The plane was empty. Void of anything but white. The ground met the horizon in some hidden location. Not a sound or thing around to stir or distract. It was pure as could be. 

It was the echo of power that rippled through her. Thumped her heart. She had reached and she had taken. Nora knew not what life would be like after tonight but it was definitely changing.  Materializing around her. Even in absence in this white void she could feel the pull and weight of it.  As if she were in a river. Standing stone. Strong and alone. 

Peering through what this should make she grasped out for arms that seem to phase in and out. Three fighters. One giant. Crouched. Observing something out of sight. 

Hairless creatures. Curious. Dangerous. The moment her eyes locked onto them she could hear her realm shudder. It was uncomfortable. Awkward. Not right. But it was exactly what had to happen to save all those souls and lives. Heavens be damned. She would not let the demon consume her parents.

“I am Nora Nebula, high summoner of the Olcan Tribe. Victors of the schism, protectors of Feralis’ garden oasis’s. Last of my line and most powerful of all!” She declares aloud.

There is no reaction at first from the bumbling mess of three almost completely hairless Mori before her. They see her and hear her but they ignore her initially. She should do it again. This time more thoroughly. 

Sweeping her arms in a clockwise rotation she conjures a Gail of wind far more powerful than she anticipated. Sending the three combatants apart sprawling onto the white void floor. The giant has now come to stand at full measure looking her up and down. He be at least six stare tall. An actual giant. In the flesh. Two eyes not one. Has there ever been such a creature?

“What the…?!” One of them exclaims as he pulls himself back to his feet. Having been so unceremoniously dropped to his backside. “What the hell is going on here?!” He states aggressively moving upon her. 

“Is this really real?” One of the other ones sounds out.

“I’ve been asking myself the same thing for like the last week dude.”

“….”

“I am Nora Nebula, highest of honor, second in house only to the great she wolf herself. Mighty and powerful I be. So who is it before me I see?” She declares again as she opens her hands and flames of goblin fire spew forth. Spilling and running around till they cinder out. 

“Holy shit dude, I think she’s a fucking demon!” The loud one declares as he runs his hand through the Mohawk cut lock of his hair. Blond. Blue eyes. Artwork adorning his body were his attire does not conceal. His eyes are locked on mine and they are deep. Infinite. Dangerous. I force myself to blink. 

“Tye, you don’t even know her.” The other one protests waving their hands about in my general direction. I focus my eyes preparing for anything. This may be a trick. To delay a spell casting. “At least I think it’s a her. She’s covered in fur. You don’t recognize her?”

The blue eyed man child breaks his gaze at me turning to her. He seems surprised. Shocked even.

“Who the fuck are you?!” He exclaims poking the girl in her chest with a jab.

“Corin, idiot. Did that kick actually hit you? I thought I missed.” She shoots back but then something seems to click and she’s investigating herself and screaming.

“Holy shit dude you punched me in the face!” Tye screams as he throws his hands on his head and paces back and forth aggressively. He’s obviously riled up. “I grabbed your tit. It was soft. Should I cut off my hand?”

“Fuck you!!” The girl screams. “You do not even know what the hell I’ve been going through the last week okay. Your problems are soooo not as serious as mine right now.”

“You even sound like a chick. What the fuck is happening?!” Tye croons

“Guys!!” The one who seems more collected. So much so I’d forgotten his presence. He’d been staring at me the entire time. I hadn’t remembered to notice. He was dangerous. There is an aura about him. He wears crystals on his face and his face seems to have been brutalized. Other than that he stands taller than the rest save the giant and more nobly in posture. He must be their leader. 

“What?!” Tye and Corin scream. 

“I need you to focus on the fact that we are standing in a white abyss before a furry gamer girl magic creature?” The man states. Gamer girl magic creature? What is gamer? Like hide and seek? Tag?

“Enough!“ I declare and it seems to do the trick. They stop and all focus on me now. Which might not actually be the best thing but I can’t afford to back down now from anything. “I say again and final. I am Nora Nebula, summoner, noblest of blood of the Olcan Tribe. I demand to know who you are!”

“Woh! Easy lady…” Tye replies with his hands up in the air. I shift my gaze to him and my hands as I pour a little more fire into the spell. For effect. “If that’s the game then I mean I got a name. These guys too… so that’s all we gotta do to a—— avoid all that magic the gathering shit?”

“I do not know what this magic the gathering is but yes. I must know your names. It is of vital importance.” I reply. “I’ve given you mine. Give me yours and we can talk or we can fight.”

I stomp my feet on the ground and pour even more goblin fire into the room. It spills out in chaotic burbs and the embers run this way and that till they go out.

They all shrink before me. I hope they’re not a bunch of cowards. Mighty or not I need warriors. Champions. I was promised by a god.

“Alright! Alright alright. Hi.” Tye replies as he motions for me to calm down with his hands? Palms up then lowering one he stretches his right hand out. Pulling it back to point at himself with his thumb as he strikes some sort of pose. It does look rather impressive even with the rags he seems to be wearing. “I’m Tye Ichabob Dime Lancaster, son of Money Dime Lancaster, of house Lancaster. Mightiest and greatest alive!” He declares

“Dude. Are you serious?” The girl Corin replies dumbfoundedly.

“And I’m Locke Adler Clovis. Of no renown or anything worth mentioning.” The man from the back says with a slight bow of his head. As he brushes some hair away from his crystal face contraption. “The pleasure is mine.”

“Oh brother…” the girl says. She then seems to push her way through the two who had stepped before her to strike their poses to do one of her own, hands on her side open legs, chest puffed out in declaring herself. “I’m  Corin Destino Orion, don’t let the package fool ya, I’m the toughest one here.”

“Yeah fuckin’ right! Hey, when were you gonna tell me you got a sex change? I want you to know I’m not a bigoted person, I just might need some time to adjust. Like no offense but it’s a lot to take in all at once.” Tye cuts in, grabbing the girl by her shoulder. Sex change? Does that mean that she was a he? Phasing sickness no doubt. They’re the one I saw before.

“Fuck you!” She spits smacking Tye’s hand off her shoulder. Tye raises them in submission walking back.

“Hey I said I’m not judging you. Locke didn’t I say I wasn’t judging her?”

“You did… Corin… this is quite the development… Did me beating you our last fight make you feel so inferior?” Locke asks, putting his own hand on the girl's shoulder embracing her in a hug.

“Get off me you weirdo!” Corin cries as she pushes him away. “I just woke up like this. Every time I fall asleep. I change. It’s been a nightmare. I thought I was going crazy.”

“I see” Locke replies as he inspects her

“Yeah I’d jump out of a window too.” Tye interjects. “Wait… does that mean… it’ll happen to us too?”

They all look at me. There is a deafening silence.

“He must tell me his name before I answer your question.” Perfect…

“That guy? He’s a mute. He don’t know how to talk anymore lady. Can you speak sign language?” Tye declares as he starts manipulating his hands. I shoot at him a blast of air to stop whatever spell he might be trying to cast.

“Do not think you can cast such a long spell on me fool!” I yell at him. Conjuring ever more goblin fire. 

“No no no no… Sign language. Like… he doesn’t speak. He’s a mute.”

I look to the Goliath “you are unable to speak aloud giant?”

“We’ll technically he can but he just chooses not to.” Tye replies.

“Tye shut the fuck up. Don’t tell her that. You're just supposed to tell her your name.” Corin snaps at Tye while punching him in the stomach.

“Oofff, fuck that I already told her mine. That fat bastard better join this party or he’s out. Full send.” Tye croaks. 

They all turn to the giant who adjusts himself as he grumbles and coughs. Has he really simply chosen to be silent for so long. Is he lame in the head? Did I get fleeced by some charlatan entity?

“Cough.. hphmgmgbj… grumble gruelidhwk… breee… cough cough. I’m Brent Douglas McArthur. Person not giant. Human.” He states in a deep vibrato. Then points to me. “Small.” 

“Oh damn dude, he fuckin dropped a hot one on her!!!” Tye exclaims and begins screaming. The other two seem to be in utter astonishment as they parade about in an obnoxious over the top manner. Howling and wailing.

“Get ‘em!’” Locke screams through his hands.

“Ahhhhh!!!” Corin and Tye scream in unison. 

They're not slow. They’re just idiots… they have to be worth it. They have to be what I need. I have to keep faith. I must succeed.

“Tye Ichabob Lancaster!” I declare. “ Loche Adler Clovis! Corin Destino Orion! Brent Douglas McArthur! I declare you bound to me. Summoner Lady Nora Nebula Algemist of Olcan Tribe. Master now and forever. Till death do us part. Serve me always for my will is eternal!”

“What the fuck?!”

“Hey wait a minute!?”

“Oh crap…”

“…”

The group immediately lashes out at me. Each driving to close the distance in less than the blink of an eye. Thankfully it’s after I finished the binding. They’re collard now. So there is no need to panic. I have won. I have found my summons and they are fast. 

The group passes through me as if they were nothing but spirits. Colliding into one another as they do so. Spilling into a mess behind me. I turn with deep satisfaction as I rock from toe to heel and back again. Hands behind my back.

“You see, I only needed your names to bind you. You’re summon’s now and you’re going to help me save my people from a demon.”

Obstacle Fifteen. Way