At night, lights flooded out the windows of the Lightgale, a popular Istian tavern. It was filled with patrons and some visitors from some faraway kingdoms. It was noisy and people drank booze while laughing and bantering loudly. May and Mauve sat at a table. Mauve had ordered a drink and was sipping it quietly while listening intently to a conversation at the next table. May listened carefully as well. They both had their black hoods on.

“Did you hear? There was a demonstration in the streets recently. People claiming that the king secretly orders the execution of innocent civilians!” said a man loudly.

“Yes, and the leader of the demonstration was a man by the name of Robar. A very courageous fellow if you ask me,” said another man.

May looked at Mauve and he looked back.

“That can’t be true. King Justin would never do such a thing!” May whispered to Mauve.

“How do you know?” asked Mauve curiously.

“I know him well. He’s a friend of mine,” replied May.

Mauve swallowed his drink wrong and started coughing.

“What?! I thought you tried to kill him!” hissed Mauve.

May recounted to Mauve how she befriended the king. He had saved her once and she helped him in return. She told him how kind and genuine he was. Mauve believed her. She would never lie to him.

“I’m trying to help King Justin too,” whispered May.

“Please, Mauve, can you change into a guard and find that Robar guy?” asked May.

Mauve was not too enthralled by this request. But he would do it just for May. She was too kind and helpful and he admired those qualities. Mauve nodded. 

***

Late at night in Istus prison, the man named Robar sat silently in his isolated cell. A guard was watching over him. He looked around when he heard the metallic footsteps of another guard.

“Excuse me, do you know where that Robar guy is right now?” asked the guard who had just arrived.

The guard on watch gestured his thumb towards Robar.

“He’s right here. Can you watch him while I take a break?” he said.

“Of course, take your time,” replied the other guard.

The watch guard left.

“Hey you, you’re the leader of the demonstration?” asked the new guard.

Robar looked up.

“Yes,” he replied.

“How do you know that the king is killing innocent civilians?” asked the guard.

Robar snickered.

“King Justin is merely a tyrant pretending to do good,” said Robar.

“Many civilians have been disappearing under his rule, it’s not a mystery anymore,” he laughed.    

Mauve was interested by this information.He had no idea what was happening in Istus. He could not waste his time. The other guard could come back and the armor he wore felt heavy.

“I admire what you’re doing to expose the king, but tell no one that I’m with you!” Mauve lied.

Robar looked at him bright-eyed.

“So, even the guards agree with how corrupt Istus is,” Robar said. 

“Hey, let me out of here,” he said.

Mauve looked left and right.

“Alright, but first tell me how you found out about the disappearances,” said Mauve.

Robar stared at Mauve in silence.

“An Istian organization found out about it. One of their members met me and told me about what was truly going on in Istus.” he said.

“What is the name of the organization?” asked Mauve.

Robar looked at the floor.

“I do not know, it’s a secret organization,” he said.

Robar looked at Mauve again.

“But if you free me I promise to let you meet the member. I know where he lives,” continued Robar.  

Mauve looked for his master key in his pocket. It came in very handy in the past. He used it to pick the lock and the cell door opened. May came out of the shadows and both Robar and Mauve jumped. She shrouded the two men and herself with a black aura.

“Stay close to me,” she said.

The three ran out of the prison, the shroud of darkness muffling their footsteps and hiding them in the shadows.

***

The full moon shone on an abandoned decrepit house. Robar, Mauve and May were in the yard in front of it.

“That’s where the elf lives,” said Robar.

“The elf?” asked Mauve.

“Yes, he’s the member I told you about,” replied Robar.

“Now, if you’ll excuse me,” he continued.

Robar started walking away.

“Hey, where are you going?” asked Mauve.

“I’m a runaway now, I have to leave Istus,” replied Robar.  

May and Mauve watched Robar walk away in silence.

Mauve used the opportunity to change back to his normal appearance. He was now wearing his black cloak. He knocked on the door. Mauve could hear a chair shifting and the door opened slightly. Mauve noticed a pair of bright blue eyes and pointy ears.

“Who are you? What do you want?” said the elf.

 “I am Mauve and this is May. We want to learn more about the organization,” Mauve replied. 

The elf eyed Mauve and May strangely.

“You agree that Istus is in turmoil?” asked the elf.

Mauve and May nodded. 

Upon seeing the acknowledgement of the two strangers, the elf opened the door. Mauve could see him now. He had strangely bright blue eyes, pale shoulder-length white hair and he wore a long yellow robe. Mauve and May had never seen an elf before. Elves had beautiful but strange features, Mauve thought. He and May entered the house. The interior was just as decrepit as the outside. The elf invited them to sit at the table. 

“What do you wish to know?” asked the elf.

“Who are you?” asked May.

The elf paused.

“I am Esteban,” he replied.

“What is the role of the organization?” asked Mauve.

The elf paused again. He did not fully trust Mauve and May.

“First, tell me why you are here,” said Esteban.

“We agree that the king of Istus is a tyrant who kills innocent civilians,” lied Mauve

“We want to know why he perpetuates this horror,” he continued.

Esteban eyed Mauve.

“It’s not just Istus. People have been rebelling around the world. They want change,” started Esteban.

“Monarchies and empires are corrupt and power-hungry. They step on the masses like trash,” he continued.

Mauve listened. He could not stop himself from agreeing. He felt guilt as May looked down. Her eyes were shadowed under her brows. She still wanted to help King Justin and save Velli. He could not side with the elf. 

“So, what is the role of the organization?” asked Mauve.

Esteban frowned, then smiled.

“We are here to bring the change the world desperately seeks and needs,” he said. 

“What is it?” asked Mauve, faking eagerness.

“Cutting off the heads of kings, queens and emperors. For the freedom of the world!” said Esteban. 

May stood up from her chair abruptly, placing her hands on the table.

“You’re wrong! Not all kings or queens are evil!” she said.

The elf stood up as well. He materialized a sword in his hand.

“Traitors! You will die here!” exclaimed Esteban.

“Hold on a second!” cowered Mauve.

May took out her dagger.

“Out of the way, Mauve!” she shouted.

Mauve ran from his chair as the elf slashed at him, slicing the table in two. He stood in the corner of the room, cowering in fear. But Esteban’s attention was not on him. He had an eye out for May, who was using her shadow magic to blend with the shadows. The elf slashed blindly around him. He knew about shadow magic and how dangerous it could be. Suddenly something pressed against his back. It was very sharp. He froze. May was pressing her dagger against him.

“Tell us who your master is!” she ordered.

Esteban looked in front of him and dematerialized his sword. He wore a shocked expression.

“It’s a man by the name of Shalk,” he replied fearfully.

“Tell us everything you know about the organization!” said May. 

Esteban gulped.

“The Grey organization’s role is to destroy monarchies and empires around the world. There are eleven members in all,” Esteban answered.

“Why are you doing this?” asked May.

“I am part of the organization because the elf king Simshel holds my family and friends hostage. They sympathized with humans and were branded as traitors,” continued Esteban. 

“What about the others?” asked May. 

Esteban looked upwards, trying to remember the other members.

“I joined recently, I do not know the others very well and do not know their motives,” he replied.      

“You’d better be telling the truth,” said May.

“And do not report us to your leader if you value your life!” she said menacingly. 

May removed the dagger and Esteban let out a sigh of relief. Mauve approached May and the elf.  

“I will be taking your place,” Mauve told Esteban.

Mauve’s appearance started shifting. He copied Esteban’s features. Esteban looked at him in shock.

“Are you an elf?” asked a bewildered Esteban.

“No, I’m a rare human shapeshifter,” said Mauve.

Mauve was pulling his pointy ears. It felt strange to be an elf. 

“Lay low, unless you want to die,” May said.

“I promise I won’t tell anyone! I’m leaving Istus!” replied Esteban cowardly.

“Before you leave, tell us where Shalk is,” May said.

Esteban took out a map from a drawer and handed it to May and Mauve. They looked at it. The map was intricately drawn. There were several connected lines that represented paths and a big red dot indicated where the organization’s lair was.

“The lair is underground,” Esteban said.

Esteban accompanied May and Mauve at the entrance of the underground passage. It was a cave and nature surrounded it. It was in a remote place a few minutes away from Istus city. The dark entrance looked scary, sending shivers down Mauve’s spine. 

“I have to leave before someone shows up,” said Esteban.

“Good luck,” he mentioned.

Esteban left.

***