Seed of Light

[Lady Elestirne]

Elestirne looked at Tsukasa, a little taken aback both by the direct question and the fact that he had so easily been able to tell that something was wrong. Mortals are like that, she told herself. Ever direct and often speaking before thinking. I should be used to that by now.

She let her gaze wander as she thought on how best to answer, noting that the strange masked man had entered after her and taken a seat at another table,writing in a notebook. Storm was towards the front of the room,and a faint smile touched her lips as she saw him servicing patrons. He had not told he that he had taken a job,but for some reason, the discovery did not surprise her overmuch.

She shook her head just faintly as she turned her silver eyes back to Authnor, Tsukasa and Nichtmar. Silver shimers ran through her midnight hair.

"The threat was not the boy, but what was in the boy. And yes it has been..dealt with. The creature had the head healer in the back room and was threatening him, so I surmise. I had been in trance,but a noise woke me. When I and Olore reached the back room, there was already another there,keeping the boy from the healer." Leading the three with her eyes,she nodded faintly towards the strange one in the silver mask. "Him." Authnor started to speak,but she stopped him with a raised hand and continued. "Olore enacted a undectable,invisible barrier of blessed light about the whole room, and I questioned the undead. At first it was uncooperative and arrogant, but after I drew a sword and laid it against its throat-causing instant damage,it became more talkative. Apparentally it said too much, for another, more powerful undead took over it and forced it to leave the boy's body. This other undead also spoke to me and said that,if I was to learn more and meet 'the Master', I was to come alone to the center of the Greatwoods."

Elestirne's silver eyes flared,brightened. "The undead possessing the boy was in the form of a raven. Once the higher undead controlling it had finished its piece,it tried to escape, not realizing what Olore had done. The barrier destroyed the bird instantly." She raised her hand above the table and let the two messy black feathers in it drift down. "This is all that is left."

She next focused her bright gaze on Nichtmar,though weariness showed in the silver eyes. "Nichtmar, my friend. I know not what you remember, if anything, but Storm's note mentioned that you had scratches on your hand and I saw them for myself,when I healed you. They look as though they would have come from a bird and if I am right,the only reason you were merely tainted instead of infected was because you had somehow managed to kill or defeat the bird. If that is so,then you are luckier than you will ever know, for my guess is that the birds are somehow used to infect their targets.." Her gaze flickered to Tsukasa briefly.

"As to your second question,I did not get the name of this 'Master' of theirs,but I expect that, if I go to the Greatwoods,I might find out." Her fair face was troubled and concerned. "But I do not like this...I feel that something more sinister is threatening Mittelmarch than just the undead rising. My dreams warned me of it...something familiar..but changed in some way..." Elestirne shook her head again and Olore toched her cheek. "It is a feeling too strong to ignore,but I cannot put a name to the threat,despite how familiar it feels.."

Authnor was the first to speak. His emerald eyes glinted, but he kept his voice low. "My Queen, I cannot let you do this.. You cannot seriously be considering this. Not alone. Even with Honored Olore it is dangerous. You do not know how strong this 'Master' the undead mentions is, or if he knows anything of you. What if it is a trap?"

Wearily,Elestirne shook her head. "Authnor,be silent. I have not yet decided whether I will do this or not. But, even if I do not,there is still danger to Mittelmarch and as its friend and ally I must try to help them. Nichtmar was not the only reason Storm called me back,urgent though that was." Her gaze flitted back to Nichtmar. "Friend,I need to know what has been happening since I left last winter after saving the Kyuden. I have had only scattered bits of news from Storm."

[Tsukasa]

Tsukasa sat there listening to Lady Elestirne's words. The news of the undead raven being the one controlling the boy and then the bird being controlled by a greater undead troubled Tsukasa.  Tsukasa was deep in thought when he heard Authnor address Lady Elestirne as My Queen, and it surprised him just a little bit. He tried to hide his surprise from everyone else at the table.

That explains why he is so protective of her and she travel with an escort the size of the Empress's.

Tsukasa went to thinking about what was being said. He agreed with Authnor that it would be unwise for Lady Elestirne to travel into the woods and face this unkown master of the undead. It just screamed trap to him. Tsukasa eyes widen as he came to a realization of some facts he has been over looking.

[Wulf]

After quite a few minutes of writing in his book, he put up one up and took another out, the one he had previously written in before the attack.

After he jotted something down in it, he grabbed his stuff and stood up, walking over to the table with the elves. As he got there, he bowed to all at the table as he handed the female elf the book with a note written in it.

it says: I may know of one who could help us in this situation with the dark arts and the dead coming back to life. I shall return as soon as my feet can carry me.

[Lady Elestirne]

As she waited for Nichtmar to answer, Elestirne turned her piercing silver eyes back to Tsukasa. She had seen his surprise,though he had tried well to conceal it. Calmly,she watched him. She could see him thinking and when his eyes widened she knew he had realized something he considered important. "There is something you wish to say Tsukasa," she noted softly. "Something that troubles you. Would you say it?"

As she watched him,she noted the strange, masked one that had been at the center with her approach. He bowed,and handed her a notebook. She read the note,than transferred her piercingly bright gaze to him. "Whether they can help or no remains to be seen silent one. But if you think they can help, then bring them." She handed the notebook back with a faint nod,then returned her attention to Tsukasa.

[Wulf]

Wulf nods as he takes the notebook back as he starts out of the inn, heading for Ravenwood cemetary.

If there was anyone that would be able to help him, it was a man who was an undead himself, as he remembered talking to him as their cover wore off for a moment revealing his true figure.

[Tsukasa]

Tsukasa saw the one with the silver mask walk up and and hand Lady Elestirne a note. He then heard her respond. He wondered who this person could be. His thoughts finally came back to what he need to share.

"Lady Elestirne-dono, when I was near the boy I realized that he had the smell of rot and death. It was a smell that I had smelled before. It was until just a few minutes ago that I remember where I smelled it before. It was when I first arrived in Mittelmarch. I was in search of a group of bandits. A gentleman by the name of Giles agreed to help me find them in exchange that I would help him if I ever came into a position that I could. He had a tracker named Arsehead, and he smelled like death and rot. I didn't think anything of it. Giles-san said he had just fished a body out of the water and it had been dead for a few days. It is possible that this Arsehead is the master."

Tsukasa paused a minute. He had a look of being in deep thought across his face.

"Come to think of it, it might be very possible. I remember Giles-san saying that he was wanting to become the caretaker of Mittelmarch. I thought it to be strange for one to want a job that the eta would do. Arsehead would have a perfect source of recently dead bodies, if Giles-san did get that job."

Tsukasa's eyes closed in a moment of thought. When he opened them again, he had a deep concentration in them.

"Does anyone know where the dead are kept here? This is something I wish to investigate. If anyone wishes to join me, they are free to do so."

[Giggles "Adguin"]

I don't know how far that elf's presences can span in searching for my minions! Giggles thought to himself. He didn't like not knowing what was going on in Mittelmarch at this moment. For him, to not know was to be weak, and he couldn't accept that.
He didn't want to lose another undead but he decided he had no choice now.

"Charles......Charles......CHARLES!!!!" He yelled both out loud and in his mind.

Finally a simple peasant awoken in an ally far from the Inn. "What, what do you want?"

Giggles didn't know if it was mistake not fully turning this thief that tried to steal from him, but he needed him now more then ever.

"I'm putting all of the powers of the Orb of Deception into you. Hopefully you will appear fully alive and have no smell of rot. I want you to head to Cedric's Inn and tell me the ogre is planing to do, as well as his companions.

If they are getting too close, lead them to the North, keep them away from my home! If they are headed that way then encourage them along. Either way keep them away from Ravenwood. Also take these two men, they may help with a distraction for one of the almond eyes!"

Out of the bare cold earth two undead bandits appeared bearing the clothing of the spider clan, they were both in chains and on a single leash.

"Mention that you found them in Kanthea, that should help me out a lot. Now go!"

With that Giggles cut his communication and focused his thoughts.

Bury....bury deep....into the earth....all of my children......we must hide.....

With that all the undead in the lands buried themselves in to the earth. All but the ones in Ravenwood who kept their disguises on, but it was more flimsy.

After all the undead were buried Giggles poured all the powers he had to spare onto the Orb and focused it on Charlies. He had hoped that the the noticeably undead bandits, bound and gagged, would throw off the elf's sense of Charles state enough for him to gather all the info he could get.

It was a gamble but he needed to know what they knew of him.

While Charles was walking to the inn he bumped into Wulf.

"Watch where you're going! I've got some vicious undead that would love to have you if your not careful! "With that he went into the inn. "Anyone know these 'men?'" he asked.

[Tsukasa]

Tsukasa was sitting at the table with Nichtmar, Authnor, and Lady Elestirne. He had just finished telling them what he was planning on doing when the man walked in with the two bandits. The first thing Tsukasa notice was that the bandits were undead. The second thing he notice was that the two bandits were a part of the group of bandits that he has been searching since he had entered Mittelmarch. They also seem to be acting a bit strange too. Tsukasa sat and watch the three that just enter the inn.

Something is out of place with this.

Tsukasa scan everyone at the table to determine their reaction to the events that just taken place.

[Lady Elestirne]

Elestirne's almond-shaped eyes narrowed thoughtfully. "Humans tend to bury their dead in cementaries. Large amounts of them can be found in such places,which makes it a prime place for those raising undead to start..." She paused,her voice hardening with sudden suspicion. "And 'caretaker' could have many different meanings the way that this...'Giles' spoke it. If he was accompanied by an undead, it would not be wise to trust anything he says..or to trust him..."

The door opened and, reflexively,Elestirne glanced towards it. And froze. Two undead men-bound, chained and dressed similarily to Tsukasa-were entering the inn,held by another man. Elestirne's lovely eyes narrowed still more at this sight, this time in profound suspicion. The two were obviously undead..but the third...something warned her about-and away-from him... She tensed, one slender hand easing to one of her swords. As she did so,she noticed they were glowing faintly;softly enough that only she could see. She glanced to Olore;her mind questioning.

The stallion's frame was rigid,tense-evey one of his muscles taut. His deep indigo eyes glowed and silver-white light flickered about his form. He lifted a hoof and stamped the floor uneasily. Olore?,she asked;trusting his instincts.

Undead both,the latter two, The stallion's nostrils flared in deep disgust. The other..spells of deception.. Good ones. Someone is taking pains to conceal his true nature..but such is useless against me. He's not quite undead-not yet anyway. But he is certainly not alive. Be very wary. Something smells foul to me about this whole thing..I would not talk about your encounter in the healing center in the hearing of them..as a precaution..

Elestirne nodded,and took a quick glance to where her escort was. None had had the same reaction as she, but they were clearly tense about the two undead. And she didn't have to look at Authnor to know that his instincts had warned him of danger as well, and that his hand was on his hilt.

"Watch them carefully,"Elestirne warned in a low voice that only the three behind her could hear. "The two are obviously undead the other-their apparent captor-has many spells of deception woven about him, so Olore says. I smell nothing of the undead about him but there is something very wrong with him. Olore says he is not alive...but not quite undead,not wholly. Do not trust him. As a precaution..I think we should cease talking about my encounter with the undead in the center,or what/who could be causing them to rise. It does not feel a...safe topic to be discussing in light of the present company." Her final words were almost hissed,and she continued to watch the trio warily and tensely. Mentally, in the mind-speak natural to elves, she privately warned her escort not to be overly hostile but to be extremely wary and on their guard;ready to move if needed.

[Tsukasa]

Tsukasa could see Lady Elestirne and Olore tense up when the three men entered the inn. Their reaction to the third puzzled Tsukasa, but he had no reason not to trust them.

"Lady Elestirne-dono, your words are wise, and I agree that we shall cease our previous discussion. The two bandits are part of the group of bandits that I was searching for when we met in the forest, but they were not dead when we enter Mittelmarch. As for the the one holding them, I believe what you say about him to be true. I wish to speak with him to discover is part in this whole ordeal."

Tsukasa leaves the table and heads over to the one that appeared to capture the bandit. When he made it to the man, Tsukasa bowed before him.

"Greetings friend, I know the man that is searching for these bandits. I know he would like to know where you found these men. He would also like to know your name, so when he returns, he can show his gratitude in person."

Tsukasa awaited the man's answer.

[Wulf]

Wulf continued to walk out of the door, as he wanted to get to the man in the cemetary. He knew that with this many undead sprouting up, then maybe the man knew some way to stop all of them, or at least maybe a way to slow down their spreading.

[Giggles "Adguin"]

Slightly taken a back by Tsukasa not taking the bait Charles decided to answer.

"Wha..why of course. I was hoping for a reward anyway but I suppose it can wait. I found these men raiding villages in Kanthea. But they were already undead so I trapped them and then bound them to protect myself. I knew they may have bounties just by their actions so I brought them here. I hope them being in this state doesn't decrease their value....cause if so I'll just release them into the local woods."
He awaited Tsukasa's reply

[Tsukasa]

Tsukasa could tell that the stranger was caught off guard and trying to figure out what to tell him. He also knew what ever the first thing to come out of his mouth would most likely be a lie.

He says they were found in Kanthea. That is most likely not true. I also find it hard to believe that he caught them himself, especially if they were already undead.


"Friend, I will need a few days to contact the man that is interested in these bandits. If you can hold on to them for a few days longer, I will make sure that you will be rewarded. Meet me back her in two days. In the meantime, it would be unwise to keep the undead within the city. You will be held responsible for what the two abominations do during the next few days."

Tsukasa awaited the strangers response to his request.

[Giggles "Adguin"]

"Well if that is your response then fine."

He heads out of the inn and goes to the fountain in the center of the city. He latches the two undead creatures to a spot, and puts up two signs. The first is a warning that these men are undead, written in several languages. The second sign reads "Pelt the undead with rocks! Only Three copper pieces for two throws!"

"I'll await him here until then, bring me money for food and lodgings as well. If he isn't here in two days then I'll leave and these creatures will be left here for the man to deal with."
He sat a good distance away already collecting 12 copper pieces.

[Wulf]

After some time walking south of mittelmarch, eventually Wulf comes back to the graveyard in which he was first aquianted with the one he knew was undead.

He was sure that he would help him, and depending on how well he did helping to get rid of these undead problems, he may even join the mans quest. He was still a bit wary, but if he were to prove usefull, then maybe he could be trusted.

[Tsukasa]

Once the man left, Tsukasa return to the the table with Lady Elestirne, Authnor and Nichtmar. He told them of what he learned with talking to the stranger.

"I was able to buy of some time to figure out what we wish to do with this stranger and the undead that he has as prisoners. I am open to any ideas that you may have."

Tsukasa sat at and wait for someone to share an idea. Just the a local villager ran in. He told everyone in the inn about how a man tied up some undead at the fountain and is charging three copper pieces to those who wish to throw two rocks at the undead.

Is that man truly that stupid?

[Lady Elestirne]

Elestirne and her elves had relaxed noticibly when the three had left, but Olore still remained tense and on guard. Elestirne kept her silver eyes on the door for a long moment, even after Tsukasa had returned. At last she spoke,her eyes still on the door. "I stand by my advice: Do not trust, and watch them very carefully. I do not think it coincidence that these three appeared so soon after my encounter, nor that two of them happen to be the ones you are looking for." She paused as the man came in and began to talk about the undead being staked in the middle of the city, near the fountain. "Fool," she hissed softly in her own tongue,her silver eyes flaring.

She turned to the others at last. "We cannot let this be. We have no way of knowing how strong the 'restraints' on the two are, or even if they are meant to be restrained, and it was not just a show for the gullible. They could even be entirely illusion. Did you not mark Olore's reaction? I did, and I trust him without a doubt,for he cannot be fooled. The third one cannot be trusted,and if Olore says he is undead,I trust him on it. We cannot allow them to stay here. It endangers the whole city and I will not take that responsibility. Something must be done..." Her bright silver eyes closed briefly with a wince, and she swayed just slightly;leaning on Olore.

"But not by you Lady," Authnor interjected,protested. "You have done more than enough for the city tonight and no one should expect anything more from you. Nor should you feel you need to do more. You are exhausted and weary. You have had no rest since the night before last and have been on your feet for hours; healing Nichtmar, and then dealing with the...encounter. The city owes you a debt for what you have done. Nichtmar,"-the elf's eyes shot briefly to the ogre-"owes you a debt for his life. They can ask no more of you this night. You have long earned rest. You need it. Please my lady-queen...do not strain yourself any more. Take a rest. Leave this to others. You are not responsible for this and should not feel such."


Elestirne opened her eyes again and they glittered briefly. She seemed to hesitate though;faint uncertainty flickering over her face, as though she were giving careful thought to the elf-knight's words. She started to shake her head a little;silver glimmering through each midnight strand.

[Tsukasa]

Tsukasa stood there listening to the conversation that went on between Lady Elestirne and Authnor. He was trying to come up with a plan to deal with the stranger and his undead. Something came to his mind.

"Lady Elestirne-dono, I would have to agree with Authnor-sama on this matter. You have done a great deed by saving Nichtmar-san's life. I have dealt with undead back in my homeland, and I believe I can handle it. The stranger put my home in danger and for that he must pay. I will challenge him to a duel. Once he has been taken care of then I will finish off the bandits."


Tsukasa notice a faint shadow of worry cross Lady Elestirne's tired face.

"Please don't worry Lady Elestirne-dono. I have trained at one of the most prestige dueling academies in my homeland. I will not lose this duel."

Tsukasa hoped that his promise would put Lady Elestirne at ease.

[Giggles "Adguin"]

Wulf has come..... Giggles sensed him enter from the North. It was then Giggles realized he would need to send him some help.
"Arsehead!!!!" The minion came running to him.
"Yes sir?"
"Wulf's entering and our disguises are down and the black ichor is ready to attack him!"
"can't you call it off?"
"No! It's a simple creation, that and I hadn't feed it since I made it."
"What can we do?" Arse head asked.
"WE will do nothing. YOU will go and take the brunt force of the attack. Protect him at all costs!"
"yes my master." With that Arsehead took off and disappeared into the earth.
He then reappeared before Wulf without his disguse. "You should have come in from the village! Dark magics are strong here and .......I look like something unmentionable don't I...... anyway we must leave the cemetray fast!"
He waited on Wulf's reaction.

In Mittelmarch.
Charles was quickly becoming bored earning money so easily. He decided it was time to have some fun. "Ugh...I don't feel so good." He announced loudly. He then threw up into the fountain. It looked like he had eaten a bucket of black pudding and it ha the concetacy of a gelatin. It merely sat in the fountain slowly dispersing among the water, but never really clearing it.
He yelled towards the inn, "Hey I'm starting to feel a little ill.....You think I got the plague they mentioned Kanthea has gotten?"
With that he had intentionally started a panic as citizens cleared the streets to be safe from infection.

[Wulf]

Wulf nodded at the creature as he quickly followes him, decideing that he probably knows more about this area than he did.

[Tsukasa]

Tsukasa was still at the table . He was talking to Lady Elestirne, Authnor and Nichtmar. When he heard the voice of the stranger and what he had done, Tsukasa left the table his eyes full of rage and anger, to confront the stranger.

"My friend, if you had the plague as you said you do, you should have not come here. Your actions have put this city at risk. I am willing to give you a fighting death if you wish, but either way, I am going to have to kill you."

Tsukasa put his hands on the handles of each sword. The stranger looked him over for a bit.

“All I want is to speak to the man that was hunting the bandits. I just want to be paid for capturing them. If I brought the plague to Mittelmarch, then it is his fault for not taking this bandits sooner.”

“Still you have brought harm to this city, and for that you must pay. Prepare to defend yourself.”

Tsukasa drew both of his swords and took a defensive position. The stranger pulled out one of the swords that the bandits had on him. The stranger to a defensive stance too.

“Do you think this is wise. I wish only to collect the money that is owed to me for the services I have done.”

“My honor only allows me to take this course of action. You have brought danger to my home, and it must be removed.”

The stranger came in with a strike just as the same time that Tsukasa made his strike. Tsukasa’s strike hit dead on as his wakizashi cut across the stranger’s stomach and his katana cut across the stranger’s throat. The stranger’s strike hit Tsukasa’s arm, cutting deep. It stung for a bit. Tsukasa then made sure to behead the stranger and the two bandits. He then took them out of town and burned the bodies. He returned to the inn.

“The stranger and the bandits have been taken care of.”

Tsukasa started to look a little woozy. He stumbled around before sitting down.

“I think it might be wise for me to get a room.”

Tsukasa stood back up and walk over to get a room. Half way there he collapsed.

[Lady Elestirne]

Elestirne's eyes had went to Tsukasa the moment he had spoken , and she had started to speak-possibly to protest-when the loud voice of the 'captor' of the undead bandits carried into the inn. The elf-queen's silver eyes flared at the words and, as Tsukasa got up and left,she made as though she intended to as well. Authnor's quiet,but firm voice kept her back.

"My Lady, leave this to him. This time, it is someone else's fight,not yours. You must rest and eat before you collapse from exhaustion. I believe he can handle this." Olore snorted in wordless agreement.

Elestirne paused,then nodded reluctantly;sitting in the seat Authnor procured for her as he called for food to be brought to her. She ate but little, still tense,her instincts still sharp. After a bit of time, she saw Tsukasa come back in. The healer in her noted immediently-even through her weariness-the sword cut on the samurai's upper arm,and the fact that the wound-and the flesh around it-looked black and putrid. She noted too, that he staggered as he reached the table and was looking dizzy. Instinctively,she leapt to her feet,as he stood again after sitting briefly, and started to head towards the front of the room to inquire about rooms. She noted him stagger again,about halfway along, then his legs buckle. As he started to collapse, she started for him.

Reaching him just after he had fallen,she carefully and keenly checked him over,magically as well as visually. Aside from the sword-cut on his upper right arm, there were no other wounds,and nothing magical had touched or was afflicting him. That determined, she focused her attention on the sword-wound. As she had noticed, the wound was black,and the flesh around it was black as well, and beginning to rot a little. She refrained from touching the wound itself but,upon lightly touching his forehead,discovered he was very feverish. A slight frown touched her face. and-without looking- she raised a hand to silence Authnor,whom she had sensed come up behind her.

Running over the possibilities in her mind-and looking again at the wound-she swiftly reached the conclusion. "The wound is poisoned. A flesh-eating poison, to be exact... It must have been on the blade." Her next words came obviously wearily, but grimly determined. "It needs to be seen to-and soon-or it will spread. I can heal it."

"My Lady Elestirne..."

"Authnor I know," Elestirne cut the knight off wearily before his protest was fully formed. I know that I am tired and need to rest. "I know that I should not over-tax myself when I've already done so much. I'll rest when I have finished. I am only going to take the poison out, not heal him fully. Others can see to that."

Falling into herself again for the second time since her arrival-albeit more carefully-the elf closed her eyes and let her instincts guide her. Her hands,hovering around Tsukasa's wound, began to glow a faint silver-blue and it might have been noticed that the glow was fainter than it had been when she had healed Nichtmar.

After several long minutes,something dark seemed to ooze out of the wound and vaporize,and the glow limning Elestirne's hands-and the wound-faded and died as the elf opened her eyes and slowly rose from her kneeling position. The tiredness on her fair face,was at this time plainly evident. It was to be noticed that, though the cut had not closed, the flesh was no longer a putrid looking black but rather, an angry-looking red. "It is done," Elestirne murmured. And he will recover, but the wound should be cleaned and bandaged." Her eyes found Authnor. "Someone should be set at the fountain..just in case. I have a...suspicion..."

Authnor nodded, and sent two of the elves at random out. Before Elestirne could speak again, he did,and hurriedly-lest she protest. "And now my lady, you must rest. You have done quite enough. Please, sleep and restore your energy. I will wake you if anything happens or if you are needed. And I will be sure that Tsukasa knows what was done." Not even giving her time to answer,he led her upstairs and into the first empty room he came across,accompanied by Olore. Leaving the silver stallion with her-more than trusting the eldritch being to watch over the queen-Authnor came back downstairs;mentally making a note not to let anyone disturb Elestirne if he could help it.

[Tsukasa]

While Lady Elestirne is healing Tsukasa

Tsukasa laid there in a feverish state. He moaned and muttered while beads of sweat dripped down his face from his forehead. His face lost most of its color and his arm as gone completely numb.

Meanwhile, in a dream in Tsukasa's head.

Tsukasa was on a grass field. Before him stood a statue of himself made of pure jade. On the statue's right arm was a cut similar to the one he recieved from the stranger in their fight. From that point of the wound the jade slowly turned to obsidian. He felt confused at this sight.

Tsukasa closed his eyes to try to clear his mind. When he opened them again, he found himself in a strange new land. The land was cover in sand and had very little plant life. He happen to see a prince running across the sand. Behind the prince was a strange black cloud. The prince saw Tsukasa.

"Help me please."

Tsukasa tried to move, but his feet wouldn't move. It was as if he was forced to watch this, being completely helpless. The strange back cloud engulfed the prince. Then there was a bright flash of light.

When the bright flash of light disappeared, Tsukasa found himself in a cemetery. Tsukasa had a very unease feeling about this place. Tsukasa heard the voice of the prince once again.

"Help me."

Just then a strange lady appeared at the edge of the woods. She wore clothing that was very similar to Tsukasa's, but it was in the colors of black and white.

"Greetings bounty hunter, I believe you are looking for me. I was the one that lead the bandits that murdered the monks back in Rokugan. Catch me if you can."

With that she ran into the woods. Tsukasa ran but could not catch up with her. As he ran he tripped over a tree root. As he fell, he notice that the scenery had changed once again.

As Tsukasa got up, he realized that he was in a grass field again. Tsukasa also notice that the statue had reaturned and that a brook ran through the field and right by the statue. As he looked upon the statue he noticed that it started to glow a sliver blue color as the obsidian turned back to jade. As the glow started to flow over the statue, he felt a peace and calm flow over his body. His body started to feel as if it was being made whole again. There was a cut still on the statue, but now it was the same color as the rest of the statue. Tsukasa sat and lean on the statue and fell sleep.

[Tsukasa]

Inside Tsukasa’s dream…

When Tsukasa awoke, he found himself in a desert. In the distance, he noticed the black cloud that engulfed the prince. The Cloud traveled toward Tsukasa but stopped about sixty feet away from him. Just then a winged tiger appeared from nowhere and started to fight the black cloud. The tiger would swipe at the black cloud as the cloud tried to engulfed the tiger. The fight ended with a bright light that temporarily blinded Tsukasa.

When Tsukasa finally regain his vision, the prince stood about five feet in front of him. The prince looked worried and fearing for his life. He spoke once again.

“Help me.”

Just then the black cloud reformed behind the prince. It took the form of a large skeleton. Tsukasa tried to yell a warning at the prince, but was unable to due to not having a voice. He tried to move, but his feet were held in place. When he looked down at his feet, he realized that the sand took the form of hands that were holding on to his feet and lower legs. Tsukasa looked back up and saw the skeleton. It decided to taunt Tsukasa.

“This is a soul you will not be able to save poor, poor samurai.”

The skeleton let out a evil laugh that chilled Tsukasa to the bone, as he raised his sword for the killing blow on the prince.

Tsukasa jolted up in his bed in a cold sweet.

It was just a dream.

The next thing Tsukasa realized that he was in the bed of a room wasn't famialr. The last thing he remembered was being in the main room of Cedric's Inn. He had just came back from dealing with the stranger and the bandits. He had return to the inn, and went to talk to Lady Elestirne, Authnor and Nichtmar. He remember feeling light headed and stumbling a bit. He told them what happen with the bandits and the stranger. He was heading to get a room and that is the last thing he remember.

Tsukasa decided to go down to the lower level of the inn and see what was going on. The inn was starting to fill as a new day was beginning. He scan the room, looking for either Lady Elestirne or Authnor. He notice that Authnor was with the other elves of Lady Elestirne's escort. He decided to slowly work his way over to them.

[Lady Elestirne]

Authnor had been standing with his elves in one of the corners, when he noticed the human samurai exit from the staircase leading up to the second story. After Elestirne had finished her work and been coaxed to bed, he had helped bring the samurai up and lay him to rest also. Even from across the room, he could see the thick bandage on the mortal's upper arm and noted that he still looked pale. Watching him scan the room,Authnor noticed the mortal's gaze fall on him and his elves. The samurai seemed to hesitate a little, then make up his mind and start for them.

As he drew nearer,Authnor observed keenly that the mortal wore a troubled,uneased look,and seemed disoriented. Well, that last is to be expected, Authnor amended to himself. He probally does not remember what has happened night last. But,obviously he wants something or would not come to us. I best learn it... His dark emerald eyes narrowed.

Aloud, he said, politely "Fair dawn to you samurai. I see a shadow darkens your face,and a question bites at your tongue. If I might, what is it that troubles you,and what is it that you would ask? You may speak your mind. We may not often ask questions, but we recognize that there ae some questions that cannot be kept back,and must be asked to gain knowledge lacking or needed." Patiently, the tall red-haired elf fixed his emerald gaze on the mortal,his eyes glinting.