I was darkness itself.

I floated above the crater I’d made a few months back north of the Kommátia planes while cycling darkness around me in a tornado of black smoke.

My legs were crossed and my dark hands were neatly resting on my furry thighs.

I had since learnt that this dark form of mine, this… Aspectual Manifestation, was very, very flawed.

Did I have more control? Yes but I looked like a monster and my entire chest was bare.

What was the purpose of this feature? I wondered.

What would happen if my heart were to be engulfed by darkness?

Would I die?

I shook those thoughts aside before creating a dark sword on the scale of the one that created the crater I was in.

I then created a special sheath for it before sending it up into orbit where Katsíki’s little pet project was.

I then sighed before allowing my body to return to its normal state.

I crawled out of the crater and saw a cross armed Yna waiting for me.

This gave me an idea.

“Hey…”

“Yes?” She snapped.

“Do you think that maybe… we could spar? I wanna test how durable I am in that other form.”

Yna raised a brow before sighing.

“Fine.”

“Thank you!” I said before returning my darker form.

Yna simply stood and I took this a signal to attack.

I dashed towards her while baring my dagger like claws and she predictably tried using her signature kick on me, but I dashed to the side before reaching out to claw at her face.

Unfortunately for my pride and my new goat like head, she grabbed me by the snout and slammed me into the ground.

A loud ringing filled my head as Yna wiped her hands on her jacket as though she had touched something dirty.

“Good one.” I wheezed while returning to my normal form.

I then followed Yna back to Coh, which was a little quieter than before.

During my training arc, we had been attacked twice more, by two different legions.

The kingdom was trying to weaken us before dealing a devastating final blow.

However, we weren’t just going to let then do whatever they wanted.

The Sun Spears taught us that we needed defence from aerial attacks and so we created a barrier above Coh.

The bandit activity in Startton taught us that we needed to be aware of the situation beyond our borders.

Startton also now served as an outpost.

Wait a minute!

Why was a recounting all this?

That was Katsíki’s thing.

I wanted a drink and so, after getting dressed in Yna’s cabin, I made my way to lower Coh where I visited a bar called I frequented.

It took quite a lot to get me proper drunk but I enjoyed the atmosphere of the particular bar I visited by the edge of the plateau.

People would openly speak about their problems with people they barely knew.

They’d then exchange advice with almost no malicious intent in their voices.

This gave the place a strange cathartic air that I was quite fond of.

“Good afternoon, Kenos.” The Bartender greeted. His name was Yreg and he was a nice fellow.

“Yo. One glass of some good ol’ Foph wine.”

Yreg nodded before pouring some booze into a cup for me.

Since there was no official currency in the Expanse, every citizen was allotted a certain amount of monthly goods.

When it came to alcohol, regular people were allowed three glasses a day. Five during celebrations.

Soldiers were allowed twice as much and officials were allowed ten a day.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

I took full advantage of this.

Why was I drinking?

Because Katsíki wouldn’t let me do whatever I wanted!

Why was I listening to him?

I… don’t know.

I liked it here. In Coh.

I wasn’t treated like a prince, but still…

Every day was like an adventure.

“Sir.” Ower suddenly said from next to me.

“Yes?” I asked while trying to hide my surprise.

“The Blood Ravens have returned.”

My eyes widened.

“W-where is Yna?” I asked before instantly downing my cup’s contents.

“She’s already by the northern wall.”

“Alright.” I said with a trembling voice and like that, Ower disappeared.

“Bye, Yreg!” I said before rushing out of the bar and making my way to Northern Coh.

I was told Yna and the Blood Ravens were in the war room and so I entered it.

“Hello… Katsíki?” Nel asked.

I explained my circumstances to him and his subordinate but something was wrong.

Neither of them were in their glorious golden armour.

Instead, they were in a dark set of armour which was covered in dirty brown rags.

“Ah, I see. Well, I’m afraid I need your help.” Nel said with a grin.

“Oh? What do you need?” I asked. I also noticed that his comrade looked rather upset.

“Err… do you remember that time when we spared you guys?”

“Yep.”

“Yeah, well the Grandmaster didn’t take that too well and so he-“

“He executed our comrades!” Nel’s subordinate snapped.

“Err… who are you again?” I asked.

“Calm down, Anhai. Anyway, that’s pretty much the gist of it. Now we’re fugitives. So… can you harbour us?” Nel asked with a grin.

I glanced at Yna, but she glanced at my chest instead.

“Mmm… I’ll have to ask that you wait for Katsíki to return. He’s the boss.” I said even though the sentence sounded weird in my mouth.

“Oh… I see. All that aside, I’m sure Katsíki wouldn’t mind if we stayed until he awoke.” Nel said.

“Yeah… alright. Should we take them to their old place?” I asked and Yna nodded.

I led everyone outside and led them back into Coh, we then entered the house next to Yna’s cabin.

The same house Nel and his men had stayed in all that time ago.

Speaking of his men.

“So… how did it happen?” I asked.

“Mmm?” Nel sounded as he dropped his old leather bag next to a sofa in the living room.

He plopped onto the sofa while Anhai sat on the one next to his, her short white hair dirty and covered with twigs.

This was the same for Nel.

“Before I explain what happened, you must first know exactly who the Grandmaster is. Ferrum is the Moon King’s left hand and advisor. He is a man with strength equal to that of at least two Primair Golden Knights. That’s how he and he alone was able to execute five of my men.” Nel said through gnashed teeth.

“We could and would have killed him, but my gratitude towards him and the Moon King far outweighed any terror I felt.”

“So why are you here?” I asked as Yna stood behind me.

“I’m here because of her. I saw in her eyes that she didn’t want to die. Not only that, it seemed as though she didn’t want me to die either and so, using every once of strength in my body, I stager our escape from Stonenger Keep.” Nel said.

I turned to Anhai to find her glaring at Yna with eyes that glowed brightly.

“This is all your fault, Red Death.” Anhai spat, but Yna simply narrowed her dim eyes.

“Calm down. I bare all the responsibility for everything that happened.”

“Yes, but if… if you didn’t…” Anhai struggled to say and I could’ve sworn I saw Yna’s eyes flicker a little.

“What?” I asked.

“No, it’s nothing important.” Yna said with a smirk but this pissed off Anhai even further.

“Speak your mind, bitch.” Anhai spat.

“I just think that you situation is somewhat cute.”

Anhai let out an inhuman growl before standing up and walking towards Yna, but before she got close enough to reach her, five black blades with wisps of white smoke surrounded her neck.

They came from arms that seemingly hung mid hair, but I knew that those arms belonged to the Kommáti.

“Hoh? What’s this?” Nel asked while sitting comfortably on the couch.

“I suggest that you sit down and wait for Katsíki to awake. Doing anything rash would be… ill advised.” Yna said rather sternly.

Anhui clicked her tongue before returning to her seat after the arms disappeared.

“O… K… I think I should go sleep now. Katsíki will take over as soon as I awake.”

Nel nodded and Yna gave him brief overview of the house before accompanying me out.

I let out a deep sigh before looking at a cross armed Yna.

“Wow, that was intense. Katsíki really has his hands full, huh?” I asked but Yna silently walked away.

When do you think she’ll warm up to me?

[Probably never.]

Aww.

I then made my way into Yna’s cabin as the sun beautifully set over Coh, bathing the city in beautiful orange rays of light.

I slept on my makeshift bed on the floor before closing my eyes to sleep.

.

..

I awoke to find myself in Yna’s arms.

It had gotten rather dark and so I could only see the general outline of Yna’s head.

“Hey.” I greeted with a yawn.

Yna remained silent as I slid off her legs.

I changed into my grey gown before slipping into my protective vest.

I then returned to Nel’s new home alongside Yna and after knocking on the door, he let us in.

I stood opposite him as he and Anhai sat on their respective couches.

They’d both bathed and changed.

Their new clothes were a larger version of the standard clothes made for the citizens of Coh.

“Greetings, little one. I’m sure you’re fully aware of what I discussed with Yna and your other self.”

I nodded before placing my hand in my chin.

“I will grant you residency in Coh under the condition that you fight alongside us against the armies of Lanceberg.” I said loudly and clearly.

Nel, for the first time since I met him, frowned.

His eyes then began glowing, but Yna wasn’t having any of this and so her eyes glowed as well.

I would’ve shat myself because of the sudden increase in tension, but I had to remain calm.

“Are you asking me to kill my fellow humans?” Nel asked.

“Yes.” I said straightforwardly.

There was no point beating around the bush.

I wanted more manpower.

“What happens if I refuse?” Nel asked with a clenched jaw.

“Then I will have to ask that you leave.”

“Do you honestly believe that you could make me comply to such a request?” Nel asked but then the room suddenly darkened.

Each and every house in Coh was made from darkness and so I held absolute control over how the houses functioned.

I reinforced the walls of the house so incredibly that not even Yna, with several days worth of attacks, would be able to break them.

The Kommáti then suddenly appeared and I raised my index finger.

“If you cause any trouble, I will ensure that the rest of your lives are an endless nightmare. One filled with excruciating pain and terror.” I said flatly.

Nel’s golden eyes widened extremely as he glared at me.

His face then twisted into a smile and he broke out into laughter.

He stood up and walked toward me before kneeling.

“Haha! Amazing! You’ve changed so much since we last met, may I call you lord Katsíki?” Nel asked but I didn’t respond.

This made his eyes glow brighter.

“Yes! Haha! I will serve you without question. However, this lowly knight has but one request.” He said and again I didn’t respond.

“If… if we end up losing this war… could Anhai and I be allowed to flee.” Nel asked with a lowered head.

“Alright. I take it that you agree to my conditions?” I asked.

“I agree wholeheartedly. May I stand?”

“Of course.”

Nel stood before facing me with a bright grin.

“Then consider us a part of your army, lord Katsíki.”