A few days had past before news of the giant beast in Orbis reached Sira and her two companions: Virgo and Yuna. Sira continues to press on with her training while the two other warrior women discuss the situation. Sira is intrigued by the winged beast, but her frustration and determination doesn't allow her to waver. She is exhausted, sweating and dirty, but her training is far from over. After trying to unleash her spirit wilfully for at least the hundredth time that day, Sira falls to her knees and then lays down on her stomach. She's breathing so heavy her chest hurts. She thinks Yuna will come and smack her behind the head to get up but is surprised to not even hear an objection. Instead of a slap or a kick or a shove she feels someone's hand on her head.
"Sira," she hears a soft calming voice say.
Sira opens her eyes and sees a familiar face.
"Val," she mumbles into the dirty snow.
Sira uses her hands to push herself up. She looks around and sees not only Val, but two magicians and a thief not far away.
"Val," she says again. "What's going on?"
Val helps Sira up and they make their way to the group.
"Jesus 'feets" says Yuna referring to the male mage. "You and Cuzi went to Zakum alone? It's no frickin' wonder you look like you've been run over by heard of yetis"
"Pssh," grunts Cuzi, the thief. "Iffn you think this is bad, you should see the state of our cleric!"
"She was taken to the infirmary," says the female mage that had been training Valencia.
"Kat," says Afreet, looking at the female mage. "Go on ahead and join your group. Cuzi and I will go with Virgo and Yuna."
"You won't have a cleric," she answers.
"We'll take your apprentice," says Cuzi, gesturing to Valencia.
"We're just going to scout before the troops arrive," says Afreet.
"You were just going to scout when you got your asses whooped..." says Kat."But ok, she's a very good healer. Just make sure she stays hyper bodied and don't rush into anything unnecessary."
"Sira," says Yuna. "Get your ass in gear and get ready to go. We have a mission."
Sira doesn't have time to ask questions. A few moments later Yuna, Virgo, Afreet, Cuzi, Valencia and herself head off deeper into the icy fields. Sira is at the back with Valencia. Afreet and Virgo discuss safe tactics at the front of the group, while Yuna and Cuzi discuss more suicidal plans in the center of the group. Sira looks over at Valencia for answers.
"While I was training at the Forest of Dead Trees, Afreet and Cuzi came back from a scouting mission at Zakum's," explains Valencia. "They said that an enormous army of skill eaters had gathered outside of Zakum's cave and were planning an attack on the beast. They had monsters that the two of them had never seen before. Monsters like our Balrog beast on Victoria that wiped the towns...Only worse. They also overheard plans that once they had defeated Zakum, they would wipe out the people in Orbis before they became a bigger threat."
Yuna turns around after hearing the explanation to add more.
"The 4 army leaders of Ossyria have been planning for a while now to build up our forces strong enough to take on the skill eaters," says Yuna. "We are able to live with the presence of Zakum and his spawns but the skill eaters are another story. We were waiting for the right moment to attack."
"Taking them all on at once like that is a good time?" asks Sira remembering the trouble a single Skill Eater caused.
"Don't underestimate us" says Cuzi. "Or you'll be making the same mistake as the skill eaters.
"We don't really have a choice," says Virgo. "They'll come after us after this battle. We need to take them on before they infuriate Zakum more and while we still hold the element of surprise."