"How did they get here? Is there another way?" Merill turned to Elard.
"No, it shouldn't be..."
"What now?" Stephan asked.
"Well, let's go through it. There is no other way," Elard nodded at Caden and descended to a camp where the group of the Dark Ones stood.
"They can't survive here for long, they must have gotten here a while ago," Merill continued to complain.
They reached the centre of the camp and the Dark Ones encircled them.
"Calm down. We just want to pass through," Stephan said calmly.
"It doesn't look like they understand you," Merill replied, while the Dark Ones were staring at them.
"Are you dumb or what? Do you understand us? Elard, you know their language, don't you?" Merill freaked out.
The Dark Ones continued to stare at them. After a while, long claws began to eject from their fingers and they began to change.
Caden fell on the ground.
"Caden, what are you doing?" Merill asked nervously while drawing his sword.
But Caden did not perceive his lamentation, he heard the voice again, and it was sowing pain all over his body as if his blood was burning in his veins. "Hahahaa, you wretch. You voluntarily stepped into an obvious trap. Now you'll all die, your friends will be torn apart, and you're too weak to do anything about it. The last thing you'll see is how you lie on the ground in panic and fear."
"Caden! Caden get up!" Merill shouted and began to fight with strange creatures, along with Stephan.
Elard looked around and ran away.
"Elard! You damn coward!" Merill shouted.
The voice continued, "There's no point in getting into your Empire. You will find nothing but destruction and suffering. But I am generous, so I will give you an offer. You are a powerful mage, you are suitable for my army. Just kill your friends and you can survive. Come on, what are you waiting for? You are..." the voice ceased, along with the pain.
Caden stood up and, began killing the creatures attacking them with his power.
"Finally! What did that mean?" Merill asked.
"Looks like you have powerful enemies," Elard said.
"You bastard!" Merill ran to him and grabbed his neck.
"Relax, calm down," Elard pulled away his hand and threw a staff in front of them.
"What is it?" Merill asked.
"The reason why Caden fell on the ground. There was a mage on that rock niche. Probably bewitched him somehow,"
"And how did you find out?" Merill asked.
"He was whispering something, and when he died, Caden got up."
"Thanks, Elard..." Caden said.
"Can we continue before more creatures get here?" Stephan asked.
"Sure, we should go this way," Elard led them.
After crossing the passes and rock paths, they finally reached the border with the Empire.
"Finally! Look at the sky, the fresh air!" Stephan rejoiced.
"It's not so nice for me, isn't there too much light?" Elard complained and afterwards fell on the ground.
"Come on, don't overdo it!" Merill laughed.
"He really doesn't look good, what is happening?" Stephan knelt down to him.
"He calls them... calls his generals..." Elard replied in pain.
"Who?" Caden asked.
"Mor'lak. He wants them to attack the Wall of Sorrow. He summons all the houses," Elard was breathing heavily.
"This passage must be sealed," Caden said while pulling avalanche of stones over the col with his power.
"And what do we do now?" Merill asked.
"We have to get to the Wall of Sorrow," Caden replied.
"Are you crazy? The wardens are protecting it! They'll kill us as soon as they'll see us," Stephan objected.
"If the Wall falls, the entire Empire will be destroyed and we all will have to worship that demon Mor'lak. If you'd rather go hide in the cave, you don't have to come with me," Caden said and walked away with Elard.
"Caden, wait! I'm going with you," Stephan called, and Merill ran behind him.
"How do you know it's this way?" Merill asked.
"There are only mountains further north, so it must be south," Caden replied.
"And what do you want to do when we'll get there?"
"I'll figure it out when we get there," Caden smiled.
The group got on the road.
After a while, they came across a trade caravan.
"Em... hello? Hello, could you tell us how to get to the Wall of Sorrow?" Caden asked.
Stormers stared at them, then one of them pointed south.
"See? I said it," Caden said proudly.
"If we don't arrive there today, it will be useless," Elard said, leading the group.
"You really want to fight them, don't you?" Stephan laughed.
"Yes, I want to kill them. All those bloody traitors," Elard replied.
The sky began to darken.
"We're close," Elard said.
Finally, they saw the first signs of warden's presence in front of them.
"We're here..." Caden said.
"Dark Ones! They flanked us! Everyone to your battle stations!" the warden shouted as he saw them.
"Calm down! We come in peace, I'm a human!" Caden shouted.
"And what is this by all the Saints?" the warden pointed at Elard.
"That's our ally, we've come to warn you. You can keep your men ready for battle," Caden said.
"Warn us?" the warden approached them.
"A huge army of Dark Ones, led by a powerful demon is approaching the Wall of Sorrow," Elard stepped forward.
The wardens looked at each other and began to laugh.
"This is no joke! You should send for reinforcements right away!" Merill shouted.
"And who are you?" The warden asked Merill.
"Merill, I was a member of the Oakdome's city guard."
"And you're alive? Well, that's interesting," the warden laughed.
"There's really no time for this! We have to get on the Wall," Stephan decided.
"Haha, nobody is gonna harm us with the artefact on the Wall..." the warden smiled before he was interrupted by the horns and shouting.
"Alarm! The Dark Ones are here!"
"That's not possible! Oh, come with me!" the warden shouted and ran on the Wall of Sorrow.
"How come the artefact... Who is that?!" the warden shouted in horror.
The group ran to the Wall, and a hooded figure stood on the tower with the artefact.
"Archers! Kill him!" the warden ordered.
"That will be one of Mor'lak's generals," Elard frowned.
The man prevented the using of the artefact with his power and killed everyone who approached him, afterwards he began to whisper.
"Oh... the voice, I know him..." Caden called.
"That's impossible... Mormir?!" Stephan shouted.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ82jOxc1ll
