Cass felt them long before she saw them. The air alerted her first. A large party of people stormed down the corridors of the Hall of Fortitude. Most humanoid, several draconic.

But it was more than just Atmospheric Sense declaring their approach.

Cass knew how many there were, exactly: 19 distinct souls. All much more powerful than Cass or Alyx. Each with a distinct flavor. Or was it a scent? A color?

She didn't have the words to explain it. It was like trying to explain sound with colors.

Was this Mana Sense? Or was it the nebulous soul sight she'd been seeing since she'd walked in on Kohen devouring souls? Were they different?

She filed those questions away for later as the group turned into the cathedral.

The duchess headed the group. She was even more imposing up close. Her obsidian eyes scanned the entire room, slow and controlled, her expression set and unchanging. She was dressed for combat, from head to toe in black armor. Silver lines ran in complicated patterns over the black plates. A pair of swords hung from her belt, one much longer than the other.

"And this is 'not the Copper Crescent' then." Her voice was sharp and laced with dry, disapproving sarcasm.

She addressed the man in priest robes behind her. He stooped under her presence, shrinking like a mouse before a lion.

Head Priest of Vaisom

(lvl 39)

[As the most beloved priest of the goddess of Alacrity, the most beloved god of this region, this man has been named leader of the Temple of Velillia, capital of Vaisom. He has dedicated his life to the service of his goddess and her people. He is blessed by her with powers to better serve this role.]

"Jemine assured me she had expelled—" the man tried to explain.

"Silence," the duchess ordered. His mouth snapped shut. "I am uninterested in your excuses. This is your temple, or is your title an empty one?"

His hands wrung at his sides. "Every sect is allowed private rites. Even I do not have the right to—"

"You remain on my lands because the people would have you," the duchess cut the priest off. "I am not above becoming a tyrant if it will protect my Kaidrach's children.

"Go count your dead. I want to know exactly how many rats you harbored in your basement before I pass judgment on your Spire's fate."

He glared at her but hurried away, gesturing to the group of priests in the procession to his side. They set about organizing the dead.

"Keep an eye on him, Zahryn," the duchess ordered to the woman beside her. "And see if there are any survivors."

The second woman looked enough like the duchess. She might have been a sister. An older sister. Identify suggested otherwise.

First General

(Lvl 47)

[First General. Second Fang. Eldest daughter of the Grand Duchess of Vaisom. This dragon knight holds many titles and wants you to know them. As leader of the armed forces of Vaisom, this woman is matched by few in raw combat potential and by fewer in the extended power she directs.]

She wore her swords the same as her mother. The only difference in their equipment was that the First General's armor was a matte red where the Duchess's was darkest black.

The general nodded and began directing the other knights. They swept through the room between the priests, their weapons or boots prodding the countless corpses.

While the duchess was organizing her people and grilling the priest, the dragons entered the room behind her.

There were seven of them, one for each of the dragon knights of Vaisom and the duchess herself. They were huge, all as big as Kelstor or bigger. The biggest of them was the dragon matron, the duchess's dragon.

She was huge, filling the cathedral, her head stooping beneath its lofty ceiling, easily as big again as Kelstor was to the dragonlings. Cass struggled to imagine how she'd squeezed through the Temple's corridors. Her scales were midnight black and glistened like oil in the light.

Velkora perked up at the sight of them.

"Momma!" she squealed and ran across the cathedral to the black dragon.

"My Velly," Kairdrach cooed, her voice low and gravely, even while being undoubtedly soft. She was massive next to the dragonling, her serpentine neck easily wrapping around the pony-sized dragonling and pulling her tight.

The little dragonling nuzzled up to her mother, whispering into her mane quiet cries.

The matron ran a clawed hand along her daughter's cheeks. "Hush, child, you are safe now. Where is—"

Her eyes fell on Kelstor.

He flinched under her gaze. His head lowered and his shoulders slumped. He looked away.

"Kel?" the matron asked.

Alyx patted Kelstor's side. "Go see her."

"I'm not a child," he mumbled, yet still slunk forward.

The matron lifted his head with one clawed finger under his chin. "You really are my Kel. You have been alive this whole time?"

His head rocked back and forth. "I lost Melida."

"Foolish boy, that wasn't what we were talking about," the matron reprimanded. Her voice was strained but forcibly light. Like someone trying to hold back tears. "You are alive."

He nodded.

"And you protected your sisters, this time," she added.

He nodded.

She pulled him close, wrapping her neck around his, nuzzling her snout along his mane. He pulled away, the pair suddenly looking much more like a teenage boy under an overly fussy mother than a pair of hulking dragons.

"Welcome home, Kelstor."

Cass sighed in relief. It was all over now. It had to be. The cultists were dead. Alyx had a dragon. There was a whole host of other priests Cass could ask about Champions. Salos was back.

The exhaustion crashed over her like a wave, flushing the last of the adrenaline from her system.

Stamina: 32/150

Focus: 18/549

Health: 15/137

Everything was near empty.

Now if she could just lie down—

Stolen novel; please report.

Oh. Right. She was staying in an inn. Well. That was better than the street.

Then again, maybe it was time to leave Velillia?

Alyx hadn't told anyone about Salos yet, but it was only a matter of time. Especially with this demon and cultist incident. It was going to come out sooner than later, and Cass was certain she didn't want to be around when that shoe dropped.

Before Cass could make herself scarce, Litya Delim Veldor pushed her way through the duchess's party and into the cathedral. She ran from the doors, her robe's heavily embroidered train fluttering behind her, a wand bouncing from where it hung from her waist, to the boys lying on the glass floor.

She stopped a step from them, a dazed look in her eyes, like she'd run headfirst into an invisible wall.

Behind her, walking at a far more dignified pace, was Alyx's father. He was stony-faced, all sharp angles and scowls.

The Warden (lvl 41)

He stopped beside his wife, his scowl deepening at the sight of his sons.

"What happened here?" His dark eyes turned from the boys to Cass and Alyx standing beside them. His hand rested on the swords he wore on his hip.

"We recovered the dragonlings from the Copper Crescent, father," Alyx said. Her words were carefully measured and completely hid her emotions.

"Why are my sons on the floor when you look barely injured?" he demanded.

"Is that the thanks she gets for rescuing your sons?" The words had snapped out of Cass's mouth before she could stop them. Hearth flared in her chest again, her exhaustion burning up before rising indignation.

Barely injured! Alyx was covered in blood. And, yeah, her wounds had since closed up via magic, but the evidence of her recent injuries was clearly evident in the rends in her armor and the tears in her clothes.

Even ignoring that, to imply that Alyx had stood by and let Kohen and Ahryn get hurt?

The Warden balked. "Excuse you? Who are you to speak to me?"

There was all kinds of warning in his voice. There would be consequences for speaking back. He was a much higher level than her and a noble to boot. But what the hell, she was leaving this town soon enough, anyway.

"Cass Yuan." Cass held her hand out for a handshake, fully expecting him to ignore it. "We've met." She met his glare, her glowing blue eyes meeting his obsidian ones. "But you didn't answer. Is that how you thank the person who rescued your sons?"

His nose lifted. An eyebrow raised. "Oh, yes, the drifter my ward brought in. Has the brat failed to teach her retainers proper manners?" He waved Cass off, his voice filling with authority. "Stand quietly behind your mistress and let your betters talk."

His order flowed over her. For a fraction of a second, it made sense to let the nobles make the decisions here. She didn't want that kind of attention, anyway.

But only for that fraction of a second. Contrary Will surged and slapped down that thought.

Cass just laughed. "My betters?"

It would be funny if it weren't so disgusting.

"Cass," Alyx whispered, putting a hand on her shoulder. Pellen shook behind her.

Cass pushed past Alyx. Maybe she should stop. This man held information she wanted behind his title. But also, it was clear he held no respect for Alyx.

"Why don't you try asking your question again with a little respect this time? Yeah?"

"Silence," he growled. His authority hit her like a wave. It was natural that someone like her should be quiet in front of someone as powerful as him.

Too bad she didn't care. "No. Apologize to Alyx."

Cass glanced past him to the grand duchess. She had her back to them, speaking to her dragon and Kelstor. Her priorities were elsewhere.

"Silence!" the Warden screamed.

Cass's body shook under the pressure of his Will on her own.

Cass, don't antagonize this man, Salos pleaded.

"Why should I?" Cass spat back.

THWAP!

SLAM!

The air in Cass's lungs was ejected as her back collided with the back wall of the cathedral.

It had happened faster than Cass's heightened Alacrity could process in real time. Maybe faster than her Perception could perceive.

But he'd slapped her. And the Strength of that open-palmed strike had sent her flying.

Pain rippled through her body. Cass gasped, trying and failing to pull the air back into her lungs.

"CASS!" Alyx shouted, turning to run to Cass's side.

"Don't move," the Warden growled. Alyx froze in place. Cass's muscles tensed as staying put sounded, for that instance, like a good idea.

She shook off the command and forced herself back to her feet.

I told you not to antagonize him, Salos said, appearing around her feet.

Yeah, well, some people need to be antagonized, Cass muttered.

Sure, fine. You've antagonized him. Do you have it out of your system yet?

Hardly. Cass glared at the Warden.

"Explain what happened here," he snapped at Alyx.

"I-I don't know," Alyx answered, the words stuttering out of her mouth. "When I got here, everyone was fighting."

"Everyone?" the Warden repeated. His voice was an incredulous sneer.

Alyx nodded. "Cass. Kohen. Ahryn. Kelstor. The cult."

We should go. Salos tugged at Cass's pant leg.

"Explain how it's the cult that's dead." His voice cracked like a whip.

Alyx glanced at Kohen, her mouth moving silently as her desires spun around under her father's commands.

She was going to tell him about Kohen's demon nature. That was the only way to explain how they'd held their own before more powerful and numerous opponents.

What will happen to Kohen if they find out? Cass asked.

His mother had dropped to her knees at his side, caressing the side of his face. The hint of mana flickered under her hands, tasting ever so slightly of lavender. Maybe she was trying to heal him?

Cass didn't know, and Mana Sense was feeling particularly opaque.

[Unseen Magic]

Helpful.

They will kill him, probably, Salos said.

Cass grimaced. After everything I just did to fix him? Cass didn't think so.

It is the safe thing to do.

Maybe, but she didn't like it.

"You don't expect me to believe a gaggle of First Steps and Gate-Cuspers killed this many cultists," the Warden continued, his sneer heavy.

"What is your theory, then?" Cass shot back, tromping back to stand at Alyx's side.

His eyebrow went up.

"Well?" Cass glared at him. "You don't believe the eyewitness reports. You'd better start theorizing on your own."

"I thought I told you to be quiet," he growled.

Cass shrugged. "I don't like orders. What are you going to do about it? Hit me again?"

Don't tempt him! Salos hissed.

"You think you can handle my full strength, girl?"

"Using the old 'That wasn't even a fraction of my full power' line? I don't know what I expected from a melomaniac of a man." The words flew from her lips before she'd thought them through. Alacrity whirled in an attempt to give her rational thoughts a chance to keep up. But the heat in her chest burned.

Her Hearth burned behind her. This was her space. Alyx was her friend. She would not stand listening to another insult her. Not here. Not now.

And Kohen was her patient. She'd chosen to save him. She would not let them hurt him now. Not while she watched.

If she had to make the enemy of a small man like this, so be it. Every moment he spent focused on her was another for Alyx to compose herself or for Kohen or Ahryn to recover.

It was another moment she delayed before their demonic nature was discovered.

"I should punish you where you stand," the Warden muttered.

"Why don't you then?" Cass taunted. "Afraid of how small it would make you look in front of your mother? Can you imagine? A 'big powerful' man like you, unable to cow a little girl like me into obedience with the threat of violence?"

Alyx inhaled sharply.

CRACK!

Cass blinked as she found her back against the wall again. Shards of glass dusted her shoulders. Blood dripped through her hair. The world spun.

Cass! Salos stared up at her, his concern overflowed into her. She was pushing this too far. This was dangerous. She shouldn't challenge forces beyond her scope of power. Even a slyphid matched against a human had to bow to a level difference of this magnitude. She was going to die. What would happen to him? Cass was going to die.

Cass pushed herself off the wall, her head throbbing. Her hands came away bloody, sliced by shards of glass. Pain radiated through her chest. Had he broken her ribs? Did a slyphid need ribs? Questions for later.

Every eye was on her.

Or him.

The Warden glared at her. His eyes burned with something. Rage, probably. Was this all it took to drive him this far?

When his children were lying on the ground, potentially dying? Had he asked about their well-being? No. Instead, he'd demanded to know why his last kid wasn't lying there with them.

A bitter laugh escaped Cass's lips. She hated it here. She glared right back at him and shook her head. "Sorry. That one was on me. I overestimated you there. I thought you had more self-control than that. I didn't think you had quite that much in common with a toddler throwing a tantrum. I'll be sure to lower my expectations for next time."

His eyebrows scrunched into the deepest glare. His hand curled around his sword.

Hell. In retrospect, continuing to taunt him was probably not a move compatible with her continued health, but it felt good to say it.

Before he could draw his weapon, the duchess approached her son, a disapproving scowl on her lips.

This was where the duchess drew the line? Slapping a stranger around was A-okay, but drawing a sword at one was too much? Cass snickered. This world.

"Calm yourself, Thaycer," the duchess said. "No one important is dead."

Cass raised an eyebrow. The dead were countless around them. Blood pooled over the glass floor.

"By all rights, your children are heroes. We can save the how and why they found themselves here for after the celebrations. We are all late to the ceremony this evening as it is."

Ceremony?

Cass glanced at Alyx.

She nodded at the dragonlings.

Oh. Tonight was the night they were supposed to bond with a knight, wasn't it? Were they still going to go through with that after all this? It seemed like they should give them some time and space to decompress after a kidnapping.

Cass would have liked some time to decompress.

"As soon as Emenes finishes bonding, we are returning to the palace," the duchess continued.

"You plan on letting them bond?" the First General asked.

Litya looked up from Kohen, her eyes wide.

"Why shouldn't my son bond with the dragonling?" Thaycer demanded, his entire bluster turning on his older sister.

"Don't pretend you think that child is suitable," the general snorted. "You would have been the first to disavow the boy yesterday."

"Yesterday, he hadn't proven to be worthy of a dragon," Thaycer snapped back.

"Can my boy handle the responsibility?" Litya asked the open air, her voice shaking. "We aren't dooming two to his illness, are we?"

"A child picked a child. Without the guidance of her teachers," the general said. "It should be stopped before she ruins her future."

A growl rumbled through the hall. Every eye shot to the source: the black matron looming over them all.

"I will devour any who step between my daughter and her chosen," the matron dragon growled.

The Warden and First General both took a step away from their mother's dragon and the dragonling.

The duchess snorted. "You heard her. Kaidrach approves of this bond. That will be all."

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