Destiny of Light

Jargos and Kreig nodded and Jargos took Layla's arm, helping her avoid larger objects as they made their way out of the forest

Layla started to think things over as to what could potentially happen in the evening. "If what I fear is true," she said, "then there's a possibility we could run into trouble as the twilight rises over. I've yet to understand it, but the closer it gets to evening then the more tension seems to come over the lands. It wasn't like this before I went over seas."

Jargos nodded as they went on


Kreig was on high alert

As they went on, it started to get closer to mid-afternoon, early evening. Layla didn't like the fact that she couldn't fight what she couldn't see. Her magic did have its limitations to this point. She only hoped she had unlocked enough of her inner powers to provide aid to the group upon nightfall if anything happened.

Kreig was enchanted by the world outside of Darkwoods, getting ahead of Jargos and Layla to explore. Jargos lead Layla calmly, not much else he could do at the moment. Even if Layla weren't blind, he would have to slow down. He hadn't anticipatted a new person traveling with them, and while he could have gotten himself and Layla to see Lunalia once more, two trips would not have worked

Layla started taking note of the sounds of the surroundings. She didn't like the tension in the air.

As night began to fall, Kreig made camp for the three of them and Jargos helped layla settle in before he went to hunt, leaving Kreig to act as a guard in case anything Layla couldn't handle happened, which was unlikely, but still possible

While camp was all being set, Layla took this as a chance to contact Master Raven. Going into meditation, she summoned a sphere to her hand and contacted him.

"Master Raven, can you hear me?" she spoke into the sphere.

"Layliana, it brings much joy to hear from you once more! How are you faring in your homeland again?"

"Things aren't as safe as they used to be, Master. I wanted to ask for your advice."

"We talked about this. There is nothing more I can teach you until you return to Nicca. Your training will have to proceed on your own for now."

"How can I fight something I can't see? Creatures I can't sense?"

"I'm sorry, Layliana. But there's nothing further I can do from here. All I can tell you is to pay attention to your surroundings. You have the upper hand, because you've lost the one thing that restricted you. And that was your vision."

The connection was closed. Layla sighed, disappointed in the answer.

Kreig looked puzzled at Layla and the talking sphere, but kept quiet about it, not wanting to be rude

"When did you meet Jargos? If you don't mind me asking"


Jargos was on the hunt

"We met about a hundred years ago in the kingdom of Garlan. I may not look like it, but I'm a hundred and twenty-five in age."

Kreig was surprised, then he remembered the legend and how it was a hundred years ago that she and Jargos defeated Balthozar.

"What was life like back then?"


Jargos nabbed a massive deer and a boar

"Things were a bit more peaceful than they are now. Well, I mean, aside from this rising evil. My village originally did not accept outsiders until Jargos came along. He is the hero of my home, and highly respected by both the people and myself. Ramona, once our leader, betrayed my village and turned out to be evil. I took on the final attack and killed her. However, in the process, I nearly had the same result. Jargos saved my life, more times than one. If you ask me, he's the real hero."

Kreig wondered what it would be like to be as powerful as Jargos and save the world, just as he and Layla did. He stood up and stretched as Jargos came into view with dinner. Jargos set up the spits and made a roaring fire to cook with

Layla greeted Jargos upon his return. She started back her meditation for some time, aggravated at her inability to focus her powers properly. She wanted to be able to fight against the shadows when they arose once more.

Jargos greeted her with a smile and a pat on her shoulder before starting to cook. Kreig wondered what else was in the world

"How much training in channeling your inner self have you have, Kreig?" Jargos asked as he watched the fire

"Very little, I only recently got my runes and my body hasn't adjusted yet" He replied sheepishly

Layla listened silently to the conversation.

"Ah, I see. That is a good thing, believe it or not. It's easier for me to teach someone to tap into their hidden power when they haven't had previous instruction, and seeing as you are to one day take my title as Lord of Darkwoods, you must be even stronger than me one day" Jargos said as he cooked

Kreig was sure he could do it. He had every confidence, almost to the point of being cocky, but he kept his ego in check

"I understand, my Lord"

"Call me Jargos, my friend, for you and I are equals and I shall never be above you"

"What do you mean?"

"You are the first in over 1000 years to wear the scared lunar rune. Only those of pure heart and beast might can call forth their strength through such runes. Even I, at 230 something years old cannot use those blessed runes. You shall surpass me in every way, and maybe you won't look like a monster when you're done" Jargos chuckled

Layla continued to listen quietly. She picked up a sound in the distance, but shrugged it off for the moment and continued meditation. Something had her on edge.

Jargos heard the sound too, but it did not alarm him or Kreig.

Layla finally gave up on her meditation, seeing as she was a bit too aggravated with her powers to continue.

Soon, their meal was ready and Jargos served Layla and Kreig before himself. He sat close to Layla, enjoying her company

As she enjoyed the meal, Layla said, "I hope Zeiza is safe tonight. My prayers to Gaea to keep it protected, of course. But, this darkness rising has me on edge in the evenings since arriving."

"I agree, my friend, but how the shadow magic escaped is beyond me, and who dares wield such darkness is even more of a puzzle"

Kreig ate like Jargos, devouring his food and going back for extra helpings

Layla ate her fill and sat back against a tree to think. "I know we ended the life of Balthazar long ago, so he's certainly off our list."

"Mhm" Jargos pondered as he ate and ate, while Kreig listened, wishing he could give them answers, but he had only been alive for 30 years, he knew next to nothing