Serena took a deep breath.

The task she had been given was simple, more a formality then anything else, but as her first solo mission it was still daunting.

Her wings were still a bit sore from the long flight here, but as the task was underground that didn't matter. A simple retrieval mission, they had even provided a map on how to find it.

That doesn't make being alone any less stressful.

And she hasn't been, alone that is, almost from the time she was born. When her parents had seen her snow white wings they had brought her to the Hammers of Light immediately. The paladin order had taken her under their wing and taught her from the time she could speak. It was always assumed that she would become a full member on her eighteenth birthday, the trial for which she was undertaking right now.

Still nerve-racking though.

Taking another deep breath Serena checked her gear. A shield over her left shoulder. A short sword in the same hip. A bandolier with potions across her chest. Leather with the edges reinforced with steel for armor across her torso and the top of her wings. A sling bag, enchanted to hold more then it should, hung on her right hip with her tent and two weeks supplies. More then enough, but she was trained to be prepared. Everything was enchanted to be as light as possible so she could fly with it, a gift from the chapter house master for her sixteenth birthday. After checking that her wings were free she sighed. Nothing tangled or snagged. Just like the last six times she checked.

I'm procrastinating aren't I?

Looking in front of her she looked at the entrance to her test. A simple wooden door, covered in moss and rotten from age. Serena strode forward and pushed it open, reveling a dark room.

"LIGHT", she intoned, calling on one of the spells she had been taught. A softly glowing orb appeared over her shoulder, revealing the dusty room.

Several passages left the room, winding out of view. In it's center sat an old golem, and as the light fell on it the ancient thing began to move.

Very slowly.

Quickly drawing her sword Serena dashed forward and gave a sharp blow to the core in the center of its chest, destroying the crystal that powered it.

Letting out a short sigh of relief that the fight was so simple Serena wondered if everything else was going to be as old. It would certainly make her job easier.

Moving down the corridor marked on the map, she paused as she reached a place where a pitfall was marked, but found the trap rusted into unusability.

Quickly skipping past it she came to a section of wall that the map said held a hidden door. Pressing on the bricks she found one that depressed. A crack appeared in the wall and began to spread, before a loud shriek sounded and it stopped moving.

With a sound of exasperation Serena stretched out her hand and exclaimed ,"SMITE", causing a blast of light to slam the door open.

Inside was a small chest with a black mantel. According to order documents it was made of Shadow Drake leather, and would render any movements silent. Helpful when fighting enemies that while blind, where very much not deaf. Like the ones that the order had been fighting from the underdark recently.

Turning back to the entrance she began to move with prize in hand. There were other treasures here, but none were needed now. They would stay here well hidden until needed.

As she stepped she suddenly heard the screech of metal giving way, and the pitfall trap did the job it was designed for, so many hundreds of years ago.