A ceremony was held that very night. They gathered on the beach on the edge of the Dwarf Clan staring out into the Clan Sea. The whole village of Nork had gathered to pay their respects to the great warrior Dagner. Karma watched as a group of dwarves placed her friend's body on a small boat and gently pushed the boat out into the sea. She clenched her hands together tightly, trying to keep her composure, but failed as a tear rolled down her cheek. She felt a light touch on her arm and looked down to see King Harloff standing there, bow in hand with an arrow placed on its strings. "Would you like to do the honors, my dear?" He said softly. Taking in a deep breath, Karma nodded and took the bow and arrow. She turned to a dwarf who held out a torch to her. Karma lit the arrowhead.

Karma wasn't a very good bowman; it wasn't exactly her style. It was more Omar's skill than hers, but she knew she had to this. Exhaling, Karma ready the bow, pulled back on the arrow, aimed, and released it. The flaming arrow went soaring through the dusk sky, it went up, ark down and landed on the small boat. A few seconds later, the boat slowly caught aflame. When the other dwarves saw the arrow hit, they too pulled back on their own bow and flaming arrows and released them. The arrows hit the boat making it catch on fire more quickly. Even Omar and Mika had joined in on the firing of the arrows and sadly watched as their friend passed into the other life. Jason, who haven't shot an arrow since summer camp back in sixth grade, stood next to Karma giving her as much comfort and support as possible.

He rather respectfully be there then clumsily mess up with an arrow, as he had back at camp. Jason put an arm around Karma's shoulder. He felt her tense up then relax against within his hold. She couldn't hold it any longer as she allowed her emotions to take over. "Dagner was a good friend," she said softly. "And a great warrior. He fought for his beliefs and never gave up on us and himself. He was stubborn and reckless, but we loved him for it..." Karma drew in a shaky breath. "I will not let his death be in vain. We will defeat this cloaked man and bring Dagner justice." Nobody replied to Karma's comment. Nobody knew how to. She was angry and wanted revenge. There was no sense to convince her otherwise or agree with her. Instead they stood there silently and watched as the flames engulfed the boat with their dear friend on it.

----

It was time to march on to Orina Fields. It has been a week since the ceremony and Karma was in no better mood. To keep her mind off of things, she helped prepare for the march by getting supplies and weaponry ready. It was going to be a long journey back to Shurli, especially with all the dwarves and other Clan members marching beside them. Luckily the elves had decided to march with them. They came within three days of receiving the message, wanting to anything to help their Creator and prevent another era of titans. Word reached that the ogres and the goblins would be joining them in their cause. They would be marching on their own. Meeting them at Orina Fields. The sprites though, still without a ruler, had decided not to fight. They were leaderless and had no intentions of going to war.

The dwarf messenger who went to the Gnome Clan returned in shambles. Claiming that he was greatly outnumbered by the little creatures. The message from them was clear; they were not coming. All that was left were the dragons who still hadn't given Karma and the others their answer. Karma could only hope that they would fight and help protect Arula for her. But for now, they had to deal with what they got. Karma though, couldn't help but feel angry and insecure about the whole thing. For one thing, she was angry because Termis had disappeared on them shortly after Dagner's death. After the ceremony she had asked around to see if anyone had seen the man. The stable boy had said he saw Termis jump on one of their horses and took off and haven't been seen since.

Thinking that Termis had once again ditched and betrayed her, Karma went on a frenzy. Cursing the man and slicing through hay piles with her sword. She was also angry because of the cloaked man who had corrupted Termis into betraying her in the first place and causing the death of her friend. She hated the man, with a burning passion. She wanted nothing more than to get revenge, but when she thought about getting revenge popped in her head, she had second thoughts which is where her insecurity came in. She had no idea how she was going to defeat this man, or even if she could. Her book, again, was gone from her. And the cloaked man had the power to bring monsters into her world using it. To destroy her fantasy world and her birth world.

What if she couldn't stop him? What if he managed to destroy Arula and move on to the Otherworld and take over that one just as well? There was so much as stake and Karma didn't know if she could do it. Karma sighed and placed her head against her horse's shoulder. She had been packing up supplies and preparing to march to Orina Fields the next day with an army at her side. "Hey," she heard Jason behind her. "You going be okay?" She turned around to face her friend. Leaning against the horse's shoulders she shrugged.

"I... I don't know, to be honest." She admitted. "So much as happened within the last month or so and I don't know how to deal with it or what to do about it." Jason smiled softly at her and placed his hands gently on each of Karma's shoulders. Looking at her in the eyes, he said,

"you are the bravest, stubbornest person I know. You can do this I know you can. The Karma I know wouldn't let a roadblock stand in her way. She would punch right through that roadblock with as much fury her little body has." He smiled again at her and Karma returned it.

"Thanks." She said. "I'm actually glad you're here, Jason. I don't know how I would make it through this without you." Jason nodded.

"I know." He said. "And I'm glad I accidentally stumbled upon that old treehouse and came here." Karma laughed and shook her head.

"I still feel bad about that." Karma once again admitted. Jason shrugged.

"Don't be. For once I know what I want. Not what others want." Karma smiled sweetly at him, all of her nerves, her insecurities, and her anger somehow disappearing with Jason being there. Rising on her tiptoes, she kissed Jason on the cheek.

"Thanks." She whispered and Jason had a shocked looked on his face at the sudden action. Looking over his shoulder, Karma noticed that everyone was preparing for the march at dawn. Blushing, Karma nodded towards the crowd. "We, uh, better get ready." Jason getting over his shock, looked behind him to see what she saw.

"Um, yeah, we should." He said and together they prepared for the long journey ahead of them.