After Rashiel left the clearing, Kieren turned his attention to the bodies. "Let's see who they sent this time."

  Five Shadow Arms rummaged through the clothes of the corpses, retrieving folded papers from each, and brought them to Kieren.

  "First fellow: Lord Reinhard Valmore from the Holy Orantes Empire.

  Rank: Duke Valianteim.

  Ability: Can sense the intentions of people around him and has enhanced strength."

  Kieren laughed. "They send this thing to kill me? Seriously, they need to step up their game."

  A beautiful black horse with a white spot on its nose entered the clearing. "Light, oh how nice of you to return now, after all the action is over!" Kieren called out to the horse.

  The horse walked to Kieren and licked his head. "Alright, alright, I missed you too."

  Kieren looked at the papers in his hand again and muttered: "Useless, useless. Oh, finally a useful talent. Many thanks to Baron Mordaine for Concealment, that's quite nice."

  "Well, it's time to see what's happening with the kid," Kieren said. He mounted Light and focused for a second. Then Light and Kieren vanished.

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  "Nice, it works on Light too. It seems the Traixis got to him too late to stop his development."

  Kieren's voice came from the air, and then silence settled in the clearing.

  Rashiel walked carefully through the trees toward the cave. Suddenly, a large Noctwick leaped at him from inside the cave. Rashiel rolled onto the floor and managed to dodge the Noctwick's strike. Suddenly, his hand contorted into a scaled, clawed hand, and he slashed the Noctwick. The Noctwick let out a chilling shriek and fled.

  Rashiel stood up, panting, and wiping the blood running from his shoulder (apparently from a previous fight). He approached the trees outside the cave and began chopping them down with his sword. After he had a sufficient amount, he opened his bag, took out some ropes, and began tying them together.

  After he finished, he took what he had built, attached it as a door to the cave entrance, then entered and closed the door.

  After the door closed, Kieren and Light reappeared.

  "Not bad at all," Kieren said. "The kid might have potential. What do you think, Light?"

  Light snorted in agreement.

  "Well, I think it's time to finish for the day." Kieren whistled, and two Noctwicks appeared. "Watch outside the cave, make sure nothing gets in tonight. But I stress: he must not see you."

  The Noctwicks growled in agreement, and Kieren and Light galloped away. After a few seconds, they returned to the clearing. Kieren dismounted Light and placed his hands on the ground. Suddenly, the earth began to overturn, and from beneath it, a large stone house appeared, with a small stable in its yard.

  "Good night, Light," Kieren said. Light entered the stable, and Kieren went into the house. Pretty soon, smoke started rising from the chimney, and a pleasant scent of cooking meat filled the clearing.