Chapter 8 - The War between Amber and Vermillion

Nero approached the stairwell and a blaze of heat confronted him. He stopped before looking back at Maude. Sticking out his hand as a temperature gauge, Nero felt the intense hot air that came from underground. Nero retracted his hand and quickly rubbed it to dissipate the heat he felt. Maude thought of going down the stairs testing her body through tenacity and her willpower. She came close the stairwell but ultimately decided not to descend from watching Nero.

"It's hot." Nero said.

"It looks like it goes deep underground." Maude looked down the dark stairs. "Do you have anything in that bag of yours?"

Maude pointed at the bag on Nero's back. The wind spirit on Maude's shoulder began to float around Nero. Maude eyed Nero intently who started to ruffle his hair from her stare. The wind spirit went into Nero's bag and came back out awkwardly. Nero gave the wind spirit a look of discomfort. It then landed back on Maude's shoulder which she petted.

"It's not nice to look in other people's things." Maude looked at her wind spirit.

"Piii" The wind spirit let out a whine.

"Well not really any protection against the heat but I can make something." Nero said.

"You can make something?" Maude flashed a skeptical gaze at Nero.

"If there are some Azure flowers here in the garden I can make a frost potion of protection." Nero replied steadfast.

"You're an alchemist?" Maude said.

"Yeah." Nero said.

"Aren't you a little young?" Maude was dubious at Nero's claim.

"Well, I wouldn't know." Nero said with a crooked smile. "My father taught me."

"So you’re an apprentice?' Maude relaxed her eyes.

"I know some things." Nero shrugged his shoulders and walked over to the garden.

Nero had to look for an Azure flower, which was often used as an offering to the God of the North. It often grew in harsh cold environments like the White Mountains. Mashing the Azure flower and applying it with some magical energy, you could create a Frost Potion of Protection. While it's usually used as a potion for the cold as its name suggests, in actuality it just regulated your body temperature. It could be of some use in hot environments as well for a short period of time.

Most of the garden had rotted away when Anna disappeared. A backlash caused by the yellow crystal which was the magical pillar of the room. Still Nero looked through the scraps and pieces of the left over garden in trying to find an Azure flower. Maude followed him and looked over his shoulder at what he was doing. She didn't really know Nero and didn't really have a good impression of him either. Yet she wanted to verify his claim of being an alchemist.

Rummaging through the rotted vegetation, Nero scanned for any plants he could make use of. He found some crystallized sap, a handful of green anemones, and two golden daisies. Some of which he could use later but he would need the necessary catalysts. He dropped some of the items into his bag but the one flower he was looking for eluded him.

"What are you looking for?" Maude said.

"It has a white stem with a blue bulb with tiny streaks of white." Nero said. "Try and find where the water is concentrated at."

"There's water here?" Maude said confused.

"Yeah, it's underneath." Nero replied. "Why do you think these flowers could survive down here?"

The Temple of Eden had an underground water source running through it. Life can't exist without water and it's especially true for plants. Nero had already seen the water first hand when he fell into the chasm. Maude went into the temple by brute strength and unconventional means so she hadn't seen it.

"Okay so how am I supposed to do that?" Maude crossed her arms.

Nero looked back at her confused himself.

"You have a wind spirit right?" Nero said.

"Yeah, to help me with my wind magic and guide my way." Maude said.

"Wind spirits sense the vibrations in the air, it can most definitely tell you where the underground river is running through." Nero continued looking through plants.

Maude had only learned the basics of using a spirit, so she hadn't known of its many uses. Of course Nero had studied spirits, their magic, and the varying degrees of their abilities. Not just anyone can make a contract with a spirit, they must match your magical affinity to be able to first of all. Second, while providing your magical energy for sustenance you had to have a good enough reason for the spirit to contract with you.

Maude had a magical affinity for wind magic and a strong determination to enter the Sea of Trees. These reasons enough were good for her wind spirit guide, which she was contracted to. When the task or reason is fulfilled the spirit will return to where it came from. Some had contracted spirits which stayed with them their whole lives, others just a fleeting moment.

"Can you do that?" Maude looked at her wind spirit.

"Piii!" The wind spirit acknowledged and floated through the garden.

Maude followed the wind spirit to the far side of the room. There she saw piles of rocks which perforated through the garden floor. The wind spirit floated around the rocks and looked like it was being pushed up by air. Putting her ear on the ground, she heard the sound of running water. Maude knew she was in the right spot and quickly searched.

Close by growing underneath a rock was a tiny flower, it was an Azure flower.

Maude was overjoyed at finding it as it matched the description Nero had given her. Maude lifted the rock up and found more Azure flowers which had grown from the hole underneath the rock. Quickly she grabbed a handful and took it back to Nero who was still looking through plants. Nero was surprised at how fast she had found the flower.

Nero examined the flowers and then looked at Maude. Nero could tell that she hasn't rested for awhile. Maude had a tired expression from her eyes. She had travelled through the Sea of Trees almost non-stop in trying to get to the temple.

"Feeling tired?" Nero rubbed his chin.

"A bit, why?" Maude said.

Nero reached in his pocket and produced a vial with an orange liquid.

"Drink this." Nero extended his hand out to her.

"What is it?" Maude exchanged the flowers with Nero.

"Something to help you." Nero started working on the Frost Potion of Protection.

Maude was unsure what Nero had given her but so far he's been truthful to his word. She decided on a leap of faith to drink the vial and pulled off the stopper top. With a gulp it was a cool refreshing liquid that went down her throat. Her eyes went wide and her body started tingling all over. Instantly she was revitalized and energized as if she woke up from a long nap.

"What is this!?" Maude shouted.

"Oh, it's an Energy Potion. Pretty good huh?" Nero said as he continued his work.

"You made this!?" Maude said shocked in disbelief.

"Yeah." Nero grabbed back the empty vial from Maude.

Maude had never tasted a potion that was so out of this world. Usually potions would have a bitter taste like medicine but this was different. It was like it was a beverage made to be tasted. What was more incredible to Maude was the effects worked almost instantaneously. Maude was now looking at Nero in a completely different light.

Nero went on as if it was nothing and smashed the Azure flower into a blue paste. He put the blue paste into the empty vial using it as a container for the Frost Potion of Protection. Creating a liquid from some of his magical energy, Nero mixed it with the Azure flower in the vial. After he was satisfied, Nero put his finger on top of the open end and vigorously shook it. The contents of the vial slowly transformed in color from blue to white.

"There, it's done." Nero said.

"You really are an alchemist!" Maude viewed the contents of the vial.

Nero ruffled his hair a bit shy from Maude's praise. He then drank a portion of the vial and felt its effects. Maude watched contently for Nero's reactions but it looked like it didn't affect him any bit. What Maude didn't know, was that Nero had been drinking these sort of potions all his life. Nero had a calm expression but was puzzled at Maude's gaze.

"It'll only last for a couple hours." Nero said as he handed Maude the rest of the potion.

Maude held the potion for awhile examining it's white color. The Potion of Frost Protection looked like a capsule of snowflakes floating in its own little world. With some resolve Maude drank the potion and finished it. Her body felt like it was under the shade of a tree. A cool mint flavor filled her breath and she was even more amazed at Nero's alchemic abilities.

"Alright, let's go." Nero said.

Maude gave Nero a nod of confirmation.

"Will this potion work?" Maude questioned.

"Of course." Nero replied.

Nero descended down first and the blazing heat he felt before was non-existent. Following behind Nero, Maude gripped her bow a little more tightly. After a couple steps down the stairs, Maude had a sense of relief. Using Maude's wind spirit as a light, they both went down the stairs into the darkness below.

"Why do you think these Elves fought each other?" Nero said trying to make conversation.

"Because they were different." Maude replied.

"They are the same type of people." Nero said.

"No, they had differences in their religion." Maude said.

Nero and Maude had reached the end of the stairs which had become a corridor.

"To divide and oppress because of small differences in religion is idiotic." Nero said. "I can't really understand."

Nero walked through the corridor followed by Maude. The dark corridor seemed to be carved from the land. It had gotten smaller and smaller as they went in deeper.

"People invoke the name of Gods when going to war, they invoke them when seeking salvation, over and over." Maude said. "So people want their Gods to be the correct choice."

"Well that's true, it has been said throughout history." Nero said.

"It's still true today." Maude replied.

"Well that's tiring." Nero said before coming to a halt.

Maude walked into Nero not paying attention to her surroundings.

"Hey! What are you doing!" Maude exclaimed.

"Quiet!" Nero looked back at her and gave a serious expression.

Maude went silent as Nero moved to let her see what was in front of them. At the end of the corridor was a cliff that led into a cavern, one might not be able to tell because of the darkness. What was down below the cliff was a mix of hard rock and sand. A river of lava was running through it. What surprised Nero and Maude was the scene of a hellish battle down below as a massive war was being waged.

A war between the followers of the Vermillion Dragon and Amber Spider.

Elves that looked dead with rotting flesh and many skeletons were fighting. All wearing armor in the color of red or yellow. The black mist was thick and heavy surrounding the air. The battle was being fought still with many bodies littering the floor. Suddenly, a sound broke through the air and the bodies that were laid down had risen up again. It was the sound of a war horn, it was the Horn of Satyr.

Maude looked for the source of the sound and she had found it. In the center mass of the battle between two armies. An Elf whose lower body was that of a gigantic black spider was holding it in his hands, The Horn of Satyr. The Elf was wearing a beautiful crafted armor in the color of amber. His eyes were glowing an un-natural golden hue but his body was covered in a swirl of black mist.

"So he's the one." Maude said. "Let's go!"

"Wait, there's too many of them down there." Nero watched over the battle. "We need to plan something out."

"Like what? My magic can't reach from here even with the help of my wind spirit." Maude looked at Nero.

Maude was impatient as the Horn of Satyr was within her grasp. She didn't want to wait for Nero to form a plan. Maude had the blood of Orc warriors in her veins and so her pride wanted her to go straight into battle. Nero was still contemplating but a glint came into his eyes.

"I'm going!" Maude said.

"Wait, let me borrow your wind spirit." Nero grabbed Maude.

"Fine, now let me go." Maude gave her wind spirit a look and jumped off the cliff.

"Piii" The wind spirit floated to Nero.

"Help me look!" Nero told the wind spirit.

Maude had jumped straight into the thick of battle, the intense heat of lava and battle didn't faze her in the slightest. Using her bow as a makeshift blunt weapon, she crushed the undead next to her. The undead noticed her and retaliated only to get their heads knocked off. Maude was the daughter of two Orc heroes and her strength was nothing less of terrifying.

Soon a wave of skeletons tried to converge and swarm Maude. Taking out an arrow, Maude readied her bow and unleashed her weapons might. Wind magic covered her arrows which streaked across the cavern. It blew away the skeletons into pieces and anything else that dared go into her range. Yet with every skeleton horde she crushed, more and more appeared in her view.

Maude could only watch as more of the undead block her path towards the Horn of Satyr.

"Kill…kill…kill…kill"

"For Roux!"

"For Mars!"

"For Eden!"

Maude was getting exhausted slowly as she fought the undead armies. They were no match to her in a straight confrontation but had the overwhelming amount of numbers. The sound of the Horn of Satyr blew again and more undead had risen from the ground back anew.

"Damnit!" Maude whispered to herself. "There's no end to them!"

Maude looked back up to the cliff and saw that Nero had disappeared.

"Did he leave me!?" Maude shouted in anger.

Maude felt she was in dire straits when a rumble shook the cavern floor. A section of the cavern exploded and what poured out was a massive amount of water. It flooded into the cavern and cooled over the river of lava. The undead was being swept away by the ocean of water. Maude saw no way out in the massive flood of bodies and water, when a voice called out to her.

"Hold up your bow!" Nero yelled to Maude.

Maude followed the sound of the voice to see Nero back on top of the cliff. She quickly held up her arm holding up the ebony metal bow. Nero whipped his sword which extended to grab hold of the bow and pulled Maude up away from harm. Soon enough the undead was washed into the mixture of water and lava.

"Thanks." Maude said looking up to Nero.

Nero gave Maude a smile while grimacing to hold her up with his sword.

Once everything had cooled down and a new layer of land appeared, Nero released his sword's hold. Maude dropped back down to the ground safely and Nero floated down thanks to her wind spirit. The vapor of water and black mist still circulated around the air. When the vapor disappeared, Nero and Maude were greeted by a gigantic black spider.

"More dogs of the Vermillion Dragon?" The Elf on top of the spider spoke. "Listen well, my name is Leaf, leader of the Tree Elves, Commander of the Amber Army."

Leaf was a leader of the Tree Elves whose home was based in the Sea of Trees. Not only was he a leader but a military veteran of many wars. His fighting skills are said to be legendary amongst the Four Elf tribes. There were four tribes of Elves that based themselves on the teachings of the Four Gods. These were the Tree Elves of the west, the Snow Elves of the north, the Grass Elves of the east, and the Sand Elves of the south.

"No, wait! We were sent by your wife to save you!" Maude said.

"Anna?..." Leaf replied.

"Yes! Anna!" Nero said.

"Hahahahahaha." Leaf went into a hysterical laugh.

Nero and Maude stepped back as his laughter seemed insane.

"How dare you!? My wife is dead! You followers of Vermillion killed her in our garden!" Leaf had a menacing expression on his face.

Nero and Maude looked at each other with mixed emotions. Did Leaf not know Anna had survived waiting for him all this time? Had Leaf fought thinking that his wife was dead this entire cycle? What was clear is that Anna truly is gone now, she allowed Nero and Maude to pass through the garden in order to save her husband.

"No…We…" Nero tried to reason with Leaf.

"Move!" Maude pushed Nero away.

The black spider had swiped its claws at Nero not wanting to listen to reason. Nero was saved at the last second by Maude who leapt away from Leaf as well. Nero was conflicted, he had thought he could reason with Leaf. Nero and Maude had promised to save Leaf for Anna. But after years of battle while believing his wife was dead, Leaf had gone insane.

"It's no use! He's in a bloodlust!" Maude yelled at Nero.

Maude shot arrows at the black spider's legs only for it to pass through. The legs swirled in the black mist only to reform again.

"It's a shadow!" Nero yelled. " It doesn't have a physical body!"

Leaf was enraged and stampeded towards the both of them. The black spider moved like a creeping darkness as its legs swung wildly like tentacles. Maude avoided the blows with almost no effort. Nero created earth walls to block the incoming attacks. The pair was under a constant barrage from the gigantic black spider.

"What can we do!?" Maude said weaving away from attacks.

"Find the source of the black mist!" Nero said behind a cover of earth.

"I'll distract it! You figure out something!" Maude fired arrows at Leaf.

Leaf used the black spider's claws to sweep the arrows away from his direction. Maude had gotten his full attention and he chased her with fury in his eyes. Nero watched as Maude fought Leaf jumping around and firing arrows at his spider body. Each time an arrow would go through the black spider, it's form would dissipate only to come back together again.

Nero focused on the black mist reforming itself and saw a trail leading up to Leaf's hand. The source of the black mist was the Horn of Satyr. Not only did it corrupt Leaf but it was the very source of the black mist. The Horn of Satyr was saturated in the black mist and caused it to fill the room.

"It's the horn!" Nero yelled. "Destroy it!"

"WHAT!?" Maude yelled back. "No! There must be some other way!"

"The horn is corrupted!" Nero ran towards the rampaging Leaf.

What corrupted the Horn of Satyr was hatred. The Orc who had lost the heirloom and his life had cursed it with his dying breath. Leaf had used it himself in a fit of hatred, the Horn of Satyr had become a cursed item through and through. When the Horn was used as a last resort in defending the Temple of Eden, a black mist enveloped Leaf, corrupting him and others to fight a never ending battle that death wouldn't save.

"Spike! Stab!" Nero motioned his hand from the ground toward Leaf's black spider body.

The parts of the ground around Nero spiked up and shot towards Leaf. The legs and body of his black spider was penetrated through. Leaf fell down as his spider body of shadow was cut clean away. Maude was stunned at the magic Nero had used, it was the first time she actually focused on it.

"Now!" Nero yelled across the cavern. "Destroy it!"

Maude stood straight and readied her bow with an arrow. She aimed straight at the Horn of Satyr but didn't attack. Maude didn't want to be married off and she wanted to prove her strength. She was hesitating in destroying a family heirloom but knew she promised Anna in saving Leaf.

"I-I can't!" Maude said as she dropped her aim.

"Maude! No!" Nero yelled.

Just as Maude lowered her guard, Leaf blew into the Horn of Satyr. The black mist rolled out and formed a new black spider body. The undead armies crawled back up from beneath the ground. Before Maude could move, her legs were held down by undead hands. The black spider raised its claws and pierced Maude through the heart.

Maude's eyes went wide into shock as the black claws retracted from her body while spewing out her blood. Maude's wind spirit disappeared as it lost its magical sustenance. Nero could only see in horror as Maude crumpled to the ground. Her eyes stared on at Nero before closing as the light of life vacated her eyes.

"MAUDE!!" Nero screamed.

Leaf and the undead focused their attention to Nero. They converged toward him slowly with a deathly gaze. The first two people he made promises with had both died. Nero fell to his knees, balled up his fists and screamed. Then a golden light emerged from Nero's body, it was his own unique magic. The Book of knowledge strapped to his belt shone brightly as it returned to a golden color. The golden light beamed brightly from Nero's body, filling the entire cavern.

The black mist in the air was being evaporated by the golden light. The undead even without eyes were blinded by its majesty. The shadowy black spider body that held Leaf burned away into ashes by the light. All the dead in the cavern became just that and faded away. Their souls smiled as they were finally allowed to rest in peace.

Leaf tried to roar in anger but the light was too blinding. The Horn of Satyr had crumpled into pieces in his hand. The corruption of black mist was disappearing from his body as well. In the blinding light, Leaf saw the figure of his wife Anna. She held out her hand waiting for him to join her in the next life. Leaf felt at peace when he grabbed her hand as the light burned him away.

This was Nero's power and his natural gift. Nero had studied and learned many different types of magic but he held no connection to them. Nero had the magical affinity for Light magic, a power gone in the new world. Nero's use of light magic was visceral, it was all on instinct. He never learned how to use or control it, he just knew how.

Gregor had told him to never use it unless he needed to for two reasons. The first reason was he had no idea about the uses of light magic, it was a rare anomaly. All magic in the world must be gathered or used from something. To use water magic there must be water but for light magic there was none. The second and most important reason Gregor forbade its use was because it had the power over life and death.

Nero ran over to Maude's body and turned her over to look up at him. Nero fell to his knees and was still frantic at witnessing Maude's death. He motioned his right hand in the air and pressed his palm to Maude's wound. Light enveloped his hand and he press down on her chest. Light covered the area and her wounds started to heal.

Soon the wound closed and only revealed a open hole in her armor. Nero tried feeling for her breath but there was none. Nero put his ear to her chest and listened for a heartbeat but there was none. Her heart is still stopped Nero thought.

Remembering an ancient technique, Nero started to compress the center of her chest with his palms. Ripping off the mouth veil she wore he put his lips onto hers and gave her the breath of life. Nero continued until finally she let out a cough. Listening for her heartbeat and feeling her breath, Nero finally relaxed.

"She's still alive." Nero said with relief.

"You're right, she is." A voice spoke to him.

Turning around Nero was met with the illumination of Gregor.

"FATHER!" Nero shouted. "You're here! How?"

Gregor stroked his beard for a bit.

"You used your power." Gregor gave Nero a stern look.

"I had to…" Nero replied.

"It's alright my boy, you did good." Gregor said as he looked at Maude. "Oh?.....What a beautiful girl…"

"Beautiful girl?..." Nero said.

"Beautiful?..." Maude said as she slowly blinked her eyes open.

Nero had a face of joy as Maude returned to consciousness.

"Are you okay?" Nero said.

"I-I thought…I thought I died…." Maude said in wonder.

"No, you're alive." Nero shook his head.

"Where's the horn? "Maude felt her body and mind groggy.

"It's gone, I took care of it." Nero replied.

"Gone…you?..." Maude said.

Maude sat up slowly and looked at Nero. A well of mixed emotions filled her as she viewed Nero. Maude was ashamed that she hesitated and allowed a moment of weakness to overcome her. Yet she felt grateful that Nero had saved her and kept her promise with Anna.

"I'm sorry," Maude said with her head low.

"It's alright" Nero smiled at her. "As long as you're alive."

Maude returned a warm smile back to Nero. A feeling welled up inside Nero as he gazed at Maude, it was something he had never felt before. Nero looked away for a bit and Maude was confused by his actions. Maude started to cough and cupped her hand over her mouth. Touching her face, She then realized that her mouth veil was gone.

Maude felt ashamed of her appearance and turned away from Nero, who felt bewildered by her actions.

"What's wrong?" Nero said. "What happen?"

Nero tried to help Maude who kept avoiding him.

"What's happening?" Gregor asked Nero.

"I have no idea." Nero replied.

"Go ahead! Laugh! Laugh at me!" Maude was crying.

"Why is she crying?" Gregor said. "Did you make her cry?"

"I don't know!" Nero felt wronged.

Nero grabbed Maude's hands and split them apart. Maude didn't use her full strength due to her embarrassment and shame of showing her face.

"Seriously! Just tell me what's wrong." Nero was close to his wit's end.

"What are you saying!?" Nero said confused.

"Laugh at how ugly I am!" Maude said.

Nero had a weird expression on his face and he let go of her hands. He didn't really know the aesthetics of beauty in the world. Even more so was that beauty changed throughout history which was often stated in texts he's read. Maude was the first girl he has ever met and he couldn't really judge or compare her.

"I think she's rather lovely." Gregor said.

Maude and Nero stared at each other for awhile in an almost unbearable silence. What's more weird to Nero was Maude's reaction about her physical appearance. While only knowing her for a short time, Nero thought of Maude as someone strong and courageous although weak minded. Is this why men say women are a mystery to them?

"Well my boy, I think you're on your own for this one." Gregor said and disappeared in a flash of light.

"I uhh-think you're pretty...?" Nero said ruffling his hair.

"Are you making fun of me?" Maude said.

"No, of course not! You have the courage to face anything we've seen in this Temple." Nero said. "You kept your promise with Anna, you're strong!"

"I'm strong?" Maude said as the tears in her eyes dried.

"Yeah I think it's rather attractive."

A blank expression was on Maude's face. Maude has never heard anyone call her pretty in all her life, besides her parents. Even more was that Nero had called her strong. Her human uncle had teased her about being ugly and weak though she didn't realize he was joking. Although Nero was just a human boy, Maude felt happy that someone other than her family had praised her.

"Where's my veil?" Maude said.

Nero picked up the veil he had torn off, it had ripped in half. Nero put his gaze to Maude who still turned her face away from him. Nero stood up and ruffled his hair. He stared at Maude who was still covered her face until his gaze went to her chest. A strange feeling came to Nero as a hint of red flashed on his face. He looked away before taking off his red cloak and throwing it to Maude.

"Wear it." Nero said. "You can cover your face under the hood."

Maude quickly wore the red cloak and covered her head.

"Thank you." Maude whispered.

"Well we might as well go all the way through this temple." Nero said. "Anna said they were guarding a treasure to the God of the West."

Nero quickly moved on followed by Maude, as they both examined the cavern walls. On the far end of the cavern Nero had found a yellow mural. It was of the God of the West, the Amber Spider Roux known as "She who sees all". The mural depicted an Elf asking for the gift to see things to come. Roux answered and gave the Elf the gift of foresight.

"The same like Anna." Maude said looking at the mural.

"Yeah," Nero said.

Finding the symbol of Roux, Nero touched it and the mural opened. What revealed was a flight of stairs that led back up. The duo took the stairs and followed it to the very top.

"We're back in the Sea of Trees!" Nero said.

The stairs had taken them out from the underground cavern and back to the surface. When they emerged from the stairs, they had ended up inside the hollow of an enormous tree. What littered the area were golden webs and symbols of the Amber Spider.

In the center of the Tree was a pedestal which held up a golden metallic glove.

The glove was in the shape of a golden spider and a great power was emanating from it. Nero had never seen such an item before. Nor has he heard anything about the relic belonging to Roux. Relics that belong to the Four Gods were closely guarded secrets. Nero and Maude examined the glove and looked at each other.

"Here you are." Nero said and gestured to Maude.

Maude was confused by Nero's words and actions.

"Shouldn't this be yours?" Maude said.

"No, I promised you a relic." Nero said. "I will definitely keep my promise."

Nero did indeed promise Maude a relic, it wasn't the relic she wanted but nonetheless it was better than nothing.

"Are you sure?" Maude said.

"Just take it." Nero said.

Maude reached her hand to touch the glove and it moved almost alive. The relic held Maude's hand and climbed on top of it. Repositioning itself, the relic latched onto and covered the top of her hand with its golden legs. Maude reacted quickly but the relic couldn't be removed.

Suddenly a voice resounded in the hollowed tree.

"Anna?" Nero and Maude both said.

A solemn peace was felt in the hollowed tree as the voice faded.