Recent Content by Will

...the Different Heart and other parodies by Engulfed on YouTube?
I can't find them anymore and they were some of my favourites.
Were they deleted?

Have any been announced for this game?
I was at first skeptical about the inclusion of some of the Sony characters (e.g. Cloud, Squall, etc) because of copyrights or whatever but they were in Chain of Memories so maybe,,
Does anyone know if any FF characters have been confirmed to appear in 358/2 Days??

=]

This is the first of nine parts of the book I've been writing in my spare time. There may be a few mistakes but pointing them out to me will only help me even more. My friends who have read to seem to have enjoyed it, my english teacher has read it too and likes it, so I thought I'd share it with everyone here. You may even notice some themes from Kingdom Hearts. :O

((Not all the paragraphs have come out correctly, sorry! ]= ))

I would really appreciate critique.
(:













Angel Saga
The Winged Odyssey





-Prologue-

Millennia ago, there was a war between the god of Harmony, Anxo, and the God of Chaos, Apep.
They summoned thirteen angels and thirteen demons; who all fought valiantly, but the demons succumbed to benevolence.
The angels used the power of Anxo, to seal the demons away into the void between dimensions. A blank rift between worlds, inescapable by those with blackened souls.
The Prince of the Dead.
The Indiscriminate Powerhouse.
The Amorous Wildflower.
The Twilight Judge.
The Hoarder of Riches.
The Undying Blaze.
The Musical Malaise.
The Volatile Mockery.
The Lord of the Sea.
The Weather Commander.
The Raging Blizzard.
The Bottomless Glutton.
The Mind Twister.
This unholy arsenal was lost through the pages of time and the angels ascended unto the heavens and were eventually forgotten by the people of the world.
The continents shifted and, over time, changed shape creating vast lakes, wide oceans, raging rivers, towering mountains, smooth plains, lush forests, bubbling volcanoes, deep caverns. Many nations were formed, amongst them the magically diverse Tyra and the scientifically driven Rysk. Twenty years before this story, two groups of individuals disturbed holy grounds and thus broke the seal that bound the demons in the void between dimensions.
The youths, upon realizing the consequences of their actions, scattered to many corners of the world, their fates unknown.
Now, a club dancer, an incarnation of an angel, will have to utilize the hidden powers within her.
A stubborn thief and close friend.
An outcast scholar and sceptic.
A loving father with a warrior’s spirit.
A young soldier with the strength of ten men.
An apprentice healer, struggling to face his fears.
A creation intended to be a weapon.
This unlikely group of people must discover the dormant powers within them and confront the approaching darkness that threatens the small world of Velos.
Do not be afraid.
This is a story of good against evil.







Part One: Beginnings
Beginnings. The start of a forgotten chronicle. The first part of our story. Beginnings




“Imagination is the one weapon in the war against reality.â€
-- Jules de Gaultier







-1: Burlesque Gunshot-

Serafina quickly left the stage, blowing a kiss delicately to the spectators. She tip toed around the stage curtains and began to make her way to her dressing room. The only thing on her mind was resting. She had been on the stage for thirty minutes and the cramped, smoky bar was clearly having effects on her health. She coughed lightly and turned the doorknob, edging into her dressing room. She felt around the wall for the light switch and, upon finding it, flicked it on, and lay back on her ruby red chaise longue. She uttered a sigh of relief. She could finally rest easily as she knew she had made her wages for the week and could spend the rest of her time with her friends Luca and Candice. She shared the same mindset as the other girls who she worked with. The drunken patrons were unbearable after a while. Serafina preferred it earlier in the evening where she was serving drinks and talking to people rather than dancing with the other girls on stage. One thing she was very clear on was that the men should look, but never touch. She would never allow herself to be used in such a way; she chose to dance for financial reasons only. Despite refusing sex, she was no stranger to such encounters. Though she had had relationships with various men in the past, she had never found true love and it was always Luca she cried to in the end.
Three sharp knocks came from the door. She rose out of the seat. “Come on in…†called Serafina eagerly; leaning back once more. As soon as the door opened, a wide smile emerged across her face. It was Luca himself. He walked over to her dressed in a white t-shirt, tatty blue jeans and a leather jacket. He also wore fingerless gloves and black boots with white laces. The tips of his toes were splattered with mud from outside, staining his laces and discolouring them slightly. His clothes reminded her of rebellious heroes from the inspiring adventure novels she read when she was a young girl. “Hey you,†she said, flicking her hair back. “What did you get up to tonight?†She had always been interested in the jobs Luca and his friends did, even if they were illegal. They lived in the slums; Luca always said that stealing was the only way for anyone to keep on living in the slums of Ursalis. “Same old story.†he muttered. “You’d think the store owners woulda learnt by now. I swear, breaking in is easier every time,†he explained. Serafina walked over to him and put her hand on his shoulder affectionately. “You didn’t get hurt did you?†she asked him in a concerned tone of voice. He shook his head in reply. “That’s good.†She continued. “After all, you said I could join you next time, right? I wouldn’t want to see you get hurt…not one bit. It would worry me a lot you know.†She said. She removed her hand from his shoulder and turned around to face herself in the mirror. “Don’t worry about me. You should know that I can handle myself by now. It’s you I don’t want involved really.†Luca said whilst opening the dressing room door. “I’d be able to handle myself,†she said applying powder to her face. “You and Candice make it sound exciting. I just feel like I’m missing out sometimes…†Serafina said, turning away from the mirror and smiling at him. “Come on…let’s get you home.†Luca said opening the door for Serafina. She wrapped herself in a long coat covering most of her promiscuous showgirl-like gear. “You’re such a gentleman Luca!†she said giggling slightly.
Luca led Serafina through the corridors of the Starlight Saloon. The building was practically derelict and definitely subsiding. Cracks covered the walls like eternal Christmas decorations and the ceilings showed signs of leaking and damp. Luca led her to the back entrance and they entered the slums of Ursalis.
The alleyway was dark and cramped. From a distance, a jazz band could be heard playing at one of the other clubs where many of the poor men of the slums came and spent the little money they had on alcohol and women. Serafina had never left the slums as long as she could remember, but Luca and Candice had told stories about their raids on some of the upper class stores. Slum folk were not allowed to leave the slums on order of the castellan, Ricos Sylvari. He had been ruling the city of Ursalis for nineteen years, since his brother, Kynthos, passed away, and many of the people that lived in the slums were against him. Sylvari had burnt two of the other slum districts to the ground and told the towns people that this was his way of “cleansing the city†and that he was “working for the good of mankindâ€. The burned slums were apparently replaced by bathhouses and homes for the rich heirs. Every time Serafina heard about this, she was filled with images of gluttons with little care for the poor lounging around aimlessly, not having ever worked a day in their lives. Many people in the slums starved to death everyday and Sylvari did not care, it was an inhumane attitude and horrifying. This was in stark contrast to how Kynthos ruled as he truly did work for the good of humanity, but he died of an illness in his thirties and did not rule the city for long. Sylvari had introduced conscription and Luca had been a soldier in the army for a short time. He escaped the army and joined a gang of thieves named the Falcons that supplied Serafina and the others with food, money and life.
“Let me check if the coast is clear. Some of the soldiers may have tried to follow me here.†Luca whispered to Serafina. She nodded and closed the back door tightly while Luca walked up the alleyway toward the street. The air was somewhat chilling, Serafina especially felt this on her chest as the coat she was wearing had a low collar. She could feel goose bumps rising on her legs one by one. A hand touched her shoulder.
Serafina froze with fear but managed to slowly turn her head towards whoever had grasped her shoulder. There stood a man, all in black, wearing a balaclava with only his mouth and eyes visible. The eyes were yellowed and simply looking into them gave the impression of being stabbed by a thousand needles. The mouth contained yellowed teeth, stained with tobacco, even his breath smelt of cigarettes. “A girl such as you alone this late? My waitress, also the dancing girl…†said the voice, deeply and slowly. She tried to wriggle out of his arms but he just held her tighter every attempt. “Let me go, please…if you don’t I’ll scream louder than anything you’ve ever heard!†she threatened. “Scream! Scream all you want! Just consider this my tip to you,†his hands began edging closer and closer to her breasts. The attacker licks his lips and stared at her body. “LUCA! HELP ME!†she screamed. The shady man attempted to drag her deeper into the alleyway, deeper into hell. Luca peered around the corner and, upon realizing the situation, ran towards Serafina and her attacker grasping two pistols from their holsters underneath his leather jacket. Luca held the pistol against the attacker’s throat. “I’ll fire if you don’t let her go!†he yelled. “Sorry mate, I’m afraid I found her first…†The attacker said, and with his free hand hurled his fist into Luca’s face. “Luca!†Serafina yelled freeing herself from her attacker’s grasp. She ran over to Luca who lay, seemingly unconscious, on the ground. His mouth was bleeding and he was probably going to be left with a bruise for his trouble. He sat up and grasped one of his pistols, firing toward the attacker. The bullet, though aimed at his chest, hit him in the shoulder and blood seemed to spurt out of his body in a crimson fountain. The attacker yelled in pain. Luca fired another shot toward the attacker which seemed to be fatal. The attacker fell to the ground in a pool of his own blood. Luca took a deep breath. “Luca! Are you going to be okay?†Serafina asked frantically. Luca took another deep breath and looked up at her. “As long as you are safe, it’s the only thing that matters.†Luca tried to stand, and with Serafina’s help, managed to get back on his feet, trying to stagger out of the now nightmarish alleyway. Serafina supported him and linked arms with him as they waded out of the shark-infested alleyway and into the streets. “Luca…thank you.†Serafina said smiling, hugging him affectionately. “Let’s go home…†she said, with Luca still gasping as he put his guns back in their holsters.
Serafina and Luca wandered through the slums past shanty, subsiding buildings and heaps of garbage piled up against worthless scrap metal and empty oil barrels. The moon had been consumed by thick clouds and the stars were covered by layers of light pollution emitted from the buzzing streetlamps. They were not far from the bar they called home. It was called Cara’s Tavern and it was certainly the most pleasant place to be in the slums. The friendly atmosphere made everyone feel bright and cheerful despite whatever may be going on beyond the bar. Serafina and Luca were in debt to Cara, the landlady. She took them in after they were orphaned and as she had no children of her own, this was a godsend to the widow. She educated them, from arithmetic to thievery. Without her, they probably would have died in the slums as so many children did and still do. After walking a mile or so over the uneven pavements, they reached the tavern. Next to the door was an overflowing dustbin which reeked of meat and rotting vegetables. They entered the bar where a small band was playing. The three members of the band were tall and dressed in white and they looked almost identical. One played an upright piano while the others both played acoustic guitars. One of the guitarists had a makeshift microphone and began to sing a soulful blues song that made everyone in the bar tap their feet. There were a handful of people in the bar, many drinking beer, as it was the cheapest drink available and much safer than the drinking water. The people that came to Cara’s were much more down to earth than the ones that went to the Starlight Saloon. The saloon was more of a gentlemen’s entertainment club whereas Cara’s was a regular bar. The Starlight Saloon was nicknamed ‘the ‘loon’ by the people as they claimed crazy men gathered there. The floors were tiled with stone and the walls were wooden, almost like being inside a lodge. There was a gaping hole in the roof with a huge empty beer keg underneath it to collect rainwater.
Cara stood behind the bar soaking up spilt beer with her apron, but had not yet noticed the pair’s arrival. She was known for her kind and generous nature. She would let anyone that was too drunk to walk at the end of the night stay in one of the spare rooms and Luca, Serafina and Candice lived here with her too. “Cara!†cried Luca. The barmaid looked up from the counter and her face lit up as she saw the pair. She immediately came from behind the bar and walked over to Luca and Serafina. She held one of Serafina’s hands and brushed her other hand through her hair. “My! Your hair is lovely Serafina; I bet you’re glad I persuaded you out of cutting it!†Cara said with a chuckle as Serafina smiled. Cara then turned to Luca noticing the bruising on his face. “What happened to your handsome face? You getting in more fights?†she asked with a worried expression on her face. “Don’t worry Cara; I got hit by some pervert that tried to kidnap Serafina. I had to kill him.†Luca explained. Even though he admitted to killing a man, Cara barely reacted. The slums of Ursalis were dog eat dog; kill or be killed. “Well, I hope you hurt him. It’s really not a nice world out there is it, hm? I guess the important thing is that you’re both safe.†She said optimistically. “There we go Serafina! Luca went and defended you like that; maybe that romance I’ve been praying for will finally come true.†Cara said jokingly to Serafina, nudging her elbow with a chuckle. “I’m gonna start locking up once the band has played their last song. I made your beds for you. Candice just got back from Jonathan’s place, she looked awful tired.†Cara went back behind the bar and began stacking a pile of used beer glasses. Serafina and Luca walked upstairs towards their bedroom. Serafina, Luca and Candice all slept in one room that was very cramped and the three beds barely fit inside. They all kept clothes under their beds, most of which were sewn by Cara. The also stored any precious items under their beds too. As they entered, they noticed Candice asleep on her back with her hands in her blonde hair. She was dressed in a lilac tee shirt with a grunge design, a dark coloured waist jacket and black skinny jeans. It was clear that she had made little effort in getting any pyjamas on before bed and Luca and Serafina planned to do the same. They were scheduled to meet Jonathan in the morning to talk about recruiting Serafina and to start her training. Serafina was wondering what weapon she would be assigned. She was hoping for something with a long reach for that she would not have to put herself in danger by getting too close to the enemy and something easy to use. Candice’s daggers would definitely be a bad choice but pistols like Luca’s may work but she was still unsure. She went into the stairwell to change into a t-shirt rather than sleeping in her elaborate showgirl outfit. After putting on a t-shirt and shorts, she tucked her ‘uniform’ under the bed and curled up in the covers quickly drifting off to sleep.
Serafina, Luca and Candice. Little did the three of them know that this would be the last time that they would spend at night a Cara’s Tavern.



-2: Equipped With a Prayer-

The cracks in the roof let mere fragments of sunlight into the bedroom. Serafina rubbed her eyes vigorously and let out an enormous yawn. She was at one of those moments when she was not exactly asleep but she would not be considered awake either. After stretching every limb of her body, she stood up noticing that Candice and Luca had already gotten up before her. She tottered out of the bedroom and made her way down the stairs through the scarcely illuminated stairwell almost tripping on the last few steps. Cara was mopping up the bar before it opened up.
“Hey honey, sleep well?†asked Cara affectionately, refraining from mopping for a moment. “Pretty good, my legs kinda ache from all that dancing though.†Serafina replied with a smile. “Well I hear you’re quitting dancing now to go with Candice and Luca? You better be careful, it’s dangerous work thievery!†the barmaid said a little sternly. “You used to teach us, remember? Maybe you should join the Falcons too!†Serafina said jokingly. Cara howled with laughter. “At my age darlin’? You are kidding me! Why, I’m sixty-seven years old, can you imagine a woman I my age being that energetic? Climbing fences, fighting soldiers!†she chuckled loudly again. After they had both stopped laughing they took a minute or too to regain the breath to speak. “Did the thunderstorm wake you last night?†asked Cara. “No, I slept through the whole night.†Serafina lied. Sometimes she thought it was better to lie about little things like sleep and hunger as Cara had a tendency to worry about others too much. “Well…the only good thing that comes with the thunderstorms is the rain. I filled a keg and a half of water last night so that should last us quite a long time as far as washing goes!†explained Cara.
Luca and Candice stepped inside the bar. Candice handed Cara a brown paper bag full to the brim of food. “Where did you get all this good food from?†asked Cara with a shocked expression. She walked over to the bar counter and emptied some of the items from the bag. There were ripe fruits, colourful vegetables a packet of meat and some fresh fish. “We stopped by at the market and Mr. Reed said you could have them for helping him out last weekend.†Candice explained. Serafina remembered that Saturday night. Mr. Reed could not walk at all and was afraid that if his wife found out she would kill him. Cara, being the host that she is, made a bed for him and Luca carried him upstairs. It was nights like that that plenty of the men that owned the market stalls near the slum boundary would do anything for their wives not to find out that they’d been drinking. This often resulted in several early Christmases for Cara considering how popular the bar was. “You ready to go see Jonathan about you joining The Falcons yet?†Luca asked Serafina. “Yeah, but I’ll take a roll of bread for breakfast from our little goody bag!†she said walking over to the counter. She delved into the bag, sitting right at the bottom was a crunchy bread roll, and it was still warm from the oven. She picked small pieces of they roll and ate the pieces one by one. “You sure you wanna practise fighting in your pyjamas?†asked Candice.
“Oh!†Serafina laughed. “I only just realized. I’ll be one minute!†she said running back to the bedroom leaving Luca, Cara and Candice downstairs.
She slipped off her clothes until she was just in her underwear and then looked under the bed for something suitable to wear in the scorching weather. She picked out a red tank top and a pair of tight black jeans. She wore gold coloured bangles that Cara bought for her nineteenth birthday last month and some black boots she was given when she started her job at the Starlight Saloon. She brushed her hair that was long, dark brown and gloriously wavy. She hurried downstairs grabbing her backpack from the stairwell. “Ready?†Luca asked. “Ready!†Serafina said excitedly.
Serafina, Luca and Candice walked down the main street of the slums side by side. It was still quite early so not the streets were not busy and many of the people were probably still in their homes. “Can we stop by at the chapel for a while, please?†Serafina asked politely. “Alright,†Luca answered. The trio made a left turn at an intersection and walked down the street until they reached the chapel. From the outside, it looked very rundown. The paint was tattered and scraped off the sides of the walls and a vandal has tossed a brick through one of the beautiful stained glass windows, shattering its dignity.
Serafina grabbed the door handle and entered quietly, trying not to make any sound. Candice, an atheist, waited outside, whilst Serafina and Luca carried on. Serafina walked down the centre of the church, through a canyon of benches. Luca waited by the doors, leaning against the wall with little enthusiasm. Serafina was passionate about her faith. She followed the religion Velosism. According to Velosism, the world was made by an entity called The Creator. The Creator’s lover was a goddess named Shalom, whom Serafina was named after. According to the Veloi bible, The Creator and Shalom had two sons, Anxo and Apep. Anxo represented the good in people, whereas Apep symbolized evil. The brothers waged war amongst each other using squadrons of angels and demons and when Apep was defeated, Anxo sealed his demons in hell. The followers of this religion have prayed to The Creator, Anxo and Shalom in the hope that the evil of the past will never haunt the world again. They followed the teachings of their bible, never questioning it; like sheep led by the shepherd. Serafina genuflected and knelt down at the altar. She prayed inside her head. She prayed everyday. She prayed that she and her friends would be safe from harm. She prayed that one day she could leave Ursalis for a better life. She had always imagined herself living on a farm one day and tending to the animals. It was a picture perfect dream for her. After living in such bad conditions under such a notoriously vicious leader, it did not seem corny to her at all, even though Luca made fun of her for it. After she had finished, she got back up and met Luca by the door. They went back outside to meet Candice and the trio began to make their way to Jonathan’s house.
Serafina was overrun by curiosity of what could possibly happen while she was with Luca and Candice. She had not been this excited for a long time. “So…what can you tell me about the Falcons?†Serafina asked. “Well…we’re one of the most infamous groups of thieves in Ursalis. We mostly raid richer stores in the upper-class districts of the city. Not too near and not too far from the castle.†Candice explained. “Don’t even get me started on that eyesore!†yelled Luca. “Here we go again…†Candice said sighing a little. “Hey! I have a reason to be mad. It’s Sylvari’s fault none of us can leave here!†shouted Luca. “We can’t even leave the slums, never mind the city, without being labelled as criminals,†It was these outbursts that made Serafina so sad. She knew that her parents were dead; that was a fact. Cara had told her that a man had found her and bought her to Ursalis as she was found relatively close to the city. This was before the slums appeared however. Sylvari announced to everyone that people in the city were conspiring against him and most of these people ‘happened’ to be poor and were forced into slums and shantytowns. She could not understand it at all. His impulsive decision making to murder and destroy lives boggled her mind. She tried not to think about it and just tried to enjoy the warm weather and the day ahead of her. “Hey Candice, don’t you feel stupid leaving Buroq to come to Ursalis just to end up in the slums.†Luca asked Candice. Serafina and Luca were both unsure about Candice’s past, she was the type of person who kept herself to herself and never asked for help. They could barely ever tell what she was thinking. “The only reason I ended up in these slums is because I had no choice. I was desperate; I had nowhere else to go…†Candice explained. She began to stray from Serafina and Luca to avoid any more, of what she deemed to be ‘unnecessary’ questions.
They arrived at the house of Jonathan Datona. Once an arms dealer he was forced into the slums after he was found to be aiding the resistance groups sixteen years ago. It was one of the larger houses in the slums but it was still falling apart. The ground all the way around the house was littered with what seemed to be broken roof tiles and the walls were covered in a web of deep cracks. A note was nailed to the door reading:

“Luca, I’ve had some business to take care of. I’m not sure when I might get back home. Feel free to let yourself in with my key. You know where it’s hidden.
Jonâ€

The letter was attractively signed ‘Jon’ with a tea stain and several misspellings of the word ‘business’ crossed out. Luca ripped the note from the door and placed it in the pocket of his leather jacket. He grabbed the house key from inside a small gold bell by the side of the door. He inserted and turned the key and with one forceful push managed to get the door open. They all entered and Luca closed the door behind them. The house was made up of three rooms. There was a living room, an office and a small kitchen. The toilets, like for most slums houses were outside and shared by several homes. The rooms were painted a bright yellow. It was the kind of colour that lit up a field of daffodils in the spring. The living room consisted of a tatty looking leather armchair with a matching footstool. On top of the footstool was a newspaper from outside of the slums and there was an ashtray on top of it.
“Are you ready for training?†asked Candice.
“She hasn’t chosen a weapon yet.†Luca stated walking towards a bookcase cluttered with photo albums and war novels. “What do you suggest?†Serafina asked enthusiastically. “You could choose…†said Luca. He flipped over a book on the shelf and a loud clicking noise was heard. Using a small dog statue on the bookcase as a handle, Luca opened the bookcase like a door that led to a staircase descending into the basement. “After you…†Luca said politely with a grin.
Candice went down first, followed by Serafina with Luca behind her. When they reached the bottom, Candice flicked on an electric lamp. The shroud of darkness was lifted and Serafina could not believe her eyes. Upon the walls there was a collection of swords, knives and daggers all arranged from longest to shortest from left to right. There were two boxes in the corners of the room. One of the boxes contained an assortment of firearms whilst the other contained a variety of ammo. Leaning against the wall were four javelins next to three chain whips of different lengths that were hung on the wall. Jonathan manufactured and collected weaponry. In his younger years, he ran away from home in search of adventure. It was then he met his friends of several years whom he had travelled with. One of them was weapons manufacturer Tecsha Arnold from Rysk of whom he was once quite fond of. “Well, what do you think? Any ideas yet?†asked Candice as Serafina looked around, fascinated by every object in the room. “Well…I guess it would depend on what would be light for me to pick up and use easily.†Candice shrugged but Luca moved towards a closet and opened it wide. “In here are all the strangest weapons,†he said. “How about this?†he passed her a weapon known as a nunchaku or ‘chain sticks’. As the name described they were two sticks connected by a chain. The sticks had iron bolts attached to each end. They were made in the city of Oreola and the Okanwa islands, which were both destinations to the north of Ursalis. “No! Do you have any idea how dangerous those are? They can damage the user, especially someone as inexperienced as Serafina, they take years to master, put them back.†Candice explained. She reached inside the closet and fetched out too metal rings with handles in the middle of them. “Ah, yes! These are called chakrams and they’re made in the Hija Deserts to the south. They’re light and easy to use and you can dance with them and still cause destruction. Try squeezing the handles.†Candice said passing the chakrams to Serafina. Serafina held one of the chakrams in the air and squeezed the handle. The iron strip around the rings shot out and formed an incredibly sharp razor. “This could be fun after all!†said Serafina excitedly.

-3: Razor Rings and Secret Things-

“I can’t believe it…twenty years since that day…†said a man. He smoked a cigar blowing smoke rings all around the park. He lay back on a bench next to a woman about the same age as him, putting his arm around her. “Don’t touch me!†she said slapping him. “No fighting you two…†said a second woman who was standing up nearby. “I was wondering when you would show up…are any of the others coming?†the first woman asked her. “I’m not too sure…†replied the second woman. They saw a tall man walking towards them dressed in a worn red shirt and tatty trousers. “I hope this is important. I had to leave my children to come here…†he said. “It seems the demon king has finally made his first move. My contact tells me that the leader of this death trap of a city has purchased an armada of warships and plans to invade Oreola up north…†the first man explained. “Why there? And why has he been waiting so long?†the second woman asked. “This does not concern me. I have no reason to be here…†the second man said walking away. “Earl! What about Madeline and Robert?†cried the first man. Earl turned around and said: “Even if I was to take revenge on that demon scum, it will not bring them back, Jonathan…†he said, continuing to walk away. “I remember what you told me all those years ago ‘no one has gained anything by dwelling in the past’. Is that what you’re doing now Earl?†the second woman asked him. “Many things have happened since then Cara. I’m sure Madeline would not want me to risk my life fighting demons. I cannot risk dying and leaving my children without a father. The demons won the day we broke the seal twenty years ago. Neither I nor those children you’re training stand a chance of winning against them. It would be a waste of lives.†Said Earl, still walking away. “That’s Earl for ya…promise you’ll think about it for us!†yelled the first woman. Earl raised his hand slightly as he walked away as if to say he would. “So, that leaves three of us. Tecsha, what’re your plans?†asked Jonathan. Tecsha, the youngest of the group lay back and crossed her legs. “Well I’m still working on some private projects back on Rysk. To be honest, I’m more than willing to help you out…†she stretched and stood up. “See you around…†she said. She abruptly burst through the air, leaving a trail of smoke behind her. “It seems she’s still quite the inventor…†said Cara. “I guess it’s just the two of us for now. We’ve got no choice but to send the kids. We can try to persuade Earl another time…†Jonathan said as he took another drag of his cigar. “I’ve got my own doubts too. If the kids died, I would have nothing left anymore. If you’re going to take them with you to the castle tonight I want you to remember that…†said Cara lowering her head in worry. “Hey, you ain’t supposed to say things like that…†said Jonathan as he hugged Cara. “I better go back home. Tonight’s very important for us, I wanna be prepared. Luca’s probably waiting for me. See you soon Cara…†said Jonathan leaving Cara on her own.
Cara, alone in the shanty park. The trees had been shrivelled from the lack of sunlight and Cara began to feel this in herself too. She had lost her husband, Robert, after he went insane and was imprisoned for trying to escape the city. She had lived on her own for a few years after that. She had found Luca on the city boundary when he was a baby. His parent’s whereabouts were completely unknown. Serafina was bought to her by her uncle, Earl, after her parents were killed, but Earl never exactly explained the circumstances. Cara never revealed to Serafina that she had an uncle. This was because Serafina’s impulsive attitude would give her no choice but to track him down and Earl did not want her involved with him. Candice had made her own way to Ursalis as a teenager explaining that her mother was killed and she had no one else. Cara was at first unsure whether to care for a third child but Jonathan strongly suggested that she should. Cara got up off the bench and started to walk the short distance back to the tavern. She knew that if Jonathan did not return to the tavern with all the children that she would never forgive him.
After deciding to use chakrams as her weapon, Serafina went outside to train on Jonathan’s small lawn. She stood in the middle of the lawn taking a deep breath. She held the chakrams tightly, but not enough to release the razors. The wind blew through her hair and she began to spin and dive and turn and twirl. With every deadly movement of her arms, she felt power rushing through her body. She stood on a tree stump and continued to spin. She threw one of her chakrams watching it fall through the air, landing upright on the grass. She took another deep breath and placed them in her bag carefully. Luca appeared in the garden clapping. “Very good Serafina…†he said laughing slightly. “You better not be making fun of me or anything…†Serafina said frowning but Luca just continued to laugh. “Come inside, Jonathan just got in and wants to talk to us.â€
Serafina and Luca went back inside and stood in the living room. “I’m in here!†Jonathan yelled from the office. He sat on a reclining office chair with his hands behind his head. He was in his late forties with his hair already going grey and thinning slightly. He took a drag from his cigar and lay it down in the ashtray in front of him, releasing a ring of smoke from between his lips. “Hey Luca, you won’t believe what that ******* Sylvari is planning!†Jonathan turned around in his chair shutting the blinds behind him. “These slums, they aren’t safe anymore. That ******* is going to burn this place to the ground, and taking us to our graves with it!†After he said this Candice entered, obviously overhearing the conversation. Serafina, Luca and Candice looked at Jonathan in shock. Their home would be destroyed, for seemingly no reason. “This can’t be! Wh-why?!†bellowed Luca. “I’m glad you asked! This part, I could not believe!†Jonathan took another drag from his cigar, blowing out another smoke ring, and stood up leaning forward on the desk with his hands face down. “Sylvari is trying to build an empire! My contact at the castle told me that he is planning to invade the Oreola peninsula and the Okanwa islands. He recently bought an armada of ships from Arc, to the east…we’re all done for!†Jonathan yelled, vigorously tapping his cigar on the side of the ashtray. “He can’t do this! This isn’t possible! Just…why?†asked Serafina frantically. “He’s clearly gone mad with power…†Candice said rubbing her face in concern and tapping her foot. “Damn that Sylvari he always-†Luca was interrupted by and loud bang at the door.
“Open up! We’re armed!†shouted a voice. Soldiers on patrol must have overheard the conversation. “Shit!†yelled Jonathan standing up and walking over to the door. “Just a minute pal!†he said to the soldier waiting outside. “We’re gonna have to kill all of them, no witnesses must report back to Sylvari.†Jonathan whispered to Serafina, Luca and Candice. “I’ll get them from the back!†said Candice retrieving her twin daggers and running towards the lawn where Serafina had practised. Jonathan mouthed to Serafina and Luca that he was going to open the door. He then abruptly opened it revealing five soldiers outside. Luca launched a kick through the air that knocked two of the soldiers that were closest to the door to the ground. He ran a distance away from them and began shooting. Serafina ran out and distracted one of the soldiers that began to chase her through the streets but she just kept running. Candice leaped from the roof and landed (in healed boots) on the soldiers that Luca had knocked over with his kick. Candice attacked one of the soldiers from behind trying to strangle him with her daggers but the soldier threw her to the ground and kicked her until she stopped moving. Blood trickled down her face but she sat up and performed a sweep kick that knocked the soldier off his feet and onto the ground. She finished him with a stab to the chest. However, Luca had run out of ammunition. Jonathan threw another round but it fell in a drain nearby. Improvising, Luca ran up to the soldier and began punching him so hard that dents formed in his armour. He hurled his fists towards the soldier’s face, successfully knocking him out. These four soldiers had been taken care of. Only one remained.
Serafina continued to run from the soldier pursuing her. She tried to keep turning corners to lose him, but he was gaining on her…and fast. She took a left turn into the marketplace, but the crowds, just made it difficult to manoeuvre. She took a right into an alleyway only to find more soldiers on the other side of the alleyway. With the soldier behind her gaining fast, she was trapped. The soldiers in front of her began yelling and running towards her and the soldier that followed her through the market now had accomplices. “Leave me alone!†Serafina yelled. They began to close in on her, but Serafina began to feel strange. She concentrated hard, praying that they wouldn’t hurt her, pleading to some divine entity or guardian angel. Her eyes began to glow purple. “You’re coming to the castle with us girl!†yelled one of the soldiers. Serafina remained motionless. She stood there, with shining purple eyes. “Away!†she bellowed and she became a human fireball covered in strong purple flames that engulfed the closest soldiers. She screamed loudly and took out her chakrams from her pockets. She immediately released the razors and began spinning like an uncontrollable cyclone. Dust spread in all directions from her feet upwards, blanketing her in a shroud of dirt. She span aimlessly into one of the groups of soldiers. The smell of burnt fat lingered in the air, but Hurricane Serafina was dying down. She began to spin slower and slower. The flames around her dying out and she collapsed on the floor. The remaining soldiers, horrified by what they witnessed cautiously picked her up and took her towards the castle. After thirteen years of searching, they’d finally found her.

-4: Speeding for Serafina-

Several hours had passed since Serafina’s disappearance. The sun had set and Jonathan and Candice had returned to Cara’s Tavern and sat to discuss plans. Candice sipped a cocktail of several sharp liquors including fruit schnapps and gin and tonic. Jonathan drank a pint of ale and sat smoking another cigar. Luca entered the bar with a concerned expression on his face. “Still no sign,†He said taking a seat with the other two. “So…what next?†asked Candice taking another sip from the cocktail. “Ha! We’ll get into that castle and find Serafina!†yelled Jonathan hitting the table. “Yes! Anything for her! We need to get her back and then we can all flee this city!†said Luca whereas Candice rolled her eyes. “That’s right! We’ll just storm into the castle and get killed! Have you lost your minds?†she asked with a mixture of sarcasm and panic. “Calm down girlie!†said Jonathan. He pulled a map from his pocket and unfolded it. “This is our key to get inside!†he said with pride. “A…map of the underground waterways?†asked Candice with intrigue. “I’m impressed Jonathan, maybe we could pull it off…if it wasn’t for the army!†Candice said. “You don’t quit easy do ya?†asked Jonathan belittling Candice slightly. “I set up some explosives around two weeks ago when we were going to raid the treasury. They are on the drawbridge at the front of the castle and can be detonated by a button that I’ve got with me right now.†Jonathan explained, taking out a small black box with a tiny red button on it. It was the kind of button that was yelling “PRESS ME, PRESS ME!†at you.
The plan was decided. They would traverse through the castle waterways and when they were ready to enter, Jonathan would detonate the bomb, which would not only be the ultimate distraction, but it would also stop any more soldiers from entering the castle. They’d use two motorbikes that Jonathan had in storage. Jonathan would ride his own while Luca rode the other with Candice on the back. Such technology was very rare and expensive, but Jonathan told them he managed to get them from his friend, Tecsha, who lived in Tenton, a small town on the Rysk Nation to the east. Ursalis, Buroq, Oreola, Arc and Altyra were all settlements on the Tyra Nation whereas the Rysk Nation had locations such as Scandav, Balvur, Tenton and Rysysk. There were also many other nations but many considered Tyra and Rysk to be one nation as they shared an illustrious history and were connected by the Versus Highbridge. There were many islands too such as Galicia, the floating iceberg and Volcen, a settlement built on an extinct volcano.
They hopped on their motorbikes at end of the main road leading out of the slums. The bikes were ocean blue with two large headlights. The whole bike was polished silver, which shimmered in the moonlight. The castle consumed the horizon, with light shining from it. “You ready for this sonny?†asked Jonathan as he threw Luca the keys. “Definitely.†He said immediately. “What about our chips?†Candice asked. When the slums were set up, everyone living in them had microchips embedded under their skin in their chest that would alert castle security if they tried to leave the slums or the city. They were being tracked like animals. “Don’t worry about that! No one that messes with us will live to tell about it. And we can delete any record of our chips once we get to the castle.†Jonathan said with much confidence. “Let’s go already!†yelled Luca.
He quickly inserted the keys and turned them, starting the engine. He drove forward and his speed began to soar. The wind blew through his hair, he felt truly invigorated. They would eventually reach the gigantic wall, which divided the slums and the rest of the city. A massive wooden gate separated the two districts; the rich and the poor. “Jonathan the gate!†shouted Luca. “Just before you reach the gate, press the silver button!†he shouted back. Luca nodded and they drove closer to the gate, now reaching phenomenal speeds. Candice held on tighter and tighter every inch. The gate was coming up faster. Luca had to make sure he pressed the button at exactly the right time. The gate was even closer. Luca concentrated harder. Candice held tighter. The gate was very close now. “The button, now!†Jonathan bellowed. Luca pressed the silver button, a strange force field covered the motorbike, and they burst through the gate unharmed. “What kinda bike is this?†Luca called out to Jonathan. “No time for that! We got company!†yelled Jonathan swerving onto another road. Luca and Candice were left with two jeeps following them through the streets of Ursalis.
“A motorcycle with defences like that must have some kind of weapons.†She shouted over the roaring engines. “Try the red button!†she yelled. Luca pressed the red button on the handles and blue flames shot out of the exhausts and they accelerated faster, outrunning the pursing jeeps. “That’s good enough…†Candice muttered. They were fast approaching the castle. Ant-sized soldiers on the roofs of the buildings tried to fire at them with machine guns but every bullet missed; the speed of the motorcycle was incredible. They reached the castle, hastily jumping off the motorcycle and rushing towards the drawbridge. Jonathan had pulled up just afterwards and he ran after them. “The moat!†Jonathan bellowed jumping into the moat. Luca and Candice leaped into the water, Candice on the left and Luca on the right.
They swam down, down, and down, deeper and deeper until they reached a small opening. The opening leaded to a submerged staircase. The three of them swam higher until they reached the top of the staircase and could float to the surface again. “That was amazing!†yelled Luca. “This is a covert operation…†Candice said sighing. “No time to lose! The chip control room shouldn’t be far! We’ll disable the computer that is tracking our chips and plan our next move!†they began to explore the waterway. They trampled through waters ten inches deep in almost total darkness, guided only by powerful torches that Jonathan had provided. The stench was unbearable and with every step, an unpleasant squishing noise could be heard.
Meanwhile, as her friends began to search for her, Serafina woke up in an opulently decorated bedroom. She lay on a four-poster bed with soft, silky green bed covers. The walls were decorated with cream and gold paint and the carpet was soft and possibly made of animal fur. “Eugh…where am I?†Serafina groaned. A palace attendant entered the room. “You are the dancer correct? Serafina Kamura is it?†he asked her. He was dressed smartly in a black suit and tie. “Yes…yes I am.†She replied. “Where am I?†she asked confused. “This is one of the guestrooms of Ricos Sylvari’s castle. You must come with me. I am Sir Droverson, adviser to Sylvari. The castellan has a proposition for you. I think you may be in great danger…â€

-5: Tracked Like Animals-

Luca, Candice and Jonathan were approaching the security office that contained the records of everyone in the city. Rich or poor, male or female; they were on the database; every single person was being tracked. “After we leave the security office we won’t be far from an entrance leading into the servant’s quarters.†Jonathan explained, holding the map in front of him, following the intricate water channels with his finger as he spoke. “I guess this is it.†Candice said, quietly walking up to a rusted door with a sign reading ‘Security Office’.
Luca stepped in front of the door and, with an almighty kick; the door flew off its hinges. Three technicians were inside. “Please! We beg of you, don’t hurt us!†said one of the technicians. He was around fifty years old with silver spectacles and fiery red hair. “Get lost wimps!†bellowed Jonathan and the three old men ran out of the room.
In front of the three, was a large computer screen with all manner of electronics ticking and clicking around them. “Now we can let our technician handle the rest of the work.†Luca said. Candice sat down on the swivel chair in front of the computer and gave Luca a thumbs-up. The other technicians were already logged into the system so code cracking was unnecessary. In front of them was every person that had ever lived in Ursalis, dead or alive. Choosing a person’s number would bring up their details including birthday, medical history, gender, age and physical attributes that made up the person. “Before I wipe the system we could use this to find Serafina…†suggested Candice. She opened a search box and typed the name ‘Serafina Kamura’. Only one result appeared and Candice clicked it to view Serafina’s details. “This is weird. It seems that she doesn’t have a chip.†Candice told them. The onscreen map became corrupted. “The only things I can find about her are…hmm…†she began to scroll down Serafina’s details. “Age: 19. Status: Presumed alive…that’s all there is. The other profiles contain a lot more information…†explained Candice. “Damn it. So we have to search the whole castle?†asked Luca in frustration. “It looks that way. I’ll begin wiping the system data.†said Candice. She went into a preferences menu and chose to wipe the data. A bar appeared across the screen with a percentage that increased with time, the system had been wiped after a few seconds. “Let’s carry on. According to the map we go through one last room before leaving the waterway and entering the castle.†Jonathan explained. The three of them entered the corridor again and continued to the next room.
An eerie calmness radiated from every square inch of the room. Suddenly a speaker wailed in the top corner of the room. “Sorry, but you have come too far. We’ll have to dispose of you before the castellan finds out. My apologies to you all.†It was the voice of the red-haired technician. “A trap?†Candice muttered. Luca ran towards the door at the other side of the room that supposedly led to the castle. He tried to open it, but the door would not move. “Open!†Luca tried ramming the door a couple of times, however both attempts failed. Out from the streams of the waterway crawled a hideous beast. It strongly resembled a frog or a toad. It was coated in a thick gooey exterior and brown slimy skin. Its breath smelt of what could only be described as a mixture of both rotting flesh and sewage. There was a bulky pile of spawn stuck to its back, which looked like one thousand eyes peering back at the three. The creature leaped in front of Jonathan and shot its tongue around his neck attempting to strangle him. Luca grabbed his pistols and shot its back, with frogspawn being caught in the firing line. The creature released Jonathan dropping him on the ground where he lay unmoving. It was now fixated with Luca, stalking his movements. The spawn that was shot burst open revealing smaller versions of its parent. The creature was about to leap onto Luca, but Candice climbed onto its back, stabbing it continually in its eyes. Blood covered the beast’s face and it was left without vision, but continued to swing its tongue around, hoping that someone would be caught in the net of saliva it emitted from every taste bud. “If I could cut off the tongue the blood loss could kill it!†yelled Candice. “I could distract it but you’d have to act fast!†Luca yelled back. Candice nodded. Luca shot a single bullet from his gun at the overgrown toad and it approached him, hurling its tongue at him. “Now!†Luca cried, in fear of being swallowed completely. Some of the smaller frogs that burst from the frogspawn were jumping onto Candice and were sticking. Their tongues released some sort of acid that began to burn the technician’s skin. “Hurry!†Luca bellowed. The toad began to tighten its grip on Luca’s throat. The pain was so intense that Candice could not move; this left her with one option. She clutched one of her daggers and tossed it towards the tongue. Miraculously the dagger hit right on target. Blood rained down on them like an out of control hosepipe. The babies released themselves from Candice and Jonathan and began to eat their parent’s body.
Luca ran over to Jonathan. “Wake up buddy! Are you alright?†he asked with considerable concern. The motionless man opened his eyes, slowly and cautiously getting back onto his feet. “Well, thanks for nothing kids.†Jonathan said sarcastically. Candice shrugged. “If you had a weapon you could have helped us!†she said walking towards the next area. Jonathan chuckled and pulled out the detonation button from his pocket he quickly pressed the button and a huge crash was heard from what seemed to be a few miles back. The three decided to head for the higher floors of the castle in hope of finding Serafina.
“There’s something you kids should know…†Jonathan said ceasing movement and breathing heavily. “Can it wait?†Luca asked with angst. “It’s important that you know…†Jonathan said sincerely. Luca and Candice stopped walking and listened to Jonathan. “Twenty years ago today, five of my old buddies and I were up in the mountains over on Rysk near the lost city of Kurat-Linn. We were all young thrill seekers. We decided we would see the world before we got old. Myself, my old girlfriend Tecsha Arnold, my pals Earl Kitcher and Robert Clyde, Earl’s fiancé Madeline and an ex-soldier Kenji Kurosawa. We were all very close friends. When we went hiking, we found some extraordinary ruins. I was always the type of person that would just run into a dangerous situation and that’s exactly what happened. We set off some kind of booby trap and we found ourselves surrounded by strange bird monsters. We defeated them swiftly but then realized that fog was forming around us. We fled in absolute terror, narrowly escaping death. We later found out that because of our reckless actions we had released a multitude of demons that once plagued the world centuries ago. We all scattered and rarely contacted each other since. Robert was Cara’s husband. We both noticed a change in him since that day. He started to go mad. He would scream into the dead of the night and chant incantations as he slept. He drew strange images all over the floors of the Ursulan plaza and tired to escape; they arrested him. He was…executed some days later. Cara lost her husband, I lost my best friend. I’ll never forgive myself for what I did!†Jonathan shouted. “Sorry to be insensitive, but what of the demons?†asked Candice. “The demons? Ha! One of them is in this castle! Sylvari! He came to power nineteen years ago. It’s rumoured he killed his own brother to achieve his leadership. Well…I say he did it, but I really mean the demon inside of him.†Jonathan explained. “So you’re saying there’s something inside him that controls him…†asked Luca scratching his head. “Exactly right! Demons don’t usually have any interest in your run of the mill slum dancer. Something’s up, I can feel it! Let’s get Serafina back!†Jonathan yelled confidently.
Back in a guestroom in the higher parts of the castle, Droverson tried to explain why Sylvari had been searching for her. “Sylvari, he has been looking for people like you for many years now. He is in search of what he calls a ‘divine power’ that will make ‘his family’s pain end’. I myself have little idea what he may mean, but he seems to believe you are the one that contains this power he speaks of. I am not sure of what your fate may be as of yet.†Droverson explained. Serafina looked away from him solemnly. “But…I’m just a waitress from a bar. What kind of power is he talking about?†she asked anxiously. “I cannot say I know. My apologies.†He said sympathetically. “Anyway, I digress. Sylvari has a proposition for you. He wants you to meet him in his throne room. Please follow me Miss Kamura.†Serafina nodded and followed him reluctantly.
Droverson opened the door of the room, which led to a long corridor. The walls and floors were painted shimmering gold. The large windows overlooked the whole city and beyond. This was the first time Serafina had even seen outside of Ursalis, City of the Bear. She was filled with shock when she saw the lush green valleys and what seemed to be the nearby city of Buroq. She continued to follow Droverson down the corridor, when they reached a great door with golden handles in the shape of bear heads. The ceiling of the throne room was a glass dome and the constellations could be spotted. As soon as she looked forward, Serafina saw the castellan himself, Ricos Sylvari. He was accompanied by a teenage girl who appeared to be around fifteen years old. “Thank you Sir Droverson†Said Sylvari politely. Droverson bowed to the castellan and left the quietly, closing the huge doors behind him. “Commander you may also leave. I’m sure you understand fully the tasks I have set you…†the castellan said to the girl. “Yes sir…†the girl replied who then left the room, girlishly skipping her way there. “Miss Kamura, I’m sure Droverson told you that I had a proposition for you did he not?†Serafina refused to look at him in the eye. “Please, look at me.†Serafina reluctantly did as he commanded. He was around fifty years old. He wore a black suit with a red waistcoat and polished red shoes to match. He also wore a tricorne rimmed with white fur. He stood in front of his throne which, behind it, had a huge golden statue of a bear encrusted with gems. “I know who you are and I know who your friends are. I know they are important to you as well. My proposition is you…be my bride…in exchange for the lives of everyone in slums of Ursalis.†Serafina gasped at the Castellan’s proposal. The first answer was a no, but then she began to think. This one decision would shape the future of the whole city; the lives of thousands of people were delicately hanging in the balance. “Your answer?â€

-6: Black Inferno-

Luca, Candice and Jonathan burst into the throne room. “Sylvari!†shouted Luca. The three stood in a row, in front of Sylvari and Serafina. Upon seeing her friends, her face lit up but Sylvari grabbed Serafina’s arm. “Time’s up Sylvari! It’s been twenty years since me and my friends bust you out of that chamber and I’ll be damned if you try and disturb the peace of this world again!†Jonathan said. “Give us the girl, so we can leave this place!†he shouted stretching out his hand to Serafina. “As you wish…â€said Sylvari, releasing the dancer from his grasp. “However, if I can’t have the power within her…NO ONE CAN!†bellowed Sylvari collapsing. A small red flame drifted away from his body and onto the throne setting it alight. Then, sitting on the throne, was a sinister demon. His eyes were scarlet red and peered into the heart of anyone who saw them. He stood up. He was around seven feet tall with black scaly skin. Every scale was spiked. The skin around his neck and face was pure white, with a collection of fangs protruding from his mouth. “Be gone!†yelled the demon bursting into flame. The carpets and curtains began to burn and the air filled with the stench of death and steam. He held his hand towards Jonathan and a huge spike shot of his wrist, impaling him. “Jonathan!†shouted Luca. There was no reply. “We need to get out! We have no choice but to run!†Candice wailed. “We can’t just run! Jonathan wanted to avenge his friends and I know exactly how he feels!†Luca announced. “This is not the time. We have no chance against that thing. We must escape and come up with a plan!†Candice ordered. The smoke had consumed the room. “Serafina, Luca, if you can hear me, we have no choice but to jump through the windows.†Candice approached one of the massive windows and opened in by twisting a bear head shaped handle. “The leap of faith…†she muttered. She launched through the window. Luca reluctantly followed leaving Serafina in the room with the demon and Jonathan’s body. “No, this can’t be happening!†Serafina yelled with tears running down her eyes. The demon swiftly began to approach her. An amber light surrounded Serafina and huge golden wings shot out of her back and every feather shone magnificently. In a trance-like state, she enveloped the bodies of Jonathan and Sylvari in her wings and blasted through the air leaving the demon king screaming endlessly.
Luca and Candice had landed in the moat near the, now destroyed, drawbridge. “Look! It’s Serafina!†Candice said pointing above them. “Wings? What the-?†Luca gasped in awe. They clambered up a steel ladder to get back onto the ground. Serafina descended gracefully, nose-diving towards the ground. Candice and Luca could do nothing but stare in shock at what they were witnessing. They could hear soldiers yelling in the direction of the slums to the south. When Serafina was around 6 feet from the ground her wings vanished and she, Jonathan and Sylvari dropped to the ground. Sylvari gasped, opening his eyes and coughing violently. “My lungs. I don’t think…†he began to cough up blood. “Please, I’ve been possessed by that demon for nineteen years. I mean you no harm!†the castellan said pleading, struggling to breathe somewhat. “I am in debt to you all, you saved me! My nineteen-year reign was nothing. Every decision was the choice of that monster; that includes burning your slum homes.†Sylvari explained, growing tired and weak. In the distance, an inferno raged. Smoke filled the atmosphere choking everything it touched. “Cara!†Luca and Candice bellowed in unison. Candice sat on the floor with tears running down her face. “Everything we ever had, gone! That…thing was behind this?!†she wailed. “Why did Jonathan and Cara have to suffer too?†she continued. “It might not be too late, we must help her!†Luca tried to be strong for Candice’s sake but soon tears rolled down his cheek as well. He put his arm around Candice to comfort her. “Please, listen to me, I have little time. I have a final request before I pass on.†Sylvari began. “You need to give this ring to the dancer. It was going to be her wedding ring.†He tossed a silver ring to Luca. It wasn’t anything interesting, just a plain ring. “It belonged to that demon, Xanil. I think it could be a clue about how you could banish him. Please. Before anyone else has to suffer...†Sylvari lay back gasping and then there was no more.
Luca and Candice quickly began running towards the fiery slums. Luca carried Serafina with him. She was very light, almost featherweight. “Is it really a good idea to leave Jonathan and Sylvari there?†asked Candice in panic. “You feel like carrying them?†asked Luca jokingly but Candice did not react. They ran underneath the opulent, but now empty, archway that once divided the slums and the rest of the city. The fire seemed to have been started in the centre and was planned to spread outwards. The painful screams of hundreds of innocent victims could be heard echoing in every corner of the slums. The unholy flames burst through buildings and glass shattered before their eyes. There were also several small explosions occurring due to the presence of a disused gas pipeline. “This is much worse than I expected…†said Candice covering her gawping mouth. “Take Serafina!†Luca ordered passing Serafina’s exhausted body to Candice. “Get her out of here. Go back to Sylvari and Jonathan. See if you can get Serafina to wake up.†He suggested to her. “It’s dangerous! You’ll get killed!†she cried. Luca ignored her running into the hellish system of alleyways. Candice had no choice but to make her way back to Jonathan and Sylvari.
Luca tried to make his way to the tavern in hope of finding Cara still alive. He ran aimlessly through the slums. The fire had drastically altered the layout. All the usual paths were blocked by debris, so Luca had no choice but to make detours at several intersections. The cries of mothers and children burning were horrifying. Being in these slums was almost like being in hell itself. The heat was agonizing. Sweat poured from Luca’s body he was close to the tavern but almost completely exhausted. He kicked down the shattered doors of the flaming tavern. Inside, a collection of alcoholic beverages exploded in the heat. “Cara! Are you in here?†he stormed. “Fool…†said a voice and he was hit on the neck from behind. It was a teenage girl with a face wrapped in bandages. She carried a long sword and wore light khaki clothing. Her skinny arms packed quite a punch. “I’ve saved everyone I could. Now it’s your turn…†she said. Luca tried to back away from her but without hesitation she somehow managed to pick him up and jump several feet through the air, blasting through the ceilings and stood on the roof. “Who the hell are you?†Luca asked. “Your rescuer…†she replied. She ran across the roofs of the burning buildings and effortlessly leaped between each structure. She ran with an amazing speed, it was almost inhuman. “I hope you are prepared for a rough landing. I apologize in advance if you sustain injuries…†she said. “Landing?†Luca gasped in shock. “Yes…†she said emotionlessly. She used her strength and chucked Luca through the air without any uneasiness. He flew through the air in the direction of the border archway. He rolled along the ground as he landed, grazing his legs. “Who does that brat think she is?†he said dusting himself off as he stood. He suddenly remembered the task he set Candice and hurried towards the castle where Candice was supposedly waiting for him.
A group of soldiers appeared and crowded around Sylvari’s body. “You there!†one of the soldiers said pointing towards Candice, who sat holding Serafina’s body near Sylvari and Jonathan. “Are you responsible for this?†he asked. “Wait! You don’t understand?†Candice said, trying to keep calm. “There’s nothing to understand. We’ve seen enough…†said one of the soldiers walking towards Candice as he tapped a baton against his palm. Candice stood up, carefully placing Serafina’s body on the ground. She took out her daggers and stood in a defensive fighting pose. The soldiers laughed. “You want to play rough house? You aren’t in school anymore…†one of the soldiers said grinning horribly. “Do you even know who you’re laughing at?†she shouted back. From behind, one of them thrashed her back. She yelled in pain. A sudden rush of adrenaline swung Candice’s slim legs into the soldier’s knees that caused him to hit the floor. Candice quickly stood up, trying to ignore the searing pain in the back of her neck. She tore through the soldier mercilessly, blood splattering on her face. Such commotion had attracted other soldiers and she was soon outnumbered. She looked around, side to side, back and forth in total panic. Luca ran into the fray. “Candice!†he yelled. He grabbed his pistols from under his jacket and speedily fired bullets at every soldier. Candice kept close to the floor to avoid getting hit.
The nameless soldiers lay unmoving. Luca ran up to Serafina, shaking the dancer gently to wake her. “I’ve tried everything, she isn’t waking up, but she’s definitely alive…†Candice said rubbing her back. “We’ve got no choice, we must escape. The soldiers and that demon Xanil want our blood. We’ve no choice. Is Jonathan still alive?†Luca asked calmly. “I’m afraid he died back when we were at the castle. There doesn’t seem to be any sign of life, same for Sylvari...†Candice said. Luca picked up Serafina, tossing her body over his back.
“Get the traitors! Shoot to kill!†a further soldier yelled from nowhere. The four soldiers began to run after the newly dubbed traitors through the streets. The western gate was not far but Luca knew it would be easier to fight them off and then run, but he wanted Candice to act first. Candice swung around a nearby lamppost kicking one of the soldiers quite a distance. Luca grabbed his pistols and fired at all of them using a burst fire function he installed with Jonathan’s help. He killed two of the soldiers and injured the others, their cries echoing vividly. They finally reached the towering western gate. “This is it. This is our story…†Luca said.

-7: The Tree and the Blossom-

They had finally escaped Ursalis. They could finally run free without be stalked by Ursalan soldiers. They ran to the top of the nearest slope so that they could see all of other cities under the stars. To the west was the city of Buroq, the hometown of Candice. Buroq was well known for its universities, libraries and academies and it was known as the ‘stronghold of knowledge’. To the east was Arc, a coastal city that was the second largest within the Tyra Nation. It was well known for the warships and weaponry it produced. To the north was the town of Oreola, which was mainly known for farming, but also known for its long history. To the south was the Aria Province, namesake of the spirit Aria who once blessed the great woods with song. To the far north-west was the holy mountain, Mount Roka. Near the summit was the holy village of Roka where the Roka tribe worshipped the mountain they lived on.
Luca and Candice decided to find an inn to stay the night. Their freedom gave them energy, as they seemed to just run across the plains without getting tired. Ursalis was far in the distance now and they could finally shake off the countless ordeals that they had been through. In the distance was a lone outpost with smoke bursting from the chimney and with the downstairs lights flickering. “Look! We can spend the night there. We can carry on travelling tomorrow.†Luca suggested pointing at the small house in the distance. They walked up to the door of the house and rang the bell. A few moments later, a young red haired girl appeared at the door. “Oh my! What has happened to that girl?†she asked frantically. “We’ve just got out of Ursalis! Some soldiers attacked us. We hate to bother you, but this is an emergency. We were wondering if you had a room we could stay in...†Luca asked her. The girl became hesitant, her big brown eyes looking at Luca blankly. “Please, we beg of you…†Candice pleaded. The girl opened the door wide. “Please, go upstairs, try the second room on the left...,†she said, standing to the side to let the three through.
The inside of the house had the pleasant aroma of roast chicken. There was a reception desk with a staircase behind it and doors leading to a living room, bathroom and a kitchen. Everything was wooden; the walls, the floor, the furniture, everything. Luca walked up the stairs carrying Serafina, with Candice following him. They passed a selection of cabinets covered with small animal ornaments and figurines. The walls were covered with family photos. The largest, most prominent photo was of a family of four. There were two children. The girl in the picture was the one they had met downstairs. She was wearing a frilly white summer skirt and smiling widely. The other child was a boy around the same age as her, possibly her brother. He had unusual silver hair and seemed to be frowning, the opposite to his sister. Standing behind them was the father and mother. The father was very tall and well built. He ruffled his son’s hair and had his arm around the woman’s shoulder. He had short brown hair and hazel coloured eyes. The woman was smiling brilliantly. She was very beautiful. Her long red hair seemed to blow in the wind slightly. From the picture, you could tell they were a happy family. “Hurry, this is the room…†said Luca pointing at the second door on the left. Candice opened the door widely for him and he placed Serafina on the bed that was inside. This room had cheap floral wallpaper and creaky floorboards. Serafina was definitely breathing, but wasn’t waking up. Neither of her friends had any idea what was wrong.
Serafina was deep in the ocean. She walked around on the seabed as if it was the ground. A herd of seahorses briskly swam around her, creating bubbles which floated up to the surface. Serafina curiously opened up a small shell and a pearl shot out, landing on the ground. She crouched down to pick it out of the sand. She tore through the sand, in search of the pearl but it was nowhere to be found. “Looking for this?†asked a voice. The pearl floated down from the surface of the endless ocean. The voice accompanying it belonged to a woman; the voice was almost identical to Serafina’s. “You use our wings on impulse. You must train you powers so you can use them exactly when you need to. Too much and you’ll get tired. It’s not fair that I have to do all the work. You can use my lucky charm if you have to. Don’t lose it though. Promise?†the voice said. “Who are you?†Serafina asked.
The red haired girl entered the room with a green box with a white cross on it. Her brother from the family picture in the corridor had also followed her. “What happened to her?†the brother asked. “If we told you, you wouldn’t believe us…†said Candice sitting on the floor next to Luca as they watched over Serafina. “She jumped out of Castle Ursalis and we are sure we saw wings spread from her back, like an angel…†Luca explained as Candice frowned. “Oh my, the same thing happened to-†the sister began, her brother interrupting her with a poke and an anxious expression. “I’m Ash Kitcher, this is my sister Magnolia…†the brother said, introducing himself. “My name’s Luca Georgio from Ursalis and this is Candice Ashford from Buroq…†Luca replied. “Ursalis actually…†said Candice glaring at Luca. “Our friend here is Serafina. Is there anything we can do?†Candice asked in a panicky voice. “All we can do is give her the chance to rest up overnight…†said Ash. He got up and walked out of the room, down the stairs. “Um…oh…please, will you join us for supper? You can stay the night if you need to…†Magnolia offered. “That’s very kind of you. Thank you.†Said Candice. “It’s no problem at all; please follow me to the kitchen…†Magnolia said with a smile.
She led them downstairs to the kitchen where Ash was sitting at the table. The room was tiled from top to bottom and was pristine white, shimmering clean. From the window over the sink, the barn outside could be seen, which was painted red with a yellow thatched roof. Magnolia smiled and walked over to the stove and picked up the pan from the flaming hob whilst Luca and Candice took their places at the table. “So aren’t you guys a little young to be living out here on your own?†Luca asked. Ash looked angry and Magnolia quickly bought dishes over to the table. “Look, it’s our best china! Don’t break anything!†she explained with feigned excitement. “I understand if you don’t wanna-†Luca started. “Our dad is away…as always…†Ash said solemnly from the end of the table with his arms folded. “Oh…and what about your mom?†asked Luca curiously. He had clearly made the teenagers feel uncomfortable. “She…passed away a few years ago. Ever since, our dad is always moving around, as if he never wants to get attached to anywhere or anyone ever again. The last letter we received said he was travelling from Ursalis to Hija…†explained Ash. Magnolia’s nerves began to show as she rattled the cutlery slightly as she laid it down. “Is he crazy? Why on earth would he go to that waste land…†Candice asked. “Hey, he’s a tough guy, always has been. He was once my hero, or at least, when I was young. He used to protect us all from monsters with his halberd; he used to tell us stories of his adventures and used to spend time with us. Nowadays we hardly ever see him…†Ash explained. Talk of her father made Magnolia somewhat uncomfortable. “I-I guess I’ll start dishing up our soup…†Magnolia said. She placed a bread roll and a spoon next to each soup dish. She turned off the stove and carried a ladle and the saucepan over to the table. The soup was chicken flavoured. There were small chunks of chicken floating in the soup. It looked creamy and had delicious smelling wisps of steam escaping from it in all directions. “Enjoy!†said Magnolia with a smile as she took a seat.
They began to eat Magnolia’s chicken soup, dipping bread into their bowls every now and again and it was surprisingly filling. Candice finished her soup the quickest, but did not touch the bread roll. “Thank you for dinner. I think I’ll go to bed now. It’s been a very long night…†she said. Candice went upstairs to the room when Serafina was recovering. With a strong push, she opened the door. She walked up to the window and simply stared towards the city of Buroq which was illuminated in the distance. “Mother, you shall be avenged…†she said to herself. She took off her shoes and decided to go to bed. Luca, Ash and Magnolia soon followed. The new heroes had an important day ahead of them.

-8: Connections-

“Serafina…SERAFINA!†Candice shrieked. “Eugh…what? What is it?†Serafina asked in a vexed tone of voice. It was morning. The rising sun blazed through the window. Serafina rolled over onto her back and Candice and Luca were standing in front of her. “Thank god you’re awake!†Serafina groaned, no thanks to her rude awakening. “You flew out of the castle window, you had wings!†Candice stormed. Serafina got up and stretched, letting out a little yawn. “What? I thought it was a dream. I…I flew?†she mumbled. “Sylvari asked us to save everyone; he was possessed by a demon called Xanil and thinks only we can stop him!†Luca explained quickly. “Save everyone? Save the world?†she asked in confusion. Her friends both nodded. “I asked Ash and Magnolia if they could give us a lift to Mount Roka. We’re all confused, but the sage in the mountain village could help us. He is said to give the best advice to anyone from farmers to kings…†Candice said. “Yeah, it sounds like a good idea. Sylvari and Jonathan have passed away. The slums were burned down also…†Luca told Serafina regrettably. Serafina lay back on the bed, staring at the ceiling. “What about Cara?†asked Serafina. “I went to look for her when everything was on fire. I met this girl who said she’d saved anyone. I didn’t see Cara there so, it probably means she…got out…alive…†Luca said chuckling nervously. Candice frowned automatically; she did not think it was worth lying to Serafina. As far as she was concerned, Cara was long gone. “Anyway, get dressed so we can get out of here!†shouted Candice as she left the room and headed downstairs. Luca followed, embracing Serafina before leaving the room.
Serafina put on her clothes and a big coat with a furry hood as the endless mountain trail would be awfully cold. She made her way out of the room and ran down the stairs looking at the photos on the walls. She saw a picture of a proud looking man in an army uniform, clutching a large halberd. She was sure she recognised him from somewhere. She grabbed her bag pack and proceeded into the bathroom downstairs.
Upon turning on the light she found herself face to face with herself; Xanil, the demon in the throne room, was standing behind her. She screamed and turned around, but she was alone. The only one in the room was her. What was this? A trick of the mind perhaps? Or was the chilling air truly a sign of the demon’s presence?
Luca burst into the room with his pistols gripped tightly in his hands. “What…happened?†he asked putting away his pistols with a confused expression. “Oh…I…there was a bug in the sink. I kinda freaked me out.†She said s******ing slightly. “I’m…sorry to have scared you…†Serafina explained shyly. “Oh right…just try to hurry up; the kids are getting cranky…†Luca said with a smile. “Oh, are they the Ash and Magnolia that Candice mentioned?†she asked. “Yeah. This is their house. They helped us out when you passed out last night.†Luca explained to her. “Oh right, I’ll have to thank them both.†She replied. He left the bathroom closing the door behind him. Serafina marvelled at the cramped bathroom and how every brightly coloured object was perfectly ordered and arranged. Serafina held her hair back with one hand and turned on the taps with the other. He washed herself in the sink and dried herself with a small yellow towel. Dental care would be an issue as she did not have her own toothbrush so instead she swilled out her mouth with a cap full of mouthwash, shooting it into the sink. She dressed herself in her black jeans, dark brown boots, red strap top, brown belt and golden bangles. She also had a small seahorse hairpin to hold back her long, sometimes frustrating, hair. She also noticed that in the pocket of her jeans she had a small pearl, just like in the strange dream she had the night before. She decided not to tell anyone and to keep the ‘lucky charm’ she received safe.
After refreshing herself she exited the bathroom and went outside to join the others. A large brown horse was outside. It was attached to a small cart which Ash was in control of. Inside the cart, Luca, Candice and Magnolia sat together talking. Serafina began walking over to the cart with the sun gleaming brilliantly above them. She approached them in the wagon. “Ready to go yet?†Luca asked. Serafina nodded, jumping into the back of the cart. She sat with her legs crossed with Luca, Candice and Magnolia as Ash began to set out, heading for Mount Roka in the North West.
Serafina sat opposite Magnolia. “You must be Magnolia…†Serafina said smiling. Magnolia nodded shyly. “Thanks for all your help…but I have a question…I noticed photos of a man I recognized in your how. He’s very tall, he has a moustache. Who is he?†Serafina asked curiously. “Well…that’s probably my dad, you’re talking about. His name is Earl…†Magnolia said quietly. After hearing the name Candice and Luca exchanged glances and gasped. “So that makes him…Earl Kitcher?†Luca asked. “Um…yeah…†said Magnolia grinning slightly. “Oh god…†murmured Candice. “Earl, one of the people responsible for disturbing the demon seal. Earl, the father of two children helping us on our way to seal them away again. This is certainly an interesting coincidence…†said Candice with her eyes closed in deep thought. “Where is your dad? We have to speak to him!†Luca said, raising his voice a little. “Hija, like I said last night. What are you talking about? Demons?†Ash asked, completely puzzled by this new predicament. He obviously had no idea about his father’s identity. Magnolia too; she looked shocked. Were they really this badly informed? “This guy we used to know, he said he was a friend of your Dad’s. Have you heard of Jonathan?†Luca asked, trying to fit together the pieces of the puzzle. “Jonathan? Yeah, dad used to talk about him in his stories when we were little. He was the stubborn one which got everyone into trouble.†Magnolia said giggling. “Please, can you explain?†asked Ash. “We used to know Jonathan but he was killed. He told us that he and some of his friends, Earl, Robert, Kenji, Tecsha and…there was another…Madeline. Yeah, they used to go adventuring and one time them accidentally disturbed a seal and released demons into the world. I didn’t know whether to believe it at first it’s just so...bizarre. It’s like that old story…Pandora ’s Box. About all the bad things being released…†Luca said. Candice immediately butted in. “But in that story, wasn’t there some hope in that box too? Maybe that’s Serafina…†Candice said. Being this optimistic for her was rare. “Madeline was our mother…†said Magnolia gloomily, looking down into her lap, but this mood quickly changed. “She went on adventures with them too. That’s how she met my dad. I think it’s so romantic!†she said smiling, folding her arms and shrugging girlishly. “Maybe, you can find dad in the desert!†Magnolia said, Ash sighing prominently. “Come on! You need to talk to him; we want to know he’s safe! Please…†Magnolia looked up at Serafina, Luca and Candice with sparkling puppy dog eyes. “We’ll do our best.†Said Serafina. “And you say he went into the desert?†the dancer asked. “Yes. He was fascinated by stories of tombs, monuments and treasures. Whenever he heard the smallest rumour or the tiniest legend he’d go diving head first after it…†she said. “If we ever go to the desert we’ll definitely see if we can find him.†Said Serafina. Magnolia just smiled, knowing that she could rely on someone. She could not live anymore if she were to lose another parent.
The cart suddenly began to accelerate. “Ash?†cried Luca standing up. “What’s going on?†yelled Serafina. “I’m not sure, people are following us!†Ash shouted back. Serafina peered out of the back of the cart. Three horsemen were following them; and fast. “I’ll shoot them down!†Luca said. He took out his pistols and took aim at the centre horseman. He closed an eye, peering towards the attackers. He fired. The bullet hit the centre horseman in the chest. “Hurry, keep going!†Luca shouted to Ash. “I’m trying! We aren’t far. Only a mile or so now!†he shouted in reply. The cart kept it’s fast pace. The ground was relatively flat so the ride was quite smooth; other than the occasional bump they encountered as they rolled over depressions in the land.
The next ten minutes were uneventful as the cart continued to hastily advance closer and closer towards the holy mountain. “We’re coming up to it now...†Ash said to the others. “At least we aren’t being followed now.†Said Serafina looking into the vast green plains outside the cart. “They’ve stopped following?†Candice asked confused. Why did they stop following? Was it to help their fallen comrade? “Magnolia, are you alright?†asked Serafina affectionately. Magnolia seemed shaky after the experience. “I think so. I’ll be okay, just a little scared…†she said smiling nervously. For teenagers of about fifteen years old they were very responsible. Ash seemed to have nerves of steel. For Serafina, she found it a little upsetting that children so young had to be so self-reliant while there dad was away. She planned to ask Earl why he felt so inclined to leave his children alone so often. “You know, when we see the elder you should be prepared. He can make you have visions. He’ll make you realize things that you’ve dismissed. You know, bad things from the past. I went to him, by myself, before I came to Ursalis…†Candice explained. “Really? What was it like?†Serafina asked curiously. “It was like…I had some sort of epiphany.†She said. “That’s kinda unreal…†Luca said blankly. “You’ll see when we get there…†Candice said shrugging.

-9: Trouble on the Mountaintop-

“Here we are! The holy mountain, Roka…†said Ash. The horses halted in front of a winding path that led upwards toward the village. The mountain village was situated a quarter of the way up and a small tribe, the Rokas, inhabited it. Near the village was a sacred temple protected by the Roka. The temple praised one of the sacred deities of the Tyra Nation. Most of the deities represented one factor of the world such as time, wind, the sun or other phenomena. The Roka temple praised Terra, who was the deity responsible for building the mountain and watching over the Roka.
Serafina, Luca and Candice hopped out of the cart. “See you soon!†Magnolia yelled waving. “Remember, use the river to get back down, but get out your boat before it runs through Ursalis!†Ash said. The farm boy directed the cart around and began to ride away into the distance. Serafina waved them off, but inside she was worried about them. The horsemen might find them. There is only a few miles between Ursalis, Roka and their home. It was risky.
“Let’s climb…†said Luca leading the way up the long, winding road forward. The height of the mountain was small compared to others on the Tyra Nation alone. Serafina put her hood up as the temperature began to fall drastically as they climbed higher with each step. Breathing also became much harder as the air thinned substantially. They passed several stone statues that depicted the mountain spirit, Terra. The bible stories told that he had huge arms, large enough to shift nations. “You think something like that exists?†asked Serafina. Candice paused. “Hurricanes, earthquakes, tsunamis, eruptions, famine, starvation, sadness, death. I think if those spirits from that bible were real they wouldn’t let stuff like that happen…†she carried on walking towards the village nearby. “Luca? What about you?†Serafina asked sweetly. “A part of me thinks that Gods and stuff exist. Heaven too, y’know. As long as I live my life for the right reasons, I’ll end up there.†he said, scratching his head. Serafina giggled. “That’s dumb…†she said grinning. “Oh really? Says the little preacher,†he teased. “Hey, sometimes, hope is all we have you know, don’t be mean,†she said frowning. “Hey guys, hurry up! Something’s happening!†Candice yelled in the distance. Serafina and Luca began to run ahead towards the village. As they began to approach the mountain village they spotted Roka farmers, whose lambs and kids grazed on the dry, brown Roka grass. The rock pathways were covered in moss and a wilted fir tree marked the village.
The village was situated in a large valley. Buildings were located on the sides. Many were small houses or shops. The centre of the village was marked with ceremonial fountain depicting Terra. When they arrived there seemed to be some sort of commotion. A group of young Roka warriors were up ahead listening to one of their fellow kinsman. “Soldiers, all in yellow uniforms, they are attacking the temple. They think we’re hiding an angel! They want to see the elder too…†explained the worried native.
“Nonsense!â€
“Absurd!â€
“Why?†the crowd bellowed. “We must protect the temple at all costs! We’ll fight anyone that tries to stop us!†declared one of the Roka warriors. “Maybe we should help them out…†Serafina said. “Yeah, what if the elder is in danger?†asked Luca. “Let’s go and find out!†Serafina said. The three ran behind the Roka warriors who quickly approached the temple. The warriors seemed not to notice Serafina, Luca and Candice’s presence as they entered the temple.
The walls and floors of the temple were lined with blue tiles and covered in depictions of Terra. But something else covered the floors and walls…the blood of monks and nuns that had risked their lives to protect the temple and the sage. The warriors were horrified. Facing away from them was the culprit. A small girl of Orelese descent. She wore a khaki kimono with long sleeves and a large belt made from shimmering silver rings and rounds of dormant ammunition. Only her long black hair could be seen as she faced towards the temple altar. “Where is the elder sage?†she asked. “We would rather die than reveal his location!†one of the warriors stormed. “I am Pazu, the proudest warrior of this village! If you can even manage to cut me, I shall reveal to you the location of-†his words were cut short as the girl’s blade was thrust through his chest. Pazu’s comrades watched in horror as the man they once respected and revered drew his last breath. The sound of the blade ruthlessly scraping against his ribcage was deafening. Blood dripped from her sword and the girl showed no emotion whatsoever. She tore out the blade and he fell to the floor. The other young warriors retreated in fear after what they had seen. “You there!†she called over to Serafina who stood gasping and frozen. “Where is the elder sage?â€
Serafina silently hesitated. “Who are you?†asked Luca. She tore off the bandages around her head revealing a childish face. She was in her late-teens. It was revealed she was wearing shorts at the front and what seemed to be a kimono from behind was in fact some kind of cloak or half-dress. “Oh, it’s you? My name is Kiku Kurosawa. I am the general of the Ursulan army, one of the most dangerous girls in the world…†Kiku explained. “Now, who will have to suffer next?†she asked with confidence and sarcasm. “We won’t let anyone else suffer!†yelled Serafina grabbing her chakrams immediately deploying the razors. She began to run towards the general, swinging her arms in every direction. Kiku swung her sword towards Serafina, but the dancer’s agile body dodged it. Luca grabbed his pistols from his holsters and tried to aim for Kiku, but the general and the dancer kept moving around the temple, dealing deadly blows at each other. “Luca don’t be stupid! You’ll shoot Serafina!†Candice yelled. “That’s right. You’re Serafina. You’re the angel!†Kiku declared dodging one of Serafina’s chakrams. Kiku jumped up on top of one of the statues and got out a tiny crystal from one of her long sleeves. She held up the crystal towards the ceiling. “Lord of Justice and unspeakable power. Give me your strength. Three moons around one soul! Detain!†she called. She threw the crystal at Serafina and an odd light, in the shape of jail bars surrounded her. “The castellan will be pleased!†yelled Kiku menacingly. “Sylvari?†Serafina, Luca and Candice enquired in unison. “Yes…†she jumped off the statue and walked over to the strange force field that Serafina was trapped in. The strange field had three white balls of energy orbiting it. Luca shot several bullets towards Kiku, but by some means she managed to avoid every shot; she must have had amazing reactions. Candice took her daggers and struck the energy balls orbiting Serafina’s prison, freeing her. “Aren’t you a clever girl!? Shame you aren’t clever enough!†she stormed. The general launched back onto one of the statues, out of anyone’s reach. “The power of frozen fury! Wilt the thorns that block my path! Ice shards!†she called with another crystal in her hand. She tossed it into the centre of the room and it burst open with chunks of ice blasting in all directions. Luca stood their gawping as a shard glided closer every nanosecond. “Move!†Candice yelled jumping into Luca, dodging the ice. Serafina was curled up in a ball on the floor so none of the ice managed to hit her. “Pathetic rats! You’re not worthy to battle me!†the general yelled impatiently. She produced a third crystal from her pocket and laughed girlishly. “This story has only just begun!†she said. “Through the black soot and smoke in the depths of hell, the harpy flies leaving no trace. Smokescreen!†she crushed this crystal in her hand and a cloud of smoke emanated from her palm, shrouding her in darkness. Luca’s bullets pierced the cloud, but as the smog cleared, the general had gone. He grunted frustrated. “How could brat so young become general?†Candice asked herself. “More importantly, did she say that Sylvari is still alive?†Luca asked. “Xanil. He must have possessed his dead body.†Serafina said, standing up. “How did you know about that spell she used on us?†asked Serafina in a surprised tone. “I excelled in magic theory at the academy I used to go to.â€
From a door behind the altar, the sage entered. He had long silver hair and a beard to match. He wore white garments that stretched from his neck to his toes. “Thank you, brave young warriors.†He said. He then noticed Pazu’s body on the floor. “Oh my. Lord Apep, why do you plague my village?†He said. “Pazu, our finest warrior,†He walked over to the warriors body, looking down on him solemnly. He took up his driftwood staff and hit it against the ground. “The souls that have left this world, I ask you to assist us in mending the body of a righteous man! Regenerate!†A blue light shone from the staff and seemed to be attracted to Pazu’s wounds. His blood ran back into his body and his wounds closed up with a blue glow. “Pazu, get up please,†the sage said politely. “Did you…did you just use magic?†asked Serafina excitedly. The elder chuckled slightly. Pazu slowly opened his eyes. He was a very large man and he struggled to get back on his feet. “Pazu, you weren’t dead, but I feared that one minute longer…†the elder sage said sadly. Pazu stood back up. “Thanks old timer,†Pazu said tapping him on the back. The warrior dusted himself off and coughed lightly as if nothing happened. “Pazu, make sure the dead priests receive their rightful burial,†the sage said, looking at the cold bodies about him. “Please, all of you follow me into my chamber.†Said the sage as Pazu left. “Hey, Pazu!†yelled Luca. “Shouldn’t you be more grateful? I mean, the sage saved your life!†Luca argued. “Come now, leave him be,†said the sage as Pazu the warrior walked away. “Luca’s got a point…for once…†muttered Candice. “Hey! What’s that supposed to mean?†Luca argued. Serafina laughed lightly and followed the sage as her friends bickered needlessly.
The elder led them to his chamber which was through a door behind the temple altar. It had six prayer mats laid down and a collection of cushions at the back of the room. “Please, all of you kneel on the mats.†He said sitting down on the cushions. “Now…what is it that you need? Enlightenment? Direction?†he asked brushing his fingers through his beard. “Yes…†said Serafina. The elder pointed his finger towards Serafina. “You first. Give me your hand.†Said the elder sage.
Serafina reached out to him and mist surrounded her. She found herself alone in a misty forest, guided only by the sage’s voice. “There is no doubt you’ve noticed, people refer to you as an angel. I too sense a power hidden deep within you. You are indeed the incarnation of an angel. You have been granted a power from the deities that watch over our world. To harness that power will require concentration, and for you to channel magical energy into your movements. Be wary of using this power, as you will quickly lose your energy. Angels against demons, it’s almost biblical. Try to fly, put all of your energy into flying. In your mind you must imagine flying, soaring through the air like a dove...†Serafina concentrated harder and harder. After a few seconds feathery golden wings spread from her back. She began to flap her wings gently, just by visualizing them in her mind. She hovered about six feet from the ground. “I…I don’t believe it! I’m really…I’m an angel!†Serafina shouted in ecstasy. “Don’t drown in overconfidence. You still have a lot to learn about yourself. I suggest that you try to seek out a man named Earl as soon as you can. He has experience with demons, he could know a way how to defeat them…†he advised. “Earl? Woah!†she said, her wings vanishing. She landed on her backside on the ground and groaned.
Luca stood up and found himself in a small house located on the coast. “Where is this? I don’t think I’ve ever been here before…†he told the sage in front of him. “Yes you have, long ago. You just have no memory of it at this time…†The sage explained. “Serafina is an angel. You know that already, I’m sure. Magical energy surrounds her constantly and has done since she was born. You have been exposed to such energy for a very long time and it’s possible that you will soon exhibit great powers of your own. I cannot be sure what these powers might be yet, but they will surely prove to be useful. You must protect Serafina with your life. In addition, it is important that you find out who you are. You still have family alive, possibly at this house. Remember it. You must seek out your remaining family. This will be your journey of self-discovery! You will find yourself more entangled with demons than Serafina herself,â€
Candice blinked and then appeared in a library with limitless bookshelves that towered above her. “You came for my advice a long time ago when you were young. I still remember it well. I told you to go to Ursalis and you were trapped there until recently. A man named Jonathan suggested to Cara, your carer, to take you in. He said this because he knew you had the potential to become strong.†He explained solemnly. “Yes, I understand. I couldn’t go back to Buroq under any circumstances...†She replied. “Now it is time for you to return there. To avenge your mother, you must! You have to restore your reputation. You must teach Serafina and Luca about magic power!†shouted the sage. A tear ran down Candice’s cheek. “I think you’re right…†she said. “You are very brave Candice. This quality shall only grow over time. After being exposed to Serafina’s angelic aura for so long, you will discover your powers very soon. I’m sure.†He said with a smile. “Your visit to Buroq will trigger conflict between the demons; whether this is good or bad is still unclear,â€
A light flashed and the three awoke from their trance-like states simultaneously. “An exotic dancer becomes anrphan becomes a thief, and a student becomes an outcast. All of you will become heroes. Your destinies, I can clearly see your paths. You will stop the demon, Xanil from building an evil empire under the guise of Ricos Sylvari. You will discover hidden truths of the past. You will make friends and enemies. You will travel to other nationss. You will change the world.â€

-10: White Water Wrath-

Serafina, Luca and Candice had stayed the night at an inn within the mountain village. They all got up early and planned to take a canoe down the river. Serafina and Candice sat in the village square next to the flowing fountain. Many of the people who were injured had recovered well. It seemed that Kiku had used some kind of disabling magic on them, making them unconscious. Many of them even returned to work the next day and could be seen walking around the village, going about their daily lives peacefully, but still silently in fear of a future attack. “Do you remember when I used to teach you to dance in the old park back in Ursalis?†Serafina asked. “Oh yeah…I was always too embarrassed to dance in front of anyone else.†Candice replied, rearranging her long blonde fringe and her black hair band. “How about we dance again now? For old time’s sake…†said Serafina. She stood up abruptly taking Candice’s hands and dragging her up. “But…there isn’t any music.†Candice said blushing a little. “Just imagine some…†Serafina said quickly. “Stand with your legs apart…and just move where your body takes you…†Serafina began to walk forward and then turned around jumping in the air a little. She shook her hips and waved her arms around her body and began to bring her hands down from her chest to her thighs. “Wow, you’re really good, much better than when we were younger.†Said Candice. Serafina laughed. “Maybe if you practised as much as me you’d get better than me.†She said. Candice laughed, but she was sure that the only person really laughing was the dancer. Serafina was aware of her responsibility. She was courageous to take up the world onto her soldiers. It was too late to turn back now. She was sure she had to help someway…somehow. She was also aware that if she took at risk or made a mistake it could cost her her life. To be prepared for this, she wanted to enjoy every moment of her journey, so that, in case she dies, she dies with only good memories.
Luca approached them. “I bought us a canoe to get downstream! Let’s go!†Luca said with excitement. “Yeah!†Serafina exclaimed cheerfully. The three ran to the river nearby. The water was pure and clear, but there were many jagged rocks underwater and on the banks. The current began to take them down the mountain. Luckily there were no vertical waterfalls but there were some slopes. It was exciting. Every time they descended sharply they’d be drenched in water as it splashed over them. The wind blew harshly through the valley, which made the water somewhat rough in places. However after a few minutes they had the impression that they were being followed. A large splash was heard from behind. It was Kiku. Who knows how long she had been following them. Serafina remembered what the sage told her about concentrating. She tried to forget her surroundings and focused all of her energy into attacking Kiku who began approaching close. It was very difficult, there was always a distraction. Whether it was Luca and Candice yelling and trying to plan an attack or the water around them roaring and it briskly flowed through the valley, it made it very difficult. Then Serafina realised that every action was a risk. She remembered what the elder had said to her. She tried to concentrate as hard as she could. Suddenly, mauve bolts burst out of Serafina in all directions. The bolts began to converge closer to Kiku and upon impact she let out a scream. Serafina mercifully stopped the bolts before any fatality. Kiku’s boat had stopped moving and they had left her in the mountains. “Stop! Stop!†Kiku kept shouting. These words echoed through the valley as the trio made a hasty escape.
Serafina, Luca and Candice had reached the open fields again. The rapids had diminished and the river was calmer. The rocks here were round and soft. The weather was calm, but a little windy. They hopped out of the boat and approached the closest city, Buroq. The gate was only a few yards away. They decided to leave the boat in the river to confuse any pursuers if it passed through Ursalis. Candice prepared herself to face the people she ran away from. She was about to relive her past and there was no turning back.