The beginning

"... Yes. There's a disturbance in the camp..." Kallias sighed. "I'm sorry, Aster... I'll protect the people this time." He followed Anna outside.

"The Light Lord has come to kill the Dark Lord," Kalevi answered.

"Aren't you a Miser?" Moa asked. "Why would you help kill our creator?"

"That lady is SCARE-EY!" Anna exclaimed. "And Krios was under our feet! Terrifying! We need to hurry back now. The Misers around here our getting weird."

Kallias nodded and looked at the sky. "Tira is calling them."

Anna blinked. "How do you know?" she asked with genuine curiosity.

Smiling sadly, Kallias said, "You don't have to be a Miser to understand their language."

"Does being ambassador mean you can speak any language?" Anna asked. She hopped over the abandoned tracks and skipped from board to board.

"No, speaking any language means you can be ambassador," Kallias replied. He walked behind Anna, looking up at the sky. "Anna... how old are you really?"

"Well," Anna said while touching her chin thoughtfully. "I've seen a lot. You know, I've forgotten how old I am. I can't even remember what was happening when I was born. I think they were inventing fire." She giggled to herself and bent over to pick a rock from between her toes. "I know that I was one of the first Misers and I know that I had my memory wiped. Foosh. Cleaned out, 'cept for the important things, so I could remember what right and wrong was. It's hard still. I know what people are like, the human people. They're wretched little flesh bags. Sometimes. But some of them are enjoyable. More enjoyable than the lost. So age is just an indicator of what? Years? I'm old old old but feel like I look! It's time for me to go now, Kallias. I have a message to deliver. Thanks for letting me tag along." Anna teetered on the rail and smiled widely before running into the patches of dried grass and tree remains.

"Bye, Anna," Kallias said to her back before she disappeared. He walked alone back to the camp where he entered the tavern, intentionally ignoring the whispering of another attack.

"You silly traitor," Tira giggled, though the seething hatred burned in her features. "The Light Lord will fail. Our king will rise again, and he will reign over this land!" A slow, smug grin spread across her face. "Embrace it, child of the Dark Lord. You're one of us anyway."

"The darkness is only the absence of light, and where the Light Lord exist, the Dark Lord cannot." Without looking at Tira, Kalevi spoke to her with her eyes on Moa. "Demon queen, I was never yours. I cannot betray what I was never loyal to. You or the Dark Lord. The traitors are the Miserables, all of you."

Tira giggled manically and gestured to the city behind her full of Misers peering from the darkness. "Look around you, girl! There is no light in this world anymore! You were created to thrive, not to fight a losing battle!
"My Children!" She called to the growing crowd. "These are the people we stand against! The traitors and the weak! They choose to stand and fight against us! US! A massive army! The strongest creatures in the world! They choose to fight Hell" A resounding hiss of laughter erupted from the crowd. 
She turned back to the woman and smiled sweetly. "Nothing you can say or do will stop my love," she said softly. "He will reign supreme over the pathetic human race. He will bring what is to be true to this world. He will crush your lord of light, alongside you."

"HAHA!" Hayes interrupted loudly as he stepped out into the light. "You really believe that, Tira? That YOU have any power?" Scoffing, his face contorted with disgusted. "Get a grip, mutant. You live in broken castle eating rodents. How dare you think YOU have any chance against a god. I should teach you your place right here, but I have bigger worries than a black sheep sick with unrequited love. Kalevi, stop wasting time and take me to the Dark Lord."

Five nudged Seth. "We need to get out of here, kid. What's going to happen, it doesn't matter if we're here. Frankly, I don't want to be here when it does. That Miser? She's a puppet. Which means someone is using the strong magic that hasn't been taught in a long time.

Tira's face contorted with rage. "You insolent fool..." She muttered. She looked back at the robed Misers holding William and waved an impatient clawed hand. They nodded and disappeared into the city, the young boy in tow.
"Fall back, my children," she crooned coldly. "These are but weak, pathetic mortals here. We have work to do to bring back our dear master." Tira backed into the shadows with the other Misers of the city.

Soren frowned as he watched the Miser Queen disappear into the city. "I fear history is doomed to repeat itself..." He said quietly.

Kalevi nodded obediently and began leading Hayes towards the camp.

"Sir," Dakota whispered. "I think we should seal the city until we know what is going on. No one should get in or out without speaking with you personally... It appears there are Misers with us."

"We can't just let her take Will," Seth barked, surprising himself. "D-dammit! I have to do something..."

"Ignore it, Seth... You're going to turn into the white heads over there." Five pointed his chin towards The Lost and shook his head. "Move it. Back to the city. And STAY there."

Hesitating, Seth ground his teeth before breaking into a sprint towards the city, looking over his shoulder. "I'm getting William back, Tira! Count on it!"

Five watched and followed Hayes, waiting until they were away from the others. "Hayes, slow it, bud. You and I both know I'm not letting you near my brother."

"Sunuvabitch..." Zander muttered. "Let's go." He stood and began hurrying towards the camp. When in view of the gates and guards on duty, he approached a saluting officer. "I want these gates and all others in and out of the camp sealed off," he commanded. "Nobody leaves or enters without express permission from me. Double defenses along the perimeters, set the traps along the walls, open the moats and set up sniper squads in all towers."
The officer's jaw dropped. "S-sir? Are we under lockdown?"
"Yes," Zander growled. "Get your ass moving, officer. We have a camp to sort through. Keep an eye out for any suspicious activity!" He called over his shoulder as he stalked towards HQ.
"Dakota, looks like you're getting some experience today. Keep watch over the citizens and let me know if you see any of the Misers. Shit's hit the fan and we don't have much time left."