The beginning

Moa scrabbled away, wide eyed. "Don't do that!" he growled, breathing heavily. He stood again, clasping his hands together. "I just wanted a peak at the Dual Soul. This is the first time I've seen one. No need to be mean." Moa sniffed sadly.

"You've seen, now leave," Bion ordered. "Before I drag you back to the tower and use you as fire wood. Miser bodies burn well."

Moa's ears folded down. He's a lot stronger than I originally thought...
"Ok, ok. No need to threaten." Moa dug his claws into the side of the building and dangled himself over the edge. "I might go see the sweet smelling girl in the tower." He cackled and launched himself from the roof.

Bion launched a blast inches from Moa, intentionally missing him. "I dare you," he hissed between clenched teeth, then disappeared, reappearing in the empty bedroom and returning to his sleep.

Moa crawled down the side of the building Bion blasted, looking at the whole with a small stream of black blood running down his face. "Damn zombie man," he mumbled, smashing in a window and crawling inside. He curled up on the bathroom floor and snorted before falling asleep.

Athen looked at Soren and narrowed his eyes. "I'm leaving this excuse of a city, so release my powers willingly," he commanded. "What I do no longer concerns you."

William slid under an overturned wagon and hugged his knees. Where am I going to go? There's nowhere I'm welcome. He sighed into his folded arms, coughing as blood and ash filled his nose. "They smell so bad when they're stabbed..." he whispered.

Soren threw the unconscious Miser to the ground and looked at Athen. "I cannot do that," he replied evenly. "Your powers are far too great for this already broken world."

"Then I'll release them myself," Athen said, pulling his sword and pointing it at Soren. "Don't be a fool. Even in my weakened state, I'm stronger than you."

"C'mon, man. Just let Athen have his power back so we can save the girl, idiot. We can't fight him like this." Seth tossed his gas mask to the ground and rubbed the sweat from his hair. "This is my damn life on the line too."

Cala...Soren looked down at the unconscious Miser and contemplated his choices. He sighed and pulled a worn book from a bag at his waist, opening it to a page with glowing text. He began speaking the language he spoke before as deep purple light fell from the pages in misty wafts, floating quietly over the ground towards Athen. He closed the book once the mist had fully fallen to the ground. "Walk into the mist and receive your power," he instructed calmly.

"The Lost waste a lot of time being flashy," Athen told Seth. He stepped where Soren told him and crossed his arms.

"'Flashy' is what gets you your full power back," Soren said evenly. He muttered a few more words. A bright flash of light showed for a split second as the mist seeped inwards towards Athen. "You now have your power," Soren said.

Athen squeezed his fist tightly, grinning. "Tomorrow, we'll find the girl and return her to safety. Then, I'll find Krios," he told Seth. "Your training begins at the first sign of life in this city. If you're late, I'll be hunting you." With that, Athen disappeared over ruble and made his way to an empty skeleton of building to rest his weakened body.

A twitch of power in Bion's defense spell sent him flying into an up-right position and into the room he'd left Cala. On the floor, she was still sleeping, but the window above her was open. I know I felt something in here, he thought, standing on guard in the door way.

"Something wrong, Bion?" Rose asked from behind him. She giggled to herself as he panicked. "You're lucky I'm the only one here."

Tira huffed a disgruntled sigh at the battle's ending. "Well, that was lame..." she childishly muttered, spinning on a heel towards the room. "Even distractions should be some fun."
She reached out to Moa with her inner Eye and spoke to him. "Moa," she crooned. "What are you doing, little devil?"

"Lady Rose... I wasn't expecting you..." Bion dropped to one knee, bowing. "I've brought the female dual soul, as requested."

Cala pushed herself slowly to her knees, listening curiously. Lady Rose? Of Rose Tower? She blinked her sleepy eyes and looked at the two.

Moa opened one eye and looked around the room. 'Napping,' he replied with a yawn. '[i]And spying on the Dual Soul.'

"Well, it's nice to see another," Rose said with a smile at Cala. "Why don't we take you back to the tower."

"I'd rather not, ma'am... I'd like to go back home," Cala replied and stood slowly.

"Sorry. Not an option." Rose flung her hair over her shoulder. "You are very important."

Cala narrowed her eyes and looked around the room. "I have a master and I obey only him. I will not go to Rose Tower without Soren's expressed permission." She slid a knife from her belt and stood defiantly.

"That won't be necessary," Rose said and motioned to the knife. "Bion, take her, by force if she refuses."