Grimm found it easy to remain awake even through the harsh winds and rain that caused Garnet to seek shelter inside. For the last 18 and a half hours the man kept himself awake by telling stories to Garnet and drinking from the bottle of wine that was stashed under the seats. Something he was incredibly happy to find because he hadn’t had a drink in days. What he really wanted to find was a nice bed. His old one back in the freelands was long gone, so he started to despise the journey he was on so far.

Their carriage had already made it towards the savannah of Dolsrin, and as they were getting closer to Shakes Town, they each felt themselves getting hungrier and hungrier. Luckily their destination was close. Grimm saw the large stone walls to each side of the town, and the large hole which housed it. He breathed a sigh of relief that he would be getting closer to resting his arms, legs and head.

The carriage was brought to the edge of the canyon. Right before a lift that could bring it down and carry them into the town. As Grimm descended his eyes traced everywhere. The town was very crowded, buildings had people surrounding them like bees on a hive. The homes were large, enough to fit numerous people. As Grimm looked about the town he didn’t notice a head of red hair nor a smaller young man holding a staff.

“We need to get some food.” Garnet announced as she came out of the carriage.

“I agree. If those two aren’t here. We’ll get our food then move on. We can’t stay put for too long or else we risk losing track of them.” Grimm returned. The lift brought them all the way down to the ground of the canyon. Where they found a sufficient spot to park the carriage. Grimm stood up and was happy to finally stretch his legs. Same with the others.

“Place is really crowded.” Katreena said as she looked to the busy streets.

“Which is why you guys will stay here. I’ll go get us some food and see if I can find Ezra and Nicholai.” Grimm ordered. Katreena agreed without any argue. Garnet however had her eyes fixated somewhere else. The canyon’s walls. Miniature homes were built into the walls and sturdy boards were placed to serve as a walkway for the people who lived in the higher sections. This occurred around the both sides of the walls inside the canyon. Yet the ones lower to the ground had much grander entrances and design. Which is exactly what got the witches eye.

She saw it and realised that it had to be owned by someone more wealthy than the rest in the town. Her suspicions started to stir, especially as she noticed someone staring out of the upper window of the home. Separated from the people only by a congregation of knights standing before the home.

“Seems like someone important lives here.” Garnet pondered aloud, especially for Grimm to hear.

“What do you think of it?” He asked.

“I don’t know. You might want to gather some info. If I know anything. No one lives in a house like that while there are people out like this, who aren’t someone to keep an eye on.” Garnet reckoned as she continued to grow more curious of the person on the balcony. “I think we should all go Grimm. Noone is going to take our carriage.” Garnet said as she started to venture away from the group and into the busy streets. Grimm accepted as she walked away.

“Katreena, you still feel like staying here?” Grimm asked the girl.

Katreena began to sniff. Her nose pushing her over to something that smelled incredibly foul to her. She turned her head round and round until she it’s scent coming from the streets. Her curiosity was raising the same as Garnets. “Yeah i’ll come too. I might stick out like a giant green thumb but I don’t think I’ll be able to sit here while some weird smell keeps itching my nose.”

“I guess I can come as well. If you do find Ezra I hope to be with him as soon as possible.” Anabelle added.

“Can’t you just sense them or something?” Grimm asked the mare.

“No. I’m sorry. I wish I could though. Would make this so much easier.”

“If only it was that easy. Let’s go.” Grimm said. Then he began to lead the group off and into the busy streets, hoping to find food and their friends.

Three people all sat in the chairs of their home. Yet they were bound by their arms and legs. Each of them beaten and bruised. Something which happened so quickly they could hardly remember it. Father, Mother, and son. Unable to move they only looked to the men that caused it all. The knights who swore to protect them, and Juro their general.

“Nightwell. Your friend Jolstin, another noble. I sat before him the same way I’m doing you now. His family cried. His home destroyed. Same with Nightwell.” Juro stood up and stood before the man. His sword clinging to the side of the man's face. He grazed it, leaving a cut on the nobles face and forcing more blood to come from his head than there already was. His wife and son cried heavily thinking the man was soon to die.

“Hey Juro! When are we going to start?” A voiced questioned coming from upstairs.

“I guess I got a bit carried away. Is the package here?” Juro asked the voice. Someone then came from upstairs. A man around Juro’s age, His attire similarly sharp as the general. Yet he frowned at having to dress like this.

“Yeah it’s here. I already saw it being moved into the center of the town. When you're ready we can get moving.”

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“Thanks Commander Hazelcrown.” Juro said to his commander. Making the man smile with glee as he was more than ready to pull off their scheme. “Lord Brircon, Lady Brircon. Young Brircon. Let it be known that you are getting the easy way out.”

Juro assured the nobles before quickly slashing his sword across each of their necks. Decapitating all of them simultaneously. The general stood as their heads rolled to the floor and blood splattered on the walls. Once the blood stopped spraying. He pulled out a single napkin and started to wipe any excess blood off his hands and clothes. Though they were never fully free.

“Start the attack Hazelcrown.” Juro ordered.

Grimm had exited the fourth tavern they found within the town. The same as the others. Only a small portion of food and no information about Ezra and Nicholai. The man was finally ready to deduce that the two weren’t in the village. Katreena’s nose kept picking up the foul stench which wouldn’t leave her be. Making the girl sniff every few seconds.

“Katreena, what are you sniffing out?” Garnet wondered.

“I have no idea. It smells like gunpowder, but there’s something else I haven’t smelled ever.Ugh! So fucking annoying. We asked like 4 taverns if Ezra and Nicholai are here. Let’s just move on.” The tall girl said in great distress from both the crowded streets and the smell lingering in her nose. “To think finding a dracion like Ezra would be so hard.”

The group started to move back to their carriage. Yet someone was overhearing them. They started to trail them. Following the groups while moving behind homes and staying behind figures bigger than them.

“Grimm.” Garnet said quietly.

“I know.” He answered, already too aware of their follower. He stopped while the others continued. “Come over here.” Grimm called to the person. They showed themself covered with a tattered cloak and hood. They came up to Grimm, and looked to him before removing their hood. A young man with bright purple hair and a star tattooed over his nose looked up to Grimm.

“You said you were looking for a dracion?” The young man asked.

“What’s it to you?” Grimm pondered.

“Nothing too special. I’ve just always wanted to meet one. My dad used to tell me these wild stories about dracions and how they can fly, lift mountains and even teleport. Like one time he said that-” The young man continued, which offput Grimm by the info being dumped down his throat. He covered the young mans mouth before he could tell another story incredibly fast.

“Stop it. Who are you?” Grimm asked. He slowly removed his hand hoping that the young man wouldn’t go into another fast paced story.

‘Oh. Sorry. Where are my manners? I’m Miros. Prince of Dolsrin.” Was the answer that Grimm automatically dismissed. “Now, look. Before you walk away. I know you don’t believe me. However. I can prove it to you. Look I have this-” Miros was about to continue. However a loud scream came from the town. Both men looked back to where it came from. However everyone's attention was drawn upwards. Once looking to the same direction Grimm and Miros had a reaction similar to that of the people. Above them were hundreds of monsters. Grimm recognized them as the beasts from Dreamlight.

“What the hell? There are more!” Grimm yelled angrily.

“Those are the infected.” Miros said. Grimm caught the words and looked at the young man. He grabbed him by the cloak and raised his whole body onto a nearby carriage.

“What did you say?” Grimm fury was beginning to burst through as he asked Miros to explain himself.

“Those monsters are infected. That’s what happens when someone gets the disease that’s been spreading across the kingdom.” Miros answered. Grimm dropped the young man. Then began to run towards the danger. The girls saw him leaving and chose to follow him in as well.

Grimm was still far ahead of them. Some of the monsters started to attack the people who were beginning to run opposite of Grimm. In his head he was thinking of a plan. There were far too many people to try and save all entirely. The best bet was to kill all of the monsters just like Dreamlight, or figure a way to keep them from entering the canyon. WHich was seeming impossible just by how many were coming in by the second.

He found a group of the monsters and jumped over to them, leaving a storm of ice in their wake. Impaling every single one of them. Both the people and the monsters stopped to see him. He twired his scythe and started to rush towards the monsters.

“Go. Get to the lift!” Grimm yelled to the people.

“Wait. That scythe. It can’t be. Third Captain Grimm. He’s returned to save us!” One of the townsfolk noticed as Grimm carved through the beast. They now found themselves more jovial than scared knowing that Grimm was before them. Yet their admiration didn’t last too long, and they left him to fight and continued for the lift.

Though once they had reached where the lift was, they found that it had been cut off by the knights above. Who were smiling down on the helpless townsfolk. They all started to cry out in fear of their lives while the knights simply walked away.

Katreena and Garnet joined in the fighting as well. Garnet rode atop Anabelle and slung spells at her targets. She found herself at the biggest disadvantage since their was no form of plant life in the bottom of this canyon. So she resorted to more traditional spells while getting aid for Anabelle. Miros had followed as well. He started to show his strength by striking down one of the beast with his bare hands. Grimm took notice of the young man’s strength and appraised it with a simple nod. Telling him to fight more.

However their defense was to be interrupted. Juro had emerged from the home of the nobles. His cane aimed for Grimm. From the push of the trigger, a bullet fired at the warrior. Though it was nothing as Grimm immediately swiped it away with his weapon. Now him and Juro locked eyes. Both aware of each other and ready to fight. Juro came forward to the man.

“Grimm. I’d never thought I would see the day. Where I could meet the legend himself.” Juro said, admiring Grimm the same as the townsfolk.

“And yet you choose to shoot me in the head.” Grimm responded harshly.

“Sorry for just a harsh introduction. I just can’t have you interfering with my plan.” Juro stated. Grimm understood everything rather quickly. He rushed over to Juro and swung his scythe towards him. Juro countered with his cane. He pushed it off then tried to strike Grimm’s head. He missed by the mansliding back, then bringing forth a wave of ice to the general. Juro didn’t move, and the ice crashed to him. Until it all was forced away by him. Grimm then saw something he was more acquainted with. From behind Juro, 8 large arms gray ghastly arms formed.

“So you have a spirit as well. I don’t even need mine to kill you.” Grimm said before dashing back to Juro. He started slashing at the man quickly whilst simultaneously releasing ice from his scythe. Juros' arms moved to deflect every attack coming his way. Though Grimm’s superior strength and speed was becoming too much for him. Slowly the hands stopped deflecting the attacks, then the arms had to start doing that part. Soon Grimm reached closer and closer to Juro, finally getting him with a quick slash to his chest before kicking him back.

“Dammit.” The general cursed. “Hazelcrown! Do it now!”

Grimm looked over to see the commander by a carriage in the center of town. Katreena also took notice as well and moved to stop whatever he was plotting. Yet as she got closer. Her nose began to sniff heavily, smelling the foul stench which caused her annoyance. It was coming from within the carriage.

Hazelcrown knocked back the walls of the carriage, to reveal a massive bomb. Juro smiled witnessing it.

“All ready! Say goodbye everyone.” Hazelcrown pushed the detonator he had in hand. The large bomb flew into the air and exploded into a massive cloud of red smoke. It started to fall down back to the town. Katreena smelled some of it and noticed it had a similar smell to the infected monsters.

“Grimm!” She yelled. The man already jumped and grabbed her then began running towards Garnet, Anabelle, and Miros. “The people!”

“I know! We….We can’t save them!” Grimm yelled as he got to the witch and mare. Once close, he generated a thick dome of ice around them to protect from the smoke.

It covered the whole city. The people began to breathe it in and started coughing heavily. Juro watched this from the side of them, especially soon as the people started to contort and scream in pain. Their bodies started to change. Their skin became red, their eyes changing color to a pitch black, and their skin body fat began to increase and decrease in places. Juro watched as the people started to transform into the beast that just tried to kill them.

Grimm listened as the pained screams turned into agonizing roars.