Weeks later, construction on the city was going well. Sumal, his team and the engineers from the guards were working together as if it had always been that way. Suntiana’s group of medics had done an amazing job patching up those they could. Now they were just running check-ups and stopping subsequent infections. Rothar was working with Ashera who had found designs in the tower, now that they could enter it willingly, for an adaptive armour that could be used to replace lost limbs. Similar but more advanced compared to Venthal’s leg.

  “So, when do you think you’ll be done?” Rothar asked with a growing impatience. “We’ve been at this for weeks.”

  “Patience, Rothar. It’s not easy to integrate elven magic with human tech. I’m almost there, then you can get back to smacking people around,” Ashera said stifling a laugh.

  “Good! The damn wolf isn’t doing a good job of whipping the guards into shape,” Rothar grumbled.

  Ashera returned her attention to drawing the diagrams around the newly constructed arm. She went over the inscriptions on the arm. Making sure she didn’t make a mistake or miss anything. She loaded up the program on the computer, linked to the magitech, as she was now deeming the combination of elven magic and human technology, that would be used to power the arm. With a click of a button, the arm was slowly injected with the magitech, the magic circles started to glow. The light grew as the arm turned a vibrant red. The markings on the arm became so hot they melted into the arm. The injection finished, and the magic glow died.

  Ashera turned to look at Rothar and said, “Well here goes nothing.”

  Ashera picked up the arm, small tendrils extended from the shoulder. They reached out looking from somewhere to attach. She held it up to Rothar’s arm. She looked at him to make the final move when he was comfortable.

  Stolen novel; please report.

  “Is it going to hurt?” Rothar asked.

  “Probably… lots actually,” Ashera told him frankly.

  Rothar nodded and pushed his shoulder against the arm. The pain was agonizing, dropping him to his knees. Rothar screamed until no scream came out. His face froze in anguish, his eyes pleaded with Ashera to make it stop. It dug into his shoulder connecting to his nerves and muscles. They were integrating themselves into his anatomy. The pain seemed to last for days, in truth it was mere moments. Rothar fell limp on the floor drenched in sweat.

  “This was not just painful,” Rothar whispered.

  “I couldn’t have predicted the level of pain that was coming. Sorry, Rothar,” Ashera said.

  Artemis and Lyna were training the guards who had changed over to their sides. Some of them showed real promise and were taken to the training. Others were less skilled and would need extended training. With each passing day the guards grew more capable. Lyna had high hopes for them running the island under Cyrths leadership.

  “Hey you not like that,” Artemis yelled.

  “Like this?” the guard asked.

  Lyna chuckled and made her way over to them. She couldn’t wait for Rothar to get back. Artemis as a combat instructor left her wanting.

  Ashera had left Rothar to recover and headed over to meet Cyrth. She wanted to discuss the plans for the city and the entire island now that it was under their control. She found Cyrth standing outside the barracks looking up at the sky.

  “Being free has a way of changing how things look, doesn’t it?” Ashera asked.

  “Ha,” Cyrth laughed, “we aren’t free. Not until the elves are completely removed from power.”

  “Good answer,” Ashera said, with a smile. “Listen I’m…”

  “No need to say it boss. I know you want me to stay here and run the island recruiting those we can and protecting those we don’t.”

  Ashera wasn't surprised he had figured it out. After all his quick thinking was why he had been used to infiltrate the guards in the first place.

  “Can you guess what I’m going to say next?” Ashera teased.

  “That you’re going to miss me and want one final night of...” a hard punch cut Cyrth off.

  “Don’t be cheeky,” Ashera said through a smile. “After we get the city up and running, we’ll be using the ship to get off the island. You’ll have to report it sunk to the mainland. I’ll be taking most of the people we trained back in the base with us. It’s a good thing most of the guards came around in the end.”

  “Yeah, better chances we won't get found out right away if there are familiar faces around,” Cyrth said in agreement.

  Ashera looked up at the sky once more and said, “this is the beginning of something that will change the world.”