Void and the other fire mages were able to move out of sight just in time to before spectators gathered at the scene of the crime. They decided to checkinto the inn, that was fortunately empty, rented their rooms, and took a sitting in the lobby area. At the table where they sat, no one spoke a word. Thilit’s head was low while Void leaned back in his chair s if nothing was bothering him. This air of silence spooked the innkeeper, who decided to leave into the other room to escape such an atmosphere. After a few more minutes of silence, Void breaks it.

“I’m going back.”

Thilit replies with a shocked tone:”That will be murder, Void. They will not hesitate to blame you for this crime.”

“Who said I was going to confront them? I simply want to check on all who are there. Maybe I can get more out of this night than we think. Like the location of another moonshard.”

“I forbid this. You will be putting yourself into serious danger.”

“Listen, Thilit. I am a servant of Morwen. Stealth is my greatest friend. I will not get caught.”

Thilit shakes his head. “I don’t like the mood of this evening. Krug may have caused a very drastic event.”

“He knew the consequences of his actions. Or maybe he didn’t. He is a dumb orc after all.”

Void chuckles as he walks over to the door.

Thilit calls to him. “Void, listen. We are not here on a vacation. We are on a very important mission to retrieve the shards for Ignifer and we are not going to do anything to jeoperdize it. If you get caught, we will have no choice but to leave you.”

“Very well, then.”

Void opens the door and exits back out into the cold night. Not far from him was the crowd positioned at the gates of the shrine. Obviously, his path was of the rooftops. The elf leaps up onto the top of the building and begins his progress back over to the shrine. The white snow upon the ground did not make this task easy, but with a little manipulation of the force known as darkness, that problem is simply resolved. He is able to get onto the roof of the Eithelwenian Shrine. He inches himself close to the edge and looks down, seeing a wide variety of people present. Weapons, staves, and other unique equipment signaled that these people were not of this town.

The elf could hear some talking inside. But a familiar deep voice catches his elven ears quickly. That gurgling-like voice immediately signaled it was the overgrown orc, Krug.

Krug is talking to someone inside:” I hereby renounce the ways of Ignifer, and pledge my loyalty to Luminelle. I know this is all coming so fast for you, elf whose name I don't know, but I am no longer the monster I was. As such, I place myself under your control. Do with me as you will. Kill me, take me under your wing, or whatever, but please, help Luminelle.”

Void gets to his feet and jumps down from the roof to the center of the crowd, causing the spectators to become startled at the elf’s appearance. Void ignores them as he enters into the shrine and approaches Krug, who was kneeling to ssome girl. Void shows his teeth and puts on a wide smile.

“So, you thought you could backstab me, didn’t you?!”

Krug becomes shocked at the familiar voice and turns around, but when he faces Void, the elf quickly kicks him into the wall, having the girl move quickly out of the way.

He continues to smile as he speaks:”You think after what you did, all will be forgotten? No. You have made a terrible mistake, my friend…or should I say…my enemy?”

Neru hissed softly as she jumped out of the way in time to avoid being slammed into the wall with the strange orc and to grab the Moon Shard at her foot. Narrowed eyes quickly tracked towards the newcomer and catalogued what he said carefully in her mind even as she slipped the shard into a hidden pocket in her robes. It was not time to think about that, yet.

"Krug... is that your name?" Neru glanced towards the fallen orc, her eyes cold like the lands of Sulvekia. "You are the one who killed everyone here? Because of the Moon Shard?"

"Oh yes he did." Void, still smiling, answered the question before Krug could respond. "Although he really didn't have to do things so extravagantly, but he's a bloodthirsty orc. Aren't you, Krug?"

That was all that Neru needed to snap. Her eyes flashed in anger and an aura of ice gathered around her. The staff in her hands glowed erratically as she fought to control hard to not unleash some of her stronger spells on Krug.

Instead, Neru shifted her glacial gaze onto the elf in the room and spoke in a tightly control voice. "Were you or anyone else involved in the killing?"

"The killing? No."

Neru's eyes lingered suspiciously on the elf's face, knowing that there were more that were not said. But her business there was done, and much as she would like to kill the murderer of her many acquaintance, she had a more pressing business at hand. "That's all I want to know. For now. Deal with the orc as you wish. But do it away from the temple. Eithelwen would not want any more deaths to happen in here. And Krug, rest assured that I will help the Moon Goddess out, and may her be restored."

"My lust for blood has been quelled, Void. You need not fight me." Krug watched as Void drew his freakish scimitars welded together at the hilt, and needed no further invitation. He in turn drew his axe and sword.

"It seems as though you would enjoy killing me though. Wouldn't you, orc?" Void sneered.

Krug hurled his axe through the air. The blade stuck itself in the ground just in front of Void's feet. "Believe me, I would. For the sake of Luminelle, and all the people I have killed... You shall be the last."

Void smirked, then disappeared. Krug was left alone in vision, yet not in consciousness. He closed his eyes, brought his blade up to his face, and said, "Luminelle... Guide my ways..."

Void struck at Krug's waist. He felt the tear as his scimitar passed through the orcish hybrid and saw the spurt of blood. And then he felt a kick in the back. The Krug Void thought he had killed disappeared, and the real Krug raised his sword over Void. Krug brought his broadsword down with all his might, and struck stone floor. He didn't need to think twice, and dove for his axe. As he rolled with the dive and grabbed his second weapon, he heard a clang as metal struck the stone. He sprang to his feet, awaiting Void's next move.

(OOC: Tag. My interest has been rekindled, so don't kill me.)

Void spins his Scizmitar and walks slowly toward Krug. But he stops and says to the orc:” Give up the moon shard and I will not waste my time with you.”

Krug snorted.

“So you’re no longer with us. Fine. More of a reason to kill you.”

“Did you hear me?!” Neru was in a very bad mood now and ice can be seen swarming round her. “Take your infancy actions outside this holy temple!”

Void stared at her with his cold eyes. He looks back at Krug.

“Listen here, Krug. Since you’re no longer on my side, you are on my list of enemies. The next time we cross paths, you will lose your head. And all your moonshards. And you,” Void turns to the woman. “I see you’re a seeker of the shards too, huh? Listen to me carefully. Just like you’re gathering the jewels for your god, I am as well. Morwen will be delighted once I’ve obtained all the shards for her. If that means killing you, then I will have no problem with that.”

Neru directs her staff at the elf and replies:”I will like to see you try.”

Void stares at her, but his eagerness to argue with her begin to dim. He was becoming…soft. He had a small feeling in him that he didn’t want to hurt her. This feeling began to get annoying.

“See you around, Krug. But for your sake, I hope I don’t.”

The shadows around them begin to surround Void until they completely engulf him. When they vanished, Void was gone. Krug just looked on while Neru blinked her eyes a few times. The powers of manipulating darkness have the ability of tricking or confusing the eyes, making things seem that they were there, but then not.

Void was now on the roof again. He puts away his weapon and begins back to the inn. He arrives there and enters, but does not find the men in the lobby. He goes up to check their rooms, but they were not there either.

“They actually left,” Void says with a chuckle. “Guess they would have just slowed me down anyway. Now it’s time to find out where I can get another moonshard. I’ll retrieve the moonshard from that foul-smelling orc later.”

In his room, the elf sits down at his desk and pulls out a rolled up piece of paper and unrolls it to lie it across the wooden tabletop. It was an aged map of Domiria showing the layout of the continental country.

“I’m currently on Sohrya.” Void places his finger on the green and blue print that was the designated land. He begins to slowly move it down toward the jungle-infested area known as Saschinta. As he do, the room begins to grow darker and the two candles keeping the room lit soon blow out. But Void’s eyes glow a bright purple, indicating his eyes were adjusting to the dramatic change. His finger stops in the middle of Saschinta and a great whirlwind of dark magic swarms from the placement. This was not caused by Void. It was as if something from that dark jungle was calling out to him. A presence that enlightened the elf’s curiosity in every way. Could it be a moonshard? It was unsure to him. He couldn’t make it out, but something was lurking in Saschinta and he was certin that had something to do with his quest. A grin crosses his face as he rolls up the map and puts it away. He could not risk anyone else getting another shard, so as he precaution, Void checks out of the inn immediately and exits the town toward his destination.

Back at the inn, the fire priests enter, Apparently, they were at the local tavern grabbing a bite to eat. Thilit goes uptairs to check if Void had came back but he wa nowhere to be found. Returning to the lobby, the innkeeper informs them that their elven friend departed minute ago.

“Where could he have gone,” one of the priest said.

Thilit replies:” I guess he thought we left him like we warned him.”

“Should we follow?”

“That will not be necessary. Looks like Void has more intentions with these shards than we thought.”

“So what are our next plans?”

“We must apologize to the temple’s priests for our former ally’s foolish crime. I cannot go further without first doing that. After, we will plan where to go to next.”

The Ignifer workshippers nod in agreement and exit the inn, walking toward the Eithelwen temple. Meanwhile, Void begins his journey to the tropical Saschinta, hoping that what he finds there helps him more than he intends. He listened to only one god and was under one rule: Morwen. His walk was becoming more difficult as the weather began to worsen. Snow started to fall faster than he imagined and his view was becoming more obscured. Not to mention the low temperatures biting at his skin, traveling alone and in the dark was not a wise decision. His nocturnal eyes could not help him see through the blinding snow and the wind was having the elf lose his sense of direction. His pace was slowed severly. He needed to find shelter…and fast. So he walked…walked…and walked…but nothing of interest came into view…or what view he had left.

“Morwen…,” Void mutters. “I…need…you.”

The elf kneels to the ground. The weather had become too much for him. He was now at its mercy.

“Mor..wen!!!”

Void gives one final shout for help before collapsing on the ground into a deep sleep. Will he ever wake up was the biggest question of the elf’s life.

“He what?!” Drewera exclaimed in shock as she floated towards Nefuriya and Lynx.

“Brandished his sword in clear view amongst the crowd and charged towards the temple until I stopped him.” Nefuriya repeated, her tone bored as she scanned through the mess in the shrine.

“Idiot.” Drewera muttered, knocking her knuckles lightly against his head before giving a sigh, “Well, at least he didn’t hurt anyone.”

Nefuriya nodded distractedly as she reviewed the situation. She and Lynx had caught the last of the conversation between Neru, an elf and an orc. Enough to identify the culprit in this slaughter. Fortunately and unfortunately, said culprit stood just several feet from them, his expression unreadable. Nefuriya’s fingers were already itching to unleash a tornado at him for his actions, however she bore it down, leaving it to Neru to deal with the orc.

As for the bodies, they would have to be moved away, away from the public at best. Floating towards Neru, she asked, “Is there a back room in this temple?”

Neru nodded, pointing in the general direction of the back of the temple and left with a string of instructions on navigating in the temple.

“Wera, I’m gong to let you two down now.” She said returning to the duo, “You may move as you please so long as you do not leave the temple, is that alright?”

They nodded affirmatively and she left for the back room. Said back room was quite large and after clearing away several of the furnitures, it was ready.

Floating back out, she gathered the moonseekers, leaving them with their instructions. Ray, Arien and Drewera would inspect the grounds around the temple, Trielani and Coran will deal with the crowd gathered at the entrance, Maco, Seph and Trysta will help Eiyora with the reparations of the temple and Syn, Lakre, Garyutsch, Lynx and herself would move the bodies to the back room. Neru automatically assumed the role of being in charge of Krug.


[OOC: I'm soo sorry that its so short...-.-;; Anyways, more posts please!]

Neru tapped her staff against her arm in obvious annoyance. The elf in servitude of Morwen threatened her and left. Just like that! Even though Neru was glad that Eithelwen's shrine would not be stain by further bloodshed, but the end result was she had to deal with the culprit.

Glancing at the orc, she felt her brows fold themselves together. In her heart, hatred and anger surged to fight against the deep pity that surfaced. Somehow, she knew that the orc did not lie and meant every word he said, and felt a great sympathy for the misled one. But the deaths of those in the temple were still fresh in her mind, and she felt that it was her duty to see to it that they rest in peace.

But how? What should she do?

"Krug. Come with me." Neru beckoned, and walked out of the temple in search for Trielani. They met her just a room away when she was returning back from the entrance, a pale and grim look on her face. What happened in the temple had affected everyone, but Neru suspected that was not the only reason why the Moon worshipper was nearly sheet white in colour.

The water mage’s voice held obvious concern. “Are you alright?”

“I’m fine...” Neru wanted to roll her eyes at the elf and had to bite back a reflexive sharp reply to shatter the lie, but she stopped herself and allowed Trielani to continue. “It’s just the effects of the situation and my illness. I’m already feeling somewhat bette... Neru, are you or that orc carrying a Moon Shard?”

“As a matter of fact, I was just about to give it to you for safe-keeping.” Neru was careful to prevent the precious shard of the Moon Goddess from being seen by others as she took it out and handed it to Trielani. The shard flashed once when it was deposited on Trielani’s palm, like a small star, and the holder that Sigel had given the elf appeared, enclosed around the shard. “Amazing.”

“I thought so too myself, when I saw Arien’s shard being contained.” Trielani murmured with a smile, her face looking healthier than before. “Would you like to keep the shard, since you found it?”

“I would rather you keep it. You need it more than I do, considering your condition.” Neru reached out and patted the elf’s shoulder reassuringly. “Besides, if you think that I’ll keep it, the others who know I found a shard will assume I keep it, no?”

Trielani nodded and gave the young mage a grateful smile, speaking as she hid the shard discreetly. “I’ll walk around and see if there’s anyone who will need my help.”

“Trielani, wait.” Neru called out just as the Moon worshipper was about to leave. The Cesopian princess paused for a moment, as if she did not know what to do, then she motioned to Krug. “This orc here is Krug... he is the one responsible for the deaths in this temple... but I could see that he was misguided. He claimed to have been in the care of the Moon Goddess and wishes to serve her. I think... I think it is best that he be given a chance to repent for the crimes he committed... What do you think, Trielani? Luminelle’s priestess. And you, Krug? ”

[OOC: Tag, LE daddy dear. Hopefully Angel will post too. Time to drag MS back into activity by its feet!]

"My story is a long and sad one, but I will make it as short as I can. I don't know the circumstances of my birth, but they must have been gruesome, and I was cast out to sea on a raft as a baby. Luminelle watched over me for a year as I drifted toward the continent of Sohrya, feeding and caring for me. When I arrived, she continued to sustain me until I became self-sufficient. I became a fire worshiper, and in their name I, along with a contingent of fire priests and a shadow worshiper named Void, set out to seek Moon Shards. You saw me fight him in the Water Temple."

At this point, Krug shuddered. "I volunteered to slaughter the inhabitants of the Water Temple in order to retrieve the Moon Shard. And so I did, and when I found it... I learned of my past, which I have just told you. The Orcish side of my nature was also vanquished. Now I feel little but guilt. I do repent, and I would like to atone for my many, many sins, but I leave my life in your hands."

(OOC: Apologies for the shortness, but I have to leave soon.)

"Kind of handy to be a windcaster, isn't it?" Lynx grunted as he dragged another of the bodies through the doorway, his eyes fixed on the floating corpse that trailed behind him.

A small twisted smirk answered his question as Nefuriya passed him, followed by the floating corpse. He made a face as the corpse was levitated inches above his head and passed him before muttering to himself, "Well, at least it doesn't drip..."

Smiling wryly at Lynx, Nefuriya continued further into the back room where the bodies were carefully aligned side by side across the back of the room. Dropping the body softly against the ground, she floated back out to the main hall.

It had definitely been a good idea to seperate the two windcasters for two different tasks as Maco easily lifted another large debris and sent it out of the shrine. Eiyora was in her element as well, as the river of blood flowed down the drain, leaving but the lightest stain on the ground.

It seemed that their jobs would be done soon.

[OOC:-.-;; Erm sorry that its short and sorta out of the place...]

---Continues From Yume-chan’s Last Post---
“That was cute,” he smirked sarcastically, dragging the god-forsakened corpse behind him and into the back room. He laid the corpse gently on the stone-cold floor, still grumbling about his future plans now that the outcome was rather complicated.

I reckon that Lord Sigel is going to smite me with misfortune… The people who invaded the shrine were not related to Issac too… I made a joke out of myself…

He gave a notable sigh as he shook his head. The scarlet youth knew too well that his absurb actions would cost him dearly. He would have acceded to the Sun God’s request but his rage took the better of him.

“Lynx!” a familiar voice bellowed through the hollow hall.

“Yar fool of a Nexus!” the dwarf roared as he leapt into the air to smite Lynx's head with his steel buckler.

“I hope that knocked some sense to that barbaric head of yours.”

Lynx was still in the state of confusion, taking a glance to the mass of corpse around him. Bodies were gashed, throats were severed, he began thinking further, questioning his actions.

“It wasn’t him, was it?” Randelf groaned at the muddled youth as his current state was written all over his face. Lynx shook his head repeatedly.

Many lives were lost because of the Moonshards, it brought several omens such as his brother to go berserk, stealing every so dear to him, setting his birthplace ablaze. He had to make a choice, to assist the Moonseekers in achieving their task for the better world of every soul in the land or to selfishly seek revenge which seem bitter-sweet to nearly anyone who was to be in his shoes.

Lynx was in a mind wreck and he yearned to shatter it as it was driving the confined berserk spirit in him out into the surface. Suddenly he felt a strange aura around him, his vision was veiled by a vast of darkness, the next thing he knew, his body was levitating and smothered with warmth. A glimpse of light shone out from the depths of the darkness, White Fang(his blade) responded to the glow harmonically. The wings started to spread out like an angel, the blade grew amazingly thinner, making a notable difference. Lynx was bewildered, he didn’t know what was happening but a familiar voice heed to the question in his mind. “This is the second stage of White Fang, White Judgment. The sword grew because of the empathy and justification that it sees in you. All is not lost, continue to guide the Moonseekers to achieve their task, put the innocence out of harms way.” the voice boomed with the light flickering about.

The red-headed youth was about to utter something related about his consequences when something snapped him out of his dreamland, a buckler bash.

“What in Mírgalen’s name happened? First you went out cold, then out of a sudden, your blade start to glow luminously and transfigured into that!” ranted the dwarf as his flabby finger pointed stiffly at White Judgment.

Lynx pouted, he would so much wanted Lord Sigel to bestow more guidance not by just merely upgraded his sword and some words of wisdom. Yet he had finally understood that innocent lives hung onto this thread of fate, he had better not act rationally or hastily. All he would do now was to help gather the Moonshards and to wait patiently for the demon to seek for him personally instead.

(OOC:Yay, I relive, yes, let's get this RP going as we plan to ^^ Good luck to the rest in their post >.O P.S. Yume feel free to interact with Lynx)

Part Two - Off to Saschinta

Neru blinked blearily as she rolled to her side to avoid the brilliant sunlight shining into her eyes through the curtainless window, and rubbed her face mechanically as she waited her brain to wake up. It took her moments for the things that happened to register in her mind.

It was nearly dawn when all the Moonseekers finally got to sleep. Trielani had taken the orc with her and Neru was both glad and worried. The others were told about Krug's repentence and they accepted it on the surface, although the water mage knew well enough that most were just too tired by the entire affair to violently disagree then. Neru was more concerned about how things would turn out the coming morning.

After she dressed and felt more human, Neru went down to the dining area of the inn where a few of the Moonseekers were already up to grab some food for her silently growling stomach and noted that it was already late morning, near noon. Spotting Coran sitting alone at a table, she dropped herself opposite of him with all the spirit of a dying fish.

"Tired night, is it?" Coran took her appearance in a glance and commented.

Neru gathered enough strength to give him a good glare. "You don't look all the nice as well, bandit boy."

Coran shrugged and Neru half-turned to take in the other Moonseekers around, her voice louder than normal. "So what do we do now?"

[OOC: Short summary of what happens so far.

- Moonseekers gather in Tyrone, and meets Sigel who bid them on their quest
- There's information that a shard is possibly located in the tundra Soria and the moonseeker went to Soria by ship.
- Moonseekers stay in a village, and that night, Krug attacks the Icicle Water Shrine, steals the Moonshard, then discover that Luminelle had cared for him and he betrayed her (sort of).
- Moonseekers rush to the shrine to help and meets with Lynx. Neru encounters Krug who gives her the shard and tell her everything. Neru gives both the shard and the judgement of Krug to Trielani. Moonseekers helped clean up the shrine.

That's about all that I can remember.]

A slow silence greeted Neru and her question, none seemingly able to come up with any solutions of any sort. Until a soft, almost gruffy, female voice drifted from the group of Nefuriya, Drewera and Eiyora, Lynx and Randelf. "Something's up in South Sohrya, Saschinta, I heard."

"Oh?" Neru's eyebrow rose almost lethargically, as she turned to the trio. Drewera yawned, her head resting against her folded arms, she looked as though she hadn't caught a wink, "Heard it from some traveller down south. Apparently, forest dwellers' been moving into town. They're claiming some of those trees managed to grow abnormally large within the span of a day."

"Abnormally large?" Now Neru's eyebrow's were resting around her hairline as she absorbed the information. Another yawn come forth the dwarf who hid behind her palm and she replied, "I'd quote him, 'Those trees have grown giants on us!'"

"I do not wish to sound like a parrot, but giant trees?" Coran said.

"Don't worry i did that too, and yup, giant trees. And it's just some of the trees too. 'Like there's a clump of trees popping out from the middle of the jungle.' I'd quote again." Drewera replied, and yawned again, though choosing instead to muffle it against Nefuriya's sleeve before turning to the others again, "Me and Riya are going to turn in now, if you don't mind, since we haven't gotten any sleep yet."

Getting up tiredly from their seats, Drewera nodded to the other moonseekers and their two companions round their table before dragging a droopy eyed Nefuriya, who was dangling in mid-air dangerously shakily, up to their rooms.

[OOC: Yesh, the next clue. So now, please go post!]

"Well, it looks like we're moving out," Neru said.

Krug raised his eyebrows. "We have a clue?"

"Yes. The trees in a forest south of here are growing to an unusual size. We're going to go check it out. We can only assume it's the work of a Shard."

"Sounds interesting..." A forest in the southeast of Sohrya...



The Moonseekers -- plus Krug -- traveled quickly, reaching the forest within a few days. True enough, the trees had grown very large. But that wasn't the first thing that struck Krug as he entered into the forest. "This place..."

"Something wrong, Krug?" Trielani asked.

"This... is the closest thing to home I know of. This is the forest where the Moon Goddess raised me, the place where I learned to live... and the place where the Fire God corrupted me." Krug knelt, closing his eyes, and shook his head. "Gods! Being here... it floods me with all these feelings of happiness, sadness, anger, peace... everything at once! It's so..."

Krug was losing face quickly, but he didn't care. He stretched out on the forest floor, quietly weeping. Self-pity overcame him, until a thought struck him. Shut up, you pansy! What do you think you're doing? "Oh, look at me I'm so lonely! It's not my fault bad things happen to me! Waah, I'm such a wretched prick!" Grow up, will ya?

Krug felt slapped in the face, but his own lecture did give him renewed strength. He ceased crying, stood, and said firmly, "Let's go."

[OOC: I'm assuming that Lynx and Randelf are both with the group, as is Krug. And umm, LE, the trees nearer to the open are actually unaffected. It's just the trees in the center of the forest.]

Nefuriya looked about her as the group entered the forest, shivering unconsciously as the atmosphere quite literally chilled with their entrance.

"It is strangely quiet. Almost as though there's no wildlife here." Eiyora remarked.

Quiet? It is anything but quiet. Nefuriya thought confused. Though it was true that there was neither the chirp of crickets nor the sharp cry of tropical birds, the forest was not quiet to her ears. Rather there seemed to be a gentle hum in the back of her head. It did not feel foreign, rather, it seemed to be the most natural sound she had every heard.

"There may be no wildlife in here. But the trees are alive, and they intend to guide us there. Towards the forest's heart." Syn murmured.

So its not just me... Nefuriya thought, almost relieved that another shared a situation as hers. She had almost fully relaxed again when a thought made her pause, Wait. The trees are alive? Then this soft buzz in my head... is the sound of the trees? Almost in response, the hum got louder, confusing the poor elf further.

"I see... I've heard rumours that elves can communicate with the trees. So it is really true after all." Coran said.

"So that means..." Drewera pondered out loud, turning to Nefuriya who nodded and said, "There's a soft buzz in my head. I think that it may be the trees." Drewera gave a soft 'hmm' of understanding and turned back to their route.

Trekking through the forest seemed to not be as hard as it sounded as they soon found themselves blocked by huge trees well worthy of the name giant.

"These... are trees?" Lakre asked almost uncertainly as he, like many others, gawked at the sheer size of the tree trunks.

"I think so, I'm going up to check." Nefuriya said, levitating herself up through the canopy and above the top of the other trees that retained their natural height. And found herself staring upwards at the huge foliage.

After she had returned with the confirmation of the trees’ existence, they discussed about the ways to enter the protective ring of giant trees that obstructed them from their destination. When Trysta suggested that she and Maco float all of them over, Nefuriya could only shake her head almost dejectedly. The clusters of leaves were too close together. They would not be able to push past them even with shields protecting them.

“Why not just cut through the tree trunks?” Her fellow windcaster said matter-of-factly. He did not wait for their reply before casting a sharp blade of wind, sending it flying towards the huge blocks of wood.

The soft hum in Nefuriya’s head suddenly rose alarmingly. So loud, it was, that she thought that her head was going to burst. A short glance at Maco, Trielani and Syn, who had their hands on their heads, their faces twisted in agony, told her that she was not alone in her predicament.

“Watch out!” Arien suddenly shouted as a wave of energy roared towards them.

Sharply trusting her right hand forward, Drewera casted a ward around the fifteen. The shimmering hemisphere enveloping them from the ground along with the singular windshields that both Nefuriya and Maco hastily threw together round their comrades. The wave crashed against its glimmering surface heavily, pulsing as both fought for dominance. When it finally seemed that the ward was going to hold, a second wave joined the first.

The ward shattered, its caster collapsing to the ground, unconscious. However, the waves did not stop, resuming their advance with a vengeance.

With their combined energy, the merged waves easily overcame the both shields set by the windcasters, cutting through them like paper and pierced through the soft body of one Maco Ashby.

A deep crimson red stained his robe where the wave entered and Maco fell backward, thudding against the forest ground lifelessly. The wave, for its part, disintegrated almost immediately, leaving one unconscious female dwarf, one dead elven windcaster and thirteen disheveled and shocked companions.

“MACO!” Nefuriya managed to scream hoarsely before her world too fell black.


[OOC:o.o;; Dramatic, and a bit anti-climatic... I killed off Maco!>.<;;;]

________________________

"So...Tired..."

Okuni traveled over the west plains of Dormiria to find the secrets of these strange feelings so since she was almost new to this continent, she figured that she explore to new places and dance for them, while gathering information on the way. As approaching the nearest village of Flece, she came over a struggling gentlemen with a face of a lost soul. Okuni approached him and asked what was wrong....

"Is there a problem, sir? Do you need help..?

Gent. - "Im so weak...I haven't ate anything for days...and I'm kindof low on money now...Ohh....stomach hurts."

Oh my! Here. (Puts Hand In Sack and Grabs a 2 Loafs of Bread and Enough Money for A Few Days) Take This....Please.

Gent. - "Oh Thank You! Thank you so much! But may I ask, why you have so much money..?"

"I've been doing dances in a village near here and once an a while people drop money for me. I love to dance."

Gent. - "Oh....could you dance for me..? Here, I'll give you the money you gave me..."

"Oh no.....For you, I'll do it for free. Hope You Enjoy!

Okuni starts to sway her parasol around while enchanting the gentlemen with her moves. She danced like a feather in a spring breeze, so serene in its own way. After she was done, they said their goodbyes and parted.

Gent. - "Thank you very much for everything! You've been helpful. Well I must go on now. Farewell.....? Oh! We haven't even introduced ourselves. Im Allen, pleasure to meet you."

"Okuni, the pleasure is all mine."

Allen, Gent. - "Well Farewell To You"

"Goodbye"

Okuni parted from Allen and soon headed on again towards Flece. On the way, she was exciting to see what would happen in Flece but more importantly, she knew she made someone happy once again.

Soon later, Okuni arrived at the main gates of Flece, a sea-port city that usually ship ships for trading. Okuni steped into the gates and gazed upon the scenery.

"Hmmm....what shall I do first....? Maybe rest perhaps..."

Okuni traveled to the nearest inn, Moonlight Inn, and settled down at the pub for a glass of water.

"Ahhh....relax at last. All that walking was killing me." (Sips Her Water)

As Okuni was sitting at her table, a ruffian barge into the inn and sat behind her.

(Okuni Overhearing) - Ruffian - "Just get me a glass of wine! (Slams the table)
Today is a bad day for me! Arrghh!

(Okuni Thoughts) - That man is surely angry about something. Maybe I should keep my distance away from him. Anyways I think I'll be staying the night here at this inn. Its quite peaceful unless that man complains again.

(Ruffian Thoughts) - Bad luck! Bad luck is all I get everyday! It's like hell everytime I wake up....Hmm? (Looks behide him) Wow! Look at that gal. She looks like she's not from here. A foreigner? Hmm..maybe. Maybe she can help my day..(Laughs silently)

Soon, Okuni rises from her seat and goes her resting bed to sleep until morning rises. However, the ruffian also rose and followed her silently to her room.

Few Minutes of Settling Down....

"Ahhh....the bed feels so good! (Thinks for a few seconds) I hope Father is not worried. I hope he's doing okay. (Rolls Over and Goes to Sleep)

Ten Minutes Later...

After a short period of time, the ruffian sneaked into her room, tip-toeing to her bed. After a while, he immediately grabbed her and tried to kidnap her to be his lady. Okuni woke up with fright and was kicking and screaming. The ruffian took out a hankerchief and covered her mouth with it, to prevent the screaming.

"!!!!!!!!"

Ruffian - "Quiet! Im not gonna hurt you...I'm just gonna give you a little kiss..thats all....(Laughs)

Soon after, Okuni grabbed her parasol and whacked him upside the head constantly but he wouldn't budge. Okuni soon forced all her strength to let loose from his arms. While he tried to get out of the room with her, immediately, the window shot open and a gust of wind blew through. The ruffian turned around and the wind surrounded him with ice cold breezes. The wind rosed upwards and shot him out of the window. As the wind blew through the open window, it brought the strange feeling to Okuni again. However, Okuni soon ran out of Moonlight Inn with safety and headed towards the dock. As Okuni arrived at the sea port, the port was abandoned with no one to be seen. So Okuni ran to a boat and jumped quickly into it. Okuni looked around but she didn't see any oars or paddles. As quick as she turned around, the boat moved by the gust of wind. The boat moved foward across the water, with Okuni laying, looking at the stars.

"I don't where I'll end up or what happened back there but I thank you whoever you are..."

And soon Okuni flowed through the water with the ocean brezzes by her side...



___________________________________________

(OOC) = I Hope This Will Do...Tell Me If I Did Anything wrong...please. Thx

Void's head swarmed with thoughts of his past training with Morwen, a time when the world did not know he existed....or that he knew that a world existed. Words began to pop up back in his head. Words of wisdom from hers truly.

"You have a great intention for evil, Void. And that is why I am here to help you, for those of evil harness the power of darkness much better than those of good. You see, evil is darkness. Evil spawned from the cold essense of the dark forces in this world, so it is only natural that you learn my powers. However, remember this: darkness is not evil. Evil is not the root of this inherited power. Just because you are of dark, those not make you evil. Learn to control your evil intentions and decimate them. It is only then will you truly take control of the dark arts."

Void mutters something after remembering those words. He soon feels cold....then warmth.....then hot! The elf suddenly jumps up and lands on his feet. It was morning and the snowfall had ceased for now. He was alive....fortunately, still breathing and living....but how? The elf looks a little to his left before seeing a hovering sprite surrounded by a red aura. From her, a great warmth swarmed. It gave a comfort to Void that he had never felt before. It was....relaxing. But where did she come from?

"Ignifer," Void says to himself. "It can't be. But only fire sprites answer to the fire god. So then....was it you Morwen? Have you convinced Ignifer to save me? If so, then you both must be trying to prove yourself innocent in the tragic event of the moon goddess."

Void looks at the sprite, who stares back with her huge red eyes. For a moment, they stared, until she floated over to a spot in the snow and pointed down at something. Void walks over to see what it is and is amazed at what he sees...footprints and lots of them.

"Those seekers! They're ahead of us!"

Void turns and makes run as he follows the trail. The sprite floats after him in great haste.

“Nefuriya!” Lynx gasped as he rushed to her aid, she was outcold, so was the dwarf, but the third, banished from the surface of the world. Considering the current situation, he asked, “Should we wait for them to regain conscious? Or should we just carry them and continue our journey through the opened path?” Some answered “aye” to the later choice whereas the rest remained speechless. “What about his corpse?” asked the ranger once again and continued further, “the stench will just attract harm from the woods, not to mention the sensitive nose of the forest dwellers. We can’t just bury him, incinerate him, dispose of his body , can we?”

“Apparently we shouldn’t do any of those and until his fellow worshipper comes to, she will communicate with the Wind Goddess for proper instructions, meanwhile,” Neru’s eyes wandered across the men and then whispered a spell to keep the corpse fresh then continued, “Someone would have to carry this body.” Immediately, Lynx carried Nefuriya on the back, she felt rather light for a girl, not to mention a rather sweet-smelling scent emitted from here, he felt shy but he hinted that his hands weren’t free at the moment. Since the idea about the women carrying the corpse were totally out of the question, all eyes pondered at the remaining men(as Randelf already made his way to carry Drewera after casting a brief quicksand to the ground to hinder the movements of the other men)Ray, Krug, Valleron, Coran, Garyutsch, Seph and Lakre.

Eventually, a whine came from the victim’s group, “Can’t we drag him instead?”

“No, that will be disrespecting to the Wind Goddess, bear with it for a while.” snapped Trysta as she made a face which implemented “sucks-to-be-you” thoughts.

As they wandered through the narrow path, which seemed like a natural maze, proceeding deeper into the heart of the forest, they noted the rumored “mutation” effects about the residents about the area, huge snakes hissing on branches, which threatens to fall onto the group, gigantic spiders spurning their webs apart from tree to tree. Lynx couldn’t help but to joke, “What a colorful world, big snakes, big spiders, what’s next? Big wolves, trolls and goblins?” As his laugh bellowed through the quiet road, drums were played and distinctive howls were heard. “Me and my wonderful mouth.”

(OOC:I’m back =D For the enemies, just randomly create a pack of goblins/trolls with a pack of wolves, all mutated I presume and then fight them. Don’t forget we have got 3 fallen ones, 2 unconscious, 1 dead. Time to get back to fighting and killing posts in this RP =P )

Void's endurance was astonishing to the sprite. For a day now, they've been at this constant speed of about 30 miles per hour without the elf ever losing a huff of breath. The sprite could easily fly this long and this fast because of her natural magic, but for Void, he have had to have great control of his breath along with control of his energy in order to run so efficiently for so long. Ahead, Void could see the greenery of Saschinta already popping up over the horizon. This put a great grin on the elf's face. Suddenly, dark energy began to swarm around Void's body, which had the sprite distance herself as the force around the elf began to increase. His eyes started to turn entirely black with the dark energy finally aligning itself with the shape of Void's body. At that instant, his speed doubled and he sped off toward the forest. The sprite puts on a surprised expression and tries to catch up with him, but the elf is already too far away to stay with. Her only hope was to just meet him later there, if he remains there.

As the forest sat 400 meters away, Void began to slow down as his advancing speed required stopping ahead of time, or he would run right into the trees of the flourishing woods. Once he came to a stop, Void kneeled down as he began to catch his breath. During that entire run, he was using all his dark energy to allow him to run that long, but that sprint almost took all of it out of him. He chuckles as he breathes heavily with the thought of him finally being here at Saschinta. But what bothered him was that the group Krug joined were probably here, too, which meant if a moonshard was here, they world be the first ones to get it. But not on his watch. He would not allow anyone to take another shard from him. The elf struggles to stand to his feet, but he falls back on his butt. That sprint really did more to him than he thought. He now had to sit here and wait to recover himself, but he couldn't waste such valuable time. He stands to his feet again, this time regaining his balance after some stumbling, but he did not know how much more he could take. Void walks slowly over to a tree and leans against it. He finally accepted the fact that he was fatigued, having him drop down to sitting against the tree and doze off.

The sounds of clashing metal, of torn muscle tissues and the hoarse sounds of battle reached the ears of one Nefuriya Kuryutie. With a pained groan, she sat up from where she had been propped against a tree, and almost fell back against the moist earth when her vision literally spun in her face.

Her mental gears finally started moving a long while later, its hinges oiled, and she took a long look at the blurred scene in front of her. Though unclear, she could summarise three things. One, they were still in the forest, two, she was on the ground, and three, a fight was going on.

Another long minutes passed, with her fellow comrades still fighting against the lesser evils in the forest while she remained hidden, almost camouflaged on purpose by the trees. She dared not shake her head, in fear of it spinning her straight into the endless black pit in her head that threatened to suck her comsciousness from her, nor could she summon up the strength to rub her eyes, to clear the blur from her eyes and to aid her comrades.

//Just rest for now, Nefuriya. They will be guided by the wind, as will Drewera.// a vaguely familiar voice gently tapped into her mind.

Sluggishly, she nodded in the assumed direction of the soft comforting words, ignoring the battle that went ahead of her. The sound of Lynx's White Fang against a foreign weapon, of Eiyora and Neru's water against the ragged skin of the creatures, of Syn and Ray's arrows and Arien's slingshot projectiles and last but not least, the Lakre, Coran, Seph, Trysta and Trielani whose weapons battered and pierced their enemies, cutting and beating their way through the chaotic fro.

The sounds grew further and further, until they where no more, until her world faded yet again, back into the dark.

Buzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

A large humming sound rang louder and louder in Void's head. This overbearing sound was not like one of those annoying noises one would hear from some bee or blood-sucking mesquito. No, this sound was a peaceful hum that seemed as natural as the air he breathed. His conscious became overelmed with an unknown emotion. An emotion that made the elf calm....but it was also an emotion that made him sick. Void suddenly wakes from his little nap and finds his little sprite friend staring at him with her huge soft eyes.

"You..." Void says dully.

The elf slowly gets to his feet and stretches, until he looks around quickly.

"How long have I been out?"

The sprite shakes her head.

"Not too long, huh?"

The sprite nods in agreement. The elf grins and turns toward the forest.

"They're in there, I suppose. How fun this will be. My territory."

Void suddenly jumps high into the air and lands in the treetops. The sprite gasps and floats up after him. The elf turns to her and says:

"If you can't keep up, don't step up, my little friend."

He smiles and jumps to the next tree, but he's out of it faster than he jumps into it. He was dashing quickly to tree to tree, not missing one on his way deeper into the forest. The fire sprite gasps and flies right after him. Void's thoughts swarmed with acquiring those precious moon shards. He couldn't wait to obtain all of them and present them to his lovely goddess, Morwen. Oh, how happy she will be to find out that he accomplished such a goal all by himself. Just as he was getting into a good mood, a large space between the trees stopped him. Below, he could see a worn area. And the air smelled of blood. The elf got curious and jumped to the ground to examine this unusual area. He kneels down and pulls up some of the grass. After a sniff of it, he finds that it smelled of blood and some other flesh scent. Looking a little to the left, he saw a spot of blood brimming the grass blades. He touched it to if it was still wet. It was.

"Looks like they've experienced the harshness of Saschinta."

Void stands to his feet and smiles.

"But they're about to experience a lot more. This terrain features dangers that they've never experienced before. Only the most experienced will be able to tread this South Sohrya without any trouble, and his name is Void."

The elf laughs maniacally and jumps back into the trees. It was time to reach the heart of the forest before they do. To reach the source of this darkness he sensed all the way from the north. Void starts again across the treetops, leaping through all the narrow passages he arrived at. The trees were beginning to become more strange and bulgy as he went further and further into the forest.He could also hear that humming in his head again, growing louder and louder as he progressed. What and why he heard this was beyond his knowledge. His only goal was getting to the source before the ones he was pursuing. What wet his appetite more for blood was the thought of that back-stabbing Krug traveling with them. He admit that the orc actually did what he was going to do to him once they acquired all the shards, but he would not anyone but him to gather all those shards. No one.

Just as he jumped into a tree, its bark suddenly moves out the way, having Void fall straight to the ground. He recovers quickly with a somersault and grabs the handle of his weapon. He was sure that he had that branch in view. Something sinister was up. He could sense it. Void slowly rose to his feet, but he stopped as he heard a few growls around him. He didn't have to move from his position to find out that wolves were surrounding him. What's more, these wolves looked different. Their eyes glowed red and their hair was sticking up in spikes. From the gleams they reflected from the ray of sunlight, he knew they were incredibly sharp. They growl and bark as they approached the elf from all sides. But Void's eyes showed a hunger for killing, just as their blood eyes showed. He hadn't fought for a while, so took this little encounter as a way to soothe this inner crave. The fire sprite arrived, but stayed in the trees as she was frightened by the animals. Void slowly removes his Scizmitar from his back and moves it forward to prepare for slicing and dicing. Void closes his eyes. The shadows around them began to engulf all the light around them. It blocked out the sun's light to where nothing but darkness was in view. But the wolves' eyes still glowed and they could still see, even with this unfortunate change. But the elf's dark magic was far from just a removing of light. It stripped the area of all known existence of life. The fire sprite could not see inside this orb of darkness that Void created. Even trying to go near it gave her cold feeling.

"You have no idea," Void coldly says. "Who you're dealing with!"

A whine is heard as one wolf goes down after two slash sounds. Two more wolves go down after it. The remaining wolves growl loudly and begin jumping around, trying to find the hidden elf.

"Let the darkness engulf you. Better it, than me."

More and more are slaughtered until no red eyes were visible. But a pair of eyes were still there. Purple glowing eyes. Void's eyes. The darkness around the field soon diminish, revealing the forest and the sunlight once again. The slain wolves laid motionlessly on the ground, blood running from their clean cut wounds. The elf, he stood there in the middle of them, his sword stained with their blood...until it slid off his blades as if the steel was cleaning itself. He spins around his weapon before returning to his back. The fire sprite floats slowly down, still scared at the gruesome sight. She could not believe one man could kill twelve wolves in so little time. Void turns to the flying sprite and grins.

"If you're too scared, leave. That doesn't even compare to the dangers you will face deeper in this arena of death."

She was now shivering. The elf turns and begins forward.

But he continues to speak:"No need to take the treetops. Walking will do for me. No matter how high we are, we will still experience Saschinta's challenges."

The sprite lowers its head in sadness.

"But the biggest challenge is yet to come...for the Moonseekers, that is. They're about to experience a darkness that they've never seen before. The wrath of Morwen is about to come down upon them and that trash-eating orc!"

As he walked, the shadows around him grew large and violent, ready to engulf any light that came in contact with them.

“Can’t things get any better than this?” he ranted as he plunge White Fang into the goblin’s throat. Nothing but green gooey blood splattered out onto his face as he swirl the sword upwards, slicing the mutilated face in half as he cleaved the sword towards another direction, severing another goblin’s head off.

“Hmph, cannon fodders.” he cleared his throat as he positioned himself in a defensive stance. Still, there were too many of them, even the hostile habitants started to join in the fight. He begun whispering words of enchantments, as White Fang gradually shone brighter.

“Serenity Blow!” he swung his blade to the ground, conjuring a wave of light, slicing or more like “disintegrating” through a pack in a line. He smirked as his body grew suddenly weary, it had been a while since he last used a “Sword Skill”. Just then, he noticed a faint shadow lurking on top, but what drew his sight’s attention were rather the deep crimson eyes gorged upon him.

Just then he was ensnared by a net, he let down his guard on mistake. He struggled, hoping to wield his blade properly in order to break his way out. A barrage of arrows eventually made their way towards him. Lynx placed his armguard across the front, hoping to shield at least the vital areas, but to his protection came a hail of ice, bashing away the arrows completely. Neru came to his aid, along with a short yet chilly phrase “Don’t look away in battle, fool.”(via Abel Nox style, hey it isn’t a swear, right? =D) The words shot through his head, almost effective enough like an arrow. Ouch. Before they proceeded to battle, he tilt his head upwards once more to see the figure, it was gone.

Several monster heads later, the numbers of the aggressors grew eventually little, forcing themselves to retreat, whereas leaving a group of fatigueless bodies, two sleeping crack heads, one non-bishounen(note, bishounen=handsome youth) dead body behind. Suffice to say, enemy lost, heroes live, yay. Still, majority of the entourage were injured, thus they decided to take a short rest then leave immediately before more hostiles make their next visit.

Soon, they reached the center of the forest, a gigantic tree, spiritually white without leaves like that of a dead tree, creating howls Lynx had never heard before, as though carrying the cries of the forest. It was beautiful, yet sad, a puzzling combination one would experience.

The chain of silence among the group was suddenly broken, “The shard is here.”

Drewera moaned, shaking her head as she sat up from where she had been laid by Randalf. However, her motions went unnoticed by the rest of the moonseekers, all of them being enraptured as Trielani shifted towards the ancient tree without the slightest sound.

A quick glance told her that there were no other injured other than herself and Nefuriya. However, they did look rather worse for wear, as though they had just been fighting. A hand pressed against the ground to support herself, the female dwarf pushed herself up, hobbling towards the area where the others were mostly congregated.

They didn't even notice her, all too engrossed by Trielani's trancelike actions. Said elf had her hand pressed against the tree for several seconds before turning back to them, saying simply. "It's in the middle of this tree."

"Look out!" was the only heads up they had when a shadow that had stealthily sped towards them suddenly paused, hovering in mid-air almost comically, frozen with his daggers out in his hands and poised to attack.

Recognition lit in Krug's eyes and he padded forward. "It's... Void?"

The elf grinned manically as he landed on the ground in a crouched position, his daggers showing off their sharpness with a gleam of light. He lifted his head, looking toward the Moonseeker group, grinning that cynical grin he loved to show. But it went away completely upon his sight of Krug. Up in the trees hiding was the fire sprite that accompanied Void, herself peeking from behind some foilage to examine the situation. Her eyes wimpered, but it couldn't be tell if it was of fear or sadness for someone.

Void rises to his feet, his daggers being spinned in his hands replaced back into their holseters. He places his hands on his waist and laughs.
"So, this is the Moonseeker group who reign from the kingdom of Aran, huh? Your objective is to reclaim the shards so that the gods may find a way to return the Moon Goddess to her original form. But, I am also a seeker of these jewels for my god, Morwen, which means that one of would have to move out the other's way. So the question is, who will submit?
"It really doesn't matter to me. In the end, we all will fall to our own actions. But...I have a question. What god are you all under? I'm confused as to why that wind mage..." He points to Nefuryria. "Is in a group with a earth workshipper." He looks at at the female dwarf. "Unless a dwarf has now decided to workship the wind goddess, I see that your group is composed of more than one workshipper. So, are all your gods working together....or did each of them tell their servants to join the group and obtain the shards for 'themselves?' To me, that makes trust in your group very slim, doesn't it? You never know when one may backstab you."

He eyes Krug.

"Krug, I will confess something to you. When I joined the fire mage group, my intentions were the same as yours. Betray you all and grab the shards for myself at the end of our journey. Unfortunately, you beat me to it...barely."

Krug shook his head. "You're so presumptuous, Void. My original intent was never betrayal... although it ended up that way for you. You could never understand why I did what I did... you, a worshiper of the shadow goddess."

Void's eyes flashed with indignation and anger, but he said nothing. Krug continued, "My place is with the Moonseekers, and there I shall stay. I do not presume to know Morwen's aims, as you presume to know mine, but Luminelle belongs to all of us. She must be resurrected, and nobody shall deter me from that goal now."

Void smirked with derision. "I'm sick of all this yapping. Shall I kill you now, or shall you run away like the traitorous coward you are?"

"How about you take a try at killing him and fail while you're at it?" Drewera grunted, the untimely headache that was making rounds in her head, combined with her lack of sleep was fraying her nerves. "To put frankly, I've never seen one who's eye are so far behind that he has yet to that he has been surrounded and he can't even move from his position."

"Hmph, and what makes you think that you would be able to kill me?" the elf rebuked.

"We'll see if you can move your limbs. If you can, I must have exhausted myself worst than i thought initially." Nefuriya said, her hand pressing against Lynx's shoulder to steady herself whilst she stabilize herself from the strain at using her ability.

Void felt some unknown force grasping his limbs, indeed. He never underestimated such a group anyway. He was expecting all their tricks to come into play. Plus, them outnumbering him, he knew that they'll underestimate his ability, too. The elf pulls a little, to try to to walk forward, but whatever she was doing, she was keeping him constrained as she said. But when she stumbled, he felt a small release in the spell. He now knew how to get away from this unfortunate yet weak bind.

"Allow me to show you all the fallacy of my intrusion."
He snaps his fingers and a few glares are shown shining from within the trees around them, exempting the one that most likely held the next moon shard. He grins as his eyes begin to glow purple. The sprite up in the treetops senses that same dark magic again, causing her to whimper. The elf starts to laugh out loud as the shadows around them began to grow darker.

Well that was fun. Nefuriya grimaced. Picking herself up from her frozen position mid-air. As if the strain from freezing the air around Void had not taught her to be more focussed on her own position in the air, but nooo she had to grant Lynx's itty-bitty request to 'relax the bind a little' which resulted in her accidental loss of control on her self-levitation. If she had been less well trained at self- levitation, she might just be flat on the ground now.

Discounting the fact that utilizing her magic now was only increasing the strain it would put on her body, such minimal adjustment on the holding of wind was even more difficult than holding the entire area.

A quick glance at her sides proved Ray's prediction true. The elf did take the chance to attack their crew, despite the fact that if he had struggled against the bind at that precise moment, he might get the chance to escape.

"Too bad for him, I'm not going to let him run this time." she muttered under her breath and turned her head sideways where she caught Drewera's eye. The dwarf's right hand fisted with her little finger stuck straight out. A signal that her shields had been set.

A soft whisper sounded beside her, and she had to strain to hear it, "It seems that we've all received the signal. We're ready to attack any time."

It seemed all she could do to manage a strained smile at the water mage, "Then by all means, Neru. Attack whenever you want."

"If you say so." she could already hear, rather than see, the grin forming on Neru's face.

With exceptional good timing, all of the moonseekers including Randalf, Lynx and Krug struck at the same time.

[OOC: x.x Ok, I'm stuck now, so I think I'll leave it for the rest of the moonseekers to continue the fight.

Oh, and Nefuriya is still floating. Well, she floats 24/7 so no reason to make her stop now.]

"If you say so." Neru grinned viciously as she ran through a few spells in her head.

The melee fighters of the group had rushed forward and took turns to attack the elf with incredible timing that meant they did not nick a companion by mistake. Trielani kept her eyes opened for injuries, prepared to heal any of them instantly, while the two water mages started their own chants.

The shadow that Void had summoned took shape like it was a living being and was protecting him effectively enough that not many hits were scored. Even when the long distance fighters had joined in the assault had the shadow failed to protect the elf much.

Eiyora finished her spell first, as water was siphoned out from underground and surroundings, and congregated into floating globs of varying sizes and more and more began to joined the collected liquid. Neru approved of the spell because of how helpful it would be for the two of them. The only thing she worried about was how the trees may be affected.

Neru's own spell was near completion and she gestured sharply at Void's figure as she uttered the last syllabus. A glowing mist appeared, surrounding the dark worshipper closely within and drifting among the shadow, and drastically lowered the temperature where it was present. It was almost like when she froze people's blood, slowing or severely impairing action, but doing it from long distance without her touch was very draining on her magic, and thus she resorted to this alternative.

If that was not working, it was time to make use of the water that Eiyora had pulled out from their environment.

Void's stationary position was static enough to allow him to focus on his dark magic rather than moving. It was when he was moving when his magic wasn't effective. This was perfect...nearly, for if they are able to get inb some hits, he knew he wouldn't last for long. The water orbs and the sudden decrease in temperature started to become a problem.

"Not...again," he mutters, remembering his trial in the northern snowfields. He holds his arms tight around his body as he began to shiver, causing his concentration to lower with his shadows. The fighters' weapons almost strike, until his guardians save him just in time with their dark presence.

Up in the trees, the fire sprite looked down on the elf, worrying for his condition. She wanted to help him, but that would mean getting hurt. She shakes her head as she proceeds forward, but back away back into the trees as a shock struck her mind. This was the work of Void's darkness. She whimpered again.

The elf draws Scizor, his two-bladed weapon, and begins to spin it aroundto blow away the mist that was causing this cold chill, but he stops, seeing frost beginning to grow on it. He wipes it away, looking angrily at Neru, the girl he warned to stay away from him. He clenches his teeth as he makes all his shadows flee to the trees and disappear. Yet, this opens his defence.

"I will not die easily, you Moonseekers!"

After that phrase, daggers are shot from their position down at the group as Void kneels to the ground and pulls out four more from his boots. He lunges the first two toward Neru while he holds onto the others for close combat.

Krug leaped in front of Neru, placing himself directly in the path of Void's daggers. The first glanced off the haft of his battleaxe. The other buried itself in his left forearm. Krug growled, then pulled it out and flung it at Void. Void easily parried the projectile, but the distraction bought Krug sufficient time to mend his wound.

"That's a new one," Void said with his usual self-important smirk.

"Product of complete overhaul of values. You should really try it sometime," Krug retorted.

"I have too many plans in place for that."

"So did I."

"Krug! Just charge in and kill him!" a voice shouted. Krug didn't recognize who it was. After minimal debating of the issue, he shrugged, raised both of his weapons, and complied, charging in full force for yet another battle with his nemesis.

(Tag Vex.)

Void looks down at his limbs again, seeing that bind spell stil intact. he needed to find a way to get out of this position before they attacked once more. He hoped his raining daggers will give him enough time to release.

~Alright...focus all my knives on that Drewera and I'll be okay. Just need a slight drop in her concentration.~

Void rages out his weapon as he deflects the surrounding attacks from the fighters, but when he sees Krug charging for him, he spins his weapon and thrusts it in the ground.

~Now!~

Immediately, another set of daggers are thrown, but they are now all concentrated on Drewara and Lynx. At the same time, he is struck in his shoulder by the orc's axe.

Drewera paused when several globes of water sprang from their orginal positions in the air and shot towards her side. A sharp turn and a quick glance was all the explanation she needed.

Suspended in mid-air, suspended in the smaller versions of the globes of water were several daggers all with their sharp little ends pointing straight at her. She grunted in displeasure when she realized how close they were to her shields and flashed Eiyora a grateful look. The water mage simply smiled back and sent the daggers turning a 180 degrees where they were shot back at their owner with similar force.

Drewera glanced at Nefuriya who had decided to settle on a tree branch. Perched precariously on the tree branch, the windcaster's eyes were closed and a visible wind shield surrounded her. One strong enough to repel even physical contact. A gentle glow surrounded her as she meditated softly, absorbing the gentle flow of magic to support herself.

It was better to be safe than sorry. Drewera decided and implemented another shield over her friend. Void may have chosen to attack her now, but Nefuriya would always stand at the first few on his black list.

A sudden loud twack of snapped tree branches alerted her and she realised, to her shock, the appearance of multiple familiar-looking forest bestiaries accompanied by equally familiar looking trolls and orcs.

"This just gets better and better doesn't it?" she cursed, turning to the rest of the moonseekers. "Watch out! We've got company!"

To Void, she said, "I suggest you hold a temporarial truce with us for now."

"And why would I do that? So that you can stab me in the back later?" the elf sneered.

"Don't be stupid." Drewera snorted, "We could very well have Riya here to float all of us in the air until they leave while you stay here and rot. So what do you say? Do we have a truce?"

Void clenched his teeth tightly, looking at the situation before him. He could see himself in the worst yet. His left shoulder injured, his legs binded, and the air around him freezing cold. Plus, his surprise dagger attack did nothing. He had only one other solution. He had two but one of his techniques weren't worth using on these imbeciles. Instead, he causes his shadows to return to him from the shelter of trees and begins to engulf him. He starts to expand it outward as a giant orb of ebergy, engulfing the Moonseekers in its darkness one by one. It was the same tactic he used against the wolves he fought earlier.

Krug looked around, seeing the decrease in visibility. If he remembered, it was becoming just the situation during their last fight when darkness overwhelmed him in those catacombs, yet this one felt more colder. Not like the coldness of the water mage's magic, but the coldness of emotion.

The fire sprite whimpers once more, not wanting this to go on. She suddenly shoots from her hiding place and flies toward Drewara. But she runs into the mage's shield, not seeing it earlier, and falls toward the ground slowly, the dark orb of energy coming their way.

The elf awaits for her to lose slight concentration, so that he may finally move again. But he stumbles a little, causing him to crouch to his feet.
"Damn...he did more damage than I thought!"
The orb energy doesn't reach the mage, but stops where it is, engulfing the fighters who charged at him and Krug. The elf was at his limit.

[OOC: Just to remind. Nefuriya is the one who is binding Void, not Drewera.]

Nefuriya cursed, breaking from her semi-meditation and floating outwards towards the middle of the battlefield where she was provided the birds' eye view. She may not be able to see what had been going on, but she had heard the arrival of those whom they had fought previously, and felt the gathering of the shadow magic.

Squinting downward she noticed the dark orb of energy that had begun to engulf Lakre, Coran, Trysta, Lynx and Krug. If it wasn't stopped, their casualty rate would shoot heavenward.

Lynx and Lakre were of no problem, being sun worshippers, since the light magick that Sigel had bestowed them would be more than enough to dispel the effects of the dark orb that had surrounded them. Another curse left her lips and she raised her arm, surrounding Coran, Trysta and Krug with windshields whose surface velocity were fast enough to cut through tree trunks at contact.

Seconds passed and the windcaster could feel the drain of wind magick as her alititude fell. Thankfully, she had managed to gain enough magick while meditating to not kill herself over creating some shields and using more wind magick. Favonius had kept her word, and surrounded the moonseekers with another layer of wind and supplied her with more wind magick to stabilize herself.

When the darkness finally began to dissipate, the battlefield became clear once again. True to her thoughts, between themselves, Lynx and Lakre had managed to dispel the dark orb in time and prevented further casualties. Thought appearing slightly more frazzled than before, the others who had been enveloped by the dark orb had sustained little to no physical injuries.

They are safe. she breathed in relief, and turned back to the elf who had fallen to the ground. She mentally thwapped herself at the back of her head, Should have known to lax my hold on him when I shielded them.

Raising another hand, she sent Void on a full body bind, freezing him in mid-air, his arms and legs wide apart. That should prevent him from managing anymore surprise magick. she thought, finally satisfied.

A loud splash met her ears and she turned to the others who had been out of the range of Void's dark orb. In various positions, from atop trees to standing right in front of the fallen bestiaries, stood Seph, Eiyora, Ray, Arien, Neru, Trielani, Syn and Drewera. All of whom were facing off the bestiaries, who seemed to have finally fallen dead from the attack that had caused that mighty splash.

"So, what's left now would be him, I suppose." she muttered turning back to the frozen elf.

Void's head was lowered, his eyes closed, and conscious lost. He was in a dream world....better yet, a world of complete darkness once again. He could off in the distance a shining light, which made a beating sound like one of a heart.

Thump....thump....thump....

It kept going and going, make the elf curious as to what it may be. It got louder and louder as hovered toward him, his eyes anticipating for what this object would appear up close as. But when it becomes recognizable, the elf gasp, noticing it was a moonshard.

Void raises and wakes up quickly, looking in the direction that he saw the relic in his dream. He tries to move but suddenly finds him in a position unlike any other. He was restrained in mid air by that mage again. He grunted, trying to pull away, but it was no use. He lowers his head again, seeing his Scizmitar on the ground. He was.....defeated.

The fire sprite who had flown to the ground suddenly floats up slowly, rubbing her forehead from that impact. She gasps upon seeing the floating elf and flies to him. She stops in front of his face and places her hands on his cheek. Void didn't react. He just kept his head lowered, trying not to accept his own defeat. The sprite closes her eyes and begins using some form of healing on him.

Nefuriya looked on wondering who this fairy-like creature was assisting him. To her, it might have seen like something bad for him to be regaining his energy, but a softness was being exerted from her, that was not threatening at all. Void's eyes slowly opened as he looked toward the creature.

"Go away," he says softly.

The sprite shakes her head in disagreement and continues to use her healing spell. She also sends a mental telepath into Nefuriya's mind.

~Please, let him go. I promise he will not do anymore harm.~

The sudden mental voice had taken Nefuriya by surprise. She recovered quickly, however, and shook her head grimly at the little sprite. "You know just as well as us that that is impossible. Even if I chose to release to release him, which I will not, the others would not." she glanced at the others, specifically Neru who had begun eyeing her suspiciously when she mentioned 'release him'. Her resolve hardened, and she added, "He has done far too much damage to be let off the hook just like that."

~But he will-- ~ the sprite fluttered frantically, but was cut off by another firm shake of the head.

"What he will or will not do is of no matter to us." Nefuriya said, "What matters is what he had done to us, that's all."

"I'd say I'm sorely curious about what you two are conversing about." Neru murmured, echoing the thoughts of several others, "But I suppose we have already grasped the geist of what you are discussing."

"And the verdict would be?" the windcaster asked wryly.

"Just as you've said. We're not letting him go. Too many lives have been lost because of him and Krug." Drewera replied, "Our friend Krug has already repented and is dealing with the consequences of his actions. Now its his turn."

((no fair! Capture my character? That is so wrong! ))

Void's eyes suddenly shot open upon what they just said. He yells at her:"Do you think you can capture me like you have captured Krug?!" The sprite is startled by his outburst.

"How dare you think you can confine me! I promise that if I even get one chance..."

"You'll do nothing," Neru replies, staring at him with a face mixed with frustuation and anger.

"What did you say," the elf says.

"You will do nothing you foolish fiend!"

Void struggles with the bind over his body. "I will wipe you from existence!"

"Just try it then!"

Void's eyes stared at her like a hawk's, so wide and direct with its prey. His eyes were glowing purple again, indicating his inner rage waiting to burst out. But....something...brought back....memories. The sprite lowered her head, sensing Void relaxing. The elf slowly covered up his teeth with his mouth that had been shown by his rage and the glow faded away. He looked again at his arms and legs, and finally down at his weapon that had stuck into the ground, standing upright. He lowers his head and says:"Damn!"

The sprite sighs in relief and returns to healing him. Void didn't care this time.

Neru could not identify what was the feeling stuck deep in her chest. She was not sure it was relief that there was to be no further fighting and possible injuries, or disappointment that there was now no rightful way to vent her frustrations on him.

Instead of acting impulsively which she was more than ready to do, she viciously clamped down on those emotions and forced her thoughts to the business at hand. "What to do with him now? We have still got the moon shard to retrieve."

"Trielani," Coran pointed to the glowing spot at the giant tree, "How do we get the shard from there? Cut it open?"

"No! If you do that, us elves will be affected too." Trielani frowned at him before glancing up. "This is indeed quite tricky. How do we get the shard out witout harming the tree?"

Void grunted, moving his head around. He looks down at the mage, eyes still with that hate...but they were soft somehow, which seem to make the sprite whimper a bit. The answers:"You idiots are just as clueless as an orge. To think that you are elves is a joke to me." He looks forward wehre the light was slightly gleaming.

"Hmph. If you all were paying attention, you'll feel that this entire forest is alive. In fact, I doubt that tree will give up something that precious so easily. Aren't I right?"

A grunt is heard coming from the giant tree, causing the Moonseekers to look toward it quickly.

"What was that," Krug asks.

Void snickers. "I cannot believe you do not know the great Mesophilion, the lord of Saschinta, the great tree said to have lived for over a millenium."

The grunt is heard again then a clearing of the throat. Void looks toward it with that same stare. "You were here the whole time watching all this for fun. Why would you let us endanger you?"

The barks start to move own their on before a face begins to form from the bark. It looked liked a face of one that has aged, with heavy eyebrows and a loping mouth. It begins to speak in its deep, but soft voice.

"Aren't you a special one to be able to notice my presence? Yes...I am Mesophilion, the oldest tree in the forest that you stand in. It is I who has learned the many languages of this world....and it is I who protect and keep this forest sacred. I've watched this place for over 1000 years like a father."

"You still haven't answered my question," Void snarls.

"Calm yourself, elf. You are in no position to speak. If you weren't so blind, you'll see that these people here have you pretty much at their mercy. Besides.....I did not interfere for you provided entertainment, something I have yet to see in my time here. Now....you all are grouped here for a particular reason, yes? A glowing shard, perhaps?"

The item shined above the tree's so-called forehead.

"Ever since this item struck my bark, fiends have been drawn to its power. For some reason, they have also mutated as the power of this mystic object swarmed from my forehead and through the creases of this forest. I, myself, cannot remove this object alone, for it has somehow attached itself to my lifeforece. But...if someone else removed it....I would die."

Drewera ignored the mild surprised gasps and the worried murmurings that came from various members of their group, and stared hard at the ground around Mesophilion. Though old, the soil was able, even if its not at its best. But it would fulfill its purpose if she tampered with it.

"There is a solution, though I cannot guarantee its success." she said, walking towards the tree and kneeling down to grope at the soil around the great tree.

"And that is?" Mesophilion asked.

"While we extract the moonshard, I can modify the soil around you so that you would be able to gain the lost lifeforce, which had been supplied by the moonshard, and replenish it in time so that you would not die." the dwarf replied, she paused, a thought striking in her mind and add, "To make it safer for you, I'd ask Trielani to heal the area where the shard rested, just to sustain that area till the soil's modification would be complete."

"However," she continued, standing up and rummaging through her bag, "I cannot say for a certain that this would be a safe process. If the timing goes wrong, you might lose your life." a small item was soon produced and she stared up the old magnificient tree, "On the other hand, if it succeeds, you will be able to live as you had done before, and not worry for the trees and the bestiaries that inhabit this area.

"This choice is yours to make. Which route will you take?"

Mesophilion moved its mouth as he went into the process of thinking about this. Void just stared, quite angry that they were going to get this shard and not he. The fairy just stared at Void, shaking her head. After a few, the tree grunts and replies to her question:
"I will allow you to attempt to remove the shard from my head, but.....do not worry about me. I have....lived long enough. If I die, then let it be, for I do not want to be in a world that is about to die itself."

"What do you mean," Drewera asks.

"I have been conversating with those like myself all across the continents through our natural wind talk and it is said that Ariana and Condarca has already repoted sightings of abnormalities in the environment. I believe that it is in cause of the mystic shard, like the one that embeds itself in my bark. According to the data I was given, it was concluded that these shards will soon destroy all of Domiria."

"Not if we get them in time...."

"That is...if you get them in time. Look at your group. It is filled with as many people as a town and you all walk around together. If you desire to save the continents in time, it is required that you divide your team to make traveling quicker and obtaining your treasures faster."

Void keeps struggling against the binding, his dark magic returning slowly thanks to the sprite's healing.

"I agree with the idea of splitting up our entourage. However, opponents such as him," Drewera nodded her head in the direction of Void, "just can't seem to stop making trouble for us.

"Regarding those abnormalities, you do not need to worry. My friends, or rather, clients have already notified me about it. The situation is not as they seem to be, and Ariana and Condarca will be quite safe for the time being, since those who've gotten hold of those shards are, thankfully, smart enough to lie low for the moment." she paused, noticing the strange looks she had been pinned with, "What? I can't be that lucky to be able to acquire that much information from such some townfolk or drunken merchant can I?"

"Anyways I support the idea of splitting up, though I suppose none of us would want to discuss this issue right now, and with our current company." she eyed their struggling captive. "We will do what we can for you right now, and decide upon our next course of action later, if you don't mind?"

"Alright, I've had enough!" Nefuriya suddenly declared, irritated, and sent Void several inches higher in air, a flick of her hand causing him to be suspended, if possibly, even straighter. The little sprite who had been healing the elf was repelled by a visible barrier-like substance that surrounded Void.

"You," she turned to the sprite who was nursing a bruising hand, "have healed him enough and will not go anywhere closer to him than you are. And you," she glared at Void, "will not attempt to break free of this bind or you will be cut by that fast speed wind that's surrounding you. Don't even try to use that to break the bind, it will not work. Irritate me enough, and I'll cut off both your air supply. Fair enough?"

The sprite looked at the mage with whimpering eyes while Void stared at her with eyes of a madman. He could not believe he was at such a position. This went against everything he stood for. Yeah, attacking a group of fighters alone was sort of an amateur's idea, but he had it all planned out. Everything. But it looks like he had underestimated these Moonseekers too much. Now what the hell was he suppose to do?

The sprite lowers her head and speaks to Void.

~Please....just stop it for now.~

Void looks to the sprite. ~What the....~

~Yes, Void. I can talk to you telepathically.~

Void just looked at her, his expression mixed with anger and shock.

~Why the hell are you,~ he scolds at her mentally. ~Why don't you just go away?!~

The sprite lowers her head even more. ~I...I've been summoned to assist you, Void.~

~By who? Tell me!~

~Lien,~ she says quickly.

Void's expression goes from anger to complete surprise. His eyes....linger as everything around him seems to cease. His entire mind shuts down upon the mention of that name. It seems as if the darkness itself vanished that was surrounding him to release him from his bind.

~Lien...~

~She...tells me to inform you to meet her in South Condarca....Czesleca country.~

Void lowers his head, closing his eyes quickly. He couldn't believe this. Nothing like this could ever happen. Nothing! Was it possible or was she lying to subdue his feelings. But yet....he still felt an urge inside to see if it was true. To see if his childhood friend was still alive. The elf raises back his head, clenching his teeth as he wonders what he should say. Should he reject the mage more....or surrender like that weak Krug did?

"You," he screams at Nefuryia. "Release me! I..." His mouth tried i's hardest to form the words. But he shakes his head and scowls:"I surrender!"

A smile forms on the sprite's face as she looks at him.

"Oh?" Nefuriya raised an eyebrow. "And I'm supposed to believe you?"

~Please, release him.~ The sprite added telepathically.

"Let's see." Neru said, "You've attacked us twice, endangered us numerous times, refused to a truce even in the worse situation, and you expect us to believe that you surrender, especially when you don't sound like you do?"

"I..." the elf hung his head. He froze when the sprite turned her eyes on him, and raised his head, a do-that-and-I'll-kill-you look on his face.

"No intimidating your little sprite either." Nefuriya scolded, tugging on the bind threateningly.

"Kindly enlighten us mere folks what's going on." Trysta sighed, reminding them of the presence of the other moonseekers, who had been quiet throughout their conversation, and Mesophilion.

"He was giving her those death glares." Nefuriya replied, gesturing vaguely, "Like he's going to kill her if she did something."

"Then why don't we just ask the sprite straight? It'll save us more time this way." Arien piped up.

Her suggestion was met with approval as several of them nodded, turning to the sprite who was beginning to develop a 'deer in spotlight' look. ~But if I told...~ she protested, projecting the telepathic message to all who was around.

"We will make sure that you will not face any imminent danger." Seph said.

Drewera snorted, "Hell, we might even consider freeing him, if his excuse is worth the effort."

The sprite looks once more at Void, who looked at her once more, then swung his head away, not bearing to want to see this. She looks back toward the group.

~I am Revior, a fire sprite from the god, Ignifer. I was called upon by a fair elf named Lien to come and retrieve a certain someone. I made my way from Condarca to this continent by way of ship and continued to to look for Void for months. I finally ran into him buried in the snow of the northern lands and was able to free him from an icy grave. But he continued to pursue you all and now we are here. I feared that you would kill him before my master would get a chance to meet her childhood friend once again.~

Void's eyes stayed wide open in compete shock and embarassment as he looked the other way. He wanted to kill everything in sight now. She had ruined his reputation in an instant. He wanted top screazm from the deepest depths of darkness and destroy everything. But he couldn't....he had finally found where Lien was. He now had another purpose in his journey. To see her again.

The elf looks back forward, his eyes closed, but his expression more relaxed. "It is...true," he finally says. "As much as I want to reek my revenge upon you all...I have a more purposeful matter to deal with now. Allow me the pleasure to see her....after all these years....and I'll assist you in your quest."

Neru made a unidentifiable sound, and said to the other seekers even as she remained staring at the suspended elf. "Whatever. I'm getting tired and hungry. And there's that moon shard still stuck in that giant living tree."

Mesophilion grunted. "I have a name, human."

"You're giant, living and your name is too long." Neru pointed out bluntly, before her eyes swept over the others. "Make the decision, people, and make it quick. I don't want to be involved into yet another battle with oversized wolves and random mutated beings just because the shard is still stuck out in the open. Even if you have infinite energy, I unfortunately don't."

Coran, leaning up against a tree with his sword in hand but at ease, responded, "She's right. We should get this over quickly. The faster we get that shard out, the lesser chance we will need to fight more of those creatures."

"Kill him, and we have one less worry, but that may upset the sprite there and her master." Neru spoke again. "Let him come along, we have extra help, but at the same time, we will worry if he'll betray us or have ulterior motives. I'm fine either way, although I feel that maybe we should give him a chance, like we did for Krug. But we'll watch him all the same. How?"

"There's something I can do about that." Nefuriya told her. "Like I said, if he does anything that pisses me off, I'll cut off his air supply. Even if he doesn't care about himself, or the sprite, he obviously cares about this elf called Lien."

"If all goes to hell, we'll just make sure that he suffers real bad for what he had done to us." Drewera added.

"So now what? How do we intend to extricate the moonshard from Mesophilion?" Seph asked.

"Well, I could form a water bubble by absorbing the water in the tree to get it out from a fixed position while any of you cut through the tree, at where Mesophilion pinpoints it, and extract it out." Eiyora said.

Arien piped up, a worried look on her face. "But wouldn't that be painful for Mesophilion? I mean we'll be cutting through it- I mean he - right?"

Mesophilion laughs heartily. "Go ahead. Pain is but a mortal's curse. Us trees do not feel pain. We only feel our life drain away as we age. Nothing more. So go ahead."

Void looked on, seeing how they didn't have a wink of trust in him. He didn't care. As long as he got to see her again, he didn't care. As for Neru cutting off his air supply, he doubt he would allow her. He'll just wait again for a chance to flee and go see Lien.

The sprite looked at Void now with an irritated face, the first he saw of a negative emotion from it. Void looked at it then looked away. He looks back to the group and says:"I will cut the shard out. I don't care how you all feel about me, but I am the only one skilled in this matter. If you care to retrieve the shard quickly, then I can."

He knew they would reject his offer, but he needed to at least get them to trust him some.

"Actually, there might be another method." Lakre suddenly said, stepping towards the tree. "You know the exact location of the shard, is that right?"

"Yes, I might be able to tell you where it rests." Mesophilion replied.

"If so, why don't we burn a small hole through the trunk to reach the moonshard? If Eiyora has absorbed the water in the trunk, it would be easy to burn a hole trough and extract the moonshard without causing too much damage right?"

"That might work." Krug added, "I could modulate the fire to burn only at a pinpointed area and let Eiyora or Neru extinguish it before it spreads."

Lakre nodded, "Exactly, then we would be able to finish this faster and return to town earlier too."

"What about Void?" Drewera asked.

"Well, I suppose I can't keep him binded all the way to town." Nefuriya sighed and lowered her hand, releasing Void from the bind and letting him land on the ground. "I'll let you walk on your own for now. Remember, piss me off, and you die. Attempt to run, but fail, and you'll be subjected to torture, I don't care how. If you succeed in running off, we'll hunt down that friend of yours and do whatever we want with her. Is that clear?"

Void lands onto the ground in a crouched position, his arms and legs now relieved of that magical abidement. He sighs heavily. The sprite sighs as well, hovering down to him and still smiling towards him. He just kept his eyes closed.

"If you succeed in running off, we'll hunt down that friend of yours and do whatever we want with her. Is that clear," Neru says.

Voud's eyes suddenly shoot open as she says this, having look dead at her. He grabs his weapon that was lying on the ground and stands up slowly. "Do that and I'll kill you a hundred times before you hit the ground! No matter if I run or not."

His dark magic began to swarm around him, her comment pissing him off every second. He wanted to kill her now, but....he had things to do first. More important things. He swings his weapon and reattaches it to his back. He then looks up at the tree, then Krug, and finally at Neru, who had now gained a great dislike toward. He turns. "Do what you want. I'm returning to the entrance. I have no desire to see you make my previous goals obselete." He walks away, the sprite obediently following after him.

[OOC: Vex, it's Nefuriya who is binding him, and threatening him, not Neru.]

Nefuriya heaved another frustated sigh, raising her hand and gesturing backwards, sending Void shooting back into the group, levitated in mid-air.

"Let me make this clear to you, Void. Since you can't read between my words." she said, her voice cooler than it usual, "I did not release you, just so that you can let lose your temper on me. The fact remains that you have lost to us, and we, even when we had the chance to, did not kill you."

Her eyes flashed, her anger clear, "You have single-handedly lagged all of us behind our time schedule, and comfort zone, and officially pissed off the majority of us, me included. By all rights, I should be strangling you right now, and watching how you die. But I didn't. Instead I let you free, only to have you attempt to threaten me. A weak attempt if I may add."

She took a deep breath, almost as if to stabilize herself, and continued, "I do not care about what you think or what you feel. The only thing that I care about now, is what you are doing that will affect us. If you could get over your immaturity and look at the situation clearly, you would realise that what you're doing will only slow down your attempt to meet this friend of yours."

"I want this crystal clear in your head." she murmured, "You were given a chance to walk on your own, and you gave it up, because of a moment of your own stupidity. You are to be blamed for your own actions, not mine. If you want to live to see your friend, you better make sure that you behave, lest I decide to kill you and your friend once I get the chance to. And no amount of threatening from you will faze me. Clear?"

[OOC: Just to let know. When a person is being floated into mid-air by a windcaster, unless he/she is a windcaster him/herself, there is no way for the person to be able to move as they wish, because he/she cannot manipulate the wind around them to move him/her the way a windcaster can.]