Disclaimer: I own no part of Love Hina, but Sean is me.
It's about time I got another chapter finished.
Chapter LVI: No Way Out
Thursday, 4/16/2009 8:45 AM
"Bye, Sean!" Shinobu said. "I'll see you when we get back!"
"Have fun!" Sean called back as he watched everyone head off to their respective learning institutions from the third floor window. "There they go," he muttered. "And here I am, all alone once again." He didn't even have Kitsune to talk to, as she was at a meeting at the newspaper and there was no telling when she would get back. "Oh well, might as well get to work." He snapped his finger and disappeared, only to reappear a minute later, broom in one hand, headphones in the other. Now, these headphones appeared to have no function whatsoever, as only half the cord was there, but if one were to look in his room, the other half would be found, connected to his laptop.
Aside from video games, music was probably his one escape from the real world. Plus, it made the work of sweeping the floor go by all that much quicker. He has had a thing for singing for a number of years now, but his talents weren't as apparent then and there, as a good portion of his music was out of his voice range, forcing him to move to a lower octave. He didn't really care about this however, as nobody was around to criticize his abilities, not to mention his habit of using his broom as either a guitar or a mic stand. One would think he frequented the karaoke clubs, but he has never been much of an outgoing person, so why start now?
Anyway, after an amount of time that he was not fully aware of, he finishes that particular chore and decides to give his arms a bit of a rest before moving on to the next one. He leaned his back up against a wall, singing along to a ChumbaWumba song and practicing his British accent for no reason whatsoever. This was another of Sean's habits: He usually tries to sound like the artists on the CD, radio or whatever might be playing at the time. He'd be the first to admit that some tries turned out better than others. Some of his more successful impersonations included Blink 182's "I Miss You" (the low part, of course) and various songs by Outkast, even though he didn't have albums from either group. (A/N: Okay, I think that's about enough self-reflection for one chapter, so let's move on, shall we?)
As he put his weight up against the wall, he is shocked to notice it give way, but could do nothing to stop himself as he fell through a hidden door set into the middle of the wall. "Whoa," he said, now thankful to be hanging by one leg, as he had just happened upon a passageway leading straight down; he couldn't see the bottom. "That would have hurt," he muttered. When he got his bearings back, he noticed a ladder leading down into the unknown and he instantly made a grab for it, as he didn't feel like hanging upside down all day long.
Without his weight to keep it down any longer, the secret door quickly snapped shut, enveloping Sean in complete darkness. As soon as this happened, he reached a hand out blindly towards it to try and open it again, but found no sign that there had ever been an opening there in the first place. "Wonderful," Sean muttered. "Now I'm stuck in here." He looked down--which didn't make any sense as he couldn't even see the ladder he was holding on to. "Might as well see where this thing leads. Not that I have much of a choice in the matter."
Slowly, he made his way down, not knowing just how long it would take to reach the bottom, all the while wondering how he had been so oblivious to this secret passage for all this time. His thoughts stopped when he found the last rung of the ladder, but his feet never made contact with solid ground. "Oh, this is just great. I seriously hope this thing isn't bottomless. Shinobu would have a fit. Well, she may anyway if I can't find a way back sometime soon."
Not knowing what else to do, he conjured up a ball of light and sent it down in order to find out just how deep this passage was. As the light made its way down, Sean magnified his vision in order to make sure he didn't lose sight of it--just in case. Two minutes later, it was still going, and there was still no sign of it ever coming to a stop. "You have got to be freakin' kidding me," he muttered. For him, things just seemed to keep getting worse and worse, as his arms were starting to get tired and falling was definitely something he didn't want to do. However, he felt there was nothing else he could do, since there didn't appear to be anything other direction to go.
"Well, here goes nothing." Reluctantly, he let go of the ladder and began to plummet towards certain oblivion. After a minute of free fall, he passed by the light sphere he had made not too long ago. "This is definitely not my day," he said as the light quickly became not much more than a speck in the distance above him. His thoughts quickly turned to how he was going to survive the impact forthcoming; provided there was actually going to be one. The best thing he could think of was to put up his shield and hope that it would do the job.
Sean would spend the next minute or two with his eyes shut tight. Even if they were open, he wouldn't be able to see his hand in front of his face in the pitch black darkness. All of a sudden, an odd sensation flowed through his body. It was as though he had just passed through a barrier or something. He didn't have a chance to contemplate this however, as he hit solid ground a split-second later, head first. The force of the crash should have turned his whole head into peanut butter--and not the chunky kind, either--but his shield was still functioning and held up under the stress, but barely.
"Oh man," Sean muttered as he struggled to get up, holding his head in the process. He wasn't in any pain or anything, but there was a distinct ringing present. "I wouldn't want to do that again." Who would? He opened his eyes and instantly realized that the absolute dark had been replaced by a dim illumination coming from somewhere in the distance. He knew for sure that it wasn't of his own creation, as he had left that old light ball in his wake long ago. From what he could see, he had ended up in a natural looking cavern. Instantly, he looked up, but only found a ceiling no more than three feet above his head with no indication of a portal of any sort. It's just as well, as that way probably have been a dead end anyway. Any way you look at it, Sean knew this was most likely a one-way trip.
As he was still a bit disoriented, he used the cave wall to steady himself as he walked towards wherever the light was coming from. It didn't take long for him to reach what turned out to be the mouth of the cave, but he outright refused to believe his eyes when he got there. "What the hell is going on here?" he asked himself. Indeed, after falling at least four or five miles straight down, one wouldn't expect to find himself above ground, much less in a forest. It was as though the laws of space and time were being rewritten just to mess with his head.
"Are you sure you weren't just hearing things?"
"Oh no," Sean thought when he heard the unfamiliar voice. "That's the last thing I need right now."
"My ears don't lie," another voice said. "There's something over here, I just know it."
Sean started to get worried when he heard footsteps coming his way. How was he going to explain himself to complete strangers? Before he could think of a good escape plan, two men appeared out of the trees. "Excuse me," one of them said. "But did you happen to hear anything nearby?"
"Did it sound like a crash or something?" Sean asked.
"Yes, that's exactly what it was!"
Sean placed his hand to the back of his head. "Yeah, that was probably me you just heard." He pointed his thumb back into the cave. "I wouldn't go in there if I were you, what with the huge crater and all."
"How is that possible?" the other man asked in disbelief. "The ceiling in that cave couldn't be more than twelve feet high."
"Long story," Sean said. "Long and very complicated. I'm still trying to figure it all out myself."
"Pardon me for asking," the first traveler said. "But why are you wearing such odd clothing?"
"This coming from one of Robin Hood's merry men," Sean thought. "Should I be asking you the same thing?"
"Surely you jest," the first man said. "Do you say that you do not recognize the traditional garb of the Kai Lords?"
"Alas," Sean said, going along with the dialect. "I do not recognize the attire nor these Kai Lords of which you speak."
"You must live a great distance away to have never heard of us," the second Kai Lord said.
"That all depends on where I am now," Sean said. "I have been wondering this ever since my arrival."
"Why, you are in the Fryelund Forest," Lord A said.
Sean shook his head. "I am afraid that does not help in the slightest. Maybe if I had a map, I could make some sense out of all this and possibly show you where I am from, but at this rate, optimism is not exactly on my side."
"Why don't you come along with us?"
"Are you sure that's such a good idea?" Lord B asked.
"We can't just leave him out here, can we? Without any sense of direction, he would get lost for sure."
"Yeah, no kidding," Sean added. "Lead the way."
The three were just about to get under way when Lord A noticed something peculiar. "If you don't mind my asking, what are those things in your ears?"
"Hmm?" Sean had completely forgotten that he still had the headphones on. "Oh, nothing," he said, quickly putting them in his pocket.
Introductions were made as the trio walked through the forest. The first one, the one who heard Sean's entry, was named Sly Fox, while the second went by Steel Hand. Of course, these weren't their real names, rather those given to them by those at the Kai monastery where they have been training. Both of them were roughly 5'7", but that was about where the similarities ended. Sly Fox had a shock of red hair and appeared to act on instinct more often than not, while Steel Hand had short black hair and was more rational in his thought processes, though it was obvious that if push came to shove, he would prove a force to be reckoned with. For his part, Sean didn't reveal a great deal about himself, since he didn't know how they would react to his abilities.
"What have I gotten myself into?" Sean thought as he noticed the weapons that each Kai monk had with him. Sly Fox had a western style longsword, while Steel Hand had a staff. It seemed that wherever they were originally headed, they were prepared to defend themselves--just in case. "Something tells me this place isn't as peaceful as I would like."
A half hour went by with the two natives giving Sean a little rundown of what they were. Apparently, the Kai is a group of warrior lords bent on protecting the countryside from evil forces--especially one in particular that resided far to the west called the Darklords. Centuries--or perhaps even millennia ago, this evil empire waged war against their country, but were eventually defeated; an ever-lasting grudge has been held against them ever since.
"I guess that explains the weapons," Sean said.
"Yes," Steel Hand said, nodding his head. "The Darklords could strike again at any time, and we must be ready to receive them."
"Well, here we are," Sly Fox said when they got to the edge of the forest.
"Wow," Sean said. The structure before him looked more like a castle than a temple. The group continued on until they reached the front gate, where a member of the Kai was standing guard, wielding a spear. The watch didn't bar their path or anything, but give Sean a somewhat wary glance as he went by.
Sean looked on in wonder as the two Lords led him through the training grounds. Not only were they practicing direct combat, but also other tactics, such as healing wounds and the like. He could almost swear he saw a couple of them performing small feats of telekinesis.
"Hello, Sly Fox, Steel Hand," someone said, snapping Sean out of his thoughts.
"Greetings, Master Storm Hawk," the two said in unison, each placing their right hand across their chest. Sean assumed this was their salute.
"Who is this with you?" Storm Hawk asked.
"Someone we found in the woods," Steel Hand said. "Do you know where Grand Master Lone Wolf is, by any chance?"
"He is in the main building," Storm Hawk said. "Why do you need to speak with him? You know you shouldn't bother him with petty things."
"Indeed, Master," Sly Fox said. "but I believe he will be interested in what we have to say."
"If you think it is worth his time, then go ahead."
"With a name like Lone Wolf," Sean said as they walked off. "I'm not sure if he would want to see us."
"My, you really aren't from around here if you have not heard of the legendary Lone Wolf," Sly Fox said. "About thirty years ago, the Darklords attacked the Kai as the opening strike of a war. He was the only survivor, and that is how he got his name."
"It took a long time," Steel Hand continued. "but he eventually restored the Kai to what you see before you. This was not an easy task for him by any means, as the legend says that he was no stronger than us at the time of the attack." They went on to say that there were thirty-one titles among the ranks of the Kai. The one they called Lone Wolf was the Kai Supreme Master (#31), while they were mere Initiates (#5).
"Though that does not mean we are weak," Sly Fox said.
"I would think not," Sean said. They walked past another training ground, and the feats he saw there were of a whole another level in comparison to the first group. One thing that caught his eye was two people who appeared to be having a staring contest, but upon further inspection, realized they were actually using mental attacks against each other. "I might actually fit in here," he thought.
Eventually, they made it to the main structure, and much to Sean's surprise, they headed downstairs. He would have figured the head honcho would be at the top, but he didn't see fit to bring it up. When they reached the bottom, they found a grand set of double doors before them. Without a word, Steel Hand stepped forward and knocked a couple times.
"You may enter," a voice said from within. Steel Hand pushed the door open to find a solitary man sitting in a meditative position in the middle of the room, illuminated only by the seven spheres that encircled him. From what Sean could see, he was a well-built man with medium length brown hair and broad shoulders. This got him wondering just how old he was back when he earned his name, as he couldn't have been much older than 35.
"We are sorry if we have disturbed you," Steel Hand said.
Lone Wolf shook his head. "I was aware of your presence long before you arrived, and I also know why you have come. It is because of this visitor you have brought before me."
"Yes, Grand Master," Sly Fox said. "We found him in the forest. He has no knowledge of where he is, nor of the Kai in any way short of what we have told him while we guided him to the monastery. I figured that if anyone would be able to find out where he is from and get him back there, it would be you."
The Kai Supreme Master appeared to consider his lesser's words, then nodded his head. "You did well by bringing him to me. You may take your leave now, as I wish to speak with him in private."
The two young Lords saluted, then went back the way they came, leaving Sean not knowing what to say or do at this point. Luckily, the decision was made for him. "Come," Lone Wolf said. "Have a seat." Reluctantly, Sean walked in, closing the door behind him, and sat down within the circle of spheres in braziers a couple feet in front of the Grand Master.
"Um," Sean said nervously. "If I have somehow done something I shouldn't have, I--"
"Nonsense," Lone Wolf said, cutting Sean off at the pass. "I only want to talk to you." He would pause a bit until Sean was a bit more at ease before continuing. "Sly Fox and Steel hand are good men with potential for greatness, but they are still young and naïve. I however, am not. I knew of your arrival the instant it occurred and I am also aware of the power you wield within you."
Sean blinked a couple times in surprise. "You do?"
"Yes. In fact, the guard you passed at the front gates and Storm Hawk also know of your magical abilities. They assume you are merely a visitor from the magician's guild in Toran, fifty miles to the north, but I know that you are not even from this world."
"I figured as much," Sean said. "Though I should be relieved that magic exists in this world, as I was worried what would happen should anyone find out what I'm capable of. That's why I didn't tell Sly Fox and Steel Hand about it."
"Completely understandable."
"Despite this, it doesn't help me find a way back home. I can only imagine what my friends will do if they find me missing."
"Yes, this is a problem, as most Shadow Gates tend to be one-way."
"Yeah, especially considering where it was located in my world."
"I beg your pardon?" Lone Wolf asked. Sean then proceeded to relate how he happened upon the secret passage and where it led him. "My, you must be powerful if you can withstand a fall like that and not be harmed."
"Well, spells of protection and healing are sort of my specialty."
"Are there others in your world like you?"
"Where I'm from, wizardry is a very rare thing and is kept out of the public eye. My world as a whole lacks the understanding for it and would most likely react negatively if anyone were to witness such acts, usually saving talk of wizards for tales of fantasy about worlds similar to this one." The sound of Sean's grumbling stomach interrupted his explanation.
Lone Wolf chuckled a bit. "Come," he said, standing up. "We shall continue this at another time." He started to make his way to the door and motioned for Sean to do the same.
"Hold on just a sec," Sean said. With a wave of his hand, his regular clothing was replaced by a sky blue robe. Lone Wolf nodded approvingly at this, as he knew right away that Sean intended to appear less conspicuous. Plus, this new outfit bore a striking resemblance to that of the Brotherhood of the Crystal Star, the magician's guild the Grand Master made mention of earlier.
With hardly a word spoken between the two, Lone Wolf lead Sean upstairs to ground level and then some until they reached an exquisite dining hall. Upon arrival, he sent the cook off to prepare a meal for them. Unlike the privacy of the meditation chamber, this room was a bustle of activity with Kai Lords coming and going with news from lands far and near. While all this was going on, many a curious glance was made in Sean's general direction, but Lone Wolf merely stated that he was from Toran on business, but on a couple occasions, Sean couldn't shake the feeling that more was actually said than what could be picked up with layman senses.
After the meal was complete, Sean was allowed to observe some of the Magnakai classes (Ranks 10-18). Out of everything he has seen up to this point, it was the ability to use mental attacks and the protection against such techniques that interested him the most. Granted, there was no shortage of amazing feats being performed before his very eyes, but this was one of the few things that he found himself unable to recreate in some way, shape or form.
All of a sudden, an alarm bell started to ring and everyone sprang into action, apparently knowing exactly what to do. Sean tried to ask what was going on, but everyone was in too big of a hurry to oblige him, so he decided to find out for himself. Teleporting into a watchtower, he looked down to find a massive army making its way through the forest, heading in the direction of the monastery. "These must be the Darklords," he thought. Among the ranks of the evil army were humans, goblins, and others things that defied description. Looking up, he found more of them riding strange looking birds. "Damn, these guys don't mess around, do they?" He glanced around to find a weapons rack with a few swords on it. "Mind if I borrow one of these?"
"Go ahead." The Kai Lord currently stationed in that particular tower wasn't all that fazed by Sean's sudden appearance. He wielded a bow ready to fire as soon as he got a clear shot. If all went well, he wouldn't need anything else. A look of curiosity appeared on his face when Sean climbed up onto the window sill, tucking his sword into the belt of his robe as he did so. "What are you going to do?" he asked.
"You'll see," Sean replied.
---
Lone Wolf was making his way towards the front lines when he noticed something rising into the sky. Upon focusing his vision, he saw just what it was; or rather, who it was. "Sean, what are you doing?" he called out telepathically.
Due to the urgency of the situation, Sean didn't bother to ask how he did that, but responded in kind. "I'm not going to just stand around while evil forces are attacking us!"
"But how are you going to fight beings you know nothing about?"
"Considering what I've had to face back home, beating these things shouldn't be too hard."
Lone Wolf looked on as Sean glowed bright blue for a moment, then fly off in the direction of the oncoming Darklord airborne division. "I hope he knows what he's doing," he thought.
---
The person at the head of the Darklord fleet couldn't help but laugh when he saw the lone figure coming towards them. In a mocking tone, he said something in a strange language to a couple of his subordinates, causing them to laugh as well. After a few moments, a single rider was sent over to take care of the pest.
Meanwhile, on the other end, Sean was not surprised to find his opponents not taking him seriously. In fact, he had counted on that very thing to gain an early advantage. As the spear-carrying warrior got closer, Sean quickly worked out a plan in his head. He saw his adversary level his weapon at him with the intention of making the battle end quickly, but for him, it could definitely have turned out better. Effortlessly, Sean avoided being impaled, grabbed the spear and yanked it out of the previous owner's grasp before he could retrieve it. Getting right in the man's face, Sean smiled that evil smile of his before sending his new weapon through the bird's neck.
A look of shock appeared on the squad leader's face as he watched the steed plummet to the ground, taking its rider with it. He never would have expected to see someone under his command be made a fool of so handedly by some unknown upstart now looking right at him and waving. Shock quickly turned to hatred and he barked out an order, sending two more soldiers to deal with the nuisance, but they hardly got out of formation before each one was struck down by an arrow of light, one through the heart, one between the eyes.
---
Lone Wolf watched as Sean easily defeated his first three opponents. "Well, he is certainly making his presence felt," he mused, knowing that Sean was in the process of making himself the single target for the entire Darklord airborne cavalry, which would only make things easier for everyone the ground, himself included. He wasn't just watching the battle unfold, as he was in the mêlée with everyone else. Without even looking, he sidestepped a goblin's attack and whacked it in the back of the neck with the hilt of his sword, killing it instantly. Even with his attention drawn towards Sean, he was still making short work of his enemies.
---
As more and more riders were sent against him, Sean kept picking them off one by one until the entire squadron finally moved in for an all-out attack. He knew he wouldn't be able to make enough arrows to beat all of them--or at least not before they would already be upon him, so he found himself with no other choice than to draw his sword and prepare for the coming onslaught. "How the heck did all this happen?" he thought. "Somehow, I get sucked into some alternate universe and now I'm getting ready to take on an evil army by myself. I'm so glad Shinobu's not here to see this. If these guys didn't kill me, she probably would." Strangely enough, there was a smile on his face. "Well, here goes nothing."
Time seemed to slow down as the hand to hand combat got under way--or so the Darklords thought. A split-second before the first soldier was within weapon's reach, Sean disappeared, causing some muttering among the ranks. Little did they know where their target ended up until one of the stragglers felt something tapping his shoulder. Looking back, the goblin let out a yelp of surprise to find Sean right behind him.
"Hello," Sean said, knowing full well that he probably couldn't understand him, as if it would matter in a few moments anyway. On instinct, the goblin swung his sword at him, but Sean blocked it with his left forearm, putting the shield spell he cast at the very start to some good use. The victim was so shocked by this, he was left completely vulnerable, allowing Sean to run him through with his own blade.
By now, the others were aware of Sean's location, as they heard their comrade's finals screams. Splitting into two halves, they circled around, intending on trapping Sean between them. "Great," Sean muttered. "Now what do I do?"
---
Without the air force to aid them, the ground battle quickly turned into a rout, forcing the Darklords to retreat. The entire time, Lone Wolf's eyes were fixed on Sean's battle, and now that their fight was pretty much over, other Kai Lords joined him, including one in particular who just so happened to be standing nearby. "Is that Sean up there?!" Steel hand asked.
"Indeed it is," Lone Wolf said.
"Is he crazy?! Facing that many foes at once will only get him killed! Are you not going to do something to help him?!"
"If it is needed, I will intervene, but I wish to see what this man is truly capable of."
Steel Hand looked at Lone Wolf, then skyward, making an almost silent prayer to their god to protect Sean.
---
"I can't let it go on this way for too long," Sean thought. "I'll never last if I waste time killing these things one at a time. I need to start getting rid of them in bunches." All of a sudden, he realized the fatal flaw in the maneuver being employed against him, and he'd be damned--literally--if he wasn't going to take advantage of it. He began making preparations, almost paying no heed to the oncoming hordes.
The enemy leader started yelling something along the lines of not giving any mercy or some such nonsense as he led the charge, spear in hand and ready to impale the irritating wizard, but when contact was supposed to be made, the weapon passed harmlessly through Sean and accidentally skewering his second in command on the other side.
When the two halves converged, the audience below gasped, most of them knowing they couldn't survive such an attack themselves, but hearing the cries of confusion and agony told them it wasn't Sean who was suffering up there. This was confirmed when Sean appeared from within the crowd, completely unscathed, though that couldn't be said for a dozen or two Darklord cavalrymen, who were unintentionally killed by their own kind.
"Well, that worked pretty well," Sean thought after he was clear of the mob. Somewhat amused, he watched the enemy try to regroup. He had a feeling they wouldn't fall for that one again, and he was proven right when they got back into formation. Instead of trying to sandwich him, they began flying circles around him, no more than three or four engaging him at any one time. Sean knew he could get out of the trap, but they would be right back on him in moments, so he didn't bother trying. Plus, his shield spell was beginning to wane; not enough to allow physical injury, but just enough to allow his opponent to slash up his robe. When it became too much of a hindrance, Sean ripped it off, revealing that he still had his regular clothes on underneath, and tossed it right in the face of an approaching goblin, distracting it just long enough to receive Sean's sword in the midsection.
It was at this point that Sean's body was beginning to wear out. He knew he had to end the battle quickly if he was to live another day. Suddenly, an idea came to him, but it was one that he was reluctant to agree to at first. The last time he used what he had in mind, it caused a great deal of damage to the surrounding area, but since he was up in the air, away from buildings or anything else that would be missed, this would not be a factor. Besides, there wasn't much else he could do at this point. "C'mon," Sean muttered, now settled on a final plan of attack. "Just a little closer…"
To say that the Kai watching from ground level were caught off guard would have been an understatement, as seeing the giant fireball appear out of nowhere was definitely not something to be expected. "SEAN!!" Steel Hand yelled, knowing that the newcomer was right in the middle of the blast.
"It seems he wished to go out in a blaze of glory," Lone Wolf mused, but any plans for a memorial service was cut short when he saw something appear out of the bottom of the fireball. Instantly, he recognized who it was, but his hopes began to sink when he realized that Sean was plummeting towards the ground headfirst. Without giving it a second thought, he broke out into a run for where the point of impact would have been and made the easy catch.
"Is he alright?" Storm Hawk asked, running up to them.
A quick inspection provided the answer, and Lone Wolf started to smile. "He will be just fine; he just gave that last attack everything he had." He spared a glance upward, where the flaming sphere was dissipating; it soon became apparent that Sean was the only survivor. "Against overwhelming odds, he was victorious. He has truly earned my respect this day." He looked at the unconscious man in his arms, considering the next course of action…
---
"Sean?" The voice sounded distant and indistinct, yet vaguely familiar. "Sean, are you awake?" The only response the voice got was an incomprehensible murmuring. Of course, that was until Sean felt a sharp pain in his stomach.
"OW!" Sean yelled. "Who--" He opened his eyes to find Sarah standing next to him, her arms crossed and that angry expression she usually had when the two were in the same room. "Figures." Sitting up and looking around, he quickly realized that he was in the living room of Hinata-Sou. "Hey, how did I get back here?"
"What are you talking about?" Naru asked. "We found you in here when we got home from school, fast asleep."
"Oh, man," Sean muttered, placing a hand to his head. "That whole thing was just a dream?"
"Are you alright?" Shinobu asked.
"Yeah, I'm fine," Sean said. "It just felt so real, that's all."
"What was it about?" Keitaro asked.
"I'll tell y'all later, but first I need some time to sort things out." Sean soon found himself alone in the living room. "I just can't believe it," he thought. "How could all that have been a dream?" He rested his head back onto the pillow and heard a strange noise. He reached underneath it and retrieved a rolled up piece of paper. "What's this?" He unrolled it to find that it was a letter written in what appeared to be old style English lettering:
"Dear Sean,
Congratulations or your victory. Your efforts in our battle against the Darklords will not be soon forgotten. My only regret is that you were not awake for me to thank you in person, but finding a way to return you to your native plane was of greater importance. Always remember that you will always be welcome among the Kai; the keepsake I left with you should help achieve this.
Until our paths cross again,
Lone Wolf
Kai Supreme Master"
At first, Sean was confused by that last part, but something caught his eye. Sticking his hand in between the couch cushions, he was shocked to find a sword hidden there. However, this was not just any sword, but the very same one he, along with his magic, used to spill the blood of many a Darklord warrior. "Um…" Sean thought after a few moments with a complete lack of brain activity. "Something tells me I shouldn't tell Shinobu about this."
End of Chapter LVI
Well, that was certainly something, huh? I knew I had to bring up the secret passages eventually, but the hard part was figuring out where to go from there. For anyone who actually recognized where I got this from, I own no rights to Lone Wolf. See you next time--whenever that is. Please R&R!
It's about time I got another chapter finished.
Chapter LVI: No Way Out
Thursday, 4/16/2009 8:45 AM
"Bye, Sean!" Shinobu said. "I'll see you when we get back!"
"Have fun!" Sean called back as he watched everyone head off to their respective learning institutions from the third floor window. "There they go," he muttered. "And here I am, all alone once again." He didn't even have Kitsune to talk to, as she was at a meeting at the newspaper and there was no telling when she would get back. "Oh well, might as well get to work." He snapped his finger and disappeared, only to reappear a minute later, broom in one hand, headphones in the other. Now, these headphones appeared to have no function whatsoever, as only half the cord was there, but if one were to look in his room, the other half would be found, connected to his laptop.
Aside from video games, music was probably his one escape from the real world. Plus, it made the work of sweeping the floor go by all that much quicker. He has had a thing for singing for a number of years now, but his talents weren't as apparent then and there, as a good portion of his music was out of his voice range, forcing him to move to a lower octave. He didn't really care about this however, as nobody was around to criticize his abilities, not to mention his habit of using his broom as either a guitar or a mic stand. One would think he frequented the karaoke clubs, but he has never been much of an outgoing person, so why start now?
Anyway, after an amount of time that he was not fully aware of, he finishes that particular chore and decides to give his arms a bit of a rest before moving on to the next one. He leaned his back up against a wall, singing along to a ChumbaWumba song and practicing his British accent for no reason whatsoever. This was another of Sean's habits: He usually tries to sound like the artists on the CD, radio or whatever might be playing at the time. He'd be the first to admit that some tries turned out better than others. Some of his more successful impersonations included Blink 182's "I Miss You" (the low part, of course) and various songs by Outkast, even though he didn't have albums from either group. (A/N: Okay, I think that's about enough self-reflection for one chapter, so let's move on, shall we?)
As he put his weight up against the wall, he is shocked to notice it give way, but could do nothing to stop himself as he fell through a hidden door set into the middle of the wall. "Whoa," he said, now thankful to be hanging by one leg, as he had just happened upon a passageway leading straight down; he couldn't see the bottom. "That would have hurt," he muttered. When he got his bearings back, he noticed a ladder leading down into the unknown and he instantly made a grab for it, as he didn't feel like hanging upside down all day long.
Without his weight to keep it down any longer, the secret door quickly snapped shut, enveloping Sean in complete darkness. As soon as this happened, he reached a hand out blindly towards it to try and open it again, but found no sign that there had ever been an opening there in the first place. "Wonderful," Sean muttered. "Now I'm stuck in here." He looked down--which didn't make any sense as he couldn't even see the ladder he was holding on to. "Might as well see where this thing leads. Not that I have much of a choice in the matter."
Slowly, he made his way down, not knowing just how long it would take to reach the bottom, all the while wondering how he had been so oblivious to this secret passage for all this time. His thoughts stopped when he found the last rung of the ladder, but his feet never made contact with solid ground. "Oh, this is just great. I seriously hope this thing isn't bottomless. Shinobu would have a fit. Well, she may anyway if I can't find a way back sometime soon."
Not knowing what else to do, he conjured up a ball of light and sent it down in order to find out just how deep this passage was. As the light made its way down, Sean magnified his vision in order to make sure he didn't lose sight of it--just in case. Two minutes later, it was still going, and there was still no sign of it ever coming to a stop. "You have got to be freakin' kidding me," he muttered. For him, things just seemed to keep getting worse and worse, as his arms were starting to get tired and falling was definitely something he didn't want to do. However, he felt there was nothing else he could do, since there didn't appear to be anything other direction to go.
"Well, here goes nothing." Reluctantly, he let go of the ladder and began to plummet towards certain oblivion. After a minute of free fall, he passed by the light sphere he had made not too long ago. "This is definitely not my day," he said as the light quickly became not much more than a speck in the distance above him. His thoughts quickly turned to how he was going to survive the impact forthcoming; provided there was actually going to be one. The best thing he could think of was to put up his shield and hope that it would do the job.
Sean would spend the next minute or two with his eyes shut tight. Even if they were open, he wouldn't be able to see his hand in front of his face in the pitch black darkness. All of a sudden, an odd sensation flowed through his body. It was as though he had just passed through a barrier or something. He didn't have a chance to contemplate this however, as he hit solid ground a split-second later, head first. The force of the crash should have turned his whole head into peanut butter--and not the chunky kind, either--but his shield was still functioning and held up under the stress, but barely.
"Oh man," Sean muttered as he struggled to get up, holding his head in the process. He wasn't in any pain or anything, but there was a distinct ringing present. "I wouldn't want to do that again." Who would? He opened his eyes and instantly realized that the absolute dark had been replaced by a dim illumination coming from somewhere in the distance. He knew for sure that it wasn't of his own creation, as he had left that old light ball in his wake long ago. From what he could see, he had ended up in a natural looking cavern. Instantly, he looked up, but only found a ceiling no more than three feet above his head with no indication of a portal of any sort. It's just as well, as that way probably have been a dead end anyway. Any way you look at it, Sean knew this was most likely a one-way trip.
As he was still a bit disoriented, he used the cave wall to steady himself as he walked towards wherever the light was coming from. It didn't take long for him to reach what turned out to be the mouth of the cave, but he outright refused to believe his eyes when he got there. "What the hell is going on here?" he asked himself. Indeed, after falling at least four or five miles straight down, one wouldn't expect to find himself above ground, much less in a forest. It was as though the laws of space and time were being rewritten just to mess with his head.
"Are you sure you weren't just hearing things?"
"Oh no," Sean thought when he heard the unfamiliar voice. "That's the last thing I need right now."
"My ears don't lie," another voice said. "There's something over here, I just know it."
Sean started to get worried when he heard footsteps coming his way. How was he going to explain himself to complete strangers? Before he could think of a good escape plan, two men appeared out of the trees. "Excuse me," one of them said. "But did you happen to hear anything nearby?"
"Did it sound like a crash or something?" Sean asked.
"Yes, that's exactly what it was!"
Sean placed his hand to the back of his head. "Yeah, that was probably me you just heard." He pointed his thumb back into the cave. "I wouldn't go in there if I were you, what with the huge crater and all."
"How is that possible?" the other man asked in disbelief. "The ceiling in that cave couldn't be more than twelve feet high."
"Long story," Sean said. "Long and very complicated. I'm still trying to figure it all out myself."
"Pardon me for asking," the first traveler said. "But why are you wearing such odd clothing?"
"This coming from one of Robin Hood's merry men," Sean thought. "Should I be asking you the same thing?"
"Surely you jest," the first man said. "Do you say that you do not recognize the traditional garb of the Kai Lords?"
"Alas," Sean said, going along with the dialect. "I do not recognize the attire nor these Kai Lords of which you speak."
"You must live a great distance away to have never heard of us," the second Kai Lord said.
"That all depends on where I am now," Sean said. "I have been wondering this ever since my arrival."
"Why, you are in the Fryelund Forest," Lord A said.
Sean shook his head. "I am afraid that does not help in the slightest. Maybe if I had a map, I could make some sense out of all this and possibly show you where I am from, but at this rate, optimism is not exactly on my side."
"Why don't you come along with us?"
"Are you sure that's such a good idea?" Lord B asked.
"We can't just leave him out here, can we? Without any sense of direction, he would get lost for sure."
"Yeah, no kidding," Sean added. "Lead the way."
The three were just about to get under way when Lord A noticed something peculiar. "If you don't mind my asking, what are those things in your ears?"
"Hmm?" Sean had completely forgotten that he still had the headphones on. "Oh, nothing," he said, quickly putting them in his pocket.
Introductions were made as the trio walked through the forest. The first one, the one who heard Sean's entry, was named Sly Fox, while the second went by Steel Hand. Of course, these weren't their real names, rather those given to them by those at the Kai monastery where they have been training. Both of them were roughly 5'7", but that was about where the similarities ended. Sly Fox had a shock of red hair and appeared to act on instinct more often than not, while Steel Hand had short black hair and was more rational in his thought processes, though it was obvious that if push came to shove, he would prove a force to be reckoned with. For his part, Sean didn't reveal a great deal about himself, since he didn't know how they would react to his abilities.
"What have I gotten myself into?" Sean thought as he noticed the weapons that each Kai monk had with him. Sly Fox had a western style longsword, while Steel Hand had a staff. It seemed that wherever they were originally headed, they were prepared to defend themselves--just in case. "Something tells me this place isn't as peaceful as I would like."
A half hour went by with the two natives giving Sean a little rundown of what they were. Apparently, the Kai is a group of warrior lords bent on protecting the countryside from evil forces--especially one in particular that resided far to the west called the Darklords. Centuries--or perhaps even millennia ago, this evil empire waged war against their country, but were eventually defeated; an ever-lasting grudge has been held against them ever since.
"I guess that explains the weapons," Sean said.
"Yes," Steel Hand said, nodding his head. "The Darklords could strike again at any time, and we must be ready to receive them."
"Well, here we are," Sly Fox said when they got to the edge of the forest.
"Wow," Sean said. The structure before him looked more like a castle than a temple. The group continued on until they reached the front gate, where a member of the Kai was standing guard, wielding a spear. The watch didn't bar their path or anything, but give Sean a somewhat wary glance as he went by.
Sean looked on in wonder as the two Lords led him through the training grounds. Not only were they practicing direct combat, but also other tactics, such as healing wounds and the like. He could almost swear he saw a couple of them performing small feats of telekinesis.
"Hello, Sly Fox, Steel Hand," someone said, snapping Sean out of his thoughts.
"Greetings, Master Storm Hawk," the two said in unison, each placing their right hand across their chest. Sean assumed this was their salute.
"Who is this with you?" Storm Hawk asked.
"Someone we found in the woods," Steel Hand said. "Do you know where Grand Master Lone Wolf is, by any chance?"
"He is in the main building," Storm Hawk said. "Why do you need to speak with him? You know you shouldn't bother him with petty things."
"Indeed, Master," Sly Fox said. "but I believe he will be interested in what we have to say."
"If you think it is worth his time, then go ahead."
"With a name like Lone Wolf," Sean said as they walked off. "I'm not sure if he would want to see us."
"My, you really aren't from around here if you have not heard of the legendary Lone Wolf," Sly Fox said. "About thirty years ago, the Darklords attacked the Kai as the opening strike of a war. He was the only survivor, and that is how he got his name."
"It took a long time," Steel Hand continued. "but he eventually restored the Kai to what you see before you. This was not an easy task for him by any means, as the legend says that he was no stronger than us at the time of the attack." They went on to say that there were thirty-one titles among the ranks of the Kai. The one they called Lone Wolf was the Kai Supreme Master (#31), while they were mere Initiates (#5).
"Though that does not mean we are weak," Sly Fox said.
"I would think not," Sean said. They walked past another training ground, and the feats he saw there were of a whole another level in comparison to the first group. One thing that caught his eye was two people who appeared to be having a staring contest, but upon further inspection, realized they were actually using mental attacks against each other. "I might actually fit in here," he thought.
Eventually, they made it to the main structure, and much to Sean's surprise, they headed downstairs. He would have figured the head honcho would be at the top, but he didn't see fit to bring it up. When they reached the bottom, they found a grand set of double doors before them. Without a word, Steel Hand stepped forward and knocked a couple times.
"You may enter," a voice said from within. Steel Hand pushed the door open to find a solitary man sitting in a meditative position in the middle of the room, illuminated only by the seven spheres that encircled him. From what Sean could see, he was a well-built man with medium length brown hair and broad shoulders. This got him wondering just how old he was back when he earned his name, as he couldn't have been much older than 35.
"We are sorry if we have disturbed you," Steel Hand said.
Lone Wolf shook his head. "I was aware of your presence long before you arrived, and I also know why you have come. It is because of this visitor you have brought before me."
"Yes, Grand Master," Sly Fox said. "We found him in the forest. He has no knowledge of where he is, nor of the Kai in any way short of what we have told him while we guided him to the monastery. I figured that if anyone would be able to find out where he is from and get him back there, it would be you."
The Kai Supreme Master appeared to consider his lesser's words, then nodded his head. "You did well by bringing him to me. You may take your leave now, as I wish to speak with him in private."
The two young Lords saluted, then went back the way they came, leaving Sean not knowing what to say or do at this point. Luckily, the decision was made for him. "Come," Lone Wolf said. "Have a seat." Reluctantly, Sean walked in, closing the door behind him, and sat down within the circle of spheres in braziers a couple feet in front of the Grand Master.
"Um," Sean said nervously. "If I have somehow done something I shouldn't have, I--"
"Nonsense," Lone Wolf said, cutting Sean off at the pass. "I only want to talk to you." He would pause a bit until Sean was a bit more at ease before continuing. "Sly Fox and Steel hand are good men with potential for greatness, but they are still young and naïve. I however, am not. I knew of your arrival the instant it occurred and I am also aware of the power you wield within you."
Sean blinked a couple times in surprise. "You do?"
"Yes. In fact, the guard you passed at the front gates and Storm Hawk also know of your magical abilities. They assume you are merely a visitor from the magician's guild in Toran, fifty miles to the north, but I know that you are not even from this world."
"I figured as much," Sean said. "Though I should be relieved that magic exists in this world, as I was worried what would happen should anyone find out what I'm capable of. That's why I didn't tell Sly Fox and Steel Hand about it."
"Completely understandable."
"Despite this, it doesn't help me find a way back home. I can only imagine what my friends will do if they find me missing."
"Yes, this is a problem, as most Shadow Gates tend to be one-way."
"Yeah, especially considering where it was located in my world."
"I beg your pardon?" Lone Wolf asked. Sean then proceeded to relate how he happened upon the secret passage and where it led him. "My, you must be powerful if you can withstand a fall like that and not be harmed."
"Well, spells of protection and healing are sort of my specialty."
"Are there others in your world like you?"
"Where I'm from, wizardry is a very rare thing and is kept out of the public eye. My world as a whole lacks the understanding for it and would most likely react negatively if anyone were to witness such acts, usually saving talk of wizards for tales of fantasy about worlds similar to this one." The sound of Sean's grumbling stomach interrupted his explanation.
Lone Wolf chuckled a bit. "Come," he said, standing up. "We shall continue this at another time." He started to make his way to the door and motioned for Sean to do the same.
"Hold on just a sec," Sean said. With a wave of his hand, his regular clothing was replaced by a sky blue robe. Lone Wolf nodded approvingly at this, as he knew right away that Sean intended to appear less conspicuous. Plus, this new outfit bore a striking resemblance to that of the Brotherhood of the Crystal Star, the magician's guild the Grand Master made mention of earlier.
With hardly a word spoken between the two, Lone Wolf lead Sean upstairs to ground level and then some until they reached an exquisite dining hall. Upon arrival, he sent the cook off to prepare a meal for them. Unlike the privacy of the meditation chamber, this room was a bustle of activity with Kai Lords coming and going with news from lands far and near. While all this was going on, many a curious glance was made in Sean's general direction, but Lone Wolf merely stated that he was from Toran on business, but on a couple occasions, Sean couldn't shake the feeling that more was actually said than what could be picked up with layman senses.
After the meal was complete, Sean was allowed to observe some of the Magnakai classes (Ranks 10-18). Out of everything he has seen up to this point, it was the ability to use mental attacks and the protection against such techniques that interested him the most. Granted, there was no shortage of amazing feats being performed before his very eyes, but this was one of the few things that he found himself unable to recreate in some way, shape or form.
All of a sudden, an alarm bell started to ring and everyone sprang into action, apparently knowing exactly what to do. Sean tried to ask what was going on, but everyone was in too big of a hurry to oblige him, so he decided to find out for himself. Teleporting into a watchtower, he looked down to find a massive army making its way through the forest, heading in the direction of the monastery. "These must be the Darklords," he thought. Among the ranks of the evil army were humans, goblins, and others things that defied description. Looking up, he found more of them riding strange looking birds. "Damn, these guys don't mess around, do they?" He glanced around to find a weapons rack with a few swords on it. "Mind if I borrow one of these?"
"Go ahead." The Kai Lord currently stationed in that particular tower wasn't all that fazed by Sean's sudden appearance. He wielded a bow ready to fire as soon as he got a clear shot. If all went well, he wouldn't need anything else. A look of curiosity appeared on his face when Sean climbed up onto the window sill, tucking his sword into the belt of his robe as he did so. "What are you going to do?" he asked.
"You'll see," Sean replied.
---
Lone Wolf was making his way towards the front lines when he noticed something rising into the sky. Upon focusing his vision, he saw just what it was; or rather, who it was. "Sean, what are you doing?" he called out telepathically.
Due to the urgency of the situation, Sean didn't bother to ask how he did that, but responded in kind. "I'm not going to just stand around while evil forces are attacking us!"
"But how are you going to fight beings you know nothing about?"
"Considering what I've had to face back home, beating these things shouldn't be too hard."
Lone Wolf looked on as Sean glowed bright blue for a moment, then fly off in the direction of the oncoming Darklord airborne division. "I hope he knows what he's doing," he thought.
---
The person at the head of the Darklord fleet couldn't help but laugh when he saw the lone figure coming towards them. In a mocking tone, he said something in a strange language to a couple of his subordinates, causing them to laugh as well. After a few moments, a single rider was sent over to take care of the pest.
Meanwhile, on the other end, Sean was not surprised to find his opponents not taking him seriously. In fact, he had counted on that very thing to gain an early advantage. As the spear-carrying warrior got closer, Sean quickly worked out a plan in his head. He saw his adversary level his weapon at him with the intention of making the battle end quickly, but for him, it could definitely have turned out better. Effortlessly, Sean avoided being impaled, grabbed the spear and yanked it out of the previous owner's grasp before he could retrieve it. Getting right in the man's face, Sean smiled that evil smile of his before sending his new weapon through the bird's neck.
A look of shock appeared on the squad leader's face as he watched the steed plummet to the ground, taking its rider with it. He never would have expected to see someone under his command be made a fool of so handedly by some unknown upstart now looking right at him and waving. Shock quickly turned to hatred and he barked out an order, sending two more soldiers to deal with the nuisance, but they hardly got out of formation before each one was struck down by an arrow of light, one through the heart, one between the eyes.
---
Lone Wolf watched as Sean easily defeated his first three opponents. "Well, he is certainly making his presence felt," he mused, knowing that Sean was in the process of making himself the single target for the entire Darklord airborne cavalry, which would only make things easier for everyone the ground, himself included. He wasn't just watching the battle unfold, as he was in the mêlée with everyone else. Without even looking, he sidestepped a goblin's attack and whacked it in the back of the neck with the hilt of his sword, killing it instantly. Even with his attention drawn towards Sean, he was still making short work of his enemies.
---
As more and more riders were sent against him, Sean kept picking them off one by one until the entire squadron finally moved in for an all-out attack. He knew he wouldn't be able to make enough arrows to beat all of them--or at least not before they would already be upon him, so he found himself with no other choice than to draw his sword and prepare for the coming onslaught. "How the heck did all this happen?" he thought. "Somehow, I get sucked into some alternate universe and now I'm getting ready to take on an evil army by myself. I'm so glad Shinobu's not here to see this. If these guys didn't kill me, she probably would." Strangely enough, there was a smile on his face. "Well, here goes nothing."
Time seemed to slow down as the hand to hand combat got under way--or so the Darklords thought. A split-second before the first soldier was within weapon's reach, Sean disappeared, causing some muttering among the ranks. Little did they know where their target ended up until one of the stragglers felt something tapping his shoulder. Looking back, the goblin let out a yelp of surprise to find Sean right behind him.
"Hello," Sean said, knowing full well that he probably couldn't understand him, as if it would matter in a few moments anyway. On instinct, the goblin swung his sword at him, but Sean blocked it with his left forearm, putting the shield spell he cast at the very start to some good use. The victim was so shocked by this, he was left completely vulnerable, allowing Sean to run him through with his own blade.
By now, the others were aware of Sean's location, as they heard their comrade's finals screams. Splitting into two halves, they circled around, intending on trapping Sean between them. "Great," Sean muttered. "Now what do I do?"
---
Without the air force to aid them, the ground battle quickly turned into a rout, forcing the Darklords to retreat. The entire time, Lone Wolf's eyes were fixed on Sean's battle, and now that their fight was pretty much over, other Kai Lords joined him, including one in particular who just so happened to be standing nearby. "Is that Sean up there?!" Steel hand asked.
"Indeed it is," Lone Wolf said.
"Is he crazy?! Facing that many foes at once will only get him killed! Are you not going to do something to help him?!"
"If it is needed, I will intervene, but I wish to see what this man is truly capable of."
Steel Hand looked at Lone Wolf, then skyward, making an almost silent prayer to their god to protect Sean.
---
"I can't let it go on this way for too long," Sean thought. "I'll never last if I waste time killing these things one at a time. I need to start getting rid of them in bunches." All of a sudden, he realized the fatal flaw in the maneuver being employed against him, and he'd be damned--literally--if he wasn't going to take advantage of it. He began making preparations, almost paying no heed to the oncoming hordes.
The enemy leader started yelling something along the lines of not giving any mercy or some such nonsense as he led the charge, spear in hand and ready to impale the irritating wizard, but when contact was supposed to be made, the weapon passed harmlessly through Sean and accidentally skewering his second in command on the other side.
When the two halves converged, the audience below gasped, most of them knowing they couldn't survive such an attack themselves, but hearing the cries of confusion and agony told them it wasn't Sean who was suffering up there. This was confirmed when Sean appeared from within the crowd, completely unscathed, though that couldn't be said for a dozen or two Darklord cavalrymen, who were unintentionally killed by their own kind.
"Well, that worked pretty well," Sean thought after he was clear of the mob. Somewhat amused, he watched the enemy try to regroup. He had a feeling they wouldn't fall for that one again, and he was proven right when they got back into formation. Instead of trying to sandwich him, they began flying circles around him, no more than three or four engaging him at any one time. Sean knew he could get out of the trap, but they would be right back on him in moments, so he didn't bother trying. Plus, his shield spell was beginning to wane; not enough to allow physical injury, but just enough to allow his opponent to slash up his robe. When it became too much of a hindrance, Sean ripped it off, revealing that he still had his regular clothes on underneath, and tossed it right in the face of an approaching goblin, distracting it just long enough to receive Sean's sword in the midsection.
It was at this point that Sean's body was beginning to wear out. He knew he had to end the battle quickly if he was to live another day. Suddenly, an idea came to him, but it was one that he was reluctant to agree to at first. The last time he used what he had in mind, it caused a great deal of damage to the surrounding area, but since he was up in the air, away from buildings or anything else that would be missed, this would not be a factor. Besides, there wasn't much else he could do at this point. "C'mon," Sean muttered, now settled on a final plan of attack. "Just a little closer…"
To say that the Kai watching from ground level were caught off guard would have been an understatement, as seeing the giant fireball appear out of nowhere was definitely not something to be expected. "SEAN!!" Steel Hand yelled, knowing that the newcomer was right in the middle of the blast.
"It seems he wished to go out in a blaze of glory," Lone Wolf mused, but any plans for a memorial service was cut short when he saw something appear out of the bottom of the fireball. Instantly, he recognized who it was, but his hopes began to sink when he realized that Sean was plummeting towards the ground headfirst. Without giving it a second thought, he broke out into a run for where the point of impact would have been and made the easy catch.
"Is he alright?" Storm Hawk asked, running up to them.
A quick inspection provided the answer, and Lone Wolf started to smile. "He will be just fine; he just gave that last attack everything he had." He spared a glance upward, where the flaming sphere was dissipating; it soon became apparent that Sean was the only survivor. "Against overwhelming odds, he was victorious. He has truly earned my respect this day." He looked at the unconscious man in his arms, considering the next course of action…
---
"Sean?" The voice sounded distant and indistinct, yet vaguely familiar. "Sean, are you awake?" The only response the voice got was an incomprehensible murmuring. Of course, that was until Sean felt a sharp pain in his stomach.
"OW!" Sean yelled. "Who--" He opened his eyes to find Sarah standing next to him, her arms crossed and that angry expression she usually had when the two were in the same room. "Figures." Sitting up and looking around, he quickly realized that he was in the living room of Hinata-Sou. "Hey, how did I get back here?"
"What are you talking about?" Naru asked. "We found you in here when we got home from school, fast asleep."
"Oh, man," Sean muttered, placing a hand to his head. "That whole thing was just a dream?"
"Are you alright?" Shinobu asked.
"Yeah, I'm fine," Sean said. "It just felt so real, that's all."
"What was it about?" Keitaro asked.
"I'll tell y'all later, but first I need some time to sort things out." Sean soon found himself alone in the living room. "I just can't believe it," he thought. "How could all that have been a dream?" He rested his head back onto the pillow and heard a strange noise. He reached underneath it and retrieved a rolled up piece of paper. "What's this?" He unrolled it to find that it was a letter written in what appeared to be old style English lettering:
"Dear Sean,
Congratulations or your victory. Your efforts in our battle against the Darklords will not be soon forgotten. My only regret is that you were not awake for me to thank you in person, but finding a way to return you to your native plane was of greater importance. Always remember that you will always be welcome among the Kai; the keepsake I left with you should help achieve this.
Until our paths cross again,
Lone Wolf
Kai Supreme Master"
At first, Sean was confused by that last part, but something caught his eye. Sticking his hand in between the couch cushions, he was shocked to find a sword hidden there. However, this was not just any sword, but the very same one he, along with his magic, used to spill the blood of many a Darklord warrior. "Um…" Sean thought after a few moments with a complete lack of brain activity. "Something tells me I shouldn't tell Shinobu about this."
End of Chapter LVI
Well, that was certainly something, huh? I knew I had to bring up the secret passages eventually, but the hard part was figuring out where to go from there. For anyone who actually recognized where I got this from, I own no rights to Lone Wolf. See you next time--whenever that is. Please R&R!