I stared down at the drying ink. It had been signed by all of the people in attendance. The calligraphy was neat and uniform while being artistic and formal. Maurik had been the one to write it out. I sat back and watched as the scroll was rolled up and dropped into a leather case for the purposes of not damaging it. I looked down at the case and then shifted my focus back to the other people here with me, more importantly Velverosa. "When are we going to leave to present this to the king?" I asked. My body shuddered as the thought of me dying for treason flashed across my mind. I wouldn't let that happen, and neither would the people going with me.

"You three should head out tonight, and collect Cerik on your way there. If all goes well, I will probably be summoned for a meeting with the king if he and the queen choose to hear us out on the terms. I would like you all to begin preparing and bring anything you think will be useful if things go south. While you are away we will try to limit the deaths of adventurers in the tower and within the forest as a sign of good faith." As she finished speaking she looked over at me. Her the way she was standing was depressing. "In any case you are all dismissed, anyone on the team meeting the king should be meeting to leave within the next hour." Everyone in the room began shuffling out. I watched as Kiera pulled Haza off to the left while everyone shuffled out to the right, towards the teleportation room. I am sure this is tough on Kiera, Fenn was lucky enough to be able to be with Conoleth during this. Vel remain in front of me, and after looking at the other couple, made me want to curl up in her arms and never let go. I wasn't prepared to die, and if the king denied us I knew that only not even one of us was needed to show that they were denying the request for peace. "Malori," I looked up at my lover her cheeks were turning red, and I could see the beginnings of tears in her eyes. She stood before me trembling. She took a few steps back and basically fell into her chair. Her face went into the palms of her hands. I just stood there motionless. The woman I was in love with was just sitting there weeping. I didn't even know that Vel could cry, she had always been in the tsundere mode or the, post entering relationship, fluffy sweet Vel.

"Velverosa, everything is going to be fine," I said feigning confidence. I honestly didn't know that, and I knew in my heart that I shouldn't lie about the possibility of me not coming back to the one woman I adored above anyone on earth. I slowly shuffled towards her. Her crying fit only worsening the closer I came to her. Once I was right in front of her I kneel down and took ahold of one of her hands. She wiped her tears away with the other hand, then with swollen eyes she looked down at me. "Look, I will try my hardest not get hurt while I am on this mission, but if I do I need you to know I love you. I plan on this going well, and even if it doesn't I will do my best to get everyone back alive. It has always been my goal to be with you and that doesn't include dying before I get to marry you. I leaned forward and pressed my lips onto her cheek.

"I love you so much," Vel said reaching down and pulling me into a hug. "Remember after this we are going to spend a week in bed together so you better come home safe okay."

My frown grew into a playful grin. "With that reward, I definitely can't die." Vel laughed as she pulled me into a kiss. It was short, but gave me some much needed comfort. When I pulled away I knew I had to go and get ready. It would probably be worth it to grab a few spell scrolls just incase my current magic level isn't enough to get me out of whatever situation we're in. I pulled away, and with a quick goodbye I took off down the hallway and back up to Vel and I's room.

I adjusted the satchel on my shoulder and walked down the last few steps to the first floor of the tower. I had received a message twenty-minutes earlier that we would all meet on the first floor to depart towards Folstina. Walking through the different chambers that comprised the first floor I found the group waiting by the main entrance of the tower. Haza was in a black set of traveling clothes, Conoleth and Fenn were in their normal apparel. It honestly looked like neither of them had brought anything extra for the trip. I walked over to them, and we decided that we were prepared enough to leave. As I was leaving I started to remember what the palace was like. A few months ago I would have considered going to the palace to be fun. It was like entering a paradise when I got to meet the grand wizard there, but now it like entering the gates of hell.