Final Fantasy: Ancient Divines

by Diran Jiru

History's dangers return. Bereit and his companions must fend against a rising anomaly that is returning long forgotten dangers.

16. Chapter 15

p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: large;"Chapter 15/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"3/spansupspan style="font-size: medium;"rd/span/supspan style="font-size: medium;" person (General)/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"The /spanPspan style="font-size: medium;"arty set off to the /spanSspan style="font-size: medium;"hrine near the town, that was said to be in a cave. And in Holhen, they were going to have to know what characteristics the cave has in the first place, considering this continent was known for its caves. Luckily, they had asked around before they left. People have heard of the /spanSspan style="font-size: medium;"hrine, and it is said to be an evil /spanSspan style="font-size: medium;"ummon. One that draws monsters. However, this wasn't going to get in the way of them. They needed that /spanSspan style="font-size: medium;"ummon. Most advised they don't go, do to many not returning, but they had reason to go. They needed to./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"While she was determined to get to this /spanSspan style="font-size: medium;"hrine, despite the warnings, the idea that it was an evil /spanSspan style="font-size: medium;"ummon didn't sit well with Fallen. She wondered why it was such, and if the rumours were even true. /spanWhatspan style="font-size: medium;" if she made a connection with it/span? Wspan style="font-size: medium;"ould it effect her in any way?/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"The Party was on their way to the Shrine, walking along the darkened rocky path of Holhen, under the night starry sky./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"So, we're stocked, right? Potions, ethers, etc?" Vanessa asked everybody./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Imbir nodded. "And if we run out, we always have Zelkova's healing." Imbir pointed out./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Well, we wouldn't want to work him out." Vanessa added./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Please, it's my job to heal those in need." Zelkova insisted. "And if death should ever have his grasp on you, know I can bring you back." He added, reminding everyone of the Life spell he now possessed./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"You won't be needing that. Or, at least needing to use it. We have yet to die." Bereit said in a cocky manner./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Don't jinx it, Bereit." Fallen spoke up./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Yeah, been told that before. And I never jinxed it... most of the time." Bereit pointed out./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Fallen thought about /spantspan style="font-size: medium;"he Phoenix, wondering if losing that potential /spanSspan style="font-size: medium;"ummon was going to screw them over. She shook her head, shaking the thought. "Most of the time?" Fallen asked, trying to distract herself./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"A distant screech was heard, as the party turned to the direction, to find a massive black winged beast flying their way./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Fallen looked at Bereit, /spanfurrowing her brows./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Oh shut up, it's just a coincidence." Bereit said sternly, as he drew his serrated sword./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Everyone drew their weapons out as well, ready to fight the incoming monster./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"The black winged beast landed in front of them, as it screeched at them, showing it's razor beak, much like a Garuda, but this one was bigger, and darker. It lunged it/spansspan style="font-size: medium;" mouth forward, going to swipe them up, but everyone jumped away./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Vanessa shot it right in the eye, the beast shaking its head, and swung its wing right at her./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"She ducked, avoiding the wing./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Bereit cut the wing as it came his way. He noticed that he did wound it, unlike the infected Garuda who was tougher, so this one wouldn't be all that hard to take down in comparison./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Imbir fired a smoke bullet right at the head, as it released smoke around the creature's face, preventing any sort of vision./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Imbir looked at Bereit for a moment, as Bereit nodded, understanding what he was to do. Just as he was about to run towards the beast, a distant gunshot was heard, as it would hit the beast directly on the head. Not even another screech came from it, as it fell to the ground./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Bereit froze for a moment, taken aback from the sudden change of the battle. He turned his head to where he heard the shot, seeing it was /spantspan style="font-size: medium;"he Assassin in the distance, his scope glimmering a reflection of light./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"A few seconds of silence, and the light went away. But Bereit could see /spanthspan style="font-size: medium;"e Assassin was approaching them. Though, he didn't trust any of this. Not for a second./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Once /spantspan style="font-size: medium;"he Assassin reached him, he flicked a small switch on his sniper rifle, Bereit knowing that he was turning the safety on. Bereit took his hand off his sword's handle. "What do you want?"/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"What? I don't get a thank you? I saved you guys a lot of trouble. It's the least you can do." The Assassin pointed out./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"I'll give you a swift ass kicking, how about that?" Bereit threatened./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"The Assassin scoffed at his threat. "Yeah, sure." He simply said. "So, I'll save you the trouble working your little heads on why I helped. I chose to. I heard about what you're doing, closing all of those anomalies. And to be real, I'd rather do something good for the world for once."/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"So you don't have some personal vendetta on me?" Bereit asked, crossing his arms./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"I'm over the whole 'You kicking my ass' thing. To tell you the truth, it made me realize that I picked the wrong side, thinking /spantspan style="font-size: medium;"he Ehre family was right." The Assassin explained./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Well, money talks." Bereit said sarcastically./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Fallen shifted uncomfortably as her glance shifted from the Assassin to Bereit. /span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Do you want my help or not?" The Assassin asked sternly./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"I think we'll be fine on our own. We don't need a murderer following us around." Bereit answered, as he turned and began to walk away./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Yeah, but-.." Fallen cut herself off, biting her lower lip. She didn't want to find herself caught in the middle./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"They'd think /spantspan style="font-size: medium;"he Assassin was defeated in joining them, but he had an ace up his sleeve. "You know, there can't be TWO /spanLspan style="font-size: medium;"ightning Lords a/spantspan style="font-size: medium;" once." He mentioned vaguely./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Bereit stopped in place, the others confused as to what /spantspan style="font-size: medium;"he Assassin had meant, along with what it meant to Bereit./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Bereit turned his head to /spantspan style="font-size: medium;"he Assassin, anger in his eyes. "What the hell do you know about it?" He replied to his statement./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"The Assassin grinned. "Well, /spantspan style="font-size: medium;"he Ehre family told me quite a bit about /spantspan style="font-size: medium;"he Lords. Especially you."/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Fallen perked her head up at the name they kept using, the 'Lords'. It sounded familiar to her. Though, she ultimately chose to keep quiet./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Bereit clenched his fists, hating that his secret was being openly announced like that. Blackmail. Of course he'd resort to that. "Fine. As long as you keep you rotten mouth shut, you can tag along." Bereit said, his tone showing pure anger. He kept walking forward, as if he was trying to get away./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Everybody turned their heads to look at /spantspan style="font-size: medium;"he Assassin, Imbir and Vanessa giving cold stares, and Fallen and Zelkova giving worried ones. /span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"It looked as if both Fallen and Zelkova were torn between both sides. One, their friend, and the other, a worthy asset to their group./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"The Assassin walked past them. "Don't worry, he's the only one that'll get this kind of treatment."/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Fallen clenched her fists, causing Zelkova to give her a worried look. He wondered what could be going through her head. It was unlike her to do this. /span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"I'll give you a 'special treatment' if you keep that up." Vanessa threatened./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"I'd like to see you try, shortie." He replied./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Vanessa scoffed. "Prick." She whispered to herself./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Fallen knew she would have to keep a close eye on /spantspan style="font-size: medium;"he Assassin. She recalled/span span style="font-size: medium;"moments when her parents talked to assassins in the past. It might be just an assumption at this point, but they all had the same dead look to their eyes when she saw them. Though, /spanthspan style="font-size: medium;"e Assassin that/span wasspan style="font-size: medium;" with them now... he had a different stare. Something... well, different. She couldn't exactly put her finger on it. Though, she found it rather curious that he /spandidn't recognize her./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Since it was night time, most monsters were asleep, so their travels had little encounters with monsters. After they walked for /spana whilespan style="font-size: medium;", they would find the cave they were looking for. Bereit recalled the details the townsfolk mentioned. The entrance was small, and the path down was steep. From the look of it, it seemed that way. "This might be the one." Bereit said./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"The Assassin walked next to him, as he then looked at the dark cave. "Throw a fireball down there. So we know how deep this thing goes."br /br /"Don't tell me what to do." Bereit replied sternly. Though, he did throw a small fireball down the cave, watching it bounce off the rocky walls and ground. It was about 6 seconds until it hit the solid ground./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Before Bereit could even say anything, The Assassin started climbing down. He looked at Bereit, with a slight smirk. "Oh, sorry. Was I suppose to wait for your say-so?"/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Bereit had an annoyed look on his face, waiting for him to go down./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Fallen caught herself from giggling as she glanced at the rest of the group. Vanessa giving a similar expression./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"The Assassin chuckled and then went down the cave, as the rest style="font-size: medium;" Bereit made another fireball in his hand, but this one had a more intense flame, brightening their surroundings. He took the front of the group, to light the way, /spantspan style="font-size: medium;"he Assassin /spanat span style="font-size: medium;"his side./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Bereit, of course, didn't enjoy being so close to him./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"You'd think they'd find a better place to put a /spanShspan style="font-size: medium;"rine." The Assassin commented./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"It must have been around for so long that it melded with the environment. It must be one of the /spanAspan style="font-size: medium;"ncient /spanSspan style="font-size: medium;"hrines. Though.. Shrines can be found around various terrains. Or.. So I've read." Fallen suggested./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Could be. I mean, if it were a modern /spanSspan style="font-size: medium;"hrine, the last place I'd put it was a cave." He added./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Not everything goes according to plan. You'd know, you got beat by a kid." Imbir said from behind./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"The Assassin turned his head to Imbir, as he couldn't help but laugh. "Well, you got me there, I'll be honest." He said to Imbir./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Though, Bereit didn't know how to take it. He was notified of him beating /spantspan style="font-size: medium;"he Assassin, but was called a kid./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"The group continued to walk forward, until they were stopped by a ledge, that lead to an open cavern, filled with stalactites and stalagmites, along with a constant stream of water./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Water, dark, and eerily quiet. My favourite combination." The Assassin said sarcastically./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Bereit jumped down, as did the others. Though as soon as they did, sounds were heard, little sounds of scattering echos. The group looked around, as they all drew their weapons. Though, /spantspan style="font-size: medium;"he Assassin kept his hand close to his sniper rifle./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Silence filled the room. Even the moving water didn't make a sound./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Fallen yelped, as she jumped and held her foot. Everyone turned to look at her, as it was revealed she got a fresh cut on her ankle that slowly dripped blood../span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Fallen? Are yo-" Vanessa was interrupted by the sound of her thigh getting cut open/span before she fell to the ground./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Bereit couldn't tell what was going on. It was too dark to see anything. So there was only one way to find their enemy. He threw his fireball /spanin fspan style="font-size: medium;"ront of them, as it expanded, lighting up the whole cavern./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"A shadowy figure, wearing a deep black set of armor stood there, as it was revealed it held a bow, and was drawing another arrow. Just before it could shoot again, Vanessa drew her gun and shot him, the /spanKspan style="font-size: medium;"night recoiling back, its arrow falling to the ground./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Bereit rushed at the /spanKspan style="font-size: medium;"night, /spanwhich summonedspan style="font-size: medium;" a gigantic greatsword, and swung horizontally at him. The greatsword was so big, they couldn't see half of the weapon, /spanand span style="font-size: medium;"the shadowy blade went through the rocks./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Bereit jumped over the blade, and cut into the armor, cutting right through the shadowy metal. The Knight looked at Bereit, as it then grabbed him by the neck and picked him up./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Just before it could do anything else, it felt another bullet collide right against its helmet, dropping Bereit./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"The Knight looked at Vanessa, seeing she had her revolver aimed right at it. It raised its sword again, to bring it down, but Vanessa shot its hand, causing it to let go, and held it/spansspan style="font-size: medium;" hand in pain./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Vanessa grinned. "Had enough?" She taunted./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"The Knight looked at Vanessa, examining the gun she held. It put its hand out, as it then got it's own revolver. Almost an exact replica of Vanessa's./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Oh boy." She said, regretting her taunt immediately./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"It aimed and fired a bullet right at Vanessa, moving her head while leaning to the side, to dodge the bullet. She then fired back, shooting the gun out of its hand. It turned to look at Vanessa, as she fired one last time, the bullet going right through the helmet./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"The Knight fell to the ground, as it melted away into shadows./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Vanessa put her gun in the holster, and sighed. "Not a normal duel, but a welcome one."/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"The Assassin looked at Vanessa, in shock of what he had witnessed. "Did I see that right? You dodged a bullet?"/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Vanessa nodded. "Yup."br /br /"At the speed of sound?" He asked again./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Yup." She repeated./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"You've got some magic trick. That wasn't instinct." It seemed /spantspan style="font-size: medium;"he Assassin didn't believe it, despite seeing it./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"3/spansupspan style="font-size: medium;"rd/span/supspan style="font-size: medium;" person (Vanessa)/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"An old fami-" Immediately, she felt dark hands grab her by the ankles and dragged down into a dark portal, as did Fallen, not being able to say a word before she was dragged down./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"She would find themselves in a dark and shadowy abyss, though her and Fallen were standing on their own two feet. She looked at Fallen, and stood close, getting ready for whatever could be thrown at them./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Fallen looked around, to see if there was anything approaching them. But so far, not a thing. She /spanhesitated to summon her icy glaive before turningspan style="font-size: medium;" her head to Vanessa. "Do you think... this is /spantspan style="font-size: medium;"he Divine's /spanTspan style="font-size: medium;"rial?" She asked./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"You'd think it would be something like this?" Vanessa asked. "Well, apparently it's an evil one, right?"/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Correct. Though, I get the feeling it's more than what it appears to be." Fallen added. From the corner of her eye, Fallen saw the same /spanKspan style="font-size: medium;"night approaching, though it/spansspan style="font-size: medium;" form was shifting, and expanding, then shrinking over and over./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Let me handle this." Vanessa simply said, as she walked closer, spinning her revolver on her middle finger./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"The shadowy figure watched Vanessa spin her revolver around, as its form began to change. It melded and expanded, until it stopped, forming into a familiar figure./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Vanessa recognized who it took shape as. The brown hat, the black hair, the body stance. It was her father. Though, it was still in a black form, the colours not showing. Vanessa put her hand gun in her holster, as she readied herself, separating her legs apart, her hand close to her gun./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"The figure followed her movements, preparing for a duel./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"3/spansupspan style="font-size: medium;"rd/span/supspan style="font-size: medium;" person (Fallen)/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Fallen was confused as to what was going on, until their surroundings changed into a large sandy area, just like Wuste./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Her eyes switched between Vanessa and the shadowy figure, wondering what was suppose to happen next. She was a bit frightened by the silence between the two. It was... eerie. Yet also familiar. Fallen tightly gripped the staff in her hands. She was desperate to summon Shiva/span, but wanted to trust Vanessa's word, that she could handle herself./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"3/spansupspan style="font-size: medium;"rd/span/supspan style="font-size: medium;" person (Vanessa)/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Vanessa and the figure /spangave focused, dead staresspan style="font-size: medium;". With a few more eerie seconds of silence, the sun's light disappeared, as the two drew their guns. However, Vanessa didn't fire immediately. She kept her stance. The figure pulled the trigger to the gun, but it was only a click. The next one fired a bullet, but Vanessa was way past the line of fire. She swung her iron-sight to her eyes, and aimed for the head, and fired a bullet./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"The bullet hit the figure right between the eyes, the head jerking back and then fell to the ground, slowly melted into shadows./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"While Fallen was impressed by her ability to dodge bullets, she was shocked that she so easily handle shooting a spitting image of her father. Though, it was only an image, not the real thing. She approached Vanessa. "How did you-"/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Ugh! That's not fair! I demand a re-match!" A light voice shouted. All the darkness of the shadowy figure went away, as then a small fairy like creature came out the shadowy figure. A light green little fairy, with strange bandage like clothing. Her little green fairy wings flapped, making her fly towards to Vanessa, getting up in her face. "My gun was defective! It didn't fire the first shot!"/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Vanessa gave her a smug grin. "You just copied the wrong person. Dad always leave the first slot empty." She explained, crossing her arms. "And when it comes to a duel, you never have rematches."/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"The fairy puffed her cheeks out, making an annoyed grown. "Fine! Then you don't get me as a /spanSspan style="font-size: medium;"ummon then! And your stupid /spanSspan style="font-size: medium;"ummoner gun is stupid...! Stupid!"/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Vanessa and Fallen looked at each other, taken aback from this childish being. "News flash, I'm not the Summoner here." She then pointed at Fallen with her thumb./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"The fairy looked at Fallen, as her expression went from angry to awe filled, as if surprised by Fallen. But from what? The fairy approached Fallen, as she gently tugged on her purple bangs. "Hmm... alright. Come with me to my /spanSspan style="font-size: medium;"hrine. I'll join you." She said, suddenly accepting./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Fallen looked at Vanessa, Vanessa shrugging with an expression of pure confusion./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Fallen looked at the fairy, and nodded. "Umm, okay." She said, as she watched the dark surroundings fade away, now finding herself in a green, mossy, forest place. She assumed this was the fairy's domain. Her feet stepped on the rocks on her feet, then saw the small fairy fly about, as she motioned her hand, for Fallen to /br /"The name's Sylph by the way." She said, introducing her name./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"A pleasure to meet you, Sylph. I go by Fallen, for future reference." Fallen introduced herself, smiling contently once she was alone with the Summon./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"3/spansupspan style="font-size: medium;"rd/span/supspan style="font-size: medium;" person (Zelkova)/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"A few minutes past, Bereit reading his book, Imbir simply leaning on the wall, /spantspan style="font-size: medium;"he Assassin spinning a curved knife with a ring on it with his finger, and Zelkova walking around nervously./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Zelkova looked at three. "Aren't you worried about the girls?" He asked them. He /spandidn't like the idea of his Summoner missing, along with his friend./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"The door's glowing." Bereit pointed out, his eyes locked on his book. "So whatever that dark /spanKspan style="font-size: medium;"night thing was, it must have been testing them. Or Fallen, if Vanessa got taken by mistake."/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"I suppose so... I just wish we could see how she is doing." Zelkova explained, looking at the door nervously./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"If your Summoner friend is as strong as you say, than you've got nothing to worry about." The Assassin said, pulling on one of his gloves./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"'span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"If only he knew who she really was…' Bereit thought to himself as he flipped to the next page of his book./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Zelkova sighed through his nose, as he turned around, to see a small shadowy portal open up. He gasped, alerting the others./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Vanessa slowly rose out of it, her eyes closed, then slowly opened. She looked at the others, shivering. "Umm... sup?" She said awkwardly./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Sup? You and Fallen were dragged away by that /spanKspan style="font-size: medium;"night! Wait/span..span style="font-size: medium;" where's Fallen?" Zelkova asked, worriedly./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Well... it's a weird story. You see, this, 'Evil /spanSspan style="font-size: medium;"ummon' is actually just/span Sylph, our favourite Summoner's next Divinespan style="font-size: medium;". This little green fairy thing." She explained, making a gesture with her hand, showing the size of it./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"So she's taking the /spanTspan style="font-size: medium;"rial?" Bereit asked, a bit more intrigued now./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Vanessa nodded. "Yeah. I just wonder what it could be that she's being tested on, considering we practically just proved our worth."/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Maybe she wanted a personal match with you, considering how easily you beat it." The Assassin suggested./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Vanessa shrugged. "Hardly a challenge, really. Well, the only thing we can do now is wait." She said, walking to the wall and sitting next to it./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"If Vanessa was so calm and assuring about Fallen's return, than perhaps there really was nothing to worry about. So everyone went back to what they were doing prior Vanessa's sudden return. They just had to all believe in Fallen's own strength./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"The group waited for a while longer, and then the door to Sylph's domain opened up, a few butterflies flying out. Fallen came /spanout, clutchingspan style="font-size: medium;" her staff with both hands. She looked at everyone and smiled. "We got ourselves a new /spanDspan style="font-size: medium;"ivine!" She said cheerfully./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Everyone smiled and stood up, happy that they got a new one. Though, Bereit looked at Fallen's smile, noticing a red smudge on it. "Hey, Fallen." He said, to get her attention. He then gently ran his finger over h/spanerspan style="font-size: medium;" lip,/span much to Fallen's surprise. She noticed the red on his finger, span style="font-size: medium;"her face turn/spaning span style="font-size: medium;"red/span. She quickly span style="font-size: medium;"looked away. "I-It's nothing! I promise!" She exclaimed./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"It kinda looks like lipstick to me." Vanessa said, stepping closer./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Fallen hid her face under her hair, gripping her staff. But, she knew when she had to tell the truth. "S-Sylph had me be the..." She took a deep, shaky breath. "The p-p-princess to her royal..." She stopped, freezing in place. "Th-the princess to her royal tea party."/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Everyone grew silent, until Bereit and /spantspan style="font-size: medium;"he Assassin burst out laughing, Bereit falling to the ground in laughter, /spantspan style="font-size: medium;"he Assassin holding onto the wall with his right hand./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"I-it's not funny!" Fallen shouted. "I had to!" Her eyes quickly flashed a pale/spanr blue than what they usually were, before reverting back to normal./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"The two kept laughing for a few seconds, Fallen being completely embarrassed. Though, she wasn't for long, when Sylph came out and flew in front of them. "Hey! Stop laughing at her, bunch of jerks!" She demanded. "She may be embarrassed about it, but she did what she had to! And you should appreciate that!"/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"A few more seconds of laughter came from the two, until their laughter grew slower and more controlled. Bereit sat up, rubbing the tears away from his eyes. "Fallen..." He caught his breath. "I'm sorry. I really am happy you got it, it's just... come on, don't you think that's funny?"/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Fallen looked up a bit, her face still red./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Look, Fallen." The Assassin spoke up. "Don't take our laughter as an insult. We just laugh because you came out okay. Hell, you came out with some make up on your face. It's just... different, don't you think?"/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Fallen thought about it, as her embarrassed frown turned to a smile. She hummed, and then they turned into giggles, then to full laughs. She laughed for a few seconds, and looked at them. "Yeah, you're right. Compared to the other trials I took, it is funny. I had to have a tea party." She laughed more, realizing how funny it really was./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Sylph looked at Fallen, finding it sweet how she changed her mood so quickly, thanks to her /spanGspan style="font-size: medium;"uardians. She gave Bereit and the other /spanGspan style="font-size: medium;"uardians a smile, then returned to Fallen. It seems Sylph didn't have to do much after all./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Fallen sighed happily. "Okay. So, where to next?" She asked, ready to go find the next Divines./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"The ground shook, the group stumbling. Rocks began to fall, the cave beginning to collapse. "Shit. We need to run! Now!" The Assassin warned, as everyone ran for the exit./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"One by one, they all ran through the narrow path, watching the ceiling fall around them. They made it to the exit, but climbing back up was a problem. They had no proper footing or anything to hang on to./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Imbir knew what needed to be done. He took his gun, loaded regular bullets and fired at the wall, to make holes they could hang on to./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"The Assassin did the same, as he pulled out his sniper rifle and fired at the wall, making holes that were nearly bigger than Imbir's. Once there was enough of them, the party began to climb up the holes to exit the cave./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Once they got out, they all turned to look at the collapsing cave, but as it turned out, the whole mountain was shaking. They looked up to the sky, to see there was a large blue pillar coming down./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"The Assassin stepped forward, looking at the pillar in awe. "What the hell is that?" He asked, with as much awe in his tone, with a hint of fear./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Those might be where the anomalies are coming from. We need to get to the top, now!" Fallen said, turning to everybody./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"If we had something to fly us up there, that would make it easier for us." Bereit suggested./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Fallen had nothing to bring them up there. The Phoenix rejected their connection, Shiva could, but there were too many people for her to carry. The Siren couldn't help. Though, she recalled what Sylph's ability was. She got an idea just then./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"She brought her staff out, and spun it, then swung it up, as Sylph came out, looking down at Fallen. "What are your wishes, my master?" She said in a joking tone./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Fallen then pointed at the large blue pillar. "We need to get to the top of that mountain!" She explained./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"br /Sylph nodded, as she pressed her hands forward, towards the pillar. "Say no more." She swung her arms back, black energy surging around her hands. She then swung them forward, making a large monster appear from the ground, as black as her magic. It was a giant lion like monster, but it/spansspan style="font-size: medium;" claws were long and sharp. It brought it/spansspan style="font-size: medium;" self in front of the party, and lowered it's self./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Fallen looked at Sylph and sm/spanirkedspan style="font-size: medium;". "Thank you. We'll handle it from here." She said, as she ran onto the lion like figure. The rest climbed on top as well./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Sylph went back into Fallen's body, and the creature roared. It then started to climb the mountain, leaping far and causing craters with where its claws landed. Its speed on scaling the mountain was incredible to everyone. It had only been 5 seconds, and it was already halfway there. And the mountain was big enough as it is./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"3/spansupspan style="font-size: medium;"rd/span/supspan style="font-size: medium;" person (Bereit)/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Bereit looked back at the ground they once stood on, seeing how high they reached, feeling a little dizzy from the height and speed they were going. He turned back to see the others, Vanessa cheering, and the /spanrestspan style="font-size: medium;" calm as can be./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"He could only imagine how things could have been if they didn't have this /spanSspan style="font-size: medium;"ummon. They could have been too late to get there. He shook his head, to brush away the thought./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"3/spansupspan style="font-size: medium;"rd/span/supspan style="font-size: medium;" person (General)/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"The party made it to the top of the mountain, each of them getting off the /spanSspan style="font-size: medium;"ummoned creature. It then disappeared, leaving them with the large blue pillar./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"The ground that was struck with the blue pillar was slowly breaking part, as if it was being torn open./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"So, any bright ideas? How do we stop this thing?" Vanessa asked everybody./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Fallen looked at the massive pillar in fear, wondering what COULD she do? Though, she recalled they killed what was in it, in order to shut it, just like with Ruhe. She looked up at the sky, seeing the limitless distance it came from. "We killed whatever came from the anomaly. So... there has to be something creating them, right?" Fallen explained. "Though, I don't see us getting there anytime soon."/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"So... we just let this happen?" Zelkova asked./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"No. If we can't reach it, we bring it to us. But for now, we need to catch its attention." Fallen explained./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Close enough anomalies until whatever is creating them comes to us?" Bereit said, thinking that was the plan./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"It was from the start." Fallen answered, grinning a little. "So we let this anomaly open up, and whatever comes out, we kill it."/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Everyone nodded in agreement, though /spantspan style="font-size: medium;"he Assassin began to walk away./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Bereit turned to him, having a slight angered expression. "Where do you think you're going?"br /br /"Finding a good sniping position." He answered. "Hit it when and where it least expects it." He added, still walking./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Bereit was sceptical at first, but he saw where he was heading, he figured he had nothing to worry about. He just didn't fully trust th/spane Aspan style="font-size: medium;"ssassin yet./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"The pillar then disappeared, as the anomaly began to crack the very ground it was struck on. The middle of it exploded, as another dragon came out, but this one was different from the last one./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"This dragon had massive, muscular forearms, its scales being a deep red. Then its head came out, revealing it/spansspan style="font-size: medium;" massive mouth, bearing serrated sharp teeth, while having tusks, much like a sabertooth tiger. The deep black eyes gazed upon the party, growling. It then roared at them, and quickly crawled out of the anomaly./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"It/spansspan style="font-size: medium;" mouth opened wide, charging at Fallen, intending to swallow her whole./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Fallen ran back, thinking she could escape it, but Shiva came in and swept her away, flying in the air./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Shiva had a shocked expression of how fast this thing was, along with the long crater it made with it's mouth./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Shiva, as much as I want to stay out of danger, we need to stay close enough to help our friends!" Fallen quickly explained before they darted through the air towards the rest of the group./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Bereit shot lighting at it, to catch it/spansspan style="font-size: medium;" attention. Though he felt immediate regret, when the dragon darted its head directly to him. It then charged at him, with its mouth wide open once more. But it felt one of Imbir's bullets pierce its gums, and exploded, parts of its teeth on the left side flying out of it/spansspan style="font-size: medium;" mouth./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"It roared in pain, but then kept charging at Bereit. Bereit coated his blade in lightning, and made the lightning grow long, as he swung horizontally, the lighting cutting through, but only damaging the large tusks it had. /span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"The dragon span style="font-size: medium;"stopped for a moment, as it then brought it/spansspan style="font-size: medium;" large head up and swung it down./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Bereit dodged out of the way, watching rocks fly in the air from the impact, along with the ground shaking./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Bereit! The legs!" Imbir shouted, informing him o/spannspan style="font-size: medium;" what he should go for./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Bereit turned to look at the large and muscular legs it had, seeing what Imbir implied. Bereit charged at it, his blade still fresh with lightning. As Bereit brought it back to going for a deep slash, the spiked tail of the dragon swung and knocked him far back. He tumbled on the ground, struggling to get back up. He gazed at his wounds, seeing a purplish colour to his blood. "Shit... poison." He said, feeling sick./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Fallen came in from above, Shiva holding /spanherspan style="font-size: medium;" on her shoulder. Fallen quickly summoned her /spanweapon and jumped off of Shiva, falling towards the dragon. span style="font-size: medium;"She sunk her ice glaive across its back, as it left a freezing wound all over it's scaly back. From there, Shiva swooped in and grabbed Fallen out of harm's way before flying off again./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Zelkova ran to Bereit's side, as he placed his hands on his chest, his hands glowing. "Esuna!" He shouted, the poison dissolving from his chest./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Bereit immediately got back up, despite having a deep piercing wound. "Thanks." He stood still, trying to find the right moment to strike for the legs./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Wait! I need to heal the wound/span!span style="font-size: medium;"" Zelkova said, standing to his side./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"My wounds are the least of our problems right now!" Bereit countered. "I need to-" The loud sound of a gun shot was heard, as a large hole burst open on the dragon's leg, making it fail to stand straight, falling to its side./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Bereit turned his head to where the gun shot was heard, seeing /spantspan style="font-size: medium;"he Assassin was in his position, finger on the trigger, and eye on the scope, with th/spane span style="font-size: medium;"flash of his scope./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Well... I guess he has that covered." Bereit said, as he then ran forward, going for the head./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Though, Fallen had a plan. She landed with Shiva on the ground. "Shiva, freeze it solid." She instructed, pointing at the /br /Shiva stepped forward, as she put both her hands forward, as the struggling dragon began to freeze from the feet, a blizzard circling them. It then went all along it/spansspan style="font-size: medium;" body, eventually freezing it solid in a thick coating of ice./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"They could see the dragon's eyes were still moving, but the body couldn't./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Everyone looked at it, now that it wasn't as much of a threat anymore./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Most were breathless, after the heavy amount of movement they had done in this battle. Bereit approached the dragon, his blade still coated in the bolts of lighting. He placed his hand on the top of his sideways head, and gently pressed his blade against the ice. He increased the intensity of the lighting, and pressed his sword through the head, as the ice that surrounded it slowly began to melt./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"The dragon's mouth stayed open, and it's arms and legs went limp./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Remember, the anomaly's gonna pull anything near it! We should get away!" Imbir warned./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Everyone stepped back, towards the edge of the mountain, as everything went eerily silent. And with those few seconds, they could feel the strong pull of the anomaly beginning to close./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Though, with everyone's hurry to get away, the dragon was sucked in, as it fell in the anomaly, disintegrating in the pink light inside the anomaly./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Everyone hung on tight, watching rocks and large chunks of the ground fly towards the anomaly. Shiva held onto Fallen as tightly as she could without hurting the Summoner./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"It left Bereit in thought, wondering where it was all going off to. What would they do with it? But those thoughts were brushed away once the strong pull of the anomaly stopped, and the crack was gone. Everybody got up to take a look, seeing it was gone./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"They gathered around, ready to collect their thoughts on what just had happened./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Well... that's another anomaly closed. Let's just hope this one doesn't come back." Bereit said, wincing a bit, seeing he still had the wounds./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Zelkova stepped to his side, and began to heal it./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Fallen stepped forward, to speak. "Considering how this one was different than the last anomaly we went up against, I get the feeling they have more Erpels than we realize."/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Everyone looked at Fallen, confused as to what she just said. "Erpels?" Imbir asked./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"It's what they are called. I heard it in Mauer." Fallen explained. "And... they take forms of dragons, but are beyond dragons. A higher form."/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Hearing this, it caused worry among the party. A stronger form of dragons? They could imagine how far 'stronger' could go for these things. They only had two fights with these things, and they were always had one person heavily injured do to the fight. They could only imagine what other forms of dragons they had./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Well, at least we closed this one, right? I'd say it's a mission accomplished." The Assassin said, approaching the group./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Our mission is far from over. Though... you're right. With every one we close, we get closer to ending this." Bereit said, looking at /spantspan style="font-size: medium;"he Assassin. He then looked at the vast rocky terrain that surrounded them. "But... from the way I see it, I think we aren't needed here. I don't see anymore anomalies from up here."/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Then we look for more /spanSspan style="font-size: medium;"hrines." Imbir said, standing next to him. "I'm sure there'll be more sooner or later." He added./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Everyone gathered together, seeing the view of Holhen. It wasn't the most colourful view, but it was rather pretty to look at./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"So..." Vanessa looked down the mountain, feel a bit dizzy from the height. "Guess we should get going. Those /spanSspan style="font-size: medium;"hrines aren't gonna find themselves."/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Bereit looked at Vanessa, and smiled a bit. "Yeah. Let's."/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Fallen thanked Shiva for her excellent service before she summoned Sylph, as she made the same large lion like creature, that escorted them down the mountain./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"1/spansupspan style="font-size: medium;"st/span/supspan style="font-size: medium;" person/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"We knew there was no turning back. We just didn't know how far we were going./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Save your game up to this point?/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Yes/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"No/span/span/p