33 the TROUBLE in RESCUING the DAMSEL (1/2)

With a rasping gasp as sharp as scratching metal, she floated for about a foot from her bed. The gems embedded in her forehead, from her arms, from her chest, began to activate an intensified beam of light of almost white. The quiet foggy dusk of Nagozul slipped into chaos and confusion as the inhabitants of the city felt the dark depressing energies of Prodea's activated Amplifyers, a feeling unlike any activation they ever felt before, an activation so powerful, even the nearest neighboring village shuddered at the repulsive spine-tingling sensation akin only to ten thousand cockroaches running up and down one's body.

This is the final proof of their accusations to their Grand Princess. The final proof they need to put her into exile just for activating one of Dim'ion's abhorrent spells, but no one can put that thought into action. No one can for only the military has the power to activate their Amplifyers. Only those whom Prodea approves of can use their Amplifyers because of the Global Binding Spell and asking politely about it is out of the equation. They don't trust the Nagozulian Army anymore or where their loyalties lie, and no one wants to be made an example of. Some are whispering for a rebellion, others are waiting for their Grand Prince Artemus's small army at the North to engage her for them to take arms to fight, but ultimately all they can do is wait. They have been turned to ordinary mortals inside their own lands and no one is one bit happy about it.

”Zeba!” Prodea shrieked in her usual tone of ire. ”What the impierno are you doing with my body!?”

Zeba ran across the room shooing away the water casters present in her room, getting everyone out and then hurried to her side to help her in her weak state of removing her mourning gown in futility.

”You have died Your Highness, quite longer than you said you would've based on your contingency plans, given the circumstances, so I thought you have truly perished...”

Prodea looked around her room seeing all of those grand mourning candles burning bright, dripping their waxes, ruining her expensive red carpet.

”Zeba! I told you that in the event of my demise, you will handpick a lowly Water...”

”No!” she interrupted standing firm with serious face.

Prodea scoffed and directed her attention to her. ”NO?! Are you defying me now!?”

”I will not sacrifice another Nagozulian life to you again. Maybe the Leonus delegates can help you with that but I will not. I will never subject any Holy Sentinel to one of your Dark Arts ever again.”

Prodea's smiling face leaked her devilish fury which made Zeba shudder, afraid but not turning down her resolve. She thought that the punishments she might have to endure would be more comforting than the nightmares she's having at night and Prodea knows that now too. She knows Prodea can read minds, so she made her case perfectly clear in her head till she sprung up a question.

”Zeba, how many days have passed?”

Before Zeba can answer, Prodea's eyes widened gasping as if hyperventilating. Prodea beat her to it by scanning her mind and that number rang around her head driving her quite frantically mad.

”Forty-one days!? FORTY-ONE! What did you do!? What have you done with Nagozul Zeba!?”

”I-I-I tried to manage it a bit...”

Prodea floated in the air with her Amplifyers activated. Her eyes burned with red flashing fury as if burning. ”You managed!? You think you can even try?!”

”I'm sorry...” she said slowly backing away till she reached into a corner.

Prodea thrust her palms into Zaba's head and began reading all of what's happened in the last few days in Zeba's eyes. Zeba felt the burning hot hands searing into her forehead as if drilling her head with a corkscrew. It would've burned her skin right off the base of her skull if not because of her unique tough Daomagarian skin.

”Unbelievable!” she shrieked further after a few seconds of searching. She ran to her study, grabbed the military plans Zeba has written up in her name and began burning them in her trash bin. ”I died for three days, just three days, and you immediately resumed command of the Great Holy Nagozulian Army. In your disposal is the best army the Holy Lands can provide and yet you failed to rout those filthy trespassers but managed to ruin my good name? I sincerely doubt it if I could really leave the Holy Lands at your oh so capable hands.”

Zeba, crying in pain while inspecting her sore forehead, just slid down in that corner and let Prodea ran her rants. She just wished she never thought about Prodea's punishment. That way, at least Prodea can get creative. Any of the usual punishments will do than giving her an idea from her own nightmares. She just thought about running errands as punishment and pinned it down in her mind to bring up whenever she failed her again in the future. That will be less painful than thinking about being burned by her base element.

”Hey! Daomagar! Are you even listening?”

”H-how did you come back?” she mumbled sniffling.

”What are you muttering there? I can't hear you!”

”I said, how did you return back from the land of the living. You've been dead for three days. The casters said your heart stopped. Even your brain is not responding to any stimuli. They said your soul has been reaped and yet...”

”Oh, don't be so naïve, Daomagar! I did not assimilate those weak casters for nothing. I traded ten for my life back.”

”You what?” Zeba now shocked standing up looking at the burnt-out sapphire embedded on her shoulders she is pointing on.

”Remember when I told you about assimilating them? Well I freed ten. Hooray, right?!”

”Wh-where would they go?”

”To impierno of course. Such a silly question. It's your fault they are there. But not to worry I'm alright so you shouldn't blame yourself. Try and act as if it's a lesson you now learned. Always move forward as my father used to say. Just keep moving forward.”

”Why is that my fault!” she screamed confused and worried. ”You're the one who killed them!”

”Oh... No, no, no Zeba,” she replied smiling as if enjoying herself. ”You're the one who killed them, not me. I told you, I assimilated them. I can return them to their bodies after our objectives come into fruition. I have perfected the assimilation spell to an extent that I do not need to reap another soul so that I may escape death. But no, mmm-mm, instead you chose to listen to your pathetic conscience so look what I did. I have no choice but to let them be reaped. You can't blame me. After all, it's me or them. And my mission here on earth is not yet over. Don't you agree?”

”Y-you... you're a...”

”Stop!” she smiled wide reading her thoughts. ”Words are a funny thing, Zeba. Once spoken it can never be taken back... so I suggest you choose your words carefully from now on. I can forgive you on your little mess here. I can even forgive you for letting me rot to die without offering me some souls to assimilate as we planned. I don't know if I can still trust you with my body after what you've done but sadly I still need you for my plans to work so you should be thankful I'm not bringing vengeance upon you.

”Let's just settle this misunderstanding to a draw, now, shall we? You failed me letting me die, and I forgot to tell you about the perfection of my assimilation techniques, it's a misunderstanding, you see? That can always happen to good people. Right? Let's wipe the slate clean. After all, I died and have been reborn once more. So, what do you say?”

Zeba's gnashing teeth showed greatly on her face which enjoyed Prodea further. She ultimately gave a nod which made Prodea snicker in delight.

The loud smashing sound of the door interrupted their intense discussions in an instant with the frightened Sarram running in haste.

”Zeba! You gotta help me!”

Prodea pressed her temples hard in great dismay clearly controlling her frustration. ”I thought I told you big lug not to slam my doors again.”

”P-Prodea?” he smiled running to hug her but failed to do so because of her bitter personality giving him cruel eyes.

”Knock! Then enter! Is that really hard to remember?” She continued in reprimand.

”S-sorry... I'm just glad you're alive. You got me worried there.”

Prodea just laughed mocking which hurt Sarram leaving him to ask.

”Why? Is that hard to believe?”

”No, my dear brother. I'm sure you're relieved that I'm back here again to solve your pathetic problems once more. I think you have one right now so let's cut this short and let me hear it.”

”Great thing you're now up and about 'cause you wouldn't believe who is at the study waiting for you.”

”Hmmnn... let me guess, you're having debt problems again with other nobles and your inconceivable large sums of gold bets. Stop playing with Nagozul's gold and start acting like a real man and face your own problems. I have a lot to deal with.”

Sarram scrunched his face wanting to get back but his problems are a lot bigger today, so he let it pass by. ”It's not them. It's Kuya-Artemus.”

Prodea's eyes widened even more looking at Zeba whom she blames for her brother's visit. ”I know I said I'll let the slate be clean and wipe away your trespasses against me and of Nagozul, but if you ever tried and do something that would impair my plans I swear Zeba I'll make sure you'll pay.”

Prodea grabbed her long silk scarf and bundled it around her neck. She gracefully walked to the door and smiled at them there inside, as if instructing them to stay there, as if ordering them to be quiet, without a single word coming out of her mouth, just with her cold angry eyes that can be seen even if there's a hint of joy dangling in her lips. That's how they know she has truly returned, alive and well.

-------ooO0Ooo-------

”Prodea.” Artemus nodded as he sat there at the center waiting for her. He didn't even stand up to recognize her, an insult that she took quite seriously given her self-proclamation of being the Queen's Substitute for the time being.

”Kuya-Artemus. I sure hope you had a pleasant trip from the north. How are things there?”

”Cut the small talk Prodea,” he said in all seriousness, standing up. ”News have arrived that you are doing unholy acts against Nagozul.”

”And who might your sources be, I wonder?”

”That is none of your concern.”

”Oh, brother but it is. Accusing another noble of such disgraceful act without evidence or a credible standing witness is an upfront to our laws.” She smiled and whispered. ”Especially to your little sister. That's a big no-no.”

”I implore you Prodea with all of my heart,” Artemus bowed kneeling down in front of her which surprised her greatly. ”Stop this nonsense. For the sake of Nagozul. Stop this at once.”

”My, my. The Great Grand Prince Artemus of the house of Limor, the unbeatable, the invulnerable son of light, the successor of Bathala's Shield, kneeling down upon a lowly princess like me? Whatever have I done to deserve such a thing?”

”You have created confusion in our lands, sown discord into the hearts of Nagozulian men, created fear by putting fortresses even at the most holiest of Bathala's lands. Stop this madness. Please. I beg of you.”

”I am trying to protect Nagozul brother, if you should know.”

”By placing Daomagarians into involuntary servitude too? By putting Nagozulian lives at risk by placing the Global Binding Spell!? Is that for the benefit of Nagozul or is it about for your own benefit? I think we have different definitions of protecting Nagozul and I certainly believe that you've gone too far.”

Prodea smiled and activated her Amplifyers. Artemus sensed this and jumped back almost twenty feet away.

”What are you going to do about it? Hmm?” She smugly chuckled seeing him distancing himself from her.

Artemus looked at her with serious eyes, eyes without fear, eyes with full conviction. ”You dare activate your Amplifyer on a kneeling brother? A kneeling king? Your king? Prodea, you've become too full of yourself you're not thinking the repercussions of what you're doing.”

With his last sentence, his white diamond Amplifyer activated an intense blinding light that made Prodea stepped back a little, mumbling why her Global Binding Spell does not affect his base element.

”To tell you the truth Prodea, I came here to talk some sense on you. I tried being humble but apparently that act is unfamiliar to you. I do not wish to fight but if that's what you wish then I'll be glad to reciprocate by defending myself.”

Prodea's heart thumped louder and louder. Her eyes quiver at the sight of his magnificent elemental focus, resonating a weak, but at the same time heavy, pulse. His brother is measured with the lowest elemental essence ever recorded for a Life Elemental, but he compensates by directing all of his elemental energies to surround himself in a barrier that even the greatest of any elementals cannot penetrate. Even Daomagarians will have no luck pushing through his perfect defense. Narra himself, the greatest of the Daomagarians have tried and failed. She gulped in fright and toned down her Amplifyers and laughed. Artemus withdrew too in a quick second following her retreat.

”I'm just testing you brother. I'm checking if you've grown soft at the north.”

”No, you're not.”

Prodea felt infuriated with his tone but tried to compose herself as she found herself a way to deal with him. ”You know that someone tried to assassinate mother here?”

”I highly doubt that Prodea.”

”Oh? But that's not what the other people here are thinking now is it, Brother.”

”Keep repeating that in your head and it will become the truth. We all know this is what you do.”

”But they are not lies. Even the Generals have found evidence all over Nagozul about that radical group that has been targeting us aiming to destroy our Kingdom. The group of that Shadow Fiend, Yiv. Surely you're not taking their side?”

”What's this now Prodea. One of your convoluted conspiracy theories? Stop wasting my time.”

”I'm sure that whoever tried to assassinate Mother has an informant in the cotton village.”

”You mean the now Seventh Fortress?”

”Yes, but most importantly, the fort that has been attacked by this Yiv and his group - The Night Hunters, as they would like themselves to be called. They're a bunch of misfits composed of a rogue Elf, a great beast, a Nagozulian and two Daomagarians. Would you know someone who associates to those three?”

Artemus frowned standing firm, looking at her still in seriousness. ”Where are you getting at? Do not run around in circles like a coward. If you're going to accuse me of something, then say it to my face directly.”

”Well, it's going to be hard to explain but I do know about you associating with Elves, with the great beasts, and even have a Daomagarian wife that is the direct descendant of the Great Daomagar. It seems to me that plotting to kill the Queen and usurping the throne, eliminating all of us here, creating confusion and then saving the day would be your most likely goal.”

”I have no such dreams Prodea. Why would I need that when the throne is rightfully mine? I'm just humoring you on this little game we're playing because of my respect to mother. If not because of her, I could've easily thrown you to exile already.”

”Oh!? Well if that's the case, then why are you harboring the Cotton Villagers up in the North?”

Artemus' eyes of shock made Prodea smile a bit. This is the ace she's been holding for quite some time and she's rather happy about the results.

Artemus pondered well as to why she knew that when they have made the incident a secret. The thought of having a mole in the Citadel disturbed him but he cannot let this feeling leak out in front of her, so he replied. ”We are not prejudicial to all of the Holy Sentinels. If they come for us in need of aid, we're more than willing to help them out, especially if they are harassed and have been unjustly sentenced to be executed based on a farcical trial you're running.”

”Well, that... or it's just that you're harboring them from real justice. See, they're convicted of helping the assassins try and kill the Queen, our own mother.

”Making them stay at the North gives the idea that you're protecting them from the crimes they've committed, which gives the assumption that you're the ones behind it and you're protecting your goons from revealing your abhorrent plot against us, your own family, against Nagozul. Have you no heart?”

”That's not true.”

”I'm not saying it is, but to everyone, it kind of is... You're good with logic, please explain to me how the notorious Yiv attacked the Seventh Fortress, liberated all those convicts and then they end up in your end of the backyard seeking your refuge. This sound a bit like Yiv, and the Goody Grand Prince are up to something behind the curtain now is it?”

”Stop and listen Prodea,” he said indifferent about her plans to entrap him. ”I do not care about your weird delusional concoctions of truth. Bathala is the truth and if you're not with the truth then you are against Bathala. Anyone against Bathala is the enemy of Nagozul, and all of our brothers and sisters in the Holy Lands.

”I'm giving you six months. Six months to dismantle all those fortresses and everything you've been building so far, to rid those Leonus people here, to pay all those Daomagarian Workers their dues then send them home free. In those six months, I will wait at the North. I will toil myself day and night to eradicate all of the Pusakal stuck there and will wait for that time to pass until I return here. In that span of time I really hope all of those requests be complied to.”

Prodea scoffed mocking. ”Are you seriously...”

”I'm not done yet!” he shouted with a reverberating full voice that stroke fear even in her proud heart. ”After my entire request is complete, I will visit here once again. You will release Mother from wherever hole you put her in, you will relinquish your title, be an ordinary low-ranking seer or noble or whatever you prefer, and then I will forgive you. We will have a normal dinner as a family, and we will forget everything that has happened. Comply with my wishes, as the first born, as your King, as your Grand Commander and I will spare your life.”

”Spare my life?” she shrieked angry with her shaking voice, a voice that can only be aptly compared to a squealing spoiled girl having her tantrums. ”You dare talk to me that way?”

”I am the Rightful King of Nagozul. All of this charade is just an act of generosity and respect to Mother as I have promised my Father. Father does not want me to reign still because he loved Mother so much that he's afraid she'll be devastated if she got placed to be an ordinary noble after reigning for a long long time. You know how she is if she doesn't get what she wants.

”Do not mistake my compassion to Mother as weakness. Do not mistake my silence to this whole affair as my permission for you to desecrate this Holy Lands.”

He smirked as if looking down upon her, signaling the end of their discussion and quickly teleported behind her. In a blink he moved past her like a dash but without actually disrupting the air particles around him. She knows because she is partly a Wind Blower. She stood there all frozen witnessing Artemus' awesome powers as he opened the door to exit.

”Oh, and Prodea,” he added almost chuckling. ”I do not care if you're my sister. Do not ever, ever, threaten me again or I swear to Bathala, I will put you down for good.”

With his final words and a gentle clink on the door, she was left there to ponder on how she can ever defeat his brother, the invulnerable Artemus. An idea so troubling it gave her nightmares in broad daylight just thinking about the thought of it.

-------ooO0Ooo-------

”Let me say thank you again for joining us here, Iyom,” Reus whispered as the five stopped on their low crouching, waiting for the guards to pass by. ”It really means a lot that you're helping out. Not just because of your continued supply of ammunitions to Yosh... uh- I mean Aether, but because you believe in our...”

”Yeah, yeah, quit it Kuya-Reus,” Yosh tapped, waving for him to go forward. ”One more compliment and his head will turn to an exploding watermelon. We wouldn't like that happening, now would we?”

The twins slightly smiled and Iyom found that to be funny too. He's not used to that kind of compliment especially from a mortal whom he regarded as his mortal enemy just months ago. He agrees it's going too much, Reus's deep appreciation of his help, but he's getting rather embarrassed by it now. He's not the type of person who wants to be frequently glorified. Good thing Yosh stopped him there, or else he might reveal his blush and stop him himself.

It took only but thirty minutes till they were completely out of the Snake Tunnels, the Palace's creepy brick-walled maze that Yosh is still afraid of even after five long years. The party tried their best to be stealthy, avoiding every guard, at every post, at every corner. A pretty weird positioning considering they're guarding a maze no one dares to enter. It's too excessive it's practically inefficient since patrolling guards always bump into each other and make idle small talks at that lazy morning which provided them more cover to move about undetected.

Iyom originally asked to help them transmit anywhere in the Palace grounds but to his surprise, he found out that there are heavy Magicks inside preventing anyone of his kind from transmitting. An unfortunate but expected roadblock since he is indeed a Dwendell and his kind went to war with the brother's ancestors a thousand years ago. Clearly it is a reasonable Magick defense that he should've thought beforehand but has forgotten at that brief moment to remember.

Scaling the hundred feet wall to climb to Illyriah's chambers at the East Wing is a challenge too, a challenge that only Reus unfortunately recognized since the four are somewhat experts at this field. Iyom made the landing first followed by Kayzar who is almost silently teasing Karus's slow climb being fourth. They waited for about twenty minutes for Reus to show up till they huddled together in the balcony to regroup.

”Wow, Kuya-Reus. If a turtle can learn to climb, he'll still be faster than you.”

”I'm sorry Yosh, I do not share your monkey-like abilities.”

”Hey!” reacted Iyom offended because he arrived first.

”Oh, I'm sorry Iyom. You're excluded in the reference. It's a given you'll be arriving first. You're a Dwendell after all and it'll be a shame if Kayzar beats you to it.”

Kayzar just smiled not joining in on their little talk. Clearly, he could've jumped and reached the landing because of his newfound propulsion techniques that he refined in his training at the veil, but he doesn't want to show it off, not yet anyway.

”So, should we knock now?” Karus whispered tapping them all, pointing inside to where Illyriah is, crying at the edge of her bed.

”Yeah, yeah, yeah. Knock on it Karus.” Reus ordered pushing him which he refused to do.

”Oh, no I won't. You knock. I'm not going to be the one who speaks to her first. I don't know anything about crying girls and I don't want to start a trial and error experiment now.”

Reus looked at Kayzar which he completely ignored, looking very far away as if he didn't notice his ordering gaze. Yosh did the same so he leered at Iyom.

”Aw, impierno no, Reus. I don't even know her. Quit stalling and knock already!”

Iyom pushed him to the window that instead of a knock, a loud thump echoed inside as if a fast flying bird hit her window. Illyriah stood up and dried her tears and immediately went to the balcony but noticed them all huddled up altogether crouching as she walked half-way.

She opened her window and beamed her beautiful smiling face of relief at them. She looked at them but it's mostly for Reus who is awkwardly smiling, fixing his spectacles, as usual. Illyriah mouthed her thank yous and rushed to hug Reus tightly. It has been a week and a half since she sent her letter and she's worried it didn't reach them in time.

All of them entered the room with Illyriah still hugging Reus at the balcony, crying and sniffling. Yosh would've complained about their reception, with Illyriah ignoring them and focusing her attention only to Reus where in fact they all underwent a lot of trouble to be there for her. They travelled two days without rest just to get to where they are now and all they got was a kind look of relief, but he didn't say a word. The awkward look on Reus face as he stood there all stiff is enough for him. In fact, the four has been silently choking their guffaws looking at him asking them what to do with his curled brow and shaking smile. His hands move about at her back, not touching but appearing as though he is patting the air around her. A truly amusing thing to witness they thought, one that may only be seen once in a lifetime - or a few times more depending on when their brother learns to deal with women.

”Uhm... Illyriah? Please come inside and talk about your problem with us here...” Karus mumbled remembering the walking soldiers outside. Her sobbing is gradually increasing, and he doesn't want to attract any unwanted attention directed at them.

”That's pretty insensitive, don't you agree?” Yosh whispered tapping Karus which he just shrugged. It's better to be insensitive than to worry about the problem they'll be facing later on with the soldiers. After all it'll be very hard to escape once they are all riled up.

Illyriah weakly walked clinging at Reus's side towards her bed. She sat there trying to maintain her steady breath, trying to douse her already tear-soaked handkerchief further. Reus pulled his and gave it to her, seeing her having the trouble of ridding the tears that she has been spreading all over her face because of her wet napkin.

She smiled and said her thank you with a broken voice almost as if crackling. Illyriah is not like this at all. She's the strongest noble they know. She's shy and gentle but she's not going to cry over something too trivial. It must really mean that she's having troubles that are beyond the normal person's threshold. And that pushed Karus to speak up, wanting to his feed the growing curiosity and concern within him.

”Who's bothering you? Tell us who and we'll put a stop to them immediately. Is it Gantee? Is he harassing you again?”

”Oh, no, no. I'm sorry, Grand Prince Karus, Grand Prince Kayzar, Grand Prince Yosh, especially you Grand Prince Reus, and...” he looked at Iyom and just smiled, ”...and you, handsome sir. I'm sorry if I'm such a wreck today that I didn't even bothered to fix myself. It's a behavior unbecoming a lady.”

”Oh no, you look beautiful. Except for those puffy eyes...” Yosh quipped which the three, even Iyom, reacted by looking at him with reproach. Yosh just laughed and continued his statements, wanting to fix what he just said. ”...not that puffy eyes are not in fashion, indeed they are. Actually, I've noticed that I need to have puffy eyes too. I think that would make me look trendy.”

Karus just held Yosh's hand and shook his head smiling. Yosh understood him so he pulled his lips and shut it just nodding seriously.

”What happened Illyriah?” Reus asked.

”Well... I don't know how to say this... but I think you four are the only person I can trust to tell about my father...”

”What about him?” Kayzar entered almost figuring what is happening.

”Did our Aunt do something to him?” Karus started beating her to it, clearly anticipating her hesitant words. She's the only one that could make her life miserable. She made their lives miserable too so he could relate.

Illyriah broke crying again for a couple of seconds till she nodded.

”What happened to him?” Reus said.

”Well, they threatened us two months ago. They said they needed the Hishma. But he wouldn't give in... so they fought and ultimately cursed him with the Sleep of Death... and then she made me take his place as the ruler of our lands in Hishma. She's taking him ransom there for me to do her biding. If I don't do what she wants, her Super Mortal will tear my father's limbs apart and they said they will feed it to the fishes in the ocean...”

The four brothers felt chills ran around their spine, clenching their fists in frustration and anger. They didn't know Prodea is capable of such inhumane actions making them reevaluate their perception about her. She sobbed for a couple of seconds and then she continued.

”I'm sorry. I don't want for you to get mad at the Grand Princess Prodea. She is your aunt and I'm sorry if I'm tarnishing her good name, but I just want my father to be safe and alive. I don't even mind being betrothed to a foreign mortal but please I beg of you, save my father.”

”Wait what?” Karus snapped almost angry. ”Kindly repeat that last part. It seems as though I heard Prodea betrothed you to a foreign mortal?”

”Indeed, Grand Prince Karus. I'm sorry but she been pushing me to marry the Earl Eryk Caden Shade of Leonus. She said it will give our two nations a strong bond. If I do not participate in this deal, my father will be torn asunder. I have accepted this fate, but I just don't want him to get hurt. I don't know what the Grand Princess is capable nowadays. She can back out on our agreement anytime soon.”

Reus clicked his tongue in anger almost activating his Amplifyers till Kayzar tapped him to his senses.

”Hey, Kuya-Reus. Stop piling your anger in and just breathe out. If you activate that here, someone might notice. We'll be in trouble if that happens.”

”That's it, you're coming with us to the north,” Reus commanded.

”Wait... the wedding is at the next day. I'm afraid it's a little too late. I'm sorry to be such a burden but I cannot leave here. If I do then...”

”What!?” Karus shouted which earned him a slap at the nape from Kayzar giving him time to remember to whisper before he continued. ”Are you kidding me? You could've given us the problem at hand in the letter. We could've gotten here first instead of waiting for the ever late Yosh.”

”Hey! I tried my best to get at your super-secret training ground as fast as possible!”

”I'm sorry but I'm afraid I can only relay two words. You see, I'm not permitted to leave this room and I can only give one letter at a time to my trusted handmaid who is giving me my meals. I have to fashion my food in a secret code from the leftovers so that they can't catch me. Then, it's hard to send a letter to Piks since he's always away so I have to send the message to the north first so that they can reroute the message back to where you guys were. Time really is not on my side here even though time is the only friend they allow to accompany me.”

”Oh... I'm sorry,” Karus mumbled looking down. ”I didn't know you're having such a hard time here.”

”So, we have to get your father before getting you out here.” Reus pondered fixing his skewed glasses.

”Yes, this is a problem indeed Kuya-Reus,” Yosh shook his head thinking deep. ”We can't take her since they'll kill Uncle Sayed. If we save Uncle Sayed there, then we risk losing her here. So, someone should be here, and someone should save Uncle Sayed but sneaking out and going there is going to take at least three days nonstop, and that's by dashing.”

”That, I can help out!” Iyom entered smiling wide. ”Your family, my dear Illyriah, is a personal friend of our great ancestor. Hishma, Nagozul's cousin, is one of our close friends and when he outlined the hills, we helped them sculpt the area, checking where the strongest foundations are on those slopey hills. Even the Palace where his generations are residing is a product of the Dwendell people's hard work. Get me outside these creepy Magick-infested walls and I can transmit you there instantaneously.”

”Y-you mean, you're a Dwendell?”

”But of course, milady. I am sorry that I haven't introduced myself. I am the unrestricted Dwendell Iyom, Son of the Great Dwendell King Kyrin the Sharpshooter. Any enemy of Prodea is my friend and anyone Prodea hurts is going to receive my help.”

”Thank you great Dwendell but I'm afraid even you can't help me here.”