[color=a187be] “I am truly amazed that the two of you survived that confrontation. The amount of team work and coordination you displayed was simply appalling.”[/color] Lazarus finally spoke up as he pulled out of his idle posture against the wall, distinctly unhappy.

[color=8493ca] “Oh, don’t be so hard on them. I’m sure they fought fiercely.”[/color] Joshua interjected.

It no doubt caught Willo's attention too as Lazarus seemed to be warming up to her a while back. It seemed it was back to old Lazarus again.

[hr]

Before Imgor and Alex began up the stairs they couldn’t help but notice the charred corpse at the bottom of the stairs. They both assumed it was likely Joshua’s work since they weren’t really aware of anyone else being in the castle at the moment . . . other than that Lazarus Joshua had them running around to find him when went off chasing after Sapphire’s abductor. 

Regardless, the two continued up the stairs until they reached a giant gate, oddly wide open. Some had been here before, there was no doubt and moreover obvious once they were inside. A faint trail of blood that led all the way to one of the doors at the end of the hallway. The trail was barely visible as it was masked by the evident signs of battle. Not a small scuffle either. The floor was shattered at countless points and Imgor also easily spotted the three busted runes on both sides of the hallway and the one on the sealing. 

Alexander on the other hand, didn’t pay much attention. He was still entrenched in his battle of wits, trying to hold on to Larions consciousness while also trying to repel that third presence.

At Imgor’s suggestion the two cautiously continued down the hallway and down the stairs that went on where the blood trail ended. After an eerie descent the two found themselves in another gigantic hallway, thankfully surrounded by friends, if Joshuas leisurely attitude was any indication of that.

Willo and Jonathan had a small amount of time to rest while Joshua and Lazarus caught up on recent events. The two trainees did overhear part of their discussion, mainly what sounded like one of Joshua’s other students, and him not being well.

Lazarus turned to face the new arrivals and widened his eyes. His expression rarely gave his emotions away, if he even had any, but this time it was clear he was disconcerted with . . . [i]something[/i], about the two who had just arrived. And once Larion barely managed his last few steps down the stairs he narrowed his eyes in realization. 

Lazarus and Joshua looked at each other and nodded in agreement.

[color=a187be]“We need to keep moving and find an area where we can establish an encampment. We are once more pressed on time.”[/color] Lazarus explained.

[color=8493ca] “Imgor, Jonathan, would you mind giving Alexander a hand? I don’t think he should be up an about at this point.”[/color] Joshua quickly followed after Lazarus and then went further down the hallway to possibly investigate it further.