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Chapter cover: Phantom, Luminous and Jake running as one in a single file, facing to the right. Facing to the left was another trio, Kuan, Crow and Lea, their weapons pointed at a human silhouette.

…

Location: Forest of Leafre

"Oof,"

"Can't move!" Phantom whined.

"You three are squashing me…" Jake muttered once he got his breath back. One by one, they untangled themselves and looked at their surroundings with critical eyes.

Here, it was calm, soothing even with the movement of the winds and the chirping of birds.

That feeling was banished in an instant when a sense of foreboding settled in their minds.

"They should be around here…" Phantom stated, his jewel on his cane glowing faintly though he was really relaxed about it. Luminous glared at the thief and shook his head, rolling his eyes to the heavens as if asking the heavens to save him.

Jake struggled to keep his face blank.

"Awesome," Jake grinned in a way that made them feel uneasy. "how about concentrating on tracking them?"

They counted fifteen seconds before Phantom recovered himself by tipping his head like a gentleman to Jake.

Phantom grinned back, equally unnerving. "It's hard to believe you and Lea are siblings."

Jake wasn't sure how to comment on it except raised his eyebrows.

Luminous rolled his eyes to the heavens and stormed off. The rustling of leaves and the squashed marks of the grass indicated where the mage of Aurora went off to.

The slight throbbing on his left leg distracted Jake and he rubbed it gingerly. If it weren't for his awesome healing spell, he knew he would be crawling now.

As long as he didn't strain himself, the spell will remain – thought Jake darkly.

…

…

Meanwhile…

Name…a name…give me one! The demon's voice rang in her ears.

Lea hissed. She was almost at the town of El Nath when her mind began to split on its own.

She groaned in pain, yellow and black spots danced in front of her very eyes. It cost her as one White Fang bit her right arm. Out of reflex, her free hand grabbed the monster by its neck and pulled it hard.

It released her with a yelp and Lea threw it.

It slammed against a rocky wall. Dust and snow came down from sheer force, forcing the monster to be buried.

Almost immediately, the pierced flesh and muscle regenerated until it was pink and raw.

A NAME!

The inner demon demanded a name – a name to be called, a name to draw power from and a name to be identified.

Lea felt groggy, but not groggy enough to lose focus on her enemies. The reinforced dagger, its magic path glowed dangerously bright red. It was only Lea's only warning before it shattered into shrapnels – piercing both its allies and enemies alike.

Gritting her teeth, Lea used her bare fists and heavy boots to fight against the monsters, ignoring the small metal which had pierced her stomach.

"LEADER!" Kuan yelled and a metallic item was thrown into the air.

"WHAT?!" Crow answered instead and Lea took solace in imaging her little brother as a baby with a white diaper and crawling on the polished wooden floor of their old home.

Even in the heat of battle, Lea couldn't help, but chuckled. Her left hand touched the small shrapnel and gripped it, ignoring the stinging pain from both her stomach and hand before pulling it out and tossed the object aside.

Lea spared a glance at the item as it reflected the light of the setting sun. She quickly finished her foes before jumping as high as she could, narrowly escaping a feral bite as the jaws of one of the white fangs snapped shut loudly.

The obsidian hair colored leader then used the poor white fang as a stepping stone to grab the metallic weapon, its leather grip perfectly fit her hand.

She twisted her body in time for her feet to touch something solid – another rocky wall, and pushed herself forward. As quick as lighting, the white fang was cut into two by the curved short sword. The poor monster didn't have time to howl to warn its comrades as its spilt body crashed to its pack, momentary confusing them.

I want to be acknowledged.

The inner demon hummed an annoying tune. It sounded as if a bee was buzzing in her ear.

Lea heaved a heavy sigh before she shifted her weight, and bounced on her feet.

"I will see about it," Lea promised aloud and the humming stopped, leaving the leader to deal with their foes.

…

…

Location: Unknown

Arkarium stared at his crystal ball which was placed on a broken pedestal with a sad expression – a rare expression for his fellow comrades-in-arms. But none dared to challenge him nor remarked on it. They respected him for he is the right-hand man of the Black Mage, the master they serve.

"Master Arkarium," one of his serpent servants muttered, bowing low in respect before rising up to face the former time keeper.

"The ritual is ready," said the servant.

The commander didn't bat an eye nor did he turn his gaze away from the crystal orb.

"Master?"

Arkarium finally looked away from it, waving a hand over his orb and power of darkness filled it once more. The former time keeper finally has his serious face back, his eyes gleaming maliciously like reptiles in the dark.

"It's time for the black Rook to take the White Queen…"

Then, with a single spell, a portal made of darkness opened beside him and the commander entered without hesitation.

Immediately, the bounded warriors of old met his old eyes.

Arkarium's familiar slithered down from the staff and went to the girl's side and coiled around her body. It went to her shoulders and let out a fork tongue to taste her scent.

The commander himself felt he was facing the wrath of nature and turned to the direction of the sensation.

One pair of icy blue eyes glared at him, but not thrashing in his bonds like the first day. Even though weakened a great deal, his spirit wasn't broken, so were his sharp senses.

They looked perfectly healthy, which puzzled Arkarium. They were supposed to be malnourished, with a lack of necessary food. He made sure to feed them enough to survive through the day.

Then, his eyes went to the bonds, the chains which were once black with corruption showed a silver tint to it.

The magic bonds which bound him were weakened somehow – was it his will?

Arkarium pushed the matter back to his mind and looked at the blind child, whose conscious kept wavering like day and night. He walked to her side, his black robes sweeping up dirt behind him, and gently touched her cheek.

It felt human – not an animal.

"…How disturbing…" He muttered as he let his fingers traced her collarbone, her unblemished skin. The shadow of the warrior didn't stir, much less took notice of the touch.

"To think the mighty wielder of the 'Blue Flame' is a human. Now, break. Submit to us!"

He clenched his fist, activating the binding spell, tightening the bonds and the air rippled with the sounds of the girl's screams. Her voice was hoarse from screaming.

It is music to his ears.

"Begin," intoned the commander.

Then, a bright purple magic circle with symbols spoke of soul and allegiance surrounded the screaming child, struggling in her bonds. Arkarium chanted furiously and quickly under his breath, eager to accomplish what he had sought.

Halfway during the spell, his familiar hissed angrily before releasing the shaky child. It hated to be parted with the child.

"Be ours, o' great beast." Declared the commander with an evil glint in his eye once he finished the spell.

The exposed neck glowed for a moment, and the magic circle faded.

Her branded neck revealed a black, burnt mark like a necklace, the symbol of the Black Mage rested slightly above her cleavage.

It is worth waiting for aeons for the beast's return – thought Arkarium with amusement as he stroked his long beard; the place was silent saved for the cries of outrage from her partner and the haggard breathing of the beast.

His master will be pleased with the new puppet.