Chapter 2

Prologue 
A woman dressed in a black gown, with long flowing hair of the same color. Skin as pale as ice. She beckons out to me. I can hear her voice, calling my name. Joining her side, we look onward, at a city consumed in flames. Hundreds dying under the onslaught of shadowy figures. 

She hands me a blade black as midnight, and I leap into the fray. I meet a bunch of the city’s defenders, all clad in dark red. I dispatch of them easily. More follow, but they will not stand in my way.

I was sure the last person had fell. But then I heard the faint sounds of someone crying. I turn the corner, and I see a hooded figure holding her daughter close to herself. At the sound of my footsteps she raises her head, and pleads with me to stop. Deaf to her pleas, I step forward. The girl stands her ground, paralyzed with fear. I raise my blade, just as the figure dashes over and pushes the girl away. 

Blood splashes over me as the steel sinks into her body. I reach out with a hand to pull back her cloak.

And I scream.

I screamed harder than I have in ages.
----------------
Yu awoke, covered in sweat. Taking a moment to compose himself, he rose from his bed and opened the windows, feeling the cool breeze through him. Living in the countryside was definitely a change.

That dream again…he thought. It had been four years since that battle, yet fragments of those moments still remained in his mind, unforgotten. Glancing at the mark on his right hand, he remembered his last moments with Evelyn, the Queen of Ergon. Dying from a mortal blow inflicted by Faith, who had awakened her powers, she revealed to him that she desired the light too, before giving what was left of her power to him.

The mark’s symbol had changed, from the emblem of Ergon to something cross-shaped in nature. Yu had the feeling he encountered this somewhere before, but he wasn't sure.

“Yu! Breakfast is ready!” a familiar voice called out.

Pushing aside his thoughts for the moment, Yu proceeded to the kitchen where his meal awaited him. There was fish soup, sashimi and some vegetables.

Taking a seat, a pair of hands placed a bowl of rice in front of him. Yu glanced up, as his lips met Yuki’s.

“Good morning, Yu. Hope today’s dishes are to your liking.” Smiling sweetly, Yuki took her place beside Yu.

“You know I’ll always like your cooking, Yuki.” Yu said, as he picked up a pair of chopsticks, and dug in.

They ate in silence for a moment, before Yuki touched Yu’s arm.

“You seem troubled lately..is something bothering you?” she asked. At this, Yu swallowed the rice he had been chewing, and glanced at her.

“It’s nothing. Just having some bad dreams.” Yu said.

“I don’t think they’re just mere nightmares, Yu. For the past month or so you've been acting a little strange. You mumble strange things in your sleep and wake up exhausted. The vegetable fields can’t be tended to with your current state.”

“I know, Yuki. Perhaps I just need some rest.”

Yuki turned Yu’s body to face her, and looked him directly in the eye.

“This isn't a simple matter that can be resolved with just rest alone. I’ve known you since we were together in the School of The Phoenix. Your eyes betray a growing unease. It has to do with that mark on your hand, doesn't it?”

Yu tried to withdraw his arm, but Yuki took hold of it.

“Evelyn. You kept mentioning her name, every night you sleep.” she said, with something like a sad expression on her face.

“I….I’m…sorry.” Yu lowered his head, guilty. He had tried to deny this fact for some time, but failed.

“What for, Yu? It’s over. If something from the past is still haunting you, you should have let it go already. Indeed, I cannot deny that I was mad at you for entering a brief relationship with her at that time. I cannot deny you took the lives of innocents. But you have already redempted yourself. And I have forgiven you. After all, strip the hatred and sorrow from our hearts and what’s left? Evelyn threw away everything and tried to change the world.”

Yuki paused to let her words settle in. The beginnings of a smile appeared on Yu’s face, as a tear rolled down his cheeks.


“Come on. Let’s finish our meal and get to work.”

----------------
Hours later, as the sun set, Yu and Yuki were done with planting their crops. They both congratulated themselves on a job well done, as they returned to their house. An old woman, recognizing them, trotted over.

“My, if it isn’t Yu-kun and Yuki chan. Looking as lively as ever.”

“Granny Sen! You’ve already recovered?” Yu said.

“Heh heh, a fever’s nothing to this old woman. Thanks to the medicine that Yuki got for me.” Sen bowed to Yuki, who returned the favor.

“It’s my pleasure. After all, you were the one who helped us settle here four years ago, when we had difficulties.”

“Humble as always! In that case, I actually have something to request of you..” Sen coughed, as Yuki went to her side.

“You see, one of the villagers’ son, Riku, hasn’t returned for a long time since going into the forest to gather herbs. His father is worried for his safety. Please, help him in locating Riku.”

“Certainly. Yuki, you stay here and look after Granny Sen. I’ll look for Riku.” Yu said.

“I’m fine with that, but will you be okay? I mean, you don’t have…”

“I may have lost Phoenix, but I can still use my kenjutsu and magic if things go awry. It’ll be fine.” Yu assured her by giving a thumbs up.

“May the odds ever be in your favor, Yu-kun.” Sen nodded.

-----------------------------

Trudging into the dense undergrowth, Yu immediately put his aura abilities to work. If Riku was nearby, he would know. He gave thanks that it had not rained, for if it did, his progress would be severely hampered.


Sweeping his torchlight, Yu called out Riku’s name several times, but no response. Just then, he stepped on something soft. Lifting his foot, Yu saw that it was a bag, and upon loosening the string, found some herbs in it, all shredded apart. Examining it and the surroundings more closely, Yu saw patches of blood leading to the east.
Seizing upon this lead, Yu quickened his footsteps. The blood trail continued into a clearing, where a small boy laid. Yu, immediately recognizing him as Riku, was about to go over, when he noticed strange marks on the ground beside him. It was like those magic runes used in demonic rituals..

Sensing someone’s presence, Yu crouched behind a bush, as six hooded figures came into view. They surrounded Riku and knelt as if waiting for something. Then, a seventh figure came into view, and pointed his arm at the boy. A wisp of energy came out from his mouth and Riku twitched in agony.

He’s absorbing the boy’s life force?!
Yu immediately tossed a fireball at the figure holding Riku captive, and it smashed into him. Riku collapsed onto the ground, gasping for breath. Yu quickly grabbed Riku and retreated before any of the hooded freaks could get a hold of him. Yet they stood, looking at the new intruder through their darkness.

“Just who are you…and what do you want with this child?!” Yu demanded.

The figures remained silent. One by one, they dissipated into the air, save for the last one.

I have what I came for…you would do wise not to interfere with us…Yamase Yu.

It whispered in Yu’s mind, to his shock. Holding a small sphere of energy, he dropped it into a container, before making to depart.

“HOLD IT!” Yu shouted, but the figure was gone.

Returning his attention to Riku, Yu sprinted back to the village, healing the boy as best as he could. This encounter had left him with more questions than answers…