"That is preliminary information. I need some more details, which I can get when we reach our destination. However, everything I know now can be proven."

This is how Eric begins to tell about everything, which led him to go out on an insane quest across the world to stop that horrible, unholy evil that threatened him.

Lariel can't even say a word when the blond man lays out a few more scrolls near her, letting the girl examine them all she wants.

"The Pavilion is one of the largest Organizations in the world. They act at the behest of the Order of Light, but are mainly focused on magical enemies and dark beings. Usually a person who joins the Pavilion never leaves. These thirty-six soldiers are exceptions."

He opens his canteen of water and takes a sip before continuing.

"I don't know exactly what they are about, but I do know that they hold a secret so deep and important that they were sentenced to reclusive lives when discharged. The Pavilion thought it would be safer for them to remain alone, dying with the information they had, rather than leaving them susceptible to the wrath of their colleagues."

"You really have no idea what it is?"

"No. But I know it has something to do with the Age of Ynora."

Lariel raises one of his eyebrows as he asks:

"Is it a name I should know?"

"Well, yes, if you knew history."

She feels insulted, but can't quite bring herself to respond. The mage continues:

"Haven't you ever heard of the Dark Age? The Hundred Years of Pain?"

The girl shrugs:

"My father never made any effort to teach me history. The only academic skill I actually have is being able to read."

"He trained you to be a warrior, didn't he?"

With tears in her eyes, she nods.

"But I'm not half of what he wanted me to be."

The two plunge into an uncomfortable silence once again, both lost in their own thoughts... And losses.

"Well..." He speaks again. "Ynora Deanna was a High Empress who dominated almost every kingdom in the world. She created demon colonies and also territories in several countries, establishing her dominance once and for all and ruling all her subjects with an iron fist."

"Demonic colonies?"

"Yes. Before she became High Empress, she already ruled the Infernal Realm. She was a demon. No, not just a demon. She was... The most powerful of them all. Even more than her ancestors."

Lariel listens intrigued to her newest colleague's account.

"Her reign was built on betrayal, blood, horrible battles, and trails of destruction so great that the consequences are if felt to this day. Tell me, Lariel, have you ever seen another elf? One of pure blood, unmixed?"

The half-elf replies:

"Obviously not. They are extinct. If any exist, they must be almost as old as my father."

"Exactly. Who do you think drove them to extinction?"

Her eyes widen completely as she comes to the conclusion.

"Her? That Ynora person?"

"That's right. The Elven Extermination Campaign was one of the most important pillars of their glory. Some believe that it was the swift elimination of the elven menace that allowed the High Empress such a long and unrelenting reign."

He scratches the bridge of his nose.

"What made Ynora so powerful was not merely her uncommon strength, terrible skill, and formidable strategies. Although she was a demon, the entire time she was on the throne she wore a human body. Many have tried to do away with her, but they never even got close."

"But her reign no longer exists, so sometime they managed to defeat her."

"Indeed. But I'll get to that part in a moment. The issue of the hidden, confidential information that the Templars are hiding is the real source of Ynora's unimaginable power. Apparently it is something totally out of the ordinary, that does not follow the Laws of this world or even this Universe. The Pavilion documented this information and hid it, specifically with this group that was dismissed."

Lariel thinks of her father, a grumpy old man who always tried to mold her into a warrior, demanded more than she could give. But deep down she knew he was just worried. When younger, after all, he had seen the storm raging through the world and had needed to be firm to take all the oppression.

The young woman asks hesitantly:

"But... If this information is so useful and powerful, wouldn't it be more correct if the entire population had access to it? That way we could prevent a tragedy like this from happening again."

"No, actually we are dealing with one of several problems that could happen if this information were public."

"How so?"

"Those men who broke into your house didn't want to kill your father, they wanted to question him. Including, his death must have been an accident."

The girl closes her fist tightly, feeling grief and hatred mingle.

Eric continues with his explanation:

"I believe... In fact, I am sure they are trying to revive the Old Empress."

"What?!"

"Exactly. They even have a name. They call themselves The Cult of the Spear."

"But... I don't understand. Wasn't this Demon Queen a horrible woman? Who bled several kingdoms and caused terror wherever she went?"

"Yes, but she is seen as bloodthirsty and terrible mainly by dwarves, angels and people with elven blood in their veins. To some, especially the demons, she is Glory incarnate and should be praised forever and ever."

"But she died!"

"Demons don't die... Not like us."

"..."

"That secret that is kept with the thirty-six Templars.... I think that may be the key to what this Cult so desperately wants."

Lariel remains mute, but her mind begins to work, trying to connect the pieces.

"Do you think the scrolls... The secret information are somewhere in my house?"

With regret, Eric says:

"When I threw that wave of fire, I destroyed any and all evidence that could be used by them. Sorry. That's all I could do at the time."

The girl looks to the side and puts both hands on her head.

The mage opens a map of the country and points to an X marked in red. 

"That is our next stop. The port city of Zana."

"Is one of the Templars there?"

"Perhaps. But this trip has a dual purpose. I told you that I studied the family tree of each of the soldiers, correct?"

"So what?"

"I think you'll be glad to know you have an uncle."