Two figures moved against the black of night, silently scanning the starlit grassfield. Tiny embers littered the area, and smoke hung in the air. One of the pair stretched her wings and gave a quick flap, breaking the silence. Movement shifted in the grass all around the two, and in mere seconds, they were surrounded.

"Argh, I'm so sorry, Lukhan," she quickly spat out before the coming horde was upon them.

A radiant sword and massive warhammer appeared in their owners' hands. Lukhan erupted with light as he unfolded his own wings. "No apology needed," he said, with a tone unfit for the current situation. "It appears they can see in the dark." His sword flew with a ferocity his voice could never touch, as he began to cut down the creatures. "Isabella, if you would."

Taking the cue, Isabella gripped her hammer tightly, and sent a surge of power through it. The ground beneath the fray began to repel everything relying on it. An assailant flew past Isabella instead of into her. She and Lukhan were the only ones on solid ground. Winding up her shot, Isabella focused her mind on the future corpse beside her, and swung with the gravity of a moon. One sickening squelch later, and the target, along with a dozen of its comrades, sailed towards the horizon.

Isabella glanced at Lukhan only to see carnage before her. Illuminated by faint starlight, nearby embers, and Lukhan's glowing radiance, Isabella saw what their enemy was, in pieces as they were: Bipedal creatures of varying greys in color, aside from their pitch black blood. The ground was covered in only the dead and their blood, leaving any internal structure nonexistent.

"You overexert yourself," Lukhan said, letting go of his blade. It disappeared in a flash of golden light.

Isabella opened her mouth to protest. "Look who's talking" passed her mind, but never made it out. Instead, she tumbled over, caught by Lukhan the moment he noticed her legs fail.

"He was right," Isabella managed to say, her strength completely gone.

"They both were," Lukhan quickly responded. "Etras has fallen to these creatures, and now they aim for our world." Then, after observing her weakened state, “You will have to fight much more often. Try using your power only to add more acceleration to your swings instead of following through with it.”

Isabella felt the wind whip through her hair as Lukhan sped towards their base. The hammer felt good in her hands, and it channeled her power far easier than she had expected. She glanced up at the man carrying her. His chiseled features gave no sign of the man she was told he used to be. Not even his hair or eye color were what the stories said; now Lukhan’s hair was a radiant purple, and his eyes matched, though only sometimes. Isabella had never seen the event which changed his appearance, and among other things, hoped she’d get a chance to see it.

The world below slowed to a halt as Lukhan reached their destination. The pair had reached a hill, revealed to have been hollowed out when Lukhan opened a hatch, carrying Isabella into their base. He began making his way to the opposite side of the room, catching the attention of their housemates. An eager pair awaited them, Cassandra running to greet while Amos startled to his feet, rising from a couch.

"What did you find? Is Isabella alright?" Cassandra frantically asked, the panic from her first encounter with the creatures still there.

Lukhan raised a hand. "Your assailant was nowhere to be seen, we dealt with what I assume were his subordinates, and my second is fine, she is simply new to using her powers."

"She's probably still tired from doing the Split," Amos added, moving aside.

Lukhan set Isabella down, where her muscles finally relaxed. "I've never exactly seen combat before," she said, attempting a chuckle. "My powers overwhelm even me."

Amos clapped his hands together. "Now that our initial business is done, I would like to see our new home feel more homey."

Lukhan nodded. "Indeed, if we are to live here for the time being, it should be more than a few bunks and chairs." He turned towards the exit, and called over his shoulder while departing, "And I happen to know the perfect pair to add to our ranks."

Cassandra and Amos looked at each other. "Pair?"