======================================================================

Continent of Erlin – Years ago.

A sturdy-looking man and a little girl were hiking a hill filled with pine trees all around them. They wore brown leather shoes with leggings and thick coat of white, with yellowish fur around their neck all the way down, and also around their arm. The girl had grey hair, and the man had black. The sun was shining brightly, yet the air was chilling. Some snow was around while some squirrels were moving about on the trees.

Haa…

Their breath left behind mist as they pressed on. The girl tried to quicken her pace in order to stay near to him. Once a while, she had to rushed forward as her usual steps were not fast enough.

Tap, tap, tap---

As soon as she was able to follow, his pace quickened. Soon it was too fast for her, resulting in her puffing for air and slowing her pace… yet the man did not wait. She changed the way she breath, inhaling the air slowly yet much deeper into her stomach, before releasing it slowly through her mouth at intervals. Looking up, she noticed he was about ten metres further than her.

Wait! Dad!

She called him out. He stopped, turning around and looked at the child – his daughter. She ran uphill towards him, stopping a mere metre to his front. She looked up to him.

“Huff—huff— D-daddy, mind if I ask you some…thing again….?”

The request from the young child made him smile. He knew it was her trick to make him stop and rest, since he hardly gave her any chance during training. Even walking uphill like this could be considered training for such a young child. And when they arrived to their destination, a much harsher training awaits.

…Heh

“Don’t tell me… let me guess… is it about his return?”

“…Y-yes, the Martyr Emperor… will he really return? It’s been too long.”

He placed his wide palm on her head, caressing her shoulder-long hair. She almost closed her eyes as her hair was being ruffled by her father.

“My daughter… my pride and joy… Believe in his return, with all your heart and being. God promised, and He’ll never break promise.”

“…Then… will he return during my… lifetime? Been almost seven hundred years since, who knows how much time more--”

He chuckled. His daughter was too smart for her age. To deal with such intelligent yet fragile mind, he knew as a father, he must use the best of such opportunity – to touch and left behind a fine imprint of values inside his next generation. He sat directly in front of her, face-to-face, humming with his arms crossed.

Hmm~

…He grinned with confidence.

“That, my daughter, I have no-- such knowledge.”

“H-how come you don’t know dad? You know the names of trees, plants, birds, animals, terrains… oceans, clouds, even the star-zzz – and you know history a lot – and you can cook! I thought you know everything!”

...

“Hah! My daughter… I might know more than most people, but certainly not everything… and no one but God, knows everything. I am but a human. I must say I do not know when I truly don’t.”

“Then… why must we be ready… with all these training… I’m – I’m not complaining dad… Well, it’s just…”

The father made a rather blank face in front of his daughter, with her hiding her face behind her hands in embarrassment for questioning her father’s training. Children of Arcadia – no matter where – were taught to be strong both mind and body. It was imprinted into her that complaining about the hardship of training was something akin to shame.

Heh

“Do you remember the story of the Astaria – Demon War?”

“O-of course I remember. All the suffering… all the hardship… all the sacrifice…?”

“Good. Then you must know this, my daughter… We have the responsibility to restrain any demons from entering our dimension; that alone was enough as the reason.”

“I… I see.”

“Plus… The Martyr Emperor, our ancestor, was the one who took down the Two-headed, Demon Dragon of Fire – enabling your great great grandfather and mother to come to Ein Gard… and here we are. Able to enjoy peace together with your mother…”

…

…

It took awhile for the whole explanation to seep in into her consciousness. Our ancestor, as was mentioned, was actually referring to him as part of their people as a whole. When she finished analyzing the meaning behind what her father said, she nodded.

“T-then we must be thank…ful?”

“…Then!”

Ueh!

Her cheek flushed. She was shocked by her father’s enthusiasm – yet soon calmed as he did this every so often.

“…When he arrived, don’t you want him to feel… proud when he sees us?”

“Eh..?”

She blanked out, but soon nodding furiously.

“And then, you can tell him…”

“I – I can… tell him?”

“Yes, you can tell that legendary Emperor of ours yourself… when he comes… that his sacrifice, was not—”

He slowly embraced his daughter, and whispered into her ear… Sudden cold breeze came and passed through them, yet his daughter could hear his words quite well.

…

She smiled.

It was a smile filled with content.

…

…

==================================

Chapter 16: The Moment of Truth

==================================

By the lake, two figures were on top of a large, black rock by a high cliff. High-speed wind started to encircle the two, bringing a lot of humidity into the surrounding air.

On top of the rock… Averon, and at his back Laksha, with a barely visible long sword protruding from her right hand; its end was placed at Averon’s neck. He could feel the cool breeze and hear the buzzing sound coming from her Sword of Wind.

He was questioned, yet he did not answer. He stood silent, with his back facing her.

“… Answer the freaking question.”

Laksha said with heavy tone.

“…Why are you being hostile, Lady Laksha? You know who I am.”

“You’re testing my patience. Just answer the question!”

SWUUUUUUUSHH-------------------------

The wind encirclement started to move at a much higher speed, as if the nature defined her temper. She was in a rather awful mood, possibly because of what happened to Shisha, and also the fact she had to do… this.

As for Averon, he was pondering…

- Why is she acting this way? I know she’s not… Is it because of what happened to Shisha? Should I tell her? But the warning…

He was thinking about revealing himself at some point, but not this fast. The warning from – God – on his Status Window was about keeping his identity a secret. He was merely five-year old, not even ready, and should the Demon Army be aware of his existence… The locked status on his Maximum hostility with the Demon’s Army would possibly be undone.

- A secret need to stay with just one person. Even another person knowing could spell an end to a secret.

He thought. He also pondered the reason why Laksha was behaving this way… then another fact written in the status window struck him -- His hidden title…

- Could it be? I inherited all fire affinity and traits of the Two-headed Demon Dragon… Did I emit demonic presence somehow… if I did… when?

“You…”

WRUUU -----

Laksha’s fighting spirit flared again. The air surrounding her shivered, with pieces of small rocks started to float around her. The cool air surrounding them was getting heavy – pressuring him. The pressure was overwhelming, yet he refused to kneel.

Ughh…!

- Being pressured into kneeling by my very own next-generation…? No way! My fighting spirit might be locked… but I still have the mentality… of a Knight… Tch!

His legs were shaking… He forced them to stay with sheer willpower. He had to decide fast.

“…Fine, but tell me one thing…”

“I’m the one asking question here!”

VRUUUU---!

The surrounding air trembled, her grey hair fluttered while her robe rose upward. The image behind Averon was akin to a… ghost.

“Wait! Just one… It’s necessary!”

“…Just one, and depends. Get on with it.”

“Alright. The question is, Lady Laksha…. Can you keep a secret?”

“…?”

His question threw her off-guard… The wind around them slowed down, moisture filled the air. Her mouth opened a bit in surprise, yet soon she regained her composure.

“…Well?”

“…Fine! I can, only if it was absolutely necessary.”

“Really?”

“You…”

“Asta--- Arcadians always keep their words. Aren’t you an Arcadian, Lady Laksha?”

“Wha… ”

She knitted her eyes. That fact was not really a secret – yet somehow, the way he said it… it was as if he knew Arcadians more than he should. She already accepted the fact that he was not normal, so she tried to shrug it off.

“Yes, I’m a proud Arcadian! …I will keep my word. Satisfied?”

“Really?”

“Really!”

VRUUUUHHH---!

The surrounding air produced eerie sound reflecting her emotion. She was pissed off.

- Oh my God…. She’s like a child throwing a tantrum… ironic coming from me who’s a mere five when she’s supposed to be older than Shisha… again, ironic when she right now looks thirteen or so… I don’t think she’s a bad child though… I’ll need to discipline her somehow… when I can.

“Now, answer!”

He had no way to subdue her right now, so he decided to ask for her cooperation. While his nature manipulation might be more powerful than hers, his body could not even withstand her one serious attack. His body’s endurance, speed, vitality, strength and even fighting spirit… he lacked them all.

He knew it from the start; that her first attack that blew the rock before, was too slow to be called a real attack. Thus, the fact emerged in his mind that she was controlling herself. Then again, he still wished to find any chance to keep his secret only to him as the Maximum hostility with the Demon’s Army – though it sounded like a compliment, did not appeal to him at all. Any premature leak would be disastrous, yet…

It was the moment of truth.

“Fine, I’ll answer. You may not believe me, but I’ll explain if need be.”

“Just… out with it.”

“…I’m a Martyr.”

…

…

Silence ensued. Laksha was in a daze, with a little of her mouth open. Her eyes were fixed on him, yet she was clearly spacing out.

“Um… Lady Laksha?”

She snapped back into reality.

“…A… A Martyr? How dare you utter such -- blasphemy!”

She said so with scorn.

“I’m not lying. I was a Knight before, I cannot blatantly lie.”

“Knight..? So you’re saying you’re reincarnated?!”

“…Yes… Lady Laksha, no need to speak that way… It’s harsh… You’re a lady and this should not be an interrogation. You can’t treat one as guilty until one is proven so.”

“Wha--- Ughh… The way you speak… Really… So you were really a knight?”

“Yes, was and still believe myself to be.”

She pondered. She knew well how a knight would talk, since she grew up with one. It was tiny details – but to those who were accustomed to how knight of Arcadia talk, they would know… Perhaps. People of Arcadia were taught that a Martyr lived on, though she never met any who claimed to be one. She lowered her Sword of Wind a little, yet soon decided not to and returned her hand back to position.

“Uuh… Isn’t this thing too dangerous..? Please put it away…”

“No, I’m not done yet… I will once everything is clear…”

Her tone became a little… nicer. Averon sighed in relief. At least he would not be missing a head from a sudden mood swing.

- Being killed by your own next-generation is no laughing matter… huhu…

Meanwhile, Laksha was observing him in details… from his back. He was a bit uncomfortable, but at least he was out of danger, for now anyway.

“Can’t I at least turn and face you Lady Laksha, this is a bit…”

“No, please stay that way.”

- Please? Well that a good improvement…

He could feel the sharp gaze coming from her… up, down… sizing him up. Averon had a well-toned body, different from any usual five-year old. While normal child of Knights might have better body than others, his body was even better than them. She pondered what kind of training a five-year old had to endure to achieve this – and such fact reminded her of her own childhood. Her eyes then stopped at the back of his head. The word Martyr lingered in her mind.

“…There never been a living, breathing Martyr reported before. So can you give me proof?”

“Well, first… Do not think they are dead. Verily, the Martyrs live on, in a place unknown to you along with God-granted abundance.”

…!!

“You… Saying from… how do you know those..?”

“I just know it… All Knights of Astaria do. Or should do, at least.”

Aaa…

She gaped.

“As-- Astaria?! You’re from our original dimension? Then why… how come you emit… demonic aura?”

“Eh? When did I..? I can’t recall doing so.”

…

…

She sighed, then decided to tell him some information.

“…It was when you’re asleep… Actually I’ve observed you for over a week, and four days ago… You emit very minute, yet very dense… powerful demonic aura.”

“Eh… could it be that you… per chance, make a mistake?”

“My whole sensation was tingling back then… There’s no way I mistook it for something else. It was an aura of a fire demon… so dense I thought… At first, I thought it was a high demon yet to take possession of you… but that fire… and that nature manipulation…”

Averon listened to her fumbled explanation while enduring the eerie, tingling buzzing to his neck.

After the incident during the linking, she had suspicion that a demon capable of hiding its aura to be dwelling inside him, and had already taken considerable control. The fact she just presented hit him – Fire demon, with an aura so dense… That was most likely the Two-headed Demon Dragon’s aura. This confirmed his theory just then.

“…Then again… How can I know you’re really a Martyr?”

She ended her explanation with a question.

“Ask away Lady Laksha. I can’t be flaunting myself… Not befitting a Knight.”

“Tell me in details about yourself then.”

“No… Ask me specific questions… telling in details is a bit…”

“Fine! What’s your real name and rank?”

“…”

“Well? Surely that’s reasonable?”

“Can we skip past the name… and rank? Can I just prove you with techniques of Astarian Knights?”

…

…

“…Suspicious. Why’re you making this difficult? Just out with your name… Sir?”

“You jest… I wish to avoid that… If the demon army knew of my existence… there’ll be disaster…”

“Wha… You’re exaggerating. Argh fine, I’ll just tell you this – the Sages, us, are actually monitoring any Dimensional Space-bending. Any Opening… or portal, would be closed immediately before it’s too late. Closing one is much easier than opening one. The Demons which seeped into this dimension through incarnation, the amount is rather small… Plus, most are Middle or Low-ranked. So you have no cause for worry… even if you’re a famed knight of Astaria.”

“...I see… Regardless… just trust me on this… And I’ll show you the techniques I knew.”

“Some demons could copy our techniques…”

“I’ll show you High-level techniques the demons couldn’t possibly copy, since it involved God’s name.”

“…High-level… techniques… I might be mistaken, but isn’t that only capable to be executed by… High-Tier Knights?”

She referred to Astarian Knight’s Tiers – four in total. It started with Low-Tier, Mid-Tier, Advance-Tier and High-Tier. The High-Tier, even during the height of the war, amounted to a mere twenty four.

“No, not only High-Tier Knights… even the Advance-Tier could, though sometimes they failed.”

“They..? Then you’re…?”

“Why don’t you see for yourself… Afterall, actions speak louder than words.”

“…Fine.”

“Then I’ll start…”

“No tricks! I don’t trust you yet… And I’ll be holding your sword.”

She eyed his sword, which was thrown away onto the land when the rock exploded. It was rather strange for a wooden sword to still be intact while the hard rock turned to smithereens – that fact disturbed her.

Wind swirled and threw Averon’s wooden sword onto her hand, and she backed away from him. She felt rather cheap even restricting him of his sword, but she had to make sure. Years of experience had taught her not to readily trust suspicious things.

She stood a mere ten metre from him, and could hear him breathing in and out. She knew the breathing pattern – it was similar to how Sages breathed, though that still did not prove anything aside from him knowing how to do it well.

Really well, in fact.

Averon closed his eyes. She could not resist observing closely what he was doing, and tilted a bit towards him. By then it struck her that she forgot that looking at him directly could possibly be dangerous – since he could very well use charm on her. Charm magic was not rare, though a strong one that even Sage could not resist was really rare. Everytime she looked at him, she had the tendency to trust him – or at least, think he was trustworthy. It was something impossible, due to her personality of questioning things. Thus even the Sage council members, she had yet to fully trust.

Yet it happened. Odd, she thought.

Averon opened his eyes. He waved his right hand.

“Form zero, one, one, two, three, five, eight, thirteen, twenty-one, thirty-four, fifty-five…” He uttered the numbers steadily… “Water, your grace to mankind. O The Most Benevolent… I call upon spiraling water to show my next generation – your truth.”

The water from the lake vibrated, and from the middle of it, currents could be seen moving… Closer…

Then a mass of spiraling water was formed – it was a tsunami of over 10 metres – heading straight towards them, yet barely missing their position. It passed by Averon’s back and…

“Wha…”

WHUSSSHH------!

…Hit the rocks beside the lake. Booming sound shook the ground, and splashes of water hit her face. She raised her hand as a shield and almost closed her eyes in response. She opened them up immediately, thinking it was over…

Yet from behind, came another.

“Another one?!”

WHUSSSHH------

And another.

WHUSSSHH------

The giant waves continuously formed and hit the rocks just beside the lake. From afar, people of Crest noticed the giant tsunamis. In the city’s port, soldiers, fishermen, traders, customers, knights, nobles and peasants alike; on their ship, on the wall and on the ground… all gaped in awe of the strange “natural” phenomenon. People who witnessed it made a commotion.

“By the living God~!”

“Look! Another one!”

“Is it a monster from the lake? Is it?!”

“Call the Knights! That can’t be something natural!”

“Amazing! I’m going there for a look!”

“Wait, I’m going too!”

"Wait! It could be dangerous!"

And thus people from the port started to run towards the place the Tsunami hit. As they did, wave after wave – overall eight waves hit the rocks. Soon, water vapour was visible in abundance, and the whole place filled with fog.

“Fog… so thick… what is he…?”

Laksha pondered his next action.

Meanwhile the onlookers were too far away from the scene to notice the existence of a girl in gray facing a much younger boy. Averon raised his right hand.

“By the fecundating winds of which you send – It is from you water descends from the sky as our sustenance – Verily, you are the owner of the heaven’s stores. I pray to you, O’ The Only One with Authority. Show this as testament of truth to my next generation.”

SWWIIIIIIIIIIII-------------

Wind now came one trip after another, taking up the water in the air – aerosol around the place the tsunami waves hit. It took some time for it to reach high altitude.

“High-level… technique… combination…”

Laksha opened her eyes wide, looking up through the whole process. The particles came in contact with the water vapours above, of which condensed around these particles and turned into water droplets. These water droplets formed a rain cloud.

“This is..!”

Laksha observed the sky in awe.

Rain Formation.

It was a high level formation requiring a Grand Mastery in Wind Manipulation and Mastery in

Water Manipulation. Even then, only those with over two thousand Faith could form this natural phenomenon – as long as God permits. These requirements restricted the formation of rain by the Sages – or any Arcadian for that matter.

Of this, Laksha was God-smacked. Her mouth was gaping wide and her black-silver eyes were staring at the moving sky…

She was among the few Sages who reached Grandmaster level in Wind Manipulation, and she knew well how hard it was to form a rain cloud from a lake – impossible alone. In fact, since she lacked the mastery of water manipulation, forming a cloud from a lake would take a lot of time. Still, she could do it from the ocean, as long as there were strong waves that kept hitting a rocky shore. Usually, rather than forming clouds, she would just move any already formed clouds to places that needed water.

The rain cloud was formed without a hitch. Averon was thankful to the Creator, and he made a satisfied smile. He turned to her, witnessing her gaping mouth and eyes fixed onto the cloud.

- Thank you God… Next… The Thunderbolt which Seized… No, no… that’s too powerful… just a warning one would do… One capable enough to explain to her… Explain… in details… Yeah, that one… still a high-level one…

“..Let me warn my people with The Destructive Thunder… One of which overtook the two tribes who were arrogant and disdainful. O’ My Absolute Creator… Let this be a reminder to everyone… and my next-generation, of Your Eternal Power..!"

Vruuu---

Signs of thunder started to appear within the rain cloud. Laksha had her heart beating in excitement… and fear. It was due to signs of thunder – at a level much higher than a Master of Lightning such as Shisha could possibly execute. Averon raised his middle and index fingers towards the cloud, then directed them onto a surface behind Laksha…

SHIIIIZZZZZZZZZZ-----------

And next to him, onto the lake…

SHUUUZZZZZZZZZZ-----------

And to his back, onto the hill…

SHAAAZZZZZZZZZZ-----------

“Ueh!”

She ducked as three clusters of lightning strikes hit the ground behind her, the water next to them and the hill behind Averon. The whole place shook. The ground behind her rose to the air, with sudden burning smell came next – while the water rose up in steam and the lake’s water filled the sudden hole. On the hill, the strikes had shoved down the ground and rocks – now burning charcoals, into the lake.

A show of force.

It was a clear testament of power.

She turned her attention to Averon again. He noticed her and smiled in return. Rain started to pour… and soon it poured down in earnest. The rain soaked them. Laksha in particular – her robe was drenched and thus showed her well-developed figure, despite looking so young.

Averon noticed her figure.

- Eh… Very well done… Oh darn it what am I thinking! God forgive me for having per-- em? She… She’s not moving?

Laksha had since stood there immobile. Averon’s wooden sword was on the ground just beside her. She tried to open her mouth, yet closed it back. The rain kept pouring. Her braided grey hair fell down and covered half of her face.

- Why is she… Could it be these are not enough? I don’t really want to show any High-offensive technique – using one without absolute necessity… I don’t know how to face God should I really do it. No, I’m thinking about it too much. I should just wait for her to say something.

…

…

Laksha stood silent for a good five minute. She knew… He was at GrandMaster level – and truly, reaching GrandMaster in any element was extremely rare – much less in two.

..

Two!

Wind and Lightning!

Unheard of among the living in Ein Gard, and mentioned only in legends. Plus, the fact that executing such technique did not even stagger him hit her – and she finally uttered;

“Hi… High-Tier Knight… of Astaria…”

Her heart was beating fast. One of the legendary figures of which she grew up listening to – was in front of her. She began to ponder which one among them – at least from what she could remember, had both Grand Mastery in Wind and Lightning nature.

Three names came into her mind.

“… M-my Lord… Can I… ask you a question?”

“…? Ask away.”

She used respectable honorific to address him.

- She’s acting a lot nicer… So she already trusted my explanation… but what’s with her heartbeat… it’s not healthy…

He noticed the vibration around her. Her heart was beating so much he started to get worried. Her curiosity was killing her, literally. Laksha hesitated, but then garnered enough courage to ask.

“Were you also… Emm… a – a man, before you’re reincarnated..?”

“Ehh… Of course I was. Let’s not dwell on this matter anymore, Lady Laksha… Don’t you think I’ve shown you enough?”

Strike one, two left.

“… Then… M-my Lord, you’re… are you also… from the Wind Clan…?”

“Eh… Emm…”

He nodded in response. He knew where this was going, yet he just did not have the heart to lie… especially so when the one in front of him was closer to him than expected. She was of the Wind Clan as well.

She tried to say something… She stuttered, then after mumbling a bit, uttered;

“It is He Who sends the Winds as heralds of good tidings…”

“Going before His Mercy.”

And he answered instantly – of which he started to regret doing so. She jolted, but then…

Wind of Good Tidings… ascend.

She whispered. Winds carried her, and the whole pouring of rain was carried with the wind which followed, and she began to move around him…

“Till when they have carried a heavy-laden cloud...”

“We drive it to the land which is dead…”

Averon ascended, with wind below and much faster wind above. It was an exchange. An exchange between two Clan members… A tradition which lasted for over a thousand years… They began to move in a circle while facing each other. As per tradition, Averon had to be the one chasing Laksha, with her facing him while moving.

“…Then We cause water to fall thereon…”

“…Then We produce every kind of fruits therewith.”

From her face, Averon could see her tearing up. Her usual pale face flushed red – yet there was no anger…

“…Similarly, We shall raise up the dead…”

“…So you may remember and take heed.”

Both of them were moving with the wind… A circling wall of wind was visible from afar. The onlookers, and the people approaching them… stopped to look at the phenomenon in awe. The winds were elevating them as to heights higher – as if they were elevating within a wall – a wall made of winds and water.

Within the said wall, Laksha continued on…

“From the land which is good…”

“Grows easily by His Permission…”

And Averon still answered. He flew by her for awhile, and both of them encircled each other while flying…

“From the land which is bad…”

“Brings forth nothing but with misery.”

She closed her eyes… The final verse…

“Thus do We explain variously the Signs…”

“For people who are grateful.”

She choked, and then lowered her height… slowly… before stepping onto the rather wet, sandy ground sided by two elevated hills. Averon followed suit, knowing well that The Dance of Wind was over.

Strike two. There’s only one left…

Only drizzle fell, and the wind circling them seemed calmer than ever… From afar, Averon noticed people coming in, approaching their location with extreme eagerness. They were covered by the hill, but it was a matter of time before they arrived and witnessed them both.

“Lady Laksha, let’s get out of here before—”

“Final question.”

“… I don’t think we have much time.”

“Just a short one, My Lord… Just Yes or No.”

“… What is it?”

“Your real name… was Averon… Arcad. Was it not?”

Averon Arcad

- Damn it. Is it too obvious?!

It was only a matter of time for her to come up with the conclusion – something he had preferred to stay hidden. Now that she asked…

“… Not answering.”

“Just say No if you were not. Is it too difficult, My Lord?”

“…”

“Please. If it’s not true just say no… And I won’t dwell into it anymore…”

“…”

“Then it’s true…”

“…A Knight cannot lie. As foolish as that sounds, that refer to non-enemies and for treaties. You’re… not my enemy… You’re—”

“Your next-generation.”

She answered in his stead. The drizzle fell onto her… Her whole body was wet… and her face… seemed as if she was crying…

Was she?

“The one who continues your legacy... bearer of your values... inheritor of your work… The one who was protected by you… I’ve waited, for a long time… Yes, I am… Your next--"

She coughed, and almost choked herself before continuing…

“—generation… I, Latianna Kauf Sherman, call name Laksha…”

She dropped her legs, and fell on her knees. Her right hand was on her chest, slanted, while her left was placed onto the ground. Her wet hair almost covered her face as she kneeled. From the position, she bowed to him as much as she could…

“…Your servant, Laksha -- pays respect to you, My Emperor!”

“…”

He was looking at her with a serious gaze. Wind moved violently around them. Sudden lightning and thunder followed suit; the resulting shadows engulfed him with a dark atmosphere.

Finally, in this world of Ein Gard, the truth was revealed.

===

The Next Generations

The guarantors of the continuity of our effort, the bearers of our values and inheritors of all our work.

A miracle of God, the next generations are the King on the Chessboard, the absolute tangible existence of which we must protect at all cost

– Mind, Spirit and Body.

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