Disclaimer: Except of the Elvorfiring Greyn, some though/speaking stuff and the idea of this fic I own nothing (especially not Aarin). Damn it!

"Please, help him, if you can. I'm not skilled in healing. I've done what I could but it's still not enough," said one of Ao's worshippers. Elvorfiring just silently nodded.

'Hell, Garrick, what happened to you? What could you done this?' thought Elvorfiring while she together with Deekin casted a pair of healing spells.

As soon as Garrick's wounds mended together, he opened his eyes. "Who are you?" he asked in hoarse voice.

Elvorfiring tried to smile a bit. "I'm Elvorfiring Greyn, one of Drogan's students. I need your help in one matter."

Garrick scratched his head. "Well, what can man like me do for you?"

Elvorfiring looked around. Only Ao's worshippers, meditating around their priest. But even then she whispered. "Drogan sent me to you because of this gem. It has been hidden in one of the four artifacts he should guard. But when the academy got assaulted, he was poisoned - and one of the artifacts, the tower, was broken. This was inside it." She handed the gem to him.

After taking a really close look on it he almost exclaimed: "Mythallar! Gods, I wouldn't be surprised if the attack upon my camp and your presence here would be connected together." He paused. "Yes, she can feel the crystal on this plane and knows we have it. That's the only unmistakable thing in this matter."

Deekin interrupted him. "Eh? That be only a little rystal. Deekin thinks the old man be too long in the sun." Elvorfiring just a glared on him.

Garrick continued as if he hasn't heard him: "Yes, you think I'm mad. Excuse me. I should put my thoughts together better."

Elvorfiring press upon him. "Please, continue. I need to know everything you can remember."

The archaeologist nodded. "Well, this gem of yours is powerful artefact of the Netherian civilisation. I was exploring ruins of their civilisation here. I would like to tell you how they used the mythallar, really. But the main problem is that no one is sure about it. I know only one thing for sure - when the mythallar got damaged, it could have caused a big destruction."

Deekin listened with popping eyes and gulped loudly. Elvorfiring knelt beside him and hugged him. The little kobold nestled against her, obviously relieved.

"How do you know it?" asked she.

"I have found a pair of scrolls about it once. They all speak about mythallar used for powerful spells." He thought for a moment. "One of them is about mage, who broke one against the floor in the house of his enemy - and destroyed everything in range of several miles."

Hearing this Deekin shivered and whispered to Elvorfiring: "Whoa... and there in the mountains Deekin played and fling it up all the time..."

"I and my collegues archaeologists found a teleport in the ruins about month ago. I'm quite positive that the portal was used for transport between the cities. But I still don't know how actually use it. But today, in morning I found out something interesting."

"What have you found?" sounded the eager question.

"Caped person with an army of demons appeared in the ruins. She and the demons - I'm sure that person was female. Although she wore a cape all the time, I've heard her voice." He fell silent for a moment. Then he whispered: "They... they killed all of them, all my friends..."

Unable to speak he hid his face into his palms. Tears slowly found their way out of his eyes. No one spoke for very long time.

o.O.o

The way to the ruins was quite short. But the ruins... Elvorfiring fought the urge to vomit. The smell of the dead bodies and the sight of them reminded her too strongly about Neverwinter and the Wailing Death.

She quickly led Deekin into the underground. As Garrick said - the portal should be there. 'Hope you will come soon, master Drogan...'

o.O.o

"Deekin thinks the demons be ugly," informed her Deekin. Elvorfiring just chuckled tiredly. 'Well, Deekin, you really know what to say and when to say it aloud...'

With this thought she stood up heavily and led them further to the ruins.

Suddenly they fell into some strange hole - and get surrounded by some alien-looking creatures. The attack came soon after.

But after a few fight with the creatures she heard some voice, telling her to come closer, that no one will attack her.

Soon she stood before formian queen. She told them - yes, Deekin heard her, too - that the formians will help them against the invaders. 'Finally some help!'

The formians helped out of their hive and together they attacked the demons. With help of formians it was easier than the fights before.

They heard some strange sound. With bad feeling she run its direction - but as soon as she got in sight, there was some light and the hooded figure stepped into it. The darkness surrounded them again.

"Well, guess we found the portal," said Elvorfiring.

"Deekin thinks boss be right," responded Deekin, drawing closer to her. 'Never there be so dark in the old boss' cave!'

Before they could do anything more, they were blinded by flash of blue light. "Well, glad to see you again, Elvorfiring."

"Master Drogan!" exclaimed Elvorfiring. "So Garrick was able to call you soon!"

"Yes, he was," nodded Drogan. "And as I see, in time. The portal is right behind us - waiting for us to use it."

"Deekin think you be late," said Deekin suddenly. He waved to the portal. "The evil lady be first here."

Drogan frowned. "Hm, that changes the situation. Heurodis is ahead of us."

" 'Heurodis' ? " asked Elvorfiring. He nodded. "Yes, that's her name. After you left, she luckily thought that I'm the one who's holding the gem - so she attacked me a few times. Me and the others have found a pair of interesting things about her; she was apprentice of the Belpheron the lich. We have thought his apprentices were killed together with him - but we were mistaken. But we are quite positive that she wants to get the gem and the power of it. And together with the knowledge she got with Belpheron... she's more that capable to achieve it."

"Well, then we need to stop her. What should we do?"

"I'll try pair of spell on it - maybe it will have some effect on it. You should try to activate it as Heurodis did."

"Come, Deekin, we have to hurry!"

o.O.o

"Does anything happen?" called Elvorfiring out.

"Deekin thinks yes - stone shines!"

"Good," murmured Elvorfiring. She marked the altar with '3' and continued to another one.

After many, many mistakes in order of the altars they finally found the right one.

"Boss! Boss! Deekins thinks boss do that!"

Elvorfiring run to Drogan, who suddenly paled. "Wait! No.. no! I should have done this earlier!"

"What happened, master Drogan?!"

Drogan's face tightened with pain. "Heurodis... she placed a trap inside of the portal. Portal is closing... the ruins will fall... Never before have I felt anything like this! You... you have to go through! Quickly! I can't keep the portal open for too long!"

Elvorfiring got uncertain. "You are not coming with us?"

Drogan shook his head. "I can't. By keeping the portal open I will be exposed to the power of Heurodis' trap. I will... I will die. But that doesn't matter now." He stopped for a moment, obviously concentrating on portal. "You have to stop her. And if you can't... then please, destroy the mythallar. The explosion will destroy her menace forever."

Elvorfiring felt tears rising in her eyes. "I'll stop her, master Drogan. I swear!"

Drogan shot her smile. "Yes, I know. I've seen the road before you, when I saw you for the first time. May it's long and full of great deeds."

Now the tears were flowing freely from her eyes. "So... this is.. this is...?"

Drogan fell silent for a while. Then he spoke in choked voice: "Yes, it is. I'm only an old adventurer, who's days of glory ended long ago. But your life is still before you. I'm proud that I could help you to become the person you are. Go.. and may the gods are with you."

Elvorfiring took Deekin into her arms and before she leaped to the portal, she took one last glance on Drogan. The image of him burnt in her memory. He was smilling on her - and there were tears in his eyes.

As she was flying through the portal, the ruins fell down.

o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o

Aarin looked on the Red mage before him. "So are you able to send me to the camp of Ao's faithfuls or not?" he asked impatiently. The mage smiled slowly. "I am capable of it. But it won't be gratis."

"Say your price, mage."

Szarin said the amount of money. It was very, very expensive, but Aarin didn't even blink. "I agree. When can you be ready?"

"Give me fice minutes and we can beginwith it. But you should now - you won't be there as soos as I cast the spell. It will take hours to get there."

"I'm prepared for it."

o.O.o

He was flying. Flying with the wind. The land pased bellow him. Soon he was above the desert.

And after a few hours he was in Ao's camp.

The spell placed him on the ground. He quickly run to the temple. Accidentaly, he run in old man. "Hey, young man! Where do you think you are running?"

"I'm looking for Elvorfiring Greyn, sir. Is there any chance you have seen her?"

The man eyed him warily. "Yes, I saw her few hours ago. She went to the ruins. My friend, dwarf named Drogan went after her."

Aarin pleaded. "Please, would you show me way to the ruins? I have to find her - the sooner the better!"

The man paled. "You shouldn't go there. The place is full of demons. If Elvorfiring didn't healed me, I would be dead now. They're very dangerous."

"No matter of the danger, I have to find her," replied Aarin gravely.

The man sighed. "You are playing with death, young man. May the gods are with you."

He showed him the. In truth, he guided him almost to the ruins. But then - the ground begun to shake.

"Earthquake! Back! Back!" exclaimed the old man. They run back. Suddenly, there was very loud crash. And when Aarin looked back, he saw how the ground above the ruins is falling in. Again he came too late.