The Soul Keeper

Fetheion's shadowy powers enveloped us as the last rays of sunlight finally disappeared. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. We were all on edge – I could taste the anticipation, the anxiety, the restlessness in the air.

I felt my surroundings shift. When I opened my eyes, we were standing right before the Palace of the Divines. 

I took a deep breath. How long had it been since I last set foot on these steps? Months, I think. It felt more like years, with all that happened since then.

The once bustling city was now silent. Not a single person, civilian or guard, was in sight. 

I scoured our surroundings. Nothing that could imply danger caught my attention in the white and golden landscape. Yet for some reason, I felt incredibly tense.

"Something is off," I whispered as I glanced at Fetheion.

The Divine nodded. "They knew someone might strike."

Mona drew a sharp breath. "What do we do?" She asked, her voice but a whisper. "Do we retreat? What if the Divines come?"

Asher and I shook our heads simultaneously. "We won't ever get a chance such as this again." The blonde sorcerer spoke. "Fetheion, what do you think they will do?"

The Exiled Divine seemed fairly at ease. "They don't know about Kai's survival, nor about my involvement. They also don't know about…" He hesitated as he looked at each person present. "Well, any of yours." He mumbled. "Their security measures seem to be focused on the outer walls. I do sense a barrier around the palace though."

I nodded. I could sense that barrier too. A barrier made of Divine magic. It wasn't something I could break easily.

"Can we break it?" Victoria asked calmly. Fetheion nodded. "I can. I just need some time. Take your places around the bottom of the stairs," He pointed at the path leading up from the plaza housing the Divine Pillar of Baile Chailce. "Don't let anyone near me."

I took a deep breath. "Alright, let's go." I glanced at everyone. "Group up. We need two magic users to remain here with Fetheion in case anyone approaches that we can't stop."

"We'll stay." Alex said. "I can keep anyone off of these two," She glanced at Rina and Victoria. "And they can help you guys with their spells."

Asher nodded. "Good, the rest of us should hurry too."

"Kai?" Fetheion lightly tapped my shoulder as the others hurried down to the plaza. "I'll call for you once this is done but promise me something." His eyes met mine as he spoke. "Don't try something stupid in there, no self sacrificing."

I chuckled. "Promise." I grinned. "I intend to survive, Fetheion. All of us do. And so should you."

The crimson haired Divine simply smiled. "I won't die just yet," He said before turning his back on me and focusing his attention on the palace's barrier.

"Keep him safe," I said, looking at Alex before I ran off after the others.

Behind me, the snake tailed woman summoned her weapons from her inventory. She was ready for battle, and I knew nothing would get past her as long s she still had life in her.

Down at the plaza though, things didn't seem to be going so well.

"What do you mean?" Erik exclaimed as I arrived by their side. 

We were at the foot of the long, wide stairs leading up to the Palace of the Divines. Before us stretched the plaza, and on the other side of it, the rest of the Chalk City. The Plaza was large – large enough to fit two small armies and still have space left for battle.

"What's wrong?" I asked as soon as I arrived. Asher was standing on the first step of the stairs. His eyes closed; I could sense his magic moving about. 

"There aren't as many soldiers on the walls as there were before!" Lucius quickly explained. "I'm sure they're coming this way."

I narrowed my eyes. I could barely make out the walls from where we were standing. They were just a tall, thick, white line on the horizon. But I also knew Lucius' eyesight was insanely precise for some reason. 

"How many do you think?" I asked as I glanced at Mona. I raised my chin just a bit. The cheerful druid immediately nodded and hurried to whisper something to Theresa. 

"I don't know for sure," Lucius sighed. "At least fifty. I can't see the entirety of the wall from here though, so it's probably several times of that number."

I gritted my teeth. Fifty Ereth soldiers were nothing to scoff at. Yes, we had defeated them before, but now we were on their turf. Baile Chailce was their home – they would defend this place with everything they had.

"Theresa," I called at the archer as she climbed up the stairs. "Cover for the mages, the rest of us can take care of it. Any long ranged soldiers are your priority."

Theresa nodded as a bow I had not seen before appeared in her hands. It had a texture that reminded me of bones. It was a compound bow, with some extras on it. As I watched, she hooked an arrow and began waiting.

"Laura," I was about to tell the blonde woman what to do but seeing as she took her place a few steps below Theresa, I fell silent. She smiled, then her gaze focused on the distant parts of the city.

"We all know what to do, Kai." Asher lightly squeezed my shoulder, then his expression darkened. "I found over two hundred Ereth heading our way. They are not as organised as we feared and some of them are coming from the distant parts of the city, so we won't be fighting all of them at once." He hesitated. "I didn't notice any Inquisitors, but that doesn't mean there aren't any." He glanced at me.

"If they show up, I'll take care of them."

Asher nodded, then glanced at Lucius and Erik. "You two haven't fought together before, have you?"

They both shook their heads. "We'll be fine though," Lucius added. "We can do this."

Erik nodded. "I won't let anything get past us." The confidence in his voice surprised me. He stepped forward, his newly acquired shield glowing with a golden power. "Here they come!" He shouted as the first wave of Ereth soldiers stepped onto the large plaza.

Asher's whisper sounded.

"Let the battle begin…"