The cold morning air tore through Ashley's cloak. Her entire body shivered and she froze for a second before she continued walking.

Her clothes, traded for thinner robes, were less than insulted. She started to wonder if the brown sack was better. It, at least, had been a single piece of clothing.

Now random pieces of cloth, that had more holes than she could count, were sown together. The only thing that gave her decent heat was the large black cloak that had been given before they left.

No matter how Ashley looked at it, they looked like a depressing caravan that had just been robbed. Though out of everyone, Dynames was in the worst mood. He was still mad about her coming along.

Right as they were to leave, she had rushed out.  Thrown hands and knees into the ground, and begged to come along. She didn't care if she only had one eye or was too weak to fight. She was too close to finding that person again. No, she was even closer to regaining her pride. It may have been shallow of her, but she couldn’t afford to hesitate.

Dynames, after a long debate, gave in. Though he was still visibly upset about it. She could only smile at his kind heart. He was in a far more desperate situation, but still worried about her.

She messed around with her new eyepatch. A simple strap held it to her face. She at first found it odd and hated it, but she learned to deal with the mild discomfort. It was still annoying her, though.

She tripped all over the place. When she was begging, the bowing down was more to cover up the unexpected fall. She tugged at it, but soon let it rest on her face. The pain in her face was numbed now but still lingered in her mind.

A constant reminder she was the 8th toy.

“Annoying thing” Her breath fogged as it left her mouth. Maybe I should just take it off after al..

“DAMN IT”

Ashely thought were interrupted by Erica’s shout. She, unlike everyone else, had been very open about her discomfort. Her outburst was not an uncommon thing. Ashley had found it annoying but soon welcomed it as no one was talking.

“What up with these?” She had expected this question at some point. Most people were unaware but close to Havan floating island decorated the sky.

Some covered invitation, while other were barren. Though they weren't a welcome sight as they were in the past.

“They are just for show.” She smiled at the memory of it. “The 1st was bored so he thought flying island would spice things up” She laughed to herself or a little bit. However, it didn't last long. She needed to explain their new terror.

“But now they're mostly used to keep everyone in check.” The bile was building in the back of her throat just thinking about it. Words put her closer to vomiting. “The 8th makes them fall on people’s homes for disciplinary reasons.” She had expected some comments for Dynames, but again silence ruled them.

Soon the kingdom was insight and a wave of nostalgia hit Ashely like a hurricane. She felt a spectrum of emotion, but grief and sadness beat the others down. It hurt to look at it.

In the past, sunlight a reigned supreme, and now a dark cloud was hovering over it. People’s joy was replaced by unending fear. But even then, they had waited for his return.

The awe and luster the town had before were now gone and the entire place oozed sadness and death. She could smell the kingdom far before she could see it.

She knew the smell well.

Rotting corpses.

As if you add to her dismay, bodies lined the next 3 miles of the journey to the east gate.

The mood in the group went from sour to pure disgust. Erica's complaints had stopped altogether, mostly because she was throwing up so often.

Ashley examined every corpse. Each one a strong reminder of her failure. She knew the 8th was harsh, but to not spare anyone seemed beyond devilish.  Though she knew it didn't matter, he would kill them off for such small things. In the beginning, she had hoped but that was long gone by now.

They were soon at the gate and Cross took the lead and approached it. He made no further advancement as meet the guard sooner than they had expected.

Instead of a regular guard. Mercenaries lined the gate and their foul smell and dangerous are consumed the gate whole. Only two stood at the gate, Thankfully they approached instead of the others.

‘What is your business here?” one the of the two called

“The bird rises in the sky,” Cross answered. The two guard made no movements to the words, but a flash of understanding lit their eyes. They pretended to check are papers. They were really just blank sheets.

They passed us on, but a fear soon enveloped. Her eyes...no her senses felt it and soon enough she felt the cold chill of death on her back. She froze and her body refused to move. Everything seemed to stop. A bone figure soon passed her.

She knew the thing well. A undead soldier. A familiar of the 8th. It was decorated in old armor that was covered in rust and even older and cruder weapons at its side. In the eyes socks, an evil red light flickered.

She froze. She felt her blood stopped and her mind blank. The line was moving but she couldn't. He was near. He wouldn’t let her off easy for her betrayal. She would suf..

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Suddenly Dynames grabbed her hand and pulled her forth. His grip sent a new heat to her. She felt her fear subside a lot, but it didn’t vanish.

Then Ashley felt the familiar feeling, one most in the city had probably forgotten. The feeling of acceptance. A strange feeling, but it did make one thing clear to her.

She was home.

She looked around the square where they had stopped. The feeling filled her more and now the world was a black thing of itself. A thing of the first design. A place separate from the plane of reality.

A secret world only known to those who wanted to be a part of the kingdom could even touch.

The world around her was pitch black as if the entire world was a canvas painted that way. The only difference in color came from the flame burning.

The single requirement to this world was: the absolute faith in the first king. However, the size of the flame could differ, since no one could place full faith in a something. Her own nothing more than a candle flame.

It had been long since she even saw him. It was understandable to be losing faith, but it still hurt to see it.

Dynames, whose face shouted confusion, was looking around at the world too. She didn’t know if this was a good sign or not. Since he was a king, maybe he was just having a different reaction to it. It didn't tell her for sure if her doubts were real.

“What is this?” It was unlikely the other two were aware of the second world. So Ashley moved in close.

“They can’t see this,” Ashley spoke up and the other looked confused. “This place is a realm” His face lit up at the word. She felt the nostalgia eat at her once again. Such a familiar reaction.

“This world was a gift from the First. I can't even fathom where he got the idea from.” She looked to the sky in hopes of an answer. “He also gave us this flame” She gestured to her own. “ This is an image of our faith in him or more importantly, are dreams.” Her eyes fell to the ground. She felt awful. Like, someone, had gut-punched her..again. I still need to get him back for that.

Back at the camp Gael shivered deeply.

When she looked up, Dynames's face had gone stern and looked like he was ready to puke.

“You're hearing the voices aren't you?" He could only manage a nod. “This place lets are thoughts roam free, so if we are in trouble or need to talk freely, this is the place.” She had already learned to tone them out to an extent. But to an untrained mind, it was like reading the dictionary in three seconds. Information overload.

Suddenly a cry filled the air, The dark world soon filled with color once again.

Dynames was the first go. He was near the edge of the road before the other started to move.

Ashley did her best to run, but her coordination was suffering from one eye. She nearly ran into several people or walls or Erica by accident.

They made slow progress and by the time they rounded the corner, Dynames was nowhere in sight.

Ashley all looked around, but the street had many back alleys. It was like an ant’s den. Hundreds of tunnels leading to many places.

They would have searched for hours, had it not been for a sudden shiver of power in the air. Ashley noticed it first and followed to the source.

She soon found a scene that would leave a normal person crippled mentally. After she had turned a corner, she found a single man dying on the floor. A pool of fresh blood surrounded him.

Not too far was Dynames looking at a child. Dynames’s eyes filled with shock

Ashley moved closer. Then she heard it. “Are you my new master? How can I please you”

The little girl, no older than ten, was nothing more than an old potato bag. The same one she had been where when she meet Dynames.  Her skin showed years of abuse and her eyes were dead and cold.

She exposed a bare shoulder to dynames “You can do whatever you want to me” She had a creepy smile on. Ashely was stunned. She had been away too long. Things had grown worse beyond her predictions.

She sensed a change. The air stiffened, and his hand moved. She dashed forward to stop him from slapping the girl. Se grabbed his hand, but she was dragged forward instead of stopping.

Dynames, instead of slapping her, place a soft hand on her head. He looked her in the eyes and smiled brighter than ever.

“I am not your master, little one” He still held a smile “Instead of a master, count me as a friend.” He still held his hand on her head. He looked like some grandpa spoiling his granddaughter. It was strange. No one could possible be fine after hearing such things.

“Little one do you have a wish?" And yet he continued as if he never heard the words.

The little girl eyes grew wide. In that instant, it was like the darkness that had gripped Ashley's heart faded. The girl’s dead eyes lit up and she went into deep thinking.

“Anything?" Dynames nodded and then she spoke,” I want to see the blue sky everyone always talks about!” She said and suddenly she felt like a kid, it was as if the slave girl who stood before them simply vanished, though she came back into reality after she said it.

“Nevermind. That wish-”

Dynam removed his hand “Alright, I will bring you and everyone the sky then, I promise” He moved away, while his cloak swayed gently in the morning breeze.

“Really!?” her excited voice shattered the death silence.

“Without a doubt,” He gave her a thumb up. “So run along as stay safe till then” The little girl smiled, but Ashley shivered. Instead of the sign, she saw his eyes.

Pure determination to make the wish come true. The girl ran off, and dynames moved in the opposite direction.

Ashley followed after. Once she reached the corner, Dynames put a hand for her to stop. “Sorry, but I'm going to disobey orders.  I don't recommend following me”

“Why?!” she blurted out. “What are you going to do?”. He made a bitter smile.

“Sorry...But I can’t keep calm anymore.”  it was then she knew. Beneath the calm face, was hate. “I can feel it slipping.  I doubt I can keep him at bay anymore.”

“Who at bay?” She could only stare in confusion at him. Who was he talking about? As far she knew it was just Dynames and her.

“It doesn’t matter. All that does is that who guy's stick to the plan, while I go fight the 8th.” A hate filled the last bit of his speech. She felt the shiver down her spine and her feet refused to move. She couldn’t protest nor accept it. Only watch as he turned his back and he raced off toward the middle of town.

Yet one detail stuck out to her as he ran. Something was falling out the cloak. She looked to the ground and saw it.

Droplets of blood stained the ground. The out of the corner of her eye she noticed a small hole in the wall.

He was far closer to breaking than he had let on. She thought bitterly. She hated herself for not being able to help him. She bit her lip, and then Cross and Erica caught up. An idea burned in her mind.

They told her they moved the body and moved the girl away and toward the town. Ashley then informed them of what dynames was doing.

“He said that huh?”

“Gods damn him” Cross simply sighed, while Erica got really pissed. Her anger was understandable as Ashley felt the same, but now she had a way to do something about it. She was going to do something far more rash than Dynames.

“Guys,” she said and broth looked at her “go ahead with the plan, I'm going to get more reinforcements for us” She then ran toward the only place she could find an ally in this place.

Please let this work.

Ashley strode toward the castle.