War of Dark Ages: A Unicorn's Journey
Chapter 6

The tavern looks busy as night finally descends. The silver-haired creature stops a few feet in front of the door as a few people stand there. One of them turns around and notices her. He nudges the people in front, and they move out of the doorway. She passes them.

Granger from the meat market is sitting at the bar counter area with Torin.

Torin has a glass in his hand and is shaking his head smiling. He looks up, “Welcome back. Is there anything I can get you?”

“No.” She starts towards the hallway and stops remembering the deal with this Torin fellow. Turning around, heads towards the counter and sits down on the stool. “Actually, we had an agreement for any information I might require.” A book reveals itself on the counter. “This book contains a lot of transcripts between Mr. Rysen and Mr. Durdley. I found little information that pertains to any knowledge they knew about the trees. Since you have a lot of information on your side, tell me the history of this town concerning those trees. And if possible, the creatures that come here every year to destroy it.”

Torin draws in a deep breath with his hands placed on the counter on each side of him.

Granger sitting beside her, “I’m Granger and let me tell you those trees have been here for quite a while.”

“It’s alright Granger, I can speak for myself.” Torin glances at Granger.

Looking down at his drink, Granger mumbles something under his breath.

“This town has a lot of dark secrets but none more than those trees. As Granger said, those trees and wall have been here for an awfully long time. There have also been stories, none proven about how corpses would appear and suddenly disappear concerning those trees.”

“The wall is not in your interest then?”

“The wall could be touched. We even tried to hammer it away or build something over it and the items that were used on it or near it disappeared as if it never existed the next day.” Torin strides to the stool next to her and sits down. “From the history I have learned on this place, the disappearance of the people was common dating back at least 5,000 years ago.”

Granger nods his head. “Yes, and I remember that damned adventure. Nearly killed us in the process too.”

“This was in the Kingdom of Neshmire, the Dwarven Kingdom. Back then we loved digging for any information, and we had just broken out with a stash of goods. We were on our way out of the castle when suddenly we started being attacked from behind. As we turned to face our opponent, we somehow managed to slip and fall into this hole.” Torin shakes his head and rests his face on one hand. “It felt as if we fell for at least two minutes and then landed. It was surprising as we were both still alive. I remember waking up first, getting up, and looking around as it was dark and no magic worked there. Granger woke up by that time and lit up one of the devices he carried with him.”

Taking another sip of his drink, Granger continues, “Scared us to death by what we saw. Rotten corpses were all lined in a row with some strange dust on them. The walls were covered in old blood and rust. Wherever we were, it was a place you didn’t want to be.”

Upon listening, this place might be another place to look at because what they were describing sounds terribly familiar to the place at the wall. The silver-haired creature glances at Granger, “What happened next?”

“We went forward down the hall of course. Didn’t touch the corpses or walls. Honestly, I didn’t know what would have happened if we did. Felt like we were being watched the whole time.”

Torin gazes in her direction, “When we reached the end of the hallway there was a door in front of us. As we opened it, we saw a round room with strange doors on all sides. We went inside; We saw these strange devices next to the doors. They were lit up displaying unknown words and blinking several times. It had broken cracks in the device and wall.” He draws a deep breath before continuing, “They looked like nothing we have ever seen before so I am not sure if I can describe them very well. But they all looked connected to the round bookcase in the middle. An odd blue-colored line went from the devices on the wall to the floor in a straight path to the bookcase. Granger said we should look for a way out, but my curiosity got the better of me. I went to the bookshelf and opened a book that was right in front of me. Granger had gone to the door to the right to see if it opened and looked back at me. He walked over and tried talking to me.”

Granger sets down his glass, “For the good it did, couldn’t hear a word I said. But when I looked down at that book, I knew why he didn’t say a word. The trees described in them as the petals fell and there were pictures of it. The pictures also showed how it would eat any creature touching it. It didn’t show a wall, as it showed that the person became a corpse-like creature resting on its roots. The image showed also how many years this has been studied and it was 5,000 years.” He takes another swig from his drink.

Another sigh while resting his head on his hands, Torin continues with his voice dropping to a whisper tone, “It was then a hideous loud noise came from the right. It caused the whole room to shudder. I dropped the book and grabbed Granger. We ran to the other side and I grabbed the door. When we did, a strange field enveloped us. And for a minute, neither one of us could see anything. Then we wound up in a field outside Hydamon. To this day, I still have no idea how we got there.”

Another person behind the counter places a drink in front of Torin. Torin grabs the drink, throwing the liquid down his throat in one gulp and slamming it hard on the counter. “I told you this because we eventually decided to settle in this area later. We both got married and we told our children that their mothers were killed in a carriage accident.” He takes a deep breath.

Meanwhile, Granger remains silent, staring at his drink.

The silver-haired creature tilts her head side, casting a glance at Granger, then looking at Torin, “The trees ate them, didn’t they?”

Granger clenches his fist around the glass, almost breaking it, and pushes it away resting his face in his hands.

Torin looks over Granger at Natasha who is staring at him in shock from behind the counter. “Yes, that is how she died.”

Natasha runs from the room down the hallway disappearing out of sight.

“It is why I have been against the celebration even though we had no proof except for what we saw that day. Until we figured out a way to stop it, I tried my best to keep everyone away from it. That did not work out very well in the end.” Torin sets his face in his hand with his shoulders dropping.

“No, I imagine it didn’t.” This gave her a lot of details about the trees. Suddenly remembering the creatures that ate the trees. “What about the creatures that can eat those trees?”

A confused expression crosses Torin’s face, “I just always assumed that they were created by that person to hide the trees. I am afraid I do not know much about them even though we celebrate them. They don’t talk, and you can’t touch them. They descend from the forest far to the north past the ruins. As for what they look like, there is a statue of them in the center of town where the celebration is being held. I think that would give you a better idea than anything I can describe.”

Giving Torin a nod, the silver-haired creature stands up and grabs the book heading upstairs to her room. Placing the book down on the dresser, walks to the window looking outside thinking about all the information gathered so far. She looks toward the basin thinking another bath wouldn’t hurt. Turning the basin on, strips her clothes off and piles them on the bed. After her bath, sitting on the floor below the window naked thinks about all the information so far.

Many eons have passed since her time. The trees were created after something happened during her time. Someone has been studying the trees for at least 5,000 years and that someone has access to a place similar to her memories. It seems Mr. Durdley is being used by whoever wants to own this town and Mr. Rysen. The culprit was either Temple of Dierie or some other unknown factor as there are too many places involved. She sighs and lowers her head to her knees as her thoughts continue to drift.

The trees need to be destroyed because her ability to cast that one spell would ensure the destruction of the trees and the place inside. And yet, to measure the magnitude of how much is needed is a bit discerning. Can the trees be destroyed without destroying this town?

The silver-haired creature raises her head and slaps herself in the face. “I shouldn’t care what happens to these creatures, It was their fault this happened in the first place.” Her focus needs to be on destroying the trees first, using them to her advantage is next. What happens afterward will be their fate.

She rises from the window and walks over to the bed, dressing herself quickly. Walking towards the door, she looks back at the book on the dresser fully aware someone will come in and try to steal it. As the door starts to open, remembers where it came from and turns around, picks up the book, and leaves the tavern towards the clothing store.

The clothing store is closed and with a wave of her hand, the door magically opens and walks through placing the book on the counter. Without looking back, she walks outside, and magically locks it with a wave of her hand never touching the door.

Down the path a little further a sound whizzes somewhere close around her. The sound comes again, and realizes it came from the building called the Training Grounds. Inside, an interesting sight unfolds before her.

a young woman with long orange curls and a mushroom hat on her head stands in the middle of the room. She has a small cape around her shoulders with a grey shirt and long skirt. The two younger people have the same shirt along with the girl wearing the skirt and the boy in a pair of pants.

The woman with long orange curls orders, “Try that spell again! Your timing is off!”

“Yes, Madam Cartwing!” They both reply simultaneously.

Both of them raise their hands, “Powers that be unfold to us the power of earth and fire! Come to our hand so we might smite our enemies! BLAZE!” A small blaze of fire rises from the ground and flies to the marks ahead. By the time it reaches the mark, the magic dies.

They both are breathing heavily and the boy takes a magical device with an angry jerk of his hand.

Madam Cartwing walks over and immediately gives him a hard knockdown with the wand she brandishes. It looks as if the boy is punched from the above causing him to fall forward with his face landing on the ground.

“You will remember that you cannot depend on magical devices in a real fight, Ned. No matter how angry you get, that will not get you anything but a quick death. At this academy, you will need to know your basics if you even think of standing a chance of passing that test! Do I make myself clear!” Madam Cartwing orders with her voice firm.

“Yes Ma’am,” the boy’s face is still on the floor and his thumb is raised up high.

As amusing as it is to watch, other things need to be done. And since the moon is high, a bit of time has passed. Approaching the end of the lane the Barracks lights are on and soldiers are still moving containers from one area to another area. Devices light up beside them to show them their surroundings while Commander Kail shows up at the window with his hands on his hips looking up at the sky.

Not wanting to deal with him, the silver-haired creature turns left and continues down the path. After walking several feet, stops at the sight before her. To her left, was a large garden of flowers with a path going inside. Her gaze follows the path to a bridge over a stream with a fountain on the other side. A couple of people walking together holding hands as they sit on a bench near the fountain. On the right side are three trees standing fifty feet high with their green leaves moving with the wind. A hazy memory passes in front of her of a field of flowers near a tree. Not being able to remember much about this place makes her feel great pain and continues walking down the path, never looking back.

Guards and rangers still protect the alley entrance and larger buildings stacked upon each other are further down. A sign in front of one of them reads, “Storage keepers.”

A couple of small boys race right past her as an older woman from behind screams, “Don’t let those Darn Hooligans run away!”

“I’ll get em.” The young man rushes past her.

At the same time, Torin steps out of the shadows by the storeroom and grabs the two boys by their necks. “Well now, look who I caught?”

The boy on the right yells while he squirms, “Let me go yo’ hustler!”

On the left, the other boy echoes, “Hustler! Hustler!”

A woman walks up to them and from a glance, is the same person from that barged out of the housing district office.

“Thank you for catching them.” the large woman replies with gratitude.

“Not a problem Elzien. Seems they are up to no good as usual.” Torin continues to keep his grip tight on the two boys.

“Well, I try but it’s a work in progress. Would be much easier since that damn Durdley is in jail, if they would get off their arse and help us out occasionally,” Elzien complains.

“You know how it goes around here. Still, I am glad you came two years ago and stayed, even with all the trouble.”

Just as Elzien is about to reply, the little boys start fighting against Torin, twisting underneath him. He bends down and gives them a deep smile with his eyes giving a mischievous gleam, “Ya know boys since I am a Hustler. If you do not obey this lady over here, I am going to have to hustle you over to my place for more work!”

The boys stand still staring at Torin in horror and give pleading looks towards Elzien.

Elzien throws her thumb behind her, “Make sure your rooms are cleaned and hands washed. Supper should be ready by then.”

Torin lets the boys go and they race down the path past the forge towards the other area.

Elzien smiles at him and walks toward the direction those kids left with the young man walking behind her.

With a glance towards the north, Torin starts walking and suddenly vanishes in the shadows.

“Seems he is good at disappearing,” she thought. The passage down resides a forge on the left and the right is another path leading towards the center of town. Marching straight down the pathway towards the center of town, glimpsing a lot of buildings on the side enters the Center square stopping at the large statue in the middle.

A large statue standing eight feet high with a stone block underneath it. The creature has four large claws for its feet with thin yet muscular features connecting to its large body. Medium curved-shape neck with a small narrow beak on its face and behind the small ears up top has four separate thin feathers extending downward. Towards the back of the creature rests five large feathers representing its tail. Below the creature on the stand has its name, “Sacred Dardiyan.”

With her arms crossed, this creature looks remarkably similar to the Guardian Winguardian she remembered. Did the Guardian create a species some time ago due to a certain incident to fight the darkness that had been encroaching on the land? Memories surface of a few Guardians dying during that time and slaps herself on the cheek. “Dwelling on the past isn’t going to help me in this current time as I need to focus here and now,” she admonishes herself.

Out of the corner of her eye, a shadowy figure moves at the far-left side towards the meat market shop down the lane. This person’s shadow movement is different from Ragnar’s or the way his men move around and the magic given off is very different. Proceeding to follow this shadow, it pauses at the corner looking to the left and right.

As the shadow figure drags the hood down, it proceeds right entering the Temple of Dierie through the guards and rangers standing at the entrance.

For as much as she wants to just follow, it will be better to cooperate with the guards and make herself visible next to Lieutenant Knox, “I suggest you and a few men follow me if you want to see what is really in this temple. Someone entered it a moment ago and no one noticed him.”

Lieutenant Knox stares at her in shock and quickly regains his composure. He looks at the temple and beckons a ranger who confirms no one approached. “Alright Miss, lead the way. I have orders to let you go in but not alone.”

The silver-haired creature walks forward to the temple as Lieutenant Knox with two soldiers and two rangers follow her inside. A few feet past the door, a strange sensation crawls across her skin. Looking around the room up ahead is an altar with a pedestal on the other side of it. Two pillars a few feet from the altar, one on either side. Passing the benches, a barrier is felt a few feet before the altar. Glancing at Lieutenant Knox, “Can any of you cast a spell to show the barrier and remove it?”

“A Barrier? Where is it?” Lieutenant Knox pauses slightly behind her.

“Just a bit ahead of me.”

Lieutenant Knox orders a ranger to remove the barrier.

The ranger moves forward laying her hands slightly above the barrier. They watch the ranger perform the spell while the ranger’s hands start to glow and the barrier around the area is revealed. An incantation continues to come forth from the ranger while cracks form in the barrier. It shatters revealing stairs leading down below. The ranger looks up, nods her head, and stands back.

Moving towards the stairs, the silver-haired creature frowns as a familiar scent drifts up her nose. It is the smell of fresh blood and a couple of the soldiers behind her raise their hands to their mouths as they descend the staircase. To the left it turns, and they enter the hallway with chamber cells on each side. A blood-curdling scream from the back of the room echoes and a light suddenly grows brighter from the end of the hallway.

Just a bit ahead are elemental magical creatures residing in each cell with bindings on them. Her teeth grind as memories and rage flood inside her reminding her of painful memories.

The shadowy figure stands ahead with another creature inside the cell.

Before any sound can be made, a soldier from behind says in a frightened voice, “It is a devil, Sir, they are making sacrifices for the devil!”

Casting a frown at the soldier, Lieutenant Knox draws his sword. “Behave yourself, we know nothing yet!” The other four draw their weapons ready to fight. As they did, another presence is known behind them.

Continuing to ignore the presence and the others, the silver-haired creature watches as the shadowy person moves forward incredibly fast, lunging with his weapon ahead. The weapon glows a dark blue color and the light barely reveals his face. In that split second, her hand raises, shattering the weapon in an instant.

As the weapon shatters, blood spills from his neck trailing downward. A line forms around his neck as his head falls off and hits the floor behind him. It rolls in the direction of the wall, with his eyes wide open. Looking in the direction of his corpse behind her, it stands there for a few more seconds before falling forward to the ground. Raising her eyebrows, aware the cut on the man’s throat was not done by her.

Riley walks forward kneeling at his head, closing his eyes and catching her confused expression. “You didn’t kill him as this man is from the cult, and they have ways of causing death instead of being captured.” He stands up and orders the men to take the body out of the room.

Two rangers step forward grabbing the head in a cloth and placing it over the body. They cast a magic spell to levitate the corpse up the stairs.

Riley turns to gaze at her as a strange look descends on her face looking down the path at the creature screaming. She starts to take a couple of steps forward when he warns her, “Be careful with that one, they are vicious creatures.” Her expression causes him to stand very still, watching her turn and walk towards the creature.

On her face is a sorrowful expression as if the pain the creature is in is too painful for her to bear. It ripples through her movements while approaching the creature. The chains on the creature scrape the floor and its screams continue to echo throughout the chamber. She kneels in front of the chamber.

A nightmare creature with black misshapen legs and arms as the rest of its body is shrouded in a dark cloud stands three feet tall. Its face is black with a devilish look to it while a line edges around its mouth as its fangs spread out each time it screams. Her hand trembles as it reaches out to grab a bar spotting gem-like crystals of light surrounding and encaging it. The creeping darkness inside suffocates more of the hope lingering remembering how in the War of Dark Ages they would enslave elemental creatures and use them for their own desires.

Shaking her head to ward off the memories, focuses on the imprisonment of these creatures and how to save them. A worried look spreads across her face unsure if she can free them without hurting them. The silver-haired creature stands up, looks at the first chamber, and spots a basilisk ten feet long chained to the wall. It has a dark green coat on the top half of its scales and the bottom is a light blue. Around its large mouth carries no teeth as the basilisk shivers in the corner, unable to break away from the chains. Taking a deep breath spots the ice symbols chaining this sand elemental creature.

In the next chamber is a hydra fifteen feet tall with three heads. The three light blue dragon’s heads are attached to the body with no wings and four large feet below with a tail underneath as the creature crouches, trembling against the wall. On the neck, feet, tail, and walls are ice, fire, and lightning symbols to weaken the hydra. It ducks its head down between its legs and whimpers, her hand clenches spotting the fear resonating inside the cell.

Inside the next chamber is a small pixie two feet tall chained to the wall. The pixies’ wings rest downward and look faded while her cheeks look ashen as her hair is no longer shiny but a dusty orange. Chains surrounding it are earth combined with metal elements and it looks in her direction stretching out its hand to try and say something.

As the silver-haired creature looks into the last chamber, an icy chill goes down her spine, not because of what this creature is but because this creature is on the verge of death and can’t bear to see another magical creature die in this manner. Her eyes close and she falls to her knees before the cell with her fists clenched. Her eyes open as two blood tears fall down her cheeks.

A white fox-like creature with five small tails and three red gems across its forehead is shivering in the middle of the floor with chains on its tail, paws, neck, and surrounding walls. Its small ears are bent backwards cowering in fear and this creature is called a carbuncle. The chains on it are Poison, Death, and one to drain its magic while the magic particles flow into the wall capturing its essence. Above her holds a symbol to hide these creatures ensuring no one can replace them.

Taking a deep breath steadies herself and knows there is a lot of work ahead to send them back to their home. She can send all of them back except for this little one because it is so weak. Without turning around in a voice dripping in ice speaking very softly, “Take your men and leave. Set a parameter of forty feet from this temple and ensure no one can enter it. For if they do, the truce is off.”

Riley starts breathing again and orders his soldiers to do as was requested. Lieutenant Knox raises his hand and he gives him a stern disapproving look shaking his head. He pauses at the staircase giving a worried glance in her direction and leaves the passageway upstairs without uttering one word to her.

A few minutes pass as the silver-haired creature can feel most of the citizens have left the perimeter at least twenty feet. It doesn’t take them long to evacuate the citizens to a safe distance. Her hands rise above her casting a spell on the whole building breaking the chains as well as destroying the gems hurting the creatures as well as the seal upon the building.

The creatures panic and start to scream as the building shakes around them. The chains start to disintegrate from the creatures as the symbols from the wall disappear.

The building slowly stops shaking and the silver-haired creature looks inside the chamber at the baby guardian carbuncle. She walks into the chamber and picks up the little creature in her arms, feeling it trembling, and walks out of the chamber as the nightmare is about to attack her. Gazing at it with an incredibly sorrowful expression, she closes her eyes and bows her head. The nightmare creature almost descends upon her with its claws stretched out and the pixie uses her strength to fly right in front blocking the attack.

Conversing in the magical language, the pixie tells the nightmare not to hurt or be afraid of her because they are free and might be able to go home.

Opening her eyes and kneeling in front of them unafraid while they are trembling in fear, “Would you like to go home little ones? I can help you open the portal to send you to your own elemental homes. As the creature I am now, I am not allowed to enter it.”

The pixie moves slightly forward pointing at the creature in her arms.

A sad smile descends on her face. “I will watch over this little one and protect it till it can go home. I will ensure no one harms it ever again.” Her voice becomes hard as her rage grows and lowers her head to its ears and rests it there offering comfort. The creature in her arms suddenly stops trembling and makes a small yelping noise. It sounds like a toss between a high-pitched purring and a low-tone yelp. The other creatures suddenly come forward as if they know not to be afraid of her and are going home. She tells them how they are going to do it even if that means breaking the truce Commander Kail gave to her in the beginning.

Outside, Riley, the soldiers, rangers, and citizens are standing fifty feet away. No one dares disobey Riley’s order for he is greatly upset.

Commander Kail shows up with his men confirming what has happened.

With an intense look of great sadness about Riley, staring off into the distance, “You know, I think a lot is going on here we don’t know about.” He places one hand on his hip.

Commander Kail grows worried as he has never seen Riley like this. “You learned something, and it’s bothering you. We can talk about it another time afterward over some drinks.” Usually, when he said this, Riley would smirk and shake his head, however, he just stood there with that same expression on his face. “Should we enter?”

Riley turns around with an incredibly angry expression on his face. “No one enters there until she says it’s ok!” He storms with both hands clenched beside him. He turns around facing the temple again.

In the next instance, the silver-haired creature walks out of the temple with the little carbuncle still in her arms. It shivers and crawls closer to her as if trying to hide its face from them. After walking out a few feet, she turns around and faces the temple. With her hand, beckons a creature to come out to her, and all of the creatures inside gaze at each other unsure. The pixie flutters her wings and flies over landing on her shoulder gazing down at the carbuncle.

Raising her hand again, beckons for another creature to step outward to her. Three remaining creatures hesitate and glance at each other. Tilting its head slightly out the door, the basilisk slowly moves forward slithering in a weaving pattern back and forth as it moves around the silver-haired creature curling itself behind her.

Leaning downward she beckons again with her hand for another creature to come knowing full well how terrified they are. The hydra hesitates and moves his head slightly out the door gazing down the lane at the people. Ducking his head back inside looks back to the nightmare who is standing completely still. Moving its head slightly forward, the hydra takes small steps forward through the door. Its size is no longer fifteen feet as the creature shrank itself to move through the door unharmed. Walking to the left slightly towards the citizens, it turns around and grows in size, reverting to fifteen feet tall. The Hydra stomps the ground causing shaking to be felt and a few people to fall to the ground. It lowers its head and trembles with a frightened look on its face.

Quite a few of the men fall in the back and one of the rangers in the distance is about to attack.

Riley stands in front of them with certain gems out beside him and his daggers drawn. “Anyone who attacks them, whether they be citizens or soldiers, will die by my hand!”

“But Sir, it’s a Monster!” the soldier points at them.

“And so are you, soldier. You either obey my command or I shall end your life,” His stance doesn’t leave any openings ready to defend the creatures.

Quite a few soldiers look at Commander Kail who continues to observe her with the other creatures. He smiles and walks forward, turning around to face the crowd. Not speaking a word, he magically draws his scimitar before him and places himself in an attack stance ready to assist Riley.

Still terrified, the hydra tilts its head and looks at her.

The silver-haired creature raises her hand touching its forehead feeling the connection between magical creatures’.

Instantly the creature calms down and turns around gazing at the nightmare.

With her hand, beckons to the nightmare and it doesn’t respond, still standing in the doorway. The hydra bent his head towards the door, grabbing it with his mouth, and placing it in front of her. Once the nightmare leaves the mouth of the hydra, it glares straight up very unhappy.

She kneels and reaches over to touch its cheek, the nightmare screams again feeling the magical connection between them. It gazes back at her knowing what must be done next to send them home.

Commander Kail looks at Riley and knows why he has such a sad face on him. He was seeing for the first time not only her pain but the creatures too.

Not looking up or around, “Let’s send you home.” Her hand drifts down and offers her hand to the nightmare. It bites her hand and blood spills down on the ground looking a dark red with some black stains in it. The creature releases her hand and makes a strange circular pattern with other symbols inside it. After it finishes the nightmare looks up at her, its eyes curious as it looks back down to the symbol below. Blood symbol starts to light up emitting a dark circle appearing underneath all the creatures except for the carbuncle. In the next moment, almost all the creatures disappear going back to their elemental terrains.

The silver-haired creature smiles sadly, glancing down at the carbuncle in her arms. It made another sound as it reached up and gave her a lick on the cheek. “It will be alright little one. I will make sure you get home somehow.” Her face rests on its neck and feels it purring. As her hand raises to stroke the creature, the blood stops dripping down, and no one sees her wound instantly healed itself. Riley turns to face her as she walks to him, stopping a few feet away. “Thank you.”

Riley nods and stands aside letting her pass towards the tavern.

Commander Kail watches her leave as the people standing in the back stand aside to let her pass. Some of them are greatly afraid of her. Some of them just stare unbelieving at what they saw. While others look as if they want to attack but are too afraid.

Riley speaks in her direction in a loud voice, “Excuse me, but do I have your permission to permanently destroy the building and everything inside it?”

The silver-haired creature stops and turns around, casting a glance at Riley. Commander Kail, the soldiers, and Riley’s men are looking at him stunned he would even offer this. “Do as you wish,” is her reply, and turns around continuing toward the tavern making herself invisible the next moment.

Riley turns around and starts towards the temple.

Commander Kail interrupts him, “Not going to ask me for permission?”

“No, I think I understand why you do some of the things you do, my friend.” Riley looks over his shoulder with a sad smile. “Some things in this world are better off not knowing, it can hurt a lot of people and creatures. Curiosity is a good thing, and yet there will be times it can be your worst enemy.” He gives a shaky laugh and looks towards the temple. “Guess I needed to learn that lesson the hard way,”

Lieutenant Knox standing to the side beside the commander speaks up, “Sir, May I join you in destroying the building. I realize I do not like her at all, I . . .” His voice trails off looking down and clenches his fists.

Riley doesn’t look back, “Follow your own path, wherever it leads.”

Lieutenant Knox takes his place beside him standing in front of this building. They both take out a gem called destruction magic from their side pockets. They aim it at the building and start the incantation for using the spell.

Even with Riley possessing no magic, using gems or other items to cast magic that has been stored in them helps a lot. Even in times like this.

They blast the building for a few hours melting everything inside to rock and cinder. By morning they finish and all that is left of the building is a four feet deep flat crater where the building once stood.