Tiafell - The Femboy Elf Ch. 30

Chapter 30: The Echoing Mountains

In Samora's room at Janazheim Castle, Hinako pulled a chair up and sat at a table with the witch. A crystal ball was placed on a small pillow.

"They should be getting close by now." The Oriental mage gazed into the ball.

"Yes. I would be lying if I said I wasn't nervous." Samora took a deep breath, holding her hand over her chest.

"They will be fine! If they can impress the five of us, they can do anything!" Hinako patted the witch's hand, then noticed the old volume on Samora's desk was open. "You've been reading that old book again?"

"Yes," Samora began, "I have been researching the former King of the Underworld, the fallen angel Dexxarc. According to the book, he rebelled against the gods and was banished to the Underworld for his transgressions. Vowing revenge, Dexxarc created the demons that currently populate the Underworld, hoping to create an army to rise against the gods. However, he was killed by one of them before he could enact his plan."

"Dred was the one who killed Dexxarc and came here to conquer Elistria with an army, almost as if he inherited the former king's desire. Does the book cover that event?"

"No, creating the demon race is as far as the book goes. I'm not sure what I was hoping to find; something about Dexxarc just aroused my curiosity. You know, the surviving demons that came here with Dred are the ancestors of those who live in Elistria today, including Tiafell and Trista."

"Interesting." Hinako looked back at the ball. "Oh, they've arrived!"

Samora moved in closer. "Yes! Be careful, all of you!"

The two witches watched closely.

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Tiafell and his friends arrived at the foot of the Echoing Mountains. The temperature dropped quickly as they approached, forcing them to dismount their horses and put on their thermal gear.

The clothes were thick, covering their entire bodies thoroughly. Thick masks covered their faces, and goggles protected their eyes, leaving not a trace of skin exposed.

Brion turned to the others. "I think we should send the horses back now!"

"Right!" Tiafell rubbed Carafell's neck, bidding her an affectionate farewell. The others did the same with their steeds.

Everyone removed their weapons and a few supplies. The mages of the group chanted the spell to send the horses back to Janazheim.

"There are several mountains, but that one," Nadia pointed toward the peak to the left of where they stood, "is the one we need to climb."

Cirris' eyes moved upward, visually scaling the mountain. "I can't even see the goddamn summit from here!"

"It's likely hidden within the storm cloud that keeps the blizzard active," Brion pointed out.

"Well, every journey begins with a single step." Tiafell walked forward. "Come on, everyone."

The group began their ascent, going up a hill. The mages used their staves as torches to keep everyone warm. Mirya, Cirris, and Trista encircled the other four.

Trista scanned the area with her mind. "I sense very little life other than ours. It must be too cold for most animals to survive in this place."

"And that's here at the foot of the mountains. I doubt anything lives further up." Nadia reckoned.

"Yes, I imagine you are correct."

"Brrr... my tits are hard, even under all these clothes!" Kanah shivered.

"Yeah? Want to show us?" Brion teased his cousin.

"Oh, shut your trap, dummy!"

Mirya had been quiet the entire morning and the day before. Trista made efforts to speak to her and clear things up between them, but the mage actively avoided her. She had even distanced herself from Tiafell, afraid to alert him to her feelings, only speaking to him at carefully planned intervals. However, the male elf was able to sense that something was amiss with the two, but neither of them would give him an answer whenever he brought it up.

It began to snow. The flakes didn't stick to the ground at the foot of the mountains. But the further up they went, the more their surroundings became blanketed in white until snow covered everything around them. The thermal suits protected them from the fierce cold, but they could still feel it.

Tiafell observed the snow falling and covering the ground. "This is my first time seeing snow! It's pretty, but there is something ominous about it."

"Tiafell..."

"Huh?" The elf looked around. "Which one of you called my name?"

"What are you talking about? No one said your name." Cirris raised an eyebrow.

"Yes, they did! It sounded like a woman's voice!"

Kanah shrugged. "Like Cirris said, none of us said anything. You're the only one who was talking!"

"Perhaps you heard a 'whisper of the dead'?" Brion suggested. "It's eerie to think about, but perhaps the rumors are true."

"Hm, maybe..." Tiafell mulled it over. Maybe it was a "whisper" after all, he thought. Just thinking about the souls of the dead calling for help was unsettling.

"Tiafell..." The voice was louder.

"Okay, I know someone called my name that time! Which one of you was it? This is no time for jokes!"

"Tee-Tee, I promise no one is saying your name!" Mirya assured him.

"Are you hallucinating or something?" Nadia shouted. "Get your shit together!"

"Tia? Are you alright?" Trista addressed her brother out of concern.

Despite the bitter cold, Tiafell began sweating. "I... I don't know what's going on..." He could sense they were all telling the truth, but that didn't change the fact that someone, or something, was calling out to him. Was he hallucinating? Losing his mind?

He heard the voice for a third time. It was loud and clear, but inside his mind.

"You are the only one who can hear me. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Gadrael: Goddess of Peace!"

The elf gasped. "I heard her again! She introduced herself as 'Gadrael'!!"

"Holy shit, she's communicating with you??" Cirris couldn't believe his ears.

"This proves that Tia truly is her chosen one!" Trista squealed excitedly.

Gadrael continued. "It's so nice to be finally meeting you in person soon! I've been looking forward to this since my previous partner's passing over a thousand years ago!"

"Um, yes, I-I look forward to meeting you as well." Tiafell was still shaken, but relieved to know that he wasn't going crazy after all.

"I'm sending a light your way in a few minutes. It will guide you to me, so follow it! I wish I could do something to quell the blizzard further up the mountain, but controlling the weather is not one of my abilities. Until I am in your hands, there is nothing else I can do."

"Oh, that would be so kind of you, thanks!" Tiafell addressed the others. "Gadrael is going to guide us to her!"

"That will make this trip much easier!" Brion said.

The goddess continued. "I will guide you all to some caves for the evening. You will not reach the summit today, no matter how quickly you move. You do not want to be out here at night; you'll freeze to death even with your suits and torches! Sleep in those caves tonight and continue in the morning."

Tiafell relayed the message to the rest of the group.

"I thought as much. We've been at this for hours, and we're only a third of the way up at best," Nadia remarked. "Thankfully, there are other caves."

"We can use magic to barricade the entrance and keep the cold out," Cirris added.

"Be careful. Even with my light, the ascent will be dangerous. Stay together and watch out for each other." Gadrael advised them.

"We will, thank you, Miss Gadrael." Tiafell smiled.

"My, aren't you polite! My last partner was rude as fuck! You and I are going to get along swimmingly, I can tell!"

Tiafell was surprised by the goddess's use of the word "fuck".

Minutes later, a glowing orb of golden light approached from ahead. The worsening conditions made it difficult to see until it was close to them.

"You should see it now. Follow its exact path. Otherwise, you could fall and roll down the mountainside!"

"There it is, thank you, My... Lady?" Tiafell awkwardly addressed her.

Gadrael laughed. "Just call me by my name, cutie! Anyway, we'll talk later. I can be a chatty goddess, so be prepared to have those adorable, pointed ears of yours talked off! In the meantime, stay close together and watch out for each other!"

"So, what is talking to a deity like, Tee-Tee?" Mirya asked, deciding to do so before Trista or anyone else could.

"It's just like talking to anyone else," Tiafell explained. "Well, sort of. I hear her voice in my head, but other than that, it's no different than speaking to any of you. She even said 'fuck' at one point."

Cirris scoffed, "Well, that's a smack in the face to those who believe the gods are 'pure'."

Continuing further, the storm worsened, and visibility dropped even lower, along with the temperature. The group saw what appeared to be a man who only came into view just a few feet in front of them.

"Hey! I see someone!" Kanah pointed, about to run ahead.

"Wait," Trista stopped her. "I sense no other life around us..."

Upon reaching the man, they discovered that he was frozen solid, standing for eternity. Thick, white icicles hung from his right arm, which was extended as if reaching for something.

"By the gods..." Tiafell's heart sank.

The group found others around him who had suffered the same fate.

"What a grim reminder of the danger we are in..." Brion lamented.

Nadia sighed. "There's nothing we can do for them. Let's keep going."

The group continued, following the light provided by Gadrael. They saw fewer frozen corpses the higher up they went, until there were none. The snow became thicker, making walking more challenging. The mages were forced to continuously unleash fire-based magic to clear away snow so they could pass through.

"Son of a bitch! This is insane!" Cirris grew frustrated as he made another path.

"What did you expect, Dickhead? This blizzard never ends!" Nadia chided him.

The light orb stopped at a stone wall, then moved up. Tiafell heard Gadrael's voice again.

"It will be dark soon. There are some caves right above you. The path around is much too long; your only chance of making it before nightfall is to climb! Hurry, you don't have a lot of time left!"

"Gadrael said it will be dark soon, and there are some caves above us. We must climb!" Tiafell informed the others.

"How the hell are we all going to do that? We can't hold our staves and scale the wall at the same time!" Cirris pressed.

"How about the three of us ride our staves up and stay close to the others, so they'll stay warm?" Mirya suggested.

Tiafell looked up, then at Mirya. "I think that's what we must do, good thinking!" Mirya felt proud that he complimented her.

The three mages mounted their staves and enlarged the flames burning from them. Tiafell, Nadia, Brion, and Kanah began climbing with the mages hovering close by.

The climb was difficult due to the ice pelting down on them and the distance they had to cover. Halfway up, they could no longer see the ground below them, and they couldn't see the top either.

Nadia's hands shook, making it hard for her to get a solid grip. Tiafell sensed her growing anxiety.

"Nadia?" He called out to her. "Slow down if you need to. Just take it easy!"

The vampire's entire body trembled. "I-I can't stop now! We must reach the top!!" Despite her words, Nadia was terrified. Reaching for a rock, she lost her grip due to her shaking fingers. Panicking, her other hand slipped, and she fell, alarming everyone.

"NADIA!!!!" Cirris screamed, quickly flying down after her. He reached out and caught her wrist. The mage then pulled her onto his staff with him. "It's okay, I've got you!!"

Nadia latched onto him tightly, shaking and loudly sobbing.

"Ride with me the rest of the way up, okay?"

She nodded, too frightened to speak.

The two of them hovered back up with the others.

"Are you okay, Nadi??" Mirya urgently asked.

"She will be. I'll carry her from this point on." Cirris answered.

"I'm sorry..." Nadia whimpered. "I'm terrified of heights!!"

"Don't worry about it, be thankful that Cirris acted as quickly as he did," Brion told her warmly.

"I am..." Nadia tightened her hold on Cirris.

The group finished their ascent without further incident, finally reaching the top of the cliff. Cirris flew to the top so he could help the others up. It was getting dark and colder, far too cold for them to survive much longer.

"You're almost there! As you can tell, the temperature is dropping fast!" Gadrael warned. "Run as fast as you can!!"

"The cave is just ahead; we can make it!" Tiafell encouraged his friends.

The travelers followed the light. Cirris held Nadia, who was still frightened by her fall. Minutes later, they dashed into the cave opening. The mages erected a thick wall to block the cold air out.

"It's quite dark in here; we must leave the fires burning." Brion crossed his arms to keep his chest warm.

Venturing through the tunnel, they discovered an open area that was surprisingly warm inside. The mages set their staves down, leaving the staves lit so everyone could see.

"I think it's warm enough in here for us to take the thermal gear off," Cirris started to remove his.

Following his advice, the group took off their gear.

"Woah, that feels so much better!!" Kanah let out a sigh of relief.

"I'm just happy we can take it easy for right now." Tiafell rolled his shoulders.

"Yeah... I'll get started on dinner. We'll have actual food tonight and save the rations for breakfast." Cirris got to work.

Mirya, Trista, and Kanah gathered around Nadia to give her moral support. Tiafell and Brion helped Cirris. As the guys sat around the pot, they watched the women.

"Nadia is still quite shaken," Tiafell observed.

"Yes, it's understandable. A good night's rest will do her some good." Brion glanced at Cirris. He was quiet, simply stirring the stew.

"Cirris?"

".... I was afraid, too. I thought I was going to lose her." Cirris watched Nadia, who glanced back at him. The dhampir gave him an affectionate and appreciative smile before resuming her conversation with the others. "If we survive this, I'm telling her how I feel..."

"Cirris..." Tiafell put his hand on his friend's shoulder. "Yeah, I think you should!"

"It's about time one of you did!" Brion tapped the mage's arm with his knuckles. "You two are so obvious, it's ridiculous!"

"Sh-shut up!" Cirris seethed, turning away. Tiafell and Brion laughed.

The group shared a meal and turned in immediately afterward, exhausted from their harrowing journey up the mountain.

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Mirya woke up during the night and was unable to sleep anymore. Being the only one awake, she created a flame above her hand and ventured further into the cave to be alone. However, her movements roused Trista, who decided to follow her.

The female mage sat on the floor, gazing into the flame burning above her palm.

"What's wrong with me? Why am I acting so coldly toward Tristy? And distant with Tee-Tee...?"

"I would like to know, myself."

Mirya jumped, then turned to see Trista standing behind her.

"Oh, Tristy, I thought you were asleep." Mirya turned away from her.

"I can't sleep all that well on cave floors." Trista took a seat next to the mage. "Can we please talk? Will you tell me what it is I did to make you so cross with me?" She knew, but she wanted to hear Mirya say it.

The mage couldn't walk off like she had been doing. It was time to confront Trista with her jealousy.

"I don't like feeling this way. But since you've been spending time with Tee-Tee, I've been jealous!" Tears streamed down Mirya's cheeks.

"He and I used to be so much closer. We used to talk, and I would link arms with him as we spoke. But with everything that's happened lately, we haven't spoken as much and have grown apart. And you... you just came along and took up all the time I used to spend with him! When you walk into the room, it's as if I'm not there. You take his attention away from us, away from me!!"

Trista's ears lowered. She knew exactly how Mirya felt, but hearing her say it was like a knife to the heart.

"I want him to be as excited to be with me as he is with you, no, more so!! I want to be his favorite!!" Mirya began sobbing. "I must seem like such a terrible person. Just hearing myself say all this makes me sound like a child throwing a tantrum! You're his older sister, and you've been separated from him your entire life; it makes sense that you two would spend so much time together. I'm a horrible person..."

Trista lightly patted Mirya's knee.

"Mirya, I never meant to take Tia away from you or anyone. But I suppose I ended up doing just that. I only wanted to become close to my brother, whom I hadn't seen since he was a baby. And I also wanted to be friends with all of you too. However, Lady Samora is right; I have so little experience with people in our age group that I don't always make the right decisions socially."

Trista wiped her eyes, sniffing.

"You, Mirya, were the first of Tia's friends to accept me, and you did so without hesitation. You have no idea how happy that made me. It meant so much that your anger toward me right now hurts, it hurts a lot!" Trista's voice broke. "Please, forgive me! I'm so sorry, I... I only wanted to join you and Tia in your conversations; I never intended for him to ignore you! I'm not your enemy or rival for Tia's affection, I promise!! I... I know Kanah is your best friend, but I desperately want you to be my best friend, Mirya!" The female elf sobbed.

"Tristy..." Mirya's bottom lip trembled.

Trista continued with tears rolling down her cheeks. "I know how much you love my brother. You've been able to hide it from him, but not from me. My ability to sense emotions is stronger than his. I want you to be with my brother; that would be the most adorable thing ever! I truly believe that once you stop hiding your feelings from him, he'll fall head over heels for you!"

"You really think so...?" Mirya's voice squeaked.

"I do! When I was in your grandfather's tower, being cleansed of Dred's energy, Tia visited me often, as you know. He told me stories about all of you, but he lit up the most when talking about you, though I don't think he realized it. I once asked him which of the women in your group he thought was the prettiest. Do you know what he said?"

Mirya listened intently.

"He said, 'Mirya is the cutest, her smile puts me at ease whenever I am troubled. All my friends are beautiful, but Mirya is exceptional. I sometimes find myself looking at her longer than I should without meaning to. She's so pretty! And she is also very funny! Mirya is the only person who can say perverted things while still sounding so innocent, it's enduring and hilarious to me!'"

Mirya looked at Trista for a few moments. Heavy tears fell from the mage's eyes. "Tee-Tee really said that about me...?"

Trist nodded. "Honey, I think you and Tia would be the cutest couple ever, I want to see it happen! I'm sorry I made you feel jealous, but if you will give me a chance, I can help you be with him!" She held her arms out for a hug, tearing up again. "Will you forgive me, Mirya?"

"Yes..." Mirya dropped her flame on the cave floor and leapt into the female elf's arms. "I'm sorry too, Tristy!! There was no reason for me to have been so cold toward you! I was selfish! Can you forgive me??"

"Oh, Mirya..." Trista snuggled her cheek against Mirya's, "I was never angry with you, there is nothing to forgive!"

As the two young women made up, they cried in each other's arms, letting their pent-up emotions spill out. After a few minutes, Trista was the first to speak.

"I'm so glad we cleared this up. I feel so much better, how about you?"

"I do too!" Mirya giggled, laying her head on Trista's shoulder.

"I meant what I said. I want you to be with my brother. So, I have an idea!"

"Hm?" Mirya looked at her.

"I'll brag about how incredible you are, how you would be the best girlfriend ever, and maybe even the best wife!"

"Tr-Trisy!!" Mirya's face turned a deep crimson. "Aren't you getting ahead of yourself??"

"Nope!" Trista laughed.

Mirya groaned. "Okay... but I'll do the same for you when it comes to Mom! I've seen the way you look at her, you're in love with her, aren't you?"

Trista's face turned the same color as Mirya's. "Oh, I, um... y-you don't have to do that..." She shifted uncomfortably.

"Oooooh, you've got it bad!" Mirya teased. "Maybe I can tell her that you're great at licking pussy or something!" She smirked devilishly.

"I have already... licked Lady Samora's pussy many times now..." Trista somehow blushed harder, nervously playing with a strand of her long, black hair. "She loves the way I do it..."

"Yeah?" Mirya leaned forward curiously, her eyes sparkling. "Could you lick my pussy sometime? I'm the only one you haven't had sex with now. That's... my fault, and I owe you."

Trista chuckled. "It's okay. When we get back, you and I can spend a night together, and I'll do everything your mother likes to you... Would you like that, you sexy little minx?" The female elf purred seductively, stroking Mirya's chin. "Mrrreow..."

"YAY!!!" Mirya glomped Trista. "I have another best friend now, and she wants to do naughty things to me!! I must warn you, Tristy, I'm even more of a perv than Mom is!"

Trista laughed, relieved that Mirya was acting like her cheerful and perverted self again. "I see what you meant, Tia," she thought to herself.

As the women continued to talk, someone listened from around the corner.

"So, that's what's going on..." The crying had awakened Tiafell, who decided to eavesdrop. Satisfied that everything was okay, the elf quietly crept back to his spot on the floor with the others to give them privacy. However, what he heard of their discussion lingered in his mind.

"Mirya..." Tiafell felt overwhelmed. After a lifetime of being hated by most of his Elven peers and only finding numerous friendships and sexual partners over the past year, he finally found someone who truly and deeply loved him with all her heart. He crossed his arms over his chest and laid on his side, fighting the urge to cry.

Tiafell was happy; any of his friends would have made an excellent partner. However, the fact that Mirya was the one to fall in love with him felt right. She was the sweetest, most tender-hearted person he'd ever met, the kind of person he was attracted to. After thinking more about it, it could have only been her.

He heard them come back and pretended to be asleep. Mirya knelt by him and put her hand on his arm.

"Good night, Tee-Tee. I love you..." Tiafell heard Mirya whisper tenderly, then felt her warm, wet lips on his cheek, keeping them there for several seconds before standing. Hearing her walk away, the elf slightly opened one of his eyes to watch Mirya and Trista get under the covers together. After nestling in, the women quickly drifted off, sleeping together comfortably on the foundation of their restored friendship, which was stronger than ever.

Tiafell spent several minutes looking at Mirya, silently weeping. He thought about her smile, her voice, her sense of humor, and her supportive nature. His eyelids grew heavy, but even as they closed, he could still see Mirya. His last conscious thoughts were of the mage smiling at him, her emerald eyes sparkling with joy.

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In his quarters, Estaban stared at himself in his vanity mirror. Unlike others of his kind, the Vampire Lord cast a reflection.

"Am I doing the right thing...?" He asked the man looking back at him.

The Esteban in the mirror cast a sinister grin and answered.

"Si! This day is the dawn of our eternal age of the vampire! Do not get cold feet now!"

"I know..." Esteban groaned, running his hand down his face. "How would Rosa feel about this?"

"Rosa is gone, amigo! You took care of that!"

"Silence!!" The Vampire Lord screamed at his reflection. "I do not need to be reminded of that!!"

The vampire in the mirror smirked. "You were the one who sacrificed her for power. I did not exist until that night! Do not blame me for your actions!"

"... you are me, the part that lusts for power, the man who would sacrifice his wife to become more powerful."

"Rosa was already dying; it's the price human women pay for birthing a dhampir child. It could be a month, or decades later, but they all succumb to the same disease eventually. She chose to be sacrificed rather than die a slow, painful death. You have no reason to blame yourself."

"Only because I talked her into it!!! She should have died in the comfort of her deathbed, with me and Nadia by her side..." Esteban shed a single tear, then turned away from the mirror. "It no longer matters. The important thing now is the everlasting rule of vampire-kind."

The conflicted Vampire Lord left his bedroom to begin preparations for the attack.

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The following morning, everyone slowly woke up one by one. Cirris, having been one of the first, was cooking rations. They were chicken biscuits that were kept frozen in bags designed to keep the food cold.

"Good morning, Tee-Tee!" A smiling Mirya was the first image Tiafell saw when he opened his eyes.

The elf's heart pounded in his chest at the sight of Mirya so close to him. "Good morning, Mirya. I hope you slept well."

"I did! Would you like me to make breakfast for you?"

"Oh, yeah, if you want. That would be so sweet of you, thanks!"

"Hehe, it'd be my pleasure!" The beaming mage skipped away to the fire. As Tiafell sat up to rub his eyes, Trista sat next to him.

"Good morning, Little Brother!"

"Morning..." He yawned. "Mirya is acting like her usual self again. I wonder what happened." He watched the mage as she spoke with her brother and Nadia.

"Oh, she and I talked last night. We sorted some things out, and now everything is great between us!"

"That's good to hear, I was worried..." Tiafell kept his gaze on Mirya.

Trista smiled at her brother. "Mirya looks so gorgeous and radiant this morning, doesn't she?"

"Uh-huh..." Tiafell replied, flustered.

"And look how helpful she is. You know, she would be an amazing girlfriend; anyone would be lucky to have her."

"Yes, I agree, Trista." Tiafell's pulse quickened. Mirya made her way back with two biscuits.

"Morning, Tristy!" She sang. "Sorry! I only made some for myself and Tee-Tee! I can go back and get one for you!!"

Trista waved her hands. "Oh, no-no! I'll get my own. And then I'll..." She thought for a moment, "... ask Kanah for fashion tips! Anyway, enjoy!" She stood and briskly walked to the fire. Mirya sat very close to Tiafell, who bashfully drew his shoulders up and moved his hair away from his face. She gave him one of the biscuits.

"Thank you, Mirya." He smiled at her, then his expression shifted to a more puzzled one. "Fashion tips... from Kanah...?"

Mirya giggled, "She won't get much out of her. Kannie barely knows how to pick matching shoes without help!" The mage knew what Trista was doing, so she chose to play along.

Everyone enjoyed breakfast, with Tiafell and Mirya eating together. Cirris and Nadia also ate together; the two of them were playful toward each other. Trista ate with Brion and Kanah, who whispered among themselves about the two "couples".

"Damn, we saved the best rations for last!" Cirris reached for his discarded bag.

"Here, let me!" Nadia snatched it away, then grabbed hers and stood.

"I'll take yours, Tee-Tee!" Mirya took Tiafell's.

"You don't have to do that, you've done plenty already! Let me dispose of ours." Tiafell insisted.

"Too late, I'm gonna do it!!" Mirya stated, joining the others to burn their garbage.

"Tiafell?" Gadrael addressed him telepathically. "I hope you are all ready to leave, because we have an emergency!"

"An emergency?" The elf repeated. "Everyone, Gadrael is speaking to me. It sounds urgent!"

The others gathered around Tiafell.

"An army of demons and vampires is marching toward the dwarven village through tunnels. They will be there in a few hours. If you leave now, you should arrive around the same time as they will. Please hurry, the dwarves don't deserve the fate that surely awaits them if you don't help!"

Gadrael's light reappeared before the group.

"Follow my light as you did yesterday, it will lead you to me!"

Tiafell stood. "Guys, we must leave, now!! Gadrael says that demons and vampires are going to attack the dwarves!!"

"Why would they attack the dwarves today?" Cirris asked.

"Vampires too?" Nadia growled. "Did she say if they were members of the Red Crescent? Never mind, who else could they be?!"

"By the gods, you don't think..." Brion grew pale.

Trista felt the same apprehension as the others. "We can't say for sure, but we must assume it's Dred, and that he knows about Gadrael! Why else would he come after the dwarves?"

Kanah growled. "Shit, if that's true, then his goal must be to stop Tiafell from getting the sword! It makes perfect sense!"

"Can you all hear me?" Samora's voice echoed through the cave.

"Mommy?" Mirya answered.

"Yeah, we hear you!" Cirris replied. "What's up?"

"Hinako and I heard what Tiafell just said. I can confirm that the sort of demons we saw in Steelweld are moving toward the dwarven village, and that they are, indeed, accompanied by vampires wearing the Red Crescent cloaks. I don't see Dred or Esteban, but I have every reason to believe they will make an appearance!"

"Tch," Nadia scoffed, "they'll use his ability to show up out of nowhere!" She balled her fists, eager to put one of them in her father's face.

"Then we truly haven't a moment to spare!!" Tiafell began putting on his thermal suit.

"Hey! This could be a blessing in disguise! If Tiafell finds Gadrael before Dred shows up, we can end all this shit today!" Cirris proposed. "Tiafell will destroy Dred, I'll send Esteban straight to Hell, and then we can go home and live normal fucking lives!" He turned to Nadia. "You won't have to worry about your father after today, I swear on my life!"

"Cirris..." Nadia held her hand over her chest, worried that Cirris was getting in over his head.

"My thoughts exactly!" Samora added. "Now, get a move on, time is not on our side!!"

With everyone wearing their thermal gear, the group left the cave. Even with the sun out, the top of the mountain was bitterly cold. The mages worked diligently to keep the path ahead clear of snow as they followed Gadrael's orb of light.

After a difficult five-hour trek, the travelers at last reached the cave entrance at the top of the mountain.

"It's the cave from Father's memories! You've done it!!" Samora announced.

"Yes, but this is no time to celebrate! I have a terrible feeling all of a sudden!" Tiafell warned.

Everyone darted inside, running down the winding tunnel. When they felt it was warm enough, they shed their thermal gear and continued, leaving the suits behind.

Deeper into the tunnel, Nadia felt her vampiric powers return.

"Ah! The lack of sunlight has activated my vampire side! Now I can really lay into these asshole!" The dhampir punched her other open hand.

As they ran, the tunnel widened. They stepped out into a vast clearing, overlooking the dwarven village. The sounds of battle and screams echoed on the walls of the cavern.

"Dammit, they beat us here!" Brion shouted.

"They're not beaten yet!" Trista assured him. "Let's get Tiafell to Gadrael and do what we can to help the dwarves!!"

The group brandished their weapons and proceeded downward. Entering the village, they were immediately attacked by orcs, trolls, and vampires.

Nadia punched one of the vampires with enough force to snap his neck. "Bastards, their cloaks sicken me!!" She spat on her defeated opponent.

The group came across dwarves fighting demons. Despite their smaller size, the dwarves were holding their own, proving themselves to be capable fighters.

"Kanah, you and Mirya go with Tiafell to find Gadrael! The rest of us will stay here and help the dwarves!" Nadia commanded.

"Right! Let's go, guys!" Kanah shouted.

She, Mirya, and Tiafell followed the light orb, fighting enemies along the way. They made their way into the Town Hall, which was empty, and into a small room on the first floor.

"It's a dead end!" Mirya glanced around the room.

The light hovered in front of an empty wall.

"Step on this stone," Gadrael instructed Tiafell, her light lowered to a small square tile. "Then, push this one in," the orb rose to float in front of a brick, "and this one," it moved to the right. "Move those three stones in the order I showed you within two seconds, and the door will open. I am on the other side, please hurry!"

"Alright," Tiafell replied. The elf stood in front of the wall and did as instructed. He stepped on the square tile, pushed the stone on the left in, finishing with the one on the right. There was a loud "click", then the wall sank into the floor, revealing a path.

"You did it, Tee-Tee!" Mirya praised him.

Tiafell smiled at her. "Yes, Gadrael said she's on the other side, let's hurry!"

The three went inside. The passage was narrow, being only wide enough for one of them to pass through at a time.

One by one, they reached the other side. Candles lit on their own to illuminate the area. It was a cave, not unlike the others. There was a pedestal in front of them with a sword embedded in the middle.

Tiafell's eyes settled upon the weapon he was destined to wield. "It's... Gadrael... It's even more gorgeous in person..."

"Don't just stand there gawking at it!" Kanah demanded. "Go pull that bad girl out!!"

"Right!" Tiafell approached the blade, which emitted an intense white glow in response. Taking a deep breath, he grabbed the hilt with both hands.

Orvik entered the cave, carrying a double-headed battle hammer and wearing armor with a horned helmet.

"Who are ye? Are ye in league with the bastards attacking my village??" The Chief roared, ready to attack.

"No! We're here to help!" Mirya answered. "Our friend over there is the one who has been chosen to wield Gadrael!!"

"How do ye know of..." Orvik looked at Tiafell. "That lass?"

Tiafell tugged upward. It took some effort, but Gadrael slowly rose from the pedestal until finally, after more than a thousand years, the sword was freed. A blinding pillar of light erupted from the hole that once housed the weapon, then vanished. Turning the blade upward, Tiafell admired the splendor of the divine weapon in his hands.

"By the gods..." Orvik's mouth hung open. "She really is the chosen one!" He removed his helmet and held it over his chest in reverence. "Never did I imagine that I would be the one to witness this. I owe ye all an apology. My name is Orvik, Chief of this village."

"Don't worry about it!" Kanah smiled. "I'm Kanah, the other girl is Mirya, and the one holding Gadrael is Tiafell!"

"Whoa, what is it like, Tee-Tee?" Mirya joined her crush's side, admiring the gorgeous blade with him.

"It's quite heavy..." Tiafell struggled to hold the four-foot-long weapon upright. "I don't think an ordinary human could ever use this sword... huh...?"

Tiafell and Gadrael were enveloped in a white light, then disappeared.

"Tee-Tee? Tee-Tee!!" A panicked Mirya called out.

"The lass has gone to meet Gadrael in person," Orvik explained. "The chosen one must meet with her so their souls can unite. The method of their union will be entirely up to the goddess."

"So they can 'unite', huh? Hoo boy, I can probably guess what that means..." An amused smile formed on Kanah's face.

"When will HE be back?" Mirya emphasized Tiafell's gender, visibly annoyed by Orvik referring to him as a "lass".

Orvik blinked. "Er, that depends on how long it will take for their souls to bond. In the meantime, help me kill the bastards invading my village!!"

"With pleasure!" Kanah clutched the handle of her axe tightly. "These monsters destroyed my home; I won't let them do it to yours!!"

The trio left the chamber and returned to the besieged village. Orvik and Kanah fought their way through hordes of enemies with Mirya supporting them using defensive and speed boosts.

"Ye swing that axe with expert precision!" Orvik praised the young Amazonian.

"I am from a place called 'Steelweld', the village of the Amazons! We are a warrior race of humans gifted with the ability to fight. Mirya here is a mage, a human with the same gift for magic!"

Orvik chuckled. "I see, I have much to learn after we leave this cursed mountain!"

Their teamwork eventually reunited them with the others.

"Hey, did Tiafell find the sword??" Cirris inquired as he fought off a Subterranean demon.

"Yes! But he disappeared right after! Mr. Orvik said he will be tested by Gadrael." Mirya replied.

"Orvik? Is he the Dwarven Chief?" Brion guessed.

"Aye, lad," Orvik confirmed. "We can get acquainted later!!"

An orc charged at the Chief, who thrusted the top of his hammer into the beast's gut, doubling it over. Then, with an aggressive growl, Orvik brought his weapon down on its head, smashing it flat against the ground.

"Line yerselves up for me! I'll smash all yer brains through yer arses!!!"

Cirris managed to finish his Subterranean opponent off by slashing its throat. "What's with these things? How the hell can they see us without eyes??"

"Don't be fooled by their lack of eyes, they are more aware of our surroundings than we are!!" The Chief advised.

"They must use echolocation, like bats do!" Nadia correctly assumed.

Everyone worked together to help fight the demon army. Tiafell's friends were impressed by the combat ability of the dwarves. It was brutal and lacked the discipline that the Amazons possessed, but it was just as effective. Orvik was just as impressed by his new allies. To be so young, they had the experience of warriors twice their age. He could tell that this group had been through a lot together.

Even working together, however, the battle was far from over. The dwarves could hold their own without sustaining many casualties, but the demons kept coming, quickly replenishing their numbers. It was becoming a battle of attrition, and the dwarves were growing tired.

Brion prepared to square off against a female Subterranean carrying a double-bladed staff. The weapon was as tall as the Amazonian, and the creature herself was taller than King Escandar. The fighters crossed blades.

"Not bad," Brion smiled a bit. "You don't merely swing your weapon around like the others of your kind do. You're not just a mindless beast, are you?"

The creature's forked tongue flicked. "I am a cut above the others; you will find that defeating me won't be such an easy task!"

Brion was taken aback by her ability to speak.

"That one is called 'Zera'!" Orvik called out. "She is their leader and far more dangerous than the rest!!"

Brion nodded. "I see. So, Zera, I am Brion of Steelweld. I accept your challenge!"

"Whether or not you accept is irrelevant to me." Zera hissed. "We are going to fight until one of us dies; there is nothing more to it than that."

"Very well, then give me all you've got!!"

Brion and Zera began their melee, the two of them seemed to be evenly matched.

A red portal opened before the group. Esteban was the first to emerge, followed by Grimswald, and finally, Dred. Nadia gritted her teeth as her eyes locked onto her father.

"And just who are those three?" Orvik growled in anger.

"They're the ones in charge of the demons!" Mirya answered him. "Although I've never seen the one with the monocle before."

"He is Hector Grimswald, one of Father's generals." Nadia bitterly explained.

"Woo-hoo!! Goddamn! Is that you, Nadia?" Grimswald whistled. "You were just a kid the last time I saw ya. Now, you're all grown up and making my dick harder than fucking steel!!"

Nadia grimaced. "I'm not surprised that Bahti isn't here."

"Eh, you know how she is," Grimswald unsheathed his broadsword. "All the fuck she wants to do is soak in blood and get eaten out by her zombie vampire lesbians. It's goddamn creepy, but hot in a way, too."

Nadia picked up a discarded sword. "I'm not here to reminisce! Since you've come here with Esteban and Dred, I'm going to kill you!!"

"Oh, Nadia, don't be like that! You've become such a hot babe! How about you and I go somewhere far away from all this fighting so I can fuck you silly? I'll bet you've got a pretty cunt; I can give it the attention it deserves. What do you say?" Grimswald offered but was forced to step aside when Nadia charged at him, intending to run him through.

"Keep dreaming!! I'll cut your hands and dick off before you ever touch me!!"

"Oh, you ungrateful whore..." Grimswald's jovial demeanor vanished. "I would have let you live after I had my way with you. But now, you've just thrown your short life away. I'm still going to fuck you, that hasn't changed! You'll have the best sex of your goddamn life right before it ends, whether you fucking like it or not!!"

Esteban approached Cirris with his rapier in hand. "Ah, I am happy to see that you have survived long enough for us to meet again! Are you ready to die now, muchacho?"

"Please," Cirris raised his sword, pointing the tip at the Vampire Lord, "I was born ready to kick your ass again, motherfucker! And this time, I won't miss your heart!!"

Esteban chortled. "You confuse blindsiding me with skill, amigo. I believe you will find yourself at a major disadvantage if you face me in a fair fight!" He took a fencing stance, ready to engage Cirris in combat. "En Garde!!!"

Nadia became frightened for Cirris' life, seeing Esteban with him.

"Don't drop your guard, you stupid skank!!" Grimswald lunged at Nadia to attack her, beginning their battle.

Dred scanned the battlefield, searching for Tiafell. Trista walked in front of him with staff in hand.

"Trista, have you come to offer yourself to me? To return to my side?"

"Never! You'll never control me again!!" Trista retorted. "I'm going to fight you, alone!"

"Is she crazy?" Hinako stood, turning her chair over. "She can't fight Dred by herself! Sir Marlon tried, but look what happened to him!!"

Samora was all smiles.

"Lady Samora?"

"Trista has far surpassed Father. Dred has no idea what's about to hit him!" Samora leaned forward and spoke softly into the crystal ball. "Trista, sweetie, can you hear me?"

"Yes, loud and clear, Lady Samora!" The female hybrid answered, keeping her eyes on Dred.

"I won't tell you to hold anything back, but do try not to cause a cave-in. Also, don't use holy magic; let Tiafell be the one to finish him off. Other than that, show him what you're made of!!"

"Understood!" Trista closed her eyes, "I will save the killing blow for Tiafell, but I have four years of revenge to dish out onto this freak of nature!"

When she opened her eyes, her irises had turned into swirling whirlpools of alternating green and red.

"I'm going to make it hurt! PREPARE YOURSELF, DRED!!!"

Dred growled, sprouting his second pair of arms. Red blades appeared in all four hands.

"Those cursed eyes that I hate, just like Cardexx. You have them, yet I doubt you understand what they truly are. You don't need the gift of sight to help me breed a superior race of demons. I will pluck your eyes from your sockets, then crush them between my fingertips!!"

With that, the stage was set for a colossal showdown in the Dwarven Village. But where was Tiafell, and what was the goddess Gadrael going to do with him?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Elsewhere, a lone figure wearing a Red Crescent robe navigated a narrow tunnel. The hood was pulled over his head, and his eyes glowed red in the dark. He clutched a dagger tightly in his right hand.

"Today... you die, Tiafell..." Alto's eyes narrowed as he angrily bared his fangs.