-------------------------------------- Mercenary company

“And he said this thing was built in a week?” a tanned woman with short hair was impressed looking at the stronghold walls in the distance. “He is crazy. Are you sure he didn’t say a year instead of a week? I’m not liking this, Viktor”

“It sure sounds fishy. Look at the size of that damn thing. It’s even higher than Longart’s walls” replied the mercenary leader.

Over a thousand soldiers were gathered, split between all the mercenaries and guards that the noble could gather. In front of everyone, in a four-horse carriage, rode the lord of those lands, Lord Cornelius.

He was followed by the mercenaries leader and the soldier’s captains.

Arriving at what seemed to be the entrance gate of those walls tall as the capital city’s, they seemed even more massive and thick than the ones he had seen before. Nothing could be seen inside of it.

The mercenary leader looked at his best scout. “Go and see what you can find out about this thing. I want to know what we are up against before anything happens”

-------------------------------------- At the Walls.

The nimble scout watched the walls, searching for a good and inconspicuous spot to climb up. Seeing no movement on them, he prepared a rope with a hook.

He threw the hook that latched to the stone on the top. But the moment he climbed it and stepped on top of the walls, he immediately felt the tip of a blade pressed against his back.

“Move,” said a male voice, commanding him while pointing to the nearby stone staircase. It took but a moment for him to be captured.

He looked back and saw a man in a dark green cloak with high quality leather armor and an enchanted sword in hands.

He smiled… ‘Well, at least I was captured by the best warrior here it seems, he is good. I had not noticed him at all until it was too late’

But as he was led towards the village center, he couldn’t help but notice the strange place, especially the other warriors there.

They were few, but each had a similar or better equipment than the one that had captured him.

Concern grew in the mercenary scout at each passing member of that village.They looked like elite soldiers ready for combat. There were humans and Beastmen all around the place. Even the children there looked like veteran soldiers.

The thought that Viktor really had stepped into a hornet’s nest came to his mind.

He was led to the biggest house in the village.

On its front stood a woman in dark leather armor and plating that sent shivers down his spine.

‘What a lioness is doing here?’ thought the scout recognizing the wyrm scales and the legendary metal showcased in Allard a year before.

As he entered the house he saw a young man, with messy brown hair and dark blue eyes. When their eyes met, the young man smiled.

“Judeau... So it’s Viktor’s group outside? This will facilitate things” he said as the scout finally recognized him. Judeau smiled “I knew you weren’t just a mage”

“You can leave him to me” said Riou as the man escorting Judeau sheathed his sword, nodded respectfully and promptly left.

Judeau kept quietly watching Riou and the place he was brought to. It was like nothing he had ever seen before.

“Don’t give me the silent treatment. I thought we were friends Judeau,” said the smiling young man.

“So you really were a noble?” spoke Judeau, confirming all his suspicions.

Riou showed him the ring. “Kinda…” the scout quietly looked at the Brahm family’s crest nodding, realizing the giant mess Viktor got himself into.

“What will you do to me?” asked the scout.

“Nothing… I know you can keep a secret. So if you give me your word to not tell anyone what you saw here, you are free to go… after we sort everything out with Viktor of course.”

Judeau laughed. “Just like that?”

Riou nodded. “Why not? I just want to keep this place a secret for little longer”

He paused for a moment. “You see, I’m into something right now and it is imperative that nobody knows of me or this little thing I have going on here, just for a little longer. You understand right?”

Judeau nodded, a fortress being built in a week out of nowhere, in the middle of Allard’s territory and then the sudden appearance of a much older Riou that turned out to be a Brahm. Judeau knew that he was involved in some deep and nasty business there.

“Let’s go meet Viktor, I have a proposition for him,” said Riou as both then began to walk towards the main entrance.

The scout looked curiously to the houses and weaponry in every person’s hand as they moved through the village.

“Do you like our village?” questioned Riou while they walked.

“It’s very strange… I have never seen houses like these before.”

“They are very good, you should take a look later on. They are very comfy.”

“And what are all these weapons? Are they really enchanted? That blue glow and so many symbols… I never seen anything like it… this place can rival an army”

Riou smirked “Oh, you have no idea what these people are capable of. But explain it will take a lot of time… but you can think of it like this: most people here are mages and fighters. We have the very best enchanters, blacksmiths and leather workers in the whole world are right here in this village. We are few, but each and everyone here is worth a few hundred more or less” said Riou nonchalantly.

Judeau widened his eyes. If that was true, the power of that small village could rival a whole country in terms of military strength.

He noticed the few training grounds throughout the village. Each had people training, one for the children as well.

He was shocked.

Judeau saw children playing on the grass near the lake, elders talking to each other in their gardens.The whole village seemed awfully fine with the fact that there were 1000 soldiers on their doorsteps. It was clear that the army outside were not even considered a threat worth worrying about.

---------------------------------------- At the gates.

“Judeau is taking too long… this is not good,” said the mercenary leader as the noble advanced towards the gates. “It’s time… Let’s approach to listen to the conversation as well,” added the mercenary leader as he started going towards the lord.

“So, who is in charge of this monstrosity?” Asked the lord.

At the top of the gates two men appeared as the noble approached the gates. They were standing one beside the other.

No other person could be seen anywhere on the walls.

“Judeau?” said Viktor to himself confused as to why Judeau would be standing there. He then looked at the person beside the scout.

He immediately widened his eyes when he noticed the young man beside Judeau

“Oww, fuck…” Viktor laughed at himself.

The noble was standing outside the carriage, looking up and continued to speak, addressing the ones in the walls.

“Who dares to build such monstrosity in my lands? Identify yourself!” the Noble shouted in a demanding manner.

“You see… I like this land, it has something that I need. So I’d like to buy it from you,” said the young man on top of the wall with an uncaring attitude.

“This land is not for sale! Who are you!?” said the angry lord.

“I’m sure we will reach an agreement. How about 2000 coins? Two for each soldier you brought here today” replied the young man.

“I’ve said it’s not for sale!”

“Then, how about 4000 coins? I really don’t know the price… Judeau? What do you think? Is it a fair price? I have no idea on the prices of land in this place”

Judeau nodded “4000 is more than fair”

“See? How about we settle this as civilized men… I will throw another 1000 in just to keep you silent about all this… What do you say?” added the young man.

Cornelio, the lord of the land was furious. “You piece of shit, do you think you can buy your way out of this? No one builds on my land without my permission! I will bow to no price you offer! Open the gates and leave, or I will make you pay with your life!” exclaimed the lord with all his lungs.

Viktor just looked down and sighed.

The young man turned to Judeau very disappointed “Why does nobody ever accept my offers? Am I that bad at making deals?” Riou looked at Judeau and shook his head, not sure how to respond to him.

Viktor approached the noble and whispered to him “Accept the deal and let’s get out of here”

“No! This peasant shall pay for his insolence!” shouted the lord.

The young man turned to the lord after hearing that “Fine, I will make another offer then... how much do you value your life?”

The lord frowned, not understanding the question.

Riou turned to Judeau “Did I say it right? Been a while since I spoke in the common tongue.”

“I understood it, you asked how much he valued his life” said Judea very calmly to him.

The young man was pleased to hear it “Well I guess negotiating is just not my thing” he then turned to the lord “I will have to increase the stakes here, I really want these lands you see. How about I let you live and you let me have this land, is that a better offer?” said the young man.

Riou turned to Judeau “Am I doing it right?”

Judeau nodded “Maybe you should offer more coins instead of threatening them right away”

Riou pondered “Do you think that would work?”

Judeau shrugged.

“Enough of this absurd! If you did not notice we have a 1000 strong ready to overrun this… thing you built. I know you haven’t been here for long enough, aside from these walls you have nothing inside of this place! So it would be wise if you reconsidered your position! Your bluffs have no value in this negotiation… I will give you one last chance to surrender, I promise we will be merciful on your sentence” the noble shouted, full of anger.

The young man smiled and turned towards the mercenary leader “Hey Viktor! Long time no see! You look good” shouted the young man, waving to him.

The noble was shocked after being ignored like that.

“Not too good to be honest. And you look older than I remember. Whatever you did since Brigantium was definitely not good for your health!” exclaimed Viktor while smirking and quickly turning to Levi who was standing a few steps away.

“He does look a lot older, doesn’t he?” she nodded confirming it.

Riou smiled “So you knew it was me back then?”

Viktor nodded “Yeah... I couldn’t help but notice that you captured my best scout there too” shouted the mercenary leader.

Riou laughed a bit tapping Judeau’s shoulder “I can’t fool you can I, you were always a sharp one. What can I say, I got lucky and found him inside my walls,” said Riou poking Judeau with his elbow making fun of him, but the scout just kept quiet after the remark.

The young man quickly added “So, how do you wanna do this?” he asked the mercenary leader

The noble was puffing and cursing at that moment. “How it’s gonna be? I will impale your head on my front yard! That’s how it’s gonna be!”

“I’m not talking to you,” Riou said to the lord and looked at Viktor once again. “So Viktor? I’m holding you to your word now… I got a job for you. But first we need to solve this little problem here. I really need this land and everyone here to keep it a secret for now.”

Viktor smirked and laughed to himself “Hey Judeau?! How bad is our situation?” shouted Viktor playfully.

The scout just raised his eyebrows and smirked.

“Shit… that bad huh?” said Victor knowing all too well what that meant.

“You should listen to your best scout,” Riou shouted, finding the whole exchange very amusing.

“Yeah, yeah… damn, this will affect business. You really got those 4000 coins right?” said the mercenary unhappily.

“What do you think of Judeau? Do you think I have that kind of money?” said the smiling young man.

“By what I saw in here, he does”

Viktor nodded to them and raised his hand. He circled it around and pointed to the front gates.

“You chose a bad time to show up kid… you are screwing me over here you know that right? My reputation will be soiled because of this” shouted Viktor.

Riou smiled while watching the mercenaries movement below.

All the mercenaries began to disband and abandon formation with the army and move towards the walls.

The noble watched, flabbergasted, as half of his forces joined the enemy. “What’s the meaning of this betrayal?!”

“Well I’m not the one to blame here. I told you to accept his deal. So I guess this is on you.”

“What? What do you mean by me? You are betraying your contract and joining the enemy!”

“The contract never mentions whom we were fighting… and you certainly never mentioned it would be against him” said Viktor pointing up to the strange young man. “Unfortunately for you, he is an old client of ours”

“But I’m paying now! You should protect me not him!”

Victor sighed “In normal conditions… yes, but since you don’t have the slightest idea of whom you are dealing with here. I will have to void the contract” said the displeased mercenary while approaching the noble.

Cornelius frowned, clearly mad with all that was happening.

“Damn, I knew I shouldn’t have taken this job without knowing who the target was” cursed Viktor looking displeased at the noble.

“But the contract… you can’t break it now, we already paid you” exclaimed the noble.

Viktor smirked looking at the noble while pointing upwards with his thumb. “Don’t you get it? My hands are tied here, if you told me we were going against that man over there I’d never had accepted it”

“Preposterous! I should have never dealt with your kind! I will come back with a real army, the capital will support my claim and…” before he could finish his sentence an ice shard pierced the wood of the carriage where the lord was standing.

Viktor smirked and stepped away from the lord “I’d think very carefully on my next words if I were you.”

A few more ice shards flew at incredible speed and landed around the noble’s horses, scaring them causing the sudden movement to throw the noble to the ground.

He heard no chant, those shards were instantly casted. Whoever that young man was, he was a terrific mage.

Viktor smirked and laughed at the noble as he tilted his head looking at the mercenary. “I suggest that you take the deal while it is still on the table. I saw that man explode a Dracar once, Immagine what he can do to a person”

“Who… who is this man?” questioned the noble looking at the strange figure on top of the gates.

Viktor smiled. “Well, the thing is… I’m not supposed to talk about him either. You know how that goes, right?”

Viktor helped the lord to get up and patted his clothes from the dust while he spoke to him “If I were you, I’d let all this slide. Give him the land and whatever else he wants. After all, if you don’t tell anyone what happened here there is no shame, am I right? Don’t challenge him, just accept that you lost a great opportunity to get even richer here today and go away”

The noble swallowed hard… Still, his pride was too high to allow it to be like that. The fat noble looked upwards once again with defiant eyes as he stood up.

“You may have won this time, I will have to accept your claim…” ‘For now,’ thought the lord with a smirk on his face.

Viktor sighed. It was clear as day what the man's intentions were.

Riou looked at the noble not too convinced. “You say what I want to hear, but why do I feel you don’t really mean it?” He then shook his head. “I can’t risk it, that’s not good enough for me…”

Riou pointed his finger at the noble.

“Let’s make another deal… a contract if you will.” A black fog appeared and quickly enveloped the noble, something started to move inside his chest. He pulled his shirt to see and a ghostly hand moving beneath his skin towards his heart, grabbing it. A black circle then appeared around his heart.

It looked very similar to the slave crest used to make them obey their master.

“Do not speak of what you saw here to anyone. Don’t even think about doing anything against me or this place, as far as you are concerned, nothing happened here. These lands were a gift to a very dear friend of yours and should not be discussed further. If you do anything contrary to that, the spell will hurt you and even kill you before you are able to tell anyone the truth about this place and me.”

He paused for a moment thinking “Come back in a month if you are still alive, and I will dispel this curse for you.”

The lord looked shocked at the young man and towards his soldiers around him, he was ready to order an attack when a sudden pain in his chest took over him for a moment. He shifted his eyes to the young man, completely terrified by him. The spell was real, he’d die if he was not cautious.

‘Who… who in the world is this man?’ questioned the noble in his mind. The hair, face and eyes were not known to him. He did not introduce himself but the mercenaries knew and feared him.

Indeed the lord realized that whatever was going on there, it was much bigger than he previously thought.

‘I should have taken the coin…’

“Hey Viktor, you and Levi can come in, we have to talk. I have a job proposition for you”

said the young man, smiling and confident that the matter of the land was now resolved.

“And you” said Riou looking at the noble, “Not a word about me or the little thing we got going here. Tell your men all was resolved and that you gifted me the place… this wall here is just a hunting experience with magic that we are conducting.”

-----------------------------------------

The journey towards the temple of Brine was strangely uneventful and quick. The group formed by veterans of the first army, the knight captain and the princess found no issues on the way. Not even the beasts that roamed the forests showed up to bother them.

The temple seemed to be in a state of high activity as the priestesses moved around gathering and preparing for something. Readying themselves for some big event.

Inside the temple, it didn’t take long for Bhalrom and the princess to find the head priestess.

“Leneke!” Bhalrom called. “It’s good to see you again head priestess.”

Leneke smiled and nodded. “I’ve heard some awful things about you Bhalrom,” she then looked at the princess. “But I know they could be nothing but false statements.”

The knight captain nodded. “Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to do anything… falsely accused, I’ve spent the last year in prison.” He sighed renewing his resolve. “But now I can protect my king once again. Can we see him?” questioned the Knight Captain.

The priestess forced a smile and looked at both of them. “Eileen…” she said slowly as the princess showed concern for her next words.

“I’m not supposed to let anyone see them.” The priestess paused for a moment as she could sense the princess’ fear.

“But you are not just anyone… I can’t prevent a child from seeing her parents. You can go, but be aware that they are very weak.”

Eileen took a deep breath and went towards the inner chambers as the priestess followed after her.

Eileen opened the door to the room cautiously.

She looked inside and saw the two beds. The transparent cloth was gone. Both her father and mother sat down on the bed eating what the priestess was serving them.

They were very thin and seemed weak, but they were fully awake and with good color. All the black spots were gone.

She brought her hand to her mouth as tears dropped from her eyes as she realized they were finally out of danger.

Noticing her in the door both her parents smiled. Hanna cried upon seeing her daughter while Elrik raised his hands in her direction, calling her to come near them.

She approached her mother and carefully laid her head beside her pillow. She didn’t dare to hug her mother in such a state, afraid to hurt her somehow.

“Eileen… you look so beautiful,” Hanna said, touching her daughter with her hands. The sensation of feeling her mother’s fingers on her hair once again was blissful.

She cried near her mother as she used to do when she was a small child.

From the door, the head priestess watched silently with a motherly smile and a teary eye.

Slowly she looked at her mother and father and then to the priestess at the door.

Understanding her concern, the priestess spoke. “They will be fine, with time they will fully recover” she said pushing all the shadows and doubts away from Eileen’s mind completely now.

She looked at them again “I’m so glad, the black spots… they are all gone. I knew you would not fall for this disease.”

“It was a miracle from the Water Mother. We will be moving to the city soon to start curing the disease using the mother’s blessings” added the priestess. “But none shall know of this until we are ready”

The king was still weak, so he called Eileen closer to him with his hand. The princess cleaned the tears and approached her father very closely to hear what he had to say.

In a low voice he whispered “He was here” said the king with a smile. Eileen’s eyes widened and she stopped breathing for a moment.

“You mean Riou? He is returned?” She questioned as a heavyweight sat upon her chest, she knew more she needed to be sure and waited with anticipation for her father's next words.

The king nodded confirming it. “He is looking for you”

Eilleen looked at the priestess as her eyes once again teared up, hoping that it was true and not some hallucination due to her father’s poor health.

The priestess seeing her suffering, sympathized with the princess.

“Someone did come a few days ago and he identified himself as your former suitor and an old friend of the king. He was the one to give us the holy artifacts of the Water Mother that cured the disease on your parents. The king was awake when he was here… and they did exchange words for a few moments before he was gone”

Eileen felt the weight vanishing and her body became light. She smiled and looked at her mother in awe.

“Do you know where he is?” she questioned while turning at the priestess.

“No my dear, he only asked us to keep everything in secrecy, he wished to protect the king and queen for a bit longer. He also requested that we prepared to help the city when we could, that he’d send help for us to go there.”

Eileen nodded. “I must find him. He must have gone into the city… the Tavern! He must be there!”

Elrik nodded “Go child, find him and help our people. We will join you as soon as we can”

She nodded “Please get well soon. Everyone is waiting for you two to return” she said looking at both of her parents.

She stepped back, waving at them and then turning to the priestess “Please take good care of them. I can’t stay a minute longer, I must return quickly.”

“Princess… just remember what I told you, this is to be a secret.”

Eileen nodded and dashed through the corridors and quickly found Bhalrom at the main hall.

“He is back!” shouted the princess happily approaching him.

“Who? The king?” questioned Bhalrom.

“Riou! He came back!” she said, continuing on her way out in a hurry. She clearly intended to return to the city at that very moment.

“The boy? But was he gone? Eileen? Are you leaving already?! How are your parents?” questioned the knight unsuccessfully as the princess was already outside with a bright smile and in great hurry.

--------------------------------------------- A Day later, afternoon.

Riou changed clothes to a more common outfit, just a white shirt and brown pants and boots as he used to wear.

“Are you sure master? Can’t we just follow you from afar?” questioned Attia.

“There is no need. I will wait in the hideout until the spy appears again. I will try to talk to Eileen about the plan when she is back from the temple. You two can rest and wait for me here in the village.”

“But master…” Bellica was clearly displeased by the option.

They preferred to stay near him at all times. “Fine… but make yourselves invisible and stay in the watchpoint while I’m there. No one can see you before I deal with the spy.”

Riou paused for a moment and looked at them. “And since you will be coming, prepare some food supplies and deliver them to Syldis in that tavern,” he added.

With a bright smile, both lionesses agreed eagerly.

“You guys look nothing like the other lioness I knew. She’d be running this place instead of me and would hardly follow me around at all”

“But master, we pledged ourselves to serve you, no one else is worthy to order but you” said Attia.

“She is the strange one! If she was half the warrior you said she was, she’d know better” replied Bellica as well.

Riou sighed, with that, he and his bodyguards went towards the city once again using the portal.

Attia and Bellica waited by the watchpoint as Riou entered the hideout.

The young man smiled at the known faces of the veterans that recognized him and came to greet the boy that had now become a man.

“Now you look like first army material!”, “What have you been eating boy? You grew too fast!”,

“He’s been sucking Wargs tits! There is no other explanation!”, “One of the best dagger wielders I ever saw… That duel with Galiathrus is still in my mind!”, “Ha!I’m glad to see you here with us once again!”

With the commotion, Ursula and Francis came to the entrance to see what was going on.

She widened her eyes, very surprised with whom she saw there. “Riou? Is that you?” she asked while Francis looked at her even more surprised by hearing such a name.

Riou waved and approached Ursula. “So I’ve heard there was a resistance going on. I thought to drop by and see if you guys needed any help.”

Ursula looked at him from head to toe. “You look… older”.

“You think? I get that a lot lately” said Riou smiling.

Francis frowned. “How did you know where to find us?” he noticed the black dragon crest of the Brahm’s family on his ring.

“A friend told me where you were… and you are?”

“I’m Francis Van Halten, first in line for the Van Halten house,” the noble said with pride and quickly looking towards Ursula with suspicion. “This is the same Riou that Eileen talked about? The one that was supposedly lost in the spirit world?”

“Where is Eileen?” Riou jumped after hearing the princess’ name. He knew her whereabouts but played his part to keep appearances a bit longer.

“She… she’s not here right now,” said Ursula, trying to think a way out of that situation.

His presence now jeopardized the whole plan. Now that he reappeared, there was no chance that Eileen would continue with the marriage plan.

Francis frowned and stepped in front Riou menacingly. “I heard a lot about you… that you became a Brahm and Eileen’s suitor by sheer luck. I even heard heroic tales of your death while saving the Norse Royal family… you shouldn’t have stayed dead if you care about this country or even Eileen.”

Riou smiled. “What? Did I come by at a bad moment?”

Francis shook his head and approached Riou even closer. “You have no business here or with Eileen, do a favor for everyone and leave this place to never return. Crawl back to the hole you came from”

Riou squinted his eyes at the noble. “And why is that? Last time I checked I was on good terms with everyone in here”

Francis let air out through his nose and smirked. “Because Princess Eileen already agreed to marry me. With the old king’s death, there must be someone to take the stand. Together, we will dispose of Roderick’s attempt to claim the throne once and for all.” The young noble looked with disdain at Riou and continued,

“A fake Norse lord has no influence in Allard. You should realize that your presence here means nothing but trouble.”

Riou smiled, finding it very amusing. “So you are to marry Eileen? And she even accepted you already? You must be quite a warrior then” Riou said in a mocking tone stepping up to the noble, looking straight in his eyes with a smile.

As the noble stepped back and looked away “The norse rites have no use in here, this situation requires action! Not tradition!” Riou turned to Ursula, curious to see what she had to say.

But the mage just looked down with a concerned, almost guilty expression.

The veterans of the first watched the conversation apprehensively nearby.

Riou smirked looking at her. “So it’s true, and you all think that’s the best solution to this situation.” And turned to the noble once again. “Congratulations are in order then” he added in a mocking tone.

The noble’s hand quickly went to his sword.

“Wow… hold on Francis. You really don’t want to do this,” said one of the Veterans stepping forward and holding the noble, quickly followed by some other veterans. He held the Noble and pulled him away from the group to cool his head.

Ursula looked at Riou, concerned. “He is not wrong, you know? Your presence here will make things difficult for the whole country. Eileen just now accepted the marriage. You know how she is stuck to tradition and the old ways, if you are here she won’t go through with it”

Riou looked sideways at Ursula squinting his eyes. “I don’t see how my presence here would affect anything. If this really is the only way, Eileen would not change her mind just because of that”.

The court mage took a deep breath but did not answer him. There was no point to explain anything to someone that just arrived and knows nothing of their struggle.

“Riou? Is that you?” Suddenly a feminine voice came from the inner quarters. Lilly looked from the corridor surprised, she blinked a few times looking at him “You are so… I mean… I heard you were dead!”

As she approached, surprised, Lilly found it strange that Ursula was not in a good mood by seeing him.

“Hello Lilly, I’m glad to see that you are safe,” said Riou, looking at Ursula once again.

“Right now your presence here goes against the country's best interest, you really should leave” explained Ursula once more.

He was quite shocked by that, even Ursula was against his presence there. He had no idea why they were against his help now.

“What’s going on Ursula?” questioned Lilly not understanding her position as well.

“It’s Eileen… She has been through a lot last year. And it will be best for everyone if he leaves and doesn't see her.” said Ursula, trying to convince herself more than Lilly.

Riou nodded very seriously looking at Ursula “I could expect this reaction from him,” said Riou pointing to Francis, “But not you Ursula… you are one of the few that showed a bit of sense in this damned land. I thought you’d have learned by now, you made a grave mistake once by not listening to me, and now you are doing another one.”

Francis looked angrily and confused at Ursula, she could not tolerate such disrespect from a fake lord.

She sighed. “We can’t take the risk Riou… there is too much at stake now, please understand… take your old things in that room and leave, it’s for the best that nothing remains that can remember her of you”

He smiled politely and nodded silently, while walking towards the room she mentioned.

------------------------------------ Eileen.

Eileen entered the city by the old garrison passage and rushed through the streets at great speed going straight to the hideout, she would tell them the news and then rush to the Drinking Bear Tavern.

Since she didn’t have to keep Bhalrom’s and the other’s pace, she covered the whole distance much quicker.

“Ursula!” shouted out the princess happily as she entered the cellar. “I have news!”

She found Ursula looking concerned. When the court mage noticed Eileen by the entrance, she became frightened and surprised to see her.

Everyone looked at the princess with the same expression, clearly not expecting her to arrive at that time.

“What happened?” questioned the princess picking up the tension in the air.

She looked at Lilly, but she preferred to stay quiet as well.

Francis rushed towards her after recovering from the surprise. “You have to leave, now!” said the noble in a commanding tone, holding her arm tightly, trying to drag her out by force.

Eileen just ignored him as she had no time for such nonsense, she was in a hurry.

With a quick movement of her arm she easily released herself from his grip and stepped further inside the cellar.

Eileen walked towards Ursula, the mage forced a smile but the concern in her eyes were evident. Eileen was sure that something just happened. The princess looked closely at her and said with a smile. “He is back!” trying to cheer her up as well with the news.

“I told you he’d be back!” she smiled while telling Ursula.

Ursula wasn’t surprised at all and just nodded while looking at her happy face. “I know…” she said, unable to do anything else and then pointed to the inner quarters, more specifically to her room.

Eileen followed the direction with her eyes.

At the door, wearing a white shirt, brown pants and boots was a bearded man, near his 25 years.

She looked at him. A messy hair and a familiar face. His eyes were just like the ones she remembered. Even from the distance she could easily recognize them. His face was showing a warm smile while looking at her.

“Hello Eileen” said the young man.

The princess seemed shocked and walked in his direction as everyone watched in silence.

She stared at him for a moment, there was no doubt who he was.

Tears flowed as she embraced him. But the boy that she could easily hold was gone. Eileen’s head could easily and comfortably rest on his shoulder now, her arms barely went around his back.

“Sorry I’m late,” whispered Riou to her.

She just shook her head while still resting it on his shoulder, not letting go of him. “I knew you’d come. I knew...”

Riou smiled. All that time spent on the spirit world, all the uncertainties built on his mind of what he’d encounter once he returned finally washed over him. She was safe and she still remembered him.

A sense of relief could be seen as he rested his cheek against her hair. His eyes and smile gave away a sense of happiness that moved all the onlookers, all could easily see how they felt for each other.

Eileen turned her head and moved to look better at him. Clearing the teary eyes she asked him expecting his response.

“You have a beard now?”

“It makes me look older, want me to shave it?”

She shook her head “Did you come to help us?”

“I came for you” the princess smiled and looked down.

Francis couldn’t take it anymore. That scene and the two whispering at each other like two lovebirds as if nothing else was going on was driving him mad.

“Eileen?” questioned Francis. “We have much to do… If we want to fight Rodrick we must act fast. I understand that he is a dear friend of yours, but now we must think of the country.”

Riou looked at him and then back to Eileen with a smirk. “Seems like your fiance is a bit jealous.”

Eileen gasped, her eyes widened. She realized she complied too early and needlessly to that request. Feeling as if she had been dismissive of her honor bond with Riou, she quickly turned to Ursula and Francis.

Realizing she was about to say, Riou whispered to her ear “Say nothing... yet”

Eileen seemed even more surprised and turned to him with a confused expression.

Francis was furious. “Enough of this already, come with us… a fake lord from the north has no place in our plans… leave him be and let’s discuss the next steps, we have a wedding to plan.”

Eileen had enough. She was about to put him in his place.

As she moved forward she felt two hands at her waist. She stopped immediately as she realized it was Riou gently holding her back, she promptly stepped back to his side.

They were closely together, side by side, his hand was still laying on her waist line while his arm enveloped her from behind her back. They looked like a couple in the beginning of a relationship.

He barely shook his head and showed a slight smirk. She immediately realized he had some sort of plan already.

It took a moment for her to notice how he was holding her, she blushed, but was clearly not bothered by it.

Eileen was way too comfortable by his approaches which infuriated the young noble..

He was more than jealous at that point. But before he could say anything else, Riou quickly intervened.

“You will have enough time to talk about it later, isn’t that right Eileen?” said Riou holding a silly smile and nodding while looking at the princess expectantly.

She squinted her eyes at him “I think so? We do have much to discuss… but later” replied the princess without taking her curious eyes off him.

“And why would that be? What could possibly be more important than the country’s situation,” questioned Francis while Ursula listened.

Riou seemed lost in thoughts for a moment, his face showed the expression of a sage pondering about the mysteries of the universe.

Eileen looked at him even more surprised and quickly understood his intentions. She smiled as she realized he hadn't changed at all.

It was a particularity that the princess found fascinating in him. Riou had this playfulness that she became very used to. He made faces and joked all the time, seeing him like that once again, brought forth all those memories.

“Well the marriage plan is not ensured to work by itself. We still need something else, an edge…” Riou paused looking around as if thinking profoundly and very hardly while Eileen remained by his side intrigued.

“We need someone inside the court to get us information on what Rodrick’s plans are, so we can adjust and prepare accordingly, if only we had a spy on their side we could...” added the young man as if having the greatest of ideas.

“Hah! That’s what we have been doing so far… You are all talk aren’t you? See Eileen? Is this the kind of man you want to keep around? He knows nothing!” said Francis pointing at him.

Ursula just brought her hand to her face and sighed.

Riou contained himself and made an overly surprised expression.

Eileen promptly understood his angle, for some reason, he was playing them.

She looked around and realized that everyone bought his act and smiled to herself.

‘He really didn’t change one bit,’ she thought smiling. ‘I knew it… if he were here all along, things would have been different. He just arrived and I can tell by just looking at him, he knows everything that is happening and already has a plan’

“Is that so? I’d love to talk to him” said the young man dismissively, very interested in the spy they had.

Ursula sighed once again. “Albert usually spends a few days in the castle before coming back. He will probably come tomorrow around noon. But I don’t see how any of this can help,” replied the court mage.

“We will see about it once I talk to him tomorrow then,” said Riou quickly wrapping the conversation up.

He then finally let go of Eileen and walked around the hideout for a bit.

“It’s a bit cramped over here, and since I don’t want to cause anyone any… uneasiness.” He glanced at Ursula and Francis. “I will be at the tavern for the night,” added Riou looking at Eileen.

Francis laughed, “You don’t even know how the city is? No tavern is open… there is a plague and hunger assailing the city… are you blind or just plain stupid?”

Riou laughed at the remark. “I know an old man that would bet on the latter.” He then paused and continued in a more serious tone, “But I also know a tavern that is never closed for me.”

He smiled and bid his goodbye. “I’ll see you all tomorrow morning.” He walked towards the exit while everyone watched him in silence. Eileen looked concerned as she watched him go.

He then turned his head after a few steps near the door and looked at Eileen. “Aren’t you coming too?”

The princess said nothing and quickly and happily joined his side once again.

Francis looked at Ursula, hoping she’d put some sense into the princess. “Walking outside? Staying in an inn? She is asking to get captured… What if she becomes sick? We can’t allow her to go!” the noble spoke to the court mage who looked concerned at the princess.

Ursula was also concerned “I don’t think that’s a good idea either Eileen. You are safer here with us. We have enough people now to protect you. The enemy doesn’t know about our hideout yet, nor has the disease reached us here” pleading to the princess to reconsider her options. “We have a lot to consider and plan for the wedding. Will you leave and put everything at risk?” added the court mage.

Eileen turned around around “It will be fine Ursula, don’t worry” she smiled at her before leaving with Riou.

---------------------------- Hideout after the Princess left

“That man… he can’t be trusted, I bet he is working with the enemy as well… we should have sent him away before she even had seen him in the first place. Did you see how he behaved around her? He couldn’t keep his hands off her!” said Francis enraged walking to side to side.

He quickly continued, “We should go and take her back right now! We must prevent him from using this time to get into her head. I’m sure he will try to convince her out of the marriage… I know it,” continued the noble.

Ursula pressed her forehead with her fingers, clearly having a headache. “Now it’s out of our hands… I understand your concern. But she is the princess and must decide what to do on her own. We can only counsel and advise her. You saw how much she trusts him… I can attest that he is not to be taken lightly either. And maybe she is right, maybe with his help we could do something...”

Francis clicked his tongue and shook his head. He then looked at the veterans, “You shouldn’t have held me back at that moment… I’d have taught him a lesson!”

The veterans held their laugh in respect of the noble that was providing for them, but the one that held him stepped up to speak once again.

“We know you are a good fighter Master Francis, but a year ago that young man was already first army grade. I’m sorry to say this, but you are no match for him. He even won against the princess and saved her and the Norse king from that massive assault on the north Castle. He is a hero and as Ursula said, his influence and capabilities cannot be taken lightly, maybe the princess is right, maybe with his support and Bhalrom back, things will be different from now own” said the veteran pausing for a moment.

On the other hand, Francis was not convinced.

“Never underestimate what the presence of a hero can do to the troops morale on the battlefield,” added another serious veteran.

Francis laughed. “Really? Him, a hero? I highly doubt that. Where was this hero until now? Do you believe in the story that he was dead? Or what? Banished to the spirit world? Come on, that’s bullshit. He probably hid himself, waiting for his opportunity to get on the princess' good side again. Waiting for a fitting moment to present himself. He is an impostor, a fraud! I doubt he is even a real Brahm. Nobody ever sees them out of the North and all of a sudden they name a peasant that is not even blood related? He is nothing but a fraud I say… I don’t know what they told everyone in the north, but as far as I heard, none of the norse nobles actually saw him fighting the enemy.” Francis paused and looked around clearly agitated.

The veterans looked at Ursula.

“Maybe he is even working with our enemy to dissuade Eileen from the marriage!” continued on his rant.

The court mage sighed. “Francis, enough with the conspiracies… You saw the ring on his right hand, that’s proof enough. Let's sleep and see what the princess decides tomorrow.”

“It’s just… Ahhh!” shouted Francis. “Father will not be pleased if she backs down now. You know how he is Ursula. He may withdraw his support” added Francis, looking at the mage.

She took a deep breath and nodded, understanding his concern.

“What about the king?” asked one of the veterans. “Did the princess see them?”

Ursula shook his head “I doubt, she came back too quickly for that to happen…”

------------------- Watch Point

“That’s master and his mate,” said Bellica to the scouts at the watch point. Riou and Eileen walked through the streets towards the tavern.

“Master said she was a princess…daughter of the king of these lands. He is recovering in the temple” said Attia.

“Yes, but why did you bring that up now?” questioned Bellica.

“I was wondering, if a king is the highest title of this land, then master would be our king right?” said Attia. “Wouldn’t that mean that his mate would be our queen?”

Bellica pondered for a moment. “It makes sense, if she is his mate, she is our queen.”

Attia nodded as the scouts looked at each other nodding as well. Everyone there agreed, that logic made perfect sense to them.

“But that doesn’t mean our master can have just one queen, right? I still think he should have as many as he can,” added Bellica.

The scouts all around them once again nodded in unison looking at each other. That made a lot of sense in their minds as well.

As the cultures meshed together and the villagers tended to get just the parts they judged favorable. Especially when it came to the ratios between male and female. Due to the remnants of the clan bloodline, the males were afflicted by the youngster fever and tended to do dangerous things impulsed by it and died more frequently in the spirit realm due their recklessness.

“We will follow them,” said Attia as Bellica was already preparing to leave the watch point. “The rest of you stay and keep on the mission here”

------------------------ Drinkin Bear

Riou knocked on the door. It opened slowly and the big woman appeared behind it with a menacing stance. Syldis was almost back to normal, she was definitely something else given how fast she recovered and was back on her feet, her fortitude was amazing.

Seeing who it was at the door, she immediately relaxed. “Riou! Thank you for the supplies, I was really running low. Now we can go for another month without a problem” said the tavern owner, looking at the woman beside him.

“So, you found her… It seems that the news wasn't true after all.” The smiling norse woman nodded and greeted Eileen. “You look like you grew even stronger since I last saw you princess” She looked at Eileen from head to toe and nodded “Come in, I will prepare a meal for us.”

“Thanks Syldis, you look much better already” said Riou, as he entered the tavern followed by Eileen who also greeted the tavern owner.

They sat at a table and began to chat while Syldis prepared something in the kitchen.

“So… I guess I’m the older one now” He said with a smile.

Eileen looked at him finding his quick growth very strange, she was curious but she ended up just nodding and smiling as Riou continued “Well, at least now no one will dismiss me. They may even believe I was your suitor, don’t you agree?”

“I bet no one would look down on you now,” She said looking at him.

Riou smirked. “But it seems I am too late… I lost my position after all. You have a fiance now, even planning a wedding… not that I blame you or anything, you had clearly traded up.” he said in a joking tone.

But Eileen was not finding it funny at all.

“But he does seem to be a jealous guy, I have a feeling that he does not approve of our friendship.”

Eileen did not say anything, she seemed to feel rather guilty about it, Riou noticed his blunder and stopped speaking.

“We were out of options. I waited as long as we could, but since we lost contact with the temple I feared my parents were gone” she paused “I had to agree to those terms before it was too late.”

She looked towards Riou. “But now I know that they are recovering, there is no reason for any of this anymore. I wanted to tell Ursula but the priestess told me to keep it a secret.” She looked at him with suspicion and a bit of resentment for not clearing everything with Ursula. “Why did you ask that from the Priestess?”

“I have a plan…”

She nodded “You already know everything that is going on, don’t you?”

He nodded “I have learned quite a bit about the situation here since I returned couple days ago”

“So what was that talking about having someone in the castle? Why did you play them like that?”

“So you noticed huh?” He smiled at her. “Well, I am sorry. I know how you feel about this marriage thing, but I need to ask you to put up with it a little longer. Of course I won’t allow you to marry that guy, you can rest assured of it… But for my plan to work I need everyone to believe that you are willing to go through with it.”

Eileen wasn’t liking the idea, but waited for him to continue.

“I can’t say the whole thing now… as it may affect the plan. But I need you to trust me on that,” said Riou, seriously looking at her.

She sighed “So you want me to go along with it for a while? I don’t like this idea…”

“I know I’m asking a lot, but it will help us, and I promise I will explain everything once the plan is in motion.”

She squinted her eyes and looked at him. “Fine, but first, tell me how did you know where to find us? How did you know where the hideout was.”

Riou looked at her and raised his eyebrows.

“Nobody knows where we are,” she insisted.

He forced a smile and shook his head at her. Eileen sighed realizing that her statement was no longer true.

She took a deep breath and looked at him with a serious expression once again.

“Where were you? What happened back then?”

Riou leaned back on the chair “I messed up, that’s what happened. I ended up in what you call the spirit world” he said calmly.

Eileen heard that much from Max “And because of that you grew older?” she said, concerned with him. She could clearly sense a sadness from him as he remembered that place.

“In a sense… yes. Time is not the same there. It’s a harsh place. The days and nights are stretched out and the mana density is also different. What looked like a year for you here, was a lot more in there” he paused for a moment.

Eileen nodded and looked at him. “Was it because of your real age and how it affected your body?”

Riou gasped as he was caught by surprise.

“What? How… Have you been talking to Max?”

She smiled and nodded, waiting for him to continue his story.

Riou was still impressed.

After a moment he looked at her with saddened eyes and continued his story. “Well, things weren’t easy down there… It took a while to get used to that place. Everything there was crazy strong... the beasts, monsters but specially the undead and fiends… that whole place wanted to kill you at every opportunity. I lost a lot of time and a few friends trying to get back here,” said Riou recording the past.

She became more serious listening to his tone. “After you went missing we went back to the magus’ place, news about Allard’s situation arrived shortly after. We all came back to Allard to help. Even Therese stayed with us for a while. But then she had to leave when the news from the beastmen warfront grew darker. Therese was afraid her clan would not survive if she didn’t act soon.” She paused for a moment.

“I joined the rebels a couple months back when I finally found Ursula. We have been struggling since then, everything we tried seemed to fail and we are far worse now than when we started.” She looked at Riou who nodded understanding the situation very well.

The princess smiled and continued.

“Max was certain of your return… he told me you would manage it somehow. That you would certainly survive and return… and he told me a few more things about you while we traveled,” said Eileen.

“I noticed.” He smiled amazed by her reaction so far.

“He told me that you were the smartest and dumbest man that he had ever met,” she laughed remembering the old mage saying it.

“He is too kind,” he joked.

Eileen smiled in a good mood. It has been a while since she could relax like that. Somehow, he was always able to make her feel at ease, no matter the situation.

She now remembered how much she missed that feeling.

After pausing for a moment, in a more serious tone she continued, “He assured me that no matter where you were cast into, be it the spirit world or the Abyss, that you were powerful enough to survive and return” said Eileen looking at him, “It seems that he was right after all.”

Riou leaned back a bit and smiled forcibly, unsure of how to reply.

The princess gazed towards him once more.

“I’d like you to be more honest with me from now on… I want you to trust me more with your secrets. I want to know everything” she said with serious eyes looking at him.

Riou looked at her carefully and understood what she wanted “Once we are done with this problem, I will answer whatever you want to know.”

She smiled. “I will hold you on to that… So for now, please do tell me more of what happened in the spirit world. Were people there?”

Riou nodded. “In the spirit world I found this strange village. The inhabitants were neither from Allard nor Beastmen. They were a mixture of the two, for a long time they lived there alone. They have to become very powerful to survive in that place. With their help we could return to this world”

Eileen nodded, impressed. “So, those who saved Bhalrom, Lilly and Serena, the man in black and the two lionesses that appeared in our hideout a couple days ago… they were from this village you found? They came with you from that place, that’s why they seemed so powerful”

Riou nodded.

“So this man in black is this tribe’s leader?” she added understanding the whole situation better. “That’s why he had Lionesses as bodyguards, that’s why they were so powerful! Are they stronger than Therese?”

“Something like that… and regarding Therese...” Riou paused knowing it was a touchy subject for Eileen. “They are indeed more powerful. You have to understand that they lived in a much harsher environment for far longer than the beastmen of this world.”

Eileen widened her eyes in surprise. The fact that fighters even stronger than Therese existed needed some consideration, after a moment she continued.

“I didn’t like him, something in him made me feel uneasy… but if you say we can trust him, I will believe you.” She paused for a moment, remembering it. “And he must be really powerful, those 2 lionesses were really something else, their presence was outstanding and they had such strong killing intent.”

Riou nodded. “It was probably Attia and Bellica, they are the most powerful lionesses in the village” said Riou with a wry smile.

Eileen nodded impressed by him knowing their names. “I saw how the lionesses treated him, he was like a king or emperor to them. Changing even their mood in a single word. Therese told me about the Lionesses ways. They are a prideful race and even so, despite them being very powerful themselves they were so obedient to him”

He was impressed by Eileen’s observations and knowledge of the clan's traditions. “Really? All I noticed was that they were nothing like Therese.”

Eileen nodded, agreeing with that. “That’s because Therese is far older than them and at the time she left them, she knew she was stronger than her leader. She wouldn’t accept that a weapon would change how she felt towards it, nor it could subdue her will and pride as a Lioness. So for not accepting him, she was banned from her clan.”

Riou widened his eyes. “So that’s her story.”

Eileen continued, “Usually the best female warriors are granted the honor of protecting the clan leader. Usually it would be out of duty or request, like a prestigious job. But those two, Attia and Bellica… to be so submissive in his presence, they must have pledged themselves to him”

Riou smiled wryly. “You even know about that?”

“Yes, It’s the highest form of recognition in the lion clan. To give themselves to their lord… I can’t imagine how they must feel towards him. I heard it is very rare for a lioness to pledge herself to someone. There are a lot of stories and legends about that. That’s why I think he must be an extremely powerful and good leader to them.” Eileen looked at Riou. “You know him, right? You must know how powerful he must be.”

He nodded agreeing with her. “Yeah, very powerful” he forced a smile continuing nodding.

Eileen thought for a moment and questioned Riou.

“So it’s true then, about Elise? It is true that she was saved?”

“Yes, I talked to her already, she is in the village not far from here. I can take you there once the plan ends”

Eileen was relieved with the news and nodded, agreeing with him. “And you will tell me everything I want to know once we get there, right?” she looked, expecting him to answer.

“I will. But for now, we must prepare for tomorrow,” he added as he noticed Syldis was coming with the food. “As I said before, I need you to play a part in the plan.”

Riou pulled a necklace from his pocket. It was a locket made of a strange metal. Eileen opened it and inside there were strange writings that she had never seen before.

It did not glow in a shining light blue like her sword enchantments, instead it had a very strong dark blue color that resembled Riou’s eyes.

“Put this on and don’t take it off. If things ever get out of hand, if you get trapped or can’t deal with an enemy, pour some mana into this necklace and it will protect you”

Eileen looked at it with a smile and promptly wore it. A strange sensation quickly swept over her, like soft hands laid upon her shoulders for a brief moment, like a guardian was now watching over her.

“So, will you tell me about this plan of yours or not? What else do you need me to do?” she asked impatiently, while looking at him.

Riou smiled and began explaining what he had in mind.