CHAOS RISING

  “Is everyone ready to leave, then?” Bree asks. “Remember stick with the plan. Milly you get Bran and invite him to the raid he brings in any forces available. Meet at The Voice’s study.” The party emerges in the dungeon's guardroom. An Imperial Army Major welcomes the group and informs them the Emperor would like to see them. Bree holds up a hand to interrupt the Major. “Sorry Major Finnely, we have a Chaos Event. After we leave, by my order you will seal this wing. No one in one out. On pain of death. Am I clear?”

  “Yes Ma’am, Chaos Event declared. Seal the wing no one in no one out. Kill anyone that attempts to leave or enter.”

  “One more thing Major, if the Emperor or Knight Commander Brightstar enter, isolate them if you can with arousing suspicion. You will send a runner to me at the temple. Do not engage either.”

  As the Major comes to attention, he repeats the orders, and the troops immediately begin a flurry of organized action.

  “Milly, get going now, fast as you can.”

  The raid party exits the army wing and charge through the streets of the capital, each thinking their own thoughts. Bree leads the party to less traveled streets and to a discrete side entrance for the Temple of the Goddess. In the side vestibule stands Milly, accompanied by Bran and five other Paladins. As the two groups approach each other. Bree, whispers, “Chaos Event.”

  Bran nods and with a quick gesture to his senior man says in a low voice, “Seal the temple.” With a salute, the paladin runs off, spreading the word to the temple guards. After coming to a stop in front of the door, he withdraws a knife, then cuts his hand, slamming the door with his bloody hand. The temple walls reverberate with the sound of a hum traveling along them. Bran asks, “Situation?”

  Bree replies, talking in a muted voice. “Eunice, Tolbur, Penny, and Harold are under the influence of cursed items. Tanner, Connie, and Claire are on point for this.” Raising her voice, she says. “Follow Tanner’s orders in this matter. Be sure to accept the raid invite.”

  With a look of shock, Bran replies. “Lord Tolbur is in attendance with the church council at this time.”

  As the raid moves closer to Eunice’s study, an odd sight greets the rescuers. Red-robed priests are guarding the doors instead of the regular deacons. The strange priests raise their hands to stop the running men and women, only to be run over and pushed aside into the walls. The priests fall to the floor unconscious. Bran, leading with his shoulder, smashes the door open. The Direwolf pup tears into the unconscious men, ripping his fangs through their necks and slaughtering the two men. As the raid gathers in the now crowded study, they see a strange sight. Eunice, on her back, sprawled over her desk. A red-robed priest of the Compassionate Hand standing over Eunice with his hands shoved into her robes.

  “Bran knock him away from her,” Connie orders.

  Bran charges through the office space. Arm extended, catching the priest in the neck, snagging him away from Eunice.

  Tanner notices the energy connected to Eunice from the man's hands and orders. “Lilli, take his arms off. Mick collect them.”

  The raid watches, stunned by Tanner’s orders and the action taken by the twins. Taking advantage of Eunice’s position, Tanner attacks her, slicing through her lower ribs, across her abdomen and into her opposite hip. Throwing the cut weapons' belt to Claire and reaching into Eunice’s gaping wound with glowing hands, and pulls out an abomination. Two of the paladins fall to their knees in prayer. A third jumps to attack, ignoring Tanner’s screams to stay back.

  Claire catches the cursed items with her Essences, holding them away from everyone. She moves the captured items to the small foyer dedicated to the Goddess.

  Connie leaps to grasp Eunice by the head. Her bond flows into a protective stance a few feet from her, facing the room. As she cast her Celestial Cleanse and Remove Curse. A bright golden light extends from the small statue of the Goddess Eunice has on her desk, touching Connie’s head, strengthening her spells.

  Claire reaches the blessed area of Eunice’s small chapel, a blinding light flashes as the cursed items she carries are destroyed. Mick's eyes tearing from the bright light runs with the severed arms he is holding into the chapel. The rings on the man's hands burst into flames, quickly consuming the severed hands and arms.

  Connie calls for Rhys to heal Eunice’s ravaged body. Tanner struggles with the foul smelling demonic, snake-like creature. Small, human like arms ending in claw tipped paws, sprout from the body of the monster, stretching and struggling to reach Eunice. As each arm reaches out toward her, the paws turn into grasping hands, mouths forming in the palm, snapping and crying out for mother. Puss oozes, dripping off the creature, fading before it lands on the floor. The attacking paladin shouts in triumph when his sword strikes the wriggling monster, only to shriek in absolute despair when its tail elongates into a stinger and strikes up into the man’s stomach and siphon essences from his body, growing stronger. “Jax.” Tanner shouts, almost losing control of the monster's form.

  Jax, with the deepest regrets, casts Psionic Void at point blank range to the Paladin’s head, removing it and killing him. Then moves his spell to focus on the creature's tail. Loud Wails of anguish pour out of the demon, rupturing ear drums and staggering the unprepared. Mick, standing in the small private chapel, calls for Tanner to throw the creature at him. With a manic grin, Tanner spins, throwing the abomination at Mick. Mick catches the snarling monster’s momentum on his shield, deflecting it into the chapel and throwing his shield after it. With a soundless roar that can only be felt, not heard, the chapel brightens and the entire temple shakes. The light fades, leaving a breathless Claire and Mick the only things left in the chapel.

  “Connie check the room please, Jax destroy the corpse, Mick, Claire, Milly, get ready for Tolbur. Bran please see to your people I will not have disobedience again, the Paladin corp. is supposed to be better than this. Your man killed himself. If any cannot follow my orders get rid of them now and either stand with us or retire and stay the hell out of our way.” The others look at Tanner in shock, seeing him for the first time. The decuplet nodded in agreement with their orders and carry them out. Tanner, standing tall, gives a stern look at the rest of the raid party. Bree, with a small victorious smile, nods approval. Rhys, still healing Eunice, nod his respect. And continues his job. Bran gives Tanner an odd look combined with outrage, sadness, and respect. Turning to his paladins, Bran quietly tells them to leave the raid party if they have questions about the mission. Reiterating the fact that Tanner is indeed in charge. They will follow the man’s orders.

  “Tanner, Eunice is conscious and asking for you.” Rhys says to the young man.

  “Thanks, I will go now.” He walks over to Eunice still laying on her desk. Tanner puts a hand on her forehead, and says, “Hey Eunice, for such a good looking woman you look like crap.”

  With a small, sad smile, she says, “You are such a charmer, I’m dying Tanner she could not get it all out.”

  “Connie cleared your physical body, your spiritual body will take a little longer, First we get you to the main chapel, Then lure Tolbur to it and cleanse him. Then the Emperor and then Penny. We got this.”

  “Tanner positive thinking will not change this I am dying I can feel it eating away at my Essences.”

  “I know, I can see it happening, so can my entire party. We will beat this.”

  “What happened to you kids? Sorry your not kids it’s just you are so young to take this on. I did not mean to call you that.”

  Tanner smiles at his friend and says, “Up you come, I’ll walk you to the chapel, I’m afraid your private chapel needs a remodel.”

  Eunice struggles to stand and puts her arm around Tanner's shoulders. “We will talk on the way, young man.” As the couple make their way to the main chapel, Tanner tells her of his adventures in the dungeon and with the Goddess and her father.

  Once everyone arrives at the main chapel, Tanner sits Eunice down by the Goddess’s statue. As he turns to Milly and Jax, Tanner says, “Can the two of you please get Tolbur here?”

  Before they can leave, Eunice says, “He may not come here none of us have set foot in the Blessed Chapel in over two years.”

  Thinking for a moment, Tanner says, “Bring him to the vestibule. Bran, have your Paladins force him into the chapel if you would please.”

  “Aye Lad, we can do that. Tanner, after nodding his thanks, begins to scout the chapel for ambush points that could be used against a Master Assassin. He hears a familiar female voice.

  “Look this way please.”

  Turning to look, Tanner is shocked to see the Goddess completely nude. “Look closer and for as long as you can.” she tells him.

  As Tanner looks, his spiritual sight activates, and he can see Goddess’s body both physical and spiritual, on display. Eyes burning from the overwhelming energy, Tanner closes his eyes.

  With a flirty wink at Tanner, the Goddess says. “Oops you caught me in the bath.” Everyone turns to see the Goddess now fully clothed. Tanner, bemused, pulls his sketchbook out and begins drawing the Goddess. Nodding in approval at Tanner. The Goddess announces to the chapel. “My time is short. The Order of the Hand of Compassionate Measures will be purged from the Church. The Paladin Corp. will be purged of all that no longer believe the Mission. Bran, you will see to this. You will not retire. I need you. Eunice will step down as MY VOICE. I am well pleased with her, she now has another task before her. Bring Melinda here as her replacement. This needs to happen soonest. Tanner this all part of the Grand Quest. Your party has my Blessings and regards. One other thing before I go. Your inheritance is not in the empire. You need to find it by midsummer.” The Goddess vanishes as fast as she appeared.

  Tanner, still drawing in his sketchbook, sits down beside Eunice. Eunice, teasing him as she watches him work, exclaims, “What an imagination you have! You have never seen me naked and yet here you are drawing me? Really, Tanner such a perv.”

  A puzzled Tanner looks at her and says, “What? This is not you.”

  “It’s not?”

  “No it’s the Goddess, Now quiet I need to finish this.”

  Claire and Connie overhear, Tanner and Eunice’s conversation and walk over. The direwolf pup, now looking half grown, lays his head in Eunice’s lap. The two girls sit on either side and talk with Eunice while Tanner draws. “There it’s done. Look, this is the spiritual body of the Goddess. What we need to do is close Eunice’s Soul Gate. Then force develop her Mind and Body Gates, then both of her chambers. Then I work on her channels. We pressurized her body and mind, then connect everything together, open her Soul Gate and force the Demonic Essences out of the spiritual body.”

  The three women look at Tanner strangely, Eunice breaks the silence and asks, “How did you come up with this?”

  Flushing with embarrassment Tanner, tell his audience about the Goddess letting him look at her naked so he could see both of her bodies. The three ladies look back at the drawings.

  Eunice asks, “Is this what our spiritual bodies look like?”

  “Most of us are not so complete, but yes that is correct.” Tanner says, while Claire and Connie both nod their heads.

  Eunice, in wide-eyed amazement, says, “We have gained more information in the last ten minutes, than we have gathered in the last one hundred years.”

  “You summoned me your Grace?” A young-looking woman asks, entering the room with two paladins as escort.

  Eunice welcomes the newcomer with a sad smile and says, “I believe the time has come, my dear. I know this is sudden, but I will at least be able to help with transferring power, and Bran will be with you as well.”

  Eunice, standing with the new Avatar of the Goddess, clasps her hands, offering a brief prayer. All present are struck by the similarities between the two women. She intones, “The Goddess has chosen. Your role is to hold her powers over Her Church. You will be the Goddess’s Voice in this world. You will be the instrument of her Guardianship.” Eunice slumps as the power bleeds from her to her replacement.

  Melinda turns to the room. Eunice, still beautiful, now looks more like her cousin, Penny, but simultaneously she still looks a bit like Melinda. Tanner leans over to Claire and Connie, and whispers loudly, “I guess the Goddess has a type.”

  A few church members look at Tanner in shock while everyone else laughs. Much of the loudest laughter comes from the Old Voice and the New Voice.

  One of the paladins on guard calls into the chapel, “Lord Tolbur has just rounded the hallway corner.”

  Tanner ducks behind a pew a few feet into the room. Tolbur runs to the doorway and stops, unwilling to set foot into the Chapel. With, her black stained robes held to her chest. Eunice calls to Tolbur, “They tried to assassinate me.”

  Tolbur raises his foot to step forward, “I can not enter” The paladins both slam into his back, propelling him in to the Blessed Chapel. With lethal speed, the master assassin spins and stabs one paladin with the cursed knife. Tanner leaps behind Tolbur and slices the weapons belt off of the much stronger man. Tolbur spins back to face Tanner. Claire calmly steps in his way, hesitant to strike the little girl he helped raise. Tanner cast Arcane weapon in sword form and chops Tolbur's forearm, cutting the tendons. Removing the cursed weapon from play. Claire slashes her uncle’s stomach open and jumps back.

  Tanner, now wearing his Arcane armor, reaches into Tolbur’s body and snags the Essence Demon from him. Back peddling rapidly, Tanner attempts to keep the humanoid creature from climbing back inside of his friend.

  Tolbur cries, “Give it back, Give it back.” over and over like he is in tremendous pain. Connie smoothly steps behind the distracted Tolbur and casts Celestial Cleanse on the poor man. The holy energy from the chapel pulses, erasing the edges of the demonic monster with every throb.

  Jax picks up the injured paladin and carries her to the Voice Melinda, as the woman begs for death. Melinda lays her hands on the woman, easing her pain. “I can’t do anything more for her.” She says to Jackson with a sad look.

  Jax nods his head and carries the now sleeping paladin to the Statue of Justice. “This one is yours,” he questions, gazing at the figure of the Goddess’s husband, “Will you abandon her?” As Jackson’s challenge rings over the struggles taking place. Echoes of the challenge ring throughout the chapel space, a stillness spreads centered from Jackson holding an unconscious young paladin in his outstretched arms like an offering. Flowing out and around the chapel into the temple proper and beyond. A sudden infusion of a new Celestial power flows through the chapel, vanquishing all demonic essences from the room. Refreshing and renewing all present. Jax places the young woman on her feet. She holds him just a few moments longer than necessary. Jax pats her hand with a smile and walks to Milly.

  Tolbur climbs to his feet, looking severely used, with much of his clothing burned away. While a ragged Eunice rushes to embrace him. Bran rushes forward and wraps a large cloak around the couple.

  “Um, what happened to their clothes?” Milly asks.

  “They were saturated with the impurities from their possession, I can’t find any trace of a curse or infernal essences anywhere in the temple.” Connie answers.

  A happy Tanner watches Bran and Bree talking with their newly cleansed friends. Tanner walks up the foursome. “I hate to interrupt the reunion, but we are not done yet.” He sends a raid party invite to Eunice, Tolbur, and Melinda. “Two of you need to get dressed unless you are planning a new fashion statement?”

  The ridiculously dressed couple, wearing borrowed, overlarge cloaks, run off to arm and armor up, giggling like schoolchildren. Tanner laughs at the two, then says, “Resupply folks, the next two battles will not be as easy.”

  Once everyone has gathered, planning begins. Bree paces back and forth. “While I want nothing better than to rush to the palace and free my husband, I feel that would be a mistake. We need to bring them both here. How exactly do we accomplish that? Suggestions anyone?”

  Bran speaks up, “I don’t see us getting them into the chapel. It was hard enough with Lord Tolbur. Perhaps an urgent threat to the empire get them into a temple conference room?”

  “How would we keep them in place?” Tolbur asks.

  “Could we bless the room after they enter?” Connie asks.

  “That is one possibility, but if their curse is as strong as Tolbur’s we had all we could do to break it in the chapel proper, which has much stronger blessings.” Eunice observes.

  “Getting them into the chapel does not seem feasible, I do not see any way to be convincing enough that a threat to the empire meeting needs to take place in the chapel. After all it would not be a very private setting. It would also seem suspicious from their point of view.” Melinda says.

  “We could cast linked Blessings like during the Unification War.” A timid voice speaks up. All turn to see the young paladin Jax rescued standing awkwardly with her hand partially raised. As all eyes land upon her, she flushes from the attention.

  Bree gives an encouraging smile, “Please can you elaborate?”

  “Uh well I was reading in the histories, that the war camps always cast linked Blessings to prevent Essence creatures attacking sometimes if the creatures were more powerful it limited what they could do during an attack. I just thought that may work.” She pauses, “Um uh Your Majesty….” The shy woman trails her words off.

  “What is your name young lady?” Bree asks gently.

  “Um its Breanna. I was named for you, Your Majesty…” She again trails off her words barely being heard.

  Bran taking the attention away from his subordinate, clears his throat. “That’s a fine idea Breanna.” Bran turns to address the others. “Bree comes to us straight from the Church Academy. She had top marks in all her classes, at the beginning of her second year she opted for the Paladin Corps. Been a hard charger ever since.” Bran smiles at the young woman fondly.

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  “Would this work?” Rhys asks.

  The clergy all nod their heads, smiling. Melinda speaks up. “Yes, we can link several people at once, cast a first blessing, then cast consecutive Blessings on top of the first. We would need a few minutes for the first, the succeeding Blessings will build on the first like a foundation. It still will not be as strong as the chapel but should give us a better chance of success. Well done Paladin.”

  “Now to figure out where to set our trap and lure the prey.” Eunice smiles.

  All look at Eunice awkwardly for her phrasing, “Sorry old habits, since I am no longer the Voice, didn’t see a reason to sugar coat it.”

  Tanner smiles at her, shaking his head. “We need a room that can be surrounded. Can the Blessing be cast through walls? Is it an area of effect type spell? What are the limitations?”

  “Area of effect, the casters link Essence then simulcast the Blessing. Let’s get a few trusted Deacons, and more Paladins, we can all surround the main council chamber in the halls around it, soon as the door close, we bolt them and cast.” Bran looks around the room at the others.

  Harold and Penny tense in defensive stances while the other four Imps face them, backed by the Imperial bodyguard, the Church Paladin Corps., along with the decuplet. The body guard tackle Harold to the ground while the remaining Imps bring Penny down and hold her in place. The Two possessed Imps struggle against the overwhelming forces holding them is place.

  Tanner cast Arcane Blades and slices the weapons belt from Harold’s body, throwing it off to the side for Claire to capture. With a cast of Arcane Armor, Tanner sticks his hand to the wrist into Harold’s abdominal cavity, extracting a peculiar, pale spider. As the wiggling creature screams in outrage, it pulses and more legs push through its caprice with loud cracks the legs grow longer unwilling to release Harold, Tanner back peddles. Connie walks and kneels by Harold's head, casting Divine Cleanse. As the vile, black tar like substance pools out of the Emperor’s body, he convulses and begs for them to put it back. When begging doesn’t work, he screams in strangulated anger for all loyal subjects to restore him to glory. The Entire Raid party watches the exorcism in horror, most not having seen the temple drama.

  Tanner, after dragging the entity far from its former host, nods to Jax, and the two friends cast Void spells on the monstrous creature, destroying it. As the Divine Cleanse ends, Rhys cast healing spells on his friend and Emperor.

  “Tanner we have to work fast we don’t have much time left.” Claire calls out.

  Tanner delicately cuts into Penny's swollen figure to remove the cursed items. Penny, screaming in anger, calls everyone in the room vile names as the weapons belt is removed. “Rhys, show me the best places to cut. I can not just cut and tear like everyone else. Rhys draws a glowing line across Penny’s bare skin. As Tanner gently cuts along the line, Rhys has shown him. Rhys instructs Tanner to cut deeper here and shallower there. After following Rhys’s instructions and casting Arcane Armor, Tanner reaches in and quickly snags the cursed essence creature from Penny, pulling out what looks like a sickly yellow colored praying mantis. As the creature's back end is pulled from her, another head and fore claws grow from the tail end of the monster. Stabbing savagely into Penny's womb and tearing her unborn child from her body. Tanner cast an Arcane Shield around the fetus to protect the premature baby. Claire swiftly casts a Primal Shield around the baby over Tanner's shield. With the baby and the demon now suspended over Penny. Tanner now sweating and trembling with the exertion of holding two shields and enforcing separate space between the baby, the demon, and Penny. Jax darts his hand to the demon, grasping it and casting Void spells on the monster while pitching it into an empty corner of the throne room. Milly, seeing Jax’s hand turning black from the contact with the demonic essence, cleaves Jackson's arm just below the shoulder. Mick bats Jax’s arm into the corner with the demon. The Demon absorbs Jax’s arm and eats into the stone wall. A deacon clasping his hands on Jax’s shoulders heals him. While Jax casts his void spells with his remaining arm, destroying the foul creature. The infected fetus transforms, Tanner’s shield turns colors cycling between an oddly comforting blue to a bright magenta glow. The fetus stops in mid motion. Claire tenderly reaches forward to cup the small, almost child, in her hands and casting a strange green and orange colored spell that comforts all who see it. The fetus calms and ceases to struggle. Connie begins her struggle to cast Divine Cleanse on the expectant mother. Forcing the tainted essences out of her body, finishing just in time for Claire to pass the sleeping baby to her. After casting Divine Cleanse again, she returns the stolen fetus to its mother’s womb. Rhys finishes healing his wife and checks over the raid party for needed healing. Noticing all needed heals are in progress, his attention turns to his wife, who is peacefully sleeping, and folds her in his arms. “Well that was a bit of a struggle.” Tanner says. And falls on his face.

  Thankful for her high tiers and levels. Bree begins the long process of putting her house back in order. She has to insure credit for the raid party is distributed, the liberated curse victims are okay, gathering reports on current events and any happenings of what went on while she was in the Dungeon. The following morning dawns and the decuplet troop into the imperial family’s dining room for breakfast, to find the worn faces of Imps all gathered. Besides the Dean of Darton Academy, and two unfamiliar men. A tired-looking Bree stands in welcome and says, “Sorry guys, I know today is RestDay, but we have several things that need to be discussed.”

  “Can we eat first?” Claire asks. Half in complaint and half in jest.

  The dean laughs and says, “Absolutely. I hate dealing with hangry students. I’ve found them to much more docile after feeding.”

  Connie walks around, laying hands on each of the Imps before she sits down with a wan smile.

  Looking tired, Jax and Milly sit beside each other. Milly loads Jax’s plate, and says, “You need to eat up, You and Tanner did most of the work yesterday.”

  Claire and Connie load Tanner's plate together. Mick, Lilly, and Karnna hand tall glasses of juice to everybody. Iris and Dylan walk into the room holding hands. Mick plops down and asks, “Who are the new guys?”

  “Mikhail Nikolai Rasumun, that is very rude apologize immediately.” Scolds an older version of Milena as she walks into the dining room accompanied by a large blonde man with the same build as Mick. The students look around, they notice there are others also entering the room, Ehlarkan Lilly, and Iris’s father, Grand Duke Utian, Jax’s father, and his stepmother. A red-haired couple, Connie’s parents follow in everyone's wake. The decuplet jump to their feet in surprise, then everyone rushes to meet family and reintroduce parents to friends. The Imps all mingle with the decuplet’s family members, overawing and reassuring in the same breath, any unease with their higher rankings.

  Eunice, monitoring Tanner, wanders through the gathering, still able to captivate the others even with the loss of her avatar status, walks over to Tanner and sits next to him. He watches the joyful event from the sidelines wearing a bittersweet smile and rises to his feet to greet his friend’s loved ones when introduced. Wrapping an arm around his broad shoulders, she snuggles in and whispers, “You still got me kid.”

  “And you have no idea of how grateful I am for you,” he whispered back while hugging her.

  “After watching the way you fought for us, we have a pretty good idea. Now get off your butt and meet everyone.”

  “Yes Ma’am.”

  Eunice shakes her finger at Tanner in mock anger, “What have I told you young man.” Dragging him into the mix of family.

  Tanner finds himself cornered by the Grand Duke Utian, “Prince Alexander, may I have a moment?”

  “Oh uh yes sir, Just call me Tanner.”

  “My son speaks highly of you.”

  “Well Sir, Jax is great, he is a good friend and teammate.”

  “Jax?”

  “Yes sir his nickname Jax short for Jackson. I really wanted Jester though cause he makes so many jokes and pulls so many pranks.” Tanner says with a laugh. “Sir,” Tanner confides, “He even got a Jester Class,” Tanner says, snickering.

  “Surely you are joking,”

  Tanner realizing he may have given the wrong impression. Reassures the man. “I mean that as a kind of joke sir, you see, with the way Jax acts some times and his Class capabilities. I give him a hard time about it. He really is on his way to becoming one of the most accomplished Psi Mages in the Empire. If it was not for him yesterday would have been much harder.”

  “I see, My son is very happy with all of you. What can you tell me about the young lady he is leading this way?”

  “That is Milena Rasumun. Sir They are a couple.” Tanner says firmly.

  Grand Duke Utian looks Tanner in the eye, sensing his tone. “You would defend his choice?”

  Tanner gazes back. “With my life, Sir they are both good people.”

  The Grand Duke breaks his characteristic frown with an approving smile. “His mother was a merchants daughter and the love of my life. I’m glad he has found people he can count on. Now lets get a look at my son’s Status Sheet I wish to look over this ‘Jester Class’.”

  Tanner makes his way over to Mick and Dylan. “You got to watch Jax and his dad. This is going to be awesome.” The boys wait for Jax’s big reveal to his father. The two watch Jax show his father his Status sheet. They watch in anticipation as The Elder Utian reads over the sheet, smiles, hugs his son and shakes his hand with obvious pride. Then turns to the room and announces, “My son has a Jester Class.” The Grand Duke winks at the other boys, the three red faced from attempting to hold in laughter.

  Jax, open mouthed, looks up at his dad’s grinning face, looking at his three friends, now gasping for breath. The room now silent except for the breathless laughter of three friends, the muted giggle of Bree, and the rest of the girls in on the joke. Rhys’s loud guffaws of laughter break the stalemate.

  Jax heads for his three laughing friends, calling out, “Tanner, You Ass, you’ll pay for this.” The three boys attempt to run, but with a twist of Jax’s hand the boy’s shoe laces all tangle, tripping them. Jax dives on top of them and the four friends' rough house. The men folk gather around cheering the struggling boys, while Bree, laughing, gathers the ladies to the other side of the room. Mrs, Chainbreaker just smiles and shakes her head fondly. Milly’s mother, looking horrified, try’s apologizing to the empress, who laughs it off, and says, “The boys have had a rough week they need this. I wouldn’t be surprised if Tanner didn’t plan it.”

  Penny says, “I got a gold on Tanner.”

  Milly jumps on the bet. “Nope two gold on Jax.”

  Eunice, eye narrow in thought says, “I don’t know Mick is much larger and stronger than the others, I got a gold on Mick.”

  Claire and Connie both say, “Two gold on Tanner.”

  Milly quickly reaches her arms around Connie’s mother and her mother and whispers, “Bet on Jax he already tied the boy’s shoes together. I’ll front you the gold.”

  The two look at each other and shrug. “Two gold on Jax.”

  Bree smiles at the two and says, “that’s the spirit.”

  The four young men laughing too hard to continue, break up the mock fight. They lay for a few moments, breathing hard. Jax gains his feet and walks away, raising his arms in victory. While trying to stand up, Tanner, Dylan, and Mick stumble and end up falling into one another. To the sound of laughter from the ladies. Looking at their shoes, they sigh in defeat. “He got us.”

  As money changes hands with the ladies, the men look at each other in dismay. Harold, with a forlorn look, says, “We forgot to bet gentlemen.”

  Tolbur says with a snort, “I’d have taken all of your money, I was the only one that noticed Jax tied their shoes together.”

  “Not the only only one,” Jax’s father says. “Well done my son, you have up held your family’s honor.” As the Grand Duke claps Jax on the shoulder, he looks his son in the eye and says. “In all seriousness, Son you have done well. I am proud of you. I hope you are as proud of your accomplishments as I am.”

  Connor, the Majordomo, steps into the room and says, “Breakfast is served.” The sound of serving platters and the smell of food fills the room, and everyone heads back to the table.

  Once everyone is seated, Harold says, “Please begin, do not stand upon ceremony. This is to be a get reacquainted and a working breakfast. We have a few things to discuss. I invited the Minister of Education, Lord Edward Harman, the Head of historical research Lord Kevin Kardon, Dean Liafinor, and, of course, all of you as the parents or guardians of our young adventurers. Lord Kardon if you will start I know you have some business to attend to soon.”

  Kardon stands and passes out portfolios to the decuplet, “It has been wonderful to meet the people we have been trying to help. This is everything we have found so far. I have collected all the information from the Church, the Academic Guild, and our own imperial records. All information has been correlated into a concise report, including copies of all records found. I have included the researchers' conclusions. You all know where to find me if you have questions.”

  Harold stands and walks over to the older looking man, shakes his hand and says, “Thank you Kevin you can go and enjoy those grandchildren now, I appreciate you taking the time on your day off to help out.” The archivist bows and leaves the room. As the emperor moves back to his chair, he says, “The first order of business is our students' education. They want to test out of the first year mandatory courses. Both semesters. Dean Liafinor will that be an issue?”

  “I don’t see any problems with this. It is an unusual occurrence, but not that far out of the ordinary. As these ten students are the top ten of the first year class, I think this would be seen as natural.”

  Bree says, “Good. They also need to be removed from school or a revised curriculum needs to be developed for them. Edward, that is why you are here.”

  “And here I thought you all just missed me.” Edward says in a dry tone of voice. Edward stands and makes a vow to the Goddess not to reveal any information learned about anyone in the room upon his life. Then sits to the stunned silence of everyone else.

  Tolbur laughs, “You were always a quick one, Eddy.”

  Edward gives the room a tight smile “I recommend everyone in this room gives such an oath if they haven’t already.”

  Harold's shoulders slump, and his posture reflects regret, taking a deep breath says. “I was waiting on this until after the meal and everyone has caught up with their loved ones. Imperial security is at stake, and your children are at the center. I want to stress that they have My complete confidence and trust, and are under the protection of the Empire and the Church.”

  Bree reaches over and rubs Harold’s shoulders and says, “What my husband is attempting to say here is that, We did not call you all together to ambush you into forcing an oath from you all. We did actually want you to reunite with your children. That is what this breakfast was to be all about. Then someone who is too clever by half, decided to prematurely connect the pieces together.” She laughs at Edward.

  Jax’s father stands and swears the same oath as Edward. After his oath has taken effect, he looks over at the other parents. “I know you all are confused right now, this is a tremendous step for all of you. Most of you don’t know what being Attuned means, as you are not Attuned yourselves. Please understand this is about the safety of not only the empire but of your children. I urge you all to take a similar oath. Jackson has kept me informed of a few things, with Edward’s oath and everything spoken so far. I believe I know what this is about. So please, for your children’s sake.” He finishes his brief speech with a bow and sits back down. Jax’s stepmother, Smith Jhaeros and Mrs. Chainbreaker both stand and swear. After looking at the decuplet’s encouraging nods, Connie’s mother and father are the first to stand, soon followed by the Rasumuns. Ater swearing Mrs. Vandine remarks, “What a peculiar feeling. Now I for one am not letting this wonderful meal go to waste.” She picks up a fork and stabs a sausage. The rest soon join her.

  With the meal complete, everyone adjourns to the sitting room to continue the meeting. Rhys erects a privacy ward with a nod to Harold. Edward jumps to his feet and asks, “Which of you have an Origin Affinity? It’s the only explanation.”

  At the confused looks on the Rasumun and Vandine faces, Dean Liafinor says, “Excuse me but not everyone in this room has been academy educated. Let’s go over the basics first so the Rasumun and Vandine’s understand what is happening.”

  Edward winces and turns to the non-attuned and says, “Apologies for my rudeness, in my excitement. I forgot not everyone present is Attuned, after you learn the basics. I will place myself at your disposal for questions you may have.” The gathered people separate from parents, Dean Liafinor, and Edward join the discussion about the basics. The Imps and Tanner’s team group together to catch up. The Imps asking how the decuplet could even function amid the fighting of Tier 3 and above. Tanner explains about the ‘Rings of Parity’ they elected to receive. Bree holds up her hand to stop all the questions, “How about we recount the Dungeon run then answer questions?”

  The decuplet recount their adventures with input from Rhys and Bree. The others have joined and listen to the account spellbound. At the story's end, Harold stands and says, “Let me get this straight you gave up a ‘Ring of Attributes’ that gave extra Attributes every Level. To get this temporary Blessing of Parity to save us from the curse.”

  Mick nods his head and says, “Yes sir we each chose it.”

  “Everyone please rise.” Everyone stands, and Harold continues, “Over the last few hours I have been contemplating how to reward the ten of you. After finding out the incredible sacrifice the ten of you have made. I now know. Please kneel, Milena Rasumun, I name you Knight of the Imperium, and grant you the title of Imperial Baroness. Please rise Knight Baroness Rasumun.” Milly rises with tears in her eyes and impulsively hugs her emperor. Harold smiles and pats her back and whispers, “We need to get to your friends dear.” Milly flushes red and steps to the side. Penny reaches out and pulls her into a hug, and off to the side. Harold steps up to a kneeling Mick and intones, “Mikhail Rasumun, I name you Knight of the Imperium, and grant you the title of Imperial Baron. Please rise Knight Baron Rasumun.” Mick stands and steps to his sister's side, he notices his parents both smiling with pride.

  Harold steps before Connie. “Constance Vandine I name you Knight of the Imperium, and grant you the title of Imperial Baroness. Please rise Knight Baroness Vandine.”

  Connie stands looking Harold in the eyes and says, “We did not do it for rewards.”

  Harold smiles at her and says, “We know, that’s what make you so special my dear.” Blushing, Connie steps over to Milly and Mick. Connie looks at her mother and father, both about to burst with pride.

  Harold steps up to Jackson and says, “Jackson Utian I name you Knight of the Imperium, and grant you the title of Imperial Baron. Please rise Knight Baron Utian.” Jackson stands torn between going to his father’s side or his friends. The Grand Duke beams and gestures him over to his friends. With a grateful nod, Jax moves to stand beside his friends.

  “Karnnadosandra Chainbreaker please kneel. I name you Knight of the Imperium and grant you the title of Imperial Baroness. Please rise Knight Baroness Chainbreaker.” Karnna rises to her feet crying, and dives to Mick, hugging him tight. “Dylando Chainbreaker please kneel. I name you Knight of the Imperium and grant you the title of Imperial Baron. Please rise Knight Baron Chainbreaker. Dylan stands, then rushes to his mother and hugs her.

  “Irisonalkillian Jhaeros please kneel. I name you Knight of the Imperium and grant you the title of Imperial Baroness. Please rise Knight Baroness Jhaeros.” A beaming Iris rises and walks calmly to her father and hugs her proud father, both with unshed tears, Then Iris walks to Dylan and hugs him tight.

  “Lillianne Jhaeros please kneel. I name you Knight of the Imperium and grant you the title of Imperial Baroness. Please rise Knight Baroness Jhaeros.” Lilly also rises and hugs her father then goes to join Mick and Karnna’s embrace.

  With a step toward Claire, Harold smiles with pride. “Claire Contigo I here by name you Knight of the Imperium. Please rise Knight Princess Contigo.” Claire stands, showing her upbringing, bows to her father and steps aside to her friends with a calm, measured pace. Harold turns to Tanner with another proud smile. “Tanner Wilson-Alexander, I name you Knight of the Imperium, and as you already have the title of Imperial Baron. I would instead grant you a boon to be later named. Is this acceptable?”

  “Yes your Imperial Majesty.”

  “Then please rise Knight Baron Alexander.”

  Bree says, “We will schedule a proper ceremony for you all later in the month. For now, you can use the rank and titles. We will have you scheduled to meet with your retainers and go over your lands and income. Sorry we have strayed from our original reason for this meeting. Harold how about you sit and relax, I will take over from here.”

  “That may be for the best. I have a few things I still need to deal with from yesterday. The business of the Empire does not get many days off. I am afraid.” As Harold leaves the room, Rhys, Penny, and Tolbur follow.

  “Well, Eddy, what have you come up with?” Eunice asks.

  Edward stands and paces, “They take the basic exams. Then they can pass the first year. In the next few years, they will have to take and pass several other classes, so there is no reason we cannot have them take course credit exams in all the mandatory subjects. They will need guided studies and or access to any advanced class they need for their development. My thinking is we give them the bare bones curriculum and flesh out with guided study programs. I need their Affinities and areas of individual interests, I can have something knocked together in three days.”

  Tanner asks, “You put all of that together in a brief time and it sounds perfect. I have the Mind Gate, Origin Aspect Arcane and am the party leader so I need leadership, High Magic, and anything else you can think of.”

  “Ah, so you are the one. The good news is I have several study programs outlined already for the Origin Essences we have information on. We will make arrangements for you all to have one-on-one meetings to put a plan together sound good?”

  “Yes Sir only there are two more of us that have Origin Affinities not just me.”

  Edward sits down, his face filled with surprise, and exclaims, “There are three of you.

  Connie raises her hand, “Mind Gate, Celestial,”

  Claire grins, “Mind Gate, Primal.”

  Edward looks at the others, “What about the rest of you?”

  Jax tells him, “Body Gate, Psyche”

  Milly says, “Mind Gate, Tempest.”

  Mick says, “Body Gate Physique.”

  Karnna and Lilly both say, “Body Gate Physique.”

  Dylan smiles, “Mind Gate, Elemental.”

  Iris smile shyly and says. Mind Gate Nature.”

  “You all have Prime or Origin Affinities.” Edward asks, taken aback.

  “Yes sir, our gates are all ranked Rare and our Affinities are all ranked at Epic.” Tanner adds.

  After a two-minute pause, Edward stands and says, “Fouthday, you will all set aside time for your one on one meetings, Dean Liafinor will attend, you can bring anyone you like just know the meeting is for you and you alone.” Edward strides toward the door when Eunice calls out, "Eddy are you forgetting something?" Stopping Edward turns and remembers, “By your leave your Majesty.”

  Laughing Bree tells the man, “Never change Eddy, you can go.”

  Jax’s father says, “What is the expression ‘sharp as an elven dagger,’ He seems good at his job. By the way, please everyone call me William. The title is not needed for my son’s friends and their families. I have to ask your Majesty why this meeting? Please do not get me wrong, I am grateful for everything you have done for Jax. I understand the mindset of those in power. After all, I am one of those people.”

  Bree says, “You are of course correct, I do have multiple reasons for having you all here. The top reason is I would like you all to sign off on the formation of a permanent party for our children. The rest needs to wait until we have our sons and daughters elsewhere. Sorry you ten it is not for you to find out about just yet.”

  Dean Liafinor stands, “I want everyone to understand I endorse the formation of a permanent party. I further more will set up the testing for the following Firstday. The ten of you are exhausted and for good reason I do not want to see any of you on campus this coming week. You have all done very well. By your leave your Majesty.”

  Bree smiles at the older woman, “Thank you for coming Dean, you may leave.”

  Claire says, “Mother, I too would like to retire. I want to check on father and study.”

  “Of course dear that Blessing of Parity seems to have taken a toll on you and your friends.”

  Claire walks toward the door, Connie calls, “Claire wait up please.” She turns to her parents and says, “When you are done here you can find me in my rooms here in the palace. I want to spend more time with you both but I am exhausted.” Receiving hugs from her father and mother, she hurries to Claire’s side and the two walk out together.

  Mr. and Mrs. Rasumun look at the twins and say, “Shoo you two, the adults are talking.”

  Laughing, the twins group hug their parents. “We will be in our rooms when you are done.”

  Eunice looks at Tanner, “Hey how about you?”

  “My weapons are trashed from yesterday. Smith Jhaeros is not done with our orders yet. I think I will go see about getting new ones to get me by in the Elf or Dwarf quarter of the city.”

  “Oh mind if I Tag along?” Jax asks.

  “Please do I would like company.” Tanner says, hugging Bree and then Eunice.