I don’t like this. Zofia’s agitated voice was even more high-pitched in group chat. It feels like a violation of my mind.

Well, don’t think naughty thoughts.

Kalli giggled at that particular piece of advice. Like you’re one to talk.

The plan was to split up and place lookouts in all of the villages. We left Zofia at the TGB camp just in case Rasputin happened to target his fellow Earthlings. There was no point in sacrificing our visitors.

With both Kalliville and Mount Wendy out of commission, there were just eight settlements left in Meltopia counting Celestea. Of those, I felt reasonably certain that New Wrotor and the City Under the Mountain were safe since they were both underground. The city of Celestea could be protected by magic but only if someone from the royal family was there to activate it. While Shiv technically could do it, Kalli and I both agreed to have her stay with Lavender until it was safe to return.

That forced Kalli to stay behind and guard the castle and she was not happy about it. That left me and the newly trained warriors of the empire to keep our eyes open for signs of an attack. We divided up the PINGs and handed them out to volunteers in each of the four remaining villages. We had no way of knowing whether Rasputin would attack Run Dale, Joefield, Stefania, or Melvin Heights.

Since I was the only one that could teleport, I rotated between the four villages, entering World Editor Mode so I could observe the surrounding area from a bird’s eye view. Unfortunately, Rasputin and his army were nowhere to be found.

We felt Zofia’s nervousness through the group connection. She was so new to group chat that she broadcast everything. After pacing for a while, she thought more to herself than to anyone else. This is pointless. For all we know, he fled back to Earth after I shot him.

I knew how she felt. We all did. Waiting for an enemy that might never show up was mind-numbing.

I get it. If you have any better ideas, I’m all ears.

Zofia huffed, holding up a PING and cycling through hundreds of different settings. Her thoughts betrayed her as she revealed many more uses for the gun than she’d shown us. I have a great idea. Why don’t we hunt him down? Waiting for him to attack seems foolish.

The problem once again was the fact that we had no clue where he was. Suddenly, Esha’s voice chimed in. My lord, I need to see you in the City Under the Mountain. There has been a development.

“What’s wrong?” I asked immediately after exiting the portal.

Esha stood in front of a makeshift throne in the heart of her new city. She was not alone. “My lord, we have urgent news from Dabia. It appears Rasputin has killed the king. He established himself as the new Emperor of Dabia and moves to declare war on Meltopia.”

I nodded to acknowledge the revelation as I had a silent conversation with Kalli.

So that’s where he went!

Kalli sat on the throne in Celestea. That’s horrible. He’s murdered King Thomas.

But we know where he is. We can go after him now.

Kalli fidgeted with her hair as memories of our fight with Mardella fluttered through her mind. We can’t do this alone. We need help.

I sighed, realizing how true that was but still rattled after the loss of Maya.

Solitair is no help. Go tell Lavender what’s happened and see if she has any advice.

Kalli was on her feet and sprinting immediately. I’m on it! What are you going to do?

That was a good question. We were desperately short on allies.

I’ll gather any humans I can to sneak into Dabia and see if Orpheus is healthy enough to help out.

Kalli smiled at the mention of Orpheus. Had they bonded since his return to the castle? Just make sure he’s fully recovered before you tell him what’s going on.

When Kalli stepped through the portal, I turned my attention to Esha. “Gather some men. We need humans for this. We’re going to sneak into Dabia and deal with Rasputin.”

The man who’d been standing beside Esha bowed deeply. “My Lord, save us and we’ll swear fealty to you. The continent will be united under your rule. The people of Dabia stand behind you. Anything you need to get into the castle will be yours. You need but ask. That includes the army if you think it will help. We will fight for you.”

I remembered the mage army that Wendy distracted with a storm. “Whatever happened to that company of mages that was with you when I confronted Mardella?”

“My lord?” The man asked, looking at Esha for support. “The trainees under Mardella returned to the high house at the conclusion of the battle where you defeated her. I’m afraid the most we have to offer is the adventurers guild and even they are giving Rasputin a wide berth.”

“I don’t blame them,” I replied. “Perhaps they will feel differently if I speak to them.”

“Are you high level, my lord?” The man asked, looking hopeful.

I gave him a knowing smile. “Not particularly. However, I am an M, if you know what that means.”

His expression softened at the revelation that I was at least a named awakened. “Anything you need, my lord. Just ask and it will be yours.”

I returned his nod. “How about we start with your name? Mine is Melvin Murphy.”

He had that blank look on his face that someone gets when they have no clue who you are. “Ahem, I am Sir Harvey Francis, my lord. Knight of Dabia, Defender of the King. Ahem, I was I suppose.”

Name

Harvey Francis

Class

Paladin

Level

38

Affection Level

Loyal

I huffed my comment to Kalli since I didn’t want to be rude.

Some job he did of protecting the king.

Kalli chastised me for the poorly timed comment. Be nice!

My next stop was the high house, Solitair. I stepped through the door in Maya’s bathroom and emerged into her bedroom where two servants knelt by the bed. The scene reminded me of a book I read where a dog never left his master’s side after he died suddenly.

Both men looked up when I entered the room, a look of hope passing over their faces before quickly falling when they recognized me. One of the men, the one who’d guided Kalli and me through the house, stood and approached me. “It’s you. Do you have news of Lady Maya?”

Looking down at the second servant with his head bowed and eyes squeezed shut, I saw a tear stream down his cheek. The man in front of me waited patiently for an answer, but all I could say was, “You truly love her, don’t you?”

He nodded. “Of course. Just as you love the red-haired girl who’s always with you, I will be loyal to Maya until the day I die. Please tell me what happened to her. I need to know.”

I nodded, inspecting the man to see if my assumption was correct.

Name

Rumierre Beaumont

Class

Page

Level

3

Affection Level

Defeated

“I do know where she is,” I replied quietly, trying not to arouse the attention of the other man. his head shot up and the next thing I knew, both men stood in front of me at rapt attention. “Perhaps it would be best to just take you to her.”

Rumierre perked up. “Do you mean to tell us that she’s alive and you know where she is?”

I nodded emphatically. He took my hand in his and said, “I don’t care what the cost or if it means my life. You must take me to her!”

“Very well,” I replied. “Does your friend want to go?”

The other man also nodded. “Yes. I too would give my life for her.”

With nothing left to say, I instructed them to hold onto me. While Rumierre took my hand, the other man grabbed me from behind and held on for dear life as I struggled to push our essences into the ring. The three of us appeared in the ring in front of the hall leading to the cells.

“Melvin, Is that you?” Maya called from the darkness.

“Master!” Rumierre cried, practically throwing himself into the cell with the other man hot on his heels.

An echoed grunt came from the room as one of the men threw himself at my sister. I decided to give them a minute and walked over to the second cell to check on Nir Vana. “Good afternoon Nir, how are you today?”

“What do you care?” She replied in a dull voice. “I get the feeling you did not return to free me. While I still hold out hope that you will make another mistake at some point, something tells me I am the last of the prisoners you ever intend to release intentionally. That is with the exception of the one in the last cell who you incarcerated personally.”

“I’m thinking about it,” I admitted. “The problem is, you’re dangerous.”

She pressed her face against the tiny opening in her cell door. “What must I do to convince you that I’m not a threat? I’d be willing to do almost anything to get out of here. Even suffer reincarnation the normal way.”

While I wanted to help, I didn’t know how I was going to pull it off in the first place. Bodies didn’t just grow on trees. Unless… “Are you willing to submit to a contract on your core where you’ll die instantly if you use your magic on a sentient person?”

A whispered reply slipped from her lips. “As I said, anything, even my death is acceptable if it means freedom from this place.”

“Are you sure you don’t mind dying? You won’t hold it against me?” I asked the second question, feeling like a monster for what I had in mind.

“Death would be a release.” She hissed.

“Give me a second,” I whispered, walking slowly toward Maya’s cell, hoping I wasn’t about to walk in on something awkward.

While the trio was hugging and at least one of them was openly sobbing, they all had their clothes on so that was good. I cleared my throat to get their attention. “I might have an idea or two.”

Maya raised an eyebrow, pushing the two men off of her so she could make her way over to me. “What do you have in mind?”

“Well, it’s two ideas really,” I said, steeling myself for judgment and happy Kalli couldn’t hear while I was in the ring. “The first one involves me creating a body. The second is a bit creepier but I think I can use the ring on an animal. I’d let you choose what you want to be but we could capture something and I’ll trap its soul in here and release you into its body.”

“There is no way I’m letting you turn Maya into a Ruffalo.” Rumierre scoffed, placing himself between me and Maya. “That is just barbaric!”

“Now now, lover.” Maya soothed, brushing the man aside. “This is my brother you’re speaking to. Besides, if there is any hope of me holding onto life, it will come from him.”

“Do you mean to entertain this heresy?” The man sitting on the bed asked. “I don’t know that I could love a Raquirrel.”

“Come now, my pets,” Maya said with a playful smile. “Those aren’t the only animals on Gaia. Perhaps a lovely ottercock, or a porcusaurus.”

“Don’t joke, my lady.” The man on the bed begged. “I believe your brother is seriously considering this.”

“I assure you he is,” Maya countered, shooting him a savage look. “I would be disappointed if he wasn’t thinking of ways to get me out of here.”

“Take my body,” Rumierre said quietly, causing Maya to gasp. “I am nothing without you. If my flesh can please you one final time, I will gladly spend eternity in this prison.”

Maya took his hands in hers. “I could never ask you to do such a thing.”

Rumierre shook his head. “And you will never have to. I am offering myself, both my body and soul.”

I stepped outside again as the two of them started to make out. Having made up my mind, I returned to Nir. “Are you sure you want to try this? I’m sure you overheard what I have in mind. You’ll be the test subject to see if it works. I can’t promise you won’t die.”

Nir’s laugh was both melodic and terrifying at the same time. “I remember not when last I was free. Releasing my soul will grant me the freedom I’ve been longing for. In other words, I am giving you my consent to do what is necessary.”

“Give me a few minutes,” I replied, returning to Maya’s cell. “I am going to lock the three of you in here to test something.”

Seeing the three of them entwined on the tiny bed made me add a cold shower to the list of things I needed to do when I got home. With a click that echoed down the hall, I sealed Maya and her servants in her cell and left the ring.