Fiona kept holding herself in her room in the inn, shaking at the thought of facing that evil, how could she? That monster was able to break her in an instant so why would she go back especially with her friends. She lost the artifact, her staff almost destroyed and her spirit broken, Draconia Vivara was exactly as she was old to be, a being with emmense power and psychotic mental frame. A knock was heard and Fiona jumped a little.

Fiona: Come in.

Lily slowly opened the door to see the shaken up Fiona, the girl knew what had happened was terrible but at the same time they needed to go back in there to grab back the artifact for Harold.

Lily: Fi…Fiona? Are you okay?

Fiona: No, not really, why aren’t you asleep yet?

Lily: Why aren’t you?

Fiona let out a chuckle.

Fiona: You got me there, im just shaken still about what happened yesterday. The fact not just me but everyone will be going tomorrow frightens me.

Lily walked up to the bed and sat next to Fiona leaning into her, the size difference was extremely noticeable, lily only being able to lean her head against the side of Fiona below her shoulders.

Lily: It’s okay to be afraid of monsters, Don’t you remember when you killed beasts ten times your height? Or when you save countless towns from morphers or calamites? Draconia is just another monster we have to kill, don’t be so hard on yourself.

Fiona: Yea, but I’m afraid of losing those I care about, like you three.

Lily: heh, your afraid of losing us? Don’t be, there is no reason for us to die there right? We can just go in steal the artifact and boom we leave.

Fiona: So innocent still, that thing will know we are there before we even see it.

Lily: So that just means its ready to get it’s ass beat by us four right?

Fiona: True, I think though we should both get some rest before we go.

Lily nodded and hopped out of her bed to leave the room, now that Fiona had some more sense to her head she laid back down in her bed closing her eyes. The thoughts that were once racing through Fiona’s mind have now been limited to just what wont happen when they go for the artifact. The night was chilled that evening. Snow started to fall as the cold seasons had finally came. Light snow falls pelted the streets of Veil, covering rooftops and market stalls alike, Crops have bene harvested, animals have started to go into hibernation, it was a time of relaxing and peace. But the peace has yet to even start for our four heros. Well when I say our, I really mean mine. “HI! Fiona here again, I was just dropping by seeing how your going through… oh your at the snow season, I see I see, I love that time of year. But seriously I don’t know what that king was talking about sending us back there, It feels more like a suicide run then a job. But hey I don’t make the rules.”

The day started to break through the cracks of the windows of the inn, children were playing in the snow on the streets creating angels and snow men like usual when the cold kicked in. But this was a terrible day for Fiona and company. As they all woke up one by one and readied their gear, the snow started to already become a distraction for them. The cold was chilling and the laughter made them all worried about how the shadowlands would be. But after toughing it out the group decided to make their way to the plaza portal, Fiona took a deep breath after being consulted with her friends, placed the coordinates into the device and the portal hissed with a green glow this time. The four stepped in cautiously and as Jacob entered last the portal closed. The shadow lands appeared before them now.

*Hiissssssss* The portal opened to the shadowlands as Fiona, Daniel, lily, then Jacob all stepped through. Taking a good look they searched for a way back up the mountain without the assistance of that shadow Fiona followed. They spent the whole time silent and serious, using gestures to communicate. After awhile Daniel would notice the slide that Fiona made when she fell off the mountain side. Muddy lakes surrounded the area along with blacked charred trees, dead bushes and hisses from the ground letting underground gasses escape from time to time.

They stayed bold and confident long enough to find a pathway up to the cave, like there had bene others before them. Fiona went half way before issuing the others to follow.

Fiona: Alright this is the cave, everyone ready up, weapons and all.

The three others would prepare their weapons, Jacob his fists, lily her chains and Daniel his Spell book. Finally Fiona with her staff. As the four walked closer to the cave entrance they noticed nothing. Absolutely nothing, no noise, just blackness before them. Fiona casted a fireball into the cave to reveal the artifact on a small pedestal.

Daniel: This looks like a trap. Lily Send a chain to retrieve that artifact in front of us.

Lily: Okay… Fourth Chain grapple.

Her chains shot from her palms and at the artifact glowing in the darkness until a loud *tink* could be heard.

Fiona: Perfect Vivara isn’t annoying us and the artifact is right there alright Lily reel it in.

Lily: Okay.

As lily was pulling the chain back to the group she would feel the chains suddenly stop moving as if they were caught on something.

Lily: What the hell? I.. I can’t pull them back.

Daniel: Let go of the chain now lily!

She broke off from the chain and the chain was sent flying inside the cave.

Fiona: Looks like we have to go in, cant risk something like that, the artifact should be right inside, I lost track of it once it fell from that podium it was on.

The four regrettably walked inside and started to look around carefully as to not trip any alarms of sorts. They made their way through the entrance and further down the corridor of the cave. The artifact was seemingly missing.

Jacob: Guys… take a look at this.

Fiona: What is it… oh no.

What they were all now looking at were the chains that once held Vivara, now broken and slightly melted they would hear a chuckle from behind them, some soft slow clapping as well followed by a distinct voice.

Fiona: Vivara show yourself vile woman!

The clapping grew louder as a woman clad in black clothing and a black cape which draped to the floor appeared before them.

Vivara: Ah welcome back Fiona, and well I guess the rest of you are her… friends?

The group just stared at the woman especially Fiona who was honestly surprised that Vivara escaped her chains, but then again she did get a good amount of energy from Her when she got grabbed by Vivara.

Vivara: So why have you returned? To finally give yourself up to me? To let me escape? Or no, no… it cant possibly be that you want this back?

She held up the red cube.

Vivara: Not a chance dream girl, this is my ticket out of here so why would I just hand it over for you to give it back to some corrupted leader of yours.

Fiona: You’re the one who is corrupted Vivara, all we want is the cube things don’t have to get serious.

Vivara: Oh but they do, however I have other matters I have to attend to so I’ll let you off with a choice. Leave now, or suffer a painful death.

The group held firm not letting her threats into their heads. Vivara shrugged.

Vivara: Death it is then, shame I would have liked to have an epic battle like the old days but…ill just have my apprentice take care of you, I would say good luck but, haha why should I. Go… go kill them all ready before I start laughing like a mad woman.

A figure emerged from behind Vivara almost like a shadow of herself and stepped forward as Vivara moved back away to watch the action unfold. The group confused at this new figure felt the need to defend themselves more then what they should have.

Vivara: Don’t kill them to quickly now alright?

The figure nodded and took out two blades from the sides of it’s body moving them across it’s body like an x before removing it’s hood.

Sydney: They will die as quickly as you want them to master.

She quickly chased down the magic users before going to Jacob, she knew taking down the girl with chains was a must first, dashing and darting through the chains in the small corridors of the caves Sydney sliced at the chains breaking them apart whilst still dodging fire bolts and dark magic from Fiona and Daniel, the loud clashing of metal was music to Draconia’s ears as she watched her new toy play masterfully, the power she invested into the girl was that of her own. The agility was unlike anything the group had ever seen.

One foot in front of the other she would keep repeating as she broke each chain shot at her until eventually coming face to face with the girl, her evil grin frightened her, she could see it in Lily’s pure sapphire eyes, the fear, anxiety, anger, joy all the emotions of a being before being promptly slammed into the ground by a fist from none other then Jacob. He pushed Lily away and charged at Sydney, he was at this point tired of the agile thing and tried to grab her at various points of the fight. All Fiona could do was hope as her mana was running low same as Daniel, not a single one of the shots hit Sydney.

Sydney: Your fast but slow, strong but weak, honorable, yet cowardly, you are nothing and I am everything.

Jacob stayed silent, not letting his anger over take him to make a mistake in his move set. Vivara laughed in the background of all the fighting the ominous sounds creating a dark more warrior like orchestra played as the two fought. His fists clashed with her blades as quickly as they could the battle kept going and going and going. Eventually Jacob grabbed a hold of the blades with his hands, getting cut in the process but held firm.

Jacob: Your undisciplined, lacking courage, and listen to a master, for what? Just to please that creature?

Sydney: You know nothing of what I had to do to get here, you’re the ones who keep trying and trying getting all the glory of the world while the rest of us suffer!

She raised herself up and kicked into Jacob pushing him back and fully slicing his palms open, just enough for him to be out of the fight. However out came a large chain from the corner pushing Sydney back into the main room. Draconia looked at her shaking her head.

Vivara: Use my magic that I gave to you, show them who is the dominate fighter.

Sydney: Yes master.

The group recollected themselves and charged at Sydney with everything they had but before they could get to the main area Sydney used the dark arts she learned to pull the ceiling down in the halls onto the group who narrowly dodged death. With no other options and all pools of mana drained the group decided to flee.

Vivara: That’s enough, they had enough.

Sydney: But master I..

Vivara: No buts, let them run, but I need you to follow them outside of the shadow lands back to veil, my plan needs to move into action if we are to succeed.

Sydney: I understand master.

The girl lifted the collapsed ceiling out of the way and began rushing down the corridor, the main group however just made it to the portal tired and exhausted from the fight enter the portal to veil and retreat for now. A minute or so later Sydney made it to the portal, she was dressed in her usual attire however was instructed to wait a certain amount of time.

Jacob: That girl, shes powerful.

Daniel: You can say that again, I almost resorted to summons.

Jacob: Well why didn’t you?

Daniel: Ah she probably would have destroyed them quickly and did you see how she just collapsed the ceiling above us?

Fiona: We must report this to the king. Come on. She’s freed now we must wait.

The portal then opens hours later with a green glow and a hiss…