As they made their way through the forest, Erigg kept looking back in the direction they had came, wanting to go back.
"I need to go back."
Everyone halted for a moment, hearing Erigg's sigh.
"Go back?" asked Leo.
"I just can't continue on with you." said Erigg, hopping off the wagon.
"But... Erigg, we need you." said Rain.
"I'm sorry..." frowned Erigg, grabbing his spells from the wagon "I must learn more... about myself. Take care Wick. Take care everyone."
As Erigg ran back through the forest, his orange cape flapping in the wind, the others contemplated on their next destination.
"We can't stand around here long." said Ixnus "Let's head to Raynemire."
Leading the way, Ixnus rode slowly into the canyon at the edge of the forest. When they reached the center of the canyon they stopped once again to see the Shadowlord and his army above them, pointing arrows at their heads.
"Shadowlord." growled Leo.
"So we meet face to face, blue one." said the Shadowlord.
"What do you want fiend?!?" shouted Rain, drawing his club "If it's a fight then why don't you come down here and get it!"
"I didn't come here to fight you." said the Shadowlord "I came to kill you."
"You will not stop me leading them to the Shadow Realm." growled Ixnus.
"Ixnus... your betrayal stings me." said the Shadowlord.
"Do not talk to me about betrayal!" stormed Ixnus "Your entire army is made up of nothing but traitors!"
"You speak to me this way?!?" shouted the Shadowlord "Was it not I who took you in?!? Raised you?!? I made you! You owe your life to me!"
"I owe you nothing."
"You are more of a traitor than I thought." sighed the Shadowlord "If only they knew it too."
"What do you mean by that?" snarled Leo.
"He has been leading you to the Shadow Realm... to kill you." answered the Shadowlord.
"Ixnus, is that true?" asked Leo.
Ixnus stared at the sandy ground, ashamed to answer the question.
"Enough with your lies!" shouted Ixnus, looking up at the Shadowlord, drawing his staff "You or your army know nothing! You are a fool! Driven by your greed and lust for power! You will fall just as prophecy says! Another will rise in your name! Yet you will be forgotten forever!"
"Prophecy." said the Shadowlord "Prophecies are a waste! I have conquered over many kingdoms! I have slain many warriors! My strength is beyond this earth! How can one as powerful as I be forgotten?!?"
"Once we've reached the Shadow Realm... I'll make sure you will be, personally."
The Shadowlord stared at Ixnus for a moment, witnessing the rage in his eyes. The Shadowlord lifted his fist, signaling for the arrows to be fired. Ixnus, Leo, Rain and Wick rode through the rest of the canyon, dodging the arrows that were raining down from above. Near the end of the canyon were two paths. One with assassins waiting on top, the other with none.
"This way!" said Ixnus, leading the others into the clear path.
The Shadowlord lifted his fist again, signaling for the arrows to cease fire. He watched as the four rode straight into Raynemire.
Back in the forest, where Erigg stayed behind, Erigg studied his spells, trying to perfect his skills, but constantly failing.
"Damn." sighed Erigg "I need more wood shavings."
Erigg began beating on the bark of a sycamore tree, crushing it under his feet and turning it into a fine powder.
"Now a few dandelions." said Erigg, pouring the dust into an empty vial.
As he walked towards the dandelions he felt in his belt that the potion that Honeycutt gave him was gone. He turned quickly and found it lying near the sycamore tree.
"There you are." said Erigg, picking up the potion and placing it in his belt "As much as I want to, I should wait until it's time."
"When do you think that time will be?"
Erigg turned around once again, seeing Honeycutt standing before him.
"Professor?"
"Hello Erigg." smiled the Professor "Back to my question. When do you think that time will be?"
"When I need it."
"Do you need it now?"
Erigg looked down at the potion in his belt, but when he looked up he saw that the Professor had vanished.
"It isn't as if it will harm you." said the Professor, leaning on the sycamore tree behind Erigg.
"But Professor..." said Erigg, turning to see the Professor approaching him from the sycamore.
"In fact I created this potion to have long lasting effects."
Once again the Professor vanished in front of Erigg's eyes. This time reappearing on a tree branch.
"But Professor..." said Erigg, turning to look up at the tree branch "You told us not to drink them unless we truly needed it."
"This is true." said the Professor "So what is your decision?"
Erigg took the potion from his belt and stared at it.
"I'm sure you will make the right decision." said the Professor, placing his hand on Erigg's shell.
Erigg stood alone in the forest, staring at the orange potion. Should he drink it? Was it needed? He had no idea. Many thoughts ran through his head. Then... he finally made his decision.
"God!" shouted Rain, pulling his horse through the knee deep mud "Why must we come through this awful place?!?"
"Stop your whining." sighed Ixnus "This is the only way to get to the ocean."
"Woah!" screamed Wick, falling from the wagon and into the mud "Ahhh!"
"You alright Wick?" asked Leo, helping Wick to his feet.
"Oh no." sighed Wick, watching the wagon sink into a forming mud hole.
"Gather the horses. Let's try to get them out of here before they get stuck too." grunted Leo, moving towards the horses that were hitched together.
Below the horse's hooves something lurked, startling the two horses, causing them to break apart. Wick grabbed one of the horses, but the other was slowly being captured by rising mud, pulling the horse down.
"There's something in this stuff." growled Rain.
"Ahh!" shouted Leo, as he started to sink quickly.
"Grab my hand." said Wick.
"Leo!" called Rain, making his way towards Leo.
Ixnus looked back and realized what was going on. He knew he had to go rescue his friend, but he couldn't move. The mud had hardened around his left leg. Behind him the dreaded Muckman formed.
"Muckman!" hissed Ixnus, trying to get himself free as the mud hardened around his right leg.
"Gaaahhh!!!" screamed Rain, feeling the mud harden around his legs "You can't hold me here!"
Rain unsheathed his club and began hitting the hard mud, but the mud flew up out of the ground, grabbing his wrists like two tentacles.
"I... will not... be held... captive by... mud!" growled Rain, trying to break free.
"Ahh!" screamed Wick, feeling the mud harden around his legs.
"I... can't... get.., free..." grunted Leo, feeling the mud hardened around his abdomen.
"I was told there would be four turtles." drooled the Muckman, forming in front of their eyes "No matter... I still have a delicious turtle meal."
The Muckman stared at his captives, wondering which one to eat first.
"Hey, maybe we should use those potions!" said Rain.
"No!" said Leo "We were told to only use them when needed!"
"We don't need them now?!?" asked Rain.
"I know..." slurped the Muckman, staring right at Leo "I'll start with the blue one."
Before the Muckman could get close enough to Leo a powerful ball of ice hit his back, causing him to turn around and see none other than Erigg, now wearing a white cloak, floating in the air on a sheet of ice and holding both a fireball and an iceball in his hands.
"You are the fourth one!" drooled the Muckman "You look even more delicious than the rest. Come down here so I can EAT YOU!!!"
The Muckman shot a long strand of mud from his hand up at Erigg. Erigg dodged and blasted the Muckman with a powerful spell of fire and ice.
"OWW!!!" screamed the Muckman, part of his body falling apart.
"You won't be eating anyone today." said Erigg, preparing for another spell.
Erigg darted at the Muckman, a powerful fire and ice spell hitting his chest. The Muckman tried with all his might to counter, but he was no match and quickly succumbed to the blast. The mud in area completely disappeared, freeing all that was trapped within it.
"Erigg." called Wick, running to his mentor and embracing him.
"It's alright boy." said Erigg "I'm alright."
"Glad to have you back." said Leo.
"I'm glad to be back." answered Erigg.
Before the five could gather their horses and leave they suddenly felt the ground shake beneath them. From it a giant beast emerged made of dried mud and clumps of dirt. It stared down the five heroes, ready to battle.
"Is that..." gasped Rain, holding up his club.
"It is." answered Ixnus "The Muckman."
"He looks more like a Muckmonster to me." joked Erigg.
"Everybody mount up." ordered Leo "Let's charge this beast."
Leo hopped onto his horse and charged at the leg of the giant monster. Rain and Ixnus followed suit as Erigg headed for the sky to blast him with spells.
"What do I do?" asked Wick.
The beast howled at sky, feeling an ice cold spell on his back. He swung his left arm around, attempting to knock Erigg out of the sky, but the turtle was too quick. Below the beast, Leo, Rain and Ixnus slashed at it's four large feet, knocking off chunks of dirt, until the beast fell to the ground.
"It's down!" said Leo "Erigg now!"
Erigg charged at the monster, unleashing another powerful spell. The beast froze as it struggled to stand up for the ground and then it began to melt. With one powerful blast from a fireball the beast shattered, it's bottom the only thing left.
"I suggest we leave before it decides to pull itself back together." said Rain.
"Agreed." said Leo, leading everyone away from the area and towards the ocean.
"My lord..."
"Yes Hun. I know. The Muckman failed."
"What is our next plan of action my lord?"
"Let them go for now."
"Are you sure my lord? They are bound to reach the Shadow Realm in days."
"Not unless the Sea Beast ends them."
"I thought that was only a legend."
"The realest things on this planet… are legends."