A/N: EDIT: I want to continue this story. I really, truly do. But its getting so much less feedback than the others...T_T

Hello, hello~! Can anyone see this? Yes? No? Maybe so?

If this gets a lot of feedback -unlikely, given its less popular than the others, but you never know- it'll be updated early/weekly with the rest.

The site broke down a day or so back night for everyone across the board; major crashes and everything. I've slept the last twelve hours; hopefully the admins have fixed everything up by now; if not, I'm going to seriously consider stepping away and reassessing my path here. Every time a glitch happens -power outage or otherwise- on their end it throws everything I'v set up way out of wack. The stress isn't good for my heart or head, either.

That's not a healthy setup for a writer, let alone someone of my age.

Case in point, I had a whole schedule set up, double and triple update days planned, then everything went barmy and shot my inspiration to hell and back. The cloudflare crash was particularly painful. I LOST THOUSANDS OF WORDS. Tens of thousands. I had a massive arc planned for this chapter, it was going to be grand...and now its gone because the one time I didn't save something properly...this happened. And so I had to improvice. I'm still here, despite the site breaking, and still writing for now. These constant breakdowns are testing my patience...

...but I remain. We'll see where this goes. I've started posting on other sites now as well.

With my fifteen year anniversary on this site finally here, I find myself reflecting on the little things in life. What was once a lazy pastime meant for me and a few friends really grew and evolved over time. There are days when I look back on the last fifteen years here and I wonder if anyone will remember me; if I made an impact, despite never making a single cent on any of these stories. Some days were happier than others, and some stories I enjoyed writing WAY too much; to the point where I'd stay up all night working on them.

And of course, there are times when I look to the future and wonder what will become of things when I'm gone.

Of course, I try not to dwell on the latter overmuch; I'm still alive and still writing. In an ideal world, I'd like to keep doing so for as long as I can. But old age is catching up to me and these days, the world is filled with so much madness and death. Feels like everyone's lost their minds sometimes. Even before that, so many friends and fellow writers I once knew are gone, now. Will I still be here in twenty years? Ten? Five? Its a chilling thought. But for now, I'm still here, still writing.

So here we go. The fate of this story depends on you, the reader. Your feedback determines the fate of this tale, and many others.

As ever, I own no references, quotes, themes or memes. They're tributes to legends far greater than I.

I'm just a humble author trying to make his way in this wild world, one word at a time.

Time and feedback will determine if this remains a story. Simple as that.

In other words...its up to YOU, the reader. Do let me know~!

Minor timeskip ahead! Trust me, you'll understand by the end.

"He is a champion to all. Not just to the living, but the dead as well.

Even the spirits, as you well know.

He listens to them all.

You're quite lucky to have found him first, Roderika. Any woman in the Lands Between would be lucky to have him. I would have snapped him up in an instant. And yet here you are, hesitating, instead of snapping him up like the prize he is. Honestly, the two of you! Dancing about one another like this. Must I lock you in a closet-wait.

Where is he now?

Well, lady Nepheli said she wanted to investigate the Albinauric village and never came back, so...

...oh, dear."

~One with Spirits.

Hearken to Me

"You slaughtered those Albinaurics, didn't you?"

Gideon looked up from his manuscripts with an annoyed grunt. Half of a medallion thudded down on his desk; the coveted crest he'd sought for so long now. His first instinct was to grab at it, but something in the young man's gaze prevented him from doing so. Those bright blue eyes, usually so sunny and warm...were not so now. They were cold, shining like shards of broken ice, holding the promise of pain. Quite impossible of course, the Roundtable Hold prevented all acts of violence. He couldn't harm him.

And yet, nevertheless, that gaze still chilled him to the bone.

He clicked his tongue and looked away.

Ah, so he'd gone soft after all.

A shame. He'd such high hopes for him at first, when word had come of Godrick's defeat. He could've used that Great Rune to procure another, and open the way to the capital for the lot of them. Instead he'd given it to that wastrel woman of his. That Roderika, who seemed content to nothing more than tune spirits with her so-called daughter.

Feh! Useless sods, the lot of them.

A fist slammed down, cracking his desk. "Answer me!"

Unimpressed by the neutered promise of violence, he rose to the boy's bait.

...aye, I did. What of it?" he linked both hands behind his back and straightened up to glower at him. "They had something I wanted. The strong take from the weak. Surely you of all people know this."

He expected an argument from the boy, an attempt to change him, to talk him around. That was what he did, wasn't it? He talked. He was a talker. Oh yes, he knew of his little conversation with the Veiled King and the tentative alliance between them that followed. He couldn't be called the All-Knowing if he missed something like that now, could he? He knew everything about the boy before him. He wouldn't try to kill someone out of hand. He considered himself good, and that innate "goodness" made him weak.

Which was why it came as something of a surprise when Naruto didn't argue.

Instead, he leaned back, as though listening.

His silence only irritated Gideon.

"Naive fool." he shook his head and reached for his staff. "Just like Nepheli. Are you responsible for my daughter's disappearance as well?"

The whiskered warrior looked puzzled for a moment. "What are you talking about? If you're trying to distract me, it won't work."

A chill shot through him. Seluvis. That worm! He couldn't have. He shouldn't have. He should know better...

.

..

...bah, who was he fooling. The man was a monster wearing human skin. Of course he would.

Maybe there was still a chance. Maybe he could stop him this time. Maybe...

He tried to leave. Naruto moved to bar his path. "We're not done."

Gideon growled at him. "Stand aside!"

"Not a chance!"

"Enough!" he snapped when the blond bastard didn't budge." I have matters to tend to. Move, or I will remove you." jabbing a finger against his chest, he was rewarded by a decidedly put off look from his so-called guest. Perhaps you'd like me to teleport your into the heart of Mount Gelmir. Are we clear?"

"Ohhh, we're clear alright. Transparently." Naruto slapped his hand aside. "That's all I needed to hear. He's all yours."

Gideon heard a faint shimmering noise echo behind him, ringing like a sharp bell. No, it was a bell.

Naruto was holding a spirit-calling bell in his hand. Which meant he'd just summoned-

That was his only warning and it came far, far too late to save him.

Something struck him from behind, simultaneously tearing the helm from his head sending pearly white teeth whistling through the air in the same instead. The blow dazed him-prevented him from conjuring a protective barrier. His vision snapped to the side as another punch snapped his skull back, rendering his nose a greasy red smear. He gurgled wetly and fumbled to raise his staff, only to have it ripped from his hands and broken across his head. His face struck a wall, dazing him twice over as he slid down it.

Through bleary eyes, he glimpsed a spectral figure hunched over on their knees, unable to stand.

"I don't like killing my enemies." Naruto stepped past them, voice ringing dimly in his ears as the word swam in and out of focus. "Ya don't learn from death." He crouched down, grabbed him by the shoulder and rolled him onto his side. "But after I found this poor girl...after what you did to her and her people...well, I made a deal. Roderika will understand, I'm sure. Say hello, Latenna."

"..."

Gideon's fading vision cleared for an awful moment and he immediately wished it hadn't.

"You?!" That couldn't be. She was dead. She was long gone. She...she was a spirit...

.

..

...and the rules of the Roundtable Hold weren't beholden to spirits now, were they? Invasions worked. Spirit ashes could be summoned here.

Which meant she could hurt him. Kill him, even.

Oh. Oh, dear. Oh, very dear. This was going to end poorly.

Nepheli! His mind bleated. If he was going to die here, someone must save her from Seluvis before-

"Sir Gideon Ofnir. For the crimes committed against my people, I sentence you to death."

Latenna didn't give him time to reply. Her fist descended. His world went red.

Bloody spectral knuckles reeled back for another blow.

She struck him again.

Yet again, now.

And again.

AGAIN.

(.0.0.0.)

She wanted him.

Even now, weeks after that kiss, Roderika craved another. In her more unguarded moments she imagined Naruto watching her from afar; her wayward mind took that thought and ran away with it as one would a priceless rune. She leaned against the fall and fanned herself with one hand; that proved a mistake; because then she started thinking about his hands on her body, rough palms caressing her hips as he pulled her into his lap and kissed her andyesohshelikedthatideaverymuch-

"Mama?"

"Hwah!?" the Spirit Tuner thrashed her way out of her daydreams and flailed back to the present with a start to find little Aurelia looking up at her; as ever, the girl remained planted in her lap, back to her as she absently ran a come through what passed for her hair. It didn't stop her from looking up at her curiously. "What is it, dearest?"

"Why is your face red?"

She sputtered. "No reason!"

All the reasons! All of them! Every one!

Aurelia tilted her head, curious. "Are you sick?"

Not physically she wasn't, but lovesick? Most certainly.

"Not at all." She patted the spectral girl's head and went back to coming her hair. "You're just imagining it. Now hold still."

"M'kay." How easy it was to convince a child. Her "daughter" shrugged and leaned back quite convinced by her reply.

Roderika raised a hand to her mouth and bit her knuckle. The pain centered her, blessedly.

She'd not seen Naruto in the week since he'd kissed her cheek.

He'd gone gallivanting about, doing all sorts of things.

That...worried her.

He hadn't been absent, oh no, she'd heard him in the Roundtable Hold a time or two, he'd even stopped to chat with little Aurelia, but he always seemed to leave just before she caught sight of him. Honestly, if she didn't know better, she'd think he was avoiding her. But he wasn't. She awoke each morning to find a piping hot plate of food set aside for her and Aurelia, as well as their evening meal. When questioned, the latter let slip that her precious "Papa" was preparing a surprise.

It meant Naruto was up to something. Not another prank, she hoped. She didn't think the Roundtable could take much more.

Corhyn was still scrubbing the orange off his robes. Naruto didn't much like him.

Gideon certainly didn't; frankly it was a miracle he let them stay here.

Yet for all her worries, her heart felt light.

It was a good feeling.

When was the last time she'd felt so alive? She'd gone from a wretched wastrel preparing for death, to so much more; been handed a new life on a silver platter, really. But she knew she mustn't be complacent. The spirits within her were restless; those that had chosen to stay within her were a good sort, as were the skills they had imparted, but they longed for action. To do good. Be a force for change. If she lingered her much longer she risked losing them entirely.

She had power now. Strength. Influence. She intended to keep them.

Godrick's Great Rune had buoyed her abilities immensely she found; it merely took a bit of training to bring that potential forth. Where once she'd been weak and powerless, she could now swing a sword and wield a shield, skills she'd never thought to cultivated in the past, now seared into her very soul. Those abilities were ingrained into her body. Even if all the spirits within her left at this very moment, she would still retain hold of them until the day she died. In time she would gain the proper muscle mass to use them effectively. And with them she would continue to gain others things; strength, mind, vigor, dexterity and intelligence and perhaps eventually...faith.

Such a little thing, faith.

She'd never had much of that before she had Naruto. He'd given her that.

Aurelia laughed as the comb absently touched her scalp a little too lightly. "Mama, that tickles!"

She hummed softly. "Then perhaps you should hold still-

"Hello~!"

"Gah!" Roderika jumped, and the brush went flying.

Someone caught it and handed it back to her. She scowled at responsible party. "Must you do that?!"

"Sorry, not sorry." came the jovial reply. "You have the cutest pout. I just got back and when Fia said you were here, I just couldn't help myself!"

For you see, Naruto had poked his head round the corner, grinning fit to burst. His was a jester's smile and it promised trouble; though she admittedly wasn't sure if it was the good kind or that kind. Aurelia cooed a hello as he flounced down beside them, back sliding against the wall. Roderika made to do the same, only to notice a scarlet stain upon her ally's face.

Her eyes widened as she balked. "Is that...blood? On your cheek?"

"Hmm?" he paused, then hurriedly scrubbed it away with one hand. "Huh, though I got all of Gideon's blood off me."

Gideon? Roderika's heart hitched. "Do I want to know?"

Ignorance was bliss!

"Probably not!" Anyway, there's somebody I wanted you to meet. I met her just the other day and-ow!" Her fellow blond winced abruptly then paused, seeming to listen to a voice only he seemed to hear. "What? Did I say something wrong-stop that!" he growled and touched a hand to the side of his head. Was Kurama chastising him again, or was this someone else? "Huh. Ya know, on second thought, nevermind. Maybe later. Now might not be the best time. How you doing?"

The spirits within her sang a greeting of their own, eager for action.

That...was going to take some getting used to. She marshaled herself and forced a smile to her face.

"Well enough." Her gaze flicked up and down, noting his attire; he was dressed in worn leathers for a journey. "Where are you going?"

"Got another errand to run." Quick as can be he dipped in and delivered a swift peck of his lips to her cheek again, leaving her reeling. That was twice now; twice that he'd mustered up the courage to kiss her and twice her nerve faltered in exchange. Why must he torment her so? If only she weren't so terribly shy. "Anyway, I wanted to stop in and say goodbye."

His words snapped her back to reality. Oh, no. No, no, no and no again. She wasn't letting him squirm away this time. "Might I accompany you?"

Aurelia clapped happily at the notion.

A blond brow arched, considering her. "That a good idea?"

"I can fight now!" she stood with a huff, dusting down her blouse. "I know a few tricks."

The spirits had whispered their secrets to her, now they were speaking in her ear, urging her to action. She'd spent enough time resting on her laurels. She didn't like the way Corhyn looked at her, nor Diallos or the ever silent Ensha, the latter refusing to associate with her entirely. Hewg alone seemed to be one of her few friend in this place, but he couldn't leave his smithy.

She needed to move, to be gone from here, before she went mad.

Naruto, thankfully, seemed willing to accommodate her.

Even if she daren't ask about the blood she'd seen.

"Well, I'm doing a favor for Morgott; he asked me to prove my worth by clearing out an overrun castle." he shrugged one shoulder. "Says since we offed Godrick, we should at least do our duty and fix the place up. Dunno if he's trying to be nice about it, or just doesn't know how, but I said I'd help."

She tilted her head. "But why?"

"Well, apparently Nepheli vanished, I asked around, and he offered to track her down for me if I did him a solid." when she gave him a baffled look he shrugged again. "Eh," he waffled a hand. "He has a thing about ambition. You know the Weeping Peninsula, right? He said its down there."

...why did she have a bad feeling about this?

Her heart clenched. "I am somewhat familiar with the area, yes...

"Me too!" Aurelia took ahold of both their hands and swung between them with a merry giggle. "Were are we going, papa?"

He tousled her hair happily. "Castle Morne. Should be an easy job.

A stray shudder slithered across Roderika's back and with it a pall of nameless dread overtook her; something about the name sent a shiver shooting down her spine. That name. She'd heard it somewhere before. She couldn't quite recall where, but it nagged at her all the same. Castle Morne. Didn't the place belong to some old banished knight? What was it that set her so on edge? No, there was somehting else.

Mayhap merely her paranoia and self-loathing playing up again. It was nothing, surely.

How little she knew. Castle Morne was not nothing, nay, not at all.

It was everything.

A/N: Gideon's dead and Nepheli has vanished. We all know what that means.

Ohhh, Seluvis, you poor fol. Morgott is hunting you now. A dead duck you be. Spirit Nepheli incoming, and of course,

Castle Morne will be coming next chapter, naturally. I'm sure you all remember what awaits us there...or should I say whom? Of course, that's only if this gets another chapter.

Do you want this to be a story? Yes? No? Maybe so? Make yourselves heard!

Once more, we're sticking with the "Embers" rule for this particular story, and others. If folks don't like this, it won't be continued. Meaning that if the story itself ain't popular? POOF! Gone. Completely. I'm working two jobs -might need a third soon!- so I barely have time to write; as such, I cannot afford to write something folks don't enjoy.

So by all means, speak up! Your voice matters! Make yourself heard! As ever, reviews are the fuel that sustain me. Without them I cannot write a single word. Simple as that. Working nearly all hours of the day keep me absurdly busy, and I can't bring myself to write something folks don't like.

Aaaand there we go. As ever, reviews keep me alive. Without them, I cannot write. So...in the Immortal Words of Atlas...

...Review...Would You Kindly? And have some previews.

WARNING~! WARNING~! WARNING~!

SPOILERS AWAIT THEE AHEAD!

READ AT YOUR OWN RISK!

(Previews)

She knew something was amiss when the lift led them upward. And then she saw. A horrified noise left her lips. The misbegotten had taken over alright; now they stood atop a mountain of dead.

Naruto gaggped and clamped a hand over Aurelia's eyes, preventing her from seeing.

Roderika barely heard him.

There were so many dead in Castle Mourne. So many spirits. So many souls. They cried out to her. So many. It drove her down to her knees. Overwhelmed her. She touched a hand to her head and gasped; for just as she could sense them, so too could they sense her. They wanted in.

"AVENGE US!"

There was only one response she could give.

The Leonine Misbegotten turned as someone stomped through the fog door.

Said growl became a whimper when it saw the angry blond woman.

What followed could only described one one word.

Massacre.

Morgott watched from afar.

"Curious."

He found himself quite glad he'd made allies of these two.

Gods be good, but he had no desire to fight a woman who could to THAT with spirits.

"She's quite blind. We must help her."

Nauto granted her a small smile. "See? You can be brave when you want."

"I...Roderika flushed. "...haven't the foggiest idea what you mean! Here, help me pick her up." Naruto's brow climbed higher still and her bush redoubled. "NOT LIKE THAT!"

Cold lips touched her cheek.

"That sounded so cheesy." She heard him mutter to himself. "I'm never using Kurama's lines again...

The spirit ashes burst into life, giving birth to a terribly startled boy in page's clothing.

"What is this?!" the new fledgling soul looked about, quite startled. "Where am I?!"

Aurelia cooed happily. "Oooh! New brother!"

"You must be Ranni."

...I am. And who art thou?"

"He is MINE. You will stay away from him."

"I made no claims on that silly boy! 'Tis no fault of mine he enjoys my company."

Could one kill a Demigod that was technically dead? Roderika found herself consumed with the desire to find out.

The witch bridled. "Do not challenge me, girl...

Funny, I was about to say the same...

EDIT: Hey, you made it!

As ever, the Embers rule remains for this story in particular, seeing as it seems to be one of my weaker ones. If people don't enjoy it? Well...I won't be able to continue it. That's no joke, folks. I'm so busy these days with two jobs in the holidays; basically, I don't have time off. Not anymore.

What little free time I DO have before/after work is limited; as such, I can't afford to focus on something folks don't like. Reviews keep me writing in these times, and keep the daily updates flowing. Silence...silence only hurts. I hate having to beg for feedback, but without it...well, it feels like I'm not making an impact.

Looking forward to chatting with you all after work!

Warm regards,

~Nz.

R&R~!