William:(They weren't just illusions...The barrier...it really did break...His power...it transcends mine...How can I protect them? How can I even protect myself?)

These thoughts floated in his mind for six days, after the wedding security was at an all time high in Heaven's Gaze, but he knew it wasn't enough. That man, he could split himself into multiple beings, that's how powerful his illusion magic was. William had decided to leave to continue his journey around this world, but he only allowed Loke to accompany him. He didn't want to put Arryn in any more danger, neither did Loke for Rel. They were preparing to leave for WillowHeart, the kingdom of the Wood Elves.

Loke:"I leave my daughter in your hands, your majesty" Loke bows respectfully.

Arryn:"And I leave my king in yours, RuneLord Loke." She turns to William "Are you sure you don't want any guards to accompany you?" worry showing on her face.

William shakes his head:"No, they would only get in the way. I would go alone but...Not even I can force Loke around..." He sighs as Loke gives a wink to them both and enters the dragon carriage.

Arryn closes her eyes:(I will be waiting for you.)

William grabs a hold of her arms:(You won't have to wait long.) He lets go, walking into the carriage.

The carriage plaza was awfully full today, the entire populace were watching their new king leave for his journey, the guards gave special permission for even the top of the walls to be used for onlookers. A the dragons pulled the carriage into the sky, the shouts of the citizens of Heaven's Gaze got quieter. After a couple

Loke:"So it starts..." Loke holds his walking stick in one hand while keeping his top hat on with his other.

William:"Indeed."

Loke:"Are you sure about not letting Arryn come along? She is quite powerful herself."

William:"She has a country to lead, her people need her more than me."

Loke:"What about her needs?" he looks at William.

William sighs:"I have no other choice. What's to come, will be bloody."

Officially they are going to WillowHeart to continue building alliances with the other races. But in actuality William asked Loke to bend some strings, telling the WoodElves he'd be another couple weeks away. William had done this because he wanted to get rid of a very real threat, BlackHand. Honestly, he didn't know if his plan would work. All he knew was that, he had to face him.

William:"When will your friends join us?"

Loke:"Oh, but they're already here." Loke flicks his fingers

Reality seems to distort as a veil falls within the carriage, uncovering four others.

Loke:"Let me present you my dear old friends from the void war. This is William Smith, the human you've all heard so much about."

Within the carriage along William and Loke sat four others, A male dwarf with ginger hair,beard and grey eyes, A female Werewolf with white fur and blue eyes, A male Wood Elf with short dark green hair and blue eyes, lastly a male Drakeling with grey scales and red eyes.

Loke:"William, these are my brothers and sister at arms.Master Dwarf Kalus Highsung"The dwarf nods "Chief Ranger Yorick Stesfal" The Wood Elf makes a gesture with his hands, fist in the other palm. "Alpha Kateera from the north pack." The Werewolf simply stares on at William "And lastly Nexiet Wreath, Leader of the Dragon Rider guild." The Drakeling shakes hands with William. "I leave it to you now."

William nods:"I apologise for rallying you all on such short notice, I wish we had more time but..Time is precious for this operation. You all know of the corruption within these lands, you've all seen and felt the control this man holds." Kateera growls "Birse BlackHand has too strong a grip on this continent for anyone to oppose him and even all of us put together, we cannot beat him by force."

Kateera loses her wolf form, turning down into a woman with long white hair and blue eyes but keeping her wolf ears and tail:"Then what would you suggest? Human."

William:"We have no choice but to make a deal with him."

Kalus:"A deal? With that blasted devil? You outa your rockers laddie?"

Loke:"Kal, please let him speak." The dwarf snorts and calms down.

William:"The deal will not concern any of you, so you have nothing to worry. All I need from you is to open a path for me to meet him face to face, I'm tired of speaking to illusions and clones."

Nexiet:"Gain the enemies attention first...At the very least, he'd see you as a larger ant than the others. But I must warn you human, if any of us gets the chance at his neck..." His grip on his sword grows stronger, his eyes almost on fire "We shall slay him where he stands."

William:"I do not doubt your strength, and if you get the chance I will not stop you. But I will make this clear, once the negotiations start...You will not step in no matter what." William eyes each one of them. "With your aid we will penetrate his main stronghold were he himself is supposedly at."

Loke:"Once the attack starts we'll break up into two teams, the distraction team made of Nexiet, Kalus and Kateera and the forward team made of me, William and Yorick."

Yorick:"I can ascertain whether it is him, I'm the only one here that has actually felt his true presence."

Loke:"Indeed, which is why we need you and your rangers with us."

Kalus:"Simple enough, how longer till we get to bash some bandit buffoons?"

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author: To add to the atmosphere...

Music: https://youtu.be/ojL5Y5HvOlE?t=12s

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Yorick:"At this pace I estimate arrival in a couple hours, calm yourself master dwarf."

Kalus:"Calm myself!? You beautiful glorified botanist! MY WAR MACHINES ARE THE ONES THAT CANNOT CALM THEMSELVES!" He laughs.

All around the carriage, the wind quakes as hundreds of wyverns and drakes litter the sky, Drakelings and Elves Saddling them. On the ground the trees make no move but underneath the canopies elves and weremen riding spirit beasts traverse the forest as the ground shakes behind them, on the path large dwarven war constructs crush the ground beneath them as they move.

War was upon them.

William's smile grows as he looks out the window:"This world has not seen war between sentients for decades, mine has been engulfed by it for that long. Sit there in your cosy seat, Birse. I'll come to you instead."

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Author: A shorter chapter introducing the next one. It's war next chapter, gear up. This will get dirty and bloody. :)