We packed up the camp, Tigra and I carried what we brought. Brendan easily picked up the claymore, confirming that it was designed to be wielded by an Ursus.

As we headed off, Brendan walked quite slowly glancing back a few times at the site of his home. I only saw sadness in his expression, but he did not cry, just kept moving as he forced himself to walk one step at a time.

“Brendan, Athena is waiting for you,” I repeated what I said earlier. “She needs to know your alive.”

“Yeah,” nodded Brendan.

“Earth talisman, right?” asked Tigra, pointing to the claymore. She was trying to get him to relax a little more.

“Yeah,” he nodded again.

“Can you use it?” I asked trying to encourage him too. I wanted to know what had happened to him, but right now that was not a good idea, it could cause him to recede and completely shut down.

“No,” he shook his head. “Only the strongest of our clan can hear its name.”

“I see.” I glanced back thinking about Diluc, he even knew that his brother would one day wield it in the future.

At first traveling together all we got out of Brendan was single word answers, which made it extremely hard to keep a conversation going, you couldn’t respond to one word.

Brendan didn’t even sit with us around the fire during the nights, sitting just inside the tent looking out at us. It seriously gave me the creeps, it was that feeling when you think your being watched, but in this case you were.

“His curious, but afraid,” mentioned Larana sitting comfortably on my shoulder.

“I hope he can learn to trust me.” I glanced over at the tent, then I sighed as I looked at Tigra. For the second night she was pacing about the fire. “What is the matter with you?”

“It’s just,” she hesitated, was heading back home causing her to act like this and why? Just the other day she was moaning about them sending out a search party.

“What?” I asked wanting to her to stop pacing, it was starting to get annoying.

“When I get back I know dad is going to want to make mine and Dumah’s betrothal official.” Tigra stopped looking up at the sky.

“You obviously don’t want to marry him,” I pointed out.

“Of course not,” snapped Tigra. “You’ve seen what his influence has done to dad.”

“Then don’t,” I said.

“It’s not that simple,” responded Tigra.

“Yes it is,” I encouraged. I didn’t want her being betrothed any more than she did, especially since I had discovered these feelings I held for her.

“You have no idea who my father really has become,” snarled Tigra.

“Don’t I.” I stood up. “I’ve seen less of dad since he took up more of a position as his advisor to combat against the ideas Dumah seems to be putting in your dads head and he’s always going away on so called jobs that other knights are more than capable of doing. I’ve heard dad and mum talking, that this so called peace we live in now might just end.” I growled back. “The tribes around Panthera are on edge because of it and the king doesn’t come to see me training anymore, sneak in my home to steal breakfast or joke about me being his son-in-law.”

“Are you serious?” She gave me a weird look.

“No one will be safe if Dumah wins, but as long as King Alton allows Dumah to continue to stay around him, the darkness won’t fade. It wouldn’t surprise me if the attacks related to the Ursus are somehow related, but it might not for the main reason I have never seen anyone in Cathopia who can breathe fire, fly and exhibits more darkness than Dumah.”

“My father may have changed but he would never order something like this to be done,” snapped Tigra.

“You think no one knows the king anymore, that he’s the only one.” I lowered my head. “Everyone in the castle is slowly becoming infected by that same corruption.”

“What corruption?” She held a confused expression.

“You can’t see it.” I held open my arms as I said it, she shook her head. “It’s a mist that seeps within the castle walls and around the city streets, the knights don’t care like they once did and somehow from what I’ve heard from my parents they think I have something to do with stopping it, yeah right.” I took in a quick breath. “I can see the malice and corruption coming from Dumah, it seeps into every soul that gets too close.” I couldn’t believe I was telling her this.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” She stepped forward concerned.

“Because I wasn’t completely sure of it myself until recently,” I mentioned.

“When?” She stepped forward again, this time tripping on a small rock and into me.

“Wow!” I cried, also sighing as this kept happening. Tigra ended up on top of me and just like before my heart began racing uncontrollably, these emotions were almost too much to bear. I just wanted to tell her, but I bit my tongue and remained quiet about it.

“Sorry,” apologised Tigra.

“Don’t worry about it,” I responded staring up at her.

I suddenly heard laughing, and we both looked over to the tent seeing Brendan sat outside it, he seemed to find our predicament funny.

“You guys are funny,” he commented. Tigra blushed and quickly got off me. I sat up catching my breath, that was too close. “It was a Draco that attacked my home.”

“A Draco?” repeated Tigra.

“Are you sure?” I questioned.

“A scaled beast; scales black and red, wings and eyes that pierced through you,” responded Brendan. “Every one of my clan who looked into those eyes, froze with fear, no one could fight it and it was over before it had begun.” Brendan glanced back at the claymore. “My brother protected me from the worst of it, and is…”

“I’m guessing he was the owner of the claymore,” said Tigra.

“Yes.” Brendan’s expression went dark, the memory’s flashing through his mind.

“I’m sorry Brendan,” I reached over touching his shoulder. “Remember you carry his legacy now.” Brendan nodded.

“Is Athena really alive?” He asked.

“She is,” smiled Tigra. “We’ll take you too her.

“But first I need to see King Alton to give him my report on what attacked the caravans,” I mentioned. “I know nothing will be done about it, but I still have to report the mission details to complete it.”

“That’s true,” agreed Tigra.

“Once I’ve done that you’ll have my full attention Brendan.”

“Oh,” he stared at me. “Thank you for saving me.”

“You’re welcome,” I smiled.

Brendan stood dead straight. “As degreed by my clan I owe you my life and as such I will do anything for you until the dept has been repaid.”

“You don’t have to do that,” I said surprised.

“I must,” he responded.

“Just deal with it, Alex, it’s how his clan does things,” encouraged Tigra.

“Fine.” I let out a sigh.