2 Chapter 2

Grøh continued his observation of Zamera, accompanied by his subordinates Dion and Natalie. The three saw her with a Japanese samurai heading to the village of Yangguang, where he found out that an astral fissure was making the locals lose their minds.

"She has come. Just as I expected..." Grøh knew, this woman may be one of the greatest threat the organisation have encountered, other that Azwel of course.

One of Grøh's companions, Natalie, narrowed her eyes on the woman. "Because of the astral fissure, I assume. How should we respond?" Grøh turned to his subordinate. "It is too soon to act. Stay your hand." This answer however, irritated the other Aval agent. "She may be Azwel's creature and you say we should merely stand by?!"

Of course he knew the dangers of leaving one so powerful to wander, but the woman had said she would not be the enemy, only if we didn't act hostile to her. So if her words were true, he had some time to think of a plan if he was going to face her again. "You disapprove of my decision? Tracking Azwel is our priority. Besides, she seems to be heading to Yangguang. We can assess the threat there." Dion nodded. "Understood." Natalie seemed reluctent, but nodded anyway. "...Very well."

What also confused the Aval agent was the fact that no one seemed bothered by the sight of the strange woman's horns or markings. Was she hiding them with magic? But then how could he see them? He even asked his subordinates but they too said that they could not see the strange marking or the horns. Why?

He needed answers, and he needed them now.

As the agents followed, Grøh could see Zamera started to slow a bit, putting a hand to her forehead and a pained expression. He did not know why this was so. She seemed unharmed. Perhaps, she had been afflicted with something else? The quiet was cut by the sounds of a man screaming for help, running towards the two. Before anyone could do anything else, a figure moved with unatural speed and in a blink of an eye, the defenseless man was struck down. The body hit the floor, blood pouring from the now corpse.

The figure was a young man, now turned malfested, eyes red and sense of bloodlust was evident on his face. Zamera raised her weapon but soon had a face of shock. She knew this man. Grøh had seen her conversing with him before they offically met.

The outsider ran from the scene and the woman had a pained look on her face, like as if she knew this would have happened. If this was true, how would she have known, does this mean she nows of his own power as well? Then another figure stepped from the shadows, a slightly small man who seemed to be from the village ahead.

Zamera spoke with a young man of the village and she stood in front of the boy against the outsider that had killed almost all of the villagers. After, Zamera spoke some words to the young villager and then set off to follow the malfested, the samurai and villager following in tow.

The three Aval agents followed Zamera and saw their target and the outsider fighting to the death. The agents now saw properly saw the figting style of The Conduit. She used strange magic and could summon any sort of weapon to her side. From swords to a greatsword , spears to the battle gaundlets she used on Grøh before, using everything to her advantage. Grøh then realised that during the fight, Zamera had a look of sorrow on her face as she stuck blow after blow the insane man.

The fight wasn't long, due to Zamera knowing how to counter the rage-filled outsider and was able to subdue him. She now stood over him, a conflicted look on her face. "What is she waiting for?" Natalie asked, her face in a scowl. Grøh didn't answer and the three watched as she raised her sword, but then instead knocking him out and sparing the man. This confused the agent. The Conduit should kill this man, for he is an outsider. You can't save those who have lost themselves...

*~~*

Battling Haoran was difficult, in an emotinal way for Zamera. However this was now an everyday occurrence for her. For over six hundred years now that she thinks about it, so Zamera is more or less numb to it. Doesn't mean she's emotionless, though. Haoran was a sweet, kind man, but she knew that the human also had his dark side, the Astral fissure only multiplied it. Some would have suggested she should have ended his suffering there and then. But thankfully, she knew of a way to help him.

Zamera knew of the Athenians north west of here, their power was shown to be able to reverse the effects of malfestation. But doing that journey would cost her time she did not have. And so, she thought of the old Edge master. He may be able to keep Haoran's bloodlust at bay long enough for her to ask the Athenians for assistance on the matter.

"Haoran..." Haoyu, the man's younger brother said sorrowfully, his head down. Zamera turned head to the young boy and although her face didn't show it, she felt sorry for him. "Do not worry, I know of a way to help him." The two men standing with her looked at Zamera with shock. "Y-You do?" Haoyu asked, a hopeful look on his face.

The woman nodded. "I know of a way. However, I will have to take him far from here." Zamera then swore to the young man that she would find a way to save his brother. The young man nodded enthusiastically, thanking her for my help. He offered an abandoned inn for her and the samurai to stay in for the night in which they thanked him. Misturugi and Haoyu helped her prepare for the journey, the samurai suggesting that they tie him up in case he went beserk, in which they agreed.

As she left to get the horses, she felt it. The same power of that young man from before. Zamera knew he was also malfested, however he somehow was keeping his sanity. She was curious about him, but the one thing she could also sense from him hate and guilt. She felt the presence come closer, right behind her. "What do you intend to do with the outsider?" He was just a foot away from her. She's come to know this 'Aval organisation' as a group of individuals who have devoted their lives to ridding the world of the malfested and those who would try to disrupt order.

She turned to the agent, staying still as the agent stared at her with an partial glare, his weapon in hand. Zamera wondered if he had seen the full fight. He certainly was skilled in his work, stealth and combat wise, he would provide a challenge if he and she were to seriously fight one another. "You've been following me. What are you called?" She asked him. Genuinly curious about the agent in black. The man however continued to glare at her. "That is not for you to know." So he was wary of her...

Understandable, considering their first meeting. But Zamera was too curious on how a Human was able to stave off the malfestation and keep his senses with him although he was infected. Was this because his organisation were now conducting experiments on their agents to make them stronger? Zamera made a mental note to investigate this later. "Let us make a deal," The agent then said, making Zamera wary of this 'deal'. "I have a medicine that will temporarily suppress the evil gnawing at the heart of this outsider." Medicine? Zamera stared skeptically at the man.

There were no signs that humans could actually make this kind of medicine. She only knew one person...and they've been dead for six hundred years. "It is yours...if you agree to meet me at a place of my choosing after you finish your task." Zamera crossed her arms with a skeptical look, eyebrow raised. "And I'm supposed to agree with someone who tried to attack me the first time we met? What will you do if I decline?" When she asked this the agent only gave her an intense expression, but otherwise remaind neutral. "You cannot expect an easy journey when accompanied by one who lacks all reason. In the end, the outsider will either kill you, or you will kill him." He had a point, she thought.

If this medicine worked, she wouldn't have to deal with Haoran trying to kill her while her back was turned. But there was a question that still remain in her head. "Where did you get this, 'medicine'?" The agent only grunted. "That information is classified." Of course...

She'll have to find out on her own. And with that, Zamera finally agreed with the agent's deal. The man then turned away from her, not even looking at her as he said, "When you have done what you must do, head west to Kroraina. You'll find a ruined castle. What you seek lies there." He was about to take a step but stopped as if he remembered something. "Oh...and come alone." With those final words he simply vanished from thin air. Leaving the medicine behind.

Zamera didn't know if his teleporting abilites were part of his fighting style, or his malfestation. For now, she could only prepare for whatever this man wanted from her. She had already warned him if he did not want an enemy of her, he shouldn't attack. But then again...Humans had their strange ways and even six hundred years could not change that fact.

Zamera got all of her preparations completed by the time the dawn had risin. The medicine had put Haoran in a sort of deep, deep slumber. If he slept the whole way there, the journey will definitely be quicker.

"Hey, Zamera. Did Haoyu tell you the news?" Misturugi asked, walking up to Zamera. The woman shook her head and the samurai explained that the chaos in Yangguang had stopped completely. But wasn't there supposed to be the astral fissure here? It couldn't have just vanished...

Unless someone also had the power to absorb the fissures.

"I'll be staying in Yangguang. A ship should leave for Japan eventually." Although Zamera would nerver admit this, she actually like being around the hearty samurai. He made her laugh on many occasion (Definitely due to the fact some words she said he couln't pronounce properly because of his accent) and the fact that they were parting ways now, saddened her.

"Oh...Well I wish you luck, Misturuigi. And I do hope we will meet again." The man gave her grin at the honest words, wishing Zamera luck on her travels as well. Haoran's younger brother also wished her luck, his injury making hm unable to follow. This suited Zamera fine, the place she was taking Haoran was no place for a mortal like him.

Zamera waved at the two as she set off. Misturugi waved back, a big smile on his face. "So long, Zamera. Until we meet again!" He called out, making the woman smile once again. 'I haven't smiled this much in a while...' She thought. Her gaze now on the road ahead. Her mind wondered to the young girl-well, young woman now, who she left not long before this all happened. 'Isabella, everyone...are you safe?' Zamera could only hope that they were as she continued on her jouney.

The agent was also waiting for her...She had a feeling he had questions for her, just as much as she desired some from him.

From the words of her now dead aunt:

"This is going to be an interesting turn of events..."