1 Prologue

"Huff"

"Huff"

"Huff"

Deep breathing could be heard inside the Crinch forest.

"I shouldn't have promised", lamented Makon.

He is almost 62 years old, gravely injured yet he was the one fleeing from battle. His heart is filled with regret and shame. He is akin to a dying candle that could be extinguished at any moment. A child, hardly one year old could be seen soundly sleeping in a pack tied closely to his back.

He dropped to his knees to take deep breaths to recover as soon as possible.

'Still, a long way to go 'thought Makon.

"What, the old man spent already.....", came a voice from behind.

Makon turned towards voice to see five young warriors dressed in white standing behind about 200m from him. This was a clear patch inside the forest so they can see each other clearly without obstruction. Eyecatching flower symbol could be seen on their armbands. They appear to be quite flustered as sweat is rolling all over their faces.

"We should hurry, he had already dragged us too far from others", a foremost warrior who appeared to be the leader of the team said to others.

"Ah, it should be quick work, he is already on his knees", smirked man with long hair.

He slowly unsheathed his sword while walking toward the old man. All team members shared feelings that the enemy is unable to win against them. Therefore none of them bothered to pay extra attention to him. Sword began to shine brilliantly as earth power channeled inside it.

"Any last words, old geezer, you can tell us which way...."

"Even if I am injured, Niel should have sent at least base 'Ajana'level warriors ",

Makon cut off the man and withdrew his gaze. He stood up slowly checked on the child and disappeared into the forest.

Behind him, five humans have long turned into ash statues which dispersed as the wind blew through the forest. Only the sound of scattering of ash could be heard inside the forest. Nothing seems to have happened at that moment just as soon as the warrior stopped speaking others were burned throughout.