The moon was just peaking over the horizon and the birds had finally quieted for the night, the bustle of the town had calmed down as a group made their way down the dusk lit street. Laughter broke through the quiet as the group paused.

"What? It's not that funny, it was honestly a bit rude." Maria pouted as she hid behind Clara while giving Cody a hurt look. A smile hidden behind Clara's hair.

"Hey, it's a good thing, it means your reputation is better than your father's otherwise a local restaurant owner wouldn't dare let their daughter play a prank on a noble." Cody replied, still smirking

"It wasn't fair, I can't get mad at that little girl. She was so precious." Maria leaped out from behind Clara and put her hands on her hips.

"Come on let's go, we don't wanna be out super late." Cody exclaimed as he started walking again. As he turned back to the road ahead he noticed something. Ahead of them was two people he noticed. Back at the guild, they had rushed out the door after Skarlet. He was about to call out when his hand flashed to his sword instead.

"Cody what's wrong!?" Maria tensed up and Clara grabbed her, yanking her behind.

Cody watched as they passed an alley and three robed figures leaped out, Aiko reacted almost immediately. Swinging her sword, Cody also did the same. A golden glow at the end of his blade, it shot forward. Cody watched as Aiko's blade was countered and a fist smashed into her chest. Amethyst couldn't even react as she was stabbed straight through the chest. The next moment they were yanked backwards, Cody's mana blade passed through where they just were.

"Shit!" Cody exclaimed before dashing forward, skidding to a stop at the alley entrance, he lifted his sword and it glowed. The darkness receded and Cody frowned as another familiar face came into view looking confused.

"Um, hello sir hero?" Garth seemed surprised, "I was expecting to see my companions." He explained.

"What do you mean?" Cody asked, his suspicion rising.

"Well, they said they would be using his street when leaving the guild. I had something important to discuss so I took the allies to try and cut them off. Have you seen them?" Garth explained amiably.

"Ah, actually now that you mention it. Did you see them?" Cody asked as they stepped from the alley. "I watched them go down this alley a few minutes before I met." Garth's eyes widened as he realized the implication and gazed back down the alley.

"No um, feel free to search where I can from. It's a one way path, I would have seen them if they passed through there. But not that I think you're lying just, sounds a bit like teleportation, though I know neither is a mage." Garth seemed very confused. Cody stepped passed him and began to search the alley though he soon came to the same conclusion.

Cody and his companions said farewell to Garth who left with a deeply troubled expression. Then he led the way back to the inn, as he passed Skarlet's door he paused. Skarlet and those two have been getting along recently, I'm almost certain at this point that Skarlet is a Fate Breaker. I need to force myself a little closer to her with anything I can. Cody sighed as he re-evaluated his thoughts.

"Head on to our room imma talk to Skarlet." Cody spoke up, Maria looked inquisitive for a moment before a smile came about following a misunderstanding.

"Ooh, yeah heh have fun!" She says winking before turning and dragging Clara away. Cody just sighed as he approached her door, his hand poised to knock, this is wrong. I'm coming here with such bad news and on top of that I'm thinking about how I can use this to my advantage. Cody sighed as he knocked, there was the sound of movement inside, a click, then the door cracked open to reveal. . . Piercing red eyes glaring at him.

"What do you want?" Skarlet grumbled, Cody placed his hand on the door and pushed. Her eyes widened in surprise as he opened his mouth.

"Aiko and Amethyst have been kidnapped, can I come in?" After his words her resistance disappeared as her face was shadowed in a dark look. He stepped in and closed the door behind him. "Why don't we sit down and talk." Skarlet nodded as she sat down on her bed, he couldn't help but look at her eyes as he sat down on her desk chair. She had a swirl of emotions, a nervous toe tapping. Her tail was flicking with anxiety while her ears were displaying alertness, pointed outwards with a slightly lowered stance.

This wasn't really his expectation, he'd never seen her shy from a fight like this, she always seemed to run at a fight. Though the way she ran towards fights was more like she was running from something.

"Spit it out, what happened?" She spoke like normal, crude, but this time with a hint of hesitance and maybe, was that fear.

"I don't know the specifics, I was a bit too late, I saw it though. Aiko and Amethyst were heading home from the Guild like me when. . . They got snatched and dragged into an alley, I immediately moved to help and there was fighting, but their opponents were really skilled. When I finally arrived at the alley it was empty, I suspect teleportation." Cody explained what he saw, but it only brought more anxiety and fear to Skarlet. "I'm here to ask you to help me."

"No." She spoke almost instinctively, and it was such a fast response that Cody was taken aback. "I-I mean, I can't. . . I can't do that I'll only make it worse." She explained as her voice cracked, he was further surprised as tears seemed to be pushing against the edge of her eyes.

"Uh, I um. . . I never expected that answer." Cody was surprised, Skarlet didn't seem to care as she flipped over and curled up. He frowned but a decision surfaced. He decided to push.

"Skarlet, if you're making the decision not to participate because your conscience rests easy, I'll save them. You shouldn't use that crutch. I won't be saving them." Skarlet's entire body froze, previously she'd had little movements like her tail anxiously twitching, her ears seemed focused on him even as they pressed against her head. But when he said that she completely froze, even stopped breathing for a moment as she exploded out of her ball. An intense rage and bloodlust exploded before dissipating as a deep longing and desperation filled her eyes. The tears no longer threatened to fall, no they poured.

She was off the bed, clutching him as her eyes tried to pierce his soul. The look on her face as she desperately uttered a cracked hesitant "why?" Stabbed his heart and tried ripping it to shreds.

"Cause they aren't my friends, why would I go out of my way to help strangers. Their adventurers, they're supposed to take care of themselves." He spoke coldly, hardening his face as her hands shook. He could see it in her eyes, her mind was reeling.

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"So let me ask you again, are you gonna save them, your friends will die tonight if you do nothing." As he said that she fell, her back making a thud against the bed frame. She didn't react though, her mind was processing. The tears got heavier, she shook her head and dug her nails into her skin. Blood dripped down her arm, she was struggling against the desire to help someone conflicted with her fears. Cody wasn't sure what she was so afraid of, but Even he could tell that he was seeing the fear that always kept her running towards the next fight.

"I. . . No, I shou- nooo, I can't I can't. I. . . This is my. . . I'm sorry." A broken unintelligible sentence came out as she broke down into sobs.

Finally, his heart shattered, he couldn't do it anymore as he slipped from the chair and sat beside her. He sighed and felt like shit as he pulled her close. For the first time since he met her she didn't resist, no she leaned into him. She'd been avoiding him like the plague for awhile so this was. . . Shocking. She sobbed as he ran his fingers through her hair, I did this, I riled all her emotions, pushed her to the brink, then kicked her off it. I can't leave her like this. He thought as he finally spoke.

"I'll save them, just promise me one thing." She didn't stop crying, or respond. But her tense muscles relaxed as she leaned into him further. "After this, we're friends and you gotta stop trying to kill me whenever I wanna hang out." He couldn't smile even as it was kinda silly that he had to say that, though he didn't need to smile as a low chuckle among the sobs told him she realized the irony. She suddenly pulled herself back, aggressively wiped her tears as a small smile was trying to hide as it rested on her lips.

"Tha-nk you." Her voice cracked in the middle as she turned away to hide her mess of a face.

"You sure you won't help."

"I. . . Want to."

"But you can't. Yeah I know, I'll save them. This is not your fault Skarlet. This town hates you, but you are not what they say you are. So, next time something like this happens. I want you beside me as we resolve it." Cody spoke gently, but with determination as he stood up, then he turned to leave.

"How are you gonna find them?" Skarlet asked, Cody smiled in response.

"I will figure it out." Cody frowned after he turned. Damnit, where am I gonna find a lead for this? Cody headed to his own room and opened the door, he stopped dead as he did so. Clara had Maria behind her and was glaring at someone sitting in the desk chair. Cody also frowned as he recognized the Fox Lithian Maid sitting in the chair. She turned to look at him and smiled her golden eyes reflected him.

"I heard your looking for two missing adventurers?"

~

Moonlight trickled in through a slightly drawn curtain, adding a dim cold light to the room. This frigid light was accompanied by a warmer glow as candles lit the room even as the shadows danced in the light.

A knock on the door announced the arrival of a very important guest, he wasn't kept waiting as it open very soon after. Red eyes in the dark announced his arrival, Maxwell stepped into the room and the moonlight struck him revealing his dark trench coat. His posture was arrogance itself as he had a relaxed expression and his hands in his pockets while leaning slightly back.

"Ah, Maxwell sir, please come in have a seat." A rough voice cut through this contradictory atmosphere the man, seemingly cloaked in the night's shadow, strode confidently into the room.

A hand reached from the darkness and moved a candle, revealing a desk as it was set in the center. A face appeared in the candle light, an elderly man with grey hair and silver eyes which seemed to reflect the light. "I'm so pleased to greet the Bishop of Shadows, I hope you're arrival means you've accepted my deal."

The red eyed man sat down gracefully in the chair provided, making himself comfortable. "Ah, yes. I'm greatly intrigued with your ongoing war, the Bishops take great interest in this. Normally this would be a job for the Bishop of War, but he's busy pulling the strings of a conflict on a larger scale." Maxwell smiled, reaching into his suit pocket he pulled out a scroll and unfurled it before placing it on the desk. Then, with a flash he stabbed a knife into a spot on what was revealed to be a map.

"This here, this is fort Toredell, capture this fort. I'll provide support, do it quietly." He then snapped his fingers and a second person walked in. A boy, looking around fourteen with auburn colored hair and deep brown eyes. He was wearing a black assassin outfit with a piece of cloth pulled up over his nose and mouth. At his waist he carried a katana rather than a traditional sword.

"This boy, his name is Gordon, he will be the tool you'll use to take down the fort. Send him after the fort's signal fires." Maxwell gestured to the boy behind him as he spoke before leaning back in his chair with a calm smile. "After that, replace everyone and operate as normal, pick up where the previous soldiers left off. I will give you further instructions after this is done." As Maxwell finished he stood up, before leaning forward. "I must graciously insist that you use Gordon, if you fail in this I will disappear just like your chances for the throne. Oh right before I leave." Maxwell pulled out a second scroll, "let's sign a contract, to officially make us partners." He yanked the knife out of the desk and pressed it against his thumb, a drop of blood fell into the page. Maxwell pressed his thumb into it and handed the knife to the elderly man who took the knife as it was offered and sliced his own thumb in the same way, and pressed it on the paper. Upon both having added their blood the page began to glow before disintegrating into black ash. "I know you won't forget our agreement, the last person who betrayed me. . . Well let's just say they may not have lived long enough to regret it but their family and descendants. They know well what he did wrong." Maxwell smiled, "Remember friend, I am the bishop of shadows, my eyes are anywhere that darkness can live."

"Thank you Maxwell, we're truly grateful, I hope to please you in our efforts." The elderly man placed his hands together as he thanked the man graciously, though a bit of fear leaked into his shaky hands.

"But of course, debts must be paid right. My group owes yours from that time and we will repay, now I'll take my leave. There are many who seek council with the Bishops." Maxwell shook the man's hand before turning to leave.

The elderly man was left alone with the boy Gordon, so he stood up. "Make yourself comfortable, I'll call for you soon." He placed his hand on the boys shoulder as he passed. Gordon simply nodded, his golden eyes were tense and thoughtful.

Stepping out into the hall two guards stood on either side of the door, they didn't hold weapons and wore basic leather armor. The hallway was lit by only moonlight, and among that cold glow the elderly man walked, as he did though sounds began to reach him. The sound of glasses clinking, laughter, and talking. The moonlight was soon greeted by a fire burning in a hearth as the elderly man stepped into a large room. A group of men all gathered around, they were drinking and celebrating, but they all quieted down as the man entered. He leaped up onto a nearby table, the room was set up like a restaurant with many round tables and chairs.

"Chief, how'd your meeting with that strange human go?" One of the people suddenly asked, only for another to chime in. "I don't know why we're so anxious for his help, we've never needed help before." The chief cleared his throat and everyone quieted again.

"Maxwell has agreed to help and given us direction for our first move. We will be the night, we will silently sweep beneath our enemies defenses and destroy them from within. Tomorrow we head for fort Toredell, we shall slaughter the lot of them." The elder spoke vigorously, as he was excited by the thought of the death of his enemies.

"Tonight we celebrate our coming victory under the moonlight." As he said this the curtains were drawn and the fire was put out as the group began to morph and change. Loud Wolf like howls rang out as the moon made them restless.

"We are werewolf's, we fear no enemy. The vampires will fall like any other, Gulress the island of monsters will be ours!" The elders last words were drowned in howls of excitement.

"What a rowdy crew." Maxwell said to himself as he walked, listening to the howls in the distance. His eyes were forward though as he pulled out a pocket watch, it was black with a glowing red magic circle in the center. "The time grows ever closer, the beginning of the great war." He then gazed up at the moon. "Soon I will meet my Lord under this beautiful moon once more." With those words he put the pocket watch away.

"The Princess has been found and when she's awoken Seraph will lose his usefulness, honestly there's no way he could be a useful pawn. Ha, but it's enjoyable getting his hopes up and I'm sure when Illia kills him a good bit of despair will be released. When that happens I'll have to set another meeting in the Hall of Demons."

Maxwell smiled as black smoke began to appear around his hands, his fingers traced faint magic circles and the smoke covered him before dissipating leaving no trace of the Bishop who once stood there.