The group stayed close together as they darted through the burning buildings of upper Farrowport. Tamma was the fastest, her speed making her move ahead of the others. Miwah and Narrita took alternate paths through the town, avoiding the ravenous glares of the Ghenkans as they burned down whatever buildings remained standing.

Tamma took cover by the entrance to the Governor’s estate, hiding by some shrubbery as she watched Miwah and Narrita close in.

“Glad you two made it,” Tamma said with a soft voice.

“The Ghenkans were too concerned with burning down the town to notice me,” Miwah whispered back

“And they’re focused on hauling everything back to their ship. Too busy staring at everything they’ve stolen to pay attention to their surroundings,” Narrita added.

Tamma darted past the bushes in front of the estate and headed through the front door with Miwah and Narrita close behind.

“You two remember where we put Gertrude?” Narrita asked as her eyes scoured the ravages corridor.

“Of course,” Tamma replied sharply. She looked up at Yalch and pointed further down the hall. “Do us a favor and look up ahead. See if Gertrude is all right. Tell her that help is on the way.”

“You got it!” Yalch said with a salute before dashing through a solid stone wall.

The group continued through the cold halls, ignoring the damage and destruction left behind from previous battles.

“Shouldn’t Yalch be back by now?” As the trio turned down a familiar hallway.

“I would not be surprised if he got lost,” Miwah replied sternly. The bodies of the slain Cutthroats remained at the very end of the corridor.

“Gertrude!” Tamma said, loud enough for the witch to hear. “Are you safe?”

“Yes, yes. I’m just fine!” the old woman blurted back.

Tamma pushed the door open so hard that it slammed into the other side. The room was in the same disastrous state that they had left it in. Gertrude was still in her seat, her hands carefully cupping the point where the rest of the arrow was. Her fingers had a purple glow as she continued to massage the wound. Yalch looked away from the injury to face the group that had entered.

“What took you so long, Yalch?” Miwah asked. “We were expecting you to return and tell us about Gertrude’s status.”

“Sorry, I was just giving Gertrude an update on what’s happened so far,” Yalch said.

“He managed to tell me all the pertinent information.” The witch turned her head from her wound to the hunter. “Again, I’m sorry for your loss, Tamma.”

“I’ll have to manage,” the hunter replied somberly.

“But you three have done well tonight. For a group of novice Purifiers, you have accomplished quite a bit.” Gertrude pinched the narrow bit of shaft in her thigh and dragged it out with her fingers. She grunted as the other three girls turned their eyes away from the grisly sight. With a steady pull, she removed the arrow from her leg before dropping the bloody weapon onto the ground. “However, you’re not done yet. You’re this close to putting an end to this madness once and for all.”

“All three of us used up our powers, Gertrude,” Narrita said. “And we saw that big Insectus... bug thing. How are we going to take it out without our Purifier forms?”

“Not to mention the Ghenkans that are still lurking around,” Miwah added. “Only Aurrie can transform. And I know she would not be able to deal with all of those threats at once!”

“She will have you three to aid her,” Gertrude said with confidence as she slid her leg off the chunk of wood she used as a rest. Her injured leg dropped to the ground with a plop. Despite the blatant pain, the witch got to her feet. Miwah and Tamma ran to her side to help her maintain balance, but she quickly shooed them away. “I can stand up myself.”

“You want us to take on the Ghenkans and the Insectus without our Purifier forms?” Narrita asked with confusion.

“No. If we’re lucky enough, you should be able to transform just fine. Despite your recent usage.”

“How is that so?” Miwah asked.

“There is a powerful spell that can charge your Beacons. Hopefully, the proper ingredients are somewhere in this place.”

All three turned towards each other before looking back at the witch. “You can do that?”

“It’s rare, but possible,” Yalch said. “There are lots of ingredients required. Not to mention a high level of familiarity with how the magic of Beacons work, but it can be done.”

“How come you never told us about this before?” Miwah asked.

“Because, by the time one is familiar enough with Purifier magic to re-enchant it, they have no need for such a spell. Their skills are high enough that the recharge time is inconsequential,” Gertrude said. “And it only works once the Beacon is charging. Not like you’d be able to store a backup transformation for later.”

“Just tell us what you need and we’ll find it for you!” Tamma said.

“Is there a magic study in this building?” Gertrude asked as she made her way to the front door. “The ingredients I need may be rare, but I have a sneaking suspicion that a place such as the magic study in a Governor’s estate might hold exactly what I need.”

“Top floor,” Tamma said as she pointed upwards. “I just hope the Ghenkans haven’t taken anything that you’ll need.”

“Let’s find out then, shall we?”

Tamma led the group again past the fallen Cutthroats and in the opposite direction of the staircase leading to the bunker. Miwah waved at Yalch and then pointed toward the partially melted invaders. “Do us a favor, Yalch, and see if there is anyone still by the bunker. Hopefully, they all left when they realized the Governor was not coming back.”

“You got it, Miwah.” The ghost flew through the corridor at top speed, disappearing through another solid wall.

“Can you make it up these stairs?” Tamma asked the witch as she put a foot on the first step.

“I’ll have to.” Gertrude put one foot down. Tamma took hold of the witch’s hand and guided her up. The other two stayed close behind with Miwah, watching the rear as she held her sword defensively.

The staircase winded around a long brick pillar. Their footsteps echoed as they hurried up the flight of steps. Tamma looked back towards the witch, opening her lips, ready to say something when she noticed the weariness on the old woman’s face. She kept her thought to herself once they closed in on the upper floor.

“Just a bit further,” Tamma stated. The steps ended, leading into a short hall with a wrinkled carpet bunched up in front of an open door. Tamma paused at the top of the steps, her fist clenched as she looked into the room.

“What’s the matter Tamma?” Narrita asked once she caught up.

“Looks like they beat us up here,” the hunter said angrily.

“We’re already here,” Gertrude said, taking in a deep breath as she leaned against the wall with one hand. “Might as well go in and check, to be sure. The ingredients I need might be rare, but they’re not valuable.”

As the group walked to the open door, Yalch darted through the ground and hovered in front of everyone. “There’s no one down there. Living, at least,” the ghost said.

“Let’s hope they made it out fine,” Gertrude said as she marched forward. “But for now, let’s focus on finding what we can.”

“What kind of ingredients should we be keeping an eye out for?” Tamma asked as she stepped over a turned over table. Bits of smashed furniture lay everywhere, leaving sharp debris covering the floor. The few shelves that remained were barren, with their contents spread across the ground.

“Something that only those keen on magic craft would be able to decipher from the raff. But to be specific, I will need some Dullweather Leaves, some Magnosia powder...” the witch paused as her eyes noticed a pile of dried, black strips on the ground beside her. “A bit of that, too. Swamp turtle skin.”

Miwah reached down and picked up the reptilian jerky and handed it to the old woman. “All right then. Looks like we will have to start searching for those ingredients. Is there anything else you might need?”

The witch wobbled to the corner of the room. A black cauldron lay on its side, with a small drip of purple liquid spilling out. “I’m going to need this as well. Can you girls lift this for me?”

All three moved to the cauldron and together, setting it upright with a synchronized heave. Gertrude then looked around and found a small cloth crumpled in the corner. “Now then. You three go looking for the other materials. I’ll stay here and clean this out. We don’t want the residue of some other concoction interfering with your Beacons.”