Silence befell the bar as we all stared at Lou.

“What? Expecting me to dish out my backstory? Well, tough luck, cause I ain’t saying shit! Now where are those damned pies?” She snapped and it wasn’t long after that the barkeep returned only he had a trey atop which sat five pies which were wrapped in paper.

We each took the pies and after watching in horror as Bor downed all of the barrels contents, using Ower's space magic to funnel the beer straight into his stomach, we left the bar and made continued north as night fell.

Ower, Ncil and I took cautious bites from our chicken pies while Bor made all manner of pained groans and moans.

“That’s what your stupid ass gets.” Lou scoffed.

We eventually made our way to a teleportation platform which took us to a courtyard which was surrounded by silver knights.

They all ignored us as we made our way into a rather grand manor which was built with knights I mind and we stood in front of a grand staircase.

I looked down and noticed that we were standing on a marble version of a teleportation platform.

I also noticed that the manor was rather quiet and empty but, before my wandering eyes could discover anything else, I blinked and found that we were in a large hall and my heart fell upon seeing a gargantuan cage which housed an equally large… dragon.

It stood at about twenty meters tall and was about forty meters long. Sitting proudly on its head were four horns that curled forwards as if to meet at a sharp point. Its skin looked both lizard like and yet appeared to have the texture of course, dark rock.

Fortunately or maybe not, the creature looked to be sleeping.

“Well, well. If it isn’t Katsíki. Leader of the mud crawlers. He who managed to defeat an army of one hundred thousand men. Not only that, you even managed to take down the Stormhawks. I would like to say that I, Gulanimphen, son of the previous Grandmaster, am a fan.”

My eyes fell to a fancy looking couch atop which sat a man who was dressed in a black silky robe.

Running from his forehead, across his left eye and down to his chest was a scar that looked like it was far from healed.

His eyes were dark grey and he had a head of short white hair.

The man sat up and crossed his legs while Bor and Lou walked up to him in the dark hall.

Only a handful of orbs lit it and they were far too high and far too dim to illuminate everything.

“What took you so long- were you drinking?” Gulanimphen whispered without parting his gaze from mine.

“Err… yeah. Sorry.”

“It’s fine, since we’re still on track for a tense dinner between two key players in this grand game. Now, off you go!” Gulanimphen said with the wave of a hand but ,although Bor turned to leave, Lou stood still.

“What?” Gulanimphen asked.

“It’s been a while.” Lou softly said.

“Ah… Skýlos. Must you pester me now?” Gulanimphen asked but Lou remained silent. Her face, however, looked pretty flustered, even in the dimness of the hall.

“Fine. Go wait in the living room and maybe after I finish my business with Katsíki, we can do something, ok?” Gulanimphen asked and Lou shyly nodded before following Bor out of the hall’s two exits.

“Ahem! Where were we? Ah, yes. Greetings, Katsíki. Please, feel free to call me Gula. Summus knows why my father decided to give me a name with so many syllables.”

“What do you want?” I asked with narrowed eyes.

“Dinner. A chat. I want to know more about the man who challenged the sun.” Gula said before standing up.

He then walked up to me allowing me to see that he was far shorter than Bor.

He looked me over before frowning.

“I can change my form at will.” I said.

“Oh- I was just about to ask.” Gula said with an embarrassed laugh.

“Anyway, follow me.” He said before leading us towards the door which Bor and Lou had used.

We found ourselves in a rather grand hall which was lined with several beautiful white wooden doors on its left side. The floor was also covered in a faded blue carpet which had its crest messily torn off.

Gula led us to the third door and promptly opened it revealing a grand dining room which housed a long table.

I spotted Bor and Lou sitting near its distant end.

Gula led us there where he proceeded to take the largest and most fancy looking chair.

I sat next to him along with Ower and Ncil.

I avoided meeting Gula’s gaze while he creepily stared at me.

“So… Katsíki-“

“My name is Kenos.”

“Oh? Is Katsíki simply an alias?” Gula asked with a frown.

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“No, but I would prefer if you called me Kenos.”

“Ah, acceptable. Now, tell me about yourself. Who are you and how in the world did you manage to survive an encounter with Caligo?”

I sighed deeply before summarizing my life story although I omitted many details.

“My goodness!” Gula gasped.

“You’ve led quite the eventful life.” Bor commented while picking petals from the flowers that sat on a large ornate vase at the centre of the table.

“Indeed! Actually, you and I are pretty similar in the sense that I also grew up rather privileged, what with being the Grandmaster's son and everything, but you… you were depraved from the very beginning, haha!”

I lowered my head.

“Oh, no. Please raise your head. I am a firm believer in the idea that those who can, should. You only live once and you experienced things that even I couldn’t have thought of!” Gula bellowed, unknowingly shifting his gown to the side. This allowed me to see more of his scar.

“Mmm?” He sounded upon seen where my gaze was.

“Hehe, those who can, should. That’s what I believe. That’s also why I bear no ill will towards those who chose to defend the throne.” He sighed while leaning back into his chair.

“I couldn’t beat Heurikhan and I almost lost my life. Fortunately, my old man saved my ass but ended up bringing about a dark age for the people of Lanceberg. But… I don’t need to teach you the concept of consequences. No, what we should be discussing is your destination. You and I both challenged the sun and we both got burnt. But, while I hide down here, you march north, in your quest for vengeance. I am in no position to stop you but I must ask: what now? Why keep fighting? What are you doing all of this for?” Gula asked with a pained expression.

“I…” I tried speaking but no words left my mouth.

I knew that parts of Coh still stood. Not only that, Shiru and the others were probably sifting through the rubble, trying desperately to move on.

But I… I couldn’t stop.

Not until Caligo was dead.

Gula let out a low chuckle before loudly slapping the table.

“That’s the look of a man who is more than determined to carve a forward path. Oh- shit, I forgot to introduce you to Xenagós. Where is our damned food?” Gula yelled and it’s wasn’t long before our food arrived.

It wasn’t anything particularly special. Roasted meats, some fruits here and there and a ton of bread.

We ate in silence all while Gula continued to stare at me.

“Err… Gula, what are we going to do about the loyalists above?” Lou asked. Her head low.

“Mmm… we’ll fight back. If we win, we win. If we lose… well. Then we die.” Gula said with a weak smile.

We eventually finished eating and Gula lead us back to the grand hall where the dragon now sat awake. It’s large burning eyes stared at me as Gula walked up to the cage which bound it.

“Behold! Xenagós, my beloved!”

[Stop yelling.]

A voice said from deep within my mind.

“Yeah, yeah. Go ahead. Introduce yourself.”

[Hello, Kenos and company.]

Xenagós greeted making my browns furrow.

“Isn’t she a beaut? I captured her during the closing days of the Great War. A mighty dragon if there ever was one. Unfortunately she’s not very receptive to the feelings of others.”

[I am. I just do not and will never like you.]

Xenagós said without moving her mouth.

Gula sighed before placing his hand on my shoulder.

“This has been us for the past three or so hundred years. Anyway, now that that’s done. Come. I know I only planned on keeping you for dinner but you all look beyond exhausted. Why not stay the night?” Gula asked but I firmly shook my head.

“No but thank you.”

“Aww, alright but at least use my bathroom before you leave. A good bath can be the difference between life and death.” Gula said but just as I opened my mouth to decline, his silver eyes brightened a little and the air grew slightly heavier.

“A-alright.” I said.

“Great! Follow me! Say bye, Xena!”

Xenagós scoffed making Gula chuckle as he led us back into a certain hall.

He led us into the second door which belonged to the bathroom.

“Feel free to make a mess! I’m off to ask Xenagós for her hand again!” He yelled.

“Why do you keep trying?” I asked as Ower and Ncil neatly placed their things next to the bed.

“Mmm… I’m not quite sure. I know for certain that I like her, always have, but each time she rejects me, I feel a rush that makes me wanna ask again! How do I put this? Xena is strong. Really strong. She could have tried to break free from my hold all this time, but she chooses to stay. She’s been with me ever since and I know she cares for me just as I do for her… now all that’s left is to seal the deal and pump her full of my seed!” Gula yelled before slamming the door shut.

Ower, Ncil and I exchanged perplexed glances before collectively sighing.

The bathroom which was lined with marble and adorned with various pieces of furniture.

We entered the largest tub and soaked in its cool water but while Ower and Ncil bathed, all I did was stare at the ceiling.

We were in the belly of the beast.

Gula could kill us at any moment and it would be all over.

Death.

The end.

On paper, it didn’t sound bad at all, but it’s never ever as simple as that.

You don’t just die.

It doesn’t just end.

Things happen afterwards.

Well, I don’t know if I qualified to speak on the matter.

I tried dying but my hostship allowed me to endure ultimately leading me here.

I wondered what would have happened if-

“Now is not the time to wallow in self pity.” Ower suddenly said.

“People are often remembered for what they did. So, raise your heard and march forward. Unless you want to he remembered as the man who gave up.”

I looked at Ower as he washed the dirty from his hands.

I then let out a soft chuckle.

“Who said anything about giving up?” I asked weakly.

“You looked like you were about to.”

“Tsk! Like you know.” I hissed but Ower turned to face me.

“I do.”

His words echoed loudly in the bathroom.

“I may not love you, Kenos, but I do care. Regardless of whether you share a body with Lord Katsíki, I still want to help you accomplish your goals but you moping does not help in any way.”

“So what you’re trying to say is that you’re mad at me?” I scoffed.

“I’m not mad and you are not a child. So, chin up. Our journey has yet to end.” Ower said but I couldn’t accept it.

He was right, but I just wanted someone to argue with and so I moved a little closer to him.

“Is it so wrong, huh? To be afraid? To doubt? I’m guessing you wouldn’t know since Y-Yna tore all of your emotions out-“

Ower suddenly slapped me.

He then climbed out of the tub and after drying himself, he slipped into his gear and left.

Ncil joined him shortly after.

Hehe.

That’s more like it. I thought.

I sighed before crawling out and after drying up and wearing my clothes, I joined Ower and Ncil outside.

We then made our way back to the hall where Gula stood naked for some reason.

We walked to him prompting him to turn around, revealing a pained smile.

“She said no… again. Ah, well. I’m guessing you’re ready to-“

“Boss! The knights have started attacking!” A silver knight cried just as he appeared before Gula.

“Oh? Who didn’t see that coming-?”

“Leading them are two Helma and its been confirmed that Sidus and Cento are headed this-“

A massive explosion shook the hall, stopping the knight.

He and Gula looked up as the air trembled.

“Shit. I knew there was a slight chance they’d show up, but… return to your post and fight back!”

The knight nodded before suddenly disappearing.

Gula then walked up to the cage where he wore his robe once more.

“Hey, Kenos. Do you think your people would mind if they got an extra large sized guest?”

[Gula…]

Xenagós droned.

“I mean… no, not really. Actually, all she’d have to do is talk to Thneia and they could sort things out.” I said while thinking of a way to escape.

[Gula, I am not going anywhere.]

Xenagós said but Gula grabbed one of the cage’s many bars and looked straight into the Dragon’s eyes.

“One hundred kilometres is the max. Fly south until you find a certain mud crawler settlement.” He said while his eyes grew increasingly brighter.

Xenagós’s eyes widened but before she could speak, Gula swung his right arm to the side and like that, she was gone.