The Regulators with Elle and Hani ran past more people fleeing from the direction of the coliseum. As they turned a corner leading to main thoroughfare, they slowed taking in the sight before them. Several shops and stalls were on fire and a contingent of King’s Knights were battling a fiery and massive bulldog that was seven feet tall at the shoulder. That was the first thing they witnessed before seeing a full detachment of paladins from the church of Radiant drain the flames from it as they swept over the creatures position. At least twenty of them didn’t even break stride as they entered the coliseum doors. Outside those very same doors stood Lord Pentecost directing civilians to take cover and get as far away from the arena grounds as possible. Dozens of knights formed a funnel of safe passage out into the streets. From the north side of town there was a single rider approaching Pentecost’s position. Elle sped up once she noticed it was Armand in full battle regalia.

“Lord Pentecost, I bring word from the palace,” said Armand immediately dismounting.

“Why are you delivering messages? Where is Wotan?” Pentecost asked.

“He sent me my lord. Apparently, he is needed to deal with the dragon that is now chewing on one of the crystal spires outside of his majesty’s castle. You have been recalled to aid in the defense of the King.” Armand replied curtly.

“Armand! Have you seen Deacon?” Elle shouted over some knights preventing her approach.

“Let her pass,” said Pentecost.

“No. I can assume we are at peak Deactastrophe right now?” Armand asked.

“None of that, did you just say dragon?” Pentecost inquired.

“Yes, it just showed up while the knights reserves were being debriefed and equipped. Most of the nobles that attended the ball are still in the Palace.” Armand answered.

“I can’t just leave this mess here. Lord Armand Desentes, I’m invoking article seven of the Triumvirate Accords. Your Cardinal Unit is hereby tasked with quelling this demon infestation to the satisfaction of the crown. Do you understand this decree as it has been stated? Good. I’ll take those reigns,” said Lord Pentecost before correcting himself in the saddle and barking orders to the knights gathered around him. All the knights banged their fists against their breastplates then turned as one to face Armand and Elle.

“We need to extract the civilian population then deal with whatever is spawning these things. I want shield teams to cover fleeing victims. Any mages in the ranks with healing spells need to set up an aid station across the street in a secure location. You two, clean out and hold that building for this purpose. I will send Elle to scout the building. We save lives first. Is that understood?” Armand asked the gathered knights and soldiers of the Crystal Cascade. They all responded by saying yes, my lord. Armand nodded at Elle who changed into owl form and flew into the air. He turned to give the Regulators orders, but they were nowhere to be seen.

Deacon and Sophie made there way through twisting corridors until they found a group of knights finishing off a bat-winged demon. There were several spectators behind them with one magic user trying to bring down the barrier keeping them inside. They hurried over to see if they could lend assistance. As the demon died, Deacon received a ten percent soul energy boost letting him know that demon was just uncommon ranked. He was now at eighty five percent soul energy and full health. Sophie was also healed up. They reached the other civilians and one turned to point his way.

“The Champion of Chimera is here,” said the woman causing a stir in the crowd.

“Can’t get out? Let me see if I can help,” Deacon said noticing the door frame was set in what looked like a thinner part of the wall. He stepped forward and ghosted right through the wall. In the outer hallway he could hear the sound of armored boots running in all directions. He looked around at the shimmering blue barrier that only seemed to cover the entryway. He stepped closer to it noticing a shiny pin jammed where the top section of the doorframe met the left side of the wall. He touched the pin and received a shock that ran up his arm. On the other side of the barrier the mage was waiving at him but he couldn’t hear what he was saying. Deacon went to the side of the entryway and pushed his head through the wall.

“What?” he asked.

“If it’s a little pin don’t touch it. It will drain your mana,” said the mage.

“I don’t have any of that.” Deacon said pulling his head back through the wall. He went back over to the pin and tried to remove it with Polterheist. At level twenty two that ability can hold up to eleven pounds. This pin couldn’t be that heavy, he should just be able to pull it free. Zap! A spark of magic fired through his whole aura and blasted out from behind him into the wall. The now infuriated Deacon extended the claws on his right hand tore that corner of the door frame out of the wall. The barrier dissipated as the top of the passageway started to sag. Deacon stood in the doorway and braced it with both hands as those so recently trapped streamed past him on either side.

“A little faster please. This is very heavy,” Deacon said through clenched teeth. The mage sifted through the broken pieces of wood to find the pin on the floor. He held it up inspecting it. Sophie was ushering people through the door but more and more people from the opposite end of the hallway were being directed this way.

“You can’t hold that up forever. We need a better plan.” Sophie said.

“I have one. The Tower makes these pins as barriers to contain the various monsters and beasts that held here in the coliseum. Never thought they’d be used to trap the attendees though,” commented the Mage.

“You said you had an idea. Out with it,” said a struggling Deacon.

“Oh, right. I can remove them all from this side opening more doors, so everyone isn’t funneling through this one. I’ll just need some protection while I work,” said the mage standing back up.

“How much protection?” came the voice of Ralph. Behind him Tantus and Amanda were directing citizens back out the way they came.

“You don’t know how good it is to see you.” Deacon remarked.

“That looks heavy. Where’s your shirt?” Ralph asked Deacon with a grin.

“Are you two done? Ralph go with this mage to open the other passageways and meet us outside when you are done. I’ll give you and the rest of the Regulators enough Guild Renown to get to Specialists if we all survive,” Sophie ordered.

“Vice-Guild master Sophie? Why—How are you here? Yes ma’am.” Ralph stammered out before grabbing the mage under his arm and taking him down the hallway in the opposite direction he came.

“Deacon, oh my god are you holding up that wall right now?” Tantus inquired.

“Could really use an ice pillar or stone bracing right now. Can you magic something up?” Deacon asked.

“I’m no good with earth magic. What happened to you? Last we saw you had just finished off that monster. Now your pants are all charred like you’ve been in a fire.” Tantus queried.

“Now’s not a good time bud. Did you get it?” Deacon asked.

“Oh yea. Amanda’s got it. She wouldn’t let anyone else hold it.” Tantus responded.

Amanda appeared in front of Deacon holding out his bag of many things. The flap flipped up and various objects began streaming out of it. A shirt and pants set soared over to Sophie who snatched them out of the air. Some of Deacon’s magic infused sand began streaming up to where his hands held the crumbling section in place. Then a water skin popped out of it. Invisible hands began squeezing the water out of it and it mixed with the sand and the crumbling stone work. Once it was a thick gray paste, Deacon began filling the gaps in the crumbling stonework with the mortar he just made. He then poured soul energy into his hands since he was still channeling the Infernal Plane. Just a little. Enough to increase the heat on the area he was holding without drying out the bonding agent. Deacon began to release the doorframe a little at a time. There was shift in the masonry and the entry way was slanted to one side, but it held.

“What in the ten hells did you just do? Did you just repair the wall while you were holding it? Are you some kind of master mason or something?” Came the voice of one of the nights who finished off the batwing demon.

“Nope, just a good improvisor. I’d be careful with this doorway. It was like the sand new what I wanted. Shouldn’t have cured so quickly,” Deacon pondered allowed stepping back to look at his work. He had an interesting notification waiting for him from his slate.

New Title Earned: Haunted Craftsman.

Haunted Craftsman: You managed to use two crafting skills (Alchemy and Masonry) without the use of your hands. This title allows Polterheist to use any of your crafting skills autonomously to produce results one level lower than your current skill level. Increase your crafting skills to make better use of this title.

“Hey, that’s pretty neat. I can make potions in my sleep now. Even build houses while I have dinner. Need to invest in some building materials and basic tools though,” Deacon began to mutter to himself before being shaken free of his musings.

“Snap out of it, he who struggles to stay dressed. Demons, people running for their lives, you know the usual,” yelled Amanda.