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(Working title. Comment if you have better ideas... or if you "actually" want to read more of this.)

Isaad felt like his body was being torn apart by a thousand hands as he hurtled through a tunnel of colors. The pain was unimaginable, despite his resistance. His mind reeled and his body twisted, as it was his first time experiencing extra-dimensional travel.

His landing was rough, sending him to his knees on top of obsidian rock. He almost lost his lunch, but he was brought back to his senses when he heard the voice of the daemon. "You imbecile!" The kin that had been leading the bandits drew his sword again and pointed it down at Isaad. "Worms do not belong in our world!"

Isaad glared up at him, and sneered. "There's nothing but worms." The smell of this world was similar to burning sulfur, and made Isaad's eyes water.

He was about to stand when the daemon growled. "We will finish this... now!" The daemon raised his jagged sword high before bringing it down.

Isaad cut the swing short as he barreled his weight into the kin's stomach, and flung him back onto the ground. "Yes... we will!" His eyes grew crazed, and he rushed at his felled opponent, quickly clubbing the daemon's skull. Bone fragments and ichor spattered about, painting the rock crimson.

Isaad stood in place for a few minutes before lifting his mace out of the bloody mess. Without a word he turned and got a good view of his surroundings.

He stood upon a plateau of black rock which had bridge-like extensions made from molded rock stretching in various directions. Stories below him was a burning sea of lava, which churned and bubbled with heat and misdirection. In his mind he believed this to be the realm of the Kin, the Netherworld from which no mortal was to come or return. He had to find an exit to this forsaken realm, one way or another.

Both the bandits and the inquisitors stared in confusion at the space where the rift was. There had been a decisive fight that just turned into confusion.

The bandits were the first to begin to back away, even run. Their loyalty had not been as well ground in as the inquisitors. As the myrrolds took off, Whispee went down to her knees in despair. Tayin rushed over to the black scar in the ground that was made in the image of the compass. Heath ran to kneel beside Whispee, and put an arm around her in comfort.

Tayin fell to his hands and knees before the ground and stared at the burnt symbol that was left behind when Isaad vanished. There were eight arrows pointing in outwards like a compass, all were of equal length save one. The arrow that pointed North-East was much longer than the others, and had a cross bar half-way along the length of it.

In anger, he threw gravel from his hand all over the burnt ground and growled. "How could this happen?! How can we continue without you?" He rose to his feet, breathing heavily, trying to calm down, and failing that he yelled again and kicked loose gravel all over the mark.

Heath stood and called out. "Tayin! Your rage is being wasted. We must look for survivors in this fire, I am sure that is what Isaad would want of us."

Tayin gritted his teeth and made his way over to Heath. "Look for survivors, huh? Yeah, sounds like him... but it's us who give the orders, Monk." He put one of his fingers on Heath's chest. "Get the point?"

Whispee got a chill along her spine as she heard Tayin say that. She raised her head to watch the interaction between the two.

Heath smiled politely. "Ku, Kaotu Izzadonjo! I shall follow your orders, but I shall still offer my wizened words."

Tayin stepped back a pace, as the monk's words reminded him of his teachings. "Yes. There's much to be learned from those older than the two of us. Now, we need to split up and look for anyone still alive."

Heath nodded gently. "At your command."

In his tent, Ruufus sat in deep meditation. A stick of incense burned, and lifted the sweet scent of delicious berries through the air. His meditation broke suddenly when he was struck by a sensation of terror. It became much colder in his tent, and he felt the fingers of fear crawl up his spine to tug at the hairs on the back of his neck. He crossed his arms and rubbed vigorously at his shoulders. "That was a bad sign. Something has happened to one of my fellow inquisitors."

He brushed aside the tent flap and stepped out into the encampment. The night watch soldiers looked up at him, and one of them asked "Kaoton Izzadonjo, du ku?"

Ruufus waved his hand dismissively. "Ku, ku. Tozozai daza du katee." He assured them nothing was wrong, that he was just having strange thoughts. He then bypassed the guards and went for a walk around the camp. Finally finding the captain of the unit, he went to have a discussion with him.

The captain was drilling his soliders at the time. "To, to, to! Du daza du zao?! To juadda zentaoda!" He turned quickly and saw Ruufus coming up on him. Clearing his throat he squeezed out a smile. "Ah, High Inquisitor. Something I can do for you?"

Ruufus nodded slowly. "Captain, I request an escort squad back to Deathcap."

The captain chuckled derisively and shook his head. "What?! You can't go yet, and you know it."

Ruufus sighed. "I understand that you will feel vulnerable without me, but if you're scared, you can go back to Zo'uddan, I hear there are orcs protecting it."

The captain growled and clenched his fists. "You mock me? These are orders from General Thornfang himself. You are not leaving this camp!"

Ruufus stepped back and took out his book. "Captain, I am working for your General as a courtesy. You know what this means, yes? It means I can leave any time I wish. My Lord, you see, has given me other orders, and I will obey Uzzadujoza over any mortal."

"Really?" The captain paused while he nodded to himself. "Okay." He turned and inhaled sharply before whistling loudly. As the area began to teem with soldiers, the captain smiled. "Ruufus! You are hereby placed under house arrest. Men! Take the High Inquisitor to his tent, and make sure he stays there."

Ruufus knew he wouldn't be much of a match against the swarm that surrounded him, and just sneered as his arms were forcibly tied behind his back. "Captain, I think you've made a big mistake today."

"Me? Hah! Is your "Uzzadujoza" going to save you?" The Captain looked around as many of the soldiers followed suit, turning their eyes to the sky. After a bit, he shrugged. "Oh well! Guess he doesn't care. I'll keep with my military ideals and just do what I need to." He moved his hand at Ruufus, motioning as if to shoo him away. "Take this mage away, boys."

Meanwhile, under the desert of Yura-Dan, Tuzeen found himself coming to. He sat up slowly on a bedroll with his hands holding him, trying to make the world stop from moving. Dressed in one of the spare cassocks, he felt very different, like his world was just coming back together. Lana was sleeping not far from his bedroll, sitting up against one of the walls inside of the ruins. The glow of the streams of energy was slightly dimmer than before, more pleasant and calming than chaotic.

Tuzeen looked at his right hand, and stared at the new scars created from the chaotic energy he had sustained. Then he looked at his left hand, and he was amazed at what he saw. A strange round orb had sunken into his palm, and merged with it. The surface of the stone was like clear glass, and the inside swirled with a mass of violet energy. As he gazed upon it, he saw a reflection of himself on the surface. He was missing his circlet! Though, more alarming was the fact that he had a glowing gem imbedded into his forehead! This one was not as subtle as the violet energy, as it reflected colors at random, much like the large crystal he had encountered earlier.

Large, shocked eyes stared back at him as his mind rushed with thoughts. He wondered; was now a good time to freak out? He raised his hand slowly to place a finger to his forehead. It felt like cold energetic stone, but even as he poked it he could feel his forehead ache, like the gem had taken the place of a part of his skull. "Ah... ahhh?" He began to feel light-headed again as his brow quirked and his eyes rolled back into his head.

The sound of Tuzeen's body hitting the floor woke Lana up, who grabbed her bow instinctively and looked around quickly. She looked down at Tuzeen and yawned, but didn't notice the change in his location, so she soon fell back asleep.

After a while, Rachel and Julio came back into the hallway where Lana and Tuzeen were laid out. Rachel spoke as she got closer. "This place is like a maze."

Julio nodded. "It'll a maze me if we find our way out."

Rachel stopped before Lana and sneered at Julio. "You're lucky she's asleep, or she'd hurt you for a joke like that."

Julio knelt beside Tuzeen. "What happened here? He's way off the bedroll."

Rachel sighed calmly and dismissed the concern. "He probably just rolled off."

All of a sudden, Tuzeen sat straight up and yelled out, stricken with fear, and completely freaking out. "AHHHHHHH~!"

Julio and Rachel stumbled back, and Lana jumped awake.

Tuzeen leapt to his feet as he continued to scream, and looked down at his glowing hand, then back at them, then down to the hand, then back at them, then he pointed at his forehead as he gave Julio a total look of confusion.

Lana took action and leapt upon him, putting both of her hands over his mouth and knocking him back down to the floor. "Sorry about this, High Inquisitor!"

He went from screaming to breathing roughly and rapidly as his hands went to pull hers away.

Julio stood over Tuzeen and held out his hands. "High Inquisitor, please calm down! I can explain!"

Tuzeen, still panicking, growled and pulled Lana's hands away from his mouth, but they were quickly replaced by Rachel, who was beside his head in a flash. Rachel narrowed her eyes and kept her hold. "You need to calm down, High Inquisitor."

"I can tell you exactly what the stones are." Julio tried to make Tuzeen understand again. "You are in no danger, I promise!"

Tuzeen slowed in his breathing as his eyes rolled back and forth between each of his entourage. Giving up, he gave a long deep breath, and Rachel slowly let her hands slide from his mouth. Lana kept hers nearby, in case they were needed. Tuzeen tried to speak with an even tone. "Okay, Julio. Tell me what they are."

Julio nodded obediently. "The stones you find yourself now merged with are known as Mana Objects. The gem in your hand is a raw Violet Mana Gem, and the stone in your forehead is known as a Mana Crystal Shard of Chaos. These must be the crystal's gifts to you!"

Tuzeen stared up at Julio directly, transfixed for a time after the explanation was complete. He shook his head to encourage himself back to reality, and looked at Lana, who was still on top of him, shifting her weight. "So... how did you find me?"

Lana put her hands down on the floor and inhaled deeply before speaking. "Funny story, really. After the darkness swallowed us all, we felt parts of our past come back. More specifically, the parts of our past which brought us to become Inquisitors. After having those visions, we all wake up in a small chamber, just big enough for us to rest and stay in. Once we had confirmed we all had the same visions, we all heard a voice. It told us we were to be careful, and find a way out with you. Rather bothersome that it didn't just... y'know... let us out. Anyway, there you appeared, all limp, unconscious, and modified."

Tuzeen interrupted the quick-speaking younger inquisitor. "Modified, huh..." He looked at his hand. "Oh, could you get up now? It's rather uncomfortable on this floor."

Lana blushed slightly. "Oh, yes sir!" With a short giggle she removed herself, and Tuzeen took Rachel's hand to stand up with. "Now, where was I? So, Rachel's been hanging on to your circlet, just in case. I mean, she is the senior here, and uh..." She went back to where she was sitting and picked up Tuzeen's sword, then knelt and held it out for him. "I've been guarding this."

Tuzeen took his sword and went for his strap, but paused when he noticed no strap and asked; "What about my robes?"

Julio spoke up. "Well, they were rather damaged when we got you. Quite revealing, rather... and so I put my spare cassock on you."

Lana's blush grew deeper when Julio mentioned it. "Let's just say that I could see more than just yer bum."

Tuzeen smirked. "Thanks for making me aware of that." He turned to Rachel and held his hand out with a smile. "It'll take more than these ruins to keep us from completing our tasks. We'll get out of here, no problem."

Rachel slipped the silver circlet out of her pack and carefully placed it into the High Inquisitor's palm. "You're always so cheery, no matter what."

Tuzeen slipped the circlet onto his head, and lined it up with care so that the crest of his circlet covered the gem in his forehead. "It's a part of my job, and a part of who I am." Turning to Julio, he asked for advice. "Now... you're the expert... what exactly do these do?"

Julio gave a coy smile. "I wouldn't say expert , but I probably know the most here. The gem in your hand is violet, which means the mana energy contained within is made of compressed psychic energy. Quite literally, it's a gem of mental energy, able to do many things that interact with your, or a target's mind through domination or assistance."

Tuzeen nodded and twirled his hand around, gazing at the gem. "Interesting... so why is it in my hand, instead of in my head? Seems that would be most appropriate."

Julio replied while watching the stone. "I can't explain the means of a chaos crystal, but I know that in schools, it is usually placed on the head somewhere. Now, as for the shard in your forehead... I don't know. Each shard is supposed to give you innate power that makes you stronger constantly. Chaos, however, is a form of magic that comprises itself of condensed mana from all realms. Instead of taking an element like the others, this one actually takes the energy that is made from them. This means, of course, that it could do anything at any time."

"Vague and unhelpful, but many thanks." Tuzeen turned to Lana. "Would you care to get me some water? I am terribly thirsty, and for us to escape here..." He suddenly turned his eyes upwards as the gem in his forehead shone from behind his circlet. It changed from white to blue, and then dimmed.

The group stared at him, completely silent for a few moments. Finally the high inquisitor shrugged. "Now, as I was saying..." Suddenly a rumbling sound shook the hallway. "What is that?"

Rachel's ears twitched and she looked back down the tunnel. "Oh no..."

The sound of rushing water came fast and hard as Tuzeen quickly ordered; "Run for it!"

They began running after him, as the water rushed closer and closer. Rachel blurted out; "There's nothing down the hallway! We've walked it for hours!"

Tuzeen shouted over the sound of the coming water. "We're about to take a really wet express trip!"

Julio shouted back, smiling as he did. "You know what they say; be careful what you wish for! Now, hold your breath!"

They all held their breath as the flood rushed down the tunnel and crashed into them, carrying them down the tunnel.

Ruufus concentrated his magical energy on a small parchment. With his level of power, he has written a message on parchment using his magic to float the quill to scrawl out the words. A bird he had summoned sat upon the ledge of a small hole in the roof of his tent. Using his magic to loose a strand of his golden laced cassock's fabric, he tied the message into a scroll and attached it to the bird's leg. He stared up with pleading eyes. "Please, find help for me. I fear I am unprepared for the storm that is to come." The bird chirped twice and soared upwards into the sky with speed and grace, flying South.