Note: Hello everyone! Though this chapter might be a bit shorter than the regular length, I thought that this deserved its own battle scene instead of it just being a few blows that ran for around a couple of pages. And mainly because I didn't want one chapter to be 20+ pages. Never going back to that style of writing, as it was way too much for me.

Anyhow, here's the second round against Koren/The Crimson Wizard for Duran. Though unfortunately, it seems that our heroes are still ill-prepared.

Here's hoping you enjoy!

The Crimson Wizard

With a roar, Duran charged forward, sword aiming right for the red bastard's gut, though he only met a pillar situated by Richard's throne. "You've grown sloppier since we last met." Koren noted. "It's a miracle that you managed to survive that night at all."

"Shut up!" Duran slashed forward, Koren transporting back away from his strikes, Duran essentially chasing him around the room, only to gain nothing for his efforts. "Too cowardly to face me without vanishing?" the soldier huffed.

"No, I'm teleporting." Koren explained. "Vanishing would be leaving entirely. Which I have no reason to do." he then extended his hand forward. "You know, not that you would have any way of knowing, I would count my blessings if I were you. And perhaps watch where you swing your weapon."

"Enlighten me then." Duran huffed. "Why?"

'Don't go running blindly into this.' Faerie alerted him. 'He's up to something.'

Koren folded his arms. "To spare the lives of your aunt and sister, of course."

Duran's breath caught in his throat. "You're lying." he immediately accused. It was a bluff, it had to be. It HAD to be!

"Ask them yourselves.'' Suddenly, two Altenan mages emerged from behind two pillars, one having Stella while the older had a hold of Wendy.

"Auntie!" Duran shouted, about to make his way towards the woman, yet stopped when the mage holding her lifted her wand to her throat.

"Duran, get out of here!" Stella pleaded, she bound with what appeared to be glowing ropes of magic, runes spinning slowly around in a continuous loop. "You can't fight him! No one can!"

"Big brother!" Wendy then shouted, having obviously been crying her heart out. "I don't want you to die!"

Duran looked to Koren, nothing short of bloodlust in his eyes. "Release them!"

"Oh, that's not possible." the wizard answered. "For you see, the issue with the Mana Stones still needs to be resolved." he then turned to Angela. "I don't know whether or not my dear Princess told you, yet the Mana Stones, or rather, the beasts inside, require an exchange. Specifically, one of blood." he then looked to Stella and Wendy. "And seeing that there are eight stones, then we need eight sacrifices."

Duran's eyes narrowed even further. "Don't you think about it." he then lunged forward. "I'll cut you through before that happens!"

"Duran! Watch out!" Angela shouted.

Suddenly, the soldier felt the urge to look upward, seeing, to his horror, shards of gemstone floating above him, though of far greater size than any that Angela had conjured up. "Diamond Shards!" Koren cast the spell, the shards coming down, Duran leaping out of the way as the shards came down and pierced through the floor, missing him by mere seconds. Though he wasn't out of danger yet, as he then felt the lingering feeling that something else was above him, the hairs on his head suddenly rising as if they were attracted to something. "Thunder Storm!" This time, he did not escape. Surges of electricity wracked his form, Duran's body being flung back from the force of the lightning, bouncing off of a pillar and to the ground, his sword clattering to the floor. Then, Koren turned his attention to Angela. "Now then," he began, coming towards her. "I believe that, along with dear King Richard here, we should head for Altena soon. You are a long way from home, your Highness."

Angela then held out her staff. "Back!" she barked. "Back! Back! I'm warning you!"

Koren placed his hands on his hips. "You seem to have gotten bolder since last we met."

"Yeah? Guess what?" the Altenan sorceress then proclaimed. "I've evolved since then! I've finally mastered magic!"

The Crimson Wizard raised a brow. "Have you now?"

"Yeah, that's right!" Angela retorted. "And even more, it's due to the power of the Mana Elementals themselves!" she said in pride. "I have power from the very sources themselves! Far more than any cheap imitation that you could ever conjure!"

Though it was subtle, Angela could've sworn that she saw his lips tighten in anger. As if she had just personally insulted him. True, that was her intention, yet her remarks seemed to touch on something deeper. "Then," he began, any sense of sarcasm and amusement gone from his voice. "Then you'd be willing to test your newfound skills, wouldn't you?"

Angela's bravado began to falter. "You mean…"

"For all that boasting, your skills must be impeccable by now, right?" Koren then moved a few feet away, whirling his cape around and standing in front of Duran's unmoving form. "Fine then. I hereby challenge you, my dear Princess."

West Wing

"Is it aww bettew now?" Charlotte questioned, removing her hand from Kevin's wound, of which had little more than a small mark where it once was.

"Yeah." the beastman responded, rising from the floor, looking at the plethora of dead chess knights all around them. "Although…" Kevin began, looking to his smaller companion. "How did you do that? And back in Wendel...you did something else."

Indeed, she remembered well. "I...twuth be towd," Charlotte responded. "I don't weawwy know." she admitted, then grew solum. "Gwandpa pwobawy wouwd know." she said. "I didn't know that he knew that I'd be hewe at aww. Doing this."

"I'll admit, neither did I." Kevin admitted, Charlotte looked down to the ground.

"Sowwy." she muttered, Kevin drawing closer to hear what she said. "Sowwy about what I did in Jadd." she said louder. "I didn't mean to huwt youw feewings. I just wanted to hewp out. But...stiww. It wasn't nice. Sowwy."

"It's ok." Kevin answered, placing a hand on her shoulder. "I forgive you." then, she hugged him, burying her head in his chest. He was somewhat taken aback by this display of affection, though he didn't push her away. Truth be told, images of a certain wolf pup came to his mind, her golden hair nearly mistaken for a coat of golden fur.

And she, while she was forever reminded that he was out of her reach, yet Heath came to Charlotte. True, Kevin was far more toned and muscled than Heath could ever be, but still, the larger figure served to make her almost forget about how the priest was taken by a monster. Almost. Suddenly, they heard someone approaching. Bracing themselves, the two were surprised to see that it was only Hawkeye and Riesz, along with a few soldiers that had managed to pick themselves up after their own skirmish.

"Ah, there you are!" Riesz said, approaching Kevin and Charlotte. "Is everyone all right?"

"Yeah. We'we ok." Charlotte assured, still close to her current company.

Riesz then turned back to the soldiers. "Where's his Majesty currently?"

"In the throne room." one fo the soldiers responded. "His Majesty is still injured from the last attack made on our kingdom, but he insisted on putting on a brave face for the people. Goddess bless him."

"She can bless him later." Hawkeye answered. "Right now, we'll need a plan of attack to get inside without drawing attention to ourselves." he then began to ponder.

"There are some balconies in the throne room that can be reached by the upper stairways." one of the soldiers then said. "Come, we can lead you to them. Yet we need to take care of any remaining opposition that may still be around."

"Sounds all right to me." Hawkeye said, then looking to Riesz. "Any objections?"

Riesz shook her head. "None from me." she then looked to Kevin and Charlotte, of whom seemed to be in agreement as well. "All right then." she said. "Let's move out!"

Throne Room

"Holy Bolt!" the violet haired sorceress bellowed, a beam of hot light emitting from the tip of her staff, right in Koren's direction.

"Diamond Shards!" He then conjured up several large pieces of gem, all of which served as a collective shield to block the incoming beam, said beam bouncing off and being directed right back in Angela's direction. Leaping out of the way, the princess decided that she'd show off her own Diamond Shards, casting Gnome's spell and sending her own gemstones (even if they were far smaller) right in Koren's direction.

He responded in kind by casting up a whirlwind from seemingly nowhere. "Cyclone!" he shouted, rounding the incoming shards up in a small twister and then aiming them right in their caster's direction. This time, Angela wasn't as quick, a shard or two slashing against her skin and causing her to stumble to the floor. "Fireball!" Spheres of flame shot from Koren's palm, the princess managing to conjure up some Diamond Shards to send them flying in the opposite direction, their caster dodging them by going to the side.

'Yes!' Angela mentally cheered.

'Not bad for a first timer, girly.' Gnome told her.

'I know.' she replied, the fact she was having a conversation in total silence, audibly at least, didn't even come to her. 'I think I'm getting the hang of this.' magic. Despite the situation, she was doing it. She was actually able to do magic!

'Don't be patting yourself on the back so soon though!' Gnome suddenly said.

'You've got more coming, hun!' Lumina cried out, Angela turning to see even more flames coming her direction.

"Holy Bolt!" she shouted, firing another beam in Koren's direction, only for him to retaliate by presenting something deathly cold.

"Ice Smash!" instead of fire this time, spheres of ice were sent flying her direction.

"Holy Bolt-" Angela was cut off, as one of the chilled collections of ice met her skin, a sheen of blue crystal encompassing her upper arm and sending a near unbearable shiver throughout her entire body. She lifted up her wand, yet her left arm felt as if it were going stiff, losing feeling, her fingers felt numb, the time she had spent in the snow cover fields outside of the castle coming to her mind. Koren smirked, seeing her struggles. He decided that now would be the best time to approach her. "Holy Bolt!" she shouted through clenched teeth, producing another beam of light, this time striking Koren in the chest, sending the wizard back a small distance, he having to bend over and clench his hand over where the beam had struck.

Though this brief victory was short lived.

A slew of icy spheres were sent in her direction, knocking her staff from her hands and sending her flying back against the wall, the spots they hit becoming enveloped in a sheen of ice, effectively pinning Angela to the wall in several places. Koren then approached her, holding his chest still. "That was a lucky shot." he told her. "Indeed, it seems that you aren't completely inept with magic anymore."

"I...I told you." Angela stammered, the sheer chill from her icy bonds numbing her entire body, as well as keeping her pinned down. "I've got the Elementals on my side."

"Then let them protect you." he then said. "Well, go on. Summon the powers they gave you so that they can break you out." The princess bit her lip and clenched her fists.

"Fine, I will." she then said. "Diamond Shards!" she yelled, only to have nothing happen. "D-Diamond Shards!" she shouted again, only for nothing to, once again, happen. 'Hey, what gives?!' she mentally asked. 'I thought you were supposed to help me!'

'Yeah...about that…' Gnome said. 'You don't have a means to channel your power anymore.'

"I don't what?!" Angela said aloud.

'While you can make use of magic, you're not at a...well, let's just say, advanced enough stage, hun.' Lumina answered.

"But...but that shouldn't matter!" Angela argued. "You're Elementals! Spirits of Mana! You're supposed to help ME! And don't give me that 'separate dimension' or whatever! You're ancient, powerful beings! Can't you do anything?!"

'The power of Mana allows us to remain here in this plain of existence.' Lumina told her. 'With it weakening, we tie ourselves to those that need us. But in that, we serve them, and not ourselves. We can't use our own powers without that of one's own lifeforce.'

"That...that doesn't make any sense!"

"Is something wrong?" the Crimson Wizard asked, smirking. "It seems that despite your 'divine' help, 'cheap imitations' are able to trump whatever lack of skills you've managed to develop." he said with pride, as if he had just proven something to her. "Now then," he then looked to the trapped Stella and Wendy, as well as the unconscious Richard. "We're long overdue for our trip. Your mother's been pondering on just where you've gone."

Angela grit her teeth. "You're still responsible for this." she hissed. "Mother would never have thought of it without you. And...and she probably didn't. You have her under some spell! That's why she called this attack! Everything here is entirely your fault!"

"Continue telling yourself that if you wish." Koren answered back. "But we've wasted enough time here as it is." he lifted a hand, fire beginning to develop, obviously to melt the ice that pinned her down. Without her staff, it seemed that Angela was indeed left without much means of defense.

She needed to think of something to buy time. At least until Duran or at least the King got up and perhaps could do something. Then, she remembered. "You know…" she began. "From what I heard, you were once at my level." Angela grimaced at having to say such, once again being reminded of rather painful things, yet it seemed her very life depended on it, so she continued. "In fact, I remember Victor telling me that once, you were just like me when I still lived in the castle." Koren's brow twitched, knowing that she was touching on something for him. "Is it true? That you yourself couldn't do magic once?"

Koren didn't answer for a good few moments. "Of what concern is that of yours?"

"None, I suppose." Angela admitted. "But since you've gotten the position as Mother's right hand man, you've always seemed to have your nose stuck up. Like you think you're better than everyone else."

"And you do not?"

Angela ignored this and continued. "But you were once like me. Or better yet, were no better than I was. So what changed? Why do you think you're so hot now? If anything, you had to have been-"

SLAP!

Angela's cheek stung even more due to his already heated palm. "Shut. Up." the Crimson Wizard snarled. "You know nothing, wench. Spoiled girl." he then roughly took her by the chin. "You think you know hardship? What true loneliness and suffering is like? What isolation from all those around you is? You, who is heir to the throne, one who has been pampered and given everything that she asks for? Who was nothing more than a troublesome brat who was nothing more than a blight in everyone's sight?"

Angela bit her lip. "That...that's not true." she argued, her voice wavering.

"Then answer me this: why are you the sacrifice? Why were you the first choice? And don't bother trying to deny it. You know well why you were chosen." he drew closer to her, their faces mere inches apart. "For you see, I'm NOT like you. I am not a useless waste, who is only good for causing trouble and being a disobedient brat. Unlike you, I have a purpose. A reason to live. A reason for one to see value in me." Angela clenched her fists and turned away from him, trying to contain the tears exiting her eyes. "At least you can serve some use in propelling your kingdom forward." Koren then began to heat his hands again. "Your mother is waiting."

SLICE!

"Gah!" from above, what appeared to be a dagger came down and sliced Koren across the hand horizontally, landing a few feet away. "Who dares to…" he trailed off, looking up in the direction the weapon had come from. Angela too looked, seeing a quartet of familiar faces.

"Guys!" Angela cried out, the four leaping down from above (though in Charlotte's case, she held onto Kevin as he jumped).

Hawkeye folded his arms. "Picking on a pretty lady, don't you have any chivalry?" he gave a quick glance to Riesz, of whom only looked away, as if to say 'You won't get a reaction out of me.' Pity, the thief thought. Flushed cheeks were always cute.

"This wench here," Koren said, gesturing to the princess. "Is far from a lady, if you knew what I did. I have no conflict with you, so why insert yourselves into business that isn't yours? I merely wish to take her Highness home where she belongs."

"And them too?" Kevin asked, looking to the trapped Stella and Wendy, focusing mostly on the younger girl, Wendy's frightened eyes meeting his and Charlotte's, the latter gaining a look of surprise as to why someone so seemingly young was here.

Riesz then noticed Duran and King Richard on the floor, some rather unsavory images regarding her own father coming to mind. "How dare you treat a king in such a way…" she gripped the handle of her spear. "Have you not one ounce of respect?"

"He's not my ruler." Koren answered the amazon. "Surely you of all people know the ways of war, dear Princess Riesz." Riesz was taken aback somewhat. How did he know? Had the conquering of Laurent really spread that far? "Or is it Queen Riesz now, seeing as your father is...well...you know," she wanted nothing more than to leap forward and pierce his throat at that moment, yet she kept herself back. Nevertheless, her body was trembling with fury. "Either way, it doesn't matter." Koren continued. "Your and all kingdoms will fall to the might of Altena!" a ball of fire began to form in his hand. "And ME!"

The ball of fire was blasted forward, the four separating and going other directions, Hawkeye and Riesz together while Kevin and Charlotte were coupled together. Retrieving his dagger, the thief, along with the amazon, readied themselves to combat the wizard. Riesz looked back though and signaled for Kevin to go assist Wendy and Stella, the beastman having no objection to that.

"Spike Freeze!" Koren shouted, blue bursts of energy shooting from his hand and onto the floor. As Kevin and Charlotte raced towards the trapped members of Duran's family, Kevin having taken a good hold of the small girl's hand as they rushed in their direction. Yet as they ran, spikes of pure ice came up from the spots on the floor, stopping either Kevin or Charlotte from coming any closer.

"Leave these louts to us, sir!" One of the mages holding Wendy and Stella captive shouted, pointing her wand in Kevin and Charlotte's direction. "Cyclone!" A gust of wind came from the tip of the wand and immediately caught Kevin and Charlotte up in a whirlwind, the sight of the ice spikes below making the mages' intentions clear. Catching hold of the railing, Kevin swung over and landed behind one of the mages, giving her a kick to the back of the neck. This maneuver sent her to the side, Wendy being released from her grip. The woman tried to get up and get her wand back, yet Duran's sister snatched it away. "Give that back, brat!"

"Make me!" Wendy cried out, pointing it towards the woman, who seemed unimpressed.

"You don't even know how that works, do you?" she asked, approaching the young girl. Kevin took the wand and held it with both hands.

"And what do you plan to do?" the woman questioned, but then saw that her weapon was beginning to surrender to the beastman's superior force. "Wait! Don't! Don't, you fool!" she cried out, rushing towards them. "You'll kill us all-"

Her efforts meant nothing though, as the wand was snapped in half. Yet a terrible turn of events followed after.

A flash of light and a tremendous force that seemed to bear every color visible to the human eye burst out from the broken halves of the wand, blasting Kevin, Wendy, and the owner of the wand back, the beastman being slammed against the wall, hitting his head on a pillar on the way there. He slumped over to the ground and fell face first, Wendy not faring much better, yet she was at least conscious. The mage on the other hand was in a similar state to Kevin. While she was still bound by Koren's magical bonds, the little girl went up to her unconscious brother and knelt by his form. "Duran!" she called out. "Big brother! You gotta wake up!"

"Wendy!" Stella cried out, Charlotte having not succeeded in freeing her, she not struggling and kicking in the grasp of the other Altenan mage. "Do you people have a penchant for harming young children?" the blonde woman hissed. "You scum are the worst!"

"Oh, can it, ugly cow!" the mage shouted, directing her attention towards Charlotte. "Now then, what to do with you…"

"You bettew wet me go if you know what's good fow you!" the blonde girl growled. "I mean it! I've got powew you wouwdn't bewieve!"

"Oh, shut up, you." the mage rolled her eyes. "I've heard enough empty threats from that other brat over there. There's nothing you can do that'll be any better-" the woman was cut off by a white light shooting in her direction, blinding her and burning her cheek. She released her and Stella, dropping her wand, of which Charlotte went and retrieved. "You wouldn't!" the mage shouted. "You saw what happened!"

"I know." Charlotte said, which is why she tossed it up in the air and then sent a white blast in its direction. There was still a strong reaction to its destruction, but due to how high it was, no one was blown back.

Seizing her chance, Stella headbutted the mage, sending her back, the force of the blow rendering her unconscious, allowing Stella to rush towards her nephew, and Charlotte to Kevin. "Duran?" she said. "Duran, answer me, please." Kevin was faring no better, Charlotte noting the trail of blood traveling from a wound on his head. She could only hope it was a flesh wound only. "Duran! DURAN!"

'Please!' Faerie cried out. 'Get up! You have to get up!'

Voices. Voices were calling him. Telling him to wake up. Where was he again? Opening his eyes, the auburn haired soldier saw that, though blurred vision, two figures were combating another while there was a violet haired young woman pinned to the wall.

"Thunder Storm!" Koren shouted, bolts of lightning just barely missing Riesz and Hawkeye. Though their reprieve was short lived, as yet another magical incantation was recited. "Cyclone!" this one, they weren't able to dodge. Both of them were swept off their feet and sent flying in the air, several feet off the ground. Koren grinned, now for the killing blow. "Evil Gate-" his incancation was cut off as a body tackled him, his aim set far lower than he intended. The dark vortex propelled itself forward into the upper portion of the wall on the higher level above the balcony, eating up and consuming the plaster that it made contact with, eating and eating it until it finally dissipated, leaving nothing more than a sizable crater in the wall.

Hawkeye and Riesz landed on the floor, seeing Duran slashing away at the Crimson Wizard and going in to assist. "Stop and take it like a man, you bastard!" Duran roared, continuing to slash away, all the while Koren phased away from each blow. Though he only got in a few more shots, as Koren's hand shoved itself onto the soldier's chest. "Holy Bolt!" The beam of light sent Duran flying back, slamming into a pillar and landing face first on the ground.

"Duran!" Stella called out, going over to him, yet he got up again, albeit with not much grace. Hawkeye and Riesz were seen combating with Koren, though they unfortunately didn't last long, being blown back by a cyclone.

"Diamond Shards!" the wizard called out, the sharpened pieces of gems striking the thief and amazon in several places, skin being torn and pierced before they too slammed against the opposite wall, falling to the ground, motionless.

"NO!" Angela shouted, still struggling against her bonds holding her on the wall. Duran rushed towards her, yet was knocked back by a fireball coming his way. He managed to block it with his shield, yet it was clear that wasn't all Koren was planning to do. "Look out!"

"Lucent Beam!"

"Koren, no!" This time, Duran's shield wasn't enough to protect him, white beams coming from the wizard's fingers and splitting into two distinct teams, one hitting the shield while the other struck him in the back, propelling him forward right into the wizard, of whom then delivered another Holy Bolt right in his chest. "Koren, stop!" Angela hollered, though her pleas fell on deaf ears. Despite the damage done to him, however, Duran didn't falter.

"Duran, stop!" Stella cried out, racing towards her nephew despite her bonds.

"Stay back, wench!" The wizard blasted her back with another Holy Bolt, though this one was far less than the others, as he didn't wish her dead. Yet.

"You'll pay for that!" Duran shouted, swinging his sword, and, to Koren's surprise, the distraction Stella provided allowed the young man to get in a small shot, the tip of his sword grazing his cheek, fresh blood being spilt. "This time, I will finish you, wizard!"

"DURAN!" Angela shouted, seeing the hand held behind Koren's back forming a rather powerful magic.

'Wait! Stop!' Faerie cried out, yet it was too late. Bringing his concealed hand to the front, Koren blasted forth a Cyclone that blew Duran off his feet, his body slamming into and toppling Richard's throne, the large seat falling over with an echoing slam. 'You've got to get out of here!' Faerie told her host. 'You won't last much longer against him!'

"I…" the soldier choked out, fresh blood running down his chin. "I'm not...going down...that easily."

'Forget your pride! This is a matter of life or death!' his occupant chided. 'He'll kill you!'

A man clad in gold armor filled his head, the young man wracked with pains and aches, his body having been thrown this way and that...yet the golden armored man...his sword that his son now held in his hands. No. Not here. "I...I can't." Duran breathed out, approaching Koren, of whom was standing by nonchalantly as if he had nothing to worry about. "I can't." he wheezed, holding out his sword. "I can't...not here. Not now…" he raised his sword, only to have it blasted out of his hands. Koren then cast Ice Smash, effectively pinning Duran to the wall that was stationed behind the now toppled throne. Koren approached him, taking his chin and looking into his eyes. They still burned with defiance, yet there was a creeping anxiety developing. A growing realization that he couldn't stand up to his foe.

"Now do you understand, boy?" the wizard questioned. "I'm far out of your league. And your Majesty has grown old." he then backed away a short distance, then looked to Angela. "Excuse the mess that you're about to see, princess. Yet I need to clear away the garbage."

"Damn you!" Angela hollered, yet Koren was undeterred. He then took in a deep breath, holding out both hands and what appeared to be several small crystals formed around him. "Wait….wait, what are you doing?" he didn't answer. "Hey! What are you doing?!" again, he didn't answer, yet the crystals began to glow in a red light, they spinning around him as he held his eyes closed and continued steadily breathing.

"Auntie?" Wendy asked. "What's going on?" she was about to approach, but Stella kept her back, essentially holding her with her legs.

The crystals' glow began to intensify, growing hot and near blinding. The light grew and grew until it looked as if the crystals were ready to burst. This was it. The ultimate magic. A magic that he had managed to harness and craft after decades of study. As well as some help from a certain benefactor. Koren let out an exhale, the magic just mere moments from being cast. His ultimate magic. No cheap imitation, no half-baked spell...no, it was the best of the best. No one could top this. And he was the one who wielded it.

"Koren…" Angela strained, trying in vain to escape her icy bonds. "Koren, wait…"

"There's already been enough waiting, princess." the wizard answered. "Now, I present to you, the coup de gra."

"Koren, wait!"

"Tell me, princess, does THIS look like some cheap imitation?!"

"KOREN!"

"ANCIENT…" the crystals burned hotter than ever. "CURSE-BLAUGH!"

It was swift and quick, then silent. He was only aware that something had happened when he fell to his knees and found himself unable to slump to the floor. A sword had been sticking out of his front, right through his chest. The crystals' light faded before they too faded from existence, their caster's eyes widening at the sight of the blade that pierced him. But who had…

"Looks like I have life in these supposed old bones after all." Turning, Koren saw that Richard himself had stood over him, sword in hand.

"M-Majesty?" Duran coughed out, more blood coming from his mouth. He then realized it was his sword...no, his father's sword, that Richard had struck him with.

Koren began to move away, wincing in agony as the sword moved when Richard pulled it out. The blood poured out immediately, the wizard's entire chest soaked with it. Stumbling forward, Koren knew that he was in trouble. He had to get out of here. He had to go back to his leader, lest he...no. Not here. Not now. He wouldn't go out like this! Not like this! Closing his eyes and bringing together any form of concentration he could, he began whisking away in brief intervals, appearing somewhere one second, then another and another. This continued until he was on the balcony above, then he opened a window, disappearing out of it and from the castle entirely.

Watching him go, Duan attempted to move against his bonds, yet his head was swimming. He was mildly aware that his king was approaching him, yet that was all he was aware of. The world was slipping away from him. Was he...dying?

No. No, he couldn't be. He wouldn't. He couldn't go. Not yet.

Not like...this.

Note: I thought it was strange that Koren just up and left Valsena castle like that. Like, he had no reason to retreat, he just sort of...did. I know, video game logic and all, yet for an adaptation, things like that need to be worked around. At least, that's how I view things. Anyhow, speaking of the classes, once again, I found a way to put in all of them. And not only that, it'll tie into the characters' personalities and character development, for as they mature, more classes will become available for them to harness. It'll be different to the game, for sure, and I originally was going to cut them out altogether for this reason, yet I believe I found a way.

That said, thank you for reading!