Stars spun around inside Xokorn's head as he took the blow from the Deku mage. He felt a bone break in his arm and in his shin, not to mention the pretty bad bleeding and trauma. Needless to say, Xokorn was ready to kick the bucket. There's no way I can kill them quickly. They'll beat me to a pulp! he thought weakly. The Elemental Burst from the Deku's last attack seemed to weaken the strength of his mind like an unlucky traveller trying to get across a tar pit.

However, as he was hanging on only by the skin of his teeth, he had to redirect enemy attacks somehow. There was only one thing he could think of without retreating from battle: he had to use his natural Shadowmeld ability. Reaching into the dark depths of his disrupted mind, he tried to call forth the power to blend in with the shadows around him. After finally reaching the power, he "crossed his fingers" and hoped that it would work.

OOC: Hi no Seijin, you like seeing Xokorn in pain, don't you?

OOC: Hey, you're the one exaggerating everything. I said he was hit in the stomach, not the arm or leg.

IC:
Xokorn's innate ability to meld into the shadows went off without any trouble. The Sheikah mage is one less target for the remaining mercenaries. Mercs that one would think be enraged by the loss of an ally. But one does not have to be a Sheikah to make things appear what they are not. "Hey, land-walker, more pay for us," the Zora said, smirking.

"Shut up and help me kill them," the Hylian grunted, aiming once again for Marisa, and once again he missed.

In the same blurred motion of her dodge, the Sheikah swordmaster unleashed her attack, slicing through his right arm and forcing him to drop his sword. The gasp of pain the Hylian had expected to hear from the woman escaped from his lips instead. "Bhitoch!" he spat.

Meanwhile, the Zora also missed his target, Hyneria. This time, all it took was a back flip to get out of range. She would have rushed forward had a hand not hold her back. "Here," she heard a familiar, elderly voice whispered; she also felt a scroll being slipped into her belt. "This might help you."

"Thanks," the Sheikah woman whispered back. "If you get the chance, there's another Sheikah around here, Amelia. If he comes out of hiding, heal him."

"Right."

Hyneria then dashed back to the Zora, dealing a devastating attack similar to her sister's attack. Light blue blood flowed from the Zora's stomach and his left arm; he repeated the curse of the Hylian, except in Zoran.

Hyneria: 61 HP
Marisa: 72 HP, 10 SPL
Xokorn: 5 HP, 4 SPL, Hiding with Shadowmeld
Amelia: 36 HP, 23 SPL, Hiding behind trees

Hylian Merc: 37 HP, partially disabled
Zora Merc: 16 HP, partially disabled
Deku Cleric: Killed

Even though it looked as if most of the natural light in the grove had darkened, Xokorn could still clearly see what was going on. It was nice that he could have a few seconds to himself without getting beaten to a pulp. It was like receiving a gift of some kind.

From the side, he saw an elderly woman get Hyneria's attention. When he heard the words heal him, he instantly felt relief, as if someone cast a healing spell on his mind. I'm going to make it out of this. I have to. He was still in no condition to fight at that point in time, however, so he had no choice but to keep hiding in the shadows (OOC: Assuming that Shadowmeld didn't wear off yet.).

OOC: I think the words that Cale'Anon once said, "I think I require the services of a healer," are appropriate in this situation.

The Hylian continued attacking Marisa, drawing a hidden knife with his left arm. Why the merc wanted to kill the woman so badly was a mystery; the Sheikah can't recall him from somewhere before. She thought she would remember seeing such a horrid swordsman before, for the Hylian had indeed missed his target again. Though, in all fairness, that could have been because his right arm was nearly cut off.

Marisa Ikana had one thought in mind at this point. This man is annoying. Her body becomes a blur, and she unleashed a fury of attacks upon the unfortunate mercenary, the reflection off her sword becoming streaks of light. The attack devastated the merc's life force as well as making him stagger backwards from the blow. (OOC: Marisa's first critical attack! Woot!)

The Zora mercenary had three things to notice: Hyneria preparing to attack, Xokorn coming out of Shadowmeld, and Marisa adding to his partner's wounds. However, his attention is still focused upon the first Sheikah. He also took out a hidden knife and attacked the thief, finding his target despite the injuries he had taken.

Hyneria let out a gasp as the knife dug into her shoulder, but she kicked the Zora away from her, and with the knife no longer embedded into her body, she can focus on her own attack. Unfortunately, she still can't seem to penetrate his defenses.

It was a dangerous situation for Amelia. Xokorn was close to the trees, but she would still have to partially reveal herself. Perhaps I can get lucky, she thought, moving towards the man who had reappeared not too long ago. She placed her hands on his shoulder and whispered, "Don't worry. I'm here to help." She then muttered a small prayer, saying, "Sa’Diau, sanoc tho lovul." The mage's bruises and mysterious broken bones healed, but the fatigue of the now deceased Deku's attack still lingered. Whether it will still hold back the Sheikah is up to Xokorn.

Hyneria: 53 HP
Marisa: 72 HP, 10 SPL
Xokorn: 16 HP, 4 SPL, Hiding with Shadowmeld
Amelia: 36 HP, 23 SPL, Hiding behind trees

Hylian Merc: 9 HP, partially disabled
Zora Merc: 16 HP, partially disabled
Deku Cleric: Killed

Xokorn sighed with relief as the hum of his form coming back into the physical plane sounded the air and focused on his location. He could feel many of his injuries heal as Amelia's words were muttered. However, his mind wasn't completely healed from the spell. He would have to regenerate his mentality on his own.

The time in the shadows gave him a view of the battle at hand, and of all the enemies that took the most damage, he could clearly see that it was the Hylian mercenary that was the most weakened that far. Marisa appeared to have him under control, but it wouldn't hurt to get rid of an enemy more quickly. Raising his staff into the air, he charged toward the heavily-damaged Hylian as fast as he could. Even though he was still pretty weak from the Deku's attacks, his running speed still seemed to recuperate. He was within ten feet of the mercenary, his staff still pointing toward the sky. He crouched to charge the spring in his jump and pushed against the ground as hard as he could. The staff spiraled around his body as he spun in an axis toward his enemy.

After about two seconds, Xokorn reached the ground and re-corrected his stance. He turned his head to see the results of his attack...

OOC: To make a long story short, Xokorn swung his staff at the Hylian mercenary.

Xokorn's staff missed his target. Unfortunate, but at least the Hylian was too focused on trying to kill Marisa. Key word: trying. The Sheikah woman didn't fare too well on her attack either; apparently, the merc still had some fight in him.

The Zora is the fourth person in the battle to miss a target. Hyneria is just as unlucky. Amelia, seeing that she had gone unnoticed, decided to help her friend again. She wasn't the best at casting spells, but she was lucky enough that her Elemental Burst was of the Earth Element, a Zora's weakness. And just as the Deku couldn't resist a sudden magical attack, neither could the being of water. It was too much for the mercenary, and he dropped to the ground, unconscious and bleeding to death.

Hyneria: 53 HP
Marisa: 72 HP, 10 SPL
Xokorn: 16 HP, 4 SPL
Amelia: 36 HP, 17 SPL

Hylian Merc: 9 HP, partially disabled
Zora Merc: Killed
Deku Cleric: Killed

Damn, that guy's quick, Xokorn cursed in his weakened mind. What speed and agility for someone so banged up! It's no wonder Xokomar had him for back-up. Thankfully, there was no toll taken from him from his attack, so he was ready for another whack at it (OOC: Pun intended. ).

He dared not to use a similar attack style to his last spiralling attack; he could hardly see where his cane was going, so there was almost no way for him to tell where and how to change the direction of his staff. He decided to go with a simpler attack: just spinning powerfully in a tight circle toward the Hylian mercenary with the cane reaching outward.

Xokorn does not realize that the Hylian isn't good fighting with major injuries. The Sheikah mage just isn't good in melee combat, and the fact that he missed again reinforces that fact. Marisa, on the other hand, is able to drive her sword through the man's heart. "Pity you didn't realize killing a woman isn't how you get them to fall for you," is the last thing he heard.

Meanwhile, Amelia had walked over to Hyneria and healed her wound. "I felt that you were in trouble, and I was right," she said, slightly grinning.

Hyneria laughed. "How did you get here so quickly?"

"Farore's Wind, my dear. I have the crystal attuned to this spot as well as my house." She looked over the battlefield. "What are you going to do with those bodies?" Worry was in her tones now.

"I say let the wolves have them," Marisa said from the stump, where she was wiping off her sword and sheathing it. "The weaker ones will be happy for a free meal."

"I...I don't think we ever met," Amelia said, slightly put off by the lack of emotion in the mercenary's voice.

"This is my sister, Marisa Ikana," Hyneria said. "This other Sheikah is Xokorn. Marisa, Xokorn, this is my friend, Amelia Aestas. As for the bodies, I'll tell Seth what's going on, and he can take care of them if the wolves don't beat him to it."

"And what is going on, Hyneria? You haven't been caught, have you?"

"Not yet." The small Sheikah let out a sigh, and once again told the tale of how her father had raped her. By the end of it, Amelia had pulled her into a hug.

"Oh, you poor thing. Why didn't you say something sooner?"

"I was afraid," she replied shakily. "He said he would kill me if I told anyone. But I'm ready now. I want my son, and I'll do anything."

"Good luck." Amelia pulled away from the hug, but held Hyneria at arm's length. "I wish I could help, but I have to help Lyon with the shop."

"I understand. I couldn't ask you to help anyway."

"What, do you think I'm too old? Who just saved you from a Zora?"

Hyneria let out a laugh. "Well, I'll see you later, Amelia. And would you mind if we dropped by your house before Marisa takes Kantoro to Saria Town?"

"Of course not. I would love to meet your son. Bye for now. Bhi'Farore Wengaoth." And with those final words, she was gone in a flash and a small gust of wind.

"Well, them to go to Ruto Town," Marisa said, walking over to the bag of rupees. She took out two red ones and tossed the rest of it Hyneria. "Here, hold on to that. As for you, buy yourself something to protect your body, especially if you're going to tag along with us." She handed the two rupees over to Xokorn. "We could use all the help we can get, even if it is a little weak." And before the mage could reply, she was off.

Hyneria followed, tucking the bag of rupees into a pocket inside her vest. "Don't mind her," she said, a smile once again on her face. "She's usually like this."

OOC: And I'm done here! Feel free to leave one last post, but save any questions you might have for the next part. Which will be up within a week or so. I don't know. I have family visiting for the first week of July, and I told my friend I'd help him out on the 5th. Not to mention I still have DG to wrap up and get a start of Fighting Fate.

And seriously. Buy a tunic. You need more DEF.

Oh, and if there are still some quests you have yet to complete or TP left to spend, do the quests or spend the TP now.

By the time Marisa skewered the last enemy through the chest in a fountain of blood, Xokorn was using his staff to hold himself up. Everyone still alive in the area had to witness his inproficiency in melee combat, much to his embarassment. However, with a little more practice, he was sure to get more experience in such an art. Until then, he humbly took the two Rupees that she gave him, took Marisa's advice--but partially ignored her sharp tongue, which he laughed at to himself when she was out of earshot--and decided to get some body armor when he had the time.

When everybody but he took off, he surveyed the bloody scene: the fire that Xokorn had fired at the Deku was still scorching the plant-like corpse; the Zora body was lying on the ground, bleeding by a small monolith of rocks risen from Amelia's Elemental Burst; and a giant hole where Neor'cer Gahc had pierced the Hylian's chest was cleanly drilled from one side to the other. "This is what happens when you give in to the dangers and evils of money... Rest in peace," was all he said to the bodies before following the two Sheikah women.

OOC: Thanks for the money, Hi no Seijin. I'll take your advice and go look for a tunic. Keep me updated on how the next installment of this quest is coming, okay?