[Kanji_The_Wanderer]

***Awesome! Ichirin has been healed! ***

TATSU

Nozomi entered the Chamber. She looked half asleep. "Young Master." spoke a guard. "Would you like a meal before me depart?" I shook my head. "No thanks sir, we should be going right away, I have wasted enough time. The Dragons could be here at anytime." Nozomi looked upset that we wouldn't get to eat. "well maybe you're not hungry Tatsu! But I want to grub!" The guard bowed ever so slightly. "Yes miss, we'll fetch you some. I hope you don't mind eating on the road?" "Nope! I don't care. As long as I get to eat." Nozomi smiled that smile that I simply adore.

Sometime later, about 20 Elite Soldiers awaited us in the Main chamber. One stepped forward. "Master Swordsman! We have been told by the King that you are our leader, and we are to show you respect as if you were a King!" The Soldiers bowed. "Please men, raise your heads. I don't deserve so an honour. Let us go, and make the Dragon enemies retreat back to their mountain." This is it, I thought. I will either live, or die. I wil most likely die. There is no way I can face so many and survive the confrontation. 100,000 troops? This will be the end for Tatsu.....What have I been doing with my life? I spent so many years living for someone else, and hanging onto moments. But now I find out all my fighting and searching has been for nothing. My nemesis has left this plain of existence. He was sealed inside of Nozomi, bound forever, and in there, he is with my beloved Shima. He torments her even in death.

We exited the castle and Asgard. Traveling Northwest, towards the Dragon City. These were the plains of Etrirea, nothing but flat land as far as the eye could see. Then the flat grassland stopped, and the Dragon mountains appeared as a black strip along the earth. The sun was bright over us. It burned down with great heat, as if it was damning us to rot out here. Doubt and disbelief was growing inside me.

Suddenly, the sky grew dark, as if it was sensing the pain within. An immense humming sound filled the air. It was deafening. My gaze shot straight up, and there it was all around us in the distance. Dark shadows blanketed the area, and the clouds were hidden from view. I figured out quite fast that the humming sound I heard was the thousands of wings. The dragons were far off, but they were close enough to be seen, and to cover the sky with their silhouettes. Why had they appeared now out of all times? Were they waiting for an army to come? Well, we definitely weren't an army. I looked around at the troops. They were all frightened, but willing to stand their ground. Claymores and Bastard Swords, firmly grasped in their hands. I looked them in the eyes, at the men who would disappear into the ether, forever.

Nozomi was right by my side. I gave her a glance. "I will never leave your side Tatsu. You know that." She was also prepared for war. I couldn't even give her a smile. How could I reassure her everything would be fine. What if I lose her? I can't lose Shima again, she is the only reason I still exist. To be with her, and having her near me with give me strength and the will to overcome this. Who knows, maybe my sacred Elven Powers will come out, the same powers that helped me fight Swiftant those few days ago. But those days ago felt like a lifetime. A distant dream, that has almost been forgotten.... We continued our march north.