The sooner you're out of this place the better, so you request to be escorted back to the Empire where their wizards can send you back home.

"Very well, I'll send Paladins Salzat and Lakri with you, along with an official letter explaining your situation. Good luck and may you return home without any ill-fated encounters." The Captain says handing you the letter for safe keeping.

You are presented to Salzat and Lakri who are explained their mission. Salzat doesn't look pleased; in fact he gets angry and exclaims his skills would be better put to use fighting the Nightmare Tyrant and other evil creatures, not looking after a child. Lakri on the other hand looks relieved. After the Captain shouts him down and tells him to obey orders, Salzat grumbles and gets on his horse. Lyssia puts you on your own horse, you've
never ridden one before, but she assures you that these are the best trained horses in the Empire and will serve you well. You're told you should reach the Empire in a few days.

Soon you're off with your new travel companions They couldn't be more opposite. Salzat is a mean looking man with scars all over his face who barely speaks to you, but his armor is impeccably clean and well taken care of. It even has a shine to it, almost as if it was brand new. (He doesn't seem to wear a helmet though, perhaps that might explain all the scars) Lakri on the other hand is much kinder and talkative to you. His armor looks like its seen better days though. It's metal that looks hastily welded together, badly dented and even showing signs of rust! Unlike Salzat his suit of armor has a full face helmet which he's wearing right now and Salzat has chosen to taunt him about.

"Lakri, why are you wearing that thing? We aren't even going into battle you coward! I swear I don't know how any of you can see in those things anyway. I need to be able to swivel my head as quick as possible so I can see the next enemy I have to slay!"
"Leave me alone Salzat! I like to make sure I'm protected! I don't want to end up all scarred and ugly like you! I intend on getting married one day!" Lakri sputters.
"Feh! I don't need to look pretty; my DEEDS will win the hearts of damsels!"

"How did you guys become Paladins?" you ask. Surprisingly Salzat answers your question right away.

"Well unlike Lakri here, I didn't have royal family connections. I worked my way up through the ranks and went through special training so that I could become a weapon against evil and serve the Empire. If I could wipe out all the evil in this world myself, I would not hesitate to do so. There is no greater deed than to serve the cause of good and righteousness and right now my talents are going to waste escorting you!"
"Yes, well I for one am glad for the break from battle. This is a nice change of pace than fighting trolls, shadows and other such nastiness. I wasn't really looking forward to going to those ruins the Captain mentioned either. Sounded dangerous." Lakri says.
"Yeah, well we know you're a coward anyway, and a disgrace to the Paladin name."
"I'm not a coward! I…just want to live alright? I mean is it so wrong that I prefer my life to not be at risk every five minutes?"

"Why did you become a Paladin, if you don't like to fight?" you ask.
"Oh, that's a long story…let's just say my Dad wanted me to."
"But you're a grown up, shouldn't you just be able to do what you want now?"
"Ha ha! You think just because one grows up, you aren't subjected to being told what to do by your parents? Guess again. Ah well, perhaps you have less demanding parents. You must certainly like them, if you wanted to get home so quickly to see them again."

Before you can answer, Salzat suddenly looks up in the sky and draws his sword.

"Shut up! I sense something…"

Suddenly the sky grows considerably darker within only a few seconds and screeching can be heard from above. Dark winged creatures begin to descend from the sky

"SHADOWS!" Lakri shouts.
"Alright! And here I thought I wasn't going to get to vanquish evil today! Come on and be destroyed foul creatures!" Salzat laughs.

At this point Lakri and Salzat show their differences again. Lakri panics to the point that he fumbles and drops his weapon before yelling that you all should make haste to escape. Salzat on the other hand turns to face the winged Shadows. You don't see how he can possibly fight them all himself though.

You help Salzat

You jump off your horse to grab Lakri's sword in an effort to help Salzat who is already in the midst of battle, with the Shadow creatures who have almost completely enveloped him.

You swing the sword, but its still a little to big and heavy for you to weld properly, you hit a few of the Shadows, but its no use, they outnumber you greatly. Soon one of them manages to deprive you of your weapon and two more snatch you up and carry you up to the sky giggling about how the Nightmare Tyrant is anxious to see you.