Azura and Embry had an ill sense of foreboding as they entered the cave to Yiriv’s lair.

  “And you’re sure she’ll help us?” Asked Azura as she dragged Onyx, who was asleep.

  “Yep. Although it might cost you.” Answered Sid as she led the group through the darkness with the child cradled in her arms.

  Embry saw that the fire in the torches was the same as that used in the ceremony. “So the frostfire what’s it used for out here?” Asked Embry as she tried to distract herself from the current situation.

  “Ceremonial purposes mostly. It also provides good lighting without any worry for setting things on fire, and to preserve our food.” Answered Sid.

  “A food preservative?” Inquired Embry.

  “Yeah it prevents the meats from freezing over plus it gets rid of the gamey taste. I’ve heard that other tribes use it to cleanse themselves although I’ve never tried it.” Replied Sid as they neared a large chasm.

  At the center of the chasm was a large stone dome. The only way through was through a natural rock bridge that hung over an underwater river. The group noticed another Yukingawari clad in ice armor standing halfway through the bridge.

  “We’re here to see her.” Said Sid as she looked up at the Yukingawari.

  The Yukingawari looked past Sid towards the group behind her. “I don’t know anything about that.” He replied with a snort.

  “Well it’s not up to you is it?” Retorted Sid. “Besides it’s out of our hands.” Said Sid in a whisper.

  The Yukingawari tightened his grip on his ice sword. “It’s not out of mine.”

  Sid took one step forward trying to shield them from his imminent attack. “Don’t do it.” She said.

  He shoved Sid to the side and rushed them with his sword. Embry moved in to intercept him and swung her sword, but he blocked it. Azura then rushed in with her mace but the Yukingawari tossed Embry at Azura. Azura caught Embry and threw a knife at the Yukingawari’s leg. The Yukingawari growled in pain as he approached Baphomet who stood between him and Onyx. As the Yukingawari raised his sword above his head to cut Baphomet down a strong gust of wind knocked them down. Suddenly the whole cave started to shake as a voice shook them all to their core.

  “ENOUGH!” Boomed the voice as they could all feel a powerful force emanating from the stone dome.

  Baphomet, Embry, and Azura were too scared to move. They had not even seen Yiriv, and already they could feel her overwhelming presence.

  The Yukingawari then stood up and raised his sword again to kill Onyx. Suddenly, a flash of light zoomed past them and hit the Yukingawari, sending him flying towards the opposite side of the rock bridge.

  “Azura was that…” Embry trailed off as she was still visibly shaken.

  “No doubt about it. That was magic she used.” Azura gulped.

  The last person capable of wielding magic was Corrax, but he died over two thousand years ago. Magic was something left behind by the Divines and Khemmel. Both Azura and Embry felt a pit in their stomachs. For Onyx though they had to try.

  “Serves him right.” Grunted Sid as she continued to walk towards the stone dome.

  The trio followed behind her with Onyx in tow as they entered the stone dome they saw the beast of Baphomet’s tale, the champion of Gaia in the Mythic Era, called Yiriv the Desolate One. She was a four legged creature with the torso of a human. Her two front legs resembled a lions whilst her hind legs looked like those of a dragon. She had a tail made up of three snakes. Her torso was human but still had some animalistic traits. She had a pair of curved horns, and no eyes. Yiriv revealed her fanged maw and forked tongue. She spread her six wings that were covered with eyes. Her fingers had sharp claws. She wore some type of ancient armor over herself and carried a large staff. She towered at least twelve meters if not more.

  Yiriv looked at the group. “Please forgive my son.” Apologized Yiriv as she slightly bowed her head.

  Sid looked at Azura and Embry who were completely paralyzed.

  “They probably don’t even know their own names.” Thought Sid as she approached Yiriv. “It’s been a while mom. I’ve brought you your new son.” Said Sid as she handed the child to Yiriv.

  Yiriv raised her hand. “There will be plenty of time for that later Sid. For now leave us, and give me the idol.”

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  Sid looked at the idol one last time before she handed it over to Yiriv. Sid and Baphomet gave them their privacy. Sid looked at them one last time before exiting the dome.

  Embry was still in shock as she saw Yiriv. Every fiber of her being was telling her to run away. Embry swallowed hard. “We… Can you…” Embry could barely even form a sentence.

  “I…” Azura began as she tried to calm her nerves.

  Yiriv towered over the pair and saw Onyx wrapped in chains. Azura shakily put her hand on her mace and soon found herself levitating as she came face to face with Yiriv. Yiriv extended her wings, and all eyes opened.

  Azura found herself in the middle of a battlefield where she saw humans and animalists fighting monsters. Suddenly, she saw Onyx armed with a massive blade lead a squadron of what she thought were legionnaires, but they did not have the armor to match any type of legionnaire squadron. She also recognized the Herald of Spyre, Maxwell following close behind Onyx along with three other girls. Suddenly, a monster at least a hundred feet tall approached her. Onyx and his team charged the monster as Azura reached out to stop him.

  Then she found herself still levitating, looking at Yiriv. Azura was still in shock over what she witnessed. “Wha…” Azura gasped.

  “Consider it a gift from one mother to another.” Said Yiriv as she lowered Azura gently on the floor.

  Embry barely mustered enough nerves to talk to Yiriv. “Can you save him?” She asked as her hand started to shake.

  “Tell me something first... Are you the daughter of Aldritch Essar?" Asked Yiriv as she tilted her head, the eyes on her wings focused on Embry.

  "Yes." She answered.

  "How interesting..." Yiriv grinned, revealing her fanged maw. "Do you wonder where he wanders now?"

  "No." Embry answered plainly. "Was my father actually this far north? Did he meet Yiriv?" She thought.

  "As for whether or not I can save him, that all depends on whether or not I should." Said Yiriv as she sautered over towards Onyx.

  "What do you mean?" Asked Azura.

  Yiriv then flapped her wings, picking up the dust. Azura and Embry covered their eyes as they fell to their feet from the massive force of the wind she created. The duo wiped the dust from their eyes and saw paintings on the walls depicting monsters, battles, cities on fire, and corpses. Yiriv drew her spear and drove it into the floor. Embry and Azura focused their attention to the point of impact and saw the image of a person holding a sword in one hand, but half of him was human and the other was covered in scales.

  “What is all this?” Asked Embry.

  “This is his destiny. Should you choose to save the boy millions will die, kingdoms and empires will burn, and the world itself will be changed forever.” Said Yiriv as she pulled out her spear.

  “Then what I saw…” Started Azura as she looked back at Onyx.

  “That’s right. That is the future that awaits us.” Replied Yiriv.

  “That’s impossible.” Said Azura as she clenched her fists. “There’s no fucking way that he could do something like that. The vision that you showed me was of him fighting the monsters not…”

  “But he will. He will bring them to our world and they will spread like locusts.” Yiriv then placed the tip of her spear on Onyx’s head. “Perhaps not tomorrow or even a year from now, but he will be the one responsible for the end of the world. Knowing that do you still want him to live?”

  “Yes.” Answered Embry without hesitation.

  Azura placed her hand on Embry’s shoulder. “We choose to put our faith in him.”

  “Know that the time will come when all that I have said will come to pass, and you will suffer more than anyone.” Warned Yiriv as she crouched to face Embry, the eyes on her wings glaring at her.

  “I’ll deal with it. Now save him.” Replied Embry with determination in her eyes.

  Yiriv growled as she used her magic to lift Onyx. She then started to open his stomach with her claw. Embry and Azura did not dare to protest as Onyx’s entrails sprung out from his stomach. If this is what it took to save him then so be it. Yiriv then took the idol and placed it within his body. Onyx’s entrails then retreated back inside his body as Yiriv’s magic closed the wound. The only thing missing was for the scales to recede.

  “What about his scales?” Asked Azura.

  “Those require a special ingredient. One that I lack, but I do know where he can find it.” Said Yiriv as she carved a symbol on Onyx’s body with her claw. She then poured her blood on the symbol.

  “What is it and where can we find it?” Asked Embry.

  Suddenly a flash of light enveloped Onyx. Azura and Embry closed their eyes to avoid the blinding light. When they opened them Onyx disappeared.

  “Where is he?” Asked Azura.

  “To get the final ingredient. Someone will come to collect your payment for my services.”

  “What do you mean?” Asked Embry.

  “You’ll see soon enough. Take my son with you to go find the legionnaire.”

  80 Years Ago

  Yiriv

  Yiriv was battered and bruised. Her wings had been plucked, her spear and armor had shattered, and he was completely unharmed. She looked at the creature as he sauntered towards her grinning with its fanged maw. There had been instances where she had been overpowered by other champions in ages past, but this was different. He was just too powerful.

  “What do you want?” She asked with battered breath.

  “Decades from now three legionnaires will come seeking to save their companion, and you’re going to help them.”

  “No… What that child will do… It’s unforgivable.” She said as the creature stopped in its tracks.

  “So you’ve seen it already then? Hmm… But your power is so meager that it cannot see beyond the clouds, and into the stars that paint the night sky.” His grin grew wider as his face stood only mere inches away from hers. “Let me show you.”

  As Yiriv looked into his eye she saw visions of eldritch horrors, planets shattering, stars darkening, and at the center of it all was a child. Yiriv started to sob. “How… How can he…”

  The one eyed creature frowned. “Fret not barren mother.” The creature then caressed her face. “For he is and always will be…”

  Yiriv was thrown out of her stupor when the child in her arms started to cry.

  “Are you okay mom?” Asked Sid.

  “Yes. I was just… It doesn’t matter. Not anymore.” Said Yiriv as she rocked the child in her arms. “Take the legionnaires and my son, Umanor, to the mountains further north. You’ll find him there with the sword.”

  “Thank you.” Said Baphomet.

  “Don’t thank me yet.” Said Yiriv as she put the child back to sleep in her arms. As she looked upon the child sleeping in her arms Yiriv whispered, “You are and always will be loved my child.” She suddenly felt a chill crawl through her spine as she muttered those words.