After a while, Yel stopped talking about Naye as he saw Lia approaching.

“What are you doing here?” She asked as she reached the wall.

“Just sitting.” Lad grinned looking at Yel. “Private stuff.” He punched Yel a bit harder that a playful fist bump to the shoulder and Yel fell of the wall.

He hovered on air and slowly put himself of the ground, he wasn’t hurt but looked annoyed as hell.

“Quit playing.” Lia pulled Yel up. “Vemra told us to check on the eastern wing of the mansion. We can’t leave the patrolling to the soldiers alone. Viran could easily slip by.”

“Alright.” Lad got off the wall and followed Lia in the patrol.

***

They walked the corridors Vemra had shown just hours ago but this time there were no guards. Lia checked a few doors, but all the rooms were empty like they were supposed to be.

After a while, they met someone finally, the man they were looking for.

“Skies split open in a crimson spark.

There I saw an angel descending upon the Queen’s Isle.

Azure wings fluttered in the wind

and the sun kissed the snowlike skin.”

Viran sat on a pile of corpses, with a small notebook between his thin fingers. No claws, no scales. Short brown hair, messy and oily with a thin moustache of a late teen.

So, this is where the guards were. Lia thought. We should have been here earlier.

“Trembling eyes were full of fear

yet have not seen even a drop of tear.

There upon my eyes were a star

the skies could no longer bear.”

The man continued reading the contents of the book, ignoring the trio.

Lad stopped and listened with a raised brow, signing the rest to stop as well.

“How long have you been sitting there? Were you waiting for someone to pass all this time?” Lad tilted his head to one side. “I mean I get the thrill of making a dramatic entrance but yours seem kinda… pathetic.”

“Mean as always, huh? Or did the lines not fancy you? I can read something else if its suits you.” The man licked his fingers and quickly turned a few pages.

“They are fine.” Lad crouched, both arms resting on his knees. “Not as fine as ending our quest on the first night but still fine.”

The man smiled. “Your quest is a lot more than searching for this old man, my friend. Levise’s wishes never end. You of all people should know it the best.”

The way he pronounced the Saint’s name was like a cuss. Brows knitted; lips curled eyes burning with a passionate hatred.

Lia frowned. How could one bear such a profound hatred towards her holiness? Such a thing was physically impossible. She was love and peace in the flesh! How could one hate her?

“Don’t frown, Arelai. It is the truth. You fight a war of hers, and when you win your reward is another fight. It gets tiring and meaningless after a while.”

“Fighting for her is the most honourable thing one can fight for. Another fight is all you should need.”

“How passionate! How young! Only if I could tell… Only if I could show…” The man put the book inside his robe with a broken smile. “That it isn’t a worthy prize. I would surrender, but I have important things to do, Arelai. Lives depend on it. Precious lives.” He smiled.

“Considering your couch, you don’t seem that caring for lives. I’m afraid we have to take you to the Lady herself. You can sort your problem with her later.”

“Oh… I do care.” Viran looked at his throne with disdain. “Just not for vermin.”

Lia could no longer stomach the insult towards the guards and drew her sword. Yel followed her. Though working for other lords, the guards were there to protect the manor and the people. They risked their lives for others. Lia could not let Viran dishonour them anymore.

“I am not the enemy, Arelai.”

“I am Lia.” The grip on the Yrridian sword tightened. That was who she was. Not someone’s daughter, not whatever Arelai was. “And you are the enemy.”

The man sighed, tired but smiling. “Only if you knew me, you’d know how wrong you are. I guess there is still time for that...”

“We all can get to know you.” Lad threw steel manacles in front of the man. “In chains.”

Heavy metal hit the wooden ground and Viran laughed, hysterically.

“Seriously. The Archmages did the same too. Do you really believe someone who you think is a criminal will just surrender and cuff himself? How f…”

Lad jumped forward, his kick to Viran’s head separating the man from his throne. “No, but it gives me the right to kick you when you refuse.”

The man rolled down until he hit a wall in the narrow corridor.

“Still as bold as ever.” The man slowly got up. “Yet also as incompetent.” The man grinned as he fixed his clothes. The illusion on his face glitched. Like a painting on water, disturbed by a wave. For a fraction of a second, Lia saw the man’s true face. Blue scales. Rotten and molten.

“You know what.” Viran continued as the illusion calmed down and was restored. “I blamed you for quite a while. For that incompetence. For that loyalty.” The man sneered at Lad.

“I told myself if it weren’t for you everything would be fine. I never understood what was at stake back then. I do now. It’s good to see you.”

“With a face as fine as mine, I thought that’s a given. I’m a delight to look at.”

“Riddled with a maze, carved molten in ashen skin. A true What a marvel! Can you feel the warmth, traveller? Weight of those you carry?”

“These? Mentally, yeah. But physically they tend to walk around. I’d need another arm otherwise. I have a friend with none you know, it would be a tad bit disrespectful to ask for a third.”

“I feel you, old man. Going behind a friend wouldn’t suit a man of your stature.” Viran gave a half smile. “Still, it’s good to see you.”

“Hmm… I know it’s kind of weird that I ask it this deep into the talk, but do I know you?”

“Surely. Perhaps you… just have forgotten? Like our days together have never happened.”

“I doubt. I’d never forget such a face. Almost as striking as mine. Looks like you have been trampled by a wyvern recently under that mask. Perhaps that’s the reason.”

“I had something similar once.” He smiled, caressing his ear. “I’d show you the rings, but I lost them on the way. It was something bigger. A lot bigger.”

“A name could help me remember; you know.”

“Viran.” The man bowed. “As rotten as the first, yet the last.”

“No, you are not. Not with that moustache. They are quite fashionable you know. I got to give it to them, demon or not.”

“If I shaved, would it change what I am?” Viran waved his hand around his face and the moustache disappeared. “You rip a bird’s wings apart, tuck them away and hide them. It would still a bird, isn’t it?”

“No, it wouldn’t be.” Lad shook his head. “It would be a dead bird, duh!”

“For a while. If you make sure to bury it properly. To seal it. Cage it. But still, you can’t be too sure. Some things refuse to stay dead, aren’t there?”

“I get you, buddy. I really do. I hate cockroaches too. No matter how many times I give ‘em the good old slipper treatment they get up. Honestly, it is revolting.”

“Don’t worry, Lad. All those who refuse will fall.” Viran replied as he raised his hand, his back hunched, looking tired. “I’ll make sure with these hands. Soon.”

Then, the ground suddenly shook beneath their feet in a muffled explosion. They were on the ground floor, and beneath was the treasure room.

“Oh.” Viran laughed. “Seems like my friend is doing his part already. If it’s going to keep you here, away from him then I could wear them.”

Lad then gave Lia a look, pointing her to look at the noise. She quickly left with Yel, leaving Lad to stall Viran until they solved the problem downstairs.

“Now the adults can talk while the kids are away, huh?” The gentle smile left Viran’s face as the illusion disappeared and revealed his grotesque face. “I have an offer.”