Anda rotated his aching right arm and flexed it a few times as he made his way back to the hub.

He politely weaved his way past Iana's many surprisingly silent residents, but just as he got into the street where the hub was located, a hand gently tapped his shoulder from behind.

Anda turned around to find a familiar looking old man wearing a formal looking robe with a burning circle at its centre.

“Ah, nice meeting you here, Mr. Anda. My name is Vemon and I know you must be busy, but could you follow me to my office for a moment. I have many things I would like to share with you as the minister of security.” Vemon said with a gentle smile.

Anda raised his brow after seeing the five men who stood closely behind the minister.

“Mmm… alright, but I would prefer it if you gave me a quick summary of whatever you wish to share because I have business with Tasha.”

“Worry not at all. This will be brief.” Vemon said before leading Anda towards a large and beautifully designed building. Although nearly every building in Iana was made of beautiful shapes and materials.

Vemon led Anda inside it and like Anda expected, it was a beautiful place.

A large and ornate carpet greeted those who entered and the sparse sparsely decorated main hall have the building a very formal air.

Vemon led Anda into his room and it resembled Tasha’s in the sense that it was just an empty room with a small table at its end.

A few sculptures could be seen here and there and a large portrait of a certain old man sat on the wall behind the table, but that was pretty much it.

Anda and Vemon said by the table, but Anda noticed that the guards from before had followed them I the office.

“So… what was it that you wanted to say-“

“What rank is the Golden Knight?” Vemon snapped. His smile replaced with a heavy frown.

“Excuse me?” Anda asked and this seemingly infuriated Vemon, but he tried his best to suppress his rage.

“Do you not know how knight ranks work? Or have they changed? Secundair or Primair. Which one is she?”

“I think I remember lord Katsíki saying lady Yna was a Primair knight.”

“I… I see. And this Katsíki. What is he exactly?”

Anda’s eyes narrowed briefly, but he sighed before recounting everything he knew about Katsíki.

He made sure to be extremely clear about what Katsíki and Yna did to those who stood in the way of their goals.

“Dammit!” Vemon said after slamming his old hand onto his rather nice wooden table.

“Is that all the information you needed?” Anda asked, but Vemon simply raised his hand prompting two of his guards to grab Anda’s arms.

“What the- what’s the meaning of this?” Anda asked as the guards forced him onto his feet.

The rightmost guard then punched Anda in the face before punching him in the gut.

“I am making a decision in choosing not to submit.” Vemon said before waving his hand, but Anda wasn’t going to let the old man do as he pleased.

He kicked the leftmost guard in the shin and hit the nose of the other with the back of his head.

This weakened their grips just enough for him to break free of their hold.

Anda then grabbed the guard who’s nose was already bleeding before kicking him in the leg with so much force that the joint bent the wrong way.

“AAAH!” The guard cried as Anda punched the kneeling guard in the face.

The three remaining guards all raised their various weapons and all Anda did was raise his fists.

“What are you waiting for? Grab him!” Vemon yelled prompting a sword wielding guard to lash out at Anda while widely swinging his sword.

Anda carefully avoided getting cut before grabbing the guards arm and forcing his elbow to bend the wrong way.

The two other guards dashed towards Anda while thrusting their spears forward.

Anda shoved their comrade towards them, forcing them to divert their strikes.

This allowed Anda to grab one of the spear of the rightmost guard and kick him in the chest.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

Anda then used the spear’s handle to deflect the incoming attack from the other guard, who Anda promptly kicked.

It’s here that Anda thanked Yna for personally overseeing the training of him and his fellow Custodians.

He also noticed that all the guards were mostly incapacitated and so he turned his gaze towards Vemon, who cowered in the corner with his arms wrapped around his head.

Anda would have questioned Vemon about his intentions and whatnot, but he decided it would be best if he reported this to Tasha first and then Yna.

He clicked his tongue before dropping the spear and walking out of the office only to find a bunch more guards waiting him.

“Stop right there!”

“Where is the minister?”

One of the guards barked, but before Anda could even open his mouth, a certain voice could be heard yelling at the entrance of the building.

“Let me in right now!” Tasha said, prompting the guards by the door to move aside.

She then stormed into the building and locked eyes with an exasperated Anda.

“Just what in the world is going on here?” She asked.

“I’m not so sure myself.” Anda said as Tasha approached him.

He then recounted everything that happened and Tasha responded by pinching the bride of her nose.

“Please accept my deepest apologies, but may I ask that we deal with this in my office?” Tasha asked.

Anda noticed that several Rendaro were gathering by the entrance as well, but he quickly realized that Tasha wasn’t just worried about what the public thought.

If minister Vemon wasn’t afraid of the repercussions of going against lord Katsíki and had loyal guards on his side, then it made sense to discuss sensitive topics elsewhere.

“Alright.” Anda said before following Tasha out of the building and he wasn’t sure, but it seemed as though some guards were glaring at him far more intensely than others.

Anda sighed before following Tasha back into the hub and into the office where she suddenly grabbed Anda’s hand.

“Please do not report what happened today to Lady Yna!” She cried with a desperate expression.

Anda raised his hand and slowly removed hers from it before sighing.

“I’m not so sure I’ll be able to comply. You have quite a few ministers. Who knows how many are aligned with Vemon.” Anda said through gnashed teeth.

He was fighting back the urge to ask Yna to burn all of Iana, especially if all the Rendaro down here posed a threat to the Eimvals.

Tasha must have noticed this because she grabbed his hand once more and pressed it deeply into her bosom.

“I can assure you that not all my ministers bare any ill will towards you or lady Yna.” She said with trembling eyes.

“How do you know for sure?” Anda hissed, but for some reason, Tasha’s eyes widened and her cheeks grew red.

“Because I know that exactly two are actively wiling to stand in lady Yna’s way, but before I tell you their names and before we discuss how to move forward, I’d like you to assure me that no Ia blood will be will be split.”

Anda let out a grunt as the pain on his cheek and chest surfaced in his mind.

Tasha placed her small, warm hands on his swollen cheek.

“Please.” She begged.

Anda sighed again before walking towards the table and plopping down onto the soft carpet.

“Fine! Now talk. How many ministers are with Vemon?” Anda asked as Tasha sat uncomfortably close to him.

“Only one other. The minister of health, Leiv. The other two are subservient to me and I can guarantee that they are not-“

“Why don’t you want me to report this? Lady Yna would most likely punish them only-“

“Do you really believe that?” Tasha asked.

Anda crossed his arms and Tasha wrapped her arms around them before blankly looking at nothing.

“We both know very well that lady Yna is looking for an excuse to initiate the other stage of her plan and although I wouldn’t really mind if Vemon died, I know it wouldn’t end with just him.” Tasha said softly.

“That and Leiv is the greatest healer the Ia have ever known. He has helped us overcome so much that I… the Ia owe him a great debt.” She muttered.

Anda droned in understanding before looking up thoughtfully.

But before he could organize any of his thoughts, Tasha gently squeezed his arm.

“Please… let us at least try to deal with this by ourselves.” She pleaded and Anda noticed that she was far more flustered that before. Her breathing had grown so heavy that he could feel it bathing his neck in a moist warmth. Her eyes were also narrowed scarily.

Anda slowly nodded although it was more of a reflex than a conscious movement.

Tasha smiled and moved her lips next to Anda’s ear.

“Thank you.” She said before pushing him down.

“What are you doing?” Anda asked. He was more confused than flustered by the way things were turning out.

Tasha undid the knot that held her gown closed before pressing her hands onto Anda’s chest.

“D-don’t worry. I know more than anyone that nothing comes without cost. I can also see that you were hurt back in Vemon’s office. I may not be able to take the pain away, but at least I can help your mind focus on something else while your injuries heal. That is the duty of a woman, no? To offer comfort when it’s needed?” Tasha asked as she unbuttoned Anda’s jacket.

“I’m pretty sure such duties are for the man in question’s beloved to perform.” Anda said flatly.

“Oh? Don’t tell me you have someone waiting for you in Eimval.” Tasha said with a saddened face.

“I don’t, but still. We shouldn’t be doing this. I’d rather we spent our time trying to figure out how to deal with our predicament.” Anda said as Tasha removed his jacket.

“Ah, but that’s the thing, sweet Anda. I already know what I will do, how I will do it and when it’ll happen. All I need is your support.”

Anda nodded before grabbing Tasha’s ass and sitting up.

She gasped a little as Anda’s eyes locked with hers.

“Go on.”

“Before I tell you my plan, allow me to explain myself and how things work around here. Every one in eight guards is exclusively loyal to me. Some of those guards work for the ministers yes, but they ultimately still serve me. That is how I have managed to lead the Ia with little to no issue. If my guards think that a minister is doing something behind my back, they tell me and I take care of it.” Tasha said as she removed part of her gown, allowing Anda to see her small, pointy breasts.

“Touch me as you please- ah!” Tasha gasped Anda pulled her closer to him. He then kissed her neck, returning her plump lips to his ear once more.

“I know almost everything there is to know about Iana and its people. The ministers are no exception. This means that I know that Vemon won’t be hard to dissuade. His current actions are fuelled by fear. The fear of change-“

“Weren’t you the same when we first arrived?” Anda asked as he raised his head to looking into Tasha’s beautiful dark eyes.

“I… everyone is afraid of change. But I am short of options and so I welcomed that change in the hopes that something good could come of it and… I feel as though it already has.” Tasha said as she undid the golden bow that held Anda’s long hair up and like waves of black smoke, it fell.

“And Leiv? How will we convince him to snuff out any plans of open hostility he may have?” Anda asked before grabbing and gently squeezing Tasha’s right breast.

“That… I do not know.”

“I thought you said-“

“I know what I said. But… my father is a very peculiar individual.”