21st of Vestian , 201 years after the Coming of Estarra.

Dear Emperor,

I have yet been able to get to Cael, and I believe his woman, Mandy, may be a
threat. With her gone I may be able to sway him easier. He cares for her, and
taking that away may be a way to soften him. I knew he would be hard to sway,
but I didn't expect it to take me even longer than three months to do. I'm
going to set the raid in a month from this day, within that preparation time I
will attempt to bring his woman along. When you arrive, I will place my hand
on her shoulder, so that you will know it is she who needs to be killed. I
have yet to see any other big event being planned, except for a wedding for the
Prince's son. As for knowledge on the Prince's son, this is the first news I
have heard about him having a family member. The date has yet to be set, but I
believe that it should be a good day for you to set a raid. They have kept me
busy, leaving me with no time to write, or I would have sooner. I've been
moved up to one of the main leaders in The Armies of Light, replacing the man
you killed in your last raid. Good job with the raid, many Celestians were
slain.

In your service,
Karla Melero

Karla handed the letter to the woman, watched her attach it to the owl's leg
and left the Serenwilde post office. She tugged upon the aetherstrands,
searching for the one that connected to the Pool of Stars.

Mandy pounced on Karla, sending them both rolling head over heels.
"Let's walk!" Mandy said, smiling broadly.
"Sure." Karla said, inclining her head to the others at the nexus.
Mandy jumped up, and helped Karla stand.
"Hyper today, eh? Why is that?" Karla eyed Mandy suspiciously.
"Walk!" She said, tugging urgently on Karla's sleeve.
"If I walk any faster, I'll be running." Karla complained.
"Oh well, I can't wait to tell you. Karla, I'm engaged!" She squeaked out,
excitedly.
"Oh my...Congratulations, Mandy!" Karla hugged Mandy, biting on her lip to
stop herself from getting emotional. She wouldn't be getting married, if only
she knew why.
"Oh Karla, you have to come! We haven't decided when the wedding will be, but
Cael's father will set it all up. I want you to be my Maid of Honour!"
"Cael's father? I didn't know he had any relatives."
"Course he does. He's the Prince's son! Isn't this wonderful?"

Sir,
I'm writing as quickly as I can, I haven't time to waste. Cael is the
Prince's son. The date for the wedding is still unsure. When it will be held,
I'll tell you any entrance you can enter the city by.

Karla handed the quickly scrawled parchment to the woman, she didn't bother to
watch to see whether the parchment was attached to the seagulls and sent off,
seeing as she didn't call him Emperor. She ran to her manse, closing her mind
from any unwanted communication.

"I don't think she liked the news... I can't understand why. She looked so
happy when I told her!" Mandy leaned on Cael's shoulder, seeking consolation.
"Then she just... Paled and said she had to go do something."
"Hmm... Mandy, you want her to be your Maid of Honour?" Cael frowned,
stroking her gently. "Wouldn't it be better if you--"
"Cael, I don't understand why you don't trust her by now. I want her to be my
Maid of Honour, she's my best friend."
"Bah!" Cael said with disgust. "Well, did you see where she ran off to?"
"She went to her manse, Cael. What is it you have against her? Why do you
still hate her after all she has done for Celest, and if you don't like her why
did you have her appointed as one of the main leaders of The Armies of Light?"
Mandy stood up, glaring down at Cael.
"Mandy, calm down. I don't hate her, I just don't trust her. She isn't a
leader of The Armies of Light, she's one of the teachers. She got that because
yes, she can fight, and she is a good teacher. I just don't think three months
is enough to trust someone who was so against us. You trust too easily. Now
sit and lets discuss our wedding details."
"It's been nearly five months. And sorry.." Mandy sat back down by his side.
"Just want this to be a perfect wedding, I don't want you to hate who I invite."
she said in a low voice.
"I'll like her for a day then." He pecked her forehead, and grinned. "I
promise."

"Has the Emperor ever answered your written letters?" Ellyona asked
curiously.
"He isn't supposed to. We agreed on that, but he did stop raids when I said
to, and he has used information I gave him every now and then. I mean, I've
sent him random times I've jotted down for when to raid. Celest just believed
Magnagora did it because they saw all the important people busy."
Karla and Ellyona sat on the bed in the bedroom chamber, like they usually did
as of late.
"So...there isn't a way you can reverse what you told him without him knowing
you're hesitating. So, just choose some other ditzy girl to put your hand on
her shoulder, or, raid and run before they can come."
"In order to do that..." Karla frowned. "I'll need to send someone to earth,
then Nil...."
"Then gateweave." Ellyona nodded, finishing her sentence. "Think the Emperor
will allow it?"
"This is insane. She'll just attempt to get in my way when she learns that I
am her sister."
"So you will continue with the plan?"
"Of course, I was sent to Celest to spy. Therefore, I will do my job. She's
just a harder trial I need to face."
"I see."
"I'm doing the right thing." Karla said aloud, convincing herself so.
"Well then, good luck Karla, dear. May Belphagaar's teachings guide you in
the right direction. I'll always be close by if you need me."
"Like you have been as of late, when I've actually showed emotions. Too many
emotions." Karla whispered to herself "El, your my only family. I have no
other." she said facing her life-time old friend.
"Karla, you're getting tired. I can tell, your showing emotions." Ellyona
hugged her, and turned to leave.
"Remember how we met?" Karla's eyes fluttered a moment before they closed,
leaving her in a deep sleep.
"I remember... Beating the living pulp out of each other over scraps of food
in Magnagora. Yes, I remember."

18th of Avechary, 201 years after the Coming of Estarra.

"What do you believe happens when we die?" Mandy asked, watching the wild
hares run across the valley.
"Not sure, never really cared. I don't ponder much about the future unless I
need to. Not that far anyways. But, reincarnate into people again, I suppose.
Different race, maybe the same. Sort of like reincarnating into different
races, except you don't remember who you once were.. You?" Karla sat, looking
up at the mid-spring sky, eyeing the nearing dark-clouds.
"I thought maybe we make up the animals, reincarnate into those, maybe. And
the animals die and become people... Gives us all a chance on being a bit of
everything. But, there are times when you come near-death, but the Fates tell
you it isn't your time. Doesn't happen often, I know, but what makes them
decide that it isn't your time?"
"Well, you probably like...need to do a certain big thing in your life, you
know? Then they say, 'Hey! After they do that, lets not care about what they
think and just end it when we feel like snipping a thread that holds someone's
life.' or something of the sort." Karla said sarcastically.
"Karla!" Mandy gasped.
"What?" Karla sat up alert and looked at Mandy, who was gaping wide-eyed at
her.
"You must not speak like that of the Fates."
"Oh come on, what will they do, end my time before I do my 'big thing'?" Karla
stood and looked around, mockingly.
"Karla.." Mandy looked around alarmed. "How do you know whether you have
finished it or not?"
"I can feel it. It's sort of like lightning!"
As Karla finished speaking, a bolt of lightning struck dangerously near her
feet. Karla jumped up from shock.
"Then perhaps you felt that warning. You should be more respectful to the
Divine, after all, I could end your life here." The voice said wrapping itself
around the wind, and the grass.
"I..Uhm... I'm sorry!" Karla stated, looking bewildered as well as for the
person with the powerful voice.
"Ohh Karla, you've done it now!" Mandy whispered.
"Well, I take a hint when I see one. That was a big one." Karla beckoned to
Mandy, and began to search for the aetherstrands that would lead her to the
Pool of Stars.

"Where did you two go?" Cael asked Mandy, seeing her appear at the Pool of
Stars.
"To the valley. We were just talking."
"Cael, can you come to the raid on Nil?" Karla grinned.
"I'll be busy, anyways I find it foolish to plant ourselves right at the enemy
asking for death. You know the consequences."
"I was confronted about it, they have asked multiple times. I am just merely
leading them."
"To their deaths."
"We have it all planned out, Cael. You seem to lack confidence in your
guildmates." Karla snapped, glaring at him.
"Guys...?" Mandy chirped in, hopeful to get their attention.
"I'd like to hear these plans, then. And remember, Karla, you will be held
responsible for the deaths that will take place on that dreadful day."
"Of course, I'll be sure to take count of how many Magnagorans we kill, sir."
Karla emphasized on the sir, and walked away.
"Uhh, Cael, can you please try not to create a guild war before our wedding
date? I'd like the wedding to be happy, not tense." Mandy said low enough for
him to hear, shook her head, and sighed.

"Cael is a great guy, honest!" Mandy said frowning at Karla.
"I know you think he is, but he's only that great guy to those whom he likes.
Will he be okay with me being your Maid of Honour? Or even being at your
wedding?" Karla flopped herself onto the ground. "I don't want to make a mess
of your wedding!" Guilt washed over her as she said those words.
"Don't worry, Karla, Cael and I already spoke. He's well aware and will
behave at the wedding." Mandy sat down next to Karla, and smiled. "He wouldn't
dare tell you not to come. He knows your like a sister to me."
Karla held her breath, afraid of what she would say, and looked away. Tears
burned in her eyes. She never cried this much in her life! One person could
make her cry this much? She never felt more pathetic.
"Thanks, Mandy. Your like one to me too." She turned and smiled at Mandy.
"Everyone acts like you're made of glass. Ready to break at any small fall.."
she hesitated to add more of a dramatic effect. "So, do you want to come to the
raid I'm holding? Since Cael seems to find everything you do a hinderence to
yourself, I say its about time you showed him otherwise. Him and everyone else
in Celest who thinks your made of glass."
Mandy thought in silence for a while and finally looked up, her eyes showing
she made up her mind and was set on her decision."Yea, I think I'll do that...
I'm tired of them thinking I'll break at any moment. I can take a battle with
a Magnagoran and win."
Karla shook her head to clear her thoughts and mumbled to herself. She
couldn't help but let her thoughts repeat the same words. She wanted to stand
and scream them, but only successfully murmured them low enough that she
couldn't hear her. "If only you knew, Mandy, Magnagora has their own way of
fighting a battle before it even starts... And you'll be the one to find
out..."
"Right. Make sure Cael doesn't have anything he wants to do with you. And
make sure he does not find out your coming."
"Okay."
So simple. Mandy was easier to trick than anyone she ever met. If she could,
she would have smirked. It was too simple. She wanted to hit something, or
cry. Both sounded good right about now.

"Well, hey! Look at it this way, Magnagora will know your really devoted, and
loyal." Ellyona said attempting to cheer Karla up.
"Yea, but so many others in Magnagora would have rather quit than stand
against their siblings--"
"Thats what makes you really loyal. They will reward you for your devotion,
don't worry!"
"Hah, yea. They sent me to find something Celest was planning, and it just
turns out the only thing I find is them planning a wedding, which just happens
to be my SISTER'S, and a raid, which will be the end of her!" Karla spun and
hit the wall of her manse. "Sweet yet bitter irony. For years I planned on
finding my family and killing them, and turns out my father was the one who did
it all. Just him, but I planned it all to mainly revolve around her. Around
Mandy being in pain."
"Karla you think too much upon this. You'll drive yourself insane if you keep
it up."
"I believe...." Karla let her words drift slowly, her eyes showing her far
away from where she truly stood.
"Karla?" Ellyona stood.
"El, I believe I'm already there." Karla shook her head. "She's driven me
insane. Never would I have thought of disobeying orders from Magnagora, my
true family. Near five months with her, and she's made me show more emotion
than I have in years."
"Thats not insane. Thats being unstable. She's thrown your emotions askew.
It happens to most of us, except when we err, fall in love."
"Well, I assure you I am not in love with my sister." Karla peered at Ellyona.
"I know that!" Ellyona laughed.
"Well, why dwell on whats needed and make myself doubt? I believe I'm going
to walk up to her now and just kill her." Karla stood, and faced Ellyona.
"And ruin your spying?"
"Better that then kill her and remain to watch Cael cry like a child. Or be
the one doing the crying." Karla tittered girlishly.
"Oh stop it and sit down." though, Ellyona could not help grinning.
"Yes ma'am."

20th of Avechary, 201 years after the Coming of Estarra.

"Cael, you were rather rude to her." Mandy said sitting in the bedroom of her
manse.
"Mandy, she asked for it. She doesn't understand what I mean by it is
completely foolish."
"She was not the one with the idea."
"Oh, so that makes it all perfectly alright."
"You don't believe they can do it quickly."
"What does she plan to do, Mandy? Pretend she has a cubix, which, she does
not may I add, and walk in there, attack, and walk out? Oh no, she would need
to be extremely rich and anyways, it will be much harder than that."
"She's well aware, and she's planned it all out for months now!"
"A month."
"Not just a month."
"Alright, two or three. Doesn't mean she's thought of everything."
"She was a main fighter in Magnagora. Cael, you are unbelievable. You are
just going against it because she is the leader."
"And usually you are the one telling those in the guild not to go, what has
changed your mind?" Cael said, facing Mandy.
"I..." Mandy hesitated to tell him. "I don't know. Maybe it is because she's
leading it. But Cael, she's like a sister to me, and you two fighting tears me
apart. Think of the position this puts me in.."
"You're being biased. And she's not your real sister." Cael turned away.
"Cael.."
"She won't replace her. The name may be the same, but they are not the same
person." He spoke low, and bitter as he walked away, leaving her in the bedroom
speechless.
"But...She looks the same, sort of... And she acts the same sometimes...Sort
of. And she tells me to disobey everyone. Maybe she isn't the same. But, to
me she may as well be. She is my sister, you're wrong, Cael. I just know it."
Mandy said, listening her voice echo to herself.

21st of Avechary, 201 years after the Coming of Estarra.

"Alright, time to get ready to go." Karla said to the group of near 20
Celestines. "First off, you know this is dangerous, and many, all, or no one
could get hurt, or die?" Let them shiver first. Karla thought dryly. They
already made up their minds and wouldn't show her otherwise.
"We're aware, and willing to risk it." Spoke one from the crowd, everyone else
cheered.
"Alright. Second off, I need four people. All of them need to be able to
speak between planes. Two people will go to earth. As for the other two, one
will go to Nil, another to Ethereal. Those four must be able to gateweave, and
need to make sure they do not get caught. If any of you should get caught,
we'll need to call it off, and you better know how to run fast. Anyone up for
the job, step up. Anyone have questions, speak up."
"How are we supposed to get to Nil and Earth?" a man in a robe stepped
forward, his hood covering his face.
I squinted my eyes to see who was behind the hood. "Good question Randol. I'm
going to go through Ethereal and go to Earth, I'll stick to the shadows around
the Megalith. Then, when I know no one is around, I'll go through to Nil. I'm
not an enemy to Nil, so they won't attack me. Then, the three will come up, and
I'll leave them there and regroup here, where we'll go on Earth and go to Nil
the normal way. By the time we reach Nil, the gates should be finished. When
we attack the demons there, they will come up by the Megalith. I don't plan on
going through that way to earth. That is where the Nil to Earth gateweave comes
in. Then, upon us doing that, they will probably know we went through Ethereal,
so no doubt they will distort the gate from Earth to Ethereal. Seeing as that
will be blocked, we have either the gate we created or Catacombs to go through,
hopefully we won't need to go through the Catacombs."
Murmurs flew this way and that about the plan. They could probably not think
of better way.
"And what if someone is at the Megalith on Nil?" Randol questioned once again.
"Then, I'll kill them. And we'll need to act fast. Seeing as they may have
linked themselves with the souls of the dead to see who fails to see another
day."
"Why don't we all just go?"
"Randol, you came to me asking me if I could set it up. I told you I would
set it up so that we could be successful, if we aren't, we could do it another
day. You and everyone else know the dangers we are setting just by going there
in general. We'll need to take risks, but having one way out is not my type of
a risk. I like to have plan B and C as well." This was a test, ahh at least
they had some brains.
Shadows flickered over the eyelids of Randol as he began to ready himself for
battle. Everyone seeing him give in, cheered louder than before and began to
squat down as though miming that they were pulling a pair of pants down around
their feet.
"Are you ready?" I turned to Mandy, and raised my eyebrow questioningly.
"Nearly." She said and with a look of intense concentration, Mandy's fingers
plucked at non-existant objects in the air, when she stopped, she smiled with
satisfaction.
"Finished."
"Only timeslip?" I asked her with surprise.
"Ohh, right, I uhh, took the time to begin while they questioned you." She put
her hand to her mouth and tittered girlishly.
"You know you'll be seeing a lot of blood? You won't get sick will you?" I
peered down at her.
"You know, I thought we were doing this so I didn't get treated like a piece
of glass." Mandy snapped her fingers in front of me.
"Yes, well, I'm sorry. I just don't want you to faint while being attacked."
Karla said, sniggering evily.
Karla bowed her head in prayer and glorious golden wings unfurled upon her
back, touched the cosmos to allow her eyes to pierce through the veil of death,
and finally, weaving the cosmic threads into a cloak, Karla settled it upon her
shoulders and could not help but feel somewhat more protected.
"That's all your defences?" Mandy teased back.
"Ignoring the fact you saw me put the others on as the group began to come."
Karla grinned and nodded. "Of course, why would I want more that just those?"
Mandy sucked in her breath, and let it out slowly. "Karla, this is going to be
my first fight since I...Met Cael."
"....Oh wow." Karla was speechless. "Guess he did have you wrapped on his
finger. Well, be glad I'm here. It is time for a change."
She recalled Mandy telling her that she met Cael. That was five years ago.
Which meant she had just recently begun fighting before she stopped.
"Your how old again?" not that I ever asked. She thought bitterly.
"25."
"Right." she was one year older than Mandy. She let out a sigh. Well, at
least I gave it a last try, but she's my sister. She thought and looked away.
"Karla?" a man broke between the conversation, as well as her thoughts.
"Excuse me for interrupting, but, as you can see there are four of us willing
to gateweave."
"You can all speak between planes, I take it?" Karla assessed the four
Celestines. Two women and two men, all in good condition and able to take
enough damage to last the beating they would recieve a while. She nodded.
"Alright. You four better be ready. We're leaving in a moment. Mandy, keep
these guys here. If you don't hear from us by mid-day, then abort the raid."
without allowing her time to respond, she walked off. The four followed right
behind her.

"Alright we need the strongest of you four in Nil. State your names, I don't
care if I know it, I'm making sure." Karla stopped at the rift in Celest. "When
we go to Ethereal, the Moonhart Mother Tree will be north, northeast, and west
from us. Make sure no Magnagoran is in the Catacombs. Heck, make sure they
are not on Ethereal in general."
"I am Strat." spoke the tallest of the two men. He was the strongest as well.
Karla remembered him as the man who inducted her to Celest, about one month
after she asked to join.
"I am Eyan." the other man said beside him.
"Call me Jos." said the smallest of the four.
"I'm Ailee." shockingly, her voice squeaked her name out.
"Strat, you go to Nil. Eyan, earth with Amy."
"Ailee." the squeaky voiced girl corrected.
"And Jos, you stay here, in Ethereal. You need to go find a place in Faethorn
though. Oh, that you can find now. I'm going to go check Nil and Earth. You
three, walk with Jos and pretend you guys are..picking flowers or something."
The men chuckled and the women tittered, they all nodded, and began to walk to
their given destination. Karla stretched and sighed. Hopefully she would be
back in Magnagora soon. How she missed the tainted air! The day was going so
far so good. She let out a loud woop of joy. Today she would visit her home
once again!
She set out, whistling through Faethorn. It wouldn't matter if the Emperor
saw her. That was the problem. Only the Emperor knew she was a spy. No
matter, she would just need to stay quiet and sneak around. After heading
south some ways, she entered the archway that led out of Serenwilde Ethereal
and into Faethorn. Little leprechauns ran about, bumping into each other and
attempting to steal gold. Brownies entered from this way and that. The forest
was alive with it's natural music.
Finally she reached the tainted earth, and felt for the rift that would lead
to the Earth plane. The air instantly changed from fresh to thick smog. She
breathed in the air with a sigh of relief. Home! Squinting in every
direction, she slowly made her way around. Grubs and lindwyrms squirmed in
from every odd and end of the cave. The Megalith was only a few feet to the
east now, and she practically squealed with joy. Nil! She would be back! But
only for a moment, and to plan an attack on it.. Of course, she didn't plan on
attacking. She was just asked to lead them. That was all she planned on
doing.
Karla walked up to the Megalith and smiled broadly. She placed her hand upon
the Megalith and transvered to Nil. Home sweet home, she thought as she looked
around for any sign of a Magnagoran about.
"Coast is clear, start walking to your destination and make sure you are
hidden as much as you possibly can hide down here. We don't want you to get
caught if anyone decides to pact with a Demon Lord or go grubbing." Karla
heard her voice sound distant on the guild aether, as she turned to leave.

"Are we supposed to wait for Karla to come for us, or do we meet her on
Ethereal?" Randol asked Mandy.
"We wait for her here. She'll come get us. First, everyone rest so that we
don't start falling asleep while fighting." Mandy said, attempting to keep her
eyes open.
Everyone nodded and sprawled out on the floor and began to rest. Mandy sat
watching everyone before she too began to sleep.

Mandy squeaked and jumped up. Looking around in a panic, she bumped her head
into someone else's.
"Arg, Mandy! I leave you and the group here to wait for me and you all decide
it's time to nap?" Karla grumbled, rubbing her head.
"Oh Karla! I'm sorry! I'm very ticklish and we were just resting so that
during the battle we wouldn't fall asleep in the middle of fighting and--"
"Mandy! I know--I know, I get it. Wake the others so we can leave." Karla
looked down at her and held out her hand.
Mandy took her hand and stood, smiling broadly at Karla. She turned and
walked up to the next person closest to her and began slowly waking people,
giving them a single nod to confirm their question. They were going to fight.
As she walked and woke the fighters, she slowly noticed something different.
Each woke up, smiling. Her nodding, confirming their unasked question lead to
their features showing dread. They all wanted to do this, were happy to
finally do something in return to Magnagora. But in the end, they all wanted
to know their friends would be right beside them the next day. Or in general,
they themselves wanted to live to see another day.
"Don't worry. It will go well." Mandy said and squeezed their shoulders one
by one, giving them hope.
She turned around to walk up to Karla. Everyone would be fine, she told
herself. They all approached Karla about it, now they acted as she was the
one forcing them to go. She never went into a fight before, and she felt this
time, they would be a success. So why was everyone worried? As if they knew
something was going to happen.. And whatever it was, it was going to change
everyone's lives...

To be continued....