“What have you done?” Rio stood in front of the alley way. He could only see Mordret’s back, but he could hear the man’s laughs. A mundane human, at least the rest of him, was sprawled on the ground.

“Don’t worry, it was a member of Valor.” Mordret turned around, flashing a grin at Rio. The Master stood silently, looking at the man and the body. ‘Ki Song was mad’ Rio thought. She can’t control someone like this. Four. Mordret had been attacking Valor’s members in both the dream realm and the waking world. This was the fourth incident.

“He wasn’t even an awakened.”

“He is still part of Valor.” Mordret shrugged and walked away, leaving red footprints. He was right. The man was a part of the Clan that Rio hated. He should be happy. Why did he hate the Clan? Cormac was dead. Rio was only a Master, there was only so much he could do.

Sparks flared in Rio’s hands and the tyrant regarded him. Mordret’s smiled deepened and his black sword manifested.

“This will be interesting, will you use your bow or --” Mordrets head exploded. His whole body was incinerated next. The walls of the alley were turned to ash and Rio’s stopped the weapon before it could do more damage. [Oath of the Watcher] returned to his soul sea, transforming from a javelin back to an orb. Shards of glass showered the ground, shattered by the sound and sheer force of the attack. Rio felt his body heel to the side effects, and fell to his knees.

‘What am I doing?’ Rio had used his trump card against Mordret, and for what? Revenge of a Valor man? It was funny to Rio. He wasn’t sure what he wanted now. Why go on hating Valor when Cormac is dead. Why stay with Song if Nico died? Nico. Rio stood up. If Nico died, Rio would be lost. He shook himself from his stupor and looked at the body of the man. Mordret’s vessel was gone, but he knew that Mordret survived. No, the body he was looking at was the one from Valor. He was…ordinary. A man.

“Usually people talk while on dates,” Effie said. Rio raised his head, losing his train of thoughts. Effie finished ordering the whole menu, and the waiter shuffled off. Her upper body was exposed, wearing a crop top, one could help but let their eyes wonder. She wore sweatpants and left her brunette hair down . For the type of restaurant they were at, both of them were underdressed. Rio smiled.

“I’m not one for being ordinary.” It was awkward silence again. Rio wished he’d asked people for how to do these. Who would he ask? ‘Seishan?’ Beastmaster?’ For some reason those choices didn't seem appropriate for this situation, so Rio was left in the dark.

“So why’d you ask me out? Don’t get me wrong, I have zero interest in you, just your pockets.” She grinned, scarfing down the appetizers.

“Why did I?” Rio thought aloud, “You’re obviously pretty. Hazel eyes, olive skin, and a wonderful body.”

“Don’t start coming to me with your problems, I already do enough of that.” She gave him a playful look, then looked around the restaurant.

“Because I wanted to get to know you.” Rio finally said. “You were so carefree at the ball, not noticing the many battles underneath.”

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

“I paid attention, I just didn’t care.” She said bluntly. “Saints, Masters, awakened. They are all the same. We all fight the Spell.”

“Fight is a strong word, it’s more like survival.”

“You’d get along with someone I know.”

“Sunny?”

“Yeah. How'd you know?”

“You called me that back at the ball. Weren’t you paying attention?” Rio tilted his head and she smirked.

“I guess I did.” She brushed her hair back, and stretched. “Doofus thinks a lot like you. Survival. Spiteful about it too. You should see the things he’s down.”

“I’m gettin the feeling that I know more about him than I do about you.” Lost from Light was truly an interesting character. So many secrets. Rio leaned in. “What about you? Are you so different from us? Survival is natural for us.”

“You guys survive, I live.” She pointed at Rio, then at the restaurant. “Even now, you are in one of the finest places in the waking world, and you can't even enjoy it. Living it about doing what you enjoy, and fighting is just an extension of that. Protecting what you love.” Rio locked eyes with her for a long eternity. Suddenly, she stood up.

“I’ve gotten too philosophical. Cassie must be rubbing off on me.”

“Going so soon? The food hasn’t arrived.”

“I’m good.” She smiled at him. “I’ll eat with you once it’s a real date. You have my number.”

“Please, I tortured the receptionist by just being a Master.” She sauntered off. Rio watched her back, hair swaying with her strides, then she was gone.

“Your food sir.” The water returned, bringing a cart with him. Rio thought for a moment. ‘She left without eating’ Rio considered it a lesson fee and sat down. ‘Living.’ He looked into his soul sea. His essence slowly drained away, bit by bit.

‘Good luck Nico.’ He patted the waiter on the shoulder and walked out of the restaurant.

‘What about Nico?’ If Nico died in the dream realm, then he’d have nothing left. He would be a failure to Naomi. His title as a master and member of the Song clan would be worthless.

‘He’ll survive,’ Rio trusted Nico not to betray his expectations. The real problem was yet to come.

Rio sat in the ruins of the abandoned mansion. The sun wasn’t up yet, but the lights of the city continued to burn brightly. The only piece of furniture that survived, had a large bend in the wood from when Rio launched a mirror beast into it.

Mordret was a problem. No matter how you looked at it, he was a danger that Rio needed to deal with. Right now he was tethered to the Song clan, but eventually, the attack dog might bare its teeth at its owner. Rio didn’t have a reason to kill Valor’s saints. But if he could help in weakening the two clans, then the situation might settle before Nico returned.

There were a few options. One was to run, flee the city. That already would be cumbersome. He would have to smuggle out his brother, and reach a city that wasn’t strongly influenced by the Song clan, which was probably nonexistent.

Two, he could pledge his total loyalty to Ki Song, and truly join them, using them as a shield from both Valor and potentially Mordret. However, that option left him vulnerable to the Great Clan itself. He would be too deep to leave, and there was not telling what would happen after his brother awakened.

There was a third option. Remain independent and create a vassal clan. This would keep him out of the firing range of Valor, and not hand in hand with Song. This would also let him keep the support of the great clan. But that option didn’t account for Mordret.

“Living is doing what I enjoy.” Rio smiled to himself. ‘I’ll make a clan. I’m still Mordret’s watchman, I can keep him down, for now.’ Rio pulled out his communicator and dialed a number. A rich alluring voice answered

“Riollo, how nice it is to hear your voice.”

Rio spoke in a casual tone. “Sorry to call you this early, Beastmaster, but I have an offer. It’s about how we kill Valor’s Saints.”