Now morning, Eris wakes up slowly and smells food cooking all the way from the main floor to her room. She slowly sits up and begins looking around her new room. the room was spacious and well furnished with the entire room painted cream white. She hears a knock at her door which makes her get out of the bed and grab her robe. As Eris puts on her robe, she walks towards the door and opens it, revealing Marianna and Noah at the door in their robes.

“Good morning, Eris.” Marianna greets.

“Good morning to you both.” Eris greets them both. “Did you two sleep well?”

“I slept okay.” Noah replies.

“And I slept great.” Marianna adds while smiling.

“So, did I. Are you guys going downstairs?”

“Yeah.” Marianna replies. “Smells good whatever they’re cooking down there. See you downstairs!

“Alright. I’ll see you both down there.”

As Marianna and Noah go downstairs, Eris comes out of her room and closes her door into a spacious bathroom that was connected to her room and Marianna’s room.

.   .   .

Minutes later, Eris goes downstairs and walks past the throne room into a long spacious hallway. To her left, she hears footsteps and people talking. As she follows the voices, she walks into the dining hall where everyone was sitting at a rectangular and decorated dining table with the kitchen several feet away. Furia looks to the hallway and sees Eris as she smiles.

“Good morning, Eris.” She greets. “How did you sleep?”

“Good morning, your majesty. I slept alright.” Eris replies.

Oma and Xianchi set the last of the food on the table as Eris sits between Marianna and Noah.  Xianchi then sits down between Yurich and Landon while Oma sits between Senuo and Furia. Furia then puts her hands together with the other safekeeps following suit. Eris, Noah, and Marianna decide to do the same.

“We give thanks for the food we are about to receive and bless the dear Alpha… for keeping us another day to see new faces and have new purpose. Blessed be.”

“Blessed be.” Everyone repeats Furia.

After the prayer, everyone starts filling their plates with food and begins to eat. During the meal, Furia looks to the trio.

“So, Mr. Knight and Ms. Collie, how did the two of you sleep?” She asks.

“I slept pretty well.” Marianna replies.

“So did I.” Noah adds. “That was the softest bed I’ve ever slept on.”

“And you, Ms. Gadison?”

“I slept great.” Eris replies.

“That’s good to hear. I always want my guests to feel right at home. Are the three rooms to your liking?”

“Absolutely, your majesty.” Eris replies with Noah and Marianna nodding in agreement.

Eris then looks at the safekeeps as she was curious to know more about the group.

“So, Safekeeps…” She calls catching all five of their attention. “Just so I’m familiar with you all, I want to know all your names and what… areas you all were… responsible for.”

The safekeeps looks at each other, then Oma looks at Eris with a stern look.

“Even though, you three met me last night, I’ll introduce myself properly.” She speaks. “My name is Oma Warrens. I’m 24. I am the Safekeep of Elem’s Water. My birthplace and home are in Koko, Haliae, and I kept control of its temple until they showed up. From what I know, Hanchia has control of it and I can’t wait to take it back.”

Senuo looks at Eris.

“I’m Senuo Mika. Besides my child like appearance, I am 25 years old, and I am the Safekeep of Elem’s Time. Where I was born was Kenkyo, Satori and I was in control of its temple. Kabu, leader of Yenish’s bandits is the one who controls it now.”

Eris was stunned when she heard that name; remembering Kabu’s face clearly as she clenched her fists. Xianchi looks at Eris with a bright smile.

“I am Xianchi Soule. I’m 19 and I am the Safekeep of Elem’s Fire. My hometown is in Zoen, Alpine and I also had control of the temple there until that day. Rokia, one of the elven twins with Yenish, has the temple.”

Yurich looks at Eris with a kind smile.

“My name is Yurich Kelun. I happen to be the oldest one of the safekeeps; I am 31 years young. I am the Safekeep of Elem’s Light and hail from Moku, Pamola. I controlled the temple over there, until the other elven twin, Raijin, took it over.”

Landon looks at Eris with a calm look.

“The name’s Landon Endreas. I’m 20. I’m the Safekeep of Elem’s Life. My birthplace is in Aito, Oreads. I controlled the temple over there, but there’s something that just came up about it.”

Landon looks at the others around the table. “I just received word that the temple ever since last night is now vacant, but I don’t know who was controlling it.

Furia looks at Landon with a serious look. “You are certain of this, Landon?”

“Yes, ma’am. The intel I was given confirmed that Oreads Temple has been recently vacant. With your permission, let me take the temple back and liberate my people and family before the regime get to it.”

“When were you planning on going to Oreads?”

“After breakfast if I may. I just need to get myself fixed up, get my gear ready, and be on my way.”

“Who will be going with you?” Oma asks. “You know you cannot go alone.”

“I’ll go with him.”

Yurich stands from his seat and pats Landon’s shoulder. Furia looks at the two and sees the certainty on their faces.

“So be it.” She speaks with a smile. “You have my blessing to take Oreads back on this day. May Alpha watch over you both and send you two back here safely.”

Furia then feels a searing pain flow throughout her body making her groan in pain and making her marks glow red. Oma and Senuo stand from their seats to tend to Furia. Moments later, the pain ceased, causing her to breathe in and out to ease it away. Everyone became worried by her condition.

“Are you alright, Queen Furia?” Eris asks.

“It’s Yenish’s curse.” She replies. “I’ll feel a little better when Oreads is taken back.”

“Can you stand?” Oma asks sounding concerned.

Furia nods and stands from her seat.

“Are you finished eating?” Senuo asks Furia.

“Yes.” She replies.

Furia then looks to Landon and Yurich.

“Take Oreads back in any way possible.” She orders. “It will be able to take some of the pain away.”

“Yes, your majesty.” Both Landon and Yurich reply.

With the men already up from their seats, they walk out the dining hall into the hallway to get ready to their rooms. At the same time, Furia looks to Oma, Senuo, and Xianchi.

“I’m going to my room to rest for a bit.” She informs. “I’ll tell you three if I need something.”

The three nod in agreement as Furia walks from the dining hall and heads to her bedroom on the other side of the hallway. After Furia leaves, Oma, Senuo, and Xianchi look at Eris, Noah, and Marianna who were finished eating.

“Well, just so you three know, your training will start this afternoon.” Senuo speaks to them.

Oma begins to pick up some the dishes from the table “We suggest you all get prepared. You have until noon.” Oma instructs.

“If you all want to do something before you prepare and get ready,” Xianchi adds happily. “You three can roam around the sanctuary for a bit to get familiar with the place. See you three later!”

Xianchi proceeds to helping Senuo and Oma clean the table off and wash the dishes while Eris, Noah, and Marianna leave the dining hall to go to the spiral stairway to get upstairs to their rooms. As they go upstairs, they see Landon and Yurich coming down from the third level of the sanctuary to the ground floor with their battle equipment on as they head out the door.

.   .   .   .   .

In Satori, Kabu and Hanchia were preparing themselves inside the Satori Temple’s foyer along with the several dozen bandits preparing their weapons and their armor.

“I can’t believe Yenish partnered you with me.” Kabu speaks. “I would’ve been fine by myself along with my men.”

“Perhaps she thought you need assistance because you can’t do it by yourself anymore.” Hanchia responds.

“Says the woman who can’t make a control potion properly.” He retorts. “I know you’re not going to be efficient once we get out of here.”

“Speak for yourself, Kabu. I know you don’t plan that far ahead when anything goes wrong. I do.”

Kabu scoffs. “Let’s just get this over with.”

“Um, sir?”

Kabu looks at his lead bandit who called him. “What’s the problem?” He asks.

“What happens if we do run into Kai? What if he’s in the temple?”

Kabu sighs. “I received word from a reconnaissance team that Kai is no longer at the temple in Oreads. If we do see him, he is kill-on-sight. We just need to focus on taking control and occupying the castle there until Queen Yenish can find another soul to claim it.”

“And if there is someone besides him in that temple?” Hanchia asks.

Kabu decides to not answer her as he stands and puts his blade on his holster and looks at his men.

“Alright, boys.” He calls. “There’s no need to feel pressure about this. We’re just going to reclaim the temple until the queen can find a viable candidate.”

“When do you think she’ll do that?” One of the bandits asked.

“Whenever she can.” He responds. “As of now, it’s up to us to keep hold of it. If an Oreadian or one of those lunatics come our way, we slaughter them. Simple. You all know how powerful we are, so not many will try to test us! If they try, just keep your eyes peeled for them and we will be just fine. Now, if you all are ready, let’s get out of here.

As Kabu walks towards the temple’s doors to open them, Hanchia stands and walks towards him along with the bandits. Kabu leads them outside onto the temple’s courtyard. Kabu puts his hands together forming a green symbol around the group, causing them to teleport to Aito, Oreads, miles from the temple line.