A Story of Eighteen Years

by Centurious the Azure

A rewrite of A Story of Eighteen Years. "This is a love story. The story of a girl with a broken soul, and the boy who tried to pick up those shattered pieces and put them back together…only to fail in every single way."

8. Purgatorium Tenetur

Disclaimer: See Chapter 1

A/N: Hello, dear readers. I realized that the whole original chapter was much too long. So I split it into two for your ease of consumption. Please enjoy.

A Story of Eighteen Years

By Centurious the Azure and Storm Wolf77415

Chapter 7: Purgatorium Tenetur

The room had gone silent. Ezra kind of expected it after the conclusion of that chapter. The reaction was about what he expected, Mikhail, Phoebe, and Estelle had glued themselves to his side, bawling their eyes out. Rita had excused herself to go puke in the toilet once the Dremora started stabbing itself in the head. Karol hadn't made it that far, and thus was making use of the trash can. Yuri had three very large mugs of ale in front of him, and Raven summed up the whole sordid affair with two words. "Well…shit!"

"Shit indeed." Ezra found it hard to look grim and sardonic when he had two women and a little boy crying so hard for all the pain, he had endured hanging off him. It pained him to see how puffy Phoebe's cheeks were, or the waterfall of tears coming out of Estelle's eyes. "Girls, Mikhail, please." He pushed them back so he could breathe a little more. "Yes, it was one of the most traumatic moments of our lives. I'm glad you feel so bad for me, but it was a long time ago. Nothing can be done to change it."

"B-but it's all so saaaad!" Mikhail wailed as Yuri passed him a napkin to wipe the snot dripping from his nose. "That scary demon just carved out his skull and…and." He began crying again as Furiae took him into her arms, letting him bawl into her shoulder. The cleric said nothing, just giving him a sad look. It was all in her eyes, Furiae wanted to be like the others and cry for him, but she knew Ezra well and was trying to be strong. He smiled at her, gently stroking her cheek, nodding slightly, as if to say it was all right.

Furiae smiled back, letting a few tears fall, while she comforted Mikhail, gently rocking him in her arms, even giving him a sisterly kiss on the forehead. Furiae had become close to Mikhail like that. It was an all-too-common sight to see the boy sleeping with his head in her lap between missions. Felecia and Fianna were working on calming Phoebe down. While Yuri and Judith helped curb Estelle's tears. She reached up to give him a kiss, which he reciprocated by gently stroking her downy pink locks.

Before sliding one over to Ezra, Yuri knocked back one of his drinks. "I think you're going to need this man." The young warrior gladly accepted it, knocking it back in two gulps, while the girls and Mikhail took their seats once again. "I'd get you a few more, but I'm afraid you'd go through our whole supply if you have any more stories like that to tell."

"Then you'll need to be sure to stock up at our next port. Because that's just the first of many, I'm afraid." Yuri just gave a solemn nod. Wondering what could top a scary demonic creature willingly killing itself for some mysterious reason. With everyone calmed down, Ezra continued the tale. "So yeah. That shit all happened, and as a result, it put me out of commission for quite a few days. However, that was only the beginning of the weirdness to follow."

The pain finally subsided, and the first sensation was something I could only describe as muck. Soft, muddy…and absolutely disgusting against my face. The burning sensation had subsided, but every nerve still felt twitchy to me. The fire hadn't gone away entirely. "Ugh, why does my everything hurt?" I groaned, opening my eyes to the sight of a stagnant bog. My legs sunk deeper in the quagmire as I stood up. I took in my surroundings.

All I could see above me was an endless, overcast sky, the clouds hanging oppressively low. I blinked for a second. As my brain registered just how quickly those clouds were moving above my head. "How is it doing that?" I muttered; my gaze transfixed on the sky. The speed those clouds were moving at was just staggering. I probably could have stood there for all eternity. It was rather hypnotic. A shrill howl made all my senses spike. Instinctively I went for my swords, only to find nothing.

So, I did the next best thing, and began making my way out of the swamp as I tried to piece together what was going on. "What in Gehenna is going on here? The last thing I remember was being in front of Royal Villa when that demon." I shuddered at the memory. "Disemboweled his brainpan right in front of me. Then my hand started burning, and then my entire body started convulsing. Everyone was there, Felecia was screaming for me. And then I ended up here."

"The question is…where is here? Did…Potema succeed after all?" I took in my surroundings a bit more. Noting the stagnant odor in the air, the soft ground of the marsh swirling around my booted feet. "Did I get transported to somewhere in Velen? It's known for being a swampy wasteland, not to mention smelling like the ass-end of a donkey that ate its own shit. Maybe I'm even in Redania. The area around Novigrad is known to be marshy and stagnant." My unease continued to grow, especially since I had none of my gear on me at that moment.

"I really hope this is all just a bad dream and I wake up back at the Datura. Not that would be much better." I thought upon further reflection, remembering what that Ronan guy had said about Rodger. My hands clenched. I would have words with my former master later. But for right now I continued slogging my way through the muck, hoping to find some kind of civilization. At that point, I would have settled for a single shack, that way I could warm up some.

A part of me wondered if it was going to get dark soon. It was hard to tell with the zooming overcast sky constantly moving. To be honest I was starting to get a real headache at the whole mess. It got to the point I sat down on a rotten old stump to rest for a bit. "Damn, feels like a bunch of Orcs having a party in my skull and none of them were invited." I tried rubbing my temples, doing anything to relieve the pressure in my sinuses.

"Felecia! Kyana! Where are you guys?" I called out, praying I'd hear their voices. "Lady Triss! Lady Keira! Leona? Anyone?"

"SKKKKKKKKKKRREEEEEEEEE!" A migraine became the least of my worries when my eardrums nearly ruptured at the shrill cry ringing off every battered rock and half-dead tree. I began to hear the familiar sound of hoofbeats. Every one of my enhanced senses was on full alert, scanning the tree line for…whatever was coming my way. From the brush…they appeared.

What I can best describe as a horde of creatures that appeared to be horses galloped through the marshes, they carried Dremora all in full armor, my thoughts going back to the one from earlier. The mounts themselves weren't anything I'd want to ride soon. If not for the twisted, dark armor that matched their rides, then the black oily miasma rolling off them was a definite no. I froze when one of the mounts looked at me, revealing just a bone-white skull with empty voids where its eyes should be. Demons…always so friendly!

Needless to say, I didn't share that sentiment. Looking into that thing's face finally made me listen to my brain, which had been screaming to leave the whole time. I broke into a run, and of course, had the misfortune of causing a tree branch to snap. The Dremora started howling for blood, which cued the beginning of a merry chase. Nothing else mattered, except getting away from those damn things!

I finally found refuge in a rotten, hollowed tree stump. I pulled myself into the furthest depths I could. The ground shook as the demon riders leapt over the embankment, galloping off into a nearby marsh. I had escaped for the moment. I don't know how long I sat there in the shadowed depths of that mangled piece of plant matter. It could have only been a few minutes, or a few hours. The worst of it was when hindsight kicked in. "Wait a minute, I have fire magic. I could have barbecued all of them in an instant."

Moments like that make me wonder how I ever survived Minas Tor. After another twenty minutes or so. I finally marshaled enough courage to leave my hole in the ground. I just stood there for a few minutes, trying to get my bearings on where I could be. "Maybe I really am in Redania. The stench seems about right." I idly kicked at a rock. "I was such a fool, thinking I could enjoy city life! Everything seemed so easy, so perfect in Vizima! But this!" I held out my arm to no one in particular. "This is the real world right here! A swampy, stagnant hell from where there's no escape!"

My gaze went back up to the still-rolling clouds in that ugly gray sky. "Well, onward to my next destination. Wherever the hell that may be." So, the swamp slog resumed. Time really did seem to run together in this place. But finally, I saw…it. Artificial structures, a village…civilization! I broke into a run, at least as well as I could, knee-deep in slop. My joy evaporated when I heard the first agonizing scream on the wind. "Well…fuck!"

When I laid eyes on the…place, it just made me think I should have stayed in Minas Tor. Vizima had a couple of ghettos in its outlying areas. They were filthy, grimy slums to say the least. But this…this was a whole new level of filth and grime. A few haggard people in tattered clothing moved about, eyes sunken in, a glassy sheen to them. A town of blight if there ever was one. I looked around a corner and I nearly threw up, in the middle of the village square were a bunch of giant wooden wheels, with people nailed to them as they slowly spun about.

"W-what is this?" I wasn't sure what to make of this place. My senses came to full alert, flames coalescing in my palms. I whipped around ready to turn whatever it was to ash. "Come out nice and slow!" I barked. A terrified-looking man, a peasant farmer judging from his dress, stumbled from behind a corner. I could tell this guy was a recent arrival, given the condition of his clothing. "What is this place and how did you get here?"

"Fuck if I know!" The farmer sputtered out, eyes flashing about madly. "I was just minding my field when I felt this ripping pain in my chest and saw I had been shot with an arrow!" I began scanning my own surroundings. Information would be my best weapon right now, so I decided to listen to him. "Everything went dark, and I found myself here!" Clearly, he was just as terrified as I was. So, I couldn't fault him for that. "Those red-skinned monsters started chasing after me, I was lucky to escape. This whole thing is like a twisted game to them!"

"The Dremora? Oh yeah, we've met too. I woke up here after a close encounter with one of them. And just avoided becoming their latest toy as well. That being said, I don't think we've seen the last of them." The poor man was clearly not looking forward to that. "Best thing we can do is stick together. I know some magic so we can at least defend ourselves." He didn't look all that impressed.

"Like that's going to help us here! This is hell! No amount of magic is going to save us now!" Clearly, his mind had been broken by what he had seen. "Forget this, I say it's every man for himself. You're on your own!" He ran away from the village. I was about to call out to him when an arrow flew through the air, embedding itself firmly in his back. Followed by another, and another. He finally fell to the dirt, with about a dozen projectiles now sticking out of his back.

My blood ran cold, the Dremora hunting party from earlier was back! I could hear the rapidly approaching hoofbeats. Frantic, I slipped into a rundown shack. Nothing inside but tattered mats and dusty bare shelves. The bony hoofbeats rattled in my eardrums as they passed just outside. I heard them come to a halt, and began speaking to each other, for me this was a chance to gather some information and maybe find out where I was.

"Here we go, Master Berith!" The underwater gurgling sound of a Dremora's voice rang. "Another soul for our collection, what shall we do with this one?"

The voice that spoke sounded normal enough, but at the same time, it radiated a power that made Potema seem like a tame little rabbit. "You know the routine by now. Put him on one of the wheels of pain and break him. Make sure not to rush things like normal. I want it deliberate." Despite the underlying menace, he sounded bored and dare I say even disappointed.

"I was so looking forward to seeing the mortal realm today. So many potential souls for us to have fun with. These hunting grounds would have been full for millennia. But instead, we must settle for whatever trash finds its way here. I suppose this will just have to suffice." He let out a frustrated groan. "I really do hate slow days like this." Wow, who knew boredom was universal amongst humans and demons?

Mustering my courage, I peeked out the window and I saw the owner of the voice. A tall figure, just shy of seven feet tall, sitting on a larger version of the skeletal mounts I saw earlier. But seriously this guy was built like a mountain, covered by armor black as a thousand midnights, it had the same blood-red filigree and also brilliant gold and silver accents. The message being sent here was plain as day, this was not just some random grunt.

This guy was some kind of authority figure within the demonic ranks, which was all the more reason for me to leave that place yesterday! The ideal scenario would be to just wait for these guys to leave and then I could head off in the opposite direction, and never look back. "Or perhaps the human hiding the shed could come out and provide us with some entertainment?" I froze. "It really is quite rude to come into another's home uninvited after all, and not even bringing a gift?"

Oh fuck, he knew I was here! My mind was racing, trying to think of anything to get out of this. "You know I can send my minions in and have them drag you out. I'm trying to be a gracious host and let you walk out of there with your legs intact. Your choice!" Wow, a demon with a sense of humor, how wonderful! With little course of action, I slowly emerged from the shack, mana roiling in my hands, ready to launch a couple of fireballs at the first sight of an opening. I may have been without my sword, but I wasn't going to run without at least hurting them a little bit!

"So, I'm guessing you're the one in charge of this maudlin little funhouse?" I said, nervously sweeping across the many armored Dremora flanking the large figure in the center. "I have to say, I'm rather disappointed about the accommodations. I would think a gracious host like you would understand the finer points of good hospitality."

The armored titan let out a rumbling chuckle. "Ah, but you misunderstand young one. These are the finest accommodations a mortal could find. Allow me to give a proper introduction, I am Berith, one of the Dukes of Gehenna. I serve as the leader of the hunts here in this realm of Purgatorio. I must say it's rather curious you were thrown here in the throes of your slumber because it's quite clear you are not dead. But let me ask Young Master, is this a permanent stay or just a mere visit? Either way, I guarantee it will be quite worthwhile. You simply need to ask one of our other guests."

He pointed with an armored gauntlet toward the still-turning wheels. I looked at the macabre contraptions, and couldn't believe my eyes. On one of the wheels was the crazed lunatic from back in Sybille's dungeon! "As you can see, it's only Noblesse Oblige at work here. I may be a demonic overlord, but I do make it a point to ensure a pleasant visit for my guests. This gentleman right here will give it a five-star rating every time, isn't that right?"

"Your generosity isn't fucking appreciated!" The poor soul bit out. Wrong words to say, the Dremora started barking with those distorted voices. Berith's expression was unreadable beneath that mask. He just raised his arm, snapping his fingers. Flames sprung out of thin air, and he was burned alive, the pain visible as his skin scorched and twisted from the heat. Before then melting off his body, followed by what I could only presume were his muscles. Even as the bone of his skull became exposed those damned cries didn't stop. And then as if it never happened. He was whole again. The guy seemed confused. And then, he erupted into flames again. Lather, rinse, repeat!

Berith seemed to think this was the funniest thing he'd ever seen. The infernal lord laughed with visible pleasure, his armor clanking audibly as he continued to laugh at the poor looney's suffering. I'll tell you, some things are just in bad taste, but I'm not a demon, so it's not like I have any kind of high ground. "Ah, even if I wasn't able to visit the mortal world, nothing brings me greater pleasure than hearing the screams of the damned. Even more so because souls are immortal, it means I can do it as many times as I wish. So, getting back to you. How can I make your stay more pleasant?" Oh, how I wish I had Imperial Fang at that moment!

I'm not sure how much longer the standoff would have continued. Then I felt a slight change in the air, chalk it up to enhanced senses. I locked eyes with Berith for just a moment, before leaning back long enough for a leaven bolt of icy blue magical energy to whip by, mere inches from my head. I recognized it as a Soul Arrow, a fairly basic bit of sorcery, but no less effective. It flew at one of the Dremora, impacting square in the chest. Even as durable as Daedric armor was, it couldn't do much against such a powerful magic attack. The demon crashed to the muddy ground, very dead. This got his comrades angry, and looked to see the source of the attack.

It was another Dremora, a woman this time. Unlike the others, her armor was dented and tattered. Her hair, red as her skin was matted and unkempt, whipped around her in the stagnant breeze. My first thought was it was kind of hot. I found it more than a little confusing, Dremora had a helpful variety? The demoness said nothing, just producing a demonic sword and shield, and moved so fast I could barely see her movements I saw the blade turn a sickly yellow color for a split second, and with a single swing, chopped one of the skeletal horses from beneath its rider. The armored warrior fell to the ground. She followed it up with a precise decapitation strike, sending the spiked redhead bouncing across the ground.

That was my cue! No longer needing to hold back the blazing power within. I let out twin jets of the hottest flame I could muster roar from my hands at the Dremora closest to me. Inhuman shrieks of pain rebounded off the ragged buildings and dead trees as he fell off his horse, struggling to put out the fires to no avail. Berith just looked on impassively. "Aw too bad, he was one of my better weapon masters, but it's not like we don't have a hundred more where they came from. He'll regenerate in time."

"So we meet again, Lord of the Hunt." The demonic woman's voice was distorted, otherworldly just like every other creature I had met since coming here. But there was also a warmth to it, and even what I thought was melancholy. "I see you and the rest of your ilk are up to your usual shenanigans." She looked to where the poor guy was still being barbecued repeatedly. "Namely harming innocent mortals who come to this realm."

Berith just sighed. He took on a patient tone, like a parent trying to educate a child who hadn't gotten the lesson the last hundred times. "Oh Ember, Ember, Ember, my dear naive Ember. Do-gooding simply isn't done around here. We torture and maim, it's like breathing to us. You still don't get this is just what we do. If anyone is the outsider, it's you." The female demon, apparently named Ember raised her blade in challenge as Berith took up his weapon, a wicked-looking spear, before dismounting his horse. "Perhaps it's finally time we settle our little dispute?"

She smirked, as flames snaked down the Daedric sword. Sweet, she's a fire mage as well! "Then come drink with me, My Lord. It will be your last!" Berith's troops howled as their commander faced down this renegade. She leapt into the sky, flaming blade overhead. But Berith idly raised his spear to deflect it away. Apart of me wanted to jump in and help her but I wasn't sure how effective magic alone would be against this beast. I would soon find out just how much potential I really had. I couldn't do much against Berith himself as I was right now. But if I could take down one of his minions, and grab their sword, at least it was better than nothing.

With everyone's attention on the fight. I was able to quietly slip around behind them, taking cover behind a large boulder. A sneak attack would be my best chance to get some steel into my hands. I didn't have to take long to pick my target. I clenched a good-sized stone in hand. In the coming years, I would become as renowned as Triss Merigold in my use of Pyromancy, but that was just one of my signature moves. The other ability I would become best known for was about to come into play.

While the flames at my command were truly my most devastating magic, my telekinesis was far more flexible in its application. I focused the whole of my mental capacity on that stone, hurling it back with only one thought in mind… leaving only a stump where that Dremora's head used to be! I threw the stone, bolstered by my telekinetic might. The rocky projectile flew straight and true, slamming into the side of the demon's skull, turning into a combination of grey matter, viscera, and slivers of bone. The now very dead Dremora lurched off his horse, sword flung into the air. Focusing my mind, I willed the sword to my hand. This caught everyone's attention.

I smirked, a wicked chortle escaping my lips. "Sorry, but I hope you don't mind a party crasher!" While the Daedric sword in my hand wasn't Imperial Fang, it would more than suffice for the next few minutes. I marched past the startled Dremora and the confused Ember. Looking right at Berith. "While I appreciate your hospitality, and I use that term loosely. I think I'll take a hard pass." I let fire wreath my procured weapon. "But let me pay you back regardless." I threw myself into the fray, priming a Rage Spike, one of my favorite Sword Skills.

It was my turn to take to the skies. Leaping upward, the flames glowing ever brighter thanks to the Sword Skill. Berith made to parry me just as he did earlier to Ember. But I did something no one expected, landing on the spear's shaft for just a second. Berith snapped his weapon to shake me off, but I was quicker, backflipping in the air. Our weapons clanged against each other.

Nothing like the sweet sound of steel against steel. I landed in a crouch position before rolling to the side. I looked up at the titan before me. I could see his red eyes beneath his helm. They didn't carry rage or madness, but amusement. "Well, this does get more and more interesting. You actually managed to mar my precious lance." Indeed, there was a slight but very visible scratch in the dark gray metal. "I suppose I'll have to show you some extra special hospitality for that!"

"Bring it on you walking soup can!" I said, sidling up next to Ember. "Hey, Demon Girl, thanks for the intervention. How about we collaborate and kick this loser's ass?" She looked at me questioningly. She would have curled an eyebrow if she had any. The rising of that crimson brow would have to suffice for now. The fight was about to enter its second round. Despite his size and the heft of his weapon, he was very quick on his feet, sweeping his lance about.

Ember formed a good-sized fireball in her hand, rings swirling about it much as I saw Triss do earlier. She launched it at the dark-armored Dremora, the flaming projectile slashing across the left shoulder of his armor. I threw in a trio of chaos fireballs myself. He deflected two of them, one splashing on the ground and spewing magma all over, the other hitting a hapless demon, who screamed in agony as he melted into nothing. The third hit its mark, getting him on the right side.

A low, pleasurable growl escaped from the depths of his helm, seriously demons are such masochists! "Yes! Yes! This is what I desired so much! Come at me both of you! Let this feast of carnage grow!" The other Dremora barked and hooted at their master's words, stomping their feet while their weapons and armor clanked. "You're so kind to share your power with me, let me give you some of my mine in return! Gilded Spikes, come forth!" He took his lance, banging it on the ground.

Ember grabbed me and leapt aside, landing in a heap on the ground together. I gaped as several golden spikes suddenly rushed out of the ground where I had been standing. She glared at me with eyes as red as her skin. "Okay, a quick word of advice. Don't take your eyes off Berith for a minute! Not only is he absolutely wicked with that lance of his, but he can conjure up gold from the ground to perform surprise attacks like that!"

"Too bad, I could be a rich man if I took that home with me." I quipped. Just a small chunk of that could ensure I'd free Rose, maybe Indigo, and a couple of the other girls! Banishing any further perverted thoughts. We took back up our battle stance. Circling Berith, not taking our gaze off him. I decided to go on the offensive. I crouched into the ready position for a Sonic Leap. Lunging at Berith while Ember went low with her own sword skill, a red one this time. But the big guy was fast. He managed to twist himself, so my strike barely scratched his right leg greave while Ember's missed entirely.

"A very interesting technique you humans have. Our little Ember is the only one I've seen use it, but I imagine it's not that hard to learn. You mind if I give it a shot?" I'm pretty sure I would have shit bricks at Berith in a crude imitation of my stance. Brilliant light, gold, of course, emanating from the whole upper part of his lance. He moved so fast all I could see was the gilded wake left behind him. I wasn't able to fully get out of the way, and I was sent flying by the titanic rush of air following the demon lord. As bad as I had it, Ember got it worst, taking the attack full on. If not for her shield she would have been minus her head.

Needless to say, it now had a titanic dent in the middle of it. Ember tossed it aside. "Not like I can't get another one." Despite the quip, it was clear she was tiring of this song and dance. A sentiment I was sharing. Regular Dremora were a pain already, but this was one of their head honchos. Berith was clearly on another level entirely from both of us. What I wouldn't have given for Either Triss or Viscount Arseid to be there in that moment. I'm sure they could have given this guy pause. I quickly weighed my options, looking for a possible escape route.

I sidled up to Ember. "We can't keep this up forever, think there's a chance to open up a hole so we slide out of here? Personally, I have no desire to enjoy this place's amenities if you catch my drift." Ember followed my gaze to the still spinning wheels where the guy from prison was still burning through the battle. She just gave me a slight nod of understanding; I doubt she very much wanted to ride them either!

"There is a possibility, but we'll need to act quickly. This is just part of Berith's hunting party. He always keeps some of his troops in reserve for that very reason. Let the souls think they have a chance before closing the noose." Berith conjured up a quartet of golden stalagmites from the earth, and levitated them to circle around his head before launching them at us. I then did something I normally don't do. I stomped the ground hard, causing a wall of dirt and rock to spring up. Earth magic wasn't my strong point, but it could very well make the difference.

"Ember, I need a boost!" I called out to her, she looked at me confusedly for a few seconds before it dawned on her. She knit her fingers together, and I ran straight toward her, my foot landing in her interlaced palms, and flung me up over the wall. With my acquired Daedric sword, I was looking to give Berith one killer headache. I continued to fall toward him, letting gravity be my ally. He got closer and closer, my sword arm primed, and just seconds before connecting, something happened. It was just for a minute, but I saw tiny bolts of black lightning dance along the gothic-shaped blade and down my arm.

A pair of words bubbled up in my mind. Everyone heard it, even though I had just whispered it. "Black Flash!" There was a huge crack of thunder as the entire area was washed out with black lightning. I know I connected with Berith's helm, the sword smacking against the hardened mix of obsidian and steel was comparable to a gong being rung directly in my ears. The explosive burst sent me flying into the ground, digging up a large furrow in the earth. I propped myself up on my knees, my head still ringing as I looked around.

Whatever I had just done left a crater nearly five feet across and twice as deep! I could see the bodies of Dremora strewn all about, I didn't see Berith, so he was probably down in the crater itself. Ember grabbed my arm and pulled me to my feet. "Come on, no time to stand around admiring the view! We need to leave!" That brought my senses back to full. It was time to go. My legs were still not completely recovered, more like two long tubes of goo supporting me as I ran.

Ember and I left the village behind. "Come on, we can lose them in the swamps!" She said, only for the familiar sound of approaching bony hoofbeats. "Oh, kraff it all to Gehenna!" We were now surrounded by nearly forty Dremora riders, every one of them uglier than the last, all of them pointing swords, spears, hammers, and various other implements of infernal death at us. I was frantic, trying to think of something, anything to get us out of this. A throaty chuckle wafted through the air as that damned clanking sound could be heart.

Berith was back on his feet. Clearly, whatever that random attack was I did leave a big mark! His armor was dented and singed. Not to mention a huge dent in the very dent of his helm. I couldn't help but smirk a little bit, at least I got in one significant blow on the sadistic freak. "Impressive mortal whelp. I didn't think anyone could pull off a Black Flash. And you must be a powerful little soul for it to inflict this much damage to me." He threw his tattered cape over his shoulder. "Perhaps strapping you to a wheel would be a waste. Perhaps you'd be willing to join us? I could use power such as yours. It would be well worth it."

"If not then, well, your death may be quick, but it will not painless. My crew does tend to get carried away with their meals." I really hate to admit it, but we were trapped. There was no way out for us, and I was seconds away from being demon chow. I snapped my head around, looking for something, anything to help. And then everything went into slow motion. A sharp pain began forming in my head, and my vision blurred as several thousand images began running in front of me.

"Oh no, not again!" I thought, praying the pain would be minimal, but then the pain started fading, and the visions slowed down. To the point, I began seeing more of the images and I could sort of make sense to me. I saw what looked like me pushing a black-haired girl out of the way of a wagon with no horses on a street that reminded me of the Cathedral City again. Another was of my broken, dead form being cradled in the arms of an elf girl, her face caked in mud in the middle of a muddy battlefield. She was crying and all I could think about was Felecia for some reason.

The vision following that was of someone looking like me facing down a monstrosity. I wasn't sure it was a beast or a man, or a combination of both with those four huge, muscular arms it swung around. And then I saw myself in the armor of the purest white, decorated silver and gold. I sat on a throne with a thousand legions of knights in lesser but no less elaborate armor bowing before me. Lastly was of me fighting a man with ashen hair in a great hall, surrounded by observers.

As these visions played out before me, a feminine voice began whispering to me, it was calm and gentle. "To kill is to die a second death. A death of the self. A transformation of the very immortal soul itself. You have done this many times already, haven't you my little sleeper?" A new strength began flowing through me. As I said before, I never feared the flames, it was the source of my power. So I wasn't that surprised when flames coalesced in hand, despite not having called on them. The voice talked more. "It's time for another awakening. For right now there is no time to rest. It's time to fight and for someone to die again." The flames grew ever brighter and took the all-too-familiar shape of a sword. "Now let the flames of judgment burn!"

The handle of a sword materialized in my hand. Instinct and training kicked in and I swung it. I was snapped out of my trance by the sensation of brilliant heat against my skin and the sound of crackling flames and burning demon flesh! My vision focused and I saw several of the Dremora reduced to nothing but burned corpses and blackened skeletons. I then looked at the weapon in my hand. I struggle to find the words for it. It was a bar of the purest silver, and then so much more. A soft, radiant light like the sun on the warmest spring day emanated from it. But more than that, I could also hear a song. A song of anger, and jealous wrath. The hatefully jealous wrath of God himself when pushed.

But even that still did little to describe the weapon's glory. I looked to the surviving Dremora, all of them panic-stricken at the sight of the sword in my hands. A couple of them bolted in terror, others falling off their horses, gibbering incoherently. Even Berith was taken aback. "Urenthiel." Despite the apparent fear he spoke the name, there was an equal amount of contempt mixed in. "The Blade of Demon's Bane, how could someone like you have that?" It took me all of two seconds to realize the odds had utterly shifted in our favor. I looked to Ember, her eyes fixed on my new acquisition, she was awestruck.

I looked at Berith directly into the void of his helm and said two words. "My Turn!" I was going to enjoy what came next. Not just for me, but for Felecia and everyone else traumatized by earlier. I was carrying vengeance for all of them! The sword itself seemed to agree, the song almost imploring me to release its fury on the heathens before me. I went for the first Dremora unfortunate enough to get in my way. Flames burned along the shining blade. I swung upwards, sending the crimson-colored arm, still holding its sword, into the air. The demon could only gape at his former appendage. He really should have been paying attention as I cleaved him in two, his burning halves falling to either side of me.

They began barking and screaming in that bizarre tongue of theirs. But I wasn't paying any attention. My only thought was to kill. I leapt into the air, feeling the song's righteousness fill my heart. The flames burned more with every beat. The flaming blade swung, and the fires rushed out in thick waves. Dremora burned and died, the flesh melting off their bodies just as it did with the poor mortal from earlier. Nothing like a little karmic payback. Berith remained rooted in place. Clearly, he was smarter than your average demon, but had no problems with his minions dying. I raised this treasure, looking to take him out when I heard a familiar bone-clattering sound behind me.

I gaped when I felt a hand grab me by the collar of my overcoat. Ember yanked me up onto one of the shadowy skeleton horses. "Forget about him! Let's just get out of here!" Fighting demons with a beautiful, flaming sword was fun. Getting back to the even more beautiful elf girl I loved was even better. Before we left though, we were going to thin out the ranks a bit. Flames coalesced in Ember's hands, shaping into a ball the size of her fist. She idly tossed it on the ground, igniting a colossal firestorm to our left. She tossed another flaming orb to our right; we were surrounded by ever-rising walls of fire on both sides of us. Any Dremora caught within the snaking line of flames, well you get the idea by now!

I wasn't about to let my fellow pyro have all the fun. I swung the sword and let its flames add to the inferno, I then used my telekinesis to pull a hut out of its foundation, sending it crashing onto a coming squad of Dremora, before lighting it ablaze. The sword's power increased the strength of my own Pyromancy, as I conjured up a Chaos Fireball the size of a boulder on the tip of the blade, hurling it toward Berith. Although the massive brute effortlessly batted it aside. Guess that's the power of a demon lord for you.

Ember continued spreading the flames about as I pulled down more of the huts, letting the timber and straw fuel the fires. Even if I never worried about being burned by the flames, the heat was still tremendous. A couple of the Dremora managed to leap through the flames on their mounts, and we knew that was time to leave. I flipped Berith off one last time before we took off into the swamps with our pursuers trailing behind us. As we bound over logs and past gnarled trees, something clicked in my mind. "You know it just occurred to me; we really didn't need this horse if we're going into the swamp. We're just going to get stuck in all the bogs and muck!" I spoke.

My demoness companion giggled. "Exactly the reason we took him in the first place. Check out how our friends are doing." I looked over my shoulder and noticed the strange course we were on. Zigging and zagging to avoid the marshier, water-filled areas. The Dremora riders weren't so careful or precise. They just followed on a straight line, several of them getting caught up, but one had been wiser to follow us on the same course. He was gaining on us quickly. Tentacles erupted from the ground where we had just been, grabbing horse and rider. A fleshy protrusion with way too many teeth in its gaping maw turned it into a fast meal. The creature belched before vanishing into the murky water.

I then heard a pained, demonic squeal and saw another demon become monster chow, and then a third. That's when it clicked to me what Ember's serpentine pattern was all about. She knew the solid ground from the tentacle beasts, and was using the sound of the horse's hoofbeats to wake them up! Damn this demon chick was getting hotter by the minute! I saw another Dremora get snapped up in the flurry of tentacles. It flung the hapless demon around, smacking it on the ground before sucking it down with a hearty slurp. "Ha! Nice use of the terrain there!" I cackled.

"Don't thank me yet. We still have plenty of friends coming with us!" It was true, there were still plenty of Dremora for Berith to throw at the problem despite the local fauna getting a surprise lunch. Even though a few were getting picked off by the tentacle monsters, even more were still pursuing us. "I can handle the horse and magic, just make sure you keep away anyone who gets too close!" One of the riders fast caught up to us, Daedric sword at the ready with a psychotic gleam in his eye. We exchanged blows, before the glistening blade ignited in flame again, slashing through the Dremora, quickly turning it to ash as the remains crumbled into the bog.

The song coming from this magnificent blade grew ever stronger. It was the first song, the song of destruction because it always precedes creation. I remembered from earlier how the sword had boosted that chaos fireball I used, so I made it a point to do it again, on a much larger scale! I looked deep within me, seeking out more than just the normal flames. I dug down toward the deepest reaches of my soul, where the bubbling magma raged, much as it did miles beneath the earth's crust. The ever-present flames grew ever brighter, turning nearly pure white, and drops of magma began trailing off. "CHAOS FIRESTORM!" I bellowed, swinging as hard as I could.

The flames whipped out, causing steam to erupt from the ground as the magma oozed up from the ground. The Dremora riders, running at full tilt into the inferno did not survive the encounter. I couldn't help but marvel at the power of the sword, silently thanking whatever higher power deigned to send it to me. There were still more Dremora coming, and the flames were begging to be released, who was I to hold them back. I swung my blade again, letting more lava erupt from the depths, claiming more of our pursuers. Ember shot a couple of fireballs at a Dremora, plugging the beast in the face. His exposed skull, carrying a demented grin flew back into the lava, cooked to a crisp.

"Nice shot!" I said, eliciting a playful titter from the demoness as we continued our escape.

It must have been a least a half-hour to forty-five minutes as the swamp gave way to a rocky, desolate wasteland. We arrived at this huge canyon; the expanse stretched out beyond my vision into a wide expanse of thick, dark fog. I looked down and saw the same dark miasma wafting up. "This is the border between this world and the land of the living," Ember explained. "If you want to don't want to become a permanent resident of this place, then you'll need to cross the bridge over there to wake up." I saw the prerequisite tattered rope bridge leading into the void. Ember bowed her head slightly, never thought a Dremora could look embarrassed. "It's kind of cliche isn't it?"

"Yeah, kind of," I admitted, eyeing the bridge. I was so close, and yet I couldn't help but try to know my impromptu rescuer and partner a bit. "I suppose I should thank you for the save. I'm pretty sure I'd be roasting on an open spit if you hadn't shown up when you did. Nice work with those flames by the way."

"I just didn't want you to become another of Berith's victims. I've seen so many suffer at that monster's hands. I was never able to get to them in time because I had to fight my way through all his goons." It clearly saddened her knowing all those she failed to help. "I knew it would take really good timing, but if I could just save one person, then I'd consider it a hard-won victory." Her eyes were sweeping about, clearly, she was still on the lookout for any infernal threats. "Now get out of here before anyone else shows up."

There was a small bang and a golden portal opened up before us. I groaned as Berith, and the remainder of his men trooped through. Ember sighed, shaking her head. "I suppose I should have mentioned something about Berith…he cheats!"

The obsidian-clad demon chortled deeply. "I prefer to think of it as being pragmatic. The only one at fault here is you, neglecting to tell him that all demon lords can make portals. You slipped up in a big way, Ember. It's kind of disappointing really. I thought you enjoyed my time at my little bed and breakfast, so much that you would want to stay here." His voice rose an octave, becoming twice as menacing, sounding much like his demonic subordinates. "After all, once you check in, you don't check out!"

My red-haired demon companion snorted, folding her arms. "Can you blame him for wanting to cancel his service early? The beds were terrible, the baths didn't work, and the breakfast special was mediocre at best!"

"Yeah, I have to agree with her. First impressions are everything, and that went up in flames when I saw human barbecue was the main course." I decided to throw my two cents in because I didn't have much else at that point. "Look this is going to sound really weak and pathetic, but would it be that much trouble to just let me go? I mean it's not like you won't find other souls to torment. I'm just one guy, not to mention I'm all stringy, there's not a lot of meat on these bones." An exaggeration to be sure, I wasn't a walking heap of muscle like Erik, but I was well built.

It's amusing thinking about it now, but Berith sounded a little annoyed. "Everyone is a critic. I'll have you know that human ribs are quite the delicacy around here. Especially baby back, always so moist and tender." My stomach turned a little when I realized he was talking about eating children. He continued conversationally. "My dear friend Dagon has a great dry rib recipe he gave me five thousand years ago. I had wanted to try it out when the portal to your world opened. I was looking forward to visiting the place, especially the realm called Nilfgaard. I had heard stories of the emperor and how black his soul was. I wondered which of my brethren he contracted with to gain such power, perhaps even trade techniques on how to best break a person."

Ember cringed at those words, and I wasn't too far behind. Emhyr probably would be one of the few humans to thrive in a demon-run land. Clearly, a fight was inevitable. But it was one-sided, to put it mildly. The sword I had in my hand, which I now know as Urenthiel, made it so. I was making it so as well, pouring all my anger and fury into the flames emitted. Dremora were falling left and right, Ember was asserting well too, forgoing her shield to use her flame magic in concert with her own Daedric blade. I hadn't paid much attention before, but the way Ember moved was so graceful, the flames dancing about her as she fought.

She flipped over a Dremora, decapitating it in the process, before landing right in front of a second one, slicing it clean in two. A third came at her with a huge war hammer. Ember said nothing, just blasting him in the face with cleansing fire. I had lost count of how many demons we had slain, all the while Berith just stood there, arms crossed like he didn't care a shit in the world. "You do realize at this rate you'll have no more mooks to throw at us, and then you'll have to deal with us yourself." I finally said, sticking Urenthiel in a Dremora's gut, not even paying attention to him crumbling to ash. "Some Demon Lord you are."

He growled lowly, summoning up his lance. "Fine then, I suppose I've played around for long enough." before snapping his fingers, causing the remainder of his troops to vanish in puffs of red smoke. "As entertaining as I've found you, it's clear you cannot leave this place alive. I know not how you gained possession of that sword. However, it is the one thing that can hamper our plans in the mortal plane. If you learn to unlock its full potential, all demonkind is at risk. So I'm very much afraid I'll need to kill you, and rip the flesh from your very bones!"

I wasn't sure what he was getting it with this. So I went with my usual standby, sass! "Oh, I'm sorry! I wasn't aware your plans for world domination were so important to you on a personal level!" I flipped him off. "But given how my little friend here has carved up and roasted so many of your fellow demons." I held up the sword, the flames leaping about in time to the song. "I'd think you'd be a little bit weary. So why don't you just take ugly armored ass, go back to your twisted gothic mansion, take a shit into your skull-encrusted toilet and call it a day?"

It was Ember's turn to smirk. "I think you should take his advice, Lord Berith." She put a mocking emphasis on his title. "Unless you want us to punt you all the way down to the ninth circle, all expenses paid of course."

This just made Berith heartily laugh again, his armor ever clanking. "I'll take a pass. Personally, I prefer the circle of Avarice over Betrayal. Much warmer beneath the Tropic of Cancer, if I may steal a human saying. Besides the greedy are easier to work with than the treacherous. At least you know where their loyalty stands, and it's easy to secure their cooperation. In fact, there's a recent addition, someone who is very greedy, and eager to prove herself. I believe the boy knows her quite well." He snapped his fingers again, causing a flaming portal to appear. The ugly canine form of Potema charged out!

"YOOOUUUUUUUU!" She bellowed at the sight of me. I just looked on impassively as she got right in my face. "How fortuitous today has become! The one who foiled my plans is right here in front of me! I'll snack on your soul before I return to the mortal realm and kill off everyone you've ever loved! Starting with the Elf girl and that white-haired hooker!" Ugh, did she not get the idea of personal space? I really did not need to see those yellowed teeth up close. Not to mention the breath!

"Ugh, do you mind?" I said, pushing her muzzle away from my face. "And see if you can't find a lozenge? That dog breath is making me sick! And while I'm looking at that grill of yours, maybe see about getting some dental work done, I hear Novigrad has a great dentist. But between you and me, I don't think it's going to help you much. I've got a flaxen-haired beauty waiting for me back beyond that void." I indicated to the bridge. "So go ahead and get lost queenie, the king has returned and his throne in Midgard is waiting for him! So either get lost or prepare to be exorcised."

Potema roared in a blind rage, lunging forward to snap me in half. I neatly sidestepped the brute, bringing Urenthiel down on her head. The flames just kissed her oily skin. It was enough to make her howl in pure agony. I could still the faint impressions of all the souls she had munched. Perhaps by taking her out here I could finally give them some peace. She really didn't have anything new to contribute to fighting. It was the same things I saw back under the villa.

As for me, I had a shiny new toy to use against her. It was comical to watch her leap about as I showered her with fireballs, regular and chaos based. Potema danced about, not able to get close enough. I finally managed to break through her defense, slashing deep with Urenthiel. This time connecting right with one of her main eyes. Unlike before it wasn't reforming. Those flames really did their job! I won't deny, the power was getting to me. I felt like I could take on the whole world. Luckily, I had Ember to keep me grounded as she leapt in slashing at Potema's hindquarters with her own blade.

"Hope you don't me cutting in, but I figure you'd enjoy this tango a lot more if your partner didn't have as many teeth?" Hmm, so my choices are either a giant spiritual demon wolf lady, or a red-skinned, red-haired demon chick? I think it's obvious who I'd prefer as a dance partner. I reached out to Ember, taking hold of her hand, noting how soft it was. I spun her about before throwing her at Potema. Tossing her sword in the air, she raised her hands overhead, charging a huge fireball, rings swirling about it. Before chucking it right into Potema's face, causing a huge explosion.

"I WILL NOT BE DEFEATED IN THIS MANNER!" Potema howled in impotent fury. I conjured up another Chaos Firestorm with Urenthiel. But I didn't throw it out, instead, I stabbed the sword in the ground, it started heating up, turning orange and then a furnace searing white, before the ground directly underneath Potema erupted into a puddle of molten lava. The Wolf Queen howled in pain and fury as she began sinking into the ground. She violently thrashed about, struggling to get free.

"You have to end this now, Ezra! The longer this goes on, the more powerful she becomes!" Ember's voice rang in my ears. The sword's glorious melody began singing louder. It was in total agreement with the demoness's urgings. And then the voice from earlier spoke, but even louder than before.

"RELEASE ME! UNLEASH ME ON THIS ABOMINATION OF THE DARKNESS!" The voice continued to call out. "UNLEASH MY SONG OF BLAZING JUDGMENT ON THIS HORRID SINNER! DRAW ON THE LESSONS YOU LEARNED FROM THE PAST. IT WILL GUIDE YOU STRAIGHT AND TRUE!" An image of Naaman came to mind. An image I knew quite well, from when he trained in the late evening near Minas Tor, his blade raised high overhead before swinging downward. I took a breath to steady myself, mimicking my foster father in the basic style of the Esperian overhead strike. The flames blinked out entirely. The song increased in tempo and pitch as the blade started glowing a brilliant gold.

A wave of gilded energy washed off me, sweeping out in all directions. There was a shrill cry, from a voice that wasn't Ember, or myself. I heard a gong sound. The golden blade thrust upwards into the rolling clouds, blowing them out in all directions. All that remained was a night sky, illuminated by countless stars. It was one of the most beautiful things I had ever seen in my life. And then to my surprise, the stars started falling toward the tip of the blade. As each point of light drifted down, it made Urenthiel extend more and more. And the radiance became ever brighter.

The heat was overpowering, it felt like I was standing on the surface of the sun itself. But it caused me no discomfort at all. It reminded me of sunny days during the summer back in Rulid. The only ones who should fear this holy fire were Berith, who had smartly run through a portal. Potema was screaming in abject terror at her incoming demise. Even she recognized what Urenthiel represented. But it was too late for the soon-to-be-former Wolf Queen. She had lost and I had won.

I sneered at her one last time and brought the shining blade that all demons feared down, plunging it right between her hideous eyes, and let the flames do the rest of the work for me. Potema let out a final pitiful screech as she was burned away from the inside out for good. I caught sight of Ember for a fleeting second, she was smiling warmly at me, before she too faded into the light, which gave way to darkness, and all became quiet.

Hello, darkness my old friend. Not going to lie, I would find myself staring into that void a lot. "Ra…Ezra!" A voice called out to me through the void. A very familiar one at that. "Ezra!" The darkness seemed to lighten up a bit. It called out one last time, and a point of light could be seen far in the distance. "Ezra!" I grinned widely, that voice was one I knew all too well. I broke into a run and made for the light. I could hear the voice of the girl who meant so much to me. I heard my name uttered one last time before the light consumed me.

My eyes opened, looking up at an unfamiliar ceiling, taking in the vaulted ceilings. Shadows were thrown off the stone and wooden trusses by the candlelight. I looked to my right, where a flaxen-haired beauty was curled up in a large, comfy-looking armchair, sleeping. She hadn't left my side once. The way her eyes were puffy and her cheeks red, it was clear she had been crying. "Felecia." My voice rasped.

I heard a low grunt, and then I was face to snout with Farram as he sat up from where he had been sleeping on the floor, panting with his tongue hanging out the side of his mouth. I remembered him always following Kyana around in Bright River. "I guess she left you here to look after Felecia and I, huh?" I asked, scratching behind his ears. He panted more, his tail thumping on the wooden floor, I found it rather soothing. "You're a good boy, Farram. Once I get out of here, I'll be sure to get you some choice cuts of meat from the butcher. Nothing but the best for you, big guy."

He seemed placated by this, letting out a loud, happy bark as he wagged his tail. This caused Felecia to gasp, her eyes snapping open. The half-elf girl's gaze fell directly on me. Man, why does this have to be so awkward? Already I could see fresh tears in Felecia's eyes. Best to just go for the jugular. "Hi, Felecia." I was trying not to sound too sheepish, but how could I not with the way her lip was quivering?

"EEZZZRRRRAAAA!" Felecia practically catapulted into my arms, sobbing and bawling her little heart out. If she was going any faster, I would have said she teleported herself. In moments like this, I figured the best thing to do is just let them work it out of their system. So I said nothing while stroking her hair. "I was so worried about you!" She finally calmed down. "The way you were screaming and thrashing about. I really thought you were dying." I held her a little tighter. As she choked. "It took Mark, Owen, and Viscount Arseid to hold you down while Triss and Keira put you to sleep with a spell."

I stroked her cheek. "How long have I been out?"

She took hold of my hand, relishing the tingles. It was okay, she deserved all the tingles she could get. That was also the first time I really noted how soft her palms were. "About two days now. They brought you back to the palace. Lady Triss let us stay here as her personal guests. Kyana and I have been taking turns watching over you. Leona, Erik, and Laura have also stopped by to check in." She rubbed my hand against her cheek. "Oh, Ezra!" She looked about ready to cry again, so I started playing with her fingers.

"I'm awake now, so maybe you and the others can breathe a little easier." It was at that moment the door swung open, admitting Triss, Keira, and Leona. Leona brushed past her senior sorceresses, getting right in my face. I'll give her credit where it was due, Leona had put some serious in work into mastering the Sorceress's Mask. That invisible shroud of indifference that all mages cultivate so well. But despite that, Leona still had some work to do. I could see the unshed tears in those blue eyes. She had truly been worried, but couldn't show it. "Uh, hi?" I tried weakly.

She had changed out of her blood-soaked, mud-stained armor back into her silver dress with the black corset. "You dumb idiot! What were you thinking?" She finally exclaimed. "That whole thing was entirely too reckless! All of that to just save one girl?"

"Now just wait a minute!" Felecia cut in. While she and Leona would go on to become fast friends down the line. She was always rather protective of me. "He did that to save my life! So why don't you cut him some slack blondie?"

Leona was about to retort to her when I reached up to put my hand on her face, stopping the argument cold. Not to mention getting her cheeks to warm up since she was getting some of that sweet tingle magic herself. "Felecia is right. She was in danger from that Dremora. I would have done it all over again if I had to save her. I would have even done it for you." Her mask cracked some, and a few tears leaked out, which I quickly brushed away.

Triss cleared her throat. "I'm sure your comrades will be quite relieved to know you're awake, Ezra. But we have quite a few things to discuss and not a lot of time to do so." Leona and Keira looked to the new Senior Court Mage, both nodding. Leona looked very grim as the Fourteenth of Sodden Hill clapped her hand together. "I'll cut right to the chase; you developed a crest during the recent battle. I would like to examine it, and confirm it's what we really think it's supposed to be." It was clear Triss was uncomfortable about broaching the subject. "If it is, then you could be facing a whole lot of trouble."

"I have a crest? That's news to me." It really was news to me. Let me tell you guys a few things about the Midgardian Empire, or Imperium of Midgard if you're feeling particularly fancy. First and foremost, it's a Magocracy. If you have magic, then you have the power, figuratively and literally. And if you have a crest…then consider yourself amongst the truly elite! The divinely chosen even! "You said there would be a whole lot of trouble, which crest do I have?"

This was a gamble on my part. You see I knew EXACTLY which crest I developed. Not to mention I also knew exactly why my mom burned the High King. I was playing dumb, internally sweating buckets at the prospect of developing that particular crest. Not to mention planning as many exit strategies as I could with the special magic-based mental processing technique my mom taught me. My first thought was to look to Felecia, letting that face help to keep me calm. I forced down all my anxieties. The cold fear that twisted in the core of my being.

"Fear is death, I must face my fear. I will let this pass over me. Only I will remain at the end." I recited that creed a thousand times as mom had taught me in my inner world. Inaction was not the creed of a mage. Only cold, resolute decisions were true.

I calmed my breathing, routing all the mana to my brain. A thousand thoughts were processed at once. Two thousand after that. All of them were struck from the list except for the one that promised me utter success.

The plan I had thrown together in those few seconds was to contact her telepathically to tell her to hit the deck for what I did next. A telekinetic blast square at Triss would be enough to catch her off guard long enough for me to summon Talion. I'd grab Felecia and then we'd leg it for the Midgard/Archadian border. I know they'd accept us because of what Crest I had.

It was then that a soft touch interrupted my mental processing. I looked up in still shock, knowing there was no magic guaranteed to turn me to ash. Or a dagger slid into my carotid artery as I had expected in my thousands of calculations. There was one thing the cold calculus couldn't predict: the motherly touch of calm reassurance. Triss' face softened considerably as she patted me on the head, the look of warmth gave me flashes of mom for a split second.

"Ezra, let me assure you that you or your friends will come to no harm. In fact, we have a mutual friend. Someone you know very well. 'The tip of the spear of light will always pierce the shroud of wicked darkness.'" My eyebrows shot upward at that magic phrase. It meant an old friend was still out there. My gaze flickered over to Keira and finally Leona, the blonde mages both gave slight nods of affirmation, indicating they were in on whatever little conspiracy Triss was helming.

Triss gently requested, running her fingers through my hair once more. Just like mom, or the twins did for me as a boy. How I greatly missed it. "Now, can you show me the crest, Ezra?" All the tenseness in my body began to unravel itself. Yeah, nobody was here to kill me. I had to tell myself a million times in order to calm myself. Felecia gave me a supportive touch on the arm. That was all I needed to center my mana properly.

I began focusing mana into my dominant hand. The flames within me welled up, creating an impressive display along my entire hand. From the flames a silvery-white light became prominent, and a glowing construct materialized atop the back of my hand. This was a Magic Crest. It was an impressive visage, resembling a heart wreathed in thorns while also on fire. A regal-looking sword ran down the length of the middle. Triss sighed, her expression said it all, this was her worst suspicion brought to life. However, I also noticed a spark in those emerald eyes. Clearly, she had some kind of plan for it.

Felecia was captivated by my new acquisition. "It's beautiful." She said, coming to look at it closer. The light of the crest and the flames dancing in those ocean-blue orbs of hers. "I've seen a few crests in my time, but never one like this. Which one does he have?"

"The Greater Crest of the Sovereign, and I'm afraid it poses a much greater threat than you realize," Leona answered, sadness coloring her tone. "Given there's only one group of people in the world who are supposed to have this particular crest."

"The Heurassein Dynasty, the Royal Family of Midgard." I flexed my hand slightly as I bit out those words. "I hate to say it Felecia, but this right here is a death mark. The Ace of Spades if you will." I found myself gazing at the shining construct. "No way am I getting a crown of flowers on my head and parade me through the streets of Pythagoras on a gilded throne carried by the unwashed masses. I would get paraded through town after I had been drawn and quartered and chopped into pieces."

"Why?" Felecia was horrified. "Why would they want to do that to you?"

"I'll field that question." Leona stepped in, putting a hand on Felecia's shoulder. "Someone gifted a crest is said to be divinely appointed by the Goddess herself. In Midgard, there are two central pillars of faith, the Churches of Seiros and Axiom. Despite often being at odds with each other, the one thing they agree on is whoever holds the Major Crest of the Sovereign is the one chosen by the divines to rule this land. And that chosen ruler is Hawthorne Radamanthus Heurassein, the High King of Midgard himself. No one should have this crest but him. There can't be two Chosen Ones. It's an affront to everything they've built. An affront to heaven."

"Worst case scenario, it would rip the entire empire in half, a full-scale civil war that we can't afford right now, given how things are going with Nilfgaard. Not to mention Archadia and all of our other enemies would leap to capitalize on it." Keira said, adding her two Crowns. She regarded me for a long moment, a sardonic smile crossing her lips. "Since the Order was involved in this fiasco, it won't take long for word to get back to the Cathedral City about Ezra's new power. Then again, you're no stranger to being hunted by them, are you Ezra?"

"Yeah, you're right." There was no point in hiding it. It was time to peel back the curtain for Felecia and help her understand my past a little better. "Mom, Naaman, Kieran, and I had been hunted by the Order ever since we fled Pythagoras, apparently they stole some powerful magic relics the High King and the Imperial Circle were hoping to make use of. The Order hunted us for years before finally getting lucky at Minas Tor. That's how I ended up at Bright River with Ioran and Kyana." A switch got flipped in my head as I came to a realization. "Wait a minute…did Ioran know about my potential to get the Crest?"

I already knew the answer to my own question, mental processing technique or not. I never told Ioran. I only told Michael and...one other soul in all of Midgard. I could imagine she did it out of concern. I should have been mad…I really should have. I couldn't because I knew it was for my benefit. The proof of it was right here in front of me.

"He did, our middleman was the one who brought Keira and I into the fold regarding your crest potential," Triss said, nodding slowly. "In that regard, it's within our best interest, and yours, to get out of Vizima as soon as possible. I don't need to tell you what could happen if the Order gets their hands on you." Felecia looked about ready to cry at that implication, so I took her hand to give her some comfort. Leona wasn't too far behind, so I did the same for her. All the while listening to Triss continue talking. "I suggest the best place for you to relocate to is Novigrad. It's an easy place for you to blend in for a while until things die down."

"That's convenient, I have business in Novigrad myself." It all seemed a little too perfect. Rodger had said the trail to my mother would start in Novigrad. Thinking of my former master made the fire within me start to burn hot. It was a reminder that I would have to settle accounts with Rodger, and of course, finally, break Rose out of her servitude at the Datura. "But not before I tie up loose ends around here, Lady Triss. There's something vital I need to see to before departing, and then we'll be like the wind."

"Not so fast!" The door swung open, admitting Alisha. She swept in with authority, past the very flustered sorceresses, and ignored Felecia as though she wasn't even there. The dark purple cape she wore flapped with each step. Farram growled but she paid the mastiff no mind. "I am Imperial Princess Alisha Dinishana Heurassein, Knight Officer First Class of the Order of the Seal, duly appointed by Knight Commander Owen Artorum am here to conduct an interview with this gentleman right here."

I just rolled my eyes. Alisha clearly thought she was very important with the way she was strutting about. Forgetting that despite being a princess of the Empire, this was not her turf. She folded her arms, giving me a very annoyed glare. "You aren't going anywhere, Ezra. Not before we have a long talk." Her expression relaxed after a long moment, giving me a friendly smile. "I was hoping our reunion would be a much more pleasant experience. It's been so long since we last played together in the imperial gardens."

"Sure," I replied dismissively. "Whatever you say." I wasn't having part of what she said. "Considering I'd rather die than ever set foot in that gods forsaken place ever again!" My words stung Alisha, who was quite taken aback by my harsh attitude. "Maybe the courier was a little late getting to you, Your Highness." I put a mocking emphasis on her title. "But your beloved Order made it very clear that what I have right here."

I held up my hand with the still active Crest for emphasis, the essence of power was literally in my hand. It was good. It made me feel…strong. Or maybe I was simply feeling arrogant. Arrogantly stupid. "Pretty much ensures I'm to never see the light of day ever again!"

"Indeed, I'm sure your commander would want him dead on the spot," Triss remarked coolly. This earned Alisha another growl from Farram. Not to mention fierce glares from both Felecia and Leona. That imperious attitude of hers faded quickly. I don't think she expected the room to be so hostile to her. Both Felecia and Leona were about to show her just out of her depth she really was.

Felecia was the first to go on offense. "You have a lot of nerve coming in here demanding Ezra's attention. Don't you have any towns to burn to the ground or elves to bleed dry? You know what? Forget I mentioned that last part. Both are bad, but the last one is even worse. Trust me, I should know!" She ran a hand through her hair for emphasis, letting Alisha get a sight of those telltale ears. "So, tell me, Princess. How many of my people's lives have you ended all in the name of your precious Order?" Felecia got in Alisha's face. "How many of my kind have you personally ended with your own hands?"

Leona then chose that moment to step in, putting herself between Alisha and my bedside protectively. "And if the Order fears Ezra so much, are you here to assassinate him? Good luck with that because I'm pretty sure we'd carve you to pieces before you even had a chance to act. Not to mention the fact both the Radiant Blademaster and Crimson Fox are on the premises currently. I'd like to see you survive an onslaught from both those men at the same time!"

"I can't believe you'd imply that I'd take part in such horrific cases of genocide! Commander Artorum would never hand down such orders to his troops!" Alisha was genuinely appalled. I could her eyes scanning the room, clearly realizing just how much hate was being heaped on her because of all the atrocities the Order had committed over the years. "Nor am I here to kill Ezra! In fact, it's the exact opposite reason. I'm here because I'm trying to get Ezra on our side!"

This caught everyone off guard. Alisha sounded almost hurt at all the accusations being hurled at her. "Ezra, do you not remember anything about our time together back in Pythagoras? The big tree in the middle of the garden where you and Kieran would train under Uncle Owen?" I could almost hear the crickets chirping, Farram idly scratched some fleas behind his ear, causing the leather harness he wore to rattle, but that was pretty much the only sound. Did I remember? Honestly? I didn't even try because I felt this entire conversation was beneath me. And so was this imperial princess. I believed she was best beneath my boot, knowing her place was with the dirt and worms beneath my foot.

Alisha was clearly getting more and more flustered by the minute. A condescending grin crossed my lips. Not going to lie, this was turning out to be quite the show. A shame I didn't have any candy or something to munch on. But then she remembered she was a princess and regained her composure. "Okay. I'll cut right to the chase, as I said Ezra, I'm here to offer you the Order's support. Or to be more accurate, the part of the Order that follows Uncle Owen."

"I thought it was Commander Artorum?" Felecia snarked. She wasn't fazed by the dirty look Alisha gave her.

"And I'm supposed to give a rat's shit about the Order's internal politics…why exactly?" I said, just settling for scratching Farram's ears, even as he quietly growled at Alisha. I felt like sicking him on Alisha, but that would have ended the "fun" of this fabulous dressing down. She going to be looking fine in the emperor's new clothes when we were done with her.

"Because some of us still believe in the ideals of true knighthood!" Her face was really heating up now she was on the back foot. The shade of red around her ears was quite exquisite. "I'll throw out a few facts: you know who protested the kill order put out on your family? Uncle Owen." She caught herself, ignoring the slight giggles from Felecia and Leona. "That is to say, Commander Artorum, had nothing to do with it! He thought it was a terrible idea! He knew better than anyone what Lady Yesenia and Sir Naaman were capable of when they were pushed. More than once he begged Grandmaster Georg to revoke it unless he wanted it to come back to haunt him!"

"Which it did, in the form of Mom and Naaman making off with a collection of magic artifacts that set your precious Order's plan back by a decade or more." I was being way too smug, but oh it was just so satisfying! Could you really blame me for finally getting in a few cheap shots at the Order for all the shit they put me through over the years? At that moment I had the power and the advantage. I was going to relish every bit of control I had! "Okay then," I feigned interest dryly, "just why exactly does your boss want to support me? What can he offer me?"

"I think the answer should be pretty obvious," Alisha said, her gaze going down to my crest. Her interest in it flashed in her gaze. I know she coveted it just like the rest. I could see it on her stupidly pretty face. She was too pretty to be one of my enemies, I thought. Quickly, I brushed the thought to the back of my mind. Back where all my absurd, hormone-driven teenage thoughts belonged.

"The Order is rotten, the Empire is rotten," Alisha explained ardently, bringing her hand to her chest as if it were the heart of the matter. "Uncle Owen has been suspicious of Master Georg and most of the upper echelons for a while. He knows they're planning something, and clearly, it's nothing good. But not everyone blindly follows Georg's orders, even if he is the Grandmaster. Some of us only want to do what is right. Protect villages rather than burn them, keep innocents from being turned into slaves, or worse."

"Get to the point, Princess. Some of us actually have lives to get back to." Wow, you wouldn't have thought Leona was close to tears earlier, but those cracks in her mask were gone and she was in full ice queen mode. It was really hot. Alisha just scowled at the blonde mage, but she was unflappable. Clearly, this little girl wasn't going to faze the apprentice of Keira Metz that easily. I was never so blessed to have someone like her in my life.

"It's well established that only one person can bear the Greater Crest of the Sovereign, and that's High King Hawthorne." Way to go, Alisha, tell us what we already know. But then she told us some things we didn't know. "What most people don't know, is because it's said that someone else will emerge bearing that particular crest. The antithesis to His Majesty. Both churches preach how this one will be chosen by the darkest forces possible, rather than the divines. He's called the Thronebreaker, and he'll bring about the end of days by starting a war to end all wars."

"Thronebreaker," I uttered the word with a sense of dread, my mind reluctantly flowing back to the encounter with the mad Dremora. "The demon that…that killed himself to give me the crest called me that. He did it with such fervor, such zeal."

"It's why we rushed you back here so quickly." Triss clarified, frowning deeply. The thoughts brought up not only repressed images in her. It brought the entire conversation from a roast to a serious discussion. Something I very much didn't want. Because where was the appeal of that? There was no blood sport in logic. Just facts. Facts I didn't want to deal with.

Triss continued regardless of my inner protests, "We initially thought the Dremora cursed with blood magic of some kind. Leona, Keira, and I ran every magic test we could think of. Our conclusion was that the monster activated your crest for reasons we just don't know. In order to activate a crest, it requires years of accumulating and storing magic energy. A crest such as yours has probably the highest threshold of all. You probably wouldn't have awakened it until you were well into your late forties or early fifties unless you had some significant gains beforehand."

"And yet that demon willingly killed himself to give you his power, forcing the Crest of the Sovereign to awaken," Keira said, putting a hand on Leona's shoulder, knowing how much that incident traumatized her apprentice. I could have used a hand like that. The incident was still so raw. In a lot of ways, it still is to this very day. Forgetting is not something I do, unfortunately. "It must have been a significantly powerful one, maybe even one of the seventy-two princes of the Ars Goetia in order to awaken it right now."

"Or one of their chief lieutenants," Alisha added, evidently wanting to contribute, despite the hostile atmosphere. "Any one of the higher-ranked devils could have had the power to do it. And would readily offer up their lives if it meant seeing the prophecy come to fruition."

"It's all starting to make sense now. The seizure you had was a response to your body being overloaded by the copious amount of mana you absorbed all at once." Leona said quietly, looking at me. Evident concern was on her face. I hated how worry made her look. It made me genuinely feel pain in response. "We were afraid that since your body hasn't fully matured it would have killed you. Any mortal would have died from taking in all that energy at once time. And yet with your physicality, you survived and all you needed was a few days of bed rest. I wonder if that's due to the fact you have the physiology of a Witcher." She produced a familiar-looking bottle. It was the flask that contained the Mad Cobra I had downed before launching my one-man assault on the Wolf Queen.

"Wait what?" Alisha's eyebrows shot upwards. I had thought she knew. Did they not have a dossier detailing this? What did they know about me? Did that emo bitch Hanch tell them I was in Bright River? Did Eligor add further details from our fateful encounter? Was that how Owen knew to find me here? It was food for thought that I noted for later consumption. "Ezra, you're…a Witcher? But how can that be possible? Witchers can't have children."

"I thought it was strange myself, considering he claims to be born that way," Leona helpfully added, holding up the empty bottle. No longer sounding dubious of my claims as she glanced at me. "When he pulled this thing out and drank it, before going all berserker on Potema. I couldn't help but be intrigued. So I made it a point to retrieve it before Potema fled topside, and analyzed it while you were napping outback. This is indeed a Witcher potion and a very potent one at that. I can't help but be somewhat intrigued by the make-up of their decoctions, but that leads me to another question:" She paused dramatically for emphasis. "…Just who is Ezra's birth father?"

The entire room fell silent with that statement. Truth be told, that was something I had always wondered about myself. Make no mistakes, Naaman was awesome to me, and I never had any problems considering him my dad. But at the same time, it was something I would think about late at night, lying in bed when it was just my thoughts and I. I focused myself once more, returning my consideration to the matter at hand. Leona was diverting the conversation, trying to keep Alisha off task. However, the Knight of the Order wasn't so easily dissuaded.

"A question for another day." Alisha gave me a pleading look. Stupid pretty doe eyes, I thought. Stop trying to make me empathize with you. "Ezra, please understand something. When I mean things are rotten, it really truly is. It's not just monster attacks that are becoming more frequent. Natural disasters are cropping up more and more. Famine and disease are becoming more prevalent everywhere. And it's not just limited to Midgard, the entire continent is dying." Now I was not expecting her to pull that card out. I was colored interested for a moment, not going to lie. She looked to Triss and Keira because mages were mages. We know everything. Not bragging. It's just the gospel truth. "I'm sure both of you have noticed the shifts in the world as of late. The flow of mana ever so slowly trickling off."

She held up a finger, letting mana dance on her finger drawing an S on the air. That projected a magic window, showing many numbers, and stats flashing across its length. A lot of it looked incredibly curious, and…downright worrying if the figures flickering before me that I caught were fact. "The flow of mana is the flow of life itself in our world. Every living creature, plant, or animal emits mana. Several magisters suggest that the continent is slowly turning into a desert, they estimate we'll be eating sand within a century if it continues. And that's not if we end up in an ice age first. The northern regions are cooling just as quickly, within the next twenty years according to what the experts say. People will have to migrate south just to survive, and that leads to a whole new mess of problems. Midgard's food shortage isn't a secret, but the other powers around us are feeling it just as bad."

"Even Nilfgaard has been forced to import foods, I've heard as far as Yuyake. Even Archadia, as advanced as their technology is, may have to start looking elsewhere to feed their population. Eventually, it's going to turn into a scramble to claim whatever resources remain on this continent. This growing conflict between us and the Empire is just the first step of a war bigger than anything else seen before. A great war, a world war, between all races and kingdoms for the sake of simple survival. How many millions of lives will be lost when the whole thing is over?"

"King Hawthorne probably doesn't even realize just the extent of what is happening. It certainly doesn't help that charlatan Sadoz has managed to entrench himself so deeply into the court. He was made the Hand of the Imperium, just because he brought an artifact that belonged to King Solomon himself." That name caught my attention. It was the same name the twins mentioned before they booted Kyana and I out of Bright River. I didn't want to tip her off, so I let her continue. "But it seems like he never performs any of his duties, just delegates it to the Magisterium and the Senate. I don't trust him, the way he has the High King's ear, he just blindly allows Sadoz to do whatever he wants. Neither Commander Artorum nor myself thinks he has the people's best interest at heart."

Alisha folded her arms, gazing meaningfully at me. Stop it, I begged inwardly. Don't look at me like I should know. I barely knew my head from my ass back then. I'm slightly more well-informed now, I hope. "But there is one person who could keep all of this from happening. Someone who can bring us back to prosperity and order. That person is you, Ezra. Your crest is a symbol of authority. I've…researched the Thronebreaker prophecy for the past few years now. I went to a lot of trouble to get to the bottom of it. I looked in crumbling old ruins all over Midgard, found texts buried in the deepest reaches of the Imperial Archives, and checked rotten old murals. Everything I've found suggests that it's the opposite of what everyone says."

"People fear what they don't understand. The Court and the Circle played on that fear by poisoning the truth behind the prophecy, twisting its meaning for years. The prophecy of the Thronebreaker isn't something that's pure evil. The death arcana on its head doesn't just mean death either, it also indicates rebirth and change. That's the change Uncle Owen and I seek." Alisha bowed her head, the shame on her face said it all. "Ezra, I know you hate the Order, and what it stands for, but please don't hate him. He really does want to explain what's going on. Chaos isn't brought by knowledge; it's brought by ignorance. I guarantee when you hear what he has to say, it will all make sense."

Alisha then dropped to her knees, bowing deep to the floor. "I believe the Thronebreaker can save this world. It can't be Nilfgaard, Archadia, or one of the elf lords from the Golden Pact Union. It had to be you. Your crest is a miracle. I am willing to offer myself up to you: body and soul, Ezra. Willingly." She leveled her eyes on me, her wide, doe-looking sparkling green eyes were full of fervent yearning. The desire for me. My crest. The world. Resentment reverberated in my being. All manifesting into disgust, fear, and hatred. It was all crap, I thought. Someone like her would just want to hurt me. So I broke her preemptively.

I took one look at her, before looking to Felecia and then to Leona. Both wearing looks of equal disbelief. My gaze went back to Alisha. My only response was to laugh at her bullshit. The other girls started laughing too. Her face just fell, and I was loving every second of it! Looking back…I was being a total asshole. I really regret treating her in such a poor manner.

But I was so angry back then. The Order had taken so much from me and now one of their numbers was begging me for help. I had the leverage; I had the power. She had nothing! "Really? You really want me to use my miracle crest to help you? I needed a miracle my entire life, this right here." I indicated to the crest, spite dripping off my words like they were corrosive acid. I had completely given in to my rage. I can imagine I looked like nothing more than a raging beast. More so than even Farram at his worst could be when he tore into my enemies. "Isn't a miracle, it's a damn curse! I could care less about your precious Order, or this whole wretched Empire! The only reason you're kissing my ass right now is that I'm useful to whatever plans you're cooking up. What about the people of Rulid and Minas Tor, The elves of Red Ridge, and Bright River? Kieran, Naaman…MY MOTHER?!"

"Ezra please!" Tears were forming in her eyes now. But I wasn't done by a long shot.

"No, you are going to realize that you have no power here!" I was about ready to climb out of bed and throttle her until she died as Naaman had at the hands of that monster Georg: bloodily, and without a shred of dignity. "If Owen really wants my help that badly, then he should have prostrated himself before me and begged for his damn life for what he did to my mother at Minas Tor! Don't think I've forgotten that day! Instead, all I get is some wannabe second-rate Princess Knight wanting to give me some weak verbal fellatio! If I was that desperate then I would have gone to Rose and paid her twenty crowns for the real deal! You don't deserve me, so kindly take your offer and fuck off!"

Game, set, match. Alisha knew she had lost. It was all in the way her shoulders drooped. The way her hopeless face fell to the ground, her prior bravado, that false confidence I so despised, ripped to pieces. While on the one hand, I shouldn't have taken it out on Alisha, on the other hand…it was a catharsis that was long in the making. "I see this was a waste of my time." There was no hiding the sniffle in her voice. "I'll take my leave of you then. Before I go, I ask you one thing. Please at least forgive Uncle Owen. He really does care." She made for the door, before looking over her shoulder, the tears now flowing out of her eyes. Somehow, she managed to choke out her parting words despite the anguish in her voice. "We'll be at our camp outside of town, Ezra. If you do want to know the truth. You can find us there. But we're on a timetable and we won't be there forever."

She hurried out of the door, muted sobbing coming down the hall. Now that I finally had a degree of catharsis. I could think a little more clearly, and I was disgusted with myself. One of my major weaknesses is crying women. Nothing shakes my cool more than that, and here I had just sent a poor girl away in tears. My comrades seemed to think it was funny. "Wow, did you actually hear what she was saying?" Felecia snorted, folding her hands and trying to mimic Alisha. "I'm willing to offer myself up to you: body and soul. What a joke! Ezra, you can't trust her. Nothing good can come of what she represents."

"I agree, the sheer audacity to think she can just waltz in here and make demands of you like that is staggering. I'll give you credit for putting her in her place." Leona's smirk faded when I gazed at her with daggers in my eyes. "Ezra?"

"It wasn't right." My voice was hollow. Mostly because I was still recovering from the whole incident. "It wasn't right of me to go off on her like that. It was a… knee-jerk reaction on my part." The images Potema showed me were coming back to mind. Terrifying as it had been, it had proven to be a bit of a wake-up call. If I kept acting like such an asshole to people, then what would that lead me to do down the line?

I couldn't be like that so angry and bitter at every little thing. It was the first real bit of personal growth I had ever had since leaving Bright River. I addressed Triss, "tell me, do I need to stay in bed or am I healthy enough to move around? I have matters I need to see to, and set things right, starting with someone I failed a long time ago. Just wait, Rose. I'm on my way." I muttered that last part under my breath.

"Uh, yes, but I would recommend taking it easy for a while," Triss said as I threw the blankets back, putting my feet on the floor. I grunted as I tried to put weight on my legs. My whole body was still kind of weak after being asleep for the last few days. Leona was quick to come to my aid, grabbing hold of my hand to steady me. Personally, I think she just did it to get a taste of the tingles. If the way her cheeks were lighting up was any indication.

"Nightmares don't last forever, Leona. I'll try to use my power for others instead of myself. I'll try to be better, especially for those I care about." She was truly at a loss for words. The tingles were starting to overwhelm her. So I let her sit down on the bed. This made Felecia pouty, so I quickly took her in my arms, letting her get it ten times more. Felecia let out a happy little squeak as she embraced me tightly, kissing me on the cheek. The incident with the Dremora had terrified her, thinking I had almost died. This gesture was reassurance for both of us.

"Aw, how sweet! It looks like someone's covering all their bases today." Keira noted with amusement, cradling her chin with a dainty, well-manicured hand. Triss just looked at me fondly. It made me think of the way Mom would look at me. It wouldn't be until much later until I learned why. Right now, I was only thinking about one thing. I collected my gear from the place beside the bed. I gave the senior sorceresses one last look as I cinched up the baldric containing my blades.

"Oh, before you head out." Triss produced a huge sack of coins, the sides bulging as much as my eyes were. "Your payment for helping us deal with this crisis. Along with a nice bonus." She grinned as she pushed it into my hands. "A very nice bonus." She added. Nice bonus indeed…from the weight and the sound. I had bagged myself a cool 3000 crowns! I could have bought Rose's freedom a few times over with that! With that I made out of the castle with a wide spring in my step, feeling better than I had in a long time, although I was contemplating stopping by the Order camp…if just to apologize to Alisha for my bad attitude.

Captain Strenger was standing at his usual post by the gate, alert and sober. "So, you off kid?" He growled out.

"That I am, I'm surprised you haven't hit the bars, given what happened the other day." I really wouldn't have blamed him for just wanting to drink that day to oblivion. But he just let out a low grunt, slapping his hand against his breastplate.

"Oh, trust me, I already did that, hungover for an entire day. So I'm trying to keep to sobriety for a little while. Easier to do my job." he grunted. "You could take a lesson from me, and try not to be so reckless in the future. And good luck with your girl." I looked at him in surprise. He let out a hearty chortle. "You're walking with purpose kid. I recognize that swagger anywhere. I had that same resolve and determination when I first courted my beloved, Anna. I get the feeling you're going to be quite the heartbreaker if the way that knight girl who came out earlier in tears was any indication."

I sighed. "Yeah, not one of my better moments. Mark my words, I intend to fix it. But I can only really deal with one issue at a time."

He patted me on the shoulder. For a second it felt like Naaman, if he had a thick beard and a bigger gut. "That's the spirit! Keep your eyes on the prize. I'll just say good luck to you, kid. I hope you two end up as happy as we are." I gave a jaunty salute and made for the Datura, feeling good about myself for the first time in a long while. It seemed like things were finally looking up for me. This was going to be a new beginning for me and my friends.

"It was a new beginning all right, a beginning of a lot of tragedy." Ezra knocked back his mug. "But at the time I felt so good about myself. After defeating Potema, I had hoped to make up for my early cowardice in Rulid. To give Rose a better life." He yawned, getting from the table as he rubbed his eyes. "It's getting late, we can resume this story tomorrow night. For now, I just want to get some sleep." Felecia, Phoebe, Fianna, Raphtalia, and Kyana all came to his side. "Believe me, what happens after this is where things get real crazy!"

"Hold on a minute!" Estelle stood up suddenly, narrowing her eyes on him. "Ezra, there was a name you mentioned in that story. Heurassein, how can you know that name when…it's mine? That's my family name."

Ezra was about to say something, However, Mikhail had to pipe up. "Hey, Ezra do I get to sleep with you tonight?" Estelle looked at the mysterious white-haired kid with mild annoyance. Did he really have to butt in? He was nearly eleven years old, and he acted like such a baby at times. Only for Furiae to grab him suddenly. "Hey, what gives Furiae?" He whined.

"You are sleeping me tonight." The cleric then held Mikhail tightly to her chest.

"Oh, come on, you've hogged him as your personal cuddle pillow for the last three days! I want my turn!" Felecia complained. Only for Phoebe to grab him out of Furiae's arms. Poor Mikhail let out a surprised gasp, protesting, "Not you too!"

"I'm going to give him a bath first. There's no mud for him to roll around on this ship and yet he still manages to get filthy." Phoebe chided him, taking out her handkerchief and licking it thusly to wipe some caked-on dirt off Mikhail's face. The boy winced, throwing Ezra a big-eyed imploring look. "I'll get you clean no matter what, young man. You'll be a clean, clean handsome little dragon boy then. And then you're sharing my bed tonight, my sweet prince Mikhail." She chimed his name, bringing him closer to her chest until his head was practically between her bosoms. She let out in a gentle singsong voice, "I love myself some Mikhail~ You aren't a dirty dragon~ Nor are you a stinky boy~ I'll give you praise, give you praise~ Yay!"

"Save me, Ezra!" Mikhail thrashed about, kicking his legs to escape the mage's affectionate iron grip. But Phoebe wasn't letting go of him. Raven thought it was the funniest thing he had ever seen.

"Well now, someone's quite the popular young stud around here!" Raven let out a throaty chuckle, leaning forward as he gave their favorite boy a playful wink. "Hey, Mik. If you want some advice about how to deal with the ladies. Perhaps I could share one of my own stories with you before you head off to bed with that lovely maiden who's so enamored with you? You'll be a guaranteed lady killer in no time with my tutelage."

"Any stories of the kind you're thinking of are probably something Phoebe and the other girls don't want such young ears to hear anyway." Yuri deadpanned, waving a dismissive hand. He threw a pointed glance at Phoebe, still clutching Mikhail in her arms. "Besides, it's probably something we've already heard anyway because you're-"

"I'm old." Raven finished for him, rolling his eyes at the low-hanging fruit of a jab. This little piece of banter happened about once per week between them. It was usually a nice little piece of entertainment. He nudged his finger into Yuri's chest in a faux offended manner. "I'll let you know thirtysomething is the new twentysomething. Besides what about the adage that "it takes a village to raise a child"? I'm just offering my insight and experience to the younger generation." Everyone started bantering further, the original subject of the conversation lost in the shuffle. But Estelle wasn't about to let it slip, still looking Ezra square in the eyes.

Ezra dismissed the other girls before sliding along Estelle. He took her hand, looking the young princess mage square in the eye, before kissing her fingers and holding it to his face. "The answers will come in due time, Estelle. Can I ask you to be patient about this? You need to know the entire context and it won't make sense until the whole truth is laid out to you." He gently squeezed her hand. His jade green eyes gleamed with all the love for Estelle he possessed. "If I told the big revelation to you here, then you would never believe me."

She took a long-time answer, her pale cheeks flushed as she realized that Ezra was giving her the tingles he had mentioned before, and understood why Phoebe, Felecia, and the other mage girls liked it so much. It was so warm and comforting. "Fine, you win for right now," Estelle whispered, locking her bright green gaze with Ezra's passionately. "But in return, you're mine and mine alone tonight, Ezra. No one else in bed, especially Fianna. That girl is way too handsy for my taste."

Ezra embraced Estelle for a long moment, the two were practically in their own lovey-dovey world without a care in the world. Completely ignorant of the silliness around them.

"Oh, Talia darling!" the bard's musical voice rang out, as she grabbed the beast girl's fluffy tail. "I'm ready for a little tail teasing!"

"Not on your life!" Raphtalia was quick to flick her tail away.

"Fianna, please buzz off. No one likes sharing a bed with you because you grope in your sleep!" Kyana grimaced, recalling how she woke up with Fianna's hands on her ass, squeezing way too hard for her liking.

"Aw come on!" Fianna whimpered, looking to Phoebe for support, still holding onto Mikhail. She just stuck her nose in the air, turned her back, and walked to the sleeping quarters in the back of the ship. A disappointed whine escaped the red-haired bard's lips.

"Rejection sucks, doesn't it?" Felecia said, all too cheerfully.

Fianna sulked and stomped her feet, before hugging her chest in frustration. "Where's Eclair or Noa when I need them? They get me at least!"

Raphtalia sighed, not interested in dealing with their resident drama queen this late at night. "Did you forget the summit the guilds and empire held? Dijkstra kicked you out because you were feeling up every girl, noble and commoner alike, you could get your hands on! You can't grope women in the middle of important political events! Especially something as important as that!"

"But keeping watch on Ashe is so boring!" Fianna wailed in dissent. "If she wasn't such a prude, she wouldn't wear outfits that show off so much skin. It's not my fault my hand slipped, and I grabbed her rear!"

"Right." Kyana chorused in a dry tone, not buying it one bit. Fianna just held her hands behind her back while innocently whistling.

Phoebe hissed under her breath. "I don't believe you!" All the while stroking Mikhail's hair in the doorway. Despite desperately trying, and failing to escape, Mikhail let out a pleased noise. Clearly, he decided to go with the flow despite the grievous threat of an impending bath time.

Judith groaned, shaking her head. "Hey Yuri, do you want to go spar in the cargo hold a bit before we hit the rack tonight?"

Yuri grinned widely. "Sure, I'll take you on."

"In a fight, right…? Right?" Karol chimed in, looking anxiously between both of his "subordinates". Unlike Mikhail, he knew perfectly well what was going on between those two. Judith just smiled, winking at the boy before taking Yuri by the hand and the two left the mess hall, Repede on their heels. He paled at the realization as the two left.

Raven cackled, gulping down his drink. "Well, I suppose I'm sleeping in the crow's nest tonight. Don't bother making any bad jokes. I've heard them all before." He shrugged, cracking his shoulders. "It's not a bad thing, the sea breeze will do me some good!"

"That's it, I'm done for tonight!" Rita said, throwing up her hands in defeat. She wanted to get some sleep as soon as possible away from her crazy friends. Only for Fianna to suddenly wrap her up in her arms. "Let me go, you pervy bard!" She cried, trying her best to wriggle out. Much like Mikhail, Rita's best wasn't good enough to escape the strong grasp of a woman craving cuteness.

"Aw, too bad. You may be done with this chat, but I'm not done with you!" Rita paled at the implication. Fianna rubbed her cheek against Rita's. "It looks like we're cuddle buddies tonight!" Rita's scream could be heard as far away as the capital.