Five Days Since Kashi's Capture,

70 Kilometers South Of DarrenHold .

"Line up men!" Asha screamed. In response to her shout, Asha's soldiers formed three lines. Mages and musicians made up the backline. The frontline consisted of her toughest brawlers, while the middle line was made up of a mixture of brawlers and archers.

The Chetah commander, flanked on either side by Diatte and Kaga. Ahead of them, Hektor was poised with a double headed axe balanced carelessly on his shoulder. All eyes were on the horizon, muscles tensed from the anticipation.

Lunette dismounted a few feet from the back line. She ran up to the triplets, who shot appreciative glances her way. Of the orchestra, they were the only ones she had allowed to accompany them on their quest. A larger company meant slower progress, plus someone had to keep the performances going.

Lunette returned the smile, then jogged up to the front where Asha nodded. "They will not be helping us," Lunette confirmed.

Something resembling disappointment seemed to cross the Chetah's face. But it was gone almost instantaneously. "No matter," Asha said. "We have been taking care of ourselves for a very long time."

Lunette smiled. "I never did thank you. You have no obligation to risk your lives like this. I truly am gra—"

"Stop," Asha interrupted. "Like I said earlier, this is to return the blood debt I owe the daeben." A moment's pause, and she reluctantly added, "I am loathe to admit, but it is a big help that you are here too."

Lunette nodded. "Good luck," she said, then joined the triplets at the back line.

"I don't need luck," Asha muttered. She gripped her blade handles as movement in the horizon caught her eyes.

Shadow atop a dark horse rode hard past Hektor, whose grin widened at his warning cry. "Two minutes!"

Though the warrior still could not see his adversary, his belligerent war cry shook the earth. Hektor charged forward at full sprint, hollering madly at his would-be prey. Galvanised by the human's bravery, Asha's men banged swords against shields, then started a charge of their own.

Behind them, Diegel's drums pumped the atmosphere. Blood rushed like geyesers through their systems. Their cries resembled thunderclaps, their feet the herald of an earthquake. But above it all, a single voice reigned supreme. All things living and otherwise found themselves trapped under the spell of the most dangerous songstress in all of Destia.

A hundred yards away from where this desperate battle for survival was about to take place, Kira watched over three sleeping companions. She could not help but wonder about how it was the world worked. During the entire time the trio were awake, they had not faced any considerable threat. Now they were asleep, and suddenly the party fell under its heaviest challenge to date.

Kira shook her head as she lay down next to Jade. Only figured that the coalition's strongest forces all take the day off on their worst crisis.

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Present Time

Second Under

"Welcome to Second Under, Champion of the gods ."

If Kashi heard the odd phrasing, he did not show it. His mind was entirely focused on the dwarven city below him. He thought he'd caught a glimpse while crossing the bridge but it turned out what he'd seen was far from the real deal.

The dwarven houses, carved out of the earth itself held a certain charm that could not be described. Sure Kerta and Riven had ornate designs, and eye catching colors, but there was a certain rawness to this place that he could not describe.

Zeing's home was elevated above the rest, sitting atop a huge rock with twin statues of a thin deity at the top of two flights of stairs on either side of the porch. A rather stout dwarven statue stood at the front of the rock, wielding a giant hammer in his hand. Kashi recognized the dwarf.

"Who's that?" Kashi asked.

"Aygor," Zeing answered. He watched the daeben with amusement. All of the hostility earlier had evaporated, almost like it was never there. How could anyone change so swiftly? One second, they were enemies, and now he was willing to chat about ancient legends? "Dwarven god of Smithery. He worked the forges in the heavens to provide weapons for his brothers and sisters."

"Hmm," Kashi murmured. Edges, pieces of a plan began to form, but he could not see the full picture yet. "Okay, take me to Zuri."

Zeing sighed. This daeben was impossible to read. It irked him. "Fine. But stay close. Your kind is not exactly welcome down here."

Kashi nodded. "Understandable. Lead the way." Kashi followed the daeben down the flight of stairs, and into the streets of Second Under. The first thing he noticed were the children. There were a lot of them, but their parents quickly marshalled them into their homes. "Your children, they stay with you?"

Zeing nodded. "Dwarves have it very hard above ground. Most schools don't even accept our young any longer. And we refuse to send any more to training grounds."

"Isn't that dangerous though?" Kashi asked. The lack of children in MMOs was a normal occurrence. This was because while it was easy for game companies to explain away the violence and animal hunting apparent in videogames, any hint of violence against children in videogames was largely frowned upon. Putting children in MMOs where madness often prevailed was hence a recipe for multiple lawsuits.

However, in order to have an authentic Virtual Reality Experience, Genaco decided every resident had to have back stories of their own. Which meant they needed childhoods. And if they did, it would be very weird for there to be no children in the world at all. So, they created schools and training forts. The excuse became that most children spent their lives from 5-15 inside said schools, hence the lack of children in most towns.

It was a neat way to prevent players from randomly killing children and invariably promote a lawsuit. Of course, this was the 'general' formula. Every now and then, you came across a resident who refused to send their child to these schools. It was rare, but it happened. Which was why Kashi was only a little surprised to see so many in the dwarven town.

"Summoned do not often visit dwarven villages," Zeing explained. "So we do not have to fear too much for their safety."

Kashi raised a brow. "You guys have a low opinion of Summoned."

"And you're a dark elf to boot," Zeing pointed out. "I'd watch my back if I were you."

"Why? You won't watch it?"

"No."

Kashi shrugged. "Fair enough."

Kashi heard a rather loud group murmuring ahead of them, just around the corner. As expected, Zeing turned that very corner. Kashi stopped cold when he joined up behind Zeing.

The dwarf could feel the rage practically radiate off the daeben. He would have been tempted to just watch, but there was a chance a number of his people would be killed by the dark elf's retaliation. "Calm down elf," Zeing ordered, placing his hand on Kashi's shoulder. "She's dangerous. It was either this or kill her."

Kashi's teeth ground against each other. He fought to control the rage that was steadily rising. No, no this would not do. Things were bad enough as they were. If he lost it now, he would lose the dwarves forever. Think of the bigger picture.

Kashi closed his eyes, swallowed a deep breath, then slowly let it out. "Release her." After a moment's pause, he added, "Please."

Zeing eyes widened. He had expected the daeben to explode. Maybe there was a reason the gods had chosen him after all. "All right, that's enough," Zeing hollered as he approached the crowd. The dwarves parted as if shifted by invisible hands to reveal the spectacle they crowed upon.

Zuri was sprawled on the floor, hands bound above her head to a slim mast. The singlet and shorts which made up her attire were ripped in several places. Some from her bout with the vekraptors, but others were more recent. Red liquid dripped down her head, but upon second glance, it was revealed not to be blood. Someone had thrown a fruit at the young girl. Judging by the litter around her, that was not the only thing that she had suffered.

Zeing reached for the girl. She immediately backed away, pressing herself against the mast. Staring at the young girl, so frightened of his him that she couldn't even fathom he wanted to help, he wondered to himself, 'When did we become the monsters?' But even so, he could not blame his people for their rage. Many had lost more than a few loved ones to the dark elves. He released the binds that shackled the daeben. Her arms dropped to her side, but it seemed she was too weak to even move them. "Someone came to see you."

Zuri glanced at the big man. She had seen him many times. Whenever she fought, he was always there, always watching. Unlike the other dwarves he never seemed to enjoy the fight. But his eyes. His eyes were always watching. In his eyes she was less than a bug. She could live or die and he would not care. His eyes... Their eyes... Pity, contempt, apathy. They were watching. Studying.

"She will die."

Zuri gripped the side of her head as sharp pulses of pain ravaged her brain. No need to worry. These were normal. They happened all the time. She just had to wait. They will pass he said. "...ri!" They will eventually pass. "Zu..." Wait.. who said? Who said they would pass. "ZURI!"

His voice broke into her thoughts. She realized as she stared into those red eyes. There was one man who did care for her. Someone who had fought for her. Just like that it stopped. The headaches, the pain. Everything she'd gone through the past couple of months didn't matter anymore. Tears streamed down her face as she tackled her savior to the ground, wrapping her arms round his neck.

Zeing had this scene burned into his memory. It would stay in him till the day he died. For it was the first of very few occasions he would ever see the daeben called Kashi make the kind of face he had at that moment.

Kashi rose so he sat on the earth. Zuri's grip around his neck threatened to choke the life out of him. Prickly hair poked into his flesh, drawing blood. Her wailing voice was so loud, he thought his eardrums would burst, and the snotty tears. His shoulder was drenched with the stuff.

But somehow none of that mattered.

If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

Kashi didn't know what the emotion that overcame him was. All he knew was that his heart felt uncharacteristically warm. His left hand patted the source of this new emotion while he waited for her to let it all out. This feeling. It wasn't so bad.

After almost ten minutes of constant crying, Zuri pulled away and wiped her nose with her arm. "W-where were you? I Wazsh scho worried."

Kashi's smile was warm as he cocked his head to the side in mock-surprise. "You were worried about me?"

Zuri nodded her head so frantically, it looked in danger of flying right off.

Kashi had to admit. She was kinda cute. "Hmm, I've never had someone worry over me before. It feels pretty good."

"Hai!" Zuri agreed, beaming proudly. "Zuri worried for Kashi, and Kashi worries for Zuri!"

"Eh? But I'm not worried for Zuri." Zuri's eyes fell. But they soon widened in surprise when she was hoisted into the air. "Because I know Zuri is the strongest. So Zuri should not worry about me. Because I am also the strongest."

Zuri laughed, her eyes beaming. "Then we're both the strongest?"

Kashi placed her on his lap. "Well, it would seem that way."

"But Zuri's the strongest of the strongest!" She announced proudly.

"Ah!" Kashi exclaimed. "You got me." He chuckled as he got to his feet. His gaze immediately went from soft to hard warning as he swept the onlooking dwarves. His glare relaxed as it returned to Zeing. "We need to talk."

Zeing studied both daebens. He did not have to look at his brothers and sisters to know what kind of expression they wore. He'd had the very same while watching the unfolding scene. It's funny what blind hatred can reduce normally sane folk to. He shook his head. No time to self-reflect. He had remained dormant all these years waiting for a catalyst of change. He'd been hoping it would be a fellow countryman, but decades of subjugation had stamped out the dwarven rebellious spirit from most of them. The few who had it had left the underground cities to find more fulfilling lives elsewhere.

Zeing sighed. If that catalyst now appeared in the form of a hated enemy, maybe that was just punishment for not doing anything. To think I would have to rely on a Destroyer to Restore my people. "Follow me daeben. There are people who would like to speak with you."

Zuri clambered onto Kashi's back, determined never to let go of him ever again. Kashi really hoped it was just a phase thing. His tales so far were of a Devil Dark Elf and his Demon Hound. He wasn't really sure bards would appreciate adding 'piggy-backing Demon Lord' to the jingle.

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Lunette glanced at the shackles that bound her hands. The guard who did them had been a real piece of work. The iron restraints dug deep into her skin. They hurt like hell whenever she so much as shifted her hand. But that was not the most humiliating thing. It was the gag and mask they'd used to cover her mouth that really irked her. Being unable to speak was the equivalent of taking away a sword from a swordsman. She felt completely naked.

The songstress took in the chamber she'd been brought to. A giant crystal gem took up the center of the room. Sheets of paper were stacked on a tripod stand just ahead of it. It reminded her of the stands used by orchestra members for performances. Aside from those, something about the chamber gave her chills. She just could not place her finger on what it was exactly.

"Well, Ms. Lunette, glad to see you punctual," Froy said from behind as he entered the chamber.

Lunette clucked her tongue. She had been dragged here against her will. What did he mean by punctual? But she refused to give him the satisfaction of her rage. Comporting herself, she replied, "Of course. I am never late for an appointment."

A shadow crossed Froy's face. He had not expected that reply. He walked up to the songstress. A quick slap with the back of his hand reminded her who was boss around here. He grabbed the little lady by the jaw and pulled her close. "I see why the Primate's interested in you. You are certainly beautiful." He shrieked in horror as the heathen dared to douse his righteous face with her unclean spit. Three hard slaps drew blood from her lips. "Don't you ever try that again! You seem to forget we have your boyfriend in our hands." He laughed when he saw the panic in her eyes. "That's right you worm! Better do as I say or the next time you see him, it will be his corpse dropped into lava."

Lunette gritted her teeth, but could say nothing in reply.

Froy laughed maniacally. "That's what I thought!" He grabbed her by the arm and yanked her toward the tripod. "Everyone of them, underestimating me, making fun of me. I will show you all!" He pointed at the sheets, which as Lunette thought, turned out to be sheets of music. Thankfully, they used the same note and chord detonation as in real life. "Sing this."

Lunette eyed him.

"Oh, yes." Froy signalled one of his guards. The wisben came up behind Lunette and undid the mask.

Lunette spat out the gag, then fixed her glare at Froy. "Why?"

Froy's patience was beginning to run dangerously thing. "Because I said so."

Lunette refused to go into this thing blind. "What does this do?"

Froy gritted his teeth as he raised his hand to slap her again. Something wild in her eyes gave him pause. He had never felt this kind of pressure before. Not even from the daeben. What the hell was this woman? He shook his head. No, there was nothing special about her. Just his overactive imagination. Still, it would not do to overly antagonize her. If she found out Kashi was missing, he would lose his hold over her. A little information was not so bad. "This is a power stone," Froy explained. "It converts musical energy into mana. However, it does not accept any energy below a certain threshold." An irritated look crossed his face. "And I am afraid none of my men have been able to even excite it in the least."

"Somehow you think I can?"

Froy frowned. "You'd better. Two lives depend on it."

Lunette gritted her teeth as she scanned the melody. It was dark, oppressive. It was a tune meant to denote power over the weak, heavy and cold. Whatever energy resulted from this melody would only be used for nefarious reasons.

Lunette started singing, her voice immediately capturing the attention of everybody present. The gemstone pulsed bright for a bit, but then died off instantly. "Seems even I am inca—" BAM! Lunette stifled a cry as her face crashed against the stand. The sheets were soaked in dark red from a broken nose.

Froy grabbed a handful of her hair and yanked her face upwards. His voice was low, sinister as he whispered into her ear. "I've seen you sing girl. Really sing. Pretend like that again, and both you and loverboy will be joining the circle."

Lunette channeled all of her rage into the song. She wiped a stray tear that threatened to spill from her eyes. No! She would never cry again. She had since promised. Ever since that day. Her voice was powerful... Too fowerful in fact. All her emotions caused the earth to shake beneath their feet as the gemstone exploded with bright light.

"Yes!" Froy screamed. "HAHAHA!"

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Five Days Since Kashi's Capture,

70 Kilometers South Of DarrenHold .

Lunette watched the battle with trepid gaze. Shadow, Hektor and the Chetahs had held up a strong front for over an hour, keeping those lifeless ghouls at bay. But she could tell. It would not be enough. As long as their major weapons were logged out, eventually numbers would win out.

She stifled a yell as another Chetah warrior was ran through by electricity. The lifeless eyes stared at her, her nostrils choked with charred flesh. No, no no... Then she heard the yell. A ways off, Shadow gripped a sword, blood dripping from his abdomen.

The ghoul released the blade, and prepared to smash his face in.

"NOOO!" Lunette's single-minded yell fired off a concentrated shockwave. It was not life threatening, but managed to knock both friend and foe onto the ground. Luckily, Chetahs are far more agile and were on the feet immediately. They swiftly dispatched the disgruntled ghouls closest to them.

Lunette ran to her brother and clutched his shoulder. "Are you okay!? Are you alright!?"

"I'm fine sis," Shadow assured with a weak laugh. He yanked out the sword. Luckily, it didn't seem to have pierced anything major. "Nothing one of the damned elf's potions won't fix."

Lunette released a huge sigh of relief. Relief that turned to utter despair when she saw the look on her brother's face. "No. No." She turned to see what he saw, and finally understood why Kashi had been captured. They just did not stop coming.

Dozens of Ghouls were racing towards them.

Lunette steeled her resolve as she saw them approach. She glanced at her brother. "Sorry." Before he could speak, she punched him hard where the sword had pierced.

Shadow doubled over from the shock, crumpling to his knees as he grabbed his sister's skirt. "Sis.. wha?" His hand fell, as did he.

Lunette's head whirled around as she frantically searched for something. As if in answer to her prayers, Kira suddenly appeared in front of her. "I thought you were watching the others?"

Kira's hard gaze met hers.

"You know what I want to do?"

No reply. The direwolf just set her head down.

Lunette hugged the wolf. "Thank you." She quickly clambered onto the wolf. "Let's go."

"What are you doing!?" Asha cried as the wolf ran past her into the path of the ghouls.

"Stop!" Hektor screamed even as the songstress's desperate cry attracted the ghoul's attention. He remembered now. Shadow had said he'd felt somebody watching him and Lunette during their performances. Could she be? "Lunette-san!"

But Lunette had already made up her mind. She patted Kira, and the direwolf tore off to the side, too fast for the weary party to even think of giving chase. Behind her the ghouls shifted priorities. The songstress was of far more importance. Over eighty percent of their force gave chase after the Direwolf and Songstress. Away from the coalition.

Away from her brother...

"Fuck!" Hektor cursed as he watched them disappear into the horizon. Blazing eyes turned towards the remaining ghouls with rejuvenated fury. "You fuckers!"

"What's all the fuss about?" A voice called from behind.

Hektor turned to see Syèl approach, hands confidently tucked in his jacket. On either side, he was flanked by Jade and Shoko. Something about the wisben's cocky grin set something off. Hektor stomped over and grabbed him by the collar. "Where the fuck you been!?"

Syèl's grin faded, replaced by a cold glare. "I suggest you let go."

Hektor felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned to Shoko, who solemnly shook her head. "Bah!" Hektor swore as he draped his axe over his shoulder. He brushed past Syèl, who turned to face him with an amused expression.

"There're still enemies. Where you going?"

Hektor turned to face him. If looks could kill, those red eyes would have burned a hole through Syèl's head. "I'm sure you can clean up the rest. Tough guy ."

Syèl looked to Shoko who shook her head in disappointment. "What?"

Jade said nothing. Instead she went over to the fatigued felines in order to offer her assistance in healing their injuries. "You guys can handle those right?"

Syèl and Shoko glanced at the onrushing horde. The duo calmly walked toward the chaos. "Easy," they chorused.