Prologue.

He lay on the ground, the wound perforating his body bleeding profusely through the gash in his chest and back, though the little worm inside his body was already growing at an extraordinary rate, spreading throughout his innards and working its magic on his injury. But the worm wasn’t Lanfear. It was Avenir. His body would not respond to it as well, challenging the creature to heal him in time or at the least secure the bleeding.

The wound wasn’t the only challenge his life faced.

He had pushed too hard, drawn upon too much of his Remnant’s power because he had no choice, and now he was paying the price for jumping beyond what his body was able to withstand.

Lying on the ground, he could feel himself slipping away, while in the near distance the girls yelled frantically as they charged into battle and were swatted away like flies.

He heard their screams, the crash of their bodies against the chamber walls, and then silence.

There had never been any chance of winning – not against her – not after she gained what she came for.

The gamble to rely on their familial connection hadn’t paid off, and he was suffering for it.

He had summoned the ferocious energies locked away in his Remnant, and against another opponent it would have been devastating, but not against her.

Despite his best efforts, his defeat had been assured the moment she bonded with the ancient, wartime Remnant, and gained its power – a power that had secured victory for the Aventis against humanity long ago.

Now, feeling his life slip away, and with his vision clouding, he heard her address him and was unnerved by how clearly he could hear her, almost as though she was speaking into his mind.

“I’m sorry, but I can’t have you getting in my way. We’ll meet again. Until then grow stronger, little brother.”

The air in the immense domed chamber hardened, pressing down upon him, making it difficult to breathe. Then a gale force wind blew all around him, accompanied by a loud whooshing sound that filled the chamber for several seconds. When she left, she took the wind, the pressure, and the noise with her, racing down the large tunnel connecting to the chamber.

Damn it…damn it all….

With the last of his vision, he looked up at the girl kneeling over him, her long beautiful blonde hair draping her head as she caressed his face and prayed for him while tears fell in rivulets down her cheeks and landed on his lips.

He tasted the salty tears, then closed his eyes as his consciousness slipped.

Yet before he passed out, he was certain he heard another woman’s voice in his ears, promising she wouldn’t let him die for there was much they had yet to achieve….