Nayjhren's jaw lay agape, his hands stiff while the two human children squeal. Birds flock away from the echoing cry. The two children slam a book shut as they both scurry to their feet and hurry away.

Nayjhren's expression changes to curiosity as he watches them run into the forest.

"W-wait!"

Nayjhren goes to follow them but notices they have left their book behind. This object was foreign to Nayjhren so he picked it up. The cover is tough brown leather with gold accents highlighting the spine and name of the book. The pages are a muddy beige with ink sprawling every inch of every page.

"At...las...?"

Nayjhren clutches the book before running after them.

"Hold on! Wait!"

The children kept running, their little legs beginning to tire as the darkness of the forest consumed them. The boy with black hair slowed down and leaned against a tree, huffing violently, his face drenched in sweat. His hair was filled with twigs and leaves from all the bushes they ran through.

"Kaleido...! Stop... I can't... keep running."

Kaleido turned around, annoyance covering her face.

"Ugh, do you wanna get eaten by a monster!"

Kaleido put her arm around the boy and helped him run.

"I swear Eliowen... You're gonna need to get fitter if you wanna explore the whole world!"

Eliowen's face melted as he was utterly beat.

"I... know..."

Eliowen tried to keep on his feet but a sudden stab of pain ripped at his stomach.

"Stitch... stop... just let me... stop..."

Kaleido dropped Eliowen as he fell to his knees.

Kaleido looked around.

"I think we're safe... god you can be such a lazy poop sometimes..."

Kaleido pulled down on her bottom eyelids as they illuminated, acting as a pair of flashlights.

"Aw... I don't even know where we are. We might have to camp the night Eliowen!"

Kaleido grinned gleefully as she started picking up sticks.

Eliowen looked at her with a distraught face.

"W-we can't! Father will kill me! I shouldn't even be out this late in the first place."

Eliowen curled up in a ball.

"This was a horrible idea!"

Kaleido slapped his back a few times.

"Cheer up! Think about it like this then, we can start our journey of the world right now! Screw going home let's explore!"

Eliowen cringed.

"But... I haven't even said goodbye to my family... what if they think I died!"

Kaleido groaned.

"No one will think that because I'm with you!"

Kaleido flexes her biceps.

"See these? These are gonna punch any monster that dares to eat us!"

"I've seen trees with bigger arms..."

Kaleido started to kick Eliowen over and over.

"Shut up!"

Kaleido composed herself.

"It'll be fine, as long as we have the atlas we can go anywhere!"

Eliowen stood up caressing his bruised arm from Kaleido's relentless torture.

"Then... where first?"

"Let me check!"

Kaleido reached for the atlas. Her face froze in a smile. Her hand patted over her whole body.

"Uh."

Eliowen's eyes widened.

"Kaleido... where's the atlas..."

Kaleido began to sweat.

"It's... GONE! OH GOD ELIOWEN WE'RE GONNA DIE OUT HERE!"

Kaleido began to run in circles around Eliowen, her hands flailing in the air as she screamed.

"WHAT!?"

Eliowen grabbed Kaleido and shook her strenuously.

"YOU LOST IT!?"

Kaleido sobbed.

"I'm sowwy!"

From the bushes, Nayjhren walked forward, he had followed the sound of their screams. He walked up to them as they were both freaking out about losing their atlas.

Eliowen grabbed the sides of his head.

"What are we gonna do without the atlas..."

Kaleido was digging a hole in the ground as she cried.

"I'll dig our graves..."

Nayjhren looked at the book and then back up at them.

"Uh... you left this behind..."

Nayjhren held up the book. Eliowen and Kaleido turned to him. Their eyes were wide.

They let out a blood-curdling shriek as they both flopped to the floor. They went unconscious from pure fear. Nayjhren stood there awkwardly holding the book. As he reached his hand out to wake them he heard murmurs from deeper in the forest. He looked up to see a mass of lights making its way toward him.

"Spread out further! Hurry!"

A deep voice said as Nayjhren saw the lights approaching rapidly.

He looked back to the two children and the book.

"Sorry."

He ran away with the book as a group of people in religious garments found Eliowen and Kaleido.

"Father over here!"

From the bushes, Archbishop Blues came forward, a torch in hand. He held his son and sighed in relief.

"Quick get them out of these woods! Get everyone back to town."

Nayjhren watched as they took the two children out of the woods. He looked at the book and held it tightly.

10:32 pm

Nayjhren made it back to the nest holding the book. Tekleha ran up to him and nuzzled her head on his stomach.

"Hey Tekleha... Sorry I was gone so long, just went for a walk."

Nayjhren hid the book behind his back.

"I'm pretty tired now. I'll just be going to sleep. Gotta... sleep so I can... grow up strong!"

Nayjhren gave an awkward smile as he ran off.

Upon reaching the nest, he climbed up the giant tree and made himself comfortable. He sat in the light of the moon, allowing him to read the atlas. He flipped through all the pages, illustrations of giant islands made from tiny orange grains. Mountains covered in snow. Lakes that stretch beyond the horizon. Great underground caves that house whole civilizations. His mind crafted a picture of the world. Soon he reached a giant page that was folded. He unfolded it as it created a sprawling image of the world beyond the forest. Around the edges was a great wall of ice creating a circle where all life resided. There were a total of thirteen large islands making up the habitable world.

The largest island was named the Central Continent. It was a long island that stretched from the center of the map to the north. Surrounding the west, north, and east sides of the Central Continent were twelve smaller, but still considerably large, islands each labeled with their own names, sporting their own cities and towns. Nayjhren's eyes grew wide, in the bottom left corner, written in gold cursive, it read Sundial.

2 days later...

The sun beamed down overhead. Eliowen and Kaleido walked through the forest, Kaleido carried a large stick that she used to hit bushes. Eliowen walked behind her and read from a small book.

"Ugh! Can't you put down that book?"

Kaleido faced Eliowen and walked backward.

Eliowen didn't look up as he became irritated.

"No. Father said I have to read this whole book as punishment by the end of the week."

"Father isn't here! You're the boy here, grow some balls and help me find our atlas!"

Eliowen snapped his head up.

"If you stopped interrupting me I could finish this book faster!"

Kaleido blew a raspberry and turned away. As they kept walking Kaleido stopped and looked forward. Eliowen noticed and looked up.

"What the..."

Kaleido crouched behind a bush and looked forward. She saw a giant tree with hundreds of Necrobeasts walking around.

"Eliowen... it's a nest..."

Kaleido's grin widened.

"Kaleido..."

Eliowen backed up as a Necrobeast snarled behind them.

"Uh... don't hurt us..."

The Necrobeast lunged at them both as they screamed.

Up on the tree, Nayjhren read through the book, his mind engrossed as he read through every page, attempting to understand its words. His ears then twitched as he heard howling from below. He quickly closed the book and leaped down with it in hand. He ran over to see a mass of Necrobeasts surrounding Eliowen and Kaleido. He remembered their face and quickly rushed through the crowd. Father Oak's roots soon burst from the ground, inspecting the situation.

"Oh dear..."

Father Oak's voice dropped.

Nayjhren rushed over and came face to face with Eliowen and Kaleido.

"It's... you!"

Eliowen and Kaleido looked up, their eyes covered in tears.

"Y-you!?"

Eliowen was trembling as the Necrobeasts crept closer to them. Their ankles were restrained with roots as they couldn't move.

"Father Oak what are you doing!?"

Nayjhren ripped the roots off Eliowen and Kaleido.

Father Oak's voice rumbled as he grew angry.

"Nayjhren!"

Nayjhren shielding Eliowen and Kaleido.

"Stop! They aren't gonna hurt anyone!"

"Nayjhren... do you... know these two?"

Nayjhren grits his teeth.

"I..."

He turned to look at both of them.

"They're..."

He turned back to look at all of his family snarling at him.

"They... They're... THE ONES I WANT TO GRAND HUNT WITH! Around the world! To all the places there are!"

"Nayjhren. It was obvious this would happen one day... that is what we hunt."

Father Oak's roots pointed to Eliowen and Kaleido.

"The reason I never assigned you to hunting was because I did not want you to see the truth of our food."

Nayjhren's body trembled.

"F-Father Oak... what are you... no..."

Nayjhren looked down.

"That's impossible..."

As Nayjhren's grip on the book loosened, Kaleido leaped forward and snatched it. She turned and grabbed Nayjhren and Eliowen before making a mad dash.

"Hey! What are you doing!?"

Nayjhren struggled in Kaleido's grip.

"SHUT UP! You're lucky we weren't eaten by those... things..."

Kaleido hauled both of them through the forest, packs of Necrobeasts chasing after them. Kaleido ran in random directions, hoping to lose them but on every side were Necrobeasts.

"Where are we going!?"

Nayjhren looked everywhere but the red beady eyes of predators lurked in every direction.

"I got no clue!"

Kaleido soon reached an opening, ahead of them was a cliff ledge.

"No wait!"

Nayjhren tried to stop Kaleido but as the Necrobeasts all lunged toward them she leaped from the ledge, they looked below to the trees as they fell rapidly.

Kaleido opened her eyes wide and tore all the leaves from the trees. Her eyes sparkled as the leaves formed a large mass. They all screamed before landing in the ginormous pile.

A silence fell through the forest as the Necrobeasts up on the cliff looked down. Unable to see where they had vanished, the Necrobeasts slinked back into the forest. From the leaves, Eliowen sprouted up and spat out all the leaves in his mouth. Kaleido popped out as blood ran down from her eyes. She had over-exhausted her powers as she felt light-headed. Nayjhren crawled out of the leaves, his heart racing.

"Kaleido! Thanks for the near-death experience!"

Eliowen got up and brushed his clothes.

"WOOHOO!"

Kaleido stood up, wiping the blood from her face.

"Holy poop that was fun!"

Eliowen's face contorted to rage.

"FUN!? Kaleido we almost got eaten by a whole NEST of Necrobeasts!"

Kaleido danced around.

"I know! Who else can say they ran and dove off a cliff from that many of them?! Oh just wait till the town hears about this... we'll be so cool."

Nayjhren stood up.

"T-Thanks..."

Kaleido and Eliowen turned to him. Kaleido walked up to him.

"No thank you! That was the most fun experience of my life! What's your name?"

Nayjhren softened his look.

"Nayjhren."

Kaleido wrapped her arm around Nayjhren's neck.

If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

"I'm Kaleido! Well Nayjhren, that was a pretty bold claim back there."

Nayjhren blushed as he remembered what he said.

"Oh uh... I just... kinda blurted it out."

"Still it was a pretty cool thing to do, to think me and dumb-dumb over there were crying while you stood your ground. I wouldn't mind a new member to explore the world. Usually, I would be the brawns and Eliowen the brains but I wouldn't mind being the charming leader while you take the brawns."

Kaleido winked and pats Nayjhren's back.

Eliowen stepped forward.

"Wait, don't you think we're rushing this a little Kaleido? I mean... what were you even doing there Nayjhren, in that nest?"

Nayjhren looked down and fiddled with his hands.

"I..."

He looked up to Eliowen and Kaleido who were both waiting for his answer.

"They... captured me. I was only able to escape when they left me unguarded. When you two found me a couple of days ago, I had been lost in those woods. I was then captured by them."

Kaleido smiled softly.

"That sounds horrible. C'mon, we'll take you back to our home!"

Eliowen was hesitant to trust Nayjhren but trusted Kaleido's judgment.

"Yeah... Okay. Let's go."

The three of them departed back to the Jia Precinct.

Back at the nest, one of the Necrobeasts approached Father Oak.

"Oh, hello my child."

The Necrobeast threw down a book it had in its jaws. It was a small book with the name Eliowen written across the cover. The Necrobeast sniffed it, the scent of Eliowen all over it as the beast growled.

The next day...

Archbishop Blues looked down at Eliowen, Kaleido, and Nayjhren with a surprised look.

"So... where were you two exactly?"

Kaleido went to speak but Eliowen cut in.

"We were just playing around the edge of town and... we found Nayjhren. He said he has no home."

Kaleido looked at Eliowen annoyed.

Archbishop Blues stroked his chin.

"I see."

Archbishop Blues knelt to be at eye level with Nayjhren. Nayjhren stared into the Archbishop's eyes, a seriousness blanketing his face before his gaze softened.

"I am glad you found us my child. We will take care of you."

Blues put his forehead to Nayjhren's, his words echoing through Nayjhren's mind.

"Thank you... F-Father..."

Nayjhren smiled.

A few of the nuns helped Nayjhren clean up and gave him fresh clothes. He wore a long white shirt and shorts as Kaleido and Eliowen waited for him.

"That looks WAY better than the poop you were wearing before."

Kaleido giggled.

"P-poop...?"

Nayjhren looked worried.

"Yeah! Poop!"

"What do you mean?"

"Huh? You don't know what poop means?"

Nayjhren shook his head.

"Uh... it means like... gross? Or something..."

Eliowen cut in.

"She means you looked bad."

Kaleido stomped her foot.

"I can speak for myself! I don't need you butting in. Speaking of that what was with before!? You lied to Father!?"

Eliowen put his hand on Kaleido's mouth and hushed her.

"Don't yell that! Listen, if you told him we found a nest he would've lost it!"

Kaleido pushed him off her.

"Oh, so you can lie to him about finding a nest but not about a dumb book!"

Eliowen looked guilty as he broke eye contact.

"You're such a poop!"

Kaleido thrashed him back and forth.

Nayjhren watched their banter as he giggled softly.

Kaleido snapped her head to him.

"HEY! What are you laughing about!?"

She let go of Eliowen and went up to Nayjhren.

"Just cause you're the new guy doesn't mean you get off the hook for laughing at me!"

Eliowen smirked.

"Good luck."

Nayjhren saw as Kaleido pulled down on her bottom eyelid and picked Nayjhren up. He screamed as she spun him around. He let out a scream but despite him getting tossed around, he felt at home.

Weeks passed and Nayjhren became accustomed to the town. Eliowen, Kaleido, and Nayjhren spent their days getting into as much mischief as they could. They used the atlas to map out their journey of exploring the world. Kaleido and Eliowen would often flaunt their strand abilities, with Kaleido able to control things with her eyes and Eliowen able to link people's souls together and puppeteering them. Nayjhren got to try all the delights of human life although Kaleido and Eliowen found his hatred for meat odd.

Nayjhren had spent three months living in Jia. One day while helping Archbishop Blues with moving some boxes he stopped for a short break.

"Thank you, child. Sorry to have burdened you with this mundane task."

Blues smiled warmly.

"It's okay, Father. I owe you everything for taking me in."

Nayjhren smiled and sat down.

"If you don't mind me asking... where did you live before coming here?"

Nayjhren's expression soured as he looked down.

"I um..."

He looked nervous but he wanted to trust Blues.

"I..."

Blues nodded and put his hand on Neyjhren's shoulder.

"Don't worry. If you don't want to tell me do not feel inclined to. One's past can be hard to look back on, it's what happens now that matters the most."

Nayjhren's jaw trembled.

"I used to live in a nest..."

Blues' expression darkened as he looked down, Nayjhren could not see Blues' face.

"I was taken in by them as a baby and they helped me survive. I had no idea that they..."

Blues stood up suddenly. His expression was unreadable as he looked into Nayjhren's eyes.

"My child. Are you aware of Necrobeast's nature?"

Nayjhren didn't speak, his face covered with regret.

"Necrobeasts come from when a wild animal consumes the brain of a Strand user. When they do they transform into a Necrobeast and can only feed on more Strand users. They are our natural predator."

Nayjhren stood up defiantly.

"N-No! That's not true!"

Blues was taken aback by Nayjhren's compassion for Necrobeasts.

"I've lived with them, they can be nice creatures. They looked after me since I was a baby. I know they can be nice."

"That's because you do not possess Strand, my child. They do not eat regular humans. I understand why you wouldn't fear them."

"Then... what if I got one to befriend a Strand user?"

Blues' eyes narrowed.

"Please, I... I ran from my family... yet here I feel the same connection I did there! I consider both of you to be my family so please... Let me help my family..."

Nayjhren got to his knees and held his head down in a bow.

Blues' eyes shined. He put his hands on both of Nayjhren's shoulders.

"My child, I will allow it. I see true care in your eyes. If there is a way to stop this violence, I would like you to try."

Nayjhren looked up, tears in his eyes.

"Thank you... Father..."

Nayjhren left Jia and went back into the forest. He felt a constant pinching in his gut as he returned to the nest. The trek was long but he kept going. An aching feeling came over him as he passed trees and rocks he was familiar with. His legs were trembling, sweat dripping from his chin. When he walked through a bush he stood in front of the grand tree, its beauty reminding him that this was his home. He watched all the Necrobeasts below, going about their day. In a far-off corner, he saw Tekleha lying down sulking. He felt guilty for abandoning them for so long. As he approached, the Necrobeast's heads perked up.

He smiled and waved as a horde rushed to him. He looked worried but when they reached him they all tackled him to the ground and licked him. Nayjhren laughed as they all were excited to see him once more. He got up as Tekleha tackled him down once more. She didn't lick him or nuzzle against him but instead laid on top of him, crushing Nayjhren as he begged her to get up.

"Tekleha. That's enough, get off the poor boy."

Father Oak's roots slithered forward.

"Nayjhren..."

Nayjhren stood up and awkwardly approached Father Oak.

"I'm... sorr-"

"I'm so glad you're okay."

Father Oak's voice cracked as he felt guilty.

Nayjhren's eyes widened but he soon smiled.

"Thank you, Father..."

"Please, come sit. The whole nest has missed you."

Nayjhren went to sit but his look changed to one of determination.

"Actually... Father. There's something I need to speak to you about."

Father Oak seemed surprised.

"I... I want to try and unite us and the humans."

Father Oak fell silent.

"Nayjhren. That isn't the best idea."

"Please! The only reason I came here is because Father- I meant... Archbishop Blues... wanted to try and make peace. He wants to try!"

"You will come to understand one day Nayjhren... Nature is but a cruel comedy."

Father Oak's root slithered away.

Later that night...

Nayjhren was lying in the nest with Tekleha lying on top of him. He gently patted her as he looked defeated. Tekleha yawned as Nayjhren looked off into the forest, in the direction of the town.

"Why... Why won't Father Oak listen?"

He looked back to Tekleha.

"There's such a simple solution so why... why doesn't he take it?"

He sat up as Tekleha looked at him.

"You would take it, wouldn't you?"

Tekleha yawned again. Nayjhren smiled and ruffled her fur.

"Yeah, I know you would."

As he looked at Tekleha longer he began to come up with an idea.

The following morning, Najhren and Tekleha ran through the forest. The cool breeze washed over him as he leaped over bushes and ducked beneath tree branches. Tekleha followed close behind him as he remembered how free he felt. He soon stopped to take a rest as Tekleha ran up beside him, panting.

"That was nice..."

Nayjhren looked up at the morning sky. Birds flying overhead.

"Tekleha, you still wanna go to town? I believe if we show a Necrobeast can be friendly to Strand users then Father Oak will have to listen! I'm sure you'd love all my friends, Kaleido especially."

Nayjhren grinned.

Tekleha and he ventured back to town as Nayjhren rambled on about all of his adventures. When they reached town he saw Eliowen and Kaleido by the church. He ran up to them.

"Guys!"

Nayjhren smiled and waved.

"Look who finally decided to show back up! Where were you yesterday?"

Kaleido put her hands on her hips.

"Yeah, Kaleido was so worried!"

Eliowen smirked as Kaleido punched his shoulder.

"Shut up! You were the one who was crying his name yesterday!"

Eliowen blushed and frantically looked at Nayjhren and Kaleido.

"N-no..."

Nayjhren smiled.

"Well, I actually came back with something very important!"

Nayjhren turned around to see Tekleha sitting on the edge of the forest, hidden in the bushes.

"Tekleha! Come here!"

Tekleha didn't move, she stayed concealed.

Eliowen and Kaleido looked at each other confused. Nayjhren sighed.

"Okay, fine, we will just go to you then!"

Nayjhren grabbed Eliowen and Kaleido's hand.

Eliowen got anxious as he tried to tear his hand away.

"Um... Nayjhren... what are you doing?"

Kaleido saw the Necrobeast's eyes in the forest. Her heart stopped as she tried to pull herself away.

"H-hey... what the heck is that... Nayjhren..."

Nayjhren had a smile as he brought them close.

"Don't worry guys, it's our new friend!"

Nayjhren can't remember this moment, all his mind recalls is pure darkness. The aching feeling was back, his bones tightened as his mind compressed to pure nothingness. His eyes open yet he was blind. The answer to this ordeal was in front of him. Shouted in his face but he remained ignorant. Around him, visions of himself appeared. All walked away as they looked back at him in disgust, shame, embarrassment, and guilt. He was alone in his endeavor.

Coming back he stared at his bloody shirt. His hand clutching Eliowen's. He had a blank expression but his eyes were shaking. Nature played it's cruel joke right in front of his eyes. For his entire life, he would eat what the hunters had gathered, never questioning what entered his gut. His gluttony had returned. Together with Tekleha, he ate. Shouting was heard, and he looked up to see Father. He had no idea which one but Father looked at him with horror. He was sorry but he couldn't say it. As he turned his attention back down he kept a tight hold on Eliowen's hand. Tekleha looked up at Nayjhren before a quick succession of nails were driven through her skull. She collapsed on the floor dead, right beside Eliowen.

Nayjhren stood up, his stomach full. He let go of Eliowen's hand as it plunged into darkness. Archbishop Blues came up to Nayjhren.

"My child. May you rest peacefully wherever you go."

Blues held a nail to Nayjhren's forehead. Its tip stabbed into his skin as he didn't move. Archbishop Blues' tears fell past as his voice trembled.

"It seems... nature will not change course. I am sorry."

Before Blues could take action Nayhren's family arrived. From the forest they attacked. Blues backed away from Nayjhren and took action to defend the town. Nayjhren stood with a blank expression as the horde descended upon the town tearing through its people. Blues attempted to fend off the horde but it was of no use. Nayjhren turned around and walked back into the forest.

It was a long walk home. Each step became longer, each breath hurting more and more. He could almost reach it, almost reach home. Nayjhren put his hand out and reached towards the light. When he came before his home he found it engulfed in inferno. Necrobeasts winced in pain as he walked past their corpses. The great tree burned before him, and in the flames, a demon walked out. Its wings spread out as it stomped forward, crushing the skulls of all of Nayjhren's family. As it saw Nayjhren standing there it flew up. Disappearing in the sky before slamming down, digging its claws around his neck.

Its fangs are large with crimson hair and pale skin. It spoke with a soft voice.

"You're... human..."

Its eyes widened.

From the distance a man in a tie walked forward, his long brown hair hiding his face.

"Rina. We're done here."

The man walked over seeing Nayjhren.

"A... boy? Quick, get him to safety."

The demon cradled him and flew up.

"I'll meet you back at Jia."

The demon flew away. Toward home, or perhaps his home was burning to the ground. No matter which home he went to, nothing was there for him.

An undetermined amount of time later...

"He... ate him?"

A voice cried out in shock.

"Damn... so is he human?"

An interesting question. Was he human?

"It fused with his skin and brought him back."

A voice sternly said.

"The Haab' is intact but... I still wonder if he'll be okay..."

Haab'? Was he okay? Please... I need to know, answer! Please!

"I'll rip that thing apart."

A voice muttered enraged.

"It caused all of this. Why?"

Why? What a great question. Perhaps it was my nature all along. Perhaps I wasn't human. What am I? What is human? Why don't I know? Why...

51EE

"Where the hell even are we...?"

Nayjhren's head shot up. Trickles of light came through the grate of his metal door. He observed the light and saw movement. He scuttled to his feet.

"Uh, Rina, what was that?"

Nayjhren stood far from the door, the darkness keeping its hold on him. From the light, someone looked through. A girl peered in, scanning the darkness around Nayjhren.

"Weird... this place looks so old. Let's get out, this place is boring."

Nayjhren walked forward but his legs gave out, and he dropped to the floor. The girl looked back toward the door but left anyway. Nayjhren's eyes glowed.

"No... Eliowen. I'll... use my gift, the gift you gave me."

Nayjhren connected his soul to the girl using Eliowen's powers. Nayjhren reached towards the light.

"I'll make a new home... for all of us..."

Tears fell from Nayjhren's chin.

Present time...

Eliowen looked up at Nayjhren, tears falling from Nayjhren's eyes. Eliowen felt guilt.

"How could I forget..."

Nayjhren wiped his face.

"It doesn't matter. I had enough time to create my own answers. I'll make a new home. A new family. I'll create... my own Era."

Eliowen groaned in pain.

"Please... Nayjhren. I... I forgive you... I'm sorry."

Eliowen weeped.

Nayjhren remained stern.

"Don't lie to me. I know the real answer."

Nayjhren clutched his fist.

Eliowen stamped his hand down.

"Do you?"

Nayjhren looked down at Eliowen as he lifted his knee.

"Tell me then..."

Eliowen forced himself upward.

"Tell me..."

Eliowen got on his feet. His body aching.

"Am I... still your friend..."

Eliowen took a step forward.

"Despite all of your lies to me..."

Eliowen took another step, his body sluggish.

"Despite all the pain..."

Eliowen reached his hand forward.

"YOU PROMISED!"

Eliowen screeched loudly.

"Don't give me another lie now!"

Eliowen grabbed Nayjhren's shirt tightly.

"Nayjhren... am I still you're family?"

Nayjhren tossed Eliowen to the floor.

"NO! NO! We can't... I'm not a person."

Nayjhren grits his teeth.

"I'm one of them! A monster... A thing!"

Nayjhren's voice cracked.

"I don't get to be forgiven..."

Nayjhren looked down at Eliowen, his face stained with tears.

"I'll do... all a monster can..."

Nayjhren turned away from Eliowen.

Suddenly the wooden box housing Century and Blues burst open. Century was flung back and crashed into the clock. She fell to the floor coughing blood.

"Damn gramps..."

Century spat out the blood and stood up.

Blues left the dust.

"To think such a troublesome girl could cause me this much annoyance."

Blues held his eyes shut.

"Enough of this game. Let's make this an even playing field."

Century raised an eyebrow as a giant crucifix was summoned. It slammed down onto the ground, implanting itself into the floor. It glowed brightly as the dagger in Century's hand disintegrated into a powder.

"What the..."

Century leaped down to be on the same ground level as Blues.

"What is that?"

"A lock. With this crucifix, both of our abilities will be sealed."

Blues raised his fist and widened his stance.

Century smirked.

"Alright then. Let's see how many punches you can take gramps."

Nayjhren and Eliowen debate their friendship as Century and Archbishop Blues prepare for a final duel!