I looked at the horn of valor and the fragment of light that danced around it nostalgically.

Throughout my struggles in the abyss, I had not used it, but it had granted me everything.

Lovingly caressing it, I raised it to my lips as Atros watched encouragingly.

Then I blew the horn.

For the refusal to give up!

For Courage!

For Valor!

Then I held it cradled in my arms as I whispered slowly,

The Abyss birds: The Flight of a Drayke is hard

The Rats: What fate gives you is a wildcard

The Spider: Truth: Speak it and walk onward.

The Snake: Love: Touch my heart and walk forward.

The Goat: Rage: Defeat me and take away my anger.

The stream of potion: Choice of the right path in the face of danger.

The souls of the soldiers and the ones I killed: Regret to be carried by a stranger

The life of Saber: Loyalty that even death cannot question

The Tiger: Two tigers cannot exist on the same mountain

The ambush and Deianira: Survival of the fittest is the most righteous.

The executed soldier: The giving of forgiveness

The monkey: Taking of what is the most precious and the bestowment of the power

The ox: Strength granted is not for a weak flower

The Elephant: Your memories will set you aflame

The Reflection: Good and evil are but the same

Lion: A lion’s will is in his pride

Atros: I am you and you are me and I am nobody. Hence, I can only decide…

To blow the horn of valor and let it rejoice

And it blew once, twice, thrice... twenty times!

For what is Valor?

Valor is nothing but the values that I have, the courage that those values give me, and the refusal to give in because of faith in them and love.

The moment I thought this, I felt my hands burn with intense heat along with immense pain in my heart.

Rising out of my hands on its own, the Horn of Valor blew the loudest and deepest note that I have ever heard it sound out! The true sound of the Horn of Valor!

And I burned.

I burned, and I ignited.

I ignited my body, I ignited my heart, and I ignited my blood.

It wasn’t enough.

So I burnt myself further until the tattoos appeared like chains around my body and I ignited my soul!

It still wasn’t enough.

Because I had yet to ignite my yearning for everyone, my emotions for everyone, my love…

With a thunderous sound, the abyss shook, and the pain tried desperately to force me to my knees.

But with teeth gritted, I shouldered the pressure that was pressing down on me and stood!

Ignite my life!

My heartbeat slowed further before it came to a stop.

Blood flowed out of my mouth but I looked straight at the top of the abyss and I squeezed out the words, “Ignite...my warforce.”

The Fragment of light as though hearing me danced its way towards me and then hesitantly, it went to my heart before it waved around in delight and then dived inside my heart completely.

And I ignited!

Thump. Bathump. Thump. Bathump.

The sounds of my heart beating slowly, yet powerfully, filled the abyss.

I knew none of it.

My body flashed in shades of white and black as the red tattoos rampaged across my body.

I smiled ferally and, looking up at the abyss; I roared.

The monstrous birds flying serenely in the air fell with a crash and I jumped up as high as I could.

Reaching up, I grabbed a grotesque bird and vaulted onto its back before I urged it to climb higher, shooting one last glance at Atros, who smiled sadly in farewell.

Screeching, the bird tried to throw me off but today it had a Drayke on it and the Drayke?

It was going to let the Flight of the Draykes out of the abyss.

And into the light where it belonged!