The group of Gifted along with Silva emerged from the gate and appeared once more in the basement of the castle. Then as they had entered, they began to make their way through the tunnel and soon enough, they were once more in the throne room. Though, it was now quite empty as they all noticed.

And though they had not realized it, due to hell’s days and nights being almost identical, in reality, they were gone for a full two days. And not having had any rest, despite their Gifted constitution, they were beginning to feel very tired.

But Evan, in particular, grew very awake when he saw the familiar face running into the throne room.

“Ma!” he called. “Is that you?”

“Evan!” the woman cried and ran to give her son a grand hug while Evan tried to pull away. Though he did not say it, the boy thought in his mind. “Mom, stop! My friends are watching.”

Teya chuckled at the sweet sight and Blyke was laughing uncontrollable. “Mommy’s boy!” he called as Mohan snuggled her little boy.

But upon hearing that, Mohan eyed the red hair boy. She released Evan and walked up to Blyke with a clenched fist. “And what’s wrong that?” she smacked the boy in the head. “Don’t you hug your mom? If you don’t, then you’re a crappy son!” Mohan fumed.

“Ergg, mom…” Evan grabbed her by the shoulder. “Maybe you should calm down a little.”

Mohan glared at the boy who then gulped at his throat. She took a deep breath and then settled herself. “Yes, you’re right.” But then she began examining Evan. “Have you been sleeping well?” she asked as she saw his baggy eyes. “How has your diet been? Have you made sure to eat your veges.” she pointed a finger at the boy as she continued while her other hand was planted at her waist. “You never liked eating them ever since you were little. When you were five, you actually…” she then went on to tell some story about how Evan had thrown away his greens in to the river to avoid eating them.

And all the while, Teya was still chuckling with a hand over her mouth.

Mohan then retracted her pointing finger and placed both hands at the sides of her waist. “Anyways, we should head out now. Say goodbye to your friends.”

It was then that Marcus finally got the chance to interject. “I’m afraid that’s not happening Mohan.” The man began as Mohan turned to see her uncle. “Something strange happened to Evan while he was in hell. We thought he had died but…”

“Died?!” Mohan shouted. She looked to Evan. “What does he mean that you died?”

“Well…” Evan rubbed the back of his head but his Granduncle saved him from an explanation.

“Hold on Mohan, I said we thought he died. But really, it would seem that he just fell unconscious. The thing that really bothered me is what happened before he fell asleep.”

“And what was that?” Mohan asked as she eyed the tall man with a raised brow.

“Well…” now it was Marcus’ turn to rub the back of his head. “I don’t really know. And to add, he did something strange when he awoke as well.” The man sighed. “Anyways, the point is that I can’t have him leave until we figure this out. But before any of that…” the old man looked around to the Gifted. “I’m sure we all need some rest.” He then looked to Mohan whose eyes also showed bags under them. “And that includes you, my dear niece.”

Mohan folded her hands and pouted. “Fine.” She grabbed Evan by the elbow and pulled him closer. “Where will we stay for the time being?”

Marcus smiled. He looked to the Gifted behind him. “You lot head on out.” Then he returned his attention to Mohan. “Follow me.” He said and then lead the two to their rooms.

~

The silver robed man pointed his blade towards Eon and then from it came an icicle as big as a house to rain itself down at Eon. But ice was still ice and Eon shattered it with ease as he launched himself towards the man.

Then he swiped his blade to rain hundreds of smaller icicles towards the man who didn’t even flinch. The ice simply shattered like glass as it came into contact with Eon’s tough skin that glowed on contact. So the man had no choice but to have his dark bird fly higher to avoid Eon.

Eon wouldn’t allow it. As he fell under the bird, he let his back face the man and punched with great force into the air. The blast propelled the man upwards to the bird and then he swung around to give the dark bird a mighty kick to its wing, destroying it in one blow.

Dark ashes descended into a fall as the silver man hopped on to one of the long hands that circled around the area.

“So you’ve come.” The strange creature said from within the rift.

The silver robed man looked to the creature. He nodded and pointed his blade to Eon once more as the demon lord returned his other hand to the left side of the Rift to continue pulling away at the break in space.

Lias tried to interfere but then another wall of ice appeared to shield the creature.

Raus laughed at that. “Finally, something that I can do!” he yelled as he punched a burning sun in to the center of the wall which then melted to from a wall of water that splashed on to the ground. The same had already been done to the other wall.

Raus then landed in the water on the ground below as his shoulder length hair hanged over half of his face. He brushed it aside and pointed his fist of flame towards the silver robed man. He then shouted. “Eon! Lias! You two handle the demon. I’ll take care of frosty here!”

Eon nodded as he landed to the ground. Lias did so as well. “You take the left again!” Eon told Lias. “I’ll take the right.” And off the two brothers dashed away to strike once more at the demon from both sides.

~

“Who is that?” Emrit asked to Roy who was still beside him. “I don’t know. But I think it’s about time I find out.” Then the king conjured a red ball around him and walked off the edge of the wall to fall on to the ground below.

“Crazy old bastard.” Emrit muttered as he saw the ball landing on the ground only to be bounced up and forward towards the battlefield.

Emrit downed his head. Was there anything that he could do?

Well, there was one thing, he supposed. And that one thing soon returned to him on the wall as the sun settled in the west at the man’s side.

He looked around and saw that Mohan was behind him. “I can help you fight.” She said as she reached out her hand.

The man gritted his teeth. That much was true. If he had waited and allowed Mohan to assist him that time when she was attacked, he wouldn’t have lost his arm. But how could he have known that his body would be so weak? Well, he supposed the signs were always there. He just never listened to them.

“I thought you were going to find Evan.” The man said quietly.

“I did find him. He’s resting in a room within the castle right now.” The woman replied.

“And you’re sure that you don’t need rest as well?” the man asked as he batted an eyebrow.

Mohan crossed his arms. “I may have not slept in two days but I haven’t done much but ride on a horse. I’m Gifted, we don’t need much rest to survive. Our bodies are stronger.” She paused and said finally. “I’ll be fine. I just want this battle to be done with already so I can go home with my son.”

The man gritted his teeth. “Don’t think I’ve forgiven you? You’ve done me wrong woman.” Emrit said as he walked towards Mohan.

“And I’ve told you many times that I have done no such thing.” Mohan replied. “But that doesn’t matter now, does it?” she said with fierce eyes.

“I suppose it doesn’t.” the man said as he picked up the small woman and cradled her as she clung to his shoulders.

She turned away. None of them would enjoy this at all.

Emrit walked to the edge the wall as a red barrier formed around his skin as well as Mohan’s. Then with a deep breath, the man let himself fall to the ground as wind rushed along his body. He landed to the ground as the earth shattered below him and then with a mighty lunge, he blasted himself into the air.

~

Evan had fallen asleep as soon as he fell on to the soft bed. It wasn’t like to him to feel this tired. No Gifted should have ever felt this tired. So why was he?

Just like before, colors began to flash in his mind – red, orange, yellow, green. What was happening? He reached out a hand towards the flashing rainbow before him – blue, indigo, violet. This was so strange – red, orange. It stopped there and now four colors presented themselves to the boy– red, orange, yellow and blue. Those were the four colors swirling around in a puddle of ink that lit up the boy’s dark mind. But what did they mean?

~

Teya and Blyke had come along with Evan and his mother. They saw as his mother left. She had asked them to keep watch over him. And it were now, something strange was happening to the boy. A cloud had emerged to cover the boy. But this cloud was different, it had golden light radiating from it. And to add to that, the cloud had started to burn like a raging flame.

But the flame wasn’t very hot. It was more like gentle heat that gave warmth to the boy. What was happening?

“Is he okay?” Blyke asked but as the young man tried to approach Evan, Teya placed an arm in front of him.

“We should call Marcus.” Teya said bluntly. “Something strange is happening. I’ll go get the commander.” And as Teya made her way around to go look for Marcus, she turned to Blyke and added. “Don’t do anything stupid.”

Blyke pouted and placed a hand to his chin as he slouched to the ground. “Don’t worry, I won’t. I’m not as dumb as I seem.”

“I would hope so.” Teya taunted and then went about her way to find Marcus.