Lucan followed Xaria back up the tunnel he came from with a fresh horde of Undead. They climbed out of the other end and continued through the forest. Lucan recognized these trees. They were approaching Nikka's tree fort. Xaria stopped beneath the canopy and called Lucan forward.
"Time to put an end to this nuisance." Xaria mumbled. "Burn it." He pointed at the tree with Nikka's fort and looked towards Lucan.
Slowly, Lucan stepped forth. He really hoped Nikka was nearby because he was powerless to stop this. If he disobeys, he will get killed by the hordes of Undead following them. He could only stall the time.
Lucan took out his flint and steel, and struck them. He missed the tree on purpose and crumbled them to shards. "Oh… would you look at that." He said in a deep, fake-Necromancer voice, "My flint and steel appears to be broken." He tossed the tools over his shoulder into the grass.
Xaria threw him another pair. "Here, take mine."
Lucan mumbled something under his breath. He had to do this, or it's his neck. Just as he was hesitating between them, Xaria walked up beside him. "What is your problem rookie?" He grabbed Lucan by the shoulder, whirled him around, and ripped off his mask. "Or should I say, traitor!" He shouted.
Lucan felt the cool evening breeze on his face as it was revealed. "I knew it!" Xaria declared triumphantly. "I knew there was something wrong about you the moment I found you. I should have let the Undead kill you right then." He hesitated, and sensing danger, Lucan took out his sword. "But… perhaps this death will be more ceremonious." Xaria continued. "You will watch helplessly as everything you fought for is destroyed and burned." He picked up the flint and steel from the bushes where it fell, walked to the tree, and lighted it.
"And after we finish," Xaria turned to face Lucan, who stood rooted to the spot, waiting for his next move. "we will find the Felina, and we will kill her." He drew his sword as well and came closer.
Lucan attacked, but driven by anger, his moves were wild and uncontrolled. He cut right, but was blocked easily. He turned and stabbed left, but missed by a meter. Xaria kicked him in the back, and Lucan fell at the tree's feet. The flames rose up and engulfed the canopy. Lucan could see the tree fort encroached by the flames.
"Perhaps we'll feed her to the spiders. they have quite the appetite." Xaria went on as he drew closer to Lucan. His sword reflected the red light of the fire as he ran a finger over its edge.
An arrow pierced the air, killing a Necromancer that stood nearby. Nikka dropped out of the trees, landing between two Zombies. She had put away her bow and switched to her katanas. She stabbed one blade each into the Undead, and both fell to the ground. Xaria looked away to lock Nikka in combat. While he was distracted, Lucan kicked him in the legs and rolled to the side. He stood up as Nikka cleared away all the surrounding Undead with clean strokes and finally came up to attack the two. Xaria smiled under his mask and ran away. He had already done what he came to achieve. The tree fort is now roaring in flames.
Nikka saw one last Necromancer standing nearby. She charged towards Lucan and raised her katanas to strike.
"Wait Nikka it's me!" Lucan shouted over the roaring flames.
"Lucan?" Nikka stopped and put away her weapons. They both turned to the burning tree fort. Nikka rushed to climb up the ladder. "All of my information is up there!" She cried, there must be some she could save.
Lucan dragged her down. Her shins felt silky and smooth. "Hey!" Nikka protested angrily, waving her arms. "There's no time!" Lucan yelled. Her scent was intoxicating, but Lucan kept a level head. "We have to get across the river!" He dragged Nikka to the river bank.
The two came to the shore. Nikka had given up flailing, but she looked at the water hesitantly. "Lucan wait, I can't…" She screeched.
"You're not afraid of heights but you're scared of jumping in the water?" Lucan let her stand up, and looked at Nikka as if she was a 3-year-old baby.
"I can't swim! Felinas hate water, Lucan, we hate-Ah!" Nikka's high-pitched voice rang across the still water as Lucan pushed her in and jumped in himself.
The two emerged above the water's surface. Nikka was holding on to Lucan's back for dear life. "Ow," Lucan complained. "Watch the claws!" He swam ashore on the opposite bank and threw Nikka on the ground. He collapsed on the grass beside her.
Nikka stood up and kicked him in the ribs. "Don't you ever throw me in the water again!" She hollered.
"Yeah, yeah." Lucan said. This is the thanks he got for saving her life. Together, they looked across to the now collapsing tree.
"Sorry about your tree fort." Lucan said.
"I'm not worried about the tree fort," Nikka tried to hold back a cry. "I never liked that one anyway."
After she quieted down a bit, Nikka said, "We lost all that information though. All my records, my maps, my notes…" Her ears drooped over her hair. "everything I've learned about the Necromancers."
Lucan smiled. "We didn't lose all of it." Nikka looked up, wondering where he was driving at. "That information is still with you, and with me." Lucan continued, "I found the Necrobase Nikka."
Nikka stood up so suddenly that she almost pushed Lucan back into the river. "You were there?" She demanded urgently, "Where is it?"
"Directly under Mount Tempus." Lucan replied.
"Of course!" Her hypothesis has been proven. "No miner would ever go near there because of all the lava! It's the perfect place for a hiding spot." Nikka paced up and down, pouring out her thoughts.
Lucan wasn't so sure about that "perfect hiding spot" thing though. Mt. Tempus is still an active volcano. What if it erupted? If he were the Necrolord, he wouldn't put his base anywhere near it. He stood up. "I need to report this to Felden." He turned to the other. "I guess this is um… where we part ways…" He finished, scratching the back of his head.
"I," Nikka hesitated as she sought for a reason, "I should accompany you to Felora. They might want some of my information as well. Not to mention," she pointed at Lucan's empty belt sheath where there should have been a sword, "you might need my help again."