The Seige

Darkhold, a city known for the dark presence controlling it from an unknown source.

A city where sorcerers and sorceresses came together for celebrations and to purchase their potions, spells, and other artifact known to be linked with ancient magic.

"Perfect for Arcanis," Drakonis mumbled to himself while the eagle circled the city waiting for his orders to land.

He still had to decide which identity to use, to avoid being spotted, and Nightshade was not an option because he stood out the most. Especially without the cloak.

But he was still going to use him.

However, Arcanis was the only solution for a brief moment, at least if his presence was noticed in the city, it would be difficult to differentiate his aura from that of the Alliance.

Compared to Nightshade and Drakonis.

He finally made up his mind, he told Elyria what do do and rose to his feet while the eagle searched the city for a place to land, away from the eyes of the curious.

He shifted to Arcanis, his eyes gleaming faintly before returning to normal. Elyria immediately noticed the change in aura, but she suspected nothing.

Knowing he did that every time. She assumed he was always changing his aura to put the enemies off.

It only fueled her secret adoration for him, he was everything she wanted to be, but could not because she was a princess and unfortunately does not have skills like his.

Arcanis alighted the Eagle's back, he helped her down as well and flung the small bag, containing weapons and a few other materials she carried, over his shoulder.

"Remember, you're my apprentice," He said as he helped her with her scarf, he wrapped it around her head and neck to cover her hair and also shield her eyes from the sun.

One look at them, would spell doom for the whole team.

They would easily figure out she is the Elf King's daughter and with the last encounter they will also realize she is with him.

Which is very bad.

He took out a small box from her bag, he squinted as he read the labels and gave her a blank gaze that said everything his mouth didn't.

She laughed nervously, "I brought it just in case," she explained as brief as she could but he only sighed and crouched down to her level. "Err.. Arcanis, what are you doing?"

"Trying to put makeup on you, Why do you ask?" he answered his gaze on the items he took out of her bag. "Mhmm, mascara, eyeliner, eye shadow, lipstick and....Ah yes!" he exclaimed as he took out a small bottle with foundation inside.

"You can't do my makeup," she refuted, taking a step back away from him. She could imagine how he would make her look like. Just thinking about it sent a chill down her spine and it made her shudder.

Arcanis frowned and grabbed her hands, "Don't worry about looking like a clown, I have had thousands of information about makeup," he paused as his heart ached just thinking about his sister, Cassie. "All thanks to her," he mumbled inaudibly but she did not brother to ask what he said.

All she cared about was how she would look if he was done.

"Stay still and let me work my magic."

Twenty minutes, a thousand times less than the hours he waited for his sister to be done with her make up. Only for her to emerge with just a lined and glossed lips and a single line at the edge of both eyes.

He made Elyria look at her reflection in his locket, for a split second she couldn't believe it was her face.

Yes she was beautiful but he made her look like some ancient Egyptian bride.

"This is..." she trailed off totally speechless and he didn't even use a hand full of foundation.

"Perfect, I know. I am strangely talented," he complimented himself and put the things back in her bag, he then took out a set of daggers, different sizes.

He put them in the straps around his thigh, did the same for her, despite her resistance.

He then handed over the sword King Arineth had given him and put it in the sheath behind her, that she was supposed to put a sword in, but forgot.

But then an idea resurfaced, replacing the previous. Nightshade was actually a good option, he could move fast and get to the Fortress without breaking a sweat, but he had to still hide her identity.

"Close your eyes," he uttered, his eyes set on the top of a tower far into the center of the city.

She hesitated for a while, contemplating whether to do it or not without knowing why he said so, but she obediently closed her eyes and waited patiently.

He switched to Nightshade, all his clothes getting replaced with black and silver, then he swept her off her feet. He carried her in a bridal style, his eyes roamed on her face for a while before taking it off. "Hold on tight and under no circumstances should you open your eyes?"

"Okay, but....." Her words got stuck in her throat when he leaped off the building.

Suspended in the air for close to a minute, he landed one building and onto another, still moving at an incredibly fast speed.

She was terrified, but mostly eager to see from his perspective how fast he was. But with the wind hitting her face, she had to bury her face in his chest and tighten her grip around him.

Nightshade leapt from building to building, his movements fast and calculated, but most importantly silent. Despite how fast he moved, his feet did not seem to make a single sound. He was feather walking...or in this case running.

For what felt like five minutes, Nightshade stopped moving, giving Elyria room to think and breath properly.

She wanted to open her eyes but he held her hands restricting her from doing so.

"Vendetta," Vasquez called from above, gaining Nightshade's attention, he landed beside him. His gaze drifted to Elyria in Nightshade's arms, which made a frown appear on his face but he quickly dropped the expression, to face pressing matters. "They're in but battling."

"Just as expected," Nightshade replied, sounding more proud than disappointed in the army, "Any information gathered about the Void Serpent?"

"Yes, Claire and Seraphina went back with the scrolls, books and artefacts. We just need to wipe out the army here," Vasquez stated, then a smile appeared on Nightshade's shaded face.

He placed Elyria gently on the ground still ordering her not to open her eyes. He slowly took off the cloak, revealing a silk soft raven black hair that was held in a messy pony tail, with a alot of strands dropping over the sides.

The void in his eyes faded into a silver sclera that immediately caught Vasquez eyes, he could only imagine what was beyond the silver veil as well.

Seeing as the cloak was a distraction as well, he snapped his fingers and almost immediately the clock vanished. Replaced with a casual but elegant fit. He had chains as belt that felt strange, especially to Nightshade, but Vasquez had reasons.

Nightshade then turned to Elyria, his mind working to think of an explanation to give her. "Open your eyes," he said and she obeyed.

Slowly opening her eyes to ask what he did or where they were, but her eyes landed on two Vasquez, one looking more insane than the other, different hairstyles, different faces and one looked more muscular than the other.

She blinked several times, trying to figure out what was going on. She was certain she heard Arcanis' voice but before her, was Vasquez and his look alike.

"Don't think too much Elyria, It's a spell," he said, giving the shortest explanation he could find. Even though it wasn't close to the truth.

She nodded slowly, still confused but he carried her in his arms without warning and vanished, leaving behind a black smoke.

Vasquez did the same and then they both appeared on the other side of the wall, excitement gleaming in their eyes as they settled on the battle before them.

Nightshade placed Elyria on the ground gently and patted her head, "Fight like your life depends on it and do not hesitate to stain your dress with blood," he stated not sparing her a glance as he freed the double swords form their sheaths.

"Okay," she mumbled, gripping onto the skirt she wore, "What if I can't fight?"

"Those men are responsible for your father's situation," Vasquez quickly said earning a high five from Nightshade, but his expression turned cold, "If you don't fight, Princess, your father will be in that state again."

That being said, he vanished without saying anything else, leaving her silent with her head low. Nightshade on the other hand, waited to see what Vasquez' words might have done.

Unfortunately, when her sclera turned blue, be flinched at the surge of power that he felt emanating from her. "Shit," he cussed and vanished from that spot.

Ready to fight, knowing she could handle herself. He could easily take down anyone without worrying too much. And if worse came to worse, he would have to take down Darkhold as well.