Departure from the Kingdom

As Belial and the girls emerged from the depths of the dungeon, for the girls, the weight of their encounter with the king and the secrets they had uncovered hung heavy in the air. Yet, despite the gravity of their mission, there was a sense of relief that washed over them as they stepped out into the cool night air.

With the Scepter of Power in his possession, Belial's gaze was focused on the path ahead, his mind already turning to the next stage of their journey. The girls followed closely behind, their thoughts consumed by the events that had unfolded in the castle and the mysteries that still remained unanswered.

In front of them the high walls of the castle, even in darkness they stood as an imposing barrier for all who would dare attempt to do harm to the king or his kingdom. For Belial however, it was nothing more than a man made object which he could bend or destroy to do his bidding.

As the five of them made their way through the castle courtyard, the guards eyed them warily, their expressions tense as they watched the group pass by. But Belial paid them no mind, his attention fixed on the looming silhouette of the castle walls as they faded into the distance behind them.

At last, they once again reached the grand entrance to the castle, where the king awaited their return. Unsure what that return would bring, the king knew that he must face it regardless of the outcome. With a sense of purpose, Belial strode forward, his demeanor calm and composed as he once again requested an audience with the king.

Being allowed to return to the throne room Belial stepped forward and addressed the king once more.

"Your Majesty," he began, his voice carrying across the space between them with an air of finality. "My work here is done. The creature that threatened your kingdom is no more, and the Scepter of Power is once again safe in my hands."

The king regarded Belial with a mixture of gratitude and apprehension, his eyes betraying the turmoil of emotions swirling within him. "I... I thank you for your service," he replied, his voice tinged with resignation. "Though I cannot say that I understand the true nature of your intentions, I am grateful for your assistance in this matter." 

"I understand that it would now be your intent to leave our kingdom?" the king inquired. Hoping that was indeed his intent.

With a nod of acknowledgment, Belial turned to the girls, his expression unreadable as he gestured for them to follow. "It is time for us to leave this kingdom," he said, his voice low and urgent. "Our journey is far from over, and there are still many trials ahead of us."

Without waiting for a response, Belial led the group out of the castle gates and into the night, the darkness of the forest beckoning them onward. The girls followed in silence, their minds buzzing with questions and uncertainties, but with a newfound sense of purpose burning within them.

Turning to Belial, it was Claire who spoke first. "Is this your only purpose for bringing us here?"

It is," he replied, "I knew that I would find my brother in this time and place. Therefore we had to come here to complete the mission."

"But he was your brother, you killed your own brother,: she stated, "in fact you had us kill him for you. Why, could you not have killed him yourself?"

"Do I have the power to kill him, yes," he explained, "but if I did that others would know it was me and I am not yet ready to face them. I must obtain other powers first." He went on, "him being attacked and killed by the four of you will leave no trace that I was involved. With the treasure's disappearance it simply looks like a group of treasure hunters were lucky to make their way to that room and commit this crime. I shall have to show surprise and grief when the truth is revealed."

"The Scepter of Power was rightfully mine but it was taken from me and given to my brother for safe keeping. Now it is rightly back in my possession." Belial added.

"But to kill your own brother, just for power, that is just wrong," Hannah stated with all the honor and compassion she possessed. 

"While from your narrow perspective that may in fact be the case but understand this. Today was but the first step along our path. We will do far greater things before our mission is done." he said with his words being left for the girls to absorb.

Walking forward, they disappeared into the shadows of the forest, the castle faded into the distance behind them, its towering spires standing as silent sentinels over the kingdom below. Looking back each of the girls reflected on the people they had met and how they had impacted their lives, each having an influence on the person they were today. 

The reflected on the journey, their first battle in the inn, the joy of the bard, the family they saved, the evil they faced. They also thought about the king and the impact Belial's presence had on him and of course Belial's brother. Each of them in some small way had helped them to prepare for not only this journey but for the ones that lay ahead as well. All those people had make a big impression on the girls but although their time in the kingdom had been brief, the impact of their presence on this kingdom and those that live here would linger on, shaping the course of events for years to come.

But for now, their focus was on the path ahead, on the challenges that awaited them beyond the safety of the castle walls. With Belial leading the way, they journeyed deeper into the heart of the forest, their destinies intertwined as they faced the unknown together, ready to confront whatever trials lay ahead on their quest for power and redemption. What was their next stop, they had yet to be told.