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Chapter 4:

Test of Bonds

In the Palace's garden, up the marble stairs Rebecca stood before a statue of a merimaid of her mother. Rebecca's hair danced in the wind as her eyes were filled with much saddness. Besides the statue of her mother stood two other statues; one of her sister as she sat on piles of books; another of her father has he stood tall in his battlearmor before his people. Rebecca hugged herself as she greeved in sorrow of losing everyone she has loved. The sun began to slowly set off in the distance as the moons of Celeria began to raise over the Kingdom. Alex walked up the steps as she slowly hugged Rebecca.

"It'll all be okay honey." she said as she embraced her.

Rebecca fell to her knees crying as she buried her face in Alex's arms.

Meanwhile, in the palace dungeon Raven was strapped onto a stone tablet as black metal chains bounded him to it.

Seals were placed all over his body as the mages continued to chant as they binded him in their spells. The Royal Knights

bounded Inuko, who continued to struggle to free Raven.

"Release him! He has done nothing wrong! Stop with this foolishness!" he yelled.

The Captain of the knights walked over to Inuko as he drew his sword by his neck,

"You want us to release this MONSTER who killed our Queen?!" he proclaimed.

Inuko pushed towards him as the chains restricted him from moving any closer.

"Lady Reigna gave her life to save his! Release him!" he shouted even louder.

The Captain walked over to Raven as he lifted up his blade to his face.

"GRRRRRR" Inuko growled at the sight before him as the chains behind him began to stretch.

"STOP!" a voiced yelled.

The captain looked at the door as he saw a figure standing before them. Rebecca stood there as she wore a long pink dress as her hair was neatly dressed up as she wore a crystal crown.

"L-Lady R-Rebecca?!" he said as he dropped his sword to the ground kneeling.

Lady Rebecca walked into the room as Inuko stood up, his arms bound in chains behind his back.

"Rebecca..." Inuko said as he looks at her.

Rebecca waved her hand as Inuko's chains were released dropping to the floor.

"Captain, what is all this?! Release Raven now!" she yelled.

The captain stood up as he tried to explain his action,

"M-My Lady, this boy is a Forsaken we cannot let such monsters run free." he said.

Lady Rebecca walked over to Raven as she placed her hands on the chain. As her hands drew near, the black chains tightened around Raven's body as it sended a shock to her hands. She stepped back as she turned to the captain.

"What magic is this?! I ordered you to release him." she damanded.

The Captain stood up as he lifted up his sword and placed it on his back.

"You should know my Lady, we used the same spells that your own sister created to defeat the Great God Set." he said as he placed his hand over a strange crystal orb that floated nearby.

"Tomorrow is this monster's Judgement Day, as he stands before the Great Seal of Set." he said in a dark tone.

Rebecca ran up to him as she slapped him across the face,

"I am Queen of Celeria! I ordered you to release Raven now! The seal will shallow him into the other side!" she shouted.

The captain turned his face as the pain were sharp, he placed his hand on the orb as it emitted a light glow.

"Its the rules of our people, My Lady. You of all people should know that." he said as he looked down at her.

Inuko stepped back as he clenched his fist,

"Rules of your people?! You would banish an innocent to oblivion just for some rules?! Where's the Honor?!" he damanded.

Suddenly, he quickly dashed towards the stone tablet as he struck it with all of his might in hoping to break it. The crystal orb began to shake as blue waves surrounded Raven' imprisonment. Inuko's fist struck against it as the ground quaked under his might, ripples only sprewed from the impact. Inuko looked up at Raven's body as the chains wrapped around him more; his light blue hair fell to the sides of his face, his pendant glowed a soft light. Inuko looked at his fist as all he tried to do was not good enough,

"Raven...I-I am sorry...I should have protected you from them...I should have never made you come with me if I knew the outcome of it all..." he said as he kneeled down before the barrier as his fists began to shake.

Suddenly, a strange small figure appeared besides Inuko as his robe touched the floor, his beard was long and old with age.

"So? This young child is actually The Forsakened Angel? I would never knew just by looking at this child, appearences can truly be decieving." he said.

Inuko looked to his side with wonder, Lady Rebecca quickly recognized the voice she ran towards the figure as he hugged him.

_"Can it be? Grandpapa!" she said _

The old sage looked at Inuko as he stood besides Lady Rebecca,

"My dear, I have something I wish to speak with you about. I believe its time you knew the truth of your real origin." he said.

Lady Rebecca kneeled to the floor as she questioned his words,

"R-Real origin?" she said.

The old sage brushed thru his beard as he looked at her,

_"Twentry years ago, my daughter Reigna became to realize she also not of my blood but what we called a Forsakened One.

When she realized that she was actually Rain The Lost Siren, she felt pain that was thought to been long sealed by myself

many years ago. I have tried to make her happy, make her feel wanted and not alone in the world just as this young man besided you have done also for this child. Reigna stood before the seal as she lost her human form then transformed into the cursed creature she was, just as she was about to cast herself into the seal she met your father; Prince Donavin stopped her. I rushed to the Chamber of Set as fast as I could, when I got there I saw a beautiful merimaid surrounded by water as her and the prince embraced one another. I stood before them as the young Lord announced his marriage to my daughter. Your mother was soo happy that day, the Seal of Set wasn't able to touch her anymore."he said as he placed his hand upon Rebecca's cheek._

Inuko placed his hand on the barrier as it slowly moved like water, Rebecca looked up at her grandpapa as she quesioned him again,

"My mother was a forsakened?" she said.

The old sage patted her head as his eyes grew soft,

"Yes, but because she was a forsakened she was not able to bear children. Reigna and Lord Donavin tried many times but nothing...Soon our Kingdom were caught in a war as our knights and mages fought against the neighboring Kingdom of Dracon. Your father fought with his people against this threat to protect the only thing he cherished the most; your mother. One night your mother left our realm in hope to find your father but instead she found a young woman dying as she gave her what she fought so hard to protect, it was you my dear Rebecca. Reigna lifted you up as the rain slowly fell from the sky, when the knights caught up with her they found her holding you. They returned to the palace as she placed you in her bed, sleeping soundly as I slowly enter her room; I saw her on the balcony as her hair moved like water. Huge walls of water encased the Palace protecting you from the war on the outside."

Rebecca was in slience as she slowly hugged herself,

"M-My mother was not even my real mother? But she loved me as if I was her own. I-I never knew..." she said as Inuko's eyes were soft as he looked at her.

"When Lord Donavin came back to the palace, he saw a young child trying to walk towards him. He slowly lifted you up as you grabbed hold of his ear. He stood there holding you as Reigna walked towards both of you. He knew in her eyes that you were is daughter. When they saw how lonely you were they adopted another child your sister Sarah. My my both of you were the destructive force in the arts of magic but when your mother and father called your names both of you hid under my cloak. " he said chuckling.

Lady Rebecca stood up as a tear rolled down her cheek, she began to smile. Inuko looked at her as she realized the truth,

"Are you okay?" he asked.

She turned towards him smiling,

"Yes, I am happy now." she replied.

The old sage placed his hand on the barrier as the crystal orb shattered, the barrier was dispelled.

"If you want to free this child, then you my dear friend must prove yourself to the Gods and Goddesses." he said softly.

Inuko looked at him as his expression grew serious.

"Tell me what to do." he said.

The next day, in the Chambers of Set, Ravens' imprisonment stood high in the sky infront of the Great Seal. The

screams of the damned filled the room as their ghostly dead bodies reached out for Raven. A rotten corpse laid

besides him as it embraced his body licking his cheek. Lady Rebecca and Inuko stood before as Lady Rebecca fell

to the floor in disgust and fear.

"W-What is all this?" she said as she covered her mouth.

Inuko looked on as an image of Set appeared before them. Inuko's eyes grew with hate as Set's aura brushed against Raven's body.

"GRRRRRRRRRR" he growled as he clenched his fists tightly.

The old saged appeared besides him as he quickly turned his attention to the corpse embracing Raven. Streams of white aura burst from his eyes as it struck the corpse back into the netherworld.

"I fear you have little time my friend, this child faced much pain and loneliness in this world; much greater than anything I have seen." he said as he began to fade away.

Inuko took one step forward, suddenly the ground began to quake as the world around them shattered. Inuko and Rebecca stood high in the mountains as fires of hell stood below. Large boulders raised from the magma as they came to a halt before them.

"Raven hang on." he thought to himself.

Rebecca stood up as she waved her hand into the air trying to cool the fires,

"M-My magic doesn't work here?!" she stuttered.

Suddenly, a rotten corspe hand burst from the ground as it grabbed her ankle. She screamed

as she fell to the floor as the corpse raised from the ground; its face half torn as its flesh melted from its face.

Inuko quickly turned to Rebecca as he dashed towards her,

"Rebecca!" he yelled as his fist struck the corspe as it landed on the ground.

The flames danced higher and higher as an image of Set's true form appeared behind Raven.

His claws extended over the field as more corpses burst from the ground.

"Grrrrrr. We dont have time for this!" Inuko yelled as he continued to strike each corpse as they walked closer to them.

Rebecca slowly backed away as they quickly surrounded them,

"There's just too many!" she yelled.

Inuko's eyes began to glow a golden color as his body tensed up as continued to fight.

"I won't lose him, I will save Raven!" he yelled as he struck the ground.

Huge streams of yellow aura shot towards the sky as the image of Osiris appeared before Set. Inuko's body surged with power as Osiris aura flowed into the battle field. Rebecca's eyes widened as her hair quickly changed black as her white hair turned to streaks. Her eyes glowed of the color of the worlds as her body transformed into the sorceress once more. She waved her hand across the field as the corpses turned to ash before her holy power. Inuko's body was engulfed with his aura as golden armor appeared around his body. His senses grew stronger than before as he struck the ground as it sent shockwaves at the moving corpses they were driven back into the depths where they came. The two fought on as the sky above them morphed and twisted, growing unstable as lightning stuck the magma below. The ground began to collapse as large pieces gave away, as the island where Raven stood grew smaller and smaller. Set's dark aura quickly began to circle around Raven as the black chains wrapped tighter and tighter, suddenly they shot towards the ground as they continued to hold him in place. Osiris slowly began to extend his hand towards Raven as the seals burned up to ash. The two ancient Gods began to fight each other as their auras struck against each others. Raven's pendant emitted a blue aura as an image of Lady Reigna and Lord Donavin appeared besided him. Rebecca turned towards Raven as tears fell from her cheeks as she saw her mother and father pushing back Set's aura from Raven's body.

"RAGONOK!" She yelled as a huge orb of pure holy aura appeared before her.

Striking it with her palm as great beams shot from it as it headed straight towards Set. He extended out his hand to shield himself as shockwaves pushed everyone back. The land began to shatter before its power as Set struggled to hold it back. As the light faded, his claw was charred as black smoke raised to the heavens. Inuko dashed towards the large boulder as he jumped the great distance and landed on it, he looked up as he saw streams of black flames head towards the defenseless Rebecca as the spell drained her almost completely.

"Rebecca!"

As they grew closer towards her; memories of her family rushed into her mind, she stood there with no regret as tears rolled down her face. Suddenly, Raven's pendant floated up as waves of blue aura emitted from it as it began to shake in the air. The streams of flames struck the area around Rebecca as they were deflected by someone. She opened her eyes as she couldn't believe it. Her sister Sarah stood before her as the books that they both loved as children surrounded them enfused with her sisters aura.

"S-Sarah?! I-Is that you?!" she said as she slowly reached out to the projection before her.

Sarah turned around as she smiled at her baby sister,

"You have grown up Sis." she said as she turned back to Set as the second wave drew near.

The books began to shake as they burst open, streams of crystal water surrounded them as they cooled the second attack. Meanwhile, Lady Reigna placed her hand on her young sister's face as kissed her cheek,

"Wait a little longer my dear Raven. Lord Donavin drew his holy sword as he struck the black chains. The chains began to chip and twist as his sword emitted a calming aura. "Almost there!" he yelled.

Inuko stood on the boulder as he searched for a way to get across the ravine.

Memories of the past rushed into his mind, images of Raven learning to catch a fish as he was dragged into the water; Inuko throwing a snowball and hitting him in the face as he fell to the ground; just as a final memory of Raven resting against him by the place where they first met. Lady Reigna looked at Raven's pendant as it began to emit a green aura,

"Mother?" she said.

Inuko's attention was drawn to a small orb that appeared before him. It suddenly grew larger as it formed a Woman before him,

"Lost One...One who saved my dear Raven from himself...Show me, the true bond you have for my child." she spoke as she began to fade.

The ground quickly began to quake more and more and boulders rose from the depths of the earth giving Inuko a path to Raven. Inuko realized this is his one chance as he dashed off leaping closer and closer to Raven. Lord Donavin stuck the chains with all his might, as Lady Reigna used the rest of her power to pull them from Raven's body; across the land Sarah fought against Set with the remainer of her power as the blasts shattered and destroyed each book around them. Pages burned up as Rebecca embraced her sister crying. Inuko took one final leap as he drew closer and closer to Raven , as the black chains shattered his body falling towards him. Inuko slowly grabbed him as time quickly came to a halt, Inuko kneel before the tablet as he embraced the small girl from before.

"Raven?" he said softly.

The young girl's eyes slowly opened as she lifted her hand to Inuko's ear as she embraced him closely to her.

"P-Puppy" she cried as little tears rolled down her face.

"Raven, I'll protect you. I swear." he said as embraced the little girl tightly.

Time and space returned to normal as Inuko was holding Raven in his arms. Rebecca was standing before the projections of

her family, Lord Donavin placed his arms around his daughter,

"Stay strong for the people of Celeria my beloved." he spoke as his image slowly faded.

Rebecca's body began to temble as Sarah walked over to her and embraced her baby sister,

"We'll always be with you my dear sis, I am soo proud of you Rebecca." Tears streamed down both of their faces as Sarah's projection slowly faded away as well.

Lady Reigna stood before her daughter as Rebecca fell to the floor crying, she kneeled before her and hugged her daughter as she kissed her forehead,

"My dear Rebecca, My sweet daughter be strong for us. We will be waiting for you at the Tower of Ancients." she said as her image began to fade away tears slowly fell to the ground as tiny sparkles drifted in the air.

Rebecca stood up as she walked over to Inuko as she wiped her tears away,

"Lets place him in the room Grandpapa prepared for him, Inuko." she said as she brushed his blue hair from Raven's face.

Inuko nodded as he turned and walked behind Rebecca, just as he walked to the doorway he turned back and saw the images of Rebecca's family with the woman he saw before. He smiled softly as he picked up Raven a little closer to him.

"Lets go Raven..."