The sun made love with Encara's face, giving him a bright rude awakening. He shot up groaning, clutching his head. It throbbed and had a dying thirst. He panned around the room, wincing before a jug of water was thrust into his face. Encara greedily drank the water, his skin rejuvenating. He stopped and frowned, before looking around at the room askance. He wasn't inside his room, and he wasn't on his bed. Who had given him the water? Encara panned up to see Gwyneth beside him. "Where am I?" he asked, noticing the draft on his naked body. "And why am I-" "Soel and Miranda's orders." She said glaring towards the closed door. Gwyneth wore her silk night gown, and slumped onto her bed, grabbing an apple. Bruises and welts covered her body, where the armour had saved her.
"Let me heal-ah!" Gwyneth cut him off, by pegging the apple against his head. "You're under orders to rest. That means no healing, cursing, warping, or opening any of the gates." She snapped. Encara rubbed the flecks of apple off, and frowned at her. "That still doesn't explain, why I'm naked and not in my room." He sulked, lying back down. "We didn't want to waste our strength, breaking that ridiculous lock you made. And in case you forgot, even Blesseds need to be examined. Even if they are titled the king at it." Encara let out a long exasperated sigh.
"How long, do you have to been in here?" "Until you're at full strength." Encara sat up with a glower expression. "Yes, I'm babysitting you. I'm not happy about it either." He stood up wrapping himself in the blanket. "I'm not going to be a prisoner in my own kingdom." He said defiantly marching towards the door. Gwyneth waited in anticipation and glee, to see Encara's reaction, when he flung the door open. He let out a loud scream of anguish, covering his eyes and staggered back inside. Gywneth broke out laughing, clutching her sides. A mural of Encara's father and mother, making love in vivid and perfect detail, was glued to the wall. A masterpiece that Urkse, titled the King blinder. "WHY IS THAT THERE!?" He shouted.
"Had to keep you here somehow." Gwyneth shrugged with a smile. Encara growled at her, and stood back up. "This is ridiculous." He mumbled under his breath. As he clapped his hands, Gwyneth tackled him to the ground. She quickly pinned him down, and held his wrists far apart. "Do you mind letting go?" Encara asked nonchalantly, as he tried to pry his hands free. "I do mind." She said, forcing her weight down. The two of them kept a friendly smile, as they both fought against one another. After a few minutes, Encara gnashed his teeth and snapped. "GET OFF!" He yelled, thrashing and kicking. Gwyneth begun laughing maniacally at the situation. The King of Blessings and Curses, was throwing a tantrum. "This isn't funny! Get off!" He scolded, trying to twist his wrists.
"Are you going to stay put, and rest? Like you were told?" Encara sucked on his teeth, and his nostrils flared. He nodded wearing a scowl. "Don't lie to me." She said. He rolled his eyes at her. If he was at full strength, he could easily throw her off, and not be treated like a child. "You know once, I'm strong enough. I'm just going to warp out of here." He said locking eyes with her. "Then I'll have to make sure you don't leave in another way." She said leaning in closer. He felt her hot breath on his face, and her breast rest on his chest. Encara went red, his eyes darted rapidly between her cleavage, and her eyes. "Wh-wh-wh-what-" He stammered, before Gwyneth pressed her forehead onto his, placing her hands onto his chest.
"When was the last time you were with a woman?" She asked with a sultry voice. With a yelp, he threw her off and quickly covered himself. She smirked and chuckled at Encara, cowering in the corner. His entire body went red, Gwyneth thought she could almost see wisps of smoke. "I think after a decade, you get your virginity back." She jabbed. He glared and pouted at her. "That wasn't funny. And I knew you weren't going to do it anyway." He sulked. "Your dagger said otherwise." Encara raised his knees to his chest. "I wonder if anyone else, other than this circle knows. That under all that cocky arrogance and bravado. That Encara Cagim, is an honest man. Who believes sleeping with another woman, after the death of his Sarang. Is still committing adultery?" "Shut up." He muttered. "Do I have your word, you'll stay put?"
Encara was silent. Gwyneth pulled the strap off her night gown. She bit her lower lip, squeezing her arms together. "That's not going to work." He said looking away. Gwyneth begun to crawl towards him. He winced away, feeling her tug at the blanket. She let her breath kiss his neck. "Are you sure?" He felt her hand dance on his thigh. "I'm the king-" He froze feeling her hand dart upwards. "I'LL STAY!" He yelped, curling into a ball. "Good boy." She said patting his head, and adjusting her strap.
She slumped onto her bed, burying her face into the pillow. Encara sulked over to the mattress Yamada slept on. He cautiously sniffed the mattress. "They cleaned our love juices off of it." He winced in disgust, before laying down. "Did you learn anything?" She asked, turning onto her side. He let out a long sigh. "Not enough." He griped. "What 'did' you learn?" "It's a one to one conversion. A body cut in half won't become two smaller Drakens. None of them transform any higher than an Amphithere. And none of them can use their element." She could see that Blessed mind at work. Filled with questions and the thirst for answers. The expression that caught her attention, was his irritation. He had a dangling thread, and he couldn't pull on it. Not quite yet. 'If this was the weapon from Yamata. Who knew it was there? And more importantly who created such a weapon?'
"What's troubling you?" "Too many questions, no way to answer them. And those that could be answered. The answer won't be behind these walls." He sighed, before rolling over. "Do you think they're safe?" He asked. Gwyneth's heart sank, she had tried to keep her mind off it. However there was no denying, that Skora's words had buried themselves deep. Yamada would stop at nothing to kill Begron, and do anything to achieve that power. But would he really devour a Draken heart? She clutched her shoulder. "I don't know. All we can do is believe in their abilities." The two of them let out a sigh, worries and qualms instantly raced through their minds. Jacara's a brat with talent, but no strength. Yamada is righteous, with incredible strength, but has no social skills. The biggest worrying racing through their minds, was the defector Elf, currently travelling with them. The three of them were an unstable concoction ready to explode.
Soel stood on the Fourth ring alone. Begrudgingly respecting the creation. She wore a sour expression, running her hands along the stone. It was smoother than butter. "Don't be jealous." Skora whispered into her ear. Soel leapt away, opening her gate. Skora created a set of stone seats for them. "Come on now. We're both Earth mages." She said taking a seat and crossing her legs. She faced them towards the setting sun. Soel kept a fighting stance. "If you want to die that badly, keep staring at me. Otherwise take a seat and let's talk." She said without looking at her. Soel closed the gate and took a hesitant seat next to her. "I'm not jealous." She sulked, crossing her arms and legs. "I created three rings, you created one."
Skora smirked. "You didn't create those rings. You moulded them. So don't compare your sculptures, to my creation." She said. Soel could basically taste the smugness. However she couldn't refute it. Soel had not created the rings, as people believed she did. Unlike Skora, she had shaped the earth emanating Arcane energy, rather than creating new earth. Skora had done, what she thought impossible for thirty years. To imbue enough of the earth with arcane energy, to support the ring, and then create the ring itself. "Why are you still here?" She asked. "I have to find something to keep myself busy. Without Yamada to keep me entertained. I would like to try meeting the fabled Grand Mages and Knights." She said inspecting her nails. "Just who the fuck are you people?" Skora paused, and lowered her hand. She then smirked at Soel. "It's very kind of you, to assume I'm still a person." Her words sent a cold shiver down Soel's spine.
The Grand Knights sat in bar, wearing common clothes, and drinking their sorrows away. However they were uncharacteristically quiet. They created a tense and gloomy atmosphere from those gawking at them. Fervias nursed a single mug, running his fingers along the new scar on his face. The sight annoyed Axilas. "Why did you help her?" He growled at him. Fervias was silent. "She killed Hendrik." There was no response. "Why would you help that bitch-" Fervias slammed his fist through the table. Lyn and Yssac quickly caught their mugs, except for Vexgar. The two of them stood up, ready to rip each other apart. "BECAUSE SHE'S ONE OF US!" He roared. The words caught all of their attentions. "Do you not remember, her cutting him down!?" Axilas bellowed.
Fervias bowed his head in shame, the rage boiling inside of him. Gwyneth had cut him down. "She had no choice." He muttered. Fervias raised his head, clenching his fists. "We may not have shared blood, but I loved Hendrik more than my own blood." He said pounding his heart. "There isn't a day, where I don't miss my brother. But I can't do this anymore. I won't blame her. She was the only one, who loved him enough to do what she did." He said storming off. Axilas slumped back into his seat. Yssac slugged his drink back and stood up. "Where are you going?" Vexgar demanded. "Are you going to that bitch!?" "Vexgar. Please shut up." Yssac said with a polite smile, before leaving. Yssac jogged after Fervias and the two of them strode with purpose towards the Keep.
The handmaidens in kitchen prepped the trays of food. They carefully stacked a tray with fruits, and the other with seared meats. Fervias and Yssac barged in, startling all of them. "We'll take those." Yssac said. They watched on stunned as Fervias and Yssac carried the plates inside. As the door opened Gwyneth sat up, looking at the two of them askance, before looking at Encara. "Don't look at me. This is strange to me as well." They carefully lowered the trays down, before dropping to their knees, and bowing. The sight made Gwyneth's heart jump and her brain freeze. Was she going crazy?
"I'm sorry for being a cunt. Punish me, how you please." Fervias said. "Please forgive me. I'll do whatever it takes for penance." Yssac said. Gwyneth stepped off the bed, and slapped Encara across the face. "OW! What was that for!?" He exclaimed. "Thought I was dreaming." He shook his head completely bewildered. "Then, why did you slap me!?" She ignored him and sat on the edge of her bed. "Did you two lose a bet?" They shook their heads, staring at the ground. "Some weird kink, you two are getting into?" The two of them raised their heads, to her smiling at them. "I'm not judging. I always thought you two, made a cute couple." They let out a sigh, they deserved much more than this. She should be yelling, screaming, breaking their bones or hacking them to pieces. And yet she settled to mock them. "I don't want your apologies. It's been two decades. I know how you all feel about me. I killed your brother. I can't be forgiven for that." She said quickly turning away.
The two of them felt their hearts twist and wrench. After two decades, the one who hated Gwyneth the most, was herself. Fervias stood up, clenching his fist and bowing his head in shame. "I was weak." Gwyneth continued to hide herself away, keeping her back towards them. "If it takes me the rest of my life. I will earn your forgiveness." Yssac said, walking out. Fervias snapped his sorrowful gaze to Encara. "When you're at full strength. Heal my scars." He said walking out. Encara was stunned. Fervias had kept those scars as a reminder, that without Hendrik he would always be cut in a fight. A haunting reminder to Gwyneth, for what she did. He saw Gwyneth trying her best to hide her sobbing, and said nothing.
Aerith sat in the caverns, watching the pool of water froth and boil. The horrorfying sight of her Sarang, screaming and thrashing violently, never became easier to watch. Each transformation had made his night terrors worse. Encara had said there was no hope to cure this affliction. Sooner or later, everyone would succumb to the voice in their mind. It was an inevitability that everyone, who entered their Draken state once, would eventually turn forever. Cin's last defence, had aggravated his symptoms even further. The water calmed, and Aerith let out a sigh of relief. Cin broke through the surface, gasping for air, his skin bright red. He crawled his way to the edge, heaving and catching his breath. "You don't have to watch." He said trying to hide his shame. She created a cooling gust of wind, and caressed his face. "It's death do us apart, not turning into Draken us apart." Soel leaned into kiss him on the forehead.
Miranda stood outside of Abaddon's workshop, dropping off Gwyneth's broken armour. She wore a simple purple laced dress, with her hair hanging down. "You didn't fight for long." Abaddon remarked. "I shouldn't have been fighting in the first place." He said nothing, as he threw Gwyneth's armour into the forge. "Nothing to say? No remark?" She asked. "Cecil is the one, who doesn't know, when to shut up." Miranda struggled to keep her locks from dropping into her eyes. "It looks better tied up anyway." "You're meant to say things that encourage me to fight for my kingdom." "I make the weapons and armour, you use them, mother makes the food, and father gave the words of encouragement. That's how it's always been." "You're no fun." She said walking off. "You always were a shit soldier. Your dainty hands, were always more suited to stitching." He said smiling. She spun around scowling at him. "Listen you here, you little shit!" Miranda yelled, storming towards him.