Our Paths Crossed Again Part 1

Zain finally made it to Semilia and walked to the castle. The townspeople looked at him and noticed it wasn't the same Zain they used to know. He walked up the stairs of the castle and the castle doors opened.

"Brother!" A woman said looking at Zain surprised.

"Kanon.." Zain said and looked at her then an older woman walked behind Kanon. "Mother.."

"It's a miracle mom! Zain has returned!" Kanon smiled happily. "Aren't you happy?"

"Zain..." The mother said. "Come in, come in."

Zain walked in the castle and the doors closed. Kanon was extremely happy about Zain's return. The mother looked at him and rubbed his back. Zain let down his scarf and closed his eyes.

"Firstly I want to apologize...for choosing the side of Uphelia...I followed the wrong path like my brother did..." Zain said.

"Zain...you did what you thought was right in your heart..you always had good intentions...Never apologize for trivial matters like that. The important thing is you're home.." The mother smiled.

Zain looked at her then Kanon. Kanon pat his shoulder and smiled.

"Come on brother..cheer up...we're together once again!" Kanon said.

"Yeah..it's just I feel so bad because I was deceived by Zephyr..I was a fool to believe he was a good man." Zain said.

"If you look at it in a way, Zephyr is worse than Stella, but Stella just shows no mercy to her enemies...killing them even if they beg for their lives." The mother said. "Come have a seat and I'll go make some tea."

Zain and Kanon went to sit down. Zain leaned forward and looked at the table. Kanon looked worried and tilted her head a bit.

"Before I became one of the Supreme Ten of the Empire, I had planned to marry Stella. Take her away from this land of misery...but we had a huge argument." Zain said.

"What was it about?" Kanon asked.

"I said I didn't like the way she ran her tactics..executed her motives. Like mom said, she has no mercy in her heart. She has no compassion for the opposite side. She has this mindset that everyone is out to get her..which is true now that I paid close attention. The Major Kingdoms are all after Stella. Some plan to kill her, others want to marry her so she can no longer rule. The Empire has done nothing to stop it...Emperor Lazlord said they are neutral at all times, and because of that so many innocent people have lost their lives.." Zain said. "I had to take so many innocent lives...that guilt turned into hatred...and now I can't change back to who I used to be."

"Zain.." Kanon touched his shoulder.

"I cannot betray Emperor Lazlord though...betraying him will result in me having an enemy the size of Arcania on my back, but I want to make things right with everyone. With you and mom...with Lord Kalon...with Stella." Zain said.

The mother came back with tea and sat down the teacups on tiny coaster plates then sat down with Kanon and Zain.

"Zain, do you still love Stella?" The mother asked.

"She's the only woman I've ever loved, but I fear she does not feel the same." Zain said.

"I beg to differ." The mother smiled. "She talks about you almost all the time when she calls me. She still worries about you, and most of all she still loves you." The mother said.

Zain looked up at his mom then at Kanon. Kanon nodded and smiled. He smiled a bit and picked up his cup of tea and sipped.

"Even though you aren't my biological family, I'm still happy to have you both around." Zain said.

"As am I." The mother said.

"Me too!" Kanon smiled happily.

They all sat and talked, drinking tea. About an hour later they were finished drinking their tea and chatting.

"Zain. You might wanna head to Arthvia. Stella will be there, she's finally making her move against the big kingdoms. Help her out in battle.." The mother gave him a mask. "The Mask of Umbra..use this if you wish to hide your identity."

"Thank you, mother." Zain took the mask and smiled. He put on the mask and the mask clicked and was fully equipped. "I shall see you both soon."

"Be safe and don't die on us!" Kanon smiled.

Zain nodded then ran out the castle and vanished. His mother smiled and closed her eyes. Kanon wiped her eyes and sniffled.

Meanwhile at the Border of Arthvia...

"The Seven Pillars have arrived!" The Royal Guards said.

I pointed up and snapped my fingers then a huge ball of darkness slowly crashed down on the guards, taking them all out in one go and killing them. My eyes glowed and I grinned evilly. Saya jumped off her horse seeing a knight running up. She summoned her daggers and landed. Flames surrounded her and her red eyes glowed.

"By the power of my flames..you will burn eternally!" Saya said. "Fotiá!"

Saya twirled her daggers and slashed at the air and two flame serpents struck the knight. The Knight deflected the flames then dashed to Saya. Saya's eyes went hollow and her daggers glowed. The Knight slashed down and an ice barrier protected Saya. Miyuna gracefully landed on top of the ice barrier then her aura synergized with Saya's.

"Double Skill: Pagoméni kólasi!" They both said.

A huge magic circle appeared and the symbols for fire and ice appeared. A huge blast of fire and ice shot from the magic circle. The Knight grunted and was blown away. Victoria and Kotome dashed into the kingdom taking down the reinforcements ahead. Julia rode on her horse into the kingdom and aimed her bow at the enemy snipers.

"Sorry, but your sniping skills will never surpass mine." Julia said and shot an arrow into the sky. "Thousand Arrow Storm!"

The arrow exploded into a thousand tiny arrows and rained down on the enemy snipers, defeating them.

"Holy Order members ahead!" Julia called out.

Gloria dashed towards the Holy Order. She opened her left eye and the clock eye started ticking.

"40 Second." She said. "Freeze!"

Gloria stopped time then took out her sword and slashed at the Holy Order members necks then resumed time. The members fell to the ground. Kielazar summoned four swords and clashed with a commander of the Holy Order.

"Heh, been a while Kielazar!" The man said.

"Hmph, Serius. Things are different this time!" Kielazar kicked Serius away. "This time, I am free!"

Kielazar bellowed and his purple aura exploded. I looked at Kielazar and smiled. He had no restraints on his power. Victoria looked back and blushed. Kielazar summoned his main weapon, Luna Rhapsody.

"You have Gabriela's sword..?" Serius looked at Kielazar.

"Yes..and you will die once I strike you down with this blade!" Kielazar said.

"Whoa who is this guy--GAH!!" A knight was killed.

We all looked to the direction of the commotion and saw a man appear on the top of a building and he looked down at us. I squinted at him and he just vanished. I ran after him, and Saya and Miyuna followed. Kielazar and Serius continued their battle.

"The Holy Order have been told to not show any mer--" He looked shocked and felt a sword being driven through his chest.

"I have no time for talking.." Kielazar said and palmed the sword through his chest and summoned it back in his hand.

Serius fell to his knees and Kielazar looked at him then wiped his blood of the sword. He walked off and Victoria and the others followed.

"Hey you! Stop there!" I said.

The masked man stopped and looked at me. I looked at him and studied him. I felt like I knew him.

"Who are you?" I asked.

"I am Umbra. The Savior of the Empire. You have done well Stella...I see there is no need to worry." He said.

More knights ran out the castle and surrounded Stella, Umbra, Saya, and Miyuna. King Kyon walked out the castle and smirked.

"Stella...I remember you from the Knight battle...it was a nice time..but you have two options surrender and take my hand in marriage, or die." Kyon said.

"I'd rather be crushed to death by a meteor than take your hand in marriage, scum!" I said.

"Miss Stella isn't marrying someone of the likes of you--" Miyuna was punched and she fell to the ground.

"Did the king tell you to speak?!" A knight said.

Saya's heart thumped and her eyes turned white then her flames surged around her body and turned black. I guarded my face and grunted. Saya gritted her teeth and her body shook in anger.

"You...dare hurt..Miyuna?!" Saya dashed to the Knight.

I was shocked as this was the first Saya has ever been serious. The Knight went for a slash then Saya swiftly dodged and jumped on the knights back and stabbed at the mouth of the knight's helmet. The knight let out whimpers as he caught the blade with his teeth. Saya kept putting force on the dagger. The other knights went to gang up on Saya. Saya yelled and flipped over the knight's head and kicked the dagger thought the knight's head. The others was shook and paused. Miyuna held Saya's arm.

"Saya..don't...fall into the darkness...not like this...I'm alright.." Miyuna said.

Saya looked at Miyuna and her eyes and flames turned back to normal. Miyuna hugged Saya and smiled. Kyon laughed and watched.

"Umbra...make yourself useful and deal with these knights...I have a score to settle with Kyon.." I summoned my Ancient Katana, Seven Suns.

'Same old Stella..' Umbra smiled under his mask.

"Alright then." Umbra opened his hand and red lightning surged from his hand. The lightning turned into a red phantom blade, Phantom Excalibur.

"That sword..." I said to myself and looked at Umbra. "It couldn't be..."

I shook my head and focused on my battle against King Kyon. He summoned an Ancient Sword called Royal Astra. Saya and Miyuna retreated for right now and met up with the others. Umbra's black and red aura surged then he dashed to the knights. I dashed to Kyon.