That declaration was not something that Grant expected. He had always assumed that the Sybarians were all working against their interests, and they stayed out of sight to facilitate that.

  This remark simply made all those assumptions irrelevant. This woman, who kept her disguise, could be lying. But speaking a native language is speaking through one’s soul. She was telling the truth. Their confrontation was risking her life.

  “It seems my words can’t convince you,” said the librarian.

  “Do I give you that impression?” replied Grant.

  “Humans become wide-eyed when they are bewildered, don’t they?”

  “They do. But this is a different kind of bewilderment. I believe you, Sybarian. My question is why? Why would you trust a random person?”

  “Your interest in Vyrnian magick made you a person of interest,” said the librarian. “You are either an enemy agent or you’re against them.”

  “What if I’m just here out of my personal interest?”

  “Then you are a fool, and I pity you.”

  “Ma’am, your criteria of trust seemed rather shallow,” remarked Grant. “But you know what? I better know something than grasping the air. Tell me what you know.”

  The librarian nodded and entered the cubicle where Grant was.

  “I am here on behalf of my allies in Wyrith. Before you ask, the war between Wyrith and Manarithia is an inside job. We tried to prevent it, but we were too late.”

  “Bullshit. Only the king has the authority to declare a war.”

  “The king is not who you think he is. Two years ago, an incident took place inside the castle that broke an already fragile alliance. The royal family was massacred by their own people and was replaced by Sybarians. From that point on, all decisions were made by these impostors. We couldn't move in fast enough to protect them, and our failure caused this unnecessary war with Manarithia."

  "What started it? Sorry if I seem oblivious, but I wasn't exactly around when the war started."

  "They accused the crown prince of Manarithia for insulting princess Henrietta's dignity. It all went downhill from there."

  “Why that princess?”

  “Princess Henrietta was set to marry the crown prince of Manarithia, Gareth. The insult was unfounded, but war was declared anyway. Spies within Manarithia’s war council have been sabotaging the war. We make sure they don’t sabotage it further.”

  “You keep talking about we. Who’s ‘We’?”

  “My allies. Sybarians, humans, and elves who know of the whole conspiracy. They are going to strike against the Manarithian royal family, and to do that, they created the diversion that took everyone’s attention.”

  “The Sargasso Bay incident,” surmised Grant. The librarian nodded.

  “The very same. Now, it’s your turn. What’s your interest in Vyrnian magick?”

  “It’s something that I have been pursuing since Rogaria.”

  “Rogaria? You mean the war ten years ago?”

  “I don’t know what shit they say about the war, but what happened is that a rogue wizard enslaved gnolls to start a pointless war with Jubari Nation. I learned about the name from the wizard’s journal, but unlike Penteghast, he never mentioned any colors. He mentioned the dark magick by name, and unlike Penteghast, that son of a bitch was adept at it.”

  “By name?” The librarian gasped. “Tell me he really died.”

  “Yes,” said Grant with a serious expression. “I personally made sure of it.”

  “You did? And you’re a wizard? Does that mean you’re Grant Kanagher?”

  “Convinced I’m not just some guy?”

  “Why didn’t you say so?! We can skip this whole conversation and get to the king to check whether his people are disguised or not.”

  “Not likely. I haven’t been involved in anything Manarithian ever since that war. I am doing this my way.”

  “You don’t understand! The same thing will happen again! Sargasso Bay is intended to remove the guards so they can be responsible for the refugees. The castle is oblivious of the conspiracy! You must warn them, or we’ll lose!”

  “Okay, okay, calm down,” said Grant. “I thought you’re supposed to be the one shushing people up for raising their voice.”

  “This isn’t the time for jokes!”

  “No, it isn’t. I’m sure your friend believes so, too.”

  “I’m not…”

  The librarian gasped in realization and turned around. An old human was standing behind them, simply staring, but with an inhuman look to it. She immediately realized who he was, though Grant acted first. He conjured throwing daggers and threw it towards the old man’s chest. It wasn’t lethal because he wanted to be sure first.

  Sure enough, the surprise and pain caused the old man to let out a screech that could not have come out from a human. This was enough evidence to convince Grant, during which he pulled another knife and threw it with pinpoint accuracy at the ‘human’, hitting his forehead, killing him instantly, which was reinforced when the back of his head hit the nearby table.

  “Impossible! They’re here already?!” said the librarian.

  “You did say they are everywhere. For a spy, you aren’t doing a good job, aren’t you?”

  The librarians scoffed before examining the dead man, touching his head. His body literally exploded out to reveal a reptilian person underneath. This show intrigued Grant.

  “Putting most of that mass inside a frail old man must’ve been uncomfortable,” remarked Grant. “I’m surprised you didn’t go insane in the process.”

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  “It’s quite painless.”

  “I don’t mean physical trauma,” said Grant before kneeling beside the librarian. “I hope I didn’t accidentally off one of your friends.”

  “No, he isn’t. I have never seen this Sybarian before. If he’s here, then…shit!”

  She rushed towards the entrance, almost getting herself killed by running into a barrage of crossbow bolts, only saved by her inhuman reflex. Grant tackled her away from the door.

  “Well, they certainly work fast,” quipped Grant. “Allow me. Shield!”

  He outstretched his hand through the door. A translucent shield formed in front of him, causing the bolts to harmlessly bounce off the shield. He rushed towards his attackers and tackled him, distracting the other two from the librarian’s attack. She quickly ran behind one of them and slit his throat, then threw her dagger onto the other. When it did not prove fatal enough, she rushed towards him and put her hand on him. He let out a screech, one out of agony and pain. Blood came out from his eyes, mouth, and ears as he continued letting out a terrible screech.

  Then he flopped on the floor, dead.

  Both Grant and his disguised Sybarian assailant saw it and became horrified, but because of different reasons. Grant thought she used a spell that destroyed his brain, perhaps a focused thunder spell that penetrated the cranium and frying the gray matter underneath. What the Sybarian knew, however, made him lost all will to fight, even throwing up.

  “(By Vyrnia…you…how could you?)” he said after emptying the content of his stomach.

  “(I suggest you run. Don’t even think of retaliating. I know spells that put your Vyrnian to shame).”

  He did not have the strength to taunt her. Her glare, enhanced with her yellow reptilian eyes, was serious. He hastily stood and ran away, not even heeding Grant.

  “What the fuck did you do to make him so scared?” asked Grant.

  “You know that explosive reveal in the library? I did the same, except I kept his human body and mass intact. You can imagine what would happen to whatever’s underneath.”

  Now it was Grant who became sick. Fortunately, he kept his lunch.

  “Fuck. You’re brutal,” he said. “I mean, frying his brain with thunder touch is brutal enough, but crushing him in his own body?”

  “We don’t have time to talk. We must get to the castle.”

  Grant spent some time to get his bearings back. After he had recovered enough, he said, “I agree. Hold my hand. Don’t argue, just do it.”

  The librarian did so. Grant then yelled, “To me, Albreich!”

  To the librarian and nearby onlooker’s astonishment, light wisps formed under Grant and lifted him to the air. The lights slowly made an equine shape, finishing in a translucent mystic blue horse that let out a neigh.

  “To the castle! Hurry!” commanded Grant.

  The horse responded by raising its front legs before it started a mad dash towards the gates. The librarian kept her grip on Grant’s hand, not wanting to be thrown off by the speed the spectral horse was running in.

  Bartlett and Eliani arrived just as the commotion started. At first, they thought there was something interesting happening in the capital city. All that assumptions immediately found their answers when they saw a crowd of people jumping out of the way of a spectral horse dashing towards the castle. Both of them realized who it was, even though they did not have time to see the rider.

  They knew someone who had a spectral horse. After all, he was an old friend.

  “Grant?!” said both.

  The quickly gave chase, though Eliani was much faster, owing to her Kal’Adre physiology. She ran fast enough to catch the spectral horse, leaving behind Bartlett, who called for her to wait.

  Eliani ran beside the horse, startling the librarian.

  “Grant! What’s going on?! Why did you summon Albreich?!” she asked.

  “Oh, shit, Ellie!” he said, sounding rather ecstatic. “Is Bart with you?”

  “I don’t think he can catch up with us!”

  “Slow down and tell him to get to the castle! Tell him this kingdom’s fate rest upon our success!”

  Eliani nodded and slowed herself, knowing that her quick burst of cheetah speed could only be sustained in seconds unless she wanted to strain her body. She let the spectral horse go, leaving a confounded librarian to ask, “Who was that? How did she manage to match the horse’s speed?!”

  “She’s a cheetah. What do you expect?” said Grant. “Don’t worry. She’s a friend. One of only several I can count on. Hopefully.”

  “Hopefully?!”

  “Hey, cut me some slack. It’s been ten years.”

  The librarian rolled her eyes. “Great Bahamut, please give me strength….”

  Meanwhile, Bartlett managed to catch up with Eliani, who stayed in her place, waiting for him. He was already out of breath trying to follow them.

  “You really need to retrain your body,” said Eliani. “I thought you fought monsters.”

  “Monsters don’t run like cheetahs,” he remarked. “What did he tell you?”

  “We must get to the castle to save the royal family,” she explained. “I think we better run to greet him.”

  Bartlett groaned. “We barely got into Camarth,” he complained. “Why does trouble always seem to find the worst of times?”

  “Only because this is a personal mission. Of course, there’s going to be trouble,” reasoned Eliani.

  Bartlett sighed. “Thank god for the reasonably calm. We better do what Grant says. If this is similar to what Henrietta went through, I’m worried of how they are going to ruin Manarithia.”

  “Then stop worrying and start running.”

  Bartlett nodded and started running with Eliani, who maintained a reasonable pace that matched the human’s running pace. Thankfully, the south gate was close to the castle, so it was a short run. As they ran, they saw a flash of black light flying through the sky, exploding into a black firework that could easily be seen in broad daylight.

  Grant’s spectral horse reached the gates in almost no time at all. The guards were already trying to stop him, but Grant did not have the time to stop. He preferred to finish the job first then explain why he broke the rules.

  “Jump, Albreich! Jump!” commanded Grant.

  Albreich the spectral horse silently jumped, much higher than any horse could, before the unthinkable happened. It jumped again, kicking off from a hazy platform that formed in the middle of the air. It happened again until he got clear through the walls and entered the castle’s area. It continued through the courtyard, ignoring the bolts and arrows that were shot at it.

  Bartlett and Eliani reached the gates just as they guards shouting orders to stop the intruders. The two were immediately stopped by spears pointed at them.

  “Wait!” cried Bartlett. “We’re on a mission!”

  “Nobody told us of any mission!” exclaimed one of the guards. “Explain yourself before I throw you in the dungeon for trespassing!”

  “I’m Bartlett Evans! She’s Eliani Adjani! That intruder was Grant Kanagher and he’s trying to save the king!”

  “Prove it!”

  Bartlett did not hesitate pulling out a medal of commendation to show one of the guards. His skeptical expression told Bartlett that he was considering the medal a fake.

  “Check the magickal signature. You’ll see it’s given by the king himself,” said Bartlett. “Look, we don’t have time. The king is in danger and every second you stop me, you are risking his life!”

  Eliani groaned in frustration. “We don’t have time for this!” She immediately nocked her bow and arrow and threatened the spearmen with it. It was a tense couple of seconds when a guard approached the guards. Bartlett recognized the armor’s decoration. This guard is the captain.

  “Let them go. Don’t you know who they are?”

  The guards turned to face the captain. “Sir?” asked one of them.

  “They identified themselves with that medal. Let them through. We’ll see if they’re truly saying what they claim what they’re doing.”

  “But captain, sir!”

  “I’ll take the blame.” The captain looked at Bartlett and Eliani. “Protect the king and the crown prince. Don’t let this kingdom fall.”

  “That’s the idea,” said Bartlett. “Come on, El.”

  Eliani nodded and ran together with Bartlett, past the tense guards through a small side gate opened by one of the guards, who nodded at them. They continued through the courtyard and towards the drawbridge.

  “Captain, is it wise?” asked one of the spearmen. “They could’ve faked everything. We don’t even know if they’re really the heroes from the War of Rogaria. Just because they’re a pair of human and Kal’Adre, doesn’t mean they’re—”

  “They may look like any adventurers, but I know experienced people when I see them. If you think I’m wrong, then throw me in the dungeon now. I hold myself responsible for them trespassing, though, so you can do whatever you want after the situation is resolved.”

  “Do you believe them?” asked one of the guards. “Of the king in danger?”

  The captain silently nodded. “Has been for a while now, though we are unable to prove it. Of course, I doubt you’d believe any word I said.”

  “No, we, uh….”

  “No matter. Return to your posts.”

  The guards reluctantly obeyed while the captain returned to his office. He looked at the courtyard and towards the castle, debating whether he should go or not.

  That black firework signal was the signal for all disguised Sybarians to deploy, a message telling anyone who understands that the enemy was on the move. Unfortunately, it was also seen by their disguised enemies, and they must’ve started their plan, too. All he could do was trust the heroes of Rogaria to deal with the situation as best they could.

  “Make haste, heroes of Rogaria,” he said. “Make haste.”