THE DELEGATES MEETING II

"They're getting close, sir,"

"Can you tell me how far?"

"They'll be here in about an hour, thirty minutes up ahead in the third valley."

"All right, set everything up, notify the watchers, and don't move until I say so."

He returned his attention to the knight guards he had brought with him.

One of them shuddered morbidly, the point of his lance vibrating to the beat of his biting teeth; he tried to cover his unease with his acting, but even his false smile cracked now and then.

"Now pay attention; you're all here because I wanted you to hear." This is critical: a member of your class has been kidnapped by the traitor, and it is up to all of you to save her."

Reene Pangos, Salron Carter Portriese, Valmon Carter Portriese, Carrs Armani, and Robert Towndsy, the new class of knight guards, stood in the middle of the squadron preparing to assault Slejj. Salron was trembling, the terrifying prospect of facing his former commander did not sit well with him. All the others, especially the commoner from Sals village, petrified their faces with rigorous glares, and they were pumped up with a burning sense of resolution. He puffed up his chest and exhaled deeply. He was all ready to save her, Alicia, from the grips of the devil.

"I... I'm sorry, but I'm not up to it!" Salron spoke in hushed tones to his brother, who stood at his side. On the other hand, his sibling was tranquil, and he was very different from his other half. Even though they had the same looks, they were quite different. Something flared inside Valmon about a month after they were knighted, and he swiftly altered. He recognized that what Drom had told them was correct: prejudice and maintaining class divisions had no place in the army. He knew that if he was going to survive, he needed to adapt, thus he began his journey from crested brat to honorary state guard. His only wish was that his scared brother would man up and change, follow the path he took if only his wish was heard.

"Sal, be quiet! The commander might hear you."

"I don't care if he hears me, Val, I'm not doing this... after this mission, I'm quitting the State Guard core and returning home."

"We both know that father would never allow you to pass through the gates."

"I'm done with it..."

"Would you please close your hole, if you don't have anything meaningful to say, keep your blunt chatter to yourself, Alicia is in danger here... if you don't want to help, step back, you'll just be holding the rest of us back!" Reene screamed at him to stop talking.

"Please, whoever asked for your opinion, I'm not here to save your girlfriend!!"

"Calm down, you two; we've got greater problems ahead of us, and your childish arguing isn't going to help us." Valmon cut them off in the middle of their heated argument.

The others scrutinized the horse to see if it had grown wings, and they were virtually flying across the bridge when a knight guard sprang into view, riding his horse at a meteoric speed. He jumped from the horse's back while it was still moving and fell awkwardly, almost wrenching his ankles off.

"They've arrived, sir!" he said, pausing to regain his breath.

"Okay, get ready; we want the dark bender and the state guard, as well as the small girl, to live. If Slejj tries to resist use force, are we clear?!"

"YES, SIR!"

They appeared in front of them, Alicia carrying Lisa on her back, who was sound sleeping. Daito strolled in the middle, carrying the bags they used while camping in the woods, while Slejj walked up front leading the pack of exhausted legs. Reene looked at them, speechless. After being taught to believe that the greatest gifted had died, there he was, walking, breathing, and doing everything else that alive people did. He was accompanied by Alicia.

Reene was interested in learning more about her. He realized she was different the instant he spoke with her. He was drawn to her personality rather than her appearances, though they did play a role. And then was his moment to be her knight in shining armor, swooping in to save her from the wicked sorcerer's grasp. Despite the fact that she didn't appear to be in need of assistance. It didn't make sense.

Whatever commander Alvatrone had said them, or how Slejj had manipulated them with some type of control magic, Reene had to act, and he had to act immediately.

MINUTES LATER

" Get inside! Remember the plan I told you about was there a day to come like this!?"

Daito paused for a minute.

"Look at me, kid! Do you recall!?"

"I do,"

"All right, now get inside and don't open the door till they've got me."

Daito and his companions entered the house. Alicia was perplexed, exhausted, and perplexed.

"An escape plan?" says the narrator.

Daito moved up to the table and drew out a large vessel of ink, ignoring her. He dipped the brush in ink and scraped the extra ink from the bottle's neck, then sketched an insignia over his palm.

" Quick, give me Lisa's hand!"

"What are you doing here..."

"GIVE ME LI... we can't afford to squander time!" For once, he sounded irritated. He took Lisa's hand in his and drew the same pattern. He then drew a similar pattern on Alicia's hand.

"What is the purpose of this? What's going on, Dai?"

Outside the house, Slejj's words echoed.

" You can come out now! I know you're there, Al, oh, please excuse my etiquette, captain Alvatrone!"

The knights tried their hardest to stay frozen in the woods till Alvatrone poked his head out of the leaves and made his way towards the home.

" Soldiers, put down your weapons... it appears we won't need them!"

Slowly, one by one, the troops approached the house, going into the open field.

"A long time indeed," Slejj replied as he slowly dropped to his knees and surrendered by extending his palms to the sky. The knight guards swooped in and shackled him about the ankles, wrists, and neck.

Alvatrone approached him and examined how the brace around his neck was choking him. He smiled pleasurably. The knight guards threw him to the ground with little regard for his face as it collided with the wooden tiling.

Reene and the others stood inches from the entrance, waiting for orders to enter and save the others.

"Wait, they could still be under his enchantment, and they might attack you! I'm hoping one of you can withstand a god magician's attack!" Avatrone remarked. Except for Reene, they all took a step back. After a brief delay, he followed suit. He was adamant about becoming a hero.

The knight guards' focus shifted from the former commander crumpled on the ground to the twiddling doorknob. They exited the home and walked out onto the porch. Alicia was still baffled by what was going on. All she was doing was following their lead.

"It was the slave insignia, as I had suspected. He has them under his spell of control. The slave emblem, in particular, temporarily erases their memories and alters their consciousness, causing them to believe whatever he wishes. Isn't that correct? I see your insignia has faded, which signifies you are no longer under his control."

Daito exchanged glances with Slejj and Alvatrone, who were waiting for his reaction.

" Yes, I recall every detail. He kidnapped me and fled seven years ago. He enchanted me with that spell as soon as he was clear, and the same thing happened to the state guard, who found us. But he knocked her out and cast the same spell on her..."

" But that's a lie! That was not the case..." Alicia responded with a bark.

"Her emblem is still active, thus she is still under the spell; it will take her some time to break free."

The knight guards approached Daito with caution and placed cuffs on his wrists.

" Daito! That is not the case... Why would you tell a lie?"

The soldiers escorted him from the porch, and Albert arrived halfway across the lawn, followed by Lora.

Alvatrone acknowledged his arrival by saying, "The man of the hour."

"That isn't necessary. Lora Deryleen, the honorary State Guard, is to thank for everything. We would never have discovered his hiding place if it hadn't been for her tip." Albert began applauding, directing his hands to Lora, who remained on her horse, uncomfortably processing the situation. She gave a feeble smile and twitched her lips as she caught a glimpse of Alicia's blazing eyes.

"You were the one! You swindled us!! You know the vurhans are still out there, so how could you... Nobody is going to come to the aid of those poor villagers!"

"I simply witnessed another State guard in despair and I couldn't sit around," Lora said softly.

Alvatrone, walked off the porch, " Okay everyone, lets head back to Royal Republic, I'm sure the king awaits our return!"