Rowen’s eyes were fluttering as he began to awake. He shifted slightly in his bed and when he heard a soft whisper of his name he awoke to find a violet eye peering at him with concern. Sage. How long had he been there?

“Rowen, how do you feel?” Sage asked him.

“Like I got hit by a bus,” Rowen muttered as he closed his eyes. Sage thinking he was going back to sleep began to lean back and relax a bit, knowing his friend was all right. Then when Rowen opened his eyes again and looked at Sage, the Warrior of Wisdom leaned forward. “Sage, what happened?”

Sage blinked. “You don’t remember?”

Rowen sighed. “I remember planning something, and then it got all dark… other than that, I can’t remember anything.”

Sage frowned. He wasn’t sure if this was good or not. Rowen seemed so tired and frail. His skin was more pale than normal, he had dark circles underneath his eyes, and he could barely lift his head past an inch. The Ronin of Halo had healed him the best he could, but it was up to Rowen now.

“Well, maybe you’ll remember later,” Sage told him. “Right now you need your rest. Are you hungry?”

Rowen shook his head.

“Thirsty?”

“A little.”

Sage stood up with a nod. “I’ll get you some water then.”

Rowen watched him leave, and let his head rest into the pillow as he closed his eyes.

Sage came down the stairs slowly as if depressed, and perhaps he was. The others looked up at him as he stepped into the room. Ryo stood up. “How is he?” he asked, concern showing in his tiger blue eyes.

Sage stepped down off the last step and shook his head. “He doesn’t remember anything other than planning on defeating that creature, and it getting all dark after that,” he informed them.

This news shocked them, and they stared at Sage as if he had something growing out of his head.

“I don’t get it,” Firestorm said. “Why would he not remember any of this?”

“Yeah, it doesn’t make any sense,” Cye said with a nod of his head.

“Do you think that creature could have made him forget?” Kento asked.

“That could be,” Mia said.

“Well, he does remember us, right?” Star asked.

Sage nodded his head. “Yes, he does.” He sighed deeply and sat down on the couch, rubbing his face. He felt so tired, so drained, and yet he knew he wouldn’t be able to sleep at all. They had to take turns watching out for Rowen. And he planned to take the first watch. Then he remembered he was to get Rowen some water and stood up. “Excuse me,” he said, and headed off for the kitchen, leaving the others to talk. He grabbed a glass from the left cupboard and held it under the faucet as he turned it on, letting cold water flow into it. When it was halfway to the brim, he shut the water off, and left the kitchen, carefully carrying the glass.

The others watched him go upstairs, then turned to discuss matters at hand.

“YOU FOOL, YOU HAVE FAILED ME AGAIN!!” the dark entity’s eyes were glowing with an unearthly color, muscles vibrated with much force, and the walls of the cavern shook with the power of his angered voice. The creature in his fist trembled with fear; he could feel his master’s crushing grip tightening against his throat and wondered how long it would be before his head was popped off his shoulders.

“Forgive me, my liege! I tried my best!” Yata tried to defend himself.

“There is no excuse for that!”

Yata trembled again. He knew he would soon endure horrible punishment, that he would be subjected to terrible pain beyond human comprehension. But then he was suddenly dropped to the floor, landing rather heavily, and injuring his side. He glanced up at his master in fear and shock as he rose up from his throne.

“Perhaps it is time I paid these Ronins a visit. Rowen of the Strata will be mine, and the rest of the Ronins shall die, and all those who should try and help them.”

Before Yata could say anything, his master had vanished in a cloud of fiery smoke, leaving him alone on the hard floor.

 Meanwhile the dark figure had appeared outside, staring into the window of the living room from where he stood about twelve feet away. He could see the tall girl there known as Mia Koji, and next to her sat a white haired girl, and on her side sat Ryo of the Wildfire. From across those three, were Cye of the Torrent, some brown haired girl, and Kento of Hardrock. He did not see his prey nor Sage of the Halo. A cold grin spread across his lips. That would work out to his advantage. He would find Rowen in that house, kill Sage of the Halo, then force the others to come up against him, by using Rowen as bait, trapping them in his own realm, before finally finishing them off. Then he would suck out Rowen’s soul through his body, destroy it, and then finally destroy his body. Or perhaps he would use his body as a vessel as his own, or perhaps he would destroy the body, but torture the spirit. So many choices. But he would decide what to do later. He wanted the boy to suffer immensely.

He let his dark powers surround him once again as vanished from his spot.

Sage watched as Rowen’s chest rose and fell with each breath he took. The Ronin was asleep which was good, since he needed it more than anything. Sage stayed close by, watching him, and keeping alert for anything that may happen. He sighed and rubbed his face. ‘How had this happened?’ he wondered. ‘Only days before Rowen had finally started to relax, enjoying living with his mother. And now this had to happen. Why couldn’t he be left alone? He suffered enough.’

He sighed again, wishing there was some way to stop this evil. Suddenly the hairs on the back of his neck pricked up and felt a foreboding sense of danger. He stood up abruptly and reached into his pocket. His eyes widened with fear as it felt empty to him. He checked the other. Empty. Oh no!

“Looking for this?”

Sage looked toward the voice and saw a tall figure dressed in all black robes which trailed about two feet away from him on the floor. He was certain he had never seen this being before, but his countenance was all evil. He peered more closely at the upheld hand and gasped.

“My armor orb! Give it back!”

The figure laughed. “I should say not. Without your armor you can’t protect yourself. Or your friend.”

Sage glared at him. He had to protect Rowen. He did not care about himself as he believed his friend’s and loved ones’ lives were more important than his own. But how would he protect him when he was blocking his way? He tried to think of a solution, but he could think of nothing.

Then suddenly he heard pounding footsteps coming up the stairs. The dark figure growled low in his breath, and snapped his fingers. Immediately the door’s lock bolted tight, and soon they could hear banging and kicking from the other side.

“SAGE!!” That was Ryo.

“Open up!” Cye shouted.

“I CAN’T!” Sage called back to them, not keeping his eyes off the figure.

“What’s happening?!” Star called through the door. Her voice was filled with concern and anxiety as she and the others continued to try and force their way through.

“There’s an evil being in here!” Sage cried. “He’s trying to get to Rowen!”

“WHAT?” Ryo cried out in anger. He pounded against the door even more, kicking as hard as he could and ramming his shoulder into it.

The evil figure laughed as he turned to face Rowen. Now to get what I came for.”

“No!” Sage shouted as he lunged himself at him. The figure turned and growled and raised his arms up, and Sage went flying back where he hit his head against the back wall. He groaned in pain as he slid down the side of the wall and looked up through blurred eyes as he saw the figure turn back to Rowen again.

Once again, the figure raised his arms up, and this time Rowen levitated into the air. Sage’s eyes widened and he struggled to his feet. “Rowen!” he gasped. He had to save him, no matter what it cost. He began to move forward.

The figure paid no attention to him as he beckoned Rowen’s sleeping body toward him. Then suddenly there was an explosion of breaking glass. The figure and Sage both turned their heads just in time to see the large white tiger pouncing against the figure, knocking him backward into the door. Sage took this opportunity to grab Rowen and escape through the broken window.

“White Blaze!” he shouted.

The tiger roared as he pushed off the figure and followed after Sage.

The figure stood up, gasping a little. His eyes narrowed into angry slits as he stared out the broken window, watching as the blond escaped with his friend, the tiger following close behind. He turned and looked in the mirror, seeing his almost transparent reflection. He cursed angrily. He was running out of time.

Sage ran and ran as fast as he could until he came to the cabin on the other side of the lake. He rushed inside and put Rowen on the bed, breathing hard as he slumped on the floor beside it. White Blaze approached him and sat before him, staring at the teen with concerned brown eyes.

“Th..tha..thanks, White Blaze,” Sage stuttered through gasps. The tiger rumbled a little and butted his hands. Sage raised an eyebrow and the white tiger opened his mouth. Sage smiled and took the orb from him. No matter what the situation was, the tiger always seemed to come through for him. He glanced at Rowen who hadn’t woken through the whole episode. He let out a sigh. The others would need to know where he was and soon. He had a feeling that dark figure would be back soon.

He concentrated as hard as he could, and then finally managed to get through to them. ‘Guys?’

‘Sage, where are you?’ Ryo immediately asked.

‘You okay?’ Cye asked. ‘It’s all quiet in there.’

‘I’m fine, so is Rowen,’ Sage answered. ‘White Blaze helped us.’

‘Where are you now?’ Ryo asked. ‘We don’t hear anything in the room, and sense you’re not there anymore.’

‘Good. Stay there,’ Ryo told him. ‘We’ll be there soon.’

Sage opened his eyes and glanced back at Rowen and let a huge tired sigh out. He leaned his head against White Blaze. All he wanted right now was for Rowen to be safe, and rest for himself.