Jaden bowed.

'You are Noviahn's grandson,' said Multias suddenly.

'I am,' said Jaden.

'Give him my regards. He is a good man and a better friend. Tell him that I regret that I will not be there, but hope all the best for him. And I'm sorry to hear that your people did not make it here.

'It was a pleasure meeting you, Jaden. I will not keep you here any longer when there are messages to deliver.'

Jaden bowed a final time before leaving through the two silver doors. Regustus was waiting for him outside.

'This way,' he said, and they returned to the landing pad outside by the same route they had come.

Night had set over Waikor as Jaden was helped into the aircraft. The stars were shining brightly, the sky free of cloud save for in the north, where a thick band of storm clouds hovered.

'This ride might get a little bumpy,' said the pilot on the right. 'Strap in tight.'

Jaden again made sure that he was locked into the harness, and after a minute's warm-up of the engines, they were flying north again, this time to Corsec.

'How long will this flight be?' he called out.

'At this pace ... six to eight hours.'

Jaden threw his head back into the seat, wondering how he was going to pass the time for the next hours. He didn't feel tired. He had already slept enough to last him well into the night. He had only had one source of entertainment at his disposal, even if it did seem boring to him for some reason. A place where dreams could come true should have been the most amazing thing he had ever witnessed, but it was dark in there, a gateway to hidden problems, and a constant reminder that he was away from Alyssa. Still, with little else to do, he picked up the crystal and placed it between his eyes. He had decided if he was going to be stuck in the aircraft for so long, he should at least attempt to use the time wisely.

He stood upon the ledge underneath the greyed sky as before and then looked out over the broken city that was his mind. He wondered at what lay down there in the ruins, among the many jagged structures that may have once been beautiful homes. He thought to jump from the ledge, to explore them, but somehow felt that anything that happened in this part of the crystal's realm might have some sort of repercussions in the real world. This ledge overlooking the broken city seemed all too real. He would need to ask Raquel before he tried anything daring, so until then, he would visit the rooms of which he already knew.

He wandered back through the single door and then down the stairway, this time entering the door on the right. Darkness surrounded him in this one as it had through the left door, and he quickly created the scenes he wished to see, of the man in black uniform that had ordered his people killed, of the Alliance soldiers who had chased after him, and even the fighter jets that had first attacked his home. As each came, he did his best to fight against them, using the techniques he had learned to best combat the situations. He felt his power growing inside the crystal's realm, and felt that he was starting to understand what they had been trying to explain to him. He had to feel the energy, not simply think of it being there. He had to know what it was to have it become a part of him, only then could he truly be able to command it as his own.

Hours passed as he was locked inside his imagination. He had become tired and resorted to a more peaceful scene, where he conjured Alyssa and Elijenda by a lake. The people he created in this realm had very few reactions of their own, but for lying in the sun in Alyssa's lap and allowing the gentle breeze to cool them down, it suited him well enough. It helped put his mind to rest a little, making him almost believe she was really there.

But his fantasy came to an abrupt end as he was wrenched upright in his seat and the crystal fell away. He heard many clangs of steel, and then there was an explosion that caused the entire craft to shake out of control. The air screamed by as their craft began to lose altitude.

'What's happening?' he shouted.

'We've been hit!' said the pilot, picking up a radio device. 'This is Ceahlin Glide X17A, can anyone acknowledge? Location details are being broadcast now. We request immediate assistance!'

The pilot's yells over the radio were in vain as no reply came and he turned to shout over his shoulder. 'Hold on tight, Sentinel.'

Jaden nodded and closed his eyes as the craft plummeted toward the ground. He didn't know what else he could do.

The craft jolted heavily, this time as it crashed and bounced from giant tree branches, tearing through vines and leaves and anything else that was in its way. The pilots did their best to stabilise the craft, but it was out of their control. Their speed was decreased a little by some of the smaller branches they passed through and then again as they hit the lower sections of the forest. They came to a complete stop as they slammed into a hill of dirt and rock, the engines falling silent as the dust cleared, and everything in the forest returned to quiet for the coming hours.

Jaden woke inside the crashed craft, but he was not sure how long he had been unconscious. For a moment, he couldn't remember anything, but was soon reminded of falling violently through the trees as he recognised where he was. He was up on an angle, lifted in the air as the craft tilted to its left. He unbuckled the harness and fell to the other side of the craft with a thud. In a daze, he moved to the front of the cabin.

'What happened?' he asked the pilots. 'Where are we?'

No reply came, and Jaden pushed both of them gently. But their heads were slumped low and neither of them moved at all. Jaden checked for signs of life, but as he used an endobrace for light, he soon saw the blood on their faces and retreated back into the cabin.

They were dead.

He tried to take in a deep breath, but the air was stale and filled with fumes. He had to get out, but the door was jammed against the rocks outside. Using the endobraces, he tried to push the door open but was without success each time. It wouldn't budge. He then tried to exert so much force that the wall of the cabin would tear open, but all that he could manage was a small dint.

He had almost begun to panic when he ran to the back of the craft and found no opening there either, but soon remembered he had seen the pilots use their own doors to get inside. Running back to the front, he was able to climb over the pilot on the right and unlatch the door. He had to kick it open, as it too was jammed from the impact, but through it he had gained his freedom.

Outside there was a low-lying mist in the air, and it seemed chillier than in Waikor and Ceahlin. As his attention was on his surroundings as he got out of the aircraft, he didn't notice a vine lying across its side until he tripped and fell hard onto the ground, hitting his head on the dirt. After a few seconds he managed to stand up where he was but almost lost his balance straight away. Dazed, he could no longer remember where he was or what he was meant to be doing. The last thing that came to mind was that he was on his way to Corsec, and that's where he planned on going.

He dodged around the aircraft and began stumbling down the hill. The ringing in his ears muffled any sounds that may have been nearby. He was barely able to hear his own footsteps as the sticks and leaves cracked underneath his weight. He assured himself that Corsec was just past the next gully, or over the next hill, but no matter how far he wandered, he found nothing but ferns and trees.

After another hundred yards, he came to the first sign of civilisation-an old stone road six feet high. He climbed up onto it with his last bit of strength, and then collapsed.

'Corsec,' he said, and then lying down on the smooth stones, the last thing he remembered was a strange fragrance filling his lungs.

Two Alliance scouts approached the wreckage in the forest.

'Commendable shooting, twenty-five.'

GSI25 acknowledged the compliment with a nod.

'This is General Scout Infantry 30 reporting; we have located the crash site.'

'Any survivors?' asked General Alkon Zaccarah over the communicator.

GSI30 nodded to his accomplice to check the craft, returning shortly after shaking his head.

'No, sir, no survivors,' said GSI30.

'Check the deceased, is there a boy among them?'

GSI30 approached the craft and took a quick look inside. 'No, sir, just two pilots.'

'He is still alive,' said Alkon. 'Find him.'

'Yes, sir. GSI25, target remains at...'

The communicator went silent.

'Scout, do you read?' asked Alkon. 'Scout, can you hear me?'

'Sorry, sir, it seems we're not alone out here.'

'Is it the boy?'

'No, sir, something else.'

'What?'

'I don't know, sir, it's ... it's moving too fast to be human.'

GSI25 turned to the bushes as he heard the same disturbance, a swift sound rustling the leaves in the immediate area and breaking fallen branches as it raced around them. Silence came again as Alkon spoke.

'It is probably just a rat, scout. Proceed as planned.'

'You have entered the Ukotan jungle,' came a deep voice through another communicator.

'Callibrian?' asked Alkon with annoyance. 'What are you doing on this frequency?'

'Wondering why you have set out to kill the one I wish followed,' said Kobin, 'and perhaps saving your men's lives.'

'You have no authority here, Callibrian. The boy must die.'

'Do not worry, General, he is already dead, thanks to your men shooting his aircraft down. As for your men, it would be advisable to leave now, while they still can.'

'Hold your ground, Scouts,' said Alkon. 'It is a trick. He is trying to give the boy time to get away.'

Kobin chuckled deeply.

'Sir,' said GSI30, 'it's coming closer-whatever it is, it's almost here.'

'You have your weapons. Fire at will,' said Alkon.

'Your command, sir.'

'Don't miss,' said Kobin dryly.

'Get off this frequency, Callibrian. We have no time for your childish insults.'

'Insults? I hear no insults,' said Kobin. 'I am here only to give warning of the beasts that are now stalking your scouts. Aim between their eyes, if you can, anywhere else will only upset them further.'

'What are you talking about, Callibrian? Explain yourself or get off this frequency, now!'

'Your men have entered the Ukotan jungle, as it is called in these parts. Few have ever survived to tell the tale, but it is said that the last of the creatures from the Forgotten Years inhabit the region.'

'You speak of myths,' began Alkon, but he was interrupted by GSI30.

'They're blocking our way out! There are hundreds of them!'

Both scouts began to back up against the walls of the aircraft.

'We need back-up, now!' they cried.

'Hold your positions, it's on its way,' said Alkon, but he was silenced as a scream came from the communicator, followed by a low growl and rounds being fired. The communicator soon went blank with nothing more than static after another blood-curdling scream, the second scout's communicator losing connection.

Alkon stood stunned for a moment, but then lowered his eyes in defeat. As much as he didn't want to believe it, he knew Kobin was telling the truth now, and both of his scouts were gone.

'Callibrian!' he shouted into the communicator. 'Report to me immediately at my quarters!'

Alkon threw the black device away in disgust and hurried to reach his quarters before Kobin did.

As Kobin entered the open door, Alkon did his best to keep his voice down. 'What happened?' he asked.

'As I tried to explain, General, there are beasts of the Forgotten Years still in that jungle. If it is any consolation, your men died instantly.'

'Why did you not inform us of this before?'

'I was not aware that you intended to go there. I have plotted your path around it for a reason, despite being the shorter of the two routes.'

Alkon laughed a stressed, beaten laugh. 'You have made a grave mistake, Callibrian. This is all I needed to convince the High Council of your trickery.'

Kobin's expression was stern, as if he did not understand what Alkon was saying.

'I'm not sure they will see it that way, General. I informed them of the potential danger, though I could not confirm it until now, and that is why they approved the route I have chosen. You would do well to discuss your options a little more thoroughly with them next time; you cannot continue to blame me when I am only here trying to help.'

Alkon shook his head, still chuckling. 'You cannot twist it this time, Callibrian. Your continual misleading comments have caused more damage than you are worth. After we have taken Waikor, I will see you executed.'

'Perhaps,' said Kobin, casually. 'However, I am sure they will ask you how I could inform you of the dangers if I were not informed of your movements. You see, General, I will be mentioning to them that you have been trying to deny the finding of the Daijuar through this boy, and now that the men who you sent to track him are dead, which you will confirm, they will have all the evidence they need to know that you are at fault.'

Alkon stopped laughing. In his tiredness, he had overlooked something that now appeared obvious, and he had given Kobin the upper hand. But there was little he could do now. The damage had been done. Kobin would know that he had won, but admitting defeat would be ultimately damaging.

'I think we will let the High Council decide who is at fault,' he said. 'Now get back to your quarters. You no longer have permission to be out.'

'At once, General,' said Kobin, and disappeared into the night as he left.

Alkon sat back into his chair. His face was darkening with each day that went by as his health began to fail. Thinking back, he wasn't sure how he had been able to blame Kobin at all for what had just happened. He was so desperate to be rid of him now that he had been making mistakes in everything he did, not just in fighting Kobin. He had to get away from the wars, had to be free of his command. He would be taking a military unit to Waikor city soon enough, and then it would go on to fight at Corsec. Perhaps then he would be free.

He looked to the ceiling and wondered what he had done to deserve so much misfortune over the previous weeks, and then turned to the books lying on the side of his desk, the first being his father's journal. He decided he would read for the remainder of the night, a small but welcomed escape. If he were to find answers at all in these times, it would be in his father's written thoughts.

Chapter Twenty-One.

Through these lies I see this place.

February 7, 997 R.E.

Jaden's fingers moved, tracing the grooves between the stones as he came awake. The road was smooth underneath his fingertips, as if it had been worn down from centuries of rain so that not a sharp edge remained. He lay still in the darkness, feeling the cold around him as he tried to open his eyes. They felt heavy, tightly shut as if to resist seeing anything that opening them might reveal. He began to remember where he was, what had happened the night he had left Waikor and the aircraft crashing, but he did not know when that was.

Slowly lifting himself up and sitting against a railing along the side of the road, Jaden breathed in and found a familiar, yet strange fragrance entering his lungs. He recognised it from somewhere, the sweetness that was laced with bitterness at the beginning and end of each breath. It made him want to fight against taking in the air he needed, not wanting to have to endure the bitterness, but as it filled him, he found all he could think of was taking more in.

He stood, still leaning against the railing, and with a few blinks, he was able to keep his eyes open. It was no longer as dark as it had been the night of the crash, but thick cloud cover must have blocked out almost all of the daylight, leaving only the cold and a morning fog about him.