Cold and wet. Those were the first feelings Onyx felt as he walked through the unending dark. He didn’t know how he arrive there, but he knew he had to get out. He needed to get out. His feet splashed the water as he travered the darkness looking for a way out. He stopped dead in his tracks, and looked around for any sign of light but there was nothing. He heard some splashing, but could not hear from where. He hurried to find a way out. As he ran away from his mysterious pursuer he tripped on something. The water got in his mouth, and tasted foul. He tried to find what it was that he tripped on in case he could use it as a weapon. He searched through the water and found something soft and squishy. As he felt the rest of the object he felt a torso, then the head. It was a person! Onyx tried to pull them out, but the more he tried the more difficult it became. The person wasn’t all that big as far as Onyx could tell, and yet they weighed as much as a cannon. As he pulled on the person’s arm again he felt the person grab him and drag him down.

From there he could see them dozens, hundreds, thousands, possibly even more than that. People swimming endlessly trying to escape. Onyx saw the face of the person dragging him down. It was the man that raped him smiling back at him. He tried to free himself, but the man was too strong. He looked at the other people, and saw tentacles coming from below pulling them further into the dark abyss. One tentacle grabbed the man, and was about to pull both of them down. Onyx tried to gouge the man’s eye in an attempt to free himself and escape. He burrowed his fingers deep into his eye socket and pulled it out. The blood trail covered Onyx’s face. He closed his eyes, and opened them again this time seeing Hephaestus grabbing onto him instead of the man. Onyx saw Hephaestus being dragged down by the tentacle. She reached out to him hoping that Onyx would try to save her.

Onyx dived deeper as he reached out with his arm. He was able to grasp her hand just barely as they were dragged down even deeper. After a few moments Onyx saw the beast. It was an amalgamation of rot and flesh. It was made of human bodies that seemed to exhibit pain and suffering as they were fused with the creature. Onyx felt a tentacle wrap itself around him, and begin to strangle him. He pulled on the tentacle wrapped around his neck in a futile attempt to free himself, but it was all for naught. Suddenly he was gasping for air as he felt himself being choked. As he closed his eyes and opened them again he found himself hanging from a tree. The rope strangled him, and Onyx found himself gasping for air. As he squirmed he saw the bodies of his teammates naked, hanging from the tree, and riddled with knives. He saw several Dolsurians laughing with knives on hand. Onyx felt a sharp pain in his stomach as a knife pierced his flesh. He pulled it out and tried to cut the rope with it. He fell and fell and fell never seeming to reach the ground.

Finally he hit solid ground, or at least what he thought was the ground. The foul odor filled his nostrils as he saw he laid atop a pile of bodies. The bodies began to move and reached out to him as they pulled him down deeper. Onyx shot up from his bed covered in sweat. He also pissed himself. Onyx decided to take another bath and get a change of clothes, probably also some new sheets. He pulled out the spare clothes from the footlocker, and was about to make his way toward the door when he noticed a mirror. He checked himself to see if he looked any better now. There were bags under his eyes, and he looked generally exhausted. He covered his face with his hands deep in thought about how to... That was it. He didn’t know what to do. That thought frightened him. That torture chamber should have been the end of him. He wished that Azura had pulled out her pistol, aimed at his head, and pulled the trigger. Reality was much more cruel. He would have to live with the events that transpired forever. As he removed the hands from his face he saw some peculiar changes to his aspect in the mirror. He could see the fabled Dragon Eyes his teammates talked about. They were a deep crimson like blood that were slits. As he gasped he noticed his teeth were all unusually sharp. He felt each tooth with his tongue, which was now black and forked almost like a lizard’s tongue. He placed his fingers on the mirror as the monster looked back at him. Suddenly a hand pulled itself out of the mirror and attempted to drag him inside.

The mirror shattered and Onyx was left with a bloody arm covered with cuts and shards of glass. Onyx grabbed the spare clothes and made his way to the washroom to clean off the blood. As he made his way he noticed Embry looking at him from the opposite end of the hallway. He practically rushed past her without so much as making eye contact. He couldn’t bear the thought.

“Onyx!” She called out.

Onyx stopped dead in his tracks, but avoided meeting her gaze.

“I want you to know that I still love you. No matter what happens.”

Onyx marched towards the washroom. He set the clothes aside and looked at his wounds. He noticed a large and thin piece of galss still lodged in his arm. He slowly pulled it out, but only halfway as he thought about how easy it could be to just end it right then and there. He looked at his reflection on the mirror’s shard. The monster was gone, and there was only a boy left. A scared and lonely boy playing soldier. He tightly gripped the shard and cut his wrist. He made sure to cut deep as he fought through the pain, and reach in for the artery. As he finished his cut, however, he noticed there was a considerable lack of blood. He cut again, but this time across the length of his entire arm. He only cut a few centimeters before he notcied something peculiar under his skin. He cut a piece of his flesh to see what was underneath. What he saw horrified him.

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Azura looked at the shattered piece of glass. The blood on it was still fresh. She could see herself covered in blood, much like how she found him in the torture chamber. She set the shard down and remembered the day they met.

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The night was cool with rain pouring by the gallons. Azura, then a lieutenant, had been assigned to Fort Bisilgar between the border of Karash and Zul-Aman.

“Man it’s really pouring out there. Think we’ll get any lightning flurries lieutenant?”

“With our luck probably.” Answered Azura. Then thunder echoed in the darkness followed by several lightning strikes.

“Shit!” Exclaimed Yima.

“Told you.”

“Well at least we’re not out on patrol.”

“Sgt. Fazik, Lt. Arun!” Yelled the fort’s commander.

Both women stood at attention and saluted him. “Sir!”

“You two unfortunate souls are heading out on patrol. Grab your gear, and take the Zurdok Trail.”

“We expecting company sir?” Asked Azura.

“No, but this storm’s the perfect cover to infiltrate a squad or two. Besides Aldia’s team said they spotted a patrol last night.”

“We’ll make it work sir. Let’s go Yima.”

After acquiring a pair of automatic crossbows, some flares, magnesium torches, and firebombs the duo set out into the storm.

“You take me out to the nicest places.” Quipped Yima as the rain fell hard on their helmets.

“It’s only because I care.” Azura played along.

“Ooh Lieutenant Azura Arun caring about other people!? What will people say?”

“First we have to survive.”

The duo marched through the Zurdok Trail praying to the Sovereigns that they wouldn’t have to outmanuever a lightning flurry, and somehow end up in enemy territory. They could hear the lightning striking the earth followed by a rumble that shook the pair in their boots.

“All I see and hear is impending doom the longer we stay out here. Seriously if the Zulamarians want to infiltrate Karash this ain’t how you do it.”

“Should have asked Aldia how close to the border they were.” Said Azura as they marched through the rest of the trail.

“Are you ever going to talk about it?” Yima began.

Azura stopped dead in her tracks. She didn’t respond.

“It was the right call at the time.”

Azura sighed. “Sure doesn’t feel like it. Captain Osdarva, Kirill, and Zerev... They deserved better.”

“Surviving isn’t living Azura.”

“Maybe not, but for now it’s about all that I can do.”

“At least you gave the Dolsurians a new monster ‘Ice Demon.’”

They made their way to the Yannik River that divided their countries. The duo stood under a canopy on top of a ridge overlooking the river. Both pulled out their spyglasses to scout the other side.

“See anything?” Asked Azura.

“Nothing but lightning flurries. Think we’ll get a lightning flare?”

Azura looked at the formation of the storm and the ways the lightning flurries and strikes hit the ground. The storm had only recently set in, so there was a chance that a lightning flare was still a ways off. However, one could never tell and the storms always seemed to have a mind of their own. Azura was snapped back from her thoughts when she heard gunfire on the other side of the border. She focused her spyglass on the flashes to see what was happening.

“Shit! It’s too dark. Think it’s one of ours?” Asked Yima.

“Only one way to know for sure. I’ll move in first, and see what’s going on. You hang back and watch the other side if they try to cross the border.”

“Alright let’s go.”

The duo moved with haste as the sounds of gunfire seemed to get closer and closer. Yima found a small cliff that she could use to cover Azura and watch for any more enemies. Azura kept advancing as the gunshots approached the border. She took cover behind a large rock, and pulled out her spyglass to see if she could spot any enemy soldiers. Nothing but the muzzle flashes were visible. Then a teenager emerged from the treeline carrying something. Just as he was about to cross the river a bolt of lightning struck the river electrifying it. The teenager turned back, but was faced with six Zulamarian soldiers. Azura pulled out her automatic crossbow, and prepared to fire. One of the soldiers pulled out a sword and cut down the teenager. After that she heard the cries of a small child as the Zulamarian was about to thrust his sword unto the child Azura opened fire. At first the Zulamarians were caught off guard, and could not see the direction from which the arrows came from. Three of them fell to the ground before they spotted Azura. They fired back as Azura ducked behind the rock. Azura reloaded her crossbow, and tried to find the rest of the Zulamarian patrol. She heard footsteps coming from behind her, and saw Yima returning fire.

“So I noticed you started a war with Zul-Aman... Need help?” Quipped Yima.

“Cover me I’m going for the...” A loud explosion stopped Azura mid sentence as the pair noticed a lightning flare approaching them from behind.

“RUN!” Yelled Yima as the duo left the rock for the river, and cross to the other side of the border.

Both of them fired them crossed the river as they kept shooting at the Zulamarians that had taken cover behind the tree line. Suddenly a lightning flurry formed along the treeline setting the tree ablaze. It was then that Azura and Yima saw the Zulamarians and fired upon them. Yima took a bullet in the shoulder, but kept pressing on as the lightning flare inched closer to their position. Azura was the first to reach the shore, and immediately set off to secure the child. She noticed the teenager was still alive clinging on to what little life he had left.

“Onyx... Albion. Blood... Of my... Blood.” The teenager died as he desperately clung to the child that was covered with his blood.

Azura secured the child and fired her crossbow at the Zulamarians, providing cover for Yima.

“C’mon let’s get out of here!” Urged Yima as she grabbed her wounded shoulder.

The duo ran from the battle as the lightning flare split them from the Zulamarians. Azura and Yima made for the treeline to put some cover between them and the lightning strikes that started setting the forest on fire. As they ran a bolt of lightning hit one of the trees and came falling down on top of Yima. Yima jumped out of the way, but her legs were caught underneath. Azura went back for her.

“Shit! I can’t move.” Exclaimed Yima as she tried to free herself.

Azura pulled on Yima to no avail. She looked up for a brief moment to see the lightning flare headed staright for them. Azura looked at the ground under Yima’s legs and pulled out her knife.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa! Are you gonna cut them off?”

“I mean...” Azura then thrust her knife under Yima’s legs and started digging.

“Oh how nice of you to DIG MY GRAVE!”

“Shut up and start digging dumbass.”

Yima pulled out her knife and dug underneath her legs to provide some room for her to wiggle free. Yima pulled her legs out from under the tree, and struggled for a bit to get her bearings. Azura helped Yima to her feet and the duo ran back across the border towards Karash.

They made their way back to the fort to report the commander of the situation. As the duo made their way inside Azura noticed a wagon led by two teenagers, a boy and a girl. Both seemed to be in their late teeens much like the one that carried the child. In fact the boy seemed to bear some resemblance to the boy from the river, but that was most likely her imagination. She was already too tired to think of anything else.

“So the two of you took on a Zulamarian patrol?” Asked the fort’s commander.

“Yes sir. Whatever the situation is in Zul-Aman it must be dire for him to attempt to escape the border with his son.” Informed Azura.

“Yeah I was wondering where the child came from.”

“Well sir when two women love each other very much...” Yima began, but Azura elbowed her.

“Sir... Are we... Did we just start a war with Zul-Aman?” Asked Yima.

The commander raised an eyebrow. “Hardly. This kind of thing happens all the time. Shit just ask the navy how often they fight the Ulammarians. It’s nothing more than flexing at this point. By the way whilst you two were away I got your new assignments.” The commander then grabbed two envelopes and handed them to Azura and Yima.

“What are they sir?” Asked Yima.

“Above my pay grade I’m afraid. Once I saw the crossed daggers I knew not to open them. Never liked legionnaires, but you two are alright. Anyways the only thing I know is that the wagon is here to get you so get to it.”

“Sir!” Both of them saluted the commander and left for the barracks.

“You know he really is tiny. What’d you say his name was?” Asked Yima as she held the baby.

“Onyx. Onyx Albion.” She answered.

“Albion? Like the city? Is that where they’re from? Think he’s an animalist?” Asked Yima.

“Who knows.” Said Azura as she opened the letter.

“What’s it say?”

“Huh... Open yours up too.”

“Okay...” Yima set Onyx down and opened her letter.

“Does yours say Kar’shan?” Asked Azura.

“Yeah, but I thought that was just rumors. There’s no way the place is real. I guess this proves it. Signed by the director himself.” Said Yima as she set the letter down.

“Guess it will be home for a while.” Azura looked at Onyx.

“Since we’re going there you could take care of him. Until he gets cleared for training.”

Azura didn’t respond at first. “Yeah... Well then let’s go.”

The duo packed their gear, and made their way to the wagon led by the two teens. They were approached by the girl wearing a scarf covering her mouth.

“Lieutenant Azura Arun, Sergeant Yima Fazik my name is Sasha and we’ll be taking you to Kar’shan.”

“Thank you.” They said as they packed their gear into the wagon.

“Kar’shan, the city of children. I think you’ll like it.” Said Azura as she fed Onyx some milk.

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It was a good trip for the most part. Onyx crying at night didn’t help, but she liked having him around at that time. He made living tolerable. Now he was in the same place she was all those years ago. Azura set the glass shard down and left the room when she was greeted by Embry.

“How is he?” She asked.

“He still won’t talk.” Answered Embry.

“When I found him he asked me to kill him.”

Embry gasped. “What!?”

“There’s a little part of me that wishes that I had the courage to pull the trigger. I just couldn’t do it.”

“What will happen to us now?” Asked Embry.

“You let me handle that. For now... For now just... Well... We’ll see.”

“Yeah.” Embry said softly as she left Azura.

Azura made her way to the washrooms to take a bath herself when she heard sobbing. She approached the door, and was about to speak when she noticed it was open. At first she hesitated to go in and talk to him. He would have felt ambushed, and would have walled her off. Right now though she felt like it was the right thing to do. She gently opened the door to see blood, and pieces of torn flesh under Onyx.

“Was he attempting suicide?” She thought.

As she slowly approached him Onyx heard her footsteps and looked at her. What she saw shook her to her very core. His left arm from elbow to hand was covered in black scales.

“Onyx... What...” She was at a loss for words.

“I don’t know what’s happening to me.” He said between sobs and tears.

Azura rushed to embrace him. “It’s all gonna be okay.”

“It’s not okay. None of this is okay.”

He was right and she knew it. She didn’t know how to deal with this.

“I’m a monster.” He said.

Azura met his gaze, and put on the bravest smile she could. “You are not a monster. You are my son.”

Onyx then buried his head on her chest and cried. As did she. Somehow they would find a way to make it work.