Caleb illionis pov
We rushed down the halls I Karla and Pluto our plan was to make it to the catacombs and use the treasured royal exit installed when this castle was built, a system of tunnels levers and other contraptions that would take days to properly survey as such if anyone as to enter in order to look for us we would still have a few days head start on our pursuers, using teleport so close to the capital would be as bad as an idea as possible our only hope was to make it to Aegis and seek shelter under their 2nd Don promising more rewards sonlong as he could make the situation blow over I thought briefly over the what Rowain would face if they were found wasting the time of two Don's and shuddered before realising although Karlas brothers were dumb even they would try something as outrageous as this so who exactly was the moron that led us to this point and what was be trying to accomplish, or maybe he or she wasn't a moron maybe this was withing their expectations, maybe thus was what they wanted to happen but what was their end goal, to destroy both our kingdom's we both didn't have many enemies that would resort to such a tactic to take us out and even if successful if one of those Don's should even suspect foul play the continent would be bathed in blood so those were out of the question, and that itself was a stupid end goal so I asked
'Pluto which Don is after us'
"I belive it was the new 3rd Don of Trident your majesty"
the new third Don of Trident, I had heard of how he had slaughtered the former and his entire guild singlehandedly, hell the entire continent had it was such an impactfull occurrence the entire world was shook when they heard of it, most touted him as a justice bearing saviour but I wouldn't be surprised if he was a mad man that enjoyed the sight of blood a man who could obviously enforce his authority through force and probably wouldn't like being challenged and then we have Jurad Beltharix a proud and powerful man obsessed with restoring the land his ansestors came from amd someone obviously happy he could count on Illionis's help he most definitely would not like having that promise turn to smoke due to outside interference even if it was that of another Don if these two were to meet a fight was all but assured a fight between Arcanum users another thing to fear along with whoever the master manipulator of this situation was probably someone who could handle the aftermath of two Don's clashing, or maybe someone who wanted that to happen someone who wanted to pit two beings nearing godhood against each other and reap the benefits whatever they maybe, only one person came to mind, a other Don, another being of power and might that none of us pawns could hope to match meaning if we got through this together we would have to face not 1 or 2 but 3 Don's maybe more, I'd be lying if I said fear didn't creep into my heart but instead of letting that affect me I focused on the woman whose hand I was holding as we ran, I squeezed once and she squeezed back and with that I found my courage, I buffed our party and we moved even quicker blazing down the halls like a blur, I also muffled our steps and removed the effect of our speed on out surroundings to allow us to move more discreetly, but after a while Pluto stooped us, before I could ask why he brought a finger to his lip and signaled ahead of us, behind an intersection there I sensed one presence a woman, a magis-sword and a strong one at that Pluto released himself from us and made his way towards her side
"halt she said"
and he halted
"good morning miss"
he greeted politely
"yes morning, I'd like to ask you a few things if you don't mind"
"I'm a steward miss, serving and answering questions is part of my job"
"indeed, I came here because I sensed some mana fluctuations, do you know anything about that"
"ah yes that was me"
"you"
"yes miss I belived I had forgotten to perform an important task so I used some spells to increase my speed and get right too them it was later I realised that said tasks weren't on my schedule at least not today"
"interesting, do pray tell what tasks you were so worried about"
"I was tasked with waking up the crown prince and getting him ready for the day"
" you know where the crown prince is"
"why yes miss, he should be at the Royal baths around this time of the day, do you have some business with him"
"yes I do,take me to him"
"apologies miss but if you want to meet with his majesty you have to have an appointment"
she then proceeded to pull out a letter signed with the royal seal of Rowain
"I'm under orders from the 3rd Don of Trident on behalf of the kingdom of Rowian I have to meet the prince"
"a Don"
Pluto cried in shock
"I'll take you to him right away"
he then grabbed the woman and began pulling her in the opposite direction to where we were heading, I muttered a dozen blessings to my retainer but Karla furrowed her brows before saying
"that letter, it was clearly written by my father's hand, what is he thinking"
'I don't know but I do have an idea although its nothing good, come one'
I said and we continued our mad sprint thus time with invisibility on until we came upon a pair, two men both magis-swords one large with axes on his back the other slender with a sword at his side, we ducked into another corner but it was too late,
"is someone there the larger man said"
Karla and I shuffled even closer together at that question but we ended up bumping into a table that held an ornament when fell shattering into pieces, the two men rounded the corner in an instant and came face to face the the prince and Princess they were looking for
'indra'
I cried as a bold of lightening crashed into the two men who blocked with weapons, they still got pushed back a few feet and then took up fighting stances but before either of them could make a move the prince and princess bolted down the hallway they came, they chased after them yelling
"stop"
"wait"
but they did neither, at the corner when they had left seemingly empty two figures emerged the prince and princesse they were chasing
'that illusion won't hold them for long, let's go'
I said and with that we were off once more this time I tightened my spells even further and at the final hallway leading to the catacombs we met our last obstacle a bond haired big boned mage, he didn't seem to notice us his eyes were place firmly ahead as if he was expecting someone we crept around the side ever so slowly with halting footsteps that left no sound and just as we were about to pass him and enter the home stretch I heard him say
"you're not half bad"
as he snapped his fingers and undid all my spells.