Dreiki knew why Luna was so distrustful. It had been devils who had helped poachers capture her mother, and it had been devils who had tortured her to death. Dreiki remembered the way she had shuddered recounting the details. He remembered how long it had taken her to fully open up to him about it.

It was a symbol of her trust for him, but she could never bring herself to do that for other people. Even Savekio.

That information was told to him in confidence that he would keep it a secret. It wasn’t his place to share it with others. So then what was Rixam’s issue? He thought about what he had said up until now. He remembered the way he interacted with the children in the past month. How he’d kept them at arms length even though he protected and cared for them.

Dreiki’s intuition told him these two might have had more in common with one another than they think.

“Rixam, it was your mother who was a devil, right? I remember you said her name was Lillith. What was she like? Is she still around?”

Rixam clicked his tongue, “If she aint gonna say shit why should I?”

Seeing the opportunity to end the dispute, Gornax answered for him, “Rixam’s mom was killed by angels during a crusade while his dad was serving the military as a knight. Ended up taking his older brother too. Sold his younger sister off to some poachers here in Itaro and we dunno where she’s ended up.”

Rixam sat with his arms crossed, but permitted Gornax to explain.

“Is that why you decided to come along with us? To find your sister?”

Rixam nodded, “She’s about the only family I got left other than my dad.”

Dreiki looked over to Luna, “Sound familiar?”

“Angels wouldn’t do that!” Luna said.

“Luna, do you remember what we read about angels and devils?” Dreiki asked.

Her eyes narrowed, “What are you getting at?”

“Angels and devils are the same creature. Neither one holds ultimate morality. What happened to you and what happened to Rixam can both be true at once. Xiozians killed my father. Should I hate my mother for that? Should I hate Savekio for that? In the eyes of xiozians, we’re all Noxa. Let Rixam show you who he really is, okay? Give him a chance.”

Luna fell silent, her jaw flickering as if she still wanted to say something about the topic.

“And Rixam, you can’t force people to trust you. You earned my trust because you showed me the kind of person you are, not because you tried to convince me. If you want Luna’s trust, then lead by your actions and she’ll come around. I promise you that. We’re all here to fight for the same cause. And if the two of you wanna keep fighting, then settle it with a duel like a xiozian and be done with it. We’ve still got a job to finish, though.”

This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

The two of them were silent for a while, “Luna right? Sorry I got mad.”

“No, it’s… That’s alright. It was wrong of me to avoid you for so long. You’ve helped Dreiki with so much, I shouldn’t have shut myself off. I just-”

She looked to Dreiki, “Sorry, I’ll tell you in private another time, okay?”

He nodded, “Take your time.”

“I hope I can hear about what happened to you someday,” Rixam offered, “I’m gonna earn that, you have my word.”

“The more time I spend with you kids the more I’m reminded of an old saying. History doesn’t repeat, it rhymes.” Savekio chimed in, taking his seat, “You all remind me of your parents in some ways, but in others you’re entirely different. Not necessarily better, mind you, but different.”

“Wait, our parents? You’re saying you knew them? Who are you really, pops?”

“I’m Loktiir.” He snickered, seeing that answer wasn’t sufficient for them, “Alright, fine. The name’s Savekio Riinukura, former battle master of the Venator Knights.”

There was a pause as both Gornax and Rixam’s jaws dropped to the floor.

“Wait the Savekio?” Gornax said.

“You’re a legend!” Rixam added.

“You want an autograph or somethin’?”

“No, but I see why you guys decided to hide your names now. I never dreamed I’d be training under Savekio Riinukura.”

“You’re not. My only protege here is Dreiki.” He said, sipping his stew.

“And if we happen to eavesdrop on some lessons?”

“All the better to act as a rival for my disciple.”

“I’ll take that!”

“Is Savekio really that famous?” Dreiki asked.

“You mean you don’t know?”

Dreiki shook his head, “I lived in Lithiria for most of my life, and my mom didn’t talk too much about him. He doesn’t talk too much about himself either.”

“Because it’s all in the past,” Savekio said, “Happened to train up a few world powers in addition to the Venator Knights in my time.”

“It’s more than just ‘a few world powers’,” Gornax said, “Three of the seven current Godslayers were trained by him at one point! There’s plenty of kings who owe their thrones to his training as well.”

“My dad used to talk about you all the time. Said you taught him everything he knows. Saved his life more times than he could count too.” Rixam said.

“Glad to hear your father was grateful. Wakiti hardly sent me so much as a rose for saving him, though.” Savekio chuckled, “Much less the others I trained up.”

“He said you’re not the type who accepts gifts, but I’m honored, sir, truly. I can find you a rose on his behalf!”

“Quit your fangirlin’. If you kiss my boots any more, they’ll end up in your mouth.”

Dreiki laughed. It seemed even Savekio got flustered every once and a while.

“So pops, where are we headed anyways?” Gornax asked.

“Told you you’ll have to read the pages.”

“Aw cmon! Argo spent all day on it and the kid didn’t figure anything out.”

“Alright, fine. I suppose I could tell you about a place we’re heading that’s not on those pages,” He said, pausing just to taunt their curiosity.

“Yeah? Where is it? Where are we headed?”

“Winter is when the Malaki are at their most powerful, and there’s no better place to get experience fighting them than during the Siren Ceremony.”

“Damn, we’re gonna be fighting monsters too? Where’s this Siren Ceremony gonna be?” Rixam asked.

“Where else?” Savekio chuckled, “In The Tibur Forest, of course!”