“What do you mean you can’t let us in!” Clammy screeched, drawing neighboring eyes and disgusted sneers.

The street before the royal castle of Salae was always packed, but this particular day was additionally cramp. The fallout of King Tobyn’s death had sent waves through the city. Every waking hour, distressed citizens would flock to the gates sending prayers and hoping to see a glimpse of the fresh King.

Their wishes were always unmet.

Normally, the area near the castle was strictly held to be limited in personnel. The royal guard even went so far as to make use of wards to dissuade lingering parties. Currently, there was no such protection – only an increase of armed men. The castle couldn’t be too careful, after all, the Queen had just been stolen from within its walls.

Clammy continued to argue with the [Guardsman], but it was evident a new entry would be needed. They simply didn’t believe who she was, even after expressing her title and asking for multiple high-ranking guards to vouch for her.

Bishop and Reep, meanwhile, were talking.

“All I’m saying is that I don’t understand how you made the gauntlet. I understand that something is different about it, much different, but I don’t know what.” Bishop explained, gesturing to get is point across.

Reep shook her head, “I wove lightning around my fist while imagining the final outcome – exactly how you teach.”

Bishop groaned; they had been at this since the [Archer] woke up. Reep, for the life of her, just couldn’t explain what was different about her attempt compared to her teachers.

“Okay, fine, try sending the box again.”

Reep made an inaudible annoyed sound, she did as asked and willed the System box for Titan’s Gauntlet. Bishop started out hopeful but as the moments ticked on, his face fell and eventually his shoulders.

“I’ve never heard of a spell box that can’t be shown!” The Drake threw his hands in the air, much to the distain of a nearby guard, “Try reading it aloud again.”

And Reep did. Or at least, she tried. She opened her mouth, begun to say ‘Congratulations’ – but was cut off mid syllable. The involuntary effect was eerie as much as it was unpleasant. The feeling reminded her of when her guard unit was being reprimanded - of standing before authority knowingly and openly defying their wishes.

“Tsk.” Bishop muttered, “Stranger and stranger… Okay fine! Tell me what you were thinking about before attempting the spell. What was your goal, what was your progression, what was your starting point?”

Before Reep could begin, a loud crack sounded from up ahead. Split concrete and an angry Clammy led the on lookers to cautiously step back. A shout sounded next, followed by the recognizable sound of multiple guards drawing weapons.

The air felt heavy and thick, a tell-tale effect of Clammy’s gravity magic. She pulled chunks of jagged stone from the ground, whirling them around in an orbiting pattern. She was without her trusted hammer, but the message was clear.

Back off.

“I am princess Bella Salae, daughter of [King] Tobyn Salae!” Clammy’s voice boomed with magical power – a side effect of Battle Trances, “Barring a royal from their own castle is considered a treasonous act! Are you all prepared to face execution?”

Each word added more weight to the surrounding area. Citizens had long moved away in haste, giving plenty of room for the battle to come. Only Reep, Bishop, and a small unit of guards remained.

A few guards looked between each other, multiple hesitant to defy a royal. As if a word of salvation, a voice commanded the foreground.

“Stand down, all of you!” Queen’s Guard Octavia stepped forward. She opened the gate and fell before her saluting men, “Back to your post, now!”

A mad scramble overcame the guard unit, each member wouldn’t be caught dead being the last to move.

Octavia was the personal guard of Viclear Salae, brother of Tobyn. She had failed to protect him while also allowing Queen Evelynn’s capture. The woman had failed twice, something which would call for stripping of rank and banishment, but Clammy had taken pity.

She understood the high-ranking military personal failed at her only job. But it was the aftermath that set Clammy on the path of forgiveness. Octavia was more than critical in the night following the attack on Salae. She followed every order, did so without question, and brought results.

“Clammy, your highness.” Octavia dropped into a bow, “Forgive my… colleagues. They are not usually posted at the castle and from today on – will not.”

“Fine.” Clammy stepped forward, removing her Trance, and releasing her orbiting rocks. Each clinked across the ground and raked up a commissioned payment for a [Stone Mage].

The princess motioned for Reep and Bishop, and together the three walked with the Queen’s Guard escort. When they were out of earshot of the crowd and other guard, Octavia whispered to Clammy.

“May we speak in private? It is about your sister… and brother for that matter.”

“My brother is the reason for our visit. I’ll break down the throne room doors faster than to leave without speaking with him.”

Octavia’s eyes darted around the courtyard, “Please lower your voice. The King… has [Spies] everywhere. He is paranoid and has been sending his voiced opposition to the slum dungeons.”

“What! How coul-“

Bishop interrupted with a firm hand on the shoulder and a loud, fake laugh. In between bellows, the Drake spoke in rushed whispers, “Say nothing more. Wait until we are behind wards. Lead us somewhere private.”

A few minutes of silent walking, followed by a few more minutes of ward crafting, the conversation was ready.

Octavia begun with the most important, “Princess Alia has been imprisoned in the royal dungeon… by King Eden.”

“What!” Clammy yelled.

“She has been down there nearly a week. A few of us have been trying to send a message to Lesterwood, but the mail routes have been blocked.”

Bishop filled in for the now pacing Clammy, “Eden has all but declared war on Lesterwood. Well, on Max, but Lesterwood in turn.”

“Lost Lord Max Fowler?”

“The very one.”

“Oh no.” Octavia muttered, “A volunteer sheet has been passed around the guard barracks for multiple army-sponsored units. Their task is to head north towards-“

“Lesterwood.” Bishop finished, “But why? A few units aren’t going to wage war against an entire city.”

“I’ve heard rumors of a few… unsavory individuals being spotted in Salae.” The Queen’s Guard shook her head, “I didn’t want to believe it, but the rumors spoke of [Master Trappers]. Which only means-“

“[Master Assassins] are around as well.” Clammy said, thumbing her wooden bracelet with great hatred, “I’ve heard enough, let’s go find Eden. Afterwards, we’re breaking Alia out.”

Clammy left for the door, leaving Bishop and Octavia rushing to make up the lost ground. Reep, on the other hand, kept stride with the princess. Someone had to guard her, might as well be her teammate.

Clammy didn’t waste time holding pleasantries and unwritten rules near and dear. To her, her brother had crossed a line. He not only declared war against Max, but he also removed the single witness that could potentially stop the insanity at hand.

Alia knew what truly happened to her father, she was there. But now, now that she was jailed, Eden had free reign to do whatever he pleased. Power struggles were nothing new to the royal family. They formed between royal siblings, eventually culminating in the opposition rallying nobles and families of note into a coup.

Removing Alia before she could even argue was something only a coward would do. Late King Tobyn would be disappointed.

The doors to the throne room had been reinforced since the assault on the castle. The warding scheme, alchemically treated metals, and runic formations were nothing to scoff at. Bishop, the warding expert he was, didn’t think he could break past the first few pitfalls and turn-arounds. Not that he wanted to, anyways.

Clammy stopped just before the doors, her leg bouncing with impatience. The doors would be opened when they opened. Sadly there was nothing she could do.

Except push the bridge to the future.

Her eyes turned sickly grey and bulged with swollen veins. Clammy, a blood and classed Diviner, hated using her future-sight magic. It was painful, often useless, and always reminded her of her failures. But she did see its usefulness – at least when manipulated in such a way as now.

Just before her father’s death, Clammy had figured out a key part of utilizing her magic. She was a long way away from becoming a prophet, like the Prophet of the Mountain, but she still tried. Memories, as she had found, were easily exploited. The trick was knowing which memories to tap into. To early, nothing of substance was viewed, to late she’d only be grasping at straws.

Clammy’s eyes returned to normal, and she stumbled forward grasping her head. Viewing the future took a toll on the young princess, something that she needed to learn to control.

“What did you see?” Bishop asked like he had a thousand times before.

Clammy secretly loved when her teacher said those four words. They grounded her, returned her back into the present, and reminded her that she could rely on others.

“Only a couple things. First being the doors are going to open in about thirty seconds. Second, well, Eden is going to yell. Third… third…”

“Clammy?” Reep asked, gently gripping her teammates arm, “You okay?”

“Yeah… I was just admiring your new gauntlet spell.”

Reep tilted her head, “But I haven’t shown you it yet.”

“I know.” Clammy smiled but her expression turned serious a moment later, “Octavia when we enter, do not help, and follow Eden’s orders… Trust me.”

Octavia was going to argue, but the throne room doors creaked open. A chilling air rushed from the inside, washing over the group like a [Maid] rubbing a stain.

Bishop recognized the spell work – Disrupting Pulse. A spell designed to remove all invisibility spells and items while limiting the use of other obscuring devices. He also noticed Clammy’s hidden messages about the situation that was about to unfold.

“Enter.” King Eden’s distinct voice echoed against the vaulted ceiling.

Reep didn’t like the throne room. It was too large, too open. Empty space reigned king and stiff showings of power filled the lackluster walls. A banner of a startup kingdom struck down in battle here, a tusk of a horrendous high-leveled monster there.

Trophies, but weak ones.

They didn’t show Salae’s power, not truly – at least to Reep. A monster would die if you sent enough men to kill it, a kingdom could be destroyed by a few [Spies] and a brutal hand. A cities power was, to her, the elegance of its territory. A population majority of smiling citizens, lack of slums, lack of slaves.

Salae failed at all three. Salae was weak.

But the throne room held something Reep was interested in. A single man, a man that could – seemingly – cause discord any time he wanted. The current King and brother of her cherished teammate.

Eden Salae.

“Welcome. Sister.” Eden said with a painfully monotone and broke-up voice.

It was obvious the recently crowned King didn’t want to appear for this meeting. Between his disheveled set of luxury robes and the half-eaten plate of food that a servant was wishfully whisking away, the man looked abashed.

“Eden.” Clammy responded with a low growl.

Reep saw the strain her teammate was under. She walked awkwardly, like trying to trace invisible footprints.

“That is my Liege to you!” A squirrely [Royal Surrogate] screeched from beside Eden’s throne.

“Enough Zicu. No need for that.” Eden repented, standing from his seat, and adjusting his dress, “For what do we owe the pleasure, youngest?”

Clammy finally found her place to stand and said, “Your declaration about Max.”

The words caused movement in the room. Eden shifted slightly, pulling his hand to a leveled position. The gesture caused two invisible cloaked figures to reveal themselves. Bishop also shifted to a more defensive stance – Reep mimicked her teacher.

“Unless you have brought him to me, there is no discussion. My associates will see you out.” Eden pushed his hand forward, drawing the shadowy men forward.

“We’ll leave – calmly – but not before you explain why you are doing such a thing.”

“Why? Why!? Your teammate killed our father! Not to mention is a Lost Lord! Do you even comprehend the strength his kind can reach! Why wouldn’t I kill a declared enemy of Salae?”

This made Reep shift again, her temper was beginning to flare. No one insulted her teammate like that.

“He didn’t kill father and you know it.” Clammy took two steps forward and stomped her foot. A crunch sounded from her boot, like snapping a carrot in half. Her next words were strained as she endured pain, “What of Alia? Why is she in the dungeons?”

Eden held his hand up, stopping the flanking men. He looked around the room, finding Queen’s Guard Octavia.

With a sneer he said, “Alia was in the way. She was hellbent on one of her topics. You know how she gets – reads a historic charter of some expensive failure of Salae and she suddenly thinks she can do better.”

“It’s not that she is the only other witness?”

Eden stared blankly at his younger sister. His mind racked with questions, primarily about what she was trying to achieve with this meeting. In the end, he decided it was only a desperate plea. One to save a friend from execution. A worthless undertaking.

“Queen’s guard.” The King spit, “Escort Clammy out of the castle. She is no longer welcome here – she is no longer a Salae.”

Octavia was slow to move, but she followed Eden’s orders just like she was told. But, as she neared the former princess, Clammy’s eyes whispered sorrow.

With a quick and planed out motion, Clammy whipped a gravity augment punch forward. The blow landed hard, denting the chest piece of the Queen’s Guard while another burst of magic gripped the woman’s mass. The combination attack left Octavia sailing across the empty throne room.

The room erupted into a frenzy. The two hooded men flickered forward, moving at high speeds and with deadly intent. They both drew blades, and both slashed at Clammy with careful movement.

Gravity switched with a defensive kick, blocking one blade, and dodging the other. Clammy fell to her butt with a cool demeanor, shuffling her feet to draw distance. The motion dodged another swipe while opening an avenue for retaliation magic.

Just not her own.

Bishop exploded with lightning, taking one hooded man by surprise. A thin sword was the [Weapons Master]’s first choice, opting for speed rather than distinct power. He moved with heightened speed as electrified muscles boosted his Agility.

A carefully aimed stab was blocked by a hidden blade originating from the shrouded man’s sleeve – but Bishop didn’t let up. Blow after blow, slice after slice, lightning boomed with every collision, sending chunks of steel flying.

Reep wasn’t standing idle, she moved to protect her teammate. She made use of God Subuntu’s gift Savior’s Step – an ability that caused a protector to move with heighted speed when intervening with wounded allies. Even if the wound was only a broken toe.

The [Archer] led with a shoulder bash which knocked the man aside and caused his weapon to clamber across the marble floor. A backstep was enough distance for Reep to create a lightning bow-construct and fire off a construct arrow.

Shadows filtered through the man, like blowing steam off hot tea. The arrow was knocked into the air where it pierced into the ceiling. Three shadows flipped up from the floor, creating beams of solid black mana. They shot at Reep like a cannon.

The first to land turned to chains, wrapping her torso, and allowing the other two to land. The second and third both wrapped her arms, pulling away her bow. It faded into nothingness before it hit the ground. A dagger was thrown at the stationary target – a lethal placement.

As if expecting the attack, a wall of gravity pulled the blade directly into the floor. Three small stones launched forward, each hitting the man’s flapping cloak. Clammy followed through with a solid punch, but shadows twisted around her naked arm.

Black tendrils twisted out of the man’s obscured face, encasing the young woman’s arm in a thick magical sludge. Her moments slowed as the sludge impeded basic muscle function and moved around her body. Just before her face was fully covered, a wild smile broke across Clammy’s face.

The man reacted quick – to his credit, but a fully formed lightning gauntlet crashed into his chin. The world warped for a moment, muting the room in a blanketed buzz. The throne room elongated like a mirror in a clown house, and a distinct smell of ozone filled the pristine chamber. Those caught unprepared felt their heart skip.

Only Reep and Clammy seemed unaffected. Reep because the magic was her own, and Clammy because she had seen the effect.

The Shadows taking over Clammy’s body quickly swam away, back to the master to protect him from the devastating blow. The punch, however, had crippled the man. Beneath his cowl, his head laid bleeding, scrambled, and unmoving.

Reep shuddered in uneven breaths. Her consciousness teetered as she swayed on her feet. The Titan’s Gauntlet had long since disappeared, but a slight glow could still be seen around her fist. A remnant, a memory, a newborn selection of potential power. A power Reep was one step closer to claiming.

Bishop caught her just before she fell. He made sure not to douse her in blood – having finished his duel in a gruesome fashion.

“Eden!” Clammy yelled, “Tell me why I shouldn’t kill you now?”

The King fought through chattering teeth and visible shakes. The battle caused an agonizing pain to resurface across his skin. He turned red as he remembered the boiling pain from the Blood [Queen]’s torture.

“If…” Eden began, “If you kill me, then all of Salae would hunt you. Forever. Teammate of the man who killed the late King - you would find no support within the city.”

Every word had already been viewed once by Clammy. She mouthed her brother’s response with sickly accuracy as if tasting each syllable. Her power as a Diviner was strictly a curse, that much was apparent from the constant nightmares and visions of death. But, sometimes, seeing the future opened a world of possibilities.

“Fine.” Clammy spat, “We’ll leave. Unconditionally. Do not send anyone after us, otherwise the walls will need to be repainted. But take this as a warning. Do not continue this course of action.”

She wanted to declare war right here! She wanted to express that she’d never give up Max and Lesterwood would always protect him. But she didn’t have that power. Sure, she could defend her friend as an individual, but Lesterwood was a full city. A decently powerful one, yes, but a city with its own worries all the same.

Bishop eyed his apprentice and thought, Just how much of this was planned? Was this even the correct plan?

Eden didn’t respond, instead he activated a magical device that opened the throne room doors. After telling the stationed guards to stand down, the King watched his sister leave.

Clammy twisted through the hallways, walking with great haste and intent. She passed courtyards and exits, traveling further and further away from the main gate. The opposite of the direction the group should be heading.

Bishop, carrying Reep, couldn’t hold his tongue, “Where are we going?”

The question came out like a roar against the backdrop of silence and thumping boots, even though it was only a whisper. Clammy hated that specific aspect of her once-home. Everything was over the top, the walls, the ceiling, the marble decor. Even the whispering had to be louder than usual.

“To the dungeon.”

Bishop shifted his shoulders, “I don’t think that is wise. We can’t fight out way out of something like before. Not with Reep in this state.”

Clammy eyed her teammate and turned a corner, much to the dismay of a [Servant] carting a trolly of food, “Her new spell is weird. I knew the effect was coming and I still couldn’t believe the hold it had for a moment.”

“Yes, well, she deserves a powerful tool.” The Drake quickened his speed, stepping in front of his apprentice, “Think about this. We need to leave. I’m surprised Eden doesn’t have our heads.”

Clammy pushed right on by, “He would have. Unless we started a fight. That way he falls into fear – trust me, torturous memories are crippling. And don’t worry, we are just going to look at the dungeon. Alia, sadly, is going to have to endure staying down there a bit longer.”

“I don’t understand what good that will do-“

“I’m preparing the memory.” She said with a cheerless smile.

Bishop held his tongue but followed along anyway. He was somewhat shocked at the next few minutes. They did exactly as Clammy explained - walked to the hallway housing the entrance to the dungeon, look at the doorway, wave to the stationed guard, and finally out the main gate.

An hour after that, they were back in Lesterwood.