"Through the Darkest of Nights,"

"Lord Captain! Daemons in the Tree Line!"

"By All Father's Beard, an ambush at the dead of Night! Signal the Alarm! Retreat the Refugees and protect them at all costs!"

"They have already been retreated, Lord Captain! 1st Lieutenant Ashfield has dispatched his men to cover the Refugees' retreat!"

"Then we shall hold these Daemonic Cunts back for as long as possible! Hold them back, Legionnaires!"

Trees burned in Hell Fire as Daemons, Horrors of Black Ethereal Flesh, ran past Corpses of Knights, Warriors alike, and simple Commoners, their blood blending with the Crimson Red grass as Daemons feasted upon their corpses around the Red Forest. The squelching and tearing of flesh sounded out as a Gigantic Hound-like Daemon fed on the corpses of a Family, their eyes wide and mouths in screaming horror. The Hound tore the Head of the Father from his Body and crushed it with its bloody maw.

Daemonic Avians, mostly Crow-like in form, flew past the Tree Line and fed on the carrion and leftovers of the other Daemons. A Raven-like Daemon pecked on a Corpse before removing the Corpse's eyeball from its socket- gobbling it up in one scoop- before going in for seconds.

A Pack of Daemonic Humanoids feasted on a still-living Soldier, his screams echoing in the Trees as he is ripped apart and eaten alive. The Daemons were annoyed by his screams. And, in turn, crushed his Jaw, ripping out his tongue. They continued feasting as the poor Soldier could only scream in mute terror.

The Howls of the Daemons echoed as they chased after fleeing prey, Humans, Elves, Dwarves, and all who had a Soul, pounced and fed upon by packs and hordes of these Abominations. A towering Barbarian, a Viking, roared as he swung his Greataxe upon a pair of the Black and White Horrors, his comrades dead and dying, while the Commoners he so desperately protected ran for their lives farther out the Forest.

A White, Black Bordered Cross swayed on his Titanium Pauldron as the Viking shouted and fought with the Might of an Amerian Bear. He swung his Greataxe at the tallest Daemon, chopping off its arm. The Daemon screeched, retaliating with a bite on the Viking's exposed shoulder. The Brute roared in pain before striking the Daemon in its exposed skull with a Might Gauntleted Fist. The Daemon's skull was obliterated into fragments, yellow blood erupting from the life-ending wound. The Daemon fell back-first onto the ground, lifeless. 

The Viking felt a sharp pain in his abdomen. He looked down to see a taloned hand sticking out all the way, blood decorating its talons. The hand is pulled out, and the Viking falls onto his knees, coughing out a fountain of blood as his entrails hang from his gaping hole of an abdomen. The other Daemon, he had forgotten, licked its blood-soaked hand with a sick smirk. 

"You Nordikans are always so close-visioned- you tend to forget you have another opponent to face~."

The Daemon growled out in a mocking way. The Viking closed his fists tightly, his eyes red in anger, as he turned around to strike the Demon with a fierce uppercut. The Daemon, so engrossed with licking the blood in its hands, did not see the uppercut coming as its Head was violently torn from its Body with a burst of Yellow Ichor. The Daemon's Body fell with a thud, twitching, with the Viking standing triumphantly, panting and exhausted as his Body started to shut down from the blood he had lost.

"I, Lord Captain Ivgor Bludaxe, may be dying, but I won't let a pathetic abomination such as you live whilst I die..! Agh..."

The Viking, Ivgor, whispered with his dying breath before falling face-first onto the Red Grass beneath him, his eyes lifeless. A small flock of Crow Daemons immediately descended upon Ivgor's Corpse, feeding on his entrails and organs.

"And the Direst of Hours,"

Men, Women, the Elderly, and Children- Commoners ran for their lives as the Daemons chased them through the Forest. Warriors armed with Silver-tipped Weapons held back most of the Daemons with defiance, their shouts exemplifying their Wrath and Courage as they swung their blades and fired their firearms, White, Black-bordered Crosses swaying on their Pauldrons and Chest Plates. Holy Fire bursts from within many Daemons as they are wounded and hit by Silver.

The Gigantic Hound Daemon pounced upon a Black and Blue Knight, who quickly made to slice it in half in mid-air. The Daemon Hound, in a feat of pure magic, jumped from a Red Glyph platform it created to avoid the attack. Landing behind the Knight, the Daemon Hound struck with lightning speed toward the Knight's helmeted Head. Blood spurted, and Metal was crushed as the Hound tore off the Knight's Head.

The Hound threw the Head upwards and ate it before it the ground. It licked its bloody maw and let out a satisfied growl. It looked around at the Fire-plagued battlefield it was in. Warriors of the White Cross, Legionnaires, fought against the Hound's Daemonic siblings. Some of the Legionnaires triumphed against their Daemonic foes...

But many would fall just like the rest...

"Run, Olga! Run!"

"But, Sir Urie-!"

"You must run, Girl. Do not look back! I will hold these Fiends back as long as-  ACK! Just RUN! I will meet you at the end of the Forest to the South!"

A Girl ran as she held onto her Stuffed Knight, past overgrown Bleach White roots as the Gigantic Hound-like Daemon chased after her, its blood-stained maw slobbering with saliva as it hungered for her flesh. She flinched as the Daemon Hound leapt over her and went up the trees, leaping branch from branch as it went after her, four Red eyes staring at her with hunger.

The Girl ran under an overgrown system of roots as the Trees shook above, the Hound still after her in the branches of the White Oak Trees. The Girl continued to run under the Root System, hearing the Hound's howling and hungered panting, until she arrived at the end of the Root System, the Light from the Forest Fire illuminating the end. 

She stopped, hesitating from leaving the barrier of roots that protected her from the Hound, which stayed unusually silent...

"You cannot hide forever...... Little Olga!"

The now-named Olga's Pink Colored Eyes widened in shock before a clawed paw pieced through the Oak Roots. Olga yelled in fright, scurrying back as the Hound's paw struck at every surface it felt. Olga had her back to the Tree the system of roots belonged to, her eyes threatening to burst into tears as she bit her lip, preventing her from making a sound. 

The clawed paw nearly grabbed hold of Olga's feet- she screeched and kicked the paw back with great effort. But it was all for nought as the Hound dragged her from her hiding place, throwing her out onto the Red Grass outside. Olga felt a sharp pain in her right shoulder and quad, the hard landing causing deep bruises on the named areas as she held her shoulder in pain. She stood as best she could, although the pain in her quad made it difficult.

"Oh, Little Olga~ So frightened and small~ I rather love the flesh of Little Mortals like you. Your souls are the most savoury and sweet, a perfect dessert after a Main Course~."

The Hound growled in its deep, gravelly voice as it approached Olga slowly, predatory eyes staring at her, or most probably, her Soul. Olga glared at the Hound, defiant and hating at the Abomination that slaughtered her Family. She looked at her right hand and gripped it into a fist, a Rose Pink Aura emanating from it as she let go of her Stuffed Knight in her left hand and made the hand into a fist as well.

"You Zver', I'll slay you for what you have done!" Olga shouted, her voice small but defiant. She held up her fists in a practised Fighting stance, seeming to be an experienced fighter- for one so young. 

The Hound smirked into a murderous smile, charging at Olga with killing intent. Olga dodged the charge and threw a left hook as hard as she could, the Pink Aura causing a small explosion on the Hound's side. The Hound was blown aside for a small distance, annoyance clear in its expression yet amused at its prey's effort against the inevitable.

"You seem to have acquired your Heavenly Art... Hehe, this will be interesting~."

The Hound spun mid-air and landed softly. It leapt at Olga, to which the defiant warrior Girl responded by throwing a left hook and a right uppercut, causing Pink Aura explosion on the Hound's cheek and chin. The Hound's Head was thrown aside and then upwards, but it snarled. It moved its Head at near-unseen speed and tried to bite onto Olga's shoulder, but she barely dodged by moving her targeted shoulder back, her basic instinct somehow helping her.

Olga leapt back, letting out a frightful breath as she landed. But then something felt off as she looked back at the Hound, only to see a frightful Maw aimed at her Head as her eyes widened in shock. She could only gasp as she tried to move, but her Body wouldn't obey. The Hound's jaws closed with a crunch and a sickening squish...

Blood splashed upon the bleach-white roots of the Oak Trees...

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"We stand as the Shield that Guards the Realm of Mortality. We are the Sword that slays the Terrors of the Void. We are the Legions of the White Cross- guardians of Imperia, the All Father's Chosen."

"And we shall do our duty till our dying breath."

Olga stood frozen as a Black and Grey Armored Knight, battered and wounded, stood defiantly, his left forearm, gauntleted by Silver and Titanium, still being crushed in the jaws of the Hound. The Hound growled even when its jaws were ablaze in White Holy Fire by the Silver of the Knight's Gauntlet. Blood spurted and leaked from the Knight's gauntleted forearm as he grunted and groaned while holding the Hound in place with his Strength alone.

The Knight pushed the Hound with a shove, his Legs tensing in power as he moved forward inch by inch, trying to pin the Hound down against the nearest Tree in the area. The Hound pushed back with its hindlegs as its forelegs mutated into arms, clawed hands holding onto the Knight's Pauldrons and crushing them slightly with minimal effort before letting go of the Knight's forearm. 

"Ah~ A White Cross Legionnaire, quite the surprise... And a Brigonian Knight of the Black Eagles to boot! I thought my Siblings had wiped out the Legionnaires in this Forest, but it seems I was wrong... No matter, you will be snuffed out quickly, then that Girl is mine~"

The Knight grunted and held the Silver-tipped Battle Axe in his left hand in a Death Grip before its blade was set ablaze by Blue Flame, "I will not let such a Vile Thing come to pass...!" The Knight's black eyes burned in Blue Flame, "For by the Eagle of Black and Cross of White, I banish Thee..!" The Knight yelled with terrifying vigour as he hacked the Hound's left arm with his Battle Axe while twisting his torso to throw the Hound off balance.

The Hound's arm was sliced off quickly as the Knight then pushed through the Black, Ethereal Flesh and delivered a blue-blazed Kick to the Hound's side, sending it hurtling toward an Oak Tree, toppling it down and causing a small dust cloud of bark and splinters.

The dust cloud was blown away as the Hound launched itself at the Knight, barging onto the Knight's armoured form and sending them dozens of feet afar. The Hound bashed the Knight's Head onto the ground several times in mid-air before landing and throwing the Knight at a nearby Tree.

The Knight grunted in pain as he hit the Tree before landing on his knees, his Battle Axe and Eyes dimming down their Flames. 

He heaved and coughed, putting his fist against his Mouth before looking toward the Girl he saved. She stared at him, eyes filled with hope as she put her hands together. He was her only hope. And he'd be damned if he let her suffer the same Fate as those who fell on this Gods-forsaken Night.

He stood, gritting his teeth as he smiled reassuringly at the Girl. He glared at the Hound as he spun his Battle Axe expertly before holding onto the handle with both hands, engulfing his hands and weapon in Blue Flame. The Hound merely smiled a Daemonic grin as he looked at his severed arm, willing it to grow back- it did so with a burst of black ooze. The Hound flicked his newly regenerated arm to rid it of black ooze. He flexed his fingers before curling them into a fist, his Predatory Eyes on the Knight- quite surprised and impressed.

"Fufufu~ I would have thought you dead with me throwing you at that Oak, but you surprise me~ What is your name, Brigonian?"

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The Hound questioned as it pointed its clawed finger at the Knight, all but demanding his name. The Knight responded as he buried his Battle Axe into the ground, shattering the Earth beneath the grass.

" 2nd Lieutenant Uriel Smithson of the Black Eagles Legion, Sworn Knight of the People of Hensfarth, and your Slayer, Daemon."

The Hound laughed, seemingly amused by Uriel's confidence in slaying it. 'Little did he know~', the Hound thought with a cruel inner smile. The Hound placed its clawed hand on its chest, pressing onto pitch-black fur as it smiled in a terrifyingly friendly way.

"I am Asheth, Loyal Servant of the Daemon King Aranorn, the Lower Fiend of the Barbanion Horde... and your proud devourer!"

Asheth launched itself off the ground, causing a large dust cloud, aiming to cleave off Uriel's Head with a simple swipe. Uriel's eyes widened, but he quickly blocked Asheth's clawed hand with great effort. Asheth pushed against Uriel's Battle Axe slightly before he spun mid-air and struck against the weapon once more, launching the Knight a fair distance due to the sheer kinetic energy of the strike.

Uriel landed and skidded to a halt. He spun his Battle Axe, warding off another blow aimed at his Heart with a swift parry. Asheth struck like lightning bolts, seeming to come from multiple directions, trying to overwhelm Uriel's defence. Uriel kept his defence, warding off and blocking each blow with speed to match the Daemonic Hound. Asheth made to strike from below, with Uriel already moving to parry its strike. A scream came from Uriel's helmet, the Danger Sensor alarming him of a threat behind him.

'A feint!'

Uriel thought too late. He tried to turn and block the true strike from behind him. A clawed hand thrusts toward his Head. Blood spurted as a noticeable portion of Uriel's Armet Helm was cleaved off, together with a small segment of his Head and Skull. Uriel grunted as Asheth whizzed past him, bits of flesh in its clawed hand, which it quickly ate up.

Uriel felt his Head throb in pain. He reached for his satchel and pulled out a small Green vial of Saint's Cure, but Asheth again came from his blind side and swiped at his hand, slicing it clean off. Uriel willed himself not to scream in anguished pain, for he WILL NOT let this Daemon know of his weakness and pain. He fought on. 

He caught Asheth before it could whiz past him again, cleaving off a portion of the Void Spawn's Shoulder, letting its whole left arm hang onto the joint by only a few strands of Black Muscle. Asheth screeched and hit Uriel with a swift spinning kick, sending him rolling into the ground a few feet away. Uriel got up with a grunt and charged with a fierce roar.

"Charging at me head-on is such a foolish and weak attempt, but one that I respect."

Asheth growled out as it tore off its hanging left arm, willing it to regenerate. But it did not. Asheth's four Red eyes widened in shock. It heard a roar from above. It turned its Head upward to see Uriel falling at it from a great height, Battle Axe blazing in a blue inferno and eyes ablaze in rage.

"You noticed now, have you!? I make up for my mistakes, Daemon! I made sure to heighten my Heavenly Art's potency tenfold to burn off your Regenerative tissue! And now... You are Banished to the Void's cold embrace!"

Asheth held up its remaining forearm to block the incoming strike, but it was only cleaved off as the Blue Inferno of Uriel's Battle Axe melted the flesh, with the blade remaining untouched. Uriel went past Asheth's defence and drove his Battle Axe into Asheth's Chest with a mighty roar. And with one last great effort, cleave right through Daemonic Flesh and Bone, tearing the Hound's Torso in two.

Asheth's eyes remained wide as its upper half fell on the Red grass, its Yellow blood oozing out of its entrails and insides. Asheth glanced at its lower half, still standing despite the absence of its other half. Asheth chuckled as its yellow ichor flowed from its maw like a stream.

"It seems I had underestimated you... Lieutenant..."

Black flesh and fur slowly turned Red, overgrowing like Wild Grass, as it matched the Forest floor it lay upon. Asheth's eyes held no hate as Uriel kneeled beside it, the Pointed tip of his Battle Axe aimed right toward where its Heart lay, the Center of its corrupted and twisted Soul.

"You Daemons always do. But in the end, you will only pay for your arrogance with banishment." Uriel spoke with a Monotonous tone, wanting to get this over with as quickly as possible, it would seem.

"Hehe~ I will only come back, Lieutenant. Banishment does not keep our souls locked in the Void for long... And I'll face you once aga-" 

Asheth would not get to finish his sentence as Uriel drove his Axe tip into the Daemon's Black Crystal heart, shattering it and scattering Asheth's Soul, sending it to the Void as the very Realm itself cast the Corrupted Soul out. 

"Shut your Mouth, you Daemonic Cunt."

Uriel sighed as he stood up, his eyes tired as he felt the Blood Loss take effect. He latched his Battle Axe onto a holder on his back, the Blue Flame engulfing its blade, extinguishing as he deactivated his Heavenly Art. Uriel reached into his satchel bag- trying to find another Vial of Saint's Cure. But he only found broken glass and small pools of magical liquid. They were all broken from all the Rough Landings he had taken from that Bastard Asheth.

"Shit..."

Feeling his legs weaken- Uriel fell onto his knees with a pained grunt. He held his exposed Head, his brain throbbing in pain as he held it. Uriel's senses started to dim. His Ears rang in pain, his Eyes clouded over in mist, and his Mouth felt dry. It seemed his time had run out. Uriel placed his remaining hand on the ground to hold himself up, a feeble attempt to deny his Fate.

Uriel could barely hear anything but the slowing beat of his Heart. Until... He could partially make out a set of rushed thumps on the ground as if someone was running toward or away from him. He felt a small hand on his Head and the end of a small bottle placed into his Mouth, its liquid pouring down his throat, causing a refreshing feeling all across his Being...

Eyes shot open as Uriel realized what it was. Flesh and bone healed themselves miraculously, wounds were sealed, and a Hand was regrown as Uriel felt himself come back from the brink of Death. Uriel spat out the bottle in his Mouth with an accompanying cough. He heaved in a breath. 

Looking at his Savior, he smiled warmly.

"Thank you, My Dear."

Olga looked at Uriel with teary eyes before hugging him with a cry.

"No! Thank you, Ser Uriel! Thank you so much!"

Quite surprised by the Show of Affection, Uriel's eyes were wide, and his arms were held back in caution, but he relented as he hugged Olga back. He sighed, looking at the ongoing Forest Fire not far from them. His Brothers and Sisters were dead, and the Daemons had overrun the Forest, but at least most of the Commoners had evacuated the Forest before their Convoy had been ambushed. Now it was time for their Leave.

"We don't have much time to dilly-dally anymore, My Dear Olga. The Forest is overrun, and we are on our own. We must leave this place and return to Fort Malmune to the South, where you will be safe and cared for."

Uriel spoke as he let go of Olga. Olga nodded in agreement as she wiped her tears. Uriel stood up with great effort, grunting as his Body started to bring itself back to life. Uriel then offered his newly regrown Hand to Olga, who gladly accepted with a sad smile. 

Rummaging through his Satchel Bag, Uriel then retrieved a small Data Pad. Turning on its Hologram projector, Uriel bore witness to a detailed satellite Map of the Region of Land they were in, the Red Forest of Babiskov in Northern Polschnivia. Uriel typed down the Destination they were heading toward in the Data Pad's Navigation System, which the Data Pad was quick to process as it projected the safest route.

Satisfied, Uriel kept hold of Olga's hand and started their journey out of the Red Forest, eager to leave the Night of Horrors they had experienced behind.

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Morning rose as a Cherry Blossom Tree swayed in the wind. A Japeshnican Robin chirped a beautiful song by a Window of a Sizable Cabin atop a Hill in a Forest of Cherry Blossoms, overlooking a Black and Red Town that began to wake with the morning as Farmers travelled to their fields and Mothers cooked their Morning meals. 

Ronins began their mornings early in the Town Temple, preying on the All-Father for Guidance and Protection before heading out to the Training Fields to train the next generation of Warriors the way of the Samurai.

Cherry Blossom petals were blown away from their branches as they flowed with the wind. Cranes began their return from Winter migration. And the Sun was a bright orange as it rose high into the Horizon.

In the Hilltop Cabin, a Young Man began folding up his Futon. He was a rather attractive lad, with Naturally Grey-White long hair tied into a braided ponytail, Grey eyes with specks of Gold that swirled in his scleras, and a perfectly clean-shaven, Heart-shaped face. 

This was Joseph Gates, a young man with a dream to become something great, something that would make his Father proud. 

"Another Morning..."

Joseph whispered as he looked toward the Morning Horizon, eyes filled with youthful determination and a sense of longing. Joseph sighed, turning back to folding his Futon. He finished quickly and stood up with a stretch. He stretched his muscles, starting with his legs and moving up to his torso. He let out a relieved breath as he completed his stretching.

Joseph walked out of his room, looking around the empty cabin- he felt a pang of hurt in his Soul.

'Father has yet to return... it's been a year already...'

Joseph frowned before clearing his Head of these thoughts. He continued to do his Morning Routine.

Entering the Kitchen, Joseph opened the Refrigerator, taking out two Eggs and a Pound of Ground Beef from the Crisper. Checking the Cabinets, Joseph hummed in thought before taking out a whole White Onion and a Garlic Bulb. Setting his ingredients down, he then prepared his Breakfast.

Peeling his Onions and Garlic, he chopped them up thinly, his Knife skills showing as he cut proportionately between each clove of Garlic and the whole Onion. Finished with Cutting, Joseph turned toward the Stove next to him and dialled up the Knobs... But he was only met with a puff of smoke from the Burners.

"Gods Damnit..."

Joseph whispered before his hands crackled with Electricity as he aimed his index finger toward the problematic burner.

"Heavenly Art: Tempest of Thunder - Jolt!"

A tiny bolt of Electricity flew from his finger and into the burner, causing a Flame to start up. Joseph quickly took a Non-stick pan from one of the Kitchen Hangers and placed it down, drizzling in a small cup of Oil right after. Cracking both of the Eggs he had taken from the Refrigerator, he poured the Yolks in. Covering the pan to let the steam do the work, Joseph waited a few minutes by watering the Plants by the Kitchen Window.

Deciding enough time had passed for the Eggs to cook, Joseph removed the pan's lid and quickly scooped them up, their yolk a nice golden colour and the Egg whites plentiful. Placing the Eggs down onto a plate, Joseph heard the click of the Rice Cooker, signifying the Rice was finished cooking. Fetching a bowl from the cabinets, he opened the Rice Cooker's lid and took an appropriate amount. 

Placing the Rice Bowl down next to his plate of Eggs, he turned to cooking his Ground Beef. Joseph poured the diced-up Onions and Garlic onto his pan and let them cook to a beautiful brown. Dropping the Ground Beef into the pan, Joseph smiled as he heard the meat sizzling.

Taking a shaker from the cabinet, Joseph added a dash of Paprika to the Beef and let it cook for a few more minutes. He took a whiff of the sizzling Beef and let out a pleased hum. He took a spoon from the utensil cabinet and tasted a tiny portion from the pan. 

'Nice...'

Turning off the Stove and plating the cooked Beef onto his plate, Joseph then took his plate and rice bowl outside to the Balcony. Sliding open the Shoji door with his feet and stepping out the Balcony, Joseph closed his eyes as the Morning wind hit his face. Sitting down on the soft flooring of the roofed Balcony, he sighed and put his hands together in prayer.

"Thank you for the Food, All-Father..."

With a soft smile on his face, Joseph dug in... 

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Cherry Blossom Trees swayed along the sides of a stone stair path, their petals falling off, dancing in the wind, and decorating the ground in a sea of different shades of pink. Joseph, wearing a straw Kasa and dressed in a Red Haori, Black Nagagi, and a White Hakama, walked along the Stone Path, a basket of Roses and Orchids in his left hand. A few Monks dressed in Yellow and White walked up and down the Path, most greeting Joseph with a smile or a respectable bow.

After ten minutes of climbing up the stairs and going through a series of Torii Gates, Joseph arrived at a Red and Black Monastery, where hundreds of Monks were doing their daily duties. Joseph walked toward the largest building in the Monastery, a Temple that rose into the Sky and was big enough to encompass most of the space within the Monastery. A dozen large Sōhei guarded the Temple entrance. Armoured and dressed in Yellow and Red, they held Glaives that shined in Ethereal Gold as they stayed vigilant, looking out for threats against the Monastery and its Inhabitants.

One of the Sōhei placed his Glaive in front of Joseph, preventing him from entering the Temple. Joseph looked at him with a curious brow, and the Warrior Monk looked at him apologetically.

"I'm sorry, Joseph-Kun, the Hierarchs have yet to finish their Ceremony."

"Oh, I see." Joseph nodded and backed away just as the Temple Doors opened. Four elders, the Hierarchs, walked out with their hands in their robes as a duo of Sōhei guarded them. One of the Elders, a wizened Elf, noticed Joseph and smiled, deciding to greet the Young Man he had known for so long.

"Blessed Morning, Young Gates! Have you come to greet her once again?" The Elf asked in kind curiosity as he approached Joseph, eyes closed with a smile.

"Yes, Hierarch Estelar. I... It's her Birthday... And I want to give her some Flowers before I... prepare." Joseph answered with a bowed head as he glanced at the Basket of Flowers in his grasp.

"Ahh... Very well then. We have already blessed all of the Tombs this morning, so you have no need to Bless her Tomb if you wish. The Attendants will tend to whatever you need whilst within the Temple of the Dead." The Hierarch said with a slight bow in respect, "Have a Good Day, Joseph."

"And to you too, Hierarch Estelar. Thank you."

With a close-eyed smile, Hierarch Estelar walked away and rejoined his fellow Hierarchs on their walk back to the Central Temple further into the Monastery, a whole Squad of Sōhei escorting them closely. Joseph sighed and entered the Temple with none of the Sōhei interrupting him, only giving him a respectable nod in acknowledgement. The great Red doors opened with a loud groan as Joseph lightly pushed with a single hand, the smell of incense apparent as he walked inside. 

Hundreds- no, Thousands of Statues stood inside the Temple, guarding the Tombs of the People they were sculpted after. At the Center of the Temple stood a Colossal Statue, sculpted to be a Bearded Man who held a Sword of Holy Fire at his side, a Lamp that beamed with Holy Fire, and dressed in the Armour of a King, adorned with a Heavy Winter Robe. This Statue was sculpted after the All-Father, or at least, what his Mortal Children thought him to look like. 

A few Monks dressed in Black tended to the Statues, cleaning off Dust or collecting wilting Flowers and Spoiling Gifts. A few Monks at the doorway greeted Joseph with a nod, but they mostly kept to themselves right after, too engrossed with their duties to acknowledge the Young Man properly.  

Moving further into the room silently, Joseph glanced at every Statue he passed, representing Dead Heroes, Kings, and Lords. Arriving at a particular Sculpture, he placed his Basket of Flowers on the Floor in front of it, a set of Incense Sticks already burning at the foot of it, along with a dozen other Flowers. Joseph breathed in deeply before looking at the eyes of the Sad presentation of his Mother.

The Statue was sculpted to be a Lady Knight, a Claymore in both of her hands, looking toward an unseen enemy with a look that could kill. The Statue was rather beautiful and perfectly encapsulated the Woman it was modelled after, but Joseph thought otherwise.

'The Sculptors never did your Beauty and Life-filled Eyes any justice, Mother...'

Taking out the Bouquet of Roses and Orchids from the Basket, he looked at her lifeless eyes, cold and unfeeling since that faithful day. Joseph shook his Head and cleared his Head of these thoughts, placing the Bouquet onto the foot of the Statue along with the other Flowers, showing how many cared for Joanne Gates, the Knight of Fujinaria, and how many people had missed her dearly.

As he placed his Flowers down, Joseph noticed a rather extravagant set. It was a Rare Prussikan Cloud Rose and a Frankanian Blood Peony in a small Watered Pot. Joseph knew immediately who these were from.

'So you were here... Why didn't you visit me, Father?'

Joseph questioned. He had not seen his Father in a year, and their last meeting was brief, just a simple Hi-Hello. But the Young Gates already knew the answer. His Father is the Lord General of the Iron Crucifix or the Iron Cross Legion in more familiar terms. Lionel Gates was a man who upheld his Duty to the very end, and with the increased incursions from the Daemonic Threat, he was bound to be kept busy for years to come. 

Joseph understood that clearly, he was not selfish enough to demand his Father to always be with him rather than do his Duty of keeping the Realm of Imperia safe. But Joseph couldn't help but want more time to spend with Lionel. It had been years since they had a proper time to talk, when he was a wee Lad and his Mother was still alive.

Taking a deep breath, Joseph steeled himself. Now was not the time to keep reminiscing about a Past long gone and a Future to be. Doing a shallow Bow at his Mother's Statue, Joseph whispered.

"Until next time, Mother..."

Turning around and walking back to the great Red doors of the Temple Entrance, he could only look forward as a Black Ethereal Spirit watched him go... A smile on her face as she disappeared back into her tomb.

.....

To be Continued...

{An Author's Note: Oh, Hello there! I didn't expect you to make it this far, Dear Reader. Well, I hope you enjoyed the Story. I've been working on this particular Universe for a long time- about a Year or Two, give or take, and I'm pretty proud of what I've now written down. I hope you stick with me for the long run, because this is going to be a Looong Story, like, a very long one. I want to make this last and make it a Great story to be remembered, and I'd be happy if you stick with me. Know that any Help, like Concept Art, Grammar Fixes, Chapter editing, Ideas, Criticism, and whatever, is greatly appreciated! I wish you a Good Day/Night, and see you next time!}