Reviews:

Tero7323: Yeah, Doldrey always seemed to have a lot of history behind it in the manga and it was a place I had been wanting to revisit for some time now. That's probably not where the Bakiraka are actually holed up, but it would be nice to see it again at a later point, so I'm glad you liked it.

OBSERVER01: Thanks! I was worried I didn't have enough reunion vibes during that scene, but some focus this chapter will have them all properly back together before beginning the next part of the journey. Skull Knight can always be counted on to offer words of caution and leave before they can be explained.

FuryJoe: Thank you!

Necrogod: Not a problem. Hope you enjoy this one too.

Guest: I'd say his timing is a little bit of both. He always has something important to say, but never really cares about when it has to be said.

erica. phoenix16: Yeah, not a problem! I hope the story continues to excite as the end draws near.

Greer123: Oh, yeah. Even though he wasn't a main character per se, I wanted to include that scene since he still had an impact on how the story went and to show that even though he made plenty of mistakes, he was still respected.

Disclaimer- Harry Potter is owned by J.K. Rowling and Berserk is owned by Kentaro Miura. I own nothing.

It took roughly three and a half hours to properly explain everything about their adventure to Rickert and Erica - and that was including showing them the full events with the pensieve. It must have been even longer for them to process since the time spent looking into the basin was far greater than time passing outside of it like Harry, Schierke, and Farnese knew from experience.

Rickert had dozens of questions to be sure, ranging from "why didn't you ever mention you came from some other world?" or, "just how advance are people from where you came from?" all sorts of information a mind like his would want to know about.

Erica, on the other hand, seemed to have a more simplistic mindset. Her standard question usually consisted of, "there's a school for magic? What kind of spells can you do? Can you fly? Can you turn into an animal? Can I learn magic too?"

Looks like we might be having a new student soon, Harry mentally conveyed to Schierke after Erica had finished with her barrage of questions.

'She'll have to wait then,' the green-haired witch replied back. 'If we ever start up a school of our own, she can be the first to enroll though.'

"One question at a time," Guts had to quiet the two of them down. "My ears are still ringing and you're not helping with how fast you're talking."

Rickert's expression adopted a more understanding one. "Oh, right, sorry." He sheepishly rubbed the back of his head. "Erica."

The young maid simply pouted. "Yeah. Sorry. Guess I just got a little excited."

Yeah, that was fair enough. What else could they expect from a little kid who was always trying to look on the bright side of things?

"That's okay, Erica," Harry told the young girl. "But as you just witnessed - yes, there is a school of magic out there. I don't know all about it either, but I know some of the fields like transfiguration, charms, runes, potions, stuff like that."

Erica nodded, understanding his response but still curious for more. "And he's from the magic school?" she pointed a dainty finger over in Sirius' direction. The long-haired wizard barely flinched at having the attention put on him. Given his mischevious antics, he was probably used to people suddenly pointing at him.

"Yeah. He uh, came back with us to try and help out. I'm sure he'd be better able to answer some of your questions about Hogwarts."

Erica giggled at the name and Sirius sent a somewhat proud glance in his direction. Perhaps pride in being able to pass a curious kid along to avoid answering questions himself.

"Okay! But, Harry," it seemed she wasn't quite done with him just yet, "did you know we were going to have a lot to ask you? Is that why you brought this bowl thing?"

"Anyone would have lots of questions, Erica," Harry told her. "I figured it would help fill in most of the gaps of when we were last together and up until now. It worked with Casca so, might as well put it to how it was supposed to be used. And... just so I could remember as well." Once again, Harry had excluded the memory of that day, the vial still tuckered away safely in his bag. Rickert could probably make sense of it even if he was thoroughly repulsed, but there was no way he'd ever let Erica see that.

Erica tilted her head. "But... you're not forgetful. What do you need to remember?"

"Erica," Rickert sternly interjected. "That's a pretty personal question. You shouldn't go and bring up and unpleasant feelings when we've only just regrouped."

The young girl frowned but held a trace of regret on her face. "Right. Sorry, Harry."

"That's okay," Harry said. "Not everything I need to remember has to be bad, you know. I guess I would just want to remember some of the good times, too." He offered up a light smile for the girl. "Does that sound like a good answer?"

"Uh-huh!" she nodded. "I do have one more question though."

"You can't keep the pensieve," Harry told her seeing her eyes go down to the basin.

Erica looked flabbergasted. "Did you read my mind?"

"I didn't have to."

She cutely pouted. "That's no fun."

"What about you two?" Guts then asked. "What sort of trouble have you been getting in while we were away?"

At that, Rickert looked a bit sheepish. "Well, nothing as crazy as traversing a dreamscape, going to a world full of magic, or even fighting a giant sea monster."

"You're just being modest, brother," Erica pulled at his arm. "What about all those things that you made? Or what about traveling around looking for a safe place to stay? Or what about escaping the city and fighting off a cloaked shadow?"

That was more than enough to catch Isidro's interest. "Yeah! What about all that? What kind of things did you make? Anything that explodes?"

Rickert tried tuning him out. "It did get out of hand for sure. It would probably just seem a minor inconvenience to you all though."

"You still survived it though," Casca pointed out to the smith. "We've been away far too long, why not just humor us, please?"

Rickert knew from past experience there was no refusing her when she wanted to know so he caved in. "Alright. You win. If you found the note back at the forge, you can already fill in some of the blanks for yourself. It just got too risky living out there when it seemed we would be in danger every day. So, we just packed what we needed and got out of there."

"Mainly his inventions," Erica popped in. Rickert gave a bashful nod.

"Been tinkering a lot then?" Guts inquired.

"A fair amount, but that's not really important right now. We met up with a few survivors and I offered my craftsmanship to them in exchange for a ride in their wagon. We were going to... Falconia," he observed their faces before continuing. "We were saved just before getting to the city. This hunter, he turned into some sort of man-wolf hybrid." An apostle. "But there were other knights there too, they all seemed human though."

"And were they freaking out that this hunter turned into some sort of hairy beast?" Sirius asked more for himself than anything.

"There were some who looked a little apprehensive, but aside from a few looks, they seemed completely at ease around him. That actually describes the entire populace of Falconia pretty accurately though. I know and they know that there are different non-humans living in the city, yet nobody really complains if their the ones keeping them safe. Anyway, we found a place to stay at an inn and I took an apprenticeship with a local blacksmith. One day while I was working there, a knight stopped by saying that... Griffith wanted to meet with me." He paused again to observe all of them, mainly the three other Hawks.

"And what did he want?" Guts asked. His voice was even, but it wasn't hard to tell it seemed like it was being balanced on the edge of a knife.

"...Just to talk," Rickert answered. "He invited me to the palace. He seemed like he wanted to extend an offer to join up with him again. Needless to say, I refused."

Erica nodded. "And didn't you hit him, too?"

"Well, uh..."

"You hit him?" Casca asked.

"...I slapped him. Yeah."

There seemed to be a collective silence upon hearing Rickert's answer. He was by no means weak, but he was nowhere near the level of some of the others when it came to encountering dangerous beings. And given his former admiration of the Hawks leader, it was surprising he would take such an extreme measure just to say no.

"Hn." Guts made the noise as if he was trying to hide back a laugh or even a smirk at the mental image of someone actually laying their hand on Neo-Griffith's flawless skin.

"You think its funny?" Rickert asked, not missing the reaction.

"No," Harry answered for the swordsman. "It sounds pretty awesome is all."

"Awesome isn't the word I would use," Casca advised.

"I would!" Isidro countered. "This is the guy we're trying to take down and here we find out he just got the back of someone's hand. Sounds pretty awesome to me! What was it like? Did he like bleed shadows or something when you hit him?"

"I didn't even break the skin," Rickert looked a bit bashful. Maybe he wished he could have done more.

"Still, a worthy feat for one not even practiced in the ancient form of elf dimension style," Puck gave a nod of approval.

Ivalera rolled her eyes. "Boys."

"You seem to be missing the point," Casca spoke up again. "He didn't take that lying down, did he? That's why you had to leave the city, right?"

Rickert's previous bashful expression hardened. "He seemed... he seemed to accept my answer actually. It didn't really come as any big surprise. If anything, I felt he was only extending that invitation to me out of past courtesy, like it was something he thought he would do but never believed it would go anywhere. And... you're right. Because of what I did, I ended up putting a target on myself and had to get out of there."

"He put a price on your head," Serpico concluded.

"how despicable!" Sir Azan grumbled from inside his helm. "There is no honor in an assassination. A proper duel would have been far more practical."

Harry could agree to that, but Sir Azan should really keep his opinion of assassins to himself considering the clan that took them in was based in the very same craft. And Harry doubted anyone from the Bakiraka would think twice about slipping something into his next drink if they heard him insulting them.

"There was a contract out for me, but I don't think it was Griffith," Rickert went on.

"Who was it then?" Guts then asked.

"It would have to be Sir Locus, the Moonlight Knight." Rickert had a face of concentration. "He came across as being... devout, to say the least."

"Moonlight Knight?" Sirius repeated. "With a name like that he's probably all show if he's getting someone else to do his dirty work."

Serpico shook his head. "I'm afraid not. Sir Locus is renowned as being the best lance in a century. He declared for neither Midland or Chuder during the war, but it seems he has found his calling at last."

"Sir Locus?" Magnifico asked, surprised.

"You know him?" Harry asked.

"I know of him," the elder Vandimion sibling replied. "My father held a tourney once for my brother's birthday once. Sir Locus was one of the jousters. He unseated every competitor and took the prize of five thousand gold. Don't you remember that, Farnese?"

"If it was for a birthday that wasn't mine, I probably wasn't in attendance," she admitted sounding a bit ashamed of her past actions. "I heard plenty about it after, though."

"I never would have pegged him for being an apostle," Serpico contemplated. "Anyone who met him talked about how he was a bit elusive but always remained formal. Bit of a step above what we're used to dealing with."

"Anyway," Rickert spoke again, "he sent another... apostle after us - at least, I think it was. I can't think of how else to describe him, but he wasn't human. Turns out he used to be a Bakiraka himself. Silat called him Rakshas."

"And what did this one turn into?" Sirius asked. It couldn't hurt to know what some of the apostles were capable of.

"He was just covered in this cloak," Rickert said. "He could almost blend into shadows and move without making a noise. He was pretty vulnerable to fire though."

"And then there was the bug girl!" Erica interjected.

"Bug girl?" Schierke inquired.

"Uh-huh! As we were escaping, this bug girl flew after us. She looked like a kid a bit older than me. She had green skin and wings and big bug-eyes."

Erica's description felt like a cold slap across the face for Harry. Rosine, he recalled the name of the disturbed girl from the Misty Valley. He had not been doing her any sort of kindness when he had sparred her from being executed by Guts, but it did not mean he did not want her to suffer for what she had done. It had all been about letting her know that her life was over even if she got to live, a sort of justice almost for all the lives she had ruined for her selfishness and for the hell Guts and Casca had to endure as well. But... he would be lying to himself if he didn't secretly wish for a sliver of gratitude from the girl apostle. She had apparently come from a home situation that had been similar to what he had had with Vernon Dursley in that they were both viewed as unwanted in the house. It was selfish of him, but if someone like Rosine could have changed, he would have considered it his accomplishment.

Harry almost didn't want to look over at Guts to see what he thought of that information. Harry owed a lot of what he knew how to survive based on Guts, but the whole Misty Valley situation was the one time he felt they truly disagreed on how something should be handled.

Puck, who had been present as well, seemed to sense Harry's distress. "Well, bugs come by the dozens! A whole bunch of apostles probably look that way."

"I thought she was going to impale me with her stinger," Rickert continued on. "She had the speed to outpace us, but she pulled away. I don't know why, but I'm not about to start regretting it."

Now that actually came as a genuine surprise. Had Rosine actually done it because she had believed she had changed or was it just something else? Chancing a look over at Guts, Harry saw that the swordsman had a slight shadow handing over his brow. Perhaps he was thinking along the same line as Harry. Killing her then would have been an easy option, but if it meant that Rickert and Erica were able to live, Harry imagined that there was a begrudging sort of gratitude, the kind that would go completely unspoken for as long as he lived.

"And you've been out here ever since, yeah?" Harry asked, finishing the story Rickert had been retelling.

"Pretty much." Rickert ran a hand through his blonde locks. "Like I said, extreme, but not nearly as dangerous as what all of you have been through."

"Your modesty can honestly get annoying at times," Casca lightly scolded with hints of a smirk.

"Eh?" Rickert tilted his head.

"She's right," Harry agreed with the Hawks commander. "You slapped the most powerful man in this world and flat-out rejected him in front of his supporters. That's one way to show him he isn't as all-powerful as he likes to believe." Not to mention one of the only ways to get a victory over the one who pretended to be perfect.

"Seriously, don't sell yourself short," Guts chimed in as well. "I'll be wanting to take a look at what you've been making in your downtime."

"Ye-yeah, of course!" Rickert turned a light shade of red.

"Also," Guts continued, "the city, Falconia, what else can you tell us about it?"

"Huh? You mean like what kind of people live there, how big is it, how many-?"

"All of it," Guts simplified before Rickert could list off more. "Every little detail, no matter how small. From how many people and soldiers to the cracks in the streets."

Rickert was thinking it over when his face adopted a look of surprise. "Wait, Guts, you're... planning on going there?"

Guts let the silence speak for itself.

The blacksmith's attention was now darting between Harry and Casca. "The both of you too?"

"Us too," Sirius gave a closed-eyed smile accompanied by a casual wave as he referred to the rest of them.

Whatever words Rickert wanted to say, they seemed unable to come out as intended. By the end of his gaping, he seemed to have settled on just one. "Why?"

"Rickert-," Harry began, trying to explain things to his friend, but Rickert wasn't finished yet.

"No, I know why. I've felt something similar myself, but just... why would you go there just to get at him? If you really want to get at him for all he did, going there is a pretty good way of ending up dead. Not to say that you all aren't strong," he glanced at Guts. "But even someone like me can understand that it's suicide."

"And you'd be right." Surprisingly, it was Guts who agreed.

"Huh?" Even Rickert seemed surprised to hear that come out of Guts. "Then, why would you-,"

"To screw him over," Guts said, sounding much like how he always did. "Think back, what's the one thing Griffith always wanted, the one thing that keeps him going even now?"

Rickert's answer was a quick one. "To have his own kingdom one day. To be king."

"And has he gotten that yet?" Guts asked the true question.

"He has it all in everything but official name. He just has to..." realization seemed to draw upon the young blacksmith as he realized why they had been asking. "You're talking about abducting the Queen?"

"Or it would be more like saving an unaware victim," Sirius put a spin on the perspective that earned a few looks. "Well it is true, isn't it?" And it was. After the wedding, Charlotte would be used as a sacrifice to fully merge all layers together as one.

"True or not, do you have any idea how crazy that all sounds?!" Rickert demanded. "You can't just walk or fight your way up to the palace, break in and then take one of the most important people in the whole city."

Serpico seemed to share a similar sentiment. "Our new acquaintance does raise more than a few valid points. Perhaps hearing what you have planned so far will put some of those doubts to rest." Harry would take that as a go-ahead to start. He had talked with Sirius a bit about this, but now he would be able to hear what everyone else thought as well.

"You're right, Rickert," Harry admitted to the blacksmith. "Either one of those options would just end in one or more, or even all of us getting killed. That's why it'll be much safer if we're just allowed in as anyone else."

Puck looked especially confused. "Uh, doesn't the big bad know you by face? And what about your brands? Wouldn't he feel that you're close by?"

"Huh. You actually asked a decent question for once." Ivalera looked mildly impressed.

"He knows all of us who have a brand, but he doesn't know about everyone else," Harry admitted. "I'm willing to bet that if the two youngest children of the Vandimion family showed up with two escorts, they'd have no choice but to let them inside the city."

"You mean you want me to go into a demon-infested city?" Magnifico's cowardice came through again.

"According to Rickert, the demons are there to protect regular humans."

"That still doesn't change the fact that they're there!" Magnifico seemed unconvinced.

"It seems risky to me as well, brother," Farnese agreed with her sibling. "However, I would hear Harry out first before giving a definitive answer. Besides, if we were to go to Falconia, we'd be treated with proper lodgings and necessities."

Bribery seemed to work in her favor as the fear written on Magnifico's face seemed to waver for a moment as the thought of a warm bed and hot meals as befitting his aristocratic status filled his head. He still appeared afraid, but certainly more open to suggestion now that he thought about his living situation.

"Serpico would be with you too, and Sirius as well. No one here knows who he is or that he has magic."

"Save for my deranged cousin and any other Death Eater she's there with," Sirius reminded them of the fact that Voldemort was supposedly here as well.

"Yeah, speaking of which, Rickert, when you were in Falconia, you didn't see any people wearing robes or carrying wands, did you?" Harry asked.

"I would have remembered if I had," Rickert answered. "He's got wizards under him too?"

"He must be keeping them somewhere else away from the rest of the people," Schierke guessed. "People are still going to be skeptical of magic after hundreds of years of prosecuting people who they thought practiced it."

"Now that actually does sound like a place I saw," Rickert mentioned but looked none too happy about it. "Behind the palace, there's this giant dome. The only way to get to it is by this bridge. Sir Locus called it Pandemonium. It's a place where the city's demons can gather to... let out their aggression." Safest bet was that Voldemort and his Death Eaters were there as well if he hated non-magical people as much as he had been told about the wizard.

"All the more reason to have at least two other mages in the city as well."

"You mean to go yourself?" Schierke asked but she didn't sound too surprised.

"That does seem a bit reckless," Farnese agreed. "You were just saying how it was important that those who are relatively unknown enter. You once served under Griffith and you carry that brand. How does putting yourself in danger benefit this plan of yours?"

To answer that, Harry pulled the invisibility cloak out from his bag. "This old cloak apparently has a lot of uses to it. If I'm wearing it, the magic that's inside of it could cover up the presence of my brand as well."

"It 'could,' meaning that it might not," Casca pointed out the flaw. "It would also mean that you'd have to be wearing that the entire time. Besides, if it just masks your presence by sight, people could still hear you or even bump into you."

Sirius seemed to have a partial answer to Casca's points. "He could always put a silencing charm on his boots to cancel out any noise they would make. But just his boots. If he happens to kick a pebble or step on a loose floorboard, that's the only way someone would hear him. As for the bumping part... he'd just have to be aware of his surroundings. Or mutter confundus charms under his breath."

"Makes sense to me," Isidro seemed swayed by the logic. "I wouldn't have thought of it like that." A collective thought of, That doesn't surprise me, was shared. "But as cool as that cloak is, you really want to be wearing it for days on end? I mean, I'm all for wearing the same clothes day after day, but if you're sleeping and accidentally roll out of it, wouldn't that be a problem?"

Ivalera blinked twice. "Alright, what did him and Puck drink to make them start asking good questions?"

"I don't plan on wearing it for days," Harry countered. "The less time we spend in Falconia, the better and we don't want to arise suspicion before we're sure we're ready. So, we would just for a later date before the wedding before we actually put it into motion."

"How soon before?" Guts seemed like he already knew, he just wanted him to say it out loud.

"At least a day or so before."

"A day?!" Rickert, Schierke, and Isidro all exclaimed.

"That's insane!"

"We're pressed for time, but that is just hasty!"

"You want us to slack around and train until then?"

Harry raised his hands in protest. "Look, I know it sounds insane-,"

"It is insane," Ivalera interjected.

"-But if Farnese and the others will be entering the city under the pretense of also attending the wedding, it's safer to spend less time as needed." He hoped he was talking sense. It felt that way to him, but this wasn't a time to sound uncertain. He wasn't necessarily trying to convince himself of it. They had time, sure, but having an idea of what they ought to do was something that was needed. Looking at some of their faces, he saw he was making sense to some of them. Guts, Casca, and Rickert still looked skeptical.

"Hm," Sir Azan pondered, stroking the feather on his helm. "You have given thought to this ploy, but assuming you and the young Vandimions do get inside the palace, how do you intend to find the Queen, and for that matter, how do you intend to get her out of there? A chivalrous plan is vain if no escape or retreat is thought out first."

"Well, the Queen will probably be in the queen's chambers," Harry guessed with some confidence. As for how he would actually get her out, that was another matter entirely. It wasn't like he could just waltz in and walk out with her. He doubted the cloak could hide two people under it, especially if he had to end up dragging her along. Nothing inconspicuous about a pair of legs being dragged by some invisible force through the hall of the palace.

"I don't mean to brag, but I have more than some experience with getting out of a tight situation," Sirius got a mischevious look in his eyes.

"And what would that be?" Casca asked, curious as well.

"You all remember how we got to Diagon Alley that one day?" Sirius rhetorically asked.

"That portkey thing?" Isidro asked. "How does that... oohhh. I get it now."

"My point exactly," Sirius said. "A single touch from our portkey and they'll be back, er, well, wherever we set the return destination to being."

"And it'll be active for as long as we need it?" Guts then asked. Clearly, the idea of an untraceable escape route pleased him some and put some of his doubt to rest.

"This isn't a Ministry registered portkey, so it will have some more free range to it," Sirius elaborated. "Portkeys can be activated by a simple touch, or some can be activated by key triggers. One of the downsides is that since this is a magical means of travel, muggles won't be able to use it themselves, they will have to have a wizard with them for the use. Aside from that, it will probably only have one charge to it if it isn't set to expire at a certain time."

"So, you just turn, I don't know, her hairbrush into a portkey and whisk her away?" Isidro had tried to follow the train of thought.

"He just said it wouldn't work on people without magic," Schierke reminded him before looking at Harry with concern. "That would mean you would have to already have a portkey on hand and ready to go."

"Two portkeys," Harry stated. "One for Farnese, Serpico, Sirius, and Magnifico." If he decided to go, of course. "If we do succeed and get the Queen, it's only a matter of time before Neo-Griffith figures out what happened and roots out what happened. By then, I would have to use thought transference to let everyone else know to activate their portkey to get out of there." Reaching into his bag once more, Harry pulled out the two knight figurines he had. The wooden one that was a gift from the now-named Gaiseric child stayed in its place. "I figured these might come in handy as our portkeys."

"Those figures you've been carrying around with you?" Farnese observed the pieces of plastic in his hand.

"I'm open to any other suggestions," Harry didn't want to look or sound embarrassed. "Just the first thing I thought of is all." He didn't say anything else after that, but he silently looked over to both Guts and Casca, hoping to hear some input from them at least.

Casca noticed and spoke up. "You do realize that if you succeed in doing that, he'll come for us. And he will find us."

"You're right," Harry affirmed. "But he'd be out of Falconia. We at least have a chance of fighting him when he doesn't have the home field advantage. And... there's another reason for that as well."

"And what would that be?" Casca questioned.

Harry thought it over in his head again before saying it out loud. "Fighting him in Falconia or somewhere else, it isn't going to matter."

"Wow. Way to sound optimistic." Isidro deadpanned.

"What I mean is that he has the power of a god on his side," Harry continued. "Even with Dragonslayer and the Berserker Armor, he could just heal any injury he sustained or crush anyone with a clench of his fingers. But with power like that, he has to draw it from somewhere. Schierke, where's the one place in the astral worlds that can supply that kind of power?"

Her large eyes got even bigger at what he was implying. "You-you're actually talking about journeying to the Abyss?" she rubbed at her forehead. "Of all the crazy things you've said so far, that has to be the craziest one yet. You know every mage who tried astral projecting there never made it back, don't you?"

"I didn't forget about that detail, no," Harry sent her an understanding look. She was worried and had every right to be. What he was proposing was something that had never before been successful. "But unlike those other mages, we have something that they don't; a direct connection to a deeper layer."

"Are you talking about that huge tree?" it was Rickert who asked. He might have a very minimal idea of how magic worked, but even he could see what Harry was getting at.

"Exactly. If we astral project near or even directly next to one of the roots, we'd probably have a better chance of cutting off whatever is in the Abyss from giving them their power." Any other part of his plan so far was open to change, but this was something essential. There was no killing Neo-Griffith without it.

"There is a flaw with that as well," Serpico cautioned. "The tree is in Falconia, the very same place you'd be trying to get out of. Not to mention you would have to have some protection for your physical bodies."

"Unless you're banking on Griffith leaving the city first," Guts began to put it together. "If he discovers his bride missing, his first thought would be us and he'd launch an all-out campaign against us. Falconia would be unguarded, save for a few. Also meaning we'd be fighting a full-powered god until you do whatever it is you plan to do with your magic."

There was no denying that that did seem the safest way of ensuring traversing the astral worlds. "Yeah. That would be a part of it."

"Well, you're certainly not going to be doing it alone!" Schierke stated. "No one mage has ever done it, and I'm not about to let you just let yourself die like the others. Besides, having two mages doing the same spell is always more effective."

"What about three?" Farnese then asked.

"Lady Farnese?" Serpico looked concerned.

"I may still be learning, but even I have been taught the same method as they are discussing. If needed, I'd be willing to perform this alongside both of my teachers, so long as they would have me." That fierce look she had when Harry first saw her seemed to rekindle in her sapphire irises.

"C-come now! You must be joking!" Magnifico sputtered. "I may not know much about all this nonsense, but even I can see a folly plan. What would father say if he found out you had perished? Oh, what would mother say?!" he continued to babble on annoyingly and Harry almost wanted to stop him when he realized something; this was about the only time where Magnifico had shown any sort of sibling compassion toward Farnese.

The man who had been prepared to sell her in marriage for personal gain was now fretting over if she would die out of pure concern. Magnifico might not have even been aware of it himself. So, for the time being, Harry wouldn't say a thing about it and just let him get it out of his system.

"Magnifico!" Farnese raised her voice to get him to stop at last. "As... touching as that was, this is just something that I have to do. You know that I was always an ungrateful child, throwing tantrums, lashing out, never actually appreciating what I actually had since I believed I truly had nothing. Now, I do have something. I do have a choice to actually give where I am needed."

Her brother was effectively shut up. Never before had Farnese come out and admitted to him or anyone in the family, save for Serpico, what she had actually felt. He couldn't relate directly to what she felt, he had also taken much for granted as well, never satisfied with what he had and always wanting more. During the entire time they had spent on the boat, he had never really taken the time to see how much his younger sister had changed. The girl before him now was his sister in name only.

"Regardless, we still have an idea of what has to be done," Casca spoke up again.

"You agree with it?" Harry asked.

"I agree with parts of it, but that doesn't mean that we don't still have to hammer out some of the finer details," Casca explained. "Rickert, I know this is probably sudden for you, but would you mind arranging us to meet with Silat as soon as you could?" Yeah, they were going to need more than just a handful of people if they were going to fight an army of apostles.

"It is sudden," Rickert agreed. "I thought that we'd just all hunker down together and try and survive as is. That would have been so much easier." He looked apprehensive as he reached into his pocket to fish something out. It was the old sword and wing design from the original Hawks. He stared at it for a moment as if he were reminding himself of those days. "But when have we ever taken the easy route?" he pocketed it once more. "I'll see what I can do to have him meet with you all, just don't expect him to be completely compliant."

"No need to remind us," Isidro rolled his eyes as he thought about the assassin.

"Right, well, in the meantime, let me and Erica show you to some of the empty huts. They're made out of mud and clay so I hope a little dirt doesn't bother you." He said it as a joke but Magnifico looked like he had lost all of his money.

"Oh, what joy."

Guts did not particularly care for the assassin known as Silat. He didn't hate him by any means, but the man could benefit from a few hits on the head and not even those two goons he had nearby would be able to stop it from happening. Rickert had been true to his word and had managed to get Silat to meet with them properly so they might discuss what their next move was going to be. When Harry had begun to lay out the loose idea of a plan he had so far, the Bakiraka seemed to be having none of it.

"I know we naturally speak a different tongue, but I don't believe you're understanding me in your own," Silat crossed his slender arms. "You misunderstand why I agreed to bring you back here in the first place."

Even Rickert seemed unaware of that. "But, you said-,"

"I said I would grant your request if it was within my ability to do so," Silat lightly snapped at the smith. "I did so not out of any sense of personal attachment to you or your companions, but out of necessity."

"And here I was thinking you were starting to care about us," Harry sarcastically remarked.

"Don't misunderstand my actions as being anything less than for survival purposes," Silat elaborated.

"Won't you at least hear us out though?" Isidro lightly whined. "You fought with us that one time, you know we can handle ourselves."

"Precisely," Silat surprisingly agreed. "I know exactly how strong most of you are and that is the only reason why I agreed to our smith's request. Should the need arise or if this place is compromised, we would need your strength to defend ourselves - not to go and bring an army to our doorstep."

"And what if one of our mages said there was a way to actually beat that army and its leader?" Guts asked, dangling the verbal bait in front of Silat.

The Bakiraka did not look impressed with that question. "Suppose he does. Tell me, does he also have a way to spare the lives of all the non-warriors within this stronghold? Can he ensure that out of the three-hundred-sixty-seven people here that those who do not know how to fight will live through this war of yours?" he waited for an answer, looking pointedly at Harry. "Even fight has its casualties and my Bakiraka will not be among them."

"You mean to kick us out then?" Casca asked, her eyes beginning to narrow.

Silat eyed her armor and sword before answering. "I just said I would not have any Bakiraka blood spilled. If I were to even attempt that, you would fight back and most likely eradicate my forces. Then there would be no one around to keep the remaining members safe. What good would that do in the long run?"

"You have people here who aren't Bakiraka," Guts recalled the western people he had seen. "Some of them are knights or at least trained. Do you speak for them as well?"

"They have their own voices, but I'm willing to bet that their answer would be very similar," Silat scrutinized. "If for nothing else, they would accompany you just to sell you out to the White Hawk in hopes of trading their current living arrangement for a better one."

Guts knew that to be true as well. People would put themselves first, it had always been that way. It wasn't exactly their fault, this was just the reality that they lived in, and it was one he could understand more than anyone else.

"You do realize everyone outside of Falconia could and probably will die if we don't beat him?" Harry questioned the assassin.

"Or only those who stand in his way," Silat was not swayed. "If you truly seek my help, allow me to give some decent advice; learn to live with what you have and survive with what you need."

"Did you follow your own advice when you were constantly trying to get in different countries good graces?" Harry challenged the point.

Silat's two goons seemed insulted with the remark and flexed their finger dangerously. In turn, Guts made sure to move his cloak just enough for them to see the sharpened steel of Dragonslayer. The result was to be expected.

If Silat shared the same sentiment, he did well to hide it. "I don't seem to recall you having this much audacity when we last met," Silat examined him. "It is to be admired... but not to be confused for respect."

"So you're not going to help us at all?" Casca questioned.

"Giving you a place of shelter is far from what I would consider not helping," Silat argued. He spared a glance at both of his bodyguards who stood statue still. "The two of you may leave for a moment."

"Young Master," one began, but Silat was having none of it.

"Do it."

Bowing their heads, the two stalked out of Silat's hut, discreetly eyeing his guests to make sure they would not cause any problems. Guts figured they were just waiting outside the door or on top of the roof, but they still wouldn't be able to hear what they were talking about.

Silat lowered his cowl so his full face was exposed. "Between all of you and myself, I have very little love for that accursed city. Does that mean I would risk my life and the life of my fellow Bakiraka? Absolutely not. If the choice was your lives or the lives of my own, we all know which choice I would make."

"That's pretty cold," Puck slumped on Isidro's shoulder.

"That's called be a petty bastard," Isidro agreed with the elf which earned him a sharp glare from both Casca and Silat while Sirius suppressed a chuckle.

"But to paraphrase what I said earlier, life is unfair," Silat still eyed the mage, swordsman, and elf. "What we want is often inconsequential." He saw the looks on their faces and quickly clarified. "That does not mean that you have the aid of the Bakiraka."

"Mind explaining what it does mean?" Guts pushed. "And just say what you mean this time. I'm getting pretty tired of your constant dancing around like a street performer."

He saw a visible twitch above Silat's brow, but the Bakiraka bit back whatever retort he had saved up. "What I mean is that as foolhardy as this 'plan' of yours is, it is not without its benefits."

"Mister Silat, that seems a complete opposite of what you were just saying," Rickert added in, clearly surprised by his sudden change of heart.

"Words are often one thing, actions are another," Silat dismissed his surprise. "It is true I would rather sit back and let both sides deal with it themselves, but as young Harry so adamantly pointed out, I have a tendency to change on what is needed for my people."

"Meaning that you would want something from us in return?" Schierke asked, raising a brow.

"Perceptive, and yes, you would be correct." Silat's gaze seemed to lessen in hostility. "Time has passed, but still, the Bakiraka remain as outcasts. This 'plan' of yours, it involves taking down the current power and abducting the Queen, yes?"

"Loosely, yeah," Harry cautiously answered.

"You want to marry the Queen or something?" Guts followed up.

Silat narrowed his gaze at the both of them. "Western women are annoying. And have you given any thought as to what would happen to this country - no, this continent, if you do succeed on your quest? Have you given any thought at all as to how the world would change after the people see their to-be king killed? Who is left to take control? Who secures the people's safety after? Lith is an isolated island that has most likely already been ravaged by monsters. The Uterine Sea isles do not have the resources to sustain people for prolonged periods of time. As it stands, there is only one remaining monarch alive with a claim to a throne."

"You want the Queen's pardon," Casca concluded. "If we win, you'd be openly welcomed for the first time."

"Indeed, but that all depends on your 'plan' now, doesn't it?" Silat rhetorically asked. "And I guarantee you that the only way you would see any Bakiraka fighting on your side would be if we have complete assurance that you have found a way to defeat that army and leader. Until then," he pulled his cowl back up, "I suggest you work out some of the finer details."

He opened the door to the hut. "Now, if you excuse me, I'm betting my bodyguards are itching to join me at my side once more."

Taking that as an invitation to leave, they allowed the Bakiraka man time alone to himself once again.

"I stand by what I said the other day," Sirius began once they were a safe distance from the hut, "he would fit right in at Slytherin."

"Well, it isn't entirely his fault, is it?" Farnese asked him. "I mean, as unpleasant as he is, he is just trying to make sure none of his people die in vain for a war that isn't theirs. Surely there's honor in that."

"There is nothing wrong with it," Guts agreed. "But as he said, life is pretty unfair. The people here might not want to be a part of this fight or even this world - but they are. Running and hiding will only get them so far for so long." And it was something that Silat knew perfectly well. That had to be the absolute only reason why he was even considering going along and that was only until after most of the work had been done.

"A lot of people probably feel the same way," Rickert said to him to try and add consultation. "Some of Erica's friends, they talk about things like how long they're going to be here and when they'll be on the move again. The idea of actually being able to have a place to permanently settle down is a pretty big deal around here."

"So that draws our potential ally list up to about one," Harry muttered. "He mentioned something about how there are over three-hundred people living here. In the chance that we do actually get his support, how many of them are actually able and willing to fight?"

Rickert pondered the numbers. "For all the able bodies that are old enough, maybe half of that, maybe even two-hundred if everyone is willing."

Guts knew that that still wouldn't be enough in terms of an all-out field battle. A few apostles could lay waste to those numbers in just a few minutes. And that was banking on the idea that they all wouldn't just flee at the mere sight of what they were up against. Silat's words from before rang true in his head. Even he could admit when Silat was right.

"Well, we've been doing just fine with who we have now," Isidro and Puck tried to brighten their spirits. "Any help we do end up getting would just be like additional support."

"And would it be right to willingly expend our 'additional support' for something that may not even work?" Casca questioned the boy. To that, Isidro had no answer. "Sacrificing lives is one thing, making sure that their death had meaning is something else entirely." Even though the seal was still drawn around his brand, Guts felt a tiny prickle at her words.

"I believe that is all any of us can truly ask for," Serpico furthered. "As someone who has dedicated my life in service to another, knowing that I have succeeded in my goal is the most I could ever hope for."

Farnese smiled softly at her ever-present attendant. "You've done far more for me than you seem to realize. And you are right as well." The softness in her gaze lingered before faltering. "Teacher Harry, what exactly do you think lies in wait in the Abyss? You mentioned before cutting off the connection to that layer, but do you have any idea what to expect?"

What was down there? That was a question even Guts was asking himself as of late.

Based on what the had seen and heard first-hand, hordes of tortured souls maybe. Forms of previously slain apostles? When that Count had been unable to sacrifice his daughter, the Godhand had mentioned something about that being the resting place of apostles. He waited to see what the young wizard would say.

"I... really don't know myself." At least he was honest. "I was thinking a source of power maybe or something like a funnel or twister. Something to do with madness at least."

"Keep thinking about it," Guts advised. "If you're serious and crazy enough to actually want to go through with this just a few days before that wedding, you better put that mind to good use."

"Not to mention magic," Sirius added along. "From what I seem to recall, you both still quite haven't gotten a proper hold of your Patronus'."

"Do you think that that Voldemort character might have brought some of those dementor creatures with him?" Farnese asked with concern.

"It's possible," Sirius gave it thought. "But aside from just being able to act as a shield for unpleasant creatures, they're also capable of sending messages."

"Like thought transference?" Schierke then asked, curious by this new information.

"Not quite. It's more of a direct spoken message. No little mental conversations to be had, anyone can hear it if they're close by."

Guts took a moment to glance at the few strands of green hair that were tied around his and everyone else's finger. As reliable as thought transference was, the connection was broken if the hairs were to fall off or be removed. He understood that much about some of magic's usage. That charm could essentially be used as a back-up in case something ever happened and they needed to get in touch with anyone else.

"I take it you're both still interested in learning?" Sirius asked like he already knew the answer. It was, by no means, something that they'd miss out on.

Going over the motion yet again, Harry recited the words that now seemed etched to the inside of his skull. "Expecto patronum!"

More than just a few wisps of white smoke trailed in his staff's movement. It wasn't anything worthy of exceptional praise or something to spare a second glance at, but still enough to make some of the regular citizens of the underground village spooked.

Harry had figured that since the idea of magic and otherworldly creatures was now common knowledge and that the Bakiraka had a sorcerer as well in Daiba, magic would be a bit more accepted. Even so, that didn't stop a woman carrying a jug of water to drop her load in sheer shock of what she was seeing. He figured he got off easy seeing as that he still had his head and hadn't been burned at the stake. Silat had insisted after that they not perform magic in view of others, at least not without permission.

"Are you sure we're not being a bother, Rickert?" Schierke asked as they were allowed to practice in his forge. "It is a bit cramped in here."

"Not as cramped as the hut you're all being kept at," Rickert hammered some dents out of a metal plate. "Besides, some of what you're doing makes me feel slightly more at ease." The hut they were at had a minimal amount of rooms so they were often left bunking with others in the week they had been staying in the hidden village.

"That'll happen when you're in the presence of a positive force," Sirius watched, leaning against the support beams of the forge.

"Also you get to spend more time with us!" Erica added as she kicked her feet off the ground from the stool she sat on.

"There is that," Harry agreed, making the young girl smile.

"Shouldn't you be off with your friends somewhere?" Rickert asked his sister figure.

"They got chores to do," Erica rested her hand in her palm. "Besides, I want to see how magic works!"

"Awfully tolerant and open-minded of you," Sirius smiled as well. "Could use a bit more of that back home, to be honest."

"You seem strangely okay with a non-magical watching all of this stuff," Harry observed. He had gathered that Sirius really wasn't much for rules. And with a system as strict as the Ministry, it was a wonder how someone like him had managed to live in a society like that.

"A lot of Ministry laws are bollocks if you ask me," Sirius shrugged. "Besides, muggle girls that I knew always seemed rather eager to know how I pulled off some rather impossible tricks. I remember this one time I had with my motorcycle and this girl and, uh..." he looked at the innocent Erica staring at him with expectation. "You know, maybe that's a story for another time. But uh, your mother's sister was actually open to the idea of it at one point."

"Ha!" Harry couldn't stop the laugh from escaping, earning him the stares of everyone present. "Sorry, but, that was a joke, right?"

Sirius shook his head. "Knowing how she turned out and who she married, I'm not surprised she never told you. James and I didn't really know too much about Lily until they started dating, but she would talk about her sister quite often. She felt a bit out of place her first few years and even asked Dumbledore if he'd let her attend. I guess Petunia had also been sending letters of her own asking if she could come."

"And that's why she hated magic so much?" Harry asked. "She was just jealous?"

"I'd imagine it had a large part to do with it, but it didn't help that she later married someone so boring the idea of excitement seemed a foreign concept."

"I know it isn't my business to ask, but did Harry's mother ever try to reach out after?" Schierke seemed invested in the story.

"I'm pretty sure she and James only met with them one time after they were both married," Sirius said. "James was being, well... James and tried to show them how wonderful magic could be and... they weren't impressed."

"Did he do something bad?" Erica leaned forward in anticipation.

"Not really. He told me he made the lobster they were going to have for dinner do a tap dance, but that really isn't the point."

"Then what was?" Harry then asked. He had rarely spared any second thought to his relatives or why they were so afraid of anything out of the ordinary. Hearing this now... he wouldn't say he felt sorry for them or anything, it just gave him something to think about was all.

"He just tried to change their minds when they weren't ready for it yet," Sirius summarized. "Who knows, maybe Petunia could have been swayed over time but by her own accord. No one could change her mind for her except for her."

Harry mulled those words over in his head and was reminded of what Silat had said the other day. What was their plan if they actually did succeed against the Godhand? He was still going over revisions and improvements with his plan, mostly with Casca, but it seemed moot if he never bothered to think about the lasting impacts of what this would bring about.

Killing the Godhand, would that put a stop to any malicious spirits that might try and possess them if they didn't apply the seal to their brands? What would happen to the people of Falconia, the ones who lived blissful, ignorant lives to what Nro-Griffith actually was? And most importantly, what would happen to all of them?

By this point, living a normal life seemed so far out of the question that he would actually think himself to be dead if it turned out that way. There was always the possibility of doing what he and Schierke had talked about and try starting a magic school of their own. Judging by how excited Erica was at the concept of magic, they might already have a new pupil on the horizon.

Expecto patronum!"

But even so-

The white mist seemed to try and form something solid only to fall apart.

-it seemed far too optimistic an outcome.

"Looks like you had something there," Sirius gave a knowing nod.

"I didn't see anything," Harry said, a bit dejected, but not willing to give up in his endeavor.

"No, I saw something too," Schierke agreed with the wizard. "It looked like almost like a... well, I don't really know what."

"I thought it looked like a bunny," Erica stated. Harry didn't quite feel that was the case. According to Sirius, a Patronus, at least, a corporeal one, took on the appearance of an animal with some significance or traits of the caster. He felt no connection whatsoever to a bunny.

"What memory were you thinking of?" Sirius then asked.

"I thought a little about Petunia Dursley at first and how she might have had some decency if things had been a bit different. Then... it isn't exactly a memory, just something that hasn't happened yet. It's... more of a feeling than anything else."

"Clearly more than just a feeling," Sirius said with positivity. "Desire to act on a feeling, that isn't nothing. Keep trying, I'm sure you'll get it - both of you."

"Expecto patronum!" "Expecto patronum!" "Expecto Patronum!"

Those were the words that they both continued to repeat over and over, watching as the pure white mist would come out and try to take a form of its own. Those were the words Harry had come to memorize before he went to bed that night and every night after.

What would come after... he didn't know. He could guess and doubt himself, but he could change his mind.

In a passing couple of weeks, Rickert had dedicated his time to not only working at his forge but to also help in mapping out a diagram of what he recalled of Falconia on Guts request.

"The only way into the palace that I know of is the winding roadway at the very front," the blacksmith recalled. "I'd recommend that whoever goes there take a carriage or wagon. I wouldn't want to make that walk on foot."

Casca observed the layout design as well. "You said Silat had managed to sneak in. Any idea how he managed that?"

"He said that he climbed," Rickert said. "Not that I would recommend that. It's pretty high up."

"And this Pandemonium thing, there's only one way there too, yes?" Guts' mind went to the sanctuary for the War Demons.

"Yeah." Rickert sketched out a simple sketch of a bridge and a large sphere at the end. "The inside is basically designed like a fighting pit with a bunch of rows for spectators."

Sounded basic enough. He nodded and looked over to where the resident mages were practicing. "What about with you guys? Any ideas?" he asked knowing that in terms of large groups of apostles, magic seemed the easier way of dealing with them. It had already been decided that if they were going to sneak into Falconia, he would not be among those who went. And he agreed. Even Guts knew that he would have to use all his mental strength to keep himself from just trying to kill the Godhand on sight.

"I have 'em drawing up a few runes right now," Sirius answered. "Never thought Lily forcing me to take that class would come in handy, but... hindsight."

"Which runes might those be?" Serpico inquired as he examined his eagle feather blade.

"Purification runes," Schierke used her staff to draw some lines in the ground. "Apparently they have properties similar to that Patronus charm."

"Shouldn't be a problem for you then," Harry smiled at her. While still new to the concept, both of them had been hard at work practicing the charm. And while no definitive form had shown itself yet, Schierke got close to hers. Apparently, it bore a resemblance to an owl.

"Don't sell yourself short," Schierke lightly smiled back. "Even I can tell yours is starting to take on a shape of its own."

"And you believe it to be a bit too advanced for my level?" Farnese asked as she also practiced drawing the runes with her teachers.

"You're still able to practice some basic level spells," Sirius tried to lift her spirits. "Sometimes the most useful ones are the easiest."

He had also been teaching Harry some spells from his Hogwarts education on top of everything else. A silencing charm on his boots and he was unheard and unseen when he had that cloak of his. Since most of the plan was Harry's initial idea, it had already been decided that the would be one of the people to go to Falconia, albeit while invisible.

"Wait a minute," Schierke looked like she just had an epiphany. "Ugh! How didn't I think of this before? Guts, the ammunition for your cannon, may I see it please?"

Never having been steered wrong by the young witch, Guts handed her his ammunition bag. "Planning on making magic bombs?" he asked in a less serious tone.

Her reply was, "Exactly."

"Is she about to blow something up?" Isidro asked, taking a few tentative steps away from the witch. Puck fluttered over to her shoulder to see what she was doing. What she ended up doing was tracing a pattern on each shot with her staff. A faint purple glow followed after she was done. Watching her movements, she was inscribing the rune onto each shot.

"If these runes are inscribed with a more positive force, they'll be more effective against apostles," Schierke reasoned.

Harry seemed to get an idea as well. "It couldn't hurt to do the same thing with Sir. Azan's weapon. I mean, it just seems like all of us have some sort of magical weapon or another. It couldn't hurt to give him a bit of an advantage as well."

"I'm sure he'll appreciate the thought," Farnese said. "Last I saw of him, he was out by the well to collect some water."

"Wells?" Casca repeated but her voice sounded strangely distant as if her mind was elsewhere. "Wait. Rickert, do you know anything about the sewers in Falconia?"

"Not really," he admitted. "I know that they expand much of the city's underground, but I thought the plan was for a more formal entry, not sneaking in through the sewers."

"It is," Casca affirmed. "But if worst comes to worst and fighting breaks out inside the city, all the people living there are going to be caught in the middle of it. I just wanted to know if that's somewhere they would go in case they wanted to get to someplace safe - well, as safe as can be."

"I mean its possible," Rickert guessed. "When people see fighting that's beyond what they're used to, they tend to want to get to a safer place. There might be some who would just try to leave the city, but those clever enough would probably be on the same thought like you."

"Fighting in the city is the last thing we want, but when has life ever been fair?" Guts poke. He noticed Casca's look. "Not trying to sound like Silat or anything, but it is something we had to discuss. And one other thing too. What about the Voldemort guy in Falconia? Would he have a way to counter some of those runes you're making?"

"Wouldn't surprise me if he did," Sirius lightly grumbled. "He doesn't earn a title like the Dark Lord for nothing. I'll be sure to be discreet as possible when drawing the runes around the city. No demons or wizards will notice at first, but their presence will be more noticeable the longer in place."

"What exactly will these runes do to apostles?" Guts questioned. He wasn't complaining, he was just curious as to how this might affect the monstrous beings.

"It would most likely cause fatigue for some of the lesser ones if they're in close proximity to the rune and if you shot them with your cannon now, aside from causing extreme burning their wounds most likely will never heal or close," Sirius listed. "And for magical beings, consider it a nullifier for certain types of dark magic. It might not mean much to someone of Voldemort's strength, but I imagine some of his Death Eaters will find it hard to practice some of their favorite spells."

"So all the more important to try and place these runes in the palace if we do make it that close," Farnese stated.

"Speaking of which, Rickert, want to run that design by one more time?" Casca prodded for more information. She was determined, but not obsessing, not yet at least.

"I only saw some of the more general locations like the gardens to the top, some corridors, and the ceremony hall. Safe to bet that that's where the wedding will be held."

"And how far is that to the main entrance?"

"Not far at all. I made a few turns and we were practically there."

"And I'm guessing it's too much to hope you know any other rooms outside of what you saw?"

Rickert bit the inside of his cheek. "Sorry to disappoint."

"No. You're being a help, really," Casca insisted. "Anything, even if it might seem small can make a huge difference."

Seeing her like this, it was like she slipping back into her role as second-in-command. Well, it'd be more like first at this point, but still. But there was something he couldn't figure out about her right now though. That was if she was being driven by a sense of justice or revenge.

Guts knew what the latter felt like. There had been times he had tried to delude himself into believing that the apostles he had been killing had been retribution for the Hawks, but that was only a half-truth. He had done it because it made him feel good. He had been branded, cursed, left to die, but he had felt alive in those moments. And... it had driven him down a path so dark he was now plagued by a demonic voice inside his head that had been there long before he had gotten his armor.

He couldn't make Casca feel any sort of way she didn't want to. He'd have an easier time trying to dig out a mountain with his hand. She had always had better control over her emotions anyway, even when she acted irrationally. As personal as this upcoming fight was, he could at least believe that every kill she made would be one for the entire band.

"Still fiddling away at this mission of yours?"

Silat leaned against the threshold of their hut. His two boulder-like guards were nowhere to be seen, but they were probably watching their master from a distance.

"Actually come to help out?" Harry stopped his practice to address the Bakiraka.

"Merely to pose another question for you," Silat sounded like a sly cat. "Assuming you do make it into the city, where do you plan on staying? spending prolonged periods of time in that palace would surely prove-,"

"Just get to the point already," Guts interrupted.

Silat's eye twitched. "The question I pose to you is simple; how do you feel about whores?"

...

"So we'd be dragging more people into this then?" Casca asked a few nights later after Silat had proposed that question to them. This had been confirmed by Rickert, but apparently, the woman who had looked after Casca after she had run off was now the owner of an inn within Falconia. Guts rarely gave out praise to strangers, but Luca had a kind heart to her.

That being said, her life was probably going to be put in danger.

"She helped us out before," Guts said. "Besides, it's not we'd be asking her to take up arms and lead a rebellion in the streets. She'd just have to put up Harry and the others for a night or so."

"That's still dragging her into this," Casca argued. "And I'd prefer not to put someone I owe in danger."

"And if she had the choice herself, what would she choose?" Guts asked, knowing what the answer would be.

Casca frowned as she eyed him. She knew exactly what the other woman would choose as well. She folded up the layout Rickert had drawn up and sat on the bed of one of the hut's rooms. "I really do hate this."

They both said nothing. Not enjoying the type of silence that was between them, but neither making a move to speak and break it. Seeing that she wasn't going to cave, Guts quietly sighed and leaned Dragonslayer against the wall as he sat down next to her. The bed creaked with his additional weight but it would hold.

"I figure that it's about night outside right now." Living underground for about a month could distort a sense of time. "It's been about a month." He left the implication hang. Maybe a visit from him could brighten her spirit a little.

"You're probably right," Casca agreed. "I don't think he'll show up this time though."

"Do you not want to see him?" that was unlike her.

"I want to see him more than anything. I want to hear him talk again. I want him to not be tethered to..." her hand tightened near her heart making it look like she had cut her hand on thorns. "But he's smart. I know just from looking in his eyes." She seemed to let thoughts of him come back to her. "You remember the ultimatum that we were given?"

"Yeah." Stay away from Falconia and there wouldn't be any trouble. Let's see how long that lasts.

"If Gaiseric can feel where we are and he is somehow connected spiritually, it would mean that he would find out we're back. He'd come for us before we'd make our move." Her hand stayed over her heart. "I don't feel him."

"You make him sound like a smart kid."

"He is," she said annoyed.

Guts held her gaze. "Yeah. I guess he is."

After a moment of silence, she finally asked the question that was on her mind. "Do you... do you think killing him will kill Gaiseric too?"

"They're two different people." He wasn't sure if he said that for her benefit or for his. He had been unable to kill their child when it was born even though he desperately wanted to. But seeing what he had matured into, an actual person who looked at him with those eyes. How I used to look at Gambino. Guts wouldn't turn out like that. He had done cruel acts, he would never deny that, but to become like the man who had hurt him, helped shape the personality he had, he wouldn't make that leap fully.

"I know that," Casca said quietly. "But it would just be our luck, wouldn't it? We kill him but we still never win." It would be like that bastard to screw them over one last time.

"You chose the name Gaiseric to show defiance," Guts reminded her. "Maybe think a little more on that. Do you really think that kid would just do nothing if he had the chance? You said that he was smart."

He thought he saw a smile almost creep onto her face. He would have been fine with that.

Rickert was busy at the forge. Serpico and Sirius were overseeing some of the magic practice and Farnese was inscribing some more runes on Sir Azan's weapon. Magnifico was off somewhere doing something and Puck and Isidro were entertaining Erica. And here they were. It didn't happen at once, but what Casca had left unfinished aboard the Sea Horse those months ago was met with closure.

Harry sat on one of the cots as idly as he could. His staff was laid out across his lap and his bag was to his right. Every so often he would glance to his side to make sure it was still there. It wasn't like it was going to magically disappear on him - not unless Sirius played some kind of prank on him. Knowing full well what he would find, Harry opened the bag up to look at its contents.

The two figurines which would be made into portkeys, the wooden figure that kid Gaiseric had brought that one time, some ink and a quill for drawing runes, golem stones, the pensieve, and specific memory vial, and invisibility cloak. Everything was there and accounted for. He would still check again in a few minutes but that was to be expected. The waiting was almost over. Early in the morning, they would be heading to Falconia.

Time had passed by at an alarming rate but it had been time well spent. Harry was confident in the spells he had learned from Sirius' side of things, mainly the silencing and confundus charm. He had managed to produce a strong shield for the Patronus charm but had yet to fully manifest into an animal. The plan was as ready as it was ever going to be and everyone knew what part they had to play. They were ready for this, all of them. So why did he feel like his stomach was caving in on itself?

He had been in plenty of life-threatening situation before. Those situations usually found him though, but he had still made it out alive before usually always with some help and it wasn't like he would be doing this alone. He would have Farnese, Serpico, Sirius, Sir Azan, and even Magnifico with him in the city. The elder Vandimion sibling had apparently decided to come along if only to perhaps see if his family had made it to Falconia. Sir Azan would stay by his side to make sure he didn't accidentally blow their cover.

They had thought about that, prepared for it. They would be leaving in just a few hours time. He should sleep, get some rest.

Harry felt his hand start to shake as he checked the contents of his bag once more. Everything was still there and accounted for.

It would be best for everyone if he just got some sleep now. He'd be more a hindrance if he started to doze off once they were there.

But he could hear voices talking from just outside the room he was in. He recognized them as belonging to none of the people who would be leaving with him.

"-cares if what it looks like?" he heard Isidro ask.

"I do because I made it!" Schierke shot back. "I don't want you ruining it before he sees it!"

"How would I ruin it? It already looks like a stone!"

"Sh-shut up! I put effort into this!"

"Clearly not enough magic," Isidro countered.

"You... ugh! I'll give it to him myself."

The door creaked open and a familiar purple hat poked in. "Hey, Harry, are you - oh! You are awake."

"Yeah," Harry responded, resting his staff to the side of the cot. "What's going on out there?"

"I just... I made something and-,"

"Hey! I helped!" Isidro cut in.

"We made something and... can we come in and show you?"

Harry nodded and the two hustled inside. Schierke was holding something behind her back and Isidro kept stealing glances at it. "What'd you make?"

She presented him with... a cake?

It looked like one. It was smaller and in a square shape and looked to have some sort of coating on top with a number written on it.

"What's this for?"

Isidro seemed to think that was funny. "Wow. Told you he wouldn't care!"

Schierke refrained from insulting him and said. "Sirius told me what today would be where you're from so... happy birthday."

It was past midnight, or so he figured. Yeah, he would be fifteen today.

"I guess someone has to remember," Harry scooted over so the both of them could take a seat on the cot.

"Yeah," Isidro put his arms behind his head. "You are pretty lucky to have us remind you of stuff like this."

"You only heard that I was making a cake and wouldn't stop bugging me all day," Schierke told the other boy. She presented Harry with the baked good.

"This is nice, but you really didn't have to do this." He still cut a piece even if the sinking feeling was still in the pit of his stomach.

"No. But I wanted to." She took a small piece for herself and finally let Isidro have some. The other boy's portion consisted of pretty much the rest of it.

"Hey! This is pretty good!" Isidro said after his second piece. "How come you never used to cook for us before, Schierke?"

"You just insulted how it looked a minute ago," she reminded, "and Serpico was always kind enough to offer before anyone." Serpico was a good cook. "And besides, this was for a special occasion."

Harry spared a small smile. "Thanks. I'll be sure to do something for yours."

He said the words before he could think of the fact that none of them might not ever have any birthdays in the case that they failed.

Schierke spotted the look on his face but said, "I'll be sure to look forward to it. But for now," she brought the slice closer to his mouth, "please eat."

"Eah! Eet's elly ood!" Isidro choked out with his mouth filled with the food.

Harry took a bite.

It really was sweet.

The sun had barely started its rise when the group consisting of Harry, Farnese, Serpico, Sirius, Sir Azan, and Magnifico made ready to depart. Naturally, they were being seen on their way by the rest of their party plus Rickert, Erica, and Silat.

It was a very somber feeling to Harry. No one talked much, not even via thought transference. They all knew the consequences of their actions and they would rather let some things be unspoken. The only one who seemed keen on talking was Erica but even she lacked some of her usual enthusiasm.

"You will tell Miss Luca that I said hi, won't you?" the young girl asked as they walked through Doldrey. The sound of those winged beasts was the only noise to rival her voice at the moment.

"I'll be sure to remember to do that," Harry promised. It seemed like a trivial matter, but one that helped ease the nerves a little. Completing that task was just a side to the whole thing; complete one and they'd be on the right path.

Silat rolled his eyes. "Why you'd want to spend time talking to that woman is beyond me."

"Aren't you the one who recommend her?" Casca recalled.

"Perhaps I just aimed to make her work harder," Silat dismissed.

"Well, in that case, we'll be sure to let her know you said that," Sirius teased the man.

Silat made a dignified, "tch!" as he glared at the rising sun. "Anyway, given the city's distance from here, you should arrive a little after midday by flying. Just make sure to send them back. I hardly feel like catching - what is that?" His gaze was fixed on the sight of a lone figure beyond the battlements where they were and out on the dry field outside the stronghold.

Guts gave what could only be described as a dry laugh. "He picks now of all times to show up? What convenient timing on his end. Hey, open up the gates already."

"You know that... thing?" Silat's gaze hardly wavered from the rider that seemed to be staring straight back at him from outside the fortress.

"Just about the most powerful ally we have," Harry mentioned as the Skull Knight began riding toward the fortress as Serpico and Sir Azan opened the main gate for him to enter. He could have just used that sword to instantly appear but maybe he just wanted to act polite. Harry actually doubted that last part.

The Skull Knight rode up to them with surprising quietness. that factor combined with his appearance made Magnifico start to tremble and shake at his knees. Silat's almond-shaped eyes were wide in shock and he seemed to be in a frozen state of action of either reaching for his weapons or getting ready to run in the other direction.

"Struggler, Wizard," Skull Knight greeted with his usual tone as his glowing sockets took them all in. "Has the time, at last, come to at last move on the city of demons?"

"Don't you usually always know?" Guts asked him. "And why show up now if you already know the answer?"

"I only as much as I have been told or have guessed on my own. As for the latter of your inquiries, I have been traveling. I gave another warning to the wizards of the other side as well as attempting to rally more forces for your cause. Time moved differently in the place that I ventured. What was weeks and months for you was but a few days for me."

"That sounds like Elfheim alright," Puck said looking rather proud. "How was King Dannan?"

"The Elf King was sympathetic to your struggles. The people and creatures of that island are not warriors by nature, but they are not without their own means of defense. Should a call of arms be issued, their allegiance is yours."

Harry felt a huge weight lift off of his chest at the Skull Knight's words. Silat was a wildcard, but he believed he could depend on the Bakiraka if their safety was compromised; even more so now considering he had seen and heard what Skull Knight just said. Their plan was already laid out, but the prospect of additional support was something they could use regardless.

"How many?" Casca asked seriously. She had been in a rather mellow mood as of late but that seemed to have vanished now.

"A couple dozen magical creatures and a handful of mages as well." His answer was short and to the point. It was far from an army, but more magic could never hurt.

"So did you stop by just to tell us that?" Guts asked. "I'm not complaining or anything but these people," he jabbed a thumb over at Harry and the rest, "are running on time. Unless you'd care to help out with that." He didn't pose it as a question. That scared Magnifico even more.

"H-help from him?"

"It can be done," Skull Knight said and Magnifico fainted, only being caught by an unamused Serpico. "Just know, Wizard, they have taken measure to ensure I can only get within a certain distance of the city. I could only take you as far as the woods surrounding his city."

He looked over at those who would be accompanying him and judged his answer from their reactions. "Then we're ready."

It had always been hard to tell what emotion Skull Knight was feeling with his eyes being a constant glowing pulse, but his voice gave nothing away. "Very well then."

His jaw hinged open as Skull Knight tilted his head back and swallowed his sword up to the thorny hilt. When he pulled it free, it was a glowing mass of the behelit facial features. He made a downward slash in the air and a rippling portal merged into existence.

"For those who follow, now is the time."

Skull Knight waited for them and Harry's legs seemed to move on their own toward the pulsating portal. Before taking the final step through, he cast a look over his shoulder one last time to take in the faces of everyone they were leaving behind. He committed all of them to memory.

...

When they stepped through on the other side, they were in a lush, dense forest. The rising sun could barely be seen through the treetops. The smell of nature had never seemed stronger in Harry's opinion. He had been in these woods before when he was with the Hawks and being this close to the capital, things were never this undisturbed before.

"Your destination is north and west from this spot. You will spot the stones that limit my involvement as you near the city."

Farnese gave a gracious bow of her head. "Thank you. For everything that you've done." Serpico, Sirius, Sir Azan did so similarly to her. Magnifico was starting to come to. Harry met the glowing gaze and gave a nod of his head, never breaking contact with Skull Knight. He pulled his invisibility cloak out from his bag and made to drape it over himself when Skull Knight spoke again.

"That cloak is indeed special. You have the talisman drawn over your brand as well?" at Harry's nod, he continued. "To most, you will be nothing more than a specter, watching but never being seen. But so long as you bear that brand, he will not be fooled as easily."

Skull Knight pulled back the plate on his gauntlet and reached inside to pull out an all too familiar object. His, and many of the other's eyes widened. He held the green behelit between his armored fingers.

"I thought you said it wasn't mine," Harry recalled the Skull Knight's words from one of their previous encounters.

"Do you recall what else was said about this unholy trinket? A double-edged sword."

"Uh, a little late to be springing something like this on him, don't you think?" Sirius stepped up alongside Harry.

"The choice is his. If he accepts it or not, it will still come into play later. If for nothing else, it would fully mask his presence while under that cloak."

"Harry...?" Serpico tentatively asked. His eyes were on full alert as he waited. Farnese seemed to be in a similar state but her gaze was more firm. The choice was his.

"Guts was right. You really are a bonehead."

"Do you refuse?"

"I just want to know how much you know," Harry said to the Skull Knight. "You call it a double-edged sword and you know exactly what it does. Did you know about our plans to travel into the Abyss? When this activates, they're summoned. If we don't have anything to sacrifice... do I need to say more?"

Nobody spoke. All eyes were on Skull Knight and how he would answer. Of all the times to be shady, he just had to pick today.

The green egg dropped to the ground as Skull Knight released it from his grasp. He turned his mount around in the opposite direction.

"Do as you will, Wizard. Just know that it is more close-knit than you believe. What was once started over a thousand years ago, the same cycle as always, paths will come to a close. Be it by your hand, mine, or some obscure, the cycle cannot continue."

Harry stayed rooted to the ground, his body only responding by controlling his breathing. He already knew there was nothing worth him sacrificing. The lives of his companions, he wouldn't be like Griffith that day. Guts wouldn't be like Griffith, no one would. They all had their own hopes and ambitions, their dreams they were willing to see to fruition. But this was not the sacrifice he would make for it.

Skull Knight called it a double-edged sword. Maybe he was right. If there was a sacrifice to be made if someone had to break that cycle, he could at least go fighting and cursing his way into that Abyss. Vassel or not, he knew by now that causality would be against him no matter what he chose.

He bent down to where it had fallen.

The least he could do was make sure no one else had to make that same choice.

"Young man," Sir Azan sounded startled. "Are you seriously considering taking that trinket?" No one else said anything directly, but he could see the uncertainty on their faces.

"I'm not doing it for me," Harry said as his finger brushed against the surface of the egg. Much to his relief and shock, neither of the eyes opened. "But these things only have power so long as you believe you want something out of them, so long as you're willing to give something up. All of you, Guts, Casca, Schierke, everyone else, I don't care what deal they would make with me, I wouldn't accept. And I'd rather have it with someone who I know wouldn't use it than leave it lying around for someone else to take." Maybe that's why Guts had held onto it for so long as well.

Upon hearing his words, Harry was relieved to see the tension leave their faces. This one choice was nerve-wracking enough and they weren't willing to turn back now.

"I can understand your logic, but that does not mean it isn't dangerous," Serpico cautioned. "And... the same could be said for what awaits us. Yet here we are. We would not be here if we didn't have faith in our belief. If this is what you believe to be the way, you have my support."

"I... thank you." He figured something as simple as that would be enough to suffice.

Harry stuffed it in his bag along with everything else and put his cloak on fully.

Skull Knight was already riding away. "Be ready. A lone wolf stalks this way." And he was gone with a lingering cautious note.

Harry quickly cast the silencing charm on his boots and adjusted his cloak for a further measure. Serpico had his normal sword out in place of his eagle feather one and Sir Azan hefted his ax which was now equipped with a magical rune.

They heard it coming before they actually saw it - no. They didn't see it the first time either. It moved so fast through the air that it might as well have been as invisible as Harry.

Wheee! the arrow was followed by a short bout of sound and two more followed in quick, rapid succession. They would have been dead if those arrows were meant for them.

The arrows found their mark on some obscure beast that resembled a monkey that had been concealing itself among the trees. It made a high-pitched screech as it fell from the tree. "Kraeeeeee!" it screeched with its mouth ajar leaving space for a fourth arrow to pierce the open gap.

The approaching figure was a slim man dressed in dark purple hunting garb. His footsteps were expertly placed as he seemed to move without making a sound through the bush. His bow was large and had what looked to be an eye design on it. His hat partially covered his eyes but when he glanced up, Harry was able to see they seemed to be a silvery-white color and he thought that he might have been blind at one point in his life. But the thing that was abundantly clear to him was this man was not human.

"My apologies," the hunter said, sounding genuine. "You are all unharmed, yes?"

They collectively stared at him. If he must have figured they had their weapons out to defend themselves against the dangers of the forest. Excluding himself. As a show of faith, he slung his bow over his shoulder and made no further move toward them.

"Erm... yes. We are all well and good." Farnese cleared her throat before speaking.

The hunter's gaze drifted over to Magnifico who still seemed to be in a daze of sorts but somehow managed to stand on his own. "Is that man in a state of shock? The forest holds many dangers now. Travelers should be wary."

Farnese lied again. "Yes. We... encountered a rather unsavory sight on our path. He hadn't the stomach for it. If you don't mind me asking, who are you and why did you save us just now?"

"Sorry," he apologized yet again. "Perhaps it would have been better if I had done so first. My name is Irvine. I am a captain for the Hawk of Light in the city of Falconia. I don't mean to sound presumptuous, but that is the direction you were heading, was it not?"

"You would be correct, Sir Irvine," Farnese confirmed. It was weird to hear her address an apostle as sir, but if Harry didn't already know, Irvine could pass as a normal human. "Please, allow me to introduce ourselves as well. I am Farnese de Vandimion, youngest of the Vandimion family. The dazed man is my elder brother Magnifico de Vandimion, third son in the Vandimion family." She spoke with the confidence of a noble, something she had been drifting away from since taking up her magical studies.

"The three men are our attendants, Serpico, Sirius, and Sir Azan. They have been our escorts since the tragedy in Vritanntis. We heard rumors of Falconia being a safe haven and have struggled to find our way here. We assumed the rest of our family to be inside if they have survived this long."

"Lady Farnese," Irvine gave a courteous bow and removed his hat as well to expose his dark locks underneath. "I have heard of your family through reputation. If the rest of your line is waiting inside, I hope that you find your peace with them."

"You would grant us entry to the city?" Farnese asked sounding hopeful, but not overly so.

"I will give the others my word," Irvine said as he pulled out a hunting horn and blew into it. "Allow my compatriots to do so. Most travelers find it more calming. There are still dangers close by."

Irvine's nose twitched, discreetly sniffing at the air similar to a hound or wolf. And for a second, his pale eyes drifted right over to where Harry stood, invisible. He feared that Irvine had smelled him but the hunter made no move to draw his bow.

"Trolls." Irvine walked a bit closer. "They are not nearby, but they are coming in this direction. My duties are to be required elsewhere. Please," the sound of hooves could be heard nearing their location, "allow them to take you the rest of the way."

Riding through the bush were at least a dozen armored knights. Their armor seemed shiny and new and bore the design of the new Band of the Hawk. Unlike Irvine, all of these people felt human.

"Sir Irvine!" one called, lifting his faceplate to show a man with a neatly trimmed brown beard and blue eyes.

"Ah, General Laban, thank you for arriving promptly," Irvine looked up at the knight.

"Of course," Laban gave a wary smile to the archer. "More new arrivals I take it?"

"You are correct," Irvine affirmed. "They are Farnese and Magnifico de Vandimion along with a few of their attendants."

"Vandimion?" Laban repeated before putting a hand over his chest and gave an incline of his head. "Lady Farnese, Lord Magnifico, it is my honor. Men, bring the wagon forward!" A few knights pulled back with a large wagon pulled by two horses. "Please, allow us to give you a proper escort to Falconia."

Giving her best heartwarming smile, Farnese thanked him. "We are truly in your debt."

"Allow me to assist you, Lady Farnese," Serpico offered to help her up the back of the wagon. Harry invisibly followed after her as Serpico offered a hand up to Sir Azan and a dizzy Magnifico as well with Sirius being the last one in. The archer apostle watched with a faint ghost of a smile on his face.

"Will you be joining us, Sir Irvine?" Laban asked out of curiosity.

"You are few in numbers. I will continue to snuff out any pursuers." He had his bow out again and soundlessly moved further into the bush.

Harry let out a quiet breath of relief as the wagon started moving and the knights took up formation next to them as their escort.

Nice cover back there, Harry mentally conveyed to his student.

'Just fulfilling my part,' she responded back.

"Is everyone alright back here?" Laban asked as he rode his horse alongside the wagon. "Travelling alone has become so dangerous now, especially for a group so small."

"We saw the extent of it, believe me," Farnese said to the knight. "And there were more of us... at one point in time." Not a lie, just a half-truth.

Laban's bearded face softened. "I'm sorry, Lady Farnese. You have my condolences, for what they're worth."

"Allowing us entry is repayment enough," Farnese said in a less mournful tone. "Our efforts have not been in vain then."

"You picked a good time to have been found then," Laban said. "More survivors are still arriving, but with the Queen's wedding only two days away, much effort has been put into finding accommodations for all the guests."

"The Queen is to be wed?" Farnese asked, feigning ignorance. "Would that person be Sir Griffith?"

"More of a Lord Griffith now, or Hawk of Light as has become his appointed title," Laban corrected. "But yes, you are correct. The ceremony is an open invitation and has taken weeks and months to get ready. Many patrols have been pulled back to the city because of it and only a few like Sir Irvine and myself make routine trips out here now."

"That fellow certainly seems able to take care of himself though," Sirius spoke up. "I'd reckon we'd be dead before we knew what hit us if we were his target."

"Forgive my attendant," Farnese said on his behalf. "He was not originally employed in my service. I acquired him through my dear brother's good friend and my betrothed, Roderick of Lith. As a man of the sea, his manners are a bit unrefined."

"Lord Roderick, truly?" Laban appeared surprised by the news. "If he is your betrothed, do not tell me he has..."

"Oh, no!" Farnese shook her head. "After the Kushan attack on Vritannis, Roderick escorted us to his home island of Lith for safety. After the war, he allowed us to return to the mainland as he tended to his own people. He stills lives as far as I know."

"Well, that is enlightening news indeed," Laban sighed in relief. "You have my congratulations on your engagement. I'm sure once you settle in the city Queen Charlotte would love for you to attend her wedding."

"We would be honored," Farnese said with sincerity. "And I will be sure to keep quiet about my engagement. It would be poor taste to make an announcement like that during another woman's wedding."

Laban smiled. "Too true."

"If I may ask, sir," Serpico spoke, "have you any word if the rest of the Vandimion family is staying in the city?"

"Hm," Laban contemplated. "I wouldn't be able to tell you off the top of my head, but we have records of every person who enters the city. It would be a trivial matter of locating them if they were."

"That is kind of you to offer," Farnese told him. "There is much I'd wish to discuss with them if they were. We... didn't part on the best of terms when we last saw one another. For that reason, I think it best to meet with them on our own time if it isn't too much of a hassle."

"Oh, I see." Laban saw the uncomfortable look on her face. "Well, there is no shortage of spare lodgings and inns throughout the city. I'm sure accommodations could be made."

"Such chivalry!" Azan exclaimed. "A true virtue of a knight!"

"Ah, Sir Azan, yes?" Laban regarded the other knight. "I've heard your story on the bridge to help an elderly man cross. A bit unorthodox, but important none the less."

"Indeed! Said bridge was not far from here or, at least, the old capital."

Laban let out a soft chuckle. "Well, I'm sure you'll find things have changed a great deal."

Coming out of the bush, a dazzling sight fell before their eyes.

In place of Windham, a city made of flawless white stone stood tall and proud. Designs of griffins lined the outer wall which dwarfed the previous capital's defense. smoke from buildings and shops lightly floated up and drawing their attention to the palace itself which resembled a giant hawk spreading its wings out to take flight. A faint circle could be seen from behind the palace that could only be Pandemonium. But the largest sight had to be the glowing white tree whose twin roots were wide enough for the city to rest between them. The body and branches expanded high into the sky, seemingly touching the clouds themselves.

Harry could feel it. The sensation had been getting stronger the closer they got, but he finally felt what it was like to be in the presence of the World Tree itself. But there was another feeling as well, lesser than the tree, but still something strong.

He had to look to the ground and to the sides to properly spot them. The land outside of Falconia seemed to have turned into farmland, but popping out of the cultivated soil were glowing rocks shaped like a bird's wing. Those must be the ones preventing Skull Knight from directly entering even with his sword.

Laban observed their reactions, sans Harry. "Welcome to Falconia."

Seeing the inside of Falconia was like looking into a storybook. The whole atmosphere was entirely different from the old Windham. The streets were clean, the homes were newer, more shops were open, and most of all, people seemed happy. They were living in ignorant bliss, but the genuine feeling was present.

Their escort came to a stop as a representative clerk came over to them. He took their names down for documentation and asked what district they would be put in for lodging. Laban informed him that they were looking for a more basic lodging for the time and left it to them to choose.

"If it isn't too much trouble, lodging in an outer district would be more than able to suffice," Farnese casually mention. According to Rickert, Luca's inn was in an outer district.

"I'm sure we'll find room to accommodate," Laban informed her. "I'll have one of my men show you around the district. I'm sure you'll be able to find a suitable dwelling." Laban dispatched one of his knights as he and the others made their way back to the palace itself. "Oh, and Lady Farnese, tomorrow, a reception is being held in the palace at noon. If you so wish, you may search for the rest of your family then. If they are in the city, that's where they'll most likely be."

It looks like they had their ticket into the palace.

"That sounds fantastic, sir. I'll be sure to be in attendance."

Walking around the district now, Harry was able to see that Rickert had been very thorough in the design he had laid out for them. Everything was in place as it was described to them. The shops and houses along with the stables and bathhouses, guard stations, all of it. The inns that they passed, Farnese dismissed to their escort saying she felt they were too small for their needs and finished it with she didn't want to feel like they were intruding. It was a good mix of an aristocrat and politeness as well. It probably irritated their escort a little, but he was in no position to say no to a Vandimion.

"This place is an inn, too?" Farnese asked as they passed by a certain inn in particular.

"And a tavern," the escort said. "The woman who owns it is pretty popular around here but she probably wouldn't be opposed to offering additional rooms if she has them." He sounded hopeful that this would meet their standards.

"The appearance does seem rather homey," Farnese said with a nostalgic expression. "I do believe we have found a suitable suite."

"Are you sure, Lady Farnese?" Serpico asked to play up the role. "You haven't even seen what it has to offer yet."

"Call it a woman's intuition," Farnese dismissed his question. "Thank you for all your help, sir. Serpico, please give this knight some funding for his troubles."

Serpico pulled out a few gold pieces. "It isn't much, but it some of what we gathered before our journey." He bid the knight a good day with a nod of acknowledgment as Sirius went to open the door for them.

There was an unmistakable smell of beer as a few groups of men sat at one of the tables and laughed into their drinks at a joke one must have told. A few girls scurried about the place with trays of drinks while another wiped down empty tables and the bar where some drinks had spilled previously. One of the girls, Pepe, if Harry remembered her name from back at St. Albion called out when she noticed them.

"Hey, Miss Luca! We have some more coming in!"

"Be right there!" a voice called from a door behind the bar. Coming through was an attractive woman with light brown hair and stunning grey-brown eyes. She was wearing more expensive clothing than from Harry last saw her but she didn't come across as being vain or anything. Although, she seemed to have caught Sirius' attention just fine anyway.

"Sorry," Luca said as she set down a few bottles of wine she had been coming with. "How can I help... you?" her voice trailed off as she saw the faces of Farnese and Serpico. Two people she probably hadn't been expecting to see anytime soon.

"Hello," Farnese greeted her. "We just arrived in the city and were looking for a place to stay? Apparently, your inn comes highly recommended."

"Ah... yes! We have some rooms free on the top floor if you want." She recovered quick and put a bright smile on her face once more.

"That sounds more than fitting," Farnese told the other woman. "Would we be able to see them?"

"Of course. Right, this way." She led them over to a staircase. "Pepe!" she called over her shoulder. "Take over for me, will you?"

"You bet!" came her enthusiastic reply.

The room Luca led them to was a surprisingly simple one consisting of a few beds and a wardrobe."Does anyone have any luggage they'd wish to bring up?"

"Sadly no," Magnifico grumbled, seemingly having mentally recovered.

"What my brother means is that we didn't exactly have time to pack for a long-time stay," Farnese told the other woman politely.

Luca nodded. "Well, it should still suit the needs of you five just fine, even if it isn't anything luxurious."

"The six of us, actually."

Luca blinked, not having seen any of them talk. "Who just-?"

For the first time since arriving in Falconia, Harry part of the cloak off to expose his head. The rest of his body staying invisible. "Hello again, Luc-,"

"Agh!" she involuntarily yelled and her body moved on instinct, taking the nearest object, a pillow, and hurling it at him.

It never even reached him as Sirius whipped out his wand and cried, "Imobulius!" and it remained in suspended animation. Now she was looking at Sirius with wide-eyes.

"I know I must just look like a head right now, but do you really not remember me, Luca?"

Her eyes were drawn back over to him and widened again. The difference being, she seemed to do so in recognition. "You... you're that boy from the tower. Harry."

"It appears we have some explaining to do," Serpico stepped between them, his voice giving off a calming and soothing feeling.

"How... how is he just a head?" Luca pointed a shaking finger at his invisible body.

"Luca, just calm down, okay?" Harry said to her, making sure that the door was closed behind them.

"Never really a good idea to tell a woman to calm down," Sirius whispered to him. "Believe me, I know."

"So distressing seeing a fair lady in distress," Azan stood by her side. "Fear not! For there is a simple explanation for all-,"

"And you three as well!" Luca looked to the others who had been present at the tower. "I know who all of you are, too. Wh-where is everyone else you were with? What happened to the Black Swordsman, or that perverted kid, and El-Casca?"

"Luca, Luca, we can explain everything," Harry said, his hand poking through to take hold of her own, assuring her he still had a body. Her expression was still one of disbelief, but her eyes held a trusting nature to them that he hoped he was appealing to.

"...Everything?" she asked, not sounding if she believed her own words or not.

"Well," Harry almost felt the pensieve grow heavy in his bag. "Depends on how weird you're willing to go to find out."

What felt like minutes to them was probably hours on end for Luca. Harry had retrieved the memory basin and filled it the events after they had parted ways at St. Albion. Everything from Casca's revival to returning back, to the plan they were currently carrying out. In just a few minutes, all bases would have been covered with the inn owner and hopefully help in assuring her that everyone else was alright. For the moment.

"Well?" Harry asked, putting the cloak on fully. "Does that answer some of your questions?" he put the pensieve back in his bag as well next to the unused memory vial.

Luca put a hand to her head as she seemed to collect her thoughts. "Oh, it answered my questions alright. I just... what do I even say to that?"

"Looks like you missed a question there," Sirius said to elicit a smile from the woman. She spared him a half-amused, half-annoyed look if one existed.

"Aside from the obvious weirdness to this... Rickert and Erica, what a small world we live in for you to find them after all this time. Erica talked to me once hos she had a friend who was the strongest around and used one of her father's swords. Guess I have my confirmation. But in all honesty, I don't really see how I can be much use in your plan. I'm not about to take up arms and wage war on some demons." She looked over in the direction she thought Harry to be standing as she couldn't see him.

"No one would ask you to," Harry assured her. "But you could still help evacuate some of the people if something goes wrong."

"If?" Luca repeated. "Do you feel it would resort to that?"

"That is the biggest uncertainty we all face," Serpico said to her. "It isn't enough that we simply wish for something not to happen, that would be futile. The least we can do is be prepared for the worst."

"Well said!" Sir Azan agreed. "It takes a great deal of courage to fight for what's right, but it takes a great deal more to fight for others."

"You and Dumbledore would have gotten along very well," Sirius commented.

Luca pondered over the knight's words. Her expression had gone from sheer confusion to realization and seemed to start to settle on either determination or reflection. "You know, when people are faced with hardship, they turn to god. And where is that god now? Many would say up in the palace and... would they be wrong? But they'd forget so easily that god was never there for them before all this when they needed him most. How many died because of the divine will that couldn't be seen. I'm not saying this plan of yours is perfect by any means, but the least anyone in my position could do is ask that no one else gets caught up in this fight."

Sirius pushed a bit further and asked, "So, can we take that as a-,"

"I will help where I'm needed. Although, I hope that I am not." She smiled. "Consider it my way of helping a dear friend by defying a god."

Sirius looked at her with admiration. "Between you and Farnese over here, you both would have made fine Marauders."

"I would have made a good bandit?" Farnese asked, confused.

"Uh, no. Just a name that was popular in Hogwarts once."

"That reminds me," Luca suddenly said. "I may be agreeing to help where needed, but I'm still a woman who has a business to run. So for the lodging, any food or drink, you'll need during your short time here, plus additions for the girls working here-,"

"Why don't you just help yourself to what you need?" Farnese took the money pouch from Serpico and let the woman sift through what she needed.

Magnifico watched the money leave the pouch. "Tch. Bandit indeed."

"Why not take some for giving a tour as well?" Sirius suggested with an amused expression. "I'd love the company as I plant as many runes as I can around the place."

Luca understood the purpose. "Very well then, I'll accompany you." Sirius smiled. "But a tour of the city is all you'll be getting." That certainly dampened his smile a bit.

With Sirius about to execute his part, Harry concentrated and brought up the thought transference link between him and Schierke. Are you there?

'Harry? Yes! Yes, I'm here, we're all here. How are you, what's going on?'

I'm fine. We're all fine here too. We made it into the city and we're at Luca's inn right now. She's taking Sirius around parts of the city so he can plant some runes.

He heard her give a mental sigh. 'That's good. I'm glad to hear that. How is your cloak holding up?'

Really well. I thought I was going to have a hard time with the archer apostle, but if he knew I was there he never pointed it out to the knights we met and I didn't feel any malicious odd trailing us here.

'And... tomorrow? You're all ready for that?'

I know what I have to do. Don't worry about me. What about you guys back at Doldrey?

'We've been waiting mostly. Rickert was showing Guts some new weapons he had crafted. But honestly, Silat seems to be having some internal conflict.'

How?

'I think seeing the Skull Knight really put some things into perspective for him. And if we're getting help from the elves... I guess that makes our odds look better in his eyes.'

Yeah. That sounds about right. What about Casca?

'I... haven't seen her much since you all left. I'm not sure if that's a good thing that she's getting ready or not if she's worrying herself sick.'

Are you worried?

'Of course, I am! You and the others are in the most dangerous place for people like us. I guess I'm just used to seeing others put themselves in dangerous situations that I'm good at hiding how nervous I really feel.'

Well, I might not be there, but I'm here to talk if you want.

'That's kind of you, but I don't want to keep you up until the night. You have a big day ahead of you.'

That he did.

Rickert wasn't kidding, taking a wagon up was the better way to go. Having not one, but two Vandimion's in their party made it quite easy to rent a cart service to the top of the palace's winding roadway that leads to the main entrance. Still cloaked, Harry watched as other citizens made the trek on foot. Some looked tired and winded before even reaching the halfway point on the road. Yet even the most winded of people still seemed to be in good hopes as they made the walk higher.

For Harry, all he felt was a cold pit in his stomach the closer that they got to the top. They were passing by guard posts manned by normal humans, but the lack of anything supernatural or demonic served as a stark contrast to what this place actually was.

Farnese and Serpico were unusually quiet, only talking when the cart driver wanted to make conversation. Sirius too seemed to be struggling to maintain a constant smile on his face and his hand would brush past where he had his wand stored similar to Harry and how he had been constantly fretting over his bag. He made sure he still had his portkey figure and that Serpico had the other. Sir Azan's expression was hidden as his helm was on but Harry didn't miss the trembling of his hand. The one who seemed the most composed, however, was Magnifico.

"Mother and father might be here," Magnifico whispered to himself. "Your brothers too, nothing to worry about. You're fine, you've done nothing wrong." He would talk to himself, but it didn't seem to be out of pure fear. There was a sense of moral he was giving himself while doing it. Even if he didn't have the best relationship with his father or brothers, he knew that they were where some of the influence around his name came from. It was selfish, but it seemed to be doing the trick. And as long as he didn't say anything that would expose them, he was free to say what he needed.

They were close now. The wide, white structure was so imposing now that Harry could no longer see the outline of the sphere behind it. The last zig-zag was just ahead and they were stopped by a pair of armed guards.

"Names and business?" one asked quite curtly.

"We are the Vandimion siblings, Farnese and Magnifico. The three are our attendants and guard, Serpico, Sirius of Lith, and Sir Azan. We come with an invitation from General Laban to attend the rehearsal and to perhaps reunite with our remaining family."

Throwing Laban's name out there seemed to carry weight along with their own status as the guards became a bit more respectable and granted them access. Serpico paid the cart driver for his services and disembarked from their ride with a still invisible Harry going last. The guards gave a signal to a pair beyond the lowered drawbridge and the white doors beyond began to open up.

"Please, follow the rest of the guests for the rehearsal. Forward and to the right."

The entry hall alone could have fit a small keep inside of it with how tall it was. Multiple glass chandeliers hung from the ceiling by design of a bird's claw. Wings marked the base of every pillar and the top as well. Even the marble floor beneath them was clean as glass without a single speck of dust to be found even with all the people mingling about.

Farnese seemed to struggle to find her words. "This is certainly... extravagant."

"I would consider every pure-blood family put to shame," Sirius looked around. "The Malfoy's have nothing on this."

"A bit too excessive, don't you think?" Magnifico asked no one person. "Our estate house wasn't as lavish as this, but it had more color than just white. It was modest." Harry had been to his house once. It was anything but modest.

"Be that as it may, the general flow seems to go toward the next hall," Serpico pointed out. "Shall we proceed?"

With Farnese and Magnifico leading, Sirius and Serpico took up the sides and Azan took the back. Harry was in the middle of them all. He would hate to accidentally bump into someone. He was only invisible, not intangible. This proved to be useful as there was a fair bit of traffic going into the hall and they had to practically squeeze through shoulder-to-shoulder.

This hall was smaller than the entry, but still grand in its own right. It was white in color as seemed to be the theme. Dozens if not hundreds of rows of seating had been laid out from the entry to an altar near an open ceiling and more were still being laid out. What stood out about the altar wasn't the design of a falcon taking flight, it was the open ceiling - or more importantly, what came down and looped out of the ceiling. A glowing white branch from the World Tree itself.

It was as Rickert described but seeing it was a whole other thing.

Does anyone see the Queen? Harry mentally asked. Surely she would be attending her own rehearsal or preparation. Harry had thought she would be up by the altar, but he didn't see her. There was just an extremely old man dressed in the garb of the Holy See. "The High Pontiff," Farnese called him. Aside from him, the altar was barren. On the plus side, Neo-Griffith wasn't here either.

'Magnifico and I will go gather information from the other guests,' Serpico mentally spoke. 'For now, just wait in a more secluded area.' "Shall we go and attempt to find your family, Lord Magnifico?" Serpico asked.

"Hm. Oh, yes. I suppose we shall." The two blondes wormed their way through the crowd of people still chatting amongst themselves.

They found a haven in hell in the form of one of the corners of the room. Not many people have gathered here aside from the stationary guard who was human and a few more common looking people who weren't nobility. Although, Harry did spot a short, bald man who wore lavish purple robes as he stood off to the side with a girl maybe a little older than Erica. He appeared to be a bit nervous, but the girl was fighting to contain her excitement. It took him a moment to put a name to the face.

It was Minister Foss. The man who had despised Griffith for being of common birth was now at the rehearsal to see the shell of that man marry the Queen in a day's time. If Griffith was still human, he would almost laugh at how ironic it all was. But in this case, Foss had a reason to be nervous.

'I believe I have some information that deserves to be heard,' Serpico spoke in his mind.

What's that?

'Magnifico engaged a man by the name of Sir Owen in conversation. Apparently, the Queen does not wish to be seen before her wedding day. She knows the rehearsal by heart as she planned it. The only person she cares to attend is Griffith. She's in her chambers until the morrow.'

Any chance of him saying where that would be?

'That would be a bit of a stretch but if Rickert's layout is to be trusted, they's be on a much higher level.'

The layout was something they had all committed to memory. If they went back out this hall and made a right, they'd be a junction. Going left would take them to another floor.

Just play it safe for now, Harry advised. Sirius and I'll keep in touch. I'll let you know if we find it. Be ready.

Sirius got the mental message as well and the two of them slipped back to the main entrance and were only able to get past due to Sirius discreetly casting a tripping jinx on one of the attendants and were able to slip past as others either stopped or went around the scene.

The path to their right was far more clear once they steered clear of all those people. Only a few were out milling here as they probably found it more calming. None of them paid Sirius any thought as he maneuvered his way out of there and they naturally didn't see Harry following alongside him. "And I thought the Ministry traffic was hell."

They continued further down the hall, finally arriving at the junction Rickert had mentioned before. Sure enough, to their left was a hall and stairs leading upward. Spotting only a few Kushan looking guards further down the opposite end, they took their chances and started up the stairs. they were about halfway up when Harry felt an ominous sense of od coming toward them. It didn't come from the front or back but from the side.

Merging out of the shadow on the wall was a cloaked figure wearing a bone-white mask.

Rakshas.

"Oh, what's this?" the apostle slowly slithered out of the shadows. "A guest making a wrong turn? this is the day before a wedding, go, be happy! Enjoy it with others. Unless... you seek a much darker path."

Harry could see Sirius debating to pull out his wand or not. Rakshas had gotten the drop on them for sure but was it worth blowing their cover already? He was an apostle, he could very easily-,

"Rakshas!" a human voice shouted.

"Oh, a boring stiff."

The Kushan guards from the other way had spotted the scene and convened as a unit. "What are you doing harassing this man, Rakshas?" the leader asked.

"Harassing? Me? I was just asking a simple question is all. What were you doing neglecting your duties? You know what lies beyond."

"The Hawk of Light is too lenient with you. A Bakiraka scum."

"Former."

"Return to your shadows, filth. Let us handle this."

Rakshas slumped in his cloak. "Still hardly the worst thing I've been called. Ta-ta my lovelies." With little effort, he began to seep into the shadow once more and travel up the wall and scurried in the opposite direction.

Sirius relaxed a bit at the save. "Well, you have my thanks Sir..."

"This is no place for you to be," the Kushan told him.

"Oh, my apologies," Sirius said. "I know that the wedding is an open invitation but-,"

"But the rest of the palace is not. This isn't even the wedding until tomorrow. Come. We'll escort you back to the ceremony hall. That place is safest for everyone."

Sirius looked ready to protest, but the remaining guards took up sides on him and began walking back the way they had come leaving an invisible Harry all alone.

Damn it!

'What's wrong?' Farnese asked.

We already got split up. Sirius is on his way back to you.

'Should we abort?'

'No,' Sirius voice cut in. 'They don't suspect us or what we're up to. Harry, if you're still up for it...' he let the sentence hang.

I'll find it, trust me.

Knowing where these stairs now led, Harry continued along the path knowing Rakshas had scampered off in the other direction. At the top of the stairs, he was faced with an intersection of sorts. His left path felt strangely empty as did the path forward. The path to his right... was overflowing with od. Massive, unholy od and he knew what he would find if he went along that path.

Taking a chance, Harry got out his staff and began inscribing a rune on the corner of the wall. Sirius had already put many up with Luca yesterday and he could at least put some up in the palace itself. He watched as the rune glowed purple before fading like it hadn't been placed. It wouldn't be good if someone noticed a glowing symbol n the wall but it would be very visible once activated.

If you still want, place some of those runes in the hall you're in. Not in plain sight, but discreetly. Harry conveyed to the two other mages before going along the right hall. He could do the same for Pandemonium.

He took a left and then a right and then left again before continuing straight. The feeling of the malicious od grew stronger with every step that he took. He had spotted a few human guards on his way, but they naturally didn't see him. He made sure they were out of sight before placing some more of those runes along the way.

He, at last, came upon a giant set of doors that seemed a much more faded color white than the rest of the interior and knew this would lead him to the bridge to the demonic gathering.

Before opening the door, Harry felt for any od signatures. There were a lot of them out there, but they were all contained. The bridge was clear of any additional life. Taking a deep breath, Harry had to use all his might with a bit of magic to push it open.

He stepped outside to a light bit of fog at his feet as he stood on the end of the bridge. it was wide enough, but it lacked any sort of guard rail. Apostles must like fearing for their lives to put their trust in something they could easily fall off of. Or maybe they were too arrogant to believe they could fall. Wait until they met Guts.

His footsteps made not a sound as he slowly walked the bridge, sensing for od every few seconds. He didn't plan on entering the floating circle, but he would get into a good spot to draw the rune proper. The closer it was, the more of an effect it would have.

When he finally reached his limit and could stand the feeling of the od no longer, Harry quickly, but accurately began to draw out the rune. He felt a massive sense of relief when he finished.

The rune outside of Pandemonium is in place. He made sure everyone mentally knew that.

"-eeehaa!"

Laughter!

There was od coming his way from the sphere. They were a distance away but would be upon him soon. He didn't know how soon, but before he could get back to the door. Harry swore his heart almost jumped into his throat at what he saw coming out of the fog toward him. Three War Demons. One wore a pig's helm, the other a frog's. The third was a figure Harry knew all too well. The hulking form of a human form Zodd. His dark fur pelt draped his broad shoulders and his weapons hung from his back and hip.

"You could have easily bested him, Captain, why not accept that fool's challenge?"

"The fights are starting to get stale. We need real blood! You can give us that, can't you, Captain?"

Zodd scowled at the two. "Fools. A true fight does not come from within there. You would know if either of you were a true warrior." He was close now.

"You're right, Captain," he didn't sound happy about it. "It would just be satisfying is all, seeing you break that magic-lover in half! Pthew!" he spat off the bridge.

They were starting to annoy the much larger apostle. "He has his own battle to fight. As do I." They were right by where Harry was, standing so close to the edge that if he took a step back, he'd be falling.

Harry tried to get his heart to stop beating so loudly that he feared it would burst out of his chest. They were passing him by now. Zodd was so close to touch as one of the demonic warrior's arms hung by his side as he walked. It almost felt a flutter as his large knuckles seemed to brush the silky fabric.

Zodd's pace slowed.

Harry stood stock still. He didn't move. He didn't dare blink, swallow or even breath.

Those red, cat-like eyes seemed to stare right at him where he thought he felt something.

"Captain?" one War Demon asked.

Zodd turned his gaze away but from the corner, Harry could almost see the sharpened teeth as the apostle seemed to grin.

"Come," Zodd said, walking away. "If you desire the taste and thrill of real blood, seek Irvine in the forest. Catch your own food."

What?

"As you say, Captain," both followed after him. Zodd easily pulled the door open and held it still, casting a glance to the seemingly empty bridge.

Was he actually...?

Harry took a tentative step, willing his feet to make no sound as he walked toward the now open door.

He barely had time to process as Zodd let go of the door before Harry even reached the threshold, causing him to rush as quickly as possible through before it shut.

"Do you fools know the way?" Zodd asked the two.

"Of course, Captain!" the boar-helm stated. He began to head right when Zodd's massive hand grabbed him by the gorget and tossed him aside like a doll.

"Captain!"

"Incompetent," Zodd bullied past them and to the left. "You'd lead us astray." His two underlings grumbled but followed after their captain. As he departed, Zodd spared a half-glance over his shoulder in the direction they would have gone.

Not willing to follow after the apostles, Harry made his way in the opposite direction, confused by Zodd's actions just now but not believing he was in danger of being ratted out. The od was lesser over here and far less malicious. As far as Harry was concerned, that was a good sign.

Once his heart rate dropped back to normal, Harry took the time to place some more runes along the way. He actually did manage to get turned around more than once due to Rickert only having partial knowledge of this place, so Harry took the chance of actively seeking out od signatures for him to get better bearings of where he was going. And as long as it was far from Pandemonium, he was fine with it.

Right, left, left, straight, right, right, left, straight, right, the palace almost seemed to come alive and actively try to keep him from finding the room he was looking for. He was just about ready to mentally contact the others when he moved to the side of the corridor as a blonde lady scampered through. A lady he had seen before.

Anna.

Recognizing her as Charlotte's handmaiden and friend, Harry followed after her.

Having lived in the palace for months, Anna naturally knew where she was going. Because of that, Harry kept close, memorizing her every direction until, at last, they came upon an elegant looking door. Anna knocked a few times and called out.

"Your Highness, it's me! I have the flowers that you requested from the gardens."

"Come in!" came Charlotte's reply.

Anna opened the door and Harry quickly followed her in before she could shut the door. The bedroom they were in was empty but the door to the adjacent study was very much ajar. Sitting at her desk and looking at her reflection was the very person Harry was here for. She smiled at Anna, seeing her friend.

"Thank you so much, Anna! These are perfect. Thank you!"

Anna blushed at the compliments. "Oh, you needn't thank me. I'm just doing my part to serve."

"You're being a good friend," Charlotte added. "For that, I'll be sure you get the bouquet when I throw it. You deserve happiness of your own."

"You're too kind, Charlotte."

Almost feeling guilty about doing this, Harry moved to a corner of the bedroom where they couldn't see him and got his staff to cast a near-silent, "Confundus!" at Anna.

"I- oh!"

"Anna?" Charlotte asked in concern. "Are you alright?"

"Fine, I'm fine. I just... believe I forgot something somewhere. Would you please excuse me?"

Charlotte smiled fondly. "Of course, my friend."

Anna apologized again before leaving the bedroom, closing the door behind her. Charlotte retreated back to her study, shutting the door behind her as well.

Making his move, Harry cast a silencing charm on the door hinges to ensure they made no noise. Pressing his ear against the door, Harry could hear her humming and singing to herself. When he tried to open it, he found it unable to budge. She had locked herself in.

Remembering a rather useful spell, Harry incited, "Alorhomora."

The tiniest of clicks could be heard. Slowly, he inched the door open and peeked inside. Charlotte was staring into her mirror on her desk as her wedding dress was in place on a mold. The flowers rested in a vase on her desk as she played around with her hair. The door opened further and her blue eyes caught a quick glance of it now ajar.

Charlotte turned in her seat to look behind her, seeing no one but a slightly open door. She called, "Anna?"

The sun was a nice orange as he stared out over the balcony of his solar. It should have felt warm against his skin, but all he felt was a tiny prickle. In the right angle, it would shine off his armor and blind those who stood in his way.

Those numbers were few now, but not nonexistent.

They were still out there and he saw to it that they were properly placated.

No use in them. Even if they knew it or not, they were his subjects. They carried his brand, their lives were his. He owned them, body and soul.

But it was far too much to ask that they simply just stay out of his affairs as he was now learning the hard way.

Only minutes ago General Owen, one who supported Griffith initially, came rushing into his solar with grave news.

"Lord Griffith! There's been an intruder!"

"What has happened?" How had he not felt it before now? "What intruder?"

"Sir," Owen looked troubled, "the Queen-,"

"Has this person been caught?" If only he could say, 'for your sake.'

Owen gave a curt but nervous nod. "He has. He's in the holding cells if you wish to question him."

"No." But I will. "Take me to see my betrothed. I wish to see if she is alright." And expectations must be met.

"Of course."

The walk seemed longer than usual before they arrived at the Queen's chambers. She was not in her room, rather her study. She sat almost stock still in her desk chair as a number of handmaidens gathered around her including the one she was fond of. Her clothing was untarnished but her eyes seemed to be staring off into space, blinking and still showing awareness and talking quietly to the blonde girl.

So weak. To think this was the same stock as the line Void's past life was tied to.

"Your Highness," General Laban was present as well. "Griffith is here."

She didn't show any positive reaction to that news. He could deal without her crying her eyes out.

"Queen Charlotte?" Laban spoke softly.

This was getting nowhere. He put a hand on Laban's shoulder and came up alongside the girl. "Charlotte, my love?" he reached a hand out to her as well.

She saw his hand approaching and that elicited a reaction. She reached a hand out to his but stopped before she could touch him. Her blue eyes were locked onto his hand but she refused to move. Instead, her eyes went up to his face. She was studying him, taking in every detail of his face - of Griffith's face.

"...G-griffith?"

"Yes. Are you alright?"

She wouldn't stop staring at his face. "Griffith?"

"Yes." We established this. He leaned closer. "Are you alright? Have you been harmed?"

Her eyes widened. "No!" the room was silent. She seemed aware of that. "No. He didn't touch me."

It wasn't like she was a virgin anyway.

"That is relieving to hear. I'm told that the intruder has been apprehended and in a cell if that is comforting to you."

"...It is." Still looking at his face. It was annoying.

"I can understand if you'd want to postpone the wedding tomorrow, you know." But that won't happen. Causality wills it so.

"...No. No. I'm fine. I... want to go through with this. I... have to." She said the last so softly.

"Would you like me to stay a little longer?"

Her eyes never left his face. It was annoying and weird. "No. I... have Anna and General Laban here. I... feel safe."

He nodded, glad to be done with that. "Owen, take me to the intruder."

He really shouldn't have been surprised to see who was locked in that cell. Dark, messy hair, wire glasses, emerald eyes, and lightning scar. What a sight to behold.

"We found these on him when he was detained," Owen showed him what was confiscated on a table.

One sword, a staff, a silvery cloak that just felt off, a basin, a figurine that seemed to radiate magical energy, a few totems, and a ring of green hair that looked tied to fit a finger.

How did he not know he was here until now?

"Thank you, Owen, you may leave us." His tone was formal, but left no room for arguments. Owen bowed and left the two alone in the otherwise empty jail room.

He stared down through the bars at the branded human being who just glared at him.

"You know, if you wanted an invitation to the wedding, all you had to do was ask."

The wizard spat at his feet.

"My, trying to act like Guts? You're a bit out of your weight class. And he wouldn't be interested in talking at all." He waited. No response. "I wonder, would Casca give me the same treatment as you are now? She could never stop when it came to-,"

"Shut the fuck up about her."

Ah, there it was.

"Why? Is she not grateful for giving her the gift of motherhood? I did that for her. Is she not happy?"

Harry slowly walked forward and grabbed the bars, his green eyes meeting with his blue.

"Your glare has improved. Last he remembers you were a scared little boy. Slan would certainly be impressed."

"Are you going to have her torture me then?"

"I don't believe I mentioned torture. I just came to talk is all."

"I don't believe you."

He shrugged. "To be expected. That is fine with me. I don't need to ask questions to figure out how you got in here." He grabbed a torch from the wall and brought it over to the table where his items were. He held the flame close to each, observing the boy's reaction. "Ah, is this it?" He picked up the silvery cloak. When he put it over his arm, it seemed to vanish. "Invisibility. How useful." That solved that question. "But why go after the Queen?" he knew why. "Did you somehow find out through an acquaintance what would happen?"

He said nothing.

"Silence is golden. I really don't know what you expected to happen, but I'm sure you know the consequences."

The glare intensified. "Yeah."

"Hm. You seem to know quite a lot. Did you also know that a certain someone has very much wanted to meet you in this city?"

"Voldemort." He still glared at him. "When can I expect a visit from him?"

"He doesn't know you're here. And I won't tell him. Not until the wedding has passed. It'd be in poor taste to kill a guest during a ceremony." He made ready to leave. "If only the same could be said for Guts and Casca."

A/N: Hey, sorry for the delay. I was sick for a few days and the new Smash Bros game has... well, you get the point. Longest chapter yet and this and the next one are the preface before the war. Thank you for reading.