Episode 13

As they were on their way back, Theodore and Vivian with the help of Merida teleported all the way from the ruins to the entrance of the forest, saving a whole day's worth of journey. "Damn, if only I could hold more Mana, we'd have been home right now." Merida cursed while trying to catch her breath. It was possible for her to travel to the castle on her own, but as she had two more people along with her, the mana consumption was rather great, making her range lower than her expectation. She wasn't a legendary powerhouse yet and thus had a disadvantage of having lower mana. "Sis, it can't be helped, we should hurry up and travel on foot," Vivian suggested. It was a rather good option as the flying carpet Merida could summon would have consumed a great number of resources and although it didn't look like it, Vivian and Theodore had a very good dexterity allowing them to run freely through the forest, and Merida with her powers could easily maneuver through as well. They started running crazy through the forest, it was still yet to be noon thus the time was looking on their side as well.

After running for over an hour they finally arrived at the walls of the castle city, but what they saw was out of their expectation. The whole city was in chaos, the guards were running towards the main gates, the fireballs were raining from the sky, the wizards were trying to hold off the attacks but lacked the strength. "Don't tell me we are late!" Theodore's expression turned grave. Even Merida and Vivian were shocked. They entered the walls through the secret entrance that Theodore only used to use. As soon as they entered the castle they heard a commotion so they headed towards the source only to find out both of the kings getting ready for battle and suiting up. "Oh thank goodness! Where were you all? You hurt?" Jason almost cried when he saw all of them. "Yeah, father. We are all right! What's going on? What's all the commotion?" Vivian asked in a worrisome tone. "I shouldn't have left father, If only I'd have been here we could have repelled such sneak attack," Merida spoke to which Evan grabbed her hand comforting her. "It isn't your fault dear, in fact, it isn't anyone's fault." He said looking at Theodore, who was already looking down. "Yesterday, a messenger from Etherblade arrived with a letter demanding us to leave the territory or we'd have to face a gruesome war. We definitely rejected the demand. This morning we received a message from the scout warning about the arrival of an army, before we could plan a wave of their first fleet arrived, causing all of this commotion. Nicholas is holding them off but I believe we need to step in as well." Evan explained the situation while suiting up. "Father there is something I need to tell you…" Theodore was interrupted by Evan saying, "I will, but first we need to deal with the problem at hand." "This all makes sense, the seal and the army! Don't tell me?" Merida was murmuring as a soldier came in rushing, "Sire, I have bad news." Everyone was stunned, "What is it, spit it out." Evan yelled at him to which he bowed and replied with a tear in his eyes, "Prince Nicholas has received a heavy blow from one of the enemy soldiers, he's unconscious." This made everyone freeze, 'Nicholas was hit? Such a powerhouse received a hit?' Theodore was thinking with a frozen expression. "We have to act, let's go, Jason." Evan was now looking like he could explode at any time.

Just as he started walking, he heard Merida falling on the ground holding her head, in pain. She screamed out of pain making everyone worried. "What happened? You alright?" Vivian who was standing next to her somehow managed to catch her before she fell. "This can't be possible!" Merida had a troubled expression. "Father, we need to evacuate!" She looked at her father and spoke in a very serious tone. Everyone could feel the fear of her expression. She definitely saw something. "Evacuate? Are you kidding? How can you possibly even say that? You want us to run showing our back to the enemy? And what enemy? Do those bloody thieves think they can overturn us? And…" Before he could say anything else he was interrupted by Merida who literally screamed looking at him with bloody eyes, "You think we can kill Demonoid? They are being backed by the creatures of hell!" Hearing this everyone in the hall went pale. 'Demonoid? Is she crazy?' Almost everyone was thinking this except Theodore and Vivian. "It can't be possible! Those creatures were sealed in Eternal Paradise Underground some 600 years ago! How can they…?" Evan was shocked by this news. Even Jason was looking at Merida with wide eyes. "I don't know how but, they've broken the barrier on the western entrance, and the ones who broke it are none other than the Demonoid. I saw them just now. Father, their strength is something we can't comprehend with. We have to run!" Merida was urging Evan with all of her might. "Sire, they broke through the barricade, what must we do?" A soldier suddenly entered the chaotic palace. He was followed by a few soldiers carrying Nicholas, who was barely awake and was seriously injured as well. "Father, I met with someone who told me that the seal on the Nine Hells is loosening and would cause havoc all over the plane, we will be the first in their way. I'm sure what Sis saw must be true. We can't do it alone, for now, we must run to some safe place." Theodore placed his opinion in front of his father. "Evan, we must…" Jason tried to comfort Evan. "Tsk, recall all the forces to the capital city right away, evacuate everyone, and head to the wild, towards Ephesus. Merida uses your strength to back the wizards and stall the enemy for some time. Jason, ask your troops to assist for a while, I'm sorry for dragging you into all this as well, we'll escort you." Evan ordered people around him before giving a sight bow to his friend, "You crazy? I've not stuck anywhere, besides I'll stay behind as well, I need to vent off my anger on them. Don't worry about me I might not look like one but…" Saying this he turned around and grabbed his legendary sword continuing, "I was this close to becoming a plane guardian. Just take Vivian and leave, I'll join shortly." Evan bowed to his brave friend who walked toward the battlefield on his own, to fight an enemy no one could fight, but he believed in his strength and thus ordered everyone to evacuate. "Father" Vivian was staring at her father's disappearing figure with tears in her eyes. "Come, I'll protect you. Your father is someone I'm sure, who will be able to stop them and come back unscathed. And Merida is with him as well." Theodore grabbed Vivian's hand tightly comforting her. After a few moments, Vivian calmed and joined the evacuation. "Hmm, so you sure I can go all out?" Merida asked Jason after glancing at her brother's shadow leaving the castle. "Ha, even I want to show them what we mortals can do. And besides, I have something I want to settle by fighting them." Jason replied while enchanting his sword. "What might that be?" Merida asked inquisitively to which he replied in a serious tone, "Her death!"