The Forgotten Zodiac

Sam, who did not understand dragons, having never consumed their blood, put a hand on the hilt of his sword, but did not draw it. Instead, he watched the dragon, fascinated.

Luen also blinked, staring at the gold dragon. His attention wavered and he paused in the grass, his round emerald eyes unmoving. He didn't notice Corban sneaking up on him until it was too late. The cheetah leapt out of the grass with a snarl and Luen, who had thought the half-cat was up with Sam, balked. He reared up instinctively, letting out a sharp squeal, and Diana fell straight off his back. Corban didn't notice her, instead chasing after Luen, who utterly fled, bucking and kicking out at the 'attacking' cheetah.

((*Corban.))

Corban, who was still enjoying chasing the terrified Luen and getting dangerously to actually clawing him, finally came to a halt and let the quivering white deer plunge off into the undergrowth, frightened beyond his wits. "Let's get to it," he said, turning his neck slightly to the side and letting it pop. "I hate wastin' time."

Sam gave him a look that read 'please behave' and turned back to Resu, saying "We understand. Please let us take the trials."

Sam nodded at once, looking determined, while Corban shrugged and said "Sure. Why not?"

Luen finally reappeared from the forest, looking shaken and timid. Still quivering, he hesitantly walked over and put his nose lightly against Forin's neck before moving it down to nuzzle Diana gently.

Diana sniffed, examining the blood trickling down her arm. "It's bleeding again, Forin," She tugged on his sleeve, but realized he was still busy. She turned to Luen instead, trying to keep her blood from dripping onto the grass.

"Very well then! Sooth," She turned sharply and looked up at the dragon. "Your task is a simple one. Take flight, oh weakened one, and catch the golden bird that flies near the light. But you must catch it alive."

Sooth blinked at her, then took off. Well, tried to. It took him several minutes to get started to begin with.

Resu ignored his attempts and turned back to Sam and Corben. "Your task requires you to work together. A similar task was issued to king Werr and his companion Welk. Sam, your mind will be clouded by insanity. Your task is to draw yourself from it before you or your guardian are slain by relentless attackers. Corban, you are to protect Sam at all costs. The more he is injured, the more difficult it will be for him to recollect his thoughts. Knowing this, the task will not end until Sam is fully conscious and sane once more."

Forin stared for several long moments. "I substitute, I scapegoat," He said at once.

Resu blinked at him, then looked at Sam. "Do you agree? As this is a special case, once the trial begins, trading places will be impossible."

Forin rounded on Samuel. "Werr nearly died. Welk was practically a walking corpse by the end of it! Let me do this, Sam, let me take this risk." He insisted, his dark eyes flashing with worry.

Sam blinked at him, then said "I can't let you do that. Corban is an excellent fighter; he was taught by several of the most advanced swordmasters Storaph has. I'm certain he can protect me."

"And Sam's sharper than a tack," Corban said offhandedly, shooting the boy a quick grin. "You can't get anything past him." Sam was fast to return Corban's grin, and Forin saw something similar to Werr and Welk's relationship between them.

Forin blinked and almost glared between the two of them, then sighed. "Alright. Fine. But if you two die here...don't you dare haunt me." He turned on heel and helped Luen attend to Diana, leaving Resu to begin their trial.

It began with a flash, and the two of them were standing in the middle of a clearing. The exact same clearing where Werr and Welk performed their trial. The 'relentless attackers' came almost immediately, hovering at the treeline as they waited for the trial to begin; they weren't the same as before, though. Animals, ghostly animals. Some people, who appeared to be hunters, but mostly spectres that took animal shape. Deer, wolves, even snakes. Bears, panthers...even a dark cheetah that lurked in the treeline, circling the clearing slowly.

"Begin the trial." Resu's voice called, and chaos ensued.

The fight carried on for a long time. There were quite a few near-misses and close-calls, but Corban was a good fighter, just as Sam had said. It took less time for them to complete theirs than Werr and Welk had taken, and there was only one particular incident of note. One of the bears got around Corban's defenses and managed to swipe its claws down, tearing out the young man's right eye. Corban managed to get the bear off, but the damage was done, and when Sam put his mind back together and called a halt, blood had stained half of his body.

The two of them were teleported back, and Forin immediately grabbed the healing staff. "I told you!" He hissed. "But...you're alive. Good job, I guess." He sighed. Sooth was already gone, off into Kaislun to meet up with Zephyr and Isslia.

Diana hid her face in Luen's fur, not liking the scene. But she didn't say anything, choosing instead to pick dirt and dead leaves from her friend's antlers. "Can we go now?" She asked quietly. "I want to see Galai..." With Luna gone, Galai was the best motherly figure she could turn to. With everything going on, she felt the need to tell someone about all of it; but Forin was busy, Luen already knew everything, and...well, there was something she didn't want either of them to hear.

"Yes. We can go." Forin sighed. "The two of you are allowed into Kaislun now. Congratulations."

Corban helped Sam up, dapping a rag at the blood still dripping down his face. As the staff healed the wound, the blood slowed, then stopped. Sam looked woozy, but he managed to stay upright as they all headed into the city.

Luen tilted his head back at Diana, still quivering a bit from his earlier episode. "You okay?" he asked quietly, upset over throwing her.

Diana nodded, closing her eyes. She pressed her cheek into his fur, smiling a little. "I'm okay, Luen. I just...need a nap." She yawned a bit. "But I need to talk to Galai. You can go with Forin and help take care of Sam, I'll just take a nap in Galai's chair. She'll let me. She's nice like that." She stroked the fur at the top of his head. "You should stay away from Corban. I don't like him."

Luen nodded, saying "Yeah. He scares me too." He licked her cheek, then followed the others into Kaislun. At Diana's request, he carried her off to the throne room, where a maid informed them that Galai had stepped out and would return shortly. "Do you want me to wait here with you, Diana?" he asked.

Diana blinked at the empty throne, then nodded. "Yes." She said quietly, eying Titus. The dark king wasn't too scary, but...she didn't want to be in a room alone with him.

Forin, however, led Sam and Corban towards the king. "My lord. The king of Storaph and his companion seek refuge here."

"Granted. Although, Samuel," Titus tutted, raising a brow. "Those scars are still fresh. I'd seek out one of our Divine Healers, they can remove it. Or, if you prefer, I can have Kiraki fetch you an eyepatch. Either way, she'll guide you to the guest rooms when you're ready. You'll find Werr and his friends wandering about, I'm sure."

"Thank you, your majesty," Sam said, giving a low bow, blood still caked all over his face. "I think I'll just take the eye-patch, though. These scars show that unlike past kings of Storaph, I am not so weak as to cease fighting." He was speaking of certain rulers before Asmodius, who had been content to sit on the throne and become fat, ruling their their advisors.

"Very well then." Titus shrugged. Sam's decisions didn't affect him much. "Forin, are these guests of yours?"

"No." Forin said at once. "Airlia can take full sponsorship."

"A wise choice." Titus tutted. "Toroph, kindly direct these two to the guest rooms, please. And have the chefs prepare them a meal. They look like they haven't eaten in awhile. Sam," He smiled slightly. "Welcome to Kaislun."

"Yes, welcome!" Toro beamed, hurrying over to them. "You can go anywhere you want. Explore, so to speak. Half the city belongs to the Tartarans, the males, and half of it belongs to the Amnarians, the females. The Tartarans are..." He eyed Forin. "Generally tougher and whatnot. If you want to spar, just ask one of them. The Amnairians are very kind, and will be happy to direct you to any place you want to go." He bounced on his heels, smiling.

Sam moved to follow Toro, but not before bowing low to Titus again. Only then did he move away after the rabbitzen, Corban stalking along after his heels.

Luen bent his head around so Diana could hold onto his antlers, gently lifting her from his back and setting her on the floor beside him. He licked her cheek lightly with his slender pink tongue, then looked up as the doors open to emit Galai, as stunningly beautiful as ever, her bright light shinning away.

"Hello!" she called upon seeing them, beaming. She moved forward to kiss Titus' cheek, however, before turning back to them.

Diana patted Luen's neck, looking down. She stepped forward, until she was standing in front of the two thrones, her eyes fixed on the floor. She opened her mouth, then flinched and closed it again when she looked at Titus. She rubbed her arm and fiddled with the hem of her sleeve, feeling so small without Forin or Luen in front of her. "G-Galai, I...there's something I need to confess," She said softly, shivering as she felt Titus' curious gaze on her.

Galai tilted her head at the girl, her gaze instantly worried and curious. "Yes, dear one? What is it that troubles you so?" she asked, fanning her bright wings slightly. She rose up a bit and walked over to be in front of the girl, holding her arms out to her.