The Summoner's Mark (First Draft) (Book One)

Beacon in the Darkness

After the Mage Captain had been dealt with and the crew that served him had been either sent to the afterlife or captured so they could pay for the crimes that they committed, Sin and Nohki once again claimed a seat upon Soren. Once they were upon the Familiar, they were quickly brought into the air so they could begin their search for their comrades that should be battling with the Raiders that still currently held control over the village that had once been Sin's home.

Soaring through the air, Sin could feel Nohki's hands upon his body and though he knew that the reason for this was so he wouldn't fall from the Griffin; he hoped that it was also because he didn't wish to let go of him since during the last battle, he was almost taken from the older boy. 

Even with the thoughts of the reasoning behind Nohki's hands being plastered upon him rolling through his mind, Sin was still able to focus on the objective at hand. With his eyes peering at the world below them, he carefully searched each area that his eyes fell upon as he looked for his comrades that had followed him from Kanerra.

While he still hadn't been able to see any signs of the others, he was able to see that many battles were taking place throughout the village and while he could see that most of the fighting was being done by the Zesian soldiers who had came to free the village; Sin could also see that villagers had started fighting back against their captors.

"It was a smart move to send us to free the village children considering that it allowed us to have others who were willing to fight for Caso's freedom beside us." Sin contemplated as they glided above a battle that was taking place between the villagers and the Raiders who had been planning to sell them off as slaves.

As his eyes gazed at those that were fighting for their freedom, Sin felt the same urgency to help these combatants as he felt when he saw the Zesian Soldiers that he had just finished battling beside. With this urgency, Sin was about to direct Soren to land amongst those fighting below them but before he could do so; Nohki's voice drifted around them. "This isn't the time for us to delay our search for the others and though I wish that we could help these villagers as well; you are injured which would only put them and us in jeopardy." Nohki explained to the other male before moving his hand so it could sit upon Sin's wrist.

Though Sin wished to ignore the words that Nohki threw out around them and risk himself once more to save those who were in danger, considering how close he came to losing his life moments prior; he knew that the best thing for them to do would be to continue with their search for comrades.

Sparing one more look upon those that were fighting for their freedom, Sin nudged Soren along once again and as the Griffin started to slice his wings through the air; Sin pulled his eyes away from the villagers that he once called neighbor and focused on finding his friends and comrades.

*

After searching for what felt like an eternity, the pair eventually spotted an area that was set up within the village that hadn't been torn apart by flame and fury. Within this section, was what looked to be a makeshift medical area considering that Sin could see the white glow of magic shimmering through the darkness that surrounded the world.

Knowing that there was only one person who had come with them that access to that type of magic, Sin immediately directed Soren towards the white glow that felt as if it was a beacon of safety within this war-torn village.

The moment that the Griffin felt his Summoner's silent command ripple through his body, his wings were cutting through the sky; in the direction that his Summoner wished to go. Due to the force that Soren put behind each beat of his wings, he was able to soar across the distance that separated Sin and Nohki from one of the full-fledged Mages that had been sent on this mission along with them in no time.

Before long, the Griffin was landing within the confines of the medical area and due to their sudden appearance; the soldiers that were keeping guard of the area were quick to unsheathe their weapons. Not particularly wishing to be skewered by those that they were fighting alongside of; Sin along with Nohki quickly held their hands up in a way that would allow the soldiers to know that they weren't of any threats to them.

Along with this act, Sin's voice fluttered out which he hoped would help cause the weapons that were pointed at them to vanish by into their sheathes. "There is no reason to fear us. We are amongst those that Kanerra sent to help liberate Caso from the Raiders." Sin explained as he continued to keep his hands firmly in sight of those who at any moment may decide to attack them regardless of the words that they had just spoken.

Upon hearing the words that Sin had just spoken to them, one of the soldiers that were amongst those who were aiming weapons at them; sheathed the sword that they were holding and before Sin was able to wonder what he was doing, he quickly vanished inside of the tent that continued to have the white glow of magic flickering within it.

Seeing this, Sin was hopeful that this soldier was going to go and collect Sierra who would surely force the remaining soldiers to sheathe their weapons. Thankfully, they didn't have to wait long before the white glow vanished, and two forms stepped out of the tent and just as he had originally thought; Sierra's familiar face shone within the light that was associated with the torches that were placed within the camp.

"What is it that you were needing..." Sierra muttered out as she made her way into the world that sat outside of her tent and though Sin wasn't sure if she originally planned on speaking more than this, the moment that her eyes landed upon the soldiers who were holding their weapons forwards; her eyes moved in that direction and as her eyes landed upon two of the students who had joined her on this mission, her voice fluttered out once more. "...put your weapons away. They are no threat to any of you!"

With each word that she threw into the world, Sierra was taking steps towards them and by the time that she had reached the two males; the soldiers that were within the camp had sheathed their swords and removed the arrows that were pointing towards them. Once arriving in front of them, Sierra motioned for both Sin and Nohki to remove themselves from Soren's back.

Almost instantly, Sin started to climb down though before he was able to remove himself completely from Soren's back; Nohki stopped him. Turning to face his partner, he was about to question him on this reason though before he could do so; Nohki was flinging himself from the Griffin and the moment that he touched the ground, he was turning back with his hand held out for Sin to take.

At first, Sin was still confused on the reasoning for this though he was eventually able to figure out the reasoning behind it and once he did; he was grasping ahold of the hand that Nohki was offering him. With Nohki's help, Sin was able to make it off his Familiar's back without jostling his ankle and as he touched the ground; Sierra noticed that something was off about his movements which caused her to rush over to him.

"Sin, you're injured! Let's get you to my tent before any more damage is done." Sierra cried out as she grabbed ahold of Sin from one side while Nohki was on the other and once the two of them had Sin sandwiched between them; Sierra led them towards her tent.