My mind feels so clear, yet my heart is pounding. A gust of wind flew in, blowing my hair off to the side. Patches of fire burned all around me, yet the warmth they gave off was soothing.

In my hand, the sword that Silverain gave me was burning with flames. Although they would often touch my skin, I felt nothing more than a minor sting.

I lifted my hand in front of me to face the palm. There's something... new within me,  as if a snake was riding through my veins like tunnels. My muscles feel tense but fully rejuvenated at the same time.

My head tilted up to the sky as I let out a deep breath. What in the world just happened to me?

"Child," Kain muttered angrily. "You would do well to answer my question."

"...What are you on about?" I asked.

"Don't play coy! You are already a Wayfarer, are you not?! So how is it that the Path of Ignis has shown itself to you?!"

The Path of Ignis... has shown itself to me? Didn't Silverain say that I already follow the Path of Tenebris? Is it possible to follow another path with an entirely different set of beliefs?

And that colossal fire titan... Of the many books that Silverain gave me, there was one that showed illustrations of each Logos except for 'them.' As crude as it was, the titan that appeared before me matched the illustration of him... the Logos of Ignis.

"Ney'Anki..." I whispered.

The fire that surrounded me visibly flickered, before they returned to their normal sways. Was that his way of confirming my suspicions?

"Haha... Hahaha! Ahahaha! Kain suddenly began to laugh manically. "I see... I see! There is something special about you, child. You, an otherworldly anomaly, are capable of following two separate paths! No, no... Perhaps you can even follow them all! Tell me! How are you able to do it? What is your secret?!"

I couldn't help but feel disgusted. That face and those words... I can only imagine that Madam Claire saw and heard the very same thing when she was alive.

Despicable... Unforgivable...! How greedy can one be?!

"Ah... A shame you still choose to maintain your silence," Kain smiled. "I suppose there is no choice. If the Crimsheart Church can not have your powers, then no one will!"

Once again, he was lifted off the ground. "Even if he has chosen to show you his path, my lord's power is greater in me than any of his followers!"

Pillars of flames erupted all across the village, followed by the sound of screams.

"You... Do you intend to burn down this village for the sake of something as trivial as this?" I muttered.

"Trivial or not, you are someone who will get in my way if I don't kill you now," Kain replied. "Now, witness the true power of my lord, you scoundrel!"

I steadied myself for whatever was to come. At least now, with the power of the Logos of Ignis, I have a chance.

Suddenly, a thin silver line pierced through the air directly in front of Kain. For a moment, he paused. The flames subsided, and thereafter, all the flaming pillars fell and disappeared.

Just as abruptly as everything that happened only seconds ago, a splatter of blood burst out from a newly found slash wound upon Kain's chest—right where I saw the silver line passing.

With a crackle and a boom, the ground was covered by hundreds of ice spikes, flowing sporadically in uneven circles.

A flash of white appeared in front of me, followed by a trail of blue.

It... was a man. He wore a long, black coat outlined in silver with a touch of dark blue, wrapped by a few armor plates that didn't seem to protect any vital points. His dashing white hair flowed like a whirling blizzard, and his sharp, judgmental eyes looked at me for just a second, before they turned back to the injured Kain.

In his hand was a curved sword, one that seemed very similar in length and shape to my own—the one that Silverain gifted to me. Instead of a butterfly for the hilt, it was a gilded diamond.

"You did well to weaken him, my friend," he said with a gentle yet stoic voice. "Lean back and rest. I'll take it from here."

The unknown man took a step forward, and the very next step... I couldn't understand it, for he was now standing directly in front of Kain. His arm that was holding the sword lifted. Without a word, he plunged it down.

Right as it was about to stab Kain, yet another man appeared from seemingly nowhere, grabbing the blade with his bare hands. He seemed much older than the first man, towering almost a full feet above. Over a white suit with a black vest was a lavish cloak trimmed by fur.

His long, icy-blonde hair swayed with the wind, and his scornful eyes glared at the first man. One was red, and the other was blue.

I expected to see blood dripping from his fingers, yet there were no signs of any injuries as he held the blade in place.

"How strange it is that not one, but two of the Aetolian Thralls would show up in this small, humble village," the man with the sword muttered. "Am I to assume that this is a declaration of sorts, Sir Archeota?"

"Forgive my sudden intrusion, Lieutenant Elenwyr," Archeota said. "I'm sure you'll be able to understand that I can't simply stand by and watch my colleague die."

The taller man, Archeota, effortlessly threw the sword away, but Elenwyr maintained his grip, so he was sent flying along with it. He slid upon the scorched ground and landed next to me, still holding the sword in a combat stance.

Wait... combat stance? That form... Is it just a coincidence? It's the same exact stance that Silverain taught me.

"Let us part ways without any further altercations," Archeota suggested. "A battle here would only serve to devastate this peaceful place."

"Hah. Peaceful, huh?" Elenwyr scoffed. "Had the peace not already been disturbed by that defiler who saw it fit to terrorize these people under the guise of faith?"

Bishop Kain shot up in rage. "You would dare to question my—"

Archeota quickly rested his hand on Kain's shoulder, pushing him back down to the ground. How strange. He was being so careful, and yet... I sensed a hint of malice.

"We will leave this place. That includes your church," Archeota said very dangerously. "Am I understand, Sanctus?"

"Haha. Well, would you look at that," Kain chuckled. "You find me in a weakened state, and suddenly, you have all the confidence in the world. Are you that afraid of me, you old bag of bones?"

"Alas, I find myself deaf to the sound of a small fly."

Archeota turned away to look at Elenwyr once more. "Now then, Elenwyr. Sheath your blade, and we shall leave. Do we have a deal?"

Elenwyr seemed reluctant at first, not because he was worried that they would break the deal. His hands were clenched and shaking... as if he wanted to fight. I've come to know that feeling very well.

Finally, he gracefully slid his blade into a magnificent scabbard.

"Leave. Now," Elenwyr muttered. "Before I change my mind."

"You have my thanks," Archeota bowed his head. "Come, Sanctus."

"Tch... Hey, you," Kain said as he turned to me. "You may have won this time, but I swear to you... You will not be able to protect that little bitch forever."

I said nothing in response, only watching blissfully as he and that tall man disappeared into a spiraling portal.

Right as I felt the sweet sensation of relief, my legs gave in, and I fell on my bottom. It's over. Just like that, it's finally over. I couldn't help but let out a small chuckle. My mind feels so clear despite the pain coming back to me.

"Lieutenant Elenwyr to Division Thirteen, move in," Elenwyr said. "Clear out the rest of the Crimsheart Church still lingering in the village. If they retaliate, don't hesitate to kill."

At that moment, my eyes caught on to several cloaked figures flying over me. Strapped around their waist was some kind of winged contraption that propelled them from rooftop to rooftop.

"Noir!" shouted a familiar voice.

I turned around to see a little running at me with tears in her eyes.

"Ah. Blanc. What's wro—"

She quickly threw herself at me, pushing my back onto the ground as she buried her head in my chest.

"You're okay..." she mumbled. "Thank goodness, you're okay..."

For a moment, she wept, but I didn't understand why. I wanted to speak, but nothing came out of my mouth. Instead, I simply rested my hand on her head and brushed it. Even though she was crying, there was an inexplicable warmth in my heart.

"That's right, Blanc," I smiled. "I'm okay... so don't cry."