As the Demon landed on the ground, Mors raised his hand in the air, invoking the Firebird back to life. Its scarlet flames scattered and again formed a ball from where it revived, making a loud echoing noise with the burst of conflagration.

Mors lowered his hand, ordering it to attack once more, using the same ability as it had done, multiplying the feathers it dropped into smaller versions of itself and bombarding the Demon, keeping it at bay.

Deitrich took this chance to strike, twirling his spear with great speed and dexterity, evading and leaping as the monster tried to knock him off balance with its tail.

Having found an opening himself, Dietrich struck a flurry of blows to the Demon's blind side, imbuing his spear with various elements to test and provoke a certain reaction which he didn't seem to see any.

"He's much sturdier than I thought. There's no specific affinity to any type of magic I know," said Dietrich, taking a pause then returning back into the fight, scaling the monster with the help of his spear and distracting it from its head.

"That's because you don't know the spells it has an affinity to. Unlike you, I'm not narrow-minded."

Mors opened his arms out and channeled a white, shimmering star-like energy in front of him. Flying higher into the air with a levitation spell, he shot the star into the sky. It disappeared after reaching a certain height. But soon, a single white circle made up of three rotating circles, one on the inside of the other, appeared.

The Demon noticed it overhead and moved, ignoring Dietrich and Mors' attacks.

I concentrated and tried to get a feel as to how much energy I've got stored.

I burned within me a considerable amount and channeled my energy to manifest lightning in the form of a spear, speaking the words needed to bring it further to life. "Cast C-class spell, Parallel Manifold!"

I threw the spear that had formed on my right arm and hurled it at the Demon. The spear ripped through the air and split itself up into seven individual spears, curving its trajectory and pinpointing their target, the Demon's vitals.

The Demon staggered back as one spear struck its face, sending a shock as all others connected.

Dietrich and Mors coordinated with my attack, following through and completely knocking it back to our surprise.

With the preparation unchallenged, the circles in the air ceased spinning and shot from the center a bright, star-like projectile.

Mors ordered us to back away and close our eyes as it hit, but even with that, the flash could be seen through our lids. The pulse of the blast felt faint despite it looking like such a strong, intimidating wave.

Opening our eyes, the Demon rose back up and slithered towards us, not minding the massive, gaping hole in its chest as it started regenerating, leaving no trace of the fatal damage.

"As I thought. It’s using the strength of the Grove to regenerate what it’s lost. I can see with my eyes the trace of energy. That should have at least weakened it, but it’s back to full strength."

Mors stood and levitated, conjuring three orbs, one was made of fire, the other lightning, and the last, of an unknown energy that simply gave off a calm, blue glow.

"Then there’s only one way through this,” said Dietrich, imbuing his spear with a strange, white glow. Just keep killing it until it stops regenerating."

They're right. It’ll take the three of us working together with everything we’ve got I feel we want to win this. And though I’m worried about Parkus, I know he’s safe. He has an uncanny ability to be able to get out of most situations sometimes by sheer luck.

"Alright, I know you’ve been waiting for this, Arda! Show me what you’ve got."

I weaved the patterns for the golden lightning fox, Arda, burning a hefty amount to summon him back. For some reason, however, the amount needed to summon him coated me a lot more than it did back then. I soon realized why afterward.

What came out of the portal on the ground in front of me wasn’t a small ball of fur but a young fox that has aged from being an infant, crossing the path before adulthood.

He bore fangs and claws that were sharp unlike back then when he had none. His golden fur discharged small charge of lightning as he intimidated the Demon in front of him, growling and glaring.

"Arda, is that you?" I asked, unfamiliar to the one in front of me.

"It is I, Master. I have come to your call. Give me your orders," he said in a formal tone, detached from his child-like speech pattern.

"What happened? How did you change this much? I don’t remember doing anything about this."

"We change depending on our master’s competency and maturity. I sensed that you have grown once more and have grown alongside you, Master. Now I can be of more use."

I didn’t want to keep the questions going while Dietrich and Mors fought the Demon by themselves, so I accepted what was happening and went alongside with it. Wondering for too long wouldn’t do me any good, so I’ll take this power regardless.

"Do you still remember how to Synchronize, Arda?"

"Of course!"

I wiped my head clean of any thoughts and only focused on Arda's presence. Slowly I absorbed his energy in me and gave off a bit of mine in him. I felt my affinity for his element rise as the two of us had one mind. Clearly, without pausing, the two of us could speak and plan our movements out.

"If only I had matured more, then I would have been able to equip you with something, Master."

"Don't worry, Arda. Soon I'll be able to live up to your expectations. But for now, let's prove what we've got here."

The two of us moved at the same time, a single step taking me merely inches away from the Demon while Arda appeared behind it.

I struck upwards as Mors and Dietrich finished their assaults, directing a surging pillar of lightning to strike the Demon from under its jaw. Coordinating this, Arda charged the Demon's back five times in a single instant, knocking it forward.

I backed away and leaped up, cleaving with a hammering amount of lightning backing my sword. The surge passed through the Demon and onto the ground, embedding a cross to where the loose energy left.

Just as I landed, Arda jumped behind me and snarled, summoning lightning elementals that resembled himself, and ordered them to attack.

But the Demon fought back, swatting away the elementals then charged right at us.

"Faltering just because your attack didn't go through, that's foolish!" yelled out Mors, firing a blast of fire at the stampeding monster, forcing it to defend itself, where Dietrich found an opening to attack behind it.

As the battle ensued, three pairs of eyes watched from a safe distance away by a drained tree, observing closely the two sides involved.

"They're really going at it, aren't they?" said a young man sitting on one of the tree's branches, using his hand to see farther, whistling in amusement and intrigue.

"Their magic isn't anything worth noting. I would have taken the thing by myself and kept it on the ground the entire time," said another sitting on the branch of a tree, one who looked too young to be anywhere near a battle. He sneered his harsh criticisms at the actors he watched and didn't reserve his expression of mediocrity for them.

The two wore dark uniforms with the emblem of the Kaiser.

"Aren't we going to do anything, Captain? We can finish them both of at the same time, no problem. I just want to go home already. I'm tired," complained the child, yawning.

"We don't need to waste our energy on them. Once one side has finished, then we will take what we need. I'd rather not have to fight both at once since I know it'll get out of hand, especially for you, Phrim."

The one who responded to the complaints had his uniform torn up. But despite this, he looked on the fight with his arms crossed. The disposition of patience and order resembled him.

"I agree with the Capt," said the one with the scythe, reclining on his branch. "This is more like it. Just relaxing, not having to do anything but watch. What more can you want?"

"To go home. I'm bored. I don't want to watch this. It's just embarrassing--"

"Ooh! Look at that! They used another flashy attack! Man, they're really something else. They're like characters in a book. Normally you don't make these fights as dramatic as that, but they sure are going neck and neck. I wonder if they'll be able to do it."

"Settle down, you two. I've already fought two of the three over there. I'm not sure myself as to how the battle will end, but whatever the results, we still need to carry out our plans, for the sake of the Kaiser," said Tyr, clenching his hand with a brimming passion.

"I think it's you who has to settle down, Capt. You've been saying for the sake of the Kaiser one too many times already. I think my ears are getting tired of hearing them," replied the young man, picking his ear with his pinkie finger and blowing away the mess.

The Demon was relentless. No matter how much we tried to overpower it, the thing didn't back down for even an inch. It felt like we faced an impassable wall, one that, no matter how hard you tried to break down, it would try to rebuild itself within seconds of being destroyed.

It had regenerated countless of times, each attempt proving difficult. Even an attempt at trying to expose its heart was a gamble that we regretted taking. It was then and there that I learned of a Demon possessing more than one heart. But even with that information, the hearts we destroyed were immediately regenerated by the power it had siphoned.

Suddenly, Lianne's voice called us from behind.

Turning my head, I saw Carce standing on his knee, holding his arm that had been wounded. Lianne tried restraining him, but the gravity in his eyes dissuaded her and instead urged her to help him maintain his balance.

"Hold it down! All you need to do is hold the damn thing down until Carima is finished with the Ritual!" he yelled on the top of his lungs, using everything that he had left as he fell back.

"Is that so? Fine, I get it. We just have to kill time by then," said Mors, taking a breather. He fought with the Demon once more with an increasing relentless deviance backed up with a thunderous amount of power.

As I looked at the fight keep on, I was noticing something. I've had these kinds of hints in the past but I ever really paid that much attention to it. But seeing it now, those details, I'm certain that they're not a coincidence. Every time that the Demon would look like it had just lost, it would stagger back, but then and there I could see a slight grin on its face, then turning back to counter. It made the same face, again and again, mocking us as if we weren't making any real progress. I might be paranoid thinking that, but fighting this kind of thing is really for the paranoid.

But if it's holding it down, then I'll buy as much time as needed hoping that they'll be able to manage something. I'm running out of strength to use and energy to burn magic into. I'll have to resort to more conventional means of taking it down to do something at least.

Meanwhile, beneath the Inner Sanctum, there were sounds of footsteps echoing through the empty well. He held his injured body and ground his teeth all the while trying to ascend the broken steps. With no energy to run, he staggered forward with the help of his sword and saved is energy for leaping the great heights needed to go back up. That alone proved to be a challenge made doable by a certain Kayrus' magic, though at a weaker state.

He thought back to what happened. It had all come to both of them like a storm as the revelation cast eyes on the truth.

Carima and Parkus remained down the sanctum to open the sealed vault, letting the protector of the Grove out to save its home. That had been the plan as they finally opened the seal and descended another flight of stairs spiraling down a less wide room.

Getting there, Carima stopped in the middle of the stairs. Parkus tapped her on the shoulder, not sure what she was stopping for.

"Anything wrong? I don't have a light with me, so hopefully that Calicel has some."

"We have to hurry, Parkus, follow me," she said with great urgency, bolting down the stairs with her eyes to help her see what we down there.

Soon enough they reached the floor and saw the statue of a great being with the body of a four-legged elk and the torso of a man with pointed ears and sharp features. It knelt with its head down, holding a glowing object within its two hands as one would take water from a river without any other means other than by hand.

Carima's legs gave, and she fell.

Seeing her fall with the help of the glowing light, Parkus immediately rushed to help her, uncertain as to why she had fallen. He didn't like what was starting to happen, he said to himself and hoped for the best as he tried to find out what was wrong.

"Hey, Carima, pull yourself together! What’s wrong?"

"Everything. It’s all ruined," she muttered.

"What do you mean by that?"

"Lord Calicel is dead. All his energy had been taken from him by that Demon, and now it’s unstoppable. It can’t be killed now that it has Lord Calicel’s power."

"That’s him?” said Parkus, looking at the statue before him, unable to tell the difference between a status and that. “How did he turn into this? Maybe we can break him out of it."

"No," she said, shaking her head. "There’s no bringing someone like Lord Calicel back. As a protector, he is made by the Grove and is treated as a deity. Take away the very elements that made him and only a husk will remain."

Thinking deeply about the situation, even Parkus was perplexed as to how to view their options. The main reason they thought the Demon could be defeated was with the help of Calicel, but now that he’s gone, what else is there left to help them overcome the adversity, he asked himself.

However, he knew deep inside why he wasn’t trembling like Carima after the horrible revelation. There was still a way, and he knew that there isn’t a certain someone he could always depend on to get them out of the rut.

"Hey, don’t rule us out yet," he said with confidence. "I know I showed you a lot of what I was capable of, and it was pretty disappointing, to say the least, that I didn’t get to do much. But there’s still someone I know who can pull through when it matters. Just trust him. I’m going to have to give way to him just this time, but that’s because I know he can do something to turn the situation around."

He stood up and tried bringing Carima up but was unable to.

"I have no energy left, it seems. The truth and the lack of strength in my body has taken a harsh toll on me. Unfortunately, I’m going to have to ask you to go in my stead."

"Well, unfortunately for you, I don’t like leaving anyone behind, especially women. Here, take my hand. I’ll carry you back up with me."

She denied his hand and shook her head. “There is nothing dangerous about remaining here to rest. I’ll be able to get out on my own once I’m able to. For now, it rests on you to tell him the grave news."

As the silence began to settle down, Parkus couldn’t help but pay attention to the light in the room, the source of a warm coat of light.

Staring down at it, Parkus took the item that was a necklace with a crystallized dew of water that glowed faintly hanging on the very center.

He presented it to Carima. "I don’t know what this is, but you might be able to make sense of it better than I can," he said, handing it to her.

"I-I don’t know either. I don’t feel anything special from it. Carce should know. He is part of the ones keeping the peace in the Grove. Being close with lord Calicel as well, he might be able to tell you what it is."

Parkus looked at it for a time and tried thinking of something that could solve the mystery of its identity and exhaled, keeping the necklace in his pocket.

"Alright. I’ll be back to get you. I just hope that Carce’s doing fine. He’s been up there for a while after the demon flew up to the surface with him in tow."

The memories then brought Parkus back to the present as he came face to face with another steep jump.

He clicked his tongue at the pain hounding his body. "Damn, don’t give up now, Parkus. Just a bit more."

As time passed, the battle at the surface was as fierce as ever. The ground had streaks of fire and small craters. Dark stains from the impact of lightning and thunderbolts blotted out the ground, the residue of ice and small spikes of icicles decorated the area.

But despite all that, the three stood against the giant who regenerated every damage it had taken. The grin on the Demon's face as it huffed and puffed exuded arrogance and confidence as it pounded its chest.

"How many times has it been?" asked Dietrich, breathing hard with his hands trembling as he held his spear. Wounds ran all the way from his face to his arms and legs. "I haven't been keeping track."

"Don't tell me you're giving up that easily? I always thought you'd be the first one to go," replied Mors, who was being held up by his earth golem in comfort.

"I don't want to hear that from someone who hasn't been doing anything but throwing stuff from far away. You don't even know how hard it is to get close and strike a blow on that damned thing."

"I don't think this is the time, you two. It's been thirty-three times."

I don't know how I've been able to keep count. I'm even amazed I'm able to stand after all this. I know my limits and until when I can go on, but it seems that I had just surpassed it.

It feels like a lot of time has passed since I got tired really easily. I grew up with lungs that couldn't take too much exertion, but I went through a lot to push those boundaries, and now it feels like I'm able to go through them as long as I can put in enough effort.

"Master, I don't have much energy left. You don't have much left either, I can feel it. If we overuse the bond we've forged, then the connection will be lost. I'll be forced to go back. The bond is the only thing keeping us moving."

Arda was right. It wasn't that I was pushing my boundaries, it's because I had initiated a bond with Arda, extending my limits. But I wouldn't discredit my own efforts.

Regardless, I need to think and weigh my options. I can call another spirit with a different element, but that would take a lot of energy from me, and I need what I have.

Maybe I can release the sigils and let the stuff I've gathered run loose... No, that'll break my body and won't let me move for a while. If I use that, then it's a fifty-fifty chance that I'll be paralyzed or not. The shock from losing that much energy will be too much for me to handle all at once. After that, I won't be able to use magic, maybe even forever.

It's a pretty stupid thought, thinking about how I'm supposed to use magic after that. But it's a last-ditch effort, so no, I can't go through with that.

Then what's left?

Just as I was thinking, the Demon pursued us as we were down, smashing the ground and imbuing an aftershock of an explosion to accompany it.

The three of us were knocked back immediately and were sent rolling on the ground.

"Everyone, please stay strong! You can succeed, I know it!"

Lianne ran up to a safe enough distance and held her hands out to us, creating a lush, green circle where pale spores of light began to surround us, healing our injuries and fatigue a considerable amount.

Because of that, we were able to rush back and push the Demon away, trying to land a killing blow as best as we could, but to no avail.

It's been getting stronger every time we manage to land a blow strong enough to supposedly kill it. It's not a hunch. It's been growing a bit as well inch by inch.

Somehow being coordinated despite not getting along, Dietrich slipped past the Demon and wound up, throwing his spear, imbued with magic that allowed it to pierce through the Demon's body, despite it being hard and sturdy.

The spear flew through and towards Mors, who was preparing a spell. His eyes glanced to the spear heading towards him but didn't seem to be fazed by it.

Only inches away from hitting Mors, he opened his arms and created a blue field that repelled the spear.

Quickly regenerating the massive hole in its chest, the wound was opened once again by Mors, who sent the spear flying back to Dietrich.

Reflexively, Dietrich took a tight hold of his spear and leaped, aiming the tip of the spear at the Demon's head.

It, however, shielded itself using one of its arms and blew back Dietrich with another fist clad in a mystic, purple glow. The wound regenerated again.

Arda and I moved in while it was busy and cut across it with a pillar of raging thunder, then struck my blade through its chest where I overloaded a charge of lightning, bursting it from the inside.

But the Demon only looked down on me as its insides rumbled and laughed. My sword was stuck and I couldn't pull it back despite the strength I was using.

It opened its mouth and inhaled, exhuming a breath of corrosive flame.

Arda barked at it, firing a bolt of lightning at the Demon's mouth, forcing it to explode its face.

It stood still for a while until the smoke cleared, revealing its head that had been split open with a corrosive fire on the outside of the base of what's left of its head.

Its flesh began to move, two blobs of flesh wriggling, slowly forming the familiar face of a bull that had just been blown up.

"Hurry! Burn the flesh so that it doesn't regenerate!" yelled Mors, reviving the firebird once more and forcing it to rain down on the still Monster, engulfing it in a raging torrent of flame.

I channeled and hurled a rain of plumes immolated by fire and aimed them at the Demon's open wound, pouring as much as I could into it.

Dietrich enchanted his spear's blade with a blaze and hurriedly climbed a nearby tree and threw his spear in an angle that grazed the Demon's wound and landed the spear on the ground near me, still burning.

"Did that do it?" he asked, unable to fully see the fruits of his efforts.

Then a voice rang a familiar one. Turning around I found Parkus appearing from the steps of the sanctum bloodied and weakened, guided by his sword.

"Johann!" he beckoned. "I have something important to tell you."

Running towards him and catching him as he fell, he weakly spoke.

"Calicel's dead. There's no other way to kill that thing right now. It can't be done. Carce and I tried and learned the hard way."

"What? Then how about killing it until it runs out of energy?"

"We'll be dead by then. It's got enough to outlast us all and still have enough to keep itself alive for who knows how long."

I was too tired to even feel disheartened at the news. To realize that what you've been doing so far hasn't even scratched the surface, it irritates you and instead makes me want to keep trying until something new happens. I never really liked hearing the impossible. It makes me want to prove its authenticity each time, but now, I'm skeptical.

"What about Carima, is she alright?"

"Yeah, she's alright. She's just resting down in the Sanctum."

"Did you manage to open the seal?"

"Yeah, that's where we found Calicel in stone. Instead, he had this in his hands."

Parkus took out a faintly glowing necklace from his pocket and showed me.

"I don't know what it is, but Carima told me to take it to Carce since he might know. Can you take me to him?"

I took his arm and hung it over my shoulder, slowly guiding him to where Carce and Lianne were.

"Seems like you made friends while I was gone."

"I got lucky. They found me."

"I always knew that you would do something to turn a situation around whenever we're in a pinch," he laughed.

I sat down Parkus near Carce and asked Lianne to keep him safe while we figure out what was supposed to happen now that I've found out that the thing can keep regenerating itself until we're dead.

I presented Carce with the necklace and had Parkus explain the specifics.

Lianne and Carce were devastated after hearing what he had to say. Lianne started weeping with a defeated expression and Carce wrapped his hand into a fist and pounded the ground repeatedly.

"We were too late."

The distraught atmosphere was putting them down. I knew that it wasn't over and that the thing would be back within moments. If anything, now is a bad time to be feeling distraught and lost.

"No, we're not. It's far from over to me. There's still a way. Calicel didn't die in vain. I know it sounds delusional, you have your proof in that necklace. Now if he really thought that it was over, then there wouldn't be anything there left for you down there. But he left that necklace. I don't know for what reason, but I'll leave it up to the two of you to find out. Mors, Dietrich and I will hold him off for as long as we can. You have until then to find out. If not... then that's the end of it. Whatever happens after, I have no reason to be regretful. I gave it all I had."

I turned around and stretched my body and felt the aching pain come back. Truth be told I don't know where I mustered the strength to talk like that, or where I found the inspiration to spout off nonsense, but it's what I felt. There might even be no significance behind that necklace, but it was the only thing I could think of to raise their spirits even for a bit.

It'll be up to them to see find the light at the end of the tunnel. I just hope that there is an exit somewhere along the way. I can't hold up for much longer. And I'm sure the same goes for Dietrich and Mors.

Lianne cried but held herself together, heeding Johannes' words. She knew it was true, and that alone brought her back.

Instead, she took hold of the necklace and stared at it. She felt a strange tie to the item which she couldn't really remember, but the nagging feeling made it all the worse.

She became quiet and thought back.

The thing that came from Calicel.

If you are ever in doubt, and at a loss, and need something that can answer your plight...

Use this.

It is a little of me, of nature, the Kayrus. It is a fragment of our people as a whole.

Those were the only words which came to mind during the night before the ritual was to take place.

She thought long and hard, theorizing whether Calicel had given the gift much thought and if he had predicted that something terrible would befall the fate of everyone in the Grove.

She could have thought of a lot more things that the necklace could be used for, but deep inside she already knew its purpose.

Taking hold of the necklace, she whispered into it, thanking Calicel.

She stood and left Carce and Parkus behind.

Everything was starting to align. She thought of what can happen next and what she could to do remedy the problem.

There was one path she could see succeeding, but it came at a terrible price that made her hairs stand and her skin shiver.

Nevertheless, she wasn't as terrified as she was before Johann spoke up; when Dietrich told her what it meant to be strong, and until Mors showed his devotion to something using everything he had without the heart to hold back.

She wanted to play her part and become a piece of those three.She thought it'd be impossible. No, she even thought that it was downright amusing that she would think like that, someone as lowly and delicate as her, she thought.

But it was those three and everyone that she had come to know that pushed her in that direction. They didn't tell her to go there, rather she chose her path and started walking in it despite her trembling hands and legs.

She displayed a steadfast expression as she came up to where they were fighting the Demon fiercely despite the fatigue that they had built up within them. She was awed and inspired.

The echo and impact of their blows sort of resonated within her in a way.

"Lianne! What are you doing here?! Get back or you'll be in danger!" yelled Dietrich.

She gestured for him to come.

"Sir Dietrich, do you still remember that ability you spoke to me of that night?"

"You mean that one where I could consume the thing? I told you, it's impossible if the thing's that strong. But that doesn't matter! You need to get back, now!"

"No," she protested. "I can put an end to this. I am the Oracle of the Grove. That gives me enough of a say in this as well. I don't want my title to not mean anything, and it's not just that. I want to be of use to you all. Which is why I can do something."

Scratching his head, Dietrich gave up.

"Fine, what do you want me to do then?"

"Please protect me while I begin a ritual. I have to be close to the Demon for it to work, however."

"That's suicide. I won't agree to it."

"Then I'll go by myself."

"What happened to you? Why are you so persistent all of a sudden. Just let us handle this. I won't go down so easily as you think."

"I know that, and that's why I trust that you will be able to help me," she smiled at him despite the chaos just a few steps beyond.

"How close do you have to be?" asked Dietrich, finally agreeing begrudgingly to Lianne's request, not knowing what she has in mind.

With the two in agreement, the conditions were set and Dietrich moved to position himself close to Lianne as possible.

Upon getting there, Mors was immediately in disagreement and tried to force her away. She, however, showed him the same stoic and adamant personality that she showed Dietrich, and that alone made him silent and a follower.

She positioned herself where she started chanting to herself, giving off a bright glow. Words started swirling around her and her eyes illuminated, displaying the eyes of the Kayrus.

We stood our ground, Dietrich and I, taking the heavy hits or doing something to stave them off.

The plan itself was difficult to pull off since Lianne constantly attracted the Demon due to the energy that she gave off.

Dietrich looked hesitant. His eyes were fiercely darting back and forth, and his hands were constantly fidgeting. He said something about taking the Demon within his own body, but the specifics were left to mystery.

The only thing told to Mors and I was that we had to keep its attention away from Lianne and even Dietrich if we could.

After a while of preparation, Lianne stopped chanting, signaling the beginning of it all.

The words that Lianne spoke began wrapping themselves around the Demon.

It retaliated by aggressively powering through and bringing its heavy fist down on Lianne.

Mors, however, anticipated the attack, sending his earth golem to lift the fist up, leaving Lianne uninterrupted.

As the words started enveloping the monster's entire body, it writhes and struggled, bringing out every latent strength that it could muster to break free.

Its teeth developed into fangs, its body grew spikes made of bones which emerged from different parts of its body as it pierced flesh, the tip of its long tail became a scorpion's stinger, and its six arms were wrapped in a scalding purple ember, making it look like as if it were burning them to ash.

The maddening rage that it let out echoed and blew the air and miasma away. The words wrapped around it were forcibly shattered as its body convulsed and grew harder and sturdier. Those same words started to re-attach on the Demon and bind themselves to it with a strong and bright glow.

A cough could be heard near me. Turning around, I saw Lianne on the ground, barely holding both of her hands up as blood slowly started gushing out from her mouth.

"Lianne, what's wrong?!" asked Dietrich in a panic.

Shaking her head from side to side, she beckoned for him to not lose focus.

"Please, let me do what I have to do. Place your trust in me," she said, braving the pain as she struggled to stand and pour more energy into the words.

Before I turned back around, small particles of light started to gather themselves around her. I couldn't pay as much attention as to what was happening since we had to keep subduing the Demon that thrashed at every turn, relenting like the monster it truly is.

"No, Lianne, what are you doing?! Hey, Johann, you have to stop her. She's killing herself," yelled a voice behind me. It was Carce, who was staring at the entire ordeal.

"Carce, rest! They don't need to know. It's the only way to end this suffering. I have to do this. It is my role as the Oracle... I dreamt of it," she replied.

"But you can't. There has to be another way."

She shook her head. "Unfortunately, there is not. I wish to stay here and live happily, but that cannot happen anymore. I already knew why Lord Calicel had left this necklace for me. He knew that it would be up to me to finish this, but the methods were left in the air. I will fulfill my role, that is the will of the Kayrus."

I couldn't understand how it was going to kill her exactly. There was worry in Mors' and Dietrichs' eyes for they overheard the words Carce has yelled out. The only reason they couldn't object openly was that they faced the Demon's wrath head-on as per the wish of Lianne.

Slowly and steadily, Lianne walked up to the Demon.

It broke off the golems and almost got to her, but thanks to Mors, who created a pillar of ice, he managed to stop its attack.

But unknown to him, the Demon's tail quickly whipped Mors and sent him flying towards a tree with such an impact that made him unable to move his limbs freely, forcing him to spit out blood.

I took on the role of Mors and started to distract the Demon, finding an opening and slicing at its side, dashing behind him and impaling my sword on his back while Arda shot off lightning in the shape of spears at its eyes, blinding it for a while.

With our agreement fulfilled, Arda was forcibly sent back due to the lack of energy I possessed to keep him in this world. That also meant that I was to return to my normal strength and had to make do with it as best as I could.

It now stood still, the Demon, bound by the shackles of Lianne's words. And she stood there, right in front of it, placing her hands on the writhing Demon's chest where the light surrounding her slowly seeped into the Demon.

Seeing what Lianne told him about, Dietrich began concentrating. His eyes became dark, and traces of tattoos appeared across his body, making him look inhuman. Like a beast, prowling for its prey he began to slouch his posture.

With a single leap, Dietrich impaled his spear right at the Demon's chest, plunging his fist into the side of its neck as to take a tight hold.

Opening his mouth, a white mist-like wave started flowing towards Deitrich's direction.

His veins showed, and his eyes began to turn red. The tattoos on him started moving as if they were alive, shifting and turning.

From the corner of my eye, I saw the movement of its tail as it slowly rose and aimed at Lianne, who was unable to move.

I immediately got off, leaving my sword on its back, and leaped as the stinger thrust at her back.

I was able to land on time and catch its tail, preventing it from plunging further, but the tip of it had pierced Lianne's back, which shuddered as blood splattered all over her white dress.

"Lianne!" Dietrich yelled out in distress. He almost leaped off the Demon but the fact that his hand was stuck on its neck prevented him from doing so.

"Please, Sir Dietrich, don't stop for my sake. You've all dealt with so much that this makes it insignificant. I can bear this much pain at least, so please, we must keep moving forward," she said, struggling as beads of sweat began to fall from her face. Her arms quivered and the light she gave of flickered. As a result, the Demon was able to move ever so slightly, still trying to shake both of us off.

In an angered state of mind, Dietrich resumed with even more vigor than the last time while I held off its tail from piercing further through her.

It went on for a while longer. My hands started bleeding despite the callouses. Carce and Parkus helped me with my task even with their weakened states. I had pushed using my body, letting the spikes on its tail dig into my sides, nearly puncturing what I'm sure was my lung as I felt a sharp pain make the hairs on my back stand.

"Johannes, I cannot last much longer. It seems that this is where it ends for me, unfortunately."

Lianne's voice called me back from the brink of fading out. I couldn't turn fully to face her, so I could only hear her voice. It was calm as if she hadn't been affected by the pain inflicted on her. It was strange. I knew why she was saying those things, and it was obvious seeing how long things had gone for. I didn't know how to respond either.

"I don't have much strength left to say goodbye to everyone, so I'd like you to tell them for me instead."

"They're going to be upset. They're trying really hard if only you can see."

I looked at Parkus and Carce who gave their all, even Mors who, even when down, did his best by controlling his golems to hold the Demon down.

"I'm thankful that they'll be if that's the case. I feel very important. Besides, I can also see someone giving his all even when he can already go no further. It's like I don't deserve the kindness I'm being shown, but I can't say that. It'll upset the two of them even more."

"It's always going to be the same old thing for me then. Whenever I'm around, something like this always seems to happen."

"Sacrifices always have to be made, Johannes. We all have our time. Now is mine. This wasn't your fault either, but it was brought by fate and nothing more. I can tell you that with certainty as an Oracle, and as a friend."

"Thanks."

"Please let go now. There's no need. And don't worry, Johannes. If anything, I'm more worried about your future. You have a greater weight to pull than I. Please do not falter no matter what."

"Wait, what do you mean?" I said, turning around to ask her, letting go of the Demon's tail. Its weight brought it forward, then fell to the ground with a thud.

The only thing I saw was a great array of lights rising from the ground, illuminating the entire Grove in splendor. But there was no sight of Lianne anywhere. Only a faint trace of her outline made out by the light showed her glancing back at me and smiling as she faded into the Demon, and then into Dietrich, who absorbed the last of the Demon's strength.

He finally succumbed, his entire body giving up on him. He fell to the ground with his eyes looking up, a weak arm reaching for something that wasn't there. It was clear that he was seeing something that I wasn't able to, or wasn't allowed to.

It's always like this. Though I haven't known them for so long, the loss of someone feels so heavy. And for what cause?

Finally dismisses of the willpower I mustered to fight on, I felt my body weaken and collapse to the ground. It seems that I still have yet to gain the power to face even the harshest elements.

I heard my voice called out several times over, but I couldn’t even bear to see any more because my eyes felt heavy. I succumbed, and the next thing I knew, I was somewhere else.

"Why are we retreating, Capt? What about the objective? The Kaiser is going to get all fussy if things start going wrong."

The one wielding the scythe said and wondered why Tyr suddenly got up and walked away from the scene with melancholic eyes.

"It is someone else's possession now. We don’t have a protocol for what happens if it lands in the hands of another. We failed this one."

"Giving up that easily? You’re pretty weak when it comes to it, aren’t you, captain?" mocked his subordinate.

"It is at my discretion. I will take full responsibility. But, if the Kaiser insists and asks for the young man in possession of the Demon’s power, then I will personally see to it. But for now, let’s depart. We have more matters to attend to, Phrim."

"Not even going to finish them off while they’re weak? You know you’re letting a huge chance go to waste if you’re not even going to get rid of the rebellion’s assets."

"It’s tempting. But it’s better if we back off as of now. I’ve been feeling a strange source of power looming about for some time now. It’s heading here, and if by any chance that it’s their ally, then we’ll be in quite a pinch.”

"Whatever you say then. It’s going to be you taking responsibility anyway."

And so they left, the witness being the very source of the strange power. A child of light garbed in a ritualistic and holy vestige. He had with him a playful smirk as he hung from a tree branch upside down, looking at Johann and his company.

"Well, you survived. I’ll have to believe my father then. I’m looking forward to the show you’re going to put on for me. The stage is being built already. When the time is right, I hope you'll be ready. Don't disappoint me," he giggled.

And with his last words, he disappeared with the gust of wind leaving a trace of fading light in his wake.

Two days passed as the chaos and mystery surrounding the Grove of Calicel had elapsed and come to light. Those looking on from the far distances began to see the fading of the gray corruption that it displayed but could not explain for themselves how it came to be. No word got out of how a terrible tragedy that almost came to be was defeated by an unlikely and motley band of people who were united by the strange strand of fate.

Still, no one dared to get close to the Grove out of fear. Save for those near the village of Arum who made it a duty of theirs to help revive the Grove.

Another day passed until the last ones responsible for freeing the Grove of the tragedy awakened.

The light peeked into a room where a lone figure lay with his eyes open, blinking at the ceiling, trying to come to grips if he had truly awakened in the same place he slept.

"Finally awake? Took you a while. I thought you were going to take a break forever. That would've sucked, well, for you that is. I wouldn't mind keeping all the glory for myself once this conflict with the Kaiser is over."

I glanced to my side and saw Parkus wrapped in bandages all along his body, and a cast on his arm. He was sitting on a chair just beside my bed with a basket of fruits lying on a desk. The number of peelings left on it told me how long he'd been there, and once I realized it, he noticed and turned his head, gathering the mess in one place.

"Don't tell me you're the one who nursed me back as well. I don't like the feeling of being given a wet towel bath by you of all people," I replied as a joke, getting up and stretching my body.

"That's about the last thing I'll ever do. But don't worry, I only did half of the work. If you're going to thank anyone, it's Carima. She's the one who kept us alive after that whole fight in the Grove. She even carried most of us back with her to Arum."

"How long have I been asleep for?"

"Three days. I think we've been gone for more though. I just didn't keep track of time. I think an earful's waiting for us back home. They don't exactly care whether we're safe or not, only if we accomplish things right on schedule. It's kind of merciless in a way."

"Then let's go home then. We don't have anything else left to do here, don't we?"

"Right. But before anything, why don't you greet the people who've been waiting for you as well? You've made a few friends along the way again. The two of them just don't seem to get along no matter what."

"What do you mean? Dietrich and Mors?"

"You'll see for yourself. Go, and go get something to eat while you're at it. I'll get our stuff ready."

I did just that and made my way outside where children played about, yelling at each other with vigor and energy. It was a bright morning with clear, blue skies. From where I stood, I could see the Grove regaining much of its color. The miasma and the gray shade it accumulated couldn't be seen as much.

I walked towards the place where our first meeting with Carce was held. I knocked on the door and was greeted with Carce who was dressed in numerous bandages, some on his face. He didn't wear his usual armor but was wore a casual set of clothes.

He invited me in while he was waiting for Carima and prepared something to drink with one hand available. He brought the drink over and sat across from me, a stern expression mounted on his face, eyes cast down and back at me.

"I'll say it now so I don't have to say it later, but you've outdone yourselves, you and Parkus. I know I doubted you two in the beginning, but I'm glad that you proved me wrong. I just couldn't help but be skeptical of most things since everything was falling apart at the same time."

"It's alright, I understand. Doubt keeps us from becoming complacent. You were right to be skeptical."

"I can imagine that it's all the same in your line of work. But I'd agree anyway."

Carce started fidgeting, tapping on his armrest incessantly.

"Are you alright?" I asked. "You don't seem to be feeling well, even with the injuries set aside."

"No, it's nothing. I'm just thinking. My mind isn't at ease at the moment, and I'm trying to figure out where we are supposed to head now." He forced a grimace and drank from his cup unsteadily. It shook, the contents spilling slightly as he set it down. "But if I'll be honest and clear about the situation, it's about Lianne. I'm sure you know her."

The name clearly rang in my head. Suddenly, all the memories of that time sprang forth. Those arrays of light that etched themselves in the deepest parts of my mind, the words she said before she left, all those were in my mind now. And the last words she said to me, they left me wondering how my life will turn out. A great burden, she says. I don't know what kind of burden. Is it the one I've been carrying all these years, or is it something much heavier in the future?

"I do. What is it about Lianne?"

"She... She is a person that Carima and I have known for a long time. We all grew up together and swore it'd be that way for as long as we would live. It's just that her loss made me feel rather restless. I can't seem to settle down either. I'm sure Carima is dealing with it in her own way, but for me, it's difficult enough."

"I'm sorry. I should've done much more, but I didn't have enough in me. If only--"

Carce interrupted me and raised his hand, shaking his head.

"It's not your fault. It's no ones. She embraced her duties and did it to protect everything and everyone she held dear, that much was apparent. I felt it and saw it. The last thing she wants is for anyone to start blaming themselves for not having done enough. She's not one to like regrets and always fusses about, trying to encourage others when sometimes she bears the brunt of things on her own."

"I know some others who know her. Do you know where they are? I came with them to the Sanctum. I heard that there was something wrong going on with them."

"Mors and the one named Dietrich? Yes, there was something that went on between them. They started fighting right after they healed up. Mors started blaming Dietrich for Lianne's death. They fought, but we managed to stop them before it got out of hand. Mors left the village and returned the Grove, and Dietrich is still here somewhere."

"Then I'll have to go for now. I'll just check up on him."

I walked up to Carce and gave him a pat on the shoulder before leaving. "I don't think you should blame yourself either. You have eyes that talk."

Asking for directions, I went to the shrine where a lone figure sat under a tree looking up at the sky. He was relaxed and bored. The person I was hoping to see what the same one, but for some reason, he felt like a different one entirely.

He turned his head once I got close enough. The bags under his eyes and the bored expression that came along with it gave me the impression of another person. Though he was still almost the same, his movements were more sluggish, and he felt detached from those around him.

"What are you planning to do now?" I asked.

I was tasked with another mission, one I received long ago. It applied to every able-bodied man who'd be an asset in our efforts against the Kaiser.

"I... don't know. I should though. Doesn't feel like I have the same mind anymore. I feel lost when I shouldn't."

"Then why don't you come with Parkus and I. We're looking for people like you who can help others against the Kaiser. You've mentioned him before. If you were to join us, then we'd be one step closer to finally ending what he's doing."

He got up and shook hands with me, walking away towards his mount.

"Get well soon, Johannes. I'll probably be wandering around to find something else to do in the meantime. The offer's tempting, but I can't afford to be part of something important when I'm like this. I'll find you in time. But for now. See you. I was nice meeting you, Johannes."

And then he left without another word.

Suddenly, Carima came up from behind me asking how I was feeling. She herself was patched up with a few bruises and wounds on her body. Yet the monotonous face on her face made it seem like she was one who wouldn't make a pained face even after taking the brunt of things. I didn't know whether I was to admire her or be concerned of the fact, but I doubt I'd get much response.

"Are you and Parkus leaving soon?"

"The earlier the better. We still have a lot of things to do."

"Then does that mean we will not see either of you anymore?" she asked with no certain familiarity on her face. It just seemed like an ordinary question when it shouldn't have. It's like a loved one asked whether you'll be back. It carried that same emotion.

"We're not going to disappear forever. But I don't know if we'll be back anytime soon. Our job here is finished. But if we happen to be sent somewhere close, then we'll be sure to drop by and say hello."

"I'll take your word for that then."

"I'll see you around, Carima."

She nodded and smiled. It stunned me. It looked radiant, as if on cue the light man its way to her like a parting gift. It was well worth it, but I couldn't really tell her that. All I could do was keep a straight face and give off a hint of a smile myself. It truly was unexpected to see that. But thinking back on this memory, it was well worth it.

I took one last look at the shrine, the place where the child I met that very night was supposed to be, playing on the front with his legs kicking back and forth. His words were ominous, but I had already heard so many similar things in the past that I simply believed this one callously. Whatever comes, then let it. Only then will I be able to move forward. After all, aren't life's greatest challenges the stepping-stones for man?

Soon enough, Parkus and I left for home the very same day to prepare for another mission.

And as for Mors, I would eventually ask him to join us, and at the same time, Dietrich would as well. The chaos that ensued as that happened, it's a story for another time.

That was the story of Dietrich and Mors...