Jackran's cries had soon ceased. He rocked back and forth, hugging his knees to his chest. His surroundings were silent, nothing but the wind blowing against the trees. It felt as if time stood still, his breathing heavy and his eyes feeling stingy from the tears drying up.

Suddenly, there was a crash through the trees nearby. Jackran looked up in surprise, on his feet instantly. The medallion glowed instinctively, and he took hold of the bow and arrow before slowly approaching where the crash took place. His hands trembled, but he kept himself steady as he slowly parted the bush. He dropped his weapons.

"Bryan!"

He pulled the other boy out, and he took him in his arms. He placed a hand on his face, and he froze at the blood dripping from his eyes.

Oh no, oh no, oh no...

He set Bryan down before looking through his knapsack. "Come on, come on..." he hissed. "How could you have blankets and books but no bandages??" He gritted his teeth, throwing everything out of the knapsack. "Nothing!" He threw the knapsack away before moving to Bryan. "You idiot, why couldn't you have packed something to help you!?"

Bryan didn't respond. He was unconscious, with only his faint breathing as a sign that he was still alive. Jackran shook his head and tugged on his hoodie, ripping out one of the sleeves. He muttered under his breath as he placed the cloth around the other boy's eyes.

There was a sudden rustle from nearby. Jackran grabbed his bow and arrow to point towards where the rustling came from, backing up to keep Bryan behind him. He narrowed his eyes, neverminding the blur of his glasses as he kept the arrow steady.

"Come out, whoever you are!"

The rustling stopped. Jackran held his breath, but he didn't lower his guard. Something slithered out of the bush, and Jackran's grip on his weapons tightened, ready to shoot.

"Wait, wait!"

He blinked and glanced down, seeing the Naga child in front of him, her arms out in surrender. "I mean no harm,"

"Wh-Who are you?" Jackran growled. "What do you want from us? And... what are you?"

"I am Alissa Scales," The girl gently spoke. "I am a Naga."

"A what?"

"A Naga," A familiar voice came from behind, and Jackran turned with his bow and arrow at the newcomer. "She is of no harm, and neither am I,"

"...AJ," Jackran felt relief that he was met with a familiar presence, but he quickly kept his guard up once more. "What are you and this... kid doing here?" He backed him and Bryan up more. "How did you find us?"

"We never left," Alissa admitted. "I had met young Bryan before, and I followed him in his adventure,"

"I did not follow you," AJ crossed her arms. "I did follow Alissa to keep her safe,"

"How heartwarming." Jackran grunted.

"We see young Bryan is injured," Alissa slithered closer. "We can help him,"

Jackran glared. He glanced at the other boy, eyes softening at how unresponsive he was. He sighed and looked back. "Fine. But I'm watching you, kid." He gripped his bow as he pointed the arrow at the pair. "Both of you."

"That seems fair," AJ nodded. "Let me carry young Bryan,"

"No." Jackran lowered the arrow and allowed it to shift into the medallion before he backed up and picked the other boy, slumping him onto his back. "I've got him. Just lead the way."

Alissa nodded and slithered forward. Jackran followed her, eyes glaring at AJ from time to time as the Big Foot followed after them to protect the flank of the group.

They trekked through the forest before ending up in a small hut. "This is my hut," Alissa spoke, slithering inside and opening the door. "Pardon the mess, I have yet to clean the place up,"

"Mm," Jackran simply walked over the mess on the floor. "Where do I set him down?"

"On here," Alissa went to a straw mat on the floor. "I can help him here,"

Jackran gently set Bryan down, letting him lay down. He knelt down by his side, staring to watch Alissa slither across him with a small jar. AJ was standing behind Jackran, watching over the healing ritual as the child removed the cloth around Bryan's eyes before he reached into the jar to take out something green and sticky.

"This is to help," Alissa spoke, gently rubbing the green substance onto the unconscious boy's eyes. "The ritual goes as followed. I rub the ointment onto the injured area and I speak a chant to activate the healing properties,"

"Is that all that's needed?" Jackran blinked.

"Well... no," Alissa hummed. "The book of rituals said something about a Spoken Honesty, but it's an optional ingredient, so I doubt we need it,"

Jackran narrowed his eyes and looked up at AJ. The Big Foot shrugged and simply continued to watch as Alissa waved her hand around, fingers sparkling with green magic. Jackran held onto the medallion as the magic fused with the ointment, allowing it to glow before sinking into the boy's face. Bryan let out a groan, and Jackran's eyes widened, allowing Alissa to help him up.

"Young Bryan, you've awoken!"

"Alissa...?" Bryan coughed, eyes shutting at the stinging pain. "Wh-What happened...? Where am I...?"

"Not to worry, Bryan, you are safe," Alissa smiled.

"I... I am...?"

Bryan opened his eyes, and Jackran's stomach dropped in horror. AJ stared in shock, turning to Alissa, who started to shake.

"Y-You're eyes..."

"What about them?" Bryan looked around, confused. "What's wrong? Where are you, Alissa?"

"I'm here," Alissa held onto his hand. "I'm here, you... you just... can't see me..."

"Wh-What?" Bryan swallowed.

Jackran stood up and walked out of the hut. AJ sighed and got up to follow after him. Jackran stopped a few steps from the hut, hearing the large footsteps from behind. He hissed.

"She said that she can heal him."

"She had also stated that the spell might be incomplete," AJ crossed her arms. "Perhaps that is the problem,"

"How the hell are we supposed to get a Spoken Honesty right now!?" Jackran glared at the other. "Another worthless adventure!?"

"Young Jackran, please calm down-"

"I will do no such thing!" Jackran snapped. "That kid said that she could heal him, and she doesn't! I will not calm down when Bryan is literally blind from a severe injury that she couldn't help him with!"

AJ was taken back. She glared at the boy before walking back into the hut. Jackran stared as she walked, panting before falling onto his knees.

He was so tired...

"I'm... blind?"

"Yes..." Alissa rubbed her arm. "I'm sorry..."

Bryan sighed. "It's... okay. You did your best..." He patted around until he found the chair nearby.

"Greetings, Young Bryan," AJ walked over to stand beside Alissa. "I am Aluritom Jovunila Ginormica, you may call me AJ. I am a Big Foot,"

"Nice to meet you..." Bryan half-heartedly chuckled. He backed up a little. "You're... not going to hurt me, are you?"

"Don't worry, young Bryan, I am no harm. I am a friend of Alissa," AJ assured. "May you tell us what happened? How did you lose your eyesight?"

"..." Bryan wrapped his arms around himself. "...I was naive. I was blinded by my own beliefs and trust... and I was played like a fiddle," He sighed.

"Oh, young Bryan..." Alissa's eyes softened. "It couldn't have been that bad..."

"I was faced with Goddess Day." Bryan gritted his teeth. "And she..." He shook his head jumped to his feet. "I can't believe I was so stupid!" He stomped off, but he ended up slamming against the wall. "Ack!" He shook his head and patted the wall before finding his way out.

As he tried to run, he ended up tripping and falling onto his face. Jackran hissed and got up, glaring at the other boy. "Watch it."

"Sorry..." Bryan groaned and forced himself up.

Jackran huffed and dusted himself up. "Shouldn't you be resting? Your blind now."

"..." Bryan began to shake. "...I'm sorry..."

Jackran sighed. "It's fine, whatever, you're blind anyway-"

"No, not about... me t-tripping," Bryan's voice shook. "I'm sorry... for not listening to you... you were right. You were right about Klarissa and..." Was Galilea even in this? She knew Klarissa more than he did... she must be. "You were right about the girls..." The tears fell from his eyes, rolling down his cheeks. "Klarissa... she... she's Goddess Day..."

"Klarissa is Goddes Day?" Jackran's eyes widened.

"Yes..." Bryan hugged himself. "I tried to... I tried to fight her, and she..." He sniffled his tears. "I was so stupid, so blind about my greed for adventure... for... for some heroic acknowledgement..." He couldn't stop more tears from falling. "Everything I did... it was for what I wanted... My pride led me... and blinded me..." He shut his eyes. "I'm sorry..."

Jackran stared at him before he sighed. He moved to sit beside him, leaning back slightly. "You weren't the only one selfish," He sighed. "I accepted this mission because I wanted something more in life. I went in headfirst and didn't realize that I needed anything but myself," He stretched a leg up. "I guess... I was wrong,"

Bryan didn't respond. Jackran glanced over and let out a sigh.

"I understand... if you really are ashamed of me,"

Bryan winced and turned to him. "I'm not... I'm not ashamed of you, Jack..." He moved closer. "I'm sorry... I'm sorry for saying that I am. I'm not ashamed of you, Jackran, I never was-"

"You should be." Jackran turned away. "I'm the product of an affair, born out of wedlock. I'm a shame to the family and a shame as a person." He gritted his teeth. "That's what Father said that you told him. That you were ashamed of me."

"I never once thought of you as anything like that- gah!" Bryan tried to reach out, but he missed and nearly stumbled.

Jackran had to catch him before he fell. "Take it easy," He held onto him, helping him to sit up. "You can't see where you're going."

"I know," Bryan sighed, his hand finding the other's own. "But I know who you are, Jackran. You're an amazing person, no matter how you came to be or who you are," He smiled. "It probably doesn't mean anything coming from me... but whoever you think you are... it's not true," He moved closer to rest his head under his chin. "Out of all out friends... I know you the most. And I know what kind of person you are."

"Even with... how much I hated you for years?" Jackran's expression was of confusion. How could he say he's an amazing person? After doing all that?

"Of course," Bryan chuckled. "It isn't your fault... I see that now," He held onto his hand tighter as he closed his eyes. "I know who you truly are,"

Jackran's eyes softened, a small hue of red appearing on his cheeks. He closed his eyes and pulled the other boy close to him. The medallions gently clinged together, a light glow coming from them both. A glow neither boys noticed, even as the flash slowly faded.

Bryan's eyes fluttered open, and he gasped, getting up slowly. "I..."

"Bryan?" Jackran looked over, and his eyes widened. "Your eyes... they... they..."

"I can see!" Bryan laughed, happy tears pricking the corners of his eyes. "I can see again! But how!?"

"A Spoken Honesty,"

The pair looked back at Alissa, who slithered out of the hut with AJ. Bryan blinked. "A Spoken Honesty?" he repeated.

"Yes, it's part of the ritual!" Alissa chirped. "A Spoken Honesty seals the ointment and helps with your healing!"

"What honesty was it?" Jackran blinked.

"The honesty of my actions," Bryan contemplated. "Of what I believed and what I truly felt... for all of this. And... for you," He held Jackran's hand gently. "That's the Honesty that the ritual must have been looking for,"

Jackran smiled. "I guess so..."

Suddenly, there was an earthquake. Alissa screamed and ran behind AJ, who held out a pose of defense while the boys kept themselves steady.

Bryan hissed and turned, gasping as an explosion of darkness was visible from a distance. "Oh no, Goddess Day must have unlocked the Curse of Darkness!"

"Is she insane!?" Jackran gritted his teeth. "That curse will kill us all, including herself!"

"Then you two must go and stop the curse," AJ told them. "Save the Goddess. Save the Earth!"

"Right," Bryan nodded and turned to the other. "For our world."

Jackran grinned and gave a nod. "For our world."

The medallions gleamed on their chest, and they let their shadows pull them in before zooming towards the source of the chaos.