~~The Next day (Midgard)

Freya entered her long time friend's small clinic with a smile on her face. She really did like coming here. Mallard is her best friend. They shared a lot of memories together. She had a complete faith and trust on him, but of course, Mallard had his moments that often annoyed her to no end.

There was also the fact that he was very playful. She, too, was playful, but Mallard often showed his personality in some matters that did not even call for it. Well, it was that personality that kept him calm in every situation.

She came across Garret as soon as she entered the clinic. "Where is Mallard?" She gave him a seductive wink which earned a shade of pink from the big guy's face.

He quickly turned around to hide his embarrasment before yelling. "Boss! Miss Freya is here!"

No sooner than later, Mallard came out with his jovial smile. "Ah, Freya, it's nice to see you again." The man had a cheerful look on his face, but quickly turned serious when Freya refused to say anything and walked towards a door leading somewhere. Realizing Freya's intent, Mallard followed her behind.

Upon reaching a secret room, both sat down on an elongated table. There is already a pot of hot tea prepared for them.

Mallard took a cup of tea and inhaled its aroma. "Hm. The smell of freshly grined tea surely is the best." When Freya remained silent, he put his cup down and looked at her intentively.

"I thought you were returning with Trolan and his gang. Imagine my surprise when they said that you would return alone at a later date."

Since Lukedonia was willing to allow Trolan and his friends to go, Freya had not bothered to return. There was also the fact that the Grand Master had requested that she stay behind as well as some personal matters that she had to solve with Roseia.

"Did they tell you everything?" She finally asked.

"They only told me that Mirriella was saved as well as their major battles. I did not question them anything else because they would not explain things the way you would." Mallard took a sip on his tea before continuing. "They did fill me on the fact that Kayden got my Blood Stone and was scary strong." He finished looking at his friend calmly.

Freya nodded. "Yes, he did get it. He also slaughtered all of the Council and had been the one to make decisions for some time now. Even the ones concerning Miriella. He was the one who gave the order for her execution in order to get the Blood Stone." She then went to tell Mallard everything she had witnessed. She told him the fact that Kayden had not been working alone, but with Ludovicus Skullaxe, Randall Pierce and Ancelyn Nolan.

Mallard was not surprised. He had already known it from the very beginnning. He was shocked though, that even Lady Ancelyn would join him. What's worst, if they indeed joined the demons, it meant that he would be having some strong monsters under his command. Even those low class demons would be considered a threat if they are under the control of a man with a mind like Kayden.

"So, that's what happened." Freya finished after concluding what she had witnessed.

"I did not think that he would get it." Changing his voice and the look on his face, Mallard did not seemed to be bothered by it.

"Neither did I, but he did."

"Well, I will have to begin working on how to deal with this." Mallard exclaimed becoming happy all of the sudden.

"Before I forget, the Grand Master requested that you to be in Lukedonia in two days."

"I see." Mallard breathed out, not even seemingly alarmed by the summon. "Well, I guess this is expected."

There was a moment of silence before Freya decided to break it.

"There is also something else, someone, rather."

This picked Mallard's interests as he looked at her with a curious face.

"There was someone, a woman named Celeste, that was brought by Callus, a member of the Royal Knights. She had been sealed for years, I don't know how many."

"Celeste, you say?" Mallard almost choked on his own saliva after hearing the name. His face adopting a serious look for a second. Certainly, there was no one else with that name, it had to be her.

"Yes, do you know her? She called the Grand Master pathetic and insulted his age, she called the deities things and fools. She did so in front of the Holy Knights without fear."

"I see. You must be asking yourself questions. Who was she to insult the Grand Master? Who was she is to call the deities fools and things? Why didn't Alaric do anything when she did so? Why was she sealed in the first place?"

When Freya nodded, Mallard just smiled. "I can only tell you that Celeste is the one who inspired both Kayden and I to create the Blood Stone. And that she was a member of the Holy Knights for some time."

This surprised Freya to the core. She was his bestfriend yet Mallard chose to keep it a secret.

"You are going to have to tell more than that, Mallard."

"Don't worry, the Grand Master will tell you everything. So far, everything about her has been hidden and restricted."

~~Three Days Later (Meeting Day)

Alaric looked at his subordinates, they were all present, exept for the four traitors. He had also thought that Isumbras would not come due to his poor health. Most of the time, his sickness made it impossible for him to come at the meetings. During these days, his sickness had become more troubling. It stood in the way of most of his activities. He wished that his student would live long enough before he died. But, the sickness was getting to him. It even acted up while he was fighting. At least, he was not weak. If he was, it would have caused his premature death.

His guest was also present. He had thought that the man may perhaps refused because of his history with Lukedonia. But he was glad that he decided to come. The informations he would offer would certainly become useful for them when the time comes. They had to know as much as they could about the Blood Stone. So far, they knew nothing about it. Mallard, being the creator had much information about it.

He was also taking a chance with the man because Mallard had been banished from Lukedonia by the Council. They would certainly not be pleased to know that the man they once banished was walking around in Lukedonia with a huge grin on his face. It was good that they were not there since Kayden had slaughtered them. However, he was sure that in a few more days, more members would be selected and they would return to ruling.

He had been unable to find Celeste. He had sent some of his subbordinates to search for the woman, but, all of their searches had been unfruitful. It was hard when the woman's powers could not be sensed by anyone else. Even he could not sense her energy no matter how hard he tried. It was not always like that though, he once could sense it as everybody could. However, when she became so powerful, everything changed.

Until yesterday, he had stopped searching. He figured that when that woman had finished doing her business, she would show herself. In all honestly, he hated dealing with Celeste because of it. He could never tell where she was or what she was doing unless she herself bothered to inform him. Dealing with that woman, he knew that not everything was under his control.

There was a good thing about her unsealing though. She was not godlike as she was once. She did not have her precious blade. This meant that she won't have access of her full powers. She would only be able to use a temporary sword, then again, most of the times, she never used her real sword when fighting, unless the opponent was worthy of it.

"Since everyone is here, let us begin with the meeting!" The Grand Master finally said with a firm tone.

"Why is this man here?" Kahedin blurted out, finally unable to contain himself. He never liked Mallard. In his eyes, he was a threat to his position.

Roseia seemed to agree with him. She, too, did not like the crazy man. He had been the one to take away her beloved sister, Freya, from her. She could never forgive him for it.

"I called him here." This shut Kahedin up. But, it did not stop him from giving Mallard a scowl. It was frustrating when the man merely smiled at him as if he was not bothered by his infamous glare.

Nothing much had changed from what Mallard could see. There was no one in the meeting he did not know. He knew all of them, some from personal experience, while some because of his research. He was a curious person after all. Knowing as much about his former home was not out of the question for him.

Despite being banished, he would never want this world to be destroyed. He may never return to take his duties as a Knight, but he would help whenever he could. Lukedonia had been his home after all.

"Lanceleot Mallard, will you share with us your knowledge about the Blood Stone?" Alaric ordered getting the meeting under way.

Said man just smiled as he begun to talk. "When I created the Blood Stone, I was trying to find a way to..." Mallard explained the origins of the Blood Stone to everyone at the meeting as well as its purpose. Why he created it in the first place. He told them of what it could do based on what he has seen it to do, that is.

Alaric stroked his beard as he absorbed Mallard's information. "I see. Is it working now?"

Mallard shook his head. "No. When I hid it inside lady Miriella's soul, it was in its slumber, but it won't be long before it awakens."

His words brought murmurs from the others, but a single tap from Alaric's staff silenced everyone.

"We have to to figure out Kayden's plans," Alaric begun, "you will work with sir Kahedin in uncovering what Kayden plans to do with the demons. You will also have Mormont and Isumbras to help you in the search, is there going to be a problem?"

"No, not at all." A grin etched on Mallard's face especially when he saw Kahedin glaring across from him.

"Good." Eyeing his knights, Alaric continued. "We will have to deal with the vacant posts left behind by Kayden and his subordinates. But, as of now, there is no one suitable to fill their position. We will leave them as they are, for now. That is unless anyone suggests that someone is worthy of the position."

The Commanders shook their heads. There was no one strong enough to be given a chance to join the Order. This meant that their Sergeant's will be in charge of taking care of some duties their Commanders normally did. The other duties will be filled in by volunteers.

Sir Garin volunteered to carry Randall's Squad until a suitable knight was found. Sir Claudius took Ludovicus squad while Lady Isabel took in Lady Ancelyn's Squad. The only squad that was left without a caretaker was the 11th squad, Kayden's post. No one seemed to be willing to take care of it until a replacement is found.

"I have someone in mind–." Alaric trailed off. He was not about to elaborate anything further on that matter.

"I believe it is time we are informed of Celeste's identity." A cold and expressionless Ivan Bordeaux stated earning nods from some of the Knights who were left in the dark like him.