AN: I'm hella nervous, but here it is. I'm so thankful to you all for reading this and leaving such lovely comments, I hope you'll stick with me as we venture into unknown territory.

Explanations will be at the start of the next chapter.

Chapter Thirty-Six )Miku's POV)

Lirica loomed ahead. We had decided, once we had gotten Kaito, Sonika, and Lapis settled there, Kaito would ask the innkeeper for any details of the surrounding area so he could go and hunt any low lives that were scurrying around and feed himself in the process, as it had been a while since the last time he'd fed.

As we rode towards the town, I couldn't help but think back to Luka's words from last night. She had come so far, and every time I recalled her announcement that she was giving up being a queen, I felt a massive burst of pride. And she wasn't doing it for underhanded reasons, she was doing it simply because she thought it the right thing to do. I could think of that, which buoyed me, rather than thinking of Luka's other point.

Yes, there was a chance that we might not come out of this unscathed. It was naive of me to think like that, but I knew, no matter what happened, we would find a way through it. It was what we always did, no matter how dark things seemed.

I looked to our side, and saw Kaito and Sonika riding together on Teto. Sonika was laughing heartily at something he'd said, and I smiled at their good-natured friendship, which I had begun to grow determined to make it something more. Only if they both wanted it, which I was certain they did, but they were keeping it low, for now.

'What do you know about Ezra, then?' I asked Luka. 'Other than what you already told us, I mean.'

'Like most elves, he's skilled in magic. I believe he prefers siphon magic.'

'Siphon magic? What's that?'

'I suppose you could consider it a fancy term for the more arcane arts,' Luka said, using her lecture voice. Even Lapis turned to see where she was going with it instead of staring out into the road. 'Though not necessarily. Kaito's necromancy would be considered siphon magic, but the term siphon in magic usage is rather old, and I do not think it ever took off in Mirren. It basically means that you draw your energy from other sources, as you would guess from the word. Kaito draws his from the realm of the dead, but if you are a hero, your magic and strength comes from the realm of the gods.'

'So when you're a hero, you're granted the ability to siphon off magic from the gods, rather than actually being gifted a certain god's power?'

'Yes, that is correct. It is why you do not see a hero with a particular god's attributes, rather, they have their strength in the area the hero is already familiar with.'

'But Yamina, she's the god of life and death. Kaito isn't a hero, so how come he and others are necromancers?'

'The realm of the dead is much easier to access, and Yamina just governs those worlds, she does not actively take part in them. And some of Kaito and other's magic comes from the strife of the world around them, it feeds off that dark energy. A little of the hero's power comes from the hope around them, to counterbalance this. But of course, strife, hatred… it is all much easier to come by. The fact that demons like Zeronia and others are much more in contact with people makes it even more accessible. It is why necromancy, among others, is so looked down upon in Mirren, other than the fact it appears to defile the dead.'

I looked at Kaito, seeing his powers in a new light. 'Does Kaito know all this?'

'Any self-respecting magician would,' Luka said. The she added, more gently. 'Do not think any less of him for it. He is a powerful magician in his own right, no matter how his powers came to be. He uses them for good reasons.'

I nodded, and we carried on in contemplative silence for a while

'What's Ezra's speciality then?' I asked.

'Destruction,' Luka said simply. When I turned my head to her, eyes wide, she elaborated. 'He makes big impacts, but also uses a lot of energy in the process. Obviously, he can cause small scale havoc as well, but he prefers to show off. It is rudimentary work, really, but it still has its place, I suppose.'

'No wonder you didn't want anyone to come with you. That sounds scary.'

'He will not use it in his palace. His home is his statement to the masses, he will not ruin that image without due cause. I am afraid I do not know if all I have said will be true, however. It has been many years since I bothered dealing with the likes of them. Ezra and Illaria could have changed greatly in that time.'

'Some information is better than none, though,' I said.

Luka gave a hum in affirmation and we continued on down the road to Lirica.

It was early afternoon when we arrived at Lirica's inn, though it was less of an inn and more of a bunkhouse for those who wished to stay in the town but didn't have the means to buy a home. Lapis's eyes filled with tears as Luka and I got ready to leave for the border, and we stood in a small crowd outside the bunkhouse. I had left my bag with Kaito and Sonika, and was carrying my helmet.

'Come back safe,' she said quietly. I knelt down and was given a squeezing hug by Lapis, who sniffed heartily as she pulled away. 'I'm going to be strong and not cry.'

'You can be strong and cry too,' I said.

'Really?' she asked, and I nodded. 'Okay.'

Lapis turned to Luka and she knelt down also, wrapping her in a hug. Lapis's shoulders hitched and when they parted, I saw tear stains on Luka's shirt. She had chosen to forego her armour, saying that it had little use against the guards of Limuria, and it would impede our likelihood of winning Ezra over. I had argued, but it was a point she didn't want to budge on.

'Let us not delay this. The sooner we leave, the sooner we shall return, yes?' Luka said to Lapis, who nodded in response. I was glad both of them were putting on a brave face for the other, and as we walked away towards where we had left Ritsu, Luka's gentle smile dropped. 'I do not like this. It has been a long time since it was just us together.'

'We did well enough, didn't we?' I joked, trying to ease the mood. 'We even got all the way to Rhinehold.'

Luka huffed, but as I helped her on to Ritsu, I could see the faintest glimmer of a smile in her eyes.

It turned out, similar to the other cities we had come across, Limuria was walled in extravagant cream stone. From what I could see, there were guards stationed along the tops of the walls at even intervals. Mountainous terrain stretched either side, and the city was high up, with stone steps snaking up the hill narrowly.

'Ezra and Illaria really don't like outsiders, huh.'

'They guard their borders very carefully,' Luka said. 'Any army would be foolish to try and take such a city. All their guards, from what information I gathered, are trained well in either magic or weaponry. They spare no expenses.'

I swallowed, finally feeling the smallest twinge of fear beginning to settle in.

'We'll face them, and we can just ask for their help. Maybe they're feeling benevolent tonight.' Even as I said it, I knew I was being naive.

'Most likely we will have to make a bargain with them. I just hope that it is not our lives.'

Silence cloaked us, save for the sound of crickets and the steady clip-clop of Ritsu's hooves.

'There, look, a stable,' I said. 'We can put Ritsu up here and walk the rest of the way.'

Luka nodded, and I didn't know whether she was anxious or simply had nothing important to say.

Once we had paid for Ritsu for a week, after Luka convinced me it was the right thing to do despite my protests that we would be back before then, we continued on foot.

We had come close to the imposing city gates when a guard's voice accosted us.

'Halt! You there, what's your business here? Travelling, or...' He visibly paled behind his visor as we got closer. Luka had donned her full regal mask, and I knew she had been recognised straight away, though that wasn't difficult with her pink hair.

'I wish to speak to Ezra, along with my… companion, here,' Luka said. The guard whispered something under his breath, which I didn't quite catch, but Luka did. 'Dead? It takes more than that to kill me, I assure you.'

'Then I will escort you to the castle,' he said, voice shaking ever so slightly. 'Open the gates!'

The message was relayed, and the gates opened, slowly. This was good, wasn't it? We hadn't been killed on sight, which was a relief.

'Keep your weapons sheathed and we will not use force,' said the other guard who hadn't spoken. Her voice was deep, commanding, and magic crackled around her hands as she stepped behind us. I didn't like leaving my back to her, but she started marching, and we had no choice but to go forwards into Limuria.

The scared guard didn't seem to like leaving his back to us either, as he kept glancing backwards. Luka wasn't saying anything, so I supposed I had better keep quiet as well. I didn't want to ruin this.

Limuria, in a word, was beautiful. As Luka had said, its rulers had spared no expenses when it had come to the design. I'd been awed by Mircia, but Limuria was on a whole different level. If the gods resided in our realm, Limuria would have been the city they'd have chosen. Most buildings had the stained glass of Mircia's church on their front windows. Most were only small details, of colourful flowers or sunbursts, but it made the city seem alive through its design. It made me wonder whether the city Luka had lived in was as heavenly as this.

But it wasn't like we could stop and stare, as our destination was imprinted on the view ahead, taking up the sky. Up above was the real reason behind the wealth of Limuria, a castle of the same cream stone, adorned with decorated turrets and spires and topped with pale reddish-pink tiles.

'Keep moving,' the woman barked, and it made me quicken my step, though Luka didn't seem bothered by it.

Thankfully, unlike Mircia's maze like streets, Limuria was rather straight forward, and we were at the bottom of the path leading up to the castle in what felt like no time at all. And the closer to our destination we became, the more the slight sickly feeling in my stomach grew. There were more guards here, and our one with the shaky voice stepped up and had a hushed conversation with them. They kept looking at Luka as they did so.

'Right,' one of the new guards said. 'We'll take it from here. His Majesty will want to see them both immediately. You go on ahead and let him know of our arrival.'

The shaky voiced guard nodded and ran up the steps into the castle's wrought iron gates. We weren't far behind him when we started walking again.

We were guided through the castle courtyard, and although it seemed immensely pretty at first glance, I didn't take much time to look at it properly, because that sick feeling was becoming more persistent.

Into the castle we went, straight into the throne room.

A woman was sat in one of the thrones, who I assumed was Illaria. She had long blonde hair, and wore an intense beauty that I couldn't have even begun to describe. She sat ramrod straight, and with a wave of her hand, the guards moved backwards.

'Come forward,' she said. Her voice filled the room. We did so, though Luka was a little more lacklustre at following her instructions than I was. 'Kneel.'

Not bothering to see what would happen if I didn't follow her instructions, I knelt. Luka did too.

'Rise. Now, Luka, enlighten me as to why you have crossed our borders. With a friend, no less.'

'I am sure you know the story, Illaria. I will not pretend that my reasons for coming here are entirely for my own benefit.'

'Then why,' Illaria said, voice sharp, 'pray tell, would you cross our borders if you have not got anything to bargain?'

'I never said such a thing,' Luka said, and there was a slight mocking lilt to her voice even though her expression towards Illaria was hard. 'I am entirely willing to bargain with you.'

'Yet you have no powers. You said yourself that I know the story, and you also know that word travels fast amongst our circles. You fled our country, and now you come back, seeking the power you once coveted.'

'I will not lie,' Luka said quietly. She looked at me, her expression softening. 'That was my original goal.' She looked back at Illaria. 'But many things have changed during the course of my journey. I only wish to know the information you carry of my parents. Ezra will have told you, yes?'

'I never believed I would see the day where Luka Megurine would care for someone,' Illaria said, leaning forwards slightly. Luka looked ready to kill, but she stayed calm. 'So, I suppose-'

The doors into the throne room banged open behind us, cutting Illaria off. I turned my head, and saw that it had to be Ezra.

Clothed in garments that made our collection of gold look miniscule, he didn't need fancy jewellery or anything of the sort to look imposing. He was tall, with brown hair, and he had regal features. Knowing what magical potential he held certainly didn't help manners.

Ezra swept to the other throne, taking his place and lounging there instead of taking the position that Illaria was in.

'Luka,' he drawled. 'It's been a long time coming, don't you think? All this time you held so much power… and now, you're nothing.' His tone felt off, it was too detached from the words coming out of his mouth. I tensed, but there was nothing I could do. Now I understood why Luka had been so apprehensive. 'There's so many things we must discuss.'

'Then discuss them we shall,' Luka said. Ezra's eyes flashed.

'Did I give you permission to speak?' he said, still in that same off tone. 'You must remember, you're nothing more than a peasant, to everyone in this country. To the rest of the world. You had your time, and you failed.'

Illaria was quiet. Why didn't she explain what Luka had said? This was going south fast, and it looked like we needed all the help we could get.

'Ezra… Your Majesty,' Luka said, clearly saying the latter through gritted teeth. 'If there is a bargain that can be made for the information I require, then-'

'I only have one thing that shall appease me,' Ezra said. He looked at me. 'Little human girl...' Luka tensed, and Ezra laughed. It sounded horrible, and it grated through me, like someone such as him shouldn't have been laughing at all. 'Oh? Luka, caring for someone other than herself? That is a surprise. Don't worry, I don't stoop so low as to consort with humans. But, ah, where was I? Oh yes, how much do you care for this woman, really?'

I couldn't lie. He'd know, instantly, and I thought he just wanted me to say it out loud. 'I love her.'

Luka looked at me, and I could see the restrained fear behind her eyes.

'Oh, good, then this shall be all the more satisfying.' My eyes widened, but Ezra laughed again. 'I'm not going to kill her, you little fool. That would be far too easy. Oh no, I have a plan for you both.'

I almost relaxed, then Ezra spoke again.

'Guards!'

No!

'No!' Luka cried. I reached for her, she grasped my hand, but was wrenched away by the guards. 'You cannot do this! Illaria! Illaria, he – mmpf!' Her cries were cut off when they slapped a hand over her mouth.

I had tried to step forwards, run after her, but one of the guards touched me and it felt as though I'd been encased in ice – I couldn't move, couldn't help.

'Don't bother to try and move.' Ezra's uncaring voice filled the room. 'Elemental magic, ice, you see. Delivers quite the appropriate results.'

I wanted to scream, to say something, anything.

But I couldn't.

Luka.

I couldn't turn my head to see where they'd taken her, couldn't see Ezra's mocking expression. But he talked anyway.

'I'm going to take your weapons. Then, I'll get the guards to bring you to the dining hall. I'd like to make a plan for the little human that managed to claim Luka's heart,' Ezra said. 'Unfreeze her. If she tries to run, kill her.'

Once I was unfrozen, warmth flooded back to my body, and I brought my glare full force to the leaders of Limuria. I hated Ezra, in that moment, more than anyone. But then I saw Illaria, who had stayed quiet, and hated her just as much.

And yet I couldn't do anything.

I was all alone.

It was quiet, in the dining hall. Ezra and Illaria had yet to bother to show up, and I was seething. Rage, hatred, shock, they all warped through me in a maelstrom of emotion that left me feeling sick to the core.

It felt like hours passed.

When the door opened, I was ready to spit fire. But instead, a woman around my age came in. I immediately pegged her as their daughter. She had similar features, a good mix of both parents – the predatory grace of her father and her mother's softer face.

I didn't have my sword, but I could beat her hand to hand if she tried anything. Only that would get me killed, and that meant Luka would probably die as well. I felt a lurch in my stomach.

She stalked over and took her place at the table, giving me a scrutinising look when she sat down.

'Your name?' she asked.

'Does it matter?' I grated out.

She rolled her eyes. 'Not really. I was being polite, or do they not teach humans manners?' She glared at me for a moment, and I relented. I couldn't judge her on her parents actions, after all.

'I'm sorry. I'm just… angry, that's all. My name's Miku.'

Her glare softened. 'I'm Galaco. I understand.'

We sat in silence, waiting for Ezra and Illaria to show their faces. What were they planning on doing with me? Where had they taken Luka? I could have potentially asked Galaco, but I didn't want to appear even weaker than I was already. But she'd come here, even though I was a prisoner, and had asked for my name, which no one else had bothered to do yet.

The doors opened again, and a few guards came inside, followed by Ezra. Ezra took his place at the head of the table. Galaco had situated herself so she was at his right. I had been seated at the far end of the table, and was glad I didn't have to sit close to him. Where was Illaria? I didn't want to ask, fearing it would get me killed. He seemed that type of person – unstable, unpredictable.

'So, I have a proposition for you,' Ezra said, smiling lazily. 'There's a town not far from here that's having a slight problem. A demon infestation. I know how… difficult, these things can be, so I'm sending you, along with some soldiers, to clear it out. Get back here alive, and I'll give Luka back to you. Sound fair?'

On my own? Would I even get back from that alive?

Whatever my chances, I had to save Luka. She'd changed herself so much for my sake, and now it was time to pay her back.

'I'll do it,' I said.

'Brilliant.' His smile dropped. 'Now go. I don't think I need to say what happens if you run.'

'I would never abandon her,' I said, sharply. He raised an eyebrow but didn't comment, instead rising to his feet.

'Galaco, dearest, if you would?'

'Of course, father.' She turned to me. 'I'm coming with you. Don't get me killed, now.'

I simply nodded. There wasn't any way that I could stand here and dissuade her from coming, especially not in front of Ezra.

Surrounded by soldiers, I left.

At first, I didn't think Nevair was there. As we approached a crumbling fort, Galaco nodded.

'We go there,' she said, pointing to it. Compared to the sights I'd seen thus far in Nuriel, this hunk of scarred stone was… sad. Was this the town that so desperately worshipped Zeronia? How had they been driven to this state? Whatever the problem, it had to be centred around those cultists. They had broken this town into a husk of what had probably been a grander sight years ago. It was time to get rid of them. For the town.

For Luka.

Every second wasted was a second closer to either one of our deaths. Thankfully, my sword had been given back to me before we'd exited the castle, and the weight of it was comforting. I had my helmet on, and I felt ready.

We came closer to the ruin, and through the archway I could see a number of wooden huts, just as dilapidated as the fort surrounding it. But more than that, there were the cultists, running towards us, all armed with basic weapons. Unfortunately for them, they had their robes on, and compared to the soldiers around me, they stood no chance.

They were easy to dispatch, but I had to remind myself that it was defence. They had attacked first, there was no time for sympathies now. Even so, the image of those cultists back in Mirren flashed through my mind as I fought. How many of these were the same? How many of these were boys just trying something that was bigger than they could ever know?

I took a deep breath, and brought my sword downwards.

As the stragglers tried to run away, Galaco called the archers perched on the hill, and they were struck down, twitching on the grass. I closed my eyes for a second, feeling a little nauseous. From the looks of things, the cultists didn't appear to be anyone special. Most were bone thin, dirty, and the cloaks they wore were ragged.

I felt a hand clap on my shoulder. It was Galaco.

'That was easier than I expected it to be,' Galaco said. 'Now, there's probably still a summoning circle in the fort itself, but it looks like there'll be little resistance.'

'Right,' I said, swallowing. 'How do we plan on closing it?'

'Using this,' she said, and pulled a necklace out from her satchel. It matched the one that she was wearing around her neck, so I commented on it. 'Exactly. It matches because one is the key to another. When one breaks, the other begins its work. A complex enchantment, but useful, in this case. It'll suck away the power of the circle.' She pressed the necklace into my hands, looking at the town ahead while she spoke. 'It's dangerous in there, so I'm afraid I can't go with you. But I'll send a couple others. You do want to stop Zeronia, don't you? Save Luka?'

'Of course,' I said, offended. She smiled.

'Good. Now go.'

Inside the town, there came an outpouring of people from their ramshackle homes, cheering with tears in their eyes. They gathered around us, and I took off my helmet so I could speak to them properly.

'Thank you so much,' one woman said, almost weeping at our feet. Her child was clinging to her dress, sucking his thumb. 'You don't know how hard it's been. We haven't been able to get to our farms, and the children haven't been able to eat properly… Just, please get rid of those last cultists, and we can be free.'

'We'll do whatever we can,' I said. 'Don't worry, we won't be long.'

As I and the other few soldiers threaded through the crowd and into the ruined fortress, I wondered how this town had gotten into such a state. Even Ravenwood, with its supposed haunted house, had been better off than Nevair. And Galaco had mentioned Zeronia. That thing… that demon, had spoken to Luka, turned her world upside down. Although, apparently it had been for the better, making Luka realise at the time that she didn't actually want to kill us.

But Limuria had such grandeur, so why had this town been left to rot? There were too many unanswered questions, but I had to go on, had to save Luka.

That was all that mattered.

And if it helped save the town, it was worth it.

We stepped inside the fortress, and there was a familiar pulsing noise. No one had come up to fight us, so I assumed that the cultists left were at the summoning circle itself, and their backup had been finished by us.

'What's that noise?' One of the soldiers next to me shivered, his face pale.

'That,' I said, 'is Zeronia. Don't worry, she can't really do anything… I think. What's your name?'

'Blaise.'

'Then, Blaise, let's finish this together.'

We walked on, and it was quiet apart from the sounds of our footfalls and the hideous pulsing noise, which seemed to grow louder with each step.

'I'll scout ahead, see if there's anyone left, okay?' Blaise said. He didn't wear a helmet, so I could see his pointed ears as he went ahead.

'Don't go too far on your own,' I said, and he nodded.

Blaise stopped at the end of the corridor, opening the door. A purple glow filtered through from the other side.

'It's here.'

We ran forwards, and Blaise opened the door wider so we could all go through together. As we fanned out, I saw that the setup was much the same as it had been in Ravenwood. Cultists were circled around a dais, frozen in place, but the tendrils of purple light were thicker than the ones back then had been, and the pulsing was so loud that it made my whole body throb with each one.

I placed the necklace down on the dais.

'Let's get out, quickly,' I said, and we turned around and left as quickly as we came.

Outside, the same woman and her child that had talked to us before ran up to us.

'It's done? You did it?'

'It will be,' I promised. 'What's your boy's name? He'll grow up safe now, right?'

'Isaia,' the little boy said.

'I want to know your name,' the woman said. 'So I know who saved Nevair.'

'Miku, but it wasn't just me,' I said, gesturing to the other soldiers. Blaise was smiling, and the woman thanked us all profusely as we left to go find Galaco.

As we exited the confines of the town, I swore I heard an echoing laughter in my head. I shook it off and carried on.

She was smiling when we arrived.

'It's all set up?'

'It's ready to go when you are,' I said, smiling back.

Galaco unhooked the necklace from around her neck, and put it on the ground. Placing her foot over it, she stepped down, and crushed it.

Screams.

White hot heat, smoke rising, acrid smell.

No, no, no no no nonononono-

Nevair was burning.

A hand was slipped around my shoulder.

'You see?' Galaco whispered in my ear. 'This is what my father's magic can do. And you never even questioned me-'

My hands curled into fists.

'I wouldn't hurt the princess, if I were you,' Galaco continued. 'Father wouldn't be so pleased.'

'Princess!' It was Blaise.

My vision was blurry. Why was it blurry?

'This isn't what you said would happen!' He was shouting. Why…?

Black sky, acrid smell, cries for help-

Galaco took her arm from around me and turned to face him.

'No, I suppose it wasn't,' she said, and his hand moved to his sword. 'Does anyone else want to join them?'

I looked around. Everyone was stood still.

Blaise started to run.

'Archers!'

He dropped.

Nevair was burning.

'There's no point in just standing there.' Galaco's voice was quiet, muffled. 'Aren't you coming to save Luka?'

I fell to my knees and screamed.