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[center][h2][url=https://youtu.be/PKQSmUWoRjs]♫[/url][/h2][/center]

[color=#636775]The pleasant air of the morning sifted through the desolate castle ruins. Peace had finally arrived in Mandelein after so long. All the dangers, all the death - it was all asleep. There was the Conde, considerably bigger than anything they had encountered in this adventure, an enforcer of the peace and to some a reassuring presence. It was hard to imagine anything could get past him, especially with a mature Froabas a dozen metres behind him.

Taleja broke the ice with her first question. [color=#DAD001]“You’re a bold one, aren’t you? Fearless. I can see it in your eyes.”[/color] his loooooong form curved as to have him level with the Kressian, reptilian eyes to her emeralds. [color=#DAD001]“I will answer your questions in reverse order, if that is alright with you.”[/color] he bowed his head in politeness whilst keeping eye contact. Then, he straightened himself, although his comically long body had been reduced considerably, though he still dwarfed Dubosque.

[color=#DAD001]“This man was not turned by any animal. No, this has nothing natural about it. There doesn’t exist an Alpha Canine with anything so advanced. Not since an era far before the age of man, anyway.”[/color] the jolly Juan had gotten serious and his look sterner. [color=#DAD001]“Alphas. You’ve seen some before, have you not? Bigger beasts, born to be, sometimes literally, the top dog. This trait that distinguishes so much in a living being is the remnant of a commonly existing trait among the strongest in species to directly coordinate and control their peers in order to ensure the greatest chances of survival. Essentially, force their wills onto their peers through the use of the Gift.”[/color] he explained with infrequent voice cracks, with some of his words sounding much deeper than they should be. [color=#DAD001]“By the age of man, many of these species had lost the need for it. But some learned and remembered. Made it their own. And today only one institution officially holds dominion over such an art. The Quentic Church.”[/color] he chuckled. [color=#DAD001]“I say officially, surely some other groups have an understanding, but no other entity has refined it quite like they did.”[/color]

Juan’s massive feet began to move, taking big but slow steps toward Baudile and his slumbering brother. The Conde lowered himself once more to examine the wolfman. [color=#DAD001]“Somehow, he’s gotten an ability that hasn’t been seen among us Wildbloods, us Originals, for hundreds, if not thousands, of years.”[/color] he rested his palm over Dubosque’s chest, while Baudile watched with visible unease. The draconic man then retreated back to his normal standing position. [color=#DAD001]“Yes. That is what we are. Wildblood. We Originals are an organisation of men and women like he and I. A covenant that has fought alongside with the Sirrahi long ago to repulse the true threats of this world.”[/color] he said so solemnly. [color=#DAD001]“And as one of the oldest living Originals, I find it to be my duty to extend a helping hand to my brothers and sisters, especially at a time where we are … In the midst of rebuilding our unity.”[/color]

There then came the bickering between the human and the Yasoi, with Ashon bringing up key points Juan hadn’t fully expected youths to know. [color=#DAD001]“So you know about Tarlon, young man?”[/color] then, for a moment, he paused. He realized something. [color=#DAD001]“Please! Tell me your names! I feel akin to an Aristocrat with little self-awareness!”[/color] he collapsed his hands together and beamed down at the group. Anyway, back on subject. [color=#DAD001]“They will not live on the mainland, but instead on a safe island, should they accept. Because, yes, young Yasoi, I will not take them if they do not wish for it. It is, and always has been, a core belief among us ever since our Founder’s first endeavour against the world’s enemy. Freedom! It does not matter how well one will be or how many lives a certain order may save. We must consider the heart too!”[/color] her tapped his own chest with his fist. [color=#DAD001]“Without it, what is the point of being human, or Yasoi, or Sirrahi, or Cazenax …? We would merely … Exist.”[/color]

Ideas of using the people as weapons, or being prisoners in some form were flung. The Conde waved his hand in denial. [color=#DAD001]“They will be secured. It will be a form of prison, for their own good and the good of everyone else. At least until we can understand what’s happened to him.”[/color] his chin gestured toward Dubosque. [color=#DAD001]“They will be studied, but only from a distance, except for him, of course. But they will always have a choice. And I have no intention of drafting confused peasants. That would be awfully gauche … Awfully Constantian.”[/color] he sighed, his arm slumping back down. [color=#DAD001]“In the end, you have little reason to believe me other than my word. My word as a fellow Wildblood. My Word as an Original. My word of a man who could so easily [i]decide[/i] and [i]take[/i] but promises he will not move a finger without consents. Other parties will not be so merciful. Whether it is the Church, the School that sent you or the authors of this sordid experiment seeking to cover their tracks.”[/color]

Then came Kaspar’s input. Juan, with his reptilian, thin eyes leered right at the boy. Pale, dark hair, with a clear grasp of the local language. [color=#DAD001]“Friends? Maybe even family, yes?”[/color] the tone had softened, the unnaturally deepness of it fully asphyxiated as the Conde tried his hardest to sound as human as possible despite his imposed form. [color=#DAD001]“I am sorry. In the first months or even years, that will not be possible. For their sake, more than yours.”[/color] it clearly bothered him to say this. His claws dug into his sleeves and met the robust scales that covered his flesh. [color=#DAD001]“Pero, I will make a case for you. It is not often that youths survive not only the rawest of our kind, but an entire town of them? Historically unheard of! Surely, some of my comrades would wish to meet you, and it would be an opportunity for you to see your loved ones - or at least make a case.”[/color] he smiled brightly.

[color=#6EF2F3]“And what if they refuse? What if some want to stay back? What then? How can this all be decided in just a couple of days before the executioners get here? HOW can you even move them?”[/color] an exhausted Baudile had found the energy to speak up and did not hesitate to challenge the Conde.

Juan took a few seconds to study the monk. [color=#DAD001]“I will not force anybody to do anything. If half the town wishes to stay, then they shall. My only condition is that your brother agrees.”[/color] answered the Wyrm-man with an adamant look. [color=#6EF2F3]“You’d let them all die if he refused, then? So this isn’t about saving them, in truth, but about getting a rare speci-”[/color] Baudile was cut off by a deep, bellowing voice. [color=#DAD001]“WRONG!”[/color] everything went silent for a second, and then the world returned to normalcy. [color=#DAD001]“The people of this town do not experience normal transformation. My associates informed me that some turned at the absence of moons, and I’ve seen for myself that they’ve undergone a five-moon transformation when there are only four out.”[/color] the more he spoke, the longer he seemed to get again, like a natural instinct to make oneself look bigger when standing one’s ground. [color=#DAD001]“I need someone that can control such chaos. And he is the only one. Without him, there’s too big of a chance they’ll kill each other, and kill my people too.”[/color]

The idea of waking Dubosque for his answer was then engaged, and the dragon-man wagged his index finger. [color=#DAD001]“Bad idea.”[/color] he pointed straight up at the very moons he had mentioned before, still visible in the slowly illuminated clear-blue sky. [color=#DAD001]“I do not want to be swarmed by the town and be forced to kill more should he take exception to my proposal. I will wait until the night to awaken him.”[/color]

It was around this time that Dory had found the group. The Conde seemed unperturbed and unsurprised, having likely detected her a while ago. [color=#DAD001]“Greetings, little lady!”[/color] he even shot her a thumbs up. [color=#DAD001]“Now then,”[/color] opposing digits met as he mused for a brief moment. [color=#DAD001]“What to tell your superiors …”[/color] his nictitanting membrane flashed as he looked to the group. [color=#DAD001]“Perhaps simply tell them the truth? Tell them the tale of Mandelein, and how the town was just … Swept away by a beautiful dragon after surviving the night.”[/color] he let a self-indulgent chuckle escape him.

Then, he reached for the inside of his overstressed top that didn’t take too kindly to his form shifting. Out of it came out an old key. [color=#DAD001]“Hübert had hoped for his son to have this but …”[/color] a regretful look befell the ancient but well kept item. [color=#DAD001]“Anselm was a peculiar man. Discreet. Never wanted to get involved with things beyond his land. Never was quite the same after what happened to his father, really.”[/color] literal steam erupted from his nostrils. Big draggo-sighs. [color=#DAD001]“I was hoping to give this to him. But now that this town is a goner no matter what, I only find it fitting that it falls onto the hands of those that courageously fought against impossible odds, and still stand strong.”[/color] the key then rested flat on his palm. Juan descended down and offered it to the group. [color=#DAD001]“It’s what Hübert would have wanted. That honour-bound fool. Ever the pompous warrior. Better let his memory live on through those he would have admired than bury them, or be used by his enemies.”[/color]

[i]Acquired: The Key to the Kapperstel Family Tomb.[/i][/color]