"How?" Gavin asked. He ripped the veil from his face and revealed his identity, the surprise eminent. "I thought I was subtle."

"Like I said, the conversation gave you away. You had the same voice when you spoke of those books from the library. You've always been passionate about those things." He said. "Now, I dislike the drama. I prefer this be stopped."

Gavin could not believe his ears. "I expected you to be enraged."

"I'm not the same boy you knew, Gavin." He told him. "I do lose my temper, but not over things like this."

He laughed, "You lose your temper when you are called a jerk and an idiot."

The muscle under Corvan's right eye twitched. "This conversation is not what you start."

Gavin started laughing.

"Are you done?"

When he finally ceased, he said, "Then what sort of plans do you have for this nation, Corvan?" He asked.

"Something with you in it. I require your assistance, cousin."

Gavin went back to his seat as he pondered. "Well, this is a first. Your asking for my help is quite a strange notion. Alright, I will hear you out. How do I lend you my aid?"

"I will not ask you to stop thieving because I know you will not listen, you stubborn mule." Corvan huffed.

"Good thing we are clear."

"I need the opposite from you. I want you to continue."

"You approve? My this is—"

"I do not approve." He said. "But still, I want you to continue."

"Does that mean you will not turn me over?"

"Do not be mistaken, cousin. No one cannot know that I let you off nor the fact that I support you. I recommend you be more subtle with this, because I cannot help you once you are caught. If my hand is forced, I will not have a choice."

"I see." Gavin stood. "Still, this is more than enough, coming from you."

"Just be reminded that I—" Corvan stopped short. His eyes shot open and he placed a hand on his chest, as though he suddenly could not breathe.

"Corvan." His cousin's brows furrowed, confused. "What is the matter?"

Without prior warning, the first-ranker suddenly fell over. If it weren't for Gavin, who caught him, he would've ended up a helpless pile on the ground. The chivalrous thief carried him over to the chair he had taken before and made him sit.

"Something is wrong." Corvan wheezed, beads of sweat materializing from his skin, leaving a thin sheen.

"What is it?"

"I do not know. But I—" He gritted his teeth. "AGGH!"

Corvan bellowed, as though he was undergoing severe pain. Saeed and Omar burst through the tent with their weapons ready. When they saw Gavin without his veil, they seemed perplexed.

"Did he have a heart attack?" Omar asked.

"I don't know. Was it too much?" Saeed replied.

"Come help me, you fools!" Gavin exclaimed.

Stunned to action, they leaped forward.

"What do we do?"

"I am unsure. Get Jameela here! Now!" He commanded. "One of you stay and help me keep a watch over him."

Omar and Saeed exchanged glances and nodded at one another. Omar left in a rush and Saeed came forward. Both him and Gavin took an arm of Corvan and helped guide him to the bed on the far left.

"What's happening to him?"

"Perhaps he was poisoned?" Saeed concluded.

"That's unlikely."

A roar echoed from a distance. Gavin turned at the sound, wondering what it was.

"Did you hear that?" He asked.

"Of course, I did." Saeed replied.

It was a few moments after that Omar and a woman with braided hair came in. She was a middle-aged woman with brown eyes and dirty blonde hair. She rushed over to Corvan's side, grabbed his hand, and felt his pulse.

"His heart is erratic." She then placed a hand on his chest. "Breathing is shallow . . . pupils dilated."

The woman then took out a needle from one of her pockets and nodded to the two. "Hold him down. I will need to test him for poison."

Saeed pinned down his arms and Jameela pricked the needle through his skin. It came out clean and she frowned.

"It is negative." She trailed off. Holding out both her hands, she let green light emit from her fingers. "His body is well. It seems the matter is more metaphysical. I cannot help him."

Gavin was in utter shock. A moment of weakness such as this one was one thing Corvan never allowed himself to show. The pain must be very excruciating for him to be like this.

"Arland, what shall we do?"

"I will go check on that strange sound." Omar told them and left, leaving the four amongst themselves.

They looked at the walls, unsure what to do. Jameela was at the young lord's side, a bowl of cool water, and damp cloth. They had cut through his shirt, and left the cloth on his forehead. The first-ranker was burning up—so hot that even his shirt was starting to catch fire.

"This is a very high fever." Jameela was disgruntled. "Higher than the highest I've seen."

"He's a descendant of the main family." Gavin said. "You must keep him cool before he—"

Before the man could finish, there was a brief burst of flames. Jameela was quick to act and splashed some water on the man. There was a sizzle and they all stared blankly at Corvan.

"I know that. I've been healing for centuries, what do you think of me exactly?"

"Centuries?" Gavin questioned. "You're exaggerating."

"Goodness, this child is quite wild." She said.

Omar had come out briefly to investigate on the roar earlier. He finally came back. The boy had a serious frown on his face as he swept through the flaps of the tent and called out to Gavin.

"Milord." He said.

Gavin looked up just in time when Valeriana stepped in. She looked distressed, wet, and tired.

"Gavin." She said. "You've got to—"

Her eyes landed on Corvan. When she saw him in that state, her eyes widened and she breathed unsteadily. Rushing to his side, she tried to reach for his arm, only to draw back when she felt a searing hot pain on her skin.

"Holy—"

"Careful, he's hot." Jameela gave Valeriana a grin.

"That . . . somehow sounded different." She muttered, pointing at the double meaning behind her words. "How is he? What happened?"

"He's having fever." The woman replied. "I am unsure about the cause, he seemed healthy."

"Crap. I didn't know this would happen."

"You have an idea what this is all about, Valeriana?"

"Listen, Gavin." She said. "The most probable reason why Corvan's like that is because Avaro's affected by the infection. You've got to believe me this time."

"The infection?" Gavin asked.

"And I don't know what'll happen. I don't know what happened!" She exclaimed. "But this has something to do with the ember crystals. You shouldn't have kept him in that cave!"

"What about the ember crystals?"

"After being exposed to these parasitic crystals, Avaro transformed into a demon! From the look in his eyes, he'll probably be back. I'm sort of scared he would somehow find his way to his pack and they'll—"

"Come attack as a group." He paused. "How do I verify this?"

Omar stepped forward. "The men saw it. They will testify if the need arise."

"I was not aware these ember crystals would have this effect." Gavin said. "It was not said that they'll have this side effect at all."

"It's not that." Valeriana said. "Back in Preluresia, the transformation of the Gilerads occurred because they were struck at their lowest point. Although they were physically invincible, their souls were very vulnerable and they needed to do a purifying ritual every year in order to ensure they will not be affected by demonic temptation." She said. "But that didn't happen, and they became demons anyway. Those ember crystals were energy-absorbing parasites. They weakened Avaro and made him vulnerable!"

"Are you saying that—"

"The reason why the twin-tailed lions have been acting suspicious was because of these crystals. They weren't here at first, were they?"

"How am I supposed to know?" Gavin asked.

"If you don't, then how did you know these ember crystals would weaken the guardian beasts?" Valeriana asked. "You weren't—"

"I am innocent, Valeriana. If that's what you're trying to say." He replied. "I know of these ember crystals because of pure knowledge. I did not suspect they will be present in the Ash Canyons. It came as a surprise for me as well."

"And you didn't even suspect if it was strange?"

"I did not assume anything—"

"Never mind that. I don't care. You need to get ready. You all need to get ready."

"Leader, what do we do?" Saeed asked.

"Gather the men. Half will prepare the weapons, half will evacuate the village."

"But where will we go?" Omar questioned. "This is the middle of the desert, there's nowhere to hide."

That made them think.

"Actually, I have an idea." She brought out the ember crystal she carried with her. "Avaro still seemed repelled to see this. If we hide everyone in the caves, they'll probably be safe."

"What's your take on this, sir?" Saeed asked.

"I'm not sure about this, okay?" Valeriana cleared. "If you have any other ideas, that's fine."

"Do we?" Gavin queried. "Do as she says. Omar, you lead the evacuation. Saeed, you help with the preparations."

"You cannot hurt the guardian beasts." She said.

"They're demons, Valeriana."

"There's a way to bring them back."

"What?"

They all seemed baffled by this.

"The infection is not like a normal demon transformation. Unlike it, it's reversible. As of the moment, these beasts have parasitic demons in their auras. They block the open channels, particularly the one connected to the soul. That's how they taint. Anyway, the soul is not corrupted as the body reflects."

"So how do we remove these parasitic demons?"

"Last time, we managed to tap into the spiritual facet of the lake and purify all the guardian beasts of the north. I don't know how to do that now."

Gavin immersed himself into deep thought. "The lake of the north is the holy connection of the Gilerads to Prelure. On the other hand, the twin-tailed lions of the west have theirs—a connection to Arland and the holy outlet of the continent."

"What is it?"

"You cannot be thinking—"

"The Empyrean Volcano." Jameela cut in.

The name reminded her of the sword Axel had been wielding for her for her duel; he called it the exact same name. The Empyrean. Reminded about the festival, she felt a bit saddened—especially since the first-ranker, idiot devil called Corvan had fallen weak and was currently suffering.

They were supposed to fight each other in two days' time! God knows the fact that Aneeka and Rowe were done with their duel. Charles and Tamara would be up tomorrow and Valeriana and Corvan would be next.

As stupid as it sounded, she really looked forward to fighting Corvan. It promised a thrill since her fight with Zion and would undoubtedly be fun. She didn't know how the fight would turn out, but if lucked played on her side, she would actually beat the crap out of him—not that she could, though. This was Corvan after all. He probably got a few tricks up his sleeve.

She did want him to suffer, but now that it was happening, she realized she actually didn't. The look of pain across his face and the sporadic trembling of his body, as though to combat the agony, was more than discomforting to watch. It wasn't the usual sight she saw of Corvan.

She gazed at his form, overwhelming guilt and worry blooming in her stomach.

"But how exactly will we gain access to that?" Omar asked. "The volcano is a far trail. We cannot exactly venture out there."

"The horses will not be able to go far." Saeed added. "The path will be rough and narrow. It will require trekking by foot, and we do not have much time."

"We have to." Gavin said. "If we cannot kill the guardian beasts—"

"You can't." Valeriana interjected firmly.

"We have to find a way to get up there, then." Saeed cued in.

"But it will take forever!" Omar told them.

"I have an idea. It might or might not work." The woman healer told them, her face solemn.

They turned to her, willing to hear out her suggestion.

"In the abyss of the Ash Canyons, the deepest ravines the north of here, lies a dragon. It's the guardian of the valley. Based on what I know, it is dormant and sleeping. You should try and wake it."

"A dragon?" Saeed and Omar gaped.

"Cool!" Valeriana exclaimed. "Ugh! Finally! I finally get to see a dragon! I've been wating for this like so long! I wish he's big and red—"

They gave her a look of bewilderment.

She cleared her throat. "Please continue."

"A Bismuth dragon, to be more precise. If you are lucky, you can obtain the assistance of this dragon and ride him to the volcano. He may even help you against the twin-tailed lions. If not, you will all be reduced to cinders." Jameela continued. "And, if bad luck plays its cards, he might even be an additional pain. It's a hit or miss."

"Sounds like an adventure!" Valeriana yelled. "Where do we go?"

"Wait, surely you jest!" Saeed yelled. "Do you seriously think we can befriend that dragon?"

"What do you suggest we do?"

"Aren't you guys thinking what we're going to do once we reach the volcano? I mean, Arland! You have not even thought about the plan and now you're scheming to ride a freaking dragon!" Omar screeched.

"Crybaby." Saeed looked down at him from his intimidating height and scoffed.

"I am not a crybaby—"

"Then what are you?"

"I am being rational!"

"I say we try to get the dragon first." Valeriana said. "And I'm not just being excited, I am . . . uh . . . I was thinking we can use his help to lure the guardian beasts to the volcano and stuff. Besides, I can't manage to wait. The longer this goes on, the longer Corvan will stay that way."

"And what do we do from then on?" Gavin asked calmly.

"I have no idea."

The thief leader sighed. "The . . . reversing of the demonic infection. How was it done?"

"We submerged the Gilerads into the lake and offered a sacrifice that triggered the purification of the beasts."

"I see. A sacrifice."

"It doesn't have to have a sacrifice. Cifaro only did it because there was no other way to tap into the purifying qualities of the lake. Otherwise, there was spring, where I think they do their ritual."

"Right. Each of the holy outlet has a season when it is its strongest. For the north, it's spring, and for us . . . summer. After that, it's autumn."

"Then isn't it perfect?" Valeriana jumped.

"But we have to get there fast, before the solstice. The summer season will be ending in two days' time."

"Shucks."

The summer festival was not held during the beginning of summer, but rather the week before the end of summer. Valemnia had a different way of celebration from Earth. This tradition was so because it reenacted the festivities held by the god Arland after he finished creating the west continent.

"What bad timing!"

"We need to move fast. We don't know when they will be back." Gavin sighed. "So, Valeriana, what exactly is the plan?"

Valeriana inched away. "You're asking me?"

"What do you think?"

"You're the smart one here!" She pointed at Gavin. "I'm not good with these things. Don't make me do it."

He sighed. "We'll try the dragon first, then. We'll figure out what to do from there. If we can't secure a transportation to the Empyrean Volcano, we can consider this whole thing done."

"There's no Plan B?"

"I don't have any ideas."

"Good god! If you guys only had a cellphone, I would've called Charles by now."

"Nothing you can do, Valeriana. We'll have to make do with what we have."