Chapter 105, The Path We Walk On

We stood at the ebtrance of sweets shop, ready to go in but unsure of what way to use. The town's empty, without life or light, as if has been abandoned. It somehow feels like I've seen this before but I don't know where, could it be a memory of a previous Fleur.

"So, how do we do this?" Lysander asked as Will activated his Article.

"Simple, go in gun blazing." Zhen said as he activated his Article along with the others.

"Just a minute." I told them. "We can't just go in there without knowing what's waiting. First, let's scout out the scene."

"There's no life inside the building." Lysander stated.

"Let's go." Van said as he kicked the door open.

We searched the store till Liam said he found hatch below the counter. We open the hatch to reveal a ladder that leads down, we nod as we descended into the depths.

The ladder leads down and lights fill the way down, as we descended I started to smell something. Is this medicine or something else completely? But without a doubt it isn't a natural scent I've smelt before.

When we reach the bottom, there's a path that leads further down. We walk down them and it seems there are tunnels that branch from this one. Could the travel the whole island? If so, for what purpose?

"Which way?" Adonis asked as the path branched into two. Just then, I noticed a strange crest on the path and my world went black.

----

"This way." Arata said but somehow he doesn't feel like himself.

"Which generation are you?" Van asked as we followed Arata down a path.

"I'm Julius, the second." He answered. "That crest at the entrance, with swords and flowers is the crest of the Aureate Blade."

"Aureate Blade?" Will asked.

"It was a group of knights from long ago, they were held as the symbol of elegance and strength hwoever... it was said that they went astray from the order and went beserk after their leader was slain." Lyzander said.

"I see, so that's what's been passed down." Julius said. "My brother in amrs were... remember not as heroes but as villains."

"I see, they went berserk because they lost you." I said.

"I suppose any Sword would go insane if their Flower was burnt to desth before their very eyes." He said with a pained smile. "This way."

"Why did you burrow Arata's body?" Liam asked.

"Because there's something I want to ascertain with my own eyes even if it's just once more." He answered. "Ivy had payed you a visit correct?"

"Yes." Will answered.

"Le Sabre, beside you should be a tile that if you pass Vi into will revela the correct path." He said and so Lyzander passed Vi to the tile beside him and the wall opened.

We go inside and continue, there are many corners to turn, many tiles to activate and even stairs and ladders to descend down on before we finally reach a tall iron door. Along the way, Julius tells us the story of his past, we learn about the life of the second Le Fleur and his pains. As we stood before the door, we all had one thing in our mind what awaits behind it.

"This is as far as I go." Julius said.

"Are you sure?" I asked.

"Yes. Before I go, I must warn you, about the path we walk on, about our fate, about what awaits you... however, I can only say this much." He said and we all payed close attention. "Unless you want Arata to end up the same way I did, never let him out of your sight, never leave his side, because the moemnt you turn away frrom what's important to you, you'll lose everything."

"We understand." We answered as he closed his eyes and fell asleep.

I caught Arata and we waited till he woke up before moving. In the time we waited for him, we began talking.

"Van, what was the life of the previous Le Fleurs?" I asked him.

"It wasn't a happy one, for certain." Lyzander said. "Their lives all ended in a tragic note."

"The first died after being swallowed by a Chinera before the eys of his Braves, the second was burnt to death for being charged with false crimes, the third lost the Braves that served him so he went insane." Van stated as he read from his book. "The fourth was betrayed by her comrade and killed, the fifth uwed up his power to save others eventually killing himsel."

"As far as my teacher told me, the sixth died after being branded as traitor by the worlds, the seventh died while protecting her Blades and I'm sure the ninth has already told you her story." Lysander said.

"Yeah. She went insane after being used as a lab rat." I looked down. "Not very happy endings."

"That is believed to be due to Fleur's own end." Lyzander answered. "The origin of their power, Fleur died a cruel death, after she sealed away the Lost Beasts, she was executed."

"By whom? She was a Hero wasn't she?" Leon asked.

"She was, but her power was feared by certain people." Van answered. "My teacher said that the cruel fate of the Le Fleur's has something to do with Fleur."

"To shelter them from their cruel fate, the Swords were created." Lyzander said. "Or so I heard."

"Whatever cruel fate awaist Arata, we'll make sure to protect him, we've already made that vow." I stated. "No matter what."

"We'll pritect Arata!" The others exclaimed and just then Arata began to stir.

As Arata opened his eyes, he smiled. We smied down on him as he got up and looked around to reaffirm that he has woken up from his Dream Castle and gets up. Arata stares at the door before us and nods to us. We position ourselves at the door push it open to reveal what was on the other side.