The night was warm and thick, heavy clouds blocking the sky above them, air still, a few onlookers gathering around the wrecked window, giving them odd looks as they bunded into the street, a faint aura sparking around Janaxia as she activated her protective magic.

Parth pointed upwards, her vision the keenest of them all, up above the centre of the town. Amidst a broiling swirl of clouds, a pale red glow could just about be seen, starting to get brighter.

‘That’s evil Misutira, isn’t it?’ Semari was squinting upwards, cracking her knuckles, looking eager for a fight.

Janaxia corrected her. ‘Galondwyn the Heartstealer, defiler of Bartillinas, and mentioned several times in a number of sacred texts.’

‘We need to get up there, and do something to stop her. Does she have any weaknesses?’ They began moving, maintaining a steady pace except for Semari, who leapt upwards, leaping between balconies and rooftops, glancing down to make sure she wasn’t too far ahead.

‘She generally eschews combat, and I am unaware of her having any weaknesses beyond those possessed by most demons.’ Janaxia was making good time, the seriousness of the situation apparently having prompted her into sensible shoes for a change. Misutira, the real one, was glaring at them as they left with a kitchen knife in hand, gesturing for them to move on and do something rapidly.

‘She’s going to try and crack the Casket of Zakran! We need to get up to the top of the town. It’s well protected, but now we know she’s here then she’s going to go for it.’

They passed a cluster of people, who turned to look at them with cold, blank eyes. One of them reached out for Janaxia, hand grabbing her shoulder. Before Stathis could react, Janaxia had flicked her fingers, a bolt of energy slamming into them and sending them hurtling into a wall, with enough force to dent the brickwork. The rest of the group reacted, drawing their weapons and attacking, expressions still blank.

Stathis blocked several blows, moving close to her allies, trying to shield them from the attacks, lashing out with the flat of her sword, not wanting to kill anyone. She punched out with her shield and smashed the face of a noble, sending them reeling back. The numbers were overwhelming, more people with the blank expressions appearing and joining in, other people seeing the fight starting and staying away.

Hands grabbed the shield, dragging her out of a defensive position, the numbers overwhelming as her blade was torn from her hand. She lashed out with a gauntlet, feeling the shock of an impact, attacks lessening for a moment before even more pitched in. Something dropping in from above, a flurry of blows sending assailants reeling back as Semari landed amongst them, ducking low and sweeping someone’s legs out, her blows strong enough to take them down without killing them.

A gap opened amongst the attackers, Stathis swinging fist and punching with her shield to widen it. She dragged Janaxia behind her, Parth staying close behind. She glanced over her shoulder, seeing Semari at the centre of a swirling scrum, bodies flying out and blocking more attackers from approaching. As Stathis watched, she blocked a club, grabbing her attackers’ arm and pivoting, applying all her strength against her attacker’s wrist, snapping it. Well, it was better than killing them, and a healer could probably tend to it, at least if they survived the night.

‘Keep them busy then meet us up at the castle!’ As Stathis shouted over the crowd, Semari jumped and drop-kicked someone.

‘See you there! Watch out for demon-goats!’

Then she dropped from sight, lost amidst the chaos, but having bought them a window to make their escape. They moved as fast as they could, running through before any other groups could form – how many people had that thing stolen the heart of? Where the hell was she keeping them? Stathis really hoped that there wasn’t a room back at Janaxia’s place filled with the things, all beating in eerie harmony.

The square at the top of the hill was deserted, an eerie red haze starting to light up the clouds. A blast of energy tore through them for a moment, showing Galondwyn amidst a swirling haze of magic, fractured shards of glyphs tearing scars in the clouds, in the very air itself. The Lithmara appeared, a draconic head appearing through one of the scars, screeching as the rest of its body coalesced behind the head, form manifesting from nothingness, tattered wings slowly flapping as it screeched again.

It sent a wave of flame towards the ground, the distance enough that the attack was little more than warm air by the time it reached the ground. ‘If that thing gets closer, it’s going to summon little demons, isn’t it?’

An alarm bell was clanging, the few guards left around running around in a panic. Stathis approached the front gate (at least they’d managed to bar that, showing some basic competency) and yelled up at the guard post.

‘Stathis, Knight of the Sun, comes to aid the defence of Redcastle. Now open the damn door!’ She turned to Parth. ‘If you get up on the walls, you think you can hold it off? The warriors here can lend some covering fire, maybe even a few wizards as well. Janaxia, you go with her. Keep an eye out for anyone else that’s had their heart stolen.’

‘And where will you be?’ Janaxia was looking indignant for some reason.

‘I need to grab another weapon and some armour. And make sure the Casket is protected still. Just hold them off, I won’t be gone long!’

As a door within the larger gate was opened, Stathis shoved them through, before turning and running towards the temple. The street, cramped and garbage-filled during the day, was even worse at night, the red glow now gone, plunging the street into darkness. Her foot caught on something squishy, rancid smell heavy in the air.

She shoved the door open, moving towards the concealed entrance to the hidden crypt. A novice, dressed for battle, approached, a sword at the ready. Stathis batted the blade aside.

‘I’m a Knight of the Sun, and I need access to something in the vaults. Put that damn thing away before I shove it somewhere else!’

The passageway opened and she dragged the novice with her, ignoring his protests. Down in the central chamber, the Casket was now surrounded by a nimbus of shadow, vague shapes visible in the misty shapes. Half-formed demonic shapes hissed and leered at her, fangs snapping and claws slicing the air, mercifully still not yet material. The warding circles were visibly corroded, gold lines now melted into black paste, hissing and bubbling. Tendrils of darkness stretched upwards, seeking freedom, hitting a magical barrier and recoiling in a shower of sparks.

‘Help me with this armour!’ Stathis started to pull the parts off the frame holding them up.

‘But, there’s a prophecy. The armour must be kept for the future, we can’t…’ The novice stammered.

‘There won’t be a future unless this gets dealt with first, and after that it can look after itself! Now, unless you want to get eaten alive, give me a hand getting it on!’

That stirred them into action, showing a healthy respect for authority, or desire to not get eaten alive. Either way worked for Stathis. The armour was enchanted, making it light and easy to handle, the buckles undoing themselves, some enchantment adjusting the fit. The helm covered her face, although turned clear as soon as she donned it, allowing a good range of vision. She shook herself, adjusting to the armour, before opening a chest in the corner, taking out several healing potions, small vials going into a belt pouch. Amongst the healing potions were several she didn’t recognise – a tiny capsule of some bright orange liquid, another bottle of some paste that faded in and out of sight, and a bottle, size of two of her fingers, that looked to contain a miniature storm, black clouds broiling, tiny lances of lightning contained within.

The last, she took, adding it into her belt pouch, being very careful not to accidentally open it. Then she took the sword, ignoring the mumble of protest from the novice. A blaze of holy energy surrounded the blade, lighting the chamber, even driving the darkness around the Casket back for a moment. Hopefully this would be enough to kill that damn thing!

The shadows flexed and tensed, flaring out within the region inside the wardings, golden marks hissing and steaming. The roof above them cracked, stone warping and dust falling down, something outside attacking with enough force to smash through the rock itself.

‘Get outside, get anyone you can and try and hold off the Heartless. I’ll go try and fight whatever the hell is doing that.’

They ran, probably only too glad to be away. The rock wall buckled and cracked, as another attack struck it, and Stathis positioned herself for combat, glad that the sword was single-handed, although a magical shield as well would have been nice. There was another impact, a hole opening in the wall, opening the chamber to the outside, magical wards popping and snapping as their physical grounding was shattered.

Galondwyn hovered in the air, a lance of mystic energy held in hand. Her transformation into her true form was now complete, scarlet body wreathed in demonic robes of black and gold. From her horns hung chains of iron and silver, tiny gems tinkling as she incanted, preparing another attack spell. The sword hung from her waist, swirl of cloth wrapping it, keeping it from cutting at her legs. Before she could hurl it, Stathis unfurled her wings and charged, leaping into the night sky, blade at the ready, aiming directly at her foe.