Chapter Two

One Year Ago.....

The citizens gathered in the town square were lost on the reason why they had been gathered here like this on such a short notice. Only murmurs were heard and the grim mood enveloping the crowd could be sensed even from a mile away.

One of them guessed something bad must have happened or they wouldn't have been gathered here like this. Torren had never been a peaceful region at all. There is always one mess or the other going on in here which robs the people of their night's sleep.

Their patience was rewarded when a man in royal white clothing appeared on the stage. His blonde hair was tied into a ponytail and his emerald eyes scanned the crowd, sensing their tension. The man cleared his throat to get everyone's attention towards him before speaking.

"Fellow citizens of Torren..." He began, planting a neutral expression on his face. Thank you for assembling here in such a short notice. I have a bad news which is why I want you all to steel your hearts...."

The murmurs died down when he spoke. A few people in the crowd had already anticipated that this man had come bearing bad news.

"The Augur, the man we al revered, respected and loved who had set out to eradicate all the cults infesting the Torren Region did not return. And the cults? They are still active.." The blonde man didn't even beat around the bush with his announcement. A grim facial expression had replaced the neutral one on his face.

The citizens hearing this were really lost. Was the strongest man in the region really dead? Are they not safe anymore? Who will protect them now in the absence of the Augur?

"But I believe that the Augur is still alive.." The man's voice broke through the crowd again and the single sentence reignited hope in their hearts. "There is no proof that he is gone from this world and I will be the one to prove it. Until the Augur returns, I Jaern shall serve as the Second Augur of Torren and make it a cult-free land!"

Jaern's words and his declaration had truly managed to reignite hope into the citizens. They were relieved to hear the fact that there are people stepping up themselves to protect them. Many people were aware of Jaern's strength and wouldn't dare to underestimate him now. He is the only man who can take place of the Augur.

The cultists now are going to regret being born.

"I assure you that I will utilize all of my resources to find the First Augur and eliminate the cults along the way. The day where we all will be living in peace is within our grasp. No more will we have to worry about our children or any of our loved ones being taken away from us. We would be able to sleep without worry in our hearts."

The audience begin cheering when he finished his speech. Their expressions and the voice of cheering told Jaern that they believe in him. The believe that he will be able to accomplish what the First Augur failed to do.

"LONG LIVE THE TORREN REGION!"

Content with his audience's reaction, Jaern descended from the stage to make his exit.

_____________________________________________________________

'I killed a human being...'

Mew reappeared once again when it confirmed the danger of the man here was no more. But now it had other problems in it's hands. The human he is supposed to help is now wallowing in guilt. It got to do something. Or just let the human be? The choice making is difficult.

Sho gazed down at both of his hands which still held onto the blood soaked knife. His hands weren't shaking at all. He easily killed off a fellow human being and his hands didn't even shake at all. The only thing which he felt was guilt but it was soon disappearing with a sense of judgment which argued that it was something necessary to be done.

He looked down at the man he killed before his attention shifted to the hand scanner on the doorway. It felt as if someone else took over him when he stood up quickly wiped the knife clean with the cloak worn by the man.

The robe seemed to be a specific code of uniform for some group or something. Which means that this robe is worn by others as well who are on the other side of the door. Sho needs to be cautious if he wants to escape from here unscathed. Hands needed to be stained in dirt and blood.

More than wallowing in guilt of killing a human who could have killed him if he hadn't done anything, Sho wanted to get out of here and would love to find more about himself. Why was he captured? Why did they try to rob his memories? Who is he?

These were the question floating in his mind and in order to get answers he will have to act fast and without any kind of hesitation.

Sho quickly disrobed the man and wore the robe over himself and covered his head with the cloak so that his face couldn't be seen. Mew watched over him while he wore the extra clothing, being on guard and keeping an eye on their surroundings.

Sho then dragged the man near to the gate before putting his hand on the scanner. A green light glowed on the scanner which meant confirmation and the door opened to him. Quickly tossing his limp body to the side, Sho walked over to the other side, the door closing behind him.

The sight that welcomed him after few more minutes of walking in empty hallways which led to one point was anything but an exit. Mew had gone invisible again.

It was a massive gathering of all the cult members wearing the same robes. He joined the lines to avoid any unwanted suspicions. His crimson eyes landed onto the center where everyone else was directing their gazes as well and his eyes widened from the sight.

A kind of summoning circle was drawn on a raised platform and on the center of the circle was a similarly robed individual, praying for her life and to have mercy on her. Persephone stood there beside her, looking down with expressionless eyes and the same twisted grin from before plastered on her face.

Persephone was excited. She is going to try this once again. Last time it was a male so she figured using a female for this purpose might prove beneficial. She can't let this chance slip. There shall be no room for any mistakes this time.

"Don't do this! I don't wanna die!!" The chained cult member protested as she yanked the chains she was tied to.

"Need I remind you that when you joined, you made a pact that you would do anything for the Cult of Darkrai." Persephone spoke, her voice devoid of any sort of emotion. "This is no different from doing anything for the cause."

"Lady Persephone! Please have mercy! I will do anything!"

"Hush sweetie. That is what you are doing just now." Persephone chuckled putting a finger on her lips before stepping away from the circle.

None said a word as Persephone spread her hands and closed her eyes. She began chanting a few verses in some unknown language which caused the red summoning circle to turn pitch black in color and black sparks could be seen emitting from it. An intense pressure overtook the room, making everyone nearly bow down on their knees minus Persephone. Her eyes snapped open and power begin flowing through her to the summoning circle.

"Darkrai, Sovereign of Nightmares! I summon thee to enter this realm at once!" Persephone yelled out, muting out the cries of the subject she is going to sacrifice.

"In exchange I offer you the soul of this loyal servant to be bound forever in your Nightmare Realm. Now be summoned at once!"

Sho watched in horror as the bounded woman fell over, writhing and crying out in pain before slumping over the ground, motionless. If killing a fellow human being had made a pit of guilt in Sho's stomach, this overshadowed everything.

For a moment time seemed to have stopped. Everyone along with Sho had their eyes glued in the scene in front of them. A dark mist had formed above the now black summoning circle and as per Persephone's request, the Sovereign of Nightmares had actually appeared.

Darkrai was a black, shadow-like Pokémon with a small head and a white fog-like ghostly plume billowing from its head and covering one of its spine-chilling blue eyes. It also had a red spiky growth around its neck. It had claw-like hands and would appear to be wearing a dark, ripped cloak over itself.

Sho really wanted to run. He valued his life more than anything right now. He had been saved from the brink of death thanks to a miracle and doesn't want to jeopardize it again. Yet his legs seemed to be frozen in one place. All he could do was witness all this. He felt his life being hanging to a thread.

He stood petrified, watching Persephone and Darkrai converse, well mostly the former doing all the talking with a sick delighted smile on her face. Her enjoyment was short lived as Darkrai suddenly vanished from sight, leaving no trace of its presence behind. Even the black mist was gone.

Sho's relief over Darkrai vanishing was short lived much like Persephone's delight over summoning Darkrai. One glance at her face and he could see how angry she was. And as if to add salt on the wound, him escaping would definitely fuel her anger even more but it would be the her followers suffering her wrath not him. He has to make sure of that and this is his chance to make that happen.

"It vanished again! LOVELY! I'm sure it has gone to see that whore of my sister." Persephone ranted on, her hands balling into fists. She turned around glaring at her followers, stepping down from the platform. "She isn't even half devoted as I am! And it even cost me a grunt!"

"Lady Persephone!" The two who had been guarding Sho's cell walked up to her, being brave enough to block her path. Before she could give any retort, they both beat her to it.

"We request that you please try again and this time we will capture Darkrai by force. We should not let an opportunity go waste. We can even use the pri--"

"I don't recall giving you mongrels enough freedom to give me advice.." Persephone's glare was enough to put someone six feet under the ground.

From her Dusk Ball, emerged a black, quadruped, canine Pokémon with long orange snout and orange underbelly. He had small red eyes and a black nose. Around his neck is a white band with a skull-shaped pendant. Similar white bands were on his ankles and three rib-like edges on his back. His tail was skinny and had a triangular tip. On the top of his head rested two curved gray horns.

The two cult members stepped back in fear, all their bravado having gone in a split second when Persephone called out her hellhound. The Pokémon in question had a nasty expression on his face. He seemed to be waiting for some kind of confirmation.

"We were sorry! We were out of line! Lady Persephone--!"

Their protests died as the Pokémon burned them to ashes in seconds, leaving not even their burnt corpses. All that remained was a heap of ash on which the Fire-type rubbed his paws on before walking back to his master's side.

Fear was visible on every grunts faces even if they were covered by their cloaks. Some of them were even shaking wondering who would be her next target and who would be burned down to ashes in order to quell her rage. Luckily she didn't do anything of that sort and simply walked away.

"I am going to check up on our guest." She spoke with her Pokémon following her.

It was Sho's chance to run. Having seeing her short fuse first hand, he knew it won't be long when she discovered what happened down there. Then she would lose her remaining cool and might even burn every one of her members to ash. He needs to escape before she discovers his absence.

Once she went out of sight with the grunts murmuring among themselves still hurdled together and not paying any particular attention to anything, he made a dash for the exit. He knows Mew will be following him in its invisible state so he doesn't need to worry on the Mythical Pokémon's safety. What mattered right now is his own life.