Arran found himself standing in the center of an empty void, and in front of him was a massive mirror. Arran looked at his reflection in the mirror slowly before Arran's eyes; his reflection changed its hair, turning a pure white and the figure opened its mouth with was a gaping hole of swirling mist, black smoke, and golden fire. Arran shivered as the being spoke in a low grave tone "The last remnant of the Dra'ghoul bloodline seek the four blessed weapons of Azara
In interest, the glass broke and the smoke wrapped around Arran's arm, forming a black binding to encase his right arm. Arran wanted to scream but could not as a blinding blue and golden flashed in front of his eyes, condensing into long strands of red, blue, and black collected in his pupils. Arran tried to close his eyes but could not as images of people that were familiar but also not at all.
Ezra's face flashed in multi able periods as a boy, and then as a young man standing next to the figure in smoke, finally a blurry figure stood in the rain next to a gravestone alone
In an instant, Arran fell out of bed like he was pushed out " Arran is up!" Emma cried out as she turned to the light on in the pitch-black room in three in the morning.
Bastion walked in a bottle of Sunrum in his hand " Could he have waited until the morning to wake up?" Bastion said, placing the drink on the table and sat down in a nearby chair.
" Emma, go calm Arran down," Erikk said as he walked in. Tsuki following behind him and stood next to Bastion
" What happened?" Tsuki asked Emma who was consulting her brother; after a few tense minutes, Arran regained himself; he was silent and stared at Emma his eyes gazed over
" Arran, what is wrong!" Emma cried out as she gripped his hand, then instantly letting go; his skin was as cold as ice
Everyone in the room except for Tsuki was in a panic; she stood calmly, her gaze fixed on Bastion
Suddenly Arran spoke in a voice that was not his own, but an older man's voice Bastion froze the bottle of Sunrum he was holding fell to the floor. and glass shattered all over the floor
" First, Damion Vixen Evergraden is whom you must seek the father of Suzume Evergraden.
Secondly, seek the Dragon of Nevermores Tomb deep in the heart of the Broken Lands buried under the ruins of the fallen kingdom that lays waiting for its king to return the blade that defeated the darkness long ago rests and waits for its new master.
Lastly, a word of warning from a person who knows Tsuki
Kurio ame is coming and is allied with the Dyi'vera " Arran stopped and looked at Bastion, who had his blade drawn
Jason replied, " What, was I too dramatic?" Erikk nodded and said," just a little."
" Father, Leave the boy be." Bastion as Arran stood up and said, " My son, do you think I am about tampering with this quest because I am not. I want Arran to succeed because if Lupine wins, I stand to gain nothing. I gain more if Lupine losses." Jason Blackheart said
Tsuki stepped in between them and said, " Leave Demon Lord, you have delivered your message." Erikk could see her hand trembling in fear of what she had just heard
Jason replied, " No, I am not done. A set of hidden locks inside of Arran's mind have become weakened. Bits and pieces of memories that were his in a past time are coming back. I know not how to break them completely; the magic behind holding the seals closed is beyond even my power."
Jason stopped and looked at Bastion, who said, " Leave Father and do not interfere again." Jason replied, " I am just trying to atone for the mistakes I made in the past."
Tsuki nothing a tail of blood running down Bastion arm as he dug his fingernails into his palm to prevent attacking out of rage
" There is nothing you can do to atone for what you did to mother and me," Bastion cried out
Jason nodded " I hope you will forgive me someday. That is all I will say" as Arran came to and Bastion, in a fit of rage, stormed out
" Bastion," Tsuki said as he walked angrily out of the room. "Is he going to be ok?" Arran said
Tsuki nodded " yes, I will speak with him alone." she said as she followed Bastion down the hall calling after him
" Not now, I won't be alone!" Bastion said to
Tsuki stopped and replied, " If you want to talk, I am always here to listen." Bastion stopped a memory from long ago that he had buried resurfaced
It was the day of his mother's funnel as he watched her casket being lowered into the ground, the dark sky cracking with lighting like an angry god.
The only warmth he felt was from his friend Jessie Nexus " If you need to talk, I am always here to listen."
Tsuki called out to Bastion," you ok?" he paused, his anger lessening " yeah, I am fine. I will be back later." Bastion said as he walked away
Tsuki sighed and called out, " Be back by sunrise, or we will leave without you." Bastion gave a thumbs up and disappeared over the embankment
" Are we going to leave without him?" Erikk said as he walked up next to her Tsuki turned around and
Tsuki replied a tremble in her voice. " No, of course, not, My Lord,"
Erikk nodded. "I see now. You still see me as my father." looking at Emma's frightened face.
Tsuki shook her head and replied, " No, my lord, I would never be afraid of you." Erikk smiled and said, " I know why you fear me so much"
He motioned to the golden cuffs on her wrist engraved with the letter V etched in a dark red font inside of a flaming heart " You wear the sigal of the House of Vermillion. Tell me the truth, Kitsune, how long were you his slave?" Erikk asked, a look of worry on his face
Tsuki replied, " I wish I were a slave to him. Nine years I spent in that Hell as nothing more than a pet to him. A creature he kept for his entertainment."
Tsuki stopped her voice trembling with fear, anger, and sadness
Wiping tears from her eyes, Erik reached out to comfort her. Tsuki extended her claws and slapped away Eriks hand He put his hand back and put his hand on top of the three claw slash that ran down his palm.
'" I am so sorry! I just reacted on reflex," Tsuki said as she tore a strip of cloth off of her dress and carefully warped Erik's hand.
Erikk replied, " No, I should have asked first before I tried to touch you. I was unaware that you would react this way."
Tsuki nodded and said, "Having been Vern's plaything for nine years. I have developed over these nine years Chiroptophiba"
Erik nodded " You are afraid of being touched because of all the horrible things he did to you
Tsuki replied, " Thank you for the thought." she paused for a moment, then Erikk replied, " Do you wish to join us on the rest of the journey. You don't have to if you don't want to."
Tsuki nodded her thoughts, returning to those nine years she spent as Vern Vermillion's pet, how she longed to be free from his grip and to escape from the Hell she was in for the last nine years and to return to Erikk.
after a few minutes, Tsuki responded, " yes, I will join you."
Erikk replied, " good because I have a favor to ask of you." Tsuki looked at him carefully and said, " What is it?"
Erikk paused and said, " Arran and I saw the same vision yesterday. Arran may not yet understand the importance of what he saw ."
Erikk paused and tightened his fist " I understand enough, so tell me, Tsuki, what is the Multiverse Tree and what happens if it is destroyed?"
Tsuki did not respond for a moment; she spoke softly, " The end of all things and the rebirth of every Multiverse under the vial of Aza'dawns shadow."
Erikk was silent for a moment, then said, " I see, one last question, Arran may have heard it or even seen it, but Arran does not know its meaning. What is the Tower at the Beginning and End of all Things?"
Tsuki looked at him confused and said, " I don't know. I thought that it is only a myth lost to time." Bastion walked up beside them and said gruffly, carrying a large brown bag over his shoulder
Tsuki could smell a too familiar scent coming from that bag
" the Tower at the Beginning and the End of all things is no more then a childrens tale "
He paused and looked at Tsuki, who was staring at the streaks of freshly dried blood on his leg and the spots on his boots; her face had become dark and grim
" I went hunting last night." Bastion said, then paused " Is she coming with us?" he asked Erikk, who felt like punching Bastion in the face. but replied calmly,
" Yes, I am sure she does not need you to get her a horse if that is why you asked." Erik replied
Bastion smiled returned to the others who were waiting for them to come back. "Now that we are all together again and before we leave. how about I fix us a meal." Bastion said, placing the large bag on the counter closets to Tsuki
"What are you making Bastion?" Tsuki asked, her tone as calm as she could make it. An intense silence fell over the room while Bastion took out a full-grown adult Nightfox that was still alive but gasping for breath as an arrow had punctured one of its lungs.
Arran could sense the creatures fear and confusion. Bastion took out his blade and looked the creature in the eye as he let his arm down to strike
Emma cried out, "ARRAN STOP!" just as Arran, in a flash, leaped in front of the blade t and quickly grabbed the fox to shield its body from any fragments. as the blade shattered into pieces , silence fell over the room for only a moment as Emma ran over to Arran, who lay in a corner the fox next to him shivering in fear but unharmed. "Arran. please be ok!" Emma said as she saw that Arran's body was barely had a scratch on him by the blade, his skin a metallic green light shone from the interlocking metal plates on Arran's back that formed a type of organic shielding defensive reflex.
Bastion smiled a dark smile and said, " interesting, I never thought you would do something that reckless just to save a wild beast." Arran only looked at the scarred face of the Nightfox that he held cradled in his arms; he could feel her small furry body trembling with fear
" It is ok. I will not let anyone hurt you." Arran said as he gave the Nightfox to Emma, who wanted to stop him, but Erikk held her back
"No, this is not something you want to be involved in," Erikk said, a sense of worry on his face. He felt an intense aura of anger; rage from Arran and Bastion had a much darker aura around him. Erikk had seen this type of aura's in battle, and it never turned out good. "Arran, Both of you need to go outside and fight; it is much too dangerous to fight inside, and no weapons," Erikk said. Tsuki nodded as they all went outside The sky that shone with the afternoon sun was now covered by dark grey clouds that blotted out any light.
Both Arran and Bastion removed their shirts. Emma gasped as Arran's body was muscular like a true fighter. She noticed that the dragon tattoo covered his whole arm and blue spiral ribbons circled his body, stopping on his back, forming a three-ringed interlocking design.
" Your brother sexy," Tsuki said to Emma; normally, she would have slapped someone for saying that, but she also felt the same way. Bastion also had the body type as Arran
" Well, this will be interesting indeed." Bastion said Arran did not answer but extended his fingers into dragon claws.
In interest, the sky lit up with a mighty flash of golden lighting, and Arran leaped at Bastion, who whipped out his pistol and fired three shots one-hit Arran in the shoulder. Arran gritted his teeth powering through the pain and agent of the bullet wound as he delivered blow after blow; the image of the night foxes frightened eyes flashed rapidly in his mind with each blow
Bastion tried to block them, but they were coming rapidly; he could not keep up. "So this is the power that the Dra'ghoul bloodline possesses Bastion thought as his blood sprayed from the slashes that were all across his body
" Stop him, Erikk! Arran is going to kill him." Emma said to Erikk, who was unmoved by this. Emma huffed as she smacked him on the head " Not funny! Now go!" Emma said
as Erikk rubbed the back of his head and turned to Arran and Bastion " Oh no." Erikk said as a dark blue aura engulfed Arran, who rose high into the sky. Bastions body lay motionless on the ground, his body broken and scared
Emma watched helplessly as Arran rose higher and higher into the clouds, dark blue lighting encircling him. The lighting was so bright that it lit up the night sky as if it were daybreak. Arran shadow could be seen throughout all of Tylingariea
Vern Vermillion, a man known to never be afraid for the first time in his life he felt fear. He had heard of the Dragon of Nevermore and his great power a man to be truly feared.
At that very minute, Grand Master Xenoventaries opened his eyes as he heard the crackling of the cocoon breaking open
" Excellent, It is time; the Dragon of Nevermore has come back in a new body." Xenoventaris turned and saw Lupine fall out of the cocoon, his body covered in a green mucus.
Xenoventaris took Lupine to the cabin he was staying in that was nearby and kept him there until he was able to walk; then, Xenoventaris left a note saying to go to the top of Mount Vanholo to meet Kurio ame.
All down below watched as Arran let out an unholy roar that echoed through all the Multiverse; the sky was ablaze with blue, red, and golden lighting with stopped for only a moment as a massive beam of radiant blue light reputed from Arran's mouth and shot high into the sky destroying Zek'tar the watcher, the third moon of Tyingairea
Kai's gazed in awe as she stood atop a hill that overlooked the small town of Bailrook; as she watched in amazement, shock, and wonder, Kai's bent down in a position of prayer and clamped her hands together
" Thank Kara above a Dra'ghoul still lives, and they don't seem to be far from Bailrook." Kai's said, standing up and began to make her way towards the group
Emma fell to her knees as she watched the sky turn from a bright day to a dark red as firey chunks of the moon rained from the heavens. Arran floated to the ground encounters
"Well, that is exciting. Is Bastion ok?" Tsuki said
Erikk nodded, " Yes, let us get inside and wait for Arran to get up."
Across the galaxy in a small town in the Vextar system, Kurio ame sat alone in a bar, his glass of Solor beer in hand; slowly, he put it down and walked out of the bar even in the Vaxtar system, the beam of blue light could be seen
Kurio ame grinned and said, "Good, you have awakened at last." as he placed two fingers on his forehead and teleported away