Sereza groaned as the wide-eyed, gallant knight stole another glance. In the minutes it took for the survivors to unbarricade the doorway enough for us to get through, his eyes hadn't left her position. Well, except for the occasional fearful glances sent my way.

Igas helped reset the barrier and added his own addition of a few ice pillars. Once that was settled he moved to Teddy and Celanae, who were speaking to a group. It was hard to tell through the grime and blood, but I recognized a few faces.

One of them kept staring in our direction, eyes burning with an intense emotion that I couldn't place.

"Isaac, find somewhere else to hide. He's creeping me out," I whispered to the rogue behind my back.

"If you move I'll gut you!" he hissed.

"You don't usually threaten your meatshield."

"Please."

Ok, that's weird enough.

Isaac's father finally tore his gaze away from his son long enough to snap a remark against Teddy. Broken Tower's leader weathered the insult and pointed to the sky. Isaac's father as well as the other nobles around him averted their gazes.

I didn't entirely blame them. Smoke filled the city, and outside of the auction house a massive barrier contained it all. That only served as a backdrop for the fight going on. We finally found Teddy's parents, and they busy fighting against a blood monstrosity similar to a mutated kaiju.

They weren't alone, around them other methods of attack were launched. Small, ineffective things that hardly mattered against the lizard-like behemoth.

"Enough of this. You've made your point, Theodore. I do not know how your parents have disregarded the curse but that does not change things. We are trapped, and with this barrier, we have nowhere to run. There is no escaping this, we are better off hiding and fortifying our surroundings," said a man with dark, auburn hair.

Teddy had a polite smile, but even that was wearing thin. Celenae looked similarly at the end of her rope. It would have been funny, seeing the usually collected elf ready to bash someone with her staff, if it wasn't for the situation.

As if on cue, a tree-trunk sized beam of light speared through the behemoth's head. It's body reacted like a mixture of Zagreus and the flesh monstrosity we ran away from. Scales softened and lost their edge, while meat gave way to strands that dripped like molten glass.

The behemoth shuddered, pausing its attack. Teddy's dad must have capitalized on the moment because a giant fist of water punched through the hole, widening it further. People in the garden cheered, as the monster nearly split in two. The elation died as the behemoth roared.

Gigantic bloody orbs raised from the ground in a viscous flood. They detached from a flowing river that merged with the barrier. Standing whole once more, the monster resumed it's strike and swatted away a floating stone construct.

Teddy cleared his throat and channeled mana into his voice so that it could be heard over the murmuring. "We are not safe here. At any moment that thing could level an attack our way. There is also a danger hidden inside the auction house."

"The others… They turned into monstrosities," a random noble added.

Isaac's father shook himself and stared at the man with disgust. "We secured the door. If anything tries to break in we have enough defenders to protect us. No. Moving would be foolish, and we have no reason to listen to children."

I felt it before it happened. Isaac's mana bristled and I wrapped my tail around his arm to keep him back, but he bulldozed through me.

Here we go…

"You're so full of yourself you think you're above people even now!" Isaac raised his voice and addressed the crowd. "Did you hear him? He already consigned those tier one and lesser to be sacrifices. His valiant protectors in case the monsters come. The great and mighty noble himself, too afraid to even pick up a weapon!"

Celanae dropped her head and Eodyne sighed. Igas looked proud and Teddy stayed silent.

Isaac's father met the accusatory finger of his son with disdain.

"Even now, you resort to childish slander? Grow up son, the adults are talking," he said. With a gesture to the crowd he turned away from Isaac and spoke up. "I do not see you as pawns but only a fool would think to abandon the rest. If we fall, we are another body to join the horde. A blood sac to spawn more of those atrocities. Believe my idiot child if you desire, but know that you are more of a fool than he."

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Isaac drew his blade and I grabbed his wrist. For a moment, he stared at me with murder in his eyes, fury at the edge of the cliff.

"If you want to kick his ass while he's sealed then go for it. I don't think you'll find it nearly as satisfying as challenging him to a duel in the arena but hey, you do you," I whispered.

"Then release me!" Isaac demanded.

"If you kill him now, that'll send the others against you. We need to get out of here, and you dropping bodies just because they are annoying won't help us. Cut Teddy some slack, you know he won't let this stand. But time and place, man."

Isaac searched my face–mask and I slowly eased my grip. He looked down. Freedom was a choice he could make, if he truly wanted to kill his father right now then it was out of my hands. When he looked up, the rest of Broken Tower nodded to him, even Sereza and Khrem as they did their best to show they stood with him.

Isaac glared daggers at his father but he ultimately relaxed. He sheathed his blade, earning a snort that tested his patience. Instead he went toward Zagreus and started rubbing his head.

Teddy looked on and he dropped his smile. An aura blasted from Teddy, one I hadn't felt before. It had the taste of a light smothering the shadows, taking up your vision.

"Let me make myself clear then. We are moving to the barrier. Whether you come with us or without, is your choice," he said.

It wasn't Isaac's father who protested but another face I recognized.

"You'd abandon the houses?" Peter Ajestella asked.

Teddy nodded. "If need be. We have our own mission. If the choice is between completing it, and protecting you, then we'll part ways now."

Those in the crowd stared at Tyrrion. The grumpy bodyguard had stayed silent throughout the arguments. Answering to no one, none of the nobles present were able to get so much as a head nod from the man.

Peter's gaze shifted away from the clone. "If it's an order from him, then so be it. You may leave, but not with the others. We need their protection."

"Not even going to deny that Isaac was right?" I asked.

The Ajestella turned flinty.

"Anybody who abandons their duty to the houses shall never find comfort in the kingdom ever again. Be a coward, but don't think you can drag us down with you."

The crowd reacted with mixed emotions. It was obvious from the makeup and the scent of blood on them, that most were under effect of the curse. Those who weren't were mostly younger tier one individuals, perhaps young sons and daughters. Clearly camps were being made, but because of the hierarchy, few if any showed favor of defying the noble's words.

One voice did speak up, and not from who I expected.

"Sir Theodore?" Vincent asked.

All eyes turned, and the young man gulped.

"Vincent Valentius? What is it?" Teddy asked.

There were stars in the young man's eyes. He clearly thought of Teddy as a celebrity. Now that I looked at it, his armor mirrored Teddy's. More polished and chromed, but the design was close enough.

Vincent composed himself, and glanced at Sereza. "Broken Tower is famous. You've helped more people in tier one than most people have their entire adventuring career. If… If you have a plan, I put my vote towards your plan. If there's a way out, we should take it."

A roar shattered the background and a ship made of water was swatted into the barrier above. The rain that showered down wasn't too far, coating the farthest reaches of the garden. The fight had moved farther away, but all it took was one errant attack. Whatever defences these people could muster, I doubted they'd whether a tier three's mana without injury.

"I expected more from you Valentius. Your father was so proud to talk of his son. One determined enough to achieve second in the tournament. A shame," Peter commented.

Vincent gulped. "With all due respect sir, I didn't deserve the win. Mordred and Flamefist would have ground me to a pulp."

"Hmmph. As true as that may be, do not be so foolish to throw in your lot with them. They head toward the danger, not away."

Those sitting on the fence, and those who temporarily rallied to Teddy's side after Vincent spoke up, turned tail. When Teddy looked over the throng of people, none met his eyes.

"We'll take our leave then. Those who want to come, may join us. Those who don't may stay," he announced.

We reconvened around Zagreus and Arturous. I sent a mental probe toward Áine. Throughout the discussion she continued to poor rounds of controlled healing into the king. Despite her administrations, his condition was worsening, held at bay for now but it was like stopping a flood while an earthquake raged. Sooner or later, there'd be too many cracks to cover.

Eodyne sweeped the crowd and shook her head. "They would never survive the plains. The stubborn fellogrox becomes the village meal once the storm passes."

"They are scared and are used to following commands. There was never any hope of convincing them. Eitherway, we'll continue on without them. If they are lucky, the creature will stay inside the auction house, and they can defend against any errant attacks," Celenae said.

Igas patted Isaac's shoulder. "He didn't deserve the mercy of dying here. A few more years and he'll be grovelling at your feet."

"If he dies now, then you might miss out on your chance for vengeance," Sereza pointed out. When I raised a brow she shrugged. "Don't look at me like that. I'm having a weird night, and that man reminds me too much of my father."

Isaac snorted, turning into a gutteral chuckle. When his father stared he flipped him the bird and turned away, wiping a tear from his eye. "He's a bug. The kind that survives the house fire. I'm not worried about him here, he'll find a way to live."

I joined in for a laugh, but I caught a flash of white entering my vision. I tapped Teddy's shoulder and nodded to the approaching knight.

"Vincent?" he asked.

"I uh, meant what I said. If you're leaving, then I'll go with you," Vincent answered. His eyes widened and he quickly held up both hands. "That is, if you'll have me! Of course…"

Teddy reached out and Vincent awkwardly clasped his wrist.

"Welcome aboard. We'll give it another minute to see if there are any last minute stragglers then we'll head south side."

Vincent saluted, echoing with the distinct clank of metal. "Understood!"

When Vincent allowed some distance, avoiding my spirit and the giant bear I shuffled closer to Teddy.

"So what exactly is the plan for breaking the barrier?" I asked.

Teddy shared a smile with Celenae and patted my shoulder. "That isn't obvious? Truly?"

A sneaking suspicion entered my gut and I gripped Teddy's wrist.

"No I don't think so, but I'm starting to guess. Why don't you tell me?"

Teddy leaned in and whispered. "Time to shine, Cyrus. We got royalty to save."

Of fucking course.

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