A few hours after leaving the Red Dragon Inn, we find one Brian Ravenlock walking the streets of the MarketPlace District??

It was something that he was known for and quite well way back when, but recently not so much so. Not since the incident that happened, many months ago. An incident that centered on his daughters, his wife and himself.

An incident that still struck a nerve, when it came to the Ravenlock patriarch, and for a very good reason.

More than ever it showed him just how mortal and frail he could really be.

That bothered him more than anyone would ever know, and that?s not something he carries lightly at all. Because, this was a man that many seemed to think was larger than life and had this been ten years or so past, he would tell you the same thing.

That was in fact larger than life, and would live forever.

Such a boast indeed, and a far cry from the man that had now paused in his walk, and basically stared at the reflection of himself, in a shop window.

A hand lifted up, as a finger ran across that eye patch of his, while his good eye took in the face that looked back. Such weathered features it seemed, yet the truth was that it was far more on the inside than out.

So much so, that outbursts such as the one he had mere hours inside the Inn, with Serah-- were becoming more common.

And that--- was not a good thing at all.

Thankful was Brian, for the words of Andu and Art's student Lesinda. Because they indeed had seen what the eldest Ravenlock had not, and cared enough to call on the man for his fault in the matter.

Because regardless of his reasoning for what he had said, he had been wrong.

He understood all too clearly, and worked to make it right--- as right as he could.

Still the damage had been done, and Serah had not been the only one.

A soft winded sigh took hold, as he slowly shook his head. The words of Serah, and the others coming to mind as if he had just heard them seconds ago.

Serah had been right--- Travanix had not been the only one to try and sack the city, or destroy things, or hurt others. He had not been the only one to do so, and then return a time later, trying to find a place...

There had been other notable entries in that somewhat narrowed field, three of which were directly linked to Brian himself, thus the wisdom in the tone of the young woman's words. Some had committed far worse crimes than others, of course. Some had been stopped by Brian, at one time or another. Sometimes, he had done it alone-- other times with the assistance of a great many. Someone, it had taken years to finally stop and yet some, mere days.

Yet they all had a constant, aside from Brian Ravenlock.

They all had returned to Rhy'Din.

The man called 'Raven', now known as 'Mister R'. Once known as a terrorist, he not only laid siege to the MarketPlace more than once, he had also kidnapped Claire Farron, harmed others and then made more threats against the general populace, all within the public eye.

He was stopped by a task force involving Watch members, such as Brian, Alex Waterman, Zack Alcar, along with several unsung heroes and another unlikely party, by the name of Renna.

Taken into custody, he was later freed by Brian. Some citing city regulations, and that no formal charges had been pressed by Claire, herself. Others closer, believe it was because Brian had struck an accord with the terrorist, and needed him for something.

Another theory, is that Brian saw something in the man... A chance that he could do something positive, for a change. That he could make a difference, in a much more productive manner.

Regardless of the reasoning, the man had been freed and now works as a private detective within the city, and still carries ties to Brian Ravenlock, who does in fact utilize the services of 'Mister R' for Watch related issues.

The being known as Renna, and many other names and guises... So much death and destruction, that lay in the wake of this incredibly powerful being. Hard pressed are the souls that can say her machinations did not affect them directly, or someone else close in some indirect manner.

A being whose legacy of light and darkness runs a rather parallel course with the Ravenlock family, case in point-- Brian, himself.

In the form of their daughter, Lucy Ravenlock and her son--- who shares the name of his grand-father.

Their dance had been one that had lasted years and far longer than any other that had dealt with her, and despite her 'ending' many will tell you-- that their dance still goes on and shall until she decides otherwise. Be it this life, or the next.

Time and again, she had returned to Rhy'Din-- time and again, she had helped in some way, shape or form. Time and again, she was taken in. Despite all she had done, to so many.

Each time he had been there, somehow. Always knowing her capable, of so much more than she dared to believe herself capable of.

Jacyn McDineen-Ravenlock, also known as-- Raven.

Someone else, who had committed such horrid acts against the city, and its people. So many lives that had been lost, and even more than had been affected by the older brother of Brian, no more so than his own flesh and blood.

Acts of terrorism, murder, wanton destruction, threats against the very government of Rhy'Din, not to mention child abuse and so much more.

Jacyn was a very sick soul, that sought to undo all that the Ravenlock family had built, and he didn't care how he did it at all. In fact he had joined forces with Renna herself, and her own collective, much to quite devastating results.

Finally stopped by Brian and Jenai together with the help of more folk, that Brian can honestly name if one were to ask.

Ended seemingly at the hands of Brian, and yet somehow he had returned. Not only that, he was the very reason that Brian had been able to recover the twins, and return to Jenai, in the wake of that incident all those months ago.

Just as Henrietta, had been the reason Jenai survived an assassination attempt, that very same night.

Lucy Ravenlock... Daughter of Brian and Renna, and the literal carrier of her own mother's legacy, not to mention her father's penchant for doing what needed to be done, for the greater good when no else would. Light and Darkness, she was a child likened to a very select few, growing into a woman like no other at all.

Of course there was also Brian himself, who also had done things, best left unsaid my many...

So Serah, had been right...

So why then, when it came to Travanix, did Brian harbor such a deeply rooted hatred?

Was it the fact that there had been no 'end game', so to speak? No resolution? No confrontation?

As it stood Brian despite all his efforts, had never faced Travanix at all. In fact no one had, actually. The incident known as Scarred came to an end, when his forces had withdrawn with no warning at all.

Just like that, they were gone.

Leaving behind such a body count and damage to the city, not to mention its people. Mentally, and physically the damage in the wake of Scarred was something to truly behold, and more so-- something that very few that had been involved would ever forget.

Especially, Brian Ravenlock.

So, perhaps that was it...

But the words of Serah, and others also resounded within the man, staring at the reflection of himself within that window.

Perhaps this may be different, perhaps he may be looking to do something more positive...

Or perhaps, he was lying in wait-- waiting to strike again.

Regardless of what it may or may not be, Brian would watch with the others, and if need be-- he would act again.

He would be the man, they had expected him to be, again.

More so, for his wife and girls--- and the son Jenai would be giving birth too, very soon.

Turning from the window, he would make his way back home.

Tomorrow was a new day, and it would not be a wasted one. There was much to do, and harboring an ill felt past would do no longer.

Because there was always a future to look forward to, and more so-- worth fighting for, every step of the way.

And he would not be looking, and fighting alone...