24 Chapter 24

As Kyle returned, Azoth was waiting for him. "Do you think it worked?"

Kyle destroyed the mask as he turned to Azoth. "I don't think so master Terrance, but I gave him the warning about my life being on the line." Kyle changed his clothes for the night. "By the way, how long till you become Azoth again?"

Terrance smiled at him. "Not till morning, but I sure you're aware that was able to slip out for just a moment when talking to Hunter."

Kyle nodded. "yes, that why I made my move on him tonight to see if we can get him to see he won't gain anything by staying here." Sighing, Kyle sat the edge of his bed. "He did surprise me with his last attack, though."

Terrance walked over to him, "Oh, how so?"

Kyle smiled, "He threw a fire punch at my face and broke the mask that I created." Looking up at Terrance. "I just hope Lovell finds a way to change his mind even if it costs me my life in the process."

Terrance could see the sadness and fear fill Kyle's face; he looked out the window. "We can only hope for the best besides my father that I knew is still inside that man. The man my mother loved." Terrance's eyes darkened. "If only he never got his memories back, everything would have been over long ago."

Kyle looked out the window as well, "Aye, then my mother wouldn't have been cursed either. Our families are torn because of him."

"True." Terrance left, leaving Kyle alone for the rest of the night.

Kyle walked over to his desk and grabbed a piece of paper. He wrote down what has happened, and what the dark lords' current plans might be, for Lovell. Looking out the window once again. "It hasn't returned yet; I'll send my report to headquarters tomorrow night." Folding the report, Kyle tucked into a secret compartment on the side of his desk till the next night.

Morning came as Hunter growled at last night's encounter. Ruffling his hair, trying to remember Shadow's face. Kyle noticed him on the training grounds, frustrated from last night. Seeing an opportune moment, Kyle headed over to Hunter. Hunter continued to swing the practice blade as to release tension, noticed Kyle was walking past.

Hunter grabbed his towel and wiped the sweat away. "Hey, Kyle." Hunters' voice harsh from the anger.

Kyle sat down on the bench, "So, what's got you in a knot?" Kyle asked him, already knowing most of the answer.

Hunter sat beside him, slumping his head between his hands. "I fought that masked guy last night."

Kyle touched his back. "So, what happened in the fight, and did you get who is so we can find this traitor or spy?" Kyle became nervous, knowing that Hunter never mentioned if he was a traitor or not.

Hunter sat up, looking at the sky. "Yeah, the name he gave me was Shadow, and I lost the fight against him."

Kyle removed his hand. "Ooh, that sounds rough, but you landed a few good blows, right?"

Hunter looked at Kyle, "One, and only one." Kyle anguished at the thought. "The worst part is that I saw a part of his face, and I can't remember it for the life of me!" Kyle smiled at Hunters frustrated state, seeing how lifelike he was compared to when they first met.

Kyle stood up, looking at Hunter. "well, I must be going; hopefully, things turn out better the next time where you win against the bastard!" Kyle said, trying to boost Hunter's self-esteem, Kyle knowing that he's the one who did this to Hunter last night.

Hunter Stood up, "Yeah, you're right; Lord Azoth would be disappointed if I became week and useless!"

'Not what I had in mind, but whatever works, to get hunter motived works.' Kyle thought to himself as he walked away, seeing that Hunter returned to training. Kyle walked the halls listening for information to add to his report. As he did, he came across Vann and Lily talking, ducking into cover, Kyle attended into their conversation.

"What are we going to do about HU-NT-3R's current behaviour? All the others seemed to be mindless soldiers." Lily asked Vann; Kyle peered around the corner, looking to see if there was any other place, he could hide to see them. AS he scanned, he noticed a table, taking the chance Kyle moved quickly to the hiding spot. "Vann, are you even listening to me?"

Lily's soft-spoken manner barely caught Vann's attention. "Oh, sorry, Lily, I didn't hear you, sorry. It's just you speak so softly. Your voice seems never to register right away." Vann turned to her. "now, you asked what to do with HU-NT-3R, well nothing until we find some way of dealing with Kyle. He's apart of the problem, and Lovell is the other." Turning to his notes, "I think because he was cloned directly from Lovell, had some part to play and the other is Kyle trying to make him more…" waving his hand trying to find the words. Kyle felt horrified in what he just heard.

Lily sighed, "Alive?"

Snapping his fingers and pointing at her. "Yes, thank you, Lily. Anyway, we have to find this weapon of our lords and make sure the enemy doesn't get their hands on it." Vann sifted through his note again as Crow and Vail walked in.

Crow sat on the table Kyle was hiding under, "Hey Vann, I need more of my special toy's before you leave."

Vann looked at her, "They will be done after I figure out the formula to use on Lovell's powers so if any of use finds him before those hotheads, we will have some chance of getting the lord to the same thing as he did to his flesh and blood, once more."

Crow leaned forward, "Fair point, getting him on our side might be super beneficial, especially if he's the one to kill his friends." She smiled in pure enjoyment of the thought.

Lily turned to her, covering her mouth with her sleeve. "Just remember Hunter failed in converting him, he's way different than Azoth was. Its almost like he will willingly walk into the darkness just to do the right thing."

Crow laughed at her, as Vann ponders on it. "You might be right, Lily. Lovell did go after the rat king in Fallmist just to save two people. He took the man's sight without a second glance. Something that Azoth does now." Sweat dragged across his chin.

Crow's eyes widened, "Your joking, right? The Ran-Ky of—"

"He's telling the truth," Vail interjected. "I thought it was a joke when I heard it, but that's not the case. I met the man, and he told me the very same thing that Lovell took his sight."

Crow smirked, "It was one time nothing more?" She shrugged it off.

Vail's face stiffened. "No, he's killed one hundred and sixty thousand people over the time he was with the Goanna Mercenaries. Each time the bodies were mangled beyond recognition, and only sixty of those bodies were before Hunter took care of their leader at the time, Morris."

Crow jumped up, "you mean the same Morris that betrayed us?" Fear is trickling through her body.

Vail nodded, Lily turned to Vann. "More of a reason to get rid of him now than converting him. Morris might have taught him subconsciously to control his inner darkness?" They all nodded at Lily's statement.

Kyle sat quietly, waiting for his moment to leave; he notices the notes might be of importance in dealing with the four, for Lovells and his friends. Moments later, Vann placed his notes down. "Let us head to the mess hall for now and eat. I can't think straight on an empty stomach." The other agreed as they left, leaving Kyle an opening to steal Vann's note.

Once Kyle thought he was clear, he grabbed the notes and headed to his room. Tucking away the notes so that no one knew he had them. Reaching his office, he notices the Valor jay sitting on his windowsill. Kyle walked over and checked the bird for any messages. Lifting the note from the carrier, Kyle read the letter, say that Ark was in trouble, form his contact. Kyle grabbed the report and added that he was coming to see them because of what information he had.

Rolling up the message and placed it in the carrier. "Find Alli fast little guy," Kyle whispered before sending the bird off. Kyle then got changed into his Shadow outfit when a knock came from the door. Rushing over to the door, making sure they didn't get in. "Who is it, I'm not dressed at the moment?"

Kyle was trying to deter them from entering. "It's me, Hunter, I'm letting you know that I won't be here in the morning. Azoth and I leave in an hour. And was hoping to catch you before I left." Kyle went pale here, Hunter on the other side. "Are you half decent?"

Kyle scrambled to get into some other pants. "Yeah, give me a moment." Tucking away the clothes out of sight. "You can come in now." Hunter entered the room, Kyle feeling he was safe for now. "So, what can I do for you before you leave?" Kyle wondered what Hunter was thinking.

Hunter walked over to the bed, "I just want to say that you should be careful because of that Shadow guy. You aren't a fighter, so…" Hunter trailed off, not knowing what's going on inside him.

Kyle smile. "Thank you, Hunter, for the warning, and to think you are worried about me for the first time."

Hunter tried to hide his embarrassment from Kyle. "W-well, I must be going. I'm not taking the bike this time, but my dragon, Harpoon, the Evermore cliff if you come searching for me."

Kyle walked over to him, gripping his shoulder, "You'll be fine, and besides, you are you. You always live somehow."

Hunter said his goodbyes to Kyle before leaving his presence. Kyle returned to what he was doing, readying himself for his own mission outside the Faremin kingdom — seeking out Alli for her aid in deciphering Vann's notes. Hunter looked up at Kyles window before mounting Harpoon with Azoth. Kyle was watching from the shadows as they took off. Kyle hoping nothing goes wrong, as he leaves to Goldhill to deliver Vans notes and find out where Lovell was and tell him what's going on within the castle's walls of Damora's plans. In hopes, Lovell will find a way to stop him from achieving them.