Divinity's Reach

The secret base of the Vidells is in a corner of the city's Great Collapse area, hidden underneath rock and debris that hasn't been touched in many months. They actually managed to turn their underground shelter into a livable small house, including beds, light sources, carpeted floors, water well, a door and other features.

They are inside and just now getting over what happened with the portal and the Asurans. But before they could get undressed and be more comfortable for the night, there was a rapid soft knocking on the door. All four stopped in place, looking towards the door.

"I didn't see anyone following us. Did you?" Alexis said, almost whispering.

"Not me," Charsi whispered.

Another round of rapid soft knocking was heard. Kira quietly grabbed her pistol from atop a dresser she had set it on and slowly went to the door, having it in hand ready to fire.

"Videll, you there?" a high pitched female voice said from the other side of the door.

Kira relaxed, lowered her pistol and looked at the others. "It's Katterwik." Everyone now relaxed, knowing who it is. She opened the door slightly to look out. Katterwik is a white-furred Skritt who serves the Vidells as a spy.

"So the Lionguard finally let you out of jail, eh?" Kira said. Katterwik has been locked up for trespassing the past week.

"No release. I dig under dirt floor. Few days ago. Stay hidden until search end."

"I see. Well, we don't have any assignments for you right now."

"What you need, I have."

Kira didn't know what she was taking about. "And what is it I need?"

"Location of sister. You call her Azeena."

The other sisters heard that with surprise.

"What did she say?" said Engie.

Kira opened the door a little more, grabbed Katterwik by the chest, yanked her inside and closed the door. She readied the pistol for use and placed it under the Skritt's chin.

"Now you listen to me, rat. Azeena is dead. I strongly suggest you- "

"No, no. Not dead. I see her. Alive!"

Kira glanced at her sisters then back to Katterwik.

"Don't lie to me!"

"I tell truth!"

Kira decided to play along, although annoyed. "All right, where is she?"

"Ten cheese!"

Charsi stepped forward. "Hold on. You want ten cheese wedges in exchange for telling us?"

Katterwik pulled out a scroll and handed it to Kira. "Here. I hide and draw map. Not seen."

Kira stood up, set the pistol aside and studied the scroll contents for a few moments. Not exactly a detailed and well prepared map but it had rough lined familiar shapes.

"Sylvari Grove. Privet Gardens."

"Assuming this is true, what makes you certain she is alive?" Kira asked.

"Sylvari carry her inside. Breathing but not awake. Not lie!"

Kira gave it some thought for a few moments, went over to a crate and pulled out two cheese wedges. She held them out for Katterwik to take.

"Not two. Want ten."

Kira got almost right in her face. "We're about to head over to the Grove to verify this. If you're telling the truth and Azeena is indeed alive, I'll get you enough cheese to last a lifetime. Now take this and go."

Excited over the offer, Katterwik laughed to herself and took the wedges. Kira let her out and closed the door.

"Get your boots back on, girls. We're leaving right now," Kira ordered.

"Are you seriously going to give that rat a lifetime supply of cheese?" Alexis asked.

Kira gave her a sly smirk. "Of course not. Besides, I gave her moldy cheese she won't eat." They all chuckled. "Engie, bring your flamethrower. If Azeena is there, either the Sylvari hands her over immediately, without question or hesitation, or we burn their precious forest to the ground."

The guardian in the Sylvari's care is indeed Azeena Videll. Not the Azeena of this alternate timeline, but the original. She ended up in the Grove about an hour after Selene appeared in Gendarran Fields. Inside her mind in a dream, a personal war is in progress as a struggle of personalities battles each other. The ultimate conflict of good and evil one can have... against yourself.

The dreamstate is taking place at the Eternal Battlegrounds. The sky is covered with rapid moving violent storm clouds and thunder, yet there is no rain. Lightning strikes the area now and then but not too close to the combatants.

Off to one side of the arena on a higher ledge, a large horse-sized miniature version of Zhaitan is confined inside a cage. The dragon represents the dark energy that was absorbed into Azeena's body. In front of the cage is the form of her great-grandmother and a monk of the first Guild Wars, Azeena Videl. She is bound in mystic chains, secured to the ground, her eyes glowing red and represents the amplified power of the corrupted Signet Of Judgment. Her mouth is also gagged to prevent her from speaking.

Both the 'Good Azeena' (GA for short) and 'Evil Azeena' (EA) are wearing the same Invader armor with the guild emblem chest piece. The only difference in appearance is parts of EA's white and black colors are red instead. Her eyes are of a normal color and not glowing. Although the armors are supposed to be metal, in this dreamstate, they are made out of leather. They just look like metal.

Both have already been trading punches for a short time as though it were a boxing match. GA went for a right hook, EA ducks and lands a hard punch to the stomach. EA then backhanded her with the same hand as she stood back up, causing GA to stagger but not fall.

EA charged forward to deliver a punch with increased velocity. GA saw it coming, bent down just enough to grab EA by the waist, lifted her off the ground and charged herself towards the stone ledge where Zhaitan is watching. The top edge of the ledge extends out a bit further than the base. She slams EA's upper back into that edge as hard as she could.

GA released her and EA fell to the ground in pain, slowly rolling around to be face up. GA faced Zhaitan.

"I refuse... to be controlled... by you two... ever again!" Azeena said to them, breathing more heavy.

Zhaitan angrily rammed the front side of the cage in order to knock it down, not once but twice. Both attempts failed. Not caring what they think of her statement, GA focused her attention back to her opponent.

EA had secretly grabbed some dirt in her hand while GA was talking to them. GA grabbed her hair and was pulling her up to a sitting position. EA threw the dirt in GA's eyes and pulled herself back to her feet. While GA was brushing away the dirt, EA hooked her left forearm around GA's throat from behind and punched GA hard in the kidneys multiple times.

Zhaitan definitely liked that. The dragon roared in approval.

"Finish her! SET US FREE!" the bound Azeena screamed in thought, unable to actually say it. In the waking world, bruises began to appear on Azeena's body. If the battle doesn't end soon, she might end up killing herself.