More monsters here... What is happening to this place?

Exquisite swordsmanship as usual, Chief!

Allanon? What are you doing in a place like this?

Weren’t we suppose to meet at the Tower?

Each and every swing of your blade...every twist and turn you make…

Mmmm... Not a single wasted movement! Truly a sight to behold!

Charming…

*Chuckles*

Uncle...Allan!

Hahaha! It’s good to see you again little one.

*Sigh*… Instead of just watching, couldn’t you have helped us just now?

Help you? Why should I? It’s not like illusions could hurt you or anything.

And who do we have over here? You must be Hans! I’ve been dying to meet you!

An illusion you say?

Yes, yes... The illusions, the unconscious denizens you see in the streets…

And the sandstorm, they’re all the work by the same person.

You know, you’re quite intriguing indeed... A little shorter than I thought, but your physical features are almost identical to ours!

Allanon, this is not the time to be examining Hans. We have more important things to worry about!

Who is this person you’re talking about?

Ah yes... You must forgive me.

But a living, breathing specimen from another world! How could I resist!

This...this demands a very complete and thorough physical examination!

…!?

No, I’m afraid you’re asking the wrong person Nyami.

Allanon, this is serious. We need to know who we’re up against.

Oh? *Cough*…

That’s right. The examinations have to wait.

Like I said, the one man responsible for all of this...is the Deva High Inquisitor Aranvis!

Well, who is this High Inquisitor Aranvis that you speak of?

Inquisitor Aranvis, a fellow Deva not too different from Haile and I, and an old...“friend” of mine?

He is an incredibly gifted mage who caught the eye of the Archmage herself.

His long flowing hair...that charming face and blinding smile...that passion he had!

…and?

And then there was me of course!

I topped the scores of the Imperial Exams and he was number two.

You’re not being very helpful Allanon. Just please tell us what we need to know, and keep it short.

Very well then. A story for another time it shall be!

You see, an Inquisitor is charged with the duty of eliminating all forms of heresy and anything contrary to the teachings of our Emperor.

Claiming that the Emperor farts like every other person is also heresy, mind you.

I am certain my name is on the Inquisition’s “kill” list amongst many others.

The fact that Aranvis himself is present here is a sign that the Deva are indeed not doing too well.

He is a corrupted High Inquisitor who works hand in hand with not just any enemy, but Overlord Azurai himself.

Azurai working with a Deva!? That’s impossible!

If there is one thing Azurai hates as much as he desires power, it’s the Deva.

You’re absolutely correct, gorgeous.

But what if the power he desires could only come from the one thing he hates the most?

I don’t understand... What could he possibly need from this Inquisitor Aranvis?

Something lost and forgotten long ago...and what they needed Ezra for in this plan of theirs. zra in this plan of theirs.

Sure you will little one. She’s my little girl as much as you’re mine.

I made of vow to protect her with my life…

So let’s go get that silly sister of yours back!

Haha! That is right. We are all one family.

No one messes with Rih’alnase! Ezra’s coming home with us.

By the way, you have not answered my first question. What are you doing inside a foundry?

Excellent question, most beautiful one! Regarding the delicate process of refining the orihalcum ore…

I should not have asked…