The stranger was true to her words. It wasn't long before Ted was tucked in a large bed in
the town's inn, He managed to stay for free at the innkeeper's request until he was able to move.
The only thing Ted had to worry about was being suffocated by the sheets.
Money was no longer a problem. His unknown angel had given him more than enough for
a new coat and rations to lest him until the next city. It was obvious that she knew who he was
and what he had, or else she was incredibly rich and likes giving money to passing travelers.
Ted wanted to see her again soon, to thank her for everything, That wasn't to be until he
became "a better man." Ted took it as needing to control Soul Eater and not trying to destroy the
world through a revenge streak. It seemed so hard, to truly harness the judge of life and death
instead of somewhat guiding it.
Ted's mind wandered onto more important things: escape. There was no doubt that the
witch was still after him, still craving the true rune. It wasn't a new thought to let her have it, but
Grandfather gave it to him with strict orders not to do so. Ted would just have to keep running
until the witch died or just forgot. Both were highly unlikely in the near future.
There was a gentle knock at his door. Moments later, the innkeeper entered. "Good,
you're in bed. You must rest, child, and gain back your strength. It's a miracle that you survived
the mountain pass. I came here to see if your clothes needed washing." She walked to a nearby
chair were his clothes were and picked them up.
"Um, mam'm," Ted started as he saw the right glove, the one with Soul Eater, being
taken. He paused in thought and remembered about controlling the rune. A smile crossed his lips
and he replied, "thank you for everything."
"Oh, it's nothing. I was obligated to. Good night." The lady silently closed the door
Ted turned to the other side and looked out the window. The sun graced only the tips of
the mountains and the burning clouds were now cooling to dark shades of blue and gray. The
entire world was telling him to go to sleep. Ted pulled the covers up to his chin and drifted off
into the most peaceful slumber he experienced in a long time.
The slumber was cut short. The sounds of panic coming from outside were not a good
sign. He jumped out of bed, the sheets still holding onto him, trying to get him back into bed. He
pulled them aside and looked out the window. The dark of night was now blazing. A number of
houses were on fire and people in the streets begged a man on a strange, bipedal creature to stop.
He was the one who had taken the task of burning the village, he was the one with the torch.
Ted's mind finally snapped to and he recognized just who this man was. He had seen him
with the witch once or twice, Yubo or Yugbug, something like that. Names didn't matter, though.
Just the fact that this man and the witch were in the same place and the same time was enough to
tell Ted that it was high time to leave. He cursed himself for staying so long, he was the one who
brought this fate unto the people, like his lost village in a lost land far away.
These men and women didn't deserve this fate. So many times he was the cause of death
of pain for those who actually cared for him. This was one of the times that he wanted to have a
weapon and make a stand, but that would mean that the people would have died for nothing. That
was not right. He had to live for them, for the world. Ted had found his reason to exist.
"Very good."
Ted whirled to a corner. There was a figure concealed in the shadows, but Ted didn't need
to see the person to know who it was. "You said you were going ahead."
"I was told to do otherwise. I'm glad to know that are aware of why people must suffer.
You are on the way to being a better man. The people here die so that you can grow strong
enough to save this world. Even though the Soul Eater seems to bring nothing but destruction to
the mortal shell, it will give life to an entire world and beyond. You must live. Rest assured, you
will not have to live forever, but for now you must."
"Then help me get out of here."
"And what about the people?"
Ted bit his lip. This woman was asking a six year old some of the hardest questions! He
was still a child, he couldn't bear so much so soon. "You decide."
There was a snorting laugh aimed at him. "Child."
"I am."
"Good enough. I will help the people. Now to help you... that could be a problem. The
blackest knight will be here soon. He will burn down every city and slay every person as long as
he can find your hand."
"Do-Don't talk that way."
"That way is called the truth. I am sorry if it hurts, but the truth does that often. It's that
entire adult thing. Now, the only way I see of getting you out of here is through invisibility.
Enchanted armor would be too hard for you to wear, and small items are hard to imbue with such
magics. But... I might have a way."
"Then do it!"
"I'd be making a rather big spectacle of myself. Our meeting will have to wait again. Run
south, the way that you came from. The Star of Heavenly Guidance will take you to our new
meeting place. Try to learn, I don't think I'll have enough time to teach you everything myself.
Anyway, personal experience is the best teacher." The shadow sighed. "Let's do this. When the
magic is done, run. Yuber will come here as fast as he can when he sees this."
"Yuber..."
"Remember that name, and remember the Star of Heavenly Courage. I will not be too far
from it." A bright, white light erupted from the corner, though the figure was still hidden under
the guise of darkness. "Star Rune, grant me use of your power once again to protect the life of
that which must live. I call upon the Star of Heavenly Deception, the Blue Star, to create the
shield from the burning eyes of the one's foes." Ted looked on blankly as the magic was being
invoked, and sparkling motes of dust began to swirl around him. "Star Dust Shield!" Suddenly,
the motes glowed to life and blinded Ted for a moment. He heard the voice shout for him to
leave, and he ran to the door by sheer memory of its location.
Yuber glanced up to see a window of the inn erupt in white light. He smirked, blond hair
whirling about him. A guardian had been sent. If this guardian came from Leknatt or from some
other source was unknown, but it didn't matter. He dismounted from his inky black steed and
drew his sword. The boy was now only a secondary thought, the idea of a real battle being the
first.
He managed to get his sword up in time to block a ray of light aimed for his eyes. The
guardian was trying to get out of this alive. That would be his undoing. Yuber called upon the
Black Rune given to him to help and sent a ray of darkness through the window. This battle
would be an amusing, yet short, interlude to the chase of the child.
Ted fell back as a dark ray passed just in front of his nose. He saw the target was where he
once was, and where his "friend" probably still was. He crawled under the ray and past Yuber,
ignoring that all he was wearing was a big nightshirt and his gloves. He got up and kept on
running, leaving the well-known scene of death.
"YUBER!" An immense ball of white light barreled into the black knight. It bounced away
and landed on the ground. The light dissipated, revealing the attacker.
Yuber spat and wiped his mouth on the back of his hand. "My, aren't you-"
"I have been given the task to protect that you seek and given the power to destroy those
who would harm him."
"Go play with your toys."
"With the power of the Star Rune, you're one of them." The Guardian lifted a sword
enveloped in a burning white aura into the air. "I would play with you, but I have been ordered
otherwise. One time, we will cross swords. Pray you are prepared when that time comes."
"You will give me the child."
"I will give you nothing but steel laced with magic. I will give your superior the same."
The Guardian turned to face the south and rested the sword in its sheath.
"Then I will destroy everyone in this village and every village that the little bastard sets
foot in. This world will suffer until the child is given to my lady."
"Then you do nothing but make your job harder. Remember, pain and suffering is the
lifeblood of the Soul Eater. You had better leave, as you should know I provided the diversion for
the child to escape. You have lost this battle, but as you would say, The war isn't over.' I'll make
sure that you lose every battle."
"Yes, because you know that one loss will let me win the war."
"You also know that when heroes fight wars, they are the first to die."
"Then I'll see you in hell."
The Guardian began to walk away. "I will see you go before me."
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