Carter: Guards advance while I get out of here with our bounty.

Guards: Yes sir!

Fiona: What? He isn’t fighting us? Oh well easier for us Team lets take out these gaurds then its after Carter!

Lily: *Nods*

Daniel: Copy that

Jacob: obviously

The group began their attack as the guards raised their shields in a turtle formation. Their shields blocked magic and physical attacks, meaning the group had to get past those shields in order to take the soldiers down. With each attack the group produced the shields held their ground in front of them.

Fiona: Any ideas to get past those shields? They seem impenetrable.

Daniel: Mine and Lily’s magic is ineffective against them. We need a distraction Jacob!

Jacob: Ill try.

Jacob turned around and ran back at a great distance he charged the soldiers emitting an electrical aura as he jumped and slammed into the ground stunting the soldiers. They let their guard down for a moment just long enough for Fiona to cast.

Fiona: Fire bomb!

A bomb slide between their shields and because they blocked from the outside the magic exploded and incinerated the soldiers from the inside out. With the soldiers out of the way The four chased after Carter who was now struggling to exit the building.

Carter: Damn it why are the doors locked! I don’t want to die here please open!

He was screaming as if he was in pain, like he was… dying. The group found him struggling to get through an opened door, he was pounding the air as if their was a door in front of him.

Carter: They are right behind me please just let me go!

??? No…. you failed… die that way…

Carter: No no!

Fiona: Hey um carter are you… okay?

She felt concerned with their target.

Fiona: Carter?

Carter: Stay away! Stay away, my life is soon to end stay away!

Daniel: He is a crazy man… why don’t we just give him a mercy kill. Lily can you finish him off?

Lily Nodded as she raised her palm speaking a spell

Lily: Chain form 2, thin slice

The chain was as thin as a piece of wire, as it shot out of her hands the mad Carter tried to block it with his arm but to no avail. The chain broke through his bones and into his head killing him instantly. He fell to the ground still holding the onto something, and without another word his body looked as if it was burning, but the smell of burning flesh didn’t radiate. Instead his body was starting to crack open as the object he was holding absorbed his corpse until there was nothing left.

Fiona: What the hell! His body just.. just disappeared! Like poof! Did you all see that oor am I going crazy too?

Daniel: *Nodded* Yes I saw too he seemed to disappear into the that cube over there.

Fiona: That cube right there. Hmm seems kind of weird, well we have no proof of killing carter, we can at least show Lord Harold this thing, and maybe have it identified.

As she reached down and picked the cube up she turned around to see no one else, not even her friends.

Fiona: What the? Jacob, Lily, Daniel, where are you guys? Hello? This is odd all I did was pick up this cube I wonder if this is some kind of spell.

She walked around searching the area for her friends but stopped short when she came face to face with something that was shaped like a shadow with red eyes.

???: A new host to pick up where the last left off… A girl… an elate pure bred… A ch…champion…. Interesting…

Fiona looked confused and called out

Fiona: Hey um… shadow thingy. I don’t know what you are or where I am now, but I am not a champion. I was born the normal elate way. The last champion Was Kali! Do I look like her?

???: No… Your pure blood tells the truth, I took some out of you when you entered my domain. And now im attached to you until you die or I am freed… Take me to the shadow lands…

Fiona: Shadow lands? I never heard of a place like that. Its not on any of my maps.

???: No… need… I shall lead you to this place. Now go I have already wasted enough of my energy just to commune with you…

Fiona: But!

Jacob: But what?

Fiona: Wait what, I’m back?

Daniel: Back? You never went anywhere, just pick up that thing an we can be on our way please.

Lily: Money! Money!

Fiona turned back to the cube, starring at it, she didn’t know what just happened or if it was even real to begin with. She picked the cube up and let it sit in her satchel. Walking over to the group she patted the excited young girl on the head and they went to leave the ancient mountain.

Fiona: I hope this bounty was worth it, lets go collect our funds and get some new stuff.

Jacob: Agreed.

The four horsemen finally exited out of the castle and passed by the dead Holt, Susan was no longer there seeing as she most likely ran away. They knocked it off as nothing to think about, but it didn’t matter. Fiona looked at her Satchel, the cube felt hot inside it. She still was questioning what she saw. As they approached the city borders Fiona whispered to herself.

Fiona: The shadow lands… I have to meet this being again to get more information it seems. I wonder what would happen if I touch it again? No no, not without explaining to the group-

Jacob: Fiona is everything okay?

She snapped out of her delusion

Fiona: Y…ye yes! I’m okay sorry, my head is a little fuzzy from all this walking I guess.

Jacob: When we get inside why don’t we let you get some rest, you deserve it for leading us once again to victory.

Fiona: Sure that would be nice for a change.

Her head was all over the place, the shadow lands, the cube, carter’s ranting before he was absorbed into this thing, was that going to happen to her? Was this thing inside this cube taking her somewhere to die? Ether way she shook the thoughts off as the group headed inside the kingdom of Veil to rest and collect themselves before appearing to the king.

It had been a few hours since the lights went dark in the city, Fiona was starring into the ceiling. Her eyes fixated on one part of the ceiling to the next, she was restless and unsure sleeping would fix her problem. Turning her view over to her satchel which contained the glass like cube now glowing a soft red tint.

Fiona: I got to talk to that thing again, I need some answers before I lob it away to the king.

Getting out of her bed and walking towards the dresser which held the satchel she reached in picking the cube up, once it was fully in her view she felt a slight pain from her finger as the room suddenly became what appeared to be a cavern.

???: So… the weary adventurer comes back… I assume to know more of this place I am in?

Fiona: Indeed. But I need to ask a few other questions as well. If that is alright.

???: Oh how courageous of you of course I will answer your questions to an extent…

Fiona sighed in relief to know this thing wasn’t going to out right kill her, she thought for a moment before speaking up again.

Fiona: Alright first question what is this place I am in?

???: This place is my… chamber so to speak. I live in the Shadow Lands and you are standing in them right now. Not physically though.

Fiona: Interesting some kind of illusion for long range communication. Okay second question. What is your name?

???: I’m afraid that is the question I cannot answer.

Fiona: What why?

The shadowy figure circled around Fiona until meeting so close she could almost touch the shadow.

???: It keeps me safe to not tell any one my name. Any other questions?

Fiona: One last one. Where is this place?

???: In due time it will reveal itself to you…for now that is all I can answer as my strength weakens.

Fiona felt the place closing in on her as she blurted out one last thing.

Fiona: Wait! This cube will be handed over to the guards tomorrow morning how will I contact you again!

The shadow just smiled and laughed as the cave collapsed in on Fiona, in fear she dropped the cube and screamed returning back to reality. After noticing the cave was replace with her room, the prick on her finger indicated that what she saw was in fact real and she needed to find this being. Suddenly Jacob slammed into the room surveying the area around Fiona.

Jacob: Fiona are you okay? I heard a scream come from this room.

She looked at the cube in fear but picked it up. Fiona new she had to come clean to the rest of her group about this but only after they got their reward from the Lord himself.

Fiona: I.. I’m okay, I just had a little nightmare is all. It’s fine go back to bed Jacob ill be asleep soon enough.

Jacob felt some concern but let her go as he left the room shutting the door and leaving Fiona alone for the night. She picked the cube up placing it down into the satchel. Laying down now on the soft mattress she closed her eyes and fell asleep dreaming of the reward they would soon get.