Chapter 9

I blinked repeatedly, trying to focus on him. Something stirred within my mind, right here, right now. He stood regal on all fours, his wings majestically unfurled. Those eyes... It all began to flood back to me. Memories rushed in at such a pace that they threatened to overwhelm me. I shut my eyes tight, taking deep, measured breaths. I shook my head slightly and opened them again. This wasn't mere anxiety. It was a torrent of memories cascading back, memories I could have sworn belonged to a dream.

"Lo," he proclaimed with great authority, his voice echoing through the vast expanse as he stood some distance ahead, a commanding figure framed by the setting sun. "I am Redken Flarion and I doth reveal myself unto thee once more, as I have in ages past.” On all four, he began to walk towards me, though at his pace it would be a while before he got to me. “Thou must still thyself—thy body and thy mind—for the path ahead requires utmost clarity and calm."

I dropped down on one knee, almost as if kneeling, but I refused to give him the respect of a bow, knowing his significance in my past. It was just to get lower to the ground. I settled on one knee, steadying myself by pressing a few fingers into the dirt. I attempted to follow his instructions. He was right, though. I needed to relax, but it wasn't simple with the blaring static in my mind, intensified by him being there. "Sure," I replied, shaking my head. "You make it seem so simple."

He took not kindly to my sarcasm, not in the least. With a forceful stamp of his forward claws upon the earth, he proclaimed, “Speak not unto me of the trials and tribulations that lie in the balance 'twixt light and dark, thou child of Amber Krowe. For a millennium have I wrestled with the most monstrous lusts of vile desire, tempered only by honor's purity and a just cause.” His gaze bore into mine for a moment, icy as winter's breath, before he softened slightly. “I perceive more than any what stirs within thee. Thy blood doth boil at my presence; yet I hold faith that thou canst calm it.” Lowering his chin with gravitas, he continued forward, “Thou must! For I know well what shall befall thee should the shard of Jethro within break free.”

I kept my gaze at the dirt, tempering my breath. “How do you know what’ll happen? What do you know?”

"Lo, I do hold dominion over the vastest mysteries of the universe's darkest realms and the veiled secrets of the Templar," he declared with a scornful breath.

I let out a small scoff, shaking my head. "I know who you are," I murmured, feeling the sweat trickle into my hair. "I remember you. Things are starting to come back now." Strangely, I felt a sense of ease around Flarion, although I couldn't quite explain why. This was Redken Flarion, a demigod among the Templar. Here I was, speaking to Flarion himself. Could it be the Bloodtiger within me responding to his presence, stirring up both my anxiety and a sense of familiarity with him? The ‘shard of Jethro’.

Flarion halted his slow and deliberate pacing towards my direction. "Dost thou truly?" He paused, a confident smile playing around his beak. "Indeed, it is well, Forza Ninetails of Amber Krowe. I beseech thee, what dost thou remember?"

"I vividly remember that this is entirely your fault, Flarion." My mind was a storm of thoughts. More memories I had lost from my time in Caisteal were coming back, and I was trying to piece them together. They were from the days or weeks—I'm not sure—after I escaped Sun Jin's captivity with the Caistealian woman I tried to describe to Shiinx earlier, although I couldn't recall the details. I remember endless snow and freezing nights. I remember her scent. These were the events that led me to this planet, Tier. My first encounter with Flarion lingered in the depths of my mind, though the details eluded me, and I held him accountable for my presence here and the creeping darkness within me.

"Oh, no," he chortled with a mocking shake of his head. "Thy sharp words doth strike me grievously. Pray, what causeth thee to utter such a claim?"

Staying composed, I gradually straightened up, trying to recall the past. "Why can't I remember everything that happened before this planet, Tier? I was at Caisteal. I recall a woman. I remember villagers, joyful ones, not the ones I..." I shook my head, leaning back and sitting down with my legs stretched out, lost in thought.

Flarion too, came to a stop, probably ten meters ahead, and sat on his hindquarters sitting upright. He was so big. "Verily, thou shalt inform me of that which thou dost devise, wilt thou not?"

"Yes, of course," I swallowed hard. I recognized this creature. We had encountered each other before, at least once. It was challenging to distinguish the memories of the months spent with the Sun Jin Empire massacring people from the time after my escape.

"Wouldst thou accept mine aid?" he inquired, cocking his head slightly. "Verily, I possess the power to render thee assistance." With these words, he emitted a low chuckle. His voice was deep and resonant, seeming to rend the very fabric of space between us, as if each syllable echoed upon itself. The sound was nothing short of magnificent.

This whole exchange between us was very awkward in how casual it was going. I felt a little compelled, if not by curiously, to trust him. “Yes, please.”

"Verily, thy mind doth struggle to recall the path that led thee hither, to this planet called Tier. Thou knowest of thy sojourn in the land of Caisteal beforetimes, yet even the manner of thine arrival there remaineth shrouded in mist."

A long drawn own breath through my nose. “I feel like I’m just floating from place to place. I just know it’s best I hide. To stay away from the Systems Alliance and the SJE alike. Caisteal with that fox, Tier with Shiinx, anywhere but out there.”

"Begin thou at the beginning."

I shook my head, exhaling until my lungs emptied. The grass around me rippled as a cold breeze swept through, each blade bending in unison before springing back. My fur ruffled and settled, the chill finding its way to my skin beneath. Above, clouds drifted lazily across patches of blue, their shadows sliding over the landscape. My shoulders lowered an inch, the tightness in my jaw finally easing. I had to keep the darkness squirming inside of me at bay. It was hard. That side of my was extremely excited to have Flarion this close. Like I’ve never felt it before. I appreciate that Flarion himself was actually encouraging me to keep it under control.

“Orphaned childhood on Amber Krowe,” I started. “Scooped up in the system. My way out was the military because someone saw that I had special abilities.”

“Thou art quick to heal and swift of foot,” Flarion interjected. “Indeed, thou wert a most sought after weapon.”

"Yeah, they taught me to fight. They really pushed for me to get better with firearms," I chuckled, though the sound caught in my throat. "I'd come back from the range with bruised shoulders and ringing ears, nothing to show for it but failure. Then Sun Jin Kaisara arrived." My claws dug into the dirt. "She saw something in me the others missed. Put a sword in my hand instead. I remember her smile the first time I disarmed her, a rare occurrence, and how quickly it vanished when she knocked me flat the next second. Kind one moment, merciless the next. We'd train until my muscles screamed, then she'd invite me to dinner like we were old friends. I never knew which version of her would show up to training."

Flarion gently inclined his head, paying attention. He took a deep breath through the nostrils on his beak.

“She revealed the secrets of the Templar to me, delving into their myths, beliefs, and the depths of their religion. Varuna, their revered goddess, was the source of all their magic, a powerful force that bound us together. In the program, only a handful of us were true Templar, like her, Dare, and myself, and our bond was strong. Dare, with his unwavering courage and sharp intellect, was a key part of our trio. We were quite the team. She trained me to be combat-ready, and for a few years, that was our reality. Kaisara even shared tales about you, Flarion, recounting your storied past and the legacy you carried.”

"Then what transpired?" Flarion inquired. "Verily, I possess knowledge of the answers, yet I was not present. Thy recounting shall provide great enlightenment."

Oh, so he doesn’t know everything? Heh.

"After I'd proven myself, Kaisara revealed her true purpose on Amber Krowe, tracking her father, Tanuki. The Systems Alliance valued her combat prowess, but she valued their intelligence network. Every mission report, every surveillance feed—she combed through them all for traces of the Tanukian Templar.” I took a long, ragged breath, the memory heavy in my chest. “That day came sooner than either of us expected. I still see it in fragments, the rain-slicked rooftop, Tanuki's silhouette against lightning, the dragon's wings casting shadows, the Longinus canon's charge building like a storm. And Kaisara’s crying. Raw… primal.”

"Verily, the passing of Tanuki was a grievous wound unto all of the Templar brethren. Though my history with him is fraught with shadows and complexity, I would ne'er desire his downfall, nor harm to befall his Templar kin. He and his disciples didst fulfill a duty of utmost importance to the universe, one which even now I must not utter… for the preservation of all living things."

I lifted my head and smirked at him. "Whatever 'duty' Tanuki had, Kaisara never shared those details with me. Just that he had followers." I scratched behind my ear, recalling the aftermath. "After that rooftop, everything changed. Kaisara vanished into her grief, then resurfaced with vengeance burning in her eyes. What started as a handful of loyal soldiers swelled into the Empire we kn

"Lo, on this day, we speak of the new leader, Ukatan, who hath come to guide the Systems Alliance to it’s downfall. Though the helm hath changed, your labors remained steadfast," Flarion said with a chuckle. What did he mean by downfall? He must had seen my momentarily confused face as he continued. "Maolong Ukatan, thou sayest," tilting his head in contemplation. "Verily, he doth serve Sun Jin Kaisara and her ilk. Dost thou not know this truth?"

At this moment, nothing could surprise me anymore. I was seated comfortably, engaging in conversation with a demi-god, the sole "offspring of Varuna." His presence was both commanding and serene, as if he carried the weight of ancient oceans within him. "All this time, Ukatan has been working for the Sun Jin Empire? It makes sense," I sighed, the realization settling over me like a heavy, inevitable truth.

"Behold, Maolong Ukatan is a venerable Templar Dragon, possessing a mind of great wisdom, and a wanderer with scant allegiances. Verily, Kaisara hath likely offered unto him a promise of such magnitude that he could not resist its allure."

“Well he’s the Director of the System Security for the Alliance now so I im-”

"Something more and grand in nature," Flarion grimaced, interrupting me. "I possess mine own notions of what it may be."

“Are you going to tell me,” I asked.

Flarion tilted his head again, lowing it to address me again. “Nay,” he replied firmly.

A snarl escaped me, my upper lip peeling back to expose one gleaming fang. "So Ukatan is the reason I was captured. The perfect little setup, not some mission that went sideways." My claws flexed involuntarily, digging into the dirt. "Meanwhile, Shiinx has been filing reports to him, and I'm left darting between shadows like prey. I’m glad at least I asked her to leave me out of her reports."

The memory flashed behind my eyes—Exarch Skithix's chitinous form looming over me, mandibles clicking as my blade glanced harmlessly off his carapace. That revolting insectoid Templar shaman had bested me completely. The pieces aligned now with sickening clarity. Ukatan had orchestrated my capture, positioned me precisely where Skithix could find me. And behind Ukatan's machinations stood Kaisara, pulling strings I couldn't even see. “Does Ukatan know I’m here, on Tier?”

Flarion simply shook his head slowly. "Nay, not since I myself placed thee upon this world. After Exarch Skithix, that most loathsome worm, didst track thy presence, he delivered thee unto Caisteal. 'Twas there thy nightmares were born, Forza Ninetails. 'Twas there they fashioned thee into an instrument of slaughter, testing their unholy devices bestowed by the Nightfall Templar. 'Twas there thou didst encounter the woman who granted thee freedom, who tended to thy wounds until the day thou and I first crossed paths."

The final piece clicked into place. Caisteal. The name alone made my fur bristle. Fragmented memories surged forward. Blood dripping down the walls of simple community homes, screams echoing through the streets, innocents falling beneath my claws. Then her, the fox woman, her warm fur against my frozen cheek as she huddled over me in that crude shelter. I remembered Flarion’s silhouette against harsh light, our first meeting. My claws dug into the dirt as I glared at him. "So you dropped me on Tier after all that. Why would Kaisara allow them to..." The darkness within me, the Shard of Jethro, writhed like a living thing beneath my skin. "They made me do it, brainwashed or drugged. I killed—" My voice splintered, unable to finish.

"She," he responded with deliberate slowness, pausing thoughtfully, "was unaware. I reckon she was blind to the events that transpired unto thee. This query hath plagued me numerous times. Was her intent to shield thee, to extricate thee from the grasp of the Systems Alliance, whilst thou becamest a subject of interest to an overly eager weapons artisan? Or did she indeed possess full knowledge of her people's deeds, molding thee into the ultimate weapon she commenced training years hence? This mystery eludes even mine understanding. And yea,” he lifted his gaze to me. “I did intercept thee as thou fled from the Sun Jin Empire alongside the fox woman. I did intercept and place thee here, upon this terrestrial sphere called Tier. And alas, our contact did bestow upon thee the Shard of Jethro, which hath been consuming the nightmares. It doth magnify the darkness within thee, feeding from it, usurping control. It liveth, and I truely do lament that happened thusly. I could not move thee to this planet without such happening." He actually looked upset for a moment, as if me becoming infected truely was an unintended side effect of him having to ‘intercept’ me on Caisteal I still only barely remember it. Just a fleeting image of Flarion in the snow.

"Then why?" my voice broke with frustration. "Why did you drag me into this? Am I supposed to be thankful that you pulled me away from Caisteal, only to turn me into a vessel for a fragment of this abomination, Jethro? Why did you do this to me?"

"Verily, Tier holdeth no particular import. I sought a neutral realm whereupon I might place thee, striving to preserve thy life ere thou shouldst perish upon Caisteal, and likewise for her."

My muzzle wrinkled at the mention of 'her', ears flattening against my skull.

"Thou hast encountered her. She is as thou art."

"Kiara?" I yelled with uncertainty, my voice trembling. It finally clicked. She was thrown into this mess just like me, infected the same way I was, through contact with Flarion.

"Yea, verily, Kiara Quall, it was I who set you both in opposition. For this cause art thou present here. As I preserved thy life, even so was it needful to safeguard hers, and wherefore, I placed her in this very place, that thou mightest discover her in due time. Yet, alas, I confess, your paths did cross swifter than I had foreseen."

"Why?" I yelled, my voice echoing in the turmoil of my mind. It twisted and tightened, wrapping itself around my heart with relentless pressure. She had Shiinx! Yet, a part of me felt an inexplicable pull, torn between outrage and a creeping sense of understanding.

Flarion lunged forward, his mass closing the gap between us in an instant, wings spread like divine judgment. My muscles tensed to flee, but his talons were already upon me, one massive hand gripping beneath my muzzle while the other pressed against my chest as I began to tremble with fear, all the while the monster inside me still celebrating being this close to Flarion. His claws dug into my fur, not breaking skin but promising they could. "Be still and hearken unto me," he commanded, his beak so close I felt his breath. "For it is written in the stars that thou shalt be the vessel of her salvation. I say unto thee, thou art chosen to deliver Kiara Quall from the darkness that devoureth her soul, and in it shall be thou salvation as well."