TheAwakeningShadows of the Dead

Dark Age Chronicles AfanfictionofMidwaysMace:TheDarkAge

By

GiuseppeNg

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Part I

Sigvard,Iwouldhavenoothermanleadourtribetofreedom.

Takeshi,you,myfriend,willalwaysbepartofthistribe.Beyond the rustles of waves of the seas, soft whispers echoed into the ears of one monk as he sat down alone in the darkness. Clenching his wooden staff tightly, he fell in deep meditation while focusing on the subtle sounds around him, sounds of the seas gentle touch on a sailing ship. There was a sense of concern in his heart, for it was not so long ago that he had a companion in his journey across continents. That arduous travel was an experience burned in hismind.Large stormy dark clouds gathered that night months ago aboard the Scipian, a large merchant vessel sailing from the east to Europa. Takeshi, the noble prince of Ruffun, had fled his blight stricken country hoping to find the very source of corruption. At his side was the blind monk, Xiao Long, who sought for the key to a riddle passed onto him in his dream. Together, they had attainedpassagebyseatoalandfar,faraway."Ebrio is still far away, wise monk.", Takeshi muttered anxiously, his voice strained with great frustration. Dejected by his plight, the young prince quickly added, "I feel I have abandoned my people."Xiao Long quickly sensed this emotional strife immediately while sitting on a chair, his eyes shut tight as he listened on. There was much despair in the young prince's voice. The feeling of helplessness gnawed his heart. In such a fragile state of mind, Takeshi hoped the monk could easehisdoubtsandgivehimclarityanddirection."There is much, much more to uncover, to learn, honorable prince.", Xiao Long calmly responded. "The only way to save your people is to find the source of this evil. This terrible menace...",hisvoicetrailedasheplungedindeepthought."You know where it is.", Takeshi's miserable tone was replaced with hope. Youve seen it in yourvisions."Yes,Takeshisama.Inmymeditations,IsenseaterribleforcegatheringstrengthinVitulia.""IsitthesameplagueinRuffun?""No, honorable prince. Yet, like the plague, this energy had come from dark magic. We must make haste if we are to rid ourselves of this evil." Xiao Long's tone bore a grave seriousness as

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he shared his vision. In his mind, he could still hear the agonizing wails of people within walls madeofhumanfleshandbones,eachpoorsoulhopingtobesavedfrometernaltorment."Vitulia...", Takeshi muttered with great enthusiasm. "It is near Ebrio if the captain can be believed. I will talk to the captain at once and see if arrangements can be made! Thank you, wise monk!", he added quickly as he turned around and stamped off, the sound of his footsteps fadingintothewhistlesofthewinds.Once again, Xiao Long was alone in the vessel's cabin, listening with great intent over the tidings the winds brought. His eyebrows furrowed as he focused on the sounds around him. A storm was expected tonight, but something was amiss. Natures wrath had arrived way too quickly.Standing to his feet, the monk swiftly took the chair he sat on and flung it to the corner of the cabin, the clash of wood buried in the howling storm. With a steel cold tone in his voice, Xiao Longspoke.Noneedtohide,wielderofthearcanearts.Iknowyouarehere.Soft steps could be heard before the monk. Xiao Long quickly sensed skill and agility in this mysterious observer from the wind and sounds she made. An assassin., he muttered under his breath while clenching his staff tightly. This assassin, the monk quickly surmised as a kunoichi,afemaleninja,yettherewasmuchmoretounravelaboutthisassassin.It is true then, what my master says about you., the woman spoke, seemingly impressed at his perception.Youareindeedallheneedstofulfillhisplan.As Xiao Long pondered on those words, his senses told him that this woman before him was no human, not in the living sense. She has no thread. She has to be one of them., he muttered under his breath. Plan, ninja? What have you done to this ship?, he asked, realizing that the stormoutsidewaslikelyconjuredbythisassassin.You will see, monk., the ninja replied, her cold response showing no remorse nor mercy for what she was about to do. Xiao Long could feel an energy build around her, causing the storm tostrengthenandtheshiptorockhardfromtheterriblewaves.No! You dont have to do this!, Xiao Long hotly spoke out. Youre simply blind to your mastersbiddingbecauseyouareanarcaneconstruct.Youaresimplyhistool!!Silence!, the kunoichi ninja snapped back. Xiao Long could sense her physical moves as if performing an arcane ritual, but she was only a surrogate. Her master wielded great power and through her was trying to crash this vessel. Without delay, he attacked with his staff, hoping to delaythisgreatandterribleenergyfromreachingitspeak.

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Every move was parried with swiftness and agility and every counter she had, Xiao Long could sense. The two were equal, but for all Xiao Long could do, the power she wielded only grew in strength. In an act of desperation, the monk feigned a staff attack and then quickly moved to pintheassassindown.Xiao Long took the assassin down but for all he had done, this was all for naught. The large violent waves threw the ship on its side, tossing Xiao Long with great force to the cabin walls. The ninja took this opportunity to strike a critical blow on the monks nerve, seemingly paralyzinghimfromtheneckdown.This time, you will cooperate., she whispered in his ears as she pinned her body weight on him. A magical flash engulfed both bodies as the Scipian was now lost to the storm. Xiao Long knew not where he was taken and he had hoped that his companion could find and pursue the journeyofwhichtheyhadsetforth.

Takeshi,you,myfriend,willalwaysbepartofthistribe.Xiao Longs deep meditations had given him solace to the unanswered questions that haunted his mind for the months since the destruction of the Scipian. The young prince, Takeshi, had found refuge in Aesland and ever driven, the Ruffun prince would stop at nothing to find the sourceofthisevil.At least, he is safe., the monk muttered while sitting on the floor, keenly aware that unlike Takeshi, he was in an enemy ship as a captive. With every day that passed by, he knew he wassteppingclosertoacornerstoneoftheenemysstrength.

Click!All Xiao Long needed was the sound and creaks of the wooden door in his cabin to know he had visitors. It was always the same two, the kunoichi ninja named Koyasha and her master, Ichiro,thebrotherofTakeshiandthebeareroftheplagueinRuffun.Speak, monk. What is it that youve found in Vitulia?, Ichiro spoke, pressing for more insight over the deviation from Ebrio to Vitulia. Always speak in riddles, but were now arriving shortly. Iwouldliketoknowmoreaboutwhatwellfindthere.YouandIseekforthesamethings,thedarkness.,XiaoLongspoke.ItisinVitulia.Iknowthatalready,blindmonk!,Ichirosnappedback.Whatisit?HowcanIharnessthis?Xiao Long was amused at the incessant and anxious questions from the architect of Ruffuns downfall. How is it that the man who created the plague, knows not where it came from?, the monkaskedopenly.

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Crash!

Immediately, the Xiao Long found himself struck down by steel staff, his jaw reverberating from the impact. Koyasha had a calm but stern voice as she warned the monk. Respect us, blind monk.Ichirosamawantsanswersandyouwillprovidethem.From all the inquisitions, Xiao Long knew there was someone else pulling the strings. The powers that have blighted everything were beyond the understanding of Ichiro and his puppet assassin. This was the very reason Ichiro needed him for his own machinations. The power that pulsed through the brother of Takeshi was of dark origins, and the man willfully let this energy corrupt him. Blinded and seduced by it, this man would go to great lengths to put himselfatopoftheworldandgovernitwithhisabominations.Recognizing all of this, Ichiros question was not one Xiao Long could discard totally. There was something happening in Vitulia and though the plagues dark energy could be traced here, the actual spell was likely conjured in Ebrio. In these two places lay hidden the men and women who had conspired humanitys downfall into the abyss. Just what was there in Vitulia? Why washismeditationsdrawnthereparticularly?We will know when we reach there., Xiao Long muttered while favouring his jaw. Listening intotheTapestryofEternitytakestime.An eternity, it seems!, Ichiro frustratingly shot back. We arrive at dawn, monk. I hope this wasnotfornaught.Xiao Long sensed from the winds that Ichiro had turned around and left the cabin. Curiously though,theassassinstayed,seeminglyhesitatingatthedoorway.Whydoyoudefymymaster?,sheaskedwithgreatinterest.There are many things you do not know, soulless one., Xiao Long responded. You possess great strength, yet you are not aware of this. Perhaps, if you sought the reality of things, you wouldnotsoblindlesslyfollowhimaswell.Alwayswiththecrypticwords,monk.,shemutteredbeforefinallysteppingaway.

~o~

WelcometoVitulia,sire!The Vitulian vast grey morning sky brought a somber and solemn atmosphere to the humble little docks. Stepping heavily on the worn wooden floor was a man in leather armour and chain

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mail. From merely witnessing the sorrowful sight before him, this mercenary went through a whirlwindofemotionandpain.Mordos Kull stoked his dark beard and then heaved a deep sigh as he scanned the area to see what was left of his homeland from his travels. The docks themselves were poorly maintained and the nearby village seemed utterly deserted. A crewman stood behind the mercenary to sharehisthoughts.Sire,seemslikeLordDregandoesnotknowofourarrival.Treadcarefully,milord.As the contessa expected., Kull replied. Let's keep it that way. Tell your men to lie low. I havetodothisalone.Aye, Cabredo. Sire., was the prompt response of his crew men as Kull approached the dead villagebeforehim.With every step, Kull's heart grew heavier and heavier. Filling the air was the stench of the dead. Before him were dried up bloodstains and several severed limbs. The mercenary knew all this was the work of one monster, the abomination that lead the army of the undead. For this,MordosKullvowedretributionforallthelivesthathadbeentaken.In the mercenary's mind, only one lady had stood by his side to aid him in his quest to expunge the evil that brought all this chaos. In her, he found wisdom and courage unlike any other person he had ever met before. For her, he would go to the depths hell, never hesitating to carry out her requests. He knew that with every success, he was a step closer to slaying the darklord."My lady.", Mordos Kull muttered before reaching for a curious amulet around his neck with his right hand. The diamond fastened on the necklace' black stone glimmered before his eyes. All that anxiety and despair built up inside him was swiftly replaced by a longing desire to return to themaidenthatkepthisspiritalive.Mordos Kull remembered running his fingers on her bare bosom from behind her while in bed that last night together in Aesland. Her presence was intoxicating. The mere sight of her drove him mad. With obsession, he studied every inch of her golden locks of hair as she slept. She was his and he was hers. Together the passion they shared was far more real than anything he had ever known. Clasping her breasts, he snuggled close to her, unable to bear the thought of beingaway.

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EmeraldEyesContessa Taria roused from her slumber and looked back at the mercenary, her brilliant emeraldeyesfixingonhis.Shebrokeoutasmileassheflippedtowardshim.Itsalmosttime.,Tariawhispered.Youknowwhatmustbedone.And yet you cannot go with me there. Why cant I remain at your side?, the mercenary replied, thedisappointmentinhisvoiceevident.Nay. There are far more pressing things concerning the unrest with the others, with Lord DiemosthatImustattendto.Theystilldemandanswersfromthee?Always, but Lord Diemos is critical to our campaign and I must see to it that that is ensured., Taria replied sternly. Your part in this campaign is just as important. Time is not on our side andthesooneryougetridofhim,thebetterourchancesofputtinganendtoallofthis.

TheEndOnceandForAllWhat will you do after all of this, milady?, Kull pondered aloud as he caressed her soft white cheeks. I I havent thought of that., Taria muttered with a sense of uncertainty hanging on her face. Haveyougivenanythoughtofthat?Mordos Kull felt his heart pound faster and faster as the question came. Breaking from her gaze,heansweredinaslowdeliberatepace.Afamily,milady.Ourfamily.

ImpossibleTarias eyes watered after hearing those words. There was great sorrow in her eyes as she turned away from him. That word was the only one she could mumble, hiding her tears from the manbesideherinshame.

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Why?Whatswrong?Itsimpossible,MordosKull.WhatyouaskforissomethingIcantgiveyou.Why?Becauseofmyfather.Taria closed her eyes, reminiscing of a painful past. My own father killed my mother., she opened. And when she was gone, he used me for his own demented pleasures, physically, andemotionally.I did not understand what was happening to me. All I could think of was that my cries in his chambers resembled that of my own mother behind closed doors. I shared her pain, humiliation andlikeher,Ifeltmysouldying.MordosKullwasspeechless,buttherewasmoretothetaleshewassharing.And then, I finally understood., she continued. I was a tool. I was used as one and it was not untilthatfatefulmornthatIunderstood.Whatwasit?,themercenaryasked,takenbyherplight.I had conceived life., Taria answered with great shame and pain. I bore a life from my own fathers seed. It was a source of shame for me that a life could be created from an act so terribleandsinister.Yet,liketherestofme,thatwasalsodefiled.Tarias gaze fell upon her own two hands. My father gave me my magical prowess. This gift and curse was what he needed for me to be useful to him. That power came with a price and thatwasthefirstandlastlifethatstirredinsidemywomb.A ladys gift of creation was taken from me to be my fathers most lethal weapon. With that gone,sowasthelifethatlivedinsideme.

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Mordos Kull felt the sense of tragedy in her voice as she shared the origins of her arcane ability. Every power that defied nature came with a deadly price, a terrible sacrifice that would change a personsentirelife.When everything is said and done, my father will pay for everything hes done., Taria closed withgreatdeterminationinhereyes.Mordos Kull could only admire the resolve she displayed. Under a terrible past, she had managed to claw her way, surviving every terrible ordeal and finding a way to be free of this terriblenightmare.Isweartoyou,milady.Iwillnotfailyou.Wewillsucceedandyourfatherwillpay.We can no longer conceal our conspiracy, Mordos Kull. The time to strike will soon come. Deimos.TheAravyanos.TheDwarves.Everythingisalmostready.Wecannotfail.And we wont., Kull reassured her before finally rising from the bed. Doing so seemed harder, as if a great burden was suddenly dropped on him. He knew what the stakes were however. Toserveher,hemustdepartforVitulia.Wait.,Tariasuddenlycalleduponhim.Ihavesomethingforyou.Mordos Kull turned to her as Taria rose and reached for a leather pouch from the nearby table. Insidethepoucheswereseveralplainlookingwhiteseeds.I have been seeking long and hard regarding your memory loss, Mordos Kull. Everything Ive triedonyouhasfailed,butIbelievethiswillrestoreit.Whatisit?These are seeds from the rare plants that grow in the mountainous regions of Ebrio. They are calledHallitaseeds.Mordos Kull could not help but smile from this touching gesture. Youve never given up on my past,milady.Ithankyouforthis.

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It will hurt, Mordos Kull. It will give you a searing pain that you must bear. Take one now and onceateverydaybreak.Itisthepriceforwhatyoumostdesire.

Ahhh!Mordos Kull took one and swallowed it whole. Just as she said, a great pain took hold of him, the mercenary clutching his head as he fell on the ground. This pain had become part of his days.Asacrificehehadtopaytobringbacktherestofhispast.Kull found himself on the soil in Vitulia when the pain of the seeds had worn off for the day. On his left hand was the pouch that held those accursed seeds. On the other, he still held the amulet that the contessa gave him, the very one he gazed upon to remind him of why his journeytookhimbackhere,towhereitallbegan.

~o~Large stone pillars stood in the great castle halls. Tiny shafts of light peered through long dark red curtains that covered the tall glass windows and the winter slopes from view. Within these hallowed halls sat a lady in a silky blue dress on a throne made of stone. The ladys long golden hair glimmered as the flashes of light from the jewel in her hand danced to and fro. Her green emerald eyes stared deep into the precious stone, seemingly mesmerized by the light show.Taria was in deep thought, knowing how delicate and how easily her intricately laid out plan could go awry. She knew that Mordos Kull had already arrived at Vitulia to take care of the one threat her plan was facing. He must succeed..., she muttered under her breath as her fingers toyedwiththejewel.Suddenly, the skies turned grey with a series of thunderous claps echoing in the grand hall. From the stone floor before the throne, a pillar of light punched through. Emerging from the light wasaskeletalface,withfleshhangingfromitsjaws.Taria..., its voice quivered as it called out her name. There are no tidingsss of your resssearch...Iknowthat,LordDregan.,Tariacoollyreplied,hereyesstillfixedonthegemstone.

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Areyouplayingusssforfooolsss?How could you say such a thing?, the contessa snapped back, glaring at the undead creature. Thereisnoneedforsuchhostilities.The skeletal being laughed, amused at her response. How do you explain that you now sssit onthethroneinAesssland,contesssa?That is from civil unrest, Lord Dregan. A powder keg waiting to explode. The previous steward Halstein brought this upon himself., she quickly responded, never losing her composure from Dreganspointedqueries.I wonder, Dregan. How fares the soul harvesting?, Taria quickly turned the tables to the undeadwarriorbeforeher.Igrowwearyofwaitingforresultsonyourend.Dregan immediately growled, feeling the sting of her response. Assssss if you know where the GatesssofTanisssisss.,hehissedbackather.In fact, I do know now., the contessa replied. We need the souls harvested, Dregan., she madeherdemandsclear,hervoicecarryingastrictauthoritariantone.If what you sssay isss true, then it will be done., Dregan conceded. Firssst, you will prove whatyouhaveclaimed!No. You will fulfill your role in this plan as agreed upon, Dregan. If you dont, then we will all have toiled for nothing. Without my wisdom, you will still have nothing but the flesh hanging on your flimsy bones., Taria countered. My father is the architect of this plan that will benefit us all.Trustinthatpromisemyfathergaveandallwillbecompleteunderhisname.Dregans monstrous growl filled the halls, his frustration evident with this impasse. If they were all going to gain from this, there was no other way but to work together. Your wordssssss best meanit,contesssa,Lessst,Igiveyouacold,afterlifffe...Begone,undead!,TariacommandedtowhichDreganvanishedinaninstant.

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The clouds cleared swiftly as soon as Lord Dregan departed. Tarias gaze turned towards the door at the end of the grand hall where she could hear loud footsteps growing louder and louder. The grand doors swung opened and from those emerged a man clad in a large black suitofarmour.From the slits of his helmet, the mans eyes pulsed red. There were fur trimmings in the armour whose steel was said to be forged in the deepest depths of hell. In his arms was the largest double handed sword, its blade imbued in magical flame. Lord Diemos stepped into the halls that his steward, the dwarf, Halstein used to grace. His puppet was slain through the machinationsofonewoman,theveryonehewasabouttoconfront.Taria, you play a dangerous game., Diemos spoke while approaching her, his voice seemingly echoing from everywhere. Do you really think you can take whatever you want, whenever you wish?, he added with heavy breaths. With one strike, Lord Diemos stabbed the fiery blade of his sword on the ground, seemingly an attempt to intimidate the lady of Ebrio. I demand answers!Taria remained composed, her eyes always curiously on the gem in her hand. I just spared thee from the utmost betrayal your worthless dwarven scourge was scheming on and you carry thistoneinfrontofme?Explainyourself.,LordDiemosspoke,hiseyesnarrowingintoslits.Your own dwarven puppy, Halstein, was never loyal to you, Lord Diemos., Taria shared while carefully setting the precious stone down on the armrest of her throne. He did ally with you for his own gain. To be crowned as Steward of Aesland and to govern all other dwarves under his reign.LordDiemoseyedherinsilence,listeningintentlyasthecontessastoodfromherthrone.Halstein betrayed his own flesh and blood to bring about his own fortunes. He did not even hesitate in doing so., Taria continued, running her soft finger on the cold black steel of his armour.He had every opportunity to crush the resistance and yet, he did not. With all the power at his disposal, he chose to keep the flames fanned whilst your eyes were away from Aesland.

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Unfortunately, he simply kept his men within his walls, and amass his strength. Why, if I may askthee?He was biding his time, Diemos., Taria whispered as her hands slipped between the steel plates covering Diemos arm to touch the chainmail armour underneath. Looking for the right opportunitytohavemoreofwhichhecouldnotpossiblyattain.The contessa broke a smile, sensing the hesitation from the man who stood before her. If Halstein could betray his own brother, think of what he could do to you if the opportunity presenteditself?What youve shared is baseless and simple gossip., Lord Diemoss voice boomed, finally counteringherbeforepushingherawayfromhim.Think about it, your lordship. Halstein did not approve of my captain meddling with his affairs. Within one attack, my own loyal subject crushed the viking resistance completely. Until then, all youheardfromyourstewardwasthattheyneededmoreaid.Diemos swiftly drew the contessa close to him, their faces within inches of each other. How did youlearnofourcorrespondence?You forget that I still see of what none of you are capable of.., Taria coolly replied with a wry smile.TheTapestry...,Diemosmuttered.Exactly. I see through schemes of the most foul, though they may have been dressed up with prettywords.,thecontessareplied.Itistimethatyoubegantotrustme.Youdidnotcometomewiththisevilscheme,Taria.I did not come to you with problems. I came to you with answers and I personally ridded you of the knife that wouldve been stuck on your back., her brilliant emerald eyes flashed before the pulsingredeyesofthewarlord.

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Releasing herself gently from his grip, Taria continued on. Do not be alarmed for I have no need to control Aesland. But I have also no desire to foster traitors within our ranks. We will needallthestrengthforthefinalpush.ThosewordsalonetookthenoticeofLordDiemos.Finalpush?Yes. I know where the Gates reside. In fact, I have already reminded Dregan to make the necessarypreparations.And more importantly,, she added while clapping her hands. I have the key to opening the GatesofTanis.From the halls on the left side of the throne room emerged a lady in long desert robes. She had long braided black hair and had several brass jewelries on. Her look was a curious mash of poverty and prosperity. Before the two esteemed members of the Covenant, she stood still as if awaitingorders.Youexperiment,contessa?Behold, Namira., Taria revealed. The work that I had tirelessly toiled for months on end. Tulwaras memories were not easy to form in this slave girls body, but she will do my bidding. ShewillrevealthehiddentruthsaboutAsmodeus.Turning back to the beautiful lady before him, Lord Diemos gave a nod of approval. It seems thatyouhavefulfilledyourendoftheagreement.Oh,butIhavemoretoask,ifImaydosohumbly.Analliance,betweenthetwoofus.Diemos gaze fell upon her seductive eyes, pondering over what other surprises she may have for him. There was much apprehension inside of him over this woman before him and with rightful cause for concern. Like all of the others she had bewitched, however, he could simply notturnawayfromheroffer.

~o~

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Days had gone past since Ichiro had arrived in Vitulia. Much of the land had been ravaged, the trees bore no life in them while the villages were desolate. The kunoichi ninja in black, Koyasha bowed low, remaining at the side of her master, watching and observing his frustrations at the lackofdirectionfromthemonk.Wandering. Thats what weve all been doing since we arrived., Ichiro growled while sitting on the ground inside his tent, with a cup of wine in his hand. His black hair had become frazzled fromthelackofsleep.Strokinghisdarkbeard,hetookanothersipashiseyesturnedred.Ichirosama,youmustrest.Silence!, Ichiro shot back, tossing the cup at her face. "Stay close and never lose sight of him, Koyasha.""Of course, master Ichiro sama.", the ninja spoke before bowing low in total obedience. There was no hint of scorn over her master's harsh treatment. To her, her master's will was her entire world.Only the thick fog greeted the lady ninja in black when she stepped out of Ichiro's tent. The land of Vitulia was ill, covered in death and ravaged by some terrifying magic. Large grey clouds blotted the sunlight, making the place seem far more chilly. With each passing day, the very soil turned pale, as if life had been slowly drained away. Wilted trees and village ruins surrounded Ichiro's encampment, yet none of these could instill fear nor doubt in Koyasha's heart. With a laserfocus,hereyessoughtforthemonksurroundedbyIchiro'sundeadsamuraiwarriors.Xiao Long, the monk in tattered robes, sat unmoved for hours now. Ever since arriving at Vitulia, he had periodically fallen into some form of meditation. He claimed that to find the direction, he must listen. From afar, she sat, wondering what it was he was listening to for there wasnothingmuchofnotetolistento.

BewareDeep in a trancelike state, Xiao Long sat there, his mind feeling the presence of several ghosts in the remnants of what seemed to be once a vibrant community, longing and searching for something. Each of these lost souls offered only one word to the blind monk. It was a warning, butofwhat?

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Suddenly, Xiao Long felt a strong build up of dark energies far away from where he sat. As the power grew in force, so did the wails and cries of men, women and children. The cry of agony was difficult for the monk to witness, but this was the direction he needed. Before he could rouse from his meditation, however, he felt a terrible wave of power sweep through the land wherehestayed.Xiao Long stumbled on the ground, but he no longer felt the presence of the ghosts that were there. Even Ichiros own samurai phantasms had vanished without a trace. The monk struggledbackup,sensingtheevercuriousassassinwatchinghimfromafar.Several of Ichiros men came out, bewildered by what had just happened. Xiao Long could also hear Ichiro barking orders with great urgency. A great sphere of power hovered over Ichiros encampment, its energy pulsing and driving men insane. The monk could hear Ichiro frantically attemptingtowrestbackcontroloverhisarmy,muchofhiseffortsinvain.In that chaos, the lone ninja, Koyasha, stayed perched on a dead tree, watching the scene all unfold with a strange sense of curiosity. Her gaze fell upon the blind monk, noticing how he was unaffected by this strange affliction. Truly there was something extraordinary with that man. Shefoundherselfdrawntohim.Whythatwaswasnotreadilyevidenttoher.Suddenly, the sphere of light hovering above the frenzied men burst into a tremendous wave of energy. This great tidal wave of power consumed everything in its path. Koyasha attempted to make a dash through the trees in an attempt to get away from the blast, but the energy wave swept her away. The ninja was violently thrown from the tree branches, her body going limp as shecrashedheavilytotheterrain.

TheAwakenedOne...Xiao Long felt the aches of his body while struggling back up from the dusty ground. He was not aware for how long he had gone out from the wave. However, he felt neither Ichiro nor his men's presence. Were they separated by the blast? As he got back to his feet, he could hear whispersfromnearbyrestlessghosts,callingouttooneofthesocalledAwakened.Clasping the palms of his hands together, Xiao Long muttered a silent prayer. As soon as he did, his senses seemed to have attained a higher level of focus. He could see emerging from

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the black world of blindness glowing shades, silhouettes of people, men and women wandering to and fro. They were all with neither direction nor goal. More importantly, he could feel their suffering,somuchthathefoundhimselfonhiskneesfromthepain. The awakened one., one of the spirits turned to him and spoke. It has been too long since onehascome.Why do you suffer?, Xiao Long asked the restless souls while clutching his heart. The closer thespiritsgottohim,themoreintensetheagonyhefelt. Thepalaceofbones...,whisperedonesoul."Theshepherdofsoulsislost...""Aerende?",XiaoLong'svoicecarriedagreatsenseofconcern."Whathappened?"Katraz,thepalaceofbones.Thatiswhereweallmeetourend.,oneghostexplained.Xiao Longs hands touched the ground, feeling the energy from the ground fading away. Aerende was a name he recalled from long ago. The shepherd of souls was what lead him into this life long journey. So much of the tragedy was due to the shepherd being lost, and now it wasuptohimtoseekitout.The monks hand came upon a broken tree branch. While taking a deep breath, he managed to zone out the pain and use the tree branch as a staff for support. Finally able to stand up, he askedtheghostshowtogettoKatraz.One of the ferrymen, agents of the dead king, Dregan. They came with silent shrieks, the soundofmadnesswithinquietwhispers.,onesoulexplained.Theywillcomeagain.It only took a moment for the blind monk, Xiao Long, to realize that the blast earlier must have been the one these spirits were referring to. Its presence had driven Ichiros men mad, yet he heard not a single sound from these reapers. This must only affect the living and perhaps the soulsthatwouldbeharvestedoff.Suddenly, there was a powerful gust of wind, changing direction with every moment that passed. Xiao Longs senses made him notice a pillar of light from afar that burst from above.

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Wails echoed throughout the land. A dark ritual had been casted, purging numerous souls with it.The harvesting..., Xiao Long muttered under his breath. His heart felt the pain of agony with the lost souls. Images flashed before his eyes, each of them showing faces of the dead by the Ruffunplague.Thisperversionofnaturemustend.Thiswasthefinalstepsofhisjourney.

Afreshvessel!The souls suddenly drifted away from the monk. Dozens of them circling over a glowing body on the floor. Xiao Long quickly realized that this was Koyasha, a magical construct whose soulless body was about to be taken over by souls who had longed to be amongst the living oncemore.Stop!, the monk shouted at the top of his voice, gripping the staff tightly as he leapt high to get to the ninja. Each soul entered into Koyashas body, each one contending to be the one to stay inher.Herbodyconvulsedwitheveryentryofeverysoul.Xiao Long got to her as quickly as he could and then he said a quick prayer. Immediately, the souls shrieked and kept their distance from the monk and the assassin. Sensing her aura fading, the monk knew her body was now going through a fatal descend. With little hesitation, he flipped her body over and touched the nerves of her back. Every stab of his finger jolted her nerves, his power surging through her. The monk clasped his hand and struck her back with his palm,rousingherfromwhatseemedlikeanendlessslumber.Koyasha opened her eyes to see the blind monk before her. She had seen terrible images in her sleep, faces of monsters she could not slay. Each of them attempting to tear her limb from limb. Then, they all faded away. She woke up understanding that the monk somehow sensed herdeathandplungedhisfistsintothedarknesstopullherout.The monk took a deep breath, feeling the drain of saving her life. You are safe., he whispered to her. The souls will not take you., his voice sounded calm and reassuring. Rest for now. Theywillnolongerharmyou.Koyasha found herself puzzled by the circumstances. She had not known anything else but her masters wishes and the countless bodies in her wake. Faced with death in herself, she found a

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man who held no hesitation to saving her own existence. Laying on the ground, surrounded by decimatedtreesandlittleelse,shewasleftutterlyspeechless.

BewareXiao Long focused his senses as another build up of dark energy was amassing. The ferrymen were coming to fetch more souls for Dregans spell. If he were to find a way to Katraz, the palaceofbones,hemuststoptheferrymen.The monks senses focused on the ball of energy that hovered over the land, seeing a hooded creature with tattered black robes. In its hand was a flute, crafted from bones. The ferryman seemed to be playing a tune with it, but Xiao Long heard nothing coming out of it. Yet, around him,thesoulswailedandcriedatthepresenceoftheirreckoning.Xiao Long quickly dashed towards the ball of light, his gaze focused upon the hooded monster. With light steps, he stepped through dead tree trunks and branches to elevate his position, each ofthememergingandglowingfromthedarknessofhisblindvision.The ferryman stopped playing the moment Xiao Long came to its line of sight, spinning the flute ofbonetoguardhimselffromthemonksstaff.

Crash!Xiao Long swung his staff violently only for his strike to be parried by the ferrymans flute. In that break of concentration, the ball of energy swiftly fizzled away as the two combatants landed ontheground.The hood of the ferryman fell, revealing an old wrinkled face of a man with terrifying white eyes. Withagrimfrownhangingover,theoldmanpointedthefluteatthemonkbeforehim.You defy the wishes of the Lord of Bones, awakened one?, the ferryman growled with great disdain.Youhavenorighttotakethesesouls!,XiaoLongshotback.

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Rubbish! There is no such thing!, the old man rasped. Lord Dregan is the shepherd of souls andhiswillisallthereis.Silence, demon!, Xiao Long shouted before charging once again with his staff. Every strike he threw, the old man countered and blocked with graceful finesse. As the two disengaged, Xiao Long muttered a short prayer, seemingly holding the ferryman frozen, yet this only lasted for a briefmoment.Your tricks do not work on me, fool!, the ferryman scoffed at the sphere of power that emanated from the monk. Without fear, he marched into this enchantment with flute ready to strike.Xiao Long quickly muttered another prayer, the sphere of light that engulfed both him and the monster this time pulsing green. This power did nothing to faze the ferryman, but as soon as he struck,themonkwasalreadygone.Spinning his staff violently, Xiao Long muttered another prayer. The staff glowed with great power, with every revolution seemingly increasing its strength. He then struck down the ferrymanonthehead,theferociousblowtakingthemonsterdowntotheground.The earth quaked as the sphere of energy dispersed into a great wave. Xiao Long stood before thefallenferrymanastheirgazemet.It is true then..., the ferryman muttered, his voice filled with pain. It is you who can release us fromthisbondofservitude...ItisI.,XiaoLongansweredwithlittlehesitation.WhereisthepathtoKatraz?Only one way..., the ferryman softly spoke in between coughs as a strange black liquid spewed out of his mouth. ... but only if you release me., he added, sounding as if he was pleading.Iwill.Ipromise.,themonkansweredtruthfully.The ferryman reached from inside his robes and produced a key made of bones with a red jewel ontop.Takethis.Whenyouareready,peerthroughthejewelanduttertheword,Aprire.

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Xiao Long approached the fallen miserable creature and gave him a brief prayer for peace and freedom.Orkhi.Befreeandrest.,hesaidwithasolemntone.Thank you..., the old man muttered, his voice lingering as his consciousness faded into oblivion.The monk picked up the bone key in his hands, before a sharp pain struck his body. Blood trickled down from his mouth as he leaned heavily on the wooden staff in his hands. He had exertedmuchtoday,buthisworkwasnotoveryet.His senses showed him the numerous wandering souls that wouldve been taken by the ferryman.Theyalllongedforpeaceanditwashisdutytogivethemthat.Koyasha rushed to his side, helping him. Still uncertain about everything she had just witnessedsheonlyfoundherselfmutteringsoftlytowardstheinjuredmonk.Yourehurt.Iwillbefine.,XiaoLongrespondedweakly.IhavetoprayforthesesoulsandthenIwillrest.Koyasha could not understand the tireless devotion of the monk towards preservation, somethingshehadtoiledthroughherentireexistencetodestroy.Youmustrest.I will., the monk smiled as his heightened senses eased off, the world that glowed fading back intodarkness.

~o~High above the dark night sky, the pale moonglow shun upon the cold, desolate land of Vitulia. A mere glance on its terrain revealed the scars of many battles that ravaged the nation. As the mercenary Mordos Kull trudged through the dead scattered throughout, his mind was consumed entirelybythetaskhehadtoaccomplish.

Youknowwhatmustbedone.Mordos Kull had nothing but Tarias magical amulet as a guide. Its gem glimmered under the moonshine as he clutched it in his hands. Somehow he felt a gentle tug, directing him through

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the tortured lands and into far more gut wrenching sights. There was a strange power to this amulet,onethatthemercenarytrustedentirely.This amulet took him to a forest or what used to be one. The trees had no traces of life in them. Several tree branches and twigs scattered on the ground. Nothing about this place reminded him of the rich lands teeming of life that he had been familiar with. Then, the amulet stopped flashing.This? This is where I should be?, Mordos Kull pondered aloud while stroking his beard. He scanned the scene of the dead around him, wondering why the amulet had lead him to nowhere. Just when he thought he was finally lost, he saw a small glimmer of light behind the uprootedandgigantictrees.Hiseyeswidenedafterrealizingwhatitwas.A bonfire!, Mordos Kull exclaimed in utmost surprise. This was the first sign of life since he had stepped foot in Vitulia. Without delay, he headed towards what seemed like a settlement. Little did he know that lurking within the shadows was a pair of eyes, watching closely as he madehisprogress.Mordos Kull happened upon a small campfire, one that was hastily thrown together. Yet, there was no one around this makeshift camp. There were only dead twigs and branches and nothing else.Hefrowned,puzzledatthescenebeforehim. Behind him, emerging from the shadows, was a woman in black. Deftly, she crept up while unsheathing a knife that flashed from the fiery licks of the campfire. Before she could take another step however, the mercenary quickly turned to meet his mysterious observer with his morningstarunraveled.The assassin immediately flipped back several feet away from Mordos Kull, making sure she wasbeyondreach.Kulldidnotattackhowever.Hesimplystoodtherewaiting.Isthisyourtrap?,themercenaryaskedwithgreatanimosity.Yet, the ninja assassin did not respond to his query. You belong to the witch, Taria de Castillo. Whyareyouhere?Youyouknowme?,MordosKullseyeswidenedinsurpriseoverherwords.

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I know enough to see a scheme. Is it not too much of a coincidence to find you here in the samelandsasmymaster?I know not who your master is., Mordos Kull snapped back at her. You must have been followingmeforawhile,assassin.State your business., the assassin demanded, the grip of her knife tightening with every momentthatpassed.

Halt!Before the escalation could go any further, a monk revealed himself from the shadows of the night. He wore tattered golden robes and had a thick tree branch as a walking stick. His eyes werealwaysclosedyetheseemedtohavenoissueswalkingoutthereonhisown.We are all brothers and sisters in this world. My name is Xiao Long and she is Koyasha, a ninja..,themonkbowedlow.Isitnotbetterthatwetreatusallwithcompassion?Mordos Kull sensed that the monk meant well, tucking away his weapon before greeting the monk that stood between him and the assassin. Its an honor to meet a priest such as yourself, XiaoLong.Iapologizeforthisincident.His name is Cabredo and he is armed, Xiao Long., Koyasha pressed on. He could have been sentheretoharmyou.Iamfamiliarwiththemagichebearsaroundhisneck.He means us no harm, Koyasha., the monk calmly replied. I must make preparations for the remainingsoulsinthisplace.,headdedwhilewavingofftheaggressivestanceoftheninja.Koyasha sheathed her dagger before sitting beside the monk. Deep inside, she had found another motivation to her existence. She turned her gaze towards the blind man, ever ready to protecthimfromanysuspiciousdangersthatmaylurkaroundthecorners.Heaving a sigh of fatigue, Mordos Kull sat near the fire, letting its warmth comfort him in this cold, chilly night. He curiously turned towards the monk who sat cross legged by the fire, his mouthsoftlymumblingwhatwasmostlikelysomeprayerforthedead.

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The mercenary knew not of how these two came to Vitulia, but somehow, Tarias amulet had lead him here. While his mind sought for answers, he pulled out the amulet and saw that the gem in its core was now pitch black, something that had never happened since he had been giventhisbyhismistress.Koyasha, the assassin, had mentioned earlier that she was familiar with Tarias work. Perhaps, she had also felt the presence of this magical necklace. Before he could ponder this further, the monkbrokehissilence.Wheredidyougetthat?Youcanseethis?,MordosKullwasmildlysurprisedbythemonkssensoryperception.I see a great many things. Yet, I see nothing at all., Xiao Long spoke in a calm friendly tone to his voice. I believe, however, that my friend up the tree knows more about this., he added before turning his attention to the ninja who seemed to have lost none of her apprehension and distrustforthemercenary.Koyasha,pleasesharewhatyouknow.,hespokewithasenseofcareforher.There was a sense of hesitation from the assassin, but the insistence of the monk had somehow forced her hand, as if his blind trust over this man had become the overriding power in her. All I know is that it was forged in the same fires that gave me my form. It is not somethingyouforgetever.Mordos Kull heard her strained voice, sensing the trepidation laced within. This was not easy for her to share. At the same time, he could tell that the monk was trying to build a trust amongst the three of them. Even though he had only met all of them right now, he found no harmdoinghisparttobuildthistrust.This amulet was indeed from Taria of Ebrio. It is this amulet that protects me from the spirits thatwanderhere.ShealsodescribesthisasthemeanstofindawayintoDreganslair.The one who rules Katraz, the palace of Bones., Xiao Long nodded, but before he could continue,Koyashacutintotheconversationquickly.

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BothDreganandTariaareallies.HowisitthatyoudonothavethemeanstoenterKatraz?It is part of the treatise of the Covenant., Mordos Kull swiftly explained. Each territory controlled belongs to that members reign. Dregan seized Vitulia and his ever presence had meant none of the Covenant members dare step into his realm. Nobody knows where Dregans lairis,noteventhecontessa,Taria.Xiao Long seemingly fell into a momentary trance before speaking to the mercenary. There is nodeceptioninyourwords,Cabredo.Yet,Isenseadarkpowerthattwistsyourthread.TheTapestryofEternity.,MordosKullquicklyaddedtowhichthemonknodded.You are aware of this?, the monk seemed more curious now more than ever about this extraordinarywarriorbeforehim.My mistress had told me that everything around us is tied to this. Who we are what we are we are all connected by this. She explained to me that there is something in my thread that has severedmymemories.That is precisely correct. Impressive., Xiao Long nodded. There is nothing natural about your memory loss, Cabredo. You must seek your answers, but tread carefully. Ive seen such passionateobsessionthatrunsinyourblood.Youmusttakeholdandcontrolit.Mordos Kull was intrigued by the lectures of the monk before him. Perhaps, he could learn moreabouthisownpastfromthisman.We all must learn to live in harmony for those we harm will come to repay us the same courtesy., the monk spoke, emphasizing each and every word he uttered. That was a hard lessonforme.ButIlearneditwellandchangedmylife.Koyasha turned to the monk with concern hanging on her face. At the back of her mind, she wondered at how she treated the monk before with absolute ambivalence with regards to everything he did and now everything had changed. There was a connection between them, and one she couldnt explain. All that she knew was that Xiao Longs words felt heavy, as if he hadbeencarryingthroughhislifethisgreatburdenanditgreatlymatteredtoherwhythatwas.

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Once I lived the quiet life of a farmer but warring factions came to my land and destroyed everything I had. So, I raised my sword, seeking blood and vengeance. I became like them, a warlord and everywhere I went, the blood of my enemies would flow through the rivers of Sung Ku., Xiao Long revealed to his keen listeners. My name was feared and with that came respect.But,Iwasblindedbymyownobsessionandbloodlust.Xiao Long raised his hands and held them out near the campfire. My allies and I had created an insatiable fire that burned through everything. That was how we gained power but that was alsohowwelosteverything.Theleastofwhichwasmyowneyesight.You couldve left me to die when the ghosts attacked me., Koyasha spoke. It wouldve given youfreedom.Yet,youchosetosaveme.Xiao Long gave her a gentle smile before replying. I shared with you my ki to save you, child. It was the only way to save you. There is much to learn in this world. The path of destruction requires no effort while the path to create something truly wonderful is long and arduous. I chosethepathleasttraveled.Thank you. I am forever in your debt, Koyasha bowed low. Her heartfelt gratitude pleased themonk.Youmayfindyourownchancetopaythisdebtforward.Sitting beside the monk, Koyasha fell silent while pondering over the words he had shared to them both. Though Koyasha felt grateful to Xiao Long, she did not understand the wisdom he imparted to her. So much of her existence was about killing in the name of her master. Compassion? Peace? These were absolutely foreign to her. Her troubled thoughts would not gounnoticed.Worry not if you do not understand, child., Xiao Long added. In time, you will., he reassured her.Xiao Long, do you know how to get to Dregans lair?, Mordos Kull asked, once again trying to makesenseofwhytheamulethadleadhimhere.

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I have the means to get to Katraz., Xiao Long turned his attention to the mercenary while revealing the key from the ferryman. Before we depart however, it is best for us to rest. I have exertedmyselftoomuchthisday.As you wish., Mordos Kull said in response, his gaze falling upon the glowing campfire. Itll bealongdaytomorrow.,hemutteredunderhisbreath.

~o~

AprireUnder the grey morning sky, Xiao Long held out the ferrymans key before uttering that word. Beside him, Koyasha and Mordos Kull braced themselves as a great wave of energy pulsed from the key. Before they knew it, a sphere of power engulfed the three of them, raising them allhighupintothethickclouds.Mordos Kull found the trip to the skies disorienting. He looked down to the devastated forest from which they came from and then up to the large grey clouds that stretched to the horizon. As they passed through it, he could not shake the feeling of having no control over his destination. In a strange way, this sensation was a reflection of how much his life had been simplyoutofhishands.Allhedidwassurvive,leavingeverythingtofate.Soon, the clouds cleared from view as the energy sphere punched out of the large clouds. The viewthatrevealeditselffromthecloudsmadethemercenarypauseinawe.A pillar of light pulsed through a giant castle on a large piece of land. Dark clouds swirled around the castle, with lightning striking on the castle walls as if drawn by the terrible power that emanated from within the castle holds. Even from afar, Mordos Kull could hear the wails of men and women in constant agony. The relentless torture must have been unimaginably horrible for allthosepeople.Finally, the sphere set them at the foot of the entrance of the castle. There were no doors to impede their progress however. In its stead was a large open hallway, made entirely of hardened stone. From each side, one could see the faint glow of magical torches though whateverwasdeepinsidethehallsseemedshroudedinabsolutedarkness.

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Bayartai,Hakan!

Qusiba!Words echoed into Koyashas ears the moment she stepped into the halls. She took a moment to look around her but found nobody else but the three of them within these dark dank halls. The voices that she heard felt remarkably close, each word laced with great animosity. Her heart skipped a beat and she found herself clenching her fists tightly. This place was alive and itwaswatchingthemclosely.Her eyes turned to Xiao Long, the monk who lead their small party in. Unlike the mercenary and her, there was total composure in the way the blind wiseman conducted himself. Xiao Long touchedthecoldbrickwallsasifitwassomehowcommunicatingbacktohim.Curiously, the ninja ran her fingers on the wall when sudden images struck her. Dreadful images of men and women suffering. Koyashas heart pounded with tremendous fury, aghast at the mere images of the dead and suffering. Her limbs lost strength as she collapsed to the floor, making Mordos Kull rush to check on her. As soon as he did, there was complete and suddensilence.Allthewailingsandcrieshadceased.From thin air appeared a warrior with intricate oriental armour and bronze trimmings. Even though he was visible, the man seemed like a ghostly manifestation. His skin had a dark reddish hint to it. He stroked his short black beard as a sorrowful look hung over his face. Seeingthemonkseemedtomakehimdrawatiredsigh.Galap Hakan. You come at an opportune moment when all seemed to be lost., the ghost spoke.Toghun Qaimish. I came as quickly as I could., Xiao Long greeted him. The balance has beenbroken.Indeed. Aerende has fallen into a deadly slumber and the Tapestry of Eternity is in shambles., came the reply of the ghost warrior Toghun. Dregan has been performing dark rituals, each timeclaimingmoreandmoresoulsforhisownpurposes.Whatdoesheintendtodo?,XiaoLongaskedwithagreatsenseofurgency.

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Toghuns expression turned into a scowl as he pondered this query. For a long while, these chambers have been a critical source of the Covenants prowess. This place is a labyrinth, constructed to trap souls and prevent their escape. Each soul from the slain bodies gave them strength to bend nature, and produce these abominations., he explained as he turned towards theskeletonsthatwerehalfburiedinthewalls.Icansenseapowerfulvenomwithinthesewalls.,XiaoLongutteredtowhichToghunnodded.You have lost none of your keen senses, Galap. This is the venom that poisoned Aerende. He is here, deep in the heart of this dungeon, but he cannot be roused, not unless this curse be lifted., Toghun nodded before his eyes turned to the kunoichi ninja that now stood at Xiao Longsside.

Gasp!When there eyes met, Koyasha saw a flash of the very warrior before her stabbing her on the chest. The pain felt real and the dreadful imagery was very raw to her. She took a step back, no longer comprehending everything that was happening to her. Sweat trickled down her face asshepantedhardfromtheshock.Xiao Long quickly grabbed her by the arm, sensing her distraught. Focus. This had happened to me as well. You are feeling the Tapestry of Eternity., he quickly explained, before turning to thewarriorToghun.Make haste, Galap, for these walls have eyes. Dregan will soon come for you all., the warrior sternly warned them all. Venture forth, but stray not from each other., he added before vanishingasquicklyasheemerged.A strange mist quickly filled the room, and before Koyasha could tell what was happening, the mercenary they were with was gone without a trace. Xiao Long quickly clenched his staff as he knewthatthedangershehadbeenwarnedofwerenowhere.A pair of glowing red eyes emerged from the mist followed by the skeleton with hanging rotten flesh. His armour was battle worn and the sword in his hands felt older than time itself. With a

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menacing glare, the monster stepped forth and confronted the two. The monsters dreadful laughterquicklyfilledthehallswhilemanyghostsappearedbehindhim.Xiao Long and Koyasha readied their weapons, knowing that they were now in the fight of their lives with slim chance of surviving the ordeal. The ghouls that encircled them however, did not attackthem.Instead,therottingknightbeforethembegantospeak.

~o~

Tesoro...A womans voice echoed in Mordos Kulls ears as he stumbled down in the dark castle halls alone. Something about this lady had drawn him away from his venturing party and onto the flightofstairsthatemergedbeforehim.Tesoro..., the voice called out to him once more as the mercenary descended down the stone steps. As he did, he saw brief flashes, images from a forgotten time. The stone walls quickly vanished while the claustrophobic dungeons magically shifted into a vast grassy fields. From afar,hecouldseeahousethatseemedveryfamiliartohim.

HomeMordos Kull could not help but run his fingers on the tall green grass. A soft gentle breeze stroked his face when he suddenly saw a blurred image of a woman flash before his eyes. The sense of familiarity could not escape him as he trudged forth into the fields. Sto tornando a casa., he muttered to himself while breathing in the fresh Vitulian air. He was remembering the life that had been cruelly taken from him. Yet, before he could take another step into the past, everythingvanished.The lush green fields faded back to the dark stone stairs he was descending into. Panic fell upon the mercenary, the sense of losing that chance of knowing who he was slipping away. Mordos Kull frantically pulled from his pouch several Hallita seeds that his trusted liege had givenhim.

Itisthepriceforwhatyoumostdesire.

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Before he could take the handful of seeds from his trembling hands, his mind had gone into a horrifying pain. The mercenary stumbled and fell down the stairwell, the pouch and all the seedsnowlosttothedarkness.Mordos Kulls breathing was heavy and hard with his eyes glazed and staring up the stone ceiling. He no longer knew where he was. Everything about him felt fragmented. As his eyes rolledbackinsomeformofseizure,anotherwomansvoiceechoedintohisears.

"Mordos...Mordos..."A lady was calling out to him, her voice growing louder each time. Her sultry voice seemed to feed into this madness that was gripping him. Desperately, he tried to focus and get back his bearing. As his vision started clearing, from the shadows, he could see a woman approach him. He tried to reach out to her, but in a flash, she drew a knife and stabbed his heart, the pain shootingstraightintohisfleshashebubbledoutonefinalanguish.

Ah!Mordos Kull roused from his slumber in the middle of the night. His breathing was fast, and his face was drenched in sweat. His eyes fell upon the lonely cackling of the campfire before him in the forest. On the other end was a man sound asleep with a woman in his arms. He staggered back to his two feet, walking around to get a good look at the couple. The woman, he could not some how make out as every physical feature seemed to be blurred out, the man, however, turnedtobehisownself,smilinginhissleepwithcontentment.

WearriveatthecityofTorboliinaroundsixhours.He remembered those words as the gentle winds whispered into his ears. After that, he heard the heavy clops of horses tugging a heavy wagon. Mordos Kull turned towards where he thought the sounds were coming from, but there was nothing there. Instead a blinding white tookholdofhissight.Wherewasthemercenary?Notevenhecouldtellforcertain.

~o~

Welcometomylabyrinth!

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The voice of the lord of Katraz echoed through the dark stone hallways, the magical torches on each side pulsing with the strikes of lightning. Before Xiao Long and Koyasha stood a demon knightwithrottingfleshhangingoveritsbones.Dregan faced the two with an ancient sword in one hand, its blade glistening from the magical torches. His eyes had a menacing glow as he took in deep and heavy breaths. Behind him was a large man with a black executioners mask. The mysterious warrior stood still, saying not a single word, while wielding a great double handed axe. Behind them were countless spirits, mindlesssoldiersservingthecauseoftheLordofBones.It is curioussss to see the living step foot in my abode., Dregan had playful tone while his eyes studied the monk and the ninja beside him. You are a fool for venturing here, awakened one. You cannot possibly hope to free these soulsss. They are lost in my realm and they will be devoured!Dregans horrifying laughter echoed through the halls. As long as the dead souls possess fond memories, they will remain, and these dreams will become their own nightmares. Through me, thespiritswillcometoknowtheirreckoning.This abomination must end!, Xiao Long declared with little fear over the terrifying evils that loomedbeforehim.Yourdarkritualswillceaseandthesesoulswillfindpeace.The monks words only made Dregan laugh even louder. Empty wordsss, blind monk., the undead knight snapped back. Youve already lost Aerende, trapped in a never ending slumber and now the traitor, the Covenants betrayer, Cabredo had fallen into my trap. He is wandering, lossst in his own past and never to be found again., he added, putting in heavy emphasis on eachwords.Cabredo will sssuffer for his insssolence as will the both of you!, Dregan declared while raising his sword. From the walls and ground of the halls, skeletal creatures started punching through uponthesummonsoftheirmasters.

Wemustflee!

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Koyasha swiftly grabbed Xiao Long by the shoulder, pulling him towards her as she whispered. The monk heeded her advice with little hesitation with the growing number of enemies emerging fromwithinthehalls.Although they have turned back towards where they came from, the entire castle hallways had seemingly shifted. The ghouls that blocked their path moved aside after a short prayer from the monk. As the two fled from the chasing army of skeletons, dirt and bricks started to swirl with a terrifying wind. Koyasha could not tell where they were, only that this entire realm possessed a strange magic that kept the floor they were on floating whilst everything else flew with this menacingwhirlwind.Suddenly, Koyasha felt a hand grip her shoulder hard, pulling her up into the air. As she looked up to see who it was, a white sun above her took her sight and her senses. With no recourse left,shedriftedaway,lettingthestrangeforcetakeherwhereveritwilled.

~o~

Tesoro

The mercenary, Mordos Kull, ventured deep into the Palace of Bones while seeking the source of the lady who called out to him. What seemed like tiny voices in his head the moment he stepped into Katraz was now like a burning obsession inside of him. He was certain the past waswithinhisreach.Nomatterwhatwouldhappen,hevowedtofindthetruthabouthimself.The white light that covered his sight had finally faded away, the dark stone walls vanishing away. Katrazs veil of shadows had been lifted, giving way to the vast green fields in Vitulia, onethathewasfamiliarwith.Mordos Kull once again ran his fingers above the tall green grass as he wandered. With every step he took, he could see faces of many dead men. Each of them seemed to have been slain in some battle, all of them by his hands. Mordos Kull understood immediately how much he had benefited from his craft of destruction, the man for hire who had made quite a name for himself inVitulianroyalhierarchy.Thislandwashis,andheearneditwiththebloodofothers.

Tesoro

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A womans voice echoed in his ears, making the mercenary turn to see if she was behind him. There in the green fields was a fairskinned woman with long black robes. She had black hair, intricately arranged as if she was a maiden of royalty. Her nose had a sharp pointed end while her round black eyes had vibrancy to them. From her small pursed mouth, Mordos Kull could sense some form of disappointment in her. Once more she uttered the words he had long been hearingwithnoend.Tesoro, how long has it been?, she asked him, but he was uncertain how to answer. Have youforgottenme?,sheconfrontedhimasthesenseofshamefilledthemercenarysheart.I am sorry., Mordos Kull mumbled, his voice low as was his stare. He couldnt bear to look at thewomanbeforehim.I am your wife!, the woman screamed at the man with rage. I am your wife and you could not avengeme!My wife..., Mordos Kull muttered under his breath as the words slowly sank in. While his thoughts focused on those words, images flashed before his eyes. He remembered the fields that he owned and his own small villa at the end of the field. The warrior for hire was a decorated general without an official rank. His prowess and skill was respected if not feared by the very royal armies of Vitulia. With him was his lovely wife who was respected like a queen withoutacrown.My wife, he uttered once more, as he saw the mad lady that was trapped in his villa. Her round eyes had a manic stare as she mumbled incoherent words about the lady with emerald eyes that only appeared in her dreams and imagination. The rich black hair that had the elegance of a queen had been pulled and dishevelled from her insanity. Her madness would soonendwhenamessengerarrivedbearingaletter.

AnInvitationMordos Kull remembered his final day in his estate. The mercenary had received a royal invitation to Medlum for his latest exploits. With his wife with him, the two departed for Vitulia with his men, sworn to be loyal to the very end. For Mordos, this was simply another night in his honor. Medlum was just another city that would commemorate his victory. Donning his most exquisiteceremonialarmour,hemarchedinasthemasterofMedlum.

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Long red curtains fluttered to the wind, when he arrived on horseback that fiery noon sky. Medlum was one of the richest cities in Vitulia and upon his presence, red rose petals were showered down from its towering structures. Mordos Kulls gaze went from the large palace before him to scented red rose petals in his hand. All of Medlums powerful men bowed low in respect for the great warriors conquest who had carried their banner. This was the day that MordosKullsnamewouldbeimmortalizedinMedlumshistory.The banquet hall was lavishly decorated with many crowned dignitaries around the long table. Mordos Kull sat on one end of the table while his wife in a black gown and with gold trimmings sat on the other end. On the stone walls were tall windows that overlooked the vast city horizon.

AtoasttothechampionofMedlum!Each of them raised their chalice of wine with Mordos Kulls eyes keenly looking at the golden cup in his hand. This moment of triumph however was not to be. A womans shrieking voice filledthegrandhall,makingthemercenarylookinastateofalarm.Those emerald eyes!, came the cry of his own wife as she swiftly descended in her madness. This nightmare that had tormented her for many nights had manifested itself. It was a cry of somethingfarmoresinisterarriving.Mordos Kull turned to the tall windows to see streaks of fire falling from the night sky. Before he could tell what was unraveling before him, the city was engulfed in flames as the cries of agony echoedtotheshrieksofthemadladystandingattheoppositeendofthebanquettable.The windows shattered as arrows flew like rain into the halls, each bearing the distinct red and black coloured feathers. Numerous of the royal guests in the chamber were slain from that onslaught.Soonfireballshadstruckthecastlekeep,engulfingthechambersinawallofflame.While the cries of pain filled his ears, Mordos Kull had enough focus in him to take refuge from the large pieces of furniture lying about, his eyes seeking his wife in the chaos. From the other end of the chamber was the lady, crawling and screaming in manic dementia. The elegance and pride of the lady had been twisted into the insanity of a mad prophet. All she could utter wasaboutawomanwithemeraldeyes.

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Mordos Kulls eyes fell upon a morningstar from one of the decorative knight displays that had been dismantled by the assault. Swiftly, he wielded it while also reaching for the shield. With greatcare,heblockedthearrowswhileapproachinghiswife.Calm down! Im coming!, he called out hoping his voice would release her from her madness. Allofthatwasfornaughthowever.From the walls of fire emerged skeletal knights, all of them bearing the sign of a red hydra on their battered shields. Mordos Kull recognized this as the banner of the Covenant, the sign of theirconquest. You think you can take me?, Mordos Kull screamed while flailing his weapon at the knights. Each of the undead fell, but there were far too many emerging from the fires of Medlum and far toomanytoreachhisbelovedwife.The woman with emerald eyes! She is coming!, came the mad screams of the woman as she made a frantic dash towards the window. In great horror, Mordos Kull witnessed his own wife takealeap.Mordos!Mordos!With his face drenched in sweat, Mordos Kull roused from the cold stone floors of Katraz to the sound of a frantic womans cry. This one however was not from his wife, yet her voice was so familiartohim.Whowasthat?,hepondered.It took a moment for the mercenary to gather the strength and focus while his heart pounded madly. As he staggered to his feet, he saw his wife in black robes with dishevelled long black hair.Ascowlhunguponherface.Another woman, Mordos Kull?, she spoke. You dare betray my trust?, she added with growingfury.I dont remember., Mordos could only mumble as guilt swiftly gripped every fiber of his being.

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You,whocouldnotavengeme,decidedtoreplaceme?!His wifes anger only served to confuse the mercenary. Under panic, Mordos Kull tried to remember but his memory seemed to fall into a haze. How could I do such a thing?, he asked aloud,theechoesofhisvoicefillingthestonechamberwithnoanswerinsight.

~o~The wails of men echoed in the central chamber of Katraz. Several large stone pillars around the hall, each of them supporting a strange platform. Above this structure was a giant sphere of energy, every so often shooting a stream of energy both to the Vitulian ground far down below and up to the dark heavens in the sky. Numerous souls swirled around this sphere, the agony ofmillionscouldbeheardthroughoutVitulia.From the stone entrance of this chamber, a magical portal opened as the spirit, Toghun, and Xiao Long stepped through. Immediately, the monk gripped his staff tightly, sensing something was amiss. Koyasha was not with them in their escape and where she may have gone was a mysterytohim.Dregans labyrinth makes it very difficult to focus. My apologies, Galap., Toghun explained. Yourfriendcouldbeanywhereinthepalace,butitissafeforusatthemoment.Toghun interfered with Dregans assault on Xiao Long and Koyasha. As the undead forces closed in on the two, Toghun emerged and grabbed them both in an attempt to transport them outofthediresituation.Unfortunately,hisactioninadvertentlysplitupXiaoLongandKoyasha.I feel Aerendes venom., Xiao Long uttered feeling a negative force pulling him away from the centralchamber.Yes, my long lost comrade., Toghun nodded before looking up to the sphere of energy pulsing above them. The Dark Lord Asmodeus had an agent who had deceived Aerende. It was the venomofthisdemonthathadcausedAerendetosuccumbwiththispoison.Toghun turned back to the monk, the sense of tragedy evident in his face. With Aerende gone, Asmodeus had twisted the world for his own purposes, creating this world of terrifying monstrosities.Thepoisonmustbeliftedforbalancetoreturn.

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Before we can face Asmodeus, we must be free from the labyrinth., Xiao Long deduced, the direnatureoftheirsituationevidenttoall.Then,thepowerofthemasterofthisrealmmustbesevered.,Toghunresponded. Dregan must fall., Xiao Long declared with determination, before plunging into deep thought. Both of his eyes glowed as he went into this strange heightened perception, feeling various energies around him, energies that seemed to weave into this vast silky web. His mind touched the Tapestry of Eternity, the one that connected each life to the other. This was how he was drawnintoVitulia,andnowthiswasonewayhecouldfindhisfriends.

Teresa?The faint voice of Mordos Kull echoed in Xiao Longs ears. Beyond those soft whispers, the monk could feel pain and confusion. Whatever was happening there, the mercenarys life was ingreatperil.I know where we must go!, Xiao Long shared to his comrade, Toghun. With staff in hand, he turned towards the chambers exit, intending to depart for his companion. He did not however takeastep,sensingacertaindistressfromhisspiritguide.It is true. After all that had happened, youve changed. Youre completely different from the manIknew,GalapHakan.,Toghunspokewithasenseofaweinhisvoice.Our journey teaches us many things, Toghun. It is important to remember whence we came from. Each memory shapes us to who we are today. I remember all the joys and the pains, everysingleoneofthem.

~o~

Onlywhenyouvelearnedfromyourwickedwayswillthecursebelifted.Koyashas eyes opened to find herself at the foot of the hill under the scorching gaze of the sun. She could feel her limbs ache with every movement she made in an effort to get back to her feet.Theninjagaspedforairasasearingpainstruckherbelly.

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The kunoichi struggled to sit up before looking at the gash on her abdomen. As she struggled to understand what was happening to her, images flashed in her mind. She saw the spirit guide, Toghun Qaimish, in oriental armour. Behind him were several others in similar gear. A scowl hung on his face as he stood before unsheathing a knife. With relentless force, he stabbedherallthewhileshoutingatheratthetopofhisvoice,DieGalap!Fall!The pain surged inside of Koyasha, its ripples stirring something inside of her. She was living the moment and her limbs froze up. In her mind, she saw the vision of a dead family: a wife, and two children. In the deepest recesses of her heart, she felt the agony of grief over loved ones. That terrifying emotion shifted to anger and vengeance. Every emotion that coursed in her felt raw. Then, it suddenly stopped and her sight came back, as if she had just opened her eyes.The world around her was white. Koyasha saw neither walls, nor ceiling, as if she was floating in an empty space yet her feet were firmly planted on the floor. Ever since she had stepped into Katraz, everything about her had been flipped upside down. The only thing she was certain was thatthiswaslikelyDreganslabyrinth,amazetotrapallthatdaredsetfootintohisdomain.From the white empty space emerged an undead knight with the masked warrior wielding a large double handed axe behind him. With his glowing red eyes, Dregan stared deep into Koyashasowneyesasifreadingwhatswirledinhermind.Whyareyouhere,soullessone?,Dreganaskedwithahintofcuriosity.I have my own reasons., Koyasha snapped back, her hand slowly reaching for the sword behindher.Do you?, Dregan had an incredulous tone in response. Youre just a killer. A construct createdforthemastertocommandandtodohisbidding.

AMagicalConstructThose words stood out to the ninja, the very same words Xiao Long described her to be. The more she thought about it, the more she was curious over the undead warrior that at any point couldvestruckherdown.

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You are a vessel without a soul. You have no past. You have no future. All you have is the present and whatever your master wills., Dregan began expounding on his words, seemingly relishingthemoment.Theundeadknightknewhehadcaughtherattention.Here you are, clinging on some blind fools past, hoping it will give you some semblance of a life. You have to realize, what youre seeing is a sham. It is not you, for you are simply a killer. Thisisyournaturethatyoumustembrace.As Dregan uttered each word, he was slowly gauging her reaction. With every subtle movement from her body, he knew she was becoming far more receptive of the wisdom he shared.Donotponderonthemeaningoflife.Sometimes,thereisnone.,headded.Koyasha took every word seriously, giving what the knight shared her much consideration. He was right in one way. Nothing that was happening to her made sense. Why was she seeing these visions of Toghun? Was all of this simply manipulation? But from who? Toghun? Was thisreallytheTapestryofEternity?The ninjas eyes turned towards the huge warrior with the black mask, sensing a great connection with him. Her mind suddenly felt sharp, noticing the shifts of energy that seemingly linked this warrior to the undead knight, Dregan. She was drawn to him or something about him.Shedidnothesitatetoaddressthismysteriousman.You. You must also be like me. A construct., she uttered at the warrior. The man however stayedsilent.He is the Executioner., Dregan responded as she slowly let go of the hilt of her blade. He is the Reaper of spirits, Master of the Ferrymen, and yes, a construct. Like you, created for a purpose.Andwhatishispurpose?,Koyashaasked.To be the shepherd that brings about oblivion to all these miserable lives., Dregan answered with neither hint of doubt, nor intention of twisting that fact. There is no other meaning to his existence.Likeyours,assassin.

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AssassinOnce more, images of the dead wife and children flashed before her eyes. She could feel the blood stain her hand as the memory played in her mind. Immediately, terrifying emotions coursed into her. Rage. Anger. Vengeance. Each one enveloping her and shaping her state ofbeing.Allthewhile,shebegantohearvoices.Blood!Blood!Bymyhands,bloodwillflow!IamGalapHakan!Iwillavengethem!Koyasha began to understand the visions she saw. Through Galaps memories, she had witnessed the massacre of his own family. This warrior, Galap Hakan, had found the drive for hishatred.Hewasnotaperson.Hewasamonster,akiller.Galaphadembracedhisnature.What followed were horrifying images of burning villages and dead men, women and children. Galap had called this the Blood Revolution. Rivers turned to blood by his path of destruction. ThelastimageleftalastingimprintinKoyashasrecollection.There atop a great mountain and before a crazed crowd, Galap stood in his ceremonial armour, similar to Toghuns, carrying the heads of his enemies. I am victorious! I am the conqueror!, Galap declared proud of his achievement of slaying his enemy. But where vengeance had finallyended,Koyashaknewthatinhisheartofhearts,hispathofdestructionwouldnot.The terrifying chants of the mad crowd echoed in her mind as her sight became a blur. All the incessant cries for blood drilled into her ears, making her heart pound harder and harder. Her senses told her some power was forcing itself inside her and it bore on her heavily, threatening to split her head apart. She let out a scream but she could not hear herself from the chants of the crowd. Somewhere buried in all that noise, she heard a banter between two voices: an elderlyoneandayoungerwoman.

Why?!Whyfather?!

DonotaskmewhatIvedone,Tulwaramydear.

Youkilledhim,father!Forthat,youwilldie!

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The agony of the father drowned the chants of the crowd. Koyashas vision started to clear as the pains subsided. She found herself in a royal hall, standing behind a curtain that covered the side entrances. On the throne room lay a dead king with his royal princess standing at the side. Her hair was jet black, and her dress glimmered before the rays of the sun that poured from the windows high above. Slowly, the dead body faded away and the princess was alone in the throneroomwhentheloudhammeringnoiseonthelargedoubledoorsstarted.

Itistimetoendtheoppressionyouwhore!Koyasha slowly peeled the curtains back, seeing the great doors burst open. The violent gusts of wind immediately blew in, carrying the dusts of the harsh outside world of hell. Emerging from the doors was a young man in desert robes. His every step bore the will of a defiant nation. With an air of pride, he addressed the lone princess staring at the wrath of the oppressed."I, Khalid, am now the sultan of Aravya by the will of the oppressed. Take her away! Strip her of her dignity!", Khalid declared as the angry mob rushed into the throne room. As they came anddraggedheraway,herprotestsechoedthroughthehalls,fallingupondeafears.While the ninja observed the scene that was unravelling, deep inside, she somehow felt compelled to act. She realized, however, that this was a vision of memories long past. The armour she wore did not resemble Galap Hakans oriental gear. Instead, she found herself in heavymetalarmour,notunlikeDregans.

Halt!Releaseher!With great fury, Koyasha leapt into the hall as a mans voice came the man whose memory she was witnessing. Unsheathing his sword, he readied himself against a pack of the mad mob. He was outnumbered by many folds that fighting them would be folly and yet there he was, ready forthedangersbeforehim.Theknightwasreadytolaydownhislifeforhisprincess.Chaos broke out in an instant. The rebels did not hesitate to engage this foolish warrior. Many of them were slain in that moment, but whatever skills the knight possessed did not keep him fromgettingoverrunbythesheernumbers.

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Down on the ground, exhausted and in pain, his sight hovered around as the wild cheers of the rebels echoed in his ears. Eventually, he saw Khalid approach him with a great warrior behind him,onewearingablackmaskthatKoyashaimmediatelyrecognizedastheExecutioner.There is great strength in this one. Azur will be pleased., Khalid uttered as the mute warrior towered over the fallen knight. The Executioner revealed a magical two handed axe whose darkenergiesseemedtoclawintotheknightssoul.With one swift stroke, the axe pierced his armour and agony seized the fallen knight. Yet, the onlyshriekheheardcamefromthewoman,Tulwara,ashisvisionfadedaway.Koyasha found