A Sword For Gold

Chapter 8 - Velenya Martel

"You will not pass."

As Maraxus and Baros recovered to their feet, they immediately drew their swords; ready to fight against the sorcerer who had launched a fireball aimed straight at them, and barred them from reaching their friend and whatever skirmish she had found herself in.

"You did not sense this guy, Cora?" asked Maraxus, not taking his eyes off the mysterious sorcerer whose hands began to glow with blazing, raging flames.

"I sensed him at the last moment," she explained, "That's why I told you both to look out."

"Who are you?!" Baros, nearly enraged, yelled at the sorcerer, as his hands held his sword, shaking with more of anger than fear.

"Telling you will depend on the reason why you're here, running towards where my master is skirmishing with a Stegavis," said the hostile sorcerer, "No one will be allowed to interrupt her. I'm ready to kill you three to make sure that is the case."

Maraxus and Cora then immediately glanced at each other, slightly confused by the sorcerer's words.

"Master?" they both said in unison. "Who's your master?" Cora followed with a question.

"You ought to be more careful with your questions, girl," threatened the mysterious man, as his flames began to rage more with power, as his intent to kill began to seem more serious and imminent.

Cora then lowered her bow, much to Maraxus' and Baros' confusion, who both then decided to sheath their swords in response to her decision. Perhaps, Cora did not want to show that they were much of a threat. After all, the details they just heard definitely did not sound like it would be Vaelia Martel, the girl they were actually looking for in reality.

"As long as your master is not Vaelia Martel, we have no business with you," assured Cora, as she kept her bow and arrow in order to show absolutely zero threat.

The sorcerer immediately extinguished the flames in his hands, seeing as how the three of them had stood down to relent, but he squinted specifically at Cora, unsure of whether to trust or to truly believe what she had just said.

"You know Lady Velenya's kid sister?" he asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Ralys!" a familiar voice called out to him, and accompanying it was also the familiar energy of a presence that Cora could feel.

Suddenly, Velenya Martel appeared from thin air, having Flicker Stepped towards where they had been speaking, carrying what seemed like a severed plated wing as huge as a horse over her shoulder. "What the hell is happening here, Ralys?" she complained, annoyed, "The ruckus you've made here distracted me slightly while I was busy killing off that Stegavis."

Then, Velenya turned her head to the three of them.

"Oh, I didn't expect to meet you again," remarked the powerful sorceress, "Do you still remember my warning, both of you?"

Maraxus and Cora nodded, all while Baros simply stared at both his friends and Velenya back and forth in confusion, having absolutely no idea of what they were even speaking about.

"And I have a question for you, Velenya," said Cora, "You seem to have followers, don't you? This 'Ralys' man here seems to call you his master."

Velenya shrugged nonchalantly. "You could say that's the case," she said, "After all, I lead a certain organization that operates from the shadows and protects this world from ruin."

Maraxus and Cora immediately gasped in realization as their eyes opened up wide, before Cora immediately pointed at Velenya and Ralys accusingly, saying, "Your organization... it's called 'The Rising,' isn't it?"