Lance: "Millard.."

  Kath: *She noticed Alicia and Lance's distressed faces.* "I don't know you. But, I thank you." *She stood up, facing Millard with a readying smile.*

  Millard: "Ougi."

  Lance: "..."

  Millard: "With the sacred flames which run through my body, my power and spirit call forth, the flames in my heart have been ignited, call forth, give this old man a break-"

  Lance: "I-I thought-" *He paused, looking at the destruction of the village.* "I thought you wanted to resolve things with Kath?"

  Millard: *He looked down with watering eyes and smiled.* "Celestrial Lancer."

  *Five bright red swords materialised in the air around Kath and Millard.*

  Alicia: (I thought he only knew fire-)

  *A piece of wood near one of the swords, suddenly engulfed in fire.*

  Lance: *He stared at the sword, stepping forward with curiosity.* (They look solid-)

  Millard: *He appeared relaxed and sad.* "Don't touch them. They are made of the strongest fire I could make."

  *The swords tilted angle, pointing towards Kath and Millard.*

  Kath: "Millardestel." *She whispered and nodded her head.*

  Alicia: "I don't understand what's happening? Will these heal your-"

  *Millard sighed, causing the swords to suddenly pierce through their bodies.*

  Lance: "Oh, shit-"

  Alicia: *She covered her mouth, shaking her head in disbelief.* "..."

  Kath: *She watched the swords vaporised into nothing, gasping for air.* "I'm happy." *Her knees buckled, causing Alicia to run up to her.*

  Alicia: *She caught Kath in her arms, dropping to the ground.* (Why would they suddenly do this?)

  Millard: *He fell backwards, causing Lance to catch him.* "My dear, child?"

  Lance: *He shook his head, looking at Millard with sadness.* "Am I cursed?"

  Millard: "I-I'm sorry?" *He coughed and looked at Lance, as blood ran from the sides of his mouth.*

  Lance: "I don't know why, but I respect you. You're actually the third person in my life-"

  Millard: "Respect? You? Me?"

  Lance: "Don't be so surprised, Millard, you old fart."

  Millard: "You always know what to say to get these old bones shaking."

  Lance: "I regret not doin' so earlier."

  Millard: *He sighed with a smile.* "Give me your hand."

  Lance: *He held Millard's hand.* "Wat is it?" *His throat swelled, causing his voice to sound distorted.*

  Millard: "This is-" *He grabbed Lance's wrist, holding it tightly.* "To remember me by."

  Lance: "The b-bangle?" *He squinted his eyes in pain, as his skin sizzled around Millard's fingers.*

  Millard: "There."

  Lance: *He looked at his wrist, looking under the bangle.* (A phoenix?) "Aha, you gave me a tattoo?"

  Millard: "Your world is terrible. But, I enjoy the chocolate."

  Lance: "W-Wat? You've been-?"

  Millard: "Ssh, child."

  Lance: (He's been to Dee Highs?)

  Kath: "It hurts, please lay me down."

  Alicia: "Y-Yes." *She gently placed Kath on the ground, stepping back.*

  Millard: "Could you please lay me next to Kath?"

  Lance: "S-Sure." (His body is getting cold.) *He grunted, placing Millard next Kath.*

  Kath: "You must've gone through so much."

  Millard: "..."

  Kath: "I wouldn't have been able to endure what you did if our positions were reversed."

  Millard: "It was horrible." *He smiled, as tears ran down his face.*

  Kath: "W-What was your drive?" *She shivered, losing movement in her body.*

  Millard: "All I wanted, was to see that smile on your face."

  Kath: (Smile?) *She looked shocked, noticing her unintentional smile.* "I must've been happy to see you."

  Alicia: *She sniffed with watering eyes.* "M-Millard." *She whispered with quivering lips.*

  Lance: "Is this seriously what's happening?"

  Millard: *He tilted his head and coughed.* "Lance. You're not cursed."

  Lance: *He lowered his head, shaking his head in realisation.* "You knew all along didn't you?"

  Millard: "You two, remind me of Kath and myself."

  Alicia: "..."

  Kath: "Where do you think we will go?" *She looked at Millard, noticing her legs glow white.*

  Millard: "To Valhalla? Becoming Neurons and Astragons?" *He mumbled in amazement, as his legs disintegrated into tiny white orbs.*

  Kath: "Maybe even Radiatons?" *She giggled in pain.* "What about Lezard?"

  Millard: "He knows."

  Kath: "I see."

  Alicia: "..." *She sat on her knees, biting her bottom lip.*

  Millard: "Don't be sad, children. I've lived through multiple lifetimes, and, I wouldn't have this end any other way."

  Lance: "Y-Yeah." *He grunted in pain, as the self-inflicting glyph faded away.*

  Millard: *He focused his attention to Kath, staring into her eyes.* "We'll be drawn together."

  Kath: "We're soul mates, right?"

  Millard: "I love you."

  Kath: "I love you too." *She twitched and moved her arm, touching Millard's cheek.*

  Millard: "Remember, I'll never ever leave your side again." *He smiled, sighing out his last breath.*

  Kath: "I will always be with you." *She stopped breathing, as a tear ran down her face.*

  Alicia: *She started to whimper.* "W-What can I do-?"

  Lance: *He held Alicia's hand, shaking his head.* "I don't know either-"

  *Millard and Kath's body suddenly disintegrated into tiny white orbs, slowly floating up into the sky.*

  ----------

  Destiny: *She looked up, staring at the sky.* (The sun will be rising soon, I can feel it.)

  Luna: (We've seriously walked an entire twenty fours hours?! Fuck that.)

  Destiny: "Yeup."

  Rachael: *She straightened her arm, watching Lezard, Karol and Nathan walk ahead.* "Let them just absorb what's happening before we all walk in."

  Luna: "OK."

  Champion: "Oh my, understandable."

  Lezard: *He walked into The Frozen Backwater village, observing the fire-based damage.* (I was too late?)

  Karol: "Lezard?!" *He ran into the village, tripping on his own foot.* "Oof-" *He fell to the ground, coughing out dirt.*

  Lezard: "Karol, I was too late." *He walked forward, continuing to observe the destruction of the village.*

  Karol: "Umm-"

  Nathan: *He walked over Karol and grunted, picking him up with one hand.* "Were we really too late?"

  Trevour: *His armour rattled, as he staggered into the village.* "Whoa, this situation looks temperamental!" *He mumbled in shock, staring at the glass on the ground.*

  Karol: *He brushed dirt off his pants, looking at Nathan.* "F-Fanks, Nafan."

  Nathan: "Lezard?" *He mumbled, sympathising with Lezard.*

  Lezard: *He noticed Millard's cone-shaped hat, causing him to rub his arm in a comfort-like manner.* "He was here."

  *Nathan, Karol and Trevour walked towards Lezard, watching him pick up the hat.*

  Lezard: "I will avenge my mother and father's death." *He brushed charcoal off the hat, placing it on his head.*

  Nathan: "Who did this?"

  Lezard: "I don't know who's to blame.. Mother and father monster are gone." *He spoke with quivering lips and adjusted the cone-shaped hat on his head.*

  *Rachael, Luna and the champion walked into the village, noticing the damages in shock.*

  Luna: "Holy shit.."

  Champion: "The sheer level of damage.. An unimaginable amount of flames burnt here last night."

  Lezard: "...-" *He dropped to his knees and placed his right hand on the dirt, feeling it with his fingers.* "They were here... I can feel the slight traces of Neurons-."

  Trevour: "What in the Astral Plains happened?"

  Lezard: "Mother monster was consumed by the yellow-eyed contagion."

  Trevour: "The C-Consultant? Really, sir?!"

  Karol: "Ah huh." *He nodded his head, as if he could verify it.*

  Nathan: "..." *He looked angry and turned around, punching a straw made hut.*

  Trevour: "Sir?"

  Nathan: "This is really aggravating me. This is exactly what I was worried about.."

  Rachael: "Nath?"

  Nathan: "Making friends and worrying about them." *He mumbled with his deep voice and avoided eye contact.*

  Luna: *She discreetly stared at Nathan.* (Aye?)

  Champion: "Even the Consultant.. This symptom may be more serious than anyone could have imagined."

  Nathan: "No-.. The Scoldrant Users understood the reality this disease could cause."

  Lezard: "..." *He looked down with watering eyes.*

  Rachael: "Then why don't they do anything?"

  Nathan: "It doesn't matter.. Lezard, it's cool if you want to head back to the ship."

  Luna: *She continued to observe Nathan.* (He's really sweet and caring.. He doesn't like to show it, but it's there.)

  Lezard: "Thankies, Nathan.." *He sniffed with a puffy nose and started to walk out of the village by himself.*

  Rachael: *She formed a fist and shook her head.* "This isn't cool. I'm going with Lezard."

  Champion: "I will, too. I would be more than happy to help comfort him if he allows me to." *She started to hobble towards Lezard.*

  Nathan: *He nodded his head.* "We'll head to Concern's Gate and we'll meet up at the Sheridan."

  Rachael: "Sounds good." *She looked at the champion and walked towards Lezard, placing her hand behind his back.*

  Lezard: "Thankies, you two." *He sniffed and held their arms, as they walked with him out of the village.*

  Karol: *He watched Lezard, Rachael and the champion walk out of his sight.* "Will they be fine?"

  Nathan: "Yeah."

  Luna: "Let's go, aye."

  Destiny: "Yeup!" *She meowed in agreement.*

  Trevour: "What a bunch of turbulence our guild has gone through in the past few days."

  Luna: "I reckon." *She grunted, as they started to walk through the burnt remains of the village.*

  Karol: "We've been frew a lot-" *He tripped on his own foot.*

  Nathan: *He caught Karol before he fell over.* "I thought you stopped tripping over your own feet a few years ago."

  Trevour: "Let's keep moving forward, everyone." *He tried to hide his sadness for Lezard.*

  Karol: *He walked across the dirt and heard a glass-like crack, causing him to look down.* "Holy Neurons, it's gwass."

  Nathan: "This is what Rostical does." *He glanced at the village in a spiteful-like manner.*

  Trevour: "Do you speak from experience, sir?"

  Nathan: "I do, but I don't want to talk about it."

  Luna: (I don't understand how being friends with someone for more than three years, you still don't know all there is about them.)

  Destiny: (What do you mean?) *She floated out of Luna's arms and hovered around her.*

  Luna: (Like, why not just tell them wat's bothering you..)

  Destiny: (Nathan?)

  Luna: (Yea. His pathetic hate towards Rostickal, and the whole titles thing. Like, why not just tell us?)

  Destiny: (There's stuff about you that you haven't told the guild.) *She looked at Luna's wrists.*

  Luna: *She stared at her own wrists through Destiny's vision.* (Oi, that's different!)

  Destiny: (How?)

  Luna: (Well-.. Ahh, shut up!)

  Destiny: "Yeup." *She floated higher, out of attacking range.*

  Nathan: "..." *He sighed and purposely focused ahead, trying to ignore the damages.*

  Trevour: "Poor, Lezard.."

  Karol: "Yheah. I haven't seen him so sad befour."

  Nathan: (That guy is always so chirpy, all the time. It was a real buzz kill when I saw him like that. It felt even worse when he tried to hide it.)

  Luna: "Wow, talk about an emo atmosphere, and this is comin' from me." *She grunted, as she walked with Trevour, Nathan and Karol out of the village.*

  Trevour: "I wonder how that poor fellow is going."

  Chapter 12: Desert Dragon

  Sofia: *She flew through the air, giggling in disbelief.* "Wow-"

  *Sofia listened to the howling wind in the distance, flying towards a massive floating mountain.*

  Sofia: *She flew towards the side of the mountain and landed on the edge of a cliff, collapsing with exhaustion.* "The end of two Consultants?"

  *A flock of birds flew out from of a nearby bush, as if they were frightened of Sofia's presence.*

  Sofia: *She breathed deeply, rolling onto her back.* "He is going to be so happy when he finds out what happened." *She looked up to the sky and smiled.*

  ----------

  *Nathan, Trevour, Luna and Karol stood outside a small cave, all staring at the entrance with hesitant faces.*

  Luna: "Wat are we gonna look for?"

  Trevour: "I certainly have no idea."

  Karol: "Me neitha!"

  Nathan: "Actually, Trev and Luna, you two will play a big part in helping us."

  Luna: "Aye?"

  Trevour: "Sir?"

  Nathan: "Your eyes, Destiny. And, Trev, using your natural abilities to scout the landmarks in the cave."

  Luna: "Pssht, we got this."

  Destiny: "Yeup!" *She meowed in agreement and looked into the dark cave entrance, suddenly seeing the rocky walls with heightened vision.*

  Trevour: "Alright! I'll do my best for the guild!"

  ----------

  *Lezard, Rachael and the champion walked down an enormous sandy beach, listening to the waves crash in the distance.*

  Rachael: "Lezard?"

  Lezard: "..."

  Champion: "I don't want you to feel like we're hounding you, but if you don't want to talk about it, it's completely understandable."

  Lezard: "Understandable? This feels Lezard up, with out of character anger."

  Champion: "Oh my?"

  Rachael: "C'mon, guys." *She nudged her head into the far distance, staring at the Sheridan sitting idly in the water.* "We're almost at the ship. I'm surprised they actually waited for us."

  Champion: *She looked awkward at Lezard and hobbled away from him.* "I'm sorry."

  Lezard: "Bwarh-argh." *He dropped to his knees and started to sob, purposely tilting the cone-shaped hat downwards so it was covering his face.*

  Rachael: "Lezard." *She sat on her knees and rubbed her hand on his back, trying her best to comfort him.*

  Champion: "..." *She stared out into the ocean, watching the water glisten in the sunlight.* (I will be here if he wants to talk, but I feel it's too soon.)

  Rachael: "To be honest, I'm quite shocked you're holding up so well."

  Lezard: "Oh?"

  Rachael: *She watched tear-like drops soak into the sand under Lezard's face.* "I really hope you don't get offended, or me comparing such different things, but when I was young, I lost my first pet."

  Lezard: "A pet?" *He sounded upset and insulted.*

  Rachael: "Don't get me wrong, he was a family member. I cried like the little girl I was."

  Lezard: "What was his name?"

  Rachael: "Willy, William.. I tried to hold it in when people weren't looking, and when they weren't, I cried."

  Lezard: "..."

  Rachael: "Something still didn't feel right, until one night, I couldn't hold it in and I cried in front of my two best friends."

  Lezard: "And?"

  Rachael: "It was that night, at such a young age I learnt something interesting."

  Lezard: "Please explain to poor emotional Lezard?"

  Rachael: "You kinda need to cry by yourself and with your friends."

  Lezard: "I don't get it, Razzypoo..."

  Rachael: "Each felt good, each healed different parts of the heart. When I was by myself, I didn't have to worry about feeling judged or the way I cried, or the way I looked. When I cried with friends, it felt good knowing they were there for me and it removed the sense of loneliness that accustoms to loss."

  Lezard: "Really?"

  Rachael: "Each part played a vital role in order for me to just cope with the loss of Willy."

  Lezard: "You speak beyond your years, Razzypoo."

  Rachael: "It was my moral loving boyfriend and best friend." *She smiled in a mature-like manner, as if she knew it was hard for Lezard.*

  Lezard: "Ashton?"

  Rachael: *She nodded her head even though Lezard wasn't looking at her.* "I would be honoured to be that friend, Lezzypoo."

  Lezard: "Lezzypoo? Eww, you give horrible nicknames."

  Rachael: "Hehe."

  Lezard: *He tilted to the side and fell face-first into Rachael's stomach, allowing him to cry more comfortably.* "Thankies..."

  Rachael: *She smiled with watering eyes.* "Anytime."

  Champion: (I haven't felt loss in many years.. Perhaps my good intentions came across as insulting?) *She silently pretended not to be sad, keeping her back facing Lezard and Rachael.*

  Lezard: "I can't remember how long ago it was, when we were a family-, bwarharh-" *He cried in a laughter-like manner.*

  Rachael: "..." (What helped me, was my friends just being there.) *She rubbed Lezard's back, as tears silently ran down her face.*

  Lezard: "Mother monster... Father monster... Why...? Bwarharh."

  Rachael: *She closed her eyes and rubbed slightly harder, implying she was listening.* "..."

  ----------

  *Zazark dragged his feet through sandy looking dirt and struggled to breathe, as if he had a problem with his lungs.*

  Zazark: "Ahhh-" *He looked up and felt big thick, dark blue veins which throbbed up from his neck and towards his eerie yellow coloured eyes.*

  *Zazark stared out into the distance and licked his lips, as if he was smelling something.*

  Zazark: "Those... That filthy guild that ruined my arm." *His voice sounded slightly computerised.*

  *Zazark shouted in anger and suddenly flashstepped out of the area, blasting a pulse of sand-like dirt into the air.*

  ----------

  *Nathan, Luna, Trevour and Karol stood at the end of a tight path, deep inside the cave.*

  Luna: *She listened to water dripping in the cave with her heightened hearing.* "There's nothin' here, aye."

  Nathan: "I don't get it?" *He spoke in confusion, as if he was expecting something to be there.*

  Trevour: "It's true. I thoroughly checked the landmarks and area several times."

 

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