Part 1

[Dynamax]

"I can run out of fingers if I counted how many times you have Princess." Elias says. "Especially if i used the fingers of all present."

"Just...relax. The world will not fall apart for you taking a nice relaxing bath, enjoying a peaceful meal and having a long quiet rest." Anastasia says.

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"Ohhh....and here I was about to scorch him." Noctis says. "Let's move before the other one gets past." He says as he turns around.

"Stupid demons huh? Stupid this." Crytax breathes out a freezing air that begins to cover the ruinous damage.

----------------

"That's a good tradition." Rowena says. "But if you have the same life does that mean you'll rise from the ashes too?"

"Metaphoircally or physically?" Desmond asks.

"Either or." Rowena says.

[Inkshade]

"Alright...If I must." Airou sighs.

"Airou Skycrest, I order you to have a nice relaxing night and to enjoy it." Vanora says

"Oh...yes your majesty." Airou chuckles.

------

Sireth looks back "Thingss are aout to get a bit frosssty..."

Navu looks "Shoot, come on! Down those stairs!"

----

Osiron looks up at the dot that was Zenz "In time we'll see won't we?"

[Dynamax]

"Yes down, we'll run right into his friend, and he's a fire demon..." Noctis says. "We need a better...I hear fighting."

Noctics raced down the stairs to see a Gelgath the didn't save battling with Trophis.

"WHERE ISSS MY SSSSON?" The Reptile roars, a massive halberd in his hand.

"I dunno. You all look alike to me." Trophis says as he swings for the head of his foe only for him to duck and trip Trophis with his tail.

"Sireth, isn't that the War chief?" Noctis asks.

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"Stuck now aren't you?" Philippe says. "Order something nice and fill that belly, you're too serious, you need something to unwind. Perhaps some tea too?"

"It is sound advice...especially for you." Elias says to Airou. "I mean even I try to rest up the best I can and I push myself with my training and helping with things around the castle."

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Rowena smiles. "That's the spirit." He then looks a bit serious. "Thank you for...back there. This have been stressful lately and with most of my loved ones being so busy I just...needed a good cry on someone's shoulder."

Desmond lowers his head. "Forgive me, I am bound to my cursed armor. If Vadris speaks I must obey. If I could be with you more."

"I know Uncle." Rowena smiles.

"Does...your father still get mad at you for calling me that?" Desmond asks.

"Yes, but I try not to around him. I mean I know you were an illegitimate child of our ancestor but that still makes you family." She walks over and hugs him. "I still love you as my great great great...something uncle."

"Thank you..." Desmond says, hugging her back. "That means everything to me."

[Inkshade]

"Yesss, it apearsss ssso." Sireth says

Navu looks around "Where is it..." she mutters, feeling the wall "AHHA!" she exclaims and presses in on a stone. a symbol lights up and a door appears "You were saying?" she says to Noctis.

----

"My silly big brother, puts his job and others before himself." Lakyri says and hugs him from behind "I bet you don't know how to relax."

"Heh...funny. I know how. And sorry I take my job seriously."

"It was a compliment doofus." she says "learn to take one."

Vanora smiles at them "Do try an enjoy yourselves. that's part of why I hate all this guarding. Some of you forget about yourselves."

"Can I at least check you room for assassins?" Airou looks at her.

"fine, only because it's your favorite." Vanora jokes

-----

Osiron smiles at the sight. He becomes slightly more excited to visit the sisters. "I think this trip will be enjoyable." he says "I just hope the girls don't go overboard...I'm reletively certain Estella works that boy very hard as it is...once they get the message..."

[Dynamax]

"How does one do that? Walk in and look under the bed or ask them to come out?" Elias says.

"Princess...if you need anything tonight please seek me out. I'll be busy doing anything BUT forgetting myself tonight." Anastasia says with some sadness.

"Same." Elias says.

"Alrighty, I will you all adieu for now. I will retire to my room for some reading with some tea myself." He bows to them and winks at Varona. "Have a pleasant night my three lovelies, and you two young men rest easy. Corny, have a hot bath and relax, you get wound up too easy." He waves and walks off.

"Grr...stuffy little..." Cornelius steams.

------

"Oh like i knew that was there. Still...we can't leave him." Noctis creates another fire spell to blast back Trophis. "Lord Bazuzu, we saved the captive Gelgath you're after, come with us."

"The rebellion? You sssaved...I thank you." Bazuzu kicks the demon as he tried to get up. "Sssstay down or I'll ssslay you." He then scampers over to them. "Let usss be off."

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"I would hope not." Rowena says. "I don't want anyone to get hurt or sick because of me."

"No worries, I don't think things will be too bad. I'll help where I can too." Desmond says.

[Inkshade]

"Oh no need. He is resiliant, a prime subject, and loyal as well. He had the opurtunity to leave once and instead chose to protect the sisters. One of my prized posessions, it's why I keep him away from the others. Someone would try to buy him off me." Osiron says, speaking in the same tone as he did when he spoke about Zenz. "But you will see tomorow."

----

Vanora stops at her bedroom door and lets Airou go in and inspect it "In all seriousness though Cornelius, you should rest and relax. I'm sorry for worrying you."

Airou looked in all corners of the room, with Lakyri watching for any movement.

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Navu gestures for them to go down the passage "Keep going strait, it leads outside. Noctis, take the back and let the door seal once everyone's through, I'll lead." she says and leads the way.

"Fancsssy sseeing you here Lord Bazuzu." Sireth says

[Dynamax]

"It'd me more...my chance to do something human." Desmond says.

"Please just let him do what he can. He so rarely gets to...well...live." Rowena says.

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"I try my best Milady." Cornelius says. "It's just...I have to fill in for General Gregor until he gets back. Someone has to help relieves some of Lady Anastasia's burden."

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"You're lucky it'ssss not the Prinssse." Bazuzu says. "If it wassssn't my sssson captured...how are they anywaysss?"

"Get going then. Winoi's waiting outside with some of the others." Noctis says.

[Inkshade]

"So be it. I'm sure there are things you can help with." Osiron says.

----

"It's clear." Airou says stepping out with Lakyri.

"thank you, now go relax." Vanora says "Good night everyone." she says.

------

"there wasss, one injury. But the resst ssseem well enough." Sireth says

Navu leads the way at a decent pace. she held her sword up, making it glow with magic to light the passage.

[Dynamax]

"Have a good rest Milady." Cornelius says.

"Pleasant dreams." Anastasia says. With that the two walk off.

"See you in the Morning." Elias says, standing there. "Now come Airou, I'm making sure your orders are carried out."

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Rowena smiled. "Thank you Osiron. We appreciate your understanding."

Desmond bows slightly.

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"Shut and sealed." Nocits says, haivng shut the door before Trophis caught up. "Let's move."

"Were hisss sssscalesss orange?" Bazuzu asks of the injured one.

[Inkshade]

"They ssseemed more brown in the dungeon light." Sireth says "He'sss up there. The one being carried." he says and points.

-----

"Of course." Osiron says "I like you Desmond, we have more in common than you know." he says "Now then, how do we wish to spend the day? I have my belongings mostly packed and am out of business to attend to."

----

Vanora shuts her door and watches under it for all of their feet to be gone. she then goes to the side of her bed and moves a small bedside table. she lifts the molding off the floor, revealing a rope. The rope was connected to a small box that she and Phillipe often used to pass messages. she watched for the rope to move and the box to come to her side. by now he would have read her note explaining how she wanted to try and escape that night.

----

Airou sighs "I wish she'd stop running away from us...my shoulders are rocks, and not from working out..."

[Dynamax]

Bazuzu looks and stops. "No...it isss...Vola..." Bazuzu trembles at the sight of his injured son. "Not you too..."

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"Well what is here that you haven't really done or seen?" Rowena asks.

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"Stop pounding on that wall and come outside. byt the time we break it they'll be gone." Crytax says as he heads down there stairs. "Shortcut is over here."

Trophis snarls and follows.

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Elias shrugs. "Keeps you active and honestly you can't blame her. It keeps all of us here if you think about it." He sighs. I tihnk the king doesn't want to lose anyone else."

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Suddenly the box began to move. Phillpe had read the note and was responding. The note arrives and reads as follows:

"My Dear Sweet Cousin,

I read your note and good of you to remember that secret path i came across. I have left something in there to see if it has been used, a marker that only I disturbed when I checked. I've read up on things and there is no sign of it being in records. We can use it tonight. It leads to a quaint little shrine ironically in the forest en route to the wall with no problems. Let me know when you wish to leave."

[Inkshade]

Vanora smiles "Phillipe, you're a genius..." she mutters and writes a note back. she sends it to him it read:

Have I ever told you how brilliant you are?

I'd like to leave whenever possible. Where do I need to meet you?

--------

"I put an enchanted medalion on him. It should keep him alive until we can get him to a safehouse." Navu says.

----

"Not much to be honest..." Osiron sighs.

----

Evana sits in the living room and looks out the window to see a ball of fire fast approaching the house. She and Estella step outside as the fire around Zenz dies down and he lands near them. "It's Lord Osiron's beloved phoenix." Evana says "What do you have there Zenz?" she asks and takes the pouch from him. she empties the contents into her palm and the marbel glows and lifts

"Ladies, this is Osiron. I've sent this message to inform you that upon my arrival tomorow, I will be accompanied by her majesty Princess Rowena, and her guard Desmond. I will expect you two to have a room prepared for each of them upon our arrival tomorow morning."

Estella and Evana are silent for a moment. Estella turns and faces the house "RHISIART!" she shouts, breaking the silence.

Rhis comes running out the door and bows "Yes mistress?"

"You are to clean the house thoroughly and not to go to sleep until you are done. Then you are to wake early and do it again. Have a grand meal planned for the morning." she says

"Yes Miss Estella." he says and bows

"I'm serious boy, not one flaw will be acceptable."

"Lord Osiron is bringing the Princess! So everything needs to be perfect!" Evana says with excitement.

Rhis's eyes widen and he bows again "Yes Miss Evana."

"Now wait here a moment." Estella says "Evana, we need two more rooms." she says taking her hand. Together they use magic and the house sports two new rooms. She sighs "Go get to work..."

[Dynamax]

The note soon returns to Vanora.

"Why our usual spot. It has not been found out yet and it is close. Guards get spotty in about an hour."

---------------

"He...He isss the lassst of my nessst. He...he cannot..." Bazuzu steels himself and presses onwards.

"Poor guy." Noctis says.

-----------------

"Then I am not sure. I mean...I have no real desire to do much." Rowena says. "Wanna see my garden then?"

"We never did finish there." Desmond says.

---------------

"How so very droll. I do not know which is more interesting. Princess Rowena's outing or the escapees." Vadris says. "I'd get involved in one of them if it wasn't so damn fun having them both set things up for later. Move on my board pawns. You're only leaving your king open." He then cackles as he sits back in hsi chair, watching events unfold in his mirror he keeps in his room.

[Inkshade]

Vanora smiles and sends a letter back:

Well, then I'll meet you there.

-------

"Don't worry, I'm not letting him die here." Navu says in a very kind and reassuring tone.

---

"that sounds lovely." Osiron says.

[Dynamax]

"Do remember to bring something with you to protect yourself. My dashing looks and lighting fast blade only go so far." Was Phillipe's last reply.

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"I thank you for the effortsss." Bazuzu says.

"Alright we still need to be on guard. The green one will have figured us out by now and have a plan." Noctis says.

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"Aright then, come with me." Rowena takes their hands.

"I don;t think we have a choice." Desmond says.