Chapter 1.

  It was dark. It was cold. It poored unrelentlessly
through the night, lightning shattering through the
atmosphere, thunder rumbling its emense power.
  A young boy sat in his chair by the curtained window of
his elegant room in the inn, candle in hand. He pondered
his reflection. He saw a worked face, signalled by the
deep lines across his forehead. His light brown hair was
neatly trimmed, falling just short of his shoulders. His
face was notably round, his cheek bones extend slightly,
his jaw arriving at a point.
  An incredible young woman entered, rubbing her blue
eyes, her reasonably lengthed dark brown hair knotted in
a mess. Her face too, was particularly round. She wore a
light blue night gown, covering a voluptuously slim
figure.
  ‘What are you still doing up, Enigma?’ the woman asked,
yawning.
  Enigma paused. ‘Nothing, Arem.’ He continued his
survayance of the surrounding streets.
  ‘Go to bed. It’s late.’ She turned and left.
  Enigma’s room was averaged sized. The comfy chair by
the window was adjacent the door, with the bed on the
opposite side of the room. A large, blazing fire opposed
the enterance, crackling and popping every so often.
Adjoining his room was Arem’s quarters. It was slightly
bigger, though everything was basically the same.
  With a sigh, he rose, and headed downstairs to the bar.
  At a round table not to far from the stairs sat three
men. One was very muscular, wearing an open leather vest,
revealing his impossibly large chest. He wore shaggy knee
high boots of bear skin beneath a pair of dark brown
trousers. A black strap ran from shoulder to waist,
littered with protruding hilts. He was stuffing his
stubbled face with beer.
  To the left of him sat a much smaller man with bare
arms and hazel coloured hair. A chain - mail like shirt
covered his upper body, whilst wide trousers and shin
high, black boots completed the look. 
  The third man was rather plump. He had beady eyes, and
wore cream coloured trousers, ankle high shoes, a golden
breast plate for protection, and a large green cape
drapping loosley from his neck.
  Enigma pulled up a chair.
  ‘What are you do up this late, Enigma?’ the muscular
man asked.
  ‘I couldn’t sleep, Power.’ Enigma replied. ‘How about
you?’
  ‘Oh, we just got a little thirsty.’ Power replied.
‘Isn’t that right Terrol.’
  ‘Yes.’ the short man answered. ‘Something like that.’
  ‘Iikin, don’t you think the breast plate’s a bit 
much?’
  ‘You really think so?’ the chubby man questioned.
  A fifth person then joined the group. She look quite
lovely. Light blue eyes - not nearly as spellbinding as
Arem’s, but close - were incrusted in her puffy face. She
had brown - blonde hair and a continual smile. A tight
leather dress caressed her curved figure, cut short about
the middle of her creamy thighs. Underneath she wore a
shirt, white and short sleeved. 
  ‘Is no one getting any sleep tonight?’ Power asked as
she approached.
  ‘You four either, eh?’ She pulled up a seat. ‘I just
can’t stop worrying.’
  ‘Me too.’ Terrol admitted. ‘Especial with Ksid not
here. How will we know what to do next?’
  ‘We’re not exactly helpless.’ Enigma reasoned. ‘He left
us instructions remember. We’re to seek the Ksid of this
era. How hard can it be?’
  The lower half of the inn was reasonably quiet. The
room was riddled with empty chairs and tables, the odd
few dotted here and there, quietly drinking to
themselves. The room itself was made of wood. A fire
place burned in one corner, with the bar opposite it. The
owner was a large bearded man. He was chatting hushly
with a customer.
  ‘Do you know where we’re going to find him?’ Iikin
asked Enigma.
  ‘Don’t worry. I’ll find him. I’d imagine he’d be
somewhere down in the Warlock Network, underground. Even
if he’s not, we can wait for him. I think that’d be the
most logical place to begin.’
  ‘When do we start?’ Ice leaned back in her chair.
  ‘Tomorrow.’ the young boy replied. ‘We start tomorrow.
If what we’ve been taught is correct, you can expect
trouble very soon. I suggest we try to at least get a few
hours sleep.’ Enigma stood, then returned to his room.
  He felt a shudder on the inside of his shirt as he
closed the door to his room. A little red book called the
Epoch Apocalypse, he pulled out. It had been given to him
sometime in the past. Flicking through the pages, he
found a new message. “You’re on the right path. Continue
to the Warlock Network where you will inevitably find the
preceptor. Bewildered will he be. But fear not, shall he
be eventually convinced. Go then, despite his distaste,
to the stream of the beast and attain his guidance for
the following joureny’s here.”
  Reflecting lightly, he put the book away and went to
bed.
*  *  *
  A beam of light shattered through the window onto his
face, ariseing Enigma from his fitful slumber
prematurely. Getting up with a yawn, he got dressed.
  Opening the door to Arem’s room, he quietly looked in 
on her. She seemed peaceful, lying on her back with her
arms folded on her stomach. 
  He headed downstairs for breakfast.
  Power and Ice greeted him. 
  ‘Get much rest?’ Ice asked.
  ‘Enough.’ Enigma replied, ordering his food. ‘Your up
early. Especially you Power. It seems like only yesterday
you were sitting in this table having a beer.’
  ‘It was only yesterday.’ the big man replied.
  Ice had a sip of milk. ‘So where are we now?’
  ‘We’re in Rekat, like you suggested.’ Enigma answered.
  ‘No, I mean time wise.’
  ‘Well, according to Ksid - of the future, or present,
or what ever - we should be in the past.’
  ‘Everything looks the same to me.’ Power admitted.
  ‘We’ve only been her a few weeks.’ Ice smiled wryly.
  ‘What are we here to do any way? Who do we get to
kill?’ Power ordered another drink.
  ‘We’re bound to run into some trouble soon. As of now,
I wouldn’t have a clue who we’re up against this time.
The only thing I know is that we have to save Ksid’s
sister, and make it to the future. But to start the ball
rolling, I’d much prefer to have the man himself, Ksid,
by ourside.’
  ‘I wouldn’t tell him about his sister right away.’ Ice
informed. ‘The shock that we’re from the future, I think,
would be enough for him for a few days, at least.’
  Enigma finally recieved a tray of food, then order one
more.
  Looking around the room, he spotted two men sitting
together, quietly talking, bearing identical marks on
both cheeks of their face.
  ‘Look.’ Enigma pointed at them with his eyes. ‘At least
we know they have Sharks in this era.’
  ‘And at least their forces can’t take us by suprise.’
Ice added. ‘When do we leave this morning?’
  ‘In about an hour. There’s no real hurry - at least I
think there’s no real hurry. I have a feeling that we’ll
find the enterance to the Network somewhere in the
surrounding forest.’
  Finishing off his breakfast, Enigma took the second
tray that arrived and headed up stairs.
  Sneaking into Arem’s room, he placed the food on a a
table beside her bed. Kneeling down, he supported his
head on his hands on the matress. All he did was stare.
  The sun shone through the window upon her body. Her
glossy hair shimmered, her tender face seemingly glowing.
She was quiet and content.
  ‘Arem.’ Enigma finally called softely. ‘Hey, Princess.’
  She stirred, then opened an eye. ‘Enigma.’ she moaned.
‘What are you doing.’
  ‘We’re leaving in about an hour.’ he smiled. ‘I thought
I’d bring you breakfast.’
  ‘Thanks.’ she yawned. ‘What is it?’
  ‘Soup and something or other.’ Enigma replied.
  Arem sat up, rubbing her neck, ‘I’m not a real
princess. Remeber. I was adopted.’
  ‘Oh, of coarse.’ Something moved on the inside of
Enigma’s shirt, a little white mouse scampered down his
body from his shoulder to greet the newly awoken girl.
  ‘Hello Atrebor.’ she scratched the mouse behind the
ears.
  ‘I’ll leave you alone for a little.’ Enigma rose. ‘So
you can get dressed or what ever - let you do what you
do. I’ll go and wake the others.’
  Iikin and Terrol had a room each to themselves, looking
much like the others. 
  Iikin was already awake, attempting to sharpen this
bladed gauntlet. ‘We’ll be leving shortly.’ Enigma
informed him.
  ‘Don’t go without me.’ Iikin smiled. ‘Terrol’s already
down stairs with the others. 
  ‘Thanks.’ 
  Enigma bundled up his things, sheathing his diamond
bladed sword by his back. With Arem, they headed down one
floor, meeting the others, ready to go. 
  ‘All set?’ Enigma asked.
  The group nodded.
  Outside, they mounted their respected horses, and
headed down the dusty street towards the northen gate. 
  Arem’s future home was rather primitave and small. The
streets were of dirt, lined with residential huts made of
clay and straw. The castle wasn’t to impressive. Though
it was the tallest building in the town, it was dull and
square. A lot of work needed to be done. 
  They passed through the large metal gates into the
surrounding forest.
  It was mid morning. The previous nights rain had
dampened the ground significantly. The clouds still
lingered, nevertheless the sun was just able to break
through. Birds chirped, feeding on the ground, darting
back and forth.
  Enigma rode at the head of the group upon Hcrib, an
armoured sheer, tall, strong. Using his sense, he led the
group through the trees towards an unknown destination. 
  ‘You sure you know where your going?’ Terrol asked.
  ‘Positive.’ Enigma replied. ‘I’ve done this before,
remember.’
  Sure enough, they came upon a tree, different in many
ways from those around it. It stood in the open,
surrounded by rocky moss and above ground roots. The
limbs hung heavily, dripping with perspiration.
  Imprinted upon the trunk was the familiar sign - a ring
of roses with a battle axe in the middle.
  ‘This is the one.’ Enigma announced.
  ‘What do we do with the horses?’ Ice questioned.
  ‘We’ll take them with us. I’m sure Ksid won’t mind.’
  Gathering the group, Enigma reached down, placing his 
hand on the symbol. The surrounding greenery began to 
fade. 
  They woke up in the familiar room that was the Warlock
Network. Dispite the suposed time difference between the
past and the present, the room was still set out the
same: round, walls lined with books, a balcony with giant
marble stair cases. But there was no one there. No one to
greet them.
  Aroht, Arem’s armoured clydsdale, snorted, kicking its
hoves on the wooden floor.
  ‘Where is everybody?’ Power looked around the room.
  ‘They must be out.’ Enigma spotted a door. ‘There. That
door in the wall should lead us to Ksid.’
  They walked their horses by the reins into a corridor
of dirt, braced with wooden beams, roots and so forth
penitrating the natural walk way.
  Forcing their way into the next room, they stumbled
upon an aged man sitting with their back to them at a
table, brooding over a large book. 
  The group dismounted.
  ‘Ksid?’ Enigma called.
  The man lifted his head, swiviling around. He shreiked,
jumping back.
  ‘Settle down.’ Enigma chided.
  The man wore white. His equally coloured hair was held
back, revealing his creased face. Regaining his
composure, Ksid’s hands glowed, sending a bolt of energy
at the young boy.
  Enigma smothered it with a glowing hand.
  ‘Who are you.’ Ksid demanded.
  ‘I’m Enigma. This is - ’
  ‘Enigma?’ Ksid inurupted. ‘But you can’t. Your - ’ He
hesitated. 
  ‘Believe me. Or else we wouldn’t be standing here right
now. Do you know any other ways we might have been able
to find our way into the Warlock Network?’
  Ksid rubbed his eyes. ‘I must be tired.’ he laughed
wryly. ‘Yeah, that’s it. I’ll just lie down for a little,
and it’ll all go away.’
  Enigma pulled out his red book, slamming it down on the
table.
  Ksid looked at him curously. Retrieving it, he walked
over to one side of the book shelf, pulling out a similar
looking text. Comparing them, he shook his head.
  ‘Enigma?’ he asked cautiously.
  ‘Yes, Ksid’ he answered.
  ‘It’s really you, eh. But you look so different
compared to - ’ He stopped.
  ‘Compared to what?’ Power questioned.
  ‘Compared to the descriptions I’ve heard of you.’
  ‘We’re from the future.’ Enigma tried to explain. He
then went on to introduce the others.
  ‘From the future? How did you get back to the past.’
  ‘We were going to use the Platinium Stone and the 
rings, but they were destroyed. Instead, Cludge - with 
your help - was able to send us back.’
  ‘Cludge you say.’ His eyebrow cocked.
  ‘Indeed.’ Ice said. ‘You distaste for the Gargoyle race
fades as you get older.’
  ‘Gargoyles.’ Ksid spat. ‘What are you all doing here.’
  ‘You told us to come here.’ Enigma tried to explain,
pulling up a chair. ‘We’re on a mission to save Lord
Sorallus. At the moment, this is the second stage.’
  Ksid thought about it. ‘What are you to do in this the
second stage?’
  ‘We don’t know. That’s why we came here. But I assume
we’ll find out shortly.’
  Ksid spotted something. ‘Where did you get that?’
  ‘Get what?’ Enigma questioned.
  ‘That sword.’ Ksid reached over, pulling Enigma’s
diamond sword from it’s from its sheath. 
  ‘In the Great Tower of Krestia. I defeated the Pheonix
for it.’
  ‘So that’s where it got to.’ he said to himself,
examining it.
  ‘What?’
  ‘Oh, nothing.’ He handed it back.
  A similar clothed man entered through an unseen door.
He was tall with a long face, covered in black tinted
grey hair. 
  ‘Ksid.’ he bowed. ‘She has been spotted.’
  ‘Where?’ Ksid asked.
  ‘In the forest a few hours north of the Dragon River -
with an army too.’
  ‘Get some men to keep an eye on them. I’ll be there in
a minute.’
  ‘Right.’ he bowed.
  ‘What’s happening?’ Arem questioned.
  Ksid scratched his head. ‘Nothing. Look, I’ll be gone
for a little while. You can stay here.’
  ‘But you could use our help.’ Iikin suggested.
  Ksid shugged. ‘Fine. It’s your funeral though.’
  Enigma chuckled. ‘You still don’t trust us, do you.’
  ‘How can I? You just apear all of a sudden, saying that
your from the future, and you expect me to believe you?’
  Enigma thought about it for a little. ‘Well, yes.’
  The wise man shook his head. ‘Yeah, right. Come on
then, if you really insist you must.’ 
  They walked through a door nto another identical room.
The room began to fade, darker and darker, until they
awoke once more before a great tree with Warlock symbol.
  ‘Where about’s are we know?’ Terrol asked, scouting the
surrounding area with his eyes.
  ‘We’re in Histausiglar. Keep you eyes and ears open and
be quiet.’
  Ksid began leading them in an bizarre direction,
signaling with his hands to follow and to halt
respectively.
  They were silent, dodging and weaving bushes, steping 
over thickets.
  ‘There.’ Terrol whispered. ‘A group of about ten men.’
  Ksid ushered them behind a large group of bushes. ‘Get
those dam horses to lie down.’ he damanded, dropping down
low.
  It was a tough job. Iikin, Terrol and Enigma attempted
to coax them into lieing down, but they were determined
to stand.
  ‘Hurry up.’ Ksid ushered them through clenched teeth.
He was loosing his patience.
  ‘You just have to sit down.’ Enigma pleaded. The horses
simply stared at them.
  From the inside of his shirt, Atrebor scampered onto
Enigma’s shoulder. She assessed the situation, then bagan
speaking her own language. The horses turned their heads
in unison as she spoke. Nodding their heads, together,
they dropped down to the ground, as they had been asked.
  ‘Good job.’ Enigma congratulated with a startled voice.
  ‘Hey.’ Ksid chided hoarsely. 
  They joined the rest of the group.
  ‘You see them?’ Power questioned, peering intently
through the bush.
  Tip - toeing gently where the group of men, fitted with
black boots, black trousers, a loose, black, buttoned up
shirt, with rapier, bow and arrows to finish the look.
  ‘The Revolution.’ Ice noted.
  ‘Who’d you expect?’ Ksid replied grumpily.
  Enigma shook his head with annoyance.
  ‘Excuse me.’ a voice said from behind them.
  The group swiveled around. A gathering of cult members,
about fifteen or so, had built up without them knowing.
They were prepared for battle, rapiers in hand. Enigma
and his friends had been sprung.
  ‘Blast.’ Ksid moaned, returning to his feet.
  ‘You still have that tomahawk?’ Enigma questioned Arem,
joining Ksid, drawing his sharp sword.
  ‘I think so.’ She fished around inside a bag she was
carrying along. ‘Here it is.’
  Iikin and Terrol suited up one hand with a gauntlet
each. Terrol’s had sharp points at the finger tips,
whilst Iikin kept his blade concealed.
  With a cry, the cultists charged. The odd fifteen were
soon joined by the ten Ksid had been spying on.
  Enigma stuck by Arems side. After what happened to Sly,
he wasn’t prepared to allow Arem to be killed.
  He swung his sword around easily, slicing bits and
pieces of anatomy as his foes attacked, easily disposing
of them.
  Ksid fended off his attackers with his powers, slinging
bolts of energy this way and that, whilst dodging and
weaving the attempted shots at his life. 
  Power and Ice were having an easy enough time. Power
boxed with several enemies at once, using his fists and
his strength to his advantage. ice block and struck, 
using her arrow headed gauntlets exquisitly, driving one 
deep into a cultists stomach, and slitting a throat with
the other.
  Terrol faced off with one man, scratching and clawing
at every chance he got. He eventually slay him, driving a
pointed finger into his face.
  Iikin triggered his blade, killing on man instantly as
he did. Another swung at his head, but he blocked it.
They fenced for several seconds, before the futuristic
man ended it, slicing of his competitors sword arm, then
running him through.
  Arem blocked and struck feebily. She found the tomahawk
a little awkward, only just managing to strike down her
offenders. Enigma spun around now and then, helping her
out. Otherwise, she was managing herself, not enough, but
successfully.
  All the while, the horse just sat, watching on
uninterested, not budging at all. One cultist foolishly
tried to attack on of the armoured horses, Hcrib, but he
bit him on the ankle, crushing it in his jaws.
  Enigma disposed the last of the enemies, sending a beam
of red aura into their hearts, destroying them instantly.
  ‘Lets get out of here, before the rest of the army find
what we’ve done.’ Ksid suggested.
  Taking their horses by the reins, they walked slowly
away from the battle grounds, into deeper more ticker
forest. 
  ‘Who you chasing after?’ Enigma asked Ksid.
  ‘A woman.’
  ‘What woman?’
  The preceptor squinted at something in the distance.
‘That woman.’ He pointed at a navy caped person, wearing
a dark red jacket with a brown leather belt, average
brown trousers and ankle high snake skin shoes.
  Ksid bolted off after her.
  ‘Come on.’ Enigma ordered. The group mounted up, and
trotted after their preceptor.
  The woman was flanked with a group of men. Spotting
Ksid chasing after her, she mounted a fine looking
stallion and galloped away. The men she was with charged
the elder.
  Not caring much for trouble, Ksid forced the attackers
away, a flash of light blinding and driving them back. 
  Enigma brought Hcrib in beside the persuer. ‘It’d be
faster and less painstaking if you follow on horse than
on foot.’ 
  Looking up at him, dodging another bush, Ksid sprung
from the ground, grabing onto the young boy, taking up
his offer.
  Enigma kicked his horse in the ribs. He bolted
dangerously through the trees, narrowly missing branches,
hurdling fallen trees. The rest of the group weren’t to
far behind.
  ‘What has this woman done?’
  ‘She stole the scrolls of Iaka in Sablen. I need them 
for my studies. I had them originally, but she stole them
from me with force. I don’t like being pushed around like
that.’
  The woman was able to keep an even distance between
herself and Ksid. They neither gained nor retreated. It
was just like the time, Enigma reminisced, when Velyaha
had stolen his special book.
  They continued on at a steady pace for the next few
hours. As the horses were tireing, the woman began
pulling away from them. Eventually, she sped away out of
sight.
  Ksid cursed. ‘She was so close.’ But they bothered not
to stop. They continued onward in the direction they
thought she had taken.
  The sound of rushing water began to fill their ears. 
  ‘We’re near the Dragon River.’ Ksid informed them. 
  The ground became rocky. There was more life flourisher
in this area, Enigma noticed. 
  A small stream soon came into view. It trickled slowly,
and was the clearest water any of them had seen before. 
  They dismounted at the waters edge, allowing the horses
to catch their breath. 
  Down stream was visible, lined with giant trees,
following the different curves intricately. The upstream
was unseen though. The view was blocked by clusted
branches that leaned towards each other. 
  ‘Maybe she went through there?’ Power implied, looking
at wall of greenerey. 
  Ksid jumped into the stream, standing waist high. The
rest of the group soon followed. Pushing his way through
the wall of leaves and vines, Ksid dissapeared.
  The stream continued on the other side of the wall. It
was straight with eqaul depth. The banks of the river
were hidden behind giant trees. The trunks were
absolutely massive, seperated by only by a matter of
inches, creating a natural wall, and a lingering
darkness. The roots curved with shape of the stream bed,
meeting and overlapping in the centre. It seemed quiet
and peaceful.
  ‘This is wonderful.’ Ice said in awe.
  ‘It certainly is something.’ Ksid admitted.
  Further up the stream was a great rock barrier,
standing tall and dominating. Water rushed over its edge
further up, somewhere in the canopy, creating a cooling
mist. 
  ‘Looks like a dead end.’ Terrol murmered.
  Enigma wadded closer to the falls. ‘No. I think there’s
something on the other side.’ Covering his head, he
pressed forward. Several moments later, he emerged on the
other side. He stuck his hand back through the falls,
motioning them to follow.
  Arem was stunned as she looked upon the grand sight
before her. 
  They were in a basin like structure. They were 
surrounded by high walls of black, moist rock, dotted 
here and there with grass and bushes. The stream actually
continued passed the waterfall, eventually opening out
into a large pool, like a miniture lake that was
continuously filled by yet another, more grandeur
waterfall, opposite the one they had just passed. Two
giant trees, one on either side of the stream, stood,
like an entryway, arching over them somewhere above. The
pool was surrounded by a lawn of prosperous flowers,
clustered in different colours, shaded here and there by
the odd tree, smaller than the ones they were awestruck
with previously.
  Spaced randomly along the banks of the pool were three
ancient looking trees, bend and twisted bearing a crown
of dark green. Their roots stood above ground, the trunks
hollowed out slightly. Life had overtaken these trees,
living in harmony together - birds, squirrels, insects -
taking advantage of the wonders assets.
  ‘Wow.’ Enigma simply said.
  ‘Wow indeed.’ Ksid replied.
  Placing all valuables on dry land, they wadded towards
the perfectly round pool. The stream bed eventually fell
away from them, leaving them to tred instead. 
  Enigma was relaxed. He rolled over onto his back,
peering up into the cloudless sky, peaceful with the
surroundings. 
  ‘I’m suprised no one has ever found this before.’ Iikin
said softly, his voice echoing in their ears. 
  ‘On the contrary,’ Ksid countered, ‘the animals have
known of this place for years. 
  Atrebor clung to Enigma’s stomach, then took a little
dip herself.
  ‘Halt!’ a booming voice ordered. It seemed to be coming
from beyond the second waterfall. Enigma turned to face
it. 
  ‘Who goes there?’ Ksid questioned.
  ‘I am the Serpent. You have trespassed into my home.
What is your business here.’
  ‘We seek a woman. She has stolen my belongings and I am
looking to get them back.’
  ‘I have seen no woman here.’
  Ksid frowned suspiciously. ‘Oh. And how do I know that
your not the woman that I seek.’
  ‘For the woman you seek runs from you - hides. If I
were that woman, I would not have spoken a word. With
this, I do not run from you. Instead, I shall kill you if
you do not leave me be.’
  Enigma drew his sword, gathering Atrebor, placing her
on his shoulder. 
  ‘That sword?’ the voice seemed to question.
  ‘What about it.’ Enigma asked curously.
  ‘Where did you get it?’
  ‘From the Pheonix, in the Tower of Krestia.’
  ‘It has been fortold that a boy shall defeat the great 
Pheonix for the prize that you hold in your hand. How did 
you get a hold of it.’
  ‘Some people call me the Conscripted Boy. I guess that
means something to people like the Pheonix. I’m special -
or so I’m told.’
  ‘The “Conscripted Boy”?’ the voice was startled.
  ‘The “Conscripted Boy”?’ Ksid questioned, equally as
shocked.
  ‘Isn’t that what I said?’ Enigma shook his head.
  ‘Please, forgive me Cocscripted Boy for my ignorance.’
the voice apologized. ‘I was unaware that it was you.’
  ‘That’s okay.’ Enigma put his weapon away.
  ‘I was notified of your arrival here into the passed by
Holy himself. I was expecting you, but not so soon.’
  ‘You knew he was coming?’ Ksid couldn’t believe what I
was hearing, ‘Even before me?’
  ‘Who are you to know before I?’
  ‘I’m Ksid, personal servent and friend to Lord Sorallus
himself.’
  ‘Well, to be quite honest, I couldn’t tell you why.
Maybe you were to busy chasing this woman to realise the
Conscripted Boy’s expected arrival.’
  ‘It really is you.’ Ksid said, turning to Enigma.
  ‘I didn’t lie.’
  ‘I’m sorry for the way I was treating you, Enigma. I
just wasn’t prepared.’
  ‘Don’t worry about it.’
  ‘Conscripted Boy, am I to understand that you are
unaware of your tasks here, in this the second stage?’
  ‘Your pretty close.’ Power smirked.
  ‘I cannot personally give you what you seek, though I
can guide you in the right direction, as I have been
instructed.’
  ‘I’m listening.’ Enigma listeneing in closely.
  ‘Go forth to the elders, and heed their instructions.
They shall give you a task which you must complete. If
you complete the three tasks, then shall you be awarded
that which you seek. Fail, however, and death shall
become of you. These are the rules which you shall agree
to, supposing you decide to play the game.’
  ‘Where are these “elders” you speek of?’
  ‘The elders are before you, the crocked trees that
dotted around you. Chose one - any one - and return here
once your assignment has been fulfilled.’
  Enigma looked closely at Ksid. ‘What do you think?’
  ‘I’m not sure.’ He was considering it in his head. ‘Why
must you keep yourself hidden?’ Ksid then went on to ask
the voice.
  ‘I cannot pass the water that falls before me. I have
been confined here by Nature and shall be released once
the time is right. Until then however, no one shall see
my face, nor shall I see theirs. I can only sense what
you look like and what they feel.’
  ‘Sounds authentic to me.’ Ice whispered.
  ‘Go.’ the voice demanded. ‘If you waste time now, its
consiquence shall catch you up later.’
  ‘Lets go.’ Ksid dictated. They swam to the banks. 
  Arem examined each tree. ‘Which one.’
  ‘I don’t know.’ Ksid replied. ‘I assume it doesn’t
really matter.’
  ‘Why are the elders represented as trees?’ Terrol wrung
his pants of the excess water. ‘I would have that they’d
be supreme beings.’
  ‘The elders are supreme beings.’ Ksid tried to explain.
‘These trees just represnt them. They are the elders of
Nature - below Nature herself - hense, the reason they
are represented by trees here on earth, because trees are
nature.’
  Enigma looked at one cragged tree closely. It looked
ghostly, bent and contorted sickeningly. ‘Who do we talk
to it.’ He placed a hand on its trunk.
  Unwilingly, his hand was surrounded in a yellow aura.
The tree began to vibrate, it’s leaves shaking violently,
the birds and animals and insects scampering away. 
  ‘What did you do?’ Terrol took a step back.
  ‘Nothing, nothing.’ Enigma tried retrieving his hand,
but it wouldn’t budge. It was stuck. 
  With in the trunk, before his face, the wood began to
more. It began to slither, wavering slightly at first,
but speedily a few moments later. The wood began to grow,
changing, crackling, until a peculiar shape bulged
extraordinarily. 
  It was a face, wise and sensible. Enigma was calm
though. He struggled no longer.
  ‘Conscripted boy.’ it said in a loud, sustained voice,
its mouth moving as it talked. ‘Take with you, those most
trusted, in search of the ossified orb, hidden from the
world in the place man fears tred. Its location though,
can be found only with the help of a delineation, found
amongst the gaurd of the king of the limpid metropolitan.
Go there and help him in his troubles. Then shall you be
rewarded. Go and find then, the ossified orb and return,
then onto your second task.’
  The face began to deteriorate. The image shunk, and
eventually, the trunk returned back to normal. Enigma
regained control of his hand. He huddled it into his
chest, examining it closely.
  ‘Weird.’ Arem murmered.
  ‘What does all that mean?’ Iikin regained his
composure.
  ‘I - I wouldn’t know where to start?’ Ksid was
dumbfounded.
  ‘Lets go.’ Enigma urged. ‘There’s nothing more for us
here.’
  Gathering their things, they dove through the waterfall
once more, into the strange natural hall. 
  Enigma held his hand up sharply as they approached the 
wall of leaves and vines. Something could be heard on the 
other side. 
  Parting the wall slightly, he peered though. An army of
about five hundred men had gathered on the banks. They
looked to be setting up camp. Each soldier was armed,
wearing the uniform of the Revolution. Enigma’s horse was
no where to be seen, nor were the rest. They were gone. A
navy caped woman approached the banks on horse back,
examining the work the troops were doing. The person wore
a mask of bone, hideous to look at. 
  ‘There’s an army out here - of the Revolution. They’re
setting up camp.’ Enigma informed them, no louder than a
quiet whisper.
  The mounted person removed the bone mask revealing her
face. This leader had hair, long and brown, reaching
passed her shoulder blades. She sat in her saddle with an
average height. She had blue - brown eyes, defined within
a round, perky face. 
  The blood from Enigma’s face began to drain. He shook
his head, not believing what he was seeing. 
  ‘What is it?’ Arem pulled him away from the barrier.
  ‘I - I - ’
  ‘Your not making any sense.’
  ‘The leader...of the Revolutoin...leading the army...
she’s...she’s...’
  ‘She’s what?’ Power asked.
  ‘It’s Sly.’