The city Ilistina had stumbled upon looked as if it had been abandoned for decades rather than thousands of years, yet nature had still recalled most of it. Large stone blocks that once composed the outer wall and the main temple lay mostly submerged within the swamp, their surfaces adorned with thick vines, moss, and an unidentifiable slimy substance that Hector couldn't name.

Stepping up to the closest stone block that made up the outer wall, Hector marveled at its construction. The craftsmen who had constructed the wall had meticulously carved large scales onto the entire block, an artistic choice that made the outer wall seem like an enormous snake encircling the city. “The city seems far too young to be the one from your story,” he noted as he ran his hand across the stone scales, admiring their intricate symmetry. This was not something he expected swamp savages could construct.

“I agree,” Ilistina replied, walking over and joining him at the wall. “This city is too young and constructed too close to the swamp’s edge. My ancestors would have found a way out of the swamp if they were this close.”

“So, this is not the group of cultists your ancestors defeated.”

“It would appear not, which raises some questions.”

“Yes,” Hector agreed. “Do these people share the same beliefs as your cultists, or are they different? And if they are different, where did they go?”

“Exactly,” Ilistina uttered a glint of excitement in her eyes. “Let's search the city to see if we can find out what happened!”

Nodding in agreement, Hector followed Ilistina as she quickly stepped into the city, her speed causing his eyebrows to rise. He did not know she liked exploring ancient ruins, but her energy started rubbing off on him. “Don’t go too far without us!” he called after her.

“Keep up!”

Walking past the submerged walls surrounding the city, Hector studied what structures remained, his mind spinning. The walls look strong but if invaders get within the shadows of the walls, it would be hard for the defenders to fight back, he thought as he looked up at the gateway. Also, while the scale carvings look nice, any Arcane Warrior worth his Crest can use it to climb the walls. It’s not well-designed. I wouldn’t be surprised if the city were abandoned because of invaders.

The interior of the city looked much as Hector expected—large sections of the stone buildings lay crumpled and broken on the ground, all of it covered in layers of mud and growth. From the sky, he suspected it looked as if the swamp was eating a large snake.

“Larissa, Aerendil.”

Hector blinked as he heard Ilistina shout at the two Royal Guards. “Search the city but make sure not to wander too far. I will stay with Prince Hector. We need a place to make camp. Try to look for a building that won’t fall on us, but no wildlife has moved into.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Looking over at Ilistina, Hector saw her uncovering something with her foot. “Be back in thirty minutes.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Bending down, she picked up what she had uncovered.

“Did you find anything?” Hector asked as he walked over, his eyes narrowing at what was in her hand.

“It’s a broken knife. It’s made from some sort of shiny black rock,” she said, handing the broken knife to Hector. “I’ve never seen anything like it.”

Taking the knife, Hector frowned. The knife was made from a black crystal-like rock that he had also never seen before, carved shallow grooves running from the center of the knife to its end causing the knife to have a serrated edge.

“Why a stone knife?” he wondered out loud, passing it back to Ilistina.

“I don't know. But let's keep looking.”

“I agree.”

As Hector and Ilistina explored, they discovered bits and pieces of a life that once thrived here, dilapidated buildings constructed using a mixture of wood and carved stone blocks, broken pottery scattered about, but no signs of anyone living.

“It must have taken a small army to construct this city,” Hector mused placing his hand on one of the stone blocks and feeling its weight. “Thousands must have lived here just a few decades ago.”

“If I had to guess,” Ilistina replied, bending down and picking up an old skull. “They were all killed off. Look, this skull has a hole in its head. Judging by the way the cracks appear, something powerful struck him. Probably killed him instantly.”

“The outer walls are not well-designed,” Hector grunted in agreement. “Look, over here. This building was set on fire. The stone walls are black. I had a suspicion, but I think you’re right. This city fell to invaders.”

As the two of them were lost in thought, a terrified scream suddenly split the silence, followed by something thrashing wildly, the earth trembling from the impacts.

“That was Larissa! It came from the city center!” Ilistina shouted. Immediately spinning around, she bolted towards the source of the screams.

“Stay here!”

“Wai… Ancestors help me,” Hector muttered as she ran out of earshot. Ignoring her command, he chased after her, his weakened body protesting every step. He knew he would be nothing more than a burden, but his sense of duty compelled him to act! He felt that if he stayed hidden, he would lose a core aspect of what made him, him.

Desperately putting one step in front of the next, Hector stumbled his way to the city center, his ragged breathing causing a metallic taste of blood in his mouth. Clutching at his chest as he arrived at the city center, he stopped, his eyes widening at what he saw.

At the city’s heart stood a massive, tiered temple, thick vines twisting around it as if the very swamp was trying to pull the temple into its putrid heart. In front of the temple lay a large black pool of water, the water so dark and still that it looked like a mirror, a mirror that reflected the darkness in a person’s soul. Scattered around the pool lay multiple large broken stone blocks with no discernible pattern to their resting place, almost as if a child had tossed their toys around.

On the opposite side of the pool standing in front of the temple was Ilistina, her elven sword drawn, Arcane Light radiating off her as she stood her ground. Standing there, she shouted, and a silhouette of a Giant Hornet formed of Arcane Light materialized around her—the Royal Crest of the Elves. Looming before her was a colossal snake the size of a house, fangs bared in a terrifying display of aggression.

The snake’s entire body bore jagged scars as if it had torn itself free from numerous serrated weapons, large sections of its body scaleless. Jutting out from its left eye was a massive spear, a long chain attached to it dragging on the ground.

Instantly forcing the absurd situation into the back of his head, Hector started to move, his veteran instincts telling him he could worry about questions later. Crouching down, knees scraping the ground, he scurried around from stone block to stone block, his eyes searching for Larissa and Aerendil. Seeing a shadow shift, he stopped as a stifled sob reached his ears.

Peering out from behind cover, he saw Larissa cradling Aerendil’s body in her arms, tears running down her face. Aerendil was dying, his lips turning blue from blood loss. The elf had a fatal wound on his chest and was missing his left leg—lost somewhere Hector could not see.

Taking a sharp breath through his nose, Hector dropped back down, his teeth clenched together, chest tight with regret. He knew it wasn’t his fault, but if he hadn’t needed a cure, Aerendil would never be in this position. Stop! This is not the time! We can blame ourselves later. Now we need to do as much as we can, he scolded himself. Crawling to the edge of the stone block, he risked another look towards Ilistina.

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Ilistina was fighting the serpent to the best of her abilities, her body shining like a star as she dashed about. Breath held in anticipation, Hector watched as she deflected a tail swipe from the snake, her body forced back, her feet sliding on the muddy surface. Despite the impact from the tail, she managed to leave a shallow but clean cut on the snake’s tail, blood flowing out. The snake shrieked in pain.

It was not or never! Using the intense battle as cover, Hector scrambled to his feet, running as hard as he could to Larissa, his head kept low. Nearing where she was hidden, he dove head-first toward her, his body sliding through the mud. Ancestors give me strength. With a painful thud, he came to a stop, his body hitting the stone block she was huddled behind. “What happened? Are you hurt?” he urgently gasped, scrambling up off the ground. He was covered in mud and a little bruised but otherwise, he was fine.

“It just came out of nowhere,” Larissa sobbed, her hands clutching Aerendil’s head. “We were inspecting the pool when the snake emerged from it. It bit Aerendil before I could react.”

Looking at Aerendil’s lifeless body, Hector silently put his hands together. May your ancestors welcome you home. After the quick prayer, he took Larissa’s shoulders in his hands, staring deeply into her eyes. “We don't have time to mourn Aerendil now,” he said, shaking her gently. “We must help Ilistina, she’s fighting the snake as we speak!”

Gasping as if she had just realized what was happening, Larissa scrambled to her feet, eyes wide in panic. “I left her Majesty!”

“Calm down!” Hector hissed, glancing towards the fight. Ilistina was dancing around the snake at breathtaking speed, constantly striking areas where its scales were missing.

“I need to go help Her Majesty! I left her alone!” Larissa cried, panic rising in her voice.

“Quiet!” Hector snapped, tightening his grip on Larissa’s shoulders. “If we go now, we’ll just get in her way! We need to think of a strategy!”

He understood her fear; he felt the same dread clawing at his chest. The need to act, the terror of standing still while someone else fought alone—it was unbearable. But he knew that charging forward with their current strength was suicide. Dying wouldn’t save Ilistina. Gritting his teeth, he forced his mind to move. He had to come up with a way to help Ilistina without dragging Larissa or himself into needless danger.

Hearing a sudden crash, he extended his head out from cover. His heart sank at the sight. Slumped against a stone block was Ilistina, her teeth bared as she took short fast breaths, her sword still held in front of her. The snake had slammed her against a stone block!

Extending its massive body above her, the snake opened its deadly mouth, poison dripping from its fangs. Despite the agony etched on her face, Ilistina stood back up, her hands steady, feet firmly planted on the ground. Shouting in pure defiance, she tightened her grip on her sword, the deadly weapon pointed at the snake.

As the snaked moved, she roared and surged forward, abandoning all signs of defense. Clearing the distance in the blink of an eye, she slammed her body into the colossal snake, driving her extended sword into the snake.

There was a momentary silence before the snake started to shriek, a haunting sound that reverberated throughout the swamp, the trees and pools of water vibrating from the sound. Thrashing about, it managed to wrench the sword from Ilistina’s grasp, the weapon still deeply embedded in it. Baring its fangs in a terrifying display of anger it spun its head to look at Ilistina, its mouth wide open.

An unnerving hissing sound—different from its previous shriek filled the air as a grayish-green mist erupted from the snake’s mouth. The mist rolled over Ilistina, spreading rapidly until it blanketed the whole area, from the temple all the way past Hector.

Clutching at his throat as he dropped to one knee, Hector felt his vision start to spin, the mist coming out of the snake was poison!

“Prince Hector!”

Vaguely hearing Larissa shout, he felt her arms circle his chest as she started to drag him away, her voice sounding muted to his ears.

“We need to get out of here.”

“What's happening?” he managed to gasp, the unfamiliar acidic taste in his mouth burning his throat.

“The mist is poisonous. You were poisoned. Again.”

“No. What's happening in the fight!”

“The Queen is keeping the snake's attention for now. She’s using her Aether to burn the poison mist before it gets into her body. But she lost her weapon. It's still stuck in the snake!”

Grunting in acknowledgment, Hector pulled his massive saber from his waist, forcing the weapon into Larissa’s hands. “Bring this to her,” he managed to gasp. “I’ll be safe here.”

Clutching the saber in her hands, Larissa paused before nodding in understanding. “Thank you.” Leaving him half-hidden behind a small tree she sprinted out from behind cover, her determination giving her strength.

Spitting out the acidic taste from his mouth as best he could, Hector fumbled with the leather pouch on his chest, his fine motor skills long gone from the poison. I need to drink a potion! I need to detox the poison. I will not die here!

Fingers feeling like lead, he fumbled to untie the pouch, failing again and again before realizing his coordination was getting worse, he could no longer control his fingers! The Terrors take me! Pushing the screaming panic that was threatening to overwhelm him to the side, he willed his hands to move. Calm down you old fool! This is not the place we die! Sandwiching the pouch using both hands, he raised it above his head in a mighty yell. Muscles bulging, he brought it down as hard as he could, slamming it against the ground.

Feeling a rush of adrenaline as he heard the potion vials within the pouch break, Hector’s joy was abruptly cut short as he realized he was pitching forward. His body was no longer under his control. With a smack, he felt his body strike the ground, but no pain came with it, his body was already too numb for him to feel pain.

Laying there on the ground, Hector knew he had precious seconds to act before he lost even the ability to breathe. He had to drink the potion now! Moving purely on willpower, he dragged his body forward, straining every muscle as he brought his face onto the pouch he had just thrown down. As his lips made contact with the wet pouch, he started to suck, praying that the potion would enter his mouth.

Drinking the putrid water, Hector gasped in relief as a familiar taste entered his mouth, the usual warmth bringing feeling back into his face. Greedily taking in as much as he could, he felt the warmth of the potion start to change, the gentle warmth turning into a burning inferno, his throat and stomach burning as the potion slowly fought the poison.

Screaming in pain, Hector started to convulse, the pain causing him to writhe, arms and legs flailing about. As blinding pain shot through his head like lightning, he lost all sense of reality. Surrounded by pain, and only pain, he gasped as suddenly, the pain vanished, almost as if he imagined it all. Pushing himself up with his shaking arms, he turned his head towards the sounds of fighting, his blurry eyes slowly bringing everything into focus.

Ilistina was still valiantly fighting the snake, blood flowing down her face, hands clutching at Hector’s massive saber. As the snake struck her with its fangs, she brought the saber up like a shield, allowing the impact to push her to a safer location. She was still holding her own against the snake!

Larissa on the other hand was shooting arrows at the snake, each projectile harmlessly bouncing off the snake’s thick hide, like flies flying around one’s head.

Cursing out loud, Hector hobbled towards Larissa, his eyes locked onto the long chain that was attached to the spear in the snake’s eye.

“Larissa!” he gasped as he stumbled next to her, mud and swamp water spraying everywhere. “The chain! We need to grab the chain!”

“You're not dead! I thought the poison got you!” she cried, shooting her last arrow.

“I’m not dead yet. I drank a potion!” Hector explained, wiping mud off his face. “We need to grab the chain!”

“I already thought of that! We are not heavy enough to keep the snake down!”

“We don't need to be! You just need to wrap the chain around a stone block!”

Eyes widened in understanding, Larissa gave Hector a sharp nod before sprinting out from cover, her elven cloak tightly wrapped around her.

As Larissa left, Hector felt a heavy helplessness settle down on him, his inability to act bringing a type of pain he had never experienced. He was supposed to be the one, everyone that everyone counted on, not the one that waited with his breath held. Vowing he would never be this helpless ever again, he watched as Larissa made her way closer to the snake.

Larissa ran over the treacherous terrain with ease, drawing power as she moved. Tightly clutching at her elven cloak, she kept most of the Arcane Light that was radiating off her hidden, her face angled down. Ducking behind a stone block she waited until the snake struck at Ilistina before diving for the chain that was dragging in the mud.

Hands clutching at the old metal chain, she uttered a small yelp of triumph before dashing for the nearest stone block, her elven cloak billowing behind her.

Heart beating wildly in his chest, Hector counted the number of times Larissa ran around the block, his head whipping towards Ilistina when he counted three. Throat straining, he yelled as loud as he could, his voice causing the snake to glance at him.

“THE CHAIN! LOOK AT THE CHAIN!”

Not showing any indication that she had heard Hector’s words, Ilistina charged at the snake, Hector’s saber dragging behind her, the deadly weapon cutting a trail in the mud. As she ran, the image of the Giant Hornet that surrounded her became more defined, the vibrations from its wings causing the very air around her to hum with power.

Rearing up as the Elven Queen closed the distance between her and it, the colossal snake shrieked in blinding rage as it struck out, its mouth wide open, fangs dripping poison.

The moment the snake struck, Ilistina swung the great saber over her head and brought it down into the soft swamp. Her momentum instantly came to an abrupt halt as the blade sank deeply into the ground, anchoring her in place and preventing her from moving forward.

There was a sickening sound of something ripping out as the snake’s head passed by where Ilistina was supposed to be, the old spear lodged within its eye tearing free as the chain pulled taut.

Covering his ears as the snake started to howl, Hector felt his skin crawl, the unearthly sound causing his body to feel as if he had been dumped in ice water. Vision blurring, he watched as Ilistina bent her legs, his saber held in front of her, hilt near her chest.

Jumping upwards like a shooting star, the elven Queen rocketed upwards, the saber in her hands piercing the under jaw of the snake and jetting out of the top of its head. Stance of the Night Sky, Form One: Comet.

Recognizing the martial system from Lundale, Hector marveled at its strength and speed before his body lost all energy, adrenaline, and determination that was keeping him drying up. Slumping down heavily on the muddy ground he closed his eyes in relief as he fell into darkness.