“This may be more serious than I thought.” Erevu said.

He and I stood on a platform that overlooked the front of the royal palace which looked over all of Iana.

The sun was steadily rising, revealing more of the Dark Citadel.

It was a maze of buildings made from darkness that ranged from the tallest of towers to the smallest of houses.

The streets were kept clean and crime was relatively low.

Cutting through the pentagonal city was the river Medel. One of two rivers that came from the mountains to the north.

Beyond the city’s walls was an endless sea of sand and rock.

This was all to boring and so I turned my attention to father, who was speaking to several of the palace guards.

They had been having similar talks for days and my curiosity had grown unbearable.

“What in the world are they doing?” I muttered.

“Old man, go down there and see what’s happening” I instructed, but Erevu shook his head.

“I would rather not. Whispers in the city say that most Nemen families are leaving the city. Tsk and he has the audacity to call us cowards.”

I raised an eyebrow before looking at one of the city’s corners.

I looked at the top of the tower there to find a strange dark obelisk.

This was the same for all five of the city’s towers.

I’d heard the help whisper that space magicians were being forced to work on the obelisks.

The Foph weren’t smart enough to do anything behind fathers back without getting instantly caught and the Nemen don’t usually do anything without loudly announcing it to anyone. That left the Ia.

“Is he wrong?”

“Not wrong, just… hypocritical.”

I looked at my father once more only for him to look up as well.

My heart fell as his dark eyes locked onto mine.

He then returned his attention to his men.

I scoffed before walking towards the castle where Laïnne stood along with her heavily armoured guards.

I really wasn’t interested in her anymore and so I walked back onto the palace.

“Prince Kenos?”

She called, but I simply ascended the dark central stairway at the centre of the palace before making my way to one of the upper storage rooms.

I grabbed a sack full of dried Yolberries before heading back to my room where Räne still stood.

“Come.” I instructed.

She sat opposite me by the table while I grabbed one of the pale berries in the sack.

“Open your mouth.”

She did so and I gently placed the berry into her mouth.

“Eat up.” I said before watching gleefully as she chewed.

The sun brilliantly lit her adorable face, but I knew better.

She looked far more beautiful in the dark.

The door eventually opened while I fed Räne, but before I could get upset, I realized that it was Chali.

He stood next to me before looking at Räne in a way that made me smile, but he was here because of something.

“Let me guess, Uncle Ramed and everyone are leaving.”

“Err… yes. Nothing is being said about it. Other than gossip. They are all headed east for some reason.” Chali said.

“You’d think they’d at least inform the captain of the guard… and the prince.” I said with a pout.

“Ah, about that. My men and I have been receiving orders from his highness, but they are… odd, to say the least.”

“Oh? Go on.” I said while placing another berry into Räne’s mouth and as expected, Chali’s face twitched ever so slightly.

“We have been instructed to document various things. Things like how many people can fit in the palace, how many supplies can the building hold and we have all taken an oath. One that prevents us from leaving this place… after his majesty passes away.”

“Oh? Sounds like father has really lost his mind. I guess being a berserker for most of your life does that to you, but still… how do you feel about all this?” I asked while standing up.

“I feel nothing. Serving the royal family is and will always be my greatest joy.” Chali said while looking up into my eyes.

“Good. Now come here!” I said with a chuckle before picking Chali and throwing him onto the bed.

I tore off my morning gown before raising my hands to devour Chali, but-

“Wait!” He cried.

Part of me wanted to break his legs for yelling at me, but I knew what he wanted to do and so I rolled my eyes.

He slowly unbuttoned his dark grey jacket before looking up at me with his beautiful dark eyes.

He removed his jacket before slipping out of his shirt, revealing that his torso was covered in scars.

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“When will you get those healed?” I asked while Chali removed his pants.

“When will it stop bothering you?” He asked with a smirk.

That was the last straw.

I mounted him before grabbed his head and kissing his small, soft lips.

“Your highness… could you send the girl away?” Chali asked while making a sad face.

“Her name is Räne and no-“

Chali bit my lip and I forcefully pressed my forehead against his.

“Do you want to die that badly?”

“Only if it is by your hand.”

My eyes widened.

“Oh you…”

I kissed him again as he tightly held my head.

I raised my head and gasped upon seeing that Chali was crying.

“What’s wrong?”

“N-nothing-“

“If you don’t tell me, I’ll never know and you’ll have to bear whatever it is that hurts you alone-“

“I love you.”

“What?” I snapped, but Chali’s eyes remained steady.

“Oh, my dear sweet Chali… we can’t…” I said as Chali sat up.

“I know. I just wanted to let you know.”

I wiped his tears away, but something wasn’t right.

“Why did you decide to tell me now?”

“Because the world will soon be engulfed in darkness and I wanted to… to see if we could face that darkness together.”

I pinched my nose while thinking about everything that Chali has said.

“Does this have anything to do with father’s cryptic ramblings?” I asked, but Chali shook his head.

He then tapped on the spot next him.

I sat next to him and watched as he took a single deep breath.

“His majesty’s words aren’t ramblings. Our enemies are demigods. Ones who fought and won against the very dragons. Doom is coming and his highness is… I don’t know. He’s being reckless. No reinforcements have been sent to the border, supply chains and routes are vulnerable… then there’s the whole issue of the Nemen leaving.” Chali said as more tears fell from his eyes.

“You poor thing.” I said as I pulled Chali into my arms.

He hadn’t shown me his tears for quite some time.

I’d have to comfort him a bit before… confronting my father.

I tightly held onto Chali and he eventually stopped crying.

“What now?” I asked.

“I do not know. I will follow the orders the king gave me, but I fear that it may all come down to you and what you decide to do.”

I bit my teeth.

“So it would seem.”

.

..

A few hours had passed as Chali and I cuddled.

He eventually ripped himself from my grasp before getting dressed.

“I will continue as I always have and remain your loyal servant, shadow-“

“and lover.”

Chali looked away and pretended to adjust his clothing.

He then left the room and my eyes fell onto Räne, who let out a yawn.

The sun had slowly begun to set, casting my room in a deep red light.

“Sleep. I’ll be back soon.” I said as I crawled out of bed.

Räne simply fell onto the blankets before closing her eyes.

I slipped into my gown, left my room and made my way to the royal bedchamber.

Two guards stood by the chamber’s two large dark doors.

I ignored them before knocking on the door.

A moment passed and my heart quickly began beating quickly.

The door eventually opened revealing my mother’s head.

Her eyes widened and she quickly opened the door, revealing the large chamber.

Standing by one of the many windows that faced the setting sun, was father only he was naked while mother wore a silky nightgown.

“Ahem. F- father. May I… could we… talk?” I asked as mother returned to the bed where she simply sat.

Father sighed before turning to face me.

“Ah… go ahead. The parent should always address the child’s concerns. No matter how trivial they are. Although I feel as though you want to discuss something rather serous.” He said before sitting on a large chair.

“Y-yes. Quite a few things actually.”

“Then come here. Lay your troubles bare.”

I did as he said and sat opposite him.

“What are… the odds that we win the coming war?”

“Non-existent. A good question, but your ignorance on certain things makes it rather easy to answer. We are outnumbered, under armed and divided. Our defeat is already written by future scholars.” Father said and I nodded.

“Where are the others going?”

“I cannot tell you.”

“Why not?”

“Because you will want to go as well.” Father said with a smirk.

“You are the product of peace. Something that is about to be ripped from your hands. I have no doubt that you will yearn for times like these in the future, but I feel as though you will benefit from a few years or so of suffering.”

I frowned.

“W- what do you mean?”

“It is quite simple, my son. Let me see if I can illustrate this in a way that you will instantly digest. Mmm… think of yourself as a barrel filled with berries. Fresh and full of life. If that barrel is left outside, during hot summer months, those berries will change. The water will slowly evaporate and what’s left will be something completely new.”

I winced.

“So… you think that the war will change me?”

“I know it will. Whether or not it will be good change or bad, that it up for the Great Flame to decide.”

“Would it not be better if you guided me toward the change you desire?”

“Did I not try?”

I looked down as my frown twisted further.

“W- what will mother do after you pass?”

“Another good question. She has her own desires and I think it would be best if you spoke to her yourself. As for now, focus on this conversation.”

“The Ia are planning something.”

“I know.”

“Is that the reason why you are being so accepting of everything?”

“No. I plan on defending my people to the best of my ability.”

“You say that, but you could just take us all to where the others are going.”

“And there it is.” Father said with a gentle smile.

“As prince, why are you not at least trying to figure out how to turn the odds in our favour? Why are you not squashing whatever treasonous plans the Ia have?” He asked.

“Are those not things that the king should handle?”

“They are indeed, but I made my decision a long time ago. The people of Rendaya would live freely in this new world. So if the Ia want to betray us, so be it.”

“What about everyone else? Surely they will be affected.”

“Do you honestly care about themor are you trying to figure out how you will continue to live as you have in days of war and treachery?”

I closed my mouth.

“Silence yourself not. I am merely posing questions which you are free to not answer.”

I painfully swallowed before glancing at mother, who stared at me with her ever expressionless face.

“May I ask you a question, Kenos?”

I returned my gaze to father, who leaned forward with crossed arms.

“What kind of man do you want to be remembered as?”

My eyes widened a bit.

“I… do not know.”

This was the truth.

I didn’t actually know.

I had lived most of my life as the days came without considered such things like legacy.

“Well, I know exactly how I will be remembered. Rahad, Great King of the Rendaro. He who united the three tribes for a time and he who fought to protect his people. A fair and considerate ruler who used strength only when necessary. Although, strangely enough, I have been called a cowered, but that is beside the point. This war, I believe, will not only change you, my boy, it will also cement the image of the man you choose to be.” Father said before stretching his enormous arms.

His entire body was covered in scars, but I didn’t focus on them for too long.

“Is there anything else you wanted to discuss?”

“What would happen if I were to convince the Ia not to go through with their plans?”

“Could you do that?”

“It was hypothetical.”

“I would not be so sure. You are awfully close with Elder Erevu so who knows. You could change his mind on certain things, but that would not change much in the long run. Even with the Ia by our side, we will still be slaughtered at the border. Although, like with our Nemen brothers, I have plans for the Foph.”

“Oh?” I whimpered. My throat had grown sore and my mind was a mess, so maintaining coherence was getting difficult.

“Yes. But you must swear not to tell anyone.” Father said while narrowing his eyes.

“I will send the Foph far to the east as part of my secret strategy.”

I thought about the maps of the continent for a moment.

“That will not prevent them from getting attacked.” I said as father leaned back.

“True, but at least they will not be killed off instantly like the rest of us.” He said with a yawn.

“I see.”

“Yes. Oh and I must say, although late, I am pleased to be discussing such serous topics with you.”.

I simply nodded and at this point, I’d had enough.

“That is all I wanted to discuss. May I leave?”

“Of course and I do not care about what time it is, feel free to visit us more while we still have the time.”

I nodded before standing up and leaving.

I wasn’t even upset or anything.

I just wanted to take a nap and so I returned to my room and plopped onto the bed next to a sleeping Räne.

I wrapped my arm around her before closing my eyes to sleep.

A memory resurfaced in my mind as I drifted into sub consciousness.

One I had for the longest time tried to forget.