Author's Note:

Hey, guys! Guess who's back?

I know, I know! I took my sweet time but here I am back now! I will try to continue on from where I left off and see how it goes. I also plan to pick up my old every Friday schedule. Let's all pray now for a moment it works out and we can find out more about the adventures of Ace, his friends and what happens to this world of Regal Dream!

Now onto the chapter!

*****

“Hey, we need more supplies!”

“Left wall is out of arrows!”

“Gaaah!”

“SwordKill! Shoot those bastards! They killed one of our own! No mercy! Kill them all!”

“Monthu! Monthu! There is an upcoming attack from the sky!” Rowena shouted out, changing into her human form mid-flight. The window had been left open just for her and she landed gracefully on all four.

No one paid her any attention. The commander was standing against the table with a frown on his face. He put a new marker after her words but didn’t comment.

“We need to tell mages to raise the shields!” an officer suggested. “Pre-prepared defences are at their limit.”

“But that would mean we’ll have to remove them from the walls...”

“Or lower their resting time,” another piped in.

He was a swordsman and clearly had no idea what he was talking about. Rowena scowled at him but before she could say anything L raised his hand for quiet.

She took a look at him and felt pity raise. It was hard to recognise the man. The siege had only started a day ago but he already looked worse. And it hadn’t been good before.

His hair was dishevelled, prominent black bags under his eyes and a gaunt look in his eyes. The once white robe was rumpled, sleeves cut off to make it easier to move. Pale skin revealed on his hands looked to be freezing yet it didn’t seem he had noticed.

There were reports in his hands and on the tables on either side. They were littered with them while the largest one had a map laid on it. Wooden markers stood in key locations, protected by Monthu. No one could move them but him.

“The mages are at their limit too,” L said finally. “We cannot ask more of them. Is there any news about supplies?”

Rowena didn’t want to be the bringer of bad news but truth had to be said. “They have cut off our lines. There won’t be anyone coming to aid us.”

“You sure?”

“Did you really see it?”

“This is catastrophic!”

The officers exclaimed, shouting one over another. Their dismay was obvious and she could understand it. When she had seen the supposedly hidden caravan get attacked, all she had wanted was to dive down and do everything in her power to protect it.

But she knew better. She was just a single person. Her job was to scout and report what she had seen. If she died in a vain attempt at heroics, no one was going to compliment her.

L raised his hand once again. “Have you seen it with your eyes?”

She nodded and the sigh that left his lips echoed through her heart.

“Send messengers to the city. I’m hiring every single craftsmen out there, no matter how amateurish he or she is. Anyone who would like to apprentice is more than welcome to do that.” He shifted in his seat, glancing to his right to make sure the scribe was writing everything down.

When he was done, L waved him off and turned to his officers. “Go to your soldiers and make sure they take care of their equipment. But don’t let rumours spread. We have a chance to win as long as we believe it is possible!”

A few mocking smiles appeared at those words but all nodded and after a salute left. Monthu was next to the tower’s door when L called him back. “I need to discuss something with you.”

**

“Why are you following us?” Hawk asked, rounding on the two people. They had appeared some three days ago and had tailed him with Deedara since then. Without a word being said.

It was time the silence got broken.

Or so he thought. Neither of the two looked eager to answer him. They just walked with steady steps, not even raising their heads to meet his eyes.

The mage was taken in by a book. He was reading it while walking, rogue holding a torch over his head for light. They looked like a weird pair but who was Hawk to judge. He was an archer walking first into darkness without any idea what he was reaching for.

“Leave them be. I’m glad they’re here,” Deedara said to his right. She walked a few steps behind him in a hope that if some spirit appeared, it would attack him and not her.

“I would be also if I knew what they were doing here,” Hawk said, glancing backwards. The two were still ignoring them. It was as if they weren’t hearing anything.

Deedara moved closer to him. “You know you could ask them for help.”

Hawk stumbled in his walk at the unexpected suggestion. He turned her way to make sure he had heard right.

She had her head raised up at him but shadows danced on her face. It was impossible to tell what kind of an expression she had. Hawk turned back to his path. “They hadn’t helped us before. Why should I lower myself and beg for it?”

“Would you let me do it then?”

There was obvious exhaustion in her voice. They had hunted spirits without rest and now were walking one dark corridor after another. Food supplies were scarce and they had to decrease their rations.

Even then they were disappearing in a rapid succession. Few more days without any findings and they would have to go hungry.

“I don’t control you,” he answered her, secretly relieved. Spirits had to be exterminated no matter the cost but them dying wasn’t going to help anyone. It was that simple and yet complicated.

Deedara fell back and approached the two. She started by simple greeting and Nein replied in a friendly manner. It annoyed Hawk for some reason and he quickened his step. There was no reason for him to hear their conversation.

He would better explore more of this underground cave.

It was strange how easy it was to walk in the dark. Nein’s spell of night vision was still active, even if more than a few weeks had passed. Hawk felt thankful at that but at the same time despised the mage.

Why did everyone around him had to be breaking game logic by being so overpowered it wasn’t even fun?

First there was Ace. Then this guy appeared. Who was coming next? A swordsman that could kill an army by himself? Some archer that could shoot thousands of arrows in one go? It wouldn’t surprise him in the least. This game was just broken.

“Nein said he’s going to call out something and it’ll scout ahead!” Deedara said, shocking him out of his thoughts. When had she caught up with him? “Isn’t it great? He also said he has some extra food if we need it!”

She sounded so cheerful. Against his own better judgement he put a smile on his face. “That is nice,” he said trying to at least sound encouraging. He failed. Miserably.

“Well, it’s not my fault that we’re out of fo-!” she started but he cut her off. “I know,” he said in a tired voice, stopping and taking her by the shoulders. “I know you’re doing what’s best.” He looked her in the eyes to make sure she understood he meant it. “I’m just weary from all this travelling and achieving nothing.”

She gave him a half smile and touched her forehead against his for a moment. “We will exterminate those spirits and then return home with our mission finished.”

Duo rounded the corner and they separated, starting to walk again. There was still lots of path to cover.

**

Sun rose and invaded a solitary room. It’s light fingers going over an empty desk, book lying open on a chair. There were clothes covering half of it.

Further in a figure lay in peaceful sleep. Sun touched it with the lightest of brushes but that still elicited a groan. It hid under the cover of blankets, escaping from her view.

But she was persistent and after a few more grumbles the creature emerged, rubbing his eyes.

Kirin yawned wide and stretched his hands. A look of pure bliss passed his features. “It’s good to be home,” he said to himself and dropped back onto the bed, smile on his face.

His eyes roamed over the ceiling and he remembered how much he’d hated the thing. It was so simple and white. If it had been his choice back then, the whole thing would have been dark blue with some action heroes drawn. Everyone else had such colourful rooms so why did his have to be so blank and boring?

A growl came from his stomach so he pushed himself off and went out of the room. Cold draft went through his bare shoulders making him consider coming back to get a sweater. But he decided against it. Too much work. Hopefully, the kitchen was going to be warmer.

It wasn’t. He shivered as he opened the refrigerator. There was absolutely nothing inside. Aunt had probably cleaned it.

He muttered under his breath and went to look through the cupboards. Not a single fruit to be found. What was he supposed to eat then? Plates?

Annoyed, he found his phone and ordered a pizza. The person knew him as a constant and noted his order without Kirin having to tell him anything. An efficient fellow. Or he just ordered from that place too often.

Well, he’d been living on abysmal food for two weeks. There was nothing wrong with getting something better now that he was free. No one trying to make him attend any activities or play games, leave his tablet alone.

Soon food came and he turned the TV on. The channel was left on gaming one. The show about Regal Dream that had destroyed Ace was on. This time there was a different guest and conversation revolved around a siege happening in Oradin kingdom.

Kirin instantly recognised L’s figure showed in the corner facing against Marion. Both of them had been photographed at their best moments, showing regal and powerful expressions. From them alone you could say they were worthy opponents.

That changed the moment Kirin turned the volume up and the screen changed into a bird’s view of the city and it’s surrounding areas. There were hundreds, no, thousands of little dots moving everywhere. Most of them concentrated outside the walls.

“What would you say about the continuation of the battle? It has changed little since yesterday, don’t you think so?” the hostess asked.

An older man answered her. “All I can think about now is how is the city still standing. Lord Marion’s forces are ten times the size of the city lord’s. He has siege engines, an abundance in mages and archers. Unlimited supplies. It’s a wonder the city has lasted these few days like this.

“However, it’s time for it to end.” He pointed at one of the walls. “If we could get a closer look of this. Yes.. A bit more... Look here! There’s a crack in the stones. It might not look much but it means the spell protecting the city is waning out.”

“You want to say the mages will soon have a free time to rain all their worst spells?” the hostess asked with interest.

Her partner nodded emphatically. “Yes. I hope the city lord will protect his people by surrendering before then, though. Otherwise the whole city will be levelled to the ground, all those inside with it.”

“Won’t that be a glorious sight? Most people tend to give up, to save some of their fame so to see mages running wild is such a rare sight!”

The old man glared at the female. In a moment he tried to school his features down. “I believe it’s for the better that we don’t. It would be a massacre.”

The woman nodded at those words, having missed the previous look. “That is so. Think then this is our last meeting? Is this battle over?”

“I ha-” he started to say but Kirin changed the channel. He didn’t need to be told some nonsense. No fight was ever over before it was over. L would never surrender. For him it was all or nothing. He’d rather have every single person killed in his city than give up.

There’s always a chance to win. It’s people he’s fighting against and they make mistakes. Ones that can be used to get yourself out of a deep hole.

Though, L was quite deep in. No simple mistake from Marion’s side was going to be enough. It would have to be something major. But even that might not be enough. The fighting power was just that unequal.

He ate the last piece of pizza and licked his fingers. That had been glorious. He’d missed his ordered food more than he’d thought. Maybe he should eat it for a whole week to celebrate?

As he thought that, a noise came from his room. It sounded horribly like a ringtone on his laptop. Could it be? No way, his parents never called.

**

They were sitting in a circle and eating when the vampire boy returned. Hawk didn’t like him but Nein seemed to trust the teenager.

“There’s something cool up ahead,” he said plopping down on the ground. Without asking he grabbed himself a bowl and filled full with the soup, making sure to catch more than half of the meatballs.

Nein didn’t say anything and the teenager finished eating before elaborating. “It’s a room with mirrors used to bring light to it. In the middle there’s a pedestal with a bone mask on top. All the light is aimed at it.”

He licked his lips. “I thought about touching it but decided you would probably want the honour,” he said, flashing them all a toothy grin. Firelight reflected off his fangs.

“How far is it?”

The teenager shrugged. “I’d say an hour’s walk, or two.”

“Let’s go then,” Hawk said standing up. He checked his bow, frowned and started on the path. Vampire grumbled about not being full yet but others ignored him and were soon up and walking.

As they moved, there were no words exchanged. All knew their place and what was to happen. There was no need to talk about anything.

Three hours later they reached the discussed room. It was oval with mirrors positioned at different heights so that sunlight was brought down from the very top of the mountain. Hawk shielded his eyes trying to see upwards but even his eyesight wasn’t enough.

So he lowered his gaze onto the single other thing in the room. The pedestal was carved of a single stone with amateurish serpents snaking it up. Their eyes were holes while scales unequal in size and shape.

It was in sharp contrast with the mastery required to put up all the mirrors.

“Am I the only one that feels like we’re in an Indiana Jones film?” Deedara asked but no one answer. Hawk with Dark were watching the pedestal with fascination mixed with fear and distrust.

The priestess could see their hands twitching as they wanted to reach out. Luckily, both were smart enough not to do so and her eyes fell on the mage.

He was walking closer towards the bone mask shaped in a form of a dragon head, stopping a meter or so before. Then he circled, eyes following the twisting bodies of the snakes.

On the other side he squatted down with an unreadable expression. Deedara went to check what he was looking and saw words etched into the stone. They were of some old, most likely extinct language.

“I’ve seen this before,” Dark said, speaking up for the first time since he joined them. Three heads turned his way.

“You have?” Nein asked with a raised eyebrow. “I didn’t take you for a scholar.”

Black rogue shook his head. “I’m not but,” he hesitated for a moment before continuing. “It was carved over a dungeon boss’ room we did with Silver Wing in....” Dark could almost physically feel Nein’s eyes alighting with interest so he stopped talking.

“Is that all? What do they mean? Is it a warning?” Hawk asked, stepping up to his face. He had no interest in Master’s doings but only what held information for now.

It allowed Dark to lower his guard so he added. “I don’t know. We noticed it after defeating a giant snake and Wing laughing read ‘Dealenus Krignora Houras’. “

As he said the last syllable walls started to groan, old, unused mechanisms creak.

“What is going on?” Deedara shouted out but the sound of a screeching wall drowned her voice. It was so loud she had to cover her ears.

Unlike her, others stood in ready positions, preparing for flight or fight. It was the time when the pedestal started going downwards into the ground when Hawk moved. He dashed forward, grabbed the mask and rolled to the other side.

Everyone stood still then. There had to be a trap, right? It was just too simple.

Instead the walls stopped groaning, screeching and an entrance opened to the left. It was alighted with red glowing orbs and went down slope.

“Shall we?” Nein asked with a smile on his face.

Hawk looked upwards as if praying for patience and clutching the mask tight in his hand moved towards the tunnel. Priestess, rogue and mage fell in step with him and together they advanced into the unknown.

**

Still Kirin made his way up the stairs, shivering once more. Was there a window broken somewhere or what? Where was all that cold coming from? It was supposed to be spring now!

In the room laptop was flashing a call sign. He sat down to see a picture of his parents on the screen. They were smiling so bright that a small one of his own touched his lips.

Those two idiots. It’s been over twenty years and they’re still so much in love. They’re acting like two lovebirds, unable to separate for a moment and having a break every second they can.

“Hey!” he greeted them, opening video chat. He could see a small face at the right bottom corner he could hardly recognise. It was tanned! He couldn’t remember the last time he had been long enough in the sun for his skin to change. This was so weird...

“Hey! How have you been?” father started with a wide grin. He was pointing at something on the screen to mother and her smile just grew.

“It was something new,” he said with an answering lift of his lip corners. “I met some interesting people.”

“Did you make a friend?”

He nodded, earning a look full of pride from both of his parents. It was probably the wrong time to say that it hadn’t been his choice. “Yeah, his name is Mark. He lives a few cities away but we agreed to meet-up at some point. His family might come here for their vacation!”

“That’s great news! We’ve been a bit worried about letting you go, but it seems you’ve known what was best for you,” mother said with a laugh. “Do you have any more plans?”

Kirin chuckled at that. “Not at the moment. I want to rest up a bit.”

“Then you’re going to play that game again?”

“Uhh...” Kirin murmured, his expression souring. He didn’t want to think about Regal Dream, Ace, Wing, broken promises and annoyed people. The life there had become too much of a mess.

“Is something wrong?” mother quickly inquired, knowing that silence meant he was thinking of a way to weasel out of something. “Did something happen there?”

He forced a smile on his face. “Not at all!” he said with an overly bright tone. He couldn’t worry them. They were having a wonderful time together in an island they always wanted to visit.

“You sure?” father asked, a distrustful look on his face. He knew his son and that brightness wasn’t natural on him.

“Yeah,” Kirin said this time with more conviction in his voice. “There’s just a war going where I’ve been playing so I’m a bit worried about my friends. What had happened to them while I was gone?”

The distracting tactic looked to have worked and for a moment more they talked about how much he enjoyed the game before they started to say their goodbyes.

“Well, you’re probably eager to return to the game. Let us not keep you away from it any longer.”

“It’s no problem,” Kirin said, truthfully. He was happy to have a chat with them, to know their work was going fine and they were enjoying themselves. It was the best news he could ever receive. “Do you have a plan how long you’re going to stay there?”

Parents glanced at each other. “Your birthday is coming up. We were thinking of returning. What do you think?”

“It won’t interfere with your work?” he asked with a prying look.

They laughed at it. “You should trust us to at least be able to make time for our son’s birthday!”

“Fine then. I’ll be expecting you!” he told with a smile that destroyed his whole stern look.

“Sure, sure!” they said waving to the camera. “Bye and have fun playing your game.”

The call was cut off and Kirin was left alone in his room. Sun was still shining bright through the window but giving little warmth. Cold was entering his body both from outside and inside.

Before he could think better, he jumped off his chair and rushed to the cabin.

**

“Tell me I’m the only one seeing this,” Deedara whispered under her breath, afraid to get them noticed.

Two guys lay at her sides but neither moved a muscle to answer her. Their eyes were locked on the sight below, somewhere where Deedara had no wish to look back. One glance had been more than enough for her.

Yet she moved her eyes there once again. If she didn’t look, nothing could be changed. And this had to be stopped.

Below them three spirits were curled in throne like rock formations with people and yetis alike coming to them. Each one was sucked out of life at leisure. Even children.

Now it was two adult humans and a little ball of fur closest to their hiding place. The baby creature was shrieking, convulsing in agony but no one seemed to mind. Other humans and yetis walked back and forth doing god knows what but neither tried to stop the madness going before them.

“We need to end this,” she hissed to her silent companions. Like it was usual now they stayed quiet so she stood up to go on her own. It was too horrible to be left alone.

Hawk caught her arm. “What do you think you’re doing?”

“Going to save that little baby?” she told him with a glare, twisting her arm out. “We need to stop this!”

“Shhh!” Nein hissed, giving them a look that said they were acting like children. “Stay,” he ordered Deedara and she let herself drop to the ground.

“I can’t let this continue...” she whispered with a look towards the ground.

The yeti kid was already dead and an old woman was being brought to the spirit. It was glowing with all the energy consumed but still seeking more. Tendrils grabbed onto the woman and she screamed.

Deedara winced turning to say something when Dark dropped beside her. He turned towards Nein as if he was the leader but neither she nor Hawk said anything.

“There’s a path if we take a left turn but we’d need to run through the whole hall. I’d say... I think, it’s best if we don’t fight them...”

“No!” Deedara shouted out and Hawk clamped his hand over her mouth. His look could have killed but no sound was made. They all lay in silence, waiting to see whether she had given them away.

A few heads rose below but none seemed concerned. Confused more.

And then it was over. People and yetis were back to their work of cleaning the hall and the only sound coming from sucking of people’s lives and their blood curling screams.

“I believe we have to entertain the lady if we want to survive here,” Nein said with a charming smile towards Deedara. “She seems to be quite adamant on this.”

“It’s too dangerous,” Dark disagreed. “We will die for nothing.”

“Think you can use your vampire to distract them?” Hawk asked as if unaware of the argument going around him. In his mind it was already decided. All spirits had to be killed. Simple as that.

Nein nodded. “Sure. You have a plan?”

“He taunts them away while we slide down and kill the spirits.”

“What an elaborate strategy,” Nein chuckled to himself. Still the next moment vampire boy appeared by his side and after a nod smiled wide. He then rushed back the path and was in the hall the next second.

Startled humans got out of his way but yetis had a different reaction to surprise. They attacked. However, the boy just turned into a bat and dodged all swipes aimed his way.

When yetis stumbled in confusion he returned to his human form and ripped into them with fingers turned claws. They returned bloody and he licked them, tasting. Red light came into his eyes then and chaos ensued as he tried to find a victim for his bloodthirst.

“This should be enough, I’d say,” Nein said standing up and glancing downwards. “Shall we go?”

“Yes,” Hawk said.

“Yes!” Deedara echoed him and together the four of them rushed down the slope, straight for the ghosts slurping on their dinner. Unaware of any danger.

It was time to show them what human spirit was like.

**

Whatever it was, Monthu was sure he wasn’t going to like L’s words. Good news had gone missing for the last few days. Anything the scouts brought back was either bad, very bad or very very bad.

He came back to the map table and sat down on a corner, picking up a wooden carriage figurine. “What is it?” he asked as the silence stretched. He had things that needed to be doing.

“Do you have any news from him?”

The question made Monthu look up. Was he really asking that? “I thought you were aware that we aren’t on the best of terms now.”

L massaged his temples, leaning back in his chair. “I know, I know, but he wasn’t online for so long! I need every advantage I can get my hands on but this... He just up and disappeared without a word!”

“That sounds like him,” Monthu said shrugging, releasing his hand from the fist it had formed into. He had forgotten he held the figurine and now it was deformed, wheels bent inwards. Without a word, he pocked it. Not like they’ll need a supply marker any time soon.

L didn’t seem to have noticed anything and continued in his rant. “That’s so irresponsible! I need him! Now! What am I supposed to do until he returns?” He waved his hand before his head as if unable to express his annoyance.

The next moment he stood up and started pacing the room. “A third of my allies didn’t make it in. Supply lines got cut off. I have barely a hundred mages in the whole city and some of them are just beginners.” He grabbed onto his hair, as if pulling them out would help. “Soldiers are still holding but for how long? Soon they’ll notice lack of supplies and morale will plummet. Not that it is high now.

“How could it be? They’re in a bard city surrounded by thousands of enemy soldiers versed in war. War machines are going to arrive soon enough and then the real thing will begin. Not this stupid waste of arrows by both groups.” A laugh escaped his mouth. “At least they have spares.”

For a bit longer he circled the room, unseeing the other two occupants. Monthu followed him with his gaze. It wasn’t the first time he was hearing this. The man was good at restraining his emotions under pressure, showing a strong face to his underlings but later tended to need to went out.

And for a strange reason he had chosen Monthu as his confidante. Well, it was probably because they both shared a certain piece of knowledge.

“What am I supposed to do now?” L asked, plopping back down in his chair with a tired sigh. He rubbed his eyes a few times and yawned. “Damn this. I need to be alert now.”

“Uhm... Were you talking about Silver Wing before?” asked a quiet female voice. Monthu’s head snapped to the left and he noticed the female shaman. Her black tattoos made her look like part of the wall, just another decoration in a shadowed corner.

“What about it?” L asked, closing his eyes for a moment. “Do you know anything about him?”

She shifted in her place, glancing in all directions before asking in a soft voice. “Didn’t he betray you? For wh... Why do you trust him still?”

Monthu chuckled. He wasn’t sure what brought it out but from the corner of his eyes he could see L’s thin lips turn into a smile too. There wasn’t anything funny in her question or the way she said it but...

“I never trusted him in the first place,” L answered her, his eyes brightening up a bit. He laughed to himself, colour returning to his dead face. “It was like dealing with a wild animal. One moment he is eating from your palm and the other you’re missing your hand.”

“Well said,” Monthu had to agree. “You might have known him better than I thought.”

L shook his head. “Not really. Do you remember the announcement of the adventure into the mountains? When he fought that black rogue?” Monthu nodded and he continued. “That was the first time I truly realized who I was dealing with.”

“Oh, I knew he was a trickster and loved to fool around, was pretty good at it too,” he said with a smile growing wider. “But I didn’t know the full extent of it! He wasn’t just good at pretending to be someone, getting his way through lies and deceit. Instead every creation of his took a life of its own and he embraced it to the core.

“Just look at Silver Wing! I’m pretty sure he made it up to have fun,” he said looking up, “and now what it has become. Not forgetting the skills. I have no idea where he got them but they’re broken! The time I saw it, I was frozen in place from terror!”

“Not the only one,” Monthu added, a disgruntled look on his face. “I knew he was strong. He always had an uncanny ability to survive the deadliest of situations but that show... I had to re-evaluate all I had ever known about him. So much more of his actions and words started to make sense.”

L just nodded in agreement. “I still sometimes wonder why he decided to help me. He probably was rolling in laughter inside at all of my threats.”

“Quite likely.”

“You don’t need to agree so readily!” L laughed. “I want to think I have some persuasive powers still!”

“Sure,” Monthu said rolling his eyes. “You’re very good at getting people to join you.” After a moment he added under his breath. “By threatening or bribing them.”

L shrugged. “That’s better than nothing.” Then his features relaxed and fell into their familiar lines of exhaustion. “And I wish we could continue this conversation but war waits for no man. We need to start preparing for tomorrow’s assault.”

“I’ll look into it,” Monthu replied, standing up to leave. At the door he turned to the female that had stayed silent for a while. “Make sure he gets some sleep.”

“Wha-? I don’t ne-!” L spluttered, raising from his seat. “There’s an enemy army on our doorstep!”

Monthu gave him a look. “And it’ll still be there in a few hours. Take a rest so you don’t embarrass anyone tomorrow by falling asleep in the middle of the assault.”

That said he went through the doors and closed them behind himself. The stairs led him to the bottom but he stopped before entering the courtyard. For a moment he leaned against the cold stone wall and closed his eyes.

Sleep. L wasn’t the only one forgetting what it was. But no matter, he had a job to do.

Monthu shook his head and strode into the bright mid-afternoon light.