I awoke feeling the rather refreshed although I smelled like the inside of a wine bottle.

I sat up to find Caligo reading a certain document.

One that I knew detailed our plans for Aurenia.

“Ah- good morning.” Caligo greeted, albeit hesitantly.

“Good morning.” I yawned.

We stared at each other for a moment and Caligo eventually joined me in sitting upright.

Silence filled the room and it’s this silence that I found the courage to speak.

“What caused the war against the Rendaro?” I asked.

Caligo’s eyes widened.

He took a deep breath.

“I have thought much about this ever since my awakening and although I know the answer… thou may not want to hear it-“

“Just say it. Better to know, right?” I asked and after a pause, Caligo nodded.

“It was bloodlust.”

My already aching heart fell as the words left his mouth.

He crawled out of bed and offered me his hand.

I took it and followed him to his study downstairs and we walked up to the glass display which housed his golden armour.

“For Father’s sake… for the sake of the kingdom… father would have wanted this… that’s what I told myself as I burnt Rendaya. It was not until quite recently that I realized that the Rendaro never really posed a significant threat. But how could I, covered in ash, dirt and blood, have seen that? All I saw were enemies and so I killed without thought.” Caligo said.

I swallowed what little saliva sat in my mouth and nodded.

“I see. So… what drives you now?”

Caligo turned around to face me and although my every instinct told me to run away, I remained standing.

“Father, the kingdom and… you.” He said with eyes that shined not.

“I see. Then… would it be too much if I asked you never to kill again?”

At this point, my voice was hoarse and trembled with each word.

A faint frown formed on Caligo’s forehead but after signing, he walked up to me and knelt.

“I would cease the very movement of the stars for thee.” He said before spreading his arms.

I nodded before falling into his embrace and for some reason, he felt larger than usual.

We eventually left the study and made our way to the bathroom where we showered and changed into some fresh clothes.

I then accompanied Caligo out of the palace and although the morning sun shined brightly, everything felt rather dark to me.

We stood on the edge of the platform that overlooked the vastness of northern Medelona while holding hands.

“Come here.” I said prompting Caligo to lower his head.

I then placed my small hands on his cheeks while looking into his eyes.

Yes.

This was the man I had fallen in love with.

A God taken physical form.

He wielded a dark sword covered in the blood of possible thousands and he commanded the power of the sun.

I lightly slapped his cheeks before letting go.

“Be sure to spend some time with Astír, alright?” I said as he stood upright.

“Why?”

“Just do it.”

“Oh… alright.” Caligo said.

I smiled before looking back at Lanceberg.

Dark shadowy clouds approached from the far south.

It would be quite some time before they arrived and so I paid them no mind.

.

..

The sun had been enveloped by a certain bunch of dark clouds.

Gera, Kulea, Luno and I sat in a tent a few kilometres north of Centartta and we waited for the arrival of Pentos.

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Standing behind us were the Yilon and two Helma, namely Solas and Zua. Sidus and Cento were actually in Gordias helping weed out the bandits using extreme force. Our plan was to also try and lure out the leader of the Hellish Horde.

As for Astír and the others, they were with Caligo in the palace.

I returned my focus to the moment as the sound of movement filled the air.

Several people were then led into the tent by some golden knights.

Leading them was Pentos who had changed into some worn but fairly formal clothes. Walking behind him was woman who wore a dark dress which was just short enough to reveal that she was not wearing any shoes. Also, binding her ankles and wrists were dark binds

“Kneel before the Moon King at once-“

Luno raised his hand tiredly, stopping the knight from speaking any further.

“No, leave them be. They have come here to speak with us as equals.” He said and the knight bowed before stepping side.

Pentos glared at Luno.

“I have heard thine demands and although I am quite willing to accept them I hope thou understands that all the land to the far south will remain as a part of Lanceberg.”

“I do.” Pentos said curtly.

“Good. I will see to it that those who live in Édratontheón are evacuated in the following days and when that is done thou will be free to with the city as thou pleases.” Luno said making Pentos nod.

“The land around Centartta will be thine and although I do not except thee to erect tall wall to mark any specific borders, at least not yet, the furthest thine territory will extend is one hundred kilometres to the north and south. Ah- I assume thee would to name this new territory. Centartta is the name of the city which dealt in pain and suffering. What will thee call this place?”

“Lefteriá.”

“Fitting.” Luno said with a weak smile.

“Now, fortunately for thee, Lefteriá will now serve as a gateway between northern and southern Aurenia. One of thine demands was the freedom to trade and with the position Lefteriá finds itself in, I can already tell that many deals will be made by people moving across thine borders. Oh and if thou seeks aid in any forms, all thou needst do is ask.” Luno said before raising his right hand.

A knight then walked up to Luno with a tray atop which sat a pen and a document.

Luno signed the bottom of the paper before gesturing that the knight take the document to Pentos who read the document before writing something and signing the paper.

“And with that, the nation of Lefteriá is born. I will leave the rest to Lord Gera and Zuri.” Luno said as he stood up.

He then suddenly disappearing.

“Zuri, if you need me, I will be in Lornster. Umm… may I take one of the Helma?” She asked and I nodded.

She then disappeared, leaving Gera and I.

“I will prepare Gordias for the soon to he evacuated people of Édratontheón. Inform them all that they should be ready… err- Mr. Pentos, how much time are you willing to give those atop the plateau?” Gera asked.

“Three days.”

“I see. Tell them that they have two days to pack their things. Everything should be ready by then.” Gera said.

He too then teleported away, leaving me with Pentos and company who left the tent shortly after.

Solas teleported me to the rather barren streets of Édratontheón.

Unlike Centartta, or Lefteriá below, this place was paved with clean roads made from pale rocks. It’s streets were lined with big, beautifully designed buildings that lined the entire eastern edge of the plateau.

Solas and I made our way towards the largest building which sat in the centre of Édratontheón.

Several silver knights and soldiers could be seen gathered in front of the building and they all shot us unsavoury looks.

Stand at their centre was Soma only he was wearing armour.

Solas and I walked up to him and its here that I noticed that, apart from a few, all the soldiers around him looked… weak. They were small, skinny men with pretty faces and long hair which didn’t fit into their shiny silver helmets. Their armour was also so heavy that it made them slouch.

I turned to Soma as he walked up to me.

He then carelessly unsheathed his sword and pointed it at me.

Solas stood completely still and joined me in watching Soma lower his sword, not because he wanted to, he was just too weak to hold it up.

“If the flea ridden peasants below are allowed to fight for Centartta, then we shall fight to defend Édratontheón.” He said with a weak frown.

“Hehe.” I giggled unthinkingly.

“HAHAHAHA!” I laughed and even Solas joined me with a chuckle.

“Are you seriously willing to throw your lives away for this?” I asked while clutching my stomach which had been aching for some time.

“Y-yes! We will fight to the last man, if need be.” Soma said.

I turned my eyes to the men behind him.

The knights were ready to fight, but the soldiers next to them looked… afraid.

Unfortunately for them, their future was set in stone the moment Luno handed Lefteriá to the rebels.

Speaking of which, I really wanted to talk to them in length.

I felt as though things were still too tense and so I deeply sighed before clapping once.

“Alright, good luck in your… rebellion. The members of Eclipse expect you to be gone in three days. Do with that time what you will.” I chuckled while turning to leave.

“Wait! You’re not going to try and stop us?” Soma asked as Solas and I walked away.

“Mmm? Why would I? This is no longer our land to police. Do as you see fit.” I said as we walked.

Solas chuckled again and I looked up and find that he was smiling.

“What?”

“Nothing. It is just nice to see you smiling again.” He said.

“Hehe, would you believe me if I told you that I am feeling nothing but dread and pain?” I asked as I slowly came to a stop.

“I would ask you to let me heal away your pain. I… unfortunately, I cannot do much about the things that torment your heart and mind.” Solas said with a pained expression.

“Then please, heal me.” I pleaded and with a nod, wisps of green light rose from Solas’s hands.

They slowly seeped into my body and the ache in my stomach disappeared.

“Thank you.”

“Think nothing of it.” Solas said before joining me in descending towards Lefteriá.

We arrived at the western gate which was littered with small, dirty tents.

The people living within them looked hungry, tired and cold.

They all hid as Solas and I entered the city but we were quickly stopped by rebel guards who pointed their bloodied weapons at us.

“What do you want?”

One of them hissed.

“Mmm…. Would it be too much to ask if we could help?” I asked.

“We don’t need your help! Go back to your castles and leave us be!”

The foremost guard snapped.

I looked into his hired eyes and sighed.

“Solas here is a life magician. He can heal those who-“

“Yeah, yeah. I trust you about as far as I can throw him and that’s not very far. So get lost!”

The guard snapped.

I bit my teeth and weakly nodded.

Solas teleported us back to the tent just north of Lefteriá but before I could sit down to rest, Zua returned only his helmet was off and he had a mortified expression on his face.

“Sidus and Cento… have be killed.” He said.

A deep thunder then shook the air.

“Take us to them.” I hissed and, after several flashes, we found ourselves in a gigantic crater at the bottom of which sat three corpses.

Kneeling by their sides was Astír who loudly wept tearlessly. She was covered in armour but it did not look like it had been damaged.

My eyes then turned to Caligo who stood next to the two other remaining Helma.

I slowly walked towards Astír, who’s cries filled the air.

I knelt by her side and wrapped my arms around her but this only made her cry harder and as she did, the rain from that oh so familiar dark cloud fell.