Orb stared at Themis from the room’s corner. “Okay, I have to admit, I’m confused as heck. What happened to your arm? It looks like someone shot you with a gun that uses dungeon cores as bullets, and you just left them in afterwards!”

Charlie swallowed, staring at the dungeon cores embedded in Themis’ arm. “You’re like me…” he said.

Orb went quiet and rotated to face Charlie. He didn’t say anything.

Themis looked away from Charlie and studied his own arm. “Your power is much more natural than my own. This is the result of many years of research. Behind the successful integration of each of these dungeon cores lies dozens of failures. But my work is too important to quit, and so I preserver.”

“What exactly is your work?” Merlin asked as he moved to join them from the bench. The others, Zephyr, Vetica, Bleedy and Mousifer, weren’t far behind the conman. This was too big of a revelation to simply move on.

Themis sighed. “I suppose I shouldn’t have expected to just go back to training after showing you all this. I’ll explain, but first, have any of you ever heard of a Vessel before?” he asked.

Merlin squinted and turned to look at Charlie. “Didn’t you mention—”

“Yeah!” Charlie said, his face lighting up. “When I was inside the Nae Glera, the dungeon core said something about turning me into a vessel. It wanted to turn me into a snatcher limbling thing and said it thought I was a human that could serve as its vessel! But for some reason, it didn’t work, not that I’m complaining!” Charlie froze. “Wait, maybe it was because of the Ageus System! The dungeon core had wanted to use the Nae Glera’s power to make me older. But I got a notification that said the ability was denied!”

Orb floated over. “So, it turns out this unique system really saved you back there, then. If you’d been a normal kid, it might’ve worked.” Orb turned to face Themis. “So, now that you know we have heard of them, care to explain what the heck a vessel is?” he asked.

Themis nodded. “Often the phrase means a beast or hex beast that a dungeon core can fuse with. I don’t believe the Nae Glera is a good example of this. Once a creature becomes a vessel, the process is irreversible. At least according to modern understanding. It’s believed to be impossible for a human to serve as a vessel to a dungeon core. My research aimed to challenge that. I wanted to develop a greater understanding regarding dungeon cores and how they operate. Something that isn’t possible in traditional dungeon studies.”

Merlin held his hands up. “Wait, you’re not saying that you’ve become a vessel…right?”

Vetica’s eyes widened at the implication. She stared at Themis’ arm, wondering herself.

Themis sighed. “No. My connection with the cores is limited. You’ve noticed me use orders: shift, seal, and command, for instance. Each of these seven dungeon cores is responsible for one aspect of my powers. Shift offers control of the dungeon. Seal allows me block off passages and doors, and to reopen them as well. Command grants me authority over the beast within the dungeon. Normally, a single dungeon core could do all of these things on its own. But I have limited authority over these cores, so I am unfortunately limited to assigning each only a single function.”

Charlie fell back and sat in the dirt. He’d wondered how Themis could control the dungeon, but he’d never imagined something like this. Did Richard know about this? Was that the reason that he sent Charlie to Arcadeya?

“Is your research something that can be replicated?” Vetica asked. She stared at the floor. “Something like this would have…implications. Charlie has only scratched the surface of his power and even then, he’s formidable. If something like this could be granted to others at will, then…”

Themis looked over at Zephyr, who moved to float by his side. “All of this is only possible because of my interface. On my own, the research would’ve failed. But luckily, Zephyr’s original master was able to pass him onto me. I can’t do much. Zephyr is my conduit. The powers that I use, the orders I give, all of them are filtered first through Zephyr and then relayed to the cores. Without him, I’d still be in the capital, begging for someone to fund my research.”

There was movement at the door. “We’d still be in the capital begging for funding,” a man called out.

Charlie froze. It was the hairy creature they’d seen lying on the table of the lab. The white dungeon core was still embedded firmly in the creature’s chest. The furry man was about five feet tall, with legs that bent inward a bit. He looked ready to spring forward at a moment’s notice. His nose seemed more like a snout. Heck, his entire face was closer to that of a wolf than a human.

Merlin ducked behind Vetica for cover. She rolled her eyes in disgust.

Themis laughed. “That is true, friend. My apologies everyone, I would’ve introduced him earlier if not for his unconscious state.”

Orb bounced up and down. “He’s a werewolf, isn’t he? Quick, bite Merlin so he can actually contribute to fights from now on!” Orb said.

Merlin bent down and picked up a ball of mud. He pressed it tightly together and then flung it toward Orb, knocking him out of the air. “See that? I’m useful enough now, aren’t I?” Merlin spat.

Orb grumbled. “When the Scalers wake up, I’m gonna feed you to them.”

Themis shot Orb a confused look. “Werewolf? I’m afraid I’m not familiar with that particular creature. You’ll have to tell me more later. This is my good friend Canano, he’s a Coyuta.”

“Ah! I’ve heard of the Coyuta. You rarely see them in Aysela, though,” Vetica said, suddenly interested in the strange wolf man.

A series of sharp breaths came from Canano. It reminded Charlie of laughter. “That’s because we aren’t often in Aysela. But Themis and I are old friends. Or so I thought before he forced a dungeon core into my chest!” He let out more of the sharp breath-laughter. He stopped when he noticed the horrified expressions on everyone’s faces. He held his paws out toward them. “Oh, I’m just joking! Sorry. Humor doesn’t translate as well when people aren’t sure whether you’re a man or a beast. I didn’t mean to interrupt.”

Themis smiled and approached the Coyuta. He leaned in, studying the white dungeon core in Canano’s chest. Themis held a hand in front of it. “Zephyr?” he asked.

“Unfortunately, it seems the process has failed. Integration was unsuccessful.”

Themis and Canano frowned. “Very well.” He turned to face Charlie and the others again. “As I was saying, a vessel is when a dungeon core finds a suitable body to inhabit and control. Though I’ve managed to fuse part of my body with these cores, I still hold the authority. For now, I’ve been referring to my current status with the term Pseudo-Vessel. Your own relationship with Orb mirrors mine with these cores. Ultimately, you are the one that holds the most authority over the dungeon, and I suspect Orb operates in the same way that Zephyr does for me. He is the filter through which you use that power.”

Charlie titled his head. “So, is that why, when Orb got sick, I needed to create a temporary core to use my powers?” he asked.

Themis waved a finger toward him. “Precisely! At least, that’s my hypothesis. But here’s the interesting thing, Charlie. If I’m able to maintain control over multiple cores at once, I believe the same could be true for you. You’ve collected three other cores, correct?” Themis asked.

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Charlie nodded. “Well, I accidentally left one with my friend Kyo. But I have the dungeon core from Sirra, and another one from Sange!” he said.

“Mhm. I’m only able to assign a single function to each of my cores, but your relationship with Orb gives you the full powers of a dungeon. So, imagine what could happen if you were able to expand your bond and gain more authority? If you could gain control over the two other dungeon cores in your possession?”

“Wait, are you saying I could add their power to mine, too?” Charlie asked, his mouth falling open.

“Precisely! But we’ll focus on that later. I suspect you’ll need to involve Parent in that. In the meantime, I have a new plan to propose. I’d like Zephyr to work with Parent privately. Parent recently took in a lot of data, and Zephyr can help him sift through it more quickly. As for you two…” Themis turned to face Merlin and Vetica. “You should go with Canano. He’ll see you to your rooms and help you get settled in. A friend of yours is waiting for you as well. Fortunately for you all, I wanted to make sure you didn’t leave town before I found the time to come and collect you. So, I stole your horse and wagon. You're lucky I did, or the knights might have got him.”

“Marvin’s okay?” Merlin asked. He let out a deep breath. “That’s a relief. Please show me where. I’m sure he’s worried about being so deep underground on his own.”

Themis tilted his head. “On his own? No, I left him with a few beasts of mine, for his protection, of course.”

Merlin’s eyes went wide. He hurried to Canano. “Please take me to my horse before he gets eaten.”

Canano laughed and headed toward the door with Merlin in tow.

Themis smiled and winked at Charlie.

Vetica hesitated before following them. “What about you two?”

Charlie raised a hand, and a pillar shot him into the air. “We’ve gotta keep training, right Themis?” he asked.

Themis nodded. “Yes, of course. We should get back to it. Don’t worry, he’ll be okay. Keep in mind you aren’t the only one who's keeping an eye on him,” Themis said.

Vetica turned and saw Bleedy nodding intently. Mousifer stood on his hind legs and saluted Vetica.

She giggled at that. “Very well, please be careful, Charlie.” She took a step toward him and patted him on the head, and then moved out of the room.

Themis crossed to his own side. “Alright, let’s begin again. We need to hone your abilities some more. Keep in mind your approach, how you think about fighting, and try to adjust quicker. It must become instinct. We’ll keep going until you can beat me. You don’t need to eat or use the bathroom, and you sleep less than most people do as well. So, there is very little to disturb us from your training.”

“What about you?” Charlie asked.

“If I’m hungry, I’ll starve. If I have to use the bathroom, I’ll hold it. If I feel the need to sleep, I’ll ignore it. All that matters is this grand experiment.”

Charlie tilted his head. “What experiment?” he asked.

Themis smiled. “Seeing just how far we can develop those powers of yours in the time we have. I expect great things.”

Brandt

On any other day, the civilians of Arcadeya would tell you it was a beautiful place.

Tonight, it was a nightmare.

Beasts roamed the streets with claws and fangs covered in blood. The blood of knights. Monstrous birds flew above in the night sky, swooping down to attack from above. The screams of the injured reverberated against houses packed too tight together. He’d been wise to evacuate these homes before sending Redrick in. It would’ve been wiser not to listen to Redrick’s request. He wanted to play hero and save Talmot himself to make up for his mistake. Brandt could understand that. A knight who couldn’t understand the urge for redemption was no knight at all. But Redrick’s shame had cost them dearly. The child and his allies had escaped.

Brandt stood at the end of the street. Broken glass and splintered wood lined the road before him. Many of these homes were already beyond repair. A large force of knights stood behind him, waited to charge forward. But he held them back. Soft footsteps approached from behind. He knew who they belonged to without turning around. “What is it, Talmot?” he asked.

“Why are you holding our reinforcements back? Our men are dying out there.”

Brandt looked over his shoulder. “How’s Redrick? And Dalys?” he asked.

Talmot swallowed. “Redrick’s a little bruised, but both of them are fine.” Talmot looked at the massacre ahead. “The others…”

Brandt sighed. “If they’re both fine, and you’re fine, then none of our men have died. Those men…” he said, pointing toward the men before them wearing the black armor of the hex knights. The struggling men who were dying to weak beasts. Men dying to fodder. “Those men were only able to enter the knighthood because the King chose them. Hex Knights are strong. They do not die so easily. If the king insists on filling our ranks with weaklings, with people who cannot survive our trials and pay the price, then the king will continue to get reports of their deaths. A plan gone wrong can still be advantageous, Talmot.”

Talmot lowered his head. “I see…I didn’t know that. But why would the king—”

“The king is a paranoid man, Talmot. He worries about the influence we have. He fears what might happen if we turned on him. The king hopes that by filling our ranks with men he knows to be loyal, one of them might rise to the top and take my place. But the king values loyalty over competency. If we allow him to fill our ranks with soldiers such as this…”

He paused, watching a bird dig its talons through the broken armor of a knight not ten feet away.

“Then the Hex Knights would become unreliable, and Aysela would crumble. Our duty is far more important than the lives of loyalist and weaklings.”

Brandt scanned the street before him. None of the men in black armor seemed to still be moving. He’d given them a chance. If they had survived, he’d reconsider his position. But every one of them that died was an affirmation. He allowed them to die here, so they didn’t cost the lives of the worthy. The creatures, now finished with weaklings, turned, and faced the force standing with Brandt. They were too weak to understand the depths of difference between their strength and Brandt’s. The depth of difference between their strength and the real knights.

Overconfident beasts were as bad as overconfident men. Both groups deserved only a single response.

Brandt unsheathed his swords.

He heard the gasps behind him. He felt the power surge through him. It wasn’t often he displayed his powers, but the unusual nature of the dungeon meant that whatever controlled it, be it dungeon core or core king, was intelligent. He knew whatever it was; it was watching.

He wanted it to know what was coming.

Brandt covered his mouth and whispered the name of his hex. A secret known only to two men. Himself, and the former leader of the knights.

The magic coursed through his body. He swung his blade forward, directly toward the mass of charging creatures.

A burst of white exploded forward from the tip of his blade and poured out like a surging wave rushing from a violent ocean.

Wings became feathers.

Flesh became ash.

War cries became pained screams.

One moment, the beasts had been ready to tear the knights apart, the next they were nothing. The houses on either side were equally destroyed. Mounds of rubble left behind in the wake of his attack. A deep scar penetrated the earth and stretched all the way to the end of the street.

There, where the scar was the deepest, something was visible beneath the pavement of the road.

Dalys walked forward and knelt in front of it. She turned and smiled at Brandt. “Looks like we found our way in. It’s only a matter of time now.”

Brandt nodded. He lifted his free hand.

A hundred knights tensed, straightening where they stood.

He threw his hands forward.

A hundred knights charged.

He closed his eyes and let his head fall backwards. The stampede of metal against pavement was a like a chorus to his ears. The sound of war.

He thought of his prey, of the abomination he had mistakenly unleashed into this world. He thought of redemption.

A hundred knights would see the child’s end.