"The what?" I asked.

"The Black Lake Sisters are our sworn enemies." Crolick said.

"Rokai banished them to the Dark Dimension for all eternity, but I don't know how they're here now." Farcilia said.

The Black Lake Sisters walked up the stairs as the guards raised their wands. With a flick of her hand, the tallest one sent them flying.

"Rokai... It's wonderful to see you again. How long has it been...? Three, four hundred years ago?" she said.

"Tharja... I banished you for all eternity. How are you here?" Rokai asked.

"You grow weak every day, old man, which means your magic grows weak as well."

"Nevermind that, sister. Remember why we're here." said the other sister.

All three of them turned to me.

"Allegra Roseblood... We never got the chance to meet. I am Tharja Shadowhorn and these are my sisters, Rhajat and Phara." Tharja said.

"We wanted to personally thank you for collecting all of the Ancient Relics for us." Rhajat said.

"Ancient Relics? What are you talking about?" I asked.

"The items that you collected during your trials. The Shannon Pearl Gem, the Dragon's Eye, the Crystal Gardenia flower, the Cyclone Crystals, the Sun Star Diamond, and the Shadow Skull. Every single one is an Ancient Relic." Phara said.

My eyes widened.

I never knew that... In all of my years of studying, I never knew that they were Ancient Relics.

"So if you don't mind, we'll be taking those troublesome relics off your hands." Rhajat said, holding out her hand.

"Never! I don't know what your planning, but I know it can't be anything good! If you want them, you'll just have to take them from my corpse!" I said.

"My dear Allegra... Why don't we make a deal?" Tharja suggested.

"What kind of deal?"

"The Ancient Relics in exchange for your memories."

All of our eyes widened.

"My memories... Of what?" I asked.

"About your life on Elvarna, your siblings, everything... You want to know why you didn't remember your siblings, why you didn't remember Elvarna...? It was because of me. I erased your memory about your family, about you being the most powerful wizardess in all of Meldaria and Elvarna. Even more powerful than your siblings." Tharja said.

"If anything, you should thank us for what we did. We gave you a chance to live a normal life as a simple Meldarian wizardess, not worrying about all of the responsibilities you had to take care of here on Elvarna." Phara said.

"The reason Rokai banished us was because he thought we took away his precious, little sister. In a sense, he was right and wrong. We really didn't take Allegra away, just her memories. We placed her in Meldaria to live out the rest of her life, but of course, Rokai just had to interfere. Our plan was almost a success. We had gotten rid of the most powerful wizardess in Elvarna, but here comes Rokai to the rescue. We had told them that we stole your memories and that there was nothing they could do to get them back, but we were proven wrong. He made you go on these Wizards Trials to gain back your memory. Little by little, you were gaining some memories back, and we didn't like that. So we waited for you to collect all of the Ancient Relics so that way we could take you out." Rhajat said.

Everyone was silent.

So... all this time... my memories were stolen from me...

"So... do we have a deal?" Tharja asked, holding out her hand.

I looked at her hand and glared back at her. I swatted her hand away and raised my hand towards her and her sisters.

"YOU MONSTERS! SAGITTA LUMEN!" I cried.

Arrows of light were released from my hand and propelled their way towards the Black Lake Sisters. Tharja raised her hand and snapped away the arrows in a puff of black smoke.

"But... how...?" I asked.

"If strong enough, dark magic can beat light magic. Guess your light magic isn't strong enough." Tharja said.

"But mine is!" Stella cried.

She stepped in front of me and raised her hand.

"Globus Lumen!" she said.

Rays of light were released from her hand and then they turned into powerful beam. The Black Lake Sisters stood strong and proud as they were hit with the light beam.

Not even a scratch...!

"H-How?" Stella asked.

"We've spent over four centuries in the Dark Dimension, gaining more power and magic every day." Rhajat said.

"Light magic can't even touch us." Phara said.

"I'll say this one more time. Give us the relics and you can have your memories back." Tharja said.

"No... NO! I WOULD NEVER!" I cried.

"Fine... Have it your way."

She then aimed her hand at Spencer. A black aura surrounded him and he was hoisted in the air.

"SPENCER!" I cried.

"Give us the relics and your brother's life won't be drained." Tharja said.

"YOU MONSTERS! WHY ARE YOU PUTTING HIS LIFE IN JEOPARDY!?"

"To make out ideals a reality, we'll sacrifice anything... or anyone." Rhajat said.

I looked up at Spencer, teary eyed.

They're putting my brother's life in my hands... What do I do?

Then, an idea clicked.

"Alright Tharja, you win. I'll give you the Ancient Relics," I said.

"WHAT!?" the others cried.

"Glad you see things our way. Now, hand them over," Tharja said.

"Only if you release my brother first."

"Oh, very well."

She snapped her fingers and released Spencer. He landed and ran towards me. I accepted his hug and I hugged him back tightly.

"The relics... now." Tharja demanded.

"I don't think so." I said.

"WHAT!?"

"How dare you trick our sister! You'll pay for your insolence!" Phara cried.

She raised her hand and blades of black wind appeared. I jumped in front of Spencer and shielded my face with my arms. I winced in pain as the wind cut my arms. I lowered my arms and looked at them. Foot long gashes with blood spilling from them could be seen.

"You okay, Spence?" I asked.

"Am I okay? What about you!? Your arms..." he said.

"I'm fine. As long as you're okay, my heart is at ease."

I glared back at the Black Lake Sisters.

"If it's a battle you want, then it's a battle you'll get!" Tharja cried.

She raised her hand and a pulse of darkness was shot in our direction. I quickly put up a light barrier just in time.

"Rokai, can you and the others handle the Noxhounds?" I asked.

"Leave them to us... Courtney." Rokai said.

My eyes widened.

"We got your back, Courtney, don't worry." Jedidiah said.

"Take Spencer with you. I don't want to put him in harm's way," I said.

"Got it!" Clara said, taking Spencer's hand.

"Good luck, you guys."

"Right back at you, Courtney." Crolick said.

They ran down the stairs and towards the Noxhounds. I turned my attention back to the Black Lake Sisters and glared at them.

"Why do you want to fight us? All of this can be avoided if you just give us the Ancient Relics." Rhajat said.

"Exactly. If you do, you already know the prize that's in store." Phara said.

"Taking away my memories was wrong, and it is very tempting to get them back," I said.

"Don't make it any harder on yourself than it already is. Hand over the relics and we'll be on our merry way." Tharja said.

"But I don't want them back. I don't need my old memories to be happy. Creating and treasuring new memories is the best thing of all. You can keep my memories and I'll keep the Ancient Relics. How does that sound?"

They all growled at me.

"Fine... This will be fun either way!" Tharja said.

I healed my wounds with water magic and stood firm. Phara lunged at me with her hand out. Then, her hand turned black and her fingers turned into claws.

That's a trick charm known as Demon Claw. It's actually a very deadly and dangerous charm.

I dodged her and clenched my fists. A red aura surrounded them and when Phara came back around, I quickly punched her. She got blown back, but stopped herself from falling by digging her claws in the ground.

"Is that the best you got?" I asked.

"How dare you mock the power of the Black Lake Sisters!" Phara cried.

She charged at me again and prepared to punch me. Then, my eyes glinted blue. Then, a barrier went up, and Phara's arm got stuck. Her arm them began to drip with blood. She screamed in pain. I brought down the barrier and looked at Rhajat and Tharja. Rhajat came to Phara's aid and glared at me.

"HOW DARE YOU HURT MY SISTER!" Rhajat cried.

She charged at me and raised her hand. A black energy beam was soon released. I raised my hand and counter attacked Rhajat's energy beam with my own energy beam. I was putting everything into this attack. My eyes glinted again and another barrier went up. Rhajat's energy beam bounced off my barrier and propelled back at her. She tried to dodge it, but it got some of her side. Blood spilled from her side and mouth as she stumbled backwards into Tharja's arms. I brought down the barrier and grinned at Tharja.

"You three have been training for this moment for centuries, and this is the best you got? I must say this is sad," I said.

"SILENCE! You may have beaten my sisters, but you will not beat me!" Tharja cried.

"We'll see about that."

She growled at me and charged at me like the others. I quickly put up a barrier and waited. Tharja's conjured up the Demon Claw charm and pierced through my barrier. My eyes widened as she grinned. She then sliced my barrier in half and made it disappear.

"Like I said before. If strong enough, dark magic can beat light magic." Tharja said.

I jumped back as she brought down her claws. She then sent out a shadow army.

"Lumos!" I cried.

A bright flash was released from my hands and the shadows disappeared. I then realized that Tharja was gone. Then, a wave of pain crashed over me. I looked down and saw claws sticking through my chest. I looked over my shoulder to see Tharja smiling at me. She then ripped her claws out. I crumbled down holding my chest. Nothing but blood stained my hands. She then lifted my chin with the tip of her claw.

"Like I said... You may have beaten my sisters, but you will not beat me..." she said.

She grabbed my collar and shoved my against a pillar.

"Now, we can do this two ways. You can either give me the relics willingly... or do I have to rip them out of you?" Tharja asked.

"Not on your life, Tharja. I'd rather die than give you what you want!" I cried.

"That can be arranged."

She then placed her claws on my chest and raked them down. I howled in agonizing pain. Tharja just laughed.

"You're... insane..." I said.

"And you're dead to me. I'm the only one who can use the relics. I watched you during every trial. You were only able to use three of them... I must say, though, I am impressed that you knew the incantations to them," Tharja said.

"It's called... studying..."

"Well it's not going to help you out now... If I just rake my claws over your heart hard enough, will it still beat?"

My eyes filled with horror.

I can't get out of this... She's too strong... What am I to do?

I swallowed a lump in my throat as Tharja raised her hand.

Goodbye Spencer... I love you...

I shut my eyes and awaited my fate.

But nothing happened...