AN: I had wanted to post this earlier, but I needed something to write about. Like The Rose. Mwahahaha…MWAHAHAHA! *Cough cough*

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Artix Entertainment games.

Falconreach. It all starts there. The Rose had failed again and again to take it over, after the fact of Alteon's hypnotism came to light. The places where The Rose had taken over nearly everywhere in Lore, all except DragonsGrasp, for they were far too high in the sky. All heroes in Falconreach daily dispatch themselves all around Lore to rescue those that were on the run in The Rose-controlled places. But, even though they were holding out extremely well, the war became a stalemate due to the hypnotizing powers of The Weed, the head of The Rose. Even Warlic himself found it hard to resist The Weed's powers over an indefinite time.

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Artix ran through the forest of Doomwood, which was his version of patrolling the area. Actually, Artix didn't mind The Rose, but when they eliminated the Necromancers and undead, he snapped. He nearly destroyed Oaklore, before Rolith dragged him away. Right now, the entrance to the Necropolis was pretty much a mountain of glowing rubble. Artix really had no expectations for anything interesting, but when he heard a scream from his right, he was knocked off his feet.

"Come over here, Magic User!" Irtes Prede, the commander of the squadron of Rose members, yelled. The cloaked figure just ran faster. "Grr… GET HER!" The members ran faster, but the difference of distance was far too much. But then, the figure slammed into a tree and let out a short, pained scream. Seeing a chance, a burst of speed pushed them forward, shadowing over her. They forcefully propped the figure up against the tree and pulled off the hood. A lightly freckled face with a combination of fear and anger sprouted out.

"Magic User... Scum." He muttered before drawing out a handful of chains. At the sight of the chains, she gave a roundhouse kick, knocking all of them to the ground. But as she ran, she ran into another tree which was right beside the tree. "What's with this PLACE?!" She yelled, before falling to the ground again.

This time, they pinned her arms and legs against the tree. Irtes stepped forward. "Now, you are coming with us, Magic-." He couldn't finish his sentence before a sword went through his chest. The rest soon followed. Wiping his brow with his sword handle, Artix extended his other hand to her. "Hi. I'm Artix."

She stood up and shook his hand. "I-I'm Lysteia…" She whispered, reaching into her cloak. "Are you from Falconreach?" Artix nodded. "Yes. Why?" Lysteia stuck out her arm with a clean black pouch in her grip. Artix grasped it and looked inside. There was blue dust in the pouch. "What's this?" Lysteia retracted her hand. "Give that to Warlic the Blue Mage. He…is, in Falconreach, right?" Artix nodded as he tucked it in his pocket. "Good then. Goodbye."

Lysteia pulled on her hood, and started to leave before Artix put a hand on her shoulder. "You should come with me to Falconreach. You'll be safe there." Lysteia just detached the hand and turned her head slightly. "No need. As long you pass that pouch to him, I…am…no…longer…a…concern…" She suddenly collapsed. "Lysteia? Lysteia!" Artix placed two fingers to her neck. "Still pulsing. Maybe Warlic would know who she is."

Artix then carried her back to Falconreach on his back, not knowing that he was carrying the light of hope for the world of Lore.

AN: Is this good? Read and Review.