“These twins, I need to find a way out,” Vikki said, seeing the woman just a distance away.

  “Stealth,” she whispered, sword in hand.

  .........

  “How many houses do you have?” Ryke asked, sitting down.

  “Hard to keep count, but next time, take the fight outside,” Leon replied, sipping on the wine.

  “I’ll tell them if they ever return,” Ryke replied, seated on the opposite chair, a table between him and Leon.

  “I heard Sherlyn just saved you. It seems like you need a female every time.”

  “No, she helped save Veryn, not me…”

  “But Toney did right, yeah? He told me he was moving like the old days when the killing started,” Leon cut off Ryke.

  “He just took my kills, nothing more,” Ryke replied.

  “Leon, good morning,” Sherlyn said, coming in.

  “Whoa, have you… morning too. At least Ryke won’t look so lonely now,” Leon replied, getting a pinch from Azeya who now sat near him, stopping him from making a comment on Sherlyn’s little body weight gain.

  “Karl, he asked for a greeting, sent a messenger. He said he was visited by your older brother,” Sherlyn said.

  ‘Lucky boy, he is still alive,’ Leon thought, just before taking another sip.

  “I won’t be able to move today, don’t feel like it, but I would like it if you two can go with Neyra to where she fought Sky. You never know,” Leon said.

  “And no fighting unless it’s necessary. I don’t know, but it’s best we keep you alive,” Azeya said.

  “Can we go in the afternoon?” Ryke asked.

  “That’s fine. I think Neyra will be fine with that too; she’s having it bad from her confrontation with sky.”

  ....

  “There is word you went overboard. What happened yesterday?” Joe asked.

  “Nothing much. Maybe seeing the people I’m here to try and help and organize killing the innocent didn’t feel that right,” the Guild Master replied, lying on the bed.

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  “Is Terry telling you anything?” the Guild Master asked, shifting position.

  “He’s been out, don’t know where he is, but it was confirmed. Seems like Osthera was also a victim, also Ordelith,” Joe replied.

  The Guild Master looked around, eyes rolling before staring at the window for a minute.

  “Such a massive attack. Whoever did it knew what he was playing,” he said, finally breaking the silence.

  “Julien is in Os'thera. People are suddenly popping out, most being left in the woods.”

  “Yeah, I need a rest. Can you excuse me? Come some time later,” the Guild Master said.

  ..........

  “I thought we would leave Zurehn, but we are in the capital, Olskaard,” Wendy said.

  “Yeah, we need to talk to someone, and it was for the best we left.”

  “For the best? You left people dying when you could have helped,” Wendy retaliated.

  “Trust me, cousin, you don’t want that discussion. We will be here, not for the longest, but we need to find this one,” Rheis said, taking a sharp turn, Wendy following.

  The city was big and had lots of tall buildings and big houses, paved roads, and a huge traffic of people. “Noble land,” Rheis said, staring at the houses at the end of the alley.

  ...........

  “I dreamt of a big creature, almost Alph’s height but white. It was also pretty near,” Ben said, looking at the lying Alph, the little ones taking a day nap in the shed.

  “Maybe because of the howl. I’ll check it out,” Sky said, taking a bite of the food Tork brought—some kind of fruit, green in color.

  “Wouldn’t we going together be better?”

  “No, someone has to be around. You and Dakota remain.”

  “No,” Ben started. “Then you are not leaving. I can tell when you are from fighting, Sky; it’s not that hard. I’ve watched you train so much, it’s not hard to know,” Ben added.

  “Then we stay here for now, wait on Tork to return. Whatever happened in Miraen got her locked there,” Sky said.

  “Ben, would you like to join me in training? It’s been so long you might forget how to punch,” Sky said, throwing the fruit away and standing up.

  “How can someone forget how to punch?” Ben asked, standing up too.

  “Yeah, well, let’s first do more than fifty—eighty push-ups are good, right?” Sky asked.

  “Yep, plus there is some space around here; we can even fight some,” Ben said, looking around the area surrounding the house. “Dakota is quite resting a lot of late,” he added.

  “Mmm, yeah, she was tired. Suddenly woke up already ready to sleep, but she will be around,” Sky said before starting ahead in the push-ups.

  .........

  “Veilwood,” Sherlyn began, walking in front. “It’s my first time being in this forest, but at some point….”

  “Were you reading through books instead of resting?” Ryke asked, third in line, behind Sherlyn who was second and wore black jeans.

  “Just in case. It’s best I don’t use my ability,” Neyra said, wearing a plain white mask, walking through the green grass and trees.

  “I’ve got you covered,” Sherlyn said, pointing her bow from behind.

  “Don’t point that thing at me. I hate it when things come from places I can’t see,” Neyra said, also wearing black jeans with a white short-sleeve shirt, while Sherlyn had a shirt and a little coat, just covering the hands and the area under the breast.

  Ryke, on the other hand, wore black trousers almost like sweatpants with a long-sleeve red shirt.

  Sherlyn’s focus was shifting on the way, looking around. “We have a visitor; it’s following us,” she said, her right hand wrapped on the arrow.

  “Did you see it?”

  “It’s a white creature, just smaller than a Nyrrak. I’ve seen it too,” Neyra said.

  “If it can attack us, then kill it. Then suppress yourself, I’ll take it from there,” Ryke said.

  “Neyra, I would like to ask your thoughts on this, considering there are three of us,” Sherlyn said, still walking.

  “Creatures are different than humans. If they want to kill, they will, so we make the move first—especially because it’s seen us,” Neyra replied.

  Sherlyn took the bow and took the shot, hearing the cries behind the leaves, more of whining for a minute, causing the group to stop, Ryke finding himself ahead of everyone, though all there eyes looked back.

  “Nice, it’s like….” Ryke started, before barely dodging a punch as he turned around, to take the turn towards the front yard.

  ' I reacted well, but, what's this , this' Ryke thought, feeling an iron taste in the mouth.

  “No, no,” Ryke started, spitting the blood out before raising his head back, only to see this build—definitely bigger than his, but almost his height, maybe just.

  “Name,” Ryke demanded, looking straight in the eyes.

  “I don’t answer to fools who just attack for no reason,” the man replied.

  “You struck first." Neyra started before taking a breath, "It’s best you leave; I don’t think you want to know what’s behind this mask,” She added.

  “I’m done losing fights,” the man said, both hands locked into fists, veins out.

  “Who are you talking to?” another voice said from behind the man.

  “Who… it's you. Are you looking for me?”

  “Joe, not 'you.' That’s my name,” Joe said, walking up close. “But I never got your name?”

  “You too? Seems like my name is important. Varok, but it doesn’t matter; we won’t meet each other,” Varok replied, shifting focus to Joe.

  “Hey big guy, you dare not forget about me. I want to return the favor with both hands,” Ryke said, coming into view for both.

  “Stay out, boy. It’s not your fight,” Joe said, covering the little distance between him and Varok.

  “Who’s staying out? I’m killing this bastard, and if you disturb, I’m hunting you too,” Ryke said, hollow appearing as he closed the distance too.