*Camile* I was sent to sit with Merna, it was Puabi who told me of the state that Merna showed up in. Puabi paced the room with me as we hoped the situation would change. “If anything happens to …” Puabi started. “He is going to lose his temper! He will let his dragon out and no one wants to be around if that happens!” “It sounds like maybe the Master has feelings for Merna.” I smiled at Puabi. “Chaos will never admit it!” Puabi sat on the edge of the bed placing her hand on Merna’s leg. “For all that is innocent and pure, please wake up!” She whispered to Merna. I was grinning at Merna, “do not worry if there is anything I am good at, that is taking care of others. Plus, I have Merna to thank for saving my life from certain doom.” I was smiling up at Puabi. Puabi placed her hand lovingly on the side of my head, “We will take turns keeping an eye on Merna, we both owe Merna a great deal!” *Master* The moon was at a high peak when the clouds started to move across its horizon. “Master?” My mage was confused as to what was happening. “Selene has allowed my sister and her offspring to use her portal to gain entry. Make arrangements for my family.” I told my mage as I stood ready to greet my sister and hers. “Brother!” Iravu announced her presence. “I would have let you know that I was coming earlier but I am afraid the situation did not allow it.” She appeared in front of me followed by a pale son of mine along with my sister's offspring. “The spies are everywhere! I would like to keep my presence unbeknown to our enemies as long as possible!” I greeted my sister with a grin, “it has been far to long since the last time we spoke” Kissing the side of my face once, she spoke. “I wish to see Merna!” I hugged my sister, “You were never one to waste your time on small talk!” Not often do I show affection. “No!” She smiled back at me. I led my sister to Merna’s chamber. Huffing and sighing, “None of my mages can figure out why she will not wake up!”Iravu studied Merna, “Merna exhausted herself … children do not seem to understand the concept of patience. Always in a hurry to get things done …” Iravu started to laugh. “we were worse when we were young and unknowledgable!” Iravu placed her hand on Merna’s forehead. “Give your little mate time to regain her strength.” Iravu set her eyes on me. “She is just sleeping peacefully!” I was glaring at my sister as my chest rose up and down, an uneasy feeling creeping into my soul. “Relax dear brother!” Iravu placed her hand on my arm, “She has returned to you! In the end you will see that Merna is a great deal stronger than the others!” I grumbled, “I can not help but feel history will repeat itself again … and I will lose Merna in the process!” Iravu nodded her head understanding what I was speaking about! While I was speaking to my sister, minus my sons and Merna, anyone that could be used against me was now hidden from my siblings. Iravu and I were in the throne room getting ready to discuss the next move that would be made. “Report?” I ordered when the mage entered the throne room. “Master, Mannel’s mate has been captured, she is in the holding waiting for your next command.” My sister and I locked eyes on one another, this is not a coincidence that she was captured. There are no coincidences when it comes to my sibling. “I will deal with her personally!” I waited to see if there was anything else that the mage had to report on. “Your eldest sister has flead to her domain along with your youngest brother. Many of their bloodlines have been captured or disposed of.” The Mage replied to my inquiry. I studied the mage. “I am going to assume that we have control of the location that they have acquired?” “As you had requested, Master … Sadragon has been given lordship over the Eastern terrain of the Western continent, while the centre still has yet been assigned to anyone. From the reports the Western terrain is still being battled over, Ashur is there now from what has been reported.” “What about Wematin?” I knew he had been given command over the warrior party. The mage cleared his throat, “he is missing in action. We are still waiting to find his body, but it is assumed that he was captured.” I frowned, “That is disappointing news for sure!”The mage agreed, “Yes sir it is!” “I will assign lordship over the central section, later on. For now leave the head of my mage there for temporary assignment.” I ordered the mage. Jotting down my order, “I will let him know of your demands at once.” I glared at the mage, “Is there anything else?” Studying the notes that were in his hands, “I thought I would mention that we have lost twenty-five thousand hunters, three thousand recruitments, and seven hundred mages. Injured or missing, twelve thousand hunters, fourteen thousand mages, and four hundred recruitments. We have also captured two hundred and sixty thousand heads.” The mage finished. I glanced from the mage to my sister, then back to the mage, “Would there be anything else?” The mage was hesitant, “I am not sure if this is of any importance …” “Out with it!” I urged him. “Human born practitioners have noticed that there are more, as they put it, dark entities. Plus human borns have started to fight and argue more among themselves.” The mage was careful with the words he chose. Iravu sighed, “That is to be expected. When one realm begins to fight, the other realms are affected by the energy as well!” She stood up from her chair, “keep an eye on things, report back if war erupts among the human borns. Pirapancam will not like it if the human borns cause another world war.” The mage cleared his throat, “From what I have gathered from the intel, civil unrest is dominant. There are no conversations of another world war, though we know how things can escalate quickly with … the lower of species!” Getting ready to depart, “history has a nasty habit of being repeated!” Iravu glared at me once. One of my hunters rushed into the chamber, “Sorry for the intrusion, but there was an attempt on the consort's life!” Iravu and I were up and out of our seats before the hunter could finish, “Where is the one who tried to harm Merna?” Iravu bellowed. Bowing, “She is in the dungeons!” The hunter was quick to answer. “Was the human born that was with Merna harmed?” I asked as everyone was following me. “There was no one in the room. I found the situation weird when I passed Merna’s chamber and entered in time to stop the attempt.” The hunter was now starting to get out of breath.“Chaos you go to Merna, I will go and deal with your new guests!” Iravu tilted her head to the side with a wicked grin on her face. *Pierre* The full moon was appearing over the horizon, and every hair on my body was standing on edge. It was just a matter of time before Mannel would be here. As I glared out the window, clouds were starting to cover the view of the stars. “He is coming!” The old man said, “Are you ready with that dagger?” I displayed the dagger, “As ready as I ever will be!” We had gone over the plan several times. Playing out possible events that could happen and how they would be handled. Everything felt like it was resting on my shoulders to make sure that this worked out. The rumbling of thunder rippled across the city. Just like any other prick, Mannel was going to make sure his presence was known with a grand show. “When the lightning hits the rod on the roof, he will be here.” The old man started to tell me. “You will only have one chance to take control over Mannel. Do you understand me?” “Yes!” My senses were beginning to heighten. Lighting was seen before the thunder was heard. “He is here!” The old man yelled as the house was struck with thousands of bolts of energy. I kept watch, waiting for any sign of Mannel materializing. Nine seconds later I spotted where he was going to be. Rushing over to the spot, I thrust the dagger into the swirling white light. When Mannel fully materialized, the dagger was in his gut. His laughter was when I realized I had fucked up. Mannel extended his nails … The son and father started to speak in a language that I did not know. It was enough for Mannel to pause as his arm was extended outwards. Twisting the blade while it was in his gut, Mannel groaned with pain. Mannel’s menacing laughter echoed on the walls rattling the windows. At the same time, I twisted the blade to the left and ripped it out at a right angle. Mannel’s arm came down at a speed I had never seen before. The old man and boy continued to chant as Mannel started to lose his balance. The blade dropped to the floor as I held my throat, ‘it has been done!’ I sent the message out to the Master. Not knowing if he would hear my words.Energy swirled around Mannel as he was being pulled into the amulet. I dropped to my knees thinking of my beloved mate. The irony of this all! Mannel fought with everything he had, but with the damage that I caused him, he had no way to get out of the vortex that was pulling him into the amulet. Three minutes passed and everything was done. The old man came to me, placing a hand on my shoulder, “this could not have happened without your sacrifice!” My vision was slowly going black, “rest now warrior … May your next life, you find your mate again!” I felt the old man's powers rushing from his hand over my body, “you are just like Merna, a balance of life and death.” I whispered as blood came out of my mouth. I felt my body floating to the floor as the old man and my eyes were locked. In his eyes, I could see an archway with brilliant white and blue light. “Death has many faces! Each of us understands the great importance of life, death, justice and punishment! We are the gateway to balance!” The need to go to this archway was overpowering me. “I will make sure that you and your mate meet again! Rest now child, this fight is over!” I heard the words in my head as I stood in front of the archway. I stood at the gate as I observed the souls of dragons flying in the atmosphere, the children of the universe running around laughing and playing games. Taking a step towards the archway I spotted my father. “You are a man now, much older than the last time I saw you!” Father clapped my back, “I see Alround has found you and brought you to safety!” My jaw was jarred, and I could not speak for the longest time, “who is Alround? How …” My father started to laugh, “Alround! Also known as Pisces! He has been on the earth's realm trying to regain balance. He would appear to you as an old man with a son.” My mind was fuzzed but the events that brought me here came back. “I remember what happened.” I grasped my father in a hug, “you have no idea how much I have missed you!” Father started to laugh, “you have no idea how much I missed you boy! Come! This is our home until things have settled!” *Ashur* We have spent two Earth months setting up bases and finishing building our base. We also have gathered enough proof to send to my father that Mannel and his followers are interfering with human borns existence.Young children and adults had been going missing every day at an alarming rate. In each location we scouted, a human born had gone missing the hint of Mannel’s power was present. This was all we needed to spread the word that illegally Mannel was collecting serfs as his own. Each time one of my hunters would get close enough to capture the culprit, he or she would slip away. Without waiting for my father's order, I took it upon myself to insert myself and take over the situation. I may get reprimanded for these actions, but I could also slip in that I was doing this to advance our army. Which in a way was true. The main reason, just like my father, I preferred justice no matter the species. “Your father, our king, may not like you acting without his order!” The general warned me. “It is true that I am acting based on information that human borns are being taken illegally. Though this should be the right time to act accordingly. We do not have time to wait for my father’s approval nor wait for the council to step in. Mannel is collecting human borns! We all know even though physically they are weaker. human borns are a food source for us. If the human born is of the elemental race, then she is even more concerning to us. Stopping this now is the best course of action than waiting.” “I agree with you, I am just bringing to your attention that your father may reprimand you for your choices.” General responded and sighed, “Something not many know, but my blood runs in the veins of human borns … it could be kin of my mine that is being taken! This prompts me to continue to observe, collect and act when it is right. I just need to know you are ready for the consequences of your order!” Partially joking and not, “Piranpancam has always favoured human borns, maybe she will give you immunity!” Captain commented. “I will go to her if my father wishes to skin my hide!” I cleared my throat and looked at everyone here. “I will not make anyone go with me on the hunt for Mannel’s kin or followers. This will be of your own volition. I will sweet talk my way out of our punishment. But this goes beyond orders.” One of the recruits stood up, “I vowed to aid your father, but he doesn’t own me, I will go!” Other recruiters agreed with his statement, “on one condition!” “What is your condition?” I inquired. The one who asked the question gave me an evil grin, “I get to rip the head off the shoulders of the traitor!” The room was filled with belly laughter “Our enemy attacked first, you were only defending yourself!” I justified an action. The group started to laugh maliciously. “Men, let's move on out!” The recruits yelled to the others.Everyone had left to get ready, “I know General, I am being rash and not thinking clearly!” “No! I have never loved human borns but I have never wished them harm unless they deserve what is coming their way. What Mannel and those that think like him, need to be stopped before the balance is destroyed. When it comes to the system, even the grasshopper has a purpose! I only give you one bit of caution, what we do here, the earth realm will copy.” I placed my hands on my hip and sighed, “It has already started! Our fighting is starting to show in the earth realm.” “We have to move swiftly … the balance between the realms needs to be brought back to a calming effect!” The General added, “this is the reason your father stopped when the purge was happening. The flood followed by the freeze … It was devastating to all species! The last purge claimed eighty percent of living forms … your father understands the importance of keeping the balance between realms … Do you understand the importance?” “This is one of the reasons father has not waged war with his siblings all this time. When one realm goes to war against another, all realms begin to fight.” I added to the thought process. “Father was within his rights to attack many times but chose to remain calm and stilled. We can’t afford to do that any longer.” “We just have to remember one thing, we did not start this war, your fathers siblings did!” He patted me on the shoulder. Slapping general on the back, “hold the base while I am out! I am only going to take five hundred heads this round! We will be back before the sun illuminates the land!”