They began moving across the open space. One or two knights lounged outside of the barracks, none of them in armour. They were relaxing, nothing more, and, other than a passing glance at the two new visitors, they returned to whatever they were doing.

The block of offices had a small open area in front of it, forming a balcony on the second floor and a stone walkway on the ground. They stepped onto this walkway and were navigating their way down the building when they heard the sound of a door opening and words drifting out.

Looking north, across the open area, to the other block, they saw two men emerge from the entrance to the offices; one wore an elegantly decorated green robe while the other was armoured in full plate, save for his head.

Athgar froze. The scar running down the man's left cheek was the image that was burned into his memory, haunting him at night. The Therengian could not tear his gaze away, and their eyes locked. A yell from the robed man as he spotted Natalia broke Athgar from his inertia.

Nezerov, the green-robed mage, immediately started gesticulating, a streak of fire shooting across the distance. Athgar and Natalia dove, he to the left and she to the right, as fire struck the spot where they had been standing but a moment ago. Hot embers ricocheted off the wall, splashing them both with tiny sparks.

Natalia looked about wildly for cover as the unknown Fire Mage began another incantation, but finding nothing close, she cast a quick spell of her own to protect herself. A floating shield of ice appeared before her just as Nezerov released his magic, shooting flame across the field, searing into the ice, but the shield was sufficient enough, for now, to keep her from harm. Natalia countered with ice shards, and the small frozen spikes lanced out to strike him in the leg. He staggered back, limping slightly before casting anew.

Natalia, finally spotting a low stone wall that surrounded a flower garden, dove for cover. In response, the enemy Fire Mage sent a small spark flying across the courtyard to fall slightly short of her, sinking silently into the ground. A moment later, a snake-like creature emerged, but instead of scales, it had skin like molten lava with bright white glowing eyes. Opening its mouth, it spat, sending a stream of fire directly at her. She ducked as it splashed against the stone.

Athgar rolled back up onto his feet and rushed towards the Cunar commander with little more than revenge on his mind. Ignoring the mage casting at Natalia, the Therengian paused only long enough to conjure a spell, flames shooting from his fingers even as he ran, but in his rush to cast, he had fumbled, releasing only a small fire streak that splashed against the commander's chest, the Temple Knight's thick armour allowing him to merely shrug it off.