The icy cold of the water was biting into Stathis’ hand, making her fingers feel fat, slow and numb, but she persisted, hoping that another droplet would fall, allowing her to be transported back. Better than being stuck in this dead and cold place! Even with Agon’s sporadic companionship, it was still an empty world of nothing but dust and stone, and his stories of ancient heroism and a great foe were not as illuminating as could be desired. If this place was somehow where demons came from, and now served as some sort of trap to bind them, then that would explain why it was so damn dead, but didn’t really seem to help much with anything else. She squinted up at the light that shone down from above – was there really a deity or something up there? Agon had been quite insistent that going and looking would be unhealthy, so she hadn’t tried flying up there, but some actual answers would be nice!

As if in response, a sparkling gem of light splashed downwards and towards her, striking the pool with a gentle plip. The numbness from her hand immediately faded, as her vision blurred and she found herself elsewhere.

The heat in the air was strong and fierce, like standing by a bonfire, but it looked like a large catacomb or something, with large stone columns supporting a high roof, at least the ones that hadn’t been smashed. A silverly surface, rippling like liquid mercury, could be seen through some of the gaps in the ceiling where it had collapsed, probably some magical warding effect? She glanced around as she descended to the ground – she could see Janaxia’s obsidian body, now wearing even more ornate clothing than usual, glassy and glossy folds of fabric moving as she did.

Some of the rock walls had been outright melted, droplets rolling and falling to the floor. A blazing figure of fire was flying through the air, a blazing corona of fire about their head, white-blonde hair streaming behind them, their whole body limned with bright orange fire, a bolt of the stuff forming about their hand before it was flung forwards, Stathis recognising their face.

Stathis braced herself just in time, taking the brunt of the strike on her shield, feeling the force of it, heat blasting around her. Carissia really wasn’t holding back! She called up her own wings, hovering slightly off the ground and checked behind herself again – Janaxia seemed to have two companions, or at least two other vaguely-people-sized blurs she could see. And some kind of ambient magical effect, a thick haze of shadowy darkness billowing about like a cloud above her head, a long tendril flicking out and knocking away a lump of rock falling towards Janaxia. Had she learned even more creepy magic? Well, that could wait for later!

She drew her sword and took to the air, glad that wherever they were was tall enough to allow her flight and swooped towards Carissia. Mindful of Janaxia behind her, she tried to take most of the fireblasts incoming onto her shield, each striking smacking her around. She tried shouting, but couldn’t make a sound, as a flaming mace appeared in Carissia’s hand.

They shot past each other, Stathis blocking the strike but hearing her shield crunch as it was partially destroyed, her counter slicing off parts off Carissia’s outfit, the edge skittering off magically-reinforced robes. At least if she stayed close then it should be harder for Carissia to fire off any more magical attacks! She pressed in close, buffeting at Carissia with a wing to try and force her down.

She appeared as a form of smokeless fire, her expression impossible to read, but Stathis could still hear her voice. ‘Has the witch bound you as her slave? All the more reason to slay her!’ With her hands filled with her sword and shield, Stathis couldn’t even try and gesture back, instead stabbing and thrust at Carissia, trying to keep her distracted and from simply flying away and blasting from a long range.

She heard the sudden clatter of an arrow striking against stone – was Parth around as well? Was everyone here? Although she had no idea who was on which side. She twisted to the side to try and avoid a mace strike, not quite fast enough as it smacked into her armour, the metal splintering under the assault. But she was still close enough to keep attacking herself, laying into Carissia with sword and shield, managing to catch a hand mid-prayer. Stathis couldn’t help but smile at the yelp of pain as sensitive fingers were bashed by the shield, a puff of fire blinking out.

Trying to keep track of space and distance in this place was hard, the stonework all similar, and Carissia’s mace a constant threat, her other hand flicking blasts of fire at Stathis. But, this close, it was easy to disrupt her focus and aim, Stathis doing what she could to batter and smash at Carissia, forcing her downwards. Whatever was going on, it would be a lot easier if everyone would just talk to each other!

They must have moved in some grand loop, as Stathis just barely dodged a mace strike, the flaming metal colliding with a stone wall, shrapnel blasting out. It seemed as thought the stone was only a thin skin atop the gleaming silver barrier – on the other side, Stathis could just about make out vague shapes, buildings and people, even a ship. This place must somehow be attached to the real world?

The mace blazed white with heat as Carissia summoned up a surge of strength and shoved Stathis back, pain running through her arms. She still hadn’t healed from her earlier fights! Another blow caught her in the chest, her armour cracking under the assault, hot shards of metal prickling against her, even through the padding she wore beneath the breastplate. As she staggered backwards, she just barely managed to block another attack, then another, part of her shield snapping and falling to the floor.

Behind her, she could see Janaxia, an arrow now stuck into her, the wooden shaft looking jarring compared to the glossy black of her body, some dark ichor that was probably blood flowing from the wound. Still, Janaxia was still managing to fight, bolts flickering from her hands, hammering into a robed figure, that shone with a pale blue tint. Hakara?

‘Let me put your soul to rest! Stop fighting, and I will finish off the accursed witch!’

Another strike slammed into her shoulder, the metal cracking and making it harder to move, as Stathis tried to protect herself, using her greater size and strength to shove Carissia away. Big, burly arms suddenly wrapped around Carissia, smoke-lined tattoos flaring as heat burned at them. Stathis wasted no time in twisting her sword around and attacking with her pommel, bashing at Carissia’s chest, glad to see her stagger backwards. The aura of heat around her was overwhelming, stinging Stathis’ eyes and making it hard to look at Carissia, but there was no time to retreat!

From the sounds Vrintar was making, the heat coming from Carissia was intense. But at least it kept Carissia locked in place, even if probably not for long! Something moved in the corner of her eyes, a blur of lightning streaking towards them, a foot slamming into Carissia’s stomach with a palpable shockwave from the impact. The aura of heat got even more fierce, motes of dust sparking into flame then burning out, smoke starting to rise up from Vrintar’s arms as Semari slammed home more attacks, the flaming barrier absorbing some of the impact in a series of hissing snaps.

Carissia stared at her, eyes burning with deep wells of fierce flame, and then spoke a single word. The flame swirled around her, strong enough to force Stathis to step backwards to protect herself, Vrintar relinquishing her grip, her arms seared and burned. There was now a swirling and flaming hurricane around Carissia, strong enough that small bits of grit were getting caught up in it, turning the air into a vicious sandstorm, making it hard to keep looking at her, pushing Semari back.

‘This ends. NOW!’

The flaming energy around her head burned even more brightly, an orb of power forming in her hand, so bright it was impossible to look at directly. Whatever spell she was about to cast, it would probably have a blast so large that dodging would be impossible, and her shield and armour had both already taken a pounding. Could she take another full-strength blast?

A vague blur jumped from behind Carissia, yelping in pain before biting into her neck, a flash of fangs in the bright firelight. Carissia grunted in pain, the fire suddenly dimming, the wreath around her head sagging and tilting until it faded away. The figure remained latched on, as the blue smear approached, Hakara’s voice sounding.

‘Miss Sen Adj Sekh, I take it? My thanks. Um, will be she unaffected once she recovers?’

The blur detached itself, a female voice sounding out, although it sounded pained. ‘She will live.’ It rubbed its jaw, clearly having been burnt by the aura.

‘Stathis? I assume that is you?’

Pale blue light flickered into being around Stathis, as she nodded, trying to be as clear and overt as possible.

‘Good. Can you talk?’

She shook her head, then moved to the side as Semari tried to poke her, not quite fast enough, feeling a finger knock against her armour.

‘Huh, thought you’d feel more, like, magical.’

Stathis tried to brush Semari off, but she moved too fast, and so it was easier to ignore her, as her armour was tapped and poked. Instead she gestured at Hakara, trying to figure out what appropriate hand signals for “have gotten trapped in another world” was. Instead, Hakara pulled out a thick pad of paper and a pen. ‘Use this. I think I may be able to work something out.’

‘Everyone freeze or I’ll kill her!’

They all turned to see Janaxia, now forced onto her knees, a steely blur stood over her, a long-handled mace held high, ready to crack Janaxia’s skull.

‘Miss Pajaran, my apologies, but there was little chance to inform you of our plans, as you were always with Priestess Carissia. I believe it may be possible to recall Stathis, as she appears to somehow have gotten, um, snarled up inside of Janaxia. Please don’t snicker, Semari, this is serious. This seemed the easiest way of dealing with Carissia. Miss Sen, is your mouth all right? It looks rather burned.’

‘You think you can bring her back? Then do it, but I’ll keep this one close.’ Pajaran shook Janaxia by the scruff of her neck.

‘This seems needlessly violent! You should be thankful to me, I released you from your prison of ice!’ Despite being forced onto her knees, Janaxia was still protesting, even when Pajaran gave her another shake.

Stathis stepped forward, then stopped and started to scribble onto the pad, before holding it up.

It’s me, Stathis. I don’t think Janaxia has any idea what’s going on, so let her go.

The shadows above Janaxia writhed and seethed. Was there a human shape there, or was that just her imagination? She grunted in indignation before Pajaran let her go and she could stand up, brushing grit and dirt from her knees. Pajaran still kept a tight grip on her, mace at the ready.

Right, I don’t really quite know what’s going on either. I kissed Janaxia, and then everything went dark.

‘Told ya. Don’t kiss the spooky ones, they’re always, like, dead, or cursed, or evil or something. Learned that the hard way.’ She poked Stathis again, a shard of armour falling to the ground as Stathis tried to push her away.

Weird, dead other-world place, can discuss it later. So, can you get me out? Or do something? Janaxia, why are you dressed like that?

Up close, it was even more obvious that Janaxia was dressed like she had been in Cormontara, in clinging lace and mesh. Although her tattoo wasn’t visible in this form, her whole body seeming to be made of shining obsidian, with gleaming motes of light trapped within her form.

‘There is nothing wrong with my attire. A little grandeur simply seemed… appropriate, given the surroundings.’ In one hand, she was holding a fist-sized sphere, the thing shining with a pale glow, darkness oozing into it from Janaxia’s hand. ‘And thank you, Sen, your intervention was most timely. Now, you say that you know some way to recall Stathis from wherever she has managed to banish herself to? That would be most appreciated. Perhaps then the cruel and patently untrue accusation that I am to blame for this can be put to bed.’

Stathis raised the pen, wanting to write that it was probably still Janaxia’s fault, but it didn’t seem worth the trouble.

Any weird demon-stuff? This place seems big on them. Actually, get me out so we can talk properly. And before I get dragged back!

Hakara was already tossing sparkling powder into the air, stepping over the unconscious Carissia as she wove her fingers swiftly through the air. A ribbon of blue light wove itself around Stathis’ arm, the blue mingling with her own golden glow. Around them, the place was still shaking, more and more of the floor, ceiling and walls fading away into the silvery mist.

‘I was hoping to have rather more time, but Carissia has done quite substantial damage, so the magic is starting to unravel. It may still stabilise, but I’m not sure if your projection can sustain a return to the material plane without preparation just yet.’ As a group, they all moved to the side, Stathis pulling Carissia onto her shoulder, as more of the stone fell away into the deep silvery haze. ‘I would say this might hurt, but I’m honestly not sure what it might do. Are you sure about this?’

Yes! Trust me, it’ll be better than being stuck where I am. It’d be nice to have an actual conversation again. Just try not to turn me inside out or anything.

The magic continued to bind itself into her, making her tingle as it wove through her body. It didn’t hurt, but it was an unsettling sensation, intrusive and slightly cold. It was starting to change the colour of her body, the solar glow fading slightly.

And then it snapped tight, cords of blue suddenly taut, pulling on her, both physically and spiritually. Having the two sensations overlaid upon each other was strange – wherever her body was, she could feel it as well, a vision of the bare stone and the pool getting overlaid on what she could see, everything blurring together into a confusing swirl.

Another line of energy sparked out from her, blue energy lashing out towards Janaxia, turning dirty and black as it reached her. Her form shivered, eyes gleaming red for a moment. The blue light around Stathis started to change as well – already undercut with a golden glow, it started to darken, like a thick cloud passing in front of the sun. There was the usual biting, piercing cold she associated with Janaxia, although at least this time there was no acid to accompany it.

Hakara continued to cast her spell, although she looked somewhat perturbed, as her form came into focus, changing from a vague smear to her true self. Janaxia looked less foreboding as a person, although her clothing still had a rather overt dash of “evil sorceress”, with rather more mesh and lace than usual, her horns dangling with gold. A skeleton-shaped wand was new, hanging from her waist. And the book looked even more baroque than before, having acquired new whorls of brass and copper somehow. Semari and Vrintar both looked much the same as normal, and Hakara seemed to have even more belt pouches and magical components around her waist than before.

Stathis moved, slowly and carefully, relieved to be feeling actual ground beneath her feet. The flames around Carissia had mercifully faded away, two vivid puncture marks in her neck. The person that had delivered the bite was a young woman, dressed in somewhat ruffled finery. Were those scales? There were still burns visible around her mouth, with rather pronounced fangs. She looked too tanned to be a vampire, but certainly wasn’t entirely human. Her clothing showed off her chest – her skin looked strangely dappled there. Were those scales? Something else to sort out later. The woman smiled at her, then winced in pain. That had probably been a friendly smile? Maybe?

Will Carissia be OK?

‘She is blessed by the gods, and I refrained from a lethal dose. She will likely be unconscious for some time though.’ She curtseyed again – her voice was slightly accented, and she spoke in a very proper fashion, despite her odd looks.

Stathis smiled at Pajaran, trying to show that she was OK herself, and not possessed or cursed. It was good to see her out of the ice! Although she didn’t look particularly happy herself, with her mace at the ready. The world swam and flickered in front of her again, between dark, black stone, and the lighter, sandy-coloured stuff of the other world, making her head throb. She could still feel the magic winding and coursing through herself, along with the chill that comes from Janaxia’s spirit.

Janaxia was looking, her regal clothing aside, somewhat the worse for wear, her face showing some tiredness. Her tattoo became visible as she shifted from being a thing of living stone to flesh and blood, a whorl of utter darkness. Her green eyes sparkled more than usual, her lips looked a deeper red, but that might just be the strangeness of this place.

Belazaan?

Vrintar nodded. ‘Yes. Or a place linked to it, I am unsure as to the specifics.’

Tiredness rolled over Stathis, all her aches and wounds hitting her suddenly, her body feeling weak. Her vision swam, this time purely as a result of exhaustion rather than a magical effect. Her legs buckled as she swayed. Pajaran tossed Janaxia aside and stepped forward to touch Stathis on the shoulder, grey light flaring around her hand. Vital energies, cool and refreshing, washed through Stathis, healing some of her wounds, but doing little about her crashing exhaustion.

She swayed, then dropped herself, just about able to stay up, although her legs now felt like jelly. Stathis groaned, hearing a sound, an actual sound, escape her lips. Then blackness and sheer, dragging exhaustion caught up with her, and she fell fully to the ground, the stone cool against her body.