Amelia looked down, thinking. Everyone had looked so scared, Eric had looked like he could pee his pants from fear. What had her father done to incite that kind of reaction? It made her question a great many things. "It's okay," she said quietly, just wanting this conversation to be over so she could go back to her room.

Bradley found it mildly amusing Richard was suddenly open to compromise when nobody else was around. Typical egos of kings, never letting them not appear infallible to the outside world.

"Tonight, head to your room by yourself with no guard." Richard said point blank. "Tomorrow after we eat, I want to talk to you in my office about your living arrangements moving forward, just you and me talking like civilized people." he said "Right now though, I need to head to my office. I have some reflecting to do..." the mark where Richard stuck his knife into the table was still visible as Richard paused seeing it. He let out an angry sigh at himself hoping Amelia wouldn't catch him looking at it

“O..Kay,” Amelia said, standing. “So I can go?” She asked slowly.

Bradley wondered if it could possibly get any more awkward in the room at this point. God he hated this job.

(Soooo are we ready to TS yet, I'm dying here)

(One Week later) 

A heavy sigh came from Richard as he leaned back in his throne, as Vxal arrived with Eric in tow. Richard looked down at his son, as Eric was very silent. It was a simple day today, nothing to extreme or nothing to adgregious. However, Eric's behavior over these last few days has been cause for concern in Richard's eyes. The dinner a week ago, and how well Amelia was handling their deal, Amelia was to inform Emily or Vxal of her wearabouts except when going to the Courtyard, that would require a full escort. He also thought about how well she handled his apology for his behavior, and how everyone else listened to Amelia on baited breath during that dinner. She was reasonable, level headed, and it wasn't until she felt like she was being disrespected that she copped an attitude with Richard. 

Richard thought about the future at the moment as Eric sat getting ready for the simple task ahead looking at his father quietly. With guidance, Amelia could be a great ruler, she could eliminate the stain he had made and bring honor back to the Elodus name. At the same time, Richard looked at his child...Eric was his blood. Maybe he was being rash as Eric is young, and the young do make mistakes. Time will tell, for now...it was time to simply listen to the complaints of his citizens. 

Bair panted as Grim said "Take five" motioning for him to sit down next to him. He asked Bair, "While you rest, would you like to hear a story?" 

"A story?" the confused Blackmarsh stated panting. This was certainly odd because the past few days have been nothing but running drills, agility drills, moving drills, all with these stupid weights on his legs which suck so much. Why is he telling him a story? What purpose did it serve. On the other hand, he did like that he didn't have to do anymore speed training at the moment, so...he said "Sure, I guess." 

Grim smiled and said "Well, this is a simple story, this is the story...of my first mission with King Aliester when he was in the Enforcers of Justice, our name for our rebel group at the time" 

The dark shadow of the castle loomed over Hollow as Veronica sat outside next to the moat with a heavy sigh. This was the longest time she and Bair have been apart, and because her parents are both her teachers and the rulers of this Kingdom, there are these lull periods of training. She leaned back a bit and started to look at her life, and eventually her mind drifted to her now. Veronica sighed that she remembered that one day she would be the ruler of Hollow and yet...she's been useless on her own. Her father is a master of combat, able to wield any weapon and make it look so easy to do. Her mother was a powerhouse in magic, the dark arts especially. Her though? If it wasn't for Ryker and Bair...she'd probably be dead right now by that witch that tried to ruin everything. If it wasn't for General Roland, she'd be a victim of a revenge game. She looked up at the shadowed skies of Hollow, and wondered about what to do. Then she remembered down the street were four people who...could give her insight. Slowly she stood up and went inside the Castle to inform her father and mother that maybe it was time to speak to the members of the Council. 

Alyssa stood guard towards the outside base and started her patrol. She was on the top of the wall and it was her job to keep an eye out for anything unusual. She started to think about the fact she was a guard at all now. It all happened so fast. She had a pet bear, she was a guard, she was home, maybe this new path she is walking...wasn't so bad after all. 

Gendry was halfway up the massive walls of Arcana, lazily reclining on a large vine he had summoned just beside the gate. Normally there were two guards at the gate, but there had been a hole in the schedule they hadn't been able to fill and, as always, Gendry was the first place they went, so for these couple hours it was just Gendry. Not that it was any less safe, Gendry's protective measures were very effective, especially with the whole of the forest at his feet. "Mannn, I'm hungry," he mumbled. Just another 30 minutes or so, he hoped. So long as the next shift was on time.

Ryker was tired of rocks and brown landscape dotted with small towns. He was tired of sleeping on the ground, of sleeping in his armor just in case. So, when they found the path into the mountain, the path shining occasionally with an iridescent stone that made him feel positive about finding this great city of magic. He had always wanted to see it, but never though he would, considering the lack of magic he possessed. For a brief moment, he found himself thinking of Veronica, and wondered how her magic was coming along, but quickly abandoned those thoughts before they became too heavy.

The path curved into the mountain range at a slight incline, indeed interspersed with the occasional stone that shone gently with a million colors in the right light, the only slight indication that they were heading in the right way, but anyone with a sense of magic would be able to tell that these stones themselves were laced with magic, and possibly connected to some sort of security measure. As the curved reached its end, and any traveler disappeared within the range, a large, ancient forest spread out before them, the path cutting through it and leading up to the grand and mystical city that seemed to almost hang above the forest. Arcana was, in a word, beautiful. It sat against the side of a mountain that stabbed straight into the sky, so high its peak disappeared into the clouds, but curving up its side were great stone steps that lead into a large cave on the mountainside, likely the legendary Stairs that lead to the Cave of the Masters.

The stone steps held nothing to the city of Arcana though. The university stood proudly at the center of the city, great stone towers and buildings that rose up above the trees in ways that defied logic, decorated with richly colored flags that honored the schools of magic. A clocktower stood at the center, its spire curving upwards as the massive clock face below kept time, a great conductor of the heartbeat of the city below. And the city itself, it was colorful, and full of the sounds of joyful life that echoed down into the range and got lost amongst the trees. It sprawled outwards from the university, with houses and shops stacked amongst each other and on top of each other, navigated by spiraling stair cased and tubes that occasionally shot people from one destination to the next, runes glowing on the side. And throughout it all, magic pulsed within the city, as though the city itself was alive, and magic was the air within its lungs. Great history was born here, made here, and protected here, and just laying eyes on it was enough to fill a person with that knowledge.

Suzanne sighed, rubbing her forehead as she slung her bag over her shoulder, walking out of the classroom and shutting it behind her. Thomas walked ahead of her, eagerly accepting the offered pets from passerby. "Whore," she muttered at him, but he just flicked his tail and kept on.

Amelia, having just informed Emily that she was heading to the library, gathered the books she needed to return up into her arms and set off. Admittedly, she had let them pile up and she probably looked silly carrying 12 books stacked high enough you couldn't really see her face, but if it got to be any more she'd have to ask for help. She already needed help, and could really feel the weight of the stack in her forearms, but she was stubborn enough that she'd do it herself anyways. She turned onto the hallway of the Library, striding forward with purpose and definitely not because her arms were about to give out.

Will was in the Gavin's personal library, having been reading but at this point more than distracted by the dispute going on in the next room over. He put the book down in his lap, resting his jaw on his fist as he stared out the window towards the castle. His outings with Amelia had improved, and she was certainly happier now that some of her freedom had been granted to her. He just needed to fix this...situation of him lying about having tried to talk to Richard, now.

As they traveled the path, spotting what looked like a gate in the distance, Percival felt a tingle on his skin. Above that was what looked to be a sprawling city, complete with homes he had a hard time wrapping his mind around the construction of. It was like the air itself was thick with magic, and he was no true mage, so it was a feeling he understood and yet was foreign to. The same could be said for Galahad, who was only growing more disgruntled by the peculiar feeling Arcana's surroundings put off. "Air is rife with magic, almost sends a chill down my spine." Percival remarked to the other two. "Coupled with what I'm seeing, I can see how someone'd be difficult to find here."

"But wait, today's not his stop-for-lunch day, is it?" Gene remarked a minute later, getting the food sat out and ready.

"Sounds like he volunteered for something then." Brenna remarked from where she was reading, smiling as she said it. She knew Gene always got mildly frustrated at his little brother taking any work he was offered when he already did so much, but always kept it secret from Gendry because he knew he did the same thing.

"You called?" Camus remarked, stepping up beside Suzanne as she left the classroom with his standard dumb smile on his face.

"Think every day's gonna be this slow on wall duty?" Farlen asked Alyssa as they marched. Absolutely nothing had happened the entire week, and the wall was even worse. A single, well beaten path along the wall, not even the minor enjoyment of walking the streets like yesterday.

The argument inside the study soon came to a head, the telltale signs being Gavin sr. yelling "Out! OUT!" To demand the other person leave his study, and his home. Another moment passed before the opposing merchant politely stepped outside, both exchanging neutral words of departure before one of the servants began escorting him out.

Bradley's eyes immediately turned to the sentient stack of books shambling toward the library, recognizing this as another of princess Amelia's habits of loading up on books then returning them once they were all read. She didn't have Emily with her to help this time however, and if he tried to ignore her clearly needing help he'd no doubt draw more attention than if he just offered. So, he offered. "Uh, princess, do you require assistance with that?" He asked, not yet moving in order to stay out of her way if she said no.

Alyssa said "Probably not, Fellythr's wilds aren't exactly the safest places."

"The mission was simple, a supply steal mission" Grim started to recount. "Aliester was assigned with me by our leader at the time, a nice man named Julius. Everyone else was working their own angles at the time so it was just us two and few other Enforcers" He leaned back and said "I objected because of my hatred, but Julius was convincing...so Aliester and I went."

"So why didn't you like the King?" Bair said curious about that

Grim stated "I didn't trust him. King Aliester was born in Elodus, as was Queen Zephyra. At the time, Elodus was even more volitile than it is now. I was taught to never trust an elodusian." he sighed leaning his head back saying "Seems rather silly now that I think about it."

The next citizen came in and said "Your Majesty, I seek funds to rebuild parts of my town that are still in ruins during the war."

"I apologize, but tihs is sadly a very common request" Richard stated annoyed at this question but it wasn't unjustified."We are working on repairs but it's going to take some time."

Gendry grit his teeth, looking between the two before he cursed quietly. "I'm only letting you in because it's not my choice to make, and...he'd probably kick my ass if I saw you and didn't let you in," he grumbled. "You're lucky he cares about you so much, I'd sooner toss you out of these mountains myself," he said with a glare. He sighed and stepped out of the way. "You can go in, but you're gonna have to wait until my--"

"Hey Gendry! Wow, visitors, we don't get you guys much," two gate guards walked up, looking much more official than Gendry did in his regular robes. Gendry looked increasingly frustrated, and sighed again. "Replacements show up," he finished his sentence. The guards were wearing armor, with the insignia of Arcana etched into the breastplate. They were unarmed though, despite the armor. They smiled at Percival, Galahad, and Ryker, though they both seemed to clock the tabards on the two knights, and make the connection quickly to Gendry's brother, who they had snuck in off record a month ago. "Well, you're all clear Gendry, and welcome to Arcana you three," they said, stepping to either side of the gate.

"Fine, just another day," Suzanne said. "Glad for a waning moon."

"Thank you," Amelia said, walking in and dropping the books on the front table. "Oof," she groaned, shaking out her arms. Well, at least she could build strength some way?

Will quickly looked back down at his book, hoping he didn't seem like he'd been listening in.

"Of course, thank you both as well." Percival nodded to the other guards, stepping forward but stopping beside Gendry. "And even this much is appreciated. If you can show us where he is, we'll try to be out of the way as soon as we can." He attempted to assure the young man, not wanting to make enemies of one of the few plausible allies they had. Galahad might not like it, and he wasn't sure how Ryker felt, but he couldn't risk blowing this over petty points of aggression. They'd taken his brother to war, they'd lost the war, and his brother was lucky to return alive. This man had more than enough reason to hate them, especially showing up at the doorstep once more donning the suit of war as they were.

"Yeah, guess there's upsides to those after all. Used to always complain because I couldn't go exploring on waning or new moons." Camus remarked. "Wasn't really uhh," He raised his hands up and wiggled his fingers forward. "Magically inclined, before I met my sponsor. Definitely not carrying a torch around everywhere, either."

"That it is." Farlen agreed.

Gavin Sr. didn't seem to notice, continuing on his way.

"Of course." Bradley responded to the thanks, closing the door back once he was sure she was clear of it and returning to standing at his post.

Alyssa said "So what motivated you to join?" 

Bair asked "What happened next?" 

Grim admitted "It was a trap, and they captured us as one of Lysander's Captains began taunting us. Even now I'm embarrassed I fell for such an easy trick. Let this be a lesson, Bair, overconfidence is the same as ignorance." 

Veronica knocked on the door as gently it opened as she slowly made her way inside knowing that this was Doctor's way of letting her into his place. The walls were thick and viscus as she felt this magical pressure in the room. The rot of the dead began to permiate as she looked around and was stunned as a giant shadow grabbed her as she struggled laughing like crazy "Uncle Marshall!" 

Doctor let go as the Lich stared back at her "I couldn't help it, what brings you to my home today young Veronica?" 

Veronica said "I...wanted to talk to you about something"