The New Destiny

The early rays of the warm East sun spilled into their chamber, lighting it brilliantly, but there were still hints of the cool breeze from last night. 

"Where's Yin" Vegas's crisp and husky voice echoed around the chamber, and it woke the others up.

The eight of them decided to sleep the night in the castle, where Jaquer Maclain had previously lived. It was quite a refreshing and surprisingly well-maintained castle for an unpleasant man like him. Perhaps it was the hard work of the poor, nameless maids he tortured every day. 

The castle was enormous, with seven stories and twenty chambers. Just one chamber was enough to accommodate ten people, so the eight of them decided to stay in the last chamber on the seventh story to rest through yesterday's night. 

It had a breathtaking view of Wolkcaster. The crammed streets where the people looked like ants from that view. Pigs, cows, and horses freely roamed the open city, the farmers grazing their farms with intense care and the wagons of the shopkeepers rushing through the crowded street. There was a lot going on, but it was still beautiful at the same time. 

Neil's eyes once stopped scouting for girls, for there was a magical one sitting right next to him.

"I do not know. Have any of you seen him?" Tara Elykis's voice was soft and sweet enough to avoid echoing. 

All the men in the room uttered the word "No."

"Where the hell could he have gone? It's damn early in the mornin'" Vegas asked herself impatiently. 

"Lemme go search." She informed and headed for the door.

As her hand reached out for the doorknob.

"SLAM!" 

"Heyya! My dear friends! Rise and shine!"

It was Yin Kang!

Wearing a smile as bright as the East sun. He was dramatically standing in a marvelous akimbo pose, his legs spread wide, his scarf swaying to the winds of the open door. 

"Who the fuck is that?" Tara cursed.

"Not Yin," said Neil.

"Where were you, Yin?" Colt asked with a baffled look on his face.

"Just went out for a strollin', my friends!"

His entire aura has changed completely. The stern and blank face that he always had on his face was gone entirely; it almost seemed like the godliness in him left without even saying goodbye. "Who even is that guy?" they all wondered in utter confusion. 

"Um, where's our lovely Vegas?!" Yin asked as he surveyed the large chamber. 

…

"Ow…" Vegas exhaled a sigh into the air.

"Oh my god! I'm sorry, Vegas! Forgive me!" He quickly lifted her up.

Yin had slammed open the door so hard that it knocked Vegas to the cold stone ground, almost knocking her unconscious. 

"Are you seeing bees? Are you seeing stars? Are you okay?" It sounded like he was joking with her, but Yin was genuinely concerned. Even his vocabulary had changed. 

Immediately, as he pulled her up, he tightly hugged her.

"Um, what're you doin'?" Vegas asked casually, floating within his embrace.

"I'm sorry, I should've entered more politely! I'm sorry!" He was hugging her like a pillow.

"Am I dreaming? Or is that actually Yin?" Neil posed the question to everyone in the room. 

The chamber was devoured by silence as they all watched Yin act like someone had switched bodies with him. His behavior was like a hundred Neils woven together.

Yin released himself from the hug and forcefully brushed his fingers on her forehead, trying to rub away the red bump from the door slam.

"It's just hurtin' more. Just stop." She said it with an annoyed face.

"What the hell has happened to you?" She added a question right after.

"What? Guys! What's wrong? I'm fine!" Yin reacted enthusiastically, looking over at everyone's addled faces. 

However, Yin remained the same, unbothered by their dropped faces looking at him.

"Are ya prankin' us, Yin?" Brody questioned him as he and Mathen caught a glance at each other.

"What!? Prank? Whacha'll talkin' bout?" 

"What's gotten into you?" Inquired Vegas.

"I was talking to Xil in the Astral Realm last night. It seems that you can store your dark memories, emotions, and blah and blah in there." 

"Did you just say Astral Realm?" Tara interrupted. 

"I have heard stories about that place from the witches in my town. Have never had the heart to believe it. But I do now." Tara ended.

"So you're saying you don't remember the troubled past you had? Is that it?" 

"No, I remember everything, but it simply does not have an affect on me anymore!" Yin answered her excitedly with the same wide glee.

"Well, that's great! This is a way fun Yin to be around with." Lars admitted, his energy matching that of Yin's.

"SEE! HE GETS IT!" Yin yelled, pointing his finger at him.

"Oh gosh, I already want the old him." Tara whispered to Colt.

"It was his choice to give away the darkness." He replied quietly.

They readied their bags and weapons. Colt had polished his longsword last night, and now its steel reflected the sun's rays like crystal-clear water. Mathen, Brody, and Neil were already packed and loaded, their bags filled with bread, satchels of water, and armor plates. Juno was always ready. Lars and Tara had nothing to pack and Yin was swordless. 

"So what's the plan now?" Asked Tara.

"Oh! We will head West after getting some new friends from here first!" Yin answered.

Everyone nodded to their leader and began walking out the open door. They were ready to climb down seven stories.

'Seven stories' Yin's dark memories have no effect on him now, but he still remembers the last time he climbed seven stories. 

"Do you guys know? Mei Chang climbed seven stories to throw herself from the top that day, but well, I ran to save her in time. I was fast. I was really fast. Haha!" Yin was laughing, his eyes squeezed shut. 

Everyone remained quiet.

"Gosh the animals communicate better than you all!" Yin was upset with their low mood. 

"I get that I'm acting different now, but that doesn't mean you guys should shut up about it. Come on, Neil, not you too." He complained.

"Eheh." Neil sighed with a fake chuckle. It was the first time Neil found himself being quiet. He was just as confused as everyone else.

"Oh my goodness! This is perfect!" Yin caught sight of a royal sword hung on the wall of the third story. The handle was beautifully decorated with purple gems, and the grip was wrapped in high-quality leather, patterned with dragon prints. The steel was alive, almost as if everyone could hear it breathing.

"I've got to take this! It's calling out to me, guys!" He informed everyone and approached it.

As he gracefully lifted the sword, the song of steel blessed everyone's ears. 

"Ah! You are as beautiful as her." Yin spoke to it and kissed it.

"My friends! Behold, Destiny!" Yin announced the name of his new sword.

Everyone wore a smile as they raised their weapons in honor of his new sword, Destiny.

…

They continued climbing down the last two stories and eventually found themselves in the middle of the stage, where Jaquer was executed. 

Yin was given a megaphone to make his announcement. "My people, please gather around the stage," he said. 

In just a matter of a few seconds, almost the entire city of Wolkcaster assembled.

"My people! My friends! We are done here! We have made our peace with you all, The East. Now we will head to West. But before we go, I want your strongest fighters. They will be a part of our journey from today." Yin, with a wild and contagious smile, shortly ended his speech and began to scan the crowd.

The people looked at themselves; no one present there was able to step out as a strong fighter. For all Yin could see, there were only the elderly, kids, and women. 

"Yin Kang, we hate to inform you that our strongest fighters and warriors have gone to invade the South for a raid. We are all just normal people with normal lives." The people collectively informed Yin with innocent eyes.

"South?" Tara's heart stopped as she heard her own voice in her head.

"South? Raid?" Yin was stuffed with so many questions.

"Yes, even 'Agera'. East's most fierce warrior. He was Jaquer's personal knight. His bloodline were the ones who slayed Kontello Greyfold. He is a monster." The crowd ended, trembling and shaking. 

"Agera. He sounds like someone we would need in the Warfield." Yin concurred with his crewmates.

"We've never seen him, but we have heard a shitload about him too." Brody added information to the table.

"I wouldn't try to befriend him or team up with him if I was you." Mathen warned with a serious tone.

"Wow! So exciting! Alrighty! How far is South from here?" He posed the question to them.

After a mere second, Tara answered.

"Two days on horseback."

"How do you know, Tara?" He reverted.

"Um, that was where I lived."

"Perfect then."

The seven of them waited for the declaration.

And Yin picked up the megaphone and spoke.

"My people! I have made up my mind! Since we have to cross South anyway to head to West, we will ride for South first! I will meet up with this fierce warrior! Now, please, someone saddle eight horses for the eight of us! We are going to start soon!" He ended his announcement with a request, his smile wide and his eyes bright.

"Oh, I also borrowed her, if you all don't mind!" 

Yin lifted Destiny into the air and displayed her to everyone.