"Mori?! No freaking way, Mori Chaimburs, son of that useless s.o.b. Judge Chaimburs." Cackled the yellow-haired man.

"Watson Bell…seems you've gone…from a head…to a follower."

"And I see you're as idiotic as ever. You could've walked this path with me, instead you stand on the side of a bunch of losers! DEAD LOSERS!"

"FLOW-"

Before Watson could continue Tournament grabbed his hand, causing him to drop the flower buds"You won't need that. Look at them, they're completely lost."The temperature in the hallway got much colder. Malum, Solis, and Mori were all lying down sleeping, as if they were in beds. Felichs looked on, scratching their head. Another figure appeared beside Tournament and Watson.

"I'm still not sold on this one…allow me to challenge them…V." The man questioned as he pointed his sword at Felichs.

"H-His aura is beaming off of him…th-there's no way I can take this guy. I'm pretty sure he did something to those three. And that sword is huge! Maybe I can use that power to get outta here again, but I don't even know how to use it…NO calm down Felichs, CALM DOWN! Just think back to that situation and what stood out…fear…I was scared that I would die…like I am right now "

"GRAHAHA! I'm just messin' with you, don't worry we ain't here to harm you. I'm actually here to shut this one up and talk to you."

"#11835 take these three back to their room and make sure to tell #118357 and #118358 to prepare the carriage for Fox and Felichs."

Felichs looked concerned but stayed back anyways as they watched everybody else walk away.

"So, Fox. Is that your actual name or was it given to you after joining the council?"

"Odd question, but it's been my name since birth. My mom was a fan of foxes and not the most creative woman, nor was she a good chef, so yeah."

"My bad if that was intrusive, I'm not the best at first meetings, especially when someone points a sword at me while hiding their face."

"Ah, my apologies as well," Fox said before removing his mask.

Behind the mask was a man whose face told many stories. A long scar ran down the right side of his face. His one good eye was as red as his beautifully braided hair. His braids appeared to be in an x pattern similar to the aban. At its ends were cowrie shells.

"So, where do you stand, Felichs?"

"What do you mean?"

"Your friends were outmatched, so had we come to blows you know what the result would've been. So, what would you have done?"

"They're not my friends…I don't have any. I'm here for one thing and that's it. I could care less about sides. So, if you're asking whose side I would've joined, then the answer is neither. You guys take 'em out and that's less competition for me to worry about. Had they taken y'all out, then I would've stolen Menos and gone home. It's that simple really. Why would I waste my time with a fight that doesn't do anything positive for me?"

"This kid's dangerous…they're not like the others. They have no ill will towards you or any of us like the rest here do. This kid's solely focused on one thing and one thing only…I wonder what would happen if they lost it?"

"Master Fox, Felichs, your carriage awaits you outside." Servus #11837 said as he bowed to the two."Where we going anyways, Master Fox."

"A trip around Perdita. I figure someone like you doesn't even know their own state."

The two made their way out of The Council's House and to the front where their carriage awaited them. It was a typical carriage, pulled by two horses and the cargo section could fit up to four people. The two got inside and the carriage pulled off.

"You guys really like flowers don't you?" Felichs commented acknowledging the flowers that lined the inside of the carriage. "So, if I pull one of these will somebody appear?"

"Plants provide oxygen which is critical for survival. And no, nobody will appear, this is my personal carriage. By the way, I hear you're a fan of chess, by the way, care to play a few games?"

"Yeah, I call dibs on the black pieces,"

"And what makes you think I'll let you have them? Seems I took your king already; guess I win."

"Or maybe I let you take it,""Oh, ho. And why would you do that?"

"Well, nobody can deny the king's importance, but who's to say the queen can't take over? Is she not also a figure of high stature? Can she not replicate every other piece? And when people reach the other side of the board do they not change their pawns to queens? And who's truly the most protected piece? Is it the king because without him you lose, or is it the queen because without her you lose your greatest offensive and defensive weapon? So, with all this evidence presented to you, do you still truly think you won?"

"May I ask you a question? It's a bit personal, so feel free to decline."

"Sure."

"V refers to you as they and them, but you're…I mean why is that?"

"Growing up where I did, you don't get to make many choices for yourself. I mean, my name is supposed to mean happiness or something, yet my life's been anything but that. The things I've seen…that I've done…none of them have ever been MY choice. And now…I'm gonna make a bunch of choices in Tournouá…won't be mine either…so why can't I make one choice for myself that I ACTUALLY want to make?" Felichs answered while setting up the board. "Men, women, when this shit's all said and done with and our world is burned to a crisp by our own evilness and stupidity, nobody's gonna be able to tell what you were; we're just humans."

Fox pondered a moment before responding, "It seems you've been alone all your life. Why not end that here today?"

"H-huh? Wh-what? You like me or something?"

"GRAHAHA! No, no, nothing like that. I mean why not have someone at your side to rely on?"

Fox chucked as he made the first move, moving his white piece one spot ahead.

"A friend in a powerful position does have its perks…but what does he gain from helping me? Nobody just helps someone without wanting something in return…" Felichs questioned as they moved a pawn two spaces forward.

"Interesting move, think I'll move mine two spaces ahead,"

"Fool." Felichs acknowledged as they moved their queen.

"EHHHH??? Fool's Mate…HOW THE HELL DID YOU LEARN THAT???"

"You learn a lot of things in the hood, like not to trust people; especially those who gain nothing from a partnership. Offer declined."

Fox sighed before reaching into a box and handing Felichs an item.

"At least take this. It'll help in the future."

Felichs accepted the gift before walking off into the night.

"I probably shouldn't wander around Fortuna too much…I don't fit in." Although...just where are you going?"

They had noticed the pink-haired boy walking towards the house of House Mors, one of the two great families of Emovere. Felichs got as close as they could before hiding behind a tree.

"NOW DIDN'T I TELL YOU NOT TO RETURN HERE? YOU BRING US MENOS OR THE NEXT TIME YOU APPROACH YOU'LL HAVE ANOTHER VISIT FROM MARGRED DO I MAKE MYSELF CLEAR?" A woman shouted.

"B-but I did find s-something." The pink-haired boy responded. "That guy's working with the council it seems! I saw him enter a carriage with one of their members!"

"You son of…"

"Oh, ho…not only are you a peeper, but you're also a bargaining chip. Good boy Ira, you've earned yourself some more time."

"Th-thank you, m-mother…"

"Guards! Takes this filth to Margred's room, tell her to do whatever with him, so long as she keeps him alive."

"""Yes, my lord!"""

Tried as they might, the numbers caught up to them quickly, and within an instant, Felichs was unconscious and being carried off. House Mors had a rumor, about a monster named Margred. She was only seen once but many said she was not human. As if she was created by Synkrousi herself. When Felichs came too, they could feel something slowly rubbing their face.

"A-AHHH WH-WHAT THE F-FUCK ARE YOU?!"

"I play with pretty boy, pretty boy mine now," Margred said as she continued rubbing them. "Soft skin, pretty hair."

"TH-TH-THIS THING…ITS NOT H-H-HUMAN…I-I-ITS FACE L-L-LOOKS AS THOUGH IT WAS SMASHED INTO A W-W-WINDOW…HER T-T-TEETH…ARE TH-TH-THOSE HIPPO TEETH?! IT SM-SM-SMELLS HORRIBLE IN HERE…THIS DIGUSTING CREATURE LIVES LIKE A FUCKING PIG!" Felichs yelled before grimacing in pain. "Rope…are you serious? I need to get out of here!"

"Pretty boy wanna play? I know I give pretty boy kisses!" Margred said as she slowly licked and kissed Felichs face. 

"N-n-no…pl-pl-please stop…I-I-I said stop…STOP YOU DISGUSTING BITCH!" Felichs demanded as they bit down on Margred's hand, biting a finger off.

Margred screamed in pain before attacking Felichs viciously. The cracking of their bones could be heard with each hit, as she hammered down on them.

"MEANIE! MEANIE! MEANIE! YOU HURT ME!" Margred screamed as she started biting Felichs' leg.

Their attempts to kick her in the face only backfired as bumps covering her face turned to spikes. They screamed in agony as the spikes dug into their skin. The blood from their feet worked to their advantage though as it temporarily blinded Margred.

"I need to get out here! Fast!" They said aloud as they tried as hard as they could to pull their head towards the rope.

After a few moments they were able to free themselves, but a new problem arose. Their ribs were completely destroyed by, preventing them from standing.

"So you freed yourself? No matter, you won't be escaping any time soon." The woman laughed as she entered the room. "You see Margred is something of a rare case. I wanted kids for so long but alas my husband was unable to get it up anymore. So, what was I to do? I mean I had to keep the balance of power in Perdita between myself, House Vita, and the Chancellor, so I called upon my brother. We tried over and over and eventually, it worked. But sadly she didn't come out the most…healthy…she was, at least she's extremely useful! Her strength was incomparable enough to keep our position of importance, even if we have to threaten them both every now and then. With that said, you're going to tell me everything about the council, or I'll show you how loving Margred can truly be…"

"I don't know a DAMN thing about them…your son's an idiot, but you're an even bigger one. I don't have a single tie to them. I only want one thing and that's Menos.

"Oh, ho, so it seems we have a similar goal in mind. Well, how about I make the same deal with you that I made with Ira." The woman responded. "I, leader of House Mors, Lily Mors, will grant you stay in Fortuna or wherever you may choose to live, with all the food you can eat, wine you can drink, and people you can lust over, in exchange I want, what you desire; Menos!"

"No deal."

"What do you mean no…" scowled Lily as she grabbed Felichs' throat.

“You can do…whatever you want to me…but I'm getting Menos…I have to!"

"You disgusting animal! Do you think you're actually going to win? Do you?!" Lily yelled as she slapped them repeatedly. "Margred, my beautiful daughter, have fun with your new toy…remember don't kill him."

"Shit…I still can't move…I can't fight her like this!"

Every monster has their own tale and Margred was no different. She was known as "The Rattler" a nickname that was given to her after shook a man's head off his body. She continued to play with his body like a baby rattle, while hosting a great, big smile. She started to shake them up and down violently. With every shake Felichs' head would slam into the iron ceiling or their legs the iron floor. She began to viciously throw them around the room into the iron walls. When she finally grew tired, Margred picked them up and held Felichs tightly in her arms, like a child holding a blanket. 

Lily Mors made her way back into the room, this time with guards. She sat down beside her daughter and watched as the two removed Felichs from Margred and began to beat them. She would take a swig of her wine, then spit in Felichs' face and laughed as their screams filled the house.

"Don't worry, you won't die…not yet anyways." Lily laughed on as she sat on top of Felichs. "You should consider yourself lucky that I'm loyal to the man I love, or else I'd have my way with you…"

"Do…whatever…you…like. I'm…not…"

"Guards, throw the disgusting creature back over there with my daughter immediately!"

For the rest of the night Felichs was clinging to life by the thinnest of strings. Every bone in their body had been completely destroyed. The only thing that kept them going was the promise they made to their mother.

"Mom…somebody…please…help…"

At some point in the night, the pain was so deep it caused Felichs to pass out. Around that time Lily and her husband would make their way into the room and leave a scar on Felichs that would burn deep into their soul.

As the sun peered through the cracks in the boarded up window, Felichs lay on the ground in a pool of blood. 

"Where is that bitch…I'm gonna…I'm gonna kill her…and this whole fucking family…" Felichs trembled as every bone in their body had been crushed. 

"Mother…I'm sorry for what I'll do…I know I promised you I would behave…that I wouldn't cause any trouble…but I'm killing every last one of them…Ira…you're first, you son of a bitch…"

They looked around the room, it was a horrid sight. With the room being made of iron, it's clear Margred was a beast that even House Mors feared. Mountains of food piled on top of each. Next to it appeared to be a a waste section that hadn't been cleaned in months. With the windows boarded up it was a blessing to be quickly killed by Margred rather than slowly killer from the foul odor.

"It's no wonder that creature was the it is, nobody cared for it…maybe if it was shown some care and compassion it could've lived a better life…speaking of, where is it at?”

It was a struggle but they slowly dragged themselves over to the door. They mustered up rest of the strength to try opening the door. As they got closer, much to their surprise it opened on its own. However, the only thing on the other was completely silence. Felichs rubbed their hands against the floor and walls.

"You hold a prisoner, but leave them alone? This entire house is empty…What the hell's going on? I hope someone didn't get to them before I could…"

"You'll get your chance, just not yet..."

"What are you doing here?"

"Lower your fist, clearly you're in no shape to fight and honestly I'm in no mood to either…" Fox huffed."Something's off…he seems angry…Again, I'll ask. What are you doing here?"

"Well, you weren't at the manor and after walking out on me, I figured something happened. Sadly I couldn't come in last night…I'm sorry. Thankfully, there's a ceremony going on today to officially crown the acting-chancellor as the official one. Figured this would be the best time to get you out of here."

"What about the guards?"

"Already taken care of…" Fox responded as he swung his sword to clean the blood off. "They're no friends of ours anyways."

"Doesn't the council align with this family and the chancellor?"

"No…but I'll let them talk to you about that," Fox said as he picked up Felichs.The two made their way outside and into his carriage. There, Tournament and Solid sat in the carriage.