After Yun told them the archer had come to this way, they immediately departed after the soldiers were gone. To avoid any possibility on bumping into the soldiers, they're very careful but tried to keep their pace so they won't lose trace of the archer.

Hill of Memorial, like its name, was a holy place where all the souls rested, a place to memorize the dead people for those who still alive. Roze's grandfather Eugene was rested here too. After he had done with his searching of the crazy woman, he came here to pay a visit.

Old folk, I swear I'll clear my name. I won't let your name stained by something like this. Just wait.

"Do you find her Roze?" Anna asked, coming to his way as she realized the Eugene's gravestone, she simply bowed to show her respect.

"No…perhaps she's no more around." Now the clue had gone. They had to start all over again.

"…Maybe she's just somewhere around. You know, she's still after Ulrika." Anna crossed her arms and looked around them.

He hated this idea.

To think the chick might get attacked again made his heart sank. He promised he would protect her, And I swear to myself, never and ever let her getting into this thing again.

He aware, that he was so displeased when the chick came to seek for his help. But now he's the one that swore to protect her. Things just being funny sometimes, huh? But he just couldn't let the chick be. Thinking the chick lying on the ground with bloods surrounding her almost gave him a heart attack. He…he just couldn't let that happen.

"Anna, Roze." With everyone gathered around, Jess and the others got back to rendezvous. "We couldn't find anyone around."

"Where's that crazy stalker woman!?" Feeling furious started to build, Ulrika took a deep breathe to releases it.

"…I only saw her coming this way. Maybe she went to Villnore when we're on our way here." Yun looked to the direction of another town ahead on the other side. They're wasted too much time when they tried to avoid the soldiers. He doubted the woman did this in purpose.

"I agree…speaking of which, why you are here with us Jess?" Raising his brows, Roze turned to the female doctor.

Jess exclaimed. "Wait Roze, why are you talking like I'm a stalker? I just try to help!"

"You know it's dangerous. We don't have extra hand to protect you…"

Jess stopped him by putting a finger on his lips while giving him a sweet—too sweet, or rather scary smile in Roze opinion.

"I don't need you to protect me…or you want to be the first to try out my new bombs, hmm~?"

Gulping, Roze regretted what he said earlier. Her smile sent chill down to his spine, making him trembling.

"I-I'm sorry. Forget what I have said."

"I can be useful! You all are under wanted you know!" She kept poking him using her finger point. As he took a step backward, she'll take a step forward until the baron stuck on his position.

"Y-Yes ma'am…" Rolling his eyes, Isn't she enough with her lecture?

It's a scene too see their great baron was lectured by a doctor. Everyone laughed at that even the conscientious Anna.

"By the way…is Pamela alright?" Shifting her gaze to the ghost at the top of the hill, Jess felt sorry for the ghost.

The ghost was there since the time they're here. She wondered if she was truly alright like she stated in Coriander. She felt lonely seeing her alone at there.

None of them knew why the ghost materialized after she died. Pamela didn't talk about her past, or rather how she died to the others. Ulrika only knew that she had a brother when the ghost brought it up.

She was supposed to rest like the other souls, however, she was still wondering around. Was she having some wishes that left to attain? And how many years she had lived until now?

Standing beside the monument, Pamela took a glance to the words carved on it.

...Oh Restless Soul

For Always, We Will Remember You

For Always, You Are Living Within Us

In Our Mind, In Our Heart, In Our Dream

For Always, Please Rest Peacefully

In Our Mother Earth

For Always, We Will Sing To You

The Song Of Requiem.

Pamela let out a sigh. Was she the restless soul?

"…Hey Aeon, you hear me?"

I hear you clearly. What is it?

"You still remember the first time we met?" With a smile, Pamela asked, turning the bear round and round and playing with it.

Of course I remember.

"I wonder why we met. If I hadn't met you, what I'll be?"

The mana let out a sigh. It clearly heard by the ghost…or rather only the ghost could hear.

You still can't remember what happened in the past I guess. But that's probably the best for you…

"How can that be the best for me Aeon? You know it all along but refuse to tell me…" Her gaze dropped, making her looked pity and lonely. she was really feeling lonely!

The Mana of Life just ignored her. This trick would never work on her. She wouldn't tell the lovely ghost her past, only if she recalled them by herself.

That's not something good to know though…I thought Pamela finally remember something about her past when she talked about her brother to that girl…but it doesn't seem to be.

I've told you even I, I wouldn't know about your past before we met would I?

"But…but I can't recall it by myself…" Her head dropped even lower until she buried her face into the bear. "I know I have father, mother and a brother…but I can't remember their faces…" Her voice trailed off at the end.

Her memories were like shattered mirrors without proper link that could picture them up. She could recall some of them, but with only this, how could she recall her past?

And the worst is, I don't even know how and why I died.

Shrugging off the matter, she decided not to let the problems bothered her anymore.

"No matter how, I'm glad to meet you Aeon!" She chuckled. "I know how the others think about me. I should have rested in a peaceful place like the others souls, but truly, without you, I'll never met them and having so much fun with them." She nodded to herself while looking to the monument once again.

I'm glad to met you too Pamela. You're the only one I can rely on in this world. I'll protect you with all I might. Aeon said with a hint of happiness behind her words. Anyhow Pamela, just let it be if you can't remember. Something is better not to recall.

Tilting her head, Pamela held up the teddy bear and stared at it.

"I don't understand Aeon. My past is what makes me up. It sounds weird to say that…"

Sighing, the Mana of Life hoped the ghost could just shut up. She can be annoying sometimes…of course she had reason for that. It's better to stop this topic. This will lead us to nowhere. Hmm?

Suddenly, Aeon heard something from the other side. She also felt something strange… an urge, probably.

Aeon hated this feeling, like it would bring up bad memories.

Pamela, someone's here.

"Huh?"


"What takes her so long?" Crossing his arms, Roze felt his patient was losing little by little as time flew by.

To avoid bringing up Pamela's sadness (probably…), they chose to leave her be for the moment until she fully back to her usual self. However, he didn't expect she'd take forever! How long she's going to stay there? Roze almost exclaimed. They're wasting time!

"..Stop complaining Roze." Though Anna told him so, her face was already in bad shape.

Everyone could understand that. But still no one dare to say anything for now. Ulrika rested her head on her lap with arms circled. The sky was slowly darkened; she thought it would go fully dark by one or two hours from now on. She felt as anxious as Roze, but since Roze was not allowed to complain, she doubted she had that right.

Even Captain Anna said that…

Letting out a sigh, Ulrika couldn't help but getting more and more anxious. Suddenly, she felt chilled as if someone blew her some breeze. With curious and a little bit of afraid, she slowly turned her head around, and…

"Eeeeeeaaaakkkk!"

A pair of pale and cold hand climbed up to her shoulder, making her jumped up. Her scream alerted everyone.

"…It's me Ulrika."

Floating out from the shade of tree, Pamela rubbed her temple with sweat forming on her forehead.

"P-Pamela!?" Blurting as Ulrika letting out her scare, she's glad that's not ghost…wait, Pamela was a ghost! She shivered after aware of the fact.

"What is it Pamela?" Anna asked as she walked to the ghost.

"Hey…you look bad." Roze almost took out his dagger when the chick screamed like hell. He secretly glad that's was Pamela.

"…It's just…the headache. I'm fine." Still rubbing her temple, Pamela grabbed Roze and pulled him to the top of the hill where she's there just now. "That aside! Come over here!"

Immediately Roze pulled her back, forcing the ghost to stop. "H-Hey wait! What's up!?"

Strangely, the ghost didn't answer. Instead, she looked pretty worry as Roze saw her shifted her gaze back and forth as if mentioned something bad. Seeing her like that, Roze quickly straightened his posture and pressed down the question.

"…Someone's there…come with me. It's important!" The ghost finally spoke up. He nodded, following behind her.

Leaving those who still having no clue, Yun only gave a mere shrug, following without protest. Ulrika grumbled something under her breathes. Anna and Jess on the other hand, looking at each other with frown formed on their faces.

"What's that all about?"

"…Let's go Jess."

Pamela brought Roze up to the top of the hill and had them hid behind the monument. Following Pamela's finger point, Roze first saw a man with golden curled long hair with a white robe on his body. He looked pale too, like a girl, and the other man that had his bad facing him. Roze couldn't see his face.

"…You let me do my thing, and I'll be your strength whenever you want. Sound fair?" The man spoke up. His voice stunned Roze for its familiarity.

"Perfect. I can't act freely for the time being. So I'll let you handle the things. We're in the same boat now." The blonde said, with a hint of arrogant showed on his good looking face.

"Don't take me wrong. We're simply using each other."

Roze felt his voice died in his throat. He couldn't speak; or rather he was too shocked to say anything.

This voice is definitely…the chick is right.

"Jerktown, this is it!" He heard gasping sounded beside him. He didn't aware that the others were here already.

Shit…this is what I afraid the most! He cursed while finding Anna's eyes was filled with shock. This is bad now…I thought I can avoid this from happening.

"…Vayne?" Jess said timidly as if afraid she had mistaken, and revealing the fact for the others, especially Anna.

"Wait." Yun grabbed Anna's arm immediately he realized what's in the captain's mind.

"Let me go…!"

"Do you want to put the group into danger?" Roze retorted, tried his best not to sound too harsh. "Observe it first, can you?"

He could see the flame in her eyes, but Roze decided to ignore it. Swinging the mercenary's hand off, Anna locked her eyes on the person with Vayne's voice.

But I doubt how long she can restrain her anger…Roze thought, and signaling Yun to watch over the captain.

"…I heard form Sasalina about the girl you're determined to kill…what so special with the girl?" Vayne's voice asked making the blonde twisted his face.

Ulrika and Roze also tensed up after hearing that. Their gaze shifted to the blonde in unison.

"That bitch you're talking about? I bet you must be forgetting about her after so many years have past." Snorting, the blond crossed his arms. His face looked ugly mostly due to the anger. "She's the one who ruined everything back then."

Ulrika widened her eyes as she heard that. Asking the chick with his eyes, Ulrika only shook her head in replied. She didn't seem to know what that man was talking about.

"…I see. I remember now." After a brief moment of silence, Vayne's voice replied with a chuckle. "She ruined your plan."

"Hmph! I won't let her getting in my way this time!"

Hearing that, now was the turn Ulrika pissed off.

"What is he talking about!?"

"Don't shout!" Covering the chick's mouth, Roze warned her while taking a look to the men, afraid if they would overhear them.

While he's busying with the chick, he caught a glimpse of blue flash light in his eye corner charging toward to the men in front.

"Anna!" What the hell!? "Yun!"

The dark skinned man dropped his shoulder like he couldn't help.

"It's not like I can stop her though…"

Unsheathed her katana, Anna grasped it with both hands and slashed to the man in Vayne's voice. To her surprise, the man blocked her attack with a giant shield.

"What!?" It's not like she was surprised the man blocked her, but the shield he had on his right arm.

"I thought you're gonna hide there forever…" The man put down the shield, revealing his true identity. "Hello Anna."

The gray hair, the innocent looking face and the giant shield and the sword on his arms…he was not other than Vayne himself. The only different was the smile he had on his face.

"V-Vayne…is it you…?" Anna almost collapsed from her position. Fortunately Jess braced her up from behind.

"That's not Vayne, Anna! That's not Vayne!" She snapped, tried to shake Anna off from the shock.

"Jess…"

"That's not Vayne. Vayne will never have that disgusting smile." Jess gave the captain a smile, squeezed her hand showing her support.

"Yes…you're right." Regaining her posture, Anna again grasped her katana tightly. "How dare you pretend as Vayne!"

'Vayne' shrugged. "I'm Vayne. I'm the true Vayne."

"I'll make you pay!" Thinking words was out of the way, Anna charged to 'Vayne'.

On the other hand, Ulrika and Roze were confronting the blond.

"Who the hell are you!?" Shouting out her furious, Ulrika pointed at the blonde. "When did I ruin your plan?"

"Hmph…I don't have to tell you if you can't remember it all." The blonde hissed, obviously he won't tell her. "I only need to make sure you won't get into my way this time."

"What!?" His reply really pissed her off now. "You insane! I don't know you at all!"

Roze patted her shoulder, told her to back down. If this man refused to tell them, a fight would be unavoidable.

Having this in mind, Roze ready his dagger and turned it into Sword of Light. The blonde's twisted his face after seeing the sword.

"Are you the culprit behind all this…and the assassination of the king?"

"Hmph…you should ask Vayne there if you're talking about the king, but you're right. I'm the one behind all this." He didn't seem strong at all, but he's definitely relaxed even with the sword pointing at him.

Roze furrowed his brows. What's his intention? His face changed when he saw Sword of Light…

"Step back chick." He looked the fight on the other side. Yun was helping with Anna right now. It's useless to ask for any help from the mercenary. "Support me if you want. Or else step back."

Ulrika's face turned bright with the sentence. "Alright, I'll do it!"

She's been his support strength once, and Roze trusted her. As long as they could distract this man, he would have no chance to target on the chick.

Jess readied her bombs for any case that might happen. Looking to the battle field, Pamela felt her headache even strong than before. She felt it everytime she looked at the blonde. Some pictures started to rise up from her deep of memories, but she couldn't picture them up.

Pamela, ready for the battle anytime. I'll help them.

"Huh? But Aeon…"

It's alright. They can't fight against these two men. We have no choice. that men...they're way too strong for them. Faint voice sounded in uncertain and mixed with worry, making Pamela feeling sometging bad too.

Like a flash, Anna disappeared when she jumped to 'Vayne'. With a slash occurred in the void, she reappeared again. Normally no one would be able to dodge this attack of her, but now she felt empty with her katana.

"What!?" She didn't cut anything. Then, she felt an urge on her feet. Believing in her instinct, she leaped away without hesitation.

Some stone sword pillars rose up from the ground the moment she leaped. It's just an inch to reach her. Yun taking her position, charged to 'Vayne' with his flaming claws. Leaping, 'Vayne' dodged the attack. Yun didn't let the chance get away, immediately he jumped up to him, struck him with his claws intended to rip through him. 'Vayne' took the damage directly, with the giant shield covered most part of his body, Yun's attack didn't seem effective enough. Cursing mentally, Yun took a quick turn when the giant sword aiming to him.

Switching the position, Anna slashed her katana from down to up, creating a huge shockwave toward 'Vayne'. Shifting the shield from Yun to Anna, 'Vayne' again took the damage and the momentum sent him back.

"Did we do it…?"

Seeing a smile formed on his lips, Yun felt something bad. If he was right, their attack didn't give him a scratch at all. Instead, he's more like playing with them. Rumbling sounded under their feet, and his instinct just proofed him right.

"Jump!"

Hearing that, Anna took a look under her feet before she leaped. Another bunch of pillars emerged from the ground. These pillars were larger and stronger and sharper than the one before. The area covered was wider until Yun was affected by it.

Striking with the Sword of Light, Roze kept his none stop attacking on the blonde with Ulrika supported him at the back. The blonde didn't use any weapon however; he managed to block his attacks without a hint of worrying showed on his face. Something looked like bolt shot out everytime his sword almost touched him and flicked his attack. Roze felt his brows was twitching, feeling fidget and anxious at the same time. This man is more than he looks like.

Feeling something bad in his heart, he heard Ulrika shouted to him. Taking a step back, he decided not to let the feeling got over him in the fight. And then, he saw a hammer with blades on top of it tossed directly to the blond and tugged him a mile away.

Grabbing her hammer back to her hands, Ulrika saw a flash of sliver light from top of her head. Squeaking, she quickly ran without truly confirmed what that might be. She only heard something stabbed into the ground when she quickened her pace. When the sound finally stopped, she found there were some silver giant blades.

"Ulrika!"

"Huh?" The voice snapped her out, and she acted without realized what was going on. A silver axe dropped down from the sky, almost ripped through her.

Feeling dizzy in her mind, Ulrika could barely stand up.

Leaping from the pillars and finding Yun managed to dodge like her, Anna landed on the safe spot. Looking to the pillars in front, her heart sank. These skills…are Vayne's, no doubt about it. But why…

Is he really Vayne?

Her mind got back to her body when she felt another rumble under her feet. 'Vayne' stabbed his own sword into the ground, emerging pillars again.

"Do you think this will work on me?"

Anna jumped to 'Vayne', about to slash down her sword however, she made a serious mistake. The pillars were not only emerged once, but infinitely popped up, and larger and larger until Anna was out of the way from dodging. That's Vayne's powerful skill that she knew, the Violent Pillar. How careless she was not aware of this.

Yun on the other hand also being beat down by the pillars and sent back. Anna herself was not better than him anyway. She covered her wound on her shoulder and took her katana on hand again, blocked every attack from 'Vayne'. His attacks were sharp and intense, like bluster, like a storm. Anna couldn't find a way to dodge it or strike back. All she could do was withstood as much as she could. In the corner of her eyes, she caught a glimpse Yun was fighting with another figure. That figure had the same appearance with Vayne. That's Vayne's Jade Shift!

Her eyes widened realizing the fact. Not wanting to be defeated, Anna lowered her body and dodged, finally getting a chance to strike back.

"Take this!"

Like ripping through the space, Anna's figure shuttled in between and having 'Vayne' froze in his position, she slaughtered him in his every corner.

Bloods splashed on the sky, Anna took a look to 'Vayne' on the ground. Thinking this might end it, she let out a sigh. However, when she lifted her eyes again, 'Vayne' disappeared. Deeply shock by the fact, Anna again grasped her katana. Maybe that's his avatar. I better help Yun.

Yun threw 'Vayne' a Flame Pillar by emerging the ground with blaze flame. Anna took this chance to break into the fight, slaughtered 'Vayne' with her fearful dancing blades. 'Vayne' was sent back, but the next second he disappeared again.

"Anna, watch out!"

Immediately Anna snapped on her katana to defend. In front of her was the huge sword two times bigger than it used to be, hitting straightly to her without the way she could defend it. She felt all of her body was like ripping out, her organs were like outside of her sense, she couldn't feel any of them, and she couldn't breathe.

Slamming on the ground hardly, Anna cursed that her mind still kept sober even under such a great pain. A mile away, she saw Yun was getting slaughtered like she was, by that fake Vayne.

Kept dodging the swords or axe or hammer from the sky, Ulrika couldn't even took care of herself, let alone supporting Roze. They're the one got distracted, not the blonde. Cursing under his breathes, Roze threw his sword out and the sword turned into a spear. The blonde flicked it from reaching him using his bolt. Now Roze could clearly see the bolt balls-like things surrounded the blonde. No wonder my attack will never work. He thought in his mind, and he managed to notice something. He's like…trying to avoid touching with my sword. Is this sword has something to do with him?

"Argh!"

The chick voice jerked him up from his thought. Turning to her, he saw a giant axe falling down from her top. Giving another curse, he immediately ran to her and embraced her into his arm, pulling her from the fatal damage. The axe then disappeared, like it never exist from the beginning. Speaking of which, all the swords or axes or hammers the blonde threw to the chick were gone after failing hitting the target. How could that be?

"Hey…!" Pushing the baron aside, they almost got hit by the bolt the blonde sent them. The blonde still having that disgusted smile hanged on his face, looking at them like they're some creatures.

This bastard…I'll never forgive him!

Letting out the accumulated light within her sphere, she created a barrier in front of the both of them. This may reduced our damage…she thought.

Again, she rushed to the blonde with the hammer on hand. The blonde struck her with his bolt. She got stunned a bit but recovered after a short brief. Wielding the hammer to him, the bolt balls blocked her and flicked her out of the way. Following up, Roze hit him at the crevice in between the bolt balls.

"What!?" The blonde obviously startled. The Sword of Light almost—maybe on inch—could reach him. It still caused a scratch on his arm.

He screamed as if he's in grieving pain. Covering his arm, even jut in that small scratch, his face twisted in ferocious.

"You two little rats…you'll pay!"

The sky suddenly covered in silver light, blinded the two of them. Ulrika covering her eyes while Roze tried to peer through the light. To his surprise, he saw a bunch of swords, hammers and axes falling down to their direction. Without time to check if he was wrong, he quickly grabbed Ulrika onto his shoulder and ran.

Ulrika squeaked at first, protested at his sudden action, but shut up after seeing the weapons on the sky. A scream escaped out of her mouth as Roze did his best in dodging. However, it's not like he could dodge them all.

Ulrika fell on the ground as she took a look on Roze. His legs were bleeding heavily. She gasped in that sight. His body and hands also stained with red liquid too. She only realized she was injured when her legs and arms complained their pain.

Lifting her head, she saw the blonde coming to their way. She glared at him, pissing off with his arrogant smile. Holding the injured baron in arm, she saw Anna and Yun also lying on the ground.

What happened? Why they're too…? She shook off the hopeless feeling, trying in fighting it back. No, don't give up here!

"Take this!"

A sound of a bomb broke into the scene. And then Ulrika felt a soft and smooth wind brushed against her body. Looking at her wounds, she found her wounds slowly closed up. Hearing a light groan form the baron in arm, she almost broke into tears.

Anna and Yun also regained their strength. They looked around in confusion.

And then, they all saw a teddy bear in front of them, sucking out the energy from the blonde and 'Vayne'.

"Don't forget we're here too! Go, Aeon!" Pamela exclaimed, giving order to her mana.

Aeon did as told, releasing the energy she suck out and turned it into a healing wave. All of their wounds mostly closed up by now. And then, kicking the teddy bear aside, Aeon got out from it and flew to the sky.

"A mana?" This was come from the blonde. He seemed pretty shock to see Aeon.

"Everyone, run now!" Pamela shouted to her friends. "Jess, please lend me your help!"

"Alright!" The female doctor took out her bombs, ready for a show.

Aeon released a huge energy wave, like a laser light directly to the enemies. Everyone took this chance to get out of the place. When the energy wave gone, Jess followed up with her bombs, creating a space for the two of them to get out. When the blonde and 'Vayne' got off from the explosion from the bombs, the group already nowhere to be found.

"Tch…they escape." 'Vayne' wiped off the dirt on his face. "Hey, what's wrong with that mana? I thought you told me there's no more mana in this world?"

The blonde turned and snapped. "How the hell I suppose to know?" He was shock too!

"You don't know? That's funny." 'Vayne' narrowed his eyes, suspicious written in his eyes. "…But it's not like you'll get anything in lying to me. I'll go and find it out by myself."

"Good. I want to know the reason too."

All the mana in this world should've gone when that incident happened. Why and how that mana survived? That's no doubt the Mana of Life…and that girl…seems familiar…

Thinking about the ghost, the blonde figured he might miss something. I definitely knew that girl…don't tell me she is…?


Hooray! Another chapter in this month. I feel good about it!

Okay, first of all, if you find this chapter to be weird, please let me know. I don't know if something looks strange or not though I have double checked it.

And the summary change too.

Until next time then.