Corum stood over the lifeless body before him, whispering a soft chant that seemed to echo in the silence of the shallow canyon. As his final words began to fade into the aether, the huddled form began to rise, regaining breath and life.

'My thanks, Corum...', Vianne managed after catching her breath. 'How are the others doing?'

'I would say they won't be going anywhere for a while...', Corum replied as he started his next resurrection chant.

The Tursins were more organised than expected and it soon became evident why the Elyseans had failed to deal with such a primitive tribe camped so close to Verteron. Their strength, skill, as well as swiftness with their blades would have put any veteran fighter to the test much less a group made of up of mostly recruits, and like the Maus in Asmodae, the Tursins had gathered most of their tribes within the arid wastelands between the Cantas Coast and Verteron Citadel and were now led by a chieftain known as Kraka. Guards and patrols were stationed everywhere within the garrison, with each camp led by a Captain, and where they lacked tactics or strategy in open combat, they made up with numbers and brute force.

'A minor setback... We'll have to be extra careful with the patrols next time around...', Duke Skul walked over to a dead Tursin Guard and yanked his heavy polearm from its head. 'Razid! Scout ahead... And I want our healers watching our backs as much as our healths from now on!'

'Considering that we're going up against veteran and elite warriors with trainee weapons and gear, I believe watching your backs and healths will be all we'll be capable of, My Lord!', Vianne answered while helping Quiz to her feet.

'Not funny, Vianne...', Lord Skul glared at the cleric.

'I wasn't joking, My Lord... It's one thing to underestimate the strength of the enemy, but worse to overestimate oneself!', Vianne replied with conviction, conscious of the five pairs of eyes now watching her. 'Still, I'll perform to the best of my capabilities as long as we...

Situated close to the Ellun River Mouth, Verteron Citadel not only lives up to its reputation as a well-fortified outpost, but also as a sanctuary for traders and merchants against the hostile inhabitants of the Cantas Coast. Surrounded by sheer cliffs on all but the northwestern face, Vianne was surprised by the similarities between Verteron and Asmodae's Altgard Fortress as she took in her new surroundings. However, while Verteron was built to keep unwanted folks out, Altgard had a dual function in that it was built to keep guests within its walls as well ~ although such a tale should be best left told at a later time.

Making her way through the courtyard, Vianne took flight and headed towards the central tower where she found a quiet spot from whence she could watch the crowd below. Neither time nor date had been mentioned in the message received earlier, and as she had yet to meet most of her fellow legionnaires, picking needles out of a haystack may have been an easier task to perform.



Lulled by the soft lapping of the River Ellun along the riverbanks closeby, Vianne soon found herself drifting off to sleep only to be suddenly awoken by a commotion coming from below. The day was still bright, which meant she had fallen asleep but for a short while. Nonetheless, she gave herself a sharp slap across the right cheek as admonishment for her failure... She was afterall deep within enemy territory and even under guise, Elysea and everything within remained a threat and obstacle to her accomplishing her missions. Worse, it may be that her fellow Asmodians had been exposed and were now fighting for their lives while she was enjoying an afternoon nap. If such were the case, it would be easier to face death in battle against the Elyseans below rather than return to face the wrath of her lords and legion masters back in Asmodae. With the thought troubling her mind, Vianne dove off the tower's platform, remembering at the last moment to spread her wings before she made a right mess on...

With the main part of her task here complete, Vianne wandered through Sanctum until she arrived at the bridge connecting the northern and southern districts of the city. It was the central walkway and although busy by day, was now void of human presence but for the few city guards stationed at either end of the bridge. Dawn was fast approaching, and finding a spot midway along the bridge, she stared towards the eastern horizon where a lone vessel, possibly powered by aether, sailed slowly through the air, its sails rustling ever so gently in the breeze before disappearing into the distance...

As the first wave of sunlight washed over the city, Vianne was suddenly overwhelmed by a feeling unlike any other that she had ever experienced. It was a feeling of life at it fullest, a sensation so pure and strong it seemed to engulf the very essence of all that it touched. A voiced seemed to call out to her, 'Release yourself...'



'Daeva... Come back, or you'll fall... Release yourself, please! ', the soft voice snapped her out of her thoughts and on opening her eyes, realised that she had taken wings and was now floating in midair away from the walkway. Regaining her sense of direction, Vianne made her way back to the bridge and was greeted by a young girl of possibly eight years of age.

'You must be new here, Daeva. We prefer to use the floating ship to get to the outer docks...', The child grinned cheekily.

'O, I know that...', mumbled Vianne while settling back to ground and leaning herself against a post to regain her composure, 'I think I just had a bit too much sun, that's all...'

'You're strange, Daeva... The sun's hardly out yet...', the young girl looked towards the east. Vianne followed the child's gaze, her mind working frantically to understand the happenings of a few moments ago. 'What happened just now? And what powers do you hold over life here on Elysea?', she gazed at the descending star in wonder.



As the sun reached its peak (a point just below...

'Yes, you heard me right the first time, Vianne! You are to infiltrate Elysea and acquire as much information as possible of our nemesis...', Legion Master Skul strode around the room twirling his polearm as if on parade.

There was no arguing, or worming one's way out of this assignment with petty excuses. The Legion Master was right, 'In order to face one's enemies, one has to know them first!' However, the thought of having to shave one's mane in order to blend in with the Elyseans felt like a poisoned blade striking deep into the heart.

Drawing a hunting knife, Vianne reached for the tail end of her mane, pride of all Asmodians...

'Stay thy hands, Vianne! There is a less painful way in doing this...', Prince Zul, who had been sitting quietly in the shadows, approached the new recruit and handed her a small card with a series of undecipherable numbers and letters on it. 'Use this! It'll allow you to transform yourself into an Elysean for three days... Ample time to complete your mission.', the prince grinned before returning to his seat.

'My Lords, where and how shall I go about this assignment?'

Prince Zul stood and walked towards the open balcony, 'We can answer to where but not to how, Vianne... Your ne...*cough* Your double life shall begin in Poeta, a rich and prosperous land dotted with farms and forests. There are a few that have gone before you, but their locations shall remain a secret till your arrival in the Elysean capital city of Sanctum. Once there, we shall send you word as to where to meet the rest of your brothers and sisters in arms.'

'We have heard that you are one who is familiar with words, Vianne. Within the capital city of Sanctum lies a great library... Mayhaps it is here that you shall find the answers we need. As to how you'll win Elysean confidence in allowing your perusal of the documents and texts that lie within is an entirely different matter which I leave in your hands... Rest assured that we have utmost confidence in your capabilities, else you would...