Aya Felicity walked beside Kaden as he carried Lax-Rim. He refused to let anyone else carry him.

Aya felt deep remorse as she looked at Lax-Rim's face. He looked so peaceful. She wished the young man would wake up. She knew there would be casualties but still felt the sting of his death. The white-haired woman could only imagine how Akio would take the news.

Rygilya walked on the other side of Kaden. He seemed to be sticking close to Kaden and was ever vigilant. He noticed her watching.

"What?" he said in his usual grumpy tone.

"You're as charming as ever I see," she told him.

He snorted.

"Where have you two been?"

"That's none of your business."

"We were captured by the Darkness," Kaden answered.

Everyone stopped and turned their attention to them.

"And you aren't dead?" Svett asked.

"We barely escaped with our lives." He responded.

"Leave it to the famed Lightning Flame to get away. What did they want?" Ikirria asked.

Kaden shifted his weight. "The dark power within me."

The two higher-ranking Knights exchanged a look.

Ikirria started to walk again. "I'm impressed both of you made it out alive."

"How'd you end up in their cutches?" Kariah-Belle asked.

Aya was curious as well.

Kaden decided to go mute.

Kariah-Belle stopped him. "Answer me, Kaden."

Kaden hesitated but finally spoke. "I... I went to meet them."

"And why would you do something so stupid?"

"Because I made a deal with the dark being inside of me. If he helped me beat Dracula I'd turn him over to the Darkness."

"What happened? Why didn't you hand it over?"

"Because I wanted to live." He whispered.

"There's no shame in that." Said Svett. "We are programmed to survive."

Aya placed a hand on his shoulder. "I'm glad you're back. Next time you run off to go do something stupid please let me know first."

"If I did that then you'd try to stop me. Blew up their spaceship by the way."

"Of course, we would." Kariah chimed in. "Smooth brain. Wait, what?

Kaden laughed. "Okay wrecking ball head. Yeah, I and Ry blew it up. It felt like off the movies. Then we almost died again in space. It was then did I learn mana can be used to breathe in space!"

"Now there's something I didn't know," muttered Ikirria.

"That's amazing big bro," said Kariah.

It was just like Kaden to get himself into something like that. He was an adventurer at heart.

Suddenly walls shot up from the floor trapping them in a box. Water started to flood into the room.

Ikirria tried to blast her way out but couldn't. The walls were absorbing their mana. A place like this would be classified as an A-rank dungeon. Aya made a note to tell her superiors about this labyrinth.

The water was up to their hips now and rising fast.

Aya looked around and spotted words on the ceiling. "Look!" she pointed then read, "what is something that can be wasted but not held?"

Aya racked her brain for the answer but before she could say it, Rygilya called out, "time!"

He was as sharp as ever.

The box shattered and the water drained away.

"Nothing I hate more than soggy socks so it's a good thing I'm not wearing any." joked Kariah-Belle.

"Same," said Aya. And the group started to walk. They were extra careful of any traps that lurk about.

Aya thought of her father, Memphis. She wondered if he was safe. She hated that she cared. The memory of his Icy sword piercing her mother made Aya shiver.

"You good," Kaden asked. Only her father made her shiver like that a d he knew it.

"I'm fine," she answered.

Kaden nodded. He knew her all too well. She knew him too. It's how she knew something was not quite right. He seemed distant.

"Are you really the Lightning Flame?" a Master Knight inquired. "I heard you beat Dracula."

"Yeah," he said. "That's what they call me."

What was that? The Kaden she knew would be all over the acknowledgment because it meant he was another step closer to his dream of being one of the Seven Swords of Justice, the strongest of holy Knights. There was something he wasn't telling her. She figured now wasn't the time to press him about it.

"Oh yeah, with all the excitement I completely forgot." began Kaden. "There are these nasty-looking monsters that are eating people. We have to save them."

Ikirria nodded. "We'll put together a rescue team once we are out of here."

"It might be too late by then," Kaden said. "Those things looked to have a big appetite."

"There isn't much we can do about it now. Not to mention we don't have any idea where we're going."

"But-" Kaden was cut off by Svett.

"I understand your frustration at not being able to save lives but it's all we can do to stay alive. We can't afford to have any more dead weight. No pun intended."

"This is simply the reality of being a Knight," added Ikirria. "You can't save everybody."

Kaden hiked Lax-Rim up his back and sighed in disappointment.

"That said," started Svett. "How about we pick up the pace."

She walked faster and everyone matched her pacing. A few Knights activated their mana hulls as they watched their surroundings.

After a few twists, turns and more traps, the group came unto what looked like a portal.

"Looks like our ticket outta here," said Ikirria.

"Wait," spoke Svett. "We don't know where it leads. I've been having the suspicion that the labyrinth is herding us. What if this is a trap?"

"Only one way to find out." Ikirria put her hand in the portal. "Doesn't feel like a trap. Whoa!"

Suddenly her entire body went through the portal.

Svett reached in and grabbed hold of her. She pulled but something on the other side had Ikirria.

Aya and other Knights jumped in to help. Svett was pulled into the portal after a tug of war. Aya was pulled in too. She saw Akio, Monty, and Kyanè. Fire Axe Xex was there as well. Aya worked with her before. Her skills combined with the mana suit made her formidable.

The other Knights came in behind them.

"Alright," said Monty. "Reinforcements."

"Where are we?" Kariah-Belle asked.

"J'covia," answered Kaden as he walked in behind them. Aya looked at Lax-Rim's corpse on his back then at Akio.

She hadn't noticed. She was busy holding Kariah in a tight hug.

It was then did Akio see Lax-Rim. She looked neutral as she walked over to Kaden who set down the body gently. Aya saw tears streaming down her face as she knelt beside him.

She carressed his cheek as she chocked on a sob. It was documented that some in the Stoneheart branch had difficulty displaying emotion. Aya could imagine how she felt. She too had lost loved ones.

She thought back to her cousin Maxion and how he was brutally killed just hours ago. The image of the large humanoid spider gnawing his face flashed in her mind.

"It was my fault," Kaden said. "I lost control of Darqus."

"No it wasn't Kaden's fault," Kariah-Belle began hurriedly to defend her brother

Akio stood and punched Kaden in the face. He took the hit only stumbling backwards in the snow.

"That all you got?" he egged her on.

She hit him again, this time harder. He fell and she pounced on him. She punched him over and over again.

"That's enough Akio!" Kariah cried.

She wasn't listening. Kariah-Belle moved to intervene but Aya stopped her.

"She'll kill him!" exclaimed Kariah-Belle.

"Kaden wants this." Aya said. She looked at Rygilya. "I don't know what happened in that Labyrinth but he wants to atone for something. The fool should know this isn't the way to do it."

Kariah's eyebrows furred together in hurt. She started to tear up.

"Besides, she's still holding back. "She hasn't used her scaled fist."

It was later when Akio was finished beating on Kaden. She walked over to Kariah-Belle who watched her. She seemed to hesitate before wrapping her friend in a hug. Akio let out another sob into her arms.

Kariah wiped her tears. "It'll be okay." She whispered. "I'll be here for you. Like you're always are for me."

Aya was glad the two would remain friends.

Camp was made. Now Aya saw they were in a cave. Protected from the harsh conditions of J'covia. The cave was lit by fire.

"How'd you end up all the way out here?" Xex asked Svett.

"That damn labyrinth." She answered. "We're lucky to have made it out alive. That place was crazy. The puzzles weren't anything special but the mana absorbing bugs were the worst part."

Whle her superiors traded information Aya made her way over to Kariah-Belle and Akio. Akio lay on Kariah's lap. Kariah-Belle played with her pretty emerald hair.

She sat next to Kariah on the cold ground and Kariah-Belle placed her head on her shoulder.

Kariah sniffled. "This sucks."

"I know." Aya responded. "It may never stop hurting but it will get easier."

Kariah-Belle nodded. "Thanks, Aya."

Aya nodded back. "Dont mention it. I know it doesn't feel like it Akio but you'll get through this."

Akio didn't respond.

Aya knew the two women were no stranger to loss. Still she did her best to comfort them. She hoped her words would help to keep them from the Fallen Place.

The cave fell silent except for Xex trying to get the communications up. "Come in. Fire axe to hq come in."

There was some static in the comm before finally, "Fire axe this is hummingbird. Reinforcements are in root to Blizzhaven. What's your position?"

Everyone cheered. Aya sighed in relief. They weren't able to get the Key of Atlantis but they had survived. That was a win in her book.

It was then did Kana jump through the portal. Black Weapon and other criminals followed after her.

Kana's smile grew wide when she saw Aya. "You're dead."

                    ---------------

Kaden Nadire felt pain burst across his face. The Stoneheart, Akio, hit him.

He stumbled backwards. She was holding back. Kaden felt remorseful looking into her expressionless face. He knew Akio loved Lax-Rim.

"That all you got?" He said.

She swung this time the hit put him on his backside.

Akio lunged and straddled him. She punched him over and over. He heard Aya mention that he wanted this. She knew him like the back of her hand.

He wanted to atone for killing Lax-Rim. He wanted to atone for failing those he swore to protect.

This wouldn't be enough. This wouldn't clean the blood off his hands.

Akio hit him again and again. He could tell she was still holding back.

A memory surfaced.

He and Rygilya ran as fast as they could through a jungle. They dodged explosions and traps as they sprinted. At that time Kaden had been a knight for nearly a year. The two were allowed to go on an assignment together. Aya tagged along.

The two ended up rescuing a dragon egg from some poachers. They had also survived winged snakes. Katarvi were deadly with their wind craft. Rygilya had wanted to stay on task but they were going to eat the egg, hoping for more life force.

Kaden couldn't let that happen. They delivered the egg to it's mother safe and sound.

He recalled zooming past the now lost lives in the labyrinth to save Rygilya.

Eventually, Akio stopped her attack and was now laying on Kariah-Belle's lap.

He watched her. His face was sore. He had a lump on his forehead. She noticed him watching her and held his gaze. Kaden shifted awkwardly in his spot on the snowy ground and looked away.

Suddenly Kana jumped through the portal. She smiled when she saw Aya.

"You're dead." She told her.

Uh oh. Kaden thought.