Locate. Spot. Analyze. Choose. Proceed. Finish.

This is how I worked and did what I had to do. How I had to think, before deciding which soul can rot in Hell or hopefully find purity in The Light.

Locating the soul's place of residence in question, then getting a clear view of that soul.

Analyzing him or her with the Soul Window, then deciding if he or she had committed enough sin to be sent to Hell... or! He or she had done little bad and I can allow that soul to live, but warn him or her about something wrong he or she had done. This is usually something about using magic too close to Mortals, being visibly armed close to Mortals (You would be surprised that how big weapons they can carry around like nothing!) and such little things, which happens accidentally.

Then finally, eliminating the problem. Now, before you think I kill before asking, no! Think about this... like the police and- ... sorry, Dhanthas interrupted me, saying that: ''It rhymed!''

Anyways, my judgement over sending the wrong soul to Hell, is all about how they behave around... 'security', yeah, let's just call it like this. Okay, so I'm the security and upon spotting me, they surrender. Now, I usually explain to them what will happen if they do such thing again... but I only do this, when they just take advantage of their powers and did minor damage... let's say, vandalism. So, I find vandals, then I won't kill them, because they're usually just fools and let's face it... I did such things too, back then... and you could say I still do it, considering how big is the destruction of my fighting style...

So, vandals, they can live. If they run away, then they receive a little beating after catching them. But if they attack me, then I won't be tolerant anymore and kill them. Of course, I would try my best to not do it and just catch them for the Guardian Angels... sadly, I couldn't do that so often...

And as expected, everything, which is worse than vandalism, will be taken care of by death...

Now, you would ask me: ''Why did you tell this to me?'' Well, because as I was waiting for the unknown to come, it quickly went through my head. Mostly, because I found no excuse of the old man's actions, so death is my sentence for him. Also, I measured up the consequences of me, leaving behind an open threat for Earth...

Markhar... I had no idea where he can end up in Hell. He brings suffering for entertainment; a coward for using Benders to save his dry and sorry ass; an angry and mad old man... and that is pretty much it. I'm not the one who decides where to send these kind of souls in Hell. It was the Grim Reaper's job, not mine. I just send him the soul and he will decide upon his or her fate...

Suddenly, I started to hear voices. One was Dhuradhan and the other one was Dhanthas. Their voices were muffled and I couldn't make out any words they were saying. That, and I suddenly felt the pain from my highly serious wound, so I couldn't even focus on them at that moment...

As the pain came, I felt the gravity pulling towards my legs and my head snapped back to its place, as I found myself in a standing position. When I tried to process the feeling of the ground, I realized that I was in the air. I heard some sort of explosion - a magical one, for that matter - and I wasn't floating anymore. My fall wasn't that big, probably a meter or less. But I wasn't prepared, neither in the condition to land properly and not feeling any pain...

''Gragh!'' I let it slip out from my mouth and I soon heard some sort of liquid, splattering onto the ground below me.

I knew it was my blood, since I tasted it in my mouth and it had a really strong scent. Usually, I swallow back down the blood, not wanting to waste it, but feeling that I was able to breath a little better, I decided to let my mouth to be open and allowed the blood to make free way for air to my lungs...

I was on my knees and just started to feel the blood against my hand, as the pool of red liquid created a nice puddle in front of my face. As awareness came back to me slowly, along came the rest of my senses. Like hearing. I heard some rumblings around me and taking the ground-shaking into count, I assumed there were people around me. I could only hope that they weren't those type who shoot at sight...

''What is going on?''

The sound of her voice... motherlike, which gives you comfort. Calm with slight strictness, strong like a noble's but still pleasant. That was the voice I heard and listened to years ago. Her words were those, which gave me strength to not give up my destiny and helped me accept my fate. Her attitude, that gave my childhood self comfort an some encouragement.

That was the sound, which I had forgotten completely... along with her words. We discussed my future and I was supposed to live a balanced life with happiness... not with pain. I promised her to be good in general... I'm not saying that I'm not good in a way, but that wasn't how I was supposed to live my life. I went through changes, both in personality and look. Remember me as a child? Innocent look, clean soul. Now? I won't even start it...

But there I was, in front of her, half-dead and bloody... like a mess. And what I wanted from her? What I was about to ask in that unconvincing state of mine? I mustered out the last bit of my energy - not magical one, of course - and spoke up, hoping to be able to do that later...

''Celestia... ugh... help...''

I haven't said that word for like... I can't remember if I ever said that. I have been in sticky situations, but never let myself to look pathetic. Broken, yes, but not pathetic. But... I would even cry in front of her, I wouldn't feel ashamed of myself...

I couldn't see anything, but wasn't able to be bothered about that. I started to collapse and that energy rod was still inside me. And there, I wanted to survive, not commit my fourth suicide! So choosing the pain, I hardly made myself to fall to my side and not push the rod into my heart any deeper. Hell, I wasn't even sure if it was inside the heart, I just felt my consciousness slipping away rapidly!

The last thing I heard was her and I simply cannot express how much it warmed my already cold heart to hear her saying that...

''Adam?''

I passed out and it was probably the end of me... but I have never embraced death like that happily before...

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

At first, I thought I died actually. The pain from my chest had gone and only a warm, tingling feeling remained in its place and spread to the other regions of my body. That other three time I died, I felt pain, a high weight on myself and the next thing I knew was me being alive, but feeling the same pain from before. But not this time. Because this time, I felt relaxed and the pleasant feeling in my body calmed my nerves... well, it would have calmed me down, if not for the thought of being dead!

Still, I wasn't about to believe in something without proof...

My senses slowly came back to me, one by one. The first sense was touching and it didn't help my fears to go away, thanks to the soft grass underneath me. The place where I fought against Markhar was a dust and dirt covered area and the place where I ended up and assumed it was Celestia's place was some sort of floor, not soft grass. I had and still have no knowledge about where the Pure Souls end up directly after dying. I only know that they get escorted to The Light for some explanation, but what happens before that? I do not know and hopefully never will...

While I was thinking about being in paradise, finally dead... well, I found it slightly ironic. I always wanted to find peace and tranquility somewhere, where nothing disturbs me and no one is around, trying to disturb or kill me. And the only way to find this desire was to die... I think that was one of the reasons why I jump off that cliff back then...

Along with touching, I focused on feeling myself. Breathing worked, heart was pounding in a calmed rhythm and muscles reacted to my commands. Though, my muscles felt extremely tired and I couldn't lift them up, only wiggle my fingers and burying them deeper into the grass. Also, my skin responded to the cold breeze of the wind and I soon found out that the wind was blowing. Not a tornado, but neither just some weak air movement.

After a few minutes, I realized that I could actually hear the wind. My ears slowly came back to work and my realization made me snap out of the laziness. Instead, I focused on opening my eyes, but they weren't responding. Though my eyes felt heavy, I was able to register the light on the right side of my face, warming up that area. And thankfully, I was able to feel this warmth in my eyes and not much later, I was cringing from the brightness.

I decided to wait a little bit more, practicing moving my own body. I listened to the whistling of the wind, as it went through large objects. One large object was a tree behind me, which let its leaves dance to the movement of the air. I heard birds chirping from there and there and I got the picture of a beautiful garden or some sort.

Of course, this picture in my head only made me feel grimmer and grimmer, since this proved my death more and more true...

No! There must have been an explanation about why I was suddenly in my long ago wished desire's place, after receiving a lethal blow to the heart. Even if it sounded ridiculous! I had to be alive, I just had to. If not for myself, then for my people back at home... for the whole planet and the world...

Something had fallen onto my forehead and I slowly lifted it up with my right hand to see what it was. To my surprise, it was a leaf... well, it wasn't what made me surprised, but the fact that I was seeing! And of course, the fact that I was moving my arms more freely and easily...

But I had to close my eyes again, due to the sun shining right into them. I used my hand to shield away the brightness of the sun's orange beams, helping my eyes to adjust to the light and letting me at least peek through my fingers. I spotted the leaves, moving about in their flickering from the wind and allowing the sunlight to reach the ground and me below the branches.

Gritting my teeth and growling quietly, I moved away my hand and let the sun shining upon me with all of its light. It was like I was showing the sun itself, that I was stronger than her, because I glared at the giant orb above and hummed in 'victory'. But in reality, I simply forced my eyes to adjust to the light. Well, it worked and I didn't have to cringe while looking...

I sighed and after the second try, I managed to get into a sitting position and looking over myself, I found my clothes clean and intact. Like they had been in a washing machine or came from a tailor itself! No cuts and holes, dirt marks gone and their color was shaper. They looked completely new! My gears had disappeared, only the bracelets and knives remained alongside me. But my rifles and pistols were gone, making me further confused.

After inspecting myself, I inspected the area around me. It appeared to me, that I was on some sort of hill and under a tree. From my position, I couldn't see anything else clearly, so deciding to take a wider look, I stood up. It was surprisingly easy to do, considering that I was exhausted a moment ago... maybe it was just pleasant to just lay there and enjoy the nature...

Arriving at the edge of the hill, I was greeted with the most beautiful landscape that I ever had the privilege to witness...

First, I noticed that the hill I was standing on, was actually small. Probably a few meters high and on the highest point of a wide and long field. A giant, green blanket and I was standing on the pillows! It was amazing and as the field moved to lover grounds, it ended with the wall of trees, which locked the whole field away from a new biome, the forest.

Each tree stood close to the other one from my point of view and blocked my sight from peering into the forest territories. From every direction, trees surrounded the field and separated the green blanket from other territories. Aside from the forest territory, there were the shores at the bottom of the field. The sun painted the otherwise blue liquid and brown sand to orange, as it was moving down below the ocean. Well, at least I assumed it was an ocean, due to its size and not making out any island at the far end of the huge amount of water...

Also, the water, instead of being transparent, it turned into a mirror, thanks to the sun's unique angle. I could clearly see the strong light on the ocean's surface, duplicating the one and only celestial body on the sky. The water sparkled as it moved and I found myself getting blinded for short moments, as they were much brighter than the orange beams from the sky.

Turning my attention back to closer grounds, I found myself on the right side of the field, if I looked down onto the shore. The hill where I stood, was just a little chunk of trees, leaning into the otherwise straight field, which continued running up higher from my left. It was like that line of field supposed to be endless, since I couldn't see the end of it, if I ran my eyes through the way of the field. Also, the hill with that lone tree wasn't a hill, just a bit higher platform standing out from the plain field and being connected to the level of the forest.

Above the trees on the left side of the field, I saw a pair of mountains. Their peeks were covered with plants, due to them, being shorter ones. But from that angle, they looked actually pretty high...

I also saw a mountain on the right side of the field, but that one was visibly short and it looked viable, considering that it had small roads running around it, all the way up to its top.

The wind blew and the landscape reacted as in one, big being. Every tree, every branch, leaf, haulm and flower! The flowers literally danced in the wind! Their various colors made it look like they were people, enjoying the beauty of nature and having fun together!

I leaned back and popped my back at several places, along with my arms, legs and neck, making myself fully awake. This was followed by some slight dizziness and black dots blinded me for a few seconds, while I took in some deep breaths. The smell of clean air, purer than The Light... it felt amazing...

But no matter how breathtaking the view was, it had to come to an end...

Because from my current position, to my right, there was a tombstone. It intrigued me to see who died in that beautiful place, so walking a bit lower on the hill and facing away from the sun, I read what was on the tombstone. I was expecting a name and the date of the birth and death, but what I found rose some alarms inside me...

With a slight fear of actually being dead and a newly came, somewhat sad feeling, I read out loud what the tombstone said.

''Adam

The Balance

1997 - 2012

The man who once lived and gone to die.

The rebellious Assassin.

The Death itself.

The slayer of Saints.

The soul who made the greatest sacrifice.

The unique Legend.

The Balance of our world.

He may find tranquility at last, just as he always wished...''

It was my tombstone. White decoration on the dark colored stone, round shaped and sticking out from the ground. No coffin, no flowers, just a memorial. In other words, simple...

The tombstone was made after my proper burial and placed onto the top of a small hill, under a tree and facing towards the lowering sun. Just as I always wanted...

And there I was, in front of my tombstone, at the exact place where I wished my personal tombstone to be. As much as it warmed my heart to see this as I asked, it only served to remind me about my past and indicating that I died again. This time, for real.

Maybe that place was some sort of peaceful afterlife, but you bring yourself a tombstone from the living world? To got reminded about your life and the place of the tombstone would be your home for eternity? I didn't know, but it proved to be wrong.

I touched the stone and it was lukewarm. It didn't shone as I expected, nor gave me any comfort. Thanks to this, I realized that it wasn't what I originally thought it would be. That, and after I started at it for a few more seconds, I heard someone whispering, also proving me wrong...

''Adam...''

I looked over to the forest behind the tombstone. It was Dhuradhan's voice, but I couldn't see him. What made me confused and a bit worried, that I heard his voice OUTSIDE my head! I soon started to believe that I was dead again. That place was really confusing and my theories about being dead were repeatedly proven true and false. I didn't know what to think anymore, so trying to forget about that place's purpose, I played along...

''Dhuradhan?'' I called out, walking around the tombstone and taking a few steps closer to the forest. I received no reply and I called out again. ''Dhuradhan?!''

''The tree...''

He whispered again, his voice echoing for some reason. I was able to make out what he said and his voice was actually coming from the big tree, standing alone and further away from the forest trees. I got what he meant and I approached the tree, starting to believe that it was actually him. Another strange thought went through my head and it was about Dhanthas, him being the tombstone, if Dhuradhan was the tree. In a way and only for me, it made sense, if I considered that place as my new afterlife home...

I stopped right in front of the tree's bole and spoke up. ''Now what?''

''Touch it...'' Deciding to play along and just do what he said, I placed my right hand onto the bole, carefully and only the fingers first. I let them to be there for a few seconds, then let my arm down. ''Keep them there... and focus...''

''Focus on what? What is going on?'' I demanded, feeling the need for some answers.

''Focus on the nature... You are nature... You are The Balance of the Nature... Expand your senses... Feel the nature... Become one with it... And be everywhere... as the Balance of the Nature...''

Receiving a more precise instruction, I did exactly what he had told me. And let me tell you... it was the most amazing experience that I ever had after a long time...

Taking into count that Dhuradhan told me to do so, I took it slowly and calmly, knowing him about being really good at focus means clear way of thinking. So, I breathed in slowly and exhaled, while raising up my hand back onto the bole again. This time, my muscles weren't tense, but relaxed and tried my best to focus on something, which is nearly impossible, since it was too big.

But Dhuradhan didn't said to put my hand on THAT tree for a reason. Because after starting to focus, I was able to make out a strange, yet familiar feeling inside the tree. The Benders' ability, power and energy... it was literally radiating from that tree! I also sensed Dhuradhan's presence from the tree, yet he wasn't there, nor he himself was the tree. He was somewhere else and after moving to the next steps of feeling the nature, I was able to locate which direction he was...

First, I 'got familiar' with that tree, before moving to the other plants around me. I felt at home, at peace... at tranquility...

That alone was amazing and in a way, I knew what was happening with the tree. A pair of birds were on the highest point of the tree. And I didn't knew it from their singing, no... I knew it from feeling it! Just as this went through my head, I immediately lost them, not feeling anymore what is happening up there...

So I tried again and it worked, though I only managed to feel the tree for a few seconds, before me, thinking about what I can feel, made the whole connection go away. But I memorized what was on the tree. I think I counted three main branches, around thirty or more additional branches and there were like one hundred and sixty three small branches. Yeah... I think that's where the numbers...

Seeing that I was able to count the branches, I tried counting the leaves, but, due to thinking about my motivation and trying to calculate nature itself, I wasn't able to do it... Maybe it was because I kinda disrespected nature? I didn't know it, but I wasn't about to use this ability to count the parts of a tree...

Instead, I moved to the next instruction I had received from Dhuradhan and tried to 'be everywhere'...

It would have been easy, if not for my thoughts and keeping my motivations in my head... also, a certain Dark-self interrupted me...

''Nature calls?''

I kinda missed his smug comments. Even if he made me lose my focus, I was glad to hear him again. That place seriously started to creep me out...

I slowly let go of the bole, arm falling back to my side and I looked up, seeing the two birds flying away, thanks to Dhanthas. ''In a way... yes.'' I replied, taking a few steps back from the tree, while taking one last look at the great tree. It was different from the other trees and it somehow looked welcoming. Like it had a wise soul itself...

Finally, I looked towards the direction where I heard Dhanthas, expecting to see nothing, but my tombstone. I don't know if it was a nightmare or a pleasant reminder or surprise, but when I looked at Dhanthas, DIRECTLY at him... I still can't decide if I felt good about it... more like... strange?

I was looking at my past self. My fourteen years old self, when I changed from the innocent kid, into the beast, aggressive teenager. Though, only his hairstyle, eyes and clothing was what I found similar to my past's self...

He had that simple, short and brown hair, though his was darker than mine. The goat beard, which I didn't care about back then, was also on him and his eyes were green. He had a more muscular body than mine and his grey T-shirt shoved that too. He was wearing one of my favorite, checked summer shorts. The white one, with green, greenish-blue and lime lines, which formed large squares and one single black stripe run along the side of it.

He also had white, short socks and those cool skater shoes, which I really liked back then. They were black and white, comfortable and survived many street fights... yeah, I was kinda like many other teenagers. You probably can't remember that, because of my Headhunter objectives...

As for some little accessory, he had sunglasses, hanging from the collar of his T-shirt and one of those 'name bracelets'. I was expecting to see my name on it, since I had the same and thought he completely copied my cloths, but I saw HIS name on it... it was slightly odd, but cool nonetheless...

''Hehhehee... Like what you see?'' He flexed his muscles, whilst chuckling in his deep and malicious voice. It fit him perfectly and found myself unable to give any reply to that. The face was of an adult's, but the personality was a mirror of mine from the past! ''Ready to go? Have your senses returned?'' He asked, whilst walking in front of me.

''Yeah, I think everything is-'' And my sentence got stuck in my throat, when Dhanthas kicked me in the private area.

''Yep, looks like you got back every feeling and sense. Follow me when you find your balls!'' He called back, while walking inside the forest, leaving me on the ground, while I forced back every curse and whine from myself. He may looked like me, but he still had his own personality...

''Ugh... agh... fugh- fuck... you...'' I grunted out and he laughed.

''Ahhahhaa! I hold no responsibility for any balls in a throat! Pick yourself together and come after me!''

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

And again, I was right. My weakness is a dick...

Holding my belly, leaning forward and limping awkwardly, I slowly caught up to Dhanthas. I was pretty sure that he was snickering and his whole body trembled, as he tried to hide it. He never looked back to me, but knew I was catching up slowly, thanks to my grunts of discomfort on my lover parts.

Finally getting next to him, I started, but immediately got interrupted...

''Where are we goi- whOA-''

Less than under a second, I got pulled back by some unknown force, all the way back to that great tree. It happened so suddenly, that I wasn't even able to brace for impact!

Though... I didn't have to brace for anything...

Because just as my body got turned towards the tree in mid air and I saw the bole from up-close, everything went black. Surprisingly, I felt nothing from my impact. I thought I slammed against the tree too fast and didn't even have time to register the force of my crash...

A few seconds later, another thing made me confused. I suddenly started to feel the pain everywhere, instead of having a huge headache. I couldn't see, nor hear, but the senses in question quickly returned and I found myself in another unknown place...

''Docto... t's wakin... up!'' I heard a feminine voice from my right.

''Knoc... it ou... quickly!'' A male voice this time and from my left.

My hearing was like a pulsation. It went from quiet to audible, then repeated the process. Still, I was able to make out the sentences and it rose the alarms inside me. I was waking up and they wanted to knock me out again? I may had been blind for some reason, but I wasn't about to let myself down like that...

So finding my voice, I let loose of a long-ago not used trick, which was growling like a beast...

''WraaAGH!'' I let out, suddenly getting back my hearing and ability to move.

Still, everything was pitch black, but I had no clue why, nor time to find it out. Because when I found out that I was on some sort of table and rolled down from it whilst kicking down, just so I could kick away the threat, I heard her voice...

''Adam?!''

''Ugh, Celestia!'' I managed to cough out, even though I felt like I had been crushed under a rock. ''I need your help...''

''Yes, you need!'' She started and her voice was coming from my left this time, which was to the right from the table. Yes, I had managed to pretty much kick into the ground, while rolling down from that table. ''You need medical attention!''

I moved my hand up to the energy spear, which was still in my chest. I felt its energy... it was weaker. It dawned on me, that Celestia would only listen to what I originally intended on asking, if I recover. I didn't know what they have been doing to me and how long, but that... 'Doctor' was either stupid, careful or he was just getting started. That spear was weaker than before and deciding to help them out, I did a drastic, but effective solution...

''Please, let us tend to your wounds, then we can- *gasp*'' I didn't let her finish...

With a grunt and forced back cry of pain, I pulled out the spear from myself. My action was probably messy and it was audible... and not just because of her, gasping in shock, but because of the sound of the blood, splattering onto the floor. I still couldn't see anything. It was like we were in a pitch dark room, with no lights!

''Taken care of. Now, we can tal-...'' And the rest of my sentence became inaudible for myself, but my mouth kept on moving. To the point, where I felt the cold tile floor and my body became numb again...

Well... at least it was progress... only a little, but still progress...

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

I woke up with a slight start, my mind catching up with the events. I immediately sat up from my lying position and thankfully, the sun was low enough to not cause my eyes to burn out. I was under the tree again, only a bit later and Dhanthas was there too, just finishing a song...

''Páinka, szereeelmem légy az enyéééém~!'' [Brandy, my loo-oove be-he miiiine~!] He heard my awakening and looked at me with a grin. ''Catchy song, I admit. Looks like Mortals CAN do something useful.''

''Ugh...'' I placed one hand to my forehead, feeling dizzy after standing up. ''And what might that be?''

His grin expanded and I started to regret my question. ''Giving the perfect mood for drinking at a wedding...'' He said, his voice clearly pointing at something from my past. He probably had a lot of time at observing my past. Dhuradhan did it and I think Dhanthas decided to get to know me a little bit better too...

What wedding was he implying? Funny story... remember that wedding, when I ran after that guy, who tried to shoot down the police groom? Well, I disappeared for a reason... I had my bracelet with myself and let's just say... I eliminated the threat, before anyone can see me, stabbing the bastard several times. It's a miracle that no one asked me what happened...

Back to my situation, I shook my head at Dhanthas, a bit amused by the memory, before turning my attention to the tombstone. Apparently, he was sitting on top of it, smoking my favorite Black Dunhill cigarette. I didn't even try to find out where he got it, that place was already a mystery...

''Nice titles, you have here.'' He started, inhaling smoke, whilst patting the memorial. ''I'll need to check out your past, just so I could see your full glory. Hehhehhehe...''

And my guess was right. He did start observing my past too. I thought it will be useful, considering that Dhuradhan was able to help me summoning that relic from Celestia. And if both of them knew about the details of my past, then they will know more about me. And that means, we will be the best team, knowing each others' style in a fight. Why only in a fight? Because I doubted that we will be hanging out with each other that much... yes, they did live inside me, but actually going somewhere to have fun and such... it didn't work for us...

I sighed and said. ''So many titles... and I still feel little about myself...''

''Well, after this defeat, you should. But we'll discuss this together. Follow me, we have plans...''

I followed after Dhanthas and something came to my head...

''Dhanthas?''

''Wha- uuooaAGH!''

I stepped past him, and not looking at him, I called back. ''Catch up when you find your balls! I hold no responsibility for stupid mistakes like FUCKING WITH ME!''

And he just laughed, even though I returned the favor. His laughter was painful and I bet every sound he made sent a wave of agony through his body... all of them coming from his private area. But he was Dhanthas, he could take a beating, even if that meant exploded balls...

Oh, and I enjoyed that... a lot... it was cruel, but just as amusing as it was for him...

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Ez egy fa. = This is a tree.

This is what went through my head when Balance was staring at that freaking tree... (yes, the only thing they say in that video is: This is a tree.)

The song about brandy: (The idea to put this in here, came from the beer i was drinking. What can I say, it's inspiring...) >:D

Such a happy and drunken-like song, I love it!