As soon as Martha saw the soft smile on Monk's face, it brought back a wave of memories that they shared together. However, she quickly remembered that that was now a long time ago, and the time they spent together was shorter than the time they had spent apart.

First and foremost she was a member of the Redwings, and she had come here to be so.

"Monk, I hope you aren't playing any games with me, why did you leave a note for me and only me?" Martha asked, getting straight to the point.

There was a pause from Monk, as he opened his mouth but no words came out, and for some reason seeing him in front of her now, he felt small. All the times before while leading the Dark Guild members, he seemed larger than he truly was due to the confidence shining within him, but right now it wasn't the same.

Then suddenly, putting his hands over his face, he slumped his back against the castle wall sliding down it until he was sitting on the ground.

"I don't know how much longer I can keep this up for." Monk said. "I've had many sleepless nights, I can't even remember when I slept the same way as I did before, but now with Gary gone, and the same with Morfran, I'm the only one they can rely on."

He looked weak, exhausted. She could feel all of these emotions now pouring out of him, but still she didn't understand the point he was trying to make.

"I'm sorry for everything I've done, you must have been hurting a lot." He finally said. "I'm not infected by the shadow if you were wondering. I never was. When I fell down that day, I saw the mysterious man, and he was riding on top of…on top of a dragon. That's what was killing and eating all those monsters.

"When standing in front of it, I felt it's sheer power. I couldn't believe it. If it attacked Avrion at that point, it could have easily wiped us out. What I didn't understand was why he didn't. Why didn't that man command the dragon to attack Avrion back then?

"I thought it was crucial that we found out if we wanted to survive, so I attempted to go to the other side. Eventually I joined the Dark Guild, meeting up with Morfran and Gary, or at least what was left of Gary."

It was a lot to take in, but it seemed like Monk was finally telling her what he had gone through and why he had done what he had. For some reason as well, she believed his words.

"When I joined the Dark Guild, Martha, I realised something. They are people, they're not some beast trying to kill us, or like the shadow. They're just people fighting for their lives. Because of this, I decided I wanted to help them.

"Did you see the village that you passed on your way here?"

"Yes, we were attacked there as well." Martha replied, wondering how much she should be telling him right now.

"Those were the families belonging to the Dark Guild. They were promised they would be safe if they worked for the shadow and stayed in the shadow continent, as you can see that's exactly not true. Gary and Morfran were deeply connected to the shadow, they knew the leader well, but with them gone….there is only me, and since I'm not infected by the shadow the link between us is weak, and it's causing a divide between the Dark Guild and shadow, but where can they go?

"We can't leave the shadow now, and there is no kingdom that will take us."

She could see the struggle across his face. Monk had so much on his mind from day one, and from the beginning he was doing everything for the sake of Avrion. This was the kind hearted man she remembered and used to love. The problem was, he was too gentle and wished to save everyone.

"You probably don't believe me." Monk said as he lifted his head, only to find Martha's there in front of him. His cheeks started to redden seeing how close she was, and her beautiful green eyes were even more spectacular up close.

"Monk, you're an idiot!" She said, fl.i.c.k.i.n.g him on the forehead. "You didn't have to go through all of that on your own, and of course I believe you. I could always tell when you were lying and when you weren't. That's why I was so sure you never went to the other side.

"But we could have helped you, why didn't you come back and tell us sooner rather than now while everyone is stuck in this mess!"

"But you don't understand, have you ever seen a dragon before?" Monk asked. "Their powers, it's beyond that of any ranked beast, they're just so strong. I'm not talking about the one that you saw in the war either, that was nothing compared to what I had seen. I needed to find a way to beat the shadow from inside out, but I still haven't done it. The shadow guards don't treat me with the same respect as they did Gary and Morfran. I haven't seen that strange man since."

Martha started to chuckle quietly.

"No, I haven't seen a dragon, but if you're worried about them having one, we have one as well. And it's the strongest one that has ever existed."

There was clearly a confused look on Monk's face, and slowly that look changed to shock as Martha revealed that Ray was none other than, the Great red dragon Sen of the past.

"But…how can that be…" Monk thought, as his eyes filled with tears and he thought back to all the times he and Ray had journeys together in the academy, and even when he had saved them from Morfran.

"Ray, no wonder you were so amazing, I'm sorry for ever doubting you." Monk said, but then he was reminded of something.  "Speaking of Ray, where is he?"

*******

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