Elyusian and Ashalan rushed back out to where Elyusian’s father was positioned by the front windows of the house.

“There are now hundreds of guards. They have amassed in the town square and they are marching this way.” Timian said as he looked out into the village roads.

Ashalan looked at Elyusian.

“I'm so very sorry my newly found friend. I have brought this upon you and your village and for that I am eternally sorry.” Ashalan said, her eyes brimming with tears.

The house shook again and one of the walls collapsed into rubble beside them. Ashalan and Elyusian ducked for cover, falling to the floor.

Elyusian looked across at Ashalan, she got to her knees and scrambled towards Elyusian, lifting the amulet over her head as she did so. She placed the chain over Elyusian’s head, and let the amulet drop onto Elyusian’s chest.

“Seraphine has a power source that is hidden within the cavern of souls. This amulet holds a tiny piece of it.” It glowed slightly as Ashalan spoke of it. She took Elyusian by the shoulders and spoke in earnest to her.

“Elyusian, I need you to travel to Quaren Valley on the outskirts of Haaden and find Sir Monterey of the Knights Guard and give the amulet to him. He will know what to do with the information it possesses. You will need to pass through Sarau and Bastilis first, it is a long journey and I am out of time.” Ashalan said with a look of defeat on her face. “The world as we know it depends on you now, Seraphine is here in the village, I can sense it. The amulet is more important than my own life, so I entrust you with it now to get it to safety.”

“Are you coming with me? You have to come with me.” Elyusian said, starting to panic.

“No, I will stay here and fight alongside your father, to allow you enough time to escape.”

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A fireball struck the house knocking down another wall. Dust and debris covered them.

Ashalan looked at Timian and Elyusian saw a look of understanding pass between them. She knew she wouldn’t be able to argue, this had become her journey too.

“Hurry Elyusian you must go.” Elyusians father pushed the debris aside and pulled a large metal rung opening a trap door which was concealed beneath the floor. Elyusian quickly scrambled down into the tunnel it concealed.

“We have a tunnel which leads to the outer pastures of the village. I built it thinking it could prove useful if we were ever attacked by the neighbouring kingdom...” He led Elyusian to the door and Ashalan helped him open it. Elyusian and her father hugged goodbye, both had tears in their eyes.

“Go well Elyusian.” Ashalan said and hugged her too. “The five kingdoms must be saved from this madness, from Seraphine.”

As Elyusian started the climb down into the darkness she saw the Princess blow gently, sparking a flame on the end of a piece of wood which she passed down to Elyusian to use as a torch. It immediately lit the tunnel around her.

“How do you do that? The flames and the fire…you are human, aren’t you?”

Ashley looked sad.

“It is not something I chose to possess. Be safe and be swift in your journey.” Ashalan said as she began to close the trapdoor, the flames on Elyusian’s torch crackled and sparked as she did so. She descended further down the old wooden ladder and looked up and saw a ball of fire fly past the top of Ashalan. Ashalan shielded herself and dropped the trapdoor closed.

Startled, Elyusian fell backwards into a heap on the dirt floor below, knocking out the fire on the torch. She stood up in the darkness and dusted her hands to get the dirt off. She felt around the ladder and climbed back up. She'd get Ashalan to light the torch again she thought as she climbed the ladder and reached the top.

She pushed on the door but it wouldn't open, she went to knock but heard shouting and screams from above then lots of heavy footsteps. Slinking quietly back down into the darkness, to felt her way back down the ladder to the floor below.

The amulet started to glow gently and pulsate. Elyusian studied it in the dimness of it's light. It was heavy around her neck and felt warm to touch. Turning the amulet around, she held the jewelled facade up ahead of her, the jewel illuminating the walls slightly giving her enough light to see at least part of the walls directly ahead.

The tunnel was small and she had to bend in places to avoid hitting her head. As she walked further, the sides of the tunnel started to feel like they were closing in. She gulped and kept going as she heard more distant screams from the world above and fought the urge to climb back up the ladder to her father.

She pushed forward, uncertain of the path ahead.