It was dark when the Golden Dawn reached the castle grounds. Everyone was anxious. The new king has not yet descended. They heard that the statue of their first Datu was broken, and so were the orbs that the statues of the sages were holding. There were rumors that Elo'ir has abandoned them.

"If it isn't the Golden Dawn?" A big muscular mage greeted them. It was Dalip, an earth alchemist from the Order of Southern Ray. He was riding away from the castle his diwa which is in the form of a brown bull.

"Going home already?" Baltog asked.

"Nope. I need to check the site where the orb has crashed. Reports said that it was just an ordinary meteorite, but I believe otherwise."

"By the way," Dalip continued. "You came from the east, didn't you? You should have passed by it, right?"

"We took a different route. There's something I need to get from the north as a present for our new king." Ya'ul replied.

"Oh, I almost forgot! Congratulations to you. Inari's inside, right?"

"Yes, she's inside sleeping. She was up all night."

"Alright then, see you later."

Dalip touched the wagon and said hi to Inari as he was going. At the same time, Ayi woke up who cried out loud. Her cry woke up the other infant that cried with her.

Ya'ul noticed that Dalip was wondering about the two infants that he explained before the latter could ask.

"They're twins," Ya'ul said.

"Strange. Didn't the bat you sent to our elder said that Inari gave birth to a girl? It didn't mention about another child."

"Ah, that one. We were so excited to share the good news that I sent the message before the younger one was born."

"I see," he replied.

Baltog knew that Dalip would be able to sense the children should he stay longer. And he was the type of mage who was curious and will not be satisfied until his questions were answered. He tried to think of ways to move away without being too obvious that they were hiding something when Alon jumped towards the latter.

"Hey, you got some wine?" Alon asked.

"You're drinking now?!"

"No, I want to burn it. Fine wine makes beautiful fire."

"I knew it! Ask me again when you are ready to gulp it down. Even a sip would do."

"Not gonna happen. But why are you still here? I thought you're curious about the meteorite? Haven't you heard the rumors that there were pieces of gold from the site?"

"Is that so?" Dalip said. "See you later then."

"Why did you tell him about the gold?" Baltog whispered as they parted ways with the other mage.

"I said that I only heard it, right? He's a fool if he believes that."

"Thank you, Al," Ya'ul said.

"Don't mention it."

The Golden Dawn avoided the anxious crowd as they went into the castle. They took a secret passage that led to a chamber that has a view of the throne and the hall. They saw what the other mages were talking about - there's a huge crack on Elo'ir's statue above the throne. It was as if his heart was taken out. A view that disheartened every mage of the kingdom.

"Did he really leave us?" Inari asked.

"I do not know my dear," Ya'ul replied.

"Don't worry. Let's find elder Buyo, she might have answers to this." Baltog said.

They were on the second tier of the castle when they hear shouts and praise from the mages. Down at the center of the castle, the circle lit up. Excitement replaced the anxiousness and worries they felt.

"The king is here!" the Elois chanted. The long wait for the new king is finally over. The answer to their questions was already at hand, or so they think.

"Something is not right with those flames," Ya'ul said.

"Everything is weird for you," Alon replied. But his jaw dropped as he looked closer at the flames around the circle.

"That...That is not an Eloi flame." Alon said. Fear filled him that he pulled his flicker blade and prepared for an attack.

"How can you be sure that it is not of Eloi?" Inari asked.

"No mage in Eloi weilds silver flames," Baltog replied.

The fire raged as it whirled around. When the fire vanished, it revealed a tall man with pale skin and long silver hair. There was a huge winged beast growling beside him.

With confidence, the man walked towards the throne. His beast with him.

"Is that Amun-Ra?" Baltog asked. Stunned like the other mages, he did not know how to react at all. The Elois were expecting their new king, but the heir of their enemy kingdom appeared before them.

The loud chants turned to utter silence.

"He's too young to be Amun-Ra. He's probably his heir." Ya'ul said.

"That is not important now. He came from that circle that is connected to only one place." Baltog said.

"You're right. They must have already taken Naga." Ya'ul replied.

"If that's the case, then what happened to the king and his heir?" Inari asked.

"The king..." Ya'ul said. He felt terrified when he realized what he felt the night before. It bothered him for a while now but he was still hopeful that he was wrong. But seeing that an Amun descended from Naga confirmed his suspicions.

"Look out!" Alon cried as he pulled Ya'ul.

A rock hit the wall, missing the latter.

"Stop spacing out! You have a wife and a child to protect!" Alon cried.

The rock rolled before them and realized that it was the head of Elo'ir's statue. Looking at the pedestal above the throne, their blood boiled even greater. The bakulaw howled with might and pride.

"That does it! Does he think he could barge in and get out alive?!" Alon said. He jumped but Baltog pulled him back.

"Look," Baltog said.

They watched as the other mages drew a scythe. Their diwas transformed into chimeras. And instead of attacking the Amun that sat by their king's throne, they filled their blades with the blood of their people.

Chaos erupted.

Caught unprepared, the Amuns took the Eloi's lives with ease.

"No, no, no. Not you too, elder Buyo!" Baltog said.

They were devastated even more as they saw a familiar old lady in front of the throne. She held wore silver clothes bearing a magic circle of the Amun kingdom - a crescent moon surrounding the symbols of the four elements. Along with the other elders, they bowed before the Amun.

The cries of their people filled the castle.

Confused, the Golden Dawn decided to retreat. Having the newborns with them, they'll also be taken out with ease. And knowing that there were enemies amongst them they didn't know who to trust, not even their elders.

With a heavy heart, Baltog summoned rock bricks that piled around to cover them.

To their surprise, the Amun was already before them, about to sway his scythe. In one smooth move, he swiped the bricks to the side.

The Amun laughed when he saw the group disappear.

"You were right about them."

A small old lady chewing nganga joined the man with the silver hair. "I can track them if you like," she said.

"Let them be, I want to fight them at their full strength. They won't be able to get out of the walls after all."

"As you wish, lord Kraal."