"You'll always hear people telling you to sieze the day, to risk it all, to take that gamble. Sure, it's easy for them to say, it's not their tail that's on the line. It's all fun and games for a little while, true, but what happens after your gamble does not pay off? There's a time and place for everything, a time to take that gamble, but also a time to just play the hand you've been dealt, and not go out on a foolish risk."

   "Good morning! Did you sleep well?"

   Mani yawned as he stepped outside of his room, taking a moment to stretch before regarding the girl that had just addressed him. It was one of the innkeeper's daughters, a girl a few years younger than himself. The young red-haired girl sat down at the large oaken table at the center of the dining room, smiling broadly at him. Her bright blue eyes were cheery, even that early in the morning. Mani yawned again, but managed to return the smile.

   "Yeah. Thanks."

   The girl giggled as she continued to watch Mani slowly stagger about the room. He was still a bit groggy from his late-night run from Malstron Castle on the previous evening.

   "I've never seen you around here before," the girl observed, still smiling. "Where 'ya from?"

   "Angela, stop being nosy," came a voice from upstairs. Mani looked up and saw a large bald-headed man making his way down the stairs, the innkeeper, he recalled.

   "Aw daddy, I'm just being friendly," Angela pouted. The innkeeper smiled at Mani. "You'll have to forgive her, she's like this to all our guests."

   "I don't mind," Mani answered, still rubbing sleep from his eyes. The large innkeeper pulled up a stool and sat down at the table besides Angela, who immediately jumped into his arms with a giggle. The man smiled warmly at his daughter. He looked back up at his guest, who was also smiling at the two.

   "You're up mighty early," the man observed, raising a brow. "You've only been here for a couple of hours, and here you are already up and running."

   "I have some things I need to do today," he responded. "I figured my best bet would be to get an early start."

   The innkeeper grinned broadly. "Ah yes, a busy man- my other two daughters would do well to meet someone like you," he remarked with a wink. "I'd offer you breakfast, but those other daughters of mine are still sleeping, and well, I'm not much of a cook myself..."

   "That's OK, I'm not hungry."

   "A wise man, I wouldn't trust my cooking either," the innkeeper joked. "But my other two daughters, now they can cook..." As an afterthought, he added, "... of course when they're not sleeping, fighting or running around..."

   "I like your clothes!," Angela suddenly blurted out, pointing at Mani's uniform. Mani couldn't help but smile at the young girl's directness.

   The innkeeper paused for a moment to examine the outfit he was wearing, the solid black attire along with the katana he recalled seeing when his guest had arrived the previous evening. "Shadow Ninjitsu?," he eventually asked, to which Mani nodded. The innkeeper smiled again as he looked down to his daughter sitting in his lap. "Angela, go see if your lazy sisters are up yet," he requested.

   "OK daddy!," the little crimson bolt answered before taking off up the stairs. When she was gone, the innkeeper looked back at Mani.

   "So," he began with a smile. "What brings an actual Traveler to my humble establishment?"

   Mani paused for a second, mainly because his jaw had just dropped. No response was needed.

   "I'll take it that my assumption is correct." Mani was put slightly on edge, as the innkeeper could easily notice. "Don't worry, I'm overjoyed that the legends are true. However, I really wouldn't suggest running around the island telling everyone who you are. Heck, if Queen Vesta saw you near the palace, she's have you killed without a second thought."

   "That's reassuring," Mani mumbled. "How did you know...?"

   The massive innkeeper shifted slightly in his seat. Once he was comfortable, he continued. "Call it a gut feeling," he answered. "That, and the fact that you're running around in full Shadow Ninja garb kinda makes you stand out..."

   Mani grinned. "I was kind of in a rush."

   The innkeeper smiled again. "So, if you don't mind me asking, what type of business brings you to our humble island?"

   "Vakaal."

   The innkeeper slowly raised his brows. "I see..."

   "She has one of us."

   "And why do you travel alone?"

   "The others believe that our friend is beyond help, but I think we may still be able to save her."

   "In order for your friend to become a Dalsrayon, she has to agree to it..."

   Mani shook his head. "I have to at least try."

   The innkeeper sighed deeply. "Local legend has it that Vakaal likes to take her time with her new 'daughters'," he slowly remarked. "From what we gather, Vakaal really doesn't think that anyone would be stupid enough to come and try to interrupt her, no offense..."

   Mani snickered. "So about how long do I have?"

   "The entire ritual, if you could call it that, takes three days," he answered. "The first is to bring them to the island, the second is spent finding her first victim and celebrating, and the third is when the actual act takes place."

   Mani made a face. Laura had been taken last night. It was already the second day.

   "I would STRONGLY advise that you take some time to find out more about Vakaal's island before you go there," the innkeeper remarked. "There are records available on her stronghold, I would recommend that you start with those."

   "Thank you sir," Mani answered respectfully. After having a late breakfast, Mani went out in order to spend some time researching his adversary, Lady Idolsa Vakaal. The innkeeper was right- he would need to know everything about her island before he's be able to not only get Laura, but to escape once he did.

   "Hi!," Angela greeted cheerfully as soon as Mani walked back into the inn later that evening. Mani smiled and waved, casually wondering how someone could be so cheerful all the time. He continued towards his room, but was suddenly blocked by another girl, this one closer to his age. She had long, free-flowing black hair, but with the same bright blue eyes like her sister. She wore a simple blue dress, cut low in the front and showing much cleavage. Mani imagined that the x-shaped string keeping the top from showing the world all of her secrets could snap at any given moment.

   "You had a visitor earlier," she greeted, leaning against the wall. "Some girl with a tan cloak on, I couldn't see her that well. She left something in your room."

   Mani thanked her as he headed towards his room, slowly opening the door, katana in hand.

   "You're a paranoid one," came the daughter's voice from behind. Mani jumped, not expecting her to have followed him into the room.

   "I find that I live longer that way," he responded, stepping into his room fully. He slowly began to look about the room, pausing to look under the bed, in the closet, and other places some sort of trap could possibly be hidden.

   "She didn't have time to set anything up, I was with her the whole time," the daughter casually remarked as she plopped down on the bed.

   "I wasn't expecting any company," Mani answered, turning around. He slowly raised his brow as he noticed the position the girl was sitting on the bed. Both of her hands were planted on the surface, which caused her to lean forward, emphasizing her abundant cleavage even more. A small lock of her hair was draped over her face, and beneath it Mani could see a very suggestive smile.

   "Is there anything else you need me for?," she purred. Mani raised his brow even further.

   "Yeah... what did the visitor leave here?"

   The girl made a face as she reached over to a small table beside the bed, handing over an envelope. Mani slowly began to tear it open. After determining that it wasn't a trap, he fully removed the note within.

   'Please meet me on the stretch of beach behind the inn as soon as you can. This is in regards to the journey you are about to take.'

   Mani immediately checked to see if his katana was at his side before pocketing the note and heading towards the door.

   "Leaving so suddenly?," the girl wondered. Mani turned back around and cast her a quick glance.

   "Stick around," he suggested. "I'll tell you all about my girlfriend when I get back." With that, he left the room, unable to contain a smile after seeing the look on the innkeeper's daughter's face after he said that.

   The stretch of beach behind the inn was silent, save the sounds of the waves against the shore. Mani slowly began to look about the area, keeping his hand on his katana, just in case. The beach seemed to be without any other presence, save his own. He could see lights from several of the houses in the area, including the fancier ones on the hills. Straining, he could hear music coming from one such house, most likely from one of the parties the vanity of the island enjoyed so much.

   Mani's head quickly darted to the left as he saw a figure approach from the corner of his eye. The figure paused about five feet away from him. Just as the innkeeper's daughter had described, it was a figure in a tan cloak, the petite frame unmistakably female. Her face was covered, leaving only her soft brown eyes visible. In her hands she held a trident, which fortunately was not pointed at him.

   "I hear that you were looking for me," Mani calmly greeted. Through the figure's cloak, he detected a nod. "And who might you be?," he wondered.

   The figure stabbed the sand with her trident and left it there as she pulled the cloak away from her face. Upon seeing who it was, Mani's brows dropped slightly as he turned and faced the ocean, crossing his arms across his chest.

   "Naomi, why did you follow me?"

   Naomi took a moment to take her dark hair from the bun it was in before answering. "I seem to recall you saying something like 'I don't want to do this alone, but I will if I have to' before you left Malstron," she remarked. Naomi then pulled her trident out from the sand. "I'm here to help," she added with a smile.

   Deep down inside, Mani was happy that at least one of his Traveler friends supported his decision, but figured it would be best if he didn't admit it. He glanced back towards his shape-shifting friend. "So tell me, how exactly did you get here?"

   As if on cue, a large shadow quickly passed by overhead. "Normally I would have flown here myself," she responded, smiling. Naomi then pointed up to the sky. "But I was feeling a little lazy, so I caught a ride with him."

   Mani quickly backed away as he saw the massive ten-foot tall Dargosian figure of Darg X floating down to the ground. The enormous white dragonian cast Mani a sly glance before a wicked smile crossed his reptilian lips. "Hello, Mr. Ninja," he greeted.

   "Heya Darg," Mani responded, patting his friend on the back. He then turned back towards Naomi. "So I take it you're NOT here to drag me back?"

   Naomi nodded. "The only other person that knows I'm here is Father Sardax." She then pointed to Darg X, standing tall beside her. "He told X here to come with me, just in case we needed his help. Are you still staying at that inn?" Mani nodded. "OK, let's go there."

   "I'll be in the area," Darg X remarked. "Something tells me that I might give the innkeeper a heart attack when I have to destroy a wall or two just to get inside."

   Mani smiled. "You do that."

   An instant later, Darg X had taken to the sky, causing a nice little cloud of sand to be thrown up in the process. Naomi had used her cloak to shield her face while Mani turned around, using his hands.

   "Well," Naomi remarked once the sand stopped flying. "Shall we depart?"

   Upon entering the room, Naomi immediately plopped down on the bed while Mani leaned up against a nearby wall. "So what's been going on since I left?," he wondered.

   Naomi snickered. "Well," she began, "King Baptiste is still in a state of shock because you got past his guards, Sardax supports your decision, and of course Malik still thinks you're an idiot..."

   "Of course." Mani paused for a moment. "How's Lily?"

   Naomi shrugged. "I haven't talked to her," she admitted. "I think it was Neil that told her you had taken off after Laura and Vakaal."

   Mani made a face. Neil was his best friend and all, but tact wasn't exactly one of his strong points.

   "I didn't want to leave without telling her goodbye..."

   Naomi looked up at him. Mani wasn't the most emotional person in Second Realm, but she could still see the hurting etched on his face. He truly did care for Lily.

   "Be honest with me," Naomi silently requested, causing her friend to look up. "Why are you risking your life going after Laura like this?"

   "What do you mean?," Mani wondered, sitting up a little more.

   Naomi raised a brow. "C'mon now Mani, I've heard the stories from Neil..."

   Mani made a face again. He would have to have a nice long talk with his friend the next time he saw him.

   "She's my friend," he plainly stated. "I can't turn my back on her."

   Naomi sighed deeply. "Mani, no friend would treat you like she does," she put forth. "True, she's nice to you once in a while, but the way she just up and craps on you just isn't right." She shook her head. "Some people you just have to let go..."

   Mani sat in silence, his gaze slowly finding the window. He breathed deeply as his vision became locked on the large landmass in the distance, the island of Vakaal. Mani wished he knew what to say, but he couldn't find the words. Deep down inside, he knew that there really wasn't anything he could say.

   "OK, so what do we do now?," Naomi wondered as she watched Mani prepare his weapons and equipment.

   "WE aren't doing anything yet," he clarified, pausing for a moment to examine the blade on his katana. "Let me check out things on the island first. I want you to stay here until I get back."

   Naomi shook her head as she plopped back down on the bed. "How cliche," she teased. She smiled. "Don't get killed or anything, OK?"

   Mani reached into his closet and pulled out a second katana and sheath. After taking a moment to strap it to his back, he turned back towards Naomi. "If I'm not back in two hours..."

   Naomi put up her hand. "You'll be back," she interrupted. "Just be careful, OK?"

   Mani bowed to her respectfully before stepping outside. "But of course," she heard him say as he disappeared down the hallway.

   Lady Vakaal leaned back in her seat as she regarded her two guests standing before her. She recognized the first as Naidisbo, the Kramen arms dealer. She felt a smile curve across her lips as she gazed at her guest, taking time to admire his muscled seven-and-a-half-foot frame, his long black hair, the cunning look in his eyes. She slowly took a sip of wine from her chalice, casting him another long glance before finally turning towards the second.

   "So what brings the two of you to my home?," Lady Vakaal casually wondered. She smiled slyly at the two. "This wouldn't happen to be a social call, now would it?"

   "Business before pleasure, Lady," came the hissing reply from the second guest. Vakaal recognized him as being Tegu the Hunter, one of the mercenaries Paradox had hired recently. Tegu grinned at his joke, showing off rows of sharp, reptilian teeth in the process. "Lord Paradox wishes to know about the situation with the Traveler," he added.

   Idolsa took another sip of wine from the glass. "Inform Lord Paradox that all is well," she answered. "Tell him that Laura is being most cooperative."

   "I'm sure Paradox will be pleased to hear that," Tegu remarked, nodding his head slowly. He paused for a moment before turning his attention back towards his host. "I, myself, have a question of my own, if you don't mind me asking..."

   Vakaal held out her hand, indicating that he should continue. "By all means. I doubt seriously that you'll offend me."

   A wicked grin slowly worked its way across Tegu's lips. "We've heard stories...," he began. "...about how your daughters have, how can I put this, killed a man in the heat of passion...?"

   Vakaal raised a brow, slowly regarding her guest. She sat quietly for what seemed like an eternity, leaving the room in an awkward silence. Slowly, she set her chalice down and smiled. "You're terribly blunt," she observed, laughing silently to herself.

   "Painfully so," Naidisbo added, casting his associate an irritated glance.

   Vakaal smiled, taking a moment to cast her glance at the doorway of the chamber. As always, there were two of her daughters standing guard. "They are merely satisfied," she clarified. "Unfortunately, many of our lovers are, how can I say, injured, during our fits of passion..." Upon hearing their mother, the two guards giggled to themselves before returning to their duties. Vakaal smiled as she turned back towards her guests. "A broken back, a slit throat, crushed heads, broken chains... we've seen men die happily in many ways."

   A smile worked its way onto Tegu's lips once again. "Intriguing..."

   Lady Vakaal reached for her glass, taking a long sip of the sweet wine within before speaking again. "It takes a special kind of man to tame the savage passion within a Dalsrayon," she remarked. "Many a cocky man has been sent to Necron after making love with one of us..." She cast a quick glance in Naidisbo's direction, who immediately looked away after feeling her gaze burning into him. A shy one, she observed. He could be... interesting.

   "Normally I wouldn't let a challenge like that go unheeded, but Lord Paradox IS expecting us," Tegu said as he stood to his feet. "Another time, perhaps?"

   Vakaal grinned wickedly as she set her glass back down. "I'm sure one of my daughters would be more than willing to tame you." Her gaze slowly found Naidisbo, also standing. "And will you be returning with him?," she wondered.

   Naidisbo shrugged. "Perhaps. What you've said is intriguing, yes, but to be perfectly honest, you women frighten me. No offense."

   Naidisbo shuddered slightly as he could feel Vakaal's eyes burning into him again, slowly looking him up and down. The Dalsrayon lord leaned back a little further in her seat, taking a moment to sigh deeply. "Frightened?," she wondered outloud. "I find it hard to believe that a big, strong Kramen like yourself would be frightened of any woman..." Naidisbo felt his pulse jump as Vakaal slowly ran her tongue across her crimson lips and over the tips of her fanged teeth.

   "Um... we should be... going...," he managed to stammer, nudging his associate lightly. Tegu snickered as he bowed respectfully his host.

   "By your leave," he remarked, heading towards the chamber's entrance. Naidisbo was about to follow until Lady Vakaal held out one of her hands and smiled. Naidisbo stared blankly at it for a moment or two.

   "Don't tell me you don't know what to do when a lady offers you her hand?," she teased. Naidisbo quickly dropped down to one of his knees and took her crimson-nailed hand in his own, planting a hasty kiss on it. Vakaal leaned towards him, stopping a mere few inches from Naidisbo's face.

   "It looks like I'll have to teach you a few things about how to treat a lady," she whispered. A very suggestive smile crept across her face as she leaned in even closer. "I won't bite..." She slowly ran her tongue across her teeth again. "...unless you want me to..."

   Naidisbo was back on his feet almost immediately, quickly heading over towards the exit, where Tegu was flirting with the two guards. Lady Vakaal couldn't help but laugh as the two disappeared down the hall away from the chamber, trying in vain to argue silently with one another.

   "What are you doing? I was trying to get some!"

   "Tegu, these women scare the hell out of me!"

   "Dammit, what are you, gay?!"

   "I'm not, and I'll thank you to never assume that I am again..."

   Metal against stone. The constant sound was irritatingly hypnotic.

   Mani continued his climb up the sheer face of the cliff, his climbing claws striking the stone at a slow and constant pace. He paused for a moment to risk a glance below.

   He immediately wished that he hadn't.

   "Out of all the places in Second Realm," he grumbled. "SHE has to build her fortress out of a freaking mountain!"

   "You summoned me, mother?"

   Lady Vakaal slowly turned from the massive window she had been looking through, regarding the daughter that had just addressed her. She was a fair skinned girl in her late teens with straight jet-black hair running down her back. The girl's dark green eyes seemed to shine like emeralds, being made more prominent by the red and black suit of light armor she wore. Her nails were manicured and crimson red like her mother's, but it was quite apparent that she wasn't one of the types that would throw a fit if she happened to break one. In one of her hands she held a thin black spear, fully capable and willing to use it should the need arise. Her other hand was at her side, resting upon one of her well-rounded hips.

   "Indeed I do, Kierianne." Vakaal slowly turned back towards the window, gazing out and taking in the ocean view. "Gather four of the guards." She cast a glance over her shoulder. "I believe we have company."

   As soon as Mani was about two feet from the top of the cliff, he was greeted by five spears pointed at his face, each held by a very angry looking armor-clad woman. Mani slowly looked back down from where he had climbed, immediately dismissing that option.

   "Crap."

   "I really don't think you can fly, so I wouldn't try it," the girl at front said, keeping her spear aimed and ready. Mani mumbled several obscenities to himself as he carefully pulled himself over the edge, keeping a watchful eye over the armed group.

   "Maybe one of you ladies could give me a hand," he began, standing to his feet. "I'm looking for a girl, she's about, oh say, five-four, dark brown hair, green eyes, usually in a real pissy mood... have you seen her?" Mani suddenly fell silent as the girl at front pointed the spear at his chest.

   "You talk too much," she remarked.

   "Wow, that's a first," Mani answered, putting up his hands and smiling. "Most people tell me I'm too quiet." His hopes for escape rose a few points when he noticed the girl pull the spear away and actually smile. "See, I think you're much prettier when you're not looking like you're going to run me through," he added, extending his smile even further. "I'm Mani," he greeted. "And who might you..."

   "Kierianne, charmer," she cut in. "We've been given orders to bring you to my mother alive, providing that you don't resist." Her eyes narrowed. "So that means you can stop kissing my ass."

   "Tis' such a nice one though, I couldn't help myself," Mani answered with another grin. Kierianne quickly flashed him a look that told him that perhaps he had taken his act a little too far. He was almost certain of this fact when two of the guards quickly grabbed his arms, holding him in place as Kierianne approached.

   "Look," she hissed, pointing one of her crimson-nailed fingers at him. "I'm really not in a good mood right now, so I'd appreciate it if you cut the crap." Mani glanced down at the hand, then back up to her face.

   "I'm sorry, I had no idea..."

   SHRACK!

   He suddenly winced as Kierianne's nail quickly slashed across his chest, cutting through his uniform and drawing a thin line of blood.

   "Another thing," she remarked, taking a moment to lick the blood from her finger. "Don't speak unless I ask you to." She turned back to Mani. "Now, I'm really not a mean person, you've just caught me at a bad time. And as much as I would love to stay and talk, my mother wishes to have a few words with you. We're not going to kill you now, but that may change depending on your actions. Understood?" She thought for a second. "You may speak now," she finally added. Mani glanced down at the cut across his chest. He slowly looked back up towards Kierianne.

   "If this gets infected, I'm going to be royally pissed off," he remarked. "And yes, I understand."

   Kierianne nodded at his answer. "Take his weapons and bring him to my mother," she said, motioning away. "And we'll tend to that wound in a little while."