Two years have passed since the war with the Gurak ended, and the outsider was released. Peace had begun, and the lands were slowly regaining its strength. Lazulis island had stayed merged with the Gurak floating fortress, and they were now situated far out to sea, near the Vono Islands: right between the Gurak continent and the empire.
The band of mercenaries have dissolved, but met up as often as they could. They had an unique bond that could not be severed easily. Nor could they stray too far away from each other.
Zael took Calista on a trip around the world. When they came back they were swamped in work. They had done a very thorough cleaning and fired a lot of knights. Zael was now the one who personally picked out the new knights and trained them. Their official wedding was not far away. All who lived one the island both humans and Gurak longed for that day.
Lowell and Syrenne used all their savings and bought a big house near the coliseum. They converted some of the downstairs into a bar, and had a few rooms for hire. Their business bloomed as did their relationship.
Mirania and Yurick travelled together to see of how their nature was recovering. After coming back, they settled down, and were teaching the art of magic to children. Both living at the castle for the moment.
Chapter one: Two Souls Collide.
The sun shined brightly down on the small islands and the birds sang happily in the trees. The wind blew a gentle breeze over the peaceful lands. Nature was slowly working on regaining its former glory: after the damage the years of decay had caused. There was still healing to be done, but most lands now showed promise of a full recovery in the near future.
A man who thought he had died at the hands of his old friends: had found himself on Vono Islands alive and well. The two men who found him was long gone by the time he awoke. Only a small note was left behind on a desk, telling him that he could use the cabin as he saw fit until the person who wrote the note returned from an important trip. Since then, he has been living in the old cabin deep within the woods. It was a lonely, but peaceful life that allowed him to heal both body and mind.
He had been to check up on his friends many times, but never revealing himself. He stayed in the shadows, observing them and making sure they were doing well. From time to time, he took on jobs. Mostly mercenary work because it was the only line of work he knew.
Guilt and fear stopped Dagran from seeking out his friends. After their fight on the bridge, he had felt betrayed: so he had in return betrayed them. He had plotted behind their backs, instead of trusting their friendship could survive a difference of opinion. He still felt bad, every time he thought back on the look on Zael's face: before their final confrontation. His face full of hurt and disbelief. Their whole group had been like family, but because of him, and his lust for revenge: things were now ruined between them.
He often wondered why the power of the Outsider had consumed him, and not Zael. Why he could not control the power when his friend could do so easily. It had pulled forth the worst in him, and warped his whole being, leaving him helpless against his own emotions. It must have been because of his dark thoughts of revenge: a man filled with such thoughts were perhaps unworthy of wielding such power.
He had killed the general that had been in charge of the knights who caused the destruction of his village. Killing Asthar had felt right at the time, but looking back at it now, he wasn't as sure. He had been the commanding officer in charge, but he hadn't been present. According to the detectives he had hired, he had taken the blame for the brutal attack, meaning he must have ordered it. Though the look on the general's face while confronting him often made him doubt. It confused him to this day, but even then Asthar said he held the blame.
The bastard that killed his family still lived on Lazulis Island. He was now a inquisitor, the same one that had held Zael's trial. Which made him hard to access. Dagran knew that he could not touch him at present because that meant coming out in the open again. He did not know if he was up for that challenge, nor if he could do it alone, or if he even wanted to reveal himself to be alive.
Dagran walked around the forest every morning. It had become his daily routine, to explore and discover new paths on the island. It always gave him a sense of calm, but this morning was different: the forest seemed to burst with activity. Animals roamed anxiously as if waiting for something to happen, and birds chatting excitingly in anticipation.
''Oh for god's sake, be quiet!'' He barked angrily at the hysterical birds. ''I can't even hear myself think!'' He waived his arms around trying to scare them off or silence them.
He often felt lonely and wished for the good old times. He was not used to be without people around him, and he missed his friends bickering more than he liked to admit. Dagran often scolded his companions back in the day, but now he longed to be around them: Syrenne and Lowell's fights were particularly entertaining.
Dagran continued to walk, trying to get away from the birds, but soon came across a bright green light. It was like a portal sitting between two tall trees. Its light vibrating with life and the air felt serene and pure. All one could see when looking through it was mass of swirling green. Curiosity got the better of him, so he crept closer. He was about to raise his hand to touch it: when a woman came through the light, walking straight into him.
''Hey! Watch were your going!'' he lashed out in surprise, and pushed her away from him. Immediately noticing the light having faded away since she did not stumble backwards into it again.
''Oh, my! I didn't look where I was going,'' She replied a bit flushed, with her head held down. ''I'm terribly sorry...''
He felt stupid after hearing her remorseful and polite apology. She had come from the portal, and couldn't have known if someone would be standing right outside it. Upon quick inspection, he noticed, that she wore clothes he'd never seen before. She was a attractive woman with dark brown hair, and porcelain white skin. Her most notable feature aside her good looks, was her burgundy eyes. ''Where do you come from?'' He asked her bluntly, not beating around the bush.
''Well, that's a little difficult to explain...'' the woman replied nervously looking into his serious face. ''My name is Tifa and...you see, I do not come from around here.''
''That is as clear as the sky is blue. I'm not stupid nor am I ignorant.'' Dagran replied irritatedly while unabashedly giving her the once over. Her slightly toned arms and legs told him that she was not your average village woman, and she held herself as someone with battle experience. He noticed she had a very flattering figure accompanying her pretty face. His eyebrow raised into a perfect arch when noticing her blushing. ''I can see that from the way you dress...''
''hmm, I guess that's true.'' she murmured in reply and turned her back to him. ''I would be grateful if you'd be able to tell me the name of this area...''
''You're on one of the Vono islands, that lies east of the island of Lazulis.'' he replied, eyes still watching her.
''Thank you...'' the woman softly replied with a look of slight confusion on her face. He immediately noticed her change of posture as her eyes clouded over with sadness. ''I'm sorry...but I have to go!''
Dagran silently watched her run away, and he couldn't help to be intrigued by her. He was curious about her and the portal that had appeared as suddenly as it disappeared. The confusion which had passed over her features made it clear to him that she was not familiar with this region. Which he might be able to use to his advantage, he thought with a smirk.
Tifa ran like there was no tomorrow. She tried to push down the sadness that threatened to explode, but it was no use. Her emotions were like an erupting volcano, strong and unstoppable. Images of Cloud and her friends danced before her cloudy vision as tears flowed down her cheeks in a steady stream.
When she reached a flower field, her legs couldn't carry her further, and she collapsed. She lay there, trying to get her emotions back under control, but to no avail. Sobs fought their way up her throat, making her whole frame shake from her grief. Her breathing was laboured and came in shaky rasps as a memory kept swirling around in her mind.
Tifa back flipped to avoid the lounging wolf. The beast's sharp teeth narrowly missing her leg. She let out a scream when the ground she landed on, suddenly opened up: swallowing her whole. She had managed to grab onto a tree branch, making her dangle with nothing but darkness beneath her, ''Cloud help me!''
''Tifa hang on!'' Cloud shouted desperately, as he fought to fend off the attacking wolves. ''I'll be right there!''
While hanging there, she could hear her best friend fighting above. After what felt like a lifetime, Cloud's face finally appeared by the small opening in the ground. The brief relief that surged though her was short lived. While he tried to reach down to her, she noticed cracks appear underneath him from the pressure he was putting on the frail edges.
''Stop it!'' She shouted in panic, making him momentarily stop his movements. ''Cloud it's useless, it won't hold your weight...''
''I don't care! I'm not leaving you!'' He fiercely replied, worry laced into his voice. ''I'm not losing another person I care about...''
The walls started to tremble around her ,and it was only a matter of time before the whole place would collapse. Tears formed at the corner of her eyes as she knew what she had to do. She looked up at her best friend's face a final time – giving him a smile, ''I'm sorry, but the kids can't lose both of us. Promise to take care of them for me. I love you all...''
''No, don't you dare, Tifa!'' Cloud's eyes widened and he desperately tried to claw after her hand. His movements jerky and panicked. He screamed when seeing her release a mastered ice spell. Which cut off the branch and sealed the hole: temporarily stabilizing the ground. While she plunged down into darkness and out of sight, ''TIFA!''
''Why am I here... why?!'' Tifa screamed out in frustration. Of course she knew why. Death had claimed her on that last mission. Though instead of becoming one with the lifestream, she had been sent here. Aeris and Zack had managed to pull some stings, enabling her a second chance, but not in her own time. Their reunion had been short, and there hadn't been time to explain anything. ''How can I go one without you all?''
''Damn it!'' a heartbreaking scream erupted from her small form, and she started to assault the ground with her fists. The pain became more and more excruciating, but she ignored it. Blood streamed from her badly bruised knuckles: coloring the ground a deep red.
''Oi, calm down!'' Dagran shouted and grabbed her arms – forcing them to cease their movements. ''I don't know what you have been through, but this doesn't make it better,'' he spoke gently, and released her in order to check on her knuckles. ''Shit, what have you done...''
''It's nothing...'' Tifa whispered as she looked down on her hands. She had beaten her hands so badly, that the bones were visible. Her eyes looked up into his hazel ones. ''I can fix them with magic.''
''Show me,'' Dagran said seriously, his eyes never leaving her face. He knew of no healing magic that could mend wounds like these.
She touched the hand he held in his and whispered, ''Cure...'' a green light illuminated the wound: which closed it completely, not leaving a single trace behind. She repeated the same action on the other hand while watching the man's reaction closely.
''Amazing! What strong magic you use.'' He said in a low voice while still looking at her now healed hands. His mind already thinking up several ways which this could be useful, or rather how she could be useful to have around.
''Yeah, amazing...'' Tifa said and slumped down on the ground. Tears once again streamed from her crimson orbs. She hugged her legs close and rocked back and forth trying to console herself.
Dagran crouched down and pattered her back with one hand. He kept doing that until she stopped crying. He felt bad for her. Something horrible must have happened to her, to make her this sad.
''Tifa, right?'' Dagran asked and stood up. ''You are on your own?''
She nodded in response and looked up into his handsome face. His eyes shone with kindness, which made her feel safe, despite her not knowing anything about him.
''Same as me, then,'' he grinned. ''Well, come on,'' He said and held out his hand, which she gratefully took, and he helped her up on her feet. ''Come with me then.''
Dagran was somehow always drawn to people in need of help. He had found all of his friends in similar situations years before. All had followed him because of his determination and caring nature. Was is fate? Or would perhaps this woman do what none had done before? Maybe it was Dagran's turn to be helped after all years of taking care of lost souls...
