"So, where are we going again?" she asked. Exile pulled out a map to show her. He placed his index finger on an area in a forest region.

"We’re going here, to my home village of Aundon." he said.

"Why?" she asked.

"Yes, Lord Exile. I too would like to know our objective." Suke said.

"I’ll tell you our plan when we get there, but for now, we have to get there." Exile replied as he put the map away. They continued to walk across the barren plateau from their home.

"Lord Exile, shall I scout ahead?" Suke asked.

"Yes, Suke." Exile replied. Suke dashed ahead into the sky. Kirol then stretched and took a deep breath of cool air.

"I love nature." she said, cheerfully.

"I can see that." Exile said, with a small smile. The two walked side by side through the desert.

"So you grew up in a village called Aundon?" Kirol asked.

"Yup." Exile said, as he held his arms behind his head in relax.

"I’ve never heard of it."

"It’s a bit of a secret shaman village."

"Oh, I see." Kirol said. At that moment, Suke flew in.

"Lord Exile! I found the end of the desert!" Suke said.

"Excellent, Suke." Exile said. "Okay, everyone, let’s go."

For the next day, the group traveled to the end of the desert and beyond. The barren wasteland became a bright, green forest full of life. The morning dew shined off the leaves of the trees and the flowers gleamed with bright colors. Kirol couldn’t stop gazing at the natural beauty they were passing through. After a few more hours, the group arrived at a small village. It had only about ten buildings, but it also had a lake. Not very big at all, but sufficient. Shamans and their spirits rushed between buildings, completing their tasks for the day. Exile scanned the area until he discovered it. He walked to an old building that was nearly destroyed by time. Kirol and Suke followed.

"Ah, it’s good to be home." Exile said.

"This is your home?" Suke asked.

"It’s a bit old." Kirol said.

"Well, I haven’t been here in over 10 years. What do you expect?" Kirol embarrassingly looked away.

"I see." she quietly said. Exile then diverted his attention to a small altar next to the house and walked to it.

"Hello Father." he quietly said. Kirol and Suke confusingly stared at Exile.

"Your father is dead?" Suke asked.

"Yes..." Exile trailed off. "Remember? I told you that hellion spirits killed him." Kirol worryingly look at Exile.

"Sorry..." she said.

"That’s okay." he said. "It couldn’t be helped." Exile focused on the altar once again and closed his eyes. "Yes, I have been fine." he said. "My guardian has been fine, and my lady has been fine as well." Exile felt light pulses from the altar. "Father, lately I have heard a voice. I cannot tell who it is." Silence filled the area. "Oh...that’s fine...no, I have come for a friendly visit as well. I will find the answers...thank you, Father. May the holy light protect you as well." Exile opened his eyes and turned around.

"What was that?" Kirol asked.

"Trance. It’s how I can communicate with those who have passed over." As Exile was about to explain, a scream was heard from the other side of the village. Exile quickly dashed to the other side to find who screamed. Kirol followed behind, and Suke hovered after them. Upon arriving, Exile discovered something. He found a spirit. It was female, with brown hair and an age around 12, he thought. She was not moving. She seemed to be in a state of shock. "Kirol! Look at this!" he said. Kirol looked over to the girl.

"What happened?" she asked, scared.

"I don’t know. I’m guessing she’s the one who screamed." He brushed the spirit’s hair out of her eyes and stared at her face. Her eyes were closed. "Suke!" he called.

"Yes, Lord?" Suke replied.

"Give her some spirit energy. That should wake her up."

"Yes, Lord." Suke began to wave his arms around and a thin stream of light shot out into the spirit girl. Exile and Kirol shielded their eyes from the light. The stream broke and the spirit girl stirred.

"Great work, Suke." Exile said in praise.

"No problems at all, Lord Exile." he replied, with a proud grin on his face. The girl continued to stir until she opened her eyes.

"Huh?" she said.

"Hey, you okay?" Kirol asked.

"What happened?" she said. Her eyes then widened and she sat up. "The beast!" she yelled. "Where’s the beast?"

"What beast?" Exile asked.

"The one that attacked me. It was big and red, a hellion spirit, I swear it was!"

"Hellion spirit?" Kirol asked. Exile cringed.

"Yes. Where did it go?" she asked.

"We never saw anything." Kirol said.

"Oh." the girl solemnly said. She then focused her eyes on Exile, who was looking to the lake. Impossible, she said, It couldn’t be him. Exile noticed her staring and shot a look at her.

"Yes?" he asked.

"Nothing. I thought you looked like someone I know." she embarrassingly replied. Exile confusingly shrugged the comment off and continued to stare at the lake.

"Do you know anything else about this beast?" Kirol asked her.

"I know that it was a hellion spirit. Big, red, and with scratches on its face, like battle scars. I saw it and I blocked its path. It attacked me and disappeared."

"You should know better than to block a hellion spirit’s path, especially at your age and without any true spiritual skills." Exile sternly said.

"I know..." the girl said with remorse. Exile turned to Kirol.

"We better check this out." he said.

"You’re right." Kirol turned back to the spirit girl. "We never got your name."

"My name...is..." the girl hesitated.

"C’mon, you can tell us." Exile said.

"Kumi." she said.

"Kumi?" Kirol asked. "Your name is Kumi?" The girl nodded slowly.

"Well, Kumi," Exile said, as he walked to her. "We’re gonna need you to help us find the hellion beast. So, you’re coming with us."

"Exile!" Kirol said. "You can’t just force a girl to find a hellion spirit just because you want her to!"

"Fine, fine. Kumi, will you assist us in finding the hellion beast?" Exile politely spoke, with Kirol watching him.

"Yes." Kumi quietly said.

"Okay." Exile said. "Time to find a hellion spirit."