The Island

"Were finally here." Altair said solemnly as his shoes landed on the white sands of the shore. "Byalan Island, the place where it all started."

Signy hopped down beside him, bow ready. "I can sense hostility. We had better be careful; aggressive creatures have more number than those who are not."

Above them, Odin circled the skies, bringing his cries to the wind.

Theodoric was surveying the dense forests beneath his plumed helmet. His new Peco-peco was clawing the ground nervously. Sibyl had her hands on her hips, her eyes squinting through the dark landing.

"May God protect us." Wealthow prayed.

Nerva was busy setting up candles on a nearby stone ledge, where a thousand others stood as melted piles of beeswax. The Wizard was kneeling down and praying quietly to himself. After a while he stood up and joined his company.

"The entrance to the main cave is a little way deeper into the forest." He informed them. "We head northeast then veer south. Afterward we will climb down from a steep cliff and down to the entrance."

"Lead the way, Nerva." Wealthow said as she pocketed her rosary.

Nerva started to walk. They all followed him in a single line, with Theodoric behind, lance ready and watching out for any enemy that might suddenly spring to attack them. Soon the dense canopy of trees blocked the sun's rays. It was unusually cold and dark as they went deeper and farther northeast.

Shrubs and grasses grew tall, and it took them some time because Sibyl had to work for hours just to get a single hedge down with her katar. Signy was quiet and her eyes darted around very fast. Occasionally a slight quiver in the bushes sent her to arm her bow and fire an arrow. Oftentimes the cause was just a squirrel or a mouse, and Altair commented that she should decrease her caffeine intake.

Deeper into the forest they went. But in the middle of the path Nerva raised his hand, commanding them to a halt. Altair swallowed nervously.

"SIGHT!"

A fireball came to life from nowhere and started circling them. Nerva and Signys instincts were going haywire. Theodoric was having a hard time calming down his Peco-peco.

"Calm down, you stupid bird!" the Knight hissed. "Calm down, I said!"

"What is it?" Signy asked through gritted teeth.

"I dont know." Nerva replied. Wealthows heart skipped a beat when she noted the fear in his voice. "I cant See it."

"OH BUGGER, EVERYONE DUCK!" Altair shrieked.

They flattened themselves to the ground as thousands of Familiars swarmed toward them. Tiny teeth pierced through every inch of their skin. Theodoric screamed as he fell from his Peco-peco. Sibyl was brandishing her katar wildly but she couldnt hit anything; Altair was also doing the same stupendous effort with his hammer. Wealthow was flailing her arms wildly, but the bats were persistent.

"Mob attack!" Sibyl shouted. "We must get rid of these soon or we all die! OUCH!"

"ARROW SHOWER!"

Signy fired twenty arrows, each hitting and killing a single Familiar.

"SIGHTRASHER!"

A second fireball whirred around, burning each bat it took hold off. When the number of attacking bats decreased around him, Nerva cast a second offensive spell.

"Wealthow, keep your head down! THUNDERSTORM!"

Wealthow dived into the nearest bush and covered her ears. Multiple bolts of lightning struck the bats, adding more to the dead ones on the ground.

"MAGNUM BREAK!"

"Grimtooth!"

The high-pitched squeaks came to a stop. Wealthow was quickly on her feet. Theodoric was sporting a sprained ankle. Sibyl had little puncture wounds all over her body. Altair had a bloody nose and a busted lip. Nerva had a three-inch cut on his right cheek. Signy had scratches on her arms and face, but she was okay. A thousand bats lay around them, all dead.

"Everyone okay?" Wealthow asked.

"Heal Theodoric." Nerva panted as he wiped the blood from his horrible cut. "Were all right. These are just minor injuries."

The Priestess nodded and attended to her Knight. A minute later and Theodoric was standing again.

"Blasted Peco-peco." He cursed. "Id get that stupid bird for sure!"

Wealthow went to Sibyl but the Assassin pushed her away. Sibyl said that carrot juice would be fine.

"Buggerthe stupid bat bit my lip" Altair shivered as Wealthow healed him.

"Your cut." Wealthow pointed to Nervas wound. "If you wouldnt want me to Heal it, at least let me put a band aid on it."

And he allowed her to plaster it off.

"Blast, if thats the welcoming gift, Id hate to think what the main reception would be like." Sibyl muttered as they walked on.

"At least they arent Mummies." Theodoric rolled his eyes. "Now those are definitely worse."

"Yeah, for someone who cant evade them." Sibyl sneered.

"And who can that someone be?" Theodoric asked politely, though his politeness was strained.

Sibyl just guffawed instead of answering, but Theodoric knew she was referring to him.

They changed their direction and moved southward this time around. They came upon the cliff an hour later, and found out that the wooden stairs once used to descend to the caves had already decayed. Only a few fragments of the rotted wood remained. Down they could see the dell and the pitch-black mouth of the cave.

"Do you think the torch system in the caves still work?" Altair asked.

"Maybe." Nerva answered. "We must get our hopes high for light."

Nerva jumped from the cliff and landed gracefully without any sound at all. Using his Mighty Staff, he conjured a flight of stairs for the others to use.

"Were here then." Theodoric breathed. "Ugh, what is that smell?"

Sibyl sniffed the air and her face broke into a grimace. "Yuck"

"How on earth can a Bigfoot exist here?" Signy said in a hushed voice, for she knew the scent.

"A Bigfoot? Bugger, a real Bigfoot?" Altairs eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.

"Theres no mistaking that stink." Signy told him. "A Bigfoot is here somewhere. But how?"

Nerva walked toward the mouth of the cave and plunged into the infinite blackness. He fumbled for the nearest torch. He turned the dusty dial. There was a great hissing noise and the torches came to life. The soft yellow light illuminated the solid earthen walls and ceiling of the passage. Ten meters away was the familiar fork. One went left and the other went right.

Little clouds of dust rose at Nervas feet as descended some steps away from the main entrance. He looked around and his eyes found what it was looking for. He uttered a soft moan and choked back tears.

"Isidore"

A yellowed human skeleton was sitting down, leaning against the cave wall. Patches of blonde hair still clung to the cranium. The skeleton still had its Priests outfit and the Cross hanging from its neck. The empty sockets that once held eyes were looking straight at Nerva.

"Isidore" said Nerva. Tears finally spilled from his eyes. "Isidore, Im back"

Sobbing, Nerva ran toward the skeleton and enfolded it with his arms. He cried like he never cried before, spitting his heart out on the bony remains of his best friend and party leader. It seemed just like yesterday, when he and Isidore were the only ones left alive.

Isidore lost too much blood and Mana and knew he was never going to make it back to Izlude, but Nerva persisted and fought their way out. Finally, when they were just steps away from the exit, Isidore gave up. Hed blessed Nerva with his final Angelus and died. Nerva cried until he fell asleep, and when he woke up he stared into the faces of the Pronteran soldiers.

"Nerva?"

He gave a start and looked around. Everyone was there, looking at him with doleful eyes. Theodoric was blowing hard into a handkerchief. He stood up and wiped his eyes quickly.

"Im fine." He managed to choke out. "Im fine, justjust a little bad"

"You okay, cowboy?" Sibyl asked. "If you cant bear to be in this place just tell us."

"No, Im fine, really." Nerva said. He returned to Isidore and removed the Cross from his skeleton. "Justjust a bitdepressed." He pocketed the cross.

"Bugger, is that Bishop Isidore Crane?" Altair asked.

"Yeah." Nerva answered. "Isidore Crane of Prontera. The famous "Bad Priest"."

"Bugger" Altair spoke, eyes still wide as plates.

Nerva raised an eyebrow. "You know him?"

Altair nodded. "Yeah. Yeah, of course. He rescued me from Ants Hell when I was still a little boy. He was an Acolyte then. An Acolyte with three nasty piercings on the eyebrow and on his tongue."

Wealthow laughed softly. "He transformed me into a Priest a week before Swastika journeyed here and met their end."

"Wow. So you have a lot in common, like, sharing a linked past." Sibyl whistled. "Neat."

Wealthow, Nerva and Altair looked at her so severely that she shut up.

"Lets go." Nerva spoke. "Its no use anyway. We cant bring the dead back to life."

"We must split in groups." Wealthow told them all. "Altair and I will go with one another. We will check the eastern network. Sibyl and Theodoric, you two go north. Nerva and Signy, you two will check the western parts. Is that okay?"

"How about for an emergency?" Nerva demanded. "What if one of us needs help?"

"Yeah, bugger, you cant activate flares here." Altair shrugged.

"There wont be any problem." Wealthow insisted. "We will all be okay."

"Do you understand that you are committing the same fatal mistake that Isidore did?" Nerva said sharply, his yellow eyes boring into the priestesss. "He also split us in groups like this, and I was the only one who got out alive."

An eerie silence fell among them. Signy shot a look at Nerva. With her keen Hunters ears she could hear the frantic beating of his heart.

"Nerva" Wealthow began, but she was cut off.

"Rule number 1, Priestess." Nerva spoke urgently. "Never, ever split your party into small groups."

"But how else can we investigate if we all go in the same place?" Sibyl inquired.

"I believe we will all be safe." Wealthow said in a final sort of voice. "The plan will proceed as I have mentioned."

"Fine." Nerva bit his lip. "And I wont be setting up candles for you if you die, mark my words."

With a swish of his cloak he started to walk away, Signy following his wake.

"But if truth be told I think you should have listened to him, Wealthow." Theodoric whispered. "Especially after all that has happened here, it is very dangerous to split usand in groups of two, too."

But he said that so quietly that Wealthow didnt hear. Sibyl had to poke him in the cheek to shake him out of his trance and proceed on their way.



"SIGNY!!!"

Nerva watched in trepidation as the Bigfoot blasted Signy from her feet with one swipe of its enormous paws. Signy crashed into a nearby pile of rocks and fainted at once, blood trickling down her forehead. It had been two hours since theyve split from the main group, and they were so unlucky to have come across this Bigfoot that they smelt earlier.

"Dammit, Signy" Nerva cursed under his breath as he retreated.

The Bigfoot had its dumb eyes on him, and one of its enormous paws was scratching its head in an utterly idiotic fashion. Thick, greenish drool was dripping from its mouth onto the soil. Flies were circling it overhead. Nerva was retreating to get enough distance to cast a Meteor Storm, but the Bigfoot was walking toward him and wouldnt let him out of its sight.

Nerva retreated and lost his footing. He fell on his back with a thud. The Bigfoot bent and picked him up.

The monster inclined its head and started to squeeze him to his death. Nerva screamed. The stupid creature gave a low, guttural laughter. It was enjoying its new toy. Blood started to flow from the corners of Nervas lips.

His vision was already starting to fail. His lungs screamed for oxygen and brain did the same. He gasped for breath.

"Needtogetout" Nerva gasped. "NeedtoliveforthemSigny!"

Gathering all his Mana, he cast the only reasonably spell he could think of.

"SIGHT!"

The Bigfoot roared and dropped him. Nerva crashed to the ground and quickly scuttled to his staff, gasping for breath and clutching his chest. He grabbed the staff and jumped to his feet. The Bigfoot was busied with its burned arm. He didnt waste any second.

"METEOR STORM!"

The red pentagram appeared. The Bigfoot blinked stupidly and then looked up to meet its death. Ten fiery meteors bombarded the beast, burning skin, flesh and bone. The dying roar of the animal was a deafening din. Nerva covered his ears.

The ground shook as the Bigfoots enormous body crashed. Nerva was quickly on Signys side.

"Signy! Signy, wake up!" he said frantically, tapping her cheeks. "Signy, get a hold of yourself! Signy!"

She stirred and opened her eyes. "What? Is it breakfast already?"

Nerva sweatdropped. "No, I am afraid. Bigfoot, remember?"

And she sat up so suddenly that he jumped backward in alarm. "Where is it? Where is it?"

"I killed it. Youre bleeding."

"Nah, its just a trickle." She smiled. "Ive suffered worse. Lets go."

"Are you sure youre okay?" Nerva asked again.

Signy winked at him. "Of course I am. Hunters are tougher than what you think."



Theodoric and Sibyl stood back to back, both panting as they clutched their weapons. Theodorics cape was torn to half, the left side of his armor crushed, and a huge chunk of his chain mail was missing, exposing his vulnerable torso. Sibyls veil had been ripped from her face, one of her shoulder plates was missing and wisps of her long hair had already fallen out of her scrupulous ponytail. Needless to say, the two were a mess.

They were standing in knee-deep water, surrounded by a throng of pearly-white and semi-transparent jellyfish-like monsters. Every move had to be made cautiously. The tentacles streaming in the water was venomous. It had toxins a hundred times worse than Sibyls Venom Splasher.

"Blast, this is why I hate caves." Sibyl cursed, readying her katar. "You never know what kind ofof icky creatures live in it! Ugh!"

"I would have thought youd grown used to icky creatures now, Sibyl." Theodoric laughed. "You grew up in Morroc, after all. Arent Hodes a lot more disgusting? Especially when they pop out of the sand, what do they remind you of?"

Sibyl shuddered. "Stop it, Theodoric. You disgust me."

She poised herself and attacked. "Sonic Blow!"

Fifty of the jellyfish-like creatures popped out of the water and hit the shore with a splat. Sibyl slashed and hacked; never missing her mark and dodging attacks effortlessly, sending more jellyfish to the increasing pile.

"Boy I am not going to be left out." Theodoric shook his head. "Bowling Bash!"

More dead jellyfishes were propelled from the water. When they were through, Sibyl was busied picking up items and cramming them into her backpack.

"And a lot more zeny for me." She smiled. "Lovely."

"You know, you should have been a Merchant." Theodoric folded his arms across his chest. "You would have made a better seller."

"Thieves and Assassins are also Merchants." She said. "Only add a little more spice."

Theodoric licked his lips. "You know, Sibyl, youve always been beautiful."

"Ha ha ha ha." Sibyl sneered. "And youve always been a pervert."

"Ah, you know, why dont we start going out, huh?" Theodoric pasted his most flirtatious smile in place. "Im handsome, youre beautiful. A beautiful opportunity awaits us, my dear."

"I wouldnt go out with you even if it was a choice between you and a Golem." She stuck out her tongue at him.

Theodoric opened his arms. "Ah, come onwhy dont we?"

"Sorry. Ive got my sights for someone else." She laughed. "Ill be fishing for Nerva alThor."

"You think hell notice you?" Theodoric guffawed. "Im a lot better deara lot more suave, if thats what you like."

Sibyl slapped off his hand. "No, thank you. I go for the laconic type. And I prefer yellow eyes and red hairinstead of dirty blonde and gray eyes. Theyre too common. So bug off if you dont want me to Envenom you."

The two were so busy with their chatter that they didnt notice a colloidal creature rise up from the water. The thing was about seven feet tall and transparent. It appeared behind Sibyl, copying her face perfectly except for the eyes, which remained hollow and empty.

"Uh, Sibyl" Theodoric said, swallowing his heart and taking an automatic step backward. "Uh, something is behind you"

"Ha! An old trick!" Sibyl pointed her finger dramatically at his face. "You mean to scare me with some silly made-up monster to make me spring into your arms!"

"Ofof course not!" Theodoric said, although it gave him an idea. "Sibylit looks just like you."

A drop of a cold jelly on her shoulder convinced her that something really was behind her. Swallowing, she turned and faced the corpse version of her face.

"YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

Sibyl jumped onto Theodoric, her arms quickly wound in a deathgrip around his neck.

"WHAT IS IT? WHAT IS IT!?!" Sibyl howled. "YII, WHAT THE HELL IS IT?!?"

Theodoric was struggling with her grip. "HOW SHOULD I KNOW? DONT KILL ME! ACK!"

"GET IT AWAY! WHAT IS IT!" Sibyl howled.

"GERROFF ME! GERROFWHOAOW!"

Theodoric lost his balance completely, and he splashed into the water with Sibyl on top of him.



"GET AWAY!" Wealthow shrieked as she slammed her mace into the Kukre. "GET AWAY FROM ME!"

The Kukre flew some ten feet into the air before slamming into the ground, exploding and scattering its insides with a violet slime.

"Bugger, Wealthow!" Altair said loudly. "You show em!"

He returned to the horde of Kukre about to attack him. Altair lifted his hammer above his head and started to spin it in breakneck speed with both hands. He gripped it hard and slammed it into the ground with all his might.

"HAMMERFALL!"

A minor earthquake then shook Byalan Island. The earth cracked open, and the Kukres came falling into the great chasm created by Altairs blow. The quake vanished quickly as it had come. Altair wiped the sweat from his forehead and swung his hammer onto his shoulder.

"Bugger, am I tired." He said softly. "Wealthow, you okay?"

Wealthow hid her mace. "Im fine."

"Weve found nothing so far." He said. "Do you think we should venture further?"

"Give me a minute." She answered. "Ruwach!"

A halo of blue flame burst forth and illuminated the place within a ten-meter radius.

"I think we cant go any further." Wealthow told him. "All the other ways have caved in. Nothing is here. We should go back to the entrance."

"Thats the best idea youve had lately." Altair said, and followed her back.



"HURRY, SIGNY, HURRY!" Nerva screamed. "My Safety Wall will not hold on for another minute!"

Signy was fumbling with the landmine she was installing. An hour earlier she and Nerva descended deeper into a cave, only to be chased back out by a horde of Skeleton Warriors. Imagine, Skeleton Warriors in Byalan Island!

"Signy, hurry!" Nervas urgent voice called.

She put the final touches. A drop of sweat fell from the bridge of her nose. She leapt up. "Landmine installed! Lets run!"

The Safety Wall vanished completely. Nerva was lucky to evade the Skeleton Warriors blade. He pumped effort into his legs and broke into a dash, Signy well beside him. Behind them the eerie shrieks of the warriors followed. The clanking of their scimitars also sounded, bouncing off the walls of the tunnel.

Nerva and Signy turned sharply to their right and ran. Light erupted ahead. They both jumped and the setting sun greeted them as they slammed into the grass outside.

They moved away from the entrance. A Skeleton Warrior popped out. Nerva fired a Fireball straight at it.

"Whats taking them so long?" Signy bit her lip. "I wish theyd hurry up!"

Nerva was too busy blasting off the skeletons to answer.

An old drainage pipe was located by Signys left side. When it started to gurgle and shake she jumped and armed her bow. The gurgling and clanking continued, louder than before.

"What is it?" Nerva asked above his shoulder.

"I dunno!" Signy answered nervously, arrows ready just in case.

A wave of murky water was suddenly ejected from the pipe. Signy shrieked and moved out of the way. The pipe shook harder than ever until Sibyl and Theodoric, both covered with muck and slime from head to foot, came crashing out of it.

"Signy! Good to see you!" Theodoric greeted, his face very brown.

"Yuck!" Signy wrinkled her nose at him. "What on earth?"

"Dont ask!" Sibyl snapped.

"Bugger! Everyone okay?"

They looked up and found Altair and Wealthow standing on the cliff.

"What are you two doing there?" Theodoric asked incredulously. "After we got pumped out of a sewer and you didnt?!?"

"Alternative exit by the seashore!" Altair replied as Wealthow descended.

"SIGNY, NOW!" said Nerva as he jumped away from the entrance.

"BLAST MINE!"

A deafening explosion took place. A great billowing cloud of fire swept through the whole underground network. The grounds shook violently; even a few trees were uprooted. There was no chance of escape.

"Were going to die!" Sibyl cried hysterically.

"Shut up!" Nerva roared at her.

"Whoa! Ackhelp!"

Wealthow grabbed hold of a Blue Gemstone and brought out her mace. "Everyone get ready! Im going to get us out of here! WARP PORTAL!"

A vortex appeared on the ground. Theodoric jumped into it, followed by Nerva and Sibyl. Signy pitched herself headfirst. Altair followed and Wealthow was able to fit in before it vanished. Afterward, half of Byalan Island sank to the sea.

Half a mile away in Prontera, Firnheild reappeared by the citys fountain.