In the distance Neal could hear the sounds of bells, two in total. It was 2 in the afternoon. Something he could have confirmed by looking at the clock on his nearby table.

He looked over the paper on his desk once more. It wasn’t that long, a few lines kissing up to someone who wouldn’t matter after he submitted it, but in short it said, ‘I quit’. He picked up the pen one last time and put his signature and date at the bottom.

Holding it for a moment, he reconsidered for the might have been the hundred time. His mind wouldn’t change though, he knew this was the right path. “The only path forward.” He whispered to himself.

As Neal stood up from the desk he turned to look in the corner. There in a messy pile was his armor. For a moment, he considered putting it on, or at least taking it with him. But it seemed like a lot of work for something that probably didn't even matter. He wasn't about to carry the armor. And it didn't feel right to put it on again. Once he turned in his resignation, once it was approved. Then he could deal with it.

His stomach rumbled lightly. He was hungry, but he just didn't feel like eating. In fact he hadn't eaten anything since Saturday. That was very rare for him. He liked food. He liked making it and eating it. But anytime he sat down to eat, he just couldn't force it down. He could chew it but recently things have just kind of lost their taste and flavor. It wasn't the first time he felt this way, and when your mouth tries to swallow a pad of flavorless paste, it just doesn't go down.

Opening the large ornate door, Neal left his fancy apartment. He didn't bother to lock the door. There was no point. Not only didn't he have anything to steal, the apartment complex itself was fairly secure. There was always a guard on duty downstairs that wouldn't let anyone who wasn't a resident in. If a thief did want in, they'd have to be clever enough to get around all that. A simple lock on the door wouldn't matter. At least, that's what he told himself.

It didn't really matter either way.

Outside, the Upper City had fully returned to normal. People of the various races moved about without a worry or care. As was normal for the upper city, it was mostly the light races and a few neutral walking around.. Occasionally you might catch sight of a dark race. They'd probably be doing some menial tasks like taking out trash or cleaning. It wasn't that none of them lived in the Upper City, they were just very, very rare. Even rarer where the humans like himself. As far as he knew, he was the only one.

Walking past a particular intersection. He saw that same Adlet. The high guard could be a jerk and he still looked down on the humans, even him. But Neal supposed he wasn't all bad. If it wasn't for him, he'd probably still be in jail. For a second, the Adlet glared at him before nodding and looking away. It was hard to tell if it was out of respect or maybe just pity.

Reaching the castle was surprising how busy it was Inside. Guards of various flavors and ranks ran about. It seemed like everyone was still cleaning up from the human enclave mess. In truth, it would be weeks, maybe even months, before things fully return to normal. He was curious about what the Princess and queen ultimately decided to do. Somehow they had to have negotiate a ceasefire, a peace accord or something. What had they offered the humans in exchange? Well, it was no more business than his. He was done with the guard, done with royalty, done with the castle, done with everything.

Watching them all run around though, it made him wonder did he play any real part? What's his advice useful at all? It almost felt like he was a background character in his own story..

He wondered what would happen after this. Without the guard, without a reason to stay, why would he stay? There was nothing in the city for him. He had considered going to the human enclave and seeing what it was like, but that seemed like a horrible idea. Despite being around other humans, somehow it felt like there was even less there. Not just food or other resources, but, it was hard to explain. He just didn't feel like he fit in anywhere.

Perhaps leaving the city was the only choice forward. He had no idea what awaited him outside of it. Undoubtedly, it would be much worse. And yet saying here was becoming intolerable. Maybe worse would actually be better in some ways. But like all his plans, he knew that was unlikely. It was easier to stay here, so he probably would. Always taking the easy path is what he did and it was just his nature. Even if he hated it.

“One side please.” A common guard, judging by the armor, pushed past him on their way out of the castle.

That guard seemed like he was in a real hurry. Like almost everyone else in the castle, he had somewhere to be today. Well, aside from Neal. Technically, Neal had nothing to do. This letter was a mere formality. The coins he was getting from the guard were pittance. He knew that. If he ever needed more, the crown would happily give it to him anyway. No, this letter was about the point, the principle. If he wasn't truly a part of the guard, then he needed to remove himself from it. It wasn't right for someone to call themselves a soldier, a warrior if they weren't.

Neal made his way to the southeast parts of the castle. That was where most of the guards kept their offices. Teuta has an office here, Neal had been to it once or twice. That dark elf was a strange one. But still a good man. Well, it wasn't like he was going anywhere right away. He would still be able to see him at this sleeping pig. Teuta, Mith, Hastam, and all the other friends he had made. ‘Friends’, he thought to himself. Yeah, he guessed that was right. So long as he stayed in the city, he had them.

As he approached the offices deep inside the castle, it got colder and darker. While this part of the castle wasn't neglected by any means. It was Spartan. The various guards, captains, and generals all like things to be simple. It was easier, and that seemed to cross world lines.

The occasional sign pointed in the right direction. There were only three branches listed on any of them. Each a sub-branch of the Royal Guard. The Solar Guard, The Lunar Guard, and the newly formed ‘Crystal Guard’, which appeared to have been Recently added to the sign. In fact, as Neal grew closer, he could see the recently added addition was already crossed off and under it in handwriting were the words ‘Beauties Guard’.

He shook his head and smirked. He had heard rumors of this supposed Ice Queen and her fickle nature. It was surprising to see a detachment so far away from her territories. But perhaps it could make sense. This was the general headquarters for all the Royal Guard, of which the Crystal or Beauties Guard was a part of.

Neal continued to follow the signs, following the arrows pointing towards the Lunar Guard. Again, the castle grew ever darker as he proceeded deeper into the Lunar Guard’s hallway. Conversely, the passages of the Solar Guard all appeared lighter. Perhaps it was just irony, but the lighter races seemed to prefer brighter spaces. Whereas the darker races seemed to prefer dimmer ones. Not all, but it seemed to hold for many.

Door after door, office after office. There were names Neal did not recognized nor seen before. Various first captains and 2nd captains. A handful of generals. And a rank he hadn't seen before, a master general, that appeared a scant few times.

It was here that Neil fell on the one door he was looking for. The plaque on it, read Master General Torrent, Lunar Guard. Standing before it, he considered the door for a moment and was tempted to knock on its surface, before he was stopped. Behind him was a desk sitting in a shadow. Sitting at that desk was a dark elf. It was hard to tell, but it appeared to be a she. The dark elf cleared her throat once and interrupted him. “Do you have an appointment with the General?”

The dark elf didn't appear to be in any kind of uniform. It was hard to tell if she was with the Lunar Guard or perhaps some kind of civilian. A civilian would make sense. Even on Earth civilians would work in the military. Regardless, she seemed to be some kind of gatekeeper for the generals, perhaps some kind of secretary or assistant.

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“I'm sorry, I miss, I don't have an appointment. I've never seen the General before, but I was told that I need to drop this letter off to him.” With a bit of a tremble, he held the letter in his hands.

The dark elf gaze at what was in his hand. Curious, she asked if she could see it. As he handed it over to her he watched her face as she read it. “I see.” Was all that she said.

To the side of her desk, she tapped something that looked like a crystal and whispered something into it. For a moment, Neal was fascinated by the device. Some kind of magical communication device, he wondered. Like a telephone?

There was a subtle but audible click behind him. It sounded as if General Torrent’s door made the noise, like it was unlocked.

The dark elf nodded with a sorrowful smile. “It seems General Torrent would like to see you. now.”

Neal pushed the general's door open. It was larger and heavier than he realized, it’s shape made it deceptive.

Entering the dark space beyond it, the first thing he noticed was just how large the space felt. He couldn’t tell how big it was in actually, the shadows along the edges where the walls should have been hid that truth from him. The air was warm, kept that way by the roaring fire pit in the center, which added light to the shadows. Yet still, there was this strange coldness that permeated the otherwise temperate air.

There were eyes on him. He couldn’t explain how he knew, but something in this space was watching him from somewhere in it. No, not the shadows, that was to obvious, somewhere else. A silent noise, a whisper of nothing moving above caught him off guard. Instinctively, the echo of near silence caused him to jump backward.

The creature appeared before him, crouching on the ground, still and silent. If he had not just seen it move, Neal may have mistaken it for an old and cracked stature.

Beyond that though, if he hadn’t moved back at that moment, it would have pounced on him. Then what? It was clear the creature had several hidden blades on its hip. Attached by a well-worn and weathered belt. In fact, its whole outfit had an appearance of age and neglect, not too indifferent from the creature itself which was now looking at him with cloudy amber eyes.

Snap, crackle and pop. The creature’s body made subtle noises as it, as he stood up. The weathering of the ages was apparent on the old bat’s rugged face. White hair and whiter fur cover him in many places but equally so were large spots marked by large and deep scars. A mesh of skin on his right side showed a burn mark from long ago. His body was a testament to a hard battle worn life in an otherwise peaceful world. What conflicts had this creature seen in his long life?

Neal felt tension though out his body as he waited for the creature to jump at him again. How did he know it was hostile? Perhaps it was its old eyes, the way they pierced him. Like a predator in the night.

“You moved. Late, but quick enough.” The bat’s voice was like the pages of an old book, raspy and with a crispness that felt like it might crumble apart in your hands.

There was pause long and distressing as the bat continued to study the human that intruded into his space. A feeling of emptiness coaxed a response from Neal, “I almost didn’t. I could tell something was off but I couldn’t see where.”

“Darkness favors us bats. We don’t need our eyes to see like you do, human.” The bat’s words continued their raspy yet monotoned sound, except for that last word. There was venom in the way he said ‘Human’.

It was not hard to tell, but for some reason the bat did not like him. No, it wasn't him per se. It was something deeper. His race, his species. The general moved, seemingly floating somewhere towards the other side of the room. Neal walked after him. “Uh, General Torrent? I have a letter I need to give you.”

The general ignored him and continued to move towards what looked like a table. A table which was very ornate. It looked like some kind of marble and some other rock, almost jewel encrusted. There were squares in the top 8 by 8. A chess board of sorts. Given the pieces the game looked a lot similar as well.

The general sat down at the table. “It's rare that I have anyone to play with. Please sit.” Despite the word please, it did not sound like a request.

Sighing lightly and briefly he sat down. In truth, he didn't want to play a game. He just wanted to drop off his letter and then leave. He needed to figure out what to do with the rest of his life. Spending it here didn't seem to be an option anymore.

“Do you know this game?” The bat’s voice was cold and direct.

Neal looked over the board. And then shook his head. “Probably not. It looks like a game on my world called chess, but I'm not sure.”

“The rules are simple enough; each piece can move a certain way. Pieces capture other pieces by moving on top of them. You lose this piece, the queen, and you lose the game. The goal is to set up a move that captures this piece.” The general continued, describing the various rules. It wasn't that long.

Really. It actually was a lot like chess, the starting position and name of the pieces were different. Instead of the king, the Queen was the key piece and had the same movements you’d expect of the king. The Queen was replaced with the general, a piece that could move 2 squares in all directions, including non-diagonals. Bishops were called archers and were where the knights started. The rooks were called mages but moved the same. The paws were of course pawns, just called peasants instead.

There were no fancy rules like en pasant, or castling. At least, the bat didn’t mention there were. The rules were only briefly explained to him, and he was never one for chess in the first place.

The first few moves seemed normal enough. Neal moved a piece then the General moved a piece, back and forth, turn by turn. It was a little enjoyable to play a game after so long. But it became quickly apparent that he was outmatched.

The silence in the room was broken only about the click and the clack of the pieces as they tapped on the board. It was a deafening quiet. Once Neal tried to break with conversation. Only for the bat to tell him to stop.

“Do you normally talk in the middle of games?” His question seemed rhetorical.

Given the Bats attitude, Neal expected the bat would talk with someone else, just not him.

Neal spent more time on each of his moves than the general did, considering and looking at the board, trying to plot, trying to understand. But he just couldn't. He was never good at these kinds of games.

After a short while, it became evident they were nearing the end of the game. Fore Neal, one thing had become certain. “I am not good at this.”

The bat glared at him in annoyance as he took another piece, but humored his voice this time. “Why would you say that?”

It was hard to tell if the bat was mocking him or just making a joke. Neal could only retort with a huff of a laugh, “Heh, I mean just look at the board.”

“What about it?” The bat asked as he picked up another piece.

Neal watched it move to his side of the board, behind the starting point. “Well, I’m losing. I have less pieces than you and…”

“A fool could see the less pieces… and what else?” The old bat’s eye’s squinted, like he was trying to get a read on a difficult book.

“Well, I don’t have the center. I’ve got some defense around my queen, but, I can see it’s not enough. It looks like your doing something back here. I don’t know what but… This is why I hate chess, or what ever this is.”

The general rubbed at his chin as he took a moment longer to consider his final moves. “You have a very good eye, and your logic is sound.”

The general moved one of the pieces on the board and then glared at him. It was obvious now. Neal stared at the board, he would lose in the next few moves. Looking at the board, there was only one move that made any sense, and it wasn't a good one. Instead, he picked a piece at random and moved that.

The general seemed flustered, almost angry. He moved another piece to a place Neal was not expecting. Not that he was expecting lunch to begin with. “Why are you here, human?” Once more, the bat glared at him.

Neal stared the note that was still in his hand. “I was planning to drop off my resignation.” Again. He made a move on the board.

The general aggressively scratched his chin. “Why?” He spoke between gritting teeth.

You can only manage huff before he responded, “With all due respect, no one wants me here. Add to that my captain is refusing to give me orders, just tells me to collect my coin and leave. The crown already gives me a stipend, I don’t need more.” With that, Neil threw his arm in the air. That's the general took another piece.

Despite sealing the game, the general still seemed angry. “Why are you here at all? Why did you choose the guard?”

“I didn’t, not really.” There was no moves left to play, This old bat had completely forced his hand. The only moves left were counters, and if he followed them, it ended in defeat. “That is… I feel like the guard chose me. Even back on earth, I know you probably don’t believe that but-“

The General interrupted him as he placed the piece on the board. One more move left.

“On the contrary. If there’s anyone here beyond the princess and that rabbit of hers that believes you, it’s me. I saw the reports. The princess wouldn’t lie about that and Coruscis is trustworthy.”

Neal did not move the last piece. There was no point. He had already lost. However, he did stare at the General with gratitude. “Thank you. I get the impression that most don’t believe me.”

Seemingly flustered Neal Neil would not move the last piece, the General tapped on it. With an eye roll and a sigh, Neal moved the piece of the general His.

“That's the end of the game. I win.” Despite the win, the general didn't seem all that happy as he studied the board. His eyes looked back up at Neal. “Again, why do you think the guard chose you?”

Leaning back, he started telling his story. “Back on earth I was part of my country’s military. Rather, training to be an officer in it. My whole life I felt left out and behind, I never really fit with anything. But in the ROTC I, felt like I mattered.”

“So you were destined to be a guard, that's what you're saying?”

“No, not destined. Maybe it was a calling, I don't know? I guess I could tell you what solidified my mind on joining the guard?”

The old bat sat up straight and nodded.