The Reborn - Finishing What Was Started IC [M]

[Enigma]

Doctor Jeon Smythe

Jeon’s body was comforted by the unusual airs of the wagon, a well-placed warmth replaced the fresh cold of the open air and the dim light emitting cloth above made things docile inside. There was a small jostling for the wagon began to move forward again with Knight Archer’s mounted guidance. Kevin crossed his arms, but gave Jeon a side glance with the flattery.


“We’ll never see another of Queen Alliysa’s in Greywall until the king is removed. Talk to the Foreign Affairs Adviser, she was there and had the gall to not drink the Elven wine offered. Who does that?” Kevin asked Jeon with a scoff and looked away through the cloth to observe the slowly passing city. “She’s talking to that bloodthirsty girl…our western protector.”


"Oh?" Jeon asked, raising his right eyebrow speculatively. "And just where is our western protector just now? Do you know where she stands should some.... misfortune make it necessary for the Council to step in?"


If she was in the city, all the better, but from what Gina implied, she was some distance away, one of the others he could somehow sense....!


His eye fell on the probe in its human shell. If there was some way he could share this sense with the probe, it could just go out and deliver the card for him and they could all then talk, rather than have to wait for this world's crude version of mail to travel to wherever she was.


Still, at least she was away from the dangers of the city.


"I would hate for this.... bloodthirsty girl to appear leading an army at her back, but better that than if she was to suddenly die. Too many deaths would look suspicious to even the dullest peasant. Hopefully, should she appear, that I find she is susceptible to your charms?"


"But not so too much, Kevin," he warned bitterly, as if struck by a sudden burst of jealousy. Hopefully this pandering to the man's ego would help restore more of Kevin's good graces. Kevin snorted, yet crossed his arms and maintaining his view away from Jeon.


"Calamity", The voice rang very familiar to the doctor within his newfound sense, "That girl we are testing the waters. Sending Editha is our...test. Hmmm" Hesitation came upon Kevin's features and the brown haired man paused from speaking. "The girl better be smart and side with us"


"So, who else was there that we could talk to?" Jeon asked. "I need details. Surely you know someone who is available?" Kevin brushed back his brown hair with both hands and let it go with a sigh.


"You are being so bothersome. We will go see Charlie, it will be disgusting" The Grand Council member said with a scrunching of his lips back and forth, "I never understood why he took his duties and mistook them for charity in the slums. Culture is for us."


Jeon frowned, leaning back. So this Charlie was some sort of reformer? And he was at this event with the Elf Queen when... whatever it was happened?


"I'm sorry to be so demanding, but I wouldn't ask if this wasn't important. You never know when some unlikely person can be... useful," Jeon hesitated, cringing inside. "Since the king is holed up in his castle, I will need someone to help draw him out."


Kevin was quiet, getting to his feet and yelling out from the side of the wagon.


“Take us to Adviser Charlie’s!” Pulling back in, Kevin plopped down on his comfortable sitting arrangement.


Archer’s guidance of the horse was clean. Through the smooth ride nothing disturbed them. The extent of affluence in this city was grand. Block after block was comfortably clean and designed with beautiful wood homes adjacent to each other. Looking down roads Jeon saw that the wealthiest lived further out in small palaces on larger plots of land away from the center of town. The population was adorned and happy. Superficially, everything presently was welcoming.


Their ride ended in front of a leafy green two-story home. An archway drizzled vines off its brown curves, leading through a tiny forest of scenting evergreens to the front door made of bronze. Etched into the metal was a woman in a simple cloth dress, a rope tethering the fabric to her waist, a cloth rest on top of her coiled hair and in her arms was a basket of fruit. Given a look from the Grand Council member, Archer pounded his fist on the door. He had to slam hard for the thud to become loud, the knight wincing in pain with the incrementally stronger bangs.


Finally a 5’7” man in an exquisite brown vest threaded with silver swirls, wearing a large black overcoat beaded with ruby squares as buttons, red dyed leather pants and black boots answered the door. He was younger, no older than 30. Hair was black and kept at ear length, with one eye of a hazel color and the other teal. His features were of the average Caucasian appearance, but as he smiled and how he dressed, Charlie exuded fun. It was clear his heterochromatic eyes were looking at Jeon, avoiding Kevin.


"Adviser Charles?" Jeon asked, stepping out of the welcome warmth of Kevin's carriage and into the chilled air. The man was certainly younger than expected.


"Greetings," he said, placing his hand over his hand over his heart and bowing slightly. "I am Jeon, a humble apothecary. The Councilman and I was hoping to talk to you today about some recent events that you were present for."


The probe climbed out of the couch and stood beside Jeon, staring up at Charlie impassively as it scanned both him and the house beyond.


"Ah, and this is my apprentice, Melvin," Jeon added, glancing down at the probe, then turning back to Charlie. "May we impose on you today?"


“Of course, I will help” Charlie said with zeal that made Kevin roll his eyes. Charlie glanced over at the high positioned man and opened his door further. His home was composed of soft tan colors which swirled across the wood floor and walls with an energy neither Melvin nor Jeon could understand. The colors seem to shift and recede up and down the walls. Many figures were carved into the walls. Men, women, children all acting joyfully in many different types of clothing and features which changed shade as the fluid colors came and went. The Councilman sighed deeply and walked inside.


“You’ve updated things again. Are these images of the poor?” Kevin morclongly asked as he stared from one wood face to another. Charlie glared at the back of the man’s skull.


“The poor have more to offer a community” Knight Archer stepped inside after his charge. Kevin didn’t have anything to add to Charlie’s words. He kept his lips shut and waited Jeon.


"Thank you for inviting us into your home," Jeon thanked Charlie, but he staggered for a moment as he entered the doorway, his smile faltering.


"Do... do you hear a bell?" he asked, raising one hand to his temple. It seemed at once incredibly distant, yet he could feel the vibration - as if somehow the toll of that bell seem to rock his soul. "I... I hear a bell?"


The probe stepped forward, scanning Jeon worriedly - and catching him as the man fainted.

[Azazeal849]

Gina Wright

Gina’s search was not eventful. A woman’s life within their class did not offer much deviation from one to the next; full layers of strung clothing, a vanity dresser and its pleasures, a bed layered with a blue wooly blanket on top. The room was what it was expected to be for the time period. However, Caroline’s returning presence was announced by the strengthening scent of gravy. She entered with a tray, holding a bowl of mashed potatoes and gravy, and a square bronze cup filled with warm water laced with honey.

”Thanks.” Gina began gratefully, but her forehead creased when she saw that the tray in hand was shaking, the spoon sliding and falling onto the wood floor.

”What’s the matter?”

Caroline laid eyes on Gina nervously.

“With his mage, the king has appeared downstairs and is talking with my father…” Her disbelief was apparent.

Gina blanched. If the unlikely-named King Kinglos found out that the whole council had been here not ten minutes ago and wanted him dead, then people would be for the chop. Possibly including her new ally Jeon.

"What about?" she asked.

Caroline placed the tray on the end table. She shook her head.

"He's sobbing, I shied away before words were made. Alfred is standing there completely arrested by the situation."

Shooting a puzzled frown at Caroline, Gina sidestepped past the other girl and made her way to the carpeted landing, leaning over the bannister to listen. There was indeed the sound of a man crying in distress, drifting up through the still-open doors of the dining room.

"I wonder what's up?" she asked, looking back over her shoulder at Caroline. She padded back to the bedroom, picking up the spoon and half-consciously wiping each side of it against the detachable sleeve of her dress. "I'm thinking it's time for us to play at being silly little girls."

She picked up the still-steaming bowl, and motioned for Caroline to follow her as she tiptoed halfway down the curving staircase. She could hear the voices in the dining room more clearly now, although she couldn't see the speakers. Of course, that meant they couldn't see her either, which was a plus. She smoothed her dress under her legs and sat down on one of the thickly carpeted steps. She balanced the plate on her knees and patted the step next to her to invite Caroline to join her.

"If anyone comes out," she whispered, and pointed to one of the sanitised frescos where silvered knights were busy impaling what looked like giant, man-shaped lizards. "Just start telling me about the pictures."

She spooned a dollop of greasy mash into her mouth, even though her stomach was fluttering, and chewed tensely as she listened to the voices from the dining room.

Caroline sat quietly, her head turning to guide an ear down the stairs. She stroked Gina’s shoulder as the sobs of a man were heard.

“My support is shrinking. I feel there are few to rely on in these times anymore Theodore.” the man speaking had a low tone, secretive. The ambient noises of the house were so quiet he was still audible. “I’ve been guessing for so long.” the man reasoned between sounds of sadness.

“There there m’lord.” a softer spoken male voice calmly interjected. It wasn’t Alfred’s - Gina could only assume that this was the mage Caroline had mentioned.

Theodore Dutt cleared his throat.

“Sir, now is not the time to second guess yourself.” Theodore fumbled for words, and Caroline tapped her cheek uncomfortably.

“The only thing my father can speak fluently are orders.” she whispered, exasperated.

Gina pursed her lips. That, and I’d be tongue-tied as well, if the guy my mates were planning to murder just walked in.

The sobbing king drew quiet.

“What do you mean?” The way his words spoke began to carry lethality veiled behind the broken-heartedness. Secret laughing stock or not, Gina suddenly had an inkling of why Caroline and Alfred were so scared of him.

“...Doubt is not a way to lead.” Theodore answered the king stiltedly.

“Hmm.” the calmest of the three men sounded, Alfred seemingly silent. “The Emperor will be unhappy if you cannot ensure Greywall’s borders remain undisturbed.”

“Yes...” Theodore trailed.

“The Marchioness has been doing well with the western border.” King Kinglos began, “If we could further her to cull the Dragonkin, surely the other races would bow?”

“I had not thought of that...” Theodore said very transparently, “Yes that would work.”

Gina swallowed her current mouthful, painfully. “Do you think he’s right?” she whispered, looking at Caroline. Clearly the king trusted Caroline’s father, but if he was working with the council he probably wouldn’t be above letting the king go ahead with a suicidal idea. And drop Cal right in the middle of it…

Caroline’s forehead wrinkled with the raising of her brows in surprise.

“We’ve tamed the other nations before with fear. But how dare the king wish to feed off the work of the Marchioness!” She hissed under her breath.

“Then should we transport there?” the calm voice asked. The king coughed, and sniffled as if he was wiping his face with loud shaking breaths.

“Soon, take me to my chambers O’doln.”

“Yes.” A strange whoosh rang in Gina’s ears, picking up a high pitch note before ceasing suddenly. A teenage male voice gasped, as if startled.

“I fell asleep on you!? How rude of me Sir Dutt.”

The mage, Gina realised, The mage must have done something to him. She would have to warn Jeon. Hopefully he wouldn’t have to go through with anything like the council’s plan for murder, but if the king had a bodyguard who could teleport and freeze people, it would be best to give him the head’s up.

Uranus. she thought, Altered consciousness, unexpected change… She bit her lip, wishing she could have seen if the king carried the same mark as councilman Hedspeth.

Caroline looked warily at Gina, frowning at what had been exchanged.

“I think it is time,” came Theodore’s voice, “That you grab your lady and head home.”

Caroline’s brow twitched. Gina played her expected part by rolling her eyes and mumbling, “Great.” She swallowed one last bite of mash, and put down her spoon.

“If anything scary happens,” she whispered, squeezing Caroline’s hand, “Come see me, yeah? I promise I’ll stay safe. You do the same.”

Caroline nodded and fluffed her dress. The girl stole a kiss before an upset looking Alfred had rounded the stairs and noticed them sitting there. Caroline pointed to the painting on the wall in reflex of Gina’s instruction before.

“If it wasn’t for Magistan my father would have never commissioned this piece.”

Gina nodded along and looked suitably impressed. The athletically built gentleman bought the act quiet easily. Piercing eyes stared at Gina and he raised an arm for her to take.

“It is time I return you home.”

“I suppose it is.” Gina agreed.

As they exited the mansion house their haggard driver climbed back up into his driving seat, having apparently been waiting for them the whole time. Gina wished she had something on her to tip him with, but apparently the people of this world didn’t seem to think that girls needed purses, or pockets.

The Tarot card felt warm against her arm as she settled herself into the carriage, and she wondered how the hell they were going to warn Cal in time. ‘Melvin’ would have to get the other card to her - and somehow do so before the teleporting King showed up on her doorstep.

She’s smart. Gina told herself, She can take care of herself - and Panos too. Even so, she hated being too far away to help.

“So what did you and Mr Dutt get to talking about?” she asked Alfred conspiratorially, to pass the time as their carriage bumped down the paved road back to the Remoni villa.

Alfred raised a brow at her. The expression was wiped away with a chuckle.

“Things only men talk about.” The black haired teen took a bit of pride in his sex as he intensified his smile.

Gina bit the edge of her tongue. Are you fucking kidding me?

“Couldn’t you make it simple for me?” she asked, pretending to pout.

Before Alfred could answer, the ride began to fill with noises of chatter and walking; more people were starting to fill the roads. Gina’s gentleman escort peeked outside the wagon.

“People are gathering to the north central square. Hmm. Is the king making a speech?”

Gina shuffled sideways and peered through the window past Alfred’s shoulder. People were indeed gathering, and blocking the road ahead.

The boy seemed hesitant now. “We should take you home, but foot traffic will delay us. We will walk, are you going to be well lady?”

”I’ll be fine.” Gina nodded, wondering what Alfred planned to say to their driver. She looked out the window again. She doubted the king was making a speech after what she had heard at Caroline’s house, but something was definitely drawing a crowd.

She sensed trouble.

[G]

Calamity Isis Mae Sensibility & Panos Lambros

Panos followed behind with a soft frown on his face. He was quietly complacent, keeping only a few steps behind the princess turned marchioness. Together they were escorted down a floor, past many closed doors and attentive soldiers standing guard. Two large wood doors were pressed open and they entered a dining hall. Sauver banners hung between the thin slit airy windows high up on the walls. They proved only to bring in little bright light far too high to reach below, the distant sounds of snowy winds passed through them. Below torches lit the room and the long wood table.

The room wasn’t extravagant, and from where Calamity had walked she guessed it wasn’t the main dining hall with how off to the side this room was located within her castle layout. Yet sitting in a brown cloak, and fur covered clothes pragmatic for the weather, a woman next to the power positioned end chair on the left. Thin black hair grew down to her ears, frizzy with many breaks and an average face with a rather unpleasant pointed nose. She sat calmly with her hands clasped together on the table and set her grey eyes on the royal couple. The thirty something woman smirked when she saw them, a devouring gaze locked in her stare. She looked to be enjoying what she saw, staring at them both and leaning back, hand off the table cordially. Her body moved fluidly into her new resting position.

“Marchioness, there have been many exceptional things said about you and your husband. Now I see them. Thank you for having me” Her tone of voice wasn’t charismatic, but cynical and sharp. The woman was speaking flattery, but lacked the delivery to make it feel warm.

Cal smiled.
"And thank you for your kind welcome, Madam Avery." Is 'Madam' even the right way to address her? Surely I wouldn't call her 'Editha.' Gods, don't screw this up, Cal! The girls' inner monologue was a stream of nervousness she did not outwardly portray; playing a servant, a parent - those had been difficult, unnatural roles. A ruler? She had been trained for this all her life. Still, she missed Gina; the redhead would have managed to take charge of this situation effortlessly, she was sure.

She didn't like the way the woman looked them over. The young royal wondered at the location, as well; was this a statement of the womans' importance, to be met in a lesser room; or simply a nod to the confidentiality of the meeting? At least, it didn't seem to be ringing any alarms that Panos had joined her.

She crossed the room to join the Advisor, taking the seat at the head of the table. "Let's not waste time on pleasantries, though. We have much to discuss."

Editha watched with a sly smile. Panos moved and quietly sat where he guessed he was supposed to be; his position left him across the strange woman. Panos pressed some hair behind his ear, the woman studying Panos as he did so.

“The king hasn’t given you a particular favor you’ll enjoy” The woman said straight to the Lambros prince. He flinched, his quick thinking dampened by his recent events. However it was revealed she wasn’t actually speaking to Panos, turning her vision back onto Calamity, “Have you seen it?”

Cal gulped. This direct question, she couldn't very well deflect - the woman had essentially made it impossible to hide her ignorance. She would just have to hope that she could fumble through and not give herself away. If it came to it, she had her gift - or, potentially, the power to simply silence the woman, though the notion of directly ordering harm to someone made her stomach churn.

"No, I haven't," she replied, her tone haughty. "I've had quite a lot on my plate, keeping the Draconian herd from our borders, as you well know." Under the table, she reached for Panos hand, squeezing his fingers gently. Editha was still surveying him like a predatory animal, and she doubted the gaze was making her friend feel at ease.

Panos’ fingers felt clammy under her touch. He looked over at Calamity for a moment, need flashing in his eyes. The Adviser watched with an off-putting smile. Leaning forward, the frizzy haired woman focused on the marchioness.

“King Kinglos has bribed your Torture Master to rat out everything you do to him. Interesting, I am sure you are thinking so” Editha put a finger on the table and slowly glided it across the surface with a slow drag. “You must feel angry and betrayed, young marchioness”

Can stiffened, pausing before she responded to consider how best to do so. The woman seemed calculating, and she could only assume she was loyal to this king, as she herself was supposed to be. Why then was she divulging this information... did she want Cal to respond as she was prompting, to incriminate herself? Perhaps she was being paranoid. Regardless, the young princess' aim was purely to get through this meeting, and get herself and Pants out of here, so it seemed best not to start trouble she didn't want to have to hang around and handle.

"His majesty has his reasons, I am sure," she replied stiffly, opting for the diplomatic - and safer - route, "I confess, I am dissapointed to hear my loyalty is in question, but I am confident he has found no cause to doubt it. Everything I do is in service to the kingdom."

It was the response she would have advised anyone to give her mother in the same situation - the Grand Sensibility had certainly not been above spying on her underlings, trying to catch them out for imagined betrayals. She hoped she was right in thinking her doppelganger was above board in her dealings - it certainly seemed the woman whose shoes she was filling was a ruthless warmaster, and happy to go to great, and terrible lengths to fulfill her task of fighting off the Draconian forces.

"Is this all the information you have come to offer?" she asked, raising an eyebrow at the other woman. Edith raised a brow of her own to match. The two stared for a moment and the Adviser looked down with a smile, then stood.

“Yes, and I’ve gathered what I needed” What that implied was left to be fussed. Panos knew a bit of the social games. The woman was not at all discreet about the veil of power she believed to have in this situation. Calamity was going to make a foolish mistake letting this woman leave so quickly. Yet he only wanted to be done with all of this and leave. What power could this woman have if Calamity and he did not play the game at all?

Cal bit the inside of her lip, concerned by the woman's attempt at a hasty departure. She could feel Panos tension beside her, and it gave rise to butterflies of her own. What did she plan to take back to the king, given their short conversation.. and what difficulties would it create for Panos and herself, when they needed to make a swift and inconspicuous departure.

I've gathered what I need, the Advisor had said, her knowing smile making Cal fear what trouble her ignorance if the situation might bring. At least if they knew what was coming, they could prepare...

"And what exactly is that*?" she asked, her tone demanding, a split decision to draw the truth from this woman making her concentrate on placing power in her words. Her forehead creased into a frown with the internal effort to lace her magic into the sentence. "Tell me what you intend for us!*"

“To have you assasinated?” Edith said with a stupefied confusion. She stuttered, fighting the compulsion to talk, but she was losing “You won’t defect from King Kinglos, the Grand Council must remove you before you become a political problem” Panos watched her turn white. Both he and she were horrified, this place was just as dangerous as the others. And, how did Calamity make her do that? The prince looked over at Calamity with surprise on his face.

“Do something”

Cal stared at the woman, open mouthed. Assassinated? Clearly, the political climate here was far more complex then she had assumed - her mothers' rule had been so absolute among the nobles of her country, it had not occured to her that there could be a deeper plot here... this council wanted to overthrow their king, and remaining fiercely loyal to him - what she had considered the safe move - had actually thrown herself and Panos into the firing line. She had to act; and so she did, setting her face determinedly.

"Guards!" she called, her voice echoing through the large room, and - she hoped - reaching those posted outside, "seize this woman! She is a traitor to our King!" Heavy clanks came at her command, the door opened and two men grabbed her. They did, however, hesitate to put Adviser Edith into any harmful hold.

"I..." Edith turned her head with a calculated finesse to each of the knights and then to Calamity. "You would put a high servant of the king in jeopardy? You have no proof other than the strangeness of your new craft, young marchioness. Have your men unhand me and your consequences will be minimal compared to what they could be"

Cal's heart was pounding frantically. Anxiety and fear were making her act quickly; perhaps rashly - but trying to play it safe had got her nowhere, and their goal was merely to escape this castle, after all.

"Detain the Advisor," she said to her guards, her voice crisp and commanding, "in the guest quarters. Ensure she is secure there. I will get to the bottom of this." She stood, giving Panos a meaningful look. Follow me, she mouthed, and swept from the room, angling for the stables. They would leave, now - if anyone questioned her, she would simply say she needed to see the king.

[Azazeal849]

Gina Wright

“Stop the ride, we will walk.” Alfred explained to the horseman. The passing noise was loud with chatter and footsteps; things had picked up quickly. Alfred extended an arm for Gina to take and helped ease her down to the ground. Gina smiled a thank you to the driver and looked around to get her bearings.

Out of the wagon, following the traffic with one’s eye led to single man standing on an unnatural podium. It was a construction of deep blue cloud, which held him steady above the ground to look down upon the bundled-up people meeting him at the round intersection. Weird, Gina reflected, but unfortunately nowhere near the most bizarre thing she had seen in the last nine months.

The man on the cloud wore deep blue robes and had lengthy red hair, the top layer braided over the other. His features were refined, but his jaw was kindly square, stubble left across his jawline, and maroon colored eyes looked down to the gentry with periodic, intense squints. His ears were at a slight point, and altogether it gave Gina an idea he might not be entirely human. Alfred saw him and looked on with amazement.

“The king’s magical adviser?”

Hi again, O’doln. Gina chewed her tongue. She couldn’t see from this distance if the man bore a zodiac mark. He had gone to drop the king back in his chambers not five minutes ago - what was he doing back here so soon?

She looked at Alfred - judging by his reaction, he hadn’t even seen the magician back at the Dutts’ house before O’doln had zapped him with that sleeping spell. Now, he appeared to be battling getting closer against the notion of taking Gina home, which seemed to be the opposite direction. Gina decided to help him along with his dilemma.

“Oooh, this is exciting.” she said, bouncing a little on her heels. She glanced back at Alfred to offer him a smile as she edged a few steps closer to the crowd. “What do you think he’s here for?”

Alfred looked to Gina and shrugged without certainty. He picked up on her interest and stared longer to Adviser O'doln. He tugged and began leading her down his way. Closer, the inhuman man became audible.

"...will be showing you esteemed people his means to bolster our Empire. Curious? Those who raise their hands, I will take you to Whitebar where King Kinglos will speak with the Marchioness.”

Gina’s heart skipped a beat. Cal. This might be a better opportunity than even Melvin’s tarot card walkie-talkies, and she needed to warn her friend of everything the council and the king had planned.

“He is ready to act, and his actions will be now." O’doln affirmed.

Gather people began chatting among themselves. The whispers were loud.

"Can the king pull this off?" a woman in earshot was overheard.

"After his butchery with the Elven Queen, he tries next with a violent little girl. How bold." A man laughed at the notion.

Gina’s suitor raised a brow.

"Whitebar...I've yet to be...no, getting you home. Come on, I'll catch the gossip another time."

Nah. thought Gina. Others around them were laughing, or curious, raising their hands for O'doln's magic. She uncurled her own hand, as if thinking hesitantly about raising it, and leaned again on Alfred’s own evident curiosity.

“Oh please can we go?” she wheedled, still shamelessly running with her girlish act. “It won’t take long, right? And Caroline loves the marchioness, she’d be so excited to hear we’ve actually seen her...”

Alfred’s expression was smitten, a closed smile of fondness showed how easily he was eating up her feminine act.

"How could I resist you?" the handsome boy chuckled, raising his hand.

Gina beamed and stuck up her own. Kicking herself could come later.

[Minkasha]

Gina Wright

A hazy lightheadedness and a flash suddenly turned into the orange radiance and warmth of fire. A feat of power by the magician had relocated her elsewhere in a sleek transition swift enough to startle Gina. Among the majority of the former crowd their feet stood on the grey stone belonging to a massive dining room. The few dozen gentry were many chairs apart from the pointed eared magical user and someone who Gina felt a fateful pull towards.

A black-haired man in his thirties, comfortably dressed with layers of velvet, wool, and bright dyes which cradled an overweight body stood proudly. Attractive gray eyes and handsome noes made him interesting with the formal cloak and platforms he wore. A fabulously woven vest was bound over wool sleeves and it came together with an ascot. Gina couldn’t see a mark on him anywhere but she was very aware he was a part of this universe’s puzzle.

Torches carrying the warming fire held between blue banners draping the walls. In each a bastard sword plunged up through a scaled, clawed and obviously inhuman hand.

The craft of the sigil must have been lengthy for these tall banners imitated flowing blood gushing from the wound dyed in streams. Slits near the ceiling allow ventilation of fresh air. Flecks of snow floated through, melting as a pits of water beneath them. Guards covered in thick metal shook from their positions, startled by the sudden arrival of the mass population. Turning to face the debonair lordly man, the guards lowered their weapons and kneeled.

King Kinglos’ charisma was manic and put on obviously. His eyes were antsy, moving around even as his lips were smiling to be welcoming.

“I have brought loyal subjects to display a bold union for my kingdom. Where is the Marchioness?” he asked a nearby guard.

“…Not here m'lord, she left for you” There were chuckles and stifled laughs, King Kinglos glanced away with shaking fists. Alfred nervously twiddled his thumbs. O’doln whispered into the king’s ear and the Human grunted. They were exchanging words under their breath and King Kinglos helped himself to the dining room door, being followed by guards and his magician. His absence left men and women to laugh at the man’s expense. Alfred was staring at the door, swallowing before grasping Gina’s hand.

“Our king is unsure of what he is doing. We are to request him to return us home”

**

Calamity Isis Mae Sensibility & Panos Lambros

Their carriage was small, lush with beautiful comfort but unrelenting in its enclosing size. The mountains were nearly a world away from the enchanted insides of this ride which allowed them in comfortable heat. Though there was no visual sign of magic, the warmth and the tingle it provided to their sensitives told them it was prominent.

Panos was hiding himself in the dull cloak he was wearing, gazing out the window with hopelessness and frustration. They had fled after ensuring Edith was detained. Their direction was straight to Gina. What they were going to do was follow it till she was found. The snowflakes stuck to the window, unnaturally becoming watery with the unseen heat source and melting off the glass. Steady steam followed their horse drawn ride.

Their ride had been a half hour prior, Whitebar was gone from sight. And from what the help had shared, Whitemarch would not be in view until another full day at the minimum. It was a bold move of absence which had created unusual suspicion and worry in Calamity’s guards and servants, to leave. Amid hushed whispers of confusion was only very displayed obedience to her word. White buried evergreens amid various levels of elevation were all to be seen outside.

Their sense of Gina was then suddenly thrown wayward for what pulled them forward now yanked at the gut senses behind him. Panos’ lowly expression perked at Calamity with surprise and offense. Gina was now behind them, not too far away – most likely at Whitebar.

“I refuse to accept that happened!” the Lambros prince sassed. Distress was hidden behind his pride and flair.

Cal turned physically in her seat to look in disbelief in the direction they had come.

"What? How could she have moved so quickly?! DRIVER!" she yelled hurriedly, poking her head through the small window to her left. The winter air harshly punished her for the action, biting at her skin.

"Turn around at once!" she commanded, not offering an explanation. It seemed impossible that Gina could now be behind them - but whatever strange bond connected them had not been wrong before. She just hoped they could figure out how to escape this world quickly, before she got herself - or any of her friends - into a worse situation than she'd already found herself in.

"Close the window!" her travel companion hissed as he drew his clothes tighter to him. "By the Gods, our departure was alien enough as it is. How stupid are we going to look returning back?"

"I know," Cal snapped, wincing against the cold as she withdrew back inside the carriage, "but what else can we do? Ride on, when she's behind us? Fuck how it looks - I'll use my magic, command them not to notice if I have to!" The girl was flustered, not considering that she had spoken of her power to Panos for the first time.

"We need to find her, and get out of here - together!" Panos gave her a cautious side eye.

"You are eager to use your magic aren't you? Witch" He leaned back, crossing his legs with finesse. "Can you actually do what you say or are you being cocky because you made one woman incessantly talk and betray herself? It's not hard to make a woman keep talking"

However Panos intended the title of 'witch', it was a slur in Serroc, and Cal bridled at the perceived insult.

"I said I'll do it, if I have to," she said stiffly, turning her eyes to the window. "And I can make people do, or think, whatever I want! It's like I put my thoughts into their head." She chewed her lip, the gravity of such an ability returning to her.

"Maybe I should have used it more," she said aloud, stung by the thought. "If I had, so many people might not be dead."

"...Could you make me forget what happened to me?" Panos released a sigh gradually from his lips, mirroring her expression by staring out his own window. The duo could feel the carriage begin to turn around, shifting them gently.

"Could I...?" Cal paused, chewing her lip. She thought it was probably possible. It had felt wrong, to use her powers on her friends.. but she had made Manisha forget her pain, when it had been necessary.

The princess swallowed, turning her head to look at her companion. "Yes... if that's what you want. I think I can." The adolescent prince wouldn't meet her look. He was quietly withholding self loathing. The fear, the codependency: he wanted them all to be shed. How he felt, how he was forced to feel a myriad of ego chipping emotions were unnatural to him. He was young and still Panos was grimly aware these personality traits were things he wanted severed from him, things that should have never become a part of him. His assailant had no right to take his body and burrow in his mind. Panos would not have a future with the recent past he so unjustly received.

"When this is over" Panos brushed a hand at his collarbone and squeezed, "It will happen then"

[Azazeal849]

"Our king is unsure of what he is doing. We are to request him to return us home."

"Not yet, surely?" Gina pretended to pout. "It's still early in the day - she can't have gone far..."

She looked around the stone dining room, over the bustle of the chattering, sniggering crowd. The forbidding castle hall certainly looked like the domain of a war-leader, and the aggressive, bleeding banners only hammered home the fact. It was a statement of power, like the Nikas palace back in Panos' world - but this place struck Gina with a more looming, threatening kind of power. Definitely not a Disney castle. She didn't like to think of what kind of danger that Cal might have been thrown into by being thrust into marchioness Sauver's shoes. Where was she? She drew away from Alfred and threaded her way through several spectators towards the nearest plate-armoured guard, who had risen back to his feet after the king left the room.

"Um...excuse me." she asked. The face nestled inside the armour's open helmet was young - surprisingly young - but hard. Gina did not have trouble believing that this young man could kill. "Can you tell me where the marchioness went?"

The guard's brown eyes glanced down to acknowledge Gina, but turned away again without speaking, focusing straight ahead once more. For once, Gina noted, it seemed less of a not your business, girl kind of look and more of a not at liberty to say, miss. Where could Cal and Panos have gone? Was it possible that they had left without telling anyone, perhaps to try and search for her?

Gina's eyes drifted towards the arched doors where the king and his mage had beat their hasty retreat from the room. She had to keep Kinglos here until Cal came back, or at least until someone could go out looking for her. And the king was important to this world - even without knowing the sinister Council's plan for him she could feel it. She had to get the measure of him.

Gina brushed her sleeve, gently rubbing the line of zodiac tattoos branding her arm. Uranus - societal change. Hurrying away from the guard back to Alfred, she touched the young man's arm to draw his attention.

"You're right." she nodded, "We should talk to the king. But we can't just leave yet. He can't just leave yet. The marchioness must be somewhere nearby."

She gave Alfred a gentle tug on the elbow to get him moving, but then fell into step beside him rather than lead. Alfred was easy enough to convince, but she had to somehow convince the unsure, inpulsive king of the same. How? She had no fucking idea.

She tried to plan as they walked, sidestepping and excuse me-ing through the knots of Greywall citizens. The king wanted to be seen as strong - it wasn't hard to guess that the people of this place demanded it of their leaders. But what did the other leaders want - the elf queen that Alfred had mentioned, or these 'draconians' that they were supposedly at war with? Elves, dragons...and now you're going to meet a king. Gina exhaled. You've got this. She had, after all, already met an emperor, albeit under slightly more equal circumstances. Technically, Cal was a princess. And then on top of that she'd seen giant cats, and angel-men, and a naive girl from an alternative Greece who...

Hiss - BANG

Gina's throat closed up, and her eyes threatened to start spilling tears. She really didn't want to think about that right now. She swallowed hard.

She had a few more seconds to compose herself before they reached the arched doors. They were thick, iron-wrought wood, split in places from moisture and pinpricked with woodworm holes. The metal bands were visibly rusted in places beneath their protective tar. Gina took a breath and exchanged a look with Alfred, before raising her fist and knocking on the door, thumping with the bottom of her fist so that the sound would carry through the thick wood.

Here goes nothing.

[Minkasha]

Gina Wright

Pulled open, Gina and Alfred were given a clear sound of a man’s scathing voice. In serendipity Jeon appeared in her relative proximity. He was now in the same building as her. Alfred played with his lips and helped ease Gina out into the hallway. The warmth of the previous room was being taken by the vast length of chilling stone. It made their young skin bristle.

“Then get her to me. I will see her now. Let’s go” King Kinglos’ jittering voice claimed itself the source of the previous sharp speech. Alfred and Gina saw a homely black woman servant nod before the king and his growing entourage stepped in their direction. The gentry boy next to Gina puffed his chest and raised his hand to gather the king’s attention. In return the royal pointed to him with authority.

“You’re to come with me. Someone ought to see me get things here in order”

“Y-yes m’lord! Come lady, he wants us” The black haired boy looked down at her with compelling urgency.

**

Doctor Jeon Smythe

“Je….” A distant voice was calling the doctor through the fog of collecting consciousness. His body felt wetness across his lips and the strange tangy taste of an unknown flavor that vaguely made him think of spicy dust. “Jeon! You need to wake up! You are scaring me!” Keith’s voice was hollering down into his ears. He didn’t yet have an understanding of where he was but the man could sense Gina was very close, mere feet from her. And the other two he had yet seen were much closer than previously.

As he opens his eyes he catches Keith’s worried brown eyes looking down at him, layered locks almost falling in his face. At the other side of his body Charlie was on hand and knee with an a now empty vial in hand. The ceiling above was a dull and stoic gray, layered brickwork making him realize he wasn’t he’d been previous.

“Is there anything you need?” Charlie was immediately moved to ask. Kevin glanced over with annoyance.

“Give him space, you will make him unwell if you continue to breathe down on his face. You were around the poor, who knows what you are sickly with”

“They are not walking diseases” the younger one protested.

“And yet you do not live with their ’community’ permanently. Good sense tells you they are disgusting” A quiet tension built between them. Around Jeon were many wooden tables, what they held on them he couldn’t see from his ground position. An enormous wall sized indent hosted a large pot five feet tall, metal racks beside it which were currently empty. Above was the opening for a chimney. A shelf lay with herbs and spices in glass jars on the opposite wall. Attentive persons in dark gray wool robes looked on to the trio with attentiveness and nervousness seen in their body language. Archer stood beside the door with his eyes away and a frown aimed directly at 'Melvin' who was the most enigmatic in the room.

[Azazeal849]

They've found her, Gina thought, allowing herself to let out a quiet breath of relief.

"You're to come with me." the king snapped, pointing at Alfred. "Someone ought to see me get things here in order."

"Y-yes m'lord!" Alfred answered, stuttering slightly. My lord Gina thought, taking a mental note of the correct form of address. The black-haired boy looked down at her with compelling urgency. "Come lady, he wants us."

"Yeah, 'course." Gina nodded emphatically. If king Kinglos was going straight to Cal, then she had no objection to an excuse to hang onto his coat-tails. The king had already turned to follow the black woman with a swirl of his formal cloak, O'doln and the others sweeping along in his wake. As Gina and Alfred hurried after them, Gina heard a voice behind a door to her right.

"Jeon! You need to wake up!"

The sharp whip-crack of councilman Hedspeth's voice was unmistakable, but right now he sounded almost frightened. Gina checked, pausing by the door as another, unfamiliar voice answered the first. And then Hedspeth again, angry this time.

"Give him space, you will make him unwell!"

Gina gaped at Alfred, who had turned round to tug insistently at her elbow. He definitely said Jeon!

"How the h-" Gina asked Alfred, and caught herself just in time. "How'd they get here?"

Glancing back at the king and his followers as they continued to retreat up the corridor, Gina hastily put her hand on the thick metal door-ring, twisted and pushed. She found herself looking into some sort of kitchen, and almost startled Hedspeth's familiar white-haired guard who was hanging back beside the door. Hedspeth himself was kneeling on the stone floor between a chopping table and a massive hearth, cradling Jeon, who was blinking as if coming round from a daze. A younger man Gina didn't recognise and a knot of people in grey robes hovered nearby.

"Um..." Gina said, as her eyes were inevitably drawn to her fellow Traveller laid out on the floor. "Is everything alright?"

[Enigma]

"I don't know," Jeon answered, blinking at Gina in the doorway, then at Keith and Charles. "Where are we and how did we get here? And more importantly, how did I wind up here on the floor?"

There was a strange flavor in his mouth. He pinched his lips as his tongue probed a lingering smear. "That's... curious," he managed.

The probe glanced at Archer, then walked to Jeon's side, offering its hand.

"Ah, thank you Melvin," Jeon smiled, pulling himself upright. He stood, grasping the probe's shoulder for support. "I don't suppose there's any tea or spirits?"

[Minkasha]

Doctor Jeon Smyth & Gina Wright

“Hmm.” Alfred hummed at the unfolding situation, coming across as cautious and thoughtful as he now stood with Gina in the doorway to the kitchen. Councillor Hedspeth being here was evidently not something he was expecting, or at ease with. Archer raised a brow at the teenagers, and the gathering of servants scattered to do tasks and busy themselves.

“I may brew some tea.” a young woman muttered, getting water warmed up.

"Thank you," Jeon smiled at her.

Councilman Hedspeth stood next to Jeon and crossed his arms with impatience. Finely dressed Adviser Charlie spoke up, rather loudly.

“News travels swiftly of our king’s meeting.” he explained to Alfred and Gina. “Use of my portal was handy.” The black haired young man smiled, but Kevin just rolled his shoulders.

“It was me who drew the news to us, the city enjoys my company more after all.” Kevin smirked through Charlie’s slowly fading expression.

“Why are you two here?” Kevin sharply asked the teenagers.

"The king's here to see the marchioness, sir." Gina answered demurely, leaving out the extra detail about the Draconians. Even if advisor Dutt hadn't already passed the plan to his fellow conspirators, there was no way for Gina to mention it without admitting that her and Caroline had been eavesdropping. "His wizard brought us all along to watch."

As if to confirm her story, she heard chinking footsteps doubling back down the corridor, and behind them a guard drew his attention on the adolescents.

“King Kinglos is expecting your eyes.”

The Councilman scoffed in surprise. “The king wants you two?”

Archer scratched the back of his neck. Kevin rolled his eyes.

“Good, he is opening his social circle again.” Charlie noted with some relief.

"Yes, very healthy," Jeon agreed, glancing up at Kevin. "A shut-in is so hard to reach."

Gina studied the second councilman. He was a shade shorter than Gina herself, with white skin and eyes that were two different colours. Dressed in a fine brown waistcoat with silver embroidery, he was clearly Hedspeth's equal - but unlike the terse, irritable Hedspeth, he seemed to radiate an easy-going, upbeat confidence. Gina would have been inclined to like him on sight, but if he was a friend of Hedspeth's then he was as much a part of the Council's game as the rest of them, and that meant that she had to tread carefully.

She dropped her eyes to Jeon, who seemed fully in control of his faculties, albeit still sitting on the floor.

"Are you coming with us, sirs?" she asked, adding a little girlish enthusiasm to her body language by bouncing on the balls of her feet, inside her embroidered platforms.

"A man in my station has so few opportunities to observe a king, it's usually from afar or unavoidably brief. While these gentlemen would undoubtedly be welcome," Jeon shrugged elegantly, waving towards Kevin and Charles, "My...apprentice and I are merely subjects of little interest to kings, not unlike distant strangers."

Or was he? Who knew what sort of dealings the version of himself from this place got up to? Still, it was unlikely he would have direct dealings with the king. A discrete go-between, the king might never know where whatever he needed, whenever he needed, came from.

"And in this state, I am sadly not fit to pay court to the king," he added. "But I would welcome if you took my apprentice along."

The probe turned and scowled at him questioningly, and he saw a flicker of confused worry from Gina.

"It would be good to give him some exposure, assuming the king would not object?" Jeon said, glancing at the guard. "I assure you, Melvin is as quiet as a mouse. One could easily forget he's there."

Or until today, Jeon reflected. While he had no idea why he blacked out, that brief blessed moment of unconsciousness might be his last in a long while. Clearly its orders was to stick close to him, but why?

"Mind you, I wouldn't mind some broth or some stale bread to soothe this hunger."

As Jeon had gone on, Kevin eyed him with a raised brow and a cheeky smirk after, swooned by his wordplay in some way. The generous, debonair man, Charlie, fell for his reverse psychology the quickest and the most obliviously.

“You are a grand apothecary.” he said. “You should earn the king’s attention if you wish to take stride with him.”

The serving woman came and gave Jeon a freshly poured cup of green tea. The liquid was warm and welcoming to the doctor's lips.

"Thank you again!" Jeon said warmly, and drank thirstily.

At his say another servant was shuffling in her wool garment to the door, the guard having moved aside for her to walk out. The guard’s motion brought attention to him, and the Advisor and Councilman eyed the man in armor. His greater expression was hidden, but body language gave away his discomfort with his side to side swaying.

“I do not think our king will be bothered.” a low voice tumbled out gracelessly.

"Really? My, what a curious treat today has proven to be," Jeon replied, inclining his head in thanks. "It more than makes up for passing out earlier."

Alfred gave a concerned eye to Gina and chuckled with phony airs. “Many of high authority I get to see today, I am thrilled.” The teenage girl could feel her next-door suitor was nervous, as a quiver ran through him that he disguised well. She repeated her previous reassurance of a subtle squeeze, though this time on the crook of his arm where he was still holding her, rather than his hand. Don’t worry, I’m scared too. Luckily, Jeon’s reverse psychology on the two councillors hadn’t backfired.

Alfred smiled over at Gina, wordlessly thanking her and straightening his back. The young man was determined to either save his pride or keep up masculine appearances to her. Councilman Hedspeth waved a hand to silence the teenage boy, looping an arm with Jeon.

“You provoke me into many different thoughts about you.” it was an unusual flirt, but given nonetheless. Charlie bushed back his black hair and cleared his throat. Kevin's lips drew to Jeon’s ear. “If you would slip a foul thing into his drink I wouldn’t be offended.”

This was no surprise to Jeon.

The kitchen door was opened by the guard, Alfred tugging Gina away so she might be saved from whatever harm Alfred believed a slow-moving door would bring.

"Well, if you believe I would not be any bother to our king," Jeon said, finishing the tea, "Then I shall join you."

A kitchen staff woman took the emptied cup for his convenience. Going outside the hallway was empty but the beckoning guard knew where to go. Archer followed behind the arm-in-arm men, his expression pensive and shifty towards Melvin, who was clearly making him uncomfortable. Advisor Charlie kept close to the child, shaking his head at the handsome Councilman's guard.

Along the path they were being led, the woman who had left the kitchen earlier was returning with a plate of two slices of bread. Spread over was cinnamon, and blueberry jelly. Keith looked down with an amused smile as Jeon took it.

"You cannot collapse on me again, fetch him more, now." Kevin shooed the help to grab more for the celebrity lookalike.

"Thank you, tis most welcome!" Jeon called after her as he took a bite. "Yes, this should fill the void."


The guard was focused on guiding them somewhere, and sure enough when they turned the corner King Kinglos, his magical assistant and the other guards were at a door, unopened. If Gina had been expecting Cal and Panos to be waiting for them by the time they got there, she was disappointed. Instead, a new man of some prominence stood among them. She chewed the inside of her cheek as they halted behind the king and his entourage. Come on Cal, where are you?

Gina had not seen the new man in the dining hall. This world was full of healthy, robust men, kind on the eyes as the Multiverse Travelers, and now they saw another rugged man in a suit of armor. It was a stark blue, matching the banners from the dining hall. Silver hair grew to caress his brows, bangs curving just above them. His eyes were brown and cultivated, with hardship seen in the sternness of their gaze and the subtle lines around them. They could guess he was in his 50s or 60s, and of some authority here with how he stood and his distinct appearance.

"In her young insight my Marchioness has detained the Advisor here, my king. I cannot by my loyalties give permission for you to enter this room until she speaks. Though, she did promptly leave with no telling of where she'd gone."

The blue-armored guard shrugged lightheartedly. It was stirring the king's antsy nature as he crossed his arms in bold defiance. Advisor Charlie walked around the others. The youngest councilman was looked at by both of them.

"Who exactly is in there?"

"Your lady-fellow Advisor."

Gina didn’t know who the Lady Advisor might be, or why Cal had needed to have her locked up, but she could tell that she must be someone important by the way Kevin put a hand to his mouth, and O'doln gave a curious tilt of his head.

"I would think that is treasonous my lord!" the councilman gasped, with flair.

King Kinglos' cloak flapped with the turn he made to stare at his Advisor and Councilman. Archer sighed, stepping forward beside his charge and preparing a hand on his sword. The blue knight held a hand on his own but smiled, as if he was finding the drama funny.

"May we ask why?" the duo colored eye young man asked the blue knight.

"By Calamity Sauver's word is why." he replied antagonistically. Charlie sighed and slumped his shoulders.

Gina tensed. The man in blue might have still been smiling easily, but she saw his mailed fist close tighter around his sword hilt, and around her other men’s hands were hovering over their own weapons.

“Wai-wai-wait.” she interjected hurriedly, holding up her hands. Several pairs of frowning eyes snapped towards her, and she sincerely hoped that after personally inviting them along the king wouldn’t simply have her kicked out again. Shut up dear, can’t you see the men are busy? And these men had freaking swords.

“She can’t be a traitor…” she went on, looking from the grimly-smiling guard to the wary O’doln, and finally settling on Kinglos. “She’s kept the border safe for how long now?” She let her hands fall, clasping them in front of her chest. “Mi'lord...she must have had a good reason. Shouldn't we at least wait for her to get back and let her explain what it was?”

And now would be a great time to get back, Cal...

Behind the king Hedspeth still looked furious, but Jeon was still at the angry councillor’s side and Gina glanced briefly in his direction, silently imploring her fellow Traveller to back her up.

"Your Majesty, if I might be heard?" Jeon said, patting Kevin on the shoulder reassuringly as he stepped around Archer.

"Calamity Sauver has served you loyally for years, has she not? She has done an incredible job protecting our border, well away from the intrigue of court. It would be a shame if some misunderstanding over some trifling matter should make you doubt her loyalty?"

Gina glanced around at the knot of kingsmen. They seemed to be listening to Jeon's words.

"Our Lady Advisor is under her protection here;" Jeon pointed out, "I'm sure had she expected your presence, our Western protector would have instructed her man to allow you entry. Perhaps, rather than squabble here in this passage, we could find a more comfortable place to await her?"

"I'm sure the Councilman will see the wisdom of that," Jeon stressed, turning to Kevin with a tight smile. "This would be an excellent opportunity to discuss some matters with you."

Kevin hesitated long enough for the sharper-eared redhead man to curl his fingers. "M'lord you do have a gathering of people I had brought in need of attention. They will want your words." O'doln whispered into the king's ear. King Kinglos scanned over the group of people around him, and while his eyes fell on Jeon for a lengthy moment, they ended on Gina.

"The girl will be given permission to go inside and personally check that my advisor is doing fine." he demanded of the blue coated knight.

"H-holding her was strange, this could be an offer of peace." Charlie offered nervously up to the guarding swordsman.

"Sirs I could go?" Alfred offered himself up instead. Kevin chuckled in the background at some thought that he kept to himself.

"Maybe a woman can go see her." the blue knight agreed. Archer narrowed his eyes at the other man past his prime, then they both pulled their hands away from their weapons. "If your highness and your esteemed court of gentleman return to the dining room?"

The King of Greywall clenched his fists. Councilman Hedspeth sighed. It was in disapproval, and across Kinglos’ face flushed embarrassment.

“Where is the wine?” he demanded of a nearby guard, and glared at the blue knight before walking off with his magician and Charlie following.

“You find me when you’re done.” he demanded of Gina as he passed.

"Of course, mi'lord." Gina affirmed, and bobbed something approximating a curtsey as the king swept past her. O'doln and Charlie hurried after him, but Hedspeth hovered for a moment, still watching the door and the blue knight. And then the thought struck Gina - there was something in his hesitation, and in the way he had clapped a hand to his mouth when the blue knight told him who was being held within the room.

He's bricking it.

What if the Lady Advisor was part of their conspiracy, and he was afraid that Cal had captured her and blown the council's plot wide open?

Weird then that the younger advisor had just trotted off with the king. Maybe he wasn’t in on the plot after all? After his behaviour at the door, Gina thought it likely. He reminded her a little of a girl called Lara back in Gina’s school before she had moved to America - back before her life had gotten mental. Lara had just wanted to be friends with everyone and practically wilted whenever there was an argument. Not the sort of person who got mixed up in cloak-and-dagger plots.

So not everyone was on the council’s side against the king...and Gina had just been handed a golden opportunity to find out who was.

She put on a smile that was a size too small, and offered it to Alfred and Jeon as she approached the door. "Um...I'll try not to be long."

She looked up at the blue knight, still wearing her hesitant smile, and when he nodded silent permission she stepped up to the door and gently pushed it open. Gina stepped inside and pushed the door shut behind her.

"Your Majesty," Jeon said, following after the king, "It isn't good to drink in anger, er, the bile can poison the blood. May I suggest something to ease your system?"

"Melvin, do you have that bottle of dihydromyricetin, 300 milligrams?"

The Probe glanced up at Jeon with a frown, but nodded. It took mere moments for it to produce a small glass vial with a paper label with the wording on it and pass the anti-drunk pills up.

"Perfectly safe, it's made from a certain tree bark, wonderful qualities," he said, opening the vial and sliding two pills out. Making sure he was being watched, he took one of the pills and swallowed it.

"It's good for the liver," he added. Everyone gasped around Jeon except the magician who eyed him suspiciously.

“Dihydromyricetin…what spell component is this?” O’doln had to ask. King Kinglos looked from the man he seemed to trust very much, to Jeon with questioning look – waiting for the answer.