Tages rode down the streets but as he reached one of the outer gates he saw someone standing in his way, an Arbeross with tanned skin and flame-like hair. A friend of Arnimos, Filk-Kij. Tages stopped his Gallorend a few feet short of the man.

  "Do you need something?" Tages said.

  "You're going after Arnimos and the rest," Filk-Kij said. "I want in,"

  "It would be dangerous for you," Tages said. "I can not entrust-"

  "I know how dangerous it is," Filk-Kij said, as he spoke heat seemed to radiate from his body. "I still have to help my friends,"

  Tages stared at him, his Oracle eyes could see what no one else could. His Dichotomy was heavily refined and importantly on the cusp of awakening his Ultimate. For this much skill to be in someone so young, he had to be a natural. Tages sighed.

  "Fine, I shall take where I am going," Tages said. "But you are to listen to me with what's to come,"

  "You got it," Filk-Kij said. "As long as i can help my friends,"

  "Hop on," Tages said. "We ride for their post first,"

  Filk-Kij pulled himself onto the Gallorend and they took off. It took a few days through the wilderness until they reached where Arnimos and the other soldiers were sent. They found a smoldering ruin of a village and a heavily damaged manor that previously acted as the soldiers base of operations. Tages and Filk-Kij approached the manor to find only a handful of injured soldiers remaining, among them were Ronja and Milhas. Filk-Kij practically jumped off the Gallorend as he saw the two and rushed up to them, pulling them into a hug. Milhas winced in pain.

  "It's good to see you two are safe," Filk-Kij said. "What happened here?"

  Tages crouched near the ruins of the manor's outer wall, he looked at the damage. Consistent with Fear Manifested Creatures or Fragments and based on the fact that all of their lanterns have been placed around the breaches he knew what had happened.

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  "Night struck, didn't it?" Tages said as he approached the three.

  "You're right," Milhas said. "He struck my brother, the Lieutenant and Arnimos while they were fighting a dragon,"

  "They fought a dragon?" Tages said.

  "An Arbeross actually," Milhas said. "Ultimate made him a dragon,"

  'A Shaleborn with an Ultimate, rare to see,' Tages thought. 'Most definitely the influence of ■■■■■■,' Tages mind focused, those words they were excised. He was watching. Tages looked at them.

  "Why are you here though?" Ronja said.

  "I was going with Tages," Filk-Kij said. "He's going to find Arnimos,"

  "Then we're going with," Milhas said.

  "You two are not," Tages said. "You're too injured and I don't need more people slowing me down. Besides, it is not Arnimos I am after,"

  "Then where are you going?" Ronja said.

  "To Ragate, to the rest of the Luminary Enclave," Tages said. "They will know what to do,"

  "Will it help find where my brother has gone?" Milhas said. "Will it help us find Arnimos?"

  "It may," Tages said. "Or it may show that they have died and it was all in vain,"

  "To damnation with it then," Milhas said. "I will go even if i must latch onto you like a Mindshard,"

  "I'll go as well," Ronja said. "I may not be incredibly strong but Galtz told me my Dichotomy is incredibly useful,"

  "Galtz was correct on that," Tages said. "Those with a Dichotomy of Fear are rare but useful,"

  "So are you going to stop them?" Filk-Kij said.

  Tages stood for a moment thinking, taking them along would slow him down but he could use their help in what was to come.

  "I shall take you with me," Tages said. "But we ride for Ragate first, then we shall find your brother and Arnimos,"

  "Fine by me," Ronja said.

  "I see no issue," Milhas said.

  "Then let us go," Tages said. "We have too little time to dally long,"