The cards fold

"That be all for today, the normal homework is due this time next week. Any extras I expect tomorrow morning, no excuse. I don't even have to be here physically to know you had not handed it in."

The long day had been full of curiosity for everyone. From learning about the teacher's private things, the grey guy whom appeared from thin air and the fantastic introduction of how to write in thier native language.

Raven had learnt about things he should have realized as someone whom writes often. Josh became wary of what his master needed to know about James. Rose has realized that there maybe potential in finding a prince by James, although there is room to guess that he was maybe the close servant of the prince. It explains the poor background but highly educated.

The only way for her to confirm this was to have him fight with a MAC magic instructor. To test his magic limit. Clearly his used to high abundant magic concentrations due to the over use of it while he was teaching. The cost of magic to her misunderstanding has made him pale. That wasn't what it was.

James knew it from what he said to himself when he had gained the wound in his chest. That it would be healthed enough to be considered stable... that the poison was making balance in his blood.

"It looks like you did to much today. Are you alright?" Josh lowers eye level to James. For now, James perched at the teachers desk. A hand holding his heart area of the chest, "Are you alright?" repeating the question in a more serious tone.

"Its nothing you can deal with. A reminder of how old I am today." He gets up and packs away things into storage, "Promises are to be kept. I cant keep running away forever, you know." He pays no mind of what reaction they have.

"I have been aware of you looking for their son and because of me, you haven't found all of him." Grey was speaking to Rose. This was exactly what thought she pinned but was dismissing for the moment, "There is a key witness whom was there at their murder. But in order for him to live, he had to be broken. Indeed a god law among reapers was broken and my influence has side affect. My illusions hide away things."

"I should speak to the company as a whole." James spoke gently.

"But you can't ignore you god parents. Your mother told me so." Grey pushed James face with a poke, "Dont you think they have the right to know frist."

"And let Josh here become autopilot." James glares and it thinks about that. A smile suddenly creeps and it dove a hand through Josh. It as ghostly so no wounds or damage was happening. Claws fingers pulled magic like chains and then snapped them. The instant both contract holders will know what happened. Josh felt no bad side affect of this breaking contract, it was given to Mark instead.

"Why could you not done that sooner?" Rose looks into Josh with shock, some of his life was poured back to him.

"Because it would have attracted Mark to close to us. Now it wouldn't matter. So... tell them. Make no regrets, fool. The damned have taught you that." Grey hissed.

"You're not wrong." James casted magic in pushing them to chairs, all four of them. Grey twisted itself to hover over James, "I haven't broken any law of inheritance, which it the most important to state first." He took Joshs wallet, "When my parents became married and took the throne. They made a deal for the honeymoon to go to none mage University. They became freinds with unlikely duo and granted those two influence of respect to the island, by electing them as god parents. Yet due to laws, they could not tell you their titles... only thier names... birth names. Every royal has two frist names. They told you their names." The photo removed and given back, "Mark was always after the queen's hand. He was like that growing up, so grey says to me often." James sits down, "They had 5 children that survived past the age of 10. I am actually the sixth. There was something that the gods had warned both of them... which lead to some very interesting arguments. The children fled because it directly affects them. I was to young and got left behind. I was there. Mark must have snapped that day, regrets it too. I dont recall what it was that cause him to murder them."

James takes pause as he made sure this was being recorded correctly, checking three phones on the desk. He had a floating pen written it all too. Josh had finally got what he was being told, looking to Rose.

"You're father has been looking for you. I am not sure where he went. He also isn't human anymore which doesn't help. I knew about this turth already. I was told not say for your safety. The DNA testing was to look for royals like you." Rose leans forwards, "Why didn't you trust me?"

"Am about to get onto that... Josh, you recall that my uncle has been sending you to strange places to look for ordinary objects. You seen some of them but you haven't successfully obtained one." James puts a few these to the desk, "They are why I don't remember well, have good use of magic or know myself. Those places were a trials set by my father. He was a the sort for horror, gore and fears. In the mind of a child, those places put any sanity at the limit." Josh picked one up, one he came close to finding and having, "Before I left the island, well... this half of myself. I was broken to be in these objects. Reassurance if any of the elder siblings failed to flee from Marks spree for power. It be wise that you continue looking for them. My other soul half is the one currently filling out paperwork and burning execution orders."

"Wait... so what happened to king and queen? We know their dead because of the church being able to know. We know they were murdered but without bodies or access to the upper palace." Josh makes quick question.

"Beheaded. The queen was protect my from Mark, she was first. There was rage that blinded the king, his fell next. There was a special dagger just for me. You see, Mark knew about some of magic casted over me as reassurance. So he had to use something equally. He seeks the child with the chest wound the most because he was warned that youngest surviving would stop him."

James had not moved his hand away from his chest, his whole body had now been showing some symptoms of posioning. Cold sweats, blacken nails, bluing lips and rigged breathing. Some veins were discoloured that shows. He has jittery shuffle on his seat and involuntary neck flexs. He gains some control of it and closed his eyes a moment. Meditation.

"The mad man wants to make gods kneel, but he was told it will never happen. Power hungery to be above all. A empty goal." Grey had grappled over James, almost hugging him. Holding James to the seat, a hand posing James to straighten up. A string of what seems drool drips on James shoulder.

"So what are you?" Raven asks Grey.

"A royal secret holder. I have watched the bloodline from the very beginning. I found that they had one day found me, three arguing brothers. I had not lied. They just made my wishes easier. A trade, not that I concisely agree to it. They used me to contorl their inheritance powers, make it easier to seek whom should rule the throne. In return, I found the human I was waiting for. That fact scares gods and those of this universe. But honestly, without this human." Grey went silent, just smiling at them. It narrows with staring at someone else and was back to a grin, "A little late, Marcus and Erebus. You're always late. I dislike that."

"So that is what you claim as turth." Erbus prepared for fighting, "How many tires this time?"

"This is actually the frist attempt. I am quite happy with it. Well, not the frist attempt at breaking the soul lock over Josh nor was it the frist time we had this conversation. No... Its the first time you heard me warn you of your demise." Erebus blocked Mark from attacking, "I am so proud that I dont need to fetch you out of the abyss again." Grey makes himself be put on like a cloak over James. A spray of shadows had drastically made objects appear across the room. Book studies for the students and evidence of proof to find other siblings.

Josh and Rose got out of the way of the fight and were collecting everything they can salvaging. Raven was turned into a bird and that of his god had soon been helping manage the situation. The hunters of Oath and grim reapers that been waiting for James to die knew this was a breach of laws. They got stuck in with managing to disarm Mark from any further action. In the fray, James was gone. Well... He was hidden from sight of them all.

The MAC clean up crew, the crime investigation set and god followers to meditate between hunters of oath and normal people.

The classroom was combed through, many leads were quickly turning in more and more truths. Thanks to it all and Marks forced hands to speak. He confessed to the murders of many. He spilt the beans for some royal secrets like knowing the king and queens university study and the blood royals curse of being two halves. When he said that, he escape confinement and had returned to the mage island... protected by the unchanged laws there.

The investigation into the only royal they did know as someone still alive was James. All the background paperwork was among the evidence, painting a picture of his early life outside of mage influences. It got moved to a full search when they learned of the posioning and the side affect. The company was afraid of losing all known trail of direct inheritance of the mage throne.

The bodies of the dead were found and respected to be sent to the city of the undead. It gave some courage to ask the royals directly. The ceremony was not to be rushed... so there was a set date for when that can happen. By then it be to late to find a living royal to take the throne. Well, that's what was assumed.

The sewage project that ghost Philip started had other purposes. His youngest sister, the middle eldest brother and the oldest had managed to play poor. The sewage project created a place for family-less mages (whom disliked the orphanages of the church and evaded punishment of crimes) to sleep. Hidden passages that were made into homes for them. A place to learn magic among themselves without adults. It was also done for health benefits of getting sewage, rotting dead and disease off the mage island streets.

Those three are waiting for the go headed by Philip to come home. Relying on Philip to sneak food supplies, building materials and medicines. They never left the country. It was the eldest whom was the current hold of the mage kings power. He gave Philip permission to go through study paperwork but it was a two way street. Somethings had to be signed by the eldest. Creating confused frustration of nobility to have no final say on new laws being implemented.

"This was sent by the MAC, address to you. There was a lot of strange instructions that we have follow to deliver it." Four Damned nobility bowed to Philip, currently sat back in a waiting room, "We could not deliver sooner due to Mark and the instructions."

"I cant believe that it worked, finally." The damned look at each other confused, "You inform the hunters of oath to be invited to this location and date. Make sure Death himself has someone suitable." Two bow and sort that out, "Give this to my siblings in the sewage passage, tell them to read it all before they leave. Let them take the time." A thick envelope is passed, another damned leaves, "Help me open the box."

Three bent crowbars had not budged the locking mechanism. In being this close together, removing the bent one from storage and actually remembering it at all. This was the perfect one, allowing them to flex the lid off. James coughs and crawl out, weakly. Blood smears the carpet. Grey forced him to stand, snatching the two soul sides together. He is knocked out cold, picked up from the floor and carried to be prepared. The noble whom witnessed this had become to scared to move. A uncomfortable smile and glee filled its eyes, staring at the blood on the carpet. Blood the was melting the carpet.

It peels some more wood to find that it was a lead metal drum. There was no telling what liquid was it full of. Its never seen air space jelly before. A fluid that deep sea drivers breath intead of air in exploration. Its expensive and hard to obtain in this large amount.

"I helped smuggling a royal back into the country." The noble stands in shock.

"For that, I forgive you." it looks to the late kings spirit, finally satisfied enough to move on. Collected by a grim reaper.

"You should have asked where your youngest son went before doing that." Sean in a cat form purrs, "But..." a ear flexed with hearing commotion from servants, "It seems like you should see your other children frist." The late king tilted in confusion and goes to find what was happening.

"Mother always planned on returning the forests back, well. I am going to continue her legacy. It that is OK with you." The sister giggles as the flower fey of the courtyard welcomes them back. They help her be presentable to the public since she is of age. The middle eldest was reading a Bible passage with trying to make sense of what laws was broken. The oldest stands staring up to the royal office window, having a headache about what he needs to do.

"Are you really going to have our youngest brother execution?" the middle eldest throws the book down to the small wood table.

"He committed those crimes to survive and for us." the sister adds.

"It wouldn't matter." The elder turned to how the doors opened, "You were stabbed in the chest... with a god slayer tooth. To please the families reputation and public favour... as you requested. A public execution. Just so it proves further point, Mark will be joining you." He declared, "If that is OK with you."

"I have no problem with it. What's the method?"

"Duel... since there has to be divine chance for Mark." James nods, "What are our god parents like?"

"You met Mark's servant before. Josh... His wife was from a weavers family from this island. She's a good soul. They love each other passionately and that reflects on how well they foster kids. They arent able to have their own." Given soft nods of understanding, " I am honored to finally met you."

James does not care for formalities. He hugs his siblings properly, sharing how a normal family would greet each other. He had tricket gifts for them from his off land deeds, souvenirs. He was just as happy to see them happy. The eldest sees a few damned servants come to inform of even being ready. Siblings together casted the suitable spell to appear on a platform. The invite to witness this death duel was outside the palace walls. Folks of nobility and that of the directors of MAC world wide had front row seats. Importantly was those that mattered, another two royal children broke from the crowd and joined their place beside siblings. James greets them, gifted and was careless of the public sight. When they were done whispering to each other. the three eldest came forwards.

James could hear the speech, he was in meditation. Keeping control of himself. The inflex of his soul pieced back together was unbearable. Even with the training and influence of ender.

"Do you have any last words, Philip James?" The eldest looking back to him, snapped back to being aware.

"I have no regrets. I will still be of use to you even after I am dead. Please be cautious of requesting me. I will no longer be human then but it doesn't change my love for family." James pats the shoulder and then stood up the ledge. He jumps to the dueling arena.

"Due to the many crimes you have committed, you are also sentence the same execution as our uncle. This means the law of asking for a champion to fight in your place is not permitted."

Spoken clear and just. The public is excited for a death match, roaring cheers for whom does first. There is colour drained from those whom understand what exactly was just announced. Taken back in how barbaric laws have been on this island nation. Death's only human living follower stand to referee of this. Among the dead nobility of the damned, many frown in the excitement of watching two living damned kill each other. There is some that wish to stop this from happening. To save both duelist from killing each other.

"Any last words, Marcus Mark Lan Glader Darkcraft?"

"There wouldn't be." Mark was oozing in confidence.

"Well no matter what, I am dying today. I want to know anything you have to tell me before I die. After all, the dagger used on me back then... breaks law." James takes it out, "I have survived the posioning but I am not going to survive as a human after today." The dagger thrown at Marks feet, "Make the match worthwhile because I not making it a cake walk. Not even stealing from Erebus is going to help you."

"Very amusing to claim such allegations. I still deny any claim of murder or attempted."

"I actually understood what you mean. But it was still your hands. If you think that you know the real murderer. You can come back after death to tell them." Blades were unscathed, "I guess the only thing I wish I knew was why you hated me the most out of all of my siblings. I seen you as my role model and this is how things became."

"Because your in the way. You were always in the way of everything. Even when you were missing, you found ways to be a nuisance. Reminding me of myself and my aunt."

Ah, the way he is was due to mistreatment by the one other person he looked up. He became harden and twisted because of his place. He was meant to marry the queen and be his brother. His aunt pushed things to be for his little brother to have it all. She taught his brother to be the twisted man. That hatred was unfortunately never satisfied. Place on the one person that reflects back the most.

A god followers religious tool was unsheathed for this duel. Magic had became dense and drawn. Elements of other worlds were distorting the normal elements used. First embers were sparks of fireworks, burning unnatural gases. Snow frosted flakes of purples and pinks carpets the decking. Those to close had to cast underwater breathing spells. A perfect dome enclosed the two readying to dance and Death's own follower.

"I guess I do have a final say in case I do croak." He puts stance ready, "My legacy will continue to the next one of your siblings. My greatest desires is driectly tied to my blood. Someday this world will beg for mercy and the gods well plead for mercy." He laughs and doesn't wait any longer.

This was to be a surprise attack to finish it all before it starts. James didn't even dodge it. The god tool was a scimitar of voided dark, the name had to be translated 'the claws of times edge'. If the turth wasn't more weird this weapon is made by Ender influences. Another object that shouldn't be.

Matk puffed proud with pulling the weapon back out. He stands back a step to avoid a corpse ash in his away. His expressions snarls as he blocked a counter attack, thrown into the dome wall. A harsh sound of something creaking as he landed oddly.

"You have to do better then that." Sparks of clashing strength. It was Marks turn to block significant injuries. The tip of a spear was dotted around Mark, not aiming for significant damage. Just chipped skin of small wounds. The more added, the drawing blood was revalling what those were. James was cutting runes of spells. Tattooing Mark of curses, James's own ender influences. You could say this battle wasn't even started until this play of poke was done.

The world has seem to melted for them both, as a version of time erased had forced itself in contact. Mark had already gained his moment of glory to have all power and influence over all. At this conjunction of time, there was a law being broken. There should only be one Ender. At this moment, there is Mark with his time of desolation and James with everything being erased in scars. The two were of equivalent powers.

"How dare you! You will never be above me!" It took one mistake from Mark to be a victory for James.

The two jump for a slash, James stayed low and Mark expected to clash upwards. The worlds of time snapped and organs spilt over the dueling platform. Swiftly with exact motion, the weapons beheaded them both. James was clean and instant. The momentum of spilt seconds, split the head in half. The bodies collapse together, a strange and almost embrace.

"What exactly just happened?" The follower of Death asked. His lord stood flicking through pages. A Silver cat jumps down from a shoulder, right up to both corpses. Goes searching for the souls. Sean gets aggression for unable to find them both. Hissing and now jumping around every part he can. Death prevents his follower from going over.

"Judgement is a syth whom oversees all of the tome, not just the section we do." The follower nods but directed to how there is someone else watching the syth in amusement. Death puts the tome away.

"He doesnt belong to that section, right?" The inky gloop of a being purrs as asking a floating book. The book closed itself and directs to Death, "So be it. Its worth the judges check." Sean turned into a mock human, taking the soul from inky claws. He does his work and take it to the God follower of death. The follower has a tome moved as the name bleeds into the page.

"He has a few recycling lives to be added." Sean give bow to Death, "The other soul is well... I am not about to pry it out of that freaks mouth. He purrs to much." Death looks in study of the Ender. As it plays rather jovial questions to the floating book, "like a child with a favorite toy. Its been looking for this soul." Sean left Deaths side with that knowledge shared.

"Your not the only one able to remove souls from a corpse, my friend. You just have morals of universe judging power. I... I dont have the right to be judging anyone."

The mass splashed over the corpses and put the soul back to the corpse it does belong to. Stood up, and head place back onto the neck joint.

"Not that it seems it, both duelist are dead." The follower of Death addresses the crowd, "Laws have been satisfied with this justice served."

Unconsciously James placed a hand at his chest. Anyone watching would think it was a bow of respect. The weapons used were mangled twisted blunt metal twigs. Clothing, organs and bone was tattered. The fight was to everyone else, 5 minutes.

For the two of them, time fell apart and ripped. The fight took them many worlds. The damage to those worlds wasn't to any affect of this timeline, those other worlds were erased moments of time or were pages torn of other soul tomes. The enders of other timelines did not interfere with a fight between the god title they granted that ender. It were of only for them to mind thier own worlds and timelines.

This battle had drove the two equals to the place they should have been fighting from the start, the precipice of the universe tomes limits. A broken area of no laws they have ever encountered with native things that weren't soulless or of a soul shape they recognised. These natives became thier judges...

What that fight ended on was showing whom was strong enough to fight the unknown beyond this universe. Mark had assumed he must be powerful to rule all and be all. It was of James to bow when dues were needed, to respect that leaving his universe meant following the laws of other beyond places, beings and existences. James knew he was meant to help the beings, not fight or harm or break their rules. It was the deciding factor to which ender this universe picked.

Those natives had returned this respect and relationship of friendship. They gave him treatment for his injuries and posioning. But... this treatment is not the normal lawful way that in universe souls accepted normally. It has tainted him... took away his humanity, well what little that clung since this fight.