The General and his army were very close to Sapherial. But Xryx had no need to make a stop there. He must keep marching towards Faein and ultimately destroy the Dragon King and Phoenix King. That was his only goal and he intends to finish off the two most powerful and ancient kings in all recorded history. Xryx’s army stopped to rest by a large watering hole by the border of Sapherial. Sapherians were present and they fled when the army made their camp. Pegasi galloped and flew away on their white wings while other mythical creatures ducked under the water’s surface, disappeared into the Blueblight Forest, or climbed above the clouds. Ultheron and the other captives were well fed under the caring American soldiers. Some of the soldiers tried to think up a plan to rebel against Xryx, but stopped their plot when Xryx strolled by, a silver Desert Eagle pistol in his grasp. Fearing that he might shoot them if he saw their plan, they ended their plot immediately. Nate would bring Ultheron and the other Elven captives’ scraps of food and water every two hours. Gary would come around and talk to the captives about what will be happening in the future events of the war.
“We plan to not kill a lot of your kind,” Gary would say. “But we heard we’ll get ambushed by like, I don’t know, about four armies? Heard there was in the sky! But the good thing is that that Xryx guy that’s controlling our true General doesn’t know . . . yet.”
Everyone sighed in relief.
“Are you sure? I’ve been hearing him grumble to himself every time he passes our caravan.” Roginal said.
“Yes, he has been a sour apple ever since he burned down Arylorn. But I think Xryx or whatever you guys call it senses something coming,” Nate said, sitting beside Ultheron. “By the way, what is Xryx?”
“Xryx is the leader of a dark race called the Xerain. They were separated from the mythical shape shifters, the Doppelgangers, because the Xerain began to give thousands of people the Death Oman sign,” Alayna said. “Therefore, the Phoenix King and Dragon King banished those evil Doppelgangers from Tellios –”
“Sorry, a Doppelwhat? You see, I’m from Texas and I don’t know what ‘shape shifters’ are.” Gary interrupted.
“Doppelgangers are beings that can shift into objects, creatures, or humans. They can take on any shape.” One Elven nobleman said.
“Yes, and there are some good Doppelgangers and some bad ones. And the evil Doppelganger’s leader is in your general.” Roginal said. Suddenly, there were shouts outside, and Gary and Nate went to investigate.
“Seize her! She’s just standing there! Go get her!” Xryx was shouting, his voice becoming hoarse. Someone was in the water. It was a girl.
It was Ashaedia.
She was in knee-deep water in the watering hole. Her eyes were staring blankly at the American soldiers, unmoving and unblinking. Ashaedia didn’t wear here casual blue shirt and jeans anymore. On her shoulders were two black and gold shoulder plates that were had two small gold spikes in the center of the shoulder plate. Connected to the shoulder plates was a thin but strong piece of gold armor that protected her neck from arrows or bullets. A curve of gold dull spikes rested pressed against the left side of her face and staying in place; the gold bar that the spikes sat upon extended to her ear and the bar was connected to the neck armor. Her body was clad in a black armor-like material that, at the bottom of the long coat, ended in a design of red dragons belching fire. Underneath that was silver chainmail. Two black and gold pieces of armor rested on her hips. A long black cape with a gold dragon sewn onto the fabric hung from her shoulder plates. Two silver swords were connected to her metal belt. A plate of black armor with a picture of the Faein insignia was connected to the belt. She looked older, possibly sixteen. Ashaedia looked as if she just grown about two feet. But something was wrong with her eyes. Her eyes weren’t blue anymore . . . but they were the color of molten brass. A strange blue glow seemed to radiate off of her and it would twist and flicker like a lit fire. Some of the soldiers stared hard at her, and quickly looked away as her eyes finally blinked. She took a step forward, rippling the still water. Ultheron’s caravan was facing the watering hole, and Ultheron poked his head out through the curtains. He gasped when he saw Ashaedia. He thought she looked like she just got out of a Shadow Elf academy for combat. Ashaedia looked up, and then at the General. He was pointing his Desert Eagle pistol at her, ready to pull the trigger.
“Xryx, you are making a great mistake! Do not engage in this war you have conjured, for you will be risking the lives of your soldiers and yours!” Ashaedia shouted. Xryx lowered his gun and laughed.
“I can burn a whole forest if I wanted to! What force do you have to stop me, Ashaedia?” Xryx laughed. Ashaedia’s eerie eyes narrowed.
“I am here to warn you not to fight the divine nation of Faein! You will spill fresh and innocent blood in their rivers!” Ashaedia yelled. Xryx laughed again.
“Men, seize her! Bring her back to the shore and I’ll finish her off!” Xryx commanded. Ten soldiers went into the water and trudged towards Ashaedia. She unsheathed a silver sword and dipped it in the water.
“This, Xryx, will be an example of the blood spilling into the rivers.” Ashaedia whispered. The soldiers trudged ever closer, and a white ring surrounded Ashaedia’s legs. Suddenly, the soldiers stopped and pointed at the white ring that surrounded Ashaedia’s legs. A red liquid was being dispersed from the white ring, and it expanded towards the stunned soldiers. It stretched far behind Ashaedia, reaching the far shore. Soon the red liquid had filled the whole watering hole. Nate went to the water’s edge and dipped a hand in the water and sniffed the red liquid. He wrinkled his nose in disgust.
“General, it’s –”
“Blood!” The soldiers in the water screamed. They yelled and howled in fear, getting to the shore and swearing loudly at Ashaedia. Though they said there profanity at her, Ashaedia’s face was emotionless and her eyes suddenly became brighter. She turned away from the retreating and blood-soaked soldiers.
“Goodbye, Xryx. I will be seeing you on the battlefield . . . and end your reign of these thoughtful soldiers.” Ashaedia whispered again. She lifted her hand and traced a silver circle with it. The middle of the silver circle exploded in silver lights and flashes. She stepped through the portal and disappeared. Xryx roared with anger.
“Argh!! You slow little –” Xryx yelled, but a soldier pointed towards the caravan that held Ultheron and the others.
“Look! There’s someone or something in front of the caravan!” One soldier yelled. Xryx turned in the direction that the soldier was pointing and cocked his Desert Eagle and pointed at the source. A blue mass of flames was what appears to be standing in front of the large caravan. It was roughly in the shape of a child and its height looked about four feet; the height of a ten year old child. The features were hard to distinguish because of the swirling flames, but Xryx could see two long bushy ponytails that hung on the sides of the figure’s head. He guessed it was a girl because she wore a cape, a short dress, and brown boots. Xryx could hardly see the white leggings on her thin legs. Though he couldn’t guess her age, he guessed that she was about nine or ten. Or possibly older. Or maybe it was an illusion. He rubbed his eyes and looked again. The fiery figure was still standing there. And then she began to walk slowly towards Xryx. There was silence as her muted footsteps made no sound as she approached Xryx. She stopped when she was about three feet away.
“Who are you?” Xryx asked.
“I am Lilluna, Goddess of Chaos and Destruction. I am here to warn you.” Lilluna said, her voice becoming serious. Xryx frowned.
“Oh, another warning, eh? I already got one from that royal brat Ashaedia.” Xryx growled. Lillina shook slightly, clearly looking uncomfortable about the comment.
“She will destroy you and banish you from existence. If you don’t leave the kind man’s body you have forcefully controlled, Ashaedia will come.” Lilluna said.
“Come and do what? She is powerless without her powers. Lest her ability to turn into a dragon.” Xryx spat.
“Ashaedia has been empowered! She will toss you into her unforgiving flames and you will burn until your soul has withered away into meaningless dust!” Lilluna yelled, her soft voice rising to an angry shout. Xryx took a step back as a crate flew out of the caravan and crashed into the ground in front of Xryx’s feet.
“What the –?” Ultheron poked his head out, puzzled about what force could’ve lifted the crate up into the air and flew out of the caravan. When he saw Lilluna, he gasped. The Chaos Goddess was clearly angered and her powers seemed to begin to go haywire. He scooted to the edge of the caravan and climbed out.
“You! Get back in there! Now!” Xryx commanded, pointing his pistol at Ultheron. Ultheron stood defiantly.
“Don’t anger her anymore! Your life will be lost if she lets her powers loose on you!” Ultheron shouted. A load sound like a wind chime filled the air. Lilluna’s fiery body began to expand as more blue flames swirled around her.
“No!” Ultheron shouted. He knelt down and softly nudged Lilluna. The chimes stopped and the extra fire disappeared. Lilluna now looked like a flickering and dieing flame. Her eyes were closed, and Ultheron could hear her breath softly, “Ashaedia is summoning me. I will go now.” And Lilluna disappeared in a soft whoosh.