PART II: AFTER THE SEALING OF THE BLACK MAGE

Chapter 9: Hunt for the Seal Stones

• While researching the Onyx Dragons, Evan and Mir learned from Chief Tatamo of Leafre that a dark force had wiped out the Onyx Dragons centuries ago.

• Soon after, Evan investigated reports of a thief stealing herbs in Sleepywood. Evan learned that the thief was one of Francis’ puppets, which had stolen the herbs to heal Francis after he had lost to Aran. Grateful for Evan’s help, the puppet pulled some strings with Francis in order to allow Evan to become a temporary member of the Black Wings, which Evan accepted, mistakenly believing that the Black Wings were a noble organization that helped others.

• For Evan’s first mission, he obtained a special growth serum for the Black Wings, which they used on the Nependeaths of Orbis. Aran began investigating the sudden growth of the creatures and learned that the Black Wings had grown the Nependeaths in order to make them tall enough to reach the Sealed Garden, which contained the Seal Stone of Orbis. Aran attempted to stop the Black Wings and fought Dargoth the Giant, though she was unable to stop a top officer named Hiver from taking the Seal Stone with the help of Orchid.

• For Evan’s second mission, he worked with a Hoblin named Shammos in El Nath in order to obtain a black key, which he left behind for the Black Wings, who used it to steal the Seal Stone of El Nath.

• Soon after, Aran followed leads on Black Wings activity in Mu Lung and learned that the Shadow Knight of the Black Wings was planning to take the Seal Stone of Mu Lung. Aran attempted to stop the Shadow Knight in the Sealed Temple, though Hiver managed to take the Seal Stone. Nevertheless, Aran learned from Mu Gong that the Seal Stones had been left behind by the Heroes centuries ago, and that no one knew what their purpose was.

• Some time later, Aran followed leads on a crack in time appearing in Ludibrium, which led to Ellin Forest from centuries ago. There, Aran met with Athena Pierce in Altaire Camp and attempted to obtain the Seal Stone of Ellin Forest, though Hiver traveled back into the past and grabbed it first.

• Athena then attempted to give Aran an important letter that the Heroes had given to her, but as Aran could not take objects into the future, Athena asked Aran to find her in the future, as elves lived for centuries. In the present, Aran found Hiver attacking Athena and reading the letter. After Aran defeated Hiver, Athena gave her the letter, which Lilin decoded.

• Lilin learned that the letter had been written by the Heroes to the Empress of their time, asking her to protect the Seal Stone of Ereve. Knowing that the Black Wings knew about the Seal Stone of Ereve’s existence, Aran warned Neinheart about a possible attack.

• Soon after, Baroq attempted to steal the Seal Stone of Ereve, though Aran’s timely warning allowed the Cygnus Knights to stop him.

• Evan soon heard rumors of an Onyx Dragon on a remote island and attempted to travel there. Though they found a slumbering dragon there, they were unable to get past the large ice wall blocking them, and so he decided to turn back.

• Meanwhile, Evan met with Hiver and worked with him to steal the Seal Stone of Ludibrium. Feeling unease about whether he was truly doing the right thing, Evan and Mir began questioning the Black Wings and their motives.

• Soon after, Evan obtained a map to Turtle Island for Hiver, who took them to the same island where they had found the sleeping Onyx Dragon dragon. After being tricked by Hiver into breaking the ice wall separating them from the dragon, Evan and Mir felt that something was wrong and stopped Hiver from killing the dragon.

• The dragon then revealed himself as Afrien and told Evan the truth about the Black Mage destroying all the Onyx Dragons, as well as the fact that Mir was his child. Realizing that they had been used, Evan and Mir returned back to the sites of each of the missions and learned that the Black Wings had tricked them into stealing important treasures from each region. Furious, Evan and Mir sought out Hiver and attacked him, though he managed to escape. The two then decided to find Hiver and get even.