Princess Cari Chapter Eight

 Land Cross

Over The Desert

Cari, Ryo, The Chronicler and The Observer left the town after three months and looked at their map. Most of the time The Observer kept to the shadows and in the coolest of buildings. Both Ryo and Cari had become accustomed to the heat. Yet, they knew that they should leave at that point.

"Tell me, is there anything that we need to know?" Ryo asked.

"Yes, the desert it's the safest way to get to the place that we need to go. Though it is still very dangerous nevertheless." The Chronicler explained. "However, don't think it won't be a fight-free journey."

"And what do you think that we have to face?"

She looked at the map and let out a sigh.

"A den of snakes and a golem."

"That doesn't seem too bad!"

"And that is just the desert."

"Oh? And then?"

"I don't know yet. We will probably have more fights until we get to the city that we need to get to."

"Right…and will we be taking down any of those strongholds of Dark Master Lord Gajellidor Darcrogh?"

Cari paused in her walking for a moment as she felt her body tense up slightly as her mind went over what he did to her. She shook her head.

He's not here.

She kept quiet as she continued.

I hope that we don't. I don't want to have him show up.

"We may do. However, that will be coincidental as we travel to the city."

"Cari?" The Observer asked.

She looked at him and snapped out of her thoughts. She felt the frat rising within her become interrupted.

"Yeah?"

"Are you alright?"

"Yeah… I will." She lied, not wanting to make them worry about her.

He frowned. He let out a deep breath as he put a hand on her shoulder. He had a stern look in his eyes. She knew that he had seen straight through her. She could feel her heart sink slightly.

"Heed my words. Do not lie. Whatever is up, ensure that you tell someone. Do not leave it in the dark and if it has anything to do with the state that I found you in then even more so."

She nodded looking aside and pushing on. She walked on in silence.

They ended up traveling for a long time. Yet as they did they heard the sound of a rattle with the sound of the aggressive hissing. That could only mean one thing, they had arrived at the den of snakes! 

They were about to try to manoeuvre around the den until the sound of the hissing told them that the den of snakes was far bigger than they thought. This meant only one thing. They were going to have to face the den.

Good. At least it isn't anything we can't handle.

"I think that we are all going to have to set the snakes on fire!" The Observer said.

"Wait, you have magic too?"

The Chronicler's face darkened.

"I do. I have a complicated relationship with my magic and there are things that do limit me." She explained.

Yet as she did she thought for a moment. 

"And Cari, remember to not use too much of yours."

"Right…"

She looked down and nodded as she loaded her crossbow. They then turned their attention to the snakes. The others focused their wills to the den of snakes and willed them to be set alight. Yet even though Cari did use her magic, she fired at the snakes. That was when The Observer noticed this and willed the arrows to be set alight. Seeing this Cari fired another shot willing the arrow head to spark into a flame. Yet even though it was small she could feel the flesh on the back of her hand splitting. 

The other two noticed this and even though they concentrated their efforts onto burning as many snakes as they could Ryo made a note to set her arrowheads alight so that she did not have to. She, noticing this stopped setting the arrowheads alight and focused her aim. She fired again and again until the snakes looked at them and soon knew that it was them that was doing all this. So they pounced towards them. Cari aimed and fired shot after shot at them as The Chronicler set them alight. 

Soon all the snakes soon became nothing but a pile of ash.

"That was not too bad!" Ryo and Cari both exclaimed.

Yet just as they were about to rest and then go on, they soon heard a roar. They then looked at Cari and then at The Chronicler. She then shrugged.

"As I said. This is still the safest way."

They all looked around as Cari rolled her eyes. As they saw a large muddy creature running towards them.

"What is that?"

"It's a golem."

"And?"

"It can only-" 

The golem hit her before she could finish. 

Cari raised her hand and gritted her teeth and released a magic blast from her hand. She felt the back of her hand split itself as her blast did nothing! It then turned to her and she had to jump back as it raced to her. She pulled out her crossbow and fired arrow after arrow. This did nothing too. This forced her to continue running. 

Ryo then pulled out his scythe and went to cut it. The moment that the scythe passed through the classy the moment that the clay came back together. 

"How?"

"There must be a way to beat this thing!"

"There is!"

Then he too jumped away and drew his hand back and sent a ball of fire at the thing yet despite hardening the clay, it was only momentarily hardened. This would have given him a tiny bit of hope, if he had not noticed the speed of how the hard clay became soft again. He dived further and further away firing more fireballs at it as it charged at him. 

The Chronicler took out a set of small daggers and threw them in rapid succession one after the other. She did this again and again as she ran. This turned its attention to her and she ran. It then went to hit her again and she quickly dodged. It then threw another punch at her and she was able to stop.

"Lok and Strena are not gods!" She shouted.

This caused the golem to stop for a moment as it began to shrink.

This was when Cari noticed this and then named all the gods and goddesses that she could. Firing shot after shot at the golem. It then turned to her and she hoped that she knew what she was doing as she listed god after god and goddess after goddess.

"Are not good gods!"

This caused the golem to stop in its tracks. It soon became smaller and smaller until there was nothing left.

"Now is there anything else that we are to come across next?"

"Noting if we avoid any quicksand."

"Good!"

That was when Cari looked at The Observer and noticed that he was sweating and his face was getting red.

"Are you alright Observer?"

He looked at her and it was as though he was setting someone else and nodded.

"Should be." He said as he shivered.

"You're not lying to us are you?"

"Were you earlier?"

At this she kept quiet.

As the day wore on he did not get any better. His face became redder and redder as did the rest of his body. He was soon sweating and shivering. Yet despite putting on a brave face his eyes told her just how weak he was getting. 

Then despite traveling a long great distance in this state, he fell after an hour. They all dived to him as his breathing became irregular and heavy and his body shivered uncontrollably.

The Chronicler ran to him and fell to her knees and caught him. She placed a hand upon his forehead, with a worried look in her eyes.

"What happened?" Cari asked, rubbing his arms.

The Chronicler looked at her.

"Sunstroke!"

Another Sandworm

And Quicksand

Night had almost passed when The Observer woke up. He enjoyed the cold air on his skin. He then rose up and he sat up. He had not gotten any better at handling the heat of the sun of the Desert and Sand Planes. 

He then looked to his right, there Cari was sleeping. He was in awe as he looked at her. For a moment he thought that his niece was there. She looked so much like her. Just thinking about his niece brought a tear to his eyes as it burnt his sunburnt cheek. Yet the more that he observed her the more she reminded him of her.

He went to wipe the tear away when he, to his shock, spotted the small scorpion crawl near her. He quickly took out a small dagger and threw it at the creature. Due to his sunstroke he missed. He pulled out another one and calmed himself down before he threw the dagger again and he was able to hit. 

He slowly rose to his feet and walked over to the daggers and picked the daggers up and cleaned the one that killed the scorpion before putting them away.

He then looked at the girl. 

Though she was only twelve to thirteen, she looked so much like his niece and it was both unnerving and nostalgic. In many ways it was as if she had come back to life. Which was even more unnerving and nostalgic.

He placed a hand on her head as he stroked her forehead and reality came back in revealing her white eyes. He drew his hand back.

"Observer?"

"There was a scorpion."

"Oh." She said, as she almost fell back to sleep but her mind became alert. 

"Are you alright?" She asked,  still coming around.

"Yes. I will live." He chuckled bitterly.

She frowned and signed.

"I know, but that hardly matters if you're ill!" She said, sternly with a cautious and watchful look in her eyes.

He sighed as the painful nostalgia tugged at his heart. Yet he knew that she was right. If his sunstroke became any worse then he would soon become a liability. Even though he was immortal, he could feel pain and become vulnerable.

"Yeah…"

Oh how long will you remind me of her? Honestly, it's almost like you're the same person. On how I wish that was so.

"Who is it?" She asked sternly.

"Wh-what?"

"That person you see instead of me. Is it your niece?"

How did she know?

He opened his mouth to speak but yet he soon saw waves in the sand. His eyes widened.

"Wake up! There's a sand worm coming!"

"What!"

"Ryo! Chronicler, wake up!"

Cari flipped out her crossbow and they all looked up to see the wave of sand rising up

"Ryo, get the sand worm out!" The Observer shouted. "Don't worry I will help!"

He closed his eyes and The Observer did the same. 

The waves rose higher and higher until the worm rose above the sand. 

To Ryo's dread it was revealed to be larger than the other one. This meant that it would be harder to take the thing down. Yet this meant that he would have to do better this time. 

Then a patch of fire rose from the underbelly of the thing. It rotated out in pain yet more fire rose. He looked to see that it was The Observer as Cari raised her crossbow and fired at the fire and fired another arrow higher and another higher. She was about to close her eyes.

"Cari, no! User as little magic as possible."

"I will!"

She nodded. 

She then looked to Ryo and The Observer for help. 

They raised the fire to the arrow. She then fired another and they set it alight. She fired another but higher. She then noticed that it was getting closer and closer and it then flung itself down at then and they all dived out of the way as the sandworm hot the sand putting out the fire. Yet it roared out in pain as the salt mixed in with the free flowing blood following from the breast. It then dived back under the sand. 

They all had to look down with building tension as Ryo had to ignore the pain of his small cut. They could not even let out a single sound as they waited for the worm to show any signs of its location. The Observer watched the sand closer and willed his eyes to be able to see the smallest of details. 

Then the worm burst out of the sand. It was far longer than they expected. The Observer and The Chronicler team alongside each other as the two prevented it from falling back in the sand. Cari fired shot after shot and Ryo set it alight and it roared out in pain. 

That was when The Chronicler took out several daggers. She quickly threw them at the worm again and again. She then ran and sliced them out of the creature and then collected the arrows which were not harmed by the fire. 

She then dived back as she took over keeping the worm in place. Then The Observer ran forward and jumped right into the mouth. He soon spotted the remaining fire inside. He then used his magic to will the fire to rise higher and spread wider.

Meanwhile Ryo ran to the under belly and took out his scythe and struck across the left. He then struck to the right, shaping an X shape. He then ran to the right and then repeated the action. He ran on to the middle and repeated the action. He then ran on and repeated the action until there were five Xs in the center. 

He dived out of the way as the worm fell.

The Observer jumped out of the mouth as fire spouted out from behind him. Yet as he landed, he rolled before he rolled to his feet. He looked up as the worm slapped up and down in the sand like a fish out of water. It then rolled over and over as the flames burst out of the Xs in the underbelly. Then the blood flowed freely and then it confirmed to consume the body of the sandworm.

They attended to their injuries during which it became clear that The Observer was weaker than the day before. In fact he felt like his flesh was on fire. His throat felt dry and regardless of how many times he drank his saliva he could not get any moisture in it. 

As they walked on he started to stagger and shake. He felt incredibly nauseous to the point that he felt like he was upon the verge of vomiting. Cari gave him some water, yet it was warm which did not help much, neither did the hunger.

"I think that we need to eat." He said.

"I know." She said, looking at him concerned.

They soon took a break to eat. They soon filled their stomachs with the small portion of food they brought. Even though the slices of meat and berries did nothing to strengthen him. 

When they gathered themselves and walked on he had hardly walked several steps before he fell again. He thought this was out of exhaustion only to find that his feet were sinking. Cari looked back and grabbed his hand to stop him from sinking any further. 

Yet as she did to her own horror she was sinking too! 

She then turned back to see that Ryo and The Chronicler were already sinking too. First they felt the sand, they felt cold and then, to their horror, nothing beneath their feet. They could do nothing to stop themselves from falling further and further. They could swing their feet beneath them and their hearts raced as the sand rose higher and higher. Soon it was above their shoulders and it rose higher dragging them into the pit below. 

They breathed in and out rapidly as they knew that they would have to hold their breath once it reached their chin. When they did they held their breath and closed their eyes to protect them. They continued falling and they had to resist with all their power to breathe in and not let claustrophobia settle in. Then they felt their heads pounding like they were being punched in their temples. They had to raise the urge to scream as they sank further and the moment their heads fell down, they gasped for air and they soon found that they were falling. 

With a flick of his hand The Observer sent out a layer of snow that they hit. They fell further and he did this again and again until they hit the gravel and were soon knocked out.

The Scorpion Lady

And The Snake Lady

They woke up and felt the cold damp temperature stroke their burnt faces and cool them down. This felt momentarily soothing. All of them felt the gratitude of being out of the sourcing great heat.

However, wherever they were it was so dark that they could not see. It was so dark that they could put their hands right in front of their faces and they would not even be able to see where the edges began!

Their eyes felt a painful ache as The Observer summoned a ball of fire that was reflected from all over. They then had to wait for their eyes to adjust before they could see anything.

The first thing they noticed was that they were surrounded by coins, goblets, plates and all kinds of jewelry made from bronze, silver, gold and all kinds of precious stones! 

Cari and Ryo looked at them with a strange hunger that they could not describe. The beauty of everything in this place was so enchanting that it put their minds in a trance. Their minds became completely silent. 

They both had an increasingly strong urge to collect all their eyes could see. Then stuff it all in their pockets and bags. Well as much as they could carry. Yet the more that they wanted to, the more their instincts told then not to. There was something poisonous about the treasure.

"How are we going to get out of here?"

"Look around. I guess. Find out where we are." She suggested as she looked at the two children.

They were still looking at the treasure with a hungry look in their eyes.

"Also, I think we need to keep those children close. Enchanted treasure and dragon blood are not a good combination."

"Cari, Ryo stay close to us alright?"

This snapped them out of their trance. They looked at them,  almost as if they had just noticed them for the first time since they could see in this place.

"Right!" They said yet looking at each other feeling slightly crept out at the unison of their word.

"By the way, how old are you two?"

"Well a year has passed since I rescued my sister from my mother and I was twelve back then so I would day I have only just turned thirteen in the winter."

"Eleven now."

"Well that is-you two are so young! Why-"

"What! I was five when I started! By the Demon Realm, I was only nine or ten when I slayed my first dragon!" The Chronicler retorted.

"Oh yes I forgot about that!" He said bluntly. "But still…do you blame him?"

"No."

"Urm, Chronicler… Who are you?"

She looked aside.

"I think I will tell you when I am ready. As I already have told you." 

"Oh? And when will that be?"

"When we are ready to take them up again. You are not entitled to know everything about us."

"Tell me,  Chronicler, you know you have magic don't you?"

"Yes, why?"

"Then why don't you use it as much as us? Dart, Cari here uses out more than you do!"

Her face darkened and there was a child-like viability in her eyes as she cooked them for a moment. She rubbed her eyes.

"I have a complicated relationship with my magic."

The Observer rolled his eyes as he looked around and spotted a keyhole. He then spotted that it was next to a door. He then walked up to it and then looked inside the keyhole.

"Chronicler, I have a job for you."

She then looked at him. She then walked up to the keyhole. Her eyes brightened as she pulled out a lockpicking kit. She knelt down on both knees and soon had the door open. She then looked back to see that Cari and Ryo were looking at the enchanted treasure again.

"Cari, Ryo!"

They snapped out of it again and then ran over to them. They soon entered a room where scorpions littered the ground.

"It's about time you came to this room." Said a woman with an ice cold beauty with grass green eyes and coal black hair.

"You are expecting us?"

"Of course Cari. After all, when it came to light that you would be heading off world we knew that you would be heading in this direction. So we set up a few 'obstacles' in your way." She said as her eyes turned to The Chronicler. 

"Did you not think that the Dark Matter Lord doesn't know who you are, or where you came from? Did you honestly think that he doesn't know the Sand or Desert Planes better than you? He was strolling in them before you were even born!" She sneered.

Yet upon hearing about Dark Master Lord Gajellidor, Cari felt herself tense up as she looked aside. She could feel all that he did to her flood her mind as she felt her breath becoming rapid. She could even feel her body and head shaking.

So he's following us? He's actually following us? Why? Does he still think that we are still a threat to him? Has he not made his point already?

"Now, time to see if I can exterminate this threat before it gets too big, shall we!" She sang.

Suddenly the scorpions raced to them and Ryo sent out a ball of fire at some of them. Yet they continued to race to them. The Observer outstretched his hand and more of them all turned to dust. The Chronicler looked at this and did the same. They turned more and more to dust. Meanwhile the woman laughed at this as she clapped her hands.

"I forgot you were students of the great Dark Lady Grasharlo. However, I will not make that mistake again." She said as she rose to her feet.

She looked at Cari as she took her step down. She smirked and drew her sword.

"Tell me, what did the Dark Master Lord Gajellidor do to you?" She asked.

Suddenly her body seized up further. Her mind locked into the memories of what he did. She could feel the pain and relive the fear and terror. She just could not move as she raced to her. 

She was about to hit her until she pulled out her dagger. She immediately blocked it almost instinctively. Her eyes met the woman. She then tried to push away but she could not. She was just too strong, yet she too was equally strong. She knew that they were at a stalemate.

"Tell me, how did he hurt you?" She asked.

She felt herself shake slightly more. Yet she drove all her mind to keep the pressure on. Yet she could not move as her mind went over the knife and the pain from the wound that he gave her. Yet, even though the wound had healed into a scar the pain returned. She just could not get it out of her head.

"Cari! Snap out of it!"

Her mind woke from the memory just in time to dive out of the way from a large scorpion tail. 

She then dived back as she took out her crossbow and loaded an arrow. Then the tail struck down. 

She rolled out of the way and aimed. She drove the trail down again, yet she rolled and raised the crossbow. She then spotted another strike and she rolled. She could see the tension on the sting was increasing. She pulled out her dagger as the tail came down, she rolled forward. She drove the dagger upwards and drove it through the trail chopping of the stinger. She then spotted the blade come down and she drove the dagger up and forced her arm upwards and fired directly into her heart. 

She flew down and looked at the arrow and pulled it out.

"Dark Matter Lord…"

She died before she could finish at this, Cari frowned.

"What do you think that she was about to say?"

"Do you think that it matters?"

"No, I guess not."

They collected their things as they walked to the other end where there was another chamber. The door opened on its own and they checked for traps as they walked on. They noticed small scorpions scurrying around. 

Cari looked at The Observer slightly worried. He looked better but his red face gave away that the damage of the sun was still there.

"Are you alright?"

"Should be. Even though the cold air had helped the heatstroke, I have not fully recovered. Speaking of which are you?"

"What do you mean by that?"

"When she mentioned the Dark Master Lord, you seized up. Why?"

She looked aside.

"I don't know."

Ryo placed a hand on her.

"Car' what did he do to you?"

She could barely speak or look at them as she showed them the scars. His eyes widened as he placed his hand on it with worry. He gently held her arm as he looked at it closely. He then hugged her. The Chronicler placed a hand on her hand.

"Cari, why did you not say?"

"Didn't think it was important."

"Cari! What if that was part of his plan?"

"It wasss." Spoke another voice. 

They looked onwards to see a woman that looked similar to the scorpion lady by this one had the lower body of a snake.

"I guesss that Sscorpa is dead?"

"If you are talking about that scorpion lady then yes."

She laughed.

"Yes well I should have expected that from you. Now, Cari, I will save you for my mistress Medmara. However, as for the rest of you, I will not!" She said as she rose and slithered over to them.

Soon their eyes met the sight of her scarlet claws and long vampire-like fangs with purple venom running down her mouth.

She then went to pounce on them but they all dived out of the way and she threw out her claws and went to strike down to Ryo but this was stopped by an arrow to her hand. She looked at Cari and pulled it out and let out a hiss at her and she then turned her attention to the girl. them

As she did she did not notice Ryo took out his scythe and went to strike her down, but was immediately stopped when he was hit by the tail. She then looked at the boy and went to strike him again. He dodged out of the way and then thrust out the scythe head to her arm. Seeing this she moved back as he almost staggered to her. She then went to strike him with her tail again but he was soon able to roll the scythe and cut into the tail. He then ran in for the kill and soon her head rolled.

Cari then rushed to him.

"Are you alright?" 

He let out a sigh.

"Yeah. Didn't give her the chance to cut me."

"Good."

They soon were about to look around the place more when The Chronicler picked up a dusty carpet.

"What is it?"

"A flying carpet."

"Thought they didn't exist."

"They do, in fact there is an annual tournament called the carpet surfers. And as I know how to ride one of these get on."

They all did and they gripped the carpet as The Chronicler gripped the corners and the carpet rose up. They soon zoomed through all the chambers and were out of the temple. They soon left the desert behind. Though they could not leave the heat behind. 

Jungle Journey

They landed in front of a thick and overgrown jungle. It was bright green and had light bark. It was very hot though there was more than welcome moisture in the air. In fact, it made the heart more tolerable.

They rose to their feet. They looked around oly to see a makeshift sign post wedged into the overgrowth. It was made of rotten wood and was coated in emerald moss and fungus. The writing was made of falling off paint and old bought wood.

Jenrahjah Jungle

"Jenrahjah Jungle?" Aired Ryo, wondering if the whole writing was still there.

"Jenrah shah!" The Chronicler corrected.

He nodded.

"What should we expect in this?"

"Nothing if we keep to the path and as far as I know. Although,  I have to admit, it has been a long time since I was here last."

"Yet if that scorpion lady was speaking the truth, then it should be said that it could not harm to keep your guard up."

They nodded.

"Good thinking Ryo!" Cari sang, patting him on his back.

They walked on the path and entered the jungle.

They walked on the white gravel and as they noticed that they walked on a river bent and ran parallel to the road. As they walked on the river became wider. 

Soon Cari noticed strange rocks in the river that were in the water. They looked similar to dragon scales but not as beautiful. This told her that they were not rocks at all. 

She then spotted strange bugs that had four wings with a long needle-like mouth and were flying to them. The moment that the swarm hit the edge of the path it seemed to spontaneously combust and soon it was a pile of ash.

"What were those bugs?"

"Mosquitoes."

"And those rocks? They were not rocks were they?"

"No. They were alligators and crocodiles."

"And that low grunt?"

"A spider monkey."

"Wait, that's a monkey?"

"Yes."

"And why did they burst into flames?"

"There is a spell on this road. Which makes sense, after all of you think about it, people would never even dream of coming here with these dangers around!"

"Well done Cari. I heard that Phorap The Mad put it up. While he was young and on his travels."

"Yes. He did many things while he was alive. Although,  I am wondering if they were all true or if he was as mad as the legends make him out to be."

"And where are we going?"

"Tattagonna Village. It would usually be a quiet and nice place to take a place. If you can take the heat."

Cari nodded as she took a glance at The Observer. She hoped that she would be alright during the journey. She knew that his time in that place and the break of the sun helped. However she knew that if they did not get to a cooler climate the sun would get to him sooner or later.

"Do not concern yourself with me Cari. I have become well aware of my immortality."

He let out a bitter chuckle.

"But that does nothing to save you from sunstroke. So do remember that and for the love of Strena, don't play the hero!"

He let out a chuckle.

"Believe me I will not. After all, I am not a hero." He chuckled.

Then his chuckles stopped and he gave her a look of sorrow. She knew that she had reminded him of her. Yet she wondered what happened to this woman. She knew that she died, yet she wondered why or how. She suddenly felt a strange stabbing pain in her chest. She looked and noticed that there was nothing there. So she shrugged and passed it off as a truck of the mind.

Either way it has nothing to do with me nor can I do anything about it. So why should I focus on it? 

They continued until they came to a wooden bridge. 

They entered a strange village with wooden cottages and circular huts. Some of these cottages and huts were even high up on the trees. Some cafés were nothing but a kitchen and wooden chairs with nothing but a thatched straw roof with wooden beams holding it up. Yet some of then were still green.

They noticed as they walked to the plane wooden planks of wood that made up the doc. Then they spotted that all the boats were completely destroyed!

"What happened?"

"Syssighhin. The serpent god. He came and destroyed all the boats." Said a villager in broken Kingdom Isleish. "If not the boats, then he eats children."

Cari looked at him. He had sorrowfulness in his jaded eyes that she could not help but feel sorry for the man and wanted to help him.

"Do you know why he does it?"

"He laughs."

"Know where he is?"

"Jungle temple. The old one."

"Do you have a map?"

"No. We Afgrégan. We remember."

She nodded.

"Do you want us to help?"

"How? He a god! Can not kill one."

"Maybe he's not. Maybe we can."

"Do it. You can,  then do."

"We will. Come on, we need directions."

"No. I make you map! Don't want to go."

He then pulled out some papyrus and a stick of coal from the fire and quickly drew one and passed it to her.

"Should get there."

She looked at it. Her eyes widened.

That's pretty good!

"Thank you, and we'll do our best."

"Cari, do you think that we have time for this?" Ryo asked.

"It hardly matters. After all, if we have no boats then we will have to take a more dangerous path. We will be late or not make it at all."

"Then we have not a moment to lose!"

They soon quickly ate and flowed the map to an old temple. 

It was a building that looked made of what looked like snakes turned to stone. Even the pillars looked like giant snakes made of stone! They walked up to the entrance and without a word, they entered.

The Temple Riddles

They ate a light snack as they walked down a long corridor. All shaped out of snakes. Even the doorframe seemed to be made out of snakes with their bodies parting into the shape of an entrance. There they saw a wall of snakes, where there was a crossroads. In front of them were several snakes that had runes on them that Ryo and Cari could not read.

"Can you read these?" Cari asked.

"Yes." Both immortals said at the same time.

"What does it say?"

"One leads to thine death

With my lethal crystal meth

The other leads to my fang

Where thine corpse shall hang

Regardless either way thee will meet thine end

The only choice is which door death shall send

Left it up to thee

Choose or flee"

As if that helps! It hardly tells us that much! Let alone which is the path to Syssighhin! Cari sighed as she rubbed her eyes. 

What would Scar do in this situation? She would trace the words and carefully look at each line in order to find the answer. Then that's what I will do.

She then thought about what it said. Then as she did she looked closely at the snakes. Her vision, momentarily, went out of focus as she thought. Then she noticed that there was room behind it. 

I wonder what's behind that?

She then willed the snakes to part. She bit her lip as the skin beneath her cheek split. She noticed that there were more runes on more snakes going horizontally rather than vertically.

"What language is that?" Ryo asked.

"It's the language of my home kingdom. I will read it out to you."

"Left is the land of illusion,

Right is the end of delusion."

Well that's obvious.

"So we're going right."

"Yes, good work!"

"And what's the thought process in that?"

"Syssighhin thinks that just became he's a god, then we have no chance of beating him. So anyone that tries is deluded."

"Oh."

"Well that makes sense."

"Good work girl!"

"Thank you."

They then walked right and they walked down another corridor made of snakes.

They met a golden statue of a Sphinx. Her eyes were moulded into a predatory look. 

The pupils rested on Cari.

"God slayer." She whispered.

Cari frowned along with The Chronicler.

"Will you let us pass?"

"Only if you answer my riddles correctly Guide Of The God Slayer."

"And why did you call me that?"

"You will know when the time comes."

"And what riddles are they?"

"One is an old dead royal,

With a life of turmoil."

The Chronicler looked down. She carried that child-like vulnerable look Cari saw back in the tavern. She even looked sorrowful too. Yet, in this moment, she noticed that even The Observer also carried the same look on his face. However he was more somber and he let out a sigh.

"Zaryb."

"Then you may pass. And you alone. The others are not permitted to until they answer their riddles correctly."

She nodded as she walked through the entrance. Yet there was sorrow in her mismatched eyes.

"Now The Guardian Of The God Slayer."

The Observer let out a sigh.

"Just get this over with."

"The heart is broken turned cold,

The man takes many lives untold,

When the youth was with man old,

When the heart reluctant love hold."

He took a glance at Cari with a painful sorrow in his eyes. He then forced himself to look away as he wiped a tear from the corner of his eye. The riddle must have opened an old wound that left him depressed.

"Chashathrophogh."

"You may pass."

He joined The Chronicler which hugged him.

"Shhh…shhh." She heard The Chronicler whisper, with a shaky breath, as she too was crying.

I hope they'll be alright. Wonder what happened to them?

"Now, God Slayer."

Cari was soon snapped back into the present moment.

"Right."

"Secrets remembered,

Secrets forgotten,

Body new soul old,

Body old dead rotten,

"Secrets of the past,

Will be reveals at last,

Which secret secret cost,

The past life you lost?"

She looked down and frowned. She went over the words closely and carefully yet her mind drew nothing but a blank. She traced her words over and over and despite the feeling that she already knew the answer, she still could not think of the answer. She looped it again and again yet she soon felt slightly panicked as she suddenly felt afraid that if she did not find the answer and find it soon then the village would be let down.

Calm down, if you cannot find the answer then must ask for another one.

"I don't know. Would it be alright if I asked for another riddle?"

She smirked as she licked her lips.

"No."

She then reached out her claws and went to scratch her but she quickly dived out of the way. She then quickly whipped out her crossbow before she landed and took out an arrow. 

She went to load it but as she looked up she saw another paw swipe to her. She jumped as she loaded it then threw out her arm and fired out at her paw. She moved it out of the way and she loaded another.

As she landed she saw the other paw enclose directly to her. Instead of getting out of the way she then waited until the palm was at point blank teams before she fired and she recoiled as the Sphinx roared out in anger.

She was about to lounge to the girl as she loaded her crossbow. Until Ryo dived in and went to strike the Sphinx but the blade of the scythe went straight through, like it was hardly even there! He then went to strike her again and again it went right through!

"Foolish boy! You can not help her. You have not been given your riddle! The girl's blood is mine!"

Cari used this moment to fire an arrow under the chin yet the Sphinx moved her head out of the way as she jumped and flew in the air. Cari loaded another arrow and fired at the wings. The Sphinx was able to get out of the way and she fired another arrow and she was able to fly away. She then fired another and again she missed. Then whipped her wings back and dived straight to her. Cari loaded another arrow and fired at where the wing was heading and hit. She curled as she fell and Cari had to jump out of the way or she would have been hit.

She then loaded her arrow as the Sphinx got up and then galloped straight to her. She fired an arrow at where she was about to be but she wacked it out of the way. She fired again and, again she wacked it out of the way. She then aimed for the head and fired. She then gripped the arrow in her mouth. She then loaded another one and fired hitting the Sphinx between the eyes and finally she was able to penetrate. She skimmed as she fell, forcing Cari to jump out of the way. She then looked back to see that the Sphinx was shaking.

"Masters. I am sorry." She spoke as she died.

"What do you think she meant by that?"

"I don't want to know."

She got up and plucked all her arrows out of the sphinx Anne around the room. She sat down and cleaned them. During this she regained her breath and rested before she would fight Syssghhin. After all, she knew that she would need all her strength to take him down.

"What do you think the answer to that riddle was?"

"I don't quite know."

"Are you sure that you want to continue?"

"Yes."

They then walked on. 

They soon came to a set of stairs and descended. Once they reached the bottom, they had to walk down corridor after corridor ensuring to keep their guard up. Their hands never left their weapons. 

They came to an ugly serpentine stone gargoyle.

"Know how to handle this one?"

"Only magic and powerful magic."

"Which means that I think that you need to sit this one out. After all, you do not want to go on with the kinds of wounds that you would sustain if you used it."

She looked down feeling a sting to her pride and nodded.

"Alright."

The others raised their palms to the gargoyle and let out as much of their power at it. They willed the gargoyle to smash and a beam of light burst out from them. Then the light was pushed to it. Soon the feature cracked and shattered where it was revealing the set of double doors. They too were made of snake sculptures.

They walked into then as they opened.

The Serpent God

They entered a chamber where there was a pool of water traveling around the rim of the room. There were many skeletons piled at all the four corners of the room. Some of then were smaller than others, in fact some were the skeletons of infants and some bones belonged to young people far too small to be babies that had seen the light of day.

They had to force themselves to look away as they walked on. They walked over a small bridge and their eyes laid upon a tall man with long black hair and light green eyes, in fact he looked like the snake lady just as a man. They looked so much alike that Cari would not have been surprised if they had been related.

"Welcome travellers!" He said with a deep and commanding voice.

They pulled out their weapons and looked at him. He raised an eyebrow as he smirked.

"Not very talkative I see."

"We are here to stop you from killing the women and children of the villagers and the destruction of their boats." Cari shouted.

He chuckled.

"In that case very well."

He then rapidly slithered over to them and rose up and dived to them. They all dodged out of the way as Cari tried to load her crossbow but he was already darting to get so she had to dive out of the way again. She then tried to load it again but he was already on her. She then kicked him in the face which gave her the opening that she needed. She was finally able to load it and fired directly at his heart. Even though it hit it did nothing. He looked at her and hissed.

She then jumped back as he slithered over to her as fast as he could. She jumped back again and again as he enclosed the space between her and him. She was able to load the arrow as she did. She then fired another shot at his head. Even though it hit and pushed him back, ultimately this did nothing either. However she spotted that there was blood flowing from the wounds.

This gave her some hope of defeating the creature as she thought of a plan to do so. She loaded another arrow and fired at the tail. He let out another hiss. Then she was about to fire another shot but then she saw the venom the moment that it hit her in the eyes. Her eyes sting as her sight was robbed from her. This meant that she would have to rely on the others.

Then she could feel his hands on her and she could feel herself shaking as he felt his breath on the bend of her neck. She was a fool. Nothing but a blinded fool. She knew that she should not have done this. Even though she did not want to die here she knew that without her sight she might as well be.

"Do you know what I would be if I killed you right here and now?" He whispered in her ear. "I know that one of you killed one of my many daughters yet I do not care for that. No I can smell it, that scent. No, after the others, I will ensure to savour your taste."

At this she knew that she had to get him away from her. Yet she could feel the grip on her arms was far too strong. She tried to knee him only for his tail around her legs to tighten. She could but move. This led her to use only one option. She willed his hands and legs to be set on fire with everything that she had.

However this did not work. She then heard something stab into the back of the snake gods' head. She then fell. The Observer threw more blades at him as Ryo sent a few fireballs at him. This caused him to be driven away from her. He then turned his attention to them. His tail hit her as he dived towards them. As he enclosed the space The Observer threw more blades at him as he jumped away. Then Ryo used his magic to set the creature alight.

He let out a loud scream as he twisted and turned in pain. The fire had burst out from every part of him causing him to five into the water. The Chronicler dived in after him pulling out a knife as she did. She soon spotted a tail and swam to him. She then waited as he noticed her. He then swam to her and she stabbed him yet this did nothing to so him from wrapping his tail around her. She then felt his hands on her and she spun and stabbed him again and again. He soon let go. She then went to swim upwards but felt his hand on her ankle. She immediately struck the dagger down and he let go. She swam higher before feeling the other hand she then struck down and he key go. She could fell get lungs cry out for air but she could not let herself give into the impulse. She was able to pull herself out.

She then had to lie there as he dived out of the water and headed straight to Cari. Cari then loaded her crossbow and heard the scream and fired at him. She willed the arrows to hit him. She then heard the hiss that told her that she had hit. She smiled add she willed the arrows to be set alight. He then let out a roar as he too became blind. 

He soon dived at her and as he knocked her down and landed in her she kicked him off her and drove a dagger into where his throat should be. He pulled back as Ryo took her hands and she felt his scythe in her hands. He then guided her arms to behead him.

The others went over to Cari.

"Are you alright?"

She panted.

"Yeah. Is he dead?"

"Yes. It appears he is."

With that they took the head and returned to the village. They attended to their wounds and then put the head on a spike renaming the village Serpentgodsfall. They then rowed them down a river to a field where they docked.

The Field Of Whispers

When they set foot on the lush damp green grass, they could sense that there was something strange about the place. As they walked on the feeling intensified. They tried to ignore it but as they while on they found it more and more difficult.

They soon could hear strange whisperings of many strange and unrecognisable voices all around them. They could not make out who they were or what they were saying. However they knew that they could not be doing it and there was none else that was there.

"Where's that whispering coming from?" Ryo asked.

"I cannot say that I know. I don't remember hearing any the last time I was here."

"And how long ago was that?"

"About one hundred years ago, give or take a couple of months. I thought that the route would change that much."

"Hold on, do you honestly not know how much can change within a hundred years?"

"Not that much really."

Ryo shook his head as the whispers became louder and the words became more distinct. Ryo was the first to be able to make out what they were saying.

"They do not love you. They are only using you, just like your father and mother and step mother." He heard them say.

Ryo frowned.

What is that all about?

"You cannot teach or mentor them, you have already failed the last time.. They will never trust you once they learn of your true identity and how much blood is on your hands."

"As if I care about that!" The Chronicler shrugged.

"You do not? Then why do you not say? Why not tell them right here and now? No, do not lie. You know what they will do. What the girl will do. You know! After all, she is so much like the other one. She, who was like an older sister to you. You know what she would do, so why pretend to be the hero when you know deep down that you are not. You are more villainous than heroic. After all,  that is how he made you!"

The Chronicler looked down. Her eyes became out of focus. Cari noticed that she became deathly pale. She stayed to breathe in and out at a rapid pace. She even started shaking almost worse than a leaf. She also looked like she was about to cry too, yet there was something that was stopping her. Almost like there was something blocking all the tears from falling.

"You will always be what they have made you. You will never leave their shadow. You will never be anything else. You failed your parents and their wishes. Even worse, their wishes were destroyed by none other than you. You have just as much blood on your hands as your father and uncle if not more. You day that you want to bring justice but how many times have you carried it out? How will you bring justice upon yourself?"

This was when The Observer slapped her. 

She looked at him stunned. She covered her cheek.

"Remember what you are here to do. Never lose sight of it. After all,  this is a path that you have chosen. So carry it out!"

She wiped a tear away.

"I will. Thank you."

He placed a hand on her back as they walked on and on.

"They do not love you. How can they? They do not know all that you have been through or are going through. Especially the one that calls herself your sister. She did betray you after all, how do you know that she will not do it again? How could you know whether or not she loves or cares for you? Is there anyone that truly cares for you?"

Ryo looked aside. Suddenly he felt more likely than he had ever remembered. He suddenly felt shocked at the fact that there was not a single instance that would give him the assurance that Cari would not betray him again. Even though she had proven on multiple occasions that she cared for him, none showed that she loved him.

Then he felt someone hold his hand and he looked to see who it was. To his surprise it was none other than Cari! He looked in her eyes and suddenly understood that even though they would never have an ordinary sibling love, there was still love there.

"It's alright Car'."

"I know. You will be."

As they continued they knew that the whispering would become louder and louder. This would make it more and more difficult not to listen to their lies.

"You think that you are not alone here? Do you think that they will not kill you on sight? After all, why would you think that it would be alright for you of all people to go? After all, you are the one that killed her? Your mother the dragon Queen."

No.

"Do you really think that you can defeat Dark Master Lord Gajellidor Darcrogh?" 

She felt her body seize up. She could feel her breath becoming deep and rapid. Hey mind flicked over all that he put her through. She felt the echo of the pain that she experienced. She could feel her legs becoming weak.

"Look at you, you can not hear his name without freezing!"

You're right. I don't know what he did but you're right! How can I even hope to defeat him if I can't even move?

She then felt The Observer slap her and she looked at him stunned.

"Don't listen to them, girl! Come on, we are almost there."

"R-right!"

She nodded

She saw the swamp ahead. 

She then looked at Ryo, as he walked on. She knew that she did not deserve to be queen of the dragons. No, she would never be worthy of that, but Ryo did. So, there, in that moment, she had decided that she would want him to be the Dragon King.

The Swamp

The first thing that hit Cari and Ryo was the thick disorientating and strong smell. They could not stand it. They started to feel slightly dizzy and their minds became slightly dulled. As they walked on the smell became more potent and this caused them to feel more and more dizzy and their minds became numb. They soon found that even their thoughts could not focus on anything. 

They had to sit down to have to take a break so that they could wait for them to adjust to the strange atmosphere. They knew that if they did not then they would shortly pass out. 

They looked up at The Chronicler.

"Are you sure that we have to go down this route?"

"Ryo's right. I don't think that this is the best way."

The Chronicler looked to the left as she thought for a moment. She then looked back at them. It was clear that she had come to a decision.

"Here." She said taking out two blue bottles. "Sorry, it only works on you if you are disorientated."

"Really?" They both complained.

Both narrowed their eyes and they looked at each other in suspicion. Yet seeing that they had nothing to lose they shrugged before they drank the orange liquid inside. It tasted strange, like the perfect mix of honey and mint. It worked for after a minute or two and the stench grew and their minds became as sharp as a sword.

"That is better by far."

"What was that?"

"Thinned mandrake oil with dragon tears."

They looked at her with shock. 

She smiled and chuckled. She placed the palm out to them,  gesturing for them to calm down.

"Don't worry, they are collected from dragons who can cry on sight."

They frowned.

"How?"

"How are they trained?"

"Same way that the actors and actresses are. After all, sometimes they need a dragon actor or dragon actress to tell their stories and sometimes during their performances they collect their tears."

"Didn't know that there were dragons that performed." Ryo said as he got to his feet.

"Well there are, my favorite is Dragrah. She is brilliant in all the roles she takes."

Cari smirked as they continued. 

Wonder if I should try that some day?

Nah! Not me.

But it doesn't mean that I can't dabble in it.

Ah! True.

They walked on without a break until they came to a strange town. 

The town was similar to the one in the jungle, however there was more dampness and moss. Some of the buildings were almost eclipsed by the overgrowth. Yet some of the buildings were built in the trees without any roof and there were a few nets made of rope that some children were sleeping on.

They noticed that they had green tinted skin and the rest of the people were also green tinted. Their eyes had yellow in the whites of their eyes and their eye colour was all the same grim shade of green. There was a depressing desperate look in them.

That's interesting…wonder why their skin is green?

"Yenmamndians." The Chronicler said to them. 

"They would love to leave this place, however their bodies have adjusted to the environment in a way that made them dependent on the atmosphere. They have learnt the hard way that if they leave here they would all die. So Cari, keep close." She said,  pulling the girl closer to her.

Cari nodded as the men were well toned and were almost named with only a few plants covering their privates. While the women were covered from head to toe in dresses made of leaves. They had a dead look in their eyes,  almost like they were carrying a heavy weight on their shoulders.

Cari could not help but feel sorry for them.

"The men here are tasked to work in the brothels here. Some are forced into it. They do all they can to ensure that those that visit or pass by to get fertile women in them. They do this so that their descendants are able to be born out of here and they can explore the outside world."

No wonder they're depressed!

The Chronicler and Cari ensued to keep close to the men as they came to the doc.

"Where are we going?"

"Yemmit. The one near Nyemnya not the one near Zarrahgo."

He nodded. 

They all climbed into the small boat.

"Will you not be staying the night?" Asked one of the women. "Our men could-"

"No!"

"I am sorry, however we must be on our way."

That was when one of the men came up to them.

"Are you the children of the Dragon Queen?"

"Yeah why?"

He suddenly became pale.

"Then you better be careful and arm yourselves. A man came by and put a spell on the plantlife. It made a monster of some kind. We do not know what it is, but it has a spell on it that causes it to attack those with dragon blood in them."

They looked at The Chronicler and nodded.

"I still think that this is the safest route. Yet I do think that Dark Master Lord Gajellidor has made it more dangerous than it should be."

Cari felt her body freeze. She breathed in and out as she took her crossbow.

"Why? He's made his point!"

The Observer looked at her, concerned but said nothing.

"I don't think that I know. Nor do I know what he thinks but maybe he thinks that we are taking down his strongholds."

"No, if that was it then would he not try and come himself?"

The Chronicler frowned.

"You have a point there." She said looking at the girl suspiciously.

"What?" She asked, noticing that she was looking at her the same way that The Observer was. "Why do you keep looking at me like that?"

She looked away almost apologetically.

"It hardly matters. We will know when the time comes."

She nodded as she looked on as the boat set off and rowed down. The journey started out slowly and calmly. Almost tranquil. 

That all changed when she saw a mass of swamp plant life in a strange form.

"I think that I've spotted it."

The rest looked at it. 

They could see the moss and branches. Yet soon the thing spotted them. He then let out a roar and seemed to slump toward the group. 

Cari loaded her crossbow and fired an arrow at it. This did nothing. She then closed her eyes and willed the arrow to be set alight. Then a great fire ignited. It soon spread throughout the swamp monster. 

However the fire spread further and further. Soon the trees were set alight and, to their horror,  the water was set alight too! The heat of the fire caused more fires.

Cari felt her cheek split open, rendering her infallible of using her magic further.

This caused the others to use their magic to will the fire out. Yet as they set the fire out some more rose up. Cari felt a cut spring from her arm as even she too tried to put out the fire. Yet it occurred to her that she could will the fire to stop spreading. This she did and this meant that the others could focus on getting rid of the fire and this proved to be effective and the fire was out.

"What was that all about?'

"Smell up girl!"

She did.

"What do you smell?"

"Something that smells like sulphur."

"Yes, yes it is!"

They soon docked and climbed out the boat. They then looked at The Chronicler.

"We will be spending the night in the local inn then we will be leaving on the local carriage."

They nodded feeling overwhelmingly tired and the sky was dark. They then walked in and after they filled their stomachs, they booked their rooms and the moment Cari hit the bed her eyes closed into the world of dreams.

Her dreams took her to a woman that looked somewhere between eighteen and nineteen. She had a coal black star between her eyes and a scar on her arm that looked like it had been there for a long time. Her hair was dark brunette hair and had brown eyes. She was dressed in white and gold robes and she was standing on a strange pyramid. She knew that it was some kind of ziggurat temple. Yet could not place as to where the place was.

She hurled over as she looked as if she was about to vomit. She then saw the blood coming from her mouth and screamed. Soon the screaming stopped as light came from her mouth. Then a star rose from it. 

She saw a man next to her and he said something to her that she could not hear. She responded and then the man looked at the star. He then suddenly looked ill and clutched his stomach. He convulsed and fell over and foam came out of his mouth. This was followed by blood and his face became purple and green. His eyes bulged as they turned a grim shade of yellow. He then said something before he died. 

Yet she then turned back to it and shouted the name of the star.

She woke up and screamed. 

She felt slightly nauseous as she started to cough. She tried to get herself under control but she could not. She then raced to the window and threw up. She was able to get herself under control after that. She washed her mouth and felt greatly hungry. She was the first to eat and she was ready before the others were even up.

She could see that there was colour back in her face and after the others had finished they were on the public carriage where they breathed in the crash air with a great deal of gratitude.

Down The River

They had arrived at the next town without a hint of any interruptions. This gave the group a day of silence and rest. They had noticed that the atmosphere was cooler yet it was still hot but not as hot as the Sand or Desert Planes. 

They had noticed that there were a fair few clouds in the sky. They noticed that the buildings were all painted in all different kinds of colours. Yet there were some that had their painting chipping off their walls. 

They soon booked into an inn that was made of black timber and pale red walls and had a door that was painted orange. 

Yet while they were at the counter, The Chronicler bought a map. As Cari looked at the map and noticed just how detailed the map was. Her finger rested upon the place that they were, which was a place called Vyorkin which was in the kingdom of Alceatia. However, looking at it, she noticed that they could have taken a ship and they would have arrived here sooner. 

She was about to wonder why they did not, until she remembered that there were a great deal of pirates out there even more these days. If they had taken a ship then they would have encountered more pirates than on their other journeys. Then she looked at the map closer and spotted that there were sea serpent seas on that journey too. Which meant that they would have arrived far too late.

They soon were back in bed and Cari then overheard a conversation that was happening in the next room.

"What?"

"Yeah! Just had a dream about it!"

"The Sunburners?"

"Yeah! Their temple will fall or has fallen!"

"What? Just like that?"

"Yeah. Just had a dream about it last night! Yet there was a new star, one that came from those Cerberus sisters! Dunno what was up with that, but that was the reason that I puked last night!"

"Really? Are you sure you weren't drunk?"

"No! I've not been drunk for the last year!"

"But they're supposed to be immortal! Also, good work! Your sessions seem to be working!"

"I know, and thank you! But still back to the dream, that's what I saw!"

"But how?"

"I don't know! But I know that it's going to be or has been triggered by that girl."

"But which of the sisters was or will it be?"

"I don't know."

"And when will this happen?"

"Why do you think I'm telling you? I only have the dreams, I don't know when they will take place! They could have taken place or will take place. When, I don't know, could be a couple of days or a year."

"Oh!"

She soon heard a silence then one of them spoke in a strange type of voice.

"When the hybrid children

Lands on the planet Drake

The Sunburners will be

Betrayed and will fall

The princess will fight

For her half brothers sake

The broken woman will

Rise in destiny's call!"

This was followed by panting. 

"What was that all about?"

"Dunno."

Already knowing that there was nothing more to listen to she returned to her bed and went back to sleep. 

She saw that same star but it was in a different sky and surrounding a different planet. She saw dragons falling like flies. She then saw that; she, Ryo along with other dragons facing the star but not looking at it. 

She then woke up feeling ill. She then ran to the balcony and vomited. She wiped her mouth and washed out the terrible taste. 

She then ran down and joined the others in the café and ordered her food.

"Are you alright, Car'?"

"Yeah, I will be."

"Anyway,  Cari, Ryo. Here."

She passed then took out two crimson books with a gold border and times pages. With the title written in gold. She gave them both one of these to them each.

The History 

Of 

Drake And Dragons

By Drahé Ingohl

"Why are you giving us this?"

"Simple, I know that neither of us can come with you two." She said. "And that book will give you the reason why."

Cari nodded as she opened the book and read. As she finished the first page her food arrived. She memorised the page that she was on and took a break to eat her meal. Once they had finished her food they collected their things. 

They were about to leave when the innkeeper threw out a drunk.

"And I wanna hear none of it! Don't care about made up magic killer stars!"

"But that Phorap!" The drunk pleaded with a voice that matched the night before.

"Shove it! We all know he was a mad one!"

"I am awfully sorry about him." Said another man as he took his friend away from the inn.

Yet as they moved on they noticed that there was a group of men and women heading towards them. It was all too clear that it was them that they were going to. She was about to load her crossbow. The Observer noticed this and rolled his eyes as he placed a hand on her arrow.

"Pick your battleground." He said under his breath.

She moved and put it away.

"Where should we go?"

"Chronicler! Go on ahead, we will be taking a detour."

She hardly needed to look back and nodded. She raised her hand.

"Alright,  there are things that I would like to talk to the boy about. But get to the dock on time."

The four split into two groups. They walked down a narrow road. She looked back to see the gang was still there. They followed the two down a narrow staircase and a narrow alley.

"Now!"

She loaded her crossbow and aimed it at the nearest one.

"Wow! You mean you're still alive?"

"Yes." The Observer salt deadpan.

"Well looks like we should have asked for more money! After all, killing both of you is worth more than he was paying!"

"Who?"

"That creepy stranger. He didn't give a name but he did give us this!" He speed.

Showing them a diamond coin with the head of an old Queen. The Observer looked at the coin with wife and vulnerable eyes.

"What is this?" She asked, looking at the coin having the strange unnerving taste of nostalgia and deja vu. "And who is that Queen?"

The Observer looked down at her with that look in his eyes.

"Never mind. I think that we need to take them down as soon as we can." He said, like someone who wanted to focus on anything but her and whatever was in his mind.

"Oh? Is that guilt? He did say that coin would have that kind of effect on you!"

The Observer got hold of himself and out of anger threw it at the first one. He then jumped up and threw tiny daggers at the ones behind him. He then looked at her with concern in his eyes. She shrugged to tell him that she was alright. He smirked as he took hold of her and jumped over the gang. 

When they left the alley she turned to him.

"What was that all about?"

His eyes became darkened.

"I prefer not to say." He said as he returned to them and took all their money.

"Are you better?"

"Yes." He said as they went on their way.

"Really?"

"Really. It was a long time ago. I know I need to move on."

They soon joined the other two at the docs.

"Did you leave any alive?"

"See for yourself." He said, tossing her the diamond coin.

She frowned out of confusion at first. Her eyes dropped to the coin and her eyes narrowed.

"That was her mother, my sister."

"Will you be alright?"

"I will have to be."

She nodded, still looking at him concerned.

"Anyway, come, we gave a boat to catch." He said with a dry tone to his voice.

She nodded as her eyes took a glance at Cari. She looked away, knowing that The Observer was not alright. However she could do nothing that she could do about it. Yet she did make a note to keep a close eye on him as she walked on.

They soon came to a large boat that was too small to be called a small ship. It was painted crimson and white. Then her eyes dropped to the wide river that was so wide that there was a green line on the horizon. She could even see a small group of mermaids swimming in the distance. 

This gave her an ominous feeling as she spotted a strange pattern in the waves. This was not going to be a smooth journey.

So she got onto the boat, knowing that she was going to be in for a fight. She looked at Ryo, giving him a warning look, hoping to not upset the other passengers. The others looked at the waves and understood what the look was all about. Yet their guard shot straight up once they noticed that the mermaids that were playing earlier were strangely silent and absent.

As they set off they drew their weapons and they had been striding not that long when Cari looked over the edge. Her eyes widened as she saw the titan green scales. As she did she felt strange and instinctively knew that it was part of the dragon kind but not a dragon. Her fear was confirmed when she saw the coral red eye with a jet black slit.

She looked over to Ryo and he too came to the same conclusion. They then looked over to the two immortals.

"Look under the boat!"

The Observer dived into the water. 

Cari raised her crossbow and as the thing raised its teeth appeared above the water she fired at the bin forcing it back beneath the waves. She looked down to watch The Observer. He drew out a small blade and swam down to the teeth and pulled the arrow out before it magically disappeared and appeared in Cari's quiver. Then the sea serpent rose his head above the waves right in front of the boat. 

The other passengers let out screams as they saw it.

"Chronicler! Calm them down!" Ryo shouted.

She nodded as she closed her eyes and all the other passengers were overwhelmed by a great drowsiness and their eyes closed. They were soon sound asleep. She then looked at the pilot of the boat with a commanding look in her eyes.

"Keep going." She ordered.

He nodded.

"Cari, help me get that thing out of the water!"

She closed her eyes and, instinctively, she willed the water surrounding the sea serpent to boil. She did what she could not to boil The Observer along with the sea serpent. She then felt her arm split, however she continued regardless of what pain was coming from it. She did all she could to continue to make the water boil and become hotter and hotter. It soon swam to the surface to escape the boiling water. She then gritted her teeth and loaded her crossbow and fired at its bloody underbelly. 

Ryo then willed her arrow to be set alight. Then the arrow spread across the under belly. Yet they knew that this was not enough; however they both knew that they could not continue to fight.

Then The Observer rose from the water and slit his throat and landed graciously on the boat. As the thing fell back it revealed more long slashes and chunks cut out from it. His flesh healed from the stomach acid. He then raised his hand and summoned a ball of fire and threw it at the sea serpent and the flames were put out by the flames. As the passengers woke, Cari collapsed and her eyes closed.

While they were traveling all of the other passengers attended to their wounds. 

They soon arrived at the doc and Cari woke.

The City

Cari had no less arrived on the ground when she could feel herself shaking. She had lost too much blood and she knew it. She had only just been able to take a few steps before she collapsed again. 

She was caught by The Observer who picked her up. She could see her vision blurring and her body was becoming cold. The Observer covered her with his cloak. He then wrapped his arms around her to keep her warm.

"Where are we?" She asked weakly.

"Bohen City in the Advanced Kingdom Dracostar. It is said that this was where the first dragon set for on the planet Merth."

Cari could tell that even in her semi conscious state that this legend must be true as she could feel a strange connection to the place.

"I will take her to a white mage. There must be one in this city. You book us into an inn."

She nodded.

"Come on Ryo."

"Alright, but be careful, that is my sister you're holding."

He chuckled.

"Alright."

He looked at him sceptically, but followed The Chronicler nevertheless.

"Do you trust that guy?"

She frowned as she thought for a moment. It was as if she knew what she wanted to say but did not know how to say it.

"Yes, I think we can."

"Interesting way of putting it."

She let out a sigh.

"It is the best way of putting it."

They then walked all over the city trying to find a place. The city was large and made from materials that were all painted white or made from a strange white rock. There were tall towers,  much taller than Ryo had seen in his entire life! Some had black doves that had tiles like the scales of a dragon! He looked up to see a great deal of sky islands and miniature planets. All of which had the same buildings as the land city. However they were all connected by very sturdy bridges and tubes. Eventually they could only find one small inn.

"Why don't we have all this?"

"All kingdoms are to develop at their own pace and trade however they wish."

"So it's all up to the king?"

"Yes."

They soon had settled down and Cari and The Observer soon followed.