With the terrible news that Alexander Camilleri will visit Minawoods some time maybe soon, our young protagonist couldn’t sleep. The enemy was used to the prince’s voice and face, there were high chances of being discovered instantly.

Back to the routine, at night Raen came back to the inn, after his long workshift at the mines. Ingrid and Viktor used to wait for him to have dinner, after that they cleanned the place and prepared everything for the next day.

─Don Viktor, Inyi… I was wondering if… Could you help me with something?

─Mmmn, It took you so long this time to plan some crazy thing again ─both said.

─Eh?! Why would you think I’m planning something? ─he was holding his laughter.

─What are you up to now Raen? ─Viktor asked.

─Well… now that you mention it, I’m not sure how I am going to achieve it… But it’s going to be something big. I’m going to free Minawoods from the empire.

─What?! ─Ingrid said ─. Oh Raen.

─So… since you couldn’t flee “pacifically”, now are you gonna fight against the soldiers to run away? you have a big imagination ─the man spoke.

The girl and her uncle were going to their respective bedrooms to have some rest.

<<Ah no! even they are sick of my ideas, they’re not taking me seriously>> ─. Wait!… Is true that at the beginning I just thought of leaveing this place, nevertheless… I don’t want to run away. I want to save you, all of you; give your freedom back. You deserve be able to do whatever you want and not what they order you to do; live without fear once more… ─the other two stopped and looked at him ─. If we’re honest, that’s my real job, as a member of the Order of the Caravans. My mind was clouded because of all the stuff that happened to me in the last months, but… I have my goal clear now and to reach it… I need your help; I can’t do everyhting on my own without they knowing.

─What do you need us to do? ─Viktor asked, Raen smiled ─. Don’t get excited yet, depends of what you say to decide if we help you or not.

─I want you to be my spies.

─Oh, Who do we have to spy? ─she asked interested, while her uncle looked at both of them still witout approval.

─The soldiers that come as patients.

─Forget it.

─No… Don Viktor please. You don’t need to act differently, when the conversation happens, find out why they joined the empire, and the type of kivet they can use.

─Of every soldier?! ─Ingrid was having second thoughts.

─Preferably, or most of them is fine. And… the most important, to know when Alexander is visiting.

─Raen…

─Alexander?… Isn’t he… The sentinel?! are you crazy?!

─You don’t have to ask, just listen. They talk all the time between them while is their turn to be attended, surely they should be notified in advance; to have the town impeccable or something like that.

─That’s right, that happens a few days before the lunatic arrives.

─Why do you want to know they motives? ─the mans asked.

─I think you have noticed too. Some soldiers act very differently when they’re here, at the mines or at town, like the day in the beach, the guys were nice to us.

─Raen… they were drunk in a rest day.

─Ok, bad example, but the point is… I don’t think all the soldiers want to be part of the empire.

─You mean they are forced to be bad guys? ─Ingrid said.

─Maybe, that’s what you are going to find out ─smiled.

Don Viktor took a deep breath ─. Fine, we’ll try.

─Try is perfect, thank you so much both of you; good night.

•◊◊◊•

Some days later, at the mines. The workers were obligated to do rotations between them, there was a distribution at morning and a diferent one after lunch; at every moment they were guarded by soldiers, preventing any kivet or the tools they used during their turn from being stolen. This time Rozen and Raen were together at the morning rotation.

─… and that’s how Leo joined to the Strident Skulls.

─Pfff, haha Who came up with that ridiculous name? Every time I hear ir, I can’t help laughing, it was you, right?

─Meeee? Hmph, nope. It was a decision between all of us ─they looked at each other and laughed out loud.

─Hey! more work less nonsense.

─Yes sir! ─they answered in unison.

─Raen, you know you don’t have to live with Don Vik and Ingrid, right?

─Eh? Why are you saying that? I like living with them.

─I know. I’m just saying, Don Vik is old and Inyi is a girl, they have their rooms downstairs. You, you were left on the last room on the second floor.

─Is that a bad thing?

─Ma fren, I’m inviting you to live with the Skulls. You know, with only boys, we take care of each other’s backs ─Raen didn’t know what to say ─. Mnnn… “Yeah, thanks ma fren, I move out tonight”.

─Emm… I appreciate your invitation, but is too sudden; let me think about it, yes?

<<I’m sorry Rozen, I can’t do it. I know you could keep my secret of who I am, but… The other kids could reveal accidentaly my identity, I can’t risk it yet>>.

After lunch, the afternoon rotation was carried out and they were didn’t see again until the end of the shift. Normally the members of the… Strident Skulls, Raen and Jethro, waited for each other after they were checked out at the lattice gates. Their houses were close, so they returned together.

─Where’s Rozen? ─Leo asked.

─I don’t know, I haven’t seen since morning ─Isaac said.

─Me neither ─Jethro added.

─I only was with him at the morning rotation.

They waited, waited and waited a bit longer, but his leader didn’t showed up. The mines were almost empty, they asked the guards and every person was leaving the place for his whereabouts; but nobody knew.

─Guys, I don’t like this ─Issac said.

─Neither do I, what if something happened to him and the guard don’t tell us? ─Leo added.

─Maybe something happened and took him to Don Vik ─Jethro said.

The boys ran to the inn. When they arrived with the healer, they found out they haven’t seen their missing friend. The little skulls were in this place, scared because the old ones didn’t arrived home and it was late. Rozen, Isaac and Leo, were the oldest members of the gang, which should be mentioned none exceeded their twenties. The other five children, didn’t worked, they were kids of ten or less years old; they used to play on the streets and in occasions they eat at the inn with Viktor and company.

─I’ll come back to the mines, nobody saw him leaving the place, he must be somewhere there ─Raen said.

─I go with you ─Jethro said.

Isaac and Leo wanted to go too, but the little Skulls didn’t let them. The other boys went back to the mines, looked for the tunnel he had to work on the afternoon rotation of the day. When they serched in the spot he wasn’t there either. They separated to cover more areas and find him faster. Raen looked around, he heard some soldiers laugh, he sneaked up…

─Take this fucking looser!! ─four soldiers were beating up Rozen, he was bleeding on the floor.

─Stop hitting him, you bastards! ─he toss some rocks from the ground to the bullies.

─Uuuh, the Dragon Boy wants to follow his friend steps.

Flooded with rage, Raen defended Rozen by pushing away and stopping the attackers. They outnumbered him, but he fought them, he didn’t want to fight at his fullest, his opponents would use their kivets powers and leave his friend in worst conditions.

─Don’t touch him!! Argh, get off me you fucks!! ─he struggled, three of the guards hold him, while the other continued to mistrear the boy on the ground.

─This son of a bitch is tough, stop resisting damn punk.

Jethro heard the fight and didn’t hesitated to join the battle. He tackled the imperial that was kicking Rozen.

─ENOUGH! ─a new voice resonated in the place.

─General Melchior! ─said the four scared soldiers at the same time.

General Melchior, was the one in charge of the mines: an elderly man, his gray hair fell to his shoulders, he was weraing his poison kivet armor, despite having a scrawny body, this general was very powerful. His aura was intimidating and too strict. He was doing his finals rounds of the day, making sure there was noone in the compound anymore. However, finding such scenario, a bloodyg half unconscious boy on the floor, a beaten boy immobilized by three of his soldiers and a fourth punching another worker, he was more that furious.

What kind of behavior is this in my mines? ─he glared at them, the soldiers tried to explain ─. Silence! all of you know pertfectly that is forbidden to fight in here, especially you four.

─General Melch…

─I’m not interested nor care about the problems you have with this young men, the rules must be met and if not, punishment awaits ─Raen and Jethro were trying not to laugh for the scold their aggressors were receiving ─. You’ve assaulted three people, you’ll do three days of cleaning manure in the stables; and I don’t want to see you in my domains until this boy can return to do his job.

─Yes sir!.

─One more thing, you make this mistake again and I’ll make sure you end in the guillotine, or worst, I will intoxicate your bodies and slowly disintegrate your organs.

─Sir, yes sir!

The general made a dismiss signal to the pale soldiers.

<<Wow, not even the imperial members are safe from a terrible death for stupid mistakes>>.

Melchior reached Rozen, the soldiers removed his protector buff, the mines fog intensified at nigh, so his body was already poisoned. With his poison powers, the general removed all the mist the boy had inhaled.

─Thank you so much General ─the youngsters said.

─Don’t missunderstand the things, I don’t do this for any of you, stupid problematic children. If something goes wrong in my mines, I’ll be the responsible one before my superiors, and of course I don’t want that. You will also be punished, you’ll work on the docks after your shift in the mines for a week.

The boys didn’t had any choice but to accept their punishment, if they complain about it, could aggravate their sanction. They managed to carry his friend to the entrance of the mines, where they were detained.

─Exit inspection.

─Seriously? you seriously think he’s stealing kivets? look at him, he needs hel…

─Exit inspection, the three of you.

After being checked, making sure that none of them stole stones; they rushed to reach Viktor.

─Hang in there, we’re almost at the inn.

─Tha… Thanks, gu… uys…