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The Legends of Endrivan

The road before them was long and arduous, looping into a long tendril in the distance, the dirt path lined by a single worn, wooden fence on its right and nothing more. It was in a state of poor disrepair, the wooden slates rotting away in some places and no doubt infested with termites. On either side, grasslands stretched out around them as far as the eye see could see, patches of heather and springy shoots of cotton grass cropping up from time to time as they walked. They traveled inland, the lake growing smaller the farther they went, but the higher elevation they traveled at meant they could still see a sliver of blue behind them. The sun beat down on their backs, the sky clear save for some clouds gathering in the distance opposite the lake. The unchanging landscape, coupled the hours they'd spent walking, made their journey seem to stretch on into forever. By now, he and his friends were simply ambling along mindlessly, uncomfortable, tired, and doubtlessly wishing for a break. The sword he'd been given had grown progressively heavier at his side as they trudged on, and it was only the hours they'd spent in the tv world that kept it from being unbearable. The water that was passed around from time to time helped, but it wasn't long before he was feeling thirsty again, the relief a temporary one thanks to the exercise. Rhysana sort of took their minds off things by regaling them with stories and epic tales, and while they were all certainly very interesting (his favorite was about a bard and his were-cat friend stopping an assassination plot), even they couldn't heal exhaustion. Sweat continuously trickled down his neck and back, his armor stifling, and if it wasn't for the continuous wind that traveled over the moorland, he would have collapsed into some puddle somewhere for an indefinite amount of time.

Oh, that sounded really nice, actually . . .

Behind him, he heard Bone let out a sharp whinny, stamping his hooves against the dirt path. Korval patted the horse's great flank, unafraid of the beast's agitation. How he wasn't boiling in that armor of his, Yu would never know . . .

"Are we almost there?" he heard Yosuke ask, looking miserable. His shoulders sagged, and more often than not, he would reach up to wipe away sweat beading against his brow, "Because I don't think I can take much more of this."

"Oh, come now, we've only been on the road for four hours!" Rhysana chided him, "And this is really good weather for walking! You can manage a few more, can't you?"

"Yeah Yosuke, it's not that bad!" Chie, the only one who was still walking with her head up, looked at the brunette, "Come on, stop being a baby! Just think of it as training!"

"Yeah, well, most of us don't do that, okay? Most of us don't wake up at ungodly hours in the morning just to run around pretending we're Bruce Lee!" Yosuke snapped, patience having worn out ages ago.

"Well, at least some of us have aspirations other than being the Junes whipping boy!" Chie shot back just as sharply.

Before the two could really go at it, however, Rhysana suddenly hopped between them, holding her hands up in a 'halt' position, "Alright, children, that's enough."

The two glared at each other for a second longer, then pointedly turned their backs and crossed their arms. Ah, now this was familiar . . .

Yukiko, after glancing at her friend with pursed lips, looked to Rhysana, "But still . . . do you think we could stop for a little break?"

"Even a five minute one sounds good right now," Rise commented. Scratching at the skin beneath the collar of her vest, she added with a huff, "Ugh, I swear, this armor is trying to suffocate me!"

"You'll get used to it the longer ya wear it, so just tough it out!" Korval called from the back, starting to look mildly annoyed. He mumbled something else, but that Yu didn't quite catch.

"Easy for you to say . . ." he heard Kanji grumble under his breath, pulling at his collar.

"We'll be there soon!" Tirin assured them with a smirk. Then he added, "And by soon, I mean about three hours from now!"

Groans were shared, shoulders sagging even more.

"I normally would not protest, but if you mean to build our endurance, a better way to do that would be to have brief intermissions between exercises," Naoto put in, who had taken off her hat and now carried it under her arm, "Otherwise it could do more harm to our bodies than good."

"Normally, an intermission is exactly what we would have, but as important as improving your physical stamina is, we have to press for speed," Nyras said. She pointed to the distant clouds, which layered the horizon with thick, dark streaks, "Those clouds are the beginnings of a storm, one that will reach this area before nightfall. But it is still far. If we do not tarry and keep our pace, we can make it to Bailsborough before the worst of it hits us."

Yu looked to the clouds, truly wondering if it could be worse than traveling in this heat. But then, he'd eventually get sick of tromping through the rain as well, so scratch that.

"Will it still hit us before we reach the town?" he questioned.

"It very well could, but only the eaves of the clouds will be our concern. The worst of it we can avoid if we keep going," Nyras informed him.

"I see . . ." he hummed thoughtfully, pursing his lips together.

"I know that look. What are you planning?" Yosuke asked him, eyebrow lifting in suspicion.

Yu gave him along, steady look. Then, ". . . If the storm hits and I collapse into the first puddle that forms, don't question it."

Yosuke's eyebrows furrowed together, but when he opened his mouth to (try) and reply, nothing came out. He closed it and looked away, then suddenly looked back and opened it again with a finger pointed his way, paused, then shook his head and looked away without saying anything.

"We'll be hitting the edges of Valethorn Forest soon, so will have shade then," Rhysana added a bit more positively, "And a fresh supply of berries!"

"Berries?" Yukiko asked, "Like, the kind you can eat?"

"Oh yeah, those kinds of berries," Rhysana replied with a smile, "Lots of berry bushes line the road that leads to Bailsborough. We can pick them right off the bush!" Closing her eyes, she held up her index finger and said, "You know, legend says that there are some kinds of berries in Valethorn that can prolong you're life if you mix them with the right amount of ambrosia and water!"

"That sounds . . . interesting," Naoto said, not sounding too terribly interested at all.

"Eh, why waste good berries on some stupid rumor-potion when you can just eat 'em," Korval said, scoffing slightly as if the mere thought of it made him unhappy.

"I am getting pretty hungry, but I don't know. I mean, is that safe?" Chie questioned, looking unsure.

"Why wouldn't it be?" Tirin asked her, "You just pick the ones you want, pop them in your mouth, and let them take you to a sweet, juicy bliss!"

"But what about food-borne illnesses? Pesticides may not be an issue, but there are plenty of micro-organisms that can . . ." Naoto trialed off at the utterly clueless looks she received, then let out a small sigh, "Nevermind."

" . . . anyway," Rhysana continued in her place, "You'll be able to see the tree fringe when we cross that next hill. After that, it's about a two hour walk."

"Is Bailsborough inside the forest or somethin'?" Kanji asked.

"Mhm, just on the edge of Arvorod's border," Rhysana explained to him.

"Border with what?" Yosuke asked, "Another country?"

"No. Arvorod is bordered by the Vanguard Kingdom of Kennebrecht," Nyras explained, running a hand down Aira's neck.

"Huh? I thought Arvorod was the only kingdom here," Chie put in, puzzled.

"Actually, you'd be wrong," Rhysana said. Another glimmer appeared in her eyes, one that only shone when she was about to tell a story, "You see, Endrivan used to be a single empire, ruled by the Grand Emperor Endrivan himself. Its glory spread from the Spirit Wilds to the east to the Opalite Sea to the west, and many on Andalar considered it the pinnacle of martial, mystical and political power. But then, one day, a calamity no one can remember struck the Empire, razing the northern lands to the ground and leaving the Grand Emperor dead. After that, the lesser lords of the Emperor's former court began to vie for the crown, and eventually split apart into several kingdoms that warred with each other for many years in a conflict known as the War of Broken Succession. The colonies the Empire once controlled broke away from their masters, ceding further discord throughout the continent. Years of bloodshed followed. But eventually, a greater threat rose up from the ashes of the northern lands; a rift to the Abyss itself. When it became apparent that this threat would not leave, the monarchs of the lands met and signed a treaty of non-aggression so they could focus their efforts on the demon threat instead. This treaty was known as the Evangelic Truce, marking the time where the era of the Successor Kingdoms began, and where the legacy of the Empire was finally forged into something worthwhile!"

Everyone was listening with rapt attention by this point. Of course, this land would have a rich history, and Yu found himself wishing for more details on the events that made this country what it was today. They'd also rounded the crest of the next hill, and ahead, Yu could make out the distant line of growing trees, the path being swallowed in their emerald depths.

"But, to be a bit more succinct with the information you need . . ." Nyras interrupted, ignoring the scowl Rhysana gave her, "There are eight kingdoms in total; Arvorod, Kennebrecht, Riftvale, Kolgore, Steinhalten, Fessix, Rothvigot, and Stentlant. Each bear their own strengths and weaknesses, and follow their own unique codes and monarchies. Although, to tell you each would take quite a long time."

"So, do they all rule together? Like a big royal family?" Teddie asked, ears perked with interest.

Nyras let out a short laugh, "No, not quite. In fact, many of the current monarchs do not particularly care for one another. But they did once share a goal, and that has bred some level of kinship at least."

"Goal? What kind of goal?" Chie asked.

"And what about the northern lands? What happened to them?" Yukiko added intently, eyes gleaming.

"And what was that about demons?" Yosuke inquired.

"Hey, slow down!" Rhysana laughed, "One at a time!"

"It's not like we ain't got any time," Korval commented, a touch of an amused smile on his lips.

"No one knows what happened to the northern lands," Nyras explained, "Accounts of the time have either been lost or are so vague they are hardly credible sources. Some say the shadows of death loomed over this land then, and has since been sealed, but that is merely a myth."

"A myth? Huh, that's kinda funny," Rise said, "Since you live in a world with magic, you'd think myths wouldn't be a thing."

"Of course we have them! Myths are some of the best things about our world, because while the myth could be the truth, something just as great but still completely different could be just as true as well!" Rhysana said, leaning close to Rise and clapping her hands together, "Like the Grand Emperor Endrivan! No one actually knows if he really existed, or was just a spiritual figure in the Empire's own folklore. The possibilities are endless!"

"But what happened afterward? You said the Empire fell and something rose from the ashes, and that it dealt with demons," Yu questioned, eager for more information. Hey, this was really interesting, and got his mind off of how hot he was, "Or is that a myth too?"

It could be that the heat was getting to his head, but he thought he saw Nyras' shoulders stiffen.

"That . . . is not a myth," she said. She reached up as she spoke, and at first glance, Yu thought she was going to grab her crossbow. But then her hand stopped halfway, tips merely brushing the grip before running her hand over her hood, smoothing away the wrinkles, "To the north, there is a great scar of black and corrupted land this country knows as the World Wound. It runs through the heart of the country, splitting the northern and southern lands apart, and has been a place of battle for many centuries."

"Why?" Yukiko asked.

"Because the World Wound was a rift between the Material Plane and the Abyss," Nyras continued, "Hordes of demons would pour from it and attack the mortals of this realm, killing any who stood in their path. Many cities near the borders of the unscarred lands were lost before the kingdoms signed the treaty, but even with their united forces, they would wage war with the demons for many years. These wars gave rise to the Crusades, holy campaigns meant to win back the land they'd lost to the demons and find a way to seal the rift for good. The first three succeeded. But the ones following them all failed."

This was a serious topic, Yu realized. But then, war always was, and he wasn't even going to ponder what a war against demons must be like.

The wind was also picking up a bit, blustering over the grassy moors in sweeps rather than gentle brushes, the grasses rippling like a wave.

" . . . you've mentioned this World Wound before," Naoto began after a moment, "Is it . . . still a current problem?"

"Not anymore, thankfully," Rhysana said, face lifting, "In fact, the World Wound was closed three years ago!"

"That's good to know," Yosuke said, looking relieved. Then, a more curious spark appeared in his eyes, "How was it closed? Do you know?"

"Oh, everyone knows who did it," Tirin commented as he spun around and began walking backwards. Yu grew a little suspicious of the devious smirk he sent their way, "A dashing group of heroes everyone calls 'The Champions of the Seventh Crusade'. They're legends."

Yu furrowed his brow together, the title striking a chord. Champions . . . ?

"Who are they? I mean, if they're legends, you gotta know, right?" Yosuke continued, several other nodding along in interest. Except Naoto, who's eyes had gotten quite wide. Like she'd just realized something . . .

Wait. Wait!

Yu's mouth flapped stupidly, "You-?!"

"I'll give you a hint," Rhysana cut him off, eyes sparkling with amusement, "You're talking to them."

The silence was a thunderstruck one, punctuated by an actual and appropriate boom of distant thunder that rolled across the sky. He'd known that they'd done something to earn the awe he'd seen in the eyes of the townsfolk, but . . . well, he really shouldn't say he hadn't expected something like this, because what else could have won it except something as epic as closing a freaking demon gate and ending a centuries long war?

Not to say he and his friends hadn't done epic things, but they . . . hadn't exactly been recognized for it and probably never would be. Not that it was a problem.

Then Tirin giggled, grinning, "I think we broke them."

"Told ya we shoulda just told 'em upfront," Korval commented from the back, but there was a definite chuckle in his voice that was very poorly covered up.

Nyras nodded slightly, "Perhaps that would have been better . . ."

Rhysana shrugged, "Oops?"

"You're . . . the champions?" Yosuke squeaked, looking mildly overwhelmed, "Holy shit . . ."

"Adventurin' group of heroes . . ." he heard Kanji whisper dazedly, "But their actually heroes . . . wow . . ."

"You actually did that? For real?" Chie asked, and at Nyras' nod, excitement lit up in her eyes, the girl bunching her arms close to her body in delight and shouting, "Oh my god, that's so cool! Ha! How'd you do it? Come on, you gotta tell us what happened!"

"Yeah, seriously, start spillin'!" Kanji spoke up quickly.

"Did you close the rift with magic? Was it inside the Abyss? Did you have to fight through an army of demons to get to it? Oh, well, I guess that last's one's a little obvious . . ." Yukiko trailed off a bit awkwardly, blushing a bit.

"Was there love? Epic romance?" Teddie let out a sudden gasp, "Were there smooches?!"

"Wouldn't you like to know," Tirin said, laughing at the indignant pout Teddie gave him.

"Actually, I want to know too!" Rise put in, looking at Rhysana for an answer, "Please!"

Rhysana laughed, "Come on, I know you're all excited, but you really should calm down."

"Calm down?" Yosuke started, "How can we calm down, we literally just found out you're apparently all living legends!"

"Aw, that's sweet of you to say," Rhysana commented, but Yu was fairly sure she was teasing him.

"This certainly explains everyone's disposition towards you," Naoto mused, eyes thoughtful, "And why Tiruviel referred to you as 'champions'."

"With all that, we really should have seen something like this coming," Yu mumbled.

"Are we all champions, too?" Yukiko asked, looking both intent and impatient for the answer, "The rest of us, I mean?"

"I think that would be obvious, wouldn't it?" Rhysana replied smoothly, smiling in amusement at everyone's excited glances.

It really only made sense, Yu realized. But knowing his counterpart was out their somewhere as a legendary hero of the people and savior of Endrivan was . . . a pretty cool thing to know.

"Come on, tell us more!" Chie demanded persistently, wanting answers.

"Seriously, don't leave us hanging like that!" Yosuke insisted, leaning in so he could hear every word.

"Hm, I don't know," Rhysana said teasingly, "If I told you everything, it'd spoil the identities of everyone else!"

"You know what, who cares?" Yosuke finally shouted, "I mean, its gonna be a while before we even see them probably, and frankly, I want to know who my champion counterpart is!"

Chie scoffed, "Just so you can stroke your ego, right?"

"Oh come on, I know you wanna know the same!" Yosuke accused her, glaring.

"You could give us hints!" Yukiko cut in before the two could fight, eyes sparkling with enthusiasm, "That'd be fun!"

Yu couldn't deny, he really wanted to know the details. Like, really badly.

"It is a long story, just so you know," Nyras informed them.

"We have two hours before the next town," Yu said, making his decision, "Story or riot."

Rhysana chuckled, "Okay, okay. I'd prefer to do this at a campfire, but since you're so insistent . . ." she placed a thoughtful to her chin, closing her eyes and humming, "Hm, where should we start?"

"What do ya mean 'where do we start', you've told this story hundreds of times," Korval said, eyebrow raised in her direction.

"Its called 'effect', Korval, a most basic bard tactic. Now let me do my job," Rhysana replied evenly, and maybe a bit mockingly. Korval huffed.

While they spoke, the forest yawned before them, filled with birches and elms and other temperate trees whose green foliage clustered thickly at their tops. The path was flanked by two enormous oaks, their gnarled roots sweeping over the churned ground and their interlocking branches forming an arch of leaves over the road. The fence ended where the trees began, all signs of human interference officially ending as nature took sway, the sunlight fading to a dim amber glow within as the light failed to penetrate the thick canopy. Only a few small patches of bright light made it through but they were scant and small, and with every gust of wind they would flicker and become interspersed with shadow, like light through the liquid surface of water. In comparison to the open moorland behind them, the forest looked very confined and ominous indeed, even though the only sound were the pleasant songs of the birds and the chattering of other harmless forest animals.

. . . This was not the tv world, he shouldn't feel nervous about a couple of trees.

Just then, another gust blew at them, but this was much stronger than before. It tore at his hair and whipped at his face, shaking the treetops with violent force and scattering the birds that roosted there as if sweeping aside a layer of dust.

When it died down, he heard Nyras speak, "Come on, into the trees. It will be more sheltered, especially when the rains begin."

Yu glanced to where the clouds were, and with a start, realized they were much closer than before. It really wouldn't be long before they were over them.

Everyone hurried into the trees, the wind petering out significantly thanks to the trunks. The leaves stilled thrashed over head, but the worst to it was off of their backs. And boy, Yu had never been more grateful for shade than he was right then.

A sweeter scent filled his nostrils, and his stomach gave a wanting growl. Beside the road, numerous bushes dotted the ground, and growing from their branches were thick clumps of juicy looking berries. Some were a luscious red, with dimpled surfaces not unlike a raspberry, while other were smooth, small orbs of dark blue and black. Another, more odd-looking set were these purple berries growing from bushes with dark, spiny leaves, their bodies long, smooth and bearing a weird resemblance to a chili pepper. But they weren't as common as the other two.

Smiling, Rhysana reached over and plucked a blue one from its stem, popping it into her mouth with a pleased sigh, "Mm, just as good as last time. Go on, help yourselves! There's plenty to go around."

"I would suggest avoiding the purple berries," Nyras added, "They possess narcotic qualities if you consume too many, and that is best avoided."

"But what about-?"

Rhysana held up her hand, cutting Chie off, "Food first, then we'll talk. Now go on! Grab some as we walk!"

With a keen stare, Yu examined one of the berry bushes near him. One of the red ones. Gingerly, he plucked it from its spot, the surface soft beneath his fingers as it gave way with little resistance. He rolled it between his fingers carefully, noting the small red smears staining his fingers from the juice before he shrugged and popped it into his mouth. He smiled a bit at the sweet flavor, making a pleased noise in the back of his throat as he swallowed it. Not bad.

The others made there way around too, partaking in the fruity fare with gusto as if only just realizing how hungry they were.

"Not bad, though it's be nice to have something else to go with it," Yosuke decided, chewing on one of the blue berries. Beside him, Teddie kept popping one small fruit after the other, clearly enjoying himself despite the stains covering his fingers. It was good to see him in higher spirits.

"Well break some bread out as we go," Korval said from the back, urging Bone along as the great horse sniffed at the bushes.

"That will see us until Bailsborough," Nyras agreed, patiently holding out a handful of berries to Aira, which the pretty mare demurely began to eat.

"So, can you tell us the story now?" Rise asked before popping another berry into her mouth.

"We just started eating!" Rhysana protested, but she was smiling, and her voice was light.

"We can talk while we eat! It'll be like a dinner and a show sort of thing!" Chie said, taking Rise's side.

"My my, so impatient!" Rhysana quipped with an offhand wave, placing her other hand on her hip, "You'd think I was about to tell you my deepest, darkest secrets, the way you're going on!"

"Well, can you blame us?" Chie asked, crossing her arms and pursing her lips together.

Rhysana smiled, "Of course not, its just fun to tease you!"

Chie huffed, crossing her arms and turning away. Rhysana laughed.

The exit to the moorland was getting farther now, just a speck, but the light in the first wasn't unpleasant. In fact, it was quite the opposite.

He sadly didn't get to enjoy it for long, as Aira gave a sharp and sudden whinny, tossing her head back and stomping her hooves into the dirt. Everyone jumped, dropping what they were doing to stare at the horse as she whinnied again and jerked her head to the left.

"Aira, what's wrong?" Nyras asked, looking alarmed. The horse met the woman's eyes, then whinnied again.

Yu didn't know if any actual communication had passed, but Nyras' eyes darkened, and she shot a glance to her companions, "Wer'sin in gehfarn! Wer musse un bewegan!"

The response was immediate. In unison, Nyras grabbed her crossbow, loading a bolt with haste, Korval swung his hammer into his hands, air whisking around the blunted head, Tirin drew his daggers with a sharp shing, and Rhysana reached to her bracelet and grasped one of the charms dangling, pulling it off in haste. Yu watched as the tiny object in her hands expanded into the familiar redwood harp he'd seen before, fitting into place perfectly. By now, he needed no clues to know that they were in danger.

"Guys, get you're weapons out," he ordered, "Hurry!"

Reaching to his side, he grasped the hilt of his sword and pulled it out, the blade singing as it was pulled free of its sheath. All around him, more sounds of weapons being drawn rose up, his friends arming themselves like they were told. He held his sword at his side in a way that was familiar to him, already feeling more at ease now that he was armed.

"What's happening?" Rise asked, awkwardly holding the rapier she'd been given out in front of her.

"We're being watched," Nyras said ominously, eyes scanning the forest growth for something he could not see.

Yu swallowed. Just what could happen now?

He was answered far, far too quickly, as suddenly, the trees to the left of him shook and trembled as something large shot from the undergrowth and leaped into the open, seeming to meld out of the wood like a monstrous shadow.

Yu backpedaled as great claw came crashing down on him, blocking in just the nick of time thanks to muscle memory. But the attack sent him flying back into Yosuke, who teetered on his feet before falling over. Yu scrambled back up instantly, hearing Korval roar and Nyras shoot off a bolt, just in time to take in the creature assaulting them.

It was huge, at least twelve feet in length and a head or so taller than himself. In form it resembled a dragon, with a sinuous, serpentine body, a long neck and tail, and a narrow muzzle lined with sharp teeth. But it had no wings, and looking closer, he saw that in place of scales was a body made of dark brown bark bearing a greenish hue. A bushy mane of twigs, leaves, branches, and vines curled around its head, a series of thorny spines running down it's back. Two backward curved horns sprouted from it's head, made of the same brown shell that coated the creature's body. It gave a hissed, beady eyes as bright as a holly berry glowing with malice, a long brown tongue flicking over it's fangs like a snake's.

Korval was already on it, bringing his hammer down on its shoulder, the bark snapping beneath the blow. He swung again, this one clipping the creature's horn and chipping off the tip. With a furious hiss, the dragon-thing rounded on the half-orc, fangs clamping hard on his arm. A fetid green liquid began to pool out of it's mouth, dripping onto his armor and sizzling where it landed. Three more bolts lodged into it's side, chipping into the bark but otherwise not doing much as the creature raked it's claws over Korval's chest, digging into the black armor with frightening force.

Behind the beast, a pair of daggers embedded themselves into the creature's flank, a burst of powerful acid erupting from the wounds and eating away at the creature's hide. It shrieked, bucking and lashing out with it's back claw, which succeeded in clipping Tirin in the shoulder before he could dodge, kicking up a cloud of dust in the process.

He heard Rhysana begin to sing, a melody of fire that inflamed him to the core, burning away his fear. Scanning the battlefield, he made a quick summation of the best places to attack while taking into account there limited movement before ordering, "Alright, Yosuke, Chie, with me. We'll take it from the left. Kanji, take Ted and go at it from the right. Strike fast, then get out, no theatrics. Leave the heavy hitting to Korval and Tirin. Naoto, Yukiko, we're counting on your support."

"But what about-?"

Yu glanced at Rise, "I need you to watch it. Take note of where our attacks really hurt it, and what doesn't. Got it?"

"I . . ." Rise's eyes hardened, "Got it."

She didn't have her persona, and she had never held a rapier in her life, so this was the next best thing. Nodding once, he shouted, "Alright, let's go!"

The creature was good and distracted by Korval, who was still pounding it with is hammer, and Tirin, who was flanking it from behind alongside Xirskam. Even Bone and Aira were doign their part, lashing at the thing with their powerful hooves. Nyras continuously pumped it with bolts, soon aided by Naoto as she took her first shot as well. But her inexperience with her new weapon showed, the bolt skimming the creature's back and bouncing off the base of one of it's spines rather than striking home like it normally would.

But he had to focus now. Without their personas, they'd have to be extra careful and evasive. So light on his feet he remained. He darted in once, slashing at it's side before dancing out of reach. Yosuke did the same, already one of their most agile fighters and hacking at the beast with two well-aimed strikes before darting to the right to a safe distance. A bladed fan flew over his head, striking the creature in the face and leaving a gash in it's cheek.

Chie, forgoing the staff she'd been given, opted instead for her tried and true method of kicking things into orbit, spinning round and slamming the heel of her foot into it's side. The impact traveled up her body and she stumbled back, hopping on one foot to keep weight off her injured one.

"Damn, this thing's harder than it looks!" Chie shouted, glaring at the thing with heated eyes.

"Guys, I don't think physical attacks really work on this thing," he heard Rise call out to them, "They're not hitting it like they should!"

"Then we'll just have to wear it down," Yu said. It was the only option they really had, and with the emboldened spirit Rhysana's song gave him, it seemed pretty damn plausible it would work. Of course, fighting alongside a bunch of highly skilled champions helped.

Until Rhysana's song suddenly cut out completely, to be replaced by a high, strident cry, "Rise!"

Whirling around in alarm, he saw Rhysana dart to the girl and push her aside-

-right as an enormous, taloned claw lashed out of the trees behind them and slammed deep into Rhysana's chest. His cry constricted in his throat as the woman was sent flying, striking the ground with a painful thud and a cry. Blood splattered across the dirt in as violent arc of crimson, and Yu felt the hairs on the back of his neck rise, scalp prickling with horror.

-He saw blood cover the ground in dark, sweeping stains, then no more as he looked away-

"Run! All of you, move now!" Nyras' shout snapped him back to the present, but by then it was too late to move.

The second dragon beast exactly like the first, one that had been hidden away in the forest while they fought with it's friend, rose and parted it's huge jaws, and before he or anyone else could do anything, a cone of enormous black thorns burst from the dragon's mouth, each one coated in a layer of green slime.

Pain ripped into his arms, legs, and chest, and a pained cry tore from his throat before his vision went black. He regained conscious moments later, laying prone on his back and blearily grasping for a clue as to what had just happened. His sight continued to fuzz and fade in and out, in and out, only half-aware of the pain his body was in. More poignant than even the veritable daggers protruding from his flesh was the slow burning fire that seemed to crawl its way through his veins, a fire that would not go out. Everything seemed muted, his hearing little more than a dull ring with every other sound a muffled background of white noise. Shouts. Roars. Deep, crashing thuds as conflict raged around him . . .

He looked to his right, seeing Naoto, Yukiko and Rise all running to them, shouting. They were alright, unharmed. He smiled deliriously, relieved.

His vision faded.

When it came back into focus, Rise was leaning over him, teary-eyed, lips moving, but he could barely hear what she was saying, like she was speaking through a thick wall of glass . . .

Darkness again.

He came too maybe seconds, maybe minutes later, he wasn't sure. His head had lolled to the left, and his blurry eyes found Yosuke's face. Blood smeared his cheek where a large cut had torn the skin, a black thorn jutting out of his shoulder, crimson staining the ground below him. His eyes were closed. A hand was on his neck, a small one. Naoto?

Black.

Vision returned once more. In the distance, he saw one creature as it thrashed with Korval, before craning it's neck and spitting a volley of thorns at someone he couldn't see. But then it was reeling back, and though he couldn't see it well, it looked as if a figure in green was chasing after it. The figure moved so quickly . . . at its left, then right, hitting hard, ice seeming to chase after it's footsteps as the creature roared again.

Warmth.

A blessed, gentle warmth, easing the pain, easing the hurt. Another figure appeared before him, closer, one with wings of shimmering gold that draped around their body like a cloak. His eyes met ones that glimmered like rubies, a halo of pure light surrounding them. The fire in his blood still burned, but it seemed far away now.

Before he lost consciousness, he had to wonder if what he'd seen . . . had been another legend.

No, no, it's okay to call me a bitch, it's fine. :)

Luv u. 3

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