- A Favor to a Friend, A Lost and Missing Man

Kokono had not yet healed since the battle some days ago, the streets still red with blood long since stained over that many worked tirelessly to clean up, while many buildings reduced to rubble had been brought down. Piles of stone and wood, metal and rust had begun to pile up around the city streets.

The civilians who had survived the ordeal had either been taken into sanctuary by the local churches, all representing different gods and official rivals, they still sought to help those who had come under this bad weather they all had experienced.

As for the Master, he had taken in a number of people, mostly women, children and those who were injured, while those who could walk and do various jobs were put to work immediately. The city needed rebuilding and it was time to get to work. He wasted no time in issuing orders for the surrounding areas to be swept clean of monsters, a task he had given to Lia and the commander, which they had carried out flawlessly.

As Lia walked through the streets, passing by many different people who were working to clear the rubble and blood from the stone pathways, she was left in awe at the speed and determination of the people. They're homes had been taken, their people slaughtered, and now they worked with a lingering sadness, but a burning purpose within their hearts and lungs.

It inspired her.

However, when she reached the Master's office she could hear the sound of an argument raging on the inside. It appeared to her that not everyone was happy at the many piling civilians in the halls, some with bloodied rags, while others looked barely alive.

She knocked twice before entering and was immediately met by the sounds of arguing, a woman and a man's voice hurling harsh words at one another as if it would grant them victory.

"I don't care what it takes, find them!"

The moment the door swung open Lia was met with the sight of two men, one being the Master , the other being a lonely captain who held his head to the floor in shame.

The Master's head instantly turned to Lia with hope filling his eyes until they landed on her and that hope was crushed.

"Ah, Lia.."

He turned to the captain with an angry scowl, his harsh whisper sending shivers down the man's spine.

"Find them. Now."

The man quickly bowed, making his way swiftly past Lia as he rushed through the hall, past many civilians still within the Great House's walls.

"Sit. Please, sit."

The Master sat behind his desk, fiddling with a stack of papers, no doubt reports from the commander on the recent monster hunt. Upon seeing it it brought a painful stab to Lia's heart, worry stricken across her face.

He folded his hands into one another and took a glance at Lia, his facial features unreadable as he looked to her for any sign of an expression.

"I heard about the commander's decision."

Lia didn't show anything in her face, but the Master could tell that her mind was swarming with grief and rejection, the very things he would have expected to see painted like a mirror on her face.

"Sadly, there is nothing I can do. I can order him around as much as I like, and his loyalty regains that I will never have to replace him. However, what comes with these benefits also comes with some consequences."

Lia already knew what the Master spoke of, knowing full well what type of power a commander had over the people of a city, as well as the men he commanded. Respect, honor, trust and companionship was tougher than any threat the Master could give him.

"Which means that sadly, we can no longer continue the search for Arnold's company."

She turned her head to the floor, shame filling her eyes while her mind flashed back to the time in the Marsh when Cain had instructed her to dance with her fire and flame. She could see that flame now, but it was dulling, the light was going out and if she didn't act fast, any passion she had for finding her friend would be gone.

"But that doesn't mean you can't."

It took a moment for his words to register within her, for they were the same words that Cain had said in the Marsh, and she worried that these very words were only an echo of her memory. But when she looked up to see the determined face of the Master watching her, the candle within her turned to a raging fire filled with hope.

"You mean I can search for him? Alone?"

The Master chucked, gesturing to her sword at her side.

"Don't tell me that you weren't planning on doing this from the beginning? All I'm telling you is that you are free to use whatever resources we have in finding your friends."

"But won't the commander be against that?"

The Master shook his head, shifting a small piece of paper - a letter - towards her. On the paper written in pure black ink, were written the words:

Chief, for the sake of gossip I have turned my ears to my people and have heard the horror that has come over your town. My deepest condolences to your people and to you for having to witness and now be tasked with fixing it. But if I do recall the law of the clans, it doesn't mean that you have to do it alone. Together with a neighboring city - the Outpost - as well as a few surrounding farms and a very wealthy benefactor, I have taken it upon my grace to send you shipments of supplies and food for your people. Focus now on rebuilding your strength. We can't have our capital lie in waste.

-Wallace, Mayor of Neverdark.

P.S. Tell Lia of Endless my favor is now fulfilled.

'Wallace…'

When Lia read the letter she almost dropped it from her hands. Now this marked the second time Wallace had helped her, but the feeling of grace still remained as she never learned of the first time.

Together with Randolph and Voln, who she least expected to help, she now had the freedom to fight without worry.

"The mayor of Neverdark seems to be a trusted friend of yours. As well as the Postmaster of the Outpost, as well as its new leader - Randolph."

Tears were beginning to form in Lia's eyes and she had to cover her mouth to stop her muffled sobs from echoing through the room.

"When the commander saw that we were getting first food and supplies from them, thanks to you of course, he had little to say in the matter."

Lia gave the letter back, wiping the tears from her face, a new and bright smile casting out the cold impassable looks she had worn just moments before.

"Tell them…tell them I said thank you."

The Master smiled, putting the letter inside of his desk.

"I think they know it well enough. But there is still one problem."

"What's that?"

He grew silent, folding his hands together as he looked at his table with sad eyes.

"The shipments are still on their way, and unfortunately I have begun to grow in fear at what my wife had told me a week ago."

"That the people might lash out?"

He nodded, gesturing to a small stack of papers on his desk, which was covered in various piles of the sheets.

"A report came through about a group of angry farmers robbing a small dirt road that leads to the Eastern side of the city. Sadly, this is also the route that the shipments are coming from, as they had hoped to avoid the main road where they would be expected."

Lia knew what this meant and knew what was about to come next, so before he Master spoke, she stood up with determination on her face.

"I'll find them and bring them back. I can handle a few untrained farmers."

But as she turned to leave through the door, the Master stood up swiftly, spilling a few of his piles of papers on the floor.

"Wait!"

He was reaching out for her and Lia could see the look of fear in his eyes. Suddenly she got a chill that ran down her spine as she turned back around to face him.

"...what?"

The Master fiddled with his hands, rubbing them together as if it were frigid in the room, something Lia recognized as his nerves acting out.

"My wife, Yasmin and my daughter, Sina."

"What about them?"

He sighed, leaning back in his chair as she let his arms drop at his sides. His voice was like a choked sob and Lia could tell that he was extremely upset and sad, but over what she did not yet know.

"We had another argument about the people. She was very upset about it as she had been last time, and…well I feel as though she took my advice."

A feeling of unease was beginning to creep over Lia who watched the master with careful attention.

"They left. She took Sina and fled the city, hoping to retreat to a more 'safer' place."

Now Lia understood what was going on, it clicked fast like a switch had gone off in her mind.

"You want me to find them?"

"Her mothers house is due East of here, where the shipment is coming from. And where the recent bandit reports have been coming in. If you could do both, kill two birds with one stone, I would be immensely grateful."

The master held his head in his hands and Lia could see that he was really upset, and unlike the feelings he excluded, it did not douse the fire burning in her chest.

With one word, she turned and left out the door, ready for the fight she knew was coming.

"Done."

***

The cave was still and silent, the sounds of the crickets of the night and the owls that took flight resonated through the cave, echoing off its slick and smooth walls. Three figures stood at the mouth of the cave, the pale moonlight flooding their faces with worry and stress.

"They should have been back by now."

Emma said looking over the Marsh lands one more time, keeping an eye out for any signs of movement. Gilbert was beside her his eyes reflecting the beautiful white landscape before them.

"I know. But Arnold told us to wait here."

Abigail stood near the back of the cave, as silent as she had been since they took camp here.

"Do you think something happened?

It was the first words she had said for hours since she had taken rest against the wall, balled up in a huddled form. In contrast Trevor placed a hand on her shoulder, comforting the quiet girl.

Emma groaned, clutching her mace close to her chest. It was round with a spear tip at the top, but that didn't stop Emma from finding comfort in clutching the deadly weapon.

"Arnold didn't tell us what would happen if he didn't come back. He said we would leave by midnight!"

Though it was only a whisper, Gilbert could tell the harshness in her voice. She was worried, stressed and by now she was begging to get agitated.

"Then we wait longer. If Arnold didn't tell us what to do if he didn't come back, then he means to come back."

Trevor gathered Gilbert's attention to focus on a small patch of ruffling bushes, but Gilbert waved it off the moat when he saw two deer - mates - run for the brush.

"Well, what if something got to them. What if one of them got killed."

Trevor and Gilbert shared a look before turning back to Emma with the same surprised look.

"What?"

"Emma, this is Arnold we're talking about. Arnold the Dragon slayer."

"I know but still…"

She held the mace to her chest, squishing her cheek on its side as she began to shiver from the cold.

"What if there really is something out there."

Gilbert patted her on the shoulder, turning his best to comfort his companion who was still shivering, though his touch offered great relief to her.

"What could kill him? In fact, what monster could show up that would make Arnold afraid of him?"

It was then that their minds flashed back to the fields, the time when they had just started their approach on the Marshes to seek shelter, fleeing the burning city behind them. The man appeared then in their minds like a demon from the night as his eyes flashed red with crimson blood like two raging fires burning in the night.

It was a shared image that crossed their minds at the same time, something that even sent shivers down their spines.

"L-Like I said, what could be out there that even Arnold can't handle?"

Gilbert didn't like the way his mind was working right now, and given Emma's mental state right now, he did his best to keep himself distracted, shifting from the topic. But Emma saw the moment in her mind and began to shiver more violently.

Suddenly, there was a voice that jolted Emma from her fear, causing her to jump.

"He can."

They all turned to find the owner of this voice had come from deep within the cave, its sound so similar to them, it might as well have been one of their own.

"If he's not back by now, he never will be. He'll take care of him, so it's best you run now while you have the chance."

Luakli began to chuckle, a sound that echoed through the cave, causing Emma's face to turn from one of fear into a scowl of anger. It took her only a few strides to re-enter the cave, come around the mound of stone and stalactites and face Lukali, who she pinned to the wall with one hand.

"In case you haven't noticed, boy, that's your dad out there! If he dies, then who's left to take care of you?"

She was gripping his shirt hard in her hands, her own anger getting the better of her as Gilbert and Trevor remained at the mouth of the cave, watching her. She wanted something to lash out at, she wanted to be angry.

"So? It's not like I haven't felt that feeling before."

Emma's eyes widened as Lukali spoke, his own eyes and face as dull as the stone that surrounded him. He was empty of any emotion and even as he spoke of his father's potential death, he showed nothing in his eyes.

"I've been without him before, since I lost my mother. It's not as different as you may think."

Emma couldn't stand the boy's mouth any longer, as she reached back to slap him, she heard a voice echoing through the cave, both deep and imposing.

"That's enough."

They all turned to face the owner of the voice, except for Lukali who continued to stare aimlessly at the ground, only to find Arnold standing at the mouth of the cave, a frightened Olivia standing behind him.

"Arnold!"

Emma rushed over, forgetting about the boy as she stood next to Gilbert, her face full of relief as she saw him.

"We were worried you had died."

Arnold placed a hand on Gilbert's shoulder, the two men sharing a look of relief between one another, brothers in their own eyes before Arnold turned to glance at his son. He leaned against the farthest wall of the deepest part of the cave, enveloped by shadows that covered his face.

"Loneliness is a chill that the fires of hatred can't melt. Learn that well the next time one of us is missing."

Luakli began to chuckle, his voice turning into a laugh as Arnold stared at him, his fist reaching back towards his spear hung over his shoulder. He was sensible and in a battle stance, something the others did not expect.

"What's so funny?"

The laughter stopped and Lukali's horrid whispering voice echoed through the cave, sending chills down their spines. Fear was building up and now it was on top of them.

"I know that well enough."

He raised his face towards them and from the shadows they all caught a glance at the two fiery red eyes that pierced the darkness, a white and sinister smile forming behind them.

In one swift motion before anyone could feel the horror of fear set in, Arnold had already drawn his spark and flung it towards his son, as the spear embedded itself deep within the darkly lit stone behind it.

"Arnold!"

Someone cried out, but the man didn't hear them as he rushed over towards his spear, pulling it alone with bits of the wall with it. He looked around the dark cave, using the moon as the only light.

Then he heard it, the sound of snoring was so clear to him that the minute he turned to face the owner of the voice, he found the reason why.

Beside him, in the same spot the Emma had left him in before she had lashed out, Arnold found his son laying against the stone, his binds still tight and steady on his ankles and wrists. He was sound asleep, passed out and drawing sweet dreams.

But the image of his son and his wicked smile, red burning eyes that caused even the darkness to run in fear.

"Arnold, what was that?"

The man turned to his group, his face still as stone but the small shaking and shivering of his hand as it gripped his spear was still noticeable.

"A demon."

His voice was like a weak whisper and where his presence once offered strength and courage, now they felt fear and hopelessness.

"Pack your things. We're leaving."

The others shared a look, Olivia leaning against the wall with wide eyes stricken with fear.

"When?"

One of them asked, but Arnold was too focused on his son to know which as he looked at his sleeping figure, a mask and mirror of his own features.

"Now."