Movement nearby caught Omurai’s attention. A soldier, half crushed by a piece of the tower wall and his face half eaten away by dark energy, took a heavy gasp of air.
“H-he’s a mon-monster,” the soldier said between troubled breathes.
“Who is? Who is responsible for this massacre?” Asher demanded, kneeling beside the soldier.
“The masked assassin…V-voyse. He took the art-artifact and left,” the soldier tried to explain.
“Where? Do you know where he went?” Asher asked.
“Tier Bastion…yes…he’s going for the Adept’s Stone no doubt. Let Draven deal with him!” the soldier exclaimed, which threw him into a coughing fit.
“Do not work yourself too hard,” Asher offered.
Just then, a shuriken slammed into the soldier’s head, knocking it backwards, lifeless. Asher spun around with a surprised look at Omurai, a grim expression on the wind adept’s face.
“What did you do that for?!” Asher shouted.
“Taking him out of his misery. There was no hope for him…you could tell he knew from the look on his face,” Omurai explained. “If anything I did him a favor.”
“…I suppose you’re right…” Asher conceited, rising back to his feet. “So, our next destination is Tier Bastion?”
“I’ve heard tales of the infamous place, but I never thought I’d lay eyes on it…” Omurai said quietly.
“You know of the place?” Asher asked.
“All too well. It is a legendary fortress that used to be part of Altem Tier, but when it’s owner was corrupted by evil forces, we had no choice but to banish him and his castle to the surface below. This happened long before my time, or my parents’. It speaks evil, I tell you,” Omurai warned.
“Then we’ll cut the evil out of it!” Asher said with a newfound fervor. “Come then, lead the way! I grow tired of this chase.”
“Fair enough…we go south west,” Omurai said.
“Are you sure?” Asher asked.
“Indeed…our prey was kind enough to leave a trail,” Omurai clarified, pointing to a trail of drops of blood leading away from the rubble.
“Let us be off then!” Asher said cheerfully, trying to lighten up the mood.
“Something bothers me…that soldier spoke of some Adept’s Stone. He said Voyse must be after it. Could that be why he’s taken us all about Liteo?” Omurai asked.
“I cannot be sure…only one way to find out,” Asher said, pointing south west.
“You are correct. Onward, I say,” Omurai said, smiling lightly.
The two started off on what would be a long trip to the dreaded fortress known as Tier Bastion. Little did they know, an entire army waited them there.