Zinor woke up in a dark place.
"Huh? My wound? "
He saw his shoulder was fine.
As far as it seemed, there was only darkness. He turned around but get only the infinite darkness.
Trip!~
Suddenly a footstep broke the silence.
Zinor didn't turned.
"Who are—"
"Who are you?!" Before Zinor that person asked.
"I am Zinor."
"Which Zinor are you?"
Zinor's face frowned.
"Are you the son of a dancer or the monster faught against emperors knowing the circumstances of certain defeat?"
"Agara!" Zinor called him.
"It's been a while Agatsu." That person became visible.
He looked exactly same as Zinor yet half in size. Like Zinor he has also chains but those were rounding him.
He was holding a big Labrys Axe by two hands.
Zinor looked at his broken axe. The broken metallic piece he sharpened to use anyhow was still rusty.
On the other hand, the black labrys axe in his hand was glowing like can't resist the urge of thirst. The thirst can be filled by only blood.
"Did those chains hurt?"
Sbhaam!
Agara gave a devastating blow yet Zinor blocked that by his hand.
"Little bit. It stops me from moving at full speed."
Both pushed each other.
"What do you want Agara?"
"Your body. We need to make a world where we and Desdi can live peacefully."
"Desdi is no more. I am not too."
Stungh!
He struck Zinor again. Zinor used his broken axe to block him.
"Then do me a favour. Leave this body here and sleep."
"Tch!"
Baamng!
Zinor punched his chest.
Agara backed a little.
Zinor looked at his palm
"I didn't feel pain."
He looked at Agar. He stood still. It looked like he was injured.
"Haah! These metallic recks! "
With a sudden thrust Agara threw his axe at Zinor. It was spinning.
The speed was too much.
Whiiiss!
The axe barely missed Zinor. It went far into the darkness.
As Zinor looked at Agara. He saw nothing.
Baaam! Baaam! Baaam!
Three deliberate kicks fell on his neck.
Zinor trembled.
Agara rolled his legs around his neck and sat.
Baam! Baam! Baam! Baam!
He keeps punching Zinor's head again and again.
Stung!
Zinor's axe fell.
Clap!
Zinor forcefully clapped over his head.
Agara jumped away from him.
"Egh. You became weak Agatsu. The lumberjack's life made you vulnerable."
"Aaah! Agara!"
He charged at Agara .
Dhaam!
He grabbed him and threw him on the ground.
"Aaagh!" The slam made him tremble.
"You can't just kill everybody to bring peace. Desdi had never asked for that."
"I can! And I will. You can defy me Agatsu. But, I can't forgive that Archer, not those emperors, not the god for what he had done to me!"
"Agara!"
Zinor was about to smash his head by his feet.
Thuish!
A devastating sound of axe's blow came. The labrys axe came flying backward and stuck Zinor's lower back.
"You didn't recognize Doza? Did you?" Agara grinned.
Zinor fell on one knee.
Ghuag!
A lump of blood gushed out of his mouth.
Agara held Zinor's head by one hand. Then forced the other hand to pull out the axe.
Ghuish!
Gripping his hair, he bent low and pressed his forehead against his own.
"I can't bet on a lumberjack to fulfill Desdi's present."
A blinding light burst out from their foreheads and everything vanished in it.
The Ceremony was on Fire. Disciples were dancing around the big censer. Some blow a burning stick's flame to create a great fire.
"Whao! ", "Haa... Again. Again." The children were amazed.
Gaardan looked at them. Everybody was passing a peaceful evening.
"Haauh!~"
Taizo yawned.
"Ah! Don't yawn. It's a bad sign of something holy." Asumia lectured Taizo.
He didn't get her seriously.
The sky became cloudy. The moon slowly hid in the clouds.
"Taizo!"
"Haa.. What's the matter of the Gaardan?"
"Did villagers get the community feast?"
"Yes. Ansen and others are looking at that matter."
"Go check them. It would be bad if anyone went without having the meal."
"Okey. Okey."
"Hm. Did Dante and his grandkids come?"
"I didn't see him. Probably, after what happened he would not."
"It was Sandai's fault. They were innocent. Besides, I sent someone from the temple to invite them with a hearty apology of mine."
"But what about him?"
"That person? He did nothing wrong. If he comes to harm us or others in this ceremony due to agony. I would like to talk before any bloodshed."
"What kind of friend are you? He just cut me brutaly."
"He warned you. You didn't heard. "
"But you should be at my side."
"I am on justice's side."
Asumia looked at them.
"Masters of a temple yet squabbling like children. Taizo is young but now Gaardan too? Haah!"
"Aah... Do you know where the feast is?"
A old voice asked Asumia.
She turned. "Oh. Old man Dante.. Gaardan was wishing to see you. The feast is that way. But before that Gaardan wants to talk to you."
"Oh. Okey okey. Where is he?"
* * * * *
"Huh?" Taizo saw something.
"What?"
"Hey Gaardan looks like Asumia is calling us."
He turned over.
Gaardan saw them.
"Isn't that Dante? Looks like he agreed on your massege."
Taizo patted on Gaardan's back.
"Let's go."
Taizo went ahead.
Gaardan stood froze for a while, seeing Dante was standing by the help of a stick.
"Heyyy! Gaardan! What happened?!.."
"Ah! No nothing." He walked to Asumia.
Taizo bent down to talk Damo and Siri.
"Hey you two. Do you to want see some fire show?"
Siri was confused yet a beat of sweat flew down trickling Damo's cheeck.
"Is it too hot here?" Taizo asked him.
"Hah? No no..."
"Why? It would be fun."
"Yes Damo go and take care of Siri." Dante said.
Damo nodded.
"Oookhey! You will love it." Taizo took Damo and Siri to where dicisples were entertaining villagers with their art of using flames.
"So. How is the ceremony going?" Dante asked Gaardan.
Gaardan itched his forehead.
"Oh! Ansen called me. They need some help in the feast."
Asumia left.
"Everything is fine until now."
"Until now? Do you expect something bad?"
"No. No. Just looking at you standing by the help of your stick shakes some memories."
"Oh hoh! It's just my age. These legs trembles now a days."
"Hmm.. Understandable . Many things happened in recent."
As Gaardan said. Both remained silent for a while.
Through the densed forest Zal and Orlando were walking.
"Are we going to check his body?"
"No. I am done by this place. Let's get back to our journey."
"Really? You usually spent months on a hunt."
"I am not in mood of that thing. Besides, Tonight is the Ceremony. I don't want to cause a fuss to temple."
"Yeah. Then you will get a bounty poster to hunt which will be yours. Hahaha!"
Zal looked at Orlando.
"That wasn't funny."
Grrrr!~
A harsh sound came.
"Is the thunder rumbling?"
"Maybe. Let's find a safe place."
Both of them started running.
In the jungle a huge tree started shaking. Then...
GrrrD!
The tree fell on the ground.
"What was that sound?" Asumia asked herself.
"Master Asumia. The feast is about to end. It seems a bit cloudy. Do we cover the censer?"
"Have everyone visited it?"
"Yeah." Other disciple answered.
"Ok then cover it."
The old man was taking a walk with Gaardan after eating.
"Many years passed. It is good to see everyone in peace."
"Yeah. The protestors rebel calmed as you two surrendered to the divine laws."
"It's been hundred years. No body remembers that name now a days."
"Isn't it good? If they remember it I doubt you can lend money from the chief."
"I think so."
The came walking near the dense forest.
"How's Berca? Did he return?"
Dante didn't reply. He just stood a while.
"I think we came a long way. Damo and Siri needs rest. We should go home."
"Hmm. It's around midnight. The Ceremony is about to end."
They walked back to the temple ground.
Heee hah!~
Taizo was juggling his fire scimitars.
Villagers were looking with amaze. Siri was wondering too. But Damo was standing with a tensed face.
"Haah!" Dante sat on a stone.
"Asumia!" Gaardan called.
Asumia came. "The ceremony is about to end. Most of the villagers went."
"Good. Ask Ansen, Dama and Karo to carry the censer back into temple. It feels that a rain is coming."
"What is that!!!" Some disciples exclaimed.
Everyone looked at that direction.
Something big was in the air. Coming straight toward them.
"No the censer!" Gaardan rushed to save it.
As it come closed, it became clear.
It was a big tree. It looked like forcefully pulled out making roots tore.
Baaam!
Gardaan reached at the very time. He blocked it from damaging the censer.
"Haah! Haah!" He was panting.
"A big tree? Gaardan. "Taizo ran toward him. Asumia also came and so the other disciples.
Dante stood up. 'Who threw a tree this big?' He wondered.
Stumbh!
A huge foot step heard. Like someone forced the earth downward.
Gardan saw...
A man in tattered clothes. He gushed some leaves into his wound in shoulder. Covered in dried blood holding a stick which has a uneven metalic piece attached.
Damo shocked recognizing him. 'What is he trying to do?'
Siri looked at him. "Hey, isn't that Zinor?"
"Gaardan! He is that man. The one gave me this wound." Taizo said.
Asumia kept staring at him. 'A man with those injuries. Threw a tree this big. Is it possible?'
Whiss!
Taizo brought his fire scimitars.
"Don't think that you can do what you want! I warn you to go back or the consequences will not be in your favour"
"Blue eyes... I remember you. I was about to shut you but he ruined that fun. Thanks to give me that opportunity back."
'What is he saying?' Taizo thought.
'This isn't good. If Gaardan joins the battle Zinor is doomed.' Damo thought.
"Asumia. Help Taizo. I think that impact injured my hand."
"Hai!"
"All the disciples, evacuate remaining villagers. Fast!"
The temple ground fell into a bit chaos.
Asumia stood beside Taizo. Her hands started to burning.
"Run. Cry. Beg. All those are signs of weakening and death. Let me make it easy for you!"
The clouds roared as Zinor said. A gust of stormy wind blowed through the forest.