Koda snapped his eyes open as he took in a long gasp of air. He was alive? Did he die just then? Koda tried to pull himself to his knees, but collapsed. He hacked and coughed, his body felt hot and heavy. Lifting a single finger felt impossible, never mind his entire body. Koda turned his head to find Elucard and Wildeye running to him.

"Koda, are you alright?" asked Wildeye. She laid Koda into her lap.

"W-What happened?" asked Koda, now panting. Although his body ached and his lungs burned, it was his ribs that hurt the most. Like a giant stepping on them.

"You..." Wildeye started. "You died. I really don't want to go into the details, it was far too gruesome to relive."

Elucard nodded. “I’ve seen more death than I’d like to admit, yours was one of the w-”

Elucard spun around with his hand on his hilt. Koda followed Elucard’s movement in time to see the three scarred mages sling off their robes revealing black and gray assassin armor. In unison they drew wicked, curvy swords and charged.

"Elucard!" Koda croaked with his fleeting energy.

"On it!" Elucard growled. The elf shot forward and took out his own blade. It ignited with green ebbing flames.

Two of the assassins loaded a handful of shurikens and threw them at Elucard. He deflected several, redirecting the final star back into the first assassin’s throat. Koda flinched at the sudden murder.

Elucard twisted his body and flailed a kick into the chest of the second assassin. His sword whipped and bent as it turned into a thorny vine and lashed out to the third. However, his opponent leaped into a delicate flip over the vine and sliced it with her wavy sword. She landed and made a beeline for Koda.

Koda trembled as the assassin's blade aimed for his neck.

A lightning bolt cracked through the sky and flashed past Koda.

"I have you!" cried Raine.

The assassin contorted his body and cried in agony as the lightning bolt came down on her. Her body singed and erupted with electricity before she collapsed into a smoldering heap.

Koda’s heart pounded. Safe. He was safe. He looked up to the lightning mage. “You have my thanks, Raine.”

Raine bowed, “The last thing I would want would be for a new friend to be murdered.”

Elucard lifted the remaining assassin. He nodded to Raine. “Thanks for the backup.”

Raine dusted off her hands and nodded back. “Anytime.”

“I’m pretty new to having magic, but I think I’d prefer to have your lighting magic.”

Raine gave him a short chuckle. “It can come in handy.”

Elucard smirked and dropped the assassin by Koda and Wildeye side and then, with one foot on the assassin’s back. “If you’ll excuse me.” With a viscous tug, Elucard yanked the assassin’s arm out of its socket with a sickening pop.

Raine raised a brow. “Of course, don’t mind me.”

"Arrrgh!" the assassin snarled.

Elucard leaned over and sneered. He pushed the arm back in place with a crunch.

Koda squirmed in Wildeye's arms. He had never seen Elucard work before. It was unsettling.

"I’d rather not, but I can do this all day. Or you can answer some questions," Elucard spat.

The assassin whimpered back, "I'll talk."

"They usually do," Elucard gave him a cold whisper. "We'll start simple. What is your name?"

Stolen novel; please report.

"Sven!"

Elucard nodded. “Good, good. What clan do you run with?”

“I am an independent contract—ARRGH!!!”

Elucard popped his shoulder again. "No lies. I know when someone lies."

"I-I-" the assassin stuttered.

Elucard frowned and shrugged. With another gruesome crunch, he pushed the arm back into its socket.

"I-I work for the Grey Ravens! Please! Please, no more," he whined.

"Who is paying for Koda's writ?"

Koda gripped Wildeye’s arm. His stomach twisted each squeamish pop! “Please, Elucard! No more!”

"Tell me!" Elucard shouted in a gruff voice, ignoring Koda.

"I-I don't kno--"

Elucard ripped at the arm, dislodging it again. “What did I say about lying?”

"ARRRGH, the Estinian Liberation League!"

Elucard carelessly dropped the limp arm like a piece of trash and stepped up to Koda. “Finished, my king.”

Koda grit his teeth and his eyes sank with disgust for what he just witnessed. Elucard and his dirty deeds. Elucard doing what Elucard does: dealing with the sewage of his city. He wanted no part of it, but even he knew it was a necessary job.

“The Estinian Liberation League, my king,” said Elucard. “Most likely a group of revolutionaries hoping to end the Soutail occupation of their country.

"I don't get it," said Koda. "If the Estinians want to end the occupation, then why me? Why do they want me dead?"

"Are you really so idiotic?" Trent said in disgust. "You slew our royal family. You are the reason vhy ve are enslaved by these ridiculous harekins. Our empire's downfall is all on your shoulders."

"The Estinians needed to pay for their actions," muttered Elucard.

"Vhat vas that!?" snapped Trent."

"Elucard!" hushed Wildeye.

"No, let him speak!" Koda said coolly.

"I have served in both wars against Estinia. I was in the trenches during the siege of the Splintered Skies and I was behind enemy lines to save my king in the Dawnedge War."

Trent's lip quivered.

"Trust me when I say this, Trent, it was the royal family's fault for what befell them. They went to war with Cypress twice and they imprisoned my king while he was on a peace mission."

Trent seethed with anger. His face flushed red.

"You may be angry at Koda. You may be, but you would be wrong," Elucard continued. "For the only ones that deserve your ire are your worthless royal family."

"I think you made your point, Elucard," whispered Wildeye.

"No..." Trent lowered his head. "He is right. Ve must be better as a people if we vant our freedom. Better as a people if ve vant our honor back too."

The Grey Raven wriggled under Elucard's foot.

"Let him go," said Trent.

Elucard narrowed his eyes. "He is a criminal."

"I vill see that the mark is taken off Koda's head."

"You? You put it—" Koda began to ask.

"No, but I have the power to cease assassination attempts in the League. House Brawnlion is one of the vealthiest families in Estinina. I may not have political influence, but the Brawnlions do have financial influence. Trust me , I have much svay over these people," explained Trent. “After all, ve Estinians do not need underhanded tactics to show ve are better than you.”

Koda struggled to his feet. He shook off the assistance from his familiar. "I am fine, my friend. I think I can walk."

"Koda," Raine called out to the elf king as he began to limp away.

"Hm?" Koda replied.

"Are you after your other colors? Perhaps….” she hesitated for a moment, “You see, I’m headed to Lorendeen to check in with my headmaster before finding a hydro school, maybe you and I could…”

Koda smiled. "I wouldn't mind another friend to join my travels. Especially another mage.”

Raine returned the smile.

“I do have to perform my duties as an emissary in each Realm,” Koda continued. “But I plan on getting more colors.”

“Emissary? You work for royalty?”

Elucard placed a hand on Raine’s shoulder. “He is royalty.”

Raine blinked in confusion. “You are of that Dawnedge tribe?”

Wildeye nodded. “He is King Koda Dawnedge, ruler of all of Long Whisper”

Raine’s cheeks blushed red with embarrassment and quickly fell to one knee. “Y-Your grace. I-I had no idea. I-I haven’t been back to Long Whisper since I was a small child!”

Koda took her hand and gently brought her back to her feet. “Please, my friend. There is no need for that. I am just a normal elven mage, like yourself.”

Raine stiffened giggle. “You just live in a castle.”

Koda scratched his head. “Erm, well yes.” He turned back to Trent. "I will be back with more colors. I will earn my experience—I will be stronger. I expect a rematch."

Trent nodded "Very vell, Dawnedge. We avait to see vhat you vill learn, but the outcome vill always be the same."