V waltzed into the massive, ornately decorated throne room. The guards on duty instinctively reached for their spears, then saw who had opened the massive double doors and lowered them immediately.

“This is the ‘welcome back’ I get?” V caught the closest guard’s eyes and scowled, “I went through a lot to do your Queen’s dirty work, you know.”

“Um… Apologies, Master V!” the guard spoke nervously, “W-We meant no offense!”

V burst into laughter, “I was just messing with you guys! Come on, you don’t have to be afraid of old V! I would never hurt you guys, we’re friends!”

All six guards still looked nervous and on edge, and none made a sound as V walked past them to the two thrones, one vacant and the other occupied by an elegant and regal dark-haired woman. Her pale face was heavily made up, and her dark eyes danced with madness, a strong juxtaposition from her dainty and noble appearance otherwise. She wore a magnificent blood-red kimono with dark floral patterns.

“What have I told you about hassling my men, V?” her voice was icy and bittersweet.

“Um…” V pretended to have forgotten, “Ah, yes that’s right, it’s coming back to me now! ‘Don’t do it’ is what you said, right, Queenie?”

“Yes, and under any circumstances, do not call me ‘Queenie’. You will respect me when you are in my court- It is my right as ruler of the Zhion Empire.”

V groaned slightly, “Yeah, yeah- Sorry about that, don’t chew my ear off about it.”

The Queen glowered at him, then seemed to decide against pursuing the issue further, “Anyway, to business,” she instead said with a wave of her arm, “What news from Alfad Remeris? Is the deed done?”

“Yup, just like you asked.”

“Both of them?”

V hesitated for the briefest moment, not long enough for the Queen to notice, “Yes. Both of them lie dead in that Dungeon forever.”

"What of the sword, V?"

"The sword? Ah... I wasn't able to get it. He, uh... Fell to his death."

You better thank me for this next time you see me, Hai...

The Queen's face contorted with anger, "You fool! The only reason I wanted him dead was for the sword!"

"Look at it this way, Queenie- Er, Your Majesty," Even V was slightly nervous in the face of this woman's wrathful glare, "At least since he's gone and the sword's gone with him, no one else will be able to use it against you. Granted, you won't be able to use it either, but... Hey, at least he's gone, right?"

The Queen didn't look very pleased- She eyed V with disdain.

She remained quiet, her eyes seeming to penetrate V's very soul, trying to work out whether he was deceiving her or not. He hoped she bought his story... When she next spoke, he almost gave a sigh of relief, “...And the Spirit Vessel?”

V thanked his lucky stars she wasn't pressing the issue further. He regained his nonchalant tone, “It was claimed by the weirdest kid! Some brat whose home Lendras destroyed. What’s more, he was actually with an old friend of mine…”

The Queen waved her arm dismissively, “I care not.”

“Yeesh,” V shot her a scowl, “You’re the one who asked…”

“Leave me,” she said, “You’ll be contacted again when I have further use of your services.”

“You do that,” V flicked a rude gesture her way before sauntering back the way he came, calling out, “’Til next time, Queenie!”

What a drag… How long until she shows her cards and war breaks out? That’s all I’m in this for…

Meanwhile, Kydan and his newly formed group of travelling companions were leaving Mahernas, after sneaking into town the evening before and staying at an inn. They’d spent the next morning stocking up on provisions, and were now going to travel by foot to a town known as Deirnes, which was the nearest settlement to Fort Rosharien that hadn’t been completely destroyed or ransacked.

“Hmm…” They had been on the road for a while when Kydan appeared to be pondering something, and Auros perked up when he noticed this.

“What’s on your mind, Kydan?” the bard hung back to talk to the young Dungeon Hunter who walked at the back of the group, deep in thought.

“I’m just thinking about… What Lendras told me before V killed him…”

“…Ah, yes,” Auros’ expression turned dark, “No doubt that’s been playing on your mind a lot, and rightly so. He mentioned a name, didn’t he?”

“Yes…” Kydan was grimacing, and the name came from his mouth almost unwillingly, “It… It was Taryn.”

“It doesn’t take a genius to surmise that you knew this Taryn, but might I ask… How you two know each other?”

“…He was… Is… My closest friend.”

At this point, Hai and Eswyrene turned back and looked at the other two companions, mouths agape.

“R-Really?” It was Hai who spoke, “No wonder you’re so shaken up… I couldn’t imagine what’s going on in your mind right now.”

Your closest friend? Kydan, I’m so sorry…

Th-Thanks, Sakhtras… It’s hard to believe, I know.

“We grew up together,” Kydan told the group, “I was orphaned, and Taryn lived with his grandfather… That man was like a father to both of us, which made Taryn… My brother.”

“And… This brother of yours apparently sold out the people of Hayvren…?” Auros asked tentatively, looking to Hai and Eswyrene with concern.

“I can’t believe it,” Kydan spat, “I can’t believe what that old bastard Lendras said… Not until I hear it from Taryn himself!”

“I would assume he must have had some kind of reason,” Hai said, “Although… Even so, coming to terms with a thing like that… It must be difficult for you, Kydan.”

That would be an understatement, Auros thought to himself as he saw the pained expression on his friend’s face.

“I won’t act like it’s not,” Kydan answered reluctantly, “But… I want to believe in him. It’s just… To tell the truth, I don’t even know if he’s alive right now, so finding the truth might be impossible.”

“You don’t know if he survived the attack?” Eswyrene shook her head solemnly, “I… I don’t know what to say, Kydan.”

It hurt Auros to see Kydan, whom he had taken a shine to and had grown to trust almost instantly, looking so torn up. He cursed Lendras and hoped that he was being punished in the next life for what he had done to this young man.

“I… I lost track of Taryn that day, when everything started. All this time, I’ve been hoping against hope that he made it out, but if he did, I haven’t encountered him, and I’ve been travelling around most of Alreese in the past few months.”

“…Don’t lose hope, lad.”

Auros said what he thought Kydan would tell him if he were in the same situation.

“If this Taryn lad is alive, and if what Lendras said is true, then I imagine he’s living with an insurmountable weight on his shoulders, desperate to atone for his mistakes. I think… I think what you need to do is believe in your friend, and just keep hoping that fate will bring you two back together, and you can ask him yourself about what happened.”

“He’s right,” Hai backed Auros up, “Getting his side of the story is important to this- Knowing Lendras, he probably withheld details, even if what he said was partially true. If your friend is still out there, he’ll probably need you and your faith in him to come to terms with what he’s undoubtedly feeling. It’s probably best for you to assume he’s alive… You don’t need the alternative on your mind…”

“…You’re probably right,” Kydan said, “Thanks so much, all of you. To tell the truth, I’d pretty much grown to live with the idea that he was probably dead, but…”

“If he’s as strong and capable as you are, my lad,” Auros interjected, “I’d say you have reason to hold onto hope yet.”

“Maybe we’ll even meet him on our way to Deirnes,” Eswyrene added, “I’m sure he’d be happy to see you safe and well.”

Kydan nodded, “Y-You’re right, maybe he escaped Hayvren but hasn’t left Alreese… I still haven’t been up in the northernmost part of the country yet…”

Kydan, Hai and Eswyrene continued talking while something nagged at Auros deep down. Part of him was worried that they may be giving Kydan false hope. It was impossible to know, and giving him the reassurance he needed to hear was probably the best thing for him… But Auros couldn’t help being afraid of how Kydan might feel if he found out either of his fears were confirmed.

Hearing of his death would be worse than hearing he was a traitor to his village, surely… Auros thought, but then wondered how he might have reacted if someone he’d been close to all of his life had been involved in something as traumatic and life-changing as that.

This led him to think of V, whom he had been trying to ignore all thoughts of ever since they’d left Alfad Remeris.

He claimed we were once best friends… If only I remembered him, then maybe I’d be able to give Kydan better advice…

Something about the way V had told this to him left no doubt in Auros’ mind that the strange man had been telling the truth. There’d been times when he’d looked at Auros almost pleadingly, urging him to remember…

But it still remains locked away. Perhaps I’ll never know what it feels like to have a friend as close as this Taryn character was to Kydan...

Auros gave a silent prayer to the Old Gods that Kydan’s friend would turn up safely, for better or worse. He then realised he’d been lagging behind, and hurried to catch up with the group.

Back at Mahernas, at the docks, a man who stood out to all bystanders stood there gazing wistfully at the ocean, his head in his hands.

This man looked to only be in his early twenties, but clearly had extravagant tastes- He wore a dark green kimono with pink lining and a red floral pattern, and wore several ornate rings on his fingers. His red hair was tied in a long ponytail and his golden eyes shone bright like the sun.

“He’s so handsome…” he heard a woman’s voice say dreamily to her friend.

“And the way he’s dressed, too,” the other woman eyeing him said, “He must be some kind of foreign noble or something…”

Oh, ladies, you flatter me, the man thought to himself, I’d go over and introduce myself, but alas, I haven’t the time… The predicament I now find myself in comes first...

He looked out to the ocean and groaned loudly, "How could this have happened?!"

“Um… Can I help you, sir?” a burly man walked over to him, likely a worker here at the docks or perhaps on one of the ships. He looked slightly annoyed at the man loitering there and causing a scene.

“Alas,” the man said in a silky tone, “It would appear my friends have abandoned me and gotten on our ship without me! It’s probably because I’m such a burden to them…”

He sighed deeply, and the burly man looked confused.

“Um… I’m sure they don’t think that?”

“You do? Why, thank you, my good man!”

“Uh, don’t mention it,” the man grew more and more puzzled after the sudden change in mood from this strange fellow on his dock, “So… Which ship were you meant to be boarding?”

“A private vessel,” The kimono-clad stranger sighed theatrically once more, “I was to return to my homeland of Yuleir- Perhaps you’ve heard of it…”

“Well, sure, it’s only one of the most powerful and renowned nations in the known world,” the other man said, looking slightly miffed, “I wasn’t born yesterday, you know…”

“Of course, and I meant no offence, assuredly!” The man in the kimono got down on his knees and bowed deeply, “I beg your forgiveness!”

The worker looked at him scornfully, wondering whether this strange man was mocking him. He then decided to let it slide, “Whatever… Listen, the next vessel bound for Yuleir won’t be for at least another week and a half, so… Make yourself at home, buddy.”

The other man got up, dusting himself off. He grinned at the worker, “That I will, my good man! I shall peruse the markets a little more, and perhaps set about getting a lay of the land… It was just to be a passing visit, you see, so truth be told, I don’t know too much about this place.”

“I’d expect you wouldn’t,” the worker grumbled drily, “A guy like you, with his head in the clouds… Just be careful, yeah? I’d expect things are gonna get pretty restless around here, what with the Overlord missing and all.”

The kimono-clad man’s expression suddenly turned completely serious, “What did you say? A missing Overlord? That would be… Lendras, correct?”

“Sure,” the worker looked around, “The old bastard went into the Dungeon. It apparently disappeared, but so did he! Listen, man, I have to get back to work.”

“But of course, my good man! And thank you for your concern, and for the information!”

He waved cheerily to the disgruntled-looking worker, and began to walk into town, the eyes of many of Mahernas’ citizens following him.

Did you hear that? About the Overlord being missing… And in a Dungeon of all places?

Of course I heard it, you moron, I hear everything! By the way, nice work, missing your boat because you were cavorting with that woman from the tavern. I swear, even with those Five Arms of yours, you’re still a fool… A feminine-sounding voice in his head scolded the man with the golden eyes as he walked through the marketplace.

Yes, yes, I’m a very bad boy indeed… But we got some valuable information out of it! Lendras Rosharien, missing…

Probably dead, too…

But the Dungeon disappeared with him, the man said…

Well, I dunno, maybe someone else beat him to the final room!

This was met with an audible laugh from the man, earning him even more stares, although this time from people wondering why he was laughing out loud while walking alone.

Maybe they did. This is all interesting stuff… I think I might stay here in Alreese a while, and see how things play out.

Don’t you realise you have duties back home? I swear, I’ve known you for years now, and you’re still as irresponsible as you were when you were a little brat.

I’m more handsome now, though, the man smirked as he made this comeback.

W-What has that got to do with it?!

Ah, Patsy… Such a stormy personality, yet so easy to fluster.

We’ll see who’s flustered when I come out of this Spirit Vessel and shock you to smithereens!

The kimono-clad man laughed again.

Anyway, home can wait, the rest of them will have everything under control. We haven’t been on an adventure, just the two of us, in so long! Besides, we’re stuck here for at least a week and a half. You heard the man.

I-I guess you’re right… So, where’s our first stop.

The tavern once more, of course! No better place to gather information from the locals… As well as meet a pretty girl or two!

I swear, you never change…

And still you stand by me. I can’t thank you enough, truly!

I don’t have a choice, idiot- We’re bonded for life…

And so, the stranded visitor from Yuleir set off towards the tavern, in search of more details about the latest developments in Alreese…