Isaiah and Alfonso arrived at Sercen to find no trace of combat. The ruin was peaceful, but something was definitely wrong. Isaiah and Fons looked around the standing ruins, but could not find the Bosmer or Khajiit anywhere.

The Imperial and Nord entered Sercen with weapons ready. They walked down the steps into the main room, which was also completely silent. Their steps echoed on the stone floor.

"Maybe they went to the Roxey..." Fons suggested.

Isaiah however saw something in the sleeping area. On each Andlaen and Ra'Meth's beds were boxes, about three feet wide, seven feet long, and two feet tall. The two walked over, knowing and dreading what the boxes were and what they contained.

The two Cards stood above the coffins inside of which were the bodies of their comrades. There were no cuts, no bruises, blood, signs of trauma, they were just dead. Simple.

Isaiah and Alfonso carried the coffins outside, made one for Thurod, and dug three six foot deep holes.

The Dunmer brothers and the Dunmer sisters arrived soon after. When Sumika and Eyana saw the bodies, they began sobbing uncontrollably on Alderich and Makenna's respective shoulders. Alderich and Makenna, who had been expecting this, remained silent while comforting them.

Ryan arrived after the three Wild Cards had been buried. Seeing the fresh graves, he knocked on the door to the ruin. Makenna answered.

"What do you want?" he asked from inside. "It is your fault this happened."

Isaiah called from inside the ruin, "Let him in Makenna."

Makenna, hearing his leader, reluctantly opened the door wider to allow the Breton passage.

Ryan followed Makenna to the dining area where Isaiah, Fons, Alderich, Sumika, and Eyana sat.

"You quit the Mages Guild?" Isaiah asked Pryde as he approached.

Ryan nodded. "At the Arch-Mage's suggestion, I resigned my post. I would like to join you."

Isaiah let out a sigh. "Very well," he said, "it is unavoidable."

Alderich stood up slamming his fists on the table. "No!" he protested. "He is the reason this all happened."

"Sit down Alderich," Isaiah said unshakingly. "He is not the reason for this and neither is the Mages Guild. It would have found us eventually. Besides, have you not heard the saying 'do not shoot the messenger'?" Isaiah turned to Sumika and Eyana, "I would like you two to join as well if you are willing."

"No," Alderich said shaking his head, "Sumika will not be put in harm's way."

"And neither will Eyana," Makenna added.

"That is hardly your choice," Sumika said to the brothers.

"But you will have to tell us what is going on," Eyana demanded of Isaiah.

"No," Alderich started, "you two will not fight."

"No?" Sumika asked in an amused tone. "You two have been fighting for us for half a century. Thurod, Andlaen, and Meth were our friends too, we will help avenge them."

"Given fifty years is not long in terms of a Dark Elf's live," Eyana said, "it is too long for us to stand idly by while you two risk your lives."

"Should I tell you what I have discovered?" Ryan asked the group, obviously pleased with the turn of events.

Isaiah nodded.

"The creature we encountered on the Silver Road was indeed a shade, one of the more powerful servants of Sithis," Pryde began. "The thing said most of our names along with three others: Jamie Weaver, Christopher Showers, and Hanele. Do any of these names mean anything to any of you?"

All shook their heads and scattered 'no's were heard.

"What do you mean 'most of our names'?" Sumika questioned.

Alderich answered, "Makenna's name was not on the list."

Before the sisters could say anything, Isaiah finished what Alderich was saying. "The shade did say it needed Makenna though, I would not worry about it."

Ryan continued, "The shade also said four of us were missing when five of the names were not present. I do not know what this means, but I do not care to speculate now. Regardless, the Arch-Mage and I believe we will meet the rest somewhere along our journey."

"And what exactly is our journey?" Makenna asked.

"We are unsure of that, but we do know it has something to do with the Lord of the Void, Sithis," Ryan responded. "We also believe we will all receive some kind of... power, like Alfonso's or Alderich's."

"Alderich's power?" Sumika questioned.

"He... ah..." Makenna vainly attempted to explain.

"I will... just demonstrate," Alderich stopped him.

Alderich stood up and stepped away from the table. He began to concentrate, although the others were unclear on what. He burst into flames. Sumika and Eyana screamed, but stopped when the fire began to form a kind of armor around him. This suit of armor, which understandably looked like solidified flames, would absorb any and all kinds of fire based attacks.

"Alderich?" Sumika said questioningly, standing up and reaching out to touch him.

"No," he said and stepped back further. The flames disappeared as he stood there.

"Alderich?" Sumika repeated. She poked him in the shoulder. Discovering he was no longer hot, she hugged him.

"Well," Ryan said finally, "beyond this, we have no idea what we are needed for."

"So there is nothing we can do?" Makenna asked.

"At the moment? No," Pryde responded.

Isaiah spoke, "Well then, we wait. Until something happens to advance the plot, it is business as usual."