Farin’s living room fell silent as we all thought about various things.

I needed a recap of the political situation in Lanceberg and the history of everything that happened after Caligo fell asleep.

Aevana had compiled all the information she and Yna had gathered from various knights in the dungeon and I think we had a pretty clear picture.

So, according to various sources, after Caligo fell asleep due to his battle with the Dragon King and Prince, half of the king’s royal guard turned traitor. The Yilon legion, as they are called, wondered why they couldn’t just run things since the moon king and his son were out of commission. Speaking of the Moon king, apparently he hasn’t been seen for five hundred years.

I wondered how he was able to maintain the level of influence he still has.

Anyway, the Yilon knights fought among themselves with half of them vying for power and the other half defending the Lunar Seat in Middlen, the capital city. This betrayal led to many others as many knights didn’t see the point on serving an absent king. Some of them even thought Luno was dead and this led to even more internal conflict.

A large portion of the legions deployed in the Araena mountains were forced to withdraw and return to defend the throne all without ensuring the dragons were wiped out.

The knights fought among themselves for about century during what was known as the Moonless War until the traitorous knights died or ran away. Funnily enough, none of the original traitorous Yilon knights were ever apprehended or killed.

I wondered if they were still alive.

Anyway, Lanceberg has been in a state of recovery ever since, but another problem hampered their restoration efforts.

Since the beginning, there was a divide between the silver and golden knights. A divide rooted in the superiority the golden knights often flaunted.

This, plus the fact that no golden knights were made in Agna, an island off the western coast of Medelona, led to further division.

And as if all this wasn’t enough, I heard that many of the traitorous knights who survived went on to lead bands of bandits and Aurenia was the province that was hit the hardest with his problem.

I sighed as the sun generously lit the room allowing me to fondly gaze at Farin as he read a book on Lanceberg’s history.

Rendaro hair doesn’t grey no matter how old they get and so he thoughtfully stroked his black beard while reading.

He eventually noticed that I was creepily staring at him and so he raised a single brow.

“Don’t mind me. I just feel… it’s nothing. Anyway, it seems as though right now is the perfect time to strike at the heart of Lanceberg. The kingdom is fractured and fighting multiple wars on multiple fronts. Part of me wishes Caligo and I could talk about everything and come to a non violent conclusion, but that would be the height of naivety, no?” I asked while still smiling.

Farin looked up in thought before shaking his head.

“No, those sounds like the thoughts of the Katsíki who entered Eimval all that time ago.” He said with smile.

This made my heart beat a little faster.

I wanted to jump off the couch and hug him but before I could even move, Aevana raised her hand.

“Yes?”

“If those are your true feelings then I don’t think you should associate yourself with the Flamouriá.” She said curtly.

“Hoh? Elaborate.”

“If peace is truly your goal, then how do you think it would look like of the Golden Prince learnt that you were working with an order of people who want him dead? Even if we aren’t actively working with him.” Aevana said.

I nodded before turning to Yna who remained silent.

She simply stared at nothing while Farin, Aevana and I spoke.

“I don’t think we should actively be hostile to Mikael and his people, but keeping a safe distance is probably for the best. The least we could do is be transparent with him.” Farin said.

I nodded before raising my right hand.

“Ower?”

“Yes?” The Kommáti asked after suddenly appearing to my right.

“Where is he right now?”

“Sightseeing in Lower Coh. One thing of note is that he has been approached by members of the AKC.”

“Ugh, those guys are still around? Tell Han to create a team specifically for handling those guys after leading Mikael to the southern gate.” I said and Ower disappeared shortly after.

I then turned to Farin and Aevana.

Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

“Thank you both for advising me. I assume you’ll be leaving soon?” I asked.

A strange ruin had been found a few kilometers west of Eimval and Farin was going to check it out.

“Yes. Everything is in order, although I don’t know how long it’ll be before I come back. I heard the site is as big as Coh.” Farin said while trying his best to hold in his excitement.

“Awesome.” I said before hopping off the couch.

I them walked over to him while spreading my arms.

“W-what are you doing?” He asked as I wrapped my small arms around him.

“We won’t be able to see each other for a while and the real war will start soon, so I’m hugging you right now.” I said while my heart joyfully thumped away.

Farin let out soft chuckle before rubbing my head.

“There, there. Now scram. We both have work to do.”

I nodded before walking towards Yna, who was now standing.

I grabbed her hand and she promptly teleported us to Coh’s southern wall.

The area surrounding the wall was littered with buildings that varied in size and function and walking about were my people.

They were protected by a mostly invisible layer of barriers that was placed above every walkway and every building.

I turned to find Mikael standing alone by the side of the road that led into Coh.

Yna and I walked towards him.

“Brilliant.” He said without turning to face us.

We stood by his side while he keenly eyed the city.

“The beauty of this place aside, I cannot help but feel as though you’ve come bearing bad news for me.” Mikael said before finally facing us.

“Your feeling is correct. I have no intention of stopping you from staying in Coh or even conducting business in the Expanse. However-“

“You need not speak further, Katsíki- or should I call you lord Katsíki, like the joyful people of this place?” Mikael asked with a smile, although his eyes were glowing slightly.

He then glanced at Yna before lowering his head.

I looked up as saw that Yna’s face was expressionless.

“You know… part of me wanted to take advantage of your grossly kind nature. After I was told to come here, I prepared a whole speech about how the Moon king and his son were never fit to rule over anything let alone an entire kingdom. I was then going to recount in detail the suffering of the people who the knights are supposed to protecting. How they use up all of the kingdom’s resources without remorse all while demanding taxes and the like. But I see that even you have your own matters to tend, so I guess my prayers would have gone unanswered regardless.” Mikael said. His eyes still low.

“If that’s all, I’ll spend a bit more time here. Would you mind if I preached the words of the dragons?” Mikael asked.

“Not at all. I’d actually like more about your faith should I find the time.”

Mikael nodded before walking back into Coh as the sun slowly set.

I sighed before looking up at a blank faced Yna.

“What’s wrong?” I asked.

“I… I’m… I don’t know. I have the same burning sensation that I get in my chest when I’m excited or battle ready, but accompanying it is a deep ache.”

“So… you’re anxious?”

Yna nodded.

“I see- oh! I have an idea! Take us to the heart!” I yelled prompting Yna to tilt her head in brief confusion, but her eyes finally widened upon realizing what I was up to.

She picked me up before teleporting us to the heart where she placed me down.

“Oi, Kenos!” I yelled internally while Yna and I got undressed.

[Yeah?] Kenos asked sleepily.

“How did you fuse our life forces?”

[You’ve be playing around with the concept this entire time. It was a gamble, but I just grabbed your tiny core from within the dark realm and shoved it into mine.]

“Why does that sound dirty? Anyway, what would happen if I were to make my core touch Yna's? Would I be able to see her true feelings? Her thoughts?”

[Maybe- Wait a minute! You’re talking to me casually again-]

I shook my head before joining Yna in the stream and like before, her eyes were dull and low.

I offered her my hands and she accepted them.

“Why don’t you do that ball of fiery death thing again? Maybe that’ll help sooth the ache.” I suggested.

“It doesn’t work anymore.”

“And having sex with Timí and Aevana does?” I asked with a raised brow.

Yna lowered her head further.

“Or is there something that you’re not telling me?”

“I… I don’t think I need any of that anymore.” She muttered.

“Oh?” I sounded as all my plans flew away with the wind.

Yna nodded before taking several deep breaths.

“I… I just want a hug.” She said while looking at me with eyes that gradually grew brighter and brighter.

I nodded before wrapping my arms around her waist and just as he hugged me back, I heard a sound that was similar to the sound wood makes when it’s burning.

I tried looking up to see what was going on, but Yna held me tighter, preventing me from going anywhere.

“This is all I need…” Yna said before loosening her hold on me, allowing me to see her new form.

One that took my breath away.

Her eyes were glowing, yes, but instead of a fiery maelstrom within, I saw nothing but pure white light.

I then looked up and saw that her hair was entirely white and it glowed beautifully. This image of her was enhanced brought about by the darkness of the world as the sun set.

What shocked me about all this was the sheer amount of control Yna had over her aspect.

No flares of lights were burning her surroundings and the Golden lines on her skin remained unlit.

“M-my goodness.” I muttered with trembling trips.

Yna then finally smiled as and an unseen force pulled me back into her bosom where my mind was blown even further as her heart powerfully thumped.

“Thank you, Katsíki, for reminding me what it's like to be human.” Yna whispered as she and I held each other tightly.

“Thank you.” She said as the glow from her hair and eyes slowly faded.

She then let me go and we promptly left the stream.

We the dried ourselves and got changed but before we left the heart, I pulled on Yna’s hand.

“Don’t hesitate to ask me for another hug should you ever want one.” I said.

Yna nodded but just as we stepped out of the heart, Ower appeared next to me.

“Serylea has returned.” He reported and I wasn’t sure at first, but I detected a bit of fear in his voice.

“And?” I asked.

“She brought with her thirty… Draconic Knights.”

“Heh?” I sounded.

“Where are she right now?” I asked.

“By the southern gate.”

I nodded and Yna grabbed my hand before teleporting us to the southern gate.

I saw a certain large carriage and standing next to it, in the dark of night, were thirty knights who all wore armor that was fashioned to make them appear dragon like.

Their helmets were all adorned with point ears and snouts. The texture of their armor made it seem as though their bodies were covered in scales and they all wielded various weapons.

Three of them, however, were different. Far different. Where the others were all about two or so meters tall, the three who stood next to Serylea were four meters tall.

It looked as though Serylea was standing next to gods clad in dark armor.

They all also had their helmets off, revealing that they all had short white hair, faint gold lines all over their skin and… reptilian eyes that had a faint orange glow to them.

“Is that him?” The foremost dragon knight lady asked and Serylea nodded frantically prompting the titan of a woman to walk towards Yna and I.

The ground trembled a little and her armor loudly clanged with her every step.

She stopped just in front of me before placing her hand over her heart and lowering her head with closed eyes.

“Greetings, your highness. My name is Thneia, leader of the Draconic Knights and we have come from Rahadiya to pledge our loyalty to you.”