Fuegoleon had been sitting in the meeting going over recent reports and updating Julius on training progress when Randall burst in through the door. Upon hearing what had happened, Fuegoleon left the meeting without a second thought and headed straight for the Chalcedony estates. He wasted no time and let himself inside, but what he found inside infuriated him: Jaren Chalcedony was beating Talia with a riding crop and she was bleeding. He acted without much thought other than seeing to Talia's safety and wellbeing, but when Jaren turned his attacks on him instead, Fuegoleon began quickly losing his patience.

Jaren was a skilled mage in water magik, making him a good match against his fire, but his fear was making him unpredictable. Fuegoleon tried to minimize the damage to the immediate field of battle, but Jaren's erratic attacks were proving to be problematic. Just as he was about to deal a decisive blow, however, a gentle hand stopped him.

"Talia?"

Talia pressed into him, grasping his clothes. "Leon, please... he isn't worth it..."

Fuegoleon sighed and lowered his hand, leaving Jaren in a heap on the floor after dropping him from his Leo Palma. "He nearly killed Karrick, he could have killed you."

"I know..." Talia looked up at Fuegoleon. "but please... no more fighting... just arrest him and put him to trial, let the court decide his punishment..."

"Ha, I need to be punished?"

Fuegoleon glared at Jaren as he stood, putting on a show of false bravado. He made to reply but stopped when Talia spoke first.

"This must stop, Father..." Talia turned from Fuegoleon and looked at Jaren. "You killed Marissa... nearly killed Karrick... you could have killed me, too... you can't continue to get away with this..."

"How dare you, you filthy wretch," Jaren sneered as his control was slipping more and more. "I am your father and head of this household, you will respect me, you-"

"Enough..!" Talia shouted, glaring at him as stood next to Fuegoleon.

"Lady Talia is quite right."

Talia looked over to see that the Wizard King and a small number of royal guards had come into the manor.

"When Vice-Captain Randall came to inform Captain Fuegoleon of what had transpired, I found myself just as concerned for Lady Talia's safety and wellbeing," Julius started.

"This is a matter of the Chalcedony household," Jaren said, beginning to panic. "There's nothing for you-"

"As I said," Julius continued, raising a hand to silence Jaren, "Lady Talia is quite right. That is enough, Lord Jaren."

Fuegoleon kept a hand on Talia's shoulder, trying to provide her comfort and support. He could feel her shaking and after what she had just been through, he couldn't blame her. While Julis sent the royal guards to arrest Jaren, he looked down at her and asked if she was alright.

Talia looked up at Fuegoleon and nodded, letting him reach up and wipe away the blood on her face with a handkerchief. "I'll be OK."

"I trust in your healing ability, but I would still like to have Owen look you over."

Talia smiled and leaned into his hand. "I won't object to that."

Fuegoleon was relieved to see her offering him a genuine smile for once and returned it in kind.

Off to the side, backing away from the royal guards as they advance towards him, Jaren spotted Talia and Fuegoleon's interaction and it riled him back up. He lashed out at the guards, throwing back with his water magik before activating a spell that Talia had never seen him use before.

"Water Creation Magik: Spectral Mist!"

The foyer became filled with a thick mist and Jaren disappeared within it.

"What the hell?"

"Where did he go?!"

Talia felt her instincts go on full alert and stepped closer to Fuegoleon. "What is this?"

Fuegoleon scanned the foyer, listening for any sign of Jaren, but when he couldn't pinpoint his location he flashed his mana in hopes that it would dissipate the mist.

Julius had a moment of delight at the sight of a new spell, but even he was finding it difficult to located Jaren.

"Lord Jaren, it would be to your benefit to dispel this mist and surrender."

One of the royal guards cried out in pain and fell to the floor, blood beginning to pool beneath him.

"I will not be treated like some common criminal!"

Talia heard Jaren's voice from somewhere behind where she and Fuegleon stood. She turned around, sensing her father's mana getting closer and surging for a moment. "Leon, look out!"

Fuegoleon had heard Jaren behind him as well, but Talia had sensed his attack before he had and pushed him out of the way- barely in the knick of time. He fell to the floor and when he looked up at Talia, he saw that she had disappeared within the mist.

"Talia!"

Talia was trapped in the mist, unable to see anyone else. 'What do I do?' she kept asking herself, over and over, barely defending herself against her father's attacks as they came again and again.

"You wretched bitch, this is all your fault!" Jaren snarled at her, appearing briefly behind her.

Talia spun around and barely got a water barrier up before Jaren could grab her. "Father, this must stop!"

"Shut your mouth, whore!"

Talia was knocked onto the floor, sliding into a nearby wall and smacking her head against the marble. She winced in pain and tried to push herself upright, but the impact left her dazed.

'I have to do something..! I have to stop him..! I have to protect them..!'

Just as her vision came back into focus, Talia's grimoire started to glow and a new spell appeared to her. Talia quickly cast it, knowing that this new spell would be the deciding factor in that moment.

"Ice Creation Magik: Ring of Frostfire!"

The air in the foyer became very chilled and the mist began to sparkle and glitter as the water molecules started to freeze, but as they did so, a ring of blue fire wove its way through the mist- dissipating it entirely.

Talia pushed herself to her feet and kept her hand outstretched, concentrating on bringing the ring of blue fire inwards until it formed a cage of sorts around Jaren.

Fuegoleon stood with Julius and the others, staring with awe at Talia's spell, but he could see that it was taking a toll on her. "Quickly, secure him."

The royal guards- that hadn't been injured- hurried forward and waited for Talia is dispel the frostfire cage, quickly subduing and securing Jaren before hauling him away.

Talia made her way over to the injured and cast her Healing Mist spell, using what little strength she had left to see to their wounds.

"Lady Talia?"

Talia turned towards Marshall and offered him a smile. "It's over, we're safe now." Her vision was starting to go black, though, and she teetered. Fuegoleon caught her before she collapsed and she knew everything would be OK now.

"Take her to see Owen," Julius said. "I'll see to it that everything is resolved here."

Fuegoleon nodded and summoned his fiery lion, climbing onto its back with Talia held close. He urged the lion forward and directed it back towards the royal palace.

"Leon...?"

Fuegoleon looked down at Talia, seeing that she was in and out of consciousness. "Hush, Talia. You're safe."

"What about... Marshall and the others..?"

"The Wizard King is going to see to the affairs at the manor. Just rest for now."

"I'm so sorry... I never... meant for this... to happen..."

Fuegoleon made to reply, to tell her that it wasn't her fault, but she had already slipped into unconsciousness. "You did well, Talia."