The thought of seeing those images coming from the fire. Watching helplessly as my family continually gets perished.

I was supposed to be the only survivor.

My sister can't be out there. But is it possible. As I think about her, the hurtful event I see again. Engulfing my subconscious. The frightful replay of the flames flickers across my childhood. Those blocking meds I took when I was nursing my wounds. That's supposed to suppress the memories of the fire.

Since I abandoned them, the nightmares of the burnt wood, flames, and three bodies have gotten stronger, tough to push aside. It has been an entanglement. I wished I had a different life, a life where the fire never started.

A life where my family is still here, I want to hug my parents and my sister. I want to live wherever my old home used to be. But this is the life I got. I can't ignore it anymore.

Still remembering Merissa's voice, I doubt it's true. Maybe it's The Caemusur messing up my mind. It can be one of those side-effects from getting my senses back. I don't want to believe my older sister is alive.

She supposed to be dead.

This could be one of Raudan's tricks out to corrupt me. I don't want to get fooled. And now I need to stop pretending to help, if I can't literally fight back. I allowed others to help me. I'm tired of standing helpless, watching my loved ones being killed or abducted.

I need to protect myself, be ready for the next attack from whatever creature is out to get me. I reach out to Icarus to see if he can help train me. Icarus just laughs it off.

"I'm ready to fight."

I appreciated him and the others doing the physical work, but I won't stand around being a statue and watch those that I care about get hurt. I need to defend myself.

Icarus suddenly calms me down. He places his hand over my shoulder. He leans close to me, I try to stay back. But then he just smiles.

"You want to train. Okay."

After hearing that, Icarus takes his sharpen axe and walks out of his room. I follow him outside to the hallway. And then we just walk until we stop at the exercise room.

In the room for the first time, there's a lot of exercising equipment and weights. There are other clunky, silver slim machines. I look at the machines, and glance at how it looked and what does it do. Gratefully, Icarus explains to me that the machines only test three important skills. The biggest machine tests the endurance; see how the body endures from many obstacles.

The next machine that looks like a hanging chair with cords around it. Icarus lets me know that this weird contraption tests knowledge, see how the minds can go through pressure and learn around it.

The other machine looks flat, and I start to see big flexible spears going back and forth. The last one tests agility. How moving can be an asset, according to him, but has to face the limits of gravity.

He told me all of this nonsense. And I think this is what Emmet had put inside not only Icarus' head, yet as well the others. Icarus gave me this confusing stuff, and for a second I thought it was really The Orre talking. But it had to be Emmet. I can just see him now, talking more about the bounds and limitations.

Icarus then starts testing the endurance one while holding onto his axe. As he starts exercising with the machine, he smirks as he turns to me.

"Using the weapons is a right. My blood is infused within this axe, making a connection. Connected to it, I can use its magic. I can create a shield or manipulate the elements."

I remembered seeing that as he tried to use it against the bokogoblins and The Caemusur. As the machine starts testing him, he keeps swinging the axe towards the machine wall. He lets me know this is a good trick to obtain full endurance. And easy to tire out, so there is time to rest. He then shows me a few more tricks using his axe. After a few more minutes, Icarus stops the endurance machine and steps back on the matted floor.

"I know you don't have weapons." He breathes out. "But you can train physically which I'm really good at."

Well, that's great. Feeling a bit nervous, knowing for sure I have to train with only my hands. Icarus jeers off by placing his axe down. The sharpen edge lands right on the floor. Icarus then grins as he pulls up his fists. He wants me to know he'll take it easy on me.

I don't know about this. I hesitate, backing away a bit. However, I remember I can't leave this Basement. I need to be prepared. I don't want others to finish where I'm at now. I have to undo the wrong that's happening; like trying to find Anita.

As hours passed, I parried with Icarus. Fist fighting, hands blocking hands, and most of it was Icarus teaching me some interesting tips and physical moves. Unfournately, I had been getting injured a lot during our parry sessions. Icarus wanted to show off, highlighting his Romaness. He even tried to toughen me up.

I thought I was already, but being a brute like Icarus might take a longer time. As we get to July, we continued the parry sessions. And I had been using the machines that test the endurance, agility, and knowledge. Crazy to get around them. I had to take it a couple of times, to get use to each one. I felt upset initially, yet with Icarus' way and as well Silas joining in, giving me some tips about the hardest skill machine, the endurance.

Sometimes I whispered to Silas about telling the others about his telekinesis. Yet he just wanted to focus only on me and the training. The days have been harder, but most of the times I've toughen up. I still been getting hurt a lot during the sessions, yet based on some of Icarus' tips. I focused a lot of the pain and reflected it back it out on training. Now, when I do the recent parry sessions, I'm able to handle him a couple of times.

I get amuse, finally winning something. I use this win as motivation to help continue on the training. As we go on, Icarus and Silas escort me to spear fights. It's another way of handling their weapons, and gain control over it. We walk to a corner filled with wooden spear sticks. As the guys get theirs, I grab one not knowing that one has Lance's name scratched within the grain.

Icarus adamantly wants me to choose another. I try to refute why, yet Icarus gets agitated over it and demands me just find another stick. Silas eases the tension, by giving me another one that hasn't had a name on it. I look befuddled, not knowing what is up with this Lance guy. Why the others are so reluctant to talk anything about him.

Did he deserve getting burned?

I just know it was him, but not hearing the answer why this Lance guy was set on fire remained to be seen. I want to ask them, but if I keep doing it. I fear the others will repel back with more despise. This is the first time, I can accept their trust. I can't mess up now.

After hours and many rounds of the spear fights, Terra and Camille surprisingly make their way inside the exercise room. I see their faces, depressed and upset we're taking this whole room over the past few days. But when it comes to helping me in my training, Terra has been there for me. Camille, on the other hand, still refuses to be by me. She never liked me since the moment she laid her eyes on me.

While she does her thing by herself, the others keep helping me out. My training has been doing well. These days are good. However, I wonder why I'm feeling as if they're grooming me to be something I'm not. Someone I didn't expect.

Becoming one of them.

***

I lean my head partially down, sitting in the back of the hovbus. I see a big man sitting near the left side. His eyes closed with those pudgy cheeks and that pot belly. He's making an unusual snore. It gets to the point I want to wake him up, but I have no right. Even though his snoring is so annoying, I look further down as several other passengers are either fully awake not speaking. Or they're sleeping not making a sound. The driver continues his job, taking us to North Dawning.

And then the little bit of serenity I have left in this bus filled with exhaust air is perturbed. Once Addie, who was resting aside to me, is now awoke and barking mildly. He begins to lick me. I try to move my head away, knowing I miss that licks. He just can't stop. I start to smile and sort of tell him enough. He eventually does, as he then jumps down to the floor and heads towards the sleeping man.

I want to stop him, but Addie barks so loud the man with that soggy face and droopy lips suddenly jolts up. He makes a confused face not knowing what just happened. I cover my mouth, refusing to laugh, my head lowers down. I then shift my eyes, signaling Addie to come back. I want to apologize to the man, yet his snoring felt I should remain quiet. But as the man stares at me with an evil stare, I stay sitting. Not wanting to say anything.

However, the man then goes back to sleep. Going back to that soggy face. I continue to pet Addie's backside, as he makes less sounds. I slowly turn to see a few others looking back at me, but they can't do anything. The driver I actually know him. His name is Gabe, he's about 29. I got to know him when I had to use the hovbus to take me to the bookstore, and back to the apartment. Gabe told me he loves having pets in the bus, along as they don't cause harm.

Just having Addie here by my side, is a reunion I dreamed these past weeks.

I went back to South Dawning earlier today, back to Aunt Verdi's place. I told her I should take Addie for the day, since she believes I have a day off. She wanted me to keep him, but I think if I need to, I have to seek Emmet's and the others' approval.

Once we make it to the bookstore, Addie and I exit off the hovbus. I say my bye to Gabe as he takes off. Addie follows me straight to the bookstore. Yet when we make it, the place looks closed. The lights are out, there's no one inside. I ponder should I head to the back instead. Emmet has a special way to open the backdoor. Before I can go into the narrow alleyway leading to the back, I get stopped by Declan.

"What's up man?" He then glances at Addie. "He's yours?"

I nod, acknowledging Addie is with me and that I should head inside with him. I then wonder where Emmet is at; he could already be down in the Basement. I ask Declan.

"Emmet went to a meeting. The bookstore is closed for the day. I'm just here trying to finish the weekly goals. He'll be back in another hour."

If Emmet is in another one of his meetings, it has to be Vartwild. I don't know what she wants from him. But with Emmet being her friend anything can happen, which scares me somehow.

Sweet talking Declan, I'm able to bring Addie inside the store. Declan seems confused what I'm even doing here with my dog. I let him know that my aunt was at work. I have to wait for her, which could take an hour...or two. Declan felt bad, and told me he'll stay along as he's here. But he has to head to the manager's office to handle some things. It could take a while, but I tell him that everything is okay. Addie and I will be here playing around, reading books. As Declan heads into the office, I take out the Shadowhawk key and bring Addie to the Basement.

Heading down the stairs, I look to see Terra and Silas by the Grub area. With Addie close to my side, we travel over to the Grub.

"Hey, I'm back!" I then look around, questioning where the others are.

"Icarus and Camille are in the training room."

"By themselves?"

"Ah yeah?!" Terra looks at me with a strange glare; she's probably wondering why I would say that. I mention to her there's no problem, and then Silas is thrilled to see there's a dog. He walks over. I fear Addie might bark at him, yet Addie begins to lick Silas. Seems my buddy wants to trust them too. I then ask Terra about The Orre.

"He's in his room."

"Thanks." Before I walk over to the hallway, Terra grabs hold of my arm.

"What's his name?"

I turn back as Silas continuing to play with him. "His name's Addie. He's been there for me. I just missed him a lot since the attack."

"I don't think Emmet would approve."

"Do you?"

She hesitates to talk. I smirk seeing that if I have hers, there's nothing to fear. She lets go of me, and walks back to the Grub area towards the fridge. I wonder if she might be making more of those caranutters. I then proceed towards the hallway. I walk towards the rustic, old door. I begin to knock. I don't hear anything, not any indication for me to go in.

"I want to talk to you." I say. I sigh depressed, not hearing any "You can come in." I hope he's not doing another round of his hibernating. I don't know how long, he has to hibernate. Maybe Silas can tell me. But then I hear Silas screaming Addie's name. I head back towards the Grub area. I see Terra scolding Silas.

"What have you done?" She says mad.

"I did nothing wrong." Silas says.

I hope not, as I turn and there's no sign of Addie. I look around freaking out, wondering where he is. I then look back at Silas. "What happened?"

"I kept petting him. I had my eyes off him for one second, the next minute he's gone." Silas feeling upset, his arms shuddering in fear. I walk over and pat his shoulder. I let him know none of this is his fault. Addie is somewhere.

Then some type of feeling forces me to glance above up above the basement ceiling. Terra and Silas glares at me with a dumbfounded stare.

"Don't worry, I got him."

I then race back upstairs, heading into the storage room. I don't know how Addie got outside of this door. He's a dog. It doesn't make sense. I suddenly use the Shadowhawk key, and hover above the Shadowhawk symbol marked above the door. As the door opens, I sprint into the dimmed front. I run bypassing the bookstands. I then hear Declan wondering what happened.

"Don't worry!" I say to him, I don't know if he accepts that. But I open the wooden, glass-centered door. I rush outside, pondering why I'm standing in front of the bookstore. I start to breathe heavily, not knowing where my buddy is. I bend down halfway, catching my breath. As a woman passes by, she looks at me weird. I just ignore her as I lean back straight. I look around, surveying for Addie. I yell out his name multiple of times. A few bystanders and a couple of hovcars observing strangely at me, I don't care.

Minutes in. Just as I'm about to go frantic, I then hear a bark. My eyes widen. I rush over to the side of the bookstore, as I finally see my dog. He's fine, alive and well. And then next to Addie, his head is being petted by the well-dressed, British man. The same man with the boulder cap, ebony cane, and that the five-pointed shape etched on his purple tie, handkerchief, and canetop.

"Why are you here?"

"Thanks should be in order."

"Please, you keep popping up in my life. Who are you?"

"Well, I guess it's time." He continues to pet Addie's head while holding his cane with the other. He finally lets me know who he is. "Call me The Gentleman."

As much as I want to dislike him right about now, I actually want to thank him for being there and standing up against that wraith. The Gentleman removes his hat and bows down.

"I felt I was needed." He then glances at Addie with an odd gander. He then leans back up, "But I'm not your protector."

I wonder why he would say that. And then without for a minute, he then wants me to take him. He keeps telling, "Take me."

"Take you where?"

He stops petting Addie, and then starts walking close to me. He then stops, as the cane is near the center of his legs. "I want you to be a respectful kid, and not an uncivilized child. Show me to the Shadowhawks."

I look stunned; my mouth wrenches open not knowing how he knew about them. I thought Emmet and Vartwild only want secrecy for the magihunters. To keep them safe from above. As I stare at him, wondering why. As if he was reading me.

"I'll explain everything, but I need to see them first."

I hesitate. I realize the man did help stopped that phantom creature, he found my dog. I can sense those nerves, that anxious feeling dragging me down again. I know I need to control this sooner or later. But right now I have to at least respect The Gentleman's request. Not wanting Declan to freak out, I escort The Gentleman through the back way. When I get to the backdoor, I twist the knob a few times, remembering what Emmet told me. As the door opens, I bring The Gentleman and Addie straight to the storage door. Walking pass the dark storage room, we venture downstairs.

And then as I reach to the bottom of the stairs, I'm stunned to disbelief. The Orre is already out of his room, as if he has been waiting for us to come back. He looks outraged.

"The man with the cane who invited you here?"

"I'm here to help." The Gentleman replies.

I stand a couple of yards back, as I then spot Terra and Silas coming over here from the Grub area, and then coming out of the exercise room is Camille wearing straight red hair and Icarus.

"Who are you?" Terra asks, and then looks to me. "Why you brought him here."

I want to say it, seeing my friends discontented, yet The Gentleman prevents me as he blocks me with his cane. I look to him, wanting to yell at him. But he begins to talk.

"The only one who sent me here is The Pentacle." The Gentleman says.

"The who?" I then notice Silas bending his head down; Icarus, Camille, and Terra seem to be perplexed. The Orre and The Gentleman both speak at the same time. The Gentleman wants The Orre to do the honors. The Orre tells him.

"You know them the best. Please elaborate to the young ones. I insist."

The Gentleman nods. He soon gives us the much-needed explanation. The Pentacle is this governing body of five powerful mages. They oversee magic. They deem which are forbidden, and which are chosen to protect the balance of everything. The Pentacle can change the existence of magic, but only to serve a greater purpose.

I'm confused about this purpose, and I hear Terra asking The Gentleman the same thing, "What greater purpose?"

"I can't respond to that." He says bluntly, "But I can respond that I was sent as their liaison. In a way, they want me to watch over you. If you want any questions or favors that will help serve the greater purpose, The Pentacle will be there."

"To get this straight, if we want something from The Pentacle, we ask you?!" Camille says with confliction.

The Gentleman simply nods. Camille on the other hand, shakes her head. "Keep it. We would rather have The Orre's magic than theirs." She says with her arms folded.

"You must be the feisty one, I presume. Ms. Jude."

All of this, and I glance at Addie just near me. He walks over to the Grub just lounging near that area. I'm still confused over all of this. So there's an even powerful group of mages out there, and they want the Shadowhawks. The Gentleman has been what watching me to get to them.

For what?

Silas walks closer and notices the man's brownish facial hair. "I just wonder how you get that mustache so groomed." Silas leans out his hand, wanting to touch it. However, The Gentleman smacks his hand with the cane. Silas walks back, feeling the sting as he rubs his struck hand.

He tells Silas straight, "Don't touch the stache!"

Camille then mentions she likes him all of the sudden. I don't know why, of course the man helped me before. But I highly doubt he should be here. I can't imagine how Emmet would see this. And then spotting The Orre, he remains quiet.

There was some hostility between him and The Gentleman. Obviously, they must have known each other. It wasn't odd. I just have this nagging feeling, they got history.

"You want something, or I mean someone." The Gentleman states.

Everybody looks around wondering where he's going. "You still can't trust me. Well how about this." He glances back at me, giving me a sly smirk.

"If I locate this Anita Belladon for you, will you trust me then?"

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