[center][i]Another dream...[/i][/center]

Yet, something was different in the air this time around; Zaino stood behind what seemed to be a violet barrier composed of dark magic, and faced three other people on the other side, almost as if he were spectating a duel within an arena. The atmosphere seemed to sap the air from his lungs and suffocate him, having difficulty in breathing. To the left, there was a fairly-armored man with his back to Zaino knelt down beside another unarmored person whose body was sprawled on the ground.

Surrounding the one who laid, blood stained the tiles of an intricate design that almost resembled that of an eye. The other one who was slightly wounded, after exchanging inaudible conversation with his partner, collected a tome and rose to his feet as his front came to view, revealing a mask. Opposite to them, a lone figure adorned in a crimson coat stood almost unscathed, chuckling just loud enough for Zaino and the other two to hear.

[b]"I'll destroy the very meaning of your existence, and you'll see just how much of a gap there still is between our strength."[/b] [i]That voice![/i]

[b]"Don't mock me, [i]Xanxus!"[/i][/b] The masked man retorted, tightening his fist as a red aura that sparked like lightning swirled around his body. Latched on to the left side of his belt was the dying man's Thoron tome, and on his back, a Tomahawk and [url=http://fireemblem.wikia.com/wiki/Master_Sword]a foreign blade that Zaino couldn't recognize[/url] crossed one another. [b]"I still haven't forgotten any of these two years. All of the people you killed... All of my friends you've slaughtered!"[/b]

[b]"Friends?"[/b] Xanxus scoffed, readying yet another foreign sword as the masked man charged at him with sword in hand. [b]"I told you once a year ago; didn't you learn your lesson before?"[/b]

As the two clashed weapons, Xanxus effortlessly parried the masked man's attacks and locked swords, staring down at him. [b][i]"The more friends you make, the more you suffer when they die!"[/i][/b]

Stepping back from the collision, the masked man sheathed his sword and wielded the Tomahawk briefly before bringing it back and hurling it in a powerful throw towards Xanxus. As the axe was halfway towards its target, the masked man swiftly used his left hand to lift the Thoron tome from his belt and, opening it, conjured a mighty beam of thunder from his right hand aimed at Xanxus' right side; [i]a preemptive strike.[/i] As this occurred in the course of two seconds, the masked man rearmed his sword and proceeded to attack from the left, almost as if he had been expecting Xanxus to be there.

[b]"So, this is the power of the [url=http://fireemblem.wikia.com/wiki/Dread_Fighter]Dread Scroll[/url] you sacrificed your swordsmanship for,"[/b] Xanxus said as he emerged from the side where the Thoron spell had been cast to. The masked man, surprised, was too late to react as Xanxus dealt two swift slashes to first the man's front and then shifted to the back, turning his back to him as he leaped into the air with a flip. Before the man could move out of the way, Xanxus aimed the final downward slash at the shoulder of the man's right arm, severing it as he landed on his feet in front of his opponent.

The man howled and recoiled in pain as Xanxus turned his back to him, first falling to his knees before his entire body slumped to the floor, quickly soaking in his own blood. The mask that covered his face, turned towards Zaino who could only watch in horror, cracked into several pieces until it broke off completely and revealed his face to him. [b]"A shame that you were unable to avenge your Shepherd friends once again, but hopefully, I've ended your suffering this time. Goodbye, Zaino."[/b]

---

Zaino awoke in a brief tantrum as chills ran down his spine in a nervous sweat, his eyes wild with fear. His fear and anxiety was soon replaced with realization as he got a sense of his bearings, no longer feeling as exhausted and hurt as he had earlier, though his head was pounding. [i]What the hell did I just see...[/i] It was then that he was able to notice that he was now laid in a bed that smelled rancid, and figured that he'd been taken to an inn when he collapsed earlier. [b]"As long as I'm away from those people, I'll be-"[/b]

Zaino gasped and had nearly fallen off of the bed as he, half-naked, saw Ambra wrapping a bandage around his leg. He reached to his right for his sword, but only grabbed the air, quickly hiding his embarrassment. There were more bandages wrapped around his chest and arms, and he could see that he'd also been cleaned up of the blood and grime. [b]"Wh-what are you doing?!"[/b]