The sun beat mercilessly on the three warriors as they trudged along the white-hot sands of the Eracus Desert of Eltnen. Not a breath of wind stirred the tough flora of that region.

"Sweet Ariel's light, it's stifling!" exclaimed Thori, fanning herself.

Devaen mopped the sweat off his brow. "Hard to believe it's snowing in Oriel while we're cooking alive over here."

Emerali struggled to breathe. "This is just... torturous. Look lively, everyone. Heat or no, the Asmodians could pop out at any time. And if they don't, the desert beasts will."

Even as Emerali spoke, a Hookhorn Keraton came bounding out from behind a rocky crag and charged at them. But before the beast had a chance to attack, Emerali drew her harp and played a shrill chord that struck the Keraton dead on, pushing it backward across the sand. A blast of Holy light from Thori and a well-aimed dagger hurled by Devaen's expert hand finally rendered the beast lifeless, its dark blood soaking the sun-baked sand.

Devaen quickly retrieved his weapon, and wiping it quite clean on the Keraton's rough hide, he chuckled. "Nice warm-up session."

"More like overheating session," Emerali remarked. "Let's go on; the sun's getting hotter by the minute."

"Try wearing chain mail--then you'll know what heat is," said Thori.

They continued their trek across the desert, relieved when at last they came to the valley where the cliffs rising up on either side offered respite from the sun's harsh rays. They crossed the bridge and were met by three human sentries.

"Arieluma! Halt there," called one of them. "No one else is allowed through here."

"Pardon? Why not?" Thori inquired.

"A man has entered the accursed Temple, and we have dispatched a search party to find him," the sentry responded.

"Is it Ansted?" asked Devaen, brow furrowed.

"Why, yes. How do you know?" asked the sentry.

The three warriors exchanged glances. Ansted was no doubt searching for his brother within the Temple, but he was likelier to find death.

"We are Daevas, and we're searching for him as well," Emerali told the sentry. "Let us through, please. As Daevas, such a matter is best handled by us."

"Daevas! Then this is a blessing of Aion. It's well you've come. I rather doubt we'll ever see our comrades or the missing man again without your help. As it is, I fear they may already be lost. Aion be with you," the sentry told them.

And so, without further parley, the warriors crossed the barricade of human soldiers and made their way to the Temple. The eyes of the soldiers, as they passed, expressed unspoken relief. None of them would admit it, but they were terrified of the dark edifice that rose up yonder, its doorway yawning blackly, like a hungry mouth demanding satisfaction.

Various monsters hovered and bobbed behind the rocks and fallen boulders around the Temple, their eyes, of various number, shape and gleam, following every movement the warriors made. Through this uncanny crowd, the three threaded their way, anxious to enter the Temple and face the furious battle that was sure to rage within.

Emerali led the trio, harp and bow in hand. "Ready your weapons and be prepared for anything," she whispered. "Here we go."

They entered the Temple without another word. Not a sound was to be heard but their own footsteps as they descended the stone steps that led to the antechamber. It took several moments for their eyes to grow accustomed to the dim light that issued from the burning torches mounted on their sconces. Then they could discern the horrid noises that the myriad monsters tenanting the old temple made. Beating wings, shrill squeals, snorts, bloodcurdling wails and eerie laughter echoed through ruined chambers.

Shuddering, Emerali stepped into the chamber first. Her eyes went wide at the horrific sight before her. The search party that had been deployed for Ansted was no more. The bodies of the soldiers lay strew about the temple floor, some desiccated, and others lying in pools of blood, their features beyond recognition. The only signs of life were the monsters themselves capering about the room, hovering over the human corpses and the corpses of their own fellow creatures which had been slain by the soldiers before they had met their demise. The entire place reeked of death and decay.

"Great Aion!" exclaimed Thori.

"If this is what's become of the soldiers, Ansted must..." Devaen trailed off.

"Not necessarily," Emerali said.

At that moment a Shadow Obscura turned their way. It let out a deafening screech and rushed at them. The other monsters turned to look at them and lunged at them as well.

Standing at the vanguard of the group, Emerali played a shrill note that roiled the air and let out a burst of blue light, damaging several of the creatures before her. Thori and Devaen sprang into action. The Temple chamber was aglow with light from Thori's holy power and Emerali's deadly strains of music. Devaen whirled about, his blades gleaming in the flashes of light, now vanishing into shadow, now appearing behind a creature to strike his fatal blow.

Seeing the number of monsters beginning to dwindle, Emerali decided to cut ahead to search the other chambers. "I'm moving on; cover me!" she called out suddenly.

"What? Wait!" cried Thori as she batted away an Obscura with her staff.

"Emerali! Wait, damn it!" shouted Devaen.

Emerali vanished into the shadows without another word.

"Go after her!" Thori commanded Devaen. "I'll be okay."

Hesitating briefly, Devaen took off after Emerali, being detained every now and then by a Bloodwing that came to claw at him. Having finally cleared his path, Devaen looked about. Emerali was nowhere to be seen. Perhaps she had taken another turn into another chamber. But which one?

Devaen turned about continue his search, but a low peal of uncanny laughter stopped him. He took his attack stance, ready to rain blows on whatever emerged from the shadows. The laugh was reiterated and now a Temptress hovered slowly from the darkest corner of the dim room. She advanced on Devaen, her bat-like wings fluttering. Devaen prepared to strike, but the next moment, the Temptress had transformed herself into Emerali.

The Temptress laughed again, this time in Emerali's own musical tone. "Devaen," the creature said, uttering the name gutturally. "Why do you stare?"

"You're not Emerali," Devaen murmured.

"But of course I am. Hear my voice, see my face... feel my touch," the Temptress said.

Before Devaen could move, she had moved up to him and put her arms around his neck. Devaen could feel her dark magic constricting his mind, threatening to break his will and the defense of his sensibility. His breathing became shallow and erratic.

"Kiss me, Devaen. You've waited so long to hold me and have me. Tell me you love me, yes, and take me now."

"Get out of my head, demon!" Devaen gasped. He struggled against the spell, sweat beading his forehead. One kiss from those accursed lips, and the life would be drained from his body.

The Temptress was dangerously close to Devaen now. He closed his eyes, his will weakening rapidly. "Kiss... me!"

Devaen's eyes flew open. Summoning every ounce of his waning will, he thrust his sword into the Temptress' side. The creature shrieked deafeningly, her guise melting away. With his other hand, Devaen walloped her head off. The body flailed momentarily then fell to the floor convulsing violently, violet blood pouring forth. At last the creature lay dead at his feet.

Devaen sagged with relief. He struggled to breathe, wheezing with the effort. The encounter had enervated him tremendously, and had made his mind reel. He quickly drew a vial of mana potion and swallowed its contents.

At that moment Thori ran into the chamber. She surveyed the room quickly and, having deduced the situation, she hurried to Devaen's side. "Are you okay?"

Still in a daze, he didn't reply; he hadn't even noticed her presence.

"Devaen!"

At last he looked up at her. "Thori..."

"That creature really got into your head, didn't she?" Thori asked.

Devaen shook his head dismissively. "I'm fine," he replied, standing erect.

Thori frowned somewhat dubiously, but before either she or Devaen could say or do anything else, they heard Emerali's harp echoing in the distance.

"Emerali!" exclaimed Thori.

"Follow the strains of music," Devaen said. "She can't be too far."

"When this is over, I am going to have one serious talk with that girl," muttered Thori.

The two of them rushed out, guided by the sound of the harp, through the dark passages and chambers of the Temple.