...

Near Bloodmarble, the group of five women and one spiderling boy were still deep in the caverns, making their way toward what seemed to be sunlight.

"What if we encounter another spideress?" Jeanine whispered.

"Then I will end her." Valaria assured her.

The women made it not to the daylight but to a long tunnel with walls made of glowing white crystals.

"What is this?" Janice asked.

"Luminite." Valaria said, "A rare substance."

"How do you know?" Janice inquired.

"I read." Valaria replied.

The women followed the luminite trail all the way to a large chamber that held a sight making all five of them gasp in wonder.

"Are these...angels?" Mariot asked.

"They're beautiful." Constave added.

<Want to play!> Jimmie said.

"Jimmie, no!" Mariot shouted as Jimmie scurried out of her arms.

The child had arbitrarily decided that he wanted to play with the three white-robed figures who were seemingly encased in crystal. They all wore flowing, bright robes and had long, elegant white hair to match. Their eyes were shut as if in slumber and faces obscured by the crystal but to the human women they held an almost divine aura.

The spiderling started playing with a small blue rune embedded in the center of the cave floor. It was a perfectly round, smooth stone that gave off the same glow as the luminite. The spiderling then decided to lick it, and the moment he did so, it rose out of the floor and shattered. The spiderling gasped and shielded himself with all six little arms. Mariot rushed over, picked up the child, and worriedly brushed him off.

"Are you well, my son?" she asked, "Don't run off again."

Mariot's attention soon drifted to the crystal encasing the three robed beings. The crystal itself was slowly cracking and falling apart. All five women backed away and shielded themselves as the crystal split into pieces and the three robed beings opened their eyes. The one in the center was slightly taller than the others and had glistening silver irises. The eyes of the others were sky blue. The one in the center also appeared slightly older, although all three were youthful and beautiful, with flawless pale skin. Just barely visible behind their hair were pointed elven ears and their fingers ended in long talon nails.

The one in the center, now clearly seen as a woman, stepped down to the floor, her boot giving an unnatural echo. The white woman gave a warm smile with her frosty lips and held out her left hand.

<Fear not, my dear humans.> she announced in a melodious voice, <I am called Sephircera. I thank you for awakening me.>

"I do not understand her." Valaria said, "It's some ancient elven language. But why would three elves be froze in a Bloodmarble cave?"

"They are Our Lady's messengers." Constave assumed.

"Elves are not angels." Valaria said, recalling her history, "In times past they traded with humans, but now they live in their own hidden villages. They consider us unworthy to speak with."

"I am not an elf." Sephircera corrected in the Rosemarble tongue, "I am a mystic, a being that even elves once regarded as admirable."

"From my studies I gathered that mystics were a myth." Valaria said, "And how do you speak our language?"

"I speak many languages." Sephircera replied, "And yes, some fool scribes would have you believe that mystics never existed."

Valaria cringed at hearing the mysticess speak her own tongue. It sounded as if Sephircera learned it not by her own intellect but by the same dark magic that Valaria herself dabbeled in.

"You never told me your name." Sephircera inquired.

"I am Valaria, Countess of Rosemarble." Valaria replied, "And these are my fellow Rosemarblians. We seek our way out of this cave."

"Perhaps I could help you." Sephircera offered.

"Who are these others?" Valaria asked.

"None other than my daughter and son, Sashabel and Salan." Sephircera replied.

Sashabel and Salan stepped down and stood behind their mother. Sashabel gave a sincere, cheery grin but Salan frowned, a frown that said the entire world was beneath him.

"What year is it?" Salan asked, "How long have we been imprisoned?"

"1804 in the Year of Our Lady." Valaria answered, "Why were you imprisoned?"

"A long story." Sephircera spoke up, "Imprisonment is not the right word, it was more of a rest."

"Can we please just get out of this wretched cave?" Jeanine requested.

"Of course, my dear." Sephircera said, "Do follow me."

The three mystics started to lead the way but Jimmie scurried out of his foster mother's arms again and bit Sephircera right on the hand. The mysticess scowled in pain as the small fangs pierced her skin and silver blood trickled out. Little Jimmie licked the blood but then spat it out in disfavor of its taste. Sephircera slapped the child and kicked him out of the way.

"A spiderling?!" Sephircera fumed, "Who dares bring this foul creature up?"

"Forgive me!" Mariot yelped as she scooped the child up, "He is my son. He knows no better."

"Your son?" Sephircera questioned, "You are raising a spider?"

"Yes, I love him." Mariot said, "His real mother and siblings are dead. I am all he has."

"And did you know his mother while she was alive?" Sephircera wondered.

"All too well..." Mariot whimpered as she touched the still oozing wound on her neck.

Sephircera looked down on her own small wound as it instantly healed itself and the flesh came together. She lapped away her own blood as Jimmie growled at her.

"Be nice." Mariot scolded.

"I assume you were bit by the spideress?" Sephircera said, "The luminite's touch will quickly tend to your wound."

The mysticess levitated a small piece of luminite into her hand and took Mariot by the shoulder. She then pressed the shard into Mariot's wound. Mariot screamed in pain as the luminite burned and sizzled with equal fervor as Rockfang's acid. Jimmie growled even louder and started to lunge at Sephircera but the mysticess flung him aside. Mariot fell to her knees and clutched her neck, noticing that the bleeding had finally stopped.

"Thank you." she whispered.

"Mother, must you be so cruel?" Sashabel scolded as she retrieved Jimmie and handed him back to his own "mother".

"Great spiders are dangerous." Sephircera asserted, "If that child is allowed to come of age, he will devour this lady in her sleep."

"You lie!" Mariot snapped.

"Now, now everyone." Sashabel chided as she stepped between the pair, "Let us depart."

"Let us depart, at last." Jeanine agreed as she and the others followed the mystics out of the cave.