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Eleanor POV
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As a dry wind blow gently, dry withered leaf lightly fluttered down, landed on my palm. Being colored with crimson leaves fallen, the lifeless tranquil place is ignited with energy. The crimson land stays its color as its time when it was the transient place the forbidden heroes called home, the place once the birthplace of the first Lord of Calamity, the place obliterated in the mighty torrent of time.
Everlasting Autumn view, I was here before I noticed and there is only one place I knew like this.
Wondering the day we meet again, I counted time and walked over the hill. On the top, a shrine is there, appeared like an endless hole, connecting to the core of the earth, sealed off the untold history in the tranquility.
Things all happened in sudden, time passed fast as if it was yesterday you wiped out everything like a storm and then disappeared like breeze.
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You and me, similar but opposite, near but far, fleeting but eternal.
You are here, sleeping peacefully.
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As told by Laphicet, my friend is dreaming sweet dreams now, traveling with her brother happily. I am here to ensure that she would not be wakened by the external malevolence, which is the only thing I could do. Time is rich but not a single moment allows me to be in the anxiety of the unseen future. He told me to believe in hope, so do I, we both believe that one day we will get the chance or reunion.
Her request still stays in my mind.
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There are numerous of promises I made, but none of them are accomplished. Still, I keep trying to keep my promises, and that is the last thing I can do for my friend.
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“ I am sorry, Velvet. I can’t keep my vow to you this time.”
Though I doubt if she could ever hear me, I will still talk like I am talking with a friend.
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“ The world is gradually filled with malevolence again. Maotelus…….Laphicet was on the edge of tainted and I can barely do a thing this time, but at least we managed to defeat the Lord of Calamity.” I described the situation I know, once again the world is on the edge of doom.
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“ However the malevolence isn’t going to disappear without purification, like back in your time, the Lord of Calamity was not responsible for all the malevolence………..He was just another victim. Defeating him is not going to solve things.” To the cruel fact, I felt powerless to change that there is always victim rise. The speed of the growth of malevolence was too fast that our purifying speed was not enough to cover, the worst case is that Maotelus may be tainted. We need a Shepherd to burden the hope of many people.
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“ I tried to offer myself to protect Laphicet from malevolence, but he refused. He believed that there will be someone to sure him if that really happened and he wants me to keep you safe………….as stubborn as you………” But I guess Laphicet was right, I can’t do much when I am a seraph now, I may soon be tainted and turned into a dragon at any rate even if I try to protect him from the malevolence.
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“ I guess we have plenty of time to pass….Let me tell the long version of the story instead.” It is the long version that there are more things I felt sorry about.
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A red leaf falling down onto the bottomless pit when I start telling the tale.
It is a tale as old as time, to say the least, an untold legend in an Age without Shepherd.
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When I decided to travel with Lailah, I didn’t know that another parting would happen that fast.
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“ So how did you end up fainted around the sanctuary? It is few to see perform such a careless act when you just walked in a tainted district without a vessel.” I asked Lailah on the way.
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“ Originally, I had a temporary vessel, it just happened to be broken when it reaches its limit. I managed to disconnect the bond with that vessel but it is unavoidable to face the negative effects from the external malevolence.” Lailah explained.
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“ Temporary, so there is a vessel for the long term then?” I asked.
“ Yes. It may be a certain time after your ….death, I became the lady of the lake and the sacred sword is my long term vessel. However, now the world is in calamity, the earth core may start to be tainted by malevolence. I can’t just wait beside the sword for the next Shepherd.”
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“ ......That is how bad the world now?” I sighed and murmured.
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“ From what I’ve heard so far, there are rumors of the raise of the Lord of Calamity.” Lailah sadly stated the situation.
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Just when we planned to leave the Empyrean’s Throne, someone came, we immediately hide and observe. Someone with blond and wearing a black coat with dragon-implying decoration is talking with Maotelus, that is Eizen.
“ It has been long, Eizen,” Maotelus talked casually.
“ Yeah...All like a sudden moment to change...I’ve heard the Lord of Calamity is heading towards here.” Eizen informed Maotelus.
“ Still, I have to stay here, as an Empyrean,” Maotelus stated his determination, although he can't fight because of the oath, he will still stay and wait for what he can do.
“ Then I will be here to protect my friend.”
“ You want to fight?” It is nearly a statement instead of a question.
“ Yes, to stop the Lord of Calamity.” Eizen is talking to Maotelus. No one can stop him when he decided something, his will is firm like his earth element nature, guess he decided that to protect Laphicet and also to protect his sister.
“ Though, no one could stop that person in our time,” Maotelus said in a longing tone, he must be talking to some of his old friends when he was only Malak Laphicet.
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“ And we knew she was doing right in the end. She paid her life and her freedom to save the world, I won’t let the effort by her and you, and everyone ruined.” We all can’t blame all on Velvet when she already paid her life to save the world once. Eizen joined Velvet’s party earlier than me, and be closer to her than me. Deep in his heart, he cares about Velvet and he could not bear the world's future is ruined when Velvet decided to sacrifice her life to protect the future. It is such a high price to pay, still, he chose to respect her decision, so he won't let her effort be wasted this easily.
“ Alright…….How is your sister?” Maotelus said in a heavy tone as if the person before him will not return.
“ She is alright, still being herself and she has the accompany of Phoenix.”
“ Let’s go visit her together someday.” Maotelus pretended to talk about the future relaxingly even knowing it is an impossible promise. He knew how Eizen is tainted by malevolence now.
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“ Yeah, it has been a while since the last time I visit Edna.” I joined the conversation.
“ Oh? ……Eleanor?…..Were you eavesdropping?” Eizen teased after recognizing me. He didn’t ask anything for that, after all, he had seen the cases of Laphicet and Seres, those are the malakim reincarnated from humans.
“ Just…...Just arrived! And if you are going to confront the Lord of Calamity, take us too!” As everyone said that I am not good at lying, Eizen keeps smiling that he doesn't believe in my line at all.
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“ I am going too!” Zaveid jumped out and joined.
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“ You all were eavesdropping.”
“ Well, I can hear the wind......Ouch!” Zaveid laughed and Eizen punched him for the worst excuse.
“ Alright, but we need someone to be prepared for the next Shepherd to raise. Right now, including Lailah, Eleanor and me, only 3 seraphim possessed with the power of purification and we only have the armatus weapons for fire, water, earth, and wind seraphim now….Lailah ” Thus Lailah must be the one to leave and wait for the Shepherd and she agreed: “......Then I will go back and wait for the Shepherd in Ladylake.”
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“ I will go with you on the way,” I suggested as a friend and old partner to Lailah.
“ Thank you, everyone, and Eizen, before you go, I will blow you once more my purification power.” Maotelus tried his best to get rid of Eizen’s fate of turning into a dragon, despite it may not effective without a human there. Even if he has the power of purification, it can only burn away some of the malevolence when it works alone.
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“ Thanks, Laphicet.”
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After Lailah arrived Ladylake, I am on my way back to Maotelus’s place. I tend to walk through ruins on my way. Back in the time, the ruins around Gramps domain has less daemon and likely to find vessel or weapons, maybe sacred spirits rest in the place and drove away daemons, the case is similar in this ruin. Various types of weapons, Ceremonial sword, and Mithril spear are lied in the treasure room, among one of them I found familiar.
However, when I try to approach the lance, someone threatens me from my back.
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“ DON’T TOUCH!” The voice appeared to be angry but familiar, the man pointed his dragger to me. I felt malevolence appeared, he is a daemon.
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Before I turn to him and try defending myself with the weapon, I feel wrong with this, I try to think of someone to related to the voice.
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Hitting the one in my back by the end of the spear and lengthening the distance between us two, I see his face clearly. He wears foreigner clothing in east, messy black hair, the looming red and black prints from the bangs that covered half of the face. He has the physical properties identical to Rokurou Rangetsu in my human memory.
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“ .....Rokurou?” He is shocked by the call and reacted like hearing familiar words, but still, show no response.
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“ Rokurou Rangetsu, is that you?” He widened his eye and his hand loosens a bit from holding the draggers. It looks like he even forgot his name during years of battles.
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Back in the time when I was a human, I seldom met him. Apart from some difficult battle, he came to help me because he wanted to fight a stronger warrior. He never stopped his steps from fighting and the promise we made to taste the dessert together after the battle with Shigure was never accomplished.
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The promise remained unfinished and we never met after the battle. I have never thought that he became this...miserable after then, the flow of time wash away his humanity and memory.
I hope that there is a little of his humanity and memory left in him.
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His eyes continually widened when he saw my face and heard the name I called, then he came up with a confused expression.
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“ Hmm…..Sorry, I don’t know there is an owner, but the spear……” I held the spear tightly. I understand it is wrong to take away something without permission, but I really think this was 'my .spear.'.
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“ ....you may take it………...only if you win.” The raven hair daemon performed a fight stand, it seems the fight is unavoidable. I am not surprised, this is just how he was, Yaksha., the war daemon.
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His hidden right eye exudes a strange light, and I remember that it was the phenomenon of his excitement for the battle.
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‘ Shockwave Slash. Smokescreen Assault!’
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Rokurou turned from the right to left and immediately strikes the left-handed draggers in cross and then stepped on the left and strike his right dragger.
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Yes, the battle has already begun, and I reacted in a sluggish situation to make a defensive posture, rotate the spear to block the attack and then spur.
‘ Double Rush, Skewering Spear!’
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“ You are really amazing, but this is just the beginning. Double Haze!”
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Rokurou carried out a double strike, the first hit defeated my defense, and the second hit came straight. If I didn't intuitively move the spear to the chest position, I am afraid I have been stabbed.
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Calm, I have to calmly deal with the opponent. He is the Yaksha that has survived countless battles and is getting stronger and stronger. I must make the most of the characteristics of my weapon--a medium-range attack.
Yes, his weapons are two draggers, and it must be slammed to a very short distance. Then the spear I am holding should be superior in the distance.
“ Whirling Top!” I used the spear to make a spin kick, then I jumped to a far distance with a pole vault using the spear.
“ Want to stretch the distance? Then take this! Form 0!” He slammed into my front and slammed me into the air and then planned to attack with the right edge.
Why do I know his next move? I have been watching him all the time. In the past battle, I was very clear about his habits. In any case, we fought together for a while. I still remember it for a long time.
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“ In the air, I can't move. Do you think so?”
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“ Spirits, release! I stand in the light of the heavens. Cower before the gates of Hell. Come forth, divine lightning! This ends now. Indignation!”
In the air, I summoned the Gate of Light behind me and summoned the Gate of Darkness under Rokurou to bind him, using the Mystic Artes that Laphicet used before.
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“ Unfortunately, I am now a Malak!” I quickly stepped forward and slammed the sniper with the spear, slammed back, then send Rokurou into the air with my strongest spur.
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“ And I am not here to fight you.” Although it’s a bit hypocritical after I’ve already shot him.
“ Fine...haha..you win, take it”
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“ Glad to have that, but you are not using full power.” In my memory, he still has a stronger artes that has not yet been used.
“ Well, I am just sparing with my friend, why should I use full power?”
“ So, you remember me..”
“ At first I didn’t but had a familiar feeling. Only after I see your fighting style, I ensure that you are Eleanor.”
“ I thought you forgot me, anyway, I would like to ask you a favor.”
“ Speak it.”
I describe everything to him and ask if he will help us defeat the new Lord of Calamity.
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“ Of course, he or she must be strong.” He answered as I expected, with his excited smile, looks like the time hasn’t changed him.
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After that, Rokurou accompanied me back to the Empyrean Throne and see Laphicet.
“ Hello, it’s really been a long time, Rokurou.”
“ Yes, I am here to help you to fight the new lord of Calamity.”
“ You just want to fight him? I guess.”
“ Damn right, Haha!” Rokurou did not hide it and laughed nobly.
“ Lailah is in Ladylake now, she knows her duty. I am going to fight the Lord of Calamity too. Where is Eizen now?”
“ Meirchio, where we awoke the four Empyreans...... Please, be safe.”
“ I will.”
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According to Maotelus’s information, we found Eizen and Zaveid on Mount Killaraus. The opponent is strong, but to stay with the past reliable companions, I feel like we may defeat him.
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Then, Rokurou made the same promise again just before the battle: “ After this fight, let's go taste the Yozakura Anmitsu together.”
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“ -----I thought you forgot..” For a moment, I feel like everything back in the past, nothing had changed. He asked me to have the dessert in his hometown together after the battle.
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“ This time you must lead the way and take me with you.” On the other hand, I have a general bad feeling that I am about to lose something.
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“ Yeah, promised!” He showed his bright smile.
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We walked side by side, I was thinking about my own human time. I had contributed my life to the position of Shepherd. The people around me are very grateful, but also very worried. They all persuaded me to rest, Kamoana naively asked if I had thought about marrying. I paused. I first thought of the bright smile and straight attitude of Rokurou who traveled with me many years ago. I waited unconsciously, waiting for the day to meet him again, waiting for the appointment to fulfill, waiting for another crossroad in our life.
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Now his words bring excitement and tension, and the deep uneasiness that is hidden in the heart is constantly expanding as if to devour me.
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Distant from us, a man wandered and walked forward here slowly. Shaded deeply in malevolence, still, I can recognize it is a giant daemon from its exaggerated size in the body, it has a red skin muscular body with armor. There are 4 horns on its head with an angry expression on it.
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“ I need to cut through all evil beings in this world.......need to be stronger.” The daemon murmured, that may be the last thing on his mind. That is what he wanted to achieve.
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However, I can tell that he is doing the opposite thing as he is now heading towards the Empyrean Throne and bring his malevolence to taint the earth he arrived. It may eventually taints Maotelus, leading the doom in the world.
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“ Stronger, huh?” I heard Rokurou grabbed his weapons tightly, he smiled as he heard, some parts of them are the same. The little trembling from Rokurou must be out of excitement, maybe it has been a while he hasn't met a proper opponent, I see his right eyes glowing red through the slits between his hair.
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The daemon looks strong but we are strong too. I don't want to believe we will lose before an actual fight.
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Suddenly, the rapid and short earthquake shocks me, the ten-meter distance between us is extremely shorten in a second, the daemon comes before us and confronts directly face to face by a long jump.
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“ Urghhh! Out of my way!!” Angrily shouted out the caution, it stomped down with a great force that causes the earth to burst while sweeping around the area with its hammers. The wind it wiped tore down some of the malevolence around him, letting us see its angry blue eyes. All of us jump backward to dodge and the stone it hit broken in pieces and fly far away, it must be a powerful hit.
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“ Sorry, this place is off-limits.” Managed to maintain his position, Eizen stated while standing at the frontline. All of us can feel the effect of the malevolence wrapped around it despite having a vessel. Eizen is in the most dangerous position among us while he uses his punch to fight, he needs to perform a zero-distance attack which brings more malevolence to him. In fact, I disagree to let him fight the daemon which likely be the Lord of Calamity when he will be fully exposed to a large amount of malevolence. I believe it is not far from his time to become a dragon.
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When now Maotelus is already restricted by its oath and he is too weak to fight by the effect of the tainting earth, we are the only fighters here to stop the daemon. I don't mind sacrificing myself if this can stop the daemon, but I hate to see a friend sacrifice, again.
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“ No more step forward.” We all take out our weapons, just to stop the daemon in front of us.
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The daemon gets angry and extents 4 more arms from its back, holding pairs of maces and swords while there is still a sword carrying on its back.
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“ Stay alert,” Eizen warned when he sees the new form of the daemon.
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Now the battle begins.
Just in the time, it takes to blink, Rokurou's figure disappears. Need not to guess, he comes before the enemy, after all, he is a battle maniac.
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“ I am the first one!” Rokurou laughed while using a pair of blades together to damage the heavy armor on the daemon's chest with an impact that leads a burst in the surrounding air. Yet the daemon stands still, the impact is not effective enough when it faces a giant daemon.
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“ But you didn't knock him down.” Eizen hopped back a step, then perform a powerful downward hook punch with his left fist, ripping a wide arc through the air. The daemon moves a bit backward from its original position, showing the intention to strike his mace down onto Eizen.
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“ Heh. You either.” Zaveid suddenly appeared in front of the daemon, jumped and followed by a punch, making the daemon not able to continue its move. Then he launched a horizontal upward spin with his pendulum with a heatwave, but the heatwave is not effective to the daemon.
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“ Don't tell me that you guys are competing with each other again.” I sighed while rolling my eyes, sending smooth six-hit strike to the daemon with my spear and kick attacks mixing between.
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The daemon shields itself with the twin glowing swords held in its hand, then ignoring all our following attacks, wiped out its surrounding area with rampage strike by the weapons on his six arms. The strikes are messy, speedy and forceful that we shall concentrate on dodging the attack.
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“ Hahaha! Interesting!” Rokurou smiled and slow down while taking a parry stance to dodge the attack, appeared behind the daemon and strike, creating a cyclone under the daemon.
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The daemon is then knocked into the mid-air with its back facing the ground, but it stomps down the earth that certain meter under it with the pairs of hammers and maces. The strike causes the earth to burst with blue cyclone, create a force to spin it back to a battle stance and push us all into the air.
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“ Opps. Eizen!” Rokurou shouted when hops back a step.
“ I'll finish this,” Eizen answered while charging forward the enemy with his right fist, tearing through the air with a path of yellow energy. He firmly hits on the chest of the daemon, gives a ring in heavy metal sound and knocks it back a few steps.
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“ Annoying!!!” Yelled the daemon when it managed to keep its fighting stance, it flows away from it maces and draws its last sword out. The sword has been carried on his back, now it slashes it onto the earth with a wide arc, the large among of malevolence spheres the great sword with a purple aura. It looks really dangerous, it would be things I can't imagine if it directly hit on Eizen in such distance.
“ Eizen, switch!” I yelled while jumps a long distance and performing several front-flips with my spear towards the daemon. My spinning slash directly clashes on the great sword and knocked a series of grating metal sound with sparks sparkle at the point of confliction. It is successful to slow down its sword. However, it seems that my attack is ineffective that it doesn't change the track of the great sword, instead, the weight above me is increasing, likely to hit me onto the earth.
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“ Eleanor!” Rokurou performed a long jump to catch me and drag me away while carrying me in his arm. Once he held me, tightly catch and immediate jump off the place.
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I turn my head and watch the sword, Eizen has already left a certain distance from the place where the great sword will hit. The great sword continues to ripe through the air while emitting a line of purple energy, concentrate erupted the mana with the rocks flying into the air. The impact also push us towards the ground a bit, Rokurou and me both fall onto the ground and Rokurou bends over me as if he is trying to protect me.
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“ Thanks.”
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As I sit from the ground, I blinked at the moment. What left on the ground is a line of the deep and wide exposed tunnel just drawn by the slash. Just how destructive the sword is?!
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“ Eleanor, Zavied, you two better leave the frontline to us. This daemon is resistant to fire and wind. It is not that I don't trust your skills, but could you two act as the support instead?” Eizen warned us in the air while noticing the strength of the daemon.
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“ Understood.” I agreed as it is dangerous to fight without support, most dangerous for both Eizen and Rokurou who fight in short distance, someone needs to be the healer. In that way, they will be able to fight without holding back.
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“ Then you should cast your seraphic artes in earth element to fight him. You know how slow you cast a seraphic arte, I will buy you the time.” Zaveid suggested while continue to fight the daemon with Rokurou in the frontline.
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“ Very well. Don't complain that I didn't warn you.” Eizen started casting the seraphic arte while I am casting the healing arte to heal the whole party.
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Just finished the line, Zavied turned to hold the daemon as long as possible despite the daemon has the resistance to wind element. I cast supporting artes to help him but it still seems a bit strenuous to him, but he managed to contend with the daemon for a while with his rich battle experience.
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When the casting ended, the ground shakes and a series of rock pillars erupt from the ground in a large area around the daemon, knocking the daemon. The raised dust floating in the air blocked our view to see the daemon.
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“ Still not down?” I asked.
“ Guess not!” Rokurou smiled while seeing the light of angry blue eyes glowing and shoot through the smoky air.
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“ Deceiving Pummel! I've got him.” Zaveid drives his pendulums into the ground, instantly causing myriad chains to shoot from the earth and skewer the daemon over a wide area.
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“ Killing flash!” Rokurou yelled while Eizen shouted: "Ready to die?!"
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“ It's time to settle which of us...” Rokurou twirled his right blade around then charged forward, knocking the daemon down to Eizen.
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“ Is the better fighter!” Eizen who is on the opposite side then stomped down the earth to cause the earth to burst with yellow energy, blowing the daemon into the sky with an uppercutting.
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“ But first...” Rokurou met the daemon right behind it in the sky and knocks it back down.
“ This enemy here...” Eizen immediately punches the daemon certain meters forward.
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“ Has to die!” Both Eizen and Rokurou then unleash a barrage of slashes and punches on the daemon.
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“ Last Laugh!” The daemon can't counteract, Eizen and Rokurou finished the dual arte by charging toward each other and smashing the daemon between their clash.
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“ ....Urghhhhh!!!!” The daemon angrily growled while creating a blue mist in the surrounding area which involving Eizen, Zaveid and Rokurou. Seems that the daemon cast a gravitational field over them, causing them hard to move. Now the daemon planned to initiate another power strike with its great sword.
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“ Anti-gravity...Geostigma!” I cast and created a gravitational field in the exactly same position but in the opposite direction for the gravity force. Now that they can move a little in the field, but I am not sure whether they are able to dodge the attack. Since the great sword possessed such a great power to digged a long and deep tunnel in the earth.
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'SPLASH!'
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At last, the great sword hit the ground, with all its other weapons held in its hands. The strike caused a great burst in the earth with purple energy overflowing in the ground, digging a great hole in the ground and al of us lose the solid base to stand. My gravitational field is no longer maintained under this circumstance, once it disappeared, the daemon's field is the only one left in the area, all of us acceleratingly hit onto the ground.
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The field is still working, it is hard for us to move further and the daemon is trying to finish us with another smash.
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'CLANK!'
As soon as I heard the large sound of a crash, I saw Eizen perform an uppercut with his left hand confronting the smash of the daemon's hummer, knocking away one of its hammers. He stomps his right foot with a great force, causing the earth to burst then strike upward with his right fist. A little difference in this time is that the lava together burst with the earth when Eizen causes the earth to burst.
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Just before the daemon strikes another hit on Eizen, the lava splash against the jaw of the daemon, it is divided into 5 splashes when it meets the obstruction. A familiar shape formed before us, it is just like a figure of a giant claw that Velvet possessed, it is burning with massive heating red smoke surrounding it as if Velvet is in front of us and trying to buy us time.
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Right. We can't lose and can't give up. That person hasn't given up and does until the end so that we still have our free will. Before we make the world better, can't let anyone ruin it so easily, Laphicet must think the same too.1
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With the huge contrast in temperature between frozen air in Meirchio and hot air from the lava, the lava solidifies quickly and restricts the daemon. We managed to stand up and cast seraphic artes against the daemon there when it is restricted by the solidified lava.
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“ Restrict him! Zaveid”
“ On it!”
Seeing the daemon started to move, Eizen ordered while casting the arte of Deceiving Pummel with Zaveid, chained the arms of the daemon.
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“ Grrrrrr!” The daemon struggled and trying to pull himself from the myriad chains from the ground, as a result, the chains are pulled off with the earth it chained at. Angrily stomps down the earth with great power, it destructed the solidified lava before him and created a burst of ice crystals randomly from the ground, trapped Zaveid and Rokurou inside.
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“ Shit!” Eizen cursed while the chains are broken.
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Suddenly, a large, swirling pillar of water stream conjured beneath the daemon and elevated it into the air. Unknowing who cast the arte or when it is cast, twelve vertical icicles are fired to the daemon from all sides.
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“ Rime Slaughter!” Someone standing in the edge of the hole containing us, likely a water Malak.
“ You should stop, Asura.” He murmured.
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“ Hey! Who are you?” Eizen asked the unknown helper.
“ .......It doesn't matter now, but you may call me Altul.” The Malak answered.
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“ Altul!!!!!!” The daemon seems named Asura yelled furiously at the water Malak.
“ ...Seems that you tell the truth. Can we count on you?” Eizen continued.
“ Sure, we have the same enemy,” Altul assured him.
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At the moment they are talking, Asura is going to strike on one of the ice crystals that trapped our party member----with his great sword.
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“ No!!!” I shouted while running towards Asura.
“ Eleanor!!...Tch! Whatever. Altul, you act as support.” Eizen shouted as he is trying to hold me down but I have already run out.
“ Right.” Altul agreed.
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“ Here I come! Drei!” I jumped up behind Asura and I strike a series of rapid forward thrust following by a great strike.
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This successfully catches Asura's attention, he turned his head and madly gazed at me with his glowing blue eyes while striking at me with both his hummer. I am shot far away with several spins in the air.
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“ urgh......” Tolerating the severe pain and daze from the shot, I am trying to support myself and fight again, but Asura already performed another slash towards me.
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'CLANK'
A clash between a hard object with the metal, Eizen just managed to come forward and punch the weapon out of track.
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“ Fall back!” He ordered and I silently agreed and hops back a certain distance, seeing Altul is getting our team members out of the ice crystals.
Asura is then throwing his only left hammer towards Altul, surely he is mad at Altul. The hummer still successfully hit the ice crystal with Atul next to it, knocked Rokurou. I immediately run towards Rokurou and Altul, trying to heal both of them.
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“ You're wide open! Burn!” Eizen there launched another punch to the giant daemon with himself shielded in dark aura sprouting dark wings and his eyes are shielded in yellow and red light. He then soars into the air then releasing a blast of fire down at the area in front of him.
The daemon turns to him again, fight with his great sword and dual glowing swords still left in his hand. Eizen unleashes a large pillar of dark energy but Asura just cancels it out with his great sword striking towards it.
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Don't know if it is a delusion, I find Asura attack in faster rate then before, maybe it is because he is carrying less weight than before.
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“ At this rate.....”It is not a good situation for Eizen as I see he is having a hard time in both fighting and receiving the negative effect from the malevolence.
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“ Eizen!” I cast another healing arte and thinking about what I may do in this situation. The daemon slashes his triple sword rapidly while fixing Eizen with his pair of arms that hold nothing now. At this rate, Eizen is receiving more and more injuries that my healing arte is not enough to cover.
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Now Altul broke the ice crystals that trapped Rokurou and Zavied, the latter one still has his consciousness, and now we have no enough time and mana to retrieve both of them into full strength.
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“ Zaveid, Eleanor, please hold it off for a while!” Eizen requested.
“ OK!” We switched our position with Eizen and fight with Asura, continuously clash our weapon with its sword while Altul is responsible for the healing and boosting our status. I heard that Eizen is casting resurrection arte to himself and boosting up his speed.
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The strikes from Asura is heavy like a mountain is stomping on me, can't imagine how Eizen is able to hold him alone this long. It has become faster when both of Zaveid and I get slashes numerous times. While Zaveid and I are holding off his dual swords respectively, Asura strikes his great sword with massive power that bursts us off the earth.
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We are shot and bend over the land, the situation is despairing, my companions are running out in the fight but only Eizen is left, fighting hard, and even Rokurou and Zaveid are seriously injured. I tried to stretch my arm and tried to cast a healing artes, but it was blocked by the Asura with another strike. Is there no longer a way to be?
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“ Sorry, I'm ready now.......Zaveid, Eleanor, take care of my sister.” Eizen talked to us without looking back. His back is just like Velvet in the last of the final battle.
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“ ....!! What are you planning?!” Zaveid shouted as he sensed something wrong.
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“ Is it…..? NO!!” So obvious that I can sense it too, it is just like he is going to sacrifice himself.
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“ .....This is my all-out attack! Break Soul! Dragon Dive. You’re wide open! Burn!”
Eizen performed a series of attacks in the form that he is shielded in dark aura with his eyes glowing in yellow and red and extending wings behind his back. The form looks much more powerful than before, by the fact that Eizen is using part of the malevolence as the power source in the arte, the form makes me afraid to believe his status. He soars into the air then releasing a blast of fire down at Asura, then strikes on it.
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“ Not the end yet! This is just the first step, to kill you! Howling dragon!” He kept his form while grabbing Asura's head, pressing and striking him onto the ground, rushes forward while keep dragging him, ended the arte with a final strike, engulfing the area in a purple aura.
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Yet, it is still not enough to take down the daemon before him, he knew it.
“ Engulfing the malevolence, I will finish you in form of dragon!!!!” Eizen shouted while still in the form that himself shielded in the dark aura, but the form changed and twisted, finally turned into a dragon.
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Eizen always knows that he could turn into a dragon at any time, but he goes beyond his limit much time to live, for his sister and his friend. However, he is now turning into a dragon consciously, just to defeat the daemon that possibly the Lord of Calamity. He knows there is no future if he doesn’t defeat the Lord of Calamity now.
He is the reaper who always bring misfortune to the one around him. Even if there are people who are willing to be with him when they know it, even if they won't blame on him when they meet challenges, Eizen knew that was his fault. The proof is that all the people around him didn't have a good ending, including Velvet.
Now, he thinks, at least, to save something in his long cursed life. He makes the same decision as the first Lord of Calamity had made, to sacrifice himself for a better future in the world. I can sure that Velvet will be mad if she knew this, she would yell at him an idiot. To Eizen, it is for his family, his lost friends, his living friends and also himself, he believed it is not a wrong thing at this moment. The only thing he can't help with that is someone is gonna be upset with it, but he believes that is his last time to make someone upset in his lifetime.
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Eizen has turned into a dragon before my very eyes, the lord of Calamity is burnt and dragged for a long distance against the lava burst out from the earth.
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At last, he drops Asura and flies to the beyond.
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No one can stop Eizen, we can only watch it happen and watched him fly away.
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The Lord of Calamity is knocked out, but nothing ended, it is just the beginning.
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After quite a while from the battle, we are not able to talk after witnessing such an event, the newcomer breaks the silence.
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“....I am sorry about that.” The water Malak apologized.
“ .....Don't be, it is his decision after all.” Zaveid said, then he asked: “Who are you anyway?”
“ My name is Altul. I was the Malak raised and accompanied the Shepherd there.” Altul pointed at Asura who is now lying on the lava.
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“ You said he was a Shepherd?!” I exclaimed.
“ Yes, thank you so much for stopping him. He was a pure person, but he lost the heart to forgive others while being the Shepherd. He exclaimed to cut through all evil things by destructing things that will cause malevolence. The great sword he forged is used for the purpose.”
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“ I see. He isn't dead yet. What is your plan?” Zaveid asked the water Malak.
“ I want to bring him to the water trial, take away his sword and trap him there. May no one repeat the history again.” Altul answered with his will there.
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“ That is the way you atone your sin huh....” Zaveid sighed.
“ Another Shepherd fell into despair........” I murmured as I thought of Artorius when I heard the truth.
“ Alright, I will carry and transport him to the water trial with you,” Zaveid suggested when seeing Asura possessing such a huge body.
“ That helps a lot, thank you.” Altul thanks Zaveid kindness.
“ I will go too.” I followed.
“ No, you should take care of the idiot there. You know, I am not interested in taking care of males, not to mention a daemon.” Zaveid refused.
“ ....Right. Good Luck.”
Zaveid said he will go after Eizen after he finished carrying Asura to the water trial. I guess he is talking about the promise between Eizen and him. It is a cruel thing, but he accepted it as he is an oath keeper.
Now I supposed Rokurou and I are the only ones in Meirchio. Because of the severe injury, Rokurou still loses his consciousness, while I recovered him gradually from the injury.
I want to wait until he wakens but I have to ensure Maotelus safety too. Fortunately, Grimoirh is around here, I ask her to take care of him after I go check on Maotelus. After all, the Chaos isn’t solved.
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“ Eleanor, you don’t need to worry me, there will be Shepherd to save me, I believed. I have a request for you instead.” Maotelus stated after I reported everything happened and suggested to seal the surrounding area off to let it free from malevolence.
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“ What is it? I will try to fulfill.”
“ Bring with the piece of the fragment I just have given to you. Please go to the Shrine of Tranquility, let it free from the effect of Malevolence, you may see a normin there. Innominat and Velvet may be affected. I don’t hope to see her wakes in such a chaotic world.” Maotelus said while blowing a shinning sword-like fragment into my body.
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“ .........You are still the same.” I commented. He really loves Velvet even in such a situation.
“ Yeah, because I love her.”
“ OK, I will seal it off.”
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In the end, I even being unable to fulfill Eizen’s last request for his little sister, I can only protect this isolated shrine in the earthpulse, with its extended connection of Aball. Quite impressive that Maotelus isolated the whole area in the earthpulse, guess that is for Velvet to see it when she wakes up again.
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“ I really hope you won’t get mad, Velvet.” I sighed when I finished the story. A normin here said that he will be responsible to guard the place when I am going to lose my consciousness during the seal.
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I found myself trapped in somewhere after an uncertain period, I was fixed on a desk inside a white room, a dark ghost-like being figure was gazing at me.
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He said nothing, then my mind sunk again, sunk in the tranquility.
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By the effort I hook myself to the past memory, I managed to find the key to retrieve my conscious to wake and take over the control of my own body. My mind is connecting back to the body with the guide of memory and a familiar voice.
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I woke gradually after hearing Velvet’s voice, she is standing next to me, troubled agonizingly alone.
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This time I must help my friends.
----------------------END of side story-------------------------
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A.N.
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It is a story based on official setting( in Japanese setting book) that 'Eizen is turned into a dragon in a fight with a Lord of Calamity in the Era without Shepherd that around 200 years before Tales of Zestiria'. I forgot whether Eizen killed the Lord of Calamity, ate him alive or else if he did, I changed the setting a little bit by turning the Lord of Calamity into Asura who previously a Shepherd. The Lord of Calamity 'died' as he stopped to destroy the world and be trapped in the water trial, to give the Shepherd a test, reminding them of the wrong history.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ScwPgTX71
(I know I make Asura with his sword there be very OP so I can knock down the team member easier)19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡivMMkRnk4n
I tried to write some Eleanor & Velvet, Eizen x Velvet and Rokurou x Eleanor, well, I guess it is not obvious and they are not deep enough. Eleanor's setting is getting more and more, so I wrote a long story and compressed into 2 chapters. I want to add more Rokurou x Eleanor, but it doesn't seem to be obvious. Also, more I write, sadder it becomes.
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In this final battle, originally not much battle description as I want to keep it short, but it would be weird. At last, I still try to write while finding fighting scenes with many people in it as a reference. Here mainly referred from the SAO fighting scene. I am not good at writing it so I suck at it for a long time.
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If you ask where is Magilou, I ensure you that she was watching and do hidden works after the fight as a recorder of history. As the story was described in Eleanor Point of View, she didn’t discover Magilou so Magilou is not present in this chapter. (I admit I am too lazy to write more character into the chapter.)
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P.S. partly referred from the lyrics in the song: Pair of Wintry Winds in the first part.
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