Derek Ward

Though the sorcerer Killian stands as one of the most pivotal figures in the annals of world history, remarkably little is known of his life. Unlike other luminaries, Killian is not claimed by any of the human nations; contemporary accounts suggest that he was of mixed Kingdom and Southland descent, but no definitive evidence exists. The details of his early education remain shrouded in mystery, yet his prodigious talent was unmistakable—achieving the coveted title of Master Speller from the five major magic schools at an unprecedentedly young age. The record of Killian’s involvement in the Daemon War is a puzzle of contradictions. Some accounts place him squarely in the heart of the conflict, participating in nearly all the decisive battles waged by the Grand Army against the daemon forces. Other sources suggest that he spent the entire duration of the war secluded within the Great Cathedral of the Protector, pursuing arcane study. Yet, one fact is beyond dispute: alongside twelve other sorcerers, Killian journeyed to Fer Plain, where they enacted a momentous ritual that forever altered the course of history. This act sealed away nearly all of the world’s natural magic, simultaneously unleashing devastation of a magnitude comparable to the ten preceding years of war and stripping the daemons of the magical power that had rendered them nearly invincible. With their dominance broken, the daemons became vulnerable to human technology, allowing conventional forces to overwhelm them. Their last desperate gambit was to lay siege to the elven magic academy at Liopasto, seeking to reclaim the magic necessary for their survival—a gamble that ended in their ultimate defeat. Killian’s controversial act, dubbed the Benevolent Betrayal, is a paradoxical legacy: an act of profound destruction that nevertheless saved the intelligent races from annihilation, securing the final victory against the daemons. It is this enigmatic combination of heroism and sacrifice that cements his place in history. – Excerpt from “Great People of History” by Plenius Agrilla

ELA

“The Crystal Blood is here,” Tanus said as they stepped on to the Liopasto grounds.

“How do you know that?” Ela asked.

“I am not the sorcerer that Tyrell is, but I can feel the shift in the magic,” Tanus said. Tanus explained his time in the Badlands changed him. It made him more sensitive to the natural magic, even if he could not wield it like Tyrell. Something nagged at Ela in the back of her mind. It was the way Tanus was speaking. After Tyrell mentioned it, Ela noticed that Tanus was more eager. She dismissed her concerns. They were close to their goal after years of planning and work. Of course, Tanus was eager. She was eager to finish this. Besides, Tanus had been right about everything so far. He earned her trust. Tanus, Ela, and the Black walked into the large building. It was filled with wounded. They were using the Liopasto as a hospital? Were they so desperate? She strode through the screaming wounded as the Black swarmed around her and her fellow acolyte.

“To arms! The Edess Kul is here!” shouted one of the wounded. He staggered off his cot. The call went out around the large room. More wounded got off their cots and grabbed whatever they could use as weapons.

“We cannot be delayed,” Tanus urged.

“Deal with them,” Ela ordered the Black commander. A dozen peeled off from the group. It didn’t take the Black long to finish off the obstinate ones. One quick volley. She should have ordered them to use the bayonets. Gunfire indoors always deafened her. Her mask and hood muffled some of it, but not all. She shook her head to clear the ringing.

Tanus ignored the combat as he walked across the hospital to the far side. Stepping up to the door, he rapped on it three times. Looking at the Black commander, Tanus nodded. Two of the Black slung their muskets and opened the door. Three translucent forms floated on the other side.

“Ghosts?” Ela asked.

“Of a sort,” Tanus answered. “They won’t bother us.” He stepped up to the center ghost and spoke in an unfamiliar language. The words were harsh and grunting. The ghost nodded and disappeared.

“What was that?” Ela asked. “It didn’t sound like Old Imperial.”

“It wasn’t. It was an old human language.” Tanus walked into the darkness before turning around. “Ela, we are very close to purifying the Crystal Blood. Follow the plan.”

“Yes. You’re right,” Ela said. She motioned to the leader of the Black. “Have some of your men stay here and ensure none come in after us.” The man saluted and issued his own orders.

Tanus walked deeper into the Liopasto. Something nagged at the back of her mind as Ela and the Black entered the hallway. It was like when her memories were threatening to surface. She focused on the plan. Soon, the bitch would be dead. Ral’s death would be avenged. It would have been nice if her infiltrators managed to bring her the Crystal Blood, but Tanus was right. This was better. Rin would be here. He would get to watch her die. He would feel everything Ela felt when Ral died. If only they were able to arrange events so Rin was forced to kill the Crystal Blood like Ela was forced…

She stopped that thought. It would bring up that dreaded memory. Without Tyrell there to fix the magic, she would be reduced to a quivering mass. Tyrell assured her once the Crystal Blood was dead, all the pain would go away. Yet something was still nagging the back of her mind. Her eyes narrowed on Tanus as she realized what her instincts were telling her.

“Why are we going away from her?”

Tanus whirled around. His face was a mixture of shock and annoyance but quickly smoothed to that same reassuring expression he always wore. Ela felt like she just stepped on to a dueling ground.

“What are you talking about? We’re going to the Crystal Blood.” Tanus’s voice was calm and reasoned.

“No, we’re not. We’re going away from her.”

“How do you know that?”

“She will be where the magic is the strongest. I can feel the magic. I can’t see it like you and Tyrell, but I can feel it.”

“Of course. All those treatments he gave you. I should have expected that as a side effect.”

“You still haven’t answered me Tanus. Why are we moving away from the magic?”

“You’re going to have to trust me Ela,” Tanus said. “There’s something down this way that we need in order to purify the Crystal Blood. You will have your vengeance.”

“What? What more do we need?” Ela asked.

“I don’t have time to explain it to you,” Tanus said.

“Explain, or we’re not going anywhere.”

Four of the Black surrounded her with bayonet-tipped muskets. Ela drew her blade and advanced on the senior of the quartet. He responded with a lunge. Her blade blocked the bayonet as she danced closer. Before the Faithful could react, Ela opened the man’s inner legs. He was dead, even if he was still standing. She spun through the familiar dance. She wasn’t the sword dancer Marteen was, but she learned from the same teachers. The other three tried to stop her, but they fell quickly. The rest of the Black leveled their muskets at Ela.

“I don’t want to kill you Ela,” Tanus said. “I really don’t. I want you to purify the Crystal Blood.”

“You lying bastard. You Light-damned traitor!”

“Traitor? How can I betray the cause I gathered all of you to complete? I’ll grant you I did lie about the true nature of the cause.” Tanus pulled out a metal rod. The one he brought back from the Badlands. He pointed it at Ela, and she was suddenly paralyzed. She couldn’t even scream. Tanus walked up to her. He undid her iron mask and tossed it to the side. The clang echoed up and down the hall as it hit the ground. Tanus studied her for a long moment.

“Bring her. We are running out of time,” Tanus ordered. Two of the Black slung their muskets and lifted Ela like she was a statue. Rage coursed through her. It was happening again. Betrayed by someone she trusted like a brother. Worse, he subverted her most loyal soldiers. Right under her nose! She was going to kill Tanus. If she could somehow just get free.

Ghosts appeared around the small group as they walked deeper into the Liopasto. These ghosts looked wrong. As if they couldn’t remember how they looked in life and were trying their best to mimic elves. They also looked more…real? Like she could touch them – if she wasn’t paralyzed. The ghosts walked with their group, like an honor guard. Tanus led them down another passage. The air grew colder. After a few minutes, the passage opened into a large room, maybe fifty feet across.

“I see you Tanus,” a voice echoed through the room. A new ghost appeared. Fear gripped Ela. This one was huge. It was easily twenty feet high. It was like a living shadow. Just the form of an elf with the darkest blackness making up the body. It hurt Ela just to look at it.

“It pleases me, my master,” Tanus said, bowing to the ghost.

“I admit, I was skeptical of your plan. The trickles of magic would never be enough to break my restraints. You must have sacrificed thousands to gather enough to do this.”

“Yes, my master, but now you are unbound.”

“Others are pulling the magic. I feel it running through this structure.” The voice sounded like it was coming from everywhere at once. “It will be enough to awaken the Magic Heart.” Memories flooded Ela. The Magic Heart. Cull talked about awakening the Magic Heart. It was why he needed to sacrifice the Crystal Blood. She wanted to remember what he said, but that was when Ral died. She didn’t want to remember her soulbond dying. She didn’t want to remember when she fired that arrow. Pain wracked her mind as she started losing control.

“For us to awaken the Magic Heart and control it, I need my power restored. You promised me a dozen soul shards. I see eight here. Where are my others?”

“There were some unforeseen incidents,” Tanus said. “I have however brought this one.” He motioned to Ela. “You can take all of her soul.”

“Is she not your ally?”

“She was a tool I needed.”

“You are the servant I thought you were,” the voice said, sounding impressed. “Begin the ritual.”

“Yes, my master.” Tanus ordered the Black to surround the dark form. Why was this monster demanding souls? It wasn’t a ghost. She was sure of that now. No elf soul would become that – thing. What was it? How had Tanus convinced her most loyal soldiers to not only betray her, but be willing to give up some of their souls? The questions tormented her as she watched Tanus circle around the monster and the eight members of the Black. Ghosts walked just outside the circle, as if they were guarding it. Once Tanus drew the circle with his rod, he struck the ground. Blinding pain flashed through Ela’s head. As the stars cleared, Ela saw the senior Black step in front of the monster.

“I, Malor Grindsin, give you a shard of my soul.” The Black collapsed to the ground while the monster shimmered. Ela glimpsed what was behind the darkness. Just that glimpse terrified her. As she shook from the horror, she realized her paralysis was gone. Cautiously, she tested her limbs. Yes, she could move again. Slipping her hands down, she found the hilts of the daggers concealed in her boots. She was surrounded and outnumbered. She needed fast and furious violence. Ela leapt to her feet and sprinted at Tanus. He turned at the last moment with a curious expression on his face. Just as she lunged, Ela slammed into an invisible wall.

NO! Ela screamed in her head. She couldn’t fail.

BOOM! The room trembled with the deafening noise. Ela staggered as she tried to clear her head. That wasn’t a musket. That was one of those Republic rifles. It fired again. This time Ela saw something hit the invisible wall. It landed at her feet. It looked like those cone-shaped musket balls the humans used, but longer and thinner. Ela picked it up. It wasn’t lead, but something heavier. Voices brought her attention back to the circle. The monster shimmered again as another Black fell to the ground.

A hand grabbed Ela by the back of her tunic and dragged her back. She looked up to see Rin. The human was holding a double-barreled gun at the ghosts closing in on them. Rin pointed the gun at the largest ghost and fired. The ghost screamed as it – solidified? That was the word that came to Ela’s mind. Rin drew his pistol with that unbelievable speed of his. This pistol barked once, and the ghost dissolved. The pistol went back into its scabbard as fast as it came out.

“I’ve got enough obsidian and silver to banish all of you.” The ghosts flinched at his words.

“Kill the human and bring me his star-iron,” the voice boomed. Another Black was on the ground.

“Protector save us,” Rin breathed as he shot a look at the monster. There was fear in his voice. Ela couldn’t remember the last time she heard fear from Rin.

“Time to go.” Rin dragged Ela back down the passage as the ghosts closed. As the ghosts came closer, they changed from elven-like forms to horrors. Hands were replaced with tentacles. Faces extended into mockeries of an elf. Some lengthened to spindly forms, while others thickened.

“Ela, stop staring at the demons and run!” Rin shouted. He brought that double gun up and fired at the closest – demon? But demons were only supposed to be in the Badlands. Why were there demons in the Liopasto? Rin once again drew his pistol, fired, and re-sheathed it in one fluid motion. Just as before, the demon dissolved. Rin half-dragged Ela as he ran back down the passage. Ela got her feet under and ran. Rin pushed a lever on the double-gun, and it folded in half. Two small tubes fell on the floor. Rin pulled two more of the small tubes from the leather strap across his chest, put them into the double-gun’s barrels, and snapped them back in place.

“Left!” Rin screamed. Without thinking, Ela turned down the new passageway. There was the throaty boom of the double gun and the higher pitched crack of the pistol. Then, Rin was running next to Ela. She could not understand how the shorter human was so much faster than she was.

“Second right!” Rin ordered. Ela passed one entryway and sprinted through the next.

“You can stop running now,” Rin said. “They’re not chasing us anymore.” Ela took a few more steps and shook with pent-up terror. She suddenly realized she wasn’t in a passageway, but a large room.

“What under the Protector’s Gaze is going on Ela?” Rin demanded. Ela was about to answer him when her eyes locked onto a slim form with white-gold hair. The Crystal Blood! The woman who destroyed her world was only yards away. The terror fell away as the familiar warm rage surged.

“Ela, if you take another step towards Illana, I will end you,” Rin said with a deadly coldness. Ela turned around and looked down the barrel of Rin’s pistol.

“Do not make me kill you, sister.”

“Why do you keep protecting her?”

“Because she’s my soulbond.” The words struck Ela like a slap across the face. A soulbond? With a human? The Goddess would never let that happen.

“Rin, something’s wrong.” That hated voice. So clear. So pure. Ela’s lip curled in a silent snarl. The earth shook. For a moment, Ela thought it was just her. Then she saw the wide-eyed surprise on the hated woman’s face.

“We’re leaving. Now,” Rin said.

“We’re not finished. The magic keeps slipping away,” said the other elf. Ela’s hatred abated for a moment as she realized what the other elf was saying.

“The monster,” Ela breathed, “It’s taking the magic.”

“What do you mean? What’s taking the magic?” the Crystal Blood asked.

“There’s a souled demon down below,” Rin answered. “But I’ve never seen a souled demon like that before. I don’t remember ever reading about a souled demon that took multiple soul shards.”

“Tanus was going to give it a dozen souls,” Ela said. The others looked questioningly at Rin.

“If that’s significant, I have no idea how,” Rin said.

“Robar, wind down the spell,” the Crystal Blood ordered, “We’re not giving that demon any more magic.”

“Your highness, we can’t stop a spellform before it’s completed, or the magic will be unleashed uncontrollably. This much magic could shatter the Liopasto and kill everyone on the grounds.”

“Then we finish quickly.” As if to punctuate the remark, the Liopasto shook again. Ela knew of earthquakes, but none ever hit Lisandra. This had to be the monster’s doing. The hated woman’s hands danced in the air in sync with the other elf.

“Ela, please quit staring at Illana like that. I don’t think what was going on below was what you and Shafford were planning.” Ela’s attention was drawn back to Rin. His pistol was back in its scabbard.

“Why? Didn’t you give me this to protect her?” Ela motioned to her dead eye.

“As badly twisted as you are, I can’t see how you would have agreed to create a souled demon. Then, there was that whole trying to attack the demon.”

“We were here to sacrifice her and purify the true spirit of the Empire. Not release that thing,” Ela admitted, nodding towards Illana. The Liopasto shook again. It was stronger this time.

“Well, now you’re going to help me keep her alive,” Rin said, “As soon as she’s done, we need to get out of here.”

“Why would I do that?” Ela asked. “Why shouldn’t I just leave the three of you to face that monster?” Rin gave her a cold, hard look.

“If you think you can go, then go,” he said, motioning to the door. “If you want to stop that thing, then you need to stay with us. You’ll have better luck against those demons with us than on your own.”

“Fine, but don’t think this changes anything between us,” Ela said. Rin just nodded and faced the door.

Service in the Badlands circuit represents a unique challenge within the ranks of the Mareian Rangers. It is not a posting pursued for prestige or advancement, nor is it one held in high regard by those who value decorum and proper rank. To many, it is a station fraught with difficulty, requiring a degree of sacrifice not often understood by those serving in more conventional circuits. However, among the rank and file, those who have ridden the Badlands circuit command an enduring respect—not for their adherence to protocol or appearance, but for their ability to endure and excel in an unforgiving land. It is not their proficiency with firearms or horsemanship that sets them apart, though these are often formidable. Rather, it is an intangible quality. That quality that allows them to face nightmares and sleep soundly. – Colonel Marcus Antonelli, answering to the Senate

RIN

“This is everything we have,” Morelli said, handing Rin a pair of bandoleers and a cartridge bag. “I managed to get more from the other rangers. It’s not like they’re going to need them.” The first bandoleer held two dozen grapegun obsidian shard shells. The second bandoleer held fifty silver pistol cartridges. Rin frowned. Silver bullets were good only for short distances because the metal didn’t grip the barrel’s rifling like lead. It was why Rin preferred silver grapegun shells. Rin opened the bag and saw about thirty star-iron rifle cartridges. He draped the bandoleers over his shoulders and tied the bag to his gun belt.

“Thank you, Giancolo,” Rin said.

“Shouldn’t I have some of those if I’m going to take on demons?” Morelli asked. Rin shook his head.

“You’re not going with me. You need to be on the Aponte Wall with the others.”

“Why there?”

“Because I’m the sergeant, and I told you so,” Rin said.

“Makes sense.”

“Don’t let Pallus take all the glory.” Morelli saluted and dashed off to join the other Heroes in defending the city.

“What are those?” Illana asked, pointing at the bandoliers.

“Special demon-killing ammunition,” Rin answered, opening Morelli’s grapegun. His junior had already loaded two obsidian shells into the gun. Rin snapped the grapegun closed.

“If you’re ready, let us go find this Amplification Chamber,” Illana said. Robar led the way. The ruins of the Liopasto loomed over the open walkways as the trio made their way to the hospital. Rin felt something – or somethings – watching them. For the first time, Rin wished some of the Crystal Guard were around Illana. At least they would make useful fodder.

“Your highness, we have to go through the hospital to get to the casting hall,” Robar said, “I should warn you, some of the injuries are…rather grotesque.”

“Thank you, Robar, but you don’t need to protect my sensibilities,” Illana said.

“Have you ever seen a man whose chest has been hacked open?” Robar asked quietly.

“Yes,” Illana answered. “Some of the things Cull did while I was in his custody were beyond grotesque.” Robar’s cheeks burned with embarrassment.

“My apologies, your highness.”

Illana accepted Robar’s apology with a regal nod, but Rin felt the remembered horror flow from Illana through their link. During their time after her rescue, Illana refused to speak about some of the things she saw during her years with Cull. The closest she came was telling Rin the reason she slept next to him was because it chased away the nightmares.

Screams of pain and horror filled the air as Robar opened the hospital doors. All the cots were filled with wounded. Many more lay on makeshift pallets. Most of the clerics in the hospital were incapacitated by the Purists’ spell, but a few provided what care they could for the patients providing what care they could. Even those clerics looked terrified by the loss of their connection to their Goddess. Illana kept her face impassive, but she grabbed Rin’s hand with an iron grip as they made their way through the hospital. Robar opened the heavy door at the other end and motioned for Illana and Rin into the hallway. Pinpricks of purple lit the hallway from the Liopasto’s natural magic poking through the demon taint. Illana gripped Rin’s arm as she looked down the corridor.

“Can’t you feel that?” she whispered, “It feels so wrong.”

“I think that’s daemon magic,” Robar answered. “It’s befouling the natural magic.”

“It feels like the Badlands,” Rin said. “Whatever you do, don’t talk to the demons, no matter what they say.”

“Why?” Robar asked.

“Demons bargain. They’ll offer anything and everything to get you to give them a shard of your soul. They’re scary good at figuring out ways to manipulate people.”

“Why do they want shards of our souls?”

“So, they can come fully into our world.”

“They become daemons?” Illana asked, a hint of fear in her voice.

“Not exactly daemons, but something more than demons,” Rin answered. “Souled demons are scary things. They terrify normal demons. Worse, you can only kill them with star-iron.”

“What about magic?” Robar asked. “Will magic kill them?”

“Maybe. We don’t have any records of it though.”

“I thought you were our expert on demons,” Robar retorted.

“And I thought you were our expert on magic,” Rin replied, heatedly.

“When Selene and I encountered that demon here, I hit it with magic. I didn’t know what I was doing. I just wanted it to get away from Selene.”

“So, you hurt it,” Illana said.

“But I couldn’t kill it. I couldn’t draw enough power. Selene finished it with the Goddess’s Grace,” Robar explained. He turned to Rin. “Do your priests kill demons?”

“The Protector isn’t like the Goddess,” Rin said, “He may give us a push now and then, but He doesn’t act directly in our lives.” The two elves look astounded at his revelation.

“Then, how do you know your god does anything?” Robar asked.

“Both of you stop bickering,” Illana said.

“Yes, your highness,” both men chorused. The trio walked down the hallway, the faint glow from the walls dimmed. Illana’s fear increased with the darkness.

“Let me get some light,” Rin said, fiddling for a matchstick and his spot lantern. A small globe of light appeared floating a few centimeters above Illana’s hand. Rin blinked.

“That’s amazing,” Rin said. “How did you do that?”

“I don’t know,” Illana said, “I just thought about what I needed, and the magic did it.” Robar studied the ball for a few moments. An identical ball appeared above his own hand.

“In my grandfather’s notes, he described people who have an innate ability for spellforms. They don’t need to memorize them because they instinctively understand how magic needs to be formed. Maybe that’s the connection the book talked about between magic and the Crystal Blood. Now that I see how you did it, I can mimic it.”

A faint odor in the air floated down the hallway. So, they smelled the same on this continent. Two monstrosities walked into the edge of the light. Both were two and a half meters tall. The one on the right looked like a transparent kidney bean – if a kidney bean sprouted heavily muscled arms and legs as well as dozens of mouths and eyes. The one to the left was humanoid, except headless. Too-large eyes looked out from its palms, just above small mouths. Illana’s fear spiked.

“New sorcerers,” said the bean. Its chorus of voices reverberated painfully in Rin’s head. “It’s been so long. They will bargain with us.” Rin was tempted to kill that one first just to stop it from speaking ever again.

“Foolish. Thought. That. Is. Why. Amag. Banished,” the headless one said, the mouths on its hands speaking every other word. Rin wasn’t sure which of the two demons was more annoying.

“This one has the faintest whiff of Amag on him,” the bean’s chorus said, pointing at Robar. “Did you banish Amag?” Rin stepped in front of the others before Robar could speak.

“We will not bargain with you. Let us pass, or you will get banished like your friend.”

“We felt the magic. We know the spellform,” chorused the bean, “You are cut off from your precious goddess. You won’t be able to do make that pale imitation of real magic. You can’t kill us. No one alive knows how to kill us with real magic.”

“Bargain. With. Us. Or. You. Die.” No, the chorus from the bean was much more annoying than the one talking out of its hands.

“Illana, Robar, cover your ears,” Rin said. Rin brought up the grapegun.

“Is that supposed to be a wand?” the bean’s mouths chorused.

“It. Is. Metal. And. Wood. I. Feel. No. Magic. Inside,” the headless one scoffed,

“Silly mortal, you can’t make a wand like that.” The bean’s mouths laughed. Rin turned the grapegun on the bean. That thing needed to stop talking. He stroked the first trigger. The corridor rocked with the boom of the grapegun and filled with the sulfurous smell of burnt gunpowder. The bean screamed from its hundred mouths as dozens of obsidian shards laced its body. Its gelatinous form darkened as the demon was anchored in the world. Rin swiveled the grapegun and touched off the second barrel. Obsidian laced the headless demon. Rin’s revolver materialized in his hand. The cracks of the revolver were puny compared to the throaty booms of the grapegun. The silver bullets ripped into the demons’ corporeal flesh. Air rushed through the hallway as the demons were banished back to wherever they came from. The wind dispersed most of the gun smoke.

Rin scanned the hallway as he cracked open the grapegun and pulled out the spent shells. His ears rang from the gun blasts. He should have put in his earplugs. He pulled two more obsidian shells from the bandolier and slipped them into the grapegun.

“What under the Light did you just do?” yelled Robar. Rin looked back at the cleric. From the inquisitive look on elf’s face, Robar’s yelling was more from deafness than his normal displeasure with Rin’s presence. Out of instinct, Rin put two fingers over his lips. Illana and Robar looked confused at the gesture. Damn it, that was a Mareian gesture. What was the elven gesture to be quiet? Rin put his pinkie finger horizontally over his lips. Rin motioned for them to continue down the corridor. He would answer Robar when their ears stopped ringing.

To his surprise, Illana reached up and grabbed Rin’s ears. There was an instant of scalding heat and the ringing stopped. She turned and grabbed Robar’s ears. The elf’s face contorted in pain for a brief moment, and then he looked down at the princess in amazement. Illana grabbed her own ears and the glow around her hands pulsed. Illana collapsed against the wall. Rin started to go to her, but Illana held up her hand.

“That took more out of me than I expected,” Illana said.

“You’re making spellforms on instinct, your highness,” Robar said. “Instinct doesn’t always translate to efficiency. Sorcerers spent years studying how to refine spellforms to use the minimum amount of magic.”

“When this is all over, you and I are going to search the Liopasto for any books on spellforms,” Illana said. She took a deep breath and her globe of light reappeared hovering above her hand.

“You shouldn’t be pushing yourself so hard, your highness,” Robar said.

“I’m fine. I just needed a quick rest,” Illana replied. “Rin, would you take the lead? You seem to know how to handle these demons.” Rin gripped his grapegun and walked down the hallway. Shadows of movement danced at the edge of the light. Whispered taunts in unfamiliar languages echoed down the hallway. Rin quietly chuckled. Demons were all the same. Through their connection, Rin felt Illana’s fear rising.

“Don’t worry. They’re not going to attack. They’re just playing games with us,” Rin reassured his companions.

“How do you know that?” Robar demanded.

“Those demons have no idea how I banished their companions. Demons are terrified of being banished from this world and sent back to wherever they’re from,” Rin answered. They walked another ten or so meters before coming to an intersection.

“Which way?” Rin asked.

“Go left,” Illana said. He felt confidence from Illana, but there was also some uncertainty. It was like she instinctively knew where to go, but not why she knew. Robar didn’t correct her, so Rin turned left. The hallway ended in a solid bronze door three meters high and two meters across. It looked like a solid slab of metal. There weren’t any hinges, knobs, or keyholes. So, how were they supposed to open it? Low taunts became a chorus of malicious laughter. Illana and Robar kept brave faces, but their eyes darted across the edge of the bubble of light from their globes.

“Why are they laughing at us?” Illana asked.

“Because they know how to open this door. They think we’ll be forced to bargain.”

“Yes, bargain,” several voices hissed in a distorted chorus. Robar and Illana paled, but Rin ignored them and focused on the door. It didn’t look like normal elven metal work. At least, not elven work he knew. Something tickled his mind. Something Kurt told him when they lived on the farm. Heavy metal doors like this – such as the steel doors to the Imperial Quarters – were forged by the dwarven Lord of the Mountain’s personal metalsmiths. How did those old stories go?

“Illana, concentrate on the door,” Rin said, standing up. “Make sure you look down.” Her eyebrows crooked up. Rin felt her confusion and curiosity through their connection.

“How did I not see that?” Illana asked. Her globe of light vanished as she knelt down and touched the bottom left corner. The door groaned and slid to the side. It was pitch black inside the room. Cold, dry air flooded out into the hallway. The demons’ laughter turned to shrieks.

“Get in the chamber, now!” Rin commanded. Illana picked up her skirts and sprinted into the blackness. Robar hesitated for an instant before following the princess. Rin backed into the room, keeping his grapegun leveled at the voices in corridor behind them.

“The first one of you that steps across that threshold will be banished,” Rin yelled at the demons. The mass stopped just outside the light, but they radiated anger.

“You will not come out of this place alive, human.”

“I’m not the only one who knows how to deal with you. If you kill us, others will come and banish all of you,” Rin said. “By the end of the day, there won’t be a single demon left on these grounds.” He felt the demons move back down the hallway. Rin took another step into the chamber. Illana slid the door shut.

The pitch black suddenly exploded in light. Robar was holding a small sun over his head. The amethyst crystals of the Amplification Chamber reflected the light and made the entire room glow. It took a few moments for Rin’s eyes to adjust. The Amplification Chamber was bigger than he expected. It was easily fifty meters across with crystal walls going up ten or fifteen meters. The dome ceiling was another good ten meters higher. Five bronze tablets, each easily five meters high, were mounted to the walls. The tablets were etched with old elven script. Yet, all of that paled to the center of the room.

Three clear crystal columns, about a half-meter in width, stood in a triangle around a five-meter-tall tower of purple crystal. Illana walked to the purple crystal and placed her hand on the formation. Rin couldn’t see what happened, but Illana suddenly filled with exhilaration. Rin took a step towards her but stopped at her raised hand.

“Sweet Goddess,” Illana said, “It feels like a part of me is finally awake. Robar, you must put your hand on the Focus.”

“How did you know that was what it was called, your highness?” Robar asked as he approached the crystal.

“I-, I don’t know,” Illana answered, “I think it told me.”

“You truly are the Crystal Blood,” Robar said, as he placed his own hand on the Focus. His stern face broke into a smile of pure joy. “I see what you mean. It’s like my eyes have been opened. Like I can see everything clearly for the first time.”

“Robar, you’re glowing,” Illana said, and looked at the cleric amazed.

“So are you, your highness,” Robar said. Rin frowned. The two of them looked just the same as they did before. He couldn’t see any glow around either of them.

Out of curiosity, Rin walked up and put his hand on the crystal. Rin collapsed to his knees as he felt his strength ripped from him. It was like when he gave that demon a shard of his soul. The connection between Illana and him went from an odd trickle to a torrent of emotions and thoughts. He felt more than saw Illana’s head whipp around. Rin felt her sudden terror as if it were his own. Or maybe it was his own. He couldn’t tell which emotions and thoughts were his or Illana’s. He barely noticed as she wrenched his hand from the Focus. The connection snapped back to its trickle. The sudden loss drove Rin to the ground. The floor was hard and cold. He felt Illana in his mind. She was terrified and angry and worried and a bunch of other things Rin couldn’t decipher. He felt her warm hands on his cheeks.

“That didn’t go as I expected,” Rin grunted as he sat up.

“What were you expecting?” Illana demanded. Her tone was angry, but her eyes sparkled with relief.

“To see you glowing,” Rin answered. He looked past Illana to Robar. The cleric was looking at the two of them with wide-eyed shock.

“What just happened?” Rin asked.

“I don’t understand,” Robar said, “Nothing should have happened from just touching the Focus. Unless…but that’s impossible.”

“Unless what?” Illana asked. Robar looked at Illana and Rin with a confused expression.

“Unless, you have a soulbond. How could an elf and a human have a soulbond?” Robar answered.

Rin felt Illana’s shock through their connection. Or soulbond if Robar was right. He was just as surprised, but he pushed that to the side. This wasn’t the time to explore that revelation.

“Does that change how you two are going to do the spell?” Rin asked.

“Well, no,” Robar said.

“Then you both best get on with it. The others are counting on us.”

“But Rin. A soulbond?” Illana asked. Confusion and excitement swirled in their connection.

“Illana, your people need you to do the spell. We can figure out the rest later.” She wanted to argue but instead pulled Robar to the center of the room. Rin walked back to the doorway. He felt the demons in the hallway. At least a half-dozen. How did they stand being so close together? Demons in the Badlands stayed far away from each other.

Thunder rolled through the hallway. No, that wasn’t thunder. That was musket fire. What under the Protector’s gaze was happening? The demons outside the door stopped whispering. That couldn’t be good. Rin tightened his grip on the grapegun and fell into the familiar fighting stance. Seconds passed. Then a minute. Then another. Rin waited another minute before approaching the doorway. The demons were gone. Rin chanced a glance back at Illana and Robar. They were standing on either side of the Focus discussing how they were going to do break the Purists’ spell. They weren’t throwing around magic, so where did those damned demons go?