"Stop." Fenian commanded as the company arrived at the forest edge.

Morro turned around and looked at her. "What is it?"

"She needs not to come with us."

"Why on earth not?" Zurich asked.

"I don't like trusting her." Fenian said, side-eying Ezsha.

"This isn't your decision." Morro said.

Fenian expression didn't change. "You need me more then her. She turns back." She insisted, voice stolid. "You can't find mystics without magic from me. We can do without her."

Morro bit the inside of his lip as his eyes narrowed in thought. "Fine. Ezsha, go back. We'll find the mystics on our own."

Ezsha exhaled. "I'm still in for thirty?" She asked.

"Fine, just go." Morro said.

Ezsha turned on her heel and started back towards the town which lay on the foot of the hill they now stood on. "Don't try and play me or else," she called over her shoulder.

"Or else what?" Morro called back, a smirk playing on his lips.

"Shut up!" She exclaimed without turning around.

Morro snickered inaudibly. "Well then, Fenian, do your thing."

"Good." Fenian replied. Zurich and Morro instantly shifted into ravens with the bright yellow shaft of light flickering over them as their forms changed.

Fenian then shifted herself into a raven, identical to the two others except with golden-yellow eyes to replace the black ones. She took off into the trees, Morro and Zurich following her lead.

*•*•*•*

A dewy sweat beaded Rova's brow under the scorching heat. Her gaze remained locked before her, her hair falling over one eye as she outstretched her hand. The soot makeup that framed her eyes ran down her cheek as it mixed with a drop of perspiration.

The magma surrounding her burned at her face but she took no notice as he fingers clasped around the prize she'd waited too long to possess. A stone as black as hate now rested in her palm. The Syphe.

After a hundred thousand years underneath the earth, the stone had been claimed. After many had tried and failed, she was victorious.

Rova took the gold band that held most of her hair to the side in a braid. The band was her most prized belonging. She set it on the stone pedestal on which the Syphe had once sat, as the sacrifice in exchange for this new weapon. She stood lingering only a moment longer to gather her thoughts; push past all the emotions that had flooded over her inconveniently.

Regret, past shame, memories of what had been. She locked them away inside the unbreakable vault of her conscience.

Then, she turned and swiftly made her exit, ridding herself of the woman she used to be.

Emerging from the corridor of seemingly endless stairs leading back to the surface of the earth, she inhaled deeply. The smell of damp dirt of the forest floor and foliage filled her lungs, and the feeling of power nipped at her fingertips as she grasped the stone. She slid it into the pocket on her thigh and fastened the buckle to secure her treasure.

A griffin drifted down from the treetops where he had perched, landing before Rova with a wink and a screech.

"We're off, Maw," she said, making a circular motion with her hand. The griffin gladly obeyed the command and turned quickly so his handler could mount.

With a flick of his tail and a raise of his wings, the two were airborne in a second, flying a few feet above the treetops.

The wind raced past Rova's face, stinging her eyes and face. Her attention was on the stone however, and the coursing power she felt radiating from her pocket.

They flew onward for several minutes before landing in a nearly invisible clearing.

Luscian stood with his arms crossed over his broad chest, watching as the griffin descended. "You kept me waiting." He said.

"Cork it. I got what I needed." Rova climbed off Maw's back. "I said you could leave."

"Let me see the stone," Luscian stepped forward.

Rova held out an arm, warning him not to come any closer. She unbuckled the pocket and her hand emerged with the Syphe. She held it up between two fingers so he could see.

Luscian grabbed at it. "Closer,"

Rova wrestled him off her as he tried to get a closer look. Her eyes were like stone. "Don't." She warned.

Luscian let go of her arm which he'd taken a hold of. They both remained unfazed as they glared at each other. "You're a selfish mother of a swine." He seethed.

"I don't need you so remember that the next time you consider touching me." Rova shoved him back with gritted teeth as she emphasized the single word.

Luscian clenched his jaw as his gaze finally broke from hers and he looked at the ground.

*•*•*•*

A/N

FADA! Another chapter yayyyyyy!!!

Another two characters! Not yaaayyyy! More for me to keep track of lmao but it's my own fault...let me know your thoughts and opinions below!