Chapter 22: With All My Heart
Jack half-heartedly ran from the tree he was hiding behind and ducked under another. He didn't have his weapons and left his cloak in his hut. Jack was outnumbered and quickly getting tired, and only a hollowed-out tree in the center of a clearing, he guessed, could keep him safe. If only Helen had been here, she could have eliminated some of his exhaustion. Standing up, he sprinted for the tree, grunting and growling as he ran. He leaped for it, stretching out his arm as far as it would go, when a net rose from under the leaves and caught him mid-air, yanking him away from his safety.
"No! No! NOOOO!" he called as swarms of kids came flooding out from between the trees, yelling and screaming battle cries. One of the small kids came up and pointed a finger at him as if he were holding a gun.
"Give up! You have nowhere left to hide!" the child demanded. Jack playfully put his arms up, pretending to beg for his life.
"Oh please, Master Jack! Please spare me!" He pleaded, trying in vain to suppress a laugh as much as he could while the child poked him in the ribs.
"No, Black Mage! We've got your disciples, and we have Eleanor! Give up, or I'll shoot!" Jack again pleaded, trying to keep from laughing as the kids brought the other Guardians into the area.
"Alright! I give, I give! Just please don't hurt me!" He begged as the child ordered the other kids to let him down and pull the net from around him.
"I will let you live, but you must promise that you will never do anything like this again!" Helen stifled a laugh: the little boy was just too cute, trying to sound big and strong, wearing Jack's Sun Ship hat covering most of his face.
"I promise! Just please don't hurt me!" Jack pleaded once more. The boy pretended to holster his gun and pushed Jack over.
"Very well! But just know that if you try anything, you'll be sorry." The boy nodded and then pushed the hat out of his eyes as he turned and walked away. But Jack had other plans as he got up and quickly picked the kid up, tickling him and making him squeal and scream.
"Help! Help my friends!" the boy called as more kids came rushing out of the forest with homemade bows and plunger arrows, branch swords, and staffs, while others had sponges for shuriken. Jack pretended to be hit from all sides as each of the weapons 'hit' him, jerking from side to side, then dramatically grabbed at his chest and fell to the ground. All the kids surrounded him as he lay still, while the one with his hat approached, staring hard as Jack lay still.
"I'm dead." He whispered, shutting his eyes again. The kid then set his small foot on Jack's shoulder and took a proud stance.
"The Black Mage is dead!" he announced, making all the kids cheer loudly, begging to play again.
"I wanna be Jack this time!" shouted one.
"I wanna be Lillianne!" called another.
"I wanna be Helen!" called a little girl who wore Helen's Black Universe hat, covering her eyes and making it hard to see.
"I'm sorry, guys, but I'm pooped. We need a rest." Jack said as he sat down on a fallen log.
"Awww. Come on one more time, please?" the first boy begged. Jack shook his head repeatedly as Helen picked up the girl with her hat on and pulled it out of her eyes.
"He's right. We need a break; we'll play again tomorrow, alright?" Matthew chimed in, slumping beside Jack and pulling the water canteen from his belt. The kids made a disappointed sound as they left, splitting off into different groups, each pretending to be their favorite Guardian on some adventure. Jenny laughed as she leaned against a tree and caught her breath: for the past few mornings after their return from Ludibrium, their waking up to play a massive game of tag was the norm for them, or playing as though it were the last battle between the Guardians and the Black Mage.
"It's a shame they don't know that they're playing something we'll eventually have to do," Olsen commented as he watched the kids leave while Jenny sat beside Jack, leaning against him.
"I think it is better that way. If these children knew the horrors we face, their perfect happy world would no longer be that." Helen surmised solemnly.
"Speaking of facing horrors, have you talked to Auzzy since we returned? He seems kinda down." Jenny commented as she looked back to Olsen.
"I haven't had the chance. Whenever I think I have a little time to talk to him, something else pulls me away."
"Well, you have a little time now. Go, I'll fill you in if something should come up." Jack said as he took another drink of water. Olsen nodded and jogged back to the village, asking Aran if he'd seen Auzzy. Aran directed him to the medical tent, where the boy had been since the day after they returned. Olsen ran to the tent and peered in, seeing Auzzy sitting on his cot and looking down at the ring in his hands, turning it over and thinking about his fallen master, Geris.
"Auzzy, there you are. Come out into the light; it'll help you feel better." Olsen offered. Auzzy shook his head, staring down at the ring. Olsen stood over him, crossing his arms as he leaned against a tent post.
"Did that ring belong to your master?" Olsen asked. Auzzy nodded and slipped it back onto his hand, touching the tiny silver wings mounted on the top.
"It's called the Blessing of the Angels. Geris said he'd gotten it in a trade for some clothes he was no longer using. He also said that when the wearer is in mortal danger, the angels will defend him." Auzzy explained, hanging his head as he took out a Kunai throwing knife loaded in his Black Avarice claw and looked over it.
"What happened to your master?" asked Olsen, his memory still somewhat fuzzy. Auzzy firmly slid the kunai back into the claw and sighed heavily.
"When we arrived in Helios Tower, my brother-in-training was the reader while the book pulled Geris and me into it. We were about to face the Dark Dragon when things went wrong: for whatever reason, my brother couldn't take the intensity anymore and closed the book. As the sky darkened, it broke our concentration and allowed the Dark Dragon to grab Geris. I tried to help him, but he told me to return to the palace and threw me his ring. I was halfway back to the palace when the book shut, and it stayed that way for so long that I nearly became a permanent part of Ledron. However, Acuia and Jaden ensured that never happened, teaching me how to use the ring. That's when Lillianne opened the book, and you came to get me." Olsen nodded and patted him on the back.
"I know it might take some time, but when you are ready, I'd be willing to continue training you." Auzzy nodded his thanks as Olsen smiled and left. Just as he exited the tent, Jack came walking up, dressed in his armor and checking the bullets in his new Infinity pistol.
"Hey, this guy named No Gong just invited us to train at his dojo. He said some of his more advanced students needed to mix up their training, and mom said it'll help keep our edge, too." Olsen agreed, going to his hut and changing into his new Red Pirate clothes, clamping on his Black Mamba and slinging his Betrayal dagger to his side, checking to make sure that the spare clip of Hwabi shuriken was buckled to his belt, meeting the others at the boat dock. It wasn't long until they sailed across the sky toward Mu Lung, where they would be for the next few days.
Athena saw them off before returning to her hut, grabbing her bow and arrows, then leaving for the eastern perimeter where Eckhart had been stationed for night patrols. Knowing him, though, he would be nearly impossible to find, as he was a Night Walker, an elite ninja branch serving the Empress. But it might be easier to spot him since it was during the day.
Many times when she came to her post in the morning, she would find Eckhart fast asleep next to a tree while his Guardian Fairy, Umbra, floated around and struggled to keep watch until she, too, would fall asleep and go back to her world. This morning, however, she found Eckhart standing on a branch, which was odd since his shift was just ending. However, Athena was glad he was visible, so she didn't have to spend half her shift looking for him. Nimbly, Athena jumped up to the tree branch and put her arms around him, resting her chin on his shoulder.
"Good morning, Eckhart." She softly said into his ear. Eckhart turned his head slightly and nodded, turning his attention back to the perimeter, yawning under his mask and shaking his head, trying to stay awake.
"I trust the night watch was uneventful?" Athena asked, hugging him tighter. Eckhart sighed and placed his hand on Athena's.
"Nothing major to report. For minor events, a stray Hankling tried to get through the perimeter. We managed to chase it away." He replied, pulling Athena's hand from his chest, turning around to her, and slightly bowing his head.
"I leave the perimeter to you, Athena." He said, about to turn and leave, but turned back, took off his mask, and kissed her before leaping from branch to branch toward the village. Athena touched her lips and smiled; he slowly opened up to her, even if he was naive.
"You two are getting along just fine." Called Mir, landing next to Athena on the branch, folding her wings comfortably, and patting her shoulder.
"Eckhart is still reserved. Though he is slowly opening his heart." Athena answered, pulling her bow over her shoulders. Mir laughed and crossed her arms, looking out over the perimeter.
"How is your relationship with Evan progressing?" Athena asked. Mir tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear and smiled when Athena heard struggling behind her, firing an arrow that pinned Evan's sleeve to the tree.
"Athena!" he growled, using the arrow to pull himself up onto the branch, straddling it and pulling the arrow out before haphazardly balancing on the thick branch to reach them.
"Did you have to shoot me?" He said agitatedly, wobbling back and forth as he tried to keep his balance while handing back her arrow.
"This is the eastern border; anything behind me I'm going to assume is an enemy." Athena smiled as she returned the arrow to the quiver.
"Athena! Lady Athena!" called the small voice of a child who came running with a small note, dressed in makeshift armor and a yellow tablecloth for a cape. Athena jumped down and took the note, reading over it quickly.
"What's it say?" Mir called, her wings becoming fidgety at the thought of going away from Herb Town for a few days: she was getting restless since there was nothing much for them to do.
"It's from Grendal. There is activity near the Mine of the Dead he would like us to investigate. Kyrin and her troops will take over for us here while we're gone."
"So why doesn't Grendal, Dances, or Jin take care of it?" Evan asked, clumsily climbing back down as Mir glided down and put her arms around his, resting her head on his shoulder.
"Grendal is watching the Northern border, Dances and his warriors are watching the west border, and Jin left with Syl on a recon mission to Victoria.
"So, are we gonna fly there?" Mir asked, her whole body tingling as she fidgeted and grinned, her pupils narrowing to slits.
"That seems to be our only option, as the Ticket's ship needs repairs." Evan laughed and placed a hand on Mir's back.
"Well, I guess we'd better get ready. We'll meet by the dock in an hour and head out from there."
"I will go find Eckhart." Athena smiled, running back to the village, her hair blowing in the breeze.
Eleanor had been trying to figure out what changed in the past few days between her and the Black Mage. Yes, his touch still shocked her occasionally, but it wasn't like it used to be. If she thought about it, Eleanor realized she had been responding less to the Black Mage's touch.
Eleanor also seemed to be spending more time with her student, Dragon. What had changed in her relationship with her master? Did her liking change? She was still eternally grateful to the Black Mage for saving her life and, for a while, thought that offering herself body and soul to him would be a comparable thanks. Lately, however, that seemed less viable as the Black Mage focused solely on his mission of gathering the Crystals and remaking the world. Did she see something in Dragon that she didn't see in the Black Mage?
For one thing, Dragon was more personable, and he wasn't an ethereal being cloaked in a robe. Was it the support he gave her as a swordsman? The protection he offered while she cast some of her more powerful spells? Or was it something else? Was it simply the time she spent with him more enjoyable? Her thoughts were interrupted when someone knocked on her door.
"Mistress Eleanor, I have a message for you that you should hear." Said one of her other students. Eleanor opened her door, shifting her weight to one leg and crossing her arms.
"Oh? And what is this message I must hear?" she asked, lifting an eyebrow with a devious grin.
"One of the higher level students suggested a trip into Victoria, specifically to Kerning, and took some of his lower classmen. However, these students aren't going as agents of the Black Wings; they've tossed aside their guises and gone as normal civilians to a place known in Kerning as 'Fusion.' It used to be a hot nightclub there, and one of the students said he would provide 'tunes' for them. Should I alert the Master of this?" Eleanor brushed her finger across her ruby lips as she thought about what should be done. The preparation of the Oblivion Gauntlet's physical components was complete. Beyond that, waiting for the Crystal's Power to be retrained by The Guardians was the only thing that remained.
"No, I think it will be alright. If you are pressed for an answer, say I rewarded the students for their hard work in training." She said with a spark in her eye. The messenger nodded as he left. Eleanor shut her door and leaned against it, thinking about how to get Dragon to go with her and how she could go without anyone recognizing her.
Quickly, she went over to her vanity desk and began applying the best make-up she'd been saving for a special occasion, putting in some blue contacts to turn her eyes a stunning violet. Before she finished, she walked to her closet and looked through her stacks of clothes, looking for the perfect dress.
She came across the one she had made on her birthday, but that one didn't seem right. She passed it over and found an old dress from when she first started working with the Black Mage: the Lolita Butterfly dress. Carefully, she pulled it out and held it up as she "modeled" it in the mirror, finally nodding. However, as she slipped it on, Eleanor applied a bit of magic to alter it and accommodate her current voluptuous figure, as she had purchased it many years ago.
It was a snug black kimono dress, the edges and flowing sleeves decorated with white frills, while a red obi tied around her waist, accentuating her curves. Red embroidery crossed over one side of her chest, and the daring dress's bottom stopped just below the top of her thighs. She went back to the vanity and began styling her hair. It had finally grown enough that she could curl it and drape it over one shoulder. She applied blush to her cheeks and pulled on a pair of black, thigh-high platform boots, spraying some of her favorite perfume, Black Rose, as the final touch.
Her outfit gave her new confidence as she walked with an alluring gate, making the Cornian in the hall stop and stare as she went by until she came to Dragon's room, knocking on his door. When he opened it, he stopped momentarily, trying to figure out who had come to his door, his hair matted and his eyes tired.
"Dragon, I have a proposal for you," Eleanor said, leaning against his door frame and pulling up a leg. Dragon looked closer at her face and then straightened in surprise.
"Mistress Eleanor? Why are you dressed like that?" he asked, obviously taken aback by her dress even though her regular clothes were just as, if not more, revealing than what she was wearing right now.
"I would like you to come with me, just to go out. Not as representatives of the Black Wings, but as two people, maybe even catching a dance. And please, call me Ellee." Dragon looked her in the eyes sternly, trying to figure out what exactly Eleanor was after, but he passed it off and bowed his head slightly.
"Very well, Ellee." He said, closing his door. When he emerged, Dragon wore a black suit with a white tie and shades to cover his magenta 'dragon's' eyes. Eleanor put her arm around Dragon's and put her head on his shoulder, confusing him even more: why was Mistress Eleanor acting so strange? She never acted like this. Eleanor may have used her feminine allure a lot in the past, but this was different. She seemed less teasing and more flirty.
The two of them walked out of the castle, where she cast a potent teleportation spell, putting them just a few yards away from the club's entrance, where they could hear pounding music through the thick walls. It wasn't long before they were dancing so close that not even the neon lights could be seen between their bodies. The music was so loud that their thoughts couldn't solidify, but Eleanor didn't care; she wanted to be a woman with extra dangerous curves, trying to find out where her tiny feeling toward Dragon was going.
However, beyond the feel of Eleanor's body against his own, Dragon could hear the sound of something celestial over the pounding music. Looking around, he then saw her. She was dressed in a white leather corset, short shorts, and a trench coat hemmed in chains and spotted with a few gems at the crown of her chest. Her strawberry blond hair was pulled up with a cascade of curls draped over her left shoulder, and she had stunning green eyes with pupils the same as Dragon's.
Everything seemed to fade into the room's dark, and his focus remained on her. She took a drink of the dark liquid in her glass and then sensed his gaze as she locked eyes with him. She was all he saw for a moment, and then something sprouted from her back: pure white wings with an aqua light filling the dark corner of the room as the same aqua light began to form around her hands.
"Drake? Is everything alright?" Eleanor asked. Dragon looked to Eleanor and then back to the corner of the room, but the woman was gone. He nodded as the two of them made their way to a booth, talking with another couple that had sat down with them. But Dragon's mind was elsewhere: was that woman who he thought it was?
They had been traveling for a day and finally settled down as night began creeping in. Eckhart searched for some wood while Evan, Mir, and Athena were setting up their beds and checked the surrounding area for snakes or other unwanted creatures that could give a nasty sting during the night. When Eckhart returned, Evan cast a fire spell, lighting up the night and bringing a warm glow to them all as they would make small talk or speak of their adventures in the past. Not long after, Evan whispered something to Mir, and they walked away from the camp into the dark.
"Those two grow closer all the time," Athena said wistfully. Eckhart rocked his head from side to side, cracking his neck, then checked the supply shuriken in his claw. Athena moved closer to him, putting her head on his shoulder, and watched the flames as they danced. Eckhart turned his head to her and looked back into the fire, not saying a word.
"Eckhart, why, when we finally have a moment to ourselves, do you close yourself?" Athena asked. Eckhart sighed heavily and took off his mask.
"I've never really been much of a person to talk. I spent most of my youth training, and even before then, it was pretty much trying to survive with Oz." Eckhart said. Athena picked her head up and turned his head to her, locking eyes with him as though she were looking straight into his soul.
"Eckhart, you do not need to be so guarded around me. I know you've let me in little by little, but there is still much I don't know about you. I want-"
"You wouldn't know where to begin." Eckhart interrupted, pulling his head from her hands and looking back to the fire.
"Then let me attempt," Athena murmured. Eckhart looked back at her with eyes that almost seemed sad.
"Athena, it's not that I don't want to let you into my life. Once you're there, I'm worried I can't protect you." Athena felt her cheeks become warm before she let out a small chuckle.
"I think I can take care of myself. I'm not that weak, you know."
"That's not what I mean," Eckhart retorted, taking off his mask and showing a scorch mark in the shape of a seal on the inside of the mask.
"When I was just starting to train, Mihile was in charge of getting us to do our best, overseeing what would eventually become the Night Walkers and partially overseeing the Thunder Breakers. Irena helped teach the Blaze Wizards with the Empress's help and would sometimes substitute for Mihile in the Thunder Breakers. For some reason, I would have three times as much trouble learning everything being taught to us Night Walkers, and I was falling behind. Eventually, Mihile began training me at a slower pace at the end of the day. But that only led to tireless teasing and constant torment from the others. Mihile tried to stop it, but it only made things worse. In desperation to catch up, I talked to my sister Oz, who was training to be a Blaze Wizard. She had learned that when students gain enough experience, they can contract with a Guardian Fairy. Umbra is actually my second Guardian.
"I couldn't stand the teasing, so I went to the Palace and snuck into Shinsoo's Temple, where the contract would be made. I tried to perform a contract, but instead of calling a guardian fairy, I called a demon from another world. Instantly, it took over my body and began using it as a puppet. Thanks to Hawkeye, Mihile, and Cygnus, they pinned me down long enough to seal away that creature within my body. Many times, Oz tried to get it to let go of me and return to its world by releasing the seal, but time after time, it would only take over; I nearly killed Oz once, my own sister.
"The seal had been placed on my forehead, but when I was young, the demon tried to get out from under the seal, at which the seal would glow and pin him back down. As you can imagine, this caused even more teasing problems, so Hawkeye made me this mask to keep it hidden." Eckhart repeatedly turned the mask over in his hands and looked into the flames as Athena wrapped her arms around him and hugged him.
"I'm so sorry, Eckhart; I had no idea you went through that. If you let me, I can heal the wounds left in your heart." She said, placing her hand on his shoulder.
"We'll see," Eckhart replied coldly as a seal began to glow on his forehead, making him put his mask back on and then take up a watch just outside the fire's light. Athena slumped her shoulders as she watched him go. She could understand his fear of letting another person get too close to him, especially with this seal on the monster within him. However, she wasn't about to give up: he was too important to her to let him bear his burden alone. She unbuttoned the cowl around her neck and set it aside, wiping the sweat away from where it had been and loosening a couple of buttons on her blouse to let the cool evening breeze touch her skin as she got up and followed Eckhart.
It didn't take long until Evan and Mir were far away from the campsite, where the two of them climbed a small rock and watched the stars pass overhead, Mir leaning against Evan's chest, listening to his heart. It was strong for a human but nothing like her kind. Questions were mounting in Mir's heart as of late, questions she had been afraid to ask from the start, even when she first told Evan how she felt.
"Master Evan. May I ask something of you, something personal?" Evan leaned up slightly and placed a hand on her bare arm.
"Anything, Mir." He answered kindly. Fear welled up in Mir's chest, making it almost hard to breathe as she began to lose her resolve but pushed through it, looking up at Evan with eyes filled with sad fear.
"Would you have preferred that a human had fallen in love with you?" Evan was taken aback: yes, it was a bit interesting falling in love with a dragon, not to mention that Mir was a direct descendent of the great Onyx Dragon, Afrien. The silence of Evan's indecision made Mir wonder whether she was the one he wanted to be in love with, making her tremble.
She'd watched him as they walked around Herb Town village, noticing how the human girls would always catch his attention. Ever since she'd learned to take on a human form as a young dragon, Mir experienced many new and unfamiliar feelings and emotions, the same kind other dragons she had spoken with referred to as 'the weak human emotions.' What she was experiencing with Evan was anything but weak; in fact, it was the strongest emotion she had ever felt.
A long, uncomfortable silence fell over them as Mir turned away and sat up, staring toward the horizon. Evan's thoughts raced, but everything he tried to say wouldn't come as he remembered the hundreds of little moments he experienced with Mir from when she was born to when she first kissed him.
"To be honest, Mir…" Evan started as Mir turned away and shut her eyes tightly, not wanting to hear the heart-shredding sentence, bracing for what may come.
"…I can't see myself with any other woman. There are nice human girls, but none will ever share our bond. No one will ever be able to know me as you do, not to mention that your emotions run far deeper than any human I have ever met. Not even Athena's emotions run as deep as yours." Evan stood to his full height, walking to the edge and letting the breeze blow past him as the smell of the sweet grass tickled his nostrils and tussled his hair.
"So, to answer your question, Mir, no. I wouldn't prefer a human woman." Mir stopped shaking as the words hit her, turning back to see Evan holding his hand to her. Mir ignored his hand and jumped up, grabbing hold of his shirt and pressing her lips to his as she pushed them both to the ground. For a moment, Evan struggled under her strength as a wave of her ferocious power surged through him, but it settled as he put his arms around her and pressed her closer to himself, feeling the tears of thankfulness falling from Mir's eyes onto his cheeks.
"Thank you, Master Evan." She said, wrapping her arms around him and hugging him tightly but mindful not to crush him, which she could no doubt easily do if she wasn't careful. Evan brushed his fingers through her soft hair and kissed her head. From the Shadows, Eckhart watched, trying in his own way to find an answer to his predicament. But these two seemed to overcome their differences easily. What was he missing that would allow him to let Athena closer? He turned around and jumped from branch to branch back to camp when he saw Athena through a beam of moonlight, seeming to do some sort of dance or meditation.
He quickly swung around the next tree and stopped just outside the light, entranced by how she flowed through each movement. He then recognized it as something he'd learned from one of the other Ninja Masters he had spoken to, called Tae Ching: a form of meditative martial art. With each movement she made, Eckhart studied her, watching as she would slowly move through each motion, then hearing a tune that she hummed. He recognized it as the tune he learned as a small child before his parents were killed. A tune Eckhart often sang to Oz when they were kids to help her fall asleep. Even now, Oz would sometimes ask him to sing that song as she fell asleep, bringing back memories of when he and Oz were small and their family was all together.
For an hour, he watched as she shifted through each stance, finally finishing by pressing her hands together as though she were praying. Eckhart was about to return to camp, but something made him stop and look back to Athena as she stood in the moonlight. Athena breathed calmly and opened her eyes to see Eckhart standing before her just out of arm's reach, his cloak pulled around him and his mask casting a dark shadow over his eyes so that she couldn't see them nor the small tear that ran down his cheek as he stood there.
"Athena, It's not that I don't want you to be close to me. I'm afraid of what might happen if I let my guard down and the seal were to break. What if it were to come after-" Athena walked up and put a finger to his mask on his lips, hushing him, and then removed his mask. Placing both hands on the sides of his head, she bent his head and stood on her toes, kissing his forehead where the seal was.
"Have faith in me, Eckhart: I won't be killed so easily." She said before pressing her lips to his and lacing her fingers behind him, the moon being the only witness.
Five hours went by as Eleanor and Dragon periodically dance to a song amid the throng of bodies on the dance floor when the music suddenly faded out, and the DJ came on the microphone.
"Alright; as I said when this began, I'd be looking for a couple for a slow dance and folks, I've made my choice." The crowd cheered, and Eleanor looked to Dragon hopefully.
"Could I have…" the DJ was interrupted by someone approaching him, pointing in Dragon and Eleanor's direction, whispering something in his ear. They talked for a bit before the DJ came back onto the Mic.
"I know I said one, but another couple ties my choice. So will Andrea, Mitch, Ellee, and Drake please come to the floor." The crowd cheered as the four of them walked into the light.
"Alright, this is for you lovers. This song comes from another world and is by a guy called Michal English. I don't know how the previous DJ got a hold of it, but you guys are going to love it." the DJ turned back to the laptop and punched a few keys before the song started with a gentle lullaby-like piano solo. Tenderly, Eleanor took Dragon's right hand and put his left on her waist, then put her right around his neck, leaning her head against him. As the song lyrics started, they took her to a place where she could be an ordinary woman. Not Eleanor The Black Witch. Not a leading figure in the Black Wings, not even the right hand of the Black Mage. At this moment, she could just be Ellee.
"When the rain is blowing in your face
And the whole world is on your case
I would offer you a warm embrace
To make you feel my love."
Eleanor thought through her experiences with the Black Mage and with Dragon. The Black Mage had saved her life, but Dragon had treated her with respect, something her master wasn't known for. As the two of them danced, her mind battled back and forth between Dragon and the Mage, trying to figure out where she wanted her heart to be. The song gently came to its final verse, making Eleanor pick her head up and look into Dragon's eyes, even though it was through those dark shades. She refocused her attention, seeing her reflection in the glass.
"Is this what I want?" she asked herself as Dragon tilted his head enough so she could see his faintly glowing magenta eyes. At that moment, she decided.
"There ain't nothin' that I wouldn't do
Go to the ends of this earth for you
Make you happy, make your dreams come true
To make you feel, my, love."
As the last sentence finished, Eleanor gently pressed her lips to Dragon's while the music slowly faded and the crowd cheered. The DJ played slow dance music for another hour as the crowd eventually dissipated in the earliest hours of the morning. Eleanor and Dragon left when a few people remained, teleporting back to the castle where Eleanor tripped, feeling exhaustion wash over her. Dragon caught her before she hit the ground and picked her up; Eleanor put her arms around his neck and rested her head on his shoulder as he carried her through the eerily quiet halls to her room.
He set her down softly, pulling her satin covers up to her shoulders, then brushed a stray lock of her white hair out of her face. Taking off his shades, Dragon leaned down and whispered something into her ear before leaving for his room and changing, slinging his sword over his shoulders. After drinking a revitalizing potion, he left the castle for Herb Town to find those Seraphim. He needed to know if the woman he saw in the club was Dia, the Sovereign of the Seraphim.
The following day, the group was up and on their way before dawn. Mir and Evan flew through the skies while Athena ran, and Eckhart jumped from tree to tree. They stopped by Alcaster's Inn to grab a bowl of soup, buy his famous cloak of warmness, and say hello to Aufheben upon reaching El Nath before trekking through the cold mountains where Yetis and wolves roamed. It wasn't long before they were overlooking the Forest of Death, where the soulless zombies wandered behind the barrier Grendal and Reef had set up so long ago. The barrier, however, allowed passage in and out freely with a charm the old mage had given them.
In a blur, they rushed through the hoard of rotting bodies and into the mine where even more undead waited, accompanied by the strange one-eyed bats that flew aimlessly. Mir shifted into her human form and ignited six small balls of flame around them to see their path. Athena began to feel uneasy as they descended: being in a cave limited her movement and effectiveness as an archer, and it was pretty dark, making it difficult to see the dead villagers most likely surrounding them.
Mir stepped closer to Evan and began holding onto his arm. Her claustrophobia began setting in as they went further away from the light. Evan also started to feel uneasy: he knew about Athena's disadvantage, but it was also his. His range of motion was severely limited, and so was his power since Mir would be too big to move in her dragon form. In addition, Mir's power in her human form was many times weaker. Eckhart was the only one who didn't seem to feel any disadvantage: he had trained in places so dark he would have to wait a few days to recover his eyesight while near his enemies.
"Stop," Eckhart commanded, standing perfectly still and listening to the sound groaning in the dark until his arm shot out from under his cloak as Shuriken disappeared into the inky blackness. Squelching noises echoed back to them as the stars sparked off the rocks.
"Clear," Eckhart said, his shoulders visibly relaxing in the dull light provided by Mir's flames. Athena was impressed: sure, she had some training in the dark, but compared to Eckhart, she was a novice. Their path eventually opened into the Magma Caverns; the paths here would lead them down to Zakuhm's chamber, where deadly Cerberus Dogs and the Bain Canines prowled, licking up the Magma like water. Eckhart kept his senses high even though they walked in a place where the magma lit their way. Despite the better visibility, the rivers of magma around them still limited their mobility.
They couldn't help but notice that everything seemed normal as they traveled through the caverns, save for the burned corpses of Cerberes and Bain hounds lining the path. They figured it was due to the magma. But something didn't feel right to Eckhart: he ran to one of the bodies and looked it over, seeing that the flesh was still fresh.
"There's someone else here. Judging from the path of destruction, they're headed toward Zakuhm's chamber. We need to hurry." The four of them sprinted over the many twists and turns leading to the massive stone door with ancient carvings set into each post and a giant dragon's head carved into it. Eckhart was about to push the doors open when something made him jump to the side, dragging Athena with him as Mir and Evan backed away to the other side. Eckhart slowly crept up to the door as he flicked a pair of Shurken into his hand and summoned Umbra to watch over his shoulder. Athena readied her bow while Evan and Mir readied an Ice Spell. Eckhart was about to take another step when he jumped back after feeling the ground shake. Flames blew away the doors, shattering them against the rocks and filling the frame.
"NO ONE WILL STOP ME NOW THAT I HAVE THE SIX-HEADED HYDRA AT MY COMMAND! I WILL GET MY REVENGE ON GRENDAL FOR SEALING ME IN HERE!" a voice shouted.
"Who are you?" Evan called, trying to peer around the door, backing away as flames filled the doorway again, blackening the ground within seconds and making the air shimmer from the heat.
"I am the all-powerful Richie!" the voice roared. Athena was confused.
"I thought the Black Mage stopped Dragonoir from freeing you?!" she asked when crazed laughter came from inside the chamber as a staff hitting the ground echoed through the cave.
"Yes, the Mage did stop him, but Dragonoir's pummeling gave me the boost I needed to free myself from my icy prison. Now that I am free, I will have my revenge on Grendal!" Eckhart flicked his hand and drew a few more stars into his hand as violet wings spouted from his heels, allowing him to sprint into the chamber. Richie tried to block him with another blast of flames, but Eckhart jumped high into the air and hurled the Shurken at him, tearing his cloak into the ground. With his attention on Eckhart and blocking his attacks, Athena and Evan launched their attacks at him.
A roar filled the cavern as a green light shaped like a dragon's head hurled at Richie. Richie jumped back as another wave of Shuriken hit the ground. The lich then cast a shield spell that held back the powerful arrow and directed Mir and Evan's ice around him in a giant wall. As Eckhart fell, he hurled another Shurken at him, disappearing into the ground when Richie jumped back. The undead mage began to counterattack, hurling spell after spell at the lot of them and blocking the incoming attacks. Eckhart grit his teeth, quickly becoming tired of not getting anywhere.
For a quick moment, he appeared as nothing but a flash of light as seals appeared in the darkened chamber, making him jump faster and higher, each appearing across the room until the final one appeared high above them. Eckhart began concentrating his mana in his hand, glowing as dark violet light while he clung to the ceiling where cascades of fog fell from the light. Athena and Evan ran out of the chamber, knowing what would come. With a heartfelt grunt, the light began hurtling down onto Richie. Eckhart concentrated again as his double appeared, forcing a considerable amount of Mana into a Shuriken, making them grow enormous. The hurled Shuriken pinned Richie to the ground just before the poison cloud hit the ground. Eckhart used another Flash jump to cling to the wall as he heard Richie's hysterical laughter.
"Is that all you can muster? I don't have a normal body anymore. Did you forget?" Richie called. The Shuriken pinning him down ran out of Mana and shrank as Richie hovered upright and spread his arms wide.
"No more playing around! Zakuhm! I will now free you from your prison! AWAKEN AND SERVE ME!" He shouted, driving the end of his staff into the ground. The floor ignited with a dark red light as a giant seal appeared in the rock, shaking the mountain. The giant six-armed statue standing over the Vault of Heroes began to shake and growl, the arms on its back waving. With one hard lurch, the entire statue crumbled, revealing a hole of light in the floor where a clawed arm reached out, slamming onto the ground. Another arm pulled a massive weight out of the light, one head at a time. With a final heave, Zakuhm freed himself from his seal and spread his wings wide, all six heads roaring, making the cave's rocks come loose and fall to the ground.
"SAIA! You will feel my WRATH!" Zakuhm roared as he lunged for the door, its frame giving way around his enormous body. Richie jumped onto his back, riding the livid hydra to the surface. Zakuhm's surge made the ground unstable. Athena tried to keep her balance as the path crumbled, watching as Eckhart lunged for her, reaching for her hand, but he was a second too late as the floor gave way, pulling Athena into the darkness.
"EVAN! MIR! Go! I'll join you shortly! Make sure that Zakuhm doesn't leave the barrier!" he called as the cave collapsed. Mir put her arms around Evan and spread her wings, flying through the debris by spinning, weaving, and rolling between the crumbling mountain. Eckhart descended into the darkness, using the light from above to locate Athena, hoping and praying that she was alive.
Athena slowly opened her eyes to see Eckhart landing on the ground, searching for her. She could hear him calling her name, but it sounded like he was calling her from far away.
"What is happening?" she thought. Her head felt light, and her vision was blurry except where Eckhart was. She could still hear the thunder of falling rocks, but it sounded as though it were far away. She tried to get up, but Eckhart stopped her, holding her down, his eyes looking wide and full of fear.
"Athena, don't move!" he commanded nervously. Athena looked to her right and saw the stone she rested against was covered in red.
"Oh, I've lost a lot of blood. Is this my end?" she thought. Her entire body felt numb as she tried to move again, but Eckhart stopped her, feeling his hands tremble.
"What's wrong with Eckhart?" she wondered. She had never seen him this uneasy.
"Don't move. Stay put, and don't try to move." He said, his voice wavering and hitching
"Eckhart, I…"
"Don't speak either. You'll be fine. Concentrate on me." His speech was quick and short until Eckhart stopped and looked closer at the rock.
"It's… lichans…" Eckhart muttered when his seal began to glow, his head pounding with a vengeance. Athena slowly turned her head to see the vibrant crimson growths all over the rocks, making it appear like a great splash of blood was behind her. Eckhart bowed his head in relief from the seal and from knowing that Athena was alright, carefully helping her stand, then picking her up as he leaped out of the hole using multiple seals.
"Wait! My bow and-"
"There's no time! We need to leave now!" Once out of the sinkhole, Eckhart slung her onto his back and launched forward. Athena nearly lost her grip as they streaked through the falling rocks, a dust trail following him wherever he went. Just as he was about to clear the mouth of the cave, a low rumble began to build behind them until Athena looked back, seeing a dust cloud surging at them.
"Eckhart?"
"I know! I'm going as fast as I can! Urg, if only I had access to the Crystal power like the Guardians do!" he hissed, straining his legs as hard as he could, trying to stay ahead of the cloud. They barely cleared the mouth of the cave when it collapsed.
"EVAN! MIR! LET'S GO!" he shouted, sprinting for the edge of town and the barrier while Zakuhm pounded on it, trying to break free. Mir and Evan passed through the barrier easily, but just as Eckhart was to pass, he slammed into the invisible wall as Athena soared through, leaving him trapped inside.
"Eckhart! What is wrong?" Athena asked. Eckhart bowed his head as she knelt next to the barrier.
"Just before Richie launched his first attack, my charm came loose and was obliterated in the flames. I thought your charm might work for two people in close contact, but I guess not."
"No, Eckhart! Do not lose heart!" Eckhart looked up at Athena and took off his mask.
"I had a feeling that this would happen, Athena. But it looks as if I won't be coming back," Athena refused to accept his answer and stepped through the barrier, grabbing his arm and hauling him to his feet as the mindless corpses began closing in.
"I won't let you give in to despair! You're too important to me!" she walked to the barrier and began passing through it again, holding onto Eckhart's hand. Just as their clasped hands were to pass through, Athena took the charm from her pocket and held it at the barrier, allowing Eckhart to pass through. Eckhart tried to push harder through the barrier as the zombies closed in, but the harder he tried, the more it resisted.
Mir and Evan began to help pull Eckhart through when the corpses grabbed his legs, pulling him back. Eckhart cried out in pain as the force stretched his back. Just when he thought he could no longer stand the pain, he suddenly shot through, landing atop Athena. Eckhart tried to get up, but Athena held him tightly, not wanting to let go. After a long while, Athena and Eckhart looked back at the barrier, the color in their skin fading. Standing inside the barrier was an exact copy of Eckhart, save for his hair being white and the markings on the mask twisted and stylized.
"Well, well, well, it seems that you and I get to meet face to face for the first time, Eckhart. I must say your summoning me was quite a feat on its own. But keeping me contained for so long within your body is another feat in itself." The other Eckhart turned to the corpses and, in a single stare, made all of them fly in random directions.
"I'm trapped in here with the multi-headed lizard for now. But we will meet again, Eckhart." The cold look in his red eyes sent chills up Eckhart's spine as he turned and began to walk away. The barrier held back Zakuhm, but they would still have to report to the other masters.
"Eckhart, I want to ask you something," Athena said quietly. Eckhart turned to her, something close to understanding reflecting in his eyes.
"Yes? What is it?"
"Upon seeing the rock I lay on and thinking my blood covered it, did you fear that I would perish?" Eckhart looked away from her and put his mask on, staying silent for a while as they walked back to Herb Town. Evan looked at Mir and jerked his head to the side as Mir reverted to her dragon form and flew off. Athena's shoulders drooped as Eckhart wouldn't reply to her question. She followed him until Eckhart stopped and looked at her over his shoulder.
"Terrified." He said, continuing to walk on only to be stopped by Athena, who ran up behind him and threw her arms around his chest, hugging him tightly while Eckhart placed his hand on hers.
"Come on, we need to get back to Grendal with this news." He said, pulling her hands away from him and continuing to walk on. Athena smiled as she followed: even after all of that, he was being the 'hero' in all of this. But that's what she loved about him, picking up her pace to a sprint as she followed after Eckhart, reaching out for his hand and lacing their fingers.
Acuia took off his boot and polished it while his sister clung to him, seeming almost like a five-year-old child rather than a young woman, looking around in any direction from any noise that would come up.
"Jaden, I can't do this if you hold onto me so tightly," Acuia laughed. Jaden loosened her grip but soon clung to his arm from another strange noise, shutting her eyes and shifting her white wings to become comfortable. Acuia could only smile at her: ever since she was a baby, she clung to him more than she ever did to their mother. She clung to him even more after learning she didn't have enough energy to sustain even the Gold Nalcana and that her wings were too small to fly. It was almost as if Acuia was her shield.
A noise outside made Acuia call forth his Gold Nalcana in the shape of a chain mace, ready to take action against whatever was coming. The curtain that served as his door blew aside and revealed a man with long black hair, a black leather trench coat, and striking magenta eyes that resembled a dragon's.
"Who are you?" Acuia asked as he calmed the nalcana and stood to his full height, looking over the man.
"You can't be Seraphim since you don't have any wings, yet your eyes say otherwise," Acuia observed.
"Quiet. I have one question for you: Is Dia alive?" the man asked bluntly. The question took Acuia by surprise.
"You mean the Sovereign Dia?" Acuia asked.
"Does she have white wings and dresses in white clothes?" the man asked.
"Yes, she does. And, yes, she is very much alive."
"Where can I find her?" the man asked, turning so that he could see the large Dume sword strapped to his back.
"I do not know of her whereabouts." Acuia stuttered. The man bowed his thanks and then left. He pulled the hood of his cloak up and took the quickest route into the forest from Herb Town. If he was seen, it could cause problems he didn't want. As he ran through the forest, he heard the celestial song from the bar, making him stop and look around to find where it was coming from. He followed the sound to a clearing where the woman stood, spreading her wings wide and soaking up the sun as small waves like burning paper edges ran up each feather and into her body.
"Dia, is that you?" he asked, carefully walking into the clearing and reaching for the Dume out of habit. The Woman opened her green dragon-like eyes and turned her attention to him.
"Yes, my Child. It is I, Dia. My, how you've grown over the years." She smiled as she folded her enormous wings and walked to him. Eleanor slowly walked up to the edge of the clearing after tracing Dragon's presence.
"There are some things that I would like answered. I want to know why I can control the Dark Seraphim." Dia seemed almost saddened as she approached him and placed her hands on the side of his head.
"You don't even remember who you are, do you?" Dragon seemed confused.
"Who I am?" he asked.
"Yes. The attack on our village must have left your memories locked away." Dragon eyed her for a moment when something, a memory perhaps, rolled through his mind; it sounded as if there was screaming mixed with the sound of buildings roaring with flames, making him flinch. Dia took notice and folded her hands.
"So you do remember some trace of it, don't you? I'm sorry it had to come to you this way, but you aren't completely human; you are half Seraphim." Dragon backed away slightly as the news hit him while Eleanor's eyes widened in the distance. She had been teaching him a technique that strongly resembled the Dark Seraphim, so much so that she called it as such. But Dragon must have found that what he controlled wasn't the spell but the Dark Seraphim itself.
"If that's the case, please tell me everything. Most of what I remember is from about three years ago." Dia sat down next to him and thought back.
"You may not believe it, but nearly 100 years ago, I met your father. He was a strong human warrior named Sir Marcus; I can't believe how much you resemble him, save for his hair being gold. That sword you carry was his." Dia said wistfully, placing her slender hand on the guard and running her finger over the engraving 'Sir Marcus.'
"When I first met him, he was severely injured near our city, just on the other side of the Cave of Life, where the Temple of Time resides now. I took him in and dressed his wounds, and when he was healed, he asked our leader if it were possible to stay since he had nowhere to return to. Our leader agreed, and we soon fell in love and married. Not long after, you were born. When you were old enough, even though you were part of two different worlds, we wanted to see if you could wield a Nalcana. It was then we found that you were able to control the Dark Nalcana, and from then on, you were revered by almost everyone for being able to control such a powerful weapon.
"When you turned ten, there was an attack on our city, and the attackers took most of us hostage. Your father, the brave knight he was, tried to fight them off but fell in battle, and we were all taken away and sent to another world. You, however, somehow managed to escape. That was over 90 years ago, and now that I am free of my prison, I can be here for you should you need me, my beloved Y…"
"Please, mother. Don't use that name, not right now. It isn't safe."
"Well then, what should I call you?" Dia asked, putting her arm around his shoulder.
"I go by the name Dragon for now." Dia nodded and kissed his forehead.
"Very well, Dragon, my son. I must go now, but I am never far away." Dia said, spreading her wings again, flying toward their home city. Eleanor was stunned: he was older than she was! And yet, Dragon looked so young. Was it because he was part Seraphim? His mother must have been at least 130 and still looked like she was in her late teens. Whatever the case, Eleanor crept back to her teleportation spot and left him in the clearing with his thoughts, watching as Dia flew away: for now, she would keep this information to herself.
It didn't seem much time had passed, but the Guardians returned to Herb Town four days later. Some had scrapes and bruises, while others had bandages and patches. But all of them were smiling and swarmed by children from the village who asked and begged for more stories of their adventures. They could only smile as they sat down and began telling of their adventure in Mu Lung, training with No Gong for the past few days. Everyone was gaining confidence, slowly returning to their homes where they had once lived ever since the Black Mage had made life so fearful. But now everything was becoming livable again thanks to the Guardians. Even making the darkest creatures realize the time was coming for a revival.