Training with Darkest Knight

Fresh after an enjoyable afternoon and evening at the beach, they decided on a level four M-M camp towards the central of the continent near Archduke Warren area, but just within the northwestern region that Archduchess Karran governed would be their target. After the less than enjoyable battle they returned to Davie’s Den for a snack. Robbie divided the party into two while they were complimenting the staff of the Den, since it was slow and they really did love their cooking. Anna decided a game would be the best way to choose who went where after the ick they had just witnessed. The game decided that Londra’s team would be aiding Darkest Knight while Anna’s team would be with Purgatory. Anna smiled triumphantly since it had been her plan all along. She would handle the team with the Demon Spiders.

They had made teleport points after the parties had contacted them last night to say they wanted to take on a camp immediately. Thus, they could learn faster. Nobody had argued since both parties looked so much healthier and had been watching a camp for days in preparation. With a smile on her face, Londra held out her hands to the Captain of Darkest Knight, knowing Anna was doing the same south of them with Purgatory’s Captain. The funny thing is they would probably have practically the same directions and problems, but they would talk about that later and laugh while complaining.

Richard stood just over five feet tall, but now all could see that the lean male had quite a bit of muscle tone. The off-white strap and shorts really accented his black skin. Yet he seemed more at ease with his near nakedness than Londra was standing before the large group of people in her turquoise bra and little, pleated skirt. Londra could now tell that he was like Iris, a Sprite-Demon mix that had evolved to an Elemental-Demon mix with short black and green hair, slightly pointed ears, a diamond face, and indigo-green Demon eyes. “Are you sure?” Londra asked as he shook her hand. “There is no harm. We do have memory orbs that show our battles if you would rather…”

“Archduke Dristen sent a few to the Adventurers Halls a few days ago. We watched them before we decided to say yes,” Richard informed her with a smooth voice. “We watched them again and decided that just going for it would help us learn better. According to what we learned about this camp there are twelve females. We have a Demon in each of our five groups of six with a familiar.”

“So, two a piece then an extra for two teams. I assume you have them marked?” Ryan asked, standing next to Londra with her silver and dark grey striped tail circling. Her silver-violet Demon eyes surveyed the camp that wasn’t too far away to see what they were walking into. The look on her diamond, dark honey face showed that he was right.

“Yes, the new spells made it easy,” Richard answered smoothly, standing proudly.

“Okay,” Londra cleared her throat. His voice was just as dangerous as Trenton’s, but he seemed to ooze confidence. “Are you using the area wide skin spell or personal?”

“Personal, and we have one per team that can apply it,” Richard said with a curt nod. “We have a Fae that will be doing the Holy Barrier. She is strong enough…” he started pointing to the female not too far from him. Londra nodded, yes, she definitely had enough mana for that and so much more. She was close to Calla’s level.

“Okay, three members of our party will be with each of your teams. Four of them are Feline Drakes,” Londra started looking at the Coeuri with deep green eyes before her. It was a remarkable feline, and she wondered if he could control his size. Just sitting… it looked around twelve feet long, not including the tail moving around on the ground. She believed the Coeuri was male by the dark golden yellow fur. Scattered around its body were splotches that contained five small black dots surrounding a large white dot. The tail had the cluster of spots until the tip, which was a thick stripe of golden yellow, a thin stripe of black, then thickest stripe on the end was indigo. His whiskers six whiskers were as long as his tail and so unique. Each contained thin cords that were: light green, white, indigo, dark green, blue, and black braided until the last three inches making it look like a fan. A Coeuri was hard to befriend, and she really hoped he was… reasonable with strangers. Then again, Delta was no pushover.

“Oh, that is my partner,” Richard commented noticing the two were sizing each other up. “His name is Raj. Feline Drakes are cats with wings, right?”

“That is the vaguest of terms,” Delta mumbled sneaking out of Londra’s shadow. “I can grow that size too,” he added with his adolescent male voice showing the man. “But, I enjoy petting, so smaller is easier to watch since Londra will be holding me, so she doesn’t help.” He shrunk down to land in her open arms. Alden was laughing in her mind, so she did her best not to let her smile fade.

“Okay, we are using these items,” Londra explained, moving Delta so he was nestled in one arm so her other was free. “All the groups have been testing them this week.” She handed Ricard a thin box made of some type of metal that was as long as his hand. “I have one for each team leader and another for the one doing the Holy Barrier,” she continued. “The white one is for the barrier producer while the black one is for you, and the other colors for the rest of the team leaders. Stealth is your best friend in these battles.”

He nodded, handing out the devices as everyone moved in closer. Then he motioned for her to continue. “First, everyone will apply the Impenetrable Skin spell, and we will make sure it is solid. Then we will use stealth, whether it is the spell or an item to get into place. Don’t make any unnecessary noise. When in position squeeze the box,” she paused to squeeze Richard’s. A light appeared on the one the Fae was holding. “When all five lights are lit, you do the barrier spell. Fern will be with you to verify it is correct. She will be talking to you through telepathy so please don’t shut her out of your mind.”

The powerful Fae nodded, her deep sky-blue eyes focused on Fern as she nervously moved her long, braided brown and white hair off her right shoulder. With a smile on her diamond, ivory face, “I am Tia by the way. Just a bit nervous but ready.” The large, brown, feathered wings attached just above her waist opened and closed showing they were as wide as Robbie’s with a few light brown, and ivory feathers mixed in.

“Aren’t we all,” Fern chuckled, moving closer. With a warm smile that lightened her soft-fawn colored, oval face and vibrant blue eyes. She had decided to keep her wings inside, so everyone wasn't staring at them and was glad since there weren’t any female Fairies in this group. “We just did one this morning… the nerves never leave. Which group are you with?”

“Balt’s,” Tia answered pointing to the tall, muscular male that was an evolved Ork. He simply nodded and Fern exchanging glances with Trenton. Her blue eyes told him so much.

Trenton moved forward, holding his golden pecan colored hand out to Balt who now looked an average height. “Trenton,” he started with his low voice. “Fern and Jackie will be joining us.” Balt simply nodded. Jackie appeared in Trenton’s arms, her indigo eyes studying the other four near the Ork. She didn’t care about race, but they all seemed a bit too sure of themselves. She understood, yet her first camp had been a real eye opening experience. Her long blue tail swished as her green tipped, blue ears twitched eyeing the bird on the Demon’s shoulder. “This is going to be interesting,” Trenton projected to Jackie and Fern.

“Okay,” Londra said loudly. “Get in your groups and start the spells.” She moved over towards Captain Richard. “I assume your team is taking the extra female.”

“I am. Balt’s team is taking the other,” Richard stated, motioning the female to start. She was a Samurai Priestess with long, braided, green hair, a long, light brown face, and silver eyes outlined in white, green, and blue. “That is Krysta,” he informed her. “The one beside her is a Monk class, the combination of Sprite and Ork. His name is Moe. Then we have Trianga, she is a Demon as well, with wings and tail but no horns. Then Jozen, a Dwarf-Sprite mix or Gradian, and Charles a strong human. He has lots of mana but uses it to heighten his power. A true fighter who is happy with himself now thanks to your spell and what he learned with Cas.”

“Thanks,” Londra smiled trying to keep her nerves hidden. Everyone looked so… arrogant. She hoped it wasn’t from the quickness of getting them to this point. “Who can do Purification Flame?”

Moe nodded, “Krysta and I will be switching out. Trianga has our female M-Ms marked.”

“Yes, her hunt skill is double mine,” Ricard said proudly. “I am more of a fighter.”

“Well, the spells are set and strong,” Londra stated petting Delta who was eyeing Raj. “Lead on then, Trianga. We will follow, no need to include us in your teleports. We are here to watch and explain what works for us. We will help if absolutely needed.”

“Good,” Richard said reaching down to rub the large head of Raj. He then nodded to Trianga who moved them to the middle of the camp. Alden moved them behind the group. Richard squeezed his box noticing that Tia was before the sun waiting.

“So, this doesn’t look as good as I wanted it to be. I hope I am wrong,” Zerina started through their heightened link. Twisting Vines, Malcome, and Orchid Blossom had worked with Anna to help them strengthen their link so the screams wouldn’t interfere with a little round device they all now wore attached to their mind protection talismans. “They are oozing confidence. More so than Horns or Scales. They weren't when we spoke last night.”

“Everyone is almost in place, and they are staying quiet,” Fern shared. “Tia is strong, like almost as strong as Calla, but not as graceful.”

“Ah, thank you,” Calla answered from the other camp. “This is really working. But yea, Purgatory isn’t really accepting ideas right now either. Pretty sure they ignored Anna.”

“They did,” Anna grumbled, watching Robbie up in the sky with a cocky male Fairy.

“I think Delta is going to educate this Coeuri, Raj,” Alden added. “Yea, arrogance. Glad you guys didn’t come out of the Challenge like that. Marrow wasn’t even a fraction of this arrogance, and he knew what he was doing.”

“It was different, and we learned a long time ago arrogance got you nothing,” Marrow commented, holding Ryan’s hand to calm her down.

“Hell, we were just happy to eat again,” Julius added, reaching over to pet Theda, in Mara’s arms. “They almost made Anna cry. I am not helping unless they are bleeding.”

“I agree,” Mara sighed, watching Julius’ hand get closer and closer to her. “Yet, that will dirty our flames. Happy thoughts everyone.”

There was a shared sigh with nervous giggles. “We start soon,” Fern and Robbie said to their groups practically at the same time causing a few to smile.

The Holy Barrier was being erected perfectly and soon music filled the camp. Londra waited for her group to start. Krysta and Moe stared at each other for a moment then Krysta sighed, taking down the tent with a strong Purification Flame spell. The colors were pure, so the tent was gone in seconds, yet the spell was much larger than it needed to be and a bit erratic. Inside were six sleeping males with a female that was already awake. Richard, Moe, Raj, Trianga, Jozen, and Charles rushed in focused on the males. The female began to sneak away but Trianga realized, using her short tail and wings to stop her before she could teleport. She then quickly removed the head, but the basket of eggs fell to the ground opening six of the sixteen. With their small arms they began to crawl out of the basket as the female laughed before the Purification Flame turned her head to white ash. One was able to bite Raj’s paw, but the large cat tossed it to the ground and began to stomp on it, throwing brown-green blood everywhere. They were all burning but the flames were on the border since it was too much for one person to purify who had no experience doing so.

“Don’t you have a magic sword to use, Raj?” Delta asked simply from Londra’s arms, his golden eyes focused on the horrible teamwork.

“Why would I, a mighty beast, need a sword when my teeth and claws are razor sharp. Plus, my flexible whiskers with fans are sharp like blades!” Raj answered fiercely, waving his six, long, thick whiskers around then showed them up close how sharp the ends could be. Londra wasn’t impressed; she felt annoyance building in Delta.

Delta didn’t seem phased by the anger in the words, or at least his voice didn’t change. “Blood lust occurs when you kill too many of these without weapons, tainting the flames and could taint your mind… blind you to what is around. I am sure a mighty beast like you understands blood lust.”

“He is not a tiny cat,” Charles stated, looking back of them with a cold look on his square, ebony face. His deep violet eyes narrowed, “He will be fine. We do things our way. You are here to watch our techniques and give ideas afterwards.”

“Are we leaving?” Richard asked Trianga, not noticing that Krysta was still working on purifying. There were six eggs left and after he said that her Purification Flame started to turn darker as fear crept into Krysta’s silver eyes.

“No!” Londra said with force. “You can’t leave until the eggs are gone. It only takes a little darkness to crack them open. You must be aware of your teammates at all times!”

“The next female will move soon,” Trianga stated. Her diamond, silver face and green-violet Demon eyes showing little expression while her large black wings, and short tail with bladed end moved slightly. She flicked her indigo fingernails. “You can stay and I will move you to us when you are ready.” With that Krysta was left to finish purifying while the others went forward. Londra, Alden, and Delta stayed with her because they knew just how fast a random M-M could appear when your guard was down.

“We are here,” Londra said softly, touching her light brown shoulder gently. “Take your time, it is not easy to do. You did well… that was a lot all at one time. We usually break it up when we can, so our purifier is done with three before they need to purify the next three.”

“I hear them coming,” she whispered, her flame darkening more. Fear began to show on her long, light brown face as her silver eyes outlined in white, green, and blue darted around. She used her stiff shoulder to shrug her long, braided, green hair behind her.

“Breathe,” Londra reassured, a warm smile on her round, light beige face. “We are here to protect you. The eggs are hard to purify, right. The spell is a bit large for them…”

“Oh,” Krysta mumbled, the flames became smaller full of pure color since she was now protected. “That is better. Now if I attach it, then I can move on better. Thoughts for next time…”

“Good, that is what you need to do, realize what needs changing,” Londra said, absently purifying the three that Alden and Delta had taken down behind them. “It is what we do,” she added, her voice full of kindness. They would be ready to move in two minutes… “Anybody else have a group leave a member behind?”

“Yes,” she heard overlapping voices with so many different emotions.

“It is a good thing I have Theda with us,” Mara added quickly before anybody else could complain. “I can purify a bit... but his is stronger. The vein in Julius’ neck is about to pop out.”

“I thought these groups would be better, but they are the same overstimulated… plow through and don’t pay attention…” Fern grumbled. “Look, even I can’t talk straight because this is so infuriating! I must look at Trenton and calm down.” They heard Trenton chuckle.

“I can not believe that the Familiars are using teeth and claws,” Belle added. “I would think they all would realize blood lust will not help anything! They were so mean to Trinity, I don’t want to help them. Good thing Peter is with me, he is the kind one.”

“Wow, that was a lot of words for you,” Alden responded with a snicker.

“So that was a yes for everyone,” Anna wondered. “I don’t think we will be going into a… calm battle next. Everyone has access to items if they need them, right? The Purifying Flame scrolls and Extreme Healing…”

“We are all good,” Julius assured her. “We are prepared. I mean this even happened with the Templars… not as rude though.”

“Ready,” Krysta announced with a sigh of relief. “Thanks for watching my back. I guess our nerves have overwritten our minds. I can’t believe they left me… that isn’t them.”

“More than likely, you are right,” Delta purred jumping back into Londra’s arms. “Shake out your nerves and body because technically you should be fighting. Let’s go Alden!”

A moment later they rejoined the group only to sigh collectively. “What a mess,” Londra grumbled, listening to the mana around her. “One female turned into three. They were able to take down two… and the one left is…” What was before them had Krysta shaking behind them in fear. The four males with the female were laughing in Purification Flames because the spell had been tainted since Moe had been attacked from behind. Unsure of what to do Trianga was slicing off the male heads again, but it did nothing since Moe couldn’t focus with the wound healing. Richard had four wounds healing while trying to calm down Raj who had sliced open Jozen’s side because he was in the way. Charles was battling the female who was still carrying her eggs in a basket. His fear made her stronger without having to eat any. Yet she had been able to hatch two more female that were gnawing on a large male that was still trying to get away.

“I have the next one frozen for the next few minutes,” Alden said. “I marked the females through Trianga’s spell, not fun and Mara can keep that job. But the males are pounding on the ice so don’t take to long for your tirade.”

“Okay, short tirade,” Londra grumbled, beginning to heal Jozen since Delta had jumped down. He couldn’t help but walk towards Raj in his small cat form. His gravity had frozen the large, angry Coeuri while his sword sliced off the heads of the two new females and the male they were eating. Londra’s Purification Flames were controlled and true, but her hazel eyes were glowing with anger. “Krysta, focus. What did you learn. His spell is all over plus he was attacked from behind. Take over for him. Delta, don’t destroy the eggs yet. Alden you get to guard my back.” She felt his long, finger slide down her practically naked back causing her flames to glow brighter.

Krysta put her light brown hand on Moe’s dark porcelain shoulder. “I have this. Relax and heal.” He released his spells, kneeling on the ground as the poison was pushed out of his wounds, running down his mostly naked body. “Charles and Trianga move behind the males and take the heads. I will purify. Thankfully there are only four. I think that is my limit at this point.” She told them… glad that she had found her voice. Her flame was true and focused. These four turned to white ash quickly. “Miss Londra, that worked so much better! Thank you.”

“You are welcome,” Londra smiled while watching all around her. “Another thing that helps… Moe, what do you think about while purifying?”

Moe stood, rolling his shoulders since his body was finished healing. He faced her with confusion in his round, brown eyes. “Freeing the souls?”

“Don’t answer with a question! Tell me,” Londra yelled with a smile on her face.

“I don’t know…” Moe responded softly looking around at the mess. “It is a spell…”

“Wrong, Trianga, why did you move your team. Defeating the females is the priority but leaving a teammate undefended when she must focus to purify is asking for her death,” Londra stated. “Did you leave her alone in the Challenge?”

“No! We were each other’s support!” Trianga yelled, her short tail swirling behind her.

“Never! Never leave a member, no matter how strong they are!” Delta growled. He had grown to be larger than Raj looking right at him. He then pulled out his large, black wings with six tips showing the Coeuri just how powerful he was. His voice was deep and loud. “The females will be there. You, you are partially to blame for this! With your master that was just looking for the end instead of looking at the battle. Your blood lust injured Jozen and tainted the others, making it hard for them all to think. Do you not like Jozen or couldn’t you see him because the blood was in your eyes! You think me weak, NO! I am the reason they succeed so quickly. I am the one that guards the back. I never leave my purifier unprotected. Once they must fight, the fire gets dirty. It is a mindset. We Familiars of the Adventuring Parties and Templers have the important job to protect, and we do that by watching, waiting, and attacking with a weapon! Using a weapon without hands takes skill, it is not weak. We can not afford to bring blood lust!”

“Looks like I don’t have to go on a tirade after all,” Londra smiled. Moving to stroke Delta’s large head that was shoulder level. “You either use the sword or leave the battle, Raj. Oh, and this is about half of his true power if he really wanted to show you.” This caused Delta to rub against Londra in his larger form, almost knocking her over but both were chuckling.

“I… would never… Jozen’s blood stains my claws,” Raj whispered, his long tail and six whiskers limp on the ground as he stared at the red blood on his claws. “I deserve…”

“No,” Richard said with force knowing the next word would be death. He rushed to Raj, touching the large cat with tears streaming out of his indigo-green Demon eyes, running down his diamond, black face. “You gave us hope after we had lost it. You let us heal you, thus giving us strength. You are a member of Darkest Knight… we all made a mistake… one that would have cost us our lives if Twilight Star wasn’t here to have our backs. You are needed.”

“Good, that made that easier,” Londra said. “I am not helping again. So listen up. First, before each battle, choose who is purifying and form a protective ring around them. Never go more than thirty feet away from them. Raj, you never leave them since the magic sword you control can move anywhere. Thus, like any Familiar you are a key to victory. Second, realize just what it takes to purify an egg. You saw the horror when it hatched but here… one for each of you. You can all purify right?”

Londra had lined them up and put an egg with a hatchling slowly crawling out before them. The small wrinkly creatures told them how fast they would be eaten while dragging their bodies towards them with their large mouths open and yellow teeth gleaming with poison. Their clawed hands reaching out, pulling them closer, while the body looked more like a young frog with dangly legs being dragged strangely behind. “I will give you my spell to use,” Londra added. “Just control it and keep it pure. Learn how to separate negative emotions from your spells.”

The rainbow fires erupted around the small grotesque creatures as they laughed. The spells weren’t focused or pure… well one was. Krysta easily purified her hatchling, a smile on her long, light brown face and accomplishment in her silver eyes outlined in white, green, and blue. Londra nodded back. “What do you think about?”

“My team, my parents… my love,” Krysta answered honestly. “I didn’t before. I noticed how your fire was so bright and strong after Alden touched you simply. So, I thought of my Kenro… he is a Wolf Beastman who brings me so much joy. We kept each other safe… as safe as we could during the Challenge and always helped each other lift our spirits.”

“Yes!” Londra yelled. “That is what it takes. Think of all the things that you love, then think of the souls begging for freedom. You can see them right, free them. Let them return to the lifestream to be reborn into a happier life. Control your flame, take in the negative and purify it with your positive feelings. Make the flame concise and attach it.”

Now Moe’s was white ash, while he looked down at his feet. He fisted his dark porcelain hands then relaxed them by pushing some of the gore off from his long, braided, yellow, brown, and green hair. His thick round nose quivered for a moment then his round, brown eyes focused. “We don’t have time for this… but we need this. This isn’t who we are…”

“He is right,” Richard sighed, as his finally turned to white ash. He shook his head in disgust while closing his indigo-green Demon eyes. His short, black and green hair was plastered to his black, diamond face covering his slightly pointed ears. “That was harder than I thought. Yet, we put it all on Krysta and left. That was a horrible decision on my part…”

“It was hard to purify,” Raj started with a gruff voice. “It was so small though… I too am sorry we left you. I am sorry I attacked Jozen… I really like him and it hurts my heart to have his blood on my claws. I am sorry that I didn’t listen to the Feline Drake, that was jealousy. I knew that he could be stronger than me even if I am more beautiful.” He finished with his long whiskers and tail curling.

Delta shrunk and jumped into Londra’s arms again. “Gee, don’t hear that too much. You should meet Alpha.” This caused both Alden and Londra to chuckle.

“I understand blood lust,” Jozen nodded. His long, cognac face and deep brown eyes showed just how important Raj was to him. He sighed hard enough to move his thick muscular body. His shoulder length, black, green and yellow hair was braided, or his hands would be running though that instead of over his face. “We all do, so we should have listened too. It is a bit ironic, we were told the other groups failed first, so we wanted to be the ones that didn’t… yet we started off horribly. But we can make up for it.”

“Okay, you have one more female,” Londra stated. “Right now, she is in ice but that won’t last for long. There as eight males around her, all around five feet tall. What is your plan?”

“I stand behind Krysta,” Raj started, his three, left whiskers rubbing her back as she smiled. “It is her turn, technically. Plus, it seems she has figured out more than we have.”

“If there are eight males…” Richard started. “Raj use your sword to take down the female while Trianga works on destroying the eggs. Moe stays with Krysta because we have the moment of surprise on our side and we will take down the males fast. That way you can help her purify and we can make up some lost time.”

“Good,” Londra smiled, standing next to Alden. They all moved to see the female was almost out of the ice. One of the males had her basket free and once her hand was free, she could start hatching the eggs. They watched as shadows took the basket, squishing the eggs that were now turning to white ash in bright rainbow flames. The female’s head was already separated from her body as the sword returned to Raj. Richard, Jozen, and Charles had removed the heads of three males without incident as Trianga and Raj’s blade also helped. But now there were three left, and they were not going to go down without a fight. Krysta was mumbling to Moe on how to change his flame. He nodded and then added a thought. Now Krysta’s flame was hotter. The two compared ideas until the sixteen eggs, female, and five males were almost completely gone. Raj’s long braided whiskers continued to move while he assessed angles. There wasn’t a clear one, so he waited. His eyes on the battle while his senses were all around them. It was Krysta that found an opening, a reinforced ice blade sliced the shoulder of the red M-M Richard was battling. That was enough for him to go from defense to offence, taking the head. Charles and Trianga were working on a black male when Charles ducked down, slicing the knees so Trianga could take the head. Richard helped distract the last dark green one, so Jozen was victorious.

“Much better,” Londra congratulated, petting Delta. “You have a few heading this way. Why don’t you all take down some tents and items, just to get the feel for it.”

“Also, not what I was expecting,” Raj grumbled, his tail circling behind him as his Purification Flame danced brightly. “Such negativity from a bed roll…”

“Yes,” Delta started, “just wait until you do a lamp. Such a strange feeling, like the fire was trapped by screams.”

“That was a lovely thought,” Jozen sighed, “and mostly accurate.”

“I think…” Krysta started, “I should be good to purify. There are no eggs. That way Moe can help fight. Yes, I have this. I just must think of his warm honey eyes,” she giggled.

“A thought,” Londra started with laughter in her voice, “maybe change your groups around. We have our couples together and it helps us fight better and receive soul crystals… oh, look what is coming. Black M-Ms that aren’t talking. How nice!”

“That is a good thing?” Richard wondered, wiping the white ash from his black, diamond face looking around at the others that were helping the brown-green blood and poison move off from their practically naked bodies.

“May we play?” Delta asked innocently with his tail curling and his golden eyes glowing. “Just two? Please? There are eight of them and they only have one head!”

“I don’t mind,” Richard shrugged, watching Londra and Alden decide who was fighting.

“Noticed that in the spheres,” Moe mumbled. “Am I fighting or you?” he asked Krysta.

“Go ahead,” Krysta offered. “Londra told me to shake out the tenseness in between; it helps but I am not the best fighter. I will work on that in our down time. I will purify; I understand it better now.” Moe nodded, moving to stand before her, while Raj sat down beside her. They watched with slight smiles as Londra grumbled and moved beside them.

Delta grew just a bit bigger, flying around with his sword. He knew Londra was watching and he was going to show them all. His sword met the large, thin sword dripping green poison. The poison sprayed everywhere but it just slid off. His tail curled in excitement as his sword produced an orchestra of clashes until he found a clear hit. He took the head, bowing to the M-M slowly turning to white ash as Londra chuckled. She had watched Delta, but her eyes were focused on Alden and his toned, beige, muscles with blue shorts. It was both wrong and so right to watch the green poison and brown-green blood flow down his body. They finished within minutes of each other. As the white ash fell so did a soul crystal for both. Delta picked his up, flapping towards Londra as Alden did the same with an ear wiggle.

“Wow, they are pure,” Krysta commented looking at the crystals in Londra’s hand before they disappeared. “Just two left,” she added.

“They are stiff,” Londra commented as Alden tossed her brown braid playfully. “But so much better than the first battle. I think I will leave a workout crystal with them.”

“That would be wise. They have the technics and strength but are too tight. Yet, they did just come out of the Learning Room. Oh, that looked like it hurt, my wrist is sore just watching. I could see that hit vibrate all the way up his arm,” Alden projected just to her.

“That was better,” Anna said to Londra through their link since everyone’s mind was now open to conversation. “Your mind feels happy. You had black ones, that isn’t fair. I am still just watching… but I am next to my almost naked Robbie…”

“That was better,” Fern and Ryan said in unison then chuckled.

“Two more battles, by the feels of it,” Zerina shared. “We got black too. I just had to send Rus out there to show them how it was done… all that brown.” They herd her chuckle.

“Stop,” he hissed with a hint of laughter. “But, much better.”

“Charles got a crystal,” Krysta reported, bring Londra back. “Do we move?”

“No need,” Delta purred. “The strange is coming. You had to pick a level three camp.”

“That is what most of them in this area are. We haven’t found a level one yet,” Richard confirmed. “It is strange that they are so high. We were only in the Challenge for a year and a half… then again it took us years to be able to sleep without waking in terror.”

“We understand,” Londra nodded. “We never take the talismans off because of that. It helps us to center. So, Trianga, what is coming?”

Trianga closed her green-violet Demon eyes, shaking her silver diamond face causing her short indigo hair to twirl around her pointed ears, before sighing. “Two headed, multi-colored… there are ten of them. Will you help?”

“No, but I will help with ideas,” Londra replied watching them exchange looks. “Raj, can you contain half and keep them from attacking while the others fight?”

“Of course I can,” Raj started with his gravelly voice, his long braided whiskers flowing around him. Then he understood. “I can! That is how we do this. I am not here for my power but my intellect and abilities to do so many things! I will capture five, leaving five for the rest of you to fight. Krysta must fight this time and I will protect Moe!”

“I don’t know about that…” Krysta started softly, flexing her light brown hands. “Wait, can you capture seven? That way we can work together until we understand how they move… or is that a bad idea?”

“I don’t think so,” Jozen nodded, a half-smile on his long, cognac face. “It still leaves one that fights alone.”

“No, not completely alone,” Trianga smiled remembering some of her new abilities. “Just within shadows… Richard’s. That way each time I enter I gain a bit and can wait without any push back. I will take on the third. Just put it in the middle.”

“A grand plan,” Richard chuckled at his words thinking how strange it was that they were relaxed… well until they seen them. “I will work with Jozen. Krysta and Charles take…” before them were ten, eight feet tall, random colored, male M-Ms with two heads. One on each shoulder. “That is stranger in person,” he commented as Raj captured all but three. “We have the red, Trianga take the one in the middle… blue… I think? Charles and Krysta take the dark yellow one. We have this!”

“There you go,” Delta purred watching the action. He wondered how Krysta would fight but the answer was like Calla. A strange dance that was deadly yet mesmerizing. She and Charles were both around six feet tall while the other two were around five. It was an interesting division, yet it seemed to be working. Richard and Jozen stayed out of reach, making the taller M-M bend while Trianga just moved around until it fell forward trying to hit her. She shrugged, being the first to take both heads. Moe laughed as he began purifying. The mood change helped the fire burn true and quick after Krysta had shared what she had learned. Raj showed off a bit by putting a dark green one before Krysta who yipped but then began her shadow evasion again. Jumping into Richard’s shadow a few times coming back out a bit faster. Krysta and Charles were the next to finish and Raj place another before them.

Londra leaned against Alden, “This isn’t as bad as watching you guys, but I do admit I like doing something. What was it you called me?”

“A battle junkie,” Alden chuckled through their link, absently petting Delta in her arms, feeling her heat as his fingers got closer and closer to her body.

“I was just reminded that they were only in the Challenge for over a year,” Zerina communicated through their link. “Didn’t you say they needed as much healing as the other group? Oh, watching the Elemental Eagles are interesting. Gri is just holding four M-Ms while sitting on Chia’s shoulder…”

Fern laughed through the link, “Yea, same question.”

“From what Archduchess Karran explained,” Londra started as the current battle finished, “they didn’t have a Darcy or Deven. It took almost two years to figure out how to negate the curses and spells that limited them to bread and water.”

“That is horrible,” Trenton added, playing with Fern’s violet braid to bide the time. “To be free but to be bound to nothing but bread and water while trying to push past the horrors… I have seen some within Anna and Julius’ eyes since we were together for the first camps.”

“Yea, that would be horrible,” Anna added, sliding into their conversation. “I was listening. Yours isn’t too different than ours, but Purgatory finished their Challenge a few months before ours finished. Did you know that ours lasted for four years and five months! I know that Zeke was over four years but to last that long. Zeke you are my hero, by the way.” They all heard his laughter in their minds. The trios watched the last battle, eight feet tall, two heads, and four arms, making few comments. Then it was time to purify the area. The groups slowly made their way to each other until they were looking at a barren circle in the middle of a controlled forest. The members of Twilight Star joined Darkest Knight for the shower since they had been sprayed in the beginning when they were left to protect a lone member. There was a bit of nervous laughter that changed into real laughter by the end.

“Okay, before you take down the barrier,” Londra began, “you want to move to the edge nearest a path. Everything in here has been purified so…” she motioned to the southwest and everyone headed that way with different looks upon their faces. Those in Twilight Star wore excitement, while the others had confusion. “Okay, Tia, take it down.”

Tia shrugged, taking down the Holy Barrier. Immediately trees began to spring up from the barren circle while moving them out of the way. One by one the trees appeared, then the shrubbery, followed by the grass finishing the forest area as if the M-Ms hadn’t cut them down to create a camp. “That was interesting,” Richard chuckled nervously. “That happens every time?”

“If you are in a forest,” Londra explained. “If it was a wheat field, wheat springs up as if nothing happened and waves to you. It is fun to watch after all the… yuk. Well, you did a fine job after you got your heads on. I look forward to working with you. Don’t forget the Rejuvenation Potion, you will know when you don’t need to drink it all,” she reached out to shake his hand. “I believe that the Archduke is going to create a massive camp not far from the nest around three days before we attack. He and the others will have teleporters there to take us back and forth, but it is to… worry the M-Ms, if they can worry or just though them off.”

“Well, I… no we look forward to seeing you then,” Richard responded, shaking.

“Oh, you were the only team… well you and Purgatory, that had a good showing at the end. The rest, even the Templars, tried to overpower the M-Ms so much we wanted to scream and cry. But good job. It means that you all do really care about each other. Don’t take them on every day but do switch teammates around until you get five teams that not only work well together but can laugh and change directions with the wind. We will reach out in a week to work on night battles.” This had everyone nodding with slight smiles on their faces. Then Twilight Star was gone and they were wandering down the path towards their guild hall talking about all they had learned. Which wasn’t too different from what Twilight Star was doing in their once large room that now showed a family that none of them knew they needed.