200 Favs. Two. Hundred. I honestly really don't know what to say. I love you all? No, I'm always saying that. I'm eternally grateful? That just doesn't feel like it's enough.

You, the person reading this right now. You did this. You brought us all here to this point. To the people behind the screen reading this. This is your win. Thank you.

Beloukas, as he was introduced to us, opened the curtain to his tent, smiling as we entered.

"Now this is quite the surprise," He said happily as he quickly made his way to the front of our group, "Not one, but three Cardinal Heroes here in my humble abode. Naofumi, it shall always be a pleasure to do business with you. Of course, you're the only one of you three I've done business with, and only once at that."

"Yeah yeah, I need Raphtalia's Slave Seal repainted," Naofumi explained as he looked to the smiling woman in question, the two sharing a quiet moment, "Please."

"A simple matter, and what of you two?" Beloukas then turned to Itsuki and Myself, as well as our companions, "Here to buy, or sell?"

"S-sell!?" Itsuki shouted defensively, "I would never!"

"Regardless," I said in interjection, "I am here to have Slave Seals imprinted as well."

"One at a time now, one at a time…" Beloukas whispered gleefully as he brought out a bowl and brush.

"Come on Raphtalia…" Naofumi whispered as his partner exposed her bare chest. The more Beloukas prepared however, the more Itsuki grew uncomfortable with the situation until he snapped just as Raphtalia was about to be painted.

"WAIT I DON'T THINK I SHOULD ALLOW THIS!" He shouted as he took hold of the brush and pulled, Beloukas letting go quickly as the Arc Bearer painted Naofumi's shield.

"The hell man! What did you-" The Shell Bearer's words died in his throat however as his Shield morphed, "What the… Slave Shield?"

It would appear the Slave paint added to his arsenal. It would appear so…

"Itsuki, may I?" Blinking, he absentmindedly held the brush aloft as I absorbed it, paint and all into my Nail.

[Brush Blade Unlocked]

[Slave Sword Unlocked]

[Slave Sword Rank: 1/40

Passive (Mastered): All Slaves gain 2X stats per level up

Active: All Slaves gain 10% boost to strength for 10 minutes can stack with other buffs]

"Erm, may I have my brush?" Beloukas asked as I retrieved the instrument, the slave keeper smiling happily, "Please do refrain from interrupting again if you wish to do business here," He said to a now repentant Itsuki.

Slowly, carefully; Raphtalia's Slave Seal had been painted upon her chest… but…

"Should there not have been a rune painted upon the floor?" I asked curiously as Beloukas laughed.

"Tell me, from whom did you retrieve your slave?" He asked as he urged Naofumi for his hand, a knife at the ready.

"The king provided me with partner mine, so to had a rune been painted underneath my Filorial's egg," I replied calmly.

"Ah, yes. I understand the confusion now," He hummed as he saw Raphtalia's new deal glow, smile never leaving his face, "The slaves of the castle are rather mistreated, their Slave Seals amongst the most powerful and painful, removal of such seals rather costly both in material and life."

Life? Fera… Would you have… Let us not dwell on the past.

"As for your egg, fresh eggs are put through a lesser ritual, farmers unable to purchase the more… permanent ink needed for transportation," Beloukas explained as he turned first to Itsuki, "Now then, may I ask as to the business of our 'Hero of Justice'?" He seemed to taunt as Itsuki flinched and grit his teeth… before quickly losing his rage.

"I… would like to purchase a slave…" Itsuki replied weakly as Beloukas chuckled to himself.

"Yes, I do believe I have the perfect match for you, come with me…"

As Beloukas led Itsuki away, his partner, Ryshia had made herself look small as she watched the Arc Bearer leave.

"Why do you have that bird with you anyway?" Naofumi asked as he helped Raphtalia refit her armor.

"The avians are fierce fighters," I replied as Wyndia perked up.

"Yup, yup! They have a long-standing rivalry with Dragons and Griffons, but I think they're all great and so they should get along with each other!" She cheered before hiding herself again once she realized Naofumi had been staring at her.

"Huh, should probably ask Beloukas if he has any eggs…"

"Oh indeed I do!" The Slave Keeper cheered as he walked back to us, Itsuki walking behind and with a small Demi-human with short chestnut brown hair topped with elongated and white ears beside him. The peach toned girl stared at us, rosy eyes filled with fear as she held her arm across her chest as if attempting to hide herself despite the rather large brown cloak that covered her form, "Here, choose an egg while I tend to our Sword Hero!"

Naofumi was then led to a case filled with runed eggs as Beloukas prepared more ink.

"Now then, who shall be bound today?" He asked happily as I gently ran my hand along Wyndia's head, the girl shivering in fear.

"Come Wyndia, all shall be well. This I promise you," I whispered as I traced a finger along her ear

"P-promise?" She asked as she looked to me, her brown eyes shining as I nodded slowly. Gulping and reinforcing her resolve, she turned as she brought out Gaelion's egg and bared her chest.

"My my… two at once, you certainly do not waste time," As he painted the Seals, I began to ponder. My void would destroy these children, would they not? The void consumes all, yet River escaped such a fate had she not?

Yet… would I risk the life of one entrusted to me? No… No I could not. Fera, take the egg, I must prepare.

"Mister Hollow?" Wyndia looked to me as Fera retrieved the egg, "Is something wrong?"

"No, there is nothing to fear," I held my right hand aloft as my Soul and Magic fused into Lifeblood once more.

"Now that is interesting magic…" Beloukas whispered in awe at the bubble. His awe only increased as I infused the egg with the bubble, watching as the crimson egg shined blue as arcs and lines grew from the Seal, "Curiouser and curiouser…"

The glow soon faded, the rune now glistening as if a river of Lifeblood, Wyndia's eyes glistened as she stared at the egg before looking to me, "Are you prepared, Wyndia?" I asked as I took note of the egg now under my ownership.

For a second, Wyndia looked about the room, watching us before she hardened her gaze and nodded, her eyes now filled with purpose. Once more, I channeled what remained of my Soul reserves as it merged with my magic. It was not long until I placed my palm upon her Seal, the bubble becoming infused with the seal as shining blue cracks began to form from the rune. She grimaced, eyes shutting in discomfort as the magic settled.

Strange, why was it the eggs held such uniform lines, yet Fera and Wyndia sport such painful marks.

I know much less then you do, my Master. Regardless, I only hope that Gaelion approves of this.

Wyndia's eyes had remained closed only to soften, opening as she gasped, "Papa… I can… I can feel Papa…" She whispered happily as tears formed along her eyes.

Gaelion, this I ask, continue to protect that who is precious to you. The dragon's roar echoed within me, a declaration that my words need not be said. The child would be defended by us all.

"Ah, Hollow-San?" Itsuki spoke up, "You have something growing on your wrist…" He had quickly pointed to the Lifeblood Butterfly Flowers that had grown from my magic.

"Mind if I take one of these?" Naofumi asked as he plucked a fluttering flower before applying it to his Shell. It morphed once more from the enlarged Slave Seal into a large Lifeblood Butterfly.

"Itsuki?" I plucked another of the four flowers and presented it to the Arc Bearer.

Eyeing the flower, he gently placed it upon his Arc's gem, watching as it took the form of the flower's wing, "Hollow… all you've ever done is help us…" He whispered as Naofumi scoffed, "Maybe not always in the best way… but you pointed out our weaknesses, you shared yourself with us, and when we needed you… you were there."

"Such is the duty of a knight of the Nest," I replied as I plucked a flower as well, allowing it to morph my blade from its Slave configuration to a long, thin, single edged Nail with a butterfly crossguard.

[Lifeblood Katana Unlocked]

[Lifeblood Katana Rank 1/50

Damage: 40

Active: Single Opponent loses 100% mobility for two seconds

Passive: Gain two Lifeblood]

"Maybe don't let us take the fall for crimes we didn't commit next time," Naofumi snarked as he crossed his arms. I only nodded in agreement, "And would it kill you to smile?" He then asked jokingly.

The others only looked to Naofumi as if he were mad, "But he's wearing a mask…" Ryshia pointed out as Naofumi laughed, Raphtalia pouting at her Master's antics.

We had started to leave only for Itsuki's new slave to speak up, "W-w-wait! I… I NEED TO RETURN TO LORD MOTOYASU!" The small Demi-human shouted.

"Oh dear…" Beloukas whispered as he ushered us out, "You'll have to discuss this elsewhere, bad for business if I'm caught in between the problems of you Heroes. Naofumi, Hollow, please don't be strangers!" With that, he closed his tent to us.

"Leave me out of this," Naofumi said as he walked away, egg incubator in one hand, and Raphtalia's hand in another, the Demi-human smiling happily.

"M-maybe we should start with your name?" Itsuki said as he knelt down.

"My name is Rino, I joined Motoyasu's party just before the first wave hit," The child explained, "Motoyasu was really happy to have me, but Mein didn't like me all that much…"

"Mein?" Ryshia asked, "You don't mean Princess Malty, do you?"

"Mister Hollow, who's Princess Malty?" Wyndia asked as she joined the conversation, "Is she nice?"

"No," I replied calmly, "Rino, if you are here, is it safe to assume that she had you sold?" Rino only shivered as she held her ears and started to tear up.

"Lord Motoyasu liked me because he said my 'costume' was cute," Rino said through hiccups, "But Mein… Mein knew I wasn't normal… none of the other girls wanted to help me… no one wanted to help me…"

I looked first to my party, Wyndia looked sympathetic to Rino's plight while Fera…

We can not fight against the royalty of Melromarc… not without the aid of the Queen. We can not confront the Spear Hero.

Fera's face held such defeat and sadness. Guilt. This was Guilt...

"Lord Itsuki?" Ryshia spoke up, unsure of herself as the Arc Bearer huffed before looking to me.

"Hollow-San, any ideas on how to handle this?" He asked as if a man prepared for war.

"The Needle Bearer is a fool, no doubt a pawn in Melromarc's game," I replied as he nodded in agreement, "We would need a higher power on the political level. Fera suggests we wait until the Queen reveals herself."

"Fera? I thought her name was Wyndia?" He asked in confusion as he stared at the once more hiding child, "And she hasn't even said all that much."

"Fera is my first Demi-human companion," I replied as the woman in question bowed, "She had lost use of her voice at some point, when I cannot tell you. Yet our minds have been connected since the moment she was bound to me."

"Wait, she can't talk anymore!?" Itsuki shouted in surprise, "What did you do to her, eat her voice box!?"

What is a voice box? A set of chords allowing one to speak.

"Regardless, there are things we must now do," I replied, River chirping atop my head, "Or, should you wish it, I may gauge your ability."

"Ah, no no… I really don't think I'm strong enough to take you on…" He replied defensively as he held his hands up placatingly.

"Even more reason to tend to your training."

"Hey Ryshia I think we left the stove on!" Itsuki shouted as he took Rino by the hand and started to run away.

"Ah!? Lord Itsuki! Wait for me!" Ryshia shouted as she rushed after her wayward master.

"You have strange friends…" Wyndia commented once more as she smiled, "But I think they're okay…"

"Come, we retrieve Bargram. There is much to be done."