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A knock on the dark door and the receptionist opened, trembling. She quickly strode to hide behind her boss. Brenna stood in front of her desk, arms behind her back. Her face softened as she saw her brother enter the room with Drac and Marina.

Drac stepped up and said, "Before anything, I would like to apologise.” Everyone turned to Drac. "For a while now, I have been going headfirst into danger.

“Finally noticed, huh?” said Marina with a grin as she nudged at him with an elbow. “But that's what makes travelling with you fun. You do stupid insane shit all the time!”

“But rashness nearly cost me my life. My confidence was built up so much that I forgot my limit. And yesterday…I learned a hard lesson. So, thank you, Guardian. Thank you for following me.”

Brenna smiled. “Accepted and received.”

Fergus's mouth goes ajar.

“Fergus.”

Fergus straightened up and closed his stunned mouth. “Yes, sister.”

“Well done. I heard you saved quite a lot of lives yesterday.” Fergus tried his best to stop a large smile.

“And you two.” Brenna gestured to the nervous receptionist, who handed over a box to Marina. She opened the velvet line box to reveal a gold medal engraved with the Adventurers Guild symbol.

“This…” Marina inspected them.

“May help with the search for Hood’s brother. Flash the medals and they will give you the respect you deserve as Warriors sponsored by a Guardian.”

Fergus’s mouth went slack again.

“Judging by Ferg’s face, I guess this is more important than you are letting on.”

Brenna nodded. “Don’t lose it.”

Marina hands over the medal for Drac to see. On the medal was an image of an adventurer holding a flag staked into the ground in front of the giant Great Tree. In Tralor, a phrase was etched around the edge of the medal: The Great Tree stands tall forever more.

“This is too much…”

“Of course not. With your copies, you spent the night working with the town warriors, helping the injured, and saving everyone you could. It's not enough. But this is the best in this town and I can provide to you.”

Drac clasped the medal before putting it into an inside jacket pocket. “I’ll accept this great gift.”

“Good.” Brenna stepped to the window gazing at the damage wrought on her town.

“What are copies?” Fergus interjected.

Brenna ignored her brother and gestured for the receptionist to leave.

The door closed with Brenna, Marina, Fergus, and Drac left. There was a change in the air.

“What do you know about the demon?”

Everyone turned to Drac, who stood unnerved.

“Demon!!?” Marina and Fergus shouted in unison.

“Name’s Kodoku. They seem to be the master of the humanoid bugs and Imago that attacked yesterday. En probably came from another town, killing for souls. The big bastard could consume souls, allowing him to use that strange black flame and I would assume the same with the others who hid in the wood.”

“So you noticed.”

Drac nodded.

“What are their goals? Why us?” Brenna asked.

“Easy target.”

Brenna turned around. “Excuse me?”

Drac sat on the desk while fiddling with his new medal. “This tree. Using a strange force, it keeps the monster in the areas, right?”

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

“Yes. It is what allows cities to strive—allowing the level system to be created. Imago are not supposed to be here. What does that have to do with anything?"

“My brother was sent here to investigate missing priests in the area. But he had another job. To investigate the weakening of the tree.”

Brenna walked up to Drac. “What bullshit are you saying?”

“My working theory is that the weakness was what allowed the Imago to go down this far. Surely you have heard reports of turns overrun by monsters.”

“They are escaping the great forest…”

“Weaker apparitions for now but we did see a humanoid and a centipede before reaching Heartbrook.”

Looking stressed Brenna walked by her chair. Fergus ran to help and make sure she was well.

“Souls are their goal. They will build up strength and numbers. Once they have run out of easy pickings, stronger towns will fall.”

Will you not tell her about the other one?

It's best to keep your card close to your chest.

“Alright. I will send messenger birds to other guardians.”

“A demon, unbelievable…” Scared of Marina's reaction, Drac turned around. A childish grin grew on her face. “The portal, and now this?! You have to stop leaving me out of the fun.”

Drac relaxed and smiled. “I won’t next time.”

Fergus paced beside Brenna, trying to rack his brain around this new information.

Portal!?

After rubbing her temple, she looked up at Drac. “Finding your brother is more important than ever before.” She opened a desk drawer and took a piece of paper to give to Drac.

“Give it to my brother, and he will escort you. Whatever happens, I will ignore.”

“The Clements?! Why…?”

Brenna looked at Fergus, perplexed. “How do you know their address?”

“I like to drink and gamble. What's wrong with that?!”

“Nothing really. Just a normal noble degenerate.”

“I least I don't take Calm like the rest of them idiots.”

Drac and Marina stare at Fergus walking down the dirt road. The trek to find The Clement's hideout had taken them to the edge of the town.

"Fuck sake, I know. Wrong crowd.”

Drac and Marina giggle.

“What is so funny?”

"Oh, nothing,” Drac said. “Just reminiscing about good times.”

They finally arrive at a barn door. On the way, Drac had time to learn about the group. A sketchy lot, they skirt the line. Just enough for the guardian to ignore their presence.

Fergus knocked heavily on the large barn door four times. “Hey, Bastards. I have come to my pay tab.

“Heh, broke boy,” Marina said under her breath. Fergus shot her an angry glance.

Wood moved behind the door and locks clicked. A balding man opened with a smile.

“The prince is back! Finally got your coin, hav--”

A kick shot the clement into the table inside. Fergus holds his head flabbergasted. “Why did you do that!?”

Drac sauntered inside while stretching. Marina leaned on the wall. Aura flared on his body. Drac looked around. Rough-looking warriors get out of their seats. Aura exploded from several dozen, and they unsheathed the weapons in anger.

“I will give you one last chance. Where is my brother?”

Confusion and then recognition changed on their faces, and they attacked.

Drac leaned away from an aura-enhanced blade. A left fist crumpled the attacker to the ground. Drac leaned backwards, letting a sword miss him by an inch. A left leg swept the opponent's feet. As the attacker fell, Drac's right foot knocked the man's lights out.

“I missed having an easy fight.”

Still cocky.

Three men charged in, angered by Drac’s comment. Drac stepped in while a Clement struck downward. A right fist caved into the man’s face and he flipped in the air. Drac concentrated Aura on his left leg and pounced on another opponent, connecting with his chin with a left. The third’s stab was guided aside with Drac’s right palm. The same arm became a whip as his Drac’s knuckle hit the chin.

Aura simmered from his jacket as his enemies covered the bar floor. He looked around at the other Clements. They held their weapons with trepidation.

A back door opened. A set of twins walk out. Pimpled, sharp faces, and both sporting large blonde mohawks. One with a long scar on his right cheek, and another with dark, sunken eyes.

“Hey, hey, hey! What's all the commission out here?" The scared one said. The twins look around. Their members were defeated on the ground and in their minds. Then they saw a familiar face. “Fergus! Did you bring this dark motherfucker here!?”

Fergus put his arms up in surrender. The hallowed-eyed twin tapped his brother on the shoulder and whispered. “Oh.” The scarred one smiled. “So you came for revenge, eh?”

The twins unhook the large spiked axes from their sides. “If you want, we can send you to where we buried him.” Aura flared from both twins. “Family should be buried together, hahaha!”

The twins separated, dashing in opposite directions. Aura-coated axes attack Drac from the left and right.

Drac crossed his arms and split into three.

Two copies catch the twins by their arms. The twin's eyes look around frantically. Before they could shout, the copies threw them to the ground.

Drac turned around and grabbed the nearest chair to sit on.

“GET OFF ME, YOU BLACK BASTARD.”

A copy twisted and an arm was dislocated. A wail followed

“BROTHER!” The hallowed-eyed one screamed.

A copy broke a finger. And the other twin cried.

“Oh yeah, those are copies,” Marina told a frazzled Fergus.

Drac leaned forward in his chair with lace fingers. Fierce eyes stare directly into the captured eyes.

“Since I am very generous today, I will give you another chance. Where is my brother?”