Aventus POV

"Why couldn't it be a nicer place than Dragon's mouth?" I asked the guys. The place was a wasteland of jagged rocks, fire that magically keeps burning forever, and monsters tend to like this area to spawn... I turned around and looked at them annoyed, "So?" I said at them, they all looked at me and shrugged their shoulders. We looked around for a small hiding/rest area to regain our strength. We found one and settled, Donny's brother put up a small spell of concealment and went out to investigate a route and possibly find Solus on the way.

"I'll go with you!" I said to him.

"No. You are not made for scouting or the kind of job that I do." He walked out.

"D are you sure about that mate?" Said Donny looking at his little brother.

"Yes I'm sure..." Just like that he disappeared into the shadows.

I laid my mat and fell on it feeling frustrated and useless, while Donny prepared a small fire with some magic to hide the smoke, and Ric prepared the horses to sleep. Oh yeah, he returned to grab the horses, and the cave was big enough for them to fit through, he told me that Brave would not move without Solus, Ric told him what happened and Brave got a bit crazy, but eventually calmed down and followed Ric with the other horses. I still can't believe his ability... Mine is Buffing my physical abilities, Donny's ability is Harden which makes his entire body as hard as stone and nothing can hurt him... Well I think magic can, although some scratches did get him last time, but that was for protecting my little brother... Damn Solus I'm so sorry...

"Don't blame thee for such things." I turned to see a familiar face. "Shriek.... Took you long enough to catch up." I said turning back to my mat.

"Yeah..." He sighed and sat next to me, "I saw the village destroyed and feared the worst, on my way here there were a few demons, but I took care of them easily. I heard about what happened and here I am. Now what's the plan?" I felt him pushing me, but my eyelids won't stay open.

"Let he be Shriek, the lad just lost his brother because of me and also... He has not slept in days..." Donny motioned for Shriek to sit next to him.

"Now let me tell ye what happened, maybe you will see this in another way sa'vi?" Shriek nodded and sat next to Donny.

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Shriek POV

Hello, my name Is Shriek. I am an Old friend of Aventus hahahaha.... I still find it funny, sorry inside joke. I am from an ancient family of Knights that have been serving as guards to Aventus's family. I know you all must have noticed how no one has a last name, that is because your last name is chosen by the gods at a shrine in the Kings palace. If you are worthy for such an Honor then it will be Gifted upon you depending on your Victory and way of life... I have mine, but I do not want to talk about it. Now Aventus's is known as Excalibur, he gained that honor for fighting an entire army by himself, that way his friends and comrades could escape back into the gates, in that process his sword awakened with the power that was given the name Excalibur, which only he can use.
Now enough story, let's go back.

"Shriek! I'm speaking to you mate!" I blinked and smile.

"My apologies Sir Donny, please continue" I rubbed the back of my head and smiled lightly.

"Like I be saying, after Aventus knocked Solus down, I took the boy with me to the underground safe house that we used before, once there I laid him on one of the beds... Curses! If only I would be more aware of my surroundings..." Snapped Donny.

"Hey Concentrate!" I said snapping my fingers.

"Ay... An explosion came out of nowhere, I turned to see a horde of demons rushing in from a hole in the wall, I used Harden and charged, using all my abilities to defend the kid, I ducked, jumped, slashed, stabbed and everything I could to save the boy, I did not care for me life... Only to follow my order through and keep him alive, I would sacrifice me self for Solus and Aventus at any given moment mate.... When a few escaped I tried to follow, but saw that Solus was gone, I ran through the cave screaming his name, but the cave collapsed and I ran back.... I explained everything to Aventus... I cried me eyes out, but be my beard he put his hand on my shoulder and pulled me up giving me hope again" said Donny brushing his bear and letting out a few tears, "He trusted me even after what happened Shriek.... And now we found the other entrance and appeared here." Said Donny while moving a few embers.

"Hmmm..." I felt like there was something missing. "What about the leaders of the Mountains, why couldn't they help you?" I asked Donny. He looked at me with a serious gaze,

"Them devils didn't even say thanks to Aventus after rescuing them all." Donny continued explaining what they said and the more he talked the more my blood started to boil. Donny was angry, but his look at me changed quickly. I was holding my sword hilt tightly, letting out my Aura,

"Nobody speaks to my family like that even if he is a Lord" I spat at the ground angrily.

"Calm down Shriek, there is no need for that... Maybe if I was in their position I would act the same..." Said Aventus weakly.

"Don't you dare Aventus, thy are an amazing brother, they can not even reach your greatness." I said waving my hands in front of Fritz in desperation.

"Calm down..." Said Aventus looking at me worried.

"Sigh... Look they should have spared a few people to help you look for Solus... He is like my little brother too. But something does not add up... When I passed the gates this soldier ran up to me and told me that he remembers my crest, which is yours and that they saw you enter the room and never come out. I followed the soldier to the entrance of the hideout and here I am.... But what he said next surprised me..." I looked at the ground thinking... What am I missing.

"What do you mean... What did he say?!" Asked Aventus desperately.

"Well the young soldier told me that there was a captain who came through the cave after you guys, A small group of soldiers stating that they were going to help you look for your little brother as thanks for saving them." I said still trying to remember what I had forgotten.

"Oi sorry for interrupting.... But mate we got company" said Donny getting up slowly with his short axe on his hand.
I grabbed my sword and looked at Aventus, he did the same and we stood up inhumanly fast ready to slay our foes.

"Calm down! We are here to help Sir Aventus!" Said a Soldier with the armor of the Mountains and rank of Captain. He kneeled and his soldiers followed the same. "I pleaded to my Lord to aid you in your quest... You saved all of our families and friends. Our Honor and strength as Knights will show as we travel on to save your little brother Sir Aventus." He finished speaking and bowed his head, I counted how many soldiers were with him,

"There be 10 plus the cap'n" said Donny, I nodded at him and looked at Shriek's eyes, "So trust them?" Shriek looked back at them for a while and turned back to me.

"For now.... My old friend." I relaxed, but kept my sword in its scabbard at the ready.

"Ok then it is settled, what are thy names?" I asked the captain first. They all stood up and the captain walked forward,

"Captain Liner sir! Mostly knows as Stone Pillar, which is all of the captains as we hold the mountains of our great city." He saluted with his fist on his chest. Then he turned to introduce the rest of his company(soldiers, but company is easier for me to put them together).

"These here are my own men, we have been through hell and back in this forsaken place before." Lines continued explaining all of the other soldiers names, but there were only 2 names that were the most interesting and had power to them.

"Excuse me Captain Liner, you said that those two are not with you?" I said not believing what he said.

"Yes Sir Aventus, they are not with us in the moment, but they will catch up as soon as they can, they are being held up by some unfinished business." He said sitting down as his soldiers got accommodated about 10 feet from our camp. "We will set up a watch so we can all rest... We are still tired from the war, if you would like Sir Aventus we could still press on, we follow you to wherever we must go."

"Hehehe, they seem like good sailors to me mate, and that captain of theirs he be something special like you and Shriek... Something about his surrounding seems to bend...."

"That I saw.... But I still can't put my finger on it, something seems off." I said rubbing my chin, "Donny contact Don, there are a few things I would like for you to tell him."

"Ay ay sir!" Donny ran up to me and  listened to my order then he walked up to his fire and food, he sat down slowly and wrote something's on a note and threw it in the fire, the fire crackled slightly, Donny whispered a few words and the fire had a small green fire in its center but only for a second. Then they all continued normally as if nothing happened.

As they ate the soldiers and Captain Liner were eating bread and cheese. I looked at Donny and he was way ahead of us, he took his pot and walked over to them,

"Now I be an oyster stuck to an old ship, but ye soldiers be eating bread'n cheese, I made beef stew, bring out your bowls mates, tonight all of ye eat till belly is full sa'vi?" Donny started filling bowls up, and the soldiers were about to cry from Donny's graceful act,

"Thank you sir.... Sniff we have not ate a proper meal in months.... We.. We.." The soldier couldn't finished his sentence and sat down crying, and so the other soldiers did the same, Crying and eating.

"Captain Liner come'er" said Donny filling his bowl, "why be your sailors throwing tears away?"

Captain Liner looked down at his bowl and I could swore I saw tears, "Sigh... Ever since the war started the food and all essentials were sent to the Lords castle to protect it, but then we soldiers could not even get a bite to eat or our families, the Lord said that if no one worked then no one shall have food. And so the only easy thing to get was flour to make bread and some people had cows and we would make cheese...." He smiled slightly and wiped off his tears, his soldiers were crying and calling their captain saying you have done all you can.

I looked at my guys and back at this soldiers and asked them to take off their armor once they were done with their meals, as soon as their armor was off chills ran down my spine...

"Be the gods... These soldiers... Aventus!" Donny started getting angry, I looked at Shriek and he ran to Ric, I stood there looking at this 10 soldiers plus their captains, they were skinny.... You could see some of their bones and now under the fire the shadow under their eyes and weak.

"Captain .... Has you Lord done anything to serve your people?" I said holding my anger. He smiled slightly and for a moment hesitated and said no. "Once we rescue my brother we will help your failing kingdom, for now Ric come here!"

Ric appeared with Shriek behind him, "We need to heal these soldiers, and put them in a better state."

"No Sir Aventus! There is no need!" Liner tried to stop me, but I was raised with honor by my Father and the king.

Ric walked forward and lifted his arms, making his hood fall back showing his pointy ears, pale white skin and glow around him, one of the soldiers saw him and almost cried even more. Ric started to chant in an old tongue, Donny started to cook more food and Shriek went to grab water that was drinkable. Once he finished the soldiers stood there like nothing happened,

"The effects will appear after you sleep, for now you are far too weak to endure such magic, now eat more and rest Soldiers" said Ric walking back to his spot and eating his fruits. I smiled and sat next to Ric asking him about the effects of that magic.

Meanwhile....

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Don POV

I hate this place.... Even when I'm invisible I feel like I am being watched by something way too powerful. I continued going through burned trees and huge rocks trying to find a trace of the demons that took Solus... After hours of search I was returning back to camp when something catch my eye, I rushed to the mark on a tree ( ~ ) I smiled and looked in the direction it was made, I followed a small trail through the trees to find a cave that was very well hidden.

"I've found you..." I whispered, using my will to control shadows I appeared next to Donny, and who can't control the urge to scare a brother. "Pssss...." Donny turned around and continued cooking, I jumped around and appeared in front of him with a Scream.

"Aaaaahhhh!!! Be my beard Don I will kill you and feed you to the sharks!!"

"Hey your back Don... Any news?" Asked Aventus, I smiled.

"I found him." I said smiling.

Aventus stood up and nodded at me, he went to walk away when Shriek hold him down. "You are far too weak to go anywhere let's rest." Aventus looked at him and stood up again.

"I will not stay here and let them go further away with my little brother!" He screamed in anger.

"Damn it mate look around you!" Said Donny.

Aventus turned around and slowly sat back down..." You are right... My apologies... My judgement is not clear... I'm going to rest." He laid down and closed his eyes, shriek sat next to him with his eyes closed and kept his sword in his lap.

I walked over to Donny, "Hey big brother..." Donny smiled and gave me a very strong hug,

"You did good Don! I'm proud of you." With that he gave me a bowl of food and I jumped into the tallest tree. There I sat with the view of our camp and also of any routs enemies might try to sneak in. I looked down at my beef stew that had vegetables floating on it, I felt my mouth water and my stomach growled wildly,

"It has been a long time since I had a meal like this since... Mom" I ate it so fast that it made me sad to see the bowl empty. I set it aside and stared and this vast land... It wasn't horrible, it was just kind of empty, but if you look at it in another mind set, then it looks very interesting and welcoming... Well for me anyway and maybe Donny... I know Ric must hate it here since he comes from another land.
I crossed my legs and meditated as I was taught once before... My body was asleep but my mind was awake.

"We will save you Little Solus". I said to myself falling into a calm slumber.

Hehehe... Little Solus will not be saved, he will pay for what he has done to me... To us. Once you arrive here Solus... I will kill you slowly for abandoning us.

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Oh that can't be good...