Aria looked at the three of them, floating about as usual. Somehow, she didn't seem to mind the rancid after-smell of the Festival, nor the disaster-like state of the town after. Actually, she seemed to have an uncanny knack for not caring about anything. Aria was Aria, always her weird, chipper self. At their request, she seemed to think for just a moment.<br/><br/>"Verrune!" Aria cheered, causing her band of friends to jump in the air. "I don't leave the Peaks, but I can take you to Soulspire Temple!"<br/><br/>She waited a moment, then continued, as if forgetting the trio hadn't a single clue what anything was overnight.<br/><br/>"From there, you can ride the Manastream to Verrune. It's very fast! Maybe you have them where you're from," she pondered, "A way to get from one place to another super quick!"<br/><br/>Aria, in a fashion that should be common for them by now, continued walking before stopping. She whipped around, forgetting to answer a question as usual.<br/><br/>"Monsters? I've never, ever seen one in the Peaks!" She replied cheerily, as if her wacky companions weren't monsters of some kind. Before they could ask her any more, Aria was already skipping up the path towards Soulspire Temple.<br/><br/><hr/><br/>After some time traveling, the Sun had begun to hide away behind the towering stone spires of the mountain. Dark, long shadows were cast all along the road and the sweltering heat was replaced by a cool breeze. Suddenly, a bestial roar echoed in the air, booming and shaking one to the core. An Ash Rhino stepped out of the shadows, charging right at the party. In almost an instant, the lumbering beast the size of a minivan had slammed into a pillar of stone between Aria and the party. In a loud, shaking collapse, the pillar fell to the ground creating a barrier of debris that split the party. With Ry, Madison, and Farren on one side, the rhino turned its gaze towards them, a red gleam in its eye.<br/><br/><div class="floatleft">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/3/3a/Rhinoportrait.jpg) (https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/6/6d/Rhino.jpg)</div><strong>Ash Rhino</strong><br/><span class="bbc_u"><strong>Beast-class 22/6/11/1/0</strong></span><br/><em>Charge.</em><br/><br/>"Um!" Aria squeaked, trapped on the other side. "Maybe this will help!"<br/><br/>With a wave of her hand, a shimmering purple crystal suddenly exploded in the air, bathing the entire place in a magical purple glow. In seconds, the glow had disappeared, but each of the trio found a conjured weapon in their hands. A transparent, ethereal looking broadsword for Ry; a crossbow that fired mana arrows for Farren; and a regular, sturdy sword for Madison, all forged out of the same purple light.<br/><br/>The Ash Rhino stared at Madison,<em>charging</em>him!<br/><br/>