"Hey? Why is no one answering me?"

Dilem was certainly greeted with a curious sight. He looked at the group of the guards with their spears down as they just stared at the Hand of Morta and the Green Cloak. The mayor stood to the side not even looking at the enemy instead the girl with golden eyes. His mouth was open but no words came.

"They're right in front of you. Aren't you going to do anything?"

The guards shifted their weight, some even put their spears back up at the calls from the general. Though those who did not were spurred on more by the general.

Dilem took on a murderous glare, "You all must be cowards! I can assure that if I don't have that Green Cloak’s head by the end of the night, I'll just have to make up for it with other ones."

The guards that were not yet ready for battle, instantly readied their spears at the generals threat.

Alyze was about to call out to the guards no doubt wanting to challenge General Amian's order, but she was stopped by a new arrival.

"Alyze, wait!" Jarvus ran to her with a hammer in his hand.

Alyze's eyes widened, "Dad...why are you so late?"

Jarvus gripped her shoulders and shook his head, "There's no time for questions like that. The only thing that matters is that I'm here now."

Alyze looked skeptical, and Jarvus seemed to notice. Before Alyze could speak once more he put a finger to her lips and started to whisper something in her ear.

At first Alyze looked confused, then her eyes widened in understanding, "Are you sure?"

Jarvus nodded weakly, "It's the only way I can come up with to get that boy out of here with his life. I already prepared everything, just make sure it's ready when the time comes."

Alyze ran off towards the forge, while Jarvus was left to confront one more obstacle.

The mayor reached out to Alyze as she left, "Wait...Alyze...I'm sorry."

Jarvus furrowed his brow at the man before him. Hopefully what he was about to do would work. For Alyze's sake.

Thestra, "tsked," at the approaching guards. She had thought that she was home free for a short moment. Her situation was worse than it was before. At least then she had her kukris. Now she was defenseless as more than twenty guards were set on killing her. She also doubted that whoever was keeping General Amian busy would not last much longer, so she would have to take care of him too. She couldn't help but wonder why she had to always end up taking care of everything.

She looked back down at Faldrid. Surely she couldn't keep him safe while doing all that. Thestra guessed that this was what they meant when they said sacrifices must be made in war.

Still, even if he moved a little out of the way instead of just reaching for…

Thestra's eyes popped open as she laid them on the bundle a little ways away.

Just as the town's guards were working back up the courage to charge, Thestra leapt to the bundle desperate for whatever was inside.

Faldrid's arm tensed up as he saw the young Hand's actions, "Thestra...no. You'll...die."

Thestra gave no sign of hearing him though she threw away the bundle giving way to the blood red glaive beneath.

Instantly has Thestra's skin touched the weapon she hurled over in shock. She still held the weapon but, if one could see the look on her face it would be one of intense and severe pain. Black veins started to creep up the arm that held the weapon. As if the contents of the weapon tried to consume her.

The guards who had been ready to risk their lives in an effort to bring down the Hand started to back away unsurely. Some even tripped over themselves.

Thestra clenched her teeth, as she gripped the arm that held Night with her free hand. However, the black veins only spread to it.

"Damn you."

It was quiet at first but it soon grew, "Damn you. Damn you. Damn you!"

The veins stopped spreading.

Thestra let out a cry to the heavens that contained untold emotions that no man or woman in Anknown could understand.

"DAMN YOU!!"

The black veins retreated back into night as if being chased by something. As if they were afraid of something.

Thestra panting heavily straightened her posture until the men in front of her could see her glare.

She spun the glaive in her hand. To intimidate her foes, but also to flaunt her control over the wretched thing.

This did not improve the state of the guards. Even more fell over themselves while more than half had some part of their body trembling uncontrollably be it their arms or legs.

One of the guards, more experienced by the looks of him, went pale as he dropped his spear, "That's impos...it can't be. It can't be."

One of the other guards looked back at him, "Ferrum, what's taken ahold of you all of a sudden."

Ferrum went on almost in shock, "I've seen that blade before. Bu...but that's not possible. It...it can't be."

Another guard looked back at Ferrum, noticeably becoming more uneasy the more the man mumbled, "Just be out with it all ready! Why is it not possible!?"

Ferrum backed away in a daze as if something had possessed him. He suddenly stopped and jabbed his finger at Thestra and yelled at the top of his lungs, "That is the blade which brings an end to all light. The blade that corrupts all that touches it. The wretched blade that will bring down the sun! The blade of Morta! NIGHT!"

Ferrum threw his hand back and ran away, stumbling as he went.

Many voices of uncertainty went up from the guards:

"Is he serious?"

"How would he know?"

"I've heard he fought Morta and Mortis in battle once."

"Him?"

"I heard that too. He fought in a battle that they led."

"Now that I think about it, that glaive does look familiar..."

"I was thinking the same thing, I just didn't want to say it."

"How is she able to wield it? I thought only Morta could."

"I know...but didn't you see what happened to her when she grabbed it."

As the guards voiced their uncertainties Thestra stood their glaring at them, her patience fading., "Are you going to keep talking amongst yourselves or are you actually going to fight me? Because you're wasting my time."

murmurs could be heard from the guards. All of them waited for someone to take the lead, as a result none moved forward.

***

Dilem watched as the guards advanced on Thestra, "That's more like it. Hopefully they don't kill her, but I doubt they'll even come close. If they did it would just be so disappointing. Wouldn't you say?"

Umbren just groaned as he clutched his side on the ground.

Dilem got down on one knee and clutched Umbren's neck in his hand, "Now don't you just ignore me like that. You know I would never imagine seeing you here. It really is my lucky day!" Dilem looked straight at Umbren, "I will say this though, I really do regret what I did that day. From the bottom of my heart."

Umbren's eyes widened as he struggled for breath.

Dilem shook his head as if disappointed in himself, "I mean I ran away! Not from you mind you, but still I ran away! I let you get away! I have to make things right. Then I will be free of this burden that you've left on me," A commotion came up from the guards. Dilem simply grinned in excitement at it, "Looks like things are getting interesting over there. I expect nothing less. After I'm finished with you I just need to take care of that Hand, and I'll be carefree once again. Really having things like this weigh down on you is a real hassle."

Umbren tried to loosen Dilem's hand on his neck, not out of desperation but anger, "Mo..n...ster."

Dilem smiled in amusement, "Now is that anyway to treat me? If I remember that other beast was thanking me from the bottom of his heart."

Umbren struggled to get words out, "Don..'t...men...tion...his...name....You...ha...ve...no...right."

Dilem threw his head back and laughed, "No right!?" The general drew his face closer to Umbren a spark of rage in his eyes as he held his bloodied hand in front of him, "I have every right. Not many people have made me bleed, but once they do they lose every right they thought they once had. They are no longer people, but prey for me hunt down. But I guess that's a gift for beast like you."

Umbren glared defiantly at the general.

Dilem tightened his hand around his neck, "I appreciate how you have spirit right until the very end. But I have more important things to attend to involving a certain girl."

Umbren thought he was going to die. There was no question. He was going to die here by the hands of this monster. An intense hatred rose from the depths of his heart. His blood boiled. He would look back and think if that was what pure hatred was like, but at the moment he couldn't think. All he could do was stare down the man that would soon be his murderer.

Dilem gave a delighted laugh, "I just love it when they look like that."

Just when Umbren was thinking that that disgusting delighted face was going to be the last thing he was ever going to see, a figure pounced from the shadows.

Dilem reared back in pain. As Umbren heard the sound of flesh being pierced repeatedly.

Umbren gasped for air as he rubbed his neck, "I can't believe I almost forgot about you."

Dilem screamed in fury as he threw Kagi off his back. She didn't move from where she landed, but she held a sai that was covered in a red liquid.

***

The mayor blinked, processing what he had just heard from Jarvus, "She...she what? That...that's impossible. She couldn't have.

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Jarvus looked at the mayor gravely, "If you don't believe me about anything else, that's fine. Just believe me now. I'm telling the truth. Please Jacob, it's her life that's at stake."

The mayor fist shook uncontrollably. He couldn't believe what he had heard. He couldn't help but wonder why this was happening to him. Hadn't he already done so much to protect her? When would it be enough? Would it ever be enough? Would he ever be able to rest? Would he ever just be able to trust that she was safe from harm?

The mayor bit his lip. After she had done something so reckless. He didn't think he could. Though some other emotion was also present inside him.

"EVERYONE STOP!!!"

At the moment the mayor shouted his commands, almost all the guards that had been facing Thestra sighed in relief, and some even dropped to their knees.

Thestra looked back at the mayor as if he had interrupted something.

The general felt where Kagi had stabbed him, "Blood. You beast are getting too comfortable drawing my blood! I'll teach you a lesson!"

A light swelled in the general's hand.

"THAT GOES FOR YOU TO GENERAL AMIAN STAND DOWN!"

The general looked back at the mayor with a deadly stare, "Are you ordering me? What makes you think that you can just do that all of the sudden?"

The mayor ignored him, pointing at guards and directing half to surround General Amian and the two Nocturnals. Though most of them decided to do that, not wanting to be around Thestra any longer.

Thestra walked back to Faldrid who was gazing at her on the border of passing out once again.

She studied him intently, "I don't think I can get you out of here alive, or even dead for that matter," Thestra waited for a reply, but got none, "I guess I can carry your cloak back to Mortis to tell him what happened to you. I lost the bundle for this thing anyway," She gestured to Night.

Faldrid peered at Night as if it was the only thing in the world, and nodded weakly.

The mayor placed himself in the middle of the two groups trying his best to match General Amian's glare, "This is my village general. So I decide what happens in it, and that's is that the fighting ends now."

General Amian's glare deepened. It was now one that could bring many to their knees begging for their lives. Just as he opened his mouth to put the so-called mayor in his place, a small bit of laughter could be heard.

All eyes were drawn to the source of it, the little Hand that had shortly before been thrown from General Amian's back.

The laughter grew and grew until one could call it hysterical.

The general's look darkened, "Hey, what are you laughing at?"

Kagi's laughter didn't stop or lessen.

General Amian's eyes were empty. Not in the sense that he was devoid of motion, but that he was no longer sane. No one could predict what was going on in the man's head or what he was going to do next. One could only be left in fear of how their fates were out of their hands.

"Hey, I asked you a question. Aren't you going to answer me?" The general said.

Kagi wiped a tear from her eye, "Sorry, it's just so funny I couldn't help myself."

"Then why don't you share with all of us what was exactly so...funny? I'm sure everyone around us wants to laugh with you."

Umbren simply watched the two's interaction not knowing how Kagi could possibly be laughing at a time like this. He knew he should interfere to help the small Hand, but he feared that he would get in the way. He also wanted to know exactly what Kagi was laughing at.

Kagi gave a wry smile, "You're acting so tough, even though you'd be dead in the next five minutes."

Everyone's eyes widened that looked upon the interaction, even Umbren. Though General Amian simply arched his eyebrow, and spoke dryly "What's that supposed to mean?"

"You didn't really think I would come and attack you without anything up my sleeve? Of course I would poison my sai in preparation."

General Amian backed away, "How dare you. A mere simple beast. How dare you!"

Umbren couldn't believe it. Was it really going to be over? Was the curse this man had left upon him going to be gone from him? Was it really that easy?

Dilem darted at Kagi, lifting her by her collar, and spoke as if he was spitting venom, "Liar!"

Kagi simply smiled. Tears still remained on her face from before, "You can believe me or not, but that doesn't change that you'll be dead in a few minutes."

Dilem clenched his teeth, "Then give me the antidote now!"

A broad grin broke across Kagi's face, even Umbren could tell it was fake. He began to think about if she actually had a plan.

"Of course, but first you're going to have to let us go."

Dilem got right up in Kagi's face almost to where their noses were touching, "What if I just get that antidote right now. It wouldn't take that long for me to pry it from you."

"You could do that, but how long do you think that'll take? You might be long dead by the time you get it from me."

Dilem grimaced and once again threw Kagi to the ground. She landed with a grunt and didn't move much after she came to a rest.

The general turned back to the mayor.

The mayor simply nodded in understanding, "You Hands can leave as long as you don't pick back up those weapons," His gaze rested on Thestra for a moment. She didn't meet it though. In response he simply sighed, "The Hound of Morta will have to stay though."

"We accept," Umbren lied.

There was no way on Anknown that he would stay in the presence of Dilem any longer. He didn't know how he would get out of the situation they were in. Kagi still wasn't moving, so she wouldn't have said anything, same for Faldrid. Umbren didn't know what happened to him, but he could get a little glimpse of him through the guards, and could tell he wasn't doing so good. That only left Thestra who didn't seem to listen to the mayor's last request.

Now Umbren was looking for a way to escape, and the outlook wasn't too good.

Dilem smiled at the mayor's request, "It is a pity that the Hand will get away, but at least I still have him."

At his words, Umbren only became more desperate. If he ran he would be shot down. There was almost nothing he could do. A rational man would have admitted defeat, but Dilem's words only spurred on his imagination of what would happen to him if he stayed.

The Loinir Attoka in the stable on the far side of town started crying to be let out. Their cries made the guards uneasy, as if it was some type of omen. It even attracted the attention of the mayor. Though Dilem kept his attention on Kagi.

Umbren reached out and felt Grimel. He was not far and he got closer with every second. He couldn't help but smirk.

He clapped his hands together, "Now that is taken care of, why don't you just go ahead and give me that antidote you little runt."

Dilem held his hand out towards Kagi but before he could reach her an attoka presumably Thendle burst through the guards that had their attention towards the stables. Thendle grabbed Kagi by her cloak with his mouth and ran off into the night.

"You deceitful bitch!" Dilem called out in fury.

Assured that he wasn't the first to break the deal, Umbren grabbed onto the reins that flew by him, swinging himself up onto Grimel's back who had also broken through the line of guards with Thendle.

As he mounted the attoka he got a glimpse of Thestra rushing for her kukri. Now he really had no guilt about betraying the deal.

As he ran away he could hear the mayor's voice, "GUARDS BRING THAT NOCTURNAL TO ME! BUT DON'T KILL HIM!"

Umbren did not want to think about what he could mean. He rode as fast as he could out of Lucel. His mind was empty except for the thought of getting away from Dilem and the mayor.

Suddenly a yellow light caught his eyes, and he suddenly felt a sense of urgency and fear, but also a firm resolve. The need to stop overcame him as he pulled on the reins. He didn't know if Grimel could feel these emotions, but he looked as if he was confused as to why they had stopped.

Umbren looked around and noticed that he was in front of Jarvus's forge. There was a small light out of the corner of his eye and as he looked towards it he saw a yellow gem shining in the night. The owner had eyes just as brilliant as the gem.

He rode over to her, "What's wrong, did something happen?"

Alyze shook her head, "This is just one last goodbye."

Umbren shifted in his saddle, "I appreciate it, but I don't know if I have time for that right now."

"Don't worry about time, I'll make sure you have plenty. Here take these."

Alyze shoved a bundle of throwing knives into his hand. They were longer and thinner then the ones he was used to, but he was still desperate for anything.

Umbren tucked the bundle away in his cloak, "Thanks, but I don't know if I'll be able to get away from those Loinir Attoka, so I have to go now."

A feral cry could be heard nearby, increasing Grimel and his anxieties.

Suddenly Umbren felt a weight in his pocket and his eyes jerked open, "Here you can have this back. I know it was your mothers..." He held out the talisman of Tenebrage he had found in the storage room.

Alyze smiled, "You can keep it. Just think of it as another gift. It does you more good than me anyway," she paused and Umbren could sense concern for himself, "Don't worry about the attoka, I'll handle it. Just know that it wasn't your fault."

Umbren tried to ask what she was talking about, but she held one of her fingers out silencing him, "I really do hope we see each other again," she said.

She slapped Grimel's side, sending him into a gallop away from the Forge and away from Lucel.

The cries became louder and Umbren veiled himself in darkness to protect himself from any arrows of light that rained down on him. Shortly after, blades of light surrounded him, and some even managed to hit his veil of darkness, but he didn't know how much longer he could hold it.

Suddenly a chaotic sound of wood splintering, and a torrent of fire bursting forth, rang through the night almost rendering Umbren deaf. He didn't look back for fear of what it might be, but shards of wood nearly hit him. He couldn't look back. Deep down he knew what it was, but he didn't want to admit it to himself.

Her words rang through his head, "Just know that it wasn't your fault."

Those words went through his head as he slowly turned back his head only to be greeted by the house and forge being in flames.

Umbren forced his eyes shut as he averted his gaze from the building, "How could you tell me something like that you idiot."

He ran off into the night away from Lucel, away from the forge, away from the house, away from her.

***

Alyze had run into an alleyway after she had set light to the explosives inside the house. She didn't want to deal with Jacob at the moment. Not just because of the house, but because of what she had done before with the guards and that Nocturnal.

She held out her hand and she made a radiant golden light appear in her palm. It was the first time she had really used her blessing that much in a long time. Why had she stopped again?

Jacob's face sprang to mind, or should she say, the mayor. He really did completely change after he took over the position.

She sighed to herself. What had she really gotten from this whole experience? Sure it was fun and interesting, but had she really gotten anything from it? She knew she now had a lot of information from Umbren, but that wouldn't help her get out of this village.

She also had that soul bond…

She blushed at the thought. She really didn't understand how intimate it was going to be. A warning would have been nice.

She still had the light in her palm and she stared into it for what felt like hours. She barely even noticed the Dorcha Attoka that had run by, and the rider who had jumped off of it into the alley way.

Alyze slowly turned her head to the figure. It was the Hand that had fought like a demon. An eyepatch rested on her right eye and she seemed to have retrieved her kukris that she had dropped. She also held something wrapped in what looked like green cloth, no doubt that wretched thing.

"I suppose you're here to kill me?" Alyze said.

The Hand looked at Alyze as if peering into her soul. After a moment she took a few steps forward, "No. I came to thank you."

Alyze couldn't help but chuckle to herself, "Thank me? For what?"

"You tried to stop the fight, which saved me a lot of trouble, and I suppose that's your house?"

Thestra nodded towards the raging fire that could be who's smoke could be seen over the house that blocked their view of it. Alyze simply nodded back.

"Is there anything else I'm possibly missing?"

Alyze simply shrugged, "I mean I did take care of Umbren...and Mistress Kagi for a while."

The Hand didn't have any reaction to Umbren's name but her eyes grew in recognition at Kagi's.

The Hand walked towards Alyze, "Then I guess I have no choice but to give you a gift. Sorry I don't have much, but I can give you one thing. I've only tried this on trees and rodents, so sorry if I mess up."

Alyze had no idea what the Hand was talking about as she grabbed her hand.

Soon Alyze's eyes widened in disbelief. Such a thing was impossible. It was unnatural. No, It was an offense to the gods themselves. Alyze sat in the alley staring at ???. She almost didn't believe it was real.

"Alyze! Is that you?"

The mayor stood at the entrance of the alleyway looking at her.

He motioned towards her, "Are you hurt? I saw the house..."

Alyze stood up knowing what had to be said. She had always known, "I'm fine Jacob."

The mayor gave a sigh of relief, "That's great, but I have to apologize. I went too far back..."

Alyze held her hand out quieting him, "Jacob I'm leaving tomorrow."

Jacob simply gawked at her, "What do you mean?"

Alyze's face was filled with determination, the type that would never break, "I mean exactly what I said. I'm leaving tomorrow."

The mayor scratched his head in frustration, "You're still such a child! You can't leave. You know nothing of the world. It's too dangerous, you'll never make it. There are people that need you here. You are needed here."

"The only person that needs me here is you, Jacob."

Jacob backed away in shock, "I won't let you. I'll make sure that wherever you go you'll just be returned back here. Where would you even go anyway!?"

"To Fotos."

Jacob laughed, "Of course you would. I promise you this, I'll never let you make it there. What even has you thinking of such nonsense? I thought that was all in the past."

"Things have changed."

Jacob furrowed his brow in annoyance, "What could have possibly have changed? Was it that Nocturnal? Did he do something to you? To go on and do such a thing..."

Alyze held up ???.

The mayor raised an eyebrow, "What's that supposed to mean..." slowly realization spread across his face, as he fell to his knees, "No... that's impossible. How?"

Alyze grinned in satisfaction, "Things have changed Jacob, and I'm leaving for Fotos tomorrow."

On that night Alyze's fate was changed. On that night where fire and smoke filled the sky, she declared her new future to the one that had held her back for so long, with the leverage that she had been seeking for so long.