It was quiet, too quiet. Not a soul in sight. It was unsettling, just like Zamoskva palace. Kiryl shivered slightly from this place. The inky darkness was enveloping him the further they walked. No light was illuminated from fear of being discovered. Kiryl’s eyes began to adjust to the shadows. He could vaguely see Borya, Ruby and Dave ahead of him marching in silence.

Kiryl suddenly found himself stop as a hand firmly grabbed his shoulder. Another covered his mouth to keep him from making a sound. It was sudden he was frozen to the spot, almost dazed by the swift motion.

“It’s just me… we’ll be coming to the end of the tunnel soon.” whispered Ruby

He calmed himself down, trying his best to not make a sound. Kiryl looked ahead to see a feint glow against the tunnel wall. They were close.

Borya ducked behind Dave with ease. His short height allowed him to peer around the corner without standing out. Before them was the opening to a cavern. The hollowed out chamber was littered with half ruined furniture and a few old chests. Lanterns were scattered around allowing adequate lighting. For a moment the scavenger and the wizard watched the area vigilantly.

They could see two figures towards the back of the chamber. A mysterious girl with a mutilated eye sat robotically on a chair, staring at the wall blankly. Borya instantly recognised the shackled girl. He shouted “Tsarevna!”

Instantly Dave covered Borya’s mouth and dragged him into the shadows again. They both waited for someone or something to come for them. However, it was anti-climatic as nothing happened. Ruby and Kiryl caught up silently. Dave made a few gestures to Ruby, she nodded having understood them. Carefully the two scavengers emerged into the light of the cavern.

Alena’s head shot up as she heard someone call ‘Tsarevna’. Strangely no owner to the voice had come forward. ‘Borya? But how could he know where I am?’ She thought as she glanced over to Lydia. She was still sitting calmly and waiting for orders like an obedient pet.

Footsteps… she could hear footsteps…

The Tsarevna glanced over to see two mysterious people approach her direction. A scruffy boy and a rather well dressed girl headed towards her. Alena could tell they were older than her, probably the same age bracket as Lydia. The boy produced a long thin wire tool from his pocket as he headed to Alena’s side.

Alena growled in defiance “Who are you?”

“I’m Dave, this is Ruby.” He said confidently as he started toying with her manacles.

“Lydia… what did that bastard do to you?” Ruby muttered under her breath as she examined the circlet around her friend’s head.

“Tsarevna!” Borya exclaimed as he materialised by Alena “What happened to you?”

“When I awoke I left to do some practise before we left the inn. Then she…” Alena glanced in Lydia’s direction “She knocked me out and took me here.”

Dave casually added as he freed her arm “I take it you were taken here because of some weirdo called Lucas?”

“How did you know?”

“That girl there is my twin, she’s been missing for a few months now.”

“Twin?” Alena stared at Dave and Lydia. There was something eerily alike between them facially.

Borya said “Wait, where’s Kiryl?”

A voice confidently announced “Right here!”

All eyes turned to the entrance of the cavern. Alena’s eyes widened. She didn’t even notice Dave had released the chains from her other arm. Lucas had a dagger poised dangerously close to Kiryl’s neck.

Dave snarled “Lucas, you coward. What the hell are you up to!?”

He snapped “I am merely fulfilling a contract. The prize of which is very lucrative for me. I am going to make something of myself.”

“Hate to burst your bubble but you’re a loser. You always were one, even at the guild you’re a loser.”

“Dave! You snide bastard!”

“Seriously, can’t you just admit Lydia doesn’t like you and she’s happy now with Niko? Why did you enslave her mind!?” Ruby snapped “In fact, where did you get a fancy magic circlet like that anyway!?”

“I… I…”

Kiryl could feel an intense aura of anger and frustration radiating from Lucas. He really wished he wasn’t there.

Lucas roared “I will never accept that a woman like her would ever go with a water rat pirate! They’re the lowest form of scavenger!”

“Is it my imagination or are we involved in something we shouldn’t be?” Alena quietly asked Borya. The old mage nodded in agreement.

‘The dagger is lowering… he’s distracted. Now’s my chance.’ Kiryl swiftly elbowed Lucas in the chest. The surprise attack temporarily startled the man as Kiryl fell free of his grasp. Carelessness had taken effect on Kiryl’s part, he didn’t clear the dagger completely. A cut had torn itself open between his cheek and neck.

Lucas howled “Lydia! Destroy them!”

“As you wish…” she answered. The woman stood from the table and armed her claymore. She leapt into action and swept towards Borya.

“Crackle!” the mage countered as frozen crystals of shard ice materialised between him and Lydia. She smashed through them and kept lunging towards Borya. The old mage smirked. Things were getting interesting.

Kiryl quickly scrambled to his feet. Lucas was sweeping towards him with two daggers armed and ready to strike. Abruptly he was knocked back as a chain whipped out and lashed him in the face. Ruby jingled the long chain in her hand, she was using it as a makeshift whip.

She said to Kiryl “Come on! He’s not a mage, we can do this!”

“What about Borya?” Kiryl replied as he glanced over his shoulder. The mage was currently fending off Lydia’s wild slashes with his ice magic.

“Not bad for an old guy.” Ruby laughed “But once Dave frees Alena it should be alright, after all didn’t she win the Endor tournament?”

Lucas let out a gut wrenching battle cry whilst charging towards them again. Kiryl armed his sword and readied himself.

Alena watched as the fights instantaneously broke out. She felt like she was well and truly missing out on something. Dave suggested as he appeared beside her “Let’s just wait till this blows over.”

“Are you kidding me!? Get my legs freed!”

“Why? We’re not missing out on much.”

Alena gave him a death glare. It was scary enough to terrify a monster. She growled “You coward, undo the shackles now.”

“Look lady I’m no fighter, that’s what Lydia is for. I’m a pacifist.”

Dave was pulled in front of Alena. Surprised by her monstrous strength his eyes widened and his mind froze over. She growled “You are going to unlock these shackles right now unless you want to become more acquainted with my fist!”