26 LEVERAGE

The huge ten-feet golden double-leaved doors slowly swung open revealing Prodea's lovely but serious face together with her usual six Nagozulian handmaids equally divided from her left and right. She bowed graciously and then walked slowly towards Sayed at the far end of the room, standing to greet her. Lady Illyriah is at his right standing too giving a curtsy to acknowledge the Grand Princess.

The Limor House's rule doesn't run in these sacred hills of Hishma thus Prodea and Sayed can be considered equals in these lands. Though Prodea is a Grand Princess of all of Nagozul, the Hishma Hills and its caves are considered, as stated in their laws, a holy ground and shall not form part of the Kingdom of Man but rather a piece of Bathala's Kingdom on earth with Sayed's generation as its chief caretaker of the majority of the hills - being one of the descendants of Nagozul's Cousin Hishma. Though thousands of generations have passed by, in spirit they are still cousins since Nagozul, Prodea's ancestor, and Hishma, Sayed's ancestor, can be traced sharing the same grandfather, Ambo the Great whom, with Bathala's providence, lived to about two hundred years old and even outlived his two grandchildren.

Some can still pursue the idea that Sayed has more power than Prodea because he is the steward of Bathala himself to govern his lands on his behalf while she's only the second child of the late king without anything to govern to, but Prodea thinks the contrary. She believes it is practically an absurd presumption since her intellect surpasses anyone making it hard for someone to catch up to and be of equal footing with her - or at least that's her undisputable opinion which everyone has to agree to in public even though everyone thinks of it as a delusion, only in their intimate thoughts of course.

The receiving room is a large wide function hall glittering in its grandiose gold plated, jewel embezzled walls giving a bright glazing auburn shimmer all around as if they are in the presence of the sun's afternoon glow. The aisle at the center that Prodea's been treading is a bushy red carpet made out of the finest dyed wool in all of Nagozul - a quite exquisite and utterly expensive carpet to be experienced by anyone, including commoners with muddy footwear. A shame really, she thought, considering it is the same type of carpet she has on her chambers that she practically adores.

As Prodea finally reached Sayed on the far end, Daomagarian servants, rushed on dashing almost immediately placing chairs in front of Sayed's throne-like golden seats. They placed a table between them and turned that end of the hall into as if they were having a casual appointment over tea.

They usually meet at the study, Prodea figured as she sat on her chair, but meeting in the receiving hall means serious business. It's as if he is rather tensed and afraid of her to keep the meeting on his study, just a door away from his chambers, where privacy is guaranteed. She uncontrollably smiled devilishly on the idea that she has the upper hand and that she still has command over Hishma's unbreakable caretaker.

Privacy is important but privacy with Prodea is practically unwise, it's just ridiculous. It's so absurd that it's considered to be dangerously reckless. It's as if one wants to have a death wish, especially after all of those rumors of her fighting everyone who gets in her way, even Bakunawa.

There are even wilder rumors that she has slain Bakunawa for getting in her way, but Sayed didn't bother hearing those kinds of rumor. Nobody in their right mind will dare lift a finger on Bakunawa, he's the immortal caretaker of the Holy Lands after all. But even so, with her kind of attitude, she can easily be known for as unstable so it's best to convene in a room with a lot of witnesses - just to be safe.

"So, Prodea," Sayed started off snapping his fingers to order his servants to give her refreshments, "I was really surprised to see you here in those metal boxes that your foreigners have brought here."

"Carriages, Cousin Sayed," she corrected taking a sip of cold sweet nectar mix from her golden cup, "They are called Carriages, but I think you know of them. In fact, I know you've ridden one yourself in one of your days outside on your Rite of Passage."

"Yes, yes. Carriages. But still, it is not of us, so I prefer not to know them. Pardon my frankness but need I remind you that Bathala gave us our trusty feet to wander our lands, not to lazily stow it away being pulled by horse-beasts. In foreign lands, I'll approve, but here in our lands, I don't think so."

"Oh, you worry too much cousin. I was in a hurry to meet you here and my feet can only carry me to a certain distance before I completely tire out. By then, it'll be irrelevant to measure the length my feet can carry me for it is imperative that I meet you this particular morning. I would really prefer to be carried by a beast in my haste rather than compromising a Daomagar. It is not our custom to treat them as I treat my beasts after all."

Sayed nodded, still unconvinced but otherwise agreeable. Nagozulians have abolished this kind of transportation method where they would fashion a litter, a wheel-less vehicle supported by carrying poles using only Daomagarians to carry it, to transport nobles around Nagozul. It is thought to be a nudge closer to slavery and a way to indignify their Daomagarian brothers, so their forefathers have removed this custom thousands of years ago. This is a sensitive topic, especially when there are Daomagarian guards present at the hall. Though he abhors the use of 'Carriages', he most certainly can't disagree on her statement. A truly stimulating accomplishment for Prodea, he pondered seeing her turn the discussion against him making him uncomfortable in his seat instead of him giving a pressure on her. Wordplay isn't his strong suit so he thought it would be best for him to have the discussion on point.

"Why is it then that you graced us your presence at such an early hour of this morn? I pray it is not an emergency of ill nature..."

"No, dear Bathala. No one is in danger as of the moment - unless we capture the assassins of course. Then, they will be in danger. They'll be trapped in a world of pain and misery and we will all be at peace."

Prodea laughed silently as if noticing her statements to be funny. Sayed and Illyriah coughed up a couple of laughs too being polite with her but clearly finds her humor sinister. The assassins, with her decree, will be tortured first for their accomplices and then would be hanged. Finding humor in this demented scenario is clearly unsettling. The two almost sighed as she finally continued.

"That's not what I came here for. No. I came in here to personally change your mind."

A moment of awkward silence filled the halls with Prodea turning into her famous serious face that is most disturbing.

"Can you please expound on that, cousin?" Sayed asked, confused on what she meant as if being insulted in her reply but still with his amicable tone.

"I do not know if you are getting senile like our Palace seers, but it seems that I may have to enunciate every detail for you to absorb my words." Illyriah and Sayed, with all of her guards, became shocked with her statements. Her tone is still in its non-threatening way but her face, flaring up and leaking malice, tells otherwise. "I am here to change your mind. It's that simple."

"I beg your pardon, but you really can't force me to obey your every whim. You are not turning our part of the Hishma into a Fortress!"

"Almost half of the Hishma's accepting my proposition. You're the only thorn among my plans. You know me very well, cousin. I do not take rejection very kindly and I'm not going to start now. I suggest you immediately admit you have mistakenly rejected my proposal while I'm in my good mood."

"Well you better start learning to accept rejection now!" shouted Sayed alerting all guards to get near him, "I do not care about your feelings you pompous brat. I have made a pact with Bathala and nothing, not even you, can change that! I will not yield to such empty threats. I do not care how you have managed the others into cavorting to your merry way of insulting Bathala! I will not change my stand, so I suggest you get out of his lands while I'm in my good mood!"

Prodea snickered with Sayed's twenty guards closing in on them in a circle to surround the Royal Party of Nagozul. Illyriah's hands shook in fear, perspiring as though clinging to dear life, worried to her father and frightened of Prodea, which she noticed easily giving her a wide grin.

"I think your early onset dementia is apparently progressing. You simply do not understand what my words mean. I told you I came here to CHANGE YOUR MIND. I simply won't leave here without the fact."

"Oh, Prodea, you are certainly high on your arrogance. May I bring you back to lucidity? I'll explain this so that your infantile brain can understand it. YOU CAN'T MAKE ME CHANGE MY MIND! Not in these lands and certainly not in this lifetime."

With his unforgivable insult to Prodea's intellect, her Amplifyers activated into a blinding luminosity that brought forth white radiance into the whole room, akin to the light of the morning sun, amplified further with the reflective surface of the bejeweled walls. Her apparent power with her activation can be compared only to the highest degree of Nagozulian Elementals who have existed thousands of years ago but alas, she failed to sustain it longer than three seconds. Sayed burst out laughing insulting her further.

"Seriously? Prodea? You wish to harm me in my own domain? Inside Bathala's sacred grounds? For a person claiming to be smart, you really are dumb. You can't hurt the heir to Bathala's lands? We are protected by Bathala himself!"

"I see you have figured out the spell to contain any Nagozulian elemental energies..."

"Yes," he interrupted, "As I've said, our family has been given the task to purge the likes of you into besmirching the Lands of Bathala! You are hereby banned in the Hills of Hishma! Any affront..."

"Are you done now?" she interrupted still smiling which puzzled Sayed, "Are you now trying to curse me out of here because I'm not entirely done. All I hear is yapping and I don't have all day." Sayed's eyes dwindle as he turned to Illyriah almost immediately seeing Prodea's hints. "Oh cousin," she continued almost laughing with Illyriah being mystified as to why they are all looking at her, "Do you still know how to use the Yagisivian's All Seeing Eye? The one father taught us?"

With Prodea's words, Sayed's bright blue eyes turned all white and with a deep horrific gasp as he saw five ghastly man-sized hands all around Illyriah, ready to crush her at Prodea's commands. Illyriah is still equipped with wary eyes, still confused as to why they are all looking at her still and why her father has a glowing white eye with his mouth open.

Prodea cleared her throat interrupting Sayed in his concern and then continued. "You see I know that there's a possibility that I can't use my elemental abilities in your domain, so I planned ahead. I would really like to congratulate you on your diligence as your family's Chief Caretaker of your side of Bathala's hills. I only activated my Amplifyers to check whether you're a half-wit forgetting to activate your defensive Magicks. Things would be a lot easier if you are just as stupid as the rest of the other incompetent families but sadly such is not the case. Having only my infantile brain I have designed a back-up plan - yes, I know, a dumb person like me CAN make a back-up plan. It's just sad right? I know I can't exterminate you without having any trouble on my part with all the Magicks that is placed in your domain but killing her is another thing."

Illyriah was jolted as she was lifted almost three feet from the ground, being unable to move as if an invisible binding restricted all of her movements. The guards all around turned their spears towards them in a lunge but the six handmaids at her sides dashed forward killing all of them in an instant using only a three-inched dagger concealed on their gloves. The fight was over in less than thirty seconds with the helpless Daomagarian guards falling down one by one being unable to react having the disadvantage of Prodea's surprise.

Sayed was confounded with this as he has assumed them to be Nagozulian handmaids being fooled by those ritualistic tattoos on their faces. The only Daomagarian people allowed in his reception hall are his guards so he was clearly surprised at Prodea's violent plan. He did not anticipate her to be this evil - to plot maliciously, spilling blood on Nagozul's most sacred grounds. Being the daughter of the benevolent King Liwanag comes with the expectation that she can be trusted - or at least gives off the assumption that she has a little of his old father's beliefs having complete regard and respect for a man's life. Planning this wickedness even before meeting up with him means only that she doesn't intend to end their meeting amicably. He felt chills up his spine as he saw her eyes sparkle with such delight after the last of the twenty mighty Bandhana clan members he hired fall on the ground, shaking for a couple of seconds in shivering pain until exhausting their last breath.

"The Sibara?" whispered Sayed with shaking eyes, "You've enlisted the Sibara!?"

"Oh, quit whining! You're making me do this! Their deaths are on your hands so sign the papers and stop this unnecessary bloodshed - unless you want more, then by all means, make this hard."

"No!" he refused with a stern look on his face.

"Really? You're still being difficult? I'm holding the only living person here with me and you say no?"

Sayed closed his eyes and sighed deeply. He looked at Illyriah's scared eyes and gave a stern look, serious yet calm and reassuring, which she understood right away as she closed her eyes and became unresisting. He then directed his eyes straight to Prodea who is smiling but clearly having eyes of doubt as to what he did.

"No. I will not yield to such threats!"

"You don't want to test me, Sayed. You think I'm bluffing? I know you don't want to lose your only heir, so stop it! I am not joking!"

"Go ahead! You can kill her and me, but I will not back down on my word to Bathala. I will not fail my ancestors and I will not certainly sell my soul to you and your new god Dim'ion and his wicked Magicks!"

"Such faith, loyalty, and devotion, I'm impressed."

"I do not need your compliments Prodea and I especially don't need to have your good favors either. I'm serving Bathala not you or anything in this mortal realm."

"Now you're just being a lunatic. Everyone serves someone here. It's the law of Mother Earth"

Sayed scoffed with eyes unafraid, "With that thinking, you might as well have condemned yourself to Impierno. At least I know where my soul will reside after death, I just don't know about yours?"

"We're talking about your Hills not the afterlife. Ooh! You're insufferable. This talk about religion is giving me a headache..."

"Oh, please," Sayed interrupted jeering with a wide grin, "as if you have one to begin with. You think you're too smart to have one, so you insult other people's beliefs? I pity you. I pity you for having delusions of being clever and yet managing to miss the most important miracle which is life."

And with his last words of insult a huge four feet wide hand in a form of a thick dark smoke slapped him, throwing him almost five feet away. Illyriah shrieked an earsplitting clamor in midair which annoyed Prodea much making her other ghostly arm to muffle her mouth. She then looked around for a couple of seconds awaiting the repercussions of the Magicks placed inside the reception hall of Sayed's manor, but nothing happened, and this made her chuckle a bit almost boastful, proud of her newfound limitless power. It made her think that if she can use Dim'ion's Magicks here, in a manor having the oldest surviving Defensive Magicks activated, she can use them anywhere.

"Look what you made me do! If you just signed the damned papers we may not have resorted to this violence."

Sayed shakily pulled himself up with blood dripping out of his nose. Half of his face turned bright red with his right eye almost closed after the enormous force of Prodea's dark ghostly arm. He was holding his right arm, clutching it as if he's making sure not to move it about giving them the assumption that she has indeed managed to break his arm in the resulting impact.

"Prodea, you vile godless monster!" he roared with his Amplifyers activating a bright tint of blue.

Prodea was shocked with this magnificent display of power as his Amplifyers charged into an almost white shade. With his level of essence, he normally wouldn't have any luck summoning that kind of amplified elemental energies. She has read many a theories regarding the Hishma's secret defenses so she rationally assumed that the defensive Magicks at his manor entails an impressive support system that would help the chief caretaker to siphon off elemental energies from the mines - a rather disturbing and horrific energy source since the mines are abundant with Bathala's energies.

She hurriedly pushed down to the floor and managed to create a fast dark magic spell to disable him and tried to at least drain him of his energy before he could complete an optimal charge. Thanks to Dim'ion's Magicks she was able to at least buy her some time - only a couple of minutes but she thinks it's enough. Runes of black lines ran throughout the floor encasing the angry Sayed disabling him from moving from his spot. He threw countless jets of water strikes in the shape of snakes but Prodea, with her powerful Dim'ion Barriers, just redirected all of it to everywhere blasting all the precious walls, floors and even the expensive red carpet at their back, on impact.

Prodea have to act fast. She knows he's trying to charge up all his elemental energies to enchant his body with water, the most powerful water spell there is, and if he manages to do that, then a troublesome battle will ensue giving Prodea a hard time to stop him even more.

While Water Casters can be regarded as the weakest of the elementals as they specialize in regeneration, when one enchants oneself with water, one can become invincible having regenerative properties that are able to create and recreate the vessel while having the power to summon large waves of water surges. When activated, the person having the enchantments cannot be killed or even harmed. The person becomes one with water and can morph into many shapes and sizes acquiring its formless property. That, for Prodea, can be a pretty annoying enemy.

The Sibara assassins tried to cover their eyes from the blinding light Sayed is emitting which is indeed a rookie mistake on their part. Every warrior knows not to take leave on their target's sight, but that instance didn't give them much of a choice. It's either they keep them open and risk permanent blindness or close them and just trust that Prodea comes up with a fix soon. If they were all Sibara Masters, risking permanent blindness is more optimal than relying on other people's strength but such was not the case for Prodea only brought apprentices since all the Master Sibara have been assigned on different duties far from the Palace when she left. Now, seeing them cower in Sayed's display of power, she feels as though she has made a huge mistake making her regret even bringing them all there at all. They're not helping her, in fact by protecting them with different Elemental Barriers, they are siphoning precious energies from Prodea which irritated her even more.

There's a reason the reception hall is so reflective, and it seems as though they have been encased inside a trap room without them noticing. The white blue light Sayed radiated bounced to the shiny floors and wall, amplifying its strength, afflicting everyone's eyes except Prodea Of course, with her Yagisivian All Seeing Eye activated. As soon as the Sibara assassins looked away, one by one they have been attacked with Sayed's Water Serpent which burrowed inside their bodies, poisoning them, fatally paralyzing each and every one, rendering them to vulnerably fall down in seizure. He has managed to encase the whole room with his elemental energy creating a Water Territory, enabling him to easily summon elemental attacks at will at any angle. This surprised Prodea for she knows this kind of display of power can only be performed by the greatest water caster in all of Nagozul that has died a few thousand years ago. It has been left forgotten and has managed to stay in history as a myth. She asked herself on how he could have known such power. A thought lingered in her head blaming Artemus, being the only person researching such ridiculously old and powerful technique that no one can do, but she just disregarded the idea. Artemus can't dig that far a history, she convinced herself, nobody's that smart.

Prodea couldn't do anything for her assassins now. She couldn't have prevented them being poisoned for she might risk lowering her defenses as well. All she can do now is protect herself. After all, she has indeed holding Illyriah captive, holding Sayed on the ground, activating a defensive barrier all around her, and mumbling about in some old language trying to stop him from eventually killing her. That's a good enough excuse anyone in her shoes can come up with.

"You can't stop me!" laughed the angry Sayed with his furious eyes all white, "You have angered Bathala and now you'll pay the price! I will exact his vengeance upon you and rid you from this Earth once and for all!"

"Yeah yeah," Prodea smiled now finished with her rituals. "I've heard that one before. As if that's going to happen. Even Bakunawa tried and failed and you're nowhere near his powers."

A dark blinding light emulsified all over the room suffocating the bright radiance of Sayed. It grew darker and darker until Sayed lose will and dropped down on the ground unconscious. Prodea stood up, with sweat pouring wildly, giving off a sigh of relief from the tedious ordeal. She dropped Illyriah on the ground, still sobbing in tears. Illyriah then ran to her father clutching his lifeless body in a tight hug.

"What have you done, Grand Princess! You killed my father!"

"Whoa!" Prodea renounced pulling Sayed's body away forcefully from her with her invisible hands, "I didn't kill him. I'm not that heartless to kill relatives."

"Wh-what?" she asked almost stuttering. "H-he's alright?"

"Yes, and no. You see he's now in some sort of Deep Sleep. Activating that kind of energy surge will suck away all of your soul's will. His vessel isn't responding because his soul is in some sort of sleep."

"But y-you will help him, right?" pleaded Illyriah still having a river of tears flowing in her perfectly round cheeks. "You'll help him recover, right? Please help him recover..."

"I don't know. I mean he tried to kill me and that's treason."

"We didn't do anything wrong to you!" she shouted frustrated stomping her foot on the ground furious but being held back because of her incapacity to challenge her power. "We didn't do anything wrong!"

"Hey now," she complained fixing Sayed's ruffled hair while he's floating in front of her, "Shouting is never an answer. I wouldn't want you to use that tone with me especially when I'm doing you a huge favor."

Illyriah ran to her kneeling down in a bow in mercy. "Please, please, please Grand Princess I beg you I'll do anything."

"Well I suppose I can help him. But I need to bring him to the Palace. You know we have the best casters there."

"Thank you, Grand Princess..." she sobbed on the ground almost helpless which gave Prodea quite a chuckle.

Prodea now gently walked to the door feeling good about the success of her plan - minus the dead assassins but she could write them off as collateral damage, the Sibara Masters will perfectly understand it what with their motto of only the strong survives and whatnot.

"Oh," Prodea exclaimed as if remembering something, "Since you're the only heir and since your father is now physically incapacitated, you're now mandated to handle your father's affairs. I do expect that the creation of Hishma's fortress will go uncontested."

"Y-yes Grand Princess," she replied stammering almost hesitantly.

"And by the way," she stopped and turned around smiling. She looked at her with judging eyes as if measuring her. "How old are you again?"

-------ooO0Ooo-------

Reus is walking briskly on the Citadel's empty streets. No man can be seen in sight under the moon's waning crescent glow giving the cold chill of silence and loneliness in the air but he's indifferent for he is in deep thoughts. He was having second thoughts about his plans. It might not work, and they might end up being in danger even more, but he just thought about the people of the Cotton Village and that gave him the courage to strengthen his resolve. They are worth the risk every time. He was about to exit the long lonely streets of the inner Citadel when suddenly, out of nowhere, he heard a click behind him as if someone suddenly appeared following him.

"Reus," his shadow whispered, "Where are you going?"

He stopped in his pace and smiled. He knows that voice and he know he has to battle his way out if this sticky situation if it comes to that, so he maintained a steady stance as he turned slowly around.

"Hey Dad. How are you doin'?"

"I'm alright, son. Why are you walking around these parts in midnight? I think you should head back to your quarters now."

"I'm sorry but I can't allow you to stop me now, Dad. "After saying this, Reus Amplifyers activated into a faint white light, not engaging but as if ready to maximize its potential charge for an attack. "I have some important mission to get back to and even if you do try to stop me, I will give my every effort to resist."

Artemus just smiled with a signal of his palm to calm him down. "You don't know what you're going up against there. You are going blind."

"I know what I'm doing Dad. I'm not a kid anymore. I can take care of myself now."

"I know, I know. But what about your brothers? Can you assure them of their safety?"

"No father. I can't but I'll tell you that I'll do my best, as always, to get them back here in one piece. Even if I have to risk my life, I'll do it."

"I know you will, son, but is your mission worth risking your life and your brothers too."

"Yes! It's our duty as Nagozul's heirs to take care of our people! We can't just stand around here and wish for it all to get better. I am just upholding my oath to our people."

A pause of silence pushed between them for a couple of seconds until Artemus replied.

"I'm sorry I can't do anything for them. I want to but there's really nothing I can do being a Grand Prince."

Reus felt guilty ever hinting his father's incapacity to help them, so he consoled, "I-I'm sorry father. I know the politics. You're an inch away from exile. You really can't do anything because if you do, you might get blamed for the whole affair. And there's going to be a Civil War and everyone's going to die choosing sides. But if we go, we'll be tagged as rebels. No one will be blamed! We'll be wearing disguises. I have it all figured out."

"Really now?"

"Yes. I have planned this for almost two days and we're not going to fail."

Artemus snickered crossing his arms. "Calm down, I just have to make sure you know what you're doing."

"So, you're not going to stop me?" asked Reus squinting as if confused.

"No, son. But I think your mother will if you don't get out of here tonight. I'm still your father and it is my duty to inform her about what you've been doing. Sure, I'm going to delay the message but it's just until morning. By then, if you're still here, then - let's just say you're not going to see Nagozul for a while. I hear Yagisiv Haya is actually great this time of year."

"Thanks for understanding."

"Here," Artemus said throwing a map to him which he barely caught, "That's the location of my special weapons cache buried near the Cotton Village."

"Thanks... I think. But why are you giving us this? "

"It's like what you said, the Cotton Village needs our assistance and I can't risk myself or my men to do it for us. It'll create some friction. You four just got to do what I can't. I know you can do it. I've been training you four to become the best Nagozulian Strike Team and this can be your defining moment."

"So, you're giving us your blessing then."

"Yes, but I need a favor."

"Anything father."

"Let's just keep this conversation between us. It's important that no one knows about my involvement here."

Reus attentively nodded.

"Also, be sure to keep a close eye on your brothers, especially Karus. I'm worried about his red emerald so please check that he does not activate his Amplifyer."

"Wait, you haven't told him about that? But the transformation is supposedly fatal! Its transformation is nearing completion. I thought you're going to tell it to him when he got back - well after your recovery of course."

"Yes, I did say that, but I didn't have enough time. Maybe it's best he does not know considering he can't do anything about its activation, but I know he'll survive it. I made sure of that. Just keep an eye out for him okay?"

"Yes father."

"If it did activate in the middle of your operation, please abort your mission and send him to the nearest medical caster. It's bound to activate anytime soon, and he will be in danger once he got caught inside enemy lines while the transformation is in progress."

He then bowed and turned away as Artemus waved his hands.

"And Reus," he shouted stopping him, "Godspeed."

-------ooO0Ooo-------

The fortress of the North is not what they expect it to be. They haven't been able to wander around and witness the dramatic changes that their parents have pulled off in their last stay there almost four months ago. Of course, it's not their fault considering they got redirected to their different adventures but, after being trapped there for quite a long time, they now get to see the whole of it and even managed to be at awe for what they saw.

The fortress now has been turned into a small city thanks mostly to the gardens of their mother that has served as an inspiration with all its bright flowers. Seeing their great vivid colors while also being compelled with his much eager wife Anagea, Artemus implemented this beautification of the fortress turning the whole Citadel looking like a city instead of being what she called a dull military encampment - to wit, a fortress city with soldiers instead of civilians as its inhabitants that run around all day in drills, training, and whatnot. The beautification earned some positive results like increase in productivity and boosting military morale but the most important thing that it generated is the changing of the name from its title the Northern Encampment to the Northern Fortress and to the now famous Citadel of Nagozul- Of course, some people still calls it the Northern Encampment from habit. After the creation of its great walls and creating a community for the soldiers there almost five years ago, the Northern Encampment cannot be called an encampment anymore. It has turned into a huge military installation of the north. It is now a place where the soldiers don't feel like they got sent off as punishment. It is the place where every soldier wants to be assigned to and be a part of. They even thought of being sent there as a vacation.

The Citadel is now a wide fortress compared to the scanty encampment years ago. It now has little villages too just outside the fortress walls and farming patches all around it. With all the improvements implemented, the soldiers are now forced to expand their stations and thus has left huge spaces for further improvement giving all inhabitants fine houses to live in - even having a city square as a Trading Area with a wide assortment of rare goods on sale. But with all the spaces now getting zoned into designated projects, the only thing that remained in its original spot is the gardens. Every soldier knows that the Garden of the Citadel is considered to be a restricted ground that Anagea has ordered not to be disturbed. This has been observed by all of the soldiers making the spot the most perfect place for the four brothers to hide giving them privacy without being bothered.

Because the Citadel of the North has been growing fast, the number of soldiers and sentries is expanding exponentially at a frightening rate but what is peculiar is the sudden increase of their Northern Daomagarian forces. There were only a few Daomagarians posted there about three years ago but now it's as if they are all amassing an entire army almost greater than their own Nagozulian forces stationed in there. They still don't know why they are teeming in the North for their father withholds any information regarding the South. He thinks they are better off not knowing since they are a bunch of curious misfits that will try and get their way no matter the cost. Their spies are not that helpful too, but they can't be blamed taking into consideration the current crises that must be dealt with before asking and relaying such rumors. Surely the Cotton Village's wellbeing must be prioritized before jumping on asking about the harmless mobilization of Daomagarian forces at the north. For all they know, they are only there for the annual weapons training and demonstration updates to train new tactical warfare improvements to both Nagozulians and Daomagarian soldiers at the Citadel who hasn't been able to go to the south because of the yearlong campaigns against the Pusakal.

They have been patiently waiting there for an hour after midnight. Reus specifically told them to wait there at exactly midnight, but he managed to stay late yet again which frustrated Yosh since he has forgone his usual Night Hunt ritual with Luna and Stella to be early. Flickering lights of fire lamps accompanied them in that grueling hour of silence. The dancing flames occupied their minds for a while, being the only entertainment available in that dark gloomy night but worry's a bit of a troublesome companion giving the three a nerve-wrecking frustration that took an hour long to finally burst their calm.

"Where is he?" Karus grumbled talking to himself walking in circles yet again in agitation. "Is he in trouble? Are we compromised?"

"Ohhh... He's really going to be in trouble alright!" grunted Yosh playing with a piece of red paper six inches wide, four inches long, "Mission slips! He gave us this and told us to meet him here exactly at midnight. It's way past midnight but he's still not here. Why put it in paper if you're not going to honor them."

"Uhm... I'm sorry Yosh, I got held up with preparing our impossible escape and whatnot."

"REUS!?" they all shouted seeing him enter pushing the branches and bushes along his way. He could've used the clear marble stone path but, being his old clumsy self-equipped with his own unique sense of direction, he managed to stay off from that path and forcefully pushed on to their spot almost exhausted but still respectable - in a way.

"And for the last time Yosh, it is standard operating procedures to send mission slips to soldiers before a mission," he continued with a wide smile, "And you have to destroy that after reading. In your case, you should bury that twenty feet deep since you're an Earth Molder. You should know that."

"Yeah," Yosh scoffed as if insulted, "or dissolve it in water, or burn it or shred it to at least five hundred pieces and scatter them for about a mile. I know what SOP means..."

"Wait," interrupted Kayzar standing to greet him, "How'd you sneak up on us like that? Surely, Luna and Stella can be fooled but you can't fool my eyes now."

"Hey!" complained Yosh hugging Luna in his chest pocket closing up her ears. "Don't talk to Luna and Stella like that!"

"I don't know..." replied Reus, "Maybe I'm just stealthy that way."

"Clearly not," Karus joked pointing out the shrubs he just murdered.

"I'm just playing with light. It's a thing I do when I think deeply to keep me focused and it's an accident really since I didn't know I was doing it till I came here seeing you all huddled up."

"You're bending light?" Karus yelled with awe, "The light we see? You're bending it!? No wonder we didn't notice you rummage the park up till now."

"I knew something's going on," Kayzar exclaimed smiling, "I'm hearing sudden bushes moving but I didn't see anything move. That's a unique skill you got there."

"You're improving Kuya-Reus," complimented Karus. "You can now turn yourself invisible."

"Well no, it's just a game that I play. And besides, I had a little help from my friend. He's the one who taught me that though I haven't had the pleasure to know what I was doing until now. Didn't know I can turn invisible doing that really."

"Grog, right?" Kayzar hurriedly asked without regard to Yosh who snapped in attention after hearing the name.

"You're in cahoots with GROG!?" exclaimed Yosh almost afraid. "You've turned EVIL!?"

"Really? Yosh?" mocked Karus almost laughing, "Are you joking? Or are you serious? I can't tell."

"He is evil!"

"No Yosh," Reus explained, "I'm not in cahoots with Grog for Grog is my master. I've been training with him for the past three years and no, he's not evil. That's just rumors flying about... but you two know that, right?"

"Yep," Karus replied, "We, unlike Yosh here, are not really fond of believing gullibly on any rumors of ghost or monster stories so we know he's not evil."

"Besides," entered Kayzar, "He's the one that saved us from Shihiku back at the Jungle of Narra. He's one of the good guys. Shihiku's the one you should keep an eye out for."

"So, we're working with Grog now?" asked Yosh having a tensed gulp.

"Yes, but not exactly."

"Have you found a turnaround in our little dilemma here Kuya-Reus?" asked Kayzar.

"Yes, indeed I have."

"So, what solution have you come up with? How can we move pass those guards?" Karus inquired.

"We don't have to."

"What do you mean we don't have to?" Karus snapped as if tensed, "How will we end up there without passing the mountain range or the Kulog Pass? It's not like we'll jump from here..."

Karus smiled figuring out Reus's plan together with Kayzar following him in his train of thought, sharing the idea almost as if instantaneously. Reus smiled too seeing them catching up to his idea.

"Hey!?" shouted Yosh, "Don't be rude! Include me in the discussion? What will we do!?"

"You see Yosh," Reus started, "We can't do anything that could get us there within the week. We could use my resources and end up circling the north by sneaking to the northern ridges of Mount Liwanag and then taking a long time consuming a trek to the mountain range to get to the forest of Kyrin like what you did."

"But that'll take us at least a month!"

"Yes precisely. We could do that, but we'll end up losing precious time and we'll never see the Villagers alive by then. No. That's not favorable to us. What we'll do is we'll take the northern ridges of Mount Liwanag and meet Grog there."

"And we'll ride him because the soldiers are afraid of him and we'll pass through easy?"

"No silly," Karus laughed, "Have you ever read the book I gave you about the immortal beasts."

"Y-yes I did, I'm just not finished with it yet!" he replied almost annoyed.

Karus knows he's lying and hasn't touched a single page of that book because he found it hidden inside his safe at his room, so he just chuckled for a bit.

"Yosh, do you know Grog's abilities? - I mean besides having a tough skin?" Reus smiled.

"No..." Yosh replied scratching his head thinking for a couple of seconds and then confirming it again, "No, I really don't."

"Well Grog has the ability to manipulate space and bend it at will. In short, he can teleport himself, or others near him, to a desired location. That's what we'll use."

"So, instead of dashing due south, Grog will instead teleport us near the Cotton Village just like that? What's the catch?" Yosh pushed unconvinced. "If he's not evil then he's up to something."

"Nothing. It's just a favor from one student to a master. That's pretty much it. Though he won't help us liberate the village. He'll just help us to get there then he'll teleport us back here with the villagers. Getting the villagers away is the hard part."

"Yes," agreed Karus nodding, "entering the fortress and getting the villagers out of there can be a little tricky. It'll be dangerous not only for us but for the villagers as well. Narra taught us the Art of War well enough to understand not to lay siege on a highly fortified camp."

"Especially when there will be many Sibara guards stationed there," Reus added.

"Sibara?!" roared Kayzar in surprise, "Why are they here at Nagozul? I thought only a handful was commissioned here?"

"No. Things are changing around the City. It may very well be the reason why there are many Daomagarian Soldiers posted here. Something's wrong with the military and I'm afraid it's just going to slam into our faces once we get intel from there."

"So, about your sneak plan," Karus asked, "It's not going to work now right? I mean, Sibara Clan Members usually only need two hours of sleep a day so we can't do anything to escape them. right?"

"Yes," Reus agreed, "I'm afraid I may have to confess something. My plan ends to us getting there. I haven't had the chance to figure out what we'll do next. Considering they are Sibara after all. A sound of their alarm will wake up all of them and that will be very dangerous for us."

"Guys," Yosh entered, "You're all being silly."

"It's quite a dilemma Yosh," Karus pointed out. "We're not being silly at all."

"I know. It is. But you don't need to enter the fortress. That would be suicide."

"What are you suggesting?" Kayzar inquired almost smiling knowing he has something up his sleeve.

"What we need to do is intimidate them into giving us the village members."

"What?!" Karus barked. "Are you insane!? They're not just going to hand them all to us."

"Yes, they will. You see the southern fortresses are built in the most optimal geographical positions of Nagozul, right? So, they know that if they send out their sentries for help, countless hordes of back-up will arrive after an hour or so, depending on how well we can frighten them to release their messengers. If we intimidate them enough to fear us, they will be forced to give us the villagers thinking that they can capture us mid-travel."

"I see," Reus chuckled. "Grog will be there to teleport us back! That will be our ace!"

"Precisely," Yosh pointed out. "If they think they can capture us back, they will gladly choose releasing the villagers out instead of getting hurt themselves. They can risk the villagers because they know that in every point, they can intercept us especially seeing a huge crowd in procession."

"Congrats Yosh," complimented Karus tapping him at the back. "You did it again. But now we have to figure out a way for us to be intimidating. That plan revolves around that idea and we only have one shot at this."

"Well," Kayzar grinned with his brown eyes turning blood red which surprised them all seeing this for the first time, "I know someone who can get the job done."