Yamada gazed around to find himself in the cavern, surrounded by towering ring of fire. Cin, Soel, Miranda and Aeris stood over him. Miranda wore leather armour, under her steel breastplate. Her vambraces, greaves and pauldrons were formed from several thin layers of Deiridium. "Where am-" Miranda placed the tip of her Deiridium arming sword at his throat. Her other hand rested on the pommel of an Orichalcum short sword by her hip. "We're not here to talk to you." She said nicking his throat. Yamada watched on confused and terrified, as the three of them opened their gates. "What am I about to tell you. Is something Gwyneth would never have the strength to say." Miranda said solemnly. "You will never replace Hendrik in her heart."
The Grand Mages stepped back, preparing their magic. "I know." Yamada said glumly, dropping his head. Miranda awkwardly glanced over her shoulder, back at the three of them. Soel and Aeris shrugged back at her. "And...and you're never going to be him." Miranda stammered. Yamada laid flat on the ground staring at the ceiling, blowing a raspberry. "I doubt I ever could be. He's better than me." He sighed. "I...." Miranda stopped, uncomfortably stumbling back to form a huddle with the others. "What's going on? He should be screaming with wings and fangs. Maybe spitting water at us." She whispered. The three women turned to Cin. "What's happening to him?"
He shrugged. "How should I know?" Soel flicked him on the forehead to Aeris's chagrin. "You're the only one here, who enter his Draken state." She whispered angrily. "Have you never read the records from the Silver City? Everyone has a different experience with it." He whispered back rubbing his forehead. "Alright, let's just focus. We need him to let out his anger. So let's just get a rise out of him physically." Miranda said. "Alright let's be done with this quickly." Aeris said. The four of them nodded and broke off their huddle, turning around. They froze, with Yamada nowhere to be seen. "Can we all not see him right now? Or am I just losing my eyesight." Miranda asked. "How the fuck did he escape?" Soel asked, scowling at Cin. "Why are you looking at me?" Soel cocked her head to side. "You're in control of the big ring of fire. Who else would I look at? She exclaimed. "Focus! We need to find him." Aeris said. They split up and frantically combed through the area.
Yamada had already flown out of the cavern, and flew high into the night sky. He flew towards the Keep, and noticed Gwyneth sitting alone at the top. She wore a white silk night gown, staring longing into the stars. Yamada tried his best to float down, only stumble down behind her. "Gwyneth." He said softly. She spun around shocked, her eyes wide. He could see the tears glistening on her cheeks under the bright moon light. "Yamada, how are-" "You don't love me." He said sternly. She stood up, quickly trying to reach him. "At least not the same, as you did Hendrik." Gwyneth could hear his sorrow. He walked past her, dangling his legs, and let out a chuckle.
"I should be terrified." He said smiling dolefully at the incredible height. "Being able to fly, tends to get rid of that fear." She said, hesitantly sitting down next to him. He shook his head, rubbing his knuckles. "Ever since that night." He said with tears welling up in his eyes. "I haven't been afraid of dying. I've only ever been afraid of one thing." He said clenching his fists. Gwyneth watched in dismay, as she saw blood dripping from his fists. "I won't ever be weak again, and I won't ever lose anyone I love again." He growled. "I knew deep down, that if I let someone into my heart, it would make me weaker." Gwyneth quickly wiped away the tears forming, and reached to hug Yamada. "Loving someone does not make you weaker. Love gives you strength-"
Yamada shoved her away and stood up. "WHERE WAS THAT STRENGTH, WHEN I WATCHED BEGRON RIP MY MOTHER IN HALF!?" He shouted with amber eyes. Gwyneth was stunned, and speechless. "Love does not give me strength. Pain does. It always has." He hissed at her. The tears streamed down her face. "So I thank you Gwyneth. I thank you for the training. And I thank you, for taking a piece of my heart." He said fighting off the tears, with more blood dripping out. "Because now I'll become even stronger." Gwyneth could see through the facade of his smile. She embraced him, against his will, pulling him tight.
"It wasn't your fault." She said holding him in tight. She continued to repeat the words, feeling Yamada push against her. He fell to his knees sobbing. Gwyneth held him in close. "I'm sorry, I hurt you." She said softly. "You didn't deserve, what happened to you. But you are strong now. Your mother and father would be so amazed and proud, to see you now." Yamada curled in, gripping her tightly. "I don't remember their faces..." He whimpered. Gwyneth froze in shock, at a loss on what to say or do. Yamada had finally told someone the truth. He no longer remembered the faces, of the people he wished to avenge.
Gwyneth was not holding a Forsaken Knight, a warrior, or even a man. She was simply holding a scared child mourning their parents. "Yamada...I want you to promise me one thing. No, I want you to swear an oath to me, as my squire and future knight." Yamada was silent, but nodded in her arms. "When you find your true love. You will protect her, respect her, and love her with all your heart. The same way you have done for me." "I...swear it." Yamada sniffled. The two of them embraced each other tightly. A small dragonfly made of ink watching, disappeared into a blob of ink, fading into the shadows. Encara eaves dropped from beneath, and made his way into Jacara's room. He entered without knocking.
Encara froze seeing Jacara lying on the ground, using his azure cloak as a blanket, with Ul'lanna in his bed. The three of them locked eyes awkwardly, darting between each other. "What is going on here?" He demanded. "Well, as per chivalrous behaviour, I-" "You're not a knight." Ul'lanna and Encara said at the same time. The two of them shared a smile and a nod. "Also, why would you sleep on the ground? There are plenty of other beds." Ul'lanna clapped her hands in relief. "That's what I asked. He kept saying, this was the safest bed." Encara sighed pinching between his brow. "Jacara, get in your bed, and do not use that cloak inside these walls. That is a parting gift from me, wear it with pride."
Jacara reeled his head back confused and concerned. "This is from you? Why is it blue then? Our colours are magenta." Encara paused grief visible on his face for a second. "It was your mother's favourite colour. Now, get in your damn bed. You." He said pointing to Ul'lanna. "Follow me." He ordered walking out. Ul'lanna scurried off the bed, following after him. She felt her heart pounding, and wondered if he could hear it. This was the man who ended the war. The only man to use Blessing magic in combat. The man who created the immortals. They entered into his chambers, and he rifled through a large trunk. "I apologise, but I must ask two requests of you." He said solemnly. "Anything, you took me into your kingdom and-" He glared up with his piercing silver eyes.
"Do not accept requests before, hearing them." He said walking over to her with a leather tube. "This is my scroll, of becoming a Blessed." He said placing it into Ul'lanna's hands. She froze staring at him with wide eyes. Why would he give such a priceless artefact to her. "My first request, is that you guide Yamada and Jacara to the Silver City. Show them that scroll, and you'll be housed for at least twenty generations. I know I've earned, at least that much accommodation." He said walking back to his trunk. "Bu..bu..but...but-" She stammered at a loss for words. He slammed it shut, cutting off her rambling. "You wanted to escape the war. You won't escape it staying here. So I'm giving you sanctuary as gratitude for the information given."
"But this is priceless! I'm pretty sure I could create a kingdom with this document. Or at least buy one." She said inspecting the tanned leather. He chuckled, and slumped into his seat. "That is nothing but a piece of paper, that reminds me of my greatest failure. So take it, and live a life of peace. I doubt even Kal'Nar, would be crazy enough to attack the Silver City." He said with a melancholic smile. "May I ask why you want me to do this? How do you know, I'm not some kind of spy?" She asked. Encara clapped his hands together, opening both gates of blessing and curse magic. Ul'lanna gulped stumbling backwards, her back struck the wooden door hard. He smirked at her fear and closed the gates. "If you wanted to hurt us, you had plenty of chances to do so. You slept in the same room as our Forsaken Knight, and my son has taking a liking to you. No spy would waste two opportunities like that."
Encara reeled back in his chair blowing out a gust of air. "I want my son to be safe, as much as people don't believe that." Ul'lanna put the pieces together in her mind. "You're sending them off, because you don't think you can win." He gave her a small applause, before standing up. "Jacara already lost his mother to the war. I do not want him to experience any more of it. So will you guide him to the Silver City?" She hesitated before nodding. "I will. But I want to know why you want me to bring Yamada?" "You've seen his strength and his title alone will invoke fear in many people." Ul'lanna nodded. "He's to protect us." Encara smiled. "I like you, quick to understand." She blushed, before realising this was only one request.
"What's the second request?" She asked. "Should Yamada lose himself. The world isn't ready for a rampaging Were-Dragon, with scales of Deiridium and the affinity of water." Ul'lanna felt a shiver run down her spine. "You want me to kill him?" "Only if he loses himself." He said, opening his blanket. "Do you accept these requests?" She grimaced and shook her head. "I can't kill the man, who saved me. Especially one who has done nothing but treat me so well." Encara smiled, and walked over. "It's a shame you were born in Kal'Nar. I feel like you would have fit in very well with us." She blushed again shying away. He opened the door, as Ul'lanna tried to follow he pushed her back in. "Feel free to use my quarters." He said closing the door in her face. She spun around in awe, shock, joy, and fear. Ul'lanna was going to sleep in Encara's bed.
In the dead of night, Thanatos and his army had made camp, with a roaring fire. "You really shouldn't be making such big fires." A voice called out. They stood at attention grabbing their weapons. Urkse walked out from the shadows, with his hands clasped behind his back. Thanatos greeted his old adversary with joyous smile. "Grand Mage Urkse, you've grown bold in your old age." He said grabbing his maul. Urkse shook his head chuckling. "That would imply I don't have control of this situation. But let me ask you something Thanatos. What did you think the spy would be?" He said with a sly grin. "You. You're the spy." Urkse threw his hands up in triumphant. "The one and only." He said marching towards him. "Now, tell your bastards to put out the fire and go back into their tents." He snarled.
"You maybe the spy, but watch your tongue around me. In case you have forgotten you are surrounded." He snapped, lurching his head forward. "Thanatos, have you ever wondered why, that ink could never be removed?" Urkse asked creating a fist. Thanatos fell to his knees screaming, clawing at his face, as the ink coursed throughout. Each second felt like acid in his veins. "It's because, I left it there. It's because you were nothing, but an experiment for my Magnum Opus." He growled . Thanatos fell to the ground writhing in agony and screamed out. Urkse glared at the Elves, raising his fist into the air.
The night sky was blotted out in a wall of ink. He could taste the fear in all of them, and revelled in it. "You all listen to me!" He declared. "Put out the fires, and set up camp around the perimeter of the Citadel." Urkse ordered, spreading the ink around Thanatos. He knelt down, and released his fist. Thanatos gasped with relief, clutching at his face, as he felt the ink return. "Now listen up. Kal'Nar was meant to surround the Citadel, cutting it off from all its trade and resources. Now pretell, why I'm hearing that the surrounding cities are being massacred and pillaged?" Thanatos wheezed, and responded with his waning strength. "The army needs to eat-ARGH!" Urkse dispersed the ink further through his body, shaking his head. "That wasn't, what I told your King and Queen to do." He said walking away frustrated. "You were meant to starve us out, so I could negotiate a surrender. Now, you've stupidly goaded Encara and the others into a war. All because you wanted to feed these fucking; incestuous, inbred, bastards!"
"Then we end the war. For the glory of Kal'Nar!" One of the captains said firmly. The others chanted, with him. Urkse rolled his eyes. The wall of ink dropped and slithered towards the captain, like a flood of snakes. The others watched on horrified, as the ink encased the captain, hearing his gurgled pleas. With a snap of his fingers, the captain exploded into chunks of flesh and bone. "I can do that half drunk, and sleepy. What do you think a pissed off Encara can do? Oh, that's right. You already know what he can do. Because you fucking idiots gave him that name! So put out the fires, pack up your all shit. AND FOLLOW MY DAMN ORDERS!" He bellowed.