Silence rang out the halls, small taps could be heard but otherwise it was nothing short but a tense atmosphere that glass could probably pierce in one slice. "Are you sure." The voice that spoke held a great deal of power, a woman's voice. She sat upon a throne as she tapped her fingers against her cheek. "Yes Your highness. My sources seem sure. We have found him." The woman stood up, her regal dress fell into graceful curls as she looked over, piercing blue eyes and elvish ears pointed out from her curly blond hair. "Bring him to me." She started to walk, a few servants followed after her... one was noticeable from their features, as it was a beast person... blue scales ran up their arms and a lizard tail flowed downwards behind them...

...

"where are we going Lio..." Alex whined as she followed up after Lio who was hiking up a mountain. "You will see~" He shouted back with a grin. Alex never seen him so excited and she could only put up with it as seeing that smile gave her a good feeling... it was better then seeing him half dead in a cave. she felt a little gloomy at that before she saw him jump up higher to a tree branch. She followed after him as he started to jump to tree to tree. "How on earth are you so good at thiiis~" She almost fell off a branch as she did and caught her self.

"I don't know what you mean by earth but I'm Elven. Tree's are like our best friends." Alex could only imagine him for a moment being a tree hugger before she saw Him jump and a literal tree branch moved slightly and caught Lio's foot and jumped again to another which did a similar reaction. She stared at him curiously as she had remembered the similar thing happening to her on the first day in this world... The bush and vines wrapping around her... the druids nature's blessing. She hopped after him and noticed the tree was doing a similar thing to her... but she didn't have that effect in her status window... She looked up and saw Lio grinning at her before jumping away.

"Lio! is it like the druids promise?" She asked curiously as he gave a laugh. "You could say that!" He grabbed ahold of the tree and slid down it and gave a short stretch while Alex hopped down from the tree and landed next to him. having to put her hand against the tree so she didn't fall over. "Here we are." He said staring ahead off a cliffside. Alex's eyes looked to him curiously before towards where he was watching and she could only look out in awe. A giant lake in this dipped down crevice of a forest. Like a Meteor had struck here and formed a glorious spot for a lake to form and close by, Alex's ears twitched as she could hear crashing water. A giant waterfall fell into the lake. "Woah..." She had gotten a great deal of Niagara fall vibes... Lio smiled brightly at her reaction as he grabbed her hand. "You haven't seen nothing yet. Come on." He pulled her along as there was a narrow path to follow down towards the lake, going straight to the water fall.

"The water is so clear. I have never seen anything like it." She saw fish that she had never seen before flowing through the lake, vibrant colors glistened from inside like it was a snow globe full of magic. Lio pointed towards a portion of the lake where blue crystals were forming underneath the water. "There is mana crystals underneath purifying the lake, that's why its so clear. and it's probably why the water fall doesn't submerge this entire area in water." He pointed to the edges of the cliff and she could note some heavy erosion, like it had been all the way up from where they came down.

"Thats amazing. Mana crystals never cease to amaze me." Lio grinned as she said that, as he started to walk towards the water fall. "well prepared to be amazed." He edged his way behind the water fall as Alex could only imagine what was behind it and she followed after him, Her tail swishing behind her excitedly in wonder. She edged her way past the waterfall, gently gliding her hand against the water and let the water glide past her hand before looking for where Lio went and noticed a cave. It was a little cliché but she wasn't gonna complain as she walked in and immediately noticed the brightly colored Mana crystals sparkling and glistening across the cave. Lio turned around and gave a smile as she looked on in amazement.

Lio then turned towards a crystal that was on the ground, a white crystal as he tapped it with his foot, before grabbing the butt of his sword and tapped it... a particle of light shot out and glistened across the cave, before scattering into a multitude of colors. as soon as it passed by Alex, she turned so quickly as her hair blew into a flow. The flow changing her hair color as it did and Lio could only widen his eyes as the colors danced around Alex and flowed into her hair.

Alex could only giggle away in shock and awe, she spun, watching as the colors bounced back and forth from the water glistening down and against the cave walls. "This is amazing." she whispered as she looked up and placed her hand upwards where the cave ceiling was listening... looking back towards Lio she noticed a few things immediately from the blond. His lips were parted, like he was in surprised... his cheeks glossed over with a tint of red... and his eyes sparkled a way she had never seen... perhaps it was cause of the cave... the mana bouncing and refracting light into his eyes...  but it was something she couldn't stop staring at... 

But just as she was staring at his eyes, she immediately noticed the change as she turned around... and was immediately knocked unconscious... a thump behind her was all she heard before a voice penetrated the air... "We found you."

...

When he awoke... Lio felt tired. His eyes drowned in a endless form of dust... slowly sitting up he noticed that he was shirtless, all of his possessions were gone and that he was in a cell of some sort... He moved his hands and pressed his hand against the chain that wrapped around his neck. "Mana restricting chain... and good ones too..." He thought silently as he scanned the room... the bricks layering the walls felt all to familiar... "Riventhorn..." He muttered almost in disdain... Just as he was getting his barings, the door opened, and in came a man with a long winded whip. "Hello there. 'Lio'" The voice pierced the cell as Lio stared up at him with a long look. 

"General Star, to whom I owe the disdain to meet you in a riven thorn cell?" Lio spat out as he gave a chuckle. "You didn't hide yourself very well. Finding you was easy." Lio rolled his eyes at that. "Then why did it take five years?" The whip cracked against the wall to the left of him... his face getting cut in the process. Blood seeping down slowly. Lio rubbed his face briefly and stared down at his hand, seeing the blood red color in his hands his eyes widened before he placed his hand against the ground and growled out. "Where is Alex..." The sparkle that was in his eyes in the cave came back in full force, but the general who was all to in his moment was to proud to see it... "You mean the fox bitch?" Lio's eyes narrowed dangerously.

"Don't give me that. She's a beast. But because she was with you, she is currently in a cell not to far from here...  listen carefully, you may hear her screams." He gave a loud laugh afterwards as Lio grabbed at the dust that was below him... it encased around him like dread before he breathed out in a silent way to rid his nerves... "Trying to channel your Mana? well it's to bad. That Mana restricting chain is the best in this kingdom... you wont be able to get out without a guards permissions..." Lio's could only sigh and rub at his neck. "I'm not the issue idiot... compared to me..." The scene changed to Alex hanging from the wall, loosly by her hands with normal chain. "She's so much stronger then  I am.." Alex woke up with a groan a womans voice echoed in the area she found herself in. "I'm telling you, this fox's fur was glowing multiple colors! If we shave it off we will be rich!" She heard scissors at that as she raised her head.

She turned back and forth realizing she was chained up again... but she didn't feel week unlike last time... "Hey... Where am I?" She asked, clearly not amused by the whole situation. "Huh? The beast speaks? I thought you knocked her out?" The man she was talking to shrugged as Alex sighed and felt her marks narrow in dangerously. "I'm asking a question Idiots." The two who were talking gave a annoyed huff, but humored her. "Your in Riventhorn idiot. Can't you tell." Alex felt her eye twitch at that, "Oh of course, I love the scenery." She shot back as the woman gave out a dark laugh.

"Now would you please let me go. I did nothing to you... not yet anyways." Alex's eyes narrowed as she immediately recalled herself from where she was prior "Where is Lio." The pair could only turn and smirk. "Ah yes, 'Lio.' He's currently having fun with the boss- or lets just say the boss is having fun with him." Alex's eyes slanted dangerously. her eyes glowed. "Do me a favor. Unlock these chains and I might spare your life... or die as I break out." The two were laughing now uncontrollably. "Oh you fool, those are mana supression cuffs, do you think a stupid beast like yoursel-" The moment they said that, the cuffs around Alex's hand burst off and she flexed her hands as she gave a small smirk, tilting her head she said. "I gave you a chance."

In the other room Lio gave a wince as he started to hear the screams of the two while general star turned around, Lio's face was bruised and so was his chest, blood dripping down as he stared daggers at the general's back... before the door burst open off its hinges and slammed into the general. "Lio?" Alex asked frantically as He gave a cough and muttered. "Over here... be careful." Lio warned as she came close to release him. "This chain renders most mana useless. I suppose it was a good thing they used it on me and not you." Alex gave a disdained look at the chain before grabbing it anyways and ripping it off the wall with pure strength. Lio could only stare up in surprise before he whistled. "Damn." Alex put her hand out as he grabbed ahold of it and stood up.

"Now how do we get out of this shit hole..." Lio shook his head. "Unfortunately. That's not a option for me..." Lio muttered as Alex gave a look of surprised to him. the normally cool calm and collected Lio was reduced to a wounded defeated and glumly man.... "What do you mean?" The general groaned as Alex looked over, finally noticing the man that was pinned under the door. "IT means... he can't leave... not without her highness's permission." Alex's eyes narrowed dangerously. "Which bitch do I have to kill now." Lio muttered silently. "unfortunately I dont think that will be possible..."

Alex turned back around as Lio started to walk out the cell, noticing the blue scaled beast person bowing his head towards him... "Indra..." Lio muttered as the man tilted his head up and muttered. "This way please." Alex watched the beast person as she could see a chain similar to the one she was wearing around their hands. She turned to look at Lio for a answer but he could only walk after the one he called Indra.

...

The walk was odd... she had gotten a lot of similar looks she's starting to slowly get used to... but it wasn't immediately disdain... sometimes it was a normal look... which she hadn't gotten much of when she got here... she walked up after Lio, a large staircase... before she could see a large hall across from her... and a throne, seating the woman they were summoned to... Indra bowed his head before kneeling down next to the woman as Lio's eyes stared daggers into the womans... "It's been five years." She started as Lio's eyebrows raised briefly before dropping again. "Counting the days are you?" She hummed as Alex's eyes wondered back and forth between the two. "What do you want... Queen Lyla." Lyla's eyes softened briefly before sharpening once more "Queen... Why must my son be so formal?"

Lios eyes narrowed. "You practically disowned me anyways. Why shouldn't i be formal?" Alex's face went in a form of shock. "Son?!" Lyla's eyes narrowed daggers into Alex's form as Lio stood up and stared her down. "Tell me what it is you want. You drag me and my dear friend into a dungeon, I think your "Son" deserves at least the knowledge of that." Lyla's eyes stared into his as she sighed. "it seems you are still the same as ever. Even after five years you still haven't learned your lesson." Lio watched as her hand raised up as Lio finally had the nerve to say what he was feeling...  the anger. The rage that was there. "I learned it a long time ago... From dad." Lyla's hand flinched as Alex's eyes went over towards Lio's hand before back to his face, where a lone tear fell down. 

Alex immediately felt a pang of pain before she glared daggers' back into Lyla. "What was this lesson. You didn't agree on something and you cast him away?" She asked annoyed, her eyes glowed as Lio could feel the rage from behind him, he gave a silent look. "Alex..." He gave a warning but she didn't listen as she stared Lyla down waiting for her answer. "In a way... but i didn't cast him away. He did that himself." She stood up as Indra followed suit before she lowered her hand and he immediately went back to the floor. "We did have a argument, you are right. Though i suppose looking back on it, any teenager would become quite angry. Rebelious in fact. Running away was the extreme choice but in my hind sight... i can see..."

Lyla's eyes turned towards Alex. "when I had his best friend executed right in front of his eyes." Lio's anger was there again, the resurfacing memory hit like a tidal wave, while Alex's marks turned dangerously. "There was a lesson foretold... don't get comfortable around them... all of them are tools." She raised her hand and Indra followed before falling back down just as Lylas hand did. "Of course... It's always that isn't it..." Alex growled as she felt her power flow into her, her eyes glowed violently. "Is it so wrong to view us any way near as humanly possible?!" She shouted as Lyla laughed at that. "Humanly? What an odd phrase to be associated with from a beast person."

Alex's eyes narrowed. "I use it because it was the word that works in this moment. We have thoughts. we have feelings. AND we for sure do not deserve what we get!" Alex barked out While Lyla walked forward. "Do you know what your ancestors did?" Alex's hand rose as a tremor rocked beneath her feet. "Do you want to know what I can do?" The force that pushed back was strong... but Alex's did not waver. Before it abruptly stopped... hearing Sara's voice in the back of her mind. "Does the entire weight of all elves depend on Lio? If one is guilty then is he as well?" She questioned as Lyla paused and looked at him who was staring at her as well. "I suppose not." Alex rolled her eyes. "Then how is it any different from us. We have tails. Scales, and fancy looking eyes. you don't see me mass murdering and enslaving you for having pointy ears now do you?" 

Lio could only mutter. "Some humans did do that." Alex shot him a annoyed look. "You know what I mean Lio." He shut his mouth as Lyla could only watch on as Alex turned back towards her. "I don't care what anyone thinks of me. or... beast people in general... but if someone dares try to harm us because we are who we are, then you are worse then scum. Royalty or not." She got into a stance, her aura was back in full before Lyla raised her hand. "Indra." The man looked up towards her in a instant. "Do you agree with this one. Do you think Beast people have feelings and the right to freedom? Be honest." Indra looked towards Lyla before back at Lio and whispered... "Yes..." Lyla could only hum...  whenever she asked this before... it was always the same... though it was the first time that he had seen a beast person stood up against the queen in five years... and one so strong too.

"A small spark can cause a forest fire. do you think you are that spark little beasty?" Alex could only look on in surprise at the question before Lyla turned towards Indra who closed his eyes... his cuffs glowing brightly. "Fires are easily stopped if done in the beginning. a single ember can be stomped out in a instant." She brought her hand up as Lio grimaced, his eyes looking down while he heard a sword being drawn by the general. "Kill him." Alex's eyes widened as Indras eyes slowly opened and looked at Alex's... "Wait!" Lio shouted as Alex turned back around to see the blond shaking. "Stop killing them... please..." Lyla turned towards her son while Alex heart felt twisted in her chest...

Indras eyes opened slowly as he felt the pain die down in his hands. "And what will you give me in return." Lio's chest hurt as he looked up, his tears flowing downward. "Anything." Alex gritted her teeth before she turned towards Lyla who was silently stroking the hair of Indra, who had been frozen in the action. "No!" Lyla's eyes turned towards the fox girl once more who stood in front of her son. "Leonidas. Deal with your friend." Alex's eyes wondered the crowd that had come crowding around, wondering who this Leonidas was...  before she heard Lio slowly stand up behind her, she turned around and saw him slowly raising his hands. "It's okay Alex... If I stay here... she'll let you go... I promise..." Alex felt the arm around hers squeeze and shake. "No... I refuse..."

Alex shook in anger before her anger slowly died down... and a clarity formed in her head as she relaxed against him... "You said I was the one you trust..." slowly looking up at him she whispered. "Trust me now." looking back up towards Lyla who was looking at her amusedly. "I refuse to let Lio go. He left this place for a good enough reason." Alex grabbed ahold of his hand and looked forward. "You'll have to kill me to keep him." Lyla watched as the marks under her eyes slowly move and slant dangerously.

"Alex..." Lio muttered as she looked back towards him, her eyes shined brightly at him. "I won't lose. even if the entire kingdom throws itself at me." Lyla glared at her as a force started to appear before them... and just as she held up her hand to get the mages to cast... Alex grabbed ahold of Lio and muttered. "Druids Blessing." and just as she said that, a glow formed around all of the beast people that was in the riventhorn kingdom... and just as the light was glowing, everyone vanished... Lyla looked all around in shock and anger before she grabbed her face and screamed in outrage...

...

Alex and Lio found themselves in a bright green light as Alex looked around and felt  about 10 people around in the bubble... she smiled brightly and looked at Lio. "It worked!" Lio was holding onto her like she was a lifeline while shouting. "What woooorked!?" The light faded away and they all started to fall towards giant leaves, they started bouncing down comically before Alex heard a small shirek, it was a younger beast person with rabbit like ears as she reached out to grab him by the waist and they both fell down with the rabbit being on top.

"Ow..." Lio muttered as Alex was directly ontop of him. "U-uh..." Alex's blush deepened while the rabbit boy looked around in confusion. "What happened?" A cat girl shouted out while Alex had gotten up and helped up Lio. "Leonidas... what did you do?" Indra whispered as he felt his hands free from the chains that had been around his wrists since years ago... "It wasn't me... Alex?" Lio asked while Alex gave a small chuckle. "Well I used the druids promise. if there is beast people in danger you can use it to get out..." She muttered while Indra gave her a odd look. "If its beast people then why is Leonidas here." Lio muttered. "Just call me Lio please..." He muttered as Alex shrugged, pulling up the status window she read it out. "All beast people and those connected by the bond of Lara will be teleported to the closest destination of safety."

The bunny boy stood up and gave a cross of his arms. "What was so safe about falling from the sky!?" Alex smiled amusedly at the boy. "at least you landed on us." The boy nodded his head at that. "I guess..." Lio and Indra looked at each other briefly before looking back at Alex. "You said the bond of Lara?" Indra asked while she nodded. "Yeah, what is... th-at..." She slowly started to slur her words before she fell forward and the bunny boy held up his hands up trying to catch her but he was trembling while Lio managed to help her up. "Woah... why does it feel... weird..." Alex muttered as Lio held her up before looping his hands around her legs and lifted her up.

"Come on guys... lets find some place safe..." Lio said as the group of beast people and Elf started to go forward... Alex's head rested against his chest... "I guess I used all my mana teleporting everyone..." Lio smiled slightly as she said that and he whispered. "You did good... Teleportation magic is pretty hard on the body, and teleporting all of us is not easy." Closing her eyes she listening to his words before silently falling unconscious.  Lio smiled slightly at her before he thought back to what she had said... "Lara's bond huh..." He muttered as Indra turned and gave him a silent look.

"So miss fox freed us?" The bunny boy asked up at the Elf who smiled and nodded. "Yeah, she saved us all..." Looking back between the three that was with them. "Whats your name." He asked the little bunny who looked up curiously at him and then looking back down at Alex he said "They didn't call me anything... just beast." the two beast people that were older looked to each other and frowned. "Your the one we heard about? the one born in riventhorn?" Nodding his head the boy muttered. "They said I was being trained to serve so I didn't need a name when I asked them."  Lio stared at the white haired boy as they walked before he smiled. "Maybe we could give you a name then?" The bunny's ears immediately perked up.

"Really?" Lio nodded his head. "Of course, everyone should have one." giving a small smile Indra looked on curiously as the bunny boy asked. "Will you and miss fox give me one?" Lio paused as he looked down at Alex who was sleeping peacefully. "whatever ya want there kiddo." The bunny's ears perked up before Indra looked over at the cat girl. "What about you miss." The bunny asked as she muttered. "Marry." The bunny smiled and looked towards them all. "Marry... Indra... Lio..." He looked down at the fox girl and Lio smiled slightly. "Alex." The bunny smiled brightly. "Alex!" Happily he said before they walked on... not noticing the pair of green eyes in the trees watching them carefully.

...

TBC