6 - Awakening and a Mission (cont.)

[ForeverZeroUltima]

”Your training is nearly complete, Farrago. All that is left is for you to learn your last technique.”

“Really? What is it?”

Lynx glared at her. “You shouldn’t be too excited. It is a forbidden one, and once you use it, you will never be as powerful as you are ever again. One can only use it once in his or her lifetime.”

Farrago’s jaw dropped. “…but why is that?”

“Because in order to use it, you will have to harness more of you inner energy than you actually possess. Therefore it will permanently drain you of most of your strength and you will become weaker. The process is irreversible.”

“I see…but how am I supposed to learn and train it if I’m not supposed to use it?”

“…I don’t know. Even I dare not to use mine…The harm it will do to its caster is much more dangerous than you could possibly imagine. Let that be a lesson, Farrago. Though you are a powerful and determined Wind Caller, you should not leave your life to risks.”

“I…I understand.”

“Good. I believe it can only be learned through practice of your lesser abilities. It is like training your body and mind to become stronger; you must begin with the weaker material and advance slowly. Do not try to attempt mastery until you reach it.”

“Oh, I want to ask one more thing.”

“Go ahead.”

“…Has anyone ever harnessed enough energy to use this technique without losing any energy?”

Lynx looked away and sighed. “Not to my knowledge. You, Kara, and I are the first three Callers that I know. None of us have ever attempted it.”

“I…I understand. Alright then, I’m off to train myself.”

“Good. Take care, Farrago, and try not to get ahead of yourself.”

“Hah, whatever you say.”

Lynx backed off and stood up, allowing Mavra one last chance to decide. She continued to glare at him, infuriated, exhaled a “Hmph!” of contempt, and turned away.

“Why do I have to do this…” She whirled around and pointed her staff at him. “Why does this have to happen to me?!” The dragon behind her roared as she clearly displayed her anger.

“Call it fate, Mavra,” he replied, closing his eyes. “It determines what we should do, what we will do, and judges what we have done. Just as that Crystal Sash chose you to be its master. Just as I myself had been chosen. Just as I must test you to see if you are truly worthy of being the next Wind Caller.”

He opened and narrowed his eyes on her, snarled, and clutched his scythe. “Come, now…let me see if you are truly worthy of this responsibility!”

He leaped forth and slashed at her diagonally. She barely fell back and held onto her staff, then came back and struck at him with her staff. He dodged it, whirled around, and kicked her in the side. She fell over and caught herself with her hands, and held her staff up. She charged at him again in a reckless rage and struck again. He blocked the staff with the handle, reached out with his left hand, and grabbed her by the throat.

“Kof…gug…yor chokig be…” she choked.

“Let this be a lesson to you, Mavra. Though you may have been deemed worthy by your sash, you will not truly become its master until you face me whole-heartedly.” He pushed her down to the ground and let go. “You will know where to find me when you are ready. Your bind to me will show the way.” He pushed his finger on the hexagon on her forehead, making it disappear, as well as the one on his own forehead. He snapped his jaw in her face, making her flinch, and turned around to leave.

“I’m not through with you, you monster! I will kill you!” she screamed after him.

“Good. At least you are determined to find me again,” he called over his shoulder. He snapped his fingers and the dragon roared again and disappeared.

* * *

Lynx began his meditating on the hotel rooftop. “She’s just as stubborn as Farrago was,” he said aloud to himself.

“Indeed, what will happen when the other three Callers are found?”

“What will I do then?”

“They must be awakened as quickly as possible. The fate of the world depends on them.”

“I know. But no matter their faults, I will go through with them and bring them to their wakening.”

“Good luck, Lynx. They will be quite the unexpected, I am sure of that.”

[ForeverZeroUltima]

Lynx did not know how to feel. He felt frustrated and annoyed and satisfied, all at the same time. Mavra was a weakling at the moment, but he knew that, like the changing wind, her potential could make her quite powerful.

He stopped to see where he was going. He taken a walk and lost himself due to his thinking on the way back, and now found himself on a dirt road in the forest near the city. He followed the road and soon came to a two-story mansion. That’s odd, he thought. Why is someone living all the way out here? He crossed the bridge above a small moat and reached the porch. He took a deep breath and headed for the door.

Right as he was about to knock on it, the door opened. Lynx cautiously took a step inside, and was greeted by a voice: “Welcome. You must be the one that I was told would come.”

Lynx whirled around, ready to summon his scythe if needed. But all he saw was an ordinary man, with pulled back brown hair, bright grey eyes, and a brilliant white robe. The man smiled and said, “I am Kelis. The magic that my sister and I behold must have drawn you here, I suppose?”

“Where am I?” Lynx kept a steady position, ready to attack or flee at any given moment.

“You are on the outskirts of Midgar,” Kelis replied. “But I’m not surprised that you came. You see, we needed someone like you to come.”

Lynx twitched a whisker. “We?”

“My sister and I. After our parents died, we agreed that the one to inherit our parents’ will and fortune would be the one who won in a competition.”

Lynx started to calm down but asked warily, “What competition?”

“Let me explain: I specialize in white magic.” He nodded down at his white robe as if to prove that. “My spells can illuminate the darkness, protect lives, and expel monsters. My sister is a dark magic mage. She can create darkness in broad daylight, summon monsters, and slay the living. We want to compete against each other to see whose magic will dominate the other’s.”

“So why haven’t you two done that already?”

Kelis patiently replied, “Because if we just kept throwing spells at each other, they would negate each other and no one would win. Therefore a third party is required: you.”

“…and how do I fit in all of this?”

“This is what we agreed on: 7 spells each. My sister would plant her spells in pre-determined locations in this land, and you will receive 7 spells from me. That is how it will work: my spells against hers, only with you as a third person to pit them against each other. You will need to retrieve a certain item in a distant place before you can come back here. My sister’s spells will conspire to stop you, but you can use mine to negate them. The spells themselves will determine how you handle the mission, and even whether or not you complete the mission.”

This was beginning to sound interesting. “Pre-determined? You mean that you two already know where I will be going? Which path I will take? Even if I change my route?”

Kelis nodded. “That is correct. No matter what happens, you will run into exactly 7 spells before you come back to me.”

Lynx nodded in understanding. “So what are these spells?”

Kelis brought out a small leather bag and opened it. Inside were numerous small objects, all of which were small enough to rest in your palm. He rummaged through the objects, saying: “These miniscule objects turn into the spells only when you and you alone invoke them. Until then, they will remain quiescent and stay like this.”

He picked out an object and revealed it. It looked like a tiny white compass. “This will help you to find the object you’re looking for.”

“It will point me in the right direction once I invoke it?”

“No. Rather, you will know the right direction. However, I must warn you against using it right away; my sister’s black compass, once you stumble upon it, will make you lost and confused, and whichever one was more recent will last longer.”

“But if I had already used the white compass, I would know which direction the object is. Then all I have to do is walk in that direction until I find it.”

“Not true. The black compass will negate anything that you remember that the white compass showed you. Besides, the object may move about so even if you tried that you might never find it.”

Lynx nodded and made a note to himself to only use the white compass after he’d met the black compass.

The next object was a small figurine of a monster. “This is the monster banishment spell, which will banish the nearest monster. When you find the black monster figure, it will summon a powerful beast of a random kind. I strongly advise against fighting it; these spells are much more powerful than people give credit for. Now, you will use this spell only once you’ve met the beast. This will banish it in an instant and you can continue your journey.”

He pulled out a white doll. “This is an important spell. When you meet the black doll, it will change your identity with the nearest living person or thing. You will basically become the other person. And as you know, only you can invoke the spell. I can’t guarantee that it will work if you’re in someone else’s body, though, so you need to take precautions and prepare this spell when you see the black doll.”

Lynx looked on with wide eyes. Powerful spell, indeed! What kind of battle were these siblings waging against each other?

Next was a white skull. “Ah yes. The black skull is a symbol of death. Therefore when you come across it, it will activate and you will have only a few moments before it claims your life. During those moments, you need to invoke this spell to bring back the life that it takes.” He placed it on the table and pulled out a white shield.

“The white shield has only one purpose: to defend you against the black sword. The sword is a weapon that dispatches and slays the living. The shield is the protector that will save your life.”

Lynx nodded and thought to himself, I would like to see this black sword for myself.

A white mask was the next item. Kelis sighed and explained, “This is my most recently-made spell. I have tested it only once but it does work. However…” He studied Lynx carefully before continuing: “The white and black masks have the opposite effect, of course, but both are similar. When one is activated, it will enhance or decrease one attribute about you. I can’t say which attribute it will affect, but the side effects can range from trivial to fatal. The other mask will reverse the process. I must warn you to be careful of this, as well.”

The last item was a white eye. “The black eye will temporarily decrease your intelligence, but its effects are tremendous. You have no idea how dull it can make someone. Controversially, the white eye will increase your intelligence by the same amount.” He scooped up all the spells and put them back in the bag, and handed it to Lynx.

“Be careful. You have no idea what kind of mission you are doing. But the object is very important to us, and we—or rather, the person who wins, will be glad to reward you once you return with it.”

Lynx nodded. He wanted to ask more about the object, but decided that it might be more fun if he found out what it was by himself. He asked, “What about your sister?”

“My sister will speak with you tomorrow. It’s getting late. Why don’t wait? My sister will be ready for you in the morning.”

Lynx solemnly agreed, took the bag of spells, and headed out. He would need to prepare himself for this mission. It might even be bigger than he knew.

[ForeverZeroUltima]

Lynx walked outside. He took in a deep breath and realized how good the air smelled. He paused; it had been a long time since he had stopped to reflect on such things of nature, but now he remembered how much it meant to him. He took another deep breath and headed on his way.

* * *

The dusty road leading back to Midgar was longer than he remembered. Night had come and nocturnal creatures began to make noise. As he walked, Lynx thought of all the things that people had said to him; Kelis, Mavra, Zack, Bax, the Senators, and the little girl. People, he thought, such frail creatures, and yet capable of many things...friendship, hate, self-promotion, and trust...are they really necessary? I remember my own comrades, even if their names escape me...they were true to the end, with the exception of one...I don't remember who it was...

Lynx stopped in his tracks and whirled around. Something was near. He had heard the rustling of tree leaves since he had left the mansion, but he had not seen anything, even with his keen eyesight.

He extended his arm and muttered, "Imbrium!" and the scythe appeared in his grasp. Another rustling sounded behind him, and he turned around just in time to see him.

It was a male human, though somewhat lean and wiry, with awfully long blond hair trailing down and stopped behind his shoulders. He stared at Lynx with distrust in his green eyes. He wore simple clothing, with leather shoes and a leather outfit. Upon eye contact, the human froze completely and continued to stare.

Lynx didn't know who this person was, but he didn't really care. "Why are you following me?" he demanded.

The man didn't respond. Instead, he walked slowly toward Lynx. After a few steps, he broke into a sprint and leaped at him. Lynx brought up his scythe in late reaction, but saw something strange right before they made contact.

The man's hair seemed to shorten and his clothing seemed to fade away. Simultaneously, his body sprouted black hair and his nose and mouth extended into a muzzle. His ears lifted and turned into a point, and his nails turned into claws. A long black tail grew behind him. His legs bent backwards at the knees, with a loud cracking sound, and his ankles turned back forward at the same time. He opened his mouth and suddenly his teeth became separated, sharp, and four of them grew into fangs.

The human had turned into a panther, and was massive enough to sway Lynx's momentum. He pushed Lynx by his scythe to the ground and reached for his face with his mouth. Lynx instinctly threw his head forward and bashed the panther with his forehead. He pushed with his scythe and spun around to bring himself back up.

The panther fell backwards and leaped back up, snarling at Lynx and continuing to stare at him.

"A shapeshifter," Lynx mused. Shadows materialized beneath him and four dark cats appeared. "Attack him."

The creatures sprinted forward and leaped onto the panther, but he changed shape again. His fur grew brown and yellow-white, his muzzle shortened slightly, and his tail fluffed up slightly. He was now a wolf. He snapped his jaws at one of the cats, causing it to separate in half and disappear. Another cat clung to his back, and he turned his head at a strange angle and held the cat in a death grip with his mouth to its neck.

Lynx watched solemnly as the shapeshifter took down the rest of the shadow cats. The wolf then changed into a tiger and roared forcefully.

This is no ordinary enemy, he realized as he held his scythe ready. He has the power of many creatures and knows how to use them to his advantage as well. He crouched slightly and looked the tiger in the eye.

"Come, then."

The tiger roared again and sprang forth, ready to tear Lynx apart.

[ForeverZeroUltima]

"Watch over her carefully, Lynx. She is indeed a capable person, but she needs to work on her social skills with the other callers."

"I know that already. But what about your first apprentice?"

"Gaerin? He is doing well."

"I see...and how is his training so far?"

"It is coming along quite well. He catches on quickly to the things that are taught to him, and he just might reach his full potential before your Farrago does."

Lynx chuckled. "Sure, whatever. And what of his social skills?"

"They are normal. What I mean by normal is, he neither befriends nor holds hostile to others around him."

"He does not care?"

"I don't think so. He just intends on focusing in his own strengths and fulfilling his own destiny."

"That could be a problem. We must talk to him together...you have only exposed the light to him, and now I must balance it to match his neutrality."

"Thank you, Lynx."

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Lynx threw himself to the left as the tiger leaped at him, and then he thrusted his strength in his scythe in an arc. He had to rely on quickness of speed to match the shapeshifter's, and this caused him to sacrifice his accuracy. He recovered from the attack and leaped forward, slashing downward. The tiger suddenly changed into a giant crab, and the sharp edge of the scythe barely punctured the shell while causing a flurry of sparks.

The crab whirled around and struck at Lynx with one of its pincers. It caught his right arm, and ripped him off the ground while the scythe was stuck in its back. The crab made a better attempt at its grip, and Lynx started struggling. He focused his energy. The crab lashed forth with its other pincer and struck his head. Lynx suddenly turned into a small shadowform and dissipated.

The real Lynx pulled his scythe back out and jumped back. The crab turned around and clamped its claws furiously.

Lynx thought to himself: This will be harder than I had imagined. I must come up with a plan to stop him.

Lynx looked past the crab and saw the moat. Then he looked to the side and saw many trees off the path. He suddenly remembered the sparks that flew when he had attacked the shell earlier. This gave him an idea.

He ran forth again and feinted to the right, then swung in an arc to the left and made a clean jump over his opponent. In the same motion, he turned and grabbed a handful of leaves from the nearest tree and tossed them all over the crab.

The crab shook violently but could not remove most of the leaves. Lynx took this opportunity to rush forth and slice at its carapace. On contact, more sparks flew and landed on the leaves. Lynx leaped over it and swung his scythe side-ways, causing a small breeze. The air fueled the sparks, and the leaves bursted into flames.

Without hesitation, Lynx quickly sprinted to the moat. Right before reaching it, he jumped and flipped himself upside-down, and slashed at the water with his outstretched hand. The water sprayed onto the crab, which was currently trying to deal with the fire.

It's now or nothing! Lynx thought as he still hung in air above the moat. He focused his energy again and directed it towards his opponent. "Dark Eternal!"

The combination of water and fire exploded, and with the night's cover of darkness, the result was overly destructive.

Lynx landed safely on the other side. He narrowed his eyes to see through the explosion's smoke, but he couldn't make anything out yet. He detected motion, but did not see what it was.

Suddenly, a large figure came flying out of the smoke. It had changed into an armored dactyl! Lynx's feeling of success suddenly turned into despair, for his one plan had been countered so easily.

The dactyl glided down and changed into another creature. This time it turned into a manticore. Lynx only caught a glimpse of it as it sprang forth, and this was what he saw: a broad, human-like face covered with the streaming mane of a lion, a triple-row of fangs, a large fiery-red lion's body with its clawed paws in front, medium-sized dragon wings outstretched behind it, and a scorpion's tail arching over its back.

Lynx barely had time to react as he instinctively fell back, puts his hands over his head, and kick the monster over him. This only gave it a boost in its jump, and it quickly turned around and pounced again. Lynx rolled over to the side, jumped back up, and vanished.

The great beast landed on the smooth ground and looked about. Lynx reappeared above it and came spinning down at a sideways angle, his scythe extended. The beast suddenly turned slightly, and whipped its tail back. It hit Lynx in the chest with enough force to send him flying back to the moat. Fortunately for him, it was the back of the tail that hit him.

Furious, Lynx backflipped to keep him level and dashed forth with the intent of murdering this tireless opponent. The beast reared back on its hind legs as Lynx came closer, and leaped forth at him. Simultaneously, Lynx jumped off the ground and spun once, then drove his scythe in from the side instead of the top. He heard a loud, sickening noise as the blade found its target.

Lynx rolled on the ground as he landed and turned around. The beast now had a huge gash in its side, and it was visibly wounded. Lynx didn't care; he wanted to finish this now. He dashed forth again and attacked. The monster didn't even attempt to dodge this time as the scythe cut through his wing.

Lynx turned around, ready to kill. He leaped forth and prepared to strike down with everything he had.

It was at this moment that the manticore turned around and Lynx catch a clear view of his face.

Lynx saw his eyes. The deep, emerald-green eyes stared at him with fear, but there was something else: understanding. Lynx now realized that his opponent was ready to be struck down, ready to accept his fate, understanding the reasons why. He fully understood everything that he had done to deserve this quick delivery of death, and was ready to accept it.

Lynx took a moment to examine himself. He was positive that he didn't have a heart or even a soul for that matter, but why was he drawing back now? He realized that this shapeshifter was the same as him; always living in solitude, always demanding attention that he really didn't want, and needlessly trying to defend himself while hurting others. No...he couldn't kill him. He just couldn't. Doing so would contradict everything that he had brought himself up to now. He couldn't kill him.

There was another way, he realized. He closed his eyes in understanding and unsummoned his scythe. He couldn't stop his jump, so he outstretched one hand and touched the manticore's back, whispering: "Astral Drain!". Upon contact, he drained a small amount of the creature's physical energy. Then he pushed to send himself over to the other side.

He quickly turned around and focused. More energy left the creature and transferred into Lynx's arms. The creature realized what he was doing and tried to attack, but Lynx quickly backflipped out of its reach and continued the draining process.

The beast ran after him, but at a slower pace. It was losing its energy quickly. Dodging its attacks was easier now, and he easily took more energy from him.

Now exhausted, the manticore dropped down on its side and let out a deep sigh. Lynx slowly walked up and paused. Then he said, "...I know your life. Lead it well." He took a small piece of his own cloth and used it as a healing aid for the creature's side. Soon after, the creature fell asleep or unconscious.

Lynx turned and walked away. I do not know what to think...he tried to kill me, and I tried to kill him...how am I supposed to atone for what I have done? He wordlessly walked the rest of the way back to Midgar.

[ForeverZeroUltima]

Early the next morning, Lynx left for the mansion again. He was still disoriented from his encounter with the shapeshifter, but that was no reason to delay him from a possibly crucial mission.

He found the path again and walked across it, past the moat, and up to the doorstep. Once again, the door opened by itself. He stepped inside.

There was a woman inside. Her back was turned toward him, but he could make out some features. She was wearing a midnight-black robe that covered most of her body except her head and hands. Her dark brown hair streamed down her back and ended at her waist. She was holding something in her hands.

Lynx cleared his throat. The woman whirled around to face him. Her face was pale, with the same grey eyes as Kelis. A deep scowl dominated the expressions on her face as she narrowed her eyes at him.

"You are Kelis's sister, I presume?" Lynx asked as he walked inside. The door closed behind him.

"Who else?" she muttered, turning her attention to the object she held. She opened her hands and let a small black orb fall onto the table. "Silly brother of mine...trying to counter everything that I do, just to prove that I'm not stronger than him."

Lynx narrowed his eyes at her. "Don't you do the same thing for him?"

She scoffed. "Kelis is an optimistic fool who thinks that everything is in balance. As long as he's alive, no one will win."

"So this whole competition wasn't his idea?"

"Do you really think he'd be smart enough for that? Ha! I, Silek, deserve to inherit everything we own. That fool of a brother shall be crushed under my power, and this competition will prove it." She narrowed her eyes back at him and said, "You'd better watch out, or else I'll destroy you in my path. Better yet, it's better for you to just quit right now."

Lynx glared at her. He did not like her at all. Not one bit. Strangely enough, she reminded him of...himself.

"I may not have a personal interest in your affairs but I do want to participate in this feud," Lynx stated. "If you cannot accept that, then Kelis has won already."

Silek scowled. "Whatever. Where are the spells?"

"What?"

"The spells my brother gave you, dimwit. Where are they?"

Lynx took out the bag of small white objects and held it up.

"Good. Now let me see them."

Lynx warily walked up to her and handed the bag over. One by one, Silek took each object out, scowled at them, and threw them back in. "Silly weak spells. Intelligence and Stupidity? Such a childish trick. Sword and Shield? Not even worth the effort. Monster and Banishment? How laughable..." She stopped as she took out the white doll. "Now there's a noteworthy one. You ever been trapped in a dungbeetle's body?"

Lynx unwillingly answered her through gritted teeth. "No."

"Didn't think so." She threw the spell back in and took out the white mask. "Our newest spells. He wants to use them already? Ha! Mine will surely destroy his." She handed the bag back to Lynx and looked him over, the exact same way Kelis did when he explained what the white mask did. "You better watch out. You have no idea what these things hold. You may just as well end up destroying yourself with them. Begin tomorrow. Bring a helper, or a friend, or whatever. It would be helpful to you, if you know what I mean. Once you find the item, return here...if you can."

Lynx snatched the bag from her hand and retorted, "That's what you think." He turned around and headed for the door, pausing to glance one last time at Silek. Strange, he thought. Kelis and Silek are so similar in appearance, yet so different in character! He opened the door and began to walk out. The last thing he heard was Silek's voice, muttering a single word: "Fool."

[ForeverZeroUltima]

Lynx wandered back into Midgar and went straight to a dark corner in the city. Wordlessly, he began the preparations. He brought with him several crafts of jewelry, all outlined with his own incantations. These artifacts held his own powers within, in order to protect him from many things when he took this journey. He placed a bracelet on both of his forearms, each with a blue stone in the center. He also placed anklets on himself, both of which had the same design. A long, golden lace was wrapped around his waist and he threaded a small leather pocket-bag at his side. Lastly, he put on a necklace which had a diamond-shaped sapphire at the top, with a triangle-shaped golden object hanging from it. "Protect me, shadows," he murmured, "as I journey into the unknown."

He began to walk again, when suddenly he saw a bright green flash. Suddenly alarmed, he jumped back and held his hand behind his back, ready to summon his scythe. Nothing appeared. Lynx cautiously took one step forth and looked around. He saw nothing. He sniffed the air, but smelled nothing. He heard nothing either. What could it have been?

He shook his head and began walking again. He remembered what Silek said, about bringing a friend to help him. He gritted his teeth as he began thinking of everyone he had met so far. Zack and Bax came to mind, but they were probably nowhere near him right now.

He walked over to the library where he had last done research, and faded through the walls. He found himself in the Forbidden section again. "Now, then...time to collect information..."

He began taking books off the shelf, one by one, and began reading. One by one, he threw the books to the side in disgust. Finally he found one he was looking for: Index of Monsters and Myths. He eagerly opened it and began thumbing through the entries.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Kappa: A mythical aquatic creature. Is said to look like a turtle, with a human-like face.

(Without reading the rest of the entry, Lynx flipped to another page.)

Manticore: Legendary beast with a lion's body, human face, dragon's wings, and scorpion's tail. Largely feeds on the flesh of humans.

(He turns the pages again.)

Tarasque: Large creature with a lion-like face, a turtle's shell, six pawed legs, and a short whip-like tail. Is said to be invulnerable when it retracts its limbs and head.

(Turns pages again.)

Kou'rin: Large, wolf-like creature. There are many different tribes of Kou'rin, each in a different hiearchy with different natural abilities. The Ru'el tribe, the most intelligent, is the highest level because of their ability to communicate with any creature.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Lynx sighed and turned to the appendix. He looked down the list of names and found what he wanted. He quickly turned to the page and read the entry:

Black Sword of Yggdraquil: A legendary sword, crafted by magic, which is said to be inhabited with the spirit of an ancient spirit. According to texts, the spirit of Yggdraquil is a vengeful one, striking anyone within distance with pure rancor, and will never cease.

Lynx read the entry again, and then a third time. Is this the sword spell that Silek crafted? If so...then the twins were indeed playing a dangerous game. However...there seemed to be more to this competition than meets the eye. He somehow felt that there was something in here that would help him recover his past.

Lynx closed the book and faded through the wall again. He would have to begin soon. His own tasks will have to wait.

[ForeverZeroUltima]

"It is my fault, Kara."

"Don't blame yourself. We are all prone to performing such actions because it is our character."

"Still...I could have prevented it myself...and I didn't."

"It is as he had told us. One among us would betray us, according to him. He was right. There was nothing we could do to prevent it from happening."

"And yet, it is my fault entirely that he betrayed us. I cannot forgive myself, Kara."

"In time, you can."

"That's the thing. Time had been robbed from us when we took on these duties."

"Anything can be restored, Lynx. Time just takes a longer time than others."
-------------------------------------------------------------

"Stop these thoughts!" Lynx said aloud as he walked down the street. Lately, these flashbacks had been appearing more and more, until it has almost consumed him whole. There was no way he could prevent them. They may be helping him remember his past, but right now they were a hindrance.

A voice startled him. He turned to see a crowd forming. In the middle of the crowd was a television, no bigger than a cardboard box, but Lynx could still see what was on it. He kept his distance and tuned his ears to listen.

"...and their bodies were found this morning," the reporter on the television spoke. "According to testing results, time of death was approximately one week ago.” The screen changed to a picture of a familiar man, lying dead on a bed, with his torso covered with dry blood. Lynx recognized him. That was the man he was paid to kill because he had ousted the mansion owner. But the owner was dead also now, thanks to him.

The reporter continued: “Duo Williams, a well-known multimillionaire and a former citizen of Zion, as well as his maid, were viciously attacked during the day and left to die. Williams had a shotgun in his hand at the scene of crime, so it can be assumed that he tried to take out his attacker, to no avail. More information will be provided later.”

Lynx paused. What did the reporter say? The man he was paid to kill was the true mansion owner? Then who was the one who paid him? The answer, obvious as it was, came to him as a shock. The person who paid him was not the true owner! He was just trying to get the true owner killed so that he could take everything! And Lynx had fallen for it. Even if the person was dead now, this showed Lynx how gullible he was, believing the first thing he heard.

He turned around and stormed off, snarling in fury. The jewelry he wore made a clink, clink sound as they bounced against his clothing. He would forget everything. He will set off now to find out who he truly is. By accepting this mission, he can find out more. But he cannot do it alone. Silek herself had said so.

He stopped and let his shadow extend. When it had fully emerged into one of his subordinates, he growled, “Go hunt down either Zack or Bax. I do not care which one you choose, just bring one to me! And do not persist until you have located one and convinced him to come. Go. NOW.” The shadow creature zoomed off in the blink of an eye.

[Shadow Phoenix]

Bax Firago stood in the gym with both of his swords in a hollow column of light streaming down from the half-broken skylight. With both arms extended and each blade poised in a delicate stance, Bax closed his eyes and went into a meditative half-trance. His forehead was bathed in sweat and his red gi was sticking to his back once again. He had been training for hours, waiting for Zack and Prodigi to return from their day's work. Bax just needed some time alone. He and Zack had been bringing in some criminals over the past few weeks. Zack never quite seemed to tire of it, but to Bax, it seemed like they were wasting time.

He thought of his family. All of his friends back on Auralis. Did they think by now that he was dead? Had news reached Auralis that the royal cruiser had gone down? And how were governmental things proceeding? Bax had been out of the loop for far too long. In fact, he had begun to lose track of how long he had been here on Earth. He was fairly certain that it had been a few months, but it seemed like longer…

Bax twirled the Valermos once in his left hand and the blade gleamed in the moonlight, casting reflections throughout the rest of the gym. He drew back, shifting his weight almost completely to his back left foot and arching his stance ever so slightly. Then he sprang into the air and began slicing his swords through the air, twisting and turning, spinning and arching, slicing at unseen enemies outside his little column of silver light. He landed with his left foot back and his right knee barely touching the floor, and splayed both arms out, pointing the swords straight out. He tensed his muscles for just a moment and then flew upwards like a bird, using his extended leg to spring him up and give him a spin. As he spun slowly upwards through the air, he tucked all of his limbs in, drawing the swords much closer to his body to lessen the rotational distance and give him a greater velocity. At the crest of his upward arc, he splayed both swords back out and hovered there for a moment, barely moving in that silver column of light.

He was no closer to achieving his objective now then he was when he had first come to this planet. All that he had done was uncovered some more mysteries about his past and his people's past. He had wound a web of intrigue and now had to unwind it before he could even think of finding a way off this rock. But how he missed his family…

All he could do was grow stronger and try to help his allies to accomplish their tasks. They had to eliminate the threat of Necrostiana, get the Element of Prosperity, and probably do a number of other things. But it seemed like the path to get there would remain a lengthy one.

Bax opened his eyes and swore for the briefest moment that he saw something moving about in the shadows. He tucked his swords in and plummeted back down to the ground, flipping once a few feet up and landing with a light thud and a tiny clang with the swords touched the wood.
"Zack? Prodigi? Is that you?"
Bax knelt there in that circle for a few moments, waiting for some kind of response. He got nothing verbal, no sounds. But he did sense something off to the side. He turned his head slightly and saw something standing there in the shadows. He stood up and turned to face it.
"Come out," he ordered.

It remained motionless. Bax peered into the darkness and tried to gather what this person (or thing) was and wanted. He could not really sense a personal aura about it, but there was something distinctly familiar about it. It exuded something--urgency.

"What do you want?" Bax continued.

Again, the figure did not move at all. But suddenly it began to rush towards him. Bax held up his swords just in time as the figure leapt through the air and sailed towards him. Bax swiveled his right foot around and held the Valermos up defensively while preparing the Diroxauralis to strike in case the thing lingered long enough. It came into the light and Bax analyzed it briefly--it was completely black, and probably about four feet tall with these smooth limbs that clearly had some muscle on them but were limber and unencumbered enough to move at lightning speed. It also had a tail just long enough to balance. It seemed to be an even mix of speed and strength. Also interesting were the scythe-like blades protruding from its arm-like appendages. It collided with the blade and clung to it for a moment. Before Bax could make out any specific features, it leapt over the blade and towards Bax's face. Bax ducked down, bending backwards and flipping out of the light. He still remained in the creature's pathway.

And it kept on coming. Bax sheathed his Diroxauralis and his right hand glowed reddish orange. He danced backwards and threw a fireball at the oncoming creature. It raised its scythe arms to strike at it, but Bax smiled and snapped his fingers. The ball of flames exploded and Bax heard the creature grunt and a hail of embers highlighted its path through the air and eventual slam into the ground.

A few months ago, Bax would have stood there waiting to see what the creature would do, but now he knew better. If being here on Earth had taught him anything, it was how to survive. And standing by to let something coming after you with a murderous intent get up, though it might be considered honorable, was a sure way to set things back. Bax dashed over to where the creature stood and stepped on its chest. No longer would Bax's naïveté control his destiny. He tossed the Valermos through the air and caught it in his right hand, pointing it at the shadow creature's throat.

"Dare to move and your head will no longer be attached to your body. And do not try anything with the tail either."
The creature wearily stirred and opened its yellow, pupilless eyes. It still had some fight left in it, but it seemed to have been pacified for the moment.
"Bax Firago," it hissed.
Bax raised his brow and knelt down closer to the creature.
"Speaking," he said mockingly. "And you are?"
"A servant, sent to bring you to my master. I wanted to make sure you are who he desired and not some cheap imitation."
Bax smiled wryly, "Did I meet your standards?"
The creature sort of smiled and coughed. "I did not expect the explosion. You have improved since last my master saw you."
"Thank you."
Bax removed his foot from the creature's chest and drew his sword back up to sheathe it. He started walking away. "But I am afraid I have other things to take care of. You will need to tell me more about your master if you want me to even consider coming with you."

Silence. Bax raised his brow curiously, then closed his eyes, shook his head, and sighed. He had an idea of what was coming next. He whirled around, ducked his head under a whizzing scythe blade, then come up for air and struck his hand out, latching an iron grip around the creature's neck. Then he smiled while it gasped for air.
"You must be one of Lynx's cronies. Am I right? That whole 'never turn your back on your enemy' seems to be popular with him."
The shadow creature sputtered. He definitely fit Lynx's memo. Or it. Bax couldn't decide what to call the thing in particular, even though it had a rather husky…hiss.

Bax let the creature drop and its arms morphed into hands as it coughed with its hands around its bruised neck. "What does Lynx need now?"
"He needs your help."
That got Bax's attention. He bent down to the creature's level and looked it in the eye. "This is Lynx, the scythe-wielding feline with a penchant for pain and vengeance, correct?"
The creature snarled a little, "I do not like the condescending tone in your voice. Yes, my master needs your aid. And I will not leave until you come with me."

Bax rolled his eyes, but beneath his casual façade, he was slightly shocked. He hadn't seen or heard from Lynx in a long time. He had almost forgotten about him. Bax could not pass up this opportunity.
"All right. Take me to Lynx. But if you try to stab me in the back again, I will not hesitate to make you regret it."

The creature skittered in front of Bax and motioned for him to follow. Bax shrugged his shoulders and followed obediently. He would catch up with the others later.

OoC: FUZ, if there's anything you want changed, like…oh, I dunno, if the thing wasn't actually supposed to speak…then let me know a.s.a.p..

P.S. - Yeah, Bax has begun to metamorphosize…

P.S.S. - And yeah, I meant to put memo instead of M.O.. Bax's take on English is still growing.

P.S.S.S - Total Sarcasm...

[ForeverZeroUltima]

"His training is going very quickly, Kara. Much too quickly."

"How so?"

"He is constantly growing stronger every day. He's getting very close to Farrago's state of power. I estimate that he will finish by the forty-sixth day of training."

"Wow! That is fast! Farrago finished by her seventy-first day, and Gaerin on the sixty-seventh. You and I both began together and ended on the fifty-second."

"I know. But he will not be able to learn his 'forbidden' technique. Even we cannot learn ours. I suppose it shall be that way, then."

"I suppose so, Lynx."

"Kara, have you considered training a second apprentice?"

"I have not, but I shall consider it. After all, we need a sixth and last Caller to summon 'him'. I have just the right candidate in mind."

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Lynx was finally getting used to having these thoughts pervade his mind at random times.

As he sat on top of a lightpost, cross-legged with his scythe slung over his back, he had realized, suddenly, something he had not considered before. How would the memories of his past help him now? It is not as if they can deem the future...can they? His encounter with Mavra had been almost exactly like his first encounter with Farrago, the Wind Caller, but that could have been just mere coincidence. As well, he was already beginning to remember Kara and Gaerin, the Light and Earth Callers of his time, but he had met none here. He would just have to wait and see.

Speaking of which...when Mavra had 'accidentally' summoned her patron Wind Dragon, that was a sure sign that she had already been accepted as the Wind Caller. All that needs to happen now is for Mavra to mutually accept her role.

That also brought up the other Callers of this time. He had seen none of the other patron Beasts yet. That either meant that no other Callers have been chosen yet, or they have eluded him. The latter was very unlikely, because as the Shadow Caller, he had a special tie to each other person in the elemental spectrum. This meant that he would have to wait for the others.

Lynx sighed. His ears perked up as he felt something coming. About time, he thought. His shadow minion flew straight into his back, smoothly merging with him. Lynx stood up and half-jumped, half-glided to the ground.

"We meet again, Bax. You have changed." He turned around to face him.

[Shadow Phoenix]

**Co-Written by FZU and I***

The First Spell

"We meet again, Bax. You have changed."

Bax smiled pleasantly and chuckled lightly to himself as he gave Lynx another look-over. "Thank you, friend. You appear well. But tell me--what seems to be wrong?"

Lynx turned slowly to face the alien. "Long story short...I have accepted a mission, and I require assistance. A family feud doesn't seem to be what it's supposed to, and I want to figure out what it is...but I cannot do it by myself." He paused and then added, "If you're wondering if there's something in it for myself, the answer is no. Even if there is."

Bax gazed over Lynx scrutinizingly for a moment, then with an appreciative nod, pledged his aid to the feline. "You know, Lynx...you have changed as well. Perhaps not so obviously, but there's something different about you."
Bax took a beat, then wondered out loud, "When do we begin?"

"Right now. I was not given instructions as to where our destination lies, but some assigned spells will prove helpful." He reached into a small bag and revealed the seven objects. One by one, he explained what they did. When he reached the white mask, however, he said, "I am still puzzled by what this particular one actually does. The siblings themselves don't know either, but they seem to be interested in what effect it takes...on me, perhaps."

Bax looked skeptically at these objects in turn and quizzically peered at the mask. "They sound as if they do not have the best relationship. It seems wrong to drag you into this. But what of that?! I will help however I can. Things have been too quiet around here lately anyway. Shall we go?"

Lynx bagged the items and nodded. "Let's." He placed his hand behind his back and muttered, "Imbrium!" The faithful scythe formed and slung across his back. Lynx tapped on the center stone of each jewelry pieces he was wearing and nodded again. Leading the way, he began the journey out of the city of Midgar.

In short time, they neared the outskirts of the city. They had been walking along in relative silence--a condition with which Bax was no longer uncomfortable with. Still, Bax felt like striking up some conversation.
"Lynx, I have been wondering...what are you? I am a Phoeniyan, most of the people around here appear to be humans, but you are the only one of your kind who I have seen."

Lynx kept walking, but bothered long enough to look over his shoulder and answer. "...I am just what you perceive me to be. I existed on this world, and the darkness made me into what I am." He opened one hand and let a miniscule miasma of dark energy form a ball that hovered slightly.

Bax was slightly unnerved by Lynx's inexplicable use of the past tense in describing his existence, but knew that that was probably the best he was going to get from Lynx. Besides, any other, more in-depth answer might be beyond Bax's grasp anyway. So Bax let Lynx's comment sink in and waited for something to happen.

Lynx shook his head slightly. Such questions were unnecessary, especially at a time like this. He needed to focus more on what was going on at present. The energy in his hand dissipated.
Lynx paused. "Something's not right here." He narrowed his eyes and looked across the horizon. Nothing out of place. He scanned down and looked for any abnormalities. Soon enough, he spotted a black object.

Bax was walking along behind Lynx and did not realize that his companion was speaking again for a moment as he voiced his thoughts, running over Lynx's speech a tad. "Lynx, I just feel as though I should know you better. If I am going on a journey with you, then how will I be able to help you unless I understand more? I ask not for a strong bond of friendship, but some sort of a camaraderie--"
Bax stopped behind Lynx. "What is it?"

"A compass," Lynx stated. "No doubt, the spell of misdirection. All I need to do is face it, and then activate the spell of guidance." He spoke mainly to himself, but he spoke loudly enough for Bax to hear. He nodded toward his companion and approached the tiny compass.
When he was within a meter away from the compass, the object floated in mid-air and flashed. The flash was colorless, but in the split-second that it seemed to occur, it was more of a black flash with a white outline. Lynx covered his eyes and stood against it.
When he uncovered his eyes, the object was gone. He let out a temporary sigh of relief. Suddenly he paused and turned to Bax. "...where are we? How did we get here?"

Bax approached Lynx slowly and spoke carefully, "We're...in the Desert of the Dead...just outside of Midgar. We've been standing here for a few minutes. Are you all right, Lynx?"

Lynx nodded, but still didn't know where they were. Desert of the Dead? Midgar? He'd never heard of them. It did not matter, though; all he had to do was activate the white compass and everything would be fine. This seemed too easy.
He fumbled through his bag of spells and found the white compass. He stepped away from Bax and hesitated. According to the siblings, all I have to do is activate this and I would know which direction I must go. He nodded to Bax and then stared at the white compass. "Invoke!"
The tiny object flashed. Lynx stared at his open palm, where the compass had been. Now, then, he thought. All I have to do is head to...
Lynx stopped again. Where was he heading now? He still didn't know! He whirled to face Bax again. "Where did you say we were?"

Bax began to worry. From the way Lynx had explained it, the two flashes of light should have counteracted each other--the second flash had been considerably weaker than the first, however...
"We're in the Desert of the Dead, outside the city of Midgar. Do you remember now?"

Lynx shaked his head furiously. "What is going on? Having activated the white compass at a later time, it should have countered the effect of the black compass, which, occuring at an earlier time, would be replaced by..."
Lynx stopped again. Why was he talking like this?
He began pacing back and forth like a caged beast, eagerly searching for answers. His eyes lit up...and darkened instantly. "That damned Silek!" He remembered when she had sorted through his spells after Kelis had given them to him. "She must have switched them around, so that they would have the wrong effect!"

Bax threw out his hands, a nervous habit to steady himself while he tried to think quickly. "All right, wait one moment. Are there any opposites in the bag? She might not have made them obvious, but she could have used some sort of pneum...ah, I forgot the word...so it would be easier for her to remember, correct?" *note: Bax means pneumonic device*

Lynx paced himself again, thinking rather than speaking. Finally, he spoke, slowly: "It may have been randomized. For example, if I activate another spell, it would take on the characteristics of one it shouldn't; say, I activate the white shield, and instead it gives me..." He paused. "Intelligence! That's what just happened! That's why I'm speaking like a rhetoric!"

"Rhetoric?" Bax puzzled. He was still trying to grasp some of the language these people spoke. He didn't have his dictionary on him either. He would just have to trust that Lynx knew what he was talking about.

Lynx pondered this turn of events. He could go back and face the treacherous woman...but yet, a part of him wanted to continue to see how everything turns out. He was still eager to find out what exactly was behind the feud...and what object he was sent to find.
"All right, then," he growled. "If she wishes to play the game that way...I'll play along. But, she better not expect me to follow the system. Let us make haste, Bax. Let us move onward, to...wherever! You lead the way!"

"Me?" Bax asked, quite surprised. Bax took a moment, wondering at the change in events. Lynx wanted him to take the lead, even though he really had no idea what he was going to do? Well, eventually, Lynx would use some spell that would counteract the effects of the black compass and remember where he was going. Until then, Bax would just have to protect Lynx to the best of his abilities.
"All right," Bax said with renewed confidence. "I will not let you down, Lynx. Follow me."
Bax closed his eyes, knelt down for a moment and said a quick prayer. "Guide me, oh Ancients, so that I may complete this task and return home safely to the land of my fathers. Amen."

Bax stood up and smiled and formed a slight flame in the palm of his hand. The breeze blew sparks in a certain direction and Bax nodded, turning that way.
"Let us take a page out of your book, Lynx. May the wind guide us."

[Shadow Phoenix]

OoC: While I wait to meet up with FZU again, I feel like treating you all to some more of Bax's past...

If you have forgotten Bax's history, see the archives on my site. Childhood Romance is crucial to understand this post.

IC:

"Keep your guard up, Bax."
Another steely blow drove the young, 13-year old Phoeniyan prince back. Bax resettled his weight and bent his knees as he had been taught to lessen the impact of the blow and retool the energy into reverse momentum for a counter. He grasped his sword with both hands and put his weight behind it, flinging the attacking blade up, over, and away. He went swiftly in for a counter, but extended too much in the attack-prep, moving too slowly for his much more experienced tutor.

Gilax, aged 21, was a first lieutenant in the Phoeniyan Armed forces, swiftly working his way up the chain of command. The talk around the barracks was that he would probably be promoted to captain within the next few months, especially if he performed as well as expected in the upcoming campaign. As was expected of a Selemon.

Still, this great leader and warrior still had the time to spend helping out the royal prince, his little sister, Hodia's best friend, in his training. Bax had long expressed an interest in combat, and was fascinated with the art sword fighting, which pleased many in the armed forces as well as the public. If Bax grew to be a leader on Auralis who could not only lead his people with the education of a noble but also help defend them—that would be a true gift from the Ancients. He was still quite a solemn boy, but he had grown quite a bit since his father's death nearly 3 years ago and his mother's 2 years prior. Gilax could see that, so he trained him as best as he could. He was not one to question this young prince's decisions and actions.

Gilax brought his blade around in his left hand and easily blocked Bax's attempt. With a light flick of his wrist, Gilax cancelled out Bax's blow and knocked him off balance again. He swept forward and hit Bax's right leg with the flat of his sword. Bax gasped and started to lose his footing. He flung out his arms foolishly in an attempt to regain his balance and began flailing. Gilax tossed his sword through the air and grabbed the pommel with his right hand, spinning it for a scorpion-strike. His left hand flashed out at Bax's flopping right arm and he struck precisely. Bax's fist unclenched and his sword went scattering across the floor of the room. Gilax lunged forward again and grabbed Bax by the collar to hold him up, holding the tip of his sword a few inches from Bax.

Bax gulped. "Damn it, Gilax, I never can keep up with you."
Gilax flashed his sword around and sheathed it behind him as he helped Bax up. "Don't worry about it, Bax. You're getting better. Do you want me to hold back?"
"No!" Bax said immediately, waving his arms in front of him. That motion changed something however, and Bax gripped his right forearm with his left hand where a large bruise was forming. He sucked air in through his teeth and grimaced at the disarming wound.
"Okay, maybe a little," he admitted.

Gilax laughed. Even though everyone described Bax as that sad little kid, he could be witty and all. He had always been the same—he was cheerful, naïve, but too wise for his age. Maybe not everyone else saw that, but that was what Gilax saw on an almost consistent basis. Maybe that was just because Bax trusted Gilax—but that was enough in itself.

"Can we try that again?" Bax asked rather meekly. Though his voice betrayed growing tiredness and his heavy breathing and clutched arm showed that he was hurting, his red, inexhaustible eyes had a fire in them that could not be quenched. He wanted to continue, even if his body would barely allow him to. Gilax found it hard to deny Bax a chance to prove himself again.
"All right, Bax. If you can pick up your sword, we can give it another round. I'll go a little easier on you. Remember, though—I'm still only fighting with one sword at this point."
Bax nodded. He still had yet to fight Gilax wielding two swords and it was obvious to him that if Gilax could make such quick work of him with one sword that fighting him with two would be next to impossible. Many Phoeniyan warriors in the past had fought with two swords, but Gilax had forged his own style of fighting with dual blades that amazed some of the most seasoned warriors. He had lost some sparring matches—that was a given—but his style was so graceful and deadly that even those who beat him were amazed that they were able to. He was a great warrior at such a young age, and Bax idolized him. He wanted to learn how to fight just like him.

So Bax went over to retrieve his sword, but turned and was surprised to see Hodia standing there in a black training outfit. She bent down and picked the sword up, whirling it around once and then leaning on it.
"Bax, look at you. You're a mess," she said with a smile.
Bax groaned, "Aw, come on, Hodia, I'm training."
"Don't you 'Aw, come on, Hodia' me. I don't want to see my brother kick your ass anymore." Hodia laughed and handed the sword to Bax.
Gilax shook his head. "Give him a break, sis."
"No, I don't want to give him a break just yet. I want to see what he's been learning."

Bax's eyes went wide, as did Gilax's. "Me?" Bax said, plaintively.
"Yeah, you." A devilish look flashed in Hodia's eyes. "We haven’t sparred in ages. And I only saw the tail end of when Gilax wiped the floor with you. Let me see what you've got."
Bax cocked his head to the side. He laughed a little and shrugged. "All right, Hodia, you're on."
Hodia looked over at her brother, "Hope you don't mind if I take your student for a few minutes. Can I have a sword, bro?"
Gilax unsheathed his blade and flung it through the air. Hodia reached up and grabbed the pommel. She stumbled a little as she tried to catch it, but got her hands on it (however gracelessly).

Just as Bax had come into his own over the past three years, so had Hodia. They were getting past that awkward stage of growth (though still in its throes) and were becoming attractive young Phoeniyans. As they began to circle to prepare for the spar, they no longer looked like adolescents playing a game, but rather as warriors ready to do battle. There was a fierce new determination in each of their eyes. Gilax couldn't quite describe it. Bax and Hodia were great friends, but…

"Let's do this," Bax nodded.
Hodia leapt into action with her unorthodox style. She went immediately with a strike from above at Bax's head. Bax dodged out of the way, sliding to the side and spinning around to go for a quick strike while Hodia was recovering from her vicious strike. Their blades met as Hodia came up to block what she had anticipated. She pushed forward and up and Bax leapt back as Hodia came running. She turned to the side and struck towards Bax's shoulder. Bax gripped the sword in his right hand and began dancing backwards as he parried Hodia's blows.

Hodia continued to press Bax towards a wall. Bax glanced back and saw this and he quickly thought of how to get out of this. Hodia used that moment, not hesitating, and went for a straight stab at Bax's abdomen. Bax turned around just in time and brought his sword up in a swinging parry, knocking Hodia's sword off course and lodging it into the wall behind him in a chink between the bricks. He slipped off to the side, away from Hodia, and stopped attacking for a moment so that he could regain his breath. He didn't have long, though. Hodia yanked her sword from the wall and came at Bax again, raising her sword and letting out a high-pitched battle cry as she ran towards him.

Hodia sliced diagonally downwards and Bax pitched to the side, hitting the ground with his knee and then launching upwards into Hodia's stomach. He knocked her away and she stumbled to the side for a moment, once again towards the center of the room, while Bax readied his sword and then charged after her. He began unleashing a combination of slashes, strikes, and jabs as he pushed Hodia back just as she had done to him moments before. Hodia was not dealing with getting pushed back nearly as well as Bax had, however, and she continued to glance back every few moments in nervousness.

"So where are we, Bax?" Hodia asked as she regained her courage in the fight and knocked Bax's blade away to go in for a counter.

Bax thought he knew what Hodia meant, but he wasn't sure. He met Hodia's counter and then pushed her back another few stops. She met him halfway and they clashed in the center of the room, their blades grating on each other. "What do you mean, Hodia?"

They both pushed as hard as they can, trying to overwhelm the other without losing their footing or letting up for an instant.
"I mean, what is this? I've been trying to figure that out for nearly 3 years now."
"Not now," Bax said. He closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them as he gave an extra burst of strength and knocked Hodia away for a moment. He leapt back, got a proper footing, and surged forward with a flurry of strikes. He continued to push Hodia back as the tension in the room built up. This was no longer just a spar. Just as their friendship was no longer just a friendship.

Why were they fighting? Where were they? Bax wasn't sure…he was confused, too. But as much as he wanted the same answers, he was afraid.

They were nearing the wall again, but this time, Bax was leading the charge. He went in with one last surge and Hodia's back hit the wall. Her head turned for a moment in surprise and then Bax was right there. As if to stop her from attacking, he put his left hand over her right, grasping her sword and pinning her to the wall. He slammed his own sword into the wall and stood there, nearly nose to nose with Hodia, staring her in the face.

"So," Hodia said, her chest heaving with deep breaths, "where are we?"
Bax's eyes were wide, scared, but at the same time fiery and filled with passion and mystery. He blinked and a tear fell from his face, his face contorted with anger, sadness, and confusion.
"I don't know, Hodia."
Hodia's face twisted in defiance and she frowned at him. "I mean it. I can't do this anymore. What do we have here?" The emotion was rising in her voice.

Gilax's words echoed in Bax's ears. "Keep your guard up, Bax."
Bax's eyes softened and he shook his head lightly. "I wish I could tell you."
Hodia sighed and rolled her eyes. "Jerk."
"Keep your guard—"
Hodia balled her fist up and buried it in Bax's stomach. Bax stumbled back and Hodia pushed from the wall and swung her sword from the right. Bax opened one eye and bent his knees down, aiming to slip out of the way. He blocked her strike and tried to get the footing to move the other way, but found it blocked by her own fancy footwork. Bax started to go down as she swept him off his feet. But he wasn't going down on his own. Bax grabbed Hodia's arm and dragged her down with them. They slammed into the ground in a pile and started rolling.

Finally, Hodia managed to pin Bax down, slamming him into the ground. They had both long since lost their swords and were once again just staring each other eye to eye. Bax humphed and groaned, gritting his teeth and trying to get Hodia off of him. Hodia stared her young friend in the face, then finally got off of him and helped him up. They sat there in silence for a moment and Bax glanced up at Gilax standing in the corner of the room with a quizzical look on his face. He didn’t pay him any attention, though.

Bax looked over at Hodia, who was still breathing heavily. Her face was red and her eyes were closed.
"I'm sorry, Bax," she admitted. "I…let my emotions get the best of me."
Bax sighed and put his head down. "No, I'm sorry. I guess I've just been bad at communicating lately."
"For three years?"
Bax rolled his eyes and sighed in light disgust.
"Sorry, that was uncalled for…" Hodia whispered.

Bax sat there in silence after that. After a moment, he moved his hand over and found Hodia's. He closed his hand over hers and squeezed once, lightly.
"I'm sorry if I send mixed signals. I'm just…afraid that…if I get close to anyone else that…I'll lose them."
Hodia glanced up at her brother, and glared at him from across the room. He jumped and nodded, vacating the room quickly to give the two a little more privacy.

"I'm sorry about your parents, Bax, but…there's nothing I can do but give you my friendship. Why won't you let me?"
Bax had felt kind of weird with Hodia for a long time. He had had feelings for her, but he wasn't sure where they were going. And he was scared. So that's what he said.
"I'm sorry, Hodia, I'm just afraid of losing you."
"I'm scared, too, Bax. I've thought for months that…you were just pushing me away. And it scares me."

Bax had been pushing away, though he hadn't wanted to. As these feelings grew in him, he didn't know what to do…

"Bax," Hodia said, looking at Bax again. Any traces of anger had been replaced with a pleading gaze. "I promise you—I will not die. You won't lose me like you lost your mother and your father. Whether I am just your friend or…more…the only way you'll ever lose me is if you kill me yourself."
That shook Bax to the core. He looked at this young woman before him and smiled. What was this feeling growing inside of him?

Bax uncurled his hand from Hodia's and stood up. Then he helped her up and stood there awkwardly for a moment. Without another thought, Bax wrapped his arms around Hodia in an embrace.
"Thank you, Hodia," he whispered into her ear.

He pulled away and saw a fragile smile on her face. She was beginning to bubble over as well. Bax took her hand in his and they started walking towards the door.
"So…what are you doing Friday night?"