Well shit. Having half of my health gone and all of my stamina drained from the fight with Zazi has really taken it's toll on my self-esteem. During our fight, I saw a giant ball of light coming from the forest. I hoped Raven wasn't the cause of that.
I'd hate to have to find a way to counter that.

Anyway, was it just me or did Raven seem a little bit more interested in this fight than at first? She looked way more pissed and fierce, yet she was still calmly observing everything.

Honestly, it kinda scared me. I had no clue what she was going to do so I was left with one option… Shakinto style! I dashed in Raven's direction for an attack. It was the only way to see what she had. Besides, I was at half health, but I could still
take a few hits.

When I got close enough, I swung karbala at Raven. She dodged it and quickly began to form a ball of dark matter. Since we were so close, all she had to do was aim it at me. I backed off as quickly as I could. The ball hit the ground and exploded. The
blast radius was pretty large for something so small. I barely managed to escape it. I made a quick note-to-self. She made that ball fairly quickly but, it seems like it could've been stronger. I guess Javity forced her to use up some MP. Still not
good enough though. She's trying to hide it but, I can see she's breathing pretty heavily. What I'm about to do can either go in my favor or screw everything up.

"What's wrong? Feeling a little exhausted?" I said to her

I wasn't trying to provoke her rather I was trying to buy some time. I need to come up with something.

"We could stand here all day and you still wouldn't be able to form a plan" She said

You've gotta be kidding.

Raven changed her armour to its opposite. I wonder what light can do? She formed another ball except this time it was full of light and much bigger. The ball flew at me… wait, WHAT?!

"OH CRAP!" I said while trying to evade the ball that was right on my tail.

This thing is fast. It's gonna reach me eventually. I didn't see Raven's arm move. She didn't throw it. Is it telepathy? It wouldn't surprise me. Wait, this thing has been following me around. Did she cast a homing spell while she was at it or does it
just come with the ball? Maybe it's the way it flew. I know they said that they wanted to make sure we weren't using any cheap tricks but, I really have only one option. I can't block or deflect it. I don't know any spells to nullify it. Wait, do
I even know how to use magic in this game? Whatever, I just have to use my cheap trick.

I made a sudden u-turn and juked the ball out though it kept following me. I ran back in Raven's direction. She just stood there. I guess she knows what i'm up to. I kept running until I was somewhat close to her. I jumped over Raven hoping to hit her
with her own attack. I kept running but, stopped when I heard an explosion. It hit her.

I turned around to look at the clearing smoke. There was Raven. She took the attack head-on but, there's not a scratch on her. What did I expect? Of course light armour would cancel out a light attack. Luckily, I wasn't looking to damage her in that regard.

To say Raven was worn out was an understatement. She was completely wasted of mp, but I was drained of stamina also. I noticed that I had not been on the offensive for the majority of the fight. I ran towards Raven and tried to strike her with Karbala.
She was actually dodging my attacks by a paper thin margin. Suddenly, my whole body felt heavy and I fell on my back. I couldn't stand anymore. The most I could do was prop myself up on my arms. When I looked up, Raven had already formed another ball
of light. It flew at me again. Shit!

"AGHHHHHH!" I shouted as I mustered all the strength I had left to pick up Karbala and throw it at Raven as a last ditch effort…

I woke up in a small bed. I guessed the game respawned you to the closest hospital. To my right was an empty bed, and across from me I saw three people, two of which also on vision focused and I realized it was Javity and Raven laying in the beds
and Zazi standing in between the two. I looked to my left, and Kivety was all up in my face just staring at me.

"Like what you see?" I joked

"Hardly, I just wanna make sure one of our new members are okay" She replied

"Wait, new members?"

"Yep, welcome to the Embers of Running Clouds"

I propped myself up on my arms. I saw Javity, Raven, and Zazi chatting up like we didn't just fight each other like our lives depended on it.

"wait… Why are we in these beds?" I asked. "It's not like we actually need recovery time."

"Yeah. Zazi was next to you, but once I told him the news he jumped up and started chatting with Javity and Raven about new adventures we would be having together" she said as if she was already fed up with the hyperness of Javity and Zazi together.
Which she probably was no one could blame her.

I got up out of the bed and stood next to Kivety. "Cool. Now would you mind telling me what happened?"

"Well-" she started but before she finished she was interrupted by a loud voice from the other side of the room.

"OH HEY YOU'RE UP, SHAKINTO!" Javity shouted. "WE MADE IT IN! AND I LOVE THESE THREE RAG TAGSALREADY! I THINK WE ARE GOING TO BE WITH THESE WEIRDOS FOR A WHILE!" he continued excitedly "ALSO NICE JOB!"

"Calm down. It's great we are in and all, like really thanks guys… but how the hell?" I humorously questioned

"Well, I guess, it was all because of you" Zazi said in a friendly, but unsure tone. He must've saw Javity fall when he did.

"…Well not exactly" Kivety and Raven said simultaneously

"Shit… Don't tell me we actually lost, and you guys pitied us. I truly hate being pitied. I can do better! Let's go again" I said a little aggravated. I reached for Karbala on my side…, but I didn't feel anything. I checked my inventory and
my precious sword still wasn't there

"Hey… um where's-"

"Looking for-"

Me and Raven said at the same time interrupting each other. After realizing I was giving her space to talk Raven started again

"Well, I really thought I had won when you fell… but that sword you threw… it started glowing brightly and next thing I knew I was down too"

Then Kivety took over from there "Long story short because I absolutely despise the in and outs… Karbala is not Karbala at the moment"

"Where is he?!" I asked urgently tired of all these turns and loops. Even Kivety said she wouldn't but she still did!

Everyone laughed. "He?" Javity asked over his own and everyone else's laughter?

"Yes he. I've always thought he was a… he!" I said wondering why they were all laughing

"Well you might wanna think differently" Kivety said still laughing "I checked earlier and I'm not completely sure she is a he"

"What do you mean… 'you checked'? How do you check a sword?"

"That's the thing-" Zazi started to explain then I heard a loud roar from right outside the room

"WHAT THE HELL IS THAT?!" I yelled flabbergasted

"KARBALA!" they all said in unison like they hadplanned it

"Oh what the actual fuck Liz" I thought to myself