Chapter 4: The Bitter Sweet Taste

Kyrin walked down the hallway of her ship, the Nautilus, pushing open the heavy brass door to the bridge. The improvised dinner of steaks and potatoes made by the cook, Tangyoon, left her feeling satisfied. Supplies were running low, and they would need more soon, but every port refused to help them. Maybe it was how they dressed or, more importantly, the look of their menacing submarine, even if it did look like a whale with an eye patch. Once on the bridge and hearing the requested ship's status, Kyrin sat in the captain's chair and let the fur-trimmed cloak fall from her shoulders.

"Muirhat, take us to heading niner four, two-degree descent, and hold at 1500." But there was no reply to her order. Usually, she would have heard the Jamaican-accented Muirhat respond with 'aye mum' and then repeat the order. Kyrin got up from her chair and looked back, but no one was there.

"Captain! We have multiple bogies incoming at four eight low, two clicks, and closing fast!" called Baine when the entire ship jolted and threw them to the ground.

"Sis! Engine room reports power fluctuation, and I'm showing flooding in the lower deck."

"Baine, Load torpedo bays 1-3, and let me know when they're ready. Porchey, do you read?" Kyrin called as she took her hat off and grabbed the helm.

"Yes, I'm here!"

"Start the pumps and get the water outta the lower decks!"

"Torpedoes loaded, Captain," Baine called.

"Acknowledged Baine, stand by. Parchey, will the engine hold for full blow?" Kyrin asked, pulling back as hard as she could on the giant wooden helm wheel.

"Yes, they should. But we'll need to shut them down and do some maintenance afterward."

"Just as long as it holds to the surface. ALL HANDS! BRACE FOR FULL BLOW! BLOW IT SHULYNCH!" Shulynch slammed her hand down on a large red button at her station. Instantly, compressors kicked on as a roar of air filled the ballast tanks. As soon as that happened, everyone struggled to keep from hitting the floor as the Nautilus ascended. Muirhat clawed back to the wheel, tapping Kyrin on the shoulder.

"Muirhat! Where were you!?" she demanded.

"Sorry Mum, but I needed a batroom break." Kyrin shook her head as she turned the helm back over to him, gripping her chair with a white-knuckled grip.

"Baine! Where are those bogies?"

"400 yards and closing!" he shouted. The forward viewscreen brightened as they neared the surface.

"Once we stabilize, I want you to locate the bogies and fire when ready," she commanded, cueing the shipwide coms.

"HANG ON! WE'RE GOING FOR A LITTLE RIDE!" she shouted as the Nautilus broke the water's surface and launched into the air, making everyone and everything float before crashing back into the water. Everyone inside hit the floor hard but had to ignore their pounding heads and deal with the closing threat. Kyrin ran to the radar station and looked over her sister's shoulder: 100 yards to go. From the formation, they looked like those damned Bone Raiders again: a group of bandits using half-baked spells as well as motor-powered ships able to fire 'Personnel Torpedoes.'

"Looks like Grey Horn didn't learn his lesson the last time!" She growled, tightening her corset strings and Bandana.

"It's been a while since I've had a good fight!" she laughed as she walked to the tower, climbing the ladder to the top. As Kyrin opened the hatch to stand on the hull, six torpedos shot up from the water, five men jumping out of each one. Most of them never touched the hull as Kyrin slammed her fists, elbows, and boots into the dropping pirates. Kyrin caught one by the shirt just as another landed beside her, ready to cast a half-baked ice spell, when he froze from seeing the look in Kyrin's eyes and the barrel of her pistol.

"Sorry pal, you lose." She said, cocking back the hammer before blowing a hole through his gut. She then drop-kicked the other man into a group of pirates approaching her. As she was about to get up, another pirate cocked his gun and held it to her head.

"No, Kyrin, YOU lose!" a weathered voice croaked. She saw a man with a grey beard, hair, and ashen-colored skin dressed in a long black coat.

"You cost me a lot of men during our supply run to Carkos," He breathed, licking his teeth and then spitting his chew into the ocean.

"You weren't there for supplies, Grey Horn!" Kyrin shot back when he hauled her from the deck by her corset strings, jamming his pistol into her mouth.

"It doesn't matter. People like you make it hard for a pirate to make an honest living!" he grinned, tightening his finger around the trigger when he sprawled to the deck, dropping Kyrin. Muirhat tumbled and punched the men surrounding her until Grey Horn sounded the retreat.

"Ah you alright, Kyrin?" Muirhat asked as he helped her to her feet. Kyrin nodded and began laughing nervously, which Muirhat soon joined in with as they walked back into the Nautilus. The ship, ocean, and sky suddenly disappeared into a black nothingness as two riveting green eyes opened.

"Help me, Kyrin!" a voice said, making Kyrin start from her sleep, realizing that she was in the sleeping quarters of the Nautilus with Mark holding her waist firmly. She sighed and sat up, the mass of her red-orange hair falling around her in a crumpled mess and the oversized shirt she used for pajamas wrapped around her. She got up and pulled the thick blanket away from the window in her room as Shulynch knocked on the door and came in.

"Oh! Sis, you're up early." Kyrin quickly looked back and put her finger to her lips, pointing back to Mark, who leaned against his hand and yawned wide, ruffling his messy black hair.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you, Mark. But Aran wanted me to get you guys since 'The Five' are going to Perion to destroy another Mana Drill." Kyrin nodded as she stretched.

"I'll be there in a few." She yawned, looking over the bay's waters, thinking over her dream. Mark put his arms around her waist and kissed her shoulder, seeming to use her as a pillar to rest against.

"I wonder why I've had so many dreams about Muirhat lately. And what's with that bit about 'help me' at the end of those dreams?" She wondered, pulling on her clothes and walking to the meeting circle where Aran set up a small table with a map.

"Ah, Kyrin, good you're here." Aran smiled. "A reconnaissance mission by some of Jin's more advanced students just came back with information about the Mana Drill in Perion."

"Even though Auzzy and I already went? What more could there be to know?" Olsen asked, twirling his new Double Knife around his hand.

"The only reason you went to Perion in the first place was to ascertain whether or not a Mana Drill existed. This mission was for intel on what creatures were in the castle. One of the team members managed to get inside and find dungeon prisoners, some of which he recognized from the attack on Victoria but didn't see much else in the castle."

"Did he happen to see if Murhat was among them?" Kyrin blurted out. Aran looked, taken aback by her strange inquiry while thinking over the report he had received.

"No, I'm sorry Kyrin. The one that did make it into the castle didn't make it out: the information about the prisoners was received through radio communications." Kyrin's eyes fell as she nodded sadly, making a mental note to keep that brave ninja in her mind.

"However, you might want to know this. The ninja informed his team of the demon Ergoth guarding the Anchor and that he seemed to be gathering mana from the stream leading back to The Black Mage's castle."

"And how does that do us any good, Aran?" Jack asked, spinning his newest pistol, the Concerto Di Morte, on his finger with a smug grin.

"It doesn't. At least this way you can enter the castle prepared. Stories abound that Sharen III summoned the demon to guard his prized possession, The Rubian." Matthew nodded in understanding while resting his hand on the pommel of his newly forged Spartan Edge sword. He was still waiting for the strange Sawtooth Serpent being finished in the forge, thinking over what they would need in preparation.

"Alright, Jack and Antonia, I want you to go to Tae Gong and see if he has a few Snow, Orange Peel, and Red Herb potions. If what I understand about this Ergoth is correct, he won't go down easy, and we're going to need every edge we can get. Helen, Jenny, and Lilli: I need you to go to Mu Lung and talk to Neinheart: find out what could bring a demon like him down. And find anything you can about the Sharenian ruins. Olsen, you, Nathan, Aeris, and I are going to the Forge where they should be finishing up our new armor. Auzzy, I need you to go around town and find whatever food you can stuff into this bag. If our past experiences with these Mana Drills tell us anything, the prisoners will be starving, assuming any are still alive. Meet at the docks within two hours." As Matthew named off tasks, each group left, leaving Kyrin alone as she reached across and grabbed her elbow, deep in thought.

"You want to go with them don't you?" Mark asked, putting his hand on the small of her back.

"Yes. I've still been having dreams about one of my crewmen who disappeared when the attack on Victoria began," she muttered. Mark nodded, rolling his shoulders and leaning back, cracking his spine.

"Then I guess I better get dressed. I want to try out everything I've been learning from you." Mark announced as he turned to go when Kyrin reached out and grabbed his arm.

"No, not this time, hun. Ergoth is a terror compared to anything they have faced; I don't want to lose you." She mused as she looked down to the ground. Mark reached out his hand and grabbed hers, pulling it up to his chest and placing it over his heart.

"This is the weak heart you helped make strong; I'm not going anywhere," Mark replied softly, reaching up and brushing the back of his fingers across her cheek with his free hand as he turned her head and softly kissed her. Shulynch looked at the ground out of embarrassment, watching her older sister. Even more so kicking herself for not telling Muirhat what she felt when she had the chance.

"I'm going too," She announced, making Kyrin and Mark jump. Kyrin smiled slyly and nodded, motioning for her to come over and make a circle as they hugged each other tightly.


Dragon began to feel restless. He'd been traveling between the castle and the Mana Drill in Perion, but that wasn't what was itching at him. It was the blank gap in his memories, and his mother Dia, a pure breed Seraphim, was the key. Finally, he had had enough, telling Eleanor he'd return shortly from some personal business. He took a skiff to the forests just outside of Herb Town and the clearing where Dia often stood with her massive white wings spread wide, absorbing the sunlight as though it were recharging her. He landed outside the clearing, and just when he stepped into it, he could hear an angelic chorus of voices as Dia silently glided in.

"Dragon, my son. It's been some time since your last visit. Are you alright?" she asked. Dragon bowed slightly, sighing.

"Actually, no. It's been gnawing at me that I don't can't remember my childhood, as if my past didn't happen." Dia smiled as she put her arms around him and held him close.

"I understand how that feels, Dragon. But during our time apart, I've learned what happened to you." Dia motioned to a fallen log where they sat, and she began.

"After the Black Mage and his forces captured the Seraphim, you came out of hiding and found Marcus's body. You sat by him for hours in a trance-like state when a village chief nearby came over after seeing the smoke. As he searched for survivors, he found you mumbling about what you and he would do the next day with the handle of his sword in your lap. The Village Chief picked you up, flailing as hard as you could, and brought you back to his village. He even had to lock you in his room to keep you away from the horrid sight he found you in. His wife stayed with you to calm you as you cried.

"The next day, he and some of the men went back to the village and buried the dead, using the Dume as a headstone to your father. It took a few weeks, but he and his wife managed to bring you out of your trance and took care of you for the next twenty years. Eventually, they told you what happened, and over time, you told them who the Chief found you next to. One day, a traveling swordsman came to your village seeking help since his wounds were quite extensive.

"He was the only remaining man of his platoon that went into the Temple of Time to try and defeat Pink Bean." Dragon snorted a bit, thinking back on how he had seen the fat little creature walk through the halls of The Black Mage's castle with an effort-filled waddle.

"What's so funny?" Dia smiled.

"I've read about this Pink Bean and can hardly imagine him to be such a pain, especially from the pictures." Dia chuckled as well, recounting her encounters with the pink marshmallow being.

"You were the one who took care of the wounded swordsman until he was ready to leave. He had no money to pay for his treatment but offered you an apprenticeship as a swordsman. You accepted the offer without hesitation, and over the next few years, the swordsman helped polish your skills to a fine art.

"Once you had mastered them, he took you to see the Advance Master Tylus, and not long after that, the High Elder Harmonia. After reaching the highest discipline, the swordsman said you must choose or make a weapon for yourself and make your armaments. It was his way of helping you surpass him. You decided to use Marcus's Sword of Dume as your weapon; as you can see, it has served you well. Your Gauntlets and Greives you made after mining the rare Pieces of Time from within the lowest levels of the Ludibrium Clock Tower." Dia said as Dragon looked them over, seeing a slight blue shimmer wash over them.

"Once your training was complete, you mostly traveled until you settled in a small town as their guard. That town gathered their tailors and made you the coat you wear now as thank you for helping to protect their town." Dragon sat for a minute, absorbing all the information and feeling as though Dia had filled the giant void in his soul; he was no longer a shell of an existence.

"Does that answer your question, Dragon?" Dia asked, placing a slender hand on his shoulder.

"Not all of them, but it does answer most of them; thank you, Mother," Dragon sighed, looking over his shoulder at the handle of his Dume with a smile.

"I'm glad I could be of some help," Dia replied, hugging Dragon's head close to her heart before spreading her wings and flying back to her village. Dragon smiled as she left, which faded as he returned the Skiff.

"The rest I'm going to have to ask from her." He muttered, pointing the skiff back to The Black Mage's castle.


Everyone gathered at the docks after completing their tasks and changing into the armor retrieved from the forge. Matthew's Obsidion Neos covered his body with blackened, angular plates, trimmed with gold leaf.

"Is everything ready?" Matthew asked as the girls returned from changing into their new clothes.

"I believe so. We could not find much, but we managed to find what I think will be helpful," Helen replied. Olsen stared in awe as the cool sea breeze blew her delicate Onyx Bazura: A flowing strapless dress stopping just below her knees with half sleeves hanging from her elbows that enveloped her hands as she held them at her side, embroidered with gold designs. Finishing her ensemble was the Varr hat, holding her cascades of violet hair in place while the tiny bells, making her seem otherworldly. Olsen and Jack finally gathered themselves enough to board the ship, where Jack saw the four apprentices talking with one another on the dock. The brawler pirate's shoulders drooped, knowing how they'd respond to what he would tell them.

"Listen, I know you four want to come with us, but this battle is going to be more than you can handle," Jack said sadly. Aeris slumped to the wooden path, watching her teacher leave without her again. Aran saw her disappointment on the shore, tapping her shoulder and showing her a letter he'd received from the King of Ludibrium the previous day.

"I received a letter from Alishar requesting assistance because of an uprising of Chronos within the Ludibrum clock tower. Since your masters are busy, I'll take you four to see the Advance Masters, and when your masters return, I will give you a mission to Ludibrum." The student's faces lit up in anticipation, Jack nodding his approval as he clamped on his new King's Cross knucklers: A sleeve of black metal with three large spikes standing on the top. His Fire Duke suit sported blood-red pants and a black coat held together by gold chains across the front. The collar and cuffs sported the same red as the pants, while a dark violet bandana tied down his unruly red hair. It reminded Jack of the Emerald Sea, which he would hopefully receive once he had fully trained and was ready to defeat the Black Mage.

Jenny hugged Antonia, telling her how proud she was of her for reaching this level of achievement, and boarded the ship. Her newly finished Azure Armis consisted of a fitted, sleeveless halter dress and blue trousers hugging her waist with a sturdy belt and large gold buckle. Embroidered on the center of the dress were wispy cloud-like designs while a single white wing-like pauldron sat on her shoulder. Across her back hung the Dark Nirsock bow, carved into the shape of a Hawk's head, stained with charcoal and decorated with gold leaf on the beak and feather detail. The Dark Neschere crossbow hung from her hip, the metal hammered and shaped like a black hawk with sinews tied between its wingtips.

"Where's Olsen?" Called Lillianne as the ship began to pull away from the dock. Alden looked at Lillianne, then started sniffing the ground, catching Olsen's scent, which led him back to the gangplank. Jenny looked back to the dock, watching Olsen sprinting toward them, bounding off the pier with a bright seal and skidding to a stop on the deck.

"Your recklessness increases every day, Olsen," Helen smiled teasingly.

"It helps keep me on my toes. I needed more Shuriken from the forge," He panted, straightening the shirt of his Azure Katinas: A deep blue kimono shirt and thick knee-length pants tucked into knee-high boots of the same color. He pulled the belts tight of his new Crimson Craven claw: a sleeve of four diamond-shaped plates covering his forearm. Two highly polished brass horns with a knife-like protrusion between them were on his pinky and index knuckles. On his hip, he sported the handle-like Double Knife, which, despite Olsen's protesting, had a certain dangerous beauty.

"You all look nearly ready to take on The Black Mage right now!" Shanks called from the Helm as he prepared the ship to leave the cove.

"You better take care of that armor, because it will be the last of its kind until you see the High Elders," Kyrin called, walking up from the hold.

"Mom! Dad! Aunt Shelly! What are you three doing here?" Jack asked in surprise as Mark chuckled and put a hand to his hip when Shulynch interjected.

"Your mom's been having strange dreams about one of her crew mates. I tried stopping her, but she insisted on coming with you to get rid of this Mana Drill," she replied, twirling her gun around her finger and then jamming it into the holster.

"Your father also wanted to practice his skills as a brawl master in actual combat," Kyrin smirked, tilting her chin up at Mark. Jack laughed, remembering when he first began to see the results of his training.

"What do you mean that 'last of its kind'? Are we not going to be getting any more armor or something?" Jenny asked: she had become fond of getting new armor every few weeks. It felt like Christmas or her birthday. Kyrin shook her head and explained.

"That's not quite what I meant. You'll need to take better care of the armor you have. Once you receive the Legend Armor, you need to know how to care for it so it will take care of you," She smiled, setting a heavy hand on Jack's shoulder and looking back to Mark.

"Alright, people, here we go!" Shanks called, starting the turbines and easing up the throttle, guiding the ship speed through the water.

"So what kind of armor will we get once we see the High Elders?" Matthew asked with new interest. Kyrin looked back at him and bounced her eyebrows as the ship bolted into the sky.


Leaving the castle for personal reasons was becoming worrisome, especially since Dragon had left for personal business multiple times already. However, The Black Mage appeared to trust that he wasn't a threat, and Eleanor was gathering herbs to make her special Mana potion. As he traveled to El Nath, Dragon constantly worried he was embracing the very thing he promised to help fight.

Dragon shook his head, trying to calm his thoughts as he lowered the ship into a snow field outside El Nath and quickly trekked into town. It was busier than usual, especially since the people had been returning: it brought a small smile to his face, but inwardly, he reprimanded himself and shook it off. He needed to maintain his persona: Lord Dragon of the Black Wings. It wasn't long until he found the familiar alley where he received his assignments. It was also here where Wence assigned him to turn his back on Ossyria and become what they hated most to learn The Black Mage's plans.

"I'm surprised you still remember this place, Dragon." A calming female voice said above where Dragon stood, her white, long-sleeve top and skirt fluttering in the light breeze.

"How could I ever forget, Starling? You dug me out of that rubble." Starling brushed back her strawberry blond locks and jumped from the roof, putting her ever-ready hands on her large chrome pistols.

"The Silent Crusade could use your help again, Dragon. Wence went on a mission and has yet to report on his progress. Sodane tries to keep the organization together now that he and Bastille are gone, but things are starting to get out of hand with all the villages filling up again." Starling said as she closed her eyes and then reached over and grabbed her elbow, tucking her chin into the thick red scarf around her neck.

"That isn't the only reason is it?" Dragon softly asked as he turned around to face her. She turned her head away from him and squeezed her eyes shut.

"I… I just don't want to be alone anymore. I thought I could handle letting a village or two be erased off the face of Ossyria when they couldn't pay our fee. But then when my village was attacked, it left me so hollow, so alone." Dragon pulled off his gauntlet and reached out to cradle her jaw, which Starling then put both of her hands on as though relishing his touch.

"Bastille forced me to see what the world was like within the Silent Crusade, and for a while, I pretended it was all for the greater good. But when Dragon Turtles attacked your village, and you were the sole survivor, I couldn't follow Bastille's commands anymore," she whimpered. Dragon chuckled softly, smiling as he remembered being pulled from the rubble of his house by Starling and Wence after nearly being buried in it.

"I remember that. You were so stuck up then, thinking that you could do everything on your own, that you didn't need anyone, and trying to put on a brave face as Wence put me under your command." Starling opened her riveting reddish-brown eyes and looked deep into Dragon's.

"Yes, and together, we learned about Bastille using the Silent Crusade to line his pockets and how he hired mercenaries to destroy my hometown to silence the village chief who became wise to his plot."

"Bastille was a bastard, using people's need for protection to fuel his greed." Dragon sneered.

"But through all that, you broke through my walls to protect myself from getting hurt." Starling closed her eyes again and tilted her head into Dragon's hand.

"Now that you've been away, it's felt like a part of myself has disappeared with you. Won't you please come back to us? To me?" Dragon struggled to hold back the small tears of his own as he slowly shook his head.

"Honestly, Starling, I doubt I will ever be able to return to the Silent Crusade. You were there when I left to become a Black Wings soldier, and we both knew that time together may have been our last. Do you still have the pendant I gave to you?" Starling looked down and nodded, reaching behind her scarf and pulling out the small topaz pendant shaped like a winged maple leaf.

"I keep it near my heart. But that's where you should be, not this lifeless pendant!" Dragon sighed and put a finger to her lips.

"Starling, I treasure the time we had together, but my mission's future is uncertain, and I don't want you to see what I may have to do. So please, don't wait for me all your life and miss out on a chance to find true happiness." Starling's eyes became sadder with each word, wanting with all her being for Dragon to abandon his mission and return to her. But she knew what he said was right and that she may end up waiting for eternity in vain or fighting him on the battlefield as mortal enemies.

"When this is all over, come find me to tell me you're alright," Starling demanded. Dragon smiled bravely, kissed two of his fingers, touched them to her forehead, and turned to leave. Before he turned completely, Starling grabbed his coat collar and pulled him down to meet her lips for what she thought would be the last time. When she finished, she did her best to dry her eyes and then looked at Dragon with the same practiced frustration she was always known for.

"You better come and find me, Dragon!" she shouted, before turning around and disappearing over the rooftop. Dragon smiled sadly and turned to go.

"I'll try, Starling. I'll try." he sighed, thinking about Bastille. Soon after joining the Black Wings, Dragon learned that Eleanor had approached Bastille as a potential commander if he could weaken the defenses of every town in Ossyria. As Dragon left for his skiff, Dragon clenched his jaw, knowing that Bastille still lived within the ranks of the Black Wings as an overseer for a platoon of soldiers. Thoughts of what he'd do to him ran through Dragon's mind as he walked as revenge for Starling's village and his own.


The group disembarked from the ship outside Perion and quickly trekked to the abandoned excavation site, eerie silence still thick in the air, guided by Olsen to the entrance. Just as they passed through the sign, everyone began to feel the effects of the castle draining their mana.

"Why is this castle so much more powerful than the others?" Lillianne asked, holding her head from a wave of dizziness.

"I can only assume it is due to the Sharenian ruins empowering the drill even more and expanding its draining ability." Helen guessed.

"It's really because Master Ergoth has the Mana drill turned WAAAAAAAAAAAY up!" called a small child's voice. Everyone turned to see a small girl wearing a safari outfit with a red bandana tied around her neck.

"Hi there! I haven't seen you here before! Oh well. In any case, I'm Shuang! You're going to need these if you're gonna walk around in here," The girl said, holding out nine pairs of earrings with a purple gem.

"Master told me that whoever came in here would need a pair of these to keep the drill from taking away all your mana! Hope you have a wonderful visit!" she said, winking out of existence as the earrings fell to the ground.

"Do we trust what the girl said?" Shulynch asked, reaching out for a pair and looking over them.

"The drills drain mana from whatever is within its influence, right? I'm guessing even the minions of the Black Mage need some kind of protection." Jenny pointed out, taking off her Snail's Eyes and clipping in the stones, instantly feeling the drain on her mana disappear.

Jenny's revelation spurred the others to don the earrings as they walked for the castle, where a deep gorge filled with bubbling acidic liquid surrounded it. Olsen was sure he could jump across, and use his spare kunai to climb up and open the drawbridge from the inside. Above the bridge was a large stone cylinder with three notches spaced randomly along the sides. Matthew could see Olsen planning something and grabbed his shoulder.

"Hold on a minute, Olsen," he commanded as he drew his Sawtooth Serpent, a sword of interlocking sections tipped with claws on the cutting edge. With Matthew's hard breath, each section appeared to leak mana-like steam, swinging hard as the sections separated, connected by a band of mana. They reached halfway across the gorge when it struck an invisible barrier, ripples appearing in the air. With a firm tug on the handle, each section clanged back together, locking when Matthew turned the handle.

"You would've been a boiling ooze pile." Matthew chuckled until he caught Jack and Jenny staring at the sword resting on his back.

"What?"

"That WAS AWESOME! How'd you do that?" Jack asked excitedly. Matthew redrew his sword and held it up for him to see.

"I can separate the blade sections using mana to create a whip sword." Jack wanted a deeper explanation, but Matthew urged him to look for a way across the gorge instead. Something caught Mark's eye, piquing his curiosity to the end of a small stone wall covered with Ivy. He pulled it aside, revealing a pocket at the end of a wall with three small statues.

"Hey! I found something over here!" he called. He stared at the figures, then tried to pick one up. A section of wall on the path leading to the castle glowed, showing a pattern of the statues in three separate lines. Jenny looked them over and then looked at the first line of pictures. Her eyes lit up as she ran to the statues, touching them in the order shown in the image. After completing the pattern, one of the large stone rings above the drawbridge rotated to match up with a small nub and sank into the wall. The sound of large metal machinery clanked hard while metal pieces swung up and away from the bottom of the bridge.

Jenny looked over the second line and repeated the process, making the second ring sink into the wall with another loud clang. After entering the final sequence, the last stone ring sank into the wall as the drawbridge fell open with a thunderous roar.

"Knock knock," Jack said jokingly, leading them into the castle.

"This reminds me of the Guild Party quest within the game. We learned from Nienheart's Library that we need four spears to open the next gateway." Helen said as she looked around the large chamber they had entered.

"I remember that!" Olsen smiled, pointing out their exit moments after entering the room. High above them were four giant, black iron chandeliers, each with strange green flame candles. Alden sniffed around on the floor, then looked up at the chandeliers before walking over to Helen and pawing at her hand.

"What is it, Alden?" she asked. Alden reared and rested his paws on her shoulders, touching his horn to her forehead. Helen was pulled into a vision, seeing the chandeliers as if she flew up to them, seeing a double-headed spear with a twisted shaft resting in the chandelier's center. It only lasted a moment, allowing Helen to tell the others what she had seen.

Using all their strength, Jack and Matthew launched Olsen into the air. The ninja spread his arms, hurling shuriken out and cutting through the chains holding the chandeliers, then landing gracefully among the crashing metal. The entrance door slammed shut, and gates on the sides of the hall opened where creatures made of stone with leather crossed belts on their chests lumbered out. They grunted as they came into the light, their eyes glowing dark red.

"Eliminate the intruders." One of them said, pointing a stubby finger at them.

"Strong Stones! These things are the predecessors to the Stone Golems." Kryin called, sliding on her knucklers and drawing up her fists.\

"Are they tough?" Jack asked, drawing up his fists while Aries loaded a larger caliber cylinder onto her gun.

"Very," Kyrin smirked, drawing up her fists as invisible wind tussled her auburn hair.

"THEN LET'S HAVE A PARTY!" Shouted Jenny, firing a glowing arrow into the air, bursting and raining dozens more. Jack clenched his fists hard and ran at the closest creature, hitting it hard enough to make thunder echo through the hall. But the beast remained unfazed. Jack gaped and hissed, cradling his hand and backing out of the way as Jenny's arrows came crashing down, splintering and sparking off of their skin.

"How is that possible? Jack should have at least cracked it," Helen asked as she ran over to Jack and began healing his broken fingers.

"You need to hit it with something other than brute force!" Kyrin shouted as she and Shulynch drew their pistols, bolts of flame billowing around the creatures. Each shot tore out chunks from their bodies, exploding into pebbles.

"Use anything Fire Based! These things can't take too much heat. Jack, use the Thunder Punch!" Kyrin called as the sisters reloaded their pistols. Matthew pulled his Spartan sword from his belt, transforming his cloak into the serrated form. His arm roared with mana flames, tearing down the blade with hot orange fire. The warrior charged in, slicing through beasts, gathering arbs around his wrist.

"Helen, fire me!" Jack shouted. Helen touched the poison pouch on her belt, drenching his Knucklers and igniting them. An energy bubble began to envelop him with each punch he threw, tearing chunks of stone away. Helen held out her staff, firing flaming poison arrows that obliterated each creature. Jenny and Alden ran along the edge of the room as she fired wind arrows mixed with her flames, melting through scores of creatures with each pass.

Olsen transformed his cloak into its Fire Blade form, cutting through the creatures with blinding speed. Lillianne swung at the beasts with all her strength, the cutting edge of her halberd beginning to glow with heat. Each swing built power within her until she unleashed it in a scorching whirlwind, leaving molten cuts in their skin. As Matthew fought off the beasts, he noticed cracks in others touched by the billowing flames.

"EVERYONE! COVER YOUR EARS! JENNY! SHIELD THEM WITH YOUR CLOAK!" Matthew shouted as he transformed the cloak into its shield form, blocking blows as each of the Strong Stones slammed their fists into it, backing Matthew against the wall. The remaining group fought through the sea of beasts to get behind Jenny as she crouched down and held her cloak up.

"This is the end of you, thief!" one of the Strong Stones said as it raised its fist against Matthew. Matthew tilted his shield to the side as it came down and deflected the blow into the wall, breaking off its fists.

"Not this time." He growled, pushing the beast back and thrusting his palm forward.

"DRAGON'S ROAR!" he shouted as a seal formed, centered on his hand where a dragon's head appeared. It roared with ground-shaking volume. Each of the weakened beasts shattered into tiny pebbles as silence filled the hall.

"Sheese, that was intense. I get why everyone back in town likes you. What you all did was amazing!" Mark coughed as he stood up from behind Kyrin.

"That was the easy part." Matthew huffed, sheathing his sword and returning to the chandeliers to retrieve the spears.

"What are we supposed to do with these?" Olsen asked as he pulled the last one free.

"The old book in Nienheart's library told how the Sharenian king used a series of locks to keep the Rubian safe underground. The first was the drawbridge; these spears were the second. We need to stab them into four alters scattered around this room." Lillianne said as she clipped her halberd to her back and took one of the spears to a corner, stabbing it into a platform where it transformed into a green crystal surrounded by bright wings.

Jenny, Matthew, and Kyrin took the other three to the room's corners and did the same, each spear becoming an identical crystal. Green lines like circuits began to thread throughout the floor toward one wall, merging and outlining a circular door. It pushed out and rolled aside, allowing them into a large dining hall where five statues guarded the perimeter. Four statues looked to be the upper portion of a knight's armor, holding a sword with the point resting on the ground. The fifth was a winged lion whose eyes were glowing rubies.

"Greetings to you who enter the Banquet Hall: please, sit and dine with us." A voice said. The stone broke away to reveal a tremendous golden lion, shaking the remaining stone fragments from its fur.

"We're here to stop someone using this castle against Ossyria. We just need to get to the dungeon." Jenny replied, nocking her bow.

"Ah yes, I see. You lot are the long-promised Guardians of Ossyria. Yes, a disturbing power has settled over the Sharenian Ruins. However, I cannot allow you through until you prove your worth. Defeat these lost knights, and you shall have the right to pass into the dungeon." The Lion said as he sat on his perch.

The four statue's eyes lit up and began to move while a bluish-black aura surrounded the statues as if it were a cloak. Helen stepped forward and spread her arms wide where a large book appeared, pages flipping as it opened to the middle pages. The mage closed her eyes, setting her mana aside and bringing forward the crystal power.

"Spirit of Minerva, hear me now…" The four statues charged at her, but were stopped when they slammed into an invisible barrier.

"…endow me with your light and empower my spell…" The knights pulled back and began to attack again, Stopped again by the barrier. Light gathered on Helen's hands while wings of dazzling violet grew on her back.

"…chase the demons that haunt my dreams and light my path that I walk in the night…" Matthew rushed past her, drawing his Sawtooth, which shone with a brilliant sacred light, pushing the knights back with each swing.

"…and let me bless the ones I love in this sacred light!" As Helen finished her spell, her Wings of Light doubled in size, humming with Amethyst crystal power. Her eyes glowed purple, and her hair shimmered like light dancing across water. Matthew pushed the knights together and then unlocked his sword, wrapping it around them, grunting as he pulled them together. Helen swung her arms to the front, holding her staff in the crook of her thumbs while her wing's glow intensified, thousands of feathers bursting from her back toward the knights, cutting through them and churning the ground to dust. When the dust finally settled, and the glow around Helen faded, a satisfied grunt came from the lion.

"Ah, you are indeed the promised ones. It is an honor to give you these so you may pass into the dungeon and stop the madness." The Lion said as two drawers from under his perch slid open. One drawer held a scroll, a gold maltase cross medal, a bottle of green liquid, and a silver platter. In the other drawer was an assortment of Royal clothes colored blood red.

"The items in the first drawer will take you into the passage leading into the secret dungeon. The clothes will dress the statue of Sharen the Third in the room beyond that. Unfortunately, one of you must give up the earrings you wear to break the seal on the door leading into the dungeon."

"Where do we put these things?" Jack asked, picking up the bottle of liquid and looking at it.

"Under the tapestry behind me is a door with compartments for each item. The door will open when you have arranged the items correctly." The lion answered before looking ahead and becoming encased in stone. Kyrin and Mark picked up the items in the first drawer while Shulynch and Jenny gathered the clothes.

Once they pulled aside the tapestry, Kyrin placed the items randomly, making the holes glow red. Kyrin rearranged the items, making three holes glow red and one green. As Kyrin was about to try the third combination, Lillianne looked back and saw ghosts rising out of the rubble with clouded glowing eyes dressed in torn black rags.

"Um, Kyrin, I don't want to rush you, but we can't make too many more mistakes!" Jenny whispered, pointing back to the wandering ghosts as two more appeared after the third wrong combination.

"Just be quiet, and they won't notice us," Kyrin whispered back, rearranging the last two items. All four slots glowed green, and a portion of the door swiveled open, grinding against the ground. The noise caught the attention of the ghosts, who charged, reaching out their bony fingers. The group rushed through the door as Jack, Matthew, and Lillianne began to push the heavy door closed. Helen raised her hands as fizzling blue orbs appeared in the hall, striking some ghosts with lightning bolts. More bolts blackened the ground, scaring the rest away briefly. As the door shut, a ghost reached its arm through, flailing and reaching for one of them until it broke off and faded away once the door shut.

"Man, this just keeps getting weirder and weirder. I'm glad you guys are the ones who can fight these things. I'm just pitiful." Mark laughed until Jack slapped him on the back.

"Can it old man: it takes guts to come out here with us." Mark chuckled as they walked through the hallway, illuminated by oddly well-maintained torches. The hall opened into a larger chamber housing a statue of a man with the words "Our Great Leader, Sharen III," engraved onto the platform it stood on.

"So how exactly should we get these clothes on him?" Olsen asked, looking at the shoes. As he examined them, the clothes became light, surrounding the statue and revealing the now dressed stone.

"Oh, I guess that's how." Olsen joked, reaching up to his ears and pulling off the earrings, unexpectedly feeling as if gravity had tripled, leaning on his knees for support. After a moment, he gathered his footing and placed the earrings on the base. They shot up to the ears, tearing down the seal glowing over the doors leading into the dungeon.

"We must be close to the Center of the Mana Drill. Being closer must mean its effects become stronger," Helen guessed as they entered the dungeon, helping Olsen to walk. Inside were 13 cells, each with bodies in them. As they searched the first 12, all they found were rotting corpses.

Mark approached the 13th cell, where a golden paper talisman hung above the door. Looking through the window, he saw a person suspended by chains from his arms, legs, and torso. Mark was about to tell the others when the man inside opened his eyes and looked up at him. The whites of his eyes were pitch black, making his lime green eyes stand out.

"Kyrin! There's one alive in here!" he called. Kyrin bolted to the darkened cell, barely able to see the man's appearance, and grinned.

"That's Muirhat! Quickly, Helen, get him out of there!"

"No. Me keep you here," A grave and gravelly voice said, the clap of a wooden staff hitting the ground echoing throughout the dungeon. Olsen sighed and shook his head before turning around and hurling two shurikens in hot pink flames at him, only to hit the wall.

"You come to defeat mighty Ergoth? You nothing. Me strong. You die," Ergoth said as stone statues of angry winged lions circled the group.

"Let's make this quick! I'm going Overdrive!" Matthew called, syncing up their mana making the shadows on their bodies glow in a dark golden color. Matthew and Helen charged ahead while Olsen and Jenny pushed the two stone statues back with arrows and Shuriken. Jack slammed his fizzing fist into the chest of one lion, thunder rolling through the halls and hurling it back. Lillianne spun and thrust her halberd forward, a beam of light hurling the second lion into the wall. Matthew drew his Sawtooth, uncoupling the blade and swinging hard, separating the sections on a rubber band of mana.

One of the lions corrected itself and swatted the blade away, hurling it back at Matthew. He cut his mana flow and held up his cloak shield, deflecting the segments. Helen teleported past him in a thunderous strike, making the Lions flinch before they found their paws frozen. Matthew restarted the mana flow, calling the segments back and charging, striking each numerous times as orbs formed around his wrist.

Jumping high, Matthew absorbed the orbs as Jenny's bomb arrow and Olsen's giant shuriken struck the lions between the eyes. The swordsman landed hard as blue dragon's wings appeared on his back, swinging so hard and fast it looked like a blur, finishing by placing the sword on his back with a dramatic swing. Bright green seals appeared before each lion, and dark sparks ignited where the sword hit, reducing the lions to rubble.

"You strong. Me think you weak, but me stronger!" Ergoth called as he appeared behind Jenny, slapping her away. Olsen turned and grabbed his Duel Knife, disappearing in a blur around Ergoth as Olsen ran out of mana, breaking the Overdrive. He dropped to the hands and knees, panting as the effects hit him.

"Good Try. But Mana Gone. Me have lots to use." Ergoth growled.

"You may have Mana to spare Ergoth, but they have something far more potent!" Kyrin shouted as she lunged at Ergoth, throwing punch after punch that he blocked with his staff.

"What Power?" Ergoth demanded. Kryin somersaulted back, kicking Ergoth in the chin as Lillianne charged under her and hit Ergoth with a swing that showered him in a wall of ice.

"THIS IS OUR POWER!" Jenny shouted, drawing her bow, Emerald power humming from the arrow she fired, punching through the wall of ice and hitting Ergoth in the shoulder. Ergoth cast a searing fire spell with a growl, melting the ice holding him. Matthew drew his Spartan sword glowing blood red, swinging hard enough to make a sound wave tear through the ice wall and smash into Ergoth, hurling him back.

The demon righted himself when Helen teleported behind him. Ergoth swept her feet from under her, holding his hand to her as flames erupted in his palm. Helen cast an ice spell, raining down giant spears of ice to block the fires and make him jump away. She stood again with a leg swing, drawing her Sacred Arrow, humming with Amethyst power, and pinning Ergoth to the wall.

Olsen became a blur as he shrieked around the room in a hot pink comet, cutting through Ergoth's skin with each hit as the poison on his knives began to take effect. With his last strike, he hit Ergoth with a storm of blows, shredding his torso. As Jack jumped through the air, Olsen kicked off the wall, his fist igniting with bright red lighting threads. His fist slammed into Ergoth just as the arrow Helen fired dissipated. With a grunt, Jack somersaulted back and kicked Ergoth higher. Jack grabbed his leg before the demon rose far and hurled him to the ground.

"CRASH HAWK SMASH!" Jack shouted as he first transformed his cloak into its hammer fist form, slamming into Egoth, breaking his back, and cratering the ground. Ergoth sputtered and coughed, trying to pick up his staff before laying over in defeat. 'The Five' caught their breath before Helen teleported into the cell, broke the chains that held Muirhat in place, and teleported back out. Kyrin ran over and hugged him tightly while Muirhat tried to raise his weak arms and return the gesture.

"I knew dat you would com," Muirhat mumbled before collapsing onto Kyrin.

"I hate to break up this happy reunion guys, but I think this castle's coming down," Matthew said looking up to the roof as the floor began to heave and shake. Helen forced herself to calm her breathing, squaring her shoulders.

"Everyone, to me! Shanks should be able to come for us," Helen called as the others gathered around her as she recited the teleportation spell. As the first stone fell from the ceiling, the spell took hold and transported the group to the top spire, arriving as the dimensional barrier began to tear open. Shanks saw the tear and dove the ship through the hole, hovering beside the spire while everyone jumped aboard just as it began to fall.

Shanks pushed the throttle of the retro boosters to full and super-cooled the levistones to make them rise quicker through the widening hole. When they were clear, he put the ship into overdrive as the castle erupted into dust and electric-blue flames when a shockwave ripped through the mountains and leveled everything around it. A few moments later, Shanks disengaged the overdrive; everyone was too busy tending to Muirhat to notice the castle. Slowly, Kyrin put a few drops of Orange Peel potion into Muirhat's mouth, bringing him around quicker.

"Muirhat! You're ok!" Shulynch exclaimed, dropping to her knees and hugging him. Kyrin stood as Mark came over and put a hand on her shoulder.

"At least you saved your shipmate," Mark said. Kyrin smiled and sighed, leaning against Mark, feeling worn out from not being in the thick of battle for so long. Muirhat struggled to stand with Shulynch's help, noticing how friendly Kyrin seemed to be to the man next to her.

"Captain, who is dis man here?" he sneered.

"Muirhat, this is my husband, Mark Waterman." Muirhat's eyes became angry as he took his weight, pushing Shulynch aside.

"You? You are da Captain's husband? You are noting more den a weak land dwella. How could ju possibly make da captain happy?" he asked, stepping closer to Mark, locking wide eyes with him.

"What do you know buddy? I made her happy enough for her to marry me. What is it to you?" Mark asked back. Kyrin tried to push them apart, but Muirhat persisted, pulling Kyrin from between him and Mark.

"You weren't dare when we had to brave da hash watas of da sea, and you weren't dare to make sure dat she was always safe. If anyone, I should be da one who makes da captain happy! You have no right!"

"I have no right? I HAVE NO RIGHT?! WHO SAID YOU WERE THE ONE WHO HAD EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS TO HER? YOU ABANDONED HER WHEN SHE CAME TO MY WORLD!" Mark shouted back. Muirhat lunged for him, pinning him to the deck and slugging him repeatedly. Mark tried to shield himself, but each punch broke his defense and skin. Finally, Kryin grabbed Muirhat and threw him back, pinning him to the deck and shoving the end of her pistol under his chin.

"What is wrong with you, Muirhat?!" she snarled. Muirhat huffed and pushed her aside as he stormed below deck, leaving everyone stunned while Helen tended to Mark's bloody nose.

"I think I know what's wrong, Sis," Shulynch nervously peeped after a long while. Kyrin holstered her gun and looked to Shulynch, crossing her arms under her ample chest, waiting for an explanation.

"There was a time when you and Muirhat pretended to be a couple so that Sharyl would leave you alone. I think Muirhat didn't want it to end. Sis, I've tried to get him to notice me, but without success." Shulynch's face went completely red, and she turned around, not wanting anyone to see her. Kyrin could only chuckle and set a hand on her shoulder.

"Look, I'll talk to Muihat to get him off my tail. Be more certain of yourself, Sis, and he'll come around." Kyrin smiled, patting Shulynch's shoulder and walking below deck to find Muirhat.


The Black Mage clenched his fists hard enough that the paper-like skin on his hands creaked while his eyes flared. Eleanor came in, walking up to his chair with a heavy hip switch and a Grand Skelegon holding a platter with a goblet of Mana potion.

"So, Ergoth failed then? It's just as well; he was beginning to get under my skin," Eleanor smiled. Whispers hissed in the air, The Black Mage trembling in his calm rage, inquiring of the remaining Drills.

"The Aquarious drill is still working at full capacity, as is Leafre and the Sleeping Wood." She sighed, standing level with her master.

"Horntail reported signs of another Hydra near the Mine of the Dead," Eleanor stated as she grabbed the goblet of her mana potion and handed it to The Black Mage. He nodded, still fuming as he swallowed a mouthful of potion, then uttered a wave of whispers.

The second Hydra? Horntail says it is one named Zakhum from the world of Dragons, Oldesta." an unimpressed hissed came from the Black Mage when a commanding whisper swept through the air.

"Right here, Mi Lord," Dragon answered, kneeling. The Black Mage held out an orb of aura depicting Dragonoir, turning to Eleanor, who seemed ready to answer.

"Nothing has surfaced about Dragonoir. I've sent the wyvern to search for him, but they have yet to find even a scale of his dragon servant, Phoenix." The Black Mage nodded and stood, walking to the window overlooking Edelstein. His recent dealing with Oberon had left the ranks a bit chaotic as they vied for her position, leaving him short-handed after eliminating Eldan.

Perhaps it was time to awaken his generals, preserved while he was under the Heroes seal. As he sipped on the potion, he caught sight of the ship in the distance, returning to Herb Town. The Black Mage's eyes glowed in anger, knowing he would have destroyed them long ago if he didn't need the power they wielded. They had earned another reprieve for deactivating another of his drills. Another mass of whispers filled the room, giving commands to Dragon and Eleanor, who left to complete their tasks.


Checky walked into the ally with Abi at his side after hearing the bell ring. He recited the password as the voice of their informant answered.

"It's been a while. I thought you got lost in there." Checky laughed. The informant didn't say anything, so Checky called him.

"Sorry, it's been rough; I almost got caught a few times. I managed to find out that something had happened with Oberon. I don't know all the details, but she's been removed from the roster of soldiers. On top of that, I think Dragon may be hiding something. I'm not sure what, but he was acting strange as of late. And just this afternoon, The Guardians took down another Mana Drill." Checky nodded, trying to remember everything.

"Good work, then. Get back there so you don't get caught." Checky urged while the sound of leather fluttering disappeared.

"So does he ever come out into the light?" Abi asked as she followed Checky, thinking about the man's voice and how familiar it sounded.

"No; we figured it was better we not know who our contact was. We only know that we received a letter one day saying someone on the inside wanted to help us by acting as our informant. Ferdi met with him once to make sure he was legit, and ever since then, he's been delivering information to us when he can get away safely." Abi nodded, impressed: the resistance was much more widespread than she realized. She could hardly wait for the day she could pilot one of the Gun Mecha under Checky's command, especially since she was helping build it!