The soldiers of the science facility had fought bravely considering their true enemy. None knew they were facing a demon so foul that it called the planes of the Abyss its home.
This creature gave the Eerikye far greater than normal powers some of which included bravery and the ability to withstand substantial amounts of pain.
The demon and his birdmen soldiers had still not penetrated the gates yet but the effect the balor had on the Eerikye was evident by the fact that many of his warriors were still pounding on the gates even thought they had been doused in oil and set ablaze.
The archers were still firing arrows up into the gate towers even though they themselves had been struck many times. By all accounts these birdmen should have been dead and yet they continued to fight.
One of the guard towers had been partially blasted apart by some of the Eerikye shaman. The gates too were starting to splinter from the pounding of lightning that continued to reign down from the casters within the Eerikye tribe. This group also showed resilience in battle for they too were hit by spell after spell from Flodius who had made a trip to the science facility to lend his spellbook to the cause.
He hovered or flew on a magic carpet from gate house to gate house constantly just out of the reach of the balors long six-pronged glass whip. To feel the bite of that and to be dragged to the demon would not be an agreeable experience he knew.
It was for these reasons that both Syrus and Flodius stayed just out of the demons reach as they pounded it and the Eerikye army with spell after spell. And yet the horde of Eerikye came, as servants coming to their masters calling, They believed themselves to be participating in a fight of dire consequence, although it was for spoils they would never see let alone comprehend.
Then it happened, in a zest to end this fight Arch Magi Flodius got too close in an attempt to enact one of his spells. The demon was quick to capitalize on the mages error of judgment. In its current form it knew it could do little against the mage, so it called upon its true form.
The shape of the chieftain began to expand as its features adapted to its true form. It grew in size until it reached twelve foot tall, its normal size within the abyss.
Its wings changed form from the black and feathered of the Eerikye to the brown leathery and enormous wings it was more accustomed.
Horns began to grow from the creature's skull in addition the creature's teeth and fangs grew in size and sharpness. Pointed scales now began to protrude from the creatures back as flames now leaped from its body. It was the flames leaping from the creature's body that made it difficult to discern where the creature's dark red skin stopped, and the flames began.
Now was the time to act so the demon sent his tentacle whip out to seek the form of the mage. The whips' tentacles wrapped themselves around the face and neck of the arch magi. The glass tentacles dug in burrowing their way into the mages face and neck. With a tug the demon pulled the mage toward him. The arch magi was jerked from his flying carpet and pulled into the flames of the monster.
The flames leaped from the balor demon towards the arch magi who was barely conscious due to the talons of the whip. They dug into the nerves of the arch magi partially paralyzing him.
As Flodius was pulled into the demons grasp he managed, with his last bit of cognizant thought, to enact an ice shield spell.
The coolness of the spell surrounded the arch magi partially shielding him from the fire leaping off the balor. The balor roared at the arch magi, disgusted with his ability to enact his ice shield. The demon was only slightly harmed by the shield spell, but his roar was due to frustration as it hoped the flames would be enough to smother the mage, destroying him.
With the ice spell enacted the demon quickly realized this was no longer a possibility. In a rage the balor picked Flodius up, wrapping its huge hand around the neck of its victim it tossed the arch magi some thirty feet. The mage smacked a large boulder making a loud thump against its unforgiving surface. This sound eerily echoed off the rocks and could be heard from behind the gates. The mage then slumped to the ground, unmoving.
The demon strode to the front gate. Pulling its huge sword off of its back the demon roared, "now it's time to know fear pitiful creatures, Buskavulzar is here, your master has come," it said in a deep and raspy voice.
With a huge swing of its massive forearms the creature sent the sword smashing into the front gates of the science facility. The doors shook and shattered on their hinges, but they held fast. The balor repeated this act once again sending his sword smashing into the gates. The doors held but pulled off their hinges only slightly.
The occupants within the compound new it was only a matter of time before the doors splintered and shattered under the force of the creature from the abyss.
The enormous creature roared loudly as he brought his sword crashing once again down upon its target. The doors blew inward this time, off their hinges exploding with enough force to push those nearest to them back several feet. The Eerikye terrified of the demon that now stood before them flooded through the gates in an attempt to please the balor.
Few of the birdmen saw the beast for what he truly was and of the few that did most fled from the terror. The majority of the Eerikye army however, viewed this as a sign from their gods as the granting of transformation was the highest honor an Eerikye could receive.
It should be understood that typically demons were not the typical form of choosing but it had long been prophesized that their gods were merciful, and they granted a form that would help maximize the chance for success or, so they were always led to believe. It was hard to argue with the choice of the form and its effectiveness if this were in fact from their gods which many of the birdmen now believed. The Eerikye banded together with renewed rage, seeking to destroy their enemy.
As the demon strode in through the gate, he again sensed the presence of a new magic. It was raw he knew, not yet fully developed but the demon could tell even from this distance that the magic within this vessel was great. He would mark this target carefully as this would be the next one that fell to his hand.
Syrus noticed the demons immediate interest and surmised what it was up to as balors are similar to most monsters of the abyss in that they are experts in sensing magic.
While Syrus was somewhat a novice at this even he could feel the depth of magic dwelling within the acolyte's soul. If he could feel it then that left little doubt that the demon could as well. Kyjus without provocation had unwittingly set himself up as the next target of the balor's and he was not even aware of it.
Bending down to the ground the young mage grabbed a clump of hardened soil. He then grabbed a piece of hardened steel from his reagent pack.
Jamming his staff into the ground he said the words for the spell that would bring forth his summoned earth pet, "Terre Elementas".
The ground began to quake a bit and then directly in front of where the young mage was casting the ground erupted. An earth elemental sprung forth. It was slightly taller than the mage with much broader shoulders.
Kyjus sent a telepathic command to his pet sending it to help fight the demon as many of the Borensian soldiers and guards of the science facility could not seem to contain the beast.
As the pet ambled toward its intended target Kyjus pulled forth the reagents from his pocket for his next spell. There was a large concentration of Eerikye near the demon so it was over the demon he would cast his next spell.
Knowing that ice was one of the demon's bane the young mage recalled the words from his book for a spell that would send shards of ice, nearly as sharp as daggers, raining down from the sky.
Holding his staff aloft in one hand and several silver studs in the other, the mage carefully annunciated the words for his next spell, "Icus Skar".
The clouds above the demon sprung forth with darkened chaos as they slammed into each other producing thunder. The ground shook as the skies opened up overwhelming those below with shards of ice daggers.
Mostly Eerikye archers were hit as they hung back in an attempt to rain arrows down upon unsuspecting victims. The demon was pounded repeatedly but to the young mages disappointment the shards did little more than anger the foul beast.
Several of the archers did fall however, collapsing in a heap upon the hardened earth. The ice shards continually slammed down in the fray, yet shockingly many of the birdmen survived and continued to fight. These creatures had slivers of ice sticking out of many parts of their back, head and neck and should have been by all accounts dead.
In the hot sun it was just a matter of time before the shards melted leaving only an ominous hole. Kyjus was confused by how so many could still be left alive and fighting. He was instructed by Syrus and the Magus that once they were in the presence of the demon they would have to cast to kill, and he was unsure of the reasons for this but with the events that just unfolded he was beginning to see a much clearer picture.
As Kyjus pulled himself from his thought he realized, almost too late, that an Eerikye warrior stood in front of him weapon raised. The sword came down far more quickly than the young mage would have guessed.
He managed to get his staff up for a partial block, but the creature was stronger than he had imagined, and his staff was knocked free of his hands landing upon the ground several feet out of the mages reach.
The mages preparedness had saved him this day as the sword continued its descent after his staff was knocked free from his charge. The sword still had the majority of its initial force behind the blow. The blade was thwarted however, by an armor spell that the young mage had enacted just prior to battle. The blade, however, did manage to partially penetrate the spell of protection nicking Kyjus in the shoulder.
The young mage tripped as he attempted to alter his direction in an attempt to avoid being hit by the sword again. As he gathered his senses, he looked up to see once again the warrior with sword in hand. The sword was making a swift arc towards the young mages head and neck.
He knew all was lost and could only hope that his spell would hold. Out of the corner of his eye he saw movement he could not see what it was exactly, but he assumed from the vicinity from whence the motion came that it was another Eerikye in an attempt to help finish him.
Closing his eyes, the mage said a silent prayer as he anticipated what was too come. He then heard a clash of metal and opened his eyes to see why the blow never came.
Skarnum stood in front of him now fighting the warrior that was assaulting him along with two other Eerikye that quickly joined the fray.
His friend would need help he thought to himself, so he quickly ambled down the hill toward his staff.
Silently the giant Hybonian cursed his luck when Hawk gave him the assignment of watching over the young mage. He was a warrior and he desired battle but even he was not battle hardened enough to defeat the demon that stood before them. If he stood before this creature in battle, there was little doubt who would win.
Kyjus on the other hand was rapidly becoming a formidable mage. He had just witnessed another assault on the enemy and if they had any hopes of winning this battle it may lay with the mages and their lone wizard. He must at all costs keep them safe. He understood this now and it was with grim determination that he hardened himself to that cause.
The large rock hyb dodged, ducked, and weaved as best he could as the Eerikye attained only minor hits for their efforts. The only problem is that the enemy was moving so perfectly and so quickly Skarnum had little chance for any offense.
There was a thump off to his left and the rock hyb could not resist a quick glance. The warrior to his left now knelt on the ground with a very large javelin protruding thru his chest.
Kyjus nor the prince either one could believe their eyes as the creature began to pull the object from his chest. The young mage had enacted and executed his spell to perfection, yet this creature had refused to die.
Skarnum was not about to let this creature back into action so side stepping to his left he put the javelin struck warrior between him and the other two assailants. With the other two warriors unable to strike at him, the rock hyb had a brief second to go on the offensive. That was all he would need as he brought his sword up quickly slicing it through the warrior neatly cleaving the birdman's head from its body, ending any further attempts for its survival.
The other two watched as one of their kind fell to the ground. They cared not for their brethren's life as they only desired to appease their master. They advanced upon the young warrior in an attempt to get through him and kill the mage. This is what they sensed the demon wanted.
Captain Theodius Skye saw the advancement of a small group of warriors as they pulled away from the main group and made their way up the back side of the hill. Looking up the hill he saw the reasons for them altering their course.
The warrior stood tall and proud, as he held back two of the foes that had already threatened Kyjus. Now a new group of Eerikye advanced toward Skarnum and Kyjus. It appeared the demon sought a means to either destroy or at least keep the young mage at bay.
The crafty captain hated calling forth his reserve so soon, but he also knew one of the keys to this battle lay within the young mage. Their very salvation may be at stake should he fall.
The captain blew the horn that hung around his neck and a contingent of fifteen soldiers emerged at the top of the hill some thirty feet away from Kyjus and Skarnum.
Captain Skye nodded at the enemy that was methodically advancing up the hill. The men took off at full charge setting a course to intercept.
The young warrior repositioned himself between Kyjus and his adversaries. Out of the corner of his eyes he saw a small group of the Eerikye advancing their way and he knew they were in trouble. He now understood what Hawk said about him being a target if he put himself in front of Kyjus. He had wished he would have listened a little more to what the Elven warrior was trying to say.
Skarnum could not see the battalion of men that Captain Skye sent to aid them but Kyjus, having a somewhat better vantage point could. He smiled at the preparedness of the battle-hardened captain.
Kyjus began to concentrate on his next spell. Seconds passed as missiles made of arcane magic shot from his staff. There were five missiles in all that left the staff. Three struck the chest of the warrior to the left of Skarnum and two struck the warrior to the right. Still, they came on barely slowed by the attack as if it were more an inconvenience than anything.
Skarnum noticed the slowing of his opponent's rhythm even if the change was subtle. An experienced warrior knows his capabilities and those of his enemy. The Eerikye's attacks slowed just enough to allow the young warrior to go on the offensive.
The rock hyb managed to dodge a somewhat sloppy attack by the warrior on his right. Rolling away from the attack he now put himself at an angle where he could attack the one without having to worry about an attack from the other.
Holding his shield off to his left just in case an attack from the warrior came faster than he anticipated, the young Hybonian prince lunged forward with his sword. The power behind the attack broke through any meager defense that was offered and the sword of the prince knifed through the chest of its adversary until the hilt of the blade rested firmly upon on its enemy's chest.
Skarnum turned the blade in an attempt to quickly dislodge it. The blade came out slower than the young warrior had hoped so he had to bring his shield to bear to block the oncoming shot of the only remaining attacker.
The warrior then turned the body of its last victim placing it between him and the last of the three Eerikye. Wrenching his sword back the opposite way he quickly pulled his blade free. He was now one on one and the odds although even in number favored the young warrior because of his superior skill with the blade.
With only one birdman remaining the young mage turned his attention toward the demon. He desperately wanted to see how his pet was doing against such a fowl beast. There were many combatants facing the demon and many more lay in a heap all around the menace.
Good men Kyjus new had fallen today and many more probably still would. He had to take action against this despicable creature before any other would fall. He then caught site of his pet as he was apparently just able to enter the throng of battle.
The earth elemental raised both fists and slammed them into the demon as it was otherwise occupied. The demon roared in pain from the strength of the blast. The demon turned its attention toward the elemental. In a wide arc it brought about its wicked sword. It went much faster than the young mage could have imagined as it whipped through the air.
As the blade made its way to its intended target it smashed through the defenses of two of the Dwarven guards slicing them clean apart. The blade stopped only partially tearing into the elemental. The blade dug in but then was halted as it struck something more solid than dirt.
Such was the strength of the demon however, that the blow from the sword picked up the elemental and threw it some fifteen feet to where it hit the ground with a loud thud.
The demon was surprised the creature was not torn asunder by his attack, but it gave a grotesque smile as the creature was now out of its way.
The young mage decided not to risk sending its pet back in combat as the rage it put the demon in was hazardous to all around it.
Instead, he sent the pet to help keep Eerikye off of Syrus so that the old mage could focus more on the demon. For the young mage, even with his lack of battle experience, figured that fending off this creature was going the fall to the casters of the group.
Kyjus, Magus Sheplin and Arch Magi Syrus spent the next several minutes bombarding this demon with every frost spell they had. This served to only enrage the beast as it tore through the soldiers and guards between him and the closest mage.
Syrus noticed immediately the abysmal creatures change in tactics and direction. In a matter of moments this Buskavulzar would be upon him and there was little that he could do to change that.
The old mage was prepared to surrender his life for the cause if it meant getting his most potent spell off one more time. He began the incantation blocking out the fact that a twelve foot nearly two –thousand-pound demon was barreling down upon him.
The world seemed to slow down for everyone at this point as all of the adventures turned their focus toward the hulking brown behemoth.
Weemus fired arrowed after arrow as Gabby, (his new friend the Taquka bear) squashed, smashed, squeezed, or swatted any Eerikye that wandered close by.
Hawk and Kyjus' elemental pet positioned themselves between the demon and the Arch Magi in an attempt to give the old mage more time.
The Elven Warrior did not anticipate his weapons doing much damage to the beast. Even though they were quite magical, the enchantments placed upon them were not of the necessary type to seriously harm a balor.
This did not deter the brave warrior from his destiny however, so onward he advanced throwing caution to the wind.
Kyjus' earth elemental pet also moved in. An unthinking thing it knew nothing of the danger it was about to face. All it wanted to do was to please its master.
The fighting styles of the two could not have been more different. The Elf a quick, accurate and precise striker hit his target and then moved just out of reach from any retaliatory strike.
The elemental a slow methodical killer struck his target with excessive brute force smashing it over and over again. This came with a downfall however and that was the poor creature took as much damage as it gave.
With a wide sweeping arch of his long storm blade the demon sent Hawk sprawling to get out of its reach. The blade bit deep into its intended target, the earth pet. It severed neatly in two as the damage it had taken quickly overcame it.
The demon was beginning to show definite signs of wear as it had been pounded by ice spells for many long minutes. Not to mention it had been hit by many blades and arrows as evident by the many puncture wounds, scrapes and green blood that oozed from numerous locations on its body.
Just as the adventurers wondered if the day was lost help come from the unlikeliest of sources. Deemus the ever quiet yet ever thinking and unassuming cleric knew of a spell that might be able to help in this situation.
The only problem was that this spell was not one he had ever been awarded by his god, Callarduran.
Praying to his god for help and guidance the little gnome concentrated on his target for his spell.
Hawk was experienced even by Elven standards but even with all of his vast experience he had not seen or felt anything to rival the feeling that was welling within him, after all the light of a god is a wonderful burden to bear.
Although the Elven Warrior was not fully aware of what was going on he was not about to question it. With a leap of faith, the agile creature attacked the overpowering demon.
Hacking and slashing with his weapons he moved up the front and down the back of the beasts.
Buskavulzar howled in rage as he had never before experienced such pain. Those wicked blades now shined with a light that seemed equal in intensity to a sun. They sliced at him opening gashes that now freely oozed blood.
With each strike the demon could feel his corporeal tie to this world draining as his soul was being pulled back to the abyss. This was an aged demon though and a balor of ancient power and although he had never battled something so full of the power of the light, Buskavulzar was not without his tricks.
The balor noticed that the elf was quicker now, much more so then when he first entered the battle so hitting him was going to be more chance then skill.
Instead, he would try a different tactic. As a major demon he was often granted requests by the demons above him. And what evil deity would not like to strike down a creature of the light, especially one invoked of the power of the light.
Buskavulzar sent his mind reeling quickly toward the abyss. He went towards a place he had been too many times, too Krux the demi-god that existed on the fifth plane of the abyss. The great balor smiled as Krux was watching the activities on Scorched Earth with more than a passing interest.
The demon opened his eyes as his request was granted quickly by his master. The strikes were coming quickly now and his tie to this world was tenuous. The great demon waited until the Elven warrior advanced toward him before he enacted his spell.
It was a cone of paralysis that halted Hawk in his tracks. With the Holy light spell that was enacted upon the diminutive Elven creature the great demon knew he did not have long so he rushed to his paralyzed target and grabbed him and began to squeeze him.
Bones cracked as the body of the Elf could not stand the amount of force that the beast was able to generate. Yet the demon noticed that the creature did not cry out in pain. The initial thought of Buskavulzar was that the creature had died; much more easily than he had imagined.
And then to his surprise the warrior moved. The great behemoth could not know this, but the brave Elf was given the Brand of Judgment by a highly ordained cleric.
While Deemus' judgment spell was flowing through his body he would feel no pain. He would experience acts of bravery that might not be otherwise possible under any other circumstances. He would be single minded in purpose until the light was extinguished or his task completed.
Even though the demon had pretty much shattered every vertebra in his back and almost every bone in his ribs, the pressure with which he squeezed his target kept him intact so that movement was possible.
With his last bit of strength, the Elven Warrior managed to get his knife positioned between him and the beast. It was slanting down at an awkward angle, but the veteran warrior hoped it would be enough.
As the demon squeezed his victim again the blade penetrated his thick brown skin. The beast felt a searing pain as the blade bit deeply into its being. With one final push Hawk plunged the blade dip into the heart of the creature.
The roar was almost unbearable as the demon exploded in a blast of searing light. The Elven warrior crumpled to the ground and with a flop did not move.
The world seemed to stop for the adventurers as one of their own had fallen appearing lifeless on the field of battle. With a battle cry that shocked Kyjus, Skarnum went tearing through the remaining Eerikye. He bashed them with his shield, sliced them with his sword, or bashed them with his weapons pummel.
With their master gone so was their allegiance to the task at hand. Those that did not fall to the ground immediately dead, from the wounds they had already endured, fled in whatever direction they could manage. Most headed out the gates and back to scorched earth, toward the home they now longed for.
The warrior got to the collapsed body of his trainer and knelt down beside him. Holding Hawk's limp body, the Hybonian Prince roared at the gods for letting this happen and then slumped to the earth, his face toward the ground the young warrior wept for the world's loss of so fine a warrior and so fine a person.
Deemus saw the world spin as the light ebbed from his spirit. He crashed to the ground barely breathing almost lifeless. He had been granted so massive a gift by his god. It was one that most clerics would never see and thankfully one that was seldom needed.
After the last of the Eerikye were chased from the gates Weemus ran to his brother fearing the worst. Syrus saw the little ranger moving as swiftly as his legs would carry him and glanced to his left up the hill a bit to the gnomes supposed destination.
Face down on the side of the hill was Deemus, he was not moving. Had he been hit by an arrow or did one of the Eerikye make it that far? Syrus did not recall this at any point during the battle but then again, he was quite busy.
Then it donned on him, the light that Hawk was putting off was a purification spell granted to the little gnome by his god. Syrus immediately knew that these spells were only granted for a price and belief and devotion normally did not cover it. Had the little cleric's god asked for the ultimate price?
Syrus too raced up the hill to find out the answer. By the time he reached the little gnome, Magus Sheplin, Kyjus, Weemus and Kelsee were all gathered around his little body. Weemus had his brother turned over and Magus had just summoned some ice that he wrapped in a scrap of clothing.
Placing the makeshift icepack on the clerics head made him groan. "Deemus, Deemus, can you hear me brother. Drat and be bothered wake up already will you," Weemus said somewhat glad that he was seeing some signs of life from his brother.
He looked haggard in appearance almost as if the spell had drained some of the life from him. His eyes ebbed open, and he smiled a bit. "Well, that was a wee bit interesting if I do say so myself," he said as he coughed through the laughter that was to follow.
"I take it the fiend has been banished," he said to everyone that was huddled nearby.
"Banished", Kyjus said questioning the meaning.
"Yes, it has been banished thanks to you and Hawk," Syrus said with more than a breath of sadness in his voice.
Deemus read the tone in his voice. "Our warrior friend did not make it then," he asked.
"I am afraid not brother," Weemus replied.
"I am sorry for the loss of so fine a friend I truly am, but I can assure all of you of this, he did not feel any pain when he was taken from us," the little gnome said with a hint of a crying tone about him.
He was not the only one among them that had shed a tear for their fallen hero but now that he had made his peace with the situation Skarnum wanted some answers.
"Would someone tell me what in the bloody hell happened out there? And what do you mean by he didn't feel any pain, he was nearly folded in half, his back was broken in many spots as were his ribs," Skarnum said with an irritated tone.
"I believe I can shed some light on that my large friend," Deemus said from a prone position on the hill.
"I prayed to Callarduran for guidance, and she showed me the thoughts of our friend. He was on a fools mission bound on giving his life for the banishment of the demon and when I say fools mission, I simply mean he did not have the tools to accomplish this task," Deemus started.
"Now don't get me wrong Hawk was my friend as much as he was anyone's and let me assure you that I do not question his skills in battle. Anyone that has seen him work a blade would dare not question his ability, but I was privy to his thoughts and after minutes into the battle he knew that the enchantments placed upon his weapons were not sufficient for the task. Yet he still continued not willing to sway from his chosen course."
Deemus paused a second trying to quell the pain and tears he felt coming before he continued. "Once I saw this resolve, I could not let his actions be in vane so I prayed deeply to my god asking for the divine gift of light. I asked her to grant me the Brand of Judgment to aid hawk in his cause."
"With the granting of this gift I was used as a vessel to receive the brand, my thoughts and mind was melded into one with Hawk's as his body and his weapons were filled with the brand. I was there when he felt each satisfying slash with his long knife and sword. I was there when the demon squeezed the life from him and I was there when he plunged his blade deep into the heart of the creature," he said his eyes completely saturated with tears.
"And of these two things I am certain. One our friend died doing what he believed in, helping those he loved. Two he felt no pain when that monster squeezed the life from him, the brand I placed upon him would simply not allow it."
With that the little gnome bowed his head as his brother quickly joined him. It was too be a remembrance prayer for the fallen.
* * * *
Hours went by as the dead were gathered up. All of the bodies with the exception of Hawk's were loaded into spare wagons provided by the Science facility in loan to the soldiers of Borensia.
The soldiers from Borensia, of the thirty-four that remained alive, elected to depart immediately. The bodies of their fallen were put into large burlap bags and placed respectfully on carts. It was a six-day journey back to Borensia via the northern route.
Spearheaded by Captain Theodius Skye they formed a contingent of riders in the front of the two carts of corpses and a second contingent that was to follow.
There were hearty well wishes between the adventurers and all of the men of Borensia.
Before the good captain took his place at the head of the column, he walked his horse over to Syrus.
"Arch Magi, I take it you will ensure the proper treatment and rehabilitation of our Master Flodius," he said with a smile.
"You can count on that sir. Between Deemus and the nurses at the facility he will be in the most excellent of hands," the old mage replied.
"Good I am glad to hear this. See to it that he returns as soon as possible as he will have lots to do," he said as he pulled his horse away, laughing at the inhumanity in what he had just said.
"I will do just that," Syrus responded with equal jest.
The old mage turned and made his way back toward the main compound. It was good that Flodius had survived the ordeal. The death of a proud warrior and the good friend that he had in Hawk had already been far too steep a price to pay in this battle.
With a sigh he climbed the small hill to the science facility. He would need to help young master Kyjus communicate the truth of their new reality to his parents.
This should be another interesting conversation he thought to himself.