Chapter 8

The Strange Effects of Magic

Magic. It has a funny way of working itself into even the most mundane of places. That was how Lupo's race of human got their name. Mundai. A play on the word mundane. Magically inept people who struggled withthe most basic of spells. While magic was a second nature to most people, to a Mundai, it was a gift the cherished. if ever there was a time Lupo wished he had magic, it was now. A general use healing spell wouldn't get rid of his head ache, but it would surely dull it. He had heard whispers in the wee hours of the ‘morning amongst the bar patrons of something they called out of body experiences. He never understood why each person he heard talk about it was so shaken up. He understood now. Pulling himself off the ground, he was still dazed and completely unaware of when he was. The forest from his experience was the same one he stood in now, but it seemed more... Alive. He tried to remember what happened before he took a pseudo dirt nap. Weeding through the en-loop vision he suffered through, he finally found his last coherent thought. Two women in the hot springs, and a burning sensation on his skin. Upon a reaction, he pulled hard at the collar of his tunic, opening the lacing that tied it to his chest and neck, showing the faint outline of the locket, which had left a small mark on his skin. It wasn’t a joke, it had actually tried to burn through him. No sooner did he reach to touch the locket, did he feel what could only be described as a fictional ice pick dive into one ear, and attempt gymnastics in his skull before bouncing out the other side. He had only one cure for a head ache like this, and it resided within the four walls of the Moonshine Tavern, administered by his favorite pharmacist, Rachel Moonshine. His destination in mind, Lupo began his walk back towards town once he gathered his bearings and could walk in a semi straight line. By the stars, he could tell he had been out no more than a few hours. Still time to catch a drink.

Mornings at the Castle never changed. A simple routine of get up, bathe, dress, have breakfast, polish your armor, then take to the streets for patrol. Simple as that may seem, Grym took his job incredibly serious. So serious in fact that during his sparring match with the younger Kaiken from yesterday he accidentally let a bit to loose with his powers, and cause some issues. He had a demolished left pauldron, an the chain underpinning of his rib guard was less than okay. Wrough would never let him hear the end of it. It was difficult to forge the Queens Guard armor. The materials were hard to come by, and the time to blend them and make the right alloy was near weeks of time to simply repair his armor. Though Grym wore the damages with pride, it was not up to the Queens standard of presentation. Her words echoed through his head, "A Knight in my guard should be both magnificent and lethal. Let your appearance be that of a polished blade hanging by your guard on a wall. Let the citizens know of your prowess by the shine of the protections you dawn, while they wonder about the beauty of tools you hide in sheaths and scabbards. An extension of my own hand, go forth and show the people that they, themselves, have nothing to fear.” He glanced to the mirror on the wall of his quarters. His armor was a symbol to the commitment he made to her years ago. His eyes trailed over the intricate details and lavish embossing. He was captain. He was her right hand. He was the one who she turned to in times of need. A fire kindled itself within his chest. Grabbing the damaged portions of his armor, Grym took from the Castle to the streets, making a straight path to the Market district. He had a grumpy old dwarf to speak with, and it was not a conversation that was going to go over well. What can only be described as death by nagging ensued no sooner did Grimm approach the master smiths forge. Wrough worked up one side of Grym and down the other and while the Captain was used to a verbal lashing, he felt a strange pain in his chest. He felt like he had let down the Queen in some small part. His armor was a symbol of his title. He could not believe that he was even considering taking it out in public with the damages done to it. Once the master smith was done with his reprimanding, he took the repair job and sent Grym on his way. The large lupine stepped back out on the street looking around at the masses of, people moving through the market. No more than usual but no less. Something however managed to catch his eye. A small group of people stopped off to the side of a shop front. Following their field of view, he spotted something he did not expect. The Kaiken from yesterday, perched on the corner of the roof, munching on a breakfast of fruit and bread. Using his long stride, Grym approached the building and spoke. "You there, Kaiken. What do you think you are doing? Get down from the roof immediately."

With a hesitant chomp through a crisp apple, the man looked down. A Kaiken by nature was all of the grit and strength of a human compounded with that of an ape like demi species. Kaiken's of all types exist. From. faster and more agile monkey like ones, to vicious and strong gorilla like beings. A diverse range of people just ike Grym's own race of Lupine. Finishing up the bite of said apple, the Kaiken looks down at the guard captain and blinks a few times before tilting his head in a curious fashion "One day and you have already forgotten my name? I was sure you would remember it after our match yesterday” A slow realization crosses Grym's face as he connects the dots. This was the same person who damaged his armor. The same person who he traded blows with yesterday out of friendly competition. It was so strange. Grym felt a sense of comradery with this person unlike anything he had for the troop under him. Then again, there was something primal and telling about how two people trade blows. It spoke to the soul much louder than words could. Least, some times it did. Crossing his arms Grym focused his eyes upon the Kaiken and returned a retort to him "Rarely do I forget a name, especially not one that can damage my armor to the point it have to take a verbal lashing from the master smith to get it repaired, Wu Jak wasn’t it? You cannot be on roof tops, least not before noon. Some nocturnal folk have issues sleeping.” Wu looked to the tall lupine. While yes, the man before him was tall, and formidable, he also knew that the fight from yesterday pushed some limits. A loner by nature, Wu felt a strange pull in his chest. While yes, companionship was easy to find in the city, there was something different about the feeling he had now. A strange mixture of understanding, and friendship. Wu stood up and looked down to the crowd who opened a whole allowing him to dismount the roof and stand next to Grym. Now eye to eye Wu realized that he and Grym stood the same height. It was staggering to see. "Apologies, I forget that after the sun goes down, there are people who function at night." Grym sighs but smiles "No harm done, least that we are aware of, though our fight yesterday has left me with the embers of an idea” Grimm had gotten no sleep the previous evening. A fight as fierce enough to even scratch his armor always excited him. But one that could destroy a pauldron? That was something that would stick around for weeks if not more. No sooner did Grimm finish speaking did he see Wu's ears perk up, the kaiken’s eyebrows furrowing into a curious glance. An idea, from the Captain of the Guard? This was either going to be really good, or really bad. "You have my interest and my attention. What would this idea be?"

“I want to induct you into the Queens Guard. You fight well, and with a bit more training you could be even better, plus, it would be nice to have someone around who doesn’t look like they are constantly fighting the urge to stab me." Grym knew who he was talking about, There was a reason his armor had underpinning like it did. Said persons Scythe would have taken his life by now if it didn't. Crossing his arms waiting for a response, Grym passed his eyes up and down Wu's frame. Strong build, and strangely light on his feet. No doubt Wu would be a decent addition to the Queens guard, and maybe even a personal knight to her majesty. A stiff silence hung in the air as Wu though it over. No more contract work. Solid roof over his head, meals, clothes, and a place he would belong? Sure it was going to be tough, but what work wasn’t tough, besides, being a knight sounded fun. "Sure, count me in. Just lead me to where We need to go and I'll follow" A large toothy grin slid onto Grym's face as he clapped Wu on the shoulder and began to walk with him, giving out small details about the job and castle. As they walked it dawned on him that his current lieutenant may not be thrilled about a rookie entering the ranks. The last thing Grym said as they entered the castle proper was a simple question to Wu. "Wu, How good is your ability to dodge things? It may come in handy shortly" Dreaming was not something that came easily to Uzume. With perception spanning her entire kingdom, she hardly had time for herself mentally. While yes, she could see everyone, she required intense focus to pick a single soul out of the crowd. When she sat up in a bed not her own, drenched in a cold sweat. She knew something was off. She had been given a nightmare. Rubbing her eyes in an attempt to get them to focus in the dim morning light, she still saw vivid images of the night terror. Five bodies around her, gleaming strips of silver moving so fast she could not focus on any of them. Uzume could still strangely fee! their cold bite as though it was real. She began to panic but caught herself. She stood from the bed, and waved her hand over the room, drawing her dress to her body. The fabric wrapped around her and fell in place bringing back the sense of royalty she usually carried. Scrawling a quick note to her friend from the previous night, Uzume left the house, no louder than a gentle breeze against the trees en route to the castle. She needed to be in a place she knew, to sort out the monstrosity of a dream she had.

Magic for Uzume came easily. Being the queen doesnt mean she is helpless. She did have control and familiarity to all known elements, though she did have favorites. Fire, darkness, and wind to name a few. Whenever she felt especially spritely, she would windwalk through the trees and land using air currents as foot holds to speed up her movement rendering her a red blur to anything she passed. This was her mode of transportation home. When she arrived at the massive castle doors, she smiled touching the ancient wood, resting her cheek on it. She often told her knights that the castle was alive, but their responses all orbited the same idea. "I am sure itis your Majesty.” She moved away from the door and entered, looking down the massive hall. She had a strange twinge of emotion run through her. Agitation at her knights and soldiers disbelief of her words about the castle, but also a calm reassurance from the thought of telling Mal about the castle. She was sure that Mal would love to hear about all of it. What broke Uzume from her daydream about a future conversation with Mal was not the sound of glass shattering, or even tables breaking, not the sound of metal crashing into stone, or even the sight of a chandelier sailing across the main hall. It was the two bodies that followed said light. Looking to the pair the Queen tilted her head curiously. Grimm and the Kaiken from before, Wu Jak. They both looked about two steps into a twelve step beating. Her eyes tracked across to the doorway they made their entrance from to see one of her favorite people. Lady Acharil. A daeva who Uzume inducted into her knights to act as a second set of eyes on Grymm. Though by the scene before her, it appeared her second set of eyes grew arms and let her temper go. Stood in the doorway, seething as her more demonic features announced themselves. Her heavy taillfted up behind her and aimed at the two men on the ground, who were slowly picking themselves up. "I cannot believe you! Either of you! First your bring in a stray who was smart enough to dodge an obvious attack and Damage your armor Grym! But! You let him stay in the guards quarters! In my bed! Do you have any idea how long it's Boing to take both of you to pick all the monkey hair out of my sheets and blanket?"

"Both of us? Why us?" Grym blinked as he regained his footing and stood up “I don’t shed that bad” Wu was quick to defend himself and the pride he has for keeping his coat clean “I'm sure you don't kaiken, but I do know a few things. Grym's hair is essentially spider silk. And clogs every drain in existence. When | got into my bed, It felt like I was spooning a Cactus, so either I haven't shaved my legs in a few days, or it is your hair!" With the last words spoken, streams of smoke rolled from Acharil threatening the two with the potential of her beginning to use magic against them. She had an obscene amount of stamina, for someone relatively unassuming until she spoke. Grym looked nervously to Wu who stood just off to his left side. While Grym was strong, and fast, he had nothing on Acharils sheer stubbornness to quit. She would not stop, and would not finish until she was content and happy about the punishment they received for the bed mishap. Tensing his leg muscles, Grym readied himself fora fight until his nose twitched catching a faint familiar aroma. He relaxed near instantly. The Queen was present, and while it was strongly recommended for him and the other knights to train together, doing so in the castle was frowned upon. Acharil must have sensed it as well, pausing as she straightened herself up. Her temper never ceased but at least she looked mildly presentable in her current form. Form fitting pants, with a whole near the waistband for her tail, a loose fitting white shirt tucked nicely into her bottoms, and sharp heeled boots, that gave her no more height than she already had but instead showed an air of confidence most people kept to words. Acharil was lethal and unending. She was one of the Queen's favorites, and she knew it. This left only Wu to be entirely confused as to why the near brawl in the main hall had just stopped all together. Looking around for a moment, he saw the reason. The Queen. She moved silently through the hall towards them with an ethereal grace unmatched by even the wind. He did not realize it until his mind caught Up to the rest of his body. Grimm had moved to be in front of him. Wu felt a wave of uncertainty wash over him. He had no idea what was about to happen and that scared him to a small degree. The Queen did not seem agitated nor upset, but her actions unnerved him more than anything. She made a simple hand m to both of the knights before taking a sharp turn to a room off the main hall. In unison the pair responded "Yes, your majesty" then began following her. The door they walked through shut with a heavy echo that never seemed to stop bouncing around. Wu was unsure what was happening but he did not like being left alone in the main hall. The castle left a strange feeling in his chest. Like it was alive some how... “The Queen waited for her subordinates to enter the room. It was an office of sorts. One part store room, one part useable office space. She didn't know what this rooms actual purpose was, then again her castle was large enough that she occasionally found new rooms just showing up in it from time to time. When the pair took seats in front of her, she let out a solid and simple string of words. "One at a time, starting with Acharil. What happened, and why was there almost a fight in my castle.

The tone of her phrase made both the Knights shiver. Deadpan and hallow. Her business tone. Adjusting herself a bitin her seat, Acharil looked to the Queen and began. "Your Majesty. Grimm brought a prospect into the castle, allowed him to sleepin the guard quarters, specifically my bed. All whilst you were away. When I returned from nightwatch to try and get some sleep, I found well... A kaiken in my bed. Needless to say I was not thrilled and blew up because someone,” Her eyes turned towards Grimm who kept his gaze on the Queen. “decided it was okay to do so." Uzume nodded listening to Acharil's recounting of what had happened. It was highly against the rules to have anyone who was not a knight within the knights quarters. That was a rule she ingrained into the position since its inception. However, Grym had not spotted a prospect since Acharil and considering that he had found one again, and that his old one was now his lieutenant, it was fair to say this had her interest. Uzume looked to Grimm and the spoke the same. question to him, wanting to hear his answer. For a moment Uzume and Acharil watched Grym seemingly process the words, and sort through his own memory and vocabulary to give the Queen what she wanted. A cut and dry answer, no story attached. "Your Majesty... Hm." He looked down touching his chin for a moment before looking up. "I sparred with the aiken a few days ago, and during. our fight he damaged my armor. My Armor. You and I know that the Queens Guard armor is incredibly durable. However I had to take a verbal lashing from Wrough Tiron about its condition. My body is still sore from the strike that did such damage to my armor. Here I the part that has me so interested. He was unarmed when he struck. I had managed to disarm him and yet he sill fought on." Grym subconsciously rolled his shoulder feeling a faint ache in it. He then met the Queens eyes and spoke clearly to her. "feel he should be in the guard, and yes I understand the rules however, I did not want him disappearing. I will pay for new linens of Acharil’ choice from Tye Lar's shop as compensation, and she may use my quarters until they are delivered. I have no issues sleeping in the barracks with the other guardsmen.”

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Uzume was momentarily astonished. Her long time companion and friend was being rather eloquent and thoughtful While Grym was in no way stupid, He did have moments that came across, so well thought out and forward that it shook her a bit. Taking his proposal, in consideration and the fact that Acharil had no made any demands of her own in return to the damages done to her quarters, Uzume made her decision. “Sir Grym, You are on nightwatch for a month, Along with training the kaiken post shift. I hope you enjoy eighteen hour days, and a heavy work load. You have a lot of paperwork to fill out. As for you Acharil, you are welcome to his quarters, and to the barracks. Go place your order with Tye, then get some rest. Do not make me step in again, am I understood?" She was matter of fact and firm, almost like a parent to the two of them. They nodded then left the room, heading in opposite directions. An unarmed Kaiken that could damage Queen's Guard armor to the point of needing full repair? That was interesting. But interests could wait. Uzume needed a Bath and something to eat. It had been a long night and with the stalkerish man still fresh in her mind she had a hard time keeping thoughts at bay. Ever a creature of routine, The Queen looked up in her massive bathing chamber to the strands of moonlight spilling through the skylight. How many times had she done the same thing, how many days had been so similar that the minor details were what set them apart from each other? Wake up, bathe, greet the cities people as they came in with their issues and problems, solve them, then disappear just after lunch tll well into the night. Off to the forest where she stayed with her closest and mst dear friend, Mal. Countless hours roaming the forests of her kingdom, discovering creatures, plants, and stones not even she was aware of. Seeing the various ways Mal could bring them together and make potions or tonics, of which, while simple, were incredible to her. She almost felt like Mal was a secret, something she could never share with anyone else in fear of them damaging, or tarnishing the relationship that she and Mal shared.

She stood out of the water, passing her hand over the towel that lay away from the bathing area. It lazily drifted through the air towards her before wrapping around her body just enough to lft her breasts from their free state, back as though she wore a brassiere. Uzume went from the bathing chamber towards her bedroom proper, leaning against the window with her eyes fixed out into the forest beyond the cities walls. She knew exactly which light in the woods was Mal, but was unable to venture out tonight. Mal had told her that she would not be home, and instead out on some business to. allow her to keep living in the forest where she was. Though it was dificult, the Queen found herself with a ree evening, and nothing and no one to do. Routine was par for the course, concerning the Queens chosen knights. His month of nightwatch over, Grym thought it proper to celebrate his new students success in the exams which earned him the tite of Queens Chosen. With such good tidings in the air, even Acharil was in a good mood as they walked into the tavern, clad in their black and crimson Grym led them to a table back in the corner which was his usual, before the taverns owner, Rachel came to greet them, offering a short but sweet amount of small talk as they all ordered. No sooner did they order, did the volunteers heling. out with the Cordelia incident enter the tavern, aching for something to drink that they were used to. Rachel's alcohols went down smooth, and were always in season. Taverns at the coast where as rough as the sea, with alcohol that made any land walker feel lke they had spent months at sea. Needless to say some of them needed some moonshine T.L.C. to fix their rough times. The sudden flood of patrons into the Tavern unannounced left Rachel at a loss. She was understaffed as is, and had more tables than she was prepared to handle. That was until Lupo offered his hand at helping. Accepting his offer, Rachel sent him out with a writing stick, and a pad of paper. Lupo went to work quick, drawing up orders from the patrons as they sat down, bringing the paper back to Rachel before going out to another table. All the while hs hood stayed up, never leaving his head. Some patrons found it odd... that their waiter's face was obscured, but they did not think much beyond it as their minds were being lead by their stomachs for food and drink. He worked the dining area quiet well, going table to table, dropping off plates of food, and pitchers of ale while also retrieving the spent and used dishes from the. It did not take the pair long to manage the area to the point Rachel could handle it herself. Just as she dismissed Lupo's help, she gave him the last order, the Queens' Guard table at the back of the room. He walked towards the table holding the tray carefully as he weaved through the boisterous patrons. The Guards had already been served four full rounds, putting them near buzzed at the very least. As he suspected, the group was beginning to feel the affects of the alcohol. They were jovial and happy. He sat the tray down and began to leave only to be stopped abruptly. Looking back to what had detained him, he saw the hand of a Kaiken stopping him, half leaned out of his chair as he spoke. "If you are no longer working, you should absolutely celebrate with us! We will even pay for your drinks"

Lupo blinked at the offer. Not many people offered a hunter a place to sit next to them, especialy those who worked the city. They saw his profession as crude. And yet, here was one of the Queen's chosen knights offering him a place at their table. He stole a quick glance to the bar where his usual seat was, and the one he usualy reserved for Quincy, who was not here. With his mind made up, Lupo turned to the table and flashed a small smile at them, a faint light illuminating his jawline and chin just enough to see the expression. "Sure, I would love to join you. What is the occasion?” The Kaiken spoke once again as he clapped the Lupine on the shoulder, causing him to spill a bit of his drink down the front of him, which lead to a disgusted scoff from the Daeva woman "I was knighted today! Sir Wu Jak Shimon at your service! Defending the city and its people, fulfiling the will of the Queen!" The final shout was followed up by a clinking of tankards from Wu and who Lupo could only assume was Captain Grym. The other daevan knight who as a tiefling appeared though she was going to vomit, not from the alcohol, but from the jovial tone and volume that Wu had just displayed for the entire bar to hear. An uproar of clapping and whistles went out as they congratulated him. Once it had settled, Lupo smiled and poured himself a drink from one of the pitchers on the table, then introduced himself. "I am Lupo Acheron, A hunter beyond the city wall. It is a pleasure to meet and drink with all of you." The City of Cordelia had been sorted for well over a month now. Most if not all the volunteers who have left Home, had returned at this point. Those who hadn't yet retuned most likely wouldn't as life on the coast tempted them into transitioning down to the rebuilt city. The City of Nocturnia had once again become a busy and bustling city as it always was. Lupo had spent the previous month doing errands for the smithy, after all, Wrough Tiron was not going to let him live down the horrible mess he had brought him with Scar’s body. He heard about it daily, and occasionally could hear the subtle snicker from Wrough's assistant, who Lupo learned was named Morgan. After all, you can't claim to be a hunter if you can't blend into any environment. Trips to and from the mountains, forest, marshes, swamps, and even to the coast itself, left Lupo ragged, and yet, his pockets jingled with the fruit of his labors. That was... until dusk.

As per his nightly ritual, Lupo would leave the forge, and head to the tavern, sit at the bar and have a meal, chat with Rachel then order a round of drinks, just a his group of friends arrived. The Queen's Guard had made the Tavern their nightly stop. Most nights the three of them arrived together, one of them always just having finished a patrol or watch duty. Sir Wu, the Kaiken. Sir Grym, the Lupine, and Lady Acharil the... agitated. Even after spending a month with them, Lupo had yet to understand why Acharil was so irritable all the time. He had met many other Daeva women, and none of them held a candle to Acharil's temper. Hell, one time, Lupo watched the bravest cadet reach over and cop a feel. He then watched the same cadet break four tables, two chairs, and a window. All with a guiding wip of the tail belonging to Acharil. Standing up from the bar with their drinks Lupo turned to see the three of them enter the bar and wave at him, taking their usual table. He sat the drinks down and greeted them before looking between the trio. Wu appeared the most physically tired, but Acharil seemed to be more... miffed than usual. Deciding to save that firebomb for later, Lupo. turned his attention to Wu first. "Not so spritely today Wu, was watch that hard today?" Wu, who seemed to be in a daze blinked before Acharil kicked him under the table, the sharper end of her boot heel jabbing the top of his foot abruptly. Now fully present at the table he registered Lupo's question, and replied. "We are never breaking into Callus' barn again. No amount of alcohol will make me." It dawned on Wu that Acharil was not present last night, just as she choked on the first drink of her mug. Feeling the daggers from her eyes, he figured he had already dug a hole, might as well see how deep it went. "Grym and I went sparring, and I didn't sleep. So when I got pulled for morning watch, I may or may not have fallen asleep on the wall and well... fallen off said wall... Into a creek.... Then got mugged for all my rations by a pack of Gribbies. Needless to say, I am down on my luck today."

“Down on his luck? Sounds to me that a series of bad decisions lead to you nearly getting injured, which would have made Grym and I pull double duty. Acharil had set her cup down gently, though her grip on the handle said something entirely different than what her tone did. Though she was obviously fuming, what broke her glare at Wu was the arrival of food at the table. Most any time the scent from any of the magnificent meals made in the tavern would pull all attention to it. Acharil went to make another remark at Wu, however her body had different plans. A loud growl came from her stomach signaling that she had skipped meals today. Something frowned upon by her captain. Grym with his usual playful tone absent from the opening of his comment from the table was just all to familiar with that sound. “I did train you after all. Skipping meals does what?" Acharil tsks and mumbles her answer “It leaves you with no reserve energy." With this she felt like a child being scolded though she was well into her adult years. “And with no reserve, what does that mean?” Grym returned once more, very out of character by Lupo's standard, then again, he himself was much different while on a job than here in the tavern. It wasn't to far fetched for others to act similarly. “A fight won't last long, and you will lose. No questions. I didn't mean to skip meals. I was occupied.” Acharil finished her captain's primary teaching. Grym preached that without taking proper care of yourself it can lead to mistakes and slip ups in combat. Something Acharil despised on a personal level. She hated when things did not go how they were supposed to. Wu chimed in, having half of an apple in his hand, with the other currently pressed against the inside of his cheek, mid bite "Uh huh, she was really occupied, looking for me, then going to go tell the Queen that I had fallen off the wall Which took forever. Surely there wasn't that much paperwork involved. It was a simple, "My Queen. That idiot Wu has done something that agitates me once again, like breathing.” Wu mimicked Acharil's voice through his piece of fruit, which did exactly as he wanted. Agitate her. Anyone who spent any amount of time beyond the passing glance around Acharil would rapidly learn that you had to find the sweet spot with her, where she was just the right level and kind of agitated. Wu had nearly perfected the art of finding that sweet spot.

“I do not sound that whiney. I have dignity." She took a sip from her drink deflecting the comment about taking to long with the Queen. She then lifted one of the bowls with two skewers of chickencrow planted in a bowl of rice and began to eat, savoring the complex flavors held by the sauce and meat. Having been given nearly a full days recap Lupo smiled and ordered another round oficing that everyone's cup had run a little below half. It was the near the end of the week. Wrough had finally let him go, and he was free to do as he. normally did. Though something troubled him. He hadn't seen hide nor hair of Quincy. He knew the Malico could take. care of himself, however that did not stop him from worrying. Hours slipped away among friends as they laughed, joked, poked, prodded, pestered, and played with one another. Lupo having paid the nights tab, he blinked as he stared up at the castle doors. Monolithic slabs of stone, opened by the Queen herself, every morning. For those who didn't possess colossal magical strength, or physical strength for all Lupo knew. There was a normal door just a bit away from the main gates, that the guards used. He did not know exactly why he was at the castle until he felt Grimm shift is weight a bit, and begin drooling down the right side of Lupo's cloak. Shuttering at the thought of explaining i to Tye, Lupo followed Achar who was just as drunk as Wu but was better at basic motor functions ike walking in a semistraight line. He watched her lead Wu in through he door before motioning him in. She slowly made her way down the hall trying to be as quiet as possible. Hard to do when you have a six foot plus Kaiken in tow. Eventually, after two tripping incidents, a laughing fit, and Acharil nearly strangling Wu for accidentally grabbing her chest, they reached the barracks where Acharil opened the door to Wu and Grym's quarters. She stepped in and simply tossed Wu onto his bed, making sure that at least three of his four limbs made it onto the bed. She then motioned for Lupo to toss Grym onto his bed, which he did without hesitation or question. Anything to get a drooling Lupine off of him and his cloak. He then turned and followed her out of the room. Continuing down the hall with her. It wasn't long, only two or three doors down that they reached her quarters. Lupo smiled a bit brightly. He would possibly get to sleep in the same room as Acharil. Not being the kind to take advantage of someone intoxicated, he surely wouldn't turn down the approach if she made the first moves. After all, alcohol could very well make her into a very kind and polite person. No sooner did that thought pass through Lupo's brain, did he bump into Acharil in the open door way. The flick of her tail echoed down the hall as she pivoted and grabbed Lupo by his shirt taking large steps, to press him against the wall. Lupo liked the fire in her. He was already enjoying where this was heading. Until Acharil spoke. "Not so fast, Human. Not even other guards sleep in my chambers. I have a room to myself. Queens orders. The guest barracks are down the hall large set of double doors. Don't go wandering.” She let him go feeling smug about her choice of words before turning around and heading into her room.

Lupo stood there a ghast. That was by far the most interesting way he had been rejected. Regaining his composure, Lupo. staggered his way down the hall looking for the afore mentioned set of double doors. He soon found out, that it was easier said than done. The hall stretched on for ages. To the point he couldn't tel iit was the alcohols doing or the. hallway was just that on. He paused in one of the cross roads, looking around. He had suddenly lost his sense of direction. On a whim he went left, thinking it was the right way to go. He stumbled into the grand hall, spotting the. Queen's throne, and a door behind it. Not the way he was supposed to go. A noise, akin to something clattering on the floor echoed across the hall, snapping Lupo to attention. He slid against the doorway he just exited from and peered out into the dimly lt room. He saw a woman, running bare foot into the door beyond the throne. It concerned him until he. saw a woman draped in crimson and black following suit. She however paused at the door looking over the hall hesitantly then entered the door a faint click telling Lupo it was now locked. He had definitely just seen something he shouldn't have. Who was the frst woman? The second was surely the Queen. No mistaking it. But the second held his interest. Then again, it was the wee hours of the morning. If he made a ruckus now, it would not end well. Not for him, nor the guards, and certainly not the Queens' Guard. Deciding instead to hold onto this information, Lupo went back into the hall he came from and turned back towards the way he had came. Sure enough just before the cross roads, he found the guest barracks. Flopping down onto one of the beds he felt his consciousness lip further way from him, ignoring the fint pain on his chest. Litle did he know, the locket had been burning ever so slightly since his viewing of the throne room.