Kydorzia and Arlyne waved goodbye to the King and everyone else in the throne room before taking their leave. They had been here before so they just headed towards the front gate. Most people were unaware of what had just happened so they were all very friendly. Every time someone stopped the girls to see how things were going they made a point to let them know they had joined The Misfit Toys and were no longer true citizens of the Azran Kingdom.
This had come as a complete shock to everyone involved. A guild had formed and broken away from the Kingdom's rule. It would never be allowed by the King, yet here these two ladies were claiming to have just come from telling the him. This situation continued until the young women separated to go to their own families' homes.
~~~~The Estate of the Ryb Family~~~~(Kydorzia)
"Father! I'm home to visit!" Kydorzia had just come into her father's study. The man looked at her like she was a goat with 3 heads. He had just sent her away a week ago. She shouldn't be able to make a round trip let alone need to visit.
"What are you doing here Kydorzia I specifically asked you to seduce Mikax." Duke Ned Ryb was shaking his head at his daughter. He had always considered her useless but this was worse than he could have ever imagined. He assumed she had just come home before ever even making it to Mikax's location.
"Sorry Dad, that won't be ever happening. He has no interest in me like that. He didn't even ask my name. It was pretty embarrassing if you want to know the truth." Kydorzia turned red at the thought of how things had happened. She knew now that she was a valued member of Mikax's plans but it didn't start that way.
"Then did he go after Arlyne or Hesa?" Duke Ryb didn't care about what happened with his daughter at all, he just needed to know if he should start kissing someone else's ass.
Kydorzia shook her head, "he didn't show either of them any interest like that, he did get drunk with Arlyne the first night but after hearing that story it was only by chance."
Duke Ryb was not happy to hear this. If he knew the full story he wouldn't have been angry at all but this was unacceptable. He walked up to Kydorzia and swiftly slapped her across the face. She was completely unprepared and had fallen to the floor in tears. "You are a useless bitch! Did you accomplish nothing?! After all this family has done for you!"
Kydorzia was falling deeper into her sadness. She wanted nothing more than to make her father and family proud. She came here to tell him of the changes that would be coming to the kingdom because she knew how badly he wanted to be King. Mikax had asked her to come and see if he would be interested in helping The Misfit Toys.
Kydorzia reached into her pocket and removed one of the gold coins that Mikax had given her. She held it into the air for her father, when he saw it he walked over and grabbed her wrist and not the coin. Duke Ryb lifted his daughter into the air so she was eye to eye with him. "You think a single gold coin is an acceptable exchange for the throne?!" Duke Ryb's eyes were bloodshot.
He brought his fist back preparing to knock his daughter's teeth in. Kydorzia dropped the coin as she tried to free herself from her father's grasp. She saw his arm and fist begin to move towards her and she closed her eyes bracing for the impact. Seconds ticked by but nothing happened, she felt her father's grip loosen on her wrist. She pulled back and stumbled onto the ground, as she opened her eyes shock and happiness filled her heart.
Eura, Rotnam, and Mikax were all standing around her father. Rotnam had his hand over her father's mouth and his arm hooked around the arm he had intended to strike her with. Eura had drawn his Demonic Sword and placed the tip at the man's throat. Mikax was standing to the side glaring at the man.
Sobbing Kydorzia asked the men in front of her, "How are you here? Why did you come?" She had so many more things she wanted to say but now wasn't the time. She could barely choke out these simple questions let alone the complicated one.
"I know I only briefly explained the contracts earlier so you should be able to guess. I noticed you had sustained injuries through that and summoned these two. I teleported to one of the coins I gave you earlier. There was a tracking mark on it." Mikax had walked over and offered her his hand to help her to her feet. He could see the side of her face was red and swollen. "Which hand did he hit you with?"
Everyone in the room felt the temperature drop significantly. Kydorzia knew her father was in trouble but she could tell that these men were ready to fight an army for her. She felt more like family to these three right now and she barely knew anything about any of them.
"His left hand", Kydorzia squeaked out the answer while looking at the ground.
Mikax looked back and noticed that was the hand he was holding her wrist by. It was conveniently still slightly in the air, he hardly lowered it for fear of moving too much.
"Duke Ryb, I remember seeing you on my first visit to this city. You should have never crossed my path again." Mikax was staring right into the man's eyes like a wolf stalking his prey. "You may not recognize him but this handsome fellow here is the former Demon Lord, his name is Eura, notice how I said former. I created a guild called The Misfit Toys, he happily agreed to join us. As a matter of fact, everyone in this room except you is a member."
Mikax had emphasized the word everyone to make it clear that Kydorzia was also part of it. Continuing on, "We are a pretty laid back group of people unless you threaten or hurt one of our own. Today you were lucky that I thought you were the King. If you had struck her again or hurt her more you would be dead already." Mikax removed his gun from his waist and began to fiddle with it.
Duke Ryb's eyes grew as big as saucers, he began to try and plead and beg with Mikax but his mouth was still covered. Mikax allowed this to continue for a minute before moving on.
"You will serve as a warning to the others. Anyone who comes after any member of The Misfit Toys will have to face ALL of the members." After he finished speaking Mikax holstered his gun again. While walking towards Kydorzia, Mikax whispered barely loud enough to be heard, "Take his hand Eura."
The Demon didn't need to be told twice, with one swift movement the sword flew past the Duke's eyes. The blade burst into flames just moments before coming into contact with skin. An instant later the blade had passed thru skin, muscle and bone. Just as quickly as it had caught ablaze it was now extinguished.
As the hand fell from the Dukes arm he let out a muffled scream into the glove of Rotnam. Mikax was very impressed with everyone here especially Eura, he had thought to cauterize the wound in real time preventing the man from accidentally bleeding out.
"Well Kydorzia you should go meet up with Arlyne. She will probably be waiting for you." Mikax had bent down and picked up the gold coin that had saved her to return to her just in case. As he stood up the young woman wrapped her arms around his neck and cried. She finally felt free and like she belonged. No one was willing to stand up for her until today and now her emotions had released like a flood gate.
After a few minutes of crying in Mikax's arms she finally let go. She grabbed the coin and took off thru the doorway without saying a word.
"Okay then, knock him out and let's go." With that Mikax and his team teleported back to Redgate.
~~~~The Estate of the Quintas Family~~~~(Arlyne)
While Kydorzia was struggling in her home, Arlyne had found her father training behind their Estate. Although he was confused he was willing to hear out his daughter, as he listened confusion had turned into surprise.
Duke Caleb Quintas was a cautious man who planned meticulously before taking action. The information he was just given was quiet useful. To know that Rotnam had betrayed the country, Eura had left the demons, and that Mikax himself was leading it all was very useful information to be ahead of.
"I'm proud of you for taking actions into your own hands." The Duke had embraced his daughter momentarily. He wasn't one to overly show his emotions so for him to do this much already made Arlyne happy. "Sadly, though you are no longer part of this family."
Arlyne stared at the man with a sad look in her eyes. She understood what he meant, the Quintas family was it's own organization, she couldn't be apart of both Mikax had made that clear.
"I may have chosen my own path but the real reason I am here is to ask if you would like to work with us." Arlyne swallowed her emotions to handle the task that had been given to her. She wanted to make both her father and The Misfit Toys proud now.
Duke Quintas rubbed his chin. "I will spend some time to think on this. Please let Mikax know we are, at the very least, not in opposition to The Misfit Toys." This for now was the most he could do until he had a better understanding of what was to come. The start of this organization and the movement of the people involved was going to shake the balance of the world as they knew it.
After spending a little while longer discussing things Arlyne took her leave and went to meet Kydorzia at the gate like they had planned. When she arrived she was shocked to see that it looked like Kydorzia had been crying. As they left Mythden, Kydorzia recalled everything that had happened since they parted ways.
Once she had heard everything, Arlyne was certain that she made the right choice.