And to Darkness You Shall Return.

Tabitha - Chapter 9: Ghosts

Tabitha couldn't sleep that night, she couldn't get the sight out of her mind of the crater left from the explosion. She regretted her decision for asking what had happened even though she already had known.

Lumino had taken her and Nepra to his office. As the water mage had done many times before, she waved her hand, water rising off of anything and everything in the room, balling into a sphere in perfect sync with one elegant flick of her wrist. The sphere showed the moment of Grelf's death, moments before Tabitha had arrived.

She saw him being set on the ground. Blood pooled around him, pouring out of wounds in his side, legs, arms, and face. .

Before he died, they had their Water and Wind Elemental Warriors set up a small swirling barricade to shield them from the blast as Grelf lay there, staring up at the sky.

When he died, his aura was released, and the blast was so strong that it broke through the barrier, the flames curling into the sky in beautiful curls and spirals, the flames dancing in a hundred shades of red, orange, and yellow. 

Though it was beautiful, knowing who they had lost was enough to keep Tabitha awake that night. 

The only reason she had gotten out of bed, was because she heard a noise from outside. It sounded like the howling and barking of a wolf, followed by crashing and clanging of metal.

She looked outside her window and saw a large beast made of shadows inside the arena.

She changed into her battle armor, although she left her pajama bottoms on as they were quite comfortable. Grabbing her staff, she rushed out of her room and out into the night towards the arena.

Sure enough, when she arrived, Leo was there, running around frantically while being followed by the hellhound that she had seen earlier. Hellhound? Shadow Hellhound? Shadow Hound, I'll go with that. She thought.

Then, she slammed her staff into the ground, and the markings began to glow. It was only a few moments before Montem had resurfaced.

As customary, he bowed to her and asked "What would you have me do mistress?"

Tabitha pointed across the arena and said "Defeat the hellhound, and then grab that skia prosopo. But make sure to protect Leo."

"Yes mistress" he rumbled, turning towards the arena, then paused "The Shadow Hellhound?" he said. Tabitha had never seen him so nervous, but she nodded anyways.

"Mistress, you know that this is not a fair fight." he said.

"Well, I'll figure out something. For now, just protect Leo!"

Montem walked behind Leo, with the hellhound right on his tail. The beast raked its claws against Montems chest, and he doubled over, clutching the huge gash in his earthen chestplate.

He struggled to stand, and grabbed at the monster. But the shadow absorbed his hand, the darkness spreading up Montems arms. 

Montem roared, and pulling his arm out with such force that he fell backwards.

Tabitha ran over to Yemero, who had stopped yelling his advice and was now chanting in another language. Tabitha only caught a few words, as it was not the language of the earth. It was a dark, ancient language. The tongue of shadow. 

He's trying to get Leo killed! 

But when she got close, Yemero thrust his hand outwards, pushing her backwards until she stumbled and fell. He momentarily stopped chanting to look at her.

"Fool!" he scolded "Are you trying to kill your friend?"

At Tabithas look of confusion, Yemero pointed where Leo and Montem were.