Day turns to night; the cloud to the sky was heavy; the air was stale and with his eagle eyes Straud’s sight saw the units of Shadowell appear at the sound of a marching rumble upon the ground from the darkened tree line. The forces of Silverspire, high elves and was Tristan had from Stormguard gather outside the walls for a long awaited battle that looked to merit no quick finish. Drakon, Logan and Aries meet at the back of the army lines and discuss their battle tactics.

Calling over the vampire commander Logan gave his orders

“Kabul I want the unit to be placed in the back of the ranks and tell them to keep their cloaks up until they are in the city walls, if I know the enemy they might be on to us having part in this and will use sunlight to take them out”

“Very good sir I’ll see that it is done” and Kabul departs

“Why did you do that they would be more effective up front with the first wave of my troops, or are you a coward to let your men die” provoked Aries

“Don’t test my patients Aries, yes they would be more effective but not if they’re dead, and knowing that they have druids as well as priests on the walls that will have sunlight spells ready, my men will be in dust at your men’s feet before they touch the wall” and walking away to look at the forming ranks of the enemy high elves he gazes for a second on the three Captain’s coming to the city wall walk and carefully tries to make out the middle one, “Mage cast a vision spell on me” and with a Drow mage doing so Logan then looked with binocular like vision to the man “I’ll be damned”

“Yeah we know you’re that, tells us something we don’t know” said Drakon

“How about the man who put this infernal life upon me is at the wall walk right now, my god I can’t believe I almost listened to Colossus and didn’t come here, I would have missed this opportunity”

“For what” said Aries

“Vengeance!” bolted Logan

Flipping to progress of the other side the king prepares a speck of inspiration for the soldiers and Straud hands out the orders, he tells Tristan and Rain to go with Cynn and Maylor to get Dawn set up to do her Battle enhancement on the army, when that is done Tristan and Rain depart to go help Elanee and Namor with the evacuation of population to different sections of the city incase of breeches, Straud instructs that Cloud and him will stay here coordinating the attack with the king.

“The arms are locked on the table” says Cloud

“And the muscle is pretty evenly matched on both sides” added Tristan

“It’ll be a matter of how we turn our wrists that we’ll determine the victor of the match” finished Straud and smiling to each other they draw swords and clang them together in a wish of luck and depart to their various tasks.

With the first waves colliding and swords hitting the battle has begun and in a bright flash of blinding light druids and priests cast sunlight spells to sorts out the living from the dead. Alisianna sheaths her blade and goes to a knee, closing her eyes the sky fills with clouds only letting through the streaks of sunlight rays, and not long following is heavy rain.

“Told yea they would do that,” said Logan to Drakon and Aries and giving the order the vampires slowly start into the second and third waves of men into the battle.

Also not seeing any change in the army Straud thinks that the vampires are still cloaked.

“I thought of that too uncle” Cloud said

“You did” replied Straud surprised and nodding his head Cloud then looks to Alisianna who starts casting a severer wind storm in an attempt to flip their shrouds off there heads, adding to that Straud tells the druids to do random sunlight attacks all over the battle field in a effort to weaken the enemy. In doing so, they witness vampires low in number busting into ash. Alisianna adds to the mayhem by casting lightning strikes down on areas of the field clustered with evil Drow, and blowing dirt and dust into the air, cheers from Stormguard and Silverspire soldiers are heard from seeing bodies fly into the sky.

An hour goes by and finally the door gives in to the wrecking sound of a ram.

“PROTECT THE CITY!” Straud calls out having Silverspire, Stromguard and High elven soldier’s band together to dispose of the threat.

“Well fellows it’s time to part ways and end our destructive conflicts and vendettas” says Logan and putting on his cloak he disappears into wave of Drow.

Aries looks to Drakon and then down to his arm, Drakon notices the large metal aberration on his hand and asks about it

“It is a gauntlet build from Drowish ingenuity and high craftsmen ship” and squishing his hand while clenching his fist five blades come out of the wrist area like claws that are nine inches long and then retracts them

“Interesting” said Drakon

“It’s for my sister” he says smiling “a gift if you will for her terrible sweet departure from this life” and putting his cloak on as well he runs into the woods and Drakon looking back to where we went he calls to him

“Aries battle is that way” and getting no response he shakes his head and says to himself, leftovers are fine by him and teleports away

Getting Dawn to a safe place and standing guard over her Cynn and Maylor hold the feebleminded Drow at bay from their location. Namor, Elanee, Tristan and Rain head a bunch of children and women to the guard gates before the castle courtyard, getting everyone through until Rain hears a taunt coming from behind him; turning around Rain sees three Vampires one holding a whip another a war hammer and lastly one with two small swords

“Rain common, we got to go, leave them” barked Tristan

“They will hunt us down, if we do” replied Rain and Tristan coming back to get him is stopped by Rain summoning his sword and cutting the rope to the portcullis, the metal gate between the wooden doors comes down separating the two of them.

“Rain” Cries Elanee coming back for him, while Tristan tries to lift the gate

“JUST GO!” yelled Rain not taking his eyes off the enemy, “I’ll catch up” and prying Elanee off the gate wall Tristan and her catch up with the others

“Spread out, he can’t take all of us at once” said the Vampire with the hammer, and surrounding his location Rain jumps his vision back and forth through the Vampires seeing which one will start.

Fighting down below by the front gate Cloud and Straud are back to back fending off attacks from everywhere and looking around at the bodies littered on the ground he is reminded of the day his village was under siege, a clanging sound from his blade is made rattling off an incoming blade at his head when Cloud snaps back to reality and hears a terrible scream of help, looking up Cloud sees Aries on the back of a Manticore winged beast. This is a monster in every sense of the word, it has the head of vaguely made out humanoid, the body of a massive lion and the terrible wings of a dragon, and it has a back filled with jagged barbs and a space in the middle of it for a rider which Aries now occupies. Its tail which is being swished around dangerously has a set cluster of spikes that is easily piercing the body armor of the archers along the wall. With a quick motion Aries reaches for his sister with success and grabs her, squirming and shimmying herself off the beast she is suddenly stopped by a violent backhand to the face by her brothers iron gauntlet knocking her out cold, and flying away to a secured location to finish the job Cloud watches as she is carried off.

“ALISIANNA” Cries Cloud and barrels off to get her

“Cloud NO!” yells to Straud but ignoring his cries Cloud continues to open ground, finding an decent space he slams his sword hard into the ground summoning his steed, Chalice arrives and with an attack imminent to her back side, Cloud runs to her side but is too late, Chalice already disposes of the Drow with a fierce back kick breaking their necks.

“Right a mind link” Cloud says to himself and climbing abort he says to her “we need to catch Aries” and nodding in agreeance Chalice leaps to the skies.

A thunderous crash is felt by Rain’s body impacting the gate of the door hard and sliding to the ground his blurred vision makes out the two vampires left the third that was made short work of now lies in a pile of dust of the ground

“Damn it, his Stone skin spell is still on, how many times have we hit him like ten” and agreeing with him he smile

“Pick him up again” the vamp with the hammer says and nodding his head he whips the whip strap around Rain’s body again thrusting him in the air and like a ball being pitched to a batter the vampire swings his hammer again impacting Rain’s torso and driving him into a nearby building.

Getting up again Rain sees the sight of flesh on his bloodied hands

“Finally he normal again” Quickly whipping Rains neck not allowing him to breathe, the sky gets darker and the faint feeling of death creeps closer to his fingers. A cloaked figure suddenly lands on the top of a roof holding twin swords; then with a quick thrust to the whirling hilts throwing them razor cutting the air do they impale both vampires in to stone walls.

Being released from the deathly hold of the whip Rain falls to the ground and sees the vampires immobile, not wasting any time he grabs a piece of broken wood and jams it into the first vampire, dropping his whip the Vampire bursts into flaming ashes raining to the ground; the second one breaks free and grips his hammer charging toward Rain.

Cynn suddenly teleports to the location where Rain is and lifting a broken spear with the wooden part aimed at the vampire and using telekinetic powers she fires it into him. Rain simultaneously was trying to accomplish the very move himself and having it happen as he wanted Rain looked at his hands after the ashes from the final vampire hit the ground. Cynn; smiling at what fake confidence she placed in Rains mind teleported away before anyone knew she was there. Rain looking around at who hit them swung his neck upwards to see a wrapped figure standing above him on the roof top, telling Rain he should hurry; Artanis tells Rain he saw some Drow baring down on Tristan’s location Rain picked up his mother’s blade and teleported around the gate and ran towards them.

Still following in his wake Cloud desperately follows Aries in the air, seeing that he can’t seem to shake him anyway he moves Aries goes low and into the trees dodging bushes and large trunks to block and cover his path. Alisianna regains consciousness and sees that Aries is in the woods, keeping quiet not to alert him she silently casts a spell. Dodging a couple more trees and coming up to a old oak, a large branch on the tree moves ever so slightly causing decapitation to the Manticore sending Aries and Alisianna hurling to the ground.

Landing hard and barrel rolling for some time before stopping Aries shakes his head and moves quickly over to Alisianna’s spot, where she is out cold again from the fall. Griping his blade tightly he goes to swing when Cloud fly’s down and leaping from his horse drives Aries into the ground; rolling to get to their feet they disclose a deep stare to each other then start sparing.

The battle goes for a couple minutes until Alisianna regains her thoughts again to see the two battling fiercely; cutting cheeks and arms letting blood fly all around. She grabs her blade that was a short distance from herself and moves in to help Cloud; she stops when suddenly Cloud strikes Aries in the stomach and sliding the blade out of his chest Aries backs up and smiles to him

“Nice shot” said Aries and Cloud watches, as the wound is sealed shut

“What the?” said Cloud and looking to his face he notices two puncture wounds on Aries’ neck “You’re a vampire Aries?”

“Yes with the help of Logan’s fowl mouth, he gave me the strength to beat you both and reap my revenge without problems. Making another stab attempt which is blocked by Aries’s gauntlet Aries delivers a vampire style punch to Cloud’s chest plate driving him into the air backwards; and hitting the ground. Leaving him slow winded to get up. Alisianna sees the failed attempt by Cloud and bringing flame to her blade hoping that it will kill him, she runs toward him and aiming at his neck and swings. Blocking her attack with lighting reflexes against his gantlet yet again Aries turns to her smiling.

“Now it’s time to end you” he belts out backhanding her in the face once more, she spins around and with her back to him he grips a bunch of her long brown hair wrenching her head back with his free hand. Extending the blades of his gauntlet Aries drives the blades deep to her back skin; exposing them out her stomach. Retracting them again he kicks her in the ass knocking her bloodied body to the ground, trying to gasp for air but only getting mouthfuls of blood she spits it out trying not to choke and getting weak and wary falls to her side.

Looking up at Aries he sees Alisianna not moving and blood pouring from her stomach

“NOOOOO!” cries Cloud and grabbing his sword with a rage he engages Aries in battle again, trying to speak as the fight Aries taunt’s Cloud by saying

“One down, one to go”

“You will burn in the forever flames of hell for this I swear to god Aries”

“Now, now it’s not nice for your kind to swear Cloud” Aries smiles and angering him even more, they fight for a time until Aries smashes Cloud’s sword out of his hand severely cutting his arm having Cloud collapse to the ground in pain. Aries walks up to Cloud towering like a giant towering over his body.

“Now for you Cloud” Aries says raising his blade into the air for a sure impaling strike when Aries is struck from behind and risen into the air by Chalice, losing the grip of his sword which falls to the ground Aries looks to the three Horns driven into his back coming out through his chest for Aries to see the glimmer of their elegance. Starting to smoke Aries panics “What?…what the hell is happening”.

“You don’t know Aries; my steed’s horn are blessed”

“NOOOOOOOOO!” are his final words as he combusts in a big explosive cloud of dust leaving the world of the living.

Huffing heavy from running to her side Cloud gazes on Alisianna and relieved at the sight of her still breathing.

“Hang on Alisianna” Cloud says and taking off his gloves he tries his healing ability on her gapping wound.

“I don’t get it, it should work, why isn’t it working” Cloud says with tears coming down his cheek

“You healing power is only for your steed Cloud, not others” she chokingly says coughing blood from her throat, Cloud sheaths his sword and picks her up; crying in pain she puts her arms around his neck

“Then we’ll get you to one who can” Cloud says calling over Chalice

Mounting them both to the back of his steed he says in Chalices ear, “I know that you weren’t created to carry two for a long time baby and for this I’m sorry but her life is fading fast so please make hast” and with those words driven into her mind Chalice takes to the skies again.

“This way” shouts Tristan leading the group of kids and women to the location himself Elanee, Namor and Tristan’s Cat are suddenly surrounded by Drow numbering up to eight,

“Drop your Weapons we have you surrounded” one Drow designated as the leader says, they do as they are told.

“Good “ says the Drow “Kill them” he commands the others “We are to take no prisoners” he says louder to them as his men ready their weapons for a blood bath slaughter when lightning strikes the drow soldiers all at once and shaken by electrification they fall to the ground.

“Good final line to go by if I don’t say so myself” says Rain appearing behind the Captain Drow as he dropped and stepping over the bodies Elanee runs to hug him

“Rain “she says gripping him tight “I thought you were-”

“Dead?” Rain finished and nodding her head and bringing a smile back to her face

“Not him he’s too strong” smiled Tristan and gathering the people up again they make their way through the final door and to safety for the children and women, going back for another group of people, they get about half way through the courtyard when Rain stops to see a figure standing there behind him. He quickly keeps up with his party following them out of the courtyard and then he stops to fall back there, seeing him again he shuts and locks the door behind him

“Awe, how quant, like a Sheppard tending to his flock from the fangs of the wolf” says Drakon locking the other entrance in to the area “I’ve been waiting to fight a worthy spell caster since the battle started” Drakon dictates as he summons to his hand his black bladed sword with a hilt made of bone.

“Then I better not disappoint you” replies Rain and he summons’s his mother’s blade to his hands “And I didn’t want the others to be apart of this”

“You have grown in power since out last encounter, but I promise you this; only one will arise from the ashes of this tome” he finishes and throws a lightning bolt to start the fight between them. The battle starts at a fast pace throwing bolts of lightning and flame at one another in between the clanging of blades; they match each other’s attacks for pacing blocks and battle furiously through out the courtyard; spilling each other’s blood and skin when they are able.

To save their magic and in the midst of blade sparing Drakon hits Rain with the hilt of his sword and the two of them fall into the mud, rolling around getting caked in the wet dirt they take turns slugging the very sense from each others bodies, bloodying up their mouths and faces, Drakon gets a lucky blow in. Hitting Rain hard between the eyes Drakon gets up still hanging on to Rain’s cloak, he drags Rain to his feet and pounds Rain’s body into the side of the courtyard stone wall slicing up his back, getting a firm slippery grip to his neck Drakon starts choking Rain.

“I’m going to bleed you of your very life for the marks of pain you have caused to me tonight” and finishing his statement Drakon squeezes as hard as he can, Rain bracing his arms between Drakon’s attempts to hold them apart from crushing his throat and with a swift strengthen kick to the stomach breaks from Drakon’s hold rolling to the side escaping his cornered doom.

Elanee and Tristan along with Namor head back to the guardhouse were Dawn is performing the Battle enhancement; Maylor and Cynn stop them at the door to find out what is wrong

“What? Rain didn’t return here,” asked Tristan

“No” said Cynn “I thought that he was with you” she added

“We got separated,” said Namor

“We should try to find him,” said Maylor

“Maylor, you and Elanee and everyone but Dawn go to Straud he will need the man power to finish driving back the Drow from the city,” Cynn ordered “Dawn and I will go find Rain and meet up with you”

“You mean we are winning the battle,” asked Elanee

“Yes but we need to drive them back fully and with injured men already littering the ground we will be hard pressed to do it” Cynn finished, and splitting up they head their own ways.

Running out of magic and endurance fighting, Drakon sees the hopeless despair coming to Rain’s face and take the time to act, Drakon embeds his sword to the ground and throws a wave of magical raw energy at Rain, reacting with a defensive magical brace Rain finally gets into a spell bind with him. Holding it for as long as he can, Rain starts bleeding from his eyes and ears due to the massive power that Drakon has. Rain tries to break out but Drakon holds him in the energy field; with Rain falling to his knees. Rain slowly loses strength while Drakon inches closer to him imploring more and more power upon him. Having him almost right over top of him Rain makes one final attempt with all his might to break free, doing so and throwing Drakon’s magic to the wall blowing rubble and debris into the air. Rain spins around and draws his actual none summoned sword impaling Drakon in the chest. Drakon stops casting almost instantly and falls to the ground lifeless spilling blood from his mouth.

Rain turns around to hear the voices of Dawn and Cynn yelling his name

“I’m in here” Rain cries and goes to the door to unseal it, weakness and fatigue roll in on Rain’s body as he struggles to open the door.

Not knowing that from behind Drakon rises to his feet and out of the mud he was dropped to, from a contingency spell that brought him back to life that he cast before the fight began. Drakon draws a dagger from his belt and wiping the sweat and blood running down his face, his utter lacking defeat not with standing he grows to an angry rage and throws the dagger at Rain’s shadowed back.

Seeing him get to his feet Cynn yells to Rain to look out and turning around Rain only sees the dagger coming right for him. Trying to dodge out of the way Rain strafes to one side and missing his heart the dagger hits Rain in the shoulder, piercing his flesh straight through to the other side. The dagger blade pokes out through the front side of Rain’s body only to have green ooze dripping from the wound.

Cynn runs past Rain and casting a green orb like sphere she throws it directly at Drakon, not having any magic left to block the spell Drakon covers his face and screams a blood-curdling scream as he is disintegrated by the orb slowly and his ashes hit the ground. Cynn runs back to Rain who already has Dawn at his side.

“Its Manscorpion venom” weeps Dawn

“You are going to have to treat it Dawn” Cynn says

“I’m not strong enough, we need to get him to Maylor“

“We won’t make it Dawn Rain is weakened badly and the poison is working fast, he’ll die before we can get to him, it’s up to you Dawn” Cynn states

“But I don’t think I can”

“You have too,” Cynn says and giving it a try Dawn lays her hands upon him but cannot stop the process

“I can’t do it” Dawns cries and looks to Cynn

“You have always been able to do it, the only thing holding you back is you Dawn, you just need to believe in yourself” Cynn pleads and nodding her head Dawn tries again. With tears in her eyes she looks to Rain who has lost consciousness and praying to him not to leave her, she feels a slight glow that turns to a bright white light and closing her eyes to concentrate she thrusts the venom from his body. Opening his eyes again to see her face, she smiles to him

“Rain” Dawn says excitedly still crying

“Dawn” he whispers to her in a soft voice, “I knew you could do it” he smiles to her touching her cheek gently and getting to his feet with help from Dawn and Cynn as they walk back to the outer wall.

“Can’t we just teleport there” asked Rain

“I drained myself to low defending Dawn’s position” Cynn replied

“Sorry about that” Dawn apologizes

“No need Dawn, your ability helped greatly in turning the tide in this war” she smiled to Dawn and left with then to make haste to the wall.

Straud falling back to a guard tower to gain a better outlook on the battle is followed by three men, hearing the hurling of a blade in the air he gives the order to take cover, one ducks the blade while the other two are slammed together by the blade and moving backwards are embedded into the stone side, going up to see the men Straud notices the hilt design and not believing what he is seeing he dashes to the other man to get out of the area. He turns to see his last man standing having his throat cut by a shadowed faced cloaked figure, stepping over the corpse and walking through the fresh blood being poured from the throat of the soldier the figure then approaches Straud.

“The ages have grown you soft Captain; siding with humans” the voice from the cloak said “But then again you always did fancy an ally who you could easily out run” and with vampirism speed the figure ran forth toward him delivering a massive elbow hit to Strauds face, laying him out flat to the stone floor, “Oops I guess that’s not the case this time” Logan laughs and goes to retrieve the blade holding the two men to the wall, looking to make sure they’re dead he then pulls it out and watches their bodies hit the ground.

“Who are you?” Straud said getting to his feet and picking up his sword.

“I thought that jolt would have jogged your memory, but I see it only damaged more of your already brain dead mind” and turning to him after taking out his sword he continues “You always used to be able to block that move whenever I tried it during our training sessions together, I see now that my skills have improved (chuckling a bit), but then again who knew life after death could get any better” and lifting his hood off his head he revealed himself.

Growing weak with uncertainty from his own mind, thinking that it might be playing tricks on him he cocked his head and questioned the man,

“Logan??...Logan Silias??....... but you’re… you’re…”

“DEAD!!” finished Logan “I assure you that I’m quiet alive…well sort of anyway” he smiled

Lifting his sword pointing it at Logan in defense of what he was beholding Straud spoke, with only mutter to his voice and not even matching the attack Logan answers “Speechless I see, what’s with the look of fright old friend, you look like you’ve seen a ghost”

“This can’t be real, I saw you die in that mine shaft” Straud said

“NO! What you saw was me being stuck in that god forsaken mine, while the entrance was collapsing” Logan snapped

“I tried to uncover the rubble Logan but there was too much, my men even had to peel me off the rocks to stop me digging for you”

“You should’ve tried harder rather than leaving me to die!!” Logan yelled to him “You see after the cave in at the doorway I tried to out run the rock by going back but my legs were pinned down in the rubble underground, and when the rest of the vampires tried to get out the same way and saw me laying there, they saw it fit to turn me into what I despised so very much”

“I still know what happened to your family Logan; you don’t have to remind me of it”

“Well from turning my family into vampires during their early year raid on my village, and making me kill my own son, daughter…wife, you then must have no damn idea on how much I hated them, I first killed off the rest of their pathetic clan when I was strong enough, and then thought that maybe just maybe my clan would be compassionate toward me for revealing me new nature and how it happened” and turning his back to Straud he continued “They locked me up Straud, and they were going to execute me, in order to save my soul they told me again and again, I then escaped them and started to plan their executions for the kindness they showed me, I went back that night and one by one I killed them off, all of them, right down to the screaming children”

“You... You were the murderer of the Asmairian clan; Logan how could you they were your FAMILY!!” Straud lashed out with a judging tone.

“A family that gave up at the first sign of no hope” Logan barked

“There is no cure for the vampirism curses Logan you know that” Straud sternly replied

“Did you even bother to look after I died, or so you thought I did…? (Straud says nothing)…I thought not” and drawing a second blade behind the vision of Straud he said “You know Straud it is known amongst the Asmairian clans to honor allies as clan members themselves, and as soldiers, giving up someone to the enemy is the same in our culture as killing them yourself, so on that note of treason against me I shall enjoy reaping the repayment you owe me from your everlasting corpse”

And with a back flip toward Straud with his blades drawn he engages him in battle. Colliding blades with one another, sparks are made falling to the ground, with the sheer strength and power each of the fighters posed. The struggling balance goes on for what seems like forever, with both fighters showing styles of sword mastery not even known to most masters in the art, blocking a direct strike to his head Logan blocks with crossing his blades and smiles to Straud in a holding stance.

“What’s wrong friend can’t keep up” and with the continuous light show of the blades the battle carries on.

Jumping off the towers edge and landing on the ground evading yet another attack Logan runs off into the battle mass killing Silverspire guards and rebel Drow in his path. Straud right behind him leaping over the corpses in his wake give chase to him, cutting him off down a path with a dead end corralled by houses. Straud then charges at Logan, but using a quick dodge and massive strength Logan flips Straud upside down and flying in the air towards a building side. Landing on his shoulders Straud loses his grip to his sword and going to grab it again he sees the point of one of Logan’s swords aimed at his neck.

“It’s time to end six hundred years of revenge and with it all bottled up this could hurt a bit” Logan said raising the blade into the air, and bringing it down to cleave Straud in two length halves, it comes down for only a short distance and is stopped by a blade suddenly being thrown into the wall above Straud blocking it, looking to see who threw the blade at an adjacent building, a dark looking figure jumps from a rooftop on to the ground in front of him.

“Artanis Zen” Logan says taking his eyes off Straud “You little elusive leech mark my words, on this night I shall bury you back in the insignificant dirt you were born from” and Straud making the move to grab his sword using a rolling motion and joining up by Artanis, the two circle around Logan pinning him between them two. Flipping around and cart wheeling between them Logan uses grace and perfect proficiency to evade their combined efforts in striking him, blocking and counter attacking where he can Logan is then brought to one knee blocking two separate attacks with each sword. Straud and Artanis use under baring force to break their swords through to Logan’s torso but doing a back flip with his vampire agility, Logan then tosses the two men with sheer momentum to their backs.

Walking up to finish the two off, he is disrupted by a sound of a bunch of fast pace footsteps coming at his rear. Turning around Logan sees Tristan charging at him, with Elanee and Namor lingering in the background.

“What the hell???” says Logan rolling his eyes while blocking the charge attack and sparing with Tristan “You mortals are like cockroaches…Where the hell is everyone coming from, a crack in the ground I don’t see” and catching their breaths helping Tristan. Straud and Artanis then join in the fight again. With a showing of miraculous agility and tremendous feats Logan fights all three, through the mists of the fight Artanis pulls a dagger from his belt and hurls it at Logan but having it Ricochet off Logan’s own blade sword it hits Tristan in his side driving the great Ranger down to the ground.

“You should know that doesn’t work on us… or at least me” Logan says smiling and with lightning reflexes he tosses one at Artanis, attempting to block it Artanis fails and it strikes Artanis in the shoulder blade. Backing out of the fight and leaning against the wall Artanis drops his sword and tries to take the dagger out of his body.

“Looks like it’s just you and me again old friend” says Logan and going at each other with their blades ready Logan suddenly drops his blades gripping Straud’s arms with his hands. Thrusting Straud back Logan strikes Straud hard with a fierce spin kick to the face dropping Straud to the ground in a fast drilling like spin.

Arriving back from the fight with Drakon to meet up with the others, Cynn and party run past the street fight with Logan down the ally; stopping to take a second glimpse of the brawl she stops Rain and Dawn dead in their tracks having them almost running into each other. Following back to Cynn back, Cynn sees Logan standing amongst the bodies of Straud, Artanis and Tristan on the ground with Elanee and Namor close by them, picking up his swords Logan looks to Cynn appearing to him.

“Logan??” Cynn says confused

“Cynn, nice to see you again after all these years, and still looking fine I see, have you lost weight?” Logan conversed with a grin.

“Judicator my staff head, it’s glowing and it only detects undead creatures” added Dawn

“That’s because he’s a vampire” Cynn said “Don’t trust him” she answers quickly turning to the two behind her.

“What are you doing here; Logan?” She asked him

“Oh I was just here visiting my old friends, don’t worry I’ve brought gifts too, but I always forget” Logan says reaching for a hilt behind his cape “Did you prefer expensive or shiny?”

Furious with seeing everyone on the ground battered and beaten Cynn conjures an energy ball of lightning and throws it at him; pulling the hilt revealing a mirror like blade attached to it, Logan holds it like a shield bouncing the spell back at her. Dawn casts a protection spell shield to block the ball but Cynn’s magic is far stronger then the defense spell and smashing the shield Dawn cast, the three are blown into the air and pummeled hard to the ground knocking them out cold.

Smiling at the outcome of the plan and looking at the body count he has placed to the ground he puts the blade back and walking to Straud he says.

“Right of course, shiny things how did I forget” Logan chuckles and again picking Straud up with one arm Logan moves dragging Straud toward Artanis, then grasping a hold of the little demon Logan raises him with the other arm and lifting both high into the air Logan smirks.

“I can’t decide which to take out first so I guess I’ll just kill you both at the same time” and finishing his statement his hands grow a dark blue mist around them and growing weaker the two fighters feel their life force slipping away from them.

Looking around at the devastation he has caused Elanee goes toward Logan.

“Elanee no, he’s too powerful” Namor says pulling her back to his side.

“I will not stand by and watch all my friends be slaughtered before my eyes” Elanee replies thrusting away Namor’s arms, Elanee moves quickly and quietly toward Logan’s back and completely engrossed with the draining of the two fighters lives, Elanee gets right behind Logan; and gripping his neck Elanee tries to use her powers to stop him.

Getting a flood of images flowing like ocean water into her mind that center around Colossus and the sword, Elanee lets him go dropping to the ground in a seizure like state for a short while until passing out.

“Ahhh!” Logan says dropping Artanis and Straud to the ground and gripping his head he scream in pain from the migraine he just received. And looking behind to Elanee on the ground in a dead state he yells to her “FILTHY HARLET!!!!, what did you do to me,…..what did you see” and going to stab her torso with a blade from his side he suddenly sees a pentagram symbol erupting at his feet in fire and traveling up his legs it engulfs Logan’s body, with burning skin he scream in pain in a undead high pitched tone and escapes the searing pain in a cloud of puffy smoke.

Wondering how that happened Namor looks around to see a scorched black line on the ground from Logan leading right to Maylor, with his hand to the ground and his staff glowing bright white in color.

“Elanee” shouts Namor in worry to her limp body, and coming behind them Maylor checks her out.

“She’s fine Namor she just passed out, he then goes over and pulls the blade from Tristan’s gut, healing him minor but leaving a scare he says sorry that he doesn’t do better but he’s trying to keep as much magic unused as possible, he then checks out Artanis and Straud who seem very weak but fine slowly getting to there feet again, and finally Maylor goes to Cynn’s party and with a potion vial from his side he waves the opening of the bottle under there noses and they each quickly awaken. Cynn then passes out again from over use of magic.

Flashing like a lightning bolt Chalice raced through the tops of the trees, Cloud looked down as Alisianna came to consciousness, she looked to only see his face beaming down at hers holding a look of massive worry.

“My brother, Cloud where’s my brother?” she asked looking at his face that said it all, she shed a tear for his defeat and staring at him noticed the cut to his cheek and the bloody lip Cloud was housing on his face.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t save him” he said softly

“You did in a way Cloud, thank you” she ended coughing

“Hang on Alise, where almost there”

“It’s taking all I have to see you now Cloud the wound is deep…too deep, I just wanted to say thank you” she ended closing her eyes again.

“Alise stay with me…Alise!!” Cloud harped to her, but no movement to her eyes happened, Cloud put his ear to her chest to hear the beats of her heart slowing fading.

“Chalice please faster baby, were losing her” Cloud said and taking a jolt pushing the wind currant a little more did his horse press on.

Finishing the Drow left in the city some drow managed to run and retreat away back to the under city from whist the dwell, and as the priests and Clerics check on the wounded and move the dead, Tristan and Artanis hobble back together , while Rain carries Cynn when he comes conscious to the guardhouse and following him is Namor holding Elanee, Dawn helps some near by soldiers hurt badly on the field, Straud gets to his feet from hearing an awful yelling from a familiar voice he hasn’t herd since the start of the battle. He looks over the wall to see Cloud riding hard and fast carrying Alisianna in his arms and with blood running from his hand and down the side of Chalice both he and Maylor go to the front gate field.

“MAYLOR! DAWN! I NEED YOU” screams Cloud jumping off the mount to the ground, Chalice collapses to the ground exhausted to the point of motionless and with a word from Straud does the beast get unsummoned to save her strength.

“My god Cloud what happened” Straud said running to him

“Aries he had ….spike thing. Stabbed her…pulse is very weak” Cloud hyperventilated trying to make sense of what was said,

“Cloud she doesn’t have a pulse my son; she’s dead” responded Maylor touching her neck to feel no beats, he then opens her top and sliding his hand to her bare chest does he lift his head with a shake and he retracts his hand from her skin.

“I failed her” Cloud said with a cracked voice, “She’s dead”

“Son listen to me this isn’t your doing” Straud said gripping his shoulders, he then looked to Maylor and nodded his head toward Maylor,

“I can try but I’m weak Straud, I just don’t know if I can do this now” and he immediately went to her side.

“Try Maylor please we owe her this” Straud said as Maylor got ready.

Cloud waited as the spell drug on and on in length and watching Maylor’s hands glow for a long time he asked what was taking so long

“It takes time and energy Cloud to bring back someone from the dead” explains Straud gripping his shoulder “But I’m so glad your ok, why didn’t you fly here Cloud?” he then asked

“I couldn’t after Chalice hurt her wing coming back here, the weight was too much for such a distance and she slowly descended until catching it on a tree limb ”And looking to her he continued “but she never slowed down one bit”

“That’s what’s good about mounts compared to actual horses, they feel your pain from your heart and try to help where they can, I only hope it is enough” Straud comforts Cloud

“Me too” responded Cloud

“While I know it was” smiled Maylor feeling a breath taking in from Alisianna’s lips and she then passes out, and moving to her side Cloud is again confused

“What happened is she dead again” asked Cloud

“No my dear boy she is quite alive but exhausted from being dead for a little while, just as I am for that act took the last bit of magic I had left and now I need the rest as well” Maylor says as he gets up slowly from the spell sickness he is feeling, standing up and hugging Maylor Cloud thanks him and smiling back from the gratitude he accepts his thanks and retires for the night. For the rest of the night and part of the next day the soldier’s give help in the clearing of bodies and burying the dead, putting out fires in the city and relocating civilians back to their homes was secondary. Finally Straud tries to get more information about Logan from Artanis but he claims that he knows little more than he said last night although some believe he knows more than he is letting on and will only need time to let it lose.

Elanee was next to explain what she had seen and what was to be heard by the group and high councils was disturbing at best, she described the sword fragments being put together and the Lazarus tower from where Colossus dwells. The news is shocking and not fully knowing what it is about set out to find out, but needing the enclave up and structured first. Lalandra’s task was first on the list before this, and before all of this was a great celebration in memory of the soldiers who gave their lives as well as the victory itself.

Retiring to the workshop where Rain had worked did he sit upon the work desk chair, as he sat nestled to it’s hardened comfort he gazes first to the mirror, a reflection of a broken mage stared back at him housing cuts and bruising that was in line to be repaired, the dead and dying were first to the list. Getting to his feet Rain walked to a corner of the room and removing some bricks loosened by his own hands and effort for a hidden storage he pulled to his cradling grip a bag, placing it’s contents to the table did he again take a seat to the chair and gaze to the finished product that stood on it’s own as a pair to his desk top.

The overlaid ankle flaps perfectly folded like her leveled shoulder hair, the body skin was a medium brown…her favorite color, slashing stripes wrapped around the body in a stunning style like she did at a moment’s glance his eyes ever laid to her, and were blue like the stunning deep focus of her eyes. The edges were sown sharp like her mind that he both hated and loved to be around; and the laces themselves were red, the beaming color she blushed to from complements or disgruntled times he generally caused her, and they held tight and form fitted much like her bodily physique that he never let went unnoticed. Perfect he thought, flawless he thought as his golden eyes held a tragic gaze to them, but at the coming of a long yawn he placed the boots back to the deer skin holding they were in for the time and back to his feet he got to place them again to the hiding place. I wish I could’ve just made them through pure magic and not with my alchemical skills he thought to his mind placing them to rest again, moving back to the desk he sat to a state of remorse and reflected relation to her love; like the spells he lacked to make them by magic essence so was her love out of his grasp.