The man sat there with beer in his mug and was reading something in a notepad. His face was rugged, but he didn't seem very old. He is probably a couple years older than Ace. The dark blond stubble on his face matched his messy hair falling in all directions. His glasses were framed with a thin dull metal and thinner lenses. Who could he be? Why was he looking for Eclipse? How cautious should they be?

"Mr. Lundred told us that you are looking for Eclipse?" Stella started the interrogation.

"Indeed I am. I was told you could help. I guess I shouldn't be surprised that you would have a lead, Miss Ursa de Duo. Stella is the name, right?" The thin grin on the individuals face didn't scream any intention, but it looked prideful.

"How do you know Stella? What do you want?" Jack's instincts inched him away from the table. His hand floating around the side of Stella, just in case. The thin grin changed into a large laugh.

"It is Stella! I was right! I was totally casting in the dark there. I can see you are weary. Take a seat and let me introduce myself properly. Have a drink."

"We have a lot of stuff to do. I don't think I can entertain a drink. Depending on how you know me, I am not sure you will have time for another drink either." Stella's cold stare made Jack inch further away from her as well.

"Your words are exactly what I was hoping to hear. I am a reporter. My name is William Ways. I have been looking into Eclipse, and my research has led me to discover Cartina's dark secret. Luna Ursa de Duo. It was all speculation, and I am not sure about any of it, but seeing you here, so passionate. It tells me everything might be true. Please take a seat, I really would like to know your story."

"Mr. Ways—" Jack, started while joining his friend in siting down. Two beers were brought by the apple crazed old man.

"Please, call me William."

"William, why are you looking for Eclipse?"

"Who are you?"

"My name is Jack. I am helping Stella."

"Interesting, and what have you found?"

"You are not going to get answers until you make yourself clear." Stella broke the flow.

"What do you want to know?"

"Who you really are. Why you want to know about Eclipse? What do you already know about Eclipse?" she answered.

"Goodness Miss Ursa, do you want a job as my subordinate?" The man smiled and took a sip from the mug. "I already introduced myself and I am a reporter. If you chose not to believe it, then that is on you, but I can give you the emotional backstory I always give people to open them up. I figured you guys wouldn't be interested since you are practical but here it goes.

"I used to be a mail man. I travelled a lot of the world. I saw the differences in how many citizens lived. The key word is citizens. Everyone under the Empire as a citizen, but their lives were vastly different. While delivering mail, I decided to get to learn the stories of individuals. It was shocking, as many of the citizens, did not know the vast difference in their lifestyle. It's strange. The majority of people were content. It made me question if they would feel the same way with more information. It was then and there I decided to spread information, but only the facts. It would have to be on the short comings of the Empire, but only as real events the public deserves to know. With my pen and mind, I can help bring justice for the people. I can be the strength of the common man! Ha, it sounds super ethical right. That is normally where I stop, but I can tell you have met some smooth talkers already." Their minds think back on their captured moustache.

"Yea, that expression tells me I am right. The truth is, I don't know if the Empire is wrong. I am not sure what the answers are, or if there is such a thing as fairness. I am not sure if I began writing with those ambitions or if just sold myself on the ideal to get out of bed. What I'm really after is a show. I want to see what the world does when they find out more. I want to see the answers to difference that the people themselves come up with. I want to see how they hold the empire accountable to the injustices and short comings. Would there be chaos or peace? Will there be forgiveness or change?"

William's eyes were lost in his words. His smile was truly terrifying. Jack shivered with his instincts in full affect again. Stella's eyes were sharp. Her curiosity had peaked. They met an interesting gentleman. She had enough dangerous friends, so she was sure that they wouldn't meet again, but in this moment, she was on edge.

"I have seen a lot of difference from Cartina to smaller villages. I can understand your expression Mr. Ways. We are all fighting for our beliefs in our own ways it seems. Why are you interested in Eclipse? What do you know about them?"

"Call me William. The short comings of the empire. Eclipse is not the biggest of the mercenary groups. Not by a long shot, but they are probably the most famous that does not have an affiliation with a Dark Kingdom. I can understand why the empire can't fight Dark Kingdoms, but how could they let an organisation that commits crime, live among the citizens? I figured I should cover their story."

"I am sorry to interrupt William, but what are Dark Kingdoms? I recently heard it mentioned, but I have no idea what it is." Jack had finished half of his mug while Stella was signalling for another one. William waited for Stella's eyes to meet theirs again, as if to allow her a chance to answer the question.

"Oh, I am not sure myself. I just know that they are scary places where criminals hide," Stella said in between sips of beer. Jack figured that the alcohol helped her relax after all the compounded stress. Truthfully, they should relax. They succeeded. Luna was with them, and Ace could handle himself. This was just to make the world a better place. Jack grinned to himself.

"You are a weird one. Who asks a question and then smiles to themself? Miss Ursa is right for the most part. Dark Kingdom's aren't really kingdoms, but they are small makeshift encampments that have no fixed location. You must know where one of the encampments will be for you to make use of it. Any of the encampments in a certain territory belongs to a Dark Kingdom, and they are ruled by extraordinarily powerful people called the Stray Monarchs. Right now, there are 4 of them and they have territory that expands the entire Northern Continent. The districts made on the map of Sovalan aren't just for military distribution and resource management, but it is secretly how The Empire knows which dark kingdom they are in. Left Left is for The Twilight Tyrant, Middle Left...The Chief, Middle Right...The Night Queen, and End belongs to The Shadow Warlord.

"Since the Empire uses the ledger system, and the government oversees resource distribution, then it is very hard to sell goods or services as a criminal. This is where Dark Kingdoms come in. They still don't use a currency like the Southern Continent or like the old days, but they trade valuables. I have never been to one, so I can't say I have the expertise in the differences, but everyone I ever talked to about it agrees on one thing. There is freedom in the Dark Kingdoms, but I can't see how free they are, always hiding, but to each their own."

"I understand. Would it be hard to start a Dark Kingdom?" Jack enquired. William lit a cigarette and focused on the ceiling a bit.

"Extremely difficult. I don't think Eclipse is capable of something like that right now. It would take an extremely large force, and a crazy amount of money. The reason Dark Kingdom's aren't hunted down is because the Stray Monarchs are just as strong, if not stronger than one of the 14 Generals. I mean he can hire someone that strong I guess, but that would be a lot to convince them. If that is what they are after, then I don't think it is reasonable, but it does make sense." Stella looked at Jack.

"You think that they know Ace is bluffing?" Her voice was panicked.

"Probably. Mr. Quinn has made it this far already. I have to assume he knows his stuff."

"What would he gain by taking Ace? He probably didn't have a choice looking back at it."

"Yea it was probably to gain more time. What should we do? Should we go signal for him to escape?" Jack gets up from his seat as Stella follows suit.

"We should, right? Ace could be in danger—" The two pause and sit down with embarrassed looks on their faces. Stella shakes her head and begins drinking her beer again. Jack has a small awkward chuckle. William's neck pivoted between the pair as he tried to grasp the sudden change in demeanour.

"I'm sorry to intrude, but your friend is in trouble, right? Shouldn't you go and do something?"

"We forgot who we were dealing with for a moment. I am not sure how to describe it, but I don't think anything will happen to him." Jack's tone was shy and softspoken. William wasn't sure how someone could be so embarrassed about assuming they were in danger. He was glad he met these guys. They were interesting.

"I am also sure he thought he could still get them to show up on time. I think we should assume that the plan will work and just keep in mind that we are fighting against an enemy that knows we are coming."

"I am sorry Miss Ursa, but can you clue me in. I am completely lost."

"We can if you agree to help us. If you write an announcement that royals are due to pass into this town then I am sure they will believe you. That way, we can keep an element of surprise." Jack's eyes glistened as Stella nodded along. He focused in on William's irises and contemplated if meeting this man was a work of fate.

"I'm sorry kid. I have my morals and ethics. I refuse to create something and share it with the population if it is not a truth. I may be wrong in research and opinions, but I cannot willingly publish something that I know is a lie." The last word out of his mouth came with the last wisps of smoke from his cigarette.

"That makes sense. I didn't think of that. Speaking of moral code, that reminds me of something I got to do later." Jack glanced at Stella's ashen hair.

"Well, Mr. Ways the reporter. I will tell you all we know, and you can tell us all you know, but I also know that in three days we will write you a story much grander than anything we can tell you now, so I recommend sticking around until then," the slightly tipsy ashen haired warrior stated.

The three of them sat around explaining the history and current events of the mercenary group named Eclipse. Jack and Stella were careful, not to explain their plans, in case there were listeners close by, or if William himself was a traitor. William seemed to pick up on it but decided not to pry on those matters. Afterall, he was looking for a show. A couple more beers were drunk, and cigarettes were burned before William left the pair with a malicious looking smile stretched across his face. Jack figured that he will be able to help them out one day, and it was good to help someone with their dream.

***

Jack was sitting by the torch in his room. The sound of a coarse stone being dragged across metal was interrupted by the sound of knuckles pounding on wood.

"Come in."

Stella's eyes were low, and her walk was slow. She took a seat on Jack's bed while he continued what he was doing. Stella would talk about what was bothering her if she wanted to, he didn't feel he needed to ask.

"Is Luna asleep?"

"Yea. It took her awhile, but she is asleep in the corner of the room. What are you doing?" she calmly said over the scraping sound.

"I am dulling my blade. Ace doesn't want me to kill, and I agree with him. This is something I figured I could do, so I wouldn't have to hold back as much."

"Would you mind dulling my dagger as well? If Ace says we shouldn't, then I don't want too either. In a short time, he has really gained my respect. He is doing so much for our wishes, and we put it off as easy stuff because of how he makes it seem, but it isn't. I think talking to William today made me realize what he is up against. What we are up against."

"Is that what's bothering you?"

"What do you mean?"

"Are you scared of Eclipse and fighting them after talking to William?"

"Oh no, not at all. I am just nervous for when it is over. It sounds dumb, but I really want to see what you guys are going to do after. I want to stay by everyone's side longer. It's just I am not sure what is the right thing to do. I want to give Luna everything she needs. I want to make her happy again. I am not sure, dragging her home is the answer to that either."

"Damn, that is alot to think about. I think that you shouldn't rush into it. We are not sure what Luna is really like yet. We can barely stay close to her. I think you should stick around, or at least take your time going home. Maybe, there will be a sign or something in that time." The sweat on Jack's forehead as he tried to articulate a plan put a small smile on Stella's face. She wasn't sure what to do, but everyone has already proved that she did not have to do it alone.