Author's excited note: For this chapter, all you need is two things –

1) The meaning of word "breeches" is PANTS.     
2) Lots of popcorn!

✨Sit back and enjoy our hero pulling a major heist. Hope he succeeds though.✨

***

"What's with all the black clothes?"

Father's voice asked from behind, standing on the threshold of my chamber. Strapping daggers in the belt of my leather jerkin, I clicked my tongue, "Got a job to do."

"Well?"

"Well."

He sighed, "What job, Doran?" The way he stretched the last syllable of my name, didn't leave my notice.

"I'll hopefully be back before midnight. The guards are stationed all around the palace. Do not let the protective wards go down even a bit. And keep an eye on the servants, in case Eleni decides to take a stroll about the palace. Make sure you both eat. And be nice."

"Hey," father raised his voice, "I am more than nice to her. She is a sweetheart."

I turned; brows raised. My eyes roved over his slightly wrinkled forehead, and the graying hair around his ears. In the last Conquest he had been in the Finale deservingly, but with opponents his age. This Conquest was full of young blood, and he still went into the ring, fighting the likes of Una and Nova. Well, that's how confident he was that I'd lose.

"Yes, she is." I walked past him, feeling the wrap of a slice of cheesecake in my inner pocket – sustenance, in case, I get caught.

"Doran, what are you about to do?" A little shake in his voice, made me anticipate his usual cynical comments about my imminent failure.

"I don't know, father. Hopefully something good," I sighed and walked out, waiting for him to stop me, like always. To tell me that I would never succeed at whatever I was about to do. But nothing came. No restrictions. No call outs.

Strange.

***

Dylan had specifically said east of the undergrowth near the mountain Nixus. There had to be an opening somewhere that led underground. I ran across the Piscean Forest, the mountain looming ahead. Eleni had been brought out of the dungeon through a pathway of absconded water, and maybe Neo had put something similar to use and created an underground alcove. 

Eleni was immensely smart and she got little credit for it; she had figured out Neo's twisted mind, the dungeons, the wards. Well, that's how much time she had spent with him. A hot stream of blood rushed to my head, as I thought about her ripped open palm. I'd take my revenge my way.

That bastard Neo would be busy at the High Panel's meeting – Perfect day for raiding his hideout.

Did I have a plan?

No.

Would I succeed?

Hell, yes!

At the first clearing, I stopped and called onto my power. Thick grey smoke puffed out of my right palm, and I let my mind focus on my surroundings, as far as my inner vision would stretch. For the next few moments, the forest seemed to have come alive as the smoke spread around – branches of the leaves susurrated with the cold breeze, crickets cackled, a faint lilt of a stream nearby tickled my ears and a growl of a beast – hopefully somewhere far – seemed to guide me. And I let them.

Soon I felt it - several people in the vicinity. I smiled to myself, thanking Milan and his little party tricks. Just like Earth people could sense the warnings of the ground, he had found a way to plunge it with Fire and Smoke. Our secret, he called it.

Ducked and hidden, I walked through the tall bushes, the presence of people somewhere close guiding my instincts. Since, I knew exactly what I was looking for, the wards won't zap me, as Dylan had stated, just like they hadn't zapped me when I had found Eleni with the Chief of her mother.

I looked around frequently, making sure, that the dense forest layout was perfectly ingrained in my head. Well, of course, it was. Who even forgets these simple routes!

And, there – I saw a black-dressed man, similar to mine – Neo's watchdog. He had a silver belt on his waist, while I had a brown. I scratched my head – wrong color. Eh, the hiccups come and go!

Bracing myself for the next part, I stood up straight and thumped my chest, calming my vigorously beating heart. Time to blend in!

"Oy!" I called out to him, "Got something on you? I'm quite hungry."

The guard turned, and sized me up and down. I sucked in a breath, but he spoke, relinquishing my unnecessary fear, "Go eat, why don't you?"

"The cave is huge, I get lost. Where to go?"

Even through his wrapped face, I could see his eyes narrowing with suspicion. "You new?" He asked, turning fully towards me, a hand landing on his dart-flute.

"Why else would I ask?" I clasped my hands at the back and looked around. Another man stood a few yards away, and there would definitely be more around, scattered at equal paces. Knocking this one out wasn't an option.

"Show me your Mark." He said, fast and gruff.

Rude! I cocked my head at him, my brain working faster than lightning.

"Well, if that's what you want..." I put my hands on the buttons of my leather breeches, unbuttoning the top one, with a flick.

"W-What are you doing?"

"My Mark is on my butt, so..." I said, unbuttoning another.

"Stop! T-That won't be necessary. I am sure you are a G-Gemini," he stammered and pointed to a huge tree to our left. "Go in through this entrance, and turn left. Don't wake up the sleeping guards, though. You'll find something to eat. No dallying."

I buttoned up back. "Thanks, mate." Saluting him, I jogged off to the hidden opening behind the tree, unable to stop laughing.

***

The cave was an opening, that led straight underground.

The guard had been correct. As I took in a huge row of sleeping guards, memories of my days at Igniskee's training school came rushing back. All the boys sprawled up back-to-back, smuggling cans of liquor and singing bawdy songs till our throats went hoarse, Milan being grumpy and Ralph and Lenox along with others, poking him till he gave in. Until the Head Elementors would have to reprimand us and make us run a few extra laps in the dead of the night. Good days, those!

It was ominously dark inside the cavernous dungeon, with a few flambeaus erect on iron stands, the only source of light available. The smell of a different magic was floating in the air. Eleni's magic – Eclipses magic! And suddenly it hit me, all the things wrong with my total disregard at planning – If I stumbled upon the enslaved Eclipses, I was dead meat.

Fried, roasted and tossed until crisp.

I walked like the others, dipped my head at one or two, laughed with a group, pretending to understand their inside joke. Followed a few patrolling guards, hoping one of them would unknowingly guide me to wherever they had kept Nova... imprisoned.

Nova had been imprisoned, for two years! I inhaled a mind-rattling breath. Well, that ends tonight! Either I die here alone, or I go out with him by my side.

My ears perked up all of a sudden, and I halted - "She prefers water over anything. I tried slipping a tea in her cage, but she simply shook her head."

She? The Head Alchemist of Una's House! Finally, something!

Resting my back against the stony wall of the cave, I scratched my chin. The mountainous cavern seemed huge so far. But if the guards in this segment were speaking about the Head Alchemist, then she might be close. Could Nova be somewhere around... my heart raced at the thought.

What would Neo do?

I scoffed – That cunning bastard would never keep both his precious prisoners close to each other.

Satisfied with the plan that had arranged itself in my head, I turned to join the group. "What if I get her to drink the tea?" I stood with my hands clasped behind my erect back, looking straight into the man's eyes, who seemed to be the most flamboyant of them all.

Even through the headwrap of the burly guard, I could see him raise a brow at my sudden interruption. "That slave is drunk like shit." He said and I shrugged at him, but my fists clenched at his words.

He added, now interested, "Well, then, you can have the warmest blanket of the cave tonight." He extended a hand and I clutched it, giving it a firm shake.

How easily men rise up to the silliest of the bets!

"And if not?" He asked, his voice laced with peril.

"Well," I gave his hand a harder squeeze, "then I'll just freeze to death, won't I?"

He snorted, already sure that I'd fail, "That's right. Let's go." He pulled his hand out of my clasp and led me straight to the target.

The Throne flaming bless me!

***

I observed the thinning number of watchguards after turning a few lefts. The burly man had halted at the guards' restroom – restcave – and had picked up a glass of tea, cutting through the line of already waiting guards. As I got a rough overview of the system down here, I realized – this is what Neo had been doing for the past two years – amassing an army, planning, acquiring that blood-curling dark magic, enslaving people left and right, and bidding his time until the Conquest!

The man silently handed the glass to me and I walked abreast him, lest he thought that I didn't know the way. Eyes scanning all the movements around, my heart drummed with anticipation for something to go wrong. The power in my veins seemed to flicker down, and I realized how strong the protective wards were in this particular passage. No magic to defend myself, I swallowed hard – I was on my own. If only I had my reliable little crossbow!

"Let's see what you got, kiddo." He said, earning a glower from me. I followed him, inside a huge cave, and my eyes widened as the unmistakable smell of Alchemy fanned in. Bracing myself, I scratched my head, like an idiot he supposed I was, "I always wonder why we keep almost no guards around here."

He snorted, "You can stand guard here, if you wish, kiddo...if you think you can handle all that smell of dead plants and animal innards."

There were no guards inside. And no magic.

"In that case," I bent down and placed the glass of tea on the ground beside me, "Sorry, kiddo."

I punched him on his darned face.

My knuckles hit him under the jaw and he staggered back, releasing a tight breath. He opened his mouth and I quickly walked behind him to put a hand on his mouth, stifling his scream. One more tight fist collided with his temple and his legs gave out. In response, he elbowed me in my ribs, and a whimper flew out of me.

But I grabbed him again and turned him to face me. For some reason, I avoided meeting his eyes, as I stamped two punches into his chest, under the sternum. This time he dropped to his knees. "You..." he looked up through his hooded eyes. I punched him on the eye. He collapsed back with a skull-hitting noise on the hard ground, passing out and I moved my gaze away.

I exhaled, nursing my own ribs. A little south, and he would have wrecked my cheesecake. Huh!

I looked behind me, making sure no one was around, and made my way to the cage of the Alchemist, hidden in a little corner to the left. My heart lurched at the sight – her plain white dress was clean, and hair tied in a tight bun – she looked elegant even though being so frayed. I had never seen her before, but I had a feeling that she had aged even more in the confinement. She was sitting on the edge of a long stool, eyes distant. Two large cauldrons were bubbling, and the stench would have made me cough, if I didn't have my face covered.

"Miss, can you hear me?" I whispered cautiously; with as soft footsteps as I could plant. But it would never be as good as Eleni. She walked as if she floated over the earth. Painfully soft and beautifully in control.

The Alchemist raised her ghost-like eyes at me, and I took another step, realizing I had no time to waste. "Tell me, how to get you out of here."

"Is this another of your jokes?" she said, her voice dry, tone disinterested. And I blinked. The guards joked with her?

"Did this one ever joke with you?" I asked, pointing at the unconscious guard behind me.

She blinked her eyes, "He is the leader."

And I wished I had punched him some more.

"I am not a guard. Tell me how to get you out of here. Quick." I said, and reached the iron bars of her enormous cage. My eyes roamed around the place and I found cauldrons, and herbs cramped in. A makeshift bed and two wooden cabinets placed at another end. The smell was indeed horrible here, like it was outside Milan's experimental rooms.

"Don't touch the bars." She warned and I withdrew my hands. "Who are you?" she asked. I hesitated. Did she know that the royalty had changed for the decade? Was I a High Lord or Prince of the Summer Realm for her?

I loosened the kerchief off my face, unsure yet, if she had even heard of an allegedly spoilt royal.

She blinked, recognition flickering in, "Y-Your Highness, are you here to save the Prince?"

"And you."

Her eyes flew open, slightly. She walked over to a small cabinet. I watched her pull out a small vial from it. My urgency shot up, as she walked closer to me - wasn't she supposed to be in a trance?

"Your Highness, take this. I know you will get him out. You're his friend." And before she could, I put my hand in through the gap. It hurt. The blue magic mingled with golden, burnt and froze my hand up from my wrist. She put the blue vial in my hand and I quickly pulled it back, wincing as soundlessly as I could.

"It will bring him out of the trance." She said, her eyes suddenly twinkling.

"Aren't you in a... trance?" I asked.

"Never."

"You act?"

"Always." She smiled the saddest smile I had ever laid my eyes upon.

My heart broke. "Tell me how to work the wards, miss. Let me help you. Please."

"Once you know which elements were used in the making of the ward, you can easily bring them down. Maybe not alone, though. Wait for the guards to bring the Prince out, and you can take care of it all somehow."

"I hear you, miss but hurry and let's break this one."

"I am not going anywhere, Your Highness." She said, "You can only save one of us."

"Well, in that case. I choose you. Let's go." I almost let out a yell.

"Master knows everything – even with and without me, he will achieve what he aims. But without the Prince, he has no choice."

She added in a whisper, staring dead into my eyes, "You save him, and you save everyone."

Bitter turbulent helplessness soaked my skin, as I looked at her brave sacrificing face. I pulled out her wand from my inner pocket, that I had retrieved from Eleni's satchel. Her eyes suddenly widened as they fell on it, "No, no. Don't give me that. It makes me powerful." I looked at her in question. "Consider it lost forever and take it back. Please." She said, and I nodded, tucking the wand back inside. A deep sense of respect stemmed in my heart for the lady before me.

She supplemented, "Take a left and you'll find a four-way intersection. Go where the magic is the strongest." She must be taken to visit Nova from time to time, I realized.

"Tea?" I asked, unable to thank her, unable to express my gratitude, unable to express how deeply I was shattered by her condition. I retrieved the glass from the ground, where I had kept it. It felt silly, offering her tea while she had given me all the information, without which I would have been running in circles. 

"I don't trust them." She said, waving her hand.

Instantly, I took a sip from the glass, making her believe it was fine. "It's a bit cold now, but it will do." Remembering that I could offer her more, I put my hand inside my inner pocket and pulled out the neatly paper-wrapped slice of Eleni's favorite cheesecake. I put both my hands in through the gap, trying my best to not let the zapping pain show and she instantly took the tea and the wrap.

This pain was nothing compared to what she and Nova were going through.

"Stay alive, miss." I said, unwilling to leave her here, cursing myself.

"You too, Prince." She smiled and sipped the tea.

***

Four-way intersection. Got it!

No matter how hard I tried, my magic didn't fly through my veins. The wards were dead strong. But a strong whiff of the Eclipses wards, made me turn to yet another dark cave to my right. Nova better be here! Shadows of two lone guards flickered on the walls inside. "Hey, mates," I called, walking in. "Need replacement?"

"The shifts just rolled in. Are you high?" One of them called out.

"How many of you are here?" I asked, nonchalant. "Maybe I could help."

"Just us. Go away."

This could not be easier! What was Neo thinking? Just two? I expected a dozen.

But, if Nova was in a trance, how would we break down the wards? No, I needed to wait, as the Alchemist had said. They would definitely be letting him out some time soon. "Going away." I saluted them and retreated back in my path. There was clearly a cage right at the end of the cave, the bars of which glinted in the haze of a distant flambeau. Nova was so close, and I was on the verge of losing my damn mind.

Hours seemed like days, as I lay crouched at the intersection's another path. Hoping in my hearts of heart, that they'd bring Nova out. They must. They have to. Nova would definitely be brought out. For food, or for relieving himself. I repeated it like a chant – they have to bring him out.

And after what seemed like ages, I heard footsteps and voices echoing in the darkness. My heartbeat picked up. The world seemed to stop.

There he was, between the two guards.

A long trail of iron chains followed him, and his wrists were bound together. Chained! Nova was chained! His face hollow and sunken, legs walking on their own accord. Bloody Hell! They were treating him like a creature to be caged and tamed. 

He killed my brother and treated his own like shit!

Blood boiled in my veins. Muscles tensed and without stopping to think, I lunged.

"Hey, what-"

My knuckles slammed onto the talking one's nose, and I heard a bone break. Before the other one could attack, I thrust my leg out. A sharp jab to his throat, had him choking. Both staggered back, howling and coughing. They were scared. Good.

Swiftly moving to a side, I dodged an incoming punch from the broken-nosed guy. And grabbing his arm, I twisted it behind his back. I clasped a firm palm over his mouth to stop his wincing. One firm push with my knee against the back of his, made his balance tip.

I saw the other guard, eyes red with suffocation, raising his hands, and I wondered whether the wards were down. Merciless this time, I stretched my leg and kicked him again on the bob of his throat. His eyes rolled behind his head and he clutched his neck. A gurgling sound escaped his mouth. He was going to pass out. And he did with a thud.

The one pinned to my body, was wriggling, his muffled sounds buzzing in my ears and I repeatedly punched into his temple and behind his ear, till he saw stars. Or the whole damned galaxy. I let him drop down. I had daggers, and suddenly the itch to slice their throats, burned me. My chest heaved fast, rage overpowering my senses. And I wished it were rather Neo, whom I'd watch writhe with pain, and not just a mere guard.

"What the..." he began loudly, as he looked into my eyes, rolling over. A final punch to his eye, knocked him out for good.

Making sure, they were really forgone, I allowed myself to look at Nova, my breathing heavy. I wiped their blood off my hands on my leather breeches, my heart kindling with a myriad of emotions all at once. All for this moment! 

I had found him.

"Nova..." My eyes took him in, his plain white tunic and baggy trousers, his hair neatly tucked and eyes... his hazel eyes were dead, vacant. Unmoving and unblinking.

My strong friend was reduced to nothingness!

I hastily pulled out the vial from my inner pocket. His gaze flicked to the vial and a faint tremor of an emotion flashed on his face. Of course, he didn't like vials.

"Nova..." and before I could start, a strong gust of wind caught me off guard. Flung to the stony wall behind, with a force stronger than a dragon's attack, my spine gave way.

"Oh, come on!" I swore aloud. But I snapped my head at him – Nova had just used his power.

I looked at the two unconscious guards near his feet. They were the Eclipses, who had been keeping the wards up and now it was all gone. Partially, gone. There was still some essence lingering, but I felt my veins hum distantly and I thanked the Throne. If only two Eclipses guarded the most important part of the cave, that meant Neo had very few of them, un-tranced. Leverage.

Neo clearly overestimated his prized Eclipses and underestimated people like me, who would try and break in.

Well, I couldn't wait to laugh at his face and then kick him where the sun doesn't shine.

Catching sight of a dazed Nova, getting ready for another attack, I jumped to my feet, a bone snapping in my back and called on my powers. My veins conjured up a thick orange rope and I lowered its temperature. It snaked from my palms and gripped Nova's fingers jerking his hands taut. Just a binding, until I get the potion in his body.

His eyes still vacant, he broke free instantly. Involuntarily, I rolled my eyes – it was Nova, I had gone too easy on him. For him this must be another of his duel of the Conquest.

Sweat broke on my forehead as he let out a hurricane on his fingertips, which grew larger with every rotation. Any moment an alert guard might walk in on us, or Nova would twist my body in ways that'd pin me to an infirmary's bed for eternity. Oh bother!

I called my fire. And it came. The cave blazed in bright red hues, as I pulled out a massive fiery shield from my fingertips. The smell of its smoke familiar like my own skin and the warmth like returning home after eternities. I took a deep breath, despite myself and selfishly rejoiced in the satisfying sensation of my magic. Nova's storm collided onto my shield and halted. I held onto it with one hand, and kept a firm grip onto the vial with the other. 

After having trained rigorously for two years, for the Conquest, father had abruptly informed me that I was not to go. And I had given up on everything ever since – my crossbow, my fire, my staff. I couldn't care less about the Throne, for my own Fire and Smoke, made me feel things that not even all the four elements would. And me being unworthy, had made him go, instead. I had celebrated when he got eliminated. Father was finally resting, safely at home, as he bloody well should.

"Sorry, mate!" I shouted before applying all of my force, the muscles of my back straining, and face convulsed. I pushed against his element with all my might. Nova went careening and hurled off on his back. If we were in the backyard of my house, as kids, I would've laughed at him for losing against me, but now only misery struck me. Ashen misery.

I dashed to his side and un-stoppered the vial. And to my utter surprise, he did not fight me back. With trembling hands, I hastily emptied the bluish liquid in his mouth and stumbled back from him.

Please let it work. Please let it work. Please let it work.

With a beating heart as speedy as lightning, I watched Nova, and a soft wince fell on my ears. The air stilled around me, and I held in a breath, as I heard him swallow.

Please let it work. I didn't have any more strength left to abduct a tranced-Nova. He was heavy!

Nova pushed himself up on his elbows. My heart stopped.

And he blinked.

Once and then twice. He blinked back to life.

Clutching his head, he opened his mouth, "What just happened?" His voice groggy, like a man waking from a deep slumber. 

"You just broke my arse." I said, my throat choked, eyes moist.

He raised his head to look at me, and a strange emotion flickered on his face. Recognition.

"No," he spoke, gripping a side of his waist, "You broke mine."

Relief surged in me and I grinned, despite the shattering of my heart. Quickly getting up, I lent him a hand. "Welcome back." My emotions were a volcanic mess, as I held his calloused hand tight. He looked the same, broad shouldered, tall and muscled, but his face was hollow, even after the awakening. He was fine only from outside.

"I am...Nova." He said, eyes locked with mine. The words sounding as if he was reminding himself, rather me.

"I know." I added, "I am... Doran." In case, he forgot.

"I know." He smiled, a smile like the Head Alchemist. Sad and valiant.

The sounds of raised voices and running footsteps, that we had both failed to acknowledge, suddenly boomed aloud. And Nova froze. But he didn't raise his hands, and simply shrugged. I smiled. He trusted me enough to know that I could take them all. 

And I'd take them all.

Closing my eyes, I raised up my right hand, fisted tight. The red fire in my veins surged up and burst out like a cork popped opened with the force of frothing liquor from a centuries old bottle. It spread across the whole cave, coating the walls and ceiling – everywhere, but away from Nova and the two unconscious Eclipses. The cave blazed in shades of red and a deep growl of freedom danced in my veins. Someday I'd sit and paint these exact shades again, on a canvas whiter than Eleni's pearly white dresses.

With my other hand, I let white smoke seep out of my fingers and bind itself around Nova's chains, that traveled all the way back to the cage he had been put in. It would take time to work the spell and click open the metallic binding. But I had mastered my Smoke magic and it didn't take as long as it used to before. Milan would be so proud of me, for infinite reasons.

The barrage of stomping boots of people on all four sides, zeroed in on us. And I, ready for them, snapped open my fist, letting the fire roar like my dragon. The red and orange collapsed together and stood erect like fiery walls, barring all the entrances to us. My vision filled with the color of my power, making my veins vibrate with damning arrogance. 

I noted a passage behind me, unguarded and open. Another restcave, with sleeping guards, who might wake up any moment. Way out. Nova's chains drooped down, ripped apart, and clanked down to the hard ground noisily, the smoke hissing and evaporating. Now all that was left to do was run.

The guards were pushing in, a cold gush of water flew in, crackling my walls, and I let my fire flow and flow, like my hatred for Neo. I bellowed into the noise, fully knowing that I was heard by them all, "Go tell your cowardly master, that next time I'm bloody well coming for him."

And then we ran, in the wake of a – fried, roasted and tossed until crisp – dungeon of a devil.

***

Author's note: I love Doran, alright! This chapter was super-fun to write, even when it made me pull my hair getting it perfected, I still love it, for obvious reasons. But I can't take all the credit... it was that kiss, I swear! 👀