Male 1: Shadow Sage Nikolai Aerie

No entry

Male 2: Shield Wizard Naven Aerie

No entry

Male 3: Space Wizard Centauri Asterious

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Male 4: Fire Mage Kalen

No entry

Male 5: Healer Wizard Eiridan Stormblessed

Eiridan stared down at the raging battle. Eriswen urged Ionean to fly slightly lower so that they could see better. He thought he saw Niko and Naven somewhere in the fray, and a flash of silver hair told him that Sigel was among the fighting men as well.He noticed that one of the older women – he wasn't sure whom – was leading Leo away from the fight. They didn't make it far before someone in the tree line stepped into view and snatched Leo from the woman. Another man stepped out and grabbed his companion, carrying her off.Eiridan bit his lip. "Eriswen... We should help. People are getting hurt."It didn't take much more urging. She prompted Ionean to land several feet from the fighting. "Go! Help them..." She tossed him her sword, unsheathing a second, wicked looking blade as he grabbed it."But... I want to help, not kill."He barely heard her growl of frustration. "Eiridan, one of these days, you'll have to kill someone. Otherwise, they'll kill you. Either defend yourself and help the others or die.""What about you?" He watched with a frown as she urged Ionean to take off."I'm going after Vaxon. I have to fix my mistakes!" she shouted as Ionean burst up into the air.Fix her mistakes? What mistakes? Eiridan shrugged it off, figuring she'd be safe enough, and ran to help an injured soldier.The man looked at him queerly as Eiridan knelt beside him. "Well, if you're gonna do it, get on with it," he snapped.Eiridan's frown deepened as he found the source of the blood covering the man's tunic. He gently pried the chainmail away from the wound and pulled out his pack of herbs.The man's eyes went wide, and he began thrashing, which opened the wound again and caused deep crimson blood to pour out. Eiridan's hand was covered in it in a matter of seconds. It was then that he realized this man would die if he tried to help with herbs. Sighing, he gave the man a weak smile. "I'm trying to help... I'm a healer."The man calmed a bit. "Why help me?""Because you're hurt," Eiridan mumbled, peeling away the shirt too and placing his hand on the wound. As he applied steady pressure, he began the healing incantation that Mathas had taught him. The magic flowed through him, warm and inviting, and spilled over into the soldier's gaping wound.It took so much from him to do this kind of thing, but it made him feel happy. It gave him a sense of well-being that little else did. Healing was his life force. If he wasn't helping people, he felt like he had no purpose. Like he should just die and forget everything. If he didn't use his gift for good, what was the point of having it? It was wasted if he didn't use it, and Eiridan refused to use it for the opposite of healing. He could. Mathas had shown him how at first, before it became apparent that no attempts to get Eiridan to learn how to hurt others would work.Oh, he knew how to swing a sword. His parents and Jaeyria's aunt and uncle insisted on that. But beyond that, Eiridan refused. He knew that he'd still aided others in learning the art of killing using what should've been healing. But he couldn't do anything about it if someone chose to use the knowledge of herbs he gave to hurt others.The soldier's eyes went glassy, and Eiridan sat back on his heels, shell-shocked. He'd done everything he could, but it still wasn't enough. No matter how many times he lost a life after trying his best to save it, Eiridan was always surprised that he couldn't keep them alive. It stung and nipped at his soul like pouring vinegar on a wound would.A tear threaded its way down his cold cheek, hot against his skin. He pulled away from the man, not wasting any more energy trying to save what was beyond saving. The man's blood was smeared all over his hands, and it transferred onto the dead soldier's face as Eiridan closed the deceased's eyes. Then he closed his own, just for a moment, fighting against the urge to vomit.He forced himself to keep going. Others needed his help, and if he didn't get a move on, they would die just like this man had. He couldn't bear that thought, so he made himself stagger to his feet and begin the search for the next injured soul."Eiridan!" Niko's face came into view as Eiridan wandered aimlessly toward a fallen soldier, looking to see if they were still alive, wondering if he could save them.He turned to face Niko, blinking to clear his blurring vision. The shock of the first death had already been followed by two more by the time Niko found him, and Eiridan wasn't quite sure he was capable of seeing another die. Even if the enemy was the one on the ground, he couldn't bear it."What the heck is wrong with you? Stop saving them and get your lazy rear end off the field. A couple of the Magi are on the brink of the woods, and they need help," Niko panted, swinging his sword at an oncoming soldier.Eiridan jerked back as the blade went clean through the man's neck, spraying blood everywhere. It spattered over his clothes and face as he stared at Niko, uncomprehending."Idiot!" Niko snapped. "Would you just move? You're going to get both of us killed."Another soldier dropped.That snapped Eiridan back into action. He looked to the tree-line and spotted the group Niko was talking about. With an anguished moan, he spun about and looked for a clearing to reach them. When it came, he took it, running at full speed.Fear surged inside, clawing its way up from his stomach to his throat. Where is she? Where? Where is Jaeyria? It seemed to be all he could think about as he neared the group. Was she hurt? Dead? Safe? But the constant thought that echoed in his mind was where. The need to see her was so strong he could barely breathe."Eiridan," a voice called out to him over the din of the battle.He turned to it, lost, wondering if it was her. Was it Jaeyria? She'd know how to help. But it wasn't. Instead, a tall, willowy girl with fiery red hair met his gaze. Her regard was cold and steely. He got the distinct sense that she disliked him.What's her name again? Zenna? No... Zentra... "Zentra?" He stepped closer, looking at the freckles and bright red hair she possessed. Yes. It was Zentra."Get over here. Kalix and Vala are hurt."Eiridan looked at her closely for a few moments. "What about you?" He wondered if he was mistaken; the cold look in her eyes seemed to shelter her vulnerability and pain."What about me?" she snapped. "Do I look hurt?""Yeah," he whispered. "You do.""Well, I'm fine," Zentra hissed. "Go help them, healer."He sighed, knowing he wouldn't get anywhere with her. She'd have to realize how much she needed emotional healing on her own. When she was ready for it, she'd find it, with or without him. He'd learned long ago that he couldn't help every injured person or animal who came his way. Some simply refused to be helped."Hey, Kalix... Vala..." He waved, jogging over to them.Zentra followed close behind, and he could feel her angry glare on his back. He refused to allow it to break his focus, however. People needed him, and one upset, emotionally traumatized girl couldn't keep him from doing his work."What happened?""Vaxon... He came out of nowhere," Vala said, her brown eyes wide. A grin spread over her face. "It was awesome... Until we got injured, anyway.""How..." Eiridan trailed off. He'd seen Vala doing all kinds of crazy things around camp. She was their resident adrenaline junky. If anyone would find a battle to be fun, it'd be her. Crazy wasn't the half of it. But, she had her own unique, beautiful personality, and Eiridan didn't mind. He just wished she'd try not to get hurt so often. "Right, well... Where were you hurt?"She pushed her sleeve up and pulled away the bandaging to reveal a nasty cut on her upper arm. Blood had seeped through the makeshift bandage, which she appeared to have fashioned from the hem of her shirt. The white cotton was jagged and ruined at the bottom of the shirt, and the bandage itself was crimson. "Pretty nasty, huh?" She gave him a queasy smile, and he noticed that she avoided looking at it. Her previously chipper mood was somewhat dampened, and the reason for it dawned on him moments later; she was squeamish with blood. Didn't seem too concerned about the blood all over him though, so it had to be just her blood."I've seen worse," Eiridan mumbled, worried. There was too much blood. Way too much. But she shouldn't die from it. He could fix it. She was strong enough to hold out, and she seemed okay despite the blood loss. Her usual chipper self, certainly.Kalix eyed them both with suspicion and concern.Eiridan knew he was the protective older brother type. No one hurt his baby sister. Anyone who tried was in for a sound beating. While Kalix appeared to be the silent type, Eiridan could tell he felt inferior. He felt lost in his sister's charisma. It wasn't really a surprise. Still, he was loyal to a fault when it came to Vala.Their auras were so different from each other's though. Despite being siblings, they shared nothing. Kalix's was a soft white and pulsed with uncertainty, fear of being dismissed, and the need to keep his sister safe. Vala's was a brilliant red, almost the same shade as Zentra's hair. Instead of uncertainty, hers thrummed with excitement, exhilaration, and adrenaline.Zentra hung back as he began the process of healing Vala's injury. Vala sat still, but every once and a while, she squirmed, letting him know that she was restless. Clearly, she didn't want to stay out of the fight any longer than she had to.A few minutes later, he was able to move on to Kalix. He could feel his energy stores steadily draining. It was exhausting to fix all of the tissue and blood cells in Vala's arm. The muscle had been cut too, but thankfully, no bones were broken. Still, Eiridan only had about a quarter of his energy left to expend. He wouldn't be able to help anyone after Kalix for at least another half hour. He recharged faster than the other healer, but it wasn't nearly fast enough.Kalix's injury was much less severe. He'd taken an arrow to the shoulder, but the arrow had only grazed along his arm. It had been deep enough to cause considerable pain, but hadn't done damage to the arteries or his muscles. This meant it was easier to fix and required far less energy, for which Eiridan was grateful.Kalix sat still, unlike his younger sister, and didn't protest or move around at all. Zentra stood on guard, ready to take out anyone who got close. So far, no one had. They were too preoccupied with the uninjured Magi.Just as Eiridan finished with Kalix, there was a shrill cry, and a group of ten men came charging at them. Eiridan stared, unsure what to do. Zentra didn't seem at all confused as she leapt into the fray, attacking the group. Kalix joined her as they fought.Perhaps he should've helped, but he couldn't seem to make himself pick up the sword, which he'd discarded beside the rock where Vala was sitting moments ago. It was only when one of the men tried to slice his throat open that Eiridan responded. He gripped the hilt of the sword, terror surging through him. The man missed as Eiridan bent almost backward trying to avoid the swing. The second swing nicked his forehead, slashing across it.Hot blood poured down his face, temporarily blinding him. Someone's weight toppled over onto him, pinning him to the ground. Eiridan struggled to free an arm and wiped the blood out of his eyes. The soldier who'd tried to kill him was draped over him, glassy eyes staring at the sky. Zentra blotted out the sun as she knelt down and rolled the man off him.Then she tugged him to his feet and slapped him hard across the face. "You idiot! Stop being such a wimp and do something." She grabbed his sword from the ground and thrust the hilt into his hand, curling his fingers around it tightly. "Next person who isn't one of the Magi dies. And you're going to kill them. Because otherwise, I'm going to stand back and let them kill you, ignoramus."Eiridan's hand shook, and his fingers trembled on the sword's grip. Sweat beaded down his back. "But...""You'd better do as she says," Kalix advised. "Or you'll end up dead. I swear; she'll let you die. Girl's crazy..."Zentra stormed off into the battle, and Eiridan just stared after her, astonished. Kalix shrugged and sighed. "Have it your way. But at least stay out of the way."***Eiridan wasn't quite sure what happened, but somehow, he ended up captured along with all of the others. At the time that he left the other two, however, he had no idea that anything was going to go wrong. Everything was uncertain and could go any direction.After he was separated from Kalix and Zentra, he wandered around, trying to find people on the fringes of the fight that needed his help. Unsurprisingly, he didn't come across anyone. Finally, he just took Kalix's advice. He was no use to anyone at this point. They weren't getting hurt like he thought they would.This, come to think of it, was odd. Why weren't people getting severely injured? Eiridan thought Vaxon hated them. If he wanted them dead, why would he mount an attack and not kill anyone? It just didn't add up.Well, it didn't until he saw the small group of people being hauled further into the woods. Chains rattled faintly over the din of the battle as they drew closer, and Eiridan finally saw the reason for their dejected appearances. Soldiers were shoving them onward to a place away from the battle.Eiridan spotted Niko and Naven as well as Sigel's younger brother, Telex. He wanted to help, but he hung back since he wasn't sure how to aid them. He wouldn't kill the guards, but perhaps he could knock them out? It wasn't likely. After all, if Eiridan wasn't willing to kill or severely injure them, they'd have an easy time taking him too.Something heavy slammed into his skull, and Eiridan fell to his knees, spots spinning about as multi-colored sparks erupted on his vision. The ground swam and swirled in circles as he struggled to keep himself conscious.Unfortunately, he lost the battle, and Eiridan slumped forward, blackness swallowing him.***"I can't believe he didn't put up a fight," a feminine voice hissed.Eiridan felt dizziness overwhelming him when he tried to move, so he kept his eyes closed and stayed still. His head ached horribly, so he sent a bit of his healing magic there with a mumbled spell. The muttering and caustic whispering ceased instantly."He's awake."The splitting pain in his skull faded as the spell sent magic there. It also sent magic rushing throughout his body to relieve the unbearable aches in his wrists and ankles. Finally, he was able to open his eyes. The light blinded him."I thought you'd be something more. All of the stories villagers told of how brave you were... Eiridan Stormblessed. Hero of the common man. Nothing but lies, apparently, because you're a coward." A blurry, but somehow feminine, face hovered in his field of vision.Eiridan blinked, bringing it into focus. Vassti Asherex and her son, Kyren, stood over him. He shifted his focus to his surroundings. The room was pure white, and his hands were shackled to the table. His feet were as well. The metal of the chains was freezing against his chapped skin, and he let out a resigned sigh."I'm a coward?" he croaked, wishing he had water.Vassti curled her upper lip in disgust. "Yes, you are. Had you fought back, perhaps you would've given yourself a chance. Now you're just concussed and in pain as well as collared. Just like the dog you are."The words flowed over him, seeking for places to dig in and hurt him, but Eiridan didn't allow it to bother him. He smiled, seeing past Vassti's angered words. What he saw was not the bitter, vengeful woman that others saw. No, he saw deeper to the hurt lying deep inside. It was the driving force behind all of her actions.She had been wounded so deeply that she had forced herself to become stone. Unforgiving, unyielding, and above all, unfeeling. But she wasn't unfeeling. She felt deeply, but she refused to show it. He reached out, letting his magic brush her aura and her soul. Perhaps he was simply projecting; he had a tendency to see only the best in people, even when it didn't exist. But perhaps there was something to what Eiridan perceived in Vassti. Her manipulative tendencies and calculated behavior were well hidden behind masks of compassion, but buried even deeper was the kindness that she once had.Vassti jerked back as though burned, and a hiss escaped her. The vulnerability warred with anger in her brilliant green eyes, or at least, it seemed to when Eiridan looked at her. "Take him to the dungeons and throw him in with that spitfire, Jaeyria, and her companion. Perhaps they'll knock some sense into this idiot." She whirled about, stalking out of the dungeon, her honey blond hair swaying as she moved.Eiridan gazed after her, troubled. "Your mother... She's... She's...""Demanding?" Kyren suggested. "Manipulative and cruel?""No. Hurt. Her aura... It's cracked. Have you ever tried to ask her why?""I don't see people's auras," Kyren huffed, crossing his arms. "And no. She's not the heart-to-heart kind of person." An almost mournful expression overtook his irritation, but it was gone in a moment, replaced instead with a blank one.Eiridan sighed. "I thought not. Well, since I'm clearly a prisoner, what's next?"Kyren raised a brow. "Why are you cooperating with us?""Do I have a choice?""No." Kyren watched Eiridan closely with his sharp cobalt eyes."Then why fight? Besides, I don't want to hurt any of you."Kyren laughed, but it wasn't derisive, just disbelieving. "Sure you don't...""I really don't." Eiridan regarded him with a soft smile, examining his aura and the emotions there. "You're in more pain than she is, aren't you? She's learned how to handle it. How to block it out and feel nothing but what she wants to most of the time. But you haven't... You hide it behind your sarcasm and a sarcastic smile, don't you?"Kyren started, seeming shaken, but he quickly recovered. "You're a weird sort, Eiridan Stormblessed," he scoffed."Maybe..."Kyren's mocking smirk faded, and he shook his head, glancing around. "A word of advice, Magi. Where you're going, kindheartedness will get you killed. I'm not going to be kind or forgiving when we meet for your final fight. And if you don't even try, you'll die for sure. No one else is going to back down once they find out what's at stake here.""What is at stake?" Eiridan asked, sadness sweeping over him as Kyren's aura dimmed and then flared with pain."Families. Happiness. Love.""What's he taken from you? You're sad about something..."Kyren bowed his head, seeming thoughtful. "My wife and my children," he finally whispered."Ah... I'm sorry, Kyren. Losing people, especially those you love, is the worst feeling possible. I wish I could heal you... But... Kyren?""What?""Forgive him," Eiridan murmured, staring into Kyren's piercing blue eyes."Forgive him? Why would I do that?" Kyren snarled, his aura sparking with a mixture of anger and uncertainty. "What are you, anyway? A mind-reader like my mother?"Eiridan shook his head, sighing. "No. I'm a healer, but my powers manifest themselves in the ability to see people's auras and sense what they're feeling through them. And you should forgive him because otherwise you'll become bitter just like him."He shook his head. "You know what, I really don't care. Save all of that for someone else who does." A key clicked in the locks of his shackles as Kyren undid them and then re-locked them once Eiridan was standing.With a firm grip on Eiridan's arm, Kyren steered him out of the white room to a set of stairs, which led down to a dark, dank dungeon. Eiridan barely noticed anything they walked past because all he could think about was Jaeyria. Was she safe? He knew she'd been caught too, but had they hurt her in the process? What about Eriswen? She'd left him to try and help, so had she escaped? The never ending slew of questions haunted him."Did you... Did..." he stammered, trying to get out the question that plagued him most.Kyren stopped pushing him forward and let go of his arm. "If you have a question, spit it out.""Did any of the Magi escape or die?" he finally choked the question out."No. I'm sorry they didn't get away," Kyren mumbled, and when Eiridan looked back at him, he saw the regret plastered on the other man's face. It couldn't have been more obvious that Kyren hated this as much as the rest of them did. Little wonder, considering that Vaxon had Kyren's wife and two children. "Most of them are relatively uninjured, if it's any consolation. Jaeyria Lightwood isn't so well, though... My father snapped her wrist." Kyren's jaw tightened, and his eyes darkened, losing their luster.Eiridan's shoulders sagged, and he kept moving with a nod. "I see... Thank you," he whispered. He felt horrible for being grateful that Jaeyria was here. He knew it meant she'd die as well. But it meant the world to him knowing that she was where he could watch out for her a little longer. It made him feel even worse about his relief to know that she was injured.Tears slipped down his cheeks, and he sucked in a deep breath as Kyren gently pushed him into a corridor on their left. All along the corridor, cells were filled with his fellow Magi. A thin ray of light pierced the darkness from a few windows in one or two of the cells. But the decrepit condition of the place was still mostly covered by gloom. The gloaming couldn't hide the stench, however.It smelled of mildew, sewage, and human waste. There was a steady drip, drip sound, and Eiridan heard a splash as his foot was drenched by a puddle. The scuttle of rats' feet and the scurrying of mice met his ears as he stepped further into the stone-walled corridor.His eyes adjusted slowly to the dimness of the place, but when he could finally see, he scanned the huddled groups of Magi, trying to find Jaeyria. The other Magi were everywhere. Their clothes were in various states of disarray. Some were covered in blood. Several of the younger ones were crying, the noise muffled by their arms. Others were crying unabashedly, and the noise echoed around the enclosed space, bouncing off the stones.Then he saw her. She was standing in the middle of a cell with just one other person. Sigel. He was watching her with wary eyes, and every so often, they darted to the people across the aisle from him. The cells themselves were walled, but the doors were made entirely of iron bars. There was barely enough space to fit a hand through it.Kyren jerked him to a stop, but Eiridan wasn't really moving anymore. He'd come to an almost complete halt when he found Jaeyria's beautiful hazel eyes. They were filled with tears, and she was cradling her hand to her chest as she stared spitefully at Kyren.Her body language couldn't have been more obvious. Every muscle was taut, and she was gritting her teeth. Tears trekked their way down her dirt-covered cheeks in a silent procession. With her free hand, she clung tightly to the metal bars as she came closer and pressed her face against the door.Kyren cleared his throat, startling Eiridan back into motion. The keys jingled as Kyren lifted them and turned them in the lock. The door grated harshly on the stones as it swung open. When Eiridan didn't immediately move, Kyren gave him a nudge.Obligingly, Eiridan stepped in. Unfortunately, he underestimated the slipperiness of the floor and ended up losing his balance, falling to his hands and knees in the grime and algae on the stones of the cell's floor.Jaeyria let out a small cry as Eiridan closed his eyes and stayed on his knees. A harsh clang sounded as the door slammed shut again, and the sharpclick of the key turning in the lock sealed their fate."I wish this could be different," Kyren's voice was so faint that Eiridan almost missed the words as the royal slipped back down the long passage and out of their sight.Tears pushed themselves past his long lashes, dripping down his cheeks to drop into the water and sludge on the dungeon's flagstones. The tears he cried weren't for himself or any pain he was experiencing. Instead, Eiridan wept for those who had put them here. No matter how harshly they treated him and the others, he couldn't seem to hate them.He wept because there was no one who would try to redeem them. They were all so lost in the darkness, and no one would even try to find them again. He wasn't entirely sure anyone could, but at least someone could make the effort. Down here, there was nothing he could do, and the overwhelming grief surged out of him as he realized that there might never be another chance for them again. They might never be found because everyone was too afraid of them to do what was needed to save them.So he wept for their loss and hardened hearts. He wept for the pain they were inflicting on the other Magi. But most of all, he wept because he couldn't help. He couldn't heal them. If nothing else broke him, he was sure that this would.

Male 6: Shapeshifter Sage Faun Asterious 

No entry

Male 7: Metal Mage Mordzar Malthos

"Flee, my disciples!" Mathas had shouted. Mordzar stirred, the nightmare of that awful night ten years ago would never leave his dreams. In his dreams, he had relived that whole ordeal over and over again. Instead of trying to fight the Elphas brigade, Vaxon's elite Special Forces, and possibly save Mathas's life, he had fled like a coward and left Mathas to die. He had been cursing himself ever since and had vowed to get stronger. He continued to run without bothering to look back for the fear of seeing the worse. He noticed his childhood friend Evian Damini fleeing as well. They had played together in the streets of Komesen when they were really young and Mordzar saw him as the older brother he never had. Mordzar was going to call out to Evian, but then a loud trumpeting sound had gotten his attention and then what he saw made his blood run cold. Leading a team of Elphas brigade warriors was Ra'Zaq the Terrible! Mordzar had seen the mercenary every time his family was invited to celebrations in the Royal family's castle. He was not even from Castre (he was rumored to be from Alagaysia which is located across the Asyrim) and he never bothered to learn the language. The funny thing was: no one knew what he looked like without his armor as he was never seen without it.His sister had joked that Ra'Zaq never had a solid body, but only a hunk of armor with a will of its own. Though he had a feeling she was trying to scare him, he was starting to have doubts about that while seeing a towering gold armor riding a black Destrier wave a bloody sword as he rode between him and Evian. Mordzar knew he had to get out of here as fast as he could. As much as he wanted to fight, he could not risk being seen or caught by Ra'Zaq lest his family get charged for treason when Vaxon learns that the son of his best alchemists was training under a mage lord that Vaxon had declared an enemy of the kingdom. He knew with chilling realization that just because Ra'Zaq did not speak the common tongue did not mean that he would not slaughter anyone at this lord's command. He made sure his back was to Ra'Zaq in order to avoid recognition as he ran for his life toward a nearby dense forest, inaccessible for horses. He had shut his eyes while he made a beeline to the forest. He tried to drown out the thundering hooves which were getting louder and louder by the second. He was only a second away- "Having another nightmare?" a loud voice boomed. Mordzar woke to find Shurkan the ice dragon sitting over him, his massive wings glittering icy blue in the moonlight. "Yes." Mordzar sighed. He stretched and got up slowly. He fastened his dark cloak around himself and started to head out of Shurkan's cave. This cave was located in the middle of a mountain range called the Spine in the region of Demarke. He remembered how he ended up here. After meeting fellow mage Eris Faervel inside a forest in Nighes, they had become close friends and she had joined him on his quest to help him find Shurkan. Aided by other dragons, especially Ionan ( Eris's own dragon), they had finally located Shurkan's cave within the Spine. Upon seeing them, Shurkan had tried to burn the intruders with his ice-fire, but Eris's presence and Ionan's diplomatic skills had calmed him down. "I am Mordzar Malthus of the prestigious Malthus family of Komesen."Mordzar had proudly announced. "Komesen?"Shurkan had growled."Is that the bloody fiend Vaxon's seat of power?" "It is." Mordzar stopped, a little afraid that this fact might anger the majestic creature even more. "However, my family only swore fealty to him to avoid the retribution that befell Leoran's followers and they had sent me to Mathas to train me to sharpen my skills as a mage of metal so I could eventually dethrone Vaxon." The dragon snorted some smoke as he raised his head in a thoughtful manner. "Mathas...ah yes...He is one of my good friends."the dragon crooned. " How as he been of late?" " He was slain by Vaxon himself!"Eris had cut into the conversation. Shurkan's shining blue eyes managed to grow thrice its size. " What is this sick joke!? No one can best Mathas!" the dragon roared in denial. "She is right."Mordzar quickly said. " Vaxon's forces had taken us by surprise as we were sleeping and he..he.." "Yes boy, please go on." Shurkan urged Mordzar. Choking back tears, Mordzar told him the story that dreadful night and how Vaxon had executed Mathas on the spot and marched his head through the streets, showing it off to his crazed followers and eventually putting it on a pike in front of the castle. "Vaxon!Mozhet ty umresh' tysyachu raz!" Shurkan cursed Vaxon in the dragon language. "Alright, you can stay here a bit until you are strong enough to lead your rebellion, boy." Mordzar thanked the dragon. From then on, Shurkan continued Mordzar's training Back in the present day, Mordzar had started to leave the cave, but Shurkan used his giant tree trunk looking tail to block Mordzar from exiting the lair. "Is it safe to assume that you were reliving the night Mathas was killed?" Shurkan spoke with a fatherly tone. "Y-Yes." Mordzar replied, feeling a lump in his throat. " If I didn't run like a craven fool, I may have used my metal mage skills to at least assist him and return him to safety." Mordzar was trying really hard not to cry, as he felt it was a weakness to do so. " Mordzar, I have told you many times." Shurkan chided the young mage as he wrapped his tail around him. "You had to save yourself from recognition otherwise your family would not have the freedom they would have today. Think about it, you would be up against many powerful mages, including Vaxon himself. Your magic is not as great as you think and you may have gotten killed or captured, needless to say." "B-But I could have at least s-saved him!" Mordzar tried to explain, but the lump in his throat was threatening to grow in size. "That is not what he wanted!" Shurkan growled. " Mordzar, think for once! He sacrificed himself willingly so you all can escape! If you had died that night, his death would have been for naught! Furthermore, your parents would likely be rotting in Vaxon's dungeons right now!" Mordzar stopped and took in everything the dragon told him. Now that he thought about it, Shurkan had a point. The wise old dragon had been just as good as a mentor to him as the late Mathas was. Since he hadn't been seeing his family in like ten years (occasionally, Shurkan would take him to the Drachma well and they would communicate there), the dragon felt like the closest thing to a family to him and they would always look out for each other. "So where do you think you are going at a quarter hour from midnight?" Shurkan asked. "Just want to go for a walk to clear my head." Mordzar replied. "Well, can you wait for at least an hour? There is a blizzard out there." The dragon responded gruffly. Sure enough, there was a blizzard . "I am going to hunt for a midnight snack. Can I trust you not to do anything foolish until I return?" Mordzar just nodded his approval. " Good, just stay put and I will return shortly. Now, where can I find some good Cha'tul or Karbu? "the dragon murmured to himself as he spread his wings and lifted off from the cave. Mordzar couldn't help, but feel awed at the sight of the blue shape disappearing in the navy blue sky littered with gem-like stars above the clouds. Mordzar decided to sneak out of the cave for a bit. Anyway, how would Shurkan notice if he got back here before the dragon? He fastened his cloak around himself and covered his face with the hood as the blizzard hit him like a slap in the face. Mira Morga Mentas, Mordzar thought as he materialized a sharp metal hiking stick from a pebble and started on his way out. In order to access the ravine at the bottom of the mountain quicker, he had created a metallic lift which was convenient since Mordzar did not have to take the long way winding around the mountain. The cold bit at his nose as he entered the lift and slowly lowered himself to the ravine. He decided to make his way to a little village nearby. Upon arrival, he noticed that it was quite busy at this time of the night which was unusual (especially in this blizzard) unless there was some royal celebration or holiday. The next holiday, Mikolmas, was one month from now so why was there so much activity going on at this time of the night. He decided to just go with the flow. He went up to who thought was a local farmer and asked him what was going on. "Well lad," the farmer began. "I take it that you are a foreigner to Demarke?" "Uh..yeah sure." Mordzar mumbled. "Ok, unlike other regions of Castre, we celebrate each time there is a blizzard." The farmer informed an amazed Mordzar. "The blizzard brings good luck to the residents of Demarke." "Umm..if you don't mind me asking, why is it like that? I mean, isn't a blizzard bad for crops?" Mordzar asked. The farmer laughed. "Generally yes, but we don't mind! For Throne's sake, this is Demarke. The blizzard is caused when the Great Ice Dragon flies above...or so the myths say." He answered. Mordzar just managed a little laugh. Zounds! There was a lot about Castre he needed to learn. "My name is Jarrod, what is yours?'the farmer asked. "Oh..I am Kyle." Mordzar decided not to use his name for the fear that Jarrod could be a spy for Vaxon. "Well, Kyle, how would you like to share a glass of ale with me at my humble abode?" Jarrod asked, eyeing this foreigner with interest. "Sure, why not?" Mordzar forced a smile. Boy, Shurkan would kill him if he knew, but he needed to get out of the cave once in a while. Once they arrived at Jarrod's farm, Mordzar surveyed the place, seeing plenty of snow oxen and arroks fenced in shelters. "High demand in these areas for arroks." Jarrod pointed out after noticing Mordzar scrutinizing them. "Oh ok." Mordzar pretended to care. Once they got inside, Mordzar saw Jarrod's features after they took off their cloaks. Jarrod was a large man with a big belly that jiggled every time he walked and he had a long brown hair and a big beard as well. This kind of look would get you shamed in Komesen. Jarrod introduced his wife and five children to Mordzar. Wow! Five children!! No one is Komesen had above three! I guess the more time I spend here, the more I learn, Mordzar thought to himself as he downed a glass of ale while conversing with his hosts. "So Kyle, what brings you to Demarke?"Jarrod asked as he downed his jug of ale. Mordzar thought of a lie quickly. "Well, I am part of a troupe of travelling mummers and we go from region to region performing...what else do we do?" Mordzar grinned. Jarrod and his wife laughed. "You got a point there, lad," Jarrod posited. "So, are you performing tomorrow?" Before Mordzar could think of a lie, there were shouts and screams heard outside. Then, he smelled smoke and looked out the open window. To his horror, he saw dark shapes on horseback slicing at anyone unlucky to be in their way, Then, he noticed the burning buildings and then put two and two together. The flames were caused by blisters ( which were flammable projectiles fired by Vaxon's soldiers!) "Kyle, what is going on?" Jarrod asked with a worried tone. Mordzar noticed the whole family huddled fearful in a corner. His blood began to boil. "Stay here, I will investigate!" he ordered as he leapt outside through the window. "Have you seen or heard any suspicious activity?" Sorcerer Oakahs, the leader of Vaxon's Black Legion warriors, asked one of the smallfolk held by 2 Black Legion warriors."L-like w-what?" the terrified man asked timidly. "Anything..magical?" Oakahs snarled. The man shook his head."You sure?"Oakahs asked, then clenching his fist, causing the man to suffocate by some dark magical force. Mordzar had landed outside when he turned and saw what was happening down the village. Then, he saw a white cloaked man interrogating a terrified local. Then the man made a gesture and 2 Black Legion warriors dragged the screaming peasant away. When, the cloaked man turned, Mordzar felt a shudder of fear. This was Sorcerer Oakahs, Vaxon's anti-mage hunter. He had met this man as well during one of the Royal feasts and one thing was certain: Oakahs was a cruel and sadistic man who took delight in the pain of others!There was no surprise that Black Legion soldiers (and..Blood Ravens as well?) were cutting down smallfolk and making the snow turn crimson with blood. One thing was off: why were Blood Ravens and Black Legion forces together? That had rarely happened since Vaxon took over.Mordzar heard a scream and turned to see a mother holding two children, one an infant, being cornered to the wall by 2 Red Clad warriors. Mordzar had to act despite being told not to involve himself in conflicts that had nothing to do with him.Sorry Shurkan, but I can't let innocents die on my watch, he thought as he then made his way over. " Where are you headed , mamzel?" one of the Blood Ravens sneered. When Mordzar was close enough, he impaled the Blood Raven behind his head with a hiking stick. Shurkan had taught him that anything can be used as a weapon while Mathas had told him to start off small to save his energy for the rest of a fight. As the second Blood Raven turned, Mordzar impaled him through his eye, killing him instantly. The woman then thanked him and hurried away from the scene of the massacre. Mordzar looked around with disgust. How could Vaxon's soldiers act above the law? "You there! Halt!" a voice shouted. Mordzar turned to see a few Blood Ravens approach him. " You murdered a couple of our comrades and now you'll pay!" the Blood Raven hissed through his mask. Mordzar leapt out of a way as a few blisters were fired at him.Mordzar thought a spell and a metal spike shot out of the wall, impaling a Blood Raven. Mordzar then thought more spells and turned his metal stick into a fine sword and leapt to engage one of the Blood Ravens.To save his energy from using too much magic, he had taken a shield from the Blood Raven he killed. Using the fighting skills he learned from Shurkan (Mathas had taught him how to use his Metal Magic), he was able to cut down his remaining foes. After he finished, he was winded already so he decided to head back to the farm to check on Jarrod. Before he could reach the area, he was then surrounded by a squad of Blood Ravens led by Abadon the Destroyer, another military leader Mordzar had known during the times in Vaxon's court. Abadon grinned and got off his Destrier, brandishing his sword. "You must be one of the Metal Mages, I presume." He sneered. Then, turning to a nearby Blood raven, he ordered him to notify Vaxon. Turning back to Mordzar, he said " Let's see what you got!" and came at Mordzar swinging his sword. Mordzar ducked the blow and struck with his own, which was blocked by Abadon. " Hmmm.not bad, I may actually enjoy this!" the Blood Raven's leader grinned. Mordzar learned that unlike the rest of the people he sparred, Abadon actually had skill. Mordzar, exhausted from moving around a lot and woozy from the ale, was soon on the floor with Abadon pointing his sword at his throat. " Now, let's see how you really look like?" Abadon removed Mordzar's hood and gasped with recognition. "Mordzar Malthus, you are the Metal Mage!?" he exclaimed. Then, his look of shock then turned to a look of glee."Oh boy wait till Vaxon"- He didn't get to finish his sentence as Mordzar touched Abadon's sword and used his magic to turn his opponent's sword into metal claws on Mordzar's hands. "Wha"-Abadon managed to utter before Mordzar managed to decapitate him with his new claws. " Never underestimate a mage of metal."Mordzar grinned. However, he then noticed a whole squadron of Blood Ravens surround him. D'arvit! Mordzar swore in his head. Now that he had exhausted his energy, he would not fight his way through one more soldier! Then, a huge shadow blocked the moon, the blizzard having died down, darkening the whole area. Mordzar looked up and noticed a bright blue shape land at the edge of the village, creating an earthquake. Mordzar recognized Shurkan with relief flooding into him. "Just in time!" Mordzar called out. "Don't get cocky now,"The dragon growled. "You and I are going to have a long talk after this is over." Every soldier, Blood Raven or Black Legion, turned their attention on the behemoth that just entered the fray. " I'm sorry, I just needed some fresh air."Mordzar protested. " You totally disregarded what I said, but no matter."Shurkan responded while spreading his wings. " I see you put your training into good use." "Thanks, but does this mean I won't get punished?" Mordzar gave a feeble smile. The look that the dragon gave him told him that he will get punished. "Like I said, after these vermin are taken care of, you and I will have a big talk since I especially told you not to go out until I return!" Mordzar just nodded and turned to face the enemy soldiers. Shurkan then let out an earth shattering roar which after all these years still gave Mordzar goose pimples. Then, the raging dragon charged into the mass of Vaxon's soldiers, scattering them like ants. The earth shook as if it were nervous every time the dragon pounded on the horsemen, further staining the snow red. The screams of men and horses filled the night as Shurkan struck. While fighting off some Black Legion soldiers, Mordzar spotted Shurkan snatch a Blood Raven off his horse, tear apart his armor with his razor sharp claws, and the man met his demise by the dragon's equally sharp teeth. Mordzar was awed by the sight that he forgot that he was in the middle of a scuffle until his arm got scratched by a Black Legion swordsman. He then snapped into focus and retaliated by cutting the assailant's throat. He took care of the rest by touching the snow and thinking a few phrases. Immediately, metal spikes shot out of the snow, impaling the Black Legion soldiers. He turned to see Shurkan rake across a whole column of soldiers with his claws. He then noticed the villagers look out in awe at seeing the dragon they worshipped so much in action, Jarrod and his family included. Mordzar came across a Destrier which had its back broken by Shurkan, shrieking in pain. It was such a pitiful sight, not to mention the screaming which was hurting Mordzar's ears badly, that Mordzar had to take it upon himself to end the warhorse's misery. Mordzar felt a sick feeling in his stomach after ending the poor creature's life. Yes, he had killed before, but the Destrier did not deserve to die as it was simply following the whims of its master. HHHHHHUUUURRRROOOO!! The trumpet blast nearly sent Mordzar falling on his back. Why did it sound so familiar!? His question was answered when he turned his head and noticed the Elphas brigade riding into the fray, led by none other than Ra'Zaq the Terrible! His armor shining gold in the pale winter light, the mercenary rode toward Shurkan. Shurkan had just finished biting a soldier in two and then turned to face the oncoming brigade. Mordzar, having flashbacks of that terrible night, started to tremble and fall on his knees. His emotions were getting the better of him. " Mordzar, pull yourself together and concentrate on what lies before you." A familiar voice said. Mordzar looked up and saw the pale form of Mathas in front of him. "M-master?!" Mordzar couldn't believe his eyes. "I thought you were killed." "I was, but that is not important." A flash of blue light lit the area as Shurgan hit the Elphas Brigade with a powerful blast of his Ice breath. " You have to focus Mordzar." Mathas advised him. Mordzar then parried a blow meant for him by none other than Ra'Zaq himself! Already exhausted from impaling Vaxon's elites, Mordzar could only parry as he didn't have enough strength left to counterattack. He tripped over a barrel of ale and fell on his bottom. He looked up around for Mathas, but the apparition had disappeared. What do I do now? He thought as Ra'Zaq the behemoth towered over him, raising his sword to end the Metal Mage. Mordzar closed his eyes and awaited his end. THWAK! Mordzar opened his eyes to see Ra'Zaq fly 50 feet into the air, hit by Shurkan's massive tail. The screaming mercenary then landed into the dragon's mouth and with a sickening crunch and spurting blood, Ra'Zaq was no more. As Mordzar got up, a shadow fell over him. He looked up to see Oakahs, staring at the dragon with a look of pure hatred. " Looks like the Akabas are needed to finish the beast off." He muttered. Mordzar's heart skipped a beat. Akabas are reptilian birds used by Vaxon to hunt dragons. They watched as Vaxon's soldiers fired blisters and arrows at the dragon, but they bounced off his tough hide harmlessly. While Shurkan was feasting on the corpses of Vaxon's military, a sharp screeching sound tore through the air. Soon, 2 Akabas swooped out of the sky toward Shurkan, sending a whirlwind of snow flying all over the town. The gust of wind created by the immense strength of the Akabas threw Mordzar against Jarrod's home. In no time, Oakahs was over him like an eagle. "Well well."Oakahs sneered. "I have the mage of metal in front of me. Now' let's see what you really look like." With a flick of his wrist, Mordzar's hood came off exposing his face. Upon seeing the mage's true identity, Oakahs laughed like the sadistic maniac he is. "Mordzar Malthus, what a surprise! It has been quite a while I suppose."He smiled. "Just wait until His Majesty Vaxon sees what I caught him today." Oakahs took a step toward Mordzar, but then a beer tankard shattered over his face. His nose bleeding, Oakahs turned to see Jarrod charge at him. "Run for your life, Kyle!" he shouted. Mordzar watched Jarrod leap up to strike Oakahs, but the sadistic Sorcerer had gracefully leapt back. " That was a grave mistake, peasant!" Oakahs growled. He pointed his hand, muttered a few words which resulted in Jarrod being thrown back-onto one of the metal spikes left over from Mordzar's attack"NO!"Mordzar screamed in horror. "Daddy!" one of Jarrod's daughters rushed toward her dying father, until Oakahs snatches up the screaming child. At that same instant, Black Legion soldiers brought the rest of Jarrod's family out of their home and set them in front of Oakahs. When he saw the crossbows loaded, Mordzar received a shocking realization. "Stop!" Mordzar used what was left of his strength to summon a metal spike at Oakahs, but it was shattered even before it got to the sorcerer. " Stay where you are Mordzar!" Oakahs hollered. "Vaxon will arrive soon to see what I've snared. In the meantime, he would not want this family alive for harboring you. So on the count of three.." Mordzar charged at the sorcerer, but with a wave of his hand Oakahs sent Mordzar to the ground immobile. What happened next was a blur. He heard crossbows firing, people screaming, corpses on the floor, and a flashes of Shurkan fighting 2 monstrous creatures. He was then lifted and taken to a grand Arroks-drawn carriage. The door had opened and Prandeen, Vaxon's royal adviser, opened the door. " Your majesty!" Prandeen hollered. "Oakahs has caught the male metal mage!" A tremor started to take a hold of Mordzar's body when Vaxon himself came out to see him. If there was anyone more sadistic than Oakahs, it was Vaxon." Great work Oakahs, but mind me asking why it took so long for your forces to find him?" there was a malice in his voice that added to Mordzar's tremor. "Well, your Majesty, Mordzar here was being hidden by the villagers and that dragon I told you about." Oakahs explained. " What fate befell these traitors?'Vaxon inquired. Oakahs sneered. "They were executed as enemies of the kingdom, your Majesty." Oakahs replied. Mordzar would have gasped if Oakahs hadn't rendered him immobile. Jarrod and his family dead all because of him! "Excellent, I knew you had it in you Oakahs."Vaxon cackled. "Now, what happened to the dragon?" " The Akabas are engaging it as we speak." Oakahs reported. " Very good, now I have one last request for you."Vaxon walked up to Oakahs. "Yes, your majesty?"Oakahs awaited the request. "I want you to kill all the villagers for treason and burn down this village as a warning to anyone who dares to harbor any of Mathas's little pets!" Vaxon ordered the sorcerer. "With pleasure."Oakahs grinned. Mordzar was then taken to the back of the carriage and laid there. He heard Vaxon chuckle. "Mordzar Malthus, long time no see. Who would have thought you were the male metal mage?" Vaxon chuckles."Well, it doesn't matter, you and I are going to have a lot to catch up on anyway. All your family members are invited as well." Mordzar could only lay frozen in terror as he was being taken to someplace worse than death. Along the way, the screams of the villagers being put to the sword filled the night, echoing in his head and would haunt him in his dreams.

Male 8: Lightning Mage Kalix Leanour

People always thought rumors were not to be trusted, but Kalix knew better. Rumors had saved him and his sister more than once, and so when he found a small inn where he and Vala could get a warm meal, he hunkered down and listened to the busybodies and drunkards no one else bothered listening to. Beside him, Vala was chatting with one of the local boys, oblivious to the fact that said boy was trying to flirt with her. Kalix snorted in amusement. Vala attracted boys like moths to a flame, a metaphor which, he admitted to himself, was a rather apt description for his sister no matter who she was around. He turned his attention back to the gossipy gaggle of women a few feet away, keeping his head low and leaning back in his chair, like he was dozing off."Did you hear about those bounty hunters that came to visit?" One of the women said conspiratorially, and Kalix listened more intently. Women were always the first to know anything, from village scandals to who was new in town. "Don't be stupid, there's a rumor about bounty hunters visiting every month," one of her friends, a pretty blonde, argued. "No!" The first girl insisted. "There's one of 'em here now. Mary just told me she served one of them his meal, and she said she overheard them talking about finding," she paused, lowering her voice, and Kalix had to scoot inconspicuously in order to hear the rest of her sentence. "She said he was looking for the rest of the Magi that King Vaxon wants." She gave a delicate shudder. Kalix forced himself to keep his body relaxed at her words, although he brushed his fingers along the quiver of arrows concealed beneath his clothes. Turning towards Vala, he kept his voice calm and posture relaxed as he said "Val, it's a bit crowded in here for me."At his words, Vala's shoulders tensed before she made herself relax, immediately understanding the hidden message. We've been found again. She bid the boy she'd been talking to a hasty goodbye, and Kalix waited impatiently as she got her coat and followed him outside."I was hoping I could sleep in a bed tonight," she groused, and Kalix sent her a disapproving look."Would you rather sleep comfortably and get captured or sleep uncomfortably and stay free?" he asked, raising an eyebrow. Vala glared at him. "Running and hiding isn't real freedom Kalix."Kalix didn't answer. He knew she was right, and she did too. Glancing behind them, he picked up his pace, forcing Vala to follow suit. As he walked, he tried to remember the general layout of Nighes. He knew there was a forest up ahead, and–"I think they spotted us. I saw one of them looking at us through the window." Vala's voice was suddenly right next to his ear, and he cursed underneath his breath. Grabbing her wrist, he started running towards the forest. Vala resisted and he turned around angrily. "What-""I'm tired of running!" she snapped, and Kalix shook his head. Of course. He should have expected this from his sister. Always wanting to stay and fight, always being reckless. Part of him wondered what would happen to her if he wasn't around. The other half was scared to find out. Keeping his voice low he retorted, "And I'm tired of you always trying to find a fight. Just let these ones go." Vala glared at him defiantly, and he shook his head again, glancing nervously over at the inn they'd just left. "Vala-" He was cut off by the sound of sudden shouts and he whirled around just in time to see a group of black clad figures spill out from the tavern. Abandoning his sentence, he grabbed Vala by the arm and dragged her towards the forest, ignoring her protests. He was not going to lose her to some reckless plan.For a few moments, the only the sounds were of labored breathing and feet hitting the ground as Kalix ran. Then they entered the forest, and Kalix paused, breathing heavily. He looked around carefully as he caught his breath, cataloging various hiding spots. Then his eyes lit on a thick tree, covered with leaves the same size as a child. He tapped his sister and pointed towards the tree, and her eyes narrowed. "We are not going to fight them today," he hissed, and then stiffened as footsteps sounded behind them. "Now Vala." He pushed her towards the tree and she reluctantly started towards it. Kalix followed, scaling the tree just as he heard a loud shout behind him. He hurriedly climbed up to where his sister was perched on a thick tree limb, a sullen look on her face. "I know you're up there Magi." Whoever was speaking spat the last word, and Kalix tensed. Beside him, a look of fury crossed his sister's face, and he sent her a warning look, shaking his head. She stared at him for a long moment before nodding, her hands curled into fists. Peeking out from between a few of the leaves covering him, Kalix noticed that a group of at least twenty men were surrounding the base of the tree. He laughed silently. It seemed Vaxon had learned that it took more than one or two soldiers to capture a Magi. Studying them carefully, he noted that each had at least three weapons. One of them, a dark haired man with a lean build, smiled up at the tree. "You can't stay up there forever," he said in a singsong voice. "And when you come down, we'll be waiting." His voice was full of a dark happiness, his words a sweet threat. He's right, Kalix realized. He and Vala couldn't stay up in the tree forever. They'd need food or water or one of them would fall out of the tree while sleeping. That was, providing Vala didn't try to take them all on at once now. His eyes darted everywhere, the beginnings of a plan coming to his mind. A crazy, stupid plan, but a plan that would keep Vala safe.Kalix had always known that he would do anything for his sister. He just hadn't realized what anything entailed—until now. He breathed deeply, steeling himself. Turning to his sister, he put his hands on her shoulders, gripping them tightly. "They know someone's here Vala." He kept his voice as quiet as possible. Kalix tried to give her a reassuring smile, but judging from her expression, it probably wasn't half as assuring as he wanted it to be. Her mouth opened to say something, but he shook her gently, pleading silently with her to listen. "Stay right here. Don't leave this tree until it's safe," he ordered. Then, because he knew she wouldn't listen, he played his trump card, saying the only words that would convince her to do what he wanted. "Don't make me watch you die." Then he moved, climbing down the tree swiftly, his heart pounding. Before he hit the ground something hit his leg, sending a burst of pain through him. His grip on the tree loosened and he fell with a dull thud. White and red bursts filled his vision, and he felt rough hands grab his arms with vice-like grips. Movement in the tree caught his eye, and he noticed a blurry figure peeking out from behind the tree leaves. He shook his head as firmly as he could, a groan of pain falling from his lips as he did so. For a moment, bright sparks seemed to dance above him, and then there was the soft sound of rustling leaves and the tree returned to a blur of green. Relief flooded through his foggy mind, and he relaxed into his captors arms. A noise of disgust sounded above him, followed by the sound of someone spitting on the ground. "This one's pathetic Darrin. Didn't even fight back," he heard one of them say. "Who cares? At least no one died this time around," someone, presumably Darrin, replied. There were more words exchanged but they blurred together into a single sound, a soft buzz in the background. More spots dotted his vision and he let his head drop.Indistinct noises slowly filtered into Kalix's awareness, and he blinked rapidly, carefully sitting up. The first thing he registered was the cold, hard floor he was sitting on, followed by the sound of soft whispers. The smell of damp and dirt permeating the air came next, and he rubbed his eyes in an attempt to clear his vision. Slowly, the world around him came into focus.The first thing he saw was the thick iron bars, and he realized he was sitting in a cell, with dozens of other cells on each side. Each one contained two or three people, all Magi. There was only one other person in the cell he was in, a dark haired boy he recognized as Kalen. He was his sister's male counterpart, the other fire Mage. Kalen didn't acknowledge him, his head bowed as he sat silently in the corner. The dungeon door creaked, and Kalix's head snapped up. Two figures stepped into the long hallway, and as they stepped forward torchlight flickered, throwing light on their faces. Kalix recognized them as Kyren and Nassia Asherex. His eyes flickered to the long, thin scar marring Kyren's face, then took in his muscular build and the scar that peeked out from his shirt sleeve. He wondered if it was a battle wound. Kyren looked back at him, a hard expression on his face. Kalix stared back, unflinching. The brown haired boy gave what might have been a nod and then turned, walking over to one of the other cells. Nassia, on the other hand, bounded straight over to where he was. Her curly blonde hair glittered with jeweled hair clips, and her green eyes were wide and beguiling. Her dress was the color of summer grass, matching the green in her eyes, and Kalix had to admit she was beautiful. But it was a false sort of beauty, hiding a shallow, vapid personality. Nassia looked at him, and then Kalen, a bright smile on her face. She practically skipped over to them. "This is such a dull room, you should see mine. It's gorgeous, with lots of pink and purple, and none of this disgusting dirt," she said, her tone far too cheerful. She looked over at Kalen, practically pressing her face against the bars. "Are you really Daddy's other son?" she asked excitedly, and Kalix's head snapped up at her words. Other son? Across the cell, Kalen had looked up from the floor. His expression was cold and bitter. "Vaxon Asherex is not my father." His voice was like ice, and Nassia recoiled, a pout on her face. She turned to face Kalix instead, pout fading as she giggled girlishly. "I've said this about like, every other male Magi, but this time I'm sure. You're the most handsome one of all. All quiet and mysterious and interesting." She giggled again. "Until you see the next male Magi, right?" he asked dryly. Nassia pouted, but her smile returned quickly. "I don't know. But you're really handsome. Don't you have a sister? Daddy said you had a sister."Kalix's eyes snapped up to look her in the eye, any vestige of patience or goodwill gone at the mention of Vala. "My life is none of your business princess." He spat the last word like it was poison, and Nassia stamped her foot like the spoiled brat she was before stalking off. A few moments later, her brother walked over to cell, an amused smirk on his face. "What did you say to my sister to ruffle her feathers?" he questioned, amusement coloring his tone. Kalix stared at him with a carefully neutral expression. "Your sister doesn't like people who give honest answers."Kyren raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Well, my sister doesn't like much that doesn't sparkle or look pretty." He leaned against the cell bars. "Well, she's not a very good sister then, is she?" Kalix muttered. Kyren didn't answer immediately. "Whether or not I agree with you, I'd keep comments like that to myself." Behind him, Nassia's shrill voice pierced the air, and Kyren nodded once to Kalix before leaving. Kalix leaned back, closing his eyes. He wondered where Vala was, if she was doing well. He hoped she was; but he was certain that wherever she was was better than being here, in a cell. She'd hate it, the cage, the anonymity of everything, not being able to walk more than five feet in any direction. He spoke a silent prayer to whatever gods there were. Keep Vala safe, wherever she is. 

Male 9: Air Mage Morrow Endelen

There was nothing about his situation that made Morrow feel comfortable. And when discomfort become commodity, so did anger, tension, and the concept of screams and shouts and yells. The brown seemed to be getting on everyone's nerves, but not just that- the heat of the underground tavern was almost unbearable to their human skin. The tables in which they sat were metal, lined with patterned holes that made markings in their skin if they were to sit for too long. And if the table was left alone, it'd simply become hotter, waiting to burn. The walls, somehow, had the lowest temperature of everything around him, only warming against his touch. The dirt barricades surrounded him at all times; there was no sky, no sun, and nowhere to go, to feel free.

He was underneath reality, buried and still functional.

He had friends, sure; Arvidell was the one who usually distracted Morrow from the darkness when it was time to put out the torches. Without them, there was pitch blackness. Morrow liked to think it's built his character over the years, but surely it's made him weaker. He was once a frail gust in the open air, but since he was shoved down, down, down into a land beneath the land, he was the same man, without the confidence of wind.

It was lunch- or was it dinner? Morrow didn't actually understand the time of day any longer, having lost his grasp of day and night. Either way, he questioned the origin of the food in front of him. Very few Magi went above ground, and almost always they returned with something for everyone, and quickly. As far as Morrow knew, there were no stairs, doors, windows. Nothing that led up. So he stayed blindly and respected those who made the decisions. He didn't envy them. The meal in front of him was something meaty, from an animal that was most likely slaughtered with no remorse. It was tasty, sure, but he ate it guiltily because it felt like he was stealing from a land he had never tread.

The area was dimly lit, as some were sound asleep in other corners of the home. The scariest part of living underground was the light. When it was there, all Morrow could do was stare at dirt walls and think. When it wasn't, he'd stare at the same walls and see black, thinking deeper because the colors of the atmosphere told him to do so. The worst part of living underground was how weak it made him- without wind and open air, his powers went unused and unpracticed for years. Slight remembrances came to him every now and then, but overall he'd definitely be rusty if a fight came.

"Morrow! Feeling the same, I see," a boy- a man- said. His voice was low in a forced way, as if dirt wasn't enough, and he desired stone. The lowness of his voice was creepy in a suspected way, and almost instantly, Morrow knew it was Arvid.

"The same?" he asked with a nod to the floor, averting Arvid's gaze as the man sat opposite his body.

"You know, the same. Like you always do?" Arvid was speaking with an unquestioning tone, as if his newfound thoughts were a prize to be won. Nd like he was offering the prize the grand winner, who happened to be Morrow. Morrow didn't care for it too much.

Arvid made him feel stronger, though.

"I suppose," Morrow said simply. Normally, his tangents were drawn out, cohesive, and direct to the point no one could rival him in a game of words. Arvid was different, however. He jumbled Morrow's head with his dominance. He had the kind of strength that diminished Morrow into something unfit. And if it were the survival if the fittest, he'd be the first one tallied as down, gone, dead.

"You're wasting my time." It was oddly like Morrow could see his own death being planned out in Arvid's irises.

"We've been talking for a only a few mo-"

"Wasted." Arvid held up his hand with a grin, ceasing Morrow's speech with the motion. He put his forearms against the table and leaned forward, as if he held any real interest in the Air Mage. Maybe he did, but Morrow doubted the fact.

Arvid's mouth opened, the formation of a syllable unable to slip off his tongue into speech. Rather than the rumbling sound of his voice, what appeared to be an earthquake shook the foundation of their home. Cracking rocks and splitting stones fell from the ceiling, and the ground itself was as unsteady as their rapidly beating hearts.

"Will you calm it down, Caranee? We get it, you're cruel," Arvid called after a young woman running by. She looked at Morrow with a fearful look, not slowing her pace to retort in defense to Arvid. She just ran.

"Arvid, I don't think she-"

"It must've been Faignhra, then," he muttered, standing and walking around the metallic table to stand somewhere else. His destination wasn't exactly determined, but he wanted to go somewhere to figure out the meaning behind the ensuing chaos.

"They're the same girl!" Morrow had to yell. Echoes of the thunderous, pounding earth masked the man's voice.

"Atreyu? Honestly, all these names are so tiring, Morrow," Arvid said. Morrow couldn't help but feel the twist of confusion as Arvid managed to remember his name. And soon, he wasn't even thinking at all, too warped by the intensity of the quake. All cohesiveness was then demolished to staggered steps and slurred stutters.

It was then that Morrow realized what was happening, and why Faignhra was so terrified of what seemed to be nothing. It wasn't an earthquake. He didn't know the truth of the situation, but the fear was settling in.

The time of difference was bound to come, with the break of glass- of protection- and the coming of attackers that hadn't become physical yet. Arvid was the most horrid of all the consequences. For Arvid looked scared. Scared. Fear was an emotion that Arvid never felt, never admitted to feeling, so seeing the way his face paled into terror caused the earthquake to spread from ground to Morrow's limbs.

The normalcy of the day was what made the capture, well, intriguing.

Morrow would never admit it, let alone say it out loud, but he kind of liked being taken. It meant something new for him. Something outside the existential life of living somewhere he had no meaning.

"This cell is so much more flattering for you, Morrow," Arvid said, still forced, but to cover up the fright instead of the lack of confidence.

"And why is that?"

"Because, it isn't the same."

Morrow had to believe it was a good thing, Otherwise, he'd go back to how it was.

At least, in the cell, the walls were grey and not black.

Male 10: Illusionist Sage Ardivdell Milagras

 The wind breaks through the silence in a whistle. It sounds golden, and Arvid knows that's an odd way to describe it, but it's the only word that comes to mind. It's a liquid gold, spilling through the streets with a smoothness that's untouchable. It's beautiful, yes, but one slight tap will burn through one's skin, and when that happens they'll emit a scream that breaks through the whistling of the wind and switches it over to a desperate screech. Already, Arvid knows that someone's tried to break the sound of that whistle, and he can see the shadows leaping through the alleys, hopping from rooftop to rooftop as the moon takes a descent and the sun decides to take the night shift. And once it's passed the mark of the horizon, he won't just hear the gold, he'll see it. 

The cover of night is safest, and time is running out.

Arvid can feel the burn in his lungs, his legs, his arms as he pumps them back and forth. Running. He's running both towards something and away from something. He knows what he's looking for, but has no idea what's looking for him. His mentor always told him there was someone out for his blood, out for the blood of all magi, but the name of that person was always left unsaid. All he had was a yellowed paper with a face chicken-scratched on it, and he'd left that at the facility in which he'd spent a majority of his time.

A few weeks ago they'd all had to abandon that facility, for it'd been overrun by the people looking for them. It was only a matter of time before the army caught up to them, but Arvid decided to take the risk. But what made this journey so special, so important.

I need to see my wife and tell her I'm okay. It's been forever since I've been able to see her.

He can see a little cottage in the distance, the house he'd spent years with his beautiful wife in. So many memories were locked up inside, creeping up the walls, spilling through the cracks in the doors. Those years had faded out weeks, months, maybe even years ago, all when Arvid had been recruited to an academy to learn how to harness something he never really knew he could do.

The temptation of runes was far too delectable to pass up, and he'd stupidly chosen knowledge over family. But I can fix it now. Maybe I can bring her with me. His heart leaps in his chest with a force he's never felt before. Excitement. He's excited to see her, excited to connect withher again.

Before he really knows it, he's rapping at the door of the cottage, an unstable thing on the verge of falling off the hastily made up hinges. It shakes as he pounds on it. "Isolde," he says, the name rolling off his tongue in a rush of sweetness. "Isolde, please open up, please be home..."

It cracks open and a green eye sits in the light coming through. "Arvid?" Her voice is scratchy, as if she hasn't spoken in quite some time, but still holds a lick of concern at her husband's panting form.

"Yeah, that's me, that's my name last time I checked." It comes out as a breathy tease, a lighthearted comment that only widens his own smile. The sweat is rolling down his forehead in huge drops, and he can tell Isolde is eyeballing it and his drenched clothes. There is no humour in her face, only caution.

"Inside." Instead of letting him step inside himself, she clutches his shirt and drags him in, slamming the door shut behind them. He's caught off guard and nearly falls flat on his rear, but thankfully a nearby table is there to save him. She's different. She's not joking around. Something is wrong. Dear Isolde...

The silence returns, but this time there's no whistle in the wind to crack through it. The only gold in the world comes from the fireplace, a molten glow on the pair's cheeks. Arvid sees a fire in Isolde's eyes, both metaphorical and physical. Dread filters through his veins and soon it's all he can focus on: the trepidation and a set of green eyes. He wouldn't be surprised if they blew up in flame any second now.

"Being quiet" has never been Arvid's best skill, and that's only made evident by the awkward cough he purposely lets out. "Something's happened?"

Isolde only narrows her eyes and offers a brief, "No, dear, nothing's happened."

Additionally, Arvid has never been one to fidget. It's surprising that that's what he finds himself doing, picking at the clothes that stick to his skin. The heat of the fire helps to dry him, but he feels like he's about to become his wife's eyes, the heat is so overwhelming. Still, he doesn't move from his place.

"If nothing was wrong you wouldn't be looking at me that way," Arvid says. "You can tell me if anything's wrong, dearest." There's desperation in his voice and he knows it. I sound pathetic. Man up, Arvidell.

Isolde stares at him for a while longer before sighing. "You've been gone for a long time, Dell."

"It's Arvid," he cuts in. It's more out of instinct than anything; he's found himself constantly correcting people in the academy for the little nicknames they give him.

Isolde frowns. "I used to call you Dell all the time before you ran off. I will not call you Arvid."

"I didn't run off, I went to learn. Think of it as war: I was training for the time I'd really need to use the runes. I didn't leave you for a few useless tricks-"

"But you still left." Isolde's words are definite and deem Arvid's words null and void of any meaning. He did leave her. But now he's back, he came back and he wants to make it clear to his wife that he didn't intend to be gone so long. Words refuse to come through and silence settles again, like dust. Any words that either of them say are mere whispers. "You've been gone too long."

With a grunt, Isolde stands, and it's then that Arvid notices something. A small bump is sitting on her stomach that's never been there before. It's not the result of having too much to eat, he knows that for a fact, as this cottage has never stored anything more than a few days worth of meals at a time. His breath hitches in his throat. When was the last time I was here? When was the last time we...

"Five months ago, you came to visit. It's been five months since I last saw you, since we last spoke on better terms." Isolde turns to him, her eyes boring into his own like hot coals. "We haven't seen each other since. You forgot about me."

Her words are a blade pressed to his chest, and every accusation she throws only deepens the cuts in his skin. He lurches to a stand, suddenly filled with a need to defend himself. "No, no! I would never! You were always on my mind, even when I wasn't supposed to be focusing on you. I just...didn't have the chance to visit. We've been in hiding, I've been worried. I'm sorry."

Isolde is unaffected by anything he's said. "It's a bit too late for apologies, Dell."

Arvid furrows his brows, more sweat popping up - but not from exertion, rather, from the implications that something is about to go horribly wrong. "What do you mean?"

When she refuses to answer, only messes with a pitcher of water on the other side of the room, Arvid comes up with the "brilliant" idea of using what he's left her to learn. If she won't tell me, I'll find out for myself.

Chalk. It sits in his pocket, and he takes a piece out, making sure Isolde doesn't see what she so despises. It's been worn down to a stub and he grasps it with care. One slip up and he drops it. And if he drops it, he knows he won't be able to find it again.

A circle, three lines stretching it out, all equidistant...looks like a deformed triangle..."X" in the middle. There we go.

He casts another glance Isolde's way. Please don't turn around.

His hand whips through the air by his side and he gets to work on drawing the strange image in the air, hopefully out of the woman's view.That's right, almost gotcha...

His hand shakes, though he doesn't know why. Isolde won't see this. Maybe he isn't scared of her seeing, but he's scared of what he might find curling through her mind. He swallows a lump of saliva collecting in his mouth, and simultaneously he fumbles with the chalk and it plinks against the ground.

Isolde whirls on him, gaze falling directly on the small chunk of powder rolling to her feet.

Arvid swallows again, but more out of fear than anything. Bloody hell. This woman sure can be scary when she wants to be.

She's closed the distance between the two in seconds. Her fists take up the fabric of Arvid's shirt and she tugs, yanking him closer to her face so she can spit venom at him through her words. "You were going to use that, that dark magic on me, weren't you? Weren't you?!"

He opens his mouth in reply but no words come through. He's left to open and close his mouth, repeatedly parts his lips in hopes that he'll be able to explain himself. But he can't. Never has he seen Isolde so angry, so wild in her movements.

"You were probably going to use that to kill me, weren't you?"

"No!"

Isolde shoves him back and he hits the wall, the back of his head ricocheting off the bricks. Pain flares in one area before spreading through the rest of his skull and he groans, holding an arm up to keep an enraged Isolde back.

He notices the bump on her stomach again, and figures it can be a distraction. Distraction - it's a lie to disguise his curiosity, which is all too real. "Your stomach - are you...?" I can't even finish the sentence. How despicable of me. Arvidell, you're not doing much manning up.

"You knew? You knew and you were going to use magic!" Her hand comes flying for him again and he manages to move his arm in front of his face just in time. The hell has gotten into her?

"Stop! This isn't you! You would never hurt anybody. What happened while I was gone?" It comes out sounding like he's pleading for her to quit, begging for her questions. He may as well be on both knees and ready for execution. She does stop, and his voice softens to a squeak. "Answer me, please."

"I'm pregnant."

"Well, duh. I mean what happened to you. To the you I knew before." He tries so hard to disregard the bump, but his eyes keep jumping to it again and again and again. Questions about that can come later.

"It doesn't matter." Isolde turns her back to him once more and rushes to gather up a cup of water she must've been pouring before he dropped the chalk. The chalk.

Arvid manages to find it and wipes away the rune, throws glowing powder into the air, clears his slate. The new rune is hastily drawn, but it works.

Her voice echoes through his mind clear as day, but her mouth never moves. "I'm leaving Arvid, and I'm going off with a soldier. Of Vaxon's army. I just need to knock him out so I can run..."

Arvid now knows exactly what she's planning when she ditches the cup in favor of the pitcher. It's a heavy thing, thick and easy to swing if you're holding it right.

He's out the door before she has the chance to take a step towards him.

The thing is, he doesn't expect to meet an army. Well. I'm just getting all kinds of surprises today, aren't I?

Male 11: Gravity Mage Jaxon Steele

"Why did we have to move again," Darian whines.

"Because I'm not attached to anywhere. I don't like being idle. It's boring." I hang the curtains that she stitched together from old clothing several months back. I smile at them, amazed at how nice she can make a piece of patchwork look.

"Yeah, well," she stops her dusting and crosses her arms, "I like being idle. I like being attached. Just once, I would be happy with once."

"It's the people I don't like becoming close with. It results in hurt."

She stares at me with her round blue eyes and whispers, "Do you not like being close to me?"

I wrap my arms around her waist and pull her in for a kiss. "You, my dear, are an exception. A beautiful, wonderful exception."

Darian smiles her shy smile as she tucks a piece of her coppery brown hair out of her face. Every time I look at her I'm always astounded by how perfectly beautiful she is. How was I lucky enough to stumble across the prettiest lady in all of our land?

I place a quick kiss on her forehead and ask, "You're not too mad that we've moved again, are you?"

She sighs. "I guess not. I could have said no at any point to you. Somehow you're arguments are always very persuasive." There's a playfulness in her voice that causes a smile to play across my lips without my decision to let it happen. She's the only person I've ever loved outside of my family.

Darian walks away to continue dusting our small wooden cottage. It really isn't much, but it's the best I could do. I truly wonder how she's stayed with me all this time without despising me.

"So what made you choose to come to Demark of all places?"

I run my tongue over my teeth as I consider my answer. I don't have a good one this time. Normally when I move, it's because of trade reasons. This time...nothing. I don't have an answer that is easily put to words.

"I don't know. I've been feeling...pulled here for years. I just haven't really done anything about it."

For several years I've always felt the need to be in Demark. It's not like I was born here or ever lived here, so I don't know why. But something has been pulling at me. It feels like when I use my magic. There's been a physical feeling of my body being tugged.

"Hopefully this lasts more than a few months," Darian mutters.

I really hate that I've taken her from her home for this life. We aren't even married, which goes against everything for the most part. Then again...me having my magic goes against everything.

"Let's go for a walk," I suggest.

"But we have so much to do still," she says.

I close my eyes and focus on using my energy to pull her close to me.

"Jaxon, don't you dare."

Without looking at her, I smirk. By now she knows what me closing my eyes means. It almost always means that I'm trying to use my magic.

"Jaxon," she squeals with laughter.

In less than another second, I feel her body against mine so I open my eyes. I smile down at her.

"Why hello there, gorgeous." My arms wrap around her body as I hold her close.

She smacks my chest with her petite hands. It doesn't hold a lot of weight since she's laughing at me.

"So this walk..." she says.

"C'mon. I think I say a little lake when I was walking through here this morning."

She takes my hand and we walk out of our new home together. She cranes her head around to view the new settings. This is something quite different than Nighes.

"Do you think we can stay here this time?" Darian suddenly asks.

"Dar, I don't know. You know how I feel—"

"But why?" She rips her hand out of mine in frustration.

I hate when she gets like this. I'm always afraid that she'll come to her senses and leave me. I would never be mad. I would never blame her. All of the moving I do isn't exactly the ideal life.

"I don't get attached. We've been over this."

"Stop letting your past run your life," she says with exasperation.

"You don't understand," I say. "You have your family. I have nothing."

I shake my head at remembering the day I lost everything. My hand travels to my pocket instinctively. I always carry my little sisters doll with me. Always. It's the only thing I have left besides memories.

"Oh, so I'm nothing to you now?"

Darian turns to walk away from me. I grab her arm. If she decides to leave me, I won't let her do it without trying to stop her. I refuse to let her go without a fight.

"That's not what I meant."

If she truly believes that those are my feelings, I've failed her. I've failed in the worst kind of way. Someone like her deserves to know how valued and loved she is.

"I know," she whispers. "I'm sorry."

She walks closer to me and grabs my other hand. She bites her thin lip before saying, "I just—I just wish I was enough to keep you happy."

Her eyes turn away from mine as if she were ashamed at what she just said.

"Hey," I say softly, "you are my everything. If it will make you happy, we will stay here as long as possible."

She looks back at me with a light in her eyes that makes me smile.

"Really?" I nod and she throws her arms around my neck. "Thank you."

My lips land on the top of her head.

"I love you," I whisper.

The sun is starting to go down and it paints the sky in all kinds of orange. An idea sparks in my mind.

"Let's just lay here and watch the sky."

"What?" she giggles, looking at me with confusion.

My shoulders lift and fall. "Let's watch the sky. Let's just stay here and watch."

"I will gladly do anything with you."

I sit on the cold earth and pull her into my lap. She leans back into my chest and I breathe in her hair. I don't know what I'd do if I ever lost her. I think she's the only reason I ever stay sane.

Stars begin to peak out and light the sky.

"They're so amazing," Darian sighs. "I could stare at a night sky for hours."

There's a rustle in the weeds not far from where we're sitting. For reasons I can't explain, the noise puts me on edge. The wind is too still for that to be the cause. I haven't seen any animals so far...

"Dar," I whisper quietly.

"What is it?" Concern is laced through her soft words.

"Stay put and stay low."

The rustling sounded entirely too unnatural for me to be comfortable. I'm not going to let myself fall asleep and get some sort of ambush placed on Darian and myself.

As quietly as I can manage, I stand and make my way towards the noise.

"It's him!" a man shouts.

A group of at least thirty men emerge from all the weeds. This is bad.

I turn to face Darian and quietly say, "Run."

The men all come running towards me. I notice that they all have tattoos that cover nearly every inch of their skin.

"Crap," I whisper. Asphans. They are a crossbreed almost. The tattoos somehow allow them to channel any magical power that they want. They're part of Vaxon's army.

I focus my energy and shift the gravity so I can push them back. Some of them hit the trees and let out a loud grunt.

I will not let them take me. They can't do this. I won't leave Darian.

Suddenly I can't see a thing. Darn bastards are blinding me! I can't win this fight alone and I certainly can't win it blind.

I try to throw off the gravity as much as I can, but with my sight gone, I cannot bring myself to focus. My body is restricted by many arms. I thrash against their hold on me.

I'm lifted off the ground and I can't tell if it's because they lifted me or because they're also using gravity. Either way, I'm completely out of luck.

I land on what feels to be wood and I hear a door shut. My vision now returns and I'm greeted with a new blackness. I can feel bodies all around me, though no one speaks. I would bet that we all have our magic.

The cart takes off and travels for several moments before stopping. There's a ruckus and the sounds of a girls screams before the wagon door opens and she's thrown in.

I hear her sobbing next to me.

"Hey, are you alright?" I ask her.

I feel her body tense up. I don't she knew I was here. The poor girl has probably had enough scare for one day.

"They burned my home. My family..." She doesn't finish speaking. I know how she feels. I know what it's like to lose your family. Though I'm not sure why she thinks they're killing her family. It doesn't sound like there is any more ruckus.

I reach out to console her. When our skin touches images flash before me. They're the images of war. I see my family. I see the doll in my pocket. What does this mean?

She creams and backs away from me. So she saw it too.

"Woah," I say. That was very bizarre.

"They're killing my family," she whispers. I can feel her body rocking.

"If you don't mind my asking, what makes you think that?" If they were burning things, surely I would see the orange glow coming through the cracks.

"The fires...my house...how didn't you notice it?" She asks through her violent sobs. My heart aches for this girl. She sounds so young and innocent.

"It wasn't real. Vaxon had an Asphan impair your vision and make you see things," I tell her. She needs to know that none of this was real.

"A what?"

"Asphans. They're his personal guards that cover themselves in tattoos."

She doesn't need all the facts. Just a simple explanation should do. I doubt she cares to know the technical stuff anyway.

"It all looked so real."

"I know it did. But it's okay. At least, for your family it is."

Bells sound out. I have no doubt that it's part of their defense system. They're too late though. They didn't ring in time.

The only thoughts running through my mind are ones of Darian and her blue eyes and happy smile. I hope she's safe.

Male 12: Water Mage Evian Damini

The morning sunlight filtered through the flap of Evian's tent, spilling onto his face and waking him. It happened the same way every morning, and he wouldn't want to be awakened any other way. The open, rugged life was the life that was most comfortable to him, and it seemed as if he had been awakened that way, or in a similar way, every day since his mother died.

Evian stretched his limbs and sat up on his mat, which lay on the hard ground. It was a rough way to sleep, but he had gotten used to it and slept like he was on the king's own bed. Standing up as far as the low ceiling of the tent would allow him, he pushed the flap open and walked out into the early morning sunlight.

A small group had begun to accumulate in the center of the camp, and morning meal was being handed out. Evian walked casually over to join the group, admiring the beauty in the woodlands around him. One of the women handed him a piece of meat that was from a cockatrice that had been hunted and cleaned just last night, cooked over what small fire they were allowed to have. Nonetheless, the meat tasted amazing.

Evian's gaze wandered for a moment, and his eyes fell on a girl, standing off to the side of the camp. He had seen her around before, but he had never heard her speak to anyone. If he remembered correctly, she was a lightning mage.

Her eyes suddenly met his, and their gazes locked for what seemed like an eternity to Evian, but what was really a split second. In that time, Evian realized something about her that he had never noticed before. She--the girl-- looked somewhat like his mother.

Is it just a coincidence? he wondered.

Her eyes suddenly broke away from their gaze, looking down at the forest floor. He glanced away, downcast. The moment their eyes locked had felt so good, so natural, and he had never wanted it to end. Then she had looked away, and the spell had been broken.

He bit a chunk off his piece of meat, trying to get his mind off her, but he couldn't get her face out of his head. Slowly, without him even realizing what was happening, her face morphed into the face of someone else. His mother.

Oh, how he missed her smile. He had only been five when she died, but it was still etched in his mind as clearly as if she had just passed away yesterday. When he was feeling sad, she would take him in her arms, look into his eyes, give him that smile, and whisper, "It'll be alright." The only times he had ever seen his mother cry was the time when his father left and right before she died. Even then, there was something special in her tears, as if pure crystals were flowing from her eyes in liquid form. Seeing her cry had awakened something in Evian, something that made him want to cry as well. Now, he would give anything to see her again, regardless of if she was crying or not. However, that was impossible. All he had now were the memories.

Most everyone was awake now, and some had begun training off to the side of the camp, where tents weren't in danger of getting damaged. To get his mind off his mother, Evian stood up and walked absentmindedly over to join them. There were four others, and they sparred with their magic. Evian noticed how careful they were with their magic energy. He made a note to remember that, because he found that in battles he tended to use his energy too quickly.

He grabbed a sword from a nearby rack and went off to the side to train by himself. He had been working on a new move, trying to keep a thin layer of boiling water over the outside of the sword. That way, when he was battling, the sword would not only cut, but it would burn as well.

Sphere of water, he commanded in his mind. The round ball of water formed in his hand, keeping its shape perfectly. Heat, he thought, and he could feel it gradually warming up in the palm of his hand. He touched the ball to the blade of his sword and made the water spread out, covering the blade.

He paused. Now came the hard part: getting the water to stay in place. Slowly, he moved his hand away from the water and commanded it to stay with his mind. His knees nearly buckled as he felt his magic energy leave him swiftly, as it always did when he attempted to do this part. He held the water in place for as long as he could, but after a few seconds, it dropped from around the blade and onto the ground.

He sighed, consulting a small clock that he had placed on a stump next to him to check his time. Thirty-eight seconds.

Not bad, he told himself, but unless you think you're ever going to be in a battle for only thirty-eight seconds, you're going to have to get better.

He leaned back against a tree to let his magic energy replenish. The moment he sat down, however, the girl's face from earlier popped back into his mind. For some reason, he couldn't get her picture out of his head. It wasn't that her face was so beautiful, or that he was falling in love, it was just that there was something about it that made him have to think about her.

Why did she turn away when I looked her in the eye? he wondered. Why would she resist?

No answer came to him concerning these things, even after he replayed the questions what seemed like millions of times in his mind. Angrily, he stood up, grabbed his sword, and prepared to train again. His energy was nearly replenished, and he needed some way to keep his mind off the girl.

The rest of the day passed in a similar manner: Evian training, Evian resting, Evian's mind wandering, Evian becoming angry, Evian training again. For him, the day was just a whirlpool of emotions, one that he was being sucked into, with no way to swim against the tide and pull himself out. All of a sudden--or so it seemed to him--the sun was setting, bathing the trees in an ethereal red light. Evian noticed this and stopped his training to prepare to go back to camp.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a flash of movement in the woods. He immediately snapped to the alert. That flash hadn't looked like just an animal. It looked like something more human.

He watched the forest closely for another minute or so, but when the movement didn't return, he dismissed it as a trick of the light and headed back to the camp. The sword he used was put back on the rack where he had got it in the morning, and he walked back to the center of the camp. A few of the others had come back from a hunt with fresh meat, and it was being cooked over a small fire. Even though the sky was darkening, the fire needed to be kept small, lest someone see the flames and know of their existence.

Evian overheard a bit of conversation coming from the two men cooking the meat and strolled over to listen.

"Did anyone ever find out who it was that screamed out in the woods earlier today?" one of the men was asking.

The other shook his head. "The ones who went out to investigate did see some footprints on the ground, but no one was ever found out there. Nobody knows if the footprints are from our own, or if others have come close to our location."

Evian didn't know exactly what they were talking about, but he still cut into the conversation. "I thought I saw movement out in the woods a couple minutes ago. It didn't look like an animal, or one of our own people. It might have just been my eyes playing tricks on me, though, nothing to get worried about."

The first man nodded. "I hope it's only the first option. Others this close can't mean anything good."

"I know. I--" Evian stopped suddenly. A strange smell wafted into his nose. Smoke. He could tell that it wasn't smoke from the small fire in front of them. This smoke had a more wild smell, like wildfire.

He heard shouts from behind and quickly turned around. One of the tents on the outside of the camp was on fire, and the flame was quickly spreading. Something had to be done, he knew, so he scrambled up from where he was sitting and sprinted over to the fire. Wave of water, he thought, and an enormous wave came into being in front of him, dousing one of the tents and extinguishing most of the fire. Further away, he could see the other water mage, Myla, doing the same.

As he extinguished another tent, he could feel his magic energy starting to slip away. The fire was spreading fast, and he didn't know if he'd have enough strength to put it all out. However, he didn't stop, but kept pushing on, with his strength draining more every time he formed a wave.

Nearly the whole camp was aflame now, and Evian barely had any strength to do anything. He knew that saving the tents was a lost cause. He was forced to watch, slowly, as all their belongings burnt to the ground. Not a speck of dust remained. All was turned into ash.

A pile was made in the center of the camp of all the materials that were salvaged: a few swords, some arrows, and some of the meat that had just been hunted. That was all. Most of the Magi had gathered around the pile, as if it was some sort of memorial to all the things that had been lost. None of them had been injured, thankfully, but it was still a big blow to have everything that had lost all they had so quickly. All was silent.

The sudden blowing of a horn pierced through the noiselessness, causing everyone to look around them suddenly. What they saw was a sight that made all their hearts crack in fear and sadness.

An army of men completely dressed in black was walking towards them through the trees. Vaxon had found them.

The men halted in front of the Magi's circle and one of the men in the front stepped forward. "Magi," he began with a booming voice and a cruel smile, "you have been found at last. The danger you pose to His Majesty King Vaxon will finally be eradicated, and the kingdom will be at peace once more."

Evian was about to speak against his words, but the man just kept speaking. "I'm offering you a choice now, to either come with us peacefully, where, back in front of King Vaxon, you will die in honor; or resist us, which ascertains your death here in this accursed forest, where you will die the death of the scum that you are. The choice is obvious, is it not?"

Evian looked around at his fellow Magi for a moment, then turned to face the man. "The choice is obvious." He picked up a sword from the pile. "I would rather die the death of scum in a forest then be killed in front of Vaxon for his amusement."

Some of the Magi behind him followed his suit, picking up the swords from the pile and nodding. The ones without swords prepared their magic.

The man in front of the army sighed. "Why do your enemies always have to choose the hard way?"

With that, the army attacked, and the Battle of the Magi began.

The fighting was hectic. It was magic versus weapons, and somehow, weapons seemed to be winning. Part of the reason was that whenever one of the men in black came to one of the Magi, they would suddenly pull a bag over their head so they couldn't see and drag them to the back of the clearing. It was clear that their orders were to take the Magi alive, not kill them like the leader had said they would.

Evian fought like a beast, slicing through the enemy like paper. He told himself after every one he cut down that men that would serve a king as corrupt as Vaxon without hesitation deserved to be killed, but still he felt the remorse deep inside that everyone feels when they've just taken a life. Alternating between his sword and his magic, he kept his energy up for a while. Sometimes he fought alongside others, while other times, he stood alone. Adrenaline fueled his limbs. He felt unstoppable.

As the fighting continued, the pile of the Magi that had been "bagged" slowly grew and grew. Even some of the most skilled fighters had been caught. Evian had narrowly escaped it many times. Finally, though, when he looked around him, he saw that he was the only Magi left standing. All the soldiers were coming for him now. He was outnumbered fifty to one. The only way he would be able to take them all out would be to attempt the move he had been practicing earlier, but that would completely sap his energy. Would it be worth it? he wondered, but there was no time to ponder it. The soldiers would be on him any second.

I'll have to risk it, he told himself. Before he could change his mind, he had created the sphere of water and formed it to his sword.

All at once, he dropped his hand and started attacking everyone. He could feel his energy leaving rapidly, and he fought the urge to collapse. As the men advanced closer, black spots started to dance over his vision. If he held it much longer, he would pass out, but he had to keep fighting. He couldn't let these men take them to Vaxon. He still had life to live. He still needed to find his sister...

But he couldn't hold the water any longer. He collapsed onto the ground, his sword skittering out of his hands. The remaining men grouped around him in triumph, proud that the last Magi had been felled.

That was the last sight Evian saw before his vision faded...

Male 13: Earth Mage Atreyu Coen Demarcus

  ou know those moments in life when you can't comprehend what's happening. Well, I was in this exact position.

I'm not the type of guy who worries about much, or worries at all but this was something new. I was currently in a huddled position on the edge of a cliff like a rock. It was situated on the beach I had come to love. My jersey was wrapped around me as the breeze blew my hair away in the wind, not literally but it might as well have been. The wind was strong at the moment and I should have been home, I knew that. But I wasn't. It was two in the morning and after a full on blow with my parents, I stormed out. I may be 23 but I'm still their child and so I still lived at home. Or rather I 'lived' at home. I obviously was never home though and as soon as I came back I was greeted with yelling. But growing up with the parents I had you would expect nothing less. Maybe it was because I was on the run. Well no not exactly on the run I was just keeping an eye out, coming home is actually a pretty dumb idea now that I think about it but I'm here now and I'm sure as hell not turning around just yet. First I needed to see my sister. But at this rate that would be the last thing I'd be doing. And so I sit there still as can be watching the waves crash against the rocks. The sea was rough at this time of the morning but to me, it still looked peaceful. This was the only place I could ever truly be alone. The only place I felt as if I belonged. My thoughts may have been lying to me at that point but in my heart I knew that nothing could compare to this place, there was no way. I sigh unwrapping my jacket around my body and actually putting it on this time. I stand up brushing off the dust from my body until I hear the sound of faint footsteps. I turn around and come face to face with the one and only Vaxon. The guy whom I've been running from or anyone like him to be completely honest.My first instinct is to run but I'm not stupid that would only make the situation worse for me.And so I look him dead in the eyes and focus all my concentration on the vine that was forming on my head and the next thing I know it appears in my hand. The beauty of the Earth. I whirl it around his body putting him off balance as he trips over his feet. Step one done.I then twist the vine around my own arm as if I'm holding it and twirl around sending it over the cliff-like rock. It catches onto a branch of a tree miles down and so I run jumping off the cliff-rock and hurl my body over as if it's the only thing keeping me from life and death.I soar through the air and immediately come to the conclusion that I'm about to die if I don't do something about it and so with as much strength I can muster I form a small tree underneath me. Or at least, close to where it looks like I'm going to fall.The tree does indeed break my fall and I land straight into a pile of leaves and twigs. Now that hurt.I scramble to get out of the tree and end up falling into the process. I knew that I had time to get away but only just enough. He and whoever else was with him would be hot on my heels if I didn't get out of here now. I look back. Bad decision.I then ignore my inner thoughts and get up, limping a little and run. It probably wasn't the best thing for my ankle as it hurt like a motherfucker. The price you pay to live.I hear footsteps approaching and pick up my pace. Running or more like sprinting. I look ahead of me charging as if I'm some sort of bull or something. But I might as well have been because there's no way someone could even think to run faster than I was. Well, I was the fastest in my class as a kid, and every competition I was ever entered in I won. What can I say I'm amazing. If only that was true now.But when you take your mind off of the subject at hand you lose thought of what you're supposed to be doing. Just like what had happened in that moment. Because next thing I know I'm being bulldozed by two strong males dressed in shiny stuff. I shake my head pissed off now they look determined and so I try my hardest to distract them in the small moment I have."Hey, what's that," I ask them pointing to nothing in the sky and charge at them. They lose their balance and I run straight through them. It takes everything I have to not go back there and actually fight them but I know that I have to keep going.I run until I reach the midst of my town's village soon being cornered in an alleyway. The soldiers or whatever they are hold a glare as they for the second time this morning charge for me. And so I do the logical thing I jump. I form a few branches on the building jumping between them as I race my way up the sides of the building wanting to get as far away from there as possible. The branches soon disappear under me as I reach the last one, I leap onto the roof of the building not wanting to die from falling. I'd rather die fighting back then falling off a roof or a building in any way.But imagine what a story that would be dying from climbing a wall. That has to have happened somewhere. If someone could send me a video or something that would be great.I look down to see the two soldier people talking between themselves thinking I'm safe for now I take a breather giving myself time before I have to run again. There's no way anyone could get up here unless they had a ladder or something. Or powers that could help too. Oh, wait.I then take off running jumping over the small gaps between buildings. This could be seen as stupid and disrespectful not to mention I could wake someone up but that was the last of my worries.Hell if I had to kill one of these soldiers I would my life means more than theirs. Well at least in my perspective it does. But I'm only killing them to save my own ass, that is if I even have to in the first place. It's not exactly necessary, yet. That reminds me of what my ex-girlfriend used to say "if it means I live who cares" god she was annoying, at least, she's dead now. I don't mean it in a bad way but still. And she was 16 so that kind of was going downhill from the start.She was cute, though. Young and cute is definitely my type. Unless they're as annoying as she was then no, never going back to a crazy person such as herself.I continuing running until I stay standing still on the third to last building in the row of shops.The war destroyed nearly everything and yet during this time, people still focused on trying to make things feel sane. Normal. But god knows we all thought the same thing, nothing could rewind what was happening. What had happened, not even buildings that looked like ones of the past. I turn around which I should have learned by now was a bad idea as I see another three soldiers charging for me, running across buildings and jumping over the areas that separate each and every one.I create a flower in my mind, it soon appearing next to the soldiers. The flower was just as deadly as I had imagined it in my mind and swallowed two of the soldiers whole. Magic as small as this would take hardly any toll on me. My energy was fine it was the bigger things that would make it plummet and I didn't plan on using all my energy on these people. But if I was going to I was going down with a fight.The magic I had done in the last hour had already taken a little affected on me. I could still do magic just fine but I had to be careful because at the end of the day. A tree can take a while to make at the age of twelve it drained me. I was actually supposed to be training with the other 31 Magi but instead, I had done a runner. I wasn't stupid I knew what was coming and I didn't want to be around to witness it.But now I'm living it.The last one takes into account what just happened to the other soldiers and smirks at me. I had no clue what was coming next and I didn't want to find out either. And so I create yet another vine this one a lot smaller than the one earlier and swing it at him. He was closing in on me and so I knew this would work.I hurl it at him and tell it in my mind to wrap around him. The vine takes charge and it wraps it around his stomach squeezing. The guy vomits up his insides from the hold of the vine. These Earthly elements obviously shouldn't have been coming from out of nowhere that was a given even though technically they were coming from my brain and thoughts. This obviously took more of an effect on me compared to how it would if I had had a tree near me in which could make it easier on me to fight but in this moment my thought were all I had. The soldier coughs as what's left of him are vomited out of his system. "Please," she chokes out. I don't stop though not willing to risk what would happen if I did and he soon falls onto the ground or rather roof od the building. Dead. "Well well well you defeated three of my men in under twenty seconds well done," I hear the voice of our king shout. Oh god, what have I gotten myself into?"Though it doesn't surprise me you're a strong boy as I can see," he proceeds. "Get him boys" is the next thing I hear as multiple arms wrap around my body sending me off guard. And the stupid thing is, I should have seen it coming. I try to wrestle them. I do end up sending a fist to one of their stomach's and another to someone's jaw hearing a snap in the process. He falls to the ground, another dead. My plan does not last long though as soon after more arms wrestle me down, and I huff there was no way I was getting out of this. "Dicks" I breathe out, this only makes them strengthen their grip on me. "Do you mind" I ask pissed off. They tighten their grip once again. "I said do you mind" I shout. This only results to a gun resting on the side of my head. "Go on shoot, do it I don't care" I laugh "I'mm stuck here now your going to do it anyway right? So do it now, I dare you," I finish laughing as they guide me to my feet. I knew in that moment they didn't want to kill me just yet. There was somthing else to this plan I just hadn't figured it out yet."Yeah exactly your too scared right,?" I ask them just wanting to annoy them as much as I could because I knew they wouldn't shoot me. Sure it might meanthey torture me instead but hey I was okay with that.If it meant in this moment I could lighten the situation. The King sighs then starts laughing a really evil laugh. It was kind of messed up to be honest but hey that's not my place to judge. "Your an instersting boy," is all he says as he orders his minions (my new name for them) to take me away from him and to wherever we were going. My guess prision. And I had never been more right.

Male 14: Warrior Sage Telex Silverblade

Blood dripped slowly from a foamy mouth.

The Jindai wolf glared at Telex with wild eyes and charged again. A white flash shot out and whipped around the beast's foreleg, making it howl in furry. The creature jolted on the ground for a second before pushing itself up with the energy of its madness.

"You just won't give up!" Telex yelled at the charging beast, now irritated.

The creature raced towards him, and Telex prepared himself to give the nasty thing a death blow. The yellow eyes narrowed at him, the jutting shoulder bones of the monster were easily seen through the greasy and thin fur. The Jindai wolf's huge paws pushed it into the air, straight for the kill zone. Its mouth foaming and claws outstretched, the creature flew through the air at him, and froze.

Telex frowned as he watched a brown vine, as thick as a small tree and sharp as a thorn jut out from the animal's body, smaller vines wormed their way out of the creature's mouth, and its eyeballs fell out as more vines twitched in their sockets. Then, the whole bloody mess dragged itself under the ground.

Telex spun around to see his brother, Sigel, coolly inspecting his bloodied arm as if nothing had occurred.

"I had the situation under control!" He growled.

Sigel just shrugged, "I have no doubt that you did. However, the last time I checked, we were trying to get to Hallowes as quickly as we can, on foot." He glanced up at Telex. "You were taking too long, stop fussing and let's go." He snatched up his satchel and proceeded to walk away.

Telex's eyes narrowed, but he hid his whip among his brown robes and sprinted after Sigel, knapsack in tow.

"Is your arm alright?" He asked worriedly.

"A minor injury, it stopped bleeding." Sigel shrugged it off without looking at Telex.

"Let me heal it." He reached for his brother's arm, but Sigel brushed his hand away.

"No. I've already lowered my energy killing that wolf without you giving yourself pain. No use lowering both energies."

Telex's brow furrowed, "Hey, you didn't have to kill it! I was going to!"

The two men had been walking from Rahnge to Hallowes for a fortnight, hindered by soldiers and weather. They had been resting from a nine hour trek, checking for the most efficient route when a Jindai wolf had sprung out of the rocks and bushes and grazed Sigel's forearm with its teeth. Telex had attacked it, and the whole ordeal had wasted ten minutes of their day. To Sigel, it was a bothersome loss, Telex didn't really care.

He swung his bag onto his shoulder as he protested. "Besides, that couldn't have taken up much energy at all! You're being dramatic again!"

"Says the one who's shouting at me. I'm not going to repeat myself on the matter so drop it." Sigel ignored his brother's fuss.

Telex knew that the conversation wasn't going anywhere, so he didn't push further, instead, he broke into a grin. "Well at least it was only one and not a pack!" Nothing.

"I'm glad it's a bright day! No need to find shelter from a bothersome storm." No response.

This usually happened, Telex would try to start a conversation, and his older brother would either ignore it or just not appear to hear it at all. At some point, this would start to aggravate Telex, but he never stop trying to cheer his brother up. If he even needed cheering up, he was rarely depressed or cheerful, he was just, well, just the nearly expressionless Sigel. Sometimes, when Sigel's facial features expressed an emotion, Telex would worry that he would strain his face for his general lack of use. The silence and refusal to be more positive instead of factual was a bit discouraging for Telex, but he was determined, and usually cracked stupid jokes to try and coax a genuine smile out of his brother. It typically resulted in absolute silence.

The road became less forests and lakes and more grassy hills and open air as they walked. Sunlight peek through chunks of clouds as big as castles, making some grasses look a bright bamboo green while clouded grass looked like dark emeralds. The sky was blue and bright, and the air was warm, a cool breeze kissing Telex's face. His smile widened as he breathed in the smell of wind and grass.

"I always loved the smell of Hallowes! What say you Sigel?"

After a long silence, Sigel finally spoke. "Hopefully it doesn't rain before we get to the town."

"Ah, we'll get there in time." Telex cheered himself on finally getting Sigel to say something, even if it was just something down-casting.

"Well since we'll eventually get there without rain, why don't we just sit in the grass and smell tulips?" Sigel's voice had an edge of sarcasm but no contempt, this meant he wasn't in a bad mood, just worried about the rain. This livened Telex up. He picked a tulip and breathed deeply, then offered it to Sigel.

"When will you be capable of telling the difference between literalness and figurativeness?" Sigel sighed.

After this exchange, Telex pretty much talked to himself about everything for approximately six more hours. The sun was setting, but it was hardly seen through a dark mass of brooding clouds.

"Er, Sigel? How long until we get to the town?" Telex asked.

"About three hours." Sigel said.

"Three?! Um, is there any place we could take shelter until then?" Telex asked, looking up and the menacing clouds.

"Do you happen to see any shelters?" Sigel asked.

"Well I can't see much with the clouds, and the fact that it's almost nightfall." Telex pouted.

"The answer is no. Are you afraid to get wet little brother?"

"No! Of course not!"

"Then stop talking and pick up the pace." Telex groaned to let his brother know what he thought about that, but he picked up his pace, despite the fact that his legs were already burning.

After an hour, the wind was blowing violently, and Telex could feel the first few fat drops of rain on his cheek. He tied up the front of his cloak and pulled his hood over his head, holding an edge with his hand to keep it from completely blowing off again. As he struggled with the bothersome hood, he marveled at how Sigel could keep his hood on without even laying a finger on the cloth. The rain started half an hour later. His hood finally got soaked enough to stay put.

Sigel took out a rope and tied their wrists together so they wouldn't get lost in the harsh wind, the violent rain and the dark. The dirt path became mud, and Telex started thinking about all the ways he would try to get the mud off of his boots and cloak. He also worried about the few clothes and essentials they had in the bags. The bags were made out of thick material, but they were not waterproof. He had just started to think about what he wished he could eat, and what he could actually eat when lights appeared through the haze of rain.

"Finally!" He grinned, though he doubted Sigel could hear him.

The rain had lightened into a regular downpour instead of a violent a stinging storm and the lights became clearer. Thunder rolled and lightening crack as they walked down the muddied street.

Telex tugged on Sigel's cloak. "There's a tavern, come on!"

Sigel shook his head. "We need to go to a tavern called Black Swan." Sigel said. Quickly untying their wrists before going on.

Telex frowned. Sigel had said something about meeting contacts. This happened often, but it was annoying when they were the ones finding the contact instead of the other way around.

"Can't we find it tomorrow?" Telex asked, his soaked coat weighing down his shoulders.

Sigel kept walking, ignoring the question.

The light coming from taverns and brothels cast an eerie glow through the rain, and the coolness of night was not very welcoming. There were a few skinny children huddled under a stack of boxes down an alleyways and stray animals skulking. He was beginning to wonder if they would ever get there when he saw a sign in the shape of a swan. A black swan.

"There it is! Come on, let's get out of this rain!" He grinned and made a beeline for the tavern. When the two stood at the door Telex turned to his brother.

"Plan?"

"The Nighes act." Sigel nodded.

The Nighes act was when Telex went in, gathered up all the attention of the residents, while Sigel walked in, completely unnoticed, to meet with a contact.

"Very good. Then I shall proceed. Carry my pack would you?" Sigel took Telex's pack, and the show was on.

The tavern was full of people, food, and conversation, this would be easy enough. Telex shook the rain from his coat and widened his grin as he approached the tavern's owner, a stout woman who was probably in her mid-forties.

"Ta, may I have a glass of red my sweet lady?"

"That 'pends on 'ow 'eavy your purse be." The woman replied.

"Oh heavy enough to have a glass. Or perhaps a mug, depending on how gracious my lady is."

He flipped her a gold coin with Vaxon's grave face engraved on it. She bit the coin and nodded.

"You wait 'ere then."

Telex inspected the room, forming a plan as he waited. There was a group of drunk men, a group of men with women sitting on their laps, and a group of men deep in conversation as they chomped down on a not so well roasted duck.

His eyes fell upon two women sitting at the end of a table. The first one he noticed, had a bandage wrapped around her hand and a thick scratch on her face. The woman was small, with tan skin and melting brown eyes, her dark brown hair was pulled back in a messy braid. The second woman had lighter shade of hair than the first, it fell in waves past her shoulders, but not much father. They were obviously travelling together, their bags and cloaks resting next to them, and a dagger on the table to warn off any unwanted company. He would start with them, they looked as if they could use some cheering up.

"Ere's your red." The tavern lady shoved a mug in front of him.

"My thanks." Telex smiled. "Fast service, I expected no less from such a lovely lady."

She scoffed. "What are ya butterin' me up fer? And you should know that I am a married woman. And no lady." Her frown had flickered however, and Telex knew he was on the right track.

"Ah, then your husband was a very lucky man and the rest of us are too late." He famed a tragic look. "As far as ladies go, to all men stuck by beauty, all women are ladies and all other men are beasts."

"Get on wid ya." The lady's lips broke into a laugh. "If you play the joke, consider entertainin' this lot. Maybe one boy's foolish ways will shut the rest of 'em up!"

"Oh dear, too much un-orchestrated noise? I shall take care of it straight way!" Telex strolled over to the two women he had noticed earlier.

"Ladies! How do you fare this evening?" Telex smiled.

The first woman, clad in red and brown, gave him a glance and took a sip out of her cup with her good had. The second woman, dressed in black and blue, gave him a small smile.

"Very well, thank you."

The Red Brown refused to meet his gaze. "You may find that we fare better by ourselves." She said.

"La, don't you think that's a bit cold?"

She place her mug on the table. "You may also find that you'll fare just as well if you leave us be."

Telex famed heartbreak. "You are a frosty angel!" He grinned at them.

Most of the tavern's crowd had stopped chattering to oversee the conversation, and he could see it was making the women uncomfortable. He couldn't have any of that. He was going to make another remark when he noticed a pendant hanging Black Blue's shirt. It was sea blue, with an ocean wave carved in black in the middle. The symbol of waters, not unusual for someone to wear as jewelry, but this one was different. Red Brown also had one peeking through a tear in her shirt. It was emerald green, he couldn't see the symbol, but he already knew what it was. The plant of life. The symbol of plants.

He twisted his head around to avoid staring. "How about a song in honor of my frosty angel?"

He smiled as he broke into The Knight and The Ice Maiden. Soon, most of the tavern was singing along with him, some even dancing and laughing. He sang loudly, facing Red Brown since she was the one he was singing to. But as he did so, he lightly carved a circle on the table. He turned away after he did, and faced the crowd, finishing off the last few verses. When they were done, everyone was laughing and cheering and suggesting new songs. Telex smiled at his two interests, and glanced at the circle. He found his heart pounding heavily in his chest.

They had carved a cross in the circle, the sign.

They were students of Mathas.

He never allowed his smile to falter. "Come lady, at least give me a kiss for trying?" He hoped she had read his eyes.

Black Blue rose, and Telex brought his lips next to her ear. "Both of you, meet me in the stables as soon as you can." He whispered.

Telex waited until he had placed the spotlight on someone else before going to find Sigel. The two women had already left, slipping out unnoticed. He hoped they were in the stables, but regardless, he had to go and tell Sigel.

There was an entryway to a backroom, Sigel had probably met his contact back there. The loud singing and cheering behind him easily made his footsteps invisible to the ear. He pulled his hood over his head to hide his face and walked into the room.

Two men sat at a table in the nearly empty room. There were a few other men father back, talking amongst themselves, some others sleeping, but the two at the table were his priority.

Sigel sat with his back to Telex as he spoke to a bald man. The man was poorly dressed, his course beard was sordid and his hands were meaty and equally grubby. A purse of money rested near the man.

Telex came and stood right behind Sigel. "We need to talk. It's important." He said it in the Oderaen mouth.

Every school in Castre taught the Common tongue, which is the natural tongue of Komesen the capital. It was a requirement of each region's schools to learn it, however, they must also teach their natural tongue. These languages were called "mouths", all regions were permitted to speak both languages except those who lived in the monasteries. The tongue of the monks was forbidden, but Telex and Sigel had taught themselves the forbidden tongue anyway.

The man's plump middle assured Telex that he wasn't from Odera, so he chose that tongue.

Telex imagined Sigel giving the man an apologetic look as he excused himself for a moment.

"What is it?" Sigel whispered in Oderaen.

"I've found two women who were students of Mathas."

"Are you positive?"

"Yes. I asked them to meet me in the stables after they gave me the sign." Telex nodded.

Sigel gave him 'the look'. "How do you know they're not spies?"

"They had the pendants of Mathas. And they gave the sign."

Sigel still had 'the look' on his face. "I do not have time for this right now. Do not do anything without me." He strode back to the man, resuming his conversation.

Telex walked out as not to draw attention. He didn't care what Sigel said, these women had to be students of Mathas, and he was going to meet them.

Red Brown was scolding Black Blue when he slipped into the stables. He heard the word "spy" and knew that Red Brown was just as suspicious as Sigel. Perfect, more evidence that they weren't spies.

Black Blue saw him and her eyes widened. Red Brown spun around, her face was emotionless, but her eyes glared into him as he approached.

"Hello, name is Warrior." He smiled, holding his hand out to the women.

There it was, he gave them the second sign.

Black Blue look relieved as she extended her hand. "Hello, my name is Water."

"I'm Plant." Red Brown said, playing with the end of her braid.

Telex spotted some hay bales sitting in a corner. He gestured towards them. "Shall we?"

They sat, and Black Blue looked eagerly at him. "How long were you with him Mathas?" She whispered.

"That doesn't matter." Red Brown said, looking up at him. "Are you here alone?"

Telex shook his head. "I came with my brother. He's in the tavern. Are you both by yourselves? I mean, is there anyone else." He gave them a hopeful look.

"No." Black Blue said sadly. "Just us two."

"What's your name?" Red Brown asked.

"Telex Silverblade. What's yours?"

Red Brown hesitated before she answered. "Kandi. Kandi Kinsey."

"I'm Myla Nixie." Black Blue smiled.

"And my brother's name is Sigel."

Kandi nodded. "So, what? You wanted to talk?"

Telex felt taken aback. "Well, we're all students of, him. So, I." He racked his brain. So excited had he been to find them that he hadn't thought about what he wanted from them.

"Maybe we can travel together!" Myla suggested cheerfully.

"That wouldn't work." Kandi said, almost immediately.

"Why not?" Myla and Telex chorused.

Kandi looked at them as if the answer was obvious. "The rest of our kind is hiding for a reason. They aren't gathering together to form an army, they are keeping low to survive. You're not even staying with me permanently."

Myla eye's flashed darkly, but her response was optimistic. "But if there were more of us, we could protect ourselves easier." She made a pointed glance at Kandi's hand.

"What happened?" Telex asked.

"We were attacked by a Jindai wolf. Kandi dropped her dagger and when she reached for it, she accidently grabbed the sharp end." Myla offered.

"Myla, that information was unnecessary." Kandi groaned.

"A Jindai wolf? That's strange, we were also attacked by one on our way here." Telex said, his brow furrowed.

"It's not actually surprising. Vaxon's been doing experiments on animals and releasing them here and there." Kandi said.

"What do the experiments do to them?" Telex asked.

"I'm not sure. Just makes them go completely mad and bloodthirsty." Kandi shrugged.

He looked at her bandaged hand. "May I see it?"

Kandi hesitated, but held out her injured hand."

The cut was ugly. A half-scabby half-bloody slice traced from in-between her forefinger and thumb, across her palm and to about an inch and a half below her pinky finger. Purple bruises covered her fingers.

Telex mumbled some healing words under his breath and breathed in deeply to help his pain as the cut began to close.

Myla gasped as the cut, bruises, and old callouses disappeared from her friend's hand, leaving it as clean and smooth as a princess's hand.

Kandi stared at her hand. "I thought you were a warrior."

Telex smiled. "I have a few other tricks up my sleeves." His hand seared with pain, and he approximated the pain time to last for five minutes. As the burning sensation grew and lessoned with his heartbeat, he was glad he had taken the pain away from Kandi.

"See?" Myla grinned. "He's useful. He can heal and fight people."

"What about your brother? What does he say about this?" Kandi asked pointedly.

Telex's smirk froze as he remembered Sigel warning him to not act on his own.

"He'll be completely for it." He lied.

"I think we should talk to him." Kandi said.

"Later, he's meeting a contact right now."

"A contact? What contact." Kandi asked.

"A chirpy birdie?" Telex said sheepishly. He didn't know who it was.

"A... chirpy... birdie?" Kandi asked, and Myla laughed.

"Yes. The birdies who go to Sigel with reports have rats infesting the palace. They report to the birds and we get information." Telex rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. That could probably been explained better.

Kandi stared at him blankly and Myla laughed. "I half expected you to say 'ratties'." She snickered.

The ear-splitting sound of a door slamming made them all jump. Telex sprang to his feet and rushed to the stable doors, the two women on his heels.

A black figure rushed from the tavern, silver hair flowing in a ponytail. It was Sigel.

Telex's head snapped to the tavern door as it burst open and men with swords and chainmail stumbled out.

Soldiers?!

"Sigel." Telex whispered.

He moved to run over to his brother's side, but Kandi grabbed his arm. "Don't give our location away. Just wait until there's a good opportunity."

"Is he your brother?" Myla said softly.

Telex nodded, though he didn't know if she was even looking at him.

Sigel spun around to face the men. Sword drawn. Telex wanted to help him, but Kandi pinched his arm when he made a move. "Not yet."

The men crashed down on his brother, about ten. Telex inwardly beat himself for not noticing them, they had to have been in the crowd. How could he not have noticed them? How could he not notice so many?

Sigel dogged cuts, and threw blows. Three men were already down. But there were still seven more.

"We can beat them! Let's go!" Telex hissed.

Kandi was going to say something Myla interrupted. "I wish he wouldn't move so much."

Telex swung his head over to see Myla slightly holding her hands out, palms down, and making swirling motions. A man yelled in surprise, making Telex turn back to the fighting.

Sigel was only fighting one man now. The rest were stumbling, falling, and cursing. They looked as if the ground was moving underneath them. And it was. It had stopped raining, but the ground was pure mud, full of water, and Myla was swirling the mud so the men couldn't keep their feet.

Her problem was that she was trying to keep the swirling mud away from Sigel, who kept moving because he was fighting.

"Can't you knock that guy down?" Kandi asked.

"Not without accidently knocking his brother down." Myla replied.

"His name is Sigel. And I'm going to help him, can you make some kind of path-"

The blast of a horn came from somewhere on the road behind them.

"What the?" Kandi hissed.

Sigel's head snapped over to the foe they couldn't see, he took a small blow to his left arm as he did. With an inaudible grunt, he threw his sword to his injured arm and pulled out a dagger. Focused on the sword, his foe was caught unawares. Sigel drove the dagger into the man's eye, and sprang back, probably to make a run for it. However, with the terrible lighting and unexpected breakaway, Myla wasn't able to pull away the rotating mud.

Sigel twisted violently and fell face-first into the muck.

Myla stopped swirling the mud abruptly, and they all finally noticed that the background noise was the sound of horses and clanging armor. Kandi rushed over to a window on the far side of the stable and immediately spun around, her face ashen.

"What?!" Myla hissed as Kandi rushed over.

"It's a small army! It's Vaxon!"

Telex's eyes widened, his head snapped back to see Sigel, on his feet. He started to leave the stables, when Kandi and Myla jerked on his cloak so hard that he stumbled back.

"He needs our help!"

"We can't help him Telex! This was planned!" Kandi hissed.

"What?"

"It had to be! Vaxon was in Nighes, that's why Myla came to me. She lived there but she ran when he came and we met in-between Nighes and Odera. We were sidetracked in Hallowes because of that stupid wolf!" Kandi rambled. "They're after Myla!"

"That doesn't make sense!" Telex protested.

"Why not?" Myla asked mournfully. "It's all my fault."

"No, in case you forgot, there's a crossroad that joins the paths of Rahnge and Nighes together, making a road that leads to Hallowes, which is where you got sidetracked to. Vaxon's coming from the other direction."

"But that means he's coming from..." Kandi's voice trailed off.

"Odera." Myla finished. "Kandi, I swear I didn't tell anyone wear I was going!"

"Somehow, they tracked you. It makes sense." Kandi said sullenly. "But then it doesn't. He can't be after us if he's here. We should be in a town called Radere, between Nighes and Odera. Not here."

"Someone tipped them." Telex said.

"Um, guys?" Myla whispered.

"How? They would've trailed us, and there is no way I couldn't have noticed after that long." She thought for a moment. "Wait, maybe... a little birdie?"

"Guys?" Myla said.

Telex groaned. "That's why the guards were after Sigel. They knew we were coming here and they waited for us. When they didn't find you in Odera, Vaxon just came here to pick us up."

"That's actually good. Myla and I can get out of here, and they won't have any idea where went got to."

"GUYS?!" Myla's shout was drowned out by a piercing roar.

Telex and Kandi spun around to see that a huge dragon had landed on the road facing them. Its huge wings knocked some bricks of buildings and shattered glass windows. Its rider had a crossbow in hand as he blocked Sigel's last escape route.

The other road was block by a small army with Vaxon leading. Telex could see him now. A dozen crossbows were trained on Sigel.

"No!" He shouted.

Kandi and Myla grabbed his cloak, but this time he only tripped forward and landed on his face. Kandi and Myla falling on their hands and knees beside him.

Telex got free of them and stumbled forward, he didn't know what he was going to do, but he had to do something.

A sting in his neck.

Heavy limbs. Swollen lips.

Dragon flames that made Sigel a perfect black silhouette.

Then, everything was blackness.

Male 15: Plant Mage Sigel Silverblade

Sigel adjusted his shoulder bag. He had been half annoyed, half obliged that rain had starting pouring two hours ago. Annoyed, because who wants rain when you've already been walking since before daybreak, and then attacked on top of that? As well as the mud, the heavy rucksack, and the sodden clothing.

He had been relieved because the rain had finally shut his brother Telex up. Evaluated against the negatives of rain, that small benefit was probably worthless. Telex's optimism was conceivably wearing off on him. Sigel shook off the deliberations and focused on the road.

"Finally!" Telex's shout sounded more like a whisper in the shower of rain.

Lights had emerged before them, and they were soon in the small town of their destination.

"There's a tavern, come on!" Telex declared, and if their wrists weren't tied together to keep them from losing each other in the dark, he probably would've ran over to the tavern.

"We need to go to a tavern called Black Swan." Sigel replied, shaking his head at his brother.

The Black Swan Tavern was at the other end of the town, about four miles.

It was a small town.

Sigel was meeting a man named Art Hax, his least favorite resource, but the most effective one. Hax had sent word that he had "The most 'portant news yet!"

Since Sigel and Telex were travelling to Odera, Art was told to meet them at a small town on the outskirts of Hallowes, so they didn't have to go too far out of their way.

The rain had gone from a windy storm to a soft rainfall that would probably let up in a few hours. Sigel concentrated his eyes on the muddy road, they should be nearing the tavern now.

"There it is! Come on, let's get out of this rain!" Telex grinned at Sigel and raced for the tavern.

As his brother halted at the door and waited for him to climb the steps, Sigel commended himself on untying their wrists earlier. Otherwise, Telex would probably have dragged him across the street striving to get to the tavern.

"Plan?" Telex asked.

"The Nighes Act."

Sigel and Telex had made up different acts of distraction for when they were on the run. The Nighes Act was when Telex hoarded all the attention so Sigel could slip in, overlooked.

"Very good. Then I shall proceed. Carry my pack will you?" Telex tossed his satchel to Sigel, pulled off his hood, messed with his hair, and strode in with that inane smile of his.

Sigel waited until he heard Telex leading the tavern in the song The Knight and the Ice Maiden. He strolled in unnoticed. Most of the men were in there cups, so any who noticed spotted him probably didn't even see him. He walked to the counter where the bartender was, a brusque, red-faced woman. He nodded to her and she marched over to him.

"I'm here to meet someone." He said expectantly.

"Back 'ere." She nodded to the back without moving.

"Thank you, and could you hold onto these for a while?" He handed her the bags.

"Hey! I ain't takin' 'are of 'ese!" Nonetheless she took them when he also offered her a gold coin.

The first impression of the backroom was poor. The lighting was pitiable and the room reeked of a drunk man's breath.

Art Hax was identified almost instantly. A round bearded face, bald head, grimy clothes, and plump middle made up the revolting man. Sigel slipped into the chair across from him, his back facing the doorway.

"Your news?" Sigel asked.

Hax took a sip from his cup. "First, I'll need some compensatin' for the travel." He rasped.

A small purse of silver plopped down in front of Hax. Meaty fingers pulled a silver piece out and rotted teeth bit down on it. A nearly toothless smile crept up Hax's ugly lips.

"Lots of news." He said in a low voice. "Ya remember when I told ya 'bout the king sending ships to go find other lands?"

Sigel nodded patiently.

"Well, 'e found some. Now 'e's buildin' a navy to go conquer 'em."

As if Castre needed any of that. "What else?"

Hax took another mouthful of drink and smacked his lips. "There 'ave been rumors that the king is capturing the rest of those sorcerers."

"The students of the late Mathas? Why does that matter?"

"It ma'ers cause 'e ain't killin' 'em."

"What is he doing then?"

"Of that, I ain't quite sure. There is a rumor that 'e's torturin' 'em, others say 'e's doing 'xperiments on 'em, and others say 'e's makin' 'em kill each other."

Hax coughed. "Also, we were told that the king was travellin' through the regions to check up on things. Well, that's ain't the reason. 'E's after one of 'em students."

"Why would the king go himself?" Sigel asked.

"No one knows. But he took dragons with 'em."

This news was confusing. Why was Vaxon hunting down this person instead of just sending his men? Why go through the bother of-

"We need to talk. It's important." It was Telex, speaking in Oderaen.

"Excuse me a moment." Sigel nodded to Hax as he rose.

"What is it Telex?"

His brother's cowl was drawn up over his head, but the faint light flickered on his lips, they were in a straight line. That meant he was bursting to tell Sigel something, but whether it was important or not was not evident.

"What is it?"

"I found two women who were students of Mathas." Telex announced excitedly.

Sigel blinked, this was a turn, but whether it was good or not was not apparent. "Are you positive?"

"Yes, I told them to meet me in the stables after they gave me the signal."

There it was. Telex did something extraordinarily stupid yet again.

"How do you know they're not spies?"

"They had the pendants of Mathas. And they gave the sign."

There could be a million explanations for that, and most of them weren't good.

"I do not have time for this right now. Do not do anything without me." He turned back to Hax, praying Telex would heed him.

"Where were we?"

"You were just 'bout to hand o'er some more coins for more informa'on." Hax informed.

"Was I?" Sigel place a few more silver coins on the table.

"Ya know, I like doin' business with ya." Hax smirked, pulling his money into his hands. "I'm sorry 'bout this, I am."

Sigel's heart instinctively flinched. "About what?"

Hax held up a pocket-sized device. It was an alarm, whoever had the other end was getting a signal to come.

Only the king's men had those.

The men lounging in the room leapt to their feet, swords drawn. On impulse, Sigel sprang up and made for the door, but more soldiers were crowding through it. No escape was possible. One man stepped forward, clearly in charge.

"Art Hax?"

"That would be me milord." Hax said, bobbing his head.

The man looked down upon him with distain as he tossed a fat purse of gold coins to the filthy man. Hax didn't catch it and fell to his knees, scooping up the coins that had spilled out. Sigel gave no hint of alarm, only folded his hands together.

"Any particular reason for this outburst?"

"Are you Sigel Greenblade?"

Sigel allowed his face to scrunch up in reflection and mystification. "No. I have not heard of him."

"This guy says you're him." He man indicated Hax.

"I'm afraid I've only just met this man. I came into the tavern and he asked me to join him back here for an important matter."

"Then what's your name?" The man asked frowning.

"Finnick Jarno."

"Lier." The voice popped up next to him.

Sigel turned to see a man step from the shadows. "I was sitting here the whole time. I heard everything." He looked at Hax. "You have a big mouth, you know that?"

"Silence Jerdan."

The man in command glowered at Sigel. "He's with us. Would you like to confess now?" Another man squeezed through the others and reached their commander. "The king's almost here!"

Sigel was certain he wasn't supposed to hear that. "Well," He drawled. "See to believe. Correct?" His eyes narrowed at the man named Jerdan. The man's conceited expression vanished as the edges of Sigel smoky eyes turned green and the orange flecks appeared to glow like coals.

"This is the man. Let's just take him-" A gasp escaped from some of the men as their companion's head split in two. An enormous hunk of wood, serrated not unlike a sword, had burst from the floorboards and through the Jerdan's head.

The leader's head rotated back to see Sigel, an innocent look on his face. "There was a tree stump beneath him."

Chaos ensued. Vines ripped out of the floor and wrapped around knees, arms, and faces. Sigel thought quickly as he trapped the men in-between vines and wall, then he ran from the room, there were more men. Seven, eight, ten? He didn't have time to count.

The king's almost here! The phrase resounded in his head.

He made for the door, swinging it open and allowing the force of his hand to slam it behind him. The path was muddy from the rain that had stopped half an hour ago, and he nearly skidded.

Sigel whirled around, Telex was definitely not in the tavern. Being a bit of a brute, he would have been killing soldiers left and right, Sigel would've seen him. That meant his obnoxious brother had disobeyed him and went to the stables after those two women who claimed to know Mathas.

Sigel realized that men were closing in on him. He wouldn't be able to outrun them in the mud, and there were no plants around, not even a root. He whipped out his sword. There weren't that many men, he could take them down and make a run for it. Telex would find him later if he ran, unless the fool had been tricked by spies. Sigel sliced the first man's throat, blood spraying out onto the mud. The soldiers surround him. He knocked off blows, dogged them and returned them.

Now he was only fighting one man. Had he killed the rest? He had no idea.

It was dark. There was blood. The king's almost here! The tyrant who wanted them dead. The king's almost here!

No, not the king. Vaxon was almost here.

The corrupted corrupter.

The man who ruined thousands of lives. Forget that, the man who ruined Sigel's life.

The corrupter was almost here.

The murder was almost here.

The tyrant was almost here.

And he was here for Sigel.

The human drive for life pulsed through Sigel's veins. He hadn't slept in ditches, hid his face from everyone, deceived, betrayed, lied, cheated, and stole for ten years, just to be caught and killed now. Or worse.

His nerves prickled as he fought. Vaxon had dragons, he would never be able to outdistance a dragon. The blare of a horn made his head snap to the right. Torches, horses, and armor. It was a haze, but it was Vaxon. Sigel felt dizzy, Vaxon should have been coming from the left, from Nighes. If Sigel had broken away, he would've ran right into the small army. Why was Vaxon coming from the direction of Odera?

Pain seared up Sigel's left arm. The man he was fighting had taken advantage of the moment and sliced his left arm. Sigel had the passing thought that the man was a fool not to have attacked his sword arm, but that didn't matter. Solution's developed rapidly in his mind and he tossed the sword to his injured left arm. The man didn't have time to register the dagger coming down at his face from the right. Sigel stabbed the man's eye with his dagger and jumped back.

The mud seemed to move under him and he reeled before plummeting face-first. He lay on the ground, not registering what had happened. Everything had spun out of order. He felt his hands pushing his body up.

Then he was standing, with crossbows trained on him from the right.

When he looked left, a huge dragon shrieked. It landed on the road in front him, its dark wings shattering glass and skimming bricks off buildings all too easily. Sigel chuckled in defeat as he had the fleeting thought that Telex could have used the dragon's flames against it. It was such a nonsensical thought at the moment, considering that he was about to die.

He twisted at the sound of a shout. Telex was running from the stables, hand on sword hilt.

You fool. Sigel thought. You fool.

Telex's eyes widened and he fell to his knees. The dragon puffed fire and Telex's expression was visible for a moment, and sleepy. He fell on his face.

They had used a sleeping dart on him, there were no arrows. They weren't going to kill them. Yet.

At least, this had proved that the two women Telex had been babbling about weren't spies after all. Sigel had seen them for a second, just before they ran away. Vaxon's men had seen them too, and about a dozen were in pursuit.

Five men approached Sigel, arrows pointed at him.

"Surrender your sword." One of them yelled.

The sword hilt slipped out of his hand, and he held his palms out to show them he was weaponless. Two of the men advanced and roughly tied his hands behind him.

As his hands began to ache, Sigel wondered if he truly appeared that intimidating. He wasn't resisting them, and yet they acted as if he could kill them by lifting his hand. Which he could do if there was some kind of vegetation around. He tried blinking filth off his eyelashes as he was hauled to the leader of the troopers. Vaxon Asherex.

His brother, the High General Jahad Asherex was on the horse next to him. The High General's mouth was firm and his scars didn't make his solemnity any less menacing. Sigel saw sadness in the man's eyes, though well hidden.

"Sigel Greenblade. Or was it Silverblade? I forget." The king snorted without smiling. "It has been a while, and you have grown older." Vaxon's voice sent shivers through Sigel. He had not hear that cruel voice for a long while.

Sigel looked up at Vaxon, but it was hard to see him through the mud. "I am assuming you're Vaxon Asherex I'm speaking to." Sigel replied. "Sorry if I'm not sure. It's been a while, and the mud is blinding me."

"You're quite the sight." Vaxon said, without mirth, or any emotion.

"And I'm sure you are as well."

This earned Sigel a fist in the jaw.

"Address your king properly!" Shouted the man who clouted him.

"And how," Sigel gritted his teeth. "Do you propose I address him if I can't even see him?"

Another blow.

Vaxon spoke. "I don't have time for this, it's very late. Put him away until the morning."

Sigel felt a sting in his neck. The words sleeping dart passed over his mind before he fell into shadows.

He woke to find the pretty faces of soldiers glaring down at him. The sleeping potion they gave him had been strong, too strong. Sigel's head ached, and he knew that they had kicked him awake by the bruised feeling in his legs and sides. He was lying on the ground, his hands chained in front of him.

"Get up, the king wants you." One of the soldier barked.

You don't need to yell, I can hear you just fine. Sigel thought, head buzzing.

He stood, a bit shaky. There was a pole next to him, the guards had markedly untied him from it and re-chained him in his sleep. Evidently, he had a bit of a reputation with them if they were going to such extremes. The man who spoke roughly grabbed Sigel's arm and pulled him away.

As they trotted through the wet grass, Sigel saw that they were in an encampment, one that was packing up. Dragons, bigger than the one last night, were packed with supplies. One tent stood untouched, a large one, richly embellished. The king's tent. How preposterous.

Of course Vaxon would need a fancy tent that could be seen from space whenever he travelled around and stayed overnight.

They drew near the tent, and his senses grew more alert. His head cleared, though it still ached, and his face began to itch from the dry mud. Apparently, they couldn't just hand him a rag to wipe his face with.

They entered the tent, and it was vainer inside than it was outside, though half of the paraphernalia was packed for travel.

"Sigel Greenblade your Magnificence." The guard announced.

Sigel visualized Telex laughing his face off when the guard called Vaxon "Magnificence."

"Ah."

Sigel looked directly into Vaxon's hateful blue eyes. "Specific execution date in mind?"

Vaxon chuckled darkly. "You know, when your father died, I knew it was a murder. Despite all the evidence that he killed himself because he accidently killed his son. Which was what all the nobles were told, of course."

Vaxon sat at a table, his hands clasped together in front of him his head tilted ever so slightly as in thought. "So I thought, which son would dare to kill his own sire? At first the answer was evident. It had to be your younger brother, Telex Greenblade. However, I have already spoken to him and I was enlightened to the fact that your brute of a brother did not have it in him to kill his own father. Though he would be perfectly willing to kill his king."

Sigel inwardly groaned. If he played this right, he may be able to get out alive, but Telex making an attempt on the life of the king was one more difficulty to overcome.

Vaxon stood and began to slowly pace. "So of course, this left you. The eldest son of the Greenblade family."

The king paused and gestured to his face. "Did your father do that to you? Is that why you killed him? Because you do look terrible."

Nothing. He would not say anything yet.

Vaxon nodded and continued. "Back to the narrative. You were the only other one who would have killed Tyvax. When I thought about it, I was assured. You have more of your father in you than your brothers did. However, I question your motives. Surely, you didn't kill him because of your brother?"

He looked searchingly at Sigel, who finally spoke. "Wouldn't you have killed him in my situation?"

Vaxon didn't hesitate. "Yes, I would have. But not for honor because Tyvax was a traitor to that sad excuse for a king. I would have taken advantage of it, gone to the rising king as the heir to my father's position. I would have offered my services and asked to be placed as Chief Advisor. But you didn't do that. You ran away."

Vaxon stopped pacing and stood directly of front of Sigel. "Too wise to allow is father to live, but too foolish not to stay."

The king walked back to his chair and sat down. "Killing your father caused me great annoyances. I do not like annoyances. At all. However, I admire your survival skills. I was under the impression that you were dead. Yet here you stand before me, a bit mud caked, but that's easily fixed."

Vaxon gestured for a servant to bring him some wine. "You have eluded me for ten years. Impressive, considering that I hate annoyances and am quite resourceful when getting rid of them."

He took a sip of wine. "You changed your name to Silverblade." His mouth twitched. "I expected you would go under a different name, but I have to say that going from Greenblade to Silverblade isn't exactly brilliant. I would have stuck with Finnick Jarno."

Sigel wondered what all this chatter was about. Vaxon rose again. "Anyhow, now that I've been a bit informed, I shall reveal your fate."

Straight face.

"You and your brother, as well as the little friends he has, are coming to court. Where I shall decide your fate."

He did that on purpose to aggravate.

"I trust, that you will not give us any difficulties on the way."

Sigel nodded, and the guards took him away.

He never thought that Vaxon already had something planned.

At Komesen.

The travel was simple. Sigel was tied to a dragon and the dragon was chained to the one in front of him.

When they reached the palace, Sigel was ushered away to be given a bath and new clothes.

The people who attended him cleaned and sewed up his injuries, using potions to heal them. He was given a strange black outfit with green lining and his hair was braided. He was told to wear the pendant from Mathas on the outside of his outfit. Then, he was placed in a prison cell.

It was completely white, with a bit of food sitting on a plate on the floor. Three of the walls weren't there, that or you could see right through them. Sigel picked a grape off the plate and flicked it at the empty space. A blue flash appeared where the grape hit and the purple fruit sizzled.

"I found out the hard way."

Sigel turned to find that Telex was in the cell next to his, holding up a burnt finger.

He scoffed. "I'm surprised you didn't slam your hand against it."

Telex looked sheepishly at him. "I almost did. But Myla warned me not to."

"Myla?"

Telex pointed to the woman in the cell next to his. "That's Myla Nixie, she's a water mage."

The woman smiled at him and gave a small wave. She was in the same uniform as Sigel, Telex as well when it came down to it. They also wore their medallions visibly. Sigel nodded to Myla as he noted that the lining of her black outfit was aquamarine, and Telex's was red-brown.

"That's Kandi Kinsey." Telex pointed to the cell on Sigel's right.

He turn to see a woman in a black suit with green lining, leaning on the one white wall. She gave a small wave and he nodded to her.

These were the women Telex was talking about yesterday.

"They're probably recording everything we're saying." Sigel said in the forbidden language.

Vaxon had destroyed all books and translators of that language, so they would never know what was said.

Telex was about to respond when they heard talking, and rushed footsteps, and a girl's giggle.

A young blonde teenager skipped down the hall of cells until she stopped in front of them. Nassia Asherex.

She grinned at them. "Oooo! You two are so beautiful!" She squeaked.

"What do you want?" Telex snapped.

Sigel wished that he had telepathy. Then he could tell his brother to shut up.

"I wanted to see you. I've gotten bored with the others." Nassia waved her hand.

"My Lady, please come back to your lesson." One of her attendants begged.

"No!" The princess pouted. "I want to stay and have fun! This one is the handsomest I've ever seen!" She pointed at Sigel.

He stared at her, wishing the ground would swallow her and her high voice.

"Shut up and go away!" Telex yelled.

"Shut up Telex, shut up now." Sigel hissed in the monk's mouth.

Telex glared at him and then at Nassia. "I will break down this wall and kill you now if you don't leave."

Good grief.

Nassia shrugged. "No you can't. You'll burn your cute face."

"Leave the lady alone." Sigel said in the common tongue. "I mean it." His added in the monk's mouth.

"Lady?"

His eyes turned to Nassia.

"I'm a princess. Why did you call me a lady?"

He inwardly sighed. "Were you born of a king's blood?"

"He's king now."

"Well then, you are a princess. Please leave us alone your Highness, we are very tired."

He hoped that would make her leave, but she just laughed. "Who am I really to you?"

"A princess who is missing out on some chocolate cake."

They all turned their heads to see the High General walking down towards them. "Your Highness would not like to miss out on cake, would she?"

Nassia beamed and blew Sigel a kiss before running off.

"I apologize for the princess's rude conduct." The High General nodded.

"Well you might want to keep a muzzle on her." Telex muttered.

Jahad ignored the comment. "I know you've all been through a very hard time. I hope you will share your stories with me."

They stared at him.

"Not to worry. The royal family is having lunch and this conversation is not currently being recorded."

"How do we know?" Kandi asked.

"Well, I wouldn't be asking you to give your life stories then, would I?"

There was more suspicion, until Telex finally broke down and told Jahad everything, about him and Sigel from the beginning, all the way to meeting the women ten years later.

Sigel said nothing. Who cared now? They were probably going to die anyway.

Jahad listened and left when no one else would talk to him. They sat there for a while before the queen walked in.

"Does the whole family come to see the latest prisoners?" Telex groaned.

Vassti scanned him for a moment. "Not customarily, no. Still, you are the sons of nobles."

She was a stunning woman, she stood in front of Sigel's cell with poise and refinement.

"I have come to negotiate." Her voice was low and gentle.

"You have excellent surviving skills, stealth, and a full education. You could be a useful asset to our cause. You could take your father's place and have your titles returned." She smiled. "And all that we ask, is that you serve us faithfully."

Perfect. This was a way to get in, a way to earn their trust while at the same time, finding someone who could rule instead-

"If you think for one moment that any of us will fight for or serve you, you are a fool!" Telex screeched.

Damn.

Vassti's immaculate eyes burned into Telex, though her face was as charming as if he had given her a compliment.

"Very well." She said, glancing at Sigel once more before turning and smoothly departing.

Sigel didn't bother scolding Telex. He just sat back down.

All he could do now was wait.

Wait for their doom to fall upon them.

Male 16: Conjurer Wizard LeovarettanMaverson

  I feel as if most of my time in Demarke is spent shivering. The region's extreme cold made sure of that. I couldn't told you the exact temperature on that last day, but it was definitely below freezing.

I stood by the fountain in the square of Tuniv, a city in Demarke, the one I was born in, actually. Though why the have a fountain, I've no idea. It's only warm enough to run liquid water for about two weeks a year, and even then- the cold doesn't exactly inspire one to splash about.

My current problem, however, wasn't the cold, but the hunger. Being a Magi doesn't exactly come with free room and board. More like hiding and a fear of being caught. Being a Conjurer Magi, you'd assume I could use my powers in some manner to help me obtain the necessary food, but if there was a way to do it, I haven't discovered it yet. I could conjure food, and I could eat said food, but I could keep it for long enough to actually enjoy its benefits I could also conjure money to pay for the food, but it wouldn't look real, even though it was. I sighed. I believe that I'd have had it easier had I been an illusionist.

Since conjuring was out, there was only one other type of work I could do that would result in what I was looking for. I'd have to earn it, which would most likely involve doing something out in the cold. I crossed the street from the fountain and stepped inside the market, which, being Demarke, was located indoors. It was really a rather wonderful place. It consisted of a huge dirt floor, encased by four wooden walls and a roof. It was covered by at least 40 different vendors, each selling out of a colorfully decorated stall, all clamoring for attention from the shoppers. There were three large fires, all spaced evenly throughout the market, thier flames crackling, reaching at least five feet tall, and still coming nowhere near the ceiling. I vividly remember my first visit. Between all the noise, bells clanging, people shouting, the occasional grunt of the livestock being used to carry larger goods and the sight, colorful scarves, roasting chestnuts, flashes of silver from coin being exchanged, I was overwhelmed.

That, however was then, and now I simply moved quickly through, scanning for anyone who might have something for me to do, and coming up empty. I grew discouraged; it was usually much easier to find something than today. Then my eyes landed on the woodpile feeding the fire, quickly noticing how small it was. The man in charge of feeding it looked a bit frantic. He kept having to run around the market, trying to get to all three fires. It seemed they were short handed today. I took a deep breath, knowing that it was all in how I presented this, then I walked up to him slowly. "Excuse me, sir."

He hardly glances at me, throwing a few more pieces of wood onto the fire. "What is it, son?"

"You seem to be low on firewood." I cut to the point.

"We would be," he agreed.

"I can sell you some." I said a little too quickly. "Well," I amended. "I can chop you some."

"Sure, how fast can you do it?" He said briskly. I was taken aback. He had agreed much more readily than I'd thought he would.

"How fast do you need it, sir?"

He looked at me and grinned. "That's what I like to hear." He clapped my shoulder with a heavy hand. "We'll pay you ten rivnas for each load you bring up." Ten rivnas for a whole load of firewood? That seemed a little cheap for me, but I wasn't about to argue, so I nodded. "Good." He boomed. "You can get it from the woods behind the square, get going."

I turned, and left the square quickly, nearly falling over someone as I pushed through the doors. I ran around the building, listening to my feet crunch over the icy ground. When I reached the woods, I realized I had forgotten to ask him for an ax. I didn't need to go back, though, he probably wouldn't even notice and if he did, he wouldn't really care. Probably wouldn't think twice. Definitely not a third time. So I let it go. Looking around to make sure no one was watching me, I stepped into the woods, moving just deep enough to be hidden. Then I began to chant in Trasnek, an ancient language, but a good one for spells. "Twarg ne nitw o songaiter thotisn goriam ahdn pew quoin istens loctan koduh." Give me men of strength

Who heed

To cut wood at length

I need

Muscle, sinew, bone

Hard as rock, made of stone

A man instantly began to take shape, right in front of me. I could feel the familiar tug, that exhilarating feeling of magic coursing through my veins. As the man formed, it became quite clear that it wasn't an ordinary man. It seemed the magic had taken me literally this time and created a man of stone. You could never be sure with magic. The creature was large, it probably weighed twice what I did, with a good height and ridiculously strong shoulders with the thick biceps to match. It was clearly made of some type of chiseled but rough, grey stone, similar that used in the streets. It was bathed in the same ghostly blue light that everything I created was, and seemed to be flickering in and out existence. It wasn't, of course, I could feel it there, solid as anything. My mind was like tensed muscle, no matter how relaxed my body was. The thing held a large axe in his right hand. It hadn't fully formed for more than a second before it went to work, felling a tree almost immediately.

I considered cloning the thing. I probably had the energy to do it, and work would come quicker. Cloning something was much easier than just conjuring it from scratch, but I decided not to risk it. I already had one obviously magi made rock-man chopping wood fairly close to a densely populated area. Two would be just stupid. It turned out, one, was stupid enough. I don't how he did it, maybe I was tired; I hadn't eaten that day or the day before; the thing was pretty fun to watch; his conjuring was taking too much of my attention. Whatever the reason, I didn't hear him until it was too late.

"What's that?" An alarmed voice said. I turned quite fast, releasing my hold the rock-man. It was the man from earlier. He held the axe I had forgotten to ask for. I searched wildly for an answer to his question. "You- you're one of them." He stammered. "You're a magi. I thought they were all dead." Then it dawned on him. "I have tell someone! Vaxon is hunting you."

I hesitated for a moment. "Please don't turn me in. Please." I begged, and then played the final card. "I'll do anything."

His face softened slightly, easing out of its panic. "Of course I won't turn you in. You're just a kid. But, I do want something."

I've always detested being 'just a kid', but that time, I was grateful for it. "Of course. Anything." I quickly agreed.

The man sat his large rump down on a tree stump. He cast a furtive glance about. "You don't know this," he began, his voice low. I leaned in. "But we're all waiting your return. The citizens of Castre, that is. The return of the magi." This was news to me.

"I'm sorry," I told him. "But there's nothing I can do. We aren't strong enough to stand against Vaxon."

"Be that as it may. What we need now is hope. The people of Tuniv need news, a promise you are coming. I want stories." His face was open, honest. He seemed need me to say something, and he had saved my life by not turning in. Reluctantly, I agreed.

"What do you want to know?"

He clapped his hands together, excited at my agreement. "First, what can you do?"

I recounted my magic, giving a small demonstration, but his questions didn't stop there. He wanted to know how I hid from the army for so long, who the other magi were, how they hid, What they could do, everything. And I answered. He had me trusting him completely and utterly. I can be so stupid. When we finished talking, he stood up, and offered me a hand from where I was sitting. I took it.

"Look, son, you take this wood down to the market, and drop it off. Tell them Raque sent you. I have somewhere I to be." He pressed some coin into my palm, and I quickly agreed, shoving money into my pocket and tried to ignore the way my stomach rumbled at the thought of food. He left me, and I was alone again in the woods. My limbs moved of own accord, but my mind was elsewhere, still quivering from what I still thought was close call. The firewood was heavy in my arms, but I'm fairly strong, and I managed to take it all in a single trip.

Another man had taken over feeding the fires, and he gladly took the wood. I left the square, already thinking of exactly which tavern I planned eat at. I've been to several of them(Tuniv is too big for me to ever manage to go to them all), and the best in this particulate area was definitely The Dirty Dragon. Don't let name fool you, the place was immaculate, and the stew there was some of best I've ever tasted. I ran through the streets, past several other buildings, and weaving through people to get there. I stopped outside, breathless, and shoved the door open. A waitress was nearby, and she offered me a seat at the bar, before asking to take my order. She was very pretty, and I found myself unable to speak her for a moment.

"S-some stew, p-please." I choked out. She gave me a look that may have held a smile, but indicated that she thought there was something wrong with me. My face flushed. She left, and I sat at he bar in silence. A man was sitting next to me, but as he was rather large, and looked to be rough around the edges, I left him in peace. The waitress brought my soup rather quickly, and I thanked her, again unable to keep from nearly choking. Pretty girls are not my friend. After dinner, I used the leftover coin to pay for a room. They're cheap in Tuniv, because there is so much competition. Tomorrow, though, I'd be leaving. I'd pass through most of Demarke, probably try my luck through Milvake. I just had to keep moving.

The room I'd bought wasn't exactly great, but it only cost 25 rivnas, so in my opinion it was well worth it. The wooden floor was scrubbed, and the only piece of furniture was a bed that was sagging slightly in the middle. It was enough.

I got a fire going in the fireplace, and then I crawled under the covers, still fully dressed, as those clothes were the only ones I owned, and it was too cold to sleep in my underwear. I slowly drifted off to sleep.

I woke with a sharp blow to my skull and sword pressed into my side. I reflexively darted away, but felt someone grab my arms. I couldn't see anything, I thought the fire must have burned out, but then I realized I could still hear it's crackle. This darkness w as not natural. At this revelation, I began to thrash. I knew of only one dark mage, and he wasn't someone I could escape from. The arms gripping me felt like steel bands, but I forced my self to calm down, and then I spoke. "Lion." I was too shaken to create a chant, or even translate it to Trasnek. But, I heard a deep roar, and I knew that my magic had pulled through.

The darkness was immediately pulled back, and the fire was left to illuminate the room. My lion was now visible to me, and was less impressive than I'd imagined it, especially considering the magic it was exhausting in me. It was small, bigger than a wolf, but nowhere befitting a lion. It's mane was scraggly, and it was skinny. The color should have been tan, but was instead a light, shimmering blue. I wasn't surprised at it's appearance. A single word in English, I was lucky to get this much. I was about to release my hold on it, but then it roared, a full, deep one that filled the room. I looked at its eyes. They were sharp, determined.

This lion could fight.

Taking a deep breath, I began to chant, "Yogeta-" A fist hit the side of my head, and I saw stars. The shock of the blow forced me to release my hold on the lion, and it melted into a blue mist that quickly evaporated. I raised my head from the sight of the lion for the first time, taking in my capturers. I could see three. I only recognized one of them. Vaxon Asherex.

Tall, with both head and shoulders above me, he cut an intimidating figure to most anyone. His lined face was firm, expressionless. His eyes met mine, they weren't what I wouldn't call piercing, in fact they were just the opposite. There was a depth to them that made me feel transparent.

The other two were assumed to be soldiers. They didn't look much older than I was. One was small and thin, with dark skin, the other in contrast was broad, with a shock of blond hair.

"So you're the Conjurer. Interesting. Raque was telling the truth." Vaxon spoke. He didn't seem interested, but he was definitely calculating. Probably wondering how a fourteen year-old had hidden from him for so long, perhaps planning my death. "Gag him." He ordered, and the smaller of the two men with him rushed forward, holding a rag in his hands. I saw what he planned to do, and immediately began to pull against the man holding me. If I couldn't speak, I couldn't cast, and if I couldn't cast, I couldn't escape.

I bit at the arms around my shoulders, as my teeth were the only weapons I had left, and connected, sinking my teeth into his bicep. The man let out a small shriek, releasing me. I leapt to my feet, but then the larger of the two men's fist came at me from the side, hitting hard and knocking me to the floor. I felt a dull ache, and my ears filled with static, while a darkness crept at the edge of my vision. I was facing the fire, and I couldn't tear my eyes away from it, even as the darkness enveloped me. Only then, did the force of Vaxon's words sink in. Raque had turned me in, and I knew for a fact I wasn't the only magi he had information on.   

Male 17: Light Mage Aswake Coveni

   "Aliquin. Where am I?" I asked waking up in the back of a cave.

"There was an ambush, and you were knocked out. I got us as far as I could with the strength I had, but they could easily follow us." Aliquin answered from the entrance of the cave. "I hear them coming through the underbrush."

"You get into the cave. I will take them." I stated grabbing my weapons. I am too exposed in the open. I was leading them away from Aliquin when I saw the first of them. They wore black and green trying to stay hidden in the underbrush, but they were not quiet enough. I took out my bow, and took out my first arrow.

"Deep breaths, Asawake. Even the slightest movement will take the arrow off course." I could still hear my father's training going through my head. Now I am glad I listened to him then. I released the arrow and watched it fly straight. The arrow buried into his chest throwing him backwards. His companions saw the arrow sprout from his chest, and they started looking around. That is when I noticed there were more than seventy men in this group.

"He is around here somewhere! Spread out and take him out!" the man in charge yelled. "Asawake! We know you are out there. You think you can hide from me. I was always better than you when we lived in the village!"

"That voice is Molren's. But how did he survive the attack on our village?" I thought to myself. "I need a better advantage point." Looking up, I was able to distinguish the bridges of an Odera village.

"Asawake. I wonder how Ava is doing? Do you think she will want some company right now? How about I go find her next?" he jeered knowing it would get on my nerves. "I might even spare her life, if you turn yourself in. Or we could keep doing this, and you both die sooner or later."

I had reached the edge of the platform when I heard him say this. "He is trying to make me mad so I will show my position. Well good luck with that." I thought taking out some of the archers. "Take out their long-rangers. Can't have them spotting me." Running through these bridges was really easy. I wasn't making any noise at all. I saw a man start to run to Molren, and I was down to one arrow. I took aim, and released after he had reached Molren.

"Captain Molren. We have lost more than twenty of the men," one of the underlings started to say. "Do you want me..." he said as the arrow hit him in the throat. It was a clean shot as it went straight through and came out the back of his neck. Molren looked at him disgusted, and pushed the body over.

"Asawake by my count you should be out of arrows. Why don't you show yourself so we can finish this!" Molren yelled into the trees. "If you thought I didn't know you were in the trees, you are wrong. I have known since the beginning, and allowed you to use up all of your ammo."

"Ok, Molren. You found me, but I can still escape."

"Can you now? Ka Chen, why don't you show him what you can do." Molren said snapping his fingers. I never noticed him before, but one of the soldiers had climbed up here. He was carrying a weapon which looked like a heavy metal ball on a rope. The man started to swing the weapon and threw it at me.

The weapon was fast as it moved through the air. If not for my reflexes it would have hit me. Ka Chen pulled the weapon back, and went for another hit. This time he brought it from above. "If that thing hits the bridge it will break it." I thought as I ran under the ball. At the last second, using the little bit of light magic I could muster. The metal ball slowed just enough that I could catch it.

"How did you catch it? It should have smashed your hands and arms. No matter, I will still kill you." Ka Chen yelled as he pulled out a long slender blade. He had dropped the rope now, so I pulled it towards me. I transferred some of my magic into the ball, and started to swing it around. Ka Chen pulled his blade up just in time to block the ball from hitting him, and there was the beautiful sound of metal on metal. But the impact, plus my magic, was enough to break the blade.

"You broke my blade. Who are you? My blade has never been broken or chipped." he asked me. "I'm out of here!"

I spun the ball one more time through the air, and released it at the right time. It went flying, and hit Ka Chen square in the back. You could hear the sound of his bones breaking underneath the force of the blow. His body fell forward, and tumbled off the bridge. "This thing might come in handy later." I thought pulling the metal ball towards me.

"Someone get up there, and take him out!" Molren yelled at his forces. About ten people started to climb up into the tree. I looked in the direction Aliquin was hiding, and saw him heading my way.

"Sorry to disappoint you Molren, but it looks like my ride is here." I yelled jumping off of the bridge. Aliquin flew underneath the bridge, and I landed on his back. "Do you have to be risky every time I save you?" Aliquin asked. "You don't save me that much. Maybe one every week. Ok, when we get close to Molren, do a barrel roll. I'll jump off, and deal with him. You take care of the soldiers." I proposed getting another quiver of arrows from the magical bag. I'm glad I received this, or we would have died so many times already.

"Asawake, can't you do anything normally?" Aliquin asked getting close to the drop off spot.

"Where's the fun in being normal?" I asked dropping as he hit a barrel roll. I hit the ground rolling, and watched as Aliquin grabbed two guys. He dragged them into the trees until they were dead.

"Very resourceful aren't you, Asawake?" Molren asked walking towards me casually. "You aren't the only one though." he said as two others walked from behind him. "Asawake I would like you to meet, Haneo," gestured to the man on the right, "and Xani." gestured to the women on the left.

"A little back up. So what! I've taken more than you three before." I said pulling my bow off my back. They didn't notice I had grabbed an arrow. In the blink of an eye, I had put the arrow onto the string and pulled it back. I took aim and released it at Xani, at the same time taking out two more shooting them at Molren and Haneo. I watched the arrows fly towards them, but they never hit their targets. Xani disappeared for a second, but was in the same spot again after the arrow passed. Something blocked the arrow from hitting Haneo. And Molren was able to grab the arrow out of the air.

"Did you really think it would be that easy? I am a warrior sage. Xani is a shadow sage. And Haneo is a shield wizard. And you are a light mage. You thought no one knew, but I did. I have even kept this little information from Vaxon." Molren jeered.

They start to surround me, and then I realize Aliquin is still fighting. He grabs one man and flies towards the canopy. Once he has broken the canopy he throws the man into the air, and dive bombs another group of soldiers. There are very few men you couldn't believe they were are a large fighting force a few minutes ago.

"Ha. You don't have a fighting force anymore. Soon it will only be you. So let's go!" I yelled watching them look around. The initial surprise was gone now, but there is still enough time to get the drop on them.

I pull out my sword which Xani notices. I turn and swing, trying to hit her in the head, but she is gone again. She is teleporting all around the battlefield never staying in one spot for long. "One, two, three. One, two, three. One, two, three." I mumble under my breath. There is a distinguishable pattern in her movements. I start to handle my blade for a backward stab. "One, two, three." I force the blade backwards right as she teleports there. The blade goes right through her, leaving a nasty mark.

"Thank you," she whispers as she falls off the blade. "Xani!" Haneo yells. He pulls out two identical swords, and starts to rush me. He is obviously angry, and it might be easy to parry or sidestep him.

"Three, two, one." I move out of the way as he rushes past. He stops and turns around to see my blade coming from above. A shield appears in time to stop it, and I see he is holding a shield around him the whole time. That will have to go if I want a blow to land. I reached for the rope to the metal ball. Maybe a few hits from this will destroy that shield.

I waited for him to rush me again, and then sidestepped him. This time I slung my arm to the side, and watched as the ball follow course. It hit the shield pushing Haneo back. I saw a small crack in the shield, but it was filled quickly. He was really mad by this time, and started to rush me again. This time he was ready for a sidestep though. I would have to do something different if I didn't want to die.

He is about five seconds from hitting me, so I decide to try to jump over him. I jump over his head, pulling into a front flip. The momentum carries the ball more than I thought, and it hits the shield put on his back. There was an even bigger crack this time, and Haneo is dazed from that so I have time for an attack. I infused the light magic into the weapon again, and took a swing. I watched as the shield broke apart, and crumble.

"Impossible! Vaxon said no one can break this shield." he yelled realizing what happened. I dropped the weapon, and pulled out my sword. I rushed towards him faster than he could see me.

"Looks like he lied," I said as I thrust the sword into his gut. I heard him whisper the same thing as Xani, "Thank you." This time I noticed it though, there was a shadow that was lifted off of his shoulders when he died. I didn't see it on Xani, but I am sure it was there.

"So you beat the other two. It's bad that Vaxon had to use his magic, just for the pawns to die." Molren said.

"How are you even alive? Vaxon killed every single magi he could find. The other magi under Mathas got away. And so did I. But how did you three survive?" I asked hoping for answers.

He moved faster than physically possible, and grabbed my blade out of my hand. "I swore my leniency to Vaxon. He allowed me to live in exchange for me being a soldier in his army. These two were just pawns in a little experiment of his." he laughed throwing my sword at my feet.

"Why would you work with him then?"

"Power, money, glory. You name it. I've been working with him for a long time, even before the war. How do you think he found our village? I told him. I helped burn our village. And I killed your parents."

That was when a memory hit me. Ten years ago, when my sister and I found our parents and the village. Ava had been checking their bodies, trying to see what the wounds were. "The wounds are from a sword, but the attack came from behind. Someone in our village killed our parents." Ava had said.

Something broke inside me. I rushed forward at blinding speed. Faster and faster. I was no longer human, I was pure anger. My barrage of attacks was doing damage even though his skin was as tough as steel.

"No, no. I didn't calculate for this much ferocity. I might actually loose this battle." he started to say as blood poured out everywhere. I put the blade to his throat, and sliced his head off. But I was still mad, so I looked for another fight. I saw there were still about twenty soldiers left from the fight with Aliquin.

"Aliquin. Stand down. I will deal with them," I said walking towards them. Five minutes later I walk away, and Aliquin and I fly away. Their screams sounded through the woods for an hour after the battle. None of them survived.

"Aliquin please watch the entrance. I have to meditate so I don't lose control again. I can't go around wiping people out." I said as I went to the back of the cave. I set my weapons to the side, and took off the armor. The new scars on my back still sting, so I pour some water over them.

I put out my bed, and sit on it. I start to meditate letting go of all my struggles. This went on for a few hours before I thought to eat. The ambush this morning, and the battle that lasted for most of the day had left me famished, but I hadn't noticed. I went over to the corner, and rummaged through the things in the pack I made Aliquin. I finally found some fresh bread and roasted boar that I had packed in there at the last village. I sat down eating it when I realized Aliquin wasn't at the entrance. After finishing I walked outside and heard two voices. One was Aliquin, and the other I recognized. But from where. I checked around, and saw a dragon talking to Aliquin. Ionean, Eriswen's dragon was here. But if he was here was Eriswen. I showed myself, and they started to quiet down.

"Ionean. Why do we have the honor of your presence for? And where is Eriswen? You don't go anywhere without her." I asked when I came in range of the dragon. Even for a young dragon he is bigger than me. He looked as if he had been in a battle.

"Eriswen is not here. She and the other Magi were captured. They are being held somewhere in the capital." he said limping towards me.

I started heading back towards the cave. "Give me a second!" I yelled as I went into the cave. Walking over towards the bag, I wondered if Eiridan's potion was still in there. I started to check the bag, but with the magic embedded into it the search would take longer than I thought. "Man. I am glad the magic in this bag allows it to hold an almost unlimited amount of small things. But it is also kind of tiring searching for what I need. Ahh here it is." I said as I grabbed a small bottle.

"Here you go, Ionean. Eiridan made this for me last time I saw him. He said it could heal most wounds." I said pouring the solution over the wound. The wound started healing almost right away. "Now what is your story?"

"Well it was about a day ago. Not too long after you left on this trip. Vaxon's forces were able to sneak up on us is if they had been there the whole time. Probably Vaxon's little touch with dark magic. They killed most of the village, and took the magi and the rest of the village captive. Eriswen and I went after Vaxon. She got captured inside his castle a few hours ago, and is now in a dungeon underneath the castle." Ionean told us.

"Ok. You go into the cave up there. I'll go save the others." I said walking towards the cave. There was no time to spare so I went and put everything useful into the bag, and put it on Aliquin. I cast some magic around my weapons, and watched them disappear.

"Won't you need those?" Ionean asked when he got to the cave.

"Yes, I do. That is why I have them. I just cast a little light magic. It covers my weapons in light, so that it looks like I am unarmed. It barely uses any of my energy to cover these weapons." I said not turning around to face him.

"Why don't you cast that on yourself, and rescue the others?" he asked, as I assumed he would.

"Too much energy to cover a living being. I would probably be able to keep it up for an hour or less. Then I would be too exhausted to help anyone." I said finishing up the last spell.

I climbed onto Aliquin, and we headed towards Komesen. It was already night, so I am glad I have Aliquin. We flew just high enough to not be spotted by Vaxon's forces, but low enough we could see them. "Aliquin. What is it with people, and not looking up? It is too easy to just fly over the wall, and get into the castle." I said maliciously.

"Asawake what are you about to do?" Aliquin asked.

"If I get caught I'll send up a pillar of light. If you see it, return to Ionean. Then you two find my sister and Tiaveni. Last time we saw them they were in Nighes." I said pulling the spear from my back. I embedded my magic into it. Hopefully this will penetrate the stone wall.

"I hate when you do these things." Aliquin said as I threw the spear. It sank into the wall just enough for it to work.

"As I have said before, where is the fun in being normal?" I asked jumping off. I flew towards the spear, and at the last second grabbed it. I swung upwards and catapulted to the top of the wall. The spear was still in my hands, so that was good.

"The castle is in the center of the city. I can't go through fighting the whole way. I would gather too much attention. And if what Molren said is true, there are probably other magi down there working for Vaxon." I mumbled to myself. I never noticed the two men walking towards me.

"You, state your name and why you are up here?" the bigger man asked taking me out of my thoughts. "I was just taking a walk." I said giving an excuse. Neither one noticed as the spear slid into my hand. I pulled a throwing knife off the sash.

"No one is allow outside at night. So what are you really doing?" the other man asked. "Ok. You got me." I said as I threw the knife. It hit the man who just spoke in between the eyes. While the other man wondered what just happened, I threw the spear at him. It hit him in the gut, and he fell next to his friend. I went over and put my foot on his chest, and pulled the spear out of him. I pulled the knife out of the other guy's skull, and decided to get off of the wall before I got discovered again. I cast the spell on my weapons again hiding them from sight. "The easiest way to the dungeons might be to go straight there. Take the back streets and alleys." I said jumping off the wall. It was a short drop, and I hit the ground in a roll.

Running through the streets, hiding when I saw a patrol was easier than I thought. I kept going till I was only a few yards from the castle when the first mishap happened.

"So you did show up. I was wondering if we had gotten bad information." a man's voice said from in front of me. He stepped out of the shadows, and I saw the captain of Vaxon's guard, Tyok. "Just stand out of my way Tyok. You couldn't beat me last time we fought. What makes you think you can now?" I asked while pulling out my sword.

"This time I have back-up." he said as two others showed themselves. I spotted an archer on the roof beside me. And heard someone walk out of the alley I just came from. "What is it with three warriors fighting me today? First, Molren, Haneo, and Xani. Now you three."

"So the reason those three didn't report back is because they are dead. I figured Molren wasn't ready because he hadn't finished training, but the other two were under Vaxon's control. You shouldn't have been able to beat them so easy." Tyok said. "Don't expect it to be easy this time."

I know that Tyok is a fire mage. I meet him once before, but I thought he was a rouge magi. The other two could be anything, and that is a problem. I couldn't see the other two fighters without turning my back on Tyok. I figured since I knew Tyok's strengths I should deal with him first. Sprinting towards Tyok I readied my sword to block his noticeable attack.

Instead of attacking he sidestepped me. Before I could turn around I felt a sharp pain in my shoulder. The archer had taken a shot at me while my back was turned. The arrow was protruding from my shoulder, so I tried to pull it out. The end broke off, so the arrowhead is stuck in my shoulder. I started to feel a little light headed.

"That arrow had a small dose of virols arksn, the draining flower. Your strength and energy will slowly wear off till you fall asleep. Let's see how long you last." the archer said. That voice belonged to Enol, but I thought he had died.

"Enol? How are you still alive? I watched you die at the claws of the chimera." I asked. There was no way this was the same man.

"No, you thought you saw me die. I was still alive, but you left me after the chimera was dead. Vaxon found me, and brought me back to full health. He gave me the chance to capture you, and I took it." Enol said. He pulled the string back, and sent another arrow towards me. This one hit me in the leg before I could move.

"Asawake you can't beat us. This team was designed especially to defeat you." Tyok said. I took another swing at him, but because of the poison I was slow and sluggish. He easily blocked it, and then moved out of the way. I fell forward, and couldn't stop. I felt a sharp pain in the back of my back as a sharp blade pierced my armor.

"My magic can easily speed that poisons effects up." the third man said as electricity shot through my body. "You tried to protect my village, and for that I won't kill you. But my village was still destroyed after you left."

"Wonx. I didn't leave the village on my own accords. My sister needed my help." I said as another shock went through my body. "I came back, and the village wasn't there anymore. I figured you had all left. After all you were a nomadic tribe."

The effects of the poison were really more potent now. I wouldn't last a few more minutes in this battle. I won't escape, but at least I can give Aliquin a chance. I turned upward, and let the rest of my energy out as a beam of light. I hope Aliquin gets away. I was starting to lose consciousness when the three men surrounded me.

"Aliquin. I don't know what you just did, but I don't really care. We got you, and that is all that matters." Tyok said as he hit my with the hilt of his sword. As I started to black out, I saw Aliquuin flying away. I blacked out with a smile on my face.

"Wake up prisoner!" a man yelled at me throwing water on my face. "If you don't wake up, your food is going to the dogs. Not like it really cares though."

I woke up looking at a stone roof. Looks like I made it to the dungeon after all. But I am on the wrong side of the bars. "I am up. And get that stuff out of here. Are you trying to poison me!" I yelled at the guard.

"Oh, a tough guy. You know you are kind of cute." a girl said as the guard walked away. This was the first time I noticed the two others there. They looked like they were royalty, so I presumed they were Jahad and Nassie Asherex.

"Ugh. The boy obsessed princess, and the king's loyal brother. And why do I have the pleasure of you presence?" I asked sarcastically.

"I came to check out the guards to make sure they were treating you each correctly. And my niece here came to check out the men in her. She thinks some of you are cute." Jahad stated. He stood straight like a general should. He seemed to be the only royal family I actually liked. I had seen him many times before the war started, and the only times he was mean was if his men were around. "Someone bring this prisoner some actual food. If I find out one of you tried to give any of them dung as food again, I will personally strangle you!"

"Uncle, please quit yelling and could you leave me?" Nassie asked. After he left she turned to me. "I want to see you win in the arena. Maybe I could convince my father to let you live. You could work as my personal servant."

"Not going to happen. I would rather die than work for you. Now, get away from me!" I yelled at her. For some reason she didn't say anything else, she just walked out.

I looked around and there were two others in the cage. I recognized Leo and Mordzar. I started to look into the other cages, and noticed other recognizable faces. All of the magi were here, even Chiara and Kyren. Why the prince was in a measly cage I don't know. But I know we will be here for a long time.