About the Contest

On May 7th 2008, Atlus announced a contest to celebrate the coming release of Etrian Odyssey II: Heroes of Lagaard. The winner of the competition would receive a free copy of the 3-Disc EO2 Soundtrack. All participants had to do in order to win, was write up the next part of the story after only a three sentence starter and a list of characters. The story ran from May 7th to May 13th.

Below is a list of ALL story contributors, big and small, arranged alphabetically below the winner.

Wavedash - CONGRATULATIONS!! I know I wholeheartedly agreed with Inz's decision. Wave's and Tivor's were definitely the best - especially when I went through and had to edit everything to tack it together for what lays below.

alchemist
BadDad
Camanche
Doc Kesubei
DustSideEye
everchange
Guardia
InvisibleMan
Jeffrey
Kawayix
Lord Mutton Chops
Master Zombots
masterofpsi
Neku
NeoMaverick
OtakuMan
PeteL
Pigzig
rsorrow
sivant
Superkenon
System_Error
The Pezman
Tivor

About the Story
Before the story started, Inzaghi, Moderator of Atlus Forums, posted a list of characters and a three sentence starter. From this point on you can view the list of characters and the images that he provided for them.

As a special feature, we have the story typed up below. It has been carefully editted and tacked together appropriately. No changes were made to the story except to allow for better fluidity or understanding. Please enjoy, as it really is a wonderful story put together with fantastic effor!

At this point and time, the thread is open for futher entries as all participants strive to drive the story to a conclusion. At that time I will decided whether or not to edit and tack their finale at the end of the story below.

The Character List

Emilie
A former nun whose mother superior suggested she might serve the High One better outside the convent... and the city. As the party's protector, she has taken the role of field leader upon herself.
Current Skills: Provoke (draw enemy attacks to herself), Parry (negate an attack directed at herself)

Orlond
Bored of court life, this nobleman turned to the Explorers Guild for excitement. He is the guild's owner and financier, as well as a novice war magus.
Current Skills: Cure (heal one ally for a small amount of HP), Transfer (transfer some TP to an ally)

Sawao
Once a guild member in Etria, this ronin packed up his things and came to High Lagaard after another guild penetrated that Labyrinth's secrets and his skills were no longer needed.
Current Skills: Zamba (strong overhead slash), Dead Law (abandon defense to increase offense)

Yevgeny
This gunner only recently joined the guild. He came to High Lagaard from another country, though so far he's avoided all questions about where that might be or why he left.
Current Skills: Fireshot and Iceshot (fire and ice elemental bullets at one enemy), Medishot (removes status ailments from the party).

Nameless
Apart from the faint whispers she breathes in battle, no one can ever remember hearing this hexer speak.
Current Skills: Sapping (Reduces all enemies' strength), Blinding (may blind all enemies), Poison (may poison all enemies).

Atlus' Etrian Odyssey II Round-Robin Story

To view the original forum topic (while it survives) please go here: Atlus' Story Competition. Remember, the following story has been mildly editted for grammar, spelling, and story flow by Maxine MagicFox.

As the party walks the Labyrinth's corridors, they stumble across a rotting log. Emilie motions for the others to stay back as she leans in close, hearing a faint chittering noise inside. She stands back up and considers the party's options...

Silently, Yevgeny approached Emilie from behind. Emilie, puzzled at what the foreigner was planning, looked at him with a bewildered gaze. "Yevgeny, I know not from where you hail, or to whom you answer, but I can see in your eyes that you are no stranger to the hunt," Emilie spoke.

"That I am not, sister. If I may say, I suggest luring the creature out until its identity can be revealed. I will guard you from behind," Yevgeny said as he slowly raised his ice-imbued weapon.

"Very well."

Just then, Emilie called out to the creatures of the Labyrinth as she provoked an attack. The group watched as a monstrous hedgehog emerged from the decaying log.

"Back!" shouted Yevgeny as he fired a pillar of ice toward the creature...

Sawao was quick to follow with his signature Zamba move. The spiked rodent silently fell back on the floor, his monstrous days over. “What? That’s it? And I don’t even get to show my amazing healing skills? A pity truly,” spoke Orlond in his usual pretentious tone.

“Let us not count our blessings yet, Mr. Orlond,” mused Emilie. “We’ve got 30 more floors to go, and who knows what awaits us,” she continued.

“Spike here was easily dealt with.” Sawao smiled. “It won’t be so easy when we encounter our first FOE.” His smile was gone.

Emilie chose to ignore Sawao's baiting tone. For weeks now he had been flaunting his past experiences in the Etrian Labyrinth - how much he knew, how many he had slain - without end. She supposed Orlond had chosen to hire him to for those skills (and to keep his loud mouth off the streets of Lagaard.)

She shook her head. Her mother had always told her to try and think the best of people, and here she was once again letting her cynical streak get the better. Likely, this was the particular reason her mother had suggested adventuring over the ivory towers for her.

"Come now!" laughed Orlond. "We shall cut them into shreds like this, and the one after that as well!"

The girl who had not spoken till now stepped forward and the mere look of her eyes was enough to silence everyone.

In quiet once more, the party ventured forward, to find a lone soldier.

The soldier, who was clad in dark gilded armour with crimson highlights, raised a hand to the adventurers. "Halt. What business do you have in the Labyrinth? I have not seen you before, and death comes swiftly to the ill-prepared."

Emilie stepped forth, ahead of the group, and said, "We are members of the Guild Fidelis - adventurers and the like. We've come to explore the Labyrinth."

"Ah, more wretched souls come to delve into the Labyrinth. Turn back if you wish to live," the large being answered.

"We do not fear death, as it is inevitable," Yevgeny responded. "I assure you that we are not ill-prepared for the trials of the forest."

"Ah, very well. Time will only tell if you speak the truth, bold one. I must return to town to resupply myself... Keep a watchful eye in the maze, and do not take any threat lightly. Perhaps we will meet again one day. Until then, farewell," the soldier said as he set off.

Sawao, in one of his more childish moods, scoffed. "Hah! Some guard he was! One look at us and he knew we meant business."

"Don't be so sure, Sawao", warned Orlond. "Maybe's it's not us he's so concerned about, but his own tail. Surely, if a guard of his stature hesitates not to retreat, we may be in for more bloodshed than any might have anticipated." By now, Orlond was stroking the lengths of his beard.

"Perhaps, Orlond," said Yevgeny, "but perhaps it is you who fears what lay beyond. After all, it is said that -"

Emilie motioned to the two. "Keep it down you two. Haven't you even noticed?"

Only Nameless, whose eyes had widened in urgency seemed to.

As they moved closer toward the Labyrinth, a long shadow was drawing speedily across the field.

Emilie cried out in sudden astonishment, however the warning came to late. Busy boasting as usual, Orland failed to notice the two Ladybugs that slammed into him sending him flying. Luckily the other thing he failed to notice was the ever vigilant Hexer quietly whispering the Sapping curse just before they hit.

"Wretched vermin," shouted Emilie, drawing the bugs attention with her Provoke skill.

Rushing forward, Sawao launched himself at the bug on the right, slashing down with a poweful Zamba slash and landing deftly on his feet.

Cursing the sudden suprise attack Yevgeny spun towards the other distracted Ladybug and lauched a Fireshot at its back.

Both insects cried out in pain and dismay as the attacks cut them down.

Sheathing her blade as the second bug fell, Emilie turned to the silent Hexer. "Nice work with that curse."

The Hexer merely nodded as Orlond slowly got to his feet. "It appears that I might wish to pay better attention to our situation from now on."

With a light hearted chuckle, Emilie motioned them to follow as she continued down the path.

With that, the forest took on an oppressive air. Ancient hedges and imposing oaks pushed the party forward while the sound of an army of predatory vermin could be heard gathering in the arbor's shadows.

When the sound of rustling leaves would be unmistakable, a gathering of their pursuers would leap upon them. Then all would be quiet for a time. It only took a few more encounters to become familiar with that ominous sound, or the Hexor’s slight shift in chanting.

The group continued on the path to the next floor, but as they traveled they accidentally ran in to an ominous orange ball. All of a sudden out of nowhere they were thrown in to their first battle with a deadly F.O.E. They tried to escape but couldn't.

The great bird with wicked claws raked into Emilie's unprotected back. Time itself seemed to stop as pain flared through her spine.

"Turn and face it! We have no choice!" roared Yevgeny. He readied his weapon while Orlond bent over Emilie, speaking the enchantments that would stave off death.

The bangs of Yevgeny's gun and the clangs of Sawao's sword seemed to drift far away from Emilie's attention...

"I seek the master of Guild Fidelis!" Emilie cried out. Hoisting her new shield taken from the church armory, she let it clang loudly to the ground.

A girl with tattoos on her face appeared as if she had teleported in and gestured to a rakishly dressed old man with a monocle.

"I am he: Orlond. And what business do you have?"

"I have heard you wish to explore the Labyrinth's levels! I offer my shield in service!"
He smiled and regarded her for a moment. "What do you want in return?"

Taken aback at this line of questioning, she paused before slowly replying. "The challenges we will face...will hopefully strengthen me. I wish to improve myself in service to the High One. For the ancient texts have foretold that 'when the Labyrinth Castle in the Sky of Lagaard is achieved, the purpose of life will be revealed to all.'"

Orlond appeared to consider her words. "And of money? Of treasures?"

"They have no earthly hold on me."

It was only then that Emilie noticed Orlond's piercing eyes. This was truly a man who, while seemingly impish, would not be easily fooled.

"Very well. I accept. Now, come take this oath with me, and do not forget it -"

- With a jolt she snapped up. She took a deep painful breath - push through the pain Emilie! - and stood to fight once more.

Yevgeny loaded another shot into his gun and fired. "I don't get it!" he shouted, "What's a DarkSaur doing on the First Stratum?"

Sawao hollered back with a "How the hell should I know?!" as his Zamba strike was easily deflected the DarkSaur's wings.

As Orlond did his best to help Emilie, the nameless Hexor's eyes widened, as though she was looking at something very interesting. Her gaze seemed to pierce through light and dark to see through eyes unclouded. Noticing this, Orlond tried to follow her line of sight, but could only see grass, leaves, and trees standing perfectly still.

His eyes widened, "WAIT! THAT'S..."

In a hushed whisper that no one could hear, the Hexor spoke: "Shine... Blinding Light!"

An intense beam of light shot out from her hands, engulfing the DarkSaur. When the light dissipated moments later, the DarkSaur was gone.

Yevgeny blinked in wonder, “What the... how did she...?”

“Simple, really,” Orlond chimed in. “That DarkSaur was a fake!”

Emilie winced with a scowl. “Fake my BUTT! That thing HURT!”

“Maybe so,” Orlond said calmly, “but if it WAS real, you'd be dead!” he said as he pointed to the real enemy, fleeing the scene.

Exhausted from their previous encounter, the party thought that it would be in their best interest if they let their enemy escape.

Noticing that the sun was setting, Emilie suggested, "Perhaps we should rest and re-cooperate our energy."

Taking shelter in a small opening in the forest, our heroes lied down. Sawao, still pumping with adrenaline from their battle, was pacing back and forth.

Suddenly, he halted, and noticed a small glimmer in the bushes. Without consulting his fellow adventurers, he walked towards the light....

Sawao didn't have to walk very far into the bushes before he reached the source of the glimmer. It was a key on the ground.

Well, it looked like a key, but it wasn't like any key that he had ever seen before. It was fairly big - about the length of his own forearm. A metal disc (brass, probably) formed the key's handle, and attached to it was something that looked like it was carved out of an animal bone. But most strikingly, the bone portion of the key was glowing - or rather, pulsing - as if it was breathing with its light.

Sawao thought about calling the other party members, but the curiosity got the better of him as he knelt down and picked it up. The key suddenly lost all its glow.

Inhaling sharply, Sawao wondered if he made a wrong choice again. Had he triggered something? His thoughts in chaos with painful memories of his party in Etria, he concentrated to bring his focus to his surroundings.

Was anything moving? Anything out of the ordinary? Without moving a muscle, he tried to hear and feel everything around him. He could hear the voices of his party members not more than a dozen paces away, he could hear the harmless chirps of night insects, he could feel the breeze lazily cooling the bead of sweat on his forehead, he could feel someone standing right behind him!

He quickly looked back, drawing his blade in an attempt to prevent a possible incoming attack, but all he found was the Hexer strangely looking at his new discovery.

"Whoa! Don't scare me like that!" he shouted with a fairly trembling voice.

She made a gentle gesture with her hand, as if saying there was no threat, and slowly pointed her finger to the key he'd just acquired.

"Think you know something about this?" Sawao asked with heavy breathing.

Before any reply was given, a crack was heard from where the item was found, and the two adventurers didn't hesitate in looking towards the source of the noise.

"Oogadaboogadah!"

Sawao jumped 3-feet into the air as Emilie doubled over with laughter.

"Holy hell, Emilie! I could have killed you!"

Emilie was still laughing too hard to respond. Sawao scowled and thought of ways to either get revenge or show Emilie just how serious the situation was. A gag like that could scare up any number of monsters. Hadn't he warned everyone to be quiet? What the hell was she thinking? Former Nun or not, he was determined to get revenge.

Later that night, as Emilie slept, Sawao went to the nearby brook and filled a shell with water. He took it back to camp and gently put Emilie's hand in it. He started giggling as Orlond smacked him in the back of the head.

"What the hell do you think you're doing? We're in a tight spot here Sawao!

"But she started it!" Sawao protested.

Orlond began to scold Sawao further when he was interrupted by a huge roar.

"Weerrroooaaarrr! Why Am I all wet?" It was Emilie just waking up. "What the... Who the... Sawao, you bastard!"

"Ssshhh" Orlond and Sawao replied at the same time. "Do you hear that?"

"Hear what? Sawao, I'm gonna kill you...you…"

"Ssshhh damn it... Listen," Yevgeny spoke for the first time.

They listened.

Boom boom boom

Something was coming. Boom boom boom Something was coming and it was getting closer.

Boom boom boom

"Oh gods," Orlond muttered, his body tensing. "What is this new evil?"

Boom Boom Boom

Emilie stood. Her brow was creased in concentration. "I know not, but it would be best if we were prepared for battle." Hefting her shield, she called out to the others, "Form up behind me, my friends!"

Boom boom boom

The party stood, silent, listening to the approaching noises, trembling only slightly as the deafening sounds drew closer. Surely the creature must be nearly on top of them, and yet there was no sign of it; no glimpse of moving foliage or glow of glimmering, evil eyes.

Then, silence, or near enough. The whisper of the Hexer preparing her curse. The heavy breathing of her comrades as fear gripped their hearts.

The heroes awaited in silence for what felt like forever.

Hearing the faintest sound of cracking wood, Yevgeny dove aside as a stream of silky strands shot forth from the trees. "The enemy hails from above!" he shouted to the group.

Sawao and Orlond turned to face the foliage from which the attack came, but they could not see anything. The Hexer muttered her spell and the blinding light of a thousand fires shone into the thicket.

"Rrrrrrarrrrghhhh," a screech came from the trees as a Crawler squirmed out, blinded by the light.

Emilie, who was still injured from the previous encounter, despite Orlond's efforts, rose her shield for defence.

"Harken to the sound of your death, foul cretin!" said Yevgeny as he shot forth a flaming bullet from his weapon.

The creature lumbered from the attack as Sawao sprange forth with a slash of his sword. However, he was unable to hone in the beast, as it regained control and quickly moved aside. A shot of silk followed the evasion and caught Sawao in his leg. "Help! Orlond!" he shouted as he found his leg unable to move. "...Orlond!" cried he, as Sawao gazed upon Orlond, who was encased in strands of the silk himself.

Yevgeny loaded his still smoking weapon as the creature closed in on Sawao...

"The key! Use the key!" shouted Emilie.

"Key...right. That's the most rediculous thing I've ever heard" Sawao thought as he lifted it up to see what might be her point. The nameless Hexer grabbed the key and threw it at the attacking Creature. It hit the creature right in the eyeball. "What the..." thought Sawao.

"Tallyho!" shouted Yevgeny as he shot the creature’s other eye out, effectively blinding it.

"Now! Crawler... To me!" Emilie raised her sword...

...the golden blade coming down on the Crawler in one swift, clean slice. The worm made a slight gurgle before flopping to the ground, unmoving. Emilie's breathing slowed gradually and she brought down her sword upon realizing that there were no more beasts or monsters, but just the five of them... for now.

Orlond quickly came aside Emilie, sensing her fatigue. He offered a small healing spell before kneeling down and picking up the infamous key. If it were indeed a key, it was large and awkward. He adjusted his monocle several times as he looked it over; the puzzled twist of his mouth causing his mustache to twitch comically.

"My, my... and what use could this be to us?" he wondered aloud, though by the gleam in his eyes, it was obvious that his interests were mostly monetary.

There was a coolness here, in the deep of the night, and it hung thick in the air, ushering a silence over everyone. The nameless Hexer drifted forward, raising her hand towards a dark path off in the distance that was nearly covered by overgrown vegetation.

Emilie, as always, was the first to step up, her shield held tight to her side. She had not noticed this way before. Had it slipped past her in the darkness of the night? She turned to the group, obviously anxious to delve further.

"Hmm, I have not gazed upon this path before," Emilie whispered to herself as the group looked to her.

"Shall we proceed, Miss Emilie?" Orlond asked her.

"Yes, onward," Emilie responded, as she gestured down the path with her sword, which was still dripping with the blood of the slain Crawler.

The group walked down the new road with caution and more vigilance than before.

"This key... it must unlock something. Why else would it have fallen into our hands?" Orlond asked to no one in particular.

"You're thinking it'll lead to treasure, aren't you?" Sawao bit back.

"Perhaps, it wouldn't be a bad result -"

"Stop," said Yevgeny quietly as he held up his hand.

"What is it, Yevgeny? Do you sense danger ahead?" Emilie questioned.

"Aye, sister. Examine those branches," he responded as he slowly pointed ahead of the group. It appeared that several branches had been broken in a hastily manner.

"What could of done that? The creature must be enormous," Emilie said.

"We'll soon find out!" cried Sawao as he pointed down the path at a charging cloud of dust.

Fight or flight. A question fitting given the current situation. Here came crashing down the path a furious horned beast. Its ember eyes gleaming with rage and hatred. The adventurers were surprised but strong in their convictions.

"Form the ranks! Get ready!" shouted Yevgeny.,rushing over to a fallen tree and using the dead wood as cover from the FOE. Loading and firing as quickly as possible, his gun based off his cover. Pillars of ice flew towards the creature, hoping to freeze its fury.

Emile and Sawao both braced themselves. The beast was rampant and aiming to crush them. "Now!" With the signal both warriors jumped to the side, blades racking across the monsters side.

The Furryhorn bucked and flailed wildly. Two iron like horns rammed against the protector's shield. Her feet slid back, yet she was able to hold.

Sawao, on the other hand had a slightly harder time with his lacking armor. Bare flesh was rammed by thick hooves. The swordsman fell to the ground grasping his chest for air. "Just. Like. Etria," he muttered gathering breath to speak.

Orlond dashed from behind the fallen tree, and skidded to a halt next to Sawao. He let his spear fall as he examined the warrior's wounds.

"How is he?" Yevgeny called from behind the log, firing standard shots. Though faster than his elemental attacks, they damaged their adversary less and were no substitute for the lost power of the group's Ronin. "I can't keep this up forever!"

"He is knocking death's door, but with time-" Orlond begain, but was interrupted by Emilie.

"Time we don't have!" she called, gritting her teeth at the beast's attacks.

As Yevgeny continued to fire volley after volley, he failed to notice the Hexer silently move beside him.

The hexer began to chant but her normally calm face broke into one of dismay as her powers seem to abandon her.

Noticing this, Orland quickly turned to her, shouting, "One moment, my lady," as he initiated a transfer of energy.

At the same time, Sawao seemed to be momentarily frozen. Unbidden thoughts of another time came to his mind - a time back in Etria.

He had been a fool, he thought there was nothing he couldn't deal with. If only he knew how wrong he was. The guild’s protector decided to challenge him to a bet. It was simple: they would just see who could take down a Ragelope. Just the two of them. Headstrong as he was he took the bet in a flash, racing the Protector to the second floor of the Labyrinth. But it was a mistake... a terrible mistake. Within moments of stepping on the floor they found what they sought - or what sought them. The Ragelope charged at them much like the Furyhorn did now, and with one mighty stroke cut his comrade down where he stood.

As the image of his crushed and broken former companion entered his mind the paralysis broke.

"FOR THE FALLEN." With that cry Sawao lept towards the Furyhorn placing himself in front of Emilie, just as another burst through the trees from the right. Letting loose all his strength, he launched his deadly Issen strike.

The Furyhorns collided with a flurry of whistling blows. The one on the right fell instantly to a blow to the heart. The second withstood the blow and reared up before landing a heavy strike to Sawao.

Before it could land a second strike, Yevgeny launched his own special technique, his Riot Gun strike. The shot landed squarely in the Furyhorn's raised chest, stunning it long enough for Emilie to place herself before Sawao, prepared to Parry any blow that may come.

The Furyhorn was taken aback by this display of strength. At the loss of its kin, it pawed and stomped at the ground angrily, breaking into a fit of snorts before lowering its head. It let out a belligerent screech before beginning its relentless charge at the offender. Dawn was approaching and the Labyrinth reeked of dew and grass. The sun finally filtered its way through the canopy, the new day rolling in.

Emilie gasped as the Furyhorn pounded towards her, ready to gouge and gore her out of the way to reach Sawao. She quickly turned to the Ronin, seeing that the last blow had left him staggering to his feet - sword gripped tight, yet arm dangling loosely at his side. Orland saw the Ronin step forward and immediately took hold of his shoulder, wagging a finger. He gave the warrior a Medica instead.

"You need to protect yourself right now," he gruffly told Sawao, a smile hidden beneath his facial hair.

"Stand back," Emilie warned firmly, raising her shield. The Furyhorn plummeted at her, the primal thudding of its hooves deepening the pounding beat of her own heart.

The beast was close to finished. It was heavily wounded by the party of brave adventurers, and now it would be finished. Emilie's steel blade stabbed at the beast; thrusting forwards to kill the monster. With a fateful strike, the beast was dead.

The Ronin and Protector were left standing there; blades gripped tight as they checked for any more danger. After moments passed, blades were cleaned and sheathed.

Orlond, approaching from behind, placed a hand on Emilie's and Sawao's shoulders. "You both fought well. Take a seat while I tend to your wounded friends." He muttered words of arcane might and spread ointment on the injured comrades.

Yevgeny kept a close eye on the surroundings. Thoughts of this land’s dangers were startling. ‘Creatures like that lurk in these higher levels? What horrors live on the grounds below?’ the gunner thought, reaching into his pocket and feeling the cold iron shells in them. Each one he inspected before heading out, and now that extra caution seemed well worth. Still, his eyes trailed on the nameless Hexer who seemed to float about their surroundings. Wondering how a mere child learned such dark arts - that type of thing made his skin crawl. "Orlond, hurry up. The blood will draw more predators. We must head out soon," the foreign warrior stated.

"Ah, yes. Surely I shall be finished soon," Orlond responded as he gently wrapped Sawao's arm in cloth.

"Thank you for your kindness, Orlondo. I do not know how we would manage without your skill in the arts of healing," said Emilie softly.

"The thanks is mine to give, for it was you who protected me during the fray. But rest now, we can talk later."

"Certainly," she answered as she sat idly upon her shield.

"Sawao, I apologize for the haste in which I urge you after such an injury has befallen you, but alas, we must venture onward. We cannot remain in this area much longer," Yevgeny sternly said.

"I... I'm okay. Let's go," Sawao responded as he weakly stood, holding his arm. "Thank you, Orlond, you've done more than enough."

"Very well. We shall traverse this forest yet again, and perhaps discover the origin of that mysterious key," Orlond said, with a certain glint in his eye. As soon as word of the key had been uttered, the strange Hexer sharply turned her head to look at Orlond. "I see that she agrees with me. Curious are you too, no?"

The Hexer silently turned away once again to look down the path. Yevgeny urged for the group to continue, and they set off along the trail in search of the lock for this key - wherever it may be.

Sunlight slanted through the leaves, dappling the grass with dancing spots of light. Birds began to trill and quarrel, twittering amongst the upper branches of the trees. A breeze rolled through, bathing the adventurers in the gentle scent of the new day. Despite the battle not too long before, as well as other dangers the ancient forest hid, the mood in the air was almost optimistic.

Why not, after all? They were on the search for the function of this mysterious key. It was certainly more thrilling than wandering blindly without purpose.

For some time, the journey passed uneventfully. Sawao grumbled briefly about his arm as the air began to warm, earning him a good-hearted tease from Orlond about keeping it still. This was soon returned with a jibe regarding Orlond’s proficiency as a War Magus, and the two fell to playful bickering. Emilie smiled at their antics, careful to keep herself observant as she led the way down the trail. Yevgeny merely shook his head at the two, and the Hexer watched them with luminous eyes.

Emilie held up her hand, signaling for them to halt as they came upon a clearing. “Look,” she noted softly. “A spring. If we are fortunate, perhaps it will be pure.”

She approached it and knelt at the water's edge. It appeared to be clean. She took a sip, then when it proved to be both cold and refreshing, she let custom fall by the wayside and unceremoniously dipped her head in, drinking great swallows.

The others followed suit. Orlond bottled some in a few skins, while Sawao saw fit to clean his blade with a cloth dipped in its waters.

Emilie turned to take stock of the party and saw something unusual. The small girl with tattoos on her face... what was her name again?... had stayed well clear of the healing spring.

From the start Emilie had not taken to the quiet Hexer. There was a heavy pall she carried with her, and an odd odor, like that of burnt herbs and raw flesh. Seeking no companionship in town, the silent girl shut herself in her room in the guild for hours at a time, emerging only to take an occasional cup of wine.

Emilie had not questioned Orlond on the matter, but she believed the hexer was the first member of Fidelis to join. In some way, he seemed to understand and give the mage her solitude.

But that did not content Emilie.

Emilie beckoned to the girl, who remained rooted to the spot as though Emilie did not exist.

Orlond clapped Emilie on the back. "We are in finest shape, my protector, let us go on!"

Emilie put the matter out of her mind but resolved to not forget it.

As the party walked through the forest, they soon found what looked like a traveler lying on the ground. A traveler, indeed, but he was dead, with his flesh torn apart by a creature that seemed to have terribly sharp claws.

“It looks like he was running away from the beast that caught him,” Yevgeny said, analyzing his footprints. “And he came against the direction we’re facing, which means…”

“The monster is still around.” Emilie completed.

“There’s no way this guy got here by himself; it’s quite possible his party was killed before him, by the same monster… Or monsters,” Sawao said in a worried tone.

“Let’s keep going. It’s the only way to know what lies ahead!” Emilie started walking again.

The party fell back on the road, which lead to a bifurcation. They soon realized what kind of decision must be done.

“That means we can still avoid the encounter with the enemy! This choice may define the difference between life and death for us. Now, which way should we choose?” Orlond asks.

"I say lets go onward, to avenge this traveler," answered Emilie.

"Also, we might find what our key goes to here," added Swano.

"I would say that it would be dangerous to venture forward while the monster might still be there," argued Yevgeny.

"Hexer," asked Orlond not paying attention to the arguement, "what is it that you're pointing to?” Suddenly everyone twisted their heads. Emilie saw they were looking at where they thought the monster was. A shrill scream came, shaking the travelers with fear.

"WHAT IS IT?" yelled Swano.

"WE'RE ABOUT TO FIND OUT," Emilie yelled back. "FRONT GUARD," yelled Emilie. Another scream answered her as an ominous red ball charged them.

< -- END OF FIRST PART -- >
The fiery blaze accelerated in blinding light. Emilie deftly raised her shield and braced herself as she squinted her eyes in the intense light. The fireball careened off her reflector, and sizzled on the barks of an ancient oak. The protector's feet slid a few feet in the muddy ground from the impact of the flame. She gritted her teeth, anticipating.

Standing amidst the rising sun, the traveler looked onward with exasperation. An Alchemist in profession; his grim overcoat billowed in the morning wind; although elegant, it had patches of cinder burns and deep gashes. His hands glew ablaze once again as his dry lips uttered whispers of incantation.

"Stop!" A young, vibrant voice suddenly cried out. The youth quickly dashed in front of the magician; his silvery cloak flowing closely behind. "These travelers have no quarrels with us," the boy continued, quickly eying his instrument gripped in his hands to ensure that no harm had come of his prized possession.

The alchemist, taken aback by the sudden interruption of his companion, looked around quickly with a look of bewilderment. His hands, once covered in a magnificent, treated leather glove, now burned black.

The party, with Emilie leading in front, still strapping her shield cautiously, advanceed step by step.

The spell caster, as if all his strength had suddenly been sapped from his body, slumped forward; his legs, buckling and his knees dropping on the muddy path. He covered his face with his ashen hands as tears streamed down his angular face. The alchemist's mouth dropped open, gasping for quick breaths of air.

Finally, he let out in a hushed, coarse voice. "I'm sorry friends, for my paranoia, but we lost half of our party to that monster..."

Orlond hurried to the Alchemist's side, already muttering the incantations that would bring healing to the other adventurer. Emilie followed more cautiously.

"What monster was it, sir?" she asked, crouching beside the Alchemist in the undergrowth, concern showing on her face. Yet, still behind the concern she felt caution - a niggling doubt, the tiniest glimmer of fear.

"A horrible beast," the Alchemist sobbed. "A monster so foul and loathsome, I've never seen its like before. It must have come up from deep within the Labyrinth."

Yevgeny stood beside Emilie; his eyes never ceasing to scan the surrounding forest, watching for danger. "Milady," he said, "we cannot linger. The danger is too great. The way behind us is clear; this traveler can journey home in safety, if he hurries. After that, we can -"

A shrill, inhuman cry interrupted the Gunner, and all eyes turned towards the Hexer. Sawao, pale and trembling, stood beside her.

"The key," he groaned. "The boy took the key."

A panicked look came into the Hexer's eyes, and Emilie turned back to the Alchemist.

He was gone without a trace.

"I had to pee." He proclaimed as he came back towards the group from behind a tree. "Really bad... and look what I found."

From behind him came a tiny little elf who proudly shouted, "I'm an FOE!!" Then he waddled up to Yevgeny and kicked him in the shin.

"Ouch! You little bas..."

"Hey! You be nice!" Emilie said as she tweeked his earlobe. "He's just a little elf."

"I'm an FOE!!" the elf proudly stated once more.

"You're no FOE," Sawao argued.

"Yes I am. I'm a Foolish Obnoxious Elf. Gimme twenty dollars!"

"I'm not giving you crap... You kicked me!" Yevgeny protested

"Oh yes you will... I know where your key goes," the elf proudly stated.

The Hexer quietly walked up behind the little elven boy, taking the key from his hand. He tried to keep his grip on it, but it was pulled away from his hand before he knew what had happened. He spun around towards the Hexer as she began to walk away from him.

"Hey, lady... give me back that key! Who says it's yours to take?"

The Hexer ignored his protests and began walking towards the rest of the group; all their eyes focused on the key in her hand.

The weary Alchemist put his arm out towards the boy, his palm up.

"Ashwin, please do not cause any trouble here. There are far greater things to worry over than wealth."

The boy turned towards the Alchemist; his face locked in a grimace of obnoxious indifference.

"Fine, Corwin. FINE. If that's what you think." He stomped away towards a fallen log, dusted with green moss and tree spores and sat down.

Orlond reached in his front pocket and tossed three glimmering coins at the boy's feet. "Here, child. If it is wealth you seek, perhaps these will tide you over."

Orlond laughed as Ashwin sprang to attention, grabbing at the coins and clutching them against his body.

The Hexer walked to Emilie, offering her the key. She waited for Emilie to accept it, and stood for a moment, her eyes locked on Emilie's with an intensity that broadcasted more emotion than mere words could.

Emilie accepted the key, keeping her gaze level with her silent party member. She understood what she was thinking.

"Thank you."

The Hexer nodded.

Emilie backed away, addressing the party. "We must move forward. Whether it is in the direction we were traveling or another, we must move on lest we desire to be caught by surprise by another creature."

Yevgeny nodded, and began to walk towards the log that Ashwin was leaning against.

He spoke to the group, but kept his eyes on the boy. "Yes, we must move forth. You are right, Emilie. Now, child, as for your earlier claim, if it stands true..."

Yevgeny gritted his teeth, his eyes narrowing as the boy backed up against the log, trying to shrink away in the face of Yevgeny's distaste for him.

"...WHERE DOES THE KEY GO?"

Ashwin began to squirm under Yevgeny's intense eyes. The musician's hands gripped tightly on the patches of weeds growing beside the log. The palms of his hands were now dripping wet with perspiration combined with the dew rolling gently on the slender leaves.

He tried looking away but found that his neck had become stiff, and his throat curiously dry. Bubbles of regret popped into the boy's head. The hunter's steel gaze was unbearable, almost worst than had the gunman drawn his weapon and directed it at him.

"I... I... I..." the elven boy stammered. The lump in his throat ballooning. He swallowed quickly.

With every ounce of energy, he tore his face away from Yevgeny's icy complexion. Unable to look up, he focused his weary eyes on the strings of his instrument.

Though almost inaudible, Ashwin began talking. "The bone key that you found... Our party had originally found it on the remains of an adventurer. Rumors once told that the skeletal key unlocks what your heart most desires."

Emilie, standing with her back to the boy, surveyed the region and turned quickly to the bard. Orlond's solemn eyes shifted to Emilie, his mind naturally pondering their previous arrangement. "...The purpose of life will be revealed to all," the Protector's voice rang.

"So where..." Sawao asks quickly before he was immediately cut off by the boy.

The Troubadour, finally regaining his composure, looked up. He threw quick glances around and whispered, "Knowledge of the chest is dangerous. Those who know are eternally… hunted…" his soft voice trailed off.

Then Ashwin's face suddenly smiled with devilish delight. "I cannot tell you where the chest is for I will be hunted and turned to stone if I reveal this secret... But I will give you a hint..."

All the members of the Fidelis party drew closer to the boy.

"Seek the dragon that lies dormant on the seventh floor of the Labyrinth. He's powerful enough that he will not fear this fate. But he will not speak to you until you defeat him in battle. And no one has defeated him yet!"

"It figures!" exclaimed Orlond. "I'm done with riddles! Who's in favor of beating the information out of this cursed elf??"

"Soft, Orlond. It is no use. He will speak no more on this. I can tell as much from his eyes," said Emilie.

"Be on your way then, cur, and do not let the FOEs get you on your way out," barked Yevgeny, turning his back on the young musician.

Without a word, the rest of the party followed Yevgeny deeper into the Labyrinth, leaving the pair behind them.

"I fear for their safety," Emilie said to Orlond, "yet I know we cannot linger. Let us pray to the High One that they may reach the peace of their own beds this night, and that the information they've given us will not lead us astray."

Onwards the party traveled, deeper into the depths of the winding, twisting forest pathways, until, at last, they found stairs descending into blackness.

The unfortunate adventurers, Corwin and Ashwin, watched the party vanish into the sea of trees.

"I don't understand. Why did you give them false impressions? It doesn't matter whether you know the truth... simply obtaining the key is enough to doom them. They are going to be hunted, just as we are," said the puzzled Alchemist Corwin, glancing down at his young friend the Troubadour.

Ashwin gave a smirk as he replied. "Yes, they're already doomed. But why tell them that? Why give them dread, when they could live out their last moments on a journey for treasure, instead of like us... waiting for the inevitable..." his smile faded.

"But, the place you sent them to... that's the..."

"Yep. The riskiest place to go if you've been made part of the Hunt... but hey, if they have what it takes... they may just -"

Ashwin paused. He sensed a menacing presence nearby... growing ever closer.

"Well, our time's up. Good luck, guys. Heh."

As the sunlight gradually faded, the party staid alert to everything that might be lurking on the new floor. Paying heed to each surrounding object, Yevgeny noticed a hidden path among the trees and immediately announced his discovery to everyone.

“Should we head through it?” Emilie asked.

The Hexer demonstrated interest on the new path her companion had just found and nodded, confirming she wanted to go ahead.

“What are we losing? Besides, that could mean a clue on the key’s mystery.” Sawao says while cutting some bushes to open the way.

The party advanced in a new direction, which got darker at each step. A few minutes later, as the road went down, a single floor building could be seen ahead. The ivy growing along its rusted gates and dirty walls made of heavy stone blocks accused its age; it was more like the ruins of an ancient construction. At both sides of the way leading to the front door laid a pair of ill-looking statues, each casting a leer at whoever came through the gates. Orlond carefully investigated the area.

“I somehow feel we are not welcome here.”

“Aren’t those things strange…? They don’t look as old as this place,” Sawao said while gazing upon the statues.

Right after his statement, the sound of falling rocks filled the air, along with a cloud of dust coming from the mysterious building. Everyone ran back through the gates.

“Agh... Is it collapsing?” the gunner’s voice was almost unnoticed amongst the chaos.

As the cloud dispersed, black entities could be seen moving towards the party. They figured out it was not the building that was collapsing. Emilie quickly took the front line.
“Stay back! Something’s coming!”

Wondering what could be inside of the ancient looking place, the bold adventurers prepared to engage the grim, soulless stone guardians in combat under the twilight sky that was hidden by the leaves.

The Mystue lumbered forward with slow jerky steps, stone grinding against stone as the living statues forced one foot after the other. Malevolent red eyes glittered out of the hollows carved into the creatures’ faces. The Fidelis members stood ready; weapons in place and tension tightening their bodies.

Finally, the two stone beasts came to a decisive halt a few feet in front of the travelers. The Mystue on the left lifted one arm, pointing an accusing claw at the humans. Its jaw cracked open. “Trespassers…” It hissed, its voice as harsh as gravel.

The other Mystue growled its agreement. “Punishable only by death…”

“Please,” Emilie tried to break in. “We did not intend to trespass. We meant no harm.”

A harsh glare made her fall silent. The inhuman eyes of the creatures reflected no understanding or pity. The Mystue took another grating step closer to the travelers. They hissed in unison, wisps of a noxious silvery mist escaping their jaws.

“Emilie -!” Orlond’s voice quavered slightly as he gestured weakly to the path behind them. “Perhaps retreat is the best course in this particular matter, hm?”

Emilie glanced at the Hexer and the Hexer nodded back. "Not today Orlond... Not today."

Immediately the Hexer Sapped both enemies, reducing their strength. Sawao followed suit with Dead Law, preparing himself. Yevgeny Shouted, "Now you're talkin my language Emilie!" and fired an iceshot. Emilie fired a grin at Orlond and attacked. Orlond threw a worried look her way and sighed deeply as he prepared to heal whoever needed it.

The two stone giants staggered backwards, not used to such heavy defiance, yet quickly recovered to hone in on the now defenseless ronin.

"I'm hit!" Sawao staggered back.

"I've got you!" yelled Orlond, and cured a tiny bit of Sawao's wound. Emilie looked at Sawao and hoped it was enough as she provoked the two beasts to save Sawao from further damage. She knew that if they could just hold on Sawao could unleash...

Zamba!

Sawao unleashed his attack with the ease and dexterity of an experienced swordsman. His blow struck one of the stone warriors in the leg, shattering the face of the rock.

"These fiendish foes shall rue the day that they challenged the Guild Fidelis," spoke Yevgeny, as he carefully aimed and shot an icy shell into the statue's already weakened leg.

Lumbering among the foliage, and following a second Sapping spell from the Hexer, the abominable enemy collapsed in a cloud of dust.

"That's one of these foul beasts, just one more!" shouted Sawao as he prepared to launch another attack.

"I will make time for you, my ally," said Emilie, as she parried the statue's broad attacks.

Yevgeny quickly ran to take a high position atop a large boulder nearby to the second statue, bracing for another shot from his frozen weapon. "Death shall come to thee this day!" he cried as another burst of ice shot forth into the chest of the warrior.

The statue, who seemed to be clad in armour of marble, braced for the attack and advanced on Emilie, who was prepared to stall the creature's onslaught as Sawao shouted, "Back, Emilie!"

Emilie swiftly dove to the side as Sawao unleashed yet another slash of his sword...

Emilie hit the ground hard and rolled once to bleed off her momentum. Coming up on one knee, she raised her head just in time to see Sawao collide with the golem with a bright flash of steel. A heartbeat later, he too was on the ground groaning; his powerful strike had not succeeded.

She felt an invisible wave of power slash through her back like a hot knife. Turning, she saw the Hexer once again muttering undecipherable spells, hands outstretched, the energy rolling off her in waves even Emilie could sense with her untrained mind. The statue became suffused with an unearthly light; she had managed to poison the normally resistant stone creature.

Just how powerful was this girl?

Emilie had not spent her time in idle worship in the convent. In that past life she had spent it in study of ancient legends as well, learning of the Labyrinth Castle in the Sky and what nuggets of truth remained after the passage of eons.
She recalled now one of her favorite verses from the Lay of Isil.

"One who arises in might
Wielding the power of the dark
High above the barren land

But when will my land be free?
Questioned Isil.
The oracle only said:

The cradle's light eternal
Brings the end of all that is
But also a promise of growth anew."

"Come to your senses, Emilie, before I have to knock them into you!" screamed Orlond. His brow furrowed with the effort of transferring energy to the hexer.

Orlond appeared to almost give his whole essence away. His back arched forward; his eyes, almost glazed over, stared through the forest canopy into the morning sky. The guild master was visibly pale. More so than usual anyway. His face was now ghostly white, and beads of sweat trickled down, disappearing into his scraggly beard. His chest heaved with exhaustion. The War Magus drew energy from the very soil he planted his boots in, and finally shoveed forward with his arms toward the concentrating Hexer.

Arching high into the sky, the ray of warm light shot from the old man's arms, cascading onto the petite girl. Nameless trembled slightly as the warm light bathed her in a tingly sensation. She now radiated with a godly glow that rivaled the basking shine of the rising sun.

Yevgeny could not focus his shot with this ball of light pulsing so intensely close to him. He squinted his eyes and found that he could not even pinpoint the Hexer in the ball of radiance.

Nameless, whose voice had never been heard from many of the party members, now boomed loudly across the forest. Flocks of birds scattered in all directions. Though tremendously loud, no one was really able to hear clearly at all. It was as if her whispers were amplified to a deafening scream.

The ball of light, focusing on the golem, blasted through the clearing with swirls of magenta.

A second before, the uncomprehending statue stood defiantly; a second later, no traces of the enemy were left.

"Holy...hell." Sawao's mouth was open so wide he almost started to drool.

"I told you we could take them." Orlond responded.

"What? You said we should retreat!" Emilie wasn't having any of this.

"Did not... I mearly suggested a little restraint might be in order. Not all of us are decked out in 50 pounds worth of armor, you know." Orlond began to straighten his leather tunic and fix his monocle. "Some of us have fashion sense."

"Enough!" shouted Yevgeny. "This is not the time for comic relief. That light has awaked the whole forest. Those birds haven't even landed yet. Besides look at our dear Hexer. She's rather spent."

They all turned to look at the nameless one. She did indeed look a little rough around the edges after unleashing such a fantastic display of power. Her eyes were wide open and her hair was standing straight out in every possible direction. She looked like she had been electrocuted. She had lost one shoe. Blasted herself right out of it.

"Oh my..." Sawao said. "Are you ok?"

"We can't stay here. We've attracted too much attention," Yevgeny spoke, reiterating his point that they should move on.

Emilie waved her hand in front of the Hexer’s face. "Yoohoo...you alive in there? Anybody home?"

The Hexer didn't blink or make an attempt to move.

"We don't have time for this." Yevgeny threw the Hexer over his shoulder and marched further into the ruins.

"Humph," Orlond replied as the group followed the gunner further into the ruins.

The group traveled on through the darkness, leaving the crumbled remains of their stony fight with the Mystue behind. Upon reaching a small clearing, Emilie spoke. "Perhaps we should rest here. I believe that we have placed enough distance between that place and ourselves," she said, as she scrambled to sit, and likewise fell asleep instantly, in her bulky armour.

"Ah, yes. I think that would be wise. We would all benefit from a small rest to regain our energy," responded Orlond, stroking his beard.

"Very well," agreed Yevgeny, as he gently placed the Hexer on a bed of leaves. She appeared to be asleep, which Yevgeny was surprised to discover, as he had not seen the girl falter in her vigilance once. "The trials of the day must have truly exhausted her," he said as he took a woolen blanket from his satchel and placed it over the Hexer.
The Hexer's eyes opened ever so slightly, and Yevgeny thought that he heard a "thank you" as he turned to the group. However, when he looked back, her eyes were closed once again.

"So, what have we gotten ourselves into?" asked Sawao to no one in particular, as he cleaned his blade with a small cloth.

"Well, it appears to be exactly what we planned for - fighting, adventuring, and the possible attainment of something else..." replied Orlond, as he twiddled the bone key in his fingers.

"Only time will tell if that key will prove to be a blessing or a harbinger of strife," commented Yevgeny as he examined his weapon.

Eventually, the remaining group members fell asleep amidst the plants, being careful to keep one of them awake at all times.

Sawao, his turn to play sentry, rested at the base of a nearby tree. He sat with his legs crossed, balancing his sheathed blade on his knees. It seemed as though he was trying at some kind of meditative state, but simply looked far too uncomfortable to pull it off.

"This is so boring..." he muttered to himself, releasing his legs from their constricted position. Sawao then began glancing around at his unconscious comrades, though even he thought it was a tad creepy for him to watch them sleep. Still, what else was there to look at? But, then he realized something that he couldn't believe he didn't notice until now.

"Aw, what the heck! It's just one thing after another with her!"

Emilie was gone.

Elsewhere, Emilie’s eyes fluttered open. She was standing amidst soft, knee-length grass. The clearing that had contained her comrades was gone, replaced by one she failed to recognize. The entire area glowed softly, keeping the darkness outside at bay. The light was caused by dancing bits of magic, swirling through the air and bouncing joyfully.

Emilie’s face screwed up in confusion as she tried to understand how she had gotten here. Had she walked in her sleep? Where were the others? The last of her dreamy haze cleared, panic taking its place.

“Calm, little one,” a soothing voice suddenly spoke out, entering directly into her mind. “I have called you from your friends only to give you advice.” The voice paused. “And a warning.”

Emilie stared in shock at the shimmering form before her. It was hard to say exactly what it was, but the gentle power it exuded banished her fear. She watched it in curiosity and awe, waiting for it to continue.

A monstrous roar occured somewhere nearby. sounding like it was getting closer.

"My time with you is short. The dark one is hunting me," the soothing voice said, "I must hurry.

“My advice to you is to beware any human alone, for they are surely in disguise. And the warning: a monster awaits in your path. It will strike when you are most unaware."

The roar came again, even closer. Sounding panicked, the voice started, "I must go. The Dark One is almost here."

In a sudden burst of light, Emilie found herself far away from her camp.

Meanwhile, Sawao thought to himself, “Do I wake the others or search for her myself? If I wake the others they'll know I've failed in my sentry duties. Damnit it all. I'll just take a quick look around…”

The Ronin walked north, thinking he heard water. Maybe she just went to get a drink. He looked back at the camp. Everyone was still sleeping. He moved a little closer to the sound of the water. “Funny... I've never heard the water before. Maybe it sounds louder because it's dark.”

Near the brook, Emilie was indeed getting a drink with cupped hands as she thought about the strange prophecy. "‘Beware any human alone.’ I wonder what it means.”

"Ah I've found you!" Sawao shouted as he neared the creek. Emilie turned to him and thought: ‘He's a human... and he's alone.’

‘Wait, I am just being paranoid…’ she reassured herself.

Sawao stopped running when he reached Emilie and knelt by her. "Fighting so many monsters has worn everyone out; please go and sleep. You are supposed to be the field leader... you can't wander around like this!"

Emilie didn't see the point in talking about what just happened. "I'm sorry," she said.

Sawao sighed. "If you can't sleep, how about you figure out what to do next?" He spread out a piece of parchment on the ground. It was the entire map of the Labyrinth known so far by the Palace of High Lagaard. "The ruins we went through today aren't marked on the map. This means everything we saw since the passage you found has never been explored," Sawao told Emilie.

Emilie was suddenly excited. The prophecy seemed unimportant now. "We must be somewhere here..." she pointed at the map.

Sawao shook his head. "We are around this area, actually. It’s the only unexplored space those ruins fit into."

"Oh… right," she agreed.

Sawao suggested to her that they use Warp Wire and return to High Lagaard. "We can report the ruins to the Palace,. They'll surely give us a reward!"

Emilee disagreed, "Orlond is the guild master. It’s up to him."

"Fine. I think we should discuss it tomorrow. I am on watch duty, anyway. I shouldn't have come here without telling the others." Sawao got up and briskly walked back into the trees.

Emilie got up too and sleepily followed him back; not thinking about the prophecy.

A blast of sunlight hit her squinted eyes and Emilie could only lament that morning came too quickly. She tried to put it out of her mind, but the prophecy's haunting words kept her from slumber. Were it not for Sawao's whines of boredom, she would have no reason to tune him out, and, eventually, fall asleep. Yawning, she silently thanked Sawao for his childishness.

“Sheesh, finally!” Sawao threw his arms up in exaggeration. “We've been waiting all morning for you to wake up.”

Emilie, confused, tilted away from him and looked over to Orlond. He shook his head. “Hardly. Do not worry yourself.” Gesturing towards the irritated Ronin, the man grinned. “He is just embarrassed. Why, only moments ago, the lad was quite content staring at your sleeping form -”

Sawao waved his hands frantically. “Hey! I just wanted to see if you were awake or not, okay!?”

Emilie smiled weakly at Sawao, then glanced over to the sleeping Hexer and Gunner.

“By the by, Emilie. Sawao informed me of our current location. We should report this to the Palace. They would love to attain this information.”

She recognized that look. That gleam in his eye. “Yes, I suppose we could use the gold for additional supplies.” Orlond cupped his hands, grinning widely. “But, this decision might not sit well with Yevgeny.”

Lowering his hands to his side, Orlond turned to Yevgeny and frowned. “I agree. For some reason, he seems particularly determined to press forward...”

Absently, Orlond turned his glanced to his Nameless friend, who he was surprised to find staring back at him.

"What I want," exclaimed Yevgeny, "is a drink. I say we invoke this strange Warp Wire you speak of and head to the pub."

"It's settled," Orlond said and a ghostly haze engulfed the group as they were transported back to Lagaard. The group promptly split up with Orlond heading to guild headquarters, Emilie went to get supplies, and Yevgeny and Sawao headed to the pub. For a moment the Hexer stood in the middle of town not knowing what to do. Sawao waved to her and said, "Come with us. We're bound to have more fun than those two!"

Several hours later, Emilie walked into the pub to see about quests and found the Hexer sitting at a table all by herself. As soon as she spotted Emilie, she silently motioned towards the center of the room where both Yevgeny and Sawao were dancing and singing.

"Oh no...OH NO!" Emilie said

"Ohhh YES! Mead! We have the need for mead!" Sawao motioned towards the perturbed barkeep and threw his arms around Emilie. "You look lovely tonight my dear," he drunkenly proclaimed.

"You're drunk. and it's not night - it's just past noon!"

"Oh, I'm not drunk," Sawao protested. "HE'S DRUNK!" he stated, pointing at Yevgeny.

Emilie slowly rubbed her temple. "Oh dear, I can see we're not going to be departing any time soon," she commented to no one in particular. The protector walked casually to the Hexer, feeling feather weight, without all the chain links of her armor weighing her down.

Orlond sat in solitude in the Fidelis headquarters. Breaking the silence was the clinking of gold coins juggling between the nobleman's fingers. "120 en for a francisca. I would buy it at 100..." he muttered. Like any nobleman, Orlond was always looking for a good profit, and taking all means necessary in barter to save a few coins.

However, his thoughts were preoccupied. He's only now had a chance to reflect on what has been happening these past couple days.

Just a few weeks earlier, he recalled the small, burgundy colored hair girl Nameless, wandering the streets on her own. Her knees trembled weakly, and she looked famished. Orlond had been around long enough to know that although she looked fragile, there was an air about her that told him she was so much more. She collapsed on the pebbled road within a couple feet of him, outside the guild quarters. Before she passed out, she stared at him, with a look of complete innocence. The very same look when they were about to head back to town.

The old man's eyes were misty, and his hands scattered the coins everywhere. He took his eye piece into his hand and breathed onto the lens. Carefully, he rubbed off the steam in small rhythmic circles. "My daughter used to look at me with those very same eyes..."

Half a town away, those same eyes bored into Emilie's face. Emilie had only had one drink with the Hexer and was watching the others as they slipped deeper and deeper into delirium.

Emilie wondered if all Ronin were like Sawao, or if it was just his particular mode of expression. She looked at Yevgeny; he was swaying on the spot while slurring at the highest of volumes. He seemed about ready to punctuate his song with a shot from his gun.

She sighed and got a hold of his elbow, then dragged him outside into the sunlight.
"Let me finish m'drink in peace, woman!" He pointed at a spot a full yard away from Emilie, eyes crossed. "And then I order you to bring me a sandwich!"

She shook her head and continued to pull him to the nearby alley that was covered in stink. Leaving him there for the moment, she reentered the pub and approached the barmaid.

"Thanks truly m'lady, for bringin' 'im out. I feared I'd have t' call the constable."

"No thanks necessary," replied Emilie automatically. "Though I would know of any requests that the townsfolk might have for adventurers like myself."

"We've had none lately, though 't seemed likely that bearded fellow was about to post one of 'is own! Why, 'e kept swearing up and down 'e'd claim the horn of a dragon if 'e had to pay someone all the jewels of Etria t' do it!" She smiled sadly at Emilie. "Mark my words, there's a man obsessed."

Emilie nodded and turned. Sawao was likely ready for a trip home, too, judging by his inability to distinguish between a support column and a pretty woman.

The sun was rising when Sawao and Yevgeny made their way back to the Fidelis headquarters.

"Ah, gentlemen. I see you are well rested and ready to go," greeted Orlond.

"Yeah, well rested, sure," Sawao grumbled. He shot a look at Emilie, who was sitting in the corner of the room with a feline smile that boasted victory.

After dragging and dumping Sawao out in the alleyway along with Yevgeny, she had the Hexer cast Sapping on the unruly duo. Coupled with the generous amount of alcohol they had consumed, the spell had the effect of making the men sleep like babies until just half an hour ago. "My head hurts."

"That means you have yet to learn to drink like a real man, young friend!" Yevgeny said with a hearty laugh. Unlike Sawao, the gunner actually did look well rested.

Orlond motioned everyone to gather around as he spread the map of the Labyrinth on the table. The map had several new areas drawn in. "Yesterday I went to the Palace to report our findings. There I learned that another guild is exploring the same area as where we are." He pointed at a section of the map. "This is where we fought those stone monsters. And this is where we headed after the battle. Now, according to that other guild's findings, there is another pathway." Orlond now pointed to the newly added section of the map. "And it leads to...."

"...a stairway to the next level!" Sawao finished the sentence, his headache gone now.

"Precisely!" Orlond said with a giddy smile. "Furthermore, that guild has returned to town without venturing forth into the next level."

"Then we'll go first and leave them monster carcasses and empty treasure chests to find! What are we waiting for!" Yevgeny said excitedly, and everyone cheered in response. Save for the Hexer, of course.

They entered the forest, silently rectracing their path. Past the stone monsters, through the ruins and to where they camped the night before. "Well," started Orlond, "This is where we camped yesterday."

"Yes it is," agreed Yevgeny. "So where is the path to the next floor?”

"It is west of here. Only a little ways," replied Orlond.

"Then what are we waiting for," cheered Swano, cured of his hangover.

The adventurers continued to the next floor, unaware that they were being watched.

Yevgeny had a strange gnawing feeling, like there was there was another presence nearby. Twice he quickly turned, only to find the same muddy path, and a plethora of trees all trying to outgrow each other in order to reach the warm sunlight casting directly above them.

Orlond walked to a nearby shrub and plucked a twig. He stuck it directly into a mound of dirt, carefully positioning his hands. He squinted one eye and narrowed his other through the monocle, observing the shadow.

"About a quarter past noon" he states to the party, waiting anxiously at the foot of the long step of stairs.

Intuitively, the hunter scanned the horizon again. His eyes, so narrow they were almost a line, flashed left and right. A little glimmer caught his eyes, and suddenly his pupils were intently focusing on the subject of his interest: a sparkle of crimson, sparkling on a dark shoulder plate.

The soldier emerged behind a giant tree and marched towards the party. Yevgeny relaxed his tense shoulders and announced to the group, "We have a visitor."

"It's good to see you all again!" The soldier exclaimd. "I was told to hand you extra rations and a couple bottles of high quality wine. The explorer's guild has been excited about these new findings."

The soldier reached to his belt and untied several pouches.

Sawao ran forward and enthusiastically wrapped his arms around the soldier. "Now you are talking!" The swordsman quickly gathered all the supplies and clapped the soldier's back a couple times.

"You are a good man. Good luck on the journey back."

"Best of luck in your adventures" the soldier replied. The party waved goodbye to the departing soldier. As the soldier turned to head back, Emilie noticed a grin on the man's face.

The protector couldn't help but feel she was forgetting something important; something crucial...

The prophecy! she thought. Beware a human alone. "Sawao, don't drink that!"

It was too late. The Ronin had lifted one of the bottles of wine to his parched lips and had drank to his full. "What?" He asked. "Just a little hair of the dog. Not like it's going to kill me or anything."

"What is it Emilie?" Orlond asked. "You look startled."

Emilie told the group of her meeting with the strange voice the previous night. "Bah!" stated Sawao. "You're just being paranoid. This wine is of glorious taste and aroma. I dare say it might be the best spirit I've ever had the opportunity to partake."

Then his eyes rolled to the back of his head and he promptly fell over.

"No one drink anymore," commanded Emilie.

"I shall try to purge him of the poison," said Orlond running towards were Swano lay. "Emilie, Yevgeny," commanded Orlond, "Get some water, and hurry."

"Yes," said Yevgen and Emilie in unison.

As Yevgeny and Emilie raced off to get water, Orlond started saying spells of arcane, attempting to purge the poison. After a little bit, Orlond's face showed dismay, "It's no use," muttered Orlond. "I must get him to town. Surely the Apothecarcy will have something to cure this."

"Orlond," yelled Emilie and Yevgeny racing back, "we've got the water."

“We don't need that anymore, so forget it. I don't know what to do,” said Orlond, “so we must hurry back to town."

"Then lets hurry," said Emilie. "Do you have a Warp Wire, Orlond?"

"No," he said with obvious dismay.

"Then we better hurry there," said Yevgeny, already picking up Swano.

“Oh, but we’ll never get there in time!” Orlond cried in dismay, watching Yevgeny struggle with the Ronin’s unconscious form.

“We have no choice but to try.” Emilie grimaced unhappily.

She went to help the Gunner, hefting Sawao’s feet into the air as Yevgeny lifted his shoulders. They hurriedly attempted to carry him back down the path, Orlond frantically babbling about farfetched cures for ailments that he had heard about from old wives’ tales. The Hexer brought up the rear of the party, brow slightly furrowed.

Suddenly, an idea hit Yevgeny so forcefully that he just froze. “That’s it!” In his exuberance, he forgot that he was holding up the upper end of Sawao’s body and just let the Ronin drop. Emilie yelped, snarling the Gunner’s name in reprimand as Sawao’s head smacked into the ground.

“No, no, you don’t get it!” Yevgeny declared, fumbling excitedly for his guns. “Medishot! I’ve got these special bullets… Look, I can cure him by shooting him!”

Yevgeny’s enthusiasm was momentarily paused by the stupefied looks the rest of the party gave him.

“What?”

Sawao awoke slowly. He was in a dark place full of stone edifices that rose to the skies. His head spun just from looking, and to stop it he looked to the ground. It, too, was made of the same strange hard, rough, yet flattened stone. The people around Sawao took no notice of him, walking by quickly and dressed in the oddest clothing - men with straps tied round their necks, women in form fitting pants, all very smooth and artificial.

"Sawao."

He spun to find one person who was looking directly at him beneath heavily lidded eyes. She was dressed more familiarly: that of a fortuneteller. She gestured to the world around them. "Fearsome, isn't it? To imagine people could even live this way."

She approached him, revealing a dirty smile of corrupt teeth. "But that is not why you are here. You are here because...you were meant to be. Because you must heed my words."

Sawao shrugged cautiously. "I don't think I should trust a woman I haven't met in battle."

"Exactly," said she. "You must be careful of Emilie. Because soon, your party will see what the dragon holds. And Emilie will attempt to claim it for herself."

"Maybe I wasn't clear. I meant you," replied Sawao.

"But you cannot afford not to trust me, once you see what it is for yourself. You will understand by the strife it brings. And know this... it destroyed me. Gave me this twisted form. And... it helped end this world."

Her sweeping gesture took in the cold buildings and the faceless people in suits.

"Say I believe you.; what should I do with it then?" asked Sawao.

She vanished into a dark mist. "Why... just ask the dragon."

Sawao suddenly felt a hard impact. As if he had been struck with thrown stones again and again. Sawao once more spun into nothingness.

His eyelids felt like they were sealed with adhesive. The words from that hag would not stop repeating in his mind. His head hurt. Sawao was barely awake when he began to hear the familiar yapping of his comrades

“Are you... How much did you drink, Yevgeny?” The protector slowly moved in front of the placid Ronin, shield at the ready.

“I didn't drink anything,” Yevgeny darkened his face. “Listen, just trust me on this. We may not have much time."

“He is right, Emilie. The boy may not make back to Lagaard. It....” Orlond cleared his throat, “it is worth a try.”

Emilie sighed, frown firm on her face. She backed away slowly from the body and stood next to the Hexer, whose attention was on Yevgeny's gun. The Protector still had her shield at the ready.

The gunner emptied his gun and put a single cream-colored shell into the chamber. He fluidly raised his arms and entered his usual stance, aiming for Sawao's chest.

“Don't aim for anything vital,” came from Emilie.

“I hope that is the right bullet,” muttered Orlond.

Yevgeny shushed them with an annoyed tone. After silence finally fell, he aimed at Sawao's chest and pulled the trigger.

A burst of blood came from the Ronin, followed by a brief flash of light.

The silence seemed endless. Everyone watched with abated breath. Sawao laid motionless.

Emilie turned to Yevgeny, who stood with bewilderment in his eyes, and grabbed him by the collar. Yevgeny tried to say something as he came face to face with fury in Emilie's gaze. He was not one to be intimidated by such gazes, but he felt himself shrink this time.

Just when Yevgeny braced himself for an incoming punch, Sawao let out a loud cough. Orlond quickly moved to help Sawao sit up, and the ronin retched up blood along with the poison.

"Are you all right?" asked Orlond.

"I... I think I can manage," answered Sawao in a feeble voice, but there was a sign of gusto in the way he said it that assured everyone that the worst was over. Emilie loosened her grip on Yevgeny.

Sawao looked down at his bloodied chest where the medi-shot bullet had entered. Amazingly, there was no open wound, but the spot had a big bruise; a sickly amalgam of red and blue. "What the hell did you do to me?" he said with small hacks.

Orlond was about to suggest that they go back to town and regroup when the Hexer girl suddenly pulled on his robe, making him lose balance. "Wha--" Before he could even finish the word, an arrow whizzed by where his head was.

"Enemy attack!" Emilie yelled as she raised her shield, which deflected two more arrows. Everybody quickly formed a defensive formation behind the protector, but it didn't take long for the party to figure out that arrows were flying in from all directions.

"We're surrounded!" uttered Yevgeny along with a curse in his native tongue.

"We can't attack them if we can't see them!" shouted Sawao through the shower of arrows.

"Blast. The trees are too dense. I cannot manage to find a target," said Yevgeny as he loaded a crimson bullet. With a hastened glance at Sawao and the Hexer, Yevgeny turned on his feet and fired the flaming projectile, not at an assailant, but at a large, ancient-looking tree.

The area of the tree that Yevgeny's attack struck burst into flame. "What did you do that for!?" cried Sawao.

"Just watch. If one can see a foe's attack, but not the foe, one must smoke them out from whence they hide."

Almost as soon as the words had left Yevgeny's mouth, a rustling was heard in the tree.
"Ahhhhh!" a voice cried as a flaming body fell to the ground. It was one of the attackers - an archer clad in deep green garb. He scrambled in the mud, trying to extinguish the flames on his legs and torso.

"I'll show you what happens when someone sneak attacks us!" shouted Sawao as he leapt forward with his sword, showing no sign of his previous injury from the poison.

"No! Stop!" a voice shouted from the trees.

The group looked down the path to see three other Survivalists in the same garb emerge from the foliage.

"Do not hurt him!" the voice spoke again, coming from a girl with a slim black eye patch. The felled archer quickly got up and ran towards his comrades as Sawao withdrew his attack.

"Who are you?" asked Emilie, without lowering her shield.

"I am Arel, the leader of the Guild Syrus."

"Why did you attack us!?" demanded Sawao.

"We heard you approaching and were unsure of your identity."

"So you just attacked us?" asked Orlond. "Who did you think we were?"

"Yes, who?" questioned Yevgeny, already anticipating the answer.

"That wretched soldier..." the girl slowly responded.

The girl with the black eye patch hesitated momentarily before continuing on.

"It's a sad tale. The Talis codex told of a gentle spirit that watches over the forest, and warns travelers of dangers. Over time, the apparition began to lose patience as adventures ignored it's well-intentioned warnings; only to never return. Now the spirit goes as far as taking on forms, and deceiving travelers." The survivalist casts a quick glance at Sawao, and swallows. "It goes as far as giving ill-advise, as well as taking other drastic measures to prevent whole parties from advancing and getting wiped out by bigger monsters.

"Our own party was almost likewise deceived. Luckily, a specialist of ours in the arts of poison picked up the scent, which was well mixed in the fine liquor." Arel smiled with a hint of amusement on her face. "Apparently, fate had other misfortunes planned for us," gesturing at her injured comrade.

"In any case, we must attend to our wounds. We will chat again later," she announced.

Yevgeny sat closely to the injured Ronin, while others were setting up sentry and supplies.

"That was mighty brave of you; rushing in like that when you were mortally wounded moments earlier." The hunter looked inquisitively in the swordsman's eyes. "Tell me friend, why do you fight?"

The injured Ronin adjusted himself on the patch of wild grass and coughed gingerly. "I mentioned to you before about the incident with the Ragelope, right?" The blade master readjusted himself again, his voice soft, his gaze looking into the past.

Yevgeny nods solemnly at his brother in arms.

Sawao gritted his teeth and whispered, "I never forgave myself for that moment.... I ran away from my companion like a coward."

Yevgeny opened his mouth to speak, but found he had not the words to fill the silence. He was spared the embarrassment by Emilie, who hurried over to the pair.

"Are you... are you sure you're recovered, Sawao?" she asked, concern evident in her face.

"Aye, milady," Sawao responded. "I am fit to travel on, whenever you bid us to do so."

"High One be praised, then. Our Hexer friend senses danger approaching from afar. Orlond wishes us to hurry upward to the next floor."

"What about them?" Yevgeny asked, gesturing toward the distant Guild that had so recently attacked them.

The worry never left Emilie's face as she trained her gaze on the other Guild. "They are staying behind. They feel it is their duty to seek out the 'soldier' and destroy him."

She stopped speaking for a moment, her eyes never wavering from the other group. Only Sawao was close enough to hear her whisper.

"I fear they are all lost, and shall never be seen again."

Orlond was pensive as he gazed at the nameless Hexer who reminded him so much of his own daughter. The other stared quizzically at him as he lost himself in his own thoughts:

‘My daughter was about her age when she died,’ he thought. ‘She would have hated all this. She was the reason I left the court and began studies in Magus. If only I could have saved her. I told her to stay home. I told her I’d be back. I never should have gone to the court that day. It was her birthday and yet I felt the need to leave her and go to work. She left by herself to pick flowers at the entrance to this accursed place. But I shall revenge her.’

The others were unaware of Orlond’s hidden agenda. They thought he was motivated by treasure and adventure, when actually he was motivated by heartbreak and vengeance.

Damn the court, he thought. There was nothing they could do. ‘I and I alone must face the horror that has led me and this ragtag group of adventurers into this Labyrinth.’

Yevgeny saw a single tear fall from Orlond/s eye. “Orlond…You ok?” Yevgeny asked.

“Yes. I’m fine. Let’s move on.”

Deep within the Labyrinth, shrouded within shadows that seemed to overpower light itself, a gigantic winged beast sat. One could barely make out its form from the darkness, but its ravenous presence would not be missed by even the dullest of senses.

The Beast, in its low growling voice, spoke, "So the time of the Hunt draws near."

A second voice, almost metallic in tone, responded from somewhere within the foliage, "Yes, and the preys are approaching the unholy ground."

"And zhey have zhe Key," a third voice buzzed, and drones of insect wings cackled as if in a laughter.

The Beast spoke again, "Arderia, as per the Pact, you shall not interfere with the Hunt any longer. They enter our domain on their own accord."

Arderia, whose faint shimmers were far too weak to fight back the shadows, answered, "I have warned them, yet the humans' foolishness prevails again." A touch of sorrow and bitterness tinged her voice. "They are of my concern no more."

"Good," spoke the Beast, its hungry smile evident in its voice. The forest and its shadows shook with a cacophony of monstrous laughter.

Arderia fluttered her one good wing in a futile attempt to fly, but she knew it was useless. She sat back down on the burnt stump of a once-magnificent tree that used to be her home. ‘Foolish humans,’ she thought. ‘Foolish enough to not heed my warnings, foolish enough to fall for my tricks, and now foolish enough to rush into their own deaths once more.’ She had seen this happen all too many times. It pained her, and it angered her. ‘I have no sympathy for them, she told herself. It was the only recourse left to shield herself from further heartache.’

She knew none of them would survive.

The apparently ill-fated party proceeded, keeping with them an uncomfortable tension that prevented anyone from speaking to each other. Sawao thought the silence felt a bit awkward, however. Spotting a hooked rock extending itself maliciously from the earth, the Ronin quickly decided to...

"Uwaaa-- oomph!!" Sawao purposefully caught his foot in the maw of the stone, provoking a face-first trip into the dirt. After a moment, he pulled his face from the dirt and looked upwards at his allies, who were all, even the Hexer to an extent, grinning at him. Some even bursted into laughter when they failed to contain their glee at Sawao's embarassing "accident".

He let himself up off the ground. "Hey, I just saved everyone here with that heroic act! I used my body to crush a ferociously small FOE!" Sawao shouted at the group, who only began laughing harder at him. Well, that ought to ease up on the tension for awhile. Hope that was worth it! he thought to himself.

The Hexer said nothing, and was the only one not to laugh. She was amused, however, and impressed. Naturally, she knew the truth of why he did that, and the courtesy was not lost to her.

‘That was actually kind of funny,’ the Hexer mused to herself. "No, not quite funny, but amusing rather," correcting herself, now lost in her own thoughts. ‘Well, it was pretty funny the way Sawao crashed head first into the floor like that. How his blade flew out of his scabbard, landing inches from his face. All in the meantime, his eyes almost popping out of his socket."‘

Orlond, laughed heartily, clapping his knee. "I think you need some healing from that, lest you suffer other grievous wounds." The guild master motioned to Sawao and started uttering indecipherable incantations; a luminous glow surrounding him.

The swordsman stood with his arms extended straight out in front of him, palms facing upwards. With his eyes closed he groaned. "Make sure you get my aching knee and my stiff neck too."

The warm, soothing light landed slowly on the skin of the blade master, like a gentle caress. Sawao let out a deep breath. "Ahh, that's the -"

The Ronin spun around disoriented. The warm embrace had vanished.

"H-HEY!" Sawao exclaimed. "That's not funny!"

The old man had his hand on his mouth, concealing a huge, devious grin. Not able to seal his surge of pleasure, he burst into rounds of laughter. Emilie and Yevgeny laughing hard, were leaning on each other, almost unable to keep themselves standing up.

Nameless, suddenly blinking a few times, realizing what has happened, erupted in laughter. Their pleasure vibrated harmoniously, dissipating the nervousness resonating within their hearts.

As their laughter subsided, their eyes finds themselves staring at the Hexer in unison.

Did they just hear her laugh?!?

Emilie stared at the young Hexer, who stared back at each of the Guild members in turn.

The Protector had always had mixed feelings toward the Nameless one. The gods she served were not aligned with the High One; some even said those gods were diametrically opposed to the High One's will. But the girl herself was an enormous help, and seemed possessed of a sense of... of what? Justice? Fairness? Loyalty, even?

Emilie couldn't help but recall the display of tremendous power the Hexer had given earlier in the fight against the golems. Her mind drifted to the words of the ancient song. Could this Hexer, so quiet and unobtrusive a member of their adventuring party, be the "one who arises in might?"

If so, it was Emilie's duty, as a servant of the High One and a Guild member, to infuse the girl's dark energies with her own limited store of light energy.

‘Would that make me the light eternal?’ Emilie thought. ‘And could this be the promise of growth anew?’ Perhaps she could bring an end to the destructive cycle of the ages.

For now, however, the Labyrinth beckoned, and it was time to journey on.

The group traveled on gathering supplies; taking what they could find, chopping wood and mining for minerals. They dispatched several menial beasts including Snowsouls, fishmen, and even a few Sleipnir without much trouble. Once, the team came upon a group of Trigourd and Sawao joked as he slashed away about it being close to Halloween and therefore this particular Trigourd should be ‘lit up’ so to speak. The Hexer gleefully replied by setting the thing on fire. Well… as gleeful as a Hexer can be.

A group of 3 Darksoar attacked the group and Yevgeny happily dispatched them with Fireshots as Sawao covered his head, yelling warnings about the impending rain of bird poop that was sure to fall from these gigantic flying beasts. Afterwards, they hurried through the Labyrinth anxious to continue to the ruins.

As the group ventured forth, Yevgeny pondered about their journey so far. ‘We have been through so much... I wonder what happened to Arel and the Syrus Guild. Were they who they said they were?’ he thought to himself.

"Hello, Yevgeny. What are thinking about?" said Emilie as she walked slowly beside him, breaking his pattern of thought.

"Oh, nothing important."

"Hey, you two!" shouted Sawao. Emilie and Yevgeny turned to look at Sawao. "Look ahead! We've arrived!" he shouted in a gleeful tone.

They group stood together and stared forward in unison at a large, ancient-looking stone gate. The gate was covered in ivy and various other forest growth. A giant, rusted portcullis stood in the entrance, an ominous metal guardian to what lay beyond.

"Ah, we've arrived, my friends," said Orlond as he looked to his companions with a grin.

"Yes, let us finish this," added Yevgeny, as he removed his weapon from its holster.

"That structure looks incredibly old. I doubt the mechanism that controls the portcullis still functions. Sawao, do you think you could scale the wall and take a look?" questioned Emilie.

"Sure. Just cover me, Yevgeny."

"Certainly," said Yevgeny, placing another crimson shell into his weapon.

Sawao unsheathed his blade and silently approached the gate, all the while with Yevgeny behind him, weapon at the ready.

It wasn't a lengthy distance to the gate by any means, but time felt slow for them as they approached the structure. Such a derelict building would normally not warrant any significant concern, but given their recent troubles, there's no blaming them for their foreboding feelings about it.

Upon their arrival at the gate, the two glanced at one another, giving identical looks that seemed to express ‘no problems yet, but surely the future will be disastrous.’ Sawao let out a weak sigh, slid his katana back into its decorative holder, and craned his neck skyward.

"That's... actually pretty dang tall," he said, suddenly wondering if it was within his power to scale such a beast.

A faint, breathy laugh was heard from Yevgeny. "Losing your nerve, Sawao?"

Sawao replied, with a smirk, "No way, Yevvey!" he said. Yevgeny was taken aback by his new apparent nickname. "I ain't one to pass up a challenge like this!" the Ronin continued.

As if on cue, a small chunk of the wall broke free, and crumbled down towards the grass below, landing near Sawao and understandably granted him some concern.

"...You'll catch me if I fall, yeah?"

Yevgeny shook his head.

"Well," he said. "Let's get on with it." But as he approached the gate, he suddenly heard the whine of insect wings. They went from faint to deafening almost immediately, and suddenly a ladybug appeared on the other side and slipped through the bars. Another one appeared behind it. Then two more. The party quickly found themselves confronted with an entire horde of ladybugs.

And then, when it seemed like the situation was already dire enough, they all heard another buzzing, much louder and lower in pitch than the others. The gate shuddered and thundered, and then fell over as a gigantic ladybug, four times the size of a normal one, flew out. It took its place at the front of the horde. "Zo," it said. "It iz time ve meet. Vatching iz zo boring."

"You..." Orlond began.

"Ya... you can speak!" Sawao managed to choke out loudly. Suddenly, his injury from Yevgeny's medishot stated to throb again. The overpowing buzzing didn't help matters either.

"Oh, I can do zo much more!" the insect replied. It somehow was able to clearly articulate words through the buzzing of its wings. "I lead ze forces of ze Unholy Ground. Vee haff much fun hunting peoplez like yourzelves. Vell... nearly like yourzelves."

"So, you're the big man... err, bug around here?" Sawao challenged, putting on as confident an air as he could muster. He had to shout to be heard over the tremendous number of insect wings.

But Emilie was concerned with what it had said afterwards. "Nearly like us?" she asked.

"I am hardly ze 'big bug,'" replied the big bug. "Did you not hear Ashvin's varning? Zere iz a big dragon."

"...you know about that?" asked Yevgeny, wide-eyed.

"Apparently you don't listen vell." It seemed as if the bug was sighing out of frustration. "I zaid, 'Vatching iz zo boring.' Ve have been hunting you ever zince you picked up zee key."

"The key!" exclaimed Emilie. She took it out. "Is... that why we're different?"

"Oh, no," chuckled the bug... as well as a bug could chuckle. "Many groups have found zat key. I'll take it now, by ze way." And with that, the swarm of ladybugs descended on Emilie in a lightning flash. No one had time to react. Emilie knew she was a goner. Her eyes shut tight. But then the bugs were gone. Emilie felt her body. It was still there. She didn't feel any pain. She opened her eyes and looked at herself. She was fine, but realized the key was gone!

"Zilly human." The bug muttered as one of its henchmen passed the key to it. "I zaid I vould take ze key, not destroy you... yet. Now, for your lock!"

"What lock?" Orlond exclaimed. "We don't have a lock!"

"Oh, I zink you do!" the bug cackled. "Ze best part iz not how little you know, but how little you realize!" Then it zoomed towards the Hexer and plunged the key into her chest.

Like a rag doll suddenly being released from a child's hands, she fell with a thud onto the pavement.

Nobody had ever seen the War Magus engage in combat until now. With a flash, Orlond slashed several vermin relentlessly. His eyes were bulging; his mind, possessed.

The images burned in his mind. The frail girl lying on the pavement; the love of his life, the blossom of his day, withered by the bed of flowers. Twice it happened, and twice he was powerless.

The guild leader thrust his war staff in the fine frenzy. His arms blurred with such speed and precision. Emilie solidified herself beside the War Magus, her armored cloak enshrouding her from insect bites. The Protector's aegis swung mightily, batting whole chunks at a time. Sawao, meanwhile danced around, poetry in motion. His muscular body transitioning from crouches, slides, and back flips effortlessly.

"Damnit, it's times like this that I wish they made armor for a man like myself" the Ronin yelled, humoring himself.

"I thought you were a little overdressed myself!" the gunner scoffed, loading a crimson shell into his blaster and hollering, "LAY LOW!!!"

A burst of searing flame whistled through the air. Sawao ducked into a prone position, rolling quickly to reduce the amount of bites he was sustaining. Emilie knelt immediately, pulling the guild master down with her, who was now clubbing fearlessly.

A wall of flame erupted in front of the party, and monstrous shrieks filled the air. Yevgeny quickly pulled out a blanket and unloaded several canteens on it. He dashed to the party, draping the bed sheet on top of his comrades.

"This will keep us safe for a little while, giving us time to recuperate" the hunter advises.

***

The Hexer blinked several times, looking at her memories floating all around her. She laid dubiously on the chilly slab. The obsidian platform carried her higher and higher.

"Where am I?"

The girl silently stood up and looked around. In the vast dark space, translucent orbs of images floated about her like flower petals. And when they landed on the black surface of the platform, they melted away like snowflakes.

Snowflakes?

She tried to remember what a snowflake was, but quickly dismissed the thought. What a snowflake was, or how she knew of a snowflake in the first place, was of no importance.

Slowly she lifted her hand and reached out at one of the floating orbs that was particularly brilliant in its blue hue. When her fingertip touched it, it dissolved into the air, like a sugar cube in hot water. A flood of sensations rushed into her.

Sky. Sun. Ocean. Breeze. She could see it all, hear it all, feel it all.... She could taste the salt in her mouth.

Someone called her name. She turned around, and there was her mother. And her little brother. She ran toward them.

Then just as suddenly, the sensations left her. Once again, she was standing on the platform, alone. Furthermore, she had no recollection of what she had just experienced. She only knew she had experienced... something.

The girl lifted her hand again and touched another orb. This time, she was at her home, sitting on a couch between her mother and father. But they weren't paying attention to her. They were watching a newscast on television. The man on the screen was saying words that she was too young to understand. Ecological... catastrophe?

Again, the sensations left her, and she did not remember a thing. She touched one more orb.

She saw her parents. They were crying. She tried to tell them not to cry, but they could not hear her. She tried to reach out to them, but a thick glass wall stopped her hands. She realized that she was in some sort of a tube. She started panicking, screaming, and banging on the glass. Her parents just stood there at a distance. She thought she saw her parents' lips form the words "I love you," but she wasn't sure. Then darkness came over her, and she was all alone.

Once more, she was back on the obsidian platform. She stood still, unable to remember anything.

Then her chest suddenly heaved in a sniffle. She raised her hand to touch her face, and she realized that she was crying. She stared at her fingertips, moist with her tears. Her face remained expressionless, save for the tears that were streaming down her pale cheeks.

"Memories...?" she spoke softly to herself.

And then, like a hurricane tearing into a seaside village, memories rushed into her. Not just her own, but memories of an age, a bygone era, a past long forgotten by all -- but her.

She saw wars and violence. She watched mothers destroy their children to save them from the coming agony. She stared in awe as the world melted, and there, at the center of the cascading folds of molten earth, she saw... what? A young girl, not too different from herself. Only she was different. Her aura was darker, her power drawn from a source forbidden even to Hexers.

And then the Hexer saw memories of things that had not yet come. She saw her friends, her Guild mates, lying dead and broken in the forest. Orlond's monocle lay shattered by his lifeless eyes. Sawao and Yevgeny lay slumped back to back, warriors who died fighting to defend each other. And she saw Emilie. Dear, sweet Emilie. Her face was frozen in a mix of terror and determination, as she lay far in advance of her friends. She had died trying to stem the tide of enemies from reaching the others.

Then the Hexer's vision went red, and she drew deeply from the Source. She must return to her friends. She must use all her power, all her life force, to prevent this fate.

Kokia... Thought Orlond. It can't end like this. He looked over at Yevgeny who glared back at him and shook his head begging the battered Magus to stay put. No...

Orlond couldn't clear his mind. All his War Magus training had left him and only the name of his daughter remained. His eyes turned black and his heart seemed to burn. Yevgeny stared in disbelief as the old man stood up slowly and raised his fists to the sky. Yevgeny quickly gathered the others back to safety as Orlond seemed to explode.

"Kokia!" The world went dark for a split second and then a huge crack appeared in the sky as lightening flickered all around Orlond. The sky then lit up like a bright white canvas and a thunder clap was heard by all.

"Kokia!"

Then Orlond did explode. More lightening rained down all around the group killing everything that moved and a harsh rain began to fall dowsing everything that had been burning. Smoke filled the area and a faint whisper was heard on the wind.

Kokia...

Orlond was gone when the smoke cleared and in his place stood the wide-eyed Hexer. It was almost as if he had given his life to bring her back. Almost as if he had saved her like he had hoped to do with his daughter.

Silence.

The forest, just moments ago loud and chaotic from the savage assault on the adventurers by the malicious insects, was now host to a grim silence, disturbed only by the inevitable gust of wind rattling the massive trees.

Tears began streaming down the Hexer's pale face as she gazed upon Orlond's blackened, motionless body. His monocle, just as she had seen in her vision, in pieces beside his head. She wanted more than anything to prevent this. He shouldn't have died. This...

“SHOULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED!!" the Hexer shrieked, collapsing to her knees. "Why..."

Likewise heartbroken, the other three stared helplessly at the scene, hearts and minds wrought with grief over what had transpired. Emilie's and Sawao's eyes became increasingly misty as the reality of the situation tore at them. Yevgeny's usual stoic expression remained, but a darker emotion could be felt from it this time.

The Hexer's tears continued uninterrupted, until she felt someone gently grasp her shoulder. "He wouldn't want you to mourn, child." It was Yevgeny.

"But this was my fault..."

"Don't speak like that. It was his decision to do this... and it was for all of our sakes."

Breaking the sad melodies of the beating rain, the word "Kokia," murmured in her head. She could almost see the old man's face. His beard parting, and a faint smile emerging from his parched lips. The more she tried to grab on to the image inside her head, the more elusive the image became. Desperately, she flailed her arms, as if she could just hold on...

"Don't leave me too," she whimpered.

"I have to, little one..." Orlond's whisper echoed within her and faded out.

The Hexer's heart filled with sorrow. Then rage. She wanted to lash out at the world. She clenched her fist, a dark aura emitting from deep within her. Vengeance. Regret. Despair. Words and emotions were flashing fast. Her anger intensified as Orlond's memories, too, flooded her. A pretty little girl laid still in a bed of wild flowers. Such sadness. Such pain. An ominous humming pulsated within her; her heart drumming faster and faster.

Emilie staggered over, dragging each step as if someone had tied balls of chain around her ankles. She put her hands comfortingly around the petite girl and embraced her tightly. It was hard to tell if the Protector was crying, but she clamped her eyes shut, and bit hard on her lips.

Nameless suddenly felt a twinge of light. The guild master's weak smile appeared briefly again, and the petite girl was relieved to find that a feeling of peace and serenity washed over her.

"Goodbye Orlond" she gently whispered, a single tear rolling down her face, picking up the other rain drops. The droplet hung on the edge of her chin, slow to let go. Eventually pulled away by the earthly forces, the tear drop fell with a ripple onto a small puddle on the ground.

"I must find a way to harness my new powers."

Embracing one another, the group stood together for what felt like forever amidst the wavering sound of the rain.

"We should not stay here much longer. We must press on," Yevgeny calmly said to the group as he gently stepped away.

"I think that would be best," agreed Emilie. Emilie, with her arms still held tightly around the Hexer, walked the girl under the broad canopy of an ancient tree, where they sat together.

"Well... The end has come for our friend. The black shroud of death hath covered his eyes... Let us give him a proper rest before we depart," Yevgeny said, turning to Sawao.

Sawao nodded and lightly walked towards the silent Orlond. He gently picked up the old man and carried him to the tree line near to Yevgeny, where it was still dry.

The two men quickly constructed a pyre atop a fallen tree, and placed Orlond there. Emilie and the Hexer silently walked over to their deceased companion, tears once again filling their eyes. The Hexer gently approached Orlond and placed a single white flower on his body. She stepped back in solemnity.

"Goodbye, Orlond. I will never forget you," said Sawao as he held back his tears.

"Yes. Farewell, Orlond. We will all hold fond memories of you with us as we continue the journey of life," Yevgeny added as he tenderly took a tinderbox from his satchel. He carefully knelt by the pyre and lit the dry kindling.

The group stood back and gazed upon their fallen comrade as the now gentle rain fell softly upon their faces.

As the party bid farewell to their friend, a single ebony bird sat on a nearby tree, and through its crimson eyes, the Beast watched from its shadowy lair.

"So," the Beast hissed, "the Cycle has been broken." The Beast fixed its gaze on the Hexer.

In turn, she raised her head, and looked at the bird. She did not know how, but she instinctively knew who she was truly looking at. Her expression did not change much, but there was fire in her eyes that did not exist before. The Beast and the girl held their gazes for a long time.

The Beast narrowed its eyes, and started chuckling. The chuckle grew into a laughter - a laughter borne out of the surprise at the unexpected turn of events, and the joy of anticipation for what was to come. Its booming sound struck fear into the hearts of all creatures who could hear it.

Arderia covered her ears. She had heard that laughter before, and she knew it could only mean terrible things. She pitied the adventurers, for their inevitable doom was looming closer. Yet, despite herself, she felt a new emotion swelling up deep inside her, an emotion she was sure that she had forgotten a long time ago.

Hope.

The Beast, sensing this new emotion, turned to Arderia. She cowered and tried to hide behind her tree stump. A sadistic grin spread over the Beast's face, and it beckoned the forest guardian with its claw. Against her will, Arderia's small body floated up and moved closer to the Beast.

The Beast looked at Arderia's face. She tried to avoid his stare, but it was useless. With its sharp claw, the Beast caressed the markings on her profile -- markings not unlike those on the nameless Hexer's face.

The Beast spoke again with a chuckle, "The girl is still mine."