Within hours since the journey had begun, the two Heroes sat there in the front seat and watched the candlelight flicker in the path before them. Behind them, there was awful snoring that seemed to echo and never quit.

Hammer was the one in charge of the horses, but she paid little attention to the path, and more on their conversation. It has been over two decades since she has been here, and she felt misplaced. Everyone and everything has changed. Did Reaver truly know more about Sparrow than Hammer did?

"It was never a happy ending. At least, not for me."

Hammer took her eyes off the road to look at her friend. "What do you mean? You should have felt great, I know I did. You accomplished your life purpose, and not everyone can say that, Sparrow. Everyone is always searching for what they want in life, and when they finally know, sometimes their story ends there. Unlike you, I spent most of my life wondering what I wanted, and then I found it through our travels. I don't think I can ever accomplish it like you did with yours, but I feel closer each and every day."

"It wasn't my life purpose though…" She spread her hands out in front of her. "Theresa… She taught me and raised me… She molded me around that single purpose in order to defeat Lucian, for her own sake, not mine. And…after she left, I had nothing for myself."

"She…" The ex-monk stopped herself. "You can't be serious!"

"I only had money after his death. I wanted to tear down that castle, but I was stopped by the advisors. I felt wrong. Did I make my choice too quickly? Money couldn't even change the way I felt. But the dead should remain dead. Just like how I should've been left dead. I would prefer I went with my heart, but you cannot tamper with the fates. Once you did so, you would isolate yourself from God's light."

Sparrow paused for a moment. "Let's talk about something other than my mid-life crisis."

Hammer wanted to pressure this topic more. Money. Reliving the dead. Choices. Isolation. Fates.

However, Hammer held back. Sparrow would talk about this when she was ready. So she started a conversation elsewhere. "Why did you never write to me? I could have been here and helped you!"

She said with insignificance, "Hammer, do you know how it feels to be abandoned over and over? Eventually, you lose hope to hold onto what's lost and hold onto material goods."

"Sparrow!" Hammer's voice echoed throughout the forest. There was a slight pause in Reaver's snoring.

There was silence between them. Hammer didn't know what to say to her, everything she could think of didn't feel right. Especially at this moment when it was most needed.

"How about you?" Sparrow turned in her seat to look at Hammer.

"I… I found a place where I belonged." That was the best she could manage. "Look, Sparrow, maybe that was what you needed. A place where you felt like home, where you belonged, unlike that castle."

The Fourth Hero nodded, "I know, but it's too late. The closest I can come to that… is this journey."

And that was the main difference between the two friends.

Hammer spoke up once more. "I can't say that I blame you. I hear the other warriors talk about dying in their sleep, but I would fear that. Where you just blissfully drift off, and there, you're dead. If you died in battle, then you know it's coming with that incoming blow. Either way, your mind has no time to settle on that…there's no resolution. At least I think so."

"To each his own."

"Yeah…I couldn't choose either. It would have to be something in-between. I want things to be finalized, but I don't want to sit around moping about my own mortality." She pulled on the reins, and turned the horse to a stop. "Queen Sparrow, let's rest here. We can't make the horses endure this much more."

"Hammer. The Queen is dead. Stop talking like that." She took a deep breath, "I'm an orphan, a widow and a Hero. The Queen's title was taken by money. I have no royal blood. Logan and Finch were crafted to have those titles. Just call me Sparrow."

Reaver's words rang through Hannah's head once more.

"As you wish, Sparrow."

…

A few days later, the carriage reached their destination.

Reaver stood in front of the cave entrance. Even though he was a good distance away from the opening, his nose was filled with a mildew smell. The other two were managing the supplies, and setting up a small camp. The horse was untied, feeding on grass, and wandering by the small stream. The brunet placed his cane between his shoes, and showed his disdain to the two ladies.

What is this? A quest to fetch for a treasure? Rescue? Or murder?

He couldn't see any possible reason why Sparrow would want to come to this dull cave instead of letting a normal treasurer do it. There was nothing appeasing by the sight of it. Why would she want her last mission in life to be of this cave? Why not a daring battle against a ghost on top of a mountain?

"The Hero of Oakvale's final resting place."

That name caused Reaver's heart to skip a beat. The two ladies were speaking a distance from him, but the words found their way to him.

"The Oakvale Hero was sent in search of a lost artifact, or something to that extent, and died before finishing. His body has never been retrieved because of the dark mystery surrounding this place."

"Three's better than one, that's what they always say." Hammer said, getting herself pumped up for the journey ahead.

Reaver made a comment of, "Just imagine what he has left on his body."

"The adventure begins tomorrow."

Sparrow patted the log next to her. "Come along, Reaver. We are about to eat."

The three of them sat along the firepit. Water from the steam was being put to a boil. Vegetables were tossed inside and allowed to cook. A bowl of stew was passed along to each of them.

"The Hero of Oakvale. He was called Chicken Chaser in his old town, but at Serenity Farm in Oakfield, I found a book that had the name Hawk written in it. He possessed the three attributes of Heroes. He's my ancestor."

"So this is why you brought us to these forsaken lands?" Reaver muttered back.

"I thought it would be reasonable for me to discover my roots. His blood is what led me to my path."

"And what will you do once you find his skeleton? You could easily just leave flowers at the mouth of the cave."

"I know this is uncertain, but I started having messages in my dreams ever since I rested at Serenity Farm. He wants to be there with me at Serenity Farm."

"We are following words from your dream. May your wisdom reach the depths of the country. The Fourth Hero was led to her end by her dreams."

"Hey! If you have a problem with it then just leave!" Hammer shouted at him.

"I told you my purpose, dear," Reaver argued, "I have to make an impression on the youths."

"Can't you just say you're worried about her?"

"Those emotions are how you get killed."

Sparrow made a sound that caused Hammer to stop from escalating this any longer. "I will say I'm happy I still have the both of you along for the ride. Even if the purposes differ." She finished her bowl, "I will be the first to leave. I have some rest to catch up with."

As soon as Sparrow was out of earshot, Reaver looked at Hammer. "Oh dear, did you think you could get me in trouble? Force me away from the journey?"

"I wish you gave Sparrow her respects. Once this journey is finished, I hope you will allow me to show you how easy it is to break a spine."

…

On their first day of adventuring the cave, they found themselves in some trouble.

That's when they started hearing it. A small crackle that echoed across the barren cavern. They all stood still and tried to pinpoint the noise. Within seconds, a bullet hit the side of a corner and sparks ignited from the friction. Then they rolled out into the opening, with their weapons withdrawn, and charged forward. "AMBUSH!" The man, who looked like the leader called out, trotted towards them with his longsword over his head.

"ARG!" Hammer roared as she charged forward, meeting them in the middle. Several of them surrounded them. The others headed towards the other two heroes. Hammer's hammer sent several of them back to the ground, yet they got back up, coming back for her.

Reaver swiftly went from one enemy to the next. Each fell down with one shot from his Dragonstomper .48. He showed little patience for these bandits.

The Fourth Hero stood behind Hammer and Reaver, and tried aiming for those enemies. The ones that weren't taken out by Reaver, headed her way. Gunshots rang through the air, slamming against the cave wall, or barely missing her skin by a tad. She shot back with her gun, and sent some of the enemies a good distance away from her. Readily her melee weapon, she looked towards the crowd that formed around her.

Her weapon clanked it against their armor. No damage was taken. She tried again, aiming towards their head; they dodged out of the way before she could even try. Enemies surrounded her, and had her trapped in that spot. Hammer quickly turned her focus behind her. Reaver picked off the enemies from the outside. As soon as Sparrow's area was cleared, Hammer turned to her with a look of concern.

"Stop trying to act like a goddamn hero," Reaver called out, obviously annoyed, "Use your willpower and let Hammer take out the frontline!"

The leader, with most of his troops unconscious on the ground, rang a battle cry throughout the field. He raised up his spear, another of his weapons that was covered with pieces of tied leather, and aimed forward to the weak point, Sparrow.

The ground around the Queen fared up. Rocks broke out of the ground and were pushed away from her. The bandits took the impact. Hammer took a hold of her hammer and gave a heavy blow to the bandit leader as he was being pushed away from the rocks.

As soon as he fell down, a fireball with the momentum of a bullet came his way. He was able to twist his body around just in time to miss the major blow of the magic attack. "Drats!" the bandit leader yelled and jolted back onto his feet. He grabbed his spear on the ground, and looked at the three heroes that had the time to surround him.

He could see the blue power emitting from the palms of her hands.

He bit his tongue and knew this would be his last attack. He raced forward and dragged her down with him.

Three swords appeared above them. They fell at such a rapid speed and thrusted through his body. The swords disappeared as soon as the deed was done. Blood splattered across the ground, and onto her.

"Sparrow!" Hammer grabbed the bandit's body and threw him across the ground. Sparrow only looked at her with a small nostalgic smile.

Reaver shook his head, "This won't do… You're not in a fighting condition at all." He sighed into his hand.

Taking Hammer's hand, she was lifted back up on her feet. "I am, I won't back down now." She took her sword and placed it back in its sleeve. "I wasn't expecting there to be any bandits in these parts. I was just surprised, and I'm only a little rusty with my sword. Next time… it will be better."

"Only focus on your magic. We can take care of melee and ranged attacks. At least promise me that."

They should have known from the beginning that she was ill, that she wasn't the same fighter as before, but there was a small hope that even though they aged, that they would still be the same prime fighter as before.

The brunet walked between the corpses and checked for any treasures that could have been kept. When he was scouting those who were in the front line, he felt a small pulse. The bandit opened one of his eyes, reached upwards, and tried to grip onto the Pirate's sleeve. "R-Reav-"

And there was a gunshot.

"They're still alive!" Hammer shouted, "They weren't a threat, they were unconscio-"

Gunshot after gunshot rang throughout the cave. There were no more pulses.

"It's done now." He slipped his weapon back in its hostler and looked at the other two. They both had a look of shame, and he could only say, "Don't look at me like that. Our supplies are at the mouth of this cave, if these bandits lived, then they would take what's out there. We would be stuck in a siege."

Neither one of them had any sort of reply.

…

"This should work," Hammer said. They found a small, out-of-the-way, tunnel that led nowhere. There they heard a stream running through the walls.

This was the fourth day into this adventure, and so far, they slept out in the open. Being surrounded by three sides would do wonders for their sleeping habits. Hammer never felt at ease sleeping with a corpse that was merely twenty feet away from her. She could shield herself a bit now that they could settle down their camping supplies for once.

Bandits, goblins, and other fugly creatures marked their way.

Hammer was the most bothered by their bodies. She spent years of training to learn how to fight without harm, yet it didn't matter here and now. When she was first told about this journey, she knew she would have to kill something, but she thought of goblins, not actual humans. That thought was the only way she could have prepared herself for this mission.

"It's useless." Reaver commented when he turned around and saw her face, "They were hired to ambush us."

Hammer looked at him, and then at their bodies, "But how would they get the information? They couldn't just be waiting here for the odd chance that someone would come this way."

"You underestimate criminals. Sparrow was strict in her policies. Logan will be open for a new platform. I wouldn't be surprised if they followed our trail and figured out the destination that way."

Sparrow kicked a rock further down the dungeon; the rattling echoed until there was a piercing silence. "Then they must have skipped a few details."

Her shoe got stuck inside of a crack, and before she could notice, she was falling down. A sharp snap echoed through the tunnels, and the two heroes raced to her side. With a grunt, she was lifted up by the both of them. Hammer didn't need Reaver's effort, but they both were showing concern for their friend.

They laid down their packs and Sparrow among their makeshift camp. It wasn't as grand as their camp outside of the cavern, but it was a good resting spot.

Hammer got on her knees and pressed her hand against Sparrow's ankle. "I'm no doctor, but I feel a bit worried about this. Can't say until it starts to swell. We are going to have to be careful with her."

"It's strange to see how easy it is for you to get injured," Reaver commented. "I remember how healthy you were when Lucian shot you."

"Hah," Sparrow scoffed, "I had Theresa's blessing back then. Not anymore."

"You don't sound so fond of her," Hammer mentioned, "Did something happen while we were gone?"

Sparrow felt like this should be kept unmentioned, but what was the point of keeping secrets now. "Logan said he met with a strange woman. She only told him that she could see the future and that she would keep an eye on him. To think that she aims to take my own children now."

Reaver sat back on the bedroll and looked at the cavern's ceiling. "I know it's not my place to get involved in family's affairs. However this may cause some drama that I'm delighted in. Hero of Oakvale, or Hawk as you know, had a blind sister. Her name was Theresa."

"Oh, so precious of her. My great aunt couldn't give me the knowledge. Only information about how to be a hero for her sake."

"We know where the spire is. We can go and break down the doors, Sparrow."

None of them held good regards to the seer. Sparrow could tell Hammer a great truth, but she felt this was pointless. Her father could never be revived. Theresa foresaw the future and knew Lucian's men were on the move. She knew Hammer needed a reason for revenge against Lucian, and she kept quiet about the matter.

"I have enough revenge in this life." Sparrow added on, "And she has the spire. There is no power to move him now. She may have used us for her own bidding, but the country needed the change."

Reaver laid his hand on her thigh. "I am not speaking to get in your good graces, but you did the best. Now, Hammer, let us rest peacefully."