A few days later, the group reached the halfway point. A massive cluster of mountains. From here on, the road will be much more treacherous. Bandits, Kobolds, and Emerald Eagle's line the mountain paths. And compared to the last week, traveling will be much harder. Looking behind them, Scythe noticed a storm, "Hey Astela, will that be a problem?"

Astela looked back, "Only if we don't have any cover."

"Then we should hurry." Scythe sat back forward and kept riding.

Keeping an eye out for any cover big enough for everyone, took some time. Even with a storm on approach.

Finally, they found cover. As the storm started down pouring. "Get those tents up!" Astela yelled

"Working on it," Ifera yelled back

  Unable to do much, Scythe started the fire for cooking. With a little chaos, all the tents were put up but the wind caused the rain to go sideways. Everyone stayed near the fire, just to stay dry. "Just what we need. Getting soaked to the bone." Liz chattered.

"It could be worse, there could be hail," Reven said, unbothered by the rain

"Yeah," Scythe said, stirring the food. "We need to hunt something after the rain passes. We are almost out of most ingredients."

"After the rain, I'll go take a look." Astela offered, "Since you have done the last few nights as a guard, I'll take up some of the work tonight."

"Thanks, I could use the sleep."

  Everyone ate dinner and went to their tents. Ifera and Scythe doubled up in the same tent. "Well to continue the practice," Scythe said, "It's not much more than that."

"Yeah." Ifera created the flame, already getting it to move a sizeable distance. "How did you learn this in the first place?"

  Scythe thought for a moment, "My memory is a little hazy, but Luna, my mom. Taught me a lot about magic. She compared it to a blade, an extension of your body. But she also made it clear that it isn't the be-all, end-all."

  "Fair." Ifera bounced the flame in her hand while thinking about magic, "Wait, could we try something?"

"Sure." Scythe spoke slowly, "What is it?"

"Let's face each other," Ifera turned her body, "Let's pass the flame, back and forth. That might help, using both of our magic."

"I didn't think of that." Scythe turned to face Ifera, "Continue explaining."

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  Ifera created a flame and handed it to Scythe, soon just floating it back and forth between them. They did this for a time. "That takes way more focus." Ifera said, "But I think it was good."

  "Not too much, but just enough. There is more fine motor control." Scythe added, "I think you are the one with the gift for magic. You understood so much in such little time, I'm pretty sure I'm going to be learning from you soon."

"You jest." Ifera slightly pushed at Scythe

"I'm serious, you have a natural talent." Scythe insisted, "I could ask my mom's to teach you when we get back. They love teaching."

"I... Uh," Ifera got flustered, "I'll think about it."

  Scythe laid down, propping his leg on the other, creating a flame at his fingertip. Exhausted, he quickly fell asleep.

  Waking up in the void, Scythe tried creating his own light. But it quickly died out every time he made another. Until another thing made light, but this light was cold and empty. Turning around it was Phae's blade, the crack glowing white. Reaching out to touch it, it disappeared. Reappearing a distance away.

  Scythe chased after the blade, it led him into a cave. One all too familiar. The blade sheathed itself on a pedestal. Looking around, this was the cave at home, but it was different, the stone was recently carved, and there was no rockslide. Looking around, Scythe saw another person, just as confused. This person, had the same silver hair as Scythe, her eyes like rubies but she carried two blades, Scythe reached out,

"Aurora?"

"Scythe?" Aurora spoke, looking around "Where are you?"

"I'm right here." Scythe waved, not knowing he was invisible.

"I can't see you, but I can hear you." Aurora looked around, "This has to be a dream. and if we can talk... we need to make it quick, where are you?"

"I'm heading to the Scarvo city, we just reached the mountains." Scythe answered

Aurora smirked, "I'm there now, guess I'll be seeing you soon."

"I'm sorry." Scythe said, but Aurora disappeared before he said anything. "Damn it!" Scythe snapped

"You'll be seeing her soon enough," Phae spoke.

"Phae. What happened after that magic circle?" Scythe got straight to the point.

"No 'it's good to see you'?" Phae spoke, "But you want the truth, and I'll give it to you. Your magic, your true magic, cracked my blade, it gave me quite the shock."

"What do you mean true magic?" Scythe asked

"That primal form of yours, The Arrynzoth."

"Arrynzoth? What the hell is that?"

  Phae didn't have a body, but you could tell she was giving a look, "An Arrynzoth, is from the Realm of Dul-Shad. Something beyond me, and your mothers."

Scythe was shocked, "I can't have that power, I don't have more magic than Sol or luna, or even you."

"But you do. Your blood is filled with void magic. I have only encountered two other Arrynzoth's, each master, true masters of magic. Well, not magic, but Ruun."

"You've said Ruun before, I have no clue on what that is." Scythe then asked, "what do you mean void magic?"

"Ruun is the highest form of magic. Or would it be better to say, the true form of magic?" Phae asked herself, "Void magic, is rather unique. You can take spells used against you, and turn on the people who attacked you. You've said it yourself, any big magic hurts. Because it hasn't been used against you."

"I'm not following."

"You will learn with time," Phae spoke

  Scythe woke up. Ifera was deep in sleep herself, the rain had stopped. Stepping out, Scythe waved to Astela who kept the fire low. "Wanting to trade?" Astela asked, "I could use some sleep."

"Sure, you head to bed. I'll watch till morning." Scythe sat down after tossing a log on the fire.

Astela stood up, and went to her tent, speaking through a yawn "Night."

"Night." Scythe watched the embers float up into the sky.