Ally knew then that the time was coming. She’d need to start preparing now. She said a silent goodbye, and disappeared into the ether of the Underworld to await Kallon’s arrival.

“Polar bear sounds good,” Azure said. “No need to draw Princess Amelia’s ire this way.”

Ulathrian looked over the young elf before her. “Only if you take one class per semester at the university while you learn under me.”

“Well, when I studied Azorah before, I know that cremation is preferred method of honoring the dead, since the ground is frozen here. We’ll identify what dead we can, and host funeral pyres,” Amelia said.

“It would be foolish to underestimate how far Bair could make it with a kitchen knife, but we can’t deny them their cooking utensils,” Ryker explained.

With a loud shattering, reality broke like glass. A layer stripped away, the domain order succumbing to a slow and rotting demise. The lethal grip of the destroyer's hand made contact with the Lord of Damnation's face plate, slamming him into the ground. Massive inky hands rose up and grasped at Kallon, slamming against an invisible barrier that he ushered in with a single wave of his free hand. He kneeled over the body of his soon-to-be victim, feeling genuine satisfaction with this kill. "You really tested my patience with this one, I'll give you that." He quietly regarded his foe's featureless form, a mixture of disgust and anger burning behind his satisfied smirk. Detached from humanity, down to the physical form. This is what the gods that ruled them were, a gaggle of heartless creatures that dictated millions of lives for their own ends. The only good one amongst them was gone now, unwilling to defend these abominations. And this one couldn't even be bothered with pretending, he wore a featureless mask for a face, as if claiming himself above things like emotion or empathy. The very things that made humanity what they were! "Foul to your core, though."

Lod's own hands grasped the one extracting the life from his form, but he found no purchase. He had no strength left, nothing left to give in defense of his creator. Not while he maintained the world around him. He could release his prisoners, draw auxiliary power from his domain, then make one last gambit. If it was to slow this man down but a moment longer, that was what he would do. He could always leave the clean-up to his apprentice, after all.

Syon nodded in agreement. "I imagine it would take far too long to cook anyway, though I've never-" Syon froze, feeling a sharp tingle run up his spine. Something was wrong, horribly wrong. An outer-god disturbance, to the east. Deep into the snow-fields. "There's something going on to the east." Is all he said before he began rushing off at full speed, wasting no time in approaching a glowing rift, residing in the middle of nowhere. A portal to the depths of the Lord of Damnation's prisons, where the prisoners were all now free to make their escape.

"That," Felix pointed a finger at Ryker, a smirk across his face once more. "Is an excellent point, I knew I could trust you to cover the gaps."

There was a long pause before Alyssa admitted "Some, but probably not the majority." she let out a very heavy sigh. "I have come terms with something I didn't want to admit. Yes, I got to see my real mother one last time thanks to you knocking the sense back into her. However, she deserved death because for a little while, there was a madwoman who was in her place." Alyssa admitted at last "Azorah had it's honor stolen by it's own Empress, it does not matter if she regrets it in the next world...that is unforgivable."

Bair held his hand on the stomach and whispered "I'm a little scared you know?"

Audrey said "And I'm not? I wasn't even sure I wanted kids until a few months ago." gently she said "But I think you'll be a fine father...being Bair Blackmarsh, and not COUNT Bair Blackmarsh."

Bair looked around them and whispered "We need a smaller place...someday."

Teressa was very quiet, Ulathrian had a point. When she came here, she was a naive girl who had no idea what she was really getting into. She had this fantasy life she imagined but it was brought back down by cruel reality. When she was first ordered to attend the University, she struggled. Her nice guy turned out to be a monster. Her masters are ashamed of her, and she can't even grasp basic control. It was frustrating, it was anger inducing, and magic just...wasn't fun for her anymore. Teressa asked "Can I confess something?" a small breath escaped her lips. "Magic isn't fun to me anymore, these past few months...they broke me. I had a dream once, a big aspiration, now I can't even say it without thinking that it's selfish, because it is. I'm not...worthy...of that dream."

Ripe with opportunity in the bowels of LOD's domain, the criminals stirred, the worst of the worst, the one's Hell itself could not punish, were beginning to stir and move. Richard the Fourth's teeth began to chomp at the bit as he viewed the portal. A second chance at revenge? Third time's the charm right? When he gets to the surface, he'll prove himself superior all of these criminals and command this army to wipe out Pendragon and his family.

One by one the criminals all began to escape all enacting their own private diabolical plan for vengeance upon a world that left them in a place worse than hell itself. As Richard got ready to prove himself with authority, he noticed something in the distance, a very loud whipcrack that sent a few of the prisoner's flying. Richard turned in a rage as he paused feeling an ungodly amount of Unholy power...a pressure he's felt before...one that chilled him to the bone. 

"You are all not going anywhere" said a bitter, echoing, twisted voice, as Richard shook in place. He turned and gazed upon her as she held her whip in her hand looking down upon the prisoner's as she flapped her twisted wings in the air. Inora gazed down upon them all and said "I know my fate, and I've accepted it. I've done a lot of terrible things in my life. However, unlike you, I actually learned to love again. So long as I draw breath, you won't lay so much as a finger on this world!" 

"And what's your plan, now that you've realized that?" Amelia asked.

Azure caught up to Syon quickly, her axes drawn as she took in the scene as well. "It feels like an outer god made this portal," she said quietly.

"He did," Ally said, appearing behind Kallon as she went to grab him, his focus on healing.

"Just the kitchen," Ryker said.

“If that is what you think, then work to make yourself worthy. The point still stands that you have fought against the university and Arcana’s values consistently. While we will finish our lessons today, my advice to you moving forward would be to talk to Suzanne and Camus about what Arcana means to them, and then others, and after that, make your decision. It still stands that to work under me after today, you must take at least once class a semester at the University. What say you, Teressa?” Ulathrian asked.

Kallon felt a chill run up his spine, turning as quickly as he could to strike out and protect himself. He couldn't ready his drain again yet, he needed a moment to repair himself and then he could fight at full capacity. Damn that sly, spiteful strike.

Syon could see beyond the portal, to a realm soon to collapse. "Let them come through." He spoke calmly, his voice echoing past the crowd regardless. In his magical focus, he formed a misty, icy ball in his free hand. Slamming it into the ground. An icy dome formed up across the half mile around them; Enough room to contain every current prisoner, and prevent even the most magically adept from escaping. "It seems a test has started. For who," Syon readied both weapons, "I am not sure."

"Guess that means it's time to give the final words to the hero and call it a day then." Felix stated, looking toward where they were.

Teressa asked "Can we wait until...after my magic comes back?" she sighed admitting defeat pretty much. "As for the University," she gritted her teeth because she knew that Ulathrian was right. "I'll try one more time, out of respect for you helping me, maybe it'll be better this time around."

Inora shrugged and whiplashed a few more, trying to keep the area wide enough for Syon to take action. She had no idea why Syon would say that he wanted to let them through, but he's the boss. Inora commented "I know it's a little selfish, but I hope it's a test for the two of us. To see if I've actually reformed, and for you to test if your training has made you even stronger."

Alyssa turned to obey orders but turned her head "I do believe in what I said earlier. I think you are the one who can save this place, and help regain it's honor. I know you don't like to hear it, and I promise this will be the last time. You saved my mom in the end, she was happy, she fought someone and it helped remind her of who she was, who she used to be. You healed her, and that's something I'll be forever grateful for, and the reason why I know...Azorah's in good hands with you fixing it. Thank you for helping this place, Princess Amelia" after that she obeyed her orders and started to make her way towards the door as instructed.

Bair said "I know but...Ryker and Veronica, they're supposed to be my best friends and all I've done is made things worse for them lately."

Audrey looked at Bair proud of his revalation and let him continue "I've but my homeland in danger repeatedly due to my arrogance that I'm a hero so I always know what's right. I put Veronica in so many bad situations because I thought I always knew best." He looked away "And for Ryker, I'm hurting him too, and I don't even know how I'm doing it. Some friend, huh?" 

"I will not be an easy defeat, Kallon. You have faced my children, but I am the lord of All," Ally said, the direction of her voice indiscernible. "I have to thank you though, this is the most excitement I've had in millennia. Your unpredictability is delightful."

"What do you mean wait until your magic come back?" Ulathrian asked.

"Don't even want to say hi to your new friend?" Amelia asked as she glanced at Gaheris.

"This isn't the time for conversation, whoever you are," Azure said to the lady who was apparently on their side despite being a part of LOD's domain.

Ryker entered behind Felix but stayed quiet and devoid of emotion.

"What can I say? I love to entertain." Kallon quipped, using that moment to finish repairing himself. Now to get ready for whatever tricks she had prepared for him.

Syon noticed the abnormal deaths some suffered, but as long as their souls departed correctly he had no reason to divert his attention toward that.

"Can't imagine they're gonna have a healer here at all times, but there's no reason they couldn't bring one in when you start having contractions." Felix replied.

"Of course, I'm just looking forward to a peaceful future here." Gaheris replied to Alyssa.

Alyssa looked at the room and admired it in all of it's splendor. She smiled a little "You know I used to sneak around the castle all the time, mostly to annoy my dad because I got into all of his weapon hiding spots, even his custom made legendary great sword, Dragon Splitter." She chuckled "He HATED when I got into them, said is was to young for weapons like that." She paused at that and said "Actually, that brings up a good point, do you want me to show you where the hidden weapons are in the rooms that are still intact?" 

Teressa was a little embarrassed and said "Sorry, I didn't understand the question, and I guess I left out details." she sighed "There will be no need for me to speak with them, because you've already made a good point." thinking about Master Myrwin and the others that voted to save Suzanne. "That experience was a very extreme example, and a tense situation. However, the guy who hurt me is gone, he's in prison far away from here." she took a deep breath and said "As for the waiting thing, I mean before I head back, I want to have my magic back with me. The reason why is because from my point of view, I don't want to disrespect you, Susanne, or Camus by not giving anything less but 100% on this try, and it's hard to say I'm not giving it 100% if I don't have anything less than access to all of my mana."

Inora whipped through more, but saw more of that light then locked up as she started to realize just WHO that was. She said "Stay on guard!" she warned her temporary allies. "I think that light might be Hilda Briarwood."

Audrey looked annoyed and turned to ask Bair as Bair said "Sweeite, I'm sorry, but I have to agree with them. We have the fastest horses in the Three Kingdoms and it's not very hard to come from Hollow Castle to here. It's just a straight shot down, and last time I checked the Enforcer Headquarters is very close to the Hollow Castle itself." 

"Okay," she said looking at Bair. "This one's for you, you do have money reserved for things like food and stuff." 

"Of course I do." Bair said quietly "Just...umm...not that much.": 

Audrey glared and said "What do you mean not that much?" 

"Veronica and I have an agreement when it comes to me helping out the Enforcers and beating up bad guys." he reached into his jacket and revealed a small piece of paper "This states that in the Country of Hollow I am a licensed vigilante, meaning I can help out the Enforcers without fear of being arrested for vigilantism. Every time I do, I get paid, Veronica and I made this arrangement so that we could dissuade copy cats." he continued "Azure has one too. However, I don't know if you noticed but I've been home more than usual..." 

"But...the...what...."  Audrey said blinking "Then how do we still have a castle?" 

"Well that's because Veronica and I got an arrangement. This place can be a good base for gangs to start to fortify themselves, and I needed a home, so since I'm doing her a solid by living here, I don't have to pay anything to keep it." Bair explaind as a big thing of worry filled Audrey's face. "So, yeah, kind of tight in the money department." 

Audrey looked at Ryker "Is there anything we can do to fix this?" clearly scared as Bair showed a little concern himself. 

Kallon's mother smiled, though her brow was pinched in confusion. "What was that honey? We're just eating, not playing any games."

"Still half asleep there, son?" his father asked.

"Will you just shut up and fight?!" Azure shouted as she slid backwards, barely dodging a swiping claw. "Your screeching is distracting!"

Amelia rubbed her forehead, trying to dispel the ache of annoyance growing there. "Are there any here I should know about? Otherwise you can write down what you remember or I can send up a map," she said.

"You're ready to work, then?" Ulathrian asked. "As I said before, this time is the best for you to figure out how best to keep your magic controlled."

"As is standard practice with a prisoner, in jail or not, required necessities will be provided. Does your father...not give you money?" Ryker asked, frowning at Andrea. "He claims you as dependent, he should be providing for you still. He's been lying on his taxes otherwise. I know he doesn't care for Bair, but I did not take Victor to be one to leave his daughter destitute for that reason."

Kallon lowered his head and rubbed the bridge of his nose, accepting he would just need to play along until he found an opening. Ally would no doubt try to take advantage of this eventually, he just needed to be prepared to counter-attack. "Yes, sorry, I misheard you. What were we talking about?" He asked his parents, raising his head back up to look at them.

Syon spun through several prisoners, leaving a wave of gore in his wake before his eyes focused on the new biggest target. One of the older and quieter inmates, the first king of this continent. A powerhouse with light magic, he knew that one couldn't be ignored. With a buffet of wind Syon sent himself straight toward Briarwood, attempting to come down upon him with both blades held in reverse, meant to split the tyrant's skull four ways.

Gaheris collected all the weapons in the room, leaving Amelia to make the decision on this implication.

"No thanks, I'm good." Felix stated very succinctly.