Christopher jumped when he reopened his eyes. A person was crouched beside him, watching him intently. Christopher instinctively went for his knife and held it against the persons neck.

'Don't hurt me, please.' The person pleaded.

Christopher realised that this person was Abel. He lowered his knife and sat up.

'I'm glad you're finally awake,' Abel said. 'I want to thank you and Anastasia for saving me from that wicked being.'

Christopher's body ached in pain. He still felt drained from using all of those spells— he hated to imagine how Anastasia felt.

'How's Anastasia?' Christopher asked. 'Is she alright? Is she hurt?'

'I... I'm not sure. She hasn't woken up yet.'

Christopher stood up and walked toward her. She was still slumped on the ground. Her face and clothes were covered in dirt. Her skin on her arms had several cuts covering them.

He sat next to her, mostly because he was worried about her. A little part of the reason was that he started to feel like he was going to fall unconscious again. Abel followed and sat next to Christopher.

Luckily, Anastasia began to stir and her eyes fluttered open.

'Christopher?' She managed. 'How's Abel? Did we save him? Is Cinderash safe?'

'I'm alive,' Abel commented. 'I'm... sort of alright. Well, as much as I can be.'

Anastasia sat up but almost laid straight back down.

'Are you alright?' Christopher asked. 'You don't look very well.'

Anastasia managed a smile. 'You don't look good yourself.'

'Have you looked— wait, you haven't. Look out at Cinderash. It's beautiful.' Abel exclaimed.

Christopher helped Anastasia to her feet and they both held each other to keep balance as they slowly made their way to the edge of the castle roof. The view they saw was beautiful, like Abel had said. Cinderash looked the total opposite to what Christopher had seen when he first arrived.

The dead grass had transformed into a dark green colour. Withering trees now looked as though they were always full of leaves— various shades of greens and orange littered across Cinderash. The leaves and branches rustled in the gentle breeze. The sun also seemed to look brighter across the town. Christopher could also see far off into the distance, although all his eyes met with were level ground.

'This is beautiful.' Anastasia muttered.

'We should head back to your section of town.' Christopher offered. 'Everyone is probably worried about you and Abel.'

'We will. Let's just watch the view for a bit longer.'

Anastasia rested her head on Christopher's shoulder as they looked over the town.

'They've returned!' Maynard exclaimed. He ran straight towards the three of them and tackled Abel to the ground. Maynard helped his son up before his wife came to squeeze Abel in a tight hug.

'You three don't look so good.' Maynard commented.

'Thanks.' Anastasia replied.

'You should go see your mother, Anastasia. She's been worried sick for two nights. We can talk later.'

Abel walked home with his father whilst Anastasia and Christopher walked the opposite direction.

Along the way, Christopher found the garden patches. All the crops that grew had blossomed, covering the soil underneath. There were so many delightful smells coming from them, he couldn't pinpoint a single distinct smell as they all combined into one sweet-like scent.

'I'm so glad you're safe!' Juliana said as they walked in. 'I thought... never mind. You both look awful.'

'We've been hearing that a lot.' Christopher replied.

'You both look like you're going to fall over. Both of you should head for some rest.'

They both obliged as Juliana helped them to their rooms, just in case either of them decided to pass out on the way.

Anastasia fell asleep instantly, however, how dreams were filled with nightmares. Everything that had happened over the last few days and nights began to replay in her head. It kept shifting between various events.

Christopher coming to Cinderash, oblivious to the curse. Then Anastasia was suddenly in a dark basement as it filled with smoke.

'Thank you for freeing my spirit, young sorcerer.' The deep voice of Skobex had said. 'I will again have my full power.'

Anastasia again felt unsafe as Skobex's laugh filled her ears. Her vision was plagued by the smoke that filled the basement. She struggled to breathe and felt herself fall to the floor.

She bolted awake, gasping for air. It would be a while before she stopped having nightmares about Skobex. At least she had slept throughout the whole night.

After she got ready, she headed out to greet her mother as well as Christopher who had already woken up. She sat down with them at the table and joined their conversation.

'Our town is beautiful outside.' Juliana commented. 'It hasn't been like this for easy three to four generations. I don't know how this has happened though. Last time Skobex was defeated the curse remained over the town— now it seems nonexistent.'

'I'm unsure of that detail.' Christopher replied. 'But I can say with certainty that the Lich is gone for good.'

'Mother,' Anastasia interrupted. 'Perhaps in the first battle with Skobex, a part of the Lich managed to remain alive and avoid capture by Helena and Roger. That way, the curse would remain.'

'I don't know about that, sweetheart. If that's what he did, why didn't he do it this time?'

Anastasia shrugged her shoulders. Before she could respond a bell was heard in the distance.

'What's that bell for?' Christopher asked.

'Maynard has rung the bell for a town meeting. He must want to discuss recent matters.' Juliana offered.

Everyone quickly gathered around Maynard's home, where he stood on the topmost stair in front of his door.

'As you're all aware, the Lich that once haunted our town returned roughly seven nights ago.' Maynard began. 'Thankfully, Skobex has been defeated once again and isn't likely to come back to hurt this town.'

A cheer and applause was heard across the whole crowd.

'I am not the one to thank, however.' He continued. 'Anastasia and Christopher, much like Helena and Roger in the accounts, worked together to defeat Skobex. With that I say on behalf of Cinderash, thank you to the two of you. Even though I had some doubts.'

Everyone's eyes looked around and landed on the two of them. More applause was heard across the crowd.

'Anastasia can you come forward.' Maynard's wife asked. The crowd of villagers encouraged Anastasia forward until Maynard greeted her at the bottom of his few stairs.

'Anastasia, you showed me that I had to do more for this town. I was not being the best leader I could've been.' Maynard turned to face the crowd. 'With that being said and as a result of recent events, I am relinquishing my rank as leader of Cinderash.'

A collective gasp was heard across the crowd, followed but small chatter. Maynard took off his blue sash from across his body.

'This role needs to go to someone that is worthy of the honour.' Maynard continued. 'Someone that will make a difference to Cinderash— helping this town grow  as we expand our borders to the continent. Anastasia, will you accept this role?'

All eyes fell on Anastasia. She was speechless at his offer. She wanted to curl up in a ball with everyone looking at her. She kept her gaze low to avoid eye contact. 

No one her age had ever been able to achieve this role— let alone a woman in the role. The role also seemed to be taken up most of the time by Maynard's bloodline. She looked up towards Juliana who gave her an encouraging nod and wide smile that seemed to say: "It's your choice, I will be happy with whatever you decide." She transferred her gaze to Maynard.

'I accept this roll.' Anastasia agreed. 'I will be the best leader I possibly can.'

Maynard placed the blue sash around Anastasia before proclaiming: 'let's introduce the new leader of Cinderash, Anastasia Valenza.'

Everyone shouted out her name before more cheers and applause were heard. Everyone came up to congratulate her on the roll as she walked back toward Juliana and Christopher. Her mother squeezed her in a hug and when she let go, Anastasia noticed a few tears rolled from her eyes. Anastasia assumed they were tears of joy.

'Come on,' Anastasia began. 'Let's all head back inside for a while.'

Christopher got to meet the other members of Anastasia's family, although he didn't remember many of the names. Juliana had introduced them all quickly so all the names seemed to blend together.

'I can't believe our little Anastasia was named leader of Cinderash.' Anastasia's eldest sibling said. Christopher remembered her name was Tamara.

'It's such an honour,' Anastasia's brother added. 'Especially being the first female and the youngest to achieve this.'

'Can you all stop flattering me?' Anastasia asked.

'I think this will take a while to settle down.' Christopher offered.

'Oh, great.' She muttered. She proceeded to look up and smile. 'I hope I don't regret this decision.'

'I'm sure the role will be great.'

'I hope you're right.'

'We have to head to the town celebration.' Juliana interrupted. 'It seems we have much to celebrate at this one.'

All of Anastasia's siblings hurried her outside for the celebration. Christopher was about to follow but Juliana grabbed his shoulder.

'I have a quick question to ask you.' Juliana explained.

'Ask away.'

'Cinderash... the curse. Is it gone for good?'

Christopher hesitated. When he first got here he felt like something was there in the town, constraining everyone that lived and arrived to Cinderash to stay in the town. It felt almost evil, dark even. Now, he could no longer feel that dark presence over Cinderash.

'Yes,' Christopher replied, 'it's gone from Cinderash.'

'Thank you.'

She ushered him outside to join the rest of the town. Both Anastasia and Juliana were quickly in and out of conversations. Christopher would've felt awkward standing next to one of them. Instead, he stood to the side slightly.

He overheard small parts of other conversations, hearing that there had already been a memorial service for those who have passed whilst defending their town. Only three people had from Skobex's attack. Christopher was relieved when he heard how little people they had lost. Even though it was terrible news for Cinderash, the casualties were nothing compared to some of the battles his father had been in.

He stopped listening in on conversations and let his thoughts wander to one of the many paths in his mind. It paused at one in particular as he looked around at Cinderash. The curse had been lifted. Skobex was gone for good. Cinderash was thriving despite being 'dead land' only days before. He had a sudden idea. It could kill him but he had to try. He had to know.