“It was never something I could not handle but I would be lying if I said that I did not want to give up sometimes. My body was forced to do things that would normally break others. Extremely long hikes, days of intense exercise and studying. At least I had Sidus and the others to keep me company.”

“You were all selected at the same time?” I asked as we left the small tub.

We then made our way into the larger one which was filled with considerably cooler water.

“Yes. We were originally a class of twenty five but not everyone survived to see themselves becoming a Helma. Anyway, the other Legions have their own histories but, it would take days to go over them all.” Astír said weak laugh.

I nodded before taking a deep breath.

“Alright, then we will just have to find time for you to tell me. That aside, I believe there was something you wanted to tell me.”

Astír’s face twisted.

“I… have always loved the Golden Prince.”

“Oh?” I sounded with a heart that began knocking on my chest.

Astír nodded while fiddling with her hands.

“Ever since that day when he came to that temple. I had been taught that he was a vessel for Summus’s will but to me… he was so much more, if that is even possible. Anyway, it is that belief that drove me to become a Helma. I wanted to stay at his side and it is there that I remained… until you arrived.” Astír said with eyes that were slightly dimmer.

“Hehe, you know, I was one of the only people who was allowed into his chamber. Years passed by as I guarded his sleeping self and one day, in an act of- madness? Delusion? I cannot say for certain but without a thought in my head, on a Moonless night, I removed my helmet and pressed my lips onto his.”

Astír’s words echoed loudly in the near empty bathroom.

“I’ve wanted to apologize for committing such a grave sin, but as you know, the prince did not awake until you arrived and although it was by sheer coincidence, I felt as though the small flame in my heart, that which had been kept alit by both Summus and the prince, was doomed to die without having been cradled. Cradled in the way that he does you.” Astír said clearly. Her eyes unshaking.

“I… see.”

Astír sighed before allowing her shoulders to droop.

“I am so sorry for the way I have acted thus far.”

“N-no, it honestly was not that bad. And besides, half of the time you were simply being cautious.” I said while frantically waving my hands.

“Mmm…” Astír sounded in acknowledgement.

“Thank you for hearing what I had to say.” She said but I shook my head.

“All you had to do was ask and I would have listened.” I said before crawling out of the tub alongside Astír.

We then dried ourselves before changing into our clothes and making our way to the Lunar Hall.

We stood next to one of the hall’s many pillars and inspected its newly rebuilt right half.

“I heard that your ultimate plan is to get Adia back to earth. Suppose the opportunity were to present itself and you managed to succeed, what then?” Astír asked. Her deep voice nearly filled the entire hall.

“What do you mean?” I asked. Unsure of what she meant.

“Would you stay there with your son or return to Edenton, if that was even possible? It is no secret that the Prince… loves you and so I imagine that you choosing to stay with your son on earth would be hard on him.”

“Ah… well, although I love both Adia and Caligo, Adia has never really seen me as his mother. If I were to get him back home I think his life would be fine without me.” I said even though doing so caused my chest to ache painfully.

“That would surely cause you great pain, I imagine.”

“It would, but loving someone also means knowing what is best for them. Adia has made it no secret about how much he wants to go home. Edenton is a beautiful world but his place is by his father’s side.”

“I see. Well, if you do end up returning, just know that I will be more welcoming this time.”

I looked up and saw that Astír was smiling, albeit faintly.

I smiled back before allowing her to teleport us back to Caligo’s palace where, after wishing Astír a good night, I entered the bathroom where Caligo slept soundly.

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I changed into my nightgown and, after placing my crown on the bedside table, I crawled onto the bed.

I then let out a small eep noise as Caligo wrapped his large arms around me while keeping his eyes closed.

I softly chuckled before hugging him back.

I then closed my eyes and slept.

.

..

The next day arrived with a great burst of energy.

I ripped myself free from Caligo’s embrace and crawled out of bed.

I then changed into a different white dress and placed my crown on my head.

“Wait… I want to… give thee a gift.” Caligo muttered but I could tell that was mostly asleep and so I snuck out of the room only for Sidus to grab me and place me on his shoulder like a sack of potatoes.

Unfortunately, I had grown used to this and so I simply sighed.

“Good morning.”

“You have some explaining to do.” Sidus hissed while stomping down the stairs.

“Why? What happened?” I asked.

“You’ll see.” Sidus said as he took me out of the main building where Cento awaited us.

“Take me to that damned mountain.”

Cento nodded, his armour brightly shining thanks to the morning sunlight.

Sidus and I then found ourselves in Mt. Nuru where several of my fellow Hands could be seen praying or meditating in the large central chamber from the top of which fell a pillar of light.

That pillar of light enveloped a certain Helma who sat with her legs crossed atop a stone pedestal. She was covered in a simple white robe and sitting next to the pedestal was her lance.

Sidus put me down and walked me over to Astír who opened her bright golden eyes.

“Good morning-“

“Tell Zuri what you told me.” Sidus snapped.

“I am thinking about laying down my lance.” She said clearly.

“Why?” Sidus asked with a pained expression.

“I have a feeling that the many ages of war have ended. The coming age will need for more teachers and priests than it does soldiers. Also, stop overreacting. I have not decided to suddenly abandon my post. Should the Prince require my aid, I will be there to fulfil my duty. I simply want to do more.” Astír explained.

Sidus turned to me for answers but I shrugged.

“I support her in this. Actually, she sounded a lot like Lham just now.” I giggled.

“Ugh! I can’t believe I’m going to say this but we Helma don’t get free time. Protecting the prince is a twenty four hour job. Although now that I think about it, nothing has happened in at least three hundred years, but that’s beside the point!” Sidus cried.

Astír sighed before standing to face her comrade.

“Not much will change, Sidus. I will remain a Helma. I just want to learn how to help those in need as well.”

“Did… did she put you up to this?” Sidus asked while staring at me with comically narrowed eyes.

“No. This decision was mine and mine alone. Anyway, Zuri, Lord Gera sent for you. Two Agnani were killed in Serenumlatus in a fire last night. The Agnani in the city think that it was a murder orchestrated by the citizens of Serenumlatus but the city’s citizens strongly deny this and are saying that this is all a plot by the Agnani. They think that they killed two of their own all so that the current trade agreement falls apart and things go back to the way there were when Agna barely sent the main continent any supplies.” Astír explained.

“Oh- then you will have to excuse me-“

“Actually, I wanted to come with you.”

“Why?” I asked while trying not to look at Sidus who stood angrily next to Astír.

“No real reason. I just wanted to spend more time with you. Talking to you yesterday felt… cathartic. Relieving. And so I hope you do not mind me tagging along.”

“Oh, then come.” I said before finally looking at a cross armed Sidus.

“You too.” I giggled before leading the two Helma to the teleportation platforms that were just beyond the mountain bound temple's walls.

I looked out into the vastness of the Kivuli forest.

I smiled as memories of my journey all flooded my mind but Astír unceremoniously teleported us to Middlen using several teleportation platforms and my feeling of nostalgia was quickly replaced by nausea.

“Why are you so against Astír’s wish?” I asked as I walked into the Golden Spire.

“I’m not entirely against it. It’s just so… sudden. I mean, why didn’t you think about this earlier?”

“I could ask you the same thing? How come it took Zuri for you to see that we were not bound to the prince’s palace? That we can help those in need?” Astír asked as we made our way up to Gera’s office.

“I… ugh! What pisses me off is that you were the one who opposed us the most when we tried moving forward. Isn’t it only fair for me to stand in your way a little?” Sidus asked.

“I… I apologize for the way I behaved.” Astír said as we came to a stop just in front of Gera’s office.

“I can only hope that you give me the chance to do better- to be better.” Astír said with a lowered head.

“And let me guess, this new better you just has to follow the path of the Hands?” Sidus asked with a heavy sigh.

“Yes.”

A moment passed as Sidus stared at Astír who’s head was still lowered.

“Fine. Go ahead. Just… wherever you end up going… don’t go so far that we won’t be able to reach you.” Sidus said only for Astír to suddenly wrap her arms around him.

“I won’t.” She said.

The two held each other for a moment before finally following me into Gera’s office where he sat with his head buried behind stacks of paper.

“Ah- Good morning, Zuri.”

“Morning, Gera. I heard about the situation in Serenumlatus from Astír but I am unsure about what I can do to help.” I said.

Gera stared at Astír for a moment before rapidly blinking.

“Err… I want you to lead the investigation to find the truth behind the murder of the two Agnani. Your job will be to ensure that order is maintained during the investigation. Also, helping you will be a Black Moon priest.”

“Do you have the authority to allow that, Lord Gera?” Astír asked.

“No, but you do.” He said with a smirk.

“Umm… I know of the existence of the Black Moon sect, but what so they do exactly?” I asked.

“Oh, they are a secret group of… err… time magicians.” Sidus said.

My mouth hung open as his words echoed in the room.

“Time… magicians?” I whimpered as I struggled wrapping my head around what I had just heard.

“Yep. Time magicians can see across time… well, those who manage to survive do.” Sidus said while playfully rotating his lance as it stood on the ground.

“You see, if a child or even an adult uses their magic to peer across time, they usually end up going mad and dying. However, if they survive the ordeal, they awaken the power to see clearly into the past and see the countless possibilities of the future. The Black Moons are historians first and detectives second. Unfortunately, their minds are also vulnerable. Things like the collision, wars and various other large scale events can drive any of them mad in an instant and so they live with binds around their eyes, using the flow of time to navigate. Actually, why am I even saying all this? Come, let me show you.”