Last time, on our previous tale...

Now...we should focus on the fiend that lies at the bottom of the stairs... Ragnarok began. I sense the massive amount of dark energy characteristic of a lich nearby...

"A lich?" Lina was interested.

"So we do have a fiend on our hands..." Vince mused as he arrived at the bottom of the stairwell, where a door covered in elaborate gold and purple designs stood before them...

Episode 21: An Anima Finally Sings

Mallory looked up at the ornately decorated door in awe. Could this really be the entrance to a lich's lair? A twinge of dread started to surface inside her--if she and her friends fell to this monster, their quest would be over before it begun. She promised herself. I will defeat you, lich--and claim the Crystal you hold.

Now, Lady White Mage... Ragnarok began. If you would ask for the holy one's blessing before the battle, please...

"All right..." Lina steped onto a circle-like design before the door and lifted her hands high. "Holy Princess, grant us your protection as we battle against the darkness." With that, Darien opened the beautiful door, allowing the party a glimpse inside. At first, it didn't look too much different from a room in an inn, but the cobwebs and dust on the otherwise exquisite furniture signaled that this was not a welcoming bedroom. Furthermore, bats hung over the coffin that served as the fiend's bed, their wings almost seeming to glow against the dim candlelight that iluminated the room.

Mallory was about to turn to leave when some evil laughter reverbrated in the room. She draw her blade, in preparation to face her undead opponent. "Who are you?"

"Show yourself!" Vince agreed, drawing his own blade out of fear.

Who speaks to me? a deep spooky voice boomed. Mallory turned to answer the voice, but was suddenly blinded by a flash of purple light, revealing a large skeleton-like monster clad in the same colors as the door to its lair, complete with a small helmet and a tattered cape. Just seeing the monstrosity was enough to make her want to scream, but she stood her ground as Darien and Lina also readied their weapons.

"I am Mallory Foxheart the Red." Mallory replied to the lich's question, all the while trying to hide the fear in her voice. "I seek to challenge you for the treasure you possess."

"You realize who you challenge, mortal?" the lich retorted. "I am the one who feeds on the power of darkness...the Fiend of Darkness!" Some of the bats fluttered close to their master as the lich continued. "I will not be disturbed by mortal men, but since you asked so nicely, I will be more than glad to send you and your companions to the darkness of the underworld." With that, he lunged at Mallory, but was knocked back by an arrow from Darien.

"Rising sun, shine down on those you favor! Diara!" Lina commanded. The lich howled in pain as the light surrounded it, but Mallory had an idea: what if she could boost Lina's speed so she could cast the Dia line and heal more quickly?

She focused some blue light in her hands and focused on Lina: "Layer upon layer make your mark now...Haste!" She watched as the light surrounded Lina, making her move faster inside a clock design. When the light had faded, she now was about as swift as the mare, if not faster. The boys each fended off the bats, but the lich in turn batted them away like flies. Lina would heal them, then they would go onto another charge, only to be swatted away again.

"Freezing wind, speak of forgotten truths! Blizzara!" the lich called, snickering as the four humans dashed to avoid the icicles that stabbed at them like swords.

"It's turning your magic against us!" Darien wheezed as he tended to a puncture wound on his arm. Lina was already healing herself of the cold ambush, before doing the same to Vince.

"I guess I'll have to fight back with the magic ice fears--fire." Mallory replied as Lina healed the icy gash on her sword arm.

iWhatever you choose to do, be cautious--it could turn the fire against you./i Ragnarok cautioned.

"Mallory, try casting Haste on Vince and I!" Darien suggested. "Maybe then we could do more damage to the lich!"

"Okay..." Mallory tensely formed the blue light of Haste in her hands, aiming it at the boys, who were charging at the lich. "Layer upon layer make your mark now...Haste!"

Lina watched in awe as arrow and blade raced into the lich's bony body, then zipped away before it could counter. "You should try that on yourself..." she noted before flinging another Diara to help Vince out.

She heard a scream in one corner of the room, just in time to hear a sickening thud. Upon arrival behind a column, she could faintly see Vince struggling to get up. "Are you okay?"

"Can't move--ow..." Vince groaned. "Paralyzed..."

Mallory gritted her teeth as she ran towards the lich. This one's for Vince... she thought as she slashed at her opponent, tearing yet another hole in the ragged cloak.

"Thanks, Mallory!" Darien called as he sent another arrow flying.

"Bringer of dreams, take my foes to the night...Sleepra!" the lich commanded. Mallory winced as a cloud of blueish green gas left her friend asleep in a helpless position. She saw the bright flash of Diaga hitting again, but she had to help Vince. He had worried about her over this first part of their journey, and now here she was, worried about him.

Darien fired another arrow, prompting Mallory to jump and slash at the lich's face. But a familiar blue light startled her and her remaining companions as the lich commanded "Layer upon layer make your mark now...Haste!"

"Now what do we do?" Lina gasped. She hadn't counted on this.

Keep doing what you've been doing! Ragnarok suggested. Maybe that should break the curse on Vince!

"You're right!" Lina agreed. With that, she infused Mallory's blade with a Diara, making the room fill with a yellow light as the blade impaced bone. An arrow flew through the light, also blessing it with holy power.

As soon as Darien's shot landed on its mark, the lich began to scream as the light engulfed it and the bats, leaving only the party alone in the dusty room.

"We did it!" Lina cried as Vince ran to hug her, now freed from his curse.

"I thank you for covering for me, Lady Foxheart." Vince replied. "You're continuing to improve each day...and maybe one day; you will meet the Dragon King Bahamut to grow even stronger."

Mallory was about to return Vince's compliment when she saw a door form on the right wall. "I appriciate the thought, but let's go see what's behind that door!" After being healed by Lina, she lead the way to the door, which opened into a large open room similar to a shrine, but the only thing present in the room was a white altar, where a large purple crystal sat.

"I can't believe it...the Lost Crystal of Darkness!" Darien gasped in awe.

"I never dreamed I would see one of the Lost Crystals..." Vince agreed.

"It is only one of four, and essential to our quest." Lina reminded them. She beckoned Mallory to approach, eager to hear the Anima.

Mallory approached the Crystal and opened one of the star pendant's points. "Crystal of Darkness, lend me your light." At this, a small ball of light flew from the Crystal and settled inside the opened point with a giggle.

"Was that an Anima?" Darien was confused.

It was, Master Ranger Ragnarok replied. You shall hear a piece of the Crystal Song shortly as it takes you outside.

Mallory turned back to look at the Crystal. She had come all this way, yet her journey was just beginning. As she joined her friends and felt the warm glow of the Crystal's light transporting them to the world outside, she swore she could hear a still quiet voice singing Take a melody...

To Be Continued...

BOOK 1 ENDS HERE