The Coming Darkness

"Then follow me." Kenji beckoned Monte to follow him over to an empty room, next to the room Enki was resting in. After closing the door behind Monte, he spoke again. "Now, explain why you're here."

"Firstly, Volitaire's virus. I felt the need to check on him and help solve his little problem. But, that's not too important. The main thing, is the Gaze itself. During my trips here I realized they don't keep too much of a eye on us as they should. I know that there's is going to be a large problem with the Gods wishing to destroy magic because we've become to strong, and we will soon surpass them. My question to you is, do you remember the book, Aurora? If so, I managed to forge a copy than can very much help with this little war. Also, we would have to keep this from that Joanne and Ling fellow...they are very much after the book themselves. I only realized this when I saw them in the wreckage of the castle, explaining their need for it. I plan to use the book against the Gods, or the copy. In this case, but you know more about these Gods than I do, and should I survive the endeavors with Volitaire, I would request your help with the book, and a proper way to use it against them." He folded his hands waiting for an answer from Kenji. "The important thing is, the children must not know about the book. Volitaire does, but he was swore to keep it secret. I do not want greed for the power of this book to sprout."

Kenji tipped down his fedora. "Well, you want Aurora to work against these entities, huh?" He smirked. "That's quite the thing you've got going. I'll think about it."

Montesque chuckled. "I thought you'd like it. I'll return when Volitaire is feeling a bit better. In the meantime, I hope you consider my offer." Montesque got up and bowed before disappearing in his temporal rift.

Sasha froze for a second. Enzo? Why couldn't Eos just bring it to Enzo herself? She couldn't refuse this offer, of course, because then it'd make her look awkward. So Sasha quietly nodded, taking the cup, " Fine."

She trudged upstairs, and into Enzo's room, not bothering to knock again, " Yo," Sasha tried to act as calm as possible, " Eos told me to bring you this," she said, holding up the cup.

Enzo was about to open the book when Sasha entered. "H-hey." He replied nervously, closing the book. "Eos told you?" Enzo narrowed his eyes. What is she getting at? Enzo smiled and stood up from the bed. He walked over and took the tea cup. "Thanks.." He said before quickly turning around. He couldn't find himself to make eye-contact with her. It was a risky thing.

Sasha nodded, " Yeah."

After he took the tea cup, Sasha stepped backwards, " Welcome..."
She stood there for a moment, watching his back, feeling incredibly awkward. What the hell was Eos thinking?!

" W-well, I'll be going now," she muttered, turning the knob to the door.

She silently smirked as Sasha walked away, knowing that despite her irritated demeanor - there was something more beneath it, and Eos could feel it. She picked up the tray and made her way up the stairs, stopping at Volitaire's room first.

She knocked lightly and then took the door handle and opened it slowly. Peering in, she saw he was sleeping - his sweet, relaxed and vulnerable expression while sleeping made her smile as she set the tray down on the table beside his bed.

She pulled up a chair and sat beside his bed, leaning forward she pushed the dark strands of hair from his face and whispered, "Voli~" in a lighthearted tone.

He slowly opened his eyes, he wasn't a heavy sleeper. But he saw Eos beside him and smiled before turning to cough. "Hey, Eos..you alright after all that chaos?" He tried to sit up, but had a little struggle. He saw the tray she had and wondered if she made some sort of medicine. He was willing to take whatever that could make him feel better.

Enzo nodded. The atmosphere was awkward enough, and the sad stories of the past wasn't there to shield him from a few punches to the face this time. He looked at the book again, and thought I wonder if I could keep this book.

He would read it, but he thought he should check up on Enki, first. He took a sip of the tea, instantly feeling better. "Whoa.." His mind had refreshed, as if he drank cold water on a long, hot day. He then drunk all of it, not aware of how hot it was. "Gaah!" Though it burned, it healed at the same time, making for an odd feeling. After he finished it, he left his room, and started walking over to Enki's.

It was too kind of him to show concern for her, especially considering his current condition was far worse than hers. "I'm just fine, don't you worry about me." She took one of the teacups and held it out to him, "Drink this, alright?" Eos wasn't sure if he was the type to turn down medicine so she continued, "I spent all morning picking the ingredients for this, so I expect you to try and drink it all." The glow of the liquid illuminated their faces with the same warm glow as she took his hands and wrapped them around the cup.

Looking over she grabbed a cup for herself and took a moment to blow the steam off the top and take a dainty sip. Eos was delighted to find it indeed did taste good, and had wonderful affects. "How are you feeling...?" She asked sheepishly, still thinking about what Enzo had said to her about the virus.

He looked at the cup and was more amused by the glow than the actual medicine. His stomach fluttered when she wrapped his hands on the cup and the glow illuminated both their faces, he suddenly hid himself again hoping she didn't see his embarrassed face. "I'm okay...I just feel weak and my eyes are heavy...but I'm not really tired. But I'm still worried about you. I managed to pass out during the battle and I don't know what became of you, I felt relieved when I saw your bother show up but I didn't want to see him hurt too..." His voice was low and he sounded like he was out of breath. He blew off some steam and sipped some of the medicine, it sorta tasted like tea to him.

She had a feeling that he was trying to make it seem like it wasn't as bad as it was, especially when he kept veering the conversation to her. "I came out pretty clean compared to everyone else. Which is why I'm doing my best to help everyone recover." She hated to admit it, but everyone was right. She was a healer, but every spell she cast drained her physically. Thankfully, the remedy she was drinking was doing it's part to give her the strength she needed again.

"But, I need to ask you about something..." She paused, her fingers rubbing against the sides of the teacup nervously. "Are you afflicted with some kind of... virus?"

He jumped a little on the inside and wondered how did she know. He should've known keeping secrets about himself would eventually backfire. He didn't want to lie but he didn't want to have her worry. After taking a deep breathe he decided to come out and say it. If he didn't, JD might have anyway. "Yes...my father, who wasn't to hopeful of me using Dark Magic thought it would be a help if he implemented some sort of amplifier inside my manna stream that intensified my spell casting. Though, the experiment was supposed to be like a core, it somehow took a mind of its own and managed to live off my own manna and overtaking it with its own. Which cuts off my own manna and lowers it. When I eventually use up my reserves, I tap into its reserves and makes me become afflicted by it. The real taboo is that while afflicted it continues to sap my own manna, so when I return to normal I suffer really bad fatigue and bodily weakness. Since I went into some...'overdrive' earlier it really hit hard, and caused my body to recklessly reject it. Which turned into me getting this way. I'm sorry I never told you, but it's because I never wanted you to worry, or for me to end up hurting you or anyone while in that state...I just wish I knew more about why it backfired like that." His voice was becoming clearer with Eos' medicine, and he began to feel a little stronger. It was as if the medicine was helping fight back the Virus.

Sasha nodded again, walking out. She didn't know why there was so much tension in the atmosphere...perhaps was it because she gave off that, " I'll kill you if you touch me" aura?

Sasha scratched her head; no, it probably wasn't that, after all, that was normal to expect when you knew her well enough. Sasha shrugged; she'd think about it more later. She headed back into her own room, flopping back onto her bed, arms resting behind her head, deep in thought about the events that had occurred.

Some doctors had just left Enki's room, they were chatting about something Enzo couldn't hear. After they passed, Enzo went in, and saw that Enki was just waking up. "Enki.." Enzo said, walking over to the bed and taking a seat next to it. "Sky.. what happened?" Enki's voice was weak. "The corruption took ahold of you." "Really?! ..." Both of them fell silent for a while.


"Your new friends must hate me, haha.." Though Enki was right, he wanted to cheer him up somehow. "How did you get corrupted?" "It was Darkness.. one of the 7 entities. He wanted me to lure you to him. Those doctors removed the corruption from me, though." He said with a smile. "I'm sorry about dragging you all into the Gaze like this. Silver hates me too, huh?" "I.. wouldn't say that. She looked happy with you at Prom Night." Enki turned his stare to the ceiling above him. Nothing can change their opinions of me, now. "Say, Sky.. Is having alot of friends.. fun?" "Ahh, of course! You should.. come to Sorcerers. It's really fun there!" Enki looked to his best friend. "Really..?" "Yeah, you don't have much a choice, do you? Darkness would kill you for failing your job." Enzo stated. "You have a point.. I'll send everyone back. Thank you, Sky."

Eos finished her drink and set the empty cup on the platter, eyes focused on Volitaire. As he spoke, her heart broke for him. She knew there was something inside him, but she had no clue it was something like this. This virus was a curse, and it wasn't fair that he had to bare it alone.

"Enzo... he said... I could help you." She wasn't sure if he was speaking truthfully, or if he even knew if anything she could do would help at all. "And... I don't know if I can..." She bunched up the dress in her hands, nibbling on her lip before speaking out again, "But I will do anything in my power to take care of you!" Her words were sincere, even though her fate always rang in the back of her head.

He blushed under his hair, having heard he say she'd take care of him. He smiled at her and giggled afterwards. "I'll be fine, I've been trying to figure out how to subdue this. Soon I'll have it under control. But..thank you..you're the second person to try and help solve this." He instantly though of JD proposal. "Okay, third..but it means a lot." He put his cup down and gave her another warm smile.

When he flashed her a smile, she couldn't stop herself. Eos climbed onto the bed and wrapped her arms around him, giving him a gentle hug. "You're such a strong person, Voli..." The blonde nuzzled her face against him, hiding her smile in chest - but for some reason at the same time she was smiling, her eyes began to tear up. She knew he had been through a lot, and the fact that he made such an effort to smile at her and keep her from worrying was amazing.

"You give me too much credit, Eos." He said with a slight chuckle while holding her with one arm and stroking her hair with the other. He was afraid of what she may have went through, the only hing really hinting at it was the pendant that began to glow when she seemed to be running for something, and what JD has told him about it. He didn't want to have her worry about him while she had her own issues. "I'm going to have to make sure she doesn't get so worked up over me, she makes so many proposes to help me but how can I help her?" He narrowed his eyes when he looked down on her, thinking to himself more.

As soon as she was alone in her room, Maya had slid down beside her bed, still feeling the failure. She took the time to think, and also eavesdrop. She didn't exactly mean to eavesdrop, but her senses were improving by the hour. She heard the hum of Sasha, Enzo, and, farther down the hall, Eos, Volitaire, Kenji, and Silver. Just recently, Enki had piped up, stirring mixed emotions. She heard him speak, and his voice, oddly, was nothing but kind. "I need to see this for myself." She stood up, took a deep breath, and went out of her room.
Maya stopped outside of Enki's room, looking in briefly and seeing Enki and Enzo talk. She looked down and smiled at how they both were together. Maya could also sense things warming up even more between Volitaire and Eos.

Having no other desire but to annoy someone (to offset the loneliness she had just been reminded of), she set off for Kenji. He was much too easy to find, being in a room all by himself. Maya opened the door, and, suddenly drowned in emotion, she ran and hugged him, burying her face in his jacket and not saying a word.

Kenji was caught off-guard, which was rare. "Maya?!" Damn it, now i'm sounding like Enzo here. "Ahem.. What's wrong?" He asked, hugging her back.

Maya was silent for a few seconds. Then, she let go of Kenji, surprised at what she had done and surprised that he hugged her back. "I... ah..." She laughed nervously. "Nothing, sorry." She looked down before speaking her mind. "I just want someone to depend on, I guess. You're..." she laughed again, shaking her head.

"I'm more then reliable." Kenji stood up. "Come on." Kenji walked out of the room, and started heading down towards the main room.

She felt his hand place itself on the back of head, his fingers running through her hair and in a split second her face became bright red - luckily she was still hiding in his chest. But she couldn't deny the fact that it felt nice, not until now had Volitaire openly showed affection for her physically and it made her heart go aflutter.

Eos was filling up with affection, wanting nothing more than to express it toward him - but she was afraid to ruin the moment she was rewarded, so instead she cooed happily against his shirt. "If you don't feel up to getting out of bed, I'll keep you company tonight... if you want."

"Okay." She followed Kenji out, keeping her head down and thinking that she still hadn't gotten what she really wanted. She didn't realize she was holding onto his coat lightly. It was an old habit from many years ago when she had a man in her life, stemming from a fear that he would dissapear.

His eyes widened at her request and his heart began racing again. It was like his brain just shattered. He had no idea what to think... He knew he wasn't going to be walking around anytime soon with the feeling in his legs sort of numb. But at the same time it would be nice having her around. Holding back his breathes so it doesn't sound like he panicking a little on the inside, but he was really a train collision on the inside he quickly makes his answer. "I..don't really mind, Eos.." He felt like he needed to cover his mouth, he didn't think this one through at all.

Kenji and Maya left the Inn. The village was still active, with some kids running around the small streets, and people walking in and out of shops. It was a warm day, and the sun was out, shining brightly. It made the town look like something from an art piece.

Kenji walked with Maya over to what looked like a garden, complete with it's own maze, surrounding it. There was a large fountain in the center, with some benches along side of it. Walking over there, Kenji spoke. "What's troubling you?" Kenji already knew, but he wanted her to feel comfortable.

"...Just those certain things." She hummed, trying to relax, but knowing she would not be able to. Maya first took a seat on the bench and looked over the Inn. She noted how much better it looked on the inside, before looking back at Kenji nervously. She did not expect anything like this to happen, and was afraid of pushing too far.

A pleased smile spread across her face, as she pulled away from his chest and looked him in those red eyes. "You don't mind?" The playful part of her peeked out in that moment, "I was hoping you'd say something dramatic like, 'I would love nothing more!'" A giggle escaped her as she took his hand from the back of her head and placed it on her cheek, nuzzling her warmth into his hand. "But I'll let it slide..."

Eos rolled over and laid on her back, sharing the small sized bed with him and gazing up at the ceiling. "It's funny how something always happens that cuts our time together short. Like how we never got our first dance together..." She blushed and played with the calm red stone on her neck that was no longer glowing. ".. and how we came close to... well..." She bit her lip and giggled again, getting nervous at the thought.