Nýchta’s face twisted with confusion but she cast aside this bizarre scenario temporarily and glanced outside to find that all of the dark spirits were gone.

[Rest assured, they cannot enter these walls. Not anymore.]

Nýchta turned back to face the pale being.

“Who are you?” She asked.

[Like I said, my name is Kiburi and I the Keeper of this place. Please, come. You must be tired and the least I can do is offer you a place to rest. After all, it was my brothers who scarred you so.]

Nýchta looked herself over, prompting Nionyn to do the same but, much to further her confusion, all of her scars were gone, although a faint black discoloration could be seen where they once were.

“Was it you who healed our wounds?” Nionyn asked as he stood up, filling the air with the sound of creaking metals.

[Yes-]

“Thank you, oh benevolent spirit!” Nionyn cried with a lowered head but Kiburi frantically and dismissively waved his hands.

[I am no spirit. Just a simple soul who has yet to find rest.]

“Oh.” Nionyn sounded and, for a reason that puzzled Nýchta, he sounded disappointed.

[Now, please follow me.] Kiburi instructed before making his way towards an unreasonably large wooden door which opened, seemingly on its own, revealing a corridor which went to the left and right.

Kiburi took the right path and it's here that Nýchta noticed that the stone that made the walls within the palace was far lighter and cleaner that that on the outside.

Also, lining the small passageway she and Nionyn occupied were marble statues of various men and hanging from the walls were what Nýchta presumed to be their weapons.

“Come. Let us not keep our host waiting.” Nionyn said before walking into the corridor.

Nýchta sighed and promptly followed him to find Kiburi waiting for them in the red carpet lined corridor.

He then led them through what felt like a maze of corridors and they eventually arrived at large open chamber which was made entirely of marble.

Nýchta could not help but notice the handful of pillars that were half or completely broken.

Her gaze then fell onto the large rectangular bathtub that sat the center of the chamber.

[Feel free to cleanse your bodies. I will prepare something for you to eat in the meantime.] Kiburi said before suddenly disappearing.

“Mmm…” Nionyn sounded.

“What?”

“This is all too perfect. What if you and I are really dead and that kind spirit is trying to usher us into the realm of gods, souls and spirits?”

Nýchta rolled her eyes.

“We are not dead.” She said while removing the sheath which housed her daggers.

She then placed it on the ground before removing her chest plate and the thin, golden chain mail blouse beneath. It came attached with a skirt that covered the part where her waist joined with her tail.

“How can you be so sure?” Nionyn asked while removing his helmet.

“All souls are doomed to fall into the underworld. Do you really think the gods would want to mingle with mortal men, let alone accursed beings such as myself?” Nýchta asked while making her way into the bath was large enough to fit half an army.

“I do not see why they wouldn’t. Are they not our creators? Would a parent not want to reunite with their sons or daughters after prolonged separation? I, for one, would want nothing more.” Nionyn said.

Nýchta heard as the last pieces of his armor were placed onto the floor.

He then made his way into the bath and this revealed to Nýchta his many old and new scars. Most of which had been healed by Kiburi.

This also reminded her that she had been bitten and so she raised her tail and saw that the bite mark was indeed still there even though she had been healed.

The wound still throbbed with an irritating pain but she chose to ignore it.

Her tail sunk into the water and Nionyn watched with widened eyes.

His gaze then rose and focused on Nýchta’s head.

“If I remove it you will be turned to stone.” She said, anticipating his coming question.

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“Oh. Just how many curses were placed on you?”

“Just one. Anyway, let’s wash up. We shouldn’t keep our host waiting for too long.” Nýchta said without meeting Nionyn’s eyes.

He nodded and promptly joined her in bathing.

The two then emerged from the water and, after using towels which had suddenly appeared next to their armors, they dried themselves. Nýchta went through great lengths to ensure that her entire tail was dry before slipping into her armor alongside Nionyn who was done, although he held his helmet and sword in his hands.

Kiburi returned and he guided the two to a grand dining hall which was lined with tall windows that allowed the pale grey light from outside to shine on the many murals and engravings that lined the walls.

The pieces of art showed countless men battling all kinds of monsters and heading off on many grand journeys.

One thing that was common among all of them was the depiction of a castle which stood before a sheer cliff.

Another thing that was common among the murals in particular was the depiction of men returning to the cliffside castle carrying white bags that varied in size.

Kiburi gestured that Nýchta and Nionyn sit on two chairs which sat alongside a table which was nearly as long the room.

In front of those chairs was an assortment of foods. Fresh fruits, some nuts and two large jugs of water.

[I apologize, this is all I have to offer but it is fresh. Straight from the garden in the heart of the castle.] Kiburi said with a lowered head, but both Nýchta and Nionyn shook their heads.

“Don’t worry it’s fine but…” Nýchta said while looking back at her tail.

“Ah…” Nionyn sounded as he took his seat.

“I’ll stand.” Nýchta said while grabbing a fresh apple.

[I apologize, although there was no way I could have prepared apt accommodation for one such as yourself.] Kiburi chuckled.

Nýchta gave him a curt nod before looking Kiburi, who stood with crossed arms, a raised nose and a gentle smile, over. His pale form hung mid air and it seemed as though his feet were slowly fading away.

“I don’t mean to sound ungrateful but why did you save us?” She asked.

[Well, to start off, I have been watching the both of you for a bit. Especially you, valiant sir. Part of me even wanted to help you but alas, I cannot leave these walls, lest my soul be corrupted as well. And as for why I helped you… well, I have been alone here for a long time. I watched as you both desperately tried getting past my brothers and I was taken aback when you turned around to save your companion. I took you in because I saw good in you and even though the chance existed that I was wrong I allowed you in none the less.]

Nýchta nodded in understanding.

“Well thank you very much. I do not know if we will ever be able to repay you.”

[Well… there is one thing I would like to ask of you.]

Nionyn joined Nýchta in looking at Kiburi as he uncrossed his arms.

[I fully expect you to reject my request and you are both free to leave but your presence has actually presented an opportunity to right a wrong that haunts this castle till this very day.]

“Go on.” Nýchta said as Nionyn handed her another apple.

[Do you know the history of this place?]

“Yes.”

“Not exactly.” Nýchta said.

“Wait- I could have sworn I told you everything I knew about this place.” Nionyn said with a saddened expression but Nýchta lightly tapped his shoulder in consolation.

“Yes you did but that was merely everything you knew. Standing before us is a warrior of Castle Toniróon in the flesh- err… in a strange sense. Surely he would have a fuller understanding of this place, no?”

“Oh…” Nionyn sounded with slowly widening eyes.

“You are absolutely correct! Please, sir Kiburi. Tell us all there is to know about this place!”

[Hehe, alright. Although I hope a brief summary will suffice since l assume you both have destinations beyond the cliff.]

Both Nýchta and Nionyn nodded.

[Well, to begin with this place was once used by the gods in a now forgotten war. It was they who built it and they gave it to Old King Giosaetoú after permanently moving to Mount Olympus. The Old King then gathered his finest warriors and generals in these walls and its here that he declared that he would unite all of mankind under one banner and bring them to Greece and thus began his Great Mission.]

“Huh… the way Nionyn described it the mission sounded more like a conquest.” Nýchta commented.

[In many ways it was. The Old King said that it was his duty to bring all men to Greece as ordained by none other than Zeus himself. I, for one, cannot say what his motives were since that happened almost one hundred and fifty years ago but I know it must have been for a just reason. Anyway, he gathered many warriors on his conquest and those men came here and they served Greece all throughout the Age of Men. Many more warriors would come to this place long after the Old King died. I was one of the many who followed the call. I come from Kutokamilimani. A land far to the south. Over the sea and past the desert but this is not a retelling of my life story. No, our focus will be on Agnótis, one of the-]

“Greatest men to ever live!” Nionyn yelled earning him annoyed glances from both Nýchta and Kiburi.

“Sorry.”

[Hehe, don’t worry. I appreciate your enthusiasm and yes, he was one of the greatest heroes to be born of men. He held command over several legions of men as it was his and their duty to defend the people of Greece. However, twenty years ago, after years of service, Agnótis turned on his brothers in arms, and slew several of his men on a quest far east. He was summoned back here for questioning and it was here where his brothers discovered that his very soul had been corrupted by a dark magic. The same kind that writhes deeply within your tail, milady.]

Nionyn leaned over to glance at Nýchta’s tail while she kept her gaze locked with Kiburi’s.

[We- our brothers tried executing Agnótis but he resisted and, using the powers he had gained from the dark, he killed everyone that dared approach him, turning the entire cliffside black with corruption. The battle went on for days as more of my brothers tried to kill him. He eventually fell but at that point, far too much damage had been done to the cliff, the castle and the surrounding land. The corruption ran so deep that not even our souls could find rest in the underworld and so we remained above and since my brothers had all been exposed to the corruption, their souls became twisted and violent.]

Silence followed as Nýchta and Nionyn digested what they’d heard.

“Wait-“

[I hid.] Kiburi said, cutting Nýchta off.

[I hid like a coward in the cellar while my brothers fought to the death.] He added with lowered eyes.

[I… one look and ran down those stairs and crawled in between the barrels of wine. I then waited for the battle to end but but, by then, darkness had already engulfed most if the cliffside, swallowing most of the castle. I.. I assumed my brothers had been defeated and so I…]

“Pathetic.” Nionyn spat while making an expression Nýchta hadn’t seen him make before. One if pure disgust.

[I know.]

“You are worth no more than he who betrayed his own- the only reason why I sit here, even now, is because I am indebted to you.” Nionyn said through gnashed teeth.

[I… I Know. I have spent the past twenty years reflecting on that day and no hour passes when my soul doesn’t agonize over the decision I made.]

“So what would you have us do?” Nýchta asked.

[I want you to free my brothers from this endless nightmare.]