Bryna was sat on the straddle of her horse contemplating the events to come, a few meters beside her rode Kirsten, and ahead Jace, Giren and Aallen, with Baird at the front. They were all watching their surroundings in an alerting way, and every now and then one of them would spy a rabbit or hare in which they would try to bring down with their arrows. So far Kirsten had brought down two which had been straddled to her horse, and Giren one. She’d been feeling out of place all day for she had not been through much training in the outdoor activities like the rest, and this was evident in the way they all seemed a lot more alerted to their surroundings then her. She had also been victim of constant digs made by Giren and Jace. She’d occupied herself that day examining the book Meredith had given her, and had been learning the first spell, which was to levitate objects. At first she practiced with a feather she had balanced on the horses head and eventually succeeded, the magic was different to what she usually practised, usually as she was just a witch, and not a Blessed except for minorly Urcla of the Psyche, but psychic abilities were different, she usually only had to use tools and words for her craft, now she had to concentrate her mind. The next spell was a temporary shield against physical attacks and she had memorised the words, but felt that it should be tried out a different time.

She could feel Jadens presence becoming closer and at this distance she could guess he was unconscious, but at least he was alive. She turned towards Kirsten, whose scouting eyes had met her, and smiled, she wanted to have a rest, but the others didn’t seem to have that same need, and she didn’t want to loose time.

Just then she became aware of a foreign presence behind them.

“Baird,” she alerted.

The whole group stopped on their tracks and turned towards her, Giren moaned.

“Yes Bryna,” Baird answered, edging his horse towards her.

“There’s something following us…”

“What do you mean?” asked Jace, “It’s probably just a fox or something,” he grinned.
“No, really, something is following us, and I don’t like the vibe I am getting from it,” she answered turning towards the direction of the presence, by now the group had started moving towards her.

“Are you coming or not, I can’t be bothered with this,” Giren remarked.

“Bryna… do you know what it is?” asked Baird.

Bryna closed her eyes and searched for the presence, she could not determine what it was, she had never felt this energy pattern from anything before, she pointed towards the direction of it. “It’s from over there,”

Kirsten started to trot her horse in that direction, he bow strung ready.

“No Kirsten, don’t go on your own,” Baird remarked.

“Can we just get on with the journey?” asked Giren, annoyance in his voice.

Aallen sat on his horse at the back suddenly pointed in the same direction, “I just saw a stirring in the bushes!”

Bryna suddenly panicked as she realised it was speeding towards them at a fast pace “Shit! Get out the way, its coming!

As it emerged from the bushes there was a panic within the group as they scattered, and they were horrified when they realised what landed before them.

It as a humanoid figure of about eight foot tall, none of them had seen anything like it at all, it had red scales all around it with lines of purple connecting them, it’s eyes were bubbles and its features were distorted behind what seemed to be some kind of biological armour, with a imminent red gem on the centre of its forehead. The group stood there in shock but were rushed into a panic after it started charging towards Kirsten.

Kirsten fired an arrow with great precision which embedded into its torso, which spurted out blood, but it didn’t seem to respond to any pain as it charged towards her. As it charged a blade seemed to protract from its elbow, and as it swooped towards her, she jumped off her horse onto the ground. It started a second attack in which it swiped its blade towards her which was met by her sword, and they locked together. Kirsten tried to hold her ground but its immense strength was too much for her, so she dropped her sword at the same time as rolling to the side, just in time as its blade swooped down making a slash on the group were she was crouched. She rolled to the side of its foot as its blade was etched into the ground, unleashed her dagger and stabbed through its foot with such strength she stapled its foot to the ground. She retreated as it made an inhuman groaning sound and reached down to free its foot.

It next advanced on Bryna, with a slight limp, as it charged towards her mind stopped working in the panic and she felt routed to the spot, eventually she came round and the other thing she could think of was to try out that spell.

“versavus minotra findalo!” she exclaimed holding her hand out in the air, with no effect.
“Versavus minotra thindaloo!” she repeated, this time a red bubble faintly resonated around her, but did not reside.

It was just a few feet away from her now, and she knew this was her last chance, she clenched her fists, closed her eyes, and felt the concentrated on all the energies around her, the trees, ground, air, and chanted “Versayus minotra thindalo!”, and flung her arms into the air. As she opened her eyes she saw the blade slashing towards her just in time as a red bubble formed around her, the blade clashing with it. She knew it wouldn’t last long, as the blade bared its weight upon it disintegrating the energies. She held her hands in the air, feeding it more energy to force the blade away from her. Sweat started to drip down her face as she knew she couldn’t hold it much longer.

It was interrupted by an arrow which grazed the side of its head, and it turned around in fury to the assailant, Giren, it started to charge towards Giren, but to everyone’s shock was interrupted by Baird making a stand in its path. For a moment everyone stood still in silent at the shock that Baird was stood there without his sword unleashed, just a few feet away from the figure. There was confusion at what the figure of Baird, petite compared to that of the attacker was stood there so fearlessly. This was followed by shock as Baird swerved his fists in front of himself as a blinding white light surrounded him, first starting as a crack on his forehead. Beyond the blinding light in which everyone had to cover their eyes, his figure started to transfigure, his arms and legs transmuting along with his torso and head, the ground seemed to shake. The light faded and they all saw stood before them, as a similar bio-boosted form of the enemy in the place of Baird, this one was different in colour, a more grey/blue shade to the other ones crimson red, with a translucent blue gem on the centre of his forehead.

The enemy charged towards him, and the group ringed around them backed away, realising this was a fight beyond them, and they were still in shock, Bryna realised that that was the feeling she had felt from Baird recently, this humanoid figure was a mutated version of himself.

Baird braced himself against the enemy and they were caught into a lock of arms, trying to force their body weights against each other, until a blade unleashed itself from Bairds elbow, in which he swerved towards the other mutant slashing his torso as he backed away. Blood started curdling through the humanoid figure and he charged towards him in rage.

It was just then that Bryna realised she had felt the same vibes coming from Jacelyn, so she briefly turned his head in his direction and caught his eye, in that brief moment they both knew that the other was aware or his secret, this gave him the courage to step forward.

The two figures where still battling as the nervous Jace stepped forward slowly, each dread seeming a mile, then he stopped and looked towards the sky, a gust of wind flailed his hair, as the centre of his forehead seemed to open pouring out white light and his figure started to resonate with the same blinding light. The transfiguration was similar to Bairds and everyone had already seen two many shocks and so packed with adrenaline to be as shocked as they where the first time they witnessed this process in the last few minutes. The two humanoid figures stopped on their tracks for a second watching the process, which seemed to last for minutes instead of seconds. The mutated form on Jacelyn stood their stancing himself ready for attack, not as confident as Bairds, but still evident.

The enemy stood watching Jace and started to charge towards him, followed by the mutant Baird, their strides seemed to shake the earth as he came charging towards Jace, and Jace sprung out a kick knocking him backwards. His backstride was met by Bairds blade as it swerved towards him, and induced another gash into its back.

The mutant enemy sidestepped and took another look at them before it sprouted wings and turned to fly away, knowing it had been outnumbered.

Jaden felt himself falling, flailing down a misty whirlpool, he felt he was no-where, but everywhere all at once, he liked it here, its wasn’t the real world, there were no problems, no nothing, just enjoying floating around in this ethereal energy. Eventually the mist cleared, and he was emerged into the same familiar woods, his spirit guide sauntered towards him her hooves somehow managing to make only the slightest sound against the rich green grass.

“Its time now,” she said.

“Time for what, who are you?” he asked.

“You should know who I am,” she answered, looking him into the eyes.

Jaden looked at her, on the other level apart from his eyes and realised, she was his spirit guide, a part of him, she seemed so familiar, but a stranger at the same time.

Just then he realised what had just happened to him, he had been put to sleep, he was captive, and Miles… he had opened his mind up to him and for a second he knew everything… but somehow he’d now forgotten, he just knew that they were going to do something to him in his sleep. “Oh no! Are you going to help me? They are doing something to me!” he exclaimed.

“No, what is happening is destiny and no one can change that,” she said, genuinely sympathetic.

“So why am I here?” he asked.

“Its time for me to open you up, make you complete.”

“What do you mean?”

“Part of who you are, your ethereal side, is not complete, we’ve held back some parts of you since your birth, and now it is time for us to open them up to you.”

They were gathered around a campfire in silence, none of them could quite believe what they just witnessed, except Giren, he had obviously been aware of Jace’s abilities, that made sense, she had wondered why those two had bothered to come in the first place, neither really cared for Jaden. Bryna had tended to a few wounds after the fight and afterwards it was starting to get dark, so they made up camp, and two rabbits where currently spit roasting on the fire.
Everyone sat round and looked at each other, knowing it was time to speak but none of them daring to begin.

“I shall begin then,” announced Baird, “Well I was laying in bed the other night, when suddenly something crashed through my roof and landed onto the floor next to me,”

“Crashed through your roof,” asked Kirsten.

“Yes…I know, its as if it feel from the sky, it made an indent on my floor as well. I then looked at it, it was a crystal that had indented itself onto my floor.”

Everyone looked at him, “I touched it,” he put his face into his hands. “Then the next thing I knew the crystal was imbedding itself onto my forehead, I have never in all my years been in so much pain…” there was a genuine look of repressed pain on his face. “It was imbedding itself through my forehead and into my skull, its in there now… I could feel it when I, you know… changed, but it didn’t hurt that time… can’t describe it.”

Everyone sad in silence and surprisingly no one doubted him after what they witnessed earlier on.
“So Jace, what’s your story?” asked Kirsten, inquiringly.

Jace told of his experience to the others, with the odd input from Giren who had also been present at the time; Jace and Giren had been walking through the meadows at the south of the village (Bryna guessed to smoke marijuana), when they saw a little crater at the side of a ditch, the light flaring from the crystal with the sun had caught Jace’s eye. They thought it was a meteor and kneeled down to examine it, but then Jace decided to poke it to make sure it wasn’t hot, and he went through the same experience as Baird did.

“Baird was right it was very painful,” Jace ended.

“There’s something else,” Giren added.

Bryna looked at Giren and felt a vibe from him of slight jealousy that he hadn’t been the one to touch the crystal first, but shrugged it off, as a psychic she was used to feelings like this and she had excepted long ago the complex and sometimes unwanted emotions that humans go through, she could still feel that Giren was still genuine in his friendship for Jace.

“When I watched it happen, well that was the most scariest moment in my life. But also when you were on the floor clutching your forehead, that thing you turned into, was kind of around you, but you could see through it, like an aura or something,” he finished.

“So what’s going on?” asked Aallen.

“I don’t think any of us know,” answered Baird, “The only thing we can do for now is rescue Jaden and Miles, afterwards we may journey to the capital, the scholars at the palace are usually the people you enquire for this sort of thing.

Bryna gazed at the stars, they would be able to rescue Jaden and Miles tomorrow, she could feel the distance of his presence and they had covered over half that distance in that day. But there was one thing still troubling her, who was the third person who attacked them? His aura was familiar to her…

They were now walking through the beautiful woods, he felt so at home here, here he was even forgetting what was happening to him at the time, they had been walked around in silence for a while and he was gazing around enjoying the serene, tranquil atmosphere.

“So what had been missing from me,” he asked.

“Some of your Blessings,” she answered.

“I have more Gifts, why now?” he asked.

“If you were born with these Gifts it would have changed your destiny forever, and you will need them now, the storm is coming,” she answered.

“I know", Jaden answered. "What’s happening?” he asked.

“There isn’t enough time to explain,” she answered. She then stopped on her tracks, and Jaden looked ahead and there in front of him was a clearing in the woods which bestowed a fountain carved of stone, it was circular, the edge surrounded by deep blue water that was so clear so longed to drink it, touch it, but felt somehow unworthy. The centre was towered with a intrinsic design of such beauty and every small detail refined, he found no way to describe it, it showed the beauty of the earth, waters, the air, every aspect of body and life seemed to be embodied into the design.

“Jump into the poll in the fountain, and inside is a gem, the gem is part of you that was reserved for this time, become one with it.”

Jaden was just about to remove his clothes when he realised that he actually wasn’t wearing anything, how stupid he thought, of course clothes don’t exist in the astral plane, other times when he and Bryna had visited the astral plane, they didn’t have human form, they both appeared as a accumulation of energy, himself mostly consisting of mostly green, blue and brown, and Bryna, purple, blue and silver. But here was different he was in his actual human form, why was that?

The unicorn seemed to have read his mind, “Your in your human form here, cause you have entered a dimension in the astral plane, everyone has their own dimension in the astral plane, and there are many others you can find. This place is a source made from you, and only you can enter here uninvited, to bring someone else here would have consequences, for it would merge a connection between you too, larger then that can be made on earth.

He stepped up towards the fountain, and looked into the water within it, it somehow seemed to gleam, even though there was no sun, in fact he’d only just noticed that this whole place seemed to gleam without the presence of a source of light. He immersed himself into the pool.

Bryna and the group stopped their horses on their tracks on top of a hill, it didn’t make sense, she could feel Jadens presence was less then a mile away, but there was no sign of any sort of human inhabitation in the area.

“So we’ve wasted our time, nice one witch,” sighed Giren.

Bryna looked down, “I don’t understand it, I can feel his presence there.”

“Well we might as well venture there, to see,” answered Baird.

“Weird,” announced Aallen.

“What?” Bryna turned towards him.

Aallen scared in the direction, “over there in that place between the two hills, a bird just flew towards it and disappeared…”

They all looked in that direction.

“Oh, sorry, I can see it again, it is there now.”

Bryna suddenly had a realisation, “Oh my Goddess, why didn’t I guess this before!” and started to de-mount off her horse.

“What?” asked Baird.

“Wait a sec”, she replied, and sat herself in front of the others with her legs crossed.

“Oh great, more magic games,” sighed Giren.

Bryna closed her eyes and started regulating her breathing, closing out all other thoughts so as to leave herself on focus, she then summoned her second sight releasing it into her real eyes, “Quiet, this takes allot of concentration,” she ordered, monotonally, this voice was surprisingly commanding and even quietened Giren. She then snapped her eyelids open and focused on the location in between the two hills, and smiled. She then got up.

“Well someone wants to keep well hidden,” she announced mounting her horse.

“What you mean?” asked Jace.

“There is an invisibility spell on it, it is a building around three of four stores high,” she announced, mounting her horse. “I suggest we find a place to leave our horses, It’ll be a bit less inconspicuous, if they haven’t seen us already,” and started her way down the hill.

Jaden was surrounded by the gleaming water, for a while he just stayed in there and relaxed, it was the most peaceful feeling he’d ever felt, it purified all negativities, and energised him. He then remembered what he was there for and started looking around, and he realised that in here he didn’t feel the need to breathe. He started descending into the depths of the water and was amazed by how spacious it was.

Eventually he was attracted by a Green light and started swimming towards it, his eyes then identified a green gem, and he started reaching towards it, when a red energy repelled his hand, he then looked at it closer and realised that there was a shield surrounding it.

The group tethered their horses to some trees about half a mile away from their destination and set out on course, they had to have Bryna’s lead as they could still not see where it was, she could of reversed the spell but that would have been a waste of energy and whoever cast the invisibility spell might have sensed it.

They made their way cautiously through avoiding open spaces, and little words were spoken, but suddenly Baird stopped on his tracks, and everyone else halted and started to look around. Baird motioned for them all not to move, and then slowly started creeping in the direction he thought the sound was coming from, with his sword unleashed.

Then with a crackle they were ambushed from their surroundings by four men jumping into the clearing around them, Baird was the first to be attacked as they all unleashed their weapons, and Bryna cast a shield around herself. Baird deflected a swing of a flashing sword as his attacker lunged at him, a surprise attack, but Baird as a better trained swordsman saw it as foolish as it left the attacker more vulnerable after his deflection. After which he swerved his sword down on him which was only just guarded and left him crouching against Bairds strength and skill of sword.

The others drew their swords against the attackers and Jacelyn was attacked of which he deflected and started dealing out attacks of his own, but for him and the others around him it was their first real experience in sword combat after Bairds training. Aallen was also being attacked of which he was a bit less confident but still managing to deflect his attacker, he then received a surprise when Baird jumped in with a cut across the neck, ending the attackers life with blood pouring down his torso as he fell to the ground.

Kirsten was getting the better half of her fight, despite this being her first real fight she still felt in her element as she slashed her sword continuously towards her opponent waiting for a break in which he finally made a mistake. Out of overconfidence she was almost dealt a cut onto her arm as he sword managed to swerve that way on her deflection, but she was surprised to see the blade deflected by a strange red bubble with flashed around her, when she realised Bryna was using some of her magic.

Jace was now being helped by Giren as they lead a double attack against him of which he was soon to prevail, taking first a cut on his leg from Jace, and as he fell of his guard Giren came crashing down dealing a fatal gash to his neck. Just as Kirsten finally finished off her opponent by driving her sword into his chest after parrying his attack leaving him sword less.
Baird walked through, cleaning his sword against his clothes, “Gavendrians… what are they doing here?” he asked.

It was just then that the group realised that the men attacking them had a slightly lighter skin tone to them and something about their facial features was different, for some of them the only other Gavendrian they had met was Miles, for they were not commonly seen in their isolated southern part of Sharma.

Kirsten had a tear going down her cheek as she stared at the corpse in front of her, as Bryna came over to comfort her she whispered “I killed him…”

“It was either you or him Kirsten,” Giren asserted, although they could see a slight hint of guilt in his eyes.

“How can you be so heartless!” Kirsten proclaimed.

“He would of killed you,” Baird joined, “I’m sorry Kirsten, many people go through this on their first kill, sometimes you have to fight for yourself and those around you.”

“He was human as well, he probably had a wife and kids to look after and many friends and people who cared for him, just like you and me… and I took his life away from him,” she exclaimed as she replaced her sword into her scabbard, and turned away from them.

“You guys… look,” interjected Jacelyn.

They looked over into that particular direction and now the castle had revealed itself a couple hundred feet ahead of them, somehow the spell had been lifted.

Jaden laid there the pool for a while puzzling over how to lift the shield off the gem so he could reach it, he had tried a few kinds of energy against it, but to no avail and he now sat there in the blissful pool of water lazily thinking through how he could get through this shield. As some point he wondered whether there was any point, he felt more comfortable and relaxed then he had ever felt here, and he could happily be seduced by the voluptuous pool of light and lay with it eventually becoming one. He was at peace, the horrors that may be taking place in the world seemed minute right now and he could just forget about them, not return to the village where he was persecuted for his lack of manliness and style. Maybe he could have Bryna and Kirsten here as well, they would like it, and Meredith… he couldn’t figure why but Miles as well. He still couldn’t remember what happened just before he fell asleep but he knew Miles had revealed some things to him… where are they all now, he thought.

That was when he realised he must go back, this place was nice and he was at peace, but there was also a lack of the people he loved here.

Just then he realised something. The unicorn had said that the gem was part of him that needed reclaiming, so therefore, couldn’t he get it to work for him? He then tried to reach into the crystal, bending it to do his will, he then combined his efforts with that of the gem to disintegrate the shield, of which he was successful! As the shield collapsed he hurriedly reached out and touched the green glowing gem, and instantly, he felt this shock go through him, and no words could describe the feeling that went through him. For a while he felt disorientated and many colours where whirling around him in an electrifying way that transfixed him, but he was not just the observer, they were going through him. He felt sensations throughout his whole body and then realised that for the first time in his life he was whole. Who he was before was himself but with parts of him absent, like he had missing limbs almost, now he realised how it felt to be whole, and wondered why he hadn’t felt trapped and enclosed beforehand, and he knew that somewhere deep down he’d always knew there was something missing.

It was then that he realised that he had surfaced, and he emerged from the pool like a new man, the unicorn was stood there waiting for him as he emerged sky clad tripping with water, with a sense of being reborn, as he stood there he felt somewhat stronger.

“I now name you Jaden of Jaladhar, Blessed of Sepharie of Earth, Taal of Air, Iree of Water, their daughter Thranae of the Weather, Urcla of the Psyche and the Goddess Fauna of the Animals.”
Jaden didn’t really need telling that, somehow he knew.

“It is time for you to go back now Jaden…"

Jaden opened his eyes and the first thing he noticed was a weird tingly feeling on his forehead, he still knew what had happened to him in the astral plane, but now he was more focused on his physical existence the changes were not as noticed as before, but he quickly delved into his power and his new powers were still there. But there was something else different about, him, alien and he still felt a strange sensation on his forehead, almost like a slit going down, but not as painful, he stood up and found a metal plate and shined it onto his forehead to examine it, and opened his mouth in horror to find a red scar running down his forehead. The scar was still red so fairly new, but had healed, but he was horrified that someone had cut into his brain, why would someone do such a horrific thing.

He could feel something alien to himself, and this was not the changes brought by the unicorn, but something of the physical world, something has been changed about him, and he didn’t like the way it felt, and something told him it was something to do with the scar on his forehead.
“Jaden, its time to go now.”

Jaden turned around to see Miles stood at the doorway, he seemed sober and back to his normal self.

“Why? Where? What the fuck have you done to me!” he exclaimed, facing him.

“Jaden, do you want to escape or not? If you don’t hurry up and quiet down we wont have a chance!”

“Why should I trust you?” asked Jaden.

“I thought you knew everything? I revealed it to you remember?” he answered, raising his eyebrow.

Jaden looked into his eyes, there was something about those eyes that could convince him anything, but he did notice that there was truth and concern for him in them. “I don’t remember, all I remember is you drugging me!” he answered.

Miles looked down, and Jaden was puzzled that in a way Miles seemed relieved, “Jaden, we need to go, here’s a way you can trust me; I have taken the stone that stops your magic working in this fortress so you can use your magic again now. I will explain everything to you when we get out, please trust me.”

He held the stone in his hand, Jaden could detect magic from it. Jaden looked into his eyes noticed that they were once again sincere and was reminded of all those years that Miles had been a friend and amusement to him, almost like an uncle.

“Ok,” he then pointed his finger up and summoned his magic to produce a spark on the tip of his finger and to his surprise it did. He had always been gifted in the weather, but had not before had the skill to produce sparks from his finger, maybe it was his new blessing with Thranae’s parents Iree and Taal that extended his gift in the weather, or maybe the extent he was gifted in his old Gifts had been increased. Miles stared at his finger realising this.

“I have a few things to explain as well,” Jaden said, turning towards him “Well better go then, I see my magic is now working.”

Lord Shayam sat in the main hall at the head of the table eating his meal with his officers and few others, the physician who operated on Jaden and a couple of other healers who made sure the procedure went okay. In which he did, Jaden was to be kept sedated for a few days in the control of Miles to make sure he didn’t use his power, and in these few days as the operation was a success he would be the next partaker, he held the stone in his pocket, the one to be embedded into his head the same way as Jadens was and smiled to himself, everything was going to plan.

It was just then that the door broke open and to his shock a sturdy man broke through, sword unleashed. Everyone at the table stopped spoons in mid air as he was followed by five youths.
“Where’s Jaden?!” the man commanded.

Shayam sat there unmoving, but with no sign of fear, and grinned to himself, “How cute, some youngsters lead by a Sharmarian farmer come to play hero.”

Jaden and Miles were walking down the steps on their way to the main hall, “Jaden, the operation has given you some abilities, and for us to be able to get out of here your going to have to use them.”

Jaden stopped, “No, I am going to use the abilities that I was Blessed with in the natural way, I am never going to use some manufactured product of evil.”

“Jaden, it may be the only way we can get out,” he replied.

“Miles, don’t forget I still haven’t forgiven you for whatever you have done, think of yourself as being here as my hostage,” Jaden replied, descending down the stairs.

“Jaden! You don’t understand what is down there!” Miles replied, stopping him by bracing his shoulder.

Jaden sent a little shock through to Miles through which he flinched his hand away, “Get off of me!”, Jaden carried on his descent down the stairs. “Anyway, we have help arriving for us.”

Baird stood there sword unleashed and wondering how this man could be so calm, there where only about five soldiers in the room defending him, except for three others sat near him, none of them armed or seeming the fighting type.

“Allow me to introduce myself, I am Lord Shayam, Blessed of Iranor of Fire, and soon-to-be a Lord of the Zeikwraiths,” he announced.

“The what?” asked Kirsten, almost mockingly, sword braced.

“The Zeikwriaths; let me show you,” he replied, as he reached into his pocket and brought out a stone.

Just as he was bringing the stone out, a door opened at the top of the steps at the rear of the room and Jaden and Miles entered, Shayam looked confused. Kirsten yelled out Jadens name and the group looked at the pair of them.

“What’s going on! He’s supposed to be sedated!” he exclaimed.

Miles lead the way, “Shayam, your time is up, Jaden is leaving,” he announced, descending the stairs, sword in hand.

“Oh Miles, you believe that just because Jaden has been through the procedure and I haven’t that he can overcome me? The procedure is only a binding process making it more effective, but I can still use this stone,” he replied with a smile on his face, as he held it up the green oval gemstone in the air. At this point the four soldiers arised form their seats and lines themselves a few meters near the entrance where Baird and his group stood.

“Allow me to introduce the Ze’ikwraiths,” he announced, bracing his hands in the hair, as the green crystal glowed.

The next thing to happen horrified the group almost to the point of being sick, and they stood cowering as they watched the four men stood in front of them squirm as if parts of them were exploding from the inside, and mutating into hideous forms. Almost insect like in their facial features and the way their physique joined together, but a lot more broad. Each was different, three of them still stood on their hind legs, but one was crouched on all fours, some of them had several tentacles instead of hands, and two of them were even furry in some parts.

For a moment they all stood in horror, Bryna was the first to get her wits about herself as she cast a shield around them, and Baird was the first to advance, lunging towards them with his sword, which was deflected by its tentacles, at which point Baird chose to drop his sword and in one swift movement flung his arms outwards summoning the power of the mysterious stone, as he expelled a white light and his mutated form started to take over, after which he was found in his grey/blue form which he had summoned previously with the strange monsters tentacles in his hands trying to force his body weight and strength against it.

They were surprised to find that Jay had transformed at the same time and he was also in his strange new bio-boosted form lunching his built in blade extending from his elbow at another of the monsters. Kirsten had also used the distraction of the light from their transformation to fire arrows at one of them which were embedded into its torso expelling blood, and she came lurching towards it with her sword. Giren and Aallen were combining their efforts against one opponent in which Aallen had already been gashed on his left shoulder.

Bryna was building up the shields of Kirsten, Giren and Aallen which was tiresome, and she’d already let Aallen fall to one strike as her power was running dry, so she concentrated her efforts on expelling arrows at the strange hideously mutant forms.

While all this had been going on Miles had found himself in a sword fight against Shayam, the two healers had fled leaving the man he recognised as Jareth, the physician, who fled after Jaden cast sparks from his hand to his sword making him drop it burn his hand, making him flee. Miles was engaging in a sword fight with Shayam, of which Shayam was by far the better swordsman, Jaden was even surprised that the somewhat stout form of Miles could operate a sword, but Miles had a thick layer of shields around him.

“Who cast these shields?” Shayam asked baring his teeth.

“Oh? Sorry, I forgot to tell you I am a Blessed,” Miles replied.

“You treacherous bastard!” Shayam snarled, slashing his sword in several attempts in fury, of which one Miles left an opening, only to be deflected by his shield.

Jaden ran down to help his friends below, he stood behind bracing himself and gathering his energy into his clenched fists, making them spark, then unleashing them sending out lightning bolts to the two remaining mutant beasts, leaving them stagnant while the rest of them finished them off, Giren decapitating one with a vigorous hack of his sword, and Bairds mutant form slashing the others neck with his blade.

They turned around to find Miles couching on the floor exhausted, and Shayam had escaped.

© Richard Turner