Corrin anxiously stood, pondering the threat. He looked around, surveying their options, but the room was nearly empty; nothing but them and the chest in the middle of the floor. To his left were stairs that spiraled down. Slim windows, far too slim to squeeze through, lined the walls in even parting. He looked at Tutsoi and Kerea, who both stood looking as nervous as he did. What could they possibly have that could stop the Vrebathians?

  Just then, it clicked.

  “Kerea, use your Resonance to make a gate over the staircase. Make it as thick as you can!”

  Kerea gave Corrin what he could only assume was a look of confusion; it was hard to tell with his eyes covered by his hair.

  “Wouldn’t that just trap us in here?”

  “Just do it. I think I’ve got this figured out.”

  Kerea turned to Tutsoi for support. Tutsoi shrugged his shoulders.

  “Corrin’s had a few pretty good ideas in the past, or so I’ve heard. He’s quick at adapting to situations.”

  Kerea sighed and walked over to the edge of the staircase, to which there was a railing. His height was more noticeable as he walked past. Corrin was not tall, but it was clear that Kerea was shorter than both him and Tutsoi. He leaned over the railing and put his fingers forward, letting searing metal drip from his fingers slowly and effortlessly. Corrin rushed over and looked down at the searing gate that Kerea was forming.

  “How long will that hold them?”

  Kerea didn’t stop looking down, focused on the task. As the first layer finished he walked forward, making the gate one layer thicker.

  “I don’t know… it really depends on how smart they are. And how much pain they can tolerate.”

  Corrin backed away and looked down at his hands. The wound he had before was completely gone. The metal seemed to hurt more than it did damage. Of course, that could have been because Kerea made the gate that way specifically. Corrin wasn’t sure if Kerea could change how much it damaged flesh or not.

  Though, he hoped silently that Kerea was really on their side if that was the case.

  Corrin went around the room, pressing against different bricks in between the windows until he found one that was loose. He noticed that it was facing the castle, which was perfect.

  “Tutsoi, come help me break this.”

  Tutsoi rushed over and glanced at the wobbling brick. Corrin backed up.

  “If we break this, we can get down and go after the keys.”

  “Solid enough plan, I suppose.”

  Corrin took a deep breath, glad that Tutsoi didn’t think it was foolish.

  “On three we’ll kick it.”

  Tutsoi nodded, himself taking a deep breath in preparation as well.

  “One… two…”

  Both of them lifted their legs in unison.

  “Three!”

  A surge of Ani and dust flew around them before disappearing, and for a few moments it was all they could see. Though when it settled, they looked forward and were relieved to find the bricks were totaled. Numerous fell from the tower down on the castle below. Corrin shrugged, the bigger the better, he supposed.

  “Alright, Tutsoi. Use your Resonance to walk down to the ground. I can climb.”

  Tutsoi turned to Corrin suddenly.

  “Climb? What are you, a spider?”

  Corrin shook his head, slightly annoyed by the comment.

  “No, I’m not a spider. I’m just good at climbing. We needed to know it when we fought against the Queen of the Shem. Climbing was involved.”

  A memory rose up from its burial place of when he alongside the Hidden Vanguard had scaled the side of the Queen’s palace and reached the rafters. That was moments before the hell that broke loose. He pushed the thought away.

  “Okay, let's go.”

  Tutsoi leaped from the building, his resonance kicking in instantly as he seemed to be sliding and jumping down nothing, though Corrin knew it was the air. Corrin cautiously turned and grabbed the ledge, placing his footing wherever he could find a broken or protruding brick.

  “Wait, what am I supposed to do?”

  Corrin looked at Kerea, who was still placing the liquid, though further down the staircase than before.

  “Stay here, make sure they don’t get through. We’ll be back soon.”

  Fear rose in Kerea’s face, but he pushed it down. Corrin slowly climbed his way down. While he wished he could go faster, he would be no use if he was dead. Not only that, but his sword was sitting tucked in his belt and obstructing his climbing positions.

  He watched Tutsoi behind him safely reach the ground and look upon Corrin. Suddenly, a stinging pain zapped through Corrin, radiating from his left leg and he looked down to see. Stuck in his left lower leg was an arrow. He looked over and arrows whizzed by and near him. Another shot near his right hand, making him lose grip, and he let go.

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  He found himself quickly falling. The air flew by his ears in a whooshing sound. In a moment of quick thinking, he grabbed the sword in his belt and stabbed it into the bricks. Golden Ani whipped around him for a moment as he did so. But the arrows did not stop.

  He looked down, knowing that at this point it was surely best to jump. Tutsoi looked up at him, ushering him to do so. For Corrin was no more than three feet off the ground. He pulled the sword out and jumped off, landing safely, though not perfectly as he tripped to the ground.

  The pain shot through his leg once again as he fell. He looked over at the arrow and grabbed its shaft, pulling it out in one painful tug. He screamed out and threw the arrow away. Corrin looked around. They were standing on the castle walls. No one was near, as many of the soldiers were either now wounded or retreating from their pursuit of the escaped Anees, not on the horizon.

  They ran into another tower and took the spiral staircase down into the stone halls. Here, however, there were many more than a few soldiers. Corrin turned to Tutsoi.

  “Stay on the defensive, we just need to find Axel. Follow me!”

  They bolted down the hall, and the capable soldiers chased them down. They dodged and weaved through attacks, blocking and slashing when it best benefitted them. Corrin led them through the halls, and best he could think of a way to get where Axel was. Many of the soldiers were easy to dodge, for they had deep wounds and struck poorly.

  Corrin took random turns, hoping he was getting closer to the office of Axel. As they took a turn, they noticed once again a large double door. They were sure that it had to be in the same room. Many of the soldiers around them were simply sitting on the floor in pain as they ran through.

  Most paid no mind to two people running when they themselves were trying to save themselves from their wounds. Many cared not if two enemies were running through the halls when their bodies were as battered as some of them were.

  They ran forth and burst through the double doors. Inside, Axel stood over the same table, looking around at his dead commanders. He quickly turned in shock and walked back towards the wall, towards the door that Corrin and Tutsoi had gone through the first time they were here.

  “H- How did you- get out!?”

  Corrin threw his sword at Axel and it jabbed deep inside his left thigh and through the other side. He screamed out in horror.

  “Axel. Is this what your son would have wanted? He wasn’t perfect, no, but he wasn’t a psychotic maniac consumed with the idea of an all powerful Vrebathian Empire.”

  Corrin walked forward and grabbed the sword, twisting and pulling it. Axel screamed out in intense pain. Corrin stopped.

  “Give us the keys.”

  “I’m sorry… Corrin. My king forbids me from giving the shards to anybody.”

  Corrin stopped dead in his tracks. Despite knowing that Vrebathia was a kingdom before, he had not yet thought of the idea of a king.

  “King?”

  Axel held the wound around the sword, pressing into it, breathing deeply.

  “Yes, king, Corrin. One can not have a kingdom without a king. The king was newly appointed. Three weeks ago, to be exact. He was once a knight of the Vrebathian Rebellion. Though now he is my king and I his political advisor.”

  Corrin grabbed his katana and pulled it out of Axel. Blood sprayed out and everywhere. Axel screamed.

  “Damn the Empire, then. Vrebathia was never meant to be like this. My father did not die a warrior's death to preserve a Vrebathian Empire. He died to preserve a Vrebathian Kingdom. A small regional power that-”

  Tutsoi tapped Corrin on the shoulder. Corrin quickly turned in anger, clearly paranoid. Tutsoi looked down to Axel, who was still sitting in his pain and blood.

  “Stop this, Corrin. Vrebathia isn’t important anymore.”

  Corrin nodded and looked over to Axel.

  “Give us the keys, Axel. Or we’ll take them from you.”

  Axel shook his head.

  “I refuse to give the shards to a traitor like-”

  Corrin screamed out and brought down the hilt of his blade on Axel suddenly and quickly. The force cracked the air around them. The hilt slammed into Axel’s head and he went limp instantly, though still breathing . Corrin was sure that he had a concussion.

  “Come on, let's search him for the keys.”

  Corrin pulled him away from the wall as both he and Tutsoi looked through Axel’s pockets. Just then, Tutsoi pulled out a keyring, with numerous silver skeleton keys hanging from it.

  “It has to be this.”

  Corrin nodded and looked down at Axel. Once a friend turned imperialist. Corrin shook his head in disappointment, but also in sadness. Axel reminded him of Forrest and all the time they spent together.

  “Come on, let's go.”