Adventure.

Swords and shields. Beasts and magic.

No one has ever had interest in those kinds of stuff.

There was no chance, they said. It was impossible, they said. Because all of them were just children. With neither home nor family.

As if those little facts had somehow deprived them of rights to having hopes and dreams.

They refused to believe. Or more correctly, denied wanting to.

Winston knew, that deep down, they did have their own aspirations.

Rather selfish ones however.

They all wanted care and affection. Love. Families. Typical of the silly kids that they were. Longing to receive, but not ever of giving.

They couldn't really be blamed though. They were orphans.

At least growing up with them allowed Winston to understand both emptiness and helplessness. The feelings of being alone and unprotected.

More and more, those fed his desire to become a knight.

So he could grant others what he never really got for himself.

He wanted to give his life to the world.

To other people.

But no one ever listened.

Except.

A brown-haired child frolicked on a rooftop. "Wow! Wow! The kingdom's castle looks so beautiful from here! Open your eyes, Tony! Look at it!"

"Spell, will you cut it down?" The eight year old Winston grumbled, lying on his back. "If Madame Editha hears you and finds out we're up here, both of us are gonna be screwed."

"Oh no. That's right." Spell covered his mouth. "Sorry!"

"Just sit by me, will you?"

The little kid showed a shy smile and half-unwillingly obliged.

"Just keep quiet. Enjoy the air up here. Not everyone can find a spot just for themselves, you know?"

"Huh?" Spell blinked. "How am I supposed to enjoy air?"

"Just breathe it in!"

"Breathe it in? Well then, I've been enjoying it this whole time." Spell blinked twice more, then directed his attention back at the castle. "Hey Tony. Do you think we could ever get in there?"

Winston pulled himself up. "What? The castle?"

"Yeah. I heard the queen is really nice. I would love to meet her. But I'd love to look around the castle more. They say her walls are decorated with beautiful gemstones! It's my dream to get inside so I could take one for myself. Hihihi."

"You can't steal from the castle, you psycho." Winston followed Spell's gaze.

Cirrus clouds were drifting along breezes over the Kingdom of Iris. There hasn't been rain for over a week, and there probably wouldn't be for another. Yet rainbows were arching left and right. The castle stood as straight as a beacon of light, and glistened as brightly with hundreds of colors. Winston could only feel sorry for whoever maintained the paint.

"Just so you know though, it's actually my dream too to be in a castle someday."

"Whaaat? Get your own dream!"

"It doesn't work like that!" Winston scowled. "But seriously. Once I become a knight, I could even live in that thing. I'll also be able to go on endless adventures! I could protect people from monsters, help defend the kingdom, and so much more!"

Spell gazed into Winston's eyes. "Ohh. I never thought about that."

"You little brats never do."

The kid giggled. "Hey Tony! You can have my dream!"

"What? Why give it up so easily? We can both have that dream."

"I just figured. Once you achieve that dream of yours, you'll take me with you anyway, right? So might as well I spend mine on something else!"

Winston frowned at air.

"I'll join your adventures! Then we can live in the castle together. And then I'll take all the gemstones that I want!"

"Spell! You'll get yourself in the dungeon."

"Not if they'll never know! Hihihi."

"Psychopath."

That kid.

He was really something.

The way he looked at things was unlike any others whom Winston have met. Not that Winston had met so many at that point in time. But, looking back, his point of view still stood rather unique. He was the only one who believed Winston too.

That little kid.

If only that invasion never happened, maybe Winston and him would still be together.

"I wonder where he is now."

"In the castle's vault. King Lux left the portal open for you." Ethan slapped Winston at the back, bringing him thirteen years forward, back into the present. "He never does that for security's sake. He must really wanna speak with you."

"How do I get to the portal?" Winston scratched his head. "I haven't really taken time to stroll around."

"I'm coming with you. No worries. I'll be meeting up with Mistress Opa in about fifteen minutes though, so we gotta be quick."

"Wonderful."

Sunday. Around 2:00 PM.

Winston still couldn't believe he spent the entire Saturday rolling in his bed. Add the fact he wasn't even able to open his eyes until noon today. Was he really that beat up after the fight with Erudon's zealots? From what he could recall, he swung his sword twice and that was it. Even the other White Knights who received considerably more damage took way faster to recover. How pitiful.

"Ethan, we're gonna need something to talk about while walking together. Can you tell me what happened when I got knocked out?"

"You don't remember huh?"

"The last thing I do is when I casted that Ice Spell."

"Aha." Ethan looked at the ceiling, rubbing his chin with his thumb and index. "You were able to freeze Zeal. Toe to head. But he seemed to stay conscious for a minute or two because frostbite did affect you. If Thomas hadn't come and used his magic on you, you probably would have died of hypothermia."

"You guys did manage to capture Zeal though, right?"

"Lion used his last ring on him. The four of them are now in the Royal Prison." Ethan massaged his neck. "We'll probably have to escort them to the Kingdom of Dike some time in the future."

Winston nodded.

"Hearth Magic! Restore!"

Burnt curtains gradually regenerated as a housekeeper directed magic into them.

She looked at the knights passing the corridor. "Hey there, Sir Ethan! Care to introduce me?"

"Of course. This here is Sir Winston of the Royal Circle, and here Winston we have Mistress Adelaida, one of the castlekeepers."

"Hello there, Sir!" She curtsied.

"Glad to meet you. " Winston gave a bow. "You use magic to repair?"

"Mhmm." Adelaida casted a spell to reassemble the light bulbs of ceiling medallions. "Like Mistress Opa, I've been here for a while. But unlike her, I was hired from the House of Hestia. Speaking of Mistress Opa, she's been waiting for you at the armory, Ethan."

"What?! She's already there?!"

"Mhmm."

The man bolted leaving a full kilometer between him and Winston, before finally barking out, "Hurry up, now! I gotta get to her quick! I can't leave the lady waiting! Otherwise death himself will be waiting for me!"

Adelaida giggled, pressing a blue audipath in her ear. "He'll be there soon, Mistress."

Winston gave Adelaida another bow, for farewell, then ended up chasing Ethan before he was too far to follow.

Winston understood how it's impolite to have someone waiting for too long. But did Ethan really have to be so scared? Mistress Opa wasn't at all frightening when they met last Monday. On the contrary, she seemed like the nicest. Then again, perhaps Ethan's relationship with her was more fragile. Like a romantic one that the man preferred not severed. Maybe that's why he panicked.

*******

"Alright! Here you are!" Ethan drew quick, hoarse breaths, concluding their three minute sprint to a portal in a narrow hallway. "That's to the vault. Just jump right in. King Lux should be waiting at the other side. I'll be on my own way before Mistress Opa murders me."

"Thank you, Etha--"

The man scooted so quickly, he probably didn't even hear Winston's thanks. Hopefully he at least collected enough air before continuing that little fun run.

Anyways. To the vault!

The portal's particles swirled quicker as Winston took his steps through.

At the other side, his welcomes were the rays of cheery sunlight pouring through a glass wall, and a kind smile on the bright face of the King of Dreams himself.

Breathtaking.

How did people stay alive after meeting the king?

"Glad you've finally awaken. Have you had the chance to eat yet?"

The author's content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

"Oh uhh." Winston mentally punched himself. "Yes. Yes, Your Majesty. I went straight to the saloon after waking up in the infirmary."

"Did you drink at all?"

Winston let out a little laugh. "My head was heavy enough."

"I see. That certainly didn't stop Gian and Slate yesterday. Good old drunkards, they are." King Lux turned around to face a purple orb swiveling at the center of the room. "I'm relieved to know you still have concern over your personal welfare. After that night, I thought you've given up all of it."

That night? Aha. He was probably alluding to what Winston said. When he basically admitted he'd be willing to sacrifice himself for the king.

"I didn't call you here to reprimand you, by the way. There are just things I'd like to ask about. Although, I would like to take a moment, too, just to establish that I think wanting to give your life up for me is absolutely ridiculous. Pointless and wasteful! Think about it. I'm just one person. If you could stay alive, how many more could you possibly save?"

"Ah." Another light laugh escaped Winston. "You are reprimanding me then, huh?"

King Lux wrapped himself in his own arms. "I guess I am. It's just that...it's hard to explain...but I never would have lost my life anyway even if you didn't make that sacrifice."

Winston fell on his knee. "King Lux."

The king turned again to be able to see him.

"The moment I became a Knight of Dreams, I've already given up my entire life for you and the Kingdom of Morpheus. When it comes to a point where my life needs spilling, for you and your people's sake, I'd have no hesitation nor thought to hold me back. This place is where dreams come true. It's always been my dream to give my life up for those of others. Even the God of Dreams won't be able to stop that, right?"

Awe lingered upon King Lux's face as he gazed. It was as if Winston's words have revived slumbering snippets in His Majesty's memories.

"King Lux. My life is yours."

A rosy splash washed over the king's face as he looked away. "W-Well, I know it is! Of course it's your job to protect us. But keeping yourself safe should be part of it too, okay?"

"Haha. I'll keep myself alive as much as my abilities allow me." Winston stood back up.

"In any case, I do need to thank you." The king's blush deepened. "All your silliness aside, I'm only able to reprimand you now because you did manage to save me. Hence, from the bottom of my heart, I hereby humbly thank you, Sir Winston Hickright-Hedge." King Lux curtsied.

Sir Winston Hickright-Hedge. Did the king really just say Winston's full name? With title too. And! Without stuttering.

A big part of Winston was really happy about that.

"Now. As I mentioned earlier, I wanted you here because of several questions I needed to ask." King Lux raised his hand to present that purple orb. "Have you any idea what this object is? A concentration of pure divine energy only gods are able to feed."

A God Relic. The most forcible objects in the entire universe. So powerful were they that every single one governed a concept of reality. From what Winston knew, they were supposed to stay in gods' bodies. Not too surprising one was just floating in Morpheus though. There was no longer a god there.

"Since Astel couldn't live anymore to keep it housed, he extracted it from himself and left it in this vault under my protection. Many gods have tried to take it for themselves in the past three years. But external threats are actually the least of my concerns."

"Is it running out of power?"

"Slowly. The amount of divine energy Astel used to coat it with should last for at least a century. According to my calculations." King Lux used his magic to summon his computations in the form of floating numbers.

Winston smiled shyly. "I knew they should've taught algebra back in the academy."

"As long as you understand that the energy will run out at some point, then I'm sure you've already grasped what I'm anxious about the most. A century sounds quite long, but, since we don't know when the Spirit of Morpheus will reawaken, there's really no telling if we have enough time."

"How long typically does it take for a god's spirit to be reborn?" Winston took several steps forward so he could study the orb closer.

"The gods' most recent reawakening was in the year 2086. The last time before that was 2836 years prior. Some of them did wake up sooner, however, which was what brought upon Astel's idea."

The numbers rearranged to show how King Lux got that result.

Winston crossed his arms. "A century sounds too short all of a sudden."

"Indeed."

"What question must I give an answer to though? Between the two of us, you're the one who's closer to being a god, so I doubt I can give much of an input."

"The other night." King Lux moved to be in front of Winston, staring sanguinely into the knight's eyes. "You used Khione's Breath. A spell that can only be casted by the Lips of Khione."

"Is that a God Relic?"

"Correct. Even gods have long been perplexed by the fact that snow still exists even though there hasn't been a God of Frost for millennia. The Lips of Khione must have long been destroyed." King Lux pointed at the gleaming gemstone affixed in Winston's hilt. "Unless the goddess has somehow found a way to keep her relic intact."

Winston hurried to touch the hilt. "Are you saying...?"

"I think your power stone might be the long lost artifact. Where did you get it from? And how did you use that spell?"

Khione's Breath.

On the night of that battle, Winston was stationed with Odess. They were supposed to fight Navi Dimegent together. But when the time came to strike, Winston heard a voice asking him to go elsewhere. That was the same voice he heard when he was bathing in his room last Tuesday. It asked him to enter the Frozen World. Then suddenly he was transported to a cold, white dimension. He was stuck there for a while. Couldn't tell how long. Then a lady showed up saying her name was Khione, and that she would lend Winston her breath if he promised he could somehow warm her soul. How Winston would do that, he wasn't sure, but boldly made the promise anyway.

King Lux's eyes earnestly investigated the sword in his hands. With his thumb, he delicately caressed a circle around the socket. "It sounds like you spoke with the goddess. How is she still alive? Gods can only stay immortal if they don't have relics inside of them. Well, maybe that's the key. The relic obviously isn't inside her. As bizarre as this may sound, it's her who seems to be inside it. But how?"

Winston hummed to think. "Would you like me to forward your questions to her when we meet again?"

King Lux handed the sword back to the knight. "It'll be much appreciated. If you also kindly visit the merchant whom you bought the stone from, maybe you can ask for more information there as well."

Winston nodded.

"Thank you, again, Winston. With your help, I'm sure we'll be able to secure the future of dreams." King Lux looked down to see a giant clock under the floor. "Now one more thing. I want you to proceed to the Quest Hall. It's 2:58. I'm pretty sure you'll be able to catch Thomas and the others there if you start heading now."

"Is there something you want me to tell them?"

That bright smile returned on King Lux's face. "Having done a great job on your first mission as Knights of Dreams, you deserve to be rewarded. Join Thomas and the others. I'm sure you guys will have a great time."

At the Quest Hall? Normally what people went there for were missions or jobs. Winston would obviously enjoy taking part in one. Although he presently wasn't capable.

Regardless, that was worded as an order, by King Lux no less, so Winston was more than pleased to oblige.

The knight executed a farewell bow.

*******

Walking the hallways once again, he realized that the Quest Hall's location has never really entered his knowledge. Gladly Clarence happened to cross his path and was heading to the Hall as well. Otherwise Winston would have spent eternities in the labyrinth-like corridors.

"Our pay is every week. King Lux made it that way because we jeopardize our lives nearly as often." Clarence explained. "Imagine working so hard only to miss your wage fourteen days after your last breath."

"Makes sense. So then the paymasters hangout at the Quest Hall?"

As they entered the said room, Clarence gestured at a counter where two ladies were computing with the same Number Magic that King Lux had used.

"Your total for this week is two malagmium, seventy amalgium, and three algium." The coins appeared as the paymaster slid her fingers along the countertop.

"Hey, hey!" Lion approached. "Finally awake!"

Winston rubbed his eyes. "Probably gonna need more than I've already gotten."

Lion's fingers went to scratch his head as he snickered.

"You did run out, huh?"

"Yeah." Lion looked at his ringless hands. "No worries though. Since I've collected my pay for the week, I can just buy more as soon as tonight."

At a corner, the White Knights Icarus, Blake, Gian, and Slate, were repelling some people, with their thunderous jovial laughs.

A kind of familiar mage with brunette hair squealed her heart out. "I can't wait to tell you. I've been hearing about their mission since yesterday."

A knight in blue held his hips. "It's probably what they're so happy about. Just saying."

"Here! Here!" Slate raised his sword. "What kind of creature loves holding so much?"

"What?" Icarus, Blake, and Gian asked.

"A Gripfin!"

"HAHAHA!!!" All four began rolling on the floor.

Odess stared emotionless at the men. "Are they...saying jokes?"

Linus snickered. "They're putting all the baronets to shame, Lady Odess. So unacceptable. I think they deserve some torture."

Odess raised her hand. "What do you call a butterfly with no wings?"

"Whaaat?!"

"A butterflightless."

"Did I seriously just hear you say a dad joke?!" Linus lost all the color from his face.

"What's the past tense of a fish?"

"No! Not another one! Where's my sister?! We need to get out of here."

"Umm." Bling was looking down, biting her bottom lip. "I haven't taken a moment to apologise for what happened then. You know, when I--"

"Tch."

Bling flinched.

Dorias has been leaning back, his arms stiffly crossed. "We won, didn't we? Doesn't matter."

The girl lowered her head, as if obsidian had just piled up over her. "I'm still sorry."

"Listen. I made a mistake too. In our line of work, errors are pretty much inevitable. The first times are forgiveable because we can always learn from those. Seconds? Thirds? Let them assist you in reassessing if you truly belong where you are."

Bling's eyes expanded, glinting with surprise and inspiration.

"Remember that and consider yourself forgiven."

The girl shut her eyes. "Understood, sir."

"Good."

Rin's teeth grinded like stones igniting fire. "That little bitch. Who does she think she is to compete with me?"

Gleen shook coins in her palm. "Forget about that. Start planning what you're gonna be spending for. I don't wanna get stuck shopping with you again."

"Poison." Rin's eyes narrowed. "I'm gonna buy tons of poison."

"Honestly." Talc sighed, collecting her pay from the counter. "You're scarier than any fear I could ever summon. Just give up on him. Neither you nor Bling has a chance."

"I won't be losing your challenge."

"Your time wasted. Not mine."

"Another one?!" Growled a bald man guarding a stack of envelopes. He was probably the questmaster. "You've already done five today."

Alder gritted his teeth. "Exactly. Already done. I need more."

Sat on a bench, Ling was gazing at her nails. "What's that idiot doing?"

Ara giggled. "After breaking his hand last Friday, Alder has been grinding to complete as many missions as he can."

"He says he wants to be stronger," added Synth.

"That Royal Circle Knight is crazy," whispered a mage.

"Dude. They're pretty strong," mumbled another one. "I bet they can finish hundreds in a day."

Layla hissed. "Just give the bastard one so he leaves. I've been on queue forever."

"Fine." The questmaster took an envelope and handed it to Alder. "This'll be your last for today."

"Alright!" The amber wizard siezed the paper container.

As Thomas was watching Alder too, the knight's attention promptly transferred to Winston, Lion, and Clarence as Alder darted past them. "Winston! Over here."

Lion and Clarence waved curtly. Lion proceeding to exit, and Clarence falling in a paymaster's line.

Thomas pointed at the envelope stack. "Since you've finally opened your eyes, let's go on that adventure we talked about."

"I just woke up, Thomas."

"Bah. I know you. Just one more rest tonight, and you'll be at full condition by tomorrow!"

"Sometimes you just feel like getting me killed, don't you?"

"Hehe."

"Finally!" Layla unsealed an envelope she got and proceeded to read the letter.

"Wait." The questmaster squinted.

Alder puppy-eyed.

"How are you back already?!"

The wizard slapped a letter onto the counter. "Done."

"You can't be serious."

"Signed and all! Give me another one!"

"No!"

"Come on, old man!"

"No, no, no! I won't be responsible for a baronet's death!"

"Come ooooon!"

"Grr. Ugh. If you really wanna do another quest, join that lady." The questmaster pointed at Layla.

"Wait. What?" The woman froze.

"She's a newbie. She's required to have a senior party-mate on her first quest outside the castle."

Alder grumbled. "She's a Royal Circle member! She can handle herself."

"Baronets are not excused."

Layla's frozen body quickly thawed. "Wait! Wait just a second. I can choose a senior on my own! I don't want this guy!"

Alder scowled. "Why not...?"

"You're too immature!"

"You can't see through me!"

"I can! And I can see you're immature inside and out!"

"What?! I'll show you."

"Show what?"

"That I'm not immature."

"That's immature."

"No it's not. You're wrong. And you know what? I'm coming with you just to spite you!" Alder snatched the letter from Layla.

"Hey! Thief!"

"I'm your senior. Sit down."

"Come on, Winston!" Thomas wrapped an arm around his friend. That's really become a habit of his. "Alder's hogging all of the quests so we better hurry before they run out."

"Your total for the week is four malagmium," a paymaster announced.

Mycela picked up the coins and slipped them to a knapsack. "You heard the man. Since that'll be your first mission outside the castle too, you'll also be required to have a senior come with you."

"Hey, Mycela!" Thomas greeted.

The lady headed over to face the knights. "I'm free by tomorrow."

Cass and Ronald popped up. "Can we come too?!"

Ronald saluted. "We're also your seniors. We're qualified to come with you too."

"That. And...well...." Cass's index fingers poked at each other. "The truth is, the two of us felt rather useless last Friday. We've been looking to make up for it by doing quests, but we've nearly died after our first two."

Ronald giggled awkwardly as he patted his own head.

"Oh." Thomas checked for Winston's reaction. "I definitely wouldn't mind."

An amicable smile on Winston's face infected those of the rest of them. "Assuming I've agreed to go. The more people to make up for my handicaps, the better."

Thomas coughed a short chuckle. "In Winston's language, that's basically a yes."

"Alright!" Cass, Ronald, and Mycela cheered on.

Winston elbowed Thomas. "Since the three of them are coming, we'll just split the rewards to equal fours. You promised, remember?"

"Oh. Uhh. Hehe." Thomas palmed his head. "I was kinda hoping you'd forget about that in your sleep."

"Not a chance."

"Oh well. Let's pick out a quest now but save reading it tomorrow. We shouldn't be thinking about it until we're ready to head out."

"Agreed!" Mycela nodded. "For now, let's all enjoy our pays. The saloon's probably grown so rickety after waiting too long."

Back at that corner, still avoided by people, the White Knights were still guffawing. And Odess has actually joined them too.

Blake wheezed for a breath. "What a gem, Odess. What! A! Gem!"

Gem.

Winston glanced at his sword's hilt.

If Spell was there, he probably would have won everyone's hearts already. He probably would have been pilfering their power stones too. That psychopath.

But now that Winston was thinking about him. He realized:

King Lux looked a bit like Spell. They were about the same age too. And, when King Lux was gazing into Winston's power stone earlier, the knight couldn't help but see the king as Spell grown up.

Admiring a gemstone.

Spell had brown hair though. If only the king's hair wasn't as golden as it was.