Gwyneth returned to her quarters in the dead of night. Yamada bellowed out a heavy throaty snore. He laid sprawled out over the straw mattress, the blanket kicked off to the side. She tittered at the sight, before removing her armour, and slipping into her bed. Gwyneth felt exhausted and drained, but she couldn't sleep. Not after seeing the devastation in Groggic's town. The dead bodies littering through the streets, their eyes burnt out, with faces twisted in agony. She took a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves, and closed her eyes. The visage of the massarce remained. Gwyneth let out a frustrated grunt, leaping out of her bed, carelessly stepping on Yamada. He curled forward letting out a pained groan. She let out a cute demure yelp.
He opened his eyes to the dark room, clutching his sore stomach, waiting for his vision to adjust. "Yamada, are you okay?" Gwyneth asked softly, kneeling down. Yamada shut his eyes tightly, dropping his hands down by his side. "Are you naked?" He asked nervously. He could feel her body heat, and the wisps of her hot breath against his skin. "Why are you so afraid of me as a woman?" She asked resting a hand on his leg. A jolt ran through his body, and he scurried back. "Because you love another man. It's wrong to do anything with woman you don't love. Especially one that doesn't love you." He said, shying his beet red face away. She caressed his face gently. He felt her smooth finger tips, and then the hard calluses in her palms. Her touch made his heart break at his chest, her scent was intoxicating. "He died a long time ago. Do you Islanders truly believe, you only get one person in this life?" She asked tenderly, pulling him in closer.
He grabbed her hand, opening his eyes. Her naked body set his body on fire. Yamada took a deep breath pushing her hand over her heart. "No, we believe in love. That you open your heart to someone. To trust that they will care for your heart, and open theirs to yours." His loving words, brought Gwyneth to tears, and wrenched her heart. "But one cannot truly love another, when their heart is closed...And if their heart is still in healing." Yamada said letting go of her hand. He could feel the tears running down her face and wiped it away. She held his hand to her face, feeling the thick scars in his palm. "Thank you, Yamada." She said softly. "That's...alright..." He said trembling, trying to pull his hand away. "Get some rest, Yamada. Your real training begins at dawn." She said letting him go. He nodded and eagerly threw the blanket over his head.
She slipped into a blue silk night gown, exiting the room. Gwyneth exited the Keep, leaping to the top, gazing down at the kingdom. The night was cool, with gentle winds blowing past her. The Citadel was dark, with little pockets of light, coming from the Red light district. Aeris floated down by her side, wearing her grey cloak, over a black linen night gown. "Can't sleep either?" She asked smiling at Gwyneth. "Kal'Nar is attempting a second expanse." Gwyneth said gravely. "And every decent knight of mage we have is scattered to helping the neighbouring cities." Aeris said glumly nodding her head, and pursing her lips to a line. "We have nothing but boys and girls, chasing stories of glory. None of them are ready for what's coming." Gwyneth said clenching her fists, bringing her teeth together.
"We weren't ready either. No one's ever ready for what war brings. It breaks everyone...some more than others." Aeris said solemnly, rubbing a small ruby studded bracelet. Gwyneth held her head down. "Has Cin's, conditioned worsened?" She asked dolefully. "He use to have a night terror, maybe once a season. But lately, his episodes have happened every night." She said fidgeting the ruby bracelet around. Soel appeared wearing her emerald cloak, walking upon make shift stone stairs, that followed her steps. She let out a yawn, covering her mouth. "Cin, needs to start taking naps, or sleeping in the morning." Soel groaned rubbing her eyes. Aeris bowed her head. "I'm sorry to-" Soel raised her hand, silencing her. "Don't apologise, you don't cause his night terrors." She said jovially.
She paused putting a finger to her lips, looking up to the stars to ponder. "Although, you could probably make him sleep during the day, if you let him on top." Aeris went red. "I!...How do you even? Are you spying on us!?" Aeris exclaimed, flustered and flushed. Soel blew a raspberry scoffing at Aeris. "Please, Cin can put on his scary face and voice, all he wants. But I was there in that tent. 'Oh am I hurting you?' 'Did it hurt?' 'I'm so sorry for moving'" Soel said imitating Cin's deep voice. Aeris grimaced while Gwyneth chuckled. "What are you laughing at?" Soel asked, silencing Gwyneth. "I see you trying to sleep with that boy, you're more than twice his age." Gwyneth scratched the back of her head, shying away. "I'm not trying to..." She stopped seeing Soel and Aeris looking at her in disbelief. "Come on Gwyneth. If his hair was white, that boy would be a shrivelled up husk, with a broken hip." Soel said. "More like shattered hip." Aeris added.
"Well he's not Hendrik. And he's not interested in any woman, still in love or still mourning another man." She said smiling up at the stars. "Did a 20 year old boy, give you love advice?" Soel asked, looking at Gwyneth baffled. She nodded pursing her lips. "He did, and it was really good. Those Islanders really are a different breed." Gwyneth said, wearing a smile, with the other two chuckling. "So your squire isn't only powerful, but has some sage wisdom." Aeris said, stroking her chin. "He wields a great sword like nothing, and somehow carries that great sword made by Abaddon." Soel said gazing off the ledge. Gwyneth and Aeris shook their heads smiling. The three of them shared a laugh, but as it faded, the looming sense of dread swept over them.
"Are we ready to fight off another expanse?" Gwyneth asked grimly. "The Citadel and its denizens are safe." Soel said confidently. The quiet pause made Aeris and Gwyneth hold their breaths. "The neighbouring cities not so much. Two decades of peace, sending our best knights and mages for humanitarian aid, has left our forces crippled. The squires and mages here, haven't been trained in any battle tactics." "So in short the answer is no. We're fucked." Aeris finished Soel's statement with a grim tone. Gwyneth let out a sigh pinching between her brow. "What's Encara's plan now? If the squire and mages we're sending out, aren't meant for hunting the damn cult down? What are training them for?" Gwyneth asked. Soel and Aeris were quiet, lost as Gwyneth was to Encara's plan.
Deep beneath the bedrock of the stone Keep, sat a large cavern filled with boiling water. Hot thick steam filled the air. The boiling water flowed out to numerous tunnels, leading to key points throughout the Citadel. Above the several pools of water, sat the town wells. Cin emerged from the boiling pool of water, gasping for air, and looking around frantically. "Calm down, Cin. You're safe." Urkse said sincerely. He sat on a flat rock, wearing nothing but a towel, his skin glistening with sweat. Cin struck the water, letting out a furious set of curses. He swam to the ledge, clenching his jaw. "It happened again." He growled, furious at himself. "It's not your fault. Now get out of the water. As much as I appreciate, you and Soel's mages purifying the Citadel's water, I don't like seeing your balls in our drinking water." Urkse said cordially, tossing Cin a woollen towel.
Cin crawled out wrapping himself in the towel. His toned body, had three star shaped scars. One across his heart, another over his liver, and the last on his right arm. He sat down beside Urkse, burying his face into his hands. "I can't keep doing this her." He sighed. "You've been together for over 15 years, I'm sure Aeris isn't going anywhere." Urkse scoffed. "No, not Aeris. Soel, this is third time, she's been woken up to bury me in these waters." Cin said terrified. "Yeah...you should probably start sleeping during the day, and stay awake at night." Urkse said looking up cavern ceiling shuddering. The two of them were hit with a blinding flash of light, shielding their eyes.
Encara appeared wearing nothing but a towel. His lean hairless body covered in sweat, with a small cross tattoo over his heart. He sat down beside them, letting out a long tired sigh, slumping into the cavern wall. The three of them sat in an awkward tense silence, feeling the hot steam against their skin. "I told you they would attack." Encara said nonchalantly breaking the silence. Urkse and Cin rolled their eyes throwing their hands up in the air, frustrated. "You've been saying they would attack for the last two decades. You being right once. Does not mean we were wrong for the last 20 years." Cin said exhausted with Encara. "Nevertheless, they have attacked now. And I don't know if you've seen our forces lately, but they are super amazing!" Encara said sarcastically.
"Just tell us your damn plan Encara. Don't drag us slowly through the shards of glass to your great plan." Urkse groaned. Encara scoffed, looking at Urkse annoyed. "Could at least let me enjoy it a little." He groaned. Encara sat forward taking a deep breath. "As of right now, we don't know anything about Kal'nar's army. This could have just been a rogue miltia. So the plan is to continue sending out a squire and mage. But not to hunt down the cult, but to scout for us." Encara said clasping his hands together. "What of the neighbouring cities, that have requested our aid?" Urkse asked. "And why not send regular scouts out?" Cin asked. Encara was sullen, clenching his hands together. 'I shouldn't have killed our king.' He thought, but he did not have the luxury to complain.
"They'll have nothing but their scraps back. Our mages and squires aren't ready for war, not one against Kal'Nar. If they want decent reinforcements, they should have sent us better children." Encara snapped. "As for the scouts...They haven't been heard from. So they're either dead, captured or turned." He said glumly nodding. "All of our scouts? None of them have reported back? How is that possible?" Cin asked shocked, furrowing his brow. Encara was silent. "You think there's someone feeding information to Kal'Nar." Urkse said. Encara bowed his head. "That's impossible!" Cin shouted standing up. "Listen, it's a possibility, but one we cannot rule out. Substituting our scouts, for a mage and squire combination, will keep them safer." Encara said, keeping his head down. "Groggic's town was massacred. Kal'Nar has already crossed, well past our borders. With how the destruction looked, and how the bodies were scattered. Potentially a war party of 300 Elves, maybe more or less." Encara said. Urkse sighed, his head heavy, the hot air did nothing to help him relax.
"When are we going to be sending out these scouts? And should we tell the people?" Urkse asked. "A little bit earlier than intended. After the next full moon ends, we'll send them out." Encara said. Urkse and Cin grimaced. The thought of having barely a month, to train their mages to be strong enough, to survive Jux and any other threats. The thought was hard to swallow, but any information gained in times of war. Could be the difference between the life and death of thousands. "This isn't something I wanted either. I wanted our army to simply go and protect the other cities, while we hung out here protecting the Citadel." Encara said glumly. Urkse broke out into a guffaw with Cin joining him. "When have we ever gotten the things we wanted?" Urkse asked with a smile. Encara weakly chuckled with them. Cin left the cavern first, the steam and boiling water left with him.
Encara stood up opening the gate to light magic, ready to clap his hands and teleport, when Urkse stopped him. "Before you go, and play King of the Citadel. Spend this month with your son, you will not see him for a long time." Urkse said his voice filled with weight. Encara dropped his head in shame, taking a seat. "I failed him as a father, spending a month with him won't make it up to him." He said glumly, touching the tattoo over his heart. Urkse nodded. "Everyone knows you're a terrible father." Urkse scoffed. Encara glared at Urkse's blunt words. They were not the words he expected to hear. "But, that doesn't mean you give up and stop trying." Urkse said, patting Encara on the back. "I failed to save his mother, and I failed in raising him." Urkse slapped the back of Encara's head, to his shock. He scowled at Encara. "We all failed during the war, earning a scar we can never heal. That doesn't mean you keep bitching and moaning about it." He snapped. "Now I love you as a brother, and I have treated Jacara as my own, but he needs his father. So when the morning comes, help him with his training, and guide him." Urkse said earnestly. Encara perked up raising a finger, ready with his rebuttal. "And if you think of saying, that you don't know what to say or do. The answer is to teach him, the way you always wanted your non-existent father to teach." Urkse said strutting off, with a smug smile. Encara slumped over.
The five grand knights wore their common clothes, and sat in a well light tavern with Rai, several cups of beer sat in front of each of them. Their faces flushed, each of them slurring their words. Vexgar slammed his giant mug down, the table cracking and shaking. "Bar wench! Another!" He bellowed. Rai slapped the table, wearing a frown over his flushed face. "This is fucking stupid! We should be sending our forces to destroy Kal'Nar right now! We already beat them once, we'll just do it again." Rai bellowed. The other knights shared a brief glance. "Yes, WE beat them. Not you." Axilas said condescendingly, earning him a scowl from Rai. "You're nothing but a child chasing the ends of our glory. That happens to be strongest out of the pitiful lot we train." Axilas continued, taking a sip from his mug. "What the fuck did you just call me?" Rai snarled, opening the gate to lightning magic, in his right hand. Vexgar leaned forward, ready to pounce on Rai. "He called you a diamond atop a pile of coal." Lyn said trying to break the tension. "I think he was actually calling him, the succulent corn kernel you find in a nice steaming pile of shit." Fervias said with a grin, earning a glare from Lyn.
"That's enough!" Yssac raised his voice, calming them down. "As it stands, we don't know anything about Kal'Nar's army. It is best to wait for all the information, before we act. I am turning in for the night. Encara is sure to make another announcement, with word of Groggic's city being destroyed spreading." He said, drunkenly stumbling away, still keeping his stoic expression. The others all shortly followed suit as the tavern closed, except for Rai and Axlias. The tavern owner and his bar maidens, cowered behind the bench, sensing the tension in the air. Rai eyed Axilas with a vicious gaze, as he rocked back and forth on his chair.
"Your friends aren't here to save you." Rai snarled with a cocky smile, opening the gate to lightning magic. Axilas chuckled planting his chair down. "They were the only thing keeping you, from pissing yourself, in front of these nice people." He said leaning closer to Rai. They locked eyes. Rai stared intently into Axilas's black round irises. They suddenly became azure and elliptical, his teeth turning into fangs. Rai let out a scream, trying to get away. Axilas grasped his wrist, digging his sharpened finger tips deep into the flesh. "I may not be a Forsaken Knight, or a Magic Knight, but do not assume. That I am not skilled enough to activate my Draken State." He snarled. Rai gasped and gawked in fear, the gate in his hand disappearing, his body shivering like a cold pup. Axilas's face returned to its regal elegance. "Now it's high time you show some fucking respect, and act your age." He snapped, releasing Rai. Rai fell out of his chair, quivering in fear, as Axilas stood up. "I apologise for the damage old friend, and take him to the Blesseds for me." He said to the Bartender, leaving a large pouch of gold coins. Axilas grabbed Rai by his throat hoisting him into the air with one hand, and slammed him through the wooden floor boards. "Fucking stupid child." He snarled walking away.