I had survived the attack of an ancient Frost Worm and the freezing cold waters that surrounded the City Fortress.

I was in the muck of the underground sewers to the City Fortress of the Demon General. I didn't feel the freezing cold as my mind was on other matters. Also, the Demons enchanted my clothing to hold up in the harsh cold. The clothes that the Marquis gave me did quite well in keeping me warm and alive. I traveled through the underground passageways for what seemed like hours. It was a deceptive and dark maze that was filthy.

If I remember correctly they called this place "Mizumi no Yosai", from what I heard it was the Demon Emperor who named and built this place himself. I have no idea what language it came from but I was told it meant "Lake Fortress", and this place was just like that.  I kept moving upward and forward in the dark passageways. My eyes have adjusted quite quickly to the dark but small amounts of light were scattered all around in the sewers.

The smell was distinct as it was not quite awful as I imagined. Still, it was amazing to me how great the Demon Emperor was in how he intricately designed these cities. The underground waterways looked almost comparable to those in the Royal Capital and even better so. The Demon Emperor was a genius in the art of building and crafting. I wondered if things would be different if he was still alive?

I climbed up a ladder and waddled through another passageway. There were too many passage ways and I clearly didn't know which direction I should take. I only chose the way that seemed less murky and foul smelling. I pinched my nose but there was a searing attack on my senses by a smell that seemed familiar. It wasn't the smell of death but something close to it. I knew the smell but I just couldn't recall from when or where.

A noise echoed through the passageway and I became alert to my surroundings.

                "Wasn't it dangerous?..."

                "This city has a protective ward against that Frost Wyrm…"

                "I was wondering why such a dangerous creature inhabited the Lake…"

It was the sound of people talking and I listened for its direction.

                "Is everyone accounted for?..."

                "Mostly, the whole fortress is under wraps…"

I moved closer in the tunnel as I heard only bits and pieces of their conversation.            

                "Any Demons that haven't turned?..."

                "Some, they were dealt with…"

What's going on in the city fortress above? I walked through the passageway and tried not to let the noise of my movements be heard. The passageway tunnel turned and there was a light that emitted from up above. As I walked closer, I noticed the light coming from a sewer grate above me. It was too high for me to reach and too small for me to go through. I could make out what seem to be some people standing there. 

                "I can't believe these fools let us…."

                "It's that Demon General…"

                "Yes, he's broken…"

What's wrong with the Demon General?

                "I used to spy in the Bareth Kingdom, I recall that the previous King was in the same state…"

Were these Blackbirds talking? Have they already overrun the fortress?

                "Oh, he the same? Why?..."

                "Yes, he was broken after the death of his son…"

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I leaned close to the tunnel walls and stayed away from the light.

                "Ah, so the Demon General is the same…"

                "Yes, Queen Helen rose to power because of it…"

                "No one will rise to power here…"

Isn't this a city of Demons? What happened to the populace and this city fortress? Have the Blackbirds taken over? How and why? There were many questions that swirled in my mind and my heart seemed to race. If I was too late…what happened to Liz?

                "The Cardinal has arrived…"

                "She has?..."     

                "The reinforcements from earlier!?..."

                "Yeah, the Cardinal was on one of those Drakes…"

                "Why!?..."

                "Don't ask why, if the Cardinal is here…then it must be important…"

The leader of the Blackbirds was here!?

My heart was sinking at the words from the devil in my ring.

                "Then we better make sure our mission is completed…"

                "Yes! For the Cardinal!..."

Some movement could be heard from up above as the Blackbirds scattered. I was left alone while I pondered my thoughts. The Blackbirds were here and the Demon General seemed to be in their pocket. What happened to the Demons of the City for it to be taken over? What exactly is going on?

Then a realization came over me and I knew what might've happened. I knelt down a bit and touched the murky water with my fingers. I sniffed the aroma of the water and realized what was mixed in the water system.  It was called the "Nectar of Madness" and I knew about its dangers. During the war, the Blackbirds had poisoned one of their towns in an effort to stop the oncoming forces.

But, I knew that it was just a test of this poison. It would drive anyone who drank the water mixed with the nectar to go insane. Even Silvia referred to the Blackbirds as doing experiments on their own populace. The Blackbirds worked in the art of spycraft and subterfuge. They poisoned their own people and some of our own soldiers lost their sanity from drinking the poisoned wells.

Had they perfected the poison?

I didn't want to imagine anymore and I looked for a way out of these sewers quickly.

If I was able to hear some conversations up above, then I could be close to an exit. If not, I may have to use drastic measures and use the power of the black ring. Though knowing that a month of my life would be gone as payment for its use. I needed to make sure that it was a last resort only.

Deeper in the passage, an indention was made on the wall.

I walked over to see a ladder that led up above. Hastily, I climbed up the ladder but a creaking sound emanated and I fell off. I landed on my back and splashed in the murky water. I looked up to see half of the bottom of the ladder had become rusted and broke off. Now, I would need to gather up my strength and leap up to catch a rung. I poised myself to get back up and try again.

I leaned my back against the wall opposite of the ladder and rushed forward to jump up. I caught one of the rungs with my right hand and pulled myself up. I climbed up the ladder and looked above to see a cover on top. I reached the top of the ladder and slowly pushed the cover. It wouldn't seem to budge as the cover was made of metal and rusted a bit. I took out my sword and slowly carved around the outline hoping to free some of the rust.

I used my shoulder to push up at the cover and slowly it moved. I was able to see the surface streets and people standing around. I held my breath as I thought I had been caught but the people paid no attention to me. I pushed the cover off and climbed out of the manhole. I looked around and saw many Demons that didn't move.

Their faces looked muddled and their eyes seemed blank. I passed by more Demons and it was more of the same. They stared straight and stood around like statues. The Demons whether men, women or children had the same faces and posture. Around the streets of the city fortress, there were bodies that laid on the floor bloody. I sneaked around the city streets and observed that the populace was either mindless or dead.

This wasn't like the Nectar of Madness but more like they had become mindless fools.

I looked toward the center of the city fortress to see a castle and I knew that my destination was there. The city was silent but some footsteps could be heard in the distance. I saw many humans garbed in the Blackbird uniform scattered around. They looked to be searching the city for more inhabitants and I heard the screams of people dying. The Blackbirds had taken over the city and were killing those who had not become mindless.

I hid in an alleyway as I observed the Blackbirds from afar.

I shuddered as I watched the Blackbirds moving throughout the city fortress doing their deeds. I had to stop them and was poised to make my move. I drew my sword but then a sound echoed through the city. It was the sound of a flute being played and the Blackbirds stopped in their tracks. It was a familiar song, one that I haven't heard in a long time.

I became confused as I saw the Blackbirds look towards the castle at the center of the city fortress.

                "The Cardinal, she calls for us."

The Blackbirds got together and rushed to the castle.

I leaned back against the wall and slowly drifted down to the floor.

The flute and that song…

I only knew one person who enjoyed both…

It was one of my former companions…Silvia