Prologue "This is too easy," claimed one of the voices. It belonged to a man clad in a red, long-sleeved shirt and pair of dark gray pants. He carried a pair of foot-and-a-half long daggers, the blades engraved with a powerful elven incantation. The hilts were set with emeralds that matched his eyes terrifically, which was more than could be said for his shock of white hair. "You always say that, Calvin. Funny thing is, something always goes wrong when you do," one of his comrades responded. This one wore a plain white dress and carried a jewel-topped staff, a golden headband encircling her shining blond hair. "Stop being such a pessimist, Ari," Calvin replied. "You spoil everyone's fun." "I'm not a pessimist, I'm a realist. The last thing we need is for something to go wrong, especially when we're this close to the end." She looked from Calvin to their leader, who was dressed in a pair of khaki colored pants, matching long-sleeved over shirt, a white undershirt, and a black headband, which was used to hold his unruly dark blond hair at bay. "Just because we're this close to the end doesn't mean we have to be that serious," Calvin muttered. "Stupid pessimistic Arianne..." "Both of you stop fighting," their leader said. "Last thing we need is you two giving us away." "If you say so, Adrian," Calvin replied. His voice dropped to a mutter. "One more great command from the ever-important Adrian Tyndall..." "I heard that," Adrian shot back. "If you want to stay here and fight off all the guards and monsters, be my guest." Calvin seemed to think on this for a moment. "On second thought, lead all you want," he said quickly. "Thought so. Now, if you're finished, can we get this over with?" Adrian asked. At this, the other two became silent, as the four of them went on. The only one of them to have not said anything, a younger girl by the name of Lidia, kept her silence as she walked, running her thumb over the string of her bow. She was dressed in a ninja chief's uniform, which set her apart from either ninja or archer, because of her heritage and choice of weaponry. Adrian looked back at Lidia, and was about to ask what was wrong, but thought better of it. She had always kept to herself, only really talking to Arianne when she felt like it. Instead, he spoke to the group at large in a lowered voice. "I want you all to know that I'm thankful for this. You didn't have to come. In fact, I'd prefer you hadn't, because I don't know if any of us will make it back alive. But if we do..." Calvin interrupted him. "Then you owe all of us dinner for about a year," he said with a smirk. "Not to mention about a week's rest after we finish this." "Trust me, I'll do it. Just as long as my cash flow doesn't dry up," Adrian replied, smiling. "What about you, Arianne? What do you want out of me when we get home?" "I just want to see my family again. As long as I get that, I'm perfectly happy," Arianne answered. "That can be arranged too. What about you, Lidia? You have a special request?" Adrian asked. The small dark-haired archer shook her head. "I don't imagine any of the other villagers survived. I don't have a home to go back to, or a family," she said quietly. "Oh... well, if you want, I can find you a place to live in my village," Adrian said, a frown crossing his face. Lidia remained quiet for several moments. Finally, though, she nodded. "Yes, I'll go find a place in your village. The people there seemed nice." "Good. Then it's settled. After we've taken care of Celaenyo, Calvin gets a meal, Lidia comes with me, and Arianne goes home," Adrian said. The group pressed on, the stronghold of Celaenyo lying in wait. In contrast with the clear, blue sky that had hovered over them just an hour before, there were now clouds of a dark, foreboding gray, lightning arcing from one uncertain point to another. The cold, black castle in the midst completed the appearance of a land of death. "Always a big, black castle," Calvin whined. "Why can't our enemies stay somewhere... less evil?" Adrian smirked. "I would imagine they do it on purpose. Who would be intimidated by someone who vowed world domination, yet who lived in a sun-filled, grassy knoll?" "You've got a point there, boss," Calvin replied. "Always good to know," Adrian said. "Alright, team, stay sharp. We'll be there in a couple of minutes." The next few minutes passed in total silence. Lidia kept her hand clenched tightly around her bow; Adrian's, around his sword; Calvin's on his daggers; and Arianne's on her staff. The group arrived at the castle's front gate, which was sealed tightly. Adrian studied it for a few moments. Finally, he called out, "Fireball!" and a number of small red flames flew from his hand, impacting the gate. "Doesn't look like it worked, boss," Calvin remarked, after seeing the gate turn red with the heat, but stay intact. Adrian's expression changed to one of curiousity, and he called out, "Lightning!" Bolts of electricity shot from his fingertips, wrapping around the gate and arcing between the bars. When the electrical storm died down, the gate remained unchanged. "What on earth do we have to do to get past?" Adrian asked. "Maybe it's a toll gate," Arianne suggested. "But where do we pay?" Lidia asked. "Or what?" Calvin added. "I think it's obvious. Morbid, perhaps, but obvious nonetheless," Adrian concluded. "Lidia, let me see an arrow." Lidia did as she was asked. Adrian studied the arrow for a moment, then give his finger a sharp prick, and watched as a small bead of blood appeared. With his other hand, he handed the arrow to Calvin. "You can't be serious," Calvin started. "I most certainly can," Adrian replied. "It's the only way in." Calvin grumbled, but pricked his own finger, as did Arianne and Lidia. Then each of them touched their bleeding finger to the seal on the gate, and it melted away. "Let's move," Adrian said. The four of them charged, Lidia readying an arrow as she went. Once inside, they encountered little resistance. They didn't split up, but instead searched the fort methodically. Celaenyo had set many traps, many obstacles for them, but the group was persistent. Finally, they reached the final chamber. "Arianne, let's make sure all of us are healed up before we go in," Adrian said. Arianne cast the necessary spells. Even though they weren't as good as sleep, they did fine for their immediate purpose. Finally, everyone drew their respective weapons, and Adrian and Calvin rammed the door. It flew open on the third try, and the group charged inside. "No time for words! Just go!" Adrian ordered. Lidia fired off arrows as Calvin ran forward with his daggers. Arianne stayed back a bit, ready to tend to any injuries. Celaenyo chuckled as Lidia's arrows bounced off harmlessly, and brushed Calvin aside with a wave of her hand. Adrian darted forward to take his place, and when she made to do the same to him, he shouted, "Lightning!" Bolts of electricity crackled from his fingertips, surrounding Celaenyo, but having little effect. Angered, she forced him backward. "You fools haven't learned anything, have you? I destroyed Miguel and brought the world to its knees. You honestly expect to get rid of me?" her voice boomed out. "I'll show you!" She plucked one of Lidia's arrows from the wall and filled it with dark energy. "Indignation!" Adrian shouted again. A rune circle surrounded Celaenyo's feet, trapping her in place, as a massive thunderbolt crashed down on her from above. She screamed in pain, but held the arrow still. When the spell had ended, she turned on Adrian, her eyes blazing in fury, and hurled the arrow at him. Adrian couldn't think. He was held in place, unable to move. He couldn't hear the cries from his comrades. He could only see the arrow, and brought his sword up to defend, but was a split second late. The arrow struck his side, piercing the mythril under his clothing and penetrating his skin. His eyes tightened shut in pain, and he made to pull out the arrow, but it wasn't there. Only now could he hear what was happening. Lidia was screaming in anger, and Calvin was shouting at Arianne. "You've got to do something! He can't last like that!" Arianne ran to his side, and muttered an incantation that Adrian couldn't make out. She tried every healing spell she knew, but still the pain persisted. "Arianne, hurry! I can see the color draining from his face from here!" Calvin shouted. Adrian couldn't see what had happened to Lidia. Was she still firing on Celaenyo? Had she fallen? He heard Arianne start another spell, but his mind suddenly went blank. A light blue dome covered him, and everything outside the dome became a blur. The surroundings got lighter and lighter, until finally, he was blinded by whiteness, and knew no more...