A sudden chill crept across her frame. Llani looked up and saw no cloud. The sun was still blazing brightly, but seemed darkened somehow.

Her gait slowed as she glanced behind her position and saw nothing. She turned back to the fore and was face to face with an unspeakable horror: A shadow with glowing amber eyes. It raised the shade of a sword to strike her, but through her cowering cringe she noted that the blow never came.

She hazarded a glance once more and it was gone.

/What you see was my own demise./

Fresh off of this last surprise, she jumped at the sudden voice…. One she recalled from the dying words of a wizard uttered not a day ago. She saw not a soul, but her mind whirred with images.

/I had thought myself superior to the Darkness. I challenged them to protect you Rydills, but I was a fool to attempt it alone. I fear they may attempt to attack me… US in our current state./

Llani nodded. “What… what shall we do, sir Wizard?”

/Make haste and please call me Pertiné./