I wake up in a camp inside the Green Belt. A few trees have been cleared as tents are set up around everywhere. I look to see if I can find Aleem or Alistar. They are nowhere to be found. Lupa is awake touching her stump of an arm. I look at her hugging her close. “Lupa.. I am so sorry..” Lupa pauses hugging me.

“It’s okay.. As long as you are okay everything will be good.” She says in her usual happy self. I frown hugging her closer.

“But.. your arm..” She pauses for a second.

“It will eventually come back..” She doesn’t sound that she knows believe that. I look around the outside of the cage seeing two guards patrolling around us. The rest of the camp is unpacking their things. I look back towards Lupa as she rests her head against me. She looks exhausted and in pain. She barely keeps her eyes open as she looks up at me, “.. Could you tell me a story?”

“Sure.. Lupa..” I position myself so that she can rest her head on my lap. I start to pet her head as I start to remember an old story. I pause for second trying to remember where it came from but my thoughts escape me. “... There was a powerful person who walked the Green Belt. He helped everyone and everything. One day, he helped a king and was gifted the kingdom. He was so powerful that the gods blessed him granting him the title of protector of the world. Even though this man was good of heart, his one flaw was always looking for adventure. So one day he went out looking for this adventure. However, his kingdom was destroyed by invaders. The gods cursed the man for failing to do his one duty. He was cursed to live with shadows of everyone that was killed that day. ” I come to my senses trying to figure out where I heard that story. I notice Lupa fast asleep. I look at one of the guards. “Can I have some food and water?” I say with bitterness in my voice. The guard looks at me and rolls his eyes.

“No. You can go a few more days without food and water.” I frown slightly glaring at him as deep in the woods I hear deep animalistic growl. Apparently the guards heard it too. The one I was talking too looks at his other guard, “Go check that out.” They briefly fight for a second about who has to go check it out and it ends up being him. He slowly stomps his way into the woods and a few minutes pass. The other guard looks into the forest as a body gets thrown hitting the cage. The top portion of the guard that went into the forest hits the ground next to the cage as his legs are thrown into view. The other guard sprints toward the camp screaming that they are under attack. Lupa wakes up looking ready to attack whatever is out there. I see a large troll slowly stumble pass our cage. It doesn’t acknowledge that we exist as it follows the other guard into the camp. I move over the top of the guard’s body and feel through his pockets finding the key. I unlock the cage and look at Lupa.

“I am going to search for the Aleem and Alistar. Stay here..” I stop as she glares at me slightly.

“I am not leaving you.” She says with some conviction. I frown and give her a look.

“You are hurt and exhausted. I will be fine. Trust me Lupa..” She pauses and looks sad nodding.

“I do trust you.. Stay safe.. Please..” I quickly hug her and run out of the cage heading into the camp.

Even before I get into the camp, I hear people fighting and yelling. The familiar smell of smoke and fire fill my lungs causing me to sprint faster to the camp. Coming onto the scene causes me to dead stop. Complete chaos is surrounding the camp. The military is getting attacked by all sides by trolls and goblins. The trolls look gray and huge. Twice as big as many man surrounding them. Their thick skin is deflecting blows left and right. The goblins are about half the size of the man. They are a sickly green and use crude makeshift weapons. The military is completely disorganized and are trying to fight an almost organized force. I move through the camp dodging men and goblins. Whenever someone or something would get close, I would throw fire at them. They would either burn or dodge at the last second. As I get halfway through the camp, the sky goes dark and I pause diving into a large tent. I look around the tent and see Aleem and Alistar chained up. Aleem looks up at me and looks relieved. “Zona what’s going on out there?” I move to him and untie both of them. Alistar drops to the ground looking drained.

“Trolls and goblins are attacking the camp. We can make our escape but you guys need to run now. I am going to buy us time.” Aleem goes to help Alistar as he looks at me.

“Stay safe Zona..” He helps Alistar up and goes to leave out the back.

“Lupa is outside the camp and should still be in our cage.” Aleem nods leaving from the back of the tent. I take a deep breath and step outside the front of the tent. The sky has started to lighten up as I see the demonic knight slowly cleans his black blade. He looks at me as he stops cleaning his blade.

“You.” He raises his blade as darkness starts to radiate off it. I glare at him as I hold fire in my hands.

“You are going to pay for everything you did to me.” I throw my fire trying to hit him in the face. He deflects it with his sword as he charges me. As soon as he gets inches from me, I surround both of us with intense flames. The flames scorch the ground around us he gets thrown back a few feet. He falls to the ground and looks back up at me. I send more flames at him as he keeps deflecting them with his sword. I glare angry at him and keep pushing the flames at him. The sky starts to go dark as his form starts to disappear. I frown and throw almost everything I can at him. I stop as he disappears and the ground slowly starts to cover in shadows.

“You’ve been a thorn in my side for far too long Zona. I didn’t know you were a mage until what you did to my men back in the forest. I will have great pleasure in killing you.” The darkness slowly creeps toward me as I try to notice or see where he is. I feel something deep inside of me growing hotter. I frown trying to suppress it. I won’t let it get the better of me. “Just like I had great pleasure of killing that pathetic mage.” I stop as he says this. I lose everything holding back the anger and rage. I see his long blade appear in front of me. I focus on the blade and dark flames explode out from it. The darkness surrounding me disappears as the demonic suited man drops to the ground. His blade becomes warped as it slowly starts to melt. Half of the suit looks melted and a gash appears on his face opening his helmet. I stumble forward slightly catching myself. I look down at him trying to muster some flames. I feel completely drained and I am unable to get in flames out. I hear the demonic man slowly sit up coughing. I frown glaring up at him.

“You’re still alive?” He fully sits up looking at me. I see his bright blue eyes staring into me.

“Zona..” I notice blood coming from a gash in his head. It slowly stops bleeding as his suit slowly starts to fix itself. I frown and get a feeling of terror as he slowly stands up. “You can’t kill me Zona. I will always get back up.” I start to back up but fall losing my balance. He picks up his blade as it slowly starts to reform. He stands over me as his suit fully fixes itself. The gash on his helmet doesn’t close as his eye fixes on me. “I am ending this now.” He raises his blade and brings it down quickly at me.