Two men wandered through the streets drunk to a stupor.

Disturbing the peace of the huddled residents of R'einsel. They stopped at a destroyed headless fountain. Its stone sword broke off, pointing eastwards to the sky. The engraving desecrated and tarnished by looters and Tal Morenn's army force.

"Fifth one of these bastards say"

He threw his mug at the statue, spilling its content into the mini pond.

"Surely…... thy gods shan't recompense their heavenly anger upon us…"

The two laughed hysterically. Peeing in the fountain, slowly the color changed to slightly faint lime green.

"I think I saw the locals pray heavily to this one. Must be some sort of tributary or protection god. Useless now, couldn't stop us could he Haha" he jested, mocking the statue as he gurgled and spat at its foot.

"Thy… gods cannot save them…... barbarian sand hovelled bastards. Say Frinist, say we go find some…. grub….to eat…." He muttered. Burping as he finished his sentence.

"Guess we should... tortured the slaves long enough…. Say we heads to General Nish'al camp afterwards".

He nodded as they both made their way, away from the besieged Artifact laid.

In the water's reflection, A small glimmer of light flickered from the Statue's eye.

In the gallows of the basement.

Lay a couple, tired, and fatigued.

In the cages, a girl her back torn up. Red open flesh wounds gaped out. Her face rested on the iron bars of her confinement.

Her long maroon, lush brown hair now roughened and hid her petite young face. Blood flowing down from her nose, splitting in two as it passed through her torn lip. Her face defeated, eyes soulless and empty. Dirt and dried up blood, buttered up her face. Her clothes torn with her dress ripped behind her back. Now brandished with scars, littered, markings of a whip highlighted by the tears of her flesh.

Her fingernails chipped away, stained with mud and dirt. Her left eye swollen, purple swelling bulging as she strained holding in her pain as she breathed in and out.

A wet cloth dampened itself on her wounds. Dapping on her back, as the ointment stung her.

Chainik wailed to the heavens, as Klossi cleaned her wounds.

Her one good right eye twitched as the spirit sank in.

Kneeling she, gripped his hand tighter. Trying to fight the pain.

"Nearly…. done…. stay with….me"

Chainik banged his hand frantically on the ground, scratching. The open wounds sizzled as the spirit healed her naked back.

"Ahhhh" she wailed out in anguish.

Pulling her other hand back into the cage, to try pry away.

Klossi pinned her to the cage, pressing her down next to the iron bars.

Chainik yelled as the tears rushed from her eyes. Her mouth flooded with saliva and spit as she foamed trying to fight him off.

Squirming and unleashing a volley of kicks.

"Fight!!! Fight!!!"

"Am here with you young one..."

Chainik wept out, bawling her eyes out.

Klossi examined her back.

Her blood bolted and spat out from her back, splashing across his face. The muscle tendons twitched as he poured the special ointment on it.

The script had now formulated into veins which pranced and slithered like the stems of a tree hit under the sun. They withered and rushed fighting the spirit. As the wounds healed the veins moved pulsing inside her back as they wrapped around the wounds. Causing her wounds to spit out blood as the spirit settled. The alcoholic spirit burned, turning black as the blood dissipated into the air.

Klossi was now puzzled. Never had he seen this reaction from the script, even when brandished by the bastards. The scribes, the alchemists, the elders, or even the mages. The tales had never mentioned a spontaneous activity like this.

Her script had mutated rapidly in the last few days. What it meant he was unsure? A cause for concern at best.

Chainik was now unconscious, the rippling pain had knocked her out. Making it unbearable.

"The girl …... could be one of the wonders. The script graven on her….. what is it?"

If it's mutated this fast. Her life could be shortened I believe….. what does her future hold? Śeingtt bewith.

Klossi thought to himself.

Before chanting an ancestral blessing upon her.

The script reacted, glowing a faint grey glow underneath the carpet of her scabs and newly formed skin.

The sun hit her face.

Her cheeks rested on a squishy surface.

Waking up, it was Klossi' thigh.

Rubbing her hair, he glanced down seeing her awake.

"You okay….."

Chainik remained quiet, looking for the words to answer.

Easing her way up, she slugged as her back was riddled with pain. Leaving her with a slumped form, rendering her crutched.

"Ouch"

"Easy, Easy"

Klossi helped her sit up.

Turning to look at him, she rubbed her back.

"It's like a thousand of needles, threading on my skin…."

"A'si, I understand…"

Klossi rubbed his beard, with a smirk on his face. He spoke out, enlightening her.

"Like hundreds of spider threads tugging at your spine. Every inch you move feels like your heart will be cut and your back will split into tens of millions. Of pieces…..."

Chainik looked at him filled with grief. Her hand sank.

"When…... will it all end…." Her voice crushed. Weeping once again.

Klossi hugged her, covering her head. Embracing her worries and concerns he spoke out softly.

"Our days shall reign high…"

"The Śeingtt and Śeikl spread their blessings upon the children of the sel'nijj"

"Salabuhl tauj Seingtt"

He sang a song in a Native Caciccaci dialect.

Its meaning was unknown to Chainik but sounded hopeful as his voice strung out. Comforting her soul. Soon the pain faded away.

Chainik shimmed her head. Glancing at his deep brown eyes.

"How...are you…...so......hopeful….?"

Klossi simply smiled.

"I've lost my sister…...my family…...many....

The man I was and who I have become is one of peril.

Hope and faith keep me suppressed.

For the anger that riddles my skin. The anger that boils my heart…. Is enough to topple nations"

Chainik sank deep into his fixed embrace. Forgetting it all.

The two sat there for a while.

Smothered on each other. Klossi resting his head on Chainik who wrapped her arms tightly around him.

Back on the Canyon top.

Yannu heard whines ring out, entering his ear.

Spinning back around, he saw his lover stuck in a tight hole.

Spotting him she strained her arms out, crying out for him.

He turned back around seeing Kairui run ahead. Biting his lip in frustration.

The others passed him, not noticing Ussu hurt.

Dashing to her, he slid on the ground, his sandals grinding the rocky floor as the pebbles bolted around his foot.

Grasping her, he hugged her tightly.

Ussu latched onto him, crying and hailing whines tears upon him.

She spoke out quickly still frozen in fear as her words rushed leaving her mouth.

"Ididn'tknow…..whether you'd….mweeeee"

Yannu held her securely. Kissing her forehead, before examining her confinement.

"I'd never leave you! You know this…"

"But the others I don't know if they heard….you…"

Yannu stood up. His hands domed his lips, trying to echo his voice out.

"QUINE!! GUYS…. USSU'S STUCK!!!"

The group came to a stop instantly.

Turning back around, wheezing and catching their breath.

Shassii held down her knees bent over. She had the worst stamina, besting only Ussu in the group.

The Click was ready to race back to help her before Quine stepped up, stretching her arm out to block them.

"We can't all go back. The soldier's below will take advantage…."

"I'll go back. You all head to Kairui for now…."

"We... shouldn't... split up" Aya suggested.

"Let me handle this okay…. I've never let you guys down have I?" Quine asked sarcastically.

Aya and Quine their gripped hand before squeezing each other's grips. Their eyes meeting as Quine winked at her. Aya nodded her head, tapping her hand together before stretching out for understanding. A common gesture in Eein to show solitude and security in someone.

Quine smiled, repeating the Gesture.

Shassii looked worried, unkeen to leave them alone.

"Come on Shassii, leave it to Quine"

"Buuba…but"

"No, buts…. She can handle it… trust her"

Aya grabbed Shassii's hand, pulling her as they left Quine to her devices.

Quine saw them race away.

Darting back, she hopped, leaped, and slide down coming to a stop.

Reaching Yannu and Ussu she found them eloping as Yannu tried to console a scared panicking Ussu.

"Listen…. listen guys am here…"

"You supposed to be getting her out Yannu! NOT making out???" Quine said, perplexed as her hand rubbed her face annoyed.

Ussu giggled, wiping her tears. Quine always cheered her up, eliminating her fear.

"Now! Let's get you out…" Quine spoke out. Taking out her short sword.

Ussu's face switched to dread immediately.

Grabbing Yannu and shoving him onto Quine.

Yannu bumped into her pushing her back slightly, as the sword sheathed itself.

"YANNU, YANNU… don't let her take my leg. She wants to cut it off!"

Quine and Yannu were confused.

Ussu was shimmering around, shaking. The ground crumbled as her body chipped away at the edges. This caught the attention of the soldiers beneath of the soldiers. Prying their way through the tight corridor of the canyon beneath.

Rushing to the spot.

"Ussu sit still. Don't worry she won't cut your leg…."

Ussu was moaning and whinging at this point, throwing a real fit.

Yannu slapped her cheeks, glaring deep into her eyes.

"LISTEN!!"

She froze instantly, staring back at him like a wounded puppy.

"We're going to chip away at the rocks so it free's your leg okay! So, sit still and comply…." He commanded.

Ussu whined under her breathe, but hid her blushing from the two.

She wasn't used to Yannu being so domineering.

"Good job! You got her to finally shut up...ha!" Quine jested. Shifting him out the way.

Ussu stuck her tongue out at Quine.

Quine began chipping away at the rock.

Her hand pressed on the hilt of her sword. Digging deeper and deeper.

The remnants of the rock, crumbling down to the cracks of the canyon.

Inside they could hear murmurings and chainmail rustle. As the soldiers drew closer to their position.

Yannu strained his muscles, pulling her leg out.

One of the soldiers arrived at the spot, arming his crossbow ready to fire.

"YANNUU!!" Quine shouted out, warning him.

Yannu seeing this, gathered all his strength and jerked Ussu out. Pulling her away narrowly missing the grazed arrowhead as they fell on top of each other.

Quine sighed, a load of relief was freed from her.

Ussu chuckled, seeing Yannu's disgruntled face.

The two fell into a pit of laughter after dodging the fatal blow.

Quine helped them up, dusting off Ussu before leading them back to the trio.

At the end of the cliff, Kairui had stopped.

Her eyes gazing at the cliff and the distance that lay between them.

Aya came running close behind her.

Wondering why she stopped she reached out grabbing her shoulder. But her jaw dropped when she saw the gap lay between them.

"Is this the…??"

"Devil's Gate Plateau!" Shassii muttered out, left in awe.

"Once we cross over, there's no return back. We would officially be into the outer world, the great beyond, the Realm Past!"

Kairui looked down below seeing the soldiers patrolling down.

Yannu and Ussu caught their breath, waiting to get there say in.

"Well what do we do now, that's like a fifty feet drop. With a hundred meter spread between this cliff and the next. How will we cross!?"

"Can't we take….. those canyons to the side and somehow... circle around! Wouldn't that be more…. proficient" Yannu suggested pointing to his right.

"No, we can't our supplies won't let us. We didn't pack enough water Yannu" Quine answered bothered, kicking a small rock off the cliff.

"Just asking? Gesh" Yannu muttered under his breathe.

Quine eyeballed him, fiercely.

Aya gestured him with her hands, shushing him for everyone's sake. Yannu had a way to tick Quine off especially, it was just their relationship.

Ussu stood up speaking her voice to the group.

"Guys, let's say we rappel across. Do we even have the strength to slug across that massive gap!"

"Plus, won't they just shoot us down when it's convenient for them!" Shassii backed her up.

"Our plans to naught. What do we do now!?"

Kairui stayed silent thinking before speaking up.

"All of you shutup! We will do what needs to be done!?"

Gawking down below.

Quine stepped beside her, locking eyes at the infidels below.

Kairui turned round to meet the group, squatting down.

"Rest up, for now. We venture down bellow to kill our pursers at nightfall then sprint ahead!"

Quine nodded in acceptance of this plan.

"It's the only way forward!"

Yannu held his lover's hand tightly.

Aya sat down, removing her and her sister's sack making pillows for them to rest and sleep on.

This night would be the testing of them for all.