“ Thank you all for coming. You may call me Hazel as my traditional elfish name has become hard to pronounce with the evolution of the common language. I am the grandmaster amongst the paladins of Lumia’s church. Today here we have gathered the four heroes, the one who bears the mark of the wolf, the mark of the fox, the mark of the bear, and the mark of the dragon. Each mark is associated with one of the five gods, for which each of you champion now. There is the fifth mark, that of the serpent; however, those who bear that fate are not destined to face evil like the four of you. They are inventors, cartographers , geologists , those that advance civilization for the next wave of heroes to succeed. The mark of the serpent lays the groundwork for your success like they have today. I say this as I wish to give you the context as to why Alverez, Valder, and I have been tasked with the duty to guide the four of you. Lady Fong was part of our adventurers team and she had remained with us until her passing. She was our party leader and always led us on the correct path; it was only with her dying breath. Did she tell us her duty and asked us to complete it.”

  Hazel looked to Valder . He clearly wanted to say something and so she stepped back letting him speak.

  “ Rin, I had thought you would develop the mark of the bear. I was so confident in my assertions that I pushed you into a situation that you should have never been . Those who wield the mark of the bear are often weak in a magical sense. Their mana pools too low for any real meaningful Magic. However, that trade-off is their strength and the strength you demonstrated down in that chlorine containment room Is what made me believe in you.”

  “ So was it a lie when you said you saw something of yourself in me?” Rin wasn't angry as it was a genuine question. One that he wanted to know.

  “ No it wasn't a lie. I do see a lot of myself in you, what I did put you in danger and I believe now that I should have let you become a normal student.”

  “ No Valder despite the pain I've gone through, I am grateful to have met my friends and I have you to thank for that. I may have lost one but that just gives me all the more reason to cherish the ones I have today. I might not bear one of these marks of the heroes.” Rin stated sarcastically. “ However, I think my life was set on this path before i even realized it, the one thing you did for me was give me people to stand by.”

  Below Valder’s placid demeanor there was a genuine look of shock; he hadn't expected Rin to show that level of emotional maturity but he was happy.

  “ Yes it would seem the cult of the void has been planning something within this city for years possible due to the fact that not one or two heroes manifested here but all four. As of now you four must start your journey and that means gaining an adventure license not just the provisional ones you get while attending school. Once the four of you get your license I will be taking you to Trest the home of my church where I will monitor your training.”

  Kenji, who had been mostly silent up to this point aside from the lizard in his lap making the occasional chirping nose, stood up. The lizard leapeding unfurling its wings. Not a lizard then. Rin thought. The red creature circled around gliding before with a hefty flap of the wings elevated itself onto kinji's shoulders.

  “ You keep saying you four, the four of you and so on. But I count five of us. Who are you leaving out?” Kenji glanced to Rin as if he had already known the answer. Hazel answered quickly.

  “ Rin. He will be left to his own devices as he is not one of the chosen four and…”

  “ What?” Both Sophia and Douge said their voices overlapped.

  “That's bullshit, “ said Douge.

  “ He has been as involved in this as much as Douge and I.” Said Sophia.

  “Guys.” Rin said “ It's okay.”

  “No it's not. We just lost somebody to this Hero prophecy bullshit.” Sophia's voice rose in frustration as she spoke.

  “Granddaughter please.”

  “ NO! That's bullshit. I knew my fate and have resigned myself to something like this. I've heard the stories of heroes' past and have a decent idea on what's to come, which is why abandoning Rin who might I remind you. Or inform you is intertwined into this as much if not more than us. The gods fu!”

  “ SOPHIA!” Valdar yelled “This is what is best for everyone. Don't you see the three of you have formed a dependent relationship. I visited each and every one of you in the past month. You and Douge both suffered from being separated. Night terrors, anxiety, a lost sense of worth we understand you guys have gone through more than kids of your age should have. You and Douge have no visible scars yet you still bear them.”

  “ If I may speak.” A woman spoke, it was Douge's mother.

  “ Rose?” Her husband.

  “ Valder has spoken with us about this and at first I did not agree. It took your father time to convince me. It's unhealthy the way you rely on one another. This is my first time meeting Mr.Wezts but even I can see how you two look at him. He's not the red sealant and locking adhesive that you think is. He's a strip of aluminum tape placed onto the outside of a spacecraft to prevent an air leak. He works just enough to get you where you think you need to go or that journey takes too long. He breaks and it becomes catastrophic.”

  “ Mother.” Douge said softly. “ You should really use a different metaphor. Nobody here understands the manufacturing process or what you're even talking about besides me and maybe them.” He pointed to Valder, Alverez and Hazel.

  “ I understood it.” Kenji said.

  “ And him I guess.”

  “ Look sweet heart.” Rosa started to speak but Rin stood up and interrupted her.

  “ Mrs. Vlounderparts please let me. Douge, Sophia.” Rin held his hand out for them to grab, hoisting them to stand with him one at a time. “ I agree with them. Even if we discount the very obvious now that it's been pointed out to me reliance we have on each other. We are walking the same direction but the roads we have taken are different. “ Rin hugged them. Douge wrapped his massive arms around them both.

  “ Okay.” Douge said.

  “ Okay.” Sophia agreed.“ But on one stipulation. We agree to meet up again”

  “ Yeah and plus we can always text one another.” Rin said and Douge grimaced slightly.

  “ I keep forgetting you grew up in the blocks. Communication and information is very easy to get here in the valley of Xulun because we have communication towers set up. However, the further out you get from massive cities the worse magical interference becomes. So with us being on a whole other planet you'd have to requisition some sort of specialized communications device from the adventurer or magics administrations.” Douge said.

  Shortly after everyone settled back down Hazel continued her explanation. Rin left while he assumed no one was watching. She spoke of the oath they took to their dead friend to guide and foster the new heroes how she positioned herself to hear tales of valor and to be in a position where she could go and assess, how in their one hundred years of sitting and waiting watching they uncovered the cult of the Void, a force set to dismantle the heroes and bring about the summoning of the Demon King. She seemed to dance around the topic of why Rin had become involved and it was at this point that Rin decided he had enough and left. His involvement with Sophia team was merely coincidental. However, being placed in that position seemed to give the cult what they wanted with Paul's involvement Rin had wondered how much of his life had been on this path. The Demon King appeared to be working with the cult personally, unlike the gods who had a more hands-off approach with their heroes. Rin sighed, feeling like a pawn in a game of chess that was too big for him to even see the square he was on. He defied the Demon King inside the astral dungeon and perhaps that defiance is what led Paul to kidnap them and force Rin into submission. If the cults goal was to truly summon the Demon King into the mortal realm again and he was to be the vessel then being away from the heroes. No, not heros his friends. Then that will save them from the hard choice.

  “ Did you come to realize something?” Valder's voice called out to him. Rin had wandered outside the village and was currently out of turning point in a switch back up the mountain.

  “ Why do you deflect my question? You said everything would be explained after the funeral but I'm more confused now than back then I'm trying to parse all the information through my head.” Rin sat down, his feet dangling. Valder came up next to him sitting down. The two of them looked out at the setting Sun.

  The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

  “ Because the truth is.”

  “ It would be better for you to kill me right now. Am I right?”

  “ Yes.”

  “ That's the truth. They're dancing around. the truth is if I went with them if and if the people at the church realized what I was. They would kill me.”

  “Yes.”

  “ The dependence isn't a lie. I feel it too. The month spent away from them was agony. It didn't feel safe so you sprinkle that truth in and it feels real.”

  “ Kenji will be staying.”

  “ What?”

  “ After you left Kenji announced he will be dropping from the academy to pursue a membership with the magic administration, he will in time take the exam to become a regular adventurer however, he wishes to work under Alverez so he's staying.”

  Rin smiled at that. he was glad one friend would be staying.

  “ You know, I think I'm supposed to be the vessel for his return. Twice now I've been told to consume the souls of my friends to gain their power. Paul said it would strengthen me in preparation for him to take over my body. Apparently I was supposed to die to those Skreen before my neurological implant was taken out of my head.”

  “ Now Rin, that makes no sense. You're supposed to die and then what he takes over your body and it's weakened. If they wanted you to devour the souls then why would they kill you at the beginning. That man, Paul I believe he was using that moment to convince you that your life was his and that of his god's. Once you leave this city as a real adventurer, I think you should find a small town that has the church of Lumia and ask her a few questions.” Valder grabbed a handful of snow, packing it into a ball before throwing it. The snow ball rocketed away from the two men.

  “ I figured I should stay away from churches. I thought the gods didn't appear to anyone.”

  “ A church and an unknown town or village won't be able to figure out what you are and even if they do they won't have the power to stop you, and god's do occasionally make appearances. Now come on. I heard they were preparing a feast. “ Valder stood brushing the snow off of his pants.

  “Hay Valder.” Rin said, turning around to look at the man.

  “ Do you think I'm broken? For the longest time I thought I never felt emotions. I understood them but now I find my insides torn up and I don't know what I'm feeling. It feels like my deeper emotions have been locked away from me and only once they reach some sort of threshold do they burst out. I feel like they move from happy to mad to sad way too fast. They feel erratic and all over the place.

  “ You're not broken Rin you're growing.”

  Sophia stretched as she stood up, She looked around hoping to spot Rin. Douge was being dragged by his parents outside the yurt. She wanted to speak with him and Rin however, it seemed Rin had slipped out without her noticing her grandfather was missing too. Zalindra was standing by the tent flaps watching her. The resemblance was uncanny to her deceased friend. She really did take after her father. She swallowed the sadness and pulled out her phone to message Rin.

  [Where did you go?] She messaged and her phone buzzed with a reply almost instantaneously.

  [ Cooking ]

  Cooking? Why was he cooking where was he cooking? She really needed to talk with him even though she agreed to be separated and didn't sit right. She began to feel anxious tapping her foot on the floor.

  “ Sophia.” Zalindra said. “ Is everything alright?” Liliandra's father walked up; they were the only two left in the yurt.

  “ I'm fine.” Sophia said with a hint of irritation. Why was she irritated? There was no reason to be.

  “ Okay then perhaps a dual would help to calm the nerves. It is a tradition to honor fallen warriors. Those who wish to participate do and those of us who are not form a circle and we feast.”

  “ Liliandra wasn't a warrior, she was a priestess.”

  “ No she was. She died in defiance of our greatest enemy That makes her one of the greatest warriors of our tribe.” Sophia sighed. She could do with a fight and work her frustrations out.

  “ Okay, lead the way.”

  Zalindra led Sophia up to one of the peaks on the mountain; it had been flattened and had been made into a place of ceremony. With their backs to the edge men and women lined up with stoves and hot plates cooking. A circle was forming and food was being brought to those that sat. One man stood in the circle.

  “ Douge!” Sophia shouted in astonishment she hadn't expected him to be there. He held a wooden blade about two and half feet in length. “ What are you doing?”

  “ Fighting! Hay have you seen Rin?” A man beast-kin but not a white-tiger but a lion. This was Travis. She knew Travis both of them would often attend parties having to play the role of a good child for appearances sake. He held no weapon but leather wraps around his fist.

  “ No I haven't!” She yelled back

  “ He's over there cooking! Can you believe it. We haven't had a meal cooked by him in months and here he is cooking for everyone but us.” using his blade Douge pointed at one of the hot plates where sure enough Rin was cooking meat. She should have guessed when she heard there was a feast.

  “ You will go and fight the victor so come let's talk I wish to discuss my daughter with you.” Zalindra said, leading Sophia to a spot on the hard stone. They sat down and for a short time they watched the fight unfold. Douge was expertly skilled with the blade. He still had things to learn, he dropped into Earth stance. Prepared. Waiting for Travis to attack. Travis leaned back rolling his feet from heel to toe. He raised his fist to protect his face and charged in unleashing a flurry of attacks. Each one was knocked off course by the flat of Douge's blade.

  “ What did you want to talk about?” Sophia asked not turning her gaze from the fight. She could however feel Zalindra shift uncomfortable.

  “ This is difficult for me to ask but please tell me of my daughter's last moment. I have only heard second hand tellings from your grandfather.”

  “ Oh.” Sophia frowned; she didn't want to relive that moment. Her chest tightened and she gripped the front of her jacket. “ I don't know.”

  “ Please.” Zalindra begged his tone convey the heartbreak he felt.

  “ Okay. I will start from the beginning then. If you're okay with that.”

  Douge laid flat on his back Travis held his hand out to help him up. With a groan Douge stood taking the offered hand.

  “ Dude, how do you do that?” Douge asked Travis they weren't really friends but friendly enough. His mother often dragged him to social gatherings and the two formed a camaraderie as kids they named it the. My mom forced me. Club.

  “ I use mana to create an after image. If you study wind stance more you could easily counter it.”

  “ I have had more practice but.” Douge paused then smiled at Travis.

  “ I guess we'll be competing against each other in the city tournament soon. Are you ready to get your ass kicked.”

  “ Bah.” Travis said laughing. “ You could never beat me and neither could Sophia.”

  “Not us travis.” Douge said.

  “Then who?” Travis said.

  “ Him” Douge pointed to a food stall where a man with one arm was seasoning some meat. His hand moved back and forth between cooking implements. Douge placed a hand on Travis' shoulder.” You'll see.” Douge walked off towards that very food stall.

  Douge was handed a plate as he got into line he had noticed servers running plates to those in the audience but he did not want any random person food he wanted Rin's.

  “ Hey Rin” Douge said with a wave Rin gave him a nod as his hand was preoccupied.

  “ How'd you end up cooking?” Douge asked Rin's was its typical I'm considering if I should respond with a smile or with words resting face. He smiled.

  “ When Valder and I showed up they were down a cook so I volunteered simply as. Let me guess extra serving?” Rin said

  “ You know me too well.” Douge held the plate out expectantly. But then he frowned looking down at the floor.

  “ Hay Rin. I failed her, didn't I. I'm feeling her right now by participating in this party. I should be training and getting stronger right?”

  “ Bro tell me with a straight face that she wouldn't be all over this feast.”

  “ That's true. I guess.”

  “ Now go eat. And watch Sophia she's probably gonna be upset over getting her ass handed to her like that.”

  Douge turned to look at the two participating in a duel. Sophia for all her speed was having a hard time keeping up with Travis reflexes. Each and every single attack of hers was rebuffed and dodged the occasional jab hitting her in the chest.

  Kenji stood with Alverez as they watched his father take over some poor man's cooking station. The beastkin eventually shrugged and went to join the festivities.

  “ You're sure about this? What you're talking about making is expensive and complicated to create.” Alverez said.

  “ I'm sure and we need it done soon.” Kenji said.

  “ True enough. Once this feast ends me and you will head back to my lab and get to work. You got many sleepless nights ahead of you.” Kenji nodded his attention, drawn to the duel in the center. Travis had placed on final hit his palms pushed against Sophia's abdomen. Kenji couldn't see any force behind the attack but Sophia keeled over in pain clutching her stomach. Red ran circles around the two men creating a rut in the snow.

  Travis was happy for the duals, he knew this was a funeral and hated that he had to come. He did not know Liliandra and it felt wrong for him to be there; these duals however gave him a purpose. He fought each and every Challenger that came fighting late into the night.

  End of part 1