The town Nerin had told them of was bigger than Isiah had expected, the buildings stretching towards the horizon. The sight of it made him sick to his stomach. There were far too many people around and they were close to Ishmar. Nerin no longer had a mask to hide his face; they'd be recognised within minutes of entering.

The trio stood hidden in the scraggly, leafless trees, watching the town in silence. People milled about, chatting happily to those they passed. Children ran between them, whooping and chasing each other with excited grins. It was strange to see their oblivious happiness, knowing what was happening in the realm.

"What do we do?" Rina asked, a frown on her lips. "We're close to your uncle's place, aren't we?"

Nerin shrugged and wrinkled his nose. "I think so. We always stayed the night here when we visited, but I never paid that much attention to the journey," he said. Isiah bit down on his lip and winced at the sting of pain.

"So we need directions," Rina said and sighed. She took a step forward and moved to duck under the branch of a tree, but Isiah held out an arm to stop her. "What is it?"

He shook his head at her. "You can't. You're Askari. It already got us in trouble, we should make sure it doesn't happen again, not this close to Ishmar," he told her and looked down at Nerin. "You should stay here too. Someone might recognise you." He wasn't going to get so close just for them to make a stupid mistake and get caught.

Rina didn't look happy with his words, crossing her arms over her chest and raising her eyebrows at him. "We need food, water, and directions to this laboratory," she replied and stared at the town over his shoulder.

"I know," he replied. They'd been running low on food for the last few days. The little the Father had given them had been enough to get them near the laboratory, but they'd need more if they wanted to make it.

Nerin tapped him on the wrist, an annoyed pout pulling at his lips. "What do we do?" he asked. "I was hoping we could stay the night in an inn."

Isiah's eyebrows furrowed. He wouldn't mind a proper bed for once, but if they made it to the laboratory, they could have that. "I'll have a look around, but I don't think it's a good idea," he said and shifted the bag on his back. "You said you came here a lot, Nerin. People will know who you are."

The boy sighed. "I know."

"I'll see what I can do, but we might have to find somewhere out here to sleep," he said and took a step out of the treeline. "I won't be long, hopefully. Stay hidden."

"Of course, be quick," Rina told him and rubbed at her tired eyes.

He ducked under the low branches and climbed the little hill towards the village. A few people eyed him curiously as he walked towards the small wooden homes, but he paid no attention to them. He was just a normal Ishini travelling the world, they wouldn't bother to question what he was doing.

It was the same as every other town he had seen on their short journey. Dark wooden homes and buildings, the occasional stone one dotted between them. Smoke rose from nearly every chimney and the snow had been pushed against the walls so people could walk without issue. It still crunched under his feet, but he didn't sink into it.

Around him, people shivered and complained about the cold, but he couldn't feel it. The stone was still in his pocket. He hadn't moved it in days. He should have given it to Nerin and Rina before he left. People would find it suspicious if they were suddenly warm when he walked by them, but there was nothing he could do about it.

He hadn't wanted to even think about using the stone again, despite knowing that Rina's suggestion was a good one. The stone was dangerous. He didn't trust it not to take control of him again. The first time had been the worst experience of his life. He didn't want to go through that again.

Learning to wield the power would be useful so that he didn't hurt anyone again, but he was so scared of it. He could burn people alive until they were nothing but ashes, or he could warm himself and his friends up in the cold winter nights. There was no difference in how the stone felt from the moment he touched it, no sign to say that there was a way he could control it.

Days had passed since Rina's suggestion and he was no closer to agreeing to it. Most of his thoughts were on the stone and finding out what it meant. He hadn't been able to push it from his mind, not when there was a constant reminder of its existence. The Father had taught him about the mural; he knew what the stones represented. He prayed that they were wrong.

He didn't want to be the Beast. It felt wrong to have someone like him, someone meant to be a pacifist, wipe out the enemies of Vishera. He wouldn't do it, couldn't do it. It had to be someone else. Him obtaining the stone was a mistake. Nerin's uncle would prove that for him. He had nothing to worry about.

Even as he thought the words, he didn't believe them. The Father had told him that the Beast would be born at the Sanctum. The mural had said the door would only open for the Beast. He couldn't just ignore that information, even if all of it pointed towards him being the one thing he didn't want to be.

How could someone like him save an entire realm anyway? And from what? The only thing he could think of was King Harudan and while he was a definite threat to both countries, it didn't seem like something the Beast would be woken for. There had been wars in Vishera's past, centuries ago, but they hadn't caused the Beast to rise. Something was different about Harudan's actions and thinking about it made Isiah feel like he was going to vomit.

So instead, he pushed it away. He could think about it later; there were things he had to do. Streets branched off the main road and people yelled from within them, proclaiming that their goods were better than anyone else's in the town. Isiah turned down one with a shrug and walked into the first shop he saw.

There weren't many people in it and only two of them watched him when he walked in. He avoided their eyes and drifted between the shelves. They wouldn't need too much to eat if Nerin was right, the laboratory wasn't that far away. He grabbed a couple of loaves of bread and a bag of apples. It wasn't much, but it would do.

He waited patiently for the shopkeeper to serve him, an old lady with a wrinkled face and a kind smile. She gestured for him to come forward with a small hand. "Is this all, dear?" she asked.

"Um, no. I was wondering if you knew how to get to..." Isiah trailed off with a frown. He had no idea what title Nerin's uncle would have. "Lord Turian's laboratory?"

"You mean, Prince Turian?" the old woman said, the smile still on her face despite Isiah's embarrassment. Of course, he was the brother of the last King. "There's a road two streets over. Keep heading southeast along it until you see it. You can't miss it, great big tower, all these weird little contraptions sticking out of it. His Highness is an unusual man."

Isiah smiled at her and resisted the urge to bow. "Thank you," he said. "How long will it take to get there?"

The old woman was silent for a moment. "I'm not sure. About a days ride from here by horse," she said, a thoughtful frown on her face.

He hissed in a breath. "And without a horse?"

"Maybe a day and a half," she said with a shrug. A day and a half, further than he had expected. He drummed his fingers against the wooden bench and sighed. "You seem stressed, dear. Here, I have beef from the farms. I can give you a discount, keep you fed better than those apples can."

He waved her away. "You needn't do that," he said. He didn't deserve anyone's kindness after what he did.

"Bah!" she exclaimed and turned around to grab a paper bag. She dropped the bag on the bench and smiled at him. "Four gold all up, please." With a polite smile, he handed over the money. The Father, bless his soul, had given them just enough gold to get them to the laboratory, but it wouldn't last them much longer.

The shopkeeper packed his food into another paper bag and shooed him away so that she could serve other people. Isiah sighed and stuffed the food into his rucksack, exhaustion washing over him. Another day and a half before he could stop and sleep in a real bed. Nerin might want to stay in an inn, but he didn't trust the people around him.

His distrust only increased when a man in full armour strode into the shop. Isiah turned away from him, just in case. He couldn't get spotted. There was a chance that someone would recognise him, especially if Harudan had given his description out to the guards in the towns close to Ishmar.

It was dangerous being so close to Ishmar, but they hadn't run into many people while they were on the road. Every day, they walked on the outskirts of the dirt track, hidden by the trees. When the sunset at the end of the long days, they drifted from the road to sleep where no one would find them.

With a sigh, Isiah headed for the shop door. All he needed was water. There would be a well somewhere. He might have to pay, but it wouldn't be any more than a single piece of gold if he was lucky. Then he could head back to Rina and Nerin, who were hopefully still waiting for him.

They'd have to go around the town if they wanted to get on the road to the laboratory. It would take longer, but it was necessary. He ran it through in his head as he walked out the doorway, but stopped when his eyes caught on a poster on the wall. He blanched at the sight of it and his breath caught in his throat.

A Notice to all Citizens of Brenmar,

After a failure at the Treaty of Ishmar, in which the Princess Sharina Nishinaron of Minisia attacked His Majesty, King Harudan Oshana, the nation of Brenmar has declared war on the nation of Minisia.

His Majesty, King Harudan Oshana, has asked that any able-bodied person talk to the Lord of their county and join the army and fight against Minisia's forces. Brenmar's army needs everyone.

Those who join will receive thorough training and payment. Speak to your Lords and Ladies now. Brenmar is in jeopardy.

Swallowing felt like knives tearing up his throat. With a shaking hand, he grabbed the poster and pulled it from the wall. The shopkeeper frowned at him when he walked back over to her, but he couldn't stop his hand from shaking around the parchment.

"What is it, dear?" she asked.

"When did this happen?" he asked and handed her the poster.

She stared at it for only a few seconds. "Oh, just yesterday. It's only taken ten years," she replied, her sweet voice hardening into something like anger. "It will be good for the country, do you think?"

He wanted to say no. He wanted to say that it would be awful, that people would be hurt or killed for nothing more than pride and anger, but he couldn't. The words were stuck in his throat. Everything was stuck, he felt frozen but far too warm. The stone in his pocket was a constant reminder of the truth.

"It's... Expected," he finally said and the patient stare of the shopkeeper finally morphed into something kinder. It was the truth, even though he hated it. All three of them had known that there would be war in Vishera. Seeing it was an entirely different matter.

"Take it if you want, I have plenty," the old woman said, pulling him back to reality. She smiled sweetly at him but all it did was make him feel sick. "Good luck on your journey, dear."

Isiah left the shop as quickly as he could without looking suspicious. The guard within took no notice of him and he was free to rush down the streets of the town without interruption. He needed to get back to Rina and Nerin, water be damned. They had just enough for another two days if they were careful. The war was more important.

They might have already known, but the poster in his hands confirmed it. There had been a part of him that he hadn't even known existed that had hoped the war wouldn't happen. He was too optimistic. War had come to Vishera and there was a high chance the Beast that was Promised had awoken as a result. There was a chance that he could be that Beast.

Nerin and Rina stared at him with worry when he burst through the trees towards them. Nerin had a stick in hand, one he'd been carrying for a few days so Rina could teach him how to wield a sword. He dropped it when Isiah came towards him, allowing Rina to knock him to the ground.

"That was unfair!" he said and pushed himself to his feet.

"Don't get distracted," Rina said, lowering her own stick. She eyed Isiah nervously. "What's wrong?"

He said nothing, just thrust the poster towards her. It shook in his grip and she grabbed it before it could fall in the snow. Nerin stood at her shoulder as their pair read over the neatly printed words, their faces growing paler. Rina stared at it with tear-filled eyes. It seemed Isiah hadn't been the only one holding onto hope.

The Princess took a deep breath and stared at him. "It's all lies!" she cried and scrunched the parchment up. "All of it!" It landed with a wet smack in the snow and soaked through in seconds, limp and forgotten.

"I know," he said and reached out to press a hand to her wrist. It was all he could think of to do. His mind was blank. She pulled it away from him as if his touch burned and it may well have for all he knew.

Nerin ran a hand through his hair. "There's nothing we can do except head for the laboratory and hope for the best," he whispered. Something in his expression was pained, as if the news of war had physically hurt him.

Rina made a noise and tilted her head up towards the dark clouds. "Please tell me you know how to get there," she said. Isiah nodded and opened his mouth to speak, but no sound came out. "Then let's go." She pushed past him and pulled her hood up as she stalked out into the open.

Isiah guided them slowly around the town, trying to avoid any people. None of them spoke past his brief instructions and it let him drift back into his thoughts. His hand brushed against the cloth covering the stone. With the confirmation of war, maybe it would be a good idea to learn how to use it. He may not be the Beast that was Promised, but he didn't want it to be a useless weight in his pocket for however long he had it, not with a crippling war on the horizon. Learning how the stone worked may turn out to be crucial.