A pop came from the third and last body as it rapidly incinerated under a layer of green flame. I quickly looked around to ensure I'd gotten everything, but all I found was a thin layer of soot that covered the cobblestones. I opened my clenched hands with a sigh, trying to ignore the pain from overly cramped fingers.

"Let's go find Casiron," I said.

"You still haven't gotten a response?"

"No, but I can sense he is still around," I said as I turned away.

Libidi followed me through the narrow street as I walked back towards the town entrance. Most buildings around us were shops of some kind, and all were wholly ransacked, with kicked-in doors and shattered windows.

A few feet from the corner that led to the square bordering the town entrance, I noticed a wooden sign. It dangled from a single cable next to the side of the entrance and had a black drawing of a crossed bow and quarterstaff. The text, Geldin's armaments, was carved in the bottom.

I frowned, hesitated for a moment, then moved towards the shattered window and peeked inside. Smashed shelves and broken wood were strewn all across the ground and strewn between lay snapped bows, arrows, and other wooden weaponry.

I whistled softly. With how rare wood was, I couldn't believe how the army had wasted all this instead of taking it along.

A slight sparkle at the back of the store caught my eye. Focusing, I noticed a simple workbench with tools unceremoniously dumped on top and below.

Looking at them, I thought of the tools Agga had. If I ever wanted to improve my crafting, I was going to need those. Still... I focused on Casiron, but the sensation I got from him wasn't one of distress, even though he wasn't answering. I should have some time at least.

"I'll be right back," I said as I stepped over the broken door.

A familiar, musky scent hung in the room, wood dust mingled with oiled weapons and something sweet.

It reminded me of Agga's place, and I suddenly saw her shop, in all its poor glory, the first time I'd come to Kernstalion. Her back bent across the table. Then it vanished, leaving me with a sad feeling. Odd. I'd not known her for that long.

Pushing the feeling away, I moved towards the littered workbench. The discarded tools and opened drawers showed someone had been here before, but apparently, they hadn't found the items valuable.

I examined the mess on the table, finding a small carving knife and some other tools. A thick toolbelt, well maintained and oiled, hung forgotten from a peg. I grabbed it, noting the solid weight. Without hesitation, I slung it around my waist and clamped the metal clasp shut. Then I picked up a few small lathes and chisels, inspecting them before putting them in the loops and pockets they belonged.

My hands moved almost automatically, and I had no idea how I even knew the name of everything, let alone where they belonged. I just knew I did. With a familiar hand, I snapped the small buttoned cords to keep them in place, and as I put the last one in, I jumped a bit to see if they would get in the way. Except for the longest chisel that swayed slightly, everything seemed perfectly fine.

"Cindermares are approaching!"

I swirled around at Libidi's voice coming from the entrance. She was looking at me, her gaze lingering on my belt before turning around.

I took one more look and ran after her, trying not to stumble on the littered floor. Just as I was reaching the exit, I saw a lower arm-length piece of black wood with a slightly golden sheen to it. It almost sang to me, and I felt something inside tugging at my mind, telling me it was valuable.

Without stopping, I grabbed it. The wood was warm to the touch and heavier than it looked. I had no idea what it was, but I couldn't bring myself to toss it. As I stepped outside, I shoved it behind my back and between the belt, hoping it wouldn't get in the way. Then I moved after Libidi and followed her across the cobblestones. I didn't hear anything, but Libidi kept cocking her head and staring ahead.

We stopped before the last corner, and Libidi took a quick look around the corner. When she pulled her head back, her blue eyes were slightly narrowed, and her lips pursed in an even thinner look. I knew by now that if it had been anyone else, they would probably have shown full-blown panic.

"We are in trouble. There are two riders and four footmen," she whispered. "And there's a dangerous one with them."

Shit, I thought.

What the hell did 'a dangerous one' mean? After a second, I decided to take a quick look. As my head peeked around the corner, I knew what she meant. Four armor-clad warriors similar to the ones we had just beaten and two charcoal black horses with burning eyes and fire escaping from their nostrils stood in the entrance of the town. One had a heavily armored warrior on its back, but that wasn't the problem. The problem was the other one, who I could only describe as looking like a mage. Wearing a long robe that covered the sides of the cindermare, his two ruddy arms were bare and covered in long thin scars. They all wore leathery face masks, but he had a square symbol with a glaring eye at the spot his mouth would be.

"Scan the town and see if you can find those three fools," a dull voice came. "The tracks lead here. Find whatever makes them!"

They are tracing us, I thought, just as a hiss came from my mind.

Est, attack now, Casiron roared in my mind, my head instantly throbbing with pain from the explosive outburst. I didn't get a moment to reply as one of the Cindermares roared.

"It is behind us!" the dull voice came again.

"Watch out. It was communicating with someone in-," a high-pitched, gruff voice added.

His words were interrupted by a roar and tremors.

Are you kidding me? I thought as I looked around the corner to see Casiron barge through the gate.

"Casiron is attacking. Let's go," I snapped, at the same time jumping around the corner.

Casiron's massive bulk slammed into the two Cindermares, throwing off both riders and knocking the Cindermares over. Instantly, the foot-soldiers turned and charged him, short swords at the ready.

Get the one in robes, Casiron bellowed in my mind.

Running across the cobblestones, I turned to the robed one who seemed to be struggling to get back up on his feet. I felt the excitement and battle frenzy slowly grow.

He has a bag with orders and other things, Casiron said, and I scanned the mage.

There was a small square bag dangling from his shoulder.

Beside him, the larger warrior surged to his feet and ran to his cindermare. Before I was halfway, he reached it and drew a massive two-handed sword from a sheath on her back. From the balanced way he moved and the ease with which he held the sword, I knew he would be a dangerous one in a straight-up fight.

My mind was crystal clear as a plan formed, and I looked around for Libidi. She was beside me, moving smoothly across the slippery cobblestones as if it was a grassy field. She needed to take care of the mage while I took care of the warrior, but I could hardly shout it. I wished I knew the hand gesture she and her brother used or that I could talk with her in her mind like with Casiron.

Wait. That was it! Casiron, I thought as my mind spun in overdrive. Tell Libidi to attack that one in the robes!

I got no reply, but Libidi almost immediately sped up, easily outpacing me and crossing the final thirty feet like a flash.

Good, I thought as I turned my attention towards the lead warrior with the greatsword. I was three steps from him when he swirled around. Two red eyes gleamed behind the mask and widened when they focused on me.

"Incoming," he roared, jumping back and raising his sword towards me.

Something flashed through the air behind him, and both of us ducked as one of the smaller short sword wielders flew through the air before slamming into the ground in between us before rolling and sliding away.

I ignored him and shot three bolts point-blank at the distracted warrior's head. He wasn't completely distracted, through, and jerked his head sideways and behind the sword. The bolts hit the sword with three loud clanks and deflected to the side.

Damn, he's fast, I thought, without stopping and swinging my ax towards him.

The warrior tried to change his stance, raising his sword to block my ax, but the power behind it was too much. I barely felt the sword as I bashed it aside and buried the blade inside the side of the warrior's head. It snapped to the side, and there was a wet cough as blood sprayed from below the split mask towards the side, luckily missing me.

I took a step back, quickly looking at my ax blade. A sheen of muddled blood covered it, tadpoles squirming across like maggots poking out of stale bread.

"They have that shit in their blood," I shouted as I kneeled and scraped the blade of my ax across the muddy ground.

The warrior lay beside me, shuddering and rasping and obviously not dead yet.

What is this guy made of? I thought as I raised three arms and shot bolts into the jittery body.

One jabbed into the open gash in his face mask, one thudded in the leather next to his eye, and the last speared his left eye with a wet pop. He shook and shivered for another second, then stopped as a last ragged breath came from him.

I hope they aren't all like this, I thought as I got up, ready to help Libidi.

A roar came from Casiron, and I was just in time to see him tear another of the warriors in two. I winced as blood squirted everywhere and body parts thudded to the ground. The two remaining warriors were still attacking him, and one had climbed on his back. He was slashing at his neck, and the sound of metal on metal echoed outwards.

That won't do anything, I thought as I remembered how strong the Basilwood was. Then I froze as I saw gleaming black wood splinters shoot away from the neck.

That shouldn't be possible!

"Est!"

Libidi's strangled cry made me turn around as I cursed myself for forgetting her. She had somehow gotten further away, now close to the first of the buildings along the edge of the square, and I froze in shock.

What at first had looked like a mage was gone, and in its place towered a nine-foot-tall monstrosity with massive tentacles instead of arms. It was holding Libidi in one and was stomping towards me, his red eyes gleaming dangerously. The leather mask was gone, and parts of cloth lay scattered across the floor behind it. Its ugly face was leathery with two slit red eyes and a curved yellowish beak.

"&*()%& *&)(* %$#!##!"

I had no idea what the thing clacked at me, but I saw Libidi dangle from its grip. She was grasping at the thin part of the tentacle wrapped around her neck, her eyes bulging out and a look of fear on her face.

I gripped my ax and ran forward. My arm snapped up, and I aimed at the thing's bulbous, gleaming eyes. I focused, then shot three bolts. They flashed across the space between us so fast I could barely notice, but the tentacle-armed thing saw somehow. It slowed down, closed its eyes, and pulled its pale green, frill-covered head back. My bolts struck its cheek with soft plops, sinking a few inches before stopping. A trickle of clear pink blood dribbled down.

"Hold still," I hissed as I raised my arms again.

The demon-bird thing pulled its head back, closing its eyes again, and I held my shot as I had a flash of insight.

"Here, birdy," I shouted, and to my delight, it looked up again.

I jumped the last ten feet, raised my arms, and shot at the thing's face. The same thing happened, and as the bird-demon turned its head around, I reached it.

My head barely came to its middle, but I wasn't aiming for his head. Instead, I slashed at the tentacle that held Libidi. It moved at the last moment, and I cleaved through only a part of it. I swirled the ax around to finish it when when the world turned dark. It felt like I was hit by a car, and I flew across the open area, slammed into the cobblestones, and skidded through the mud.

When I finally stopped sliding, my mind was jumbled, and a high beep rang in my ears. There was no other sound, and as I pushed myself up, I felt something run across my cheek and drip on my shoulder.

The thing was flailing about, its head tossed back, and its beak opened—the air before it warped, like heat patterns on a hot day.

Libidi was hanging limply from the partially severed tentacle, no longer resisting, and pale blood ran from her ears.

Eardrums ruptured, I thought as I got up, knowing that must be what was causing my own deafness.

I raised my hand to my ear, and it came back covered in blood. Still, with the absence of sound, my mind seemed clearer. I looked around and saw Casiron chase the last of the smaller guards who were heading out of the gate.

Leave him, get that big one! Hearing my own voice in my mind was odd with the silence.

Casiron stopped and turned around. As soon as he saw the massive tentacled thing, a burning rage washed from him and through our connection.

Filthy demonic scum, he roared, running towards the demon. As he did, I saw that one of his legs was partially severed, and his back was moving oddly as he stepped, like some origami paper version of a dragon.

Praying he would hold out, I turned towards the demon, but just five steps in, my stomach turned, and the world started spinning.

Stay back. That attack is dangerous for you, Casiron growled as he reached the demon and slammed into him. He bit down into the soft flesh of the demon's neck, making ripping motions. The bird-demon continued screaming but wrapped its tentacles around Casiron. The one I had damaged was only partially helping, but he still managed to press Libidi against Casiron's back with it.

I took a few shuddering steps back, and my mind slowly cleared up. As soon as the swaying stopped, I glared at the demon. Its wide-open beak and eyes were the only weaknesses I could see, and taking careful aim, I shot bolts at them. Still slightly dizzy, only one arrow hit, the others barely missing Casiron's head. Green goo squirting out of the eye I hit. As the eye was pierced, the demon's beak cracked open even further, and the soundwaves around it expanded, wobbling and rippling.

Libidi convulsed, and blood sprayed from her mouth. Her eyes seemed to bulge outward, looking at nothing.

No, dammit! I stepped forward, furious, when something moved in the corner of my eyes.

I swirled around, just in time to see the last guard was three steps away, jumping towards me with his swords ready. Instinctively I stepped into one of the first ax stances I'd ever learned from Haltir, a step to the side and forward and a diagonal downward slash. The move was fast and clean, and as I dodged the swords, I sliced into the guard's back before his foot could even touch the ground again.

The leather armor split, as did the flesh, and blood squirted everywhere. The guard struggled to get back up, seeming to ignore the massive hole in his back. I raised my three arms and shot bolts point-blank in the back of his neck. They pierced the leather quickly, pierced down a hand length, and stopped with a slight wobble. The guard instantly stopped struggling.

One of my Boltcasters disintegrated, wood-dust flowing from my arm.

Shit, bad timing, I thought as I turned around to the demon.

The bird demon's beak wasn't open anymore but lodged into Casiron's back, and it had both its tentacles fully wrapped around Casiron. Still, it didn't look like it was winning. The Dracoserp had almost chewed through half of the thing's neck while scratching at the demon's back, slicing large sections of blubbery meat out.

I ran towards them, all my attention on Libidi, who was limply dangling from the tip of the tentacle. A single look at her made my skin crawl. I wasn't going to lose her just like I had her brother, was I?

Hold that thing still, I roared at Casiron.

I didn't get a response, but Casiron wrapped his arms tighter around the thing then raised himself on his hind legs, lifting the demon from the ground. I reached them, looking at Libidi dangling a meter above me, and jumped up, slamming my ax down into the tentacle and burying it partially in Casiron, my Basilwood ax, somehow easily slicing into his Basilwood body. I barely noticed it, only looking at Libidi slowly sliding down.

I ripped my ax back with one arm and caught her with the other three. Her body wobbled oddly, and I could feel bones poking through her skin and into my flesh. My mind went into overdrive as I saw the blood slowly seeping from her mouth, ears and the corners of her eyes. A bubble on her mouth expanded slightly, then contracted and expanded again, showing she was breathing.

Without thinking about it, I cast share lifeforce, and as soon as I finished, poured my own life force into her. Almost instantly, my legs buckled. I'd never realized how much lifeforce I got from those plants until I tried to use my own. And even then, I barely felt anything from Libidi; it was like a drop in a bucket. To help her, I would need much more.

I need plants, I thought as I stumbled back.

My eyes fell on the tentacle demon, and I dully saw the layer of purple blood covering its back. My mind worked sluggishly, but a memory, an idea, was trying to get my attention. Something about demons... blood...

Suddenly it popped in. I could use the regeneration I got from my Demon Blood resistance!

Without thinking, I dropped my ax, stepped forward, and slid my hand across the demon's back, scooping up a handful of purple blood. It was thick and viscous and warm at the same time, and I felt my hand tingle. I waited, but nothing happened, and with a grunt, I rubbed it across my arms—a second went by, and another. Still nothing happened, and I hissed.

Not strong enough? I thought as I looked it, my eyesight turning foggy.

Staring at the purple liquid on my hand, I had a bad idea. Almost automatically, as if not interested in how bad it was, my hand rose to my mouth, and I licked the viscous purple fluid. A sour, rancid taste filled my mouth. For a second, nothing happened, then a loud ping came from my status window, and my mouth suddenly burned as if I was trying to quench a hot poker with it. I felt blisters grow and pop on my tongue and the insides of my mouth, and suddenly I couldn't breathe. I let myself drop on my back onto the cobblestones so I wouldn't crush Libidi, then I lost control over my body.

I couldn't breathe, felt like coughing but couldn't, and slowly my entire body began heating up. My last clear thought was that I had made a horrible, horrible mistake, then the burning spread through my body, and all I knew was pain.