Alatar steps off the bed, stretching his muscles. "Where am I?" he asks, looking around the medical room. I know I'm not on the surface." Frost walks over, handing him a cup of water. "You're underground; we are a part of The Resistance." Alatar looks down at the cup before drinking it all in one gulp.

"That explains a few things," he says, putting the cup down on the container. He grabs his sword as he leaves the room. Frost grabs him by his arm. "I can't let you leave," she says, staring at him. Alatar looks at her with his emotionless eyes. Are you going to stop me?"

Frost lets him go. "No, but if you get lost, don't come back complaining. She thinks, "No emotions at all, unlike when he was sleeping. I can see the anger on his face, but now I see nothing. It's like staring into an abyss." Alatar walks out as he sniffs the air. "Lavender." He says, following the scent. He catches some resistance soldiers staring at him as he walks past. Hearing murmurs and hushed whispers.

"Is that him?"

"The one that attacked the temple last night?"

"Gods, look at the scars all over his body; how many battles do you think he's been in?"

Alatar ignores them as he walks through the chamber, past an armory littered with badly damaged armor and weapons. He passes another room littered with letters that he assumes are used for communication. They are organized; some of these letters are encoded. How deep is this resistance?" With the scent getting closer, he finds Mira kneeling in front of a shrine. His jacket is over her shoulders as she murmurs a prayer.

"Mira, good to see you're doing well," Alatar says, looking down at her. Mira turns her head with a slight smile on her face. "Alatar, I'm sorry I had to tell them everything, or they weren't going to help you in time." She gets up, showing that she has a brand-new dress on. It's pinkish tan coloring, with white sleeves and green emerald incorporated into the side and back. Alatar looks her up and down. "I don't care about that. I just wanted to check on you and thank you; that means we're even now."

Mira looks at him as she clenches the jacket, and her smile grows. "I guess you're right! As royalty, I must make sure I own no one favors." She says in a more noble tone. Alatar stares blankly at her; Mira blushes, "It-it was a joke! You're supposed to laugh!" She says, getting all riled up. Alatar rolls his eyes. "You're not funny, so why would I laugh?" Mira's face grows red as she blushes even more, "I AM FUNNY!"

A deep laugh is heard as heavy footsteps come towards them. "Causing quite a ruckus around here, huh? And on the first day as well." Alatar and Mira turn to see an imposing figure, around six and a half feet tall, maybe taller. He looks down at them with eyes the color of stormy skies as his bald head gleams in the torch's light. Intricate tattoos wind their way across his scalp, showing ancient runes and swirling patterns depicting wisps of air.

He wears a robe with woven enchantments that ripple like shifting winds with every movement he makes. Alatar looks at him. "You are?"

The towering man smiles. "Apologies! Where are my manners?!" He says, clearing his throat. "The name is Damadar! I am the leader of the resistance called The Stormborn Legion!" He waits for a reaction, but Alatar remains unphased. Mira, on the other hand, starts clapping her hands. "I like the name!"

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Damadar looks at Alatar. "I guess you're no fun; at least the princess here has some soul. Nevertheless, please follow me; we have much to discuss. It's concerning what you did last night, Alatar." He turns away as Alatar and Mira follow him into a central chamber connected by various pathways. In the center is a round table with a map of the Iron Kingdom. Different objects are placed on different parts of the map. Elisa, Frost, and a few others sit at the table waiting. "This is our command center, where we hold meetings and discuss strategies. Today, we will discuss the two of you."

Mira gets closer to Alatar as they walk into the room. Damadar tossed a tanned short-sleeved laced-up shirt to Alatar. "I figured you needed a new shirt." He pulls out two seats. "Sit down, please, and we'll get started." He says in a somewhat commanding tone. Mira sits down, but Alatar doesn't as he puts the shirt on. Damadar takes notice and nods his head.

"So we have a few questions, first from you, princess. What are you doing in the Iron Kingdom? I understand you have to lie to Elisa earlier, but that doesn't explain why you're so far down south in the first place. He says, taking a seat at the head of the table.

Mira looks down, angry and ashamed of what happened. She looks up with an entirely different tone. "Someone in my family sold me off to Demons. I have reasons to believe it's one of my older brothers. I do not know precisely why they did or why I was chosen, but Alatar here recused me and is now aiding me in my return to the Kingdom.

Damadar nods his head in understanding. Elisa strokes his beard, shocked. "That means Demons even have their hands in the Diamond Kingdom," he says as Frost shakes her head. I wonder what pacts they've made up there."

Damadar looks at Alatar. "On to you. Why did you attack the temple last night? My informant said you came crashing down from the sky?" Alatar looks at Damadar. "Because I hate them, and I want to kill every single one. No more, no less." Damadar raises his eyebrows in surprise. "So you do this simply because you hate them? How many have you killed so far?"

Alatar looks at his blade. "I cleared out the Bronze Kingdom and just started moving into the Iron Kingdom, so around 6,116." Everyone looks in silence at Alatar for a moment. Then Damadar busts out in laughter. "Then it's true! He is the notorious Demon Eater!"

"To think I had him in my Inn…" Elisa says, sweat going down his brow. Damadar slams his hands on the table. That settles it, then! We have a proposition for you." His tone gets a lot more serious. "I need your help killing Demons. I'll pay you anything. I have resources to give you what you need to get the job done."

Alatar holds his hand up. "The payment is the Demons themselves. What's the plan?" He says, looking at everyone. A cold, feminine voice speaks behind him. "Considering you have the princess with you, I offer something that could be useful. "Alatar turns around and sees an older woman who looks up at him with golden eyes. Her salt and pepper hair is tied into a bun. She's wearing black leather armor with a small handaxe. Everyone but Alatar gets off of their seats and kneels to the sight of this woman.

"Iron Queen! Thank you for joining us." Damadar says, Mira trying to pull Alatar down to a knee. He stands firm. Alatar looks at her, "You were at the temple." He says, looking down at her. Damadar whispers, "Kneel Boy!" The Queen shakes her head at Damadar. "No, it's fine."

"I was, but that's not what we are here to discuss. Since you decided to help us, I can implement Operation Royals Shadow. With the Demon Eater and the Diamond Princess here, we can enter them into next year's Gauntlet." She says, looking at Mira. "Rise, sweetheart." Mira rises and looks at the Queen.

She grabs her hand. "Will you join? I know Royals from the Diamond Kingdom don't typically do this." The Queen says as Mira looks at her hand and then at Alatar. Alatar looks at her, "If you think this will help you get to your Kingdom, then I'll help. I promised you that much."

Mira nods and gives a determined smile. "I will! Let's join the Gauntlet." The Queen smiles. "Good, then Alatar, you will be her Shadow. A Royal Shadow is their bodyguard, protector, and soldier. I assume you are well-versed in all of those." She says to him as she walks past both of them. "Let's get these two ready for the Gauntlet. We have one year to get ready." Damadar, Elisa, Frost, and everyone else stand. "Then let's get your training started!" Damadar says with a smile.