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Chapter 7: A Heroine's Ascension

Gaius wasn't feeling well as he got out of his bed and put on his trousers and tunic and went right downstairs to see that Crawford was working on with the leftover metal parts he bought a few weeks ago. "You are not much of a sleeper, huh?"

The otter chuckled a little bit as he put together the last parts and held up a brass orb in his hands. "How could I sleep, if I was about to make something that would make even the Helans pale as they glance on it?"

Gaius shrugged and laughed a bit. "You need to keep in mind that your body may not be able to keep up with your spirit, Craw."

"Surely, but Khaba is awake all night and only sleeps three hours in the early morning and early evening," Crawford replied as he put down the orb and clicked the button on its top. A moment later the object opened up like a flower and revealed a small socket in which a small object could be inserted.

With a tad bit of confusion the wolf carefully knelt down and observed the apparatus. "I suppose this isn't a nice stash for a single nice jewel."

"Would be a waste of my talent, wouldn't it? No, it is meant to recharge enchanted objects like the gems Aldric has on his belt," the otter explained as he took a small emerald from the table. "For example, this gem has been burnt out and would require a mage to be usable again, at least without my invention." Crawford was looking proudly at his little machine as he inserted the gem and closed the apparatus again.

"So, how does it work," the wolf said with some skepticism in his tone as he stared at the orb.

That however didn't bother Crawford as he pointed at several gems at the sides of the orb. "These gems are connected by silver wires that lead into the center. The gems are magically altered to absorb magic on the outside, but only on that half, so it goes out on the other side."

"Ah," Gaius' eyes now went wide in surprise and wonder as he patted Crawford on the shoulder. "You are brilliant! If this should work there could be so much that can be done with it!"

Now the otter smiled as he took his little machine and put it on the table. "Harshad is already preparing breakfast. Ayontunde remained in bed she doesn't overdo it with working."

Gaius chuckled as he pictured the small child of the massive felines living at his villa in the future. "And where are Lucille and Khaba?"

"Went out into the woods to explore a little bit. You know, she is not very interested in Urbulchem at all and would rather do something fun," Crawford told as he shortly noticed a raven into the atrium.

The corvid was landing on the table and placing a letter that it held in his feet onto it. "Crawford?" it asked while hitting a male vocal range. "That chubby otter gave me a letter for you and your sister."

"Ah, a speaking Danu-raven," Crawford's eyes went wide as he petted the bird over the head and gave it a small bag of money. "I hope that the travel wasn't too long for you. But, cubby?"

"Finally someone that bothers about my job, but yes, chubby," the raven now said in a female voice before it flew away out of the atrium.

Holding the letter firmly in his hand Crawford took a bit of time to open it. His eyes went curiously over the text and he smiled as he put it on the table. "Leofwine left Bijulac for a few weeks and already has admitted his love to our Prince of the Drunks."

A mild surprise went over Gaius' face. "I never knew Leofwine swung that way. But I am happy to know that he is fine," he said and took the letter to read the words for himself. "It is lovely that in times like these people still can find together and share precious moments with each other."

"Well, if they want to at least. I personally am fine without," the otter said as he snipped with his fingers and a small orb of light appeared. "As long as I am capable to burn through someone's rip case, I am sure I can handle myself just well enough."

The mild surprise changed to a mild shock as the wolf slowly went back from Crawford with a nervous smile. "I think that this is a good thought about using magic, young man."

A playful grin went over the otter's face as he now took the orb and forced it to split into a dozen smaller ones to surround him. He held his left arm and right arm stretched out and soon the orbs were going around him like planets around the sun. "Is that better?"

Gaius nodded while he tilted his head a bit to the left and right. "Maybe, that is actually advanced magical control. Usually you would have to train several years to achieve such proficiency."

Now Crawford moved his arms back together and the glowing spheres dissolved. "Several years, hum. I practiced magic ever since I was six, simultaneously to tinkering."

"Six? Only shamans of Scathsolas are trained that early, and you just learned magic without anyone close by?" Gaius was a bit in disbelief as he thought he knew Crawford well enough to know such things.

The otter only shrugged. "Most people lack the talent I guess, but I also think it may have to do with the personality of someone. Magic is something that is controlled by our souls, hence it would make sense."

"I see," the wolf replied as he tried to understand the otter's thoughts a bit more. "So, basically because you are quieter than me you have an easier time to cast spells for example?"

Crawford nodded. "Although rationality and intuition seem to be what affects it the most. Hence, actually we both are good at it. However, you may have seen Aldric's Aetheral Focus."

"You mean when his eye were glowing? I heard of it," now the wolf looked slightly embarrassed. "I know he is a badger and thus more connected to magic energies, but darn it, he is so young."

Now Crawford laughed. "You aren't in your thirties, so you aren't that old either."

Gaius made a sour face. "Sure, but I guess I am also more prone to use my body for combat and if I try to balance both I may actually become good in neither."

"I wouldn't count on that, Lucille destroyed a whole warehouse a few days after we came here, and she is more someone to be physical," the otter replied as he snipped with his fingers and a lance of ice appear next to him. "Aldric actually is a pretty superb mage and physically strong, so you could be as well, Gaius."

Despite the cold feeling Gaius took the ice lance and looked over it. He closed his eyes and a moment later the ice began to shine in his hands and despite the heat it remained unthawed till Gaius opened his eyes and canceled his focus. "Well, you are right. It couldn't hurt to be profound in a bit more than one thing."

"Okay, then let us train together right after breakfast!" the otter exclaimed as he ran over to the kitchen, Gaius following him a confident smile.

"So boring!" Lucille groaned as she kicked against a tree and caught an apple that was falling down from the impact to throw it right into the air and shoot a fire spell at it. "Okay, much better."

Khaba was flying down from a branch to her and looking rather impressed by her skills. "I must admit, that was pretty fun."

Lucille just shrugged with a bored expression on her face. "I got too much energy because Urbulchem just isn't really all that interesting to be honest. The theaters all deal with the politics or society, sports aren't really my thing, and we already went through the library of Gaius."

"It would also be nice to finally get a clue about the next gem, else we are stuck here," the fruit bat stated as he got up on Lucille's back and looked around them with his sensitive ears observing their surroundings.

It was fine for Lucille to care the extra weight on her back as long as Khaba didn't damage her tunic, but she was at the moment rather grumpy and only went slowly through the forest, further away from Urbulchem. "Khaba, I think we should go to the small town further north from the city. Maybe a change of scenery would be a good choice."

"Yes, that would be lovely!" Khaba exclaimed excited as he stretched out his wings and balanced himself in order to not fall off from Lucille. He did fly up into the trees to scout ahead till they finally reached an open plain with several huts being placed around.

Lucille wasn't looking too excited however as she looked at the farmers that tended the crops and hornflinchers. But it was still more promising than hanging around in Urbulchem to her thus she went over to a Marmot that was washing his hornflinchers with a lot of care. "Excuse me, sir. I am searching for something of interest in the area. Would you know something about it?"

The marmot glanced at her and shook his head. "Well, I would recommend the ruins at the moment. It would be rather dangerous at the moment."

"I can deal with it, so where do I find it?" she with an unimpressed expression on her face.

But all the marmot did was shaking his head. "You don't understand, the ruins are currently used by the legionnaires to secure what could be saved from the warehouse that got destroyed a few weeks ago."

Lucille looked surprised at that statement, but quickly eased up. "Alright, I am going home then," she said as she went to Khaba and leaned close to his ear. "You remember when I destroyed that warehouse? It wasn't enough."

Khaba gave her a nod as he climbed on her back and they went back into the forest. "So, we weren't able to destroy everything. What a pity, but I am on, if you want to destroy more properties of the senate."

"Exactly what I had in mind. Seems boredom won't be the issue anymore," the otter replied as she let Khaba put his wings around her and cast his shadow magic to make them invisible as they sneaked through the woods and tried to locate the ruins. It took her and Khaba an hour, but eventually she spotted three legionnaires guarding the entrance to a building made from stone.

"Okay, how shall we take them down?" Khaba asked as he carefully glanced through the trees.

"I would again say with the entire damn building, but," she glanced around to see if there is a body of water. "A water spell wouldn't be too potent here. But then we just need to take them down carefully."

Khaba gave her a nod as he flew up the tree and into a safe position to strike down on the three men when the moment would come.

Lucille pulled out her chakram and spied from her safe position and waited for her chance. One of the legionnaires, a mouflon with a tired expression, went past by her and towards a tree further away. Lucille just snuck up behind him casted a sleeping spell on the already tired out sheep that snuggled peacefully with the piles of leaves on the ground.

It was rather amusing for Khaba as he suppressed a laughter about the mouflon. At the next moment he looked at a young wolf that was standing on the roof of the building for a better view. With a swipe of his right wing the fruit bat casted a spell that caused the canine to be blown off by a strong wind burst and landing, right on the deer that was standing below.

The canine was groaning in pain as he hit the antlers rather unpleasantly and broke them off with the impact of his fall. Both men were making painful noises as they tried to shield the areas they got hurt at.

"Oh come on!" Khaba loudly exclaimed as he concentrated and descended down with an unleashed wind spell that knocked both legionnaires against the wall with enough force to knock them out. "I am getting literally tired of this," he now whispered and closed his wings and fell down on his back.

Lucille slowly went over to him and pulled him up so he could hold himself on her tunic bevor she then slowly went through the ruins. She carefully made sure that her claws wouldn't make too much noise on the stone and she was glad to see that there wasn't anyone downstairs. Or at least it looked like it to her.

"Hah, that marmot did a great job," a voice behind Lucille and Khaba said as suddenly a tall and broad figure stood between them and the exit. A massive brown bear equipped with a rather threatening club. "He would send you right into our trap, you little witch." With a furious glimmer in his eyes the ursine smashed down his club right where Lucille and Khaba stood.

Being rather swift however, Lucille was capable to jump backwards and to split her chakram into its two parts to get ready for a battle. "Then I am going to silence that fool permanently when I am finished with you."

The bear looked rather unimpressed at the much smaller otter as he swung his club another time, just for him to miss again as Lucille jumped right on his arm and kicked him in the face. His nose was bleeding but he now changed tactics as he threw the club aside and unsheathed a bastard-sword.

"At least you seem to know that raw force won't bring you," she stopped her sentence as the bear swung his sword violently just to get it shattered against the wall. "Okay, I take it back, you are even dumber than Vidar."

Being visibly hurt in his pride the bear let the sword fall out of his hand and just presented his sharp claws. "We will see, once I am dividing you by x," he said before he rushed towards Lucille.

The otter tried to dodge another time, but while she succeeded the bear grabbed on Khaba's wings and pulled him off from her. "Khaba!"

Now the bear laughed wickedly as he held Khaba in front of himself like a shield. "I bet your little friend here wouldn't be too happy to be ripped in two like a piece of paper. Throw your weapons away or he is dead."

Having no other choice Lucille dropped down her chakram and just stood in place to accept her defeat. "Let him go, he has nothing to do with this."

"I wouldn't see it that way considering he accompanied you," the bear replied as he pulled slightly on Khaba's wings to make the fruit bat scream in pain. "And what would you care? Your people don't know mercy either."

"You bastard!" Lucille yelled as her eyes started to glow in a pristine light again. This time however it manifested fully and she felt as if her body and soul were empowered by a primal force.

The bear looked slightly startled but held Khaba right in front of him with a confident smile. "Your friend will perish if you do anything. Are you going to," he stopped midsentence as he noticed a strange feeling down on his body and he saw that his feet were on fire. Jumping up in pain he let go of Khaba, who flew to safety and left the bear without a hostage.

Now Lucille stepped threateningly closer to the bear and kicked him right in the stomach. Despite her own weight being just a third of her opponent, thanks to the magic going through her body it was enough to send the bear down to the ground. And before he could get up she jumped right on his armored belly and knocked the air out of him. "If anyone is going perish, it will be you."

The bear tried to grab Lucille at her legs, bit she jumped right off his stomach and on his head. While her weight wasn't enough to cause fatal damage, the bear's pain was now exceeding what he could endure and he just cried in pain.

"And with you all the poison," the otter now said as she grabbed the bear's head and focused for one final spell.

"Stop it!" someone yelled from the entrance of the ruins and Lucille and Khaba saw that it was someone they didn't expect at all. Septimus was standing there, breathing heavily as he leaned against the wall, looking much weaker than usual. "They only tried to fulfill their duties for the emperor. Not knowing of their own folly."

"Shut up, Septimus," the otter said as she dropped the bear down and now stepped towards the fox. "Tell me why I shouldn't kill the people that plan to poison the kingdom I was born in."

"There is no poison anymore. It was wiped out and the emperor could finally push a degree that poison is only to be used on a battlefield," Septimus replied weakly as he knelt down on the ground. "A few legionnaires wanted to catch the culprits be tricking them to come here, a supposedly new storage."

"I still need to kill him, though," Lucille said coldly. "He would claim that I was the culprit and that would be rather impractical for me."

"Not necessarily," another voice said as suddenly an old black-furred wolf was coming down the staircase. "The culprits have been identified as warriors from the East. Your concerns were the same as theirs, but your actions haven't wiped out anyone's life, yet."

Being rather surprised by the convenience of the situation Lucille tried to play along. "I never intended to kill anyone, just to stop this madness to protect my family. But, I lost it when this guy over there tried to hurt Khaba."

"Understandable," the wolf said as he went past by Lucille and helped up the still sobbing bear on his feet. "Albanus has been waiting for you at home, Rufus. You understand the desire to protect someone just too well, don't you?"

Rufus nodded as he went over to Lucille and knelt down apologetically. "I am so sorry for what I was about to do. I thought you were from Sahagab and so I wanted to make you pay for," he stopped again as tears trickled down from his face to the ground.

"We had peace with the north for a long time now, but constantly fought with Sahagab in the past. My grandson Albanus and Rufus here both lost their parents when the city they lived in was destroyed," the old wolf explained as he glanced over to Lucille. "Unfortunately, as much as they grow fond of each other, Rufus is filled with hatred, while Albanus wants to end the constant warfare, well knowing that in Sahagab there are people that suffered just as much as they did."

Lucille gave him a nod. "Yeah, I think your grandson is right. It would in the end only be a cycle in which countless lives would be lost as no side would break out from its own hatred." She now grew silent as he was sinking into her own thoughts. "It will continue till both sides would decide to end it or one was completely destroyed."

"In a way," the wolf said as he patted Rufus on the shoulder and let the bear go up the stairs. "No matter which side would start or end it, innocents will always suffer as a result. People that may only want to live peacefully with their friends and family, build up their homes and earn the fruits of their own labors. I was filled with wrath and hatred when my daughter was killed, but I had to learn that if I was to exact my revenge I would make countless people lose their family as well. Albanus and I had a long talk about it."

"Sounds like he and Gaius would get along," Lucille replied as she pictured just another wolf with the same overly friendly and xenophile attitude that made Gaius actually rather likable.

"Albanus and Gaius are cousins as their fathers were brothers," the old wolf told bluntly as he waited for the otter's reaction, which however was only a raised eyebrow. "Well, they do get along, but Albanus was always rather reserved, so he is mostly spending time with Rufus or books."

"Oh well, so who are you then?" the otter now asked curiously as she went over to Khaba for the fruit bat to get back on her shoulders.

The old wolf now smiled gently. "I am Imperator Augustus Caesar Varius Marcus Caelius. Or Augustus Caelius, if you want to say it in a single breath."

A rare sign of surprise went over the otter's face as she comprehended those words. "Wait, so you say that Gaius, someone who consciously decided to go to the north is technically related to the emperor of Urbulchem?"

"Sort of," Caelius said as he gestured her to follow him upstairs. The legionnaires that were previously guarding the ruin were placed carefully next at the wall.

Khaba was now grinning as he saw that the mouflon was using both of his comrades as pillows to lie on, but he turned to Caelius as something was on his mind. "So, why is Septimus with you? And how does it come that you met us here at the right time?"

"Let's say that Septimus told me about the storehouse and that another fox suggested me to go here today," Caelius replied as they went through the woods. "In any case, it was rather fortunate, because otherwise this could have become a bigger tragedy."

Crawford was yawning as he was lying on the grass in Gaius' garden, his arms and legs completely sprawled out as he was rather exhausted.

Gaius was in the same position and just as tired out. "I must say, we did rather well. It shouldn't be a problem for us to deal with the morons of Seleukos."

"Well, I guess that we will do that," Crawford replied with a yawn as he got up and stretched his limbs. "Okay, let us see if Harshad already got us something to eat. Unlike Leofwine I haven't been eating so much."

The tiger came out into the garden as he heard being mentioned by the otter. "I am about to serve food for everyone. But rest a little bit, you two have totally overdone it with the magic for a day."

"He is right about that," Gaius said as he now stood up himself and went inside with Crawford to take a rest at the tables where Harshad was now putting the food on.

Crawford already stuffed his mouth full with salmon and swallowed before Harshad even had finished his work and was carrying a big plate for him and Ayontunde upstairs. But eventually the otter coughed up as he swallowed too quickly. "Any idea where Lucille and Khaba might be?"

"Over here," a female voice called out from the other side of the atrium and Lucille came in with Khaba on her back and an old wolf following them inside.

Gaius now stood up and greeted the older brethren. "Ave, Caelius. What brings you to my home?"

"Just some circumstances relating to your guests," Caelius replied as he glanced over to Crawford. "It is fine however. Right now there are pressuring matters for all of us to discuss about," the older wolf said as he sat down on a chair. "The gems you seek. They need to be kept apart at any cost."

Now Gaius perked up with some surprise. "So, you know more about it? Why do they have to be apart?"

"The issue is, they are keys to a force uncontrollable by any mortal," Caelius told as his eyes wandered to the gem around Gaius' neck. "We only recently learned about this, but there are forces at work, which are far greater than any of us. All of this world is in danger, if the spirits of the gems combine."

"Spirits? So you say they are conscious?" Gaius now looked at his gem and couldn't shake off the strange feeling it now brought him. "So, if they combined they would create a monster, huh? Well, then we should throw the one we have into the sea and let it disappear forever."

"A good idea," Caelius said as he got the necklace from Gaius and put it into his own toga. "I will go to the palace and command someone I trust to do so. Soon we all can rest easily."

"Caelius, maybe I should escort you back to the palace," Lucille replied with some concern in her voice. "This is rather important, so safety seems advisable."

"I hate having guards around me," the emperor replied but rather with a smile than a frown. "But I think you would make a good protector, so yes we should go back together."

Lucille nodded as she and Caelius left the villa and walked the street towards the palace. Some people were looking at them with curious, sometimes also disapproving looks that they both just ignored till they finally reached the palace in which the emperor resided in.

"If you don't mind, I would like to invite you in to have a nice chat," Caelius said to Lucille as he stepped through the door leading in. "I would like to know what you think about Urbulchem and if maybe we could make a permanent agreement with Bijulac and the other clans."

"Actually, the term clan is a remnant from when all those states were actually much smaller, but I think that there is a potential," the otter replied as they went through the atrium further into the back of the palace. "As long as the people learn that they may be able to coexist without a need for conflict."

"Which is a hope of mine. As somebody told me, it would be nice if the past wouldn't have to repeat over and over again," the wolf said as they stepped into the large room in which the throne was located. Much to their surprise however two men, a bull and a fox, dressed in togas were standing there with blades in their hands. "Cornelian and Otho, what are you doing here?"

The bull was walking closer to the wolf with his sword ready to strike. "Several senators have been unhappy about your recent decision to work towards permanent peace with Bijulac. We are here on their behalf."

Caelius sighed as he glanced at the two armed men with a glimmer of sadness in his eyes. "If you did anything to Albanus, I am going to make sure your deaths will be more gruesome than you could imagine."

Cornelian the bull was laughing wickedly. "Don't worry, your grandson and his walking pillow won't be hurt by our hands. But you should turn around."

With his eyes widening Caelius now turned back to see that someone else, a jackal in foreign clothing, was entering the room with Rufus and a young gray-brown-furred wolf being led into by magical chains by him. "Albanus!"

The young wolf was looking up in fear as he was grabbed by the jackal who held a knife close to his throat.

Lucille and Khaba now got ready as they covered the back of Caelius to make sure the two other's would fall him in the back. "You cowards should fight fair instead of using people as hostages."

The jackal chuckled at that remark. "Even so you are done for. You are all unarmed and we could cut you down pretty easily."

"Unarmed?" Lucille now focused tried to remember what she did earlier when Khaba was in a similar situation, but now she had a small advantage. "Please let me take his place then," she pleaded as she stepped closer to the jackal and showed he arms to show that she had nothing with her.

"I could just have you both now, couldn't I?" the jackal said as he pointed his knife at the otter rather threateningly, but without any concern about her.

Much to his own regret as Lucille took the opening he gave her to grab his arm and ram the knife into his own head before she pushed the jackal's corpse off from Albanus, whose chains now dissolved. "You will be alright, just stay with Rufus while we take care of those two bastards."

Cornelian and Otho now got ready with their swords and rushed towards Caelius and Khaba with their weapons aiming for the hearts.

Being rather unimpressed by that however Caelius raised his left arm and a powerful lightning bolt hit the blades of his opponents, frying them both in the process. But he had little concern for them as he went over to his grandson that was now supported by the arms of Rufus. "I am so sorry that you have been dragged into this. Are you alright?"

"I think, I will be," Albanus replied as he was shaking in the bear's arms. "We suddenly were constricted and then dragged by that spell. I was afraid he would kill us."

Caelius smiled in relief as he put his arms around his grandson and Rufus. "Come, you two should return to your chamber. We will deal with the traitors."

Albanus gave his grandfather a nod as he and Rufus got up and went back to the chamber of the younger wolf.

"Danica, thanks for your aid," Caelius whispered quietly into himself as he turned around to face Lucille. "I am sorry, Lucille and Khaba. But my role in this play, it is over now." Before Lucille could reply to that odd statement the chest of Caelius was pierced by the blade of a curved dagger.

"How pathetic. A war hero, battlemage, and emperor taken down with a single strike," a tall lion behind Caelius said as he pulled out the dagger and took the gem from the toga of the wolf before he disappeared again.

"Caelius!" Khaba now flew over in order to use his healing magic to keep the old wolf alive. But to no avail. "No! The Bleeder's Curse! Lucille, focus your Aether and put your hands around my head!"

Without hesitating a single second Lucille ran over to the fruit bat and activated her focus as she put her hands on Khaba's temples and focused her energies to enhance his spells.

Soon enough Caelius was opening his eyes again and gasped as he touched his chest and noticed that the wound was gone. "This is highly unfortunate. Lucille, Khaba, thank you. But I fear we are having a big problem now."

"With that they have at least two gems," Lucille stated quietly as she helped Caelius up and looked at the spot where his toga was damaged. "Only four or less remain before things will get really ugly."

"Don't worry. Only one of those gems needs to be unreachable and everything will be alright," Caelius reassured her with a smile. "According to Septimus your brother has another of those. We need to send him a bird so he gets rid of it once and for all."

"Yes, I will do so immediately," Lucille said as she and Khaba rushed out of the throne room, through the atrium, out into the streets.

The next morning Khaba got up the earliest of everyone as he flew to the market and came back with a bag full of grapes and dates for himself that he was eating eagerly in his own room. He was just about finished as someone opened the door, and Lucille went in with a big smile on her face.

"Now, how do you feel, Khaba?" the otter asked as she sat down next to the fruit bat. "Sorry for dragging you into the ruins yesterday. That Rufus almost killed you because I had to jump into an adventure out of boredom."

"Lucille, we all can get into danger at every moment in our lives. What is important is to know what you have to do," Khaba said as he put his wings around her and climbed on her back again. "So, Leofwine chubbier I heard?"

"Well, now at least you can keep him and Crawford apart by more than eye color and general attitude," Lucille replied as she got up and walked down the staircase. She was rather surprised as she saw two people talking with Gaius that she had met before.

The mare Tacita and the bull Zopyros were standing together as Gaius was glancing at the staircase to Lucille. "Ah, our two heroes. We were just talking about how you two are the topic in all the city now."

"We are?" Lucille replied a bit in initial disbelief but then she just chuckled. "Okay, I guess saving the emperor's life as well as that of his grandson and the grandson's lover does make up for a rather good story to tell."

Zopyros nodded in agreement as he walked over to Lucille. "You are a smart girl. You probably know how far-reaching your actions have been so far. But, you have given the future a chance. As someone from Bijulac you still protected and saved our emperor. Maybe, just maybe people will start to open up the idea to cooperate with the north."

"Maybe. Only maybe. I doubt it will mean that much in the end," Lucille replied bluntly as she looked at the white bull and then the black mare. "Why are you two interested in this anyway? As far as I understood your brothers were each on a completely different goal than yours."

Now Tacita went closer to her and replied, "There are, let's say, certain people that wish for another course of how things would develop. Have you ever heard some scholars talk about the Celestial Sovereigns?"

Lucille shook her head. "In fact, this is the first time I heard those two words so close together."

The mare took a deep breath as she was recalling what she knew. "Apart from the gods we worship, some accounts mention five beings that on occasion appear in our world and act on their own behalf. Yishai, the Guide of Fate, Danica, the Demonic Empress, Asbjörn, the Benefactor of Life, Miakoda, the Patron of Order, and Vadden, the Granter of Knowledge."

"So, what about them?" the otter questioned in confusion as she wasn't understanding the reasoning of the mare.

"It is in their plan to grant a possibility for a brighter future. Only a possibility mind you," Tacita explained as she patted Zopyros on the shoulder.

The bull now cleared his throat a little before he continued for her, "A white fox walked towards us and talked about probabilities of certain events happening. In rather unnerving percentages."

"So, that was a polar fox or an albino then. What did he say to you?" Lucille asked with her face turning colder as she started to rationalize the information. "He told you about potential futures, right?"

"The Guide of Fate. It is kind of his theme to tell what our actions might cause and what we could have made different," Zopyros said with a shrug. "He appreciated my life choices, though. But, I do wonder if he would appear a second time or to anyone of us. After all, the Sovereigns appear and disappear after their own will, not some rules dedicated by any force."

Now Khaba was speaking up, "Not that it is important for us. Our mission right now is to get those gems and make sure they can never get together."

"It does link together in our interest however. The treachery that happened yesterday and your rather positive involvement do make me wonder, if this whole story can lead to an alliance that will unify the Axis-region," Zopyros states as he and Tacita looked at each other for a moment. "Hence, we do have located a potential other location as we, let's say, bribed some merchants."

"Bribed?" Khaba wasn't sure how to interpret the bull's information, but he had a feeling that it might not be as harmless as it sounded.

"A lot of people prefer to not have their spines ripped out by me," the bull now said bluntly as he posed a little with his arms and gave everyone a smug grin.

Tacita shook her head as she softly slapped Zopyros on the back of his head. "You will have to go to Pantepoli, a harbor city in Hela. A similar phenomenon like that in Argentflux was sighted in the night in the center, hence it is likely that it will be located somewhere within or in close proximity of the city."

Rubbing on the spot that got hit Zopyros now looked at the exit and waited for Harshad, who was standing in the shadows, to open the door for two men to enter.

Albanus and his grandfather Caelius both were dressed in their togas, with the younger wolf approaching Lucille. "Thank you for what you did, Lucille and Khaba. Without you two I, my grandfather, and Rufus would have been killed in an act of treachery. For your services we have organized your trip to Pantepoli where you will have access to the local palace structure. The ship will be ready next week, so we suggest that you finish any business by then."

"Um, thank you," Lucille replied as she wasn't too uncomfortable with Albanus talking to her instead of his grandfather. "And sorry for causing your lover a head trauma. I hope he is fine."

The young wolf chuckled a little bit. "Rufus is doing well. He was actually admitting to me that his plan was kind of dumb, so I think he learned his lesson."

Now Caelius was patting his grandson on the shoulder as he walked past him and knelt down to Lucille. "I and the senate have not yet finalized our decision, but I have had Tacita and Zopyros take information on those involved in what happened yesterday. I think there will be enough changes around here."

Albanus shook his head. "It is so unfortunate that we have to resort to this. But, I think in the long run that is what has to happen."

"Not that I care much about politics. If that means that nothing will happen to Bijulac, I am okay with it," Lucille replied as she looked at her hands and grinned grimly. "There will be enough lives to erase to ensure this."

"Such is the nature of our world, I fear," Khaba added to her with his yes half-closed. "We will kill Seleukos and all his men, if we have to. And then send their heads to Kärmave, I heard Vidar's father has a skull collection."

Caelius laughed at that statement. "I haven't thought that would be a true information. Well, I guess that he will get a few presents from me as well then. Anyway, I have the executions to deal with, so I and Albanus go back to the palace. You meanwhile do what you please, there is still enough time."

Harshad was holding Ayontunde gently in his arms as he felt over her belly. The developing life of their made him smile gently as he looked into the face of the lioness before he gave her a lick over the right cheek and hugged her carefully and gently. "In a week our duty leads us to Pantepoli. Maybe we could take a ship from there to the south after business has been dealt with."

Ayontunde gave him a nod before she nudged against his chest and groomed his fur lovingly.

"Freedom is good and all, but we should try to get some money," the tiger now stated as his eyes drifted off. "Even with Gaius' generosity we still require more money to make to the Savanah."

The lioness gate was looking a bit worried, but she quickly changed it to a smile as if she wanted to say that everything would be fine in the end.

Harshad gave her another kiss before he got up and placed her gently on the bed. "Sleep well, my love. I shall come back to you soon enough," he whispered into her ear and went out of their room and down the stairs. His gaze grew ever sadder with every step he took.

"Harshad, why are you going out at this late hour?" a voice gently said behind the tiger who turned around to look into the eyes of Crawford. "You require some sleep, don't you?"

"So do you, boy," Harshad replied as he sighed and sat down next to the wall. "I don't want imply anything, but the money Gaius pays us isn't enough. And, I found out there are people that would pay me for certain services."

Crawford just shook his head. "You should ask Gaius about your concerns instead of selling yourself for lousy silver from some lousy men."

The tiger laughed sadly. "Shameful, isn't it? I have freedom and earn money honestly, but my dreams and goals, I just cannot reach out to them."

"Then let us help you," Crawford replied with a reassuring smile on his face. "I do have a rather good business plan and could certainly earn a lot of money in the next few days. You could work with me, I am sure Gaius would allow it."

"Probably. I remember Marcelinus and how he would usually just smile kindly and also treat me and Ayontunde well. Gaius and Septimus grew up under his care, but only Gaius really got the same attitude," the tiger told as he started to smile again. "You wouldn't know it, but the act in which he was made wasn't inside the nobilis. His mother didn't survive childbirth and Marcelinus decided to manipulate several documents to ensure that the boy would be having the status of a citizen. His biological father? He pissed off one too many."

"Not very surprising," the otter said as he sat down next to the tiger. "But didn't he grow up with rather open and nice people?"

"Septimus supposedly was more like Gaius when he was a child, but people called him a plebe and disapproved of him being considered a noble," Harshad said as he scratched his chin. "And I assume to counter this he went into extremes, showcased an unhealthy obsession, and turned into the men we all know and want to punch in the face."

Crawford now looked down at his feet as he thought about the tiger's words. "Lucille and Khaba told me that Septimus hid outside the villa when Caelius came here the first time. And that he was behaving strange in a nice way."

"Maybe he realized that his attempts to appeal too many has driven those he care about away," Harshad shrugged as he got up from the ground went back up the stairs again. "And the one I care about needs me for now. Thank you, Crawford."

The otter waited a little bit before he stepped to the side and gestured at one of the corners of the atrium.

As if they came out of nothing Lucille and Khaba stepped from the corner and walked closer to Crawford. The female otter smiled in thought as she looked up the stairs. "So, that it the story of our fox? In that case, would you like to join us on a nightly thing this time, Craw?"

"Sure, I have slept the entire day anyway," Crawford replied as he opened the door and let his sister and Khaba get out.

The trio went down the dark streets of Urbulchem, Lucille leading them towards the harbor area that was completely shrouded by the night and only few souls were outside, mostly bats and most curiously a fox that wasn't dressed appropriate for the area.

Septimus was sitting under a pathetic cover that consisted of three boards and a dirty blanket, his toga was stashed carefully away and he was otherwise only wearing a dirty tunic.

"Gods, he didn't look as bad when I saw him yesterday," Lucille stated as she walked closer to the fox and looked right at him. "Septimus, we found out the circumstances that made you Gaius' stepbrother."

The fox just got up and looked with sad eyes and a forced smile at her. It changed to a painful shock as Lucille hit him right on his right eye.

"So tell me, why did you decide to become just like him? You had someone that you could call father, a brother even that were giving you everything in disregard of what anyone else would have though," she said and hit the fox another time. "And yet you decide to become just like all those that dwell in false pride of their status and prestige. What are those people? Just fools that try to give their pathetic lives meaning without doing anything for it."

Septimus was rubbing himself where he got hit by Lucille and backed off a little bit from her. Between his fingers it was visible that he was crying. "When I was told about my 'true father', I was devastated. I never understood why people called me a bastard and I always tried to prove myself to everyone. It was probably not the best thing to go as far as to discredit my own brother."

"So what? What gives you the right to act this way?" Lucille asked calmly and with her furious expression mixing with disbelief. "Why do you even wonder that everyone hates you, if you just treat them all like dirt because you need to stand out?"

"I don't know," the fox replied and sat down on the pile of hay that he was sleeping on at night. "Just leave me alone for now, will you?"

Lucille bluntly turned around and shrugged at her brother. "Yeah, I just wanted to tell him this. We should leave him in his misery."

Crawford gave his sister a nod as they went back on the street leading up to where the better parts of the city were located. "Maybe we should go to theatre? I heard that the nocturnal displays are much more entertaining than the diurnal ones."

"Well, why not? If it is different it could be fun," Lucille replied as she went over Khaba's head behind hers. "I guess if we are bored we could probably improvise for our own play." Now she, Crawford, and Khaba were laughing as they imagined the potential display they could bring up.

Septimus meanwhile just watched them sadly going away from him. Once they were gone he was getting up and walking towards the river and looked at his reflection as the moonlight shone on the water.

"A young girl's word can hold so much truth, if her wrath is cold and precise," a woman's voice said from behind and Septimus turned around to look into an ebony-black goat with blue eyes that were curiously watching him. "And a young man's word can hold so much deceit, if his confidence is weak and shattered."

The fox stepped away a bit from the strange goat and almost stepped off the edge into the river while doing so. "What do you want from me? Money? A favor? I have nothing."

"You still have your arms, don't you?" the goat replied coldly as she now stepped ever closer. Her unnaturally tall shape was even threatening without her curved horns, but her expression changed to a friendly smile. "Maybe we could have a deal, what do you say?"