Suzume woke up to the sounds of the swords clashing in the distance rubbing the sleep out of her eyes; she noticed that the sun had barely risen, and Arran was sparing with Lei.
"When did Arran get up?" Suzume asked Fumetsu, who was sitting on a fallen log overlooking the training, "Two hours ago, Lei and Arran were sparing."
Suzume looked at Fumetsu and asked him, " Is Arran training Lei because he is supposed to be the next wielder of the Wolfbanes Blade." Fumetsu was silent for a moment, then said, " Yes, But I think there is an alternative motive to this. I wish I knew what it was."
Lei's blade clashed against Arran's oncoming attack; the force of the block knocked Lei backward
" Good, Now you just have to remain focused just in case your opponent does a counterstrike!" Arran said as with lighting fast speed, Lei felt the impact of Arran's foot making contact with his chest as Lei was pushed backward, blowing the golden leaves that have fallen to the ground from the Golden Oaks by a single mighty kick.
" Arran! What is the Under-Hell are you doing!" Suzume cried out as she ran over in a panic to Lei and quickly used her healing magic to heal Lei. After a few minutes, Lei could to and caught his breath. " I am fine; thank you, Lady Dra'ghoul " Lei once said that Suzume blushed and said, " You can just call me Suzume."
Lei nodded, his face also turning red with embarrassment as he said, " Ok, I will." Suzume watched Lei walked quickly to Arran. But stopped halfway, his pointed Vi'tearin ears perked up, and a sly smile crossed Lei's face
The morning sun rose, and the oranges and reds of the early morning light pierced through the trees shining through the leaves of the Golden Oaks of the Kings woods, covering the ground in golden rays of light. Lei rapidly drew his blade and, with unimaginable speed, blocked Tala'rans oncoming attack with his twin blades
" Hello, Little Brother. It has been such a long time since you and I fought," Tala'ran said to Lei, who was doing his best to hold back Tala'ran's attack.
Lei replied as Tala'rans lost his grip on his twin blades, dropping them to the ground" That is true, Big Brother. But it seems like you have gotten weak without someone to train." Lei extended his hand and helped Tala'ran up
" Yes, you are right about that, Lei. I have not been training nearly as hard as I should have." Tala'ran said, picking up his swords and putting them back into his holster.
Suzume eyed Tala'ran suspect " You dropped your swords on purpose. But why?"
Tala'ran motioned for them to follow him " Follow me, and I will take you to Riverrock my sister Dive is waiting for you, Dragonborn."
Lei looked at Tala'ran and cried out, "Dive is still alive! Oh, thank the All-Mother." Tala'ran nodded " yes, but don't be thanking her just yet; before Dive goes, she wants to give her gift to Arran."
Lei paused and said hesitantly, " Is Niko still waiting for me to come back?"
Arran looked at Lei and said, "Who's Nicko?" Tala'ran quickly teleported himself and Arran far enough away to where the others could not hear them.
" Is something wrong, Tala'ran?" Arran asked, concerned there was a long silence before Tala'ran spoke
" Nicko Valentine was Lei's childhood friend; she was also a Terrain." Tala'ran paused and looked at Arran strongly
" Has Lei told you about why he left Riverrock?" Tala'ran asked. Arran shook his head and said, " No, we just learned that he lived in Riverrock, that his mother was a Vi'tearin, and Lei's father was a Terrain."
Tala'ran replied concern in his voice, " Nothing else?" Arran shook his head " No, why is there something that we need to know?" Tala'ran teleported them both back to the group
" Nicko left Riverrock some time ago." Tala'ran said as they walked deeper and deeper into the woods, " Tsuki. I need you to help me." Suzume said as she stumbled forward. Tsuki grabbed her before she hit the ground
Tsuki stood. Suzume spoke her voice freat with terror "Son'nahi Shikyo" { so much death} just then Suzume's eyes rolled into the back of her head, and her whole body fell limp onto the ground.
Arran and Tsuki took Suzume back to an area of the woods far away from where they were. Arran took off his Nightwolf jacket and placed it over Suzume, who they put on top of a sleeping mat that Tsuki had with her
" What is the matter with Suzume?" Arran asked; he placed his hand on Suzumes forehead and took it back " She is burning up." but was shaking like a leaf, her voice fraught with fear as Suzume both repeated the same phase
"Son'nahi Shikyo" { so much death}
Tsuki was silent for a few minutes " Suzume has the ability at times to detect the presence of auras due to her close connection with the Multiverse. There are times when Suzume has been near areas that have had an overwhelming amount of death that the Aura becomes too much for her to bear, and it makes her sick. But nothing like this to where she passed out."
Arran looked at Suzume then at Tsuki " How much death would have happened to cause this?"
" Genocide," Fumetsu said as he looked back at where they came from. "It can't be sure, but I have felt the overwhelming aura of a town fraught with death."
Tsuki began to realize what Fumetsu was talking about
Erikk placed a hand on Suzume's shoulder and said, " If what happened in Riverrock is anything like what happened all those years ago in Farcry..."
"Son'nahi Shikyo" echoed in Arran's mind as he traveled back to Lei and Tala'ran
Lei closed his eyes and took a deep breath, then speaking in a calm, restrained voice, "Brother, I will ask you only once, and I want the truth is Dive still alive?" Tala'ran nodded " Yes, Dive is still alive."
" Brother, Tell me the truth. Is mother waiting for me?" Lei asked
Tala'ran nodded his head
" Why did Suzume say there was so much death?!" Lei demoned
Tala'ran was silent
"Frater antenatus exaudi me!" { Older brother, answer me!"} Lei cried out Tala'ran did not reposed.
It was nightfall by the time that Arran returned from where he had left the others with Suzume.
Tala'ran leads them down a winding path towards the entrance to the asocloide area. Arran felt a great and powerful being that did not seem to be Terrain but Alien.
As Lei and Arran followed Tala'ran through into a dark hallway and a vast overlook. Lei did not believe, nor did he understand what he was looking upon. The once wondrous city of Riverrock lay in ruins. The majestic towers toppled onto the ground, the homes and shops that lined the street were nothing but rubble, and the mighty castle Vi'tear was a mere relic,
Lei drew his weapon "Tala'ran, From what you have shown me, Dive and Mother must be dead if not take me to them. Now!" Lei cried out, his face streaming with tears
" Magnus Frater is 'ana se vam?" { "Big brother, is that you?"} Dive said as she slowly walked towards them; her body was rapidly aging from a child to an adult woman in a matter of minutes
"Dive!" Lei cried out and ran to her side. "Parva soror quod factum est ad te?" { Little sister, what happened to you?"} Dive gripped Lei's hand and gave a weak smile, then said, " Tempus sit." { there is no time}
Lei motioned for Arran to come close to Dive before Arran had time to process what was going on. Dive clasped her hand around Arran's face, and an intense golden light engulfed Arran, who felt like his whole body was being taken apart piece by piece, and each strand of his DNA was being altered and then was being sewn back together with barbed wire
After what felt like days, Arrans's body became adjusted to the pain and could feel an icy chill come over him as in front of him stood a tall figure wearing golden armor, his face concealed by the shadow they stood on a barren desert landscape. The golden figure long entangled hair floated in the wind like a banshee. Arran could make out from deep inside of the golden figure shadow-like hood were a pair of Deep Red eyes that shone like the embers of a flame.
Arran tried to move away as the figure reached out his hand that was consumed in black fire. Arran could felt the warming flames wrap around his right hand
The being looked at Arran; his Deep Red eyes glowed brightly as he spoke in a low, gruff voice said
" Dragonborn, use this gift that I bestow upon you in the Multiverse greatest time of need."
Arran woke up suddenly and Looking around, and he found himself back at camp Suzume sat beside him " I was so worried about you." Erikk walked up next to Arran and sat down beside him
" I think this is the third time you nearly died," Erikk said
Arran replied, " What happened? All I can remember is Dive grabbing me, and then I saw g" From a ways away, Arran heard Lei cry out, "Matrem suam, prohibited!" { Mother stop}
"HE SPOKE TO YOU!" an older Vi'tearin woman cried; she was shorter than Lei with Warm grey hair he features made her out to be a feeble old lady, but that was not the case Erikk felt himself soaring through the air and onto the ground before he could react
Arran was confused at what was happening right now. Materem suam waits before you overwhelm the poor man." Lei said, walking up beside her and sighing a long sigh
"This is my mother, Hana." Lei said, turning to Arran and said sersily, " Did he speak to you?"
Arran nodded " Yeah, I think; why?"
Lei'quin replied, " Because it is most unusual for an Elden Lord to say anything at all. with is way we will not ask Arran what he was told unless Arran wants to tell us."
The rest of the day was spent package Erikk, Lei, and Fumetsu's bags to leave with Tala'ran for the Wolfkin temple while Arran, Tsuki, and Suzume stayed behind.
Lei watched Tala'ran as he removed his Vi'tearin blade and attached it along with a curved dagger to his belt. Tala'ran put a small silk pouch in his jacket pocket.
"What is that in your pocket?" Lei said to Tal'ran, who turned quickly to face him and replied, " It is just some rings I want to trade at Kings Crossroad before we get going to the Wolfkin Temple."
Erikk looked at Tala'ran said, " It is fine Kingscrossroad is not far from the Wolfkins Border, maybe an hour or two at best, and we should be able to get to Kings Crossroad by tonight; we stay a night in an Inn. Then I trade my rings, and we will go to the Wolfkin Temple."
Lei sighed and said, "Do we have a choice?"
Tala'ran shook his head
That night after Tala'ran and the others left, Suzume saw Arran sitting next to the campfire that was only burning coals examing the top of his hand.
"What is the matter?" Suzume asked Arran, who turned to face her and said, " Nothing, I was just looking at this scar that I found shortly after I came back from seeing that figure."
Arran showed Suzume his hand that had a scar that had three interlocking rings and in the center was an eye that was closed. Suzume has not seen any markings like this before.
"Do you think it has something to do with the Children of Azadawn?" Suzume asked
Arran replied, " I don't know. But since you would not tell Lei and I am quite curious, what did happen to Riverrock?"
Lei'quinn was silent for a moment, then said, " A Terrain that we trusted for many years turned on us and killed all, but myself, Tala'ran, and my wife are left of Vi'tearins. Lei had already left Riverrock."
.Arran paused as he felt a strange presence behind him. Arran turned around slowly and saw a tall girl wearing a pale green cloak that was over her Ash'send'dar made Jacket that was worn over her Kai'lagarin Armor Chest piece that concealed most of her Frost Blue skin that had runic markings that covered her chest and arms along with cuts and bruises
Weakly she looked at Arran said in a weak voice," Help me save my brother Dragonborn."
Talon placed his hand on Scarlett's knee as they rode on the couch through the Kings' Woods " What is the matter, my love?" Scarlett asked Talon, who was looking outside nervously
" Nothing, when my business here is finished, then you I can finally start the ritual to make you a true Nightwalker Queen," Talon said to Scarlet, who nodded. and said, " I thought I already was?"
Talon smiled and said, " Yes, You have the tile, but there is a ritual that must be performed so that you can become a Pure Blood Nightwalker Queen."
It was nightfall when they arrived at Castle Talon; several guards came out front and helped escort Scarlett inside while Talon waited for her to be out of earshot and turned to the captain of the guard
" Did you happen to get the girl as well?" Talon asked the captain of the guard, shook his head, and said, "No, she escaped but was wounded. I doubt she got far. The Nightwolves most likely have already ripped to pieces by now."
The captain of the guard began to choke as Talon glared at him; his eyes blazed with golden fire as his right hand twisted like a boa consider around the captain of the guard's neck as Talon spoke, his voice filled with anger and malice
"You worthless, useless, vile meat sack! You had prayed that the Kai'lagarin is not dead; she is worth more to me alive than dead. Unlike you," Talon said as the sound of bones snapping was heard, and the captain of the guard was dropped to the ground.
" You should work on that temper Lord Talon." Raja said as he appeared next to Talon, who looked at him and said frustrated," Took you long enough to get here, Ravenwalker."
Raja bowed before Talon, lifting his head and made contact with Talon's golden eyes " I am sorry, my Lord. I had a business to attend to before I came to see you."
Talon looked into Ra'ja's Wine Red-colored eyes and said, " Fine, But know that no one is to know that you work for me." Raja straightened himself and followed Talon inside " Not even your father?" Raja asked Talon
" especially not him." Talon replied as the two massive Dragon Iron doors slowly opened, " What about your beloved? Can she know of my presence?" Raja asked Talon
" Yes, It will work in both of our favors if you can assist her as well. One other thing Scarlett is with child, and you are to protect her and our children no matter what." Talon said
Raja bowed and said, " As you commoned my Lord. I will protect them with my life."
Talon smiled then said, "good, I will leave you to deal with the La'gar boy, do not kill him but only torture him until he tells me where the Rings of Light are"
Raja looked at Talon and said, " What use would you have of those?" Talon replied, " None, I just need them destroyed." Raja was confused by this
" But are they not unusable unless the Six of Legend are wielding them?" Raja asked. Talon nodded and said, " Yes, but they can be combined into one ring that has all of the powers of the six others that only a Dragonborn can wear and control its unimaginable power."
Talon's fist tightened as he said, " The Dragonborn must not obtain that kind of power."