It was safe to say that this hadn't been Seto's best day ever.

It kind of sucked to be beaten - in front of other people - by some recent spawn with a knack for total destruction. There was no doubt that someone was training him, but he didn't know and didn't have the time to figure out who. But he wasn't immature enough to mope over his defeat all day.

No, the impending war was what put him in a foul mood.

Seto stood around the large, round table covered in papers, small models of landscapes, and miscellaneous weaponry. With him in the war room was the ambassador from Kaon - Jerome - and some official that he couldn't remember the name of.

"They'll likely go between the peaks," Jerome was saying. "It's the easiest way for their entire army to get to Kaon quickly and and safely."

"What if they split?" the official argued.

"They won't." Jerome looked confident in his assessment. "Judging by Teskran war tactics and the fact that splitting would mean sure defeat because of the amount of time it takes to travel around a mountain, we can be fairly confident that they will remain as one group until leaving the mountain passage."

"Could we strike while they're in the passage?" Seto chimed in. "It's narrow, isn't it?" He gestured to one of the models on the table.

"There's the problem," Jerome said. "It's narrow. And incredibly dangerous to navigate if you're anywhere other than the path that they're taking."

"But they'd be vulnerable. There's no room to maneuver." Seto crossed his arms. Jerome still looked uncertain. "Correct. You could fire on them from above or cause a small avalanche. But it's just as likely to take out anyone from our side."

"Losing a few troops but destroying a huge portion of Teskra's army?" the official snapped. "It's an easy choice to make."

Anger flared unexpectedly in Seto, and he turned to glare at the man. "Need I remind you that we are not even officially at war yet? You should not be making plans to send soldiers to their deaths!"

"But general - " the man started to protest.

"Leave." Seto turned his back to him, and he heard an indignant squeak come from the man before footsteps sounded and the great spruce door of the war room closed. Seto sighed and ran his hands through his hair. "This is the biggest war we've faced since ancient times, Jerome."

He felt his friend's hand on his shoulder. "I know. Same for us, even though we've faced quite a few as mainlanders. But your city - your people - are powerful. And they're motivated. You know they won't go down without a fight."

"I'm afraid for my people nonetheless." Seto picked up a small wooden carving from the table, one used to represent a battalion when placed on a map. "Some, yes, have had hundreds of years to hone their strengths and they're still in top condition. But some, even though they are in their prime, have barely walked the earth for a year. They're untrained. They can't control their powers."

"That's why you have us to help you," Jerome said determinedly.

"Teskra would still outnumber us two to one."

"Every one of our warriors is worth three of theirs."

Seto looked up at him and smiled thankfully. He decided to change the subject since the other man was gone. "How is Mitch?"

He saw Jerome's eyes brighten when he talked about his friend. "Almost completely recovered. He'll have a scar but your healers work magic. Literally. They said the wound would be completely closed by tomorrow! And the other day he took a trip into the woods with some friends."

Seto smiled - and not just because of the news. His friend's excitement when he talked about Mitch made it clear that they - whether they knew it or not - were a bit more than just casual friends. "That's great!" he said enthusiastically, glad he had something to be enthusiastic about. There was only so much stress that someone his age could take. 

"It really is. He's been dying to train with his other friends. The ones he traveled with?" Jerome didn't look jealous, surprisingly. Seto had to think for a second before he remembered with a flash of irritation that Mitch had traveled with a man named Ian and...Deadlox and Sky. Why does everything have to lead back to them?

"He just wants to fight again," Jerome continued. "He doesn't like killing, of course - that would be scary - but we're similar like that."

"You like to talk about him, huh?" Seto couldn't help himself. Jerome looked at him in surprise, then laughed. He could see the man's cheeks turn the slightest bit red. 

"He's my best friend," he shrugged with a smile, then turned back to the circular table. "But back to the matter at hand. If Kaon falls, can everyone retreat to the island?" 

Seto winced. "I'd prefer not. We've been a secret for centuries. Nobody knows that we exist and we'd prefer to keep it that way."

"But the island has defenses," Jerome argued. "Like, literally. It's like it's alive." 

"It has its own life force, yes." Seto gazed at the maps on the table. "But it defends itself against strangers. To bring in a whole city...not only would assimilation be an issue, but the island would constantly trying to rid itself of the people."

Jerome sighed. "Then we'll have to retreat to the forests. If and only if it's the only option. Retreat is shameful to Kaon's warriors." 

"Good thing you won't have to retreat." Seto picked up the map that they had used earlier, and Jerome's eyes widened.

 "You're going through with this?"

"This is the best way to stop Teskra's army with the fewest casualties," Seto said firmly. "I'll construct an elite team. I'll even go myself."

Jerome shook his head. "No way - what if you die?" 

The sorcerer smiled grimly. "Then Brice will step into his duties early. He's more than ready, even if he doesn't appear to be."

The other general let out a frustrated groan and walked to the other side of the table, where he checked maps and reports as if looking for another way. Finally, he sighed. "Fine. But I'll come, too." Before Seto could protest, he held his hand up. "Don't start. I'm only here as a representative. Kaon has several generals just as good as me. But I also get to choose some people to take along."

"Fine," Seto said, a bit irritated but glad that he agreed to the plan - despite his conditions for it. "But you're aware that this is only if they declare war and advance, correct? Otherwise it's - "

Suddenly, the spruce doors were flung open and Brice stumbled it. His eyes were wide and he clutched a scroll like it was a lifeline. Worry filled Seto, and he rushed to his side. "Brice? Are you okay?" 

Brice gazed at the general with wide eyes. "Teskran soldiers attacked a camp of Kaonic warriors last night. Within Kaon's boundaries." Seto heard Jerome curse softly. "And a patrol just came back claiming that a foreign creature attacked them in the woods." 

Seto surprised himself with how calm he was able to stay. "What sort of creature?"

"They said it was like a dragon, but it was made of smoke and it spat acid." Teskran sorcery. "Thank you, Brice," Seto said quietly. "Please go inform the Council."

"I did," the blonde said. "They're in the council chamber now, waiting for you and representative Jerome." 

Seto shared a glance with the other general. They both knew how this was going to turn out. The time was upon them. 

"Let's go, then." 

-

Sky lay in his hammock, his amulet back on, staring at the cloth ceiling of the tent. He could hear Deadlox's faint breathing just a few feet away and envied his ability to fall asleep after their encounter. After facing that creature, Sky no longer trusted the promise of safety offered by the city. But, surprisingly, he could feel nothing but a faint sense of disappointment. It was nothing compared to the distress he'd felt before at times when safe havens were destroyed. He sort of understood now. There wasn't a place for them - anywhere. The monster possessing Jason - the Wither, he'd dubbed it - would always find them. 

Unless they killed it. 

Sky closed his eyes to try to sleep again. Please, he thought. I don't even need to sleep. I just need to talk to Jason. Eventually, the world faded and he found himself standing in the field of grass. The first thing he noticed, however, was that the wind was blowing a bit harder than usual. He tried to ignore the ominous feeling caused by the slightly darkened sky and the faint rumble of thunder in the far distance, where the darkness waited by the edge of the field. 

"Teskra has unofficially declared war." Jason's voice made him jump and he whirled to face the brunette. Shock coursed through sky. "What?"

"You'll go to war now." The boy sounded miserable. "You'll fight. Either the monster wins and the world crumples to nothing or you win and my city is destroyed." Another roll of thunder rumbled across the field. 

"No, wait." Sky stared at him. Is he okay? He mentally slapped himself. Of course he's not. "It won't be destroyed. We-We'll save it."

"Really?" Jason met his eyes. "And what happens then? Will I be able to return to my body? Will I be trapped here forever?" He gestured around him at the empty field. "What's waiting for me in the world, anyway? My city will despise me after what that monster has done in my body. The world will hate me. And the only person I truly care about is dead. By my own hand." 

A shiver ran up Sky's spine. "Jason..." he began softly. 

The clouds overhead darkened a bit more. Jason turned away. "I just need to be alone right now," he said softly. "I don't want to hurt you, too." He waved his hand, and the world around Sky began to disintegrate. Panic quickly rose. "Wait!" he cried. "How do we kill the Wither?" 

As the world faded to black around him, Jason's voice followed him like an echo. "I don't know," he said, voice fading. "That's for the heroes to figure out."