I gazed upon my surroundings, I felt weights being lifted off my shoulder as I walked back inside Aiden's house. I gasped a sigh of relief. But the testimony that Zin Xi gave sent shockwaves to me: Was there a Guardian, Or in comparison, A GOD?! Siding with the Empyreans?... Worst of all, They ruled over my home city. Port Braux, My beloved... The start of all journeys. Home, I can't see it crumble into pieces by those stupid, bastardish Empyreans.

The wooden floorboards creaked as I stepped through, the thought of having to fight a literal god echoed through my mind. The serene atmosphere of Silvester wouldn't save me from this turmoil. I had to do it by myself.

Aiden laid back in his wooden armchair, resting after a long day of playing dodge-a-life-threatening-beam. He seemed smiling and relaxed, Evian did too. Vala just searched for a punching bag in the basement, hung it up, and punched it intensively as part of training. Aiden chuckled, but Evian seemed dissatisfied and frowned. She puts up an act by showing off her athletic skills as she flawlessly backflips like it's the Olympics. She then stood a perfect landing, and I applauded. Aiden also applauded me.

Just about Vala was about to stomp her way toward Evian, I stopped her, getting between her and Evian. I gotta break it to them that we can't have this peace forever. Clearing out my throat, I walked up through them and patted their backs, biting my lips, I'd say

" Alright, alright. Settle down, everyone... So... Whilst I was communicating with Zin Xi... There was some sort of.. ( ahem ) Misunderstanding. "

I say, beads of sweat rushing through my cheekbones, tapping my iron boots on the smooth wooden floor. Creaking.
A deafening ambiance and silence were heard throughout the room; All three were confused. But Aiden finally managed to muster the courage to speak.

He cowardly said he was just as nervous and fearful as me.

" So... What was it that you were saying about...? "

I'd sigh, before crossing my arms as I puff for air.

" Well... Whilst I was inside Zin Xi's realm. She revealed a secret. That... Port Braux is now taken over by Empyreans, and ruled over by a literal god. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news! "

I'd say laughing sheepishly, smiling as I looked awkwardly at them. From what I've seen from their eyes, they seem disappointed and annoyed at me. Wow, I already miss Noah.
I'd brush it off, and sheepishly walk back.

Evian responded angrily and annoyingly, crossing her arms.

" How are we supposed to defeat A GOD?! If we can barely even defeat Olivia?! "

After Evian's testimony, Vala also protested, and Aiden soon followed. I seriously turned my only allies against me. I then puffed for air and whistled as I stomped my iron boots, instantly zipping their mouths shut as fast as I could say shut up.

" So? What! Life isn't easy people! So, We either die being a hero or die being a coward! "
I said angrily, trying to motivate them, which boiled their anger into a more skeptical and confused one. They seemed hesitant, yet they nodded affirmatively.

Aiden raised his hand as quickly as light, raising his round glasses in a skeptical yet interested manner.

" One problem: We need to go to the Port of Silvester, which is heavily guarded and is non-accessible to normal civilians and only merchants of Silvian origin. "

I smirked, preparing the lanterns of duality by my side. Smirking at Aiden, I'd say in a brave, and regal manner. The leadership of this group will be mine, and I'll lead them to victory before they know it. Pathetic Empyrean bastards.

" We'll fight them off. "

Before we knew it, We arrived at the port. It was late at midnight, and the beams of the simmering midnight light basked me through, the lighted lanterns basked through the warm air in a blanket. But I had no time to enjoy this serenity, even after barely surviving and losing Noah.

The eerie guards walked nearby, but I knew how to deal with them. I took out my javelin and did a silent headshot; the sounds of the loud thuds of the guards and the splatter of blood penetrated through the eerie silence, alerting nearby guards in the process. I immediately commanded my javelin to return to me, and I quickly ran through the shadows.

The others followed my silent, yet daunting tracks. Evian quickly got out her arcane musket, its purple glitter shimmering and penetrating through the basked lantern glimmers. She quickly shot the guards off with a quick-paced movement and the purple-glimmered bullets penetrated through the guard's bodies, forcing them to kneel and cough out blood. I quickly ran out, whilst Aiden continued to entangle them with his herbal magic, vines surrounding them and dragging the paralyzed bodies into the water. The red waters made it suspicious, but it's fine.

We finally reached the docks. Most ships weren't manned, and there were plenty of guards and a hoard/stockpile of resources that we could need for our journey. I'd now charge my javelin up with energy from the lanterns that Zin Xi gave to me, which easily glimmered out a yellow and dark aura. Shockwaves and goosebumps were sent to my body as I continued charging up all of the energy into the lantern, and I threw it. The supercharged blasted through the air and a large whirl pierced through the silence as guards were knocked down one after another.

The roaring thuds dropped down, the clanging of helmets, and the canceled cries of the guards echoed through, creating too much noise. And nearby, was the rumbling of an impending mob. Damn it. We're gonna get mobbed to death.
We ran to a unmanned ship swiftly.

" JUST MOVE, NO HESITATION PEOPLE! "

I'd say out loud as I pushed through the trio's body with stored anger. I wasn't experienced, So I am vulnerable to blunders. The mob arrived and rode on sailboats, whose sails were just as large as the ship dancing through the gushing winds and air.

They somehow pulled up some Gatling guns and shot up the lower decks of our ship. The swirling bullets penetrate through the wood as they fly off wasting the once overhauled wood scattered across the ocean floor. I ran to the room and I flew through the air like a bolt, dodging countless bullets whilst maintaining a steady position. Getting in a nearby control station, turning on the engine as it steams roared through the air. One by one, each bullet was silenced by the impending steam and the ship ran off quickly, With the engine damaged from the rains of bullets showered down it. We were left in the sea, our engine barely fixed.

I went through the lower decks of the ship, the tapping of my iron boots shuttering a calm yet eerie sound. Evian, trying to fix the engine was filled with oil and steam at this point. Vala and Aiden were laid off to do other duties like scouting, cleaning the ship, and organizing the supplies.

Evian smirked, brushing her dirty purple mullet off her face, covered to the brim with smoke. Yet her blue eyes glimmered through the dancing midnight shade. She brushed off a few beads of sweat dripping through her forehead.

" This face, Well. It's just steam and dust. And this is gonna take a long time to work in. Bet ya' rich kids never faced hardships like these where you get your hands dirty. "
She said in a seemingly seething jealous manner.

I glanced at her curiously.
" I'm not rich. I came from a middle-class family in Port Braux, Who gifted a prodigy like me. " I'd say smirking whilst I pointed to myself.

" And remember that encounter in that labyrinth of a prison in the Deadbone Mountains? Who was that "friend" you didn't want to talk about? " I said in an over-loaded, curious manner. Evian seemed discontent with sharing her past that she never wanted to remember, or speak about. She always seemed to be an arrogant and sassy teenager but why?..

Evian scoffed but softened up after a quick sigh. " You see, I was raised and born in the Wild South of Vale. Anarchy, warmongering orcs, non-existent form of government, and guess what? The Vale government did absolutely nothing. I say they were cowards, careless people who care about fame and reputation. "

I was shocked... The Wild South? That area was infamous for constant killings, bombings and rebellions that are still happening today. No wonder she was so mean and arrogant. She was just an unfortunate soul who faced the wrath of the Wild South.

Evian scoffed once again, before saying
" Had this one good friend named Tasha. She used to provide our old, leather settlement camp of 100 people food, resources and needs for us to survive. I helped her out on all journeys, she introduced me to the world of technology. These arcane weapons are the only thing I have left of her, shards of the past... They were made with her teachings and essence.. "

She was tearing up, as she stopped her work. For a bit, She seemed regretful for saying it out loud and just ran away from me without a doubt, the tapping and clacking of the wooden floorboards echoed rapidly throughout the desolate hallways. I was regretful, But I knew she suffered a lot.

{ EVIAN'S POV }

I ran through the desolate wooden hallways, tears streaming down my face looking at each corner of the ship. I should've never said that to Glenn! The emotions are pouring at me, these Arcane Pistols... It was made by Tasha! I would've never made it if Tasha hadn't sacrificed herself for me... Valians was always my enemy. They deprived my people of a place to live, I was actually... A shifter. This wasn't my actual self... Identities, just fragments... Where is Wezjka? My true self..?

The emotions were sifting through like ocean breezes, I couldn't keep this secret for long. I was a.. Shifter. I killed this mortal, Tasha... She sacrificed herself for me. After those pesky Valians decimated our food supply. And all of our people were starving.

( FLASHBACK )

( WEZJKA/EVIAN'S POV )

My blue skin glimmered through the soaring deserts, my rough scales. Tough as boulders, yet my personality was as fragile as paper. I lived in a bustling Valian Shifter camp. Most of my species went extinct after the "Great Purge," cleansing all identities other than Mortal Valians. I've always thought Empyreans were my saviors,
But in this world. No one is safe.

I was chilling, recovering from my blue scales and injuries faced after trying to recover goods and resources with Tasha. Tasha, Was the only one at camp who was human. In-fact, I embodied her body right now.

The classic purple mullet hair, a burgundy-colored cloak enticing my neck, and wearing a black, buttoned up cardigans with short brown leather pants. Perfect shade-of-brown eyes, and a tint of blush around her cheekbones.

I proclaimed as I bandaged up my rough, blue scales. Hit with harpoons multiple times, and shot out with bolts of flamed bullets, Unique weapon of the Valian people.

" So. Those rations were hard to settle down. But it's enough for us to survive for another week. "

Tasha smiled at me once again in approval, she patted my back. As her body language maintained a calm and serene expression, in the midst of the chaos in the Wild South. I've always wanted to be like her. But, Courage is equal to treachery in the Wild South. Tasha chose courage.

Suddenly, The screaming of Sirens was ear-deafening, penetrating through the sound barrier with ear-piercing shrieks, knocking me back as suddenly, barrages of flamed bolts penetrated through the white- leathered tent where we were situated. The bullets slashed my already injured skin, as I squealed in pain.

Tasha, with A determined look on her face, A fire igniting through the chaos of the situation. From the outside, The screams of Shifters and the sounds of bullets shredding through the blue, demure skin was impenetrable. This wasn't a battle anymore, It was a Massacre.

I witnessed it all, outside the tent. Tasha quickly ran in as she barged out of the tent, City waves of bullets all around the
campsite, stained with blood and the dead bodies of Valian shifters, piling up for each bullet whirring through the air.

Tasha, In the midst of her unwavering determination slowly fervored inside her, But deep inside. She knew she couldn't fight for long, So she sacrificed herself. To maintain the last of a rare species, bullets slowly ridiculing the battlefield.

With ounces of strength, she grabbed a small, pocket knife and penetrated through her white, delicate skin. Ridden with scattered scabs, wounds and injuries. She single-handedly amputated her left arm, throwing her dual arcane pistols aside before throwing them at me.

She screamed, tears of anger raining down on her face. With all her might as she continued to get shot, wound by wound and each bullet struck deeper than the other. She knelt down, before saying out loud, clenching her fists.

" EAT THE ARM! RUN! JUST RUN! "

She said as she stood up again, using her entire body as a meat shield to protect me from the hostilities. The sound of fire crackling through the sand, the sounds of flame, engulfing the tents of what was once my home. She screamed once again, Before getting blocked out by the sounds of harpoons piercing through her chest, along with intense gunfire, roaring and whirring through the desolate air.

She died standing.

I quickly ate Tasha's amputated arm, biting a piece of it. In a matter of seconds, a blue light engulfed my entire body, my once blue, scaly skin turning into once, the delicate and rough skin of Tasha. I have done my first shifting.. I was only 16.

{ FLASHBACK ENDING. }

{ EVIAN'S POV }

I cried once again, Knowing... I should've been nicer, cherishing all the friends I have gained. Instead of sassying them, and being overall rude. I should be thankful I am still standing instead of laying on the floor.

Running through the hallways, tears still streaming like a waterfall. The sadness slowly fading inside me, and replaced with gratitude and love for the people who tended to me in the hardest of times. It is as if, I've learnt a lesson..

I hugged Glenn as if there was no tomorrow, tears streaming down my face. Glenn, As if he realized everything. Hugged me back, patting my back to put me in a state of calm against my turbulent mind. I smiled, and Glenn smiled back.

I shouted out. " I'm sorry! I'm sorry for being such a rude friend, catching you into trouble, and In-fact... Just don't tell this to Vala. I have a crush on Aiden. "

Glenn smiled back at me, and chuckled slightly with a tint of blush.

" Well, Secret kept! "

Suddenly, A dim light engulfed the ship. Tentacles sprawed out, in an eye-opening scene. Pairs of footsteps suddenly thudded down the stairs, Aiden then shouted.

" IT'S VERUS' ANIMAL FORM! THE VEREN! WE'VE PASSED THE VERUS SEA! "

{ Glenn's POV }

The once wholesome and sublime atmosphere was replaced with a palpable, worried atmosphere with the turbulent roaring of thunder, and the sounds of water crashing down through the hull of the ship. Suddenly, Pieces of scrap wood flung around the lower decks. There it was, Veren. The animal form of Verus an Octopus, The Guardian of the Ocean Gemstone. We've passed the Verusian Sea I suppose.

Aiden grabbed a seemingly, ominous blue diode. Vala igniting it's flames with her barren-hard fists of iron. Creating a spark of light, and suddenly. Surges of power engulfed us.

Vala in a quick, deep yet worried voice said

" JUST GET OUT, NOW! THAT DIODE IS A WATER DIODE! IT GIVES YOU THE ABILITY OF WATER BREATHING! JUST JUMP! "

The Verus tentacles smashed through the lower decks of the ship, barely hitting me as I ran and sped through the ruined wooden floorboards. The strikes of lightning, the turbulent storms flooding the entire ship. And the roars of the Verus octopus.

Diodes; Rare crystals giving ominous, yet powerful superpowers to multiple owners. It can be super strength, speed or durability.

I jumped out of the ruined lower deck, and held my breath... And finally...