Valeriana was still having a hungover from the things she saw when she touched Cifaro for the last time. However, with everything put together properly at last, the familiars removed their dome and it was finally time to worry about how they were supposed to go back to the academy.

She could not bear to see Cifaro gone cold and accept the fact that somebody she knew died once again. She was left with his memories, though. Up until now, the story behind his life had been nothing short of meaningful.

"Valeriana." Corvan said, coming over to her and snapping her out of her reverie. "Do you have everything you need?"

"I didn't really bring anything significant with me." She answered before looking around. "How are we planning to leave?"

"Isn't it obvious? With the current size of our familiars, it'll be troublesome to just leave them be."

A rush of excitement made her toes curl. "No way!"

"But we'll have to be fast. The contractors don't have much energy left." He told her, pushing back his long, wet hair. "Choose your ride."

"I'm always Avaro." She grinned at him from ear to ear.

"Good choice." He smiled, his emerald eyes showing excitement. "I'll have him ready. He usually can't carry more than one person and a half."

Valeriana felt a small flutter in her chest as she saw his reaction. What was up with that strange expression? "S-sure . . ."

When Corvan left, Amril stood before Valeriana, tall and proud like he was. His golden eyes turned towards Cifaro's lifeless form and he beckoned the girl to come as he sauntered calmly over to him. Amidst the busy atmosphere of some strapping the 'equipments' and possessions they managed to salvage, a quiet and calm aura settled on the alpha beast. He need not speak at all for Valeriana to see his grieving. His aura spoke everything.

'Holy Beasts were always sought after for the priceless treasures they can bless.' Amril whispered, bowing his head as though to show reverence to the deceased. 'Gilerads give specific gifts to the ones who they unfortunately leave behind. I see a bond, though subtle, formed between my brother thee.'

"The words he spoke to me were, 'Will thou beest willing to save someone if thou art capable? At any cost?'. Af first, I did not know what he was trying to say, but after everything, I understand." She felt sad. The time was short but Cifaro already helped her a lot.

The entire pack then assembled behind Amril and Valeriana, catching the girl off-guard. The Twelve and the other extras stopped short and watched the sudden formation, fascinated.

The other panther-beasts were carrying flowers of some sort, marching forward and gently placing it before him. This must be their symbol of honoring the dead.

After paying their respects, Valeriana was nudged forward.

She turned to Amril nervously. "What am I supposed to do?" She queried.

'Take him under and send him off to the gates, let his soul depart.'

Valeriana was dubious. What kind of ritual was this anyway? And why, of all people, would she be chosen to do the thing? Giving Amril the look of confusion, she could not help but ask another question.

"Why me?"

'This one wonders too. But, it would have been what Cifaro wanted.'

"I-I'm honored, I guess. B-but . . ."

'Just go.'

Hesitantly, she grabbed on to one of Cifaro's paws and started dragging him to the lake. This action caused the spectators to look at her in amusement, making her think twice if she was doing it right. She felt as though doing this made her the killer and she was throwing the body on a lake to have the authorities find it floating after a few days.

Muttering under her breath about random things, she stepped foot first on the freezing water. Chilled, she stopped before slowly submerging her body up to the shoulders, finding Cifaro's body floating as she dragged him with her.

"This is freaking weird." She told herself before eventually going under the frigid waters all the way.

This time, it was intentional.

She gazed at Cifaro's unmoving body, only swaying limply by the gentle force of the water around him. Breathing out bubbles, the girl felt a familiar warmth latch on her skin and block out the searing coldness. With her hair clouding around her face and her hand still on Cifaro's unbelievably soft paws, the current fifth saw the same thing that happened with Tod repeating once again.

Reaching out, she delicately tugged on the glowing spot emerging around his chest area. The light that appeared before her was pure, seeminly untouched by the darkness that once took over the body of the beast. Despite the questions that swirled along, she proceeded and traced the surface of the glowing ball with the pads of her fingers. It wasn't as pure as she expected it to be. It had the smallest spots of black on some sides, but the light overruled. Unexpectedly, it also had a shine of different colors akin to the ones in a rainbow--dancing, celebrating.

The forgotten spot of black on her palm was hidden beneath the gloves she was given. Even so, feeling as though this was the last thing she could ever do for this being who helped her in understanding one of the most confusing stages of her life, she closed her eyes and reeled in the impurities of his soul.

'Thank you for this wonderful sacrifice, Cifaro.' She told the small ball sitting on her palms. 'And you taught me a lot, thank you so much for that too.'

A small sting of pain rooted on the spot where she felt the 'negativeness' clinging to her flesh. However, she was immediately rewarded by a vibrant flare of the alacritous light and it swirled until the familiar gem was in place. This, on the other hand, was teardrop-shaped and was the color of topaz, much like the color of Cifaro's eyes. It seemed to possess a never-ending flame from within, not to mention the warmth.

'Sierra vu eldon sith.' A tiny voice whispered, like a stray wind that blew by.

Cifaro's physical body then sank until it settled on the bottom of the lake far from what Valeriana could properly observe. Feeling as though that took longer than necessary, she rose to the surface and started swimming for the shore.

"Valeriana!" Keelan shrilly called out. "Are you okay?"

"Okay." Brindon repeated.

"Good. She's out." Zevlin and Genevieve sighed.

"What took her so long?" Elfre lashed.

"Could she hold her breath that long?" Courtney wondered.

"Oh god! There she is! Finally!" Tamara exclaimed and rushed forward to meet her halfway, even further submerging a fourth of her body to pull Valeriana out of the water. "We thought you drowned!"

"Why?" She shivered, rubbing the water out of her face and combing her hair back. A towel was thrown around her shoulders and she was dragged in front of a fire. They crowded around her like bees.

"You took like . . ." The third trailed off, unable to recall the exact number of minutes she had been gone.

"You were gone for at least a quarter of an hour." Raziel piped in, as though pointing out the obvious. "We were waiting for your body to show up floating, but it didn't."

"Oh." Of course she would be shocked.

"Is that all you're going to say?" Corvan fumed.

"Now, now," Rowe said, making calming gestures resembling a pat in the air as though doing it would improve their moods. "I think Valeriana herself finds this news hard to believe."

"I thought I took long, but it only felt like five minutes on my part." The fifth-ranker confessed, backing up Rowe's assumptions.

The pack of Amril watched patiently, not saying anything.

"They didn't want to tell us anything at all." Zion pointed impatiently at the beasts.

"Anyhow, what exactly happened?" Charles interjected.

"The usual stuff . . ." She said, unable to find the exact words to explain. "Like before. This." Her hands then brought to light her unique souvenir that made everyone immediately understand the situation. "It said something like siri . . . sierra vi--vu eldon shi--sorry, sith. Yeah. Sierra vu eldon sith." Valeriana repeated the words that had been playing back repeatedly like a broken record inside her head.

A strange vibration began on the jewel before searing hotness scalded her skin. Valeriana dropped it unceremoniously on the snowy terrain as a result. Then, right before their very eyes, the crystal morphed and became the most gorgeous thing she had ever seen.

"Shut up." She gasped.

The sheath was ivory white, smooth as a polished jade and accentuated by silver in twirling patterns. Traces of the topaz-like crystal dotted the length in small traces.

Valeriana's hands latched magnetically on the weapon, cautious of the previous rise in temperature being present. When it was unexpectedly cool to the touch, she grasped it. It fit like a glove between her fingers, as though molded perfectly for the shape of her hand. Unsheathing the blade, she basked on the sweet sound of the weapon being drawn--like music to her ears.

The treasure within was then revealed.

The blade was molten hot that cooled down immediately, revealing a statuesque contour connected to a pearly white hilt that had a resembling crystal on a symmetrical guard with lifelike fur trailing the edges. It was sleek and lean in shape, the pommel being composed of a teardrop-shaped material similar to the one she was just holding in her hands a while ago. With a sterling-silver shine, the surface looked unbelievably smooth to the touch--polished to the point that the sharpness was seen on the light being reflected off of it. The blade was a titillating sight of graceful curves--thin on the stem but flaring out a little after halfway before thinning itself immediately at the tip, like a fang.

Zion whistled.

"I don't know what's going on but this is awe-mazing." The fifth exclaimed.

'A weapon made out of a Holy Beast's remnants is powerful and indestructible. But one which is made out of the remnants of its soul should possess unexpected qualities.' Amril said. Bowing once to Valeriana and the sword, he led his pack away. 'Take good care of my brother.'

"This sword . . ." She breathily muttered. "Cifaro."