“Where is Bhalrom? Something must have happened, he has been completely silent the whole morning!” Riou was restless walking from side to side in the room.

“Just wait, these things do take time. The lord won’t comply without putting up a scene, he will drag it out and try to win tire Bhalrom out. And let’s not forget that he has two court mages escorting him, so not even Lord Tullius would be crazy enough to do anything and challenge that authority.”

“What do you think Eileen?”

“Max is right, knowing Tullius and Bhalrom, both must be refusing to yield and the captain could just be refusing to leave the place until he gets what he wants.”

“That does sound like something Bhalrom would do.”

The orange crystal blinks on Max’s hand “See, I knew he’d reply eventually! Bhalrom!?”

“It is me, but I can’t talk but we are still waiting on the keys, they are taking their time to get them.” the voice of the Knight Captain came through.

“We expected as much, when do you think...” Max is cut off by the knight's voice.

“I will report back once I have new information, I have to go now.” and the crystal loses its light.

Riou looks at Eileen and then Max with a frown “That was oddly strange. Don’t you think?”

“Probably someone was coming and he couldn’t speak,” added Max.

“At least we heard from him directly,” Said Eileen.

Riou sighed and sat down on a chair a bit more relaxed.

“Did he sleep last night?” The mage asked the princess pointing at Riou, concerned with the tired look he was showing.

“Not that I’m aware of, he's been out most of the night and then here since morning.” She looks at Attia and Bellica that shook their heads confirming that Riou didn’t go to his room.

Max was already expecting that response, “Go rest Riou! You need to be in shape for the evening, take these few hours to recover, at least a bit.”

“I can still go on.”

“But there is no need for it! We have to wait anyways.”

Riou sighed nodded, “Fine, but let me know as soon as you get anything from Bhalrom.”

“Sure, we will watch the situation!” the mage replied as he looked at Eileen.

Riou left to his room in the inn and the mage let out his breath, sitting down on the chair, and looked at Eileen, very concerned.

“It’s like trying to hold back a hungry dragon with nothing but my bare hands. I bet if we allowed it, he’d rampage through the city.”

“Imagine how it must have been for him. It will take time for him to adjust, but he will get there.”

Max sighed and nodded “The spirit world… I can’t imagine how he survived that place.”

“He is far stronger than we can imagine, isn’t he?”

“I’m sure he is strong and crazy… You will have a lot of work tonight trying to keep him in check, don’t let him do anything too crazy.”

“Don’t worry, I will watch him closely.”

------------------------ Few hours later

“It’s time to wake up, have you rested well?” Riou opens his eyes to find Eileen sitting by his bed, closely watching him.

He smiles a bit surprised to find her there, “I didn’t notice you coming in.”

“I will take that as a compliment.”

“What time is it?”

“It’s night, the party has already started. But you seemed so tired... I thought to let you sleep a bit more.”

He nodded and sat down on the bed, “We can’t be the first ones to arrive, right? Oh, and what about Bhalrom? Any news?”

“Nothing… We have no news since that call with Max.”

“Bhalrom must be in trouble then, we should look for him.”

“Do you think he is still in Tullius house?”

“It’s the only lead we have so far, it’s worth investigating. What about Max?”

“He called earlier, said he entered the house with ease and already found Griffith's secret hideout there. He is investigating it.”

Riou looked at her with attention, “And you? How are you?”

“I thought about what you said, I think I understand what you meant.” she smiled at him.

“You should listen to me more often, I know a lot of stuff,” he smirked with a smug face.

“And when didn’t I? All I do is listen to you, maybe that’s the problem?”

“I’m hurt!” He said with an exaggerated expression of surprise and putting his hand on his chest.

But before she could reply, Attia’s voice came from the door. She was standing by the frame, “The Carriage has arrived… should I tell them to wait?”

Eileen looked at Riou and nodded, “Thank you, Attia, we are going to come on, Riou. It’s time to go.”

He nodded, “Ok, let’s get Umbra and start making our move.”

“Well… about her.”

He sighed and let his head down “Oh no… what did she do?”

“She’s just gone, neither Attia or Bellica saw her leaving.”

“I see…. then it’s just us, let’s get going.”

“Are you sure we can leave her like that?”

“She’s smart and has been tagging along for a while now, I think she knows what she is doing… I hope.”

The party at Lord Tullius' house was filled with people, the place had nobles coming from all places. And yet, despite this, the owner and lord of that place made no effort to enjoy the party and just waited in his office, watching the entrance gate expectantly.

“What if she doesn’t come?” a voice comes from the corner.

“She will come, she has to, It’s a noble gathering, her royalty status demands her presence.” Replied lord Tullius. “What about the Little Brahm? Did he get a whiff of our plans somehow?”

“No changes from him and no one entered or approached the city. His only bodyguards are the same two Lionesses and just them. He doesn’t seem to have contacted his main forces or his commander, the one named Arthas is yet to make any appearances.”

“That’s good, he is either unaware or underestimating us. Either way, our new plan will work perfectly. Is everything ready?” Asked Lord Tullius.

“Almost, Bhalrom needs some more time and we should be finishing the Beastmen trap by now.”

“That’s something I want to see, by your report, those two are very strong, can you really deal with them?”

“I’ll handle them fairly easily, a beastmen or two was never an issue for our guild.”

“Outstanding. Now go, the main guests had finally arrived!” Tullius sees by an image formed at a crystal shining light on the wall, that a carriage with the princess just stopped by the gate.

“Master, the people following us are gone now.” Said Bellica looking outside the window of the carriage.” Riou just nodded at her.

The gate opened and the carriage moved inside the property of lord Tullius. The way towards the house was filled with lamps and mage lights. Displaying the sculptures and the large garden. Many other carriages could be seen parked nearby. Covering a great part of the open space designed for that.

“Are you ready?” Riou asked Eileen, who seemed hesitant. “Remember to ask about Bhalrom, let’s see his response.” She nodded and stepped out.

They were led inside where Lord Tullius was already waiting.

“Ah! Princess Eileen, my heart could barely contain itself in anticipation for your arrival and now that it sees you, it’s about to burst of pure joy!” He turns to Riou and smiles. “And this must be the one I’ve been hearing about, the new addition to Brahm's house. You are the topic of the whole city!”

“All good things, I hope,” Riou replied.

“Oh, you have no idea!” he looked at Eileen from head to toe. “My princess, if it would be so bold of me to ask, I’m afraid this battle outfit of yours is not proper for this occasion. You know Iris dressing code, don’t you? So, please, if you allow me, I have something in my wares that might suit you.”

“I’m fine as is Lord Tullius, there is no need to change.”

“But I insist! I would never forgive myself if I allow the Princess of Allard to wear nothing less than the finest cloth my city has to offer! Allowing you to go like this would be a stain on my reputation for the rest of my life!”

“Speaking of reputation, I heard Bhalrom has come here. Where is he?” asked Eileen trying to divert the subject.

“Oh, the good knight captain. Indeed he came here asking for some kind of key. I don’t recall having anything of the sort, so if they were in my possession, it could take some time to find them amidst my things. But you know how the captain is, he refuses to leave and is watching the servant’s work as we speak with his companions.”

“So you wouldn’t mind if we go see him?” said Eileen.

“But of course not my princess! I’ll guide you personally… as soon as you change into a proper outfit of course. The young Brahm can come too, I can give you both a walk through my treasury while at it, in the hopes to impress you both.”

The princess sighed and nodded “Fine then. Let’s get this over with”

Riou glanced at Attia and Bellica, both understood the order and moved beside Eileen.

“I’m afraid bodyguards are not allowed in the innermost parts of the house. This is a civilized gathering, after all, there is no need to muscle and swords here,” said Lord Tullius smiling at him.

“We never know what might happen or who might sneak in. Precaution is always advisable.”

“Lord Brahm, I assure you, nobody can enter this house without my knowledge. Rest assured.”

Riou smiles and steps forward getting real close to the lord. “But I insist.”

Eileen quickly intervened “I can take care of myself… don’t worry.” She said, trying to calm Riou down.

Lord Tullius was quick to reply, “Marvelous, please if you could follow my servant here, she will take you to a room where the dresses can be found. Pick whichever you want, consider it a gift to you, my princess.”

Riou once again glanced at Attia and Bellica “If anything happens, you know what to do.”

Lord Tullius continued, “Nothing will happen, don’t worry. And if these two distinguished Beastkin could follow my servant here he will show them to a room with food and wine where they can wait for you both. And you, Lord Brahm, while we wait for the dear princess, please enjoy the party as much as you can. I will use the moment to attend to the other guests as well. We will reconvene once she is ready to go see the knight captain.”

Riou smiled “I’m already curious to see what you have hidden... at your treasury, I mean.”

“Oh, you won’t be disappointed, I assure you. Now, if you excuse me.”

Riou was left alone at the entrance hall, as the princess followed the maid and the lionesses followed the servant.

The noise coming from the next room grew at each step he made towards its large doors.

Opening them revealed the main hall of the house. It was even bigger than the one at Longart castle, 10 times more luxurious. Ribbons, cloths, and flowers of all colors were decorating the ambiance. Everywhere he looked people were talking, drinking, and eating. Some standing up in groups, some sat down on the chairs around the many tables. Servants rushed from one side to the other with food and beverages, keeping the guests well served.

Without a doubt, all lords of the surrounding cities were there.

“Fancy, been a while since I’ve been on an event this big… Well, let’s see if Max is right.”

But as soon as he began to walk towards one of the bars, a loud voice caught his attention coming from the nearby table.

“You good for nothing bastard! What if I want to talk to him? I talk to whoever I want!”

“You are embarrassing me, Louise! Enough of wine for you!”

“Enough of wine? Who are you to tell me what to do?”

“I’m your husband! And you will listen to my orders!”

“Orders? You think you can order me around? Me? And how can you dare to call yourself a husband? You can’t even fulfill your marital obligations! As far as I know, I’m not married to anyone! If I depended on you, I'd still be a virgin!”

“This is not the place or time for this!”

“Why? Do you think they don’t know if your little problem? Do you think they don’t know that you can only get it going when you are with your younger male friends at the Tulip!?”

“I do not frequent that establishment, you know that very well!”

“Then why are you never home?! Why? Tell me?”

“To be away from you! And that thing you call son! Why else!?”

“Don’t you dare speak of him!”

“Louise! Put that glass down immediately, stop drinking or I will make you regret confronting my authority in front of all of these people!”

“Oh my, I didn’t know I was confronting such a man! Now I wonder what you could possibly do to me that you haven’t yet!”

“That’s it… you’re done.” The older man discusses with her reaches for her arm as she tries to prevent him from taking her glass. They struggle until he finally overpowers her arm making her drop the glass down.

“Look at what you did!”

“Shut up Louise!”

“I can’t speak, I can’t drink!? So, what can I do, oh dear husband? I know! I can fuck someone here and now!” she wobbles and walks drunkenly away from him trying to pull her dress up. “Louise! Stop this scene already! You are embarrassing yourself!!”

“Good! Let them see and hear! My elderly husband is never home and plays with a young man every night! You are a joke Lord Malroy and everybody here knows that already! So what’s the problem of speaking the truth?”

The old lord clearly got even angrier with that statement “You sick barren woman! Why would I want to fuck you if you can only give birth to aberrations!?”

Louise held back the tears and rushed away from the hall, going away into another corridor nearby, the lord followed quickly after. “Louise! Wait!”

Riou watched with raised eyebrows the scene. “Wow… what was that?”

A young man in a tight noble attire steps to his side and starts speaking, “That’s lord Malroy for you. He is an old rich man on his third wife. He married a much younger woman for political reasons. He wanted to partner with her family to expand his own lands and winery business. Very profitable negotiation, but I believe that he now realizes that no money in the world is worth a wife like that.”

Riou nodded, “And you are?”

“I’m Fernand Holden, of the Holden house. I manage a few of the sewing workshops and dressing stores on the north side of Iris. You must be the young Brahm, a pleasure to meet you.”

“Likewise Lord Holden”

“So, I’ve heard you have quite the exquisite merchandise. I’d be lying if I said it didn’t pick my interest. Perhaps you even have something in store that a sewing manufacturer like myself could use in his business?”

“Well, to be honest, I might have. I need to check with my artisans.”

“Splendid! Maybe I could even help you with developing it. My house employs only the most talented designers and dressmakers in all Allard, so let’s talk business sometime soon.”

Lord Nesdam sees Riou in the distance and points to him, making the full group of nobles on his table turn to look as well. He then stands up and begins his way towards Riou.

“Of course, but if you excuse me, I believe lord Nesdam requested my attention.” Riou went to meet the old man.

“I was starting to wonder if you were to make an appearance or not, young Brahm.”

“I said I’d come, so I did, my word is my bound lord Nesdam.”

“As it should be, as it should be. Now, I’m glad you are here, it will make things move quicker for me because I’m almost done with my part of the money we discussed. And the other two shouldn’t take long either, but if you allowed me to introduce you to some friends of mine, it would certainly speed things up.”

“By all means… I’d like to meet the lords of Iris. That’s why I’m here.”

“Then please, join me at the table.”

Lord Nesdam walked back with Riou and started the introductions.

“This is Lord Barossa, owner of many farms from here to Brigantium, this is Lord Ironfeather, one of Lady Von Drampt enchanter rivals, you already know Lord Hiard here, and lastly but not least, Lord Cornelius, he came all the way from Brigantium to this party. He owns many trade routes and many lands throughout Allard, especially the hunting areas in the central Allard.

Riou smiled “A pleasure to meet you all, and especially you Lord Cornelius, long time no see.” Lord Cornelius, who wasn’t paying much attention gasped when he heard the voice and looked instantly at Riou with fearful and surprised eyes.

Lord Nesdam found it odd “Have you two met already?”

Riou nodded with a smile, “Oh yes, we are very good friends, isn’t that right? Cornelius?”

The lord forced a smile and nodded averting his eyes from Riou “Of course… We are good friends.” the lord puts his hand on his chest and rubs it a bit.

Nesdam sat down “That’s a story I wish to hear!”

“Nothing much of it, I just wanted to know more about Allardian lands, and the lord Cornelius was very generous to show me around he even sold me some lands recently.”

“Is that so? Why didn’t you tell us about it before Lord Cornelius? Why didn’t you say that you met young Brahm before us?”

“I didn’t think it was pertinent… now, if you excuse me, I need to use the restroom!” Cornelius rushes out of the table in a hurry.

“What has gotten into him?” asked Nesdam.

“Maybe he drank too much?”

Eileen tossed another dress on the ground while looking at a vast selection presented to her inside a wardrobe. “I should’ve known… All these dresses are way too revealing and of bad taste.” she kept throwing them off.

Until she stopped and held one up for a moment. A revealing red silky dress. She then threw it out and away before resuming her search.

She finally stopped at one, “Well, this is not good, but not as bad as the others…” a light blue dress, long on the legs covering well the front, but a bit too open on the back.

Eileen put it on, tied her hair up, and looked at herself in the mirror. “Been a long time since I had to wear one of these.”

Knock Knock knock

“Who is there?” She asked.

“Are you ready my princess?” she hears Tullius' voice.

“Is Lord Brahm there?”

He opens both of the large doors and enters with a smile. “I will take that as a yes,” he says.

Eileen could see many soldiers taking position outside the room and tensed up. The Lord then turns around and properly closes the door, locking it.

He then glances at Eileen with a big smile and pulls a black squared stone from his pocket. He presses it against the door and the stone shines in a violet color that quickly spreads its lights throughout the walls, floor, and ceiling, covering the whole room.

“Now, nobody will disturb us and we can talk in peace.”

Eileen raised her head and walked towards her weapon.

“You look so beautiful… I knew you’d pick an old design. But you definitely could wear one of the newer dresses,” he looks at the many spread on the floor.

“What do you want Tullius? I didn’t allow your entry here.”

“I know, but I had to come in anyway as I feel we will not have another opportunity to talk in peace after this. So, first, I’d like to apologize to you for the other day… the way we spoke was out of order and if I offended you in any manner, it was not my intention… that offer I made you. The way I made it, it was out of place, and I see it now.”

Eileen frowned, not understanding the strange change in the Lord.

“You see, I’ve thought long and hard about this whole situation, and since I’ve last seen you, much has changed, especially in me. And I must say, seeing you personally, feeling your presence, it has rekindled something inside of me that I thought I had long lost.”

Eileen wasn’t buying those words and remained suspicious of the lord and within distance.

“It is no secret that I always loved you… you, Eileen. Not the family, not the title, you. Your beauty is beyond belief, even the elven race pales in comparison to you. And because of that, because I love you so much, that I’m willing to throw everything away, for you.”

“I will never marry you.”

“I know, I realized that, but still, I mean what I said! This whole situation, even without any marriage, I’m willing to let it all go. I will let the soldiers return to Longart, change my support and strengthen your father's position as king from now on. And if you wish, I will never set foot in Longart as long as I live.”

Eileen looked at him with squinted eyes “And you’d do all that without a marriage?”

“My dear Eileen, no marriage. You can marry that man or whoever you wish to.”

“But you won’t do all this for nothing… you want something in exchange.”

“Indeed, I do want something...”

“And what would that be?”

“For the armies of Allard, for Iris court support and the assurance that there will be no civil unrest, no deaths, no fights, and no more intrigues between the lords. All that to ensure that Allard will be one kingdom under the true king’s rule. And you can make it happen, you princess, can save everyone and ensure a bright future for us all!”

“Stop running around and tell me exactly what you want in exchange.”

“It’s very simple…” Lord Tullius began to walk towards her with a smile. “I told you, I love you… so, I want you! Not forever, not for long... Just once, here and now, where nobody will ever know. You be mine and it will be done. It will be quick and you will barely feel a thing.”

She couldn’t believe what she heard, and he continued.

“You don’t even need to answer it, there is no need for words. Just lay on this bed and pull your dress up for me.”

Eileen remained frozen in place as he approached her, touching her shoulder with a finger, slowly moving to her arm.

“Think princess, it’s a cheap price to pay, think of all the lives you would be saving. The service you’d be doing to your father, to the whole kingdom. And you have not to worry, I will tell them you convinced me with your arguments… that you made me see the light and the glory of our future kingdom. A small sacrifice to ensure a prosperous future for all.”

Eileen closed her eyes and looked down.

Tullius smiled and nodded, “No need for words… just lay down.”

BOOM the door shatters completely as many of the soldiers on guard in front of it flies through.

Lord Tullius looks back to see the broken door and all the soldiers laying down on the ground while two Lionesses were already inside the room with them.

“Are you alright Queen!?” asked Attia pointing her sword at Tullius.

“What is this? Who let you in here? This is outrageous!”

“Should we kill him?” asked Bellica, looking at Attia.

“I think we should, I never felt the queen this mad before.”

“Wait, wait, wait, there is no need for any killing, me and the princess were just talking. Right? Princess?”

Eileen unsheathes her sword and points it to Tullius. “Do not kill him, he has to be alive to see himself stripped of his lordship, title, and lands, I will see to it personally!” Said the princess with a calm voice.

Lord Tullius smiled at her “Oh, come on now, princess Eileen! You should be flattered! And what about all the people that would benefit from our partnership, the flourishing of the nation? As a princess, I thought you’d know what’s more important, a small sacrifice is nothing in the face of the good of the nation.”

“Too bad that today I’m not an Allardian princess… I’m a Norse woman and a Lioness, I would never accept such a proposition from the likes of you! I will save these people myself if I have to!”

“A Norse? A lioness? Bah! Those barbarians had really corrupted your mind Eileen… what a shame” He sighs not too concerned. “Oh well, I will just have to wait a little longer then, Headmaster! Can you give me a hand here?”

A man in a dark green cloak enters the room. He was holding another square black stone and spoke as he entered, “Come forth, Blot’nar, of the Abyssal Caves!” the walls flash once again in that violet color goo begins to ooze from the very stone and wood. A dense purplish goo begins to form. More and more, coming from all directions and growing. The room was getting smaller as the thing grew in size and reduced their space, little by little.

“You really helped by bringing the two here, princess Eileen, I thank you for making my job easier.” said the Headmaster unconcerned by the goo.

Attia quickly shot an explosive spell, while Bellica focused on her sword to cut the strange substance. The spell was absorbed and the sword hit the violet goo, slicing it but not enough to cut it through its whole thickness that quickly regenerated back.

“Attia! Call the master, I will stay with the Queen!” shouted Bellica that was closer to Eileen.

The blond lioness nodded and rushed against the broken, ready to burst through the strange substance with all her power. But the strange man was quick to act. A much thicker wall formed by the door and moving towards Attia at a greater speed.

She tried to shoot and cut through but the regeneration of that ooze was far too quick.

“It’s too thick and the space is too small for me to break through on my own!”

“Then prepare!” Bellica pierced the ground with her sword and shouted, liberating a vast amount of mana all at once.

“Incredible!” said the cloaked man in amazement watching that display. But he didn’t wait to make his move. He pulled something from a pocked vial that he threw directly at Bellica. Noticing the incoming object, Bellica acted quickly, she blasted the vial with a spell, shattering it and spreading its contents against the purple-ish goo wall that was closing in on them.

“You are fast… but unfortunately for you, that won’t work.” said the man as the contents of the vial began to interact with the goo and turn into a thick black smoke.

Attia and Bellica were able to resist its effects easily because of their armors, the headmaster looked at the shining runes on them with eyes full of desire.

“Amazing, to think someone could make an armor resistant to resist this level of alchemy, I’m truly impressed.”

“Attia, help me here! Let’s breakthrough together!” Both Lionesses had little room now, the violet goo was dangerously close to them. “Queen, keep it close!”

But Eileen was covering her mouth and nose, having trouble breathing and losing consciousness.

“Queen! Hang in there!” Attia started to remove her armor to put it on Eileen when Bellica stopped her.

“We have to break through this thing first or none of us will be able to help her!” said Bellia getting ready, Attia agreed and also began to focus all her mana for a combined attempt of escape.

“I didn’t think you’d be able to resist such a high-grade sleeping dust, much less be able to damage this abyssal being. But if you keep struggling and do not collaborate with our plans, I will have to get serious.” the headmaster pulls another vial from his cloak and throws it at the girls. As it breaks on the violet goo substance once again begins to change colors.

It turns blue under the influence of the liquid, releasing a strange gush as it loses size. The gas goes directly into the closed environment with great speed.

The air remaining began to get thinner and thinner. The three quickly begin to feel the effects of the lack of it and start to suffocate.

Lord Tullius quickly steps back walking against the goo that allows him passage outside.

Eileen was the first to faint, falling to the ground unconscious. Both lionesses turned to her immediately, both Attia and Bellica realized that the situation had now changed. Eileen’s life was greatly endangered and something switched within them.

Attia and Bellica’s eyes changed, the vertical pupils of the lion clan became visible. Even their teeth, claws, and muscles seemed to have become bigger.

Both roared with the little air remaining in their lungs, releasing an unparalleled quantity of mana with such intensity that pushed that approaching goo to the extreme and finally busting open the side they were facing, with sheer pressure of their mana.

Lord Tullius widened his eyes in shock as he moved further from them. Air entered the ball and Eileen was able to breathe again.

But without a moment’s rest, the headmaster loses sight of the two lionesses, just to realize he was already surrounded by two completely berzerk beastkin, they were after blood now and ready to slaughter him, by any means necessary.

Both their swords were already moving at an uncanny speed and deadly aim when he realized what was happening.

But as they were about to hit him, the swords found nothing, the cloaked man had disappeared even faster than they attacked.

“I must confess, I’ve never seen this kind of speed before. You two are really dangerous!” The headmaster said from the other side of the room. “But now, I’m intrigued, what else can you do!?” he asked the two.

Once again, Attia and Bellica went on to a full-frontal attack, in a blink of an eye, Bellica conjured a spell at the Headmaster’s feet, an ethereal vine that wrapped his legs and stuck him to the floor.

Attia did go on to attack his side. Her sword aimed at his throat, they wanted to kill.

And as the blade was about to reach the man, he once again disappeared, in an instant.

But this time, he could not escape Bellica’s undivided attention, she focused her eyes on him the whole time and saw the moment an instant portal opened and engulfed him, saving his neck from Attia’s sword attack. The headmaster then reappears through a similar portal, moment after, in another place of the room.

Bellica looked at his feet, but her spell was gone. Somehow he was able to dispel an ethereal binding spell.

“Ethereal Vines? That’s impressive, so you are both Master mages and also top-tier fighters, this is just outstanding! How did you reach such a level of excellence on both crafts?”

As a response, Bellica shot a massive fireball at the enemy as Attia waited for the right moment to attack trying to avoid his escape like last time.

“We can’t have the house on fire, not when such a prestigious event is happening.” As the fireball approaches, he opens a portal in front of him that swallows the fire completely. “I see, no response… perhaps you two are not thinking too much right now, are you? You are fighting more by instinct than anything. Is that the price for this kind of mobility and power? Because, why would you try a third time, the same attack, when you already failed twice?” he says as Attia’s sword was coming for his head. The portal opened and began pulling him through. But before he was completely inside of it, the sword touched his skin, cutting it.

As he reappeared with his hand on his neck, feeling and seeing the blood, he realized that Attia was getting dangerously faster… not only that, she was already there attacking him again.

The blade reached even deeper now before he could safely retreat. He knew there would be no next time for him if he dared to appear again.

His voice echoes in the room, but he cannot be seeing. “Terrifying skill! To think you could even get faster by fighting! You two surpassed my wildest expectations! I’m afraid that is far too dangerous for me to continue right now. So, let’s change locations, shall we?”

A portal opens by the ground where Eileen is, pulling her inside of it. “Now I wonder, what will you two do?” the headmaster's voice comes through the portal that remains open.

Attia and Bellica immediately acted, both jumped inside the portal without a second thought or hint of hesitation.

Alone now, Lord Tullius, who was quietly watching the battle by the corner, finally took a deep breath and smiled in relief. “I was concerned for a moment there when they appeared.”

The headmaster appeared for him in the room, “They were much stronger than I anticipated. I can see how they managed to fight Argos.”

“And yet you were victorious, as always,” said Tullius with a smile.

“They weren’t thinking straight, that was the reason for their loss, they didn’t think I could just trap them.”

“So they are restrained now? What will you do with them?”

“I put them in the Tomb Cell at the guild. They can’t escape from that deep. Once they calm down, I will try to study them and discover how they achieved such speed and power. This knowledge would be a great addition to our guild.”

“Surrounded by solid rock in all directions, buried alive hundreds of meters into the ground. They are as good as gone.”

The headmaster nodded. “The only entry and exit is with my personal portal keystone, their threats are neutralized.”

Lord Tullius smiled brightly, “My plan is coming to fruition! Now that Eileen is captured, we can move with the next item on the list, is Bhalrom ready?”

“He is ready, we are now preparing the presentation room.”

“Good, I will go see our last guest then, we must get him prepared as well.”

The headmaster became a bit concerned “Be careful with him, you saw the report. Based on the data we had on him from the Rhodrick job two years ago and from what we learned with the Black Rose girl, Riou Brahm is certainly a mage between the Expert and Masters Level.”

“Don’t worry, I will bring him to my best Mage-Trap, just in case. The same one we used to capture Ursula and Lilly.”

The princess opens her eyes and finds herself in a cell, stone blocks for walls and large, thick metal bars in front. No bed, no furniture, nothing, just a small squared dungeon-like cell.

Suddenly, a feminine voice caught Eileen’s attention. “It was about time for you to wake up” She instantly recognized it.

The princess looked around, searching for its source, and saw someone in the front cell of her. Chained to the wall by the wrists and ankles.

The face was beaten, the body wounded and the clothes bloodied.

“The necklace thief.”

“Hello to you too, blondie, I was wondering when you were going to show up, after all, you are never too far behind him,” Viki replied with a smile, fighting to not show any sign of pain.

Eileen approached the bars and tried to bust them open with strength, but as she used mana, the bars responded to it, runes and inscriptions shined and zapped the princess away, preventing any action.

“Nor Magic or brute strength will work on these run bars. They were made to hold Beastmen and Allardian Mages alike.” replied the thief.

Eileen was not convinced and tried again, this time she took her distance and shot an explosive fire spell on the metal. The spell hit them, but the bars remained intact.

“Told you… nobody can break these bars.”

“Shut up, let me focus.” Eileen tried one more time, with a bigger and more powerful spell. But the results were just the same.

“It won’t work… better stop before you kill yourself with your own magic, or worse, get a wrinkle on that pretty face of yours.”

The princess began to look around the place, all she could see was a corridor and many of those cells, all empty.

“There is nobody else down here, if that’s what you are wondering. Just you and me.”

Eileen hit the bars in anger and started walking around the cell, trying to find something, anything that could help her break out.

“Careful, I wouldn’t get too close to the walls if I were you or you might get some nasty stains on that pretty dress of yours, who knows what the previous owner of your cell did to those walls.”

Eileen’s usual calm demeanor was fading away quickly. There was something about that thief that she simply couldn’t stand.

“Do you have a problem with me? Or you just like to piss off everybody you meet?” asked the princess as she looked around the filthy bucket on the corner.

“Oh my, did I touch a nerve there? I’m sorry… I was just trying to help.”

“You’d help more by being quiet!”

Viki went silent. But it didn’t last too long, “Is he here?” she asked quite seriously.

Eileen stopped moving, “Who?” she asked, knowing all too well who she was referring to.

Viki’s tone changed, “He is in danger… I ended up telling them a few things about him. I can’t die here, I have to get home, so I had to do it.”

Eileen nodded, realizing she probably tried to resist at first and why she was all beaten up, “Don’t worry about that, there is nothing you could have said that could put him in any danger.” This time it was Viki that got her buttons pushed, she was quick to reply, “And you know all about him, don’t you?”

“I do.” Said Eileen even quicker. That dry and lightning-fast reply was like a stab at Viki’s pride.

“You know… you asked if I was like this to everyone. But no, I’m not, I’m lovely to most people. It’s just you that I can’t stand. You with that blond hair of yours, that perfect face, and all that exuberant elegance. Just looking at you bothers me, deeply. Ahh! Feels good to let it all out before dying here!”

“Well, the feeling is mutual, but I won’t die here.” said the princess.

Viki laughed, “Then how will you escape? You don’t even know where you are, don’t you?”

“This is Lord Tullius's house, isn’t it?”

“No… we are at the Assassin’s guild dungeon. So don’t expect anyone coming to save you here.”

“I don’t need saving,” Eileen tried to break the rocks instead of the bars with her spell, but the protection extended to them as well.

“There is no point in using magic, it will not work, I already told you.”

Eileen then tried to put her hand through the bars and focus her mana, trying to use a spell from the outside of the cage.

But once again, she got zapped by the magical runes the moment her mana began to manifest.

“You just refuse to give up. Is that why he likes you? Because you are stubborn?”

“Will you keep running your mouth or will you try to help me find a way out of here? Do you see anything we can use from over there? Do you know how to get these bars open?”

“Of Course I know! I could take us out of here in no time! After all, there ain’t a lock in this world that I can’t pick... But there is only one small problem.” Viki moved her arms, rattling the chains binding her. “Four chains to be more precise.”

Eileen looked at Viki’s cell with attention “Your cell is not enchanted like this one, is it?”

“No, I’m not a mage nor a beastmen. There is no reason to put me in one of those, they know that as long as I can’t use my hands, I’m going nowhere.”

“So if I take care of those chains of yours, you can free us both?”

Viki smiled and shook her head letting it go down “You really won’t give up. Haven’t you noticed that you can’t do shit from that cell?”

A loud noise suddenly startles Viki, something hits dangerously close to her right side. She looks and sees a large chunk of the rock falling, the same rock that the chain was attached to and was now broken.

Then again, now on her other side. With the chains unstuck from the walls, she could once again move her arms and hands freely.

“Now open these doors!” said Eileen.

Viki looked at her and noticed that she had held her arm all the way through the bars, casting two spells to free her while the run cage relentlessly punished her arm.

Even going through excruciating pain, Eileen was able to focus and cast two spells strong enough to break solid rock.

“Are you crazy!? You could’ve lost that arm!”

Eileen moved back and put her arm down, “This is nothing, can you get out now?”

Viki chuckled “Damn, is there anything you can’t do?” she then pulled from within her breasts, two metallic pins hidden there, and masterfully opened the locks on her wrists and ankles.

“I can’t heal myself, yet…” she grabbed her damaged arm, clearly in pain.

“You are a tough one too. Now let me show you what the best thief in all Allard can do!” Viki stretches her arms and back, “Let’s begin…” and walks towards the door.

It takes her a few moments, but the door finally opens. “Ha! There’s no lock that I can’t pick, see? I told you I was the best.” Viki leaves her cell and starts walking towards Eileen’s.

“Thank you for the help!” she says smiling and then continues walking down the corridor.

Eileen chuckles, smiling at herself, closing her eyes and shaking her head “I knew it…”

“Knew what?” Viki’s voice startled her as the thief was quickly back in front of her cell, with keys swinging down her hand. “You thought I’d leave you behind didn’t you?”

“The thought did cross my mind… yes.”

“I told you I’m not that bad, I just went to get the keys. No point in wasting time picking another lock when the key is right next to it, right?” She turns the key on the lock, opening the door for Eileen’s cell. “Besides, we are at the guild’s hideout, won’t be easy leaving this place alone.”

“Then let’s get moving, the sooner we are gone, the better!”

“Lord Cornelius is so quiet today, is there a problem?” Asked Nesdam.

“No, no… just not been feeling well for a while now.” he rubs his hand against his chest, concerningly glancing at Riou.

“So, tell me, Lord Brahm, how did you come with the idea to create those incredible items,” asked Hiard.

“Well, I always thought that there was far too little progress in the area of forging and crafting, and it has been so for far too long. I knew it would be a good business opportunity if I managed to improve it, and so I went for it.”

“A man with a natural sense for profit, a true merchant I’d say,” added Nesdam.

Lord Fernand Holden approached the table and addressed them cordially, “May I intrude? I’d love to hear Lord Brahm’s tales as well.”

“By all means Fernand, Please pick a seat! Fernand here is the best designer in the whole Iris! He creates the ideas and the artisans bring them to fruition! Hey Fernand, when can we expect a new clothing line from your store?”

“You know I’ve been taking some time off, you know, to gather inspiration. But I’m planning a new collection for next winter.”

“Marvelous! Been far too long since I had proper winter clothing, finally I will be able to buy Fernand’s brand again!” added Hiard.

“But enough about me, let’s hear more from lord Brahm. Please do tell us more about what you came to sell! I heard something about an auction? What would be selling?”

“Look at these things!” Said Viki wandering around a vast open room filled with statues, cabinets, pedestals, weapons, armors, and all sorts of valuable items, all of them being displayed there. “I’ll need 10 carriages to carry all this stuff! Imagine how much I could get from it!” “It’s a treasury vault, but isn’t this too big? No house in Iris could comport something of this size,” asked Eileen looking around.

“Maybe we are underground, I haven't seen any windows since we got here.”

“Then where are the pillars for sustaining the ceiling? But no point discussing this, let’s keep going, we will find an exit eventually from this place.” Eileen walked a few more steps, searching for an exit door.

Suddenly Viki stopped and stared at Eileen.

“What? Did you find a way out?”

“Ahm, your necklace… it’s shining. Is that normal?”

Eileen picked it up, a golden light was emanating from it. “No.” She opened the locket and noticed the source of the light was the golden string inside of it.

“What is that?” asked Viki, approaching the princess to see it better.

“It’s nothing,” said Eileen, stepping back.

“Wait! Did you see that? The light dimmed a bit when you stepped back!”

Eileen stepped forward once again, “I didn’t notice any change.”

“Keep moving in that direction!” Eileen complied and walked towards the wall as instructed.

“It is getting brighter isn’t it?” asked Viki.

“Strangely, it is,” replied Eileen, very surprised. But as she reached the wall, there was nothing there.

“What now? There is nothing here.”

“What I learned from all my years breaking into houses, is that there is always something in these fancy vaults. Usually, they display the less valuable stuff while keeping the real goods hidden from view and thieves.” Viki put her ear to the wall and began searching it, hitting with her hand, making sounds with her mouth, and sliding her hand on all crevices she could find.

Suddenly a smile appeared on her face, “Got you!” she then began knocking and moving her hand following the wall until she reached a wall column decoration.

“What are you doing?”

“There is a mana active link here, somewhere, I can feel the flow now I just need to…”

“You can feel the flow of a mana link to a lock, through a wall with just your hands and ears? That’s impossible.”

Suddenly the whole wall started to move up, revealing a hidden chamber. “I told you, I am the best.”

Inside of the hidden chamber was a single stone pedestal. Around it, a thick transparent crystal, cut in a box shape, covering the whole thing. On the pedestal, upon a velvet pillow, a single golden thread, just like the one Eileen had inside her necklace.

“Isn’t that the same thing you have! What is it?” asked Viki.

“I don’t know…” said Eileen looking at it with a mix of surprise and confusion.

Viki noticed the interest in the princess’ eyes towards it, “So? Do you want to steal it?” asked the thief with a smirk.

Eileen looked at her for a moment “Can you open that thing too?”

Viki just smirked at her.

Eileen smiled “Let’s steal it then!”

“That’s what I like to hear blondie!”

“It’s Eileen, my name is Eileen.”

“I know… just like our dear princess. Damn, even your name pisses me off.”

“So you do have a problem with me.”

“Ha! Of course I do, I hate people who have it all like you have.” Viki was searching with her hand, touching around the glass and trying to feel something

“I don’t have everything, you know nothing about me, thief girl.”

“Well, you were riding with Therese the Great Lioness and I know how much she charges for a single job! I also saw what you can do with a sword and just now, I saw you shoot a perfect spell through a run cage, withstanding the backlash while avoiding all mana disruption it causes, you still managed to release the spell with bullseye accuracy and with enough power to destroy solid rock! So I say, fuck you and fuck that pretty face of yours.”

She turned to Eileen and stared at her for a moment, “Back then, you knew, didn’t you? I remember how you were around him at that inn. You knew who he was, didn’t you? You were already preparing the terrain for when he grew up. You wanted his fortune.”

“You couldn’t be more wrong.”

“Well, at least you were smart, if I knew he would grow to be that good looking and rich, I’d have changed my plans back then in a heartbeat, I wouldn’t have let you keep him.”

“Like you had any choice, as I remember it, he had no problem seen through you.”

“If I could steal his necklace, I could’ve stolen his heart just as easy… if I wanted to, that is.” she pulls the metallic pin from within her breasts once again and inserts it on the crystal, she found an opening that couldn’t be seen with the naked eye.

Cleck the magical lock of the crystal is open, a vertical line of mana appears from the lock to the top and bottom of the crystal that begins to melt into the ground and disappear.

Eileen went to pick up the string when Viki stopped her. “Wait, we are not done yet with the trap.”

Once the crystal was completely gone, Viki touched the velvet pillow with a single finger, putting all her body weight behind it and with the other hand, she picked the golden string carefully and handed it to Eileen. “Get back.”

Viki then prepared to release her finger from the pillow, she stepped back as much as she could while keeping her hand in the pillow, and then, in a quick motion, she pulled her hand and kept moving away from it.

The velvet pillow released a red powder into the air that instantly covered the pedestal where it was.

“This thing must be really valuable, that red powder is from a rare mushroom spore, very deadly and very difficult to put into a trap.” She approached Eileen and looked at the string shining on her hand. “So? Tell me, what is this?”

“I really don’t know.”

“But you have one too, right?”

Eileen picked her string and put it side by side to the other in her hand. The small golden threads began to move on their own, bending towards each other, linking together perfectly, and becoming just a single, long string.

Once the process was done, it stopped shining.

“It clearly has magic in it, I never saw anything this small enchanted. What is it for?” asked Viki, turning at the secret chamber it was in. “Because it surely is very valuable, even I wouldn’t have found it without your piece pointing the way.”

“We should get going, we are not safe yet,” said Eileen, but her words were followed by a loud sound that echoed in the vault. Boom

“Come on little mouse! I know you are there, show yourself!” The man’s voice resounded on Viki’s ears.

“Vadir!? Not that sadistic pervert, what is he doing here? He isn’t part of the guild.” said Viki peeking. The large man had come through a door that was well camouflaged with the wall.

Eileen took a quick look “At least we know where the exit is now.” She was about to reveal their location and face the man when Viki held her inside the chamber.

“Wait, we better hide and try to go around him, we don’t have to fight.”

“I can take him down.”

“I know you are good, but we should avoid attention, sneaking around is better than getting the alarm going. Besides, did you see his size? He is known to be very strong and very fast. Some say he is stronger than a High Orc! There is no reason to fight him head-on!”

Eileen went for her sword out of habit but her hand found nothing, not only that. She was still wearing the dress instead of her armor.

She pondered for a moment “He knows we are here, he will find us if we try to sneak around. Better engage now that we have space to move and use the opportunity to find a weapon.”

“You don’t know Vadir! It’s better to avoid that guy at all costs.”

“Just find me a sword while I delay him,” Said Eileen, walking out of hiding.

Viki sighed and smiled, “Damn, I can’t win with her around, can I?” Viki then sneaked out of the chamber searching for weapons.

Eileen glances secretly at Viki as she began her search.

Vadir walks calmly towards Eileen, that was now in plain sight “ How did you break out of your cage? Well, no matter, let me help you get back to it, your highness.” Said Vadir walking towards Eileen with a smile.

Viki’s ear twitched as she heard what he said.

“Fireball!” a quick conjured Fireball left Eileen’s left hand and hit Vadir’s chest. The flames quickly burst out and quickly disappeared, and to her surprise, the man suffered little to no damage.

“Ha! Nice fire! The hottest I felt so far! What else can you show me?”

Eileen focused, remembering the more recent teachings, unfortunately, she didn’t learn enough to truly improve her spells.

Nonetheless, Eileen pointed her left palm to Vadir once again and began to chant in Elven tongue. A large ice shard began to take form in front of it.

“Fire and now ice, you are good! Come on! Show me what you got! Hurt me if you can!”

The single ice shard went off sharp as it could possibly be. It hit Vadir on the chest in an instant after cast, chattering completely on impact.

Only his shirt got cut, revealing a blue line carved in his skin.

Eileen squinted her eyes at the sight and proceeded to shoot another one and then another. Consecutively until a barrage of ice shards had hit the man that received them gladly.

As she stopped, his shirt was completely gone and a large rune could be seen on his chest. Carved on his skin.

A thin, blue line of mana, carefully made. A much better work than the ones she saw before.

“You see… I got this thing recently and it is specially designed to deal with the likes of you. Good looking, rich girls that think so highly of themselves and their magic. Just because you went to the Academy doesn't mean you are a great mage! You are not invincible darling! Oh, how I love the faces when they realize that their mighty spells mean nothing to me!”

“What are you saying? Why would you go after the noble’s daughters? Not even Tullius would go so low!”

“You have no idea, do you? Oh the things I'd already done for him, huh, don’t worry, I will do it to you too! I’m sure Lord Tullius will be done with you soon and will let me have a turn. After all, I never tasted a princess before!”

“Princess?!” exclaimed Viki, very surprised revealing her position to Vadir.

“Ho? Is that you, Viki? You got free too?”

Viki ignored him completely and went towards Eileen “You are the princess? Oh, come on! You have to be shitting me!?” Said Viki bringing a sword to Eileen.

Vadir laughed “Didn’t you know? This is the one and only, princess of Allard, Eileen Strongheart!”

Eileen got the sword and looked at it “Not what I had in mind,” the golden blade of that sword looked like a piece of jewelry, not a weapon. It was fully decorated with rubies, sapphires, and emeralds. And was clearly not fit for battle. “Well, it will have to do for now.”

“Come on Viki! I want to see what you can do too! Come at me!”

Viki smiled and showed him two iron daggers “Well, I better take the first round, or there won’t be anything left of you if the princess goes first.” Said Viki taking poise with two daggers in hand.

“Hahaha! How lucky can I get? First the princess and now my dear Viki is here with me! Finally, we will be able to have some fun together! You have no idea how badly I had to restrain myself while you were under the Black Rose’s protection! Now come! Show me what you got!”

“Fuck you, Vadir!”

“That’s my Viki! I’ll love to break that spirit of yours. When I’m finished with you, you will beg for my affection, lick my feet like the bitch you are and you will love to do it too!”

Eileen nodded “Now I remember… you are the soldier, the one that rallied the others against my speech. Soldier Vadir Howlbit of the Yellow Banner.”

“Ohh princess, you remembered me? I’m touched.”

“Enough!” Viki rushed first, running at fast speed, jumping over and dodging to the side of all those treasures exposed in the middle of the room, and quickly reached Vadir.

She jumps and falls closer to the large man, immediately propelling herself forward and towards his feet, trying to avoid his long reach by staying close to the ground. She twisted and aimed her dagger to slice the back of his feet in the hopes to cut a ligament.

Vadir pulled his feet in the right moment as the thief struck “Oh! That was dangerous!”

Viki immediately rushed against him once again as she missed. Faster than before, she attacked with the left hand now aiming at the side of his body. The moment he turned to dodge she switched side to attack and went with the right swing.

The big hand of Vadir moved faster than hers and grabbed Viki's wrist midswing.

“Tsc, tsc, tsc. You didn’t really believe someone like me could be faster than you, didn’t you?”

He begins to raise her by the wrist with a single hand, bringing her face to his level and her feet out of the ground.

He puts his tongue out, threatening to lick her face in a taunting manner. Viki’s free arm came immediately at him, the dagger was aimed at that tongue.

Vadir moves back his head and grabs her other arm with his other hand. “And now, what will you do?” he once again moves forward with his head and tongue to lick her.

She puts both her feet on his face and pushes herself in an explosive motion, trying to break free.

But his grip was far too strong and Vadir just smiles at her failed attempt.

Viki was back to where she began, held by both arms and facing Vadir. She then suddenly chuckles and smiles seductively at him, her eyes were enticingly closing and opening, slowly while staring at him.

Surprised by the sight he smiles nodding, with his eyes widely open.

“You fucker! I’m gonna rip your teeth out!”

Viki takes the opportunity and immediately spits on him, Vadir releases her right hand freeing one of her arms while he cleans his eyes, at that moment the dagger goes straight at his neck.

Clang The blade breaks, the iron dagger was made of an iron quality far low and far too brittle.

“Fuck!” said Viki looking at the broken blade. The shallow cut on Vadir’s neck was bleeding, but clearly just a scratch.

“Viki, you are such a tease,” he says grabbing her neck. “These shitty weapons can’t kill me! You saw it yourself! So you better stop right there! Or I'll break her neck before you can do any real damage to me!” Shouted Vadir.

Eileen was already behind him with the sword in place, ready to pierce his back and slash it open.

“Then let her go.” said the princess. “Or I will kill you.”

Vadir smiled and turned to face Eileen. He then threw Viki away to the side, “Why not… it would be a shame to kill her before I could have my fun anyway. Now, it's your turn dear princess, what else can you do?”

Viki fell to the ground and began to stand up when a sharp pain got her making her stay right where she was. “You got this, right?” she asked Eileen.

“Yes.”

“Good, then I will rest here a little.”

“Shall we start, princess?!” Vadir took a good look at Eileen and noticed that the sword was on her left hand because the other arm was completely burnt. “I see… you can’t use that arm, can you?” Vadir used his speed to try to capture Eileen. He knew if he took a hold of her, the fight would be over.

But as he lunged at her, his hand found nothing.

“Too slow.” Said Eileen slashing the man’s back. The cut was shallow, the blade felt it would come apart if she put more strength into it.

“So that runic resistance does apply to physical attacks too.”

“Hahaha! You are a clever one!” he went for her once again, this time trying to hit her with his arm.

Eileen used the sword to deflect his arm out of her way. The motion of the blade against the flesh left a deep gash on his forearm and a bent blade.

“Fuck!” he screamed in pain stepping back. But as he took another look at her, Vadir smiled. The sword had suffered even more than his arm, another attack like that and it would probably break or bend beyond use.

Eileen looked at it, not too impressed with the result. “Been too long since I used one of these, the difference is even bigger than I thought. I can’t use any strength, can I? Now I understand why Therese said a good sword worth more than a kingdom.”

“You are done now, princess!” Vadir ran towards Eileen, ready to slap the bent weapon off her hand.

But as his arm swung against her, she blocked with the sword that began to bend more under the pressure of both strengths.

He smiled as he felt the sword giving in and put even more power behind it.

Eileen then quickly shifted the blade’s position and moved her body and hand to better anchor the sword on his arm. With better leverage, the strength she could apply without breaking the sword increased drastically.

Eileen began to increase her power on her left arm. The pressure was gradually increasing on Vadir. Soon, it was he who began to bend towards the sword, the big man had to kneel to the ground as the pressure increased on his arm.

It was too much, he couldn’t fight it and realized he had to break free.

Expecting such a move, Eileen to counter it by gaining an even stronger position. She allowed him to release his arm, in exchange for his shoulder.

The sword came down with even more power, piercing like a dry wood on his shoulder, breaking and bending apart as it moved through his flesh.

He was being pressured into the ground with such force he couldn’t counter her. He was dumbfounded that such a small woman could possess so much strength behind one single arm.

“Fuuuuuck! He screamed trying to gather his power in a last attempt to fight back. Pulling all he had together to try to fight that unreal strength. He managed to gain some ground, and smiled looking up at her.

But the princess' cold and calm expression told him a different story, she was not nearly close to her limit yet.

And so she showed him, instantly smashing him to the ground, destroying the remaining of the sword in the process. Leaving him with a life-threatening wound on his shoulder that went down to his lung.

Eileen then went to Viki which was still on the ground. “Come on, let’s go.” she helped Viki up and put her arm under the shoulder to help Viki walk towards the exit.

The thief smiled at her “I have to say it, I didn’t like you before, but now? Now I really hate your guts, princess. Don’t go thinking I owe you anything because of it.”

“The feeling is still mutual,” replied Eileen with a smirk.

“And the next enemy that comes in, you take the first round…”

They went through the opening and entered a new corridor. The moment they set foot on it, Viki’s attention was caught by a small glint on the corner of the wall.

“Shit! We were spotted. I should’ve known, a vault-like this without guards everywhere. And this explains how Vadir knew there was someone in the vault, someone must have told him.”

“What do you mean? Who is watching us?” asked Eileen, searching the corridor with her eyes.

“See there the wall, that glint is from a stone called Watcher’s eye. Do you see it?”

“Yes.”

“That glint means someone is watching us right now, that’s why it’s shining like that, mana is flowing through it.”

“Well, it’s not like we had any other option, we have to keep moving forward.”

They continued through the corridor and ended up in a large square room with two levels to it. The superior one where the corridor ended and a lower one in the middle of the room. The lower level was made of a solid, unpolished slab of raw rock.

4 small staircases connected the two floors, one for each side of the room.

At the corners of the lower level, thick round pillars held the tall ceiling.

As the girls were crossing the center of the room through the lower level, they heard a voice coming from somewhere within the room.

“Very Impressive, you’ve managed to escape and defeat Vadir. All that at the expense of an arm?”

A cloaked man emerges from behind the pillar in front.

“A guild member?” said Viki,

Eileen looked at him with care, “The headmaster. What did you do to Attia and Bellica?”

“Headmaster? Shit, shit, shit!” Viki cursed her luck.

“The two lionesses are fine, locked up, but fine.” The whole room trembled the moment he said that. “And they are lively as ever as you can see.”

Eileen let Viki go and prepared to fight him.

“Can you win?” Viki asked.

“He didn’t kill Attia and Bellica, then I might have a chance.”

“You don’t have to worry, I will not be your opponent today. The man nods to the shadows and an arrow flies and hits the stone near Eileen’s feet. She didn’t even flinch.

“I want to see your abilities against the best the guild has to offer.” He turns to the shadows on the corner “You know what to do.”

A moment passed and another arrow flew against Eileen, this one aimed at her shoulder, but she dodged it with ease.

From the pillar, another cloaked man steps out of the shadows, this one with a bow in hand and an arrow pointed at Eileen.

“I’m sorry princess, but orders are orders. Lightning Arrow!” a lightning spell rushes through the bow and imbues itself on the arrow that leaves the bow in a flash towards the princess.

With her left arm, she immediately gathers her mana and creates a crude barrier in front of her hand, strong enough to deflect the arrow that hit it releasing the lightning all around the princess.

The headmaster clapped his hands. “Impressive, the stories barely do you any justice! So young and already able to command mana at this speed and level, you are truly not an ordinary mage, princess. Well done.” said the headmaster rather impressed.

“That voice, Galan, is that you?” Asked Eileen as she recovered from blocking the attack.

“Ha! I did leave an impression on you after all! I knew my charm wouldn’t fail me.” He removes the hood revealing his face.

“You were with the guild of assassins? I don’t understand?”

“I’m sorry princess, but guild business can’t be shared, its reasons are for members only…” he immediately readies and shoots several arrows at Eileen. She moves and dodges all of them with ease.

“See? I told you, she’s the real deal,” said Galan to the headmaster.

“Indeed Lion’s clan level of mobility. No wonder Vadir couldn’t handle her.”

“And what about the other one? The redhead,”

“Kill her.”

“Wait!” shouted Vadir from far behind, walking slowly through the corridor, bleeding all over and coughing blood. “Wait! That one is mine! Lord Tullius promised to give her to me!”

“Silence! Incompetent fools don’t have a claim in these halls.” said the headmaster loudly. “In fact, you just lost the little you had achieved so far when you made a fool of yourself today.” he waved his hand and the rune on Vadir’s chest began to dim down and fade away.

“Wait! Wait! But Lord Tullius needs me! The manager! The manager needs me! Who will help him on the Tulip! Who will teach the girls into submission!?”

“Anyone can beat girls and boys, you were not special.” replied the headmaster.

As the rune faded completely, the open wound in his shoulder overflowed with blood. There was no more magic keeping him alive. The large man fell to the ground, lifeless.

“Now Galan, take the princess, unharmed, please. We will have to deal with that burnt arm now.”

Tremor The ground shook, a bit stronger than before.

Galan nodded and pulled a small ball from a pocket. It was some leather-wrapped with strings in a round format. It seemed very sturdy in the distance.

“Good night princess.” He pulled the string on the ball and threw it at her.

Eileen immediately conjured a wind spell to block it, but the gush of the wind was too strong and blew the bag open spilling the contents on the air.

A very thin powder that kept lingering in the air, floating everywhere, covering the place.

Eileen covered her nose and mouth and quickly cast a fireball staring up. The flames exploded, burning the powder in a chain reaction that covered the whole ceiling.

Relieved she took care of it, she didn’t realize that Galan had approached her. And as she turns to intercept him, he moves away from her and gains distance.

He shows Eileen her necklace, now dangling on his hands. “With this, we don’t risk calling that friend of yours. I don’t want to deal with that.”

“My necklace? Give it back!” shouted Eileen in anger.

Strong Tremor shakes the whole room violently.

Galan looked at the headmaster concerned and then back at the princess, “You know I can’t do that.”

“She has a very fast response for a noble.” Complimented the headmaster.

Eileen glanced at Viki “Can you fight? We need to get that necklace back.”

“That’s easier said than done, I’m not a mage you know.”

Galan turns to the headmaster, “Are you sure the tomb can hold those two? Because to me, it looks like they are on their way to break through the rock.”

“It’s impossible, and even if that’s the case, I can kill them before they can escape”

Eileen closed her fist and began concentrating her mana, chanting in elven language.

An even stronger tremor comes in.

“I’m sorry princess, but it’s getting far too dangerous to drag this out.” Galan imbues an arrow with lightning and shoots it on the rock close to Eileen’s foot. The arrow stuck to the ground and remains active.

A mana sword began to appear, floating above Eileen.

The headmaster clapped once again “Is this your version of the dragon slayer spell? The one invented by the Great Magus Maximilian? You are remarkable!”

Galan shot another arrow imbued with lightning that hit the ground on the side opposite to the first one. And readied another arrow imbued with lightning.

Eileen’s chant stopped and she commanded the sword to attack the archer.

The blue mana blade flew in great speed, ready to pierce Galan’s chest.

“I knew it would get dangerous!” he said as he dodged it, twisting his body, the motion forced him to release the arrow that went flying past Eileen and hitting the pillar behind her.

The blue blade turned sharply and readied itself for a new attack.

“I don’t want to deal with a mana blade… so, please go to sleep you two! Release!” he shouts as the three-four arrows with lightning imbued connected, the two close to Eileen, the one in the back and the one in the ceiling that was blocked by Eileen.

From each of the arrows, a Lightning bolt was released, hitting both Viki and Eileen simultaneously. Causing them both to fall unconscious.

At that moment, a very concerning tremor occurs. And the source felt to be right beneath their feet.

“Are you sure they are contained?” asked Galan looking down on the rock.

“Well, seeing the strength of these tremors and their frequency, I stand corrected, they will breakthrough in no time if this continues. A shame, I was looking forward to studying them. But they are too dangerous to be contained, I will have to put them down.”

“Damn, they were so pretty… can’t you just release them somewhere far away?”

“You know how these beastmen are. They will come back to bite us if we let them go like that. They will find a way to track us down.”

“And these two? What do I do with them?”

“Take the princess to the Argonian Stone Chamber, Lord Tullius wants to use an Eyestone and show everyone at his party how the knight captain mercilessly kills the princess.

“What about the trader?”

“He will be in the room, and give the order to Bhalrom.”

“What about his army? They are loyal to him, it doesn’t matter the side he picks.”

“That might not change his men’s opinion, but will surely put all kingdoms against him. And if we kill him before he leaves, Arthas will have no option but accept his master’s defeat”

“And if he doesn’t?”

“He has to, or he will have to wage war against everyone. In either scenario, he loses. Now go, get her, I will deal with the other two.”

Galan suddenly feels a chill going down his spine. He feels a presence in the darkness and turns quickly towards it.

“What is Galan?” asked the headmaster noticing his strange behavior. “I just felt like… someone was watching from the shadows.”

“Nonsense, nobody can enter our halls without us knowing it. Now do as I said.” The headmaster disappears in the portal as Galan looks at the dark corners one last time before going towards Eileen.