A week had passed after the Solorius Festival, and during that space of time, Emerali had been thinking hard on many things. She had worked to push back her more emotional issue in terms of Devaen, and focused on the mystery of Bakren and the impending disaster that Qelin had alluded to. Also on the forefront of Emerali's contemplations was Etyanah's invitation to the Daevic Order. It seemed to be a good idea, despite Etyanah's seeming passion for little more than glory.

One day, while relaxing with her friends after a long day's work out on the field, Emerali declared her decision to them. "Of course, I don't expect you to join too," she had told them, "but I think this might be a good move. Who knows? Maybe I'll learn to be a better team player. And if I am to be a true leader someday, a good place to start is learning how to follow good commands."

Although dubious, bound by their loyalty to Emerali, Thori and Devaen agreed to join her and accept the invitation to the Daevic Order.

But from the very beginning, this alliance proved to be very trying. Of the forty members of the legion, only Cullis showed camaraderie and cordiality toward the three friends. Etyanah proved to be every inch the glory hound they thought she was, and the other legionaries were no different--all but a sorceress named Drella who had taken a caprice to Devaen, much to his annoyance.

Etyanah stationed the legion in Heiron and sent out several scouting teams, pairing Scouts with Mages to monitor the energy of opening rifts. Etyanah assigned Drella to be Devaen's partner. Drella glanced at Devaen and flashed her most seductive smile.

Devaen shot Emerali and Thori a helpless look. Smothering a groan, he took up his weapons and went after Drella, sighing gustily. "Aion help me..."

Emerali glared after Drella with disgust. She scowled and shook her head at Thori. "She couldn't be more obvious unless she ripped off all his armor and jumped on him," she remarked.

The teams hadn't been gone for more than a half hour when Devaen and Drella returned, flying as fast as their wings could carry them. On their faces was the look of true alarm.

"General Etyanah!" called Drella. "We bring disturbing news! The rifts from Asmodae to Elysea are not only open, but they are generating massive amounts of Aetheric energy. I think we're in for an Asmodian invasion we've not yet seen the likes of."

The other scouting parties returned reporting the same news.

"Great Ariel's Light! Well, there's no time to waste; I'm deploying parties of five. Get out there and do what you do best." Now Etyanah named the eight parties, separating the three friends in doing so, though they would far preferred to have stayed together. Emerali formed a part of Etyanah's party along with Cullis.

Etyanah's party set out toward Heiron Pass. Sure enough, they encountered a large group of invading Asmodians. A small troop of soldiers was trying to hold them back, but with little success.

"Charge!" cried Etyanah.

The Elyos collided head on with the Asmodians fiercely. The clash of steel, the twangs of bowstrings, the strains of harp music, and shouting of spells filled the air. The gray stones of the old ruins became splattered with the blood of both sides.

The battle was grueling, but at last it seemed that the enemy was being routed. The Asmodians were dropping. But as Emerali dealt a final blow to an adversary, she caught sight of one of them fleeing.

"That one's getting away!" she told Etyanah. "We should detain them and question them about the Aetheric energy spike. An invasion of this magnitude must have something behind it. What if this is part of some complex plot against Elysea?"

Etyanah looked up at the Asmodian's disappearing figure. "Let them go. The fur-backs are down; we've won. If they come back again, we'll be ready for them. Okay, Daevas, time to go back! Our job here's finished."

Emerali began to protest, but Etyanah signaled to the others and they began to depart. Watching them leave, Emerali narrowed her eyes. "Fine. I'll deal with it myself." She turned and began skulking through the trees, heading deeper into the jungle in search of the retreating Asmodian.

It was difficult work avoiding the monsters and trying to be quiet. Emerali wished for a moment that Devaen were with her. He was excellent at stealth. As Emerali was thinking thus, she heard a loud blast rend the air. She felt a blow against her right rib, and the next second, fiery pain gripped her.

Emerali clutched at her side, which was bleeding heavily, and looked to the direction from which she had heard the shot thunder. She saw the Asmodian she had been seeking, still aiming a smoking gun at her. It was a female, and she was regarding Emerali with a cruel smile on her ash-hued face. Stunned by the pain, Emerali expected the Asmodian to fire another shot, but instead, she drew a cipher-blade and activated a great steel bastion.

"An Aethertech," Emerali realized with dismay. This was not going to be such as simple one-on-one battle. Struggling against the pain, Emerali activated her shield. She needed to heal herself and quickly. She was going to need all her strength to deal with this living tank.

Back at New Heiron Gate, the members of the Daevic Order were returning. They had succeeded at destroying and routing the Asmodians, but it had occurred to no one to detain any for the sake of information.

Devaen was one of the first to arrive, and he looked around anxiously for Thori and Emerali. Although he eagerly looked through the increasing group of legionaries, his friends were nowhere to be seen. At last he spotted Cullis, and he ran over to him.

"Hey, have you seen Emerali and Thori?" he asked.

"No, I haven't. That's odd, though, Emerali was right with us. I thought she'd be here by now," Cullis replied.

Devaen set his jaw irately. "She was in your party and you don't know?"

Cullis' expression became somewhat sheepish. "Well, I--"

Devaen left him, seeking out Etyanah. He stalked over to her. "Where is Emerali?" he demanded.

Etyanah regarded him icily. "I don't know. I gave the order to return; I expected her to be with us." She paused for a moment and thought. "Huh. I hope she didn't go off on her own mission. She saw an Asmodian retreating, and said she wanted to go after them. If she didn't come back, maybe that's what she did, which is direct disobedience of orders."

"'Orders'? That's what you're concerned about? As Brigade General, you're supposed to know what's going on with your legionaries. You have a group, and you don't even care to ascertain whether they're all together or not. What the hell kind of leader are you?" Devaen asked in disgusted disbelief.

"You're lecturing me on how to lead this legion? Who do you think you are, Assassin?" Etyanah's eyes opened wide with fury.

"This is a legion--a team--no one is supposed to be carelessly left behind. We are supposed to operate as one. Is this how you function during an Abyss siege? Great Aion, I'm stunned you still have a legion!"

"How dare you talk to me that way? You forget that I am your superior!" Etyanah barked.

"Not anymore, you're not," Devaen growled through clenched teeth. He turned away from her and headed for the gate.

Cullis trotted after him. "Let me come with you. I'll help you search for Emerali."

"I don't need your help, thanks. Worry about Etyanah The Great. You don't want to be charged with mutiny, do you?"

Devaen's angry words served to stop Cullis in his tracks.

As Devaen was ascending the steps to the gate, he met Thori flying in. "Thank Aion!" he exclaimed. "You're all right. Have you seen Emerali?"

"No. I figured she'd be back here by now. Do you think she might be at the Soul Healer's?" asked Thori.

"It didn't occur to me to check. I hope not."

"Doesn't Etyanah know? Wasn't Emerali in her party?"

"Yeah, but as soon as they got through, Etyanah gave the order to go back. She didn't bother to check that the entire team was together. She suspects that Emerali may have detached herself in order to pursue a departing Asmodian, but she didn't show any concern about her," Devaen replied.

Thori's mouth formed a grim line. "Stay here. I'll go check the Soul Healer's. If she's not there, we'll go out looking for her."

"Wait." Devaen stood stock-still. He closed his eyes and clenched his left hand in a tight fist. "She's not there," he said, opening his eyes again.

"What? How do you know?" asked Thori, staring at him.

"I just know. And...I think I know where we might find her," Devaen added. "C'mon, let's go."

Thori frowned inquiringly, but she said nothing more, and took off after Devaen in search of Emerali.