Out of the tower

Death's Hand: "What you see is death, sorcerer. It has no allegiance, and is equal to all things. Both the good and the evil will face it in due time."

She follows Moon with her eyes.

"Well. I'll try and make that time as long as possible if I can help it. I do not like death. I do not like killing," said Kazuki as he looked from Moon to Death's Hand.

"Her running off with me and feeling my harpie's head get smashed left me with a big headache and left me tired. Just give me a minute and I'll start walking again." says Moon watching them. 'Why is she stareing at me like I'm the only thing around?' Moon thinks and winces as it makes her headache a bit worse

Death's Hand: "Do you wish me to carry you, mistress?"

Kazuki looked at the two, unsure of what to say. He just stayed silent and kept his sight out on any fowl or strange presences.

"I don't need carrying." says Moon quickly standing up. It causes her head to hurt worse and she winces again but she doesn't sit back down. She starts walking away through the trees again

Death's Hand starts to follow Moon, but then pauses and turns her head half-way to Kazuki. Her voice resonates somewhere in Kazuki's mind.

Death's Hand: "I advice not to follow her, sorcerer. You will bring great suffering upon her if you choose to do so."

She turns around and walks toward where Moon disappeared among the trees.

"Hold on," said Kazuki as he grabbed ahold of Death's Hand. "I need you to answer something first. Like. What the hell is the Scroll of Burden and what happened to everyone at the keep." Kazuki glared at her, not trusting this so called servant.

Death's Hand stops and turns to face Kazuki.

Death's Hand: "The keep was an illusion created in order to attract a summoner. The Slithersnakes, the skeletons, Lord Eligor, even the keep itself were incorporeal tissues woven together with reality. The purpose was to call forth the one who is fated to bear the Burden. If you do not believe me, go and see for yourself."

She nods in the direction they came from when escaping the Hell Fiends.

A brief pause follows.

Death's Hand: "Once upon a time, a great crime was committed that carried away the souls of millions of people. These souls cannot pass to the world beyond, and must all be bound to one person to keep them in a cage. If they are set free... this world would not endure. Your friend was chosen for that task, as so many before her."

Death's Hand goes slient and peers deep into Kazuki's pupilless eyes. Kazuki feels his life starting to drain away.

Kazuki felt his life draining by then his eyes hardened and he blasted his own spirit, his will forcing its way out to protect himself. "As I have been told, I am a sorcerer. I do not care about that. I am who I am. No matter what someone says I am. And I won't let someone like you hurt my friend. I will find a way to take the burden away from her," said Kazuki as his spiritual magic surfaced to guard him against the life draining. "I will find a way. She went into this without knowing what she was going into, I'm sure of it. and I won't let her be some puppet." His spirit grew stronger as he spoke and he could see his own yellow aura surrounding himself and pushing against her aura. "But what do you have to do with all this?" he asked as he kept her at bay as best he could. His want to protect moon being the only thing that was able to keep her draining back.

Death's Hand leans on her sword.

Death's Hand: "I am the one who committed the crime. The guilt is mine. When I died, my final wish was to save the innocents which were fated to sign the Scroll. The Maker granted my request, and I stayed in this realm to bear the burden of a million souls on my own shoulders in order to protect the Burdened ones themselves. I will suffer in their stead until the end of time."

She closes her eyes, and Kazuki could feel the life drain stop. Death's Hand slowly turned around and disappeared among the trees without saying anotehr word, leaving Kazuki alone in the clearing.

Kazuki still didn't understand fully. And he didn't want to abandon Moon like others did. He told himself he'd protect her from the dark mages, and he'd do that wether or not she wanted him to. He closed his eyes and felt their presence before heading toward them.