The sun rose from behind the trees, casting vast bouts of light that split through the forest canopy, illuminating the way ahead. The dense green of the summer foliage seemed more vivid against its brilliant glow, though Erin wasn't all that concerned about the natural beauty as she continued along her way, sluggishly traipsing behind Alastor and Hirst, who were engrossed in conversation.

Keeping her eyes open was enough of a struggle, and so the last thing she was interested in was the luminous burst of colour which accompanied the sun's rising. Fatigue weighed her whole body down, making it feel ten times heavier than it actually was, and her eyes drooped as she fought to keep them from closing.

One thing was for sure: Erin Maelstras wasn't a morning person.

The magus' stomach let out a low grumble, reminding her that she was venturing on an empty gut. Erin's gaze wandered down, and a tiresome sigh escaped her as she struggled to prevent herself from succumbing to the pleasures of sleep.

'...so how big do you like your women?'

'Mm, it's a toss up, really. Big enough so you can see something, but not so big that they get in the way when things start getting steamy.'

'Ohh, I know exactly what you mean! This one girl I was with, she had breasts so big, they were like buckets full of water! I kid you not, they...'

Erin forced her head up and deadpanned when she overheard snippets of Alastor and Hirst's conversation. The pair seemed pretty content, exchanging cordial laughs and words of wisdom.

'You know, I have a theory,' Hirst said. 'Breasts are like the key to a woman's soul.'

...or not.

Erin flashed the dwarf an ominous glare while Alastor laughed. 'In a way, I suppose that does make sense,' the wizard said.

That was more than enough for her. She made it a point to slow her pace, allowing enough distance so that she could no longer hear what the two perverts were talking about. Once she was sure their words were no longer audible, Erin continued forward, following the route of the forest path.

'They're both sex maniacs,' she muttered to nobody in particular.

'Pardon?'

Something warm tickled against Erin's ear, prompting her to look round. The corner of her lips twitched upwards in a slight smile when she saw Casius hovering alongside her, his wings flapping lazily behind him.

She waved away his question. 'Nothing.' Her brows suddenly furrowed as she looked around. 'Wait, where did you come from?'

Casius inclined his head towards the canopy. 'I was busy scouting the area from above,' he explained.

'Uh-huh. And why were you scouting?'

'I was trying to estimate how long it might take us to reach the magical fellow's warehouse. I have to confess, I can't see a warehouse in sight.'

Erin's smile broadened somewhat. 'Well, we're in the middle of the woods. What do you expect?'

'Do you like him?'

The question came as a surprise to Erin, who looked ahead at Alastor and Hirst. The two were still conversing a short distance away, seemingly oblivious to the fact that she had even moved away from them. 'Who? Alastor?' Casius nodded. 'Uh, well, it depends. I mean, he's strange, no doubt about that, but I don't like or dislike him.' She raised a curious brow when she saw the look of concern etching its way across his face. 'Why'd you ask?'

'I don't trust him.' The angel's own brows knitted together. 'You recall what he tried to do to you back at his abode?'

Erin scoffed. 'Well, I'm hardly going to forget how the guy held a knife to my throat and threatened to kill me,' she said. 'But, hey, maybe I overreacted. I mean, he did apologise and explained how it was a simple misunderstanding.'

'That hardly makes it just...'

Even she couldn't resist giggling when Casius threw her a discontented look. 'I'm sorry,' she said, waving at her own immaturity as though it was a pesky fly that could be swatted. 'I know it's no laughing matter. It's just sweet the way you're still concerned about it.'

'Of course I'm concerned. You're my ally, someone I consider incredibly dear to my life.'

A red tinge appeared within the magus' cheeks. 'Ah, well...thank you.' She reached out, nudging him in the ribs with her elbow. 'I suppose you're pretty dear to me, too.'

Casius said nothing and instead closed his eyes, allowing a beaming smile to creep forth. The expression made him seem so free-spirited and gentle, yet Erin knew that he possessed a fiercer, more savage side. In a way, it was incredible, given what his other side was capable of.

With a smile of her own, Erin persisted onwards, with Casius fluttering at her side. His presence was naturally comforting, filling her with a sense of assurance that accompanied her throughout her venture. She felt at ease, knowing that he was still there.

But at the same time, she knew she had to embrace it while it was still there; after all, tomorrow he could very well disappear from this world, taking his easing presence with him...

The thought alone was enough to break both her smile and her heart.

* * *

'This is your warehouse?'

'Yes.'

Erin deadpanned when she saw the frayed, wooden construct that was supposedly Alastor Weiss' warehouse. Located on the far side of a small field within the woods themselves, the "warehouse" was but a shabby cabin guarded by a gathering of tangled, overgrown weeds. Beside her, Casius continued to levitate, though he still had yet to give a visible reaction to the rather disappointing revelation.

'So, what do you think?' Alastor's voice carried throughout the desolate area.

The magus tried with best efforts to rid of the disappointment etched across her face. 'Uh, well...it's...smaller than I expected.'

Much smaller, indeed.

'Piss on a stick!'

She threw Hirst, who was standing beside her, donning a stony expression, a glance. 'What are you "pissing on a stick" about?' she asked.

The dwarf shook his head. 'I don't mean to sound cruel or anything, what but in the great blue heck is that?' He gestured to the rundown cabin on the opposite side of the plains ahead. 'It's bloody tiny! What gives, Alastor? You're keeping treasure in there, not chickens!'

The wizard in question shrugged. 'The outside appearance is merely a ruse to distract any potential thieves into thinking there's nothing of value inside. You should never judge a book by its cover, you know.'

Hirst's lips twitched in an attempt to smile. 'I'm not really one for reading,' he muttered at last.

Alastor's face softened. 'Well, literature aside, I like to think of myself as a vigilant person. Now then, should we continue along our way? I'm sure you're all eager to conclude this little adventure of yours and return home.'

'Would I ever?' Hirst gave a sigh of relief and followed after him as he set foot onto the plains.

Although the wizard's last words were not personally directed at Casius, Erin couldn't help but scowl. Was he perhaps mocking her over the fact that she would have to bid him farewell soon? Her arms tensed at her sides and her fingers curled, though she fought to keep her frustration from spilling over.

Of course it wasn't deliberate, she told herself. It was merely a coincidence. Stop being paranoid.

'Should we not be pursuing them?' Casius inquired.

After sparing the curious angel a glance, Erin felt the combined anger and tension draining away, replaced with a sense of bleakness. At the same time her chest tightened along with her throat, and her entire being suddenly felt heavier. It was almost as if an invisible force was attempting to pin her down, but no avail.

'S-sure,' she said. 'Let's go.'

The pair set forward, making for the "warehouse" in the near distance. Erin looked around, taking into account the gathering of trees, which formed a disfigured ring around the field, and dense vegetation. Clouds of grey hovered above, casting shadows across the plains while emitting a light breeze that snatched away the feelings of summer.

Apparently even the spirits were aware of how she was feeling.

She and Casius soon caught up to Hirst and Alastor, who, for the first time, were not discussing women. In fact, no words were exchanged as the four ventured across the plains, traipsing with caution through the knee-length grass and stepping to avoid the tangle of weeds hidden below. A small circle of flat land stood around the cabin, making the last of the trek a little less strenuous.

Hirst looked about the area. 'So why do you keep such precious junk in a crap den like this?' he asked, wrinkling his nose at the sight of the tattered lodge. Moss hugged the walls of the cabin, and a combination of dust and grime had built up against the windows, making it impossible to see in. A gaping hole sat in the middle of the sloping roof, though Erin couldn't help pondering on whether or not God himself had punched through it after deeming it a creation that had surpassed its time.

The wizard reached into his pocket and produced a single cast iron key, which he then inserted into the lock of the main door. 'Like I said before, it's merely a ruse,' he said. 'Would you honestly suspect this old dump housing anything of value?' He slowly looked round, allowing his gaze to draw level with Hirst's. 'Well?'

'Ah, fine, you have a point. But I still wouldn't stay here. Heck, I wouldn't even take a piss here. I have standards, you know.'

It took Erin everything she had to keep from laughing. Standards, my arse. The urge to reciprocate was almost overwhelming, though she was able to hold her tongue long enough for Alastor to finally unlock the door. It pushed aside with a reassuring click, though the rusted hinges gave a dull, reluctant groan. Light spilled forward. However, it failed to cast aside the intensity of the darkness ahead.

'Wait here,' Alastor muttered. He discarded the key, stuffing it back inside of his pocket, and stared into the gathering of shadows. 'I need to head in alone.'

Nobody questioned the wizard, even as he passed through the door and disappeared into the shadows. Erin crossed her arms across her chest and fell back, relying on the rotted wood to support her. She focused on the sky, on the various shades of white, silver and grey that stretched across, combining to form a mixed trail of colour.

'Okay, so here's a question,' Hirst began, eyes drifting to Erin. 'How much can I expect to get paid after we're done here?'

The magus' gaze flickered down and her brows creased together. 'Paid?'

'Yeah. Paid.'

'Pfft! I'm not paying you anything.'

'What?' The dwarf took a step forward, his features hardening somewhat. 'Hey, listen here, lady, I've stuck by you and even let you catch a glimpse of my inner emotions. I deserve something!' His whole demeanour changed when he caught sight of the annoyance slowly etching its way across the magus' face. He held his hands up and gave in with a sigh. 'Okay, okay...maybe money's out of the question. But could you perhaps talk to your dead-beat brother about letting me off the izitonium thing? C'mon, I deserve at least that much. Have a heart, woman! Did you know that many guys my size are often...'

After a moment's consideration, Erin nodded. 'Alright, shut up!' She held up her hand, putting an instant end to Hirst's rambling. 'Look, I'll see what I can do,' she said. 'But just know that if I do convince Elric to let you off, you've got to stop with the whole izitonium thing.'

Several moments passed before Hirst's disgruntled expression dropped and he slumped forward. 'Fine,' he muttered. 'Whatever you want.' All thoughts of izitonium were soon forgotten when he straightened up and stretched his arms. 'Man, I can't wait until this adventure crap comes to an end. The first thing I'm going to do when I get home is sleep. Hey, what about you, Kai?' His gaze wandered over to Casius, 'What are you going to do when you return to Flappy-Flappy-Doo-Doo land?'

But Casius wasn't listening. He stood with his wings tucked behind his back, his gaze fixated on the gathering of trees situated behind the cabin. Erin noticed what he was looking at and twisted round, though she failed to spot anything out of the ordinary.

'Casius?' She spared the angel a glance. 'What's wrong?'

Instead of giving a direct response, however, Casius stepped forward and thrust out his hand. A collection of white particles materialised against the palm of his hand and stretched outwards, expanding and moulding to form what appeared to be a large sword. But then the particles folded back to unveil Millennial's polished blade and gold-laced hilt, which Casius closed his fingers around.

'Casius, what are you—'

'Heads up!'

Hirst rushed forward without warning, forcing his way past Erin and continuing towards the foliage. He came to a rest several feet away and reached back to produce a small knife, which was but a mere glint of silver as he threw it forward. Erin barely had time to register the dark-clad figure emerging from behind the trees before the dwarf's knife made contact, embedding itself within the person's throat. They fell back, silently succumbing to their death, and collapsed, beneath the tall bed of grass.

'What in great God's name was that?' she asked. But when she looked round and saw the great horde of uniformed men marching towards the cabin, her instincts kicked in. Taking a courageous step forward, Erin focused on summoning forth her own magic. Upon raising her hand, a burst of blue ignited from beneath her fingertips and pushed outwards to disclose the long metal staff, which she snatched out of thin air.

Still, her actions did nothing to hinder the soldiers' approach. They pressed forward, each of their steps combining to form a continuous, rhythmic beat that carried throughout the plains. Erin spared a glance over her shoulder, silently pondering on whether or not she and her party could run into the woods, but all plans of a hasty retreat were soon shattered when she noticed more soldiers emerging from the trees behind her, closing off her escape.

The men's formations came together to form a vast circle that encompassed the three travellers, trapping them. Erin's gaze wandered, taking in the unfamiliar black and red uniforms of those surrounding her. Many were already armed, and those that weren't took the opportunity to reach for the weapons dangling at their waists.

The sound of slicing metal seemed much louder in the confines of the spacious open, prompting Hirst to retreat back a few steps. 'Piss on a stick,' he whispered, his gaze narrowing at the sight of the multiple swords that were drawn and pointed. 'Who called in the troops in dresses?'

'I believe that would be me.'

All heads turned in time to see a male figure emerge from between the gathering of men, who stood aside, granting them a clear path. Erin's gaze wandered and she caught a glimpse of said figure: tall, with shoulder-length black hair, dark eyes and sharp, rather alluring features. He donned the same black and red uniform as the armed men gathered, the only prime difference being the black cloak which hung from his shoulders and gently trailed with every step he took.

Coming to a rest a few feet away, the man lowered his head. 'At last we meet...' Crimson eyes flickered upwards, burning into Erin's, and a devilish smirk pulled against his lips. '...Maelstras.'

An overwhelming chill crept up from beneath the ground and pushed up, consuming Erin's being from within. She couldn't help but tense under the man's malicious gaze, though she fought to shake away the cold's embrace. 'Who are you?' she asked, her voice low and rigid.

The man straightened up. 'My name is Faustus Belial, and might I say how wonderful it is to finally meet a rightful citizen of the Divine Empire.' His eyes wandered over to Casius, whose face darkened. His wings vibrated, the overgrown feathers trembling in light of Belial's fixed attention.

How does he know of the Divine Empire? Erin wondered, concern clouding her face.

'Oh, please!' Hirst took a single step forward. 'I know your type: drama queens. The whole mysterious villain-in-a-cloak thing is so cliché! It's not scary anymore. "At last we meet, Maelstras".' He deliberately raised the pitch of his voice in an attempt to mock the man standing before him, but his efforts appeared to be fruitless.

'How endearing. A dwarf!' Belial's features softened, forming a look that was almost pitiful. 'You must truly despise the God that mercilessly created your hideously deformed body.' His smirk broadened. 'It's a perfect match, you know,' he added. 'A disfigured vessel to house a soul which is as tainted as yours.'

'You...!' The dwarf's own features twisted and he broke into a vicious sprint before Erin could hope to stop him. She cried out his name, though her voice was outweighed by the determined roar that escaped from between Hirst's lips. He reached back, producing a second knife that was a replica of the first, and threw it forward.

It soared through the air with a high-pitched whistle, though Belial made no attempts to move, even as the weapon came hurling towards him. Just as the knife looked set to impale him through the chest, a second figure appeared from out of nowhere, brandishing a long weapon which they used to deflect the incoming attack. The sound of steel clashing against steel resonated throughout the spacious open moments before Hirst's knife came spinning back, embedding itself within the grass inches from the dwarf's foot.

When Erin dared look up, she saw a silver-haired woman standing before Belial. In her hands was a weapon; a double-headed spear, which were but a mere flash of silver and black as she spun it, carrying out a series of complicated manoeuvres.

Belial nodded. 'Well done, Shirin.'

The woman known as Shirin possessed a set of harsh, suspecting features and a gaze which spoke of nothing but pure animosity. Her waist-length hair was a lustrous silver, and the full body of armour she donned glistened like fresh blood, even in the absence of the early morning sun.

Still, Hirst did not seem to be threatened by her cynical demeanour. Despite Erin's silent pleas for him to yield and back away, to not be a fool and risk death for the sake of a meaningless insult, he reached down and retrieved the knife. Shirin's eyes narrowed in light of the dwarf's decision, emitting a bitter cold that caused even the magus herself to shiver.

'Vile cur...'

Hirst bared his teeth. 'Witch...' He raised the weapon and waved with his other hand, gesturing for her to come forth.

For a moment, the other woman appeared to hesitate. Erin noticed her features softening, her body untensing, though Hirst still refused to stand down.

Then she moved.

Shirin's body was nothing but a combined flash of silver and crimson as she ran forward, swinging with her spear. Hirst stumbled back in a desperate bid to place some kind of distance between himself and her, but it useless. The woman closed in on him and she lashed out, allowing the head of her spear to catch against the dwarf's knife. An unforgiving clang rang out and the weapon was torn from between Hirst's fingers. Then without any hesitation, Shirin thrust with her weapon so that the razor-sharp tip was pointed at his throat.

'Yield or die.' Her words held no obvious emotion. Hirst raised his hands and dropped to his knees, though his arms shook with what Erin perceived as reluctance. Once she was satisfied, Shirin withdrew her weapon.

Casius finally stirred. 'I'll kill him...' he said, much to Erin's horror.

'Wait! You can't do anything!' She pulled against his arm in an attempt to stop him from doing anything stupid. 'They'll kill Hirst if we do anything. Just, please—'

The angel shook his head. 'I cannot. These Mortals are unlike any I've ever encountered. They emit a sense that is beyond immoral. Whatever it is that they seek, whatever it is they hope to gain, I cannot allow them to find it!' He raised his arms, angling Millennial so that the tip of the blade was pointed towards Belial's figure. 'In the name of the First Elders, I will guarantee their demise. Today, my blade will be the one to decide who lives...'

Something wicked flashed within his eyes and his features hardened.

'...and who dies!'

* * * *

Ohhh! You know, I've been dying to update this story for ages now! The last time I updated this, I was in a really bad place (mentally speaking) and so I made the decision to push it aside and temporarily focus my attention on my other stories.

However, that was then. This is now. I'd like to be able to resume this story and (finally) be able to finish it. Future updates might be a bit sporadic, but I guess that's better than a year-long hiatus :)

I'd also like to dedicate this chapter to my most loyal friends and readers (you know who you are <33). It's thanks to you that I'm able to continue writing.