Þe Olde Party and It’s Demise

The day started as it normally would, Syndel woke up and got ready to meet up with her party. In the party, "I think we may get to the tenth floor today!" Bhalar spoke with a random burst of confidence. "Let's not get ahead of ourselves now. What do you think Cilia?" Marcius asked.

"The gods say we will win the day! All praise to the higher ones." She said as she bowed her head. "Let's get a move on, I want to be able to make it back before the shops close later." Samus spoke. "I'm with Samus on this, let's go." Syndel agreed. They left for the dungeon. They departed for the dungeon.

There were many parties out participating, but nobody could make it past the tenth floor. A group of knights in the royal guard were the only ones to make it past the tenth and eventually made it all the way to the twenty-ninth floor! The payout for making it past floor one of this dungeon was doubled also, people used this as an opportunity to get rich or get stronger. The party went in, most of the monsters on floor one had been killed, so they moved to the second and continued on. A few parties allied together and helped each other. When they got up to the fourth floor waiting for the floor boss to come; hordes of monsters came down rushing from the floors above. "What!?" One of the adventurers yelled.

All the mages lined up and began casting attack spells to try to slow down the horde. This did nothing but agitate them, they continued on and plowed through the tanks. The warriors tried their hardest to take off some attention from everyone else. Syndel grabbed Bhalar's sword and dove into the horde of monsters, the warriors, and paladins followed. Syndel cast quick chaos magic as she zoomed past countless monsters cutting them down, it seemed like they weren't paying the adventurers' attention.

She ended up stopping as the monsters ran past her, as if they were trying to get away from something. A dark maniacal laugh could be heard coming from the floors above. A strong breeze of air followed as the last monster passed. "Well, that was weird." Marcius said as he walked beside Syndel. Syndel slowly took steps back, she felt something wasn't right. "I think we should follow and get out of here, like now." Syndel said as she ran for the emergency dungeon tunnel.

"Everyone, follow her now!" Bhalar yelled as he stood at the exit with Syndel.

They managed to make it down to the first floor, but it was all too late. A few of the other adventurers made it out as the dungeon began shaking, Syndel's party stayed back making sure the others got out. The exit to the dungeon's only exit closed as if it was the end of the dungeon season, and they were trapped inside. "No!! Our only way out is gone!" Samus yelled frantically.

"Keep calm, I'll get us out of here even if I have to die." Marcius said, casting a berserker spell.

He tried breaking the dungeon's wall but at the point of where they were; the walls were too thick. But he kept trying until a voice came from around the corner.

"Oh? So, am I facing thee? So beest t. I suppose thee lasting this longeth after yond hoard, thou have earned the knowing of thy nameth. I am in its truest senseth, a nightmare. Furthermore, I am the reasoneth this dungeon exists for mine own will on this world, shall be felt inside and out. For all sir, elven, beast kin, and oth'rs alike shall knoweth mine own nameth. F'r I am Kievan, lich of the daemon continent. I desire thyne can lasteth f'r II shall treateth this as thou own last square. Thee, dark elven wench. Thee seemeth to beest hiding something, t's rath'r unsettling unbeknownst to the oth'rs thee traveleth with. What's with yond behold upon thy visage? has't thee not knoweth about t eith'r? doest children of the moon cullionly aught to thee?"

Syndel's silence continued while everyone stood completely stuck in fear. He continued on talking.

"Art thee knowledgeable of the children of the Sun?

Aye, cleric wench. Thou seemeth to knoweth something; I can seeth t in thy visage. Better yet, speak not. I can hear what thou art bethinking. Ah! So thee knoweth of the children of the moon. Valorous. I'll leaveth thee two, thee shalt carryeth out thy mission. Thou art first..." He said. Setting his sights on Samus. He flashed in immediately stabbing Samus in the throat and pulled the blade out. The gurgling of blood echoed sending chills down everyone's spine, the blood spewed from the open wound. It happened so quickly, nobody reacted in time and when they did, it was all too late.

"Samus!" Marcius yelled. He ran to try to catch Samus, the blood flowed like a spout. The color in Samus' eyes began to fade, choking on his own blood. Syndel was still stuck in place, terrified. Cilia attempted to cast high heal on Samus, making an attempt to save his life. Bhalar took charge and slapped Syndel. Syndel snapped out of it and looked around, Marcius and Cilia traded places as she continued casting.

"Casting spells just wonneth't doth. Catch but a wink. Thou shall beest of useth aft'r you lot p'rish." Keivan said.

Cilia fainted, Keivan looked on as Bhalar and Marcius charged at him. He laughed as he swiped his hand across, and a ray of light flew towards Bhalar. Bhalar quickly changed direction and continued on with his charge, as Marcius got within striking distance to Keivan. He swung as hard as he could, but he vanished behind Marcius. He extended his hand onto Marcius' side and immediately cast a necromancy spell. Marcius screamed in pain as he fell to the ground holding his head. Dark energy flooded out of his eyes and mouth, he screamed loudly.

Bhalar rushed in at him once more. He managed to get a cut upon his face. Keivan looked impressed. "Thou cut me. V'ry well I shan't holdeth back."

Marcius' entire body vanished as if his life force got absorbed.

The lich pulled a dark sword from his waist from the remains, he posed with the sword up hastily. Black armor formed upon him as his body changed to a more mortal form.

"You, beast kin knave. What is your name?" Keivan asked.

"I am Bhalar, son of Veronis, Duchess of North Cedrus." Bhalar said.

"I'll send your mother your head." Keivan said, grinning maniacally.

Syndel looked out of it still, confused and terrified. She ran away as fast as she could.

"I suppose my attention is needed elsewhere."

Keivan flashed over in front of Bhalar as they traded strikes, Bhalar consistently blocked and parried every hit. Keivan cast another spell that spawned these skeleton soldiers in to fight Bhalar. "How cowardly! Fight me!" Bhalar yelled.

Keivan followed Syndel as she went further up into the dungeon. Syndel got all the way up to the final floor at the very top which took around thirty minutes to run through.

Syndel hit the ground, exhausted, sweating and scared. Keivan slowly walked up to her.

"My oh my, I was hoping we'd have a better situation of meeting. You see, you wield Arcane Cortex. You're bred from the Children of the Moon and Sun. Immaculate conception almost. Just who are you exactly child? I have no means to hurt you as of now, nor do I see the need to have a bout between us two. You hold something that will prove to be a force much, much later. However, your comrades will perish... A small price must be paid for your survival." Keivan said.

Syndel's emotions slowly began building as he continued talking. A deep purple energy began leaking from her exhausted, sweaty body. She looked up at the lich with a worrisome but terrifying glare. Syndel could feel something very dark rising inside her like another person was infiltrating her mind.

"I'll kill you!" Syndel repeatedly yelled angrily as tears rolled out of her eyes and this energy encased her hands. She banged the ground, the entire dungeon shook like an earthquake as she shot forward aiming directly for him. He grinned as he faded backwards, the dungeon started to crumble, and she no longer cared if she died along with him. Floor by floor, the dungeon fell.

Hours after the dungeon's collapse, knights of all surrounding nations were sent to assess the situation. They found Syndel, Samus' corpse, and Cilia. Bhalar was nowhere to be found, and the lich was long gone.

After rummaging through Syndel's clothing, it was discovered she was the daughter of King Ianbal. She was sent back to the kingdom immediately.

Syndel woke up after three long weeks of slumber confused. She realized she was in her childhood room; she had a deep wound in her side. She ached to get up and sat up in the bed. Adrenis walked into the room.

"It's been some time, Princess. How about we go pay your father a visit?" Adrenis asked.

She nodded in agreement; and they headed for the King's chamber.

"There you are." He said as she walked in. He walked up to her and rested his hand on her shoulder. A tear rolled down Syndel's face, she hugged him as tight as she could.

"You ran away from home so long ago, I was worried sick about you. If you wanted to become a master swordsman and mage like your mother and father; all you had to do was say it. I'll overlook it for now, but as soon as you heal up... Your training begins then."