Soon enough your mood improved and you were bouncing through the forest with the horses. You still continued with your treaty with Gurram so he didn't tease you. Everyone else was packing your camp as you went to feed the horses.

"We're ready to go," Yugi announced fastening the reins.

"Hey, puppy, how are you going to travel?" Laegil asked.

"Who did you call puppy!?"

"You are one, aren't you?"

"I'm an adult Gwyllgi!"

"I'm still older, puppy."

"Is that so, old hag?"

"O-old hag!? How dare you!?"

They clashed loudly with a growl and it seemed like they were going to rip each other throats. But the question still hung in the air. You had only two horses and they were already carrying two people and supplies. No matter how strong they were.

Jonouchi decided that he will travel by foot. You were heading towards the canyon and the bridge and you didn't need to hurry.

"So, Jonouchi, where are you heading?" Atem asked when you set off. He walked alongside with blonde while you sat on Gurram's back. You too were curious why the dog beast decided to travel with you.

"I'm still searching for that cure, you know? I wanted to ask Pegasus if he has any information."

"What cure?" you asked. You studied herbology and now knew quite a lot thanks to the granny from the inn and the shaman.

"My sister, Shizuka, lost her sight a few years back. I'm trying to find a way to restore it," Jonouchi said with a hint of sadness in his voice.

"Oh, I'm sorry."

"Don't be."

"Look guys, the canyon is up ahead!" Yugi pointed. You followed the direction and on the clearing you saw the canyon. The two sides were connected by a bridge. It was quite long, linked with a rope. You wondered how were you going to cross it. You didn't have much experience with bridges, but that one didn't look very safe. You looked uncertainly towards the boys as your party stood before the bridge.

You felt a shadow upon your face and the same sound you've heard before. You looked up and saw the creature the shaman called a griffin. Your eyes widened as on the sky appeared dozens of those. The others watched in astonishment as the whole area was covered in yellow feathered creatures.

"Damn," Atem cursed. "We need to get on the other side!" But his voice was muffled by the screeching of the griffins. They didn't waste time and nosedived.

Somehow you pushed one back when it tried to sink its claws into your arm. With a wind blast the griffin flew a few meters into the air. You saw blood spilling before you as Atem cut through the animals. Gurram neighed loudly and pranced through the air with you on his back.

"Easy boy!" you tried to calm him down tugging on his reins. He still wriggled and looked ready to gallop.

With a blast of weeds Yugi pushed griffins back. A piercing screech cut through the air as yellow creatures flew higher into the air, still ready to attack. Atem violently jumped on the horse behind you.

"Let's go!" he rushed to you and swung his sword at another griffin. Yellow feathers were all around you. You tugged on Gurram's reins recalling that you need to get on the other side of the bridge.

"Go! Go!" the horse listened to you and you galloped through the wooden planks. The griffins didn't surrender as they started to pick on the bridge ropes. Atem couldn't push them back and more ropes were cut. You hastened Gurram with panic.

With a last thump of Gurram's hooves you were on the other side. You were sweating and panting and looked behind to see if Yugi and rest made it. They were still on the other side of the canyon, while the bridge, now ripped to pieces, fell into the river underneath.

Yugi with Laegil on a horse and Jonouchi in his Gwyllgi form, turned to run by the edge of the canyon. You guided your horse in the same direction. You galloped and tried to get away from griffins.

"We'll meet by Khaidu Lake!" Atem shouted when you caught up with Yugi.

"Alright!" he cried back. He had to turn left and disappeared behind rocks. You saw a silhouette, that seemed to be quite familiar to you. When you blinked it was gone. You were sure you were imagining things. A small forest was to your right and you decided it was best if you entered it.

You hoped that griffins wouldn't be able to fly into the forest.

You slid off the horse and waited. All you could hear was the rustle of the leaves. It was like a calm before the storm. The horse was still uneasy, probably sensing the danger. You heard a close screech as griffins slipped through the branches.

"Get behind me!"

"No! Let me help!" you shouted as the half-dragon pushed you aside. He swung his sword at the griffin.

"I said, stay back!" he turned to you. At this moment the griffin sank his claws into his shoulder. Blood spilled causing you to wince. You without further delay launched the attack on your own. Your wind stroke injured the creature severely.

"Get off your high horses for once!" you screamed at the boy, your anger blasting around unconsciously causing a barrier of strong wind. "I won't stay back anymore! Let me cover your back and help get rid of those chickens!"

"O-okay. I'll be counting on you!" Atem said, eyes wide in shock as you two stood back to back. The wind barrier fell down as you concentrated.

As soon as the air was clear, the griffins blasted off. You resisted its attack using your most powerful blows. They were kind of sloppy but still effective.

With sweat running down your back you cast more spells. You and Atem found your own rhythm. You protected you both and he swung his sword at the griffins. Then you would launch long distance attacks preventing the griffin from surprising you while he cut through nearby creatures.

Somehow it worked just fine and soon the area was filled with dead griffins and their yellow feathers. You felt a mix of pride, tiredness and nausea. You swallowed and panted. You looked at Atem and saw him touching his bloodied shoulder. Bluish liquid flowed through his fingers. You recalled that he was slashed by claws of the griffin. You stumbled towards the box fastened on Gurram's saddle. It contained herbs and bandages.

Atem, giving you no time jerked you.

"We need to get out of here," he stated and guided you through the forest. You didn't have strength to object and let him lead you. You stopped on small clearing. You leaned on one of the rocks that lay scattered around. All of them were taller than you, so they provided needed shadow from the midday sun. Atem sat beside you.

"Show me your shoulder," you addressed the half-dragon. He was going to refuse when you frowned at him. With a sigh he turned to you. You saw bloody prances reaching his shoulder blade. "This will need stitching."

"What? No. Just wrap it with bandages. It'll heal."

"No way. I'm stitching it. Don't move," he abruptly stood up and reached for the bandages himself.

"No need," Atem said. You looked at him wide eyed. You twitched. Why he had to be so difficult sometimes? Anger raged in your chest.

"For the love of everything I love! Sit down and do as you're told!" you exploded. "Stay still or I'm gonna smother you in bandages!"

Few minutes passed until he obeyed not daring to utter a single word. As you treated his wound the atmosphere became more tense between you two than ever.

You wondered how this single man could stir so many emotions in you. There was obvious anger right now, as he was the most stubborn person you've ever met. He was this unlucky to meet just as stubborn a girl as you. Then there was frustration, because of his constant patronizing over you. You were happy at times when he protected you, any girl would be happy. But sometimes it was too much. Then perhaps was admiration. For his skills, his bravery and loyalty. And there were those feelings you couldn't quite put a finger on. There was warmth inside you when he looked only at you. And those butterflies in your stomach when he spent time with you.

"Done," you said as you wrapped the last bandage around his arm.

"Thanks."

***

Yugi slowly made his way through the rocks. After the split by the canyon they fought with the remaining griffins. They hid in between rocks and now had to walk down to the bottom of the canyon.

"Tell me again, why do we have to stumble on this friggin' rocks?" complained Jonouchi. The road was on their left, but they still used the hard way.

"Because we have to get to the Khaidu Lake," Yugi replied, still calm. He heard a loud sigh form his friend. "And travelling by road will put us in danger."

They continued down following a barely visible path.

"Khaidu Lake, huh?" mused Laegil.

"What of it, old hag?"

"Shut it, puppy. Isn't it that legendary mirror lake?"

"Yup, the same," Yugi said. "It is said that a mythical wise man is enchanted within the mirror-like pieces of Khaidu Lake. Only those of pure heart are able to hear his voice full of wisdom."

"Enchanted? Usually stories end with somebody waking up the creature and gaining its wisdom."

Yugi wondered for a moment. He didn't know any other stories about Khaidu Lake. It was only an old legend. He'd heard this when he was much younger and never put much thought to it. Though, surely it was worth to see for its beauty.

"Anyway, we need to get there, since it's the only way to get to the other side of the canyon," looking behind he saw his two companions nodding.

They walked like this for the rest of the day. Sometimes Laegil and Jonouchi were snapping and calling each other names. All Yugi could do was to silently face-palm from time to time. They decided to camp on more or less flat stone.

"Ah, I wanted to ask," said Jonouchi biting on his sandwich. "What are you guys up to? I mean you usually travel alone?" he said glancing at red head.

"That's kinda a long story, but since you'll be traveling for a while with us I may as well tell you," Yugi replied. Then he proceeded with an explanation that Lord Pegasus gave them the mission to collect ______, the Vayis and Laegil, the dragon. The King of Westenra broke the pact between humans and dragons.

"Remind me, what was with this pact?"

"A long time ago," Laegil started. "There was a king, his name was Ikram the Destroyer. He was a experienced and mighty magician. He could use Divine magic of Light and Shadow. He got tempted to conquer more and more. With the magic it was possible. Yet the dragons refused to help him with his plan to take over the world. He became angry, but still decided to carry on the conquest on his own. Even his advisors were against it. In the end he destroyed the whole continent, fortunately or not, he used too much of his power and died."

"And then?"

"Then his royal court and the new court decided to seal the magic of Light with help of the dragons. That's what the pact is about."
Laegil looked away finishing her explanation.

"You know more than you're saying, aren't you?" Yugi said narrowing his eyes a little. Truth – Laegil was his long-time friend, but since she was chosen to be the next guarding dragon, he hadn't seen her for years. She looked at him gravely.

"To seal the Light so it won't be carelessly used again like this, the royal court and the dragons found the vessel for it."

"You mean the Vayis?"

"Yes and no. The vessels were called the Vayis after they were created. The Vayis are artificial human vessels made of the Light to contain the Light. They are not humans."

For a few seconds nobody said a thing. Laegil sat playing with an arrow in her hand. She looked as if she decided on something.

"The first Vayis were just artificial vessels, unfeeling, and unmoving dolls. My predecessors, former guarding dragons, kept them safe from the outside world. But then, the humans noticed that around the whole continent the Vayis were born. So they built the Temple to gather them. Surprisingly, those girls were almost the same as the first, original Vayis."

"Meaning?"

"Meaning that humans found the way to get rid of the Light. The vessels were gifted with exceptional singing voices that released the Light. They put the girl in the cave with the guarding dragon, who opposed with magic of Shadow absorbed the Light."

Laegil once again sighed. She looked like she was going to give the last blow to the dying man. She didn't look them in the eye.

"The Vayis emptied themselves off the Light with their songs. Only a hollow shell was visible. Then they divide into pieces of the Light. And then the next Vayis is chosen to resume the process again, and again."

"What!? You mean that something similar might happen to ______?!"

"She... She was different. Not much with behavior at the beginning but with her magic. Her magic of the Light was never awake. She could sing as much as she liked but she never used the Light. She subconsciously blocked this."

"That's great isn't it?" Jonouchi smiled uncertainly.

"No, not really. Now that she's learning Elemental Magic she's also opening the doors to the Light magic," Laegil sighed. "That's why when you heard her song recently you felt different. But, nobody's telling anything to her! You hear me? It's better if she doesn't know."

The two males nodded gravely as their thoughts were filled with the new information.

~~*~~
My laptop crashed two times before I could update -.- Thanks, bud, I always can count on you, right?
More action! And the split! And my brave Reader-tan is figting on her own!
Big thank you to InnerGlow for correcting my grammar!

Please comment! ^^