•••

A man with long grey hair packed in a neat bun and golden glass eyes is on one knee on the floor and a his pure white garment is stained in blood from his left abdomen.

Another guy with Ash shoulder length hair that flies freely is panting holding firmly to a thin long katana. The sword is buried deep in the other's body. He slowly pulls it out and places his hand in the wound, as if in search of something.

After a few blood spurts the man with grey hair falls fully on his back as the other pulls out a glowing gold like prism the size of a tennis ball from his body.

" This is the end for you....Abigor....! " The ash haired man states in a fit of rage as he abruptly destroys the diamond like substance.

He laughs in a maniac way and raises his blade up to decapitate ' Abigor's ' head. But his hands suddenly froze in midair. He snapped his head up to look at his unmoving hands. The whole place got cold as a young looking man with sky blue short hair and bangs almost covering his blueish gold eyes which showed obvious rage came into view.

He dives in and his golden garment floats around him. He stretches forth his hands which has a wooden staff with Paisley designs on it. At the top of the seemingly long staff is a pure white orb.

" ¥€$...€∆π ##!]\/] " he muttered.

The orb then started glowing the sucking in piece by peace his body. He screamed in anguish at the sudden turn of events.

" $¢√@€[\/] TOZEN!!! " He cursed. Before disintegrating fully into the orb.

Tozen then floats to meet Abigor's dead body on the floor. A tear drops from his eye and lands on his chest. He lifts the pale body up and gives it a quick burial. A blade with purple string and bells flying from the handle sits buried deep into the ground at the foot of the grave.

After honoring him with a moment of silence, he leaves.

•••

In Spritle Forest...

A red haired boy with ashen eyes in a navy blue top and zinc coloured trousers lies heavily on the floor panting in exhaustion while fanning himself with a stray leaf.

" Gosh, the sky is smiling a lot nowadays. I wonder if it's mocking me. " He says somewhat irked.

He stands up and slowly moves over to the edge of the cliff and looks down to try seeing the end but is met with just water. He turns back and walks back into the thick forest. He moves at a slow pace but gets faster after noticing the dropping sun.

Soon enough he bumps into a tall Hazel haired girl. She's dressed in an orange crop top and short leather skirt. Her pointy hat gives her a witchy kinda look. She moves back a little after seeing him properly and engages in a huge embrace.

" Kurt! I'm so happy you made it. " She said

Kurt then used his free hand to roughen his crimson hair and chuckled.

" You can't get rid of me that easily you know"

She moves back slowly examining his body for any injuries. Then a white skinned boy around the same age walks towards them causally and nods approvingly at him before turning back in the direction he came.

" Can't you even be more considerate Leif. Ask him if he's injured, that what friends do you know." She scowls dissatisfied.

Leif turns only his head slightly to the back his emerald hair shifting to the sides in a swift motion and his silver eyes bored through her as if looking down on her.

" We're not.... friends" he muttered softly before turning back and moving at a quicker pace.

She looks from him to Kurt somewhat confused and annoyed. She places her hand on her hips and pokes her tongue out at him ignoring the fact that not only can he not see her, but doesn't care.

" Try not to be a child sometimes Bertha." Kurt said a bit tiredly.

He walked away from her in suit with Leif. Bertha ran after him not wanting to be alone in the middle of the forest especially as night was fast approaching.

They get to a dead end and Bertha walks and bends by the side of the muddy wall. She glances back at her teammates and smiles before placing a gloved hand on the wall. After confirming her identity the walk opened a passage way with triangular signatures round it.

Kurt entered the dark room after Bertha, then Leif. It was quarter an hour before they reached the other end of the dark room. It was a bright village with a few huts around. The men by the gates looked up at them and bowed on sighting Leif among them.

" The priest awaits you all. " One man with a green hair and black eyes with a huge muscles that his silk top couldn't hide said.

" What level is the damage over here. " Leif said sternly walking towards the center of the village and immediately a boy with white hair and orange eyes ran towards him from one of the huts.

" The town hall has been destroyed completely, the borders near East faced the worst crisis losing over a hundred men. But priority was given to the women and children and we're evacuated to the Air room so most of them are ok. " He answered automatically.

" The causalities?" Leif countered unblinking.

" ....there has been around 30 causalities near the west where defend was weakest....of course soilders were stationed around the Palace....but...."he couldn't continue but instead stared blankly at the space in front of him.

Bertha and Kurt followed closely behind, taking note of the obvious renovation going on due to the extent of the destruction. A few curious eyes peeped from the windows and Bertha busied herself with waving all.

" The but?!" Leif thundered annoyed with the dragging silence.

They finally stopped at the foot of a gloriously adorned Castle with heavy able bodied men stationed at the door dressed in white strip and they all bowed on one knee.

"....the-" he was cut short by a heavy deep voice which carried both seething rage and clear respect.

" Princess Ophelia is in a critical state.... Crown Prince."

Bertha's POV

I understood the way the whole village was a bit damaged from the slight explosion from the destruction of one of the blue Lords but I didn't think it would affect Lady Ophelia.  It was too unexpected.

I looked up at Livius who had suddenly appeared from the palace and gave us the dissatisfactory news. He looked a bit strained and tired from the droops of his white hair but it didn't stop Leif from angrily walking past him and Into the palace.

Kurt didn't seem bothered though and just mumered something like "....more training...." Before walking towards the garden at the back. I wasn't sure if Leif would want me to accompany him but I also wanted to see the state of Ophelia so I followed closely behind.

The walls were painted in a bright lemon green and white ceilings. The elves sure loved to keep things traditional. I tried to quicken my pace to match Leif but could only manage to stay at his back. He didn't utter a word until he climbed up the stairs into the room with the largest balcolny.

She was carefully asleep in her cotton white bed and her emerald coloured hair gently covered her face gracefully. At her bed side was her personal hand maid, Azazel sat slowly but deliberately massaging her feet.

She stood at once after sighting Leif and immediately answered his questioning eyes.

" I was at the Sprites Gallery when  the blue Lords came crashing down and Lady Ophlia was trying to protect me. But one of them spat poison at her eyes and she's...." Azazel lowered her head in a tone of remorse.

Leif's head span towards her and she was thrown to the door of the large room crashing it. I would have tried to help her but I thought it was best to stay down and avoid getting entangled in the wave. He slowly turned back towards Lady Ophelia before walking out.

After rushing to get Azazel from her pitiful state I sat on the bed and started dozing a bit. It sure as hell had been a long day and it felt like it was just beginning.

" Bertha?"

I looked at Lady Ophelia's body and saw that she was trying to speak to me.

" Yes Lady Ophelia. I'm listening"

I heard a short chuckle from her before she continued.

" Please help me watch Leif when you go back. Even though he's a bit tough headed I need you to help me keep him safe. He's my little brother after all" her faint voice said.

" That might prove to be a problem Princess. Ever since he's joined the squad there's been a bit of uneasiness among us. You are right about him being a total nut head though."

She just smiled before replying.

" It's because he needs a little time. He's not used to people caring for him. I did a pretty terrible job you know–" she then got caught in a fit of coughs.

Azazel lowered her handkerchief and helped her.

" The poison got you good huh? Sorry princess"

" And don't let him explore any where out of bounds alone. He's still young, just 14. But he'll be a remarkable king. I'm sure of it."

I creased my brows a bit after hearing that last part.

" You talk like you are dieing. Are you sure you are alright? ".

But she didn't reply. I sighed. She was probably asleep.

" Goodnight Princess. " I said before bowing and taking my leave

I felt terrible leaving her like that but the blue Lord's poison didn't have a known cure yet. She was probably gonna be blind forever and it would be sickening to watch. I turned back to the corner I saw Kurt enter and saw him flexing his muscles under the sun while throwing a few Sparks towards the sky.

I found his control of lightning quite nice though. His red blots were like thunder and could power up and entire village half the size of this one. But took a lot of energy though. Then Leif's own affinity with the wind that makes him almost invincible.

They all make my gift look like shit.  After all it's just plain old wood. How's that gonna help me in an actual battle. All I've learnt is how to make a wooden hammer twice the size of my nutty head. I couldn't even avoid getting a splinter stuck in my fingers while using it.

Kurt noticed me staring and waved. I smiled back. I feel like I'm not good enough yet. I need to be stronger so I can protect Leif when the time comes. I concentrated all my energy into my palm and ended up creating a hard Stony like ball.

Throwing it up into the air I caught it and threw it towards Kurt. I didn't tell him and waited anxiously for it to at least knock him unconscious. Instead I saw him catch it and send a spark of lightning through it crumbling it entirely to dust.

He gave me a confused look and I just smiled arkwardly. I stared at my palms. Is this the best I can do?

Kurt's POV

After the surprise attack form Bertha I noticed how my speed reaction was 0.6seconds slower than before. I guess I really did exhaust my self after that fight with the Blue Lord. I need to train my reflex's more if I'm gonna be able to spar with Leif.

      I brought out more lightning volts one after another repeatedly trying to quicken the pace at which they came out but it was still not fast enough in my eyes. I could only bring out 7blots every 5 seconds. I aimed at the sky so I won't damage any thing but it didn't help to gauge the strength of the attack.

The open field at the entrance to the village would be my next training spot. I need a wider space to use it. I also needed to test how long i can go on without resting. Being a solider sure was tough luck.

" Hey Kurt.... " Bertha asked

I didn't even know she was still there. I looked at her waiting for her to go on.

" Can we spar?" She finished

Leif's POV

" is that anyway to treat your guest?" She demanded with a tone of authority in her voice.

I looked over at Kurt, what had that fool done now? He was clearly annoyed with her snobbish attitude but he had to get used to it as long as he was staying here.

" I apologise for his rudeness Lady Quizz. Please ignore his arrogance and come to the round table inside where the meeting would take place." I tried to be polite.

She snapped her head at me and sized me up before asking.

" And who do you think you are....peasant?"

" I'll have you know that you are talking to the Crowned Prince Leif Ravana, future king of the Tribe of Gostom and Second son of King Diazepam!" Livius snapped before I could respond.

I could tell she was surprised and a bit embarrassed by the slight blush on her cheeks.

" I am afraid I was unaware your highness. My apologies." She stated dipping her head in a bow.

" Lady Quizz Durand, you are welcome to Gostom. Please accompany me to the round table where the meeting will commence." I replied simply.

I walked towards Kurt first and told him to know his place before heading towards the upper room.

Kurt's POV

What the hell? After barging in the middle of my duel with Bertha calling it a 'childish brawl' this good for nothing side chick with her unruly yellow hair suddenly teleported to the green field and started screaming and yelling like an oversized cockroach how we were shooting spells at each other like ' madmen '.

   What a spoilt brat. I would have given her a spark to the head to roast her faulty brain but I figured there was no need for something so rash....yet.

I stared with distaste at the yellow haired lady that was dressed in a beautiful blue gown draping over her shoulders. She looked a bit thin and pale. But her skin glowed brilliantly making me rethink if she was an elf.

Her body wasn't all that overwhelming like I had seen other elves have. Instead she had the appearance of an impatient kid.  Why am I even studying her. Quizz. That's what Leif called her.

I turned back to look at Bertha but she was gone. When did she run away. I sighed and flopped on the grass below me that couldn't be any greener. I let my body relive the images that had happened earlier today.

I hated the stupid test ' they ' made us undergo. After placing me in this overbearing team we end up getting separated through that stupid hole. It was the second time I was ridiculed by that stuff. Arrrgh.

After the fight with a Blue Lord that uses proykinesis, which was pretty annoying, I managed to be sucked into a hole that lead me straight to these two dumbasses. How could a washed up doll practice thoughtography it's freaking!

" Hey?"

I turned my head to see the same white haired boy with orange eyes that had excorted Leif during our arrival. I think his name was Panix or something.

" Uhh sorry to disturb your rest but I wanted to ask something"

" Go on" I motioned.

" What's it like outside the fall!" He exclaimed with pure interest 

The fall? Oh he must mean the water fall on the northern side hiding the village from view on the outside. Well not like anyone plans on coming to the corner of an ocean that it hunted by Banshes( screaming spirits).

" Haven't they told u?"

" Only a little. I asked Master Livius to teach me more but he just snapped telling me that it will pique my curiosity and get us all killed" he receited with glimmering eyes.

" Wow! That sure sounds like him. Anyways there's nothing intriguing about outside the fall. There are more Grenade Holes now though and a bit more terrifying I think."

I sat up to face his eager face.

" What are Grenade Holes?"

I stared at him amused. Did this kid seriously not know what a Grenade Hole is? Well I guess Livius might have thought it best to keep him in the dark. What if the whole village was in the dark though.

" Well..how do I explain this. Grenade Holes are kinda like a Black Hole. You know, sucking things, people and stuff in it. Except that this ones take you to a different location. A bit dangerous because you don't know where you are gonna end up.

      And once you are within rage of suction there's no hope Panix. It's almost as large as the palace but is dark and always swirling.  "

I chuckled at the kid's amused face. He was really enjoying himself. So I made myself comfortable to tell him a whole lot about it.

" How do you enter one?"

" I don't think you would want to enter one intentionally. I mean if you have enough bad luck you could end up in the Netherlands. And do u know what happens to kids who go there?" I asked feeling excited too

He furiously shook his head in the negative.

" Well they never come back. And even if they do they soul has been annihilated and they turn to wandering ghosts." I muttered smirking at myself.

The boy let out a surprised gasp and kept looking at me expectantly. I felt as if I was telling him some kind of bed time story.

" Well lemme see. Grenade Holes are everywhere though. It could be in the ground and you won't know you've stepped in one until it sucked whole being into it. And trust me the ride isn't sunshine and rainbows.

  There will be a feeling of your soul being ripped apart, and if you don't have enough spiritual energy it will actually be consumed by the Hole. But of course there weren't that many until a few years ago. But it has caused a lot of unnecessary souls to pass on. That's why we have the Kenji Society."

"Kenji....?"

" You are not gonna rest are you. They are the ones in charge of disabling them. Afterall each Hole has a Blue Lord surrounding and controlling it. Kill the Lord, and you've destroyed the Hole. The Holes themselves aren't too destructive unless a blue Lord uses it to directly gain blood.

    You know how we eat food to live, that's how the Blue Lords are. They sometimes lure or place people in it every chance they get. As the Hole rips their soul out, they are indirectly consuming it and become stronger—"

" But—"

" No buts! I'm exhausted. A 10 year old kid shouldn't feel his head with unnecessary stuff. " I said standing up happy to be free from him.

" I have so many questions! How do grenade holes appear? How do you kill a Blue Lord? How strong is the Kenji Socie—"

" Boy go learn to write or something. I'm going to grab a snack. " I said nonchanlty

I walked away from Panix ignoring his disappointed groan. I would have loved to talk more but I couldn't. I didn't know much either.

How does a grenade hole appear? I didn't know. All I knew was that I had to disable as many as possible before they eat anymore souls. It was my job after all.

How do you kill a blue Lord? But destroying their core obviously. After wreaking it to pieces it's as good as dead.

How strong is the Kenji society. I also wanted to know. We still had a lot of tasks ahead of us before being totally accepted.  For now we were just Prancers. Kinda like a student version of them.

But I needed to get stronger if I was going to venture into the Blazen Lands on my own and find ' him '.

" Wait!!!! Kurtis-kun!!!"

I turned back to see Panix still running after me.  Didn't the brat have anything else to do? After gasping for breath a few times he finally spoke.

" I....I....sorry but have you seen his fiancee? I heard she came here through a TPG."

" Who's fiancee?" I asked quizzically.

" Lady Quizz. The Crowned Prince's Future wife"