"Have a good day," Sofka stated to Bair.

"Well, it's a start. We could also do some asking around with the citizens, get a more widespread sense of what's going on," Ryker said.

"Sounds like we should get started then. We can wait here while you meet the guard, so we don't draw suspicion." Percival spoke up.

"It's a pleasure" Grim said offering his hand in a kind gesture.

Veronica, in the meanwhile, was in the Mana wing as she took a deep breath. She moved her hands a bit then picked up wand. "Channel mana in a single point then launch when needed"

Bair was making his way to the Throne Room.

Eric spotted AMelia, finally, as he approached her.

Richard was quiet as he said "Vxal, can you come with me for a second?"

Vxal paused a bit but followed his King...what was going on?

(Amelia was never missing, she was just dancing)

Ryker walked across the street to wait, looking around to keep an eye out but also to appear somewhat lost. He hoped this worked.

"I don't have hands, sir," Sofka said, lifting her front left paw.

Amelia had finished her second group dance, taking a moment to get a drink.

After a few minutes a guard of similar description turned a corner and began making his way down the road, his halberd resting on his shoulder with a sword side-arm resting at his waist.

Grim blushed and said "Oh...umm...sorry"

Eric approached her and said "Glad you're having fun sis" he said with a sorry smile. He lifted his hand up and said "Before you say anything, I am so sorry I went all "idiot big brother" on you. That was dumb"

Bair asked "Sire, about Ryker..."

Aliester said "The charges were dropped, he left on his own accord. Don't waste your time trying to find him." though even Bair could tell that was killing him to say.

Zephyra said to her daughter, "Hollow is one of the most mana rich areas in the Three Kingdoms," holding out her hand it glowed lime green. "The elements of magic breathe in their own unique if...rather...strange kind of way."

Veronica said "You speak of the elements of Earth, Fire, Wind, Water, Light, Dark, Storm, and Ice." She paused at that "I thought we were the country of darkness?"

"While Dark Magic is strongest here, I rather think of us as the country of the unusual." Veronica paused as her mother walked at that "Our citizens reflect it, the werewolves who covet the Earth and nature's raw power, our fellow citizens from the firey depths with their eternal blaze, the harpies who live in the sky and provide cover, our wonderful merefolk who temper the strange ocean dwellers that reside within, our new council member and her unique light, the electricly created so called monsters that were given life, the cold on the top of Angel Point, and finally us..." Zephyra stated "We who control the darkness, who protect the strange, this is Hollow"

Zephyra flowed her hands as the darkness consumed the dummy "That is the glory of our country, we embrace the strange"

Richard took a deep breath "Then you know the truth...about what really happened to June"

Vxal paused at that "I have...suspected"

Vxal pulled up a chair as Richard held his head in his hands "Oh....Oh god...how I could do that to her? I loved her...yet I...." He didn't finish that sentence "What kind of a monster does that to someone he loves"

Vxal did not respond as Richard kept wiping his eyes.

"Right, well, I am a sphinx, so body of a lion, head and shoulders of a woman," Sofka stated. "As you can see."

"Mmm, just goes to show you're spending so much time with Kira and not me that you've lost some of your common sense," Amelia stated matter of factly, but clearly joking. Mostly.

"Sorry to bother, I'm new in town, looking for work, do you know anywhere I could find that?" Ryker asked.

"Depends, what kind of work do you do?" The guard asked.

Eric said "I knew you'd have fun tonight"

Grim sighed and said "Fair enough"

Vxal asked "Is there anything else you've been hiding?"

Richard nodded "The only things I have hidden are for good reason."

"Thank you for feeling comfortable sharing this with me, Sire" he noticed quietly.

Aliester said "By the way, do you want to learn how to rule a land?"

Bair paused at that "Is...am I ready for that?"

"Never to early to learn" as Aliester pulled out a document.

Zephyra smiled as Veronica was elated "I love it!"

"Really? It's unusual to get work from a guard," Ryker admitted.

"Eh, don't push it. I'm choosing to ignore my usual disinterest," Amelia said.

"May I depart now?" Sofka asked.

"We can't do a whole lot outside of the city." The guard explained. "If a criminal gets out of town, all we can really do is pay someone competent to go get them."

"Okay, I'll give you some of them, but you know not all of them are like that, right?" rolled the eyes of Eric because this seems like the conversation they had every time there was a public gathering. "Sis, you've got to stretch your legs out. I did....and I got the love of my life to add to the best thing that's ever happened to me"

Kira scowled playfully as she approached 'Glad to see where I stand"

Eric asked "Oh, hey sweetie. Where's Dad? He left suddenly"

Kira sighed "He's talking with Vxal about something..."

Emily apporached and asked "What does he need to talk to my dad about?"

ALiester said "Defien strength?"

"TO beat back bad people" Bair said confused "To have the power to make everyone in your kingdom safe and then some"

Aliester groaned a bit "I have delayed teaching you for to long"

Zephyra stated "So, I assume more dark magic lessons?"

Veronica like an excited puppy jumped up and down with joy at the thought.