Arcan trudged up the hill to where the Barrows were rumored to exist. He had never heard of it, nor of anyone who has been there and left. His eyes looked at his left gauntlet, turned to a burning red colour. Many would try to see what the problem was by taking off his gauntlet and run the moment flames shoot up. Arcan stopped looking at his hand and saw the barrows. It wasn't what he expected at all. Another adventurer was about to enter the Barrows when he heard Arcan and turned around. Arcan quickly hid behind a rock and drew a dagger from his boot. The adventurer had a Longbow with a plentiful variety of arrows and a short sword made out of silver. He approached the rock slowly and before Arcan could strike a Barrow-Wight rose from the ground, knocked the adventurer unconscious and dragged him into the Barrows. Seeing as it is in the night Arcan knew that these beings would be far stronger. Why Kenyari arranged the meeting to be here Arcan didn't know. Suddenly getting an idea, Arcan took off his gauntlet and revealed his flaming hand. Of course, I"m such an idiot. Perhaps this is why Kenyari wanted to meet me here. To test out what I can do. Still, it's a tad risky. He put his gauntlet back on and the red colour returned. A Barrow Wight seemed to know Arcan was here and appeared behind him. He turned around, threw his gauntlet off and punched the Wight with a solid hook. The fist itself did nothing but the fire is what caused damage. The Wight backed off and fled into the Barrows, probably to warn its brethren. Arcan cursed to himself for not getting the Wight pinned. He walked up to where his gauntlet landed and put it back on. He still hadn't experimented with his curse yet but by what he's seen so far, it may have more beneficial purposes than negative ones.

Kenyari stood on top of a large stone structure looking down on the cold dark earth as he waited for his friend who was arranged to meet him here. Kenyari had heard about Arcan's drastic change and wanted to see the change first hand, up close, face to face. The two of them were not enemy's but more or less friends. Brothers in arms is what you could consider it. They fought together a few times and they even fought each other once or twice. If anyone kenyari respected it was Arcan.

Kenyari watched as the creatures in the night scurried along the ground causing mischief for each other a bothering one another. The creatures knew the presence of Kenyari but some odd reason none of them approached him. Maybe because of the fact that kenyari had a dark and demonic aura that surrounded him? Who knows, more importantly they left him alone and caused no trouble for the walking demon.

Kenyari jumped from off of the tall structure landing on the ground making nearly no sound at all. His time being out at sea seemed to have helped him in controlling his body movements and more of his leg muscles. Being able to stand straight on a tipping ship takes skill and kenyari mastered it quickly making him better at controlling the muscles in his body a little more. Every bit of training helps.

Kenyari saw a faint red glow in the distance as something told him that Arcan had arrived. The half demon smirked as he began to walk slowly down the dark path heading towards his friend. Kenyari had his hood over his head and kept his eye color at a dark color so that he could blend into the darkness easy.

As he walked the thought of what Arcan might look like and his new abilities seemed to intrigue ken as he pondered how he got them in the first place. Ken wanted a little bit more information about Arcan just coming from a friendly position. It is more than likely the same for him. He probably wants information about Kenyari, and kenyari would be pleased and more than welcomed to answer him.

There was only one big thing Kenyari tried to hide from the world and that was a small symbol on his upper arm that locked away some of the darkness within him. That was the only secret he held form the world. Maybe someone knows and maybe they dont.

"Long time no see Arcan. And thanks again for coming out on such short notice" kenyari said in a friendly tone as he closed the distance between them quickly. Kenyari took his hood off letting his hair fall down as his eyes turned into a sky blue color. Kenyari was happy to see Arcan but more happy to see this new thing from Arcan. "Well lets see it" he said as he leaned against a large rock nearby waiting for the actions of Arcan.

Arcan heard a familiar voice near him. He turned and saw that is was Kenyari. "Ah, there you are. I've been wondering when you'd get here. I have a bit of a problem and I think you would know of all people what's happened to me." Arcan raised his left hand, showing his old friend his red gauntlet. "What you'll see under this burning steel may shock you. I know I was." With his hand still up, Arcan grabbed the gauntlet and took it off. The instant his skin was revealed flames shot outward and the gauntlet lost its burning red colour. "I want to know why this has happened to me. You can tell there's a small hole in the center of my gauntlet. A Flaming Arrow made that hole and dug itself through my skin, flesh and bone. The circumstances were...drastic at the time. I was nearing death when the arrow struck and my body simply consumed the flames and now, here I am." Arcan waited for a moment to let all that he said sink in and continued. "I'd tell you more but I think I'm being followed. Plus, whenever have your eyes been blue?" Arcan had just noticed the new colour in Kenyari's eyes and wondered if he could see the flames within his pupils. He looked around and cast Infravision, searching for anyone eavesdropping. As he turned around another Barrow Wight rose from the ground. It was intending to attack Arcan but stopped dead in its tracks when the light from Arcan's burning hand touched it. "Not again. Die damn you!" Arcan threw a fireball at the Wight, just noticing the increased power as it struck its target. The Wight screeched and fled into the Barrows. "Damnit! Another one to tell the others, just what I need!" Arcan turned back to Kenyari. "I got a feeling they'll be back in force so tell me everything you know about this please." His voice was rushed and for good reason. The Barrow Wights will return in greater force and with different company.

Kenyari was not worried about what the creatures in this place would do for they didn't even try to harm kenyari simply for the fact he had a dark demonic aura around him. "We will be fine" he said as he looked at Arcans hand. He had became some sort of Fire elemental being all because a fire arrow had stuck him. Kenyari thought about why his body actually changed like that all due to a simple fire arrow.

"Your body should not change just because of a fire arrow hitting you. I think it changed due to you already having that form dormant in you. The fire arrow just caused your body to bring it out" kenyari said looking around quickly for the Wight.

"Summon Lesser Shadow" he said as a dark void quickly appeared in the palm of his hand. In a matter of seconds a medium sized serpent like thing appeared floating in front of Kenyari. "Go check the area. If something moves, Kill it" he said as the serpent let out a small screech and flew off.

Kenyari looked up at one of the tall rocks where on top of it stood the powerful Uzziah watching over the two. Kenyari smiled and turned back to Arcan. "And my eyes are blue because for the first time in a long time i feel happy. Feel comfortable being here. My eyes change on my emotions remember?" he said as he looked off into the darkness.

"Think you will ever be able to fully control that side of you?" he asked Arcan as he had summoned a bone skull and stared playing with it. Kenyari was truly skilled at his spells and felt comforted being in this place filled with darkness. "Oh, Tell me more about who is following you" he said crushing the skull and shooting a glance at Arcan. He was not in a bad mood, but for some reason he had a bad feeling starting to creep up his spine that he just couldn't ignore.

Suddenly kenyari left arm started to hurt badly as his seal was reacting to something. Of course he didn't show he was in pain but the pain that was there was tremendous. Ken had put a hand on his arm and rubbed softly trying to make the pain go away. "So tell me" he said looking at Arcan awaiting his response to his question.

"Fire Elemental being? That's not right. I don't know much about my family but they were pure-blood human that's for sure. Maybe..." Flashbacks of his encounter with the Wraith Lord back at Angband rushed into his mind. Using those memories he formed a crude theory. "Maybe it did something to me. Something bad. Just before I was struck by the arrow I was feeling like half of me was gone. Not ripped apart, just empty. I'll probably have to explain everything that happened." Arcan began with his journey through the desert, mentioning that his armour was stolen the day before in the night. He then explained the events following his capture, including the escape attempt. He still didn't know how that played out but wished them luck. The last bit of his story included the battle in the cut-off room with the hooded figure, with how it was related to his past. Arcan took breaks inbetween important pieces of information to let it sink in. "And that's how all this happened. You probably noticed that my voice has changed a bit. Don't know whether it has anything to do with the recent events or anything."

Arcan then heard a rustling in the bushes behind him. "And about what is following me I have no idea who. The Crimson Dagger is in no position to do anything here for a while now because the base is flooded with a black haze. A ton of them died within those walls so I wouldn't be surprised if the whole area was cut off." More rustling, this time to Arcan's right. "Let's take cover in there. Whatever is following me is getting closer." As he spoke he pointed to inside the Barrows. "I don't think they'll be brave enough to go inside."

Kenyari nodded as he heard the rustling as well. Kenyari was not worried but his friend was which was more than enough reason to move from where they were. Kenyari turned and walked heading deeper into the Barrows. Ken let out a sharp whistle signaling Uzziah to come down. Without warning Uzziah hit the ground with a loud thud roaring further letting anyone who was around know of his beastly presence.

Soon ken heard a loud shriek as he knew his serpent had struck down something that moved just as Ken ordered it to do. "We will be safe where ever we go. You should try to worry less" kenyari said being overly cocky. He understood the situation that Arcan was in but also underestimated it greatly which might prove to be a critical downfall.

Kenyari clutched his sword's hilt tightly as he was ready to unsheathe and strike at a moments notice. Suddenly kenyari saw a dark figure ahead that did not look like the normal creatures of the Barrows. Kenyari slowly unsheathed his sword half way not trying to alarm Arcan but also trying to signal Uzziah to let him know what was ahead.

Suddenly one figure turned into three as they seemed to walk towards them. "Arcan. Tell me who the hell these guys are because it seems they are right ahead of us" he said unsheathing his sword.

As soon as his sword was out the three figures seemed to disappear. Kenyari looked at the palm of his hand only to see the dark void that had summoned his serpent was no longer there showing that the serpent had been eradicated.

"What the hell is going on" kenyari said as his eyes slowly turned from a sky blue to a orange color showing that anger would be taking over very soon. Kenyari then fell to his knees holding his left arm as the seal was throbbing more tonight than it ever did before. The pain from the seal was over bearing tonight oddly and ken had no real idea what to do.

Kenyari scurried over to a rock and sat next to it leaning on it putting his sword up. Arcan more than likely didn't know what was wrong with Ken but if he knew about the seal he would quickly know why he was in so much pain. Uzziah let out another roar looking over Kenyari trying to keep him some what protected. Something strange was going on tonight and there was no idea on what exactly it was. Maybe things would become clear very soon.

Aracn was at Kenyari's side as they entered the Barrows. His beast Uzziah let out a roar to frighten away any ameteur assassins of the sort. Kenyari said something, with a rather overconfident sound as he spoke. Arcan shook his head and cast Infravision. "You have got to take this seriously. I've learned from being cocky before. Why do you think I have this scar near my eye?" When Arcan finished talking he pointed to a rather old scar that was dangerously close to his eye. Something had moved around them and Kenyari noticed. Arcan did as well but it must have used magic that bypasses Infravision as the figure itself was a blur. It suddenly began to approach them as it split to three. Silhouettes of hands reached out for them and then they suddenly disappeared. Aracn was really freaked out as the blurred figure that disappeared looked an awful lot like what attacked him at Angband. Arcan heard Kenyari hit the ground with his left knee while holding his left arm. "Kenyari, are you alright?" His suffering ally hurried to a rock and leaned on it. His beast Uzziah let out another roar and Arcan thought that it sounded like a challenge rather than a warning. A familiar cold began to sweep into Arcan. Despite him being part fire he couldn't help but shiver as the cold intensified. "Kenyari, you know that figure that appeared? I think that was whatever attacked me at Angband." A mocking laugh echoed through his ears. Arcan cursed, seeing as his ally was in no position to fight and that his suspicions were growing with each passing second. "That was the exact same laugh that still haunts me at night. I think it may have taken control of the Barrow Wights." He waited for any more signs of hostile beings when the mocking laughter returned. "And now, the fun will begin." The nearby entrance leading out of the Barrows sealed shut and the already dull lanterns went out, followed by a hollow cold. "It's definitely here."

"Ill be ok. But whats here" he said holding onto his arm harder trying to let the pain die down from his arm but ultimately it was working for the most part. Uzziah had let out a roar further confirming what Arcan had said to be true. If that was the case then who ever was here seemed to be making Ken's seal act up in a horrible way.

Kenyari stood up to his feet and unsheathed his sword as a figure reappeared in the small distance. "What are you" kenyari yelled out but all that could be heard was an awful taunting laugh that came from no definite location of the barrows. "Uzziah. Burn him" the half demon said in a low harsh tone. There only so much taunting that kenyari was going to put up with and he has reached his limits.

With a large intake of air Uzziah nodded and release a wave of fire heading straight for where the figure was standing. The fire burned everything in its path but to Ken's surprise the figure was not even standing there. The flames burned nearby rocks for a few seconds before finally dieing out but there was no sense of pain, hurt, blood, or death. The figure was never really there. "That wont work" said something in the distance that resounded through the barrows as an evil laugh broke out directly after.

Suddenly something appeared right beside Kenyari and aimed a quick punched for his face. Thanks to the half demon's very fast reflexes ken lifted his hand to try to intercept the fist but when what ever was about to hit him ran into his fist it bursts into a black mist. There was no feeling of the punch even touching his hand.

It became clear what was going on. The figure was using an illusion spell over and over. He was also using a spell to make an illusion of his voice. Who ever the two of them were dealing with was a master at mind games but kenyari could be too.

"Arcan. Calm down. Thats what who ever is here wants us to do. Panic and loose control. Hes using illusion spells. We can fight back once we get past the illu...."kenyari said cutting himself off as he fell to the ground stricken from pain again but this time much worse. Kenyari was defiantly in a bad situation as he could also feel the stirring of something deep and very dark within him. What it could be he had no idea of as of yet.

Arcan's temper started to boil as whoever was here was playing mind games with them, and their presence was causing excruciating pain to Kenyari. Arcan suddenly yelled out "Come off it! You're here because of me! Leave Kenyari alone!" More mocking laughter ensued. "Very well. Then let the hunt begin." The laughter ended and a shadow arrow zoomed past Arcan's head. It hit the wall and dissipated on impact. Arcan knew that the being here would go after both of them. "Kenyari, take my bow and quiver. I won't be needing it. I'm going to find the fiend." As he spoke he took his bow and quiver and passed it to Kenyari. "The Wights will be heading your way at any moment. Something else will be coming this way too but it will be after me. I don't want any unnecessary casualties. Use what arrows you think will do the job." Arcan started running to his right and soon enough, Wights were starting to approach Kenyari. I feel awful leaving him there, but I have to do it or the Wights will keep coming. Arcan looked back for a second and lost sight of Kenyari when he took a left turn. He stopped momentarily and then kneeled. He was going to do something he hasn't done for a long time. "Goddess of Light, hear my prayer. I beseech thee, please protect Kenyari. I beg of you." He waited for a second or two then continued running.

Arcan had somehow gotten himself into a small maze filled to the brim with white mist. His breathing was heavy as he struggled to get some good air into his lungs. He had seen silhouettes pass him but he was not noticed because of the mist. Whoever laid it there made a critical error. The monsters in the mist would have a hard time seeing as well, and the smell of decay would handle the scent problem. Arcan had his sword out as he continued through the passageways. The mist was getting thicker so he presumed that the source was near. A sudden odor blasted past Arcan. The foul stench nearly made him vomit. The smell ended but Arcan held his nose just in case and moved on. Arcan passed through a gap between two walls and entered a square room, filled with mist. Arcan cast Infravision and could just see a cloaked figure. He caught a glimpse of a skull and horns sticking out of it, bending down before it was covered by a hood held by skeleton hands. The figure turned around and only red eyes could be seen. "So, it is you! Why do you continue to torment me?" The figure laughed to itself. "Ah Arcan, always one to jump to conclusions." "Hey-Shut up! You won't trick me this time! I have you cornered and my family's deaths will be avenged!" "You have the wrong person Arcan. Perhaps if you entertained my pet for a little while, we could talk." The figure disappeared and a black beast took its place. Arcan only had a moment to think when the foul odor blew past him again, accompanied by a roar. The mist cleared and a Shadow Dragon in its teen years was on the other side of the room. Arcan just stood there, amazed that a Shadow Dragon was growing in here. He shook it off and spun his sword. "Flame Blade!"

The bow feel to the feet of the half demon but the pain in his arm was too unbearable to even reach out and grab the bow to be able to use. Besides how could he even use a bow in the condition he is in at the moment. Picking up a weapon which takes skill such as a bow, one would have to be trained to wield a bow even in the harshest of conditions, and unfortunately kenyari was not the one to be train under those circumstances. Pain was surging through his body and at the rate this was going his only protector was Uzziah and what ever spells he can get off without too much trouble.

Just as arcan said, out popped out from the darkness a shadow figure which was known as a wight appeared directly in front of kenyari. Kenyari staggered his way to his feet using the big rock behind him as leverage. Once he was to his feet the wight suddenly pounced towards Kenyari.

Just as faced as the wight pounced, out came uzziah tackling the wight quickly and quickly ripping its head off causing it to burst into shards of black energy that faded away. Uzziah had saved him just in time.

With a small smirk rising over the demons face uzziah had turned around to look at his master still throbbing in pain. The chaotic beast took one step closer until a heavily armored figure quickly appeared behind him.

"Uzziah look out" kenyari yelled out only to suddenly find a long hulking blade appear out of the front of uzziah and uzziah letting out a horrible cry as he fell to the floor. "Uzziah. Uzziah NOO. UZZIAH!!!" kenyari yelled as the chaotic beast hit the ground and quickly scattered into a red dust. "Uzziah..." kenyari said in a low tone as sadness mixed with anger started to fill him.

The figure was in a heavy black armor with a glowing red sword that was massive. The figure radiated death and destruction as his demon aura surrounded him. "You are still weak" the figure said in a low tone as if he felt no hurt at all for what he just caused kenyari to go through.

"You...you killed him...my friend...my partner...you murdered him...and it seems you just don't give a care in the world. YOU KILLED HIM" kenyari yelled as he drew his sword. The pain of his arm was still there but it was impossible to focus on pain when the sorrow and hurt of loosing someone that was like a brother to you.

Kenyari had one tear roll down his eye for the passing of his chaotic beast as his eyes quickly turned black and hatred filled his heart. "You bastard" kenyari yelled out as he quickly took off towards the guy.

"I told you, you are still weak....little brother" said the figure as kenyari became wide eyed at the mans comment. Never the less kenyari kept running toward him as he let out a small war cry and aimed a thrust attack right for the midsection of this armed man but the man quickly side stepped and back handed kenyari.

The strength of this man was incredible as kenyari crashed into one of the nearby rocks breaking it completely. This being, this demon was a monster with monstrous strength, but what further got kenyari was the fact that he called him little brother. Who was this figure and why did he call him brother as if he knew him. According to kens information, Ken's entire family died. So who could this man be?

The flames flickering off Arcan's sword illuminated part of the Shadow Dragon. The beast roared again and the odor was worse this time. How am I going to kill a dragon? Think Arcan. The dragon was 1 and a half times Arcan's size, which revealed the soft underbelly. That's it! But it'll be dangerous as hell to get near it, let alone finding a way to get underneath it. Arcan heard a yelp of pain coming from where Kenyari was. He was about to turn and help his friend when the hidden figure spoke. "Leaving so soon?" The Shadow Dragon's tail landed in front of the gap, cutting off Arcan's only escape route. Damn! I'll have to fight this monster then find my way out of the maze. I just hope I'll make it on time. The dragon reared its head and black flames spewed out. Arcan rolled to the side and instinctively threw his longsword at the dragon's open mouth. The beast's head simply moved to the side and Arcan heard steel striking stone. He had already given his bow to Kenyari and now just lost his main weapon. He still had his two daggers but they'll only be useful on the underbelly, maybe not even then. Arcan gave them a try and grabbed his two daggers.

The dragon roared again and swiped at Arcan with its claws. Arcan flipped back but was struck in the back by a claw and the force of the attack flung him into the wall. The damage done to his armour shattered it, leaving his chest wide open. He struggled to get back up and the dragon was already upon him. It was going to crush him with its weight. Just as Arcan got onto his feet the dragon had already started the slam. Arcan rolled to the right just in time to dodge the slam. When he got back up he staggered. His left leg was hurt when he was slammed into the wall. The dragon was dazed when it hit the ground which gave Arcan the chance to strike. He ran up to the dragon and attacked the exposed underbelly with both of his daggers. The dragon roared and its tail was whipping everywhere. Arcan made a dash for the exit.