Traveling deeper through the former Serpenius empire really showcases the evils of Arcana kingdom. Most of the towns they come across are completely abandoned, occupied by nothing but corpses of its former inhabitants. The few remaining survivors must've fled long ago. They come across a farm that's not different, empty, only a few animals grazing in peace, now living wild and free. The barn smells earthy and off manure. But these hay bales offer a comfortable sleeping place for anyone. Anyone that is except Alina.

  I'm going to sleep in the beds, I can't rest like this, it stinks here and these straws will leave dents on my skin.

  Nothing is ever good enough for you is it Alina, Foley remarks. He's more used to sleeping in tents and on moss-beds than regular beds at this point in his life, after all he lived in the wild.

  Well if anyone needs me I'll be in the main bedroom of the farmers house. I'll go with you Mona says, fancying the comfortable sheets too, besides she doesn't want to be the only girl to sleep in the barn. Okay then we'll it'll just be us guys here then Kilian says, goodnight.

  Goodnight. Alina and Mona enter the house, it's large, as are most farmers' houses. The interior is scattered and covered in a thick layer of dust and cobwebs. Several skeletons lie in defeated positions strewn across what was once a living room. The damage caused and their positions tell the story of a family who got taken by surprise and then slaughtered. It reminds Mona of the evils she had to commit in the name of the Arcana kingdom, but she tries to set her thoughts aside as they make it to the master bedroom. She can only change her future, not her past. The bed is still made and large enough for the both of them, after cleaning off some of the dust they enter their slumber. The guys are similarly fast asleep.

  But it isn't long before the intense heat of a fire wakes them up.

  What's going on, who dares ruin my slumber? Ennius exclaims.

  FIRE! There's a fire! Baldric shouts, with his large booming voice further waking those who weren't already.

  Climb to the roof exit, smoke stays near the ground, we could suffocate, Amaru says, thinking quickly. Zad makes it first to the ladder and climbs it rapidly, then opening a latch to the roof. As he exits an arrow strikes him in his arm from close range, another one zips right past him as his quick reflexes allow him to dodge.

  There's assassins! he yells. But he can't see anyone.

  And the bright fires make it hard to see into the surrounding darkness. He rolls off the roof and decides to hide in the nearby bushes. Baldric is next up on the roof, shield first. He quickly takes a defensive stance but he too is struck by arrows, this time from the back, piercing his thigh and 3 further arrows impact his back but don't pierce his chainmail. He turns his shield around in the direction of the fire. Everyone get up, I can provide cover! Kilian hastily follows suit but as he exits more arrows are fired, and they strike him in his sword-carrying arm, disabling him for combat. Baldric is struck again.

  I don't know where it's coming from or how they're moving! This is bad! Baldric says.

  Foley throws his smoke bomb against Baldric while climbing the ladder to provide cover from the incoming fire. Amaru follows suit, he is at the point of exiting the ladder when a dark magic blast strikes them through the smoke, hurting all of them and collapsing the ladder and latch.

  Amaru falls down again back into the blazing barn but his fall is broken by the hay on the second floor. Smoke is already making its way up this level. The others manage to dodge most of the blast but they are still harmed.

  This is bad! We need to try a different exit, Amaru tells Ennius.

  We need to spread out, look for where they are firing from, Kilian says.

  I can't block anything without knowing their direction, Baldric exclaims.

  We need to get away from this blaze so we can see into the darkness! Try to get off the roof in different directions.

  Meanwhile Amaru and Ennius slowly make their way to the barns crane area, which has a large opening, he rappels down and takes a defensive position. His injuries are too great to physically contribute to this fight.

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  The rest make their way down the rooftops and then Baldric provides shielding for an injured Kilian. All of the main party is in a dire state, Zad is best off, relatively unscathed, he can still fight. Kilian is severely weakened and Baldric can't properly offer protection due to the nature of the enemies attacks.

  At this point Mona and Alina run out of the farmers house and face Amaru and Ennius. Alina starts chanting some basic healing spells to heal their minor injuries.

  What happened? Mona asks.

  There's assassins, we don't know how many, or where, we woke up to the barn set ablaze and tried to make an escape from the rooftop, however they got us cornered. So far they've used dark magic and arrows. Everyone is injured.

  As they are talking Mona spots arrows appearing out of thin air and firing at them, Alina, cast your barrier!

  Ayla casts her light barrier but right as she does a bolt of darkness strikes them from the opposite direction. They all jump to dodge it but Amaru is slow and struck again, in his lower legs and feet. They're invisible! He yells so everyone can hear it.

  They move around to strike from our weakest angles! Go join the others, I'm out of this fight, he says.

  Mona runs to the other side to regroup with the rest.

  We need to stick together, Kilian says, they will attack from our weakest side so if we all back into the wall they can't attack from any unexpected angles.

  Go without me, they run back to Amaru and let their backs face the barn, forming a defensive half circle with Baldric and Ayla providing shielding, however, Ayla's shielding is clearly limited at this point.

  The next time they fire we have to charge them, Kilian says.

  Pretend to focus on their future direction, so when they strike we can move rapidly in their direction.

  10 seconds pass but it feels like an eternity. The sound of a wooden beam collapsing in the barn behind them breaks the silence. Then it happens, a volley of arrows and a darkness blast move in their way, Baldric blocks the blast with his massive shield and it pushes him back half a meter, cracks start to form in the shield's protective gem. This mage is powerful. Ayla manages to block most of the arrows and the rest are dodged. But the point of fire was from the roofs of the farmers house, there is no way they could make it up there in time to strike back.

  We need to move to the other side, so they are forced to attack us on even ground, only then do we stand a chance to fight back, Amaru says.

  Alright let's move Ayla upfront Baldric will provide back cover. Me and Foley will help you walk Amaru, and throw a smoke bomb for good measure. They run and under a hail of arrows they make it to the other side. They wait again in their defensive circle. The enemy must know what they are up to, but at the same time they can't withstand many more of these attacks, Ayla's at her limit and Baldric's shield is showing signs of damage.

  Then it happens, quite rapidly, a hail of arrows from the left and a darkness blast from the right, Baldric blocks the arrows easily but Ayla's barrier is easily crushed by the force of the darkness blast and strikes Mona, who is now severely hurt. Foley shoots a volley of arrows back and Kilian charges in the direction of the mage, striking around him, but not hitting anything. Foley's arrows clearly hit a target, because a blood-like substance is leaking on the previous location. However the trail leads into the darkness. They wait anxiously for the next attack. Mona is preparing an arcane blast and Foley keeps his bow ready to fire. Then it happens, a darkness blast from the front, and a rain of arrows from above, Baldric decides to block the darkness blast and Ayla does her best to provide one more shield from the arrows, but a lot of them pierce. Some strike Amaru, he dies instantly.

  They killed Amaru! Kilian shouts.

  All of them look distraught.

  However Zad was prepared for this attack, he jumps from his hiding location at the roof's angle and slashes at the direction the arrows were fired from, he strikes the figure twice. He knew the injured enemy would look for a safer angle to fire from, and the only safe angle was the roof of the collapsing barn. Mona's arcane blast and Foley's arrows severely injure the caster as well. Through their injuries they reveal themselves, removing their cloaking. Both are reptilian like humanoid figures. Before they can reach the mage, he reveals a large dagger and stabs himself in the heart, killing himself. They regroup on the floor in front of the burning barn and try to talk with the injured archer. I won't tell you anything, just kill me.

  You don't have to die, we won't kill you, Kilian says. No, I'd rather die than betray the Arcana kingdom. They won't rest till you are dead Mona, he says, just let me die with honor, I failed my task. Ayla could heal your wounds, you'd make a full recovery in weeks, you can live in freedom! You don't have to die, Kilian further pushes. There's no freedom for lizardfolk, especially not those who served the Arcana kingdom, he takes his knife and pierces his own heart, nobody stops him.

  Ayla rushes over to Amaru and casts her revival spell.

  Wow, I'm so glad you could save me Alina, he says, shocked. His wounds have healed as well. But Alina is exhausted.

  I'm really sorry about this Mona says. They just want me. Maybe it's better if we don't travel together anymore. We barely survived this. They will keep sending more and more assassins till they kill me. No, we are a team. We travel together and we face the consequences together! You've helped us and we will help you in return, no matter what happens! Kilian says. Everyone else agrees, except Foley who just stays silent.