GABRIELS POV,
When they are walking to the Inn to pack their stuff Julias says, “That guy Javier gives me the creeps.”
Gabriel nods, “Yes there is something very dark inside that guy. I noticed a certain blonde lady didn’t give you the creeps though. You were looking like you had just seen an angel.”
Julias gets a dreamy look on his face, “Ow man she was an angel. She must be the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. It was like no one else was in the room when she walked in.”
Gabriel smiles, “That’s how I feel about Noelle.”
Julias stands still and looks at him with a sincere look for the first time, “I can see that you love each other. I am sorry that I keep judging you from your past. We all had to make some tough decisions in that time.”
Gabriel squeezes Julias his shoulder, “It’s alright we will probably have to make some more tough decisions soon. By the way, great thinking to mention what happened to the Sea Realm when they stayed neutral. That really caught Lord Midas his attention.”
Julias gives him a small smile and they both go into their own rooms and pack their stuff before heading to the gate of the castle. Angus is already waiting there and just starts walking when he sees them.
Angus doesn’t speak to them when they walk after him to the entrance of the city. Gabriel and Julias exchange a few looks, and Gabriel hopes that Angus won’t be this hard to get along with during the whole trip.
They walk out of the city and as soon as the city is out of their sight it is like Angus has changed into another person. He turns around takes off his helmet and smiles at them. He has sun-kissed skin, light brown eyes, freckles, and light brown short hair. He walks to Gabriel and Julias and gives them a hand.
“My name is Angus. Nice to meet you both. I am sorry that I had to be so rude before, but you have to be careful with what you say and who you befriend in Dandion.”
He starts walking again but this time he makes sure he walks next to them instead of in front of them. Gabriel looks at him concerned, “Why do you have to be careful?”
Angus replies, “It is an unspoken rule to not have critique on the system and to stick to your own people. People that have done either of those things in the past have gotten fired or banished.”
Julias frowns, “Who gets them fired or banished?”
Angus looks left and right to make sure there is no one there, “Javier.”
Gabriel coughs, “Can’t say that is a surprise. What about Lord Midas is he oblivious to the problems?”
Angus thinks for a moment, “Lord Midas is a weak ruler. He has always relied on his advisors and is stuck in his ways. Javier is like poison in his ears, feeding him bad idea after bad idea. Like stopping military training because it is a waste of money because we don’t need it if we don’t have conflicts. This was of course Javier’s advice, and the money went to his business ideas instead. If the war you say is real, then honestly, we are fucked. I don’t even know, or Lord Midas has an opinion of his own.”
Gabriel picks up the pace, “Guess we will find out when you tell him about what we have seen at the Sea Realm.”
They talk more about Dandion on their way to the sea until they reach the shore. Julias looks at them and asks, “How are we going to breathe underwater without magic?”
Angus takes out 3 helmets and air tanks, “We might not have magic in the Mortal Realm, but we do have some brilliant minds that like to invent stuff.”
Julias looks at the equipment full of wonder, “Cool!”
They put the equipment on and walk into the sea. Gabriel knows the way and luckily it is not a long swim. When they arrive at the place where the air bubble normally begins there is nothing. The whole city is now underwater if you can even still call it a city. They swim over the ruins over what used to be buildings. The palace is hardly recognizable, and everything is covered in algae. It looks like a lost city of ruins that has sunken 1000 years ago, but it has only been a few weeks. The silence is deafening, and Gabriel can’t even spot any fish or sea creatures. He thinks that Angus has probably seen enough by now and turns around to swim back to the shore.
He walks onto the beach and takes off his helmet to look at Julias and Angus. When they take off their helmets, they have devastated looks on their faces. Julias looks at the ground sad and says, “It’s like it never even existed. A place that flourished for 1000 of years and just like that wiped off the map.”
Angus tries to comfort him by patting his shoulder, but he seems sad himself, “There was nothing left, no buildings no life.”
Gabriel looks him in the eyes, “That is what will happen to Dandion soon if we can’t convince Lord Midas and the people, they have to take action.”
Angus nods and says seriously, “I will do everything in my power to not let that happen.”
Gabriel smiles at him, “I believe you. Now let’s set up camp for tonight and head back early tomorrow.”
They set up camp and eat some dinner at the campfire. They are all quite silent still thinking about the haunting sights of the Sea Realm.
Angus breaks the silence, “What do we do if Lord Midas still doesn’t want to take action?”
Gabriel balls his fist, “It won’t change our goal of saving Dandion. It will make it more difficult but not impossible. We must speak to the people and convince them instead. It is them we want to save, and they deserve to at least know the truth.”
Angus stares at the flames, “I still have some connections in the city but let’s hope it won’t come to that.”
They finish their food and go to bed early to be able to arrive back at Dandion as soon as possible. The next day they walk back in a few hours and walk straight to the castle. They find Lord Midas and Javier in the garden this time listening to a band playing music and again drinking wine.
“Ah Angus, you have returned swiftly. Please tell me how it was?” Lord Midas asks.
Angus stands straight and looks at him seriously, “All they have said is true my lord. There is nothing left off the Sea Realm except ruins and haunted memories. It is completely wiped out.”
Lord Midas takes another sip and almost joyfully replies, “Ow well that is unfortunate. But Huzzah to you Gabriel and Julias for not being liars.”
Julias looks at him strangely, “That is your reply? Are you serious?”
Javier stands up angry, “Show some respect.”
Gabriel looks at Lord Midas, “Do you want to have this conversation another time when you are sober?”
Again, Javier starts to talk with an angry voice, but Gabriel just silences him with a fierce look, “I am not talking to you am I? think the ruler of this city is perfectly capable of answering his own questions. Or are you implying he is an imbecile?”
Lord Midas doesn’t seem to like the suggestion of him being an imbecile and incapable of answering questions, so he silences Javier and puts his wine away.
“So, what is it that you want?” he asks.
Gabriel answers, “You asked for proof that this war is real and that being neutral won’t make a difference. We have now given you that proof so please take action and start preparing your people so you can protect them. Work with us so we have a chance at surviving.”
Lord Midas gives him a stern look, “I have thought about when you were gone but the Sea Realm was never truly neutral. Javier told me about King Roan being there when Hella was killed. Of course, Hades will destroy his Kingdom then. But the Mortal Realm was never involved so he has no reason to hold a grudge against us. Javier has actually reached out to him, and we have it on paper that he will leave us alone if we leave him alone.”
Julias his mouth falls open and even Angus looks horrified, “You made a pact with Hades? Are you fucking insane?”
Lord Midas seems to get annoyed now, “Not a pact! We are neutral. So that is my decision on the matter. We will continue our ways as we have always done and stay out of conflict. No money or lives were lost in vain. However, I do appreciate that you didn’t lie to us so I will allow you to stay in the palace for 2 weeks. After that, you will go back to where you came from, and the city gates will be closed.”
Gabriel grunts, “You are putting your trust in the wrong people Lord Midas. I hope you will realize that before it is too late.”
Then he walks out of the garden but before leaving he exchanges a look with Angus. They both know what they must do now in the coming 2 weeks.