DARK PAST

At the top of a gorge four figures clad in brown cloak trots their horses under the scorching sun towards a compound not far from their position.

"Why in the world would you let Elroy go alone Malachite." Taven fumed.

"I'm sorry Tav, but his eyes were intense, I couldn't say no."

"Well he better be fine when we get there." Aria anticipated.

"Why does he always have a death wish? All he had to do was rest and allow his wound heal." Taven complained.

On getting to the entrance of the compound four dead men drenched in their blood lay there, the gates were wide open and the sound of clashing blades echoed out. Taven alongside Aria and Malachite quickly dismounted their horses then hurried into the compound drawing their swords. What they witnessed was striking, several dead guards were littered around, in front of the only two floor cottage Elroy faced four guards, deflecting and evading their attacks with his special long knife and Falchion sword.

Avoiding the tip of his opponent's sword by an inch to his neck Elroy quickly plunged his sword into his neck then pulled out just in time to deflect another attack.

He then ducked under an attack before blocking another with his sword, seeing an opening he swiftly stabbed the guard with his knife. Whirled away from the perfect thrust of a guard he plunges his sword into his nape. Not willing to back down the last guard advanced towards Elroy shouting as though it will scare Elroy, deflecting his attack Elroy kicked forward at his belly, throwing him over to the ground. The moment the guard opened his eyes he was at a checkmate with the tip of Elroy's sword, so he yielded by tossing his sword aside.

Elroy immediately sheaths his knife and Sword then walks into the two floor cottage, not giving his team an eye.

"Where did you meet this creature Tav?" Malachite asked with caution.

"Even I don't know, at least he's on our side."

"Elroy is such a bad-ass fighter, no wonder he's called The Shadow of ruin and I'm definitely going to marry him." Aria proposed with a bright smile, drawing Taven and Malachite attention towards her. "What? Every maiden in Sirilon is saying so."

"Hopefully you get to him before they do." Malachite replied.

"My God!!" a male voice cried out from inside the cottage, drawing Taven, Aria and Malachite attention towards the balcony of the second floor. Elroy manhandled a screaming naked man across the floor then threw him off the balcony, immediately he was close to the ground the rope tied round his neck tightened as the rest straightened, he chocked and struggled trying the let himself lose until his eyes were bloodshot. Elroy watched with satisfaction from the balcony as the man's struggling came to his end.

"Any condolence?" Aria asked.

"Nope, guilty of kidnapping young males and abusing them, penalty is death." Taven testified.

BEGINNING OF THE END

Clan of Aroda

In the compound team five were seated round a camp fire, everyone was quiet, minding there business.

"What's with the silence," Lukas asked noticing the stuffed atmosphere.

"Elroy was almost seduced by Elisa," Karin voiced out, arousing everyone up except Mira, who kept her eyes on the burning flames.

"Seriously, I have a talk with the mistress of the town and now she's the bad person," Elroy defended himself, not still sure of what happened with Elisa.

"Stop it you two, Elisa is not the Succilin," Mira raged then sighs. "I and Elroy were able to capture the stench when we first arrived, she's been in contact with it," she narrows her eyes towards Elroy, "just because she was close to Elroy doesn't mean she has unpleasant intents."

"I see a valley of dry bones," Elroy began, with everyone's attention drawn towards him. "Stained with wasted effort, never fear death but a life were suffering and loss is death, those were her words of prophecy."

"She has a divine sight," Karin said.

"But yet, she's unable to recognize the Succilin," Lukas thought out.

"That's troubling, how do we catch it?" Asked Jake.

"We already have?" Mira spoke boldly.

Just then a maid, young and slender tan lady with long russet hair, clothed in white linen gown walks into their mist carrying a tray of six wooden mugs, no one altered a word, waiting for Mira to continue her speech; the maid passed the wooden mug to each member of team five.

"How long has it been?" Mira glanced at her.

As soon as Elroy brought the mug close to his nose, he withdrew from it, disgust stamped on his face, there was something wrong with the tea.

The maid stopped then turns to Mira, "I didn't get you miss."

"You didn't have to," Mira replied bluntly then tossed her mug aside, "the tea is poisoned with Lasium."

Everyone immediately tossed their mugs aside, standing up at once.

"No wonder it smelled funny." Elroy wiggled his nose.

"Then I ask myself," Mira held the hilt of her sword as she stands up, "why would a maid want to put us to sleep?"

"I'm truly sorry, I was sent to bring them I didn't know it had been spiked." She pleaded.

"You are on another level, I'll give you that." Mira praised

For a moment silence broke in, Elroy could feel the tense aura - it drove chills down his spine, he couldn't imagine what a Succilin looks like, he doesn't know what to expect. Everyone stared at the maid intently, slowly reaching for their swords, in that instant, the maid threw the tray towards Mira, which came spinning towards her neck.

But she was quick enough to draw her blade, slicing the tray in half. By the time everyone else drew their sword, the maid's hair had turned snow-white, her claws dark and long it could chop a human head in an instant; her blade sharp teeth were long also, too large she could barely close her mouth.

"I'm sick and tired of this shit with the Seekers squad." She seethed.

"That's a Succilin?" Elroy stared in shock.

"Fear not, she'll be dead soon." Karin assured as she clenches her fists on her sword.

Before their very eyes the Succilin closed on to Mira, ready to slit open her throat with her claws.

Yet again, Mira had eyes on its movement, evading it and slicing off its arm, the Succilin retreated backwards with a jump, pressing hard on the bleeding arm as she cried out with an alarming screech.

Seeing it screeching and vulnerable Karin and Jake advanced towards it, supported by Lukas and Hector while Elroy and Mira held their ground.

"Watch and learn El." Mira advice.

As soon as Karin and Jake closed in on it they slashed down on her shoulders but their swords suspended before it could hit. The Succilin slowly lifts up her head with a smirk, her eyes twirling black.

"Shit" Jake cursed.

A strange vigor emitted out of her, which sent Jake and Karin crashing into Lukas and Hector, obliging Elroy and Mira to their aid.

"Was that meant to happen?" Elroy glanced at everyone seeing their confusing looks, "It's not, right?"

"How I missed you Elroy," she spoke in a deep hallow manly voice.

Elroy gazed over at her, a familiar voice that came with terror and hate.

Team five immediately took a defensive position, for this situation was getting out of hand.

"What's going on Mira?" Hector asked troubled.

"I don't know." Mira replied looking more baffled than everyone.

"It just called my name," Elroy included, bereft of the situation and lost in thoughts.

"I know," Mira replied.

"A Succilin just transformed to a dark soul with abilities of a summoner." Lukas stated the obvious.

"I know," Mira shut him up, "let me think."

"So its true, you did lose your memories," the Succilin continued.

"Don't listen to her El, something is wrong," Mira advised.

"Why?" The Succilin appeared before Mira in the twinkle of an eye.

Everyone one jumped backwards immediately, trying to put a good distance but none saw it coming, before they could get in formation, dark translucent vines cracked out from the ground underneath the Succilin, striking everyone away.

Elroy groans in pain, crawling towards his sword, he wasn't sure the condition they were in, all he wanted was to end the Succilin.

Grabbing his sword he turned quickly, slashing at the Succilin, knowing she was behind him. Still it was to no avail, the sword suspended just before it could slash her neck. Elroy stared in a daze, he wasn't sure how, but recalled being in a similar situation.

"Goru Sein?" Elroy found himself calling the name.

"Let me jog your memories."

She slammed her hand unto Elroy's chest, bringing Elroy to his knees, memories of different events began racing through his mind with excruciating pain and agony, Elroy held his head screaming out.

From nowhere, Mira slashed off the second arm of the Succilin, it retreated but Mira was sure to follow it this time, she slashed her belly, ready to give the final blow with a trust.

The rest of the team were up already, closing in as fast as they could all round the Succilin, she gave a delirious smile then exploded in black fumes.