Weapons clash on a volcanic mountain side; brimstone sparkling clouds fill the skies deep to the level of hell and a dank smoldering sulfuric smell burns anyone’s nose with a fuel scent. A thunderous clap of an impact is heard as Colossus falls to the ground bleeding from the edge of one of his horns.

“Come on Colossus, you came here to challenge me for my army; and this is the combat level you bring, please this is pathetic even for you” his opponent states laughing a little.

Standing nearly ten feet tall making Colossus feel like a dwarf, he had a head of a jackal with long narrow snout and exposed razor teeth. Pointy black ears deadly soul penetrating cat slanted eyes incased to a demonical muscular form with gangly hands and sharp claws. Wearing to a draping hang was a gold hood on a black cape housing souls swirling about it screaming to be free from damnation. His well ridged feet come up and catch Colossus’s throat, and squeezing down a bit on it he lifts it off, grinding his foot beneath his body he throws Colossus with his foot high into the air, slamming Colossus again into lava stone rocks. Getting up Colossus fights again throwing spells that are effortlessly batted away from the Demonic Prince, he moves close to the prince engaging him in close combat and interlocking weapons again, Colossus’s twin axes are finally broken with a hard connection from their weapons coring Colossus’ face to an evil grin.

“I like those axes Siravithor, but I want your Shin doe Clan army more” Colossus said as he pulled from his back the dreaded blade Azurewrath,

“No one in countless centuries has ever gained possession of my army and I will not break the cycle now; not with the likes of you mage!” Siravithor bolted

“We shall see, do you like this blade it’s the Azurewrath and you will learn it well for it will be the ending of your rule and the rising of mine” Colossus broke from speech striking metallic blows until breaking Siravithor’s Hellrazor blades into pieces.

“Oops I seemed to have turned your blade into scrap metal what a shame” and looking to Colossus with anger he pulls from his own back a duel axe handed with half-moon shaped blades to both sides.

“You know what this is Colossus…its Soul bringer the legendary rune axe much similar to your own blade but with a difference, it’s mine!” he growled to Colossus

“You got to do something about that breath, I’ll take your storm cloud stink any day before that; now any last words before I bring you down pooch” Colossus grinned

And saying nothing to him Siravithor charged Colossus and with his axe engulfed in flames, and against Colossus’s sword with dark lightning energy an explosive boom was heard when the blades meet, the ground shakes with the colliding weapons, and stretching on for a time, one was finally hit, going down to the stone near a lava flowing river Colossus grips his stomach wound that went deep.

“Damn it all, what’s taking them so long to get here already, I can’t last against him much longer” Colossus says to himself quietly

“What’s a matter do you need a time out??” Siravithor laughed shaking the blood off his axe head, and hearing a screaming sound coming from the skies Siravithor looks up to see the grim flying toward them.

“Finally, took them long enough, this place is well shielded” Colossus whispered to himself and looking to Colossus Siravithor says

“Looks like visiting hours are over Colossus your guards have come to take you back to your cell”

“The only way I’m going back is at the head of your army!” Colossus yelled striking his axe again he fights Siravithor until the soul shrieking sound of the Grim come in close proximity, dodging the attacks of the Grim Colossus circles around the prince to put him in the way of their attacks.

And taking his eye off Colossus for a second to block a shot from the grim, Colossus wastes no time and embeds his blade in the back of the prince.

“NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!” cries the prince erupting in a spectacular show of black fiery flames which then explodes. Killing the grim in its area, Colossus then looks to his chest which glows with the added obsidian jewel that embeds itself on his chest.

“At LAAAAST! The Shin Doe Army clan is MINE!!” Colossus thunders raising his arms in the air holding his blade high, approaching the sight over the cliff side to the mountain he then witnesses the army of the Shin Doe littering the ground. Thousands of men similar but smaller versions to the prince now kneel down and bow to Colossus; their new leader.

“When the time comes my children I shall come for you but until then remain here and wait for my beckoning call” and looking around for more grim which he sees none he smiles and disappears.

Reappearing in the Lazarus tower Logan is waiting in the hall, sharpening his sword he sees Colossus shimmer in and collapse into his throne chair bleeding all over the place.

“What the hell happened to you Colossus, were you attacked, followed?” Logan questioned him and holding his sword waiting for an intruder, waving his hand away at him for a ridiculous gesture Colossus spouts off

“No I wasn’t followed, just putting into motion a secondary initiative for future plans” he says taking a deep breath holding his sides waiting for his magic to regenerate his flesh, and looking up at the roof closing his eyes from the pain he went through.

“Why an alternate addition to the plan Colossus” Logan asked

“Because when performing an evil task such as this, a proper leader when bluffing knows also when to back up his threatening statements with muscle at his back” Colossus says “Is Sephinroth in place to infiltrate the Drow children for the plan”

“Yes she had to redecorate a bit for precautions but she is ready and sent her invitation out to them”

“Good” Colossus said feeling relief more and more with the regenerating process

“I want you to watch her carefully Logan, and report to me disloyalty she might display”

“You don’t trust her” the Vampire lord inquires not shocked at all

“I don’t trust anyone, that’s why I’m still alive” Colossus says and about to leave again Logan is called close to Colossus for a second, and moving up to him Colossus makes a quick motion cutting him on the arm with the blade.

“OUCH! What the hell was….hey I’m not healing…WHY!” Logan snaps with a grunt of hurt and a quick growing sense of worry, “Because this blade stops the regenerating process on beings as well as other things” Colossus smiled

“Like what” Logan inquired”

“Like killing you off without me needing your special weapon that’s hidden away” Colossus said

“So what does this mean” Logan states taking a hard gulp.

“It means that you are now my puppet and should not fail me any longer for if you do I swear the consequences will be dire, now go be a good watch dog and keep an eye on our little whore” Colossus commanded and for the first time ever Logan showed fear to Colossus and left with a little disturbed look to his face leaving Colossus in peace to heal until fully regenerated.

Logan arrives at Sephinroth’s Tower to see that it has changed a bit to match that of an ancient Egyptian look, with gold symbolic trim at the top and base of the walls. The wall sides hold glyphs engraved by gold with a background filled to a deep royal blue color. The halls are decorated with golden statues of cats and heads pieces on clay white pillars, and various pictures of art from her treasure horde are placed on the walls. Going into a main meeting chamber area Logan sees Sephinroth laying provocatively sprawled out on a bunch of deep red colored pillows. Getting fed from a created servant with some dark grapes she eats a couple and motions for Logan to enter.

“Boy don’t you look comfy” said Logan heated on approach

“Not to mention tired” she added “You have no idea what amount of energy it takes to conjure up the old soldiers for this place, as well as the servants”

“Well I’m glad to see you’re taking it easy for a while, you did send the message to them right” he asked with a little worry in his eye

“Yes of course I did, they should be getting it any day now why, what’s wrong with you?” she said looking at him with a more serious look

“Can I talk in here without anyone seeing us” he asked

And laughing a little she responded “Yes, Colossus’s seer needs to focus a lot of energy to reach into the walls of this place to hear anything, she won’t do it unless she needs to so don’t worry, and the chance she is watching right now is very slim”

“Colossus he…he cut me with his sword” Logan said showing her the mark

“Why didn’t you heal it” she asked

“I can’t heal it! The swords power can hurt me even with me being invincible” he said with a strike of fear and laughing somewhat she replies

“Awe what’s wrong not feeling so glory baring anymore that you might be able to be injured, well welcome to the world of the living again honey!”

“He found this out only recently and now he’s barking orders at me like I’m some lap dog!” Logan said getting angry

“Well I see now you have discovered that your now needing to watch your own back, fun isn’t it, but don’t worry you’re not the only one feeling this way, if I don’t follow I don’t get my babies I want so we are in the same predicament” she said with a small sarcastic grin and gets up to get a drink of blood wine left out on the table.

“So what do we do?” asked Logan

“WEEEE DO nothing I have my own plan, the god acting bull is moving too fast in his own head by barking godlike orders without having the power to back it up” she said taking a drink

“He came back this last time injured badly, I think he’s up to something without telling us” Logan explained

“Of course he is!, what you didn’t think evil was actually going to share power did you? He’ll cut us loose before the end”

“So what should we do?” said Logan again

“What any normal smart associate of his would do….plan an escape route to get out before the fireworks start and, save your own ass with some collateral in hand” she explained to him

“And what are you going to do?” Logan questioned

“Nothing that your ears will hear that’s for sure, I have my own agenda and it doesn’t include you” she said sternly “Now leave me! They will be coming any time and since they’ve seen you, you can’t be around here any time they are” and waving her hand she motions for him to get out.

“Well yes of course Sephinroth” he said doing a fake bow to her leaving.

“Oh and Logan” she said stopping him “The name you now address me as is Eve,…Eve Templaris the High Templar as well as the newly promoted Templar Guardian of the Zenith Tower” and turning back he smiles to her, bows again disappearing.

Snapping her fingers to a servant of hers she says “Make sure that little blood hound can’t ever get in this place without me knowing about it, I don’t need him peeking on me when I’m having a bath or something” and finishing the command the servant bows and leaves to make the adjustments.

Getting up to a cold brisk morning Elanee grabs her robe and sits at her mirror table to start combing her hair, she thinks about the tasks she has to do that day while humming the tune of the Drow city dance in her head.

Trying to keep focus of the day’s agenda in her mind, it wonders, and after multiple times of wondering she puts down her brush throwing her arms on the table burying her face saying to herself “Damn it Elanee it wasn’t that good of a kiss”

“I don’t know about that you seemed very into it in your dream” said Tristan standing in the door way.

Startled by the voice she turns quickly to Tristan tightening her robe glaring a deep look at him, “Have…have you been watching me Tristan?” and laughing at the remark he shakes his head,

“No my dear you were just loud enough to hear from out in the hall, and I was guarding your door this morning. I heard you get up and when you got to your table I opened the door hoping that you were dressed”

“Oh well…thank you and good morning to you” she said feeling a little ashamed at the accusation,

“And morning to you as well, I’d say good in front of the greeting but from the sound of how you were calling his name, good just doesn’t quiet cover it” Tristan ended smiling

“Well Namor is a handsome man” she said turning to the mirror again getting a little red in the face,

“While I don’t share your same opinion on looks, he is quiet a womanizer, and by the way nice cover, but that’s not the name you were calling to…was it??” he stated

“Of course it was you just must of miss heard, anyways I don’t know what you’re talking about” she said with a straight face combing her hair again.

“Ok how about who I’m talking about then” he says and stopping her comb she looks to him again saying nothing. “Come on Elanee, would it be so wrong to just let him know how you feel?” Tristan says moving into the room shutting the door behind him; she puts the comb into her lap and gives him a bashful look still saying nothing. “Ok then… let me ask you this, do you love Namor?”

“I have feelings for him, strong ones” she replied

“Well that’s good, but that’s not what I was asking”

“Look love is a strong word to me that I don’t use lightly, so I just don’t know right now if I love him” Elanee said to him “I’m sorry, that’s probably not what you wanted to hear from me”

And smiling at her he said “Don’t be sorry Elanee, not to me, I only want you to be honest and true to yourself and your heart, no matter who is hurts”

“But siding with Namor will give Silverspire the troops they need to defend themselves, that’s all that is important no matter the cost” Elanee stated

“Even if that cost is your life Elanee, look Elanee you honestly believe this is worth sacrificing the rest of your life for, for a future with someone you don’t even know if you love?” He said getting a chair in the room for himself and putting it by her.

“Can you guarantee me that the men we need will come on your word alone or does Namor’s overrule yours” she asked him

“…..” Tristan sits and says nothing lowering his head,

“You see that’s why I do this Tristan” she defends and grabbing her hand gently Tristan peers to her with an appeal,

“Elanee, Stormguard will defend Silverspire no matter what your choice for love is, and listen to me when I say that your decision may save the city from devastation this time, and maybe for a hundred years after this, but eventually a time will come when all that changes and this city and kingdom will fall, that Elanee is the destiny of all kingdoms” and upon hearing these words a couple tears come to her eyes “Please Elanee” he continues “You are a pure soul, and a beautiful women, don’t waste your future on a promised duty for a city of limited hope and prosperous peace” he conclude letting her hand go and smiling to her as he leaves her to her thoughts.

“These people are my duty Tristan, to protect and serve…I would give my life for them even it merited only one more day of peace” Tristan turns back again shaking his head gently in amazement,

“If I didn’t know you as I do, I’d swear you were already a queen” and continues again out of her chambers.

Thinking to herself, wiping the tears from her face she calls to her a guard, when one shows she asks him to put in place a meeting in private with her and a magical forger.

Later that day Cloud and Tristan along with other off duty guards from both cities played a game similar to football in the royal park area of the castle. Commoners from around the city came to watch the mighty warriors play and Dawn and Alisianna join the spectators. Just scoring a point for his team, Cloud is interrupted in his celebrating with the sight of a post guard at the side lines, running over to hear the news Cloud is informed that there is a band of men at the gate wishing passage into the city, and telling him to let them in Tristan joins at Cloud’s side as Cloud goes to meet with them.

They meet with the five horsemen in a few minutes time and seeing those bearing heavy cloaks, they appeared to be of human appearance. “For first relation safety in the city of Silverspire I must ask for relinquish of your arms to my guards” states Cloud on approach and reluctant to comply the leader gives in first handing over his weapon. The guard is electrocuted when he touches the hilt and having both the guard and weapon fall to the ground; Cloud and Tristan draw their weapons and tossing his arms to the air the leader protests with a plea.

“No stop!!” the leader motioning for his own men to surrender their arms “I apologize for the hostile act, I forgot our weapons have a personal defense on them that don’t allow anyone else to use them, it’s a self-reassurance to us because of our weakness”

“And that is?” asked Cloud still with a hand bolted to his hilt

“Our weapons are the only ones that can hurt us” and not believing the statement just told to him Cloud laughs “Yeah right, I’ve never heard of such armor that only one weapon can pierce”

“Then let me prove it to you, good Captain, please allow one of your guards to attack me using a bow, I will not move” and looking at him with uncertainty Cloud nods to one guard to strike him, aiming for the chest plate at almost point blank range he fires the arrow. Upon hitting the armor a field of force surrounds the armor and the leader redirecting the arrow has it impale into a structure beam.

Shocked at the outcome Cloud questions “How is that possible?”

“The guild I represent has many secrets, but even one such secret amongst us remains elusive and we believe that you have a man that can help us solve it” responds the leader “So we asked permission to speak to your highest classed magistrate and scholar”

“What kind of secret” Tristan says wary of their motives

“That will be shown to you as soon as we are shown that your man can help us” the leader concluded and without further delay Cloud told the guards to escort the men to the courtyard, leaving their weapons at the guarding capabilities of Cloud and Tristan’s men. Weapons are put to the ground by the horsemen to avoid any more harm to the guards and then the men are escorted as instructed.

Waiting in the courtyard for some time the head scholar finally shows up and Dawn and Alisianna come in behind him wondering about the visitors they heard about.

Looking at the man the horsemen whisper amongst themselves for a moment and the leader then addresses the Captains with a question.

“I’m sorry there seems to be some sort of a misunderstanding we will be leaving now”

“What’s the problem?” asks Tristan

“We were expecting someone else to be in the position, an elven man….a Drow actually is what we were told was the head scholar here” said the leader, and putting his head down for a moment Cloud spoke,

“Recent events had caused us to relocate him”

“You mean he’s dead?” asked the leader

“No I mean just what I said he’s been dismissed but if you want his help you only need to ask” Cloud said

“We were told that he possesses great knowledge at a very young aged mind, and may hold the necessary thinking to unlock the secret we hold?” replied the leader “Unless of course this one can tell me what this is” he stated throwing Cloud a star shaped sapphire embedded with a symbol of a crest not known to many. Handing it to the newly appointed scholar who has a deep look of confusion on his face when looking at it, he then shakes his head with no knowledge of what it was and hands it back. Cloud then looks to Dawn who hands Cloud a golden bluish stone and gripping it tight Cloud disappears. Shocked at his disappearance the leader asked where we went.

“It’s called a recall stone, and he used it to go where Rain the scholar you seek is located at” Dawn said.

Minutes later Cloud emerges from the light again with Rain showing up behind him from a teleport, “This had better be good Cloud I was in the middle of researching about-”

“Here look at this” Cloud interrupted tossing Rain the stone, Rain grabs it and with one good look chuckles to himself and laughing a little he throws it back.

“Well this was a waste of time” Rain said getting ready to teleport out

“Wait Rain!, what’s wrong, why is it a waste of time” and rolling his eyes at Cloud’s questioning he goes up to Cloud and taking the stone from his hand he explains,

“You see this groove here, and this arched ridge here, when you put them together it makes a symbol of a place that doesn’t exist, it’s called the Zenith Tower” and hearing those words put a smile on the leaders face and he tells his men to sit down. Looking to the leader Rain tosses the star stone back.

“Sorry my friend” Rain says laughing “You got taken for a nice joy ride, this place doesn’t exist”

“I assure you scholar it does” the leader says smiling at him

“It doesn’t!”

“Yes it does”

“Are you brain dead or just plain stupid for having treasure blind you of your common sense, the place was created to ward off treasure seekers and useless adventures away from the actual places of great history and intrinsic value” Rain finishes shaking his head and walking away.

“Rain!” says the leader, and motioning to the rest of his men to take off their cloaks as well he does the same while talking, “I don’t make the claim of knowing it exists because I want to go there” throwing his cloak to the ground Rain now looks to golden chain mail armor that he is wearing, and the leather armor of golden color his men are dressed in with the same symbols as the star sapphire, “I say it because we are from there, and need your help”

“With what” Rain asks still not convinced

“First answer me this riddle and we shall see then” the leader says getting ready to recite it

“I’m found without seeking it”

“I’m known without knowing it”

“I help but give no aid”

“Corruption is our weakness”

“Power is our enemy, what am I?”

Sitting for a second to think the leader gets up and tells him that he’ll be back in a couple of days to see what Rain will come up with, turning around to leave with his men Rain perks “No need…..the answer is Enlightenment” and stopping in his track he turns and smiles to Rain, “The very words we live by, my dear elf”

“Now it’s your turn, what the hell do you want” Tristan blurts out growing very impatient, and telling his men to once again have a seat he then explains.

“Some time ago, a city known as the Crystal crown had been attacked and against over whelming odds it was destroyed but not before they got what they needed” he said

“Who are they?” Asked Alisianna

“A group running the banner of one called Colossus; he got into his possession a book capable of putting together a sword called-”

“The Azurewrath” Rain finished and smiling to him the leader nodded and continued “We were then alerted to the enormous threat looming over the horizon and the newly appointed Templar Guardian, Eve Templaris was released from her slumber to look into the stopping of this threat, the guardians need to sleep for the power they hold is great, and would act as a beacon to seers and power swindlers alike if they wished hard enough to find the Zenith Tower. The secret we hold is actually two but one; we have no idea where to look for, so that’s why we seek your help. We have figured that for the sword to reach its full destructive power, it needs to be blended with three essences of evil that are found inside shards of crystals, but our problem lies with being unable to figure out their locations in time. If Colossus finds them first who knows what he will use them for” the leader concluded.

Looking at the leader very seriously Rain then asks “How do we know what you say is your true intentions, not just some elaborate ploy to get us separated as a family and vulnerable?”

And returning the look with one very serious of his own he replies “You doubt my word and honor?”

“Just your motives and orders” Cloud spoke up in defense “If you are so in need of his assistance, then perhaps you would be lenient enough to allow for actual introduction with this Templar Guardian of yours?”

And not responding for a second to think and convene with his group he then turns to them with a response “Very well but it will not be on the grounds of any land the banner that this city has domineering control over” negotiates the leader

Thinking for a second Rain suggest an idea “How about the ruins of the Crystal Crown place” and getting a looking of utter blunt insanity from the leader Rain continues “What! Colossus has already been there right and gotten what he wanted so there won’t be any reason for us to think we’re in danger there, besides he burnt the place to the floor; and to add more assurance the place is a dead magic zone which will place me out of the running for a backstab, along with taking power away from magical weapons on both sides”

Absorbing what was said the leader then convenes again with his party and turns around again with a nod of his head “Very well, I will alert my Lady of the travel arrangement, but I am going to leave one of my men with your group for reassurance of no dishonorment on your end”

“And we would like to do the same with one of our men, so I’ll go with your group to see the same on your end” stated Tristan

“I would allow it if it were possible but only those cleared by the Lady herself can travel to the tower, besides it would be foolish for us to attack you now or ambush you at the site until we have gotten what we wanted from you isn’t that right?” the leader says

“Is that a promise for things to come” said Tristan griping his weapon at the hilt but being stopped by Cloud, tossing a look calming the ranger at bay.

“Tristan just wait, they haven’t gone bad on their word yet, and they need us; we’ll just watch our backs during this partnership” Cloud says sternly to the leader

“As we’ll be watching ours” the leader says leaving the courtyard.