Part Three: The Fog
Chapter Thirteen
Exiled in the Fog
Part One: The Lake of Mist
A harsh gust blew its way across the smooth surface of a large body of water, the Lake of Mist. With it, the gust acrried colourless leaves, black feathers, gray fur, and small pieces of dust. Each and every object carried by the gust had at one point belonged to the world of the living.
But at some point in histroy, a deamon who was only spoken about in lore and legend was destroyed, leaving a small, ever growing rift, leading to a world the complete opposite of the living world. This world had been called the inbetween world, as it was a world in which the living and dead could go. Mitora.
But when the deamon who had been destroyed regained life, he wished to destroy Mitora, as it was a place of lonliness, as well as a place he spoke of as: 'Unnatural'. But in is attempt to rid the universe of Mitora, he created yet another world, identical to Mitora in every way but one. This world could only be accessed through a series of magical and deamonic energy and power combined to open a rift in space. This new land was called simply The Fog. The Fog was geographically identical to Mitora, but the land was covered in eternal mist and fog, and each day that an unfortunate traveller spent in The Fog, a year went by in the land of Speed.
The Fog was also subtly different from Mitora, as a rater in Mitora could be filled with water and be called a lake in The Fog. And if Mitora was a place of life and death, The Fog could be classified only as a place of death. And even in death you could not be free from The Fog's grasp... ***
"There is only one way to escape The Fog if you have been banished here. Find the scrolls of Mitora and bring them together. They will lead to a fountain of water, ever flowing. The Fountain is called Speed Galaxy. Through the Fountain you will be replaced in the Galaxy of Speed. From there, simply follow the route of rivers back to Speed." Crioone replaced the tablet back on the alter she had seized it from. She had no idea what the scroll of Mitora were, but she presumed that they would be ancient instructions that would be necessary to her escape from this place.
Crioone turned to leave the altar she had been dropped onto, but was confronted by a large deamon shaped like a stallion. The deamon seemed oddly familiar, but Crioone could not place the deamon to her memory.
"You must be wondering, Crioone, who I am. You met me in the real Mitora once before. I am Tyranac, the first deamon created. Follow me, we have much to discuss... I will lead you to your first destination, the Lake of Mist... from then on, I will be no help to you, but up until then Ican teach you things you never imagined... so come, Crioone, meet your true fate...
***
It had been one 'day' since Tyranac had begun to lead Crioone towards the Lake of Mist. During that time, Tyranac had explained much about The Fog, as well as the origin of Mitora. Crioone had found it hard at times to concentrate, but at other times, she seemed quite alert, almost too alert.
Everywehere Tyranac led them looked the same, a barren land shrouded in fog and mist. The gaseous vapor seemed uneneding, and when asked by Crioone about the fog, Tyranac had simply replied, "It's cause and origin are unknown".
At last, Crioone grew tired of the constant walking and took to the air. Tyranac had immediately brought her down, shoving her to the ground cursing her. "If you fly up there one more time... it may... draw attention... unwanted attention."
From that point on, Crioone had walked. And walked. And walked. The journey seemed as unending as the mist and fog itself...
***
Nara growled at Taverna as the two sparred back and forth, claws, fangs and deamonic energy all out and raging. Exaltoskull stood in the background of the excitement, darkly pondering the future to come.
"What the hell did you think you were doing back in the fortress? Trying to kill us and be rid of us? Having your unusual sence of fun? Huh?" Taverna yelled as he lashed out with a fury of fists and blades, slashing Nara's old wounds and reopening them for the upmteenth time.
Nara allowed Taverna's next blow to hit her, hurling her to the ground. "I did it for our own sake, believe me! I sensed we were being watched, and I'm sure Bellcast was there with us. I tried to get out with you guys but I failed. Instead, I was launched in the opposite direction, and as soon as I regained my bearings I went in search for you!"
"Yeah, right. The only reason I didn't kill you when I saw you was 'cause Crioone was there. Crioone forgives. Unfortunately for you I don't," shouted Taverna, driving himself forwards towards the grounded Nara. And with his claws exntended and deamonic energy flared out in the shapeof a sword, Taverna aimed to kill Nara once and for all in the depths of the Fog.
"Not today Taverna.. if that is your name.." The words came from Exaltoskull, and as they were spoken, an awful feeling of sadness, hatred and darkness all combined flowed into the area. Exaltoskull pressed his clawed foot against Taverna's outstretched hand, pushing it aside. "I wasn't there when she did whatever to you, but I'm stuck with you now, and as I'm sure you know, three of us fare better than two, so let's move out and find a way out of here. I'm not sure how long I can stand to be around you two, and I don't want to find out..."
Taverna growled at Exaltoskull, then returned his deamonic energy to his body and lowered his arm. Nara slowly stood up and started off, but Exaltoskull stopped her. "We're not going that way... we're headed towards Crioone's energy. A deamon named Tyranac told me about her, and I saw her just before we got banished here. We're going to find her, because according to Tyranac, we need her to beat Bellcast... my brother..."
***
A breeze blew across Crioone's face, and as soon as it hit, Tyranac leapt forwards, sensing the change in the atmosphere immediately. Only feet ahead, a large pool of water sat still in a large crater. The Lake of Mist.
"We've arrived at the first destination. I can help you no longer, or I would be stuck here too. Beneath this lake lies the first of many scrolls which will lead you to the exit of the cursed place.
"I'll go in search of your friends now and hopefully point them in the right direction, but you will not see me anytime soon. Farewell Crioone of Extapolis. May our paths meet once more..." And with that, Tyranac dissapeared into the thick fog, his body gone within seconds...
Crioone craned her neck over the edge of the lake, peering down into the murky waters below. The fog and mist in the area blocked any real light from hitting the water, which allowed her to view more clearly, but also not as far down. There was only one way to find the scroll below the water. Crioone hovered into the air, only for a second, then dove into the fridgid water. Darkness surrounded her, and beasts like none she had ever seen swam by her, most of which didn't give a care that someone new had entered. But there were other beasts amidst the waters that hungered for a live meal, and these beasts always got what they wanted...
Beneaths the waters of the Lake of Mist, four eyes opened, followed by one large fifth eye. The beast of the sea opened its mouth, roaring a beastial roar that vibrated the waters of the lake. As the beast surged forwards, many smaller sea beasts swam out of its way, knowing that it was never good to get in the way of the beast who 'owned' the Lake of Mist. As the beast propelled itself through the water, its mind emanated one word, causing all sentient beings to become aware of its presence, and its name...
Leviathan... The word struck Crioone like a fatal blow. In the land of Speed, the creature known as the Leviathan was said to have died out centuries earlier, although some deamons claimed that they still existed north of Eterna Peninsula. But extinct or not, the Leviathan was a dangerous creature. With five eyes, the Leviathan could see in all directions at once, and still process in the information. The Leviathan could also change shape from its massive form to a much smaller form, in case it needed to adapt to its surroundings.
As Crioone pondered over the beast, she suddenly realised that it was slowly moving towards her. Whipping around, Crioone came face to face with a large shark-like beast. Only to see its blood spurt out as its bones and flesh were crushed by teeth the size of large swords.
Who are you, small one of high power? You are like something I have seen before, long ago. You are... Deamon.
Crioone stared at the Leviathan, wondering whether to marvel or cry out in shock at the sight of it. As the teeth grnashed about for her, Crioone decided that crying out in shock was the better idea, but that swimming away at high speed was the best idea. But she could only outswim the Leviathan for so long. The beast ruled the waters of the Lake of Mist, and Crioone was sure that its physical attributes were not the extent of its power...
***
The Leviathan shot forwards towards Crioone, creating a small whirlpool behind it. As Crioone turned to calculate her position, she found the waters empty behind her. The beast had blinked out of existance. And yet, something didn't fit.
The realisation of what the Leviathan had done shocked her, but she realised that being shocked was not the right thing to do. Crioone shot herself up and out of the water just as a small speck of dust in the water grew to the size of the beast of the water. Using its shape-shifting power, the Leviathan returned to its original state, then lunged out of the water, shifting again, this time into a humanoid figure.
"You are Crioone... What are you here for... Crioone?" asked the Leviathan, as it hovered just above the water.
Crioone stared at the beast, never taking her eyes off of the beast as she responed. "I'm here because I was exiled from the land of Speed by a deamon of purely evil intentions. This lake contains a scroll that I need. You know where it is?"
The Leviathan stared back at Crioone, taking in what the deamon had just said. "If you are truly on a journey to defeat this evil, you may have the scroll of the sea. But let me ask you three questions first.
"Who is the evil? Respond honestly, or I will be forced to destroy you."
Although Crioone was unsure if the Leviathan could beat her, Crioone was honest in her responce. "His name is Bellcast. He leads an army of deamon like beings called Attalna. He is able to control deamons almost at will."
"Why did the evil one exile you?"
"He had no need of my interference. But before I was exiled, Bellcast was betrayed by one of his followers, who spoke of my future as necessary to rebuild the world after Bellcast's destruction is over. I am apparently essential to the universe."
"And finally, how do you, Crioone, plan to defeat Bellcast?"
Crioone stared at the Leviathan, with a saddened expression upon her face. "I don't know."
The Leviathan looked at Crioone, then spoke softly. "Your honesty has granted you my scroll, the scroll of the sea. It will guide you to the next step to leaving this place. But let me tell you something you may find interesting. Regarding the future.
"Although I am unsure as to your purpose in life, I can tell you that it is not to defeat Bellcast, but simply to weaken him. The one to defeat Bellcast will die in doing so, but I am unable to see who has that unfrotunate destiny. The future is as clouded as the land we are in. But one thing is for sure. I will be with you during the final confrontation, as will my brother. He will be essentiel to Bellcast's downfall. You will eventually cross paths with him. He is a dragon, an ancient dragon, the last to live. And his name is Ragnon."
"A dragon... how does one still exist?"
"All will be explained... later. But you, Crioone, must continue your journey. The Fog is not a place of peace. I am but one of the many guardians in the realm of The Fog. I ask only for truth in answer to my questions to obtain the scroll. Other guardians will not so kind as to let you off easily. Now go. Seek out the next destination. When all of the scrolls are obtained, a map will be revealed, and will point you to the exit. Farewell."
And before Crioone could respond, the Leviathan was gone. Only one word pulsed into Crioone's mind, and as the word repeated itself, Crioone was sure she had just learned the name of the Leviathan, only after it had left.
Vialien... Vialien... Vialien... ...*** *** ***
Part Two: The Sphere of Stone
A single stalagmite stood in the center of a large cavern. Around it, many strange markings were scribbled on the ground, as well as a few pictures. Standing above the stalagmite on a floating stone, a fierce dog like creature growled a low growl, only to be repeated twice more, and the a shriek. Three heads turned as one to face a being shaped like a human, but with wings and a beak. The being, called an Aporactyla, floated above its pet, a cerberus. The Aporactyla settled itself onto the ground, standing beside the stalagmite. The being reached its hand towards the stalagmite, and amazingly, the clawed hand passed through the stone. The cerberus watched with a look of doubt on each face as stones from around the cavern were pulled together by a force unknown to any living being.The Aporactyla sneered, the closed its eyes as the cerberus and itself were surrounded by stones. In the Aporactyla's hand lay a scroll. The scroll of unknown...***
Nara thought back to the times when she had been a simple deamon without a care in the universe about what went on around her. Her life had been simple, easy going, and best of all- not life risking or being utterly whipped by one of your best friends. Unfortunately for Nara, those were times of the past.
The first day that King Forna had become ruler of Speed marked the day that Speed fell into destruction. Forna had been better than Axerion and Bellcast, but he had still been a power hungry deamon who set aside his people for the greater evil. But Forna lost his title to Axerion, who dropped a blanket of shadow over the land of Speed.
Manipulated by Bellcast's mind, Axerion had allowed legions of Attalna to enter the land of Speed, and under Axerion's watch, Speed was turned into a land of baren dunes, bloody cities, and long ago beautiful forests and springs were the ugly and dried up.
But a light had shone in the distance, a light that Nara could not name, but one that had called to her, claiming an escape from the darkness that was Bellcast's rule. The light had told her that if she was to find a way to return the land of Speed to its prosperous way, she had to journey alone to a tower in the southeast region of Speed.
The light had also mentioned Crioone, although the words that had come to Nara concerning Crioone were vague. Something about a portal to a world in between life and death, where all things would come together. The light had mentioned that the portal resided deep within Fortress Metawar, and that when the time came, Nara would have to betray her friends in order to seek out the light in person. The time would also be when Crioone was nearest to the portal.
Nara's thoughts turned back to the present, just as Taverna's fist conected with her jaw. Blood spurted out from Nara's mouth as her teeth clenched down on her inner cheeks. Nara swore, the lashed out a kick that connected with Taverna's legs, dropping him to the ground. Energy purged from Nara's body, slamming itself into Taverna, holding him down.
"Enough! We go now, or I'll be forced to kill you both."
This time the two feuding deamons both stopped, turning their attention to Exaltoskull.
"She's near our position. I think. We head out for her and-"
Exaltoskull was interupted by the appearence of a stallion of pure white colour. Tyranac.
"I found you, finally. Although with the amount of energy I felt from those two, I'm surprised every being in the Fog hasn't found you. But on to what's important. Crioone must go through the Fog alone. You musn't help her. make your way to the Desert of Sigma, far to the west of here. You will find your escape from this place there, but you will also be confronted by one of the remaining warlords there. Beat that lord and you have escaped. Lose, and your life is no worse than right now. Any questions?"
Tavena looked at the stallion with awe. "It's... you... from Mitora. I knew you were familiar. Now, why can't we help Crioone?"
Tyranac stared at Taverna with eyes of no emotion. "She was sent here alone, she must face this world alone. Besides. She is also doing something different than you. Your time here is limited. You have only three days to reach the Desert of Sigma. After that... goodbe. Crioone has unlimited time here, but her requirements to escape are quite different from yours. The Fog works in strange ways, but me talking will only lower the amount of time you have here. May we meet again."
Exaltoskull began to talk, but before the words left his mouth Tyranac was gone. Exaltoskull turned to Taverna and Nara.
"There's something you should know before we go on. When I said Bellcast was my brother I wasn't joking. We're twins. He has the power to create life, and I have the power to destroy it. Funny thing though. You'd think I'm evil and he's good. But we use our powers differently.
"Creating Attalna and different breeds of them is all he creates, and is all that I destroy. If we meet Bellcast -ever- on our journey, stay back, or even better, run away, flee at great speed. Because when we meet again face to face on even ground, it will be the last time we meet like that."
Taverna and Nara stayed quiet. Exaltoskull turned away and begun walking in the direction Tyranac had showed. Taverna and Nara didn't speak or fight along the way. The mood had changed. Exaltoskull's Deamon Shadow may have been controlled, but his emotions were changing him. In a bad way.
The dark deamon warrior walked ahead of his companions, none of them speaking, none making noise. The Fog was changing each of them... for the worst...
***
As Crioone moved further away from the Lake of Mist, the fog around her became more dense, and her visibility was greatly lowered. The ground beneath her feet was even hard to see due to the amount of vapour in the air around her.
Above her, soaring through the bleak sky, montrous birds squawked at one another, ernestly searching for a way to hunt the beings far below. Sensing the danger the birds could bring to her, Crioone emmited a thin layer of deamonic energy, covering her and blocking her scent from the predators above. If anything, dying here in The Fog was the last thing on her list of things to do.
A wind from the west pulled sand from the ground beneath Crioone's feet away from her, a sand from infront of her was whipped into her face. The journey was long and treacherous, but it was necessary. The scroll Vialien had given her instructed her to move westwardly towards a series of mountains. There she would fnd a cave, and within the cave a beast would welcome her, not with open arms, but with a open mouth and extended claws. The beast was an Aporactyla. Savage, fearsome, and never in a good mood.
Crioone continued walking through the ever long mass of fog covered ground. But not all was right with Crioone. Her body was weakening as the hurs and days went on. The Fog was not an area of safety, and even if Crioone had an unlimited amount of time to complete her mission, the mist that was spread throughout the land was not gentle and kind. It was filled with a strange substance remotely resembling toxic. And it was injuring Crioone's body, one painful cell after another...
***
"Who are you?"
The voice belonged to a large Aporactyla, who, at the moment, was deciding who would win in a fight, the blue deamon or itself. When a wave of deamonic energy whipped out of Crioone and lashed the large bird, the Aporactyla made its decision.
"If you don't speak, maybe Helrades will be good for you," said the grotesque bird. And then, the Aporactyla struck Crioone with a knife-like talon, the dragged her through the dark sky towards a large mountain range. Helrades would have to see the specimen...
***
Helrades' eyes opened, but the stones that surrounded him prevented him from eyeing the intruder. The Cerberus that stood below him had a different reaction. Its eyes glowed, and it grolwed a low tone- a sign that the intruder was not harmful, but another Aporactyla.
Helrades patted his pet, then reached his arm out, manipulatiing the sphere of stones to form a hand shape. Using the Cerberus' eyes and his own power, Helrades grabbed the bird below, flinging it out of the cave but retaining the captured deamon.
"Speak, deamon from the surface world. Why are you here?"
Crioone's eyes fluttered open, and a shocked appearence came across her face. Their was no being in the cave, only an oddly shaped collection of rocks and a few bones here and there. Standing up, Crioone looked around the cave, seeking out the being that had spoken with her.
"You will not find me with eyes such as your own. I am Helrades, leader of the Aporactyla tribe, hidden within the rocks of The Fog. I have introduced myself, now respect my wishes and answer for yourself."
Crioone looked at the collection of rocks, and the realisation of the power of the being she was dealing with caught up to her. "My name is Crioone. I come from the planet Speed against my own wishes. I was banished here. I have been told that If I collect scrolls from this place I can find my way out. You have what I'm looking for."
Helrades reached out his arm once more, this time making the rock hand grab Crioone. "You think you can just walk into my lair-or get taken here in your case- and expect me to give you my scroll. Think again, deamon from Speed. You'll have to prove yourself."
Crioone stared at the rock, and began to reply. "I fully expected a response like- "
But she was cut off by the shattering of the sphere of stone. A bird flew out of the rubble and landed infront of Crioone, holding out the scroll. "This is what you came here for? Well then, I'd like you to meet Cerberus, my pet. Beat him in battle and you win the scroll. Lose to him, and you're no worse off than before. You're dying anyways." Helrades stepped back, then vanished into the ground beneath him, only to be replaced by Cerberus. The three headed dog growled, and the showered Crioone with flames. Knife-like teeth shot out from the third head's mouth, heating up in the flames and cutting Crioone all over.
Crioone summoned her willpower, then covered herself with stone from the ground. The Cerberus noticed the change and ran forwards, batting the stone with its clawed paw, tearing the rock away from Crioone. But Crioone was no amateur at battle. Shooting herself at the Cerberus from behind and encasing it in energy.
The Cerberus howled in pain as the energy from Crioone's blast entered its mouths and exploded on the inside. Crioone watched, a grim look on her face. Then, as the Cerberus collapsed on the ground, Crioone floated towards the pile of rocks from which it had emerged. Within, Helrades looked at Crioone with a look of hatred, but also shock. But Helrades was honest and proud by nature. The Aporactyla raised its hand, giving the scroll to Crioone, who put it next to the first scroll- in a small sack attached to her neck.
Helrades looked at Crioone, then spoke. "You are different from others who have attempted to come by me. Your presence is odd. Your soul feels more alive, and yet dead at the same time. I wish you luck on your journey, and although I hate to say it, you have free passage within the ranks of the Aporactyla. Maybe one day we can fight head to head, ad we shall see which of us is the stronger..."
Helrades dissapeared into the ground, and then reappeared, sitting inside a group of transparent rocks. "No," said Helrades. And Crioone knew what he meant. The rocks were not transparent. Her eyes had changed. She could see in a completely new way. As Crioone turned to leave, the Cerberus- or at least, the remains of it, changed into dust. Crioone's job here was complete. As she took off into the sky, the land in which she was seemed to brighten, if only slightly, as if a layer of fog had been removed...
*** *** ***
Part Three: Deamon Graveyard
A cool breeze blew across the the endless sea of sand, the Desert of Sigma. Taverna stared around himself in awe, as did Nara. Exaltoskull was the only one who did not seem amazed about the desert in which they stood.
"So what the heck do we do now? Tyranac said that we come here and we're freed, but nothing's- " ...
... ... ...
The desert of Sigma was empty. It had held three deamons in its grasp only seconds earlier, but it was now empty. Fog rolled over the Desert of Sigma, and other than that, there was no sign of there ever being anyone there. Ever...
***
Crioone stumbled over a small pile of rocks. As she looked up, she was surprised to see a shadow that moved towards her. Suddenly, a hoard of circular shaped shadows appeared around her, and a humming sound accompanied them. From afar, a voice barked out orders to the unseen army of beings. Crioone shut her eyes, and immediately she saw that she was surrounded by many large deamons, each of whom stared at her with hatred. Then the leader appeared to her in the form of a dog wearing a crown made up of dry bones and dried flesh.
Anlatta.
The dog deamon stared at Crioone, then spoke to Crioone in slow phrases, taking long breaths in between.
"You have gotten... further than lord... Bellcast had predicted. ... But in order to... fulfill his orders... you must die... here and now. ..."
Still with her eyes closed, Crioone was now able to see how Bellcast's dog was controlling the deamons- or in this case, long dead deamons, now merely ghosts. Many Attalna had placed themselves within the heads of the deamons' souls, ultimately controlling the dead bodies. Anlatta controlled a large legion of Attalna, and they followed him as strictly as the followed Bellcast.
"How appropriate... is it that this place... is named the... Deamon Graveyard. ... I control a dead army... and you will soon... join my army," said Anlatta, cold sneer coming across his face. "Attack the blue deamon. Kill her."
The dead army of Attalna infused deamons jumped towards Crioone, claws stretched out, teeth gnashing, screeching and crying out as they attacked. Crioone flashed out of view, only to reappear behind Anlatta, claws around his neck, deamon energy pouring out of her onto Anlatta. "You'll have to be faster than that to get me," said Crioone in reply to Anlatta's feeble attack.
Anlatta smirked, and Crioone choked back blood from her neck. Anlatta's forepaw had punged itself up through his body and into Crioone's lower neck. Anlatta laughed. "Pain is just one... of the many duties... invloved in fighting... for Bellcast. ... Winning is another part... slightly more important."
Crioone caughed, releasing Anlatta from her grip. She fell to the ground and was immediately surrounded by the dead army. But it was not Anlatta's blow that had caused her sudden pain. The fog in the area was entering her body rapidly, and was destroying vital organs in her body. Unless she could escape from The Fog soon, she would die.
In a last attempt, Crioone purged deamonic energy from her body, blasting away the front lines of dead deamons, ripping through the back ranks. Sidestepping Anlatta's kick, Crioone twisted her body away from a follow up attack, but Anlatta's third kick landed on her side, knocking her back to the ground. Anlatta laughed again, and with a wave of his paw, the Attalna came out from their hosts, returning to Anlatta's side.
"Give up, Crioone... you cannot defeat me."
"I don't need to. All I need is the last scroll. Once I have that I can escape from this place." Crioone melted into the sand, hoping that Anlatta would follow her. He did. That was his mistake.
Upon entering the sands of the Deamon Graveyard he was pelted by punches and kicks flying at high speed from Crioone. In a matter of seconds the dog deamon was breathing deeply and did not show signs of getting back up. "You may be the leader of an army of deamon like beings awaiting your orders, but you're still stupid and ignorant. You think you're strong and powerful and smart. You're wrong on all three."
Crioone returned to the surface, and just as she did the Attalna sunk into the sand, seeking their leader.
Like a pack of weak animals. They can't survive without the leader, thought Crioone to her self, before running towards where Anlatta had come from. She was sure the scroll would be nearby.
***
Anlatta had come from a nearby valley. Crioone knew this because waiting in the valley were hundreds of Attalna. In the center of them all was a large tree, the only thing with colour in the whole area. For some reason, Crioone knew that the tree held the last scroll. She did not know why, but something about the treewas odd, and different.
But there was no longer time to think. Only to react. The Attalna from the valley had sensed Crioone, but not their leader. Anlatta had not been such a fool as to leave his last legions without order. The order he had given was simple. Kill Crioone. No matter what the cost was. Make sure it was done.
The Attalna floated towards Crioone, emotionless, yet embodied with a sence of anger towards Crioone. But Crioone could not go on to fight. Anlatta's loss had only been partial. He would accomplish his job, and pain was just one of the things that made up the job. Overall, he would succeed.
"Move, you fool!" The voice was familiar. Crioone struggled, but a wall of Attalna was still infront of her.
"Get up! If you start to move, I'll open the way for you!" Crioone began to move once more, but the fog in her internal systems was slowing her down. And in her mind, she struggled to grasp the name of the deamon who was speaking to her.
"I can only hold them off for so long! After that, they'll be on you like a pack of wolves on a young deer. You'll die before the fog kills you! Once you get moving I'll begin to hold them off! I'm your only option, so don't doubt now! If you stand there waiting you'll die from either their attacks or the fog. If you go in and I'm lying you'll end up with the same result, only faster, maybe. But I'm not lying! Go Crioone, now!"
Illyare. It was his voice. Trator to Bellcast, somehow alive-or dead- in The Fog. Crioone knew his words were true. Either way she put it, she was dead, unless he could stop the Attalna long enough for Crioone to retrieve the scroll. With a last burst of energy, Crioone pushed herself towards a wall of Attalna. And the wall broke apart, and continued to break as Crioone pushed on. Illyare had kept his word. Crioone arrived safely at the tree. The scroll was right infront of her, sitting in a branch. Crioone grasped it, just as Illyare stabbed her with his claw. Crioone began to drop, and Illyare prepared for the final stab.
"Why?"
"I am a traitor by nature. I let people get so close to their goal, then betray them. It's funny, really. The look on their faces when they get stabbed or lose their prey. Or even if they get crushed beneath a falling wall of a fortress..."
"Nara? ..."
"Huh? Oh... no, I'm not Nara. I'm her brother!"
Crioone dissapeared. Illyare cried out in surprise. "What the hell?"
But no one answered his question. Illyare had not completed his task that needed to be accomplished to escape The Fog. He had failed to kill Crioone, and now he would finally die. He would live on in death in hell...
