Rise of the Fifth
The Hidden College Part 1
Pages 196 to 210

Many miles from Xetesk, just outside Triverne Lake, a lone mage turned his head towards the distant dark college.

"The Fifth...." he whispered, and smiled.

~*~

Below that lone mage in the catacombs of the Fifth College, the Master also sensed the power that had last been used by Youlvi.

He did not smile.

~*~

Joibri jolted awake as she was slung from one masculine body into another. Her first instinct was to shout,

"Let me go!" When she saw Pen's face however, it appeared that he had taken that the wrong way. "Not you -" she began, but then they were distracted by Talo's unfamiliar spell.

A large wash of violet-stained red swept forward as dark shapes began to stretch out from the black doorway, upon contact eating away at alien flesh and bone in a matter of seconds. Talo hadn't seemed to tire, and it worried the Skalah, Hashkar.

"I understand why you worry, human," he said within Pen's mind.

"Get out! Now!" Unliore had noticed Joibri standing on her own two feet, but also that the dark shapes had begun to move again. The screeches sounded.

'How do we get back out, Hashkar?' Pen thought, looking piercingly over Unliore's shoulder at their approaching doom. Before the Skalah could tell him how, the shapes lunged.

"Caution," Hashkar simply warned. The horrifying creatures crashed into Unliore's HardShield, and at first their brute strength looked as if it would buckle. "The female mage has modified her shield. We cannot charge through it - yeeesss, I knew you would risk that."

'How...'

"Spellfire will." To exemplify Hashkar's point Talo had let loose another CrimsonTide. Unliore briefly let down her modified shield, resting if only for a moment.

"I want out of here Talo! You can't fucking play heroic! We're going to be slaughtered!" Joibri had moved back over to Talo, a desperate hand on his shoulder as wave after wave was bidden to rise and released by the mage's capable hands.

"Minshpall, how nice to see you again," Hashkar hissed triumphantly. "I had a feeling you would deem yourself important enough to destroy our race by joining with the Master."

"Hashkarrrr," A violent reverberation shuddered inside Pen's head. "Trying in vain yet again to show others you are more powerful when you are not. You must accept it now. I am the Skalah leader, and you are nothing."

Beside Pen, Joibri watched, shocked as Pen lunged forward towards the monsters, howling in a language she couldn't understand.

"Pen! Pen, get back!"

"Come, we will go now," Talo was beside her holding her arms tightly.

"No!" Joibri shoved Talo away from her. "Not without -"

"Joibri that's not Penrold in there! You must understand-"

"I don't understand anything anymore, Talo. We are not leaving, not yet." Talo grabbed her shoulders, twisting her around to face him, his patience with her gone.

"Don't be so stupid! Can't you see he's holding them off?"

Pen turned back to his friends, stopping his strange language.

"All of you, go." He turned back again, almost chanting now in the strange language that none of them recognised.

~*~

Fear. The realm beyond the black portal stank of it. Pure emotions were now being driven through the void. The Drakoor scratched at the ground with its front four limbs, great slash marks appearing in the rock face. It pulled at the huge chain its Skalah master held, but the arm holding it did not move. Its master was not there, its mind busy, and then the Drakoor detected an old presence, one long forgotten. Then came the anger. Its master was furious, mind voice spewing hate and threats of retribution.

It would not be long before the threats were made real.

~*~

The surviving guards stood back, all breathing heavily. They were down to a handful, all that was left of thirty that had fought their way through the corridors to the ManaDais, and were trying to hold out until the others returned from the void of the Fifth. Their reluctant leader, Jonak, lay dead near one of the walls of the chamber. All were nursing wounds; some small cuts, others more serious. The final mage pair looked back, seeing their two remaining leaders, companions, stock still with arms raised towards the elven girl on the centre platform, faces creased with concentration and greased with sweat. The Other also stood by, a strange presence about him, an aura they did not recognise. It scared them, but not as much as the next Shadow onslaught. They knew that if the others did not return soon, then none would leave the college alive...

The Master was pleased; his Shadows had made a large dent into the small pocket of resistance at the ManaDais and he could see that panic was setting in. The surge in mana with the deaths of three of the five Apostles had also started opening the rip to the Skalah, although it was clear he would have to gain full access to the dais to completely bring through his army. Meaning the remaining Apostles, most of all, had to go.

Happy with the situation he turned to the small bunch of Shadows that had recently returned from the search of the college. They looked anxious, which could only mean failure. The Master's look motioned the head Shadow to speak,

"He is not here my Master."

"Then where is he?" the Master assumed complete control of the conversation.

"There were many charred bodies. He must be dead." Rage suddenly hit. And with a bellowing roar the Master replied,

"He is not dead!" He calmed himself, aware he was breathing heavily. He continued, a large amount of irritation in his voice. "There are few who can stop us now, but he is one. I want him, and I want him now."

With his voice raised the Shadows backed away slightly. This prompted the Master to move forward - he grabbed the lead Shadow’s head, placing a hand either side. Almost instantly there was a high-pitched screech from the Shadow. It was smoking, skin bubbling. After a short while the Master stopped and removed his hands; the Shadow looked up into the Master’s menacing eyes. It felt one hand clamp around its neck, almost chocking it. Then, almost effortlessly, the Master flung the Shadow against the wall. It smashed into it and lay motionless on the floor. Most onlookers would think it was dead, but the Master knew it was trying to fool him to keep its life.

"FlameOrb," said the Master as he moved his arm up. The orb of light that shot out hit the Shadow in the chest and it burst into flames. The Shadow screeched as it slowly burnt to death.

The Master then turned to the remaining Shadows,

"Get out there and don’t come back until you have found him." He paused for a second, then went on. "And send a strike force to Xetesk. It seems someone has been practicing the Fifth - find them and deal with them. Make sure no one there knows anything."

"But my Master," said one Shadow, "We destroyed the evidence." The Master raised his voice again,

"Considering the current situation, I think you'd better leave. The Skalah will be here soon, and I’m sure they won’t want to hear of your stupidity."

The Shadows were gone so quickly a blink would have missed the terrified look on their faces. The Master turned to view the battle once more. He would have gone to search for them himself, but he was needed at the dais. He just hoped that they could find this Korius and he could be turned to his side, then there would be no stopping him. Almost.

~*~

Joibri turned back to Talo, a maddened look in her eyes,

"Show me how to use the mana. It's been awoken, right?" Talo looked at her squarely and solemnly,

"No."

"What?" came the growl.

"Only half-awoken. If you tried anything now -" he stopped as she turned back, ignoring him completely,

"Fuck it." She didn't need her weapons. She stepped up beside Unliore, the strain evident on the Apostle's face, "Let the shield down."

"No," Unliore replied through gritted teeth. Joibri rounded the mage to stand in front of her, tilting her head to one side and narrowing her eyes,

"You fear me," she stated.

"N-no, I don't."

"But you don't know why. Care to find out?" Joibri's hand rose deceptively slowly, poised to strike at any pressure point she wished.

"This is not the time!" Talo came back and tugged on her arm again, "Those on the outside need us! They need you!" he insisted.

"HE needs me!" Joibri said, pointing in Pen's direction.

"No he doesn't! I need you!" Talo tried again. Pen briefly glanced over his shoulder, the jealousy welling.

"YOU LIE!" Joibri practically screamed, and at precisely that moment Unliore gave in. The HardShield collapsed from her exhaustion and the few dark shapes charged again.

"Go Unliore! Out!" She didn't question Talo, her ManaForm disappearing.

"Joibri, go with Talo," Pen urged though wishing he did not have to. "I will be fine. I'm in no danger here."

"NO DANGER!" Joibri was incredulous.

"GO!" he almost howled the word, freezing Joibri's blood with its sound.

"Joibri, please," Talo begged. Even Pen had to admit that the tone in Talo's voice was almost pleading with her for them to leave the alter-world, but he would not leave without his love.

“Pen, no!” Joibri was running to Pen, but Talo ran after her and tackled her, at the same time cancelling both of their ManaForms. Before they even touched the ground they had disappeared.

~*~

Joibri opened her eyes and saw an exhausted Unliore standing above her, holding Joibri's weapons. As Joibri sat up a dizzy-spell corrupted her sense of balance, but she saw all too clearly the carnage and the onslaught approaching. Strangely, the first thing she focused on was Gasta's ruined body laid beside the dais.

"No..." she breathed in disbelief. Unliore dropped to her knees beside Joibri, spent. The anger inside Joibri grew so quickly it barely registered, and she pulled on her weapons expertly, managing to stand.

"Avenge him...for me," Unliore sighed, her head dropping to her chest as she seemed to be trying to catch her breath. "I will watch...him," she gestured weakly in the direction of Pen's body.

"Down!" As soon as the last remaining guard dropped to their knees a familiar rip of red and violet surged out like a line of charging cavalry, engulfing the first couple of lines of enemy Shadows. The wails of the dying were immense and terrible.

Joibri jumped lightly off of the ManaDais as its red light began to fade, the pendant still swaying around her torso. Her kichida was drawn and divided as she strode to the no-man's land between dais and darkness.

"We need to get...out," Unliore told Talo, the first signs of his own drained stamina beginning to show in the form of sweat. But he didn't appear to be listening to his fellow Apostle. "Talo? Talo...did you...hear me?"

"Dear love..." he said under his breath, eyes trained on the elf in front of them. He looked down to Unliore, "We wait until the Skalah-man has finished whatever it is he's doing. Hopefully that will be soon." Their gazes went back to the no-man's land, where the three college guards had took a few steps nearer in the same direction as Joibri.

"You are no challenge!" Joibri yelled at the reforming line, who seemed to be waiting for a crucial order. The guards and mages looked to one another nervously.

~*~

Pen had turned back to the conversation with Minshpall, Hashkar bellowing in his native tongue at the best on the other side.

"You will regret ever betraying me, Minshpall. You know what I am capable of doing, and it will only be a matter of time before I do so. You must decide your fate. To join me again, or to fall by my hand. We must join forces against the common enemy."

A cold laughter emanated from the other dimension.

"I will never join you again, Hashkar. Never. If that means my death, then so be it. But you know, I somehow doubt you will ever get the chance."

Pen felt the putrid hate and anger of Hashkar grow within his mind, and suddenly he felt, within his head, a bolt of flashing light, and his head would have visibly jolted to anyone who had been there to see. In the other dimension, the bolt hit Minshpall like an electric shot. His head snapped backwards, his Drakoor screeching loudly, rearing onto its hind legs.

Pen felt himself slip within his mind, into a state of calmness, and upon opening his eyes again found himself within the great hall of the ManaDais, surrounded by those that were left of their party.

~*~

Blackthorne was a nest of activity for the remainder of the day. The Baron had not delayed in pushing his city to readiness and within an hour of the meeting he had his army patrolling the streets and setting up safe points for the population.

The reason for the sudden operation had been hastily explained by Blackthorne and surprisingly much of the population believed every word. Townsfolk were dashing in all directions, gathering possessions and heading for the castle. Mages were setting up trap spells at key locations within the walls, and Kane and Veygan were educating the army on how to kill the coming creatures.

Delenar, however, was whistling merrily as he approached the small armoury.

"Hello?" he called as he entered the deserted weapon smith.

"We're closed!" came a familiar voice, though it no longer sounded so husky and suggestive. The girl rounded the corner from the forge and into the display room. "Ah, its y- are the knives okay?" she asked, surprised.

"Yes, though I haven't killed anyone with them yet, so I will need time to test them." The girl stared at him with a plain expression; Delenar just laughed, "It was a joke my dear, now, are you ready to leave?" The girl looked confused now and stared at him blankly again.

"Well, yes as a matter of fact, I was planning on heading to Arlen. Now is there anything else I can help you with?" Delenar smiled,

"Yes, you can come with me to the castle. Arlen will never hold, it has no standing army to speak of while the castle is prepared and home to the finest knife-thrower in Balaia. You'll be safe there."

"While I am sure you have my best intentions at heart, I am a big girl and will make my way to Arlen. Besides, I’m sure you'll be too busy playing soldier to have any company."

Delenar struggled for a response - he had been sure he would find a terrified young woman just waiting to be swept off her feet. But this one was different, she was acting as if demons attacked her home city on a weekly basis.

"Please...." he found himself saying, "You will not survive outside the city, I'm not much of a warrior I admit, but I will protect you with my life and my skill with knives is my second best strength." The girl stared at him, now with the same seductive look she had exposed him to the previous day.

"You don't even know my name yet you would die to defend me. And I take it you are expecting something in return?" she said.

"Nothing. After all, I have made this promise to everyone down this street, but it is the truth. I will fight the creatures no matter what, but it would be nice to know I'm helping someone, now will you please leave. It’s almost sundown." The girl kept her gaze locked to Delenar’s. She had the most beautiful dark brown eyes he had ever seen and he found himself staring back at her like a smitten child.

"One question," she said as she picked up a sack of belongings, "You said your skill with knives is your second greatest skill - what’s first?" He grinned at her and moved to the door,

"Now head to the castle, I have one more street to convince before I can meet you there," said Delenar.

And with that, he left.

~*~

He had watched them through the eyes of one of his minions, his link to its mind strong enough to keep it from running headlong into the cleverly modified SpellShield. He had felt the others return to the Balaian dimension, each springing to their senses as he knew they would. There was a change in the elf girl though, and as he felt the raw mana energy flowing from her he knew that the Skalah had just managed to prevent her full Awakening and were now pounding against the walls between the two plains of existence. It was time, he thought. Time to expel those who fought him from HIS college, from the place where the Rebirth would begin.

The hold left the Shadow, which stood motionless for a short time, unsure if it could move or whether the Master would take hold of it again. When he re-appeared at its side, spell prepared, it was sure that its blades would taste the blood of a mage once more. He stopped near the entrance to the ManaDais. The man-Demon was already lifting others through a small window, and he laughed, for he knew that it led only to the fool - and there was nothing worse than a powerful fool, he thought - Talo's office, and there was no escape from that room. The elf stood between them and the remaining Shadows, but he instructed them not to attack just yet.

He turned back to the five in front of him. As he looked each of them in the eye, the defending mage pair and the final trio of soldiers, his cold mirthless grin played once more across his face, and he saw their courage fail. He raised his hands, black orbs appearing at the tips of each finger on the outstretched palms. His smile vanished, and the five in front knew they were doomed. The mages dropped shields for offensive spells and the soldiers charged, but they were already too late. He muttered the command, the voice almost a whisper, and ten fist-sized FlameOrbs powered across the short gap.

Each opponent received two focused Orbs each, all in the upper torso, their bodies flying across the room and already being consumed by the black-tinged mana fire that ate at clothing, armour and flesh alike. Their screams lasted only until the fires reached their throats, and then the voices cut off abruptly. Silence filled the room again, the only sounds the scrape of feet against stone walls as the others lifted the man-Demon in through the window. Only the elf remained where she stood, her face now displaying the pain and torment he knew she would feel, and the anger from his last actions. He smiled again, and took two steps towards her.

"Join me, Joibri'dan, herbalist, weapon-smith and descendant of the Elven TaiGethen."

Her face flickered for a moment, and he could sense the question forming in her mind - 'how does he know my heritage?' - and he laughed, the sound almost one of kindness or joy.

"Come now, you know you cannot win. You are not strong enough, and the fool Talo has only managed to burden you with more pain and a heavier load than your mind can bear. Come here, child, and let me take your burden. Let me take away the pain," he said as he held out a hand, the false sincerity dripping from every word.

False it may have been, but for a brief moment she considered his offer - that was all she wanted right now - to be rid of the pain. Ye gods the pain... Then the anger returned to her face, her ears pricked and reddened.

"Never," she spat. "Never will I turn my back on any who would face you. You, who declares himself nameless and calls himself the Master. You who would end all life on Balaia if it meant you would rule un-opposed. No, I shall not join you. I shall take your life instead!" She moved forward, weapons drawn and ready to strike.

"Foolish brat. You shall join the countless souls who have fallen before my armies. But you shall have no ordinary death - your strength shall be that which will take my own beyond any that have lived or ever will again!" A darkness clouded behind him in the doorway then, flashes of silver light from numerous blades blinking in the firelight. "Take them all, my Shadows!"

The darkness flooded the room, and then the lights went out...

Joibri was blindfolded without a cloth in the darkness, facing the army she knew she would. Her hands remained at her sides, clutching her divided kichida. This was the symbolism of her vision in the alter-world, come to life.

"I shall die here," she told herself, beating back the tension in her heart to make way for the warriorette spirit. Her sword, unwrapped, rested comfortingly on her back, her finger blades secure and her throwing stars pressed against her hip.Slowly her hands brought themselves closer and hooked the kichida pommels together again, and she held it in one hand, sinking into her fighting stance, slowing her breathing as she had been taught.

They had almost encircled her, closing in - ever closer, ever closer, talons ticking away against one another like the clock of death. But where was He...?

"Fight me fairly!" Joibri yelled out to the Master, releasing her last ounces of anxiety in it.

"No!" he defied unseen. But she would keep him from the Dais, if not her friends within that study...

Joibri could feel the cold from the Shadow bodies. Her free hand raised itself slowly, body sinking and fingers tightening around her weapon Her eyes closed.

"Come closer..." she whispered to the Shadows in cold seduction like the shine of a black widow.

From the broken window of the barricaded study, Pen and Talo heard an elvish battle cry of ‘I am unleashed!’, and flares of red mana that Joibri shouldn't have been using leapt into being and illuminated the writhing army and the immense antechamber. Joibri's trademark stepping-stones hung glowing in the air after her as she spilt first blood.

Her moves were pure art. Though morbid, there was no other way to describe it - it was inhuman, and it was beautiful.

Fire that was no proper spell cut arcs for her to follow through the air, bearing down on the hungry army like a falling, scarlet star. The kichida swung, cut and spun so fast it was little more than a strand of spider's thread reflected in the harmless mana-light. Her body twisted and darted just as fast as her opponents, for the moment untiring, drawing on the reserve of strength she cultivated even in this eleventh hour. Ever still, though, the darkness closed in.

And the Master laughed, for he would devour her precious soul and partake of her mana-rich blood. The thought gave him sadistic joy. Oh the death for her that he would prolong as much as possible! The sound of those weapons clattering to the ground as the hands that held them loosened in exhaustion; the body that would sink into the darkness - his darkness - as he bade it do so; the terrified and defeated screams of mercy that would rise then wilt in her exposed throat as he cut it; the hot breath in her body that would be crushed from her as it was broken by his own hands; the fire in her eyes that he would steal away as her life was ripped from her and cast into the Void... Yes, he would have those.

He moved towards her, ever closer, ever closer.

Desperate, Pen turned to Talo, grabbing his shoulders and twisting the mage to face him. Staring into his eyes Pen saw momentarily what he thought was how he felt, but then the look was gone, replaced by an impassive mask.

"We have to do something, she can't hold them off by herself!" Talo merely continued to stare back, before shaking Pen's hands from his arms and murmuring his reply,

"There is nothing to do but wait for her return."

"She won't be returning. Not unless we do something now." Talo twisted to look back at the warrior, a look of what could only be described as contempt.

"You have supposedly known Joibri since childhood, and yet for a lifelong friend you have a surprisingly low level of confidence in her abilities." He turned and walked to the window they had entered through. "We must have our escape planned by the time she returns to us. She most probably will not defeat the Master at this stage, but will significantly damage his esteem for us to make our escape. To the villages and forests near here."

Pen could barely hear the mage's words. His comments on Pen's thoughts of his friend's abilities had stung, not because they were untrue, in fact the opposite - because Pen knew deep down that he was probably right, not only that but he was so afraid of losing her he didn't want her to be involved in anything dangerous whatsoever. He heard mumbles of agreement to Talo's escape suggestion, but felt no urge to help with the attempts of the others to clear an escape route for them all. He stood, waiting for his beloved to return to him.

~*~

Zithe chose not to travel farther than the town. She had to find out what was going on, and how Karil had been shunted out of his place as leader. Having found out personal information, she had a fairly good idea as to what it could have been, and if it were that then she didn't think that she could find the words that could describe her contempt for those responsible for his leaving. She did, though have a fairly good idea as to who it was, and she would find out as much as she could about him, his past, and his motives.

She walked out of the town and towards the woodland where she planned to sleep the first few nights, so as to gain people's trust and possibly find information out quicker. With a lack of food they would not need another mouth to feed and she had her own supply. Sitting a good way in the woods, camouflaged in the trees, she unwrapped her supplies and set about making her camp.

~*~

Kane looked out over the huge city of Blackthorne, the distant walls and turrets visible from the ramparts of the keep. The Baron himself stood beside him, taking in the view of his city as the sun set beyond it.

"Are we ready?" he asked.

Kane looked out over the city, noticing the four areas of intense light. Several safe-houses had been set up round the city, each defendable and completely lit against the Shadows. The barracks held a majority of the population who had entered the keep. The town court also held a large amount. Around these buildings as well as within the keep was a huge concentration of torches and mage light, the only defence against the Shadows’ method of movement.

"No more could’ve been done. I'm still surprised at how little time it took to accomplish so much," replied Kane. Blackthorne showed a small smile,

"What about your friend, what scheme has he got planned?" Kane started laughing,

"I'll be honest with you my Lord, I have no idea at all. Knowing Delenar though, it will be overly extravagant." The Baron nodded as he stared down at the entrance to his wine cellar. The building was ringed with soldiers and torches but there were no people inside to protect, just the elf archer and his labyrinth of wine cellars.

"As long as he kills some of these bastards," the Baron muttered to himself.

Veygan walked up beside the two men, and raised a hand to point towards the distant sun. Nothing was said, it didn't need to be. The three of them just stared into the distance, watching the sun set.

~*~

Delenar was enjoying himself immensely. The bottle of wine in his hand was worth a small fortune, the oldest and finest bottle of wine in Balaia, and the taste was incredible. While the bottle of spirit in his left hand was probably the strongest liquor he had ever tasted.

He stared into the bottle of vintage wine and then threw it, smashing it against another bottle that was resting in one of many wine racks. The bottles exploded, spilling their contents everywhere. Delenar smiled to himself and walked farther on, entering a new chamber within Blackthorne’s huge wine cellar. This chamber was long and narrow, with a row of huge barrels lined to each side. He withdrew one of his knives and began plunging it into each barrel as he walked past.

An hour later and the largest wine cellar in Balaia stank of alcohol as it leaked from smashed bottles, broken casks and leaking barrels. Delenar was oblivious to the damage he had caused as he started sampling the fine red wines Blackthorne was so famous for.

"Ah, here it is," he said to himself as he selected a ten-year vintage bottle. He had enjoyed a ten-year bottle in the past and had found the taste remarkable. Removing the stopper, he took a long swig from the bottle before replacing the cork.

While nodding approval, Delenar took the bottle into one hand while he used the other to push over the rack of wines and then he made his way back up to the entrance. He paused at the top of the stairwell and sat down facing the cellar. Two torches provided the only light, while the bottom of the stairs was smothered in gloom. Behind him a score of soldiers looked at each other, puzzled by the destruction he had caused, but none approached him as he sat and drank.

"Whatever happens," Delenar said without turning to face them, "We must defend this stairwell."

~*~

She fought well, just as he had known she would, but it would be in vain in the end. He gazed at her through the gathering darkness, her body a red blaze to his eyes. She slaughtered more of his servants, but it wouldn't matter. She was tiring, her body still pained from the botched Awakening, and it wouldn't be long before his Shadows would be able to take her down, even with the weapons she carried - both her own and the sword of the fallen Gasta, which she had obtained moments before.

"Talo was a fool to think he could unleash your full powers before the College resistance fell. Child, why do you still fight on? You would make a fine asset to my army, why resist?" came his mocking voice through the blackened room, but only Joibri could hear him.

He saw her falter slightly as he spoke his command word, and then her body froze in mid-strike. Her eyes widened, the shock of realisation sweeping over her as the Binding spell held her fast. His voice thumped through her skull pounding at her temples.

"Yes, yes, you are mine now you foolish brat! Here in my trap you are caught. Here I see all your fears, your desires, your hopes and dreams. I sense every pathetic thought. Yes, that's it....let your anger out. Unleash what is left of your dwindling mana. You cannot hide anything from me now. Soon I shall take you, and then all of Balaia shall be mine!"

Panic swept over the elf, quickly followed by revulsion as she realised her most intimate thoughts were being read like an open book by the creature she hated more than anything else. He taunted her again and again, His voice changing to mimic people from her past...her family, her friends. She felt tears roll down her cheeks as He copied every person she had ever loved and used their voices to curse her, to tell her of how many ways He would torture her, of the eternal suffering He would put her through before finally draining all of her power. Her mind was becoming a wreck, her emotions spiralling out of control. And through it all He laughed, his voice like salt on a wound as he drank in every bit of her suffering like a drug.

Her anger rose higher, her emotions swirling the mana within her into a storm. She heard Him coming closer, could sense Shadows moving aside allowing Him through, could feel the hunger seeping from Him. She had to get away. When He chose one final voice, that most precious to her, the storm within her body reached its peak. The veil over her vision was ripped away by an unknown force, and her eyes flashed open. She was dimly aware of the red-tinged world around her as her mind summoned words from within her that she had never known or heard. Joibri muttered something she couldn't make out, and then the Fifth spell was unleashed.

The Master's Binding spell was broken instantly, and a bright red orb of pure mana emanated from the elf's body. He swore and fled from the ManaDais as a bright light began emanating from the orb's centre, scattering the Shadows in the room as they fled for the dark corners. A few remained, trying to reach her, but the orb expanded into a bubble-like structure, reaching farther outwards until it hit the walls. Every Shadow the shell touched exploded in a cloud of ash, as did everything else in the spell's path - dead bodies, armour and discarded weapons, even the walls themselves became singed and blackened as the spell structure touched them.

Throughout it all Joibri hung in the air in the shape of a cross, arms thrust out to the sides, legs together beneath her, her voice screaming unknown commands. Suddenly the spell vanished, and she collapsed to her knees, body shaking, breath coming in ragged gasps. Joibri searched the floor, finding only her kichida and Gasta‘s sword, clutching them to her like a security blanket. She heard a thump behind her and knew Pen had dropped back into the room. She tried to stand, but collapsed back to the ground, dropping the two blades she carried to the floor with a dull clang. He dashed across to her, and she was suddenly aware then that Talo had been watching the whole thing from the window. As her body finally stopped fighting and tried to let her drift off to sleep, one thought kept crossing her mind...

‘Why didn't he help me?’

"Joibri? What happened?" Pen laid his hands on her shoulders, turning her slowly to face him and shaking her to keep her awake.

"It's time we went," was all she replied with.

"Joibri, why don't you talk to me? Have I done something to offend our friendship?"

"Not now, Pen. This is not the time. We must leave now." Both walked back into Talo's office, Pen noticing that Joibri struggled to do so without slouching over and with a pronounced limp. He placed an arm around her waist, wanting to support her, but her frown put him off and he drew back again as they were hauled into the room.

"Joibri!" Talo was pulling her into his arms in a moment, but his hug of relief, like Pen's support, was shrugged off. "Joibri?"

"We must all leave here. Now! Come on, what's wrong with you all, we must get going." Unliore, who had been leaning against the wall as she remembered the fallen Gasta, pushed herself to her feet.

"Talo has made us a route that we can get out from,” she gestured to a spell-made hole in the wall. “There are several villages a few miles from here. It's up to you where we go, Joibri." Surprised at the suddenness of her being placed in charge, Joibri hesitated,

"Oh! Err...all right. I know of one village. The people are friendly and will not talk of our being there."

"Excellent. Sounds perfect." Unliore smiled warmly. "Which village is it?"

"A small elvish settlement near the forest to the East. Cordelenn."

"Let's move then," Talo finally spoke after his rebuff from Joibri. He looked irritated at Pen who was pleased it was not just himself that Joibri hadn't wanted to touch her. He hoped she was trying to decide who she'd rather be with. If either of them stood a chance, he thought - as a younger girl, Joibri had had many men take a fancy to her. She could have her pick had she wanted to. Had she wanted to, because she seemed wholly convinced that no male ever found her attractive in the slightest, and so somehow managed to miss the few advances.

And so they began their descent from Talo's office, knowing somehow this previously sealed-up tunnel would lead to the ground outside.

Gasta’s sword lay across Joibri's back comfortingly, rattling against her kichida. Her throwing stars, finger blades and her own sword had been lost to the spell that had sapped her of most of her strength. She struggled to appear strong - she would not have them touch her.

'In your memory, Gasta, this sword shall live. If the end shall come before we escape this darkness, we shall lie together in death's thrall, sword and kichida alike...'

Farther down into the darkness of the tunnel they descended. Joibri thought she heard water. They all glanced nervously around them for any sign of danger. Surely the Master would be looking to destroy them still? Talo had two LightGlobes trained on the four - it was baffling them all how he, in light of Unliore's condition, had any mana left at all. It didn't bother Unliore so much, but it worried Pen and scared Joibri. How was it possible? What else could he do?

'If he were not...such a...friend, if you could call him that, then he would be the devil's work. And how can the devil love? But he does. Ye gods he does and it is poison.' Her ears caught Pen's heavy footfalls. 'So does he. This is so...

'It's not over yet.'

"We must keep moving this way," Talo commanded, taking the lead now and walking at a steady pace in front of the group.

Pen watched him continue farther along the tunnel as it began to finally slope upwards, his LightGlobes glowing golden streams ahead of them. How did he have all this strength left? Surely Joibri was as similar in her mana power as him, and yet in comparison it appeared to Pen that Talo was as powerful as if he had done nothing at all.

As they continued farther up the trail, the source of the water sounds became clearer. The tunnel opened into a huge cavern before them, a large waterfall to their left running into an even bigger rock-pool beneath the promontory on which they stood.

"Come, the exit is but a little farther up this path." Talo continued around the corner to the right, leaving himself no time to inspect the beauty of the natural phenomena they were passing through. The others, however, were fascinated, taking a few minutes to marvel at their surroundings, before Talo's urgent call spurred them all on.

Sparing a last glance at the magnificent cavern behind them now, the group continued around the corner, to see Talo stood at an opening at the top of a muddy slope. They jogged towards it, feeling fresh air come down to meet them as the neared it.

"Joibri, you first," Pen smiled. "You've earned it."

Joibri turned, unsure how to react, but smiled back when she saw him wink at her. She walked forward, for the first time in weeks feeling positive, and as she reached the top of the slope, she found herself filled with a renewed strength, brought on by her beautiful surroundings and the smell of wet grass and the sight of the wind in the trees. No one was around and it seemed peaceful, and for a moment Joibri felt she could lie down and fall asleep where she stood.

Then they were all out, and looking to Joibri for directions towards Cordelenn. Taking in a deep breath of sweet air, Joibri pointed past the forest and into the distance.

"We travel East," and again they were moving.

~*~

Cordelenn took an hour or so to reach, and was little more than a hamlet tucked away into a gathering of forest-covered hills. The six or so simplistic houses, single tavern and marketplace were overshadowed by the rock face surrounding them on three sides, while the forest had been left undisturbed and had been allowed to run right in and among the settlement. Only a couple of elves were out and about as the four approached wearily, and these they assumed were guards of sorts on an evening shift.

"Might be better if you talked to them," Pen advised Joibri. She nodded and with a slight limp walked over to the nearest elf,

"You may not remember me, but I'm Joibri'dan - is Maitane'sha still here?" The other male elf on watch joined his companion, and smiled politely, explaining in heavily-accented Balaian,

"We recall your name, and she is still here. I'm afraid I'll have to fetch her before we can allow you entry. You do understand, don't you?"

"Of course." The male elf that had spoken walked off with another meaningful smile, causing Talo and Pen to prickle slightly in jealousy though both were sure the other elf hadn't meant the smile in that way. Unliore just placed her hands on her hips. Overhead the moon had risen, the stars beginning to sparkle as the sunrise diminished to be replaced by twilight. A mist had begun to creep forward from the trees.

A minute or so later and two elves emerged from the house farthest back into the hillside niche, one the elf whom had greeted the group and the other an older female elf supported by the arm of the first. When she came within sight of Joibri (which took a while for her old eyes), she uneasily let go of the supporting arm and extended her own wide, smiling broadly,

"Joibri'dan!" she greeted, and the younger elf in question walked into a rather motherly embrace. In accordance with this, the older elf stepped back and held Joibri's shoulders, inspecting her, "You've grown! Though I will say that you and your companions look a little worse for wear!"

"Maitane'sha, I was wondering if we might enjoy your hospitality for a night or so - as you can see we are very weary. I'll explain why if you take pity!"

~*~

They had been provided with clean clothes by the hospitality of the tavern owner, whom Joibri also knew, and given the opportunity to clean up. Now sat in the bar area sipping his ale, Pen heard the doors to the bar from the baths open and suppressed a gasp when he saw Joibri enter. Now totally cleaned and in the garb of the local elves - a dark violet, long skirt and matching, slightly clinging long-sleeved blouse - Pen didn't think the word beautiful covered it at all. Talo on the other hand seemed to have lost all sense of his past dignity and was almost gawping at her as she entered.

"Careful, you'll start to drool in a minute." Pen's harsh words snapped Talo out of his ogling as he turned back to his drink and hid his face from view. "Joibri, you look much better," Pen smiled at her. "How are you feeling?"

"Much better indeed, thank you, Pen." She sat next to him, giving him a peck on the cheek and a huge bear-hug, rather like they used to do in that innocent childhood lost oh so long ago now.

"Bloody hell! You must be feeling better," Pen laughed, and Joibri smiled a broad smile back, slipping back off the seat to collect a drink at the other end of the bar, where the tavern-owner was talking with the barman. Talo sat looking livid before massaging the bridge of his nose with thumb and forefinger.

"We have permission to stay as long as we like." Joibri had returned. "Where's Unliore?"

"She's upstairs having a lie down."

"I don't blame her. She must be exhausted, and after loosing Gasta too."

"She must be exhausted? What about you?" Pen realised he'd said the wrong thing, reminding her perhaps of what was going to have to happen soon.

"I'm quite fine thank you."

"Good, because we can't stay here any later than one night," Talo joined in their exchange rather abruptly.

"What?" Joibri's shock was clearly evident now, and Pen wasn't going to have her being stretched too far.

"Talo, have some fucking compassion! The girl only just came out of that mana world without serious physical injury and Unliore is exhausted too. I'm not one-hundred-percent either, and it seems only you have the strength to continue. What are you Talo?" Pen stood and walked over to the elf, who had also stood up now to face Pen, though the warrior was a good two inches taller at least. "How is it you retain your power so well, huh?"

"Good control," he replied smoothly, his sharp eyes narrowing and that smile rising - the smile that was no longer just icy - it was sinister. Joibri and Pen both inwardly shivered.

"By the Gods can we not even sit and have a drink without you two trying to kill each other?" Joibri's voice was harsh, cutting the thick atmosphere like a knife.

"Joibri, I-" Pen began.

"I don't give a damn! And Talo, neither myself nor Unliore will be leaving Cordelenn for at least two nights. You can leave if you want, in fact it would probably be better that way." Joibri moved towards the door, but Talo barred her exit, grabbing her arm.

"You don't have any idea how important you are," he sounded almost astonished.

"Talo get off me, I'm tired and you're hurting me." Talo's grip tightened and his eyes narrowed even more.

"Why are you so fucking stubborn you stupid-" The words came from a mouth which was twisted into an angry sneer, but Talo didn't have a chance to finish his sentence before Pen's fist made contact with his jaw. He was knocked from his feet, his grip leaving Joibri's arm to allow her to run from the tavern. Behind her, Pen grabbed Talo's shirt collar, heaving him to his feet before slamming him into the bar,

"Never do that to her again. Who the hell do you think you are, huh? If I see you so much as look at her in the wrong way again I’ll cut your throat out, elf."

"And what is the wrong way, exactly? To you it is wrong for any man to look at her in any form of affection. Should I now avert my eyes from her when speaking to her?" the bite was sharp in Talo’s voice. Pushing Talo backwards as he let go, Pen stormed out of the Tavern after Joibri, who he saw head towards the forest.

Pen caught up with Joibri before she could even get around the back of the tavern into the main bulk of the forest, where the sharp slope to the hills began.

"Did he hurt you?" Pen demanded as he matched her strides. Joibri spun angrily, having to brace herself on a tree to keep herself from falling over on the slope, she was still so tired.

"The both of you hurt me. With your constant arguing. Now please," she pushed past him, frustrated, "I just want to be left alone now! The evening's spoilt."

Joibri found herself back in the tavern, and cast a cursory glance at Talo, who remained at the candlelit bar, sinister shadows cast over an otherwise pitiful-looking expression. Joibri was influenced more by the look of the shadows, and quickly headed in the direction of the stairs. Before she could get very far, though, Talo spoke,

"Please, Joibri. Stop a moment." She sighed, not quite knowing what she was doing as she stopped in her tracks, not looking at him and her fists clenching. "Let me -"

As soon as he carried on talking Joibri shook her head and jogged lightly up the stairs, having come to her senses, hand holding her skirt up. To her dismay, Talo followed, and as Pen was probably still outside Joibri knew she wouldn't have an escape route, unless it was to kill him. She wouldn't do that.

Once in her room she closed the door and strode to the window, looking out at the dim haze that was the boughs of many trees converging in the misty moonlight. The door opened again, and she cursed herself for not locking it. Talo looked uneasy. He closed the door behind him, and Joibri fought to make sure her face didn't portray any emotion. She took a step backwards into the windowsill, and, trying to look casual, sat on it.

Silently and slowly the male elf came and sat on the sill across from her, and Joibri noticed no hostility in his face, not even in his eyes. For a moment they sat there, afraid to look at one another bathed in the light of the moon.

"Does it...do I mean nothing to you?" Talo intoned defeatedly. Joibri's attitude quickly changed towards him,

"Talo, please, you must understand - you do mean something to me, just..."

"Just not as much as HE means to you," Talo said bitterly. Joibri placed her hands on either side of his face, turning her whole body towards him,

"Ye gods, Talo, I don't want to say it, I don't want to hurt you, but you must understand - I care for you, but I do not love you." Talo, when he heard this, was unafraid of his vulnerability and squeezed his eyes shut as tears gathered in them - he had devoted his life to her, and now here was the rejection.

At his tears Joibri felt all the guilt and pity she had stored up fall out into her face, taking a sharp intake of breath and trying not to tear up herself.

"Don't do this, Talo, please..." she begged, but he opened his tear-filled eyes and looked straight into her own,

"I love you, you know." Like his, her heart broke. A pause. "My life, was devoted, to keeping you safe - I didn't sleep or eat unless I knew you were safe. The whole reason," he raised his voice in his emotion, "that I am as powerful as I am is you. You, Joibri - that's it, just YOU."

"Talo I -"

"I could have been everything you wanted," his hands moved to her face, and for a moment they held one another. "You're everything to me."

"No, I'm not," she insisted. She took her hands from his face, one steadying her and the other pressing onto one of his.

"You ARE. How can you turn that sort of devotion away?" he cried.

"I can't lie to you!" she insisted helplessly and turned her head away.

"Please, do so, if only for a few minutes. I don't care if it is a lie! Lie to me, Joibri," he demanded as he moved her head to look back at him. "Lie to me." She closed her eyes tightly, hoping in vain that this would end. That was a mistake.

He ran his free hand into her hair and kissed her. She took the hand that had been steadying her and shakily placed it on his tear-soaked chin, trying to find the determination to push him away, but couldn't. Her guilt made her feel like she owed him, in a way. He took that hand and pulled her nearer into his arms, and like so many times in these past months, though now in a different way, she felt helpless. His other hand was at the back of her head now and he couldn't help himself, extending the kiss as if to breath her in. She broke away,

"Talo, no." Their quickened breathing mingled and he kept her near, running his hand down her spine and down to her thigh. His lips lingered on hers, but he spoke,

"Do I mean nothing to you?" he asked again, as if to point out that she seemed to be reconsidering. Once more they kissed, and then finally Joibri put her hands on the side of his face again and broke away.

"If you love me, you will let me go," she said. Talo looked back at her, lust dying down to hurt. Now it was he who looked away, removing his hand from her thigh. She smiled sadly at him, and then got off of the sill, his other hand slipping through her hair as she left him. Just as she opened the door to retreat back to the woods he stopped her with more tearful words,

"I could have been everything you wanted." Joibri looked back at the broken semblance of a man, replying equally tearfully,

"I know." As she left the room the door remained ajar. But still Talo sunk off of the windowsill to the floor, leaning against the wood and letting his sorrows unashamedly pour out.

And outside the door Joibri didn't get far before she slid down the wall opposite it - if only she had stayed at home...if only...she would have had it all. Sobs began to rack her with charges of regret, guilt, and self-hate.

"Why didn't I stay..." Joibri cursed herself. She glanced only once at Talo crumpled on the floor in the shadow of the windowsill, the sight stinging her into turning away into the wall that she clung to.

The cries of Talo's anguish brought Unliore out of her sleep and in turn out into the hall from her room next door. She looked from Talo to Joibri, confused and sympathetic. Without a word she moved inside the bedroom to her friend, kneeling down and trying to sit him upright so he could use her to cry on. Talo wasn't having any of it - he shook his head violently and cried out in anguish,

"Only her! Only her..." He weakly pointed in Joibri's direction, looking at her with such burning ardour and grief that it stunned Unliore into meekness. She sat back helplessly, closing her eyes when his shouts assaulted her. And then he let his arm and upper half sink to the tile. Unliore looked silently back at Joibri, whom hid her face with one hand and used the other to pull herself up from the floor.

Talo's cries grew louder. As she heard them Joibri's hands coiled themselves into her hair and she clenched her eyes tighter. She couldn't stand it anymore and, wiping her damp face with her sleeve, headed back downstairs and back outside, successfully making her way into the forest.

~*~

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