go betraying him until the coming of the blood moon ceremony. If I make an enemy of the Darcias too soon I'll end up getting ugly little bullet holes all over my beloved pristine body."