Arilee stood staring at the fire and chaos around her, when she heard a familiar awful voice.

"Hello again, Arilee."

"Malith."

The dark elf smiled a toothy jagged grin. His grey skin was the color of the ash from the fire smoldering fires around him. His outfit was different this time. Now he wore a fine black jacket adorned with a golden sigil of a hand. It glimmered blue with magic.

"I got in a lot of trouble because of you. Even though I have the spell tome I came for, you still owe me some pain." He said, drawing his swords. More dark elves moved in behind him. Arilee moved to keep the dark elves in front of her and the wagons behind her.

She drew her two daggers and steadied herself. "Come on then. I'll show you pain."

The jeers and calls of the dark elves grew louder as they cheered on their comrade.

Arilee dug her back foot into the ground. She wanted to attack first. Not give him a chance. Arilee prepared to pounce.

Suddenly, she heard a warcry from behind her.

“Let’s go!” It echoed off the smoke around her.

A string of arrows flew out from behind Arilee and exploded into massive flames between her and Malith. Smoke filled the area. A flurry of shadows with steel beared leaped from the trees into the Dark Elves. Chaos erupted as the fight began., Arilee felt someone grab her hand from behind.

"Come with me. Now's our chance. Your friends are safe," said a light, soft feminine voice.

Arilee let herself be guided out of the smoke and the fire by the mysterious person. All she could make out was a hooded small figure.

When they made it safely in the treeline, Arilee let out a breath and finally took a look at her savior.

"Thank you." Arilee said. "I think you just saved my life. What's your name? I'm Arilee."

"My name is Axia," she said, lowering her hood to reveal the face of a wood elf. She had long hair, almost as black as the night, and soft brown eyes. Arilee didn't recognize her outfit from the caravan - dark greenblack silks with silver and white streaks almost dancing through the material. Arilee thought she looked younger than herself. Level ?? Floated above her head. “How high level was she?” Arilee wondered.

Arilee nodded and did as she was told. Axia led her a short ways through the forest, before she motioned for them to stop. Axia slipped into the treetops above her and motioned for Arilee to do the same, pointing to an incoming Dark Elf patrol.

Arilee looked up Axia, wondering how she got up there so quickly and graceful. Axia seemed to understand and reached an arm down to pull Arilee up.

"Thanks again," said Arilee.

Axia smiled and replied, "Of course."

After the patrol left, Arilee and Axia got down from the tree. Arilee looked around to make sure they were safe.

"So who are you, really? I don't recognize your uniform from the caravan."

Axia motioned for Arilee to keep following her. "I'm from a secret elven order called the Order of Light. We've been preparing for the return of the dark elves since the Great Flood. And for you."

"For me?" asked Arilee confused. "You say we've been preparing, but you don't look that old."

"Well, I guess not me personally for that whole time. I'll explain more later. And yes for you. Which by the way. What were you doing back there?"

"What do you mean by back there?" asked Arilee.

"I mean, when you thought you could take on a whole army by yourself back there,” said Axia glowering. "Are you trying to get yourself killed?"

"I didn't think about that. I just acted. I’m sorry. I didn’t know anyone was looking for me," said Arilee looking down. “I just felt bad I lost the grimoire.”

Axia squinted her eyes at Arilee.

"I admit it wasn't the best battle plan," said Arilee.

Axia sighed. "Anyways, your friends are up here. Then we'll have to be quick and keep moving. The Order is camped close and we can make it before morning."

Arilee quietly followed Arilee through the night. They didn’t pass any more patrols luckily. When they finally came to a river too wide to cross, Arilee looked to Axia for guidance.

“What now?” she asked.

“Just watch,” responded Axia, as she retrieved her bow from across her back and nocked an arrow. It was the first Arilee got a chance to see Axia’s bow. It was made from a rich white wood and had blue raindrop carved into the top, with a small blue jewel in the middle. Arilee looked down at the ring on her hand she got from the Goblins and realized it was the same blue jewel.

“Hey Axia -,” Arilee started,

“Just one more second. You see that torch standing in the middle of the river?”

Arilee looked and finally noticed there was a small piece of little island in the middle of the river just big enough to fit a standing torch. Arilee nodded and said she saw it.

“And you see those two torch stands over there across the river? Watch this.” Axia said as she whispered something to her bow, causing the arrow to ignite with fire, and then hummed with a blue glimmer. Axia took aim and loosed.

The arrow soared over the torch in the middle, lighting it a flame, and continued straight to the next torch. But then, the arrow carried a few more feet forward before making a right turn, flying to the next torch.

With all three torches lit, the air over the river shimmered for a deep blue and began to glow. A smoke rose from the river, climbing and solidifying. Arilee watched in amazement as a bridge slowly appeared before them across the river.

“That was amazing,” said Arilee inspecting the bridge. It looked to be made with ornate stone. Marbled and old. Elegant carvings marked each block. “I don’t understand.”

“It’s from before the Flood. There're many hidden things like this in our world but I only know of a few,” explained Axia. “But we need to hurry across, they’ll only stay lit a few minutes.

Axia led them across the bridge. “We’re pretty close now, we should be safe. Consider this place a happy place for now where you can relax. I’m sure you’re excited to see your friends. After you see them, make sure you get some rest. You’ll meet the Order tomorrow and I have a feeling it will be a long day for you.”