-Listen to me! Why are you mad? What do you mean by revenge?

-Don’t make me more angrier at you boy! – yelled the keeper as he clapped his wings, forming a strong wind current to intimidate.

Jax cross his arms trying to protect himself, but he’s getting pushed back by the wind. He got no choice.

“Dusk Force: Shield”

A forcefield is created surrounding Jax, which dissipates as the wind current ends.

-I knew that it was your power – says an even more enraged Keeper – prepare to die! Don’t think that your puny shields can stand my real attacks!

«Dusk Force: Sorrow Fall»

The ground surrounding the keeper collapsed as soon as Jax’s technique was cast. The keeper was unaffected by it and just flew.

-You are just as dumb as that blonde brat. Essentia attacks cannot harm me. What was the point of tracking me?

-Tracking you?

-Yeah, tracking me. – said the keeper as he bowed to him, showing the purple ray’s ending on his neck. -How did you have the audacity to take away that feather from her? I’ll make you regret it.

The keeper was enraged as he throws countless wind slices from his winds and Jax tries to dodge the best he can. He knows that the level of his shield is not enough to stand the keeper’s attacks.

-I don’t get it. Why are you so mad at me?

-You even ask? How dare you steal that from Trish! What did you do to her, did you harm her?! Answer me! – demands the keeper as he prepares to tackle him at high speed.

“Ice Cover: Glacial Shields”

Before Jax or the Keeper could react to it, Leo built 5 layer shields in front of his brother. The keeper could trample over 3 and crack the fourth one, before flew high in the sky as his momentum ended. Leo showed signs of critical frostbite on both his arms with that last technique, making his arms unusable.

-Oh, I think that it has past 3 years since someone was able to block on of my tackles. I congratulate you for it, but it seems that you past your limits. You seem a good Essentia master prospect, but you are protecting someone who must die. I’ll let you live if you stand back.

-What are you talking about? He’s my little brother, there’s no way I could let you harm him. And why does he even need to die?

-Why?! You tracked me with that feather! That brat has the feather that I left with Trish 10 years ago. She would never give away my feather to the likes of you, so you must have stolen her or even worse!

-No, this is a misunderstanding the feather was given--

-There’s nothing you can say to save yourself, that is the feather I gave to her!

-Yeah, but…

-No buts, no excuses, you die with him all together, I don’t care! – the keeper flies higher and with a quick flap of his wings he creates a huge cyclone. -be destroyed for all the harm you caused, and let Trish hear your screams!

“Flame Style: Fire Mound”

A column of fire is lifted on the cyclone’s center, burning its air and dissipating it. Evelyn is exhausted after saving the 2 brothers, but happily conformed for achieving that.

-You are hopeless without me. You better be thankful for having such a hot beauty saving you.

-That fire is hot all right. You talk like you weren’t saved by me just moments ago – responds Leo getting up – but you are right, you are a really nice woman. Thanks. -Leo innocently smiles back at Evelyn.

-Y-y-you smartass. Talking and smiling like that doesn’t make me happy one bit. – lies a blushed Evelyn.

-You too little miss? Even though you make part of the Hartman family, I will dispose of you to avenge Trish.

-You know me?

-Ahahaha, of course I do, that emblem is damn bright! Your family always sends their new fledglings here for a little test, in exchange for protecting this place from the Nation’s view. – says the Keeper as he landed and grabbed her by the waist with one of his claws – Are you curious? The test is divided in two parts: a test to your intuition, which is cleared for discovering the cave behind the illusion. And a second part, where you are confronted with power much stronger than yours, granting you humbleness that your silver spoon life didn’t teach you until now.

-But the task is to take a Cobalt Emperor Swallow offspring. My brothers…

-Ahahaha, your brothers?! One of them even pissed himself as he stood powerless against me. I granted a feather to each one of them so that they could take it to your father, as a proof of passing the test.

-I can’t believe it… - mumbles a shocked Evelyn. She reminisces the sorrowful face of her older brothers after their Swallow quest, but she thought it was just a tough battle to them.

-So as I told you that now, stand aside as I make justice for Trish. I will give you the feather after I punish them for you to give to your father.

-Wait! Trish? As in Trish Sullivan? The owner of Dear Nest?

-Yes, and these bastards definitely harm her for the feather, Trish wouldn’t just give it to them. They will have to pay for it!

-No, wait! Trish is alive and well! Before I came here, I lunch at her restaurant.

-You are lying! You are trying to protect them! You can die with your frosty boyfriend, I don’t care!

Evelyn becomes embarrassed once again and immediately denies it.

-HE’S NOT MY BOYFRIEND! Trish is alive, I’m sure of it. Look, here.

Evelyn as she takes from her bag the rest of a meal.

– Do you recognize it?

-Oh, yeah! The special meatloaf! Can I have it? – ask in unison Leo and the keeper.

-You idiot! Don’t you see I’m trying to save you? Seriously, what’s wrong with you? – scolds Evelyn to Leo irritated as she gives the meatloaf to the Keeper.

-But I want a piece of meatloaf too. – mumbles a sad Leo.

The keeper ate the meatloaf always staring at them, always vigilant. After second thoughts, he chose to believe in what Evelyn told, for now. The keeper got close to his intruders and open his wings, revealing a blue feathery chest.

-I acknowledge you, little girl – says the keeper as he pulls out a feather from his chest with his beak and gives to her – this is the evidence of your trial validation. Send my regards to your family.

-Thank you – thanks Evelyn as she bows – your word will be delivered.

-As for you –the keeper looks back to the brothers – I choose to believe you for now.

-For now? – inquires Leo.

Before anyone could move, the Swallow stepped on Jax with his right claw, making him unable to move.

-Yes, for now.

-What are you doing?! Let go of him! – demands Leo.

-What are you going to do? You don’t even have Essentia left, I can see right through you, remember?

-Free my brother now! If you don’t – as soon as he threats, the keeper slaps Leo with his wings.

-You insolent brat! You dare to threaten me? I’ll give you 2 choices: you either bring Trish right here to confirm your truth, or you two die here, and I will start with this one.

-Let go Jax! We will get her here.

-Ahahaha, you think you can fool me? This is my insurance. -says the keeper grabbing Jax -You bring her back; he will keep me company.

-You think I trust you? I will…

-Leo, there’s no point in resisting. I’ll be fine, get Trish.

-But—

-Leo, we don’t stand a chance against him as we are right now, and we will not end our journey here.

-It seems one of you can read the room. Go on, listen to your brother.

Leo reluctantly accepts it, but not before glaring at the keeper.

-Don’t you dare to harm him!

-I like those eyes, boy. Full of determination, huh? – provokes the keeper as Leo disappears on the horizon. Then he focuses his eyes on Jax, as he frees him from his claw -Now us, gloomy boy.

-You want to fight? I will not give in. – Jax gather Essentia along his arm.

-Hmmm -the keeper suddenly hits Jax disarming him instantly -you brothers, really don’t know when to quit. I don’t want to fight you boy; I’m interested in this power of yours.

-My power?

-Yes, your power. The rarest Essentia element abilities users can trace me with applying some of their Essentia on my feathers and turn it into compasses, just like your brother; but you are different boy, I only get a glimpse of similar power once, 20 years ago.

-What do you mean? My ability is nature force, gravity.

-Oh yeah? Then how do you explain that purple color?

-…I don’t know, that’s why I name my moves Dusk, I thought it fit. -affirms Jax a little embarrassed.

-If I’m not mistaken, your power is much more than that. But I can be wrong too, you are a weakling right now. The user I knew was much more stronger than you, and also had a much better attitude, similar to that blonde kid.

-I don’t care about if I’m weak or not. The only thing that matters to me is to help my brother achieve his goals and not being a constant burden to him. Cough cough -Jax expels blood once again -At least until I can withstand. Hehehe

-Oh, I get it now. Your body can’t keep up with your Essentia, that’s why you are so weak. It was strange that an ability like yours is let loose across the land. So fix it brat, that way you won’t be a problem to your brother, right? You humans are so stupid…

-It isn’t that easy! I have an abnormal Essentia center and ---

-I only hear excuses, you’ll never get anywhere like that. Everyone has their own problems, but some deal with it instead of grieving. -the keeper steps again on Jax, approaching his beak to Jax’s face – if you were to say the true, you like to depend on that blonde kid, right? You make me sick.

-Shut up! You don’t know anything about us! – yelled Jax.

Unconsciously, Jax gathered a massive amount of Essentia that formed a dark purple cloak around him.

«This can get dangerous, but I must continue. I promised him»

-Oh, you’re getting mad? I thought you had some problem with Essentia, but I guess you are lying to your brother for some attention… kids these days… that blonde must be dumb as hell to believe you. I would have dumped you already.

-You can say whatever you want about me, but Leo is off limits. – Jax grabs the keeper’s feet and lifts him up, escaping his restraining – I don’t care what happens now, I will shut you up now.

“He can reinforce his strength to the point of lifting me up, but that’s not what I’m trying to find out” – the keeper retreats a step back, and floats close to the ground -Now what? Even if you use Essentia abilities like gravity, it doesn’t work on me. Now what, little Jax? Wha—