Paying For a Life

Prologue

The cold night breeze slowly blew over the man creeping towards the forest. He needed to reach the forest before the guards found him. He could hear the trees whispering of his flight already, their hoarse voices music to his ears. Then the shout sounded.

"Traitor! Betrayal! Someone has betrayed the King!"

The arrows flew at him as he reached the forest. The first one flew past his ear and embedded itself into the tree in front of him. By the time the second volley of arrows was fired, the man was too deep in the forest to be seen anymore.

Chapter 1

The town of Whiteway was surrounded by stonewalls, every one hundred feet were round towers some of which held ballistae, others were solely for archers. Inside the walls the town was alive with murmurs as Phoenix rode through town. Women and men alike whispered about the betrayal the night before. Phoenix could only catch a few brief fragments.

"I heard it was a demon who…"

"They say it was the most trusted of the…"

"He was helping Queen Favana and her Undead…"

“A dragon disguised as one of us…”

“…even more powerful than Favana herself…”

“…never would have expected him…”

Phoenix whispered also, but only one word "Dragon," said with

despair, and fear.

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Phoenix rode straight to the castle this morning. As was normal he hid himself inside a cloak, only his long black hair showing. He didn't even stop in at his favorite tavern. Soon the castle rose in front of him. The large walls were a brilliant white stone. Rising to the heavens the walls were cornered with large towers, on top of each were ballistae for the castle defense. When he reached the gates to the main castle the guards were waiting for him. Like most of the world the guards knew him as Ryne.

"Ryne, You are to meet with King Feilnor immediately!" said the closest guard. "Someone just left to inform him of your arrival. Hurry, for you must not keep the King waiting."

"I'll go as fast as I damn well please," thought Phoenix to himself, though he did walk a bit faster than usual.

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"Ryne, it's horrible! A terrible disaster! One of my advisors has betrayed us. You are the only one I can trust right now Ryne. I don’t know what to do, he was one of the most trusted of my advisors. He knew everything, which means Favana knows everything. They could attack at any time. Because of that one man we could easily be taken over! I need your help Ryne, I don't know what to do!"

"What do you need, Your Highness?" asked Phoenix.

“I need you to track this traitor and kill him!"

"Well first tell me exactly who it was and what happened last night." replied Phoenix

The King proceeded to explain that while talking to his advisor the previous night he found out that his advisor was passing information along to Queen Favana, whose army of the undead threatened to destroy the kingdom of Whiteway Hedge. Apparently the advisor, named Wilau, let slip to the King that he wasn't completely loyal. Once the King found out, Wilau confessed and ran towards the woods.

So it was Dragon, thought Phoenix, but why did he blow his cover?

"He is working for Queen Favana!" declared King Feilnor.

“How can you be certain?”

“Who else would he be working for?" asked the King.

You would never guess what is really going on, thought Phoenix to himself.

“So will you help Ryne?"

"I'm heading out now."

On his way out of the castle Phoenix bumped into a strangely familiar man who claimed to be the Kings royal magician. Phoenix knew him from somewhere, but he couldn't place where.

"Well it’s not Dragon, but who could it be?" thought Phoenix. Disregarding the man, Phoenix continued towards his cottage to prepare for his search.

Chapter 2

When Phoenix entered his cottage he found someone waiting for him already.

“Where the hell have you been Phoenix?" The woman stood at around five foot eleven inches. Her red-brown hair was blowing, despite lack of wind in his cottage. She wore her normal fire-red pants and white shirt.

“Before you get angry, Dragon blew his cover and went missing, I don’t know where he’s at, but the king wants me to go find him.”

"Hold on a second," she replied. “Start from the beginning and tell me everything that happened!”

So Phoenix told her about everything that had happened the night before and that morning.

"You don't think something's wrong with Dragon do you?"

"I don't know, Genie, I just don't know."

"Does Unicorn know?" Genie finally asked, "Of all people she should know. As far as I know they kept up their relationship.”

"They did, but I couldn't find her. Which means either she knows and left with him or she is busy with something herself. You two are supposed to be the ones that communicate right?"

"I'll find her; don't leave till I return!"

"You know I couldn't leave without you, Genie; first off, I love you, but, secondly, you'd kill me!"

"Damn right!" replied Genie as she walked out the door.

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Phoenix, Genie, Dragon and Unicorn had been friends for most of their lives. Phoenix and Dragon had been close friends since they could remember, as had Genie and Unicorn. They had trained in different fields of combat. Phoenix and Dragon with melee combat, while Genie trained in offense majik and Unicorn in defense and healing majik. In those days everyone trained to shoot a bow or crossbow, but the four took it a step further and became expert marksmen.

The four had completed their trainings at about the same time.

Their respective masters had joined the four on a mission. They set off together and spent almost two years getting to know each other better. Phoenix and Dragon had always trained together, so they fought together like a well-oiled machine. Once Unicorn and Dragon were thrown into the mix with their respective majiks, the group was almost invincible.

Dragon and Unicorn fell for each other almost instantly, but Phoenix and Genie fought constantly. Looking at the two most people would expect them to kill each other after spending a day alone, but Dragon and Unicorn sensed that there was more to the two’s relationship. One day, Phoenix had to fight one battle alone, for a group would have been destroyed instantly, while a single fighter, using stealth, could, if nothing more, save the others from death.

"Phoenix, you can't” proclaimed Genie.

"I have to." He replied.

"Genie, this is the only way," claimed Dragon.

"It will be all right," Unicorn said comfortingly.

"No there has to be another way!" Genie screamed.

"How do you think I feel?" Dragon demanded, "He's my closest friend, practically a brother to me, and he has always been there for me. How do you think I really feel, knowing that I can't be there for him right now when he faces what will most likely end in his death! I have to sit idly by just like you do, he is my brother, you don’t even like him, so just sit down and shut up, let the rest of us worry about it."

"You guys act like I'm not coming back," Phoenix said, without much conviction.

"Phoenix, we all know your chances," Unicorn replied.

"I will make it back alive," Phoenix said, moving closer to Genie.

"I promise you'll see me again."

"What if I don't?" asked Genie.

"You will." At that moment Phoenix leaned in to kiss Genie and they finally realized what they felt for each other. The next time the small group saw Phoenix, he could barely stand. He had many deep wounds, most of which were nearly fatal. Upon returning he fainted and didn’t wake for three straight days. From that day forward, the four were the closest friends. But with Dragon gone the group was a man short. Phoenix wondered if that would change their ability to carry on.

We have to find him! thought Phoenix.

Chapter 3

Things went on almost as usual for Phoenix while Genie was looking for Dragon. Phoenix was used to being alone. The four had gone into hiding after their last adventure, so they tried to not spend much time together as a group. Phoenix prepared his traveling gear. The first thing he grabbed was his favorite sword and main weapon in combat when fighting multiple enemies. The blade was long and thin, allowing for quick thrusts and slashes. Next Phoenix reached for his katars: one of which, when worn, extended his knuckles into long claws, the other a dagger style blade pointing away from his palm. Phoenix used his katars when he thought he was in for a tough battle. Phoenix found that the sword was great for fighting multiple enemies, but he always fought better in a one on one battle holding his katars. Finally, Phoenix grabbed his bow. Phoenix mainly used his bow for hunting, but sometimes he fought at a range. After gathering his weapons, Phoenix looked for his travel cloak. Phoenix loved his travel cloak, for when he wore it he looked mysterious. His long hair always covered most of his face, but the cloak’s hood covered the rest in shadows. The last thing Phoenix got together for traveling was food for the road. After he had all that prepared he slept to save strength for his trip.

It was starting to get dark when Genie returned alone.

"I couldn't find her," was all she said.

"I'm sure they're together wherever they are," replied Phoenix.

“I sure hope so,"

"You should get everything ready tonight, we need to leave early tomorrow morning," Phoenix informed her.

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Phoenix awoke at first light the next morning. He woke Genie and they made the final preparations for their search. They only grabbed some of the things they needed, for they were used to finding or creating their necessities on their trips.

They followed the main road out of the town. It would take them straight through the country; hopefully someone in one of the towns would have information they could use to find Dragon and Unicorn.

Only a mile out of town the pair met a gang of robbers. The first one rushed Phoenix, who sidestepped and drew his sword. The robber didn't even realize Phoenix was armed until the blade was pulled out of his back. Genie cast a spell and another robber dropped. The other robbers ran away fast as they could after the first two fell.

"Well, that was interesting," Phoenix said, when the robbers were out of view.

"Think of it as a warmup," replied Genie.

******************************************************************

The rest of the first day of their journey went pretty well; they encountered nothing more than the road and the outskirts of the forest they were traveling around. That evening they stayed at a tavern that was along the main road. One of the men drinking in the tavern recognized Phoenix. He was a big man, and there was a large battle-axe sitting on the table with him. His hair was cropped short and his face was pudgy.

"You're that Ryne, aren'cha!" said the man.

"That I am," Phoenix replied.

"Everyone says that you are the best fighter around, but I don't believe it! That title belongs to me!" The man was getting louder and louder as he talked.

"Have the title then, it means nothing to me," Phoenix was getting softer as he talked to counter the man’s brash tone.

"Now you're talking down to me!" The man was looking for a fight.

"Look, Sir, I don't want a fight."

"I think you found one!" the man yelled as he picked up a battle-axe. Phoenix had left everything but his katars in the room he rented so he drew those.

"What do you think little things like those can do to me? I have an axe, if you didn't notice; the only thing that can help you now is either amazing armor or incredible luck!"

"Obviously you don't know what these are. These are katars, also

known as Bundi daggers, or punching daggers. Mainly used by the Halfling masters of stealth" replied Phoenix.

"You’re gonna die!" the man said, as he took his first swing at Phoenix. Phoenix blocked by bringing his katars up in a crossed position. "What in the hell is this?" the man exclaimed.

"A simple fighting style used with katars, didn’t you listen to what I was saying to you earlier?"

"It doesn't matter, you can't keep this up forever!" screamed the man as he swung again. This time Phoenix flipped over the man, landing behind him. Phoenix pushed his blade katar between the man’s ribs, not to kill him, but to let the man know that the fight was over.

"Better luck next time, whoever you are," Phoenix said as he ordered a new drink.

"My name is Griffyth Howel. One day I will repay you for this embarrassment!" the man proclaimed for all to hear.

This guy is annoying, Phoenix thought, PLUS, he spilled my drink!

******************************************************************

When Genie arrived at the bar she asked him about the fight.

"So what happened?"

"I don't know some Griffyth guy attacked me and I beat him," Phoenix replied. "I didn't hurt him!" Phoenix exclaimed after seeing Genie’s face.

"Okay, Phoenix, just try to keep a low profile, please!"

"I do my best."

Chapter 4

While Phoenix was dealing with Griffyth, Dragon was dealing with other issues. He had been running since that night when he was called a "traitor." Dragon had found some interesting things. The King’s magician wasn’t exactly who he claimed to be, Dragon knew that. He also found a few things out about Roxana Blackheart, one of the Kings advisors. She was responsible for the passing of information to the necromancer claiming the title

"Queen Favana."

This Favana, as Dragon found out, became a vampire while

experimenting with her dark arts. She started to claim royalty within the undead because she was more powerful than any other undead in the area. She wanted to take over Whiteway Hedge, and the rest of the known world, because she thinks everything should be undead like her.

When Dragon found out about Roxana, she went straight to the King to attempt to convince the King that it was Dragon who was the traitor. Dragon realized what she did and fled on the spot. He knew that there would be no chance for him if he stayed, so he fled leaving only a note for his beloved Unicorn. The note simply stated that he had to leave.

I don't know what to do, Dragon thought to himself. Everyone I know is still in the town of Whiteway, close to the Whiteway castle where the King is. If I go back I will surely be found and attacked on the spot, but Phoenix needs to know what I know.

Dragon had been running with no plan for so long that he didn't even know where he was.

"I have to get to the 'Immortal Halls,'" said Dragon to no one, "that is where Phoenix will surely go to find me."

The Immortal Halls had been home to Dragon, Phoenix, Genie and Unicorn during many trying times. They held a pact to return there whenever there was trouble. The Immortal Halls also served as a training ground for an ancient society that had kept the balance between good and evil for thousands of years. They followed strict rules and only got involved in a few cases. Favana’s undead army was one of those cases. For if Favana succeeded the world would be shrouded by evil and the society couldn't stand for that.

"I better figure out where I am so that I can meet Phoenix in the

'Halls,'" Dragon thought, as he looked for a main road.

Chapter 5

The morning after Phoenix fought Griffyth, Genie decided they should travel off the main road.

“We aren’t going to find him on the main road honey, after all, everyone thinks he betrayed the king,” she said.

"I guess you're right, Genie," Phoenix said after a seconds thought.

"I'm always right, Phoenix, when will you figure that out?" Genie asked in a playful mood.

"Of course, why can't I ever remember that?" he replied sarcastically.

They made straight for the forest and the rest of the day they walked through tree after tree. About mid-day they reached a grassy clearing full of hills. Looking around they saw a woman being attacked by an ogre. She stood around five and a half feet tall, with a short blonde ponytail. She wore a blue shirt and black pants. She had a short bow strapped to her back. The ogre kept swinging a club at the woman, but for some reason the club kept bouncing back about a foot from her body.

"Phoenix, she's a defensive mage!" exclaimed Genie.

"Thanks, the club bouncing off of her didn't give me any clue," Phoenix said sarcastically.

"Shut up, sometimes you are an ass!" Genie said.

"Look, can we save this woman first and argue later?"

"Shut up and go kill it!"

"Fine!" exclaimed Phoenix as he ran towards the ogre drawing his sword. "Hey ugly, watch this!" Phoenix shouted as he took his first swing. The sword merely scratched the ogre’s tough skin.

"Who you?" the ogre asked.

"No one of significance,"

"Me Ug, me smash you and girl," the ogre said pointedly as he took another swing at Phoenix. Phoenix started to dodge, but for some reason he couldn't move. Right as the club was going to hit Phoenix, a bolt of magical energy hit the ogre right in his chest.

"You should be more careful, honey!" Genie shouted as she started her next incantation.

"There's another mage around here!" Phoenix said.

"I'll find her," said the defensive mage.

"Me want smash you too!" the ogre yelled at Genie.

Phoenix lunged at the ogre again, this time slicing through a soft spot on the ogres skin. But at that moment, a circle of ice exploded from around the ogre, knocking Phoenix and Genie to the ground. From on top of the closest ridge the defensive mage cast a spell to protect the two on the ground long enough for them to get back up. By that time the mage working with the ogre had disappeared.

"Phoenix, the mage is over this ridge!" exclaimed the defensive mage. The use of the name Phoenix shocked Phoenix and caused him to trip, falling again. While on the ground the ogre swung at him. Phoenix tried to roll away, but wasn’t quick enough. The ogre's club smashed Phoenix's leg, snapping it in half. But with one last spell, Genie used her majik to kill the ogre.

"Quick, Genie, I'll be fine, go get the other mages, but don't kill them, bring them back here so we can talk to them," Phoenix screamed while moving into a position to deal with his leg.

******************************************************************

When Genie returned, dragging a man back over the ridge by his ankle, Phoenix had set his leg with some rope and a few sticks that were lying nearby.

“I couldn’t find the woman,” Genie said sourly throwing the man to

the ground.

The man looked like he would have stood close to six feet tall. It was apparent from where Phoenix lay that the man’s ankle was broken, the same one that Genie had been dragging.

"You best start talking!" Genie said stepping lightly on the man’s leg. "Why were you helping that ogre and why was the ogre attacking that woman? For that matter, who the hell is that woman? Answer or you will be in more pain than you can ever imagine!"

"I will tell nothing, for if I do it will be worse than anything you can do to me!" was all the man said.

"Genie, I don't feel like dealing with this, so whatever you want to do is fine," Phoenix said, in their normal interrogation process.

"Perfect," Genie replied, "So you gonna talk or should I start breaking more bones?"

She first started bending the man’s other ankle, slowly at first. The man refused to make a sound but soon Phoenix heard a loud snap. Genie then started working on the man’s wrist, but the man quickly broke down.

"I'll talk, I'll talk," the man said in desperation, "I was helping the ogre on orders..."

"Who's orders?" Genie demanded coming closer to breaking his wrist.

"I don't know."

"Bullshit!" Genie yelled, breaking the man’s wrist.

"I swear I don't know!" the man cried.

"Genie, he doesn't know," said the defensive mage, who had just reappeared.

"Who are you!?" Genie demanded.

"Genie, don't you recognize me, or do I really need to tell you?"

"Genie, it’s Unicorn, she's morphed herself to look different, it’s an ancient spell." Phoenix proclaimed.

Sure enough as he was talking the woman grew four inches to her normal height of five foot nine inches, her hair changed from blonde to brown, and her face went thinned into Unicorn’s normally gaunt appearance.

"No way!" Genie said.

In all the confusion about Unicorn's appearance, the man used his majik to teleport himself away.

Chapter 6

"Unicorn?"

"Calm down, Genie, I'll explain what happened," Unicorn replied.

Unicorn explained about how on the night Dragon disappeared he left a note for her. She explained that when the note didn't explain where he was going, or why he left she decided that his position must have been compromised.

"When I found the note and it gave no explanation I guessed that something was wrong other than just having to leave. I didn’t want to stay around just in case whatever it was involved me. I went to your home, Phoenix, but no one was there. I was so shaken that I just left without telling you guys. I tried to get a hold of you, too, Genie, but I couldn't find you either," Unicorn explained.

"You didn't try hard now, did you?" retorted Genie.

"I was kind of figuring that you guys had already left," Unicorn said in a dejected voice.

"It's ok, Unicorn, we all were a little shook up after Dragon left," Phoenix said soothingly.

"Well we should probably continue," Genie said.

"To where? We don't know where Dragon went," Unicorn replied.

"Actually, we do," Phoenix said, "whenever any of us are in trouble we are supposed to go to the “Halls”, right?"

"Oh my god, of course!" Genie and Unicorn said in unison.

"Now we know where we are going, so let’s move out!" Phoenix shouted, for now he knew where he was going.

******************************************************************

It was mid-day when a call rang out. It was a call of pure terror, not just in one humanoid voice, but almost like a humanoid, a bark, and a birds call of terror all rolled in one.

"So we meet again, Phoenix!" a deep, scratchy voice yelled out.

"Show yourself, whoever you are!" Phoenix yelled back.

As the being stepped out of the trees, Phoenix recognized it as a despair spawn. It stood about five feet tall. Smoke poured from around its body. There was an aura around the creature, a black deathly aura. Once inside every bad memory, every depressing situation from the past, rushed to the forefront of the mind, leaving everyone around depressed.

"Phoenix, what and who is that?" Genie whispered.

"I am Chatath, servant of Nhur-Heyzif, the Torturer of the Blackness! I am here to speak to Phoenix!" the Despair Spawn proclaimed.

"Phoenix, do you know what that is?" Genie demanded again.

"I am a Despair Spawn, my kind is created after great despair, Phoenix should know what I came from," Chatath answered.

"Leave, Chatath, I don't feel like killing you right now!" Phoenix said in a depressed voice.

"I just have one thing to say, Phoenix: Nhur-Heyzif is watching you. He is waiting for you to make one mistake, just one, and he will reclaim what is rightfully his! So watch your step, because when you least expect it, BOOM! I'll be there!" Chatath exclaimed.

He laughed maniacally and in a puff of smoke he disappeared, but his laughter remained, echoing endlessly.

"Let’s get out of here," Phoenix said without looking at anyone.

Chapter 7

After they walked for a mile or two, Genie finally got the nerve to ask Phoenix what had just happened.

"It’s a long story," was all Phoenix said.

"Oh no, we run into this thing and now you won't even tell us what

it was all about. We have at least two more days of walking, you have time to explain to me what that was all about!" Genie demanded.

"Fine, I'll tell you!" Phoenix said. "You see, a long time ago some bad things happened to me and through that he came into existence. I made a deal and now I have to deal with it."

"You have to be more specific than that, Phoenix," Unicorn said.

"You really want to know what happened?"

"Yes I do!" Genie exclaimed.

"Are you sure?" Phoenix asked.

"Just tell us, damn it!" Genie and Unicorn yelled in unison.

"YOU DIED ALL RIGHT!" Phoenix screamed.

"Say what?" Unicorn said, for Genie was too shocked to say anything, "What do you mean, which one of us died?"

"Genie, you died. It was right after we finished that mission that was our final test," Phoenix said in a very soft voice.

"Then...then how am I...how could I be...here?" Genie asked.

"I made a deal with..."

"Who?"

"Nhur-Heyzif," Unicorn had it all figured out.

"Yes, and now unless I return a lost artifact to him, both you and I will die, and at least my soul, and probably yours too, will be tortured for the rest of eternity!" Phoenix replied.

"The only thing I haven't figured out is where did the creature that talked to us come from, he said you would know," Unicorn said softly.

"Me," was all Phoenix said.

"Of course," Unicorn said, "Despair spawns are created through despair. When you mourned over the loss of Genie, your despair created whatever it called itself."

"Chatath."

"What are you going to do, Phoenix?" Genie asked.

"I don't have a choice, I'm going to give him his artifact."

"Where is it?" Unicorn asked.

"I have most of it, but the last few pieces are in the Halls."

“It’s a good thing we are going that way isn't it?"

Chapter 8

The next few days went on without any real excitement for Phoenix, Genie and Unicorn. They talked, they joked, they ate, they slept, but most of all they walked, only taking a few hours a day to sleep. On the third day after their encounter with Chatath, Phoenix mentioned that they were getting low on food supplies.

"What should we do about it, it sucks to have to stop, hunt and make a cooking fire every time we need to eat, but it takes too much time to make our hunted meat into travel food!" mentioned Genie.

"I say all of us hunt for one hour, or until we get a week’s worth of meat. We meet in this spot after that and make jerky, then if all goes well, we have a weeks worth of food for each of us," Phoenix said.

"Sounds good to me," replied Unicorn.

"All right, one hour then," Phoenix said as he went out to hunt.

******************************************************************

While out hunting, Phoenix ran into Griffyth again.

"This time you're mine Ryne!" Griffyth yelled as he charged Phoenix, sword drawn. Phoenix drew his sword and parried Griffyth's attack.

"I really don't have time for this, Griffon," Phoenix sighed.

"My name is GRIFFYTH!" Griffyth screamed back to Phoenix, once again he charged Phoenix who stepped to the side, tripping Griffyth.

"I'm on a tight schedule and right now I need to get some hunting done, so if you really want to do this griffyth come back later."

"NEVER!" Griffyth yelled, stumbling before rushing towards Phoenix again.

"You rush forward too much. In battle you should let your opponent come to you. If you always rush your enemy, he expects you to and won't go towards you, but use your rush to his own advantage," Phoenix explained, as he sidestepped Griffyth. "Kind of like I'm about to do to you." At that moment, Phoenix tripped Griffyth again, but this time put his sword tip into the man's back, once again signaling an end to the fight.

"You won this time, Phoenix, but next time, you are MINE!" Griffyth said as Phoenix walked away.

"I think this is going to get really annoying," Phoenix thought to himself.

******************************************************************

Phoenix was the last to return to the predestinated spot.

"What took so long, big guy?" Genie enquired.

"That Griffyth guy showed up looking for another fight," Phoenix

replied.

"Didn't you kick his ass once?" Genie asked.

"Yeah and he made me do it again," Phoenix answered.

"Well let’s get this meat ready," Unicorn said.

******************************************************************

It took them two more days to reach the Halls.

"Now, remember, Dragon could be disguised like I was, which means that we might not immediately recognize him," Unicorn warned.

"Unicorn I won't ever not recognize Dragon. I have a knack for recognizing him regardless of disguises," Phoenix replied.

"What are we waiting for?" Genie asked. "Let’s go!"

Chapter 9

Phoenix, Genie and Unicorn entered the Halls and were immediately met by trainees. The trainees knew the three, for they were the best in the Halls. Everyone from the Halls knew them for their true names, instead of the ones they used in society. The three split up after meeting the trainees and searched for Dragon. Phoenix was the one to find him. Phoenix entered into Dragon’s normal room to find Dragon standing, undisguised. There he was, slightly over six feet two inches tall. He wore his bright blonde hair in a ponytail. Dragon wore his normal outfit, a dark blue martial arts suit, with long skin-tight pants, a sleeveless white undershirt and a sleeveless vest that met in a low V. His favorite cloak, a bright white hooded cloak that he used as no more than a large cape

"Dragon!" Phoenix exclaimed.

"Phoenix?" Dragon said in shock, "What took you so long to get here?"

"I came as soon as I could," Phoenix replied.

"Where are the others?" Dragon asked.

"Unicorn and Genie are somewhere around here looking for you," Phoenix answered.

"Did no one else come with you?" Dragon asked, "What about DeadEye, Behemoth, Angel, Hydra, anyone else?"

"Dragon, after our last mission everyone went their separate ways, you would think they would keep in touch with their 'leader' but they don't, I haven't talked to any one of them since we defeated Twin," Phoenix explained.

"So we don't know where anyone is?" Dragon enquired.

"No, but if Favana is as big a threat as we thought, it might be time to activate the towers."

The towers were huge buildings that, if activated, would send a message out to all the members of the Hall, telling them to meet at the Halls.

I wonder where they all are though, Dragon thought to himself.

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Six years ago a man who went by Twin attempted to take over the world. The whole of the Halls, lead by Phoenix, fought in an epic battle to stop Twin. Those included were Phoenix, Dragon, Genie and Unicorn. Others of their group included DeadEye, a master marksmen who could hit a crow flying a mile high in the eye of his choice; Behemoth, a master of pure strength; Angel, a swift fighter who some claim can actually fly; and Hydra, who, even though he fights on the same side as Phoenix, still hopes one day to defeat Phoenix in combat.

******************************************************************

Soon after Phoenix found Dragon, Genie and Unicorn entered the room. Unicorn immediately jumped into Dragon’s arms, kissing him passionately. The two said a few things that Phoenix couldn’t hear before the separated.

"Alright, Dragon, time for answers. Why did you leave, why didn’t you tell us and what was that king rambling about?" Phoenix asked after everyone calmed down a bit from finding Dragon.

Dragon explained about Roxana and Favana and how Roxana told the king of his “betrayal.”

"Then we have to get back immediately and set things straight with the king!" Phoenix said when Dragon was done explaining

"You're right, Phoenix, we better leave now or who knows what will happen!" Dragon answered.

The four, united again, prepared to go back to Whiteway castle in hopes of setting things straight with the king.

Chapter 10

"Before we leave I have to grab the rest of the artifact," Phoenix said

"The what?" Dragon asked

So Phoenix explained to Dragon what had happened on the way to the Halls, and also about Chatath and Nhur-Heyzif.

"So, what is this artifact? What does it do?" Dragon asked when Phoenix finished.

"Yeah, you never explained the artifact to us," Genie piped up.

"It’s an ancient artifact of power," Phoenix explained. "It’s called “The Ultimate Torture Pendant.” It is an artifact that years ago was dismantled by the mage who created it, until the time when it would need to be used. Most of my sources claim that the mage turned himself into a lich in order to become immortal. They also say that a holy warrior found the mage and destroyed him after he became a lich."

"So what the hell does it do?" Genie demanded.

"It empowers any majik meant to hurt yet not kill," Phoenix answered.

"A torture amplifier," Dragon whispered.

"Exactly," Phoenix replied.

The small group looked everywhere but Phoenix, who in turn looked anywhere but the faces of his friends. A fly buzzed around the room and Genie hit it with a small majikal spark.

"What the hell are you waiting for?" The usually quiet Unicorn finally broke the silence with the uncharacteristic outburst. "Go get what you need so that we can start back towards Whiteway!"

"Right, sorry," Phoenix replied as he rushed out of the room.

******************************************************************

Twenty minutes later the three were still in silence as Phoenix re-entered the room.

"Did you get what you needed?" Dragon asked.

"Yeah, lets get back to Whiteway," Phoenix said softly, unsure if

he was doing the right thing.

"Actually, why don't we stay here one night?" Genie said. "I mean this is the closest thing we've had to a home since we started training all those years ago."

"It is nice to be home," Unicorn said, "I mean it has been quite some time, I think the last time I was here was right before we went to fight Twin."

"It has been six years, hasn't it?" Phoenix asked.

"Yeah, it has been." Genie replied, rubbing his shoulders.

"All right, but let’s get some sleep, we have to leave in the morning." Phoenix replied.

So Phoenix and Genie went to the room they shared, while Dragon and Unicorn stayed in theirs.

******************************************************************

As they were crawling into bed Genie asked the question that had been bothering her since finding out about Phoenix's deal.

"Why did you do it Phoenix? Why did you make that deal with Nhur-Heyzif? Why?"

"Do you remember our first mission together?" Phoenix asked

"How could I forget?"

"Do you remember the fight I had to do alone?"

"You know I do, Phoenix," Genie replied.

"When you asked me why I went to do it alone, why I risked everything on that one battle, what did I say?"

"You said you did it to make sure everyone else survived." Genie answered.

"What else did I say?"

"You said that you would do anything to keep me safe, that you couldn't live without me."

"Then you have the answer to your question."

"I love you, Phoenix."

"I know."

With that the two fell asleep.

Chapter 11

Early the next morning, the four started their journey back to Whiteway. This time, though, the group could stick to the main roads. Dragon, being a traitor, would normally be arrested on sight, but being already under capture by the rest, questions could easily be answered. The main road went straight towards Whiteway, through hills and forests. Through its twists and turns they followed the road. When they were within a day’s travel to Whiteway the hills got large enough that at the bottom all you could see was the next hill and the sky. When they reached the top of one Phoenix saw a familiar face at the base.

"Ryne, I'm gonna get you this time, you can't embarrass me again!"

"Griffyth, I don't want to do this right now," Phoenix said.

"You know I'll win and you are afraid, that is all!"

"Who the hell is this guy, Phoenix?" Dragon asked.

"My newest annoyance," he answered.

"So, that wimpy guy is the person who keeps attacking you?" Genie asked.

"Don't call me wimpy, or I'll deal with you when I'm done with him!"

"Bring it on, Shrimp!" Genie yelled.

"Don't call me that!" Griffyth yelled back. "Before I take care of you, I'll kill Phoenix first!"

"What makes this time any different Griffyth?" Phoenix asked.

"I have a special boost!" Griffyth answered picking up a spiked club that was sitting next to him.

"Let’s just get this over with then," Phoenix sighed, walking down the hill and drawing his sword when he reached the bottom.

"You're DEAD!" Griffyth screamed, rushing at Phoenix. Phoenix tried to block with his sword, but this time Griffyth was too powerful and Phoenix had to jump back before he was hit with the club and his sword at the same time.

"I told you, I had a special boost," Griffyth said.

"It doesn't matter," Phoenix proclaimed, "you see, strength isn't everything."

Griffyth swung at Phoenix again. Phoenix jumped to the right and

Griffyth smashed his club into the ground. Phoenix moved so that he was in front of a tree, when Griffyth swung again. Phoenix moved once more and Griffyth hit the tree so hard that the spikes buried themselves into the tree. The shock from the blow forced Griffyth to lose his grip.

"You see, Griffyth, now you have nothing that you can do," Phoenix examined, "I could kill you right now if I wanted."

"Fine, you win again, but next time, I'll kill you, do you hear me?" Griffyth declared, trying to get the spikes to exit the tree.

"He seems annoying," Dragon observed when Griffyth was out of sight.

"He is really starting to get on my nerves."

******************************************************************

The four got to the palace gates before they encountered anyone else.

"Stop right there, Ryne!" A guard proclaimed, stepping from behind the gates. The guard was rather large, almost six and a half feet tall, and completely covered in muscles. He was so big in fact that his uniform could barely contain his muscular form.

"What is it?" Phoenix asked.

"I am under orders to destroy Wilau on sight!" the guard said.

"I cannot allow you to do that, I need to talk to the king before Wilau can be killed."

"If you get in my way, I will be forced to kill you, too, Ryne," the guard threatened, "Would you really like to leave these pretty ladies defenseless?"

"Who the hell are you calling defenseless?" Genie asked, already drawing power into her body, ready to use her most harmful majik.

"Calm down, baby, we don’t need this right now," Phoenix said to her. To the guard, he added, "I don't want to hurt you."

"We don't want to hurt you," a second guard said stepping from the shadows. This guard was very small, possibly some form of halfling. He stood about four feet tall, and if it wasn't for his bald scalp, he might have been mistaken for a child. "Hand him over and we will let you live at least," he continued drawing two daggers, making him look more like a thief than a guard.

"I will beat both of you," Phoenix said.

"How about four of us?" the big guard asked as two more guards appeared.

Where the hell are they coming from? Phoenix thought to himself.

One of the guards was a five-foot tall dwarf, with a long, black

beard. He was very stout and carried a sword and a shield. The other, an average human, standing around five foot nine, had a thin face with short hair. He carried a two handed sword. The big guard pulled his battle-axe off of the sheath on his back.

"Quick, I need a blade!" Dragon yelled.

" Dragon, catch!" Unicorn cried, throwing his sword as the four guards attacked. Dragon caught, unsheathed, and blocked the first attack in one smooth motion. The dwarf and the average human attacked Dragon, while the halfling and the large guard attacked Phoenix.

"Back off my man!" Genie screamed, using her majik to throw the large guard into the gate.

"Very nice, baby!" Phoenix yelled to her as he tried to keep up with the halfling’s speed. The halfling was too fast for Phoenix and sliced his stomach slightly. With his large sword Phoenix couldn't hope to keep up with the halfling, so he kicked the halfling in the chest, making the small man fall back a few feet. Phoenix used the time to sheath his sword and draw his katars.

"So you also know of this fighting style," the halfling exclaimed.

"I was taught by the very best, I just like the sword better. Unfortunately you are too good for me to use my sword. The sword can't keep up with two daggers or katars, it isn't possible,"

Phoenix explained.

"Too true. It really is too bad that I have to kill you, I would love to talk more about this with someone who actually knows what they are talking about," the halfling said.

" I wasn't the one who attacked first."

"I'm sorry but I have no choice."

" Are you ready then?" Phoenix asked.

"Of course," the halfling answered, moving towards Phoenix. Phoenix attacked first this time, he used his claw katar to attempt to maul the halfling. The halfling blocked with one dagger and attacked with the other. Phoenix jumped to one side and attacked again, once more the halfling blocked and countered. This time, Phoenix caught the halfling's dagger in his claw katar, and knocked it out of the halfling's hand. The halfling then tried to attack with the other dagger, but Phoenix jumped over the halfling and knocked the halfling unconscious by hitting him in the back of the head with a flat palm.

"One down," Phoenix said to no one in particular.

"Actually, it's two, honey," Genie proclaimed with an airy voice. Winking she continued, "The one I threw against the wall didn't stand back up after the second time."

Phoenix looked towards Dragon and Unicorn and the two they were fighting. Dragon was fighting with both his sword and his sheath. He blocked with his sheath, and attacked with his sword. Dragon kept dodging and weaving around the dwarf and the man. Unicorn was casting spells left and right, protecting Dragon in every way she could think of. The human realized that Unicorn was protecting Dragon and he rushed at her. She muttered a few words and used a wiping motion to set up a barrier in the place the man was attacking. The man attacked and attacked and Unicorn kept wiping a shield where his sword was going. Every time the man’s sword was about to hit where her hand had “wiped” it bounced back at him. Phoenix ran at the man and slid under his legs, knocking the man down as he slid. The man lost this grip on his sword, threw it into the air and fell flat on his back. The sword flipped in the air a few times before landing blade down, plunging through his skull. By that point, Dragon had knocked out his opponent.

"That was interesting!" Dragon said.

"Lets just get to the King and sort things out," Phoenix said.

Chapter 12

The four continued towards the king’s room. On the way there, Unicorn used her majik to heal the injuries of the others. When they got to the king’s room, the man that Phoenix met the day he left to find Dragon was with the king.

"Ryne, why is Wilau still alive, the guards were supposed to kill him on sight," exclaimed the King.

"You see, your Highness, this man is innocent and I cannot allow you to kill him," Phoenix replied.

"So you have turned on me also, have you, Phoenix?" the King asked.

"If you don't allow me to explain, then that is the only thing you would be able to believe isn’t it?"

"Then I am left with no choice. Magician, destroy them!"

"Gladly, your Highness," the magician said.

Who is this joker? Phoenix thought.

"Ryne, you've met me before," the magician said, "You beat me last

time, but last time I didn't know any majik, so draw your sword, Ryne, you are dying first. In fact I'll leave the rest of the group, my grudge is with you."

"You will kill ALL of them!" the king said sternly.

"This doesn’t involve you!" the magician said.

"So, magician, do you have a name?" Phoenix asked.

"Everyone is turning on me; I'm doomed," the king said in despair.

"Quiet!" Phoenix, Dragon, Unicorn, Genie and the magician roared

in unison.

"My name won't be necessary, until my sword is about to pierce

your throat,” the magician growled.

The magician drew his sword and rushed at Phoenix with a speed that Phoenix saw only in the higher-ups of his own society. Phoenix lunged to the right, drawing his long sword. As the magician passed by, Phoenix stuck, but the magician thrust his sword over his back blocking Phoenix's attack.

"Well, magician, you aren't that bad of a fighter," Phoenix said as they attacked and parried back and forth.

"And I haven't even started to use my majik yet," the magician replied, "I know you don't know majik, Phoenix."

"That’s what you think!"

As Phoenix said, that the magician threw a blue bolt of majik at Phoenix, who used the same trick as Unicorn did in their earlier fight. He used a wiping motion to nullify the attack.

"Where the hell did you learn that?" the magician screamed.

"I have a defensive mage as a close friend. You start to pick these things up after awhile."

"I'll kill you anyway!" the magician retorted.

The magician lunged at Phoenix again, and they fought back and forth. This time, though, the magician started throwing majik bolts at Phoenix, but Phoenix nullified all of them with the same wiping motion each time. With one particular attack where the magician swung his sword to the left and threw a majik bolt to the right, Phoenix took a step back and with the wiping motion, dispelled the majik, and blocked the sword.

"It's simple, wipe on, wipe off," Phoenix said, trying to be

funny, "but you see I can do more than block!" As another bolt of majik flew at him Phoenix flicked his wrist in the middle of the wiping motion, causing the bolt to fly back towards the magician, who dove to avoid being hit.

"You can't do that, that's impossible!" the magician screamed.

"Impossible is nothing," Phoenix said quietly.

The magician attacked again, but this time Phoenix was too slow and he got a deep cut across his chest.

"Let’s see you get up from that one, Phoenix!" the magician exclaimed.

"They don't call me Phoenix for nothing!" Phoenix said with a grunt. He slowly rose to his feet.

"No! That cut should kill you!"

"You've been away from us too long, Hydra."

"How did you know it was me Phoenix?" Hydra asked

Phoenix looked towards him and laughed. "To start with, you were familiar when I first say you, but I couldn't figure out why. But as soon as you started attacking me it was obvious, I could tell by your fighting style. Your insults didn’t help much. Come on now, Hydra, you give yourself away."

"Damn, I was hoping to win this one, though," Hydra confessed.

"You also gave it away when you used my name.”

"We will continue this fight another time," Hydra said.

“I would expect no less,” Phoenix proclaimed.

"I need to find out why Dragon ran, and where you have been

recently, then I can explain the situation with Favana,” Hydra said softly

"What about me?" the king asked.

"We'll fill you in once we are done," Phoenix said.

With that, the four told Hydra everything that happened since Dragon ran that night almost two weeks earlier.

Chapter 13

When the four finished explaining to Hydra what had happened, they finally realized that they hadn't seen each other for six years.

"So, Hydra, have you seen any of the others since the defeat of Twin?" Phoenix asked.

"Well, last I knew, DeadEye had started training a new mage, only this mage used a new form of majik, somehow she is able to summon life forms from somewhere. These life forms are made out of thin air, but they are as real as you or I, meaning in a battle they can do some damage. It’s unbelievable; I saw a bit of it right before the two left. Behemoth and I had kept some contact over the years, and I think she is actually with DeadEye, or at least near him, for sometimes I hear what he is teaching."

"That majik, it isn’t just illusions?" Genie asked.

"You would think so, but no. It is new to most magicians, though apparently the nature-worshipers and druids have known about it for a few thousand years."

"Anyway, have you heard from Angel or anyone else?" Phoenix asked.

"No, nothing." Hydra answered.

"What is going on?" the King asked, "I'm so confused."

"Let me explain then, your highness." Phoenix said.

So Phoenix told the king about the ancient society he was head of.

"So this society, the Balance, keeps the balance between good and evil?" the King asked.

"Precisely," Phoenix answered.

"And you are the leader?"

"Yup."

"So let me get this straight: while none of you have betrayed me,

you were never really helping me either," the king said.

"That is exactly what has happened, you catch on quick," Hydra said dryly.

"So who the hell are you?" the King asked.

"We are a group of immortals who have been keeping this balance

since we were charged with it by a higher power."

"Do you mean to tell me you guys can't die?"

"No, not at all! Immortal doesn’t mean what people expect it to. We can be killed, but we don’t age, nor do we get ill, but a blade or arrow can take our lives if we aren’t careful. You see, we will live forever unless someone kills us," Phoenix answered.

"Who is this higher power?" the king probed.

"It goes by the name of Jican, and it created this world, though we suspect that there might be a higher power yet, but we don't know for sure. He isn’t too helpful; after all, he has this interference policy. He doesn’t interfere in the realm of mortals, except in rare cases."

"Wow."

"Enough chit-chat, Phoenix, I have learned that Favana is not only destroying the balance, but this will be her first attack point!"

Hydra exclaimed.

“I guess it is time to activate the towers." Phoenix said.

"Wait, you mean Favana is going to attack my castle?" the king squeaked. "I have to inform my military advisors!"

"From now on, your highness, we are your advisors," Phoenix informed him.

"Okay," the king quickly agreed, afraid to get on Phoenix's bad side.

"So who wants to go inform the trainees to send everyone this way?"

"I will, Phoenix," Hydra said.

"Good luck, Hydra, we will see you when you get back," Phoenix said. "Now the rest of us need to start thinking strategy." As Hydra rode off to the Halls, the other four receded into a small room in hopes of thinking up a plan.

Chapter 14

The day never seemed to end for Phoenix. He kept running here and there, checking the training of new soldiers, looking at different strategies devised by advisors plus Dragon and Genie, getting people to go learn basic healing with Unicorn, talking to generals, revising defenses, and everything else it took to prepare for an attack by Favana. To top it all off, the King kept asking questions about the Balance and its members.

"Look, I can't tell you any more than I already have!" Phoenix finally snapped at him.

"Oh, I was just thinking..." the King mumbled.

"Feilnor, I am busy with trying to protect this castle and save your kingdom, so if you would kindly leave me to my work, maybe you will survive long enough to see your kingdom rebuild after this attack."

With that, Phoenix continued with his duties.

******************************************************************

The next day, the halfling that Phoenix fought to get into the castle approached him.

"My name is Cade Thorngage, everyone calls me Nimble. If I had known who it was I was fighting at the time, I wouldn't have bothered trying."

"Why do you say that?" Phoenix asked.

"Who hasn't heard of the Great Phoenix, the Immortal Duelist, the Master of Dual-wielding?" Nimble answered.

"Now, I haven't heard of myself being called any of those before," Phoenix said in disbelief.

"You aren't listening to the right circles then. You see for those of us who dual-wield, we all know of you and your katars!" Nimble exclaimed. "You are legendary! It was such an honor to know that I fought you. Once you drew your katars, I didn't have a chance, and I'm the best dual-wielder in the king’s guard!"

"You were pretty good. I actually didn't think anyone around here was that good at fighting," Phoenix said.

"Oh wow, I can't believe the Great Phoenix, the Immortal Duelist, the Master himself said I was pretty good!" Nimble said.

"Phoenix, I want to join your society once you take care of Favana!"

"If the rest of the Balance doesn't show up soon we might not stand much of a chance."

"With you leading, there is no way we can lose!" Nimble said.

"Normally," Phoenix thought, "enthusiasm is a good thing, as is optimism, but I fear this guy will get on my nerves very soon."

******************************************************************

Hydra had been gone ten days. Finally he arrived back in Whiteway.

"Phoenix, the towers are activated, and everyone will be redirected here shortly," he announced upon arrival.

"Very good! Hydra, if you would, after resting of course, go and help Dragon with strategies, it would be very helpful," Phoenix

told him.

"All right Phoenix."

******************************************************************

It only took another day or two for Balance members to start arriving. Behemoth was the very first to arrive.

"Where's Hydra?" she asked.

"He's in the general’s room working on strategy. Once you say your hellos, make your way to the training facility to help with the recruits."

"Will do!" she answered.

******************************************************************

Over the next few days, more and more members showed up, and Phoenix sent them to where their abilities lay. DeadEye showed up with the new mage almost after everyone else arrived.

"DeadEye, where have you been all my life?" Angel asked when she saw him arrive. They had been close friends longer than anyone else had even known each other. Everytime they met, Angel had to play up a fake attraction towards him. Years back, they had a relationship, but they couldn't hold it together, they were too close of friends for anything else to work.

"Oh. Baby," DeadEye exclaimed sarcastically, while the new mage glared at Angel.

"DeadEye!" Phoenix exclaimed, "I was afraid you weren't going to show up."

"Sorry, Pheonix," DeadEye said, "This is Ielenia, I've been

training her in ranged combat and defense. She is a mage, but she wanted a better knowledge of combat..."

"And DeadEye," Angel whispered as she winking at Phoenix.

"...so I took her in. It just took longer than I thought it would to get here..."

"Wonder why?" Angel continued.

"...but the things Ielenia can do are amazing!"

"I already heard, DeadEye," Phoenix told him. "Hydra told me."

"Well, let me demonstrate for you," Ielenia said with a smirk as she waved her arms in a complex pattern. She muttered some incomprehensible words, and a wind appeared in the room. The wind grew from a slight breeze to a full storm and in the center of the room a small blob formed. Slowly the form grew until it was almost three feet in diameter. Soon the creature grew distinguishable.

“It’s a dog!” Angel exclaimed. Ielenia smirked again and

continued her movements. Soon the dog was fully formed, and it

went to Phoenix to be played with. Phoenix scratched the dog behind the ears, and the dog barked and licked his hand playfully.

"Impressive," Phoenix said, continuing to pet the small animal.

"I thought so," DeadEye explained.

"So, Phoenix, who hasn't showed up yet?" Angel asked.

"Eagle hasn't shown up yet, and I expected him days ago," Phoenix said, "but other than that everyone is here."

******************************************************************

Two days after everyone else arrived, Eagle finally showed up. Eagle had always been the scout for the Balance.

"Where the hell have you been?" Phoenix asked Eagle when he finally showed up.

"I've been doing my normal job already."

"How?"

Eagle gave a little laugh. "Phoenix, you give me too little credit. You call me the scout, and yet you doubt my abilities, come on now. As soon as I found the towers activated, I knew the reason was Favana. My sources told me that she was attacking Whiteway, so I knew that this was where you would be. I just went to check on her army."

"What did you find out?" Phoenix probed.

With a sigh, and a shake of his head Eagle glanced around. “Lets go someplace a little more private.

Arriving in one of the rooms Phoenix had set as a strategy room, Phoenix found everyone on lunch break. Phoenix repeated his previous question. “What DID you find?”

With another sigh Eagle started, "Nothing good, let me assure you. To start with, she isn't the only necromancer in her army, which means it doesn't take much to keep raising the dead. Also her army has thousands upon thousands of skeletons and almost as many zombies. She has legions of vampires, and a few elites as generals. Lichs follow behind casting their dark spells.” Eagle paused, almost reluctant to continue. “There are also new types of undead I've never seen before."

"Are you sure?"

Eagle glanced around as if afraid that any second someone will jump out at them. "Phoenix, have you ever heard of the Grim Reaper?"

"Of course Eagle,” Phoenix said with a laugh. “They are a story told to children in order to scare them."

"I've seen what the story is based on, I heard it called an Entropic Reaper. Favana has a few dozen under her command. These things are death itself. I saw them fight. They don't rip through the skin. They rip through the soul, leaving an empty husk behind. There are also things called Bodaks, they are gray-skinned humanoids. You can't tell exactly what they used to be, but they are incredibly strong, and smart. This isn't your run of the mill undead army." Eagle explained.

"Then the Libris Mortis must have been uncovered." Phoenix said in a hushed voice.

"That is the only explanation," Eagle agreed.

“Then we must brief the troops, and use what you saw to train them even better."

"Of course Phoenix!"

With that the two sat and waited to brief the group working on strategy before continuing to debrief, and change training for the army.

"This is going to be one hell of a fight." Phoenix thought to

himself.

Chapter 15

As soon as Eagle helped debrief the army and the generals, he went out again to find out what he could about Favana's army. Three days later, he rushed to the castle gates and called instead of lowering the gate for the guards to lower a ladder. The guards followed this order and Eagle started climbing the ladder as the first few undead slid into view on the horizon.

******************************************************************

"Phoenix! They are almost upon us!" Eagle screamed rushing into the generals room.

"What do you mean?" Phoenix asked.

Eagle was panting, something Phoenix didn’t think he had ever seen. "I mean we have half an hour before they are within range for our ballistae."

"Shit, then half of what we planned is too late!" Hydra exclaimed.

"We can still make it work Hydra," Phoenix said.

Hydra was beside himself. “We’ve been working for weeks on these damn plans, you can’t say ‘we’ll make it work’ because we don’t have the time to plan for this!”

Phoenix ignored Hydra and instantly started giving orders.

"Dragon, get our armies to the walls to defend them, also call the

Balance members into this room. General Kio, you will lead the archers in their part of combat as planned, General Poc, you will be on the wall defending it from towers and ladders, also as planned. Generals Hij and Nev, you two will command the catapults and other siege weapons. Hydra, you and I will revise the project; it should still work, just…differently.”

As the generals were leaving and the other Balance members arrived Phoenix noticed Jican appear.

"Jican, what are you doing here?" Pheonix asked irritantly.

"Don't you take that damn tone with me, Phoenix!"

"Sorry, Jican, I was just surprised."

"Damn right you're sorry," Jican answered, "Especially since I'm here to tell you how to defeat the Entropic Reapers."

"Whatever happened to non-involvement, he sure was claiming that last time!" Genie whispered to Phoenix.

Genie was right, though. Jican was, as far as the Balance members knew, the closest you could come to being divine. He never would help though, claiming some non-involvement issue that he had to follow. Phoenix wasn’t sure how Jican fit into everything, the only thing he knew is that every time they had no where else to turn, Jican arrived with some form of answer.

Jican glanced at Genie and winked. "I'm not getting involved, I'm giving you 'divine insight.’ Regardless, these creatures are from the Libris Mortis, but they have one weakness, pure healing majik. If you direct healing majik towards them, it will destroy them."

"Are you serious?" Phoenix demanded.

"It makes perfect sense, Phoenix," Unicorn said, looking through the book of majik she always had with her. "A being made up of negative energy would be injured or destroyed when matched with positive energy."

"Precisely, now, I’ve done all I can. Good luck to you all,” and with that Jican disappeared.

"Let’s go set up for the project. Unicorn, inform the generals on the wall and at the siege equipment about the weakness of Entropic Reapers. Everyone else follow me," Phoenix said.

Chapter 16

By the time Favana's army came within range of Whiteway's archers, the project was just completing its set up phase.

"Are we ready, Genie?" Phoenix asked.

"Everyone we have is ready, I don't know about the second squad," she replied.

"Hydra, is your squad ready?"

"It's ready Phoenix, whenever you are ready to go," He replied.

"Then let’s RIDE!" Phoenix yelled.

"Oh good, I was hoping you wouldn't use that old cliché," Dragon said sarcastically.

"Shut up and let’s go." Phoenix retorted.

As the wind around them rushed the members of the Balance flew over the walls, followed by a number of griffins and other large, intelligent birds. The members of the Balance were flying with the help of a complicated spell, cast by Genie. Phoenix, Dragon, Hydra and Behemoth, the best fighters in the Balance, were to find and destroy the reapers. The others were to wreak havoc from the air; the large birds and the griffins were dropping huge boulders destroying groups of the less intelligent undead, while the members of the Balance used majik or other means of destroying the army. Before the birds third trip, the undead began to shoot arrows, and the birds were forced back to the castle to wait for more orders, while the members of the order went to the top of the wall, waiting for the first rush at the walls.

After fifteen minutes of scouting the air the call rang out.

"Phoenix, the Reapers are grouped over there!" Behemoth yelled and the four landed a few feet from the group of reapers.

"Leave now, abominations, or we will be forced to destroy you," Phoenix told the Reapers.

"You cannot destroy us," the largest reaper said in a voice that sounded like the wailing of a woman, yet deep and crackling like a man.

"Go back to hell!" Hydra screamed, as he attacked the closest reaper. Hydra sliced the reaper with the sword he was carrying and the reaper shrieked in pain and fell back.

"You see, we have enhanced our swords, with a special spell in order to destroy you," Phoenix said calmly.

"We'll see who destroys whom," the reaper spokesman said.

And with that statement the fighting started. Hydra was dodging, trying to get his sword swung. Behemoth swung her greataxe at any reaper who would approach her. Dragon drew two swords and swung like a tempest. Phoenix drew his katars and fought with the reaper who spoke to them. When the reaper finally struck Phoenix with his scythe, he thought he had won, but Phoenix wasn't affected like everyone else. he was cut, but nothing more.

"How is this possible?" the reaper screamed.

"We know your secrets, which means we know how to defeat you!" Phoenix exclaimed as he plunged his katar into the reaper’s chest, right where the heart should have been. With a shriek the reaper disappeared and Phoenix attacked another reaper.

******************************************************************

The battle with the reapers lasted for more than an hour, but finally all the reapers were destroyed.

"All right boys, let's head back to the castle, before another group of undead arrives. We need to check the defenses," Phoenix said as he started to fly back to the castle walls.

******************************************************************

As the aerial havoc and the reaper destruction were happening DeadEye was dealing with the archers on the walls. DeadEye fired his bow when he had a shot, but normally it was to warn the undead soldiers to stay back. All of the sudden the undead made the first offensive rush and DeadEye got the attention of all the archers.

"Do not fire until I tell you to!" He yelled for all the archers to hear. "Steady, steady, FIRE!" And with that all the archers fired their bows and the front line of undead fell, no longer animated. "Ready, Aim, FIRE!" DeadEye yelled again. More undead fell, but sheer numbers kept them coming at the walls. "Ready, Aim, FIRE!" DeadEye yelled once more. Again, undead fell, but they had reached the edges of the castle wall now. "Fire at will!" DeadEye finally yelled to the archers, who started firing rapidly at any undead they could find. The problem with this seemingly perfect plan, is the addition of skeletons. At least half of the undead were skeletons, and skeletons don't have much to attack with a bow. The zombies fell like a living creature should when an arrow pierced their skulls, but skeletons, they had to be hacked apart, unless you are as good a shot as DeadEye. DeadEye, knew from experience, that there is a single place on a skeleton where the animation used to create the undead kept it together, a small area where the skull meets the neck bone, and he could hit it almost unerringly.

"Archers!" General Kio yelled, "Do not bother with the skeletons! Aim for the zombies and other creatures that are more than just bones, General Poc's men will take care of the skeletons for us."

As the undead started scaling the wall, General Poc and his group of warriors pushed ladders, undid grappling hooks and fought anything that reached the top of the wall. After nearly forty minutes, the undead finally fell back out of the archer’s reach.

"It’s not over boys and girls," DeadEye said.

"He's right, it’s just beginning," Eagle exclaimed almost with glee, as he and the aerial havoc group reached the wall’s defenses.

Chapter 17

After the third attempt to breach the wall, Phoenix, Hydra, Dragon and Behemoth arrived back at the walls.

"Dragon, run to Generals Hij and Nev. Tell them to start launching their equipment," Phoenix said. "As for the rest of us, let’s take our place upon the walls!"

Dragon rushed off to the Siege weapons, and the rest took their places on the walls. Phoenix, needing to know what happened, went to find DeadEye. Shortly after Phoenix reached him, he heard a loud crash from the other side of the wall. Looking up he found the catapults started firing. They launched enormous boulders, or hundreds of fist-sized rocks into the enemy ranks, which tore the undead army apart. Realizing what was happening, the army rushed at the walls again, caused a problem. Some of Whiteway's equipment were fire ballistae, which set the decayed flesh of the numerous zombies on fire. These zombies then tried to climb the walls and set Whiteway troops on fire. Phoenix rushed to the problem and ordered all men on fire to collect around Unicorn, who used a spell to stop the fires and heal those injured. This rush was much more successful than the previous ones and a large group of undead, climbing a siege tower, gained a foothold on the wall.

"Balance!" Hydra exclaimed as a rally cry. “Lets take them out.”

Balance members flew to the siege tower and fought with all their might. After it was clear the attack would fall, a reaper stepped out of the shadows.

"Phoenix, one of the reapers didn't die," Angel said.

"I'll take care of him!" Phoenix roared, rushing at the reaper with his sword drawn. As Phoenix flew past the reaper he sliced at him, but the reaper blocked with the pole of his scythe.

"Good try, Phoenix, but you have learned nothing in the last six years," the reaper said calmly.

"What do you mean, reaper?" Phoenix inquired.

"I mean that in the six years it has been since you defeated me, you have learned nothing new," the reaper explained.

"I thought I recognized you, Twin," Phoenix said.

"I was almost hoping to give a big speech about how I came to look like this. The hells I went through to come back for revenge, but it really doesn't matter, one way or another you will die this time, Phoenix," Twin said, almost spitting out Phoenix’s name.

"Go back to hell where you belong!" Phoenix said, attacking again. Twin threw his scythe and drew his own sword. Twin blocked Phoenix's first strike, but barely caught the second one. On the third strike, Twin locked their blades together and leaned forward.

“You sent me to hell once. This time, I'll see to it that you end up in that place of torture!" Twin whispered.

"You never could beat me, Twin, you never will," Phoenix said.

The two broke off, and flew at each other once more. Attacking back and forth, soon they were right up against the tower.

"Phoenix, catch!" Dragon yelled, throwing Phoenix a burning torch. Phoenix caught the torch with his off-hand, struck at Twin with his sword, swung around, caught the robes on Twin on fire, and threw the torch into the tower. Soon the tower was ablaze and being pushed away from the walls.

"This isn't over, Phoenix, we will meet again, only next time it will end very differently," Twin said, floating back over the undead army which was once again retreating. Only, this time, the army was even out of catapult and ballista range. So ended the first day of fighting, and everyone got just a little bit of rest before the next day arrived.

Chapter 18

The fighting went on for days. On the second day, the undead archers arrived, and were immediately thrown into the battle, which made life on the walls a dangerous time for the Whiteway troops. Of course, under DeadEye’s command the Whiteway archers return fire, but still many soldiers died from the flying arrows. The Balance members had a meeting on that day to discuss what had happened so far.

"Phoenix, was that really Twin?" Hydra asked.

Phoenix shook his head, and thought for a second. "It was defiantly him, but he was a reaper. I don't know why or how, but that was what it was."

"What are we going to do?” Unicorn asked sounding worried. “We killed him six years ago, if he is behind this then I'm not sure if we can beat him again. It was so close last time.”

"Next time he comes back, he'll taste the blade of my axe!" Behemoth said, motioning with her thumb across her throat.

"Look, we need more information.” Phoenix was looking at the floor. “We need to know who it was that helped him become a reaper, who is really behind this, and why. I am certain now that Favana is just a decoy, but we need to know who is the real master, and who is just yanking us around.”

"He's right," Dragon said, "we can't plan anything if we don't know what’s really going on."

Eagle stepped forward. "I'll find out!" he whispered.

"I can't ask you to do something that dangerous," Phoenix said. "I'll go myself."

"You aren't asking me, Phoenix. I'm telling you.” In that moment Phoenix saw something within Eagle that he hadn’t seen in years. In that moment he knew who was going to go. “I am going. We both know I'll be able to find out more, and keep quieter about it than you would," Eagle said.

"Still, I wouldn't feel right sending someone else,” Phoenix answered, not wanting to give up the fight.

"I'm going, Phoenix!” he roared. “You are needed more here than there," Eagle said stubbornly.

"Fine, find out what you can, and then come right back. If you aren't back in three days, I’m coming after you," Phoenix said.

"Well then see you in three days!" Eagle smirked, rushing out the door.

******************************************************************

The next three days continued much the same as the first day of fighting did, undead pushed for the wall and they were thrown back, just to push again. Troops fell on both sides, but Whiteway was still holding strong. It was mid-day when Eagle found Phoenix.

"Phoenix, I found a lot out!" he said softly.

"What?" Phoenix pressed.

"The one behind this attack is really Queen Favana, but she isn't who everyone thinks she is. There is some demon named Nhur-Heyzif. He is pulling the strings in this war. Favana is also a demon, but she is not near as powerful as Nhur-Heyzif. She is though linked closely with him."

"Shit!" Phoenix yelled.

Eagles tone became almost accusatory, "I also found out that this war has nothing to do with Whiteway. In fact it has nothing to do with any mortal. In fact it has to do with one immortal in particular."

"Me," Phoenix said quietly.

"I found out everything why did you keep all of it from us,

Phoenix?" Eagle asked sounding disappointed, almost as a master, sad at his students performance.

"Because I didn't want anyone to know about my moment of weakness," he answered.

"We are still here for you, Phoenix, all of us, no matter what."

"Thank you, Eagle."

******************************************************************

By the next day, Phoenix had made sure to tell every member of the Balance what the war was really about, and all about Nhur-Heyzif. The day after that, Twin appeared again, only this time in the same form that he had when the Balance defeated him six years before.

"I am calling out a challenge to Phoenix. Answer my challenge and show everyone once and for all that I am the better fighter!" Twin said, standing on the ground before the castle. He was an average looking man: Six feet tall, shoulder-length brown hair, and a fairly muscular build.

"I thought you were an undead, Twin," Phoenix said mockingly.

"You aren't the only one with friends in positions of power, Phoenix. Some of us can get our bodies back after dying," he answered.

"Don't flatter yourself, Twin, just cause you have your body back doesn't mean that you can win a fight against me!" Phoenix exclaimed. He vaulted off the top of the castle wall, falling the twenty feet and landing in a crouching position, his right knee up, his left leg splayed back, and his hands on the ground. There was a slight indentation on the ground where he landed. "You see, Twin, I've been training for six years, I am a much better fighter than I was the last time we met."

"It doesn't matter," Twin proclaimed, "You will soon meet your end here, and then you will spend an eternity being tortured in hell!"

“Let’s see who beats whom," Phoenix whispered, rising up and

drawing his sword.

Twin attacked, swinging at Phoenix's head with all his might, but Phoenix brought his sword up to block and then used that opportunity to throw Twin backwards. With Twin off guard Phoenix took the chance to attack He swung at Twin's body, but Twin blocked with a back swing and countered with a swing at Phoenix's side.

"Well, Phoenix," Twin said as Phoenix blocked his attack, "You have gotten better."

Phoenix laughed softly, "Twin, I've just started!"

Phoenix was the first to attack this time. He swung four or five times in quick blows, then again and again in quick bursts of four or five swings. Twin blocked all of them, but started to slow, enough that he almost didn’t block the last few swings.

"Twin you're slowing, you almost didn't block that last one."

"It doesn't matter, I have backups!" Twin said with a whistle. Out of nowhere six tall vampires appeared from the undead army and started approaching.

"I don't think so!" Genie yelled, jumping down to join Phoenix. Soon all of the Balance members were beside Phoenix.

"If you don't fight fair, Twin, we’ll just have to make you," Hydra said.

"I can take care of this you guys!" Phoenix said stubbornly.

"No, Phoenix, we are a family, we won't let you down!" Dragon said.

And in that moment, the battle of a century truly started.

Chapter 19

Phoenix and Twin ran straight for each other, while the other members of the Balance fought the vampires Twin had called. Right before Phoenix and Twin met, there was a huge flash of light and Phoenix, Twin, the Balance members, and the vampires all disappeared. With the Balance members gone, the undead army thought they had found their chance to make a stand and get a foothold on the walls. But the Whiteway army was well enough prepared, and had learned from the last few days and were able to defend the walls almost as well as the Balance members themselves.

As the fight for Whiteway castle raged on, the Balance members found themselves in a strange land. Before their eyes appeared a wrinkled old man. He had a white beard that went down to his ankles. He leaned on a gnarled staff, but the fire in his eyes revealed to Phoenix that he knew the old man.

"Jican, what are you doing here?" Phoenix asked softly.

The old man smiled, winking at him. "You see, Phoenix, I am here to make sure that this battle of immortals does not get mixed into the mortal realm. This fight has nothing to do with the defense or destruction of Whiteway castle. Therefore, I am allowed to move it to another place. I have chosen a place where there are no innocent bystanders. In fact, if you destroy the planet it won't matter, for there is nothing here. I just made it a few minutes ago. So have at it!"

One of the vampires, confused at what was going on, attacked Jican. Jican then changed into a dragon, ate the vampire and spit out what little was left of him, only to char it with his fiery breath.

"Hey, DeadEye!" Angel yelled.

"What is it, Angel?" DeadEye said.

"Remind me not to ever piss Jican off, ok?"

"Will do, beautiful" DeadEye said, only to earn more glares from the mage Ielenia.

"Enough of this!" Twin yelled. "This is over, Phoenix, your end has come!"

"Quit talking and step up Twin!" Pheonix roared.

Suddenly, all hell broke loose on this new planet. Twin and Phoenix raced towards each other again. This time they collided, blade crashed onto blade. The match of raw energy emanating from the two created a shockwave that knocked everyone nearby to the ground, all except Hydra, who took the opportunity to quickly take out one of the vampires.

"Two down!" he said.

"Only about fifteen more!" Behemoth said.

As the rest of the Balance members fought vampires, Phoenix kept attacking Twin. Twin was blocking everything thrown at him, so Phoenix decided he should take it up a notch.

"What do you say we end the warm-up, Twin?" Phoenix asked during one of his swings.

"Just tell me when I should start fighting back," Twin mocked.

"Anytime, but it doesn't matter you'll lose anyway."

After that remark Twin attacked Phoenix with gusto. Phoenix blocked everything Twin tried, just as Twin had blocked everything Phoenix had attempted. Finally, Phoenix started countering some attacks, but that didn't help much, for Twin would just block and counter Phoenix's counter. Soon, Twin, needing an edge, tried to throw majik into play. Phoenix, expecting this flipped over Twin, attacking as he passed over Twins head. Twin was able to block the attack, and turned with Phoenix.

"Very good, Phoenix!" Twin said. "I will actually have to work at this battle."

"Not like it matters, Twin," Phoenix softly mentioned. "After all, I will be the one who wins this fight."

The two went right back into it, Twin attacking this time. Twin finally got a blow into Phoenix. It wasn't a large one, but it was enough to bolster his confidence. He sliced Phoenix in the chest lightly, just enough that it would bleed, but not enough to do serious damage. Phoenix started attacking again, and soon he sliced Twin's leg open. The two kept fighting, Phoenix was gaining ground and Twin was forced against a wall. At that moment though Phoenix heard a loud cry.

"Phoenix, help!" Phoenix heard. He immediatly recognized Genie's voice.

"I'm coming Genie!" He yelled.

"Not so fast Phoenix!" Twin roared.

Taking the opportunity, Twin attacked again, but Phoenix caught Twin’s blade, and they locked swords. Phoenix, needing to get to Genie, kicked Twin in the chest, knocking him back. As Twin fell back to the wall, Phoenix rushed to Genie's side.

Chapter 20

Genie was under attack from a vampire who had knocked her to the ground. The vampire was about to bite Genie in hopes of turning her into a vampire also. Phoenix was running as fast as he could, but before he reached her, Twin dove at his foot, he grabbed it and pulled Phoenix to the ground.

"Not so fast, Phoenix!" Twin said. "We aren't finished yet!"

"Twin, it was over before it began!" Phoenix yelled as he flipped around and kicked Twin in the face hard enough to make Twin spin around and fall back again. As the vampire was about to bite Genie, Phoenix tackled him, drew his katar and cut the vampire’s head off, to the astonishment of everyone who saw. The motion was so fluid, the vampire, strong as he was, didn’t even get a chance to move.

"Phoenix, you were holding back!" Twin mocked. "I'm hurt!"

"You were holding back, too, Twin."

"You're right," Twin said, "So what do you say, all bets are off, we throw everything onto the table right now!"

"Sounds good to me!" Phoenix roared drawing his second katar. To the amazement of everyone around, Phoenix suddenly started getting bigger, not taller, but his muscles were becoming more defined. The same thing was happening to Twin.

"It's been a while since I last went all out," Twin examined.

"It’s not quite as impressive as it once was."

"I will say it’s been awhile," Phoenix said in a cocky tone.

Twin glanced at Phoenix, and without moving he spoke quietly. "We're not so different, you and I.”

"Don't give me another one of this, 'we're not so different, you and I' speeches," Phoenix said. "You gave me one six years ago, I don’t need another."

"You're right, Phoenix, but things have changed since then. Now we are even more alike. Both of us far outshine everyone around us. Both have incredible possibilities…” Twin paused before continuing. “And both of us answer to a higher power."

"Are we going to do this or not, Twin?"

"All right, Phoenix, let’s go!" Twin roared, drawing a second sword from a concealed area. The two rushed at each other again. This time when they met, there was an explosive wave, destroying everything in its path knocking, all fighters except the two to the ground again. When the smoke and dust cleared, the two fighters were locked together, claw katar catching the long sword, blade katar and short sword clashing on the other side. The force of the two's struggle was digging them into a hole. All of the sudden, Phoenix jumped back and then ran at Twin again. A second explosion happened, only not quite as powerful, for the two only touched, and let off. Twin took the opportunity to get a distance from Phoenix before rushing himself. Phoenix turned, and ran at Twin as Twin was running at him. The two collided and then broke off only to do it again. They kept attacking each other in such fashion, running towards each other, striking, and jumping back, only to continue again.

Twin drew first blood again; he stabbed Phoenix between his lung and heart. Phoenix fought back and finally struck Twin. Phoenix pushed his blade katar deep into Twin's stomach before pulling back out. By this time, the fight between the rest of the Balance members and the vampires was over. Most of them had some form of injury or another. They all wanted to help Phoenix, but they couldn't. Both Phoenix and Twin were more powerful than they had imagined. All they could do was watch as the two lashed out at each other.

******************************************************************

After three hours of fighting, neither Phoenix nor Twin showed signs of slowing. Finally Phoenix knocked Twin's short sword out of his hand, only to have his own katar knocked away in the process. Fighting with their remaining weapons, the two stuck again, and again, until, Phoenix, lost his remaining katar. Instantly he flipped into a roundhouse kick, knocking Twin’s remaining long sword away. Playing off of Phoenix’s example, Twin performed a flying kick towards Phoenix’s head. Phoenix blocked with the back of his fist, and swung his other at Twin, who flipped backwards, out of the way. Diving towards Phoenix, Twin caught him in the side, knocking the wind out of him. The two fought back and forth in such manner until they fell upon a discarded sword. Phoenix swept the sword up and advanced slowly to Twin, noticing too late, that he too had found a discarded weapon. Realizing his mistake, Phoenix dashed towards Twin, who ran towards Phoenix. As the swords met, another explosion occurred, once more knocking everyone to the ground, this one just as large as the first. Finally, Pheonix noticed Twin was slowing causing him to miss a crucial block. Phoenix knocked him to the ground and placed his sword next to Twin's throat.

"It's over, Twin!" Phoenix roared in a voice that made him sound more monstrous than human.

"You're right, Phoenix. Its over, you won. You are the better fighter. I feel privileged to have fought you at full power."

"Goodbye, Twin, may you never again darken this world!"

"Goodbye, world, may you never again, make me dark," Twin whispered as Phoenix ended his life.

As Twin died, Jican reappeared.

"Phoenix, I must take care of this soul this time and make sure it doesn’t fall into the wrong hands again. The way home is through this portal," Jican announced sounding almost as though he was crying. He used his hand to create a swirling vortex in the air.

"Thanks, Jican, I'll see you when the battle for Whiteway has been won!" Phoenix said.

"See you then, Phoenix." Jican answered as Phoenix and the Balance members stepped through the vortex.

Chapter 21

When Phoenix stepped through the vortex, he did not return to Whiteway, nor anywhere within hearing distance. He couldn't even see the other Balance members around him, or much at all. What he could see was darkness and stone. After a few minutes of looking around, he realized that he was in a dark cave. As he walked along the tunnel he found he started to see a river of fire. From the ceiling in places fire dripped like water after a rain. After following the river of fire, Phoenix found the edge of an underground cliff, where the fire flowed over a fall into a lake. After following a path down to the edge of the lake he looked around, trying to figure out why he was here and not at Whiteway.

"Have you figured it out yet, Phoenix?" A creature asked, stepping from the darkness.

"Chatath! So then I am here to pay my dues, or fight to the death, is that right?" Phoenix exclaimed.

"Correct! Phoenix, you are smarter than He gives you credit for."

"So I guess this time I actually get to kill you, is that also right, Chatath?"

"Phoenix, I'm afraid that if you resist, I will be the one doing the killing!" Chatath said.

"Come on then!" Phoenix roared. "I'm ready for you!"

Phoenix sprinted towards Chatath, drawing his sword in the same moment. Chatath did nothing except raise his arm and chant a few words. When Phoenix struck it sounded as though he had struck another sword.

"Nice trick Chatath, what exactly are you doing, is that spell or personal ability?"

"Personal ability. Actually it is your strength that allows me to do that. As you know I was created from your sorrow,” Chatath acted as though he was crying, and then laughed. “Therefore everything I am is created from you, your strength is also mine!" Chatath exclaimed as he burst into a maniacal laughter.

"If everything you are, was created from me, that laughter wouldn't have happened!" Phoenix said as he struck again. "You see I find maniacal laughter distracting."

"Some of it I picked up from Nhur-Heyzif."

"Well, I've picked something up on my own since your creation, for instance, more speed!" Phoenix yelled as the two jumped apart. Phoenix ran at Chatath again, he moved so fast, it was almost as though he wasn’t moving at all; one minute he was there, the next he wasn’t.

"You missed, Phoenix!" Chatath taunted, laughing maniacally again.

"Check again, Chatath," Phoenix whispered.

Suddenly Chatath's, body, above his waist slowly slid to the ground. The pain finally registered in Chatath's brain and he wailed in pain and sorrow.

"You have no more power, Chatath, my sorrow is over, I've learned from my mistakes and moved on."

"But, but, bu-" Chatath trailed off.

"Goodbye, Chatath, I can't say that I will miss you."

Phoenix slowly made his way to where he knew Nhuh-Heyzif would be. It was time to settle the score.

Chapter 22

Phoenix walked along a dark path until he started to hear screams of agony.

"I must be getting close," Phoenix whispered. He kept walking until he saw the first person being tortured.

"Kill me," he whispered to Phoenix. Phoenix, though, kept walking, knowing that the pour soul was dead, and didn't even realize it yet.

"I must kill Nhur-Heyzif to help these souls," Phoenix kept repeating to himself.

"Phoenix, I'm glad you could join me. I was afraid Chatath would kill you before I got the chance to fight you!" Nhur-Heyzif exclaimed.

"Nhur-Heyzif, the time of your destruction is here!" Phoenix yelled.

"Are you serious, Phoenix? I am the Torturer of Blackness, the Eternal Dungeon-Keeper. I have been here taking 'care' of souls for longer than you can imagine!"

"Everything has its end," Phoenix whispered.

"For mortals that is true, but for gods, it is not."

"God is just another way of saying an immortal no one has killed yet."

"Then prove yourself Phoenix, and I will show you that I cannot be defeated!" Nhur-Heyzif boasted.

"DIE!" Phoenix screamed as he ran at Nhur-Heyzif, blade drawn.

******************************************************************

While Phoenix started the battle with Nhur-Heyzif, the battle for Whiteway continued. When the members of the Balance arrived back, Favana's army had broken through the first wall and the battle was raging between the first and the second wall. The remaining archers, only three or four dozen out of the original four thousand, had retreated to the second wall and were doing their best to kill the undead.

"Where's Phoenix?" Genie asked.

"He hasn't made it through yet, but we have to help, we can find him later!" Hydra exclaimed.

"He's right," Dragon said as he rushed towards the nearest undead chopping it in half.

"Shit!" Genie yelled as she prepared her first spell.

******************************************************************

Five hours later, the Balance members regrouped. Everyone was nursing some wound or another; Dragon had nearly lost an eye, Unicorn was busy attempting to use her majik to re-attach Hydra's left arm. Genie was looking around to see who had made it back.

"Phoenix still isn't here!" She cried.

"Something must have come up; I'm sure he's fine," Unicorn soothed as she finally got Hydra's arm back on his body.

"Genie, who could have killed Phoenix?" Dragon asked.

"I guess you're right, Phoenix is probably safe somewhere."

"Is anyone else missing?" Hydra asked.

"Actually, I haven't seen Eagle in hours," DeadEye pointed out.

"Well the battle isn't quite over yet, there are still many undead surrounding us," Hydra pointed out. "We will have at least one more fight before this is over."

In the pit of darkness that Phoenix had found himself in, the fight was roaring. Every time the two met, a shockwave was created, which knocked parts of the ceiling down. Rocks and boulders were falling, crashing down around them. All weapons had been lost and the two were fighting with their fists, and feet, nothing else. Phoenix landed a punch to Nhur-Heyzif's chin that knocked him a few feet in the air. Phoenix jumped up quickly and jumped high and fast enough to get above Nhur-Heyzif to use his elbow to knock the immortal back to the ground. Nhur-Heyzif landed on one knee and when Phoenix came down again he dodged to the left, rolled and kicked Phoenix in the side of his head. Phoenix flew into the side of the cavern, knocking down a large pile of rock on top of himself.

"You see, Phoenix, I've won. You are through now and your soul is mine!" Nhur-Heyzif joyously exclaimed.

Out of nowhere, Nhur-Heyzif received a blow to the stomach, and then a knee to his face.

“What is this, where are you?"

"You see, I've learned a bit of majik, enough that you hit an illusion, then I used more majik to knock those rocks down. Finally one last bit of majik made it so you couldn't see me. You are not as good as you think." Phoenix said, appearing before Nhur-Heyzif's eyes.

"You are dead!" He exclaimed as he lunged through the illusion of Phoenix into the wall.

"You've let your anger make you stupid. This fight is over." Phoenix said picking up a sword. It looked like the sword was flying through the air by itself, for Phoenix was still invisible. "Goodbye, Nhur-Heyzif," Phoenix whispered as he thrust the sword through Nhur-Heyzif's throat.

Chapter 23

When the sword cut through Nhur-Heyzif, Phoenix was teleported to the middle of the battle for Whiteway. When he appeared, enemies surrounded him. It didn't take long for him to destroy the few undead around him. When they were finally dead, again, Eagle was not far off, so Phoenix rushed to his side. The battle raged, and by the end of it, between the battles he had already fought and this one, Phoenix had many injuries, and was to the point it was hard to continue standing.

"Phoenix, you should get back to the others, you need rest and healing," Eagle said.

"Eagle, you talk like you aren't coming back with me," Phoenix said, his mind too tired to understand.

"Phoenix, I'm not going back with you, I'm tired. I can't keep doing this, it’s not as easy for me as it is for you, I can't just keep going and going. I need more rest. Tell the others what you want, tell them I'm dead for all I care, but I might come back someday, so don't get too carried away. I just need a break for a while. I need to find someone to be with, I am exhausted from fights and my spying duties. I'm taking a decade or two to myself, and possibly a companion, if you catch my drift. But it's been a good run, huh? I'll be seeing you, sometime, Phoenix."

"Good luck, Eagle, I hope things go like you wish," Phoenix said, though he could tell there was something he wasn’t being told, he was too tired to fight his friend.

******************************************************************

When Phoenix returned to the others, he collapsed from exhaustion. It took almost a week to get him back to the point where he could converse with the Balance members. When he arose, he explained what had happened; how he had traveled to the lair of Nhur-Heyzif to settle the old score.

"So, I guess all's well that ends well, huh?" Dragon said sarcastically.

"Weren't you the one complaining about MY clichés?" Phoenix asked.

"Screw you!" Dragon exclaimed.

"Hey, you back off, Dragon, he's mine!" Genie proclaimed, laying her head on his shoulder.

"Yeah, you should back off, Dragon, or else I might have to do something real drastic." Unicorn replied, moving closer to Angel, who put her arm around Unicorn.

"Does anyone know what happened to Eagle?" Hydra asked.

"Actually, I kind of do." Phoenix said.

"What happened?" DeadEye probed.

"He wanted me to tell you that he was dead, but I can't do that. He needs a break, so for the next decade or two he will be relaxing, and looking for a girl of his own."

"You know, now that I think about it, he is the only one who doesn't have a woman," Dragon said.

"Wow I never thought about it before, but that’s right," Unicorn said.

"Come to think of it, there’s a lot about him that we don’t' really know," Phoenix said. "After all he does work as a stealth expert, those people never show all of themselves."

"He does have a wife," Jican said.

"Jican, when did you arrive?" Phoenix asked.

"Just a second ago, I just finished dealing with the mess you made, killing Nhur-Heyzif. Damn, that made a mess with all the souls he had taken, sorting all that out. Were you looking to make my job difficult, Phoenix?" Jican asked.

"Not exactly, just settling an old score."

"Just so you know, you made my life hell for the next few weeks," Jican said in mock disgust.

"So, Jican, do we finally get a real break, we took so long getting ourselves rooted in key parts of society that we didn't have much of a break before this whole thing happened," DeadEye said.

"I'm not telling you anything, I have the whole non-involvement agreement that for once I’m going to follow,” Jican answered smiling at them all.

"We all know that that is bullshit, Jican. You tell us that you can’t get involved, but you do when it suits you. Just tell us what you know!" Genie scolded him.

"But, it’s so much more fun to keep you guys guessing," Jican answered as his smile grew. "But to tell you what Eagle is doing: he has a wife, and a few kids, he wants to watch them grow up. Then he'll probably be back. Only he'll have some helpers next time."

"Damn it, Jican, you always do this," Phoenix said.

"Do what?"

Phoenix growled softly, "Never mind.”

The Balance members sat around, chatting well into the night. Jican sat with them for a while, but eventually disappeared. The members of the Balance decided that this time they would go back to the Halls to work on training young heroes, in hopes that if another disaster happened, they might be a little more prepared.

Epilogue

Everything had become routine for the members of the Balance. They had been training for a full year now and had many fine students. Griffyth himself had come to study with the members, having put aside his fight with Phoenix, at least until he had learned more. Nimble the halfling spent half year training and then helped teach alongside Phoenix as a sparring partner. Everything was working out perfectly.

One full year from the night that the battle for Whiteway was won, there was a huge feast and everyone came. In the darkness outside the Immortal Halls, no one saw the dark form slip back into the forest from which it came.