"W-What happened here?" Akuma gasped in shock.
The group had just arrived at the werewolf pack's territory.
The entire settlement lay in ruins. The land looked as though countless tornadoes had torn through it, leaving shattered earth and collapsed structures behind. Lifeless bodies of werewolves were scattered across the battlefield.
"Were they attacked by the Querons?" Viel asked grimly.
Xerxes clenched his fists.
Although he was a demon wolf, he was still a wolf. Seeing the tragic fate of his own kind filled him with rage.
"They've gone too far," he growled.
"We should leave this place," Mist said. "We'll have to pass through several more towns and forests before we reach El Quero."
Without another word, they continued their journey.
Hidden behind the trunk of a massive tree, two teenage boys silently watched them.
"Let's follow them," one of them whispered.
.
.
.....
"Do you remember us?" Lilith asked anxiously.
Xenon frowned.
"Obviously," he replied.
"You do? You really remember us?" Yvess asked in disbelief.
"Yeah. Want me to smack you for asking such a stupid question?" Xenon shot back.
Yvess folded his arms. "Then tell me. Who are you?"
"I'm Xenon Serolf—the king's cousin. A ridiculously handsome Duke with the ability to teleport and control time. Seriously, why are you asking? Of course I know who I am," Xenon rolled his eyes.
Lucas let out a relieved sigh. "Looks like his memories really have returned. Even his attitude is back."
"What exactly happened?" Xenon asked.
"You lost your memories, Xen," Lilith explained. "Fortunately, we found you, and Lucas managed to restore them."
Xenon fell silent as he searched through his memories.
Then it all came flooding back.
"I remember now... There was a blinding light... then everything went black." He looked at them in confusion. "Wait... how long was I without my memories?"
"Six years," Yvess answered.
"What?!"
.
.
.....
"Hi, Aria!" Sheen greeted cheerfully.
Aria ignored him completely.
"Ouch... you're still giving me the cold shoulder. Why are you always so cold to me? It really hurts, you know," Sheen complained dramatically.
"Leave me alone, Sheen," Aria replied flatly.
Sheen was one of the Four Dark Knights of El Quero.
He possessed the terrifying ability to spread deadly epidemics. Every disease he created was incurable, and only he possessed the power to remove them and heal those infected.
"You really are heartless," Sheen sighed.
Aria stared into his eyes.
No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't read his mind.
"Sheen..."
"Yes, dear?" Sheen asked.
"Why did you choose to side with evil?" she asked.
"I don't know," he answered with a chuckle. "All I know is that I'm supposed to obey the Mirce Lorde."
Aria narrowed her eyes.
That can't be right... Sheen would never join them without a reason.
"May I touch you?" she asked.
Sheen grinned. "Wow... are you trying to take advantage of me?"
Ignoring his teasing, Aria gently took his hand.
The moment their skin touched...
She saw something.
.
.
.....
Back in the human realm...
"My feet are killing me. Where exactly are we going?" Xylon complained after walking for what felt like forever.
"To your mansion, Your Majesty," Arden replied.
"My mansion? I own a mansion?" Xylon was surprised.
"Yes," Arden answered.
"So... I'm rich?" Xylon still wasn't convinced by everything Arden had told him.
Yet, for some reason, something deep inside urged him to believe every word.
"You said you know everything about me. So... what kind of person am I?" he asked once again.
"You're not a human, Your Majesty. You're a vampire," Arden corrected.
"Fine, fine... let's say I am a vampire. Then why don't I have fangs?" Xylon said.
"Because you haven't awakened your powers yet," Arden said.
"I see..." Xylon said.
"You are a king. Everyone admires and respects you. You also have two children—"
"Hold on... I have kids?!"
He was only twenty-three years old.
"You're fifty-four," Arden revealed.
"Whaaaat?!" his eyes widened in shock.
"Both of your children are twenty-three years old. If the three of you stood together, people would think you're siblings. Vampires do not age," Arden explained again.
"So... I'm actually an old man..." Xylon muttered dramatically.
"They must miss you very much," Arden added.
"...What about my wife?" he asked.
"She passed away," Arden replied.
Xylon fell silent.
"I... see..."
Neither of them spoke another word as they continued walking.
.
.
.....
Meanwhile...
"They lost their memories too?" Xenon asked.
Lilith nodded. "Yes. And we're about to restore them."
Yvess walked over to Blake and Zake.
"Are you two ready?" he asked.
"W-Wait..." Blake said nervously. "What exactly are you going to do to us?"
"We're going to restore your memories," Lucas answered.
"So... we really had amnesia?" Zake asked.
"Yes," Lilith replied gently. "Please trust us."
Lucas raised both hands and began drawing a glowing magic circle in the air.
Once it was complete, Blake and Zake lay down at its center as the restoration ritual was about to begin.