Warning

'My God, this is better than breaking through to the next level! " Sionn moaned, at the table, streaming tears from his eyes.

"I think you meant to say it would be better than sex." Aurelia corrected, enchanted by the golden cloud of eggs just at the tip of her fork. She bit down, shuttered, grasping at flavors that she never knew to exist.

Ella appeared no different but seemed a bit torn between the steak that looked a bit red, far too red when she first saw it, versus the golden eggs.

"I hate this place." Said the Young Lord, moping over his empty plate that appeared to be licked perfectly clean. "Let's just go."

"Your very petty, you know that." Shouted someone within the tavern.

A little bit crossed, The young Lord rolled his eyes but quickly frowned, twisting his gaze towards the west past the tavern walls and a ways journey away. He stared solemnly at the strange string of runes he had never seen before.

Surrounding one single rune that appeared to look like a trident, with a gash running through its base, while five other runes encircled it, linking to the main rune. He frowned.

'A tier five detection warding,' thought Zariel grimly, sensing the faint pulse of Arcana around him.

Having seen the King, and one of the strongest mages, in the kingdom, Zariel knew it was not their doing.

Unable to believe someone within Ferrum wrote such a complex warding, the scarlet image of the moon clung to his soul, branding its light in his mind. His brow grew a bit creased and tense.

"Zireael?" Aurelia called, startling Zariel awake. "We finished. Can we go?"

Noticing the empty plates, a foreboding touch gripped his heart, twisting it. 'I need to take a closer look.' he thought, dropping a few gold coins on the table. Not looking back, he left the tavern with a bit of impatientness.

Pressing through the snow, breaking apart, with each step, at his rapid steps, Aurelia, who followed behind with Ella and Sionn, glanced at each other with a bit of a drunken flush.

"Master, where are we heading?" Ella asked.

A tad to focus, Zariel footsteps skimmed over the snow before coming to a stop within a small alleyway. There he saw two homeless men curled up into a ball—their bodies stained with dirt and filth. He approached, causing the two men to raise their heads, allowing the whiff of filth clinging to their bodies to deter any normal man.

'm'lord!' said one of the beggers lifting a small dirtied cup littered with pestilence. He gave it a small shake that echoed with the sound of copper coins.

Tearing his glowing gaze from off the runes, a sea of red stained the snow the color of wine. Casting the beggers head high into the air, with a cold, sharp sword stroke, Zariel was already near the second beggar, his blade piercing through his heart as he looked up with disbelief. Ending his life before he could say his piece, his body dropped.

"Why?" Aurelia asked, watching the deepening of red being devoured into the snow.

"Ella, what part of the city is this?" Zariel questioned.

"North, almost northwest. " She replied.

"You ever seen beggers, so filthy here? The Nobleman and ladies would have taken their heads by now. Look at their bodies, aside from appearing dirty, what else looks wrong?" He proceeded to then ask.

Sionn approached, not in the least bothered by the familiar scent, and squatted over the body of the first beggar. "To muscular. And where is the fire? You did say one would die in his type of cold without the proper clothing."

Nodding solemnly, Sionns master found a smile that fell short, "Correct." He answered, drawing a bit closer to the warding traced over the wall.

Placing his sword just at the center of the runes, his blade pierced through the brick, destroying the warding without resistance.

"Let's go; it seems like Ferrum is doomed to perish." Pushing past the young children, still confused, the Young Lord sighed, "It was a Fifth tier spell, something no one I have seen in this kingdom can draw."

Shuddering at the thought, Ella could practically smell the ash that would steal the air from her lungs and The endless screams of the flames that could cover this city. tearing up, she rushed in front of Zariel. "I wanna visit my parents."

"Can we?" Sionn added hopefully.

Glancing at Aurelia, who stared in silence, the Young Lord shrugged, "We will train there then. I need to teach all of you how to enhance your bodies with Arcana in battle. Then there is rune training."

Cheering with wet eyes, Ella pulled Sionn forward, rushing ahead.

"I have not seen you so grim before. Something wrong?" Aurelia approached, holding the hilt of her blade at her waist.

"Something is always wrong, but it just comes down to whether you wish to interfere or not. Wage war for Ella, or walk away." Zariel informed, walking after Ella and Sionn.

Creasing her brow, a mischievous glint once more appeared in her eyes. She laughed, leaping onto Zariels back. Wrapping her legs over his chest, she giggled, "Why do you think I would abandon Ella? Not to mention this is Aunty's and Master's kingdom."

Struggling from the beast upon his back, holding him tightly, Zariel glared, "Get off of me!"

"No! Aurelia demands back rides!!! GO GO GOOOO Go horsey!!!" Cheering with wild laughter, Aurelia clenched with all she had. Unaware her body was far stronger than Zariels.

Shimming with silver Arcana, the young lord was about to draw a rune when Aurelia's chilling voice hummed into his ear like a devil. "Cast a spell on me, and Aurelia will throw peepee on you when you sleep! I am sure uncle Mephisto will help."

Freezing like a docile lamb, a gleam of defeat appeared within the young duke. While he trailed bitterly behind Sionn and Ella, casting his head low.

"You remembered him?"

"Of course, I remember everything that night."

releasing a solemn sigh, Zariel spoke with a rough voice, "Never make a deal with that devil. Family or not, you will be screwed over some way."

Leaning her chin upon Zariels silver hair, Aurelia giggled, "Does this count as a win for me?" she asked.

Snorting, Zariel sneered, "My brother and mother both called me a petty little bastard, so we will see. How long you will be satisfied with this little win."