((The only file of chapter 6 was corrupted, so it was skipped))

Cecil was upset that it had come to this, that he found himself on Marmo. Yes, working for the Mages Guild was what he had always aspired to, even as an apprentice to Slayn. But he had thought that would mean working in the great city of Alan. Never here, in a crude camp tent, on the dark island of Marmo He knew it was important work, hunting and recovering lost tomes and magic, from the ruins of temple of Falaris and perhaps even Kardis. He knew that it should be safely entrusted into the care of the Mages Guild, it only made sense. Yet working here, in this evil place, was beginning to take it's toll on the young and headstrong mage. His sleep was always disturbed by fitful dark dreams. He and his fellow mages were always fighting off the evil creatures, that were the dregs of the ruined Marmo Army. Spark had granted the Guild what troops he could spare from his own work, that of cleaning the scum out of hiding in all the rest of Marmo. Still it seemed an endless distraction from the Mage's true quest. Cecil was eager to recover anything from the rubble and ruins, but he had been here six long passings of the moon and still the Mages had recovered nothing of import. The Dark gods, it seemed, were stubborn to letting go of their secrets. Cecil returned from his frustrated thoughts, he returned to studying the pages of the Great Grimore of Arthyn. This book was but a copy of Arthyn's Bound Scrolls of Lost Kastuulian Spells. The original was housed far away, in the Headquarters of the Mages Guild in Alan. Cecil knew that this book could unlock the secrets to finding the magic that was hidden here, even under so much rubble. It was not long before dawn found the young mage asleep. His head atop that very book

The young page Tael, entered the tent and shook Cecil awake. "Master, the diggers have found an uncollapsed cavern leading far down in the ruins! You are needed. Please, come with me! I'll show you the way." Cecil barely had time to collect his staff let alone his thoughts. Soon he found himself far under the earth, in front of a dark metal door inscribed with daemon runes. The other apprentices looked both scared and relieved at the same time, to see him. "Cecil, we have no idea how to proceed. Old Kantor was badly burnt trying to open it! You have studied the ancient books longer then we have. What should we do now?" Cecil looked at their worried faces and then at the door. "Everyone stand back! This may not work!" Holding tightly to his magic staff, he closed his eyes and began the spell of opening, invoking the ancient earth spirits.

* * *

"Stay your sword hand Dark Elf! I brought you here to retrieve the lost power of the ages encased in the chamber beyond, not to slay these innocent mages. I may have use for them yet." Said Karla as she stepped over the prone body of Cecil and entered the darkness, a pale glow from her fingertips lighting the way.

"Unholy witch!" The dark elf spat a whispered curse under his breath and followed her into the now open chamber, he had darker thoughts. She had overcome these tunnel diggers with her magic, as she said she would. Perhaps she would lead him to the power and glory she promised? Then he would need her no longer, then was the time he would end the witch.

Cecil stirred, but could not awaken from his dreams, nightmare, evil dreams.

* * *

The death scream of the Dark Elf was as hideously mournful, as Karla's laughter was mockingly spiteful! "Foolish dark elf! As I promised you, the Ferroniere of Knowledge contains all the wisdom of past ages. Like many ancient relics, all information on the Ferroniere is based on legends. The legends are true! Anyone wearing the Ferroniere can gain wisdom of the past. But the legends worn of this wisdom of all that is pasted. To gain access to this artifact, to ware the Ferroniere Circlet of Knowledge, one must DIE! In which case, the wearer's soul ends up a slave of 'The Darke', the undead force that resides in the Ferroniere.

I have corrected the balance of all things on Lodoss, I have created the evil that was missing for too long. Haa haa ha ha!" Karla then folded her gray cloaks and disappeared.

The shell of he whom had been a breathing dark elf, stood in the darkness, as blackness covered his eyes like liquid tar. He then, opened his mouth and the very earth trembled! The earthquake could be felt all over Marmo! The ground heaved as Narse, the Black Dragon of Darkness, the sole protector of the Ferroniere, whom Mycen had killed in the Great Battle for Marmo. Narse buried in the vast caverns under Marmo, arose as an undead creature bound to 'The Darke'. Bound to the bearer of the Ferroniere of Knowledge. The great dragon lowered it's rotting neck so, that the wearer of the Ferroniere of Knowledge could mount it. Then It beat it's undead wings lifting it into the sky, with it's unholy rider. Taking it towards Alecrast, first above the dark city of Salbad, then across the strait and past Rood above Kannon then towards the Shinning Hill!

Far below, all of Marmo, slowly erupted with the corpses of the dead and fallen armies that fell in the battle for Marmo. They had but one purpose! To destroy those that lived! As the skies darkened slowly over Marmo once again!

Cecil awoke to a start, as the earth rumbled. He struggled to stand, then quickly gathered the others. "Come Run! We must get out of here before the tunnel collapses!"

As he raced with the others toward the surface, Cecil thought. How had this happened? He knew his spell had gone off correctly, the door had opened, but that was the last he could remember. He thought he heard a scream as he was awakening, a terrible scream! But he thought it had been part of his nightmare's.

At last, they made it safely to the surface, but here it was no better. Perhaps it was worse! For the small group of Duke Spark's guards, charged with protecting the excavation site, was busy fighting off skeleton warriors that had arisen all around them! And to make it worse, the sky above was clouding over.

Cecil aimed his staff at a decaying corpse moving towards them as they emerged from the tunnels below. The creature exploded as Cecil invoked the fire spirits and sent a bust of flame at the undead thing. But Cecil had no time to congratulate himself, as more undead crawled out of the ground, seeking to destroy all those around them!