The creature screamed as the light burned into its chest, swinging a massive arm around to absorb the rest of the attack. It bellowed loudly enough for every person in the inn to hear before charging suddenly towards Tekun. It brought its hand to his chest, sending him back several yards. The demon's eyes glowed deep, violent blue.


Rana started when he heard the roar, then turned and stumbled up the hill Tekun and Anna had been sitting on. From the top he could see the fight clearly. He was in shock; why hadn't he felt the demon's presence? It was almost like the thing he had seen in that snowstorm, when he first join Tania's group. He readied himself to fight as shadows quivered into existence around him, begging to destroy the threat.

"Um.." The voice rose slightly, but still couldn't be heard easily.

"Oh, come on, I found the place, why don't you just see who it is? Perhaps it's room service with that free order Preston gave us? Free food, Leon.. free foood..." He sighed heavily.

Alice was still conscious, she could see Julius kneeling over her, and all the commotion she's started, but everything else was too vague, because the blur was turning into a brilliant white, and the blindfold only obscured it further. Her body felt numb, but yet pain was still surging around her body, the air tasted like salt, and her mouth burned, the loud ringing seemed to grow to an infinite volume, the sound was only making her pain worse, it only gave her the sign that she would die within a matter of several moments without treatment. However, the sight of Julius made her fight on, to raise her chances of survival even in the slightest.

"Ju-Julius-us, n-no need-eed to worry-y abo-ou-out me.." Alice's speech was severely impaired, she was conscious about all of her stuttering; she was also starting to lose common sense, and what she said was purely from instinct. Alice knew she didn't mean it, and she needed help right there. She started to remember things that could have lead up to this, merely overstretching her back shouldn't have caused the spinal cord trauma. It was probably an aneurysm or something along the lines, she had been feeling pains in her back since several years ago, but they never had any effect until a day ago.

If her eyes were examined, they were turning into a dark, pale red. Her lips were twitching in a pattern, and her teeth started shaking. The blood started to reach the floor, and a tiny dark red puddle was forming behind her, the severity of her situation could have been from serious to critical.

Tania nearly jumped out of her skin when she heard the roar, and she began to follow Rana up the hill, she saw Tekun fighting a giant beast alongside Anna. It was like all her senses were closed, she could sense its presence it was similar to the thing that had attacked her mind earlier. She looked over to Rana aware that he was preparing to fight but she didn't have a lance or Windy so she'd have to sit out of the battle.

---

Anna's knees were knocking, she had barely dodged some of the demon's attack the evilness ripping apart the land like a hungry baby. She pointed her finger at the beast "In the name of the Holy Light I command that you return to the underworld!" she yelled while a small sphere of concentrated light magic focused around her finger for a moment then shot a ray at the beast.

---

Violet didn't know her name meant such a sweet thing, it made her feel special,though it brought up questions about why she was left alone as a child. She gratefully accepted the tea with a quiet "thank you" and she felt herself calm down as she felt the soothing liquid pour down into her throat, warming her up. She sat on the kneel pad silently drinking her tea, the tranquillity she felt in the room, felt so good for her soul. Her thoughts were interrupted when the lady spoke again: "I would very much like to hear some of your music, if it's not too much trouble. Your password was adequate, therefore your performances must be top notch, for what they are."

She felt even more special than before, the woman though she had potential. "It would be no trouble at all" replied Violet while placing the empty cup on the ground beside the pillow. She stood up with her lute in hand "What to play..what to play?...Ah I know...I'll play my song" She strummed the lute once and it echoed in the room, and then she began to play. Violet focused on her lute while playing her song. It started with a single rhythm resembling that of a heart beat and descended into a dark notes each expressing the various emotions she had in her childhood. Loneliness, confusion, heart ache, sadness and the occasional note for hope. Her song escalated and the notes developed into independence, determination, change, and the ever present chord of hope. Her song continued to escalate it was like she was flying she and the song were one, notes of freedom, spirit, and many more chords of hopes and dreams rang in the suite. She had to place both her hands on the lute to stop playing, her song wasn't done. She looked up at the woman worrying about whether she would like it or not.

---

Windy fought her urge to flee the clearing and flew back towards the crazy man, slightly fearing that his crazy mate would try to kill her like she had killed Black King. She flew low enough for him to get on though didn't land she wanted to get back to her mistress.

The people at the inn heard the monsterous roar, attracting the attention of several warriors. One grabbed a musket while another grabbed his axe. A group of about 5 people came out of the inn heading in the direction of the sound.

Tekun held his ground sliding against it as he got knocked back. He began charging at the creature and swung, cuttign into the things flesh and past it, leaving a large gash in it's side. Anna's light attack missed, scaving the creature, leaving a burn mark on it's arm. It was clear now the thing was becoming enraged.

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

Eton jumped on the pegasus and held on to it's reigns. He petted it and then looked back at Serene.

"Hang on alright?" He told her. "I won't let it end like it could have back there."

---------

"No! Alice! You can't die! Please hang in there." Julius pleaded. The cleric began taking action, raising his stave over the wound, the source, it was clear to him she was hemoraging from a wound on her back. He focused, trying to do his best to patch up the wound.

"I don't know the cause, but so long as I give attention to the wound, she won't die. I would appreciate further assistance." The man said. Several other men got up, one with equipment and another cleric. Silence fell across the inn, all eyes were on Alice at the moment.
----------

Leon got out of the bed, his sixth sense was bothering him, he grabbed his nearby blade and approached the door. He slid it open slowly. Something seemed wrong to him. He was ready to jump back at a moment's notice.

The shadows around Rana suddenly twisted and curled together, then shot forward in a strange plume of blackness. His eyes were glazed over as he attacked, hoping this was enough. It angered him that he had not felt such a powerful presence. It angered him that he could not tell even now what it was. Such a strange thing, he thought, how they had been attacked by great powers three times in barely three days.


The demon raised its hands and the purple smog erupted powerfully, swallowing the sphere of light shot my Anna. The cloud was ripped apart, however, and the sphere tore into the thing's cyclopian shoulder and neck, leaving wisps of void trailing behind it. The monster again roared, then turned to see Rana's attack. The shadows wrapped around his skin, intending to devour him; but instead they burst into a dark flame, and the demon's body dragged the void inside itself. There was a flash of purple as the demon's shoulder grew back entirely and its entire body began to grow. It rumbled with pleasure, finally finding the source of power it was accustomed to.

The woman stared at Violet's fingers until she abruptly halted the performance. "That was enlightening. Surely, it wasn't your best, though. You must've been nervous in my presence, causing you to fault on many of your notes." She paused and took another sip of her tea. "Would you like to hear something better?" Without waiting for a response, she lifted her flute to her lips and began playing. Time stood still and the room melted around them. Violet's mind was whisked away to ancient times, colorful birds flying across the plains and windswept meadows littering the countryside. The melody wrapped itself around her heart and warmed her very soul. It seemed as if she'd lost all control in her limbs and the music guided her very movements.

The music stopped and Violet fell to her knees. The floor felt different. Where the previous ground had been, grass grew all around her. Trees, open night sky, flowers, stars, the wind and scents all filled her senses. She was outside, somewhere in the country. How was it possible? Where was the woman? How had she suddenly been teleported to this place? It was confusing, yet she seemed to be at peace. A constant flow of soft crane flute music echoed throughout the world.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________


The door opened to reveal the source of the inaudible mumbling. Leon stood face to face with the most gorgeous woman he had ever seen. Her voluptuous breasts protruded nicely from behind a maid's blouse and her mini maid skirt ruffled lightly when she swayed. Her face was perfect in every way, the complexion and shape to the proportions and tone. Her skin was the color of peaches and her hair a deep crimson. She wore a nervous look on her face, timid before the lumbering man in front of her. She stood, her eyes fixated on Leon's sword. Finally, her voice quietly stuttered out "A-are you going to... hurt me..?" She backed away a bit, still staring at his sword, tears beginning to fill her eyes.

Lex sat upright, mouth agape. "H-haaah!?" He awkwardly scrambled out of his bed and slinked up behind Leon. "Put that damn thing away, don't you know how to treat a lady?!" He swatted the weapon from his hand and kicked it back over toward Leon's bed. He turned back to the girl and began drooling. "So, I presume you're here to bring me food and entertainment, am I right?!" He immediately grabbed the girl's arm and pulled her closer.

"Ah! No, I came to see Mr. Leon!" She weakly struggled against Lex's grip. He didn't seem to notice, however she was straining herself quite a lot.

"Leoonn?! Why him?! He's so ugly!!"

"N-no, I wouldn't.. say that.. but that's not why I'm-"

Lex cut her off. "Oh, come on! I could show you a much better time than this oaf. You don't mind, do you Leon?" He smiled desperately and nudged him.

When he saw the women, Leon's face turned a very deep red, he could not be anymore embaressed then he was now. To be acting this way to find a timid gorgeous women.

"A-are you going to... hurt me..?"

"Put that damn thing away, don't you know how to treat a lady?! So, I presume you're here to bring me food and entertainment, am I right?!"

Before Leon could throw his blade away, Lex kicked the weapon away from his hand, making sure it slid away from him.

"Ah! No, I came to see Mr. Leon!"

"Leoonn?! Why him?! He's so ugly!!"

"N-no, I wouldn't.. say that.. but that's not why I'm-"

"Oh, come on! I could show you a much better time than this oaf. You don't mind, do you Leon?"

Lex nudged Leon in a desperate manner, Leon was disgusted with Lex and grabbed his arm rather quickly and twisted it, yanking him free from the women.

"Don't be a god damn pig." He said angrily at Lex, looking him right in the face and threw him back, making sure he didn't inadvertently hit the women.

"Forgive me for having mhy blade drawn. I tend to be on edge alot." he said appologizing to the women. "What was it you needed again?"

"Oh! Please, don't apologize! I'm sorry, it's my fault for not saying who I was louder, I didn't know i you were sleeping or not or if your were indecent or-"

Lex cut her off again and crawled from somewhere behind Leon. "Let me guess, he gets the special treatment while I have to sit here all alone? When you go back, punch Presto in the mouth for me, alright?"

The woman blushed. "No, no! I'm not here for-"

"Well, at least your outfit is extremely cute. How about we see what's under that skirt, eh?" He grinned rather evilly.

She began to get even more flustered. "P-please, I just wanted to ask Mr. Leon something... it's very private..."

"Well, whatever it is, you can say it in front of me." He hardened his look. "There's no secrets between the inseparable duo of fantastical adventure!!" He hugged Leon tightly. "Riiight, my friend?"

Leon looked at Lex rather pissed off like as he Lex hugged him.

"Lex, if you keep pestering this women, i swear to god your going to have two scars across your face instead of just one." He said pushing Lex away from him. "Now look, if she needs to tell me something that's private, she can." Leon said.
------

Tekun looked at the creature and how it relished the energy.

"Rana! stop. It will only increase his strength." He pleaded. "Back away!"
-------

The men were nearly there, they could hear the shouting, in about thirty seconds they would arrive.

Anna's eyes widened and she gasped as she saw the darkness from the other man cause the demon to regain its strength. Thankfully back up from the inn was arriving to aid them, though it would take a few seconds. "Thank you Light" she said in a semi-whispered prayer. Though she had to remember that the task at hand wasn't complete they still had to deal with the demon.

---

Violet opened her eyes she felt mystified but her emotions changed to one of confusion, as she looked around the what she believed to be the countryside . Her heart was beating rapidly, like she had been dancing in a marathon, but she soon stood up, her lute was still in her hands and she slung it onto her back. "What an otherworldly experience" she said her voice in quiet awe. She slightly regretted not having all her supplies with her, but she guessed it meant that she must blow on with the wind and leave Lex and Leon behind. Though an eerie music played in the background, her head swayed with the music, and she followed it hoping that she'd find someone who would help her at the source.


---

The crazy man had grasped her reigns and Windy surged forward with a powerful flap of her wings. Though she made sure to keep the crazy girl on her back, not wanting the crazy man to pull some kind of stunt like she had to do earlier to save her. As she grew closer to the inn she sensed some apprehension in the air, something was wrong. In the distance away from the inn was a large monster of some kind along with two specks which occasionally attacked the beast a large group of specks were charging towards the beast but a man shrouded in shadows, with a woman beside him stood on top of a hill. It was her mistress Tania, she flew low near the ground and glided down silently behind them.

---

Tania felt a light breeze brush her neck suddenly and whirled around, thinking it was something come to attack her. Instead it was her pegasus Windy, except she was very dirty and her coat was no longer white, on her back were bruised and battered Eton and Serene. She hugged her pegasus around the neck "Windy" she said cheerfully "I was very worried about you...though it seems you've had your own adventure."

Serene hopped off the Pegasus without muttering a sound, and walked away. She headed towards the inn and opened the door to the lobby. Thoughts raced through her head at lighting speeds, giving her no time to choose correctly for herself. "What would they want me to do?" She began to mutter to herself "They came to kill me, but do they want me to run or not?" She paused and thought for a second and then realized that truth. "They want....me to do it...."
____________
Euphemia walked through the forest trail beside Endoh. Rourky rested on her shoulder, his wings bandaged up from the wounds. She saw smoke not too far away from their position. "Endoh, you sure she's in there?" she asked him, still gripping the linen covered sword to her chest.

Endoh didn't reply, but simply nodded his head, and then he turned to her. "You're still holding that precious sword of yours?" he began to ask. "What's the point of it? You honestly can't use the healing or killing effect it possesses, since you don't have the Black Eye like Odinas and I have. Plus if you're holding that sword, Odinas is most likely dead..." he laughed after finishing his sentence, reaching out for the sword playfully.

Euphemia slapped away his hand and held the sword tighter. She stared at Endoh with an angry face. "Well, was it a give from a close relative to you?" she replied.

"Ohh, that stings!" Endoh said, countering her claim. "And also, I'm barely related to you, therefore, I'm related to that fat blob of muscle you call a cousin..." He stopped walking and watched the funnel of smoke. He was almost to his niece...and a chance to cut down the last of his immediate family...something he was hoping to relish.

Eton hoped off the pegasus as well, pursuing after Serene. He couldn't leave her laone, there was no telling what she'd do. He ignored what was going on, slipping by almost unnoticed. Tekun watched as the two ran off, he knew Eton had to deal with something, there was something going on between him and the other rider. Whatever it was, he would need to deal with it as the other's dealt with the monster.

Eton opened the door after Serene. The inn was almsot empty, most were taking shelter or going after the creature.

"Serene! This need's to stop." He said frantically.

Serene turned to Eton, a solemn look on her face. She stared into his eyes deeply and shook her head. "No...this needs to stop..." she began. "I'm most likely going to die soon, and I'm not afraid of it. I was expecting this the moment my parents died. I'm staying here....but you, Eton, I want you to leave...I don't want you to die too, I wouldn't wish such a thing on you..." she looked at him with an expression conveying that she was serious. "...Please...run away...for me."
__________
Endoh and Euphemia saw the inn, and Endoh led her to the side wall.
He turned to her. "Euphemia, don't come in yet, if they know there are more, they'll probably call for help. You stay outside and wait for my signal, understand?" he explained.

Epuhemia nodded to him, and Endoh kicked open the window and jumped inside.

Endoh kicked down the door to find himself in a backroom of the inn, a room further away from that of which Serene and Eton went in.
he loud banging soud of a door beiing kicked open echoed though the inn.

Eton pulled a knife out and put it to his own throat.

"If you don't knock it off. I'll kill myself right here and now." Eton said as he pressed the dagger, a small trail of blood ran down it. He was ready to do it, all it would take was quick push and he'd have a quick painless and bloody death. "Your the best thing thats probably happened to me, believe it or not. I can't just leave you to die, I won't let you kill yourself. If I can't make you see this, that life is worth livng, maybe a knife to my throat, a quick stab and a body will."