The bamboo had been resting on Zeal's shoulder, just as laid back as the man himself was, laying his attention upon still shadows, from which the knights have just emerged.

Lion and Ethan had faces blank, like the dull white moon indifferent of the clouds. Their lips have flattened to lines tightly sealed, so secured that no key could open them, and their eyes have lost all glints of emotion, refusing all nostalgia that the moonlight was offering. Meanwhile, the ladies had eyes as bright as the stars, remaining spirited in the night's dark grays, and enforcing the expression that their lips have curved to because of sheer anticipation. They were exhilarated. After all, that battle was their first real chance at showing off. The way they rubbed their fingertips as they collected energy suggested they even craved to start.

Zeal pointed with his boomerang. "Let me see if your powers will be of any use."

Rin smiled. "You're asking for it?"

"That was more a command than it was a request."

The smile dropped.

Two red strips of fabric slithered along the grass and wrapped around Zeal's ankles.

They tied him!

But in a quick slash, the boomerang snipped both of them into a shower of cotton.

But Rin didn't stop.

She used her power over and over until the man's wrists, neck, and entire body were also bound.

"Kaleidoscene!" Gleen's magic flashed.

Mirrors spawned all around, caging Zeal in reflections of reflections in reflections.

Then came Ethan's one thousand blades, surrounding the zealot so that one small step could stab him.

The successful casting of Ethan's spell captured Zeal in a third entrapment. At that point, having a fourth sounded like an overkill, but there was indeed another.

Lion casted. "Link Lock!"

A giant ring spawned above Erudon's zealot, like the halo of a dying man. All it needed was to be descended, and Zeal would be captured in a pocket dimension only Lion could open a gate to.

A grin conquered Zeal's mouth.

He opened his palm, releasing the boomerang to wreak havoc by itself.

It bounced from blade to blade, bent steel as it did, smashed the mirrors, and cut him free from the laces.

Zeal hurried to concentrate magic at the Link Lock ring, and when he shouted, "Trap Break!" the magic crumbled into golden powder.

Lion's wrinkles deepened.

"I'm a Prism Trap wizard." Zeal caught the boomerang back. "Your magic is a puny descendant of mine."

"That doesn't mean it can't work on you." Lion slid off another ring from his finger.

"You're right. Out of all spells I've seen here tonight, it's only that which has truly unnerved me." Zeal chuckled. "Excellent job done by your king. Saving all Trap Spells to use against me was the smartest decision he could ever have taken. Sadly it's a tad bit too predictable for someone like me."

Rin sent out more of her fabrics but all ended up just as the firsts and seconds have. The same went for Gleen's mirrors. Disheveled. Shattered.

Zeal bent down to pick up some of the laces. "These could work in place of ropes to tie my chair together."

Dozens of blades came, but the boomerang blocked them all.

"Those could work as nails though. I was right. Your powers will be of use."

Rin and Ethan glowered. "Our magic isn't for furniture, asshole!"

"But you know what I can use it for?" The star-like glints returned to the red mage's eyes.

Zeal said nothing.

"You seem to be hiding something under that hood of yours." Rin held her hips. "Is it that you're ugly? Or are you keeping us from seeing something that could very well be your weakness?"

An invisible force hardened Zeal's jaw. "Contrary to what you think, I'm not by any means cruel. I hide myself to protect naive people like you."

Gleen crossed her arms. "You're so ugly that your face can kill?"

Rin readied her palms for a spell. "Why don't we find out, Gleen?"

A chill erupted in Lux's heart. "Stop! Don't do it! You'll all die if you do!"

The knights all froze.

Lux has seen that possiblity too. He forgot to tell them beforehand, but stripping Zeal was never something anyone should ever dare do. Like forbidden knowledge, sight of the man's body could drive them all to fatal madness. Whether that was Mathematicon's side effect or something else, Lux had never figured.

The king cupped his chest. "He's right. He's hiding himself for your own protection. Please. Don't do it."

Rin exchanged glances with Gleen.

"Capture him. That's all you should do."

Rin lowered her hands. "Understood."

Zeal stood back up. As he did, he raised his chin, letting just one of his eyes peek out of the hood, in order to gaze at the tower where Lux was in. "Thank you."

Thank you. Lux knew he'd say that too.

Too polite for someone trying to abduct him. But despite being a deadly enemy, Zeal was of course human under those blue threads. He'd do anything necessary to complete his task at hand. Except to muster courage to take somebody else's life. In that regard, him and Lux were no different.

The exchange of power continued amongst them five.

The knights experimented with different styles of traps, while Zeal kept up with his skills of aversion, the boomerang, and all the spells he knew to cast. Even though he was three men outnumbered, he'd be putting up so good a fight that their battle won't be over until he or all four have exhausted their magic energy.

At least that'd be buying time for the rest of the knights.

One of the Apparitions examined her crystal ball. It was so pitch black that the spirit murmured, with her three-pitched gastly voice, saying, "I think my magic is broken."

But in truth, the ball was completely fine. It simply had gotten dim because of Thomas's magic.

He had doused all the lights.

*******

Neither him nor his opponent could see whatsoever. But Thomas at least was free to move, and sensed Jerald by listening to the groans the man was spitting as he gravely struggled against absolute lack of sight.

Jerald has been clawing the air, in fruitless attempts to get a hold of the phantom. To no surprise, all that brushed his fingers were minty wind and ethereal shadows.

"How do you like the dark?" Thomas blew a hit at Jerald's thigh.

"Argh. I'm done with all your illusions!"

"This isn't one. The spell I'm using is called Haunted Night. All this darkness, pain, and torment are all real." The knight striked a foot at Jerald's ankle.

Jerald toppled onto the floor.

He's already gotten so close to where he needed to be. That was dangerous. Every single inch was its own battle. Each of Jerald's steps closer and closer was time and a war lost. But Thomas seemed determine to either keep Jerald where he was, or push him farther away from his goal.

Jerald hadn't a clue, but he was so lost in the dark, he actually started crawling the exact opposite direction he was supposed to go.

But just when Lux thought Thomas was already winning, a lunatic's cackle erupted and echoed in the hallway.

Fingers clamped around Talc's legs!

She hasn't said anything all that time, which was actually quite wise, knowing noise could have given her location away. But her silence sadly proved to have an adverse result, because Thomas had forgotten that she stayed around to lurk.

A rapid vibration sizzled Talc's skin under her boots.

She screamed.

Shivering gasps blended with Jerald's manic laughter. "I don't know what your magic did to the air, but I couldn't seem to cast any fire spells."

Talc fell on her rear.

"Glad to know I can still apply heat directly." Jerald tightened his grasp on the mage. "I've been searching for you in the dark. Now that I've found you, I won't let go!"

The lights returned.

"Talc!" Thomas came with a Phantom Slice.

An Ion Flash cancelled it.

The glow of light exposed Talc's horrified face and thick black smoke fizzing from her plastic boots. Soon, the stench of burning lead would swamp the whole corridor.

Thomas faded out and in to teleport behind her. As he wrapped his arms around her waist, the two of them vanished in a phantom cloud.

Jerald mustered energy to cast a spell. "Combustion Cage!"

Walls cracked at sudden heat, and flames ignited their cotton curtains. Marble statues exploded to fragments. Lightbulbs also did. The carpet on the floor was already red as lava, but now it was literally lava that was red.

Thomas and Talc reappeared at one end of the hallway, away from all the fire.

Her boots have stopped smoking, but her teeth digging her lip inferred that the pain remained.

Thomas used his magic to keep Talc in phantom form. "You won't feel pain like this."

"No. This is my problem." She sat up and pointed at Jerald bolting away. "You'll need to focus on yours. Stop him! It's more important than whatever this is."

"Is anyone else hurt?" Ronald's voice rang in their audipaths.

Thomas closed his eyes.

Talc lowered her head, forcing one of her dark grins on her face, even though her lips were trembling. "I'll be fine.... I'm afraid of life.... ...My fears forever haunt me. That means I'll always stay alive!" Her grin gradually grew. "Haha! Just kidding! They're just my legs. Burns over there couldn't possibly kill me. Also, I'll be teleporting to Synth's group! They can take care of me there! Good luck! Byeee!"

Thomas scoffed.

It was clear that dismay played in his head, along with plenty of other emotions. Though merely momentarily. As his eyelids slid to uncover his irises, his spirit shone with unbendable persistence and a will to pursue justice.

*******

The Apparition gazed into her crystal ball.

The light returning confirmed it wasn't broken. In fact, it was in great condition.

How Lux wished he could say the same about their situation.

Maybe it was going well for the ladies above.

*******

Winds and clouds brushed their bodies as they swam slenderly in the sky. They were like comets. Swift. Unhindered by coolth. With precise trajectories. Beautiful. And reeked of immense energy.

Tau was more like a space debris. A dangerous piece of garbage floating high above the ground.

That description of him was harsh, Lux had to admit. But it was the best he could come up with at the time.

His second Griffin has been more agile than his first, soaring in circles around the Pyramid Cage point as it avoided the ladies' attacks.

"Fan Falchion!"

"Falcon Screech!"

Both of those moves failed to touch the targets they were casted for.

Still, Ling and Layla weren't giving up hope. They just sent more and more, unable to care any lesser of their energy running out.

"Whirl Blade!"

A batch of crescents launched only to miss Tau.

"Falcon Talons!"

Four white strikes ripped the air but did nothing to the enemy.

"Come on, ladies!" Tau pinched his sunglasses' bridge. "You gotta be faster than that! How are you expecting to be able to catch up to me?"

Ling balled her fists, nearly shoving her nails into her own palms. She probably would have willingly ruined her polish if it meant scratching the man's face.

Layla scowled. "I can't have powerful attacks and be fast at the same time. As a falcon, there aren't much I can give at him."

"I have a bit of an issue too." Ling's eyebrows tugged. "It's hard to focus on fighting if I have to keep my weapon under my feet most of the time."

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

The Griffin brought Tau through rolls in midair, as if in mockery to the ladies who can't get them.

Ara was still around. Still unable to unburden herself of that concerned look she always carried.

"We need to either be quicker, or we gotta slow him down," said Layla.

"Both would be even better," added Ling.

"What now, girls? Frost licked your wings?" Tau drove his Griffin to face the three. "Or have you just given up?"

"We'll never give up, you scoundrel! Fan Falchion!"

The Griffin dove to avoid the attack.

Ara raised her arms, as if about to punch, but then lowered them back.

"Oh what? What was that?" Tau's attention fell upon her. "Have you been here this whole time, little fairy?"

Ara raised her arms again, but this time to put clenched hands on her breasts.

"Couldn't even feel your presence. I'm not really to blame though, am I? You've done barely anything to show your existence here. What even is your purpose? You're you that one useless teammate, aren't you?"

"Hey!" Ling barked so loud that clouds drifted from her. "You have no right to speak to her that way!"

"What?" Tau barked back. "Freaking admit it. What help has she been to you two up here?"

"She saved our lives." Layla joined the snarling.

"Your friends won't be able to do the same to you once you fall from here." Ling leaped, grabbing her falchion by the handle, and came striking at Tau and the Griffin. As the blade missed again, she let go of the weapon and let it catch her on her feet.

The man merely stared at her as satisfaction pulled his mouth apart. "I get it. That little thing of yours isn't really powered by a stone, is it? Otherwise you won't be able to control it when it's out of reach."

"What are you getting at?"

"It's run by a program." Tau's teeth crept to their disgusting formation. "Remember who's an expert at programming? Me."

Ling jumped. "Fan--"

A surge of data coming from Tau's magic enfolded her falchion, gradually stopping its motion like some sort of goo messing with a pivot.

Soon the falchion faltered, and, seconds after, Ling found herself plummeting too, like she's had earlier.

But Ara's Monarch Sphere was able to catch her again.

Inside, Ling watched her weapon as it plunged with gravity and bounced on the castle's rooftops. She was about to react, but a much larger surprise had stolen her attention.

*******

A red light was emitted by a second Pyramid Cage point somewhere on the ground.

Point B.

No.

No, it couldn't have been.

Which one was it? Zeal's? Jerald's?

It couldn't have been Navi's, seeing as he seemed to wonder the same thing as he looked to the north and west. "Two are done. I'm also gonna have to cast mine sooner or later."

Odess leaped at him with an attack. "You'll have to finish what we started here first."

Navi countered her. "No. Actually, I don't. I'll have that golem destroy that tower, one way or another, and, once that's done, I'll get to my location in no time."

"What makes you think we'll just let you waltz there?" Dorias came in targeting Navi's neck.

Navi's blade crossed Dorias's. "I won't waltz. I'll gallop."

"So you're gonna run?"

"It'll work." Navi chuckled. "I'm wearing armor too. I know very well these things are damn heavy. They can painfully slow you down. Especially if you have speed effect and there's a reverser around, don't you agree, my lady?"

Odess hissed. "So that's what you meant."

"Why? Are there other secrets you happen to be hiding? Please do tell. The more I can expose, the better it'd be for me."

"Shut your trap!"

Navi's gaze jumped to the Southeast Tower. "Fine. Well. Let's check on how my golem's doing."

*******

"The only thing hard enough to destroy it would be itself." Mycela pounded her palm with a fist. "So we need something that is it. There might be wurtzite boron nitride gear in the armory, but I highly doubt that. They're too expensive even for Morpheus to give out to the common troops. Besides, we'll need a shortcut if we wanted to get there fast. Ironically, this golem's trying to make one. But where? Where can we find wurtzite boron nitride?"

"Do alchemists really normally think like this? Nuclear Edge!" Clarence has still been landing blows on the brick golem. His efforts were solely for the sake of not idling, however. "She's just been jumbling those sentences for the past half hour. Repeating 'wurtza boroboro' a lot too. At this rate, she might just be flexing that she knows the word."

"I think that's helping her." Around Bling's feet were two craters, shaped by her skidding against the soil and grass. "She's definitely on to something. I think."

"She just needs time to pull it from her head." Linus tried his best to show his most hopeful expression. A pretty good one considering how much he struggled against Rocky's weight.

Clarence took a moment to gasp for air. "Not helping me. At least not yet."

"Where? Where, Mycela? Think!"

The golem roared shaking dust off himself.

"Aha!"

All three of them jerked their heads at her.

"I'm an alchemist!" Mycela announced.

Clarence sighed. "Yeah. We know that. You don't have to flex that too, you know? W-Wait. What are you doing?" The knight watched his blade as the lady took it from him.

"Finally using my brain." Mycela touched Rocky to collect dust from his body, and then slid her finger across Clarence's blade. "Meld! Sword and wurtzite boron nitride! Wurtzite Boron Nitride Blade!"

Clarence's weapon shimmered with a white gloss.

Bling's eyes sparkled. "No way. She can do that?!"

"That's so cool." A nerve in Linus's neck might have just popped, but that didn't stop him from twisting it to see the magic happen.

"When I used Eroding Shot earlier, it actually scraped off a bit of the golem's exterior. I realized when it roared just a minute ago. That means the powder on its body was actually the particle we needed: wurtzite boron nitride. So what I did was take some of it and used my Meld Magic to infuse them to the edges of your blade. That way, your weapon'd be as hard as the bricks themselves." Mycela returned the sword and took several steps back. "Try it!"

"Do it and do it now!" Bling squeaked.

"We're running out of muscle and mental strength." Linus panted.

"Got it." Clarence clenched the hilt. "Nuclear!!! Edge!!!"

The blade chipped away a portion of the golem's body.

"It worked!" Linus exclaimed. "Uhh. I just wish you would have figured that sooner."

"I knew it. I knew there was a reason King Lux assigned me here." Mycela breathed a sigh of relief. "Now, Clarence! Keep doing that maybe fifty or more times!"

Clarence wiped his forehead again. "Serious?"

*******

A grumble burbled in Navi's throat.

"Would you look at that." Odess gave a smile. "Looks like my friends have extended your free time."

"Hah! Don't get excited now. Even if they have, I'll just cut that short myself." Navi's eyes sparked.

He's casted a spell.

He reversed Bling and Linus's polarities, bringing Linus to pull instead of push and Bling the other way around.

The forces flung Rocky face first into the tower and shook the whole structure. After a cloud of dust, an opening the size of the golem's head had appeared. Needless to say, it spoiled all efforts of Mycela's group.

Navi's grumbles converted to snickers. "I said I'll have that golem destroy the tower, one way or another." He shoved the knights' swords off of him and began his promised gallop towards the tower.

"No!" Odess sprinted to follow, but her armor shone yellow and slowed her down, just like Navi had said.

Dorias however was able to run. He chased after the enemy hopping over the golem and into the breach.

"I'll hold him off!" Bling used her magic. "Magnetize! Attract!"

But it did the opposite, boosting Navi further inside.

"W-Wait. What...happened?"

Dorias growled. "Don't let him get away! Obsidian Shower!"

Spikes of blue stone darted after Navi.

They all turned to salt.

The man in glass looked back with a grin on his face. "Didn't you say you wouldn't need magic?"

Dorias's growl tightened tougher.

Now there were two chases happening in the castle at once.

*******

Thomas and Jerald.

Thankfully they haven't reached the library yet. But it was just one hallway away.

Jerald has been throwing Ion Flashes.

Thomas easily dodged them all.

After what happened to Talc, he had more motivation to win that battle.

He teleported right in front Jerald, meeting him with a Phantom Slice that sent the scarfed man flying backwards. Jerald backflipped and was able to land on his feet. He summoned his energy, casting a spell that ignited a circle around Thomas, which the knight effortlessly phased through.

"Ion Fla--!"

Thomas vanished, then reappeared uppercutting Jerald at the chin.

The zealot fell on his back. "Ah. That was a good one."

"You know, it pisses me off when somebody hurts my friends."

A chuckle slipped out of Jerald.

"What do you think's so funny, asshole?"

"Nothing. It's just that, even if you finish me right now, we'll still be able to win."

The knight's forehead creased.

"I'm sure you're aware that Prism Trap requires at least four casters to complete even the most basic of spells. Get rid of one, Prism points will be useless. That's the magic's law. But. Remember that guy? The one in the hood? He could very well have just come here all on his own and casted Pyramid Cage by himself. He has power beyond human limits. I'm sure Point B was his. If in any case we fail to cast Points C and D, he'll start moving on his own and cast them himself. You saw what he can do too. He's untouchable. Unstoppable. We'll finish the cage one way or another. So there's not really a point stopping me since we'll get to the same ending."

*******

Tau grinned, looking down at the ground. "So that was Zeal's."

"Ugh. How am I supposed to fight?" Ling mumbled.

"I suggest you don't." Tau flew around the Monarch Sphere. "You started out with two out of three. Now that you're done with, there's only one. Yes. I never counted your fairy friend. She looked useless right off the bat."

Layla sent Stymphalian Plumes at Tau. She's transformed again. "You should really watch your stupid mouth. What I hate the most is when people look at somebody and make presumptions of them through how they look. You don't know what she can do."

Ara hugged herself, staring gloomily at the corners of her eyes.

*******

"ROOOAR!!!" Rocky punched the tower's walls.

"We're not over yet." Mycela drew out an arrow. "Navi's already through but we still need to deal with this thing."

"Agreed." Clarence jumped. "Nuclear Edge!"

"Meld! Arrow! Wurtzite Boron Nitride! Earth! Air! Eroding Wurtzite Boron Nitride Shot!"

Rocky's leg crumbled.

Bling had squatted on the ground, tears seeping from her eyes as she squeezed soil in her palm. "I made it worse. I made it worse for Dorias."

"Hey." Linus kneeled beside her. "That wasn't your fault."

"No! If only I hadn't meddled, he could have caught Navi!"

Linus flinched. "Oh, I...didn't...think that...."

She kept sobbing.

The boy showed a gloomy expression, then decided to give his sister an embrace. They stayed together for about a minute, then Linus pulled away and hurriedly tapped on Bling's pauldron. "Hey look!"

Odess was approaching. She had taken off her armor and was walking in just underwear.

"Wha--"

"Linus!"

Odess's eyes pierced through everything that was happening in the Southeast Tower. "Mistress Opa won't be so happy about all of this. That man's gonna pay."

Linus took a gulp. "Why did she strip?"

"I'll get you!!!" Odess leaped onto Rocky, then bolted right in heading to the armory.

A blush on Clarence's face became a slap's mark as Mycela's hand landed on him. "Focus, you idiot!"

*******

Thomas's expression remained constant during Tau's speech, but as he crossed his arms, and looked up at the ceiling, a smile took over his face. "I'm sure someone's figured him out. You see, there's somebody I've been trying to find this whole time. I haven't sensed his soul in quite a while. Wondered where the heck he went. But now I can feel him again. I can sense his presence. His spirit. His power. His confidence. I'm sure he just figured out how to beat your hooded secret weapon."

"What do you mean?"

Thomas's smile radiated.

Jerald returned a rather angry look, his eyes narrowing as his eyebrows drew together. "Point!"

A wall melted to create a hole.

Jerald aimed his hand there as a red glow launched from his fingers. "...C!"

Then there it was!

The third Pyramid Cage point.

They were only waiting for Navi's and all would be over.

That would be it.

The Castle. The Mind of Morpheus. Lux. All would be taken.

All would end.

His mission. The kingdom.

All done.

Then...Point C shattered.

Thomas had just swiped his weapon, casting one last Phantom Slice to knock Jerald out. "At least you tried. You could still say you did something in the name of your master. But there's no way we'll let you guys win."

Lux had covered his mouth. Relief rushed to warm his eyes and began to produce tears.

"Reporting." Thomas held up his hand by his ear. "Jerald Hesttaur. Down."

On the yard, as Synth healed her, Talc rejoiced with a mischievous grin.

Tau's expression was the opposite.

"What's that, honey?" Ling teased. "Raised your hopes up?"

The man forced a grin. "Don't be so cocky now. Even though Jerald is potentially dead, we're still gonna be able to win."

"You're wrong." Ara snapped.

"Oh yeah? What are you gonna do to help, you useless bug?"

Ara squeezed air. "I've...always been scared to get involved, because I'd hate to ruin it for everyone. I leave them to the front lines while I stay at the back to support. Only acting when utterly needed. I watch them carry out their tactics, knowing my ideas could never be as good. It's always been my place. At the back. Or at a corner. But tonight I've been watching Ling and Layla fight. They were doing it together.... A team. A real team. I...I just...I want to be part of that. I want to contribute. More than what I have. I'm part of the Royal Circle too."

Smirks propped on Ling and Layla.

"I'll do all I can to help! Papillon Blast!"

An orange flash exploded at Tau's Griffin.

"Monarch Wings!"

The sphere surrounding Ling broke to pieces as orange wings grew on her back. "Alright! Back in action!"

"Flitter Haste!"

Layla's wings sparkled with orange glitters. "I feel...lighter!" She flew in a circle. "Oh, and faster too!"

"Alright." Ling retrieved her falchion.

Tau adjusted his shades once again, then steered his creature to fly away.

"Monarch Blast!"

"Fan Falchion!"

"Stymphalian Plumes!"

With three spells casted together to finally finish him off, Tau's attempt at escaping proved helplessly futile. As he met all the attacks, his sunglasses shattered, and so did Point A, when he fell onto a rooftop.

All at once, the ladies reported, "Tau Slett. Down."

Bling stood up.

Ara hadn't realized, but her speech audipath has been active that whole time.

Everyone heard her.

Bling wiped her face. "That's right. I shouldn't be such a baby at a time like now. Time to do what I can too!" She used her power to lift the rocks that have fallen from Rocky, and then started flinging all of them at the rampaging golem.

"Great idea!" Mycela shot an arrow. "Since those debris are wurtzite boron nitride too, then they'll definitely do damage."

Linus gasped. "Then let's do this! Magnetize! Levitate!"

"Eroding shot!"

"Nuclear!!! Edge!!!"

The collisions caused a thunderous boom. Cracks crackled. Falls of grime flowed to the floor. Bits of rocks plopped, just before the rest of the golem erupted into rubble.

The four of them brandished fists. "We did it! We got rid of it!"

"This is for you, Jerald. They'll regret whatever they did to you." Navi's hand emitted red. "Point--"

"Shut up!" Odess leaped from an obsidian spike she rode to catch up to Navi. "No-Magic Kick!"

Navi fell on his face as Odess landed on him.

Dorias leaned against a pillar. "Did you really have to announce that move?"

"I can feel your thighs on me. How disgusting!" Navi gagged. "Did you seriously strip?"

"Hilt Hit!" She jabbed her sword's handle at Navi's head.

The man's eyes rolled as he went unconscious.

"Hilt Hit? You're joking." Dorias left the pillar and kneeled by Navi. "Bolting away worked then. But it wouldn't have for the long run. You were bound to stop at some point."

Odess let slip a little laugh. "Navi Dimegent. Down."

Down?

Jerald Hesttaur. Tau Slett. And Navi Dimegent. All down.

They did it. They beat all three! The Knights of the Royal Circle have beaten Erudon's men!

All but one.

*******

Zeal's right ankle was over his left thigh as he rested his back on his bamboo chair.

He was able to make it.

Kept together by Ethan's blades and further enforced by loops of Rin's laces. He'd built it whilst avoiding everyone's moves. Barely even spending any of his powers.

The Pyramid Cage point he casted hovered just behind him. The only one remaining after his allies' have been shattered.

Rin gushed out a breath as she fell on her behind. "I'm exhausted."

"I've lost too many of my blades." Ethan groaned.

Gleen gave them both looks of worry, and then the same over to Lion. Sadly she had long lost the stars that once lit her irises.

Lion tossed up a ring. "It's my last one."

"Then don't waste it," said an unseen voice.

Back in the halls, Thomas had rested against a wall, watching Jerald motionless on the carpets. He pressed his black audipath. "Be there in a minute, firehead."

Winston chuckled, jumping from a battlement. "If that's your last ring, don't use it yet."

"I'm will need to. Any time tonight." Lion hid it in his fingers' clutches. "I'm keeping it for now. You sound like you have ideas."

"I know how to beat this guy."

Lux's eyes grew.

What did he just say? Hold on. Where has he been this whole time? Wasn't he supposed to join Odess and Dorias? Lux has completely forgotten. He hasn't heard from him since afternoon. The king even forgot the man was around to begin with. No surprise there. He wasn't supposed to be. But what has he been up to? More importantly, what did he mean?

Zeal drew a deep breath. "A knight. You know you can't touch me." The hooded man pulled himself to get off of the chair. "As much as I enjoyed that seat, I'm gonna have to start moving around."

Winston raised his weapon. "You're not untouchable. It's just pain you can transpose. You can't do anything back if you aren't exactly hurt. King Lux figured as much. Hence his idea to coordinate Ethan's group with wizards who can use Trap Spells. You yourself even confirmed that tonight, didn't you? There are Trap Spells that can work."

"If you're already aware of all that, then why point that weapon at me? Is yours some sort of Trap Magic too?"

"Honestly almost anything can be." Winston scratched his head. "Haha."

"Genuine laughter. You must be pretty confident."

"Yeah. I can be pretty bold."

Zeal tugged his hood to cover more of his face.

The boomerang came flying at Winston, but the knight was quick to block with his sword.

Winston used his magic to freeze the steel. "They definitely could have succeeded first try if you didn't have this pain in the behind."

The boomerang dropped. The ice shattered, and the metal bent.

"That's why you made sure Tau gave you this, right? You knew we prepared an entrapment group for you."

Zeal pursed his lips.

"Now that it's gone, it should be an easy task putting you behind any sort of bars."

"What's your plan? I made sure they were all exhausted before anyone thought of what you just did." Zeal glossed over Ethan's group. "They have no more energy to fight me with."

Winston's sword breathed out frost. "They won't be the ones who will."

"Ice Magic? If you trap me in an ice cube, you'll feel the frostbite too. It might even kill you."

"If you freeze faster than you can cast Transpose, that won't happen. Besides, I don't mind." Winston laughed. "My duty isn't to stay alive. It's to protect King Lux of the Kingdom of Morpheus."

"You'll go to such lengths to protect your king?"

"Such and beyond."

"In that case." Zeal spread his arms open. "Let's have a little race. If you can freeze me before I use Transpose, then you'll have me and my comrades as prisoners. If I cast Transpose before I'm completely frozen, then you die."

Winston sighed softly. "It's not like we can do anything else. But oh well."

The Zealot smirked. "Go for it."

"Khione's Breath!" Winston slashed.

Zeal shrunk back, getting cold feet, both figuratively and literally. "Khione's...Breath?"

That's...a God Relic move.

What was he thinking?! Calling upon a god's breath will make him draw his last. Humans weren't supposed to use that kind of power! Where did he even get that?! And to use it for Lux. To protect Lux, he said. Winston was out of his mind!

Zeal's eye peeked out of his hood, the second time that night, as ice climbed onto him slowly consuming his body

As crazy as it was, it actually did work. In just ten seconds, an egg of ice has caged Zeal in.

He was...Zeal Squire was...

Winston wheezed for air, his teeth tittering of cold. "...Down."

Down.

Zeal was down.

Down! Finally down.

But so was Winston. Face flat on frosted grass.