Peyton walked towards the palace of Al Mipedim. He was a bit nervous since he had to give the news to the king. He knew he wouldn't be in trouble, but he had no idea how the king would react.

"Do you have to follow me dude? We are going to the castle," Peyton asked his companion curiously.

The Mipedian got how the human meant the question.

A slender Mipedian with orange scales, long mahogany hair and yellow eyes. He wore a brown-feathered loin cloth, green belt with a large red gem, gray metal wristbands and shoulder pads. It was the creature Gathup. He chuckled, "Yes. I cannot drop my guard for a second and I'm curious what you figure out. You did say it was about those who kidnapped you."

"Yeah buddy. I learned it yesterday, but it took a while until I got the groove back in here," he tapped his forehead.

"W-What do you mean?" the orange scaly creature asked. His tail tapped the ground a bit nervously. He frowned. He wondered if it was painful.

"I'll tell it with King Theb-Saar," he held his hands together. He sighed, "I'm a bit nervous," he wondered if the king was busy.

He stopped in front of the palace. The guards recognised him.

"I'm here to talk with king Theb-Saar," Peyton said to them.

"He will be glad to see you. Come in," the guard opened the door.

The two walked in the place and reached the throne room.

Chapter 7: How To Protect?

The two reached the throne room and saw that Theb-Saar and his son Iflar were in the room. The two royal Mipedians talked together.

Iflar was a slender albino Mipedian, pale green eyes and long black hair. He wore a green breastplate, a loincloth of the same color and a purple cloak. He wore a golden crown on his head.

Peyton had no idea what the conversation went too. As soon as they noticed him, they turned around.

"Welcome Peyton. I wasn't expecting your visit," the king told him.

The crown prince nodded, "We didn't hear anything of your coming. We were busy in an important matter."

"What is it?" Theb-Saar asked as he stood up and approached the teenager.

Peyton gulped a bit. They seemed to be in an okay mood. He would sour this a lot. He took a deep breath, "I came because I have something important to tell you."

The red eyes of the blue Mipedian shined a bit, "Is it about those who kidnapped you?"

Gathup turned toward the boy and was intrigue now. He hoped it was some great news. He crossed his arms and waited for an answer.

"Yeah. It is about those," he scratched the back of his head a bit nervously. He tried to find the right words.

Theb-Saar didn't seem patient in the matter, "Tell us immediately who did this to you? We will find them and we will find out why they did this to you!"

Iflar noticed that his father went a bit far, "Easy there father. There is no need to be furious at Peyton."

The blue Mipedian collected himself, "My apologise Peyton. It is really nagging me how much we failed to protect you. Vinta couldn't be of any help in the matter. He didn't know what happened to you until we asked him in the matter."

"It's okay. I know you are trying," he let out a small nervous chuckled.

"You should tell us what you found out," the white Mipedian suggested as he noticed the tail of his father moved quickly in frustration. He crossed his arms and waited.

"Yeah. It's my friend Sarah who find it out. Well…" he prepared his thought as he grumbled quietly. He took a deep breath, "Sarah felt from a cliff and on the head of one of the creatures who kidnapped me, from what she said. You know. BAM!" he punched his right fist on his left palm.

He got their full attention.

Gathup commented, "That's… one way to find one of them."

"She recognised his face and his eyes and tried to find a few things out of him," Peyton felt a bit nervous to reveal more. He wished he didn't have a bit headache, "She found out that they are a tribe. He said that they had a king named…" he hesitated before he went on, "King Titanium," he winced as he put his hand on his head, "Still hurt," it felt like his brain tried really hard to remember and a hundred needles just went into his head.

The orange Mipedian grabbed his arm and made sure he didn't fall.

"Thanks buddy."

"What happened?" the creature replied.

The two royal Mipedians worryingly approached the boy.

"When I think about this Titanium too much, my head hurt a bit," he grumbled at his headache, "It's like my brain is trying to tell me to remember it, but then nope. Don't do it," he sighed. Once the headache went on, "Don't know what's going on?"

"It seems like something is preventing you from remembering anything that happened to you," Theb-Saar replied. He crossed his arms and grumbled under his breath, "They really did something so you can't remember anything," his muscles tensed under his scales a little. He refrained to show his anger. He closed his red eyes and went on, "It's not a Mugic they used. We would have a solution already if it was the case. You would probably remember when you port out if it was mugic. Anyway, is that all?"

"No," the boy put his hands on his back as he hesitated to announce the bad news. He raised his head and looked at them. His voice trembled a little, "Sarah understood that they will do this again eventually. The creature let that out before he panicked and escaped, from what my friend said."

Iflar gazed at his father, "We need to increase security."

"Not only that. The creature was in the Underworld. He might be observing you with many creatures of their tribe. I have no idea if they might kidnap you for a longer time. I-" he put his hand on his forehead. He had no solution outsider of Al Mipedim, "I cannot protect you when you are elsewhere."

Peyton nervously chuckled. He thought more and admitted, "My friends also warned me to stay here."

"Chaor wouldn't care for what happen to you," Gathup went on, "You are not his guide," he crossed his arms, "Anything else you want to share?"

Peyton said everything else he knew.

The orange Mipedian nodded, "Then you are their target. That means that the other tribes had no reason to care in the matter."

"Unless we find a way to convince them of it. Still, it isn't really looking good for now," Iflar grumbled as he thought back. It all pointed at this unknown tribe to focus on Peyton. As for Kaz, they had nothing to point at them. If there was a bit of suspicion that Kaz was a prisoner of that tribe, they would get the Underworld cooperation. Alas, it wasn't the case.

Theb-Saar took the creatures and the boy by surprise, "Peyton. Can you please avoid going elsewhere in Perim? Just like your friends suggested. We cannot protect you if you go elsewhere," he glanced at the boy, "I am your friend and it is my duty to protect you. They are surely specifically after you and I- We cannot protect you if you are outsider of Al Mipedim. I cannot force you, so I can only ask you. Don't take any risk until we know more about their tribe."

Peyton nervously chuckled, "Kaz needs me. He needs our help and I can't let him in trouble. Besides, you know this is just my code."

"I also know that if something happened, you won't be able to come back," the Mipedian king replied.

The boy sighed. He sent a message to his friends in the matter. He added one thing, "Okay. I apologise and said I can't help them for now. Because I really believe they are going to try again," he looked at them, "You own me a few scans," he joked.

The relief was obvious in the king's face. He stood up and acted as if he didn't let his emotion a little too out, "Thank you," he wondered how Peyton could make him show that part of him. He guessed he grew very attached to his friend, "I'm sure we can find something about it," he glanced at Iflar and Gathup, "We can begin with a scan of me. I know you are trustable and reliable. You wouldn't share my knowledge to the other tribes."

The boy let out a large smile, "I won't!" and he scanned the king.

Kaz sighed when he was back in his cage. He had no idea where H'earring was. He just hoped he was alright. He put his hand on his forehead and grumbled a few nasty things against Van Bloot. He made sure that his jailer didn't hear it.

Atrapol frowned. He doubted that the human said nice things. He didn't try ask what those words were. He knew the boy would just his mouth and be silent. He crossed his arms and waited. They had nothing to do.

"Is H'earring okay?" Kaz asked.

The creature frowned under his helmet. He got this question at least twice per day. When he left the room and came back, "No idea. I don't care for anyone loyal to Chaor."

"Why are you so loyal to Van Bloot anyway? He is a-" he held back. Even he wasn't that certain about his allies. Anyone Van Bloot deemed enemies; he would be treacherous. If his soldiers were that loyal, it might not always be the case.

"Treacherous creature? What do you even know about my Lord anyway? Only that he is an enemy of Chaor and he wants to rule the Underworld," he grunted.

"Yeah… I just don't know about his allies," he quickly added to disarm the situation.

Thankfully, the creature saw true to his words, "Fine," he dropped it.

Atrapol had to be honest with himself. He was bored. He thought about it. He was still curious about the Cothica. Still, he got nothing from Kaz. He realised he had a way to open the mouth of the human, "Listen to me Kazdan. If I tell you if H'earring is alright and treated… not too badly… However, you will have to talk about the Cothica first."

"How can I believe you?" Kaz doubtfully replied.

"You can't. You either take that risk or you won't ever know," the corpulent creature replied.

The boy closed his eyes and thought about it. He weighed his options. He might get the true from the creature or not. He had a chance to know if H'earring was okay. Even then, it might change after Atrapol brought the information. Not only that, but it might be dangerous to give intel to Van Bloot. It might be or not be part of his plan. He couldn't. He had no idea what H'earring might do if the situation was reverse… and that he wasn't seen as the Guide to the Cothica, "Just… Let me think a bit more."

"The offer remains on the table, as I heard some of your humans saying," he turned his back on the boy. He just had to let it brew in the brain of the human. He glanced back, "Lord Van Bloot will pay you a visit tomorrow. He will get more out of you eventually. Even if you know nothing of the treasure."

"You changed your opinion fast on that."

"He knows when someone is trying to lie or manipulate him human. Never forget that," the creature coldly warned him.

Kaz sighed. He had to agree. The Lord of Treachery would see it coming if someone trying to betray him. He was a cunning creature.

After this, none of them said anything and were in their own thought.

Another day passed. The boy knew that it would take a while to be rescued. He was certain he was in a not very known part of the Underworld. He could only focus on H'earring well-being until he felt asleep.

AC: This is the end of this chapter.

Next: The Codemasters Call.

The Codemasters called Tom, Sarah and Peyton as Imthor had something important to share to them. Something that they shouldn't do.