Fire raged across the seaside town. Pillars of flames reached up to the sky from the burning buildings as dancing hands of red and orange that destroyed everything they touched. There were screams, piercing yells of chortling pain and dry gurgles that came only from death unimaginable.

A female voice shouted from out of her field of vision, “Get Adelaide out, now!”

A male yelled in reply, “What about you?”

“I'll hold them back. Get our daughter and run!”

In a puff of brown smoke, the male elf appeared before her. The memory unclear from her years as an infant, she could only make out his green tuft of hair.

“Hey...” he said softly. “Time to go.”

She reached out to hold him and the man held onto her tiny fingers gently. She blinked, and the sky was no longer burning, the world no longer shrieking. A peaceful, piercing calm struck into her soul. Before her was the blackness of space littered with uncountable stars. The sound of rustling leaves could be heard off her side.

“Stay here,” he told her. “I'm going to get your mother and be right back.”

Another puff of brown and the man was gone, leaving her alone, watched by the light of the stars. By the time the Twins had risen and coloured the sky with a blood red dawn, the man had yet to return.

A croaking voice sounded, “What do we have here?” An unfamiliar face leaned over into her view with a hair that was receding white and eyes stretched to be kind. “An elf girl? Aren't you lucky I found you first.”

***

The mumbled voice of Miguel Vallertes continued the lengthy history lesson. “And after the First War of the Gods, the genocide of the two races became the longest lasting dent in the history of Tearha. And–...”

The sound of rolling paper echoed through Adelaide's stirring head, waking her in time to see a rolled up piece of newspaper thrown on an approach for her face. She jerked back, jumping away from the attack, leaning back against the spine of her chair. Despite avoiding the hit, she still fell backwards and landed with a crash, the back of her head smacking hard into the ground.

Eyes tearing up, rubbing the nape of her neck in pain, Adelaide cried, “What the fuck are you doing?”

Miguel looked to her, annoyed, “You're suppose to be listening to my lesson.” She mumbled about the history remedial being boring and Miguel sighed in defeat. “And where did you learn the word, 'fuck'?”

She got up from her fall, resetting her chair and taking her seat. “The Watcher taught it to me. He said it was a swear word from his home universe. I like how it rolls off the tongue. Fuck. Fuck. Fuckity, fuck, fuck.”

Another sigh and an additional palm to the face later, the Enhancer noted that he needed to have a stern word with the time traveller. “In any case, I need you to listen to everything I tell you.”

“Why?” Adelaide asked. “What's the point of me learning all these long gone history?”

Her irate voice echoed the room. They were within the town hall of Valent. Save for the large rectangular table that they surrounded and the chairs they sat on, the room they were assigned to by the mayor was empty.

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From a corner, Luce, who was half asleep and hugging her rifle, answered, “You'll be meeting a group of people who has a death grudge against you. The least you can do is learn a little of their history to appease them.”

Adelaide clicked her tongue in frustration. She had not expected to be dragged into the negotiation. She had expected Luce to do all the talking while she waited aside, but the Titan Ranger had insisted that Adelaide was 'a key to making it work'.

The Demon Eyes' first arrival into the town had sent a wave of panic and murmurs. Guards had rushed out to take her into custody, only to be talked down by Miguel and Luce, both of whom were world known and held a high standing. Had the Enhancer and ranger not been at her side, she would have likely started a bloodbath.

Just as she wanted to start questioning their plans for negotiation, the door to the room swung open and in came the Mayor of Valent. The man was a tall, lanky, human male. With slick, combed-back red hair and a black leather vest over crisp white shirt and deep brown cargo pants and boots, he was a confusing mix of worker and politician in look.

Following closely behind him were the varying nervous and rugged men and women of the town's militia, totalling twenty numbers in all, attempting to squeeze into the relatively small room.

Miguel asked, “What is this? I thought this was a peaceful negotiation?”

“Forgive me for being careful, Grandmaster,” the mayor replied. “I think it'd best for me to be on my guard when the former head of the Titan Rangers and yourself come into my town with The Demon of Valendra for 'peace talk'.”

“If you know it'd be dangerous, you should also know that an attempt to show such strength against us does nothing but provoke.” Miguel stepped forward confidently. “I am certain the three of us can handle your town's militia with little problem.”

The mayor raised a brow. “Is that a threat? I thought this was a peaceful negotiation.”

Luce added, “It is.” To which Adelaide let out a soft scoff.

“Barbaric,” the mayor spat at Adelaide.

She half stood to her seat but was stopped by a gesture from Miguel.

The Enhancer said, “This is peaceful. But so far, your actions have belittled that. A show of military might through numbers is nothing but provocative.”

The mayor gave the statement some thought. After a reluctant minute, he raised his hand and waved a stand-down order. Most of the militia proceeded uncertainly out of the room, with only a male and female guard, both with swords sheathed and donned with better quality armours than the rest remaining behind.

The mayor said, “Then I hope you don't mind I leave at least two for my own protection.”

Graciously, Miguel replied, “Of course.”

The pair of trios took their seats facing each other across the tables. The mayor looked to Adelaide, a hidden anger drawn into his eyes. He then turned his attention to Luce.

“I understand you are the one who made a request for this meeting?”

Luce replied, “Yes. As I have come to realize, there is a fallen sentient Titan within your borders of Valendra Forest. I would like to discuss the terms of claiming it as a archaeological site under the terms and agreement of the Sentient Preservation Act.”

“Wait!” Adelaide chimed in. “Archaeology? I thought we were going to cordon off the forest for protection?”

Luce explained, “Under the protection of the Titan Rangers, we will do our best to make sure the forest is preserved.”

“That's not what we agreed to!” Adelaide shouted, slamming her hands on the table and pushing to a rushed stand. “You're betraying me!”

Luce calmly replied, “We agreed to nothing. I merely said I would come discuss the terms of preservation of the forest with regards to the Titans' body.”

The mayor, apparently piecing together the puzzle of events, asked, “So why did you ask The Demon to be here?”

“Because I wanted her to hear this.” Luce turned to look Adelaide in the eye. “Under the Sentient Preservation Act, the Titan Rangers are not allowed to harbour fugitives within our area of protection. If you continue to dwell within the forest, we will do everything in our power to hunt you down and turn you in.”

Adelaide reached behind her back, drawing her axes. Miguel calmly stood to his feet, backing away from the scene as the elf held her weapon to the woman's neck. The others in the room sat back, wide-eyed in surprise and fear at the turn.

Adelaide growled, “You...”

Unfazed and still in her seat, Luce continued, “However, I want to offer all parties involved a compromise.” Everyone in the room listened intently to her next words, despite the axe still held to her throat. “Adelaide Wiltkins, I want to conscript you into the Titan Rangers under the Ranger Conscription Agreement with The Forum. In return,” she turned to the mayor. “You are to pardon Adelaide of all her crimes.”

The man got to his feet as well. “Nonsense!” he exclaimed. “This creature has killed dozens of our hunters and countless others from Consortia and Iona. Even if we agree, what makes you think the other two states of the forest will let you get away with this?”

Luce explained, “Because we will be killing three of your birds with one stone. We will remove Demon Eyes from the area either way, and provide all three states with a percentage of agreed compensation of titanium harvested from the Titan. And, the forest will become a preserved ground with the Titan Rangers taking over the job of patrolling, preventing unlawful hunting and gathering.”

The mayor, at a lost for words, could only silently contemplate on the offer. Miguel whistled, impressed at Luce's negotiating capabilities. Taking a deep breath, the mayor relented, nodding to the terms.

“That... is not a fair deal, I would say. If I can speak on behalf of the other leaders, I think they too would agree.”

Luce lastly turned to Adelle. “Now, the decision is yours. You can run back to “your” forest and fight everyone to the death. Or, you can come with me and live.”