RPG Mists of Aurocon

[Little Serenity]

Irima, Monte, and Sariyah walked for what seemed like days. Sure, Akubar was only an hour away, but that was if you made REALLY good time. Finally, the trio reached Akubar.

"Wow, he wasn't kidding. This is gambling central..." Irima whispered.

"Well, you both are here, so, I'll just go and get some supplies and be off. See you in the papers Amiri." Sariyah walked off.

"Wait! Don't-!" Monte grabbed Irima's wrist.

"He'll be fine. Don't worry, I can provide you with lodgings, food, and probably a job as a nice dealer." He smiled. One of his teeth was golden. Irima recoiled in disgust.

"I'll just run after him. Thanks for... everything... Monte." Irima turned to go.

"I don't think so- IRIMA!" Monte pulled her staff out of Irima's loose hand and whacked her with it.

"Cruel... Irony..." were Irima's last words as she fell to the dirt. No one seemed to notice her limp form on the ground. Monte tossed aside her staff, picked her up and carried her off.

"Ack. I forgot that the apothecary is..." Sariyah trailed off. He had almost tripped over something. Something that looked nastily like Irima's staff. "She wouldn't go anywhere without this... it's her entire power..." He picked it up, seeing that someone was staring it with dollar signs in their eyes. "It's mine, back off." The seedy looking guy ran off. "Where is she? Wait a minute, why do I even care?!!"

[i]Back off, Monte.[/i]

"Can't I rid myself of her?!!" With that, Sariyah ran down the street yelling, "Amiri!! Amiri! Where in hell are you?!!"

About an hour later, Irima wasn't exactly feeling so great. She was sitting, her head aching, in a prison cell, her hands manacled. She opened her eyes slowly.

"This must be what it's like to be Sariyah..."

"Good morning, Black Quessir." Irima snapped to attention. Monte was sitting across from her, grinning widely.

"Where am I?"

"You're in the dungeons of the Fist of Five Casino. I didn't think it proper to bring you to the proper authorities until I've... taken my share."

Irima shrank in her prison. "You wouldn't dare." She groped for her staff. It wasn't anywhere to be seen. "I'll kill you!"

"Well, Miss Irima, I'm highly doubtful. I threw away your staff, but you didn't seem to have any other weapons on you." Monte walked up to the door and unlocked it, stepping inside. "I took all of your cash too. Once I'm finished with you, I'll find Sariyah. He was a sucker, I'll tell you that."

"Get back!" Irima pulled out her veil and adjusted it over her face. "I can kill you!" Monte trapped her between his arms against the wall.

"You can't." He smiled, "I'm about to become a very rich man... beautiful Irima."

[Dragon Warrior]

Monte slowly let his grip loose and walked backwards out of the cell, grinning Irima down. She shuddered as he closed the door and walked down the hall laughing. Irima put her head in her hands and started to sob lightly. The moon had shown through the small window above. She looked out it from her crying and sighed.

"Sariyah... help me..."


"Okay! The man won a hefty 4000!" The crowd around the poker table went wild. The whole casino was a hussel with live action of good gambling and bad gambling.

Sariyah entered, carrying Irima's staff in his right hand. Kind of odd to see a bounty hunter holding a white mage's staff, but whatever works in this crazed town. No one cared. They wanted money! Peering around the vicious crowds of gamblers, he spotted a particular table and wished to try his luck.

"It's not like I care about her anyways," he told himself out loud. "I'll play some games. She can do without her staff, I bet." She walked over to the black jack table and began to play. Placing a bet of 50 Gold, he sat back and let the cards fly.

"A King, sir. Wish to hit?" Sariyah took a peek at his face down card. [i]An ace! Perfect. I just need a jack or something.[i] "Will you hit, sir?" The man said a second time, more impatient.

"Yes, yes! Calm down, God." He placed down the card revealing a Queen. Sariyah smiled.

"I'll stay." The others didn't do so hot and Sariyah ended up winning countless times. This angered the others. After ten wins in a row, Sariyah gathered his change into his pouch and stood.

"Well, it's been fun, ladies." The men grunted. Sariyah grinned again. "I think I'll take my leave now while I'm still ahead." He started his way out, but he was stopped by a couple of the gamblers he faced.

"We don't like cheaters," one said, breathing heavily into Sariyah's face. Sariyah waved a hand and winced.

"And I don't like people with bad personal hygiene."

"That's it!" The man brought up a fist, but it was suddenly stopped by one of the workers of the casino.

"Get out." The man looked up at the worker. "Now!" The two slithered away scared. Sariyah looked at the man who just saved him from a serving of knuckle sandwich. "You Sariyah?"

"Yeah." Sariyah gave the man a look.

"We have a problem."


Sariyah was lead into a room that was bare and made of metal. The door slammed shut behind him, making a terrible sound.

Sariyah glared at the worker. "Haven't you guys heard of oil?"

"Sariyah," a man behind a desk appeared and said, "Do you know why you're here?"

"Because I have a gambling problem?"

"Close. Bring him in." Suddenly, another door opened and Monte was pushed in. Sariyah covered his eyes. Monte was naked.

"Oh sweet mercy of God! Whatever I did, I don't diserve this!"

"It's not what you did, Sariyah. It's what he did." The man shot the nude Monte a glance.

Without looking, Sariyah responded. "What did he do?"

"He jumped someone in the streets, robbed them of their money and tossed them in prison saying they were some evil witch or something. He then blew all the money he stole and gambled it!"

"Is this true, Monte?" Sariyah asked, still not looking.

"Yes, Mister Sariyah." Monte bowed his head.

"Who was it he locked up?" Sariyah continued.

"A woman named Amiri. I think you are familiar with her?"

"Yes!" Sariyah removed his hand finally. Then seeing Monte, shunned once more. "Is she released?"

"She will be once Monte here pays for all he owes the Casino."

"Huh?"

"He said you'd pay for him."

Sariyah shot Monte a glance, not even bothering to shun. He was too angry. "How much does he owe you?"

"70,000 Gold." Sariyah almost choked.

After regaining himself, Sariyah questioned further. "What if I do not pay?"

"Then," the man started, removing a knife from his desk drawer, "He will pay with the skin off his back." Monte bowed his head again in shame.

"You're not really a business man, are you, Monte?"

"No."

"You're just a gambler mooching off me and Ir--I mean, Amiri! Aren't you?"

"Yes."

Sariyah put his hands on his head and collapsed into a chair. He didn't know what to do. "Let him go," Sariyah began. Monte's head slowly rose. "Give him his clothes back, for God sakes!" Sariyah finally stood. "You'll have your money."

"Done." Sariyah sadly reached for his pouch and placed the money he had just won and the rest he had already on the table. "Glad we agree," the man chuckled and Sariyah was walked towards the door.

"I did this for Irima," he mumbled to Monte as he left. He was lead to her cell. By this time, she cried out all tears she could. The door opened and she jumped, but upon seeing Sariyah, she leapt into his arms.

"Sariyah! Am I glad to see you!" Sariyah shushed her.

"It's okay, it's okay. I bought you out."

"Great!"

"I also got your staff. C'mon." The two left the cell and the door closed behind with that same annoying sound as before. "I swear! Oil does wonders!"

[Little Serenity]

Irima and Sariyah both walked out of the Fist of Five Casino, both flat broke. Irima had her staff back and Sariyah was not in a good mood.

"I- I'm sorry you had to give them all your cash..." Sariyah didn't respond. "Are you mad at-"

"OF COURSE I'M ANGRY WITH YOU!!" Irima winced away. "I just blew all my money on you and that cheating loser! How are we supposed to get out of this place without any money?! We'll die before we even get halfway to the next town!" They walked in silence for a few minutes. "Heck, we can't even sleep somewhere decent!"

"There... there is one way, that you could get your money back."

"Really? How. I'm sure that that shifty-looking prison guard's already gambled it away." Irima held up the manacles that had bound her in the prison cell. "Where'd you get those?"

"I pinched them from the casino." Irima looked up at him, "Turn me in."

[Dragon Warrior]

Sariyah gave her a funny look. "Just do it," she egged on.

"I--I can't."

"Please, Sariyah."

"Then how are you going to escape?"

"You leave that to me." She gave him a wink and he decided to go through with the plan.

Moments later, a cloaked man approached the prison guard with Irima chained behind him. He tugged at her and she stumbled. "C'mon!" He called behind him.

"What do yous want?" The guard grunted. His teeth were mostly missing.

"I'd like to turn in Irima the Black Quessir." The guard almost choked. He beckoned for the cloaked man to repeat. "I said, I've come here to turn in Irima the Black Quessir for the Gold I'll get."

"Let me see," the guard grunted again and pushed the cloaked man aside to view Irima in the chains. He put a hand to her chin and lifted his head up so he could see her face clearly. He snorted, then gave a not-so-toothy grin. "It's here alright." He stood back up and Irima made a face at him.

"Is it a deal?" The cloaked man asked.

The guard came up to the door of the prison and nodded. "Yeah, yeah." It began raining as he pulled down the lever and the door came down like a drawbridge. The cloaked man nodded at the humble guard and dragged Irima in.

The inside of the prison was more of a dungeon. It was totally made of large stone and torches were the only lights to illuminate the halls. The cloaked man was lead by another guard down the hallways. He passed many cells with people moaning. Irima shuddered.

"Almost there, mister," the guard said, almost at a shout. He opened to large doors revealing a room with a man behind a desk. This room was actually nice looking. The cloaked man entered, tugging Irima behind until they stopped before the desk.

"Hell, sir," said the man behind the desk. "I am Lumiere, the Warden of Akubar Prisons. I thank you for so kindly choosing our prison to drop off," he nodded to Irima, "the Black Quessir Irima. I heard there was some commotion back at the casino."

"Just a mistake," the cloaked man said, still not revealing his face from under his hood which cast shadows all around except his mouth.

"Very well. We'll pay you 300,000 Gold."

"That was not the deal."

"Take it or we'll take you both and lock you away." The doors behind the cloaked man slammed shut. The cloaked man grinned.

"You drive a hard bargain. Done." The man behind the desk tossed a bag of gold into the air and the cloaked man caught it in an instant. He put it away into his cloak and watched Irima get dragged off.

"Let me go!" Irima struggled. her voice was heard until the doors slammed closed. The man removed his hood revealing Sariyah. He peered at the bag of Gold, put it back in his cloak, and left the prison.

[Little Serenity]

Irima sat on her prison bench, readjusting her veil, and sulking. She hadn't thought that Sariyah would actually turn her in! And for only a miniscule FRACTION of what she was worth!

"Some knight in shining armor he turned out to be." She sighed and stood up, waiting. Soon, a cloud passed over the moon. Irima got to work. She removed her shoe. Inside were several small pieces of silver. She dropped one into her mouth and swallowed. She shuddered as if she was cold. Slowly, from her stomach, her body disappeared. The bars of the cell were so far apart, that Irima simply slipped her slender form through them. On her way by Lumiere's desk, she took his pencil and put two thin lines through her name. She practically waltzed out of the prison, the guards never seeing a thing. She walked to the Fist of Five Casino, where the cloaked man Sariyah was staying. Irima found him sleeping in one of the best rooms. Shutting the door quietly behind her, she walked up to where Sariyah was sleeping. She placed her cold hands on his face. Sariyah jumped a foot, drawing his sword.

"Guess who?" She smiled.

"Irima?! Where... where are you?! Oh God, this woman haunts me even in my head!"

"Don't be stupid, I've escaped from prison using Silverbane. It has special properties when ingested, such as... invisibility." She winked at him but he couldn't tell.

"Why?! Why did you come back here...?!" Sariyah groaned.

"Hmph! So you were just going to leave me in jail?"

"I was thinking about it!"

"You louse!" She raised her staff, then realized that he couldn't see her doing so, "I'm gonna hit you with my staff again!"

"GAH!!! No don't!!" He ran around the room, trying to avoid an invisible Irima, covering his head. He stopped running. Nothing had happened. The room was silent. "Maybe... I'm just losing my mind..." Sariyah sighed and crawled back into his huge bed, sighing with relief. He was just tired, he wasn't hearing Irima's voice. She was all the way back at that jail, probably moaning in agony. He smiled and fell asleep.

Hours later, sunlight streamed through Sariyah's window. He blinked awake and sighed, remembering last night. He now had /\300,000 and he was rid of Irima. He got up to get dressed, looking around for his clothes. He walked around the bed, kicking something to the side. It was leather armor... made for a woman. Sariyah stared at it in horror. His eyes then traveled to Irima's gloves, her veil, her sheer pants, and her staff, littered all over the ground. He turned his head slowly. Irima was sleeping on the other side of the bed, smiling to herself.

"This is all a halucination... it can't be real..." Sariyah told himself. "Her clothes are not on my floor and she is not in my bed... nope, no she's not." He walked up to the other side of the bed and poked at Irima's shoulder. She cracked one eye open, yawned and sat up.

"Morning Sariyah! I hope you found somewhere else to sleep." Sariyah's entire body felt like jello.

"You... you slept... IN MY BED?!!!"

"Yeah, I hope you didn't mind the floor."

"[i]I[/I] SLEPT IN MY BED!!!"

Irima looked at the other side of the bed, then back at Sariyah. "YOU HENTAI!!!!" She pulled the comforter over herself and got up, heading straight for her staff.

"HEY!! I WASN'T THE ONE WHO WAS INVISIBLE, OKAY?!!"

"GET OUT!!!" Irima pushed Sariyah out of the room and slammed the door shut. A few men passed by, taking note of the fact that a bounty hunter was standing in the hall in his underwear. Sariyah glared at them and they hurried away.

"IR-" He growled in frustration, "AMIRI!" he pounded on the door, "OPEN THIS DOOR NOW!"

"No!"

"Amiriiiiii....!!"

"Trouble with your wife, dear?" The Landlady smiled at Sariyah.

"Get lost lady!" Sariyah ran at the door several times, trying to break it down. THAT'S IT!! YAAAAAAAAAAH!!" With new resolve, Sariyah rushed at the door, and would have broken it down, if Irima hadn't opened it for him. He went sprawling into the bed.

"Such a racket Sariyah. You're liable to get us kicked out. I'll wait for you downstairs."

Sariyah lay face down in the bed for a few seconds, "I... hate... her..."

[Dragon Warrior]

The casino's diner was humbled with many people. They were not gamblers, but just civilized people passing through like Sariyah and Irima. Sariyah, rubbing his head with a towel since he just took a shower, entered the diner and peered around.

"No sign of Amiri." He beamed. "I guess I lost her... again." He put the towel on his shoulders and approached a buffet table. It was built with a wide spread of delicious assortments of food such as breads and fruits and cruissants and cordial. He piled his plate.

He turned around with a gleam in his eye and walked right into Irima. "Yeesh! Ir--Amiri! What are trying to do? Give me a heartattack?"

She picked a strawberry from his plate and popped it in her mouth. "No need to have a baby elf, Sariyah. Come. Sit over by me. I got us a great table with a view." She followed her, more against his will than anything else, to a table by a window. She was right. The view did show the ocean since the casino was on a cliff. Sariyah seated himself as did Irima. She already had a plate of food she had started on.

Sariyah feasted thoroughly and irima watched with glee. "So, hentai, why did you plan on leaving me in the jail. I thought we had a deal."

Sariyah looked up from eating. "Now, look here, Irima," he started, but corrected when he saw people look, "Now, look here, Amiri, you didn't explain things so well so I guess I mistook what you meant by 'allowing yourself to be tossed in jail so we could get the money.' My bad."

"Well, I didn't really want to be taken into a cell. I thought you'd whoop out your sword and slay them and run off with me and the loot!"

"Oh yes. I think I'll stake my tiny dagger of a sword and fight off about forty or fifty of Aurocon's best guards. I do it everyday for my morning workout, anyways, so what's the sweat." He rolled his eyes and bit into some bread.

"Don't get crabby with me, Sariyah. I think I explained the plan very well."

"Well, Ms. Amiri, I think we both have very different definitions of the word 'well', hm?" He drank some cordial and Irima glared.

"And this is what I get for getting you money?"

"You lost it in the first place!"

"That was Monte!"

"Yes, but I wouldn't of had to pay for Monte if you hadn't been in the deal."

"Then why did you bother paying if I'm such a hassel?"

"Because I--" Sariyah cut short and sat back in his seat. Irima made a curious look. "I guess I'll thank you for the money, Amiri."

"You don't have to call me that. My name is cleared now that I was in jail. I marked my name off and that means I am [i]supposedly[/i] executed by now. Irima is a free name."

"Oh, glad the jail idea had something good to it."

"Yeah, I guess it did." She looked down at her meal, the back at Sariyah with a smile. "Thank you."

Sariyah looked up with a mouth full of fruit. "Fwer bwaht?"

"For getting my name cleared." She shifted in her chair. "I'll never lie about my name again."

Sariyah swallowed. "Good. Less trouble. What about the men or women who are after you?"

"They won't get me.." Sariyah nodded, though he didn't understand. "That is, as long as you're with me."

Sariyah choked on his cordial. "Woah, woah, woah, let's not start getting the idea we're travelling together again. I have no intentions to go along on adventures with you. I am, afterall, a bounty hunter and therefore, my life is gruesome and you'd faint at the sight of blood."

Irima posed a shocked face. "I most certainly would not!"

"Uh huh... yeah."

"You can't prove that." Sariyah nodded and suddenly, without warning, shouted. Blood cascaded down his arm.

"I just sliced myself with ths knife!"

"Oh my God!" Irima put her hands over her eyes and turned away while Sariyah began laughing.

"It's just cordial to prove my point." He wiped away the wine and sat back in his chair. "I'm sorry Irima, but we go our seperate ways now. Besides, I'm sure you have a family somewhere that's worried sick." He stood up and tossed the towel onto the back of his chair. Picking up his pack and such, he nodded to Irima. "Good day." With that, he left the casino, left Akubar, left Irima.

[Little Serenity]

Irima sat there, stunned for a few seconds. Sariyah's food still had steam coming off of it, yet he was gone. Gone, probably forever. She reached over and started chugging cordial right out of the bottle.

"Hey, you going to be okay missie?" The waiter came over to her.

"Give me three more of these."

"THREE?!"

"I've got cash."

"Alright..."

For the next twenty minutes, Irima sat at the table drinking and crying her eyes out. A group of guys wearing leather everything entered the casino. The leader glanced over at Irima who was a mess. Her veil had been discarded, her hair hung askew and her face was very red indeed. The gang seated themselves strategically around Irima.

"Whazzamatta honey?"

"He.. he...(hiccup) He left me!" The leader smiled widely.

"Don't worry, he won't bother you anymore. Did he knock you up and then leave you?"

"Do-don't be shilly. He wouldn't have the (hiccup) the gutsh to do dat..."

"Then why are you so blitzed out?"

"Lishten, when you're a girl like me, when you find shomeone you can trusht, it's a lifeshaver. And..." She sobbed again, "He jusht left me! Without any regard for my feelingsh!" She started crying heavily again. The gang guffawed stupidly as the leader put his arm around Irima's waist.

"Don't worry, we care about you. How much cash do you have on you, hon?"

"Well," she giggled and hiccuped, "Dun tell dat waiter-guy ova dere... but... I'm flat broke! I just escaped from jail ya know!"

"Really..." The gang started to get up.

"Yep! Everyone thinks that Irima the Black Quessir is dead, but... heh heh heh, I know betta..." The leader sat down again.

"What's your name honey?"

She giggled again, "Weren't you listenin'? I'm Irima the Black Quessir!"

The door of the casino suddenly burst open, "IRIMA THE BLACK QUESSIR ESCAPED!! HER CELL WAS LEFT LOCKED AND EMPTY!"

"Oooops, maybe I shoulda unlocked it..." She giggled again and took another swig of wine.

"GET HER BOYS!! She's worth a fortune!!" Irima giggled again. Everyone in the buffet room began scrambling to get their hands on Irima. She lept away from the gang leader and whacked him on the head playfully.

"You're it!!" She giggled and swung from the low chandelier onto a balcony. Everyone watched her, ravenous. "Oh... you can all be it... well, okay!" Irima picked up her staff and began running through the room dodging people who were trying to tackle her. After a few minutes Irima passed out on the floor, a sleezy grin on her face. Everyone dogpiled on Irima trying to get her. Suddenly, the sky became very dark. People suddenly became panicked.

"IT'S IRIMA!! SHE'S CALLING THE MIST!!"

"Everyone run for your lives!!!" The entire casino started to run out of the door, however, a gray mist suddenly poured into the room, clouding everyone's vision. There were several screams of panic and stampedeing noises. Suddenly, all was quiet. Several figures stood over Irima. One held the other back.

"Don't bother. She's dead already. She won't serve any purpose." The mist subsided. A few people lay dead, but most of the people were gone, as if they'd vanished into thin air...

Irima blinked her eyes twice, waking up with a splitting headache. Everything seemed to be swimming.

"Oh... my head... why did I get drunk...?" Suddenly, everything came flooding back. Sariyah leaving her and... something about a gang leader. She got up looking around. She gasped at what she saw. Everyone was either gone or dead.

"It's... the Mists! Oh God!! SARIYAH!!" Irima grabbed her veil and staff and ran down the streets, frantically calling his name.

[i]What if he didn't leave the city?! Everyone was either killed or taken by the mists![/i] Irima sunk to her knees in the middle of the abandoned city. [i]He's gone. The only person who ever cared about me and what happened to me is gone...[/i]

[i]Besides, I'm sure you have a family somewhere that's worried sick.[/i] Sariyah's words rang in Irima's ears.

"I... I don't have a family... I told you that Sariyah! Why did you leave me?!!" She used her staff to stand up, "I'll never forgive you! EVER!! I'll make sure you pay for what you've done to me! You're just like all the rest of them! Every last one who played with me as though I was a doll!" Irima searched the storehouses and finally found some red paint. Carefully, she climbed to the tower of the Fist of Five Casino and painted one word on the tower: [i]Sariyah.[/i]

As she climbed down with the can, a single silent tear fell down her face. She looked at her work and tried her best to smile. It wouldn't come. She started sobbing. With a wave of her staff, the words now read: [i]The Mists of Aurocon.[/i] She walked toward the south, towards a river she could follow to another town. Maybe she could change her name to... Amiri. She repressed a sob. Teeth clenched she kept walking.

A day later, Irima was still walking, not daring to sleep. When she did sleep, her dreams were haunted with her laughing face as Sariyah amused her. She would awake crying and beating the ground, screaming "I hate him! I hate him!".

Irima finally had to stop to rest. She sat by the river and watched it flow north... oddly enough. The current was strong. She waded up to her knees, strapping her staff to her back. She let the wind caress her sweaty face. She didn't dare lift her veil though. Instead, Irima let down her hair so it fell across her shoulders. She heard shouts coming from the brush.

"The tracks end here!" Three men with small crossbows entered the clearing. "It's her! The Black Quessir!" Irima turned to them and gave them what looked like a drugged look. Her eyes drooped, the corners of her mouth slightly turned up. "GET HER!!"

"This is for my brother!" One of the men shouted. He took aim at Irima's shoulder. His aim was true. In a matter of seconds, Irima had a crossbow bolt in her shoulder. She looked down at it, then fell into the water. Her body was swept northward with the current.

[Dragon Warrior]

"Oh, I'm a happy elf, that I am,
I cross a river by a dam.
I sing a tune, I whistle a song,
I dance and laugh all night long.

Hahahahaha!

I'm a happy elf, that I am,
loving a lion like a lamb.
With a spring in my step and love in my heart,
With a smile my day will start!"

Sariyah leapt over to a river and washed his face after the joyful singing. nodding as he did, he rubbed his eyes clean of any sleep sand and jumped back up to a stand. He beamed. he was quite happy that day. So on he went, following the river side as he sang.

"Oh, I'm a happy elf, that I am,
I can be gentle but be tough as a ram.
I like to sing, I like to dance,
and I--"

His singing stopped when he saw sight of a figure floating down stream. He couldn't make out who it was until they got near. His eyes widened, his jaw dropped, and all happiness leaked away. "You've gotta be... how in the... eh... nyah... nyaaahhh... WHY GOD?!" he jumped into the water and walked towards Irima's body. He was up to his shoulders in water, but he managed to drift her towards shore.

He placed her on the grass and pushed on her chest. "Breath!" Nothing. He kept on trying and sure enough, water sputtered out. She began choking and that was the time Sariyah noticed the arrow. Why she still was not aware of her surroundings, Sariyah yanked it out.

"OOOWWWW!!!" She gained her vision and saw Sariyah. "Why you little--Sariyah!" She jumped up and hugged him, but quickly fell back on the grass with a wince.

"You're injured. Take it easy." He pushed her back down when she tried to get up. Sariyah stood and sighed. "I suppose it's back to nursing you." He sighed again and walked over to his pack for supplies.

[Little Serenity]

Irima stood up, holding her shoulder. "I don't need you! I can get on by myself!"

"What? You're barking! Hold still, you're bleeding very badly." Sariyah started bandaging her shoulder. She slapped him with the back of her hand. It wasn't the joking type of strike either. It was cold and angry. "What's your friggin' problem?!! Why aren't you home?!"

"I DON'T HAVE A HOME!" Irima stood up. "I thought I had someone I could count on once, but I was seriously mistaken." She tackled Sariyah, sitting on his chest.

"Heh, guess you're back to normal." She stared at him. Before Sariyah could blink, Irima was strangling him, or at least trying to.

"I hate you... I HATE YOU..."

"Ir-ima what's wrong?!!" Sariyah stared into her eyes, they were foggy and unfocused. "STOP!!" He executed a well-aimed punch into Irima's injured shoulder. She screamed in pain and fell away from him. He aimed his sword at her throat. "What is up with you?!!"

"Sa-sariyah..." she moaned, covering her face. "Oh God... don't look at me... I could never hurt you... why, why did I try to?!"

"Are you-?" He took a cautious step toward her.

"Don't come near me! I don't want to hurt you again!" Sariyah kept coming. "I thought I told you to stay back!!" He sat down next to her and began bandaging her shoulder. "No... stop... I..." He finished fixing Irima's shoulder in silence.

"I didn't know you never had a home. I'm sorry."

Irima sat on the ground for a few seconds. "Are you going to leave me again...?" Sariyah looked over his shoulder, then sat down to tend the fire.

[Dragon Warrior]

Sariyah then sighed and looked back at Irima. "If you need me that much," he began and her eyes lit a little, "and if you can stand being near my job," she grew happier, "I do need a healer..."

"Yes!" She stood, but fell back down in pain.

Sariyah shook his head and smiled. "Calm down." And then he served some dinner.


Later that night, someone crept around their camp. Irima slept soundly with her bandages on her and Sariyah sat with his back against the tree next to her. The figure crept closer and closer. It was a shadow of a man. To be precise, Monte!

He crept to Irima and was about to touch her when a sword laid against his throat. "Hello, Monte," Sariyah said with a frown. The fire illuminated his face in the most horrifying ways.

"Uh, hello Mister Sariyah."

"What do you want?" Sariyah didn't move the blade.

"I simply wanted to... uh.. thank you for your good deeds back at Akubar."

"You need a better excuse than that."

"Umm... I want to repay you?" Monte was tossed down, sword to throat, Sariyah angered.

"BECAUSE OF YOU, I LOST ALL MY MONEY! IT WAS ONLY HER DOING THAT GOT IT BACK!" Irima gradually awoke and saw Sariyah's act.

"Sariyah!" She shouted. Then she saw Monte. "Oh. It's him. What does he want?"

"To repay you two! Honest!" He shivered under Sariyah's wake.

"What do you think Irima?" Sariyah questioned her.

Irima glared at the cowering male under Sariyah's falchion and slowly her frown faded. "Let him go."

"What?" Sariyah and Monte said at once.

"If he messes up again, I personally get to kill him." Sariyah let Monte up and he grovelled.

"Thank you, thank you! SO MUCH!"

"Yes, yes..." Irima waved him off.

"I thank you! I do!"

"Good. Now go!"

"Thank you so much! I--" Sariyah knocked Monte out and they all got some rest.

[Little Serenity]

"Hey... Sariyah?"

"Hm?"

"I... really don't think we should trust Monte."

"Tell me something I don't know."

"When... when he was grovelling, I swear I saw him smile... It... really creeped me out. It was like I was back in that prison cell."

Sariyah sat up suddenly, "He did something to you?!!"

"No no... just threatened me. But... I was really scared that my old life had come back to haunt me."

Sariyah leaned against the tree again. "Don't worry about it. We don't have anything that he'd want anymore. I hid the cash so he wouldn't find it."

"Smart move." Sariyah nodded. With some difficulty, Irima got to her knees and faced Sariyah. She studied his face until he noticed her staring at him.

"Wh- what? Why are you staring at me like that?"

Irima shrugged, "It seemed... as though I've met you before. But, I don't remember seeing anyone like you when I was younger, and I know that you wouldn't have been on that caravan of theives." Irima winced with pain.

"Lie back down. That wound is serious." He paused, "How did it happen?"

Irima considered for a minute. If she said anything significant, Sariyah would leave her again and, even though irony was on her side, she might not see him again this time. "I- I just got lazy and some drunk guy shot me." There was a pause. "They know that the Black Quessir isn't dead."

Sariyah's head leaned back on the tree as he looked at the sky and sighed, "What did you do?"

"I didn't do anything. Okay... I forgot to unlock the jail cell, so it was empty and locked. It's... kind of my trademark." She smiled and leaned against Sariyah's shoulder.

"Hey! What are you doing?!!" He jumped out of the spot and Irima slid onto the ground, bad shoulder first.

"YIEEEE!! Thanks a heap!" Irima rolled over onto the ground. "You know... you're a heck of a lot softer than the ground." Sariyah sat back down.

"Sorry. Just panicked."

"It's okay. At least now I know I have to work on you more. You're too jumpy." She turned to grin at him and recieve some kind of retort, but Sariyah was asleep, head on his chest. Irima smiled, eyebrow arched. "Some guard you make."

[Dragon Warrior]

"MORNING!" Sariyah leapt clear into the air and hit his head on a tree branch. Falling to the ground and rubbing it, he peered at an ever-so-jumpy Irima. "I made breakfast!"

"Wha--how did you heal so fast?" Sariyah winced.

"I'm a white mage. We heal faster than you... well... than you!" She held out a flat rock with fish on it. Sariyah made a mocking face at it, but took it with a smile to please her. He hated fish now that he's had it so much.

Monte rolled over and grabebd Irima's leg in his sleep. She jumped and kicked his face, giving him a rude awakening. "Ow!! Son of a--" He got up with a bloody nose.

"I'm sorry, Monte," Irima apologized with a grin. "You can't do that to me."

Monte put a hand out. "'Tis alright. Think nothing of it." He fell back and Irima decided to just toss the fish on his chest. Seconds later, knights on horseback rode through their camp, but stopped at the sight of them.

"I say, milady, do you per chance know where the Black Quessir is?"

"Who wants to know?" Sariyah answered for her. He appeared to still be sleeping so no one paid any mind to him until he spoke. His hair still remained over his face and his head bowed.

"We are the Knights of the Court of Aurocon. Sent by the King himself to stop the Mists before they become well spread."

"Like peanut butter," the second knight said.

"I am Sir Rogan and this is my counterpart, Sir Wade. We travel far to seek the Black Quessir and stop this madness!"

"It's crazy!" Wade added.

"We don't know this Black Quessir," Irima replied sweetly. Sir Rogan gave her a look of happiness.

"Okay, milady. Thank you. That is all." he then turned to Sariyah who hadn't moved since their arrival. "Sir," he said with a nod. Sariyah lifted a lazy hand and waved a little. "Let's ride off, Wade! Yah!" He kicked his horse's side and he was off down the trail.

"Off we go like two fish stuck in upstream!" His similes were terrible, but he was gone in a flash, nevertheless. Irima wiped sweat from her forehead.

"This is getting dangerous. I wish I could somehow convince everyone I'm not the Black Quessir and it's a lie!"

Sariyah finally lifted his head. "Here's an idea." Irima looked curious now. "Talk to the King."

"The King?"

"Yeah."

Irima looked shocked. "I can't just waltz into his court and say I'm not the Black Quessir, now can I?"

"If we get there, I'll do all the talking. You just follow any plan I have."

"I dunno..." She looked away and into the flames of their fire.

"Just trust me. We'll leave this afternoon when Monte heals his silly wound. It'll take some time to get there. Like, weeks, but with Monte being a good guide, we can't lose."

"I guess."

"Then it's settled. Now how about more fish. I may be sick of it, but I'm as hungry a bear in hibernation!"

"Your similes are worse than Sir Wade's!" Irima laughed.

[Little Serenity]

Irima and Sariyah ate their breakfast quickly and began to break camp. Irima helped Sariyah pack up all of his things, considering that she didn't have anything. When they were ready, Irima kicked Monte awake.

"We're going to see the King." Irima said flatly, "You're going to help us? Capiche?"

"YOU are going to see the King?"

"Got a problem with that?" Sariyah had his hand on the hilt of his sword.

"No no... not at all, of course not. It's just..." A sly smile crept over Monte's lips. "Why would the Black Quessir want to see the King if she was not planning to kill him?"

Sariyah took an angry step forward, but Irima got to Monte first. "You - take - that - back." Monte made some kind of noise between a whimper and a cough. "I am NOT the Black Quessir, I never intend to be, and I DO NOT KILL anyone. At least... anyone who doesn't threaten me." Another whimper/cough from Monte.

"Alright, alright, I'll take you there! In two week's time, the King is holding a masked ball. You should be able to corner him there. Here," Monte handed Irima a ring with a black rose on it. "The King recognizes anyone who carries this symbol as his ally. Why do you want to see him anyway if you're NOT the Black Quessir?"

"That's enough questions." Sariyah spoke before Irima could open her mouth. "Just lead us to the King, to repay us for our help." Monte turned away and began walking down the path.

Irima shuddered, "I... I'm afraid of Monte."

"What on Earth for?!"

"He- he reminds me of someone, but I'm not sure who..."

"Everyone you see reminds you of someone."

"That's not true!"

"Is so."

"Is not."

"Is so."

"Is not..."

[Dragon Warrior]

A crack of thunder, a flash of lightning. The whole forest was illuminated with wonderful and horrifying features of the stormy skies. Dreadful rain poured down on the trio, but they pressed on, determined to make it in time for the Masked Ball at the Knight's Court.

Irima fell back behind the group, shunning the harsh rain and winds. Sariyah noticed this and gave her his cloak to shield her. She accepted the gift happily and they went on. Monte looked back and shrugged. "Come on, ladies! We don't have all day!" Monte suddenly found a sword to his throat, but when Sariyah was pulled back by Irima, he saw it was just it's cabbard. "Grumpy!"

The storm lasted all day, but the trio couldn't. Often they fell to the soggy ground in the pouring rain, wishing for it to stop. When it didn't, they stood and went on. Sariyah gave Irima a hazy look. "Can't you cast a spell and make this rain stop?"

"I'm a white quessir," she shouted over the sound of the rain. "I can't cast such spells."

"Drats." Sariyah shivered. He was soaked. Irima was even damp as hell even with the cloak. It just got wet anyhow. Monte didn't seem so well. He coughed and sneezed. He didn't look very pleased neither.

Just as Sariyah felt he would collapse, they went to the top of a mountain and saw a beautiful landscape. Trees across mountains, the skies in the East sunny and warm. The rain had stopped, but they didn't notice. They were too fixed upon the view.

"There," Monte pointed to a small icon in the distance. "That's Aurocon Castle. The Knight's court is there."

"Good. Then we know we're on the right trail."

"That may be," Monte agreed, "But we are also in danger. I hear the mists are closer to the castle than anywhere else. We may experience some trouble down there." He nodded his head at the forest below.

"We can make it," Irima said confidently. They then started down the hill towards the forest. The woods looked dark and dreary once in them, unlike what they were staring down at them from the hilltop.

"Why is it so hazy?" Sariyah asked, waving a hand to swat the bugs.

"Mists," Monte said, his eyes peirced.

"You sure?" Irima asked, but it was suddenly pitch dark. This is just what it's like to be trapped in the mists.

"Positive." There was a sudden howl and the group was ambushed by monsters.

[Little Serenity]

Irima took a step back, dodging a rabid dog-like creature. She noticed Monte trying to high tail it out of the mists. "DON'T MOVE! BOTH OF YOU! If we lose sight of each other, then we'll never... never find each other again!" Monte fell onto the ground, trembling. "Sariyah! When you strike these monsters... aaaack, I know this will sound lame but, think happy thoughts, dangit!!" Irima held her staff in front of her, "Protect!" Sariyah looked around as a green sphere formed around him. She winked at him.

"Hey... why don't you use that... that Holy thing?!" Irima gritted her teeth.

"I can't lose consciousness in the mists! Be sure that you don't either!" Irima clenched her staff and concentrated.

[i]If you need me that much...[/i] Irima smiled. "ESUNA!" A few monsters dicentegrated.

"Well... okay, think of something happy..."

[i]I'm sorry Irima, but we go our seperate ways now. Besides, I'm sure you have a family somewhere that's worried sick. Good day.[/i] Sariyah was practically crying with joy.

"Hey! What are you thinking about over there?!"

"Nothing..." Sariyah mumbled. He took a slash at one of the monsters. It disappeared into the mists. "What?! How does that work?!"

"The monsters... ack! ESUNA! The monsters are pure evil. They can't stand up to any happiness whatsoever." A few shadows started coming through the mists. "Sariyah! Give me a rope!" He tossed her one out of his bag. She tied one end around Monte's waist, the middle around her waist, and the other end she tossed to Sariyah to figure it out on his own. "We can't be separated! Run towards the castle Monte! Sariyah and I will pick off the monsters!"

[Dragon Warrior]

Monte didn't move. He was petrified by the drooling beast before him. He pawed at it and closed his eyes. [i]I want to go back home where I can play with my dog I had as a child. I wanna see my family! My baby sister![/i] The monster shrieked and ran off into the mist. Monte opened one eye, then, seeing that it was clear, opened the other. He leaped for joy, then started running, pulling Irima and Sariyah without warning.

He charged through the mist and in moments, they were out and had a clear view of the forest. The mist dissolved and was gone for good. Monte beamed. "I am the man! Who's da man? Monte's the man! Oh yeah, oh yeah! You don't mess with the Monte, monsters. No, no! Unless you want a whoopin'! Who can defeat Monte? No one! Who can defeat Monte? N--"

"Sariyah can," Sariyah said with an arm around Monte's neck. Then he smiled and gave the old gambler a noogie. "Haha! You did it, Monte. You lead us out. Good work for your first day."

"Thanks." Monte felt his neck.

"Yeah, we should set up camp, aye, Irima?" He looked at her and she was staring down at blood on her leather armor. "Irima, are you bleeding?"

She looked up with a worried expression on her face. "It's not my blood. It's..." Monte didn't feel so well, suddenly. He collapsed, grasping his waist. Sariyah and Irima ran to him and removed his arm. "Oh my God!" Irima shouted and put a hand to her mouth.

"You're... you're bleeding, Monte!"

"Just a flesh wound," Monte winced.

"Irima, heal him!" Sariyah gave her a sharp look. She was already too queezy from the bloodshed to pick up her staff. "Do it! His life depends on it!"

"I-- I can't!"

"And why the Hell not?"

"I--used all my magic in battle." Sariyah lowered his head. Monte whimpered.

"Am I going to die?" Monte began to cry a little.

"No." Sariyah lifted his head and stared Monte in the face. "No, you're not. We can fix this... we can... can't we?" He looked at Irima for supprt. She just turned away. Not even Irima wanted this. Sariyah turned back, lost in thought.

"Listen, Sariyah, thanks for helping me out at the casino. I did trick you, but you stuck through. This journey may of been my end, but I'm glad I ended it for your cause. You... you were my only friends."

"I'm glad to be it, Monte," Sariyah nodded. He couldn't cry. It wasn't in him. Irima did, though. As did Monte. "You're not going to leave us."

"It's my time. Blasted monsters. I guess they got the best of me. I'll get them while I sleep."

"No... I may of not liked you much... OH, what am I saying? I hated your guts... but to see you like this... it's just not right!"

Monte nodded with little ease. "I understand. I'll miss you both. You also cured my gambling problem. That ruined my life, my family, my everything. Now, for that, I shall pay with my own life." Sariyah bowed his head again.

"You won't die. I won't allow it." He lifted it again and his eyes went wide. "Monte? Monte?" He shook Monte's form and dropped it after moments later. He bowed his head once again.

"Is he--" Irima started.

"He's gone." Sariyah stood. It began raining again and the spot where Monte lay dead, it didn't pour on. That day, the birds sang for Monte.

[Little Serenity]

Irima wiped her eyes, still sniffling and shuddering. Sariyah untied the rope around him.

"He may have been an idiot... but he was just a man!" Irima sobbed. Sariyah felt a muscle go in his cheek. Irima stood up, placing her staff near Monte. She started to glow with a white aura and Monte disappeared in a thousand brilliant stars. "It's the least I can do for him..." She shuddered again. Night was falling. Sariyah placed his cloak over Irima's shoulders.

"C'mon," He said softly, "Let's get to the castle." It was almost pitch black when they finally made it to the castle. Irima showed the guard her ring and he let them in. They walked down a corridor and approached a skinny man with a monacle.

"Greetings. My name is Remophelle the Third. How can I be of assistance?"

"We are here to speak with the King, good Sir." Irima stated, her protocol perfect.

"Well, I'm afraid that the next chance that anyone will get will be the King's Masquerade Ball. Would you like a chamber until then?" Irima nodded.

"That would be most excellent, Sir."

"Alright, I shall need your name."

"Er-" Irima paused. Sariyah picked up the slack.

"Jovan."

"Alright..." He scrawled something on a piece of parchment, "One chamber for Lord and Lady Jovan."

"WHA?!! I mean... I beg your pardon? We, we are not married, Sir."

"Not married...? What are you doing trapsing about the countryside together then?" Remophelle gave Irima a look. "You're not a prostitute, are you?"

"Of course not Sir! I am scandalized! This kind gentleman found me floating in a river, injured, and he helped me."

"I see. Well the two of you will have to share a room. We can't waste all of our chambers to single guests."

"Well, thank you very much sir." Irima gave a quick curtsy, even though she was wearing pants. Remophelle led them into a considerably large room with a meal.

"Will you be needing clothes for the ball...?" Remophelle observed Irima's clothing.

"Er... yes, thank you." Irima curtsied again. Sariyah just stiffly bobbed his head. Remophelle left.

Irima exhaled rather quickly, "God, I'm always so nervous around those people..."

"Your protocol was flawless! How?!"

Irima shrugged, "Got me. Come on, let's eat this before it gets cold!"

[Dragon Warrior]

After the good meal, the two of them laid back in their beds and stared at the ceiling, happily full. "What a meal..." Sariyah bellowed.

"Yes, that it was," Irima answered.

Sariyah stared at her strangely. "That didn't make any sense."

"Yeah." She gave him a crooked smile.

"You're drunk!"

"Maybe." She giggled and fell to the floor. There was a sudden sound of a splash and Sariyah lifted his leg which dangled off the side of the bed.

"If you're going to hurl, don't do it on my boots."

"That wasn't me." They both looked around, then saw water cascading down the wall. There was no particular hole it came from. Then the room got cold and merky and the bed disappeared, dropping Sariyah on his rear.

"Ouch," he rubbed his behind.

"What's going on? Am I hullucinating?"

"If you are, then so am I." They both stood up and peered around as the room magically turned to a cave behind a waterfall. "What's going on?"

"It's all very simple, actually," said a familiar voice. Then, Remophelle came waltzing out through the waterfall and toward the two.

"You!" Sariyah said, caught off guard by Remophelle's sudden appearance. "What's going on?"

"How should I put this..." he asked himself and put a finger to his chin. "Ah yes, you have been tricked." The waiter suddenly became some kind of stout, black troll-like creature with a ponytail emerging from the top of his head.

"What are you?" Irima shouted at the little beast, now totally aware of her surroundings.

"Your worst nightmare," the little monster bared his teeth as he spoke.

Sariyah made a mocking expression. "Oh, c'mon! That's been used so many times!" Sariyah drew his sword in frustration.

"Uh uh uh!" The little black beast waved his hand and Sariyah's sword was flung from his hand and jabbed into the cave wall. "Now then, you shall both come see my master and I mean now!" Sariyah and Irima peered at each other. Irima's staff was clear across the room near the goblin monster. They sighed and followed unwillingly.

[Little Serenity]

Sariyah and Irima walked down a cave pathway that used to be the hall of the castle.

"Do you know how we got here Irima?"

"No, how?"

"Because OF YOU!!"

"Oh right..." She giggled, "Sorry."

"aHEM!" Remophelle cleared his throat loudly. "My Lord, these two warriors have intruded on our privacy. How should you punish them?"

"Hmm... That's a very good question." A rather attractive blonde youth with a thin face stood up from his chair. "Ah... we have a lady guest."

"YOW!!" Irima squealed. Sariyah arched his eyebrow. Irima shifted her position and straightened her back, "I am Irima the Black Quessir. Who might you be?"

"That's not your name!" Sariyah hissed.

"Did you say Black Quessir?"

"Yes I did." Irima winked at him. Sariyah sighed, exasperated.

"I am Tyniah, Lord of the Illusions. I have created all that you see before you."

"And you've created it well, if I do say so myself..." Irima sighed, her eyes still on him. Tyniah smirked at her.

"Come here... lovely Irima..."

"Y'see?! I AM pretty!" Irima hissed to Sariyah.

"Irima! Don't!" She had already crossed the room.

"I can't see your face Irima. It must be beautiful, as I've heard." Irima nodded, glassy-eyed and removed her veil. Tyniah took her hand and put his arm around her waist.

"Wai- What?!! What are you doing?! Stop it!" Sariyah looked frantically at Irima. "Irima?! Hey, Illusion guy! Let go of her!"

Tyniah looked up, "Oh, I'm so sorry. Jealous are we?" Irima still hung limp in his arms.

"You did something to her! That's not Irima! She'd never take off her veil!"

The Illusion Lord merely smirked at him. He propped Irima's head up and kissed her for what could have been a full minute.

"H-hey! Stop it!! Get a room or something!!" Sariyah covered his eyes, peeking from time to time.

Irima's eyes, which were at half-mast the entire time, now nearly jumped out of her sockets. Tyniah released her and she fell to the ground, a look of shock on her face. An instant later, she was surrounded by a black crystal structure. Tyniah laughed as Irima floated over to eleven more crystaline structures, all containing a similarly shocked black mage. "At last! I've found my 12th black mage and now, I will cast an illusion so powerful, that I will be king of Aurocon!" He laughed manaically, his minions joining in.

"Wait..." Sariyah started. "12th BLACK mage?"

"Yes, that's right. Irima the Black Quessir is my 12th black mage."

"Right." Sariyah rolled his eyes.

[Dragon Warrior]

"Take him away!" Tyniah commanded his minions and Sariyah was dragged off, grinning for he knew of Irima's secret. That she was just a simple white mage. "Now then, my pretties... wait... no, no... that sounds used. Ah yes! Now then, my beauties... no. That's so cliche. Hmm..." He tapped a finger on his chin as he thought.

"Uh... Now then, my magies?" a small goblin minion suggested.

"What? That's crazy! That's stupid! That's--fine." Tyniah turned back to the 12 crystals. "Now then, my MAGIES, I shall use you all as a sacrifice to power my plan. So sorry."

He put his 2 index fingers to the sides of his forehead and hummed a tune as he closed his eyes and concentrated his energy on the crystals. They glowed with an awesome power and the first one shattered, causing the black mage to become nothing, but smoke. The 2nd followed as did the 3rd, 4th, 5th, and so on until it reached Irima's. It did not break.

"What is all this?" Tyniah broke his trance and shouted.

"I'm not sure, sir. Is she really the Black Quessir? Maybe she isn't."

"Are you saying I'm wrong?" The goblin cowered before it's master. "Bring me the male elf! He has something to do with this!"

[Little Serenity]

Sariyah was brought up from the prison cell he had been in, smiling all the way.

"Trouble with Irima?" Sariyah smiled. The Illusion Lord fumed.

"Then you know my trouble! What is Irima exactly?!"

"She's a white mage, my friend. She has been falsely labeled as a Black mage." Sariyah produced his sword. "Release her now, so she can kill you. I don't think she'll be too please about what you did to her."

"I won't give up just yet!" Tyniah and Sariyah faced off together.

[Dragon Warrior]

Tyniah wasn't a push over. His spells of illusions knocked Sariyah clearly out of statistics. Though, Sariyah ha agility and strength on his side, what good was it if he couldn't get near enough to Tyniah to assail him.

"What do you want with her anyways?" Sariyah asked while dodging an energy ball shot from Tyniah's palm. "She is no good to you now that you know she's a white mage and not a black one!"

"I have other uses for white mages. With her, I cannot be defeated. Her healing powers will help me succeed in world domination."

"You're sounding cliche."

"Darn it! I hate sounding cliche!" Tyniah grew furious and lifted Sariyah off the ground and slammed him into a wall. He fell to the ground, wiping blood from his lip. "Now, I shall kill you and use your soul to cast this world into illusions."

Sariyah began to sweat in the heat of battle, but he luckily used his speed to leap to his feet, grab a spear held by a small goblin, shake the goblin off, and chuck it at Tyniah. He got it right in the right shoulder. Falling to his knees, Tyniah slowly pulled the spear from his collarbone and winced as he did. Staring at the enraged Sariyah, he spit to the ground.

"You scum."

"You're the only scum," Sariyah said, pointing at Tyniah with his sword tip. "Casting this world into a dark illusion to make everything your playground is sick. And what you did to all these attractive black mages and Irima is even sicker. Now release them all and myself or die!"

"Burn in hell!"

"Fine." Sariyah charged, sword drawn and ready to strike when suddenly, Tyniah was gone. For that fact, so was the whole cave. He was suddenly in a dark lair full of broken mirrors and clocks ticking counterclockwise. "What is this--"

"Like it?" a voice answered for him. "Made it myself."

"Is that you Tyniah."

"Haha... well... yes."

"Show yourself you coward."

"Oh, I'm actually standing right before you." Sariyah felt a kick to his stomach and he collapsed, holding it. Tyniah appeared where he was standing the whole time. "Oh right... you're just a silly elf. You don't know of any good magic." Tyniah smirked at the quivering Sariyah. "And now, you, your girlfriend, and all the other mages shall perish in what shall be soon known as my world of illusions!"

[Little Serenity]

"Hmph. You're pathetic." Tyniah kicked Sariyah across the room again. He fell into one of the broken mirrors.

"Now..." Tyniah made a sword appear out of thin air. "You die." He brought the sword over his head and brought it down quickly. Sariyah managed to roll out of the way. The mirror shattered into a million pieces onto the floor. There was a coughing sound near the mirror, then a groan and silence.

"Irima?!" Sariyah felt around the glass, but he couldn't see Irima.

"Damn it. I must have shattered her crystal." Tyniah gave Sariyah a look of disgust. Then he smiled, "Oh well, she's still unconscious. She can't be of any help to you or herself." Sariyah stood up again and Tyniah vanished. Sariyah looked around frantically, but then found out where Tyniah was as his sword pierced his side. He cried out in pain and fell to the ground again.

[i]Get up Sariyah![/i]

"Ir- ima...?"

[i]GET UP![/i]

Tyniah walked slowly over to Sariyah. "Well, how would you like to die? I have a wide variety of illusions that you might find satisfactory. Like this one," The scene changed. Sariyah and Tyniah were on a dock with a sunset in the background.

"Hm... it really doesn't suit you. How about this?" The scene changed to a windy day at the beach.

"Do you enjoy torturing me?!" Sariyah growled. Tyniah arched his eyebrow.

"Of course. You don't like this illusion... I've got one even better..." Tyniah smirked and the scene changed again. It was a wide open meadow with a gentle breeze. Sariyah was still lying on the ground, but his head was in Irima's lap. She was absentmindedly brushing locks of hair out of his face. She smiled down at him.

"STOP IT!!" Sariyah stood up and the illusion vanished. He and Tyniah were back in the room of mirrors. Sariyah's side was bleeding even more.

"You insolent whelp!" Tyniah slashed Sariyah's arm, he cried out in pain again.

[i]SARIYAH!![/i] It was Irima's voice again. He must be hallucinating, or it was another illusion.

"Ir- Ir- ima..."

"SHUT UP!!" Tyniah stood poised to strike, "NOW YOU DIE!"

[i]SOUL SPLITTER!!![/i] There was a burst of white light that blinded both Tyniah and Sariyah. A glowing, yet transparent, image of Irima with wings burst into the dark room.

"Irima?!!" Sariyah's eyes were wide. "No... it's another illusion!"

"I'm not an illusion Sariyah!" Irima said, matter-of-factly. "I'm Irima's soul."

"My God..." Tyniah stared at Irima, "Such power... It will be mine!!" He lunged forward, trying to grab Irima's soul, but he went straight through her. Irima came back around and put her arms around Tyniah's neck and touched her forehead to his. A symbol glowed on her forehead. Sariyah stared at what was going on.

[i]Why are you doing this, Tyniah...?[/i] Irima's voice came inside his head.

[i]Why does it matter?![/i]

[i]If you won't tell me, I can perform another Soul Splitter spell.[/i]

[i]Bring it![/i]

[i]Have it your way! SOUL SPLITTER!![i]

Irima was standing in a room with a small blonde child. He was crying as his mother hit him.

"STOP!! STOP THIS ILLUSION!! STOP!!!"

"I- I can't mommy!! Stop hitting me!"

"I WON'T!! YOU'VE BEEN VERY BAD! STOP IT!!" Suddenly, the woman started running around the room. "WHERE DID YOU GO?!! WHERE ARE YOU?!!" Little Tyniah ran out of the room. The scene changed. Tyniah was older now, around Irima's age. He was sitting beside a girl who looked strikingly like Irima.

"Did you bring me a prensent Tyniah?"

"Of course!" He rummaged around in his vest and gave her a sapphire ring. "Just what you asked for!" There was silence, then Tyniah spoke. "Er... Eleste, we've been friends for a very long time and... I, I was wondering if you wanted to... be my girlfriend?"

Elest stood up angrily, "Just because I tell you to bring me presents every so often doesn't entitle you to be my boyfriend!"

"But... you're presents are so expensive... I thought that that was a sign that you cared for me..."

"HA! Think again!" Eleste began to storm out of the room. She stopped and looked around. "Where am I...?!"

"Inside one my illusions Eleste..." Tyniah looked furious, but contained, "I told you that I would give you all of Aurocon if I could."

"That's the only way you'd ever get me to even look at you again! Where are you?!" Tyniah gritted his teeth and Eleste screamed out in pain as she was cut to ribbons. Tyniah picked up her dead form and walked out of the room, tears rolling down his face.

Irima stopped. That was enough. Sariyah looked back and forth between Irima and Tyniah. "What was that?!" Irima's eyes focused. She was silently crying, as was Tyniah. She pulled him into an embrace.

"It's okay... It's okay Tyniah..."

"I-irima....!" The illusion melted away and they were in the cave with the chair again. Irima's body lay slumped in shards of crystal. The vision of Irima's soul smiled and returned to where it originated. Irima stood up and blinked twice, looking over at Sariyah.

"Quick Tyniah! Give me my staff!!" The staff appeared in Tyniah's hand. He threw it to Irima, who kneeled beside Sariyah. "Hold this." Sariyah held the staff. Irima placed her forehead to his and muttered something. Sariyah could feel warmth coming from Irima's forehead and the staff. Seconds later, all of his wounds had closed and he could stand.

"Thank God you're okay!" Irima smiled as she took her staff back.

[Dragon Warrior]

"Thanks to you," Sariyah smiled back. "But how did you get back your energy so quick?"

"I think I got it from the crystal," she said, pointing to the shards on the floor. Upon looking over there, they noticed all the black mages returning, leaving Tyniah's spell.

"I suppose the powers have been done. There has been no damage. Well, except for the wounds I got, but thanks to you, they're scarred over." She smiled at Sariyah and hugged him. Tyniah stepped forward, sheepishly.

"I am truely sorry for what I have done. I have just been so miserable and--"

"We understand," Irima touched his cheek and smiled. "You are welcome to come with us."

"What?!" Sariyah almost coughed up a lung.

Irima turned to the shocked Sariyah. "I said he can come with us."

"Why do we seem to always invite people who want to kill us or something?"

"Hey! You invited Monte!"

"He had good use to us!"

"Oh yes! And then he stole from us!"

"Hey! Have some respect for the dead, okay..." Sariyah's voice faded and silence took over for many moments. It was Tyniah who broke it.

"Ahem," he began, "I believe I can help you find the King's real castle. Plus, my illusions will prove to be a nice asset to our ability list."

Sariyah tapped his chin, then shrugged. "What can I say? You're in." Irima smiled. Sariyah supposed she trusted in him even if he tried to kill them both and rule the world. But what can Sariyah do? There's not a lot people in the world to trust and it was about time he started trusting someone.

[Little Serenity]

Irima smiled and looked over at all the black mages, looking rather nervous.

"Eh... Sariyah..." She tugged at his sleeve and pointed. All 11 of the black mages looked rather ravenous and angry.

"Oh dear..." Tyniah laughed nervously. "This doesn't look like it'll end well."

"YOU IDIOT!!" Sariyah brandished his sword. Irima stood in front of him.

"REFLECT!!" 11 different black magic spells bounced off the shield. "Run for it!!"