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Fandom Power Rangers Divine Knights

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Centuries before the modern world forgot about their protectors, it was a short order for common folk to bring supplies in and out. The Sorceress whom declared an entire legion in her image if the silver plate and mauve silks with griffins mounted in the crest under a mysterious banner would not dare interfere with Ascelin's line of work. Bestowed her mystical gifts to him and his followers in their time of need she swore she would provide further assistance whenever needed. Ascelin gifted her a staff of silver craft before the two parted ways. The tomb where he will slumber and await Dumanax' nest rising after their first great battle.
"King Ascelin, I thank you for this humble gift. Shadoji stragglers will run rampant in our lands if we do not stop them now," the Sorceress warned him.
Ascelin lifted a hand, kindly gesturing her closer. The day before, he had suffered a wound in a fit of rage against the Supreme Disciple. He had been weakened but now the two warriors are bound through time. Stiffing of his muscles were a sign her spell was working. He will be a deep, death-like state until his time to awake. "My friend," Ascelin whispered. He couldn't utter louder. "The Shadoji demons are powerful. Those who have fallen we will burn. This chaos will not end, no. My Knights have taken their leave as I commanded. Sebastian, Daylen and Jatah are in the company of their women, securing their bloodlines for the next age. Harper and Kalista will find suitors to give them a spawn. We will ensure children for the next age are already underway to avoid complications," he said.
"But with them occupied, somebody will stand against the demons. A promise. I've slain a dragon for you, as well as spared you from execution. Two debts to be paid. I have divinity...but I will ask one more boon." The Sorceress nodded her head. She will allow their story to be told....with certain modifications, of course.
"Forge an order of Faye Knights. Take my median men and recruit outward. An order all your own. One to defend in the meantime... and should we ever need you...we will sound our horns." Crashing nearly broke the doors to the chamber open. Commotion begged a hurry.

The Sorceress gracefully nodded and kissed Ascelin's hand before she lowered it to his chest. "I will keep this promise. We will remain a secret. You'll know how to contact my order." She then whispered a saying of great importance to him. The Sorceress finally sealed Ascelin for slumber, greeting an impatient escort outside and visited a burning village. She recruited men and women, barbarians and nobles alike. Shutting themselves off they would form a new order of elite fighters. Few of the common people would bring food in and out of the fortress; a fortress originally intended for a neighboring king. The king fell in battle, and....well, nobody's using it now.
Wardens, they call themselves. A secret order. A promise kept. An army waiting.
---
That was centuries ago. First Wardens in every age are the keepers of their legion. Thought his adventuring days may be at an end, the First Warden of today proudly leads his forces. Never has a generation of their kind been summoned. One day that horn will sound. Ascelin and his Knights mustn't need them yet. Duty will be fulfilled and they will ride into battle for the promise made hundreds of years ago. He will carry tradition, prepare another to do so if the time comes. And should he, he will die defending the promise of the Sorceress. His old hunting bow decorates the window frame up above as he looks out onto the Keep. Training swordsmen and women, archers getting their shots in, mages studying by bonfire, all is well in their home. Reports from guards on his desk ached his head. His beard got a good pet. "Oh, what can she come up with this time..." Eden Blackwell has been in trouble before. Pumpkins for axes and forbidden tomes. Excuses for everything, good intentions, sour consequences. He's heard it all before, since she was a newer trainee if he is not mistaken.
"Oh, devil, she's late." The clock is never wrong. None of his clocks are. The First Warden has several clocks collected in his chamber. Time is everything for those who it is slowly running out. Undeniably grim but his age is getting to him. Soon the next First Warden will be chosen.
---
"I spent my time flying through dimensions and watching over countless souls in a network far beyond comprehension to most mortals. Now I'm perched inside a cage made from cheap tin in a farm property," Owl answered Raijah's question. Step or two down, it sounds like... but he didn't seem against the farm on his arrival though? "The farm has adequate food and space, however. Having a regular space to dwell in is comforting." So it isn't bad. His cage is hung up in the stables with the Mounts. All five are in their respective spots for Raijah's duty today. Normally these sentient creatures have free roam. Today's their day, though.
Grunts rivaled by weight-lifting champions beckoned at the doorway. "Sounds like you're not too bothered, then," Vince said, standing at the entrance to the stables with a hefty crate of crops. Setting the big thing down, he wiped the sweat from his brow and popped a squat down on a stool. A low stool, likely used for milking cows. But there are no cows here. He and Chloe switched chores today. He would have gone shopping, but he much rather prefers this. Skip a workout by doing the hard labor. "You know Peter's still in the basement? He hasn't come out since last night. He mentioned something about a breakthrough but very time I try hollering for him all I get is 'shhhhhhhh'."

"I shouldn't have switched with my brother," Chloe said to herself as they walked in the store. Her part of the list was made mostly of Mount things and toiletries. Stuff like shampoo and toothpaste she can handle. But those bags of feed and litter for animals are heavy! Vince likes lifting, he should be here! Then again... Chloe would be the one in the fields, pulling things from the ground, raking, cutting, getting her hands in those super gross gloves. That isn't good for a manicure. She just got her nails done up, too. Nothing fancy but a little sparkle isn't too much to ask for. Mellany didn't seem very pleased with her items, either. She probably shouldn't have worn her wedges, either. They aren't hard to walk in but damn they are not for the butch acts. Bumping her from behind gently, Chloe nudged Mellany's arm with her cart. "Switch lists?" She already has a height advantage with the wedges on. "Some of my stuff is heavy but it's on the bottom shelves. I'm not my brother, I pull a string in my training. He swings metal things." Also, Mellany is not as weak as someone of her size looks. She's got more lifting power than Chloe. Not making it more fun for her, but...
 
Startle a woman-shaped battering ram, get a dent in the wall. Ines spooked the frantic Eden thus sending her front into the wall by the door. "Don't do that!" she exclaimed. By the smirk on her face, however, it appeared the anger Ines had for the trouble she was in had diminished. "You're talking to me, now. Good. Wouldn't want to face your wrath now that you've moved on from wood to silver. Congrats on that, by the way!" Ah, how that must feel. From wooden to silver, all Wardens face that. Training with glorified practice weapons for years until deemed fit to handle real metal. Transitioning from a wooden shield to a silver one is different, that's for sure. The metal framing is nothing compared to a full metal object! At least rogues had it easier in that. Bows aren't super different in weight, and daggers were made from wooden handles and steel blades; like the swords for warriors. Mages most of all took pride in their weapons. From bark to dazzling metal. Stronger connections to the arcane. Enchanted silver versus enchanted oak? Clear winner there.

"As confident as I am in your ability... let's not teleport. The last time you teleported me I wound up in mid air about fifteen feet above the awning in the courtyard. Mason is still giving me crap for that. Tore right through it, I did," Eden explained. To Ines' credit she was not as advanced as she was now. And it was well over three years ago. Ines probably remembers more that Eden blocked out. She more than likely asked to be teleported for something. Wardens in all types of plate, leather and robes passed by them in the halls. The Keep full of promising youths in training and experienced fighters with stories of their own to tell. Plastered on the walls were portraits of those that came before. Great battles fought by the Divine Knights recaptured as works of art. Ascelin and his family before they met an untimely end. Every inch of the Keep serving as reminders of the promise made centuries ago.
Eden and Ines continued walking down the hall, turning proper corners in a haste. "Oh, before we get there, I found what I was looking for! Last outer patrol found tracks of a large creature. Talons as well as claws. Feathers similar to the ones in the stories. The tome I took tells about all of the same things. All signs that a nest is nearby. You know what this means, Ines? A griffin is just within reach! I can almost taste it!" Eden lit up like a Christmas tree. Griffins are her favorite.

Never mind they're also long extinct. She won't give up, though. Logic is just a lot of words jumbled together to make someone sound smarter than everyone else. "You know I'll need you to come with me, right?" She seemed to forget her friend being afraid of defying their regal, traditional leader. "We'll sneak out after a few hours when the meeting with the old geezer is done. We've used the spot a hundred times, never been caught!" Eden's smile quickly turned to a frown when she realized she's now standing...at the First Warden's door.... and... it is wide open. She swallowed her words. "Hello, First Warden."
---
Mellany cursing after him as expected, Braxton carefully examined expiration dates on items before placing them in the cart. Perishables had to be selected cautiously. Sharing them among multiple people means they will go by rather quickly, yes, though when buying multiple on a budget he wants to make sure they don't have to throw out anything before using it. He didn't take long at all. By all means he took his time with expiration examination but he wasn't slow at it. Just glances and skimming through other items in different brands. Braxton also pays attention to price. Obviously he does, hence the budget mentioned, or he would be terrible at shopping. He gets grocery duty a lot and he doesn't mind it. He's good at getting deals and quality products. There's a certain kind of oatmeal Raijah likes and had scribbled on the list, so he got that. Vince and Chloe enjoy this soda, so he grabbed a package of it. Mellany's favorite cereal is having a sale by the brand so he grabbed two boxes of it instead of one. Buy one get on half off. He'll sacrifice his own preferred cereal. He likes this, too, and she probably wouldn't mind him having a bowl or two in the mornings.

Peaceful, it has been as of late. The Shadoji haven't made a movement on the city. No Disciple sightings or demon outbreaks. Rhagos wasn't a contained force by the looks of things so maybe they're honing their skill. Meditating didn't bring him closer to an answer, though. Braxton can't figure out why it's quiet. He doesn't like the quiet. Peace and safety is a good thing. Just peace and safety when relentless evil lurks around every corner as it stands is unreliable peace and safety. What are they scheming...
---
Andero and Rogana both delightfully toast their glasses. Gathered round a table in the main hall just in front of Dumanax' throne the Disciples engaged in a toast of wine. Wine from a few centuries ago. Rare to find monsters such as themselves drinking anything! But this is a special occasion. Zaken, Torth and Andero stumbled on the fortress thought lost. Their attack is imminent! Clinging of glasses and swirling of the fine fermented red liquid within them added to atmosphere. The Supreme Disciple must be thrilled. An untouched fortress with plenty of humans waiting to be killed. A tool of Ascelin's which won't be coming to his or his Knights' rescue. "Not only have we bested Ascelin in awakening. Now we have bested him by claiming his side army for our own!" Andero boasted, drinking his wine like a tequila shot. Rogana elegantly rimmed her glass with her fingers. Sipping slightly she chuckled. "Yes, we've bested him. The Wardens have never been engaged, or so I recall. How mysterious... he must have forgotten. Yet they train ever so. No matter. All of the secrets within those walls will be ours to feast upon."
 
"Thank you," Ines' face flustered red. Her fingers followed the engravings in the silver again. Her chest swelled with pride just thinking back of the day she received her silver staff. And now her friend, whom she looked up to quite a lot, complimented her on it! Something else started swelling in her chest as well. Feelings that had been there for quite a while, if she were being honest. Buuuut.... that was something she'd have to save for a later day. Right now there were more important things. Like getting to the First Warden. And quickly, too! Teleporting, however, seemed out of the question. Eden of course felt the need to remind her of that last teleportation that didn't go as well as planned. Nevermind the fact that Eden begged Ines to teleport her to someplace. Although Eden had probably genuinely forgotten about that. Ines had practiced a lot since that day. In part because she felt guilty about Eden crashing through the awning. In part because she simply had to get better if she wanted to make the transgression from Wood to Silver.

"Sounds like all the trouble wasn't entirely for nothing then,' Ines smiled, trying her best to share Eden's childlike enthusiasm. In truth she mage knew full well this meant being dragged into even more trouble and trying to keep Eden from doing stupid things that could get her killed. Eden was so sure a griffin was nearby. A nest, even. The mage had to keep herself from shaking her head. Griffins hadn't been seen since forever. Nowadays they were nothing but legend, a part of folklore and fairytale. Perhaps in some other reality griffins were alive and thriving, but this world....? No, Ines didn't think this world was one of them. Yet she didn't have the heart to tell Eden and crush her hopes and dreams. "What? I... but... I...!" Ines stuttered as Eden was basically already dragging her into even more trouble... while standing nearly in front of the First Warden's door. Which is open. Ines quickly hit Eden with her staff, her eyes cast on her feet once again.
"Good afternoon, First Warden... Sir..." Ines squeaked, barely audible. "You asked for us?"
---
"Yes please," Mellany sighed in relief. She'd rather be hauling stuff than climbing the shelves in order to get the things on her end of the list. Or use magic in an attempt to get it down and ending up knocking over a shelf. Wasn't that what happened last time? Or almost happened, anyway. It was no fun and no good. Chloe's taller and wearing heels, so reaching the higher shelves shouldn't be a problem for her. Or at the very least less of a problem. She handed her list to Chloe and took the other girl's list. "Let's get to this quickly. Wouldn't want to keep Braxton waiting for too long."
---
Raijah nodded. Peter had disappeared into the basement earlier the night before and they haven't seen him since. As far as Raijah knows, the scrawny boy even skipped breakfast! He shouldn't do that. Eating food is very important. Everyone knows that, right? "You try bring him food, yes?" Raijah asked. Yelling at someone who hasn't had food yet is a bad idea. Even more so when they're busy. Maybe Peter was 'shhh'-ing Vince because he was grumpy due to not eating yet? All the thinking of food made Raijah's stomach road loudly. The rogue patted his belly. "When lunch time?"
---
Zaken stared at the fortress from their hideout in the mountains. It was pure luck they'd stumbled upon this magnificent place while being lost in the network of mirrors. For so long, none of the Disciples would've dared to dream to find this place. Although these Wardens had many years to do their training, it must have been an eternity since they've faced a real fight. Zaken expected them to have grown rusty, weaker. But still... a fortress full of worthy opponents. Full of potential allies for the Knights, should they have found them. Thank evilness it was them to find the Wardens first. Now they would have a chance to slay them all. To turn those who proved strong enough into powerful thralls. With this army to claim as their own, the Knights would never best them anymore. Zaken stroked the metal of his blade. It was thirsting. Begging to be soaked in - and drink- the blood of their enemies. And right before them laid a feast worth of kings. The time to strike was neigh.
 
"Oh he'll be okay. Shouldn't take long now that we have better pickings. Besides, you can use close-up magic to lift the bags of pet feed with your hands. I'm not saying I'm scared to break a nail but... I mean that really does hurt." Breaking a nail has to be one of the more painful things a human being can go through. Up there with birthing a child naturally and watching old she-cop movies from the 80's. One really stood out as hard to watch with that super duper long death scene of the guy shot in a motel room. Look up the worst death scene and you'll see it. Chloe stood thinking about that dumb movie scene for like two minutes. She snapped out of it in time to realize she's supposed to be shopping. "Oops," she muttered to herself, quickly rummaging store shelves for the items on the list she took from Mellany.
---
"I think if we bring him food he'll just turn into a monster and bite our hands off," Vince joked. "He really doesn't want to be disturbed. I'm hungry though. C'mon, Raijah, want something to eat? And after we fill up we'll get you guys something really nice," he said to the Mounts. Stallion neighed and bopped his head happily. "Surely that would be divine!" the horse gleefully said. Lunchtime!
"I think we're out. Isn't that why the girls and that four-eyed mage are shopping?" WIldcat asked. She was far from caring, like any true cat. Her stomach rumbled. Warthog and Owl. shared the grumbles. Vince pulled Raijah aside and into the house. "We'll be back soon. They'll be home from the market in a bit, I promise." Now it's time for the two of them to raid the pantry and make room from the new food on its way home.

Down in the Lair, Peter slaved and hovered over old texts and books. Paper that smelled of such strong musk it may rival the first printed books ever. He was hungry, indeed, but he was too focused to eat. Last time everyone received their Heirlooms from the network he saw into other worlds. Short looks but he saw into them. Vince told him about things he saw, too. When he was back in time! When he looked at other worlds like their own and a fortress. An old one that was tall and mighty. Somewhere in these books he remembered reading about a fortress. Legends take up a lot of these pages but they're all worth looking into. "An island, a haunted forest, a temple in the sky and underground caverns but nothing about a fortress. Places of power that mean something... " Peter wiped his brow. "Connections have to be right in front of my face. But what?"
---
"Old geezer, am I?" asked the regal old Warden. The sound of clocks ticking around the room echoed to fill silence of an awkward woman. Long beard stroked carefully with eyes locked on to both Eden and Ines, the First Warden invited them to sit in ornate chairs in front of his desk. He sat down with them, hunching over with elbows on the surface. "I was told there were tomes taken fro the repository and pumpkins from the kitchen. I don't even have to tell you how I know it was the two of you. Why is it when something goes on around here it's always finding its way back to you? Ines, newly a staffed mage following Eden Blackwell. I'd have thought your training would mature you to think for yourself more. And Eden... I can't say I'm not surprised. You've been to my office so many times there should just be a seat with your name engraved on the arms." The First Warden sounded all too familiar with these two getting into something.
"Your fascination in old things is good, child. But there are rules in place for a reason."
---
Torth and Urla both shared in the celebrations. Glasses of wine and hopeful attitudes.
"Oh Lusa, or Rogana, what fine silks we can harvest from their bodies! We'll have the most beautiful dresses!" Urla happily skipped around, grabbing her fellow females by the arms. For such an air head she's remarkable strong. Hard to remember she's a warrior in training.
"All of the resources and magical secrets inside and you think of pretty garments? We need their weapons and bodies, not their clothes and pretty bobbles. We have an advantage I never thought possible in all my centuries of serving. There are rituals to prepare and many fires to light. We will take the fortress without even having them put up a--" Torth started a tangent, Dumanax snapping his fingers to make him stop. To make them all stop. Mentally his power beamed to their heads. A punishment method! Torth and Urla felt the piercing nothingness enter their minds. Oh it burned! And not in the good way! Urla whine and Torth settled, grasping at his head.

Power.... there is a great power... it is ours for the taking. A soft hive mind formulated a voice from a thousand souls in their minds. A visual of something great within the Keep's walls. They will take it by force. They storm the fortress within the hour.
"Oh...I see, my lord. Power to rival the knights?" Torth understood, clarity in the 'punishment' ending.
"It's glowing...I can see whatever it is... it is so pretty!" Urla clasped her hands together.
 
Enough time had passed on so that the three in the shop were finished with their lists. Carts full and lists all checked off, they regrouped and started their way to the checkout lines. It is every cashier's nightmare to see three people with three big carts full of things all together as one purchase. Ringing it up will take time. They aren't full to the rim, now, but they are loaded with items. "I see you two switches lists. Good, I was hoping you would. Problem solving and teamwork exercise," Braxton said to the girls. "A trip to the store can be just as beneficial to our training as a day in the field." He's very anal about this. "Oh and Mellany; your cereal on the list was on sale so I grabbed two boxes of it. I got your and Vince's soda, Chloe, and I think Raijah likes this oatmeal the best. Hard to tell, his handwriting still needs some work," Braxton carried on while they wait in line. The only unique thing he wanted he substituted for a second box of Mellany's cereal. It's no big deal really. Efficiency for their pantry. And so the long process of checking out begins. Oy vey.
---
Sat down, Eden scratched the back of her head nervously. Nervous didn't being to describe it. She called him a geezer with him standing right... fuck, she didn't know! "I hear what you're saying, First Warden, I really do. But I'm on to something. I've done so much research and I think I'm close to finding a griffin. A real griffin. Not just a live one but a nest. So close I can taste it! If you would just send a scouting party out with me I could show them the way and we could be on to one of the greatest discoveries in centuries!" Eden lit up while talking about the griffin. Everyone here knows they're extinct. They're long lost. But she won't give up. Fantastical creatures spark her interest. Always have. Little girls like unicorns, older girls like mermaids. They admire them, dress as them for costume parties. Eden actually finds them and studies them. She hasn't actually found anything yet but...
"It isn't like we're doing anything anyway. The Divine Knights have never needed us. What's the point of just sitting her when we can be doing something?" She can practically hear Ines going 'please stop oh god.' "Please, if you're going to punish someone punish me. Yeah Ines helped me take the books and the pumpkins but it was me taking advantage of her. I admit it. For what that's worth I'm sorry. To both of you," she said with sincerity. "Just after so long I know I'm close to a breakthrough. A griffin. A peak at the past!" Her life's work has been about creatures. Other warriors pick up a shield and call it a day. She knows her way around a shield and a blade but puts her brain to as much work as she does her body.
---
Stripped of the celebrations early, Andero and Rogana heard the tendril-ed voices slipping into their minds. Power in the Keep ready for the taking. And an entire army of battle lorn Wardens is all that stands in the way. It will be like knocking over a house of cards. "The mysteries in their halls call to me... I can hear them!" Rogana praised the masters power.
"We should provide the Wardens indemnities for what we're about to do. But the Knights will likely pick up on what we're doing. We'll need a distraction for them, yes? Pardon me, master, but the Disciples Honor's black water has been still for days. Shouldn't we bring forth a subservient creature to do our bidding and keep them at bay?" Andero strolled up to Dumanax' side just like a golden ages film star. "We will get the bodies and resources from the Keep. And that power. But we can't have the Knights breathing down our necks. A mindless monster just to keep them busy."
 
Mellany very much doubted Braxton had switched their lists on purpose. More likely he didn't want to admit having made a mistake, even if it was something relatively minor like this. She raised an eyebrow, but managed to keep any comments to herself, albeit barely. "At least he's attempting to write now, instead of drawing pictures of what he needs," Mellany said. Raijah had done that for a fair while, and it could be a pretty serious challenge to decipher those scribbles. She didn't mind sharing "her" cereal with Braxton. On this one trip it might barely save them a dollar, but all those little amounts sure add up on the longer term. She glanced from their shopping carts to the cashier and the look of dread on their face. "Poor kid," she muttered. If there was anyone behind them in the line that would complain to the kid for taking too long she would... so something. Not quite sure what, but surely there had to be a small bit of magic that could go unnoticed. Or some snarky comments she could spew at them. Either way she'd stick up for the kid/
---
Raijah blinked a few times. Peter turning into a monster? No, no that would be a very bad idea. Best to just leave him be then, and hope he doesn't turn into a hungry monster that would love to eat the Mounts or them! Raijah shuddered. Although he definitely didn't like the idea of them being eaten, he did like the idea of them eating. Right now. His stomach growled in agreement. Lunchtime!
Bear growled sadly. "So we have to wait even longer? But I'm staaaaaarving."
"Oh please," Deer shook its head. "You eat more than enough to feed the lot of us for an entire day, if not longer!" Deer, for one, was gracious and could easily patiently wait for the Knights to finish their own food first.

---
Ines silently stared at her feet, cheeks flustered red. Time and time again she told herself she wouldn't be dragged into anymore trouble. And yet.... whenever Eden came up with one of her plans, she somehow found herself more involved than she'd want to. Someone had to make sure Eden wouldn't get herself in serious trouble. She could be killed. Or worse, expelled! Was that even a thing among Wardens? Ines couldn't remember ever having heard any such thing before.
"Eden..." Ines lightly shook her head. The woman had been fascinated with the creatures since the very beginning. Ines could hardly remember the warrior being any different. How long had it been since the griffins went extinct? The idea that a few had survived and just so happened to have a nest relatively close to the fortress sounded like little more than a fairy tale to her. Although she did make a point when she said the Divine Knights hadn't needed their help in however long it might have been, it didn't seem to be making the situation any better. Ines very much wished she could just disappear into the chair, sink into the floor, and turn invisible. It wasn't going to get her far, but it still seemed less awkward than to sit here and listen to everything getting progressively worse. The apology was sincere, and Edens dedication was admirable, but was it going to help them escape punishment? Ines glanced from the First Warden to Eden and back.
---
Lusa giggled at the idea of getting all the pretty things from the Wardens hiding in their fortress, but the happiness was quickly cut short by Dumanax' power seeping into their minds like burning tar. Dark, hot, burning away all traces of thought until nothing but his message remained, spoken in the voices of a thousand souls. Great power, just waiting there, theirs for the taking. A power to crush the Knights and force the world to bend to their will. Yes. Zaken nodded. "I agree, Andero. We have no need for those pesky excuses of knights meddling in our affairs. They should be kept busy, so that we can retriece what belongs to us.
 
Dumanax responded to the plea of the Disciple of Slaves with a subtle nod. Andero, you were forthcoming enough to suggest it. It is you, this time, whom will merge your power with the Disciple's Honor. Already Urla and that literal vexing creature failed him. But no matter, Her contributions were enough to aid him on his quest. Now it is he who must add. The black water stood still and invited Andero's hand into it. The energy calling. The darkness in the water while contained was almost bottomless in dark. Torth and Urla clasped their hands. "If my vanity couldn't bring the humans to their knees, I only hope you will, Andero." Urla wasn't petty despite failure. She wanted her friend to be victorious for them all!
"Anything would be better fit than making people grovel over pretty things. Violent as they become it was hardly worth the effort," Torth scoffed like an old professor judging the works of a pupil.
"Maybe your powers of the walking candlestick will prove useful when it is your turn, Torth. Until then, be silent." Urla's heavy mace dragged behind her. Spiked metal ball on a stick plus a talking matchbox equals a laughing Supreme Disciple. Dumanax silenced them both through the hive mind. The pain in their heads served warning to anyone else who spoke out of turn.
---
"Why do I get the sense you're being real with us or just coming up with something on the spot? If you really expected us to switch then...yay, we passed?" Chloe couldn't read Braxton like Mellany could. Grocery lists ring no inherit bells about training. What are they gonna do, switch between a staff and a bo? Chloe could swing it around a little but she isn't a mage. Problem solving... or is it some other kind of problem solving? This is totally not what she wanted to be focusing on right now. She should be texting Ingrid back soon from a conversation they started earlier. Or Kelsey on the cheer squad who needs to know Chloe isn't coming to practice tomorrow so she'll have to take over for a bit. Kelsey, who Brooke tried to weight shame, is now her co captain. It didn't matter what she looked like. That girl can cheer like nobody's business. "Crap, I hope the scanner reaches around with a cord," Chloe said as their checkout process began. If they have to lift those bags of feed...
---
Vince and Raijah helped themselves to whatever was in the pantry upstairs. Taking the time to cross their chores off the list posted on the fridge, Vince made himself a sandwich and some chips on a plate. "What do you wanna watch, Raijah?" he asked, pulling out his phone. Lately he'd been letting Raijah borrow his phone for a few things. Like watching some videos. It wasn't clear if he had a favorite person to watch online or not, but Vince thought it important he got familiar with the internet. So comedians, DIY prank videos, music, whatever he fancied.
Downstairs Peter snapped his fingers. "Eureka!" Several books opened on pages long hidden from the light were available to him. The paper had yellowed with time and the scent grew musky. "An island, a temple, caverns, the forest...they have to be the places of the lost power--!" Peter was on the brink of a breakthrough when the Lair door flung itself open by the force of something unexpected. A letter. Just a letter on the ground. "What the frick?"
He investigated the strange letter. Strong enough to force a door open on its own. It must have come from the mirror across the hall. Who sent this? It was addressed to 'the Guardian Hart.' Him, definitely. Or his father... frown. Flipping it over, the wax seal on the back felt warm as if it was only recently stamped. Purple ink bearing the symbol of a griffin. Chills tingled down his entire body. "I have to tell the others."
---
"Be that as it may, you know we can not spare a scouting party to go on a hunch." The ticking of the clocks echoed in voids of silence. "This obsession with finding such a fantastic beast will only get you into trouble. Believe me, I want to share your enthusiasm but there are more pressing matters at hand." The old Warden was taken aback by Eden's sudden burst of honesty. Shunning Ines of his judgement and holding all faults for herself. The trouble this woman gets herself into almost outweighs her selflessness. The First Warden turned his gaze on the quiet Ines. A newly silver staved mage getting mixed up with a troublemaker. Eden's always been one to get into a little trouble or obsess over finding something huge. Ines struck him as the shy type. How these polar opposites became such close friends is a mystery. Bless their hearts. "The Divine Knights have yet to signal us yet we must stand vigilant."
"Ines, dear girl. I understand you were only aiding your friend. Your loyalty is admirable. But know with every choice comes a consequence. Since you helped her... you are to oversee the next round of mages testing their skill for silver staff status." Her sentence is... not bad. Watching people take a test. That's the punishment.
"Eden. For making your feet stammer to my office yet again, I'll have you carry out a task as a favor to me," the First Warden spoke, rising from his seat. Rounding their seats to the beat of the clocks, he looked back out the window. "Instead of sneaking out, I permit you both with a quest outside the fortress." He turned to face the women. "King Ascelin has not yet risen form his deep slumber. However Dumanax and his Disciples have. The five Knights are fighting on their own with no one to lead them. I thought it impossible. But the Supreme Disciple turns his gaze on them before the King returns to fight. I am asking the two of you to venture into the woods to look for a cache buried at this location." He handed them a map with hand drawn instructions on where to find it. "The cache contains something of great importance. Something you must return to me at all costs. Find this and return to the Keep as soon as possible. We're going to help the Divine Knights. I've already sent word to their Guardian to let them know we're aware of their situation and will bring assistance."

The regal man allowed the ladies to rise and ready for the short trip. Best they take weapons and arm up for any threats. "Unless you have questions I suggest you go immediately."
 
"Oh the two of you go on as if you have anything of value to add. Let our Andero work in peace as you inanely carry on," Rogana perked on arm up resting on the other, casually strolling with a big poof of her skirt. The wonderous occasion today will mark for their legion. Wardens will die at their taste of steel and fire. A power which rivals that of the Knights lies within just waiting to be claimed. Oh but she does wonder so what Torth will do when it is his turn to claim the honor. Things will be set aflame, most likely.
Andero let humility wash over him as without word he place his hand over his chest and bowed to the master. Literally speaking, the honor is his. Andero plunged his hand into the dark water. A splash spit the liquid up to his forearm as the darkness within consumed his energy and the runes spared their energy. Removing his hand, Andero stepped back as the light that births new evil life lifted and fell to the ground. Taking shape from the Slave Disciple's energy stood a bronzed figure bulked in armor and chains that wrap around his right leg and around his torso to his left arm. Shackles decorate its wrists and ankles. All of this is worn as armor. The unchained parts instead almost rusted, but the rust lies on stone skin all tied with an ancient lock over where its heart should be. A key-styled blade in its unchained arm.

"Born of Bondage under the power of the Slave Disciple, servant of the Supreme Disciple. Before you stands Servan. Keeper of the unbreakable chains. How may I be of service?" Servan's mission is clear and simple enough for even a paralyzed frog to do.
"Wreak havoc on the human world and distract the Divine Knights. Bind them if possible. Go," Andero commanded. Servan bowed before him and fled through their mirror. "Now our domination of the Wardens begins, my lord." Andero's new creation will do nicely.
---
Better to not discus training and his way of doing so outside of the home environment right in front of a cashier and around other people. Braxton waited until the lengthy checkout was complete and they loaded the carts with bagged food. Throughout it all Braxton kept pleasant small talk with the cashier and apologized for the large amount of items they had. They seemed to appreciate that and smiled at the three of them all while it went on. Yes it is their job to do this, but anybody in customer service is going to get stressed or aggravated when met with a bulk like this one. As he and the girls wheeled their carts out, he then began talking to them.
"I did in fact purposefully switch your lists. Rationalizing who would be better for either list and then switching to get it done efficiently mirrors something like getting caught in the middle a bind and switching your tactic. Build that skill and some teamwork. You never know when it'll just be the two of you against a demon. I like to think you're sharp witted enough to manage without a full team for a short while." Together they are so much stronger, but in dire moments they will stand alone until help arrives. Sounds tedious but all of the preparation is important. He loaded up his cart of groceries into the van as the girls did their own carts. Once done, he took all three carts and put them in the buggy space for a worker to collect later. "Okay, time to go. Mellany, you have the keys, yes?" He's sure he gave them to her before to keep on her. She can drive if she wants, he's just making sure the lack of key lumps in his pockets isn't a problem!
---
Eden found herself fidgeting in her seat. No scouting party, no problem. She'll get out there and look herself. Nobody ever wants to explore anything other than the duty they have based on a promise some witch made almost a thousand years ago. Stand vigilant. More like sit-on-ass vigilant.
"Thanks, Eden, for bailing me out a little," she whispered to Ines in a playfully mocking tone as the First Warden stood up and moved over to the window. "Your punishment sounds like fun for you, shit." She zipped it as he then called her name. It's like they're in the principals office or some shit like that. A task? She gets to run some errands. But when he said he's giving both of them permission to leave, her bored expression morphed into a curious brow raise. He's letting them go out? Everything that came out of the First Warden's mouth dropped her jaw near to the ground. She received the map carefully. Skimming through it she looked back up at him. The Supreme Disciple is awake and already attacking before Ascelin? Has that ever happened before?
"Hold on, First Warden. You're telling us that Dumanax is already back and those five have been doing this alone? Why didn't we go to help them already? If Ascelin's still sleeping we should have raided the battle by now. What's so important in this cache that we have to get it?" She'll get this cache for him. And definitely look for the next while she's out there. But if what he's saying is true? Big shitstorm is on its way. She didn't even think to ask the state of the castle they're supposed to be living in or how they're fighting at all. Ascelin's kind of a key factor. And he contacted the Guardian. Aren't they supposed to contact them first?
---
Braxton whipped out his phone that doesn't morph him to call Vince as Mellany searched for the keys. He's sure he gave them to her, for she has the room for a big set of keys in her bag. Why are there so many keys on that ring, he doesn't know. After it rang for a moment he got an answer. "Hello, Vince? We're about to come home so you and Raijah be ready to help us carry it all in. Oh, and have you heard from Peter? I'm worried about him held up in the Lair." The conversation was completely normal and one the two of them might have. Until it was cut off by a chain suddenly wrapping around Braxton's upper body. The surprise and weight of the chains floored him on the pavement. Somehow his phone had not been broken. He hit his head and his glasses came off of his face. "What the hell?!?!" Braxton was completely caught off guard. The call was still active somehow as the phone now lay beside of his head.

Now standing on the other side of the street from where they parked was the chained demon Servan. With the chained arm he cracked a chain like a whip at the girls' feet. Ironic how Braxton was talking about the two of them being alone for a fight together and now they are, given he's bound by chains. Looking around, a lot of people were now chained up and on the ground across the wider area. "Demon! Demon attack, get here now!" Braxton said into his phone. He would help but....he's literally tied up.
"I am Servan. Demon of Bondage under Andero's power. You're all coming with me!" Servan attacked, rushing at the girls with his shoulder.
 
Zaken and Lusa watched the new creation take shape. How befitting for the Slave Disciple to spawn a creature covered in chains. It certainly looked like Servan would provide a nice distraction for the Knigths while the rest of them focussed on the big prize, the power hidden inside the fortress of the Wardens. Zaken stroked his blade. Soon, soon it would be time to claim what's theirs. Oh, he couldn't wait to plant his blade into some Warden guts.
---
"You didn't bail me out of anything. You just spoke the truth," Ines responded, just as playful and with a small grin on her face. Time and time again she allowed Eden to drag her into some sort of trouble. Time and time again Ines worried she'd regret it, but that day had yet to come. She nodded as the First Warden told her the punishment. Overseeing the new mages take their test. That's... not bad at all. She might even be able to advise the new mages as they take their test. Ines mused over the idea, but her attention was quickly drawn back to the First Warden when he told them they were to go on a quest outside of the Fortress. Her heart sank when the man told them that Ascelin had not yet awakened, but Dumanax was already out and about with his Disciples, wreaking havoc on the world of men. "How is that possible...?" she stammered "That has never happened before in all of history!" Ines wasn't panicking, no. But at the moment she was definitely very concerned. Ines was very much on Eden's side here. Shouldn't they all be heading out to wherever the Knights were to aid them, instead of staying in their fortress? The First Warden had already contacted the Guardian, which kind of went against the protocols... but she wasn't the one to talk about that right now. Plus, there's a good reason for them to break protocol. If Dumanax has free reign.... How have the Knights been holding up? How could anyone possibly be prepared for this situation? If the First Warden was going to bring assistance... did that mean they'd soon -finally- leave the fortress?

Ines rose to her feet, suddenly full of determination. The shy mage had, seemingly, disappeared for a moment. There's a time for being shy, and a time where duty calls and they all have to take their responsibility. Now was definitely time for the latter. Aiding the Knights was what they were all being trained for their entire lives. "Let's get going then," she said. "The longer we wait, the longer it takes before we can bring the knights their much needed assistance. If that cache is truly so important, there's no time left to lose."
---
Raijah nearly dropped the phone as it suddenly rang. That was unexpected! Thankfully he knew by now how to answer a ringing cellphone. "HELLO?" Volume when answering the phone was not something Raijah yet mastered. "Peter is still in Lair. Vince said he turn into monster and bite out hands off." He handed the phone over to Vince after that. Pretty sure Vince would provide a better explanation that might cause the mage to not-panic. Though he couldn't fully hear what else Braxton was saying, the sounds coming from the phone didn't sound too promising.
"Trouble?"
---
Thankfully, nobody was giving the poor cashier a hard time with this huge purchase. Good. That saved both the lot of them and the poor kid behind the register a lot of trouble. Mellany glanced at Chloe when Braxton still claimed he switched the lists on purpose and shrugged. How the switching of grocery lists would ever be useful against a demon was a complete mystery to her. Ah well... as long as they sorted things out, what even did it matter? Once all the groceries were in the car, Mellany patted her pockets. "Yeah, hold on. They're somewhere in here..." No good in the pockets of her jeans. She must have put them in her bag without having thought too much of it. Surely she must have. The amount of keys on that ring had no way of fitting into the pockets of a woman's jeans. These "pockets" were pretty much only for decoration. Much to the frustration of women all over the globe.

"Demon of Bon.... Okay no. No. There's too many things wrong with that," Mellany shook her head. Too many things she could say here. Way too many things that were way too inappropriate. Lots of people on the ground and in chains, Braxton being one of them. Once again she glanced at Chloe. "Well, I guess until Vince and Raijah get here, it's up to the both of us to keep this guy busy." She jumped aside to avoid being bull rushed by the demon charging at them.
 
"Unbreakable chains? I would vote we take Servan with us. The unbreakable chains invading the 'impenetrable' fortress. But he has his purpose, and I do look forward to seeing this unfold," Torth tapped his fingers together. Betwixt him and the Supreme Disciple, Servan's image took all in the rooms eyes before his travels to the world of man. This one will occupy the Knights as they take the fortress and what lies within. Deep beneath its walls is a power so great it must belong to the Shadoji. It will bolster their forces and even the odds against the Divine Knights. Put their enemies to shame. Moving his sword into a resting position in his free hand, Dumanax rose from his throne and kicked the dust off of the ground before him. We march. Now. Organizing Thralls to follow, the Supreme Disciple opened the portal in the shard of mirror left. The invasion begins on his word. Er...so to speak.
---
Weary eyes and a heavy heart, the First Warden confirms it all with but a nod. "All of this is true. I do not know how the demons beat Ascelin in their wake. It is troubling, regardless. The five knights will surely die unless we aid them now." For centuries the Wardens have waited. Never had they been called on, for they have never bene needed. Pawns were called on more than Wardens. Which brings that matter to his attention. Had the Pawns been sworn into service yet? Have these five knights any help at all? Hopefully before these two return he will get a letter back from the Guardian and clear that up for him.
Ines' change of attitude shook the old mans heart. So shy and timid, turned so brave and conscious. A remarkable woman she is. "Ines, my pride in you thickens. Your name will be remembered as the first Warden to hear her call to action and stand. For centuries we've waited and prepared. I'm deeming you the first to formally rise. Be honored," he told her. This woman is brave and good. Getting mixed into trouble through loyalty has been a mess for her but it is in a way what a Warden should be. Loyal to the end.
"Know this, child. The cache contains something of great importance. I fear the demons will try to steal it if they get word. That is why you must find it and bring it here before we go to help them. The cache will alter the course of destiny. You're capable of finding things long hidden or lost. That is why I've chosen you for this." Eden has gotten things she shouldn't have. And she's definitely not one to give up. "Go quickly, please. There isn't much time." The map will be their guide, it will show them the way. The First Warden kindly escorts them from his chambers and seals the door. "I pray they find it before it is too late."
---
They need to help this guy get a handle on technology. He's used to some things but it looks as though other elements of daily life startle or dazzle him. His phone didn't hit the ground at least, thanks to someone's impeccably dexteric hands. He wouldn't have been mad either way since its in a case but whatever. "Alright, we'll be out there waiting on you. And what Raijah said. Peter's still just--" and then Braxton cut him off with sounds of illegible grunting and a thud. "Braxton? Brax, buddy, you okay?" Vince grew worried with a cautious look in his eye. His stomach still growled for food but he isn't paying it any mind now. Demon attack? "Say no more, we're coming." Vince gave Raijah that sad look. A look says a thousand words. They won't get to eat their lunch. There's always a demon right when its inconvenient for them. When they're eating, sleeping, training, talking, etc. Demons must pick just the most annoying times to do their demon thing. Other than his normal responsibility, that makes him want to hit them with a heavy thing.

Abandoning their lunch, Vince lead the run downstairs and to the mirror. Peter emerged from the Lair about to tell them what he found. "Guys, you'll never guess what I have!"
"Sorry, Peter, there's a demon attacking the city, we'll talk later," Vince said in a hurry, already stepping into the mirror on his way to help the others. Peter shrugged.
"But I don't even feel the head ache." And right then, the head ache hit him like a bulldozer. "OH! OKAY NOW I FEEL IT," he said to... no one.
---
Chloe kind of bought Braxton having switched them on purpose, but she looked at Mellany with that same look of 'I dunno.' Could be he really is trying to train them outside of training. If that's even his place to do so. Maybe Mellany can be trained under him but Chloe shouldn't have to. A trip to the supermarket can be a lot of things it wouldn't normally be with Braxton around. "I hate pockets. They're the fourth biggest problem in the modern world. Right up there with illness, corrupt politicians and cringey dances on apps. All of that and fake pockets," Chloe said while Mellany dug for keys. She could barely fit a freaking chapstick in her pockets let alone a set of keys.
The outburst got her attention and she looked own and around. Braxton and a lot of people were in chains. Introducing Servan. "Andero… hey, think this is like Vex with Urla? Made from her power?" Chloe asked Mellany quietly on the side. She agreed they would have to fend him off until help got here. They're already down a man. Unfortunately she was busy looking at Braxton, about to ask if he needed help when Servan charged at them. He rammed Chloe right into the side of the van. Ouchie! "Okay, that kind of hurt." Skinny girl brutally smashed into a van. Yay! Grabbing at Servan's legs with her own, she tried upsetting his balance. And enough people were either looking away or just out of sight. "Mellany, should we?" Chloe asked, medallion in hand.
 
People struggled and cried under the weight of the chains. Unbreakable, thick, enchanted by magic. These were no ordinary chains you would be able to find in a hardware store. Wiggling onto his side, Braxton gave himself a better view despite his glasses having fallen off. Only a couple inches away, but without hands he can't exactly put them on. Chloe might be on to something. Servan outright told them he's born of Andero's power like Vex was Urla's. Another Disciple using their power directly in a monsters creation. Vex was a powerful adversary. "Yes, you should!" Braxton interjected. Don't ask for the others permission to morph, just morph! Servan didn't take kindly to his balance being slightly offset.
Tighter and tighter his chains hugged the civilians and Braxton. The skin under the chains began to bruise from the pressure. Everybody in chains is slowly being crushed. "Please, hurry, it's getting harder to breathe," the mage coughed out. Boa constrictors wrapped around their prey with similar force to these chains. In minutes these people would be dead, surely.

"Die, humans!" Servan howled. Chain arm hit the ground like a whip, a thunderous row of sound and dust flying from it. Braxton continued to cough. Servan attacked the girls, this time with his blade.
---
So Ines is being marked as the first Warden to officially hear her call to duty and stand up. That's...really impressive. She made history just by being an example of a Warden. Today also marks history. The day their order will assume their place at the side of the knights. Centuries of waiting has lead to this. But it's resting on two women to find a cache in the woods. If Dumanax and his goons want it then they have to get it first no matter what. "We'll be back, First Warden. Count on it. We won't let you down." Map in hand, goal in mind, the ladies were to prepare.

After leaving his chambers, Eden and Ines would part ways for a moment to gear up. Eden equipped herself with a leather coat and pants, silver shin guards, forearm guards. a shoulder piece for her shield arm, an upper torso piece, and a hefty belt. Who needs chainmail when you've got sturdy leathers and strategic metal plates? Throwing the map and maybe the book on Griffins in her satchel, she took her trusted shield and one-handed ax from the rack on her wall. She met with Ines at the front gates. "We're on orders from the First Warden, we need to pass," she said to the guards. Showing the map was enough to get the okay. And now Eden and Ines are left to the woods.
"We may not have a lot of time. The cache looks like its just north of the Keep. A lot of trees, if the art is right. Find the river and we should be able to follow it," she said. If Ines knew Eden, she'd know that on the map plain as day was also the supposed location of the griffin nest. The region's art on the parchment resembled what was in the book. Eden said not a word but she saw it. Onward they marched! Through open grass, past a couple of trees, a big rock, and sooner rather than later they found themselves at the river. "Since we're out here and we have a minute, can we talk about how calm the First Warden sounded? He tells us all of this information, and he's had to of known it for a while longer than he lets on. I trust him but I can't believe what I heard. Ascelin, not here? The Knights are fighting alone? Why didn't they sound the horn, send a messenger pigeon?" Eden asked, clearly frustrated and worried at the whole situation. She held Ines close to her while stepping through narrow stones along the riverbank.
 
Ines' cheeks glowed with humble pride. It was a great honor to be deemed the first to rise. Never would she have dared to dream this day would come. The Knights, for the first time in centuries, needed their help. "Eden is right, First Warden. We will not disappoint you," the mage nodded before leaving his chambers and prepare for their journey into the woods. They had to get to this mysterious cache before the demons would get it! Ines changed into a robe that was a bit more suitable for venturing into the woods. Still a purple robe though, embroidered with silver thread. Together with comfortable boots, and her hair tied into a neat looped ponytail, she should be ready to go. She took hold of her silver staff and pushed her small glasses further back up her nose. Ready to go!

She nodded politely at the guard letting them pass through the gates. The mage hadn't often left the castle grounds, but now the thrill of adventure was calling out to her! Or was that just her breakfast making her feel uneasy? Also, this might just be one of the rare few times she truly was alone with Eden. In the Keep there's always bound to be someone around to overhear them talking. Ines' eyes scoured the horizon. Find the river, head north, and then they should eventually stumble upon the cache. And maybe a griffin nest, too. Although quite honestly, Ines had little faith in that. Griffins hasn't been seen for so long, they had faded into legend. "I can always make time to talk to you about anything," Ines blurted out before she could even stop herself. Now she had to think really fast and recover herself. Thankfully Eden provided her with plenty to think and talk about. "He was so calm indeed. I suspect he might have known for a while, but maybe not even that much longer? Has anything out of the ordinary happened recently that might have made him realize action had to be taken immediately?" Ines tapped her chin. "Never in history it's happened that the demons woke up before King Ascelin did. But it's also been centuries since us Wardens have been called upon. Perhaps it's all connected somehow, although I cannot see how. Not just yet, anyway. What if the Knights of this generation have forgotten about our existence, because it has been so long?" Ines clung onto Eden as the latter pulled her close to safely get past the stones along the riverbank. Blood rushed to her cheeks again as she realized she didn't mind this at all.
---
No food... the demons had disrupted lunch time! Don't ever deprive this hungry rogue of his favorite meal. Which is... any meal, really! The guy can eat. And the demons would now get to deal with a Hangry Raijah. So off he rushed with Vince. The girls and Braxton needed their help!

"I would say so," Mellany nodded. They had already seen demons before made with the essence of one of the Disciples. This seemed to be yet another one of those cases. She still couldn't get over this demon. The name, the kind of demon he was, and the Disciple that had created him. There were too many things wrong with it. Best they'd deal with this guy as swiftly as possible and focus on other things. Like getting the groceries home, and have lunch! She wasn't particularly hungry yet, but regular meals were a key to staying healthy and focused on their training.
"It's pretty clear what time it is, isn't it?" Mellany said to Chloe as she asked her question, gripping her medallion as well. With a demon crushing people in chains, and ready to shred them into pieces, it was time to don their shiny suits of not-spandex. Much more protective against attacking monsters than simple civilian outfits!
"Divine Change! A Mage's Unwavering Willpower! Divine White!" Mellany called out, white light surging around her. They had to get Servan to back off before these people (and Braxton) were crushed to death!

"Nobody's gonna die here today," Mellany said, twirling her staff and pointing it at Servan. She quickly cast a barrier as Servan rushed at them again with his blade. A weak barrier that wouldn't fully stop the blade, but at least limit the injury. Hopefully Chloe could strike him with her daggers, or shoot him with her bow during this brief moment that Mellany could give. Very brief, for the blade already sliced through the barrier and send Mellany staggering backwards, sparks flying from her suit.
 
"Sit tight, Brax..ton..." Chloe trailed off. Not like he has much of a choice at the very moment. Irritating as the four-eyed mage can be she was not about to let him or anybody else get hurt. The sooner they deal with the bondage demon, and there's still a lot wrong with that title, the sooner they'll get their frozens home before they're ruined! The milk! They gotta save the milk! By her side, Chloe raised her to the sky. "Divine Change! A Rogue's Undying Cunning! Divine Yellow!", Chloe yelled, a similar yellow light around her. Blessed heavenly light was the nicest part of morphing. If not for the big helmet and shiny costume it would make for some incredible selfie lighting. Who needs a filter when you've got that? Taking full advantage of Mellany's barrier, Chloe jumped up and over Servan. Drawing her bow she unleashed a rain of arrows down upon him. After he inevitably hit Mellany, Chloe put the bow around Servan's arms from behind to bind him like he bound everyone else. "How do you like it? Now let them go!" She struggled to contain the demon. Physically he was a lot stronger than her. Speaking of strong, her comes two red and black blobs of muscle and metal. Thank God for the quickness of the mirrors! "Heard there was a party!" Vince yelled, sidearm in hand, running and shooting at Servan along side Raijah. Chloe turned the demon around for a better shot until she had been shoved off.
---
In a half hour much has transpired at the Keep. Two Wardens alone in the woods to find the cache which its contents stood for hope of the Knights. The cache, according to what First Wardens before him have logged, is said to contain a gift from the Sorceress herself. She wouldn't have hidden it for just any reason. It is the ultimate weapon they will find. Time is something they do not have. The women hadn't been gone for too long and things looked grim. Immediately, the First Warden ordered the children and their carers into hiding. Warriors sharpen their blades, rogues polish their arrows, and mages collect their potions.
"Wardens, we stand in a new day. Today our destiny, our promise is to be upheld. Today we march to the aid of Ascelin's Knights. But on the horizon lies our foe. They will storm us, they will test us, and they will die by us! Centuries of waiting and training have led us to this moment in this generation. Stand ready. Dumanax and ITS forces approach. To arms!" The First Warden shouted from his window. His speech riled up the Wardens as his lookouts confirmed a troubling sight. He knew this would happen. He was always ready for this. Just on the horizon...the entire Shadoji army.

Dumanax, his six Disciples, and hundreds if not thousands of Thralls had marched into the land outside of the Keep. Had Eden and Ines been any later in their quest and they would have been witness to this. The trees and the distance will mask the sound. The women are safe on their own. All of the Shadoji march through the woods in an orderly fashion. Left foot, right foot, the demons marched to the beat of their Supreme Disciple. As mages erected a barrier and warriors put shields together, the rogues took cover with arrows focus on the gates. Sudden as it may have been, the Wardens prepared for their first battle. Wardens are always ready. Unfortunately for them so are the Shadoji.

"Allow me to throw the first fireball," Torth kindly offered his leader. Two massive fireballs evolved from palm-sized flames in his hands. Torth hurled the massive balls over the fortress walls. In an instant he shattered the barrier over the fortress itself. Urla aligned herself with Zaken and Dumanax. With his two warrior class Disciples he would fill the need of a battering ram. Who needs that thing when Dumanax, with the aid of Chaos and Beauty, slashed their weapons down at the front gate. Combining their strength was enough to instantly destroy the front gates. The doors were open...the Shadoji could storm the Keep.
"Wardens! Defend your home!" The First Warden screamed bloody murder from his tower. He plucked his bow form the wall and readied himself. Demons began hoarding in and ravaging the barriers and shields of Wardens. Warriors pushed back, rogues fired from afar or jumped in with daggers when needed, and mages focus on barriers and literal fire support. Torth's fireballs lit the courtyard ablaze.

Marching into the Keep, Dumanax slowly tread inside as Thralls wildly attacked the fights in the walls. Urla giggled and greeted a Warden with her mace right in their face! Torth continued with the fireballs and lighting the fortress aflame. Dumanax was going straight for the First Warden's chambers. Any in his way were dealt with accordingly. The Supreme Disciple beheaded one poor sod. No mercy.
 
Once you have been squeezed enough, you will start to cry. You'll turn blue or red and your veins begin to pop out. Tighter did the chains get around Braxton and the civilians. Coughing seemed impossible, as Braxton felt the air in his lunges dwindle and the pressure in his body increase. The longer he stays bound the closer he is to dying. Don't let the mage die. Civilians began squirming, coughing and feeling that same desperation as he did. His eyes, no longer shielded by his glasses, let everyone see a more vulnerable and afraid Braxton. Only human to be afraid when death inches closer in each passing moment.
Servan cut Mellany's barrier down, heavily slicing her chest. Unamused by her efforts, the arrows by Chloe distracted him only long enough for her to bind him with the bow. Impressive enough, yet she is as strong as a wet noodle. Elbowing her gut, Servan swiped his blade at her and backed her to a car. Incoming attacks from the arriving Red and Black Rangers amused him more. With a swing of his sword, he deflected one shot from Vince at Mellany and hit her square in the chest. The chain around his other arm whipped around, striking Chloe's side to make room for a dash at the males. "Rangers, you waste your time. These humans will die, as will your friend. It is but a matter of seconds!"

Braxton desperately eyed his friends. Vince fell under attack by Servan, an aggressive chain to the head as a greeting. Mellany blasted, Chloe struck, nobody able to get close to him. Braxton's now almost bloodshot eyes looked to Raijah. There's a big lock on Servan's chest, and it glows ever slightly as the chains get tighter. He fidgeted his head, begging Raijah for his life and hoping he would understand. "Try destroying the lock," he mouthed to the rogue from the Oathkeep tribe.

As Servan distracts himself with Vince, maybe the rogue can sneak up and take out that lock!
---
Pulling Ines closer for safety along the riverbank put Eden into protective mode. She's always been keen on protecting people, knowledge, items, anything special to her. Even things such as ideas and beliefs felt worthy of protection. Protecting things like the First Warden must have bene protecting this little secret. Ascelin not here and things going to Hell is a real kick in the mind. "I have no doubt it's all connected," Eden said as she held Ines close on the narrow riverbank path. "The connections I can think of don't make sense. If he's known about the knights being alone all this time, why didn't he send us to find this cache sooner? Wardens have been training and preparing for centuries. Hell, none of the original Wardens are even still alive. None of them fought. None of us have ever fought real battles. If the knights really don't know about us isn't that a little strange?" Eden's thought dump ended s the ladies crossed into wider paths. She let go of Ines and distanced herself. "The First Warden has always told us to do out duty and remember the promise. I thought we were reserves because we were needed. But when you think about it, the demons have an army. Knights don't. Why would the king never call his army? Is there something else he has that's just as powerful? Whatever the case is I'm glad we finally get to do something other than train our whole lives and die with no action."

The further they got the closer they got to the cache's location. Truly by following the river like the map said they were making great time in getting there. A little time had gone by and it went by quietly. "Hey Ines? Before we set off on a quest to aid the knights and fight evil... you do think Mason and I would have worked right? He said he didn't want us to be together because he had a lot on his mind... I think once I lost the baby it was too much for him. He won't tell me that because he doesn't want to sound like a bitch. Am I nuts? You know Mason as well as I do." Eden asked Ines this not out of the blue, per say, but out of a longer conversation that they had many times before. There was a time Eden was with child. She looked forward to being one of the few women in the ranks who would mother a child. But she lost her little one, sadly. Her former partner Mason is a mage like Ines, and they all grew up together. Ever since the split and the baby...Eden really put focus on things like finding a griffin or other creatures. Something to fill her hearts void. A purpose.
And more in Ines' view than Eden's, the spot they were looking for could be seen.
---
Supreme Disciple Dumanax' march on the Keep washed over Andero and Rogana's faces with glee. From the woods to the gates, the Disciples carried cane and umbrella as any soldier would a broadsword. "Fine work destroying the gates. Now, watch this," Rogana cockily unfurled the umbrella and held it at an angle to deflect the arrows from the archers. Safe on the ramparts they were not. Umbrella shields, but it also attacks. With every arrow deflected, Rogana whisked one into nearby warriors or back up the archers. A gust of wind summoned by the umbrella redirected multiple shots back at them and eliminated them. And she's only just started the onslaught.
Andero pounded the end of his cane into the ground, leading Thralls around and ordering them where to go as organized as he could. Can't let the Thralls thin out in places and bulk up too much in others. Evenly distribute the forces around the Keep. And when the Wardens feel secure in their skill...dispatch triple the amount of Thralls at them. "Is this really the first time you Wardens have seen combat? I would have never guessed," he said, riveting a warrior to the ground and choking him out with foot. Andero twisted his foot into the mans throat and heard a crack.
 
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Servan's blade cut through the barrier, and through her suit. Mellany yelped and rolled back. At least she provided Chloe with an opening. Now Servan's the one to be bound. With a bow, and not with heavy crushing chains... Speaking of which... four-eyes is still getting choked on the ground. Groceries be damned if there's lives at stake! But their finances are damned if they lose the groceries! Ergo, better get this fight over with as fast as they can. Mellany pushed herself up off the ground.
"Glad to see you two could make it!" she called to the warrior and the rogue.
Raijah happily waved at them after taking a shot at Servan as well.
"You okay?" he asked. Probably no need to ask that. Braxton is turning blue! And not in the good, get-suited-up way. If they're waiting much longer Braxton will go from blue to purple! And people going purple is a bad thing.

Just as Mellany is back up on her feet, she's knocked down again thanks to Servan deflecting one of Vince's attacks her way. Cue yet another yelp and more rolling around in the dust. She cussed under her breath, once more scrambling back to her feet. This asshole demon is more trouble than he's worth.
"I said it before and I'm gonna say it again," Mellany spat. "The only one dying here today is you."

Raijah caught a glimpse of Braxton's fidgeting. He didn't quite know what Braxton was trying to say. Something about a block? Vince is much better at blocking things than he is! The warrior in red's got the big shield after all! But Raijah did notice the glowing lock on Servan's chest. Chains have locks! Raijah smiled under his helmet. Chains have locks. Servan has chains. And a lock! He rubbed his hands together and pulled out a set of daggers. Crouching low to the ground like a predator sneaking up to his prey, Raijah closed in on Servan as he busied himself hurting the others. The rogue let out a low growl. He did not like it when people hurt his friends. Suddenly leaping up from his position, Raijah launched himself at the demon, jamming one of the daggers into the lock. The other one somewhere else in the demon, trying to hold a grip.
---
"I'm not seeing any sensible connections either as of yet," Ines tapped her chin in thought once more. "But just think about it. For some reason or another, us Wardens haven't been needed for centuries upon centuries. We keep training so we're prepared should the day come the Knights have need for us. Now, Dumanax is wreaking havoc before King Ascelin is even awake from his slumber. Everything's strange, everything seems off some way. Imagine you'd live to see a thousand years, would you still remember every promise you made, every person you met? It would make sense if they'd forgotten we're waiting here for our call to action when it's been... how long has it even been?" Ines tried hard making sense of it all, she really did. But Eden was definitely right about the strangeness of it all. "Either way, you're right. This time around, we did receive our call to action. So we'd best make sure we do not disappoint the Knights, right?"

Following the river was easy enough. They should be getting close to where the cache must be. Better keep their eyes open! Not before long, Eden asked a question that might just crush Ines' heart a little bit. She knew Eden and Mason were once an item. She knew about Eden losing her baby and how heart broken she had been after. For the longest time, Ines had felt terrible about her own feelings for the other female Warden. It didn't seem right to have a crush on a friend who was already taken. Ines felt horrible when she had felt a slight relief that Eden and Mason broke up. What kind of friend would feel like that? It's why Ines had kept her feelings to herself, really. She just wanted Eden to be happy. She didn't want anyone to feel like Ines was making use of a terrible situation. Even now, years after it all happened. She pondered on the answer for a while.
"I think... I think Mason is still trying to deal with the loss, trying to give it a place. Everyone processes things in a different way and at a different speed. Mason loved you, and he loved the idea of becoming a father as much as you wanted to be a mother. The loss hurt him more deeply than he can put into words. Now, I'm not fully sure about this but... maybe seeing you reminds him too much of what he could have had? I'm fairly certain I've seen it often enough when looking at him during training. That sadness in his eyes, the grief that never quite fades away." Ines let her eyes wander for a bit, noticing the spot they'd been searching for not too far away. "Maybe you should see if you and Mason can have a proper conversation about it sometime soon. Somewhere nice and quiet with a cup of tea. Talk it all over and see what happens from there on. But first..." She pointed at the spot. "Let's get that thing before a demon pops up."
---
Zaken and Lusa marched into the Keep with their brethren. The Disciple of Chaos swung his blade around, cutting down any and all Wardens in their way. This was the kind of battle he had hungered for for so long. A massacre of Wardens and many resources to be earned for his master. "Isn't it great to be a part of this onslaught?" Zaken asked, cutting down yet another Warden, watching the poor sod bleed out from the deep gash in his abdomen. "This much blood should quench my blade's thirst for at least a while." He felt the thrill of adrenaline rushing through his body. "Although I must admit, I'd hoped the famed Wardens would prove to be more of a challenge. For such renowned warriors, rogues, and mages, you're all surprisingly weak.
Lusa cackled, slapping a Warden aside with her scepter before unleashing her dark magic on them. Wardens fell to the ground, writing and screaming in pain as dark shadowy tendrils slithered around them like snakes.
"These Wardens are simply like insects," Lusa said, watching her victims squirm under her hex. "And the best thing to do with insects is to exterminate them." She cast another one of her foulest hexes that pulled the very life-energy out of the bodies on the cobblestones.
 
Getting a car is something every teenager sort of hopes for. Getting rammed into a car by an evil bondage monster is not what most girls have to put up with at this time of day or any time for that matter. Chloe grunted, winded knocked out of her and a new bruise on her body. That'll make cheer practice a lot easier. With her eyes darting around the area, she took into account that Braxton was almost dead, civilians were also almost dead, Mellany was a big white blast target, Servan's distracting himself with her brother and Raijah is prowling around like a jaguar. Give it about 30 seconds until everyone with a chain on them is no longer breathing. They've gotta move fast and smash this guy into bits. She observed Raijah, clearly moving with intent and stratedgy. Seeing the lock pulsate she knew what he was after and readied her bow to assist him in his efforts to free everybody from the chains.
Recovering from the attack, Vince whirled around and spun on his heel, delivering a hefty and mighty blow to Servan's chest with his greatsword. Anchoring himself down by the metal weapon dragging on the ground behind him. Sturdily he kicked Servan's chest before thrashing his blade around in a cyclone style attack to get him in a daze. "You monsters really love to talk," he said. They always love to go on and display bravado. Servan got a couple of good hits on him, really breaking his guard and knocking Vince back down. Tumbling down and into a news stand, Vince crutched onto a wooden sign for support. "You love to talk, and you never see it coming when..." Vince monologued this time. Just as he trailed off, daggers came driving into Servan's lock.

Soon after Raijah's dagger struck the lock, Chloe fired off an accurate shot in the same spot. Backing the other rogues attack as well as laying damage to the monster. As the smoke from their attacks literally cleared, she got on her feet and closer to their new friend.
"Chloe, with me!" Vince yelled out. He inserted his Stallion medallion into his Divine Calibur to charge it with red energy. Nodding in agreement, Chloe inserted the Wildcat medallion into her own blade with yellow charge. Wells siblings working together, they rushed Servan from the sides as he bounced back from Raijah's hit. "Dual Slash attack!" cried out the siblings, slashing the evil creature from both left and right.
---
Skipping around to the beat of her own drum, Urla played a game of crochet with a Warden's head. Spikey ball on a stick instead of a mallet. Humming ever so slightly to herself, she played with her weapon like a toy bat and treated Warden heads as inflatable targets just waiting to me bashed in or knocked off. The bloody onslaught combined with her childlike humming made for the most disturbing sight. She cleared the way for Dumanax by playing a sweet game of murder crochet!
Torth's fire burned all the hotter. First Warden's arrows fired one at a time but with supreme accuracy. Said arrows met Torth's body but were singed on impact. "Foolish old man. Cease this frivolous fight and make your demise less painful. You will be shown that mercy, at least," Torth beckoned.
Spitting, the First Warden fired again from his window. "Mercy? What would you beasts know of mercy? I would rather die a thousand deaths than ever surrender to the likes of you!" First Warden's words rallied his men to fight with even more of what they had. Torth shook his head. No matter. A fireball cast through the old mans window. His chambers set aflame, smoke rising through the open windows. However long the fired burns, First Warden will fight until the end. By the look of Dumanax' march, it seems as though he will meet this man face to face and end him soon.

One heavy strike and more Wardens full to their deaths. One arrow from the old Warden pierced the Supreme Disciples armor. As it stuck out, he just broke it off and tossed it aside. Urla and the other Disciples continuing the fight with Thralls spreading out like Torth's fires, Dumanax had a clear path to the inner halls. Kicking down a barred door, he walked through the entrance of the core building. Before Wardens could interfere, Torth cast a wall of flame in the doors stead. The fire flared outward when they got closer to filet them all alive. Through the halls and breaking many doors, Dumanax stormed the inside of the fortress alone. He could hear cowering children and carers in a nearby room. He left them alone. Fires will burn them out in due time. Up the stairs and around many corners, Dumanax bashed in the First Warden's door. The Warden turned around, having fired many shots at his Disciples.
"So, you already make your way to me," said the regal First Warden. Setting his trusty bow down on his desk, he drew a blade from the stand nearby. "It has been many years since I have danced the flow of blades. But it is a game this warden knows too well. Come. You will earn what you take from here," he said. The old man raised his blade toward the villain, dashing forward with great speed. Dumanax humored him with eerily silent stares, blades interlocking and clanging around. A dual of skill will be how he meets his end.
 
Well placed, the hits had been. Rogues dagger, arrow, and twin strikes by siblings rushed Servan and pushed him back nearly leaving skid marks on the ground in place of his feet. Raijah's hit was all it needed to break the lock. Falling from grace on his chest, the destroyed lock crumbled on concrete and chains around Braxton and civilians disappeared. Air washed back into their lungs and color to their faces. Braxton's eyes became less strained and red, his veins relaxing and his body loosening. Getting on his stomach and hovering, he coughed up a storm and tasted air again to a sweet victory. Death is no longer staring him in the face. The attacks on Servan left him vulnerable. His lock damaged, he needed time to craft a new one. "This battle you have one, Rangers. But you only delay the inevitable." In an instance, Servan was gone.
Continuously coughing and feeling the tears in his eyes dry, Braxton eventually made his way back up to his feet. Albeit a bit light-headed, he looked fine again. "Raijah, you saved my life. Thank you, you... " he stumbled around and nearly fell again before catching himself on the van. "Sorry, the blood flow being normalized again is making me feel a bit off. We need to return home, now. Come up with a plan to stop him before he attacks again." He's himself, alright. But he really doesn't look great. He's only just come out of that thin line between life and death. But he is right. They must go home. And home they will return to.
---
"I just think it's funny that we've been in reserves for centuries and never even reached out to. Unless previous First Wardens withheld some letters from past Guardians to the knights. I can't make sense of it. The Sorceress used her magic to help Ascelin, you'd think he would call her last gift to him when he woke. Shit, why don't we train the knights and adopt them into the ranks? A Divine Army to camp out Dumanax' tombs and rush him when he wakes up again." Talking about this peaks her curiosity but it's all coming to work now. Ines was deemed the first warden to every really accept her call to action. And Eden is accompanying her. They're making history!
Hand over her stomach, Eden smiled and nodded her head. "I'd have been a good mother. Spoiled them rotten and left Mason to look after them while I trained other Wardens. My baby would have been loved unconditionally and brought up a true warrior. I know everyone makes fun of me and judges me for the beast hunts and the griffin stuff but it just.... I don't know..." Eden's voice trembled ever so slightly. The sound of grief still strong after all this time had passed. Her son or daughter would have been blessed with two awesome parents. But nature didn't have that in mind. With all that's happening today it has her evaluating life before they meet destiny, finally. She isn't even interested in rekindling with Mason, just she's curious about what may have happened. They worked well together for a time. Eden just wanted to confide in her friend.

Alas, Ines is right. There's destiny ahead! "Agreed. No demons out here in the open away from all of our backup," she said. Making haste, Eden and Ines ran to the spot on the map. At the base of a grand oak tree, wedged between roots and brush, picking apart the ground just right... there! The cache box! Covered in a lot of dirt, but its definitely it.
"A box. Old, lots of runes, this must be it. Kind of small, though." Eden observed the cache box closely. One for immediate satisfaction, she just unlatched the lock. Time to see what the ancient fuss is all about. Inside the box was a tiny hand mirror. An ornate hand mirror that looked like it would belong to a princess. "What the? This is it? It's just a--" Eden observed, shrugging in mild disappointment. But the closer she got, the more the mirror itself began to hum and glow. The mirror flashed a bright light and opened up in the same vain as the mirror in the Rangers' basement. It swallowed Eden and Ines by magic. In the blink of an eye, the ladies were in a new area all together. They were shot out from a portal--the mirror-- behind them. The hang mirror led them to a much larger mirror much like the Knights'. A massive room with stone walls and flooring was dark and empty. Dark until they arrived and ignited the magical torches along the walls. "...woah. What in the world?" Eden exclaimed, rising from the floor of the massive room. No windows or notable doors. Is this....underground?
"Ines...there." Eden pointed to a pedestal in the center of the massive room. On it, another box. "I guess we just found the door in the box. That's the real cache." All a hunch, but given the lack of any other evidence it was a good a guess as any. Eden approached the pedestal. Opening this other box, she felt a little more caution. What are the chances it's just another mirror to another giant underground room? And not just any room. A mage with knowledge of the Keep may recognize the stone of the room. The stones presense...as if they've just been transported far below the Keep itself. The box contained a chalice. A silver chalice in a stain-lined box. Now it's a big chalice, but something told her it was what they were after. And with the chalice? A...coin? Medal? It's silver in color. Violet etchings drawing in a griffin sort of shape in the center. What is this? It's nothing she's ever seen before...the medal looked important but completely foreign to the Wardens.
---
Andero led the Thralls further and further into the Keep. The Keep of the Forgotten Promise. Its halls and its outer corridors lining up with bodies and blood of the fools who got in their way. Defacing the Warden's symbol on a mural, Andreo commanded his forces to strike it down with their weapons. The crest cracked, destroyed in the ultimate insult to injury.
Rogana took more of an observer role for a moment. She found it quite mysterious that the Wardens were a secret for so long. But she sees answers here and she is going to get them. "Hmm. I smell something. Something....far below the Keep," she said. She's already picking up on it. What they want. She twirled the umbrella around and then rest it down on the ground. "Thralls! Find a way underground. Look for a hidden passage! There is power just out of reach!"
 
"Bye now!" Mellany called after the demon when he left. She caught her breath as well and dusted herself off. Vince's attack was pretty damn powerful. She rolled her shoulders, hoping the soreness would soon fade away. Servan wasn't destroyed, but for now he was gone. Hopefully it'd be a while before he decided to show his ugly face again. Mellany made her way over to Braxton to check up on him. He looked terrible, which made sense since he was dying just a moment before. "Agreed. Let's get back. We need a plan, and we need to get the groceries in the fridge before everything spoils. I'll drive. You need a moment to rest and catch your breath." She hopped into the driver's seat and gestured the others to get in as well.
Raijah grinned, happy to have saved Braxton and gave him a hearty pat on the back. "Raijah happy to help."
---
Ines gasped as the mirror suddenly flashed them to another location. She took in the massive stone walls and magical torches with awe. Now this was a kind of magic she hadn't seen before. Read about in ancient tomes, perhaps. But Ines had never dared hope she'd see this magic for herself. The mage pushed herself off the ground and ran a hand along the dark stone walls. "We're... in the Keep. Or rather, below it," she said quietly. It was to be expected their Keep was built on some long forgotten secrets, magic, and treasures. It made sense the entrance to this part of the Keep would be hidden somewhere safe and far away. Wouldn't want any curious young students with a knack for getting in trouble to just stumble their way in. Ines nodded as Eden pointed out the real cache, put on a pedestal in the middle of the room. Also, the only thing in the room, really. She gripped her staff just a little tighter, ready to cast a spell of protection in case anything here turned out to be trapped. As nothing happened when Eden opened the box, Ines lowered her guard as well and approached. She studied the chalice and coin. Definitely imporant-looking, but what could it be? Ines searched her memory. Had she ever seen anything about odd coins or medals before in the library?
"Didn't know the First Warden kept a coin collection," she joked. "Let's figure out how to get back up there and return these."
 
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