Hello! I know it has been half a year already. I was shaken from my sleep to continue this when L reviewed that "Too bad you didn't continue". When I read it I felt like "What? I'm not done with this story yet!". So here we are and you can suffer from another chapter! Thank you if someone still comes back to read this new chapter!

Heroes's names at the bottom!


"A party?"

Anti-Mage had been walking outside when Nortrom had called him to come. There was a small group of people, Silencer, Omniknight, Bristleback, Bounty Hunter, Batrider and Lycan, who were chatting together. When Magina had walked closer they had told him about the party that was about to happen this evening.

"Yeah, a party!" Rigwarl said grinning quite excited. "Man, it has been such a long time from a good party."

"So, you coming?" asked Purist raising an eyebrow askingly.

"Why would they want to have a party in the middle of this mess?" Magina asked, not really understanding the idea. Did they just want to forget it for a moment? Whatever the reason, parties here never ended well.

"You know, to relax. Escape this whole thing for a minute," answered Batrider shrugging. "Don't you think it will be fun?"

Before Magina could open his mouth to answer, Nortrom was already speaking. "It will be a disaster. Mark my words." he said looking confident. Then he turned to face Anti-Mage. "You agree, right?"

Magina noded. "I do. Nothing good will come with a party," he said glancing down to his feet. Then he lifted his gaze back up and sighed quietly before saying: "But I guess I will at least check it out. I don't think me coming can make it any worse."

"At least I wouldn't mind a pint of ale," said Omniknight chuckling others joining to it.

"Right…" Magina said quietly rolling his eyes. He had never really understood the point of drinking alcohol. He had spend a lot of time living with the monks, learned so much from them and changed his way of living to fit into theirs. With their leading he had became vegetarian and for example he would never drink alcohol so much he could get drunk. "Well anyway, I'll get going, so see you," he said with a small wave of hand while he started walking away.

While Anti-Mage walked across the yard Viper passed him by hissing angrily. The creature had been really pissed of by this no-magic thing. Bad thing for them that his poison was still as strong as ever. You didn't really want to mess with Viper.

Magina reached his destination, a perfect reading stone at the further side of the yard. He sat down to the rock and took out one of the monks' dogmatic scroll and started reading it. He had read them hundreds of times and he remembered every word written into it. Still he read them over and over again. They were the only concrete thing he had left from the time with monks. He read them to relax and feel better or when simply bored. It was really therapeutic for him and he enjoyed reading them every time.

This time, however, he hadn't been reading for long when something disturbed him. He looked around and saw Phantom Lancer moving around restlessly something like twenty to thirty meters away from him. Magina shook his head a little, not caring to find out why Azwraith acted so weird.

Not many seconds later he found himself looking at the other hero again. He was clearly distressed, pacing around and turning his head from direction to another and glancing over his shoulder every once in a while.

Magina looked back at his scroll, bit his teeth and groaned. Whatever. I'll go quickly see what's wrong. Even though I'm one hundred percent sure I will regret doing it later. I could bet all my gold that this is because of we can't use magic. Irritating.

Still Anti-Mage stood up slowly and started walking towards Azwraith. He called him while he was still good few meters away, not wanting to scare the other.

"Hey," he called which caused Phantom Lancer to turn sharply to face him full body tensed. When he saw that it was only Anti-Mage he seemed to relax a bit. "Saw you looking distressed here. Everything okay?" Magina asked crossing his arms and waiting for an answer.

"Ah, Anti-Mage, it's just you," Azwraith answered rubbing the side of his face looking tired. "Yes, I'm fine," he said looking at Magina not too convincing.

Magina raised an eyebrow, not buying. "Honestly, you don't really look like fine."

"Nah." Phantom Lancer waved his hand to stress that it was nothing. "Just somethings bothering me related to this no-magic situation. So I'm sure you are not interested," he said somewhat defensive, looking Magina hard in the eyes.

Called it, thought Magina bitterly. Frowning he said: "Why is it so hard for you all to understand that this is a very good thing for us? Magic is an abomination. It needs to be get rid of before it ruins everyone's life in this world."

"Have you seen me on the battlefield?" asked Azwraith suddenly, surprising Magina.

"What?" he asked bewildered.

"Because if you have, you know that I'm rarely alone. I can have so many clones you don't even have time to count them. But now I'm vulnerable and alone. This yours so awful magic happens to play a really big part in so many people's lives. Magic itself can't be bad." Now Magina has already opened his mouth to argue but Azwraith raised his voice not allowing it. "It's the same as a weapon itself can do nothing. Evil comes from the people wielding them. I don't understand how you can be so blind not to see it," he almost shouted, not really angry but irritated and disappointed.

It took a second from Magina to answer with a steady, low voice. "You're partly right. But I see that it's necessary to get rid of all those weapons so that not even evil people with rotten souls can hurt no one."

The other man gritted his teeth. "You'll never understand. Have you ever thought how much of our world was built and created with magic? You can say an estimate but most likely you would still be underestimating it."

"But it still doesn't make it right!" Anti-Mage said angrily. "It will never be the right way of doing things. Instead of using magic we should-" he was cut off by Azwraith.

"That's enough!" he said loudly, staring Magina now angrily. "I'm not going to argue with you any more because it can accomplish nothing," he said, turned around and walked away leaving Magina to stare after him, boiling with irritation.

Well that went just as I predicted, he thought annoyed. While cursing magic and everyone using it he also started walking away towards the forest.

He really needed some time meditating right now.


Many hours later Magina was walking back to their living buildings. He had been outside a long time meditating and it was already dark. He had managed to calm himself down and now he was really hungry because he had skipped the dinner.

Also he was a bit curious to see how the party was going.

When Magina walked closer to dining hall and the closer he got, the louder the music and noises got. There were many people outside chatting and laughing together pints in their hands. Some of them were also, not surprisingly, picking up fights.

On his way Magina saw Axe and decided to avoid him. The hero was drunk, loud and trying to challenge everyone to fight him. Magina didn't want any trouble.

He also saw Meepo half hanging out of the window passed out and not far away Riki throwing up.

Anti-Mage shook his head and continued walking.

When he reached the door he almost bumped into Traxex and very drunk Lyralei. The later had her other arm around Drow Ranger's shoulders and pint in the other. She was talking cheerfully to Drow, laughing and gigling every now and then. Traxex on her part was making sure Windranger wasn't going to fall, keeping one hand behind her back to stady her. She was smiling softly so Magina thought she was okay with the job.

Magina almost jumped out of their way. Traxex didn't say anything, just glanced briefly at him before she turned her attention elsewhere again. However, when Lyralei finally saw him she greeted him happily.

"Hey, Magina!" she said, freed herself from Traxex grip and came too close to Anti-Mage for his comfort. "Where have you been? I can see you haven't been at the party 'cause you look all grumpy and not happy. You should go inside and enjoy yourself," she said streching.

"Um… Right. I guess I'll try that," he answered unsure what to say to the drunken girl.

"Yes. Good!" Lyralei said nodding eagerly. "Oh, you should go talking to Invoker!" she said, her eyes litting on the idea. "I think I saw him somewhere."

Magina snorted. "Hah, no way I will hang out with him. I don't know where you got that stupid idea or what you-" he was cut off when Traxex put her hand on Windranger's shoulder.

"Let's go," she said calmly but firmly staring at Magina, telling him to not start arguing.

"Fine, fine," Lyralei said grinning and taking a sip. Then she turned around to hug Drow Ranger closely. "You're such a great friend, you know that?" she said.

At that point Anti-Mage decided to leave. He passed the gigling and hugging Lyralei and Traxex who was now carefully hugging back. Then he stepped inside to the noise and heavy air.

Inside things were even crazyer. Most of the people were talking loudly and many laughs and shouts were to hear. One of the tables had been taken to serve as some sort of bar table where Brewmaster was mainly taking care of selling and pouring the drinks. That table was totally crowded and Magina decided to avoid it.

He found rather peaceful corner and took a seat. Close to him was sitting quietly Skywrath mage, Templar assasin and and Shadow Fiend was talking to Blood Seeker close by. Anti-Mage took some time to observe the hall more.

Someone, Magina didn't know who, had obviously recruited some creeps to play instruments so they could have music. Keeper of the Light, Sven, Night Stalker and Arc Warden were hanging around Naga Siren trying to convince her to sing. Slithice, loving admirers, was looking very pleased with the situation but was still refusing the pleads. From experience Magina knew that she would definitely sing at some point of night but she was just playing with the other men. Next to Naga was also Slardar who in his part didn't look too happy. He was pushing others further from Slithice if they came too close and occasionally tried to convince her to go somewhere else.

Anti-Mage now saw Silencer talking to Warlock. He looked more relaxed than usual, a pint also in his hand. Magina smiled a little watching him talk joyfully with the other hero. He wasn't so bad for a mage.

He was brought back from his thoughts by a mournful sigh coming close to him. Turning his head, Magina saw Dragonus leaning to the table his head in his palm looking miserable.

Magina sighed also. He had already regret more than few times when he had get involved with other heroes's problems. Still he felt like asking, what was the problem. His curiosity sometimes annoyed him.

Closing his eyes for a second or two and then opening them Magina faced Dragonus. "Aren't parties supposed to be fun?" he asked him raising a brow. "Why the sad face?"

Dragonus startled a little when Magina started speaking suddenly. He met his gaze and then he sighed again looking down. After that he opened his mouth.

"I- I just feel so helpless," mage said weakly sounding tired.

Magina groaned not impressed. These things were repeating themselves. He asks what's wrong, people cries after magic, he gets pissed.

"And why do you care?" he asked bitterly. "It's not like nothing permanent would happen while we have respawn. Just enjoy your pathetic life even once." He didn't really care anymore to be polite.

To Magina's surprise, Dragonus gave a sad and quiet laugh.

"I don't care about myself or my pathetic life. It doesn't matter what happens to me. It's the one I love who I'm worried about," he said miserable casting his eyes to Shendelzare who was sitting alone other side of the room. His eyes were longing for her deeply.

Magina couldn't really help but feel a little sad for the two of them. Their story was truly sad. Their fate had been so cruel and it was somewhat hard to look Dragonus's never ending love never getting a response. It would help though if he would actually do something about the matter and not just stay aside weeping.

"Right," he said slowly but not insultingly. "But nothing's wrong. There's no need for anyone to protect her.

That caused Dragonus to turn sharply to look at him clenching his fists. "I love her!" he said loud and firm staring Magina in the eyes. Luckily there was so much noise that not many people heard his outburst. Not that Magina cared. "She's my everything! My whole life! And I'm a mage. A mage without magic is nothing. Useless! If something happened, I couldn't do much. If she would get hurt because I couldn't help her, I could never forgive myself," he took deep breaths. "I- I just feel so useless and scared for her now. I need my powers so I can protect her."

Magina watched him quietly. He must admit that he really cared for the girl.

For once Magina drop the subject of no-magic. He actually wanted to help the other man. "Dragonus," he said softly, trying to sound friendly. "I think you should really talk to her."

Skywrath Mage blinked his eyes and then turned his gaze away, looking pained. "I can't," he said quietly looking down. "She hates me."

"But you should still talk. I don't know exactly what happened between you two but I feel like there's some misunderstandings. Open your heart to her. She would really need someone lighting her days."

Dragonus looked quickly at Magina then back down and then Shendelzare stuttering at the same time. "I- I'm not- she would- Shendel-" Then he stood up from the chair and muttered "I need to go," looking distant.

Magina watched him go. He really hoped he would get the courage to talk to Vengeful Spirit someday.

After Dragonus was gone Magina also stood up. He wanted to go outside to get some fresh air. On his way he almost tripped over to Venomancer who was lying on the ground probably passed out already. Magina stepped over him carefully and then turned left from the corner.

And he literally bumped into Invoker!

"Carl!" Magina cried out. He took the other man from the shoulders to keep their balance. When Magina met Invoker's eyes he saw that he wasn't looking at all like normal himself. Invoker was looking unusually happy and not arrogant.

He was also extreamly drunk.

Great, Magina thought sarcastically.


I know, not so good point to end this chapter but I felt like that if I don't get it posted now it will take another half a year… Review and keep me motivated to write more! But honestly, I am planning to finish this one day.


Anti-Mage - Magina

Nortrom - Silencer

Rigwarl - Bristleback

Purist Thunderwrath - Omniknight

Azwraith - Phantom Lancer

Traxex - Drow Ranger

Lyralei - Wind Ranger

Slithice - Naga Siren

Dragonus - Skywrath Mage

Carl - Invoker