Like with the Investigations and Plays Template, I'm going to have Bath Scenes in its own separate chapter hopefully soon. Unfortunately the bath scenes I did have before were lost with my other data, so I'm still reconstructing them. If you want to see any characters interact in a bath scene, feel free to leave a suggestion in a review.

Part Eight

Three days later…

"The bathhouse is very popular, but it's not very private, is it?" Surya asked.

"They're aesthetically beautiful and the hot bath water feels therapeutic, but they are two public tubs separated by a simple divider wall," Israfil agreed. "Voices carry quite easily inside the bathhouse."

"It is…quite easy to hear private conversations," Eamon said softly.

"That tends to happen," Georg agreed amusedly.

"Anyways," Caesar said, directing everyone's attention back to him. "I'm happy to report that as of this morning the last house for the survivors of Agameru has finished. I must applaud our soldiers for their assistance in getting the homes up as quickly as possible."

"I'm concerned that they didn't build their homes on the outskirts of our headquarters," Allise said. "300 meters may not be too far away, but it still a bit of distance from us."

"At least we can see their new hamlet from the rooftops of our buildings," Daunte said. "So they're not completely out of sight."

"And if something happens they can flee to here," Varnaz said, nodding.

"So we have succeeded to bringing Lorik Varra and his people into our fold, even if not as official allies," Tamara said. "With any hope that will change."

"There is another reason we called this meeting," Caesar said. He looked at Daunte, who nodded and turned to face the lieutenants before him. "I want to focus our next campaign…against Sloan Faakhir."

"Great idea," Gunther chimed in. "The Sheikh's Garrison took a significant hit during that earthquake. Now's a good time to strike when their defenses are so abysmal and their morale is so low."

"The Sheikh will no doubt be planning his next major campaign against us once he recovers, if he hasn't already planned a campaign against us," Keiran said. "Seeing as the Liberation Army gained two Sheikhs as allies, they will undoubtedly send their strongest and most mentally unstable Sheikh against us."

"I hope we're not planning on recruiting him," Eamon said warily. He rubbed his arms slightly. "I have heard that Sheikh Faakhir has killed his own soldiers over insignificant matters. A man like that would destroy us."

"I've known Sloan Faakhir for several years," Keiran said. "And I must say that his transformation is highly disturbing. It's like a devil has taken hold of his body. He was not always like—this. However, the atrocities he has committed cannot be ignored. He cannot be our ally."

Daunte hesitated but briefly. He remembered the visions he had seen of Sloan, the drastic changes in his personality. He wanted—no, needed—to know what happened to this man to cause him to change so much.

But…But he's a threat to us and has hurt many people in this Army.

"I will not seek to recruit him," he said finally. "When so many people here have suffered because of him. Not only what he did to Agameru, but to Tidur and his daughters. I will not subject any of them to him."

"Well said, Lord Daunte," Varnaz said, nodding.

"So are we in agreement then," Caesar said. "Sheikh Sloan Faakhir will be the next target for our campaign."

He was greeted with affirmations. Daunte raised his hand. "I must request that this news not leave this room for the time being. I want to inform Tidur and Lorik about our plans in person so they don't hear about it second-handed.

"That's very kind of you, Lord Daunte," Tamara said. "And you're right, they deserve to hear this directly from you and not as gossip."

"I will go with you when you make these talks," Caesar said. " Despite a bit of distance the new hamlet is close enough that we shouldn't worry about monsters. You just let me know when you're going, Lord Daunte."

"I would like to do it now," Daunte said. "We can go and see Tidur first."

"Oh my goodness!" Tidur came out from behind the inn counter when she saw Daunte and Caesar. "The Lord Commander and Chief Strategist visiting us? What a treat!"

"Lord Daunte!" Esther raced out from down the hallway and grabbed his hand. "I installed that new Window Set you gave me! Come here, let me show you!"

"Hello," Ciana said in her usual stoic nature.

"I'll be glad to see the windows," Daunte said. "But I have to talk to your mother first."

"To Mother?" Esther looked at Tidur. "Ah—are you kicking us out?"

"Oh nothing of the sort," Caesar reassured her. "But we must discuss something with her first."

Esther quickly looked at him. "If you want to talk to Mother, then I'm going to be there too."

"Esther—" Tidur began.

"No buts!" Esther interrupted. "I'm not leaving! I want to hear what you have to say!"

"It's about Daddy," Ciana said matter-of-factly. Both Daunte and Caesar looked at her in shock.

"Here," Tidur said, quickly waving them behind the counter to a door there. "We can use this room. I'll prepare tea."

"I'm not leaving," Esther said again, though there were tears in her voice now.

Daunte debated if he should push for Esther and Ciana to leave or if he should just break the news to all three of them at once. He looked at Caesar, but he saw in the Strategist's expression that he was leaving this up to Daunte. He looked back at Tidur and her daughters…and nodded. "Okay."

Five minutes later they were in a sitting room with Tidur serving tea with cake. Daunte and Caesar sat on one couch and Esther and Ciana sat on another couch facing them. The room looked very similar to the sitting room Tidur had at her inn in K'alak'i Patieba. Daunte waited until Tidur was finished and sat down between her daughters before he spoke. "We came to a decision that we wanted to inform you about before we announce it to the Army. We've planned our next campaign, and…"

Daunte took a moment to catch his breath and sipped some tea. When he looked back up he kept his eyes on Tidur. "We'll be marching against your estranged husband."

Esther gasped loudly and slapped her hands over her mouth. Ciana didn't react. Tidur's brow twitched briefly but she otherwise remained composed. "…I understand," she said softly. "He is the enemy of this Army. It was inevitable that you would face him on the battlefield."

Daunte looked at Esther and Ciana. Esther was trying and failing to hold back tears but Ciana was still staring back at him without reaction. He looked back at Tidur. "I am sorry," he said. "For all of you. I-If there was another option I would take it, but…"

"He has done…many terrible things," Tidur said. Her response was careful and composed, as though she had rehearsed it in her head before. "And he tried to attack this location while all three of us were here. I do not fault you for your decision and I respect it. I…will accept whatever fate he must have."

"Please don't kill him!" Esther burst out, tears slipping down her cheeks. She launched herself from the couch and threw herself to her knees before Daunte. "Please Lord Daunte, please don't kill my dad!" She grabbed his hand in both of hers and gripped it tight. "I-I know he's done terrible things but I beg of you, PLEASE don't kill him!"

Daunte immediately regretted breaking this news to all of them at once. His mouth opened and closed in shock as he stared at Esther stunned. He glanced back at Tidur and Ciana and both had risen from the couch. "Esther," Tidur said, wrapping her arm around her oldest child's shoulders. "Esther, please get up—"

"NO!" Esther grabbed Daunte's arm and clung to it tight. "NO, NO, NO! Say it! Say you won't kill my dad!"

"Esther—" Tidur tried to pull Esther off Daunte by the teenage girl wasn't letting him go.

"YOU'RE NOT LEAVING!" Esther shrieked. "I WON'T LET YOU LEAVE UNTIL YOU PROMISE ME YOU WON'T KILL DADDY! SAY IT!"

"Esther," Caesar said, standing up from the couch. "I understand how you feel, you need to let my Lord go right now."

"NO!" Esther's hysteria grew greater and greater and her grip on Daunte's arm was so tight that it was starting to feel numb. "Tell me you won't kill Daddy! Promise me!"

"I—" Daunte was finally able to find his voice, but then he saw movement behind Tidur and Esther. Ciana had joined her sister on the floor, on her knees with her hands clasped in front of her. Her expression was still solemn and stoice, but her eyes…

"Please don't kill Daddy," Ciana said, her tone calmer than Esther but still sad. "He's done bad things, but he can't pay for the bad things he did if he dies. C-Can you put him jail, where bad guys go?"

Tidur looked helpless and on the verge of tears herself. She reached for both of her daughters and held them to her. "…My Lord," she whispered. "My Lord, I…"

Daunte knew then that he had to make another decision; whether to give them false hope that he would spare Sloan, destroy them with brutal honesty that he would most likely die, or take a third option to show his own uncertainty. He didn't know what would be the best response for both the short term and long term.

But I created this mess. I need to diffuse it, but I owe them my honesty.

"Everyone." he was shocked by how calm he sounded and Esther went still and stopped pulling on his arm. "I am sorry," he said. "For how I've brought this news to you. This is your husband and your father. I—cannot promise that I will spare him. I-If I engage him on the battlefield and we fight then I may slay him in battle.

"But," he continued. "I will promise you to do everything I can to seek a peaceful resolution."

"Thank you, Lord Daunte," Tidur said, finally succeeding at pulling Esther away from him. "And we appreciate greatly hearing this directly from you instead of second-handed."

"Yeah," Esther whimpered, wiping at her nose. Ciana didn't say anything more and stood up.

"Hey," Daunte said. "Hero and James regularly take the skyship for trips, whether it be to the Northern Continent or just as a fly-around. If the three of you are interested, I would like to invite you on my next trip to the Northern Continent. How does that sound?"

"Oh? To where?" Tidur asked.

"The Yaza Plans between Zexan, the Grasslands, and the Free-State of Budehuc. There's someone I need to recruit there."

Esther made a face. "Isn't that the place where everyone gambled at?"

"That's the place where the Army won 11 million bits," Tidur gently corrected her.

"I heard Arin," Ciana said suddenly. "He said a dog is going to have puppies there. Can I have a puppy?"

"A puppy?!" Esther immediately brightened. "I would love a puppy!"

Tidur's smile relaxed. "It sounds unanimous, my Lord. We will come with you on your next trip. The girls and I could…use the distraction."

"We'll be happy to have you," Caesar said.

Before going to see Lorik Varra's new hamlet, Daunte needed a moment to breathe. When they exited HQ he went to the southern wall and sat down, curling his knees and hugging them to his chest. He looked towards the sky as Caesar took a seat beside him. "Are you okay, Lord Daunte?"

"I shouldn't have done that," he mumbled, closing his eyes. "I shouldn't have broken the news like that to them. I brought that family stress and sorrow…"

"No, you did the right thing."

Daunte looked at Caesar and the Strategist looked very serious. "You did the right thing breaking this news to Tidur, Esther, and Ciana at the same time. Had you told Tidur alone then the burden would have been on her to break the news to her daughters."

"But—"

"Please let me finish. That breakdown you witnessed with Esther and Ciana was an inevitable reaction. They were going to respond like that no matter if you broke the news to them or if Tidur broke the news to them. The only difference is that if Tidur had broken the news to them, the sisters would've gone looking for you and the same breakdown would have happened in public. In front of the soldiers. It would have created a spectacle that neither the girls nor you would have lived down. By speaking to all of them at once you kept this in a controlled, private environment where the family can deal with it together. It will be difficult for all three of them, but you handled this as best as you could."

Daunte nodded stiffly. "Thank you, Caesar."

"Remember what I said," Caesar said. "Don't stress over the "why's" for Sloan Faakhir's actions. The why's won't excuse the atrocities he's committed against our allies. Tidur and her daughters surely understand this, but they pleaded for his life because, ultimately, he is their father."

"I understand." Daunte slowly stood up. "Let's go and see Lorik Varra and his people. I imagine that we'll receive a more…positive response to the news of our next campaign."

"Oh I don't doubt that."

They didn't run into any monsters between HQ and the new hamlet. Daunte was encouraged at seeing the freshly built homes clustered together and the survivors of Agameru milling about hanging up laundry and talking amongst themselves. Laughing amongst themselves.

Hopefully this will keep them safe and secure.

"Lord Daunte!" Someone shouted, and suddenly Daunte found himself surrounded by people. Grabbing and pulling on his arms, hugging him tight. Everyone was talking loudly in gratitude of him.

"You saved us!"

"It's amazing what you've done at your age!"

"Thank you so much!"

Daunte was then suddenly grabbed from behind, and the person who had grabbed him quickly pushed him through the people. "Please calm down! You'll smother him!"

Daunte was shocked to hear Zander's voice and turned to face the young man, but he was frowning at the small crowd. "You shouldn't mob the leader of the Liberation Army like that!"

"Oh come on Zander!" A woman protested. "Look around us! We owe Lord Daunte everything!"

Daunte was just shocked to see Zander defending him instead of treating him with contempt. Caesar approached them with his hands behind his head and a lazy smile. "Thank you for the save Zander, though I'm pleased to see you treating my Lord with the respect he deserves."

"You're here to see Lord Lorik, right?" Zander asked. "I'll take you to him."

Daunte nodded. "Thank you."

Lorik Varra's house was only slightly larger than the other houses, though when they entered he saw that the house had three rooms, with the main room serving as a living/dining room, and two other rooms that were undoubtedly bedrooms for Lorik and Tala. Tala snapped to attention when they entered, and Lorik quickly rose from his seat at the table. "Lord Daunte! Please come in, I am so overwhelmed by your generosity! The bits you gave us not only gave us materials for homes, but clothes and food and furniture even! None of us have slept in beds in months but now all of us have our own beds! Thank you so much!"

"I'm glad that everything set up for you all so quickly," Daunte said sincerely. "And if there's anything else you need, just let us know."

"You gave us 100,000 bits to rebuild. Asking any more of you would be misery." Lorik rubbed at his forehead. "But what can I help you both with?"

"We're actually here to deliver news to you," Daunte said. "I wanted to notify you before I told the Army. On our next war campaign, we're going after Sheikh Sloan Faakhir."

"YES!" Zander shrieked, impulsively punching the wall.

"Don't destroy this house!" Tala said sharply.

"I know, sorry!"

"I-I see," Lorik said. Daunte could see that he was struggling to remain calm. "A-And…you will fight him, yes? Not recruit him?"

Daunte nodded. "Our goal is not to recruit him."

Lorik sighed heavily and grabbed at his chest. "Thank Nagar for that! If I had to see that bastard's face most everyday, after everything he did to my people…" he shook his head and looked away.

"I'm enlisting," Zander said suddenly, stepping forward to stand before Daunte. "Please forgive me Lord Lorik, but I want to join the Liberation Army."

"Y-You do?" Daunte asked in shock.

"Sloan Faakhir killed my parents. I witnessed what he—" Zander waved a hand painfully. "The Theocracy destroyed my life and I want to bring them down. And I—I know," he continued painfully. "What I did to you guys was wrong. I-I was angry and wanted revenge, but people still died when I told Keiran Umed where your previous headquarters was. I-I-I-I didn't turn out any better than Bearyl Lutis, did I?"

"Don't compare yourself to him," Daunte said. "Bearyl Lutis abandoned Agameru because of his pride. He refused to help you because of his pride. And let's be honest, had we given you all help when you came to us then you wouldn't have even been put into that position!"

"But your comrades died because my information led you all into a trap," Zander said gravely. "I need to atone for that. I w-want to redeem myself, Lord Daunte. I ha…" he swallowed hard and blinked rapidly to clear the tears from his eyes before he continued. "I'm…sorry. Sorry for how I've treated you and for getting your comrades killed. Please let me help you. Please let me redeem myself. Please, I—" he shook his head. "Please…let me avenge my family."

Daunte looked at Caesar but Caesar just responded with a smile. Daunte looked back at Zander and nodded. "Welcome to the Liberation Army, Zander!"

"Yes, thank you!" Zander shouted, giving Daunte a quick hug and bowing to Lorik. "Thank you for everything, Lord Lorik!"

"No, thank you," Lorik said. "For all that you have done to help us, Zander."

Zander ran from the house and Lorik looked at Daunte. "I don't have the right to ask you for anything, but…please get me vengeance. I personally witnessed what Sloan Faakhir did to my people, a-and I'm not a fighter. I have no combat skills, and if I were to face Faakhir on the battlefield he would kill me." He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Get me vengeance. Please."

Daunte nodded. "I understand."

The official announcement was made once Daunte and Caesar returned to HQ, though word had quickly spread amongst the survivors of Agameru and their moods lifted considerably. Morale amongst the soldiers was also high, though many were apprehensive about the upcoming battle.

"The Sheikh is a cold-blooded killer!"

"He knows how to summon monsters, doesn't he?"

"But he doesn't have a Pale Gate Rune, does he?"

"He's killed people with his bare hands!"

Tidur and her daughters understandably kept to themselves at the inn for the remainder of the day, which Daunte was relieved about as he didn't want them to hear the gossip around headquarters. He took Arin to go get dinner and Roen and Felicity quickly joined them at the restaurant. "So we're finally going after Sloan Faakhir?" Roen said, the four taking a table in the corner. They had each chosen ramen for their dinner.

"We are," Daunte confirmed.

"I'm glad," Felicity said. "We didn't have the manpower to properly engage him before, but now we have a lot of allies and with his diminishing forces we can engage them more in our favor."

"T-The earthquake destroyed his place, didn't it?" Arin asked. "A-Are we going to attack because of that?"

"That's part of it," Daunte said. "But we're also expecting the Sheikh to send soldiers here again once they recoup."

"Sheikh Keha Hale may join the advance again if Sheikh Faakhir marches here," Roen warned.

"That's a possibility," Daunte said. "But Keha Hale would probably run for his life once the battle turns in our favor."

"Yeah," Felicity said softly.

Arin slurped his noodles loudly, making the trio flinch but also relax somewhat. "Is Tidur's family okay?" Felicity asked.

Daunte shook his head. "I broke the news to them first. They're understandably upset. I promised to take them with me the next time I go back to the Northern Continent, so hopefully that will prove to be a good distraction for the three of them."

"Arb dey getting a puppy do?" Arin asked, his mouth full.

Daunte tried not to sigh in exasperation. "Arin," he said softly. "We spoke about this before. Raising a puppy is a huge responsibility and I won't have time to take care of it."

"But Big Brother—"

"How many people have you told that we're getting a puppy?"

Arin's brow furrowed in confusion and he put down his chopsticks. He started counting on his fingers and the trio watched him count all ten of his fingers. Then he shook his head. "N-Not many, I swear!"

"Watch out, Big Brother," Felicity said amusedly. "Arin seems determined to have a puppy."

"I'm aware, but I have to be logical," Daunte said. "I'm leading an Army! A dog won't thrive in this environment!"

"B-But Lord Eamon wants a puppy!" Arin protested. "A-A-A-And isn't Miss Tidur getting a puppy for Esther and Ciana?"

"That's their business," Daunte said sternly. "We can't—"

Roen suddenly shrieked with laughter. Daunte, Arin, and Felicity gaped as the other boy slapped his hand on the table and swayed back and forth in his seat as he laughed to the point of tears. Others inside the restaurant were also turning to stare.

"Y—You two," Roen sputtered, hugging his sides. "Y-You're fighting about a puppy! W-We—After everything we've been through, you can f-fight about the silliest things! I can't believe it!"

The annoyance quelled inside of Daunte and he felt a warm but bittersweet feeling. He looked at Arin, who had resumed slurping his ramen, and Felicity who also understood Roen's glee and was laughing herself.

Roen's right. Months ago we were in a labor camp half alive, and Arin was almost dead. Now we're here, healthy and eating good food. And Arin's alive and all right. I-I…I had almost lost hope that this would happen, but it did…

"Arin," he said finally, looking at his little brother. "I will…consider getting the puppy."

"YAY!" Arin shouted, pumping his fists.

"Don't ever change, Daunte," Felicity laughed, though she wiped away a few scant tears.

Daunte shrugged. "I don't know how to act any other way."

Sleep didn't come easy to Daunte that night. He dozed off briefly but then snapped awake. There was a feeling of unease in his stomach that he couldn't shake. He scoffed loudly and threw back the covers. "I'll go for a walk," he announced.

He got changed and found himself standing inside the elevator. He contemplated the floor before he pushed for the fifth floor. "Great," he muttered. "I'm taking the elevator to go up one floor."

The elevator opened to the fifth floor, and he saw Yuber standing in his usual spot. His nose wrinkled when he caught a whiff of garlic thick in the air. Ugh, what is that? It wasn't that strong earlier!

He shook his head. Nash and Sierra asked me to investigate it, but it'll have to wait. I need to speak to Yuber.

"Good evening," Daunte said as he approached Yuber. "How are you, Yuber?"

"If you came up here to make conversation with me, don't bother," Yuber responded coldly. "I don't make small talk."

"Actually I needed to speak to you," Daunte said. "I'm going to be returning to the Northern Continent in the near future, and I want you to come with me."

"…Is that so?" Yuber asked slowly. "After wasting your breath explaining to me how I was NOT coming with you, now you decide that I should come with you?"

"Yes," Daunte said. "I-I saw a vision in the Grasslands of you. I saw you wearing—" he gestured to Yuber. "Not this. With any luck no one will recognize you in your Black Knight armor. But you will be coming with me."

"Why?" Yuber asked without a hint of curiosity.

"Because someone wants to meet you."

Now Yuber looked curious. A smile rose to his lips as he folded his arms over his chest. "Really? Someone called me out by name and you intend to bring me to them? Who is this person?"

Daunte watched his face carefully as he responded. "Pesmerga."

The name barely finished on Daunte's breath when Yuber immediately teleported away, leaving Daunte alone on the fifth floor. "Yuber, get back here!" Daunte shouted.

Just as quickly Yuber teleported back, but he grabbed Daunte by his collar and hoisted him up. "You little worm," he rasped through clenched teeth. "How dare you try to trap me in a battle against that bastard!"

Daunte felt his feet dangling above the floor, but he remained composed and glared into Yuber's eyes. "Put me down," he said harshly.

Yuber let him go, and Daunte landed hard on his feet but promptly fell over. "I will not go," Yuber snapped. "That pathetic fool has been chasing me for eons! I have never given him the time of day and I won't do it now! Especially not for you!"

"Why is it such a problem meeting Pesmerga? Are you afraid of him?"

Yuber snapped his teeth at Daunte. "You had better be careful of the words you use with me. I'm very angry right now and if you continue to persist in pushing my buttons I will not be responsible for my actions."

Daunte didn't back down. "Life isn't fair, Yuber. Pesmerga is someone very important and if meeting you is the only way I can get him to join the Liberation Army then you two are going to meet each other."

"Why is he important?" Yuber demanded.

"Because I said so," Daunte said. He knew better than to admit that Pesmerga had a high probability in being a key factor in Yuber learning humanity. If Yuber knows what I'm planning, he will not agree, he thought. He may try to kill the 'red', 'white', and 'black' in Piccolo's reading. I can't let that happen.

Yuber stood there seething before him, his breathing ragged and heavy. "You are going to regret this greatly," he hissed. "I am bound by blood to you through our contract so I must obey your orders. But I hope you're prepare for the collateral damage that will be coming your way."

Daunte did feel uneasy at his ominous tone, but he still did not back down. "Duly noted."

"Ah, there you are Lord Daunte."

The voice from the stairs startled Daunte and he turned to see Tidur walking towards him holding a cup of tea on a saucer. "Ms. Tidur. It's very late. Is everything okay?"

"Oh yes," Tidur said, offering him the tea. "I brewed some tea and brought it to your room. When I didn't see you there I came looking for you."

"Oh, thank you." Daunte sipped the tea, and immediately felt soothed. "I-I appreciate this after everything that happened today."

"I did want to speak to you," Tidur said. "I wanted to ap—"

"Don't apologize," Daunte interjected. "I delivered devastating news to your family. Esther and Ciana were not going to respond to the news positively regardless. I'm just sorry I didn't break the news more gently in front of them."

Tidur sighed painfully, her eyes slipping closed. "My Lord?"

Daunte's throat began to ache but he forced himself to answer her. "Yes?"

"Lord Daunte…I—"

"Lord Daunte!"

Daunte and Tidur jumped at the scream. He turned to his left and saw a burst of light before Viki appeared before the three of them. Her complexion was pale and she stumbled towards them. "L—"

She collapsed but Daunte surged forward and caught her before she fell to the floor. "Viki, what happened?! What's wrong?!"

"Ngh!" Viki shook her head violently and grabbed his sleeve. "S—Something's wrong! I-I can feel—sense danger! It just happened, one of the towns, they—"

"Stop speaking in riddles and just spit it out," Yuber interjected.

"Please don't yell at her," Tidur said softly.

"Death!" Viki screamed. "P-People are dying! There's fire, I can sense it!"

"Where, Viki?" Daunte implored her. "Where is the attack?"

"N-North! The far north, the mountains—"

"The Wingers!" Daunte shouted as a cold chill swept over his body. He leapt to his feet and pulled Viki up with him. "The Theocracy must have went after the Wingers! We have to help them!"

"You are correct." There was another flash of light and Leknaat appeared before them. "I sense the disturbance. The death and rage. The Wingers are in great danger."

"Tidur, go and wake Caesar up right now!" Daunte shouted. "We have to mobilize immediately!"

"R-Right!" Tidur took his teacup and raced for the stairs. Daunte turned to Yuber. "Please, Yuber! Please go to Peak's Edge and find out what's going on!"

"Why not send her?" Yuber said, jabbing his finger at Viki.

"She is not in a good state of mind," Leknaat said.

"Then you can go," Yuber snapped.

Leknaat smiled faintly. "I cannot imagine what I could do alone."

Daunte glared at Yuber and flared his nostrils. "Yuber, please go!"

"Fine," Yuber said, and in a flash he was gone.

"Viki, do you sense anything else about the attack?!" Daunte asked her.

Viki shuddered and hugged her arms. "I feel…there's a darkness. A familiar darkness, so cold! And bloodlust, I-I remember something—" she gurgled and choked on a sob. "Oh no. Oh no, oh no, oh no!"

"I agree with Viki," Leknaat said, frowning deeply. "The darkness feels…familiar."

"Darkness," Daunte said. "And bloodlust…" he gasped throatily. "Sloan Faakhir?!"

"Lord Daunte!" Caesar appeared from the stairs still in his pajamas, Tidur quickly following him. "My Lord, what happened?"

Yuber quickly reappeared in the room. "The winged people are being slaughtered," he reported matter-of-factly.

"Oh no!" Tidur cried out, pressing a hand to her throat.

Daunte glanced at Tidur, wondering if he should say this in front of her, but he also knew that they were short on time. "Did you see Sloan Faakhir at Peak's Edge?"

"Sloan?" Tidur whispered, the color draining from her face.

"I did," Yuber responded nonchalantly. "He was leading the attack. I want to fight him."

Daunte turned to Caesar. "Quick, get me Keiran, Mihr, Baldemar, and Nash! Yuber will be the sixth party member and I want Clara to be in the support party! She has a Resurrection Rune, she might be able to help minimize the casualties!"

"Right away," Caesar said, and he took off running.

"I am afraid to tell you that lives will be lost today despite your best efforts," Leknaat said to Daunte. "But that should not deter you from saving as many people as possible."

Viki gulped audibly, tears visible in her eyes. "P-Please be careful. The darkness, the hate—it's scary. I-I don't know—"

"There is no darkness greater than mine," Yuber spoke up suddenly. "So you shouldn't afraid of something that can't compare to me."

Viki looked at him for a long moment of silence. It was clear she didn't know if she should find reassurance in his statement. Daunte himself wasn't sure, either. "I have to get my tekko," Daunte said finally. "I'll be right—"

"Lord Daunte, I'm coming with you," Tidur said suddenly.

"Wait, what?!" Daunte exclaimed, gaping at her. "I don't think that's a good idea! Sloan—"

"We know Sloan's relationship with me," Tidur said. "And that is why I must go. I have to see him in the state he's in. I…" She looked away. "I have to—do something, after I did nothing during our marriage."

You were subjected to his wrath and anger! What else could you have done?! But Daunte didn't say this out loud and shook himself off as he made a decision. "Okay. But stay behind us and do not participate in the battle."

"Yes, thank you," Tidur said, nodding.

Less than five minutes later Daunte had his party assembled. "P-Peak's Edge is under attack?!" Baldemar exclaimed.

"We'll need to hurry then," Keiran said.

"I swear by my blade Nariek that I will make the enemy pay," Mihr said grimly.

"I don't know how useful I'll be in this fight, but here I am," Nash said.

"I'll do what I can to save as many as I can," Clara said.

"We're wasting time," Yuber toned.

"Right, let's go!" Daunte announced, turning to Viki. Caesar was fastening the nose-plug to her nose. "Please concentrate and make sure there are no mishaps," Caesar said to Viki.

"That's asking too much of her," Yuber muttered. Daunte glared at him.

"I-I'll get you to Peak's Edge right now!" Viki squeaked. "And please be careful!"

"The Stars will be with you," Leknaat said.

Daunte smelled smoke the moment their feet touched down at Peak's Edge, but screams rattled in his ears as did the sounds of combat. He quickly looked at his surroundings and saw nearly every hut destroyed or on fire. Wingers lay injured and dead across the square.

"T-This was my neighbor!" Baldemar wheezed in horror, kneeling beside a fallen Winger. "W…Why did they do this?!"

Daunte knelt down and felt for a pulse, but couldn't find one. "Clara—"

"I know, hurry and go!" Clara said, kneeling beside the Winger. "It looks like the fight is to the south of the square!"

"Come Baldemar," Daunte said, though he kept his tone gentle. Baldemar choked on a sob but let Daunte pulled him up.

Warrior Wingers had taken to flight diving towards Holy Army soldiers in fast attacks, but they were greatly outnumbered and more Wingers lay dead than Holy Army soldiers. Ahead he saw a female Winger clinging to two children while a Holy Army soldier raised his sword over her. "Don't kill my babies! Please don't kill my children!"

"BERATE!" Daunte shouted, launching the attack not only against the soldier but others surrounding him. The force of the spell quickly took them down, and Daunte's group immediately engaged with several groups of soldiers. The Holy Army soldiers were tough but Daunte's group overwhelmed them as they kept surging forward. "Hurry! Escape!" he shouted to the Wingers he'd saved.

"Father…"

The mournful tone pierced Daunte's heart and he skidded to a stop. He recognized Dahlia kneeling down beside the body of her father. She was clasping his hand and shaking her head back and forth. Daunte saw movement from the Chief; his lips were moving. He was talking to Dahlia. He was alive!

"HOWL!" Daunte shouted. He strained to spread the healing spell amongst not only his party but the injured. Please, please let me save them!

"I'll kill you for this!" Baldemar shrieked, swinging his hammer over his head and striking a Holy Army soldier with it.

"Soldier's Oath!" Keiran shouted, and Mihr and him launched forward attacking several soldiers with their unite attack.

"This is getting to be quite dangerous," Nash said, casually catching Daunte when he stumbled. "Shouldn't you watch yourself better and not exert your Rune?"

"He is terrible with the power," Yuber said bluntly. A Holy Army soldier lunged at him and he quickly slew the man. Yuber then went still, and a scary smile broke out on his face. "There."

Daunte recovered himself and looked to where Yuber was staring. His heart lurched when he saw Sloan Faakhir single-handedly fighting and slaying several Wingers. Oisin was airborne, doing diving attacks towards Sloan that the other man was effortlessly dodging. Behind Sloan stood Adalgiso. His sword was drawn but the blade was clean and he wasn't engaging any enemies. Daunte remembered the vision he had seen in Adalgiso's family home and felt sick to his stomach.

He follows Sloan because Sloan saved him when he was suicidal. I—I don't want to fight him.

But he knew he would have no other choice as Adalgiso's loyalty was to Sloan. Daunte didn't say anything to Yuber or Nash, racing forward as Sloan swiped his sword at Oisin. Oisin shouted in pain as the blade cut one of his wings and he slammed into the ground.

"Filthy little rat with wings," Sloan sneered, swinging his sword up. "Time to die!"

He swung the sword down with all of his might but at that moment Daunte inserted himself between Sloan and Oisin and raised his left hand. The sword collided with Daunte's tekko with a loud CLANG! sound, and Daunte immediately felt pain vibrate down his left arm. He tried to ignore it as he formed a fist with his right hand and punched Sloan in the solar plexus as hard as he could. He felt a jolt of shock when his tekko encountered flesh and not armor. H-He's not wearing any armor?!

Despite the blow Sloan was unfazed, and he lifted his boot and slammed his foot into Daunte's stomach. Daunte gagged and his knees gave out. "R-RUN!" He wheezed over his shoulder. Oisin was cradling his bleeding wing looking visibly stunned. Daunte felt a spike of adrenaline and launched himself forward, spearing Sloan in the abdomen as hard as he could. To his relief the attack took Sloan off-guard and he fell backwards onto his back in the dirt.

Daunte quickly rose up, ready to activate his Boar Rune, when he heard Keiran shout and he saw movement out of the corner of his eye. He leapt away from Sloan and scrambled back across the dirt as Adalgiso quickly swung and jabbed his sword in Daunte's direction. He missed each time but he only stopped when he'd successfully inserted himself between Sloan and Daunte. "Get back!" Adalgiso shouted. "You will not hurt the Sheikh!"

It was difficult looking at Adalgiso after the memory Daunte had seen. In the moment he felt self-conscious, embarrassed that he'd intruded on a memory of the older man's suicide attempt. Now years later the same man was defending the person who had given him the strength to live again.

Someone who was a murderous monster.

Yuber suddenly appeared in front of Daunte, his two swords drawn as Daunte felt arms link under his and scoop him up. He looked over his shoulder and saw Mihr, but quickly turned back around. "YOU!" Adalgiso shouted, rage flooding his face. "I know that armor! You're the demon who killed 300 of our soldiers!"

Yuber shrugged slightly. "What if I am?"

"Oh Nagar, IT'S HIM!" One of Sloan's soldier's shouted.

"The Black Demon!" another shrieked.

"He'll kill us all!" another shouted.

All around them soldiers abandoned their mission and began running in all directions in a blind panic.

Adalgiso looked poised to lunge at them, but Sloan got back to his feet behind his second-in-command and pushed him aside. "Move. The demon is mine!"

"Wait!" Daunte shouted, moving to stand beside Yuber. "Why are you doing this?! Why did you attack the Wingers?! They just want to be left alone!"

"Because they have been deemed as unholy vermin who must be wiped out," Sloan said harshly. "They are not followers of Nagar, and they are filthy creatures. All nonbelievers must die. All abominations must die."

Daunte gaped at him in horror, and then looked at Adalgiso. "Y-You…do you agree with this?!"

Adalgiso was silent for a long moment and looked away. His prolonged silence was very telling to Daunte, but then he spoke again. "The High Clerics ordered a purge of the Wingers. They have said that Wingers are an abomination. They are the ones who speak to Nagar, and Nagar's word is law. We must obey Him."

"WHERE in the Scriptures does it say that Wingers are abominations?!" Daunte snapped. "It's all a lie from those murderous assassins pretending to be Clerics! They're just manipulating the Scriptures like that always do!"

"Blasphemy is punishable by death," Sloan said, raising his sword. "You will die, boy."

Yuber, Kieran, and Mihr moved to stand in front of Daunte while Baldemar and Nash took the back. Five soldiers joined Sloan and Adalgiso before the two groups collided in a large fight. Yuber was obviously seeking Sloan but he quickly became surrounded on all sides by the five nondescript soldiers. Adalgiso said something to Sloan, who shrugged indifferently as he raised his sword. "Firebrand Oath!"

The unite attack of Sloan and Adalgiso caused considerable damage to Daunte's party but he healed them with his True Rune and Keiran and Mihr countered with their own unite attack. Adalgiso looked injured but Sloan himself was unfazed. Daunte ended the battle with another Berate spell and both the Sheikh and his second-in-command fell to their knees. Yuber slew all five of the soldiers who had attacked him and looked irritated that the rest of the group had defeated Sloan and Adalgiso.

Sloan forced himself back to his feet by his sword and glared at the group. "…Do you think I will be defeated by YOU?! A pathetic child playing war games?! It's time you learn that this is not a game!" Sloan slammed his sword back into his sheath and raised his right hand towards Daunte. Daunte backed up but Yuber smiled again when the hand began to glow—

"Sloan."

The glow abruptly faded, and Sloan turned his head to look behind Daunte. His eyes were still hard. Daunte turned and saw Tidur approaching them, her hands folded in front of her. She walked passed Daunte and he moved to try and stop her, but Nash grabbed his sleeve to stop him.

Tidur's steps were hesitant, but she gathered her courage to stand two meters away from her estranged husband. Adalgiso looked stricken upon seeing her. The soldiers who had remained in the area also froze when they recognized Tidur. They began quickly talking amongst themselves and pointing at Tidur.

Oh no. Oh no. I can't let him hurt her! I have to move, I have to stop this! But Daunte found himself frozen where he stood.

"Sloan," Tidur said, her tone maternal but reprimanding. And slightly shaky. "Stop all of this right now."

Sloan stared at her for a long time in silence. Daunte remembered the memory the beating he had given her and finally moved forward, quickly reaching Tidur's side. The older woman did not acknowledge his presence, only keeping her eyes on Sloan.

Sloan suddenly unsheathed his sword, and Tidur flinched back. "No!" Both Daunte and Adalgiso shouted. Sloan's soldier audibly gasped in horror at seeing the Sheikh draw a weapon on his own wife.

Sloan still remained silent and raised the sword. But then—for a brief moment—the arm went still and flinched violently—

Daunte felt 'whooshes' of air behind him and suddenly Peak's Edge filled with people, members of the Liberation Army. In an instant the fighting had resumed, but now Sloan's forces were heavily outnumbered and quickly dispatched by Daunte's allies as more and more people filled the square.

Caesar must have mobilized the Army to come here, Daunte thought with relief.

"Retreat!" Adalgiso shouted. "Fall back right now!"

"Retreat?!" Sloan snapped. "Who are you to give orders?! I give the orders, and I say we stay and fight!"

"How nice," Yuber said positively. "I feel the same way." He quickly advanced upon the Sheikh and Adalgiso.

"A monster wearing a man's skin will surely enjoy this!" Sloan shouted, and raised his right hand again. The rune on his hand glowed, and suddenly three Colossus were standing between the Sheikh and Daunte's party.

"Let's go NOW!" Adalgiso shouted, grabbing Sloan by his arm and pulling.

Sloan snarled at him. "I thought I told you—"

One of the Colossus lunged at Daunte. Daunte shoved Tidur behind him harder than he'd intended, and she screamed as she fell to the ground. Daunte quickly engaged the monster. Sloan stopped talking the moment he heard his wife's scream, and he looked in their direction. Daunte did not look at him long as he had to focus on the Colossus. When the monster staggered after blows from Daunte and then Yuber, Daunte heard Sloan say, "Right. Let's go." His voice was low, and somewhat grounded.

"Right, FALL BACK!" Adalgiso shouted.

The surviving forces from Sloan's unit retreated, leaving the bodies of their dead comrades as the Liberation Army as a few Wingers fought and slew the three Colossus. The Colossus combined dropped 90,000 bits, a Full Helmet, and a Power Ring, but Daunte felt no joy in the victory. No one cheered as the dust settled, and silence filled the square of Peak's Edge.

When they arrived back at HQ he personally escorted Tidur back to the inn. Esther and Ciana were in a panic and clung to their mother for dear life. News of the attempted genocide (and the fact that Sloan drew a sword on Tidur) had already reached headquarters and both girls sobbed while they held her. Tidur tried to remain strong for her daughters but ended up crying as well. Daunte couldn't imagine the devastation she felt, and the unease he felt in his body.

He drew a sword on her. He summoned monsters when his own wife was in range. Yet—Yet I saw it. I saw his arm flinch when he raised the sword. He reacted when Tidur screamed? What is truly going on with Sloan?

Daunte went down to see Leknaat, hoping to get answers, but he found the seer collapsed on the ground before the Tablet of Stars. He panicked and casted Howl before bringing her back upstairs to the infirmary. Dr. Yulin and Clara were already overwhelmed but they got a bed ready for her.

She is powerful. I saw her spells in battle. But yet something here is making her unwell. What's going on?

Mid-afternoon Daunte was standing in the war room surrounded by his allies with Oisin, Dahlia, and a few remaining able-bodied Wingers standing before him. Daunte's Howl and the combined healing efforts of Dr. Yulin and Clara had healed Oisin's wing and had healed many Wingers who had been attacked, but nearly three dozen Wingers had died. The losses had been heavy, as Leknaat had warned.

I should have done more. I should've gotten there sooner!

"On behalf of the Liberation Army," Caesar said solemnly. "We extend to you our deepest apologies for the tragedies all of you have suffered today. Our resources are open to you to use."

"Will it bring our dead back?" one Winger snapped. "Will it stop the carnage you humans wreaked against us?!"

"STOP IT, JUST STOP IT!" Dahlia shrieked, startling the Wingers around her. Her father had survived the battle but even with the healing spells he had fallen into a coma. The poor young woman understandably looked like she'd been crying for hours. "These humans saved us! Do NOT compare us to the ones who committed genocide against us!"

"I'm sorry," Daunte said. The words choked in his throat. "I-I…we had planned to launch a campaign against Sloan Faakhir, but we thought he would bring his forces here. W-W never dreamed he would've attacked your settlement…"

"And what would you have done had you known?" Oisin asked Daunte. "Would you have acted to stop him?"

"I understand that you are upset but do not take that tone with our Commander," Varnaz said sharply.

"I'm not saying it to be rude," Oisin said defensively. "I meant it as a genuine question." He looked at Daunte. "Well, human?"

"Lord Daunte," Allise corrected.

"Well?" Oisin repeated himself.

Daunte swallowed hard. "If I had known what their next move was, then I would've attacked their Garrison before they made a move against you."

Oisin nodded. "I thought so."

"Eh?" the room exclaimed.

"You, the leader of your Army, personally saved my life," Oisin told Daunte. "You, a human, risked his own life to save me. You came in the first wave to rescue us. I know that you are not responsible for what happened today. You are not like other humans."

"You are a good person, Lord Daunte," Dahlia said tearfully. "I knew that when you saved my life, and I knew it when you came to save us and when you tried to save my father. I-I…" she sniffled briefly before bursting into tears.

Oisin pulled Dahlia into a hug, his eyes on Daunte. "We're not safe at Peak's Edge. The government of this land wants us dead. You offered us an allegiance before and we refused. Now we have no choice but to align with you.

"But," he continued. "I will raise my spear in allegiance with you because you have proven your integrity. Humans tried to kill us, but it's also clear that had we trusted you from the beginning then the Theocracy wouldn't have been able to do this to us. I wish to fight with you…as do we all."

"I'm so sorry that it came to this," Daunte said. "But the Liberation Army gladly welcomes you all as allies. Consider our HQ your home, and when it's safe again I swear to you that we will help you rebuild Peak's Edge."

Oisin nodded grimly. "That man. The one they called Sheikh. He killed more of my people than the other soldiers did. I demand retribution for this actions. I want his blood."

"We all do," another Winger spoke up. "We will not stop fighting until all of the butchers are dead. Until THAT butcher is dead."

Daunte nodded his understanding. "What has happened today, and what has been done in the past, cannot be ignored." He looked across the war room and saw the ready expressions from his allies. Then he looked at Caesar, who nodded to him. Daunte looked back at the room. "Our next fight will be again Sloan Faakhir. He will pay for everything that he's done."

"Takefute."

"Hmm?" the man in question turned away from the window overlooking Mlkwt Alsmwat and straightened when he saw the person standing at his office threshold. "Good evening, my Lady."

The Matron frowned, but he couldn't see her displeasure underneath her hood. "Your plan to exterminate the Wingers has failed. That boy raced to their rescue, and now the Wingers have allied with the rebels."

Takefute shrugged nonchalantly. "I'm not concerned about a bunch of rats with wings. They are tricksters by nature. That brat will live to regret giving his faith to a species of beings that can never be honest."

"Takefute," the Matron said sharply. "That brat's allies are growing significantly. Are you aware that he's been taking that ship that flies you tried to steal from that inventor and flying north? He's been gone twice, and every time he comes back he has new allies. And I have it on good authority that he brought back a fortune. He has been to the Northern Continent, Takefute. His influence is growing. We have given him way too much leeway in letting him do what he wants. We need to put a stop to this now."

"Well if he saved the Wingers then he's now incurred the wrath of Sheikh Faakhir," Takefute said dismissively. "You've done marvelous work with the Sheikh, my Lady. He is our best Sheikh and can and will crush our enemies without hesitation or remorse."

"Yes," the Matron agreed. "Sloan had proven himself to be valuable, and out of all the Sheikhs he stands the greatest chance at crushing the Liberation Army. He may be successful, and I will help him to be successful."

"But?" Takefute asked for her.

"I hope you have a plan on what to do if the boy manages to kill Sloan."

"My Lady, you don't survive as long as I have if you're not one step ahead of your enemies." Takefute took a seat at his desk and rested his elbows on the surface. "I'm sure you've seen the activities in the lower part of the Grand Citadel?"

"I have," the Matron responded. "The torches are always lit in the sub levels, and people have been seen coming and going from below at all hours of the day. You have not given me an explanation for what you are doing, but I hope that you will give me one now."

Takefute smiled a cold, bone-chilling smile that would shake anyone but the woman standing before him. "It's not ready yet, but it will be soon. Once it is ready…the entire Liberation Army will die."

End of Chapter Seven