The ache in my stomach had returned but periodic healing from Solas helped ease the pain.

I stood in front of Ferraya's office and, after taking a deep breath, I opened the door and entered it.

Ferraya, dressed in her pure white uniform, raised her eyes and winced upon seeing me.

“Good morning. Is something wrong?” She asked making me realize that I was making a rather unpleasant expression.

“N-no, it’s nothing. Lord Gera actually sent me here to ask how things are going with the Men of Steel.”

“Oh- I was just about to go north to check up on the old man. Would you mind accompanying me to the Sunless Gulch?” Ferraya asked as she stood up.

“The Sunless Gulch?” I whimpered as Ferraya wore her pure white coat that had nary a stain on it, adding to her intense aura.

“Yes.” She chuckled.

I weakly nodded before following her out of Stonenger Keep where I winced as strong winds rushed over Mt. Nuru.

Solas kept any of the rain the winds carried from hitting us and after several flashes, we found ourselves on a stone platform that was in the centre of a crowded compound.

I looked around and saw countless men training behind tall, barbed wooden fences.

They did various exercises and even sparred in pits of mud all while being yelled at by silver knights who wore armour, yes, but protecting their bodies from the rain were dark blue coats which bore the crest of the moon.

As for the men training, they were all bald and their skin was covered in dark grey lines.

“Oh- good morning. Is there anything I can help you with?”

One of the silver knight asked as he ran up to us.

“Yes. Could you take us to Ensyna?” Ferraya asked and the knight nodded before leading us towards one of the many large tents that littered the encampment.

We entered it to find ten naked men lined up in front of an old man who had a strange silver cap on his head. Although, upon closer inspection, it looked like the cap was a part of his head.

The knight led us to him while he inspected the men, his eyes glowing dimly green.

Littering the tent was all manner of machine and equipment but my attention returned to the man.

“Hello, Ensyna.” Ferraya greeted prompting the old man to face her.

“Mmm? Hello.” Ensyna droned.

“Hehe, where is all the enthusiasm from before?” Ferraya chuckled.

“I should be down below trying to create a the cradle within which Summus’s light will rest but no. Here I stand, working on… serfs. And how is that going? Good! Great!” Ensyna yelled although he didn’t look that angry.

Ferraya chuckled once more before looking all of the men over.

One of them in particular quivered as he stood attentively.

“They are cheap imitations in every sense of the word.” Ensyna said prompting Ferraya to nod.

“I would like to see one in action.”

“Eh… sure, I suppose. Hey, all of you. Come with me.” Ensyna barked before leading everyone out of the tent.

He then led everyone to an enclosed area where two silver knights awaited.

Sitting in front of the silver knights was a table lined with steel swords.

Ensyna instructed that the men all pick up a sword.

He then told one of them to walk up but while he was detailing the instructions of a duel I could not help but notice that one of the ten men was glaring at us.

He was glaring at Ferraya particularly harshly.

“BEGIN!” Ensyna barked and the man of steel charged towards one of the two silver knights.

Predictably, the silver knight easily dodged every attack that the steel man sent.

However, one thing that we noticed was that all of the steel man's movements were fast and consistent.

The human body, when untouched, was prone to fatigue.

However, with augmentation, certain limits could be pushed or even disregarded.

We watched as the knight danced around the steel man. Their abilities were as far apart as the moon from the ground but regardless the steel man kept attacking.

I glanced at Ferraya and lightly gasped upon seeing that even though it was raining, her coat remained pure white.

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

I looked down and saw that even her dark grey leather shoes, were clean.

My amazement was cut short as she crossed her arms.

She seemed… displeased.

“You, knight, kill him and you, try to survive for as long as possible.” Ferraya instructed.

The knight nodded before suddenly teleporting behind the man.

He then swung his sword in am attempt to decapitate the man but to my surprise, the man threw himself forward in a roll, narrowly avoiding death.

“Oh?” Ferraya sounded as the two fought.

The man even managed to land an attack as the silver knight swung widely, leaving himself exposed.

Unfortunately, the man’s sword bounced off the knight’s armour.

This was seemingly satisfactory for Ferraya because she clapped her hands once.

“Good. Also- where did Ensyna go?” She asked as the two fighters before her ended their fearsome battle.

I looked around and saw no sign of the old man.

“He is back in his tent, ma’am.” The second silver knight said.

“Alright, lets-“

Ferraya stopped as a naked man suddenly appeared behind her with his sword raised.

“THIS IS FOR MY BROTHER!” He yelled before striking the top of Ferraya’s head.

I winced as the sword bounced off her head, seemingly without effect.

The air then suddenly grew heavier as Ferraya’s face lost all expression.

She turned around and looked into her attacker’s trembling eyes.

I recognized him as the man who was shaking ever since we arrived.

“Are you that impatient? So much so that you would happily leap into death’s arms.” Ferraya asked as she raised her right hand but before she did anything, I raised mine before clasping them.

“Please don’t kill him!” I cried but this only directed Ferraya’s cold glare towards me.

“He attacked the Grandmaster of his highness’s armies? Is death not the least he deserves?” She asked coldly.

“But…” I did not know what to do or say.

I looked at the man and saw that he was still trembling.

“Why did you attack her?” I asked. My voice hoarse from desperation.

“SHUT UP!” The man yelled before trying to charge towards me with his sword raised but he remained stationary. Almost as if invisible binds were keeping him from moving.

“YOU! ALL OF YOU SHOULD DIE AS RECOMPENSE FOR THOSE THAT DIED IN THAT PETTY WAR!” He yelled.

“What?” I whimpered.

I looked around and saw that many of the steel men had their heads lowered.

Most of them had probably lost so much during the Kindling War and yet… there we were… training them to become soldiers yet again.

I…

Nothing could be done.

All this world knew was War and there was almost nothing I could do to change that and so I sighed.

“Could you… maybe punish him in a different way?” I asked weakly.

Ferraya sighed before squeezing her right hand into a fist.

“Ah!” The man cried as the invisible binds that held him seemingly tightened.

“Ma’am, Zuri, we are creating super soldiers. If we do not teach them fear, they will turn their blades towards us in revolution.”

“You cannot say that for sure.” I cried but Ferraya frowned.

“I can’t? Then what about the Moonless War? We are their masters for now. What makes you think they don’t want the power we have? And if not power, the damage has already been done. Look at this man. Nothing but rage and revenge fills his eyes. What makes you think his rage stop at just me? I need… I need you to understand that now is not the time to falter.” Ferraya said with a rather tender expression.

I glanced at the man and saw that, although still filled with rage, his eyes were shaking with fear.

“C-could you… make it painless?” I asked.

Ferraya gently nodded before clicking her fingers and like that, the man was gone.

“Come. We have seen what we came to see.” Ferraya said before turning to the silver knight.

“Tell Ensyna to continue as planned.” She said.

“Shall we?” She asked while facing me and I nodded.

The world flashed rapidly and we found ourselves back in Stonenger Keep.

“Hey, Zuri.” Ferraya called.

“Yes?”

“The cogs of fate are ever turning. Sometimes all we can ever do is dance along to their motions.” She said before leaving Solas and I on the teleportation platform.

I sighed before gasping as Solas suddenly turned around.

“Oh… my… goodness.” He muttered prompting me to turn around as well.

I then gasped upon seeing a massive ball of fire far to the west.

It was so bright, it lit up all of Medelona.

Solas roughly grabbed my hand and teleported us to Caligo’s palace where we found Lham and the other Hands gathered in front of the teleportation platform.

“Where is his highness?” Solas barked.

“After equipping his armour, he took the Helma and went far south without saying a word.” Lham reported.

“And the boys?” I asked.

“They are in the palace-“

Lham stopped as a massive explosion came from the far south.

We all turned around and saw that the cloudy afternoon sky was being lit up by a massive ball of light in the distance.

“Mmm…” Solas droned.

“What?” I asked fearfully.

“I think they went to destroy the sky borne sword.” He said.

“I see.” I said as the sound of another massive explosion filled the air.

The sky then reached its brightest and there was so much energy in the air and ground, they both trembled.

This went of for about thirty minutes and I winced as the distant light slowly faded.

“Do you… think it is over?” I asked but Solas responded with a drone.

Several more minutes passed and we all lightly gasped as a Yilon appeared on the teleportation platform.

His armour was covered in dirt and ash but it looked mostly undamaged.

“Ma’am, the prince has called for you. He is currently on his way to the Sunless Gulch.” The knight reported.

I nodded and after several flashes, Solas and I found ourselves back in the muddy encampment.

The Yilon led us to Ensyna’s tent where I gasped upon seeing the state that Luno, Caligo, the Yilon and the Helma were in.

Those who wore armour were covered in ash and dirt.

Luno’s gown looked like it had been lightly burnt and Astír’s entire right arm was missing.

The group looked like they wee arguing about something but I ran up to Caligo’s side and wrapped my arms around his waist.

Silence filled the tent as he gently placed his hand on my head.

“Are you hurt?” I whimpered with a racing heart.

“No. We managed to subdue Katsíki.”

“He is here?” I asked.

“Yes and I think we should kill him immediately!” Astír hissed.

“I am inclined to agree but the King has spoken.” Gregar sighed with crossed arms.

“What is going on?” I asked while looking up into Caligo’s bright eyes.

“A few of us believe that Katsíki should be killed for putting the people of Lanceberg in harms way. Father, however, thinks we should heal him and return him to his home.” He explained.

“I agree with Luno.” I said firmly before lowered my head.

“But… it is unlikely that he will walk away from his vengeful path.” I said prompting some people to hum in response.

“Have you spoken with him?” I asked while turning to face Luno, who was covered in bits of dried mud.

“I did, but he would not listen.”

“Mmm… can I speak to him.” I asked.

No one spoke as a thoughtful silence filled the air.

“What could you say that the king could not?” Astír asked with her usual coldness.

I smiled before clasping my hands.

“We are both from earth. Perhaps, I could find a way to reason with him using our shared home world as the foundation of our conversation.”

“Alright, but I will go with thee-“

“No, Caligo. I am sure your face is the last thing he wants to see.” I said firmly without looking away from Luno who had a faint frown on his forehead.

“Alright. Ĺull the beast of hatred.”