Ceallach was the first to notice Niall's entrance, he grinned to himself as he strode towards his friend, "Do you always have to make a dramatic entrance?"

He jested as he embraced his friend, clapping him on the back before releasing Niall.

"Only when I have to," Niall replied, the sliver of a smirk snuck into his mouth, "So yes."

Ceallach erupted with a mighty laugh, a laugh that had not been heard in many months.

"Yes, well, if we could dispense with the pleasantries, we might just survive long enough to have time for laughter?" A soft but sharp voice erupted from the conference table.

"I thought I told you to get rid of him?" Niall muttered quietly to his friend.

"You have to admit, he is good at what he does, even if I want to set fire to his robes every so often."

"Only every so often?"

"Only when he's around." Niall chuckled at that comment.

"Gentlemen, if you'd please?" He spoke up again. Tyrian Kingsley was the Herald's advisor; a dwarf of a man compared to the average Tydarian, standing a mere 5'2" in height, and was so slouched over it cut a further 3" off his height, but what he lacked in brawn, Tyrian made up for in intellect and wit. Without him, the kingdom's accounts would fall into disrepair and the state would lose everything. That is, if they hadn't already.

Bianca stood shyly beside Kingsley, probably relieved that he was no longer boring her with more talk of finances and logistics, along with a guard and two more men who would be more suited to a tax-book than a battlefield, they bickered away about something as the guard looked at them with contempt. Although most people didn't like the job, it still had to be done.

Niall approached the table and leant against it, his hands firmly against the table as he leaned over to see the map better. "How bad is it?"

"Bad." Bianca replied quietly, her voice shook slightly, "We nearly lost everything before you, er, before you showed."

Her voice losing volume till it became inaudible.

"We lost Civitas Terra three moons past."

Kingsley interjected, and we lost contact with Civitas Aqua two moons before that."

"And Civitas Ignis is still under control of the Rebels, who seem to be holding out." Ceallach added, a small tang of hope hung in his voice as he finished that point.

"5 month? That's how long it took for them to get this far? This is perfect." Niall exhaled, looking incredibly relived.

"How is this perfect? We're dying out there! And who the hell are they anyway?" Bianca burst out, contrary to her usual timid nature.

"One of the worst things that has ever happened to the Multiverse, I ran into them a few years ago and had issues taking them down, they also take about 6 months to set up breeding pits so if we push them back now, we may actually survive this." Niall said calmly, his eyes unwavering as he stared into Bianca's eyes.

"But who are they?" She repeated, slightly quieter than the outburst before, but held the same strength.

"Phyrexians." Tri-lac said quietly behind Niall, a small tang of fear crept into her voice as she said that one word.

Niall nodded and opened his mouth to continue but was interrupted before he could start.

A shrill scream erupted from the courtyard outside, full of pain and anger.

Ceallach drew his sword and darted outside, Bianca's guard stood closer to her and Kingsley had withdrawn slowly with his two companions.

Niall exchanged glances with Tri-lac and they simultaneously ran for the door.

"Don't follow us for any reason, stay where it's safe!" Niall called back to the young Herald. One Phyrexian was enough for her to deal with for one day.

"You want point?" He said to Tri-lac as they ran through the palace.

"Don't I always?" She smiled and summoned one of her spears, a Greatspear of Teleroshia, one of six left in existence, from the small pocket plane that she used as an armoury, and prepared herself for a fight.