We found a nearby village with a stable and we boarded our horses in the stable. I walked around the area with Phoenix and Shira, asking around and getting answers on where the Moonless Fields were since the sandstorms messed up the map and hid the areas.
"Hrmm...These sandstorms only get more dangerous by the second and we may never get to the Storm Valley at this rate." Phoenix sighed.
"You kids looking for the Moonless Fields..?" A male said.
I looked back and noticed a masked man, who was wearing a white hooded cloak. The man carried two swords inside scabbards and bow on his back. I stared at the figure. "Who are you?"
"The name's Duradel. I've been traversing the desert for years. I can help you get to the Storm Valley. I can tell you are in need of getting to the location." Duradel said.
"Well...yeah. We have some important business to settle there." I said.
"Unfortunately, only women are permitted in Storm Valley. However, there's a way to sneak in if your mission is to speak with the Chief of the Amazonians. I know my ways inside the valley." Duradel said. "We have to travel on foot from here on out, unfortunately. The sandstorms will sweep the horses away."
"Alright. I'll go gather the team and we can get going." I said then hurried off.
Duradel stood there and noticed Phoenix staring at him. He looked at Phoenix and watched her as she studied him.
"Hm...Your energy seems pretty powerful. I hope you'll prove to be useful." Phoenix nodded then followed me.
"Master!" Mika smiled at me then held out an longsword in front of me. "I bought you a new weapon!~"
I looked at the weapon and smiled. "Ahh thank you, Mika." I chuckled and scratched under her chin.
Mika made happy sounds and smiled then giggled. She wagged her tail and her ears twitched slightly. "Master's praises make me happy!~"
I smiled and rubbed her head then noticed Phoenix running to me. I looked at her then she whispered something in my ear. I looked at her then nodded. I looked at the others. "Alright Team, we're gonna travel on foot from here. We have someone who can lead us."
"Who?" Gideon asked.
"His name's Duradel and he seems trustworthy. I didn't sense any bad intentions from him. We can trust him for now." I said.
"Duradel? The name of the Holy Hero of Regalia?" Takame asked. "Isn't he supposed to be dead?"
"Right, Shidao did kill him...but the people of Regalia have Divine Resurrection. That's how Lucius came back to life, but I'm not sure about Duradel...but he is here so it must be true." Serafina said then watched Duradel walk to us.
"Are you all ready?" Duradel asked.
"Yeah we're ready. Let's go." I said.
"Alright." Duradel nodded.
We all walked off and followed Duradel, who is our guide in Phoenice. We left the village and went back to traversing the Northern Emptiness.
"Shiryo, do you really trust this guy?" Esta asked as she walked beside me.
I looked at Esta and looked ahead at Duradel. "I don't really sense any ill intentions from him. If he gave me a weird vibe, I would've rejected help. I don't know. Do you think something is wrong?"
Esta held my hand and stood closer to me. "It's hard to put my finger on it...but it's just weird I guess. I just want you safe.."
I smiled at Esta and she looked up at me. "I'll be safe...If anything goes wrong, I'll be here to protect all of you."
Esta giggled and nodded. "I know you'll protect us..~"
Duradel looked back at us subtly then looked ahead, still leading us along the path to the Moonless Fields. As we travelled, a sandstorm began to form and Duradel used his magic to form a barrier over us so we wouldn't be affected by the sand.
The sandstorm ended and Duradel lowered the barrier. We continued forward and I looked around. The location was pretty true to its name. It was indeed empty other than the small village we managed to come across.
"Duradel." I said.
"Yes?" Duradel answered.
"You've travelled around Phoenice before correct?" I asked.
"Yes, I know my ways around Phoenice." Duradel said.
"What can you say about Phoenice? What do you know about the Chief of the Amazonians?" I asked.
"Well I can say Phoenice does have its similarities to ancient Egypt. Although the difference is you don't see many pyramids around like you would in Ancient Egypt, but there are more rock formations like Canyons and Summits here than there ever was in the past. As for the Chief, she's a beautiful Amazon. She is known as the Stormbringer and the Guardian of the Lightning Medallion as the previous Guardian went rouge and is now causing terror in the lands." Duradel said.
"What's her name and what does she look like so we know who to look for." I said.
"Her name is Kradia, and she's a woman with perfectly tan skin, green eyes, and long red and yellow hair. She also has this...very seriously sexy look on her face as well. A lot of sass on her." Duradel said.
Another sandstorm picked up and Duradel summoned his barrier around us once again.
"Ugh again?!" Freya groaned.
"These sandstorms don't seem natural anymore." Misaki said and looked around.
The sandstorm ended and a roar was heard. We looked ahead and noticed a pride of sand lions form around of us. We looked around and I summoned my longsword.
"Looks like an easy travel isn't an option." Duradel said an placed his hands on the handle of one of his swords.
"Let's clear the area quickly." I commanded.
"Right!" Everyone said.
We dashed into battle against the sand lions and they dashed towards us. I sliced one of them in land and they multipled into more sand lions. I was surprised and looked at them. I closed my eyes and my Crest of Magology shined on my hand. The lions roared and dashed straight to me.
"Shiryo!" Esta called out.
I opened my eyes and water surrounded my body and the lions roared, retreating. "You're not getting away.." I bellowed and generated a massive burst of water around the area and destroyed the sand lions.
Takame groaned as she was caught in a giant sand hand. She struggled to break out as the sand began solidifying. "Shi-" She couldn't finish her word because she groaned as she was getting crushed.
A woman laughed and she formed her body from the sand then looked at us. "Surprise..~ Looks like you all fell for my trap!"
More sand hands trapped my allies and solidified, making it impossible for them to escape. The woman looked at me and Duradel.
"Ragnarok...and Duradel. If you wish to see them again, come to the Kusaba Canyon. Our leader would like to have a word with you." The woman said then a sandstorm picked up. She laughed and vanished with Shira and the others.
"Quite the interesting predicament we are in right now. Looks like we are taking a bit of a detour. Follow me, I know where the Kusaba Canyon is." Duradel said then sheathed his weapon and ran ahead.
I nodded and followed quickly behind him.
Mom walked in the hospital room Hecate was behind held in. She noticed Hecate was awake and she looked her with happiness. Mom walked to the hospital bed and held Hecate's hand. "Hecate...how are you feeling?"
"I'm...Reina. We knew each other since we were kids." Mom said.
"We did..? Strange...I...I don't remember anything. Your name...sounds familiar however.." Hecate said then looked at their hands. She recognized the gentle touch from Mom, but couldn't remember Mom at all.
"It's okay...I am just glad that you're still alive.." Mom smiled and let Hecate go.
"I feel like I should know you..." Hecate said and looked down. "I know I've heard of you before...Reina.."
Mom looked at her then gently caressed Aunt Hecate's cheek and Hecate looked surprised. It was almost like this singular action sparked memories back inside Hecate then she grabbed Mom's hand. Mom noticed tears rolling down Hecate's face.
"Reina..." Hecate started and memories of Mom and her flashed in her head. She held Mom's hand tightly and softly cried. "Sister.."
"Cate." Mom smiled and teared up a little.
Hecate began to break down and cry softly. "I'm so sorry...I'm so sorry...I'm such a failure to the Serene name...I killed mom and dad...destroyed our kingdom and even...I even tried to kill your son...I don't deserve a second chance so why are the Deities giving me this second chance..? I should be dead, why didn't he kill me..?"
"Because that's not how I raised my son. I raised my children with the teachings of the Alpha Ragnaroks...The teachings of Lucius. Yeah it's a pacifist way of going about things, but...in the end it worked..~" Mom smiled and sniffled. "Knowing you were still alive from his voice, let me know...I taught him well."
Hecate looked at Reina and tears streamed down her face. "Why..? Why..?" She squeaked and slowly hugged her, burying her face into Mom's stomach.
Mom hugged Hecate back and rubbed her hair gently. She smiled and ran her fingers through her hair. "I still wanted you to rule with me, despite what our parents thought of you. They called you a monster, but to me...you were misunderstood, but me and Grandma understood you. They called you unstable, but I saw you as free spirited and able to express your emotions freely. They said you were unfit...but I saw you as fit to be by my side always. Even after everything, you're my sister...my blood...my everything."
Hecate looked surprised and her End Crest shined then shattered and all of her darkness disappeared from her body. Hecate held onto Mom tightly and closed her eyes, finally being at peace. She listened to Mom as Mom hummed Hecate's favorite song. Even after all these years, Mom still remembered her favorite song and Hecate hummed along.
After ending the song, Hecate let go of Mom and wiped her eyes. She smiled and looked at her hands. A heavy burden was released from her body. She looked at Mom and noticed her Crest of Peace shining.
"I have been blessed by the Deity of Peace named Bliss. It isn't enough to break the Curse of the End, but with his power...I can finally help my children and you. Peace is the key to ending this never ending battle between us an the world." Mom smiled.
Hecate looked at Mom then nodded. "Let's go help them."
Duradel and I made it to the Kusaba Canyon and stopped once we noticed a band of assassins and the woman with our allies trapped in rock cocoons.
"We are here! Let my sister and friends go!" I bellowed. "I don't want to have to use force!"
"Oh there will be no force being used...not while I have your friends in my grasp." A familiar voice said and chuckled softly.
I looked ahead and noticed a box and my eyes widened. "Fujo..?"
"What the..? How did he-" Alethea said in shock.
"You used my power to put him in Pandora and Endless Dreamscape. How is he here right now..?" Ain asked.
"Something isn't adding up." Minerva said.
"You're surprised to see me aren't you, brother?! Well I can say I'm surprised to see you still haven't kicked the bucket yet." Fujo laughed and the box around him shattered.
"He should die here." Ain said.
"No. He has Death Negation...that means...someone here is from the Void Dimension." I said.
"Good observation! That person...would be me!" A man said then walked up.
Duradel looked at the man and noticed who it was. "Well well...if it isn't Kieran, Guardian of the Dark Medallion."
Kieran has long black hair, purple eyes and wore demon armor with a purple torn cape. He carried with him a lance encased in dark energy. The Dark Medallion was in his hand.
The Light Medallion shined and I summoned it. It reacted to the Dark Medallion and I looked ahead, noticing Fujo taking the Dark Medallion.
"I've waited a long time for this brother." Fujo smirked.
"It's only been a week." I said.
"A week too long. You first betray me and then you seal me away! Heh...if you want your friends back, you'll have to defeat me in a one on one battle. Only then I'll release your friends and tell you why I'm here." Fujo said then summoned his spear.
I glared at Fujo and summoned my sword.
"Kick his ass, Shiryo!" Freya yelled.
"Yeah! Show him no mercy!" Serafina bellowed.
I got into my battle stance and Fujo got into his. We looked at each other then dashed to each other and bellowed.