After exiting the tunnel on the Rural side of the border, the three girls, Kiliffia, Tia, and Tintin hurried their way to the capital. They only stopped for short rest and did not stop in any town. After two weeks of travel, they arrived at the capital and rushed to the castle.
"So what Dev has told me was true..." Claine let out a sigh. This information made things very difficult. "Our people have yet to infiltrate the other training grounds. They seemed to be more heavily guarded. But I must say your luck was good. Not only you, Dev as well. "
Kiliffia was confused by Claine's words, so she asked: "What do you mean, Your Majesty?"
"The town you came from, Triefil, has collapsed in on itself. All of the residents, including those in the training facility underground, have all perished. Not a single person was found alive." Claine explained.
"Y-your M-Majesty, when did this happen?" Tintin, who was next to Kiliffia, face paled at this news. Even though she was not supposed to speak, after hearing this news she couldn't hold herself back.
Even Kiliffia and Tia's faces were pale. They looked anxiously at Claine, waiting for an answer. Seeing this, Claine knew something was not right as he said: "If what I am told is true, then it happened two weeks ago, about the same time you would have left..."
"Tintin!" Kiliffia and Tia both yelled out.
"Quick, get the royal doctor!" Claine yelled out. "Miss Kiliffia, what happened?"
"Your Majesty, I think her father has something to do with the collapse of the town. I did find it odd that he was not willing to come with us right away. But if what you said just now is true and that the collapse happened right after we left, then my guess is Pepelt had something to do..."
Kiliffia's words were cut off when a voice yelled out: "Did you just say Pepelt!?"
Tilia came running up and grabbed Kiliffia's shoulders. "This Pepelt. Was he a rabbit man!?"
Kiliffia began to tear up because she knew Tilia cared very much for everyone who helped her get to the rural kingdom. "He was… I spoke to him, and he told me stories of you and goddess Kana. He had lost an arm and an ear due to the Yuthia Theocracy." Kiliffia went on to tell her everything she knew, including about Tintin and how she had already suffered at such a young age.
*Bam!*
"Those damn humans!" Claine yelled out. It was rare for him to be racist like this, but he was truly mad. Once he heard what had happened to Tintin, the usual calm that he had as king vanished, and his rage took over. "Marx!"
"Yes, Your Majesty?" A crow man suddenly appeared out of nowhere. He knelt on the floor in front of Claine with his head down.
"All women and children beastkin are to be evacuated as soon as possible. War will soon break out. I can not risk any more incidents. I do not care if they wish to stay. Use force if you have to. I will not have my people suffer under the hands of these vile creatures!" Claine roared.
"Father, allow me to help as well!" Tilia stood up and starred at Claine with determination in her eyes.
"So be it, but you will need guards!" Claine said. "Tilia, you are this country's bond between both human and beastkin. Your presence in front of the people will help calm the citizen's minds. Although we will be segregating humans and beastkin this time, we need to do this..."
"Your Majesty! That will not work!" Kiliffia interrupted and stepped forward. "If you segregate humans and beastkin, not only will this not help calm the people's heart and minds, and bring a country to unify against the bad humans, but you may end up splitting up families as well! I say this because my father is human. Would you want to split up a parent and child who only have the two to rely on?"
"Impudent!" A guard yelled out and drew his sword, but Claine stopped him.
"Lower your sword. You are not her match anyway." Claine said. He then took a deep breath and smiled: "Miss Kiliffia, you have kept me from making a grave mistake. You are right. Segregation is not the right choice here. We must unite the lives of all the people of Rural together. Even my army has both humans and beastkin. "
"Your Majesty, while I do say that the answer to not segregate is correct, we also need to check if anyone is a spy. I am not sure if Dev informed you, but the streets of Firmingsalos had many more humans than normal. I am not sure why but when I lived there with my father, the majority was always beastkin." Kiliffia explained.
"This will need further looking into. I will notify Dev to gather information there. As for the two of you. I want you to follow Tilia for the time being as she makes her rounds." Claine would also have other guards following in secret, but he figured if Tilia had two young girls near her age that maybe his daughter would act her age more.
"As you wish, Your Majesty."
---
The Stone Hammer Kingdom…
Standing inside the dimly lit throne room inside the castle where the Stone Hammer king lived sat a short, stout man in kingly robes. In front of him was a tall, handsome man in slightly dirty clothes. The tall, handsome man's reddish black hair fluttered slightly as he stared at the man on the throne. His skinny demon tail swaying back and forth. The king looked at this man and gave a forced smile as he said: "Creige, what brings you here?"
The king was a strong man. In all of the kingdom no one was his match, all except one person. The man in front of him was the only man that could make him sweat and this person had come to visit him quite a few times of late. And each time he had made some unreasonable demands.