“Kelis has been saved from the wrath of Nithroel!” King Kuwait's voice did not echo nor reverberate throughout the Throne Room of Kelis, yet it still held authority. “And we have to thank our friends from the surface!”

Kelis motioned with his elderly hand towards Anton, standing to the side in the Throne Room, nestled between groups of Fire Elves. Though he had yet to ask, or say much of anything really, he was all but certain they were representatives of whatever passed for nobility in their cavern, if only for the simple fact they weren’t skin and bones. All wore silk of red, gold and blue, likely reserved for nobility and those in their employ, but there were subtle differences amongst the groups to signify both their status and wealth. Some had a thicker trim on their clothes, others smaller patches of colour on their collar and sleeves, something he had not seen on the regular civilians or The Southern Quarter Rebels.

“They acted without hesitation to ensure our safety against the treachery of those perfidious Southerners, who time and time again have ignored our generosity and guidance." King Kuwat’s dimmed hair glowed brighter, as did many of those gathered. "And so I wish to extend both my personal thanks and that of our entire people.”

Anton kept a straight face as the gathered Fire Elves clapped. As they were representing the nobility in an official capacity a strange distribution of age emerged. Most were older, clearly adults in the equivalent of their forties or later, the other barely out of their twenties or even younger. The intensity of their flaming hair was the most obvious sign, a clear cut between bright and dimmed with none in transition. The age discrepancy had been noticed by many near Anton but none had said a word. Yet.

Marriages? Don't think I've been propositioned like that before. A ship and some land is nothing compared to spending your entire life with someone for material and political reasons. Definitely sucks for everyone involved… Not that I would treat them badly.

Bilaal stood closer to the center of the room while remaining close enough to act as Anton's representative while also keeping away any other Fire Elves. He politely motioned for Anton to speak.

“Thank you, King Kuwat.” Anton slightly bowed his head. “We did what we had to in order for us both to survive.”

King Kuwat smiled. "I know you will make an honest and dutiful friend to the Fire Elves. A true successor to the glory of the United Empire."

I don't know about all of that…

Anton glanced behind him. Barring his immediate companions the soldiers were rather diverse, some Beastkin but mostly Human and Dwarves. Calo and Sheso remained at the entrance of The Bend with the other Dark Elves, helping to coordinate the construction of the defenses and avoiding any sort of racial animosity. Longinious remained at the rear, silently observing the crowds, her bright orange eyes twitching from person to person as she silently gauged them.

A very young Fire Elf boy tugged at the sleeve of, presumably, his father and pointed at Longinious. Longinious, who had remained silent and as inconspicuous as a floating mermaid creature could, winked, smiled and gave him a little wave. The boy’s flaming hair reached a new level of intensity before shying away. Longinious smirked at Anton and resumed her normal stance.

“Surprised they’ve all said so little about her.” Kal murmured softly. “Nothing when she came in either. But I suppose there’s no way for anyone to really know that she’s their spear relic. There weren't any engravings on it, were there?”

“None.” Anton smiled. “But I don’t think they could make the connection on their own. No way any of us would."

Anton took a step forward. "You flatter me, King Kuwat. But I too wish for a day when everyone can exist together in peace."

Anton noticed a few Fire Elves turn their nose up at the thought, he hoped it was at the thought of reconciling with the Southerners rather than the Dark Elves.

Queen Lestari, still seated in their simple throne, leant forward.

“Lord Anton.” Queen Lestari cleared her throat several times. A blue silk wearing servant rushed to her side but she quickly shooed them away. "You and your companions are the first true visitors to our city. And you have secured the future of our race. As the Queen of the Fire Elves I would like to extend a formal invitation to a celebratory feast. There haven't been many reasons to celebrate in recent memory, nor reasons for the noble families to gather without drawing knives or blood."

Good to know it's the same everywhere.

Anton saw the flaming hair act unnaturally steady. He dreaded the thought of keeping thoughts private with such an obvious indicator. Anton knew Humans were equally capable of such visual displays of hidden emotion, even him. He could not honestly claim that he had never had a red face when embarrassed.

“So would you honor us with your presence?” Queen Lestairi ran a hand through her dulled flaming hair, each strand trying to return to its original position.

"I am truly grateful for the invitation." Anton knew his words would be interpreted as a decline, Queen Lestari felt the same way but kept her emotions mostly hidden, even her hair remained the same. "But all is not well in our lands above. Though I do not know what time you normally retire, it has been some considerable time for us. It has been an extremely challenging day. And though I’d love to join you all for a feast…”

Can you honestly afford to do such a thing right now?

“There is still much to do. So, I ask for your forgiveness, your Highness, Highnesses, but I must refuse tonight. In a few days the situation will have calmed and we will be more than happy to join you. Until then, we must unfortunately decline."

Queen Lestari solemnly nodded. She had expected his response as a distinct possibility. Anton caught some Fire Elves looking rather upset, not through their expression but their hair, at least that's what it felt like. Some of the younger Fire Elves almost looked relieved.

"It is understandable." King Kuwat returned to his throne. "I merely hope that over the coming days you will be able to join us for a proper feast."

"Hope it's more than fish and mushrooms." Verona mumbled to Anton as she began to smile. "Maybe they're expecting us to bring something? A big juicy steak cooked by Kal and Zuhura would certainly get me on your side."

Always thinking with your stomach first.

Before Anton could speak a faint noise came from Longinious. She flicked her eyes towards the ceiling, one hand tapping the golden dragon-skill insignia on her chest.

Bilaal's an important diplomat, but how will the King and Queen react? Even if personally they don't care they'll have certain standards they need to uphold.

"There is one thing that we would like to do before returning to the surface." Anton's words caused the King and Queen to lean forward slightly. They shared a smile and their faces softened. "I had to make a hasty return to the surface, and in so doing, an artifact of yours had to come with me."

"We were made aware." King Kuwat spoke after several long seconds. "Something prevented you from leaving without it. Is it still on the surface?"

Bilaal turned to face Anton. He was leaving the choice, and consequences, to him.

"In a sense. However, I wish to return to the location now that I have a better understanding of what happened. See if there is anything still dangerous lurking about and if we can learn anything."

"Can you simply not return the spear now?" A Fire Elf asked loudly. He stood on the opposite side of the throne room to Anton, yet dared not look him in the eye. Anton was not sure if he was trying to disrespect him, or if he even cared if he was being so, but it certainly didn’t sit right with him. "Given the precarious situation in the city, the attempted outbreak by the Southern Quarter Rebels, the last thing that we need is even more discontent from those above, albeit our saviors, stealing something precious to our society."

Kuwat and Lestari remained silent, their faces and hair impassive. Again they were leaving it to Anton.

I wonder what the specifics of their internal politics are? Won’t be good for a noble family to be seen attacking us after everything that happened. Not a bad move, I suppose…

Anton tapped his boot, the cloth on the floor stopped the harsh sound that he wanted, but he continued regardless.

"I can understand your concerns." Anton ensured his voice was soft, neutral almost. “Truly I can. But I simply don’t believe that the common people below us right now, honestly care about the spear when their bellies are empty.”

The Fire Elf still refused to look at him.

I even thought to try and bring up the idea they’re better than the commoners to focus their attention elsewhere. Didn’t really work this time.

“But we can provide food for yourselves and the rest of your civilization. Even the Southern Quarter Rebels would become infinitely more compliant and peaceful when their hunger is sated.”

“It did for us.” Verona added. Some were surprised that she was speaking, though it was less to do with her gender and more that Anton was still speaking. “Do… Do you know of the Goblins?”

Bilaal cleared his throat when no one else would speak. “Our records speak of such creatures. A constant thorn in the side of the United Empire's stability. They conducted many experiments and learned a great deal about them, but were unable to defeat them.”

I’m sure the United Empire’s done an infinitely better job at studying them other than just letting them starve to death. Who knows what we’ll find in their records. Perhaps some clue as to what those cultists to the south are doing?

Anton glanced at Kal. He doubted their communication necklaces would work well here, but his look was enough. Kal nodded nearly imperceptibly before tapping on Zuhura’s arm, who quickly made a note on a small scrap of paper.

“Well, we do. Nearly every day at one point. It was very bad.” Verona managed a single chuckle. “Thinking it was going to be the last… But once we managed to get our food sorted, so we weren’t fighting each other, we could actually focus on dealing with our problems…”

Food wasn’t really the main issue, but let’s not something as silly as facts get in the way of your message.

She looked at the Fire Elves, with a faint smile on her lips. “Kind of like what you all should be focusing on. Fixing and helping your people, not fretting over a damned spear like a little girl.” She sighed, throwing her arms into the air and letting them loudly drop by her side. “Hell, I’ll give you my old one if it’s that important to you. It’s got a massive crystal that forms the blade. Worth an absolute fortune. Nearly got us robbed quite a few times. Not to mention it’s much larger than the other one, I can guarantee you that.”

Verona flashed a smile at Longinious, who did her utmost to not be offended, with her head crest rising only slightly. Regardless, Verona’s words were beginning to have the desired effect. Some of the Fire Elves were faintly smiling at the man, who was still refusing to look them in the eye. His confidence had clearly dimmed.

“Verona speaks far more harshly than I.” Anton waved Verona forward and wrapped an arm around her. “But I believe the principle still stands. Or do you honestly believe they’re not going to riot when you turned down food for an inanimate object?”

“It is still important to us.” The Fire Elf’s hair flashed bright, his face curled up in defiance. “I…” His hair dimmed. “I would ask that you return it as soon as possible.” For the first time he looked at Anton, not into his eyes, not that Anton thought he was particularly intimidating. Compared to normal Humans that was. “You still haven’t explained why you cannot return it.”

Anton had tried to delicately avoid talking about Longinious but the question had been forced. Kal, thankfully, came to his rescue.

“Have you tried any of the food from above?” Kal reached into one of the many bulky pockets on her legs. “It’s very good.”

Some of the soldier Fire Elves subtly prepared to draw their weapons but so too did the Atros soldiers. Kal ignored them and brought out a small wrapped package, the waxy paper cracked and frayed from constant use. With a deft and well practiced motion she removed the top and produced dozens of dried strips of meat, pork judging by the color, covered with a faint dusting of an orange powder.

“Some of the stuff we bought from Bebbezzar.” Verona said softly. “Kal really likes it. I wonder if it’s got anything to do with the baby? Not that she’s ever really turned down anything.”

The Fire Elves collective brows furrowed at the sight. To them meatwas either fish or insect, the only redmeat would have been other Fire Elves. An unpleasant thought, which Anton saw in some of their faces.

“This is just some preserved meat.” Kal slowly walked towards the Fire Elf, picking a rasher free with her clawed hand. “Simple meat that’s made to last a very long time. Easy to make too. But I don’t think that any of you would have tried something like this.”

Kal pulled a rasher free and held it out for the man. He glanced at his fellows, their hair slightly brighter than normal. Anton caught many of the younger Fire Elves looking at the meat with curious and hunger filled eyes.

“You can have one.” Kal’s voice was almost teasing, her ears pricked up and her long tail poked out from beneath her cloak and began to gently sway. “I can assure you that it’s very good.”

The Fire Elf’s right hand twitched, unsure of what to do. As he could not shake the collected attention he relented and took a rasher. After a single sniff he tried to take a bite. He didn’t expect it to be so tough, compared to fish, and had to rip it with his teeth, holding it with both hands. Kal chuckled at the sight, perhaps it reminded her of her younger self, desperately trying to survive in Seocuria and Graterious. The Fire Elf’s hair quickly grew as he began to chew.

“This…” He smiled at Kal. “This is incredible. Very tough… But also sweet, and there’s another flavor too.”

Didn’t take them for an amateur connoisseur.

“That will be some of the spices.” Kal beckoned some of the nearby children closer, those that would be intimately more trusting and would have a great impact on their parents. “They enhance the flavor and preserve it at the same time. Here, have some more.”

The previous attitude had completely vanished as the man took another two rashes. His wife was very eager to have one, as were two children hiding behind her. Kal bent down and began to hand them out to the children, warning them to take their time.

Verona gently nudged Anton’s side. “See? Food always works.”

Some of the Fire Elves from their side of the throne room began to cross over, nervous and hesitant to approach Kal. Anton caught the eye, hair rather, of Kuwat and Lestari. Both were leaning forward to try and get a good look at Kal, perhaps wondering if Kal had enough to share.

Anton caught Bilaal’s attention, split between him and Kal. “I will ensure that the King and Queen receive their share. A whole pack each, if that’s what they desire.”

Bilaal smiled as the children began to squeal and dance in delight. They held their rashes close to their chests, fearful it would be stolen, but also reveling in the experience of unknown flavors. Kal allowed some of the children to touch her tail, especially the fan-like end. She also warned them about being too rough with it as it was a part of her. Cetina and a few soldiers gathered to her side, just to keep the peace.

“It’s beautiful to see a Beast-kin able to be who they really are.” Anton softly sighed. He ran a hand through his hair, glad the thick gloves covered his new sharp claws. “I say that too much, don’t I?”

“We’ll all be glad when we don’t have to.” Verona smiled and waved her hand at Bilaal. “What’s the chance of heading up?”

Bilaal gave a final glance to the King and Queen, both gave him a curt nod when he jerked his head upwards.

“Now that they’re more concerned with filling their bellies than the spear…” Bilaal chuckled, followed by a faint sigh. “Just like you said the commoners would be, I’m sure there’s not going to be a single issue. Not unless you’re planning to do that again.”

Anton glanced at Longinious, patiently waiting to begin the ascent. “I can only hope not.”

---[]---

"Is it possible to fucking hate climbing these stairs already?" Verona grumbled, her face contorted in a scowl as she gripped the front of her pants tight. "Only been up them once and it nearly caused a disaster."

She had dropped towards the rear, Anton had slowed to keep pace and offer his arm, something she had readily accepted. Kal's speed, and position near the front, wasn't helping her mood. Despite the pregnancy she was far more mobile and limber, but Anton was certain Verona was deliberately playing it up a little for attention.

She pulled closer, the other hand holding her swelling stomach. "Why didn't you tell them about Longinious?"

No Fire Elves were in earshot, Longinious herself floated at the front of the group next to Kal, eager to return to where she had laid immobile for centuries.

"Would you believe what happened? Especially if you didn't know anything about magic? Not to mention having her transform back might make some want to keep her here and in that form too. That Fire Elf would have garnered a lot more support if she did. And it would have been in better condition than when we left."

"But they couldn't do anything to stop you. Even before this," Verona pinched his arm. Her silver brows furrowed when she could barely make a dent. "You could have just pushed your way out."

"I… That is true. I could have." Anton slowed, Verona signaled for the few behind, mainly Rasha, to slow as well. "But I don't… I don't know. Don't want to get used to the idea of just forcing my position all the time? That’s just what I think. And it won’t be good for me to just think that I’m always right. Who knows how that sort of thinking will affect me over the years. Not to mention we can simply avoid it altogether just with a few words, so they can all go home at the end of all this.”

Verona pulled on his sleeve until he reached her height. "And that's not because of ‘you know who’ being here?"

"No." Anton firmly shook his head. "Absolutely not. If it had been your old spear-"

"Do you think it could be another person like her?" Verona laughed. "Wouldn't that be interesting? Or terrible… Haven't even looked at it for a while, since… Yeah. Just been sitting in that room…" Verona's face soured slightly. "No wonder she's so desperate."

When Anton looked forward Longinious had already reached the top of the staircase and waited excitedly to enter the room. She bounced back and forth like an excited puppy, though the lack of legs was certainly odd.

“Was I like this when I found the rifle?”

Verona giggled. “You almost forgot that we even existed. If I told you we were leaving you I don't think you'd have even heard us."

Rasha made a worried squeak and tried to move between them to prevent a potential spat. Her face reddened slightly when she realized what was actually happening. Anton reached back and gave her hand a gentle pat as they reached the top. The Atros soldiers formed a rough perimeter, directed by Cetina, leaving a pathway towards the raised platform. Light from the giant luminescent crystal directly above streamed into the otherwise barren and empty room, with no indication that Longinious’s Spear Form had once been here.

“This is the place…” Longinious’s near ecstatic demeanor was quickly dissipating. “Where I waited for centuries.”

She stared directly into the glowing crystal above them. Her eyes narrowed for a moment before tearing them away.

“I can’t imagine how powerful, how bright that crystal would be out of the cavern.” Longinious shrugged. “Certainly more than enough for the Gods to see it.”

“But do you sense anything?” Anton asked, Longinious snapped her head towards him. “There’s nothing building up along my tail, even though I’m being showered by all that light.”

“I’m not sure.” Longinious pulled close to the floor and began to float about randomly, almost like a dog sniffing for scents. “Perhaps there is something. Please give me a few moments… Mezot? Axia? Could you please help me? As Principle Mages...”

Mezot stepped forward without hesitation. Axia’s shoulders dropped as she followed her mother. While Longinious floated around the pedestal Anton walked away from the entrance, towards a vantage point that would allow him to see all of Kelis and beyond. His first thought was the lack of wind despite being so high. The air wasn’t stale but it still played with his head.

The city itself was completely unchanged. Given the attempted breakout Anton expected riots and fires to be raging in Kelis, something that would undoubtedly be a death knell for an enclosed space, but there was nothing of the sort. At least in the city itself. From his vantage point the entrance to The Bend was clearly visible, as was the blood. Hundreds of Fire Elves had died on the slopes, their blood flowing across and staining the rocky floor. The smell had caused Verona some distress. Almost all were Southern Quarter Rebels, wearing ratty apparel and pathetic weaponry, but several were Royal Soldiers. Anton felt a little better knowing it wasn’t a one sided slaughter, not that it was really any better.

“How do the Southern Quarters look from here?” Verona asked.

Anton pointed to what he thought were the most crowded and poorest buildings. It wasn’t anywhere visible from The Bend, hardly surprising, situated at the rear of the city.

Guess we got turned around a fair bit down here…

Compared to the majority of the buildings, already narrow and tall, these were practically hovels. Even some of the Goblin huts in the lands above appeared to be of better quality. Ramshackle buildings were stacked on top of one another, collapsed sections merely repurposed to create new hovels. However, the red silken sheets that extended between raised spikes, to give a measure of privacy and protection from the irregular condensation that fell from the cavern roof, was strangely charming. Anton was certain the inhabitants did not share his quaint opinion.

"Even Atros looked better when you turned up." Verona grimaced. "And that's saying something."

"Except this seems to be a situation entirely of their own making." Anton mused. "Othniel really dodged the issue of overcrowding, didn't he?"

"And every other Fire Elf." Verona folded her arms, resting them on her stomach. "Is that why you told the Hamtaros to not get too frisky?"

"A reason. Mainly population dynamics."

Verona raised a brow, her head lent slightly closer.

"So everyone else doesn't think they're about to be pushed out by a population surge of Hamtaros. Don’t know how quickly they reproduce but it’ll certainly be quicker than us."

"Ah. I see." Verona solemnly nodded. “I see.”

"They'll be very useful once we start to get more complicated machinery. Anyway…" Anton shook his head. "I'm sure there was a point to this when I started."

Verona laughed as light footsteps approached from behind. His hearing had not improved but it was not one he recognized. Instead it was Bilaal, walking by himself and leaving the Fire Elf guards behind. Cetina and Rasha followed behind, not that Anton was particularly worried about the elderly Fire Elf trying to push him off the edge. Verona wrapped her arm around his while pulling him even further away from the edge. Anton couldn’t help but smile at her concern.

“I see that you’ve spotted the Southern Quarters.” Bilaal spoke almost nonchalantly. “They are a constant blight on our fair city, wouldn’t you agree?”

I’m hardly here to stroke your ego.

“They are clearly in some serious trouble.” Anton continued to watch Bilaal as he walked to and stopped just before the edge. Bilaal did not appear to be worried about the tremendous drop just a step away. “More than serious. But, on a different note, why haven’t you dealt with them? In one way or another? It’s cruel to say but you’ve had quite some time to get rid of them or convince them that their actions are wrong. So...”

Bilaal remained silent as he looked towards the ramshackle Southern Quarters.

“Or does it serve another purpose to keep it there?” Anton softly sighed. “Cheap labor? Just like our poor Dwarves... Or to keep the rest of the people unified against an enemy? Sounds like a valid reason to keep them around for all these years.”

Bilaal looked at Longinious. She had left the raised platform and had begun to inspect the walls forming the room. Her interest and attention rapidly waned, increasingly focused back towards the platform. Some of the soldiers were whispering about her, the way she moved through the air and the way her fins along her body expressed her emotions. When they caught Anton’s eye they looked away, some with a measure of subtlety.

“Perhaps…” Bilaal let out a single chuckle. “Perhaps that is one way to look at it.”

“A darker reason.” Verona rested her head against his arm. “At least we’re not… Doing… That…”

“Except with the Goblins.”

“Yeah.”

“And the Seocurian Empire.”

“...Yeah.” Verona sighed. “Now that you mentioned it… But we aren’tattacking our own people to do it.”

Bilaal faintly smiled.

“And what of the Prince and Princess efforts then?” Anton asked. “Naphtali and Wiryono, I believe their names were…”

I recalled that nearly instantly, even though it was something mentioned once. Is that a side effect of everything? I don’t know what I can’t recall…

“Indeed.” Bilaal smiled. “I don’t know their current location, but I’m all but certain their guards would have rescued them from the Southern Quarter Rebels the moment they began their attempted break-out. In fact I’m surprised that they were not present in the throne room…”

Bilaal’s flaming hair dimmed. “Or why their majesties wouldn’t ask for us to wait…”

This doesn’t sound good.

“Do you think their actions are worthwhile?” Anton asked, Bilaal’s hair returned to its normal shade. “That they are trying to solve this issue without bloodshed?”

“Perhaps.” Bilaal did not entirely seem convinced by his own words. “Perhaps there is merit. But I’ve been alive for a long time, a very long time, and they aren’t the first to try and reason with them. They just don’t want to see the situation from our perspective. That if they were to just control themselves and stop… Humping and rutting all the time there would be more than enough food to go around. Well, certainly more than there is right now.”

He sighed as a faint scratching came from the central raised platform. Longinious ran her clawed fingers along the floor as she slowly rotated the stone.

“But perhaps I’m just old and bitter about it all.” Bilaal shrugged, his hair dimmed. “But the Prince and Princess certainly have the energy and strength to try. And… Maybe that’s enough for someone like me.”

Longinious stopped her circling and began to tap her fingers on the raised platform itself. She beckoned Anton to come closer. “I can feel something coming from beneath this. It’s weak, very weak, but it’s definitely something from The White Realm.”

“Are you sure?” Axia asked when it became clear her mother was too distracted by something. “I can barely tell that anything’s happening down here.”

“I am certain.” Longinious righted herself. Her head crest pulled back as she gave a sideways glance to Anton. “Absolutely certain. There’s absolutely no chance that I’m wrong. Look, there’s a fine layer of dust built up in the seam between the platform and the edge.” She scratched and blew away the dust, indeed there was a faint line. “It’s clearly something that goes down deeper into the floor.”

Anton knelt and placed his hand on the raised platform. Longinious moved close, if she could breathe he would have felt it on his skin, every few moments her hip fin brushed against his cloak.

“It doesn’t feel like anything from there. Doesn’t feel like anything, honestly.”

Axia breathed easier. “At least it’s not just me.”

“But you know far more about this than me, Longinious. So is it underneath or actually inside of it?”

“Unsure. Perhaps slightly below?” Longinious clicked her tongue. Anton heard something akin to glass touch her teeth. “It would be easiest to remove or destroy it-”

“That…” Bilaal calmed himself, knowing all attention now lay on him. “Perhaps we should lift the platform first, if anything? Though it would be near impossible to predict something, someone rather, like you appearing from a spear artifact-”

“The manner of my appearance would be considered highly unusual.” Longinious muttered, Verona and even Kal agreed.

“-But destroying even more of our artifacts might be simply too much.”

“It’s just a rock.” Verona spoke almost dismissively. “And if it’s that important we’ll get you a new one. Or use Tethra’s powers to repair it. Whichever’s easiest.”

“That would definitely make me unconscious.” Kal held her chin. “Mezot? What about those green gemstones you found in Frindal? You were talking about them one night.”

“Still need time to study them.” Mezot glanced up to meet her eyes before throwing them back down. “I might have had it done by tonight if…”

“We’ll just lift it for now.” Anton said. “Rasha? Cetina? This is where we really need you two.”

Longinious tapped his shoulder as Mezot and Axia stepped back. “My Spear Form is incredibly strong, physically that is. Surely I could be used as a type of pry-bar?”

“And you’re alright with all three of us swinging off you?”

Longinious shrugged as she held his hand and began to glow. “I know that you would never do anything to harm me.”

Longinious’s body flashed bright, Anton immediately felt the weight of her Spear Form in his hand. Bilaal and many of the Fire Elves were stunned into silence.

“I think you can understand why I didn’t wish to show this inside the throne room.” Anton faintly smiled. “Some of them just might have wanted her to stay like this.”

Longinious huffed, her crackling voice echoing out of the spear. “As if having me back here would do anything for the stability of Kelis. I doubt those Southerners even believe I existed in the first place. To start a commotion would have only undermined what little authority you have left.”

“Perhaps…” Bilaal placed a hand on his chest. “Perhaps that might be true.”

Anton pointed Longinious’s spear at the edge of the raised platform and pushed. As expected it was as hard as stone. Longinious let out a tiny grunt, the purple light flickered around the edge of the spear tip and it sank near effortlessly. Anton did not want to go too deep, lest they damage something hidden within.

“Won’t it just cut through when we pull it back up?” Cetina asked. She stood beside Anton and hesitantly gripped the shaft. When she was not injured from simple contact she relaxed greatly. “Like carving out chunks?”

“I’ve already thought of a solution.” Longinious proudly announced as the purple field dissipated. “Now push on me and I’ll pop this thing up.”

“Push on you?” Rasha looked at her hooves. “Like… Actually push you down?”

“In the most literal sense, Rasha. You’ll soon see that I’m infinitely more durable than I appear.”

All three shared a collective shrug and began to push. The slab of material began to rise up, like a strange plug, though it weighed a great deal. Rasha grunted and lent down using her entire weight. Longinious said words of encouragement, mainly to show that she wasn’t being hurt. The plug continued to rise before popping out and rolling to the side, grinding loudly against the floor. Longinious yelped in surprise as she was ripped from their hands. Rasha held both Longinious and the white cylinder with some considerable effort, she quickly lowered it and breathed a little easier.

“I hope that’s the rock and not you.” Rasha nervously chuckled. “Anton’s going to be getting a workout every time he tries to carry you.”

Longinious flashed and returned to her Mobile Form. For the briefest moment Anton saw her retract a hand, as if it was the part of the spear holding the stone, but said nothing or made no indication he had witnessed it. She hovered close to the plug, coiling her body just above the floor and began to slowly rotate around it.

“I wonder what the Fire Elves’ fish tastes like.” Verona idly scratched her chin. “Better than ours?”

Longinious stopped and began to tap the center of the piece of stone.

“I believe it’s inside…” Longinious gave the empty void a quick glance, grunted in disgust and turned away. Anton looked over her, there was nothing in the hole at all. “Yes… Yes it must be. Rasha? I believe I require your incredible strength once again.”

“I don’t think a halberd’s really good at smashing things. Maybe a hammer? A really big one? Can you transform into something like that?

Kal’s ears pricked straight up, most of the more feline and canine Beast-kin followed a few seconds later. Anton heard faint footsteps, not the heavy thumps of armored boots, but much closer to the soft and gentle sound of a child wearing slippers, or perhaps an adult Fire Elf trying to run up a flight of stairs. The sound quickly gave way to a dozen Fire Elves, young given their bright flaming hair and relative fullness of their cheeks. Ten were heavily armed, for their race, while two, a man and a woman, wore silken clothes of a similar style to the King and Queen.

"Bilaal!" The male Fire Elf shouted, though his voice was very light and soft. "Bilaal, what is happening?"

All of the new Fire Elves regarded Anton and the Atros forces with some suspicion, they did not know Beast-kin with confusion, doubly so Longinious and Rasha, for obvious reasons.

“People of Atros,” Bilaal gently motioned for them to step to the side, specifically away from Longinious who had turned her attention back to the white cylindrical plug. “May I introduce Prince Naphtali and Princess Wiryono.”

Neither of the Fire Elves returned the polite introduction, they were far more concerned with the presence of the Humans, Beast-kin and the odd Dwarf. Anton was glad they had decided to keep the Dark Elves near the entrance to The Bend, even though Calo and Sheso weren’t particularly happy to be left behind.

“They seem a little better fed than the others." Verona whispered. "Only a little though. Only a little."

Naphtali and Wiryono were slightly healthier than the other Fire Elves, their cheeks more full and eyes less sunken, only slightly better than Kal when she arrived in Atros. Kal stepped away from Mezot and walked towards Anton, Cetina followed while the Human and Beast-kin soldiers were subtly ordered to be on alert.

The pair of royalty shared a quick whisper and took on a more regal demeanor. Princess Wiryono delicately clasped her hands in front of her, Prince Naphtali kept his hands by his side but appeared to want to hold something.

"It is a pleasure to finally meet outsiders, people from the surface." Naphtali still spoke softly, though he sounded more comfortable not trying to throw his voice. "We were truly shocked to learn of your arrival…"

The pair, and their guards, hovering close behind, took a few moments to truly take in the people that lay before them. A few moments of eye twitching and the regal manner returned.

"It was quite a shock for us to learn of your existence too." Anton said. Both of the Royals eyed him with no small measure of curiosity. "I wasn't entirely sure what we'd find behind that gate, but you were certainly not on my list."

"Did you finish speaking with the Southern Quarter Rebels?" Verona pointed roughly in the direction without looking away. "Apparently you're having some trouble with them."

"We… We were." Wiryono forced herself to maintain eye contact, and not let them drop down. Her brother was not so successful. "It is… A preliminary agreement, but that will have to suffice for now. Your arrival caused a considerable stir and disrupted almost all of our meetings."

"I can only imagine."

Longinious waved both sets of arms. "Anton? Can I please break this stone now? I am certain that it contains something extremely valuable to me. And I really want to get it…"

"And who is… That?" Naphtali raised a flaming brow. "How are they able to float in the air? Has it something to do with the artifact?"

His eyes narrowed on Longinious, who returned a simple smile. The ability to float was nearly all that Longinious and the spear artifact shared, other than the same shade of white on her armor and the spear itself, yet it was enough to arouse his suspicions.

"When I know, you'll know." Anton smiled.

Kal's tail gently rubbed against his coat while the fan end rested on his shoulder. It was the simple things like this that he missed during his time in Frindal and part of the reason why he was looking forward to spending a few days in Atros. That was of course before his current predicament.

“Rasha? Give her a hand if you can. Maybe striking it with the butt of your halberd? I don’t think stone can be cut by a metal halberd.”

Longinious maneuvered and tapped the marble plug, smiling at Rasha. Rasha shrugged and readied her halberd to strike.

“Wait!” Wiryono’s almost shrill voice stopped the Minotaur. “What are you doing?”

“We need to break this thing.” Verona softly sighed. “At least that’s what Longinious says. But don’t worry, we’ll replace it. Surely there’s someone in Graterious or Bebbezzar that knows how to make a cylinder of marble. Right? And if we can’t we’ll just buy you guys a mountain of food. That’s more important than a stone. Right?”

Neither of the royal pair knew what to say. Verona laughed and shook her head. Rasha took it as a sign to continue and struck the marble as hard as she could. A might crack instantly spread over the surface but refused to completely break. Rasha sought permission from Anton to strike it again. The next strike shattered it completely, a tiny flash of purple and golden light erupted from the cracks but otherwise it was normal. Rasha took a step back while pointing the halberd’s blade at the source. The Fire Elves also were on guard and moved to surround the royals.

“I take it that no one knew about that?” Kal asked, her voice broke the silence that followed. Her tail moved further around Anton’s neck while a hand tapped on the hilt of a dagger. “I wonder if that was what knocked us all unconscious?”

Bilaal made an awkward noise. “I… I simply don’t know anymore.”

Longinious pushed away the shattered remains of the marble to reveal a purple sphere lying at the very center, just slightly smaller than an orange. A golden hue ringed the outside, one which moved when he did. Longinious grunted in annoyance, brushing away the tiny flecks of dust off its surface and scooped it into her hands. Her eyes constricted to the tiniest points as she studied the sphere.

“Is that it?” Cetina asked, Rasha nodded. “Looks very similar to those orbs in your Spear Form. And those around your neck?”

Longinious frowned as she held up the golden medallion. “I don’t know. Perhaps? But I have no more room for any more, nor does this feel like it contains any Essence. Or normal mana for that matter.”

Longinious began to float towards Anton, waving Mezot and Axia to follow. Zuhura inspected the remains closer and began to take notes, Rasha helped separate the pieces for her.

“How could we have known this was in there?” Bilaal muttered as Longinious drew closer.

“How could you?” Verona raised a silver brow, alongside a near indignant look. “Why would you start smashing up your city on the chance that there might be something inside.”

“That you can’t use.” Kal softly added.

Bilaal scrunched his eyes and shook his head, content that they would not be somehow blamed for hiding the purple sphere.

He is really concerned with not getting on our bad side. Well, I suppose it’s infinitely better than antagonizing us. We have nothing to lose by leaving. They, everything.

Longinious’s head crest pulled down close to her head. She held the small purple sphere aloft so everyone could see it, not that she was short even before she started floating.

“Looks like glass.” Kal’s hand hesitated to touch the perfectly clean sphere. “But even I know that it’s not.”

“I can’t feel anything from it either.” Anton took the sphere from Longinious. “Not that I really can at the best of times. Mezot?”

“Nothing.” Mezot spoke calmly, lowering her Charm until she almost touched it. “Absolutely nothing.”

Verona tapped her arm to lower his hand. “But it was hidden here." She looked at Bilaal. "Any records you can scrounge up about this place? Doubt you were given that piece of marble along with the spear."

"I will investigate. At least it'll give…"

Bilaal stopped as a light began to move within the sphere. Longinious snatched the sphere from Verona’s hand with lightning speed. The surface shattered and fell away, revealing the source of the light within. It was an egg, closer to an egg sack, with a small creature visible inside. Somewhat unsurprisingly, given Longinious’s inspiration, it looked very reminiscent of a crustacean creature of the sea; a large bulbous armored rear, four dangling armored legs from behind its sloping armored head and two glowing purple eye-stalks. It remained perfectly still as Longinious tapped the surface, her clawed finger clicking loudly with an extremely and unnaturally high pitch.

"Any idea?" Verona lent closer. "Seems like it's one of your…" She waved and rolled her hand towards the creature. "Things?"

“I honestly don’t know." Longinious’s brows furrowed. "But it must have been left here for a reason. Utilizing Anton’s memories I do not believe in coincidences. Far from it. So this must have been left here for a reason.”

A silence descended upon them, cut only by the sound of Longinious loudly tapping the purple sphere.

"Well,” Longinious cleared her throat, not that she even needed to breathe. “Clearly nothing’s happening until we do something.” She glanced at the glowing giant crystal. “No. No, that would be stupid. Perhaps I simply need to open it? See what this creature is.”

Longinious raised a single clawed finger and began to slowly scratch on the surface. Slowly a cut was formed. The moment the tip pierced through the sphere the small crustacean shuddered and the top of its eyes glowed bright. Before anyone could utter a noise the front third of the sphere exploded, releasing a burst of light and a spurt of purple liquid. Longinious grunted as she shielded herself a everyone nearby by trying to cover it with her hands. Another small blast of light threw a hand back, her lips curled back in anger as she shook her hand like she was trying to regain feeling. A few strands of purple liquid stained her hand, she frowned as the liquid began to dissipate by quickly transforming into minuscule purple cubes and then into nothing. The creature let out a faint gurgling noise, tiny purple bubbles emanating from its small crab-like mouth as it struggled to point a claw at Anton. Tiny wisps of greasy purple smoke emenated from its body as it collapsed onto the shattered shell, the claw pointing at Anton caught on an edge as its body fell limp and slid down inside.

"Okay." Verona muttered. "That was… Odd."

"Indeed." Longinious frowned as she poked the outstretched claw. "I have no idea what just happened."

Longinious almost smiled as she gently poked the tip of the raised claw. It moved easily but the creature remained motionless.

"An unfortunate waste of time." Longinious sighed. "I don't have any memories of this creature, nor what purpose it could possibly serve. Or could have served."

She poked a limp eyestalk. It too flopped about, lifeless.

"Now what?" Cetina asked. She had nearly silently approached while they were all distracted. "Do we take it to the surface to get a better look at it?"

She leant closer, turning to put her good eye in focus. Longinious moved to allow her a better look.

"Doesn't look like anything of Nithroel's, not that I'm an expert on those things." Cetina smiled as she stood upright. "Do we have to replace their pedestal now?"

She pointed to the broken remains. "Rasha gave it a decent whack."

Before Rasha could respond the crustacean twitched, an eye stalk snapped to Longinious while the other remained lifeless. A tiny flicker of purple emanated from the black bulb before flickering out.

“Fuck!” Verona’s hand gripped tight on Anton’s arm. “It’s happening again.”

Before anyone could react a white field descended upon the room forming a large dome, identical to what had contained them under an hour ago. The few Fire Elves caught outside tried to shout, frantically waving their arms, but nothing was heard. One inside shouted back, Anton heard his voice very clearly, but those outside could not hear. After Anton gave a reflexive glare no one said a word, everyone readied their weapons but nothing happened. As the seconds passed everyone’s nerves began to calm, though none sheathed their weapons. Several people’s attention fell on Longinious. She slowly pulled her hands away from the purple sphere and lightly shrugged. The crustacean remained completely motionless and dead, with no sign of how or why, or even if, it had created the white field once again.

“Everyone stay calm.” Anton said softly. “No one do anything crazy and we’ll be fine.”

“Fascinating." Mezot’s voice cut through the silence. She beckoned her daughter to follow her to the edge of the white field. "Is this what trapped you previously and caused Anton to transform?"

She held her Charm close to the field, barely a hairwidth away.

"It certainly feels very strange." Mezot continued with a soft murmur. "Nothing is passing through, other than light. Obviously."

An excitable aura descended upon her, one Axia had clearly seen many times before. When Mezot began to search for her papers Axia waved at Zuhura, who provided a fresh piece.

“Though it is unusual, I may have felt something like this before.” Mezot pointed towards Anton without taking her eyes off her Charm. Without both hands the heavy end began to drop, Axia used her hand to prevent the end of the shaft from going up. “The absence of anything. Different to the abilities Longinious displayed while on the surface. Instead, it is remarkably similar to the sphere of Black Lightning you’ve shown me before. Very similar.”

“When was this?” Axia tapped Mezot’s staff to remind her of its current predicament. “Since I’m the only other Principle Mage in Atros, and your daughter I might add, I thought you’d ask my help since it’s so strange. I’m sure I would have noticed it if it was anywhere near me.”

Axia held her Charm near the white field and frowned. “When exactly did you study it?”

“In Frin…” Mezot’s cheeks reddened ever so slightly.

Axia raised a brow, then the very tips of her ears also grew red. She cleared her throat.

“I see." Axia's face began to twist in a smile reminiscent of Verona's.

“How can you all be so calm?!” Prince Naphtali shouted. His hair was practically bristling with anger and energy, though Anton was certain it was generated out of a sense of panic rather than outright hostility. “Especially at a time like this?"

Naphtali tried to take a breath, almost choking on some spit. "Or is everyone from the surface just somehow unnaturally calm in terrifying situations?!"

Bilaal tried to gently wave down the Prince, but he was not listening.

"They said everyone collapsed and…” Naphtali motioned towards Anton. “And that something happened to you. You were unconscious and had to be carried out by the… Larger woman. Will it happen to us as well?”

Naphtali nervously scratched his arms, they were just as thin as Anton suspected. Wiryono remained silent during her brother's outburst, her own which was probably only a few seconds away, instead focusing on gently running her hands through the length of her hair, each stroke calmed the jittering flames.

“Not this time, Prince Naphtali.” Anton said. “And panicking won’t help us escape. But last time there was a spear at the center of this dome, and it talked to us.” Anton faintly smiled at Naphtali. “And this time she’s with us," Anton nodded towards Longinious, still holding onto the shattered remains of the purple egg sphere, the crustanceon’s dead limbs remained propped up on the broken edges. "And there hasn’t been a disembodied angry voice. So I don’t think we’re in any immediate danger. At least for the next few minutes.”

“Unless we’re permanently stuck in here.” Kal mused. “I think we’re going to run out of air first. Water's not really an issue.” She managed a chuckle. "So I don't think there's much to worry about."

Some of the Fire Elves outside the white dome had left, those still remaining looked like fretting and panicking dogs. Anton tried to convey they were fine but it was difficult with just gestures alone.

Can’t wait to see if the King and Queen are just as happy to see us this time.

“Magic?” Kal looked at Mezot and Axia. “I know it’s extremely consuming in this cavern, but maybe we can punch a hole through it this time. Physically striking it did nothing.”

“Unless doing that made us all unconscious." Verona said worryingly. "I don't think Anton's going to make it back from another visit in one piece. Rasha’s not going to be strong enough to carry him."

Longinious had remained extremely quiet, not exactly content to let things play out but she didn't appear to know how to interrupt. At least that's what Anton felt from looking at her.

"Longinious?" Anton's words caused her head crest to perk up. “Any thoughts? I know you weren’t exactly cognizant when we found you.”

“Using those big words again.” Verona chuckled.

Longinious looked to the hole where the platform once lay, her head crest lowered before returning to normal. “It’s unlikely physical attacks will do anything. And it may trigger some kind of defense.” She tapped the dead crustacean again. “Perhaps this thing would come back to life? Perhaps a single shard of Ice would be a good test. Otherwise we may need to try alternative methods.”

Longinious tapped the small medallion hanging from her neck. Anton was slightly intrigued by the thought of using Longinious’s Ancient Magic. He ran a hand along his tail, it still wasn’t building any charge but neither was it dissipating.

“Mezot?” Longinious said after a few more moments of silence. “Could you attack the energy field? The far side, preferably. Just in case something happens.”

Mezot sought a nod from Anton, which he gave. She pointed her Charm almost towards them, Anton grabbed Verona and Kal and began to back away. Everyone realized what was about to happen and also hurried away.

A single Ice Shard emerged above her Charm. Mezot took a deep breath, her chest heaving greatly while her eyes looked almost bewildered by the amount of mana casting a single, simple spell rook her. It flew forward and struck the white field. The Ice shard shattered, the tip gave off a tremendous amount of steam and was even dripping with water. Where Mezot's magic had struck was completely undamaged, barring a thin layer of water that ran down the surface like beads of condensation.

"Interesting." Mezot muttered. "Similar to a Principle defensive spell, but far more aggressive in its repulsion of force."

She passed her staff to Axia before making a quick set of notes, unfortunately on a sheet of already used piece of paper. She realized her mistake and just wrote on the margins. Axia did not look as amused as she normally would be.

"Far more." Mezot glanced at Longinious. "Has the creature made any movements when its magical construct was attacked?"

Anton had kept it in his peripheries. Longinious shook her head. The creature had not moved, not even sliding its trapped arm back into the egg.

"I don't have a way to determine if it's using Earth Mana or not…" Mezot trailed off before stopping her scribbling. "If possible I would like to have access to equipment-"

"That we can only get in Graterious." Axiq said softly. "In the Royal Academy."

Mezot remained still.

"Which we fled, remember? After stealing a huge amount of books and other things. Nothing in that?”

Mezot remained silent, her eyes slowly dropped and the tips of her ears turned red. “I forgot… I thought we had to return and fix what happened.”

“I doubt they’re going to just let us off.” Axia sighed. “Not those ancient bastards.”

We could see what Porswea has to offer, so long as Cetina’s alright with returning there. Cassius might be willing to overlook it, though we’d definitely need to join his side in the upcoming rebellion if we expect to get anything more. He’s already given us a boat, after all…

“We’ll work more on this when we can finally get out of this place." Anton received a curt nod from both. "Longinious?”

Longinious patted her sides, perhaps looking for pockets, and sighed when she found none. She shook her head and turned to Anton, her long tail performing a complete sway before steadying itself. Prince Naphtali and Princess Wiryono, along with their guards, were totally stunned by the beautiful tail fin.

“I believe, or fear, that this is some sort of test.” Longinious slowly approached, keeping an eye on the dead crustacean. “A test, at least I hope, is determined to make you use Ancient Magic, since even Mezot’s powerful magic left no visible change.”

“Any particular reason why I wouldn’t?”

“I’m not sure-”

“Can you please just get us out of here?” Naphtali said harshly. He anxiously scratched his forearms, while Wiryon held her waist tight, a foot tapping softly on the hard stone floor. “I don’t want to be stuck in this place any longer than I have to be. We can talk all we want once we’re free.”

While Anton agreed with him, Naphtali continued to scratch his arms, beyond what would normally be expected. His thin fingers dug tight into his silken clothes. So hard that it left deep creases in the red silk.

I wonder if the Fire Elves have drugs? Hell, prisoners manage to make wine with basically nothing. Hopefully he’s just stressed.

“Shall we try using your spear form?”

Longinious chuckled nervously. “Only if you think my light blasts won’t bounce inside this room. I don’t think regular armor is going to stop it easily.”

“The energy field then?”

Longinious took his hand and transformed. Almost immediately the edge of the spear glowed purple. Anton ushered everyone back and tried to cut a hole through the white field. For a moment his thoughts were drawn back to the White Realm, and how he had to crawl through a hole in the tower. As the energy touched the edge sparks flew out. One struck Anton’s glove and the leather almost burst into flame. He pulled Longinious back, patting down his clothes and silently cursed as the smoke rose and pooled at the very top.

“Well, that’s something.” Anton opened his hand slightly, Longinious took it as the sign to return to her mermaid form. “Smoke’s definitely going to kill us if we do any more of this. So Ancient Magic it is. Longinious? A crash course please. Something to break this field, hopefully without smoking us out. We’ll do more experimentation on the surface when we’re safe.”

Longinious nodded once. “Very well. Ancient Magic, at least the parts you’ll need to be familiar with for now, operates extremely similar to Glyph and, presumably, Principle Magic.”

Anton opened his hand and summoned a sphere of Black Lightning. The writhing mass was as erratic and unstable as normal. Thankfully it was not drawing anything on his reserve of Essence, which he wasn’t sure was entirely a good or bad thing.

“It’s good that you can create it so easily.” Longinious said. “But it’s extremely dangerous in this form. Extremely dangerous. And you can’t change it now. Just like you can’t change your normal magic.”

Longinious sighed. “Though you seem more than content with just making Fire and Lightning Bombs to solve the vast majority of your problems.”

“I know.” Verona almost sounded smug.

“No reason to change what works.” Anton withdrew the Essence back into him, the sphere of Black Lightning shriveled up until it sputtered out of existence. “And the first, and last time that I tried to do anything different I almost killed myself. I don’t want fire to erupt out of my arms again.”

Nearly everyone was a little concerned, though Mezot and Axia were more curious than anything.

“I can’t throw it.” Anton said. “It just doesn’t respond to anything I try and do… Except I could create that Marble Spear from it. But it didn’t follow my instructions.”

Longinious drew closer. “Did you try and create something that would follow your directions? Not like a summoned creature, but just like the Flame or Lightning Bombs?” She raised a hand, her palm flat and vertical. “Normally you are able to just push against it and it would obey. No such luck this time.”

Anton held his chin as he pondered what he could do.

‘Learning’ Glyph Magic was little more than a dangerous guessing game, Principle Magic is the same but I’d have Mezot and Axia to help me, if I had any mana of my own. But I could manipulate it somewhat by trying to draw out one of those Marble Spears.

Anton looked to the white field, Verona and Kal lent closer while throwing quizzical expression. He knew he was making the same face as when he was thinking, over overthinking in many cases, but that wasn’t going to work out a solution.

But that Marble Spear wasn’t damaged by the Black Lightning in any way. Perhaps something like that as a core? Or something enough to hold it around it long enough to hit something.

“Seems like you have an idea.” Longinious faintly smiled. “But you maywant my help in doing it. Compared to a failure of Glyph Magic, Ancient Magic… You don’t want those white cubes to erupt throughout your body.”

Cetina shifted uncomfortably. “They’d fused with your flesh…”

Anton took Longinious’s hand into his. When he closed his eyes and focused inward he saw something different. A golden shadowy figure in the outline of Longinious, a figure extremely reminiscent if she was in The White Realm. It held his hand, the same hand she currently held, and smiled, simply waiting for him to act.

Just as he would his usual magic he tried to force the orange sized sphere of Black Lightning it into an actual shape, one that he could control and wouldn’t kill him. Longinious’s free hands outstretched towards the sphere and immediately it began to calm. It remained very wild and unstable but far more controllable. Anton pulled out a small shard of white material but stopped when it was slightly larger than his finger. The remaining black lightning snapped tight around the shard, leaving both tips exposed and little else. Longinious gave a curt nod, a silent message that it would do. Anton opened his eyes and brought the object into reality. It appeared above his hands, just as how it had appeared in his imagination. All looked at the writhing mass of black lightning with some measure of confusion, the Fire Elves mostly with awe. None had seen anything like this before. Princess Wiryono stepped forward to reach out but Kal stopped her with a raised hand.

“It will get easier and faster with time and practice.” Longinious spoke calmly. “Just remember how long it took when you first arrived in Atros.”

Anton did not immediately reply. Instead he tried to push against it like he normally would. This time it followed his instructions, though sluggishly, as if the air had become like tar. He brought it back to hovering well above his hand, careful of even the tiniest lick of the Black Lightning from touching him. As he readied to throw it his concentration was broken by someone touching and lifting his tail, lifting it with pointed claws.

“Barely used a scale on this tail.” Kal gently bounced his tail, her claws tried to grip tight as she scratched at one of the spines, one slightly more dull than those glowing. “Though I think one has dimmed slightly. Just slightly.”

“I don’t think I’ll be using spines to measure my Essence usage.” Anton saw Longinious smile. “But let’s just get out of here firstly.”

"Good thing my tattoos don't do that." Verona said nonchalantly. "Damned near impossible to go to sleep."

Kal gave his tail a final squeeze and allowed it to drop. Despite the attention she gave it the Fire Elves were rather nonplussed by the revelationthat he had non-human limbs. Part of him honestly thought he could just about strip without being noticed, so long as he had magic.

“Right. Everyone, please step back. I don’t know exactly what’s going to happen when anything touches this. Certainly magic.”

Anton saw Mezot scribble a few notes but followed his instructions regardless. After taking a deep breath he threw the Essence Shard at where Mezot had struck before. The coiling mass of Black Lightning, surrounding the core of white marble-like material, struck the white field and exploded with a strange sound; a mixture of a strangled roar and a gurgling drain. Each of the tiny whips of Black Lightning ate through the field, transforming into white cubes before quickly shattering into dust and completely disappearing. Though the explosion had carved out a small erratic section it did not restore itself, nor where there any sparks or any other sign of damage. Anton was somewhat relieved to see the crustacean creature had remained dead and inert. He also caught the eye of the Fire Elves outside, all of whom were looking rather relieved to see something was working.

“Perfect!” Longinious happily bounced back and forth, softly clapping both sets of hands. “Simple but extremely effective. Just need a few more and then we’ll have enough room to escape, so long as Rasha is willing to bend down.”

Rasha looked somewhat confused but returned a simple smile.

Anton created another three Essence Shards, these were now slightly easier to create, and threw them at the damaged area. Each strike made the hole larger and larger, the Black Lightning that didn't touch the white field simply dissipated, until a large hole formed. Everyone breathed a little easier seeing that it did not reform. The sharp edges were slightly concerning, the way they refracted the light made them appear impossibly sharp. Anton did not wish to find out.

“Finally!” Naphtali happily cheered. “Can we finally get out of here?”

“Let’s take it steady.” Verona said, smiling as she held out both hands to preemptively stop him. “We don’t know what any of this is still. So… Let’s just take our time.”

Naphtali’s eyes flicked down to Verona’s large chest, then immediately back up. Anton heard the faintest sigh from his sister.

“I’ll go first.” Cetina turned towards the hole. “I-”

Anton cleared his throat and she immediately stopped. Without looking back she waved a human soldier forward. The older man shrugged and passed through, taking great time to avoid the harsh edges. The Fire Elf soldiers outside moved to help him through. He seemed very happy to have passed through unscathed, as was everyone.

“Now can we please go?” Naphtali said. “I would very much like to get out of here.”

Anton had no reason to hold anyone back and allowed the Prince to go through. After he safely emerged, the Fire Elf soldiers tried to whisk him away but he adamantly refused, and a steady stream began to pass through. Longinious gently scooped up the dead crustacean and sighed as she poked its exposed arm.

“What was the point of all that? Really. What was it all for?” Longinious sighed again. “Just to do that? We were going to practice in the next couple of days…"

She smiled bitterly when she noticed everyone looking. "Sorry. I suppose I'm just trying to humanize something that I simply don't understand."

Not that you're human.

Many shared the same thought but none expressed it.

Anton, and his immediate companions, were quickly the only ones left. The white field still remained, Longinious still held the dead crustacean in her lower set.

"Now can I go?" Cetina almost sounded mocking.

Anton and Verona ushered her forward. Rasha waited to the side until only she, Anton and Longinious remained.

"I don’t think I'm going to pass out." Anton smiled. "But thank you for your concern."

Rasha smiled and passed through, lightly grazing the edge of the white field as she passed, at the exact point of contact her metal armor glowed bright orange and deformed ever so slightly. She swore and tried to pat it down whilst stumbling forward and twisting her body to minimize contact.

"That's bloody hot!" Rasha silently mouthed a swear, furiously patting the dulling heated section. Cetina hurriedly moved to unbuckle the section. "Don't-Don't touch it."

Anton ensured he kept well clear, something made considerably easier as he was not a near four meter tall Minotaur. At least he wasn't that large. For now at least.

After safely passing through, and receiving a light hug from Verona and Kal, it left only Longinious inside. She still held the dead crustacean in her lower set of arms and kept it within her peripheries.

"One way to discover how durable this body is."

Longinious pulled her long body tight together and hurried through the gap. The moment the dead crustacean passed through the white field shattered and disintegrated. In less than a second every part had transformed into the tiny white cubes, the next evaporating. Longinious waved everyone back with her upper set, not that anyone was anywhere near, as the dust blew away in the non-existent wind.

“Why didn’t we just do that in the beginning?” Naphtali sounded utterly exasperated. “If it was that simple-”

“Prince!” Anton took a quick breath. He had not intended to yell, or even speak, but it had passed through his lips. "Prince Naphtali. I hope that you understand that this is a very difficult and unknown situation for all of us. Had we known to leave we would have left the very moment we could. But we didn’t. So please forgive the three minutes you had to endure underneath that dome."

Naphtali’s hair grew brighter for a moment, dimming when Bilaal gave him an unseen signal.

"Sorry." Naphtali straightened his back, flattening his front. "My outbursts are not befitting of a royal."

Wiryono gave a curt nod, not that she truly needed to apologize for her brother.

“It’s gone.” Longinious held a small pile of purple ash in her hands. “It… It just fell apart when I passed through. I think.” She meekly held it up for all to see. “I didn’t crush it.”

“Didn’t you say you have perfect memory?” Kal raised a brow as she peered closer.

“Yes. Yes, I did say that.” Longinious grit her teeth, flicking her tail at the hard floor. “But I can’t recall what I didn’t see. But I’m positively certain that I held it out from my chest.”

Longinious ran her free hands on her chest armor. No pieces of ash came free, much to her relief.

“I don’t think we’ll ever know…” Kal’s eyes narrowed even more, her ears pricked up while her tail began to slowly sway. “There’s something in there.”

Longinious, again, made sure Kal wasn’t about to touch the ash. A few scratches and a tiny purple gemstone emerged. It was barely larger than a cherry, yet it refracted the bright light in strange and oddly beautiful ways.

“Maybe it was for this too?” Longinious held the stone aloft between two clawed fingernails. She frowned as she looked back to where the pedestal once lay. “Seems like far too much effort just… Well, I suppose not. No one was hurt…” Longinious nervously laughed, her head crest pulled down as she glanced at Rasha. “Not that I would ever imply that your potential burns aren’t an issue.”

Rasha only then looked up. Her hand had been gently massaging the area while she pulled a strange face.

“Looks a lot like that necklace of yours.” Verona placed her hands on her head. “What do you think? Kinda’ the same. At least the color, those three.”

Longinious held out her medallion. “It does. But I can’t tell if there’s any Essence stored within, or anything for that matter.”

She frowned as she looked at her armbands. The shadowy rainbow gemstone did not look similar, but her eyes were drawn to a series of three small indents in the surrounding golden bracelet on the side of her hand. They were almost the same size of the small purple gemstone, but nothing more than the faintest dimple.

"Should I?" Longinious frowned. "I have no idea what this does…"

"So long as it doesn’t do that again.” Verona chuckled. “I suppose that it’s up to you.”

Longinious stared at the gemstone as her stance hardened slightly. “Be prepared to use an Essence Bolt if something untoward happens.”

Prince Napthali and Wiryono were ushered away to the staircase down, Bilaal moved his entourage behind a pillar, but none left. Despite the potential danger they still wanted to see. Anton prepared the Essence Bolt as Longinious placed the purple gemstone on her upper right bracelet. As it touched the gold formed around it, allowing it to be locked in place.

“I…” Longinious blinked, her eyes constricted to the tiniest pin-pricks.

“You still good?” Verona’s hand hovered over her clay pots, despite lacking blood and the ability to freely use it in the Ghliryl infested cavern. “You’re not going to turn into something like King Harold, right?”

Kal and Cetina began to look rather concerned. Longinious blinked and her eyes returned to normal. The hand which now contained the gemstone twitched, nervous about something.

“I need a piece of paper.” Longinious rushed to Mezot’s side. “A large one. One without anything on it. Quickly, please.”

“Okay…”

Mezot produced the paper, immediately snatched from her hands and thrown to the ground. Longinious used one set of hands to hold it open while beginning to scribble furiously with the other two. Despite using both hands simultaneously the drawing was very neat and clear. Everyone drew closer, except for the Fire Elf Royals, even though they clearly wished to.

“A map.” Kal said. “But what of?” She touched Anton’s arm. “Is this Earth?”

Anton shook his head. “No. No it's not. Definitely not The White Realm either. It was all open fields, forests or covered in sharp boulders…"

Longinious had not spoken a word, nor did she respond in any manner. She simply continued to draw. The landmasses Anton did not at first recognise but eventually one he did. The Shadow Isles. A long snaking central island with twelve smaller surrounding it of a remarkably similar shape. At the very least he knew it was a map of this world, not why Longinious was so determined to draw it.

Over the next minute Longinious finished drawing the entirety of The Shattered Kingdoms, Frindal, The Dwarven Isles and a host of smaller and larger landmasses Anton did not recognise from his maps of the world. At least that’s what he had been told, and what those that had sold it had said.

Eventually Longinious stopped, her fingers covered in charcoal dust and trembling. She murmured something before backing away.

“Done.” Longinious sounded rather flat. “This is what I saw.”

Longinious held the paper aloft for all to see. Simply put, the world was significantly larger than Anton had first thought, not that he thought it was smaller than Earth. Though the additional landmasses were intriguing, what was even more so was that he hadn’t heard of them before, especially one to the east of Graterious and their small continent. Despite being slightly larger than their land he had no knowledge of it. Judging by Longinious’s frown she could find no record of it either.

“A treasure map.” Verona’s excited tone was somewhat forced. “I thought it would be something a little better. We really don’t need gold or jewels, for the most part.”

“Twelve markings.” Kal pointed to where Atros lay. A small cross lay just to the north of Mount Aspire. “Twelve gemstones?”

“Hopefully not twelve of me.” Longinious chuckled nervously. “No, I don’t think so. But certainly twelve locations that we should investigate.”

She moved to return the wrapped charcoal but Mezot had wandered off. She was trying to speak with Prince Naphtali and Princess Wiryono, Cetina was already in pursuit to drag her back.

"Two more in these lands." Zuhura said. "One near the Conflagration and another near Bebbezzar. One in Frindal. Two in the ocean near Mycea. Two in Xiam, one near The Shadow Isles, another in the Deweth Clans and the final…" Zuhura frowned as she pointed to the newly discovered eastern landmass. "In whatever this land is. I've never heard of anything to the East before."

“I wouldn’t know.” Longinious softly sighed. “But there must be something at these locations. Other than a minor increase to my own strength this is all I received. So it must be important. It must be."

Anton took the map. Despite the rough wrapped charcoal it was as clean as it could possibly be.

“We’ll make copies when we return to the surface. But… What is she doing?”

Anton slightly doubted that Mezot would know much of maps, something unrelated to magic, but it appeared she had something so important to discuss with the royal twins that not even Cetina could get her to budge. Cetina was certainly strong enough to just pick her up, if the need arose.

Kal softly sighed. “She needs to work on that. Mezot. What are you doing?"

"She says she wants to know if they can use magic." Cetina said loudly. "Has that stone on her that'll glow if they've got magic."

"Why does she have that?" Verona asked.

Cetina could only shrug.

“Let’s go have a look.” Anton rolled up the map. “What is that woman doing? She of all people should be right here.”

“She can move pretty fast when she wants to.” Axia said softly. “Better stop her from pulling their hair out though. She was really going to pull that Otheniel’s hair out.”

You weren’t far behind, don’t forget that. I’m sure that if I said you were becoming like your mother you’d be the first person in Atros to dye your hair.

When Anton approached Mezot was trying to pry the small glowing stone from Wiryono’s hands. Unlike her brother’s calm hair, hers was positively alive, roaring with excitement. Her eyes were focused intently on the small Mana stone, as were her hands. Mezot murmured something as he fingers tried to work their way through the Fire Elf’s.

“A-Are you serious?” Wiryono finally looked up. Her hair calmed when she realized everyone had gathered near them. “Mage. Are you saying that I could be a mage?”

Mezot nodded very excitedly, not surprising given the topic. She pointed towards the nearest visible section of wall, the faint white hexagonal lines on the Ghlyirl was just visible underneath the bright light. “This magical device was created by Anton, since he didn’t have access to the magical devices of Graterious-”

“Why did you leave?” Verona asked. Mezot barely turned to look at her. “We were kinda in the middle of something. That whole Ancient Magic stuff, that probably hasn't been seen in hundreds of generations?”

Mezot grunted in frustration, still unable to pull the glowing stone from Wiryono’s hand, and pointed at her hair. “I’m certain their hair is magical, even in this cavern. So…” A faint level of frustration graced her face. “Sorry. I saw their hair moving and I was thinking... just really wanted to see…”

Anton gave her shoulder a reassuring squeeze, at least he hoped it was given his new claws, and gently picked the Mana stone from Wiryono’s hand. She hadn’t relinquished the glowing stone, only that Anton was considerably stronger and his claws gave a better grasp.

The stone immediately dimmed, unsurprising but expected. When Anton gave it to Mezot the stone glowed, brighter than Wiryono but far less than it would on the surface.

“Look like you have some mana.” Anton said. Wiryono locked eyes on him, utterly baffled. “Mezot’s the strongest Principle Mage we have, and yours is strong enough to be comparable. I take it you don’t have any books on Principle Magic in your city?”

Wiryono blinked, hard, before turning to her brother. Naphtali let out a choked noise but nothing else.

“Guess that means you’ll all be Mages when you get out of here.” Verona took the Mana Stone. It glowed brighter than Wiryono but less than Mezot. Verona ushered Axia and placed the stone in her hand. “Huh. Just a little bit more dim. But more than me… So that’s something.”

Axia shrugged but still looked happy.

“Does…” Wiryono gulped. “Does that mean Royals are Mages? That we can use magic?”

Anton was honestly taken aback. The slight movement back Wiryono took as tacit approval. Somehow.

Anton raised a hand. “I don’t know about going that far. We’ve only tested you, not even your brother.”

Naphtali held out his hand. Anton placed the stone, it glowed slightly brighter than Wiryono but less than Axia.

“See?” Wiryono grasped her bother’s hand. “See? We can be Mages, just like the old stories said. Able to control Fire and Water… Like her!” She pointer at Mezot, who merely raised a blonde brow. “She-She can teach us how, surely.”

“I,” Mezot blinked hard before looking to Anton. “Could I?” She blinked again, just before Axia jabbed her side. “Not for the foreseeable future. I have simply too much to do above. Right, Axia?”

“Yes.” Axia looked bemused that she had asked, but wasn’t entirely surprised. “Not to mention we don’t have enough materials or equipment.”

“Forgive me.” Mezot bowed her head. “As of this time I cannot teach you Principle Magic.”

“It’d probably be Fire anyway.” Axia said slightly dismissively. “Since you’ve all got that flaming hair. So that would probably make me the better teacher.”

“But we can use magic!” Wiryono looked at their soldiers. She ripped the Mana stone from Axia, who was too surprised to react. “The people of Atros can teach the Royals and the noble families something that none of us could even dream of since being sealed away in this cavern. It might even be a way for us to leave.”

She squeezed her brother's hand. "Can you imagine just how high the sky is? Where wind blows and the heat of the sun on our skin? Just like all the stories we were told from when we were children."

The soldiers looked extremely happy, thrilled almost. They wanted to be free, even though they didn't know what it really meant. As did Bilaal, who had slowly circled around them but decided to remain silent.

“If you could," Naphtali spoke before Anton could formulate a word. "We would be eternally grateful. As would the noble families."

He gingerly took the Mana stone from his sister, his eyes turning towards Mezot and Axia. "What sort of magic do you know? Is there more than Ice and Fire?"

As Naphtali began to rattle off a hundred questions to an overwhelmed Mezot, Anton had time to think.

Is this a good idea? There's already enough doubt in me about the ‘validity’ of supporting the Royal Family, if Othniel spoke true. However, they are the ones not trying to escape. At least for now. Perhaps teaching them magic will make them more willing to work with us, though there’s every chance they’ll use it to ‘deal’ with the Southern Quarter Rebels, especially if the Royal Twins efforts are just a front.

Mezot’s nervous hand reached for his, trembling as Naphtali slowly began to relent.

“Prince Naphtali.” Anton took back the stone. “I can assure you there are many types of magic, even some that I wasn’t aware of as a possibility. I’m sure that, given time, the Fire Elves will be able to become great mages.”

The Fire Elves continued to look excited and expectant.

“However, I must urge caution.” Anton took a slow breath. “As of now our, rather your position, is extremely tenuous. It would not be a good look for the Royals to be experimenting with magic while the rest of Kelis starves.”

“A marvelous suggestion.” Bilaal stepped between the royal twins. Their hair calmed slightly but retained a burning intensity. “But I feel that Anton speaks true and wise words. There is much to plan and prepare for distributing food, let alone determining and practicing magic. Such things can wait for a few days, no?”

Naphtali and Winroyo nodded.

“Thank you for your kind words.” Naphtali slightly bowed his head. “Now that we are free of the strange prison we should return to the palace.”

A flurry of light footsteps ran up the staircase. Over a dozen Royal Soldiers emerged, red-faced and out of breath but still determined.

“We must return to the surface.” Kal said. “Food will start flowing into Kelis soon, but there is much for us to do. And to rest.” Kal’s ears drooped. “It’s been quite a long day.”

As she held Anton’s hand Bilaal gently tapped the Royal’s shoulders and ushered them towards the staircase. Neither were fools and knew the conversation was over. Winroyo glanced at the Mana stone with obvious desire but held her tongue. Anton began to breathe a little easier as they began their descent, though most of the Fire Elf soldiers remained standing to the side of the entrance. He gave a final glance at the former white platform and its shattered remains. A part wondered if there was something poetic about the shattered white chunks. He quickly dismissed it as foolish wondering and followed the Royals down the long, winding steps.

—[]---

As they continued to walk down the steps, Longinious at the front exceedingly happy with the progress and merrily chatting with a nearly overwhelmed Mezot and Zuhura, Kal began to drop back. He knew her well enough to know that something was wrong. It was obvious to him; her ears pulled back along with her slightly raised shoulders, even just the simple way she walked was more than enough to alert him. She had not shown any such emotion when he had been practicing Ancient Magic but something was clearly gnawing at her thoughts.

“Everything alright, Kal?” Anton asked softly when she dropped back to them. “I almost thought you looked like there was going to be another Demon invasion.”

Kal smiled. “Don’t even joke about that. No, it’s not that. But I wanted to let you know before we returned to the surface, something I received in the royal throne room.”

“Oh?”

Kal glanced back. The closest Fire Elves were some distance away and chatting amongst themselves, from what little he could hear it was mainly about the different bodies of the women from the surface. Anton wasn’t particularly worried about the conversation itself, thankfully he knew that such talk would more than distract them.

“When I was giving those children those pieces of preserved-”

“Which was very good of you.” Verona snickered, even as Kal reached behind Anton and gently slapped the back of her head. “Shame you didn’t let tell us you always had that on you.”

“Honestly… If I told you everything that I carried with me you’d never let go.” Kal frowned slightly. “It’s something I learnt during… Anyway.”

Kal slipped a hand underneath her glove and began to pull out a tiny piece of worn paper. When Anton went to take it she pushed it back in and lowered her hands.

“I don’t want anyone to see that I had it.” Kal raised her head. “A child slipped it to me, near the end. It says the Royals control over Kelis is fragile at best. Revolts are common and they have almost no control, if it weren’t for the noble houses hating each other just enough to not overthrow them, none willing to make the first move and expose themselves. And that it was the administrators that kept everything running, despite the waste and excess of the royal family and nobility.”

Kal nodded towards Prince Naphtali and Princess Wiryono. “Even them. Or, so the note says.”

“Sounds like everywhere else.” Anton mused. “Someone in the bureaucracy is angryand bitter at their position. Most likely. Lack of respect or acknowledgment would be a huge motivator for dissent. Although… It sort of lines up with what Othniel said. Perhaps some sympathy? Or just using knowledge of the Southern Quarter Rebels belief? But all that on such a tiny piece of paper?”

Kal shrugged, “I interpreted their short words as best I could. But whoever wrote it is very concerned about the state of their kingdom.”

“Any idea which kid?” Verona asked. “They all kind of looked the same…” She cracked a smile. “That kinda’ sounds like a Seocurian talking Beast-kin, doesn’t it?”

“I don’t know. Certainly not from the Fire Elf that wanted Longinious back on that pedestal. Their children didn’t give me the paper, I know that.”

“I wonder who then?” Anton scratched his beard. “We simply don’t know enough about the internal politics of this city to take a side yet. Beyond what we've already done. Especially the noble families… We’ll keep an ear out for whoever sent you the message. On the surface we’ll take a look at it. See if there’s anything that’ll identify them through their writing.”

“And what are we going to do then?" Verona asked softly. She looked behind to check if anyone had drawn close. They had not, but the chattering Fire Elves stopped; they thought Verona could hear their rather lewd discussions. “Honestly. So? Do we turn them in? Is that the right phrase?”

“Could be nothing, could be a power ploy trying to utilize an outside force. Maybe even someone sympathetic to the Southerners' plight.” Anton clicked his tongue. “Not enough to go on for now. But they were brave, or stupid enough, to give you this information in an extremely crowded place. We will wait for more to arrive, if they do, and go from there.”

“Anyone that stays here needs to know.” Kal tapped her glove. “If they just read it when it’s slipped to them it’ll be a huge mess. More than it already is.”

“Something we’ll discuss with whomever we have staying down here. Probably a Dwarf, since they seem to like them so much… Which reminds me, not so much them, but. Rasha? I take it you're not busy this afternoon?”

“Me?” Rasha held a hand to her chest. “I… No. I don’t have anything planned, other than being your bodyguard. With whatever you need help with. None of the builders need someone like me to lift anything so…” Rasha trailed off and lightly shrugged. “No. No, I can help you with anything.”

“Excellent. I’m going to need you and Cetina to be on extra alert when we return to the surface.”

“And that’s because…?” Verona lent close, with an almost teasing smile.

Anton gripped his hands together. “There’s going to be some big changes for Atros, and not everyone’s going to like it. And with the disturbance after thinking I was dead, not to mention Longinious’s appearance and people might think she has a negative influence or is even making me say what I have planned, I'm going to need you.”

"Don't worry, Anton." Rasha smiled, tapping her chest armor with her fist. "I'm ready for anything. No one will get past, you can count on that."