In a flash the finest magic academy in the Acrin Kingdom had been reduced to a shell of its former self; with piles of cracked stone, splintered desks, and shattered glass littering a maze of collapsed hallways. The sea of white clouds at the base of the building had been pulled into four towering funnels before being scattered by a violent detonation. The pungent stench of blackpowder mixed into the misty air. Shadows darted from cover to cover, hesitating when spells flashed. The echo of metal on bone and flesh would never stop.

"I remember..." Two hands covered Doevm's mouth as soon as he had spoken. He was familiar with both of them.

The small, white hand belonged to Olpi, a half-Elf. She had hidden herself, Menla, and Doevm behind a pile of rock amidst the chaos. Even though memories flooded through Doevm's mind, he could not recall ever seeing her black suit looking so filthy, nor her white, wavy hair being as frayed as it was. Her bright green eyes were wide as she whispered: "Cerlius, I'm glad you're ok but we need to be quiet. I will explain everything later."

The second, darker-skinned hand was much more calloused than the other, and of Dwarven descent. As opposed to Olpi, Menla usually had dirt in her red, curly hair. She seemed more used to the present terror. Her black, beady eyes, which were sunken in her plump face, seemed steadier because of that. "Do you think he saw us?" She whispered to Olpi, who shook her head.

Doevm was patient for all but a few moments. He felt warm sweat forming on the underside of their filthy palms, and pushed their hands away. The last things he remembered were a bright flash and a barrier spell, but he could guess what was happening. The black cloud hanging overhead was a signature among one race and one race only: demons. The Demon King must have begun his assault. 'The demons sack this valley every century, but they have always been consistent about doing so,' he thought. 'Why did they suddenly attack one year earlier than I had anticipated?'

He sat up and tried to bend his legs but there was a problem: he only had one leg. The right leg was fine. The left, on the other hand, had been reduced to a stump. If not for the cauterization just below the knee, he would have bled out. He had barely moved yet he had to clamp a hand over his own mouth to stifle a yelp. It was as if his leg was still on fire. Searing pain caused his world to go white. He keeled over.

Olpi held him down just in case his writhing gave them away. She took a small vial out of her spatial ring after the wave of pain faded: "I'm sure it's confusing. Just drink this and wait until the demon leaves. It's a small sedative to stop the pain." She made sure to press the potion into Doevm's palm, and waited until he nodded before she peaked over the rubble.

Doevm held the potion up towards the light, and smiled as he recognized the symbol of a rose. 'I'm not making this mistake twice. I have work to do, a lot of boring work.'

Even though he didn't drink the potion, he still had enough focus to call upon his life essence and condense the energy around his burned area. He slowed his breathing and focused. New skin grew out and replaced the old. Although the effects of blood loss still made his head throb, at least the pain had lessened. 'Putting the early-assault-question aside for later, I cannot believe I, of all beings, have become so sloppy. I'm out of magic. I lost my leg. How am I supposed to fight like this? It's pathetic. I am pathetic.'

He breathed in and out several times, slowly. Getting worked up would give the group away, so he bottled the rage for later.

'At the start of it all, I thought I could fool Lance and Trenton with a spell, and keep my memories. Who could have known that Maximus… father... had twisted Mage's Shadow with soulmagic? That would be me. I should have known. That's not even the worst part of this all. I should have fought Jackal's accusations. I was so concerned with keeping my head low and following the rules of humans that I forgot who I am. I won't make that mistake again. Jackal has been a thorn in my side for over a month now. I don't care if I have to destroy this very kingdom. That brat dies today.

However, my priorities need to be adjusted now that I know what happened to the sons of Maximus Draken. I've always been a toy to those gods, no matter how strong I become. I knew all along that they were controlling things from behind the scenes. I was naive in thinking I was above them.

I guess it's settled then. The demons will be a nice start. I can't possibly pass up a chance for my own personal force. Wars are how I've always gathered resources, my army of the dead. Next I'll make them march towards Jackal. He and his little resistance will be easy enough. Then I'll get the map.'

A pained voice cried out from the other side of the rubble. Although Doevm couldn't look over the rubble, he recognized the shrill voice of instructor Jersin. He could also sense a spell. "Lance has the key to the map," Jersin said in between his sobs. "That fool, he's heading up from Mage's Shadow along with...three kids?" He seemed to be talking to someone. Doevm guessed the other person must have been a demon.

"Describe them," the demon ordered, and a sudden nausea appeared in Doevm's gut.

"Lance is wearing a green robe. He always makes sure to comb his black hair. You'll recognize him most because of his deformed left arm. There's also two boys and a girl with him."

'...no.'