Chapter 18

"Lian!"

Hailey and Jexus reached him first followed by Shanniah, Zven, and Sammy. Ral trotted up just behind them, glancing around.

Hailey wrapped her arms around him tightly before he could even say anything, "You're alright!" She pulled away from him and held his shoulders, "Thank the sea we found you!"

Lian stared at his friends, "But...I-You were supposed to stay at the mansion. Why are you here?"

"You're a part of our family," Hailey insisted.

"We're gonna protect you," Jexus promised.

"But you can't!" Lian yelled. He stepped away from them, "I don't want you to! Please, just leave."

"Lian," Shanniah put her hand on his shoulder gently, "We're your friends. And friends don't abandon each other when things get rough."

Lian shook his head, "No. No. You can't. You're going to die! My father is going to kill you! He's done it before!" He held his head in his hands, "Twelve weeks. I was gone for twelve weeks. He's going to be livid. He'll be so angry. I didn't go home. I betrayed my family-"

Hailey pulled Lian into a hug again, "It's alright. Lian. Ravnica will protect you. You'll be okay."

"I don't want Ravnica to protect me!" Lian insisted almost angrily, "I want you guys to be left alone! I want-"

"Lian," Ral interrupted firmly.

Lian lifted his head so that he could see Ral over Hailey's shoulder, "Yeah?"

Ral smiled warmly at him, "Listen to me, alright? The Guildpact wasn't from here originally either. Like him, you are a part of Ravnica's family. And anyone that makes you feel like this, simply because you prefer a place other than where you were born isn't really family. It doesn't matter who they are or how they happen to relate to you. Do you understand?"

Lian hesitated.

"You are a part of our family," Jexus assured him confidently, "We may not be able to do much, but we're still going to help you. We'll help you with whatever you need."

All of his other friends nodded.

Lian studied them all uncertainly, "Do-Do you really mean it?"

Hailey smiled and patted the back of his head, "Of course we mean it, Silly."

Lian swallowed, "Okay. I...I guess." His jaw tightened, "I just-I'm scared. I've never had friends. My father will kill you when he-when he finds out."

Hailey pulled away from him and held her hand out toward him, "C'mon. Let's go home."

Lian gingerly took her hand.

Jexus wrapped his arm around Lian's shoulders, "Lady Iris will handle your father." He winked, "Just roll with it. It'll all come to an end soon."

"Things won't go back to the way they were exactly," Shanniah admitted, "But they'll be better in the end."

Lian nodded hesitantly but didn't say anything.

His friends led him back to the mansion. Everyone was tense. They scanned the area around them nervously. Halfway there they were met by a mixed Boros-Azorius patrol and escorted the rest of the way there. Lavinia and Vala stood in front of the gates to the mansion. Both of them looked relieved to see the group walking up safe and sound.

Vala jogged up to them. She looked at Ral, "Report?"

Ral shook his head, "No sign of them. But we found him."

Vala nodded. She turned to the kids, "Get inside, get washed up. Dinner will be ready in somewhere around twenty minutes."

They nodded, "Yes Ma'am."

Lian didn't look at Vala. He caused her all this trouble. And now the mansion had patrols circling it, ready for when his father heard word.

"Don't worry about it, Kid," Vala ruffled his hair, "You can't control your father's actions."

Lian nodded, "Yes Ma'am."

Lavinia led the group inside, "Keep the windows covered until we tell you otherwise, okay?"

"Yes Ma'am."

"Lian!"

"You're back!"

They were welcomed by a swarm of the other kids in the mansion. Lian was bombarded with questions. Was he okay? Why'd he leave? Where did he go?

"Quiet down everyone!" Lavinia raised her voice to be heard over it all.

Lian flinched.

Lavinia whispered an apology before she continued speaking to the gathered crowd, "Lian's had a rough time. Give him some space."

"Yes Ma'am," the all said in unison.

"Find something to do, downstairs, until dinner is ready," Lavinia commanded.

They all returned to what they were doing.

Lavinia left Lian in the capable hands of his friends and went back outside. She approached Ral and Vala, who were talking off to the side.

Ral smiled at her, "Hey, Lavinia."

"Lian's friends are looking after him," Lavinia said calmly.

Ral shook his head disapprovingly, "Nobody should be that terrified of their own father." He glared around him, "Seth'ius somehow convinced the kid that he was betraying his family if he did anything himself or anything for himself. What the-"

"Ral," Lavinia interrupted calmly, "I understand how you feel but you must calm down. You aren't strong enough to take Seth'ius on. And you're banished from the world he holed himself up on anyway."

Ral took a deep breath, "I know. But it's still awful."

"When the seals finally break, we'll be able to do something. Until then we can only wait. And defend Lian to the best of our ability," Vala said.

Lian blinked and sat up. He'd fallen asleep on the couch before dinner. And it was long since past dinner time now. His friends were asleep all around him, all dog piled together.

Lian pried himself free and wandered into the kitchen. He jumped and shrieked when he found someone already digging through the fridge.

Ral turned around, "Oh, hey, Water Boy. What's up?" He handed Lian a bowl of fruit.

Lian took it and sighed, "You scared me. What are you doing?"

"I'm looking for food," Ral shrugged. He smirked and winked at Lian.

Lian looked down at the fruit, "What's in this?"

"Pineapples, melons of various sorts. I think there might be berries too. It's pretty close to the front so it shouldn't be too old," Ral patted Lian's shoulder, "There's plenty of other stuff in there if you'd like something else."

Lian looked through the fridge, organizing it in the process. Eventually he settled on the fruit bowl and a muffin. He sat at the table his friends usually sat at and ate silently. It was odd to be back in the mansion. And to hear the constant sound of armored boots patrolling the courtyard. None of the kids were allowed outside with a patrol to accompany them.

He knew his father would find him. It was only a matter of time. But he had no idea when it would happen. He had told them that Seth'ius would come. Yet they were still here. It wasn't going to be until the last minute that they realized what he'd meant.

Lian pulled Spell Breaker out of his pocket and set it on the table next to him. He spun it slowly with his fingers, "I could help. Make sure they get out okay. While the Guilds distract my father and brother." He nodded slowly, "Mayu wouldn't hurt them. And she wouldn't even think to attack the other kids." He rested his face on his hand, "Daria will. They're all corrupted to him. All dangerous. Even if they beg and plead, he won't spare a single one. All because he thinks he's 'saving them'. That is what Father says after all."

He's coming. Be ready. Quickly.

Lian jumped and looked around. His eyes widened. He recognized the voice. He'd heard it once before. When Kayla was panicking at the bottom of the ocean. Lian got to his feet and made his way over to his friends. He shook them awake, "Guys. Guys."

"Hmm?"

"He's coming. Tonight."

"Tonight?!" Hailey sat up quickly.

Lian nodded darkly, "Tonight." He jogged over to the doors and stuck his head out. The guards on either side turned to him in surprise. Lian walked up to the one to the right, "My father's coming."

"We-"

"No." Lian interrupted firmly. He met the man's gaze, glaring into the man's ink colored eyes, "He's coming now. Tonight."

The guards eyes widened. He nodded, "I'll let the patrol know."

Lian nodded and went back inside. His friends had gotten all of the other kids up. They were all looking to him, as though waiting for some sort of instruction. He stared at them blankly.

"You're the oldest. You know the possible situations ahead of us best," Shanniah said confidently, "What should we do?"

Lian chewed his lower lip. He had no idea how to handle a situation like this. The obvious answer was to leave the mansion. But how? When? And where would they go? He looked at Shanniah, "Are there mansions nearby? Within walking distance?"

Shanniah nodded, "There is one. It's about a day and a half walking."

The sounds of battle erupted suddenly out of nowhere. Bright blinding flashes of light lit up the room through the windows. The sounds of metal meeting metal rang through the air. Cries of pain could be heard clearly, even within the walls of the mansion. The younger kids screamed and many broke down entirely.

"Sh, it'll be alright." Lian did his best to sound gentle. He looked at Shanniah and his friends, "It's our job to protect them. We'll leave out the back. And head for the other mansion."

Shanniah nodded, "Sounds like a plan." The two of them looked at their other friends.

"Agreed?" Lian asked.

They all nodded solemnly.

Lian's face hardened in icy determination, "The back door. There isn't any fighting behind the mansion."

"There's a trapped door hidden underneath some junk," Hailey mentioned, "It leads to a tunnel that comes out on the other side of the fence of the mansion."

"We'll partner up. A younger kid with an older one," Shanniah turned to the kids gathered in front of them, "Pick a partner. Stay with them. Don't let your partner out of your sight. Do you understand?"

The all nodded.

Lian motioned towards the back door, "Hurry. I can hear them coming closer."

They all filed out the back door, two at a time. Lian left last. He took the time to draw the symbols for a locking enchantment into the door. At the very least it would buy them some time. Once he was done he hurried after them all.

Jexus felt around on the ground for a minute. When he found the latch he pulled the trapped door up, grunting with the effort. He ushered the other kids in. Lian dropped in just before him and waited. Jexus dropped in, pulling the latch closed behind him.

"We're not getting out this way again," Lian declared as he drew on another locking enchantment.

There were a few whimpers of fear from various kids around him.

Lian smiled warmly, "Don't worry. We won't be trapped down here."

Jexus nodded to Hailey, "Lead the way, Sister."

Hailey led the way through the tunnel.