"What class did you choose that you have such a unique tag?" Pallas practically salivated. "Also, what were your choices?"

Meera smiled. "I had choices to make one aspect stronger or another, like making my mirror attacks stronger or my chakrams. There was even a class to strengthen my healing, but I chose The Shadow Image. It gives me five shadow skill slots." His eyes widened. "Basically, I can put five skills in reserve and swap them out with my regular skills as needed."

Pallas gasped and clutched his chest. "My heart's going give out. This is unheard of."

"Lord Darthin wouldn't allow that for anyone," Brison said. "Who are you?"

Meera smiled wide. "Just a girl looking for her brother."

"But why didn't you take the class that would make your mirrors stronger?" Pallas asked. "Even the healing class would have been nice. Oh, the healing class would have been real nice. But this is something else. Do you realize you could make half a class, store it in your shadow skills, and pull it out when needed? You could have a completely different set of skills that could be handy in another situation. For example, you could have five skills geared towards one-on-one combat. Oh, the possibilities."

"Lord Darthin really would not do that for anyone, and I mean anyone." Brison stepped forward. "Seriously, who are you?"

"Okay, that's enough," the captain of the Wardens intervened. "Give her space. I'm sure you're tired, Meera."

"And hungry," she added.

"Let's get you something to eat and a good night's sleep." Melas guided her towards the shimmering exit door while Pallas flipped open his diary and jotted down something. Brison only stared at her as if trying to look into her very soul.

Meera left the destroyed training world and into the real one. It was just about dark here, with the last rays of the sun saying their farewell. Dirik, Tekton, and Zona had already left. Lexa, the Stormweaver Warden, looked out the window at the clear night sky.

The aroma of the warm meal reached her, and she was drawn to it like a moth to a flame. She and Melas had their meal together in silence, which was just how she wanted it. After the meal, she figured it was time she checked on the Warlord.

She found her way to the washroom again, and someone must've done something because it smelled nasty, but unfortunately, there was nowhere else where she could talk privately.

Her seal shivered in the air over her head for a long time, but no one answered. It took four more tries before someone finally did, and they were unhappy.

"What do you want?" Hilnoa snapped at her. From the looks of things, she was Narikas' throne room.

"I-I just called to check up on the prince."

"He's fine."

Then Meera heard a scream that gave her goosebumps. It was a man's scream and could only belong to one person.

"Is he okay?" Meera asked.

"He's fine," Hilnoa repeated.

Narikas screamed, and Hilnoa turned towards him. That was when she saw the first glimpse of the Warlord, and he was curled up on the ground and trembling. He whimpered, clenched his fists, and let out another smaller scream.

"Just stop it," Hilnoa cried. "Just stop hurting, my boy."

That made Meera wonder if Narikas was her son. There was hardly any similarity. "Do you need me to come back?"

"What are you going to do if you come here? You can't do anything." The older Scribe barked.

Narikas cringed and groaned as sweat dripped from his brow. He looked like he was fighting for his life. But Hilnoa was right. Meera couldn't do anything. The Wardens might not even take her back if she left so abruptly again.

“M-Meera…” Narikas trembled.

Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

"I'm sorry, I can't help you with your pain," Meera said. Despite what she had seen him do to that Scribe, she felt terrible for him. No man should have to go through this.

"D-Don't…" He let out a cry. "N-No matter what happens…AHHH!" He swallowed and got things under control. “Don’t b-bring Delkoris…h-here.”

"What? You don't want me to find him?" Meera asked.

Even Hilnoa stared at the downed Warlord like he had announced his death sentence. A tear leaked out of her eye. "Are you sure?" She asked.

"I-I have a p-plan."

"Okay," Hilnoa said. "But you can't give in."

Meera wished she knew what was going on here. It was confusing not knowing all the details. "So, I don't have to find him then?"

"No," Hilnoa said. "Find the prince, as he is the key to finding the queen, and we need her to end this war and save us, and you only have four days left."

"I'll do it, but will he be able to hold up his end of the bargain?" Meera said.

Hilnoa's nostrils flared. "He will."

She shut off the connection. Meera left the washroom. Just what is going on with Narikas? Will he even be alive for much longer? The way he looked just now…

Meera returned to the common room, and Lexa pointed out a spot on the floor that Meera could have for the night. She thanked the Warden and curled up on the floor. It didn't take her long to doze off.

----------------------------------------

Meera awoke to the chatter of the Wardens. The sun had fully risen outside, so she rubbed and squinted until her eyes adjusted. She hadn't felt so rested in days. The Wardens and Dirik had returned from their nightly scouting, and someone had made breakfast.

"Okay, Meera's awake," Melas said. "Perfect timing, as they just returned from their scouting trip. Please tell me you found something?"

Zona sighed, pulled out the book she was reading, and sat in the corner. Apparently, that was answer enough as Melas sighed, and his brother went to his girlfriend.

"Sorry," Dirik said, eyeing his partner. "We looked all through the night, but we didn't find much."

"Not even any more body parts?" Lexa asked.

Dirik shook his head. "Maybe we were looking in the wrong place. We can go out again tonight and have better luck."

"Take someone else," Zona said, eyes on her book. "My turn is done."

"I can go," Meera said. "I wouldn't mind going if that'll be okay with you all."

Pallas shrugged. "She has some skills similar to Zona." His girlfriend raised her eyes from her book. "I mean, she has some scouting skills and just had a class evolution. Plus, she did beat Melas. I think she's proved herself enough."

"Wait, she beat you?" Tekton said.

"You're joking?" Lexa nearly pounced on Pallas.

Zona was the only one who said nothing and continued reading her book.

"It was a tie, actually. We both killed each other." Melas glared at his brother. "But Meera has promise. It's fine. Meera, you and Dirik can go tonight, provided you don't run off on us again."

That brought out laughter from others.

----------------------------------------

"Ready to head out?" Meera asked Dirik.

"Just about." He yawned. He had slept the entire day while Meera helped Brison arrange some boxes and set up another safe house in the city. She was hoping to train some more, but given that Dirik had found them, they figured others could do the same. And that they would be moving in the morning when Meera and Dirik returned from their scouting. After that, Meera took a nap to prepare for the night in the forest.

"Remember, don't start any unnecessary fights, and if you find something, report back immediately," Melas instructed. "Other than that, have fun."

Meera and Dirik said their goodbyes and jumped out the window and over the wall, as using the city gate was not an option for Meera.

They stalked quietly to the woods and only lit their torches once they were some distance from the city wall.

"We'll go this way," Dirik said, taking the lead. "We already searched that way."

"Okay, sure."

Meera followed him quietly for some time, and all they saw were trees and more trees. "Hey, Dirik."

"Yes?"

"Do you know why the Shadowsteel Warlord is always in so much pain?"

Dirik stopped abruptly. "W-What? How do you know that? I mean, why do you want to know about that? No, I mean—"

"Save it," Meera said. "I know you know about it. What is going on with him?"

Dirik sighed and looked around as if Narikas were hiding in the shadows. "Now, I don't know the whole story, only bits and pieces of what I've heard from others. But it's his armor that causes him pain, or so they say. He's not the first Shadowsteel Warlord. There have been two before him. When the time comes that they cannot take the pain anymore, they pass it on to another person, precisely another prince."

The gears turned in Meera's head. Is that next person going to be Delkoris? Is that why he wants to keep him away?

"What happens if they don't pass it to the next person?" Meera asked.

Dirik shrugged. "That's never happened before." He stopped in his tracks. "Why do you ask? Has Prince Narikas' time come? What do you know, Meera?"

She sighed. "You know I'm looking for Delkoris, but that's only half the truth. I'm looking for him because Narikas sent me. Queen Nisaya is missing, and that is the reason for all the disturbance with the Mistblades and the border wall."

Delkoris’ eyes widened.

"Yes, it's true, and I'm only here helping you because this monster might be behind the queen's disappearance. I have three days left to find her before King Draros marches the armies of three kingdoms through the border wall and wipes Azeria off the map."

"You're joking…"

Meera shook her head. "I wish I were. Personally, I have no ties to this kingdom, but I need something from Narikas, and he will only give it to me if I can find the queen. So, we cannot fail tonight. We must find this monster and know what it did to the queen, and I hope it is this monster, or I fear we'll be too late."

His eyes took a faraway look as he realized the implications of failure.

"This way," Dirik said. "We need to hurry. Zona said she saw some blood drops, but they could be from any animal."

"Or it could be from a human."