~10 days left before Ardrasthrur's attack.

Nerian puts both hand on my shoulders in smiles in relief. "My friend you are awake finally! I thought you'd forever be stuck in eternal slumber."

He realizes that my entire body still pains from the wounds and scars I received so he backs away and talks from beside my bed. 

"What happened? All I remember seeing last was... Borias's death..." I remember the face that Camille had made when Borias died. I still feel a strong hint of guilt swelling up from my heart. It feels that it might burst at any moment. I couldn't protect anyone again. I just want to scream out loud right now. Was my power not enough?

The moment I mention Borias was the moment that Nerian's expression turned dark. He feels terrible for his death just by looking at him. He breathes, preparing to tell me something. "Yes... Borias's death was a tragic one, but don't blame yourself. You did more than enough to try and save him. Even we couldn't have done anything, but you managed to avenge him."

He clench my firsts in anger. I begin to ponder back thinking that if I had this much power, I thought that it would be enough to save anyone. I never wanted that feeling of losing someone dear to you, but when someone else you know loses their loved ones. It just pierces your heart and soul. How they felt at that time, or what went through their minds as it happened. 

In an act to cheer me up, Nerian tell me what had happened to Zarakiol over these past 2 days that I had been asleep. "Zarakiol has begun its drastic change. People have risen up once again. Everyone is working together, no more conflicts, it has become peaceful. It's similar to the peace that I had dreamed of for this kingdom."

"What I am happiest for the most was the people who asked for forgiveness. I'm sure mother and father would be happy if they looked down on us now. I had been reunited with my sister once again thanks to you. I think you've seen her before."

Confused, I think back and remember someone else that was in the room. "Do you mean the girl that ran out the door in a hurry?"

"Ahaha she is quite shy. Her name is Charlotte. I hope you two get along very well as friends...or maybe something else." Nerian smiles widely as he says this. 

"Something else? What do you mean?" I don't have a clue about what Nerian means. The was he speaks is mysterious and vague at times. Or maybe that's just how people born from a royal family talk like.

"Nothing... You might know soon enough though, but how are you feeling? Should you still be lying down on the bed instead of sitting up?"

"I feel a small amount of pain, but not that much anymore. I think I can move around now."

Nerian looks closer at me. "That's strange. Don't you realize how sever your wounds were? You were even stabbed by a sword right through your chest!" He points at the past were a scar remains. It has healed, but the scar remains there as well as every other scar and wounds i received.

"Truly amazing! Your wounds heal faster than anyone ever could. Are you sure that you're not sent here by the gods? You fight better than any warrior in these lands, you have power only thought to be rumors and heresy. Those blue flames that come from thin air! It was a captivating sight every time you used it. Don't you ever burn yourself from that? It seems quite dangerous."

Nerian continues his countless barrage of questions, and I answer as quickly as I can. They never seem to run out though. His interests are truly piqued. I thought that they would be more terrified than amazed from seeing someone do the impossible.

After we talk for what seems to be several hours already. Nerian remembers something as he stands up in surprise. "I apologize Fafnir, but I need to return to the palace. There are a lot of things I must fix, including the reparations with the damages that Orbus had done. I'll leave you to rest for today. I shall come back later tonight with dinner so look forward to it!"

He exits in a hurry. Time does fly when you're having an amusing time. Now I am all alone in the room. You could hear the faint rustle of busy people. 

It seems the town truly had begun its change. I remember what the town had looked like when we first came here. The people looked sad. Not a lot of people were outside. Everything looked pale in comparison to the past.

I realized something as I was recalling the past. "Samael! I have to search for him. Where was he?" 

My thoughts lingered. Then I remembered Orbus chanting what Samael would normally say. The pattern of Alz, mei'r still stay with me. 

I try to get up, but realize that I was in much more pain than I thought. My entire body still resonates with pain forcing me to fall down on the floor instead of struggling with this unbearable pain. 

I'm sure that I made a loud noise when I fell down. Regardless I try to stand again. What could I used to support me? 

I look around the room. It was quite spacious. A plain bed, stone built walls, adequate furnishings and lanterns lit up in every corner of the room. 

I try to crawl forward in an attempt to head to the door using my right hand. The only hand that's not that damaged from the battle.

The door opens. I couldn't quite see who it was, but that person dropped whatever he or she was carrying. It seemed to be broken glass and split water. I hear a faint scream of terror ski look up, but no ones was there. It seemed that the person ran away. I can't get out now that there are broken shards of glass in front of me. *sigh* "I can't let this stop me. I have to find Samael somehow."

I try to force my way with crawling through the shards of broken glass, but I hear footstep of someone running, it get loude and louder mining that the person is coming here.

"Please don't move!" I hear someone speak with a soft spoken voice. Must be a girl from what I hear. 

I can quite look up that much because I lie face down on the floor, and it's a struggle to ever move anything other than my arm, but I see her pick up the broken shards of glass. All I can see is her brown skirt from where I am. 

She runs away again after she had cleaned the broken shards of glass. I continue try to crawl. "I can't let this stop me. Just wait for me Samael. I'll find you."

Yet again I hear the footsteps coming closer. This time she stands a few meters away from me as if scared. "What's wrong? What are you Doing? You should be resting in bed!"

She stutters. I can't see what see looks like, but I ignore her nonetheless. I need to find Samael first. I desperately need answers.

"Stop! You need to go back and rest. You can't go out looking like this!" She slowly approaches me and kneels by my side. 

"Give me your arm. I'll help you." 

I do as she says and give her my right arm. "Argh! Damn." Even my legs won't cooperate. I feel her pull with all her strength. She feels warm. I put my arms around her I now stand, supported by her. 

I try to catch a small glimpse of her. I realize that It's the  girl from before. The one that suddenly ran away. So she must be Nerian's sister. 

We stand here, my body arches as I struggle to keep my arms around her shoulders. It looks like we're the same height. I can feel her temperature rise as we stand together in silence. I try to speak as i never got the chance to talk to her. "Your Name is Charlotte right?"

She turn red from what I notice. She slowly node her head without looking at me. She must not like me huh. "Thank you... For helping me up Charlotte."

"Y-you can't go anywhere yet! You have to rest." A soft spoken yell escapes her mouth, and she quickly hides her embarrassment after realizing what she had said. 

"I can't. I have to find someone important. I'm worried that I might never see him if I don't go now. Please help me look for him." I look at her straight in the eyes. Our faces only inches from each other's as I lean my body towards Charlotte's, my legs begin to weaken. 

She finally returns my gaze as she becomes silent for a while. With a determined face she nods. "But please put on something to wear first." She stiffly looks forward not trying to look at me. I realize that I only had my leggings and nothing for the upper body. 

She helps me change into a more presentable but simple outfit. A normal brown pants and white shirt. We head out at once, Charlotte accompanying me all the way. 

"Please help me get to the dungeons. I last saw my friend there when we were separated." Just as we get out of the house that I was resting in. I am suddenly met with strange gazes of people passing by. Is something wrong with me?

Charlotte ignores the townspeople who looks our way, and continues walking alongside me. 

It takes quite a while, but with a little struggle we manage to head over to the dungeon. It is guarded by a man wearing a judicators armor. I remember what I had went through when I battled them, but dismissed the thought quickly as things have begun to change now. It won't be like the past anymore.

I speak to the guard who looks at us curiously. "Please let us through. I need to find someone in there."

The guard speaks with a very strong, low tone. "The dungeons have been cleared. There's no on else there but the guards cleaning up the cells. If you plan on insisting, the I will have someone escort you and Madame Charlotte."

I had forgotten that Charlotte was royalty. Nerian told the truth. They seem to have accepted Nerian and Charlotte again. 

The guard requests another man to escort us. One lanky tall man comes right away. "Come you two let us go. Don't walk too far behind or too far ahead, wouldn't want to lose you in here. It feels like a maze after all."

He seems quite nice. He wears different armor than the judicator. We walk side by side with him inspecting the difference cell, but to no avail did we find someone. Only a few remains. We begin to descended further into the vast dungeons of Zarakiol.

"Here we are. The last holding cells. The guards have not been here yet so it might smell terrible, but we coul turn around if you'd like."

The guard gives us options. I look to Charlotte "it's alright. I can keep going." 

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

"Very well then. Hold on. I will open the door."

His keys clank, the noise echoes through the room. The metal door opens with a loud screeching sound. 

We peer into the the dungeon. To our amazement we see a well lit dungeon where a silhouette hides within the shadows. The guard enters and begins his interrogation. 

"What are you doing here? We've cleared the dungeons. We had made it clear that no civilians were allowed. How did you get in here in the first place? This door was sealed shut."

We follow the guard who entered the cell. He pushes the mysterious person for more questions. She does not respond to any one of his questions.

Instead she approaches and comes into the light. 

The light reveal its identity. A a beautiful woman, tall, tanned wearing seductive clothing. Long dark hair with a sharp captivating gaze. She has well developed features in every way possible. She licks her bright velvet lips as she stares at the guard. She bends over to seduce the guard with her well proportioned chest. She beckons to him silently with her delicate hand and the other hand is by her waist. 

She speaks with a mature sweet tone. "Well hello gentlemen. You seem to be lost, wandering here all by yourselves." Her voice is sweet and alluring. I found myself staring right at her. I can't quite put my mind to it, but something feels ominous about her. Other than that I feel like the pain goes away as she speaks. Bathed in pure delight I am drawn to her. 

I feel someone shaking my shoulders. I ignore it for just staring right at this mysterious person fills you with vigor. I wonder why though.

The guard who appoached her is now being carefully caressed by the woman in front of us. I feel envious. She notices and focuses her gaze at me. I look back intently into her eyes. 

"It seems that one child here feels dissatisfied... Come. I shall teach you the meaning of eternal pleasure." She motions for me to come closer in which I follow.

I feel like I am being rocked back and forth by someone, but before you know it, I awake! I feel a stinging pain on my left cheek and begin to realize that I was being drawn to her by an unknown force. I look to my side knowing that there could only be one who could hit me. The one closest to me being Charlotte. She wears a slightly pouting expression as she looks the opposite way from me. 

I as her, oblivious of what had just happened to me. "What's wrong Charlotte? What happened to me?"

The woman interrupts as Charlotte stays silent. "Ooh someone seems a bit feisty. I was close although. Still I never expected you to break free from my charm. Truly surprising."

She looks to the guard the we had accompanied. She caresses his neck, removing his helmet, and at that instant she bites on the guards neck. 

The guard begin to pale. It's like his body is beginning to wither away, but after a while it doesn't look like it anymore. The guard begins to wither away. The woman simply bit him and he became a zombified corpse. 

The body fall to the ground. She stares at us next. In a blink of an eye she is behind us already. The woman flicks me with her finger and I am sent flying across the room.

I slam into the wall with a strong force and a loud thud. The wall cracks. My body aches in pain. I think several bones in my body break from this attack alone. I fall to the ground and spit out blood. "Ahh what the!" It feels like my very body is being torn apart every time I attempt to move. 

"Fafnir!" I hear a voice call out to me as I fall to the ground. My consciousness begins to fade once again. Damn not like this... Just who is she?

As I begin to black out. I hear charlottes voice suddenly cut off as she speaks. It awakens my very being and I ignore all pain to look at her. 

She is being held up by her neck. The mysterious woman licks her tongue and opens her mouth. I see to pointed fangs along with her set of teeth as she open wide. I know what will happen. Just like with the guard!

I can't let that happen to her no matter what! I won't lose anyone anymore. 

"You look quite delicious my dear. I shall take my time in devouring you." She brings her fangs closer to Charlotte.

The terrified girl calls out to Fafnir desperately. She knows that he is injured to the point that he is close to being disabled forever, but she still hopes that someone could save her. "Fafnir... He-help me.."

From the ground where Fafnir lay. A blue flame emerges, filled with his ambitions and his desire to fulfill it. He stands tall despite the countless injuries he has accumulated. 

Bloodied and battered as if possessed, his eyes glow yellow and he stands with only one leg, the other kneeling down. He points his open hand towards the woman who holds a victim. 

"Let her go this instant! She belongs to me. I shall burn you along with your threats you insolent woman!"

Fafnir shouts with an angry voice that could shake the heavens. The woman trembles fear, but regains her composure right after. She tries to fake her slowly fading confidence. The child she underestimated had suddenly become a terrifying threat to her. Even in that state of his, she knows that he might have a chance of defeating her, costing the child his life in the process. 

She speaks under her breath. "I won't take that gamble." She puts Charlotte down slowly and back away from her. 

She speaks once again. "Calm yourself. I have given up. My true reason for being here was to tell you something concerning someoneyou know and care about. I anticipated your arrival."

Fafnir's flames do not disappear as the woman still speaks, but she continues her message. "My name is Miarus. I am the daemon of lust, and one of the lords of hell. There is someone who is just dying to meet you. Does the name Samael mean anything to you?"

The name clearly shakes him, but not enough to make his concentration on her fade away. He listens to her nonetheless. 

"We have taken him to hell where he belongs. If you want to save him. Then come to hell and rescue him yourself. He must be desperately waiting for someone to help him." 

The sound of several footsteps could be heard as they echo through the dungeon halls 

"I'm afraid that is all I can tell you. We shall be awaiting your arrival child of destiny."

As she finishes,the guards come bursting in. They try to halt Miarus, but they fail. With a snap of her finger, everyone blinks. She disappears... 

The blue flame dies out and Fafnir again fall face down on the ground, but he doesn't lose consciousness yet. He can't, after all the the woman said. Things started running through his mind. Too much things even begin to think about clearly. 

Charlotte runs over to Fafnir quickly trying her best to help him out. She clearly saw how strong he had collided with the wall. 

He simply holds his arm out to her again. By reflex she already knows what to do. She takes his arm and gently puts on her shoulders, calmly lifting Fafnir up who bears with the pain of standing with his legs. Instead Charlotte sits him down beside a wall, and she sits beside him.

He draws comfort from Charlottes's calming presence and he feels like he could drift away. He speaks into her ears making her shiver in surprise. "I'm sorry about this, but please let me rest on your shoulder for a while. There's just something about your warmth that makes me feel at ease." Fafnir sleeps.

She blushes and turns red. She still remembers what Fafnir had said. She turn redder as she recalls 'she belongs to me' although she might have taken it too hard and thought about it the wrong way. She is stiff as a statue as she sits beside Fafnir inside the cell. 

The guards offer to carry him, but she tell them that a short rest is all he needs.

~inside his mind~ 

"Samael! Where are you?"

"Fafnir! Save me! Please!"

His thoughts are filled with conflict. Those are just one of the many possibilities that he imagines. There are more, other are even more gruesome and tragedy filled. 

"What should I do? What would you do in this situation Andour? I need an answer. I have to go to heaven or hell, but how."

~meanwhile inside the palace quarters~ 

Nerian along with other people who seem to be advisors and secretaries move about the palace. A large table is infront of them and papers are scattered everywhere. The change and reform of a kingdom does not come easily.

Suddenly a courier runs through the halls. The soldiers guarding the entrance to the main room of the palace blocks the man. "Please let me through! This is an important matter!"

Nerian notices the man making a fuss by the entrance. "Let him in. I'll handle this man."

The courier breathes in relief. He places some documents and papers on the table where there are other important documents scattered here and there.

"What is this?" Asks Nerian with a puzzled expression. 

"Please read it. We have to prepare. This is not a matter that we can settle peacefully anymore."

Nerian skims through the words trying to find something of importance. He finally pinpoints it. He is surprised and at the same time speechless. He yells "Call the generals at once! Tell them that this is an emergency meeting!"

He beckons for his secretary. He speaks to him. "Please handle this for a while. I have an urgent matter to attend to. Tell the generals to assemble inside the main barracks. I shall meet them there, but first I need to find Fafnir and my sister. Tell them to wait. Try to find Camille while you're at it."

The secretary obeys and relays the request to the generals.

Nerian runs outside. His destination is the house where Fafnir is resting at. Her worries about the outcome of this, but first and foremost is how he will get though this hurdle.

"Damn this! I knew there would be serious repercussions to Orbus's attack on Ardrasthrur, but we are not ready yet. Our military is in disarray, and the people are just starting to get back on their feet. What should I do?"