The battle seemed hopeless. Mazell was possessed by what felt like superhuman stamina, and he just fought on and on, almost growing in power as the minutes ticked by... or was it hours? Time trickled by so quickly in the intensity of the battle.

We were nearly worn down. Veronica was panting laboriously, and my dad and Aunt both looked flustered. Even Shayla, the battle-hardened knight, looked like she was breaking a sweat. The battlefield was scorched by magic, and the air smelled of burnt metal and sweat. Incredibly, he had summoned some sort of tiny storm, battering down upon us constantly. It reminded me vaguely of the one Arzak had unleashed upon us only days before.

It was at an awkward moment in the battle that the tides turned. Mazell lost his cool and rushed at me. I barely dodged the hit, but Shayla came down on him from above with a shriek as Lily tossed a hyper-powered Fire spell at him. Visibly stunned, Mazell was getting to his feet as a shadow appeared from above.

A soft cry was heard from the background, and a sparkle of light shot from the corner of the room up into the rafters. A male form could be made out, glowing with a soft light. Sly silently leapt down from his previously-unseen spot in the ceiling, and gave three quick shots of his gun. Mazell roared in chaotic anger, but then stood up in sudden composure.

"Sly!?" Shayla was surprised. "What are you doing here??"

"Repaying a favour."

Elia stepped up from the corner. "Did that Might spell do the trick?" Her words were lost by the icy tone of the wounded Mazell.

"SILENCE! Such betrayal, my son." Mazell spoke softly, cutting through the air with a slightly amused tone. He looked from one of our faces to another, to another, until he had given us all an icy glare, faintly smiling all the while. "You fight as though you can win. The forces of nature are undying, though, you see, and it will take more than mere swordplay and magic tricks to stop what I have planned."

"He lies!" Sly stepped forward and gave another blast of his weapon. Mazell lifted his hand and the bullet dropped to the ground. "Even as we speak, you waste your time. Dear lady..." he looked over at Shayla, "... your castle is about to be demolished by the now-awakened Elemental Guardian, Diamante. People that you know and love- they're about to die. What will you do? Continue to fight pointlessly here with me?"

Shayla grimaced. "You evil son of a bitch! What are you doing to the Guardians?"

"I suggest that you spend your time on more useful endeavours. I have had enough of this for now. I suggest that you not overstay your welcome, guests."

Before anything else could be said, he had vanished.

So much needed to be said, yet there was no time for small talk. Why had that thief come to our rescue after so much time? How much time did the people of Moonward have?

Sly spoke. "We really must hurry. My father is Mazell... that's no secret. But we must escape this place and stop Diamante from destroying everything that's dear to you, Shayla!"

Her response was interrupted by a small commotion. A group of guards could be heard, drawing near.

"We don't have much time." Sly pulled out a small rock. "This is a Teleportation Stone- a real one. It'll get us back to the safety of Mendley village at the very least. From there, there are shortcuts to Moonward... it isn't far."

"But Elia!" Veronica piped up. "How did you?"

"I shall tell you the story once we're back in town. Oh, it's so good to see you all!"

Our group united, we placed our trust in our unlikely hero, Sly, as his Teleportation Stone carried us to safety...