The air settled and I stared at Heurikhan who’s face was covered in oil and crumbs.

“Whew! That hit the spot!” He sighed while I nervously glanced at the now ruined restaurant's interior. I took small nibbles off my bread as cracks and snaps filled the air from various things breaking and falling.

Laelo hid behind a wooden pillar and he peeked out to glare at Heurikhan who picked his teeth with his fingers.

“A-Are you done?”

“Pretty much. I wasn’t that hungry anyway.” Heurikhan said with a sigh.

“Captain…” Luna called.

“Mmm?” Heurikhan sounded with eyes that were glowing so brightly that bathed the restaurant in bright blue light.

He noticed this and smiled in a manner that made me tremble with fear.

“I can’t be the only one who is a little bit anxious after seeing that goat- no, his name is Katsíki. He and his men look like they will fight us with everything they have and that fills me with mind warping amounts of ecstasy. So forgive me if my behavior seems erratic.” Heurikhan said before looking at an expressionless Gess.

“And besides, if there’s anyone we should be worried about it’s you. Right, Gess?” Heurikhan asked while wiping his face with a handkerchief.

Gess’s eyes narrowed and the air grew increasingly hotter.

“To say that I am anxious would be an understatement. I am quivering in my own flesh at the thought of facing Red Death and I guess in that sense, you and I aren’t different.” Gess said but this made Heurikhan frown.

“Heh? We can’t both fight Yna. She’ll die instantly! Go to the other settlement and deal with the mud crawlers there!” Heurikhan yelled but the air got even hotter as Gess frowned.

Everyone left the restaurant as the two Hawks glared at each other.

“Have you forgotten that Nel is also on their side? I suggest that you take care of him, captain.” Gess said but Heurikhan simply clicked his tongue.

“Fine. But if Nel doesn’t end up appearing, I’ll rush straight to the plateau and kill her myself.”

“You both speak as though you’ll have a say in the final plan.” Luna said as she stood up.

Her glowing eyes then landed on me.

“We all know that the prince will be the one who decides and as Hawks, we will have to obey his orders.” She said, but the air grew ever hotter as Heurikhan and Gess stood up.

“You say that, but we both know you wouldn’t leave Gess’s side even if the moon king himself ordered you to.”

“Still, it is beyond obvious that you will be sent to deal with Nel. It would be best if you accepted that reality.” Gess hissed.

“Oh, I’ve already accepted it-“

A iron pot struck Heurikhan’s head stopping him mid sentence.

“Ouch.” He cried before turning to find Laelo hiding behind the counter.

“GET OUT!” He yelled as the air rapidly cooled.

“Oh-sorry for the mess.” Heurikhan said before leading me outside.

“If you weren’t our guardians, we’d have kicked you out of town a long time ago!” Laelo yelled but the Hawks all ignored him as we made our back to the Hawk Manor.

I noticed that, although the air had returned to its normal state, all their eyes still glowed.

“What do you think is going through Astír’s mind?” Luna asked.

“Summus knows. That woman is like am mystery wrapped in a enigma. What I know for certain is that she feels regretful for what happened down there.” Heurikhan said as we approached the still open front gate.

Crime in Falonia must have been low because there were almost no guards or patrolling knights.

“Indeed. To actually cut the Golden Prince… it pains me to even think about.” Gess said as the sun slowly set.

We eventually returned to the living room where we all sat while Luna hummed a sweet tune.

I sat next to Heurikhan who looked up with narrowed eyes.

“What’s wrong?” Gess asked as Luna rested her head on his shoulder.

“I… after nearly half a millennium, I just felt the fear of death.” Heurikhan said but this made Gess frown.

“What? Do you mean to say that you are afraid?” Gess asked, but Luna placed her hand on his cheek.

“I am too.” She said with a pained expression.

Gess’s eyes widened extremely as the room grew increasingly hotter.

“You… no, this isn’t the time for this. We are the Hawks and our victory is already written by future scholars!” Gess yelled, but Luna placed both of her hands on his face and his eyes lowered.

“You feel it too, don’t you-?”

“Is there a point in asking if you already know?”

We all looked to the entrance where the last Hawk stood.

His reptilian eyes scanned us all as he approached.

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

“How is she doing?” Heurikhan asked.

“Same as always.” The fourth Hawk said before looking at me.

“I do not believe I introduced myself. My name is Venetrix, pleasure to meet you.”

“The pleasure is all mine, Mr. Venetrix.”

The fourth Hawk nodded before walking up to Gess who was still frowning.

He sat next to him before leaning backwards into the couch.

“Those two unknown beings who stood behind the goat are much like me but also… very different. Notes from various scholars have allowed me to concluded that the mud crawlers somehow managed to successfully create golden knights. But that is just half of the equation. Those two are mud crawlers who have undergone Drákosyngenís.” Venetrix said prompting the Hawks to hum in understanding.

“Umm… Pardon my asking, but what is Drákosyngenís?” I asked with a trembling voice.

Sitting around me were four of Lanceberg’s greatest warriors, so keeping calm was rather difficult.

“It is the process of transferring the life force of a dragon into another organism. This results in numerous changes in the recipient. Oh and do no mistake me for such laughable imitations. My father was a dragon, hence my appearance.” Venetrix explained and I nodded in understanding.

“Mmm… that is indeed concerning. I know for certain that one of them is almost as strong as Astír. Then there’s Nel and Yna… Dammit. This is all too precarious.” Heurikhan said but Gess scoffed at this.

“You bring shame to this place.” He muttered and this was the final straw for Heurikhan.

He stood up prompting Venetrix and Luna to stand up and move aside.

Luna offered me her hand and took me to one of the room’s corners.

Gess looked up at the expressionless Heurikhan.

“How confident are you that you could defeat Nel?” He asked as the air grew increasingly hotter.

“I… mmm…” Gess sounded before lowering his head.

“Come on, Gess. I don’t need to repeat what she said.” Heurikhan said and it sounded as though he was on the verge of crying.

“Stand.”

Gess did as instructed and Heurikhan wrapped his arms around him as the air returned to its normal state.

“I’m sorry… it’s just-“

“I know. I know. But I’m begging that you try to understand our feelings.” Heurikhan said while tightly embracing Gess.

“A-Alright.”

“Good-“

Heurikhan stopped as he looked at the entrance to find a certain Helma knight standing there.

Astír scanned the room before eventually resting her eyes on Heurikhan.

“Aww… is it already time for Zuri to go? Alright, everyone say goodbye.” He said.

“Farewell.” Venetrix said.

“Bye!” Luna said while leading me towards Astír.

“Goodbye.” Gess said.

“Tell the prince everything you heard here. Let him know our concerns.”

I nodded before standing next to Astír.

I then waved the Hawks goodbye and just as they waved back, I was teleported to a different place.

I nearly gasped aloud after seeing that I was in a grand chamber at the front of which sat an enormous throne made from what appeared to be white marble.

Behind it was a gigantic circular window that allowed all of the moon’s light to enter.

The glass of the window also had a strange glow to it, but I assumed it was a visual phenomenon brought about by the Moon’s light.

The room was made almost entirely of marble which was covered in thin golden lines.

I then noticed that Caligo was standing against one of the pillars and he was staring at the throne.

I walked up to him as he stood with crossed arms and a stern expression.

“Were the Hawks good company?” He asked without turning to face me.

I stood next to him and recounted my experience with the Stormhawks.

“Mmm… they are right to be concerned but I will not let doubt or fear cloud my path.” Caligo said while staring at the throne.

“Umm… may I ask-“

“Thou needst not my permission. Ask away.”

“Where is you father, the Moon King?”

Caligo pointed at the window and I could’ve sworn that his hand trembled a bit.

I tilted my head in confusion.

Was Caligo’s father the literal moon itself or was he on the moon?

I didn’t know and it seemed as though Caligo didn’t really want to talk about it.

“Ahem! What is this place?” I asked in a desperate attempt to shift the conversation elsewhere.

“This is the Lunar Seat and… mmm… it is a place with a rich history that I am unsure of I can share with thee.” Caligo said while scratching his cheek.

“Oh- that’s fine, I guess. Umm… is there anything I could do for you or should I return to the palace?”

“No, I would much rather thee stayed by my side.” Caligo’s said trailed off as he continued staring at the throne.

He eventually snapped out of it and he turned to face me with dim eyes.

“The war begins in a few days. Would you mind staying with me in a tent behind the front lines?” Caligo asked and I could’ve sworn I heard the sound of metal scraping against something behind me but I ignored it.

“Not at all! Actually, I would be very happy if I could help the soldiers who get hurt!”

“Then is settled. But for now, I would like us to rest as much as possible.” Caligo said before wrapping his arm around me.

My eyes widened as we were taken back to his palace.

We were in the bathroom that was reserved for the prince and the Golden Choir.

Caligo removed his clothes revealing to me his body which still hasn’t completely healed.

“Come.” He instructed and I promptly slipped out of my dress.

This wasn’t the first time he had seen me naked, but I still felt nervous.

I set aside whatever shame I felt before joining Caligo in the gigantic bathtub which was dimly illuminated by a small orb above.

We sat next to each other in complete silence.

His eyes were closed and his head was raised.

I assumed that a lot was going through his mind.

Had he brought me here to help relieve whatever stress he was feeling?

I wasn’t sure and I was far too afraid to find out-

My heartrate skyrocketed as he wrapped his large arm around me.

“You describe the earth as a relatively peaceful world. I want that for Edenton.” He said.

“Then why didn’t you choose peace when the goat boy offered it?” I asked and almost immediately after, Caligo held me tighter.

“It is what father would have wanted. Father was a conqueror who sought out all forms of power and knowledge. It was he who gave me this form and it by his hand that mankind rose to become the dominant species on Edenton. I simply want to finish what he started.” Caligo said.

“Mmm…” I sounded.

“What?” He asked and I could feel the rumble of his voice in his chest.

“Could you not rule over everyone without enforcing your ways on them? They could all live under you while doing their own things?” I asked but Caligo’s eyes suddenly brightened.

“No. Them refusing to kneel is a sigh that they will never truly serve beneath us and that could lead to problems in the future.”

“Then wouldn’t it be better for everyone if you just left them alone and conquer other parts of the world? You could also tell them not to interfere in your plans and maybe even work alongside them to achieve peaceful coexistence.” I said while my heart painfully knocked at my chest.

I don’t know why, but I didn’t want this war to happen.

Katsíki seemed like a reasonable individual and Caligo had the option to conquer other parts of the world.

Why couldn’t he just accept that?

“Mmm…” Caligo droned as his eyes grew brighter.

Had I angered him?

Had I grown far too comfortable with conversing with him?

I was a lowly hand and had no place even being in the same room-

Caligo gently squeezed me again before shaking his head.

“I cannot disobey my father’s wishes.” He said and it’s here that I decided to stop questioning him.

He was the Golden Prince and I had no right-

“That being said, I do not mind the way in which we conversed. Thou art the only one to ever question me so thoroughly. I suppose in that sense, thou have much in common with Katsíki.” Caligo said with a smile.

“Come. Let’s wash up.” He said and we did just that before making our way into the prince’s bed chamber where he got into bed.

I stood next to the bed and looked around anxiously.

“Well? Come.” He said and my still racing heart beat ever faster.

I joined him in bed and gasped as he wrapped his large arm around me.

“I plan on holding thee tightly tonight. Tell me if I cause thee any discomfort.” He yawned.

I nodded before resting my head next to his.

He eventually fell asleep but I couldn’t even think properly as my face was bathed in his every breath.

It was all too stimulating.

I wouldn’t be able to catch a wink of sleep, like every other night, but thanks to my new body, that wouldn’t be too much of a problem.