Alistair witnessed first-hand how the samurai were created.

  He, Luno, and Aquamarine observed the dream Lenoria was in and witnessed the manifestation of the ebony samurai. Whenever one suddenly appeared in Lenoria's dream, another would form itself in the pool back in the real world. The watery form would then lumber its way to a mound of sand, which would absorb the water into itself. The sand would then mold itself after the watery creature it absorbed until the sand took on its appearance and texture down to the last detail. The newly created samurai would then salute Alistair and the rest before marching off into the forest beyond the cave.

  "I wonder where Lenoria gets such, uh, unique ideas," Alistair wondered.

  "She reads a lot of books, Alistair," Aquamarine pointed out. "Are you really that surprised by her imagination?"

  "It's more like I often forget she is a graduate of the Artificers Guild. I can't help but think about the amount of good she could do if she simply entertained her distractions a little less often..."

  Without Lenoria around, it didn't take long for his thoughts to start swarming the vulnerable parts of his psyche. The boy frowned from the things he heard himself think.

  "She's smart and beautiful. I wonder what she would have done if she hadn't met me. Probably do some good for the world. Maybe it's not too late..." The paladin gazed upon the girl's sleeping face. "What does she see in me, exactly? She reassured me her confession was her choice, but I can't help but feel like I'm distracting her from something important. I have never felt this happy with another person before, but I fear I'm being selfish. W-what would happen once my work as a paladin ends? I would have to go back to doing back-breaking labor, and that would not be enough to satisfy her wants and needs. Someone like her deserves the best in the world, not a blue-collar peon like me."

  Alistair's thoughts were interrupted upon hearing his name coming from the pool. He took a moment to make himself comfortable by sitting down on the hard ground, setting the sleeping Lenoria right next to him so she wouldn't simply drop to the ground.

  "...I can't wait to finish Gabrielle's project so I can bring Al here," they heard Lenoria say in her dream. "I want to show him off to Mom and Pop, and to all the mean girls who called me ugly back when I was 10. I want to show off how cool and modest he is. I know Pop feels overprotective for us, but I'm confident he'll warm up to Al eventually." Stars shined in the girl's eyes. "He's strong, reliable, and wise. He does have the temper of a tiger, but his overall attitude would make him a dragon. He's...he's my dragon."

  "Don't you think you're being a little selfish," Pearl asked. "Do you have any idea what he wants?"

  "No, but I think I know what he needs. I think what Al needs is a family. He never met his real parents, so I want to go out and look for them. In the meantime, I want him to relax here in the Great Plateau. Save for a handful of people, no one in Thule has been nice to him, and things might get ugly if we stay in the same land his ex lives in. But here? I know everyone will love him. He'll have his own family here, at least until he reunites with his own."

  "And if he ever decides to leave you? Your declarations to one another are admirable, but it could just be hot air coming from the two of you."

  "That would be his choice to make. If he's happier away from me," Lenoria gulped before continuing, "I would cry, but I wouldn't stop him. The time we spent together is the happiest I've ever had since I moved out, and I'll cherish that forever."

  An unseen weight made Alistair's head sink. Watching Lenoria discussing her deeper thoughts with Pearl did feel like a breach of privacy, but more importantly it showed him a glimpse of her true nature. She wanted him to be happy, even if it hurt her.

  And the feeling was more than mutual, for the reverse was also true.

  "My own family..." Alistair smiled to himself. "Lenoria...if that is your wish, then I promise to not let go," the boy declared softly. "Even when I feel unworthy, I'll set those feelings aside for your sake."

  "Al and Lenoria, sitting in a tree," Aquamarine suddenly chanted, "K-I-C-C-I-M-G."

  "Miss Aquamarine, please." Holding back his irritability, Alistair pinched one of Aquamarine's cheeks and pulled it as much as he could. "Show some discretion."

  Aquamarine flailed her arms helplessly. "Owowowowowwowowow!"

  With his mind at ease, Alistair relaxed his posture after letting Aquamarine go. This experience had been another reminder that he was free from Mirabelle, and the woman sitting next to him cared about him so much that she was willing to go through great lengths to make him happy.

  "I'm her dragon..."

  "Orale. Having a tender moment, are we?"

  Alistair immediately rose to his feet and drew his mace and shield. The arrival of El Buitre, along with three Blue Jays and a large, feathery demon startled him and Aquamarine while frightening Luno.

  "My hunch was right. I don't know how you found out about our plans, but don't think we're letting you leave alive after everything you've done." Gnashing his teeth, El Buitre drew a single card. "Feeling lucky, amigo? You get to meet the master of this operation, an honor too big for someone like you."

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  "A knight in the service of the Hammer. What a surprise," said the feathery demon. "Always nipping at the heels of our kind, that lot. And they call us the scavengers. You must be the one responsible for the decrease of our forces. Do you have any idea how long it will take to replenish what we've lost?"

  "A champion of the Abyss..." Alistair glared at his new foe. "A vrock."

  "Once we figured out your samurai were nothing but sand warriors, disposing them was easy. All we had to do was hit them before they could hit us," the vrock commented.

  "They figured out their weakness already? These demons are more cunning than they appear to be," Alistair mumbled to himself.

  "What do we do?" With a wave of Luno's hand, Lenoria's ethereal form within the cocoon began to disappear. "It will be about three minutes before Lenoria can safely awaken," she communicated telepathically.

  "Then grab Lenoria and run. If you hurry, they won't have time to block the exit," Alistair ordered.

  "But-"

  "Keep her safe for me, please! I'll be able to fight this demon effectively knowing Lenoria is in good hands. This must be the enemy commander, so I promise to end things here!" Shield forward and mace backwards, Alistair steeled himself for battle. "Go, now!"

  Weighing her choices, Luno elected to put her faith in the boy pleading to her. Taking a moment to lift Lenoria off the ground, Luno grew wings on her back and flew as fast as she could past the demon and his cohorts.

  "After them," the vrock ordered his men. "That must be the guardian of Norwich Forest. Kill her and the girl." The feathery demon marched forward. "Leave the paladin to me."

  "Yes, sir!" The Blue Jays, flashing sinister smiles, turned around and gave chase. But just seconds later, all save for El Buitre fell on their rears or backs.

  With snowflakes falling around her, Aquamarine flawlessly twirled her staff and assume a defensive stance with her rod forward. "I got your back, Alistair."

  "A thousand thanks," Alistair said. Raising his shield, Alistair made the Hammer's insignia gleam from the bright light from the mushrooms.

  "Francisco!" The vrock's single-word command was enough for El Buitre to flap his wings to lift himself off the ground.

  "On it, boss man! Ahahahaha!" Keeping Luno in his sights, the birdfolk gave chase. Distraught but keeping calm, Alistair could only watch as the tall demon approached him and Aquamarine. The Blue Jays stood up and slipped again, and could only leave the area once they decided to crawl away.

  "Need me to go after them," Aquamarine asked.

  "No," Alistair said, "the vrock is the bigger threat. A victory against him means a heavy blow to demonkind."

  "But Lenoria-"

  "-will be fine. I'm not a psychologist, but I have faith Luno will do right by us after everything that's happened. She won't let anything happen to Lenoria. But if we let the vrock go, invasions like this will be repeated."

  "You're a confident little brat, aren't you?" The vrock sneered. Both sides were at a standstill, and it was only after matter of who struck first. "You know so much about us, but do you wield the power to strike us down?"

  "It doesn't matter whether I do or don't. But I won't let you lay a hand on my comrades. If you would answer a question, however, I must know why you're invading this forest. Why here? Why kill the local moths?"

  "Is domination not enough of a motive for you?" The vrock shook his head. "No. You humans possess a type of greed that would make a nalfeshnee jealous. You can't fathom a smaller motive, so you think there are other machinations at work. Take Augustus, for example; your 'Dread General' wishes to conquer other lands. It's only a matter of time before he and your Count clash over their lands, you know."

  Aquamarine tilted her head. "Huh? You're dropping names we don't know."

  "He's talking about one of Thule's Judges," Alistair revealed. "I'll explain later. However, what this demon doesn't know is that I have no love for politics. While it is my duty to obey, I don't respect either man as an authority figure. All that matters is the invasion happening in front of me!"

  "Hmph. I thought a distraction would work." Crossing his arms in front of his horrid face, the vrock poised himself to attack. "How about this instead? AAAAAAAHHHH!"

  "This can't-" The vrock's shrill cry forced Al and Aquamarine to cover their ears. Aquamarine warded off its ill effects just fine, but the same could not be said for Alistair; surprised by the vrock's sudden assault, Alistair had dropped his mace and shield. "Ugh!"

  "YOU LITTLE WRETCH! DID YOU REALLY THINK I WOULD LET YOU OFF AFTER WHAT YOU'VE DONE?!" Ready to pounce, the vrock ducked at the last moment to avoid a water orb aimed for his head. "Grrrr."

  "Hmph." Aquamarine's lips spread into a confident smile. She skillfully twirled her rod before pointing at the vrock with it. "It's two against one, you know. What you've done to the forest is unforgivable, and as a heroine of love and justice, I won't stand by and let you destroy it!"

  "Heroic bravado," the vrock snapped back. "I can fly faster than you can run and will leave both of you a mangled mess in no time at all!"

  "Maybe you can, but ask yourself," Aquamarine continued, "who's the bigger threat here; is it the boy there, who can't even keep his fingers on a weapon, or the pretty girl who will smite you and take you to trial before the Guardians' Association?"

  "Guardians?" The vrock grimaced. "The cheap water tricks...of course, you must be Melodious Aquamarine."

  "That's it, you big lug. Take the bait..." Aquamarine sneered proudly. "Oh? You heard of me, then?"

  "Indeed. A small drop of water amidst an ocean of potential. A neophyte amongst a group of magical girls. An amateur nipping at the heels of the elite." The vrock's expression hardened. "In other words, hardly a threat."

  "Eh?"

  With a swipe from its claw, the vrock grabbed Alistair's head and lifted him off the ground. His ears still ringing from the scream, Alistair couldn't even fight back to set himself free. "I must admit, I was scared to find a challenging foe here. But I see now that trickery is your forte, and nothing else."

  "This is bad. How do we fight this guy?" A single sweat drop fell from Aquamarine's forehead. "He's a powerful demon for sure. There has to be a way to beat him!"