"Okay, everyone please take your seats."
Everyone sits down around the table and Lloyd gets ready to walk them through the mission. Lloyd pulls out a list of names and places it on the table.
"These are the names of the highest members that work for the lord there."
Everyone starts to look at the list of names, as Icibis looks at Lloyd and speaks.
"Who is the lord that they serve?"
Lloyd looks over at Icibis.
"That is a good question, but he shouldn't be an issue. He is only the 10th lord to the empire."
"10th lord?"
"Yes, there are 7 kings and 10 lords. The one that you guys will face is the 10th lord, and he goes by the name Haro."
Tristen looks up for a second and speaks.
"Is this Haro guy, is he stronger than the two I fought back at Havoc?"
"Tristen, I don't know if Lloyd would have the knowledge."
Lloyd smiles.
"Well Tristen to answer that question. Yes, Lord Haro is stronger than the two you faced, but there is a way to make those two even stronger than Lord Haro."
"What do you mean?"
"Why would we make our enemies stronger? Are we not trying to stop them?"
"Yes and no."
Lloyd stands up and walks over to a picture on the wall. As Lloyd looked at the picture, he asked everyone one question.
"Say you knew everything that is about to happen, but you can't say a word about it, or everything will be lost, what would you do?
Everyone looks at each other with confused faces, as Madison spoke.
"I would do what I can, but I would find a way around it."
"That would not work, Madison."
"Why do you say that Tristen?"
"Because, what Lloyd is looking for, is not an answer but for someone or something to fully trust in him and let him lead the way to hope and freedom. Or am I wrong Lloyd?"
Lloyd looks at Tristen and takes a sip of his tea before speaking.
"Yes and no, Sir Tristen. You see Tristen is on the right path. I am looking for people to follow me in the right direction, but I am also looking for other ways then my direction. If that makes any sense."
Everyone looks at Lloyd with even more confused faces than before. Lloyd looks at everyone for a second before Princess Vita speaks,
"I think Lloyd is trying to say that we are not enough to win this war, and by the look on Lloyd's face, that young man with no magic and can't be touched by mana is a key to the future, isn't he?"
Everyone looks at Lloyd, to see what he will say, as Lloyd sits back down.
"Yes, that man is indeed important."
Rose stood up from her seat and spoke.
"I will not fight with that man. He tried to kill Icibis, and don't forget that he was going to take Princess Vita."
"No one here forgot any of that."
"Then why are you all just sitting there then."
"Because."
Tristen looks at Rose, then at Lloyd.
"I want to see if I can trust Lloyd with my life or not."
Tristen stands up and walks over to Lloyd and draws his sword. Tina runs over to protect her brother, but Lloyd puts his hand up to stop her. As Lloyd looks at Tristen in the eyes.
"I will ask you this one time Lloyd, and depending on your answer, will decide my next course of action."
"Tristen that is enough."
"It's okay Icibis."
"But Lloyd."
"Ask away, Sir Tristen."
Lloyd sits there, calmly as he drinks more of his tea, as Tristen speaks.
"That man, is he actually needed for the future of the rebellion or are you just saying that because you can't see any future around him."
Lloyd finishes his tea and looks at Tristen.
"Yes, it is true I can't see any future mission or anything like that around him, but I am about to see what happens when he is against us, for some reason I can see somethings, but it's…"
Lloyd stops talking for a second.
"For the best outcome for the people and for the rebellion, the man known as Alek has to join our side."
"Is that all you have to say?"
Tristen looks over at Princess Vita then back at Lloyd.
"Fine, but the second he stabs us in the back, I will kill him."
Tristen puts his sword away and looks at everyone else.
"I know, the guy is our enemy but if Lloyd is saying he will join us then, I trust Lloyd on this."
"I am not okay with this."
"That sounds like your problem."
"You shut up Reinhart."
As Tristen walks back to his seat, Icibis grabs his arm and speaks.
"You did good, and it looks like your princess is proud of you."
Tristen looks over and sees Princess Vita gives him a nod with a smile. Icibis lets go of Tristen's arm, as Tristen goes and takes his seat.
"Okay, let's continue."
After some time has passed, everyone starts to leave the room. Talking about if the plan will work or not.
"I don't know if the plan will work."
"I think we will be fine."
"I mean he did say something about a second team joining us during the fight."
"Yeah, but we first have to live that long."
Icibis slaps Madison on the back of his head.
"That is enough, now get ready, because this plan can go south, so be ready when it does."
"Yeah, yeah."
As everyone is leaving the room Lloyd stands up and sees Tristen is still in the room with him. Lloyd smiles and speaks.
"So, I am guessing that you have more questions to ask me about that man?"
Tristen stands up and wakes over to Lloyd and grabs him by the shirt.
"Who is he really?"
"I can't say."
"And is that?"
"If I do, then our future plans will change."
"Is that so?"
"Would you like to find out?"
Tristen lets go of Lloyd and takes a step back.
"What can you tell me then?"
"There is one thing."
Lloyd looked at a painting and spoke.
"The one thing I can say is that. If you do kill him, you will regret everything."
"Why is that?"
"Because you will back one of your promises that you have made with someone."
"And who was that?"
"I can't say, it is too soon."
Tristen puts his hand on his face.
"So, you want me to play by ear."
"If that is what you call it, then yes."
"Fine, fine. I will play along."
Tristen walks out of the room, as Lloyd looks over at the door, then he starts to think.
("If I were to tell him, I wonder what would have happened. He proboldy denied it, or maybe he would have accepted it. Who knows at this point.")
As 2 days goes by, and everyone is getting ready to get Maria back. Icibis sees the door being used and 4 others come out of it.
"Is that our back up?"
"I don't know."
"They are kind of early."
"Yes, but they still need to talk to Lloyd about the plan."
Everyone turns and sees Tristen walk down the steps behind them.
"Besides, they will have the easy part. As for me and Icibis."
"Yeah, we have the hard part."
Madison put his hands behind his head and spoke.
"I still think I should be the one to save Maria."
"Yes, but with Alek and Malos in the castle somewhere, it is best for me and Tristen to go into the castle as the rest of you go through the front gate."
"I mean, as long as I get to fight that guy with the spear, I am all cool."
Reinhart hits Madison in the back with his hand.
"Oh, come on now. I called fighting him first."
"No, because I just did."
Rose stands there with her arms crossed.
"As long as I get to fight that bitch with the wires."
Madison looks at Rose.
"Now Rose, she is not an enemy to take lightly so stay on your toes."
"Yeah, I know that already."
Tina walked up to the group and spoke.
"You guys ready to go."
"I was born ready."
"That is debatable."
('Why is she like this to only me.")
Tina makes two doors come up, as Tristen and Icibis step in front of one and the others step in front of the other one. Tina looked over at Icibis and Tristen and spoke.
"You need to go now, I am losing the door. It seems like something is stopping my magic."
"It's him."
"Here we go, Icibis."
The door opens and Icibis and Tristen run into the door as it disappears.
"I hope Icibis will be okay."
"He will be fine Rose, now focus up."
"Right."
Reihart stopped for a second and looked at the others.
"What about all the guards that are at the gate?"
Madison smiled and spoke.
"Don't worry I have something for them."
Tina opens the door, and everyone runs in. At the gate to the castle of Zusian, the guards see a magic door appear right in front of them, as the door opens Madison runs out and aims his bow at the gate and shoots his arrow.
"Rainbow Arrow, Phoenix shot."
As the arrow hits the gate making a giant explosion, killing all the guards that were near the gate. As Reinhart, Rose, and Tina walk out of the door, they see the fire and a wide opened gate in front of them, as Madison turns and looks at Reinhart with a smile.
"So, what about the guards again."
Reinhart stands there speechless, as Maho shows up with Subun from the castle door.
"Well, well. Look what we got here Subun, 4 dumb asses that want to die today."
"The only dumb ass I see here is you."
Maho starts to get angry by what Madison just said. Maho made a fireball in his hand as he spoke.
"You remind me of the little brat and speaking of him. Wait until he gets out here, then you all will be dead."
As Maho is talking, Ranperuji and Josei walk up to join them.
"What is this? Is it more toys to play with?"
"That is enough Josei, and Maho what is going on here?'
Before Maho could talk, Madison spoke.
"I would check again."
Ranperuji looks at Madison.
"What do you mean human?"
"Did you not think we came here without a plan to take you down. Trust me, we know about Alek and that he can stop magic and mana, so we are making him fight the Gifted Human."
("They knew that Alek could cancel out magic and mana, so sending the Gifted Human was the best option so they can use magic, but is good for us to, because we can use magic to.")
Ranperuji tapped Maho on the side and spoke.
"Maho, go have some fun."
"Oh, I will now. Hell yeah."