A WORD FROM THE AUTHOR: Sorry this is so late! Had some writer's block. Well I also changed up my writing a bit. Please feel free to tell me what you think. Is it easier to read? Harder? Also, I'm always cool with feedback and your ideas. Although I might not always listen. :P Well enjoy the chapter, I hope if you already read up to this point you can continue to enjoy my writing! :)

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A day after the mine was attacked, in the depths of one of the mine tunnels.

Ash hung in the air amidst the stifling cavern air. The walls of the cavern were scorched black. The source of the fire was a wooden home which was collapsed in the wide cavern. Hot air emanated from the pile of burnt wood and ash.

Suddenly something crawled out from amidst the hot ash. It was a tiger. Most of the fur on its back was seared and charred. You could almost smell its burning flesh amidst the overwhelming scent of burning wood. It was not too large in comparison to perhaps one like Pax. However it stood tall enough to be up to the average person's waist. This was one of Aiya's cubs.

It staggered out of the cave. In its sharp beastly eyes was a certain restrained rage. If one was to look into its blue eyes at that moment they would feel a sharp unrestrained chill run through their body. It looked for a long period of time before it found her, Aiya. His mother was missing the lower half of her body and an arm. She was slumped against the cool mine wall and surrounding here bloomed flowers of blood. Almost as if to accentuate her figure.

Almost as if sensing her child her body stirred lightly. She opened her eyes to see him, her child. Despite the blood around her and the organs nearly falling out of her abdomen, she smiled. Her only arm moved. Her hand pressed into the center of her chest as she took something out of her body. It was a Phoenix Core. However in comparison to Pax's Phoenix Core her's was only about half the size and misshapen.

As she was fighting and shredding her enemies in the previous battle she had suddenly broken through. However this blessing became a misfortune. The step from Dragon Class to Phoenix Class involves forming a solid core in the body. It was impossible for her to complete the process thoroughly amidst the attacks from the warriors of the Krain order. When something like this happens it causes a severe backlash, weakening the body. Thus she ended up in such a state.

Holding the misshapen Phoenix Core in her hand she put it before her son's mouth before simply stating, "Take it."

She coughed up blood as her body inevitably lost all ability to move. She died a pitiful death but she knew that her eldest son, the one before her, was already a rank four magical beast. This core was the crystallized natural essence formed from her entire body. Although not complete it could at least help him step into a higher realm of cultivation.

The tiger nudged the core center lying in his mother's lifeless palm with his nose before swallowing it whole.

As he was leaving the mine he turned back with his new appearance. His first words were like flower petals at the mercy of a cool breeze, "Thank you... mother..."

A few days later, in a cave somewhere in the Kiya continent.

The cave walls were practically doused in a collage of colorful and elegant tapestries. The floor was formed from ancient wood planks. The entire room had a warm feel that was entirely indescribable. It was especially accentuated by the enormous fireplace carved into the cave wall.

The only person in this section of the cave was an old woman. She rocked calmly in a rocking chair in front of the fireplace. She was calmly knitting in the light of the fire. Her eyes were closed as she hummed a soft tune. If one was to see her at that moment they might feel a certain sense of belonging, like she could be your own grandmother.

Her long white hair and wrinkled face held a certain warmth. She suddenly turned her face to greet a younger man. He wore solemn black clothes. Almost like he was just arriving from a funeral. Suddenly the old woman spoke, her voice was reminiscent of the sharp yet delicate twining of threads, "Ardon, the threads were cut... what did you find?"

Ardon's black eyebrows twitched slightly before relaying the information, "Pax is nowhere to be found... and the creatures under his protection were slaughtered along with Aiya, madam..."

Hearing this the old woman's warmth seemed to become a raging fire. She clicked her tongue and clenched her fist, easily snapping her knitting needles. She opened her eyes to reveal a blood red glow. She had no whites in her eyes nor pupils, simply red. An intense killing intent swept over the room. Her previous voice seemed to be nonexistent when she spoke this time, "Find out what happened immediately, I don't care what you have to do."

Ardon wiped some sweat from his forehead before diligently responding, "Yes, madam."

Ardon bowed slightly before leaving immediately. When he had left the old woman closed her eyes and loosed a breath. That breathe seemed to hold all of her rage because a thick smoke followed it. She tossed the broken knitting needles into the fire before grabbing another set from a small coffee table at her side. Now that she was alone she once more released a sort of grandmotherly vibe. Only to completely release her anger she only said one phrase, "Pax, you damned bastard of a son."

Along the Sky Dragon Road, about thirty days since the attack on the mine.

The large group of soldiers devoted to the Krain Religious Order were moving at steady pace northwards. The large group of people were rather excited since they were nearing their home country, Lance. Although national borders are relatively obscure due to lack of constant communication and boundary markers which caused various disputes. They were nearing the first village near the border.

The village was comprised of at least a couple hundred rundown wood houses. They all were fairly small one floor houses. The houses all had dirt floors and a room or two for sleeping in. The center of each house was the dining room where they would spend a good part of their day when not working. Each house had an outhouse in the backyard. The way of life here was fairly simple.

The only really decent place in the town was the in which unlike the other places in the village had wood flooring and three floors. Other than this there was also a ranch near the edge of the town which primarily dealt in horse trading. A large part of the village economy depended on these two businesses. Other than this a large majority of the villagers were either farmers or hunters who gathered the vast majority of the village's food supply.

Once the soldiers arrived on the border of the town the residents were already preparing themselves. The entire village was alive with movement. They did not have enough room in the inn to accommodate the entire group so as a courtesy they would allow them to rest in their homes. These forces of the Krain Religious Order had already passed through this village multiple times in the last three years.

This world has a ten month year, each month has 35 days. To see the soldiers returning after a mere two months, when it usually takes almost half a year for a round trip, meant they had accomplished their mission. These villagers were all happy and willing to give up their homes for these people. After all these people had helped clear out magical beasts along the Sky Dragon Road. This meant that their village could prosper as a rest stop for travelers in the future.

A group of three walked out on the road to meet them. In the center of the three was an old man. Although he had an aged and wrinkled face his body seemed as sturdy as a mountain. Underneath his tanned skin was dense muscle forged from years of hard labor. This man was the head elder for this village and made the majority of the decisions. To his right was his wife. She was relatively frail and if it wasn't for the wooden cane she was leaning on you might have thought she would blow away.

The third person was a young girl. She was about twelve years of age. She had long dark brown hair and dark grey eyes. She seemed relatively calm at her grandfather's side. She stood there holding tightly grasping his hand. She wore a plain brown gown. Her entire attire and the way she held herself made her feel ordinary. She was just an average village girl.

The head elder bowed slightly before greeting Wilt, "Our village opens its doors with open arms for the enforcers of the gods."

He lifted his head with a smile and stretched out his right hand, the one that wasn't being held captive by his granddaughter, to shake Wilt's hand. Wilt smiled slightly as he happily shook the old man's hand, with his left hand on the reigns of his horse. He spoke with a light smile as he talked to the head elder, "No need to be so formal with me Graham, how many times have I been here already? Rather I have a great story to tell ya."

Wilt was laughing lightheartedly as he pointed to the left side of his face. Although a grim expression flashed across Graham's face for a moment he instantly regained his bright smile as he responded, "Please do tell."

Saying as such Graham began to lead them into the village. As they were walking back Graham's granddaughter turned around. That when her eyes fell upon Fay. His hair matted, body beaten and bruised. Dried blood and dirt stuck to his skin. He looked malnourished, he appeared to be a walking skeleton. His wrists were bleeding due to the rope being tightly bound. His feet were covered in blood and blisters from the long trek along the dirt road. Not to mention he was completely naked.

If someone told you he was a corpse returned to life they wouldn't argue with you. At that moment when Graham's granddaughter saw him she quickly turned her head. A hint of pity could be seen in her dull grey eyes.