Uro, Viribus, Ventus, Mentri, the Oracle, Animo and Shanae were rushing toward them.
"Hi guys! We're alright!" called Melody, cheerfully, "Nice of y'all to rush over though."
Obulan inclined his head. "Master Uro," he said, by way of greeting.
"Obulan was about to tell us something," prompted Lifei, when everybody had settled down and hugs had been exchanged.
"Ah. Yes. My kind were slaughtered. Slain. Hundreds of them, dead. One by one Exitium sought us out as we hid in the Earth. We could not escape, for Exitium had enclosed us in a force field of sorts. Then, just as he was about to find me, they came.
"The Firsts. They came like the night brought to life, swooping down from the skies. They attacked Exitium, destroying his force field and charging him. I fled. But not far. I watched events unfold from a safe spot. One of the Firsts wore what could only have been the Armis Creaturae. Exitium battled, and he must've been prepared to face the Armis, for he had many tricks up his sleeve. Traps and tricks. Misdirection. But then, a brave, foolish dragon swept down from the sky and devoured Exitium. Exitium had been weakened, and the dragon- a particular type of dragon, the last of its kind, I believe- had a particularly strong stomach acid. Exitium nearly died, and the dragon regurgitated him and fled. I was hungry, so I devoured the dragon. End of story," announced Obulan.
"Curse that Kraken," muttered the Oracle, "It said that the only three things that could defeat Exitium were the sword and that which had defeated him before."
"But the treaty. How did you eat the dragon?" asked Uro.
"The same way I could kill all of you. The drake was in Terra Worm territory," said Obulan.
"Tough," said Lifei.
"Dragon meat is," agreed Obulan.
"Well. The only three things that could defeat Exitium are: The Armis Creaturae, which was destroyed. The Sword of Eternities, which was destroyed. The Dragon, who was the last of its kind, whom Mr Obulan here ate. Is it just me, or are we a little screwed?" asked Lifei.
"Just a little, it seems," said Cassandra.
"Not so," said Uro, quietly, "If in right, we might have a chance. We might even kill Exitium."
•~•
Exitium raised one hand. His army halted. They looked at him.
To Exitium, the movement of the two original Firsts was like a sun coming to life.
What are they doing? Wondered Exitium.
He got his answer soon enough. In his mind's eye he saw it all. His armies of nightmares turned back by two beings of colossal power. Bolts of multicolored lightning, black fire, rippling earth- the nightmares didn't stand a chance. And now, every single sorcerer and dragon that had been busy fighting turned their sights on the Aes Sidhe. The pact no longer protected them- they had been out to destroy the sorcerers, this was an act of self defense. Of course, Exitium could probably kill a lot of them, but what if, what if, he was eaten by another dragon? Exitium suppressed a shudder. He'd barely survived the first time, a second time...
Time for a change of plans. Time to retreat, regathering fresh forces from Nelheim, and then launch a new attack.
Exitium clapped his hand, the resulting sound like a thunder bolt, and out of the earth a fortress rose. It was rectangular, just four walls and five towers, really. A tower at each corner and one, the tallest, evidently meant for Exitium himself, in the center. The rest of the fortress was empty: no walls, no ceilings, nothing. The Aes Sidhe began to set up camp. Exitium raised his hands. A dome of glowing light formed around them.
•~•
Far away, Uro watched the shield flicker into being.
"Crap," he said.
"One must indeed agree," muttered Mistress Vivus.
Master Armatus grunted, "We have three Firsts on our side. Exitium is one. Can't we pop that shield open?"
"One of our Firsts is an amateur. And Exitium is the most powerful First the world has ever known," said Uro.
A small black dragon- a messenger- darted towards them.
"Dragons ready," it squeaked.
"Excellent," muttered Uro, "Attack!"
In the distance, dragons rose into the sky. They swooped toward the shield, mouths opening. Fire, electricity, pure energy, poison gas and more struck the shield. It glowed brightly, but didn't break. Sorcerers rose from hiding. Exitium had formed the fortress at the top of a hill, and the sorcerers had been hiding at the foot. Now they streamed up, throwing magic at the barrier. The five children followed. Theirs was an important job. Shanae spied Exitium, standing at the top of the tallest tower, holding up his hands. The shield shone brighter.
Then, it shattered.
Ana was suddenly running alongside them, her daggers gleaming like slivers of star light in her hands. The dragons turned and wheeled away, leaving the sorcerers to fight the Aes Sidhe- alone.
"What?! Hey!" shouted Lifei, adding some choice words after that. But then, the battle began. Creatures and sorcerers charged each other. Ana and the five children linked hands, and then-
They were in Exitium's tower. He was walking towards the door and whirled, but then Lifei was grabbing his hand with a plant that was growing around her hand. They teleported.
•~•
Animo walked alongside her brother and sisters. She tipped her head, sensing something. She pointed at a nearby tower, "I need to get to the top of that tower. Can I get some help?"
Together, she and her siblings fought their way to the tower. She stood at the door into the tower, and took a deep breath.
"Our greatest enemies are not ourselves," her mentor had once said.
Animo opened the door.
"They are not the ones that charge at you inn a battlefield with a sword and shield..."
Animo started up the stairs.
"Our greatest enemies..."
Animo stopped outside a heavy wooden door.
"Are the ones that hide amongst our friends," her mentor had told her as he tossed her off a cliff. But she had survived. And here she was.
She opened the door.
"Hello, student," said Trawl, "Welcome home."
