Chapter 3

The caravan was making its way through Za'ha Woods. On the way they saw a small shack and decided to see who was in it. Skyler knocked on the door and when it opened they saw the face of an elderly monk smiling at them.

"Welcome Friends," The monk called, "I am Artur, A monk who lives in these woods. I was a pivotal character in banishing the demon Formotiis."

Mark impressed by this coud only say, "Wow! You're a legend!"

Artur chuckled, "Hardly I was just doing the tasks set before me. Yet it was not without sacrifice…"

Tissa asked, "What did you sacrifice?"

"A lady I loved, Formotiis in a final breath crushed every bone in her body. Magic users lack the constitution to survive such strong attacks, sadly she didn't see it happening until it was too late." Artur looked down at this point.

"I'm sorry for your loss mister." Isabell said.

A crash came from behind Tissa and she turned drawing a blade but she dropped it instantly when she felt cold steel meet her neck. "Nobody move, asniper is crouched on that hilltop and is more than happy to riddle you with arrows." The shadowy figure dragged Tissa with him keeping his dagger right next to her neck the entire time as a hostage. "Artur, have these people hurt you in any way? Are they demanding money?"

"No, Colm they are simply passing by and I let them in. Is Neimi here as well?" Artur asked.

"Yep, I'll get her to come down." Making a gesture to the hilltop he dropped Tissa, "She'll be here soon. Sorry for the scare friends!" Colm pulled off his hood to reveal a lined face with streaks of silver running through his stunning electric blue hair.

An older lady entered behind Colm almost immediately and she had Pink long hair, the colour was very weak though and her face had a couple lines on it. "ARTUR!!!" She squealed happily. Artur embraced her, "Welcome Neimi, It has been quite a while since I have seen you two."

"I think we overstayed our welcome." Skyler said as he gathered the group together and prepared to leave. Colm blocked the way though.

"I see that sword you have there, Means you're a Mercenary, how about a quick fight?" Colm challenged.

Skyler never able to resist a fight replied, "Ok how many of us do you want to take on?"

Colm gestured at Neimi, "We might be older but us two and Artur can beat all of you."

Skyler smiled, "Well then let's go outside and see how well you do."

Artur grabbed a staff and followed everyone else outside. Artur the sage, Colm the assassin, and Neimi the sniper stood poised ready to fight Skyler's troupe. Skyler the mercenary, Mark the knight, Stefan the Fighter, Lloyd the shaman, Isabell the archer, and Tissa the thief.

They all launched at each other. Neimi drew her bow to its full length shooting off five arrows, forcing the younger counterparts to dive for cover. Artur followed Tissa closely launching spell after spell at her. Tissa climbed up a tree and hid there while she waited for Artur to walk below.

Artur however, had watched her climb it, and he began to chant for an Aura spell, the powerful spell engulfed the tree. Tissa seeing this however jumped form the tree rolling off a shoulder to take out some of the pain she would have felt form jumping. Artur stood over her and clubbed her with the staff he had. He healed her immediately after leaving her unconscious on the ground.

Colm dodged Mark's attacks, Mark chuckled knowing it was only a matter of time until he hit Colm. Colm suddenly whipped out his daggers, spun them around and moved around Mark so fast that he couldn't even be seen. Mark's armour fell away revealing a tall man in a plain tunic and trousers. Mark brought his lance in a sweeping motion to hit Colm but Colm ducked under his legs and then brought them up locked them around Mark's neck flipping Mark to the ground in disgrace. Leaping upon his prey Colm pinched a certain place on Mark's neck knocking him unconscious. Colm moved on through the forest looking for the next opponent.

Neimi was laying down covering fire and keeping the enemy pinned to the trees. An arrow flew back at her suddenly. It missed her though and as she looked at it she realized it had a dark spell bound to it she rolled away, and saw a huge explosion happen where she used to be. Neimi drew her bow aiming for the place where the arrow came from. All she heard was, "Nighty-night." As Stefan dropped from above using the flat edge of the axe to knock Neimi unconscious.

Artur, had felt the dark magic and moved towards Lloyd and Isabell's hiding place. Before walking in so they could see him, he pulled out a sleep staff and used it on what he thought was the archer. He heard the sound of someone dropping knowing he got one of them, he rushed in. A swarm of Luna guarded his way in though. Artur didn't even panic as he summoned a light spell to dispel the Luna, he then brought the staff up missing purposely to make Lloyd fall off balance, he then spun the staff, grabbed it in both hands and cracked it over Lloyd's head, knocking him unconscious. He quickly healed the wound after though.

Artur looked around the small clearing seeing the archer asleep on the ground he smiled at a job well done. "Nigthy-night" Stefan said as he crept up from behind and knocked Artur unconscious with the side of his axe.

Colm flew into the clearing and slashed at Stefan forcing him unconscious Stefan swung back though, making the Assassin have to watch his distance. Skyler exploded onto the scene launching at Colm. Colm dodged though Stefan charged him, Colm threw a dagger up and watched it get smashed by the more powerful axe. Skyler hacked at Colm with his sword. Colm feeling the pressure now, working with one dagger continued to dodge waiting for an opening. Stefan swung his axe and missed, Skyler followed up by a slash at Colm. Colm had spotted a second's delay in their stances. They tried the same manoeuvre again. This time Colm ran forward and rolled though Stefan's legs as he was recovering from his strike. Colm steeled himself to silence the both of them.

"Wham!!!" Mark Cried as he slammed the side of his lance into the assassins body. Colm cringed at the hit, continuing with his silence he was able to knock Stefan Unconscious and hit Skyler. Turning to Mark yet again, he jumped into the air and kicked Mark's head. Mark stumbled then fell with a crash this time he wasn't going to be waking up.

Colm and Skyler turned to face one another. They both ran forward Colm brought up his blade Skyler moved to Parry. Colm suddenly tucked his dagger in leapt over Skyler's blade and adjusting his hold threw the dagger where it pinned Skyler to the tree behind him. Colm came up and said, "You tried hard kid, you should be real proud, not everyone can force an assassin to use every inch of skill he has." Colm then plunged both of his hands into Skyler's neck and the world went black.