Memories of the Forgotten

Another chapter, with a bit of action thrown in... Have fun.

Chapter 16


It was the midle of the night as Jessica readied herself for bed. And still, John had not returned from the shrine. She wasn't entirely sure whether or not to go out and bring him back. If anything he could even have been training. Although she was worried, she didn't want to have to go out and look. He could take care of himself, she knew that all too well. Still, ever since they had been married, she rarely spent a night without him.

She looked out the window once more, and felt it. Some form of magic was making itself known, and from Jessica's own experience, it was teleporting magic, something that was rather difficult to achieve on just one's own power. Then she saw it, a figure running through the town, heading toward the source of the magic. She knew instantly, despite the lack of moonlight, who it was.

Readying her staff, she followed him out into the night.


I see... So you must present the book with the Forbidden Seal to save your daughter.

"What do I do?" John asked panicing. "I can't just hand the book over, especially if they-"

Calm yourself. From what I understand, whoever wants the book already has some knowledge of the spell. Although I am uncertain how such information got into their possession... Isao had a concerned face, and looked as though he would love to be pacing around. I know you don't want to lose your daughter, so you will deliver the book to them.

"Are you sure that's safe?" John asked uncertainly. He wasn't sure that giving them what they wanted was worth it, but what other choice did he have? If they really knew something about it, he couldn't fake the spell.

Do not worry. The book is sealed. And of course, they have no way to open it. My spell ensures that those outside of our family can't open it.

"How?"

Blood. In our blood the magic flows. Spill some blood, any amount over the book and it will unlock. If your truely family then it should open.

John looked to the book. He thought about breaking skin, even a little, and pouring a single drop onto the book. It was certainly tempting and John could only imagine what sort of powerful spells existed in there. Perhaps even spells that could defeat whoever was behind all this trouble. "Is there any way to reseal the book?"

Spill blood on the back of the book. The magic will reactivate and the book seal itself once more.

John looked to his sword and raised it when something filled his senses. It was magic and not Jessica's which meant that whoever it was that took their daughter would be there. "I have to go." With his sword still out he burst out of the shrine, caught off guard slightly that it had already turned night as he rushed through to the source of the power.

Good luck...


Jessica watched John standing some distance away as circle of light appeared on the ground, giving a faint glow. From within that circle two figures appeared and when the light had gone, John could easily recognize his daughter. "Monica!"

"Daddy!" Both of the rushed to the outer circle but John suddenly stopped and was pushed back. From the edge of the circle there appeared to be some sort of barriar that prevented him from entering and prevented her from leaving it. "Mommy! Daddy!"

"How nice..." The man who was with her stepped out. "Very touching. Now be quiet please, the adults have business to attend to."

"Release my daughter, now!" John shouted. It was by no means a request, but a demand.

"First the Forbidden Seal. Then we can discuss your daughter."

"No way! I am not handing this over until I'm sure I have my daughter safely!" John held his blade in a threatening manner, but the man did not flinch.

"You are hardly in the position to make demands or bargin your way out. For you see, I still have her, and her safety depends entirely on your cooperation. So, hand over the book containing the Forbidden Seal."

Jessica looked to John, wondering if he would admit defeat and claim he didn't have it or didn't know where it was. Surprisingly, John pulled out the locked book and threw it to the floor in the stranger's general direction. He calmly walked up and picked it from the ground, inspecting it. "It's locked... where's the key?"

"I don't know. I never found it."

"Is that so..." Putting it away the man turned and walked back toward the circle.

"Hold on! What about our daughter? We gave you the book, so let her go!"

"Go? Actually, you see I can't do that. We still need her."

Jessica was the next to become enraged. "We had a deal!"

"Ah yes... the deal. If you recall, I said if you wanted to see her alive, you had to bring me the book. Nowhere in that sentence does it say I would let her go." The man smirked as John became visibly pissed off. "You brought the book and here she is, safe and sound. If you'll excuse me now."

John couldn't take it. He planned to slice this person in half. Raising his blade he struck down, the blading hitting the ground hard. But the man had disappeared.

"Where did he go?" John asked as he and Jessica looked around.

"Daddy look out!"

Monica's warning had his look up to see the man with his dagger out, falling like a missile straight on a collision course with him. He raised his blade to defend himself as the two struck, pushing against each other. Pressing his palm against the blade he pushed off.

"Ice knife!" Water arose and hardened into ice needles. They aimed directly for him as Jessica pointed her staff to him.

"Two can play it this game," he said, reaching into his pack and pulling out something metal. "Shuriken." He threw them all, each one spinning fast like a top to the oncoming ice. They collided and began to rebound off each other, the shuriken flying off into the night while the ice struck the ground all around him. "Nice try."

John resumed his posture, rushing foward with the intent to kill. The man drew his own dagger to stop the blade. As the two locked together in the fight, John realized that this person was using only his left hand to hold and block the attack, while John was using both hands to place as much force as he could against him. He seemed stunned that he possessed such strength.

When they both pushed away, John had to ask. He couldn't just not. "Are you... some kind of demon?"

The man raised his dagger once more. "My name... is Elno. I am no demon... but I will prove to you that my power can easily overwhelm your magic." Then with great speed, Elno rushed and slashed down. "Diamond Cut!"

And the next thing John felt was ripping pain. One, two, three... six cuts came as if from nowhere, striking various parts of his body. The cuts riped his clothes and left shallow wounds on his torso and back. Gripping his body in pain, he fell to his knees, and heard the cry of "Daddy!" ringing in his ears. John was certain only one strike had been made... so why did he feel more?

"Now do you see? That my power far exceeds yours? Just because you have a gift... and in training that gift you lack the physical force required to live. Wake up. If you solely continue to rely on magic, I can assure you that you'll never defeat me." Walking away, he moved past the barriar and waited while the circle glowed again. Jessica rushed to John's side, who could only watch painfully as his daughter was taken again.

"If you truely want to save her, I will grant you one chance. Due west of here is a town. And know that while your other companions face similar trials, only you yourself can prove your worth to me." With that the circle was gone, and those inside had vanished with it.