"Get back! Back, I say!" the captain watchman shouted as he did his best to keep the angry mob away from the imperial palace gates. They thought the riot would end once the sun went down, or at least settle down, but the people appeared to have no intention of relenting. Darkness began to suffocate the land as dark clouds rolled across the sky to blot out any light from the stars. Gusts of wind howled across rooftops and kicked up the flares of torches the people carried.

  "Captain, they aren't dispersing," an anxious watchman muttered as he did his best to stand firm in the face of the screaming masses. A few of his friends were in the crowd.

  "Tch, this is getting out of hand." The captain looked out into the sea of torchlight that stretched before him and bathed everything in a threatening orange glow. Their standing orders were to get the palace gates under control but this situation was anything but. Taking a glance back to the gates, the captain confirmed that no palace guards were nearby; the watch was on its own. "…Why are we the only ones dealing with this?" he cursed under his breath as his gaze returned to the mob. He needed to make a call. "Watchmen, begin d-"

  "Make way!" a commanding shout silenced the night and parted the burning sea of torches. With the help of Terence's instigators pushing people back, Richard led his Azure Hawk knights through the streets and up to the palace gates. Terence, whose identity was concealed under a helmet, walked alongside Richard with Olivia following just behind.

  "Duke Ordrin?" the captain idly spoke as the Duke walked up to him. Tension among the mob was building as the Azure Hawks made no moves against them; instead, it looked like the knights were on their side.

  "Captain," Richard began in a voice loud enough to travel through those gathered, "I commend you for remaining as peaceful as you have, but now I need you and your men to step aside."

  "…" The captain swallowed a lump in their throat, yet stood firm.

  So Richard continued, "For too long, our Emperor has overlooked and allowed his empire, his very capital, to fall to the incompetent! Our once proud nation has lost its way! A Saintess has lost her life! I intend on holding the Emperor responsible!"

  "Yeah!" the crowd cried in agreement, completely won over.

  "I ask you not as the watch of Gorinville, but as her fellow people, to stand aside!" Richard made no move to his sword or other aggressive motion; he genuinely wished for the watch to stand down without bloodshed. "Captain?"

  "…" The captain's fists clenched until his knuckles turned white. He looked to his fellows and found them all hesitating. Why were they the ones bearing the brunt for their Emperor's sin? After a few seconds of silent deliberation, he ordered, "Open the gates!"

  "I thank you, Captain," Richard said with a relieved smile.

  "It is too early for thanks, Duke," the captain replied and motioned to the palace. "I haven't seen a single palace guard since daybreak, yet there is still life within the palace. Be careful."

  "Mm." Once the gates were opened, Richard led his knights up the road to the palace. The braziers that would normally be lit for the night were cold and dark. Only the bleeding light from the sea of torches touched and shimmered along the gold etchings of the pillars that accented the road to provide direction. The imperial palace sat silently in the dark. While a few windows held light from inside, many were blacked out. Darkness clung to the palace like a smothering smog.

  "…It's too quiet," Olivia mused while Terence removed his helmet since they were far enough away that the people wouldn't see him. "Are you sure they didn't escape?"

  "My people have the city surrounded and are stationed at all secret exits," Terence assured, despite also being unnerved by the stillness of the situation. "They're here."

  Richard spoke in a firm tone to ease the growing restlessness while they walked, "They likely want to ambush us to gain the upper hand once the fighting starts. Once we get inside, we'll split into three large-!?!" Torches suddenly lit themselves as Richard's group neared the palace entrance to reveal the Golden Lion knights all wearing black cloaks that seemed to unnaturally blend into the darkness. The Azure Hawks immediately took up positions and drew their weapons as the Golden Lions removed their cloaks. "…?" Richard drew his sword and waited, but the Golden Lions simply stood their ground in silence. "What's goin-"

  "Father!" Derik stepped forward to the front of the Golden Lions and stood tall and proud. Something was wrong with his eyes. "By order of the Crown Prince, you are to turn back and leave the palace grounds!"

  "Are you mad, Derik!?" Richard shouted and took a step toward his son. "Have you not seen the state the capital's in? What our foreign relations are becoming!? Stop having such delusions and come home!"

  "That is just temporary losses in the pursuit of a greater cause!" Derik's breathing was becoming irregular as he hyped himself up.

  "You are the heir of Holst, Derik! There is no greater cause than seeing our home prosper! Our empire flourish!"

  "Then why is she here!?" Derik suddenly snapped, drew his sword, and pointed its tip at Olivia.

  "…" Olivia stood motionless with a neutral expression on her face as she scanned the Golden Lion knights as if looking for someone. She was completely unfazed or perhaps didn't even hear Derik's outburst.

  "She-"

  "You think I never heard the whisperings!?" Derik suddenly began shouting with a mad cadence to his voice. "The fact that there were people who believed Olivia would be a better heir to Holst just because she's an Aurister and I'm not!?"

  "…" Richard bit his lip in apprehension. While it was true that some of his vassals cared deeply about producing Aurister heirs, Richard had never done anything about silencing them since they never brought it up during official meetings. He didn't know such unchecked words had affected Derik. "Your sister was the Crown Princess! You were always my heir, without question!"

  "Then why is she here now!?" Derik fished into a pouch on his belt for something.

  "Because-" Richard tried to de-escalate the situation.

  But Olivia wouldn't let him, and escalated further, "Because I'm going to be the new heir since you refuse to see reason and stop throwing your tantrums." She learned how to get under people's skin from the best.

  "Olivia!?" Richard admonished his daughter but the damage was already done.

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  "…You really did it." Derik's fists clenched and he pulled a vial filled with a strange liquid out of his belt pouch; as did many other Golden Lions, but not all. In a disgusted voice, Derik spat, "While I was mourning the love of my life, you went and made a slave your heir!"

  "That's no-"

  "Don't blame Father for doing the right thing," Olivia shot back in an indifferent tone. "You would have served Holst to James on a silver platter if it meant you could keep sleeping with the Saintess."

  "Olivia, stop-"

  "How dare you mention her!" Derik and the other knights uncorked the vials and the liquid started gently pulsing a pale-blue light.

  "Then do something about it and stop whining like a child!" Olivia taunted to get Derik to act first.

  "…Oh, I will," Derik's voice shifted to one of resolute determination as he matched eyes with Olivia. "I'll make sure you know your place!" Derik and the Golden Lion knights who were holding vials all drank the strange glowing liquid. As they finished and tossed the empty vials aside…nothing happened.

  "Ah yes, my…place?" Only for a soft melody to start infecting the air. Everyone watched in surprise and horror as the knights who drank the liquid started shimmering with a soft rainbow of color. The bands of colors wafted off their bodies like the lines on a sheet of music, and the melody gradually grew louder. It was a tune no one understood in a language no one could comprehend. "…Aura?"

  "That’s right!" Derik proudly shouted as he swished his sword to the side to show off 'his' aura that wrapped around the blade. The edges of Derik's irises shimmered the same rainbow as his aura. Bringing his sword up to a ready stance, and with a cocky smile on his face, Derik said, "Andrew and his Wizards had a breakthrough and are now able to make a magic elixir that gives normal people aura!" The Golden Lions who were already Auristers activated their auras and got ready for battle. "No more discrimination just because Muz doesn't feel like granting someone power! We don't need it!" Derik took a step toward Olivia. "Humanity doesn't need gods! We-!?!" A glowing white flower petal fluttered in front of Derik's eyes, temporarily blinding him. Acting on instinct, Derik raised his sword in a defensive manner and blocked Olivia's strike at his neck. She was over twelve meters away yet closed the gap in an instant using her aura-enhanced strength and speed.

  "Tch," Olivia clicked her tongue in annoyance and slid her blade along Derik's to throw him off-balance. She leaned heavily into their clash and her aura flowers sprouted beneath Derik.

  "G-Get back!" Derik surged his aura and blasted Olivia away with a sound wave that sang a deadly song and dispelled the flowers at his feet.

  "Olivia! Derik!" Richard shouted as the tension broke and the battle began. Azure Hawk knights charged and collided against the Golden Lions in a deadly battle. While the Azure Hawks held the numbers advantage, the Golden Lions were now completely comprised of Auristers which tipped the balance of power in their favor. The only saving grace the Azure Hawks had was that the newly created Auristers were amateurs at handling their aura which made them significantly weaker than fully trained Auristers. Richard reached out a hand to grab and stop his daughter but Olivia again surged forward, a trail of flower petals flowing in her wake, and once more clashed with Derik's blade.

  "I always knew you wanted my position, Sister!" Derik spat as he parried Olivia's strike and attempted to pierce her chest. Olivia deflected the blow, and Derik madly taunted, "You and that bastard planned all of this!"

  "Stop blaming Lucina for your failures!" Olivia retaliated and infused her blade with aura. With a vertical slash, Olivia sent a wave of flower petals at Derik who barely managed to dodge it. The wave crashed into a Golden Lion who was still getting used to their aura and got mulched as the flower petals easily tore through his weak aura. Bloody pulp and minced metal fluttered to the ground where the knight once stood. "And you threw away your right to call me 'Sister' a long time ago, Derik! Now, stop wasting my time and tell me where James is!"

  "…" Seeing his chance with Derik distracted, Terence bolted through the crowd of knights, his black aura clawing through two enemies, and rushed into the palace.

  "His Highness?" Derik laughed, completely ignoring Terence. "He's already gone!" Derik focused his aura into his blade and, copying Olivia's movements, sent a wave of sound blasting at Olivia. "So, just die!"

  "Stop!" Richard jumped between Olivia and Derik, and slashed his lightning-covered blade through Derik's sound wave; frying it to a crisp and harmlessly dispersing it into the air. Richard pleaded with his children, "I don't want to see you two kill each other! Olivia, stand down! Derik, cease this madness and surrender!"

  "Shut up!" Olivia and Derik both yelled in unison, causing Richard to flinch in surprise. Derik spat at his father, "We're far past the point of talking it out!"

  "For once, we agree," Olivia mocked. "Father, stand aside and…?" The clouds above the imperial palace parted for a brief moment and allowed Sailest's light to shine down, lighting up the palace grounds with its soft purple light. In the distance, running toward a side gate away from the palace, was James and a group of knights on horseback. Olivia's eyes fixated on her target, completely forgetting about Derik, and she sprinted after them.

  "Get back here!" Derik shouted and moved to intercept Olivia.

  "Derik!?" Richard blocked Derik's path and covered himself with his lightning aura to look as imposing as possible to stop his son. While they were distracted, Olivia broke away from the group and activated one of her skills.

  (Aura Skill: Close the Gap)

  (Infuse your legs with aura to quadruple movement speed for 5 seconds.)

  "!!!" In an incredible burst of speed, Olivia sprinted across the palace grounds, caught up with the rear knight in James' retinue, and pounced on him.

  "What the-!?!" The knight turned his head to see what the sudden noise was only to find Olivia's sword piercing through the visor of his helmet. Brain matter splattered out as the blade broke through the knight's helmet and ripped his head off at the neck.

  "Who-?" James turned to see what was happening and was just in time to watch Olivia throw the corpse of his knight off their horse and fling his decapitated head off her sword. "Stop her!"

  "Damned wench!" Two knights broke off and slowed down to attack Olivia. "Die!" One knight swung his sword in a horizontal arc since Olivia couldn't dodge while on horseback. "W-What!?!" But the knight's sword bounced off Olivia as Olivia had trained with Peter to master the aura technique of wearing her aura like armor that was stronger than steel.

  "…!" Not wanting to waste time, Olivia worked to get her horse under control with one hand while the other sliced one of the knight's horses' head off. The dead horse brought down their rider as they tumbled, rolled, and broke along the stone path. The man was crushed as his armor bent out of shape from the fall and subsequently rolled over, splattering his blood and squished flesh across the ground.

  "Die!" The second knight also tried to kill the horse Olivia was riding by attacking its head, but Olivia deflected his strike away with her sword. The two continued to exchange blows as Olivia was still trying to get her horse under control and listen to her.

  James, seeing his opportunity, shouted, "Move!" and whipped his horse into a full gallop along with his two remaining escorts.

  "Damn it!" Olivia cursed as she blocked another strike from the knight.

  "Fall, you damned wench!" the knight cried out as he moved his horse closer to Olivia's to better strike at her.

  "…!" But the pause in the knight's attacks allowed Olivia to collect and focus her aura into her sword. The aura-infused blade sliced through the knight's, slashed through his armor, and Olivia cut the man in half through his chest. Without a command, the now rider-less horse slowed to a trot before eventually coming to a stop as the lower half of the knight still sat in its saddle. "…Now then." Olivia sheathed her sword so she could grab the reins with both hands and finally got her horse under her control. James and his knights were in the distance, but she could still catch them. "You won't escape!" The chase was on.

  ***

  "Such a beautiful night~," Lucina sang as she skipped through the woods with a happy pep to her step. Her mood was so bright and cheerful that it made her fellows uneasy.

  "Did something good happen, Countess?" Peter asked as she walked just behind Lucina while leading the Hellhounds through the woods with her.

  "Olivia proposed to me~!" Lucina happily revealed as she couldn't help but hug herself. "She got Prince Terence to promise to repeal the law outlawing homosexual marriages and said she would take me as her wife~!" Her cheeks flushed and her smile beamed in the dark night.

  "Congrats!" Carl and a few other Hellhounds cheered at the news.

  "Quiet!" Peter hastily barked. "Do you want to alert the whole forest to our presence?"

  "Aw, come on, Leader!" one of the Hellhounds whined. "Why can't we be happy for the Commander?"

  "Yeah!" another spoke up. "Besides, we're not even being that stealthy since we have our torches lit!"

  "They have a point," Carl joked while swishing his torch from side to side. "Though, if we really wanted to catch them by surprise, why didn't we just portal into the wizard's tower?" Lucina and her Hellhounds were currently walking through the woods that separated Gorinville from the wizard's tower. It took quite a while, and an entire crate of potions to replenish her magic reserves, but Lucina was able to transport her entire knight order from Solfin to the capital. Aside from Elise and Jeremy who stayed behind to keep Solfin running smoothly in Lucina's brief absence.

  "Because," Lucina explained through her daydreaming of her and Olivia's wedding, "I can only open portals to places I've been before. Why would I ever go to the tower? It's disgusting."

  "Fair point." Carl stopped swishing his torch as a thought popped into his head, and he offered, "What about holding the wedding in the ruins of the tower? As a last spite against the wizards?"

  "…No," Lucina thought about it for a few seconds but ultimately rejected the idea. "I don't want our special day to be filled with spite. I was thinking of the temple of Alm in Ertrum and having Elder Arkin presiding over it." Lucina softly hummed a laugh to herself as she felt her heart soar at the thought. "I want to draw on the days of our childhood together…I think that would be nice."

  "Aw~," a few of the Hellhounds swooned and gave a hearty laugh.

  "This is why most of you lot aren't married," Lucina teased her knights with a dismissive wave of her hand.

  "How could you say that to us, Commander!?" whined the knights.

  "Yeah," another piped up, "We're not like Carl who somehow captured the Iron Maiden's heart!"

  "W-What!?!" Carl's cheeks flushed and he abruptly turned to the knight. "The hells are you on about!?"

  "Don't give me that!" the knight shot back. "Every time you and Tress get into a heated argument these days, you both disappear for an hour! We're loveless, not stupid!"

  "Enough," Peter groaned and wiped his armored hand over his face. "We're here." The Hellhound knights, after much walking through the woods, finally reached their destination. In a clearing stood a massive stone building that pierced into the sky. The stone was flat with very little in the way of architectural flair as the wizards opted for a minimalist look with plain surfaces. Windows adorned the spire on each floor, and two massive wooden doors stood as the only entrance and exit.

  "The wizard's tower," Lucina softly muttered under her breath as she looked up at the skyscraper the wizards had constructed. A monument to their sin. Lucina's smile, once jovial, took on a twisted form as she ordered, "Hellhounds, begin the hunt!"

  "Got it!"