AWAKENED THANE

"In the foremost gale, my sturdy blade, swings true."

Thane - The Veiled Wind is an agility-based ranger awakened hero of the Lightbearer faction.

Deep in Rayne Manor, Estrilda lies unconscious on her bed. That girl of unwavering will no longer wears her military uniform, instead revealing a fragility commensurate with her age. Covered by a thin sheet, her body displays strange scars.

"A letter from Thane, Miss".

A maidservant gently opens the bedroom door and gazes expectantly at the girl on the bed. Yet there Estrilda lies, her brow consorted into a frown, seemingly oblivious to all around her. The maid sighs quietly, and begins to read aloud the letter she holds.

"Dear Estrilda, I hope this letter finds you well. As you read this, I am on my way to determining the root cause of your injuries. There is no need to worry, as I made good arrangements for all of Rayne Manor's affairs prior to departure. I met your uncle Baden in the desert, who, while unable to return to the Empire, still misses and cares about the Raynes terribly. He is also running around in the hope of solving this matter. Please rest well at home, and forgive my being unable to come to visit for the foreseeable future. If all goes well, however, your pain will soon be but a distant memory…"

As the maid reads, Estrilda's furrowed brow gradually relaxes, and the sound of long stable breaths emanates from the bedroom.

In a makeshift camp, deep in the Scorched Expanse, Thane cleans his sword. The wind whistles faintly above his blade, and the flickering fire casts dancing shadows over his face. The journey was not as smooth as he had made out in the letter, as evidenced by the creature's corpse lying on the ground just outside the camp.

Strange scarring totally covers the body, making it difficult to distinguish the human form underneath. Moreover, the scars are identical to those that covered Estrilda. Thane, gazing upon the scar-crossed corpse of the creature, fell into deep contemplation.

He had left the Empire alone in search of a way to heal Estrilda. Heading to the Dark Forest, he sought help from the Wilders, those well-versed in natural remedies.

There, he fell in with two companions:

Talene from the Finches and another, a historian, from whom he learned the secret behind the dreaded injuries.

These peculiar creatures are known as Corruptors, and came about as a result of the increasingly unbalanced elements. Their attacks are imbued with the chaotic powers of the elements. When mortals are corrupted by unbalanced power, such scarring appears on their bodies as they sink into unconsciousness. As the corruption progresses, they have no hope of ever waking again. There is no medicinal remedy for such corruption. Only by seeking out the Five Elemental Guardians and using their Emblems to activate the Elemental Altar car harmony and balance be restored, and the corrupted awakened. The consequences of an elemental imbalance is not as simple as just confronting strange creatures, it also gives rise to frequent calamities, ones that will eventually bring Esperia to its knees. This is a world-changing disaster standing before us.

Thane made up his mind. He would travel with them on an arduous journey to seek oui the Elemental Guardians.

Thane had just dealt with a group of Corruptors who had followed him and recalled the past few days' events in the light of the flickering campfire.

Thane's party had entered Mauler territory three days ago, intending to explore deep within the desert, seeking out the reclusive Granit, Guardian of Earth. While passing through the Land of Exiles, a mass of Corruptors were discovered surrounding Respen and Baden. As one of the Corruptors viciously attacked Respen, Thane and his companions joined the fray without hesitation, fighting valiantly against the Corruptors.

Thane and Baden fought together once more, shielding each other just as they had in times past. They moved as one, each knowing when to attack and when to defend, and broke through the Corruptors' defenses.

But there were too many Corruptors, whose frenzied and insane movements managed to hem them in. Thane's party gradually lost the upper hand, finally being completely surrounded by the enemy. Facing such a desperate situation, Respen told them of a plan, a potential way out of their dire straits.

Elemental Emblems could bestow power unto mortals, perhaps granting them phenomenal strength. But there was no precedent for mortal use of Emblems, and they must shoulder a terrible risk if they choose to try.

Bearing the Emblems could also bring disaster, as they would become a target for Corruptors. To them, Emblems were like a beacon of light in the darkness, drawing them relentlessly on like starving hyenas, tirelessly chasing the Emblem bearer. This was the cost of wielding an Elemental Emblem.

The epic battle is in the closing stages. The Corruptor forces have been decimated, but our heroes have long since become exhausted, unable to fight on any longer. Thane and Baden support each other, swaying, barely managing to stay on their feet. But those few Corruptors which remain feel no pity, swarming up in their lust to devour the two. Talene and the others struggle to cope with their own opponents, leaving no one able to render aid.

Thane loses his balance and thuds to the ground. His blurred vision sees only Baden, using his broken body to block the Corruptor, screaming for Thane to retreat. The cry of his closest friend brings him back to that day, long ago. when he was ambushed by the Maulers. He lost his arm on that fateful day, while his best friend had given his life to save him. And now, it seems, that this tragedy is about to be repeated.

Thane, ever resolute, made his decision. He used every ounce of his failing strength to call for the Elemental Emblem from Respen. He was ready to pay any price to prevent the tragedy from happening again. The Wind Emblem was woven into his body, and a great force rose within. Using all his might, Thane swings his sharp sword at the Corruptor.

A twister erupts from the tip of the sword and rises to the sky. Everything in sight is enveloped in the sudden gale.

As the dust slowly settles, the remaining Corruptors sink to the ground one by one, their throats slashed by the fierce wind blades.

The crisis resolved, Baden and Respen bid farewell to Thane and his band before hurrying away towards the Island of the Banished in search of the Wood Guardian. Thane, too, went his way towards the depths of the desert, seeking traces of the elusive Earth Guardian.

These best friends each go their way once more. They may travel their path on separate journeys but are certain to one day meet again.

"The next time I saw Thane, his swordsmanship was even greater than before. It was like wind through a crack in a rock, precise and lethal. The slightest error will cost you your life." - Brutus