Yabda was a small village situated on the outskirts of a sprawling forest. On the south road this was the final stop and entryway to the road which led to the kingdom’s largest and capital city, Traliseth. On most days it would be filled with travellers rushing to and fro, preparing to trod the beaten path through the wood or to the inn for a mighty meal accompanied by unhealthy amounts of liquor followed by a terrible night’s sleep on beds not even fit for dogs. Tonight, however, was no normal night. Storm clouds had swelled earlier in the day, bathing the world below in darkness before the downpour began, partnered with dangerous blasts of lightning and the thunderous boom of, well......thunder. It was on this night that the two cloaked silhouettes rode towards the archway atop massive horses, the rain splattering the ground, drowning out the sound of their approach. One of them raised their head to read the sign swaying violently in the heavy winds. Getting closer, they lowered their heads and sighed inaudibly, realising it was unreadable in the current weather. 

  The heavy winds picked up as they neared the arch, causing the rope - which the sign hung from - to snap, launching the wooden slab into the gusts. The curious figure quickly jerked his horse to the right as the sign flew past them and embedded itself in the muddy ground behind. The figure stared at the newly planted sign before the other burst out laughing, a sound that was quickly gobbled up by a boom of thunder chasing after the flash that preceded it, lighting up the world for a brief second. Side by side the two companions entered the village, one still chuckling to themselves, and the other trying to ignore it all. The village looked as one would have expected on such a night. The outdoors were barren on part of all the village folk sheltering from the rain in their homes or the local inn.

  “Should we maybe stay the night and wait out the storm?” one of them shouted with a distinctively feminine voice as they approached the inn. It was one of the few buildings which still had light burning on the inside. He could see the shadows moving about from the windows. Then he sniffed the air and looked at his partner. “We could also get something to eat!” He spat phlegm and bile, famished and desperate for some good meat. “They have roasted pork, recently butchered, it’s very fresh and– “He sniffed again, then hesitated “Dragon steak........ Forget it, this place is fucking disgusting and rotten.”

  They continued in silence as they passed the building, and the male pinched his nose with both hands. His companion looked at him with shivering lips stuttering to speak, but her words were stolen by a bang.. They swung their horses around to see an old man tumble down the steps of the inn followed by laughter and loud insults. He slowly got back up to his feet and shouted at the laughing figure standing in the doorway, ignoring the filth that now covered him.

  “Me’s tellin’ yas, It were a gient wolf I say!” he waved his hand over his head and stretched as far as his small frame would allow. “Big as a bear me tinks, no, even bigger! An as hairy, no even hairer, me’s tellin’ yas!”

  “Go home old timer!” a gruff voice shouted the man into a whimpering withdrawal.. “Yer disturbin all the nice customers, with yer crazy talk. Ain’t no wolf out dere bigger than a bear!” he chuckled before turning his back and slamming the door. The old man turned to them and smiled feebly as he washed the mud from himself and his tattered clothes in the pouring rain. “Yas goin troo da woods ain’t has, well me’s not tinks yas shood!” He yelled “big wolf, yas see? Big gient wolf live right dere in dat Forest. Gobble yas right up, it will, it will!”

  “I have no time for idiots,” a woman said quietly. Her words were carried away by the rain and thunder but her companion heard it almost clearly. She turned her horse and broke into a steady trot. The male simply nodded as he did the same. “Yas path will only lead yas and yous frens to big gient disaster. Turn back child of dragon.” The words bore into his mind and were as clear as if they were whispered directly into his ear. He spun his horse quickly to look back at where the old man stood, only to stare at the empty streets before him. He sat there perplexed, wondering what the words meant, and how this seemingly crazy old man could possibly know about him when this was their first encounter. He must have misheard, otherwise it didn’t make any sense, and yet the words still rang in his brain. Maybe he meant the wolf then? He thought to himself as he hurried to catch up with his waiting companion.

  “What took you so long, slowpoke?” she punched him playfully as he got close. “Look, the rain’s finally easing up! We no longer have to shout our lungs out!” she screamed then laughed after a coughing fit. “Still pissed about them serving Dragon steak?” she asked when she noticed he didn’t even look at her during her act.

  “Huh?” He snapped his neck from the inn and stared at his companion. “Oh.....no, it isn’t that. It’s that creepy old guy. He said something weird to me after you rode off.”

 The woman craned her neck to one side then slowly looked towards the inn. “What creepy old guy?”

  “The one we just spoke to outside the Inn, he said–“

  “I’m sorry, but seriously, did you hit your head somewhere on the way to me?”

  “What are you talking about?” He was starting to get even more confused and a bit agitated. “The one we literally just spoke to! He got thrown out of the Inn and then started spouting off about some big wolf! That creepy old guy!” He watched her closely for her to slip up and burst out laughing, admitting that she was just playing with him, but it never came. She stared back at him, then to the inn, and back.

  “K’marri, we didn’t stop at the inn just now. You got upset about what they were serving so we just walked past and now we’re here........” she placed a hand under his hood and touched his face “You sure you’re alright?”

  He stared at her dumbfounded, she truly didn't remember the old man they just met. He took a silent and quick whiff of her and it then made sense, oozing from her were the traces of a recent magic spell. He turned towards the inn and smelt the same odour wafting from the building. “Yea,” he finally answered, feigning a chuckle. “Sorry, guess I’m just a little hungry.” 

  “Well, Traliseth is little less than a day away,” she gestured towards the woods and yanked the reins to race in its direction. “Last one there buys the food and takes care of our lodging!” 

  “Oh, no way!” He raced after her, keeping his cool facade, yet burning with questions about the man and the giant wolf. 

  Slowing to a slight drizzle, the rain gradually wet the forest floor after free falling from the thick foliage above. . It was late, late enough for the moon to peek from behind its thick blanket of black clouds which swirled above, occasionally ducking behind to hide from the crackle of lightning and roaring of thunder which seemed to enjoy the night too much to leave with the receding rain. There was one place however, where the rain nor thunder and lightning could reach. A small clearing devoid of any life, It was just a small patch of dirt. No animals, insects or even plantlife dared to enter, except for the four that sat there currently. This was the home two of them chose. 

       Storm clouds rolled above the barren clear, blotting out the moonlight in brief intervals. Beneath, sat a meek young man looking at the angry clouds, chuckling to himself as he pet the head of the giant grey wolf that lay on the ground next to him. “Our master has awakened it seems,” he lowered his head, causing a few shaggy locks of white hair to fall down his face. “Soon he will claim his place at the top of the world, and our clan will be there to witness it.” He stared at the gargantuan, partially clad man sitting cross-legged atop a hulking brown bear which stood towering above him. 

       “That is not the answer I require,” the behemoth replied stoically.

      “I’m sorry,” the smaller one brushed a few strands of hair behind his ear. “It’s just......I’m so happy, you know? Our lord is finally risen after his long slumber,” he smiled. “I just can’t focus on the trivial matter you come talking about.”

      “You refer to your crimes and punishment as trivial matters?”

      “Our clan does not adhere to the laws of the kingdoms, and you carrying out their sentences against me will be seen as murder by our kind!” he flashed a maniacal laugh. “You wasted your time coming here, Ursa" he shooed nonchalantly. Return to your masters, Celestial Knight.”

     “You are a fool, child. Feeding your Al-Roh, while neglecting yourself like that will do you no justice in the coming wars. And even if I don’t kill you for those people you have been feeding to it, someone else will come chasing you.” The man looked him over before the bear spun around and slowly walked away.

     “If they do, I’ll just have them eaten,” he watched the rear of the bear vanish behind the trees then made to move when the wolf suddenly perked up and howled. “Looks like dinner has arrived.”

     The two horses sped through the beaten path between a crowded forest of thick trees which seemed to stretch for miles. There were cheers and joyous laughter as the girl shot to the front and jumped her mount over a log resting halfway across the road. “Woohoo!” her feet slammed into the muddy earth once more. “Show off,” the boy swerved around the log, brushing his hand over obsidian scales. “Let’s go Shika!” The horse let out a howl and sped up to the other. The two beasts went at it side by side, their metallic horseshoes leaving impressions in the mud and stepping on ancient roots. He smiled at her and she contested it with a wider grin, topping it off with a characteristic laughter he loved. The boy returned his attention to the road, planning to overtake her, but then felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. “NO Isa-Darae, STOP!” He slowed suddenly as she shot before him again it was too late. The next moment, he saw Isa-Darae jump from her horse to avoid the terrifying gaping maw of a wolf that sunk into the poor creature with a sickening crunch. He pulled her crouched and shaken figure from the danger zone, helping her onto his mount the same time the beast daggered its bloodshot eyes. The wolf briefly let go of the limp, porcelain carcass, bathing the mare with her own blood that dripped down its fur, picking it up as swiftly as it had appeared, and flung it in the air as if to flaunt its gargantuan size. At the conclusion of an effortless gulp, the beast bared its bloodstained teeth that glistened in the pale moonlight seeping through the trees, uttering a guttural howl aimed at the companion who until then had spent countless days and countless nights riding in unspoken respect. Isa-Darae locked her eyes with the wolfs as it stared at them, blood coloured drool running down its jaws. She felt her heart racing and her blood became hot as she wondered just how strong the beast was, something she was dying to find out, something she realised as she felt her saliva wetting her chin. 

  “She’s a vicious beauty isn’t she?” a frail looking man emerged from the shadows of the trees, sneering at them as patted the side of the monstrous beast. “I hope your horse tasted wonderful, she doesn’t like horses you see. Meat’s a little tough to chew.” He turned to the still cloaked man and looked him up and down. “Hopefully you and that strange steed of yours taste as wonderful as you smell.”

  “How about you come and take a bite out of me,” the man stared back at him and laughed softly. “ Find out if I meet your expectations?” he then quickly whispered to Isa-Darae who sat behind him, itching to get some fighting done. “Think you and Shika can handle the mighty bitch?”

  She snorted. “Who, that little puppy? I’ll—” Shika growled beneath them. “Sorry, we’ll make short work of it before you even land your first hit on that malnourished corpse over there.”

  He returned his attention to the two just as the wolf launched itself into a pounce ordered by its companion. The boy leaped from his mount and launched himself over the beast, as it collided with Shika and Isa-Darae, tumbling in a mass of thick grey fur and emerald scales. For a moment he worried that Isa-Darae had gotten hurt, then discarded the thought when he heard her shout out in excitement.

         The hooded man landed heavily before the frail looking man and smiled as he took a step back in fear. He looked the man over once then sighed, removing his hood, revealing a black face, freckled with small reddish diamond shaped spots.  

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          "What the hell is she?!" The man was looking past the cloaked figure and trembling. 

          The cloaked man turned his head to the vicious fight of tooth, claw and fists behind him and chuckled, glad he wasn't participating in the fight he couldn't even describe if he wanted to. The young woman was fighting just as ferociously as the two beasts and by what he could tell, she was dealing out the most damage. He brushed a stray strand of his dreadlocks out of his face then shot his hand forward, closing it around the man's neck and lifting him off the ground. The man called out for help and within seconds the wolf's shadow covered then both, but then it vanished with a yelp and quickly as it had came, followed by cracking then crashing down of a tree. The man stared in horror as the scaled beast went for the throat of the wolf and bit into it, ripping out a chunk of flesh then buried its face in the much larger beast. 

        "To answer that question of yours. That would be Isa-Darea and she's hunted monsters a lot bigger than that puppy of yours." the young man spoke revealing a mouth filled with jagged fangs. The man struggled in his grip, trying to break free but the young man didn't budge 

         "Let me go.......please"

          "And why would I? You've been having that wolf kill and eat anyone who dares to use this road. You must be punished, and as the one with the highest authority in the vicinity, I have no choice but to be your judge and executioner."

          "You can't kill me.....not now!" He screamed "not on the day our god rises......Ursa, I know you're out there watching. Help—"

          There was a crack and the man went limp as the young man flicked his wrist. He dropped the body then turned to the bloodied Isa-Darea, looking at her, worried. She was watching him with a shit eating grin. 

           "Told you we'd be done before you even laid a hand on him"

            "You did. But you didn't." He smiled "I had my hand around his neck long before the wolf died"

             "You make an excellent point. Or do you?" She placed her finger on her chin and smiled crookedly. "You didn't exactly hit him did you? And that is what I specifically mentioned."

             "That's not how it works, but fine." He conceded "Are you alright?" He pointed at the blood on her.

              "Hmm? Oh it's fine, you should see the other guy. In fact, he's just over there" she pointed. "More importantly, do you hear that?"

               He craned his neck over his shoulder and nodded. He had heard it but wanted to make sure she was okay first, something heavy was coming and he wondered if it was the person the man had cried out to for help. He flexed his arms and saw his companion clench her fists, his mount snarled as it circled the clear. They were prepared to fight, but their hopes were dashed when they saw the glowing red eyes of a behemoth staring at them through the trees, but it wasn't the reason why they suddenly felt an intense amount of fear, it wasn't because of the monster staring at them which made them want to turn their backs and run and fast as they could. No, it was the presence of whoever it was that sat upon such a creature, for anyone capable of taming such a beast was surely not someone they could fight. They had all fought beasts just as large and even larger at times, and have won every time, but they would have had to be mad to try and tame one. Killing a monster was super easy barely an inconvenience, but taming one, or attempting to tame one, would just be madness.

           The young man felt himself take an involuntary step backwards, then smiled to himself as he forced himself back to his original position, he could see Isa-Darea standing her ground through gritted teeth as well and felt proud of his friend. He opened his mouth but before the words came out he heard a rumble, and realised the person was speaking to them.

             "I come in peace, Kephirian" It said "Only to let you know that man is wanted, and that the crown will pay good money for his head." And with that the behemoth turned and disappeared amongst the trees. K'marri released a breath he was holding and Isa-Darea laughed and she collapsed on her back in the moist grass, feeling the rain drops against her face.

              "I thought we were goners for a second there" she smiled "of course if it had really come down to a fight I'm sure I would have won. Right k'marri?"

             "Sure" he chuckled as he sat and leant against a thick tree trunk. "How about we take a break until morning. I feel exhausted." He closed his eyes and felt his emerald necklace pulsate as his steed transformed into energy and was pulled inside. 

          "Way ahead of ya"

          "Last night was fun. We should definitely do it more often." The storm had lifted and the first rays of dawn now filtered through the canopies, the two were now on foot walking an overgrown dirt road.

          "The part where we fought a wolf or the part immediately after where we could have died?" K'marri answered as he adjusted the bag carrying the man's head at his waist.

          "How about both?" She grinned. "I can't tell the last time I had my blood pumping like that, I need to chase that high again! I need to drown myself in the blood of my enemies!" She screamed to the skies.

           "Hey save it for our actual enemies. Don't want you getting yourself killed before we accomplish our goal" he grinned at her

            "Oh shut it. Have you ever seen me die before, or even lose a fight?"

            "I've never seen you die, but there was that one time in the marshes when you got swallowed up by that snake."

            "It snuck up on me!" She punched him and laughed at his cry. "And I got myself outta that one just fine."

            "You got yourself out?!" He stared at her, dumbfounded. "I had to rip open it's belly and pull you out! And then there was that time you—"

             "Stop making a fuss, I won't die until I've fulfilled my promise. Don't worry you idiot."

             "You better not, else I'll have to invest in a good necromancer and bring you back just to kill you myself."

              "Ha! As if you'd stand a chance against me. K'marri I'd fucking oblatherate you."

              "Dumbass." He tried stifling a laugh then let it burst when he figured he couldn't contain it. 

              "What the hell's so funny, you don't think I could take you?" She challenged

             "You meant 'obliterate'." he said through fits of laughter.

             "Huh?" 

            "That shit you said isn't even a real word." He cried. "Hah I thought you said they taught you at that monastery?" He giggled then cried in pain as he felt a pain shoot up his left leg and he toppled over face first into the earth.

          "I win!" She yelled and sat on his back, K'marri let out a groan which she ignored. "See, I'm a woman of action, not of words."

           "Cheap shot." He chuckled. "Now get the hell off!"

             Isa-Darea got up and helped him to his feet. Then when they were well on their way once more the two engrossed in conversation again. 

            "By the way. That man last night, riding the monster, do you know who he was?"

             "No. Why would I?" K'marri answered

             "Well he seemed to know who you are. He called you by name."

             "I've never met him before. But then many people know who I am, it's not hard to realise once they see my face."

             "True. Well I think I've heard of him before. Back at the monastery I used to hear stories about a former student who joined the ranks of the Celestial Knights."

             "One of the champions trained at the monastery?" He was a little shocked, as nobody knew where the champions got their monstrous powers from.

             "So I heard. I believe the man from last night was called Ursa. So the beast must've been Major......." She broke off. 

            "What would a Celestial Knight be doing out here though, you suppose he came here to kill that guy then?"

             "I think so, but why would he have called out to Ursa for help?"

             "I don't know. I heard the champions operate on a completely different level from the rest of us. Most laws don't apply to them and they pleadged their allegiance to the Celestials themselves, so they don't answer to any of the kingdoms, not even the temples can tell them what to do. They only listen to the official word from the Celestial's messenger and nothing else but their own whims. Who knows what was going on through his mind."

       "You're right."

         The two continued on in silence after that, each of their minds on their own worries. K'marri thinking about the old man they had met at the village and his strange premonition. While Isa-Darea thought with her fists as she always did, punching holes in any of the trees that dared to have their trunks in range. 

         The sun was high and right above their heads when the great walled city came into view before them. They had entered the south road from the forest a couple hours earlier and now approached the rear entrance of the city. Traliseth’s walls loomed over them, and even K'marri’s dragon eyes had trouble making out the shapes moving behind the parapets. He noted how there was no moss anywhere to be seen along them, and would have thought they were regularly cleaned if it weren’t for his eyes which allowed him to see the magic woven into the stones, and covering the entirety of the walls he could see. Revealing to him that they were enchanted, probably to keep off dirt and grime, possibly other grievances. He also noticed other forms of magic other than the previously discovered enchantment, but although his eyes allowed him to see them, they would offer no assistance in the identification of said magic. As they neared the gated entrance of the city they picked up on a conversation between the two guardsmen who idly stood by as if they weren’t tasked with the protection of the gate, one stood leaning against the wall smoking a pipe while the other slumped over the butt end of his spear.

         “–so that’s when I turned to the old cow and shouted ‘You’ll get your rent when you fix this damn door!’” the one slumping on his spear said to his partner.

         “And that’s when she kicked you out?” the smoker asked uninterestedly.

          “And that’s when she kicked me out.” The other reaffirmed “which leaves me with nowhere to go. Say, you and I are friends right?”

           “No”

           “Oh come on, we’ve been guarding these gates together for the past three years now. We are definitely more than friends.”

           “I have a wife, six kids and a sick brother at home. There’s no space for anyone else”

           “You had a family, Rigerd?” the man asked, surprised “this is the first you’ve spoken of them!”

           “It’s Rugerd, and I only talk to my friends about my personal life”

             “Oh, can I–“

             “Oh how unfortunate, we have incoming” the guard feigned disappointment as the two approached them. K'marri wasn’t sure but he thought he saw a sense of relief wash over the man’s face. 

            “Business, pleasure or leeching?” he asked them .

             “What?” K'marri asked.

             “I mean, are you here for business, for pleasure or are you another one of those sorry ass refugees looking to leech off the good folk of our city?”

             “Oh” Isa-Darae exclaimed “Definitely pleasure, we heard about how high-class the brothels here were, so we came seeking to have my friend enjoy his first time with a women!” she clapped her hands together and nudged K'marri with her elbow, who only groaned in response.

            “In that case, I recommend ‘The Velvet Fox’” he winked at them as he took a draw from his pipe and exhaled “I visit a lot, and can attest to the women there. Might even find a few around his age” he smiled.

             “Wait, I thought you said you were married!” the other exclaimed but the smoker simply ignored him.

              “I can guide you two if you want”

              “Maybe next time” K'marri spoke up, pinching the bridge of his nose trying to look at Isa-Darae who now looked like she wanted to visit the brothel more than anything. “What did you mean earlier by ‘refugees’?”

               The man looked at them incredulously. “You mean you haven’t heard?”

               “About what?” Isa-Darae perked up.

               “Geez, can you believe this, Newbie?” he turned to his fellow guard “people who don’t know about Avrym!”

       “Firstly stop calling me 'Newbie', I’ve been working with you for three years now! And secondly, it’s very plausible that they don’t know, they came along the south road so they probably came here through Yabda, which means they haven’t been in the kingdom for long.” He straightened and looked at them “am I right?”

        “Yea” K'marri answered “We just crossed over from Xamaiya, where we’ve been away from civilization for a while.”

        “Who’s Avrym now?” Isa-Darae asked, flashing a sinister smile and cracking her knuckles “Some wannabe bandit, thinking he’s tough?”

        “I wish he was simply a bandit” the smoker replied. “Avrym is The Black Dragon Sorcerer. Two years ago he appeared out of nowhere and started wreaking havoc” the guardsmen shivered a bit “he began killing entire villages, and turning the people into ghoulish monsters to serve him. Sometimes he’d send those ghouls to terrorise other villages, and other times he’d assume the form a black dragon and lay waste to them. He kept at it for months before our former king–“

          “Cocksucking demon!” the other guard spat.

          “Yea, yea, we all hate him. You aren’t special Rookie. Anyway, the king sent out soldiers to stop him, to bring back Avrym’s head, but they failed.” 

           The guardsman looked away and made to vomit a few times before turning back to them when nothing came “Then on the day of our yearly tournament, a great black mass of wings and death hovered over the coliseum and dropped a bag into it which burst in contact with the ground” The smoker’s face went pale as he took a big draw from his pipe “The bag exploded in a sea of blood, entrails and various severed body parts. Avrym didn’t laugh when everyone started hurling up, or ran away. He never spoke either. All he did was stare into the king’s eyes for what seemed an eternity before spreading his wings and flying away. Fast forward to now, and he’s back at it destroying villages and converting the people to his mindless minions, so far he’s probably taken nearly half the kingdom leading here to the capital. Every day escaped victims of his find their way here seeking food and shelter. Every day he draws closer to Traliseth, seeking our lives. And the Celestials know, we’re fucked when he comes.”

       “Unless the Celestial Knights go out to stop him” the spearman offered.

        “Have you forgotten about what happened to the last Celestial Knight that went out to face him?”

         "No, but what if they all attacked together?"

         "How many times were you dropped on the head as a baby?" The smoker asked. "Have you ever seen more than one Celestial Knight in a room together? It never ends well."

           "I don't mean to intrude on your lovers quarre, but who's the Champion that died to him."

           "Champion?" The spearman looked confused as he spoke the words. 

           The smoker glared at her then spoke, his voice breaking a little. "Lord Lucien Arrengar. He was one of the three Knights that also served a Kingdom directly. He was to wed our Princess........" He trailed off then turned to his companion "also, newbie, Xamaiyans refers to the knights as 'Champions'."

            K'marri stood quietly mulling over what he had just heard. He couldn’t explain how, but he felt a pull to go check out this “Black Dragon Sorcerer”. What the knight had described was the work of necromantic magic, and last he was aware, dragons completely lacked the ability to use magic even the most basic of usage was impossible, let alone full on necromancy which required large amounts of magical power. There was only one race of dragons capable of it, and that race died out aeons ago, with his lost people, the Dragon-Kin being the only link to that race and even the Dragon-Kin were unable to use magic as well. He wondered if the sorcerer could possibly be a survivor of the ancient dragons, but he didn’t see how it would be possible. He’d have to find him and see for himself. His heart pounded in his chest as he considered the idea, should he go or should he remain here. The answer should have been easy, each time he thought about seeing the sorcerer for himself, his gut would scream against it and his heart would accelerate to the point he felt it would burst. And each time he considered the other option, he felt at peace, almost tranquil. He looked at Isa-Darae and smiled, he knew what he was going to do, and he hoped he wouldn’t die.

       “Where does this ‘Avrym’ live?” He asked, forcing himself to remain calm as he uttered the words, and his heart raced.

        The two guardsmen looked at him as if he had suddenly grown a second head, while Isa-Darae punched her palm and smiled at him. He’d have to find a way to tell her he wouldn’t be taking her with him, denying her of her chance to fight.

         “See that hill over there?” The smoker finally answered hesitantly, pointing to their right. “At the base of it, sits the remains of what used to be Hilltown. That’s the first place he attacked, and where the king sent his army last time. It’s thought that that’s where he lives.” He gulped “you aren’t seriously going to do what I think, are you?”

        “Damn right we are!” Isa-Darae folded her arms grinning wildly.

         “I am” He corrected her.

         “Wait. What?”

         “You need to set up our meeting for tomorrow, and find us lodging. I’ll be right back.” and without checking to see if she got what he said, he turned as dashed off. He needed to get as far away from her as possible as quickly as possible. In order to stop her from following him. He chanced a glance behind and saw her gearing up to give chase, and that’s when he sprouted his wings and launched himself into the air, souring away at top speed. He felt sorry for leaving her behind like that, but knew it was for the best, especially with how his body seemed to scream at him, accompanied by his subconscious mind trying to force him to turn back. He was heading into danger, and he knew, but he needed to know what Avrym really was.