As of right now I am writing Chapter 56 giving me updates into April and sometime soon I will tell you in my author's not that I've written 'The End'.

I'M SO EXCITED!

Chapter Forty Seven

Green Village, Belea

West of Amaryllis was a small village built within the liveliest and some of the tallest trees in Anondye. While the Grand Grove's Rest Stop and what was Opal were regarded for their beauty, the former is now just a place for travelers to relax while on the road and the latter is gone. Belea is widely known for its natural beauty and just as much for the people who live there.

Soren, Mia, Ike, Mertre and Eien arrived at the village the day after their meeting with Talia and Vassaan. The advance forces returned from the tower within Ymarkteg which has been dubbed the Grove Tower for simplicity's sake. They reported that the structure was also surrounded by energy being emitted from the Orichalcum within the tower, making it inaccessible to them. As such, the small group's main purpose in coming to Belea was to find researchers willing to help them find a way into the Grove Tower and by extension the other three towers, named after the nations the reside in as the Desert Tower, Stone Tower and Frost Tower.

The groups felt that the end was near and given the evidence it almost certainly was, as such they decided to go with a very small detachment and leave the rest of the Troop and Mercenaries at Castle Anondye to regroup and prepare. They were headed for four locations at once so they'd need to split up their forces.

Eien volunteered to take a group and warp them to Regalshin which would make everything much easier than taking either route around Numengate.

As they walked Mia glanced over to Ike then back at Soren, recalling what they discovered just yesterday at the Castle.

"Why do you have Dyeshein? You saw what it did to Zijo Oit! Hell, look at what it's doing to you!"

Ike just nodded and let Soren finish before speaking "Once I learned of the connection I knew that we could never beat the Fell Lord's students should they come into play…only Eien's weapons were capable of clashing with the Perfect weapons of the Fell Lord."

"When the time comes, Ike wanted to be ready…I didn't want him training with the sword but we have no choice." Mertre added.

Soren looked at Ike's forearm again "So you can no longer wield Ragnell with that arm…"

Ike sighed "No…not because I'm in pain but I can't physically open this arm too well unless I'm going for Dyeshein…it's like it knows that…"

Mia looked at the evil blade in Ike's hands and remembered the words it uttered while it had brief control of Zijo Oit's skeleton. "It wants more…"

Ike nodded to Mia "I'm keeping it away from battle because I don't know how it'll act in that situation; I'm trying to bring it under my control…until I can…"

Ike replaced the sword and sat down next to Mertre "I'll be fine Soren…"

The sage looked at Ike, he knew that Ike was strong enough; probably the only person alive who could keep Dyeshein from controlling him but it was a huge risk.

"Who was the guy Talia said we should look for again?" Mertre asked as Eien scratched her chin. "I believe his name was Reclam, while the researchers here have no formal group he has made the most strides and is, for lack of a better word, the leader."

Soren and Mia nodded in agreement as they entered the main road and saw very few people wandering outside.

"No doubt they are all scared of the black sky above Numengate…"

Soren stated as Ike looked up to see the massive green beam shooting from somewhere in Anondye to the barrier around Numengate.

"Let's get to looking." Mia stated, breaking off from the rest of the group hoping to find Reclam or at least anyone who knew him as soon as possible. Ike and Mertre continued walking though the apothecary noticed that Soren had come to a stop.

"Are you alright Soren?"

The Archsage shook his head "No…I just felt…really cold…"

Eien approached him "Look at me."

Soren turned to face her, she examined his eyes closely "You aren't sick…you haven't been cursed in any way…"

At the same time, Soren was looking into Eien's eyes, he'd never been this close to the woman but noticed that there was endless darkness in her expression, no doubt from everything she saw during the ancient wars.

"Do you truly believe the Midnight Apothecary is Nias?"

Soren asked as Eien turned away "Possibly…it looks just like him, he was even missing an eye…but Nias was never capable of controlling True Elder Magic, only I could and only Ulmeihn and Mazear understood its ways…"

Mia returned shaking her head "It's almost like no one is living here right now. The few people I found didn't give me anything helpful."

"Did you go to any houses?" Eien asked.

Mia sighed "The people don't know what to think…I'd probably only add to their stress and confusion. Anyway, what were you two talking about?"

"Maybe it was Mia." Eien stated as Soren turned to face her, she tilted her head "Me? Me what?"

"Soren said he was feeling cold…I checked and nothing is wrong with him…maybe it was just that you walked away."

Soren scratched his head as Mia chuckled "I don't think so…we're not like THAT, we can give each other breathing room. What do you think it is Soren?"

"I don't know…it just felt like…something came to me and when it left…it left that cold feeling in my stomach…"

The three walked in silence until they heard Mertre call out and wave at them.

Screaming, Balmung ripped clean through a body, the perfect pieces fell to the floor before the blood finally shot out of them. Turning, Einseek beheaded several more of the revived soldiers; their bodies joined the thirty on the floor around him as he clenched his teeth.

Ushnae came to his side "We have countless…but I'd rather you didn't make this a daily habit…"

Einseek turned to him "I can't help it! This sickening urge doesn't leave unless I'm killing something!"

Ushnae was about to speak when Kino entered the room "I've got someone for you to kill…"

The pair turned as the Headmaster approached them with a smile; Einseek spat "Who?"

Ushnae remained silent as Kino spoke "Soren and Mia…"

Einseek rolled his eyes "I thought it was someone new or more relevant, how would it benefit me to go out, find them and kill them!?"

"The Fell Lord is still using Lyle's body…should those two get here they may give that boy the strength to hamper our Lord's movements…we can't allow that…"

"Do you doubt the Fell Lord's might?" Ushnae asked, Kino held up his hands "No…but it is better to be safe than sorry…everyone and anyone can learn from that. What do you say Einseek?"

Sheathing Balmung the man nodded "Very well…not for the Fell Lord though…the horrors he can bring upon me are nothing compared to this insatiable urge!"

With a flourish, Einseek departed as Ushnae and Kino returned to their Lord's side.

Upon finding the information they needed, Soren, Mia, Ike, Mertre and Eien stood outside of a home built between several large tree trunks. Apparently this is where Reclam hid himself for weeks at a time.

Ike knocked on the door and after a few minutes, no one answered. Soren called out "Reclam? Are you there?"

Eien sighed and approached the door, closing her eyes for a moment she turned to the others and nodded "Someone is inside."

Mia walked past her and using her strength, easily opened the locked door. She turned to the others and shrugged "We're on a tight schedule."

They walked in and started calling for Reclam, adding that they were sent to get his help by Queen Talia. After a while they turned as a man tripped trying to run up the stair case. Mertre easily caught him before he took off "We're just here for help, why are you so-"

Reclam began to breathe regularly before he looked up at the people who were all around him "I thought you were…someone else…"

Soren raised an eyebrow "Who?

"Ulmeihn."

Einseek walked through the green of Anondye with a look of disgust on his face do to the brightness of the nation. By contrast, he also passed countless military detachments trying to quell the fears of the people. Turning to see the black sky above Numengate he couldn't help but smile "They all know now…it's your move Altar."

Shuffling through the halls of Fort Pozem, Hierarch cursed as he dropped several documents. Picking them up the man hurried off to his chambers and tossed them into his fireplace.

Cursing he turned "Mistress…Duke…all of these years of perfect control and management…all of it comes down in one night. How could this happen? Who is responsible for uprooting the deep control we had on this continent?"

Hierarch exited his room in a continued haste "I can't remain here…I have no more power now that the Midnight reigns…I should just cut my losses…"

"Is that so?"

Turning the Hierarch was grabbed and tossed into a room; he looked up as the door slammed "Taer'Vix! What are you doing?"

"I've received orders from Peltzm'Jakq…you are to remain here Hierarch."

The man shook his head "Why? There is nothing we can do now!"

Taer'Vix smiled "Let me ask you something even your small brain can comprehend…"

"You can't talk to me that way!"

Raising his hand, Taer'Vix slapped Hierarch across the face, throwing the man to the ground "Numengate is shielded by four structures in each nation…no doubt those rats that nearly exposed us are going to be destroying those things when the time comes…right?"

Hierarch nodded as Taer'Vix continued "In the meantime Talia will want to form an alliance…common enemy and all that, right?"

The Hierarch nodded again as Taer'Vix helped the man to his feet "What three nations is she allying herself with?"

"R-Regalshin, Sarhara and P-P-Pozem…"

Taer'Vix got extremely close to Hierarch's face "And who controls Regalshin, Sarhara and Pozem?"

The man of The Altar smiled as realization dawned on Hierarch's face, Taer'Vix continued as he moved away from Hierarch "We move in with Talia, strike down the Midnight and assassinate the Queen during this time…then we place our allies in the thrones of Althropos and Talia…the Midnight is gone and the Altar and Royal Ring now hold Ymarkteg in its entirety…"

Hierarch nodded and smiled as Taer'Vix began laughing, the man backed away slowly as Taer'Vix' insane laughter continued.

Sitting around Reclam's table, the nervous researcher brought a cup of tea to his lips as Soren shook his head. "Why would Ulmeihn be here? How could he be here? He was killed by Murawk and Meloi in Euto months ago!"

Reclam looked at the group before sighing "You must be mistaken, the last time Ulmeihn visited was just before the war in Numengate broke out."

Mia turned to Eien who sighed "I'm not sure what this could mean, even if my Ulmeihn was still alive you all confirmed his death in Euto."

Reclam shrugged "I can guarantee the man that I met was alive and well, I have an ability that is passed down within my family as a result of a magic experiment…during the Warring Ages, great sages tried to empower humans with magic enhanced capabilities. The one my great-great-grandfather was granted was called the All Seeing Eye."

Soren raised an eyebrow "All Seeing Eye? Do you know of Orkra and Vassaan?"

Reclam nodded "Of course…Twin Eyes…it only happens if a parent had a perfect All Seeing Eye, the gene was split between the two of them. Neither have the complete set of abilities the All Seeing Eye can grant, instead the reaction speed was given to Orkra while the aura reading was given to Vassaan…"

Mia gave Reclam a doubtful look "For someone with enhanced reflexes you sure got caught by Mertre pretty quickly…"

Reclam shrugged "What can I say…I got caught off guard…"

Soren would've spoken against him but if it were true Orkra would never sustain an injury and neither would he or Mia. Enhanced senses don't make one perfect but they are capable of saving their own lives multiple times, if they're ready.

"So your eyes told you the man who approached you was flesh and blood Ulmeihn, alive and well?"

Reclam nodded to Ike "Yes…the only strange thing was his aura; Ulmeihn was a good man from what I knew he brought me several black masses to study. I never figure out much but what little I give him seems to be enough…he also showed me images of current and retired soldiers he needed for some experiments. Above all, shards of weapons and armor from today's soldiers and even the most ancient warriors...I never questioned how he got them, he paid me well to do what I do."

Eien scratched her chin "Why was Ulmeihn doing these things? What was his end game here?"

Mia turned to Soren "The morgue."

Soren nodded "Ulmeihn had a morgue in the clock tower that he worked out of. That is where we had one of our earliest run-ins with the undead men we've been fighting since then. He was immensely interested in the corpses and the wounds that we inflicted on them. He could tell each body had several killing blows…"

Soren trailed off as theories began forming in his head, one in particular forced itself out "The Midnight. Ulmeihn was with the Midnight...or is with the Midnight right now."

Eien stood up "Impossible! You expect me to believe that all the men I fight alongside to free Ymarkteg are now working to destroy it? Ushnae tried and failed to convince me of that! I'll not believe it now!"

Mertre stood as she heard her Pegasus whiny outside, Ike stood up after her as she whispered "We should leave now."

Ike turned to Reclam "The force field around Numengate is powered by four towers, one in each nation surrounding Numengate. An advance Numengate force has some things for you to study, we need you to find a way for us to get into the towers and end this."

Reclam nodded slowly "Why me? Is there truly no one capable enough in the capital?"

Soren closed his eyes and imagined Eminse, he shook his head before speaking "Unfortunately not…"

Ike grabbed Reclam and pulled him along as Mertre, Soren, Mia and Eien followed close behind "We have to go, while this was presented as a request we need you, so sort out your thoughts on the road."

The group emerged from Reclam's home as the frustrated researcher called out about this illegal kidnapping and other nonsense, Eien grabbed onto Soren as he nearly tripped. Mia turned around "Soren!"

Eien helped the sage to the floor as he gripped his chest "Soren!"

"Ike I think-"

Mertre heard a loud whiny from her Pegasus "Ike!"

The legend tossed Reclam aside and brought Ragnell out as Einseek fell down on him. Ike cursed and jumped back as Einseek crashed into the ground. Mia's eyes widened as Ike looked at the large, visible scar on Ragnell.

Einseek stood with a smile "Soren, Mia and what looks like some bonus prizes…you'll all help me put this pain to rest. Whether you want to or not."

"My Queen, are you awake?" Gra'Tisk asked through the bedroom chamber door. For some reason she was very exhausted and insisted on sleeping in.

"We must meet with our councilors and the new Roc Lord and Water Archsage to set up our nation's defense…please come to the Meeting Chamber soon."

"That old fart ruins everything…" Peltzm'Jakq spat as he grabbed his black Trueblade jacket off the floor and turned to Yi'Pyre who lay in bed "It seems to be his job."

Peltzm'Jakq put his jacket on as Yi'Pyre sighed "I'm not leaving any time soon…why are you?"

"The Altar has much to prepare Mistress…"

He walked over to her and bowed "Taer'Vix will be sending a report in soon…I must also look for a Regalshin operator for Duke. Quo'Eltis, Ejim'Wot and Fre'Han are dead…and Zey'Yu has defected…it leaves very few candidates."

Mistress smiled "Ah yes…your…mistress."

Peltzm'Jakq shook his head "You are my only Mistress. Zey'Yu was nothing…"

"I trust you'll find Duke a good aid, we'll need him or her if our plan is to succeed when the time comes."

Peltzm'Jakq watched as Yi'Pyre stood and pressed herself against him "Don't let me down…Peltzm'Jakq…"

He shook his head "Never." The Trueblade then moved in and kissed his Mistress before bowing again and leaving.

Ike stuck Ragnell into the ground as Mertre's Pegasus landed; the Seraph Knight grabbed the cursed case and threw it over to Ike. The legend quickly ripped Dyeshein out of it "Everyone…stay back, I don't need to tell you what Balmung is capable of."

Einseek smiled "You forget about me…"

Ike grinned "I see you…but you are nothing special compared to your weapon…you just swing it around because it was given to you."

"Seino made the wise choice!" Einseek charged and with a powerful swing, Balmung clashed with Dyeshein. The evil man was shocked "Impossible! Balmung can cut through anything! What is this sorcery?"

Ike used that time to kick Einseek away and spin, his attack formed a circle of gray flames around him that Einseek easily avoided.

Soren looked at the flames, nervous, remembering how they covered Zijo Oit's body and melted his skin literally down to the bone. The weapon killed its own wielder, Soren quickly brought out a tome "We'll cover you Ike! Don't try to talk us out of it!"

The legend nodded as he charged Einseek, the man leapt above Dyeshein only to be pelted by Verrine and Arcwind, as he slammed into the ground he rolled aside to avoid an oncoming spear. Mertre was overhead with a determined glared as she took out another spear and spun it around before hurling it towards Einseek.

As he moved aside, Ike came at him from the opposite direction "You rats!"

Dyeshein cut across Einseek, along with the slash he was burned by the gray flames. Crying out he swung Balmung, cutting a large swath across Ike's chest armor before charging forward. His following strikes only ripped through Ike's red cape.

As the legend caught Balmung with his black blade, Mia leapt in from the side and swung her sword at the ground, covering Einseek's legs in purple flames. Yelling Einseek leapt into the air towards Mertre.

Before Ike could shoot into the air after him, Soren and Eien swung around and created a massive tornado that grabbed Einseek and violently spun him about before he broke out of its grasp.

As he spun and prepared to land on his feet, Ike shot up at him and they slashed at each other. Ike clenched his teeth as the armor on his left arm cracked and blood shot out.

Einseek landed and shrugged the gray flames off of his side to reveal a deep cut. "What is that blade…tell me!"

"What is this? Tell ME!" Einseek looked around in surprise before turning to his blade and examining it like he'd never seen it before.

Ike took that chance and charged forward, his blade piercing Einseek's stomach. The man looked down in shock before throwing up blood as Ike tore Dyeshein out. Einseek stumbled back "Why? Why can't I move?"

Mertre's spear pierced his right leg as Eien and Soren pelted him with Arcwind again followed by Mia's purple flames. Einseek screamed as he ripped the spear out and charged Ike, the pair clashing and Einseek ignoring the pain, focusing on the unbridled desire to draw blood.

Soren watched Einseek's violent and crazed demeanor "His movements remind me of a vampire succumbing to their bloodlust."

Mia noticed this too as Einseek laughed and screamed upon cutting across Ike's right arm. "He can't be…can he?"

Eien came by and shook her head "There is something else going on with this man…Mertre! Get Reclam!"

The Seraph Knight nodded and shot down towards Reclam who was still lying in the grass where Ike threw him.

Leena placed her hand on another woman's shoulder "Are you alright?"

Eminse turned to face her, the tear stains were a clear answer. Leena softly apologized, before smirking.

"I knew Orgoth for quite a while…I pulled jobs around Ymarkteg and he always had a good story about places I'd be heading to. He told me legends of Sarharan warriors and Anondye Kings and Queens…he knew a lot."

Eminse nodded as Leena continued "I thought he was a scientist or something…he was just a security guard…so I thought maybe the place he was at helped build his foundation and knowledge. I was wrong again…he was always more interested in being the smartest one of whatever group he was hanging out with."

Eminse turned to Leena as the mercenary gestured for her to sit "Then he met you…you made him desire to be smarter in every which way…he dragged me into testing him on Pozem and Regalshin, places I knew little about…he asked me about the foods eaten in Bohks and the most workers at Relquis at any one time…things and events I didn't even hear others talk about."

Eminse smiled as Leena continued to explain these outrageous quizzes she gave Orgoth.

"I finally asked him why it mattered if he was as smart as you, or smarter. With all his knowledge I'd figure he wouldn't mind having an intellectual equal or hell, an intellectual better…you know what he said when he finally paused to take a break?"

Eminse kept her eyes on Leena who was smiling as tears formed in her eyes "I don't know."

Eminse laughed lightly as Leena sighed and rubbed her eyes "All his brains and he didn't know why he wanted to be smarter…it wasn't to be better than you like he thought…he wanted to impress you, get you to like him…"

Leena looked over to the sleeping baby then back to Eminse "And after everything…it worked…"

After a few moments of silence, Eminse spoke "Thank you, Leena."

"Don't mention it."

Leena embraced Eminse before standing "Orgoth was a good friend…as such I just want to know…where will he be buried?"

Eminse stood and looked at Leena again "He served the Crown his whole life…protecting knowledge and learning from it…I'm sure he'd like to be buried here…Euto is nothing but sadness now, the Center he practically lived in is gone, the governor was corrupt…I think…I know he'd want to be here."

Leena smiled "I'm pretty sure he'd want that as well…"

"I've cried enough…I have work to do…he deserves a proper burial, a proper funeral…I intend to give it to him."

Leena nodded as Eminse walked over to the baby "I'd love to help in any way I can…and I know the rest of the Troop will want to as well."

The researcher smiled "Thank you again, Leena."

Mertre turned upon hearing another mighty clash, gray flames burst out of Dyeshein and flashed around Ike and Einseek as the latter continued screaming, constantly trying to break through Ike's guard.

"Reclam!" She grabbed the man and hauled him to his feet "Reclam!" Agitated she slapped him and shook him awake.

"What? What happened!?"

"Use your All Seeing Eyes to tell me anything you can about Einseek over there."

The man nodded as she let him go, "Just…give me a minute."

With a mighty swing, Ike was knocked several feet back. He looked up just as Einseek shot past him; at that moment Mia entered the frame and kicked the man in the side.

As he rolled across the ground Soren and Eien brought down powerful strikes of thunder. While several struck Einseek he still stood and used Balmung to slice the magic to pieces.

"Keep fighting me…all of you will provide me with what I need!"

Swinging his blade a black aura appeared around him "Verrine!" He swung the blade out releasing a circle of black around him that shot out at an extreme speed. It crashed against Ike, Soren, Mia and Eien, throwing them to the ground. Mertre quickly covered Reclam and fell to the ground as well.

Taking a moment to look at the fallen warriors Einseek laughed before walking over to Ike as the legend propped himself up on Dyeshein "You won't win this fight! Not again!"

Reclam opened his eyes as Balmung sank into the earth and Ike leapt away. Noticing something strange he turned to Mertre as she stood "That man…Einseek, something is in his body, controlling him."

Mertre looked to Einseek and Ike as the fight continued "Can you tell what it is?"

Reclam remained silent for a few moments before continuing "Another soul…"

Soren landed near them, Mertre turned and before she could ask anything he tapped his ears and she nodded.

"It might be Althropos…"

Reclam shook his head "It feels older…"

Soren turned to Mertre "The Orichalcum…when they transferred Einseek's soul through it, there was already a soul inside."

Mertre looked to Einseek as he cut across Ike's armor before being slashed across the chest again.

"Who?"

Ike took a few steps back as Einseek stood across from him. As the legend caught his breath he noticed that the Midnight Trueblade before him didn't seem tired even with the injuries he sustained.

"This is a moment…I never thought I'd get to see…if only this…"

As he said this, Einseek gestured at Balmung "…was mine."

Ike shook his head "What are you talking about? Do you truly have some sense of honor and acknowledge that as the Fell Lord and Seino's weapon you just so happen to wield…or-"

"No, it is a fine blade but it isn't mine."

Einseek shot towards Ike again and was pelted by Carreau from Eien, while the first two seemed to stop his charge, the man merely cut through the others before rushing through Mia's purple fire and stabbing Ike in the side.

Reclam gasped "Him too? What is wrong with you people?"

Mertre and Soren looked at Reclam "What are you saying?" the woman asked.

"That man, Ike…the blade has an aura that is infecting his entire arm…and spreading…I ask again, who are you people?"

Soren clenched his teeth as Ike glanced down at the blade cutting into him "Dyeshein…now is not the time…"

"It is the time when I say it is the time…"

Using his free arm, Ike dragged Dyeshein's power through his body and formed gray flames in his left hand. Quickly he forced his open palm onto Einseek's face and started burning him. The man screamed and leapt away, tearing Balmung out with him as Ike stumbled back. The legend caught himself as Einseek cursed and spun around, shooting an arc of gray fire that covered the Midnight Trueblade.

Leaping high into the air, Ike spun around fiercely before bringing his blade through Einseek at a perfect vertical.

"What?" The Midnight Apothecary turned to the Fell Lord who raised an eyebrow.

"He's dead…"

"Who's dead? The fun hasn't even begun!"

"Einseek…but…his body…"

The Fell Lord stood as the Apothecary walked around and scratched his chin. The Fell Lord closed his eyes briefly before smirking "There was someone else in the Orichalcum…I took this from Lyle's memory."

The Apothecary turned "I did not detect a soul when I used the Orichalcum!"

The Fell Lord nodded "Indeed…who could mask themselves from you?"

Mertre came to Ike's side and took out a Recover Staff. As she healed him, Soren, Mia, Eien and Reclam walked over and glanced at Einseek's fallen corpse.

"He became really erratic in the end…he didn't bother with proper defense…why would he throw away the life granted to him by the Midnight?"

Before anyone could speak another voice came from nowhere "Because for me to live…he needed to die."

They all looked back at the burned corpse as it stood and began regaining its lost bone and sinew.

Soren, Mia and Eien stepped in front of Ike, Mertre and Reclam before drawing their weapons.

The body began to come into form with a very familiar armor and cloak appearing over it. Eien noticed that Soren and Mia next to her lost some resolve "Who is this…"

The body stood before them complete, the man sneered at Balmung before throwing the blade aside. His gaze fell on Soren and he held his arms out to his side as if to say 'Here I am."

Ike, despite the intense pain, stood and walked past Soren and Mia, anger in his voice he spoke "Ashnard."