"So, the mighty Azoth has let his prey slip through his fingers." A dark elf woman taunted at Azoth's failure, letting Lovell slip his watch through. Hunter clenched he fist at her. "Oh, look it's the clone! Vann, I think it's broken the way it's acting."

A male kitsune looked up at them. "Well HU-NT-3R, it's been a while. How does your body feel?"

Hunter looked at him. "Fine Vann, and Crow we almost had everything under—" Hunter stopped as Azoth stared at him. "Sorry sir, I should have not spoken out like I did."

Azoth turned his gaze at Crow, "You have failed more time than I've counted, plus who would have expected to have the dead protect him and was able to affect me in the process. It was not something we could all not predict." Vann nodded in agreement.

Crow scoffed at him, "Lily what do you think of seat one's failure?"

An animilian woman fiddle with a lily in her hands. "I think the same would have happened to you and not everything is in our control. Besides even the clone had a hard time because there is a traitor amongst our ranks that helped him escape." Lily coldly expressed, Crow sat down.

Erin cradle her chest, "Well I was busy with paperwork when it all happened so I can't be blamed unless you have something to say, Hans, the backlog?" Directing the focus on Hans.

Hans huffed at her, "You think this is my fault that this happened?"

"I would agree with them on this. You let your paperwork pile up where you need help getting it done for your—" Vail criticized Hans.

"Enough!" They all turned to where the voice came from. They all bowed as they noticed that it was Lord Damora. "I did not call you all here to squabble over Azoths failure!" They all sat as Lord Damora walked to his seat. Hunter stood next to Azoth, as he was asked to come with him for the meeting. "Now Vail, your report on the attack on Summerwind with the Marewood soldiers?"

Vail bowed at him. "Yes, milord. I was a success even though losing a few soldiers, I did find out that Lovell is with Luna and six other. I did not pursue them though."

Damora turned to him. "And why is that?"

Vail turned to him while looking at Hunter. "Well, I found out afterwards when they were seen by a foot soldier leaving. Who knows where they ended up after taking some horses then ditching them sometime afterword's?"

Damara nodded at his report. "Now then, Lilly, Vann I need you to head to the interfering mountains, there's a small village that has a weapon that could tip the tides in our favour against Grand Dale and Everforest Kingdoms." They both nodded, Damora turned to Erin and Hans. "Erin and Hans, you will gather information on Lovell's whereabouts. Make sure none of them find out they are being watched." He then turned to Crow, "Crow you will join Vail in recruiting more men for our conquest, and you Azoth!" He turned to Azoth, Hunter noticed sweat running down his chin. "You will stay here for now. You are all dismissed!"

Demora left the room as the other went to their a.s.signed duties, Azoth and Hunter walked down the halls until Azoth stopped. Smas.h.i.+ng his fist into the wall, leaving a hole deep in the stone wall. "Dam them, I will find him and kill him before the others even have a chance to do anything!" Hunter stood back letting him vent. Azoth turned to Hunter, he looked up and down him. "You've changed in the past year?"

Hunter turned away, "How so?"

Azoth stood up, looking at Hunters face. "there is a light the no other clone has gotten. You're becoming more aware of who you can trust, and you are becoming emotional." Azoth turned and walked away, Hunter followed him, "And it's not due to Kyles influence either."

Hunter stopped. "What do you mean sir?"

Azoth turned to him. "Lovell has somehow changed you after you had gotten the mission." Hunter looked at him, confused. "Hunter unlike me I want you to leave this place but knowing you. You wouldn't if you wanted to." Kyle listened from afar as he overheard Azoths words to Hunter.

Hunter punched Azoth. "you know nothing! Why would I leave my home?!" Azoth unfazed by it grabbed his hand. "Sir, why do this to me? Are you saying that I don't belong anymore?"

"Yes." Azoth's voice was cold towards Hunter. "You will be killed off before you see true freedom, how come we have places to be?" Azoth let go of Hunter's hand.

Hunter stared at him, "Where to sir?"

Azoth sighed. "To the Evermore cliffs, I have some personal business there with some old acquaintances to deal with."

Kyle walked out the shadows, turning to Hunter, "Hunter!" They stopped and turned to Kyle, "Sorry Lord Azoth but could I have Hunter for the day?"

Azoth looked at Hunter, seeing he was surprised by Kyles bold action. "Sure, we will leave in two days, so relax till then."

Hunter turned to Azoth as he walked away. Kyle grabbed his arm and dragging him off. "We need to talk." Hunter tried to protest as Azoth waved goodbye

Kyle dragged him to an empty corridor, letting him go. "What is so important that you had to drag me here?"

Kyle checks to see if anyone was around, before turning his attention to Hunter. "What happened that night when Lovell escaped?"

Hunter leaned against the wall. "Someone helped him try and escape, but no one knows who he is because he wore a mask." Hunter looked down the hall, unaware that the person he was talking about was Kyle. "Azoth and I almost had both of them till this ghost appeared and did something to Azoth, crippling him in some way."

Kyle knew everything that happened wanted to hear it from Hunter, leaving all suspicions behind. "So, what happened next?"

Hunter rubbed his head, "Somehow Lovell used a teleport spell and got away. The records say he can use the five basic elements, fire, water, wind, earth and lightning. So, seeing him use psychic was something unexpected altogether. It makes you wonder what other elements he could possibly use that hasn't been reported on him?"

Kyle touched his chin, "Who knows but, changing the subject what happened in the meeting. Azoth usually tells me, but I want to hear it form you this time?"

Hunter sighed. "Not much, but I spoke out of turn against one of the other generals." Kyle was surprised to hear it. "Lily and Vann are off searching for a weapon, Erin and Hans are looking into Lovell's whereabouts, Crow is going with Vail back to Marewood to get more recruits, and Azoth was told to stay up. Like that would ever happen."

Kyle looked down the hall seeing a guard coming towards them, "Hey, Hunter, you should think about leaving here. No matter what ill still be there for you." Kyle walked away, pa.s.sing the guard.

Hunter watched his friend leave, making him question what he wanted to do with his life. Hunter left as the guard ordered him to leave the area. Hunter returned to his chambers, upon opening the door Hunter noticed letter on his bed. Closing the door Hunter rushed to see the message, the letter said that someone had seen the masked man from his report in the east wing at night. Hunter crumples the note his hungering take revenge upon the man. Looked out the window to see that the sun was setting, Hunter made he was to the east wing to find his prey.

As he reached the old towers of the east wing, Hunter noticed someone standing in the distance. "You came to fight me, I presume, Hunter Wild?" The man stepped into the light revealing the masked man.

Hunter noticed that his voice seemed familiar, he became curious about the man behind the mask. "Who are?"

The man swiftly moved within a meter from Hunter; Hunter stumbled back as he leaned in. "You can call me Shadow."

Hunter felt like this Shadow character was testing him. "I have a question for you before I decide to attack." Shadow gestured him to speak his mind, Hunter stood straight staring at the plank mask. "Why did you help Lovell escape?"

Shadow touched his chin, inquisitive by Hunters' question. "Because he's one of the Six, also the Ren-Ky of light and darkness."

Hunter looked at him, "Wait he's one of the Ren-Ky warriors!" Shadow nodded at him; Hunter stepped back into a wall finding out he was a Ren-Ky made him realize he should have killed Lovell when he had the chance. "So, you know where is then." Hunter was filling with an old spark lost from his last mission.

Shadow drew his staff and pointed at him. "You'll have to defeat me first if you want to get any information about Lovell and more importantly about Ulva!"

Hunter smugly looked at Shadow. "SO that's the ghosts name, intriguing, but I'm more interested in killing Lovell." Hunter was drawing his sword at Shadow.

Shadow easily dodging it as he hit Hunter with his knee. Hunter gagged at the impact. "It seems you are weaker than I thought you were. Lovell seems to have changed you in how your strength is gained." Shadow kicking him to the other side as Hunter rolled across the grounds. "To think you were high and mighty feeling you could do anything, now filled with doubt within your subconscious."

Hunter was trying to stand as the wind was knocked out. "You know nothing about me you worm!" Hunter charged towards Shadow, Shadow blocked his attack, disarming him in the process.

Hunters blade flailing away as Shadow stood there, waiting for him to pick it up. "See here hunter, you are unsure of who you are, yes you his clone but you are human he is not. He has the power to destroy or save this world and yet just like you is lost. He may seem like he knows but shows he doesn't. "Hunter stared at Shadow, feeling the words cut through him like a knife. "Hunter if you stay your friend will surely die. Leaving an unclosable wound inside you." Hunter grasped his chest as if he knew what he was talking about, as Shadows staff pointed at him.

Hunter was unsure of what to do, as he fell to his knees for the first time by someone's words. "Why are you doing this to me?!" hunter standing up to face Shadow. His hands engulfed with black fire as he through it Shadows face. "I don't need your words or your in for I will find Lovell one my own and kill him for the king!!" Shadow didn't move at the attack hit him, breaking a segment off over his eye. Hunter stood stunned in what he saw.

Shadow knocked him out before he could say any more. "Sorry, Hunter but I can't let you know more than you've seen. I'm truly sorry my friend." Kyle carried Hunter back to his room, sealing the memories of what he saw of his face as Shadow. Kyle returns to his chambers hoping that Hunter would come to his senses.

AS Kyle returned, Azoth was waiting for him. "Do you think it worked?"

Kyle destroyed the mask, as he turned to Azoth. "I don't think so master Terrance, but I gave him the warning about my life being on the line." Kyle changed his clothes for the night. "By the way how long till you become Azoth again?"

Terrance smiled at him. "Not till morning, but I sure you're aware that was able to slip out for just a moment when talking to Hunter."

Kyle nodded. "yes, that why I made my move on him tonight to see if we can get him to see he won't gain anything by staying here." Sighing Kyle sat the edge of his bed. "He did surprise me with his last attack though."

Terrance walked over to him, "Oh, how so?"

Kyle smiled, "He throws a fire punch at my face and broke the mask that I created." Looking up at Terrance. "I just hope Lovell finds a way to change his mind even if it costs me my life in the process."

Terrance could see the sadness and fear fill Kyle's face, he looked out the window. "We can only hope for the best besides my father that I knew is still inside that man. The man my mother loved." Terrance's eyes darkened. "If only he never got his memories back everything would have been over long ago."

Kyle looked out the window as well, "Aye, then my mother wouldn't have been cursed either. Our families are torn because of him."

"True." Terrance left, leaving Kyle alone for rest of the night.

Kyle walked over to his desk and grabbed a piece of paper. He wrote down what has happened, and what the dark lords' current plans might be, for Lovell. Looking out the window once again. "It hasn't returned yet; I'll send my report to headquarters tomorrow night." Folding the report, Kyle tucked into a secret compartment on the side of his desk till the next night.

Morning came as Hunter growled at last nights encounter. Ruffling his hair trying to remember Shadows face. Kyle noticed him in the training grounds, frustrated from last night. Seeing an opportune moment, Kyle headed over to Hunter. Hunter continued to swing the practice blade as to release tension, noticed Kyle was walking past.

Hunter grabbed his towel and wiped the sweat away. "Hey, Kyle." Hunters voice harsh from the anger.

Kyle sat down on the bench, "So, what's got you in a knot?" Kyle asked him already knowing most of the answer.

Hunter sat beside him, slumping his head between his hands. "I fought that masked guy last night."

Kyle touched his back. "So, what happened in the fight, and did you get who is so we can find this traitor or spy?" Kyle became nervous knowing that Hunter never mentioned if he was a traitor or not.

Hunter sat up, looking at the sky. "Yeah, the name he gave me was Shadow, and I lost the fight against him."

Kyle removed his hand. "Ooh, that sounds rough, but you landed a few good blows, right?"

Hunter looked at Kyle, "One, and only one." Kyle anguished at the thought. "The worst part is that I saw a part of his face and I can't remember it for the life of me!" Kyle smiled at Hunters frustrated state, seeing how life like he was compared to when they first met.

Kyle stood up, looking at Hunter. "well I must be going; hopefully things turn out better the next time where you win against the b.a.s.t.a.r.d!" Kyle said trying to boost Hunter's self-esteem, Kyle knowing that he's the one who did this to Hunter last night.

Hunter Stood up, "Yeah you're right; Lord Azoth would be disappointed if I became week and useless!"

'Not what I had in mind but whatever works, to get hunter motived works.' Kyle thought to himself as he walked away seeing that Hunter returned to training. Kyle walked the halls listening for information to add to his report. As he did, he came across Vann and Lily talking, ducking into cover, Kyle attended into their conversation.

"What are we going to do about HU-NT-3R's current behaviour? All the others seemed to be mindless soldiers." Lily asked Vann, Kyle peered around the corner looking to see if there was any other place, he could hide to see them. AS he scanned, he noticed a table, taking the chance Kyle moved quickly to the hiding spot. "Vann, are you even listening to me?"

Lily's soft-spoken manner barely caught Vann's attention. "Oh, sorry Lily, I didn't hear you, sorry. It's just you speak so softly your voice seems to never register, right away." Vann turned to her. "now, you asked what to do with HU-Nt-3R, well nothing until we find some way of dealing with Kyle. He's apart of the problem, and Lovell is the other." Turning to his notes, "I think due to the fact that he was cloned directly from Lovell, had some part to play and the other is Kyle trying to make him more…" waving his hand trying to find the words. Kyle felt horrified in what he just heard.

Lily sighed, "Alive?"

Snapping his fingers and pointing at her. "Yes, thank you, Lily. Anyway, we have to find this weapon of our lords and make sure the enemy doesn't get their hands on it." Vann sifted through his note again as Crow and Vail walked in.

Crow sat on the table Kyle was hiding under, "Hey Vann, I need more of my special toy's before you leave."

Vann looked at her, "They will be done after I figure out the formula to use on Lovell's powers so if any of use finds him before those hotheads, we will have some chance of getting the lord to the same thing as he did to his flesh and blood, once more."

Crow leaned forward, "Fair point, getting him on our side might be super beneficial, especially if he's the one to kill his friends." She smiled in pure enjoyment of the thought.

Lily turned to her, covering her mouth with her sleeve. "Just remember Hunter failed in converting him, he's way different than Azoth was. Its almost like he will willingly walk into the darkness just to do the right thing."

Crow laughed at her, as Vann ponders on it. "You might be right Lily. Lovell did go after the rat king in Fallmist just to save two people. He took the man's sight without a second glance. Something that Azoth does now." Sweat dragged across his chin.

Crow's eyes widened, "Your joking, right? The Ran-Ky of—"

"He's telling the truth," Vail interjected. "I thought it was a joke when I heard it, but that's not the case. I met the man, and he told me the very same thing, that Lovell took his sight."

Crow smirked, "It was one time nothing more?" She shrugged it off.

Vail' face stiffened. "No, he's killed one hundred and sixty thousand people over the time he was with the Goanna Mercenaries. Each time the bodies were mangled beyond recognition and only sixty of those bodies were before Hunter took care of their leader at the time, Morris."

Crow jumped up, "you mean the same Morris that betrayed us?" Fear is trickling through her body.

Vail nodded, Lily turned to Vann. "More of a reason to get rid of him now than converting him. Morris might have taught him subconsciously to control his inner darkness?" They all nodded at Lily's statement.

Kyle sat quietly waiting for his moment to leave; he notices the notes might be of importance in dealing with the four, for Lovells and his friends. Moments later Vann placed his notes down. "Let us head to the mess hall for now and eat. I can't think straight on an empty stomach." The other agreed as they left leaving Kyle an opening to steal Vann's note.

Once Kyle thought he was clear, he grabbed the notes and headed to his room. Tucking away the notes so that no one knew he had them. Reaching his room, he notices the Valor jay sitting on his windowsill. Kyle walked over and checked the bird for any messages. Lifting the note from the carrier, Kyle read the letter, say that Ark was in trouble, form his contact. Kyle grabbed the report and added that he was coming to see them because of what information he had.

Rolling up the message and placed it in the carrier. "Find Alli fast little guy," Kyle whispered before sending the bird off. Kyle then got changed into his Shadow outfit, when a knock came from the door. Rus.h.i.+ng over to the door making sure they didn't get in. "Who is it, I'm not dressed at the moment?"

Trying to deter them from entering. "It me Hunter, I'm letting you know that I won't be here in the morning. Azoth and I leave in an hour. And was hoping to catch you before I left." Kyle went pale here Hunter on the other side. "Are you half decent?"

Kyle scrambled, to get into some other pants. "Yeah give me a moment." Tucking away the clothes out of sight. "You can come in now." Hunter entered the room Kyle feeling he was safe for now. "So, what can I do for you before you leave?" Kyle wondered what Hunter was thinking.

Hunter walked over to the bed, "I just want to say that you should be careful because of that Shadow guy. You aren't a fighter, so…" Hunter trailed off, not knowing what's going on inside him.

Kyle smile. "Thank you, Hunter, for the warning, and to think you are worried about me for the first time."

Hunter tried to hide his embarra.s.sment from Kyle. "W-well I must be going. I'm not taking the bike this time but my dragon, Harpoon the Evermore cliff if you come searching for me."

Kyle walked over to him, gripping his shoulder, "You'll be fine, and besides you are you. You always live somehow."

Hunter said his goodbyes to Kyle before leaving his presence. Kyle returned to what he was doing readying himself for his own mission outside the Faremin kingdom. Seeking out Alli for her aid in deciphering Vann's notes. Hunter looked up at Kyles window before mounting Harpoon with Azoth. Kyle was watching from the shadows as they took off. Kyle hoping nothing goes wrong, as he leaves to Goldhill to deliver Vans notes and find out where Lovell was and tell him what's going on within the castle's walls of Damora's plans. In hopes, Lovell will find a way to stop him from achieving them.