Soon enough, the group sits in a human orchard. Mountains surround them on all sides, and Lieselotte is babbling on, the others occasionally chiming in.

Amanda is too busy devouring apples to pay them much attention. Lieselotte had been staring at first, but soon got distracted by her own thoughts. Kamiko casts Ezi wary looks from time to time, anxious about having him so close to this young girl.

He looks so innocent, sitting cross-legged and fiddling with his hair, and yet... His eyes. Barely visible behind white bangs, cold yellow like twin moons, never still. She has often told herself not to judge based off appearances, and she feels she does not. It's the lack of emotion in those eyes that never stop moving, as if taking everything in as quickly as he can, and his lack of discernible aura. No, it's nothing that Ezi has that concerns Kamiko. It's what he lacks.

Kamiko's ears twitch when the human speaks, though she can't understand Krazden. The language is also called "Common Tongue" by many due to it becoming more and more popular throughout the world since the creation of the United Calendar, about 2,000 years ago, but its spread has been slow. It could also be considered the trade tongue because many agreements between different peoples are made in Krazden. But it's still not so common as to be spoken by common people, mostly traders and elites, as well as those born in Krazde or a colony of course. Kamiko had been none of those in life, so the language evades her.

Jake starts laughing as the human's face turns red. Kamiko and Lieselotte both ask what's so funny, but Jake is so busy laughing that he can't reply.

Instead, Ezi murmurs, "She needs to get rid of the food inside her or something, I think." He tilts his head. "Amanda, how will you do that? It sounds painful."

"She's gotta take a shit!" Jake howls, falling over laughing.

Amanda's face turns even redder. Poor thing, Kamiko thinks. Out of all the Elementals to be stuck with sharing a language with, Jake - bless his heart - may be the most embarrassing. She gently whaps Jake with her fan.

"Don't worry, Meatsack, I'll dig you a hole so you can do your business!" Lieselotte taps the ground and a hole opens up near her. Amanda stares at it, then at the Earth Spirit, then the hole again. Her face is the colour of Jake's hair.

It's Jake that gives the hole a dirty look, then demands Lieselotte make a different one further away from the group, saying that Amanda should have her own space for such things. The other Spirits are surprised Jake is considering her privacy, seeing how he's still snickering.

The Earth Spirit relents and walks away with Amanda, leaving the other three Spirits on their own. Jake breaks the momentary silence. "Bringin' back memories, ain't it?"

Kamiko nods, closing her eyes. "Certainly is. And not fond ones, I must admit."

Jake laughs. "Eh, my memories ain't so bad! Dunno why you're bein' all dramatic there, Kami." The Wind's ears twitch doubtfully.

Lieselotte walks back to the group on her own and sits down. "I miss it in a way, actually. Don't you all? I miss eating, and feeling soft things, and playing the flute, and haircuts, and learning, and-"

"Oh gods, I would kill for a meat pie!" Jake whines.

"What's that?" Ezi asks.

Despite her misgivings, Kamiko smiles as Lieselotte and Jake eagerly try to explain what a pie is. And meat. Ezi's eyes go wide when he finds out that humans eat the bodies of dead things, even though he admits to knowing that other animals did so. "I've just never seen a human hunting," he explains. This turns into an explanation of livestock, which Ezi seems to find even more shocking. Perhaps disturbing.

Kamiko finds herself wondering for the millionth time how he could be so ignorant of human culture. Then again, she knows better than any other Spirit just how painful his past must have been. She had also known little about humanity. But Ezi doesn't even speak the language of his home country, instead speaking the same Krazden used by Cynthia and Jake, with an accent and dialect somewhere between the two. Ezi was rendered mute for ten years after coming to the Valley. Whatever happened to make him that way may have taken his memories.

Well, if he has forgotten, perhaps he's luckier than the rest of us, she thinks somberly. Kamiko knows that she could never forget.

It had been well over two hundred years ago now. More? Could be. Agelessness ruins one's perception of time.

It was a war. Which one? The warrior didn't know. Which country was the warrior fighting for? It was a mystery. What was the name of the language used by the troops? The warrior hadn't a clue.

Born and raised by a family of war dogs, the warrior was trained in the sword from a young age. Trained to hunt, to kill. Trained to lead and to know nothing but the missions given. The names of the leaders to be killed and conquered. Forced to memorize faces that would soon by ruined by the blade.

There had only been one small act of rebellion. The day the sword was tossed to the dirt, picking up a fan instead. The fan belonged to a woman, an innocent freshly slain. The floral designs were hypnotic, freezing the warrior in place as the world burned. That's all it had taken.

Kamiko looks up from her fan, snapping it closed as she senses something. Jake and Lieselotte look up in tandem. The three jump to their feet and Kamiko's heart sinks when she realizes that only she and Jake are armed. And Jake only has his knives. Realizing this as well, Jake lets out a colourful string of curses. "My bow! Fuck, it's 'cause Lilo dragged our asses outta the Valley before we could grab our shit!"

"I'm sorry!" Lieselotte wails.

"Huh?" Ezi grins, seeming confused. "What's wrong?"

The three give him incredulous looks for a moment before their heads whip around at the sound of Amanda screaming, running through the apple trees. Behind her, a giant Serpent Spirit is fast approaching.

Kamiko, accustomed to combat, leaps into the air and swings her fan, blowing leaves off the surrounding trees. Branches snap apart in the whirlwind. The creature they're against is massive, its diameter as wide as a fully grown human is tall. It must be ancient to have grown so large. It looks like a viper with sharp scales and fangs dripping with venom. Has it been isolating itself and growing, so that it will be a worthy enemy of the Elementals? Kamiko wonders. It seems likely. A young, small snake wouldn't be much of a challenge. It must have allowed itself time to grow and feed so it could face the Elementals.

The Serpent recedes at Kamiko's onslaught of wind, but only slightly. The thing lunges for Jake, who sidesteps. Instinctively, he reaches for his bow to no avail. Instead, he coats his fists in flames, then gives it a solid punch to the side. Amanda cheers but there's one thing about Jake that surprises many who first meet him.

The Fire Spirit is six feet tall, has rippling muscles that he loves to show off, and a bulky frame that looks like it belongs on a wrestler. But unfortunately, he's more of a body-builder than a brawler, and an Elemental's looks have little correlation to their strength or speed anyway. The enemy barely moves from the solid hit, though it does receive an ugly burn mark that fills the air with the scent of burning scales. Jake snatches his knives into his hands, setting them alight instantly. Kamiko catches his scowl, knowing how much Jake despises close combat.

Meanwhile, Lieselotte sheds her human appearance to enter her true form - a vaguely human-shaped mound of dirt and gemstones - and melts with into the ground. Dirt rises as she travels underneath the giant snake. Kamiko blasts more wind at it, hoping to be a distraction.

A spire shoots up from under the Serpent, but even while being blasted and burned, the creature dodges. Ezi looks on blankly, standing in front of Amanda. Until Jake is sent flying after being smacked with its tail, screaming.

The Fire Spirit smashes through the orchard trees, leaving a trail of destruction in his wake. Any tree that touches him erupts into flame and he has to quickly extinguish it with a swipe of his arm as soon as he gets his footing back, but the damage is already done and he can't get rid of it all without more time. Smoke rises into the sky, buffeted by Kamiko's whirlwind. Amanda sits and covers her head with her arms, screaming.

"Jacob!" Kamiko shrieks. "Everyone, move aside! I require a clear shot!"

Ezi scoops Amanda into his arms, dashing away as Kamiko watches the upturned dirt showing Lieselotte's path. She swings her fan once more, the air solidifying and turning into blades, cutting the damnable Life Spirit.

It wails in pain and seems to acknowledge the true threat now. Kamiko attempts to fly out of its range but is caught by the ankle in its massive jaws, shrieking in fear as she's pulled down and slammed into a charred tree. Even without a physical form, the impact is enough to stun her.

The Serpent rears up, preparing to attack Kamiko, but that's when the last thing any of them had expected happens. Ezi runs in front of her, and for some reason reaches up to rip a chunk of his hair out of his head. He holds it like a weapon. A blade of pure white emerges from it, a strangled gasp escaping Kamiko. Ezi is notorious for his uselessness without his spear, so how? He had never been able to conjure anything up without using it as a focus before.

He slashes the blade across the face of the creature, red blood spraying everywhere, making it rain on the burning orchard. The smell is indescribable. Leaves of the trees still in tact drip with the crimson liquid, the apples surely tainted by this gory display. Kamiko herself is splattered head to toe, raising her arms to shield her eyes at least.

The Serpent Spirit screeches, pulls its head back, then goes for another lunge despite its jaw being sliced into four different sections now, bleeding so much. Ezi leaps into the air, aiming to strike the maw again. But Jake shows up - seemingly out of nowhere - to grab Ezi's robes and snatch him out of the air.

"Ezi! The hell, mate? You tryna get your ass killed? Don't-!"

He's cut short when Ezi shoves him to the ground, the two narrowly avoiding being swallowed. 

"Jake! Ezi!" Amanda screams, voice high pitched in absolute terror. She sounds far enough away to not be in danger, at least. Kamiko blasts the Serpent with more wind.

Ezi gazes at Jake, tilting his head. He looks tired, even more so than usual. The "weapon" in his hand changes. The blade turns soft and malleable. For a moment, Kamiko thinks it's become hair once more, but the glowing thing is much too long. Too thick. A rope. Instantly, Kamiko grasps his plan.

"Lieselotte, get under it! Now!" she orders, sensing the Earth Spirit obeying. Jake remains confused.

Only nimble in combat, Ezi gracefully stands and dodges another strike as he moves closer. The Serpent screams in pain as its broken jaws hit the ground. Jake sends a column of fire into its eyes, then throws a knife to impale its cornea. Bright liquid sprays, dousing the Elementals, Amanda, and the landscape further. It's enough to put out any fire Jake missed with sizzling sounds all around them.

Ezi flicks his wrist as the creature writhes in pain, the rope of light wrapping around the enemy just below its triangular head, and he yanks it to the ground. The earth and trees below crack from the force of the impact. The moment its head touches down, three spires of rock emerge and piece it through. Making fountains of blood that almost resemble miniature volcanoes in the process of erupting.

The Serpent Spirit starts fading, but before any celebration can happen, Ezi falls flat on his face and the sky changes to night. He isn't even giving off his usual glow, the stars and moons hidden from view. The only light comes from the flames in Jake's hair and his glowing eyes. Thankfully, Kamiko doesn't need light to see, but it's terrifying nonetheless.

"EZI!" Jake screams, horror in his voice and his aura thick with it. Kamiko stares in disbelief until she remembers Amanda. She hears the girl's rapid heartbeat and flies towards the sound as the blood starts to disappear. As expected, Amanda fainted, spread eagle on the ground. She seems otherwise fine, but it was clearly too much for her to be here. Kamiko looks back at Ezi, just as unconscious as Amanda. Lieselotte babbles anxiously as Jake picks up the wayward Light. This can't be possible. Has he always been able to do that?