I am so sorry this chapter took me so long to get out. Every week I kept telling myself, "I'm going to finish it, I'm going to finish it, I'm going to finish it." But alas that didn't happen as I hoped. So to hopefully make up for it I have a nice long chapter for you guys to read and I hope you like it. Enjoy.

A long day awaited them and there was no telling when Li-Ming and Kormac would be back so she took it upon herself to pack some essentials for them while they got ready it wasn't much just some food and health potions as per usual and a blanket for them both if they weren't back by the days end. Outside of the inn, the two warriors were sitting by the forge while Kormac tried the new armor Haedrig had made for him. Leah walked out with their travel bags and Kormac was moving his arms around, getting a feeling for his new gear, he had a big smile on his face so he must have really liked it. He even had a new ax which was kind of big, the kind you would need two hands to wield but that should not have been a problem for a big guy like him.

"Give that ax a few swings. Tell me how it is. If you don't like it just give it back and I'll lend you a sword while I work on it."

Kormac did as what was asked of him and gave it a couple of swings. Afterwords he held it in front of him and nodded. "It's wonderfully crafted. You are a master of your craft."

"I told you he wouldn't disappoint you." Li-Ming said with a smile.

"Aye. You should have seen her when I gave her that sword she now carries."

"I know. I was told."

If she had to be relive that moment one more time she swore she was going to hit one of them but for now she just turned her head and crossed her arms. She saw Leah walking out with their luggage and waved and Leah waved back.

"What's all that Leah?" Li-Ming asked.

"I thought I would pack some things for you guys."

"You didn't have to do all of that you know."

"I know, but the Fields of Misery are huge, it may be a while before you guys find a single shard of that sword you guys were talking about and there's no telling how long you guys will be out there so I thought it would be the decent thing to do."

"Did you pack any food? Because if we're going to be out there for a while I would hate to go without." Kormac said, his question was a little more serious then he thought it was going to be but a man needs food if he's going to fight.

Leah giggled. How typical that the thing on Kormacs mind would be food. The man could probably help himself to a whole feast if he was able. "Yes, Kormac. Don't you worry, I have packed enough food for you both to last you a few days. Bread, apples and all of that."

"I assume you also packed health potions as well." Li-Ming said grabbing her travel bag and opening it up to grab an apple out of it.

"Ah huh. You're going to be fighting goatmen, bruises and cuts are going to be inevitable." Leah replied half-jokingly. She then handed Kormac his bag and he wrapped it around his shoulder.

"You ready to leave Kormac?" Li-Ming asked.

"Yes I am. The sooner we find the shards the sooner we can get back. I don't want to be out for too long, the clouds are getting dark and rain looks very likely."

"Be careful you guys." Leah said as Li-Ming and Kormac started walking away.

After they walked out of the back gate and passed the wooden bridge that crossed over to the fields of misery, they walked for some time before making at the top of a grassy hill where Kormac turned to look at New Tristram. Li-Ming walked up beside of him and he said, "It looks really peaceful from over here." The clouds may have been dark and cloudy and the wind was picking up but in some way it added to the serenity of the picture. Li-Ming looked passed the town to the Cathedral, the hole in the back where the fallen star or in this case, mysterious man fell through was clearly visible. He was right, there was a since of peace and calm to the whole thing from where they were standing which was saying something considering what has happened in the recent month.

"We should get moving. The storm is just behind the Cathedral and if we want to get back before it hits we better hurry." Li-Ming said.

"Do you have any idea where to start? Before you woke up this morning I took the time to study some maps of the area, the fields are pretty expansive, it may be some time before we find a single shard." She placed her fists on her hips, closed her eyes and chuckled. "Did I miss something here? What's so funny?"

"I forget."

"You forget what?"

"I have gift. Unique even amongst mages."

"Which is what exactly?"

"I can see and feel magic."

"You can see magic?" The way she described that was incredibly vague because couldn't every one see magic? He was able to see the magic she created when she used it battle and he was positive everyone could too, unless they were blind. "Forgive me for my ignorance but, can't everyone?"

She laughed out loud before answering. "What you see, is magic given form. The magic you've seen me use was concentrated magic; but magic is a remarkable thing. Magic that has no form, nothing to focus it or contain it - can linger and remain unseen because of it. I have the unique ability to see this magic. It's like seeing a spider's web covered in early morning dew, reflecting the light of the morning sun. Only this spider's web doesn't sit still. It's like floating threads, flying in the wind."

Kormac was beginning to understand. The way Li-Ming described it was clear and easy for him to imagine. He couldn't help but think that the world had missed out on a great poet or philosopher.

"So you're saying that, since you can see and feel this magic that cannot be seen by others, you can trace any magic item to its exact location."

"Yes, you learn quickly. Any magical item releases a bit of magic no matter how weak or strong and if the sword is magical, which I am fully confident it is, we should have no problems finding it."

"Can you see that magic now?"

"Oh yes. It's faint right now but I can see it."

"Then we better not waste any time, the quicker we find these shards the quicker we may be able to save anyone who lives out here. Simple folk have made their homes and lives out here. They will not survive this disaster unless we aid them."

Kormac followed behind Li-Ming as she lead the way having full confidence in what she said about being able to trace the magic she said she felt, they had yet to encounter any of the Khazra or goatmen as the locals called them and they both considered that a good thing. But they did have the storm to worry about and it was picking up, winds blew harder making Li-Ming's robes flap like a flag, the grass whispered and leaves blew from the trees.

Thunder clapped in the sky but it had yet to rain, Kormac feared their trip out here may be short lived and kept an eye out for any place they could use as shelter. Li-Ming almost had it mind to alter the weather to be more agreeable but she decided against it, remembering the last time she attempted to do such a thing and the further disaster it brought. She was child back then so it made since she would make a mistake but she was an adult now and much more in control of her powers but this wasn't a drought they were dealing with, only a rain storm that will come and go with no real damage done, so it would have been unnecessary for her to change it.

Rain poured and quenched the land in a matter of moments and Li-Ming and Kormac were unfortunate enough to be caught in it, Li-Ming couldn't help but attempt to keep herself dry, she used her magic to try and evaporate the water from her body making steam radiate from her body as she did but the rain was to heavy and she gave up trying.

"Li-Ming, over there!" Kormac pointed towards a small wooden cabin and they made their way towards it. The front door was wide open and there were no residents to be seen, they figured whoever lived here must have abandoned it when the goatmen started attacking and they helped themselves inside.

Once they were both inside and the door was shut, Kormac started rummaging through the house. He was making an awful mess and was dropping and knocking things over. He looked more like a thief looking for something valuable rather than a Templar.

"Uhhh…What are you doing?" Li-Ming asked.

"I'm looking for anything we could use to dry ourselves."

She laughed and said, "Come here." She walked towards him and wrapped her arms around him. He was taken aback by the action and was incredibly confused.

"What are you doing?" He asked.

"I'm drying us up. Look around you."

He did and at first saw nothing until he noticed steam rising from their bodies. He looked himself over and saw the water that was covering his armor was disappearing. She was right. Magic was an incredible thing. It was so damn convenient.

"There, that ought to do it." She said letting him go. "How do you feel?"

"Dry! Thank you." He said with a polite smile.

"You're very welcome."

"So are we just going to wait out the storm then?" The question was redundant to ask, he knew that and neither of them wanted to be shut in while the answers they came searching for were getting closer and closer with each passing day. He hoped Li-Ming would be her usual self and insist they move on.

She leaned her elbow on a window and looked outside at the storm as it continued and said. "We don't have much of a choice at the moment."

Curse their luck.

xxxxx

Rainy nights were at most times very relaxing, the sounds of the rain were very therapeutic Leah found. She hummed to herself as she washed the dishes they had used for dinner that night. Deckard Cain was tending to his research while he continued to talk with the stranger. Thunder clapped and light flashed through the window, the loud noise and bright light startled Leah from her thoughts and she looked out the window.

It had been raining almost all day and it got so bad that Haedrig had to stop working for the day and the guards that were patrolling have taken to standing under roof ledges to stay dry. As she stared out the window she hoped that Kormac and Li-Ming were able to find shelter from the rain. They had been gone all day and weren't expected to come back until the next day at the least. She wondered how long it will take them to find one of the shards of the sword that they were talking about. She wasn't worried by any means, she knew that they were more than able to handle themselves, but the fields of misery were a big place and it could be forever before they find a piece of the sword they set out to look for.

"Leah my dear, are you alright?" Deckard Cain asked.

She must have been blanking out. "I'm fine, Uncle. I was just wondering how long it would take them before they find those sword pieces."

"There is no way of telling for certain, but we need to remain confident that they will find them. For our sake."

His last words were cryptic as they tended to be. Leah shook her head and thought how dramatic he could be sometimes. "I'm sure we have nothing to worry about, Uncle. You shouldn't let your legends and prophecies get to your head so much."

"You shouldn't be so quick to discard legends." The stranger said. Leah turned her head to look at them, successfully hiding her disbelief. "From what you uncle has shared with me about the prophecy of the End Times, I feel like…they should be heeded."

On no! Not another one. "Why is that?" Leah asked.

"I don't know, but I feel like what this scriptures foretell-has something to do with, me. I can't remember what or why. Not until the sword is returned to me."

"Then you guys should get back to it." Leah said before returning to washing the dishes. She was beginning to think that everyone around her was gullible. Her uncle, Li-Ming, Kormac and now this stranger all buy it. Was there anything she could do about? Probably not, so for now she'll continue to let them indulge in their fantasies while she remained in the realm of reality. Someone had to and if none of them were willing to do it then it fell to her to do it for them and when the day arrived when they all realize that they were nothing but stories she'll be there to set them on the right path.

xxxxx

It was a quite night despite the blowing wind and pouring rain, Li-Ming and Kormac had settled in for the night hours ago and both were sleeping contently. Li-Ming slept in the one bed the cabin had and Kormac took to the floor as per usual.

Kormac was sound asleep until an unfamiliar and animalistic noise coming from outside reached his ears. He slowly opened his eyes and saw light that looked to be on a fire torch coming from outside one of the windows and he was instantly awake and alert. Li-Ming was still asleep and slightly snoring, Kormac crawled towards the bed as silently as he could so as not to make too much noise with his heavy armor. He lightly shook Li-Ming's arm and she grunted and protested.

"Mmm…what is it?" Li-Ming said a little louder than what Kormac would have preferred. "Kormac what are you…" He placed a hand over her mouth and placed his index finger over his lips. He released her and pointed towards the window, she looked where he was pointing and the light disappeared from the view as whatever it was went away.

She carefully got out of bed and crouched towards the window and snuck a peek to see what was out there. All she could see was the rain as it hit the window and the darkness outside.

She sat down, back against the wall and Kormac whispered, "Did you see anything?"

"No, but whatever was out there seems to have left."

"Do you think it saw us?"

She shrugged her shoulders and said, "Either it did and didn't care or it didn't at all and left."

Getting back up to do a double check, Li-Ming peeked through the window again only this time she gasped and quickly got back down as she saw a large goat looking creature standing just outside the window peaking trough.

"What?" Kormac asked.

"Khazra." She mouthed back. She was unsure if the goatman standing outside saw her or not and she wasn't sure if it was the only one or not. Either way she wasn't taking any chances and grabbed her swords handle, ready to draw it at a moment's notice. For a moment all seemed quiet and the tension they felt began to fade and they allowed themselves to relax.

All of a sudden something rammed into the front door of the cabin; the goatman was trying to get in. There was no doubt that they knew they were in there and Li-Ming and Kormac stood up and readied their weapons both making sure to stand clear from the window. The goatman rammed into the front door again splitting the wood in some places and the force from the hit caused the door to weaken.

Another goatman ran to the window, it was the one holding the lantern and the creature threw the lantern through the window. The lantern hit the wall and a fire broke lose in the cabin but the goatmen's attempt to force them out was met with failure as Li-Ming put out the fire out with an ice spell.

For some reason the goatman that was going at the door stopped his assault. Seconds passed and nothing happened again and neither of them liked it. They heard deep growling sounds coming from outside and something else, it sounded like large heavy footsteps. Taking the risk they both looked out the broken window and saw several goatmen standing outside, more than ten to be sure, and taking positions as well as a large behemoth of a creature that looked like a massive bull only with the face of a goat.

Li-Ming observed them and saw one that stood out from the others, it was wearing a red cloak and holding an old staff, it was also skinnier than the others, it looked like it was a shaman of some sort and it looked like it was talking to the massive beast.

The rest of the goatmen stood clear as the large bull like monster rubbed its hind leg against the ground and shrugged its massive shoulders.

"Oh no! Kormac, we need to move out now!" Li-Ming shouted. She blew the door open with a ball of arcane energy as they ran towards the exit and they both jumped out as the large monster ran straight through the cabin, demolishing it completely.

Not wasting anytime they both stood with their weapons ready. They could hear the Khazra ahead of them but they had a tough time making them out, due to the heavy rain and night sky.

"Li-Ming, I hope to god that you have a spell or something to get us out of this."

She smirked. "Do you doubt me, Kormac?" He looked at her then smirked himself. He guessed he didn't doubt her, he felt deep down that he hasn't even seen what she was truly capable of. Oh god, there was a terrifying thought. What was she fully capable of and how much damage could she cause? He was glad that she was on the good side.

"No, of course not."

"Good! You ready?"

"Always."

The two of them charged towards the heard of goatmen. Kormac took the lead and bashed one the Khazra against the head with his shield and attacking another one with his ax, striking it in the shoulder. Blood gushed and poured from the wound, staining its grey and white fur with its blood and it fell to the ground. Li-Ming was right behind him and a group of goatmen rushed at them. Acting quickly, Li-Ming swiped her hand towards the ground, spreading frost against the wet and soaked dirt, freezing it and the goatmen that rushed them.

She held her hand up and fired a wave of force towards three of the frozen animals and blasted them to bits. Kormac smashed the other two with his shield. In the back of the battle the Savage beast of a monster was preparing to charge again. It huffed and puffed before it charged in, trampling some of Khazra as it did. Both warriors jumped and rolled out of the way and the monster ran head first into a tree, breaking it down.

In its disoriented state it failed to notice the movement right next to it. Little did it know that the tree it hit wasn't really a tree. Two wood wraiths made themselves known and they attacked the Savage beast, hitting it with their massive branch like arms. It howled in pain, the wood wraiths wrapped their tentacle like branches around the animal, around its belly, neck and legs. The poor creature could do nothing to defend its self. Its eyes were bulging from its head and its tongue was hanging limp from its mouth. Sickening tearing and snapping sounds came from the monsters body as it was pulled in half from the wood wraiths vicious act of defense. Blood drenched the ground and the monsters internal organs either plopped on the dirt or were hanging in between what was left of the monsters body.

What was left of the goatmen herd charged forward but ran straight past Li-Ming and Kormac and instead attacked the wood wraiths. Both of them were confused, the goatmen must have saw the wood wraiths as more of a threat and decided to try and kill them instead. Taking this as a sign the two ran from the battle. The goatmen were obviously losing, if their cries and howls of pain and suffering were any indication.

By the time the sun started peaking over the horizon the storm had past. The birds sang their morning songs, water and dew glittered the landscapes as the sun shined. The air was especially cool that morning and it was in way very peaceful despite the dangers these fields carried as they had learned just a few hours ago. Li-Ming and Kormac carried out their mission since after the fight, both were feeling tired but neither felt they needed sleep, only a rest.

Kormac's stomach gurgled that little noise that was becoming a little bit too familiar but they had no food since both of them forgot their travel bags in the cabin when it was destroyed last night.

He was used to missing meals on occasion but he always made sure to eat breakfast at least. It was the most important meal of the day or so he's heard. What has this world come to when a man could not enjoy a nice breakfast to keep up his strength and start his day? It was absurd!

"How much longer do you think?" Kormac asked.

"It shouldn't be too much longer. I can feel the magical energy getting stronger. It's the same as what I felt coming from the fallen star. We're close, so the sooner we get this done the sooner we can get back and you can fill your belly."

"You heard that bit of nonsense did you?"

"That I did."

He chuckled. "So how much further?"

"Actually it shouldn't be…" She stopped. She looked up and around like an animal that detected danger nearby.

"What's..."

"Shh." She interrupted, raising her hand. She walked into a group of trees carefully and curiously.

"Li-Ming I don't think we should stray!" He whispered as he followed behind her.

She didn't say anything she just kept following her new path that brought them to a cave. The cave itself looked like it had been dug out and shined with magical energies.

"That's a familiar glow. The piece of the sword we're looking for must be inside." She looked at Kormac who had a confused look on his face.

Glow, what glow? There was no glow coming from the cave that he could see. Oh wait! It's a magical sword so she must be seeing some sort of magic that he wasn't able to. He really needed to learn how to use magic. Its practicalities were proving more and more useful by the day.

"Shall we?" Li-Ming said. Kormac went in first with Li-Ming following behind.

Inside the cave was full of tribal decor. Two Logs, acting like pillars had pikes at the bottom of them with human skulls rammed through them. Across the two pillar like logs were sticks and branches tied together holding a skull of what looked to be one of the big goat like monsters dangling from the middle by old tendons. Li-Ming gave the Khazra credit for their resourcefulness.

Down the tunnels of the cave was the same story. They had obviously walked into a Khazra den. Long pikes stood erect from the ground, some with skulls of various creatures upon them. The Khazra even had defensive barriers standing in the middle of the tunnel in case anyone ever attacked them, each barrier had sticks carved with razor sharp points pointing forward, ready to impale any who were unlucky enough to fall into one.

They came across a chamber with lit torches, lighting them room. Another tunnel turned to where a small tent stood. At first Li-Ming thought it was odd that a tent would be perched down here and was starting to think it belonged to something else until she saw three branches sticking from the top. Now it looked more Khazra then she originally thought. It must be for a tribal leader to them or something equally important.

Down from the chamber stood another tunnel and after venturing into it for a little bit they started hearing what sounded to be like human voices. They slowed their pace and stuck close to the wall. Upon turning the corner they saw five cultists standing around the sword shard that they had been looking for.

"We must hurry with the ritual! Maghda will be here soon!"

"I understand that but this sword is too powerful for our magic!"

"You better think of something or else it's your life we will turn our magic against!"

"I wouldn't bother." Li-Ming said coming from behind the corner along with Kormac. "The shard will no longer be any of your concern. Now it is my magic you will have to deal with."

"Get them!" The leader ordered.

Their assault did not last long, not even for a minute before Li-Ming raised her hand and fired Lighting from her palm, electrocuting them all. It wasn't more than a few seconds before all five cultists were on the ground dead with frightening looks on their burnt faces.

"Was that really necessary?" Kormac asked. He couldn't lie that he felt a little sorry for the cultists. Even if they were blasphemous sinners.

"No." She replied simply. "But I grow tired of these obstacles in my way and my patience is wearing thin with each one we come across."

She walked over to the pit and picked up the sword shard, feeling it's magic energies wrap around her hand. A blue aura surrounded the piece that appeared to be a very elaborately made sword handle. She held it close her face and inspected it. "This shard glows with the strangest magic."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean it feels slightly different from what I felt from the stranger but it feels…pure."

"Who are you to take what is mine?"

Both warriors turned around to see a strange being in ethereal form flying above them. Despite that, they could see her clearly enough to see her awfully pale skin. Two purple insect looking horns rose from her head and two giant moths clung to her shoulders, acting like her wings.

"Yours? I believe you are mistaken." Li-Ming replied pointing to the unknown apparition.

"Humph! Regardless, I have claimed it. I am Maghda, and I lead this coven." Maghda held her arms out to the five dead cultists, indicating they were who she was referring to. "The shard…is mine."

"To Hell with you, witch!" Li-Ming shouted.

"Very well then, the game has begun. But you will lose, since you will never possess the next piece. It has fallen only where the ancients may tread." Maghda said before vanishing.

"She is more devious than she appears." Kormac said.

"Come on. We need to get this to Deckard Cain quickly."

Somewhere deep within an ancient temple an old soul of a lost ancient race of beings manifested in a state of worry. He stood before an old obelisk of solid onyx and gazed into it. It hummed with ancient energy, signaling the arrival of one of great power.

"Could it be?" Could the one they had been waiting for to cross through finally have arrived? It had been centuries since one of their own has passed through the portal and into the rifts. What a merry thought it would be to see another pass through just as so many had before. But would this one make it? The dangers that hid behind the portal were great. The monster they had locked away had killed many of their own before they trapped it behind the rift.

He would have to plan this carefully before seeking this individual out. The tests were dangerous even among their kind but they were not impossible. Almost nothing was impossible for a nephalem.

Personally I think I ended this chapter on an awesome note. Lol. Anyway I once again apologize for the wait. It seems I can't even follow the set times I set for myself because I said I would try to have a new chapter up every Sunday if not every other Sunday but I do not see that happening like that. So I will at least try to get these chapters out as soon as I can. But I must go and get back to work so ta-ta for now and I will try to have the next chapter for you guys soon.

I would like to think Spazapho for reviewing. I am glad you enjoy what I have written so far and I hope I haven't disappointed any who have read this story so far.