All done! I almost turned this story into a four-shot, but I didn't want to give myself an excuse to put off finishing it. I recommend pulling up Iron-Blooded Orphans OST At the End of Sorrow on YouTube at the section with the *. My goal is to make you shed at least a tear. Enjoy!

"NO!" Rena sprang to her feet, her eyes flaring with desperation. If she couldn't rely on the spirits, she had to rely on her own. She called on the winds of Elrios to form a bolt of howling air on her bow. Pain coursed through her body as she poured her own mana into the attack, but she gritted her teeth and willed herself to ignore it. The suchwiin and Lua spun to face her, eyes wide with surprise.

And just as she was about to fire, she felt the pain dissipate. But the pain or lack of it didn't matter to Rena. Only her friend and the monster that threatened to take her away did.

"LET HER GO! RAIL STINGER!" She released the powerful bolt and it screamed through the air before impacting the stunned monster's face. A crack resounded in the clearing and the monster roared painfully. One of the beast's horns had been broken clean off its head, and blackened blood dripped from the wound.

But more importantly, it released a disoriented Lua from its grasp. Rena sprinted forward and grabbed Lua's wrist. And then without another word, she pulled her along in a run from the clearing.

Lua glanced back a moment, still in shock of what transpired. "Rena-"

"Just run, Lua! Please, don't speak. Just run. Please…" Rena didn't want to think about what nearly happened. She didn't want to think that her friend was willing to be taken. That train of thought would lead to someplace dark she did not want to imagine. She just wanted to run.

And run.

And run until all of it - the suchwiin, Lua's capitulation of her fate, the dying spirits - was far behind them. She could feel the sinister questions rear their heads in her mind, so she kept running to shut them out.

She could still hear the suchwiin roaring in agony, but it was not giving chase. Rena's desperate attack worked. But still she ran.

And ran they did until they arrived home. At the gates of the elven village, they stopped to catch their breath, and a pair of rangers heard them.

"Who goes there!?" One if them shouted. They approached with bows drawn.

Rena called out, "It's me, Radimir! And Lua is with me!" The two friends stepped from the shadows with their hands raised.

Radimir and the other elf lowered their weapons. "Rena? Lua? What are you two doing out? Do you understand tha-" He then noticed that the two were covered in dirt and sweat, and Rena had a couple faint bruises on her arms and face. "What happened?"

"We need to see Elder Branwen, Radimir. Now." Rena did not want to waste any time explaining what she and Lua had experienced. No one would believe them.

"Shouldn't you see a healer first, Rena? What happened?" Radimir began reaching out to her, but she took a step back and shook her head.

"Radimir, please. Now." Rena kept her plea short, an indication that the matter was urgent. Lua hadn't said a word and she refused to meet anyone's gaze with her own.

Radimir nodded after a brief moment of contemplation. "Very well. Shall I send Trion with you?"

Again, Rena shook her head. "We know the way Radimir. Just let her know we're coming. Now."

"As you wish. Come inside, quickly." He set his hand on the gates and muttered a spell under his breath. Lines of brilliant green snaked across the surface of the door and it swung ajar. Radimir pointed to a white spire illuminated by floating, green spirits beyond the elven homes. "Elder Branwen should still be praying at the temple. I'll send word you're on your way." He beckoned to a nearby sparrow, which flitted down from its perch onto his finger. He whispered a brief command to it before it took off towards the temple.

Rena grabbed Lua's wrist again and pulled her along. She hadn't said a word since Rena saved her from the suchwiin, and she wasn't resisting. As much as Rena wanted to sit Lua down and ask why she did what she did, she was afraid.

No. She was terrified of what Lua's answer would be. She had to consult Branwen. She would know what to do. She had to know.

As Rena and Lua winded through the streets of their slumbering village, Rena realized that the temple was a lot farther from the gates than she remembered. Perhaps it was the anxiety stretching her sense of time, or perhaps she never noticed it until now. It took much longer for the duo to finally arrive.

Passing a great ballista, a weapon meant to defend the tree in the event of an emergency, they finally arrived. The temple's pristine white surface was set aglow by numerous spirits floating around it. Just before they entered, Rena noticed several sprites sleeping in the bushes around the temple, wrapped in the leaves like tiny, green beds. She worried for those children she left behind in the clearing with the suchwiin. They were so weak when she fled with Lua. Fortunately, it seemed that the monster was not at all interested in the spirits, and was instead focused on Lua.

That last thought brought back the dark questions she suppressed earlier, so she forced their silence again. Stepping into the temple with Lua in tow, she immediately found the Elder waiting by a small El crystal. Radimir's sparrow was resting on a branch that snaked through the walls above.

"Rena, Lua. Radimir sent word that you had an urgent matter. What-" She noticed the bruises on her student. "Chugbogbad-eun josang, Rena! What happened? You're injured!" She quickly shuffled over, a small entourage of spirits following her. "Don't tell me you…"

Rena nodded as the spirits flew around her, healing her injuries. "Lua and I… we ventured out into the forest…"

Branwen scowled, a rare expression for her. "Rena-ssi, you know we forbid leaving the village at night, especially at this time of year."

Rena flinched at this. "I know, Branwen-nim. But the children are always frightened around this time, and I wanted to help. I wanted to find what was scaring them. But…" Her next words got stuck in her throat. Just thinking about the encounter sent chills up her spine. She shook it off. "Branwen-nim, they're real…"

"Rena-ssi…? What is real?" Branwen's expression changed to worry.

Rena took a deep breath. "The suchwiin, Branwen-nim. The suchwiin are real…"

The elder's eyes widened and she was silent for a moment. "... Are you certain, Rena?" She was no longer using honorifics. Rena had her full attention.

Rena again nodded. "Yes. The children that were with me told me so…"

Again, brief silence. "The suchwiin are, for better or worse, a story we created. We knew that some of us go missing every now and then, but to think… That they truly exist…" Branwen never imagined that a myth they had spun for centuries was actually a reality. The suchwiinwere meant to be a cautionary tale for elven children, one that suggested that monsters would come and take them away should they become envious, hateful or angry. It was a convenient explanation to the disappearance of such elves.

Those who actively rejected the virtues of their people would often go missing eventually. At first, fear drove the elves to shun such dark emotions, but soon the fear fell to habit and they naturally embraced their nature. Disappearances became less and less common, but still happened from time to time. They didn't think too hard on these events, figuring that perhaps the individuals who vanished merely left for the outside world and were living happily there. The suchwiin became dark joke from the past.

And now, they were real, very real if Rena was to be believed. And Branwen had much faith in the young elf.

She asked Rena to explain what happened, and Rena described the encounter in terrifying detail. Everything from how monster's appearance to its abilities, Rena left nothing out. But while she glossed over the beast's interest in Lua, Branwen realized something. Lua hadn't said a word - or even make eye contact with her - since she had arrived with Rena.

If the story of the suchwiin still held as true in reality as they did in fiction then the reason the monster attacked was because it wanted something; and the only thing, according the myth, that the suchwiin hunted for were elves harboring powerful negative emotions such as envy, hatred and fury. Lua turned her head away, as though sensing the elder's thoughts.

Branwen continued to listen to Rena's tale, choosing not to ask about the spirits that were left behind as Rena escaped from the suchwiin with Lua. And, as before, Lua made no move to interact with either of them.

Branwen needed to confirm her suspicions, so once Rena finished her tale, the elder turned to Lua. "Lua-ssi?" she asked gently, being sure to add that affectionate honorific. Lua flinched at her name and met the elders gaze out the corner of her own. "Are you hurt?"

Lua shook her head, but still didn't speak. Branwen sighed and looked to Rena. "Rena-ssi, we'll all convene in the morning with the other rangers to discuss our plans moving forward. For now, don't share what you experienced with anyone until we figure something out." Rena nodded her head. Branwen nodded back. "Why don't you get some rest, Rena-ssi? You may use the beds here in the temple. I would like to just check over Lua-ssi for injuries. She seems terribly shaken."

Rena opened her mouth to protest. "The spirits have nearly healed your injuries, Rena-ssi. Get some rest. I'll take care of Lua-ssi." Branwen interjected. Rena looked at her friend, then back to Branwen. She did this a couple more times before nodding her head and, at last, releasing Lua's hand.

"I'll see you in the morning, then. Lua…" She pulled her friend into an embrace, causing Lua to suck in a surprised breath. "Jal ja…"

She then bid the elder a good night and finally retreated into a nearby room. Once the door shut, Branwen turned to Lua with a soft smile on her face. "Lua-ssi, I know I asked earlier, but are you alright?"

Lua still didn't speak, only nodding her head. Branwen gently touched her arm. "I'm going to look over you for injuries, is that okay?" Again, a silent nod.

Branwen inspected the young elf's arms and legs for any wounds. There were a couple scraps and scratches, but nothing the spirits couldn't easily fix. The little sprites had already set to work on healing those injuries. She pressed Lua's abdomen and chest with her fingers and noticed the young elf occasionally grimaced. There were some bruises there, but again they were easily treated by the spirits.

"... Branwen-nim…?" The elder nearly missed her name being called, it was said so quietly. She shifted her gaze to Lua's face. "... Am I… worth it?"

The first words she spoke since coming to the temple seemed to carry a terrible weight, despite the softness that they were delivered with. "Worth what, Lua-ssi?" she asked gently.

"... Next to the spirits… Am I worth it…?" Again, a weight uncharacteristic of her voice's softness.

Branwen chose her next words carefully. "Lua-ssi, the value of a life cannot be measured. Each and every living thing; spirit, elven, human, even demon, hold value to someone. The spirits, despite their favor being granted to few, love everyone in equal measure. Are you worth it? I certainly believe so."

Lua did not speak and her gaze flitted to the floor again. Branwen saw her bite her lip briefly before looking back to the elder and nodding, a sign that her injuries were no longer an issue. Branwen stroked her sandy hair gently. "Get some rest Lua-ssi. You've been through much tonight."

Another nod, and then the young elf walked to the last open bedroom and silently closed the door behind her. The elder released a small sigh as she turned to the spirits around her. They looked at her anxiously and shook their heads.

Branwen had requested them to inspect Lua's emotions as they healed her. While underhanded, she didn't want to put the distraught elf under further stress. However, the spirits didn't seem to find any of the negative feelings that would have attracted the suchwiin radiating from her.

Could it be that Rena and Lua's encounter was one of terrible chance? Branwen hadn't studied the signs of the negative emotions the elves shunned for centuries, not since the tall tale of the suchwiin became a joke. Despite all her experience, all the long centuries and the memories that came with them, she felt - perhaps for the first time in a millennium - helpless.

She could feel something was wrong, so terribly wrong with Lua. But she didn't know what it could be. Lua was among the hardest working rangers in their corps. She pushed herself beyond what everyone would think is her limit, and would only try again and again when she came up short.

And all the while the elf would smile. A satisfied, happy smile that showed she was proud of what she had accomplished. And Rena would always be there to celebrate with her, even when no one else did.

And yet that elf - that happy, driven elf - seemed like a shadow now. This Lua, it wasn't the Lua Branwen knew. This Lua was miserable, she could tell. The smile she knew was gone, the brightness in her eyes was dim, and the few words she spoke carried something Branwen hadn't heard in centuries: pain.

But all of this shouldn't come from the Lua she knew. Could this perhaps be…

The true Lua? A Lua that existed behind that bright ranger?

It couldn't be… Branwen thought to herself. Lua never showed any signs of negativity, ever. The elder was actually quite impressed with the young elf in how she composed herself next to Rena. Rena was highly regarded by her people and yet Lua, who was always by her side, was more or less ignored. Branwen had worried that such treatment would foster animosity if not towards the other elves than to Rena. But Lua persevered, even seemed to take that as a challenge to excel.

So how could she be reason that the suchwiin appeared before them? It was, according to Rena, trying to make off with Lua during their encounter. But Lua's attitude prior to tonight and the legend just did not align. Lua had never exhibited the signs of one to be targeted by the monsters.

Branwen shook her head. She had much to do before morning, and fretting over Lua would have to wait. For now, she had to formulate a plan of action against a legend come to life. She left the temple quietly in deep contemplation.

And because of her inward focus, she failed to notice a shadowy figure leaving the temple behind her…

Rena couldn't sleep. Even though her body relished at the opportunity to finally rest on the comfortable bed provided to her, her mind spun vigorously with questions; some unpleasant and dark.

Why would Lua surrender herself to that creature? Why did it even try to take her? Was she-? Rena shook her head rapidly to cut off that train of thought.

It had to be a coincidence. It had to be because the suchwiin took anyone they came across. But then why did it try to kill me? The monster became highly aggressive when she stopped it from fleeing with her friend. There was a very strong possibility that her interference angered it.

But why?

Why?

Why?

Why?

Every time she asked this question, she could feel an answer gnaw at her subconscious; an answer that she dreaded.

Branwen told her to wait until morning. Perhaps then she could get some answers, some solutions. But this revelation that she actively fought back wasn't going to wait. She could feel it, rattling in its mental cage.

She needed to know the truth: That this encounter with a terrible legend was happenstance. She needed to talk to Lua.

So she forced her tired body off the bed and slipped on her boots. She pushed the door to the atrium open and walked to the room Lua was staying in. Branwen had left for the night it seemed, and the spirits had either left with her or were asleep outside.

As Rena lifted her hand to knock on the closed door, she felt that dreadful answer begin to whisper again, but she forced its silence again. Once I speak with Lua, I will know that this was all a terrible coincidence. I know it was!

She knocked. "Lua? Are you awake?"

No answer. Not surprising considering the ordeal they just endured. So she knocked again. "Lua? It's me. Can we talk?"

Again no answer. Rena didn't even hear any movement within. Was Lua asleep? That should be expected, but Rena needed to speak with her friend. She had to. "I'm coming in, okay?" She eased the door open and began to step into the room.

And realized it was empty. The immaculate nightstand and white bed were the only pieces of furniture in the room, so Lua couldn't really hide anywhere. The bed was also low enough to the floor that she couldn't squeeze herself under it, and the tiny window that allowed Ebalon's light in was far too small for anyone but spirits to get through. The only evidence that it was occupied were the slightly ruffled sheets of someone sitting on the edge of the bed.

Anxiety washed over Rena. "Lua…?" The whisper grew louder. She again silenced it. "Lua…?" No answer. No sound.

She was gone.

Just like that.

Gone.

Gone.

Gone.

No! She can't be gone! She must have left only recently. If I hurry I can catch up to her! Rena wasted no time. She spun on her heel and sprinted out the door, through the atrium and out of the temple. "Lua!" she cried as she ran out into the sleeping village. A couple lights in the surrounding homes turned on and a few sleeping spirits woke groggily. But she found no sign of her friend.

"Lua!" she yelled again. She could now vaguely hear tired voices inside the forest homes, but none were her friend. Maybe she went home! No, she must've gone home! So she ran through the village a short while until she arrived at Lua's house. The lights were out inside and she saw a trio of spirits floating outside it. They would have seen her friend if she came here.

She ran up to them. "Jag-eun geosdeul, gave you seen Lua?" she panted. The spirits looked at her worriedly, then to one another, then back to her. And to her horror they shook their heads. Lua wasn't here.

No… No. Nononono! If she isn't home or at the temple where could she have gone!? The whisper at last broke free.

The suchwiin was after Lua. Lua was the intended prey. Lua had fallen. Her breath quickened and a cold sweat broke out on her arms. It can't be… No! Lua can't be the reason the suchwiin is here! She silently argued.

Then why would suchwiin attack me and not her? Why did it try to kidnap her? Why did she offer herself to it? The spirits could sense the hysteria in her building and tried to comfort her, but she turned and ran from her friend's home before they could reach her.

She knew where Lua had gone. And she could only hope to get there in time…

It was difficult enough to avoid Branwen's notice as she left the temple, but it was even more so to sneak past Trion and Radimir at the gate. But she was the best ranger in the village, and she used every bit of that experience to pass them undetected. Now she was walking through the forest, bow slung across her back, quiver empty and a small knife sheathed on her waist. She made her way back to the clearing in silence, but she didn't enter it.

The suchwiin was gone, and she saw a small gathering of spirits there. She ignored them and found what she was seeking: the monster's blood. The black, viscous fluid seemed to writhe with a life of its own, as though the air of Elrios burned it. The creature had fled the clearing after its skirmish with herself and Rena, but the trail of blood persisted.

She followed it deeper into the forest. As she walked, she reflected on the disgust she felt. Not towards Rena for trying to save her. Not towards Branwen for giving her the answer she knew she would give to her conundrum.

It was towards herself for bringing this all upon her friend and herself. According to old myths, if there was any sign that an elf had fallen, it would be the appearance of the suchwiin before them. The creatures were supposedly capable of sensing the depraved emotions the elves shunned.

She thought that, perhaps, it was all in her head; that this hatred and envy were merely figments of her imagination. A small part of her denied that she felt this way, and it was because of this denial that those dark feelings festered.

And led the legend of a dark past to her. She carried the 'scent' the suchwiin craved, the 'scent' of a loathing none but herself could see. And it put her friend and the spirits her people cherished in danger.

She could hear it now. A low, animalistic panting could be heard from the shadows ahead of her. She paused for a moment. For what she did not know, but perhaps she was subconsciously waiting for something.

Or someone.

She shook it off. This all ended here. It had to end here; for herself, for the spirits, for Rena. This had to end.

She stepped past a trio of trees and found the beast plucking arrows from its back. It turned its gaze towards her and went silent. Was it surprised to see her? It didn't matter.

She took a deep breath and stepped towards the monster, praying that she was ready for whatever fate that awaited her…

Rena bolted past a couple sleepy elves she had woken earlier and made for the gate. The ranger pair of Trion and Radimir were still there and heard her quick steps. "Rena? I thought you went to go se- Hey! Rena!" The duo didn't even have time to react before she sprinted past them and into the forest. She heard their worried shouts behind her but she couldn't waste another moment.

She had to find Lua before it was too late. Lua had already tried surrendering herself to the suchwiin before, and if she was not in the village there was only one place she would go. She retraced their flight from the suchwiin and looked this way and that for any sign of her friend, but found nothing but leaves and branches.

Lua, don't do this! Please, don't do this! She ran and ran, oblivious to the nicks she received from the branches. At last she reached the clearing. Taking a moment to catch her breath, she surveyed the area. The monster was gone and the horn she broke off its head was lying on the grass, forgotten or abandoned. But Lua wasn't here. Had she gone further into the forest after the suchwiin? Was she hiding in the area?

Then she saw a small flock of spirits gathering in a corner of the clearing. Letting out a breath of relief, she knew they would have seen where her friend had gone or at least the suchwiin and guide her there. So she jogged over them, the grass crunching beneath her feet.

The sound attracted the attention of the sprites and they turned towards her. "Jag-eun geosdeul, have you see-" Rena started but cut her greeting short when the spirits reacted to her presence. Normally, the children would jingle in excitement to see her or at least smile. But what stunned Rena now was how they fled from her. They darted away, their expressions terrified.

"Ah, Jag-eun geosdeul, what is wrong? Is that monster still here?" She didn't feel that overwhelming presence the suchwiin exuded, but it was possible it was hiding nearby. But to her surprise, the spirits shook their heads. She tiptoed forward, slowly reaching out to them. "It's okay. No need to be afraid…"

One of the sprites floated towards her hesitantly, but then broke away to join the others after sending a quick glance at the ground in front of her. Rena was dumbfounded. Even scared, the children would gather around her because they felt safe with her. They never ran away from her.

For a moment, she forgot about her missing friend. She then noticed that the spirits were shooting glances at her and at the ground. She turned her gaze down.

And a gasp flew from her chest. There, lying lifeless on the grass, were spirits. Their light had extinguished, exposing their frail forms like barren twigs. Were these the children that were with her during the fight with the suchwiin? Did that monster… kill them?

Anger simmered in her chest and she looked to the spirits. "Jag-eun geosdeul, where is it? I swear it won't get away with this." She now had two reasons to find this monster. She would rescue her friend and avenge these innocent children.

But then a child spoke. Ina… Niiwhcus… The heat in her chest cooled. It wasn't the suchwiin. Then what had killed these children? She looked again at them and noticed something peculiar about their prone forms. All of them had been reaching towards something before they died.

She looked to the bright ones floating above and opened her mouth to ask if they knew what befell their brethren. But she didn't need to ask, because they were already answering her. They were pointing.

*At her. Rena's breath hitched, and struggled to form a protest. M… Me…? I killed these children? No! I couldn't! How could I have killed them!? I didn't even call on their power for that last attack! How could I- Then she remembered. She remembered her final, desperate attack on the suchwiin. How it felt.

She remembered the pain that coursed through her veins as she poured her own mana into the attack. And then how it dissipated just before she released it. She didn't think anything of it at the moment, but now she knew what that relief meant.

The spirits would often lend her their power when she didn't ask for it, a result of their mutual trust. The cause of death for these children was that trust. They had seen her in agony in that moment, and to ease her suffering they gave her the last remaining strength they had.

They died for her. They died because of her.

Her heart sunk and she fell to her knees. How could she do this to them? How could she do this to them!? Tears blurred her vision, but she made no move to wipe them away. The spirits, now realizing that she held no malicious intent as they feared, glided to her and caressed her face gently. She didn't deserve their concern, but she couldn't muster the energy to send them away. Sobs bubbled from her chest and she leaned over the fallen children.

Her mind chose this moment to remember Lua. She forced a gasp, her head snapped up and she saw something peeking over the treeline. Tendrils of shadows slithered from the forest. She knew what it meant.

The beast had claimed its prize. She was too late.

"..." She tried to say something. Anything. An apology. A plea. To Lua, to the spirits. But it was lost in her throat as a new wave of sons overcame her her.

I… I… In her desperation to save one, she lost both. One destroyed by her hand, the other lost. She had failed, completely.

I'm… a monster…

At last she made a sound: A pathetic wail that rang through the night, carried by the cold wind.

It was morbidly fascinating to watch the creature open a portal to another world. It seemed that her suspicions of the creature's origins were correct. The suchwiin were not native to Elrios, but rather another plane; a dark plane. A fitting place for someone like me…

The beast stood by the portal and looked at her expectantly. It understood that she came willingly. She stepped forward. With each step she thought back to her moments with Rena. When they would laugh together under the trees. When they would chase one other through the branches. When Rena gave her the seeds. She felt around her pouch and found the seeds in question.

She stared at them in her hand longingly. The monster growled impatiently, but she ignored it. These seeds were a symbol of their everlasting friendship, right? That no matter how far they were, they'd find each other someday, that this bond would last forever.

She chuckled. What she was doing contradicted that message, but she couldn't bring herself to throw them away. She had to keep them, if not for Rena then for herself. A mark on the world for her to leave.

Lua put them back into her pouch, straightened her back and stared into the abyss before her. It was time to end this. To end the inevitable cycle of suffering and pain that would come if she stayed. She stepped once more, this time into the portal.

She felt the void engulf her, and the suchwiin followed after her. And just as she about to take her next step into oblivion, she heard something: An agonized wail carried by the wind of the home she left behind. She spun around to the light and unconsciously reached for her friend she couldn't see.

And the portal hissed closed...

And this concludes Nightfall! If you know anything about me, you know I am a Rena fan. And this story was one I wanted to write for a long time. Rena always struck me as someone who was hiding something painful behind her smile and her webtoon confirmed this. I just wanted to expand on it in my own way. Remember that this is NOT canon, but it is very closely related to it.

Now, let's talk about the suchwiin. As mentioned in the story, these monsters were a made-up boogieman for the elves in order to scare children into behaving and to... 'promote' positive emotions by discouraging negative ones. Eventually, the story became just that: a story. The tale of the suchwiin faded into myth and legend. But, what the elves did not know was that these monsters they made up were actually real. Suchwiin, in this Elrios, are demons called hell hounds. Hell hounds are powerful, but feral demons that reside in Varnimyer. They hunt for prey using their thrid eye to track prey by their emotions, most notably emotions like fear, anger, hatred and envy. In Varnimyer, demons with higher intelligence often try to capture and train hell hounds for various purposes. The master of the hell hounds that invade Elrios is a plot twist I will share in future stories. If you look at the story image, you will notice that the suchwiin (hell hound) looks an awful lot like Berthe. This is intentional, as Berthe, in my Elrios, is a hell hound himself, but a very special one that will be covered in The King's Court.

Now for the translations!

Suchwiin - Taker/Takers (We've been talking about this since chapter 1)

Chugbogbad-eun josang - Blessed ancestors (Elven version of Oh my god)

Jal ja - Sleep well (What do you think this means?)

Jag-eun geosdeul - Little ones/Children (See chapter two)

And the last bit from the spirits was Not... Taker... They were denying that the monster had killed the spirits.

I hope this story lived up to your expectations! Please Read and Review and feel free to ask any questions you have through a PM.

Until next time!