Pica was ecstatic: three were now true Elementals; only three remained. They were doing so well. She wondered who would be chosen next.

Renuo had found an exit in the chamber hidden by the water; he pulled it back so they could descend to the door then let the water go as they passed through. As the tunnel led them steadily up, she couldn't stop looking at his eyes—they were the brightest sapphire she had ever seen; they were so soothing to look at. He even walked straighter, like he was surer of himself now.

After they walked for what felt like forever, they came to a single door; Renuo felt of its face to see if water hid their exit. He pressed his hand against the door and, after a roaring, said it was now safe. They exited to find themselves on the lakebed at a completely different end of the lake. They headed up to the shore and, as Renuo closed the lake behind them, Tegen closed his eyes to concentrate on the feel of the earth. He told them the direction they needed to go to reach Sciula.

Pica skipped beside Aeris and Geryon—they were now close again, so they had absolved whatever had happened in Ilvila to separate them. Helian, Tegen, and Zelenia walked together, smiles on everyone's lips. Renuo and Kalisa walked ahead of them, hand in hand and speaking to each other with heads close. Everyone was together now, as it should be.

The landscape around them began to change from green hills and temperate temperatures to chilly tundra and snowflakes falling from the sky. Pica had never seen snow before and it blanketed everything in white; she had also never felt the sub-zero temperatures, until Aeris' demonstration in Water's Temple—the winter wonderland around her was something to see, but she wasn't fond of the cold.

Renuo's head turned from side to side as his eyes looked over the landscape—Pica saw the slight recognition and worry on his face. Tegen suddenly stopped, body tense and on alert as he smelled of the air. Everyone had now stopped, but because of their reactions, Pica began to shake.

Lord Callidus stepped out from around a frozen wall; his two bodyguards with him. She relaxed at seeing him, but the dark look on his face had her tensing back up. Something was wrong.

Zelenia sighed. "Lord Callidus; I was worried it was something out—" She gasped as her eyes widened in shock.

"Sweet Zelenia, why did you continue, knowing what is to come?" His voice was hard and mocking—this was a different Lord Callidus. "It would've been easier if you had just given in to your fears. I was sure I had you with the future I gave you; especially some of yours." His eyes roamed over their group, specifically landing on Renuo and Aeris.

Wait; the futures they saw were false?

Zelenia was still stunned at what she could see. "You..."

"What do you see?" Helian demanded, stepping in front of her and pulling out his bow.

"I have been around more Moons than just you, Zelenia; I know how to hide my soul." His black eyes turned on the Sun. "If I must explain, I am not the friend you thought I was. I have sought to stop you, but you have all frustratingly persevered."

"Why? You want Fangril gone too, right?"

"No, that is not what I want. Fangril and I are one; with it gone, I would not exist. The world has adapted to living with Fangril; without it, the Selfish Wars are guaranteed to break out again. My entire family has ensured the Elementals to fail to protect Ethea." He chuckled darkly as his eyes drifted over to Geryon. "Some I didn't have to manipulate; they destroyed themselves."

Pica suddenly began to sweat; Lord Callidus should've melted under the fury in Geryon's eyes. She worried about the ice under their feet.

Aeris must've thought about the danger too, for she quickly grabbed Geryon's hand and whispered his name in alarm; he toned down the heat around them, but anger still blazed hot in his eyes.

"So why are you here, Lord Callidus?" Helian asked.

He scoffed in humor. "I know you are young, but must I explain? I am here to stop you."

"By killing us?"

Other Seteri appeared on the surrounding cliffs. "No, I have learned. Once an Elemental dies, another is born, and I must go through this deception all over again; I am tired of this game." Even though completely black, his eyes somehow took on a sharper edge. "I will draw the elements out of each of you, but I will leave you alive to see if this new tactic will work. If not, then I will have to come up with another plan for the next Elementals. Is that enough of an explanation, boy?"

Helian's hand tightened around his bow. "Plenty."

With a step, Aeris pushed air toward Lord Callidus and his bodyguards; he lifted a quick hand—the force struck a sudden magical ward, reflected, and barreled back into the Elementals, blowing them off their feet. Renuo popped his hand against the ice; the solid ice under Lord Callidus and his bodyguards' feet melted away. They attempted to stop their fall but disappeared; Renuo waved a hand, and the ice resealed over the black hole.

"I'm sure they won't be down for long!" Renuo said.

"Go!" Geryon yelled.

The Elementals rose and took off running. At the sight of their Lord vanishing, the other Seteri sent various magic down at them. Fire melted the ground under them, but Renuo re-froze it before they could fall; ice spikes imbedded into the ground; Zelenia created a shield over them, and they shattered on it.

Tegen threw a fist into the cliff next to them; cracks streaked up it and it crumbled, taking the Seteri down with it. Pica threw a ball of light up to the Seteri on the other cliff and caused it to explode to blind them. Some brave Seteri appeared before them to bar their path; Kalisa threw a hand out and clenched it—the Seteri screamed as their legs broke and they fell. She easily brushed them to the side.

They entered an icy canyon and Tegen took charge by leading them through the frozen labyrinth, since he could feel the way out. Some passageways were so narrow only one could pass through at a time; others so wide they could've gone shoulder-to-shoulder. After everyone crossed a narrow ledge, Renuo swept his hand back to melt the ice to slow the Seteri.

Out of nowhere, Fangril's demons fell upon them—flying down from the sky, emerging out of the ice, or crawling up out of the dark holes of the canyon. The Elementals fought them off with their powers as they continued trying to escape. Geryon fought with them but refrained from using Fire—too risky right now.

Every time she could, Pica looked behind to check on their pursuers. With the demons slowing them down, the Seteri were gaining.

"They look really angry!"

Aeris finished off the demon she was fighting, then with a strained yell, whipped around with her blades dragging a blast of wind behind them. The wind tore through the Seteri and sent them flying, tumbling down into the dark abyss. Her element also sliced through a cliff wall so those that hadn't been blown off were buried under an avalanche. She turned and caught back up with them.

The cold, moisture-less air sapped their energy spent fleeing. It got increasingly harder for Pica to breathe, and she noticed that they gradually slowed. Pica wondered how they would have enough energy to fight if caught. Her legs felt stiff and tired from the exertion and her hands were entirely numb.

They were in a wide stretch of the frozen canyon when Pica slipped and tumbled forward: her legs had just given out when a strong arm caught her from behind. Geryon had caught her and stopped to right her again.

"Keep going," he urged. Pica felt a rejuvenating heat flood through her body and reawaken all her tired and cold muscles. She nodded, and they began running again. He had removed his arm, but with just that simple touch, Fire had seeped through and gave her the strength she needed.

No wonder he's so strong!

Pica glanced back again to see no one behind Aeris and chasing after them. Panic shot through her like a bullet.

"Where are they? Have they given up?" she yelled out at the woman pulling up the rear.

"I don't know!" Aeris replied.

"I doubt it," Geryon said next.

She looked straight again to see the end of the canyon and the beginning bank of a frozen lake. All around them was wide and open, blowing strong gusts across the tundra. On the other side of the lake were frozen trees of some dense forest. With no sign of their angry pursuers, Pica hoped they could slow their haste for just a little bit.

"Don't stop! To the woods!" Geryon answered to Zelenia's questioning glance behind at them.

"We can't stop here!" Renuo yelled.

Pica looked at him just as Zelenia did—his sapphire eyes were wide and trembling.

"It happens here? You're sure of it?" she asked.

He just nodded as his eyes continued their frantic search for something.

Even though Pica wanted to pass out as they began their way across the frozen lake, the thought of what would happen at the hands of Lord Callidus kept her going. Also, the fear in Renuo's voice scared her. They drew nearer to the woods, and the sight gave her a new source of energy.

Pica's heart nearly stopped as forms began emerging out of the forest and sprinting toward them. The group all slid to a stop as they took in the scenes around them. The Seteri emerging out of the woods had spilled down the bank while calling demons to aid in the attack; a few had come out of the canyon and calling their own. They quickly became surrounded.

The twang of an arrow being released sang sharply in the cold air and a demon disappeared in a wisp of smoke. "All we can do is fight!" Helian yelled as he shot arrow after arrow.

Everyone jumped into action. Being out in the open now, Aeris and Geryon released a fire tornado to tear through their enemies. Zelenia and Kalisa directed magic spells, Renuo made ice shoot up in sharp points to impale demons or Seteri, Tegen brought hardened earth out of the woods and threw them, as Helian shot his bow and Pica unleashed round after round of bullets.

Out of nowhere streaks of lighting struck around them from the hidden Seteri. The group did their best to dodge the lighting, but an agonizing scream pierced the air and froze her blood.

Pica watched in horror as lightning struck close to Aeris as she tried to escape the lightning zone. Her entire body went rigid as she screamed and fell to the frozen ground, convulsing from the electricity coursing through her. Geryon called out in fear and ran to her side; Pica and Zelenia were next to drop beside her.

The loud metallic thud made Pica turn to see that Renuo had banged the butt of his trident onto the frozen lake. Cracks streaked out from him, skirting around them with Aeris, and raced toward the Seteri. Renuo raised his trident, and the waters of the frozen lake broke through, swallowing the Seteri. When no forms still stood, the water re-froze over them—the lake looked as seamless as before.

Pica only gaped at what Renuo had done for a second before Zelenia suggested they leave. Geryon scooped up a still-grimacing Aeris, and they headed for the safety of the woods.