Emerali stood locked in battle with the Asmodian Aethertech. Although the fight was difficult, she soon began to feel that this Asmodian was toying with her. She would attack, raining a few hard blows on Emerali, then back down and retreat for some moments.

The ongoing encounter was enervating despite this, and Emerali was beginning to wonder if she would be able seize the slippery Asmodian before fatigue overcame her. Suddenly, she saw a blast of holy light flash through the air and strike the Asmodian. She turned to see the source and saw Thori. Then she felt an unseen presence brush past her at great speed. The next second, she heard the Asmodian shriek. She looked back up at her foe and saw Devaen swaying with magnificent balance aboard the Aethertech's bastion, attacking her.

The Asmodian clutched vainly after Devaen, but he evaded the bastion's enormous pincer-like hands deftly. Emerali seized the opportunity to launch a devastating attack that was certain to render the Asmodian inert.

The attack was successful, and the Asmodian fell, bastion and all to the ground with an earth-trembling crash. The next instant, the spell maintaining the bastion wore off, and the Asmodian lay on the ground, senseless. The three friends advanced to analyze her.

"Finally, she's down," Emerali said, having caught her breath at last. She then turned to Thori and Devaen. "Thanks for the help. But how did you find me?"

"You'll have to give Devaen credit for that. It was his hunch," Thori replied.

"A good hunch," Emerali said, looking up at him.

Devaen smiled wryly. "Chalk it up to clairvoyance--another of my Daevic facets," he joked.

Emerali smiled slight. "I suspect this great invasion has something very dangerous at its heart, and I felt that we should try to bring an Asmodian in for questioning. Etyanah wouldn't bother with it, but I just had to try and capture one of them. The whole group took off at her command."

"I know. Some legion. With the way the Daevic Order operates, it's only a matter of time before the Balaur and the Asmodians take over Atreia," Thori remarked.

"Yeah. Well, I'm out. I've already quit the legion and given Etyanah my greatest respects. I'm done with them all," Devaen declared.

Emerali was silent for several minutes, thinking. "We'd better get this one back to Heiron Gate before she wakes up."

The three friends delivered the Asmodian to Heiron Gate. Having received Emerali's theory, it was agreed that the prisoner should be transferred to Sanctum for holding and questioning.

When this unpleasant chore was completed, Emerali went off by herself, deep in thought. She had just made a difficult decision, and she was in no hurry to declare it to her friends, but presently she heard Thori calling out for her.

"Where're you going, Em?" she asked, trotting behind her. She looked at Emerali's face which was rather gloomy. "Are you okay? What is it?"

Before she could answer, Devaen joined the little group. He, too, noticed Emerali's expression. "What's up?" he asked, brow furrowing.

"I'm quitting," Emerali said, briefly.

"So am I," Thori said. "I don't need a legion--especially this kind."

"Not just the legion--us."

A tense silence fell. "What're you talking about?" Devaen asked, at length.

"I can't lead, I can't follow. The best thing I can do is just cut it on my own. I thought that joining a legion would help me become a better warrior, that I would grow to be a better team player and learn to really lead. This just made things worse. If I go solo, then failure or success, I'll be the only one responsible for it. I'll be the one to deal with the repercussions of the results.

"Daeva of destiny, indeed! I don't know what Irgon was thinking, but he was wrong. I'm no leader. I'm just me. The best thing for me to do is separate from everyone. It appears that I'll end up alone anyway. Look what just happened! A grave situation is at hand and I end up chasing the truth alone. As a lone warrior, I'll never have to worry about that again. I'll be an island and take my chances."

"Emerali, are you insane? There isn't a Daeva alive that can take on the enemies of Elysea alone. You're talking as if Devaen and I have abandoned you, too. Name one time we haven't been there to support you," Thori said, feeling very hurt.

Emerali averted her gaze and shook her head firmly. "I really appreciate your friendship, but--"

"I gave you my word that I'd stand by you, and I've adhered to that. You know I'm with you," Devaen reasoned.

"Right; 'til the next time your cowardice gets the better of you, and you decide you can't take what's coming!" Emerali snapped almost involuntarily. The moment she said the words, she regretted them.

Thori gasped. A pained shadow crossed Devaen's face, but quickly vanished.

"I'm sorry, Devaen, I didn't mean that," Emerali said. She felt a stab of pain in her own heart as she looked up at him.

"Oh, I think you did. But it's okay; it was a long time coming. I'll never get past that error. It'll haunt me forever. I know you don't particularly need me, but you can't take on every monster, every Balaur and every Asmodian alone, Emerali. Even Daevas aren't invincible. Don't let your anger, disappointment and self-doubt blind you," Devaen said, very quietly.

Emerali shook her head. "My mind is made up," she said. "Aion be with you both." She turned and opened her portal for home.

Thori started after her, but Devaen held her back. "Let her go. She needs time alone."

_________________

Emerali sat in her room by the light of a single candle. She thought over all of the events of the day, feeling almost sickened with dejection. She hadn't really wanted to separate from her friends, but it seemed to be in everyone's best interest. Emerali tried to console herself with the idea that somehow Aion would set everything right, but it didn't really help.

Night advanced to dawn, and Emerali hadn't shut her eyes to sleep. Restless, she rose. Emerali thought of her friends, and felt that she simply couldn't face them now-not after what she had said. Devaen's expression was stamped indelibly on her mind. She had thrown his mistake in his face and opened a wound that was still very present in his heart.

Emerali made up her mind then and there to take a short leave. Packing a few items in a small knapsack, she left her home and headed for the Jamanok Inn in the remote northwestern region of Theobomos. There she would take some time to reflect and collect her wits. Perhaps during that time of isolation, she could find a way to apologize to her friends for her angry outburst.

Once settled in her room at the inn, amidst a change of atmosphere, Emerali tried to clear her mind. Now she pondered the previous day's confrontation with the Asmodians, specifically the Aethertech. She wondered if any information had been garnered from her. The Aetheric energy spike and the influx of invaders weighed heavily on Emerali. What did it all mean? Was it tied in some way to the anticipated danger looming over Elysea from Bakren?

The weight of these unanswered questions was suddenly unbearable to Emerali. She decided to pay a visit to Sanctum's prison and make inquiries.

"No, that miserable fur-back hasn't said a word," the warden replied to Emerali's query.

"All the more reason to suspect that there's something serious behind yesterday's invasion. I wonder if I could give it a shot. Let me talk to the prisoner," Emerali suggested.

"You? Well, I don't know... It's highly irregular," the warden objected.

"Please. The fate of Elysea could be riding on any information that can be extracted from that prisoner. At least give me a chance," Emerali insisted.

The warden hesitated briefly, but at last he consented. He led Emerali into the prison and to the Asmodian's cell.

"Call me if you need anything," the warden told her. Then he left Emerali alone with the prisoner.

Emerali analyzed the Asmodian quietly for several moments then she pulled up a small stool and installed herself directly in front of the cell door. The prisoner followed her movements with an apathetic expression.

"How are you enjoying the hospitality of Sanctum?" Emerali asked, presently.

The prisoner returned her gaze evenly, but said nothing.

"I understand you don't want to talk. Well, let's set a few things straight here then. You know they're not gonna kill you, so you can get that idea out of your head if you're thinking that'll be an easy way back to Asmodae. I don't advise a hunger strike, either. Starvation doesn't do us Daevas any good, but it doesn't kill us, either. So, it's really in your best interest to just tell us what we want to know."

The prisoner only stared at Emerali defiantly.

"Okay. Let's start small. My name is Emerali. It's displeasure to meet you. And you are?"

The prisoner's expression altered suddenly. A spark of realization lit her eyes, and she surveyed Emerali's person.

"I gather you've heard of me," Emerali said.

"Every Asmodian has heard your accursed name," the prisoner replied at last. "I am Leiva, and I will tell you nothing more."