This picture follow this one : The Last Day Before Battle (https://www.renderosity.com/mod/gallery/the-last-day-before-battle/2859603/?p&ca) ______________________________________________________________________ Delphine seemed worried since they woke up and seemed to have barely sleep. She had barely eaten to the breakfast and had barely spoke too. Now, they were all geared up, in the court of the Fortress, where Omdeo had opened a portal to their destination and they were ready to leave. They were all concentrated on their future combat and some tension could be felt. Omdeo was there with them of course, so as Grimlock and even the high elf Eon, master of the stewardships of the Guild of Adventures, that they met once. A part of Marina's mind was disappointed to not seeing Amon here with them. Romatzo was starting to feel impatient. "Are we ready ? The sooner with go, the sooner it will be finish." He said half laughthing half serious. They all agreed, except Delphine who stayed quiet and when the others started toward the portal, Delphine stepped back a little. This didn't escape to Omdeo that stopped them before they entered in the magical gateway. "Have a little more patience my young friends, please. I want to have a last word with Delphine before you go." Delphine, hearing that, jumped. She didn't wanted to speak to him. But she couldn't say no. He lead her a little further from the group, and asked gently but worried. "What's wrong my child ?" Delphine avoided his look, lowering her head. The fingers of her free hand moved stressfully and her other hand was gripped on her staff tightly. Then she finally said. "I... I can't do it. I'm... I'm scared Omdeo. Really scared." She stayed quiet for a moment, ashamed to admit her weakness. "I didn't grew up in a harsh environment like the others. I'm not a warrior either. I grew up in a school! The worst thing that could happen there is to run out of ink when writing a manuscript." Again she stayed silent. "Since I started my adventurer life with Minalva and Marina and later with Romatzo, we lived toughs and scary moments, even moments where I feared for my and our lives. But it was usually troubles going at us and not us going straight into the wolf's mouth." Omdeo listened her, quietly. "Last time, when we found the Egg of Gornhoth, we barely survived our escaping. Even with the intensive training and the special gear you gived us, I'm not sure we will be able to survive to this. I... I don't want to die, Omdeo." The poor Delphine was shaking hard. "Delphine, my dear. Look at me." He took her face with his hand. "Look at me. Do you really think I'll send your friends and you, the daughter of two of my dearest friends and studdents to a certain death ?" The response was obvious, but her current state made her think twice before answering. "N... No, I suppose you wouldn't. - I know that it's a perilous mission you going at and that you and your team volunteered to do this. But if I had though one second you had no chance to succeed, I had categorically refused to send you there. It won't be an easy task, I won't lie to you, but I know that all of you can do it, that YOU can do it." Due to the encouraging paroles of Omdeo, Delphine's fears started to fade away. "And I know Minalva's mom too, added Omdeo, and I wouldn't make her my ennemy, by doing something stupid. Ha ha ha." This last sentence made Delphine laugh. "Thank you Omdeo, she hugged him strongly. I think I'm ready to go know. He puts his big hands on her shoulders a gave her an encouraging smile. Delphine returned close to her friends and said. "We can go now. - What did Omdeo wanted to talk to you about? asked Marina concerned. Romatzo looked at her curious too. - Oh! Nothing important, she said smiling, I'll tell you when we will be back." - Okay then! exclaimed Romatzo. Let's go know!" And this time they all agreed. Romatzo was the first to passe the portal, followed by Marina. Delphine initiated her walk toward the gateway when Minalva stopped her and said. "Don't worried kar yaban (little sister), I'll watch your back." Delphine understood right away that her elf ears made her listened all the conversation. "Thank you, Mina." Her elf friend kissed her on the cheek and gave her a confident smile. Delphine took a deep breath, her courage was growing back quickly, then, facing the portal, she told for herself, "Well, this is the final countdown. 3, 2, 1...". She entered the portal. _____________________________________________________ Thank you for watching and reading. :) I know I said the last time and I was very happy about it, that I had finish with the pictures in the Guild. But it was without counting on my mind that had this last idea. I had hesitate to doing it, but it wouldn't let me passe it. But I don't regret, because I had a lot of fun doing it, which is the important thing. ^^ Anyway, next picture, a heroic one, with the 4 all geared up! Maybe there is something I should add about Delphine and her sudden fear (should I say panic attack ?). It's that, if they are all pretty young, she is the youngest of the band, with only 22 years old. Romatzo being the oldest with 32. And for giving all the info, Minalva 24 and Marina 27. And for adding a last thing, of course the worst thing in a magical school is not really running out of ink, it's to screw up a spell and summoning an untold thing that risk to destroy the world. But in the state of mind where Delphine was, you'll forgive her to not mentioning that. :D Oh and I almost forgot, THIS is the Final Countdown : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jK-NcRmVcw