((A/N:This is mainly an edited version of one of the previous chapters of WM... I still strongly advise you to read it! Much has changed. Enjoy!))

“Three drinks, please. Whatever you’ve got that’s non-alcoholic,” Savay ordered. It was the almost twilight the day after they had gotten out of the Healer’s hospitality. Paul, the bartender, nodded. The inside of the pub was dingy and very jam-packed.

Savay and Avion had agreed that their next best move would be to find someone who was looking for something; someone desperate in other words. Ritsu, who was sitting to Savay’s right, had forced them to allow him to come along. Savay didn’t want anyone else to get hurt while traveling with her, so she had mentally decided to only allow him to be with them while they remained in Karnolith. She looked around for anyone who might be desperate, but then thought of a better idea as she saw Paul coming back with their drinks.

“‘ere are yer drink lady and sirs,” Paul grunted with his rough accent. He was a rather obese man with pale mousy brown hair barley sprouting from his scalp. He wore a dirty apron over his plaid shirt. “That’ll be 25 oukin.”

“Actually I’d like to have one more thing, and I’ll pay a pretty penny for it,” Savay coxed. Avion gaped at her and Ritsu shook his head slightly in disbelief; she was acting strangely.

“’An might ‘at be?” Paul asked, leaning in closer. He was obsessed with money, and would do anything for it.

“Do you know of anyone who’s lost something dear to them that would do anything to get it back?” Savay asked.

Catching on, Avion added stiflingly, “Somewhere around here.”

Paul scowled at them. “And why’d’you want t’know that?”

“It’s important,” replied Savay.

“Please,” Avion added scathingly.

Paul considered for a moment and then looked around, leaning in closer. “Well… have you ‘ever heard the name ‘Deagrave’?” Paul asked them. They all shook their heads.

“Well, couple years back Manahal Deagrave’s girlie-friend died. Some sickness, ‘yer know? Well, they say he’s lookin’ for some mad stones to revive ‘er,” Savay’s eyes widened; they had hit the jackpot. “He’s crazy. Was absolutely obsessed, and still is, with ‘er. ‘Is manor is up ther’ hill next t’a the graveyard.”

“Thank you,” Savay said truly gratefully. She handed him a stack of coins. Paul eagerly counted his bounty. They started to exit the pub. Unknowingly, they passed a young man looking at the floor who had been eavesdropping on them. His chin length black hair concealed his face. He was wearing a black suit. He watched them walk out the door. He lifted his head, revealing pale skin and cold grey eyes.

“Look’s like I’m going to have company,” he smiled. Then he ran out of the pub.

The Deagrave Manor was now in sight for Savay, Avion, and Ritsu. It reminded Savay of the pub, being dingy, but not small. The manor looked like a large mansion that had once been beautiful, but now run down. A black fence enclosed the grounds.

“A-are you sure it’s safe?” Ritsu murmured nervously.

“Yes, now let’s go in,” Avion snapped at the trembling man, heading for the fence’s gate. There was a large rusty lock on the gates, but strangely it was unlocked.

“That’s odd…” Savay muttered as they walked right though the gates. They walked up to the manor’s actual doors. Avion reached for the handle, but Savay pulled his hand back.

“Avion! We can’t just burst in!”

“Oh, let’s just have him invite us in then! A jolly chat would be sure to follow, I’m sure! ‘Hello, we’re here to take your stone!’”

“Let’s knock,” Savay replied firmly. She raped on the door ; the door opened as her hand contacted the wood. They stuck their heads in, looking around.

“Hello? Anyone home?” she called. The house was dark, only lit by candles. The floors were black marble and the walls were a lush red carpet. A large, grand staircase led to the second floor. There was a large crimson couch in the corner of the large room and other assorted furniture. Next to the couch was a painting of a beautiful young girl hung on the wall.

“C’mon,” Avion urged, pushing them in. They entered the ghostly manor.

------------­-----­

Lesion was pacing in a large room. Bamboo mats covered the floor and dark screens covered the walls. The only light came from the black candles, which were slowly burning down. He was alone. A jug of water sat on a small table. He was vigorously training.

“Hyahh!” he launched a high kick in the air. “Kyahh!” he punched the air. His battle continued like this for a while until he tired and stopped to sip from his water jug. He then raised a hand, such as Savay did. A translucent purple liquid formed in the air. It was bubbling and hissing. His poison. He started moving around while moving his hands. The poison moved with his hand. He formed a whip of poison in the air. He practiced moving it precisely, making sure he could control every minute movement of it.

“There you are!” a voice called from behind him. Lesion looked towards the door angrily, furious that anyone would dare interrupt his practice. It was Yiang. She ran up so she was about five feet away from him. Then she bowed, scowling a bit. “Elyria wishes to speak to you! She says it is of utmost importance!” Lesion groaned.

“Okay, tell her I will see her…” Lesion paused. “Soon.”

------------­-----­

Savay looked around the Deagrave Manor. She started by walking across the empty ballroom floor.

“Gosh,” Savay muttered, “It looks like this was once a brilliant place...” There was a pause of silence. She looked around when she heard no reply. “Avion? Ritsu?” She looked around some more. “Guys! This isn’t very funny!”

“Oh, but it is to me,” A taunting vice said. Savay looked around almost fearfully. The voice had come from a black armchair. The back was facing Savay.

“I meant no harm in entering!” Savay tried to sound less nervous. “May we speak?”

“As you wish,” the chair swung around revealing the young man. A sword was now attached onto his belt. He smiled at her. “Hello, my name is Manahal Deagrave. I believe you’re looking for this?” He took out a moon shaped stone. It was a pearly black color. “The Stone of Night.”

“Yes, it is. I was wondering if we could… negotiate a way for me to buy the Stone or something. It’s really important.” Manahal smirked again and drew his sword. He rose out of the chair. They stood there for a moment in silence, waiting.

Then, suddenly, Manahal raised his sword to slash her. As the blade was about to fall down onto her, she nimbly moved out of the way, having almost fully recovered from her vertigo.

“I don’t want to fight,” she pleaded, looking into his grey eyes.

“You have a Stone, don’t you?”

“Yes… the Water Stone. But please.”

“Well, I want it.” He slashed at her again.

She raised a hand, forming an orb of water. Manahal’s brow furrowed. “I told you, I don’t want to fight.” She blasted the water at him with great force, but at the last minute Manahal amazingly jumped over the sphere of water. Savay started to gape at him, but this was interrupted by Manahal’s blade. She hastily tried to get out the way, but the blade roughly grazed her shoulder.

“Please, listen to me!” She begged but Manahal just struck again. She tried to blast water at him again, but this was in vain. He managed to dodge each blow she would send at him. “He’s too fast…” She clutched her bleeding shoulder and continued to send more futile water orbs at him.

“You’ll never be able to hit me,” he taunted. He came in for another slash, but Savay dodged this one too.

“I wish I didn’t have to,” Savay grimaced. She sent a sudden blast of water at him. This time he wasn’t lucky; the water hit him squarely on his chest, knocking him down.

He got up and glared at her, sopping wet. “You’re going to pay for that…” He gripped his sword’s handle and lunged for her. Savay had no time to dodge this attack. Manahal pointed the tip at her neck, the exact spot where the mark was imprinted.

Savay looked into his cold grey eyes. “Let’s just talk.”

“You’re in no position to be making demands, you know,” Manahal said calmly. Savay glared harder.

“Why do you want the Stones anyways?” Savay asked, her heart thumping in her chest. A smile curled around Manahal’s face.

“Oh fine. I don’t care. I guess it doesn’t really matter,” Manahal smirked. “Well, over a year ago my girlfriend, Alice, died. I tried to cure her, but there was nothing I could do. I loved her more than anything.” He paused. “We met when we were young, at one of my late mother’s parties. We were good friends. Soon, after a few years, we were in love.”

“So… you want the Stones to revive her?” Savay felt remorse fill her. Why should her wish be placed above his… was there a way both of them could win? Manahal smiled as he pulled out the Night stone once more.

“Yes,” Manahal said, “And I will find them. Now be a good girl and hand yours over.” Savay smiled suddenly, a though coming upon her. “What is it?”

“I thought of something!” Her smile widened. “Did Alice live with you?”

“Yes…”Manahal said suspiciously.

“Well, maybe if you move into my village, Hydrage, I can bring back Alice as well!”

“You make no sense.”

“My village, Hydrage, was destroyed,” she explained with a pang in her chest, “That’s why I’m collecting the Stones. To revive my village. So if you and Alice can call Hydrage can call Hydrage your home perhaps we can revive her along with the villagers! Do you… do you have Alice’s remains?”

He nodded, replying coldly, “Her ashes stay with me.”

“We can leave them at Hydrage! That way it’s her home!”

Manahal thought for a moment. Then he responded, with a smile, “It sounds fine. This house has nothing but bad memories for me.” He offered her his hand. “Let’s join together.”

She smiled back at him and shook it. “I’m glad to help. Oh, did you see where my friends went?”

“Outside, I believe. The curly-haired one dragged the blue-haired outside…”

Savay giggled a bit. Manahal wasn’t that bad after all. They walked outside together. As Manahal opened the door Ritsu clobbered Savay.

“What the-” she started. Ritsu sobbed in her shoulder.

“I thought you were dead and stuck in there with that maniac!” he sobbed. Savay looked behind him to see a sulking Avion.

“Ristu, it’s okay,” Savay gently pushed him off. “I’m fine. Just got a little scrape on my shoulder.”

Avion’s expression darkened even further. “By whom?”

“Oh, I’m sorry, I should bandage it…” Manahal ran quickly back into the house, presumably for bandages.

“He cut you…?” At Savay’s nod Avion swore loudly. “Damn him! What’s up with his change of heart!”

“I figured we could find a way for both our wishes to be granted, and I did,” she said meekly. “He’ll be with us from now on.”

“You need to toughen up!” Avion criticized loudly, “You’re being too soft with these people!”

“I’m only trying to help…”

Avion groaned and grabbed her arm, looking at the wound on her shoulder. “See what happens?”

Manahal popped back out of the door. “I got some.” He unwound the bandages tightly bound them.

“Great! Thanks!” She beamed at him. “Oh, and Avion, with Manahal joining us we thus got a new Stone.” Avion muttered something under his breath, a cross expression upon his face. Manahal pulled out the Stone. It was a deep, extremely dark cobalt. It seemed to have grey clouds in it. A dark power filled Savay.

“Whoa,” Ristu gasped.

Manahal put the stone back in his pocket. “Hey, we should probably get settled somewhere, the sun is setting,” he pointed towards the sinking sun. Savay nodded. So they decided on going back to Paul’s Pub to stay in a room.

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“Okay, so guess what!?” Elyria seemed very excited, which annoyed Lesion. He sighed.

“Yes…?” He waited for the stupid comment.

“First things first, why I originally planned this meeting. You know that nasty little rat demons I found the other day?”

“Yes…”

“Well, I knew two of their names. And now I found out the small rat demon’s name!” She grinned and did her victory pose. “It’s Will!”

“Elyria….” Lesion gritted his teeth, seeming with anger, “I was training, and you know how I hate to be bothered…” Something in his voice told Elyria she better think of something Lesion would find important, or else.

Elyria thought for a moment, and then remembered something Lesion might find interesting. “Well, that girl gained a stone. The Deagrave boy’s.” Seeing Lesion’s eyebrows raised made Elyria grin in triumph.

“Well, isn’t she collecting them fast. How did you get this information?” Lesion gave a rare smile to Elyria, though she couldn’t see it.

“Well,” Elyria started smugly, “I have a number of spies from our clan put in different places. The one who happened to have heard this at a pub happened to be very fast,”

“Good job,” Lesions said approvingly.

Elyria smiled. “As always, right?”

((A/N: Hope you liked! Question time! Mi asks… What are the characters’ last names?

Savay decided to answer first! “Espoirdeau; it’s the official Guardian name of our village that’s been passed down.”

Avion then grumbled, “Notabyssa.”

“Mine is Krulwel,” Ristu responded kindly.

“Well, mine is Coeurvirage,” Yiang murmured. “I know Elryria’s is Ventcalefro, but I’ve never heard what Lesion’s is…”

Well, there you have it! More shall come! If you have any further questions, leave a comment or review! Thanks! ))