Chapter 40

Relics from the Past, Weapons for the Future

Runefield Asylum

2:00 PM

Victor looked over the crime scene with his fellow detectives, a blue-colored chameleon name Galileo and Ray-Ray the raven as they were accompanied by Moon City PD with Chief Inspector Ticcoran. They were not liking at all what they were discovering.

"This doesn't make any sense." Galileo said, running a scanner over the receptionist desk. "Why go to this much trouble just for one guy? Camera Jammers, high-caliber lasers, and a getaway driver... It doesn't exactly add up."

"None of this adds up." Ray-Ray added as he looked over the computer logs from the asylum's servers. "This whole thing... It just smells wrong. They walk into the asylum with camera jammers, shoot up the place, storm into the high-security wing to bust someone out, who is not even listed under the active patients' roster... I have a bad feeling about this job."

"As do I, Ray-Ray." Victor said, looking over the fingerprints one of the perps left on the counter with Galileo, which were not coming up in any databases. "I'm starting to think I made a mistake accepting this job for all of us."

Victor heard his phone ring. He took it out of his vest and answered it, seeing the number was from their client. "Yes, Mr. Cailus Foxmorre?"

"Apologies, my good man. Master Cailus has had to leave on a business trip." The butler explained over the phone. "He asked me to pass this onto you. Master Cailus has also instructed me and the rest of the manor staff to take care of your needs and tell you that you are welcome to stay here as long as the investigation takes."

"Thank you." Victor hung up the phone, his Spidey-sense now in overdrive.

# # #

Vhaldaria

Village of Mel'Andrea - Kestrel Kingdom

Town Square

7:45 PM Local Time - Dusk

Silva Dhaelos walked through the town square, as he did many a night. Things had not been easy since Galen went missing five years ago. Uniko and Zhal running off to do their own search only worsened things. The Sha-Lem clan had another child to take up their bloodline, though Silva didn't really get along with their new son. Uniko's bar had been sold off at an auction and was now under new management. Luckily, one of Silva's friends had bought the establishment and was taking good care of it, along with running it the same way in a tribute to Uniko's memory. It lessened the sting, but it did not fully shield Silva from the fact that they were gone.

The Three Towers, protectors and champions of the town, his friends, his idols, his brothers...

Gone.

Mel'Andrea had adapted to the change quickly, much to Silva's disdain. The guard now had a new captain, the town was well-defended, and things were going as normal as usual. But it would never be normal for Silva. Galen was all he had after the wolf had lost his real family in that caravan attack when he was young. Galen took him in, raised him, showed him how to defend himself. Uniko and Zhal, too. Silva felt that no matter how much time passed, this wound would never heal.

"Excuse me, sir." A voice said behind Silva. "Apologies for bothering you, but I am looking for someone named 'Silva Dhaelos.' I am a courier, and I have a message for him. Do you happen to know him?"

Silva turned around, a little surprised at this request. Standing there, about three feet shorter than him with a lean build, was a dark-orange fox, dressed in a purple hooded cloak with some black pants and shirt.

Silva sighed. Despite the courier's fancy appearance, the wolf really didn't expect this, nor was he in the mood for it. "I'm Silva Dhaelos. Make it quick."

"I see." The courier spoke. "I must say, it is an honor to meet you in person. Many tales of you and your brother have spread far beyond these lands-"

"Sir, with all due respect, you are trying my patience!" Silva growled, getting snippy. "I have not had a good day, and you are wasting my time! What do you want?!"

The courier recoiled temporarily, but quickly recovered as he got an envelope out of his satchel. "I bring a message from someone who claims to know about your brother's whereabouts. He was very mysterious, and almost paranoid when he hired me to deliver this. He told me to seek out you, and only you."

Silva immediately bore his gaze on the courier, his eyes filled with rage. "I've heard just about every theory conceivable on my brother's disappearance! Some say he ran off on a selfish journey, others say he got himself killed. Why would this rumor be any different!?"

The courier, nervous but steadfast, stood his ground. "Read the letter. Please sir! I implore you!"

Silva, irritated though curious, snatched the letter from the courier and tore open the wax-sealed envelope. He quickly read the letter:

Silva Dhaelos of Mel'Andrea,

I trust this letter has made it into your hands with swift timing. I was especially picky when I selected the courier for this task, as I wanted this delivered with the upmost haste. By now, your brother, Galen has been missing for a little over five years, from what my records say. However, I guess enough time has passed for you to know the truth. Galen is alive, and I know where your brother is. If you will allow me, I can reunite you with him. But the odds are not in my favor, as an old enemy of mine is hunting me right now. If you want to know Galen's whereabouts, meet me at the watering hole near the river outside the village of Mel'Andrea tonight, when the moon is at its fullest. I will be waiting. Please do not delay, as he may be in grave danger, and I cannot guarantee his safety. Be swift, Silva Dhaelos, and may the light watch over you.

-Cailus Foxmoore

It took Silva a few moments to absorb the impact of the letter. Silva also noticed that in a separate envelope was hidden, folded up in the letter. Silva opened it, finding a tuft of brown fur wrapped in a tan piece of canvas-like cloth, covered in Galen's scent! Silva's heart skyrocketed! Galen was alive, and this Foxmoore guy knew where he was? He quickly turned to look at the courier to bark where he got this from...

Only the courier was gone. No trace of him remained, as if he were never there to begin with.

Regardless, Silva could not just ignore this. He quickly ran home to pack up a bag with some supplies for a journey and readied himself for this quest of reconciliation.

Mel'Andrea Outskirts

Watering Hole

Midnight

Silva walked forward towards the banks of the pond that the village used for its water. The air was clear, the moon was full, and faint light shined all around him. The nearby woods were dark and mysterious, the setting peaceful. Silva looked around, his pack filled with survival equipment and some healing herbs. The clearing was empty and quiet.

Silva started to get suspicious. It was time for Cailus to be here, and he was late. Was this all just a prank? A sick joke? Galen had always taught him to be alert and vigilant in these situations, which Silva was being. But was it enough?

Silva pushed the thought aside for now. He had sneaked out of the town past the guard and ran full steam to the river in anxious anticipation. He did not slow until he was at least ten paces away. He was short on breath, and thirsty from the sprint. He set his pack down next to him and knelt at the water's edge. He scooped some water into his hands and drank, quenching his thirst.

Sitting there for a few moments, he noticed something in the reflection of the water: There was a shiny, barrel-shaped object poking out from one of the trees behind him, with a strange red beam focused on his back!

Silva jumped up and rolled out of the way just as the gun fired it's shot with a loud pop, barely missing its mark with a large dart! The projectile plunged into the water, disappearing into the pond.

"This was a trap?!" Silva roared, charging at the assailant in the tree wielding the rifle. "Damn you, Cailus! I am not amused! When the guard hears of this, you-"

Silva didn't get to finish his sentence as several bolts of lightning flew out from some nearby bushes, striking him on the spot! Pain surged through his body as his nerves were interrupted by the electric current the bolts were charged with! His body went rigid, his muscles disrupted by the blasts!

That left enough time for a few more shots to be fired: Silva was ensnared in a volley of bolas snares, the ropes wrapping around his body and tying him secure as he fell over, immobilized!

"The guard will not be hearing about this at all, I'm afraid." A voice said from the bushes. "Then again, no one in the town will. To them, it will appear as if you simply vanished, wolf. Vanished without a trace, just like how Galen disappeared..."

Walking out from the bushes, escorted by what Silva could only describe as an elite guard force, was the courier! He stood tall, and poised with his hands behind his back, like a royal figure from the Kestrel palace.

Silva growled, struggling against the snares as best as he could. "You kidnapped him, didn't you?! I should have known! I will have your head for this-"

The courier then kicked Silva in the gut with such force that the wolf had all the air knocked out of him! Silva was sent sliding back a few feet from the strike, the mysterious fox obviously having much more strength than his size suggested!

"Be_silent!_" The fox snapped, pulling off his hood with aggression, revealing his electric-blue eyes. "Honestly, after all I have heard about your lion boy brother, I would have though he would have taught you some manners and gratitude! I guess teachings don't change, no matter how far the apple falls from the tree."

Silva looked up at the courier, rage in his eyes as he struggled to regain his wind.

The fox then continued. "No matter... That will be fixed soon enough, Silva Dhaelos. As for who kidnapped your precious, stupid-awesome brother... That was done by an enemy of mine. An enemy you will hunt down and destroy for me once you are conditioned and outfitted properly."

"...What makes you think I would do anything for you? Especially after you have just kidnapped and assaulted me?" Silva growled through bared, canine teeth.

The fox just laughed. "You actually think you have a choice in the matter... If you only knew just how powerless you are right now, as well as how outdated you are in your primitive knowledge and understanding of the universe itself... I guess you don't want to be reunited with Galen after all..."

Silva's eyes widened at the mention of his brother. "So, you do know where he is!"

"Of course! I am the one who wrote that letter after all..." The fox took a royal bow. "Cailus Wayne Foxmoore, in the flesh. A pleasure to finally meet you, Silva Dhaelos. Apologies for the courier getup, but I wasn't kidding when I said I was picky about how the letter was delivered. I felt the need to deliver it myself. But enough formalities, it's time to get down to business."

"Where is my brother?!" Silva demanded, thrashing around in an attempt to get loose. "Tell me where he is, now!"

Calius frowned, motioning to one of his guards. "Zap him."

Silva saw one of the guards walk up with a large prod, lightning jumping from a two-pronged tip! Before he could figure out what it was, the guard jabbed the prod into him, sending the energy from the lightning coursing through his body as Silva screamed in pain! The prod was removed after a few seconds, leaving Silva catching his breath again.

"As I said before, wolf boy... Manners!" Cailus snarled. "You will be reunited with Galen soon enough. However, he is not the same lion you once knew."

Silva looked up at Cailus, giving the fox his full attention.

"You see... The enemy I spoke of that has captured him... He is one of my relatives. I assume Galen has told you about Egad Nob?"

Silva's eyes widened. "He has him?!

Cailus grinned. "He doesn't just have Galen... Egad now _owns_Galen! Egad has been using your brother as nothing more than a sex toy, a pet... He has used nothing but the most painful, agonizing methods to tame him. Egad has broken his mind, shattered his will and remolded him into a figure of his desire. That's not all, though. Egad has done the same with Uniko and Zhal... The legendary Three Towers of Mel'Andrea... They are no longer the warriors you know, the figures that raised you... That taught you, that took you in after you were left for dead on the side of the road. There may be a chance to reawaken them, to bring back their old selves, and you, my dear Silva... You are the key." Cailus knelt, raising Silva's head up to look at him in the eye. "But in order for you to be successful, and to ensure that my treacherous relative is thoroughly defeated, you will need preparation... You will not stand a chance against them in your current state, for Egad has many other slaves at his disposal, devoted to him foolheartedly that also know the art of fighting. Fear not, for I will prepare you for this encounter... But first, you need to earn my trust. I do not know your full background, Silva, and to be brutally honest I don't want to know. But unfortunately, fate has thrust us together in this... Unwanted alliance out of necessity. You will help me with this, as you don't have a choice anymore." Cailus stood up again, looking to the guard on his right. "Raaesh! Call the transport, tell them to land from orbit immediately! Have Silva gassed and loaded up, I want him ready for control implantation and indoctrination by the time we are back on Tarion III at the manor!"

"Aye, sir." Raaesh got out a small, box-shaped device with buttons. He pressed a button on the side and barked commands into it. A few minutes later, there was a light shining down on them from the sky! It blinded Silva, as he saw a type of airship land...

"It is time for Egad Nob to fall..." Cailus said. "This time, permanently."