Created, The Champion.

[Takahashi]

Some of you are faintly familiar with this little old story from the previous forum, under a different title (formerly known as "A Quest Begins").

--

His name is Takahashi, and he found mild amusement in the current conversation, though his facial expression didn't show it.

"Brother Takahashi, you, as well as all of us of the monastery, know that the issue of the Hunting Grounds has grown to be of great concern to all of Darlow. We have decided that we can no longer sit back and merely record events as they unfold. However, we are peaceful monks, not well-versed in the ways of conflict... except for you. As such, you are the only choice we have, in regards to sending one of our own out to investigate matters."

Takahashi grunted, acknowledging the statement. Before joining the monastery of Nexus, he was an accomplished martial artist, serving as a mercenary for hire. Those days were long past, though. Takahashi was now well into his eighties, but yet managed to keep himself in peak physical and mental condition. To those who did not know of his past; those who knew only of what they saw in front of them, Takahashi would appear to be little more than an old man, soon to pass onto the next realm. Grey wisps of hair that passed for a mustache and beard, as well as skin that appeared to have the consistency and strength of yellowed parchment, only served to emphasize this vision.

Takahashi nodded, then looked at the rest of the Brothers. They, like Brother Mathiu, believed that he was the one best suited to go out into the world.

"Very well. It is no doubt for the good of Nexus itself that I undertake this journey on behalf of us all. With your blessing, and the blessing of Nexus, I shall discover as much as I can about the current plight of Darlow."

Takahashi turned to leave, and walked towards the entrance to the monastery. He stopped upon feeling a hand upon his shoulder. Looking over his shoulder to see who it was, he saw that it was again Brother Mathiu.

"Brother Takahashi, we are grateful that you have chosen to accept this quest. However, I and your fellow Brothers cannot stress how essential it is that you exercise caution. If you were to be lost to the chaos of the various Hunting Grounds..."

Takahashi grinned, turning to face Mathiu and lightly pat him on the shoulder.

"Do not worry. Nexus shall look over me, and as such, no serious harm will come to me. Do not concern yourself with my well being; focus more on discovering what else you can of the Hunting Grounds, as best you can."

Mathiu opened his mouth, as if to say something, but slowly shut it again, resigning himself to a slight grin and a nod.

"Perhaps you are right. Nexus bless you, Brother Takahashi. It would be in your best interests to visit Dainan, to the southeast. Come the time of battle, you will no doubt be interested in better equipment than your meager robes and clothing."

Takahashi nodded, and again turned to leave. This time, he was not interrupted by other concerned members of the monastery.

[Takahashi]

--

Upon setting foot within Dainan castle, Takahashi was mildly surprised by how little had changed in the many years since he had last left the monastery. The castle walls maintained their near flawless appearance, showing few signs of age or wear and tear. The crest of Dainan, a cougar's head, hung proudly on each side of the main castle doors. Dainan soldiers, of varying professions and builds, stood guard by the doors and above them.

Journeying further in, Takahashi found that the interior was arranged similar in fashion to how it'd been when he was a youth. A short walk north led him straight to the main hall. At the back of the hall were a man and woman in regal dress, no doubt the current king and queen of Dainan. The man Takahashi assumed to be king looked in his direction with a curious expression, trying to determine the reason for his visit to the castle. Several sets of eyes, from royal guards and a small audience seated on each side of the hall, also turned in his direction, in order to see the new arrival for themselves. Takahashi calmly made his way before the king and queen, and gave a slight bow.

"Hail to you, your Majesty. I am Brother Takahashi, of the Nexus monastery to the northwest. My fellow brothers and I have decided that it is time for one of us to take action and search for information directly. It is my hope that you and your citizens will be willing to aid me in my quest."

The King's look went from one of curiosity to one of understanding. He nodded slightly, and prepared to speak.

"Well met, Brother Takahashi, and welcome to the kingdom of Dainan. I am King Gregory the fourth, current ruler of this kingdom. Several others before you have set out to investigate the Hunting Grounds to the south. However, this is one situation where there can never be too many investigators. I give you my word that the people of Dainan will lend what support they can. If you discover anything of interest, please make sure to return here and inform us, as we too are curious about the secrets of the Hunting Grounds."

"I assure you, your Majesty, that if I find anything of interest, that I shall inform you of it, just as quickly as I would inform my fellow Brothers."

King Gregory nodded in approval.

"Go then, Brother Takahashi. May the grace of Dainan aid you."

Takahashi again bowed curtly, then made his way out of the hall and then out of the castle. Meanwhile, back inside the main hall itself, one of the King's advisors had a skeptical look on his face.

"I dunno about this. An old guy like that, trying to investigate matters in the Hunting Grounds? I'd be surprised if he didn't suffer a heart attack upon sight of an ogre."

Yet another one of the King's advisors, a man in a red robe and grey hat which obscured his face, also chose this time to speak.

"I would not be quick to dismiss him. Physically, he appears to be frail, but I sensed a fascinating power within him. He was unbelievably calm and collected, and did not sound like a man well past his fighting years." The man, court wizard Oriu, took a moment to tilt his head, confidence in his voice. "I would not be terribly surprised if he was one of the few that could make his way through the Hunting Grounds and find something of interest."

"Pah. That's what you said about that blue mage that was here a few days ago, too. Jinrai, or something. They found his remains by the foot of the southern bridge a few hours after he left the castle."

Had Oriu's face been visible, it would be apparent to all that a sour look had taken residence upon it.

"...yes, well. Even one such as I am entitled to a miscue when it comes to judging the potential of others."

[Takahashi]

--

Upon exiting the castle, Takahashi made his way to the town of Dainan, which he had passed on his way to the castle. Upon setting foot inside town, Takahashi noted that unlike the castle, the town of Dainan had changed significantly from what he remembered. It had become more civilized, with walkways paved with stone, and buildings also made from stone. This contrasted the Dainan he remembered, one with buildings made from wood, and unfinished walkways of stone and dirt.

Shaking his head, in order to clear his nostalgic thoughts, Takahashi made his way through town, gathering information from the townsfolk. To his mild regret, he found that few people knew anything of interest, and even then, they informed him of facts and rumors that he had learned during his years at the monastery.

"(...it would appear that I have learned everything that the town can offer me. There is little else for me here, aside from necessary supplies that I will need during my investigation into the Hunting Grounds themselves.)"

First, Takahashi headed to the alchemist's shop. A white mage, wearing a robe and hood in the colors of Dainan, grey and red, smiled warmly upon seeing her newest customer.

"I welcome you to Dainan's alchemist shop, kind sir. How may I be of service?"

"I require healing items. I intend to journey into southern Kreland, to investigate the Hunting Grounds."

The white mage gasped, a concerned look upon her face.

"Should someone as old as you really be headed down there..." The white mage looked at Takahashi's robes, then blushed, recognizing them as the robes worn by a Brother of the Nexus Monastery. "No offense intended, Brother. I was not aware that the monastery was sending out its own to directly investigate these matters."

"No offense taken, my dear. In any case, I am aware that my appearance would lead one to believe that I am ill equipped for such a task. I assure you, I shall be fine. As you have noted, I place my faith and life in Nexus' hands. As such, They shall not let grievous harm befall me. In any case..."

Takahashi trailed off, allowing the mage to acknowledge his unspoken intentions.

"Of course, Brother. We have several types of potion, some of greater strength than others." The mage turned to the back wall, taking three different sized flasks off of the wall, each filled with a crimson liquid. "The smallest one costs 30 Dainan silver. The mid-sized one is worth 1 Dainan gold. The large one is worth 2 gold and 50 silver. I shan't insult you by indicating which one restores the most, nor which one restores the least."

Takahashi chuckled, then nodded.

"Very well. I shall take three of the small potions, for now. That should prove sufficient."

Takahashi handed over one of the seven gold pieces he had, and the mage handed him ten silver, as well as three of the small potions. Takahashi thanked the mage, then left. He headed towards the armory, focusing on the section dealing with armor. In his youth, he had no interest in using any weaponry save his own two fists. This had not changed any, even in his old age.

[Takahashi]

--

An athletically-built man stood behind the counter of the armor shop, with a bored look on his face.

"How can I help you? Are you interested in a new robe, to take the place of your old on--" The man stopped in mid-sentence, looking carefully at Takahashi. His bored look changed to one of fascination, bordering on shock. Takahashi was mildly puzzled at this change in attitude.

"Is something troubling you, young one?"

"Are you Takahashi Anju, of the Anju clan of martial artists?"

"Yes, I am. I am merely an old man now, no doubt long past my fighting years."

The man looked visibly amused.

"Even now, you maintain your self-depreciating sense of humor."

Now Takahashi was mildly shocked.

"Forgive me for asking, but do I know you? You seem to be familiar with me and my clan."

"Oh, I apologize. I am Darlon. My father, Erythor, often employed members of your clan as bodyguards. He was particularly fond of you, given your wit and skill in combat. I was but a child then, but even after all of these years, I remember the tales he told of your deeds. You even accompanied our family on one occasion, protecting us from Anaran bandits. Time has been kind to you; you don't look much different than you did then... grey hair aside, of course."

"Ah... I am humbled that you have such fond memories of my clan and I. It does my heart good to know that there are those out there who remember when my clan was one of positive merit."

Darlon tilted his head in confusion.

"I'm not sure I understand. 'When my clan was one of positive merit.'?"

Takahashi shook his head.

"It is not a matter I am interested in discussing at the moment. Perhaps another time."

"Very well... I shall not pry. Nonetheless, I am sure that you came here to purchase armor, so let's not waste any more time. What in particular are you interested in?"

"Hmm..." Takahashi looked around. Most of the armor shown did not look like the type he would like to be wearing. Heavy metal armor weighed him down too much, ruining the point of being able to strike and dodge quickly. Helmets and circlets were, in his eyes, tacky and clumsy. He dismissed shields the second the idea came to mind; he liked being able to strike with both arms equally unweighted.

This left only robes, body armor crafted from leather, and bracelets or rings. A particular set of leather armor caught his interest, and Darlon picked up on his interest shortly thereafter.

"Ah, a fine choice. That is standard issue leather armor. Most armor crafted from leather is designed this way. There are variants that use less material..." Darlon made a sweeping gesture towards from pale leather armor next to the suit Takahashi had shown interest in. "...and there are variants that use more material." Darlon made a similar gesture in the other direction, in the general direction of some bulky leather armor, made from darker leather.

"In any case, the standard issue armor is only 5 pieces of gold, a bargain under any conditions."

"Hmm. Interesting. How much is a suit of the heavier leather?"

"That would be 9 gold and 50 silver. Also worth it, if you can afford it."

Takahashi nodded, then turned his attention back to the standard leather.

"A set of that type will suffice for now. Perhaps I will look into the heavier type in the future."

"An excellent choice, Mr. Anju. As noted, that will be five gold."

Takahashi set five gold on the counter, and after Darlon took one set of the leather armor off of its rack, he handed it to Takahashi.

"Take care, and come back anytime. Perhaps you can tell me some stories about your days as a martial artist."

Takahashi bowed slightly, then exited the shop. He put the armor on over his robes, amused at how easily it slid on, as well as how little it seemed to hinder his movement. He then made a quick visit back to the alchemist's shop, which also housed Dainan's bank. He went through the steps needed to register an account under his name, and deposited most of his remaining money for safekeeping, saving some for use in the inn. Night was not far off, and Takahashi felt that it would not be wise to head to the Grounds, only to arrive at the dead of night.

Arriving at the inn, he was greeted by an elderly woman behind the desk. She immediately recognized him as a monk from the northwestern monastery, briefly causing Takahashi to wonder just how far the reputation of the Nexus monasteries extended.

"Good evening, Brother. Will you be staying with us tonight?"

"...yes, yes I shall. I presume it still costs 32 silver a night?"

"Oh, no sir. It hasn't cost that much for decades. I presume you visited Dainan in the past, before you joined the monastery?"

"Yes, I did. I was once a bodyguard for hire, and Dainan was one of several cities I visited in those times."

"Oh, how delightful. It's always good to see return customers, no matter how long it has been since they last visited... oh, of course. The cost of a room. That will be 20 silver per night."

Takahashi handed over that amount, and was guided to where his bed was for the night. Carefully removing the leather armor and setting it by his bed, then setting the pouch he kept his remaining silver in inside of the armor, Takahashi got into bed. Within minutes, he was sound asleep.

[Takahashi]

--

Takahashi was stirred from his sleep by the sound of panicked voices. Lazily opening his eyes, he noticed that one of the panicked person was dressed in ragged and torn clothing and had blue hair. Freshly dried cuts and wounds were visible on his arms, face, chest and legs. He nervously rotated his wrists all the while he was frantically speaking. Takahashi also noticed that the person the troubled young man was speaking to was the innkeeper. He sat up and listened in on the unfolding conversation.

"My friend... they... he's... it was horrible!"

"There, there. Calm down and start from the beginning. What happened to your friend?"

"They got him... it was awful..."

"They? Who are they?"

"These strange little creatures. They looked so pitiful, in their rags and with their little rusty daggers. Tulare and I thought they'd be pushovers... but... they got him..."

The man shivered, then continued.

"It was horrible... they looked at us with such cold and malicious eyes... the next thing we knew, they were on us. We tried to fight them off, but it wasn't much use. I managed to get away, but not before they... they..."

"You don't have to go any further if you don't want to."

The man shook his head, then slumped against a wall, eventually sagging to a sitting position.

"...they killed my best friend before my eyes. They tore out his throat, then showed it to me. They cackled with glee all the while, as if they knew that I couldn't do anything to stop them. They could've done the same to me... but they didn't.

The young man looked into his hands, then at the ground. In a subdued voice, he said one last thing.

"...it's almost like they wanted me alive, so I could warn others to avoid the Hunting Grounds, to prevent others from suffering the same fate. It was like a warning."

"...that's horrible. How could they do such a thing? I'd heard that the Hunting Grounds were dangerous, but this..."

The innkeeper shook her head.

"Let's not dwell on that. You've been through a lot. Please, stay here and rest as long as you need to, free of charge. I'll get the apothecary to come visit you to tend to your wounds."

The man shakily got to his feet, slightly relieved at the innkeeper's generosity.

"...I can't thank you enough."

"Oh, think nothing of it. I wouldn't be able to sleep with a clear conscience if I did anything else."

Takahashi took in the whole conversation, a grim expression on his face.

"(Clearly, resolving the issue of the Hunting Grounds is of much greater importance than I first thought. I cannot be satisfied with merely investigating the Grounds, I must now also take into account how to fight back against such violent beasts as the ones described to me. Now, more than ever, I am faced with the realization that this journey may very well be my last... but I cannot falter. I must continue, not just for the sake of my Brothers, but for the sake of people like that young man.)"

Takahashi got up, retrieved his belongings and set out for the Hunting Grounds. After about a hour, Takahashi arrived at the northern side of the bridge separating Northern Kreland and Southern Kreland. A Dainan guard addressed him as he approached.

"Halt! Be warned that past this bridge lies the Hunting Grounds. For now, monsters have been unwilling to set foot on the bridge, never mind traverse it."

The guard paused, then checked his surroundings. Confident that none of his fellow guards were paying attention, he continued to speak, but in a lower voice.

"In all honesty, after what I've seen those foul creatures do, I doubt the small number of guards on hand here would be able to stop them from tearing Dainan itself to the ground."

The guard shook his head, then noticing one of the guards by the center of the bridge giving him a stern look, he cleared his throat and again spoke in a normal voice.

"If you still wish to continue, then I hope that both the grace of Dainan and the benevolence of Nexus are with you. You will no doubt need both."

[Takahashi]

Takahashi nodded and thanked the guard, then set out across the bridge. Upon stepping foot in the Hunting Grounds, Takahashi felt a chill, and more troubling, a sense of longing. Takahashi shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts.

("...no, it is likely nothing. Just apprehension at setting foot in a dangerous area, no doubt. It has been a long time since I last fought, after all. Yes... nothing more than anxie--")

Takahashi suddenly felt the presence of others. Snapping to attention, he noticed that a group of small, pale creatures in orange rags were headed his way. Takahashi had seen creatures like these, back in his younger days. People had come to refer to them as imps, and the name seemed to be a decent fit. He suspected that the young man and his friend had had a bad encounter with a pack of these creatures. One of the imps seemed slightly larger than the others, and the rest seemed to follow him. Takahashi guessed that it was the leader. The leader imp noticed Takahashi looking at it, and grinned, showing jagged and discolored teeth.

"(Hmph. I'll not be intimidated by creatures such as these. That was the fatal error that young man made. He let his fear get the best of him, and it cost him dearly. No, I shall not experience the same fate as he.")

Noticing that Takahashi was not showing signs of fear or apprehension, the leader imp glowered and ordered an imp to attack Takahashi. Seeing the imp charge his way, Takahashi got into a fighting stance, one arm slightly extended, palm facing the imps, with the other arm curled at his side.

("Nexus, give me strength.")

Takahashi calmly waited, not wishing to rush into battle; he would have the fight unfold on his terms. Once the imp got within striking distance, it lunged at Takahashi's midsection with its dagger. Takahashi moved slightly to the right, just enough to where the blow missed. The imp staggered forward, off balance due to the blow not connecting. Takahashi then thrust downwards with his free arm, sending his elbow into the imp's spine. The imp collapsed to the ground, but slowly got up, anger visibly showing on its face. It raised its dagger to deliver a slashing strike, but Takahashi removed any chance of the blow being executed as he struck the imp violently in the chest with an open palm strike. The imp staggered backwards, dead on its feet, the force of the punch having sent its heart beating wildly out of control to the point of failure.

The leader, seeing these events unfold, shouted something incomprehensible, and sent the other two imps with it at Takahashi. Takahashi got back into his stance, again patiently waiting for his foes to come to him. One of the imps got to Takahashi before the other, rearing back for a swing intended to tear a gash in Takahashi's leg. In response, Takahashi kicked at the imp's arm, connecting with its elbow before the swing completed, resulting in an audible crack. The imp let out a shriek and dropped its dagger, clutching at its injured arm. The second imp caught up at this point, and seeing what had happened, had decided to be cautious.

So far, Takahashi was pleased. Despite the years that had passed, he felt as if he had not lost a step. Quickly letting the moment pass, he concentrated on his foes. The first imp had picked up its dagger with its uninjured arm, the other dangling uselessly. The second imp had started to slowly circle Takahashi, hoping to find a moment where it could catch him off-guard. The first imp, seemingly picking up on the second imp's plan, charged at Takahashi, dagger raised. Takahashi waited until the last possible moment, then struck out with a punch aimed at the center of the imp's head. He was rewarded with a sickening crunch as the imp fell backwards, dead. He suddenly felt a blinding pain in his side, followed by cackling. Looking down, he saw the small dagger held my the second imp. Apparently the first imp had chosen to sacrifice itself so that the second would have a clear shot. The second made the best of the distraction, throwing its dagger at Takahashi, where it buried itself up to the hilt in his side. Takahashi dropped to one knee and grunted with pain.

("...something is not right. I don't remember seeing Imps do anything other than run in recklessly, dagger swinging every which way. And yet... this one imp chose to bide its time, and the other sacrificed itself so that I would be vulnerable to attack. It's almost like they were aware of the situation they were facing.")

The leader imp again shouted something, at which point the surviving imp stopped cackling, instead running over to pick up its fallen brethren's dagger. It then slowly walked over to Takahashi, still wary. It feigned a stab at Takahashi, who did nothing but look at it. Taking this to mean that Takahashi was unable to fight back, it came closer. Takahashi suddenly lunged at the imp, which tried to backpedal away from him, but in vain. Tackled to the ground, the imp tried to stab Takahashi, but its stab was blocked by Takahashi's forearm. Takahashi then guided the dagger, still held by the imp, into its throat. He rolled off of it, watching as blood oozed and bubbled out from the involuntary self-inflicted wound. Standing up, he again clutched at his now blood soaked side, pulling the dagger out with some difficulty.

The leader of the imps was furious by this point, and charged towards Takahashi. Takahashi again got into his stance, although a bit shakily. Much like the first two imps, the leader appeared to be interested in nothing more than delivering a single blow meant to seriously wound Takahashi. Takahashi prepared his counterattack, striking out with a backhand intended to crush the side of the leader's head. To his great shock, the imp suddenly changed tactics, ducking under the backhand and bringing its dagger upwards towards Takahashi's chest. Takahashi cursed himself, knowing that where was no way to avoid the attack, then cursing himself again as the dagger bit deeply into his body.

Takahashi staggered backwards, falling onto his back. The imp, not satisfied with the mortal wound it had inflicted, leapt onto Takahashi's chest, uneven and jagged teeth bared. It lunged at his throat, and Takahashi strained to hold it at bay. Looking into the hate-filled eyes of the imp, for the first time in several years, Takahashi was afraid. He had barely started his journey, and already he was on the verge of death. The imp, trying to gain an advantage, kicked backwards with one foot, striking the dagger stuck in Takahashi's chest. The flare of pain that it sent through Takahashi caused him to weaken his grip enough to where the imp bit down on his neck.

The resulting pain combined with the pain he was already feeling was excruciating, and Takahashi loudly cried out. Guards on the bridge looked on horrified, either unwilling to help or too frightened to do so. Takahashi looked to the sky in despair.

("...is this it? Felled on my first day of investigating the Hunting Grounds? I... I have let down my fellow Brothers. I was too old after all; Brother Mathiu was correct in voicing his concerns. Forgive me Nexus... I have failed you...")

[Takahashi]

Takahashi started to experience the loss of feeling in his body; he knew that death was no doubt moments away. He almost didn't feel it as the imp again bit into his neck, tearing at the muscle and skin. He felt a great calm... but suddenly, he also felt a great fury from within, accompanied by a feminine voice.

<"So, Anju Takahashi, do you now see what the result is of giving up your life of violence, of refusing my gift? I was generous with my offer, one that provided your clan with untold power... but you alone chose to turn away from it. You chose to seek refuge in a place dedicated to that so-called God that you now worship. See where you stand now? You lie there, dying... all because you were too absorbed with your morality, your sense of mercy.">

The voice seemed to chuckle. Takahashi could almost sense that he was being sneered at.

<"However, I am willing to forgive you. I can save you... but I am not rude enough to force my gift upon you. You can accept it graciously and live... or you can refuse it, and die where you are, yet another victim of the Hunting Grounds. The choice is yours, Anju Takahashi.">

Takahashi shuddered. He remembered all too well the 'gift' that this thing had given to those of his clan, and the memories of how they and he used it sickened him. However, he was conflicted by the need to continue his quest; he could not let himself be killed here... even if it meant once again accepting help from such a cruel being. He must discover the secrets of the Hunting Grounds, for the sake of his Brothers. If not him, then who? Shame flooding through his mind, he made his decision.

("...I accept.")

The voice laughed, seemingly pleased by Takahashi's choice.

<"I had hoped to hear you say that. So be it. I bestow upon you my gift, even if it is to be used against those that I should consider allies. Now, give in to my influence, and rejoice...">

Suddenly, Takahashi felt a surge of dark power exploding throughout his body. He gritted his teeth, trying to resist the violent urges and bloodlust he could feel growing inside of him.

<"Now, don't be difficult, Anju Takahashi. Let my gift flow throughout your body. Let your cruelty free... and it shall heal you.">

Takahashi again weakly tried to fight the urges, but failed. All of the fury, all of the anger, all of the shame... it swelled up inside him, taking him over. He let out a bestial roar, throwing the imp off of him with little difficulty. Although still bleeding profusely, Takahashi no longer felt any pain, just a blinding urge to maim the creature that had dared challenge him. He growled and stood up, causing the imp to back off a step, a confused look on its face.

It took another step back, then squealed as Takahashi sprang forward and pounced, pinning it to the ground. It struggled frantically, but to no avail. Takahashi reared back his fist, then drove it straight into the imp's chest, just hard enough to drive the wind from its lungs, but not enough to actually inflict fatal damage. The imp wheezed, coughing up blood. It then screeched and squealed as Takahashi methodically shattered various bones on its body, making sure to keep the pain high enough to cause great misery, but not enough to cause the imp to pass out. The imp, incapacitated, was helpless before the man beast that now loomed over it.

Takahashi laughed softly. It was a cold, hollow sound, terrifying the imp even more. Already, Takahashi could feel his body start to mend itself, the cruelty of his actions the cause. After amusing himself for a few more minutes, he painfully ended the imp's life, striking it in the chest with a palm thrust. The imp spasmed, its heart beating out of sync, steadily worsening by the second. Finally its heart exploded, leaving a dry reddish blotch on its chest where some of the pulp had ended up embedding itself. Takahashi tore a pouch off of the imp's rags, finding eight pieces of silver inside.

Looking back at the bridge with anger-filled eyes, Takahashi was delighted to see that some of the guards had gotten violently ill, some still in the midst of dry heaves. Others somehow looked more horrified than when the imp had been brutally maiming him. He suddenly clutched at his head, shutting his eyes. After about ten seconds, he opened his eyes, calm... but very troubled. He shakily set foot back on the bridge, the guards giving him a wide berth.

("...Nexus forgive me, for I once again travel the path of darkness.")

--

In the coming weeks, Takahashi found himself gradually gaining more and more power due to the 'gift'. His body became younger and stronger, his hair gaining flecks of black that steadily changed back to the solid black color he had as a young man. He also found himself gaining control over when he unleashed the powers he had been given. However, his eyes, perhaps showing the effects of the dark energy he had accepted, had become sunken and a solid black in color. His face, otherwise youthful, had a death-like appearance due to this. He also was troubled by how easily he had come to accept the same powers that had branded his clan as one of immoral murderers... but the self-doubt never lasted long.

Due to the rejuvenating effects of his newfound powers, he found himself not in need of food, nor rest. He set out, through night and day, exploring the plains and forests close to the bridge connecting northern and southern Kreland. After a week of exploration, he felt an unexplainable sensation, pulling him in seemingly random directions. Eventually, he found himself in front of what appeared to be city and castle ruins. Upon examination, he deduced that he had been drawn to the site of the fallen kingdom of Dainaria. Looking around, he chuckled, then talked to himself, not caring that no one else was around to hear him.

"All that is left of proud Dainaria... are ghosts and ashes. Still, there must be something of interest here. Dainaria was a great kingdom before its downfall, well known for its unique brand of magic. Perhaps this sensation I have felt is indicative of some magical artifact that will be of use to me."

Takahashi again chuckled to himself, then explored the area. On occasion, small bands of skeletons and ghouls tried to impede his search, but were easily dealt with. Takahashi was annoyed that his powers were of little use here; both the ghouls and skeletons were mindless. Things such as pain and misery were alien concepts, and as such, he could not feed off of them to replenish himself.

Without the benefits of his powers, he would eventually fall prey to hunger, thirst and exhaustion. Upon deciding this, he chose to avoid the monsters unless they left him with no way of escape, all the better to conserve his energy. In the midst of his search, he found a ruined house with a set of stairs. Coming closer to inspect the stairs, he found that they were still intact, allowing him to descend underground.

[Takahashi]

Despite the lack of visible light sources, Takahashi found himself able to see clearly, albeit everything having an unearthly pale blue color to it. He found that the creatures underground were also undead, with the exception of strange creatures made from hardened brown mud. To his delight, he found that his powers worked against the beings, albeit not as well as they had against the various creatures he had encountered outside of the ruins. Emboldened by the discovery, Takahashi chose to engage monsters as they appeared, using the mud creatures to sate himself when necessary. After a few hours of exploration and battle, he found a room littered with bones, which made a macabre carpet of sorts upon the ground. In the back of the room, he saw a glowing clock. His curiosity piqued, he walked towards the clock.

Suddenly, some of the bones on the ground rattled to life, assembling themselves into skeletal bodies. Some suddenly grew mottled and decaying skin, assuming the form of a green ghoul. Others appeared to be clouded by fog, and when the fog dissipated, hunched figures in dull purple robes were in their place. All told, there were about twenty in number. Takahashi grunted, displeasure on his face.

"If this is a test, then it is one that I am not pleased to put up with. Let me through, lest I scatter your bones to the ground once more."

One of the robed figures slowly floated forward, then raised a bony hand, pointing it at Takahashi. Then, in a gravelly voice, it spoke to him.

"We protect The Mark from those who wish to further corrupt the cathedral. You, minion of that which opposes Nexus, must leave."

"The Mark, you say? Perhaps this is the artifact that I was drawn to. If so, then I fear that I must not heed your warning. Again, let me through. It would require little effort on my part to forcibly move you out of my way."

"We... shall not give way. You shall not pass."

Takahashi frowned, then tensed up, assuming a battle stance.

"Very well. Let it noted that I did offer you and your... brethren... mercy."

--

Almost immediately after finishing his sentence, Takahashi lashed out with a knife hand, piercing the skull of the creature in front of him. He grinned as said creature collapsed to the ground and seemingly faded to nothingness. His satisfaction was short lived as the undead shadow rose again from the same spot that it had been struck down on. It again slowly lifted a bony finger, pointing it back at Takahashi.

"Enemy of Nexus, you shall not pa--"

Takahashi, distaste on his face, interrupted the shadowy creature by slicing through its midsection, watching as the creature again fell to the ground... only to again rise, seemingly untouched. Once more, the creature slowly raised a bony hand, pointing a finger at Takahashi. Suffice to say, Takahashi was not pleased.

"What manner of deviltry is this? Can I not I strike you down, without seeing you rise up, as if I had done nothing?"

"As I said before, you shall not pass. Strike us down as often as you desire, it shall do you no good. No measure of violence on your part will grant you passage to the Mark."

Takahashi grunted, mulling over the message just presented to him.

("This shall prove to be distressing. It's possible that I do not require this Mark it speaks of... but if so, why was I led here at all? No, it is clear that I require this Mark if I am to advance further in my quest. Yet, how can I do so? The creature stood there, allowing me to strike it down twice with no concerns, and sprung back untouched. So, I can--")

Takahashi raised an eyebrow, going back to something he'd just noticed.

("...wait. It just stood there. Of course; this entire time, neither it nor its brethren have made an attempt to raise a hand against me. I doubt it could be this simple... and yet I must at least try.")

Takahashi allowed himself a wan smile.

"Very well. You have shown it is pointless for me to use violence. However..."

Takahashi started to walk towards the shadow. It made no attempt to move, nor show any signs of having heard what Takahashi said. Upon getting within arm's reach of it, Takahashi walked around it, towards the rest of the guardian undead. None of them tried to strike out, nor showed any signs of trying to impede his progress. Nonetheless, Takahashi kept his guard up, sensing that the situation could not possibly be this simple to overcome

Suddenly, Takahashi sensed movement behind him, confirming his doubts. He slid an inch to the left, dodging the scything blow that one of the ghoulish guardians had attempted to land. Seeing that the rest of the undead had stirred to life, Takahashi quickly formulated a plan. Knowing full well that any blow he landed would be nullified within seconds, Takahashi chose to go on the defensive. He went into a run, doing what he could to dodge or redirect whatever clubbing blows, wild swings and other forms of attack sent his way.

Despite his newfound abilities and youth, Takahashi was not able to prevent all attacks from finding their mark. Minor cuts and bruises gradually developed into gashes and contusions as he fought his way through what had quickly turned into a sea of undead. However, for all the pain he was receiving, Takahashi was encouraged by his drawing closer to the strange clock, step by step.

("I shall gain this Mark, no matter the cost. I will not be stopped by mere undead, regardless of their never-ending endurance.")

Takahashi bit back a grunt of pain as one of the green ghouls landed a clean blow to his right side, causing him to stagger. Then, for a reason not immediately obvious to him, the undead legions stopped pursuing him all at once. He stopped running and looked back, watching the undead creatures form an unliving wall behind him, stopping just short of the entrance to the room he was currently in.

("Curious. For all their tenacity, they are unwilling to come further... or perhaps, unable.")

Looking at his surroundings, he found himself standing a short distance away from the glowing clock. He could feel the mystical energies radiating from it. Taking a short moment to fully absorb the circumstances, he concluded that even as guardians, the undead creatures were unable to come in close proximity to the clock, and the magic it held.

"A fine lot of guardians you are, unable to truly guard your treasure from one you deem unworthy."

He then turned back to the clock, walked up to it and closely examined it. At first, he did not understand how he was to use it. All at once, he heard a voice in his head, different from the one that had 'gifted' him, and yet strangely familiar.

<Lay your palm against the clock, and all will become clear.>

Puzzled, Takahashi did as the voice instructed, and immediately regretted it as a strong burning sensation spread across his hand. Try as he might, he was unable to pull it free. He grit his teeth, enduring the searing heat as best he could. Just as quickly as it had started though, it suddenly stopped. Similarly, he found himself able to pull his hand free. Checking his palm for damage, he was stunned to see a strange set of runes inscripted onto the back of it. Running his other hand over the runes, he did not feel anything; it was as if the runes were merely projected onto his palm. Looking back at the clock, he noted that the glow about it had ceased altogether.

("How strange. I suppose I am done with this place. I see no immediately obvious way out, with the exception of the way I came in. It shall not be a pleasant task.")

<Worry not about the creatures that tried to impede your progress; they no longer pose any threat. Now, exit this place. It is time for us to meet; it has been far too long since I encountered one of Her children.>

Takahashi blinked, taken a bit off guard.

("What do you mean by 'one of Her children'? Who are you?")

<These are questions that I shall leave unanswered for now. Find me, and I shall reveal all that you wish to know.>

("How do you intend on having me do that?")

<Worry not, Anju Takahashi. You already know the way. You merely have yet to realize it.>

[Takahashi]

Takahashi furrowed his brow, both confused and annoyed by this last message. Glancing around the room, he took notice of a shimmering spot of blue light.

("...I am certain that that was not there when I entered the room. Perhaps obtaining the Mark has something to do with its sudden appearance. Whatever the reason, standing here will not aid me in discovering its purpose.")

Takahashi walked over to the shining light, and was shocked to find himself violently transported back above ground, although still within the ruins of Dainaria. Upon reorienting himself, he exited the ruins. Almost immediately afterwards, he again felt a strange sensation, pulling him elsewhere. Over the span of a week, he ventured throughout the southern desert of Kreland. In time, the seemingly endless desert started to grate on Takahashi. His annoyance aside, whatever forces had driven him to Dainaria's ruins kept him on his journey through the desert. He traveled east... always, to the east.

A few days later, southern Kreland's vast desert finally gave way to Kreland's eastern plains and forests. Were he still one to express such emotions, this sight may have elicited a sense of joy or relief from Takahashi. Instead, the desert's end meant little more to him than the start of the next step of his journey. As opposed to the creatures of the desert, which attacked him without hesitation, the creatures in the plains tended to ignore him. The few exceptions, such as grotesque rats and tigers that appeared on the edge of insanity, were readily dealt with. As with the change in scenery, the reluctance of the ogres and imps of the plains to do battle with Takahashi meant little.

After seemingly aimless wandering throughout the entire eastern coast area, Takahashi again found himself standing in front of the ruins of a building. A severely damaged crest next to the desecrated door caught Takahashi off-guard.

("...I recognize this. This is, or rather was, the sign of Nexus. Whatever befell this place was indeed serious. Even now I can still, to a degree, sense the presence of fallen souls, no doubt belonging to those who once inhabited this place...")

Takahashi stopped in mid-thought, suddenly sensing a mix of holy and unholy energy radiating from beyond the door.

("Was this once a monastery, much like the one I departed from? No... something leads me to believe that this was much more than just a monastery. Given the general location... of course! This must be the Cathedral of Nexus. I and my fellow brothers had heard rumors that it had fell into ruin, but I'd never imagined something such as this.")

<I feel compelled to applaud you, Anju Takahashi. Your awareness of this place's identity came about so readily. Still, it's such a shame, isn't it? What was once a holy place, a shelter for those seeking the aid of Nexus... is now reduced to a haven for darkness.>

"...you again. Why have you brought me here? Is this the next stop on my journey?"

<I would have thought it obvious. Perhaps I was hasty in complimenting your awareness. No matter; you have the key to gain entry within these walls.>

Takahashi prepared to protest, intending to inform the bodyless voice of his lacking a key of any sort. The protest died in his throat as he felt his palm pulse. It was the same palm that the Mark had engraved itself on. He instinctively pressed his palm against the cathedral door, watching in silence as the door briefly glowed the same color as the Mark, before silently opening inwards.

<Come, Anju Takahashi. Ascend to the top of the Cathedral. There is much the two of us have to discuss...>

For the first time in what felt like months, Takahashi was apprehensive. He quickly forced this reluctance out of mind, and entered the Cathedral. Seconds after entering, the cathedral door closed behind him. All at once, the invisible force that had silently guided him on his path stopped altogether. It was of little comfort to him. To break the eerie silence which seemed to loom over the interior of the cathedral like a shroud, Takahashi issued a decree.

"This little charade ends here, in this Cathedral! Whoever you are, be prepared! I will not be satisfied with a mere discussion!"

[Takahashi]

--

While making his way through the ruined temple of Nexus, Takahashi was somewhat intrigued by his surroundings. Rows of pews and carpet which looked no worse for wear gave the indication that the Cathedral was merely abandoned. However, fragments of wood and carpetry which had a crimson tinge not intended by its creator, alongside ruined pews, served as a reminder that the situation was not a simple one of abandonment. This dichotomy of chaos and order was not the thing that interested him the most though; that honor went to the creatures inhabiting this grim area.

In addition to the hulking green ogres that had made a point of avoiding him out on the plains, there were giant cobras, mutated rats and rancid piles of flesh and teeth. All of whom were content with simply watching Takahashi as he made his way to the top of the cathedral. This revelation did not hit Takahashi until he was halfway through his trek to the top. He knew they did not stay back out of fear of his abilities; creatures weaker than them had thrown themselves in the path of his fists without a moment's thought. Ultimately, he decided that their sudden docile nature was attributed to the one residing at the top of the cathedral; his host, for lack of a better term.

In a short period of time, Takahashi soon found himself before a stairway that led to the top of the Cathedral. He heard the sound of thunder upon stepping foot upon the top floor of the Cathedral, but put it out of his mind as something generated by his imagination. Scanning the area, he did not see anyone, nor did he see anything. The lack of sufficient light, and as a result several areas steeped in shadow, did not aid him in his search.

"Where are you, voice? I have reached the top of the Cathedral, just as you have asked of me."

<That you have, Anju Takahashi, that you have. As such, perhaps it would be best if we talked in person.>

Upon finishing that sentence, a man in regal dress and a blood red cloak stepped from one of the shadowy areas. He gave a slight bow in Takahashi's direction.

"My true name is best left unknown to you for now; it would serve no beneficial purpose for either of us, Anju Takahashi. However, I can't very well expect you to continue referring to me as 'that voice', or something similar. As such, you may refer to me as Vallatio."

"...Vallatio. For some reason, that name is familiar, although I have never known one such as you."

"This is understandable. Suffice to say, she who gave you your powers shares... shall I say... a bond with me. A rather personal one, at that... but that is neither here nor there. I did not bring you here to provide cryptic answers and leave you no more knowledgeable than you were when you arrived. No, I have brought you here, so that you could perform a few..." Vallatio stopped to grin slightly. "...errands for me. Surely, you will accept?"

"I'm an errand boy for no one, certainly not a mysterious man such as yourself! There are a few things we need to set straight, Vallatio, and I'm not opposed to resorting to force in order to set them straight... but I gather you're well aware of that by now."

Vallatio chuckled, then started to walk towards Takahashi.

"Yes Anju, I'm aware of your newfound hostility and lack of patience. However, I must inform you that I am not asking you to do these tasks for me. No, it's quite the opposite; you don't have a choice. You're more than welcome to attempt to convince me otherwise, but I assure you that you will not be successful."

Takahashi was less than pleased by Vallatio's indifference, as well as the vague threat he had made. He ran towards Vallatio, lashing out with a piercing blow from his fist. Surprisingly, Vallatio made no attempt to avoid the blow, instead allowing the blow to strike him fully upon the shoulder, nearly tearing off Vallatio's arm. Strangely, Vallatio did not show any signs of pain. Much to Takahashi's shock, Vallatio seemed amused, giving a smile that showed off fangs.

"...a vampire!? So, the Hunting Grounds have done more damage than I suspected, if arcane creatures such as yourself have come to exist yet again. I see that their resiliency was not exaggerated either."

"I applaud you and your fellow Brothers, Anju Takahashi. I was not aware that your and their knowledge was vast enough to remember such things. Nonetheless..."

Vallatio raised his hand, palm facing outwards. An invisible wave of force slammed Takahashi into a nearby wall. The damage done to him was minor, but Takahashi was shaken by Vallatio's actions. He got to his feet, only to find Vallatio had somehow managed to close the distance between them in a split second, and was now standing in front of him.

"Again, I'll inform you that you don't have a choice in this matter. We can discuss this rationally, or we can continue with this course of actions. I personally suggest the former, given how poorly the latter has gone for you. So, Brother of Nexus, what shall it be? Enlightenment... or death?"

[Takahashi]

--
Takahashi considered his options. The being before him seemed impervious to pain, and more importantly, easily capable of inflicting it. Somehow, he now knew that challenging Vallatio was likely to end poorly, suddenly aware of just how powerful the vampire was. Reluctantly, he came to a decision.

"...very well, vampire. I concede. What would you ask of me?"

"Outstanding. You will find that my request is a simple one. I would like for you to head to northern Skure, and visit the graveyard of Ranook."

"...Ranook? The place where the buried dead of Lirea and Ruoze are kept? What of interest lies there?"

"All in due time, Anju. Once you have reached Ranook, I assure you that you will know your purpose. Of course, there is the matter of how you will make your way to Skure. I trust you are familiar with the mountain path north of Dainan?"

"The path that leads into and through the so-called Death Mountains?"

"The very same. You will eventually encounter an... ally of mine, for lack of a better term. Most likely he will not be friendly. As such, it is important that you make it clear that you are there on my behalf. He will understand."

"I see. So, this is it? All you are interested in is that I visit a graveyard? I would think you are more than capable of doing so yourself... but that's not the problem here, is it?"

Vallatio smiled slightly, but said nothing. Takahashi interpreted this as a sign to continue.

"You're confined here. No, not confined... you're here by request. Whoever it is that you serve has told you to take residence here, although for what purpose I cannot fathom. I gather there is no point in my asking..."

"An accurate observation."

"...yes. In any case, there is something in Ranook of great interest to you. I suspect that it is also of great interest to whoever it is that I serve, or else you would not have requested I head there."

"I am again impressed. Yes, Anju, Ranook holds much information that I would like to be privy to. My awareness is vast, but it has its limits, limits that confine my knowledge to all of Kreland and a scant amount of Skure. From what I have gathered, something lies within Ranook. I must know what that something is."

Vallatio paused, looking toward the stairs Takahashi had used to reach the top of the cathedral.

"We shall finish our quaint little conversation later, Anju. It would appear we have an eavesdropper in our midst."

A few seconds later, a young woman in forest green robes stepped into view, with hair the color of tree bark and skin a slightly lighter shade of brown. She wore a grim expression on her face, her gaze not leaving Vallatio for a second.

"I am Eilidh Whiterose. You have defiled Kreland long enough foul creature, and I shall be the one to end your existence."

Vallatio, who had been amused when Takahashi first made his presence known, now bore a look of great distaste.

"Forest wench, if you are tired of life already, then by all means, challenge me." Vallatio sneered. "It has been far too long since I have tasted the life's blood of a druid such as yourself."

[Takahashi]

--
Wordlessly, Eilidh charged forward, long sword drawn. Vallatio stood in place, unmindful of his still injured arm, confident that he would not need to be at full strength to prevail. Somehow, Takahashi knew that this confidence was warranted.

("I do not know who this Whiterose is, but I cannot help but feel a twinge of pity.")

Without further comment, Takahashi observed the battle unfolding before him. Eilidh's actions were swift and precise, but Vallatio avoided them with ease, taking care to make it seem like he was barely avoiding the druid's assault. After a miscalculated swing from Eilidh sent her off-balance, Vallatio slapped at her sword, breaking it in half and sending the upper segment clattering into the darkness.

"I do hope that you have more to offer than a paltry display such as that. My hunger will not be sated by someone this inept."

"I assure you abomination, this is FAR from my best!"

Suddenly, Eilidh dropped to all fours, reddish fur growing from her body. Her features quickly became less human, turning vulpine just as quickly. In the span of a few seconds, a large red fox stood where Eilidh once was.

"A Druid of the Fang, are you? How delightful. Perhaps you may be a worthy feast after all. However, I am well aware of your... inexperience."

Takahashi wasn't certain, but to him it appeared as if the red fox had a look of confusion on its face. The look quickly passed as the were-fox bared its fangs, leaping toward Vallatio with deathly thoughts on its mind. Vallatio grinned, stepping aside with ease and using a wave of force from his palm to increase the speed of Eilidh's leap. The resulting crack as she impacted forcefully with the nearest wall was audible from the floor below, were there any one there to have heard it.

Vallatio slowly walked toward Eilidh, who struggled mightily to get back up on all fours, only to fail and collapse into a heap, whining softly.

"You see druid, as I have told Anju here, I am aware of all that occurs within the land of Kreland. I am aware that you have just recently learned of your ability to change into a were-form. As such, you are awkward and careless. You are incapable of maintaining a proper level of sentience; you are barely more than a simple fox now. Also, I am aware that your temper and patience are by far your weakest traits."

Vallatio paused, noting the trace of comprehension on the wounded were-fox's face. What he was saying hurt almost as much as the wounds he had inflicted with a flick of the wrist, and he could almost taste the despair and shame. Eventually, Eilidh slowly changed back to her human form, her side having stained the left side of her forest green robe a dark brown due to heavy bleeding. Satisfied with the look of defeat on her face, Vallatio continued.

"A simple matter of pretending to be weakened by Anju's initial assault, delaying my reaction to your attacks to make it seem like you were a hair's breadth away from landing a similarly crushing blow... all of it served to antagonize you. Your anger at not finishing the fight in a timely matter built up, eventually causing you to rush your attack. In no time at all, you had gone from carrying the illusion of imminent victory to carrying a worthless piece of steel in your hands. In your haste, you decided to utilize your final option in a desperate gambit... an option that has left you the broken shell that lies before me now."

Vallatio turned to look at Takahashi, chilling him.

"I do not exaggerate when I say that I have fought and killed men and women far greater than you or Anju here. They all came here, some aware of what they faced, others blissfully ignorant of their impending fate. Some of them I now honor with eternal life... and eternal servitude to I and that which I serve. Tonight, I feel a similar twinge of generosity. I can save you, druid, I can save you from your pain and suffering. All you need do is surrender, and I shall make your trip to unlife a swift and painless one. What say you?"

With great difficulty, Eilidh formulated her response.

"...I-i'd sooner die than s-serve a... *kaff* ...soulless beast l-like you."

Eilidh punctuated her response by spitting a mixture of saliva and blood at Vallatio's feet. Vallatio wrinkled his nose, as if he had smelled something vile.

"I see. I admire your persistence. Even at death's door, you refuse that which would save you." Vallatio glanced at Takahashi. "As I recall Anju, you were not as defiant when offered Her gift... but that is neither here nor there. As I told Anju in regards to a similar situation, I now tell you druid..."

At this, Vallatio smiled maliciously, his fangs in clear view.

"...you actually have no choice in the matter."