"What's taking Darien so long?" Elaine was sitting across from Joseph Keller in the Tower's cafeteria. "Darien.. Well, Darien has been a bit unstable recently. You know him better than I do; what do you think could possibly be delaying him." Elaine furiously tapped her finger on the table as she said, "Ughhhhh! Revenge! That idiot is like a hot fuse! He's worse than me!"

Joseph shook his head and responded, "Darien is usually calm and measured in his actions, but ever since the battle for Black Castle, he's been... well he's been more like you." Elaine raised an eyebrow before sighing, "Or worse." Tap, Tap, Tap, she stopped tapping the table and stood up abruptly, "I'm going!" "No, you aren't. Elaine, you have the patience of a toddler." Joseph pointed back to the bench and said, "Sit, wait, and calm down. If anything, I'd worry more about Argon than Darien." Elaine sat back down and replied, "I'll give him a day, Jo. If he's not back by then, I'm going to get him myself." "That's fair. Just be patient and wait til then. Don't leave until you've thought it through and made a plan. Understood?" Elaine nodded her head before getting up and leaving.

Meanwhile, at the Ayer castle, Darien had exited from the castle's dungeon with the escaped prisoners. The Red Tower Master looked around and smirked, "Wow! Quite the welcoming party." Hundreds of soldiers, knights, and mages surrounded the dungeon entrance. A steady flow of soldiers and mages continued to arrive. "Red T-Tower Master, we're completely surrounded!" "Do you think because I wear glasses, I can't see what's right in front of me?" "S-S-sorry."

Darien turned to look at the knight next to him and said, "Sir Vin, I'm going to need you to take Caspian with you. Lead our people out of the city, and back to Elion. I'll manage as the distraction." "What about you, Lord? When will you be returning?" Cracking his next he replied, "Vin, I'm going to cut loose a bit." Red hot mana emanated from Darien's body as the air around him grew parched, dry, and hotter than the desert. Sir Vin quickly reacted, "Everyone! Gather together in groups of 2-3! Follow me we head North!" "Yes!"

Darien yelled, "All of you can run straight ahead. I'll make you a path." The knights and mages didn't argue. They ran straight ahead toward the front of Argon's forces.

The enemy mages shouted, "Get ready! Prepare your spells! Aim! Steady! Fir..."

"I call upon the Great Spirit of fire! Manifest the Salamander, breathe into him your life and breathe out the spirit's flames! Salamander!"

Suddenly, a small white salamander appeared from a white blaze. Superheated air surrounded it and distorted the air to the point of a hallucinatory effect. An enemy mage noticed the spell that was cast and shouted, "S-SALAMANDER! SHIELDS!"

During the formation of the tiny salamander, its tiny mouth opened up and yawned. It took a deep breath.

Darien's ears popped as a blast of white-hot flames shot out of the salamander's mouth ripping through everything in its wake. There were spells of earth, water, and wind cast and formed in an attempt to block the flames, but nothing could stop the fear-inducing white flames.

Darien looked down at his hand as the salamander vanished. He grunted while inspecting the damage. It was less than before, but his hand was still burned. The flesh of his hand was swollen from third-degree burns. With a grimace, Darien looked ahead.

Escaped prisoners led by Vin shuddered at the site in front of them but continued moving through the now ashen field.

Stunned, hundreds of mages and knights stood awestruck in the face of Darien. One of the battalion commanders shouted, "The Salamander used up most of his mana! Don't be discouraged or afraid! 5th Circle magic takes an enormous amount of mana! Let's overwhelm him with numbers! Ready your spells!" The Red Tower master took a step forward, and many of the soldiers and knights took a step back in response.

"You're right Mr. Commander, 5th Circle magic does take a lot of mana, but who said I ran out of mana?" Darien raised both of his arms and chanted, "Flame Giant! Fire Flys!" Behind Darien, a massive towering giant made of flames erupted with thousands of tiny white, bubble-like flames darting in every direction.

The enemy commander screamed, "Get in position!"

As Darien took a step, the giant's movements matched his own. Taking one step forward, two steps, three steps, the mages of Argon could only swallow their saliva in worry. Sweat sticking to their backs and brows from the intense heat, Argon's forces prepared.

Small flaming bubbles danced around the sky like iridescent fairies glowing both blue and white. One of the soldiers reached out to touch a bubble.

The commander cried out, "GET BACK!"

Boom! Hundreds of explosions took place in every direction. Darien and the giant sped forward. He pulled his fist back as he ran, and the giant matched him. "Earth Tower!" Several mages joined forces to cast a 4th circle spell to try and block the giant's fist, but Darien simply snapped his fingers in response. The giant's enormous body morphed into a massive arm and fist before crashing into their defensive spell. "Argh! Ughhhhh!" Cries rang out from the mages behind the stone walls as the fist pierced through their defense and hit the casters. "Oh, spirit of flames forge a mighty blade to vanquish the cold and to cut all and burn all opposition, Flaming Greatsword!"

Appearing directly in the giant hand was a massive flaming sword. "Mommy!" Enemies who were desperate to stop the spell cast dozens and dozens of spells in retaliation. "You'll have to do better than that." Darien swung his right hand, and the giant flaming arm swung with him. The sword cut through dozens of spells before mowing through knights and mages in formation in front of him. "Earth Wall! Flame Whip!" Protecting himself from the spells that got through his defense, Darien huddled up against a stone wall and used the flaming whip to deflect as many spells as possible.

The enemy commander barked, "He's just one man! Once he's out of mana he's no different than a toilet cleaner! Keep casting! Don't stop! Kee.." Darien swung his arm; in a downward motion as the giant sword fell directly on the enemy commander. "ICE SHELTER!" The commander attempted to block the arm with a hastily made defensive spell, but the ice was melted and cut in the twinkling of an eye. Argon's commander was bisected in two. He was dead before he could even let out his breath.

"Commander!" Chaos broke out after the commander was killed. Mages and knights began casting spells as rapidly as they could form them while knights scrambled toward Darien in an attempt to engage in close combat.

Darien creased his forehead as he looked at the army charging at him from all sides. "I'm running out of mana. If I'm not careful, I won't have enough mana to escape when need be." He looked around and swung his arm in a circle. His giant flaming arm and sword cut through dozens of knights and mages in all directions, but soon more took their place.

Darien released the spell and shrunk the sword to the size of a normal longsword before grabbing it with his injured hand.

A knight ran before Darien and tried to stab him with his spear. "Raghhhhhhh!" One swing of Darien's sword parried the spear, and the next cut through the knight. "I need to speed up a bit! Wind Walk!"

Mages and knights attacked Darien at different speeds and different angles, but not a single attack could hit him. "He's human! Just one hit, we just have to hit him once, and he's dead! Don't give up!" Darien swept through hundreds of enemies while the escaped prisoners cleared the city. A thousand corpses were scattered about the Ayer Castle. Many of which were just piles of ashes. Darien came as the attacker this time, and he proved it in blood.

Meanwhile, in the Ayes forest, Princess Emily and Ann Winbeary were face to face with Jamie Vallas. "J-Jamie? J-Jamie Vallas? What the hell are you doing here?" Jamie raised an eyebrow and answered, "That's a strange way to react to your savior." Ann recovered and responded back, "I'm sorry! I'm Ann Winbeary. I'm in charge of getting the Princess to Elion safely!" Jamie smiled and walked up to the Princess and Ann, saying, "So you're Princess Emily?" "T-that's right!" Looking into Ann and the Princess' eyes he asked, "Do you want to come with me?" Ann immediately pointed her dagger at Jamie, "What are your intentions!" He lifted up both of his hands in surrender, "Woah, Woah, scary! That's a dangerous thing you got there! I was just asking if you two wanted an escort! You look like you need some help." Ann slowly lowered her dagger before letting out her breath, "I'm sorry. I wasn't sure what you wanted to do. Today's been.. well, a crazy day."

Jamie nodded and said, "I understand. Don't worry about it. With Argon's act of aggression we all need to be on the cautious side." Woosh! His sword was drawn in the blink of an eye and pressed against Ann's throat, "However, I think it best if I take the Princess from your hands. I'm pretty sure you aren't able to offer the best protection." Ba-ba-bump.

Ann spoke before her brain could keep up, "I can't! I don't know what you'll do! I have to make sure she's safe!" Tears formed as Ann thought these precious few seconds would be the last moments of her life.

"Please! Don't hurt her! She's my life savior!" Princess Emily ran forward and stood in front of Ann, casting both hands outward to her sides, she furiously stared Jamie in the eyes. Jamie sighed and placed his sword back in his scabbard, "I'll escort the two of you." Jamie seemed to become the most honorable knight in existence; as he bowed his head and said, "Princess Emily, Miss Ann, I mean you no harm. I have the same intentions as Elion. Keeping you, Princess Emily, alive, is my number one priority. I meant no disrespect Miss Ann, but the Princess and her safety should come as the number one priority."

The Princess lowered her hands and cried, "Why is everyone so focused on keeping me alive? I'm useless to everyone around me. Everyone I know and love dies!" Ann grabbed the Princess' shoulders and replied, "Because you're an Ayer. People follow you not just because of your blood, but because of your heart! Your parents and brother had heroic spirits, and you have that same spirit, Princess Emily! Blame Argon! You've done nothing wrong!"

Jamie balked at the two women before quickly changing his expression as they turned to look at him.

In between sobs, the Princess managed to stutter, "R-Really?"

Jamie's face managed a gentle smile as he took Princess Emily's hand and said, "You're right Miss Ann. The Ayer Royal family has the most loyal followers on the continent, and it's precisely because of that heroic spirit! Princess Emily, it is far too soon to give up hope! Your family would be incredibly proud of you."

Emily's brow creased as she renewed her motivation. "Sniffle, sniffle, I'll do whatever it takes to save Ayes!"

Ann rubbed her back as Jamie said, "That's the spirit! Let's go now before more mages come knocking. I'll take the two of you to Elion." Jamie donned a face of humility and asked, "If at all possible, Miss Ann, I would appreciate your help in asking for an audience with King James. If we don't gather our strengths together, Argon will sweep away the continent, casting a shadow over every man woman, and child. We need to stop Argon from hurting any more people and prevent them from doing more damage as they have done in Ayes!" Ann nodded, "Of course, I can help with that. As long as you never point your sword at my neck again." Ann narrowed her eyes as she looked at Jamie. "I can't promise that Miss Ann if you tried to hurt the Princess I'd have to do something. Though I will promise never to do something unprovoked. I swear on my honor as a knight!" "I guess I can work with that. Let's go."