His rushed footsteps was heavy on the stone floor, his sister's weight on his back.

Thirty steps, he could see the opening.

Twenty steps... ten steps...

Kilfer burst out of the darkness, watching the rolling storms of darkness, the stench of rotting flesh and the feel of pure evil made him halt his breathing for a moment, and within the darkness he could seem to catch a glimpse of the darkest darkness within, a hulking figure growing more powerful within the minute.

As the dark storms drew closer, wiping plants and animals from the land and birds from the skies Kilfer spotted a deer, its ears perked up and staring intently at the storms.

Kilfer placed a hand on the animal's back and whispered to it, "Come, bring me to Bronswig."

He had a feeling the little dwarf knew something about Mizervon, and when the deer glanced at him sceptically he showed it the marking he had of his palm -- that of a wolf with a diamond on the top. From a million miles from the veil, humans, animals and spirits knew it was the sigil of a member of the Pack, as although the Pack was so secluded it was so powerful in magic that the those who bore the sigil were both feared and hated, and Kilfer would usually keep the sigil to himself. The deer paused for a moment and bowed low for him to ride.

The deer raced across the lands, the stench of the Swamps lagging behind them and finally, Kilfer could catch a whiff of the fresh air -- but he knew it would not be long until these lands were usurped by the darkness.

Finally, from afar the little buildings approached him and as soon as he reached the village he leapt off the deer, nearly tripping by the weight of Ferhia above him.

"I guessed as much," Bronswig stood in front of him, right after he regained his balance."The darkness..."

"Yes, I know of it all, the darkness, our greatest nightmare had finally risen... again," Bronswig glanced beyond him to the horizons, where the darkness is still brewing, "There is now none but a choice, and I am sure you know of it. Mizervon."

"Wait, do you mean..." A spark of hope appeared on Kilfer's countenance.

"Yes, the chance of really getting to him is really minute, but I am sure that I kept a map leading to the first leader of the Pack, say no more and follow me," Bronswig ran, seeming quite comical with the short legs and Kilfer followed behind, saying much less nothing.

They went into a building which, Kilfer was quite perplexed, that there were totally no windows, but the architecture within was even more perplexing, the walls were made of tiny moving orbs, and so were the tables and chairs and every other thing within as if it were controlled by a mystical force.

"Here," Bronswig picked up a slip of paper, withered and yellowed throughout the years, only remaining a few rough scribbles on the paper, "This would take you to the residence of Mizervon, I will try to hold the darkness for as long as I can, but be quick."

"Master Bronswig!" The door blasted open and a dwarf twice the height of Bronswig himself (which was considered exceptionally tall for a dwarf and Kilfer already noticed him from his first visit to the village) ran towards him, panting, "The darkness is arriving, we must be quick!"

"Not that I have to be reminded, Wyle," Bronswig grumbled, "I will be there soon, just leave with the rest!"As the dwarf Wyle slipped out of the door Bronswig turned back to Kilfer, and Kilfer could see the sadness in Bronswig's aged eyes and felt his own feeling of the reluctance to part with this village. Bronswig passed a box to him and placed Ferhia within, and Ferhia shrank to a seventh of her original size. "Hope that helps," Bronswig mumbled and sealed the lid tight, "Go, now and waste time no more."Kilfer was about to leave when Bronswig spoke behind him, "If you happen to lose your way, always remember -- stay with what you trust most and let it guide you."

Kilfer paused at the doorway, but decided to continue and did not turn back

***

Kilfer rode the deer across the grasslands, the box that held Ferhia's mortal self and spirit clamped tightly between his hands, and glanced behind. The village seemed to get smaller with every gallop, as the deer brought him further away, but the wall of darkness seemed to get even closer and the storms, like an incoming wave swept everything in its path into the devastating maelstrom within.

"Ferhia," Kilfer placed the box close to his ears, and spoke into the tiny opening, hoping for perchance a soft breath, "Can... can you hear me?"

There was no reply, and Kilfer waited, feeling the rhythmic rocking of the deer. She could hear me, Kilfer knew, clearly feeling his sister's presence in the box, but she simply declined to reply. Yet before Kilfer could even continue, he felt a squeezing sensation in his heart, the painful feeling of the loss of someone, and he brought the horse to a halt, placing a hand on his chest. His heart was beating fast, and he turned -- there a shield so mighty held the waves darkness like a final rock preventing the ocean from destroying all that remains of a beautiful land.Bronswig's lifeforce. Kilfer was taken aback. No magician could weave such a powerful magic except for using his or her own lifeforce, which also meant the Spirit of a man destroyed utterly, and the massive pain to do it... Kilfer could not bear to think further, even the thoughts hurt him.

He closed his eyes and let the horse carry himself away, silent tears, hot and filled with grief streaked down his countenance, mixing with the anger and sadness and the wanting to stay and destroy the darkness to seek revenge for all including Ferhia and Bronswig, but yet the futility in those thoughts drove him forward and he could not let all the sacrifices go to naught.

He had to be quick.

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