( The chapter opens with a couple legionaries walking around a town at night talking to each other. They walk around a corner and see a large man wearing a jacket with the hood up and his head down, walking towards them. )
Legionary 1:Exscuse me sir you know cities in the Granja district are under strict curfew until further notice.
Legionary 2: We wouldn't want you to get hurt.
Man: No, we wouldn't want that. (he lifts his head and Raxis black eyes peer out from under the hood. (it cuts around the corner. screams and flashes of orange and red energy brighten the road. It cuts to Raxis walking into a house, where Valka and some other higher ups are staying. )
Valka: welcome back, did you find a good late night snack?
Raxis: (puts down his hood) barely. the chaos, it desires more and more every night. (he sits down) What do you have?
Valka: no word has come in about Tenebris, arthor or karri.
Raxis: (slams his hand on the table and it breaks in half) how long are we going to run around Elvo trying to find the bastard!
Valka: We have every scout we have tracking them down, just be patient.
Raxis: aghh! (sits back in the chair) I thought leaving some demons would throw that immortal off our track. but now all of elvo is on lockdown. we'll continue east. Gregor should be making his rounds to his usually trading post, we can meet him Barrok.
Valka: (stands up) until then you should rest.
Raxis: Do I look like I need rest?
(looks concerned for a second, then bows) no, my mistake. (she walks away) (everyone else walks out)
shade: You stall....when the storm is so close...
Raxis: I have been searching every day, but this body you gave me is weak.
Shade: It is not the chaos that is weak...
Raxis: yet I remain in this world and you remain trapped...
Shade: (turns dark red)
Raxis: (starts writhing in pain as he falls to the ground. )
Shade: you Live by my power and yet you mock me.
Raxis: Forgive me!
Shade: No....if you wish to be forgiven...then you must Earn it...(the shade stops)
Raxis: (stops writhing in pain) ah..agh..agh...
Shade: The end is near...find the vessels. (the shade disappears.)
Raxis: ...AAGGHH! ( he slams his fist on the ground and it cuts to Keira closing the door of the in)
Keira: (sees Ace walking towards them) Got anything?
Ace: Yes. Whoever attacked Los Granos, is moving East. 2 legionaries were found this morning in Aguilas, both petrified.
Keira: Any witnesses or leads as to where these people could be hiding?
Ace: no. the attack happened after curfew.
Keira: Right.
Ace: I also received a message from King Augustin. I don't suppose you know a Tenebris do you?
Keira: We do.
Ace: Excellent. It appears he has been requested by the emperor of Jyo.
Keira: Jyo? How could he possibly know about tenebris?
Ace: There were no other instructions.
Keira: East huh? Well, I guess you'll get your wish after all Sam. we have better get moving.
Ace: My Legion will accompany you while you are in Elvo. we have a transport standing by.
(in the back of the transport)
Ace: If I may ask, what exactly is going on here?
Keira: We have reason to believe the Kongur are the ones behind the petrification.
Ace: Madre mía, how could that be possible?
Keira: they use a dark energy, they call it chaos. it can absorb and nullify orku.
Ace: that black energy you spoke of it is chaos, no? if it absorbs orku, how could we fight against them?
Keira: Precise attacks without orku aimed at weak spots.
Sam: their head, heart, and lungs.
Keira: Alternatively, if you can cut off their air, or orku supply they wont be able to regenerate.
Ace: sounds easier said then done.
Keira: Unfortunately.
Ace: So the petrification in Los Granos and Aguilas...
Keira: their orku was eaten.
Ace: I can see why they sent the first immortal after these guys.
Keira: we need to stop the spread of the chaos. whatever the cost.
Ace: The only question that remains is. if they need orku, then why are they attacking small villages instead of the bigger cities?
Keira: They're looking for someone.
Ace: This Tenebris fellow, yes?
Sam: yes.
Ace: This tenebris seems like trouble.
Keira: You have no idea.
Sam: Is there any large orku supplies out east?
Ace: nothing, all that's out there is farmland and the archipelagos.
Keira: We'll hit every village on the way, if we're lucky we'll find the Kongur behind this.
Sam: And take them down before they hurt anyone else.
Keira: then take this message to tenebris.
CHAPTER 106 PURSUIT
( Tenebris wakes up early in the morning and hears something outside. he gets dressed and walks outside and finds arthor training against a wooden dummy. his eyes glowing red as he kicks and hits it. his eyes glow brighter and brighter until he swings his Kongur dagger and slices the dummy in half and the trees behind it. he picks it up and throws it on the pile of other sliced dummies)
Tenebris: what did that sparing dummy ever do to you.
Arthor: (gets scared a bit and looks over at tenebris. he looks annoyed and his eyes stop glowing as he walks over and gets some water)
Tenebris: your up early, how long have you been training?
Arthor: does it matter?
Tenebris: How long?
Arthor: A few hours.
Tenebris: (looks at him)
Arthor: all night.
Tenebris: you need sleep, if you keep spending your orku, you will hurt yourself.
Arthor: I'm fine.
Tenebris: really, cuse it seams to me like your almost out of energy.
Arthor: I said im fine. (he starts walking off)
Tenebris: Is this about Svangur?
Arthor: (stops for a second) no.
Tenebris: then what is it about?
Arthor: Its about me getting stronger.
Tenebris: then it is about Svangur.
Arthor: no its just... I spent the last 4 years training everyday...and it wasn't enough.
Tenebris: Arthor, your still young, theres...
Arthor: ...So what if I'm young! Does it matter!? when we fight Raxis, will he treat me any different then you because I'm "young"? If another person like Svangur attacks will he pass me by because im not worth his time!? If you are dying on the ground because I wasn't strong enough, will it be okay because I'm young!? (his eyes glow red) if it isn't me then who will it be?
Tenebris: its not...
Arthor: ...Its not what!?
Tenebris: It's not your fault.
Arthor: what?
Tenebris: it isn't your fault. you cant do everything on your own...trust me, I've tried...and I payed a price. (looks at his arm) A very high price.
Arthor: you think just because we live with each other that that makes us family. no...it makes us targets. And Raxis will use that. so until he's in the ground and we can live a normal life, I wont stop. (throws his violencia and the bow on the ground to tenebris) you can keep these, they're useless to me anyway. (he walks off)
Tenebris: (picks up the weapons) "Hough" (he looks up and sees Nikki standing in the distance a lightning flashes and he covers his eyes and looks back but she's gone. it cuts to a panel of the ground as rain starts falling, then a boot steps forward and it pans up to Arthor walking through the woods. he walks on a path leading to a house built around a tree. he opens the door and wipes his boots on the mat then takes them off and sits down on the couch. Johsef waddles up and hops up next to arthor.
Arthor: yeah? what?
Johsef: "Chirp"
Arthor: I was out training.
Johsef: "Chirp"
Arthor: To get stronger, why else?
Johsef: "Chirp"
Arthor: Look I'm just not strong enough ok? so lay off me. (he lays down)
Johsef:(hops onto the table in front of arthor) " Chirp"
Arthor: "hough" I just...I don't want to loose anyone else. I've lost one family...and I almost lost another. Its up to me to become strong enough to protect what's precious to me.
Johsef: ...."Chirp"
Arthor: (smiles) well we cant all be as strong as you. (johsef jumps up and lays down with Arthor and they fall asleep. it cuts over to the mountain on the island, it pans up to a place where its snowing instead of raining. then it stops and shows a small plateau with a tribal looking hut and different supplies around it. Lykoi sitting at the edge of the plateau looking at the snow. Ulfer walks and sits next to him. )
Lykoi: It's times like these that remind me of the clan. (he sits holding the tribal dagger) Even after all this time, I still miss them...(ulfer puts his head next to Lykoi's) Do you think they miss me?
Ulfer: "Bark"
Lykoi: But I made my decision... And I'd make it again if I had to. (looks down at ulfer. ) but that's enough moping for one day. lets get some food. (ulfer perks up and gets excited) heha, come on. (he stands and they walk into the hut. It cuts over to a cabin in the woods. Machi looks out the window.)
Machi: you gotta be kidding me. it's Rainnin again. this place rains way to much man. ahh well. (grabs his axes from the wall) Still got work to do. (he goes to open the door and he rips it off its hinges) aggrrhhhh, not again!
(it cuts to karri waking up in his room)
Karri: (yawns) aye, you up bro? (he looks over and Arthors gone) must be out training again. (gets out of his bed) If he think he'll get ahead hes wrong. (he grabs his daggers from the table and hooks the chains around his waist. attaches the sheaths for the daggers and slides them in. then changes his shirt.) Ready for the day. (he walks out a doorway and goes to go down the stairs but slips and falls down all of them. it cuts to Arthor waking up suddenly as he hears karri rolling down the stairs.)
Karri: (hits the ground) ....ow.... (looks up) oh there you are.
Arthor: you good?
Karri: yep.
Arthor: then why are you making so much noise! (throws a pillow)
(it cuts over to Tenebris who is walking through the forest. he walks for a while and Nikki appears and disappears behind trees watching him as he walks. He walks into a clearing and looks up at the ruins of the library. He starts digging and looking through scrolls and books. He looks and sees Nikki walk behind a large chunk of rubble. )
Tenebris: what? (he walks over and looks behind the rubble and she's gone. he looks down and sees the stairs that led down to Taresseus secret chambers. He moves some rocks and starts walking down them. he squeezes through some rocks and lights his hand. he comes to the end of the tunnel with the massive boulder blocking the entrance. (his eyes light up and he destroys the boulder and walks into the caved in chamber. he looks around the damp moss grown area. he holds up the orku flame to the depictions on the walls and figures light up. )
Tenebris: what were you hiding Taresseus. (he follows the glowing figures to a similar handprint to the one karri opened accidentally. He puts his hand on the wall and his eyes light up as he does a small slot in the wall opens and he sees a book. he grabs it and looks at the cover. he sees a Black and gold book with a lightning bolt inside of a crescent moon. )
Tenebris: Is this what you wanted to show me?
CHAPTER 107 LOST CONNECTION
(The chapter opens with tenebris walking into his house. he walks over to his table and sets the book on the table. he lights his hand up with blue fire and he lights a lamp. he sits down at the table and opens the book. )
Tenebris: Chronicles of the storm, Taresseus. is this about the oncoming storm? (he turns the page and sees ancient symbols covering the pages. )
(Tenebris looks at the title) this language...this is old. older then the prophecy he gave me. (he flips through some of the other pages until he gets to one page with one line of text on it. He flips through the rest of the book and its blank. )
Tenebris: I guess he never finished.
(It cuts to a panel of the sky, and it fast forwards through the rain and the sun comes out. ) (arthor and karri are walking through the forest. )
Karri: where's your violencia?
Arthor: Oh, I decided I don't need it.
Karri: you don't need the magic weapon that lets you use your gift?
Arthor: it's not magic, and that thing doesn't know me or my gift.
Karri: but makros made it.
Arthor: I don't care who made it, it's useless. I rather use this.
Karri: (goes to say something but sees Arthors upset) alright.
(they continue walking and come to a clearing with a makeshift training area. Machi is already sitting there with his axes on his back.)
Karri: big man!
Machi: wassup fellas.
Arthor: where's tenebris?
Machi: He hasn't shown up yet.
Arthor: that's strange he's usually the first one here.
Machi: he's probably doing that one thing he always does.
everyone: looking longingly into the distance while talking to himself.
Arthor: yeah, figures.
(lykoi and ulfer walk up)
Karri: hey lykoi.
Lykoi: hello.
Machi: I still cant believe you chose to live in the one cold place on this whole island.
Lykoi: It is better than living in this heat.
Machi: keep telling yourself that.
Lykoi: I do not need to tell myself, you are the one who keeps asking.
Machi: it's a figure of speech you know what im not going to get into this.
Lykoi: (looks around) I do not sense tenebris spirt on the way here, is he looking longingly into the distance while talking to himself?
Machi: that's what we thought.
Arthor: maybe this is some kind of new training or something.
Karri: he may be hiding and waiting for us to find him.
Machi: I thought we did endurance training Manidays.
Karri: no that's Tyrdays, Manidays are Talents training.
Machi: oh yeah.
Arthor: not that it matters its Wodenday.
Machi: It is? man you loose track of the days in here.
(they wait around for a moment)
Machi: .....so.......that weather huh?
Lykoi: lets go find tenebris.
everyone: yeah, yes, lets go, that's what i was saying.
(it cuts to Tenebris in his house writing down symbols and trying to translate the book. Machi opens the door quickly...)
Machi: Tenebris! (a picture of a landscape falls off the wall)...my bad.
Tenebris: I know that I'm late for training, I apologize but I have something of importance to do.
Arthor: what are you doing?
Tenebris: I found this manuscript in the chamber of Taresseus.
Karri: Taresseus? like the library ghost? I thought that place collapsed.
Tenebris: It did. I've been digging up manuscripts that may be useful in preventing the Oncoming storm over the past 4 years. It wasn't until yesterday that I found the entrance to Taresseus chambers and found this.
Lykoi: (walks over and looks at it.) This Taresseus, was he from a tribe?
Tenebris: He was Tempurian, the first Tempurian to be exact. why?
Lykoi: This is an old dialect of our language. only royalty spoke this, it was a sign of higher intelligence. it died out though, as there are less royal families then in the olden days.
Tenebris: you mean you can read this?
Lykoi: most of it.
Tenebris: (slides the book over) then please go ahead.
Lykoi: okay...uhm...forgive me if I stumble over my words, I have not used this kind of language in a very long time. (he stumbles through reading the words and has a hard time translating some)
"Then he was there...the light in the darkness. And From him the world was formed. From the void he created the seas. From the darkness he formed the land. From nothing he formed life.
The was chaos, and there was order. and he saw everything he made and was proud. but he was not alone. A creature of the void, one before man, stood against him. The whole earth shook, and something new was born. Death. The Light was killed, so Man could live.
The light and the dark were separated and from their ashes our world was born. And so is the tale of the first storm."
There is more here but It will take me some time to decipher.
Machi: So you skipped a day of training to try and read a fairy tale from a ghost librarian?
Tenebris: This isn't a fairy tale. this book is written by Taresseus. He was one of the first humans, not only that he was the first immortal knight. this could be a look into what the begging of the world was like.
Machi: we know what the begging of the world was like, the creator made the original 4 races in the garden and the war of separation happened. seems pretty cut and dry to me.
Arthor: besides, all of his other writings have been scrolls, and this writings in a book. this is probably one of his last writings. for all we know it could be made up.
Tenebris: No. Taresseus would not have hid this away in his secret chambers if it wasn't important. lykoi can you keep translating this.
Lykoi: yes.
Tenebris: Make a note of any mention of a storm. it could hold the key to stopping the oncoming storm.
Arthor: what is there to find out, we know how to stop the storm. Raxis needs to be killed. why waste our time on trying to find the answer when we already know it?
Tenebris: you don't know that for sure. Raxis could have nothing to do with the storm.
Arthor: Raxis has everything to do with it. He said it himself he was trying to bring down Jericho. is that not what the prophecy was about?
Tenebris: I don't know.
Arthor: What do you mean you don't know, you said it yourself back on Trinity, that Raxis was connected to the prophecy and now you don't know?
Tenebris: I said he could, not that he was. there is a difference. With something as important as this, it matters!
Arthor: Then lets go out there and make sure. either way he has to be stopped.
Tenebris: That's why Keira and the legions are looking for him.
Arthor: and yet he was able to send an assassin that was as strong if not stronger than you. The legions have no idea what he's capable of!
Tenebris: and we do. That is why we have to learn as much as we can, before we face him again.
Karri: That's enough! (it goes silent and everyone looks at karri) Fighting each other wont help anyone. Raxis needs me and arthor. he wont stop until he gets us. its clear that we ae not safe even here. If we are to stop hiding, we have to do something. and that starts with this book.
Tenebris: Arthor! (arthor ignores him and walks out)
Karri: I'll talk to him. (karri walks out)
Lykoi: I will start translating. (he walks out)
(Tenebris sits back and puts his face in his hands.)
Machi: Teenagers am I right?
(Tenebris looks at machi like are you serious)
Machi: yeah, im just going to get going.
CHAPTER 108 TALES OF BEFORE
(The chapter opens with Gregor sailing into barrok that is still under construction. he docks his ship and puts a board down and people and he caries down a crate. )
Blackheart: uh oh, here comes trouble.
Gregor: by the looks of things the troubles left already.
Blackheart: don't get me started.
Gregor: I got some stuff for ya from Egran.
Blackheart: Egran? I'm surprised you went there after all that's happened.
Gregor: well, a little war aint going to stop me from doing my job. (he opens the crate and inside is several pieces of broken weapons) grabbed these before they could clean up the battlegrounds.
Blackheart: (she picks up the weapon and her eyes glow and the weapon faintly glows) malmite?
Gregor: not just any malmite. that is pure, Egranian forge malmite.
Blackheart: are you kidding? you know how much the legions will pay for this?
Gregor: quite a hefty price I'd say. when I heard what happened at barrok, I thought I'd repay ya for all the good business over the years.
Blackheart: your too good gregor. (she gives him a hug)
Gregor: It's the least I could do. (they start walking through the town) so how's arthor and karri doing?
Blackheart: I got a letter the other day from karri. He told me that tenebris and arthor found him and that he was doing good. that's the last I heard from them.
Gregor: did he say where they were going?
Blackheart: no, I would assume back to Longra milli.
Gregor: Longra milli huh.
Blackheart: speaking of which....(she opens the door of her office and grabs a bottle of bjor) fresh off the farm.
Gregor: (grabs the bottle) Amazing.
Blackheart: there are 4 crates full for you to take.
Gregor: how much do I owe ya.
Blackheart: you've payed enough already.
Gregor: thank you kindly. (he starts heading out)
Blackheart: oh before you leave, some one came in the other day looking for you. said their name was Nathan Stone.
Gregor: Nathan? where?
Blackheart: he's staying at what's left of the inn.
Gregor: Take care.
Blackheart: you as well. safe travels.
(Gregor closes the door and his smile immediately fades and he gets serious. he walks through town and comes to the inn. )
Gregor: which room is Nathan stone staying in?
Man: room 3.
(Gregor walks into the room and the lights are off)
Gregor: Took ya a while. I was starting to believe something actually happened to ya.
(Nyx and Nox appear out of the darkness. )
Gregor: what happened to Raxis?
Raxis: why don't you ask him yourself.
Gregor: (bows) my lord. I had assumed the worst when I returned to Eldur and there was no sign of the Kongur.
Raxis: have you completed your mission?
Gregor: I have. I gave death his mission.
Raxis: and the insurance.
Gregor: secured. (it cuts to a panel of a woman tied up and unconscious below deck on Gregor's ship. )
Raxis: good.
Gregor: sir, what happened in Egran?
Raxis: a temporary set back. have you made contact with the others.
Gregor: the 2nd marquis and the corrupted magnus have captured the second ranked royal knight Demion and are currently hiding in Sedanss.
Raxis: what about the first?
Gregor: nothing yet. sir may I ask what you are doing in barrok?
Raxis: The man with the white hair. the one protecting arthor and karri.
Gregor: Tenebris?
Raxis: He possesses chaos.
Gregor: are you sure?
Raxis: I saw it with my own 2 eyes.
Gregor: so what does this mean.
Raxis: it means, everything we need for Jericho's destruction is in one place. and I believe you know where that is.
Gregor: (evil smile)
(it cuts to Keira, Sam, and Ace sailing at night.)
Legionary: no reports of any Kongur activity from any of the surrounding villages.
Ace: des malo. thank you Angelo.
Keira: They always seem to be 2 steps ahead.
Sam: they must have figured we were on their trail.
Ace: if there is even a whisper of the Kongur, I wont to know about.
Keira: until then, we have a message to deliver.
Ace: Take us to Longra milli, full speed.
Legionary: yes sir. (he walks away)
Sam: (sees Keira standing looking out at the water.) everything ok?
Keira: ...I don't know...Ever since tenebris showed up at trinity, I've had this weight. I thought that ending the war at Egran would get rid of it...but its only gotten heavier. whatever the Kongur are hiding...I don't know if the legions are ready for it.
CHAPTER 109 CROSSROADS
(The chapter opens with arthor in the woods at night training in a small area lit by lanterns. his eyes glow red as he kicks and punches a tree braking the wood off as he does. he jumps backward and and flips and throws a few knives that all stick into the middle of the tree and lands)
Karri: so this is where you've been hiding at night?
Arthor: (his eyes stop glowing as he looks up surprised at karri) you want to train too?
Karri: No...I want to talk.
Arthor: what's there to talk about? (he grabs the knives from the tree)
Karri: what's there to talk about!? well we could start with you and tenebris? ever since Svangur showed up you've argued with everything he's said. or maybe we could talk about how you've been staying awake for multiple days in a row just to train. You have barely used you violencia in training. what's going on?
Arthor: Nothing. I'm fine.
Karri: Really? cuse to me it seems like something's up.
Arthor: Really I'm fine. now if you'll excuse me, I have to get back to training.
Karri: If you think you need to face Raxis alone then your wrong.
Arthor: (stops) and why is the wrong? I let Raxis take us in. I let you be capture. I let Tenebris die. I was the one the one that wasn't strong enough. I should be the one to make up for my mistakes.
Karri: If you hadn't let us be taken in by Raxis we would have died on the street. I am the one who left even after you told me not to. we all fought Raxis and we lost. you did the best you could, you don't need to apologies for that.
Arthor: Well my best just wasn't good enough, okay? Next time it will be.
Karri: next time, we will fight them together....and win together.
Arthor: cut the power of friendship bullshit. The only way to win is to be stronger than your opponent. if your weak you die. I've learned that lesson. First in Egran, then here. There are people out there that could take out 10,000 legionaries. It doesn't matter how many people there are if you aren't strong enough to fight by yourself.
Karri: That isn't true.
Arthor: Isn't it! we all trained for 4 years to get stronger and what happened the moment we were challenged, in our own home no less. If Svangur wanted to kill any of us he would have. I wont let that happen ever again. I will become the strongest person on this earth if I have to, If it means I can keep those I love safe.
Karri: (his eyes glowing blue) If you really think that's true then show me.
Arthor: what?
Karri: Show me that you have the resolve to be the strongest.
Arthor: I'm not going to fight you.
Karri: If you wont fight then I will. (He takes his daggers out and throws them at Arthor with lightning flying behind them. Arthor's eyes light up and he Jumps out of the way as the daggers fly into a the tree and cut it down)
Arthor: What are you doing!? Are you trying to kill me!?
Karri: If that's what I have to do to convince you, I will! (he pulls on the chains and the tree swings around towards arthor whose eyes glow red and he back handsprings off the tree. Karri appears in a flash of lighting with a dagger in his hand. Arthor pulls out his dagger and blocks karri's slash but gets sent back. he flips and lands. Karri tries to kick him but arthor doges. Karri pulls his chains and it wraps around Arthors arm and pulls him off balance. Karri throws a punch but arthor blocks it and grabs his arm and throws him over his back, but karri lands on his feat and pulls the chain. arthor gets pulled forward and karri clothes lines arthor with his elbow and arthor lands on the ground. Karri spins and puts his dagger up to Arthors face. ) Will you tell me what's going on with you now? (he puts his dagger down and offers his hand)
Arthor (slaps karri's hand aside. and gets up by himself) I told you already, I'm not going to fight you on this. I'm doing this for myself. (he gets up and starts walking away)
Karri: We'll I'm doing this for you too.
Arthor: I didn't ask you to.
Karri: You didn't have to.
Arthor: (hesitates) I'll see you at home. (he walks away.)
