We were all in room deep within a certain temple in Middlen.

It was a large room filled with statues and paintings of Caligo.

Tall dark curtains prevented any light from entering the room and so the only way anyone could see in the dim space was if they had really good eyesight.

Caligo himself sat on a large chair at the front of a long dark table.

I sat next to him right while Ferrum sat to his left.

The Helma and Hawks occupied the rest of the chairs and we all remained quiet as Caligo thoughtfully tapped his chin.

“Could you have killed them all, Heurikhan? Astír?” He asked as his golden eyes stared at seemingly nothing.

“I sensed several dozen powerful space magicians hidden along with all manner of things in the forest to the south. We would have won, but I would most likely come at a great cost.” Astír said clearly, although her eyes were lowered.

“I see. Crush them now, or face them in all out war? How will he react to either? If it were Kenos, he’d have simply run away but Katsíki… he is… different.” Caligo muttered.

“Their gear was quite impressive, but I guess the same can be said about everything down there.” Heurikhan said with a deep frown.

“True, but advancements or no, they are still the same worms that served as fodder in the Great War. Nothing has changed.” Ferrum said with crossed arms.

“You say that, old man and yet even you stood by and allowed that freak to speak to the prince in the way he did. Worms or not, they should not be underestimated.” Heurikhan said with eyes that glowed blue.

“Watch your mouth, boy.” Ferrum said and I felt the air tremble as the two glared at each other.

“He is right, Grandmaster. Red Death, the remnants of the Blood Ravens, those strange warriors and more… those are all variables we need to consider before jumping to action.” Sidus said with narrowed eyes, but Ferrum simply clicked tongue.

“Also, let’s not forget that it was you who allowed Red Death and the Ravens to live for as long as they have.”

“Captain…” One of the Hawks cautioned as Heurikhan and Ferrum continued glaring daggers at each other.

“Remind me again, your highness, why hasn’t the Grandmaster been punished for allowing your realm to fall as far as it has?” Heurikhan asked and this made Ferrum’s eyes lower a little.

Caligo sighed before dismissively waving his hand.

“What would thee have me do? He is my dear uncle and I could not bear the thought of knowing he suffers. My blatant cronyism aside, we should focus on the present. As you know, I have called for one of the platinum knights. What are your thoughts on this action?” Caligo asked.

“This lowly knight thinks that you made the right call. Even if we only end up suffering minimal casualties, a platinum knight might be just what we need to keep everyone in line. Even us.” Heurikhan said with a deep sigh.

“Thou art as unequivocal as ever.” Caligo said with a gentle smile.

Heurikhan responded by sheepishly rubbing the top of his lips while looking away.

“And what of thee, Astír?”

Astír raised her eyes and looked at Caligo before visibly swallowing.

“I agree with everything Heurikhan said although there is no reason for a Five Star to watch over us.” Astír said and again, her words were clear, but her eyes trembled.

“Do not fret over it too much, the knight will simply serve as a final caution.”

“O-Of course, your highness!” Astír said with a lowered head.

Caligo giggled before finally turning to face me.

“What about thee, Zuri? Didn’t thee find something odd about Katsíki and his men? Apart from his strange appearance, of course.” Caligo said with a smile, but his eyes burnt brightly, showing a deep frustration.

“I don’t know much about this new conflict, but I agree with everyone about the level of caution that must be practiced, although I am a lowly Hand-“

“No, you are not. You, Zuri, are a precious guest of mine and a large part of me wishes that Katsíki would join us in rebuilding this kingdom to better suit future guests, but… well, it is evident that he would rather toil in the mud.” Caligo said with narrowed eyes.

He then sighed before suddenly standing.

“I will consult my father on the matters we’ve discussed. Astír, Heurikhan, please take care of Zuri while I’m gone.” Caligo said before suddenly disappearing.

Everyone then looked at me and unable to think of anything else, I simply smiled awkwardly.

One of the Hawks stood.

“Where are you going?” Heurikhan asked with a raised eyebrow.

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“Home.” The Hawk said but Heurikhan frowned at this.

“Mmm… take me with you!” Heurikhan cried as he stood up.

“Wait! His highness has yet to dismiss us.” Astír said after standing up.

“Hoh? So you’re just going to sit here and wait for him? If he wants to speak with us again, he’ll just call us back.” Heurikhan said while dismissively waving his hand.

Astír’s eyes burnt with anger, but she quickly composed herself before looking at me.

“Take her with you.” She instructed, prompting Heurikhan to eye me over.

“Why us?” He asked as the Helma all stood up.

“We are going to the Royal palace and I would rather she did not dirty it with her presence.” Astír said but this made Heurikhan chuckle.

“What about waiting for dismissal?”

Astír clicked her tongue before suddenly disappearing.

“Bye for now, Zuri!” Sidus said as he waved me goodbye.

I waved back at him before he too suddenly disappeared alongside his fellow Helma.

This left the Hawks and Grandmaster.

Ferrum simply crossed his arms and sat while the Hawks all prepared to leave.

Heurikhan walked up to the elderly man before looking down at him with an expressionless face.

“Hear me well, old man. Never, ever speak to me as though you are my better.” He hissed so coldly that the room grew noticeably cooler.

Ferrum looked away prompting Heurikhan to look at me.

He then gently smiled before offering me his hand.

Like all knights, Heurikhan had a head full of white hair, but his was very curly and so it looked like a ball of white fuzz on his head.

“Come on.” He said and I quickly walked up to him before grabbing his large hand.

We then teleported to a large and rather beautifully decorated room.

It was a large space filled with large portraits depicting each Hawk, although two Hawks shared one portrait.

“Please, sit. I’ll be back as soon as I get out of this armour.” Heurikhan said as he walked towards one of the room’s two exits.

I nodded as one of the other Hawks walked towards me.

They removed their helmet revealing the face of a beautiful woman. She had dark skin, much like mine and had a head full of kinky white hair.

She stared at me for a moment as another Hawk stood by her side.

The other Hawk removed their helmet revealing the face of a handsome and yet equally dark skinned man. Although he was bald.

“Mmm…”

“Indeed.”

The two said as I nervously stood before them.

“So you’re from our home world, huh?” The woman asked and I nervously nodded.

“What’s it like over there- you know what? Let me get changed so that you can tell me all about it!” She said before rushing out of the room.

“Please forgive Luna. She is quite… excitable.” The man said with a gentle smile.

“Its fine, really.” I said prompting the man to nod.

He then followed after Luna and I sat by one of the many large couches.

I glanced at the portrait with two Hawks and saw that it was Luna and the man who’d just left.

The one next to them was that of Heurikhan.

There were many others, but my attention quickly shifted to the smallest portrait on the wall.

On it, was the face of a small woman who, unlike the Hawks, had a head of brown hair.

She was beautiful, but not in the godly way, like golden knights.

“Her name was Lenora. Priestess of the Stormhawks.” Heurikhan said as he entered the room.

He then sat on the couch in front of me, revealing his new, silky dark blue clothes which were embellished with a crest that depicted a Hawk.

“She is the woman who built all this. We owe every day we draw breath to her. But I’m guessing you’re not interested in a history lesson.” He said with a smile, but I shook my head.

“No! I’m very much interested in your history.” I said.

“Oh? Mine is pretty simple, though. I was a great soldier and so I eventually ended up becoming a great knight.” Heurikhan said while looking up in thought.

“What about you? What’s your story--?”

“Wait!” Luna yelled as she rushed into the room.

She then hopped into Heurikhan’s legs.

“GET OFF!” He yelled before punching Luna on top of the head.

“Ouch!” She cried before being tossed onto another couch by Heurikhan.

The other knight returned to the room before sitting next to a weeping Luna.

“Where’s Venetrix?” Heurikhan asked.

“Probably downstairs.” The knight said while rubbing Luna’s back.

“I see. Anyway, you were saying?” Heurikhan asked.

I then recounted my life story.

“My goodness…” Luna gasped.

“How tragic.” The knight who’s name I learnt was Gess said.

“But worry not, fair lady! So long as you are loyal to Caligo both in body and in soul, you will know peace. Leave the nasty stuff to us soldiers.” Heurikhan said while pointing his thumb at himself.

I nodded and for some reason, the room fell eerily silent shortly after.

“Its our job.” Heurikhan muttered.

“To protect people.” He said with a distant expression.

“If only it were that simple.” He said while biting his teeth.

His eyes then began glowing a bright blue, but he quickly glanced at me before regaining his composure.

“Ah! Look at me, spoiling the atmosphere. Why don’t we all go for a walk to clear both our hearts and minds, huh?” Heurikhan asked.

“You are just looking for an excuse to eat out.” Gess scoffed.

“Surely my cooking has improved over the last half millennia, no? Why don’t we just eat here?” Luna asked with teary eyes while Heurikhan stood up.

He offered me his hand and I took it before accompanying him to the door.

“First off, no. I’m not looking for an excuse to eat out and yes, Luna, your cooking still sucks.” Heurikhan said before leading me out of the large building.

We then found ourselves in an beautiful and expansive front yard lined with green grasses and short green bushes.

Heurikhan led me down the walkway towards a distant gate and after exiting what I learnt was called Hawk Manor, I gazed out into a bustling town that sat near a lake.

I learnt that the town was called Falonia and it was the home of the Hawks.

“Wait up!” Luna cried before joining Heurikhan and I as we made our way into the town as the sun hung brightly above.

“Good morning, m’ lord!”

“Beautiful day, isn’t it, sir?”

“Greetings, lord Heurikhan.”

Such things were said by the many townsfolk we came across and Heurikhan and the Hawks greeted them all back as we made our way deeper into town.

Eventually arrived at a certain restaurant where Heurikhan and the restaurant’s owner glared at each other.

“Good morning, sir.”

“Laelo.” Heurikhan simply said.

“The usual?” Laelo asked and Heurikhan nodded.

“I see. Table three is all yours.”

Heurikhan nodded before leading us all to a table by the corner.

We all sat in silence as Heurikhan stared at seemingly nothing.

The ground began trembling and I noticed that Gess was sighing deeply and repeatedly.

“You don’t even need to eat.” He groaned before pinching the bridge of his nose.

Several waiters then appeared and they held in their hands countless dishes of food. Every from meats prepared in almost every way imaginable to fruits and breads.

They placed all this food on the table and the owner eventually walked up to Heurikhan, who’s eyes were glowing.

“How many more will you need?” Laelo asked with narrowed eyes.

“Just this one.” Heurikhan said.

“I’ll believe that when I see it.” Laelo said before leaving.

“Go on, Zuri. Eat to your heart’s content.” Heurikhan said with a smile.

“Thank you very much.” I said but for some reason Gess scoffed and Luna made a pained expression.

I reached out to grab a piece of bread, but just as my fingers touch the pastry, the air suddenly grew hotter.

A Shockwave then tore apart the air and I watched in awe as large portions of food disappeared from the table.

A full second then passed and like that, all the food was gone.

Well, all except the piece of bread in my hands.