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The chaos in the city becomes more apparent as we lose altitude. The damage looks a lot like what I already saw when the Tandeen district was attacked. That makes another spirit invasion very likely. There are people on the streets, but almost no corpses. I suppose that they were already taken away.

Seria clenches my hand and smiles weakly. “I am sorry. It must be horrible to see this and know that you weren't here to help. If we had been back faster...”

I close my eyes and take a deep breath. “No. What could we have done? Look at the streets. The battle must have taken place right after we fell through the portal. Even if we had arrived at your capital right away, it still would have taken Shade a day to send us back. This looks like a large scale attack with the goal to cause as much destruction as possible. They didn't have the intention take the city.”

Seria takes another, long look at the scene in front of us. “You are right. The damage is very localized. It looks like the spirits brought in a few commando troops and dispersed them all over the city. Once they got the signal, they struck and worked their way through the city. Some streets are completely untouched.”

I nod and try not to look at the damage. The blood-smears in some streets tell the whole story. This didn't go down without victims.

At last, we arrive at the palace and I lower us into the courtyard where we are greeted by a few guards. They look relieved upon recognizing me. Luckily we remembered to change back to our human forms beforehand. With the city in this state I have a strong feeling that our soldiers would shoot first and ask questions later.

A gesture of my hand stops them from asking useless questions. “Guide us to my parents. We have important information to share.” I don’t even dare to ask them if everyone is alright.

Both of the guards salute us and lead the way into the palace. Seria and I follow on their heels.

While we walk, I look around and try to assess the situation and the morale in the palace. A lot can be told just by observing the reactions of the soldiers and personnel. I can’t help but notice that there are a lot less people who belong to the governing body of the country. Something decisive must have happened.

After a seemingly endless march through the palace’s innards, we arrive at my family’s private quarters. The guards stay behind while I make my way to my father’s study, guessing that it’s the most likely place for him to be. Even if he retreated to his private quarters, he must have his hands full with work.

To my great surprise we encounter the whole family in the traditional red garb which is worn in times of great mourning. “What are you all doing in here? And what happened to the city.”

My two siblings, my father and my mother turn their pale faces towards us, looking at us as if we are ghosts.

Then my mother jumps up from her seat at the couch and runs towards me to hug me tightly. “We thought that we lost you! You have no idea how scared we were when you disappeared into that portal! Where have you been?”

Seria lifts her hand, a guilty expression on her face. “I am afraid that we were a little inconvenienced and had to wait for the next flight to this realm. But my parents were great hosts. Don’t worry, your son had a nice time.”

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