The path to Emerald Fortress was like its name. A tint of green illuminated the forest floors and walls as they teemed with nature's wildlife, but in the depths were the unspeakable evils of the monstrous Fiends and Veilspawn.

Lyra took up the front, Followed by Cassandra, Malakyh at the rear, and Aurora and Tierney in the middle.

The forest came to life as wildlife thought to greet them at the edge, but they wouldn't dare sit in their line of sight. One wrong move or look would spell disaster.

A shrill, inhuman scream rang out down the forest path, and two large Onyx black wolfish creatures emerged from its depth with blue crystals on their backs. More creatures emerged from the forest: now the lanky, limp arm and crystal blue eyes—the Veilspawn.

“Let's form a circle and surround them, then attack from there,” Lyra instructed the group. They formed around the monsters, keeping Tierney and Aurora toward the back.

Cassandra acted first and let out a war-like cry to agro the Fiends and Veilspawns to her. This gave Lyra ample time to charge up the Wellspring-oriented elemental Essentia and swell with power around her.

She pivoted her stance, with bent knees, and propelled herself in the air as she called out: “Radiant Smash!” The brilliance of Gaia Essentia surrounded her blade, Riftblade, and as she catapulted the blade down, a shot of rock pillars impaled the creatures, ricocheting them in the air.

A Veilspawn, however, managed to avoid the same fate as its comrades and was about to ambush Lyra From behind.

Aurora caught sight of the creature first and stepped forward, prepared to take action with the powers vested in her. She didn't know what would happen, but she couldn't sit back and watch while everyone fought.

A hand stretched out to block her from taking another step. She tilted her head, and her red eyes trained on the cloaked figure, Malakyh, but his attention was focused on the creature before him.

Malakyh's eyes glowed an iridescent white and gray. The power of a Strega commanded the shadows, and a tendril of shadowy arms lurked around the Veilspawn.

It shrieked in agony as the tendrils of shadows tightened until the creature exploded into a black mass, trickling down from the ground.

The three slashed, attacked, and power drove through the forest Path, taking Veilspawn and Fiend right and left.

Their destination was finally met, and they saw a tower in the far distance.

Emerald Fortress.

Lyra led the group across the stone bridge path that trailed across a cavernous abyss.

Once they reached the Tower's front gates, Lyra turned to face them: “Okay, I don't think this is or will be an Altar, but you can never be too sure, so keep an eye out.”

The group nodded in agreement and tightened their formation.

“Aurora, you and Tierney stay close to us. We don't know what's in there, so keep your eyes peeled. “Lyra told them.

“B-But, I can help.”

“I already said no, Aurora. Please leave it at that.”

Aurora pouted and crossed her arms, staying close to the group.

A stone structure had been abandoned and broken down inside the Emerald Fortress. Columns were broken and shattered among the cracked stone floors. Grassy shrubbery and vines hung along the stone walls, giving the fortress the impression that it had been there for a long time without any human interaction.

The group ascended a set of cracked stone steps in their vicinity.

From the next platform, several Veilspawn lurked on the stone walkway. Lyra cued them to charge forward, and they took out the Veilspawn with some struggle, but otherwise, they defeated them to ash.

They continued their ascent when they heard a scream.

They rushed to the scared cry and saw a little boy cowering in the corner as a Veilspawn lurked over the cowering boy.

“Oh no, you don't!” Lyra cried out. She propelled herself into the air and landed before the boy, facing off against the blue-eyed beast. She channeled the Essentia inside her as the power swirled around. “Radiant Slash!” Her arm swung through the air, and a surge of Zephyr blasted the Veilspawn away. Then, it smashed into the stone wall, obliterating it in seconds.

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“Hey, hey, don't worry. You're safe now,” Lyra cooed to the frightened child. She picked up the little boy in the crook of her arm, keeping another tight grip on her sword's handle.

“It looks like we have company,” Cassandra voiced as ethereal shapes began to appear from the air. Veilspawns began to morph one by one into physical bodies.

Lyra gritted her teeth with a flinch. “There must be a Rift somewhere in this tower, and I would bet that a Magycte Beast isn't too far behind.”

“Any idea what we should do?” Malakyh asked.

Lyra didn't know. Our objective was to save the boy from the Fortress, but if there were a Rift somewhere here, it would be imperative to close it so it doesn't affect anyone else in the long run. I can't just leave the Rift nor go at it by myself. Ugh!

It would be troubling if only two of them fought to take down a Magycte Beast, and even though Cassandra's arm was healing, that still put them at a bit of a disadvantage. The same thing would apply if she went with Malakyh. If it were just her and Eamon there, Kesync would be enough with just the two of them; it would be like four Locksmiths.

Her eyes watered, thinking about him. No time for tears. She looked over to where Aurora and Tierney were standing. Lyra Didn't like this idea, but there wasn't any other option. She trusted Aurora but was also scared, but… she had to trust her that she would be able to think on her feet.

“Aurora and Tierney too, I have a mission for you…” Their focus turned to her, and Aurora's eyes widened. “I'm trusting you with this.”

•†•

“Leave the Fortress and wait for us outside; protect the boy at all cost. Can you do that for me?” Lyra asked Aurora. Her heart was beating in its chest, and her eyes expanded, finding the moment unreal.

She bobbed her head up and down so Lyra knew she was serious. She's going to trust me. I won't let her down!

“Do you have the daggers you gave you, Tierney?” Cassandra asked her. She, too, nodded. She was nervous, but she would be sure to stand independently if not to make Lady Cassandra proud.

Lyra situated the now unconscious Boy securely on Tierney’s back since she could carry him.

“Like I said, wait at the exit for us, and if you can, avoid fighting at all costs. Okay?”

Aurora bobbed her head. “I promise. We'll be safe.” Before wrapping Lyra in a hug. Lyra clung back; she didn't want to let go but knew they didn't have much time.

They separated from the two girls and returned to the fortress's exit. Despite the several floors they needed to descend, no enemies respawned after they had been defeated earlier.

“This is going to be easy-peasy,” Aurora exclaimed. “Are you okay, Tierney?”

Tierney had the boy's legs hooked under her arms. She huffed as she followed the quick-footed aura.

“Yeah, I'm fine. Don't stop now; the faster we get out of here, the closer we'll be to the exit.”

They continued their descent but didn't see a slithering Fiend hiding as they climbed down. Its yellow eyes squinted as it stared at the two running girls, and its long, skinny tongue flickered with a ssss sound.

Tierney couldn't see it herself, but her “other eye” could. She flinched and grabbed the side of her head as her eye throbbed as she cried out.

“Tierney!” Aurora skirted to a stop and approached the two-eyed girl, leaning against the stone wall with one hand and trying to hold up the boy with the other. “W-what happened?”

Tierney hissed. “I don't know. I just… this pain shot up through my body. That only happens when I’m about to experience… a vision.”

Her eyes seemed to glow the moment she said it, and images played throughout her mind's eye. There was a yellow-eyed creature circling on the walls. Tierney’s vision self-called out, “Look out!” just as the vision self of Aurora's head was bitten off.

The vision cut off when the creature jumped for her. She screamed and backed away, almost losing her grip on the boy.

“Tierney! What did you see? Are you okay?” Aurora tried to coax her back to normal, but all she could make out was her saying, ‘Something is watching us.’

Aurora stood up straighter. Her senses are alert now. She didn't know precisely what Tierney saw, but how Tierney reacted made her realize it was scary.

Aurora gulped and tightened her tiny but shaking fists. Calm down… calm down… You're an Ashborne! Just what would Lyra do?

“Be confident and… and…. Stand your ground. Look around your surroundings.” She listed off to herself, remembering the times she had seen Lyra fight in battle.

A shuffling sound was heard to the right, and Aurora snapped her head to the noise. Whatever it is… maybe it's on the walls? These stone pathways seem to be good hiding spots.

“Gotta channel my power… somehow.” She might have known she had the ability, but she wasn't sure how to trigger it. Wait, can't I call on Saint Lumos? Lyra gets her power from the Wellsprings. Maybe Lumos will give me some.

“Okay!” She slapped her palms together and shouted, “Please, Lumos, lend me your power so I can protect us!”

A moment passed, but nothing happened.

“Aurora, watch out!”

Aurora opened her eyes just in time to see the Fiend spread its teeth jowls at her and was mere inches from chomping down on her head.

Aurora fell back and rolled off to the side from the danger of the Fiend.

The scaly Fiend with leathery fins on the side of its head stood up on its two rear legs And let out a roar. It looked at Aurora, then turned to Tierney, and the boy flicked its tongue. It was dinner time.

“No!” Aurora shouted. She sprinted toward the creature and jumped on its ridges back. The Fiend hollered. “Leave. My. Friend. Alone!”

Though brief, Aurora's eyes turned white, and sparks of electricity shot down from seemingly nowhere and cascaded into the Fiend. The Fiend collapsed to the ground, its skin now smoked from being fried.

Aurora blinked. She stared down at the Fiend at her feet, then looked at her hands. “I did that… I did it!” Aurora jumped up and down. Realizing she should cut the celebration, she hurried over to help Tierney.

As the two girls helped each other outside the tent, another figure emerged from the open window of the Fortress twenty feet above them.

Sovran #12 Death's Mistress, Raelina.

Her jet-black hair, with streaks of white, blew in the wind, caressing her tawny cheeks. With a delicate, manicured hand, she moved it effortlessly away. Her painted red lips spread to an even smile as her purple eyes trained on Aurora. She had found the Locksmith and her quite easily, but she was not to engage under strict orders, only watch.

“Soon, little White Krieger. Soon. Now let us see what else you can do.”