Lester burst into the throne room with his shadowy creations in tow. Behind them, a royal guard cautiously made his way in. They hadn't noticed as Moss quickly vanished from view. The cloaked man strolled to the throne looking amused. He swiftly turned on his heels facing the royal guard who stood at the center of the room. The shadowy creations crept around the room, minding their own business. "So." He began looking down at the pitiful guard. "The Creator has rallied an army, mm? How... cute." The guard, with his hand behind his back, was twisting them together nervously.

"That is correct, sir." The guard said trying to maintain the tremble in his voice. He feared this new so-called ruler. This 'saver' as he called himself when he took over Shurli Palace. Humming to himself, Lester turned back to the throne and picked up Karma's book and key he had laid there. The cloaked man had no reason to suspect anyone of taking it. Not with his creatures on duty. The bat-rat creature on his shoulder squawked. Lester scratched it under its chin. Taking the key and putting it into the lock, he said,

"Yes, my little creation, it is time to release them." The lock popped opened with ease and the cloaked man flipped through the pages. Admiring the work Karma had put into it. The creation squawked again. "Yes, yes, I must admit, she has quite the imagination. Too bad it will all have to end shortly." The royal guard stood awkwardly as he watched the cloaked man talk to his winged creature. The winged creature was the ugliest thing he's seen in Arula. With a body, tail, and limbs like a rat, but with wings, ears, eyes, and nose like a bat. The guard could not imagine their creator making such a thing, but who was he to say? Maybe the little creature came from the Clans. The guard never traveled there. In fact, no human really has unless it was for trading purposes.

The royal guard cleared his throat catching the attention of the man in cloak. "Your orders then, sir?" He dared to ask. "About... the attack?" The cloaked man had almost seemed to forget about the upcoming battle. He face quickly cleared of the slight confusion.

"Ah, yes, yes, the invasion. Of course..." the cloaked man thought briefly. "Though I doubt your services would be no longer needed once I have released my ultimate creations, but I could use the time to create and bring them to life... so yes! Have your men ready for battle. I want half of my demons with you on the battlefield and the other half here in the palace. Understood?" The guard bowed.

"Understood, sir, right away!" Glad to be no longer in this man's presences, the guard strolled out of the throne room and started the preparations. When the guard was gone, Lester took it upon himself to sit on the throne. He looked to his right to see the yellow egg resting beside the chair. He smiled to himself.

"I should get rid of you now, but it would be most pleasant to see the look on that red headed girl's face when I smash you right in front of her." With a crooked grin, the cloaked man reached inside his pockets and took out a worn pencil. His lucky pencil he had once called it almost a lifetime ago. "Now," he said flipping to a blank page. "Down to business."

----

The dragons landed on the field with a thud, not caring if they landed on anything or anyone. Those around skittered out of the scaly beasts' way, afraid that they would attack or land on them. Those who weren't of danger of being trampled, gathered around cautiously. "Salvete!"*1 Karma called to the dragons once they landed. All four faced Karma with sharp eyes.

"Hello to you as well." Iylac said and swung her large green head over to her brothers and sister. "These are the rest of our clan." Karma looked at each dragon. She of course knew Asluk, the red dragon, but she has not meant the other two dragons, the orange and blue dragon. The orange dragon snarled over at Karma and she could tell that he did not like her. Asluk stepped forward.

"Hello again, Creator." He said. "Iylac had told us of what had happened and told us you knew where our egg was, thus the reason of our arrival. We would not have meddled in such affair if it weren't for our heir on the line." Karma looked at Asluk and assumed as much. From her encounter with the beast ealier, she knew that they only have their own best interest at heart. Though, she did not blame them. She couldn't, not after all she had learned. She bowed her head.

"I can assure you that I will retrieve your egg and bring it back to you unharmed. And you of course keeping your promise as to stop the raids." The orange dragon snorted and Asluk gave him a look.

"As long as you keep your end of the bargain will we." Was all that Asluk replied. "We want our egg and will stop at nothing to get it. Our queen only produces an egg after every creator." His eyes switched down to her, his hazel eye peering down his long snout. "I was also aware you have some new profound knowledge about your existences." Karma nodded.

"Yes, but only the small details." Asluk snorted and turned away.

"Very well... when do we strike?"

"Tomorrow at daybreak." Asluk and the other dragons didn't like having to wait through the night. The orange dragon even expressed this through a snarl.

"We will respect your decision." Said the blue dragon who laid a few yards away. Karma looked at the dazzling blue dragon in the dusk light. The dragon was watching Karma carefully, as if calculating every word she spoke and every movement she made. It was little unnerving, Karma had to admit. But the orange dragon, Karma had thought, scared her. The orange dragon clearly had a distaste for her, but she had no idea why.

"Daybreak then," Asluk said getting Karma's attention once more. She nodded.

"Yes, daybreak." She confirmed. "We attack."

----

Unfortunately, their so-called sneak attack on Shurli wasn't going to go as planned. That night, the shadow demons came creeping through Shurli woods. They weaved in and out of the trees. The more agile ones jumped from tree branch to tree branch. And thanks to their shadowy figures, they never made a sound as they started a sneak attack of their own. They were the first wave of attack. The royal guards would soon behind them. The demons paused just meters away from the Shurli Woods border. Their glowing yellow eyes scanned the fields ahead of them. There were humans, ogres, elves, dwarves, and goblins on watch. Each clan taking turns watching over a section of their camp. A demon, in the shape of a hyena cackled to its fellow demons, they in retuned growled, hissed, and snipped. The demons spread out and encircled the camp.

Once they were close enough, the hyena let out a hackling laugh that gave the command of attack. The Clan members on guard didn't see them coming. From the shadows they attacked and launched themselves at their targets. An ogre took out his curved sword and sliced at one of the demons. "Ons word aaneval!"*2 He shouted in his native tongue.

"We're being attacked!" shouted a human. "Sound the alarm!" Chaos erupted as every elf, dwarf, goblin, ogre, and human shot up from their sleep and scrambled to find their weapons and armor. There was no time to think, it was time to act. Karma, who wasn't much of a morning person, was startled awake by the excitement. She scrambled up from her pile of blankets and grabbed her sword that laid beside her. She burst out of her tent and was greeted by a shadow demon in the shape of a wolf. The creature launched itself at Karma. Karma held her sword out to prevent the demon from attacking her. The wolf, instead of hitting blade was met with an arrow in the eye.

Looking where the arrow had originated, Karma saw Omar, bow at the ready. She smiled and nodded her thanks. Omar returned her nod. Jogging up to her, the elf looked at his surrounds as the battle between demons and clans had begun. "It would appear that we have to start a little early." Karma looked around and nodded.

"It would appear so." She agreed. In the distances a trembling roar exploded through the battle grounds as the dragons joined in on the fight. Karma could see them swiping at the creatures as they tried to take down the four mighty beast. But in prevail, the demons could not leave a scratch on the dragons. The dragons hard scales prevented any real damage to be done. Forgetting about the dragons, the demons moved on to easier prey. Karma dodged as a leopard leaped at her. Taking her sword she swung at the giant feline striking it in the side. The demon yowled and backed away from Karma. Leaping again, the demon tried once more. Karma drove her sword into the shadow's chest. The demon went down without another sound.

"Karma!" Karma turned to the sound of the voice to see Jason along with Mika jogging up to her. "Can you believe this!" Jason continued once he was close to her.

"Yes and no." Karma replied swinging her sword at a fox that attempted to catch her by surprise. Mika drew her bow and fired it at a wolf that came hurdling towards them. The arrow struck itself in between the demon's eyes. The demon took a face plant to the ground, to never raise again.

"We better get moving." Mika said. "We have to get into Shurli Palace." The others agreed. They started to make their way into the Shurli Woods but was met with the royal army instead. They blocked their only way to the palace. This was not going to be an easy fight. Karma sighed in frustration. She didn't want to hurt these people, much like the first time she had to fight them back when Termis was ruling. Readying her sword, Karma prepared for the fight of her life. Just as she was about to charge with her friends at her side, a horse came galloping behind her and towards the royal army. The rider of this stead was no other than Termis.

"This way men!" He shouted towards the army he had gathered together. "We must help guide our Creator to victory!" Then looking at Karma, he winked. The human army came charging from behind and proceeded their attack on the royal army. Karma shook her head violently. She couldn't believe that Termis had changed so much since the battle between them. Or, she thought, it could be another trick. Shaking off the thought, she and her companions charge after the army and fought their way through. It was no easy feat. The royal army was a decent army and very skilled compared to a group of commoners. As they fought their way through, Karma couldn't help but feel disgusted by the sound of metal through flesh. A sound that she didn't think she would ever get used to.

For what seem like hours, Karma and her companions started to make their way through the royal army. The army began to thin and Shurli was peering through the trees. The night sky started to turn from a dark blue to a light blue with a touch a pink. Dawn was approaching. And so are the titans, Karma thought as she made her way through the woods and to Shurli. Every now and then, a shadow demon would jump from above the trees and attack. The group deflected the demons, careful not to get bitten or suffer the same fate as Dagner. Dagner. Her friend. The one she hopes to avenge. If I'm not too late, she thought darkly.

----

Karma and her friends fought through the on sault of demons as they ambushed the group. After what seemed like an endless wave of shadows, they finally emerged from the woods up to the gates of Shurli. The gates were open, with no royal guards and no shadow demons. Karma crept forward first sword drawn ready for anything that might surprise them. But no surprise came. No attack, no... nothing. Peering into the town, the streets were deserted. Doors and windows boarded up. Shops closed. Not even a stray cat or dog ran by. It was like a ghost town. Karma looked over at Jason and her elven friends. They gave her the same uncertainty. Something wasn't right. Keeping their guard up, they continued through the village and up the stone pathway that led up to the palace. When they went up to the palace doors, the door was eerily cracked open.

Karma nudged the door open with her free hand making the doors creak on their hinges. She stepped through with her friends in tow. They kept their eyes peeled. Anything could happen. But much like the town, the palace halls were deserted. Karma motioned for her companions to follow as she made her way down the all too familiar corridors. Turning a few corners and down a couple of halls, they finally made it to the throne room. Its doors also cracked open. Karma and her friends went through preparing for whatever laid beyond its wooden interior. When they entered, they weren't met with a deserted room but with a room filled with demons and the cloaked man sitting on the throne ahead of them. Behind them, the doors slammed shut.

Jason jumped at the sudden noise and turned to see two bear shadows closing the doors. He turned his attention back to the cloaked man who sat on the throne with a smug look on his face. "Ah," he said leaning forward on his knees, a glint of amusement in his dull brown eyes. Looking at this man, Jason could see his aging face with dried skin and winkles along the creases of his eyes. "You've finally arrived! I've been wondering when you were going to show up." He leaned back against the chair. With a flick of his fingers the shadow demons surrounded Karma and her friends. Jason held his sword pointed down at the creatures. Omar had two swords at the ready and Mika with her bow drawn and loaded. Karma held her own sword in place making sure that the demons didn't get too close. The cloaked man chuckled.

He pushed himself off the chair and strolled halfway down the room. In his hands was a book. Karma's book. She couldn't help but stare at it. Again, the man chuckled. He shook the book at her. "Hoping to get this back?" He mused. "You can have it back... once I'm done with it of course." Karma stared at the man with pure hatred. Smirking, Lester walked back to the throne and rolled the yellow egg to the center of the room. "I am also assuming you came for this, no? I saw those flying lizards land in the field just hours ago. Did you really think I was going to let you attack me first with those flaming demons on your side? No, of course I had to strike first." He looked down at Karma and smirked once more. He put his foot on the egg rocking it back and forth with the heels of his feet.

"Once I am done releasing my greatest creations," the creature on his shoulder squawk at him. The cloaked man cleared his throat and scratched the creature behind the ear. "My bad, my next greatest creations, this egg will be a great sacrifice to them, ending the evolution of the dragons and era of the creators to be finished once and for all. This world will come crumbling down and I will bring my creations to the Otherworld and become its rightful ruler. All of those who have done me wrong will pay with their lives and the rest will pay in servitude. Nobody will be safe from my tyranny." He gave a crooked smile. Karma did not share this smile with him. Her green eyes bore into his brown ones.

"You're a monster." She snarled and Lester snorted at her remark.

"It's all about perspective, my dear." He said not really caring. Taking his foot off the egg he took the book and flipped it opened to the page he had sketch in. Even from this distance, Karma could see drawing of monsters, the titans. The cloaked man glanced at Karma with yet another smile. He place the book on the ground and took a step back. "Now," he said. "For the ritual." Karma went to launch herself at the man, but the demon creatures jumped in front of her, growling and hissing at her. One of them, a wolf, snapped at Karma. Karma backed off suddenly having Dagner flash in her vision. The brave dwarf, stricken down by one of these creatures. She looked helplessly at her companions, wondering what to do. They returned the look. Apparently, they were at a lost as well. There were too many demons for them to fight. Even if they manage to get a few kills and hits in, no doubt one of the creatures would find a weak spot and strike. Making Karma and her friends meet a deadly demise.

Clearing his throat, the cloaked man began to recite the magical words that were on the first page of Karma's book, "Ad animam quae fuerat I creata est..." Lester started. As he spoke the book began to glow and Karma's horrors and nightmares were coming true. Karma suddenly felt a scurry down her spine. With a quick reminder, she had nearly forgotten that Shari had been with her that night she fell asleep and woke up to the attack. The saber-tooth ferret scurried down Karma's backside and undetected made his way past the shadow demons and over to Angel who was struggling against her chains. Shari looked up at the long-tailed fox and cocked his head.

Then, without a peep, the ferret went to work on Angel's locks. Taking his long razor-sharp claws, Shari worked at the lock until it unlocked and did the same to the others. If there was time to questions the creature's intelligence, this was it. When all the chains broke loose, Angel wasted no time and running towards the cloaked man and the book. Lester was nearing towards the end of the ancient words, watching as the book glowed brighter and brighter. A tremendous roar came rumbling out of the book. "...une nouvelle ere, der Welt Frieden brin-ahh!!" The cloaked man hollered as Angel tackled him to the ground. All attention as was on Angel and the cloaked man. With the shadow demons distracted, Karma acted. She swung her sword knocking one shadow to the side and slicing through another making it drop dead instantly. The others followed in suit.

Taking his doubled wielded blades, Omar slashed through the demons taking two at a time. Mika released and quickly reloaded her arrows firing them like a turret. Jason, who had very little swordsmen skills, did his best as he wielded his sword at the oncoming shadows. As for Karma, she wasted no time and heading straight for the cloaked man and her book. The book was still glowing, growling and roars could still be heard from the pages. Instead of helping her long-tailed fox, who had pinned down the cloaked man, she ran for the book. "Get off me, you abomination!" Shouted Lester as he struggled with Angel. Angel growled and held her jaw down on the cloaked man's arm, her long blue tongue wrapping around it giving the fox more leverage. The bat-rat creature squawked and swooped down over Angel's head, scratching at the fox's ears, and pulling on her fur. But Angel didn't budge. She kept her hold on the fishy hooded man.

The cloaked man, in his struggle against the fox, looked over to see Karma running over to the book and grabbing it in her hands. "No!" The man shouted and reached down into his belt and grabbed his dagger. Taking the dagger he drove it into Angel's ribs. The long-tail fox yowled, releasing her hold on the cloaked man. Lester took out his blade and shoved the fox to the side. Angel skidded across the ground and hit the throne a hard thump. The fox struggled on weak legs to stand but fail. She laid there defeated and wounded. Lester jumped to his feet and advance on Karma.

Karma's heart was caught in her throat at the scene before her. Her beloved fox, laying wounded or worse on the ground. I have to finish this, she thought to herself. Once and for all. The cloaked man, with a crazed look in eyes stalked over to Karma, a bloodied dagger in his hands. Karma held her glowing book in her hands, knowing what she had to do. Shaking the book at the cloaked man she said, "you want this, come and get it." She then took off out of the throne room.

----

Karma ran down the halls as fast as her weary legs could carry her. Behind her, she could hear the growling and hissing of the demonic shadows chasing after her. And not too far behind, the cloaked man. Karma turned right down the hall and into the library. She ran over to the huge fireplace that had been left abandon. Reaching for the box that laid on the mantel, she grabbed out the matches and fire starters. She tossed a few logs into the fireplace and began to make a fire. "Come on, come on." She muttered and a spark flew catching the logs ablaze.

"You know," Said a voice behind her. "This isn't the season for a fire." Whipping around, Karma saw the cloaked man standing a few feet in front of her. There were four demons by his side, snarling. He looked over at the now blazing fire. "You'll be making a big mistake if you do that, my dear." He said, all amusement gone from his voice.

"Is that so?" Karma said glancing down at her discarded sword on the floor. If she reached for it now, it would be her undoing. No doubt one of those creatures would end her if she tried. The cloaked man met her gaze again. He then smiled, not his usual cocky smile, but a tiring, inpatient smile.

"You and I are more alike than you think." He said taking a step forward. Karma took a step back and threating hovered the glowing book over the flames. The cloaked man stopped.

"We're nothing alike." Karma said.

"Sure we are!" He said. "We were both mistreated badly at our schools. Our parents don't care for us, even your own sibling turned against you. And so has the world. You escape to this place to get away from the world that has wronged you so. You even planned on living here once you were done with high school." Karma was startled by the fact that this man knew her life. Knew her motives, everything. The man's smile grew. "See? We're alike because I thought just like you. I wanted to leave my world and go another to create something and to be appreciated for once in my life... you see, Karma, all I wanted was people to see me. That is why I created my titans, my demons, and all of my other creations. I wanted people to see me for who I am... and I know you feel the same." Karma shook her head.

"No," she said trying not think about it, her life, everything. Sure her life was not as great as she had hoped. She was bullied by a girl that was once her friend, her father was never home due to work, and her mother never paid that much of attention to her. Karma and Alice went at it more times than she could count. Dennis was probably mad at her and would never speak to her again, not after what she did a couple of years ago. Everyone in the small town of Lake Side sometimes forgot about her existence because she kept to herself. But who was to blame them? That was in the past. Surely her parents are worried sick about her being gone. Alice seemed to understand Karma's situation when they left to go back home. And surely Dennis couldn't remain mad at her forever, right? He was just a kid.

Karma didn't care about Marge, her high school bully. And she certainly didn't care what the others thought about her in the town of Lake Side. Looking at the cloaked man, she gripped her book tighter and drew it away from the flames. The man smiled widen, just slightly. "It doesn't have to be this way, Karma." He continued. "We can destroy those have wrong us together. As one. It would be marvelous." He took another step forward. Karma squeezed the book tighter, her thought in a whirl wind. From the corner of her eyes, she caught the slightest of movement. Shifting her eyes over, she saw Moss, the inviso-cat stalking among the bookshelves. His wild yellow eyes on the cloaked man. The cat crouched down ready to strike. Karma sighed and looked back at the cloaked man.

"As tempting as that sounds," Karma said. "You're wrong, about everything, most importantly about me." Turning to her side, Karma prepared to throw the book in the flames.

"No!" The man shouted and lunged forward. The cloaked man's attempt was stopped short as Moss sprung forward and leaped on Lester's back pinning him the ground. Karma threw the book in the fire. The flames came alive as they grew bigger and engulfed the book. Karma had to shield herself to prevent from getting burned. The cloaked man watch in horror as the flames ate away the book. Its pages turning black, curling, and shriveling up. The flames popped and screeched. Karma could hear the dying roars of the titans as they burned with the pages.

Lester roared in anger. He grabbed the cat by the scruff of its neck and tossed him to the side. Grabbing Karma's discarded sword, he went after her. "You'll pay for this!" He shouted. "You have no idea what you have just done!" He lunged at her and Karma quickly rolled away. She back into the demons who growled and snapped at her. Karma did her best to avoid them as well, but it was more of a challenge. The cloaked man advance, seeing his opening. He swung the sword catching Karma by the arm. Karma let out a scream of pain. Clutching her arm, Karma dodged the next swing and turned down an aisle. The shadow demons followed along their master. Karma ran down the hall of books and skidded to a stop. Dead end. A stain glass window blocked her way. Karma gulped. She spun around to see that she was trapped. The demons crept towards her and the cloaked man, outraged advance on her. In his eyes, Karma could see that he was amused by her entrapment. Like a predator closing in on his prey.

"This ends." The cloaked man said and flicked his sword at Karma. The shadow demons took this as a demand to attack and they leaped at her ready to end the Creator's life. Karma ducked ready for claws and teeth to dig in her. But none came when there was a sudden roar coming from the outside of the palace. The stain glass window broke, and orange flames came flowing through the opening. Karma dove for the ground just as the flame came. Some of the flames licked across her back making her hiss in pain. There was a sudden cry from the demons as the flames engulf them and melted them down to nothing but black blobs on the library floor. There as another cry as the cloaked man got caught in the chaos. The flames hit his face and he dropped the sword to cover his face to stop the pain that was inflected on him. When the flames subsided, Karma saw this as her moment and she limped over to the cloaked man. Claiming her sword, Karma dove the blade into Lester's stomach.

The man gasp and suddenly realized his own demise. He looked at Karma one last time before all the life had drained from him. He fell forward on Karma. The weight was too much on her, especially with an injured arm. She slumped to the ground with the cloaked man in tow. Wiggling, Karma struggled to get out from underneath the man. Panting, she leaned against a burnt bookshelf. Exhausted and ready for a long nap. She heard footsteps come thundering in. Turning her groggy head to the noise, she saw Jason coming at her. "Karma!" He said with relief. And it showed. His worried expression turned to relief as he saw Karma sitting there, banged up, but alive. He hopped over the cloaked man's body and came crouching in front of Karma.

"Thank goodness you're alive!" He said and brushed a strain of red curls out from her face. Karma gave him a weary look. Jason returned it. He turned his attention to the direction he had come from and shouted, "hey! She's over here! She's alright!" Reaching behind Karma, Jason helped her up. She wrapped her good arm around Jason's shoulder and placed her head on him, allowing Jason to do most of work.

"I did it." She whispered. "It's over."

••••

*1 "Salvete" ~ "Greetings"
*2 "Ons sword aangeval" ~ "we're under attack"