Ragthar gave a push on his sword. His free hand was holding the other end of his blade, still repelling the attack from Mona's father. The man's strength was still pushing at him in waves. Just how much Aura does this man have? Alas, his attempts at trying to knock the Lord of Aurum back didn't improve no matter how he pushed. He had lost the initiative.

The Knights of Faulkner had kept themselves busy, descending on the party guests with their swords and Aura arts. Those that could fight back against these wretched soldiers protected the rest, with support Aura being casted by either side. The heights of the hall were bathed in pressure of all the Aura, a cacophony of colors soaring back and forth from either side. At the least, the party was holding on very well. Signor's old friends were doing a good job of holding back the brunt of the Faulkner's assault.

Sensing that Signor's power was waning, Ragthar finally saw his chance. He backed away a few steps, bringing his sword to his side. Signor faltered, his attempt at a surprise attack failing. The rat was able to hold on, and anymore his own Aura reserves would be depleted. He glared at this invader, his rage rising.

"So the bastard of Faulkner are invading now of all times..." Signor sized up Ragthar, a bit fatigued. The slash he unleashed earlier had ate away at his strength and spirit.

"Expansion is always a priority, Signor. Or did the peace distract you? You tin can..." Ragthar swiped his blade at the air, something materializing right before Mona's eyes. It was blurry at first, but it seemed to be a flame, or a wisp, merged with the wind. A fireball of sorts was being created, but rather than burning a pure reddish orange, it seemed darker, and was even moving far too nimbly. Five of these mana creations hovered near Ragthar, each steadily engorging on his power, each radiating a fearsome heat and air pressure.

"Wind, and Fire..." Signor's eyes sharpened, "Did that bastard Dolemnic finally share his Rapid Shower skill with you, or has he finally died? I guess my strike back then finally caught up with him."

"You don't have to worry about that," Ragthar spoke with a venomous smile "wherever the dead go, you'll soon have a chance to meet him too." The five fireballs seemed to have reached their limits.

"Mona, my son," Signor spoke, his eyes trained on the projectiles before him, "go find Martha while there's still time. The Aurum line, it can't end here."

"Father!"

"When you get your wits about you, make sure to return everything 2 fold. No, tenfold! A hundred! But first, you have to survive!" Signor dashed at Ragthar, "Come here, bastard of Faulkner, let's end this miserable conflict now!"

"Happily!" A smile came on Ragthar's lips. His aura started to flow. Expert, Master, no... An Aura of advanced Grandmaster rank, that's what came from the thin figure before Signor. One rank. Not merely a level, the bastard before him had a full rank of energy higher than his own. The gap between the two was wider than he thought. The Faulkner elites, just how far have they planned this, if a rat like this man was trained this far?

The thoughts in Signor's head accelerated. Is the Steel Kingdom already over? By now the five projectiles had come hurling his way, each one screaming the whines of the wind, the flames lapping up oxygen as they sizzled everything around them. Signor used his sword to slice these creations in half, his Metal aura coating his blade, making work of each. He couldn't help but take his time, making him question himself. Am I getting too old?

His enemy chuckled. So this is the power of Grandmaster...I was smart to switch sides. Ragthar could see his future before him. All that effort, all the work he had put in back in the empire, the fruits were right before him. The man that led his master to live a precarious existence between life and death was tied with just five from the spell. A gleam danced in his eyes, his Grandmaster aura powered out in full force, the surroundings cleared of any loose debris. 25 orbs came into existence in rapid succession. Each as powerful as the five before. Signor grimaced as even the time they took to reach full development was cut in half.

"Signor, it's time we end this." Ragthar's laughter soared into the sky. His orbs followed suit, crashing towards Signor like a meteor shower. Not losing a step, the leader of the Faulkner knights followed his creations, his sword searching for an opening to land a fatal strike.

Signor dashed forward, letting his own aura loose. He had to make do and cut down everything he could. He didn't know how far his aura could go, but his son needed time. The Lord of Aurum's strength went to match the murky flames to his best.

Mona was paralyzed by the scene before him. The wails, the shouts, the shattered world around him, not to mention his struggling father, it was too sudden. Seeing his father troubled, and himself unable to do anything, he couldn't move. Then he felt a hand tug him in a direction.

The man, Andrey, had a dark presence to his face. "Come this way, unless you want your father's defense to mean nothing." He didn't give Mona a chance to look back much, before the two rushed out of the great hall from a nearby exit. Behind them, the shouts of fight and conflict continued with the occasional wail of death. Who died, no one had time to recognize. Before the duo, there was a scene of destruction and decay. The knights protecting the Aurum duchy, along with the occasional servant, were strewn about, like toys cast away by a child. The earth, the walls, the greenery had been witness to a one sided slaughter.

This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

Mona felt the urge to vomit, but this was suppressed by Andrey's mana. The two dashed between the shadows, evading the roaming knights of Faulkner, soldiers left behind to take care of stragglers. The size of this operation was larger than anyone could have anticipated.

Hidden behind a broken wall, his eyes trained on a nearby doorway and a knight standing guard. The Faulkner knight didn't seem tired in the slightest, his sight scanning for anything in the vicinity.

"I...I..." Mona had trouble speaking, or even whispering. The suddenness was still afflicting his spirit.

Andrey turned his head back. The man sighed, pitying the young man. "Child, I understand it might be too much to think of right now. But we need to find this Martha person quickly. Would you know where she is?" It was clear Andrey had heard the shouts of Signor.

"...She should be somewhere in the estate. At this time, maybe the servant's quarters...yes there..." The words finally left Mona's lips.

"Whisper, child. They enemy is around us." Andrey replied back. "I see. You'll have to guide me there. I'm not familiar with the layout of your land, young lord. Can you do that?" Andrey's eyes saw the knight had turned his back, checking the items on his belt.

"Yes." Mona muttered. Martha had been the head maid for quite some time, and was the closest to Mona after his own father. She should know what to do, after everything that had gone on. That is, if she was in the quarters in the first place. After all, wouldn't the head maid be in the great hall, assisting the servants on such a momentous day?

Andrey nodded his head in understanding, seeing a chance. "We move now." His free hand cast a spell, something indistinct flew at the knight, knocking the unaware out. The knight was swiftly sent to the realms of unconsciousness, without a chance to realize what was going on. Andrey dashed for the doorway, entering back into the main estate with Mona in tow.

The two didn't find their time inside much easier. Much the floor was coated in blood, dead servants and their bodies portioned everywhere. The dogs of Faulkner had no mercy, as anything valuable was ransacked, broken decorations torn and scattered about. The furnishings could only soak up the blood; anyone able to clear this scene was already dead. Foot patrols of knights also filled the hallway. In their bags were numerous valuables, the rare squire following along with treasures in their arms or tied to their back. The thieves chattered and laughed as they went along.

"Ooo, look at this piece of gold."

"That's cute, but have a look at this item."

"~Shit. You bastard, where'd you find that?"

The men of Faulkner bickered like this, ruining the mood of Andrey. What was this, a market? How could they? If I was alone with these men... His hand reached for his weapon on impulse, but he relented. He wasn't alone, and this wasn't his home. And it was likely his home was already pilfered dry anyway. Andrey felt grateful he stayed single; he imagined the hell his family would have suffered otherwise.

Mona sighed. The treasures were part of his inheritance, and he could occasionally recognize an item here and there. The Aurum history in each piece was timeless. Why today of all days? He pursued his lips, and curled his fists, but he could do nothing but be powerless. The pair of shadows dashed through the halls, evading the march of each sentry group.

*****

"We're here. To the left." Mona whispered to Andrey. The two made it to the servant quarters. The area seemed to be doing better compared to the rest of the estate. Likely because anything valuable wouldn't be located here, the Faulkner troops decided to focus on what they could raid rather than thoroughness. At least those wolves were overtaken with greed that allowed Andrey and Mona to make it so far. The two snuck inside the connected building.

The place was as Mona remembered. Lacking much furnishings for functionality, the head desk was before him, unmanned. The stairs that led to the servants quarters were to each side, the left for the maids, the right for those under the head butler. The wood flooring, the cream walls, all was clean, as if waiting for Mona's arrival. Without much time to admire the sight, Mona quietly ran for the head maid's room and study, with Andrey following. The door was shut, the room dark.

The door creaked as it was opened. Mona and Andrey stepped into the abyss. As the room lacked a light, Mona felt the darkness surround him as Andrey closed the door behind them. No candles visible, Andrey began to pull out a minor Fire scroll, but felt a sharp tool at his throat.

"Martha, is that you?" Mona let the words escape from his lips. There was something similar in those steps before Andrey had pursed his breathing. The man was speaking the incantations on the scroll, but suddenly stopped, as if something was preventing him from speaking. A figure was behind Andrey, steady as Martha was.

The small dagger was removed from Andrey's neck. The room filled with a small light, and the two was able to see the head maid.

She was tired. More tired than her usual appearance. While Mona could see age in her appearance, there was more pressure added to her face than ever before. The dagger was still in her hands, coated with blood from someone not Andrey. Her eyes were slick with tears, her dress coated in blood. She began to shake a little, the exhaustion she must have felt from the beginning was finally revealing it self.

"Young lord," she spoke in between choked words. "I'm glad you are still alive." She returned the dagger back to its sheath, and made her way to Mona. He let her hold his face in her hands. His own fatigue felt to melt at her touch. They were alone now, in this nightmare.

Andrey coughed, still on edge. "I understand you'd like to chat, but the situation...it's rather pressing." The two looked at Andrey, his hand clasping the hilt of his short sword. No wonder father felt displeasure near him. Mona understood now why his dad didn't spend too much time speaking to this man.

Tactless. Too direct was an understatement.

"Any moment now." Andrey looked at the two, oblivious to their thoughts. "We don't have all day."