Juniper

It took time to get Gradius back in his coffin, thrashing like a petulant toddler, but Ragar managed to seal him up. It was almost dawn, yet with all of the smoke in the sky, there was no need to worry about the sun just yet. The Andromeda Estate had been reduced to ashes, though several of the underground portions had survived Gradius's wrath. The question was how effective he had been.

"My Lord," a bird-type fiend said as it landed beside him with Umbra.

"Any sign of them?" Ragar asked.

"I discovered fresh horse tracks leading away from the estate."

"The smell was theirs. Elf, human, beastman, and dwarf," Umbra added.

Ragar muttered a dwarvish curse. "What does it take to kill these people?"

"What do we do now?" Miasmarda hissed.

"I refuse to let them get away with this. We're going after them," Ragar replied.

"We'll kill them all," Helena muttered bitterly nearby. Duska's remains had been discovered in the wreckage, with her severed head telling the story of her demise and the mark on her stomach pointing to the culprit.

"Even with Gradius, I fear we do not have the strength or numbers to defeat them, let alone the speed to catch up with them before they get back to Duravound," Miasmarda argued.

"They're not going back to Duravound, at least not yet," said Ziradith, approaching. "They'll first be heading into the Ashok Mountains."

"And how do you know that?" Miasmarda growled skeptically.

"Andromeda was using fifer lilies," Ragar muttered. "She's right, and one of their group members was from the region." Ragar then turned to the bird fiend. "You can endure sunlight, correct?"

"Yes, Lord."

"Return to Curcio and tell him to send reinforcements. I need Tysinger and every fast-moving fiend he can spare. He was also working on parasites that would help boost our powers, and whatever he has ready, you need to bring back for me and Miasmarda. Once you've returned, we march on the Ashok Mountains. Helena?" She didn't respond, lost in her grief and hatred. "Helena!"

"Yes! What?!" she snapped.

"It's too late to go now, but once night falls, I need you to take Ziradith and fly her to Duravound."

"What would you have me do there?" Ziradith asked.

"Zyrga's remains will soon be arriving. I have my subordinates there making preparations, but I want you to supervise and ensure that everything proceeds as planned. As the former Liege, I expect I can trust you with such an important task. I will do everything in my power to keep the Wandering Spirit and his friends from getting in the way, but should we fail, the plan must succeed."

"Understood."

Ragar glared at the brightening eastern sky. "Don't think you've won just yet."

----------

Noah and his friends raced south, seeking to return to Duravound and escape from Gradius. They were all tired after fighting the Profane, but they rode through the night without pause, not daring to stop until the sun had cleared the mountains and the smoke from the Andromeda Estate was beyond their sight. Everyone was grateful to get off their horses and eat and rest.

"Let's get something in our stomachs and grab a few hours of sleep. We'll set back out at noon," said Noah.

"Roc, let me take another look at your wings," said Sophia.

Roc slid off his horse with some discomfort, but Cynatas was always by his side.

"Aren't you glad we brought an extra horse for you two?" Noah asked.

Roc simply grunted and nodded while Sophia examined the damage. "It doesn't look too bad. Your feathers took the brunt of the damage. There is some searing of the flesh underneath, and signs of Profane contamination, but I can fix it."

"How does it feel to be a free man, Lupin?" Seraph asked.

"The air is certainly sweeter on the outside. It'll be so great to return home, even if Colbrand is being rebuilt after its total destruction."

"When isn't it?" Cyrilo laughed.

Lupin sat down on the ground, sighing in relief from the feel of the grass. "I never thought I'd make it out of there," he said softly. "By the way, Cynatas, I haven't had the chance to properly greet you. Considering our betrothal, I must apologize."

"It is good to see you, Lupin. I'm glad you're alive and well. But, unfortunately, I'm afraid I must end our engagement. My position as princess has all but been revoked, and besides..." She turned to Roc with a smile. "I've found someone whom I truly love."

Lupin gave an exhausted chuckle. "I must admit that it is a bit of relief. After everything that's happened, a royal wedding is the last thing I want to think about. I'm not in the right state of mind to be marrying anyone, not for a while. Still, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for helping to rescue me, and I wish you two the best.

There was still work to be done, such as tending to the horses, preparing food, and scouting the area, but soon everyone was free to sit down and eat.

"Aside from Gradius sending us running off with our tails between our legs, I have to say that mission was a complete success," Daniel announced as they sat around a campfire.

"We finally did it. We struck back against the Profane and delivered a decisive blow," Alexis said softly. Though things between her and Noah were still sour, the significance of their achievement was not lost on her. What they had just done was no small feat.

"It's not done just yet," said Noah. "We still have to get back to Duravound and stop whatever they're planning there." Alexis flashed him a look. She knew Noah had more information than he was letting on, likely coming from Bella and Duska. She couldn't help but wonder what else he was hiding from everyone, and for how long. Still, it wasn't worth bringing up.

"I'm pretty sure that's what we just did," said Foley. "Their plan is in ruins, just like that mansion."

"No. Ragar and some of his allies are still alive. Until they're all wiped out, we can't be sure that the danger is truly gone. Besides, we need to devise a way to deal with Gradius. The man was a walking cataclysm before, but now, as a Profane, he may be beyond our ability to stop."

"Look, we just saved my brother, and we managed to get out of there in one piece. Whatever is going on with Gradius and Duravound can wait. For now, let's just celebrate a job well done," said Seraph.

"I agree," said Cyrilo. "I think this calls for a victory drink, and I happened to have been saving my last bottle of Knight's Ambrosia for such an event."

She pulled the bottle out of her ring, and everyone scrounged around to find cups. They poured the fine liquor and raised their cups.

"A toast to our victory," said Noah.

"To victory!" everyone replied. They all drank deep, savoring the wonderful nectar.

"Oh fuck, that's good," said Foley.

"Reminds me of the Knight's Sheath," said Sophia dreamily.

"By the gods, this is incredible!" Cynatas exclaimed. "If you had just offered this to the king, he would have come out to see you the moment you arrived!"

"I never had the chance to try this, but my God, this is divine," said Seraph.

"Noah's the one who created the recipe," said Cyrilo. "I could've charged a fortune for a bottle, and people would have stolen the jewelry off corpses just for a glass."

"Right, I remember. You made this for that special party. That was a fun night," said Roc.

"This is truly what freedom tastes like," said Lupin. "Is there any more?"

"Just a little bit," Cyrilo answered, holding up the bottle. "Enjoy, Your Highness. You deserve it."

She emptied the last of it into his cup, and he drank it gratefully, only to enter a coughing fit. It seemed to have gone down the wrong way, and Seraph had to slap him on the chest for it to ease, but he was still left with some difficulty breathing.

"Sorry about that," Lupin said, in between coughs.

"This is the last time you'll be able to do that," said Noah. "Once you're back in Uther, it'll be back to political theater with micro-managing nobles scrutinizing everything you do."

Lupin chuckled. "Maybe we should take the long way home."

With the sun and Noah's wards protecting them, everyone took a much-needed nap, and when midday arrived, they woke up and continued riding south. However, a problem began to manifest itself. As they traveled, Lupin's coughing grew worse. At first, it seemed like he still had a tickle in his throat from drinking the Knight's Ambrosia the wrong way, but as the day went on, it became more and more persistent, and as night fell, it was impossible to ignore. They set up camp, with Shannon and Noah preparing medicinal teas and elixirs to alleviate Lupi's cough, but his breathing was just getting raspier and raspier.

"What's going on?" Sophia murmured as he applied her healing energy to his back. Her magic was proving ineffective at clearing his lungs, but she was able to lessen his pain and the building soreness.

Sitting around the campfire, everyone watched with concern, unsure of how to help. Seraph was the most worried. He had finally gotten his brother back, and now there was this ominous cloud hanging over his head. Roc was staring at Lupin intently, and then finally spoke.

"I think I might know what's causing this. Lupin, were there any flowers in the room where they kept you?"

"A b-bowl... of flower petals..." Lupin paused to cough several times. "There was a bowl both in my room and the dungeon where I stayed."

"Fifer lilies," Roc muttered.

"Fifer lilies?" Seraph asked.

"I've heard of those. They're an ingredient in runecraft," said Cyrilo.

"They grow at the base of the Ashok Mountains. They're safe once they're properly dried, but very deadly when they're fresh."

"I have antidotes prepared for such events," said Noah, conjuring bottles from his ring.

"It's not like that. Once you start breathing in their pollen, you can't stop. It's like potion poisoning. When you take too much of it, your body forgets how to function without it. They must have kept it in his room so that he'd die if he managed to escape or was rescued. It's evil and brilliant."

"How do we save him?" Seraph asked desperately.

"We need to get him to my village. There is a medicine that can save him, made using the lilies, but only the elders know how."

"Can we get there in time?" Noah asked.

"It's coming on really fast. He's probably been breathing in the pollen for months. Looking at him, he may only have a day or two at most, maybe three, before his lungs stop working completely. I'd have to fly him there myself, and you follow on foot, but my wings still aren't healed."

"Sophia, do whatever it takes to get him ready to fly by first light," said Noah. Sophia nodded and moved behind Roc to continue his treatment. "Until then, I'll try to buy Lupin as much time as I can." Noah pulled out a bottle and a syringe. "Lupin, you're going to really hate where I stick this, but I need you to trust me."

It was a restless night for everyone, as they wondered if Lupin would survive this new ordeal. After everything they had gone through to find and rescue the prince, it was possible that he could die long before getting back to Colbrand. Seraph was the most stressed, pacing back and forth because he was too worried to sit still.

Noah shrouded Lupin in his mana to conceal the sound of his continuous coughing while administering various medicines to alleviate his symptoms, but that didn't help anyone sleep. Hearing him cough meant he was still alive, while silence gave the impression he had already died. Sophia was also busy healing Roc. His wounds weren't severe, but regrowing feathers was a lot trickier than simply mending flesh, and the burns that Gradius inflicted were very stubborn, like an oil stain that could not be washed out.

Finally, the sky began to brighten, and Sophia sat back with a sigh of exhaustion. "There. I've done everything I can. Only time can heal the rest."

"Roc, how do you feel?" Noah asked.

Roc stretched his wings. "I'll make it. I promise you that."

Noah looked down at Lupin, struggling to breathe and exhausted from a hellish night, and helped him to his feet. "I hope you're not afraid of heights."

Everyone got ready to see him off, and Seraph hugged his brother. "Don't you dare die on me, not after all this." Lupin could only nod, unable to speak.

"Now, I'll be honest, I don't have a lot of practice in carrying people. I'm not sure how it will affect my flying, and it might be a bit painful," said Roc.

"I'm coming with you," said Cynatas.

"Yeah, I might need your help if something happens. Ok, Lupin, hold out your arms."

Everyone stepped back, and Lupin held out his arms to his sides. With Cynatas clinging to his arm, Roc jumped into the air, using his wings to attempt to hover like a hummingbird. He moved over Lupin and grabbed his arms with his talons, careful to avoid cutting him or squeezing him too tight. With a secure hold, he started to rise in elevation like an eagle with a fish in its grip.

"Keep him safe!" Seraph shouted as Roc set off towards the northeast.

"Do you think he knows where he's going?" Daniel asked. "I mean, all these mountains look the same. What if he goes too far north or east and shoots past his village?"

"I bet he knows these mountains like the back of his hand, and can probably sense the planet's magnetic field and use it to navigate like migrating birds. Frankly, I'm more concerned about us reaching the village. We can track Lupin's location, but getting to him will be tricky."

"That sounds like a problem for later," said Foley. "Might I suggest we all go back to bed and get some real sleep?"

"I agree," said Alexis with a yawn.

"Yeah, that sounds like a good idea. I'm running on fumes," said Noah. Seraph didn't say anything, just continuing to stare as Roc and Lupin became a faint speck in the sky. Noah patted him on the shoulder. "Lupin will be pretty miserable for a while, but I'm sure he'll survive this. Right now, the best thing you can do is recover your strength. We'll go after them once we've rested up."

"All right," Seraph said softly.

Just like the day before, their departure was postponed, with everyone given the chance to get some much-needed sleep. At noon, they set out, following Roc's heading out of dwarf-controlled Vandheim and into the Ashok Mountains. For three days, they navigated the rocky cliffs and steep ravines, with a great deal of time being spent looking for paths the horses could traverse. These lands weren't mapped and filled with roads like the dwarven territories, as the various tribes that called these lands home strived not to infringe on nature and leave any scars upon her face. Monsters and wild animals remained a persistent nuisance, but after the fighting at Andromeda's mansion, dealing with the local fauna was child's play.

After all the work they had put in to reach Lupin before, having to do it all over again was frustrating, especially for Seraph. He was especially tense at the three-day mark, the deadline that Roc had set for Lupin's death if he was not saved in time. His eyes were always glued to the sky, searching for signs of Roc's tribe. Finally, on the fourth day, they saw wings overhead, belonging to beastmen.

"Hey! Down here!" Seraph shouted before sending up some holy blasts like flares to catch their attention.

Three men descended, armed with spears, but they did not point them at Noah and his friends. They wore the same tribal leather pants as Roc, similarly forgoing shirts and shoes for the sake of their eagle traits.

"Halt," the leader said. "Who are you to be entering our territory?"

"We are friends of Roc, a member of your tribe," said Noah. "One of our companions was suffering from prolonged exposure to fifer lilies, and he carried him to your village for treatment."

The eagle warriors looked at each other and exchanged nods. "We have been expecting you. Roc told us you would be coming, but still, we had to be sure of your identity and intentions."

"Is my brother still alive?" Seraph asked desperately.

"Had Roc reached us any later, he wouldn't be, but he's received treatment for his sickness and pulled through. He's alive and resting, though it may be some time before he'll be ready to travel." The sigh of relief Seraph gave was so intense, it seemed like he was about to fall off his horse. "I am Tican. Follow us. We shall lead you to our village," said the leader. He and the other men then turned to Noah and bowed their heads with their arms across their chests. "Ralacad."

Noah mirrored the gesture, and Shannon's ears twitched in joy. They followed Tican and the other warriors through the valley and up the mountain paths towards the eagle tribe village. Unfortunately, like real eagles, the tribe didn't build their homes where just anyone on foot could reach, so getting everyone up there, plus the horses, took no small amount of effort and ingenuity. The mountain fog made it especially difficult, clinging to the cliffs and crags like moss on a tree. It dampened everyone's clothes and sucked the warmth from their blood, with visibility sometimes nonexistent. By the time they reached the mountain summit, everyone was huffing and puffing, although this was also due to the altitude. Regardless, they reached the village.

Here, the eagle tribe lived rustically, with most of their homes consisting of large tents and yurts made of leather. As for support and structure, the skeletons of the tents incorporated trees bent into shape and braided together over time, similar to a bird's nest, so their powerful roots allowed the many homes to withstand even the harshest mountain winds. There were numerous gardens for growing crops and grains, painstakingly hewn from the rock of the mountain, with fertile soil a valuable commodity.

While the men hunted, the women took care of the children and various tasks around the home. Children not yet old enough to hunt helped their mothers, while the youngest played in the village. They ran and chased each other, using a mix of their legs and small wings. They wore thick coats, while the adults and older children showed the resistance they had developed to the mountain cold.

Tican guided Noah and his friends through the village to where Lupin was staying, and as always with traveling somewhere new, they received many curious and cautious looks. Roc once said that merchants would trade with the eagle tribe, selling both goods and information, but it was unlikely they were ever actually allowed into the village. Many glances were fearful, due to experience with slave traders, with mothers pulling their children away, but the only hateful glares seemed to be directed at Foley. Students of history would understand why. Everyone was cold and tired from reaching the village, but Noah noticed Shannon smiling as she took in the surroundings.

"You like it here?" he asked.

"This place reminds me of my own tribe, and it's nice to be surrounded by fellow beastmen again, even if they aren't quite like me. I've spent so much time in bustling cities and walking on roads, but to be here, the quiet simplicity of it... It's just wonderful. I've missed this feeling so much."

Tican brought them to the largest tent in the village. "Your prince is in here. The elders would like to meet you." He then shot Foley a dirty look. "Please, be respectful."

They entered the darkness, smelling of smoke and herbs. The tent was full of cultural relics, totems, and fetishes, while in the center, two old men and a woman sat around a campfire. Their wings were wrapped around them like blankets, having grayed like their hair with the passing of time. She reminded Noah of Shannon's grandfather.

"We welcome you and your friends to our village, Ralacad. I am Hadat," said one of the old men.

"To be welcomed here is the true honor," said Noah with a bow of his head. The elders smiled and nodded.

"Please, take a seat," Tican said. Everyone sat down on the floor, but with the size of their group, not everyone could be near the fire. Cyrilo assumed her cat form and curled up in Daniel's lap to help save room.

"I'll see if your friend is strong enough to join us," said Tican, moving farther back through the tent into a back room.

Hadat once more began to speak. "Your friend has been healed of the fifer lilies' effect, though it has been a long time since we saw someone so severely afflicted. He had been badly weakened and will need to rest for a few days before he can depart."

"Words cannot express our gratitude. If there is anything we can do to repay your kindness, please let us know," said Noah.

"Tell us about the Profane," the old woman beside Hadat said.

"The Profane have conquered the lands of Handent, across the channel, and are building armies of ravenous monsters by corrupting the local beastman tribes. However, the nations of man, elf, and dwarf are uniting to face them," said Noah. "They've already begun attacking dwarven villages and starting forest fires, as you surely know." The elders gave a look, saying that they didn't, which confused Noah. "Wait, are you telling me you haven't been attacked yet?"

"We've been seeing fires and smoke off in the distance, but nothing has come to our valley, nor targeted the other tribes. The Ashok Mountains remain untouched," said Hadat.

"That makes no sense. They go to all the trouble of terrorizing the dwarves and don't bother going into the Ashok Mountains?"

"Roc has warned us about the danger they pose. When he did not return from Duravound, we feared he had been captured, or worse," said the old man beside Hadat.

"Vandheim's king was being manipulated by the Profane. Their leader had infiltrated the royal court and was trying to keep Duravound isolated and ignorant until it was too late to mount a defense."

"He told us you freed him and convinced the king that the threat was real. We thank you for that. However, if you are hoping we can join you in this war, you will be disappointed. We do not have enough warriors to spare, especially if they will be staring down entire armies."

"I understand your reluctance, but I cannot overstate the gravity of this threat. The Profane will not stop until the entire world falls to them, and if we do not unite and defeat them, they will succeed. Besides, the contributions your tribesmen can make are invaluable, even if they do not take part in battles. The ability to cross vast distances at speed and gain a view of the lands from up in the sky--these can turn the tide of war. Simply by performing reconnaissance or delivering messages between various military leaders, your kin can save countless lives and help us achieve victory."

"You would have us ally ourselves with the dwarves?" the old woman asked.

"I would," said Noah. "The silver lining to threats like the Profane is that they put grudges and resentment in perspective. I will not dismiss the conflicts of the past between the tribes of these mountains and the dwarves to the south. However, I ask: Is holding onto the past more important than protecting the future? The beastmen and dwarves have argued and fought over these mountains for generations. Would you continue to have bad blood, or would you give the two races a chance to unite against a common enemy and form bonds of friendship? I warn you that nothing good can come from the young inheriting the grudges of the old."

The elders were silent, allowing Noah's words to sink in. The old woman then pointed to Shannon. "You. Your clothing is similar to ours, and you have our bearing. You are from Handent, correct?"

"Yes. I'm the last surviving member of the Petosic horse tribe. All of my kin were taken by the Profane, either slain or turned into their soldiers." She then reached out and grasped Noah and Valia's hands with a blush. "These two saved me, and I have followed them ever since. Please, do not let the fate of my people become the fate of yours."

Tican then returned with Lupin, serving as a crutch to help him walk.

"Hello, everyone," he said, his voice weak but his smile warm.

"Lupin!" Seraph exclaimed, rushing over and hugging him.

"Your friend was on the brink when he arrived, but he has a strong spirit," said Hadat.

"How do you feel?" Valia asked as Seraph and Tican helped him sit down.

"Like my lungs were replaced with burlap sacks. I honestly wasn't sure I'd ever see any of you again."

"He will need a few more days to recover and more medicine," said Hadat. "You may all stay as our honored guests until then."

"Thank you for your kindness and generosity," said Noah with a bow of his head. "By the way, where is Roc? We should thank him."

"I can show you to his home," said Tican.

"I'll stay here for a bit," said Seraph. "Lupin and I need to catch up."

As Noah and the others left, Seraph helped Lupin back to his bed and laid him down. He was sleeping in a small room in the back of the tent, surrounded by drying herbs and several potion bottles, with a bowl of smoldering incense next to his pillow. Of Lupin's surroundings, Seraph could only guess as to the identity of the fifer medicine.

"Are you all right to talk? We... haven't really had the chance to address Father and Galvin."

"I can talk. After all, there is so much to say. Noah told me about what happened, but I want to hear it from you. Tell me everything."

Seraph told him the story, starting at the academy. He recounted his feud with Noah and his desperation to beeat him and prove his supremacy. He mentioned Galvin's loss and desire for revenge, as well as Noah's wrath. He described how Noah punished him on Knight's Day and how he lost his powers, then spent a year training with Tarnas. He spoke of the fighting tournament, how he struggled against his foes and his own doubts and guilt. He regaled Lupin with the story of his journey to Lumestada and the regaining of his powers. Finally, he confessed to Galvin's death and the battle that followed, along with everything that came after.

"You've come a long way, Seraph. You're no longer the impetuous youth you were before."

"That's a shamefully low bar, and the words 'impetuous youth' are far too kind for what I was. All I want is to repent for my sins, and bring more light into this world than the pain I caused."

"Noah told me about your fight, but not in such detail. I had no idea it was so horrific."

"Honestly, I'm grateful for it. I got what I deserved, or at least some of what I deserved. That plum wasn't fatal like Noah said, but I did die that day. The man I was ceased to be, and I woke up reborn. Now I feel like I've finally found my purpose. While I was fighting the Profane, I realized I was doing what I was meant to do, using my powers as they were supposed to be used. I can help people, save them, make this world a better place instead of just throwing my powers around to get what I want. I'm just ashamed that it took me so long to realize it. When I think back to all of the time I wasted, all the people I hurt... it still seems like a mountain I can never hope to climb."

"You will. You're right when you said that you died that day. The fool I last saw at the basilisk gala is no more. Beside me is a man I am proud to call my brother."

Seraph smiled. "Thank you, Lupin. Deep in my heart, I wish Galvin could have done the same. I wish he could have learned from his mistakes and sought to become a better person. I wish we could have repented together and worked to make Uther greater than it ever was. So much of his vileness came from Ziradith, both in how she raised him and her own toxic blood, yet I can't help but wonder if some of it came from our father, and as his brother, I also have that innate wickedness engraved into me."

"You don't. You've proven that."

"You inherited all of Father's better qualities. His strength, his wisdom, and his humility, while Galvin and I... we just inherited his failures. He loved you, but was ashamed of us."

"Well, you're right about one thing: you both were our father's failures, his failure to raise you properly. He was a paranoid, jealous man, keeping Galvin at bay because of Ziradith and you at bay because of Tarnas. Had he treated you properly as his sons, I wonder how much would have been different, how you and Galvin would have been different. I'm ashamed that I never called him out on it. I was his blatant favorite, and I was so afraid of upsetting him or disagreeing with him because I didn't want him to treat me the way he treated you and Galvin. I should have stood up for the two of you, should have been a better brother. We could have been a proper family, but each of us ruined it. I'm so sorry, Seraph."

"It's not your fault. Still, it... it breaks my heart to know that Father died and... none of us were there. You were in Welindar, I was with Tarnas, and Galvin was back home in the Thelmas province. He died alone, facing the Profane bitch, without his sons there to help him. I can only hope that his final moments, his final thoughts... were about us."

"I'm sure they were. I know that he loved you and Galvin deep down, in his own way. But don't blame yourself for not being at his side when you spent your life being kept at arm's length. Perhaps being killed by Bella without us there to help him was his divine punishment."

"You said he was paranoid, but considering what Ziradith had been planning, he was probably correct in that regard." The two shared a small laugh, though it was painful for Lupin. "Now, I'm sure you have stories you need to tell."

Lupin obliged, telling Seraph about the taking of Welindar, his losing battles against the Pack and Profane, his recruitment of Noah and the turn of the tide of war, his victory over Kaisen, the loss of the city, and his time as Andromeda's prisoner."

"I'm sorry about Nell," said Seraph. "It sounds like you two truly loved each other."

"After everything that's happened, I'm not sure I even know what love means anymore. If we had met under different circumstances as simple commoners, would we still have fallen in love? If I had protected her from the Profane like I was supposed to, what would have happened between us? When she was turned, all of her feelings for me were twisted and perverted, becoming a sick obsession, and I was forced to murder her because of it, because I didn't work hard enough to extinguish her feelings before they went out of control. She was a sweet, innocent girl, but because I let her become enamored and entangled in my life, she suffered and died at my hands."

"Nobody can control who they fall in love with, as much as I wish we could," said Seraph. Lupin turned to him, silently waiting for Seraph to elaborate. He tried to resist, but ultimately cracked. "Cynatas. My heart skipped a beat the moment I met her, and has done so every single time I see her. Unfortunately, Roc got her before I could."

Lupin laughed. "Bit of a shame, really. Father should have engaged you with her. I bet she could have had you in line long before you'd ever meet Noah. You would've been wrapped around her finger, afraid to do anything that would upset her."

Seraph laughed as well. "Yeah, that's probably true. She does have that aloof haughtiness that makes you want to submit to her. Was Andromeda the same way?"

Lupin paused. "Yeah. In the darkness of the Profane, she was a beautiful glimmer, like a single bright star on a winter night. I wish I could have met her when she was human. Before she was turned, Nell was like the calming spring breeze, warming me when I was cold, and soothing me when I burned, letting me know that sunny days were ahead. I had to kill them both because of this damn war, and now my betrothed has run off with a beastman warrior. My luck with women really has been the worst, lately." Lupin gave a pained, bitter laugh.

"Our family's luck in general has been pretty terrible, as of late. But I suppose there has been a silver lining to all this misfortune."

"What's that?"

"I feel like this is the first time in our lives we've ever truly spoken to each other as brothers. It's nice."

Lupin held up his hand, and Seraph grasped it. "Thank you for coming to save me."

"Thank you for staying alive until I could."

While Seraph and Lupin made up for lost time, Tican brought Noah and his friends to Roc's home. Like everyone else in the village, he and his siblings lived in a large yurt. Tican raised the opening flap and poked his head inside.

"Roc, are you here?"

Instead, Roc's sister came into view, a few years older and with her brother's sharp features and red hair, though it wasn't the same crimson shade as Sophia's.

"He's still out looking for... Ah, you must be his friends. I'm Lastet," she said, greeting Noah and the others with a smile.

"I hope we're not intruding," said Noah.

"No, no, please come in. I'd love to finally meet Roc's friends from Uther. As I was saying, my brother is out there, looking for you, but he should be back soon." Everyone stepped inside, putting the yurt's maximum occupancy to the test. She turned to Noah. "And you must be Noah, correct?"

"That's right. It's nice to--"

She slapped him across the face, leaving everyone only half-surprised. Still, Laster didn't scowl when she did it, instead retaining an amused smirk. "That's for having my idiot brother perform at your little lecher party. That's right, I know. He got drunk and spilled the sordid details. It's a good thing no one else in the village found out; otherwise, no woman would marry him. Were our mother still alive, she'd chase you out of here with a cooking knife, calling you the devil that corrupted her son, so you should consider a slap to be a fair compromise." She then leaned forward and hugged him. "And that is to thank you for the hilarious story, as well as being a good friend to Roc and helping him get out of jail. You're definitely a troublemaker, but he speaks highly of you."

"I'd say that's a fair punishment and reward."

"I'm also willing to blame my idiot brother for his missing arm. Anyway, take a seat, and I'll make tea."

Everyone sat down around a low table, and Lastet put on a pot of water. Considering how many of them there were, Noah offered his own magic kettle to help speed things along and get everyone served. Lastet looked at Noah, and then at Foley."

"So, if you're Noah, then you must be Foley. I was not expecting Roc to say he befriended a dwarf, but I'm glad. He told me that you make it hard to keep a straight face."

"I know my way around a dirty joke."

"I'm guessing you're Alexis. Roc said you fought him to a draw at the academy. As his big sister, it used to be my job to make him eat crow when he got full of himself, but then he started training and getting stronger, and he stopped being the little chicken I could dangle by the ankles until he'd cry for mercy. Thanks for keeping his head from swelling up too much."

"We only fought once, and he was quite strong. You must be really proud of him."

"Quite, though my worry exceeds my pride, considering the trouble he keeps getting himself into. That idiot came home with a stump of an arm after going to the academy, and after that fighting tournament, he somehow comes back missing the stump. And you must be Valia Zodiac," she said, then turning to the elf. "I hope my brother didn't cause you any trouble at the academy."

Valia chuckled. "I was his swordsmanship teacher for a brief time. Roc certainly has the eye and determination of a warrior. It's just a shame he chose to focus on martial arts so devoutly. He could have gone far under my teachings. I remember in his first academy duel, he cast his sword aside so that he could fight barehanded. I was so mad that I almost bent him over my knee and spanked him with it."

Lastet shared her laugh. "You can blame his stubborn fool of a master for that."

Everyone joined in to help tell Lastet about the events in Uther, from Roc's days at the academy to his prominence in the fighting tournament. They were halfway through describing the battle at the Andromeda Estate when Roc and Cynatas returned.

"I'm glad you all managed to find your way here," he said. "I've been patrolling the skies, trying to find you so I could guide you up the mountain."

"Thanks for getting Lupin here in time. You've saved him and Uther," said Noah.

"Once he's healed, we're heading back to Duravound, right?" Roc asked.

"No, no, no, no, no. You're not going anywhere," said Lastet. "You keep leaving here and almost dying."

"That's not true."

"What kind of crazy fool loses the same arm twice?! At this rate, the next time I see you, the entire left half of your ribcage will be gone! It's time for you to settle down and focus on the village. If Mother and Father were here, you'd know they'd say the same."

"Sis, I'm seeing this through to the end. Besides, after battling with the Profane, I can't ignore the threat they pose."

"Exactly! Which is why you need to stay here and protect your kin! Let the world deal with the world's problems. The tribe will deal with the tribe's problems."

"Our tribe is part of this world, whether you like it or not. The only way to truly protect the village is to eradicate this evil. The longer they're allowed to live, the more powerful they'll become. We can either wait for them to grow strong enough to reach us, or stop them before they ever get the chance."

"If you go looking for trouble, you'll bring it to our door."

"My grandfather thought the same," said Shannon, suddenly interrupting the sibling argument. "I'm from the Petosic horse tribe. When Lord Noah and Lady Valia came to my village, warning of the Profane and looking for answers, my grandfather dismissed their concerns, thinking that our tribe was too small to be noticed by the Profane, too small to do anything to stop them. We'd just keep roaming the steppes, and the world would deal with its own problems.

That night, the Profane came for us. Those who weren't slaughtered were bound in chains and taken away to be experimented on, either becoming the Profane or becoming their food. Now I'm all that's left. You think you're safe here in the mountains. You think that the Profane will ignore you, and if they don't, you'll deal with it on your own. We thought the same thing. Look where that got us."

Lastet and Roc fell silent. Though Lastet didn't like being lectured on how to keep her family safe, the truth and pain in Shannon's words could not be ignored. As much as she wished she could tell Shannon to butt out, as much as she wished she could exalt the safety of their mountain and isolation, she could see the fate of Shannon's people in her eyes, and could suddenly imagine it happening to her own tribe. The conversation was put on hold as it could only lead in a dark direction.

Roc's two younger brothers soon arrived, still just teenagers, and when they encountered Noah and his friends, they bombarded them with questions. Now, all of the stories they had just finished telling needed to be repeated. Seraph later made his way over, and the welcoming party suddenly turned cold. Roc's siblings knew who he was at just a glance, and considering the stories Roc had probably told them, they were not fond of having him in their home.

"I'm guessing you're the legendary Prince Seraph?" Lastet asked with crossed arms.

"Yes, ma'am. I am."

"I hope our humble home doesn't offend your royal tastes."

Seraph paused. "I can feel how much love is in your humble home. Compared to the cold, cavernous palace in Uther, I wish I could have grown up here instead." His words took the iciness out of Lastet, who offered no rebuke. "Roc, can I talk to you outside?" Seraph then asked.

Roc didn't say anything, but got up to oblige him, and the two stepped outside. "Yes?"

"Thank you for getting Lupin here. You saved his life."

"Don't mention it."

"No, I have to. Roc, you saved my brother's life. Other than Tarnas, Lupin is all I have left in this world. Like you, my parents are gone, and I had to kill Galvin, but to have Lupin back... you've done something for me that I can never hope to pay back. Listen, I've been an arrogant, savage brute most of my life, including and especially at the academy, and I made that your problem. I'm sorry for all you had to put up with, all of those stupid fights."

Roc took a deep breath. "To be fair, almost all of those fights were started by me and my stupid pride. I wanted to beat you and prove I was stronger, so I kept challenging you, simple as that."

"No, I started those fights by being an insufferable bastard who goaded you into challenging me to duels. You just wanted to beat me up and make me pay for it like everyone else who's ever suffered the displeasure of meeting me. So again, I'm sorry, and thank you for everything you've done. I can't repent for my past by putting it behind me, but I'd like it if you and I could stop hating each other and finally be allies." Seraph extended his hand. "Can you forgive me?"

Roc looked at his hand. "I've seen the way you look at Cynatas. Will you swear not to come after her?"

"You needn't worry. I certainly don't deserve someone like her, and you make her happier than I could ever hope to. Just... let me admire her, from a silent and respectful distance. Let me appreciate her smile as I do the sun; beautiful, warm, and forever beyond my reach. That's all I want. I swear on my very life that I will never pursue her."

Roc paused and then shook Seraph's hand. "That's all I need. And I feel I should tell you that she has a mark on her chest like yours."

Seraph was taken aback. "Wait, what do you mean?"

"You have the mark of Lumendori on your chest, right? She has the mark of Brisenvalla. She says it's where her incredible wind power comes from. According to her mother, individuals with such marks appear from time to time throughout the ages, born with supreme magic. As for why or how, nobody can say for sure. It could be divine providence, or just a coincidence, but that's all she knows about it. What this means for you as Light's Emissary, I don't know. Feel free to ask her about it." Roc then went back into the yurt with Seraph. "Laster, this is my friend, Seraph. I expect you to be a good host."

Roc's announcement removed the tension, and everyone was free to relax. It was getting late in the day, so it was time to start dinner, with Noah and the others lending a hand wherever they could. Roc went out and caught a deer, making it the main course of dinner, with every delicious morsel being consumed. It was a wonderful dinner, and afterwards, Noah and the others set up camp next to Roc's home with the horses kept close. Everyone retired to their tents for the evening, but not all were able to fall asleep.

After tossing and turning for what felt like hours, Alexis finally decided to give up. Sophia was out like a log beside her, but Alexis just couldn't relax. It seemed like she hadn't slept well since the mansion. She left the tent, deciding to wait out the night beside the campfire, but as she stepped outside, she found that Noah was already there, having built the low embers back into a healthy flame.

"Can't sleep either, huh?" he asked as he used an ember to light his pipe.

Alexis didn't say anything, but sat down across from him.

"Care to imbibe?" he then offered, holding out his pipe.

"Does it have that special powder mixed in?"

"You know it."

Alexis took the pipe and inhaled deeply, releasing a white cloud that was carried away by the mountain breeze. "Thanks," she said, handing it back.

The two sat in silence for a while, staring into the flames.

"Are you and I ok?" Noah finally asked.

"I... honestly don't know how to answer that," Alexis admitted.

"We haven't spoken since Bella. Whatever it is that you're still holding onto, just say it."

Alexis sighed. "I told you before about how close I came to killing Valon to keep him out of the Profane's clutches, remember?"

"I do."

"Do you know the real reason why I didn't go through with it? It wasn't just because of the pain I knew it would cause you and Valia; it was because of fear. I was absolutely terrified of what you would do to me if I killed him."

Alexis paused, expecting him to interject, to demand clarification despite knowing precisely what she meant, but he remained silent, gazing at her and waiting for her to continue. She couldn't meet his eyes and continued to speak while staring into the flames.

"I still have nightmares of what you did to Seraph. Every now and then, I dream of that ring of fire and imagine I'm the one inside of it. Your cruel voice still echoes through my mind as you inflict horrific torment upon me for something I've done to anger you. You're my best friend, Noah, but there is no one in this world who scares me more than you do."

Noah took another hit from his pipe. "If you had killed Valon, I would have been furious, as you would imagine. I would have gone some time without speaking or even looking at you, thinking about all of the pain and suffering you'd likely have condemned me to, but ultimately, I would forgive you, because I'd know why you did it, how hard it would have been for you to do it, and how conflicted and sorry you would feel.

I would never do to you what I did to Seraph. That was about teaching him a lesson, about punishing him for his ego and ignorance, but you aren't him. You said I'm your best friend, and you're mine as well, Alexis. I wouldn't hurt you for doing what you had to do to protect this world and save innocent lives, even if it's at my expense."

"But can I believe you? Can I believe any kind thing you say? Bella, and that other Profane woman, I'm sure they loved you, and you did all in your power to cultivate those feelings just so you could manipulate and use them to get what you wanted. What sweet words and kind promises did you give them before you murdered them? How can I trust you after seeing what happens to others who make that mistake?"

"I guess you can't. I won't blame you for not trusting me. I won't criticize you for doubting me, for keeping your guard raised around me. I won't feel offended or insulted if you're wary of my promises or suspicious of my actions. I'm not sorry about what I did to Seraph. I feel no regret or remorse for what I did to Bella or Duska, whether it was the way I lied and manipulated them, or even how I killed them once they were no longer beneficial to me. I won't apologize for doing what I have to do to win and get results, and that's all the reason you need not to trust me or even like me.

After everything you've seen me do, all the pain I've given you, it's natural for you to be afraid of me. It's what I deserve. All I can do is act as I see fit and speak what I feel, and leave you to decide whether you believe me or not, such as when I say that I think the world of you, Alexis. You can be naïve, stubborn at times, and a bit overly self-righteous, but you're the person I wish I could be again, instead of the ghost I've become.

I'm glad to have you with me. I'm glad that there is someone here to disagree with me, to stand up to me, to call me out on what I do. If I do something you wholly oppose, I know you'll condemn me. We'll argue, of course. You'll call me heartless and twisted, and I'll rebuke your sense of logic and perspective, but at the end of the day, I'll still be glad that you're by my side, helping to keep me honest. You may not see me as someone who can be trusted, but I see you as someone I can always rely on."

Alexis thought back to what she had told Bella. She knew how cruel and sadistic Noah could be, but also knew of his kindness, his knowledge, his supportiveness, and how comforted she felt knowing he had her back. Try as she might to simplify him, to define him, compartmentalize and label him, she could never hope to pin him down. He was both ultimate evil and ultimate good, and to be his friend was something that could not be experienced with anyone else, for there was no one else like him. They were friends, for better or for worse.

Alexis smiled, and Noah saw her tension fade. "Back at the mansion, you yelled at me for the first time. It was honestly scary, knowing what you were capable of, but what really stood out to me was the fact that you lost your temper like that. I don't think you were upset because I was questioning your actions or logic. I think you got upset because, though you think you feel no remorse or regret, it did hurt you to kill Bella and that other girl, and I didn't appreciate the sacrifice you made.

Maybe you didn't love them like they thought you did, but deep down, I think you did care about them enough to wish that it could have gone another way. I think you wanted them to live, but you couldn't let them because none of us would accept it. You got angry and yelled at me because I, and the rest of us, were the reason you had to kill them. I think you're capable of being an absolutely horrible and monstrous human being, but I also think that you're a better man than you give yourself credit."

Noah didn't say anything, but by the light of the fire, Alexis saw his expression soften, and perhaps even a glimmer of hope in his eyes. She got up and sat next to him. "Give me another hit of that. I'm starting to feel it." Noah passed her the pipe, and she breathed deep the wonderful smoke. The two friends spent the evening by the fire, getting stoned and gazing at the stars.

The next morning, Noah followed Roc through the village to meet the young warrior's master. Roc was excited to introduce them to each other, and Noah was curious as well. He was always interested in studying new branches of martial arts, looking for techniques to add to his repertoire. Roc was skilled, but Noah wanted to see what a true master could accomplish.

They arrived at a temple on the adjacent mountain, where men were taught the martial arts of their tribe. They were in the middle of a demonstration, with the master of the temple standing before all of his seated pupils. Unlike his students, he was in his purely human form. He was an old man, but with a robust physique and considerable strength still left in him. Nearby, two of his pupils had a leashed goat, thrashing and trying to escape their clutches. It was a mighty specimen, close in size to a bull, with horns that could punch through the toughest shields.

"Release the creature," their master said.

His pupils untethered the goat and stepped back, with the enraged ram leaping forward and looking around for someone to attack. It spotted the master, becoming irritated with his relaxed aura but challenging posture. It lowered its head and charged, ready to send him airborne. The master simply reached up with one of his feet and blocked the goat's charge using nothing but his posture and the strength of his other foot gripping the ground.

With his arms behind his back, he remained perfectly balanced, not shifting an inch as the goat pushed against him with all of its might. The goat pulled back and tried to attack once more, but he again blocked its head with his foot, unmoving against the power of the ram. The goat tried repeatedly to best him, but the old man held as firm as the mountains, and eventually, the goat gave up and scurried away in shame, with the spectating pupils applauding their master's strength and skill.

Roc approached and bowed. "Master Amor, this is Noah, the Wandering Spirit, the man I told you about."

Noah pressed his hands together and bowed his head, with Amor doing the same.

"Roc has told me a great deal about you," said Amor. "He's spoken very highly of your combat skills. You have no monk magic, Beast Arts, or Martial Arts, yet you're a master of hand-to-hand fighting."

"You're one to talk. That bout with that mountain goat was fascinating."

"Master, I told you about Seraph as well. He and I would spar with Noah numerous times on our journey from Duravound, and he always beat us without breaking a sweat."

"Though Roc has lost an arm, that is no small feat, especially given what I've heard about this Seraph character's abilities."

"He wouldn't have gotten as far as he has without your teaching. It's a shame you could not see what he accomplished at the Uther fighting tournament. I'm sure you would be proud."

"Perhaps you could give his fellow students a lesson. They have no one to test their strength against besides each other and the beasts of the wild. I want them to face opponents of different styles and techniques. I'm sure you can give them what they need."

"I'd be glad to, if you agree to fight me once I'm finished. I want to know what a true master of your tribe's style can do."

Amor chuckled. "Why do you think I want you to fight them first? It's so that I can see what I'm up against." He then turned to his students. "Boys, you have the honor of fighting a master combatant. I trust you show him the respect he is due."

Noah stepped back into an open space. "Feel free to attack me one at a time or all at once. Anyone here who can get me to remove my coat and hat will be considered the best of your generation."

The largest of Amor's students got to his feet, standing almost a foot taller than Roc and with a more muscular build. "That will be me. I am Rous, soon to be known as the greatest eagle warrior who ever lived."

"Then step forward," said Noah.

Noah and Rous faced each other, each bowing out of respect. Rous then launched himself at Noah, using the same wing propulsion trick that Roc always used. He closed in on Noah with one leg extended and his claws ready to rip and tear. Noah stepped to the side to dodge the kick, and though Rous had been anticipating his avoidance and prepared to strike with his hand, he was caught off guard when Noah grabbed one of his toes and snapped it. Rous's midair posture was ruined, and he ended up tumbling across the ground.

He stood up on one foot, keeping the other raised while cursing and hissing in pain. He turned his attention back to Noah, but was too late to stop him from delivering several precise jabs up the middle of his torso. Rous was suddenly struck with an overwhelming bout of nausea as he felt his stomach rise into his throat, but before he could vomit, Noah delivered a palm strike to his chin, sending his brain rattling in his skull and knocking his head back. His consciousness was extinguished, and he landed facedown in a puddle of vomit.

Having seen what happened to Rous, the others realized that they couldn't defeat Noah in a one-on-one fight, and all charged at once. Wings flapped, feathers were scattered, and the eagle warriors all attacked. With his coat billowing, Noah dispatched them all, unleashing punches, kicks, and all other manner of attacks to dispatch his foes.

Those who weren't sent flying back instead collapsed at his feet, robbed of their consciousness like Rous. They didn't understand how he was able to dodge all of their attacks and counter with his own, completely slipping past their guard and striking like a knife between the ribs. He aimed for their pressure points and vital spots with masterful precision, reducing them to puppets with cut strings.

Roc and Amor stood back and watched the bout. Roc couldn't help but twitch and cringe at the various blows his fellow pupils received. After fighting Noah so many times, he knew how much those attacks hurt and how frustrating they were. Every time one of his friends was sent flying by a punch or kick that somehow wasn't magically enhanced, he wondered if that's what he himself looked like when he got trashed by Noah. Within a couple of minutes, everyone was laid out, and yet Noah was barely out of breath.

"Not bad, not bad. These boys show some promise." He turned to Amor. "You've trained them well."

"Clearly not well enough. I can see why Roc speaks so highly of you. Now it is up to me to restore the honor of our tribe." He stepped towards Noah. "Indulge me in removing your hat and coat."

"Very well. It would be rude to fight you otherwise."

Noah shed his coat, and the moment his hat was removed, the air shifted. Within his hat was a duplicate of the headband he had received from Saimallah. It acted like a magical straightjacket, only allowing him to move while keeping his body energized with mana, meaning that every single action he took required far more effort and focus, but he wore his hat so often that it had become like second nature to him. With it removed, he felt utterly weightless.

Noah and Amor moved away from the beaten disciples and faced each other. Amor extended both his wings and his talons, assuming the stance that Noah had seen Roc take so many times. Amor moved to attack, but in the blink of an eye, Noah had already appeared before him. Amor narrowly suppressed a flinch and instinctively kicked upwards, negating the punch Noah was about to throw.

Noah spun around and swung his own leg at Amor, who had no choice but to block with his wing and brace himself against the ground as he had done with the goat. With mana wrapped around his hand, Amor lunged for a nukite stab. It wasn't an actual spell; rather, his mana was activating on instinct. Noah caught his wrist and tried to twist his arm, but Amor flipped his whole body and swatted Noah with his wing to knock him back.

Now with some distance, Amor launched himself with his wings as his disciples had, aiming for the same talon kick. Noah was ready to intercept, but at the last moment, Amor tucked in his wings and spun through the air, shifting from a frontal kick to a rotational. Noah ducked under the swung leg, then jumped back to avoid another wing strike, only to then close the distance and land three punches on Amor. The old man handled them well, knowing how to back off to lessen the force received. Amor once more went on the attack, hurling punches, swings, and jabs as fast as he could, but Noah blocked, dodged, and deflected every single one, with Roc and the disciples left in awe.

As the fighting continued, Valia watched them from the village. Her elven eyes were like binoculars, letting her see every detail, regardless of the distance.

"How's it going?" Cynatas asked as she approached.

"I see a lot of bruised egos over there."

Cynatas sat down beside her. "Noah certainly isn't going easy on them."

"No, he's holding back. If Noah wanted to, he could rip that man's heart right out of his chest."

"You've certainly picked an interesting mate."

"How about you and Roc?"

Cynatas smiled. "His siblings aren't too keen on him falling in love with someone outside of the village, and it's certainly hard for us to make love in that tent, but everything else is a dream come true. When he was in prison, Roc would tell me about his village. To get the chance to see it for myself, to smell the mountain air and trees, it's wonderful."

"You think you'll stay here?"

"It would be nice. I feel like I was meant to come here. I've never felt so in tune with the sky and the air. That said, until the Profane are eliminated, who can say where the winds of fate will carry us? I've been so cooped up in Duravound for decades, and now I'm free to explore this world. Terrible as this war is, hopefully it will deliver me and Roc to the far corners of the map, so we might see everything that lies below the clouds."

"You'll definitely want to see Sylphtoria. After a lifetime of being surrounded by surly dwarves, visiting an elven city would be a breath of fresh air. It's quite nice to have a fellow elf on the team."

"Sylphtoria is high up on my list of destinations to visit. I just hope the elves won't treat me for my dwarf blood the same as the dwarves treat me for my elf blood."

Back at the temple, Noah and Amor faced each other. Noah was a bit out of breath and had received a few blows, while Amor was struggling to maintain his composure from fatigue and his numerous darkening bruises.

"I think we can call it here. You have bested me, sir," said the old man.

"That was a splendid battle. You have shown me the true strength of your style."

"Considering that I lost, what does that say about our tribe's martial arts?"

"Don't take it so hard, Master," said Roc. "Though he may look young, he's been training and fighting longer than you could possibly imagine."

"Is that true?" Amor asked.

"Were you to compare our ages, I'd be the old man, and you'd be an infant."

Amor chuckled. "Well, I suppose that does remove some of the sting. Still, as a teacher, I've found a new purpose: to raise a student who can beat you."

After sparring with Amor and his disciples, Noah spent the rest of the day experimenting with the black pearl he had collected from Voraith, as well as the several other magical ingredients that had accumulated within the depths of his ring. He had an idea for a device, having already tinkered with the formulas and design during the three days they spent traveling towards Roc's village. It was close to completion, but he needed just one more component to make it perfect. The problem was that he didn't have it, nor did he know what it was. All he could do was take the project as far as he could and then set it on the back burner until he found the mysterious final piece that would complete it.

In the meantime, Noah, having earned the respect of the local martial artists and elders, garnered some goodwill for his friends. At the behest of Roc and the others, the villagers warmed up to the new guests. That night, everyone gathered in the center of the village around a large bonfire, and under the watchful eyes of a carved eagle statue, enjoyed a village feast to welcome these new friends of the tribe. Daniel also used this opportunity to try out some of his new songs.

"Dark estate, dark estate

We brought down the fist of fate

On marble floors, we fought our war

We struck the demons at their core

Arrows flew and spells exploded

Our enemies falling, their strength eroded

Evil Andromeda, lightning so fierce

Black as coal, like spears did pierce

Around each corner, her friends attacked

But the mask of their strength had been cracked

The undead rose and fell back to the ground

After the prince brought his hammer down

The one-armed eagle, spinning with kicks

Cracked their skulls and broke their necks

Our Foley dwarf with his magic shield

Blocked every weapon the monsters could wield

Fair Sophia, hair so red with holy light

Healed our wounds and restored our might

Horse princess Shannon and Bow Mistress Veres

Rained their arrows upon the heiress

Elven beauties, Cynatas and Val

Fought with wind and sword in the battle royale

Madam Cyrilo, our witchy cat

Saved poor Roc from the demon bat

Our leader, Noah, with sword and gun

Slaughtered scores before they could run

And in the middle, the Bard of Rock

I played my strings as we brought awe and shock!"

Everyone was bewitched by the music, both the sound of the guitar and the mana radiating from it. With Daniel's magic, everyone who listened was able to visualize the battle as if they were seeing his memories. They saw the vicious ghouls, the ravenous fiends, the explosions of magic, and splatters of blood. For some, it was terrifying, as it revealed the evil that threatened their village, but for others, it inspired hope, showing that these monsters could be vanquished. While the villagers were caught up in Daniel's song, Noah and his friends were sharing drinks.

"We should probably leave first thing in the morning," said Lupin.

"Are you fully healed yet?" Noah asked.

"No, but I don't think we should stay here any longer. Of the remaining Profane, if any of them know about the fifer lilies, then they'll know we came here to get me healed."

"I've considered that too, but after how many of them we killed at the mansion, I doubt they can muster up enough forces to come after us, be it to recapture you or get revenge. If they're smart or we're lucky, they'll leave us alone to lick their wounds and regain their strength before trying anything against us. Gradius is our biggest threat, but I'm just not sure how to deal with him. Did you know he was an emissary like Tarnas?"

"What are you talking about?"

"I saw it on his chest. He had the mark of Byrnestoir, but it had been overwritten with the Rune of Corruption."

"No, I had no idea. I doubt my father even knew, but Tarnas must have. He's the one who brought Gradius to Uther in the first place."

"Why? You know I'm open to utilizing any asset that gets the job done, but Gradius is far too crazed and unpredictable."

"Tarnas was of the same mind, thinking his power was far too valuable to waste. He also said that Gradius reminded him of himself when he was young and blinded by rage, and that he wanted to help him. He told us that Gradius had a curse that turned anger into power, but at the cost of his sanity. But why would he lie about that?"

"Maybe he was afraid that he'd lose credibility and authority as the supposed Light's Emissary if it was discovered that there were others like him. We'll just have to ask Tarnas when we get back to Uther, but until then, we have to figure out how to deal with Gradius. If Valia can slice his head off, that should be enough to do it, but even with her steel body enchantment, I don't know if she can survive getting close enough to him. And I get the feeling that if she does kill him, he'll just explode like Kaisen did, but with less blood and more fire. We may need to explore alternative ways to stop him. At Galvin's wedding, Elyot used earth magic to bury Gradius alive and trap him and his flames. It worked until the dungeon crab brought him back to the surface."

"This country is littered with dwarven mines. Maybe if we drop him into one, not even he will be able to get loose."

"I like that idea. However, it would have to be a very deep mine, one that we can immediately fill up, and preferably located nowhere near a residential area. Ideally, it would be while he's in that huge metal coffin."

"Then tomorrow, let's set out and look for one. It's one thing if the Profane attack this place in the name of conquest or food, but I don't want anyone here to die specifically because of me."

"Fair enough. We'll leave tomorrow at dawn, so long as you can ride a horse."

"By the way, about Bella..."

Noah immediately shrouded him and Lupin in mana to conceal their conversation from the others. "Yes?"

"Did you kill her, or did Alexis?"

"I killed her and Duska. Tying off loose ends. Alexis knows about me and them, but she's keeping her mouth shut about it. I'd appreciate you doing the same."

"Of course. I just... I don't know. Nell, Andromeda, Bella, Duska... You and me, we both had our hearts stolen by two Profane women, and both had to kill them with our own two hands. I suppose it's just nice to feel that symmetry with someone."

"My heart wasn't stolen, but I will admit, it was a damn shame. We could have used them in the future."

"Is that all they meant to you?"

Noah paused, thinking about what Alexis had said. "Considering how it ended, would it have been better if they meant more to me?"

"I suppose not. I just hope the people here mean more to you than they did."

Noah looked around at his friends. "I have to believe that this will be my last life. I have to believe that I'll break my curse. I'm afraid to give myself false hope, but if this really is the final world, then these moments here with everyone do matter. I want you all to be the last friends I ever have."

The plan was spread to the rest of the group, and that night, everyone prepared for an early departure. However, there was no dawn the next day, for while the sun did rise, it could not pierce the thick blanket of dark clouds that filled the sky.

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