I sat up with a bit of a start, everything seemed so blurry, and my body was stiff like I hadn't moved for years. I stepped of the bed that I had been placed in. I saw my fire colored sword leaning against the wall. I picked it up, the weight felt so odd in my hands.

I opened the door to the room I was in, not caring much to see what it had looked like. I stepped out into the woods. I heard the door creek shut behind me. When I turned around the building disappeared.

"Hello?" I called out, but my voice was rather quiet, and my throat was dry. I coughed, and looked around. I recognized these woods. They were somewhere near Metelli. I started to run in the direction of Metelli, ignoring the aching in my feet the branches that dragged across my skin.

My head was pounding as I made my way to the edge of the village. It was all decayed, and it looked as if there haven't been tending to it for fifteen years. I blinked back tears. Where would my family have gone? I'd just have to go to the neighbouring village.

Maybe they're still intact. I made my way there over the path. On my way I heard yelling in the woods. I decided to follow the noise. Maybe someone needed my help. I ran towards the noise. Two men were yelling at each other, one had the other by the throat.

"(Y/N)!?" I heard my name. I turned to see a familiar face.

"Gar-" my voice was cut off by the force, and noise of the explosion. I felt the force push my back, sending me flying into a tree. I laid on the ground. My weak body, motionless.

I just couldn't find the strength to move. My head was spinning, heart pounding, and to top off the noise, I heard an ear shattering cry. A moment later my vision started to get blurry, and I saw a faint figure running over to me, then every thing was black.

I woke up in was seemed to be an infirmary. I tried to sit up, but my head was spinning. A boy with blonde hair was staring at the floor, hands folded in his lap. I decided to try my voice again. "H-Hello?"

His head snapped up, and he pointed a dagger at my throat. "Who are you?" He growled.

"(Y-Y/N) Zvhal... Garroth?" I tilted my head, slightly. His hand shook a bit.

"How are you here?" He asked, tears in his eyes. "How do I know you're not an imposter?"

"We were in a test together for two months. The last day of the test I was stabbed? Correct?"

"Yes, and you died. I help your lifeless body in my arms!"

"I... what?"

"Proof. I need proof." He growled. I hesitantly pulled my shirt up, I don't know why, but I felt there was something significant and I was right. There was an ugly, grated scar right over my skin.

He lowered the dagger, and glanced at me, before pulling me into a hug. I felt his tears drip onto my shoulder. "It is you. How?" He whispered.

"I... I don't know," I mumbled, hugging him back. "How long was I out?"

"Seven days." He mumbled, letting go of me. I nodded, and sunk back down into the pillow.

"Sorry, but would it be too much to ask for some water?" I asked.

"No!" He shook his head quickly. I smiled as he ran off to get some. I glanced down at my hands as they shook.

I'm back?

How?

Why?

The ritual...?

When Garroth came back I drank all the water, and ran my fingers through my hair. "...Wait... do you know what happened to Metalli?" I asked quickly.

"The people are safe, and they started a new town called New Metelli."

"Thank Irene," I sighed.

"And your brother..."

"Laurance?"

"Yes. He's a..."

"What?"

"Laurance is a shadow knight."

"What!?" I asked sitting up quickly. Garroth pushed me back down.

"We don't know where he is, but we're trying to find him... my brother is here. Along with some girl who claims to know Laurance. They're both also shadow knights. But they went after him, trying to spot his next move."

I nodded. "O-Okay." It was a lot to take in.

"You should get some more rest. You'll need it."

"I don't think so. How long have I been... dead?"

"Eighteen years," he mumbled, staring into the palms of his hands.

"That's enough sleep. I need to do something." I stood up, and saw two sword leaning against each other on the wall. One was mine, and the other was an ocean blue. "Garroth, who's sword is that?" I asked.

"Mine. Why?"

"N-No reason. Now I can help! What can I do?"

"...Lady Aphmau might actually need your help right now more than anyone." He mumbled

"Why is that?" I asked, looking back at him.

"She just lost someone very dear to her, and I'm afraid she will hardly talk to anyone."

"Oh... I can talk to her. I mean she doesn't know me though."

"It's okay. She's a friendly person." I continued to walk towards the door, but then stopped.

"Garroth?"

"Hm?"

"What... what are we?"

"What do you mean?"

"It's been eighteen years-"

"Well three years, but I spent fifteen years in the Irene Dimension which only felt like fifteen minutes there."

"Right, but are we still... a thing?"

"I'm not sure. I've been thinking about that a lot while you were out, I just... I don't know."

"Okay. I was just curious... I'll go now." I mumbled, leaving. I felt my heart turn cold, and it felt like it hurt. I walked out, and ran into a boy with brown hair and green eyes.

"Uh excuse me. Could you point me to the direction of Lady Aphmau?" I asked.

"Uh, yeah, she's up in that purple, and white house on that hill, why who are you?"

"(Y/N) Zvhal, you probably know my brother Laurance more than you'd know me." I smiled.

"Oh, I'm Malachi!" He smiled.

"Well, thank you. I'll be on my way I nodded, and headed up the hill.

***Merry Christmas!***