That frightening sound. I never felt so terrified like I just did a few seconds ago. Like I'm in a daydream, my eyes suddenly glance up. A weird red mist fades away.

Was that Shallos' essence disappearing...for good?

Before I can imagine a near disaster avoided, Merissa screams. I turn back around to see her face. She's stunned.

"What you done?" She reacts dumbstruck.

And without caution, she pushes Terra to the floor and then quickly comes at me. I have no time to defend myself. Why should I? Suddenly Merissa, watching those angry hazel eyes, extends out her hands trying to choke me.

I feel her hands squeezing my throat. I begin to lose some air as she forces me back. I land back-first at the slab table, the same one where I destroyed the Triadic and the ripped tapestry. I drop the blade as I hear it drop to the floor. My eyes wander around, trying to focus back on my sister. I stare at those hateful eyes. I don't know why she wants to kill me.

"Please!" I struggle to yell to stop her. I even hold onto her hands, I want to pull them away. Yet I begin to lose my strength. My eyes widen, as the more she squeezes. The more I see myself losing consciousness. And then after a minute squeezing my neck hard, she begins to lessen her grip. She then bends down close to me. She then appears to be looking worried, as she whispers quietly.

"Continue where I left off, lygerfish. Finished what our father started. Find the answers before the Reckoning begins." She continues. "You hold the superior power. You always had."

As she winks at me—showing that odd wink—out of the blue an arrow flies. Hitting the back of her left shoulder. Merissa feels the sting as she let go of my neck. As she takes the arrow out, I try to breathe again as I start coughing. I roll over to my right side. But as I do, I notice Terra.

Leaning on the wall, Terra rests her left bowgun down to her side still hurt and in pain because of that stab. I try looking at her wondering did she have to fire that arrow. Merissa's not a malefic.

She used to be a mage.

She's my sister.

Soon I react shocked when I do hear Merissa as she looks back at Terra. Seems her worried face is gone, as she appears vexed once again.

"You know I'm getting tired of you." Merissa then glares back at me. "So who you're going save? Your sister?" She then sees Terra, "Or her?"

I gather enough time to speak fluently. "No!" I have that sickening feeling of where's she going with this. "Please Merissa, don't do this!"

Merissa smirks at me giving me another one of those winks. She then grabs her dagger from her side pocket. I look petrified. I keep screaming no many times. Merissa ignores me as she starts walking right at Terra, who's still clamoring over her wound.

"No, Merissa!" I yell once more. But with no response, Merissa aims her dagger pointing at Terra. I face a difficult dilemma. I realize in a bad sense of luck, I can't save them both. And as I struggle to feel who I should save, I ignore what's in my mind. I muster myself, getting up. And as I run trying to block the attack, I make the decision. A decision that could haunt me.

I tackle Merissa down. As we fall, I land hard on the floor. I then spot in the corner of my left eye. Merissa bangs her head face-first on the edge corner of the second slab table. The force violently jerks her head back before she lands on the floor completely motionless.

As I lay down, I'm at shock. I don't want to see the unthinkable.

"You're not." I quietly whisper.

I then crawl to her seeing her dagger a few yards away. Looking back at Merissa, the backside of her neck looks crooked and swollen. She can't be dead. My eyes lower in sadness. She can't be dead. I hover over her. Her hazel eyes staring right at me, her lips almost open. It can't be possible.

She's gone?!

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I lost you. I failed you." I say with grief.

The same way I failed saving Anita, I failed my own sister. I can't tell if this is what Merissa wanted.

Did she want me to kill her, but in my eyes this is an accident. A tragic accident. Yet I can't stop but ponder, Merissa did all of this for a purpose. A purpose she wanted me to find out. Before I can even think that, I have no choice but to mourn her.

I begin to sob senseless, lying down near my sister. Hugging her, feeling her skin turning cold, I can feel Terra coming over to console me. I then reach over to her, we both hug. Terra wants me to let it out, and that she's here. I want to say something to her, but I can't. Losing my sister, grieving her loss is what I need to do more.

This day was supposed to celebrate the birth of a city, but it only celebrated tragedy and secrets. It was those secrets that ruined my life. Not the fire. It was the secrets that this city and the others who protected it, held it against me. My parents are gone. The sister I wanted to save, bring back. The sister I wanted to help create a better future.

She's dead.

My whole existence, who I'm really is, is left up in the air. I now know there are bigger forces that destroyed my life. And The Orre told me, I have to continue to find the answers.

If I can find out who did this to me and my family, why everyone didn't want me to be born, why I'm this Harbinger. The more I will honor the ones I have loved, the ones I have loss.

And that's when those final words my sister said starting to creep into my mind. Continue where she left off. What our father started. But what did dad started? How my sister found out about it in the first place?

I can't focus on this along as I'm still with them. My sister is right about one thing. The Shadowhawks won't help me bring back my powers.

I need to make another decision. A decision where from this point going forward, will these magihunters be part of my future.

A future where I have no idea what could it be.

***

Today maybe the day after Forging Day. But as most of the city continues post-Forging Day events and parties, I didn't feel today is a day to be festive. At worst, the city escaped a bullet according to Emmet.

Since I return to Dawning yesterday, Emmet told me and the others that there was no malefic action. The city went on through with its parades. Nothing catastrophic. But Emmet did mention there was a wave of monsters on their way, almost like an army. They passed over the Arc. But the same time I killed Raudan, and destroyed the Triadic and Shallos' tapestry. It was the same time they stopped. Without any leader, they had to retreat.

So yeah, the city escaped a bullet. For now, I hope.

I head to Memorial Park, a park and cemetery in North Dawning. This is where mostly everyone who lived in Dawning besides mages gets a resting place. Vartwild didn't disclosed what happened to the dead mages. However, I try not to be a supporter for that woman. Even though today's the day I'm mourning my sister. Vartwild finds a way to sneak her influence.

She created a tombstone for my parents and as well my sister. She did this for my aunt, but honestly she did this to reward me. I think. I don't know, but it seemed like a stretch. But really, my sister's remains are not even buried underneath Dawning's ground. It was where it belonged. Her remains were buried at our childhood home. Where my parents' ashes are still lying there, I presumed.

Unfournately, my aunt doesn't know that. Even though having a fake tombstone in the Memorial Park is decent enough, it's not a proper closure.

As it rains, I hold my aunt's hand as I cover her with an umbrella I'm holding on my other hand. I then hear Addie in his dog form making weeping noises. We all stand next to the tombstone, seeing the large stone plaque. Seeing what is etched within the limestone.

BLACKVALE

JACEN | PHOEBE | MERISSA | ???

b.2304-d.2342 | b.2312-d.2342 | b.2333-d.2352 | b.2336-d.???

A Wonderful Family Taken So Suddenly

I want to shed a tear away, but I allow some to flow down to my chin. I look to hear my aunt sniffing as she cries. Feeling anger, I try to subdue it as I then veer around. I see Emmet nearby. Terra, Camille, Silas, and Icarus are also close by. Then a mile away is Director Vartwild looking at the tombstone from afar. She quickly gives her condolence in silence and leaves. She gets into her hovcar and exits in a smooth, director fashion.

I still can't stand that woman. Even though Emmet would say, she does come with benefits.

After a few minutes of standing, I begin notice the others are leaving. Before I have a chance to see them, I hear Aunt Verdi.

"I can't believe she's gone again."

She's still mourning Merissa. I keep reminding her, my sister is with my parents now. My aunt loves hearing that, and leans over to kiss me on the cheek. I know she's still happy to have me around. The only Blackvale still remaining—but that's my name. That's not who I am.

I then see Aunt Verdi letting go of my hand as she walks over with the umbrella. She soon thanks Emmet and informs him to remind the director for doing this for us.

I hate that I have to lie to my aunt about how Merissa died. I didn't tell her what actually happened. I just let her believe, Merissa did survived the fire. But too much painful memories forced her into a coma. She took a turn for the worse and pass on. I find it horrible but that's what the director is egging Joa to tell the people who were surprised that someone else survived the nasty fire. I don't like how Vartwild showcased my family fire like a poor unfournate event. I know exactly what happened, the fire was no accident. But whoever did this, is still out there.

I then hear from my aunt that the director had a ride for her to go back home. She offers me a ride back, yet I decline. She smiles and tells me to come back whenever I'm ready. I watch her leave as a centurion escorts her to the hovcar. I then spot Emmet as he walks close to me.

"I'm sorry for your loss." He then goes straight out telling me, "Why your sister defected?"

I don't walk to think about that, so I refuse to answer. Instead I let him know the main important things, "Raudan is gone. You should be happy. And then there's Shallos..." I then pause on that. "Is he gone?!"

"I can't tell if Shallos is gone. If The Orre was still alive, maybe I would've known." He states.

Without The Orre, we can't really know unless we seek guidance from another resource. But after hearing Shallos' sullen voice, I fear that some part of him is still out there. Hoping it's only my mind playing tricks on me.

I realize my aunt would be fine all by herself. She even has Addie by her side. But I understand what The Orre has told me. I half to finish learning the truth, uncovering the clues that was left for me. From my family. But I sense Dawning doesn't have these answers, I feel whatever else I need to discover is outside. I need to leave this city. That's where my journey has to begin. I just can't have anything else hanging over me.

Not this city. Addie can help my aunt, and take care of her if she needs help. But it's not there I really should cut the cord from. I glance back at Emmet. "I made my decision. I quit."

"Your job?"

"Yes."

"Naven, why?" He continues, "You can't quit. I know you may need more time to grieve. But you just can't quit your job, I'm still the boss."

"I know. I still quit. And not just that."

"What you mean?"

"The bookstore's not the only thing keeping me back. I'm done with you all."

"Naven..." He sounds a bit shocked. "I know you have more questions about your origins."

"Yeah I do have more. But I won't answer them not unless this deal or whatever we did is over. And since Raudan's gone, it's over."

And like that, I walk away as Emmet demands for me to come back. But I ignore him. I continue to leave the cemetery park. To begin the journey for answers, I want this journey with the Shadowhawks.

No, I need this to end.

***

Packing some clothes in a sleek charcoal barrel-like duffle backpack, I look around my messy bedroom. I'll miss this apartment. It's been good to me, and it had some bad moments. As I finish packing up some attire, I then glance at the blade. I grab hold of the handle. Suddenly, what I thought. The bond I shared with its connection with the Triadic, it's gone. I don't feel anything anymore. Not that soothing effect. I just feel a cold metal object. The blade's normal. I just wished I was, but I realize now I'm not. I then place the blade near the bag. And then I hear the booming sound of the Dawning Report coming on.

I walk out of the bedroom and to the living room. Looking at the wall screen, Joa is on screen talking about how the director will not make any changes to the Anti-Magic law. Even though M.AD.O.O's hatred for the act continues. He mentions there were an M.A.D.O.O rally yesterday as it joined the parade route, protesting and screaming, "Let Mages Go!" and "Free Our Magic!" Joa reveals that even though M.A.D.O.O continues their ways, there is a small following of norm citizens. This rising group wants to have a say in the matter.

"As much as I praise for non-mages to stand up and defend the mages, there has to be a major consensus in need to change a Dawning code." Joa explains, "It's not enough, but who knows what the future hold. I know I'll be in trouble for saying this, but magic should be set free."

I should know mines were ripped away. Joa continues.

"Magic might one day return, free for all in our eyes and hearts. But right now our Dawning is not where magic should exist. And with that, my fellow Dawnans. Keep Dawning Strong..."

Having enough I bam on the edge of the coffee table. The screen disappears. I then walk to the kitchen to grab something to drink and to eat. But before I can get to the fridge, I get startle when Addie appears out of nowhere. This time in his human form.

"Man, you guys need to stop doing this in and out thing."

"Naven, I want to let you know. The Pentacle is still checking to see if Shallos' essence is still alive."

Wait?!  He overheard me when I was talking to Emmet earlier ago, about the Shallos thing.

"Raudan was the only one Acolyte who wanted to mastermind Shallos' return, but hearing The Pentacle. There will be more."

I want to worry, but I won't. The Pentacle and the Shadowhawks have what it takes. I hope with them, they can end it. I inform Addie he and the rest of them can protect it from happening.

"We'll try, but we may not be enough."

I really shouldn't focus about this not until I learn everything from my journey. And then as I try to turn around letting Addie know that's all he came for, to tell me that.

"You won't be hearing me from a while. I was called by The Pentacle to find another missing agent."

"What happened?"

"She just disappeared. That's it. We don't know for sure, but I'm going to chat with other agents who were chosen for this assignment."

"What about my aunt? You're coming back?"

"I'm not leaving permanently. I'll be back, but..." He then rubs his chin. "What about you? You're going somewhere? Where?"

"I don't know, but I need to know. Why my sister acted like a traitor, and I have this funny feeling she was only playing with me. She wanted every intention to die." I then smack my lip. "There has to be a reason."

"Guess the reason she knew what could be the answers you want. But she can't seek it. The only one who can is you."

Addie can't be serious. My sister died for something, or maybe she was protecting me from something. I look back at Addie, "I'm so lost right now. Where to go from here?"

"How about this." He then brings out the same black, octagonal box my sister had back in the closet. How Addie got his hands on it. He gives it to me. I take the box and look at its black shell. And then I pause when I notice something interesting.

A crest made up of symbols. There is a phoenix enclosing its wings with two snake-like creatures twirling on opposite sides, enclosed in a unique shield. I try to caress the crest, but then my mind flashes black to something back from the past.

An image I noticed. It's obscured at first, yet as the image gets clearer. I noticed the very same crest back plastered on a fireplace wall. I believed I'm staring at it. It's somewhere in a place that could by familiar, yet I don't know. Suddenly I heard a voice coming from behind me, whoever it is, it told me.

"This is our crest."

A hand patted my shoulder. I tried to turn to see who that person was.

But before I can see it, I'm back in the present. I see Addie once again. He stares at me confused. I glance back at the crest on the black box.

Having that memory, I seen it from somewhere when I was young. Before the fire. And I know what that person meant by our crest.

The crest supposed to represent the Blackvale ancestors.

But as I rub the crest etched on the top surface, something is different. I can feel it now.

It's a warning.