Anastasia crept around to the back of the town's leaders house. She knew she wasn't doing anything wrong but it felt like she was. The small building behind his house was never locked. He didn't think it was necessary to as no one would want weapons or have a need to use them. Ever since the curse was created and the Lich was banished, Cinderash hadn't needed any sort of weapon. There would be no fear of attacks or wars from other regions since no one from outside of Cinderash would ever want to step in. They had kept them there for the possibility of the curse being lifted from the land; leaving weapons for future battles.

Anastasia pushed open the door and walked to the nearest sword. It was a similar size to the one she found in the basement. Its handle was brown and the hilt was silver, which matched the colour of the blade.

'Anastasia?' Someone called from behind her. It was Maynard, the town's leader. 'What are you up to in here?'

'I'm just—'

'You're helping that sorcerer, aren't you?'

'No.' She lied. 'I should learn how to use a sword, in case of an attack from Skobex.'

'A girl wielding a sword?' The leader snorted. 'That's almost unheard of.'

'I'd like to see you use one.' She retorted. She didn't want to engage him, trying hard not to cause a problem. But she couldn't help it. She did not want to be treated like a fragile, little girl.

'I beg your pardon?'

'I don't see you being a great leader for Cinderash, Maynard.' She argued. 'You haven't helped the town or contributed anything to help it grow. Not even a little. You're just like the previous one.'

Anastasia picked up the sword and placed it in a holder before pushing past Maynard.

'You don't think I'm trying? Do you know how difficult it is to run a town that already had problems— like the curse?' Maynard sighed. 'I'm worried about your new friend and what he's going to do next. He's already summoned the Lich, what's stopping him from turning on Cinderash and killing innocent people? I've already lost my son because of him.'

'Don't play the sympathy card on me!' Anastasia instantly regretted what she said. 'I know you've been under a lot of stress due to recent events and keeping the town calm. Christopher is doing everything he can to help. I'm helping him to do this can get solved faster.'

She turned her gaze to the castle. Smoke still congregated on the top most level of it. It wasn't as much but there was still quite a lot up there. She turned her back toward Maynard.

'You persuaded the town to let him live so he can solve our problem.' He continued. 'If he does anything else to bring harm to this town, I'll be sure to revoke the agreement and he'll be put to death. You will go with him.'

His comment made her feel uneasy. She wasn't exactly in the mood for death, not even if it came with a side of pain and illness.

'We will make sure it won't come to that.' Anastasia replied before turning on her heels and heading off.

Anastasia was greeted with a door flying at her as she approached her house. She dove out of the way, rolling a few times before coming to a stop. The door landed next to where she laid. She glanced up to see Christopher staring straight at her with wide eyes.

'You almost killed me again!' Anastasia snapped as she approached him. 'What is this now, the third time?'

'My apologies. I was using a spell and it worked, a little too well.' Christopher admitted. 'Also, I think it's only the second time—'

'I'm starting to get used to the fact that being around you can kill me. At least we know your powers work.' She took a deep breath. 'No matter now, let's do some sword fighting.'

The two headed just outside their property, not far from the door. Christopher pushed it out of the way before handing Anastasia the silver and navy sword. A few people walked about, staring as they passed by. They all kept their distance, most likely because they still feared Christopher. They all worried about what he did and the possibilities of things he could do to Cinderash.

Anastasia was hesitant to grab the sword's handle. She didn't want to delve into another vision. She grasped the handle and felt relieved when she didn't see anything. Christopher unsheathed the sword Anastasia grabbed earlier.

'First off, let's beat the swords together.'

Christopher advanced for the first swipe, his swing blocked by Anastasia's sword as she parried his strike. Christopher attempted a few more cuts at Anastasia until he yelled out "lock!"

Their swords overlapped in a cross shape. It wasn't long before Christopher broke the lock.

'For someone who's a beginner, you're pretty good with a sword.' He complimented. 'Almost as though you were born with a sword in your hand.'

'Thanks.' Anastasia felt her cheeks burn up but averted her gaze to avoid looking directly at him.

'Are you sure this is your first time? You know what all the basic movements are. I haven't needed to show you how moves are done.'

'I'm quite sure about that.'

'You still need practice. Lots of it. Let's parry a few more times.'

This time Anastasia advanced. She lunged and struck Christopher's blade. Their swords clanged together for a while before Christopher did a few movements to disarm Anastasia.

'I don't think that's fair.' She commented.

Christopher bent down to pick up her sword and gave it back. 'Sorry, I just wanted to see if I could still do it.'

Anastasia didn't wait. She swiped her sword, causing him to crouch under the blade. He thrusted his sword forward causing Anastasia to jump to the side before she deflected his following strike.

She glanced downward for a moment and noticed a few small wisps of purple smoke under her feet. Her distraction caused Christopher's blade to stop just before slicing her face.

'Distractions are bad in a fight.' Christopher explained. 'What's distracting you?'

She pointed to the small puffs of purple smoke that resided under their feet. She turned and noticed that all the smoke that had congregated at the top now overflowed over the edges of the castle and spread over the land.

'Not again.' She thought.

As purple smoke covered the land she noticed a figure standing at the topmost level of the castle, where all the smoke had sat. She couldn't make out who it was but it looked shorter than the shadow figure that came into her room two nights ago. She had a feeling she knew who it was but it was quite a distance away so she couldn't be certain.

The smoke at their feet thickened and increased in height until it stopped at their knees. Black and grey swirled throughout the purple smoke.

Skobex's voice boomed across the town, being amplified by the smoke that covered Cinderash.

'I have gained enough power. Rise my friends!'

The earth began to shake. Anastasia noticed cracks form in the ground around where they stood. She quickly moved to avoid being swallowed by the ground.

'Rise!' Skobex's voice echoed.

Skeletal hands reached out from the cracks in the earth. Many rose from the ground and Anastasia suddenly realised what they were.

'What are those?' Christopher asked.

'I've seen these before. Don't know what they are.'

'When?'

'I'll tell you later. Right now, we have company.'

A few of the skeletal creatures charged at them. She didn't think that they could move that fast with smoke for legs.

As one neared her she swung her sword in a wide arc. As the sword slashed through the beings body it crumbled into black smoke before it joined with the rest of the smoke that covered the ground.

Two of the beings attempted to attack Christopher. Christopher thrusted the sword at one of them, knocking it backwards. He slashed at the other but the sword bounced harmlessly off it's lifeless body as it staggered to get its footing back.

Christopher noticed that Anastasia's sword caused one to disintegrate. She had moved a distance away and would take too long for her to reach him. He called out to her to throw the sword toward his feet which she fulfilled. Christopher slid the sword he was using at Anastasia.

He quickly grasped the sword's handle and lunged forward to meet the being. With one slash of the sword the being dissipated into the smoke. He ran toward the other being that approached and quickly disposed of him.

More of the creatures rose from the ground. Anastasia grabbed Christopher's arm and dragged him back inside the house.

'The door!' Anastasia yelled.

Christopher ran to the book of spells and dropped the sword he held on the floor. The book was reopened to the same page where he said the words earlier. He quickly flicked a few pages and found a spell that could work. He said four words as he looked at the place where a door should be. Thick vines and branches sprouted and intertwined with each other as they climbed to the top of the frame. It wasn't long before they were sealed off from the outside. One of the five creatures that were following them lost part of its arm while it reached out to grab them. The arm fell to the floor and dissipated as smoke.

Christopher exhaled a breath he wasn't aware he was holding. 'It was the first one I found that had the possibility of working.'

Anastasia glanced back at the new door for a second before turning back. 'How do we get out?'

Christopher scratched the back of his head. 'I didn't think of that... I'll find something.'

'How was—' Juliana came running toward the table. 'Anastasia, you're bleeding!'

Christopher looked at Anastasia and saw a long gash up her right arm. Her shirt around the wound was soaked with blood.

Juliana accusingly looked at Christopher before turning her gaze back to Anastasia. 'how did this happen?'

Anastasia winced as her mother cleaned the wound. Juliana had rolled up Anastasia's sleeve in order to see the whole injury. After it was cleaned up a bit, Christopher realised that the long gash was four deep scratches run down her upper arm.

'This is happening quicker than expected.' Juliana mumbled.

'What do you mean "quicker than expected"?' Christopher questioned.

'In the stories there is mention of half skeletal, half shadow beings rising from the ground — a ploy by the Lich.' Juliana explained. 'I believe Helena named them Phantom Walkers.'

'Helena...' He mumbled. 'Her name was recorded in the notebook I found.'

'She was the previous sorcerer.' Anastasia answered.

'The Lich created the first fifteen of them ten days after he overthrew his teacher.' Juliana continued. 'The small castle in our town used to be the neutral location that leaders from different Spires across all the regions of the continent met to discuss business matters, such as battle plans or peace negotiations. Skobex used his powers and his new soldiers to take over the castle, making it his new command centre. The Phantom Walkers are also responsible for almost all the natural life in Cinderash dying from their touch.'

'How did you end up with the notebook? Actually, how did your family have all the books, the sword and the box that contained you-know-who?'

'She was my two times great grandmother.' Anastasia explained as her wound was bandaged up. 'The Sorcerer and the knight that accompanied her both lived here, hence why everything was in the basement. They worked together and combined their powers and strengths to defeat Skobex. Unfortunately, Helena sacrificed herself in the end as she bestowed some power to Roger to banish Skobex into his prison, the box that you found a few days ago.'

'The location of where Skobex's remains were hidden were kept a secret from everyone, even Roger who finished the spell.' Juliana continued. 'I don't think anyone would've thought it would be hidden in the basement.'

'We're going to need a better hiding place.' Christopher mentioned. 'Unless the Lich can be destroyed altogether, less chance of a comeback.'

'We don't have a lot of time,' Anastasia said. 'Skobex is gaining power fast. If we don't do something soon, who knows what will happen to Cinderash.' She looked straight at Christopher. 'You are going to need to work a lot with your powers if we stand a chance. We also need to find the spell that Helena used when she defeated Skobex.'

'We better get to work then.' Christopher agreed.