Gwen was nearly to the wall when the ground trembled. She quickly steadied herself. A glance up showed the mages on the wall all rushing toward the outer edge. None of them were looking her way. What great timing! She vaulted over twenty feet to land gracefully atop the wall, unnoticed by all. Two mages where there staring out toward the mists horrified expressions plastered on their faces. Perfect. They got a closer view when she shoved them over the side. Their screams were lost to the general noise. Although she was in a hurry Gwen made sure to savor their terror, along with the crunch from below. When she looked up. She felt fear herself. The mists were moving. That couldn't be good.

“What’s going on!?” A mage demanded as he exited the gate control room.

“Help!” Gwen shrieked rushing toward him.

“Huh?”

The mage’s confused uttering turned into a nonsensical gurgle as Gwen’s paw rocketed into his privates lifting him into the air. Things down there became rather… mushy. At the apex of his guided aerial acrobatics a mighty blow from Gwen knocked him over the side of the wall. That was when she noticed the other mage.

“FORCEBOLT!” A blast of energy knocked Gwen a dozen feet back her chest constricting with pain. She spat out some blood as she rolled to the left avoiding a second spell. She got to her feet making a quick dash at the mage.

“SPECTRAL CHAINS!” The mage shouted as magical bindings wrapped around her. She toppled over. As she fell an overwhelming panic took her. Then she was back to that night. The night when the kin were being enslaved. The mages had bound her then dragged her off to the bed. The hands groping her body, tearing the clothes from her. The smiles they gave her as they force her legs apart. The feel of their…

“NOOO!!!” Gwen screamed as the horrors of that night assaulted her. Rage and fear competed in her pushing her on. With all her power both magical and physical she strained against the spell. The conjuring shattered. The mage who had been walking toward her stumbled backwards in shock as she scrambled at him.

“BAR…” The mage never finished the chant as Gwen’s fist connected with his chin. The bones deformed around her blow, teeth flying both outwards and down his throat. The mage clutched his ruined chin as the next strike landed squarely on his nose. The mage’s face deformed around her fist with a meaty thwack. It wasn’t enough! She would never let them do that to her again! She punched again and again until there was nothing recognizable remaining. Gwen came back to herself as the other cultivators secured the control room locking the gate in the open position. They didn’t say anything as she trembled. They didn’t need to. Many of them had similar nightmares.

“Never again…” Gwen whispered.

Archmage Denayd was sipping his tea when earth began to tremble. He frowned setting both his tea and book down. He’d intentionally stayed far away from today’s events. All the easier to persuade Azura that he had nothing to do with the elves activities in the event she prevailed. Grumbling, Denayd got to his feet grabbing his staff. When he opened the door he saw no one. Not surprising. His room was near ground level and away from all the annoyances of daily life here. Denayd loved his privacy just as much as his thirst for knowledge. It appeared that both sensations would go unfulfilled. He was no closer to discovering the source of Azura’s power than he was when she first appeared. Two more turns and Denayd became concerned. Where was everyone? It took another five minutes before he ran into a clearly panicking mage.

“Boy slow down!” Denayd barked projecting his most stern tone. It was one he’d practiced over the years. Either his voice or the fact the young mage looked completely lost did the trick. The young mage halted in his tracks.

“Good. Now tell me what’s going on?” Denayd said as the boy faced him.

“Oh thank the God’s from above!” His relief was obvious. “Archmage the kin are attacking!”

“What kin?” This made absolutely no sense. The kin all had slave runes.

“The strange foreign kin that came a week ago.”

Denayd frowned. The kin under Raphael’s command? This made no sense, unless… Was he some foreign agent sent to weaken Fortunia? It was possible. With the mana cannon exhausting all the ambient mana the kin would have an advantage.

“Where’s General Darkfall?” Denayd asked. The man surely had to be aware of what was going on.

“The kin have him sir,” the mage timidly said. “They've taken him along with several other high ranking mages hostage.”

Denayd swallowed. Darkfall was a powerful mage. If the kin could take him… This was bad. Even worse Azura would be fighting the elves right now. They didn't have time for this nonsense.

“Where are they?” Denayd asked. Perhaps he could buy their freedom.

“They’re at the main gate,” the mage said.

Denayd mentally dismissed the man and started for the gate that lead toward Deepmere.

“Not that gate Archmage. The western gate.” The mage said to his back.

Denayd turned puzzled. What was going on? He followed the mage his thoughts in turmoil. When Denayd arrived he found he wasn’t the only one. The kin were lined up in two rows in front of the gate, like some type of honor guard. Mages were held at knife point before them. Clearly it was a show of power. Darkfall was held rather securely by a large bear-kin. Blood covered a small portion of his face but otherwise he seemed unharmed. How long this remained true was a different question as his glare barely contained his fury.

Denayd looked around for the controlling mage Raphael. When he found him his stomach fell. He was one of those at standing at attention as Azura strolled casually in. She walked calmly down the middle of the kin. As she walked one of the kin behind her handed her something. She quickly attached it to her chest piece. It fit perfectly in the indention in her armor. Once he saw the symbol he knew they were finished. The symbol perfectly matched the others except for one difference. In the center of her spiral was a blood red gem.

Denayd burst into a thick sweat that wouldn’t be out of placed in a desert. His mind raced trying to think of some excuse. Before he could come up with anything Azura spread her arms wide.

“Cultivators, show them your power!”

Denayd senses came alive. Magic seemed to roar all around him thick and heavy. It didn’t come from the local mages nor the Magebane herself. It came from the kin as they flexed their mana pools. All of them. Now Denayd knew how the young mage from before felt. His own panic became an insurmountable mountain.

“HOW!?” He screamed. This shouldn’t be possible! The Magebane simply smirked at him as she drew steadily closer. Then it hit him like an overpowered Forcebolt. If the Magebane could close mana pools, then she could open them as well.

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Fear replaced the panic. The Magebane wasn’t simply rescuing kin. She was making an army. He would've cursed himself for not checking the kin for awakened mana pools if that was ever a reasonable thing to do. Why would he, or anyone, ever check?

“So, you planned on attacking us from the beginning.” Denayd said his throat dry.

“Me,” Azura said sounding hurt. He sincerely doubted it was real. “Not at all. I just knew you’d betray me. I had things setup just in case. If you didn’t attack first then this would’ve never happen.”

The Magebane continued forward. “Then again, the mists caught all of us by surprise.”

Denayd just stared at her. Was she going to kill them? She could do it. With her power and that of the kin they had little chance now that the ambient mana was gone.

I'm altering our deal. I’m taking all of the kin here with me.”

“You can’t,” Darkfall snarled. He struggled briefly against the bear-kin who held him. It was slightly more effective that that butterfly pushing a rock.

“The ambient mana won’t replenish for a few weeks. We need the kin to hold the mists back.”

“Too bad,” Azura said coldly. “If any of your mages survive out there they will tell you it’s pointless.”

“What do you mean?” Denayd asked. How had the situation spun so completely out of control?

“The mists are being controlled by intelligent creatures called Eldritch Lords.”

The statement made no sense. Was it a lie? Something to confuse them? He would’ve clung to that notion but, she had no need to lie.

“Nonsense,” Darkfall said. “The mists are just a force of nature like the tides.”

“I don’t care if you believe me. I think a few mages survived. They’ll be able to confirm it,” Azura said with a shrug.

“So, we’re taking all the kin?” A rat-kin said.

“No choice. Bring them here,” Azura said. As she spoke Denayd saw young Elise enter the city with a white cat-kin behind her. Denayd swore as she saw the body that the cat-kin held.

“Loric…” This was bad. Did the kin kill him?

“Archmage,” Elise said coming up to him. Her eyes were puffy with tear streaks marring her cheeks. If it was from sorrow or rage he couldn’t tell. “Why? Why did this happen?”

He debated on lying or refusing to answer. A quick look showed him that Azura was listening as well. As all was lost anyways perhaps some truth would aid him better here. Besides that bastard Raphael had been privy to their plans, so no doubt Azura knew most of it already.

“The elves wanted revenge. The council decided that Azura couldn’t be reasoned with.” He heard Azura snort but otherwise stayed silent. “So it was decided that the elves would be allowed to act as they saw fit. Deepmere would neither aid nor hinder them in anyway.” Elise face fell. “What happen to Loric? Lord Tarwin will want details on his death.”

“The elves killed him,” Elise spat.

“I see,” Denayd said. He was about to ask for more details when three elves reached the gate. They gasped for air while warily looking at the kin.

“Oh, you finally showed up,” Azura said. “I thought you stopped for a nap.”

They glowered at her but wisely didn’t respond. Instead they gazed at the situation. Denayd hoped they wouldn’t do anything foolish. His concerns were unfounded as they hesitantly made their way toward him. With each step they watched the Magebane as if they expected her to strike at the slightest provocation. For her part it appeared that she was ignoring them.

“May I go see to my duties?” Darkfall sneered.

“Depends,” Azura said. “Do you agree that we can take the kin? Along with enough supplies to feed them for a month.”

“A MONTH!” Darkfall exclaimed. “You think too much of yourself. I admit the kin took us by surprise but there are over a thousand mages here. The only thing keeping us from eradicating you is your cowardly act of taking hostages.”

“That and the lack of ambient mana,” Azura added helpfully.

“General Darkfall the loss of the supplies will only hamper us in the short term,” Denayd said quickly. “The kin won’t cooperate now. This would be for the best.”

Denayd was sweating. Darkfall’s pride could cost them everything. Unexpectedly it was the elven commander Sylvar that supported him.

“The Archmage is right. The Magebane slaughtered over thirty elite elves in a single attack. As much as it pains me to admit it we might not be able to stop her with the ambient mana gone.”

Darkfall looked like he could spit a Posionbolt. Azura seemed unconcerned as she sat on a wagon kicking her feet back and forth.

“FINE!” Darkfall snapped.

“Swear it on your mana pool,” Azura said.

Denayd didn’t think it was possible to enrage the man further but he was proven wrong. The veins on the man’s head looked like worms ready to burst forth with each heartbeat.

“I swear that I and the forces under my command will not take any actions against you or your kin.”

Denayd let out a private sigh of relief. The worse was behind them. That was until he heard Sylvar’s report back at the keep. Strange magic users in the mists that could match the Magebane in power. This was a disaster. No. A disaster was something they could recover from. This was so far beyond disaster that he lack an adequate comparison. And the ultimate sting was that they had just alienated the only person who could fight equally with their enemy. He cursed the council and himself for their actions. With nothing left to lose he left to find the Magebane. Perhaps begging might work…

He found her in the central plaza surrounded by kin. As he neared several kin gave him hostile looks. That ceased to matter to him as he saw her. More precisely he saw the crimson star on her finger. In some sort of ritual a kin knelt before her opening his mouth. Azura gently placed the star in him. What was that? Some kind of magical power? He felt nothing. Perhaps if he… GODS ABOVE!

He felt it then. The kin’s mana pool flared briefly as it awakened breaking the slave rune. The crimson star emerged from the kin’s flesh reattaching to Azura’s finger. The kin stumbled away as the next one knelt. The process repeated. Denayd watched, enraptured. He didn’t even notice the mage pulling on his arm. His awareness only returned when he was far enough away that he couldn’t see anymore. Denayd turned ready to blast the fool mage out of existence. He hesitated when he noticed it was Darkfall’s assistant.

“I’m so sorry to disturb you Archmage, but the General needs you immediately. The mists approach.”

That broke the spell Denayd was under. This throat went very dry.

“Take me to him.”

This day was full of mysteries. How were the mists spreading so fast? It has always been a slow gradual process. Perhaps that had all been a façade. Was there any hope left? He took a brief look back at Azura before walking faster. If he hurried perhaps something could be salvaged.

The pyre was ready as the last rays of daylight faded. Elise held the torch its light casting long shadows. She looked at her father’s remains resting peacefully atop the structure. The ceremony was small. Only herself, Coralline and Azura were in attendance. Azura looked worn as she stood next to her mother. Not surprising as she had been awakening kin’s mana pools all day. That or it was the stress of the approaching wall of mists. A glance to the west told her that tomorrow or the day after it would be at the very walls of Fortunia. She let that worry dissipate. This was more important now. Coralline stepped forward her face full of regret.

“Loric, I was angry at you for a long time. I felt betrayed by all the empty promises you gave. Yet you helped where you could. Most importantly, you gave me my daughter. For that, I have nothing but eternal gratitude. I hope wherever your journey takes you it treats you more kindly than this one.” The cat-kin stepped back placing a hand on her daughter’s shoulder.

Azura rested her own had on her mother’s before stepping forward.

“Father… That still sounds weird to me. You’ve been absent from my life for so long you’re nothing more than a stranger. From the little time we had together I think we might’ve gotten along. Now, I’ll never know.” Azura paused as if deep thought. Perhaps she was going to say something more profound but ended it simply. “Goodbye… father.”

Azura took a step back and hugged her mother. Elise desperately wanted her own mother there at this moment but like many things she desired it wasn’t to be. Elise took a step forward her voice thick with emotion.

“Father. I can’t believe you’re gone. It wasn’t supposed to be like this. We were going to be a family. What do I do now?”

The world distorted as her eyes flood with tears. She didn’t suppress them but let them flow.

“WHY DID YOU LEAVE ME!?” Elise shouted startling a flock of crows who been eyeing the body. An unreasonable anger burned in her. She let that burning anger transfer to the only place left for it. She tossed the torch into the pyre. It started slowly as smoke lazily drifted upward. She thought about casting a fire spell but dismissed the idea. She needed time. The world hurt too much for her to rejoin it yet.

A pair of arms encircled her pulling her close. The blue hair told her who it was but at that moment it didn’t really matter. She sobbed into her sister’s shoulder. It was so unfair. All of it. At last she understood at least some part of what the kin had endured. Of what her sister had. For now, just crying and being held was enough. Enough to hold back the pain from engulfing her completely. The pair held tight as the blaze consumed all.