Rebecca woke up the next morning more worried for the others then for herself. Last night she had a dream, it was too horrible. It started out serene, with her having a wonderful day back in her village and the other kids. They were playing hide and seek, and it seemed to be her turn to seek. As she counted to twenty five like she was supposed to she noticed the tree's leaves were drying up and falling off the branches. The sun had also begun to fade into nothing leaving only darkness to surround her. In the darkness she could hear the cries of the other kids, screaming for help, desperate for someone to rescue them from the pain they were feeling. She ran to them wanting to save them but she didn't know where to run. She could only stand there, listening to them. Then all of a sudden a blinding light broke through and she could see the others. The one who was screaming for a savior was Kitan. His face was scarred with gashes, his clothes shredded and coated with blood. He just stood there looking at her with an outstretched hand.

He spoke then and said "Why, why didn't you help me? I thought we were in this together till the end? Thats what you said" his gaze dropped to the floor then and he continued, "thats what Gnal said as well. I guess everyone close to me... I am alone...I always was, I guess we will always be alone." Then from behind him a larger mirror image of kitan with blood red eyes came into sight. This enraged version grabbed him and devoured him. As he devoured the smaller, gentler Kitan, a man she had thought was long gone came to her. He was the traveling stranger that passed through her village a few days before she left to sell the chief's goods. His name was on the tip of her tongue. He spoke then.

"Ah, the beauty of Peculpepper, your role in his story is very important. Travel with him, your life will continue to flourish" He slowly brought his hands up to cup her face and continued to speak, "but be warned, the path he travels is full of trials" the man walked away from her. He stopped as he was fading, "Oh, when you meet her know that she has come from Ridori to take your head, to move his petty experiments along. She will give you my message though. As the moon rises, so will the Berserker, but the Tamer who yearns for control will calm the Berserker and together will become an unstoppable power. One more thing, tell the mourning man, you'll know that I know how to return what he lost." As he finished he faded completely.

She woke then in a sweat, panting for breath. Why, she thought, why would I dream something like that at a time like this? I hardly know the man, what does it mean, those eyes. A shiver ran down her spine. She didn't want to think about it anymore. Why did that stranger...

"Hey Rebecca, Nanao wake up!" Aaron said with a knock on the door. "We got to get down to the tournament grounds before they announce which pairing of fighters are first!"

"Yeah, alright. Hold on!" Rebecca replied. She proceeded to wake Nanao. The two of them got dressed, and gathered up their stuff and went downstairs to join the others.

"Finally" Axel said yawning. "You women take forever to get ready, well no time to worry about that stuff now, so lets just go already." With that he pushed open the door and headed towards the tournament grounds.

"Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed" a voice said behind her. This voice had come to bring her joy, but today it only brought sadness. The voice belonged to Kitan. She was struggling at the moment of telling him of her dream. Of the man with the blood red eyes.

"Yeah, thats it...must've gotten very little sleep, or somethin like that" she said weakly.

He looked at her with a worried look on his face. "Whats wrong, you seem agitated today. Something on your mind?" He said placing a hand on her shoulder.

She backed away and faked a smile then said, "no I am just a little jittery about todays matches, can't wait to see who is going to proceed to the semi-finals."

He smiled at that and said "Everything will work out for the best, you'll see. Besides this will be a great chance to get some first-hand training with so many different fighting styles, my master would be proud." His face got gloomy then, he was probably thinking about Gnal then.

It was just for a moment because the smile had returned. He was doing what she was, she thought to herself, He is trying to put on a strong image for us. Maybe I should tell him, what could happen it was just a dream afterall, she told herself. She was going to tell him, but not yet, tonight after our first match.

"Come on lets hurry, or else Axel is gonna start complaining about something else." With that Kitan gave her a pat on the shoulder as he passed her and continued on towards the sparring grounds. She walked outside and looked into the sky, a blue jay flew over the building followed by several other birds all fighting over some scraps of food. She looked into the sky, I have to tell him no matter how he reacts, she concluded to herself. He deserves to know.

Thr day seemed to go on forever, with the repitition of two fighter walking into the sparring grounds, one victorious and the other dragged off as the crowd laughed. She was beginning to yawn and doze off when the announcer suddenly yelled her and Yolanda's name.

"Great, I was hoping the bimbo with an over-inflated ego had found something else to focus on." she said in Kitan's ear, "and I don't mean her self esteem."

The two of them walked towards each other.

"Hmm, I guess even the ugly have their dreams" she said looking her up and down.

"Hmm, I guess even the ditzy have their dreams" Rebecca said mocking her by immitating her voice.

Yolanda's hand sprang up towards her face so fast she could feel the air that passed by her face when Rebecca caught her by the wrist. "So, even the village whore has some--" was all she got out because Rebecca used her otherhand to slap her.

"You talk like that to me again, and it will be more than a sore cheek."

She just pulled back her hand, rubbed her cheek, and walked quietly towards the center of the sparring ground. Rebecca looked back towards the others. She noticed Axel was watching very intently, probably something very perverted going through his head, Kitan was trying to hide his laughing and others in the crowd were whispering and pointing towards Yolanda. I'm glad I can at least put on a show, she thought positively to herself. She joined Yolanda in the center, the announcer stared at the two of them.

"Is there anything prohibiting you from fighting honorably?" he asked them.

"No, get to the rules" Yolanda said fiercely, "I want to know if I can kill her and still move on."

"The rules are simple, the two of you fight any way you want, you have no time limit but I stress a quick fight, for there is still many fighters waiting for the shot at glory. If at any time one of the fighters is knocked unconscious or killed, then the other fighter is deemed the winner, do you understand?"

They nodded, "then begin at any time."

"So little girl, how would you like me to kill you?" Yolanda said.

"Hah, please you wouldn't even know how to do that, you old selfish broad" Rebecca retorted.

Yolanda gasped then tried to slap her. Rebecca, reacting quickly moved her head out of the way, but was not expecting Yolanda to send a powerful thrust kick her way. Rebecca was amazed at how much force there was behind it, the kick sent her backwards a few feet and caused her to take a knee. Man, she thought to herself, I wasn't expecting that. I guess I have to keep my guard up.

"That was a nice kick, I'll have to pay you back somehow" Rebecca rising to her full height. She pulled out the short sword from its sheath she had around her leg. The blade was a long, slender blade, that had been finely crafted of moltine ore. The hilt was just long enough for her to grip it perfectly with one hand and was made so the blade went fully through the hilt giving it a full tange. "Oh I know, how about I knock you off that pedestal your on and send you packin back home to your 'fantastic' life?"

Yolanda laughed at her words, she pulled out her weapon which were a pair of sai.

"Do you know what I do as a living little girl?" She said slowly licking the blades of one of the sai, "I am a bounty hunter, some know me as the Twilight Lily's Keeper."

The Twilight lily was known as the flower someone lays on a recently deceased grave of a loved one. Its also known as the Reapers last gift. The crowd began to whisper among themselves once again.

"After I collected the money from my last mark, a man came to me" she smiled and looked towards her, "you can see how this was interesting. He paid me to enter this tournament, gave me the necklace, and told me who my next mark was" she pulled out a piece of parchment and read the name on it. "Rebecca Goodmin" the crowd yet again started to mutter among themselves. "I want to let you know I have never let a mark live, so please feel free to share your last moments with your lover, you know,"she pointed towards the rest of her companions, "the somewhat handsome man next to the loudmouthed red-head."

She was both furious and embarassed that she would think the two of them were...were, just thinking of it made her more and more enraged. Rebecca lunged at Yolanda, which was exactly what she wanted her to do. Yolanda parried her thrust with her left sai, countered with a thrust of her own with her short sword. Rebecca dodged it in time and continued to try and make that irritating smile disappear from that face of hers.

"Whats wrong little girl, do you not want me to spare your life? All you have to do is say you give up, that you withdraw from this match. The man said that you would know who it was if I told you this one thing. Said you would decide what to do after I gave his message," She jumped back and did a few backward somersaults to give her some space between her and Rebecca.

"'As the moon rises, so will the Berserker, but the Tamer who yearns for control will calm the Berserker and together will become an unstoppable power.' He also told me to tell the mourning man, I know how to return what he lost.' Do you understand? The man also told me to tell you his name, why is beyond me. Your life ends here. His name is, Gihan, Gihan Falyin

Her heart jumped. That was what the the man in her dream told her. So, she thought, his name is Gihan.

"Where can I find Gihan" she asked.

"He told me you'd ask that, you'll find him near Kushu on the northern part of the Forest of Pain, but your gonna have to beat me, along with whatever the man who payed me to deliver the message has for you."

Yolanda tossed three shuriken she had in a pouch attached to her arm at Rebecca. As they were flying towards Rebecca, Yolanda followed behind them preparing to attack her with her short swords. Rebecca blocked two f the shuriken but was unable to dodge the third, it struck her just below her lung. Yolanda used that opening in her guard to use her quickest strike. This strike was an assassin's last resort at a quick kill when they had little time left to make the mark. She thrust forward with both swords not worrying about her own being, the way the assassin angled the body made them move faster because they were more aero dynamic. It was called Death's message bird. Rebecca knew she had only one small chance to defeat her, one small chance to live a little longer, but it would cost her. When Yolanda's sword was feet from her heart, she twisted slightly. The blade entered above her shoulder blade and knicked the shuriken, causing it to cut her even furthur as it forced out of the place it had impacted her. Rebecca and Yoland were joined together, hugging as the crowd thought it looked like. Kitan and the other fighters knew better. Rebecca had thrust her sai into Yolanda's chest and leg.

"Damn...Ridori...said we would..." and as Yoland fell towards Rebecca, "be..happy to..gether.."

Rebecca was pinned under Yolanda's lifeless body now, slowly losing consciousness when Kitan and the others rushed to her aid. The announcer named her victorious and stated they would take a brief intermission from the fights. Rebecca was then rushed off to the medical ward for treatment. After the brief intermission, everyone returned to the sparring grounds so the tournament could continue.

"I have been given some importantant information from His Majesty that this last fight will be the end of this round, these last two fighters will fight and no matter the winner both will advance to face Kitan in a three way battle to determine the winner. The last two fighters Aaron and Axel, please begin when ready."

The fight was a fast but predictable one. Aaron was very skilled, he was even able to land a few blows on Axel. The fight went on for a few minutes, each exchanging blow for blow. Nanao rooted for Aaron and the crowd cheered for the person they bet on, and because they would both move on, they decided to end the match in a draw. A draw because as Aaron threw his ball and chain towards Axels gut. Axel knocked the ball back towards Aaron but Axel was overconfident, he hadn't judged how much force would be behind it, and the knockback force sent his own quarterstaff back towards his head. The two fighters were knocked out by each's weapon, the crowd was speechless. Some even started booing and throwing stuff and shouting that the match ended horribly. The two of them were carried off, the announcer shouted his thanks to the fighters and said the final match would begin sharply at sunrise, and that the victor would be given his reward at the end of the match by none other than His Majesty himself.

"WHAT?! A draw, how could that happen, I won that woman's lapdog's face was as empty as...as--"

"Yours when your staff was sent back the way it came, at your head" Kitan said interupting Axel ranting and raving like a mad man. He was pretty upset that he had to fight again on top of drawing the fight with Aaron.

"Damn that man, that king of theirs is abusing his power and playing with us for his own enjoyment! Has he even told us what that damn prize is?!" he continued to complain about anything and everything throughout the night.

Kitan and the others ignored him, they had gotten used to him saying what was on his tongue without a second thought once it left his mouth. The next morning, Rebecca was there when Nanao woke. She looked like a bandaged mummy. Her arm was wrapped up, along with her side which was wrapped in gauze with a few small bandages all along her upper torso. She had a few band-aids on her face where she was cut during the fight with Yolanda.

"Hey, what did the doc say? Can you come to the last fight? its between Axel, Kitan, and Aaron. Are you alright? What can I do?" Nanao asked as Rebecca was trying to get her to take breather to let her answer.

"The doctor said I will live, yes I can come to the match but as someone in the crowd, I am fine, and no just help me get dressed so we can go."

They both smiled and Nanao helped Rebecca get ready. When the two ladies got there Rebecca went up into the crowd and Nanao went to join the others in the fighters pit.

"hey Nanao" Aaron called to her, "who are you goin to root for?"

"I'll root for the winner, who else?" she retorted with a smile, "why you think you're going to win?"

"Of course, I'm better than these two muscle heads" Aaron said laughing.

"Fighters, join me in the center, His Majesty has something to share with you" the announcer said.

"Well then" Axel said, " we wouldn't want His majesty to be kept waiting for the likes of us." He walked towards the center, but he muttered all the way there.

"Why is he like that?" Aaron asked Kitan as the two of them joined Axel in the center.

"I don't know, maybe thats how all the people are like in his village, most of it just ignore it" Kitan said answering Axel.

Just then His Majesty, King Davil, walked out onto the small outcropping of the patio seating where he watched yesterdays fights.

"Ladies and gentlemen" He said moving his gaze over the cheering crowd, "noble and skilled warriors from afar" he continued moving his gaze over the three final fighters, "your skills are exactly what this kingdom needs, unfortunately I can only award one of you, a position to lead my army, not for personal gain, but to protect the people who have gathered here today. For the people in your lives who mean something. That is why you fight today. For life, freedom, and the future. So today give it your all, strive to become part of Dralgonan history!" He said, finishing by raising his hand to wave to the crowd.

Axel turned to Kitan and said, "hey, I don't know if I want that prize, I was kinda hopin it would be something more...useful, you know?"

"So what are you saying, you wont fight?" Kitan asked.

"No, don't get me wrong I like pounding the snot out both of you any day, but if I win, one of you can take the 'prize'." He said taking his staves in hand.

"heh alright, lets do this" Kitan said unsheathing Hirohira and Byarin.

"So, does this mean no matter the outcome, your giving the position to me?" Aaron said pulling out the giant ball and chain and twirling it until the chain was fully extended.

"Yeah I guess thats what we're sayin, right Kitan?"

Kitan nodded.

"Alright let the final match begin, to decide this tournament. BEGIN!"

With that Kitan lunged at Aaron slashing with Hirohira and then sent a flurry of quick, powerful stabs towards Axel. Axel just moved from side to side to dodge the stabs and Aaron stopped Kitan from continued slashes by trapping the blade within the chain linking the handle and the ball. As Axel continued to moveout of Kitan's stabbing range he tried to stab Aaron with one of his staves. Aaron was forced to release Kitan's blade and parry Axel's staff. Once Kitan's blade was free he went on the offensive towards Axel. Axel guarded himself well with just one staff to two blades. Aaron on the other hand just stood there, waiting for one of them to get knocked out.

"Oh no you don't, you're not getting off that easy." Kitan said.

Kitan cross-slashed one of Axel's staves, causing him to lose his grip on it. He followed it up with the butt of the hilt to his head. This movement knocked Axel on his back where he quickly checked to see if he was bleeding.While Axel was busy, and as the blade was already facing Aaron, he swiftly thrust the blade backwards, not caring if the blade was going to make an impact because he was just trying to cause him to move. It worked. Aaron moved to his left and began to spin the chain, causing the massive ball to become a troubling blur for Kitan. As it continued to spin Axel got to his feet. Axel and Aaron exchanged glances that Kitan knew would mean trouble for him. Axel started to try and trip Kitan up by sweeping his spears at Kitan's legs. As Kitan desperately tried not to get tripped up, Aaron sent the massive ball in his direction. Kitan spun in mid air, barely dodging the ball. As Kitan dodged the ball as it flew past him, Axel was caught off guard becuase he thought it would hit Kitan. Axel tried to get out of the way but, no luck. He was hit square in the chest. The force and the speed of the ball sent him back a few feet and once again onto the floor. Kitan then somersaulted towards Aaron as he frantically tried to reel in the ball to give him some protection. It seemed like a race now, which would reach Aaron, Kitan who was going to try and knock him out. Or the ball which he could use to defend himself. The ball reached him first. Kitan, thinking quickly roundhouse kicked the ball towards the ground. Aaron lost control of the ball which as it hit the ground, arched towards Aaron's face. Aaron desperately not wanting his face bashed in by his own weapon, tried to block the ball. The ball hit, but it wasn't Aaron's arms. As Aaron looked to see what had blocked the ball he saw that Kitan had lunged in front of it and blocked it with his blades.

"Hey thanks, that could have been ugly." Aaron said gratefully.

"Don't thank me yet, I believe this match is over" Kitan said pointing downward.

Aaron looked down, in that instant all he could see was white. Aaron woke to see Kitan standing over him.

"What happened" he asked furiously.

Axel answered, with just as much heat in his voice as Aarons. "He pointed down towards the ground, you looked, and he kicked that stupid ball of yours straight at your face. That was a half an hour ago. He's already been declared the winner and declined the position. Because I was knocked out first, and might I add...again" he muttered something to himself, "your the runner up, the position is yours. King Davil said you fought so skillfully that you can appoint your second. Your choice, whoever you want. Just don't ask me or Kitan. I think," he said stopping to pause and look towards Kitan, "we both have something more important."

Aaron thought for a few minutes and then looked towards the fighters pit.

"I choose...Nanao Derillo."

A messenger wrote down the two of their names, then told them to follow him. Aaron got to his feet and walked towards Kitan.

"I hope we can meet again someday" Kitan nodded, "I wish the two of you the best of hope. I will pray that you find whatever it is your searching for." The two of them shook hands, they stood there like that just staring at each other until Nanao yelled from the entrance to the kings courtyard.

"Alright take care." He said and walked towards Nanao. He stopped and yelled their names.

"What?" Axel said.

"Live long, die well. Your lives will speak tales."