In the morning, many of the people of Halys escorted the survivors to the ferry and waved in farewell as the boat took them back over to Elemonsina. They landed in the small village of Eskra; the Elementals could now only get to Kefalon by riding the train in Lausane, so they left the other survivors deciding on their next path to walk to the train station.

The half-a-day's walk was nice: the green lands were open and seemed to be endless on both sides of the road, few clouds dotted the vast blue sky, a slight breeze blew perfect, keeping them cool, and making the flowers dance. Tegen looked forward to seeing the black cliffs of Lausane near the halfway mark. And once the sea began to eat away on the left side of the road, the cliffs were just what he had always imagined.

Granite made the usually bland cliffs marvelous. The bluffs were already elevated high above the sea, so the monotone cliffs looked even higher than they were. He had read that the cliffs reflected the setting sun like a black mirror, but with them bound to reach Lausane before evening, he would not see the marvel.

"Tegen, is everything okay? You've stopped."

Zelenia's smooth voice brought him out of his stupor to look at her. She looked at him in concern; the rest of the Elementals stood a few paces behind her, looking at him as well.

Unconsciously, he had stopped to gaze at the cliffs. His eyes shot down in embarrassment. "Forgive me. I did not mean to hinder our journey."

The young Moon smiled sweetly. "You did no such thing." She considered the black rock face. "Never think you have to apologize for stopping at the beauty of nature."

Even though Earth belonged to the Sun, Zelenia connected to him more than Helian. She understood his love of nature and knowledge. Tegen preferred her demure, soft presence that bolstered his, instead of the Sun's, who made him feel ashamed. Not Helian's intention, he knew, but his aura was too bright and overpowering. Once they found Light, Tegen believed their company would help balance the Sun's.

"But when we're on a schedule, don't stop," Helian said.

Zelenia turned. "We can spare a few moments to admire natural wonders."

"This isn't a site-seeing tour," Geryon stated.

Irritation laced Fire's blunt reminder of their quest. Tegen knew they would not agree to stop just because he wanted to see a natural wonder. He should have never stopped, so an argument would not begin, much like this one.

"I know that, Geryon. I'm just saying that... well..." Zelenia stammered.

"What's so wrong with stopping for a little bit?" Heela asked. "I'm up for a rest."

"As am I," Kalisa added. Renuo nodded with her, and when Heela turned to Aeris for her opinion, she agreed too.

"That's six out of eight wanting to stop. So...?"

Helian glanced at Geryon, who just walked off. The Sun sighed in defeat. "Alright, fine, we'll stop, but we're not staying long."

The Elementals separated: the Sun lay on the grass in the sun, and Geryon propped against a boulder apart from the others; Zelenia, Kalisa, and Renuo sat under a tree, and Tegen, Heela, and Aeris sat at the edge of a cliff, looking at the black cliffs of Lausane. Tegen had Heela rapt as he told them everything he knew about the cliffs. Not only did he love knowledge, he enjoyed giving it out.

The non-Elemental listened to what he had to say, studied the bluffs for a while, then pulled out his guitar and experimented with different tunes. Once he found a beat to his liking, Heela asked Aeris what she thought about the lyrics he had composed about the cliffs. Most of them, she approved; the ones she cared not for, she suggested others she thought of. Air and her friend bounced ideas off the other.

Tegen enjoyed listening to them compose a song—it matched the landscape and described the black cliffs lyrically. He looked over at the two friends—they had a shared talent. Aeris smiled so much with him; she was not as comfortable with everyone else. It was impossible not to like the young man and his happiness. Heela's personality drew you in. He wondered what brought them together—

A sudden rumble deep in the earth caught his attention. Tegen placed his hand on the grass beside him and felt the earth shifting in uneasiness.

"Tegen?" Heela asked.

He looked up to notice Heela had stopped playing. Beside him, Aeris' eyes jumped around. "I sense something, too. Apprehension is in the air."

"Apprehension of what?" Heela asked, voice pitching in fear. "What's going on?"

Tegen rose just as Aeris did, the latter raising her face to feel the wind; Heela jumped to his feet. Their alarmed postures caught the others' attention.

"Something is happening, isn't it?" Zelenia asked. "I felt the change of the wind."

"The earth is uneasy," Tegen said.

Helian and Geryon hurried up to them. With the discomforting purple eyes, Kalisa looked toward the road stretching before them. "Something's ahead."

They all turned. Leading straight toward the rocky cliffs of Lausane, the path looked as it did before. The sky remained bright and cheerful.

"Are you sure?" Helian asked.

Tegen pictured the gypsy woman rolling her eyes. "Yes."

"All the more reason to go now," Geryon said. "Better to meet something instead of waiting for it to find you."

"Uh, if trouble is ahead, shouldn't we go in the opposite direction?" Renuo asked. "You know, where it's safe?"

Geryon glared at him.

Helian quickly stepped in so Renuo would not be burned alive. "How about we go see what's going on before we do something?"

***

Traffic had been next to nonexistent until they passed the cliffs. Now, people milled back and forth, all dressed in the skin-tight armor of the Rovaneim, the people of Light. Armed with guns, their eyes were hard, focused. When questioned, none explained their presence, but suggested that the Elementals turn back for Eskra while it was still light and wait a few days before venturing forth again.

Tegen recognized the fierce determination of battle from seeing it in his tribesmen's eyes when they had decided to attack a rival clan. These people were there for a fight, and knowing the reputation of the Rovaneim, they planned to attack Fangril.

The peaceful sky darkened, uneasy with what lay ahead as they continued to Lausane. At a checkpoint, they were halted and told that they could not pass while Rovaneim filed past freely. The guard continued to keep them from knowing what was going on, denying them access, and insisted they turn back.

"Perhaps it is best if we head back for Eskra," Renuo suggested when they stepped back to discuss what to do.

"I want to know what they're up to," Helian said as he tried to peer past the checkpoint.

"Battle. What else do the Rovaneim do?" Geryon said. His sarcastic statement was clipped—the continuous refusal of being kept out of the loop had vexed him.

"Even so, we could help if they would let us in."

A man, clearly in charge, appeared from beyond the checkpoint and headed toward it. The guards saluted him as he walked up and spoke with them. He was a tall, commanding man with two bodyguards with him. Tegen could smell magic in their blood to know that all three were Seteri.

Helian perked up at seeing him and nudged Zelenia. She started to wave. "Lord Callidus!"

Focused on giving his instructions, he did not hear her. She called again, and he looked up. Surprise flashed across his face before he headed over.

"Our Sun and Moon again, with more Elementals," he added when he noticed the rest of them, and bowed. His eyes landed on Geryon. "Geryon, it is a pleasure seeing you again."

Geryon nodded in acknowledgment. "It is good to see you as well."

"Lord Callidus," Helian began to gain his attention. "What's going on in there?"

He sighed. "I'm sorry, Helian, I cannot say. Only those within can know."

"Oh, come on. Please?" He shook his head, to Helian's disappointment.

"We have to go to Lausane," Zelenia said.

Lord Callidus turned to her. "I was wondering why you were here. Did you change the route I gave you?"

Zelenia quickly answered by ensuring him that they had not, then explained the Fangril attack.

Alarm overtook his features. "That is not good. Things are advancing quicker than we planned."

"What things?" Helian asked, not about to give up on discovering the secret operation.

Lord Callidus looked them over as he thought. "I think you would help better inside than out. I'll let you through; follow me."

With them in tow, he re-approached the guard that had denied them entry and vouched for them as Elementals, instructing him to inform others of their permission. He led them through the checkpoint and deeper into the rock overhang. Lord Callidus' bodyguards followed behind silently.

Once the checkpoint disappeared behind them, he explained. "The Rovaneim have chosen the beaches of Lausane for their newest attack on Fangril. The beach presents the best opportunity, for it is almost enclosed like a bay, but is large enough for Fangril to enter. Exiting is much harder, so they plan to draw it in, trap it, and kill it."

"How do they plan to draw it in?" Helian asked.

"By using a previously entrapped spawn to call out for it. Its presence must have attracted Fangril since it attacked you."

"What do you mean by 'using'?" Zelenia asked.

"Torture."

The group fell silent at the word. Tegen dreaded hearing its cries—even though an offspring of Fangril, it was still a creature, one of nature. As the Earth Elemental, wildlife bonded with him and he, in turn, was connected. No, hearing its screams would be torture.

As they walked further, the inner workings of the operation could now be seen. Huge cannons and guns were being wheeled up and down to better firing positions. Rovaneim marched back and forth—captains preparing his men with orders, some busy testing out their guns, and others practicing fighting.

Battle is not for the weak of heart. The earth becomes stained with the blood of man and beast. He cared not to hear battle cries and the wails of the wounded. Tegen shuddered.

His tribesmen ridiculed him for not enjoying battle. They found strength and energy in one; he only felt horror and disgust.

Lord Callidus led the group off the road, down to the beaches and inside the rocky formations. He spoke again to break the uneasy silence. "I am leading you to the Command Post; there we will oversee the operation. I want to keep you as safe as possible."

"Why are you here, Lord Callidus?" Geryon asked.

He slowed to a stop. After debating with himself for a while, he looked around them for unwanted ears. Finding none, Lord Callidus faced them. "I trust you won't repeat what I say..."

"You have our trust," Zelenia said.

He took a moment longer to see each one's agreement. "I came in hopes that I can save some of them. This will not work. Fighting Fangril head-on like this will never work—our only hope of being free of it is through the Elementals."

No one spoke for a while, stunned. "If you know this will not work, why let them seek an early death? Why not stop it?" Kalisa asked.

"Because they will go ahead even if I command them not to. With me being here, maybe so many won't die. And now with you here, perhaps more have already been saved." He turned and began walking again. "Come."

Tegen was not sure how to place this Lord Callidus now. His attempt at trying to save lives was honorable, but it felt like it was all for show. Genuine sympathy did not resonate in his voice, even though he forced it.

They followed him through the maze of rock formations to an elevator commandeered for the operation. Usually, it just carried visitors up to a higher level to look over the peaceful beach; now, the overhang had been transformed into the Command Post with hastily prepared fabric-walls and tents.

The beaches of Lausane stretched out below them, alive with the movement of the Rovaneim getting ready. The colorful sea had even adopted the apprehension of the unsettled sky. Everything around them warned of impending danger. Tegen wanted them to leave, but as Elementals, their job was to fight Fangril. They had to help in any way possible.

This wasn't slaughtering other Kemiji, he would be fighting demons. Thinking about this as defending the others would help. He could do this.

"Lord Callidus, sir!" A Rovaneim man ran up to the Seteri Lord and saluted. He looked panicked.

"Speak."

"We just received word that Fangril attacked Orivist, sir."

Lord Callidus turned to them. "It will begin soon. Get ready." He turned back to the Rovaneim to get more information as they left, with the Seteri bodyguards following.