6 Chapter 6: In a Different World

After awakening in a new world, Braman looks around seeing nothing but water.

"Wh-where am I"? he asked. Remembering what happened, he jolted up with his defenses up.

"Cormin"? he asked not realizing he was alone. He lets out a sigh of relief and plops back on the ground.

"I am Lapran, the mightiest Soldier..."! Echoes in his head as he pictures Laprans face.

"Lapran...". he says as tears flow down his face. " I can't believe all that's happened. Mom, Cormin, and...Lapran. The king is my... father"?

As he starts to gain his composure, he adapts Laprans name and starts to figure out his next move. Off in the distance, a sound of laughter can be heard.

"Haha, I told you Clea, you have to control your troops, otherwise this will happen everytime". Said Spores.

"Look, just hang back and let us do it, we'll win. Right Dobram"? he asked.

Dobram, barely listening just aimlessly stares at the sea

"Dobram"! Spores yelled. "Are you listening"? he asked.

"Huh? Oh, yea. Yea, I'm listening. Let's go". He begins to order his troops.

"Hmph, that's not fair at all! Dobram, you promised"! Clea said pouting.

Once again, Dobram wasn't listening. As if his attention was focused on the outside.

"Wait here guys, I'll be back". he said as he swam towards the disturbance.

"Well, since he's gone, I'll take his place". Clea said joyfully.

"Oh, no you don't"! Spores rejected.

As Dobram swims toward the darkness, he starts to feel something pulling on his arm, as if it were guiding him.

"What the.."? he said puzzled, but instead of fighting it, he went along.

After awhile, he came to a stop and looked around. There's nothing but pitch black darkness.

"Is this where it happ...". before he could finish his statement, Lapran appears from high up pouncing on Dobrams back.

"Take this"! Lapran screamed as he went to stab Dobram in the back.

"Not likely"! Dobram said and began to swim as fast as he could to the bottom of the sea.

"Let's see how long you can hang on, haha". He said pompously.

Lapran, barely holding on to Dobrams back lets go and continues to swim back up to the surface.

"GASP"! he inhaled a deep breath.

Dobram begins to swim back to the surface.

"WHAT'RE YOU DOING"! Dobrams asked violently.

"I thought you were trying to kill me, like the others"! Lapran exclaimed.

"No, I was just checking on a disturbance I felt awhile ago". Dobrams said.

As the two calm down and explain their story, they come to terms that they're allies.

"You should come to my city and meet my friends"! Dobram said excitedly.

"Sure, how far is it"? Lapran asked.

"Not too far, for someone like me. Just hold on". As he points to his shoulder. Lapran swims over and holds onto Dobram and just liked that, they were off. As they get closer to where Clea and Spores were, they both felt an unease feeling. Lapran, who's experienced this before, begins to warn Dobram but it was too late. They were surrounded by what appeared to be darkness.

"Clea? Spores"? Dobram said. "Where are you guys"?

Just then he heard the creed, but it sounded distorted and broken up.

"No....matter how far we...o,

no matter...how things may...

go,

We'll never...the creed we say,

We'll...forget this creed we made"

Sittting there curled up with a body in her lap was Clea. It looked as if she was petting something.... or someone.

"Clea"? Dobram asked. "Is that you"?

"Why...of course...Dobram. Who else.... could.. it...be"?

He slowly approaches her as she repeats the creed...

"No....matter how far we...o,

no matter...how things may...

go,

We'll never..forget the creed we say,

We've forgetten this creed we made".

He puts his hand on her shoulder and says. "Clea"?

She turns around and has blood around her mouth and sharp fangs with bits of flesh in them. In her arms was a half eaten skull which resembled Spores.

"Hey Dobram! Can....I be a MAJ now"? she asked.

"Aah"! Dobram screamed.

Lapran, having flashbacks of a similar scene begins to swim away screaming.

"No, no, no, no! Not here too"! As he begins to flee.

Clea has been completely corrupted by darkness. She lets out a snarl and begins to chase Dobram.

"Why are you swimming away, Dobram"! she asked ferociously.

She slowly catches up to Dobram and reaches out for his fin. Dobram, wishing it was a dream, continues to swim. She grabs him and turns around and Dobram sees a flash of the old Clea which reverts back to a primal looking Clea.

"Clea! Stop"! he screams. "Snap out of it"!

As if she heard from deep in she stops.

"Dobram"? she asks "Dobram, is that you"?

He opens his eyes.

"Yes! it is me"! he replies.

"...Good, just trying to make sure it's not someone else"! she says laughing.

As she starts to bite down on his neck, Lapran, just like when they first met, jams his sword into Cleas back.

"Rowwr"! she lets out an ear piercing screech. As she falls back, Dobram catches her in his arms.

"Dobram, you said.... I'll get..to be a MAJ. Can I finally...be one"? She said with a sad lonely expression.

With tears in his eyes he replies.

"Of course you can! You can be the MAJ and whatever else you want".

"Good, I've been practicing". She said as she closes her eyes for the final time.

As he cry out, Lapran looks on in sadness. With bloodstained hands he starts to regret what he's just done.