This chapter will now give you the true face of what the story is and the motive for the tittle. Like I don't want to commit spoilers, enjoy!

P.S.: Check the notes at the end of the chapter. Seriously.

Chapter 11

The Wielder of Victory's Flame

As Lloyd and the others were leaving Ignis' altar, Ratatosk suddenly stopped in his place, his face twisting and teeth gritting in what seemed to be pain. Marta went to the reincarnated spirit's side once she noticed and called for his name to see if he was alright. Lloyd and the others noticed it too and called him one at time.

Ratatosk just grunted as an answer, feeling like his mind was straying away of the Triet Ruins and into another place…

- / - / - / -

"So… what do you think?" Celsius asked him, her feet swaying back and forth as she was sitting on a rock.

He didn't answer her, just kept staring at the manor below the slope they were from which was becoming smoke and flames.

"I don't exactly agree with his methods. But he got the right idea of what to do," he said.

"Yeah, but summoning demons…" Celsius protested.

"It's not like he can recruit everybody's help…" he replied and there was a moment of silence.

The person in that mansion, its owner was an elf, one of the people he and the other spirits tried to recruit to help them stop the war and revert the critical state of Aselia. However, that person… what was his name again? Either way, upon hearing what would happen to the world in case the war didn't stop, decided to take extreme measures, so much his own people turned against him and called for the help from the armies of Tethe'alla and Sylvarant, explaining what could happen if he wasn't stopped.

He had to agree though. If this one guy hadn't been dumb enough to try and summon demons, maybe he could have got the elves to help. Instead, the guy just earned a death sentence from all sides. If anything, the guy at least managed to get the two countries to stop fighting and make a truce to contain a more immediate threat. Even the humans didn't wish to have demons roaming Aselia.

"Did you… feel that Ratatosk?" Celsius asked suddenly, her gaze hardening as she focused on the mansion.

Ratatosk spoke nothing again, instead he called for his bond with the nearest monster with an acute hearing and used it to hear what was going on in the mansion. It was then he heard those words:

If the war continues… should mana perish… should we, elves, leave this world with scars on our spirits… when the last of us draw his last breath… the wrath of mana… the sorrow, the pain and desperation of our race… will descend upon this world… and the form it takes… shall be one of… ultimate… and absolute… vengeance…

There was silence after that. Even the air itself seemed to have staggered once the last words were uttered. However, it seemed just few of the soldiers in that building had conscience the gravity of what was said. Then everything went back to normal, like nothing had ever been said.

However, the Summons Spirits knew something had changed in that world. Those words would come back to haunt the denizens of that world latter.

"Was that… a prophecy?" he asked, turning to Celsius.

"Seems so. But to think he would have this gift," Celsius mused.

The gift of prophecy was very rare. It wasn't possible to predict it, for it never appeared in the same being twice. It occurred almost on a whim, like something that would come, happen and then be gone, like it had never happened in the first place. But they were powerful, almost as much as Origin himself, capable of changing Destiny entirely, from one single life, to that of an entire world.

"We better talk to Origin about that. I'm sure the others have already…" he was interrupted by the cry of his name and Celsius'. The two turned to see Gnome stumble to their way due to his big form.

"Cel! Rata!" Gnome then arrived near them, panting, like he had actually run the entire way to them.

The two would have made some kind of retort about the Summon Spirit of earth calling them by those nicknames, however, the expression of urgency on the hamster-like entity made them bit back any kind of comeback. Gnome then spoke:

"You have to come quickly! It's Verius! She's bad! Very bad!"

He felt his heart jump inside himself and with a brief look to Celsius, the two left…

- / - / - / -

"Ratatosk! Ratatosk!" he woke to the calling of Marta.

"Wha…? What happened?" Ratatosk asked, holding his head with his hand, his notion of time and space severely shaken.

"You just spaced out there," Sheena said. "Are you ok?"

Ratatosk didn't answer for some time, still thinking on what he just saw. It was then a sudden thought came to him. The reincarnated spirit jolted his head up and exclaimed:

"Verius!"

The others looked to Ratatosk with confusion as the Summon Spirit showed an expression of fear and urgency they never saw on his face before. Marta was the first to speak:

"Who's Verius?"

"I have to go to her! She's…" Ratatosk said, in a frantic way, looking around. It was then Ventus spoke up:

"My lord. Calm down. We're not in the Kharlan War."

"What you…?" Ratatosk talked back, suddenly stopping. He then slowly looked around, his memory rushing back.

That's right. He was in the Triet Ruins, Efreet's temple, and they had come to get Ignis. Ratatosk hung his head low, putting his hand on his face as he tried to pull himself together. Memories about the other Summon Spirit were rushing back to him.

Verius... she was another of those he considered his family. She was a special one to him. She was…

"Gone…" Ratatosk suddenly said, still hanging his head low.

"What are you talking about? What's gone?" Lloyd asked.

"Celsius… Verius… they're all gone…" Ratatosk said in an emotionless tone. He then looked up and the group soon saw a look of pure anger and hatred in his eyes as he spoke. "And it's all your fault!"

The group stood mute at that. Raine raised her eyebrow at the scene. Marta tried to talk to Ratatosk, but he backed away. The brunette girl felt like someone had stabbed a dagger in her heart upon looking the angry expression in his face. However, what really made her heart ache was the pain that was inscribed in his eyes.

"I hate you! I HATE YOU ALL!" Ratatosk yelled, rushing out of the altar room.

"Ratatosk!" Marta called, going after her protector.

Sheena and the others soon followed her, the Centurions leading the group with Lloyd and Ignis right behind. The group could see Ratatosk taking the teleporter in Efreet's altar and go back to the entrance of the ruins. Marta soon followed him as did Sheena, Raine and the Centurions.

Lloyd was about to reach the mechanism when a voice sounded:

… er…

The red clad swordsman reduced his pace until he came to a complete stop. He was feeling… strange. Like something inside him was calling for his attention.

… ear… me…

The voice sounded again, getting clearer as it spoke. Ignis also stopped and turned. She looked around before looking to Lloyd:

"Did you sense that, Sir Lloyd?"

"I…" Lloyd was about to answer, but his voice was cut off as he heard it again, this time clearer:

Can you hear me? Bearer of my soul…

"I… I can hear you…" Lloyd said turning almost unconsciously, like some kind of force was taking control of his body. "But where are you?" the young man looked around.

"I think maybe that big ball of spectral flames can answer," Ignis pointed out in a rather innocent manner.

Lloyd looked to her before looking to where she was pointing. He lost his voice once he saw what was hovering above Efreet's altar. Ruby-red flames were dancing in the middle of the air, in their center something was shining like a little sun. Lloyd then heard that voice again, the flames above Efreet's altar ignited while the words echoed in the room:

You, who bears my reincarnated soul… I am a part of the one you formerly knew as the Ruler of Hellfire, Efreet…

"Efreet? But didn't he leave the world with the other Summon Spirits?" Lloyd asked, looking from the spectral flames to Ignis, who shrugged, looking as confused as he was.

We did not "leave" this world… the flame answered, as if it had heard Lloyd's question, which the swordsman suspected it did. We merely were absent, making preparations… the fact that you, the new bearer of my soul, stands here today, is a proof of that.

"Bearer… of your soul?" Lloyd inquired, not really understanding what it meant with that.

Ignis took some time looking to the floating flames until those words sunk in and comprehension dawned on her. The Centurion of fire looked to Lloyd and exclaimed:

"So that is why you seemed so familiar. Your spirit is Efreet's."

"Wha-what does that mean?" Lloyd asked, struggling to understand all of that.

"It is the same as with my lord. You're Efreet reincarnated," Ignis said, her voice sounding with what seemed joy.

"I… I'm Efreet? No way!"

I know it might be confusing for you to understand all of it right now, but once your soul is finally completed, with this fragment I left behind, everything will become clearer…

"Oh, I remember now!" Ignis said, putting her closed fist on the palm of her clawed hand. "That was Origin's plan."

"Origin's plan?"

Ignis didn't have time to answer, for in that moment the flames on Efreet's altar started to grow huger and wild. Lloyd then stood on attention for anything that might happen. To his surprise, the flames started to take shape, erupting around the altar, making Lloyd narrow his eyes at the heat. When the fire died down there was some kind of beast in the altar.

It looked like a tiger, but its body seemed to be made of flames. Its eyes were completely black and there were navy-blue spikes protruding from its forehead. The beast roared at Lloyd as the young man drew his twin swords.

"That's a Ktugach, one of Efreet's personal guardians," Ignis stated.

"But why is it here?" Lloyd asked her.

"I think Efreet wants to test you, so he can see if you can wield his power."

Lloyd looked from Ignis to the Ktugach, which had small fires dancing around his jaw line. The red clad swordsman turned to the Centurion of fire again.

"I really would like to pass being devoured by this thing, thank you," he mumbled, but he knew that he probably didn't have a choice on the matter.

"Here it comes!" Ignis warned as the Ktugach lunged for Lloyd.

The swordsman jumped to the side, avoiding the sharp, ebony claws of the fire creature. Ktugach quickly brought its head up before turning it to Lloyd, breathing fire on the dual swordsman. Though surprised, Lloyd jumped behind and protected his face from the flames with his arms. Thankfully, the flames didn't have a long reach.

"Alright, if you want a fight, then bring it on! Demon Fang!" Lloyd launched a shockwave of energy through the ground. It traveled and hit the Ktugach's front leg, making the beast growl in pain.

Lloyd then ran to the creature and started his attack, seeing the monster didn't have how to defend from his swords. Ktugach tried to turn its body and hit Lloyd with its long tail, but the dual swordsman ducked and proceeded to hack at the body of the fire creature with his swords again.

Growing tired, Ktugach sat on his hinder paws and the flames around its body seemed to ignite as a spiral of flames rose around it, hitting Lloyd and lifting him from the ground. The creature then slashed at the swordsman with its claws, leaving cuts on Lloyd's jacket. It then lowered its head, firing the spikes on its forehead at Lloyd, who tried to defend with his swords while running around the monster.

Once Ktugach's head couldn't accompany Lloyd's movement, the creature stared at its prey. Lloyd had three cuts on his shirt and jacket and thin lines of blood were starting to run. His arms got scratched on its sides by the rain of spikes from the Ktugach, though he achieved to defend his face and most of his body from it.

Damn. Those things are sharp. I have to avoid those spikes or else I'll be impaled, Lloyd thought. He then looked to his chest and saw his injury and torn jacket. What the? My favorite jacket! He then looked at the Ktugach with anger.

"Ok, now you're in for it!" Lloyd yelled, launching more Demon Fangs at the creature, to distract it as he approached.

As Ktugach tried to avoid the Demon Fangs, it got hit on its legs again, not noticing the swordsman coming closer. Lloyd then unleashed a Sonic Thrust at the chest of the creature. However, only the tip of his blade achieved to pierce the flesh of the creature, which was more resistant than he had predicted. That mistake earned Lloyd a gash on his side as Ktugach's claws came down on him, shoving him back with the force of the attack.

The dual swordsman slid in the floor as he tried to steady himself, only to give time for the fire beast in front of him to sit and charge a spell. Barely a second passed as the creature howled and casted its spell, cracks appearing under Lloyd's feet and letting out a reddish light. The young man didn't have enough time to avoid the lava wave that came from the ground, throwing him in the air, just for two more waves to hit him on his back.

It… hurts. the swordsman thought. He had never burnt himself in his entire life, for him fire was as harmless as a puddle of water. But that had been before he tasted magical fire.

Lloyd fell on his back, his skin burned slightly, but enough for him to feel pain…

- / - / - / -

Sheena and Raine finally located the Centurions around one of the three passages in the central room of the ruins. The older women approached the servants of Ratatosk and asked what they were doing there. Ventus was the one to answer:

"Lady Marta managed to convince Lord Ratatosk to stop his frenetic run and is currently trying to appease his anger."

"But what made him snap like that all of a sudden?" Sheena asked. "And who is Verius? Another Summon Spirit?"

"Yes, but her existence is suppose to be as secretive as Lord Ratatosk's own, so we cannot divulge any details about it," Tenebrae said.

"I wonder what should be his exact relation with her for him to get in such an upset state," Raine mused. "But what truly surprises me is how he appears to be so, forgive me for the term, human to the point of letting his emotions carry him away."

"Well, we spirits aren't that different from you, mortals," Aqua said.

"I personally believe all living beings were made at the resemblance of our Lord and his brethren, their guardians. That would explain how you all have so many different personalities," Ventus stated.

"And some people around here probably gave the basis for them to be capable of being so annoying and obnoxious some times," Aqua commented, shooting a look to Tenebrae.

"Oh, is that so?" Tenebrae replied.

Raine and Sheena sighed as the two Centurions started their bickering. It was then Lumen looked around and noticed something:

"Hey, where's LYD and Hotflame-nis?"

Sheena and Raine eyed Lumen; the silver haired woman repeated the new nickname the cheetah-like Centurion seemed to have just come up to Lloyd. Tenebrae and Aqua stopped their discussion once they noticed Lumen was right. Sheena and Raine also let Lumen's demeanor slide and looked for Lloyd and Ignis.

"Strange. They were just behind us," Sheena said.

It was then a roar echoed in the room, seeming to come from above. Sheena, Raine and the Centurions stood in a more serious stance once they realized what it could mean. The group then rushed back to the teleporter. Once they were back to the room of Efreet's altar, they saw Lloyd on the ground and, walking near to him, a giant, tiger-like, fire monster.

"Hey! That's Efreet's doggy," Lumen pointed to the Ktugach, but Sheena and Raine weren't paying attention to him, since their eyes were locked on Lloyd, who seemed to be struggling to get up. The older women then saw he had a nasty burn in his back.

"Lloyd!" Sheena called, drawing her seal cards as Raine readied her staff. Lloyd looked to them upon hearing Sheena call his name.

However, before any of them could move, the Ktugach shot a simple look to the newcomers and a fire wall rose from the ground, keeping the Centurions and the two women around the teleporter. The Ktugach then turned its head to Lloyd again and found the young man was already on his feet, launching a Demon Fang at the monster. Ktugach jumped to the side to avoid the attack and shot its spikes at Lloyd.

Sheena could only watch with her heart in her hands as Lloyd tried to deflect the spikes, but got pierced by some. She turned to Raine and saw the Professor in a casting stance.

"Raine, hurry up and cure him!" Sheena urged.

"I'm trying, but something is blocking my concentration. I can't gather the energy to do it," Raine said.

Tenebrae, Lumen and Aqua were looking silently at the scene with serious looks. There was a familiar feeling in that fight, but they couldn't grasp what it was.

Lloyd tried to attack the fire monster again, but when he approached, Ktugach roared, making a spiral of flames rise around it once more, lifting Lloyd and burning him again. The dual swordsman fell on his back, yelling in pain.

He was now close to the Ktugach's head, looking at the beast's eyes as its mouth opened slightly, flames licking around it. Lloyd knew what the creature was going to do; it was going to burn him alive.

"LLOYD!" Raine and Sheena screamed as the Ktugach threw its head behind before letting out a jet of flames.

Time seemed to stop as Lloyd looked at the incoming inferno with fear and horror written in his face. He closed his eyes to brace for the unbearable pain. However, he heard a voice inside his head again. Efreet's voice:

Let the flames in your heart lit and burn…

Lloyd opened his eyes, his fearful expression now replaced by a sharp, determined one. The red clad swordsman threw his arms at the front of his body, crossing his swords, forming an "X" while holding the hilts sideways.

"Guardian!" Lloyd said, as the roar of the flames muffled his voice.

Sheena and Raine could only see Lloyd's body being covered by the fierce fires through the fire wall around them. Sheena fell to her knees with an expression of disbelief on her face, matching the one in Raine's face, who was frozen in her place.

The Ktugach stayed looking at the flames that were dancing on the ground where Lloyd had been. Thinking Lloyd hadn't survived, the fire monster howled and was about to turn and walk back to the altar when a red blur suddenly came out of the fires.

"Tempest!" Lloyd's voice sounded as he curled his own body with his swords outstretched and started spinning in the air.

The Ktugach was caught by surprise and did not have time to react before Lloyd cut off its head. The red clad swordsman landed on the ground with his hands stretched to the sides of his body, holding his swords, as Ktugach's body fell with a thud in the stone floor.

Raine and Sheena looked up to see Lloyd was alive and ran to him as the fires around them died down. Lloyd then fell to the ground in exhaustion as Sheena kneeled over him and held his head. Raine stopped near the two and started to chant a healing spell.

"Lloyd. Lloyd! Are you alright?" Sheena asked.

"Ugh... Sheena?" Lloyd mumbled as he opened his eyes.

"I swear if you weren't so hurt, I would kill you for almost dying like that!" Sheena spoke, though she had a smile of relief in her face.

"You surely know how to be courteous to a wounded person, Lady Sheena," Tenebrae piped in.

"Shut it, Tene-idiot."

Raine then casted Heal over Lloyd, healing most of his wounds. She said he would need some rest to heal the other wounds, since he took a heavy damage in the battle.

Spectral, red flames appeared upon the altar again, making the entire group look to them. Sheena got Lloyd on a sitting position and walked in front of him together with Raine, their weapons ready in the case it was some sort of attack. Lloyd said for them to wait as he got up and walked past them. The older women tried to call the dual swordsman back, but he just kept walking to the altar almost as if he was in trance.

You, who posses my soul... I have seen your performance and acknowledge that you're ready.

Raine and Sheena looked around the room once they heard the voice. Ventus then pointed out that the voice was coming from the flames in the altar and instructed the two to watch. The two women looked at Lloyd again, who was just one meter away from the flames.

You possess the fire in your heart that burns, not to destroy, but to protect and warm those near you... while I have seen many be consumed by this same flame, you seem to control yours rather well... I now bestow you the power to turn these flames into a raging inferno that shall aid you in your battles to come and help you shape the Equilibrium back to its original form...

However, you will have to awaken these flames and learn how to dominate them in your own accord... until you have turned strong enough to control my hellish, wild fires, you will not ascend to your rightful position as a guardian of this world...

Though Lloyd didn'tunderstand most of those fire anecdotes, he felt his heart had caught each word of what the entity had spoken. The red clad swordsman nodded and extended his arms to the spectral flames.

Then let us be reborn... together... as the Wielder of Victory's Flame...

The flames then seemed to snake around Lloyd's arm and engulf his body. Raine and Sheena almost jumped at seeing that and were ready to go after him, but Ignis appeared and put her hand in front of them, signaling the two women to stay there. Sheena and Raine looked to her in disbelief, but the Centurion of fire merely smiled to them with a look that said "just observe".

Lloyd's body started to shine. Flames seemed to consume his clothes and alter them. His red jacket had changed and was now longer and had golden details on it, flapping amidst the wild fire around the young man. His pants changed from black to a dark blue with bell-mouths and his boots gained a dark-red coloration as metal arcs appeared around the foot and the ankle parts gained some kind of golden ornament. His belt also changed from brown to dark-red, the buckle assuming the form of a silver-colored rune.

The swords in Lloyd's hands morphed and seemed to have turned into fire before they started to solidify. The one in Lloyd's red hand had gained a blue coloration as the one in Lloyds left gained a reddish-yellow one. Both swords were now glowing and had symbols on their blades and different hilts, like they were an individual set, yet could be wielded together.

Ultimately, a symbol shone in Lloyd's back and from its sides seemed to sprout a pair of scarlet, spectral wings, which seemed to pass through Lloyd's clothes, not ripping them in the least. When it finally ended, the flames seemed to recede to inside Lloyd as the young man looked at what had just happened to him.

"What the…?" was all Lloyd could utter as he looked to himself from top to bottom. He then looked to his wings.

"How could this…?" Raine let out.

"Hey..." Lumen let out, with a look of understanding in his cheetah face. "So this must be Origin's plan."

"Origin's what?" Lloyd asked.

The red clad swordsman approached the Centurions together with Sheena and Raine, the latter possessing an inquisitive and devious look in her features. Ventus spoke:

"It is a plan that the King of the Summon Spirits formulated before the Second Invasion. It was a way to stop the Kharlan War directly and restore the Equilibrium."

"So Lloyd is part of the plan?" Sheena asked.

"More like he is the plan," Raine stated.

"Wait. What does all of this mean? What's going on?" Lloyd asked, getting confused by the second.

"I think it would be better for us to discuss this once we have exited the temple," Tenebrae offered.

That got Lloyd a little frustrated, but he was forced to agree with the others and nodded. Aqua then turned to the dual swordsman and asked:

"Can you turn back to your normal form?"

"Does he have to?" Sheena asked, sounding like a little girl asking for her favorite sweet.

Lloyd was about to ask why she was inquiring about that when he noticed something. Looking to himself, the red clad swordsman found out he didn't have anything on from his waist up besides the jacket, leaving his chest and torso revealed. That made Lloyd blush a red tone that matched his transformed jacket. Was this Efreet's idea of fashion style or what?

It was then the teleporter to the altar was activated again. This time, Ratatosk and Marta walked in. The brunette ran to Raine and Sheena, asking:

"Are you two alright? We heard a monster's howl and... Lloyd?" Marta asked, noticing for the first time the red clad swordsman.

"Um... hi," Lloyd said, scratching the back of his head.

"What... happened to you? You look so..." Marta did not complete her phrase. It was then she noticed that Lloyd's jacket was open and he did not have anything under it. Marta blushed and looked to the side. She didn't want to admit, but Lloyd's frame was stronger than Emil's.

Ratatosk had eyes wide while looking to the swordsman. His aura... its signature now was identical to...

"Hey, boss!" Lumen said, going to Ratatosk and sporting his goofy smile as always. "Guess what? LYD is Efreet's reincarnation!"

"What?" Ratatosk let out, looking to Lloyd again.

"Yes. Aren't you glad, my lord?" Ignis asked, floating near Ratatosk, showing a cheerful smile while her lord was still with his eyes fixated on Lloyd. "That means your brothers didn't leave you and..."

"Quiet," Ratatosk interrupted her. Ignis let out an "huh?" showing a confused expression. "He's not Efreet," Ratatosk said, his tone cold and emotionless. "What? Do you think just because you got a similar aura and his powers that you're my brother? Think again, idiot."

"Hey! I'm not trying to be anyone else!" Lloyd protested. "And what is wrong with you anyway? We're just trying to help you and all you do is snap at us the entire time. And where's Emil?"

"What? Worried about your little boyfriend?" Ratatosk said in that sharp tone he once used on Lloyd. This time however, the swordsman just looked at Ratatosk with a steel look. "If you want to know, his spirit is taking a nap."

"'Nap'? What do you mean?" Marta asked, first getting surprised like the other females in the group at hearing Ratatosk's tone and now worried at hearing about Emil. "What did happen to Emil?"

"I don't know, ok? I felt his spirit entering into a hibernation state ever since we hatched Ignis. Not that I care about that sappy weakling anyway."

"Don't talk about yourself like that! Emil and you are..."

"That's enough all of you!" Sheena called. "Here isn't the place to discuss it. Let's first get outside and..." it was then another roar echoed in the ruins. This time, seeming to have come from the entrance. "Oh, for the love of..."

The group rushed back to the teleporter. Ratatosk, Ventus, Ignis and Lloyd stayed behind. The rash Summon Spirit shot another look to Lloyd and said:

"Don't think you can ever replace Efreet. You're just a rag compared to him."

"I'm not trying to replace anyone! And I didn't even ask for this, ok?" Lloyd yelled. "Stop venting your anger on others!"

"Both of you stop it!" Ventus spoke. Lloyd and Ratatosk stopped at hearing the angry tone of the Centurion of wind. "Now, Lloyd, to deactivate this form, just concentrate on the power that courses inside of you," Lloyd nodded to the Centurion and closed his eyes. He found it was easier to concentrate now, like his senses had been enhanced. The newly named Wielder of Victory's Flame soon felt the power that was around him, like it were flames dancing around his body. "Now, concentrate on letting it flow out of you. Don't worry, it will replenish itself naturally."

Lloyd did as he was told and soon felt like something was being removed from him. His wings burnt out of sight and fire passed around his clothes, making them return to their normal state. The dual swordsman opened his eyes again and thanked Ventus, running back to the entrance of the ruins with Ignis right behind. Ratatosk let out an "hmph" and followed them along with Ventus.

- / - / - / -

When the group arrived at the entrance, they were met with a sight that made their jaws fall: Richter was there, avoiding the attacks of a ferocious, scarlet dragon, which stood on its four paws and seemed to cover good part of the space in the corridor. The half-demon had his teeth gritted as he tried to attack the monster, but his attacks were deflected by the creature's hard scales.

"Richter!" Marta called.

"Emil? Marta? Ugh!" Richter turned to the two, but that moment of distraction was enough for the dragon to hit Richter with its tail and send him to the wall.

"Watch out!" Lloyd warned and put his hand on his sword's hilts as he and Sheena prepared to enter in battle.

"Wait, I remember this monster," Ignis said, attracting the attention of the group. "Before going back to the Ginnungagap I've created it to protect the ruins. But it should only attack demons," Ignis said, showing a confused expression."

"Well, you could say it is fulfilling its duty," Tenebrae spoke up.

"What do you mean?"

"Forget it! We have to help Richter!" Marta said, taking her spinner and rushing to battle. Ratatosk tried to call her back, but the girl already started slashing at the dragon, just to have her spinner's blade deflected by the dragon's hard scales.

"Dammit!" Ratatosk swore, drawing his blade and going to Marta's aid just like the others.

Raine seemed a little reluctant at first, having sensed the chaos energies in Richter's aura, but upon seeing the others rushing to save the red head, she decided to help and started to charge a light spell. Lloyd and the others tried to attack the monster with their Artes, but all attacks seemed to bounce off the dragon's body. Ratatosk tried his Raining Delude Arte, but not even the magic water was able to affect the monster.

"Brilliant Shackles!" Raine called, finally casting her spell. Two, spectral seal lines appeared in the air and closed around the monster's body, seeming to immobilize it for a moment and attacking it with light, exploding on several brilliant dots right after. However, that didn't produce a visible result, as the dragon just roared and breathed fire on the group, who jumped back/did a back flip to avoid the attack. "No effect," Raine spoke in frustration.

"Ignis, how do we beat this guy?" Lloyd asked.

"Um, let me think..." the Centurion of fire put a finger on the side of her head, closing her eyes in a thoughtful pose. She then opened them with an expression of understanding. "You have to use fire."

There was a brief minute of silence between the group. Richter, who got up and walked to them asked:

"Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't fire the main attribute of this thing?"

"Whatever! Let's just try!" Ratatosk said, running to the dragon, which tried to hit the reincarnated spirit with its tail. The crimson-eyed entity jumped, avoiding the tail of the dragon and suddenly flames surrounded his body. "Now take this! Fiery Havoc!" Ratatosk extended his foot and descended, creating a mini-fire tornado around his foot.

The attack connected with the monster's head, spreading wild fires around it. However, when they died, the monster was unaffected and Ratatosk had landed on the ground near the monster. The dragon then looked at him and roared at the face of the violent spirit.

"Shit..." Ratatosk let out.

Huge claws swiped at Ratatosk. The Summon Spirit tried to defend himself, however, his sword was batted to the side and he got three superficial cuts on his torso. The dragon then prepared to breathe fire again. When the flames left the creature's mouth and were about to engulf Ratatosk, Sheena appeared in front of him and called for her Guardian Seal technique, shielding the two from the flames with a green barrier.

"Ignis, didn't you say fire would work on him?" Marta asked the Centurion.

"Oh, wait. It was Efreet's fire. Sorry," the draconic Centurion said, scratching the back of her head with a silly apologetic smile.

"You should have said it before!" Sheena called.

The beast then stopped breathing fire and roared again, running to Sheena and trying to ram at her. The guardian-user jumped above the monster's head, landing on its back and running on it, until she jumped again and ducked to avoid the creature's tail. Ratatosk also jumped out of the way.

"Hey, Richter!" Ratatosk called the red head, making he look to him. "Why don't you go demon on this guy?"

"Oh, so you don't mind fighting off the hordes of demons that might come here attracted by my aura?" Richter asked in a sarcastic tone. Ratatosk stood quiet at that and soon looked to the side, mumbling something.

Meanwhile, Lloyd was thinking on what Ignis had said. Efreet's flames could melt that dragon's defense… he still have his doubts about it, but Lloyd couldn't simply let his friends and Richter be killed by that monster. He then thought back at what Efreet's soul had told him:

You posses the fire in your heart that burns, not to destroy, but to protect and warm those near you…

Fire… did it mean his will to protect his friends? Lloyd heard another roar and saw the dragon coming at them again. The Centurions tried to summon some monsters to stop the fierce dragon's advance and Ignis tried to order it to stop, however, the beast seemed to be deaf to its creator's words and continued its advance, smashing and biting down at any monster that stood on its path, as well as taking Raine's spells like they were nothing.

"Nothing's working! Raine use your chaos magic!" Sheena spoke.

"If I do that, Richter might be forced into his demonic form and the precipitation of chaos energies will attract the attention of any demons outside. We will be surrounded before we get out of the ruins!" Raine answered.

Lloyd heard that and decided he had to try and use the power he just acquired, but how did he call for it anyway? He couldn't think clearly now, as he could before, when he had received Efreet's power. Silently swearing in frustration at not feeling anything that might indicate he was close to release that power, Lloyd saw the dragon preparing to breath fire on his friends again.

Raine and Sheena got in front of the group, activating their defensive Artes when the monster let its flames out of its mouth on them. The two women were having their magical power drained as they tried to defend from the creature's attack and their barriers started to shatter.

Oh, to the hell with it! I have to save them! Lloyd thought, running to Sheena and Raine.

It was then the dual swordsman felt something stir in his heart: an urge to protect his friends that seemed to burn inside of him. It felt like it was spreading through his whole body, filling him with energy and power. When he passed Raine and Sheena, Lloyd was enveloped by fire, his clothes changing and spectral, scarlet wings appearing on his back.

"Fire Shield!" Lloyds called for the Arte that came to his head. He crossed his swords just like when he used Guardian, but this time a shield of flames rose in front of him, absorbing the flames of the dragon's attack.

Lloyd's sword started to shine as they seemed to absorb the fire of the monster through the shield and Lloyd suddenly knew what to do with them. He lowered the shield and swung his two blades, launching blue and red fire blades in the air, which impacted with the monster and spread wild fire through its body. For the first time, the dragon roared in pain.

Lloyd then ran to it as the others just looked at him, Sheena had her mouth hanging open, just like Marta, while the others just seemed surprised. With his transformed blades, Lloyd attacked the monster, his new swords releasing fiery flames as he swung them. As the dragon tried to hit Lloyd with its claw, the young man jumped and stayed hovering in the air.

"Goodbye. Rising Phoenix!" flames surround Lloyd's body as he pointed his sword forward and started to descend, creating a whirlwind of fire around his blade. He flew over the monster's back, cutting it open with his blade and burning the insides, blood vaporizing before it could even leave the body of the creature.

When Lloyd landed, the dragon gave a last, painful roar and fell. The dual swordsman stood and walked back to his friends. Sheena and Marta were the first to get to him, with smiles on their faces.

"That was awesome, Lloyd!" Marta complimented with a smile.

"Yeah! You definitely showed that monster," Sheena said, also smiling.

"Thanks," Lloyd said, scratching behind his head as he admitted. "But to be honest, I didn't know half of the time what I was doing. I simply…"

"Followed your instincts?" Ventus offered, to which Lloyd nodded. "That was to be expected."

"Does that mean you know something about it?" Raine inquired the Centurion as the group gathered around Lloyd.

"Well…"

Before Ventus could answer, Raine, Sheena, Richter and even Lloyd felt a precipitation in Ratatosk's aura. The crimson-eyed entity brought a hand to his head before he looked up after a wave of energy that sounded like a heartbeat was released from him. He then looked to the group and everybody saw his eyes were back to their green color. Emil was back in control.

"Uh? What happened?" the blonde asked.

"Emil, you're back!" Marta said, hugging her crush.

"W-why? Did I go somewhere?" Emil asked, blushing at the contact.

"No, but Ratatosk said you were asleep or something," Sheena said.

"Asleep?" Emil tilted his head to the side as he asked.

"What's the last thing you remember?" Raine asked the boy.

"I remember all of us hatching Ignis' core… after that, I don't remember anything else," Emil said.

Richter crossed his arms with a stone expression on his face at hearing that. The former half-elf then spoke up, calling the group's attention:

"I think it would be best we discuss it outside the ruins," he then looked to Raine. "Then you can also explain to me why you have a chaos user with you."

"And maybe you can also explain how a half-demon like you is friends with a Summon Spirit," Raine talked back.

"Touché."

- / - / - / -

It was night in the desert as the group set camp outside the Triet Ruins. Marta explained to Richter and Emil everything that happened and told the half-demon about Raine, or at least what little they knew about her. Richter by his turn told them he was around the region when he had sensed some uncommon energy being released in the ruins and decided to investigate it.

"It was then I was assaulted by that guardian you all just saw," the red head concluded. "It seems the energy I felt was probably Lloyd."

At the other side of the camp, Sheena and Lloyd (who was back to normal) were cooking for the group. Raine had a book opened in her lap and was writing her notes on it with a concentrated expression. Lloyd looked to Emil, Richter and Marta. He then heard Ignis speak to him:

"So, how are you feeling, Lloyd?"

Lloyd turned to her and the other Centurions, which were around the camp, sitting and seeming to wait for the mortal members of the group.

"I'm fine, but… am I really Efreet? I mean, I don't feel like I'm… all that powerful or anything… I'm kinda confused," Lloyd spoke.

"I think you're you and that's what matters," Sheena said. "And if you're really a Summon Spirit, so what? Emil is Ratatosk, yet he acts like any normal teenager."

"Thanks, Sheena."

"No prob," she and Lloyd turned to see Emil and the others coming. "Right on time. Food is ready," the voluptuous woman said, serving their plates and handing it to them.

The group ate in silence, all thinking about the last events. The Centurions seemed to be reflecting, while Lumen chatted with Ignis. After everybody had eaten, Raine was the first to ask:

"Now, do you two care to introduce us your friend?" she meant Richter.

"Actually, Lloyd and Sheena already know him. But anyway…" Emil said. He then told the half-elf woman about Richter and about his capture and forced transformation. When he ended, Richter looked to Aqua with an inquisitive look. The Centurion of water returned it with a look of determination.

The red head then sighed and looked to the side. He felt the eyes of the group upon him and looked to them, asking:

"What?"

"Um…how's…things going for you?" Marta asked with a worried look on her face.

"How can I describe it? Maybe infernal would be the best term," Richter said, looking to the side in a mock reflection before looking back to the group. His curt demeanor never wavering.

"Richter…" Emil spoke up, making the red head turn to him. "I promise, I will find a way to release you from Nebilim's grip and return you to normal," the blonde's tone was one of determination the group rarely saw him use.

"I wouldn't waste my time worrying about myself if I were you, Emil. You already have too much on your hands," Richter said.

"But… I want to help you… you're my friend and…"

"And I'm your enemy; a half-demon," Richter cut the boy off, his tone turning harsher and more serious. "Didn't I teach not to show compassion towards your enemies?"

"Yes, but… you're my friend. My mentor," Emil said.

"Same here," Marta said, her tone as determined as Emil's. "You helped me see that not all half-elves are bad, so I want to help you."

"Huh, seems like you two haven't changed at all…" Richter said with a sigh. "If you hold me so high, then take this advice from me: don't drop your guard around me. You know what it means for somebody to be a half-demon, don't you? That means if Nebilim commands, I will strike you all down without a second thought."

"Oh really?" Sheena inquired, crossing her arms and shooting a devious look to Richter.

"What? Do you deny such an obvious fact?" Richter asked, turning to her.

"Maybe I do, but I will wait and see," Sheena said.

"Do what suits you better then."

The group stayed silent for some time. Raine looked from Sheena to Richter with a devious look that matched Sheena's, however, she chose to remain silent and see how things unfold. Richter then got up, saying he had to go. Emil and Marta also stood, asking for him to wait.

"Can't you stay with us? Aqua said you've been resisting Nebilim's control," Marta said.

"Trying to resist. It's impossible for you to successfully win against something that is etched into your very being," Richter said, looking to them without even turning. "Anyway, you already told me more than I should know. Better I go back now."

"Why? Nebilim is just going to force you to do his dirty work again," Emil said.

"And do you think my demon side cares about it?" Richter asked making Emil shut his mouth at that. "There are things you can't help, Emil, no matter how hard you try," Richter said, adjusting his glasses on his nose. "I learned it a long time ago. So it's better I go now and don't know what exactly is going on with you all than to know and later have Nebilim forcing this information out of me."

The red head then turned and started to walk again, until he heard Emil speak a line that made him stop:

"Courage is the magic that turns dreams into reality. As long as you keep your courage to resist Nebilim, I won't give up on you, Richter. I will find a way to cure you."

Without anybody seeing, Richter gave a small smile and chuckle at that. Emil always spoke that mantra of his when things got rough. It kept him going on and worked for him until now. Sometimes, Richter had to remind Emil of that phrase himself and remind the swordsman that he was the one that once said it, long ago.

But for somebody like me, it's going to be necessary to have something more than simply courage... Richter thought, starting to walk again and disappearing into the night.

A heavy mood downed the camp as Emil and Marta sat again, near each other for comfort at seeing their friend walk away, back to his rough life with the demons. They really wanted to save him, to turn him back into a half-elf so he wouldn't have to suffer with his demon side forcing him to follow the demons' order. Lloyd decided to break the heavy atmosphere by changing the subject:

"What about me? We still haven't figured about this spirit thing."

"Maybe we should ask the Centurions," Raine suggested, looking to them.

The servants of Ratatosk looked between themselves, before turning back to the group. Tenebrae was the first to start speaking:

"Sir Lloyd, did you ever feel some short of connection with the element fire?"

"What do you mean? I never felt anything like that," Lloyd spoke, but then remembered. "Well, except that since I was a child I never got burnt, even if I put my hand in a candle fire or stood under the sun, I wouldn't get a burn."

"That's more than enough to indicate that you do have Efreet's soul in you. This is all according to Origin's plan."

"Plan? What plan?" Ratatosk asked, taking control of Emil's body. "I remembered something about a plan, but I didn't get anything concrete out of it."

"I fear you wouldn't know even if you had all of your memories, my Lord," Ventus said. "You were... distracted at the time. Anyway, since the power of the Summon Spirits was waning due to the burnt of mana, they would need to pass through a phase of adaptation to find a new power source between the remaining energies in this world. However, there wasn't enough time."

Lloyd and the others stayed silent, listening to the Centurion. Raine could be seen writing in her book as Ventus spoke, looking from it to the bird-like Centurion. Raine and Sheena felt a precipitation in Emil's aura, signalizing Ratatosk gave the control back to him. The dual swordsman also felt that, but couldn't identify what it was yet.

Ventus then continued:

"Also, there was the fact some spirits had already lost their power and reverted to their essences. For these ones to adapt, it would take centuries. So Origin decided that the fastest way for them to adapt to the world and preserve their power would be through reincarnation."

"Wait, you mean like they are born again as someone?" Marta asked.

"Exactly," Aqua said. "The first one was Undine, since she had already reverted to her essence form. Origin wanted to see if it was possible for his plan to succeed so he chose her vessel carefully."

"Do you have any idea who it was?" Sheena asked.

"No. Origin kept the details in secret from everybody; he just spoke it when he had already successfully placed Undine's soul in her vessel. We just came to learn about it near the final days of the war, when the Giant Kharlan Tree..." Aqua paused, looking in Emil's direction.

"Anyway..." Tenebrae continued. "With his theory proven, Origin said he would make arrangements so the others would be inserted in the flow of souls that would reincarnate in the following years."

"Why couldn't they come all together?" Marta asked.

"Because if they did and somebody discovered a Summon Spirit had reincarnated as a mortal, the people in which they reincarnated would be persecuted, captured and most likely used as living weapons. Well, at least in case they were born during the war.

"Also, for them not to raise any suspicions, the Summon Spirits would reincarnate just like normal mortals do, with no memory of their past lives."

"That way they wouldn't be conflicted during their adaptation by the knowledge they had from the past, is that right?" Raine asked, looking up from her book.

"Correct," Ventus said. "As an extra measure, Lord Origin cleaved their souls and his own into two; one part containing their consciousness and thus their essence, which would be the one to reincarnate, and the other containing their power. As you all saw with Sir Lloyd, Lord Origin planned to have the part which contained their conscious to adapt to the new state of the world and develop a power of its own so it could later be reunited with its other halve, which would grant the new spirit a portion of his former powers and allow him to take the first step towards becoming the new guardian of this world."

"Efreet's soul said something about Lloyd not ascending to his position until he learned to dominate his power, does that mean his adaptation is not complete?" Raine asked.

"Though Origin's plan considerably hastened it, his powers have to come back on their own accord as he learns how to control the new energy that now sustains this world."

"This energy, what is it?" Lloyd asked. Emil was the one to answer.

"There's not a name for it, but scholars believe it is the very life source of all beings, including our own world. Ever since mana ceased to exist, this energy should have taken its place and sustained the world, but..."

"The demons came before it could happen. Yeah, I got that part."

"Right. According to studies, there would be some natural disasters as a consequence of the world itself adapting to the change, but when the demons came and spread the chaos energy, everything was thrown out of the tracks and the world is now in the state we see and live in today."

Lloyd and the others thought about that for a moment. Though the dual swordsman did not understand some of the terms Emil used, he did understand that there would still be some problems due to what the humans did to the world during the war.

Either way, we would have to face the consequences of what we did. Lloyd concluded.

"But with everything that's happened, shouldn't Origin have come up with a plan to deal with the demons?" Sheena asked.

"Lord Origin's own power was also waning. Though he was already sustained by the very life force of creation itself, most of his power was still based on mana, so, before the Second Invasion happened, Lord Origin had already cleaved his soul and inserted it into the flow of souls," Ventus said, adding in a sad tone. "He never imagined something like this would occur and as a result, the flow of souls was disturbed by the Second Invasion, causing the Summon Spirits to reincarnate in different times and not in the way Origin envisioned."

"So, is it possible that one of the new spirits have been killed?" Lloyd asked.

"Unfortunately, yes."

"We just hope that it hasn't happened, because if it did, we don't know when their soul will reborn again," Aqua said in a sad tone.

"But for our luck, LYD is Efreet. Which means at least one of boss' brothers survived and is now gaining his powers back," Lumen said, trying to point the good side of the things as always.

Ratatosk took control of Emil and shot a venous look to Lloyd, which clearly said "you're not my brother". Lloyd noticed it, but chose to ignore. He wasn't trying to be anybody's substitute. He just wanted to be himself. With that thought in mind, he asked the Centurions:

"So, what's going to happen to me?"

"You're going to become a complete Summon Spirit and guard this world," Tenebrae said, soon adding. "I thought that part would already be quite obvious..."

"Tenebrae, can't you see this isn't easy on Lloyd?" Marta said.

"That's right," Sheena spoke. "He just found out about it not too long ago. Give him some time to breath."

"My apologies."

"But, what if I... don't want to be a Summon Spirit?" Lloyd asked, slightly lowering his head so his hair casted a shadow over his eyes.

"Why wouldn't you?" Ventus asked.

"Summon Spirits live forever, right?"

"Yes, they are eternal, just like a normal soul."

"But... what if I am the only one that survived until now? I would live forever and be alone for eternity," Lloyd said in a heavy tone.

"Try to stay positive, Lloyd. I doubt the others would be killed that easily," Ignis said, trying to cheer Lloyd up. "If anything, you will have us," she meant the Centurions.

Lloyd looked to the Centurion of fire and to the others, who nodded. The red clad swordsman had to admit he appreciated their thoughts.

"And if you're still worried, you will still have boss, who is just like you," Lumen pointed out, with his goofy smile on.

Lloyd had to use all of his willpower to hold back a retort that came to his mind. He certainly could sympathize with Emil, but he could barely stand Ratatosk' attitude most of time. He shuddered at the thought of having to pass an eternity dealing with the dirty-mouthed, violent, temperamental spirit.

"So what are we gonna do about it?" Emil asked. "I... don't think I can simply go on, acting like I don't know about it," the group looked to him, which made the boy quite nervous. "It's just... I mean... they're just like me... in a way."

"Emil's right. We can't ignore it," Marta said. "Plus, these reincarnated Summon Spirits might help us."

"So, you're suggesting we go and search for them? What about the cores and Lord Ratatosk?" Tenebrae asked.

"It's not like we won't collect them, but you have to agree that extra help won't hurt," Sheena said.

"Sheena's right. They can even help Lord Ratatosk when the time to battle Nebilim comes," Aqua said.

"That sounds more like backtracking to me," Tenebrae complained.

"Nobody cares about you, so shut up!"

"But if you plan to search for these people, you need to have some short of plan in mind," Raine said, finally closing her book and looking to the group, maintaining her analytical and cool look the entire time. "Otherwise, the demons might find out that the Summon Spirits didn't leave this world. We already took a great risk just by letting Richter go."

"Hey, don't talk about Richter like that!" Marta protested.

"Yes. He would never betray us," Emil spoke up.

"You do know that he doesn't have an option should Nebilim interrogate him, don't you?" Raine shot back.

"Master Richter will find a way. He always does," Aqua said. "I would be more worried about you, since we don't know anything about you, anyway."

Raine stayed quiet at that and thought for a moment. She then decided to leave it at that. They did have a point after all. Sheena just stayed looking at the half-elf to see what she would say, but Raine decided to change back to their previous subject:

"Anyway, let's then concentrate on how to identify the Summon Spirits. Ventus, would there be any kind of special features that might differ them from the rest of people? Some kind of peculiarity in their aura?"

"No. Lord Origin cleaved their souls from their powers so their aura would appear to be normal to mortals. After all, the objective is for them to remain hidden until they are ready to take their powers back. As for any features, I wouldn't know."

"What about a scar or a birth mark?" Lloyd suddenly asked, making everybody turn to him at the tone in his voice.

"That could be possible. Why do you ask?"

"Because I have this one..." Lloyd said, taking his red jacket off and lifting his shirt underneath it, giving his back to the group.

They then saw on Lloyd's back something very similar to a birthmark, just like Ratatosk's crest on Emil's chest. However, it was so intricate that it looked like somebody had drawn it on his skin. Raine and Sheena remembered they had seen that mark before; when Lloyd regained Efreet's power that mark had shone and from it sprouted his wings. The Centurions gasped at seeing that and Tenebrae let out:

"That's the Mark of Flames. Efreet's crest."

"And you have that ever since you were born?" Ventus asked to which Lloyd nodded as he lowered his shirt.

The girls seemed strangely quiet when they looked at that, staying in a thoughtful pose. Emil and Lloyd didn't notice it and the blonde spoke:

"So that's it! We just have to look for somebody who has marks like this one."

"If that's the case, you can already mark another one in your list," Marta said in a strangely neutral tone. Emil and Lloyd looked to her with confused looks. The brunette didn't say anything as she just lowered her detached right sleeve and showed, to Emil's surprise, a symbol that, just like Lloyd, was so intricate it seemed to have been drawn on her arm.

"This is the Emblem of the Gale," Ventus said in a surprised tone. "So that's why you looked familiar. Lady Marta, you are Sylph."

"Marta... why did you never show this to me?" Emil asked in a hurt tone.

"Well... let's just say I..." Marta tried to speak, but couldn't end her sentence.

"Got worried Emil would think of it as something not attractable?" Raine asked. The girl nodded to her. "That's understandable. But, since you pointed it out, I also have one,"

"You too, Raine?" Lloyd asked. "Where?"

"In my right thigh," Raine said with such neutrality it made Emil and Lloyd blush beet red.

"Could we see it?" Lumen asked in his blunt manner, not carrying any malice at all.

"Lumen! That's not something you could ask to a woman about!" Aqua spoke.

"Oh sorry. Do you mind showing your mark to us, Professor Water? Please?" Lumen asked again in a more formal tone.

"Lumen!" Aqua yelled.

"What? I even asked please."

"Actually, I don't feel bothered at all. Here, I'll show you," Raine said, lowering the right side of her pants.

Emil and Lloyd screamed her name and looked to the sides, their faces three different shades of red. Sheena just laughed at the boys' faces while Marta just widened her eyes, not being able to speak anything at all.

Though part of her underwear was exposed, the Centurions saw the mark could be clearly seen over Raine's skin. She adjusted her pants back as Aqua proclaimed:

"You have the Symbol of Water. Undine's mark."

"Undine? You mean the Summon Spirit of... water?" Raine asked and for the first time since the group met her, she sounded worried.

That made Lloyd and the others look back to Raine, with their eyebrows raised. There was a moment of silence, which was broken when Sheena asked:

"Um... any problems Raine?"

"What? N-no... not at all," Raine said, still nervous and trying to compose herself, however, the stutter was enough to give her away.

"Raine... are you afraid of water or something?" Lloyd asked.

"Don't be ridiculous Lloyd. Why would I be afraid of something like that?" Raine shot back with more ferocity than she intended.

"Unbelievable," Marta mumbled. "You don't mind showing your underwear, yet you are afraid of water."

"I. Am. Not! Besides, I just did that for research purposes."

"And what kind of research involves you lowering your pants?" Sheena asked, with a smirk on her face that showed she was trying to hold back her laugh.

"If I really am a Summon Spirit, that would mean I have knowledge of the past locked inside of me," Raine said, with the familiar glint in her eyes of when she was in Ruin Mode. "If that's true, then this entire time, my own memories are the key to secrets long lost in time."

The group had sweatdrops running behind their foreheads as Raine went on, muttering about the probability of her being a source of knowledge in the ancient times herself. She really didn't let anything stand in the path of her curiosity.

"Well..." Tenebrae said. "I think we can say that we have two Summon Spirits in our group who need to have their powers awakened."

"Make it three," Sheena said, making the group turn to her. "I also have a mark just like you all."

"Really? Where's yours at, Sheena?" Lumen asked.

"Well, let's say that I could show you..." Sheena said, giving an intentional pause for suspense as she looked at Lloyd and Emil with a smirk. "But the place it is on would probably make Emil pass out."

The two boys blushed as their minds produced several images of where Sheena's birthmark could be as the rest of the group stayed silent, catching the meaning in Sheena's words. That is, everybody except Lumen.

"Why? Where is it?" Lumen asked with a clueless look on his cheetah face.

"Ah... someday I might tell you," Sheena simply said. "But it looks something like this," she took out one of her seals and started to draw in the ground with it.

The group got closer to look at what Sheena's mark looked like. When the violet haired woman ended, Lumen was the one to recognize it first:

"Hey, this is the Radiant Emblem. Luna's mark!"

"That means you're the Summon Spirit of light, Sheena," Marta pointed out.

"Well, I do have some control over this element," Sheena admitted. "I used it to fry demons back home. It's very efficient to burn through their chaos energies."

"Just like Luna used it during the War of the Young Aselia," Ventus thought aloud. "It must be fate that our paths crossed."

"But do you know what this means?" Marta asked, now in a happier tone. "That means Lloyd isn't going to be alone anymore. He will have all of us with him."

Lloyd realized she was right. Thinking about it now, he didn't feel uneasy anymore with the idea of turning into a Summon Spirit if all of his new friends and his crush were going to be there with him. The thought made the red clad swordsman smile.

Marta then turned to Emil, who still had a surprised look at realizing most of his friends were reincarnated Summon Spirits. He was called back to reality when Marta spoke, grabbing his arm:

"Oh Emil. That means we can be together forever. It would be like a literal happy after ever," she said, closing her eyes and staying with the expression she often got when daydreaming. "Don't you think? That means even after we wake up the other Centurions and you become a Summon Spirit yourself we can still be together."

"Yeah..." Emil said, lowering his head.

"W-what? Y-you don't want to?" Marta asked, sounding worried.

"Oh... no. It's just... Um..." that attracted the attention of the other members of the group, who looked to the shy boy. Seeing everybody was watching him, Emil spoke. "I... just need... sometime to think about all of this. It's just that. Um... excuse me."

Ratatosk's incarnation then got up and left the campsite. Marta had a distraught look on her face, thinking she might have said something wrong. Had she forced herself on him without noticing? Or did he simply not like the idea of being together with her like that? Those thoughts made Marta's heart ache with doubt and worry.

However, the entire group's attention was diverted once Lumen spoke up:

"I got it!"

"What?" Raine asked.

"Shee-luni!" the entire group let out an "huh?" when Lumen said that. "I've been trying to come with a nickname for Sheena ever since she joined us, but couldn't think of anything. But now that we know she's Luna, I finally found one; Shee-luni."

A heavy silence befell the campsite. Sweatdrops ran at the back of the heads of the group as they processed the fact that Lumen had been thinking on a nickname for Sheena that entire time. Ignis was the only that seemed unaffected by it. In fact, she looked confused more than anything. Aqua then spoke, having recovered from the awkward moment:

"Seriously, Lumen. You should think about a career as a comedian."

Before anybody decide to flame me here's some explanations about the gang being Summon Spirits and other things:

1 - In this story, Lloyd and the others are fighting against high-level demons and the gang doesn't have any Exphere or Cruxis Crystal to help them. Meaning, they can't remain this underpowered through the story if they are to survive and beat the demons. Also the problems here are on a extreme level, like the wrost case scenarios of the two games combined, so even if they had their power level from the games, it might still not be enough. As the story progresses, you will see.

2 - Brilliant Shackles is actually the Photon spell from ToS1, in case you haven't noticed the similarity in the description.

Now on a more important note: The side-fic of Everlasting Hope is released! To those who want to check it out, the name is Sage Formula. Take a look at it.

And finally (phew) a Skit to close this chapter. This is one is actually a serious one and shows what occurs as Emil let the group to be by himself in the end of this chapter. I had to put it like this, because I didn't find a place for it in the next chapter. It's between him and Ratatosk.

Emil's Doubts

Emil: To think all of them are actually Summon Spirits… even Marta…

Ratatosk: Hey. What's wrong?

Emil: Oh, Ratatosk. I'm just… thinking…

Ratatosk: Don't tell me discovering all of them are Summon Spirits made you change your mind?

Emil: N-no… it's just…

Ratatosk: If I remember well; you were the one that said you didn't wish for this. Right?

Emil: Um… y-yes…

Ratatosk: Well, I don't like it as much as you, but what so if they are the replacements of my brothers and sisters? In the end, it won't matter.

Emil: But Lloyd and the others aren't replacements to somebody. They're themselves and…

Ratatosk: Look, I'm not asking for your opinion on the matter. I know they're their own person. Didn't I just say they're not my brothers and sisters?

Emil: Yes, but you…

Ratatosk: Look. It doesn't matter. I'm going to recover my powers and once I do, we're done with this deal.

Emil: But… what about Marta?

Ratatosk: 'What about her'?

Emil: She's a Summon Spirit too and I…

Ratatosk: What? You want to stay with her? Don't be ridiculous. I'm the Summon Spirit here, not you. You're my vessel at the best.

Emil: I… I'm not just a…

Ratatosk: If she's going to turn into a Summon Spirit, then she's not going to belong to this world anymore and, who knows, she might even forget you.

Emil: Marta would never… !

Ratatosk: Look, I'm not in the mood for this talk, ok? Just do your part of the deal and then you figure out what to do with your love problems.

Emil: O… Ok…

Ratatosk: … ugh… why do things have to get so complicated? … Marta…a Summon Spirit… if just that wimp had the guts to take her, I wouldn't have to feel like this.