PART FORTY-EIGHT - THE SHADOW OF MY KIN

If only Katie had her hammer.

In the end, it was Sophia who saved Misko's pitiful life. On one hand, Katie wasn't really surprised to see how Link wanted to tear the bandit apart, but seeing him out of control and knowing it was done in the duress of the catacomb, Katie had to join Sophia in calming him down.

Sophia gave Link one final push. He stumbled back, seething. "Where is it?" he shouted, lunging out again.

"What?" Misko squealed, backing away and tripping when Sophia once again shoved against Link.

Katie swooped over the bandit's head. "You really want to play dumb?" she snapped. "You better give us back that medal! It belonged to a friend!"

"I-I didn't mean to—"

"You are dead!" Link shouted, still restraint over at Sophia. "Dead man! Dead!"

"Alright, alright!" Silas said loudly, clapping his hands, blasting thunderous echoes into the hall. "Enough of this, all of you!" He glared at Link then Katie, daring them to continue.

Link got Sophia off him, but made no move towards Misko.

Silas rubbed his head and turned to Misko, the dagger Link returned to him was tied to his belt. "Now then, Misko was it? How did you come to this place?"

"I umm…" Misko glanced up at Sophia, stunned. "You're still alive…"

Sophia blinked. "Do I know you?"

This visibly relieved the bandit. "You don't remember me."

"Oh, she doesn't." All the blood in Misko drained when Simon walked up to him, eyes thinned to a hairline. "But I sure as hell do, you son of a bitch."

Misko looked like a gaping fish. "You-you—"

The bandit flinched when Simon growled, much like a Hylian than a cat. In the next few minutes, Katie learned a whole new set of words in detailed insults that her orb was flooded with repugnant green. Silas gasped.

"Think I'm still mute-mouthed, you fucking shit? Not so funny, now is it? Think to call me fuzzball and step on my tail, huh? I dare you!"

"Wait, wait," Sophia interjected, unfazed by the triage. "Do we know this person?"

"Tell her," Simon sneered, teeth bared. "Tell her who you are. Tell her what you tried to do."

Misko trembled, hugging himself. "I-I don't—"

"Tell her!"

"Do I know you?" Sophia said, and cocked her head to the side. The memory didn't come to her as she rubbed her temple. "Wait, what are we doing again? Who is this guy?"

Misko swallowed, glared down by Link and Simon. Katie did feel a twig of sympathy but it didn't help how he stole Ruto's gift. "I can explain…"

"Explain what?" the cat spat. "You think I want to hear your bullshit?"

"Let him save his breath," Link said, grinning as he cracked his knuckles. "He'll be needing it."

Silas stepped into his way. "What has gotten into all of you?" He put his hands on his hips. "That is more than enough. Can't you see he's frightened out of his mind?"

"You don't know what he did," Link said through clenched teeth, glaring at the bandit over Silas's shoulder. "Just you wait—"

"Link, control yourself." Silas turned to his sister for support but she was staring at Misko. Slowly, familiarity sparkled in her eyes.

"I…I do know you," she murmured. "But from where?"

Silas looked at Misko. "I take it you were her brown-haired companion during her…erm travels, correct? You two have set out to find the tunic."

"And then that silver prick Banard captured them." Simon shot a look Misko. "And what did you do after that, huh? You just ditched her!"

Misko, after getting over his stupor at Simon's speech, pointed at Sophia. "I couldn't take it! You can't blame me! She's the one—"

"—who saved your damn life, over and over again," Simon hissed. "Remember those wolves, the Lynels, remember how you never had any monsters near her? Huh?"

A deep, horrified gasp cracked out of Sophia. Her hand went up to her mouth. "Misko!"

Misko winced.

"Misko, that's you! Oh right, I used to be Sara to you! How could I forget? My word, what are you doing down here? How did you get here?"

Katie fumed at the bandit who suddenly looked abashed. "Just what were you up to, dragging her along? It's dangerous down here! You were going to put her through this?"

Link snorted, looking somewhat amused. "You were going to take it for yourself, weren't you, you greedy bastard?"

"You horrible person!" Katie snapped. "You were taking advantage over her?"

"Not so tough now, are you?" Simon mocked, his claws glinting out.

Silas lost any sympathy he had to the bandit as he turned to him sharply. "What do you have to say for yourself? You were leading my sister here? Are you mad?"

"Enough!" Sophia stood protectively in front of the cowering bandit. "Misko is my friend. I will not allow you to treat him like this."

A laugh choked out of Link. "That's not a friend, darling. That's a bandit."

"No, he is not. I remember some of it now. We were going to find the tunic to give it to Silas…I think."

"I know this," Silas said. "But, Sophia, how could you think of following this stranger?"

"I did it for you." She paused. "I killed Irela. I'm a murderer."

"You are not," Silas said firmly.

Misko perked up. "Wait, she isn't? But I thought—"

"Shut it," Simon hissed, the fur on his back stiff with his tail lashing behind him. "I knew what you were from the start. She should have never saved your stupid—"

"Simon, stop that," Sophia snapped. "Just leave him alone, all of you! I will not let any one of you harm him."

Katie realized just how low she'd been fluttering, as if someone had tied her to a ball of iron. With a couple of practiced breaths, she lifted up higher, shoving away that pressure. Now she finally realized just how terrified the bandit was. Upon hearing what Sophia said, the bandit broke down into a pathetic spate of tears. While it faltered Katie, it had the opposite effect on Link and Simon.

Silas, on the other hand, showed how one should handle a situation like this. He went down on Misko's level. "Why are you here?" he asked a little gently. "This is no expedition for treasures."

Misko curled up, shaking so bad that his teeth chattered. "I-I'm scared…"

"Don't be scared," Sophia said softly, sitting next to him. "I won't let anything happen to you, I promise."

His sob deepened.

"What's wrong?"

"He's been using you, that's what's wrong." Link shook his head as if she were an idiot. "How do you not see that?"

"Link's right, Sophia," Katie said, glowing crimson. "Misko stole from us when we first came to Desmera. He's a bandit."

"He is not," Sophia said stubbornly. "He would never do something like that." And she really believed it. She really was ready to stand her ground for him.

Silas narrowed his eyes. "You better tell my sister the truth," he said to Misko. "Or we will leave you here on your own, and believe me, you wouldn't want that."

Misko's bottom lip quivered. Katie hadn't noticed it before since seeing him again had reviled her, but now she saw just how disheveled he was. His shirt matted in dirt along with the coat he wore over it. His flat hair sprinkled with dirt and dried blood, his eyes were sunken into their sockets as if he hadn't slept in days.

And there was that haunted sense in them, something that wasn't there before.

Sophia sent her brother a look. "Stop it. You're frightening him."

The bandit closed his eyes and bowed his head. "They're right," he said quietly.

Sophia turned.

"They're right." He stared down at his scarred hands, expressionless. "I…I used you. I just wanted the tunic. I had no intention of handing it off to your brother. I was going to take it for myself and leave you behind."

A line of confusion drew between her eyebrows. "I…don't understand."

"I was using you," Misko said with anger this time. "What don't you understand about that? I needed you to guide me here and I needed you to protect me." Sophia still seemed flummoxed and that only enraged him. "I never cared about you, you amnesiac loony! I nearly went mad from dealing with your nonsense!"

If his words struck her, she didn't show it. She only stared at the air as if still trying to make sense of it. Then eventually, she looked down at him. "So…we…aren't friend?" It didn't seem like she really understood, only just trying to recall it.

Misko hesitated and turned away.

Katie reddened. So he wasn't willing to put any effort into apologizing? What a selfish jerk. He deserves to die a horrible, painful death.

She paused. Blast it, it was getting harder and harder to discern the influence. Sure, Misko was a criminal scum, but he was still Hylian. And now that she really thought about it, she did feel a little bad for him. How much did their group suffer because of this haunted presence of this catacomb? They pulled through it all with under the support of one another. Had Misko been on his own all this time?

"Misko," Katie said slowly. "Why are you really here?"

For a long moment, the bandit didn't speak. The light reflected over in his distant eyes as a dark shadow crossed over his face. "Banard."

"What about him?"

Misko raised his head up. "He knows you're all here. He took me with him."

"Why would he take you?"

"So he could lead him straight to us," Link said before he could answer. "Isn't that right, you shit?"

The bandit said nothing.

Link frowned. "How did you know we were here anyways?"

"I saw you blasting away gate," Misko grumbled. "You made a lot of noise."

"Uh huh, and then you decided to suddenly help Tristan?"

Indignation seized Misko, winding him up. "I had no choice! Banard was the one who found me! What was I supposed to do?" He waved his hand dismissively. "Anyways, we got separated. I don't know where he is but I hope the maggots get to him."

There was still one thing that made no sense to her. "But how did you get here?"

"I…" He paused, rubbing his head with a grimace. "I fell down some hole."

"No, how did you get here?" Katie pressed. They went through arduous challenges, deciphered clever riddles, survived mazes and fought against monsters, all of which came from the cooperation with being a team. She had been convinced that no one could have survived here on their own.

"We lifted the defense system," Silas reminded her. "It could be that anyone can get in now."

"It's not so easy," Simon said stiffly. "We went through hell just to get here." His eyes widened as he turned to the quiet bandit. "Wait a minute, you're—"

Link and Sophia stiffened when the sounds of footfalls echoed into the chamber. Sure enough, someone walked out from the left of the intersection. The dark figure soon became recognizable when he stepped into the light, a jewelry one his ear glinted silverly.

"Well, isn't this a party?" mused Banard. As he spoke, his eyes passed through each of them until they stopped at Misko, hardening. "I'll be finishing you off last, boy."

"You?" Link choked. "How the hell did you get here?"

Here they all are, going through terrible ordeals to reach to this point, whereas these two stumbled in as if late to a party.

Perhaps it wouldn't be entirely fair to say that they didn't run into any problems. Banard looked to be in the same state as Misko, enervated and frowsy. He was more vexed than usual while the bandit sat there, mute.

Sophia gasped. "I remember you! You're the one who…who…'

"Who took you captive," Simon said with a growl. The silver swordsman didn't blink at the talking cat, only frowned.

"You want something, old man?" Link asked peevishly.

"I want a nice bath with a good cup of sake." Banard sighed and took out his sword. Light slid up the smooth flat surface of the silvery blade. "But I need to take care of you all first."

Katie fluttered over Link's shoulder before he could follow Banard's lead. "Wait, Banard, you have to listen to us!"

Link laughed humorlessly. "Sprit, does he look like he's here to talk?"

"Just let me talk to him."

"I agree," Silas said, turning to his sister who had stepped over to his side. "We can't solve everything with violence."

Sophia pointed a dagger at the man with the silver earring. "That fucker took those hunters, Silas. I remember it. I saw what happened."

"Banard, Tristan isn't the same man anymore," Katie said. "He's going to destroy the town and kill everyone in it!"

"Not my business," he said without a pause.

Katie knew she should be diplomatic but that flat tone of his struck a nerve. "He's going to kill everyone, you stupid dummy!"

"He doesn't care," Link said. "He's only after something shiny."

Banard shrugged. "Nothing personal."

"People who bargain with dark power lose control over themselves," Katie said gravely. "Don't tell me you didn't feel anything pushing against you since you got here."

Banard paused.

"We have to stop Tristan. You really think you'll get a raise if you kill us? You're going down just like everyone else! That's what dark magic does—it kills everything!" Katie glowed fearfully. "Please, you have to be reasonable!"

"She's right." Silas stepped forth. "Dark magic cannot be taken lightly. The price you pay for it is your humanity. My uncle…he finally surrendered to it."

Sophia's face fell. "No, he can't. We could still save him."

"He's done of all those horrid things. Sending monsters to raid the town, kidnapping those hunters…" Silas trailed off, his shoulders slumped. Then his eyes rose fiercely. "You're doing this for money, right? Well, I'm sorry to say, but you're not getting it. Not today, or any other day because you will die in Desmera if you don't help us stop him."

"It's going to go after you too," Simon said solemnly. "That's what it does. Hops from one fool to the next. It'll always look for someone else to hurt. You think you're going to take your money and be on your merry way?"

"It's nothing but empty promises," Katie said, trying not to sound desperate. "All of it, no matter how nice it looks, or how honest it sounds, it's only trying to get—"

"Guys," Link interrupted, his eyes staring at the silver man. "He doesn't care."

Katie mistook Banard's silence as contemplation. Then she saw that he cared for Demera's people as much as a butcher cares for his animals. His eyes were of normal brown and yet they were so dark and devoid of light.

"This is where your quest ends," the mercenary said, voice neutral.

Katie couldn't believe it. Wasn't Banard Hylian himself? Does he have any idea of the chaos that will stir?

"He must be giving you a mountain of gold for this," Link said then paused. "Or…this isn't about money, is it?"

"Your reputation," Silas said, and it came out as a spat. "The Silver Company. You'd let thousands die so you could appear reliable?"

"Asshole," Sophia hissed, though Link was still frowning.

Banard chuckled coldly, his sword glinting. "Never thought I'd see the twins in pairs this time. What a surprise. That—" He paused, his eyes widening. "Where's the bandit?"

Smudged dirt was drying up from where Misko had sat. Just behind the group were the mighty doors, one of them already pushed to show a gap. Quickly they went through it, coming upon a chamber that brought Katie speechless.

The circular chamber could fit a whole castle in it. The walls were made of mighty red stone with strange patters drawn in wavy, fiery lines interrupted by support beams that marched around the space. Several pillars stood two by twos along the path, some broken, others stubbornly stood with chips bitten off.

And there it was—Dinraal. This dragon, much like the other one from the Zoras' Domain, was concealed within a thick, black, webby substance that made it look like a giant cocoon. The dragon's body was slithered around the pillars, the head resting before them.

They could see the outline of the face, the facial features, the massive jawline. Pointed horns stabbed out from the substance, curling upwards. Hanging on one of them was something shrouded in pure black mist that spilled luminously like smoke. This mist also ran up to the ceiling and at the very center of this line was a large, ominous ball.

They could hear it, something resonating within the ball—a heartbeat.

And it all connected from the thing of the horn, the very source of its power.

"The tunic," Katie breathed out. The twins were silent, speechless at the sight of their heirloom.

"Huh, it really is here," Banard said with mild interest. Then he brandished his blade and Link followed him naturally.

"Really, old man?"

"Can't let you get further than here, lad," the silver man said easily.

"There's someone here!" Sophia pointed at one of the pillars where Misko tried to hide himself.

Once he realized he was caught, he broke into a run, heading to the dragon.

Terror filled Simon. His entire fur fuzzed as if struck by lightening. "We have to stop him!" he shouted, voice shaken to the core.

A loud clash of metal rang in the air. Link gritted his teeth as him and Banard locked blades. "Go!"

The ball of darkness swirling over their heads grew bigger. Katie could just hear him. A deep, low chuckle that sent her orb chills. Dark mists crawled from the tunic and up to that ball, feeding it. Misko stopped at the dragon's head and started climbing it.

"No, you idiot!" Simon screamed. "We have to stop him! Link!"

"Link!" Katie cried, watching Banard sent him back with a kick.

With a growl, Link recovered and raised his sword up in time to meet Banard's silvery one. "I'm a little busy! Go and stop him. I'll catch up!"

The twins were already on the move and Katie hurried to join them as fast as her wings could carry. Goddess help her, the air felt like water. She could've moved much quicker and reached Misko but her energy was sapping out of her so rapidly that she started to fall.

Silas saw her in time and picked her up. Sophia kept running alongside Simon who was yelling out to Misko.

"No," Silas whispered. "No, this can't be happening."

"They can still stop him," Katie insisted, turning to see Link struggling against Banard.

She looked back at Misko, alarmed by his speed. What in Hylia was he doing? He was going to kill everyone!

Then it came to her: the voice. Louis. He got to him.

How else would Misko have survived this long?

Misko was always a runner.

The tunic is all yours.

Normally, he'd have run a distance like this without getting winded. Now his breath wheezed out and still he needed to climb on the side of the dragon's face. It didn't reek. There was no smell to it. The webby substance was sticky, helping him keep his grip. All the while the clement voice kept encouraging him, offering the tunic.

All yours. You deserve it the most.

Misko clenched his teeth as he heaved himself up, reaching to the long nose of the dragon. Balancing himself, he didn't stop to catch his breath and walked up along the bridge, the webby material sticking to his boots, stretching before snapping off. He wadded through it, pulling his legs one after the other, breath rasping in his dry throat. Then he had to start climbing once more, reaching between the eyes.

"Stop!" someone screamed.

The twins were heading to him. Sophia was there, Sophia who had once been Sara, his guide, protector, and maybe in another world, could've been his friend. She didn't look like she knew him anymore, or wanted to anyways, since she brought out a sharp shurkin.

And he'd been travelling with her long enough to know how true her aim was.

But then something sprouted from the ground. A shadowy figure emerged before her, taking her back. The red eyes were much larger, long and vicious as it seethed at it. More of them came and surrounded Silas.

Sophia had to turn back for him, ignoring Simon who shouted that it was a trap.

Msiko couldn't move. Dread twisted his stomach with this insuperable fear rising in him.

Never mind them, a deep man spoke. Go. Now.

For some reason, Misko started to cry. Tears spilled out of his eyes. This misery, this depression, it threatened to crush him to dust. "Th-they—"

I have kept you warm and safe in that room, have I not? And when the path had been paved for you, I have guided you here. No monsters preyed on you, no shadows approached you because of me. The man's voice hardened to bitter ice. Now go.

Misko took a deep breath, wiping his tears before making his climb. This was what he came here for. There was no way this medal he carried with him would be enough. No, he wanted treasure, the treasure hidden somewhere in Death Mountain.

All wealth will belong to you, beyond your wild imagination, the voice whispered.

"No, you fucking idiot! Stop it!" Simon screamed from the top of his lungs.

From up here, Misko could see the chaos. The shadows were everywhere, moving in soundless blurs. They had the twins surrounded. By the entrance, Link clashed into Banard's blade with strenuous effort.

Sweat dripped down Misko's face as he reached to the curved horn. A shock of the chill ran into his bones like the night of winter, fogging his breath.

"You can't do this!" Simon cried. "Stop!"

The ball directly over his head moved as if something inside of it struggled to break free.

Misko stared at that black smoke streaming from the tip of the horn, beckoning him. The voice was just so canorous within it, he couldn't help but listen. The fabric's touch should've frozen his hand solid, yet he still managed to remove it from its place.

The ball above exploded silently, the shadows in the chamber snuffed out from life. Sheer terror consumed Misko and he ended up falling, tumbling down the back of the dragon and rolled at the ground.

A single, mighty voice boomed vociferously through the room like a canon, bellowing a single word that stabbed Misko's ears, drumming his heart.

FREEDOM!

Grey never thought his life had any value to it until he found himself becoming captain of the Haidrund garrison. He thought of those years often, which had made him who he was today.

Like that amusing day when the twins were getting ready to depart for the town, and Lawrence was trying to have a private conversation with Grey. The door swung open so brusquely that the two men jumped. Grey's hand even swayed to his pommel out of habit.

"Father, have you seen my shurkins?" Sophia asked, two strands of hair framed her face while the ponytail hid the rest. She looked stunning with a face grown into mature, tall and skin tanned.

She brightened up at the sight of Grey. "Captain! Wait, have we already greeted?"

Grey smiled. "We have." He really did love seeing her again. A look of her could chase away the storm.

Lawrence may have gone softer over the years, but he still loathed being interrupted through meetings. "Ask Sally, my dear."

"I did ask Sally and she says to bother you," Sophia said swiftly, and then paused. "Oh, I mean to ask you. Do you know where they are?"

"No, I haven't." Lawrence waited until she left. "Alright, now—"

The door opened to show the other twin. Silas wore the same blue vest just as his father, growing more and more like him. A mini version in fact. "Father, I need—" He stopped, eyes wide. "Captain! I didn't know you were here."

"Viktor told me you were busy," Grey said, knowing that it was, of course, a lie but you can't very well make a scene out of it. It had only been half a year since the boy came back, and just look at him. Grey still couldn't believe that the once ritzy boy grew into a fine young man.

Lawrence rubbed the bridge of his nose, piqued. "I'm in the middle of an important meeting."

"Not that important, sir," Grey said politely, earing a look.

Papers fluttered precariously in Silas's fumbling arms, one fanning at the front of his face as he hastened to his father's side. "I just need you to sign a few of these and I'll leave you alone."

Lawrence frowned. "Sign what? I already gave you permission."

"You're the Lord." Silas dumped his papers right over Grey's report. "This contract needs to be certified."

"Certified?" Lawrence looked at the papers and whatever they are were enough to make him gasp. "You convinced the Goodsmen to market here?"

"Goodsmen?" Grey asked, chewing on the name. Sounded familiar.

Silas waved his hand without looking up. "A highly renown merchant company specializing in commodity trades. The business initially belonged to a noble house but financial disasters led them to sell it off to a commoner who then expanded the company all around the world," he said in one breath, exult. "They heard that their competitors, the Northern Wealth, is selling here, so you could say that they want to place their branch here as well."

Lawrence nodded slowly. "Because Desmera is a quiet town with easily swayed residence. Getting two companies here by using their rivalry…" He may not show it outright but Grey knew the man was impressed. He shuffled through the papers and looked as if he swallowed a rock. The expression on him was incredible. "You got the Tailor Brothers on board?"

Silas flushed, smiling proudly. "It's all thanks to His Grace's words, but even then those two were the hardest to convince." His chest puffed up a little. "But no businessman worth his purse could resist an offer to rent a fine shop at the town square."

The manor's Lord furrowed his eyebrows. "It says here you plan to give merchants wagons and sell swords?"

"The sell swords are still curtsey and the wagons are a way to financialize the relationship," Silas explained, his voice quickening with exuberance. "If they see how well we respect merchants, then smaller merchants would be encouraged to come."

"And how much are you investing in all of this?" Lawrence looked up at him with a raised eyebrow.

Silas looked at Grey sheepishly before his father, scratching his head. "Well…erm…twenty thousand…"

Grey tried to hide his shock but it ended up getting croaked out of him. That was enough to pay his salary for the next five years.

"Twenty thousand," his father echoed slowly.

Silas's ardor faltered. "Is it too much? Should I lower the price a little?"

Lawrence rubbed his eyes with a long sigh. "Just tell me where to sign."

"If I'm going too far with this—"

"Son, tell me where to sign."

Silas perked up a little and pointed it out. "Here and here…no, not there, here…"

"Will you let me sign?" Lawrence snapped, finally getting some space. He didn't look up when he said, "I'm glad you find this amusing, Captain."

Grey couldn't wipe his grin off. "Hey, he's bringing people in. You basically have to pay merchants to do business here."

"That's kind of what we're doing."

"Really, I could lower the price," Silas insisted but his father signed it all in the end, and waved him in dismiss.

"You better know what you're doing, young man."

Silas flushed but he did know that he should take his papers and take his leave with it. "Nice to see you, Captain."

Grey waved and watched him scurry off, papers fluttering in his arms. "He's a smart one."

"But he relies on me too much," Lawrence said with some reproach. "He has to find confidence in himself. I thought meeting the king would do something about that." He reached for Grey's report but cursed under his breath when it was lost in the sea of papers. No one could dare to tell Lawrence, but really the man can be intimidating and can't keep his own study neat at the same time. "And they want me to come to the town with them, but they interrupt me."

Lawrence stopped when Sophia barged in the same manner as before. "No, we didn't see your shurkins," he said when she opened her mouth.

She flushed. "Did I already—"

"Yes, dear. Now will you let us finish?"

"But where could they be? Silas wants to leave soon. Wait, you are coming right?"

Lawrence sighed, exasperated. "I will if I can get two words with the captain."

"But have you seen my shurkins?"

The years showed just how well patient Lawrence became, enough for him to watch grass grow. But even then he was growing tired. "Sophia, I can't possibly know where you leave your weapons. Now will you please leave?"

She apologized and closed the door behind her.

Lawrence sighed. "Finally. Now—" He stopped, narrowing his eyes when his son timidly invited himself back in with a nervous smile.

"Yeah, I might've forgotten a paper," Silas said lightly and searched the messy desk like a bunny picking for food. "Sorry for the intrusion."

The moment he left, Lawrence turned to Grey. "Lock the door."

"But—"

"Lock it." Lawrence rubbed his face. "Here I thought having them grown up would make my work a little easier."

Grey didn't understand why he insisted for this meeting. "My report is the same as usual, my Lord. There isn't much doing on these days."

"There will be soon, with how much paper I just had to sign. I need to know the details about our defenses. We need more patrols through the night now with Silas bringing in people, which I don't know how he did it but he did. I also need—"

The doorknob twisted but the door stayed where it is. However, that didn't dissuade the person on the other side. Sophia pushed on it so hard that the lock exploded out from the wooden frame, bouncing off the edge of Lawrence's desk.

"Sophia!" Lawrence snapped.

She blinked. "Your door was stuck, sir."

"It was not stuck. It was locked!"

She looked at the door where a small bar of metal stuck out. Splinters and dust flaked over from the doorframe. The young noblewoman just stared at it, as if wondering what it meant. "I—did I do something wrong?"

Lawrence's anger waved. "No, just…I'll have someone look into it. Let's go, Captain."

Grey looked at him. "Where—"

"To the town. We're not going to get anything done like this."

Sophia looked up at him. "You're coming with us?"

"Yes, dear," Lawrence said patiently.

They met up with Viktor who informed them that Silas waited at the foyer. His eyes passed over the captain, a way to say that he didn't consider Grey worth his attention. As they descended down the stairs, Grey noticed Sophia's belt full.

"Found those shurkins?"

"Hmm? Oh yes, thanks to some people." She sent a rueful look at the butler, who walked by their side breezily.

Silas was practically dancing with excitement. "Come one, come on, the merchants are in town. We have to see how everything is going."

"Will you calm down?" Lawrence said, but Grey knew he wasn't as irritated as he let on. "Is the carriage ready?"

"Almost."

Sophia frowned at this. "Why a carriage? Why not walk?"

That did sound like a good idea. "The weather's fine," Grey said.

"I'd rather not," Lawrence said with a grimace, and his son agreed, looking uneasy.

"Walking will be good for your health," Sophia said to her father, eyes narrowed. "You've been at your desk all day. We're walking. Let's go."

Silas looked like he wanted to protest but Sophia silenced him by pulling his cheek. "Don't be lazy. You've been riding back and fro the carriage that you've exhausted the horses."

"But I don't want to walk!" Silas complained. "The heat will fry me."

"We'll stick to the shade. Fresh air is good for the mind."

Grey chuckled. Seems like the twins were getting along fine. The weald grew thicker around spring, making it a little difficult to see where the rutted road was. Years of living here, of walking up and down this mountain led him to memorize every slope with every cleft.

The twins walked up ahead, leaving the older men behind. Seeing them smiling winsomely reminded him of those two tiny children he often saw frolicking in the gardens.

And there was pride him. Look at them. All grown up. It happened so quickly, didn't it? It saddened him but in a way, he was glad. You never know how these turn out to be, whether you're doing the right thing with them or not. You just do your best and hope it turns out right.

"They've turned out fine, didn't they?" Grey said, thinking of the days when Lawrence complained about marriages, about snot rodents he called children.

"I don't deserve them."

Grey looked to see Lawrence's pensive eyes. In a way, Grey understood him.

"None of us do," Grey told him. "And that's all right."

And now they're all dead. Lawrence was left with a hole in his forehead, his twins were probably dead with him. And there was only one Haidrund left that went mad.

Grey spotted him. Tristan stood at the center of the town square but people paid no feed to him. The sky painted pitch black, plunging the town into darkness, causing screams of panic and trepidation.

The captain had no time to think about Tristan since shadows emerged from the ground all at once, several dozens of them. Their speared hands were longer than before with claws for feet. The first victim was the old foolish man who rebelled earlier. Three shadows went at him and rendered him into ribbons before a woman nearby had the chance to scream.

Now she screamed. Soon, everyone was. A whole mess of people ran in different directions. The shadows were shouting angrily, a thousand voices clashing in the air.

Grey knew they couldn't leave. The darkness reached the gates of Desmera, and he saw it arching up towards the sky.

It was a dome. They were in a dome. They were trapped.

Oh…oh merciful Goddess…

Now he looked at Tristan who stood at the exact same place where the nightmares revolved around. The shadows stopped their terrorizing and a few villagers froze, taking notice of the lone man in the square.

Grey couldn't move. Every muscle in him gone numb. We're too late.

Tristan screamed from the very top of his lungs. Darkness tangled through him in veins. He collapsed to the ground and black mists roared beneath him like flames, swallowing him whole. His scream was raised to its pitch, and Grey was washed by a fierce, frigid coldness. Then it stopped. The mist was gone. The man rose to his feet.

Only this time, it wasn't Tristan but someone very familiar to them all. His skin was blacker than coal, shoulders broad, arms mountain of muscles. The man stood very large, larger than any man alive. He wore Tristan's face but had eyes of deep blood red, glowing powerfully. A long cape whipped behind him. His dark. quilted tunic was cut of sleeves to show his form, and they could see a mighty sword hung at his belt.

The man chuckled darkly, grinning with brilliant white teeth; this creature came from beyond the world. Black mists twisted from the ground beneath him, and around his fists. Something sparkled over his head, a jewelry with pointed tips—a golden crown.

The King of Shadows has awakened.