The Desperation of Courage

As Kieron and Felkin disappeared into thin air from the field of white leaves, Ellyn had helped Yuria up, Jura and N were looking at each other after the Felkin had somehow successfully travelled out from their current realm. "Huh, they actually did it." The boy remarked. "Then that's that." Jura exclaimed, patting his legs off with dust and walking back inside. He passed Serafion who had retreated back into the house and was furiously jotting down information, with a quill ink pen and an empty book that she had acquired from the shelves and cabinets in the house. She was whispering and mumbling to herself and had one hand on her head while doing so. N followed Jura in and saw Serafion.

"She appears to be recording this information... Should we... stop her from doing it? To prevent her from spreading it from anybody else?" N asked towards Jura. "Hmm... I don't think that she'll have much to say it to." Jura said to the boy. "Are you going to share this information or spread it to anybody?" He asked towards her. "Er... No." She answered, momentarily snapped out of her concentration and answered. "See. Well, if it ever becomes a problem in a future... We'll deal with it." He said, walking upstairs. "Help the others." He said to N. "Oh, right!" The boy exclaimed, before running back outside.

"I... can walk by myself..." Yuria feebly remarked. "Just let me help you..." Ellyn relented. "Guys! I'm... So sorry. I shouldn't have brought her out here due to her condition." N apologized to the two. "I... was the one who wanted to stand up and go outside." Said Yuria. "And I don't like to admit it but, she made a large contribution because of her involvement." Said Ellyn. "No... I... just helped him. What I did was only a slight part to bridge the gap for him." Said Yuria. N then assisted Ellyn in helping up Yuria and helping her walk upstairs to one of the bedrooms. As N and Ellyn laid Yuria down, and Ellyn pulled a blanket to cover her. Ellyn stood over Yuria solemnly, and then walked out of the room as N held his hands and radiated a warmth down on Yuria.

"The bathroom's down the hall, if you need it!" He said towards Ellyn. 'Wait, if this place isn't connected to the rest of the city, then where does the waste go?' Ellyn wondered. She walked back down the stairs and sat down with a sigh. "Guess there's nothing I can do except wait..." She said to herself. "What?" Serafion asked her, immersed in thought. "It's nothing." Ellyn answered. Ellyn stared out of the window and towards the outside and thought to herself. 'Should I have went? No... I would've been useless...'

She started to recall the words of her father, the old man. 'Don't put yourself down, think about the situation calmly and logically, and understand it before making a rash judgement of yourself.' She recalled when she was young and despaired when she felt herself useless with the tasks, she could not complete with only one arm. 'It's obvious, dad! I'll... always be less. I'll always be able to do less!' Her younger self complained to the old man. 'Remember what you've said to you. Approach the situation in a neutral manner. Consider what's real, and what's happened in a literal sense.' He answered. 'Okay... With only a single arm... I can lift less because I can't use the strength of both of my arms, I can pick up less things... I can only hold one thing at once instead of two... I can only do one thing at once instead of two... There's more to mention, but...' Her voice trailed off before the old man reassuringly put his hand on her shoulder.

'Well... Now that you understand... We can work on it.' He responded. 'What?' Ellyn had asked. 'I'm not asking you not to be sad, or to not feel bad... But there's a reason why some people were glasses and crutches... And why people train to be stronger or study to be smarter.' 'Why's that?' Ellyn innocently asked, teary eyed. 'We can't choose how we're born, or to whom. Some people are poor, some are rich. Some are born strong and healthy, but others are disadvantage and crippled. But what we do now can change it. Some people... have to work harder than others to do it, but...' "All that matters is we have to work as hard as we can... No matter what." Ellyn clutched the stump of her arm, as she recalled her father caressing it in the past. "I... wish that I still had my arm... If I get a chance, I'd like to build one with the old man. But now... I can still be useful." She said to herself.

Serafion paused in her writing and leaned back on her chair with a sigh. 'Still barely feels real.' She extended her hand and touched the glass window as she looked outside towards the landscape. 'But... If I can't trust what I see, it would be a fool's errand to try to understand or record what I see altogether. All of this, it still makes sense for what I've learned... But I'm just scratching the surface of everything...' She and Ellyn looked up to the cries of the flying creatures above. 'Though... This all feels like the imaginations and stories I was told to when I was a child.' Serafion said to herself. 'Before... I began my pursuit of knowledge and soon... power, to survive that den of vipers... To survive, I ascended through the ranks... And to maintain my position, I...' She clutched the pen she held tightly. 'Do what we have to, huh. I realize now what ties this place to reality. Struggle... Warring factions, and hidden agendas... It looks like this is another situation where I have to survive in.' She said to herself.

Upstairs, Jura entered the room where N and Yuria was. As Yuria slept with a slightly pained look on her face, the boy tried as best he could with his magic. "Is she asleep?" He asked. "It's fine, we can talk." the boy responded. They both looked at each other in realization of the situation that just transpired. "Back there... did you see, no... feel that presence?" He asked Jura. "Yeah, that darkness... Its unmistakable. Its 'her'." Said Jura. "So, our guesses were right, he's being used as a conduit of darkness, and seems to be being aided by her... But I don't think he's strictly following her wishes..." N answered. "But the other powers won't see it that way..." Jura answered.

"What will you do about him now?" N asked him. "I'll wait for my orders..." Answered Jura. "So... what do you make of this situation?" N asked Jura, after pausing. "Well... things are moving rather quickly... The matters happening have been more than what has happened in decades. The powers are making a play, due to the influences 'he' caused. For now, only a few sides are pushing, but I fear that once enough time passes, all sides will join the power struggle." He answered. "Anything from the higher ups?" N asked Jura. "Well, the fact that she's not here means they've tasked her to do something. And outside, I met that boy in their employ, Rennon." "Him, huh. So they don't trust you to deal with the things here." N answered. "It seems so." Said Jura.

"The others... you think that they should've prepared more? We have supplies here, that they could have brought... Or maybe..." "They were lacking in time, and if an item or two can't change the tide or the outcome altogether." Jura answered. "Hey, did you really mean that you can't interfere or go with them to the court of flame? That it would incite war?" N asked him. Jura was silent, as N looked towards him with a suspecting expression. The old warrior looked down onto Yuria, his eyes squinted in concern. "Is she familiar to you?" The boy asked. "Hmph." Jura remarked as he walked out from the room. 'Sometimes, I never know what he's thinking.' The boy thought to himself.

Downstairs, Ellyn had gathered books, medical supplies, some food and other supplies in preparation for the others' return. Jura walked downstairs to retrieve his tools when Ellyn asked him: "Do... you know how long will it take for them to come back?" "Who knows... travels between realms and through the void can affect the time it takes. It could be right this second, or it could take days. Or... they might not return at all." He answered. "Don't... say that." Ellyn replied with her breath starting to shake. "It's merely a factual observation, in any endeavor there is a certain amount of risk to be considered. And if the battle is with the powerful forces he described, the chance of risk is high indeed." Serafion replied. "In any case... Short of running in after them... The only thing we can do is wait." said Jura, walking and picking up his tools.

Jura walked around and drank his liquor from time to time, and the others were silently at work with their own tasks. Suddenly, Kieron, Iris and Asralyn and the dirtied boy appeared outside the building and the three of them fell forward onto the white leaves. Kieron stood on one knee and was panting heavily, while Iris stood wide-eyed, trying to make sense of the sudden landscape before them as she held the boy with one arm. "What... Is this place?" She asked.

Ellyn rushed outside, and Asralyn quickly stood up and raised her fists towards her in a panic. Jura raised his weapons and burst out the door with his tools raised, fearing an intruder from another realm. Iris raised her hands towards him. "Stand down! Old man, they're good!" Kieron said to him. "Hmm..." He remarked, looking at the two of them before lowering his tools. "Too many people here..." He muttered as he went back inside. "Whew..." Kieron sighed. "Wait... Where are Metas and Felkin?" Ellyn asked. Asralyn was jolted by the mention of her brother's name. "I... was forced to travel back here as a last resort option to avoid an attack... I... still don't know if I can control the ability but... I'll try going back soon!" Kieron exclaimed.

"Well... Let's see what we can do... You look tired, maybe its an ability that consumes a lot of energy, maybe you should rest first?" Ellyn asked. "Well I'd like to go right away, but... I'm convinced what I did can't be replicated multiple times..." said Kieron. "In any case... Let's just go inside for now, do you two need medical supplies? Food or water?" Ellyn asked as she walked and led the other three. Asralyn had her hands around her torso and looked down nervously, while Iris' looked around curiously with her eyes wide. "My injuries... they're not of concern right now, and I... don't necessarily need to eat or drink water... Thanks for the concern. Though... If he wakes, he'll probably need food and water." Said Iris, referring to the boy.

"Is... there a room where I can be left alone?" Asralyn asked, but as she looked up slightly, she saw Serafion sitting at a table nearby, having donned a pair of reading glasses and was beside a tall tower of books. "You... You're! You're here!" Asralyn remarked, surprised. "Hrm?" Serafion turned towards her. "Oh, you probably don't recognize me-" "No, I know you... You're that stubborn girl... The one who who wanted to be a knight so much... You and your brothers were treated so favorably by the kingdom, but... I suppose that was before... We're all traitors now." Serafion remarked with a smile. Asralyn tried to smile, and followed after Ellyn and the other two.

"Two of the rooms upstairs are unoccupied, and the bathroom's down the hall." Ellyn said. Asralyn nodded and proceeded upstairs with Iris carrying the unconscious boy with her. "Are you sure you don't need anything?" Ellyn asked. "No..." Kieron remarked, seated on one of the chairs and looking closely at the sickle in her hand, devoid of its light. Jura walked and opened the door before continuing outside. "Where are you going?" Kieron asked him. "I... just remembered something I have to do, I'll be back soon." He answered. "Well... that's that." Ellyn commented. "We... need to find a way to go back there and rescue them..." Said Iris, walking down from the up stairs. "But... I don't think I'll be useful if I don't stop moving for a while..." She added. "I don't think those two would like us to come back to danger for them, but we have to... But I don't think me coming there would make much difference." Said Ellyn.

"Those two in the realm, and that being... Its too much for us to fight, and much harder if I was alone... And I don't think she'll want to go back there." Kieron exclaimed referring to Asralyn. "Tell us what exactly happened, we'll plan better if all of us are aware of the situation." Said Serafion. "It began when we were fighting off the invasion of the bandits earlier... Me and Metas felt a sudden sensation, then we were suddenly transported to the realm of flames." Said Iris. "We were placed in some large empty room, like a holding chamber. But after a while of waiting, we were transported to another room, and to in front of the throne room of these things... These creatures that seemed like they were entirely made out of flame." She continued. "Made of flame?" Serafion asked. "Yes, seemingly existing devoid of a body or organs and were comprised of fire itself. Somewhat similar to me..." Iris answered.

"Hmm... I didn't notice it at first, but your skin... are you human?" Serafion exclaimed. "Let's focus on the current matter." Ellyn remarked. "When Felkin and I transported ourselves to that other world, we needed a tremendous amount of energy and his will to do so. But since it looks like this has run out of juice, so that's another issue." Said Kieron. "In that matter, maybe I can help. My flames can create some energy to fuel it, though I don't know if it's compatible." Said Iris. "Wouldn't you lose the ability to move if you did?" Asked Ellyn. "Only... temporarily..." She answered. "If that mattter isn't pressing for the time being, let's think about what you'll be doing when you go back." Said Serafion. "What about your opponents, your enemies?" She asked.

"There was a being that called herself the flame matriarch. She looked to be insurmountably powerful as even Felkin couldn't push her back. And I thought that was the strongest out of all of us. And those two from the kingdom, they're frightening in their own right." Answered Kieron. "In situations like these, the best thing to do is to flee or to avoid the fight altogether but... Since you're returning back to the danger, it would be best not to fight." Said Serafion. "Not to fight?" Ellyn asked.

"Simply put, if your only goal is to take and make survive your allies instead of defeating your enemies, then you only need to go to the realm, grab them, and leave the realm." Serafion remarked. "Huh." Kieron remarked. "If that problem is solved then we have to think about a source of energy again... No offense to you, but the amount he used earlier was high..." Ellyn remarked. "None taken. But what did it take earlier? If we know those conditions, then maybe we can replicate it right now..." Said Iris. "A most correct assertion." Serafion exclaimed, stopping from writing and raising her pen.

"The conditions earlier..." Ellyn wondered. "I think I helped with that one." N commented as he walked down the stairs towards the first floor. "Though... I was only a small part in that matter... One of three. To match the other forces is a large feat..." He added. "What were the other forces?" Iris asked. "One was from this weapon that Felkin handed to me, one was from the boy... And the last source of energy was from the darkness from Felkin himself." Said Kieron. "Darkness..." Iris said to herself as she recalled the centipedes and darkness she saw from Felkin. "That... will be quite difficult to replicate." Serafion remarked.

"Don't you have access to the same kind of dark magic as Felkin?" Ellyn asked Serafion. "It's of a limited capacity... I use my own energy, my mana... to conjure up small gateways to gather a large amount of that dark energy, and use it to my will... Thus using a measly amount of energy from me, to achieve a feat I cannot perform physically." Answered Serafion. "Does that mean you can help us?" Kieron asked. "It's not enough, however... Life energy can be easily substituted for a slight boost." Serafion remarked. "Life... energy?" Ellyn remarked. "Provided any of you have the stones to risk your own life to do so... Energy in the body can be quite potent indeed..." Serafion exclaimed with a smile.

"Couldn't... you do it?" Kieron asked. "Oh my... Me using my magic for this purpose is already risking my own efforts and energy for this... You're the ones more likely to give your own energy to do it since they're your friends... I have no reason to risk myself to help you." She answered. N squinted as his eyebrows furrowed. "Tsk." Ellyn exclaimed. "She's... right guys." N said reluctantly. "See, the boy realizes it. You cannot expect anybody to risk life and limb for just any purpose... In theory I can just sit back here and watch, I do not benefit from this." Said Serafion. "We... we rescued you and took you here, and... we outnumber you..." Kieron remarked, wary.

"You're threatening me?" Serafion asked, raising her hands from a cross armed pose. Ellyn, Iris and N suddenly raised their guard. "Hmph." Kieron readied herself. "Bravo, a good effort. Don't expect everything to be paid by friendship and trust alone, things outside... are often transactional. Though, I always planned to help." Serafion said, clapping. "What?" Kieron asked, relieved. "Even though I personally, have nothing to gain... I'd prefer to see the boy safe anyhow..." Serafion said, closing a book on the table and standing up. She walked outside as the others stood confused. "Let's go." She remarked.

"Hmm?" Ellyn questioned. "You said there's no time to waste right? So we should do this as soon as possible." Serafion responded. Ellyn, Kieron, Iris and N followed her to the white leaved ground. "Hold it out." She said. Kieron held her hand out holding the sickle as Serafion traced a circle in the air using her fingers. "Alright, an energy source, and... What else is needed?" Iris asked, raising her arms which were going alight with her flames. "A strong desire to go to that location, and an envisioning of the location itself." Said Ellyn. "Since I've been there already, I... have both." Kieron said as her eyes shimmered with determination. She looked down as her sickle flashed with faint blue and gold light.

"I... can feel the spirits of those two... I feel like they're agreeing to the task." N remarked, raising his hands forward. "Yeah, I can feel them too... though they're currently preserving energy for their form..." Kieron answered. A small void in the air opened from where Serafion made a motion, and darkness lightly emanated from it. "Are you ready?" Serafion asked. "Yeah." Kieron replied. Serafion then opened her palm and moved her hand forward, and created a slow stream of darkness towards the shotel. N held his hands towards the weapon and sent out his energy. Iris clamped her hands on the weapon and gently flared her flames onto it. "Will this work? Won't this break the weapon?" She asked. "Only one way to try..." Kieron said, closing her eyes.

All of them had serious expressions as they strained in effort to provide more energy for the shotel. "It's... not working!" Kieron remarked to herself. "We... need more energy!" Said Serafion. 'More energy...' N said to himself, before looking down towards the ground. Ellyn could only watch as the others struggled, though she could not contribute for them. N bent down sideways as he reached towards the floor with one hand, and touched the leafy ground. Suddenly, the leaves below him began to rot away and disappear, and the group was slowly lowered until they reached a rocky ground, as the white leaves in their surroundings began to crumble away and created a barren circle around them. "Won't this... cause problems?" Asked Ellyn. "It's fine, I always thought this place was a little overgrown. Besides, Jura left a while ago, right?" N exclaimed. As the leafy floor beneath them disappeared, Kieron's balance shifted and she stumbled back slightly.

"Did it work?" Ellyn turned towards Kieron. "Where... It did work! Wait, maybe she fell into the leaves without us noticing?" N remarked. "I... lost my grip on her and she disappeared. " Said Iris. "Whew... At least it worked." Serafion remarked, wiping sweat off from her brow. "That... took a bit from me." She added. Iris looked around at the small radius around the house devoid of the white leaves. "You absorbed the life from these leaves as energy..." She remarked. "Yeah..." said the boy. "Let's... hope she'll succeed..." Said Ellyn. "That's... all we can do here..." Said Serafion.

"Uh... I think he needs something." Asralyn remarked, as she stood at the door with the young boy clinging to her leg. "Huh, what's with all the injured walking about when they're not supposed to..." N exclaimed as they looked at the child. "Small child, you should refrain from walking about and rest upstairs." Iris said to the boy, but the child cowered behind Asralyn. "I... Don't think he understands you..." Ellyn exclaimed. "And rather prefers you not to be near." Serafion remarked. "Hey kid, what do you need? Food, water? Or maybe you want to go to the toilet?" Ellyn leaned and asked the boy.

"I showed those things to him and showed him the bathroom. It's either he doesn't want them or if he wants to 'go', he can't do it alone." Said Asralyn. "I'd like to help... But not with that..." Ellyn replied. "Well... I guess that only leaves one person..." N said, as he turned towards Serafion. "Wait... Me?" She replied, confused. "Well, you're the only adult here." Said Iris. "You haven't had any experience or read books on this? Weren't you a scholar?" Said Asralyn. "Urk." Serafion remarked. "Well... You should be the one he can relate to the most, seeing you both are relative in size that is." She said to N. "Hey!" He protested.

"Wait... Can't you read his thoughts or emotions?" Ellyn asked him. "Tsk... You ruined the fun..." N said to himself before walking towards the boy. He breathed deeply. 'What is thine desire?' N asked as he raised his hands before the boy. "Huh." He remarked. "What do you hear from him?" Ellyn asked. 'Hmm... What a unique ability...' Iris said to herself. "Huh, the mind of a child really is simple..." N exclaimed. "What?" Said Iris. "It seems... he wants a hug, and to be read to as sleep..." Said N. "Oh..." Ellyn remarked. "That's..." Ellyn added, not being able to finish her words. Asralyn was silent. "I'd like to help him... But... Well... He's afraid of me..." Said Iris. "Hmm..." N turned towards Serafion once more.

"Don't look at me again." Said Serafion. The others turned towards Serafion. "Alright, alright." She said before sighing and walking towards the boy. "Hey, kid." She walked towards him and bent down to reach his height. The boy then let go of Asralyn and raised her hands towards Serafion. "Woah!" Asralyn remarked. Serafion's slender hand took one of the boy's as they walked inside and up the steps to the second floor. "Well..." N entered through the door and grabbed a piece of bread off a plate. "Nom..." He remarked. "You guys want some?" He asked the others.

Iris waved her hand in a gesture of refusal, Ellyn obliged and ate from the plate while Asralyn turned down the offer. "Do you even need to eat?" Ellyn asked. "Nope." N answered. As they ate, Asralyn shyly held her hands together. "So..." Asralyn remarked. "What is it?" Ellyn asked. "What... do you know about my brother?" She asked, looking towards the ground. "I talked with him briefly so I only got a short impression of him." Iris added. "I think Ellyn might have spent the longest time with him..." N remarked. "I'm pretty much in the same boat as the other two since I haven't even slept since I met him a day or two ago... But... I don't think he's a bad person. At least that's the impression I got from him." Said Ellyn.

"How can you say that about a person when you barely know them... For all you know it could be an act, or there's a darker side to that person that you don't know." Asralyn answered back. "Well... at the very least he cares greatly about you. Without hesitation he called out to me to come to your aid earlier. Even injured, he asked me to leave him alone as he tried to save that child. Logically speaking, there's no reason for him to do so... I can think of a few but I believe that they weren't the first things on his mind." Said Iris. "In fact, the reason that he returned to the capital instead of going to hiding in another nation is that he thought that you would be in danger because of his actions and came to rescue you if you were to be detained or captured." N said casually, before shovelling more food in his mouth.

"Then why did he betray the kingdom! It's always him doing something and we're suffering the consequences. He suffers the most because of him... He should've just left us alone so we won't be lumped in with him..." Asralyn said with contempt, teary eyed and still looking towards the ground. Before any of the others could respond to Asralyn, Serafion called out to them from upstairs. "Hey, boy! I assume that some of these clothes are yours, so I'm asking if I can borrow them? I was searching for a good book for me to read to the child when I noticed him wearing such filthy clothing." "Uh..." N exclaimed. "Well, you're the only one of a similar... size, so I think it would suffice! Hmm... I don't think a book on torture and execution methods are appropriate..." Serafion's voice started to grow quieter as she began talking towards herself.

After a few seconds of silence, Asralyn rushed swiftly out the door but her shoulder was grabbed by Ellyn's hand. "Wait!" She exclaimed. Asralyn turned around furiously and a humanoid figure of flame suddenly emerged above her and pointed a spear towards Ellyn. Leaning from the wall, Iris stood and moved forward, but N raised his hand to calm all of them down. "Outside... You don't want to go there. There's areas of the leaves that you can fall into and sink in. It's territory that you don't know and its dangerous. The safest place is here, inside." N remarked. Asralyn glared back at them. "Let go of her." said N.

Ellyn let go of Asralyn's arm as she exited and leaned on a wall outside, looking towards the vast landscape. "She... just needs some time to cool off." N added. "Humans generally respond to situations with intense emotion after a crisis or an equally intense event. Her reaction is... understandable." Said Iris. "She just needs to cool off." N replied. "It's alright, even I'm... struggling to wrap my head around all of this." Ellyn answered.

Upstairs, Serafion had successfully put on fresh shirt and trousers on the boy. "Here... That's probably much better." She remarked. The boy had complied and did not resist as she did so. 'He's... filthy. Probably of a poor home... Or living off the streets. Or maybe its presumptuous of me to assume that. Could be that he was just a child with an affinity for playing in the dirt, many of them are.' She thought to herself. She stood up and walked towards the nearby bed and patted it, signaling the boy to lie down. As he lied down, Serafion pulled a chair towards the bed and sat down with a book in her hands.

"Once upon a time..." 'Hmph... Who knew that I would be a traitor to the kingdom, telling stories to a dirty street child, in a place I would never even dream of, even a most vivid dream of mine wouldn't match this.' As she stopped talking, the boy was looking up at him expectantly. Serafion sighed, and then put the book down at the bedside table.

"Once upon a time there was a girl, who wanted to learn everything. She was called cursed and was reviled by everyone around her. She valued knowledge above all others and even though others were against her, it only took her knowing what people wanted, and what they don't want... And the means to get those things to use it against them. She then rose through the filth and the murk... But she could never rid herself of the stains that she carried; she could no longer allow herself to sink deep below the depths once more. To keep herself from drowning, she had to keep others beneath her to keep herself afloat. Seeing eye to eye with others who did the same..." She spoke softly and gently. She noticed the boy had already closed his eyes and fallen asleep. She pulled a blanket sheet over him.

"But... I don't think you understood any of that." Serafion whispered. She then noticed pieces of dirt stuck in his hair that she picked off. "Hmm... What is this?" She then saw three lines resembling a mark or a brand. "This..." She recognized it. 'I always thought that the saying about those with our color of hair were cursed with misfortune was a myth... Not because we weren't unlucky, far from it... But because I realized that everyone is.' "I'm really not cut out for this." Serafion said to herself as she stood up. She suddenly heard a clamor occurring downstairs.

"Carry him! Bring him upstairs, he's gravely injured!" N's voice said from downstairs. Serafion quickly exited the room and walked down the hall to see Kieron tiredly knelt on the floor as Metas lay sprawled. She retreated backwards, only peeking from the edge of sight. "Ah, argh... Take... Take him upstairs. I... I need to go back! Felkin... He stayed behind!" Kieron could barely sit up on the floor as she panted heavily. N quickly ran towards Metas and held his hands over him and radiated an orange warmth. Ellyn held one of Metas' hands as she struggled to lift and drag him towards the stairs. As Iris started towards Metas, Ellyn interjected. "Don't try to carry him, you... can still be helpful in a fight! You need to conserve your energy, I'll... carry him."

Asralyn looked upon them from the outside. N grabbed a few medical supplies from a table and went back to Metas. "I... can't heal him with with my magic alone, and I can't lift him... I'll carry these supplies instead." Said N. "How are you supposed to carry him without my assistance?" asked Iris. "I'll... Help carry him." Asralyn said, as she entered the building and grabbed onto Metas' other arm and helped carry him. "He's... heavy..." She remarked. "Take off his armor!" N exclaimed. But as Asralyn began to do so, Metas muttered something. "No... Don't... take off my armor..." "What... do we do?" Ellyn asked. "Let's just carry him up first." Said N.

Asralyn and Ellyn then carried him up the stairs with N following, and seeing this, Serafion stepped back. She paused, before meeting the four of them. "Take him and lay him out on the bed here. I... happen to have some medical knowledge so I can help with the procedure." She said to them. Serafion took the medical supplies from N who used his other hand to begin to heal Metas. Asralyn and Ellyn carried Metas onto the middle room and with great effort, while Kieron barely managed to sit up from the floor as she turned towards Iris.

"Hey... I... need your help... I have to go back... He's... still back there!" She said in between tired breaths. "I... understand. But it appears that you have exhausted yourself and exerted a great deal's worth of energy travelling." Iris replied. "But... He's still out there, fighting! I... need to go back!" Kieron exclaimed. "Calm down. If you are to return there and try to retrieve him, a tired self would only be ineffective in doing so. Additionally, considering the mode of the energy used to transfer yourself. It involves your self, which is worn out, that weapon which seems to have been waning ever since you used it earlier, and the boy and the woman is preoccupied with Metas; myself would not suffice in the generation of energy. In any case, the best thing to do is to rest and plan, we're getting nowhere just rushing in there." Kieron stared dumbfounded, wanting to speak but couldn't. "He's... an extremely able fighter. We... should trust in him, and his ability to hold on." Iris added. "Tsk, you're... You're right." Kieron answered, before lying back down on the ground.

Upstairs, as Serafion laid out the medical supplies on a table as Ellyn and N stood near Metas, the latter still trying to heal him. Though, Asralyn stood back at the foot of the door. "He's... in poor condition... I can feel it." N remarked. "These supplies... We would fare better with those from the infantry doctors, or the royal healers... But this'll suffice." Serafion remarked, putting on a cloth around her mouth and gloves. "But first we'll need to remove that armor around his torso, it seems like its where he's most damaged." She said to them. The other three looked at each other warily. "Go on..." She added. "Hmm..." Metas muttered uneasily to Ellyn and N going close to his armor. "Hey man, Metas... It's us, it's alright." N said to him. "Yes, its safe here, and we need to take your armor off because you're injured... There's no enemies here anymore." Said Ellyn.

In Metas' hand, he still tightly gripped the spear relic. Its faint orange light still glowed faintly in between its segments. "-Ethan... -Lyn..." Metas could barely muster his words. "It's... alright. I'm..." Ellyn looked towards Metas' sister. "Your sister is here." She added. Asralyn slowly walked towards her brother and held his unarmored hand. "Brother..." She said quietly. The light from Metas' spear then went out and his grip loosened, before dropping it to the ground. As it clattered onto the wooden floor, those in the room were surprised. "Quickly!" Serafion said, as the others took off his scale armor by pulling it off with his hands raised. At the door, the other boy had woken up and stirred, and was looking worriedly towards Metas.

Downstairs, Kieron chugged down an entire glass of water whilst recovering her exhaustion sitting on a chair. "You returned quickly, but you were unable to recover Felkin..." Iris remarked. "Yeah, it was hectic back there. I barely had an opening and I had to move fast. I was forced to return due to how dangerous it was." said Kieron. "So it became that dire of a situation... Maybe I should come with you next time?" Iris wondered. "No... your energy is better suited to be used in transporting us." Kieron replied. "True, we are in risk in that area... But if we're going to move forward, we'll definitely need help from the others. Was he... Really in such a dire situation?" Iris asked. "Yeah." Kieron answered. "We need to talk to the others." Said Iris.

They entered the upstairs room with the others assisting Serafion and N in tending to Metas' injuries. "Pass me that." She said to Ellyn who handed a pair of pliers over to her. "This?" She said. "Yeah." Serafion replied. "Healing at this rate... It's amazing... And you, Lady... er- Madam..." "Just call me Serafion dear." She replied to Asralyn whilst working on Metas with a serious expression. "I... just never knew you had experience in this field." Said Asralyn. "You pick up a skill or two when you're as..." "As old as you?" N finished Serafion's words with a smile. "I meant if you are as learned and experienced as I..." Said Serafion as she plucked a piece of bone from Metas' exposed flesh. "Argh... Mhm..." Metas was still unconscious but he expressed pain and discomfort.

"I hoped him being asleep would leave him untouched by the pain... Put a piece of wood in his mouth for him to bite down." Serafion said. As Ellyn complied, Asralyn asked Serafion: "What exactly are you doing right now? I mean... wouldn't his healing take care of it?" "Look at his injuries." Serafion replied. "He has many minor scratches and bruises, which aren't of great risk so I'd leave them alone for his other more grievous injuries though luckily the healing's taking care of them. The major wounds though should be bandaged to stop the bleeding and stitched up eventually." She spoke as she bandaged Metas with bandages Ellyn handed over. "But now... Though his broken ribs are going to heal, I think that the pieces of bone are going to be lodged and embedded within himself if his flesh regenerates." Serafion answered.

"But this healing is impressive..." Asralyn exclaimed. "Thanks." Said N. "But... will you be fine expending all that energy?" Ellyn asked as she observed N's condition, he appeared to be getting pale and transparent in his appearance. In his expending of energy, he did not sweat, but he was appearing to be in a worse condition. "We don't want to interrupt, but..." "The situation is quite dire." Said Kieron and Iris. "I noticed that you returned with one less than you desired..." Said Serafion. "Yes... We need your help to return immediately." Kieron remarked. "Hmm... I understand your sentiment in helping him, but... It's going to be very difficult to do so. We've been very lucky in that we've rescued the four of them with them and you uninjured. We're only going to tempt fate if we're going to risk more for another person, we might risk even more than we've ensured the safety of now..." Serafion exclaimed as she worked on Metas' injuries. "Temp fate... I... don't like those words... I know the risks, and I accept them..." Kieron replied.

"Just know that even if you know that risk there's others at play here. The boy which was a major factor in giving you the energy to traverse realms has reduced power, and attempting to rescue one person might result in failure that will make us lose you, or more..." Serafion replied. "Tsk." Kieron exclaimed. "We know the risks and we're going to be more effective in working together." Iris remarked, stepping forward. "But if two of his friends die in attempt to save him, he would leave himself behind in their stead, yes?" Serafion asked. "If he was in or place, he'd jump in and try to rescue us without hesitation. He won't be leaving anyone behind, neither will we." Said Kieron. "How presumptous of you." Serafion responded. "Enough, if we really are going to rescue him, that's what we should discuss." Said N.

"I'm curious, if you guys could be transported and kidnapped from the realm you were in, what's stopping them from taking you guys back to that realm again?" Ellyn asked. "That's a valid question, though Jura said that if they interfere here they're risking war with the White Leaves..." N answered. "But they could ignore that, right?" Serafion asked. "Yeah..." N exclaimed. "If that happens... We won't be able to attempt this another time... We... essentially lose..." said Iris. "Like earlier, avoiding combat is a must." Said Kieron. "So the plan is like last time..." Asralyn said to himself. "But if its you alone versus a powerful being... There's a good chance that you'll be repelled and be forced back like last time." Said Serafion.

"I... won't give up easily... I know how valuable this chance and I won't pass it up. I won't go back until I get him." Kieron responded. "I thought that I could use my increased mobility to help you escape, but if I use up my energy in transport... Then I'd be motionless even if I came along in the realm." Iris commented. "Alright... I've done the best I can here with these limited supplies... Maybe if there's any healing herbs or medicine it can help him recover later." Serafion said, wiping sweat from her forehead using her wrist. "If you guys are going to leave, we better do it now." Said N.

The group quickly ran downstairs after Serafion and Ellyn cleaned up and set aside the materials. The small boy at the door and Asralyn stayed behind looking at Metas who was asleep and exhausted. "You should go back to bed." Asralyn said to the boy as she turned around to follow behind the others. As the group passed the door to the outside once more, Kieron breathed deeply. "Now... we only have one desperate shot. Let's use it wisely." She remarked. "Are you guys good?" She said to others. "I can still help... But I'm afraid I won't have enough mana to try it again." Said Serafion. "I'm... still good." Said N. Kieron raised her weapon at chest-level. "If you guys can still hear me... Then I'll need your help one more time." She exclaimed.

Serafion traced a circle in the air as Iris and N raised their hands as orange warmth radiated from them towards Kieron's weapon. As they focused their energy, N suddenly expelled a larger amount of energy from his hands that created a strong gust of wind that blew back the others. "Hey... what are you doing?" Ellyn asked him. "Hey Iris, you can stop transferring your energy now. I'll... Take care of it!" N exclaimed. "What are you saying?" Iris asked him, as she lowered her hands. "You'll need all the help you can get, right? Then you should go with her!" He remarked. As his flow of energy increased and became stronger, Asralyn and the others became concerned. "Are you... going to use the energy from the ground again?" She asked. "I'd like to... But I can't damage this realm any further!" said N. "Then... how?" Ellyn asked. "Anyone who wants to go with Kieron, get ready." said N, with his eyes glowing like orange stars and his aura of energy becoming more and more intense. Iris quickly put her hand on Kieron's shoulder, but as they looked towards Ellyn and Asralyn, but both shied away.

"I'd like to help, but... I'll be more of a hindrance." Said Ellyn. "I'll... pass..." Asralyn remarked. As N brought out more and more of his energy, Serafion could only bring a small contribution of hers, as she observed him. 'Burning himself out to prevent others from doing so, and drawing energy from himself instead of the land... A foolish decision... But to burn oneself for others, and for one's convictions... The effort is respectable indeed.' Thought Serafion. "Arghh..." N exclaimed, and he began to disappear with his legs and lower torso beginning to dissipate. "Maybe we should stop?" Ellyn remarked, raising her voice amidst the growing sound's intensity. "I... can... Argh!" A searing letter blasted aflame on his shoulder, then his body became alike orange light with his body and legs springing forth once more. "Young girl! Remember!" Serafion called out loudly to Kieron. "What is it?" She asked. "If you cannot overcome something by force and power... There are other methods to gain advantage to an encounter!" Serafion exclaimed. "Right!" Kieron replied, before they were enveloped by the darkness of the in-between of realms as they left.

"We're..." "Here... In this mysterious space." Iris finished Kieron's sentence as they looked around in the darkness. "Let's hurry." Said Kieron. "This place is strange... It's like we're trapped in a small, cramped hallway, but the darkness around us is vast and unending." Kieron said in observation. "So, what's our plan?" Kieron asked as they walked in the darkness. "It's simple. We grab him and go. If there's a possibility that we can defeat that elemental being we take it, but we shouldn't risk things more and-" "We'll avoid a direct confrontation." "Right. I'll use my flame boosters to quickly get us to him and to avoid danger quickly." Iris replied.

"I'm thinking about what she said earlier... If we're somehow cornered... I think we may have to consider negotiating or bargaining..." Said Kieron. "Considering a path that is based on negotiations should be a goal in every conflict, but how can we provide a recompense, or a threat that can affect those beings?" Iris answered. "Yeah..." Kieron thought back to the past, she was always a warrior first, and communication and negotiation wasn't a strong suit of hers. 'Rennon and Grisham... they were always the ones making deals and negotiations... Due to his visions, we could always find out information and the things to do and gather to have something over the opposing party. But... what we can do or hold over beings like them?' Kieron thought to herself. They then reached a bright crack flashing with bright light.

"Alright we'll go in, quickly grab him and leave. We'll avoid fighting directly and focus on evasion." Said Kieron. Iris nodded before the both laid a hand on the bright crack of light. After they arrived, they were cornered by the flame matriarch with a ring of flame around the two of them.

"Elucidate me." She said as Kieron offered her "something that she could not refuse". "My offer is..." Kieron quickly glanced towards Iris. She then quickly grabbed Iris' shoulders and said: "Us three out of here!" Iris quickly used her arms and legs to blast the two of them out of the ring of flames right before it enclosed on them. "Hmph!" She exclaimed as the fire barely singed them. "Incoming!" Kieron exclaimed as the matriarch sent out jets of flames from her arms. Iris clacked her feet together and blasted them above the fire blast.

Iris could detect and calculate the intense heat from the flames using her eyes, but as they flew higher, she couldn't see the next blast of flame from the matriarch's unrelenting attack. "Hold on!" She said to Kieron. Kieron grabbed and held on to Iris as she held her other arm out and blasted sideways to avoid the next stream of flame. "Little insects... You've ruined the ceremony... But now you expect to come and go in our hallowed palace and expect to leave unscathed?" The flame matriarch then held her arms behind her, and then tossed a shower of fireballs towards Iris and Kieron. 'The flames... are everywhere! I can't dodge!' Iris noticed as the volley rained down upon them. "We can't avoid this attack!" Iris cried out. "I'll shield you!" She said to Kieron. Kieron then curled into a ball as Iris faced away from the flames and stretched her arms and legs out to cover the most surface area. "Hrk!" She remarked as she looked away and endured the oncoming impact.

After the volley of flames subsided, the two of them rapidly descended towards the ground. "Hmph!" Iris exclaimed as she used her boosters in her feet and quickly stopped them from slamming into the ground. "Ah!" Kieron exclaimed, quickly hopping off from Iris. Her ivory white shell was glowing red due to the flames she endured and the flame she blasted from her limbs. 'She got burned from me... I shouldn't stick to her.' Iris thought to herself. Kieron's hands and legs were slightly burned as Iris' body was faintly emanating steam.

They looked over towards the matriarch standing nearby Felkin, whom they both saw was in a dismal condition but nevertheless hoped and were determined to push on. The matriarch of flames then slammed down onto the ground with her arms and created a wave of fire that swiftly crept along the ground towards the two of them. "It's coming!" Iris remarked. 'If she sticks close to me... I won't be able to defend her from the flames if I'm burning her because of my body.' "Stay near me, but don't stick to me. I'll break through that wall of flames!" Iris exclaimed. Kieron and Iris then ran towards the flames, with Iris raising her hands. With a slash of her arms, she struck away the flame wall and then cleared a path for both.

The duke watched on and observed their actions nearby and was closely watching the aspects of the battle. 'Now they've separated... No coming back in one piece now...' He remarked to himself. The flame matriarch embedded her arms into the ground and let her flames flow underneath the stone floor. Iris looked down and saw the energy from the flames snaking underground, and they rapidly moved past her towards Kieron. "The flame's... below the ground!" She exclaimed. Kieron quickly looked towards the ground as it cracked before a stream of flame burst from the ground. The blast caught her off guard, but she sharply leaned and bent backwards, narrowly avoiding the fire that shot out from the ground. Iris quickly ran towards Kieron in an attempt to protect her, but a flaming tendril shot up from the ground and blasted Iris back. "Urk!" She remarked.

The flame from the ground blasted and slashed towards Kieron, whom dodged, hopped, rolled, dove and dodged the swift flame. 'Every time I blink, I need to resist the urge to go back. Leaving now would... ensure that I'll be leaving them behind. I need to... Disregard my instincts and sharpen my senses. I need to look where the flames are, and see the movements they make to know where they'll be. I need to keep my eyes open... There isn't an easy out now!' Kieron thought to herself as she barely dodged the flame, feeling its intense heat radiating onto her skin. "Take Felkin! I can handle myself here and then come to me!" She said to Iris.

Without looking back, Iris ran swiftly towards Felkin and the flame matriarch. As the stream of flame blasted towards Iris, she used her boosters to blast upwards slightly to avoid it. As she landed on the ground, she ducked to avoid the stream of flame once more. 'I'm... wasting energy if I keep using my flames... If I keep using them, I won't be able to move.' The tendril of flame shot back towards her, and Iris hopped sidewards to avoid it, but the flames redirected and blasted her from the side. 'I'm... Just going to have to dodge the best I can and endure!' She thought to herself.

Kieron stayed low to the ground and became as compact as possible to avoid the flames. 'If I could... use the ice from this weapon... No, if there's any more energy left in here, I'll need it to travel back. But...' The tendril of flame suddenly split into flaming strands that quickly surrounded her. Kieron quickly slashed her weapon and created a radius of frost that repelled the flames. 'Then I'll have to use this sparingly, and quickly close the gap!' Kieron remarked to herself before rushing towards Felkin and the flame matriarch. "Just a little more..." The elemental exclaimed to herself, with a wide smile of glee. Step left, hop right, jump upwards and crouch below: unceasing blasts of flame shot towards Kieron who could barely dodge, and was tiring.

The matriarch then raised her arms and a large tornado of flames started to form around Kieron. She ran forward and slashed downwards, creating a frost slash that made a narrow path between the flames. She ran and dodged the embers raining down, and she looked up in dread as the flame matriarch raised her arms as a blazing ball of flames formed above them. "Hah!" She exclaimed as she made the orb float down slowly towards Kieron. Kieron kept running but looked up with dread at the blaze, bathed in its harsh orange light. She readied her weapon in preparation as she tried to outrun it.

"Could you hurry it up, we have much to do." The duke remarked. "Its just that I've never had this much fun for decades!" The matriarch answered. "Hrnngg..." Kieron remarked as she expended as she tested her limits in running forward. As the orb lowered and threatened to squash her flat, Kieron only had to look down and yelled as she charged forward towards Felkin. "Argh!" Kieron flinched to the sound of the flame impacting a surface. But she quickly glanced towards Iris as she held up the blaze. "Hmph!" Iris exclaimed as she used her boosters to shove the orb of flame away, and it floated downwards and slammed onto the ground. 'Hmm... Seems like it was a good thing that I stayed within here...' Enjou said to himself as he covered his ears expecting a blast.

The ball of flames created a cacophonous explosion and a blast which sent Iris flying backwards and knocked Kieron off her feet. "Ack!" Kieron gnashed her teeth as she pushed herself off from the ground and ran panting, and her movements became unbalanced and erratic. 'My promise... What I came here to do... Recklessness... I... Have no choice but to go forward. I... Just need to push forward!' She thought to herself. Iris lay on the floor and tried to sit up, but her flames flickered and waned, before she could not muster enough strength and she fell backwards on the ground motionless. 'I... can't move... I hope what I did can help her continue forward, even for just a little more... But what we're running after... Is nothing more than a charred body. But if I die here... I won't ever get what I was seeking after... And... Will there be something after for something like me?' Iris asked herself.

Helia had dragged herself up to lean on the barrier. And though she was fatigued, she expressed great delight in the sight before her. 'This... This is the true expression of flame. An overwhelming blaze crashing down onto its enemies. The weaker flame is extinguished and only serves as fuel for the superior...' She thought with a gleeful smile. As Kieron ran forward, she raised her shotel which glowed with a blue light. 'My only chance is to use this to defend against her while I retrieve him, but I can't leave Iris behind! I'll... figure something out!' She charged forward, and the matriarch embedded her legs of flame underground and she blasted forward using her arms. Tendrils of flame suddenly burst out from the ground behind Kieron, who blocked the flames from the matriarch's legs with her shotel.

"Hmph!" Kieron remarked, but as the flames from the matriarch blasted forward, she tried to block it as well. "Ah!" She cried, as her weapon was knocked away from her hands. "Stop, you don't wanna do this, you have to let me live!" Kieron spoke rapidly, panicked, and desperate as flames closed in like blades with her neck in between. "What? You spoke too fast there; I couldn't catch your last words." The matriarch asked her. "This choice is a mistake! You... have to let us return! You have to let him return!" Kieron pleaded. "Huh. I don't see a reason to. I'll kill you, then I'll retrieve the ones that escaped, and I'll bring them back here." The matriarch responded.

"Bring them back here? But they're currently in the realm of white leaves! Dragging them back would risk war between realms, wouldn't it?" Kieron pleaded, unsure. "Hmm... I feel them within that place, and that is a likely outcome if we intervened in their realm. But, they took our heirs of fire towards their realm, so they might as well be declaring war on us, don't you agree? Besides, getting them back is quite vital for our kingdom..." The flame matriarch replied. "But... They're injured and damaged, and you want a powerful heir of fire to take over right? If you simply get the others back here, the competition is already rigged, and the winner of this event won't be the strongest of your heirs..." Kieron answered. "That was due to you and his involvement and interference." Said the matriarch.

"Well, yes! But... If you want the strongest heir for your kingdom, then continuing this ceremony isn't exactly the best choice!" Kieron replied. "Well I could simply throw away all of these broken toys and exchange them from new ones in the kingdom. There are quite a many selections to choose from." "Hmph." The duke of flames grumbled. "Yeah, yeah... It's not everyday that I can talk to someone else like this you know? You lot aren't exactly the most exciting company after a while. So just allow me to savor this day for now, it could be decades before the next heir selection ceremony would happen!" The matriarch exclaimed.

"In that case, if you kill us then you won't get the chance to do it anymore! You loved the fight, right? If you let us leave, and let him live... We can escape and have the chance to repeat the ceremony! If you let us leave and let the heirs recuperate, then the ceremony can continue after a short while! And, and... the candidates you chose first are the prime choice right, it would be a waste if you chose them but took substitutes instead!" Kieron exclaimed. 'I'm... just saying what I can here out of desperation... Just think about what Rennon would say right now... I can't abandon them!' She thought.

"I might enjoy these distractions, but its simply for leisure and I still have my duties to fulfill." The flame matriarch answered. "But- But... You said that you'd have to wait decades until the next ceremony... You're going to miss out on an opportunity like this for... ages!" Kieron answered. The flame matriarch formed a devillish grin on her face. "You are right... And truthfully, the selection process isn't of my volition. Mortals usually rush headlong into their deaths, or give up, or plead for mercy. There are few who bargain... And you lot are amusing..." The matriarch lowered her arms and the flames receded. "Haa... Haa..." Kieron breathed heavily, she had built up a massive amount of tension and released it as she was momentarily safe. 'I... think I nearly forgot to breathe!' She thought.

"Alright, I've decided that I'll return all the heirs to where they were positioned before they were transported towards here. And I won't consider the actions that you've taken to not wage war with the other realms... The other kingdoms gears' have begun to turn, but if we announce war we might ignite conflict for us..." Said the flame matriarch looking towards her curled "hand" like one would admire their own fingernails. "Wait, return all the heirs to their previous position? Even those in we retrieved from the other realm?" Kieron asked. "Why, yes, it's only fair to return things to their natural state, unless you think that the alternative is a desirable option..." "No, no! Its fine!" Kieron answered the matriarch. The elemental floated backwards and allowed Kieron to pick her weapon back up and walked towards Felkin. "Life sparks within him yet." The matriarch said to Kieron.

"What?" Kieron asked as she knelt down to the ground. "Beneath his charred flesh, life dwells within him yet. A quite improbable survival, now I can see how those of the other realms could have quite an interest of him... I'd like to see his potential..." The flame matriarch remarked. Kieron's hands trembled as she slowly put her hands under Felkin and tried to lift him. His body felt and weighed like a heap of burnt logs. She was in shocked and silent disbelief. His entire body was scorched black, and she saw flashes of Grisham's body in the town aflame. Her eyes quivered and her breath became shaky. Iris tried to raise her head to see, but settled with listening to the goings-on. 'He's alive. But with the condition I saw him in... It could be that he lives barely. At least our efforts here weren't in vain...' She thought.

Suddenly, the matriarch raised her hand and made a snapping motion, which created a sound like a sparking flame. Kieron looked up to see Iris, Helia and Enjou started to glow with bright orange light. Enjou tilted his head and reacted to the energy enveloping him once more. 'This sensation... Seems like we really are being transported back... But the situation back in the kingdom for me, is tricky now. The next course of action will be difficult to determine.' He thought to himself. "Wait!" Helia cried out. 'No! I'm going to miss my chance! To leave here while the powers of flame just within my grasp?' She thought to herself. She raised her fists and slammed against the barrier. "No! Don't listen to that witless maggot! I command you-" Before she could say another word, she, Enjou and Iris vanished into thin air.

Kieron put her arms below Felkin's back, she did not mind the heat on her skin. She was looking down wistfully towards Felkin, and then looked around to see the other heirs of fire have disappeared. 'Metas, Asralyn and the boy... If they're going to be displaced, then it won't be safe for them... But for now, Felkin...' She turned back towards Felkin. "Well, I need the heirs to be alive for the one who has the most potential to recover for the next ceremony. And he's being left alive because he will have his uses, and he is quite a rare ocurrence... But you... What reason do I have to keep you alive?" The flame matriarch asked. Suddenly alert, Kieron picked up Felkin's sword and held Felkin in her hand before both flashed away.

"Ahahaha!" The matriarch heartily laughed. "Wise choice." She remarked. The duke of flames and the other meek nobles walked closer to approach her. "Your decision..." "Do you think it was unwise?" The matriarch responded to the duke. "From a certain point of view, letting the heirs recover and retrieving it later has its merits... Though leaving the interlopers alive... This I am certain is unwise..." The duke answered. "It is not only for my personal enjoyment that I spared them. I have my uses for them yet..." She answered.

Kieron appeared in the streets of the burnt-out town in the outskirts of Lodeleth. She placed her shotel on her waist as she looked towards Felkin's sword. 'This weapon's... heavier than it looks. Felkin... Maybe the others can help you... But Metas, Iris and Asralyn... and the boy... They're still out here.' "I'm... going to bring you to that building, hopefully they can help you, I still need to go back to search for them." Kieron said towards Felkin expecting a response, but he was silent.

The sun rose a sickly yellow over the burnt village, and knights were patrolling the streets and searching for survivors in the mostly empty town. Crouched down, Kieron looked around cautiously as they were hidden in between two houses. She picked up what remained of Felkin, and carried along his sword. Four loud knocks were made at the door. From the inside the door opened, and N, Serafion, and Ellyn were at the door. The former was wearing a long brown coat which resembled a sheet of cloth around his body. He appeared to have grown taller slightly and appeared to be older in age.

Serafion carried a satchel with her supplies and tools within while Ellyn had a new leather cloak and hood, a small dagger on her waist, and wielded a crossbow with a leather strap slung on her shoulder; and carried a quiver with her as well. "Hey Kieron! We were just about to-" N started. "Go outside to search for the others? Yeah, I was just about to do the same. But first, I needed to bring-" "Wait. Is that..." Ellyn exclaimed, the three of them were silent as they looked at what remained of Felkin. Kieron looked incredibly worn down and tired.

"He's... Still alive, somehow. I hoped somebody here could help him before I'll go back out to get the others..." Kieron replied, having lost her voice. "You... must be tired. Maybe you can stay here, to take care of him with the boy?" Serafion asked her. "No, its because of me that they're returned back out there. I made a deal to save our lives and because of that they were thrown back into the outside." Kieron replied. "Alright, let's get him upstairs. You two, just be ready at the door." N said towards Serafion and Ellyn. The latter of which poked her head outside and pointed her crossbow as she scanned the left and right sides of the house. "Are you comfortable with using that? It seems like it would be a hassle." Serafion asked Ellyn. "It's fine. It's a little harder to use but I'm used to using these things." Ellyn replied as she held and handled a crossbow with her only remaining arm.

Upstairs, Kieron and N laid Felkin's body on a bed on one of the two vacant rooms as Metas and the boy were flashed away from the house. "This is unbelievable... Any other human in this condition would be... But he's still alive, and it seems like he's somehow recovering!" N said as he laid his hand over his body, still devoid of both of his arms. "So... that means he'll survive? You can help him?" Kieron asked. "I still don't know if he'll recover... If at all retain his former form. But... I'd like to hope so." N answered. Kieron breathed a sigh of relief and had her worries partially quelled.

"Earlier... It looked like you were expending yourself to allow us realm travel. I was worried in what happened to you, but it seems like you're fine." She said to N. "I... did expend myself... But, I... evolved somehow... Anyways, let's talk about this later." Said N. "Yeah, I'll see you later!" Kieron replied, and then walked away. Before exiting the room, she picked up another short curved blade and a handful of daggers to bring along. N looked towards her and had a concerned expression. "What's wrong, am I not allowed to take these?" Kieron asked. "No, no. It's just... With all the mouths to feed, and all the supplies we expend, someone's gotta go for a run soon... Anyway you better hurry now." N answered, and Kieron ran back downstairs to the door.

"We need to hurry, the knights could be patrolling the streets as we speak." Serafion said as the three of them exited the door towards the vacant backstreet. "And if they've been taken back to where they were before... The other two that were taken could still be there." Ellyn replied. "The flame elemental said that they would be taken back to their previous locations. So we need to go back to that street." Kieron said as the three of them sneaked and stayed low on the way back to the site of the battle. "Urk..." Metas grumbled. He slowly opened his eyes and tried to raise himself from the ground of dried mud. "Ugh..." He could barely move. He searched and turned over and tried to ascertain his surroundings and tried reaching for his weapon and yet he could not find it next to him. "What... Where... Am I?" He asked himself as he sat up, his torso and chest was covered in bandages, and he did not possess gauntlets or even the shoes on his feet.

"I'm in the streets outside! And without... a weapon. I... remember!" He exclaimed, trying to stand up and get his bearings. "Argh..." He remarked, from the pain of his wounds. "You." "You!" Metas remarked in dismay and worry, but Helia exclaimed in disdain and indignation. She stood up and her armor's metal crinkled as she trembled, barely being able to move. Helia fell to one knee and tried to stand again, while Metas fell backwards. "I... need a weapon... My armor..." Metas remarked, panicking. "Ah!" He exclaimed with his fists clenched and raised. "Let's go, I think we were just transported to back where we were." Asralyn said to Metas. "Lyn." He replied, looking back towards Helia nervously and then back at his sister as she helped him up. "You two..." "Let's hurry, the knights could pass by at any moment." Asralyn replied.

Helia then turned to the side and looked towards Enjou passing into the shadows. Though blind, he stared straight towards her and seemed to peer through her eyes. "Traitors... Traitors the lot of you!" She could muster and growl in her gnashed teeth. "Hey, over here!" Kieron and the group called out to Asralyn and Metas. 'Within my grasp... These traitors! I'll... I swear I'll...' Helia was filled with frustration and rage but her swirling malice of thoughts stopped immediately as she saw Serafion. "Serafion..." She wasn't angry for a second. Helia breathed in deeply, an act which lasted a couple of seconds. "Soldiers, Knights! To me!" She bellowed, calling the attention of all the nearby knights.

"We gotta go." Ellyn remarked, as they helped Metas along and escaped the area. 'Betrayal... I am betrayed... I need to regain my composure. I'm... I'm... I saw what I needed to back in that realm of flames... I need to burn bright, burn like a fiery blaze! Then... all these problems... I'll burn them all away!' Thought Helia, as she saw the 'traitors' slip from her sight.

The wayward group of warriors, their fragile alliance due to a shared and common enemy and a need for survival, made their way back to Jura's home. While Helia seethed in her rage as the knights of Lodeleth came to her aid. In a nearby castle however, the three remaining pillars of the council stood over someone they summoned. Sethan looked upwards towards the three of them. Ever since he watched Asralyn disappear in front of his eyes, he was gripped by doubt and could only rely on the kingdom itself for his next action, and his indecision for what his purpose should be, grew.

"Knight Captain Sethan, would you like to be afforded an opportunity to serve your country further?" The old man in the council's center said towards him. He appeared to be disgruntled, the bearded warrior to the left had crossed arms and was impatient. Seruvia retained her cocky smile, but the members of the council were greatly affected and were forced into action by the events of the past night.