As soon as they arrived and told Anya about what they were about to do and where we where going to go. She told them to leave everything to her and offered them the guest room to sleep in her store, since their stay at the hotel came to an end, and Anya herself did not wish to stay at her home. But the very next morning both Lass and Ikarisa where surprised to see and hear what was going happen.

"Woah what the hell?! What's all of this?!", Lass was surprised.

"I told ya to leave everything to me! I've prepared everything we might need and not need for this !Three horses all of pure breed! Supply bags on all of them for 3 weeks! And of course ammunition and repair tools just in case equipment ever fails! Now I know what you'll say, but I think reaching Delpha with the road around Kaci will...most likely require horses. Don't really wanna disturb the silence of that place and additionally, everyone is scared shitless of that place, so no roads are build there and the plans have been postponed for the past 3 years. Only mere hastily made dirt roads are there, but I'll see what I can sort out once we get to Delpha."

"Wait three horses? 'We get to Delpha'? Does that mean...", Ikarisa said in excitement.

"Ya guessed it! Imma come with you!"

"Welcome to the team.", Lass chuckled.

"What?!", Ikarisa and Anya said in surprise.

"What do you mean what? You expected me to say no? For one, she paid for everything since we came here and for two, she still owes me a proper match. So get on the horses, both of you, before I change my mind.", Lass scoffed.

"That's hella out of character...but I like it!", Anya said, wagging her tail.

"I swear both of you will end up dead with all this some day...", Lass worryingly said.

"Lass don't be so overprotective! We can handle ourselves just fine. Besides I've done this before in the war...and I bet Anya has been out there exploring more than the both of us combined!"

"Haven't you literally been exploring this world for centuries? Then again your sense of direction...", Lass folded his arms.

"Running away is not the same as exploring.", Ikarisa said in sorrow.

"Precisely! And I've got everything down in my handy little notebook here!", Anya showed off her notebook full of adventuring tips.

"True...but still. I bet you where out there only for scouting and looting not actual combat.", Lass said, still in disbelief about Anya's combat abilities.

With that said Anya came really close to Lass, and pulled her big saw like weapon.

"Listen to me big guy! I have clear goals in my mind and that is to help you and Risa. To add to all of the above, traveling all over Riza will hold a big profit too got it? And I almost kicked your ass in the tournament, if you wanted proof of my 'combat abilities'. So what about now?", Anya said in a serious manner.

"Mutt. I know everything...hop on.", Lass reassured her.

"What the-", Anya stuttered in surprise. "Right. Let's go!", she wagged her tail.

"But Risa hasn't got a proper armor or anything like we do how is she supposed- What the hell?!", Lass stuttered.

Without them realizing it, Ikarisa went in and changed to her dress from last night, but this time, it was different. The sides have been cut, most of the flashy accessories where removed and cuts where made in multiple parts to add a ton of mobility.

"Last night Anya woke me up for this...we modified the dress she had previously worn in the KoK tournament especially for me. We stitched last night's dress with her own battle dress from last year. We also further fixed parts of it for combat, enchanting the fabric with light metal parts and cutting it to make it more versatile...so...do you like it?", she blushed.

"She seems to be changing a lot of clothes, all the time. Is she maybe...doing this on purpose?", Lass thought. "Not gonna say I don't love it but...one last time before we begin for real. Are you sure? Both of you."

"One hundred and one percent!", both Anya and Ikarisa saluted at Lass with excitement.

"I swear you two...very well. We should get going. But if you start messing things up changes are gonna have to be made. Not going to go into further details about it.", Lass said in a serious manner.

"Sure! Lets go!", they both shouted.

With that they climbed on their horses, took the the streets and headed off. Their exit out of the city was heroic as well, as multiple people and even the King with Magi themselves where there to wave goodbye. And then they started to make their way to Delpha.

A long time passed as they strolled through the peaceful fields. After they had quelled the raid a few days prior, not a single monster was there to interrupt the calm sight. For the first time in their journey, they could enjoy a small moment of solace amongst the hectic rush.

"Well this is boring! I thought there was gonna be fighting and adventure!", Anya said as she rolled around in the back of her horse.

"Well it's not absolutely necessary to draw steel twenty four seven you know. Besides this is where it's at. Not a worry or care in the world and peace among the horizon. Can't all journeys be like this?", Lass rejoiced.

"I kinda have to agree with Lass here, Anya. Just look around you! Serenity and peace everywhere! My brothers have yet to reach this place..."

"Really? I thought this place was gonna be a hotspot for the gods...Kaci is 3 miles away from here!", Anya said.

"If you wanted faster traveling you should've bought a car.", Lass said, annoyed by Anya's constant complaining.

"Yea let me travel through the forest of spirits, disturbing everyone with car gears, and get my ass kicked from it again."

After a small pause, Lass had submitted to the playful nature of the situation, and decided to for once, be the one to mess with Anya instead of the other way around.

"Alrighty then...want adventure? Off to Kaci!", Lass said with a smug.

"W-Wait! Why off to Kaci?!", Anya said in a frightened manner.

"Because if there's one place I can learn about this broken cursed sword and why I can fight the way I do, I'm sure it's gonna be there!", Lass smirked.

"O-Oh no...", Anya lowered her ears and tail.

"My gosh both of them are such kids sometimes...especially Lass...", Ikarisa facepalmed.

"What was that? Scared?", Lass said with a smug at Anya.

"Me? Never!", Anya angrily said. "If that's what you want then...let's go to Kaci!"

With that they dashed all the way to the so well known Forest Of Spirits. But at the time it seemed a bit...uninviting...

"W-Well...this is uh. So this is Kaci, eh? Seems very...vigorous.", Ikarisa said, scared in front of the forest's presence. "It certainly has changed...", she whispered.

"Looks great doesn't it? Let's head inside then...", Lass smirked at Anya, without a single instance of showing fear.

Unlike Lass and Ikarisa, Anya was indeed shocked...

"What is this? Last time I was here it wasn't like this.", Anya wondered.

"Maybe Makaro and Kikaro came here? Like you said this is a hotspot for them...sure they'd love to get their hands on this place as a vantage point to Reingard?", Ikarisa said.

Anya didn't speak but only gave a small shrug. They got off their horses and started heading in.

"I can't simply lose to you...again.", she angrily looked at Lass.

As they all started to move inside the forest, Lass slowly started to regret the decision to do so in the first place. A thick mist covered the entirety of the forest floor, and it seemed to become even thicker and dense the deeper they headed inside the forest.

"Alright, stay close! We don't wanna lose each other especially in this...whatever this forest is.", Lass shouted at Ikarisa and Anya. "Perhaps it was a bad idea to come here...", he whispered.

"You don't say?", Mellistar echoed in his head.

"Oh shut it. I preferred it when you were inactive.", Lass replied.

"Whatever. I'm not going to mingle in such childish matters.", Mellistar started to fade away.

"Who the hell did you call childish?! Hah. Whatever, fade away like you always do.", Lass said to Mellistar, walking deeper with the others in the forest.

At one point they finally managed to come across a clearing to relax in.

"Alright then instructor. This whole breaktime thing isn't my deal and from here, it should get real. Let's go. Whoever backs out first loses.", Anya challenged Lass.

"Heh. Bring it.", Lass once again succumbed to the challenge.

"Lass...", Ikarisa facepalmed. "I do have to admit though...it's quite cute when he acts like this. Maybe let him a little longer...", she whispered, lost in her fantasies.

The more they walked in the more that place mist to engulf them...it was as if the entire forest was just leaning towards them to cover them all up. But then it was when things started to get even weirder.

"Hmm? You guys hear that?", Anya raised her head and ears.

"Hear What?", Lass asked.

"It sounds like...Misha?!", Anya jolted.

"Who? I don't hear anything...", Ikarisa said as she tried to listen to the sounds.

"What the hell is my little sister doing here?!", Anya screamed as she started to run towards the source of the sound. "Misha! Don't be scared! Big sis is here, don't worry!", Anya instinctively began to run towards the voice's direction.

"Mutt, don't run off that far! She can't be here!", Lass yelled.

Anya didn't listen and just kept on running towards the sounds she heard.

"God dammit, I knew this would've been an issue! It was an awful idea to begin with...", he reflected on his childish actions. "Why the hell did she fall for such a simple trick?!", he said as he punched a tree.

"Wait! You hear that?! It sounds like...someone being attacked! We've got to go help!", Ikarisa said as she too, ran off.

"Don't you dare do that too! Dammit!"

Lass failed to catch Ikarisa as well, watching her disappear among the thickness of the woods. In what seemed like mere seconds, he had been left alone in the forest.

"Stereotypical horror plot. What's in the end? A half-baked cliffhanger for a sub-par sequel? Maybe take off the mask of the beast to reveal some millionaire with daddy issues? And here I thought the author was more original...what a pity.", Mellistar echoed in disrespect.

"Could you stop?! This is serious!", Lass yelled.

"Idiot. Look around you and scan the circumstances. All this seems too convenient.", Mellistar scoffed.

"Screw it! Risa! Get back here!", Lass yelled towards the direction Ikarisa disappeared.

Lass started running after Ikarisa but she proved to be faster than him. She never got out of his sight but at one point she just...evaporated. Just disappeared into the thick forest. And then Lass himself started to hear the voices that where spoken.

"So you're back?", the spirits echoed all around.

"Back? What do you mean back?", Lass asked the spirits.

"You dare mock us?", they echoed angrily.

"Oh great it's one of those spirits. God bless...no. I didn't try to mock you. I only want you to tell me what trick you pulled and made them disappear into thin air. Give them back and we will be on our way.", Lass pleaded.

"It's beyond worthless to try to reason with them at this point.", Mellistar echoed.

"You will shut it up. I'm almost sure this 'You're back' is specifically directed towards you.", he shouted.

"Heheh. You wouldn't be wrong there. Miserable creatures.", Mellistar scoffed.

"Who with such power and aura would disturb the peace of the forest?", the spirits echoed.

"I'm not here to hurt you...yet. Where are my friends?", Lass started losing his patience.

"Safe.", they replied.

"Safe my ass. I want to see them right now. I'm just a 'lowly human'. So leave us alone and we can go back and around the forest.", Lass said.

"No...you're different...", they echoed.

"What do you mean? Who are you anyway?"

"You don't remember a thing...perhaps for the best. But no, it can't be...", they echoed, this time in a sweeter tone.

Then a light shone brightly in front of Lass as some sort of woman appeared before him. She was so familiar to him yet so distant...a feeling that can hardly be described.

"I can't believe it...you're...you're...", the spirit woman ran away in tears.

"Wait I didn't mean to scare you like that!", he said as he put his weapon away and chased after her.

Not long after she ran away an absolutely massive and terrifying dragon of sorts appeared before him. It seemed to be extremely hostile as it seemed angry for Lass to appear and disturb the forest like that.

"So this is the demon that has destabilized the serenity of the forest? In the name of the Goddess your reign shall end here!", the dragon roared.

"Ok I definitely didn't sign up for this.", he flipped the broken sword back in his hand.

Before the dragon could land a blow on Lass, the woman reappeared in front of him and saved him.

"No...you have mistaken him for another. This is...'him'. The real one."

She channeled all her strength and absorbed the dragons energy before disappearing again. After she did, Lass was surprised to see that the so tall and mighty dragon has been reduced to a small flying semi dragon-fairy looking creature.

Ok are you all serious?! I mean come on guys I'm fighting for you here! You don't have to screw me over like this!", the little dragon yelled.

"Over here bucko...so you where gonna kill me, huh?", Lass approached menacingly.

"What the? How?! This was so not in the jobs description!", the little dragon yelped.

"What now?", Lass provoked him.

"Ok so be it...by the way, trying to sound all badass and stuff while holding that specific blade on you is a no go, at least for me.", the dragon replied with a smug face.

With a flick of his fingers, Lass's sword flew off his hand and on to his tiny hands. The blade was almost twice as big as him but he held on it just fine.

"Heheh, I'll never get tired of this! So...it broke after all?", the little dragon laughed.

"Who the hell even are you and how did you do that?", Lass said, surprised.

"Name's Yuno, the magnificent guardian of the legendary sword Excelsior, 'The Oath of Eternity'.", Yuno said in a pompous and formal way.

"More like tiny guardian...so how about pointing that thing away from me now?"

"Nuh-uh, I don't feel like it! How about you come with me to my village instead? I'm sure you'll love it."

"'Nuh-uh' I don't feel like it either.", Lass replied angrily.

"Too bad, I have a sword, you don't, so move it."

"Fine. Let's go then.", Lass submitted. "Take me back to them and I'll snap your neck right after.", he whispered menacingly.

With that tiny dragon kept pocking Lass with the sword, slowly driving him all the way to his village.

"Yay, we're here.", Yuno said with a blank expression. "Wait while I convince the guards not to stab you while coming in...and don't even try to run away, the forest won't allow you to anyway."

With that he convinced the guards not to attack Lass. He pulled him again all the way through the village while multiple other colored little dragons like him gathered around to see Lass. They all kept giving him angry looks and stares, almost as if had brought them nothing but disaster. They then entered a big house where an older looking dragon was there.

"Elder! I've found the One!", Yuno yelled.

"Very well Yuno...greetings there One. My name is Weis and I'm known as the Kaisa village's elder. What may One's name be?", Weis calmly said.

"Name is Lass Reiden...and what the hell is all of this? Why am I here and why was I dragged here like this? Also why are you calling me 'The One'?", he kept on asking.

"Hey don't look at me, I'm just following orders to not get my ass kicked by general Vigo out there.", Yuno shrugged.

"Thank you for your help Yuno. Now please leave me alone with the One...and his blade of course."

"No freaking way, I'm not leaving you here with the so called "One"! He is demon with a lust for blood and a blade to act upon said lust! His aura heavily betrays him!", Yuno angrily said.

"Yuno, please...I can sense his intentions. He has no reason, nor will to cause harm.", Weis reassured Yuno.

"Fine.", Yuno said as he looked all around, slowly. "I'm watching you.", he pointed at Lass.

"So...what the hell is all of this?", Lass finally calmed down, putting the broken sword back in it's sheath.

"What is what?", Weis replied.

"You know. The guy that just stole my blade with psychic abilities, the hostility and everything?", Lass said sarcastically.

"Ah forgive me One. When the part of Excelsior was taken away from Kaci the barrier it provided against the gods disappeared. One part missing is enough to make the entirety of it's power fade. The gods then assaulted this place and ravaged our village...supplies and villagers alike where taken away. The villagers then linked the One as the person that brought them that calamity instead of salvation.", Weis frowned.

"God dammit Anya, I knew it.", Lass whispered. "When you say supplies and villagers where taken, what do you mean? Why did they take them and who took them?"

"The ones we call Shadowers did so. They're the Gods Army and they needed the supplies and people to add to their numbers, so that they can prepare to bring war upon Riza. The way they do so is more brutal that you could ever imagine. They insert themselves into their victims using their life force as a mean of controlling and taking them over. The hosts die in the process and their souls are used for their army.", Weis answered.

"What? Do you have any idea on where they are doing this stuff?"

"Northwest of our village lies their camping grounds, by the old town's mine, where no one dares to approach...our numbers and soldiers mean nothing to them. That did not stop several young and brave souls with boiling blood in their vanes trying to get their loved ones back...their end most sad indeed. We can't attack them without giving them more to add to their numbers.

"Hmm. I was initially thinking otherwise. But I can see you're speaking out of your heart and for your people old man so...I'll assist you if I can. That being said, does this "missing part of Excelsior" have anything to do with all this?", Lass asked.

"Ah yes...the legendary blade that only the One chosen by it and it's guardian can use. I suppose that this might be the answers to our issues...but I'd like it if you also took Yuno with you."

"The guy who keeps on calling me a demon? Nope. Forget it.", he sighed.

"The guardian of the sword is supposed to be the guardian of the One the sword chooses...so please do try to get along. You must be together to unleash each others full potential. Yuno please come in.", he addressed Yuno behind the closed door.

"Gah!", Yuno dropped to the floor. "I heard everything! And come on Elder, you can't be serious! This guy will end up backstabbing me or something! For all I know, he could be like the demons, or monsters or whatever those Shadowers are that also took Lili!"

"I don't even know why you're calling me a demon. Hell where it my choice I could tell you to piss off and be on my marry way before you knew it. Don't you want to help your people?", Lass angrily replied to Yuno's comment.

"Of course I do...that way they can stop treating me like this.", Yuno said with a frown.

"What do you mean?"

"After the fragment of the sword got stolen and the barrier was destroyed, everyone blamed me for losing it...they treated me horribly as if I wanted all this."

"You made a mistake.", Lass said. "Not really...god dammit mutt.", he whispered. "And it's all up to you to fix it. I bet if I can find my friends, we can all help you."

"Huh...maybe you where right Elder. Who are your friends by the way? Because I did see two individuals being carried towards the Shadowers camp.", Yuno asked.

"Was it a wolfgirl and a petite looking girl?", Lass said, hiding his worry of their well-being.

"Was the wolfgirl carrying a chainsaw?"

"Yes."

"Was another one wearing some sort of dress suited for battle?"

"Oh no...", Lass facepalmed.

"Yea I did see them...one of them felt quite weird. Her aura was extremely familiar...", Yuno wondered.

"Yea, it should be extremely familiar.", Lass put his hand behind his head.

"Listen, right now we might have some time but not a whole lot. Are there any other conditions I need to know about?"

"Nothing...important.", Lass avoided to answer.

"I can see past the lying. You're not a good one at it either. Come on spit it out! Whatever you say is within the norm of what I'm used to."

"Yea, this one ain't normal for most people."

"What even are they? She's a queen or a scholar or even a grand mage? Hell what bugs you so much you can't tell me? For all I know it could be the Goddess of Life who entrusted me with this Guardian mission."

"Bingo.", Lass whispered.

A small moment of silence filled the room, as Yuno suddenly burst into a rushed state.

"You've got to be kidding me! We need to get there right now! Move it!", Yuno worryingly said.

"Of course we do, I ain't gonna let them get hurt! But why are you suddenly so eager to do it? I thought you said we had time!"

"If she is the Goddess Ikarisa, then we don't have any time! She could be being sacrificed as we speak! They get their hands on her for that...", Yuno tried to keep himself together.

"Yuno is right you, must rush there at once! If one of the demons decides to use the goddesses body to add her in their numbers the results could be catastrophic for the entire Riza! Who knows how much life force the goddess holds...please save them both!", Weis said.

With that, they both busted out of the Elders house and rushed towards their location. This is was mission that they couldn't fail in. The entirety of Riza depended on it. Last thing Lass's mind would come to think of, would be the danger of losing both his friends and for things to escalate in such volatile manner...but he knew, deep down, that they were strong. They wouldn't fall so easily...neither would he…