[Astral Harmony]

The meal (which included a lot of fish, obviously, but surprised some of the party by the other delicious offerings) and cheery mood didn't last long enough, unfortunately. Terrance Frodnoth, son to Millie and inheritor of his's father curse of having lethal bowels, became a casualty that night. He had tried to take on the Niflos demons when they first appeared, and thanks to his bravery, many people had the warning and the time needed to escape to safer areas. Everyone could see that Millie was on the verge of breaking down then, but she held strong. "He died doing what he believed in to be his destiny since birth. I'm proud of him," was all she said before she asked to be alone and left the table.

Kaitlyn and Joshua were together that whole night. There wasn't any romance involved, for they were both more concerned about gathering information. Information about the Niflos demons. Information about the drug used to turn a man into a monster. Information on the Reaping Lillies and on what came out of Isabella when she died. Information on the military. And last but not least, information on Dormond.

-----

Meanwhile, in one of the higher level assembly rooms in Granseal Castle in the Mirthholme Kingdom...

High Chamberlain Ashley Dormond: "Let us begin."
Reaping Lillies Leader Sophia: "Wait, aren't we missing someone?"
Research Chief Snell Cardinus: "General Magnar...yes, where is he?"
Dormond: "Probably entangled in some orgy. I doubt he's bothered to look at the documents I sent him."
Sophia: "What an imbecile. Are you sure you need him?"
Dormond: "He's easy to please and he's one of the best at what I need him to do, which is to provide me with military strength and authority without questions asked before and after the sortie. I'll speak with him in due time so let's just get this over with. First issue. Sophia?"
Sophia: "Yes?"
Dormond: "I observed Isabella from the moment I dispatched her until her death. The Niflos Envy inside her was very small and weak. Obviously, she has a hard time following directions. Your thoughts?"
Sophia: "I won't make excuses. Though I instructed Isabella to enter the underground chamber and bathe in the baptismal pit of the Black Blossom, I can only assume she did not fully submerge herself."
Dormond: "Next time, I want you to go and make sure the next assassins do it right."
Sophia: "Is it actually so effective?"
Dormond: "If Isabella had done it properly, she should have been able to kill both Taharial and Edrian. Tonight, I want both Mandora and Phillys to bathe in the Black Blossom. They will deploy rather early the next day. I want Phrayke accompanying them."
Sophia: "Then you want Phrayke to baptise herself as well?"
Dormond: "It won't work with Phrayke, given how she is a vampire and all. At any rate, that concludes that issue. Now, Doctor Cardinus?"
Cardinus: "What's our next step?"
Dormond: "So, what is your opinion on the first human test subject?"
Cardinus: "Pretty much what I'd expected. Actually, Dormond, I'm glad you'd called this assembly together. I'm been working on Maximum Output for a while and I've created a dumbed down version of it. I call it Madsoldier Serum."
Sophia: "Will that really be helpful to us?"
Cardinus: "Time will tell."
Dormond: "Here's what I'm thinking. Marldukes doesn't have an airport, and a ship won't get the heroes all that much closer to Granseal Castle which will become their ultimate objective. If I was them, I'd head overland to...here, Trade City Hazelake."
Sophia: "And make a direct shot to Mirthholme from there?"
Dormond: "It's the fastest way."
Cardinus: "And one of the most dangerous. Why would they go that way?"
Dormond: "The heroes know their enemy now, or at least enough to know that we can deploy considerable defenses wherever they go. Besides, I don't think a lot of them particularly care about finding the safest way to get to us."
Sophia: "True. They'll want to kill the assassins who tried to kill them, and some of them are interested in or utterly despise our forces and would gladly endanger themselves further if it means that they can get their hands on the enemies they want."
Dormond: "Cardinus, I would like you to experiment with the Madsoldier Serum and the applications of Maximum Output on certain monsters."
Cardinus: "I can hardly wait to show you the fine specimens that will confront the heroes in the very near future."
Dormond: "I'll go ahead and let Magnar know what I need from him, and that concludes this meaning."

-----

Much of the city's wreckage was cleaned up and stored in piles by morning. Joshua and Kaitlyn sat near a small coffee table. They both looked like they hadn't gone to bed at all, but they both did that often. They weren't alone. Scott recognized the third woman with them. It was the raven-haired lute player and songstress that played for the ships early yesterday afternoon.
"You have to hate the guy," the woman said. "But you also have to admire how he has it all figured out. From the assassins to the demons to even the military, he has a deathgrip on just about anything you could use against him. I'd hate to break your hearts, but if you want to get Dormond, you're going to have to go to him, and it's likely you'll be going to him on his terms."

"Oh, they're awake." Joshua said, standing up to greet the heroes. "Let me introduce you. This woman, and this is crazy I know, but this woman is Mirika, and she claims to be the instructor who brought Dormond's black powers to the surface."
Kaitlyn frowned. "If you knew Dormond was this dangerous, why didn't you keep him from learning how to use that kind of power?"
"If I refused, I would face death, and so would he," Mirika said. "So, I did the best I could and told him that use of those powers would only lead to self-destruction. He obviously decided not to listen to me, and he has summoned the dreaded Black Blossom to achieve victory."
"What's the Black Blossom?" Joshua asked.
"An immense malevolent force from Niflos. The Black Blossom grants Dormond incredible powers, but it also helps bridge the rifts between this world and Niflos. In other words, even though the Niflos demons have been defeated, it's possible for more to enter this world through the rift opened yesterday without further action from Dormond."
Kaitlyn grit her teeth. "Damn, I'm going to have to evacuate the entire city."
"And go where?" Joshua asked. "If this Black Blossom can do what Mirika says it will do, then no safe is going to be safe."
"Fortunately, the rift will not be able to allow as many to pass as before," Mirika assured Kaitlyn. "Your Resident Blades should be able to handle the smaller numbers that will come through from time to time until the Black Blossom is destroyed, in which the rift will close permanently."

"Where's the Black Blossom now?" Kaitlyn asked, already knowing where Dormond would have it.
"In Granseal Castle, the Mirthholme Kingdom capital." Mirika said. "So, in order to cut Niflos off from this world, we'll need to get there, and fast. Dormond will obviously use every resource at his disposal to prevent anyone of capable skill from getting anywhere near Granseal, and this is why I bring the information to all of you."
Kaitlyn shook her head to reawaken herself. "How do you destroy this Black Blossom?"
"That's the risky part. The only one who can destroy the Black Blossom is none other than Her Highness Princess Sulea."
Joshua visibly shook from the realization. "So that's why Dormond had Sulea abducted, isn't it!?"
Mirika nodded. "Sulea has a holy power within her. Dormond intended to use his black powers to remove the light from within her, or seal it away. Unfortunately for him, Sulea was rescued by Commander Remalia Stockword and the ritual didn't exactly go as planned."

Mirika poked at her cheek thoughtfully. "I wanted to stop Dormond then and there, but knew that I wouldn't be able to do it alone. Unfortunately, I did not know of this Joshua Graham who stands before me until just two weeks ago, and it's only today that we meet face to face."
"What did you want to see me about?"
"I wanted to see them, actually." Mirika gestured to the heroes. "I was hoping to recruit some help for the task, but it seems Dormond has gotten, or tried to get to them first with the Reaping Lillies. Now we are here."
Mirika turned to the heroes. "I know that I am asking a great deal, but Dormond's ambitions must be stopped. He'll keep trying to have you killed for as long as you at least appear to be a threat. The Black Blossom will continue to trickle Niflos demons into this world. And both Her Highness Sulea and Joshua's sister Chelsea are in Dormond's evil clutches. Please, help me save this world from him. I cannot offer much, me not being a rich woman or anything, but I pray that common cause is more than enough for us to join forces."

"I can offer much," Kaitlyn said, standing up and affixing the heroes with her tired, yet strong gaze. "My city is in constant peril until the Black Blossom is destroyed, and I fear gravely for Chelsea's life. We've already lost lives to the Niflos, including Millie's precious son. Please, please help us all."
Joshua nodded. "You're the only ones who can stop Dormond, and he's just going to keep sending death dealers at you until one of you drops. And Chels is my sister and I dunno what I'd do if I lost her. You're the only ones I can count on. Please, I know it's dangerous, but I'm begging you to go to Granseal and kick that bastard Dormond's ass. Of course, I'll help you all in any way that I can."