The camp was only small, set up with earth brought up like a teepee, so each of us could get some sleep. The earth being filled with light crystals made a perfect place to completely recover from any harm the dark crystals had done, sure we had the protection of the goddess, but that would not stop the fatigue brought on by it.

  Tigra was taking her nap in the earth teepee. Zack and Link insisted on just snoozing outside, claiming Tigra needed her space, so they just leaned against the sides. Dash and I were on watch duty. There wasn’t much point but just in case, a surprise attack could happen at any time.

  “Dash,” I said having most of the time of guard duty enhancing the weapons with light crystals. I’d been experimenting to see if I could have the energy last longer by infusing more than one.

  “Yes Fang.” Dash looked over at me from his guard position.

  “Does it not bother you and the others about me and Tigra?” I asked curious to know what they thought about it.

  “Well no.” He shrugged. “You both seemed really fond of each other.” Dash began thinking. “To be honest Zack brought it up first and well it made sense, the two of you have an amazing connection with one another, she feels safest with you. Plus, I’d rather you king than Dumah.”

  There it was again, me being king of Cathopia. I glanced back at the teepee. “I suppose I would have to become king to stay by her side.”

  “That’s a long way off,” commented Raziel. “Focus on the present problems not the future ones.”

  “No matter what his reply, you and Tigra are intwined in destiny,” said Mila.

  “Destiny, whatever.” Zack came over. “Nap time for you Fang.” I nodded and headed hesitantly towards the teepee but stopped. “What are you waiting for?”

  I smirked and went in, snuggling beside Tigra knowing that the others supported us in being together, felt kind of a relief to share our secret with our friends.

  -

  When our rest period was over, I had everyone going over our supplies, didn’t want to get caught short. We still had a number of light crystals left and had eaten some of our supplies, couldn’t fight on an empty stomach.

  Next step was to find Vali. I stood silently in the empty space, feeling the watchful eyes of my friends upon me. Link also went into search mode, seeking out the same thing that I looked for. The essence of Vali’s condensed crystal.

  I closed my eyes sensing the energy all around. The first thing that I picked up were the three areas of light I had brought to this place, but they were just a flicker compared to the curse of darkness brought to this place and soon succumb to it again if we failed to defeat Vali.

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  I could feel the darkness dancing around this place it had called home for centuries, in amongst that darkness came what felt like a stream, something moving through every inch like a river of water. This energy was identical to that from Vali’s condensed dark crystal, the one he had spread around Anamothra, leaving a trail of it in the city.

  I could see where it had been and where it was heading, it spread like a web, a hundred paths he had walked and claimed this place for his own. Had he returned here knowing that his defeat would come next, after I had wiped out so many of those, he stood beside, only once had they stood together, but each walked the path darkness had set.

  The energy was so strong it was definitely the cause of what was warping this place and following it would surely take us deeper into the warped space of Vali’s creation, but it too was a path we needed to walk in order to save those below.

  I opened my eyes, gazing forward at the river of darkness that I now saw so clearly, it lingered as if wanting us to follow, the energy pulsating with ancient darkness.

  “This way,” I said.

  “He holds a dark energy far stronger than what we’ve faced so far.” Link spoke, staring in the direction it headed.

  “I know but we must face it.” I stepped forward, leading the way, glancing back at them. “Remember we can’t leave this place until we defeat him.”

  “We can win,” encouraged Tigra. “You always win.”

  I looked forward, she never saw the real danger we were in during these fights, and I wish I had left her behind, but she was safer with me… I mean us than down within the city.

  Progressing through the warped space was a lot easier that I had something to follow. Tigra came closer, almost clinging to my arm.

  “Scared are we,” I smiled.

  “No.” She shook her head moving away from me again, acting all tough. To be honest the place was quite creepy considering we had already dealt with several undead possessed Avem warriors.

  “It is creepy in here,” commented Dash as his spots flickered with light.

  “I thought you had that under control,” said Zack.

  “I do.” He shrunk back.

  “Oh, leave him be,” said Tigra. “He still has plenty of time to learn to control his lightning.”

  “Shush.” I lifted my hand, my ears turning in every directions. The others started to listen to. “Something is up ahead.”

  There was a corner ahead of us, slowly we all creeped round, peeking to see any dangers ahead. Not that far in front of us was a pair of black double doors, great sacred beasts carved upon it, standing on either side were two Avis warriors, from the armour and where they were standing, they were most likely Champion level warriors like Rockray.

  “This could get tricky,” I said.

  “Why, Champions are the equivalent to Guardians, and I have four,” smiled Tigra. “Oh take them out already.”

  “You have so much confident in us,” commented Link.

  “I do,” nodded Tigra.

  “I hope you guys are ready, they’ll be a lot tougher than what we’ve faced so far,” I said.

  “Just lead the way,” said Zack.

  “Ready.” Dash was hyped. Link just shrugged.

  I headed round the corner to face our next challenge.