Chapter 5

By some miracle we managed to escape. I'm not sure what, but something guided me through the dark alleyways of Meribia with the cumbersome Yasuo in tow. It wasn't till after a mile or so of traveling south through nearby woods did I get the chance to attend to Yasuo.

"I don't see anything externally wrong. The spell should mend any internal ailments as well." I assured him, as we sat in a small forest clearing.

"I do appreciate what you've been doing for me Portia... but, I don't think any of your healing magic will cure what's going on inside of me. I'm not sure anything can." He spoke with such hopelessness that I wasn't positive there was anything I could do either.

"Listen, we can't give up! Don't be so stubborn! Don't you want to know what's happening to you? Yes! I know you do! So instead of feeling sorry for yourself you've got to rest up, get back on your feet and get to the bottom of this. I'm not sure now that going to speak with Royce was such a great idea. I think we should look to a man by the name of Damon. Remember our school lesson on the 'Influential Men of Lunar'? He's the keeper of the entire world's knowledge and knows all. I'm sure that he will know more than Royce could ever hope to. So, we'll rest here for the night and go." I hadn't meant to go on about it. But I had to say something that would rid his face of that look of defeat. I knew that we could find out and stop whatever was happening to him.

He laughed quietly. "You never cease to amaze me Kitty Kat. I guess it's settled then. We'll travel to Damon's Spire. I read quite a bit about him that day at the library."

I ignored the irritating nickname. "Have you remembered anything else of that day?"

"Well no. Not really. I went there after those people from Burg arrived. I had this sudden curiosity to know as much as I could about the past, especially about the past Dragonmasters... you came by a second time and I... I'm really sorry for what I said to you Portia. I really didn't mean it."

"That's quite all right Yasuo. I've long since forgotten about it. What's important now is trying to remember what happened. So, I ran off, then what happened?" I was feeling almost giddy, I was certain he'd remember even a little something now that we were talking about it.

"You left... I think I looked out the window... no, that was before..." He mumbled under his breath for several minutes trying to recall what had happened.

I looked up at the Blue Star. It was so beautiful tonight. There was not a cloud in the sky... Only a red halo. You have a very... Trying, future ahead, echoed in my mind. A superstition came to me then... "Beware of the Blue Star's red halo... it is a sign from the Goddess that danger fills the night..." I shuddered as I looked around. There didn't appear to be any danger. The crickets' chorus sang of calmness...

"There was a woman!"

I jumped as Yasuo's exclamation broke the silence.

"A woman?"

His brow creased in concentration... I don't think he'd even heard me... "Then," his voice trailed off as he searched for the rest. "How cruel you are Althena!" He suddenly jumped up and shouted at the sky. "Why are you doing this to me? Huh? What have I done so wrong in my life I deserve this suffering! What game are you playing!" He held his side again.

"Yasuo! Please, relax. Sit. You're not going to travel far in this condition. I'm sure it's not Althena doing this to you." He crimson eyes flashed as they targeted me.

"What would you know of my condition! Or Althena for that matter! No matter how sure you are of Althena's motives makes no difference. She herself could no more heal me than you!" He grimaced again at a sting in his side. He took a few deep breaths and sunk to his original position against the tree.

I don't think I could've been more hurt if he'd ripped off one of my limbs. But I dared not show it. I had no clue how this new Yasuo would react; the same as the old compassionate Yasuo? Or would he revel in my tears?

He didn't look at me for several minutes, not even as I began to speak, "I will fulfill my promise to travel with you to Damon's Spire. To find out what afflicts you. To find a cure... if there is one. But afterwards, Yasuo... you're on your own." I don't think I'd ever been so serious in my life... or at least while I was speaking to Yasuo.

"Portia, I-"

I looked into those devil eyes then, and he said nothing more.

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My eyes opened wide as my shoulders were being violently shaken.

"Portia! We have to get the hell out of here! Now! Come on!" Before I knew it, Yasuo had pulled me to my feet and we were running blindly through the trees. "Guards from Meribia are after us!"

I could hear angry voices not far off. This must be all Lemia's doing! But why? How could have what happened to Yasuo be cause for such a chase? I pushed the thought from my mind as I ran over Lunar maps instead.

"We should be coming to Althena's Shrine soon, we can hide there!" I gasped just as I tripped over a tree root.

"Watch where you're stepping big foot!" Yasuo snapped as he helped me back to my feet. If my ankle hadn't been screaming with pain and we weren't being chased I would've told him where I was going to stick my big foot!

Breaching the edge of the woods we saw even more guards awaiting meters away. They came charging as they spotted us but I knew that we would escape them... At least that was before we found that the entrance to the shrine was locked!

"No!" I pounded on the door. "Help! Someone let us in! Help!" But it was no use, the guards were closing in and there was no way to avoid them.

"STOP!" Yasuo's voice sounding so unnatural now commanded. The guards advanced regardless, and Yasuo's irises burned with rage, his fists clenched in anger. "RA'´D EG´REZ!"

Before I could even guess at what language he was speaking in, a series of lightening bolts sliced through the dark sky and halted the horde in its tracks!

"Enhe`ni quddâm li´ safîh fallâh, muzâre'," Yasuo continued on in this alien language, I felt connected to the fear I could feel radiating from the Meribian guards... What in Althena's name was happening to Yasuo! "En´ta etgâsir e'´sa li´! MUDAHHIK!!!" Yasuo barked raising an authoritative hand in the air for a moment, seconds later it cut downward, and all the men hit their knees, dropping their weapons...

My breath caught in my throat. By the Goddess... How, no. I couldn't even begin to gather my thoughts. What was happening in front of my very own eyes? Yasuo was losing this internal war, the first battle tragically overcame him...I couldn't lose hope. I couldn't lose Yasuo!

"Please Yasuo! Stop this! Stop!" I cried as I stood before him.

"Li´ Habîba." His ruby eyes becoming almost tender as his fingertips reached out to lightly touch my cheek.

"Yasuo. Please stop this. It isn't right. Come back Yasuo. We still have to fight. We have to find the cure for you. Remember we're going to Damon's Spire? Please, come back to me Yasuo. P-please." I couldn't help it. No matter how I braced myself, I couldn't stop the tears from forming and flowing down my face.

He looked confused. Lost. He looked from the fallen men back to me, to them, and back. "Zai en´ta el´man´na, li´ habîba."

I still hadn't a clue what he said, but from the look in his eyes, it was far from hate, or anger... I'm not sure he knew who I was. But an enemy I was not. This I knew for certain when he took my hand in his and tenderly pressed his lips to it. The thumb if his other hand gently wiped the tears from my cheeks and he closed his eyes as his brow furrowed...

"I demand to know the meaning of this!" Came a soft but fierce voice.

"Phacia!" Called many of the guards. "Please, go back inside, you're in danger!"

It was too late... The fire was once more aflame in Yasuo's crimson eyes...

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