"To find your way into your parent's arms again, you'll need to become a Valiant." He explained.

"A Valiant?" I murmured suspiciously. It sounded like something straight out of a movie; ...the death, the monster, the angel, maybe a demon. I hear only demons make deals when someone needs help. What is this?

"To become a Valiant is simple really. One must perform a 3-part task in which you must demonstrate the essence of a Mother, the essence of the Father, and earn the essence of a Guardian. Achieve something a Father would achieve and do something your Mom would do, then do what I say. Simple right!? Then your a Valiant; thus allowing you access to your parents again and yadayadayada...happy ending...I think... " He explained with haste. "See my parents again...?" I blurted aloud. "What does this...Valiant... have to do with me? What do I have to do? How can I trust you!?" I continued in a single breath.

It was something out of a messed up dream or a horrible nightmare. The many-faced thing standing before me is offering me some fantasy deal where somehow I will benefit. Who am I to question it though? Somewhere in this wonderland madness, seeing my parents makes a little sense.

"So are you going to let me explain or do you want to burn in this house?" He asked pompously.

I nodded my head eagerly, anticipating the impossible.

"Your task is as follows:

1- Essence of a Mother:

Your mother was born in a very poor part of Embrace. Abused and underestimated, your mother never gave up hope, thus your mothers burning spirit attracted like-minded people like sheep to a shepherd; people like family and friends who would protect her in admiration and love.

Proficient in math, your mother quickly engaged in incredibly challenging mathematics eventually surpassing most at a very young age. She eventually grew fond of engineering and ultimately became unmatched in the City of Embrace. Using her garnered genius, the city of Embrace was eventually able to stand on its feet again, making room for thriving and influential progress despite its massive loss. Thus achieving the essence of the mother. Figure it out.

2- Essence of a Father:

Your father was someone who influences Embraces standards toward a better future. Raised from a more wealthy family, your father did not get to know the true value of money until his family essentially disowned him over his continuous differences in politics.

Penniless and alone, your father escaped his city of origin on a wooden boat and proceeded to make his life elsewhere. Working his way from a small butcher shop, he began to learn the life of some less fortunate. Developing a prowess in business via the owner of the butcher shop, your father began opening up his own businesses. Yada, yadda, yadda, jump 15 years and he's virtually got his feet in every large business in Embrace. Your father used business as a means to help the city survive a catastrophic tragedy. Due to his relentless work in business ranging all over Embrace, he was able to resurrect Embrace financially and save many lives as well...you know the rest. Thus achieved the essence of the father. You get me?"

"My Mom and Dad did that. They never told me much." I said in pondering awe. "Yeah, whatever. I hope you heard all of that jargon because to become this... Valiant one must have all 3 attributes." He grunted again.

"Can you tell me more?" I insisted.”Sure, if you're looking to die?" He barked back somewhat angrily. I nodded my head reluctantly. Maybe I did want to die...if I was going to die anyway, shouldn't I get to know what I want to know. Will it matter? "Well, that choice is indeed on its way boy. Let me offer you the deal so that you may naively negate it. Give up on your own time. Not mine." He continued in a burst of rage. I could hear his gears and rickety machine parts crackle and pop behind the tone of his voice, even steam poured out from under his robe.

3- The Third one's easy because it's mine! It's simple, I have a favor to ask. I have a baby here who is very ill. The sickness, well it's out of my immediate control but you can heal him child! You can protect this sickly baby boy! Do this and the essence is most certainly yours to have." He cheered with deceitful excitement.

This so-called Valiant didn't seem too hard to achieve. This pain is real, so maybe this second chance is too? Hopefully...

"Welp...that is all I will tell you. Your objective is very straightforward. Become a Valiant. Very simple. What is your answer child!?" He assured while gripping the collar of my shirt.

When he gripped my shirt tightly, his face slowly shifting again to match his many moods. I stared into his melting face as the sand like specks molded his face into that of a young woman again not too much older than me. This one wasn’t glowing white or godly, she seemed normal. Why does he choose to appear this way? What’s the point? The girl was very pretty. She had blonde hair and was freckled; just a cute girl you would see in class, only she still smelled of char, and she still had that black robe made up of some weird mechanical fantasy. It was odd...maybe it...or...she was doing this to gain my trust, you know... maybe I was less crazy with someone who looks my age...I don't know...

"Will you take the chance to protect and heal this infant of mine, to become a leader, to give hope, and ultimately see your parents?" She pleaded with a soft pitched tone. "F-fine... just anything that will help get my life back. I-" I desperately replied. "And your name child?" She asked almost abruptly. "My what?" I blurted out again. "Your title from birth, stupid boy!" She clarified, snapping her lips together with a large pop at the end. "It's Lianol Novamen... or Lian Novamen." I said cautiously "WELL...Lianol Novamen, YOU have responded to my request rather enthusiastically." She said chuckling lightly. "Do YOU Lianol Novamen accept the Holy Task in return for your current safety and the hopes of seeing your parents once more?" She proposed with her chest puffed. No turning back now. I shook my head in agreement. I wanted to know more about my parents and at the very least see them once more. It is a deal I think she knew I couldn’t say no too. This was her trap.

"Let us connect hands boy as a physical bind of faith... you know the shake motion!" She demanded firmly while glaring into my eyes and reaching her young hands onto mine. "I'm ready..." I uttered.

Slowly, she began to walk to the left side of the now blood-soaked bed. She approached my side again and started to rapidly whisper a strange language filled with twitch inducing pitches. Her voice sounds like several people chanting and talking on top of each other with the occasional cackle and even cough sound in between. Again, I’m helpless to watch.

The mysterious woman just smiled widely while some specks of her face floated away like fleshy snow. Her golden eye rolled back and forth like she was being electrocuted and her faces once again waved past one another like a horrifying flipbook. "I think it's time you hold onto this boy." It said in a cackle.

The creature raised its hand and inched it towards mine, hoping to give me something it gripped onto tightly. Somehow, in its fist is another tiny music box w/ etchings that rivaled the beauty of the silver key flute it had given me before. The music box is about the size of my fist but it had an unexpected weight to it, like the weight of a small bowling ball. It placed the music box gently in the palms of my hands and inched its nose -or noses- closer to mine, continually whispering in its own weird language. Only listening to it talk made me feel dizzy and anxious as if I was spinning and falling at the same time.

"By the way! Here is something to send you packing! Your parents survived that day you didn't! She roared in laughter. I should have mentioned that. I do feel sorry! Must have slipped my mind among many other things." She continued laughing.

"They're alive?" I mumbled. "What happened to them!? Do you know anything about the masked men?" I stuttered inching my face close to hers.

"Your problems are your own. As are your parents. Why you die or who killed who is not important to me." She assessed.

"But my parent's are alive!? Right!?" I couldn't help but interject.

"Psst! Between you and I? Not exactly." She whispered. "They are 100% dead. Really! For real! Just hear me out before you cry your little tears though. They lived their life without you. They even died next to each other! What fun! Right after they rebuilt the home you died inside of somebody stabbed them both but... BUT that was waaay later. Maybe 30 years later? I don't know." She admitted with a sinister smile.

"You lied?" I cried.

"Nothing I have ever said was a lie." She interrupted with fierce conviction. "Your goal is the same. To see them. A chance at your old life? Correct? I don't promise fairy tales. Merely a chance to make one should you not open your mouth needlessly. Now don't waste the last of your breathe arguing nonsense. Your journey begins soon and the time for talk will come later." She continued with a scowl.

Suddenly I began to feel some kind of heat or fire burning through the bottom of the bedsheets. The bedsheets and room seemed normal but the sensation of burning heat and the awful smell of pitch-black smoke made it incredibly difficult to breathe...just like before. It wasn’t long before I felt myself start to lose consciousness while heaving blackened coughs in and out.

This has to be what the mysterious creature wanted. It wanted me backed into a corner so that I must give in to all of its demands. Why else would I be in this situation? If it was so powerful and paranormal, why does it just not get me out of here? I know I can’t trust this thing...but where else can I turn? To the flames?

"No turning back now. It's time to go." Whispered the creature."

"...Where was I going...?" I thought to myself...fading into the kind of darkness from the masked men before… I could hear the other music box once again go rampant. The dark yet fairy-like rhythm wrapped around me like a blanket of itching anxiety. I could feel the creature place its bony finger on my sweating forehead; Its lips still chanting and its eyes pointed straight through mine. At the sound of a hollow pop, I began falling, or so it feels that way. Just falling. It’s like a dream. A dream where you are glued to your bed, staring at your paralyzed body, endlessly falling but the room around me… remained the same.

I used the last of my strength to shift my gaze into the mirror. I needed to see what’s happening. What is going to happen to me? Is this something I’m truly going to wake up from?

In an instant, an abundance of flashing lights poured out from my chest like a light spectacle. I felt disturbed and yet the vivid lights gave me an eerie sense of comfort. Blue, green, red...I didn't feel a thing. I have...no...choice...but to just close my eyes once more...listening to the creature loom just over my face and whisper:

"The time for change is upon you. Your pain and suffering, along with the memories of what happened here, can be accessed through this little music box. Open it when you wish to speak with me, although I urge you to only speak with me when you absolutely require my conversation as I hate to have my time wasted over petty and trivial disputes.

Take care of the box Lian, it is what connects us...you and I. One moment! How rude of me! Where is that box?! It was your birthday, was it not? I have a late birthday gift for you. It's a nice young specimen, good for some form of uh... COMPANIONSHIP. Do with it as you wish. Nevertheless, I now leave you to this path, and whether it leads you to where you'd like is your decision. Again! Don't forget Lian! An ending is always glorious because it makes way for a new beginning, the paradoxical essence of life." It's voice fading into my head as I drift once again into unconsciousness.