The sun was a few hours away from setting when most of the Fellowship of Thylea set out. Ranri was surprised that Phoebe and Zyfon had joined them after the former had made her feelings on helping Pythor clear. Yet, now, the demigod was leading the group, following the faded tracks of the basilisks in the river so that they could be killed before the sacrifice. At the very least, the dwarf was glad that she had rejoined the group and was willing to fight.

Ranri knew that basilisks were dangerous creatures capable of turning others into stone with their gaze. If that didn't work, the creature's poisonous bite was deadly as well. The dwarf would prefer to have all of the Fellowship of Thylea, but unfortunately, the group had to split up. Joining Ranri behind Zyfon and Phoebe were Korax, Yesleth, Semestra, Iraster, Leira, Ferrous, and Valros. He knew that Phoebe, Korax, and Yesleth were all proven warriors while Semestra, Leira, and Iraster had magic. Still, he had his own worries as to how this battle would go.

Fortunately, reports indicated that there were only two basilisks that took part in the sacrifice. That made Ranri confident that it would be a swift battle, especially if they were able to sneak up on the creatures.

Phoebe led the group to a river and explained that the cave was underwater. Zyfon was quick to add that there was a piece of land that the basilisks had within the cave, meaning that the heroes wouldn't need to fight underwater. Ranri was particularly thankful for that as he knew he wasn't a strong swimmer and that his heavy armor would certainly wear him down. One by one, the group dove into the water with Phoebe continuing to lead the way.

Ranri took a deep breath and dived in, letting his armor sink him. It took great effort but he swam toward a cave opening underneath the water's surface. His arms and legs strained with each movement, especially when he had to swim upward. Thankfully, he was able to pull himself onto dry land and was among the last of the group to make it. Korax pulled himself next to Ranri alongside the group with Ferrous, who didn't breath to begin with, poking its head above the water.

"This takes me back te our days in trainin'," Ranri said, chuckling at Korax. "Remember all those drills we used te run?"

Korax shrugged. "Can someone light a torch?"

"They're all probably wet," Valros answered, shaking his limbs to dry them off. "We're all wet."

"I have that covered," Iraster said and cast a spell, conjuring light from his dagger. "Stay close. The radius isn't that great."

"Let's get to hunting," Phoebe grinned and took out her maul.

"Stick in formation," Korax said, standing up with his dory and shield in hand. "Don't let your eyes settle on one spot for too long and cover each other's backs."

The rest of the fellowship took out their weapons. Ranri held his makhaira in one hand and his shield in the other. Although others have complained that the dwarf used a cavalry weapon while on foot, he found that the sword was more deadly in close combat than the dory. He simply didn't have the height to make effective use of a dory like Korax could. The cave was silent and covered in different rocks, but eventually, Ranri saw a shape move in the darkness.

"There!" Ranri called out. "I saw one!"

"I've found the second!" Valros quickly added. "It's moving. I think it knows we're here!"

"One of you is wrong," Phoebe grunted. "I can see one of the basilisks getting up from its rest."

"You can?" Iraster asked. "But if there are three people that can see…"

"Make it four," Korax said, looking in a different direction than the other three. "We need more light. Now!"

"I'm on it!" Semestra said and started to chant in her native tongue.

The nymph finished her spell and the cave was lit in purple light. Ranri did a quick look around the room and gasped in surprise. There were four creatures the size of dogs, each with eight legs and strong jaws. They didn't look too pleased at the intruders in their cave.

"There's four of them!" Zyfon shouted. "Why are there four of them?!"

"Everyone, focus on the basilisk Valros points out!" Korax called out, taking command. "Ranri, Phoebe, you keep the ones you spotted out of reach of our companions."

"With me, Zyfon!" Phoebe told the bard and charged into battle.

The satyr recovered then slowly nodded. "I've got your back!"

"Ye can count on me, Korax!" Ranri said before the battle started.

Ranri focused on his dedication to the Dragonlord's ideals, channeling holy magic into his makhaira. The blade cut across the basilisk's face but wasn't enough to slay the beast. The dwarf then raised his shield over his face, using it to cover his eyes from the monster's petrifying gaze. Unfortunately, it left his legs exposed as the basilisk dove down, biting into his leg. Although its fangs dripped with poison, Ranri's dwarven resilience fought the poison off. The paladin pushed his foe away and focused on the sounds of battle together.

Phoebe and Zyfon fought against a single basilisk with the satyr at its back to avoid its gaze while the demigod faced it head on even as she sustained a bite on her forearm after missing an attack. The basilisk Valros spotted never stood a chance as too many enemies fought it, making it difficult for it to pick a single target. Between Iraster and Leria using arcane missiles to bombard it, Valros landing a shot on its leg with his bow, and Yesleth diving it with her xiphos and martial arts, the basilisk took a beating. Ferrous, not caring at the thought of being petrified, simply approached the monster from the front and slammed its hammer down to crush the basilisk's skull and end its life.

However, not all was going well for the group. Korax landed a glancing blow on his basilisk with his silvered dory. The monster roared and lunged at the lokhagos, knocking him onto the ground. The warrior screamed out in pain when the basilisk tore its fangs into his upper chest, close to his neck, then grew incredibly quiet.

"Korax!" Ranri shouted, using his shield to keep the basilisk attacking him. "Someone help him!"

"You're a healer!" Yesleth reminded the dwarf.

Ranri tried to step away from the basilisk but had to stand his group when it snapped at him. "I can't get te him!"

"I can heal him," Semestra reassured the group. "We just need to kill that basilisk first."

The basilisk grabbed at Ranri's shields with its claws and tore it from his grasp. The dwarf gasped when the two locked eyes, and although he felt magic stiffening his bones, thought through the gaze. His makhaira started to glow a golden light as the dwarf gripped it with both hands. With a violent warcry, Ranri impaled his weapon through the basilisk. The monster screeched in pain and collapsed on the ground, unmoving. The paladin spit on its corpse before turning to look at the other two.

The rest of the Fellowship of Thylea fell upon the basilisk that took Korax down with vengeance. The monster roared in pain when struck by fire conjured by Semestra. Iraster followed through by firing three magical darts at the creature and Valros with his longbow. Yesleth came from its side, stabbing in across the back with her xiphos before kicking it twice. When the monster turned to look at her, she looked away, and Leira struck the basilisk in the neck with a blast of eldritch power, ending its life.

"Keep fighting!" Leira called out with a wide smile and flapped her wings. "There's only one left! We can do this!"

However, Leira's encouragement faded away when Phoebe gasped from a bite to her leg and fell down, her head hitting a rock to knock her out. The basilisk that took her down turned around to Zyfon, trying to petrify him. Yet, the satyr gracefully leaped away, his rapier unable to draw blood from the creature. The basilisk turned to the rest of the group, and although Ferrous blasted it with a bolt of radiant light, it was its ears that alerted it to movement. Semestra kicked over a pebble when running to Korax's side and it jumped in front of her, looking up.

The nymph stepped back to avoid the basilisk's fangs then stopped. Then, she gasped and looked down at her feet, which turned into stone that slowly raised up to the rest of her body. The magical lighting that lit up the room vanished, only leaving Iraster's dagger to provide light.

"This isn't good," Semestra gasped, unable to hide the fear in her voice. "I can't get to Korax!"

"Ranri, get to Korax and heal him!" Yesleth ordered the dwarf. "Everyone else, take the basilisk down!"

The pool of blood that Korax was in grew bigger with each passing second. With Zyfon already running back to Phoebe to bind her wounds, Ranri knew that he had to dedicate everything he had to saving his fellow soldier. The dwarf ran toward Korax all the while Iraster and Valros attacked from it at range with magic and arrows respectively. Yesleth came at the creature from behind and struck its back with her xiphos, but when she tried to kick it, the basilisk tripped her onto the ground with a swing of a thick tail.

The basilisk ducked underneath Leira's magical blast and moved, blocking Ranri off. The dwarf couldn't think of a reason why he was singled out other than that he had killed one of the other basilisks. Perhaps they were siblings, mates, or some other familial relationship. The monster looked Ranri in the eyes and he stopped moving as his muscles grew stiff. The paladin reached out towards Korax's limp body desperately as his fingers turned to stone.

"Not like this!" Ranri cried out. "Damn ye!"

The basilisk opened its mouth to take advantage of Ranri's immobility only for Ferrous to bash its skull in, just like he did the first basilisk.

"Everyone, tend to the wounded now!" Yesleth called out. "Ranri, Semestra, try to stay with us."

Iraster stepped over Korax and looked over the lokhagos with a grim expression. "That's a lot of blood."

Leira flew over to Iraster's side with a smile. "Do not worry. I would be happy to help you!"

"I need help!" Zyfon said in a pleading tone. "I can't stop Phoebe from bleeding!"

With two of her companions already tending to Korax, Yesleth ran over to Phoebe's side to help cover her injuries. Ranri could only watch as Iraster and Leira desperately tended to Korax, who was in a more critical condition than a demigod. Despite hearing Yesleth's orders, Valros looked with wide eyes towards Semestra and Ranri as rock covered over their skin and clothes. The stygian likely had never seen the basilisk's petrification before.

Semestra grimaced as she fought against the stone that constrained her, but as it covered her from the neck down, she sighed and closed her eyes in acceptance. Her face was then covered in stone as she became a statue of a nymph.

Ranri forced himself to look down at his body, seeing that most of it had turned into rock already. It would be easy to accept defeat now, knowing that Anora and the others in the Fellowship of Thylea had been saved from Sydon's scheme. Yet, it simply wasn't in his nature to give up. He fought on, thinking of the Dragonlords that looked down on him from the afterlife. The paladin forced himself to move as much as he could, even the limbs that had grown still.

Finally, with a roar, Ranri broke free as the stone that had surrounded his body broke into many pieces and fell onto the ground. All eyes looked to him as the dwarf dove towards Korax, glowing with golden light. He touched the lokhagos on the side and channeled his power in an attempt to heal him.

The light faded away yet Korax did not wake.

"Lad?" Ranri whispered.

Iraster touched Korax's neck with two fingers, checking for a pulse, and shook his head. "I… I can't believe this."

Despite her smile and energetic tone, Leira's eyes teared up, which showed the siren's true nature. "He can't be gone. The Oracle told him of his destiny. The Fates wouldn't let him fall so soon."

Ranri fell down to his knees. "Korax…"

Yesleth and Zyfon stepped away from Phoebe, who they were able to successfully stabilize and save. Yet, when they saw Korax, the smiles that came from their success faded away. The satyr bowed his head in honor of the man while the monk stepped forward. She knelt down by Korax's side and grabbed his hand, holding it tightly as she silently cried. Ferrous stood to the side, emotionless while Valros paced back and forth, doing his best not to freak out.

"What do we do now?" Valros asked out loud, although no answer immediately came. "We've lost two of our own. Maybe there's a way to break Semestra free from her petrification but Korax…"

"Could Pythor or Kyrah bring him back?" Iraster asked and stepped back from Korax. "They're divine beings."

"Even they have their limits," Zyfon answered and shook his head. "If they could save the dead, we would have heard of such a deed."

With Yesleth silent, Ranri stood up, knowing it was up to him to take command. "There's no use gettin' Phoebe out of here when she can't hold her breath. Most of ye will stay here an' wait for her te wake up, then get out of here."

"We can manage that much," Iraster said with a nod. "Who'll let the others know?"

"Leave that te Yesleth an' I," Ranri told the halfing before placing a hand on the elf's shoulder. "Come on, lass. Ye should probably get some space. We'll have time te mourn him late when we get him back te Estoria for a proper funeral."

Yesleth didn't respond immediately to Ranri, but after a few seconds, she set Korax's hand over his chest and let go of him. The dwarf let go of the elf to give her a chance to stand up. The two walked to the edge of the pool of water they swam through. While Yesleth immediately dived underwater, Ranri glanced over his shoulder back at Korax. The two had fought together before meeting the Oracle and rose through the ranks of the Epilektoi of Mytros. It pained him to see Korax as he was now. The paladin offered a quick salute before stepping into the water, sinking into the pool.

A/N: We're going to leave on this as a cliffhanger. I won't say that Korax's story is over but he is very much dead at this point.

I'm going to take a brief break to focus on other projects. Next time will feature the sacrifice. Here's to hoping that no one else is killed.

Until next time.