Rise of the Fifth
The Hidden College Part 1
Pages 76 to 90

"I think that will be enough for today." A motion of his hands, and miles away the fog on the battlefield lifted, almost like a curtain being raised by a rope in a theatre. In his chamber, the Master smiled. His General's plan had worked perfectly. "Well done Kaynel - you have made me proud this day," he said.

A flicker of recognition in his General's eye at the sound of his name, but no other movement was made. The Master turned his head slightly towards another corner.

"Has the elf reported his failure yet? If not, despatch another group of your Kin to the last point of contact. I want to know what he's doing to get back my prize." The Shadow bowed quickly and left.

~*~

Nahrik was silently observing the tavern. Being some half a day ahead of his quarry he decided to plan his ambush for when they slept. They would be exhausted from their travels and the chance of one of the party waking would be greatly reduced.

He had scouted the inn the by sneaking through a window on the lower floor. The building itself was rather large and simplistic in its layout. The downstairs floor consisted of a bathroom, the bar, a small kitchen and two smaller bedrooms. The upper floor had six bedrooms of reasonable size and a small washroom. Yes, it would be easy to sneak it at night and silently enter each room. He had carefully remembered where to tread to avoid creaking floorboards, and he had managed to oil many of the door hinges downstairs, unfortunately the pretty serving girl had been cleaning upstairs.

'No matter,' he thought, 'I'm here for only one of them.'

Retreating to a nearby alley he sat patiently and checked the position of the sun. It was low, and light was beginning to be replaced by shadow, it would not be long now.

"I take it you have a plan?" came a metallic voice from behind the elf. Hiding his surprise and discomfort, Nahrik rounded on the figure, his knife positioned for a strike. The figure let out a sound Nahrik had come to know as laughter. "Your metal is useless, human."

"Yes but it hurts like hell, doesn't it?" said Nahrik re-sheathing his blade and returning his gaze to the tavern. The Shadow made a sound of frustration then spoke,

"Our Master has given you ten brothers, what are your plans?" Nahrik smiled; with ten Shadows at his disposal he had the perfect plan.

~*~

Youlvi's exhaustion was becoming more and more difficult to fight. They had not rested now for over a day and food was in short supply now that Delenar could not hunt. Luckily the inn was within view and Youlvi's mana had increased enough for him to attempt a BodyCast. Even so, the party was in a sorry state. Only Pen looked fresh, his wound had healed extremely fast, leaving only a small neat scar. Youlvi couldn't help but think that he was walking that bit straighter now he had Joibri with him. The time to approach him about his condition would soon be upon them.

"Youlvi, I see it. The inn is just ahead," Gasta encouraged.

~*~

Lena was sitting on the floor, desperately trying to recall all the different aspects of her spell when suddenly Jonak walked in.

"You're lucky. You won't need that spell anymore, the mages are dead." Lena sighed in relief - she hadn't been sure if she was able to cast the spell.

"Dead? How did that-" Jonak interrupted her,

"Korius managed to get the necessary information. But by then, their condition was... unstable. We delivered the last act of mercy," Lena almost laughed out loud at that statement, it was so absurd. She had seen the equipment in that room... She could just imagine what the three mages would have looked like.

Lena shuddered with disgust. She hadn't thought Korius was like that. But then, it seemed that lately she was misjudging often. She realized that the college she had wanted to join and the Fifth College were two very different things. She had come here looking for a college that focused on spell-casting, lore-research... A college that dedicated itself to mana and its properties, ignoring politics and its power struggles. Instead she had found a college that resembled Xetesk, but was even worse. She realized that a dominating Hermetic college would be fatal for Balaia.

But how get out of it? Lena knew there was virtually no way of leaving. If she could just... Jonak interrupted her thoughts,

"As we don't have any more captives, we can't test your loyalty as of yet. You will work in our research centre until we are able to test you later. Then, if you pass, you will have other tasks. I will take you to the centre." He left the room and Lena got up to follow him.

‘Hmm... the research centre...’ she thought, ‘I might find an opportunity there to either get out of here or at least do some serious damage...’ As she followed Jonak she felt the small glimmering of a plan beginning to emerge in her head.

~*~

Gasta was left to ensure the horses were stabled properly as Kane helped Delenar into one of the downstairs rooms. The worried look on the serving girl's face was made even worse when she saw the state Joibri was in, carried upstairs by Pen, whose huge frame only just made it up the narrow stairway. Youlvi followed the two upstairs, as she was in worse condition than Delenar was. She was also babbling in her sleep, something about seeing everything in shades of red, and Youlvi needed to know if Arithmus had made contact yet.

The General ordered food and drink to be taken to each room, along with any medical supplies the inn-keeper could spare, before joining the two in the downstairs room.

Night came slowly, and with the casualties laid out in beds, swathed in blankets, bandages and healing suffusions, the two mages collapsed into chairs in the main room. They both looked at each other through tired eyes, bodies weary through near-continuous mana use. If they slept they would probably never wake up, they joked. Gasta was keeping watch over Delenar, Pen never leaving Joibri's side. They prayed they would be able to rest a little, just a couple of hours maybe.

They would be disappointed.

~*~

Delenar’s vision consisted of mixed moments of clarity in between blurs and illusions. The pain had receded to a dull ache but he felt wearier then he ever had in his young life. He felt someone grip his hand reassuringly - a soft grip, definitely female. Couldn’t be Joibri - she wouldn’t do that; besides, she was half dead in another room. Wherever these rooms were. That left only one other, wonderful possibility.

"Where am I?"

"The Old Owl," Kirelle answered.

"Ah Kirelle," Delenar sighed, "You may find I am not looking my best." She smiled at the elf, tears brimming.

"How did you get yourself hurt like this?" she whimpered.

"I wrestle dragons," he replied. "Big ones. The first couple were easy to topple but one got a lucky strike." He suddenly winced in pain, one hand gripping hard to Kirelle's arm.

"You spend too much energy trying to impress me elf! Now rest, for me." Kirelle pleaded. Delenar allowed the pain to lapse before muttering a reply,

"Well normally I would be doing cartwheels, but for you, I suppose I can sleep a little." And he did.

~*~

Downstairs the bartender locked the final bolt in place, and with the door secured he set about cleaning the bar. The night had been quiet for customers and it was not long before he was ready to retire to his room behind the bar. Unlocking his door he stepped into his room, and into a tall, darkly clad elf.

"Make a single sound and you die, understood?" whispered the elf.

"Ye...Yes," mumbled the man in terror. He could not see his assailant’s face in the darkness of his room but the chilling tone of his voice was enough to scare him witless.

"Good," said the elf in an almost friendly way. "I think this may be the start of a beautiful relationship. Now, what room is the elf girl in? The one brought in earlier by the big man." The barman gazed at the blade pressed to his throat, some ounce of courage delaying his answer.

"I....I..."

"Now now barman, let’s not be heroic. You do not even know her, would you die for her?" Nahrik asked

"You....you...won't hurt her?" babbled the terrified man. The elf pulled a genuinely bemused expression.

'What a ridiculous question,' he thought. He felt an anger building, he had always found stupid people hard to tolerate. "Do I look like a concerned relative to you? Of course I'm going to hurt her, with luck she will be dead before the night is out!" Nahrik stopped, realising his voice was growing louder in his anger. Reverting back to a whisper, he continued, "My patience grows thin, human, what room?!"

The man took a calming breathe and closed his eyes for a moment. Good, Nahrik thought, he is finally gaining some composure.

"Kirelle, there’s someone here! Intruder! Int-" the man shouted before Nahrik’s blade could plunge into his throat.

"He wasn't as stupid as I thought," Nahrik mused to himself. The sound of moving floorboards above him told Nahrik that the warning had worked. This would make things complicated - still, ten Shadows would prove too much to handle.

~*~

Delenar awoke to shouting, a shouting that was hastily cut off. Kirelle leapt up and Kane came bursting through the door, locking it securely behind him.

"We're under attack, Del can you move?" Inwardly Delenar sighed; his luck would never change.

"Quickly - Youlvi said we need as much light in here as possible," he said as Delenar was helped to his feet by Kirelle. "Get anything you can, light it and throw it towards the Shadows. It's the best way to minimise the points of entry for those things."

He made a quick gesture and spoke the command word for a LightGlobe, the orb rising to just below roof level, eliminating most of the shadow in the room. Suddenly the door shook violently, the impact of body against wood from the other side booming inside the small room ad threatening to throw the thin wooden barrier clear across the room.

Kirelle was terrified, hiding behind the elf. Kane turned towards the door, tossing Delenar's bow and short sword to him as he did so whilst drawing his mage blade and a dagger from his waist. They could hear shouts from above them as Youlvi and Pen armed themselves accordingly.

All the while, growing steadily in volume, a hideous hissing sound bored its way into their minds, a sound surely not made by any creature on Balaia...

Delenar’s body was a sea of pain. Just stringing his bow pulled the shoulder wound and fresh blood was seeping through the bandage. He swiftly drew to test the tension of the bow and was forced to grit his teeth to stop from crying out. If it came to using his sword he would be forced to use his left hand.

"Kel, hook my baldric over my shoulder," Delenar asked while looping his quiver over his head.

"What -" replied Kirelle. She was so terrified that she seemed unable to understand anything he said. Delenar turned and grabbed her arm,

"Kel, my knives, get me my knives!" She stared at him then and realisation struck. She frantically picked up the baldric and helped to put it on Delenar. Kane was ready by the door but the banging sound had stopped and moments later continued on a door upstairs.

"It must be the elf, he's after Joibri," said Kane.

"Question is, how does he know she’s upstairs?"

Then the hissing emerged from the far corner of the room. Seemingly from nowhere, three Shadows emerged and leapt towards Kane.

~*~

"Youlvi - overturn the beds. There’ll be Shadows underneath them," ordered Pen.

Youlvi drew his sword and waited, with Pen by the door. The banging was gradually splintering the door-frame, it would not hold for long. Joibri was laid on the floor in the corner of the room with Youlvi standing directly in front of her.

"I don't have much to help you with, the BodyCasts drained my remaining stamina."

Pen merely nodded, the cold emotionless state he entered when in battle had overcome him. His excitement and fear mixed, his muscles tensing for action. The door slammed against its hinges again, the top hinge ripping from the door-frame. For a moment everything was silent then the door exploded into shards and fell flat into the room. Standing in the doorway and flanked with two Shadows was the elven swordsman. A smile played over his face.

~*~

Gasta was just brushing down the last of the horses when he heard shouting from the tavern. The sound was cut off suddenly and to the experienced Gasta, he knew that meant only one thing.

"Shit!" he cursed as he bolted from the stables.

He had almost reached the rear door into the tavern when he caught a glimpse of moonlight reflecting from a blade. He threw himself to the floor just as a whisper of steel passed over his head. Anger overcame him and he lashed out with his sword while trying to rise onto his knees. The Shadow dodged aside easily but then paused, allowing Gasta to stand.

"I need no chances from your kind!" sneered Gasta as he prepared to attack. A second Shadow appeared behind the first, metallic claws emerging from his dark cloak. "Typical," Gasta said, then charged.

~*~

Pen lashed out his sword arm for the elf who clearly hadn't been expecting anyone so close to the door. Unfortunately a moan from Joibri momentarily distracted him, and his aim faltered, allowing the elf off with a deep cut along his left shoulder. Anger flashed in the elf's eyes and he dived into the room, closely followed by creatures, their cloaks billowing in a non-existent wind.

Pen slashed at the chest of one of the Shadows, but felt little resistance from flesh or bone, his sword slicing with remarkable speed, black gooey fluid on his sword, the only proof of his having connected to the creature at all, which looked down momentarily before tilting its head, almost sizing Pen up, and then moving on, ignoring him.

He couldn't understand it. Not only had he made to kill the elf leading the creatures but he'd attacked one. How could it be that they ignored him?

Pen felt a sudden rush of sickness flood over him, and a cold sweat run over his skin. If they got out of this one, he would need to speak with Youlvi. But how he would raise the subject he didn't know, and he still didn't know if he wanted to talk with anyone.

Meanwhile in the fighting that ensued, Joibri was laid out on the floor. She saw Pen's attack and felt her heart jump with joy at the accuracy of his aim at the Shadow, but the sorrow as it kept on moving. Then, she too noticed the phenomenon. Pen was left alone, unattacked and open to kill. Why?

~*~

The first Shadow fell shrieking, Kane's mage blade leaving a gaping wound across the body, from left shoulder to right hip. The stones in the swords hilt shone brightly, tapping into the mage's mana reserves and channelling them through the enchanted metal. He felt an arrow fly past him, taking a second Shadow in mid-air and pinning it briefly to a wall through its gut, but then it began pulling itself along the shaft.

Another grunt behind him and a knife followed, lodging itself in the opening in the cloak where they presumed the face was. It screamed, but the noise was cut off as the mage blade separated the head from the body, the severed stump leaving great spurts of black ooze to decorate the walls and floor.

The third Shadow missed its leap, metal claws in both hands pounding into floor-boards. It was more cautious of the mage now, backing away slightly but looking towards Delenar's female companion all the time. Both men saw what it wanted first, and both would die before it had the chance.

~*~

Youlvi stood over Joibri, short sword in hand, as Pen rushed around an up-turned bed to stand between the two of them and the elf-led Shadows. The creatures took a pace back and then collapsed to their knees shrieking, the loss of their two Kin below tearing at their minds. The smile that was on the elf's face vanished as he gazed up at the over-powering confidence in Pen's eyes. With one arm useless and the other struggling to stem the blood from the wound, he never stood a chance as Pen's sword whistled past just once. He instantly knew true peace as his view changed to that of the ceiling and Pen stepping over him, the world becoming the welcoming darkness.

Pen stepped over the elf's fallen body, almost cleaved in two by the huge double-handed swing that had entered through one side of the chest and exited the other, tearing aside bone, organ and muscle, blood spraying the far wall. He faced the Shadows, still picking themselves up from the floor. He felt his blood pumping fresh strength into his limbs, felt more alive than ever before. The creatures in front of him looked on in fear, fear they would only have felt in their Master's presence.

Pen attacked...

~*~

Gasta had attacked without fear, without mercy, his Xeteskian training bringing him into full blood-lust. His sword had carved open the pitiful defences of the two creatures opposing him, yet every wound he inflicted healed itself almost instantly, only the black gore on his blade evidence that he had even caught them. They advanced on him now, their confidence growing, but then suddenly they dropped shrieking, the close deaths of their Kin at the hands of the mage and the elf on the ground floor shooting pain through their skulls. Gasta lay open both of their heads with two massive strikes and ran back into the inn towards Kane and Delenar, knowing now that the wounds would heal and when they pursued, they would be seriously annoyed.

~*~

The battle continued, but now the Dordovan/Lystern alliance was battling on two fronts. Arrows and spells fell from the walls surrounding the Dark College, forcing mages into defensive casting, whilst at the rear lines the mage/Protector force that had escaped earlier harried supply lines and forced the would-be siege into a desperate fight for survival for most of the troops caught between.

Columns of HellFire spread, each one seeking out the souls of the Dordovan mages trying to cast at the Protector lines. They never stood a chance.

The ominous black-clad soldiers themselves had lined up in rows of fifty, the front line attacking relentlessly, and their double-bladed axes whirring in perfect unity with the huge swords. The second line stood behind directing them, picking out possible threats before they ever happened. Bemused soldiers, believing they had finally found an opening in the steel curtain found their lives extinguished before they raised their swords to strike. And for every Protector that took an injury, he dropped back and another filled his place, allowing time for repairs before the injured man took his place in the second line, ready to direct his brothers.

The Dordovan/Lystern joint command, forced to flee the rear lines towards the centre of their forces by the surprise attack by the Protectors, looked on in horror. All their best-laid plans had come to naught, and all because of the Julatsan cavalry charge a day or so before. There would be nothing left of Julatsa if any of them had anything to say about it, and back in their respective towers, having been told via communion the previous night, Heryst and Vuldaroq both felt the same way, despite the pleas of the Julatsans that they had done nothing.

~*~

Back in his chambers, the Master smiled at the thought of the colleges destroying each other. It would make his plans that much easier to bring to the brink. The only thing spoiling his mood now was the reports from angry Shadows that more of their Kin had died on the mission to destroy Youlvi and the damned elf Joibri. However, he had confidence in his creatures and in the elf he had sent.

He was unaware however, that for the first time in a long time, his confidence had been miss-placed.

~*~

Delenar watched as Kane dispatched the creature pinned to the wall. He knew they had been lucky in that the first Shadow had not expected Kane to be a threat. The last creature would not make the same mistake. Kane lunged towards it, a feint and then a thrust that were perfectly timed. The Shadow was just too fast and dodged aside easily, slashing its claws over Kane's chest. The mage fell in a spray of blood. Delenar watched in fear as the creature advanced towards him and Kirelle, who had begun to scream. The sound jolted Delenar and a cold anger began to build in him. He looked to his motionless friend and felt the anger explode into rage.

"You will pay for that you ugly whoresome!"

With that he flipped two knives into his hands and threw. As he did so he drew all four remaining knives from his baldric and let loose with those too. Unbelievably the Shadow avoided two and deflected another blade with its claws but was then struck with the remaining three. The creature fell and twitched slightly, then it predictably raised itself and advanced once more.

"Look to me beast!" came Gasta's voice from the doorway.

The Shadow whirled on its new assailant and attacked. Delenar watched, feeling both useless in that his skill with a blade was non-existent and in awe at Gasta. Where Kane was a fine bladesman and skilled assassin, Gasta was simply incredible. His footwork and balance were an equal match for the super-human speed of the Shadow and a duel ensued. Blows were exchanged back and forth with neither looking to have the upper hand until Gasta managed to fake a slip and then lash out as the Shadow prepared to strike. The sword sang true and cut deep into the Shadows neck, spilling black fluid. The creature fell.

"Gasta, move quick!" said Kane as he crawled towards the beast. Gasta backed away and Kane stabbed down with his mage blade into the hood of the creature. Light flared and the creature reduced to dust.
Gasta was panting,

"I don't know if I could take another one of them, they are so fast!"

"Lucky you took the last of them then, how is Kane?" asked Delenar.

"Alive....barely," Kane answered in pain.

"Good because I didn't get the last of them, two more of those things will be in here soon," said Gasta.

~*~

Youlvi watched in disbelief as Pen tore into the Shadows. His was no longer moving with human speed, no human could take that many Shadows. Yet Pen was laying around himself with such speed that the Shadows were backing away towards the door.

Pen's sword struck into one creature and, existing in the same moment, reversing his grip he dragged it through the creature once more as he parried a blow from his left. Several times he parried whilst cutting until the giant was covered in black blood. Youlvi ran to his side and cast at the fallen creature, reducing it to dust. The remaining Shadows turned and leapt into the dimly lit hallway. Pen made to follow but suddenly there were no Shadows there, they had just disappeared in the darkness.

Youlvi stared at Pen - the man was rapidly growing larger and an aura of mana was pulsing from him.

"No! Control it Pen, you must control it!" urged Youlvi. Pen turned towards him and stared at the mage.

Through slit yellow eyes.

~*~

After the twelve-hour ordeal, Korius had been taken back to his chamber to rest. It was small, dark and damp. Much like the rest of the college. Opposite the door was a small bed that had been pressed against the corner of the room, the bed sheets were brown, as were the walls. The only other furniture in the room was a small desk and chair over the far side, if you could call it the far side. It was two small steps from the bed.

Korius had tried to get to sleep but kept tossing and turning, the events of that day replaying in his head. His eyes were screwed shut and a fountain of sweat poured down his brow.

"Korius."

His eyes shot open, he froze - only his eyeballs moved. But there was no one there. He had heard his name for the third time and still no one had entered the room.

"I saw what you did," the voice was low and rasping.

Korius shut his eyes again. This time tighter than before. The voice stopped and the room was silent again. After a few minutes Korius fell asleep. He drifted in and out of consciousness for a few hours until he heard the voice again,

"Korius."

His eyes were open again, pupils scanning the room. Still there was no one there.

"I saw what you did."

Korius shut his eyes once again, waiting for the voice to go. But instead it spoke again,

"Murderer." Korius closed his eyes tighter still, and he grabbed the sides of his head and screamed,

"NO! I am no murderer!" His screams rose and rose, desperation in his voice, "NO, LEAVE ME ALONE! I AM NO MURDERER!”

~*~

Joibri could feel Pen's aura changing, and she didn't like it at all. Through her own pain, and the difficulty of trying to pick out shapes through the redness in her vision, she could do very little. But she knew she had to. Talking would be difficult, but it was the best she could do.

"Mage...mage Youlvi... help me stand...mage..." she groaned, and Youlvi reluctantly took his eyes off of Pen and looked over his shoulder at her crumpled body. "Please, help me stand..."

Taking a giant risk Youlvi quickly knelt down and plucked Joibri from the floor by her arms, the slight body hardly straining even such an elderly man. Joibri forced her eyes to remain open, and the result was searing pain after a moment or so. Instead she discovered it was a lot easier to rely on her other senses and keep her eyes shut.

"'Pen. Please don't - I don't understand what it is that has happened to you, but I know that it's wrong. Please, stop..." she told Pen, who could only cast a more vicious golden glare at the pair. Youlvi couldn't find anything to say, though his heart rate must have increased threefold.

Pen took a couple of steps nearer, growing larger. Youlvi tried to pull himself and Joibri farther back into the corner, but Joibri managed to stay firm. She reached out with a hand, not really knowing what it was she would touch or whether she'd touch anything at all.

"Pen, it's me! Stop it! Control it!" she screamed, the strain making her rasp.

"Come away, child, come away!" Youlvi finally found his voice and tugged again on Joibri's weakened shoulders. Instead she only yanked herself out of his grasp and stumbled forward, desperate to stop whatever it was that was taking over her friend.

When she broke free from the mage's grasp she almost dived into him. Pen took a step back and swept his clenched fist wildly in Joibri's direction. The aim had originally been an attack from the demon, but Pen had just enough of his human side within his mind to fight the blow that the demon had aimed. As a result the already weakened Joibri received a hard back-handed blow to the side of her head. The demon watched as the elf was thrown back across the room to land unceremoniously at Youlvi's feet.

In frustration, whether it was the demon or Pen himself, what was now an ugly cross between the two let out a painful cry before fleeing the room.

~*~

The cry that echoed through the inn was like nothing any of them had heard before, an anguished cry of a human being crossed with that of a guttural roar of some alien animal that shredded at the nerves of all it touched. The Shadows were just about to plunge their weapons into a defenceless Kirelle and a bleeding Kane when they froze, looked to one another and then upwards at the ceiling above them before vanishing through the doorway. Delenar, who had been knocked from the bed into a heap near the window, could only turn his head towards the gaping door-frame before Gasta finally hobbled over to what was left of it.

"What in the Gods is that sound?" asked the former General.

"I...don't know..." wheezed the stricken mage, glancing over at his elven friend being helped back into the bed by the girl. "But...it...better not...come in here...or Del will kick its arse..." he said, a smile tugging at his lips.

The small, battered group allowed themselves a laugh, anything to take their minds from the pain they were all in. The next roar, this one from outside, silenced them immediately.

It was Delenar who finally broke the quiet.

"My dear General, would you be so kind as to go upstairs and see if the rest of our group is alive, and if so see if you can get Youlvi to spare some of his healing salves, if not a WarmHeal for our Dordovan counterpart here. It seems he was careless enough to try to block a Shadow's weapon with his chest instead of his sword."

Kirelle had never felt fear like she had felt a few moments before. She had lived a peaceful life in the small village. Never really exposed to wars of man let alone the creatures that had just attacked. Now Delenar and his friends were laughing and joking about the situation as if nothing had happened. She started to shiver, an after-effect of the shock and terror.

"Hey, how do I look?" Delenar asked the young elf girl.

"Del your advances on me must stop - I'm not interested," answered Kane with a smile. Kirelle couldn't help but laugh and she realised then why they could banter after such a fight. It helped to remove the fear.

"You’re the most handsome elf I have ever laid eyes on," she answered.

"My Gods Del, she is delusional. What have they done to her?" This time Delenar was laughing,

"You must excuse my friend, Kel, that Shadow must have removed his sense of humour as well as most of his blood."

The three of them laughed and were still laughing as Youlvi entered with Gasta holding Joibri behind him.

"I have never seen two bleeding warriors look so happy," Youlvi said with a grin, but he continued, "Unfortunately we have a problem. Pen is going through a change and has fled, I'm sure he will return to us but I need to explain his unique position as soon as possible and help him. Joibri needs my help too, so I don't have any time to waste. You two will need to heal naturally and with Kane's WarmHeal. Also, I'm afraid I have some bad news Kirelle, perhaps you should come with me."

The laughter died down as Youlvi led the young elf to the bedroom behind the bar.

~*~

For the first time in many hours the Master had managed to grasp a form of control on his anger. The pathetic elf had failed to succeed and got himself killed in the process, but this was the not the most disturbing part. Two of his Shadows had fled the attack on pain of death, something had terrified them more then he did. It was not a comfortable feeling.

Still he had reinforced his hold on them.

Little scared the Shadows. However when he had first discovered their dimension he found them living as slaves to other beings. Demon beings so powerful that they had subdued the Shadows in permanent terror. It was perfect. The Shadows would willingly be summoned to the Balaian dimension and serve the Master just to be away from their own terrifying dimension. He had never sent a Shadow back before but he had to make an example of the two that had retreated. He had never felt such fear from his minions before; it was a fantastic sensation.

Reaching his destination he opened the door. Inside hordes of Shadows were gathered in a room so dark it was barely possible to see. The room stank of a new found fear and the Master couldn't help but smile. They would not fail him anymore.

"Tomorrow we have work to do in Julatsa, it seems they need more urging into war. However!" and he shouted the last word for effect, "The following day we return for the elf girl. Thirty of you will go, and you WILL succeed or......you join your two brothers."

His words had the desired effect, the Shadows were immediately alert to the task he had set them and their fear would guarantee a better result.

"We will not fail you as our brothers did my Master!" hissed one of the closer Shadows.

"See to it you don't" he replied as he focused on the creature. He allowed a brief glimpse of his power to pulse from his eyes, accompanied with a menacing smile. "Make SURE you don't," he said.

He left then, his laughter echoing down the corridor.

~*~

Benru burst into the room to see Korius shouting and screaming, he was curled in a ball and sweating. Benru went to his side and tried to talk to him.

"Korius, Korius," he said as he stroked Korius' hair. Korius stopped screaming and looked around, almost as if he had seen a ghost. Benru, to all intents and purposes could have been one.

He was a frail old man, thin as if ravaged by poverty and sickness. The fact he had ran into the room so quickly had meant he was panting hard and was short of breath. He was the right hand man of Arthimus and had been told to keep an eye on the young Korius, since his master had plenty of plans for this boy. Korius spoke,

"Who are you?" he sounded more unsure of who he even was.

Benru paused, catching his breath. He looked all his 92 years but could move like a 30 year old when needed. Quite a remarkable man, he had so much zest even so late in life.

"We have not met before," he said in a low but powerful voice. "I am Benru, loyal servant and adviser to Arthimus of the Hermetic college." Korius felt relaxed by this, and after a short pause Benru continued, "I have been asked to look after you, my boy." There was a slight sadness in his voice - he respected his master but even a fool knew why he had been tasked with looking after Korius. This was his replacement, the man Arthimus wanted at his side when Benru was gone.

Korius suddenly started and looked around the room.

"I keep hearing voices," he said, feeling he could trust the old man. "I didn’t murder them," he continued, almost like a child guilty of a crime he wished he had not done. Korius started rocking and his voice grew louder, the sweat coming back. "I didn’t murder them, I didn’t. I....I....I...." Tears started rolling down his cheeks as he broke into soft sobbing.

"It‘s okay," said Benru. "You only did what your master asked of you." It was said so softly but changed the whole atmosphere in the room. Suddenly Korius was calm; he felt free of the guilt once again. Benru was surely a powerful man in being able to convince him so easily but now it all made sense to Korius. It was something he had had to do, and he had done it well.

"Yes....yes," said Korius. "My master will be pleased." The slightest flicker of red passed across his eyes, invisible to most, yet the experienced master Benru noticed it and it lifted his spirits.

~*~

Lena was bored; there was nothing to it. She had spent the last two days doing menial tasks without any meaning or anything interesting to them. The college mages didn't hide their distrust in her and accordingly she hadn't even glimpsed something that could be considered vaguely interesting. Right now she was kneeling in a small chamber cataloguing some ancient-looking parchments she couldn't even understand. Her back ached, but the sooner she was finished, the sooner she could go.

The door opened suddenly and two mages walked in.

"What have you dragged me in here for?" asked the slightly taller mage.

"We have to talk and we couldn't do that in front of that idiot Serta. She would blab everything to everyone, probably even to that Lystern mage Lena, or whatever she’s called. This has to stay between us," the other one, a woman, replied.

Now Lena was surprised, she had thought that the mages knew she was in here. She looked around and realised that she was hidden behind a few big, wooden boxes. She grinned, she was probably going to hear something interesting now. Oh, the irony... She listened closely as the female mage started speaking again,

"Arthimus has lost his control of the spirit of the elf-girl Joibri."

"What?" the taller mage interrupted, "When did that happen? And why haven't we heard anything about it?"

"Fool, do you think Arthimus would tell everyone of his failure? This must remain between us and Lirant and Fieron.”

“Not Talo as well?”

“No, Talo already knows - he’s always the first to know, even before Benru, you know that. We have to discover a way to get the girl back under our control. Benru has informed me that there are some instructions for a spell, which would help the girl control her powers completely -"

"But, why would we want that? That -"

"Would you stop interrupting me!" The woman sounded increasingly angry, " I haven't finished speaking. As I was saying, we can adapt that spell so that the opposite effect is achieved and the elf loses all conscious thought again. Then Arthimus can regain his control of her."

"Ah, now I see," the taller mage said. "And where will we find the instructions?"

"I was informed that they are in this room." Lena froze at that statement - if they decided to look for the spell, her hiding place would be found. She looked around trying to find a better hiding place, but she couldn't see anything.

"Shall we start looking, then?" the tall mage asked, taking a step towards the boxes.

"No," the other answered, "Benru wants to see all four of us before we start. He said that he had to give us some more instructions. No doubt Talo will insist on being there too, as an Apostle."

"Well then, let’s go. The sooner we regain control of that girl the better..." Lena didn't hear anything further as the two mages left the room and slammed the door behind them.

She sighed in relief; that had been very, very close... But very, very interesting. So, Arthimus had been controlling an elf-girl? She wondered why. But it sounded very important and if she wanted to harm the Fifth College and its leader then she obviously had to start looking for those spell instructions. And quickly, for the mages would be back soon. So, with an incredible speed Lena began searching.

~*~

Donarl sat down heavily onto a rock. His oval face and scruffy straw coloured hair was covered in mud from the hands which he'd rubbed over his face from tiredness. He could feel his eyes begin to close, but he knew his father would be angry if he didn't finish the work.

Donarl hated being on the farm all day. He'd wanted something exciting, not planting and harvesting crops, day in day out. He drifted off into a light sleep and found himself sat in the exact same place, but found he was reading. He was reading from what appeared to be a college book - possibly Lystern?

Donarl's wish more than anything in the world was to become a mage. He had told nobody of his desire other than his mother, who, knowing her husband’s opinion of magic promised to keep the lad's desire a secret.

Blackwings - Donarl hated them. Not only were they persecuting the very people who Donarl wished to join, but they had changed his father from a loving family man, into a murderer, full of hate and self pity. Donarl would see his family avenged.

He saw himself in his dream look up from his study to come face to face with a group of Blackwings, their commander on point. Donarl saw the movement of his hands and the look of fear on the faces of the Blackwing soldiers, and the anger in the expression of their leader before Donarl blasted the ground before them with EarthHammer.

Donarl woke with a start, fear like no other ablaze in his eyes. He wanted to shout out, to let someone know what was stood before him, but he didn't even know that. Whatever it was, it was something unworldly, and Donarl had no time to wonder what it was before it was on him.

~*~

Benru walked fast as he led Korius from his room to an area of the college the young mage had not seen. After his outbursts earlier, Benru had managed to calm him and was now leading him to his promised meeting with Arthimus. Benru led Korius through small dark corridors and down a small staircase to a section that was far away from the rest of the college.

He stopped at a thin room with a high ceiling, it was as drab as the rest of the college apart from a small red rug with gold trim. This was set at the feet of a huge set of wooden double doors with large brass handles. To either side of the door stood two burly guards. They both looked straight ahead and were adorned with ornate battle armour and a large spear. Without moving their eyes or showing any emotion, one said,

"Master Benru, enter. The master has been expecting you."

Benru nodded to the guard and pushed opened one of the doors. It should have been too heavy for the 92 year old but he pushed it with one hand as if it was a cushion. He ushered Korius in and closed the door behind him. The room was large with a high ceiling, and it was painted a vibrant orange and the floor was carpeted. Other than that there was little in the room, no tapestry hung on the walls and no statue sat on the ground, although there seemed as if there should be. It, like much of the college, was waiting to be decorated. Obviously more important issues had to be resolved first.

Korius' eyes lit up when he saw Arthimus - greying short-cut golden hair with a matching beard, piercing steel-grey eyes and all - but then confusion came. Between him and his new master was a barrier, transparent and barely visible to the naked eye. What made him determine this was a deep red that flashed across it every few moments. But the real reason that Korius noticed it was that the carpet and paint stopped where it met the barrier, replaced by a cold stone floor and black walls. There were no furnishings on Arthimus' side either.

"Master," said Benru. "I have brought you the young one. Now if you will excuse me I have a meeting to attend to." Benru paused.

"Thank you, you are excused." These were the first words Korius heard Arthimus say. With them Benru left the room. "Korius," Arthimus continued.

"But, but...you’re dead," said Korius - he knew who he was meeting but it hadn’t sunk in until now.

"Now listen," said Arthimus. "For I have a lot to tell you..." And listen Korius did. He was told of what had happened to Arthimus, how he had found a new magic. How he had been killed by the elf girl, how he had cast a spell to save his soul and the only way he could now return to the world of the living. Korius was told of the progress to find the girl, of the General Gasta and of how he, Korius, was going to be trained in use of the new mana.

"So," said Korius after hearing what Arthimus had to say. "This barrier must be a spell connecting our dimension to the one where your soul exists. And I take it that we cannot cross over to you as you cannot cross over to us?"

"Quite correct. You are an excellent young man Korius. And will make a brilliant student."

"But I thought dimensional connection spells were solid and could not be transparent?"

"Ah, but you see," Arthimus said, bringing his hands together, "With the power of this new mana we can create new spells and have new powers. Something you will learn soon. Now go rest, your training will begin tomorrow."

Korius liked the sound of this. He paused and thanked Arthimus before leaving and returning to his room to get some proper rest.

~*~

Kumonai was struggling with his two Dordovan/Lystern opponents. They were attacking furiously but Gailen could do little to help - he too had a number of opponents ranged against him. The attack had come suddenly while the Wolves were at camp; a fire orb had crashed into the camp and instantly killed two of Gailen’s men. His own mages immediately erected a SpellShield, but the enemy had already come streaming towards the disorganised unit from the nearby trees.

Gailen parried a clumsy lunge, rolled his wrist and severed his opponent’s neck. His left-hand sword deflected a powerful blow. He turned on his left-hand opponent and attacked with a fast array of slashes, his twin blades trapping the opponent’s blade before cutting through his chain mail armour. He made his way towards Kumonai, his enchanted blades dancing through anyone in his path.

Only thirty-five of his Wolves were in camp when the attack had come; the remaining men and one mage had gone to water the horses. He knew one of his men was running to them, but his Wolves were hard pressed to wait too long.

He caught a glimpse of one of the new recruits as he dispatched an opponent with his curved sabre. The move was quick, a well-timed duck and parry that let his enemy’s blade slide over him. He rose and thrust his blade deep into the Dordovan’s side.

Gailen had no time to appreciate the move as he got closer to Kumonai and the centre of the College forces. He reached Kumonai as the second-in-command took a cut to his right arm. Gailen dived in and slashed his blades across the attacker’s neck. Surprised at the new arrival, the college man attacked and forced Gailen to parry two wicked strikes. Kumonai struck a blow away and buried his sword into his opponent’s groin.

Then the charge came.

It was only some fifteen men but the force of their charge broke the Dordovan/Lystern forces in two and the remaining fighters fled for their lives. They were chased by ten of the mounted warriors while the others established a perimeter around the camp.

One rider approached Gailen, it was the other new recruit, Veygan,

"Are we in time sir?"

"Leave your sense of humour at home, son, that was a sloppy charge." Veygan laughed, it was a perfectly timed charge and Gailen knew it.

"I shall work on it sir." Gailen nodded and smiled. He turned to his men who were nursing wounds, checking corpses and congratulating their brothers. Gailen raised his voice to address the men,

"We need to move from this cursed wood. There is a small town nearby and we shall rest the horses there, then we make for this clearing and hopefully find some answers. You all fought well, I'm proud of you." The men made a small attempt at cheering before resuming the galling task of counting the dead. Kumonai appeared alongside the Captain.

"Thank you sir, I was having difficulty taking them." Gailen laughed,

"You would’ve had them."

"Sir, the war is becoming more intense and we belong in Julatsa. Why are we squabbling over this Fifth College?" Gailen stared hard at his second; he was a good man, just too curious to make a Captain.

"I don't know Kumonai, but it’s not for us to know, just to obey."

"Yes sir!" he said with a salute, "I'll prepare the names." Gailen nodded and unbuckled his breastplate, it would return with far more names on it.

~*~

Staggering through the woodland, his breathing ragged, and his human side slowly regaining its control over his body, Pen stared at the blood that covered him. And then the sickness was back; he retched and brought up the contents of his stomach, pain ripping through his body.

Pen tore at his shirt and trousers, not wanting the boy's blood all over him. Throwing them down to the ground he stumbled into a stream that ran parallel to the path he had been taking. He submerged himself, wanting to rid his body of the blood that had been torn from inside the youth he had attacked. Coming to the surface, he scrubbed at his skin until it was raw, and staggered back out on the other side of the stream. He would leave that area behind as soon as he could, and he would not return to the others - he would let no one see him.

If he could not kill Dystran then he would kill himself first. Pen knew that to get away from the others he had to put distance between them but he was so tired he could barely walk. Stumbling forwards, Pen grabbed hold of the trunk of a tree to steady himself, but found he was sinking to the ground, his exhaustion finally winning out.

He thought, as he drifted into an uneasy sleep, that he had failed to put any distance between himself and his old friends, for old they would be if they found what he had just done, he thought. It was this thought that almost brought him back awake, but he found that even the thought of Joibri finding what a monster he was could not stop the sleep from engulfing his body. As he slumped against the base of the tree his eyes firmly shut, and his mind hidden from the world around him.

~*~

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