Se'tar- another shadow realm

Telepathy
spirit voices (you'll understand...)

_____


Sean paused outside the gates, not quite sure where to go. The whole place of this world lay stretched around him. He thought for a moment, then headed away from the direction that he and Shetan had first come from- away from the Shadow city. He wanted to go to new areas, and maybe, in the back of his mind, he was avoiding the likelihood of meeting the Shadow Queen.

As they continued to walk, a brief thought went through Sean's mind. The robes he'd worn for all this time now fit him comfortably, and he'd gotten used to them during his training. But for half a moment, he remembered the pants he used to wear back in the human realm, and wished that he could be wearing them again. They would be far more comfortable for something like the long trip this was promising to become. To his surprise, the material of the robes started to shift, change their shape. They weren't fully like what he was used to back on earth, but they had changed into the basic forms of pants and a heavy jacket. The weather was crisp right now, and Sean had a feeling it was heading for the Shadow winter.

He looked over at Shetan. "How did that just happen?" he asked. This he had to figure out. It felt almost like he was back in his own clothes, the sword hanging snugly from the belt, open to view.

"This is one of the special traits to the monk's robes. As you've become stronger in your magic and learn to apply it better, your robes will respond to that. Right now, they changed to the thoughts you had- obviously, for something you're more accustomed to. But they can be more than that. They can change to make you blend in with your surroundings, though they cannot cloak your power like the spells can. They will always be warm enough, or cool enough for you. You just have to learn how to manipulate the uses of it. This will be one of many things that you'll learn to do before this trip is over." Shetan motioned ahead of them. "Let's keep going."

They walked far, taking a short stop by a mountain stream for water and a bite to eat. Though the wilderness outside the monastery had little foliage, Sean received a brief wilderness living course on the few bushes that were around them. A lot had berries and nuts, most of which were edible. Some plants proved to have healing qualities, ones that could be used with or without magic to cure many things. Then the odd group left the mountains and entered a bleak forest.

The trees were tall, but not very big. They had few leaves, and those that still clung to scrawny branches showed little colour. Shu squeaked nervously as they passed one particularly large, twisted tree. She darted up Tal's robes to hide under his cloak's hood. They looked up.

It was a dragon. It wasn't huge, but there was no mistaking the wings, claws, fangs, and tail of the beast. There was a cold deadliness to its look, one that said it had no problems with destroying those that crossed its wrath. As it drifted down to land in front of them, Shetan's voice floated into Sean's mind. "This is one of very few dragons left in this world. Treat him respectfully- all dragons are considered to be mages of the air, and quite skilled in their art. He can help you, if you're willing to learn from him. But show the best respect you have to him- even as if he was the Queen herself."

Sean nodded silently. He bowed low to the dragon, but kept a watchful eye on the creature. One thing Kyruno had been harsh on in combat training- never to let down one's guard around any other beast, even if it does seem to be friendly. He stood back up, but with a little effort. The creature had a presence like the queen had, but not quite as strong. The dragon spoke aloud, in perfect English.

"Welcome, mortal human. I've been sensing your presence coming closer. I am Watcher of this wood, and a strong ally to Isis. For proof," the large Shadow held out a bright feather, one that looks perfectly like the white Phoenix's feathers. A magical aura lay around it, one that was so strong that Sean could sense the power off of it. "By the looks of it, that is a Destiny sword. Take good care of it." He offered a clawed paw in greeting. "Call me Taraso."

Sean took the offered claw. It was silver, like Shu's were. "Can I ask a question, Sir Taraso?" A nod. "What is with the silver claws? I noticed some Shadows have them, others don't. Is there a reason for that?"

A smile spread across the dragon's face. "There are reasons, yes. Come with me, all of you. Looks like there's a lot of things to be taught and learned, and much to be caught up on."

***

Shu stayed clear of Taraso. When Master Tal decided to ride on the dragon's back, she left her hiding place on him and joined Sean, who was riding Shetan, now back in her winged wolf shape. She cowered in fear, and nervously squeaked for the whole flight.

Taraso led them to a large tower that stood in the midst of the woods. It had been skillfully built, and easily large enough to hold more than one creature of the dragon's size. But it didn't have the same open space that the monastery had. Yet, for the moment, it was a place to rest, and dark was falling already.

Shetan spent most of the evening talking to Taraso. He hadn't left the woods for many years, Sean found out, and he always welcomed news that was from outside, especially about Isis. The dragon was angry that the Dark Ruler was once again trying to rise in power. "He needs to be stopped. His base needs to be found and him crushed before he seriously threatens this world again."

"Taraso. We are trying to trace him, his followers. But they have found ways to avoid our detection. They manage to find ways past everything." Shetan wasn't happy. She had tried to track Yilven already, since Sean had come to this world. And it hadn't been successful.

"Excuse me, please." Tal got up and left, taking the finally resting Shu with him. "Don't forget, we leave early tomorrow. Get some sleep." The training master walked down a hallway and entered a distant room.

Sean looked back over at the dragon. He'd been watching this creature for most of the evening, and found him to be an interesting animal. The dragon's scales shimmered with a light of their own, with usually a grey or silver-blue look to them. The wings were wide, and frail though they looked, they had easily carried the beast and Monk earlier. And the long tail. Even if the rest of the dragon was still, Sean noticed that his tail never stayed still. Like a wiggling snake, the tail tip would slide across the floor, around the dragon's feet, and often roam the carvings on the wall.

"Sir Taraso, you still haven't explained what the silver claws you bear mean. I know that all the creatures here are different, but those claws aren't common. I asked Kyruno about Shu's, but he made it clear that it wasn't a common trait among Shadows and refused to talk about it. What is so much of a big deal about this characteristic?"

"Dragons, like me, aren't native to the Shadow Realm. We could go anywhere, any world, planet, or dimension. Our kind settled everywhere, even in the human world you come from, and here. A few other creatures did that too, like little Shu's ancestors. Those of us that weren't true Shadows, but could still come here... we were the travelers, and legend makers. We bore with pride silver claws, and a magic power that could heal a nation or crumble a world. But we gave up that power, some of it, when we were persecuted from our homelands in other realms. Dragons came here, to live in this realm. It was one of very few places we weren't hunted in, until other beings found ways to get in. When that happened, we were asked to use our power to seal the portals into this world. The dragons did that, making it impossible to enter into this realm without being a Shadow or one like us.

“Most of the dragons have died or been killed in the battles that have waged here. Not all of them have fought on the good side, either. Many of our kind turned hateful, cruel. The Dark Ruler is part dragon. And it is a mark that upsets me every time." Taraso shifted, and sighed deeply. A faint trail of smoke lingered, drifting in the air. "Silver claws are the one open marking between us and the Shadows that let them know we're not native here. It's also a sign of great power, whether magical or not. Shu's people, her ancestors, had a tie to the ground and all living things bound to the earth. She may not have the skills yet, but because of the little being she is, Shu has the potential of returning the Shadow Lands to the way they were, before war and trouble ruined the earth and the things that used to grow here. It used to be a beautiful country..."

Shetan interrupted the dragon's reverie. "The land will be brought back to its prime, Taraso, I promise. But do you think you can help us with a favor?" She was propped up against the wall, human once again. A few stray hairs hung into her face, almost hiding her eyes. A tiny ball of light rolled lazily across her fingers. "Sean has a hard time with the beasts that can't talk human or telepathically, and he'd like to be able to understand them, at least. As a master of languages, I was hoping you would be willing to help."

The dragon looked at Sean carefully, and nodded. "I think he can be trusted with that gift." The great shape moved a little, closer to the fire nearby. "Draw your sword, human."

Sean stepped back, one hand instinctively going to the hilt. He glanced at Shetan, who nodded. "Just remove it. I don't want it, just hold it out for me." Sean pulled out the sword, holding it in a firm, two-handed grip. The dragon reached out a forepaw, open, and gently grasped the blade.

Sean flinched, pulling back on the sword, thinking Taraso was taking the sword. But the big beast was letting the sword slide right from his grip, not taking it from the human. With shock Sean realized what the dragon had done.

Blood stained the bright edge of the sword. The dragon's blood was almost black, and it changed the look of the blade. At least, it did to Sean. He had never seen his sword with blood on it before.

But it was a potent reminder that it wasn't a toy.

"Sean!" The voice broke his thoughts. The dragon was handing him a small golden goblet. "Drink, while it's still hot." Curious, but with no second thoughts, he took the cup. Inside, it looked like more of the dragon's blood. But just a few drops worth. He closed his eyes and swallowed.

It burnt. It felt like fire rushed through his veins, a wildfire that left raw power in its wake. The human gasped, the feeling new and unexplainable. The dragon spoke again, but this time, in the tongue of its own kind- a voice that carried the heat of the dragon's fire.

"Mortal human. Do you hear me?"

***

The words came cloudy at first, but then became clear.

"Yeah, I can hear you." Sean replied.

"That is good," the dragon rumbled. "The blood of my people has many properties, many potencies. It will make you stronger, now that you have consumed it."

"Thank you, Taraso." he said. The blood was flowing through him; he could feel its fire coursing through his veins, pulsing with its strength. He felt the blood run through his arms, his hands, and fingers. They burned with power, a promise of great strength.

"You must rest now, human. Go."

Sean didn't respond. He nodded to the beast, and stumbled away, following in the direction that Master Tal had taken. As the blood ran through him, it consumed his own energy, making every step he took harder and harder. In the end, Sean collapsed as he entered the first open doorway that he found, slumping down on the marble floor at the foot of the entrance.

It was a long time before he awoke. When he did, Shetan was lying next to him, curled up in her human form. He blinked sleep from his eyes, wondering if it was really her. He tried to say something, but his throat was dry.

"Oh, you’re awake!" she said, suddenly bursting into life. "My, I was so worried. The blood was far too strong for you, we weren't sure if you were comatose or not...."

"I'm OK." Sean replied, sitting up a little. He shook his head firmly, forcing away the last of the daze that clung to him, but still feeling very sleepy.

"Come on." said Shetan "We have to move swiftly."

"What? Why?"

"Taraso has fled this land, and we are remaining in his tower. In the night, the forest darkened...." Shetan suddenly looked very sad. "The touch of Yilven has reached this land, and soon everything here will be dead. We have to get away from this place - find the source of the corruption before its too late."

Sean got up, and pulled his robe around him "Won't the source of the power be Yilven himself though?"

"Yes, but Yilven is not a part of this world. He is from another, far away. To reach this world, Yilven has to use magic to cross the stars with his influence. We have to find the portal from which he is reaching the Shadow Realm, and destroy it."

"OK." was all the human could manage.

They walked swiftly from the room, where the others were waiting for them. "It's time," said Shetan to Master Tal.

"Good. Let’s go."

They walked from the dragon-less tower, and out into the forest it was surrounded by. The sky was a tint of red, and the light was faded. It looked like dusk had set in across the entire world.

"This is the touch of Yilven?" asked Sean

"Yes. We have to find the source. Come on."

***

Shetan led the way this time, straight through the thick woods. Sean followed her, Shu
perched on his shoulders, and Tal backing them up. The Shadow mage had started a spell back at the tower, a complex tracing spell. Sean recalled the Shadow's words. "Hopefully it will help us find the general location of the portal used by the Dark Ruler. We'll have to find it before we can do anything else." Somehow, he guessed, Shetan could tell where to go from the information the spell was getting. How she knew that, he didn't know.

The human also realized something interesting as the group moved on. Shetan had walked swiftly, almost ran, ever since they had left Taraso's tower. But Sean noticed that he kept up easily, not struggling like he might have the day before if they had kept this pace for this long. The dragon's gift must have been more than he'd guessed the night before. A lot more.

Shu made the long journey that day interesting. It was pleasant to hear her voice, not just the squeaks, squeals, and whistles Sean had come to know. Her voice seemed like a chorus of tiny bells, but the words were clear. She talked incessantly about everything, including a loud worry about what was happening to the land around them. Little light was left in the sky, and even the air seemed to have changed already.

Suddenly the woods ended. Ahead of them lay a plain, barren of plants, two lone mountains rising in the distance. It was lonely enough. But then Shetan directed everyone's gaze to the sky. Darkness was spreading swiftly across, darkening the plain and heading for the twin peaks. The sky behind the mountains was still clear.

"We have to get to the mountains. Maybe we can stop it there." Shetan looked at her companions. "Ready for the hardest sprint in your life?"

Human and Shadow mage looked at each other. Both nodded. Shunea jumped down from Sean's shoulder, and peered up. A high pitch whistle ripped through the air, and the human caught only one word. Queen.

Isis landed right next to Shetan before Sean had a chance to respond to Shu' warning. If the expression of a phoenix could be read correctly, the Shadow Queen was not happy. Shu ran straight for her, jumping up around one wing, then the other. "Leave, my children. Shetan, leave Yilven to me. Take the human and go." Isis handed Shu back to Sean. "Master Tal, accompany them. Keep them safe."

The two Shadows bowed, and then their queen was out of sight again. Suddenly Sean remembered he should have bowed, too. But he'd been frozen at the suddenness of the Phoenix’s appearance. “Come on, we must go." Shetan turned away from the mountains in the distance, then also from the woods they'd just left. She shook her head, thinking.

"Hold onto me, everyone." Shetan went wolf again, and everyone grabbed a piece of fur. With a growl, she slashed at the air, opening a portal of her own. Wings spread back to protect her friends, the Shadow jumped through.

Bright daylight and sand greeted them. Sean looked out past Shetan's wing. In front of them, water spread out, and the smell of salt was heavy on the air. "Are we back in my world?" Sean asked, puzzled.

"No. We're still in the Shadow Realm. This happens to be one of those spots that's a little brighter and still completely untouched by the Dark Ruler. I haven't been here in quite a while..." Shetan looked up the beach front. "Somewhere over there is a line of cliffs. For now, we'll make do with a few caves. If we have to stay long, I'll see that better living arrangements happen. Until then, make do."

"Oh, and training starts again in the morning. You'll have to survive with my training for a while."

***

Nearby, another human watched the two beasts and human that accompanied them. What were they doing in this region? She made sure that she was hidden in the woods. Hopefully, they weren't planning to stay long. This was one of the places that the Dark Ruler hadn't touched and she intended to keep it this way. Shifting forward slightly, she took a slight step forward and a branch snapped underneath her foot. Dang it, she thought. They know I'm here now.

Sure enough, the larger beast’s head whipped around and looked in her direction. She motioned for the small beast to accompany her and the human to stay behind. The human crouched, trying to hide as much as possible. Looking at the human, she noticed that he carried a Sword. But it was no ordinary sword; it was a Destiny sword. She hadn't seen one in years and was sure that this human was here for the same reason she was; to protect the shadow realm from the Dark Ruler. She hadn't seen another Destiny sword since she had acquired her own from Isis ten years ago. The beasts were rather close to her now and she knew she could hide no longer. "Show yourself or suffer the consequences," the big beast said, with a growl.

The human stood up and said, "Hello Shetan. I trust you've been doing well." From the shocked look on Shetan's face, she had obviously caught Shetan off guard, which did not happen often. All of a sudden, memories dawned on her face. Shetan said, "What are you doing here, human?" Looking Shetan straight in the eye, she said, "I should be asking you the same question. You must have forgotten, I'm a shape shifter as well. I'm not a shadow beast; just a shape shifter." Narrowing her eyes, Shetan asked the question again: "What are you doing here, human?" She spat the word 'human' as if it was vile.

"I'm here because Isis asked me to watch over this entire region. I'm sure I don't have to explain this land for you. And just what is another human doing with a destiny sword? I haven't seen one since Isis gave me mine ten years ago. Isn't that Esmarry he has?"

"That is not your concern, human. If you were supposed to be here, guarding this region, why was I not told?"

Katyalina sighed and said, "She's not going to tell you everything, Shetan. I wasn't even supposed to see you for some time. What is another human, besides myself, doing in the shadow realm?"

Shetan sighed and said, "He was brought here by me. He's been training for some time now. By the way, do you still remember yours?"

Katyalina sighed and said, "How could I forget it, Shetan? You only spent months with me, teaching me to use my Destiny Sword. And Master Tal; I'll always remember those three years of lessons. I still have my sword; you remember Kaoyatoa, don't you?"

Shetan's eyes widened and said, "You still have Kaoyatoa? I thought you'd never mastered that Destiny sword."

All of a sudden, the human walked over to them and interrupted them. Shetan whirled on him and said, "I thought I told you to stay back until I signaled it was okay." He looked Katyalina up and down and then looked at Shetan and said, "There's another human in this realm? How could that be? I thought I was the only one." Before Shetan could say anything, Katyalina cut her off. "You assume I'm human, don't you? I thought that you would know better. You've obviously been training with Master Tal and have Esmarry with you. Wise choice, human."

***

Sean smiled nervously. "It wasn't really my own choice. I kinda got thrust here...."

"Oh really... Well, things like that can happen," Katyalina said with a smile also.

"How long have you been guarding here, Miss Katyalina?" asked Tal in his severe sounding voice.

"Only a few months. There's been no one here apart from me though. However, you've come at a bad time perhaps. Look."

All the eyes of the crowd drifted to the far ocean, following Katyalina's gesture. Far away, on the ocean, a dark light was shining.

"That's a portal, created by Yilven's servants." she explained. "Its not yet fully formed. This place is far from what the Council believed to be Yilven’s grasp, but it seems he is more powerful, or bolder that we thought. He is searching for this place still though - it may still take some time for the portal to open. We have a few days at most."

Sean looked confident. He'd learned to portray that image in the Monastery. Inside though, he was feeling rather sick. "What are we going to do?" he asked.

"We're going to destroy that thing." said Shetan. "We can't possibly let Yilven’s troops set foot here."

Tal looked over at Sean "You remember what you were taught?"

The true human nodded "Of course."

"You've been looking for an opportunity to test your training, young one" said Shetan. "This will be your first chance. We'll cross the sea until we get to the portal. When we do, I will shut it down. You and Katyalina will cover me and Tal should anything be waiting there."

The party nodded its agreement.

Sean's mind raced through his combat techniques and his growing arsenal of spells. Most of the spells he had at the moment were used for making him stronger, or resisting the effects of other spells. He had very little in the way of actually harming an opponent with magic. He recounted Kyruno's words about the Lightning spell he so badly wanted to learn.

"Magic is not a box of tricks. It’s a serious practice, and this art can not be toyed with."

Sean had however, taught himself the spell without tuition. It had taken a long time, but with great concentration he had found the magical pathways and powers to hurl raw magic from his fingertips. It was pitiful, so badly untrained, but it was something he was determined to master.

"We're going! Now!" said Tal.

With a burst of both motion, and magic, he launched himself forwards, magical energies sprinting through his feet. They touched the water, and where they did, it held firm, letting him run across the surface of the ocean as if it were made of concrete.

"You OK with this one, kid?" Katyalina asked.

“I'm not a kid." Sean responded, stepping onto the water, and taking the water at a sprint.

The portal was a long way from the shore, and it took almost an hour of running to reach it. Running the waves was difficult at first, but the human was able to slowly gain some foothold on the silvery surface.

As they approached the portal, Sean made out it was a dark rift in space, simply floating above a perfectly still ocean. It was a cut in reality, carved from the face of the world with a knife of pure evil.

In front of it, stood the problem. Balancing on the water much as the others were doing, stood a small cadre of Yilven’s Warriors. They were garbed in black armour, with no nicks or breaks - not a single spot where a sword could penetrate. Each of them hefted there own personal weapons of death. All of them were still covered in blood, hinting that Yilven was already at open war someplace else in this realm.

Tal sent a thundering challenge, his voice booming out in a foul, coarse language that not even the Dragon’s Gift could translate. At once the four warriors turned, menacing, and advanced upon them.

***

Master Tal clashed first with one of the dark warriors. His own sword flashed sparks against the solid metal, and the next instant he was flying backwards through the air. A quickly spoken word brought the water under him to a sheet of ice. He landed, but forcefully, and quickly rose.

Shetan countered quickly. Instead of a direct assault, she swung her sword, allowing it to slip against the metal and the momentum take her forward. One hand opened wide in front of her, she released energy that snaked around one of the warriors and exploded. The dark warrior wavered for a moment, then turned viciously. The armour hadn't even been scratched. Shetan ducked under the weapon, and then tried to get back around again. But the warrior blocked her way. Replacing her sword, Shetan shape-shifted to wolf.

Katyalina had shifted, too, during Tal's first attack. Now, a huge leopard danced across the water and ice. Slung across her back between wide- spread wings was the unmistakable Kaoyatoa- the Destiny Sword of Knowledge. And like all Destiny Swords, it held an unimaginable amount of power and magic. Sean, a few steps behind her, was shocked to see the sword practically glowing as it hung there, the radiance extending to the beast. Foot- long claws gleamed with the magic from the sword, and the creature's own magic, as she darted into the fray. A roar like thunder sounded, and Sean was glad he wasn't in that creature's way.

But the human didn't have to worry for long. There was one more of the dark warriors to deal with... and it was coming toward him. Sean desperately thought of something that would take effect on these things. The armour, as Shetan had proved, was impenetrable, and direct attacks weren't working. He had no time to decide as the warrior charged at him. A split second. He used the first spell that came to mind, coincidentally, the first one he had learned- the one that sharpened his blade and made it infinitely stronger. He struck, hard. But the metal was barely marked.

"Human, wait." Katyalina showed up beside him. "We're going to try something, that will send these creatures back where they came from and seal the portal. But we'll need your help." Sean nodded. "Cross the tip of your sword with mine. When we say so, flood your power and whatever magic you have in you into your sword. We'll handle the rest."

Sean did as he was told. He wasn't quite sure of this, not knowing what would happen. But he had little choice. A brief question flashed to Shetan, but she gave him confidence. Trust her about this. He placed the tip of his sword on the tip of Katyalina's. The two magics meeting each other caused the swords to both glow. The silent command was in his head- Flood it, now. He poured what power he could into his sword, and the whole place lit up. The area exploded.

He rose to see the rift closed, no sign left of the dark warriors. Shetan had battle wounds, as did Tal. Katyalina had managed to get by with a few scratches. Sean was just exhausted, utterly spent of his energy and strength. "Shetan, can we leave?" he managed to ask right before collapsing on the still- iced water.

***

Sean’s dreams in unconsciousness were troubled and disturbing from the start. He saw his old life, left behind ages ago. A funeral had been given by those who believed him dead, the world was moving on without him, and he was running after it with legs made of iron that wouldn't let him run. He remembered images of his friends, the good times that he'd spent with them, and all he would now be missing. A life torn from its world.

He saw Master Tal talking to Shetan about him. "He's a human. He'll pull through. You can smash humans apart, but it’s their ability to pick up their pieces no matter how much you break them." Shetan was looking down at him, her face surrounded by stars wheeling overhead in great majestic arcs.

Then the dreams became darker. He was surrounded, standing with Esmarry clutched in his hand, a massive ring of black armoured warriors advancing in on him slowly. He looked upwards as a light fell over him, and saw a great piercing shadow in the sky.

"You are doomed, human. You should never have come to this land. Soon, all that you fight to protect will fall to Yilven." The black clad warriors charged, and he was buried under an avalanche of swords, cut into a million pieces.

He fell, made of tiny fragments of matter, he fell through blackness. He felt like he was dying again and again.

But then something changed. The darkness became filled with stars, and the falling stopped. His fragments were slowly coalescing together again, but as they came together, they became different. Rebuilding a new person, made part human, part something else. The Dragon’s Gift was here as well, and so was a small, magical aura which he had acquired in his time in the Shadow Realm.

"Sean? Sean, can you hear me?" A voice spoke out from the starry sky that surrounded him. It was soft and feminine.

"Who are you?" he replied.

"Esmarry."

Sean blinked with his non-existent eyes. His pieces were still being dragged back together, but they had slowed right down. Something was stopping him from being complete.

"You’re my sword?" he asked the voice.

"Yes, I am. I am the spirit locked in the blade. They never told you, because they thought that you would not need to know. Each destiny sword is a prison for a powerful soul, sent from Heaven at the blade’s forging. I guard you, as you guard me. When you draw the sword for battle, you imbue the blade with our combined strength. This is why the metal of the blade is so powerful."

"Why are you telling me this?"

"Because as a human, your power will never be enough to defeat the warriors of Yilven. The armoured beings you fought today were nothing - you will face far more deadly forces in this world than them. And you must be ready for them. All your training to this date has made you powerful enough that you and I can meet like this. I shall rebuild you, Sean - make you stronger."

He froze, no longer able to move, or think or speak. The fragments of his being suddenly changed. From the sky around him, the stars fell down, all towards his own shattered form. Each star touched and fused with a shard of his being, and when they did, they became brilliantly bright, and fell into place. Outwardly, he didn't change too much. Inwardly, his soul was remade.

His brown hair was pulled away, and light, soft feathers of bronze implanted there in its place. His heart was split in two, and where there had been one, two now grew larger, and beat alternately instead. His eyes changed in intensity, taking on the slightest glow. His skin became softer, but stronger, and where iron was the base of his blood, it was removed, and silver placed into the cells.

"You are a knight of Destiny now." said Esmarry.

With a shock, he awoke from his sleep. His hands raced to his head, feeling for the new feathers which now replaced his hair.

He realized he was lying in a cave - one of the ones he had seen on the beach, where Shetan had planned to stay. She and Katyalina were missing, but Shu and Master Tal were sitting against the far side of the rocky hole.

"So" said Tal, "It’s begun."

***

While Sean, Shu, and Master Tal were talking, Katya and Shetan were fencing in the nearby woods, after the battle. The clashing of the swords could be heard for miles around. It was a wonder Sean could sleep at all. "Come on, human. Can't you do any better?" That irritated Katya. She wasn't fully human and Shetan knew it. "Human, Shetan? Whatever happened to you being called warrior?" Shetan rolled her eyes at that and blocked Katya's next attack. "That faded out a long time ago, Kat. Long before you left us. I need to know why you left anyways."

Katya didn't exactly want to explain that; not right now, anyways. It was far too complicated and Sean would be looking for them soon. After she had completed her three years of training with Master Tal, she decided she needed to do some training and learning of her own. But where she went afterwards, nobody knew. And nobody would know; not unless she talked in her sleep. "Shetan, that's a closed area in my life. The past is the past. What I'm living for is the future. It's closed: period." Shetan held her hands up in surrender. "Okay, okay. I give. So what's up with Kaoyatoa? I thought you didn't have the patience to master that sword. He seemed a bit too much for you." The force of Katya's next attack surprised Shetan. It has obviously been a personal question. "I didn't master Kaoyatoa, Shetan. I found the spirit within and we work together. We guard each other."

All of a sudden, a high pitch rang out and it reminded Shetan of a clashing cymbal, but a lot higher tone. Shetan dropped to her knees and put her hands over her ears. It didn't seem to faze Katya at all. She simply bowed her head, closed her eyes, and smiled. A light flashed, almost blindingly bright, and it cleared immediately. Before Shetan could say a word, another human appeared there. He was about a little taller than Katya and dressed in hunter’s clothing. He had brown hair and green eyes. His appearance seemed almost plain, compared to Katya. Katya had an exotic look to her. Her eyes changed with her surroundings and her hair was black as a raven. Her skin tone showed that she had obviously been outdoors a lot. Katya motioned for the young man to come forward. They had eyes for no one but each other. "Shetan, this is my fiancé, and best friend, Kaoyatoa. But I call him Toya. Toya, this is Shetan; loyal servant of the queen and my friend." His voice was deep and rich. "Good day to you, Shetan."

Shetan couldn't find anything to say. Katya had shocked the shadow beast into silence. She finally found her voice and said, "But I thought that the spirits locked within never manifested." Katya sighed and began to explain. "Yes, the spirits locked within never used to manifest themselves, but Toya is a special case. We worked together and with each battle, I felt a presence within the sword, as Master Tal explained to me before I left. I had a dream, one much like Sean has just had."


***

"The one he just-" Shetan cut off her words, confused. Then she stopped, concentrated. She'd made a link between herself and Sean, and she now used that to check on him. He was just becoming conscious again. Good, she thought, then realized something wasn't right. Something had changed.

Dual heartbeat. A sense of calm, patience. Another's presence.

"What has happened? He's changed… something is different." Shetan looked at Katya accusingly.

"Ask him yourself. Call him here." Shetan looked at the shape- shifter for a second before again reaching through the mind link.

"Sean, do you hear me?"

"Of course. I'm here, at the cave with Tal and Shu. But we need to talk."

"I know. I'll meet you on the beach in a few minutes." The Shadow glanced at Katya, then at Toya. "You're welcome to join us. Both of you." She took off running towards the caves. Katya nodded, and the two joined Shetan.

Sean had stepped out into the daylight. He blinked, and stared again with surprise. The sea, when he had first seen it, was just like any other ocean that he'd seen back home. But now, he found himself looking not at the water, but through it. Looking out, he was able to see the deep spots in the water and a few shapes moving below. He blinked again, and his normal vision returned. He saw his reflection on the surface, soft dark feathers covering his head and a refreshed look to him. In fact, he felt a lot better.

"Sean…” The Shadow stopped. Shetan looked in wonder at the human's change. "Was this from your sword?" she asked as Katya and Toya arrived behind her. Sean nodded.

"It was Esmarry. The soul within the blade. She merged with me." Even his voice had changed. It was richer, and Shetan could tell from the human's bearing that the magic was strong in him. "I… feel different."

"You look different, young one. And I have a feeling that you're ready for my training." Shetan smiled. “Especially before you start heavy training under Tal.” But inside, she was worried. The Dragon's gift, and now this. Could he, a mere mortal human, handle this much change so fast?

"He'll be fine." Katya's voice tickled through her mind. "If he's meant to be the one to bear Esmarry and finish the job others have started- overthrowing Yilven's dark hold- then he'll be fine." The shape-shifter turned to Sean. "I'd like you to meet my own sword's strength- Toya. He's also my ever- constant friend in this land."


***

Sean smiled at this, uncertainly. "But how did-" Katya knew exactly what he was going to ask. "How did he manifest? I knew that you would ask that." Katya then looked at Shetan and said, "I knew you wanted to ask that as well."

They all nodded, except Master Tal. "It surprises me, young one. I didn't think that Toya would manifest this soon, but I did expect to see him again." Master Tal then turned to Toya and said, "Good to see you again. You have picked an intelligent and beautiful young lady." Katya was about to interject when Shetan spoke up. "Tal, why was I not informed of any of this?" Katya then got her chance to speak up, even though her face was as red as her hair. "Shetan, you have not been informed for a reason. If you will calm down, I will explain my history and who and what I really am. I'm sorry for not telling you earlier, Shetan, but it was necessary to protect my true identity in order to safeguard myself. If any of the other dark shadows had heard my name, I would not be able to do what I need to do."

Katya now turned to all of them and motioned for all of them to sit. They all sat around the now burning fire in the cave and waited for Katya to start her story. "I was born in the shadow realm. My mother was a full-blooded shadow beast and my father was half-human and half-sorcerer. You call me shape-shifter, Shetan; and indeed I am. But that's not all. I am a shape shifter, a sorceress, a healer, and a warrior. I am part human, but not as much as I am of this world. In short, I am what you would call a tritaron."

She paused, waiting for Shetan's reaction. Her eyes went wide and her face went pale. When she finally recovered from her initial shock, she managed to say, "There hasn't been a tritaron in all of the Shadow realm for a over century! What makes you so sure you are one?" Katya sighed and said, "Of all the shadow beasts, Shetan, you should know better than to question someone with that claim. I would not claim that lightly, but I know that I am what I say I am."

Sean interjected here and said, "Excuse me, but what is a tritaron?" Katya was about to explain, but Shetan beat her to it. "A tritaron is a special kind of creature in this land. They are rarer than griffins are. They can work magic, heal, shape-shift into any desired form at any given moment, change their appearance subtlety or totally at any given moment, and fight. What makes them different from all the other creatures who have these abilities is that they are immortal. Unlike the shadow beasts, they never age and they never die. They just are. They've been around as long as the Shadow Realm has. It is hard to tell them apart from other creatures, because of their uniqueness. But the last one died by Yilven’s hand, as far as we know. "

"Thank you for explaining, Shetan. Now, I'll get on with the rest of my story. Maybe digesting that piece of information will make it easier to tell you this next bit. I told you my mother was full-blooded shadow beast, but you never asked who my mother or my father was. My father isn't important since, according to my mother, he died a long time ago; before I was born. But who my mother is, is the most essential piece of information there is." Shetan thought about this; but only momentarily. She had been curious about the tritaron's past since she stumbled upon her in the woods, but was wary of the turn in conversation. "Who is your mother, Katyalina?"

Katya rolled her eyes at the use of her full first name. She paused momentarily, to have it sink in. "My mother, Shetan, was none other than Isis, the queen of this realm."


***

Shetan froze. The colour drained from her face as she looked at Katya. "Lady Isis, our Queen, is your mother?" The Shadow looked at Master Tal. He was looking away, avoiding everyone's gaze. “Tal, have you known this?" He nodded, hanging his head. "Why didn't you tell me??"

"I was bound to secrecy. I couldn't tell you. Isis made me swear to tell no one, when I took Katya to train, and then you. She is only a couple years older than you, but I had to swear at the time to reveal nothing to either of you. Forgive me."

Shetan was shaking. "Tal, do you know what this means? What you've been hiding from me??" She looked at Katya. "You claim the Queen as your mother. It's not something I would doubt, for the claim is not a safe nor an easy one. To claim heritage of that line is to risk one's life. So I know you would not just claim that in spite or even as a joke. But Katya, something that I have never told you is my own heritage." She stood, walked away from the fire. Her voice shook through the dark cave. "Tal, you trained two warriors, both under order from Isis. And you knew both their heritage, their blood, and their potential. Yet you told neither of us, when we met, about the other's training and lineage."

"Katyalina, daughter of the Shadow Queen, Isis. I am the full- blooded Shadow, Shetan Arria, daughter to the Northern Forest Watcher, Bonari, a huge wolf- Shadow. My mother, though... " Shetan turned to look in Katya's eyes. "Is Lady Isis. You're my half- sister."

In a second, Shetan had become a rolling ball of fur. She fled from the cave, wolf- shape, and out into the darkness. Her voice echoed back. "Forgive me."


***

For a long while, there was a still silence around the small fire, apart from the crackling and popping sounds it gave of. Each of the remaining three stared into the flames, trying to reason what they had discovered. Tal clearly had nothing to say, but Katya was not so.

She stood up, and made off, in the opposite direction to the one Shetan had left in. Sean watched her go without moving anything but his eyes.

The moments lengthened in the light of the news.

"Sean?" asked a voice. He remembered the dream of Esmarry, how she had been so real to him. The voice was the same, but now it was whispery, and hollow.

"I can hear you." The transformed human sent back, his lips silently mouthing the words.

"What does this mean?" she asked.

"I don't know. I don't understand the implications."

"What I mean is, what does this mean to you. How does this change the way you see Katya and Shetan?"

"Well, it doesn't. Not really."

"Do not try to understand this land before you have the full knowledge to do so. As for this moment, this news need not affect your decisions until you know more." The voice of Esmarry was the voice of reason, Sean decided.

He stood up, drawing a stern look from Master Tal. "Where are you going?" the Master asked.

"After her."

Sean swept away, his long robes blowing around him dramatically. He didn't pay to much attention to them though. He walked along through the woods, looking this way and that, trying to find Shetan. He was worried about both her and Katyalina, but supposed they were both more than capable of looking after themselves.

With a light sheen sound of metal, Esmarry came from her sheath, as the student used his blade to hack his way through the dense undergrowth that Shetan had moved through. Deep inside himself, he knew he could feel her presence. There had been a connection forged between him and her, through the magic she used to keep track of him. Now, he was using that magic himself, pulling in the rope that she had him bound to. He felt immensely grateful to Shetan as he did. She had been here since the beginning, always there to look after him while he was still growing in this new land. He knew he would need her help for a long time still. She was a long way off, he could tell. She had stopped, but her great speed had carried her far in the time he had spent at the fire.

"You’re going to have the stop doing that, Young One," said a cold voice to his left.

Sean sprung around the face the oncoming sound, the blade of the sword becoming sharper and stronger, as he unconsciously cast his first spell upon her. He peered into the darkness, his new eyes glowing faintly as they shifted to look into different spectrums of the universe. He could see nothing made of light or heat.

There though, in the Eather, he glimpsed a long face staring at him. Within the core of one of the great trees of the forest, a being resided.

"Who are you?" he demanded.

"Sheath your sword, Human. You do us more damage than you know."

Obligingly, Sean took the point of Esmarry, and placed her in the glowing sheath. A small feeling of disappointment fed its way through his fingers and into his heart. He didn't know if the feeling was his own, or Esmarry's. He looked into the Eather once more, seeing the distorted, unearthly colours of the place. The face seemed bearded, with infinitely sad eyes. He was sure that if the Eather had colours that normal people could see, the face would be green.

"Thank you. You have become much in this place Young One, but there is much you do not understand. We, the Forest Spirits, are happy to admit your kind to our boroughs, but we are loath to tolerate your destruction of our souls."

"Your souls?" asked Sean quizzically.

"The power of a Destiny sword is far greater than that of any mortal weapon. Its blade carriers the essence of the Void within. Because of this, the power of the blade can become so great, that it may rend reality upon its edge, destroying armour, bone, flesh, and even light, magic - and souls. Esmarry is a soul consuming power, which destroys the life essence of anything she touches. So is it true with most other swords. You may have noticed that the blade has lost its old, rusted look, and has become fine and strong over the months. This is due to the fueling of souls which passes into her. Creatures of the air are often killed whenever you draw her. Only the most powerful can resist her draw and keep their souls, or those who are already damned."

Sean was stunned again for the n'th time since entering this place. He gazed backwards at the trail of destruction he had left in the forest, and then at the sheath and hilt of Esmarry. The hilt had been bright and clean for a long time now, but he now noticed the faintest trace lines of a golden motif appearing on the sheath. Was this made of the life energy he had just harvested from the forest?

"I'm sorry, I never knew."

"Ignorance is the greatest of all sins when used with both power and determination." the Forest Spirit intoned. "A Destiny Sword is a weapon made of the Void, forged with the Flames of Hell, and bound to the Will of Heaven. She is a weapon, and you must never forget this. Now, Go."

Perplexed, and rather afraid, Sean left the Forest Spirit. He could feel the eyes of the forest as though they had turned upon him. There was a sense of melancholy in the air around him, as the trees lamented their dead.

'I'm sorry,' he whispered to them.

*
It was a long time since Shetan had left the camp fire, and Sean was thinking that the early hours of the morning were beginning. He looked up into the sky, and saw that the branches of the trees now made a new ceiling for him. Shetan was close, he could feel her. He pushed his way through the tangled vegetation, wishing he had a less permanently killing weapon with which to fight through the mess. His hands were cut by thorns and spines, and his face also. Still, as fast as the skin was ripped, it would mend itself back up again, the blood fading from its silver colour to black as it touched the air, and was poisoned.

At least, just has he was sure he had found her, the forest suddenly become thicker. It was a mass of vines and brambles, the trees forming an impassable, almost concentric wall of wood, 50 foot thick, and a thousand high, as the massive trees reached a height he'd never seen in his own world. Shetan was beyond them.

Almost as if knowing he was there, the trunk of the tree in front of him split open a small tunnel, just large enough for him to walk through. Making sure Esmarry was safely in her sheath, he stepped into the hole in the great tree. It was a long, slime covered tunnel, with a faint light source at the far end. He searched all the spectrums he knew, but nothing his eyes could tell him revealed what was on the far side of the hole.

At last, he stepped beyond the threshold, and into a new world.

The ground here was made of water, and the air was thick with a trillion tiny little points of light. As he moved, they sung to him, flowering around his body in a tiny storm. The land was huge, almost a kilometer across, circular, and perfectly formed. As he stood, ripples issued from his feet.

From the sky, which was an indefinite shade of deepest, midnight blue, streams of light fell to land on the water, illuminating small patches. Sean walked towards the centre of the wondrous world. This was a place as magical as he had ever imagined. The very air was thick was magic, like a vapour, it condensed on his skin, and flowed through his veins. His Eatheral senses pulsed silently, with a heartbeat that this land was sending to him. In front of his eyes, the floating lights seemed like stars. He could have been a God, standing inside a great Universe.

Awe-struck, he wandered into the world. The edges seemed not to be made of the other side of the trees, but pillars of stone, stretching up to hold Heaven above him.

"What is this place?" he breathed in mesmerized wonder.

"This is Heart of the Sky," came a voice from one of the many lit patches of water. Sean looked down, and saw Shetan sitting in her human form on the water. From sparkling eyes, two tears emerged, ran down her face, and then blossomed into points of light, and ran to join the others in their Universe-like dance.

He sat down on the water with her. "Are you OK?"

She didn't seem to notice his comment though. "This place is where the tears of a pure heart go. There are a trillion of them here. When new ones enter, the old ones leave, and become Wishes."

"Wishes?"

"Yes. They will grant a heart its desire. Life is driven by emotion, and emotion is what drives all life. This place is a junction of where emotion and reality meet. This is the centre, where life and eternity can couple at last. He who rules life, rules the stars, and he who rules the stars, has all life to control."

"How do you know this?"

"This is the legend that Isis passed on to me. I am its keeper. I have shared it with you though, so that should anything happen to me I want you to be able to pass this knowledge on to someone else."

"I will," he promised. "So, that’s why you lead me here?"

"In a way, yes. I had to tell you. It’s a heavy burden to carry, I know, but please, share it with me."

"Of course."

"Thank you, Sean. Now, we should be getting back." She stood up, and a second pair of stars formed on her cheeks. Hand in hand, they walked from the Heart Of the Sky, and back towards the Shadow Realm. The stars blew around them in a maelstrom, without order or reason.

He who rules the stars, has all life to control.

"We can't ever let Yilven come here, can we?"

"No, this place must be protected from him - at any cost."

As they walked through the corridor back to the land of the Shadow Realm, a hand placed itself on Sean’s shoulder, and turned him around. He started into a pair of eyes, framed in a skin of pale blue. The eyes were jet black, but shone brightly.

The creature’s hand moved towards Sean’s own, and as they touched, placed a single star in his palm. The turn only took a fraction of a moment, and if Shetan noticed, she didn't show it. Sean looked at his hand, to see the faint point of light sink into his skin.

My name is Esha. I am the Star Queen. Your fate and mine seems bound together. Destiny has made its plans, and now, only you can protect this place from Evil.

The voice faded as Sean and Shetan walked away through the tunnel, from the Heart of the Sky.

Why Sky will always be your ally.
___