Two days have past since the Command hall meeting, Surgeus should have returned by now, but still no word. Like the past two days the dark apparition came to Kali and gave her the amount of days left, this time it appeared in the Inn’s room. “Se….ven, days.” And disappeared once again, at this time Elizabeth had gathered what remained of the Elantra’s army, and Gabriel gathered Veil’s grand army. Ziro and Zero where sitting at a table near a food stall talking and sharing a plate of meat, as usual, Wisp was hovering over Kali thinking to herself about the other day, when Kali showed her that strange expression. The time of the day had reached its peak and the group was ready for action, well, until they were meet with a grieffully filled face.

“Hello, the name is Sage, I was wondering if I could have a moment or two with your accompanying companions?” Kali looked over to see an Elate who had floppy ears, that of a bunny. But she was also tightly gripping her staff and had a face of pure sadness over her. “Sure Sage go ahead, I think would like to talk too.” Sage walked over to the two and greeted them. While they were talking Kali wondered, (Why is she here? Doesn’t she have a border patrol at Elantra? And whats with that face she has? It’s as if she’s lost someone close or?) “Ma’am something’s off with Sage, she doesn’t feel, normal, Zero, Ziro!” Just as Wisp called out “Sage” pulled out a blade and stabbed Ziro’s arm, “Gah!” “ZI!” “Zero that’s not!” Zero was blinded by rage once again, pulling out dicer she sliced the so called Sage in half revealing a dark soldier in disguise.

Laughing as it died the Solider dissipated into nothing and everyone was left in shock of what just happened. “Zer……..” *Thud* Ziro dropped to the floor unconscious, Zero dropped down to the ground and held Ziro. “Kali quick help her!” “Right” Kali came over to Zero and Ziro and casted a bind wound spell to close the injury. “There her arm is healed but she isn’t waking up still.” “Don’t you have like a spell to wake her up?!” Zero pleaded, But Kali just shook her head leaving Zero struggling to keep her emotions under control. “Why the hell was a Soldier disguised as Sage? She has nothing to do with all of this so why her?” “I think I have a valid answer to that Ma’am.” Wisp hovered above the two to explain.

“You see Veksis doesn’t seem to play fair or nicely, and we would only have to assume that he is after you Kali, not physically but mentally and emotionally. I sensed that whatever that was, was not the Sage Zero and Ziro knew. Something must have gone wrong.” “Why’s that Wisp?” Kali asked, “Well because nothing in this world can body double a being unless that being is dead.” Zero looked up to Wisp, fire in her eyes, clenching Ziro’s unconscious body even harder replied, “I won’t accept that, Kali, take this as my last attempt at controlling myself, I……I…. can’t allow this to happen or be true.” “What are you saying Zero!?” “Goodbye take care of Zi for me.” “Shadestep” Zero vanished into the ground dropping Ziro onto the floor. *Thud*

“Zero? Is she going after Veksis on her own?!” Kali fell in shock, suddenly Ziro woke back up, however she woke up to Kali holding her hands to her face to hide her tears. “Kali?” Ziro stopped herself and looked around, Zero was no where to be found. “Wisp what happened? Last thing I remember was getting stabbed by Sage.” “Well that wasn’t Sage to begin with, it was a body double disguised as Sage, which means Sage is dead. I know it’s a shock but Zero went after Veksis alone. Ziro held her hands to her face and shed tears for the first time in a long time.

“Why would she do that? She knows she has no chance against him.” “Maybe its for vengeance just like what Julius did with Layla.” “We can’t lose Ziro.” Kali stood up and started walking to the command hall. “Kali wai-…” Wisp was frozen by Myra. “Wisp let her go on…. She must learn for herself the actions she uses…. Have undenounced consequences….” “Lady Myra?” The voice stopped and Wisp fell to the ground, looked around with a confused and worried face. “Ziro we have to find Kali before it’s too late.” “Agreed.” The two ran off after Kali who was already at the Hall door entrance.

“Gabriel!” *KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK!* “Gabriel open this damn door NOW!” The door slide open to reveal Surgeus and Gabriel overlooking a body, “What’s going on?” “Well we just found this corpse laying in the hall on the table, we were wondering if you could identify the body maybe someone you knew?” “Sure” “Kali! Kali wait up!” Kai-…” Ziro stopped in her tracks as she saw the corpse of an unknown body. “Whos that?” “I have no clue, but it had a note on it.” Surgeus lifted a piece of paper in her hand to reveal a note. “It says that the rules have been broken, I await your attack, why don’t you come and get your little friend back?” “It also has some laughing on it but I am not reading that.”

Gabriel walked over to join in. “What did you do Champion?” Kali looked straight at Gabriel and said. “Zero went after Veksis in vengeance and now the rules are broken whats more clear, we have to move on to His throne and end his little parade.” Kali also added “Gather Veil and Elantra, I have a plan that might just work to surprise Veksis.” “Oh and what would that be?” “To alter the rules a little.” Kali smiled and walked out of the hall leaving Ziro, Surgeus and Gabriel in their thoughts. “Well you heard her, Ziro get to Elantra while I gather the veil army to attack.” “Good luck sir!” “And to you little one.”

Darkness engulfs the area, crows singing their song of death and despair, Veksis appears using a binding type of purple magic. In his grasp was Zero struggling, beaten, broken, and captured, with the fighting spirit still inside her, as strong as ever. “Child why do you resist?” Veksis finally broke the silence, “You broke my little games rule of not attacking within the time limit. Now its changed, now I have to play the bad guy.” Zero struggled to look at Veksis and spoke faintly, “I did this…. No… you did this, tricking us, now you are gonna be the ….bad guy. *cough* *cough* You worthless piece of sh! Gah!” Veksis squeezed the bind tighter practically crushing her.

“Why can’t you all see that me fixing this world requires a few changes, so what if I have to crush anything that stands against me. My view is perfect, and you all are constantly in my way. Elantra, the gods and now this… this so called Champion, Gah, all of it such a pain to deal with. You, however, I like your fighting spirit, catching me off guard, actually giving me a taste of pain. Maybe you can be useful, you can become something more.” Veksis looked at Zero with malicious intent, “What do you mean?” Zero nervously replied losing all hope to fight. Her eyes widened with fear and tears started to flow down her face. Zero’s cries echoed out to the night as the dark fog covered the entire castle, the beginning of the end has only just begun.