Grimm had decided that the best course of action for him, Garnet, Katreena, and mostly Anabelle would be to regroup with Ezra and Nicholai. They docked the ship at the port. The captain came along with them, as he managed to survive the attack and was more grateful that he had such strong passengers.

Each of them wore the protective mask most knights were found wearing to protect them from contracting the infection. Alongside another carriage where they could make their way to Dreamlight. Hoping to find the two still there.

“Grimm have you ever been to Dreamlight?” Garnet asked the man as they both sat in front of the carriage guiding the horses.

“Only once. Me and a few friends came for the games, the women, and the money. Mostly the money.” He answered.

“Oh. Wanted to buy something special for yourself?” Garnet pondered.

“I did. You see they these prized pudding dish that they only make once a year. The lines are incredibly long. So I had to win big or else I’d miss my chance to get it.” Grimm explained.

“How much did you win?”

“5000.” Grimm answered, surprising the woman.

“You spent 5000 series on pudding!” Garnet wondered harshly.

“I did. Best day of my fucking life.” Grimm laughed answering her.

They continued on the road towards the large city. Grimm and Garnet ket spinning tales to each other back and forth, Grimm explaining more of his endeavors in his teens years with his friends and on separate small adventures they would go on that had angered their intrustructors. Anabelle was within the carriage with Katreena and the captain. She laid on the ground, still in minor pain from the sea beast attack. All she thought about was Ezra, and not wanting to leave his side once they were reunited.

Katreena laid down and tried to sleep. What was truly preventing her was the large mask she insisted on wearing due to her fear of contracting the infection. Something she made aware to everyone when they discovered the mask at the soldiers outpost where the both had been docked. The captain, for the least, worried not about returning the boat or back to the freelands. He had no wife or kids, so his best bet was to start a life in the Serx Empire somewhere. Hopefully not in Dolsrin.

Grimm looked upon the kingdom with sorrow. As his previous visit reminded him of the bright villages and vibrant traveling groups who stalked the roads and woods. Instead every village they past had been abandoned or destroyed. The forest was quiet, not even the monsters were making noises by hunting for whatever livestock they could find. Noone was free from their homes or the infection as it seemed.

Their road was free of any distraction, which proved to each of them a great relief. Until a strong burning smell started to come over the horizon. Even within the carriage, Anabelle and Katreena took notice too. Preparing themselves for a potential battle. Yet there was no battle waiting. FOr it was no enemy, but they witnessed the city of Dreamlight itself, destroyed and covered in flames. The mighty palace was destroyed and it’s rubble fallen all over the city. Numerous homes were crushed and the walls were even viciously destroyed.

Yet that was not all the witness. As they drove closer, they found people within and outside of the city screaming and running for their lives. Terrifying beasts were slaughtering every person in sight. Grimm hurried the horses. He grabbed his weapon and held it out the carriage with one hand.

“Katreena! Let’s go!” He called her. Making sure she was ready before they approached. Grimm tried to make the mares move quicker, for he saw more people being killed and eaten by the monsters. His focus turned into anger as he watched, though he tried keeping his composure. For their will still some that could be saved. However his anger resided when Katreena dashed past them. She had jumped from the cart and ran at full force in order to kill any monster that she could

Her first enemy was struck into the ground after eating half of it’s victim. The strength of the attack combined with her Force split the beast skull. Leaving it to die. She didn’t stop her advance. Yet there weren’t too many beasts where she was. Just two more who had already finished their prey. She tried her counter to finish them as quickly as possible. All of them had similar features as she quickly noticed. The enlarged bloodshot eyes sat on a darkened oval shaped head over 2 rows of disproportionate sharp teeth. Its broad torso, missing arm, and near skeletal legs put the girl off. Yet she managed to suffice. She rushed at them and swiped it’s skinny leg. Then kicked up to it’s stomach, launching her foot with. At the moment of impact she released her Force, and blasted the creature away. She then jumped up above it before slamming down with the same leg, crushing it’s head. Right as the second noticed her. Grimm had brought down his scythe on the beast neck.

“I’ll do something about this fire. Katreena you and Garnet head inside and start saving anyone you can. Kill anyone of the monsters you come across.” Grimm ordered. All of them ran into the city. Katreena and Garnet left to tend to any nearby monsters.

Grimm saw the massive heaps of flames before him. He twirled his scythe, then launched a massive wave of ice ice and snow over the flames to quickly put them out. Afterwards he jumped to a higher vantage point, and witness more flames raging across the city. He started leaping from one place to the next, extinguishing flames as much as he could. And he could. He found that removing the first problem of the city was no issue. The other however was finding any living people.He feared that they may have been too late. The man stopped himself before more flames.

He started to gauge out all of the damage that had been caused. There were no more screams, yet Garnet and Katreena continued to fight more monsters. Regardless of where he sent his cold power, the fire would come back. All that he could ponder was if Ezra and Nicholai were under all of this. However he silently asked someone who could give him a straight answer for the situation. Especially as he saw the palace shattered through the fire. Out from him he summoned his reaper.

“Sevnier.” Was the reapers name he called. It appeared before him. “Tell me if there are any left…...and if Ezra and Nicholai are somewhere in all this.”

“I’m not some damn genie.” Sevnier complained. Grimm quickly grabbed the reaper by his throat. Sevnier retracted his line immediately. “Alright! Alright!”

Sevnier gazed over the area of fire, ice and rubble. He took his own scythe and traced a circle in the air. A blue ring emerged before him and Grimm. Then it was lifted into the air where it simultaneously grew in size, all to circle the city. After watching for a few seconds. Sevnier turned to Grimm.

“Sorry boss. You’re out of luck here. I looked at all of the souls here, and luckily for you none of them were that dracion and his friend.” The reaper confirmed for the man. Grimm closed his eyes and tried to drown out the harsh sounds of the fire burning and tearing apart the homes and places before him. Yet was unable too. Dread began to flow all around him. He opened his eyes, seeing the flames once again.

“Nothing has changed. This is what I have to come home too.” Grimm said.

“Well technically. Dolsrin isn’t your home.” Sevnier replied, teasing the man. Grimm snapped his fingers. The reaper disappeared in a puff of smoke, leaving Grimm to his sorrow.

“Alright then. Let’s clean this up.” Grimm said to himself gripping his scythe closer to himself. Then he raised it above his head. The scythe began encased in his ice, and a bright aura started to emanate from it. “Sleeping Winter.” He calmly said as he swung the large blade. A massive wave of ice spread across the entire city. The flames were put out instantly, and the city was covered in a beautiful white snow. Garnet and Katreena watched as the city was changed. As well as seeing Grimm standing above it all watching. Anabelle as well was with the rest seeing the magnificent yet seemingly horrifying display. Her own power let her sense the emotions of the souls which Grimm couldn’t do. They all were in pain and sorrow, and yet she couldn’t know why.

Watching as the numerous souls of the dead left the bodies of the people who perished in Dreamlight, and were sent only in one direction. Towards a large corporeal gate that awaited them. Welcoming them to the afterlife was a massive frost covered eagle whose eyes stared them down enough to cause the souls to fall and die once more. Everyone of the souls calmly left the now destroyed yet snow covered city and embraced the afterlife.

Grimm came back down to the girls. Who were in awe of the mans power. He didn’t speak to them. Yet saw the corpse of a monster they had slew, as a human soul emerged from it. Grimm shook in terror. The soul turned to him and nodded. All before joining the rest.

“How many did you guys kill?” Grimm asked the two women.

“About 24 if I remember.” Garnet answered.

“So this is the infection.” Grimm said as he looked down to the disfigured corpse and souls passing through him. “Come on. We need to catch up with Ezra and Nicholai. If they left here. Then I think they may have gone to Shakes Town. It’ll take about 19 hours to get there by carriage.”

“Grimm what is all this?” Garnet asked looking to the snow, the black gate, the large eagle, the souls and even Grimm. Who did nothing but sigh to himself before responding.

“It’s no curse. It’s what I do.”