The Gates of Cardel

A room lit by fire touched torches, shadows dancing along the walls surrounded by blood-red colours as the village chief continues telling the children of this town's history with the stories of The Gates.

"Some even say that it is soon at hand, but all know that it will be the darkest time in Panarea's history." He said as he looks over the children sitting before him.

Most of them were half asleep if they weren't already. They had all heard the stories before but since I was only four, it was the first time I ever heard them as I was able to participate in this year's festival. My eyes were as wide as the moons themselves, full of awe and gleaming with inspiration. When the other kids left, the chief spoke,

"Nia, come here. There's more to this legend than most know," he gently said, "and you are the only one here that seems to want to know, don't you?"

*There's more about them!* My eyes couldn't get any bigger, I nodded intensely and waddled my way over to him. He hoisted me onto his knee and continued,

"This part is only known by a few, others may tell you otherwise, but this is true. There was an eleventh member of their group, one who fell from their graces and disappeared from this world leaving no trace of his existence behind." He then paused purely to add effect to the way he spoke, but I just wanted him to continue the story.

"He is said to rise along with the others, but it is not clear what role he will play when he does. All that is said is that when Heaven and Hell falter, eleven individuals will balance the scales of this world."

Those words stuck to me like life itself; the Legend, the secret, all of it. All I wanted, was to know everything about the Cardelian Gates. I scoured every book in the town, learning as much as I could.

I was -what some would consider- a special case. Most kids my age were learning which animal made what noise, however, I had already learnt and memorised the entire book of the ten Gates from the town's history, word for word.

Years passed and my thirst for the knowledge of the gates had me ending up being accepted into the Capital's Magic Academy since I learnt a few spells that the Gates once used. So, I went but spent most of my time in the school's library reading every book that I could get my hands on about the Gates. I didn't really have any friends, I wasn't really a people person. I only cared about learning more about the Gates. However, the few friends that I did have, always tried to get me out of the Library, if they managed that, they at least let me keep a book in hand.

Nia Vwaigon, a top graduate from the academy. Now at the respectable age of twenty-six and working as a librarian in the Central Library. Most of my school friends have started families now and are trying to find me someone to settle down with too, *like they have nothing better to do, I'm not focusing on relationships at this time in my life.*

*The Gates are all that I'm interested in, and all that I'll ever be interested in for a long while.* I finish work for that day and continue with my usual routine. I grab a News-log from the stand around the corner and stop by the Bakehouse, *where one of my friends chosen 'candidates' for me works,* order food for some supper and finally visit the Post block.

I usually don't get any important posts, usually the odd bill or book return notices, but today I get one from my hometown. It says that my younger sister is getting married this fall.

*Wow, even my younger sibling is getting hitched before me.* It would look bad if I didn't show up, so I put in a request for time off work as some family leave. The weird thing is that it was accepted, they don't usually let people go in the fall because it is the busiest time of year. So, I shall take advantage of this rare chance.

Before I knew it, I was on a Land-Carrier headed for my hometown, Cardel. The trip is a good seven hours, and a perfect time to read a light novel. Pulling out an encyclopaedia of ancient runic symbols and definitions, I receive plenty of weird looks, but I continue to read as if they were pigeons on my balcony. I didn't tell the baggage loader what was in my case because it was mostly just books, but he didn't need to know that, and I didn't want any more weird looks.

I was finishing off the second last rune page in the book before the transporter announced that they were stopping in Cardel. Closing my book, I look up and come to the realisation that I am the only one left on board. For a quick moment, I feel a bit self-conscious about my reading habits, then glad that no one interrupted me.

The carrier stops moments later, and I hop off. The baggage loader has the same look on his face as when he loaded my bags on the carrier. *They're not that heavy, man up.*

Taking a deep breath in, a hint of nostalgia came rushing back catching me off guard, *that was too big of a breath.* I open my eyes to regain a sense of balance and see a fine young gentleman standing there staring at me with an odd expression.

"Are you Nia, Nia Vwaigon?" he eventually asks with a hint of worry?

"Yes, I am. Whom may be asking?" I reply, trying to sound as high class as I could without sounding stuck up, coming from the capital and all.

"Croan, Miss. Croan Trimble. Ummm, sorry, but is there anyone else that we are waiting on?" he questioned. *Don't you dare start too; I get enough of this from all of my friends back in the capital.*

"No, I'm afraid I'm it. Are you new in town? I don't seem to remember you."

"Yes, I am, I moved here a few years ago and I'm also the one having the honour of taking your sister's hand in marriage"

*This poor excuse of a jerk, really!!! Come on sis you could have done so much better. If you're gonna aim low you're gonna score low. I mean he probably is higher than most of the guys in this town, but still.*

"Ahh, so you're the one I've heard so little about," I said with a smirk so clear that even a winged rodent could see it.

"It appears that I am, shall I carry your luggage?"

"Sure, I don't mind." This guy is good, isn't phased one bit by what I said. But he is defiantly phased by my luggage. I can see him trying not to struggle.

"Did you want me to carry them?" I said trying to hide the humour I got out of watching this.

"It's fine," he said as he hoists them onto a motor cab. "I got this."

It's only a five-minute drive into town and another two before we arrive at my old house, I was happy to walk, but I'm sure Croan is glad he's driving there because that means he doesn't have to carry my stuff all the way.

*It isn't that heavy; I don't understand what all the fuss is about.* The house looks exactly the same from when I left twelve years ago, apart from the smoke pillar in the middle of it. *So, dad can buy nice things.*

As soon as I step out onto the ground, my father rushes at me, all teared up and trying to speak but couldn't make a sentence through all the waterworks.

"Dad!" I manage to say before two arms wrap around me. "There, there. I'm glad I'm not a lost puppy cuz I'd be smothered to death at this point." He still couldn't say anything, so I slowly pat him on the back to comfort him *and stop this deafening sound he calls weeping.*

"I'm gonna go put these in your room for you," Croan said. I just gave him a thumbs up and smiled. *Don't hurt yourself, tough guy.*

"Where's Mum?" I asked

"Inside, cooking dinner" He finally spoke.

"Considering you're the village chief and all, you're a real softy, you know that, right?"

"I don't care," he said lifting himself off me "My daughter has come home after so many years."

"I haven't been gone that long."

"It still felt like an eternity. Having you home should make things feel whole again."

So much for Alaine, *speaking of which,*

"Where is Alaine?"

"She's gone to town for some supplies, we weren't expecting you until tomorrow, so we weren't well prepared."

"I'll go find her; I need to give her some advice on choosing... specific things that could better help her in life"

"Alright, just don't be long, your mother still hasn't seen you yet."

"I'll be back before you know it." And at that, the chief started crying again, but I walk away trying to keep my composure at this point.

The town hasn't changed much since I was last here, Surprisingly Mrs Bridon's Bakehouse is still open. *Wasn't she like eighty when I left? good on her.* I take in the aroma from the flower shop and the new trinkets from the traders.

*The fountain in the town centre is still here.* Thinking back, I used to walk along those rocks pretending I was one of the Gates on a dangerous mission. Now, all I can do is look on, as the rock wall looks like it could give at any moment.

Turning away, something shining in the water caught my attention. *Did some travellers think this was some kind of good luck well?*

Getting closer to inspect it I see that it is a rune - slightly faded - but still a rune. It was the same one in the book that I was reading on the carrier, the last one I looked at before hopping off.

*Was that always there? What is it, it was near the end so maybe water? No, the book only had runes from R-V, maybe vexed, it was second the last one, so U. Under? Underneath!!*

"UNDERNEATH!!" I unconsciously yelled. Now I am getting weird looks, *so much for trying to avoid that.

But does that mean underneath the water? Or underneath the fountain? Or... Underneath the town square?*

Waiting a moment for the stares to die down I reach for the rune at the bottom and examine it. It has definitely been there a long time; the edges are chuffed and gravelled. Pulling back my hand out of the water, the rune cracks. Before I have time to react, the ground beneath me gives way; I'm falling along with the fountain and everything around it.

Regaining a form of consciousness, the sounds of falling rocks and settling water echo in my head. The sounds are finally fading into the background, and I have enough strength to crack my eyes open.

A faint outline of a figure shadows over me as the sun shines through a hole in the ceiling. My eyes focus on his flowy hair, the kind expression on his face, his heavenly eyes.

He looks dreamy, the curve of his smile, the dashing heroic feeling I'm getting from him, the ability to stay still this long! Staring in his eyes as he looks back, I notice that there is no colour in him, just a dark grey shade which I originally thought was from the shadow. Looking around, I find that I've landed in the arms of a statue.

*Damn it, I fell for a statue, of course I did. I mean, who else would do such a thing. The one time that a good-looking guy finally catches my attention he turns out to be a statue.*

So, in my pitiful moment I slowly make my way down to the ground.

I stand at the edge of a large beautifully carved stone circle, big enough that my old house could fit in it. Looking up, I spin around and look at the other statues around the circle.

*This place is huge, the statues themselves could be twice the size of father. But why are they here, under the town square? The town square! That's right, I fell, but why don't I feel hurt?*

I find it weird that I can ask myself so many questions that I manage to zone out. Snapping back, I see a large gap between the statues on the far end, like there should be a statue there or something.

Nearly all the statues seem to be looking at that spot, as if something were meant to be there. Turning back around to the one that caught me, I read the plaque on his pedestal: 'Adoasin'

"Well, that's informative. Who was this guy? Why is looking in a different direction to the others?" I said, my voice echoing throughout the cave.

Following his line of sight, it leads to his hand. So, I climb back up him, finding a rune marked on his hand.

*How did I miss this!!? It's not like my head was on it or anything!*

"It's a 'Release' rune, although ... it would be if this line wasn't too short."

Scratching the line of the rune with a small rock, I make it longer. I smile as it seems my long hard work of memorising runes is now paying off.

"Now that's a release rune, but what is it releasing?"

The moment the line is the correct length, the ground shakes again. A low rumble overcomes the cave. And I hold on tighter to the statue thinking that if he saved me once he can save me again.

Cracks appear from nowhere engulfing the statue as pieces fall away, even the ones I'm holding onto. Landing on the floor, all I can do is watch as my first love interest breaks apart.

The amount of stone that falls it kicks up a lot of dust, enough to block my view of him for a few seconds. When the dust clears, and I see a man standing on the pedestal.

"My legs are killing me!! I should have sat down for that or something not standing," He said, sounding in pain but with a hint of relief too.

*No, he couldn't be, no ... No, no. Is he?* He looks up and sees me on the ground looking at him. *HE IS!!!! I will never forget those heavenly eyes.* He jumps down and reaches out his hand,

"Are you alright madam?" He asks as passionately as the stars that fly through the night sky. I am so caught up in ... him, I hesitate a bit before answering.

"Yeah... I mean!! yes thank you, yes." I replied nervously. I quickly smile to pass off my stupidity as normal.

"Are you the one who activated the rune?"

"Umm, yes, but it was incomplete, so I finished carving it before I did"

"You must be a very special person, not many people can understand runes, let alone notice a flaw in them."

*So dreamy. Focus Nia, he's a person you just met that walked out of stone.*

"Who are you?" I asked,

"My name is Adoasin Night-el Brightburn, heir to the throne of the Fallen Deity, however you can call me 'Sin'. What about your's?"

"So, you are the statue that was there, umm right, I'm Nia Vwaigon"

"Well Nia, yes, yes I was. And ... Oh, how could I forget, the others you see before us are my associates, friends if you will."

And with that, he raises his hands, and it starts to glow, momentarily the rest of the statues start crumbling just as his once did.

"Now, would you mind helping us out? Where are we?"

"I didn't know she came looking for me," Alaine said to the chief. "I thought she was here with the rest of you."

*KOCK KNOCK*

The Chief runs to the door and opens it, and I'm standing there in front of him with a young man behind me.

"Hi dad, sorry if I worried you, I ... fell into a bit of an odd situation." I said worryingly, smiling at him as if nothing weird happened.

He looks up at Sin and back at me. For some reason dad wasn't mad at me or what I could have been doing. In all honesty I think dad fell for Sin too, even though he just met him.

"I'm just glad your home safe now," he said somewhat reassuringly. "So, who is this fine young man you have with you?"

As soon as he said that I could feel my sister judging me as she peeks around the corner into view.

"My name is Adoasin Brightburn, Sir. Your daughter pulled me out of a hole I managed to get myself stuck in. You've raised a wonderful young woman."

*Alaine, I saw that face. Stop thinking like that.*

"Why thank you...?" Dad said in reply. "Come in, Come in. There's plenty of room at the dinner table for all of us."

"Thank you, Sir. Do you mind if my associates join us, we were traveling through here together?"

"Of course, any friend of Nia's has a place under my roof."

*He never lets strangers into his house unless it's under appointment, not even stray pets. Can no one say no to Sin?!*

Walking in, I can see the smugness of my sisters smile and could read the message written right across her face, *'so you finally found someone to...'* her expression went to shock before I could even finish reading her face as she saw a Beast Fallen of just muscles and white thick fur ducking his head in as he walks through the door; then a Demi-human with a very scary yet cheerful expression as she waves to her. What I'd only assume some sort of sorceress floating her way inside an elf and five other characters that look somewhat normal.

I give her back a brief smug smile myself, before I realised how I am going to have to explain this to Mum.

Dinner is rather quiet as everyone feels either guilty for crashing a dinner feast or concerned why their when ten strangers in the house.

"So, what do you guys do for a living?" Dad said finally, breaking the silence. *Actually, that is something I've been meaning to ask myself.* There's a awkward silence and a lot of shared glances. Sin spoke up saying,

"We're travellers from a distant land, looking ... for new things to try and experience."

"If you're traveller's then why do you have all that battle gear?" Alaine finally asked, after gathering enough courage to do so.

"There are many monsters along the routes from where we come from, so we need to be prepared to protect ourselves." Sin said without batting an eyelid.

"Where are you from for there to be monsters on your path, there haven't been monsters seen in this land for centuries."

"Alright Alaine, don't flood them with questions they may not want to answer," Dad said, "Some people like to keep things to themselves"

"It's alright," Sin continued. "I come from a land more remote than most would think. It's a place that's so isolated, that hidden, that I'm the only one that has managed to have survived the journey out of it to get here. The others however I'm not at liberty to say, but we all met together sharing the same goal."

Alaine is somehow quiet after that, besides I can see that the others don't want to answer that question, I crack my mouth open to speak when Sin interrupts saying,

"Thank you for your hospitality sir, however we shall be heading off tomorrow, so we should go find a place to rest and prepare for the journey."

His friends all agree, and Dad thanks him for his company. *If Sin were to go then I wouldn't see him ever again, he and all his friends.*

"Let me show you to the local Inn to stay the night." I offered. Standing up and looking up into Sin's eyes.

"Thank you for the offer, but I'm sure we'd be at more ease if we refrain from places that may not accept us."

"Ok, at least let me show you out."

"Alright then." As the others wait outside, I speak to Sin one last time.

"It was fun getting to know you a little, it's sad to see you all go so soon. I wish I could come along with you on your journey, but-"

"Well why don't you come with us? How's this, we will wait for you at the town's square we rebuilt until the sun has fully risen, if you don't want to come with us that's ok, we will understand."

*Oh wow, is he really saying that. That's like the most cliché thing, but it is an opportunity to stay by his side a little longer.*

"Thank you, if I don't see you again, I just want you to know I've had a wonderful time with you all."

And with that they're off, I watch them as they fade away into the night. I turn around and see my sister looking right at me with a 'you sad little child' expression on her face.

*I'm gonna hit you later, so keep an eye open when you sleep tonight.*

"You like him don't you sweetie" Mum said.

"Well, I don't know, maybe"

"He seems like I nice young man, I give my approval."

"MUM!!!"

She laughed and carried on,

"You should go."

"What about the wedding? I can't just leave that."

"Yeah you can, I'll just send you a picture of it to wherever you two settle down" Alaine mused. *'Ways of how to get away with murder' start running through my head.*

"All I ask is of you is to say goodbye before you go," Dad added. *You too, the one person I thought who was on my side is also trying to make me marry someone. Traitor.*

"Alright I'll go, but I want that picture," I said jokingly.

I spend the night packing my luggage, shrink it down and put it in my pocket. Lying in bed, all I can think about is Sin. *Adoasin Brightburn, 'heir to the throne of the Fallen Deity'.

Fallen Deity?! Heir?! He's the descendant of the cursed mortal and Fallen Angel! A Cardinal Gate, that means so were the others, how did I not connect it before! and that means I fell in love with an Angel!?*

The warm glow of the flickering flames flutters underneath the vast starlit night sky. A small breeze carries the faint call of crickets nearby. It's very quiet for a party of eleven, most of us have a drink in our hands as we stare into the fire.

"Why is everyone so quiet?" I said, breaking the silence. A small pause of silence, as everyone thinks of a response.

"We just woke from being frozen within a stone tomb, we're all still just getting used to the fact we're back here. We knew friends and family that are most likely no longer alive. We're in a new world and we haven't the first clue about it." Sin interjected without shifting his gaze from the firepit. "But back in the days when we were still young and fired up, we were the life of any party we went to, even if it wasn't a party."

"What do you mean 'young'? You still are, aren't you?"

"We were frozen in stone for Gods know how long." He stopped, pondering over actually how long he could have been in that stone cocoon.

"How long ago was that battle?" The question that gets everyone at the campfire looking up and leaning in to hear the answer.

"What battle are you talking about?"

"'The' battle, our battle, our last battle..." Sin trailed off.

"Oh, well... That battle wasn't well documented, so the actual date isn't known exactly." I said with a heavy heart.

"Oh, well that's ok, I'm sure we'll figure that out at some point."

"There is something, however," I added. Everyone's eyes now peering at me with a glimmer of hope. "A legend, one made about the ten of you. There wasn't a specific time set in it, but you were said to have been from a 'mythic' or even ancient time long ago, 'forgotten in the memories of those passed and gone'. The earliest time in our history recorded was during the reign of King Baitale."

"You mean little Prince Blade?" Said this woman across from the fire, in armour of faded purple.

"Blade? Umm yes, most likely. How did you know the king?" I asked.

"I used to be a knight under the royal division of the king's palace, tasked with keeping intruders out of the castle, and the prince in. He was a little troublemaker really; climbing tapestries pretending they were trees, swinging off the chandeliers saying it was the new craze. Honestly, I had no clue where he got such ideas."

"You were a royal night?! So, you must be of noble blood."

"Yes, I suppose I am. Although back then we weren't considered as this term 'nobles' you use, but as protectors."

"Well I guess we would have different names for things now, that was about two-thousand years ago"

"Two-thousand years," Sin interjected. "two-thousand years, longer than I ever would have thought we would be under."

Everyone's expression varied from shock, to worry, to confusion.

"Oh, I guess things would be different for you guys now wouldn't it," I replied.

"It is." Sin said slowly, quickly adding "I guess now you can't see your little prince now can you Zodiac"

*So, your Zodiac. I feel bad for not remembering everyone's name, it's not like they introduced themselves when they woke up.*

Zodiac throws her mug through the fire and right at Sin in repose to his comment. The flames catch the ale as it now starts to engulf him followed by fire.

"Oh my goodness he's gonna burn, why did you do that!?" I said, confused and worried. The dog-like one begins to talk,

"He'll be alright" as he gestures his mug over to Sin before taking another sip.

"Now that's a waste of perfectly good Alcohol" Sin mused, as he pats his clothes to distinguish the fire.

"Well, that's what happens when you say things like that" Zodiac protested.

"How... How, what just happened?" I questioned in astonishment.

"Well Nia, I'm not like most people, I have a special trait that allows me to be immune to flames. I.."

"He's half-demon sweetie," the one in the large blue cloak said, with an almost tired sound to her voice.

"Dang it, you take all the fun out of it." Sin mockingly whined.

"But you look so human," I said "I thought demons were a bit more...."

"Yeah, that's what most people think when they first find out. My father is a demon but was human when he and my mother... Well umm, yeah so I got a mixture of their looks making me seem almost human."

"What's the almost for?"

"Sweetie," blue cloak interrupted "that's a story for another time." looking over the rim of her mug.

"Lillith," Sin said "could you get some more ale please?" he said slightly through his teeth. *And you Lillith, I'll have to make a note of that.* Rolling her eyes, she blankly agrees saying,

"Fine." She reaches over waving her fingers in the air, a bright circle appears next to her. She puts her hand in and pulls out another bottle from it. *So that's how she got the Ale before.* Genuinely curious I ask,

"What was that you just did?"

"I used a dimensional storage box luv," she replied. "Have you not seen one in use before?"

"No, I haven't, but I've read of something similar, a dimensional housing space."

"Well, Sin over there is the only one among us who can use that."

"You can?"

"Well my magical infinity is Spatial Magic, so I've learnt dimensional housing, the storage box and parallel word." Sin boastfully claimed.

"Parallel World?" I questioned, "What's that?"

"It's pretty much a replica of this world, but without any humans, demons or angels, non-human races or monsters interfering with the environment."

"What do you use it for?"

"I mainly use it to keep all of Amadaia's Familiars."

"My Familiars!!" Amadaia abruptly stressed, "they haven't seen me in two-thousand years, they couldn't be... gone, could they?"

"When we all went petrified so did everything psychically linked, meaning all your familiars petrified and unpetrified with you." Sin reassured.

"Reiner should have been a clear indication of that."

"I just thought it was because I was holding him, but I guess that makes sense."

"Yes. Anyway, I keep her familiars in there and it's a good holiday retreat destination." Sin said, redirecting the conversation back to me.

"Oh, ok." I said dazzling back into the conversation, "it sounds like a nice place."

"It is, although Martela claimed the mountains of Bireasta are a sight to behold, well I guess 'were' now." He said slowly, probably thinking about how things aren't how they used to be.

"Well if you ever saw them, you'd understand why she raved about them so much." The woman around the fire, with a sword that looked too large for her to weld. "Those two large, beautiful..."

"Jelira!" Lilith blurted, "shush" raising her finger to her nose and taping it.

"Sorry to pry but who is Martela?" I asked.

"She was someone we knew when we formed this party, however, she didn't want anything to do with it, and now she is no longer with us." Sin said.

"I'm sorry."

"It's fine, it was her choice," Jessca said. Changing back to the conversation before Sin snaps back saying,

"Out of all the stories you tell, why is that one about Bireasta the one I'm not allowed to hear about?" Sin asked.

"It's a trade secret."

"Sometimes I wonder if living in that tavern did any good for you"

"Tavern?" I interrupted.

"I grew up in a tavern," Jelira explained. "My mother was a retired adventurer, who opened a tavern on the outskirts of the capital. It was a hot spot for all adventurers, hunters, or anyone coming in or out of the city. Since I was too young at the time, I'd hear all the stories that were passed around."

"And now she tells us the 'tales of woe' that aren't even hers to us," the elf said.

"Well I'm sorry if you don't enjoy the many... experiences of peoples adventures"

"Your too loud," the cat featured demi-human roused, "if your gonna fight, do it someplace else."

She watches the scene from up upon the shoulders of the Beast Fallen, lying there playing with her daggers.

"I agree with Medola" Sin added, trying not to look at her.

Jelira grabs her sword and readies to strike, but a woman jumps in between, wrap her arms around her and prevents her from moving.

"Emilis, let go of me!"

"No"

"Adoasin!!" Jelira cried "get your slave off me so I can beat your ass"

"Ok, first and foremost she's not my slave. We rescued her from the slave market, there's a difference."

"You still bought her"

"That's beside the point, and if it means my life is safe, I wouldn't do it even if I wanted to." Sin said with a smirk.

"I'm gonna send your ass right back down to the fiery pits of hell you crawled out of!"

"That's a bit much don't you think. Besides, you know you can't kill me."

"I know, but It still makes me feel better when you're on the other end of my blade."

"Thank you, nice to know you care." He says, smiling without a care in the world.

Emilis looking somewhat between annoyed and 'kill him', let's go. Jelira launching herself at him, sword in hand and resentment in her eyes.

Sin instantaneously catches the blade mid-swing with one hand, I feel the wind rush past me and nearly blow out the fire. Sin looks up and says with a calm and almost amused voice,

"You forget, why I am the one that leads this group."

Clouds start forming, circling above. Sin is still sitting down gripping onto the edge of Jelira's sword staring into the flames of the fire.

The sound of metal creaking slowly gets louder, as cracks start showing in Jelira's sword. The tip breaks and shards fly everywhere.

Sin stands up, looking intensely as he towers over her. His eyes start glowing a mystic red while lightning strikes closely nearby.

"What's happening?" I worryingly ask.

"Sin is performing. He does that when he has a new audience." The elf said.

"If your lucky someone might lose a limb," Medola added.

"What!!?" I cried.

The atmosphere only gets tenser. The breeze starts to pick up, leaves are flying everywhere, and rain begins to fall.

No one else seems to be fazed by the unnatural weather phenomenon.

Jelira still has the guts to face him off during this.

"Sin!" I called, in desperation to stop this.

Suddenly, a snap-in scenery; the heavy winds stop, and the rain dissipates.

"Sorry, seems I got carried away again." Sin says with a worrying pitiful expression.

Waving his hand at the fire, it reignites after being put out from the brief downpour.

All our clothes became instantly dry when the fire lit again, as if the water just vanished.

They both sit down and pick up their drinks as if they just came back from a night stroll. Although Jelira has a bit of an edge to her.

"Are we not going to talk about what just happened?" I questioned

"No, wasn't planning to, why?" Remarked this guy next to me.

"Sin has fought with all of us in some form or way, usually because of something he started...." Medola expressed, "the only person he hasn't fought with is himself."

"That isn't entirely true." Sin added

"Well isn't that just sad."

"Hey, give some credit here. It was that time I accidentally jumped universes and met another version of me."

"What a nightmare," Amadaia said jokingly, *I think.*

"Well, it was more of a heated discussion about how I use my magic, because in that dimension no one had the ability to use magic."

"Ok, we get it, you're special. Now shut up you magical bastard!" Zodiac colourfully expressed.

Silently reserving himself he backs off and sips his ale, making a face as he realises the rain diluted it. Zodiac continues to say to Nia,

"Sin may be the one that leads us, but he falls under the hierarchy of this group, with the girls at the top."

The fallen across the fire slowly starts nodding his head. Medola notices and says

"Codi!" Then bites him. *I was expecting a slap if anything.* He replies,

"You good there?" raising her head she says,

"Yep", then sinks her fangs back into his fur.

"So, I assume you too are..."

"Married," Codi said, "5 years now, well I guess 2005 years now." Releasing her bite, Medola adds the remark

"I guess we're the longest-married couple in history." He just smiles as he thinks about it.

"So, ahhh... where'd you two meet?" I asked, trying to start a normal conversation.

"I was in the forest of chaos running an errand for the local guild; I found this young girl crawled up under a tree. I took her in and raised her. Now, demi-humans have a unique way of aging. So, within 8 months, she matured into an adult. And we stayed by each other's side ever since."

"That's so sweet," I remarked.

"It is, she gave me this battle-axe as a proposal gift"

"And I remember almost getting hit as it flew past my face." Sin added

"Ahh, fun times. I believe that was the first time I met you, you offered me to join this party back then, but I declined."

"Yes, you did, which was annoying cuz we could have used your attributes for the next quest we did."

"Sorry, I had other engagements." He looks at Medola, smiles and rubs his snout against hers.

Zodiac gags, turns around and leaves. Breaking the awkwardness of the moment Lillith asks,

"Alixane, do you still have that perceiving orb? I need to distract myself from this scene." Tilting her head in reference to the couple next to her. The elf answers,

"Fillorish took it from me before, wanted to see how the underwater kingdom has progressed throughout the years."

"Fill, gimme." He wearingly pulls out the orb from his satchel and passes it over to Lillith. And then she walks off a bit from the fire and the orb starts to glow.

"What is that?" I asked.

"A magical item that allows the viewer to see present or past images of places they have been to. It's also the easiest way we can catch up to these modern times." Alixane said.

"So it's like an observation mirror? Where the caster can see a place in real time."

"Close, ours is more advanced though."

"Yeah. So, umm, how did you become a part of this group?"

"Way back when, there were reports of adventures wondering through the forest, getting closer to the border of the elf village. I was at the vanguard of the scout party that left to stop them."

Sin squeezed in a comment saying,

"We got reports of elf's becoming more active in the forest and were sent to check it out. We were trying to hunt them down; however, we were the ones being hunted."

"Well yes, we cornered them and warded them off, but they came back the next day. And day after day we warded them off. Turns out, after the first visit Sin just wanted to see our 'pointy' ears."

"What, they're weird. And I spent my childhood in hell."

"So the council appointed me to be an elf ambassador and told me to travel with them. I've been with them ever since, the main reason now is that they've become my second family."

"That's sweet, I left my home because I wanted to learn more about you guys. You've been my heroes all my life."

"I'll take that as a compliment" Sin Chimed.

"You can be a real handful can't you." I said. He replies

"Oh yes." Laughing to himself as though he made a wonderful joke.

We lay among the wild grass of the fields outside of Cardel under the starry sky. The sound of firewood slowly crackles as embers reach up, out to the heavens.

I roll over to see Sin staring at the stars. Should I ask him?

"Sin," I whisper, "are you awake?" *Well, that's a dumb question, of course he is, I can see his eyes wide open, still doesn't hurt to be polite though. You never know he may sleep with his eyes open.*

"Yes," he whispers back "everything alright?" He turns his head and faces me.

"Yeah, I'm ok. I just wanted to ask you a question, and I wasn't sure if asking it earlier was the right time."

"Are you confessing your undying love to me?" He says with such sarcasm that even a child would be disappointed.

"Umm, no."

"Ouch, the rejection. How will I ever go on?"

"Will you be serious please?"

"Sorry, I had my moment, continue."

"I wanted to ask about the eleventh member of your group."

"You mean Martela? Well there isn't much to say. She was pretty much like Jel, Jelira being her student and all. But when she died, Jelira joined us, wanted to be like her teacher."

"No, the other one. There is a separate section to the legend about you guys. One my father told me. He 'fell from your graces', left no trace of him behind and disappeared."

"Oh."

"I've tried to find texts, anything about him but there's nothing. I figured that if anyone had any ideas you guys would have them."

"Well yes, we do."

"Is it too much to ask?"

"I suppose it isn't. The past is what we make of it, the future is what you think it to be." Sin paused to think. "When I arrived here, Zodiac wasn't the only person there that met me."

"Maik, yes?"

"Yes, Maik and one other. We considered ourselves as family, stuck closer than a sibling. Maik however left, settled down in the mountains. But he, he I considered my brother, he was the closest thing to one I had in this plane of existence. Now, Zodiac is the last of those siblings I have."

"Who was he?"

He replies with one word, one name. That's all he needs to say,

"Serpith."