In the Cadainis region at the base of the Zumoran mountains, the paths are perilous with many icy rivers always flowing. Ten soldiers wait patiently at one path. Snow begins to fall from the sky and not lighten by any means. The prison vehicle arrives and Dileos exits the back. Immediately he starts giving out orders.
"Block the path and destroy the vehicle. I don't want any traces of us when they get here. Get a shock collar on the girl. She is starting to show signs."
Explosives are set by those on both the mountain path and the vehicle. Joran and Nima are both dragged out of the prison truck and pushed along. For Nima, she starts trying to fight free and begins showing signs of her powers returning. They lay out a collar around her neck and shook her at the highest voltage. It is strong enough to force her back into her normal form before she can change completely.
"She is a feisty one," Dileos comments with a smile.
Joran stands up and is stuck by the end of the rifle in the stomach and punched in the face to bring him down to his knees. He looks around and knows the area of the region. What he sees is Dileos and the dozen Federation soldiers who force them to travel up the path. With a remote switch, Dileos detonates the explosives destroying the vehicle. When they are further along, he does the same for the mountain path, sealing it with rocks and boulders, from the explosion.
While they journey up the mountain, Kalsor rides down one of many paths. By his breathing, it is clear he is so eager to find his son and seek answers. The echo of the two explosions makes them look in all directions. Lorphiel is the one who spots the smoke not far. They ride and find the destroyed prison vehicle along with the mountain path sealed off. They hear another riding up and see Andor. He dismounts and looks at the obstacle in their way.
"There is a path a few miles Northeast of here that connects to this one. Take it and cut them off," Andor instructs them.
Their King spreads the wings of his armor and take flight into the air. Kalsor is not hesitant and does what his King asks of him with the others following close behind. Dileos continue leading his comrades and two prisoners up the mountain. Nima continues to struggle in breaking free. Every time she tries, Dileos press the button on the remote to shock her. Joran has to hold her up while they walk.
"Why are you doing this, sir?"
"Isn't it obvious? You didn't make things easy for me and my Master was starting to grow impatient. I knew you were hiding the girl in that secured hideout of yours but the master wanted to keep our identities hidden. Doesn't want our presence known yet, but you presented the opportunity when you told me of your plans to become eternally bound with this girl. How romantic," he says which gets everyone under his command laughing. "All I had to do was say something out loud accidentally in front of Derisior and his friends, he would act on it. I knew if the girl was pushed and watched you suffer she would show her abilities. After that, it was easy to clean up the scene of weapons, making you look guilty. Everything played out in my favor and with her being delivered by me, I will be accepted into the order of my master. Delivering you will elevate my position even further."
"So you sold out honor and loyalty to your people for more power?" Joran questions calmly while they continue walking and Dileos laughs.
"Premderia is weak. The King is just as weak by allowing such weak fools to lead. Our people only desire peace and stability and now with the Federation government. There is no stopping that. Just like you can't stop us from rising."
"I am not arguing with that and your plan would have worked if it was an average Premderian you were dealing with?"
"Would have?" Dileos questions while laughing and Joran points up to the sky and he sees the drone in the clouds.
"It pays to be friends with the smartest Premderian alive, even though we don't see eye to eye on many things," Joran comments before looking past Dileos and seeing two others in the falling snow. "And them."
Dileos did not turn until hearing the sound of a blade slicing the throats of three followers. When turning to look he sees Tilain and Melrina standing together on one side. On the other end is Traur holding to knives of his own. Joran holds up his arms and a single shot fire from the mountains cutting the restraints. Dileos draws his pistol and a pod land in between them, knocking him down. It open and two swords similar to what Joran wields come out. He takes both of them and cut the restraints of Nima, and rip off the collar.
Dileos emerge and a second shot fire that makes him take cover behind the pod. Joran rushes her to cover and is shot in the back of his shoulder by a Federation soldier. This infuriate Nima and she turn into her beast form, charging with vicious intent. She starts with the one who shot her eternal beloved. Others shoot her but heal and start ripping through them. Tilain and Melrina are shot at but disappear in the snow and reappear cutting the throats of a few more. Joran takes out a couple more himself, and the remaining ones are shot in the head from a distance.
All that remains is Dileos. The pistol in his hands is shot. He looks in the direction of the shot and sees Mildral standing there. Nima stands ready in her current form. Joran touches foreheads with her and she let him walk towards the traitor, with his swords tight in hand.
"Joran, no," Dileos says as he back away calmly with a smile, and reaches behind his back grabbing a pistol. "No."
Dileos grip the handle of his pistol and quickly draw. Joran charges at him and fires off a single shot that hit him on the right side of his chest. Dileos watch Joran keep charging despite the wound. He aims again and squeezes the trigger. A shot disarm Dileos by Mildral. Joran leaps into the air and drives both of his swords into Dileos' chest. He removes both blades and crosses them in front of Dileos' neck.
"Why?" Joran asks and Dileos smiles. "You were a mentor to me. Someone who served with my father for years on his team. I don't understand. Why do this? Why betray your people?"
"Being treated as inferior by those in power who are weak is not how we should live. Inferior races mock us without consequences. They need to be taught a lesson. They must learn fear by bloodshed."
A Federation shuttle flies overhead. Tivas leaps down and lands gracefully. Federation soldiers repel down and see the situation. Already she is well aware. Dusglar looks and sees Tivas gripping the handle of his sword while the others take aim. Joran still didn't budge.
"Joran!" Dusglar shouts as he joins his side, but Joran is not so quick to remove the blades. "Nima needs you."
Joran looks over to Nima and sees her still not back to her normal form. He pulls his blades back and tosses them to the side. Dileos try going for his pistol while Tivas isn't looking but Mildral shoots it away. The Senior Agent presses down on his wrist and role up Dileo's sleeve revealing the symbol that he's a Faithful of Steron. Dileos laugh as he spits in Tivas' face.
"You have betrayed the Federation and have chosen the ways of an enemy that must not exist,"Tivas says to him while gripping the handle of his sword.
"You can't stop us. You can't stop them. You can't stop him. Eventually, he will come and your reign will end and make your precious people submit to him," he says while laughing.
"It is a shame you won't see it." Dileos laughs at what he says.
"I am not a threat anymore. According to Federation code..."
Tivas takes out his sword and with a single swing by the Senior Agent, his life comes to an end, and the blood stains the snow. One less concern for the Senior Agent but others still linger. His attention turn towards Joran trying to calm Nima. Mildral scans her and notices all the readings elevating. Melrina and Tilain sense something unusual about her as well but didn't take action. Neither of them dare to with Joran there.
"It is alright now, Nima," Joran says to her while they touch foreheads. "We are safe."
Something deeper lurks in her mind. A creature longing to get out. There is something else. A power that makes her weak and feels like shackles take hold. There is a dark shadow in the void walking towards her. She hears a laugh within but doesn't get to hear it long enough. The figure stretches out his hand and a green energy shoots towards her. It goes directly into her eyes and mouth. Nima cries out with a loud scream.
Nima didn't calm down despite returning to her normal form. Her eyes are fixated upon Tivas. Joran did not notice while he holds her close. He hears her through breathing very heavily and still unsettled after the fighting is over. Joran looks at her eyes and sees something is wrong but didn't know what it is. Her eyes turn to that of a beast like Joran's. On the forehead appears a black symbol. He doesn't get a look at it. Without warning she punches Joran in the chest.
His body goes back towards Melrina and Tilain. While Melrina sees to Joran, Tilain rushes to Nima. She grabs hold of her friend's shoulder from behind. With blind hatred, Nima grabs Tilain by the throat. Melrina sees it and charges at her.
"Nima, stop!"
Nima throws Tilain at Melrina. The speed she is thrown is enough to knock them both down and into Joran. With all three down she turns back towards Tivas. Taking one step forward, she is struck with electronic pulse that radiates through her entire body. It only makes her more angry and looks to see Mildral holding his pistol.
They watch as the muscles in her body begins to grow. The teeth and her fingernails become sharp. Blackness glows in her vein. Lastly her skin begins to shift red like her hair. Energy begins to form around her. Mildral aims once more and Nima charges. He has to fire multiple shots and each strike her but do nothing.
In her arm she creates an energy in the form of a whip and wraps around his wrist. Mildral tries resisting but is pulled towards her. With a single jerk he is hurled towards their friends and knocks all of them down once more.
With no more to interfere, she again focuses on Tivas and charges. Joran turns to see who she charges at and sees the Senior Agent. Joran didn't have the strength when trying to in stopping her.
"Nima, no!" Joran shouts at her.
She is too far gone and continues charging at Tivas. The rage he sees in her eyes, makes Tivas use one course of action. He grips his sword low to his side and a large amount of bright yellow energy comes off of it. Nima still charges with dark red energy in the palms of her hands.
"Don't do it!" Joran shouts as loud as possible pleading with the Warden but Lorphiel says only one thing.
"Attacking a Senior Agent of the Federation is punishable of death."
He takes a single swing with his sword. Nima stops as it rips into the flesh of her belly and drive upward. With a loud yell there is a bright flash of energy from his sword. The ground beneath them shatter. The snow-covered trees rip and break. The ice melts and flows down into the river.
Joran is hurled into a large rock and has to shield his eyes. His face and body are cut up by the sharp rocks and blistering wind. When he is no longer blinded Joran sees Tivas standing there with his blade dripping blood and a large red spot in the snow. Joran's eyes open wide and begin shedding tears when seeing Nima's body. A large slash across her body from the lower left side of her stomach to the upper right collar bone with part of her face scarred.
He moves his foot to rush to her and feels something touching it. The necklace with the crimson star and the golden crystal in the middle layer there. One of the links on the chain is broken. Some of it is stained in blood. The golden crystal no longer shines as the bloodstain. He takes hold of it with the same hand she wrapped the cloth around him with during their ceremony. He rushes over to her and she takes hold of his hand. With her bloody teeth, she shows a smile. The two touch foreheads while Dusglar stands in front of them to protect the two from the Federation guns aimed at both.
Kalsor and the others arrive at the sight. Joran's four friends stand silent on the matter. Under his mask, Mildral scans her and notice that the wounds start to heal and the vital signs may have been elevated but stabilize. At the same time, Joran's readings begin to rise. Melrina and Tilain both show concern expressions not liking the sight of his friend in so much pain. While Joran breaks down Melrina and Tilain turn their attention to the Senior Agent. Tivas sees them doing so and stands ready. Mildral puts his hand in front of his friend and Tilain knocks it away.
"Now is not the time," Mildral tells them as he put it back up.
Both stand behind Mildral's arm but his fists are incredibly tight. The energy that is darker than the usual crimson energy surrounds them. Tivas adjusts his fingers on the sword and stands ready. Bodgar get in front of both and grabs his daughter by his coat.
"Save it, girl," he tells her twice and Tilain calms down.
"She attacked and I had no choice but to defend myself, " Tivas says with confidence in his tone. The kind of thing that infuriated the others. "When I return to the capital I will be sure to tell the Grand Overseer of your problems."
Kalsor did not care for his words. His attention is only on Joran. Seeing his son grip Nima's hand while she slowly healed. She shut her eyes while her breathing slowed to a nice pace and her wounds are fully healed. Kalsor wants to go to him, but Andor grabs him by the arm, sensing something very wrong.
Joran's heart starts pounding the hardest it ever has. Tears continue pouring down Joran's face but they burn through the snow, while his eyes remain wide as they possibly can be. They change into that of a beast. He grinds his teeth hard and become sharp while breathing steam. The skin around his mouth begins to peel away and turn to dust from crimson energy. Spikes come out from the back of his shirt. Four tails with sharp spikes come out. His hair starts turning gray. It becomes longer and sharper. As he breathes heavily there is a sound of a beast and his regular voice.
Joran stands up and turns his attention towards Tivas. Around one fist make a blade that is dark in energy. He didn't hesitate and charge forward at her. Like Nima, nobody could stand in his way. Tivas charges at him her sword glowing with energy like before.
"You tried taking everything from me!" Joran shouts with blind rage in his eyes.
"Do not defy me, boy!"
Joran lets out a shrieking sound. He is ready to thrust his blade, having the arm loaded back beside his face. His aim focused only on driving it through Tivas' face. He goes for the same swing as before. The energy from the blade makes the sword melt as it comes up. In the middle of the swing, Joran leans back and slides forward on his knees dodging it.
Everyone finds the sight surprising including the Senior Agent. Tivas immediately turns and see Joran's blade thrusting towards her face with a loud yell. He turns his head ever so slightly. Joran's blade pierces quite deep, and run along the right side of his mouth and cheek. It shocks all, knowing how good of a swordsman Tivas is.
Tivas acts fast and readjusts the grip. He comes around behind Joran and drives it into his back. They all watch as he drives his blade as deep as possible through Joran's back and out of his chest. The Senior Agent presses his blade into the ground forcing Joran on his knees before removing it. Everyone watches as Joran returns to his normal form with his blood staining the snow. It is visible Joran's wounds are slowly healing despite the fatal blow. He is powerless and can't fight back.
Tivas presses the blade on the back of Joran's neck. He is not hesitant and lifts his blade into the air and comes down swiftly. It did not cut through the skin. His blade clashes with a different sword made of Premderium. He looks over and sees Kalsor standing there holding his blade in between his son's neck and Tivas' sword.
"You dare prevent me from carrying out justice on one who protected a murder and assaults a Senior Agent?"
"The fight is over. They will stand trial and face justice there."
Tivas withdraws her blade and takes a step back. Joran didn't say anything about his father intervening. His wounds continue healing but is incredibly weak. He ends up collapsing on the snow but makes sure he still has a firm hold on the gift he gave Nima.
"Put him in restraints and get him out of here," Andor orders.
None are so keen on doing so. Lorphiel steps forward with little pleasure. She takes out some restraints and restrains Joran's arms behind his back. The entire time Joran and Nima are both relieved by the fact they are still together. Dusglar try resisting and is hit several times until Bodgar stops them and helps him up.
"I am sorry, kid," Bodgar says before pulling him up to his feet.
The others follow behind. None thrilled by what is happening as they travel down the available path. Andor looks to Mildral and his other young friends who did not follow. The four did not favor the sight of the other. The four glance at one another and their is a moment on if they two are going to clash.
Mildral stays idle but Melrina and Tilain walk away disappearing into the storm. As they make their way down the mountain two watches on as does Steron and Gormaur from one of many cave entrances, concealed by the storm. For Steron his hands are shaky.
"Your time comes to a close," Gormaur says to him before going back into the cave. "At least have the good graces to have some dignity when he carries out your sentence."
The ride is long and takes them until the moon starts to rise and the tip of the sun falls before they reach the capital region. They move for the palace where many guards await the arrival of the three prisoners. All three are dismounted and several guards take hold of him. Kalsor is quick to push them away and take hold of his son by the arm. With his colleagues behind him, the guards back off.
"Stay strong, son," he says as he grips his hand which makes Joran look at him.
The Federation soldiers did not allow Kalsor or any in his group to proceed inside. They prison cells where Lorphiel waits. The prison cells there are far from pleasant. There are no beds and only a smelly bucket. It is quiet as all of the cells are empty. Joran is escorted to one and placed in there by before the guard shut the door. All three stand for a moment in their cells and Joran look to the palm of the hand his father grabbed. Something feels off about it and rubs it a few times.
"Dusglar," he says and gain his attention. "Be ready," he tells him in their native language with a wink.
Deep in the mountains where Premderians do not travel, Steron stands in the center of the very large training ground. Behind him stand all the ones who wears his medallion. Behind them are all those that are Faithfuls that have his mark. On the upper levels is Brank. Standing in the corner is Gormaur standing with the seven black Drazgov's.
"Our Lord does not tolerate is incompetence. He desires only the best for my campaign. Those who prove inadequate for such things will be erased."
Gormaur steps forward bowing his head. He takes out a knife with a black blade. He walks behind each rank of the two hundred Faithful's that are lined up. No hesitation comes when he runs the blade across them. By the last row, fifty of them meet his blade. The next task is all those who wear Lord Steron's medallion. One hundred of them stand at attention. Twenty-five of them finds their throats cut. To many among them, they find fate quick and painless in comparison to what others must suffer.
Gormaur did something else with ten others. He kicks the back of their leg's out. An inch above each eyebrow he cut downward leaving a black scar that ends an inch under their eye. A warning to those if failure is tolerated once again.
Gormaur finally comes to Steron. He walks circles around him, constantly adjusting his fingers on the handle of his knife. Steron continues looking straight ahead, awaiting his punishment. Gormaur stops behind the Versal Lord not looking at him. He kicks the back of his legs out and put the knife an inch above the eyebrow. Gormaur removes it after a moment and pulls him back up to his feet and circles him a couple of times more. He stops again and put the blade up to his throat and begin pressing it hard against his throat.
Nothing comes of it and Gormaur removes his knife before putting it away. Brank motions for Gormaur to return to where he stands. He rejoins his drazgov companions in the back. Brank probes the room once more and give specific instructions.
"Those that are loyal to our cause will continue being our eyes and ears. As for Lord Steron and those who serve him, they will return to Prevur to prevent any discovery."
Brank takes his leave and all of them bow their heads. All of them leave the rooms. Steron looks in the direction of the only two that remain for a while. When it is quiet the two break words with one another.
"I don't like us leaving, but they are suspicious of us and Steron has been a little too ambitious for the past several years," Gormaur tells his drazgovs honestly while watching Steron and his colleagues depart. "You think it is a problem?" He asks and they growl, showing their teeth. "I agree. Not yet, but you can never be too sure."