A weak wind blows through the slightly open window leading to the outside of the palace, slow and loud footsteps of a guard and the heavy plate armor she wears along with the sheathed sword on her hip all cause an echo through the long hallway painted black.

She climbs some stairs to go on a higher floor of the palace and again begins walking through a long but still shorter hallway than before until she reaches a giant black door with strange imagery draw on it.

She pushes the door open, seeing the throne room with all the principles in a half cicle on their knee with Lucifer standing in front of his great throne.

"Principle Aisha has been killed, Asmodius is curently missing." Says the guard while going into a bowing position.

"Unlike all Principles ranked tenth in the order... Aisha was not expandable like the rest, her skills were useful and powerful, i even considered promoting her, but sadly, her potential was wasted. Though it does not matter any longer..." Lucifer speaks.

"What other tragic news have you come to bring me, soldier?"

"I have come to ask if the Principles of peace can recover after Asmodius' dissapearance."

"We will manage, the future i see is bright for us." Says the laid back voice of the Principle of enlightenment.

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He stands up and speaks again: "Asmodius is alive."

"Sit down, Baal." Azazel commands.

Baal's figure seems dignified above all others, he wears praying beads around his neck and his clothes look like those of religious monks. He looks like most other Principles with no other distinguishable features.

"SIT DOWN BAAL." Azazel commands once again in a fiercer tone than before.

"That should be enough, the child should have reached half way of river judging from his previous timings. I will not send anyone to deal with him yet." Lucifer says, "in the meantime, Azazel and Baal, you seem pretty chatty today, no? Then you will be sent to find Asmodius as a way to teach you cooperation. Now, dissapear."

Azazel and Baal nod and disperse into black smoke with the other Principles.

"You should leave as well." He tells the guard, she slowly walks out of the room and the door closes slowly behind her.

THE WIERMREST RIVER

Ezra is on his knees, looking at his hands he sees terrible second degree burns on his forearms.

He starts to think and quickly remembers Johan and the river so he runs to him as fast as his injured and tired body will allow him.

Mere minutes pass and Ezra finally meets up with Johan: "You defeated the principle?" Ezra asks.

"I should ask you the same thing, although its a lot more impressive in your case since you defeated her with a single knife."

"Yeah." Ezra says and shows him the knife.

"When will we go? There could be reinforcements, we can't fight more principles, Johan."

"I know, we won't fight any yet, if meet any we will run and hope to survive. We are so close to escape so we mustn't give up now!"

TO BE CONTINUED...