[DragonSphere]

(Correction, make that 3)Part 2:

Indeed, they were monsters of fallen souls. Some carried weapons like swords, while others were so hideous that they even had wings to float with. They closed in on the party, ready to destroy their trespassers. Goji took out his two swords once again and tried to fight some of them off, but his weakness from the last battle with Caspin led him to easily be overtaken by the monsters' evil power. Cain, too, tried with his weapon but also failed.

"It is no use! We cannot defend them off by ourselves."

Just as the monsters were about to eliminate them, a shadowy figure appeared.

The fog made it hard for the friends to tell if the figure was a man or a woman, all they could conclude was that it was riding on a chocobo. It wore a long dark cape with a hood concealing its countenance. The body was equipped with a thin layer of chain mail and cloth. The hands were covered with battle gauntlets and its legs with armored braces. The monsters became distracted by the stranger and started to head towards him. In response to the herd, the figure pulled out a sword from its sheath and brandished it high into the air.

The fiends came screeching loudly at their new prey, but this didn't seem to bother it too much. As the monsters came, it slashed them one by one with the sword. Unfortunately though after each one was killed, more and more enemies came; thus making it seem like an endless sea of evil. The party could not believe their eyes, what kind of human could withstand this armada? Finally, after slashing hundreds upon hundreds of fiends, it called to the others, "Come fellow travelers, follow me!" it said in a masculine voice. "Do you think we should trust him?" asked Cain.

"That does not matter, we have but little choice left." said Ured sternly.

Quickly they hopped onto their chocobos and pursued the heroic warrior, staying close to his trail as much as possible. They sped through thorn bushes and tress, with the monsters not far behind them. Rather than ask where they were heading to, the team just stood silent, only concentrating on enduring the rough ride caused by the thick forest growth. The patter of the all the chocobos' running feet echoed throughout the area. Suddenly, the stranger yelled, "Sharp left up ahead. Be ready!" The reason for this message was that a large, dark 'bottomless' hole covered with gnarled branches that was positioned in front of their path and therefore could not be seen if it were not for a warning. The others heed his words and were able to avoid it, while some of the monsters did not.

Finally, they came to a stop in front of a large structure. "Huh? Why are we stopping?" asked Sion, but the man just ignored him. Instead, he got off his chocobo and knelt down. "What're you doing? Hordes of monsters are just 20 yards away from us!" Again, Sion was ignored. The man then started chanting in a weird language. "How can you be chanting at a time like this? Look, they're coming! What are we going to do? We are nothing but sitting ducks here!" As the ghouls and goblins came closer, the chanting of the man became louder. When the monsters were just about to attack, a huge spherical light surrounded the party, which the fiends could not penetrate. "Whoa! What did you just do?"

"I'll explain once we get inside, come."

As they entered the building, everyone but the man stood in awe. Throughout the room were beautiful statues and stain glass windows, depicting ancient stories and figures throughout Ura's history. At the end of the room stood a rather big altar, containing a red jewel. "Welcome to the Falgabird Temple." he greeted.

"So this is the temple. Interesting, we were just looking for it too." commented Ured.

"Were you? Well, I have to inform the High Priest of your arrival. Please, stay where you are." The man then walked down the hall and soon disappeared from sight.

During their waiting period, the party decided to investigate the surroundings. They hopped off their chocobos and started to look around. Sion, with Drake on his shoulders, curiously studied the statues; most of them being old and rusted. Cain carefully examined the torches that burned on both sides of the entrance. Their composition was especially peculiar to him. Ured scanned the different types of pictures that were shown through the stain glass windows, each one reminding him of an earlier memory from his past. Meanwhile, Goji and Eris went to the altar, discussing amongst themselves of the jewel. "This looks rather familiar…" she said, "Haven't we seen this before Goji?"

"Not that I recall." he replied, "Maybe it's just a coincidence.

"Yea…but, oh never mind. Look, here comes that man."

Coming from the alcove beside the altar was the stranger that had brought them here. Behind him was an old man, wearing a white vestment and scarf. "Everyone, please gather around the altar. You can leave your chocobos at the entrance." The others quickly followed his order. As he got closer to the old man, Ured was baffled. "Why, Sigmund! What in Ura are you doing here!"

"'Ured, Ured Raidus…is that you! It has been many years since our last meeting, my friend."

"Yes, indeed. But I would never have thought you to end up here as a High Priest."

"Well, things change Ured. And for me, it is probably for the best. Now, Beowulf here told me about you and your friends' condition. How can I be of aid?"

Sion came up and showed Sigmund the body of Drake. "This here's Drake. Recently, we were involved in a battle. Luckily though, Drake saved us and destroyed the enemy. But it drained so much energy from him, which would explain his state of unconsciousness. We came here to seek medical attention to not only Drake but to a few of my friends as well."

"I see. Everyone, please follow. Beowulf, introduce yourself to them before we go."

The man took off his hood and turned towards the others.

"Sorry for my rudeness earlier during the chase. My name is Beowulf, the Temple Knight of Falgabird. I serve here under High Priest Sigmund and have sworn to protect this sacred ground with my life. There is no need to thank me for rescuing you all. It was merely my duty."

"Yes. Everyday, he goes out into the forest and searches for either survivors or stray travelers. Now let us go." Sigmund added.