Where am I?...((Open to all))

[Kouichi - Yami No Kuro Raion]

{Not far,} he replied. {I'm at least as fast as, if not faster than, any horse or strider around. Nobody's ever ben able to exactly race me and find out, because most horses and striders run away in terror at the sight of me...} He chuckled.

[Scott Osborne]

"I'm not used to this whole concept of riding an 18 year old who can break the land speed record...." He said with a grin. "So what should I know about this world?"

[Kouichi - Yami No Kuro Raion]

{Hmmm.....}

He thought for a while.

{Allorum is, as you can tell, a world of magic. Technology isn't too advanced here. Across the world, there are fourteen nations, each tied to an element and ruled by a king or queen. Each Royal has two personal Captains that are the elite warriors of their land. Tink of them as the royals' personal bodyguards.

Anyway, about a year ago, Trucido came to Allorum and made an alliance with all but one of the royals of Allorum - Milicia Lunestice, Queen of Crepusculum, Kingdom of Twilight, which is where we are now. There was a big war, and half of Trucido's group, the Sumata Thirteen, switched sides. The ones who switched are still alive; most of the others died in the war, because they personally went up against the Heroes - that's the group fighting the Sumata - and lost.}

He looked up at the sky, then back to where he was running.

{Like I said, each kingdom is tied to an element. Crepusculum, where we're traveling, is tied to twilight - and, thus, to a lesser extent, dawn. Back home, and most other places on Allorum, this lighting would mean it was about 7AM. In Crepusculum, I'd say it's almost noon. We should hit Nachtundtag - the capital city - about the time that the lunch rush ends.}

[Scott Osborne]

"The Heroes, what has become of them? And who didn't survive?" He asked, feeling sympathetic for all the lives lost. he had a first hand experience of what war can do to a person, especially to the innocent people who are thrown into the fray.

[Kouichi - Yami No Kuro Raion]

{The Heroes returned to their own worlds. As for the ones who didnt' survive... they were mostly on the other side.} He paused.

{Suisei Fukaku, Queen of Unda, realm of water; Kuukyo Boukyaku, King of Vuoto, the kingdom of the void; Serena Heracroix, Queen of Chalybs, land of metal.... there's so many of them. We had to kill them in order to save the world... and most of them were evil people who deserved it. But there were some who only were doing what they had to.}

He looked up at Lieutenant Osborne.

{My brother, Kouji, he took in Serena Heracroix's daughter... the daughter she would do anything for, even destroy the world.}

[Scott Osborne]

Scott nodded and a solemn acceptance. "I'm sorry, I didn't know... I'm just curious as to why I'm here? I'm no hero, hell. I'm a Merc, the lowest form of life. I doubt I was brought here for some kind of greater good"

[Kouichi - Yami No Kuro Raion]

{You never know,} he replied thoughtfully. {Hero work takes all kinds. Mercenaries have turned out to be great heroes, and the purest of paladins have become villains. We're all fighting for what we believe in, if you think about it - whether it be money, power, or some cause we believe is right, or just fun. Trucido really believed in what he was doing... and many of the Sumata believed in him.}

[Scott Osborne]

"Of course, I know what you're trying to say... How much further?" He asked, trying to veer away from the subject.

[Kouichi - Yami No Kuro Raion]

{Ummm.....}

He skidded to a stop for a moment, looking around, before adjusting his course slightly.

{Just a little further. You can see the wall os the city if you look closely.}

[Scott Osborne]

Scott squinted and shook his head. "I can't see real good.. Shrapnel wound to the eye.." He reached into his pocket and took out a pair of glasses, putting them on again he looked at the city again. "Much bettt-" he stopped mid sentence and looked at the beauty of the city. "Holy crap..." was all he could say.

[Kouichi - Yami No Kuro Raion]

He took in a deep breath, scenting the air, before letting it out slowly, smiling.

{Man.... I've missed this place.}