(Lower your volume just a bit when you have the music going in the background. It can be a bit loud)

Sophie's knee bounced as she waited on an uncomfortable rock, Ricin waiting at her feet, staring at the staircase Mahe previously descended. Endre was waiting politely, tried to make occasional conversation here and there, but Sophie never really replied.

Sophie sorted through what Maha's powers could possibly be. Sophie now knows she can't move earth itself, but how does that explain what she did at Egypitnat's palace?

Sophie also was sorting through what exactly she should be doing after this. It is no secret the Elders want to move forward with their plan to integrate with the Vatarian cities and overthrow the Senate. But that isn't what she should be focusing on right now; there is a hostile party that will not hesitate to use the time of a power transfer to their advantage.

"What are you thinking my Heiress?" Endre asked.

Sophie's leg didn't stop bouncing, "Don't call me that."

Endre sighed in defeat, "Alright. Amalia, may I know what you are thinking?"

Sophie glared at the carved stairs Maha went down with Byzanthar, "I'm trying to figure out a plan on what to do."

Endre stiffened, "You haven't already made one?"

"I've been a little busy, discovering about some ancient demon that wants to take over the world and learning about my nation's lost queen tends to take up a lot of time." Sophie retorted.

Sophie took a deep breath, "Have you ever heard of someone Mephala?"

All the color in Endre's face drained, the Vatarian going still. Sophie nodded to herself, running a hand down her face, "I'll take that as a yes-"

"Don't speak his name! Do you wish to rain his wrath upon us?" Endre hissed.

Sophie rolled her eyes, "Gods, he is like Voldemort to you guys." She rolled out her wrists, wanting the warmth of her gauntlets, "Maha is going to be the deciding factor. Any information she is willing to share from Byzanthar, and then together, we are going to decide."

Endre wanted to argue, but by the tenseness of Sophie's shoulders and the growl coming from Ricin's throat, he decided against it.

It was only a few more minutes before Maha gently padded up the stairs. Sophie stood at the sight of her, her eyes widening at the sight of tears running down her friend's cheeks.

"Ah, my heiress, what did you learn from Byzanthar-" Endre didn't get to finish. Sophie pushed past him and hugged Maha tight, Maha shaking against her body. Waiting in the staircase was Byzanthar, who looked at Maha with sad eyes. Sophie glared at the god, but Byzanthar's deep voice entered her head. It was the sound of rocks tumbling down the mountainside or a sleeping forge.

"Watch over her for me, won't you Assassin?" Byzanthar asked through her mind.

Sophie blinked at the god but nodded.

Byzanthar smiled and disappeared into his forge.

Sophie held Maha for a few moments longer before quietly asking, "Are you alright?"

Maha's fingers gripped onto Sophie's fur cloak when she nodded, finally looking up and wiping at her snotty nose. Sophie looked over her shoulder at Endre, "Come on, let's go back to the temple."

Endre looked like he wanted to interrogate Maha, but Sophie's eyes flashed gold. Her Pancras form slowly breaking through again.

The Vatarian made the right decision and began to lead them back to Kynareth's temple.

Sophie and Maha sat in the temple's library, hot cups of tea in their hands. Ricin sat at their feet, his tail mindlessly shuffling as he struggled to find sleep.

Sophie hasn't said a thing, letting Maha adjust. But they needed to make a plan.

"You can tell me anything you are comfortable with." Sophie started.

Maha stared into her tea, her tears no longer trailing, but her cheeks were still wet, reflecting the white flurry outside.

But Maha took a shuddered breath, "He was kind. But the things he said less so. Things I needed to hear, but things he didn't want to say."

Sophie stayed quiet.

Maha continued, "He told me about my mother and father. T-They, um," Maha bit her cheeks, "They are no longer with us."

Sophie didn't know what to do, and she whispered, "How did they pass?"

"A bandit hold up on the border of Avrima. Only a few years after I was left at the temple."

"Maha, I'm so sorry." Sophie whispered.

Maha shook her head, "I don't know why I'm so upset to be honest. They weren't my parents, not like my fathers at the temple. They simply birthed me, but were too much of cowards to raise me. But, I don't know, my heart still aches from it." Maha took a sip of her tea. Sophie had a feeling Maha was upset about something else, not just her parents, but she did not pry.

"Byzanthar answered all my questions, he understood why I had so many. I know about," Maha lowered her voice, "Mephala, and Queen Kassandra."

Maha sat further back in her seat, "Is it true Queen Kassandra is a lost queen of Inalia? And she still lives in the Royal Crypt?"

Sophie nodded, "That is who I met when I traveled to the top of the mountain."

"So, you know about the artifacts then?" Maha asked.

Maha was supposedly going to reforge the artifacts so Mephala could actually be killable.

"Yeah, I do."

Maha tapped her finger against her glass, her eyes tracing the rim of her glass.

"Byzanthar created those artifacts once the Gods realized what Mephala was up to. Mephala was in the mortal realms and the gods were having trouble figuring out where and who he was. So when Byzanthar sent down his artifacts, they would naturally seep out his power so that the gods didn't need to kill him, he would be weak enough that one of the mortals could kill him. But Mephala figured out their plan, and started to inhabit mortals in order to hide from the artifacts, and over such a long time, the artifacts are now fragile and are beginning to break."

Maha looked at her hands, at the anvils adorning them, "But Byzanthar taught me how to fix them, to reforge them." Maha still released a huff, "But we still don't know who else Mephala is possessing. We know Kassandra, and she is holding the bulk of him. But if Mephala leaves Kassandra, he can enter the two other bodies he is inhabiting, Egil's children? And Byzanthar made it clear it seems at least one of them is in the Neverseen. The artifacts aren't ready to weaken him yet, we wouldn't stand a chance. And Byzanthar made it clear we need to have a steady nation before we can set out to find these things."

Sophie nodded, "Kassandra and Kynareth said the same to me." Sophie looked to the flurry of snow outside, biting her cheek, "I say you and I return to the Guild, take back Egyptinat and finally come clean about all of this. Once everything has settled down, we can begin our search for Mephala and the artifacts."

Maha thought for a moment, before nodding. "I agree. Sanaa said this is one of the mountain peaks in Cariana, one of the smaller islands. We go through Cariana and back to Inalia since Ricin is still too weak to make the trip himself. From there we can take back Egyptinat with Arsinoe."

A plan was becoming clear between the two of them, but Sophie still had to mention something.

"Kassandra said that I should be building an army. Or at least something. She made it clear the Assassins aren't going to be enough. We have skill, a lot of it, but barely any numbers." Sophie whispered.

Maha shook her head, "An army would be too loud, especially with the Senate so nervous. They would think we are going to try to occupy Inalia. But I agree with Queen Kassandra, we are going to need more Assassins. More of a presence. Or something at least!"

Sophie opened her mouth to ask about Maha's powers but froze at the sound of a creaking floorboard. Ricin perked up, glancing around the library. Sophie glanced at the door, where the shadow of someone listening to their conversation peeked through the crack.

Sophie glanced at Maha, who saw it as well. But Maha already figured out who it was as she mouthed, "The Elders,"

Oh, fuck. They aren't going to be happy about Sophie and Maha leaving.

Sophie sprinted from her seat, the shadow behind the door disappearing down the hall. Sophie ripped open the door, her feet skidding as she chased after the culprit. Sophie turned through the archway, spying the tip of a skirt disappear through the other archway at the end of the room. Sophie sprinted after them, grabbing a steak knife from the dining table as she ran, tucking it into her sleeve.

The spy ran up into an exposed hallway that would normally take stairs to enter, Sophie glaring at the shadow disappearing further from her. But the hallway had empty archways that held various plants and decor. Once upon a time, Sophie would've stopped or hesitated, taking the long way up the stairs and through the hallway. But Sophie now only hastened her speed, and jumping at the six-foot difference and held onto the ledge, swinging into the hallway. The plants crashed around her, their pots shattering on the floor, but Sophie had cut the chase in half.

And then they came into view.

Sophie growled as she grabbed onto the woman's tunic from behind, the woman screaming when Sophie slammed her into the wall.

The woman, this spy? Was nothing but a maid.

And she cowered when Sophie held the steak knife to her throat, the red juice from the steak not yet dry on it. It mimicked blood in a way that made the maid squirm even more.

"P-Please-"

"Tell me what you were doing listening to our conversation." Sophie hissed, the blade pressed right up against the woman's throat.

"T-The Elders... they wanted a few maids to keep an eye on you. They wanted to make sure you were going to do what they say and-and," Tears dripped down the woman's cheeks, "Please don't kill me."

Sophie's blade glinted as caressed it down the woman's cheek, "And you are going to tell them?"

The maid aggressively shook her head, "No, no, no, please I won't tell them. I won't cross you-" The maid blubbered, but turned to the doorway at the end of the corridor.

"Amalia!" Iphi barked. Sophie went still, slowly turning to look at the Spartan.

Iphigenia and Sanaa waited at the threshold.

"Let the poor woman go Amalia, you've scared her plenty." Sanaa sighed. With no surprise in her voice or face.

"Did you send her?" Sophie asked Sanaa.

"No, Endre did. That is what we were coming to warn you about."

Warn. They were coming to warn her. Sophie's eyes drifted to Iphi, her suspicion evident as her lip curled.

"I'm not in on this plan, Amalia. I promise you." Iphi whispered. Sophie felt a few moments pass before she let go of the maid's dress. The maid fell into a pool on the floor in front of Sophie, incoherently crying in fear.

She looked to Sanaa and Iphi, and Sanaa merely said, "You better listen to Amalia. Her threat still stands."

The maid gasped, picking up her skirt as she dashed away, her sobs disappearing into the dark hallways. Sophie held the steak knife in a tight grip, not moving even when she heard Maha slide up behind Amalia.

"Why did Endre send spies after Maha and I?" Sophie asked.

"The Ancient Vatarians are tired Amalia, and though Iphi and I understand you have other thigns to focus on, Endre and the rest of Elders want to return to their cities. They have been isolated for so long that their priorites have become... different than what is best for everyone." Sanaa explained. Sophie's gaze slid over Iphi, "And why are you not with them?" Sophie asked.

The Spartan stiffened, tightly gripping the pommel of her sword, "I was at first. But, after hearing what has been happening below the mountain, beyond our little civilization? I realized we can wait a bit longer, for the safety of everyone. The heiresses have different priorities, sent by the gods. Who are we to question that?"

Sophie and Maha spared each other a glance, and Sanaa continued, "Whatever the gods wanted you here for, you have done it. If your plan isn't to do what the Elders want, then you need to leave. Now."

Sophie's eyes widened, but Maha whispered, "Where are we? Which island?"

"The tip of the penisula, the Island of Marta. Is your dragon strong enough to fly back to Inalia?" Iphi proposed.

"No, Maha believed he could possibly get us to one of the other islands and we can travel back to Inalia by boat." Sophie whispered.

"Then you do that. The closest island that does trade and commutes is the Island of Hyda, run by High Lady Nyoka." Sophie froze at Nyoka's name, her head pounding. She hasn't seen Nyoka since she was a kid, before the Fall of Inalia even. Something happened last time she was with her, something Sophie just couldn't get her head around.

Sophie looked to Iphi, "I promise we aren't forgetting about you. We just-" Iphi held up a hand, "I understand. Just come back for us when you can? Please?"

Sophie smiled, "I promise."

Iphigenia nodded, and Sanaa smiled at both Maha and Sophie, her hands on her cane.

"You should leave. Iphi and I will be fine. Your things are being held in the barracks." Sanaa kindly whispered. Sophie and Maha quickly hugged Sanaa and Iphi, and began back towards the library.

"I will steal back our things. Ricin's saddle should be somewhere near the basement. Bring him and saddle him up, I'll meet you down there. From there we fly to Hyda." Sophie explained. Maha nodded, giving her hand a squeeze before turning right down the hallway. Sophie logically decided the barracks were the small building right off the side of the temple that she saw coming back down from the crypt.

Sophie went to the temple's main foyer, where priests and priestesses tried to look normal when they stole a glance at her. Sophie just smiled at them, "I misplaced my glove when I came down from the peak, I think it's somewhere in the snow."

Sophie lugged the massive doors open, her large muscles struggling with them. She slipped out, tightly closing the door behind her, and immediately snapped a branch off the nearby push outside the temple. She began to sneak towards the barracks, using the branch to brush her footprints behind her. She soon arrived at the small building, noting a wine cellar door to the basement beside the building. Sophie hissed at the lock securing the door together, knowing her lock picks were probably inside the building she was trying to break into!

Sophie tugged and pulled at the lock, growling at it. She felt the metal get hot under her grip.

"You stupid thing, come on!" Sophie hissed, pulling on it harder. But then, the metal got hotter, way too hot. Sophie gasped as the lock melted in her hands, sliding easily into the snow below with no burns on her hands.

Sophie stared at the small flickers of lightning adorning her palm, her hands alight with enough lightning that was hot enough to melt the lock.

Tezca told her only she could win her powers back from Kynareth. Maybe she was starting to win.

Sophie threw open the doors, silently sneaking in. She carefully walked down the wood stairs, discarding her fur cloak behind some barrels. It was a beautiful cloak, but it was too heavy, she wouldn't be as successful in it. But Sophie made a note to buy a fur cloak when she got home.

Sophie shuffled behind the wine barrels when two guards came down the stairs, pulling off their helmets after a hard day's work. Sophie slyly followed them, peeking past the wooden archway and spotted a gilded iron chest sitting on a table at the back of the room.

But there were at least seven guards in there; it was their barracks after all. If they saw her sneaking around, they would definitely raise alarms, heiress or not.

Sophie's mind raced for a distraction to get them away from the chest, but the gods decided to bless her that day when another guard came down the stairs, "Guys, Jesse is going double or nothing against Circe in poker upstairs!"

Almost all the guards stampeded upstairs, except one, who was too engrossed in his book to notice his comrades leaving or the sick poker game going on upstairs.

But one was easier than seven.

The minute the last of the goons went upstairs, Sophie slid into the room, slowly approaching the guard. His back was turned to her and couldn't even react when Sophie jumped him. Just like her father taught her when she was young, she wrapped her right arm around his neck, using her left arm to hold it tight. The guard tried to fight, but Sophie was too strong for him, pushing against his windpipes. But he was still loud, and Sophie was getting anxious.

"Come on, time to go to sleep!" Sophie impatiently hissed at him. The guard fought for a few more moments, but he soon slunk against Sophie, unconscious.

"Phew, alright." Sophie said, wiping her forehead. She snatched his keys off his belt and flipped through the keys, matching one of them to the chest.

She unlocked the stupid thing and found all of her and Maha's stuff, in all of its glory. Her amulet rested on the top, no worse for wear. Sophie smiled as she took it in her hands, sliding it over her neck and shoving everything into her arms. Her golden dress was nothing but scraps now, which was a real shame, Sophie had to admit she had grown fond of it. Plus, Ruy couldn't stop staring at her in it, so, you know... she wanted another one.

She shoved the guard's body under one of the beds with her foot and ran back towards the trap door, up and out of it right as the guards tottered back downstairs.

With her arms full, Sophie skidded through the back door and down the stairs, going down and down until she finally hit the basement. It was a massive dank room, a couple of strewn barrels here and there. A large door was rusted shut, most likely used for supply shipments back when this place thrived.

Maha was grunting with the effort of getting it open, barking Avriman curse words at the door.

"How's it going down here?" Sophie asked.

Maha growled with a final push of the lever, but it remained unmovable. She put a hand over her forehead, "This isn't working."

"Clearly." Sophie shoved all of their things into Ricin's saddle and looked at the lever.

"Well, shit." Sophie cursed, observing the rusted handle. Ricin was getting impatient, awkwardly pacing around the basement.

"Maybe we could-"