"Yoven is no longer of Valerius household," reported the figure in robes sewn of shadows.

It was only noon but the drawn curtains had prevented any daylight from intruding into the studies of Roland Atlas. The master of the room, sat in an armchair, in a room lit faintly by a table lantern, nodded with a faint smile as the report sung his tune.

"He is to answer for his crimes in front of the King but he is currently in the winds. A reward has been issued by the King, ten gold for information on Yoven's whereabouts."

"He may be prideful and arrogant as a person but as a businessman, he is adamant and cautious, like any other in this line. So, where is he now, Shadow?"

"He is currently affiliated with the demon sympathizers, Enlightened Apostles. He is currently on the road, fleeing to the north."

"North...." mused Roland, "Our Kingdom doesn't have much diplomatic relations there. Not a bad choice."

"Shall we intercept, Elder Dusk?"

"The Grandmaster is leaving the decision in my hands?"

"His Excellency trusts your judgement, Elder Dusk."

"Is that so?" Roland raised an eyebrow.

"That is so," Shadow answered promptly.

"Well then, we don't need to intercept. Instead....."

The Wraith felt the air tensed as he braced for Roland's follow-up words. Despite his calm demeanor, anyone who exchanged enough words with Roland knew of the madness and seething rage that he always hides under his compose facade.

"Let it be known to the world-- of the demon activities on the road to the north."

There was a brief silent before Shadow spoke, "but there is no such activity on the road to north."

"Enlightened Apostles would be there, no?"

"I see. Leaving it up to the Night Hunters, Elder Dusk?"

"Did I say that? Hmm. If that's what will happen, then that is what shall happen. Now, on to the next report, if you may, Shadow."

"The Night Hunters are doing better than His Excellency anticipated. Their culling of monsters and demons had even invoke the ire of the Zerogian Empire and the Holy State of Avalon. A fine work, His Excellency praised you."

"I am honored, Shadow," said Roland as he stood up for his armchair, "What of the summoning ritual?"

"It is proceeding according to plan. Elder Yumi has proven herself to be an extremely capable overseer in delicate and discreet plannings."

Stroking his beard, the Duke of Atlas responded, "she may have the least love for the Covenant but her abilities and contributions is not to be taken lightly. Such an odd woman, don't you agree, Shadow?"

"My opinion is irrelevant as it is inconsequential," as monotone as he could be, Shadow replied.

"I see," Roland's words carried an ambiguous tone, "and what of the Shepherd and his Sheep."

"For now, there is no progress."

"Figures," and a scoff followed, "one does not simply expect the oldest of beasts and monsters to not learn from its past mistakes. It'll be odd if it didn't. Is my assistance required?"

"No," came the blunt answer from the Wraith.

Roland sighed, "it will be much faster if the other Elders didn't have as much ego as the Zerogian Empire has gold."

"Elder Dusk, it is not just simply a matter of pride. Need I remind you that personal contributions affect their standing in the Covenant."

Walking passed Shadow, Roland grabbed his hat, coat, scarf, and walking stick from the hanger, "am I truly the only Elder left that cares more about the Covenant itself rather than personal qualms?"

Shadow stayed silent.

"Well, if that's everything, I'll be off to greet a guest."

Shadow was surprised but he did his best to not let it be shown. As a scout, he only picked up the additional presence seconds later after Dusk.

"Your ability of perception is as always, remarkable, Elder Dusk."

"It's just plain magic, Shadow. Not legacy nor unique. Those in your sleeves are much more impressive than mine, " Roland said and disappeared out of the room.

"His Excellency disagrees."

Saying so to himself, Shadow too disappeared out of the room but through his own shadow.

----------------------------------------

Brilliant light spilled through the meters tall double doors and into the reception hall. From the opened doors, entered a graceful hooded girl in priestess robes. As the doors shut behind her, she pulled down her hood, her long pointy ears sprung up from its concealment.

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Coming down from the grand twin staircases that curved into the hall, Roland doffed his head at the envoy of the Nines. "It's always a wonderful pleasure to be graced by your presence, Miss Iluna."

"I am only but a humble follower of the Nines, Lord Atlas. I'm undeserving of such greeting and praise," bending her knee a little, Iluna bowed back as her greeting.

"We are friends, are we not, Miss Iluna? Please, call me Roland."

"Then by all means, please call me Luna too."

"Of course, Luna," Roland cast a glance over Luna's shoulder. What he found painted a slight gloom over his friendly smile.

Taking notice of the Duke's strayed eyes, Luna bowed again, "I'm afraid she is currently engaged in other matters at the moment. Please accept my apologies on behalf of her."

"Of course."

After the exchange of obligatory nods and greetings, a maid came and led them to a room. A lonely room with two sofas facing one another and a glass table with gold ornaments in between. Tea and confectioneries are served on the table.

The Duke and the priestess took their seat, opposite to each other, of course.

Roland whispered something to the ears of the maid after taking his seat. The maid bowed and left the room with only the two in the solemn room with ample light from the windows.

"I'm sure her duty is of no small matter," Roland spoke as soon as the door closed, "but prioritizing duty over family, it is a practice that will accumulate the scorns of children will have toward their parents."

Luna answered after sipping her tea, "Roland, I am sure you know what her duty encompasses of. It is a matter that spans across continents. The fate of the world, at least partially, is now her responsibility."

"Be that as it may, leaving one's own child in the absence of its parents for long, even if it's for the sake of the world, how can anyone abide that? And also, it is not I who you should be apologizing to and it is not you who should be apologizing."

Luna responded with a silent smile tinged with sadness. She placed her cup back on the saucer.

"My arrangement with Lady Vira is no secret to you. I'm sure she already told you."

"Yes, she did."

"While it is not entirely my business to take the reins of other's parenting but neglecting her child for over a month-- I can only do so much to sooth the child's worry."

"I-I know," Luna looked away, "but she's not neglecting her. She's just...."

"Once again, Luna, you are not to blame and you are not responsible. Whatever reasons you may be force to concoct due to the circumstances, it won't change anything if she isn't here."

The words hit every mark of every excuse Luna was trying to make.

"And the child is still just a toddler. A crucial moment for her mind development. I may not be a man who has the best of faiths in human nature but not even I could abide a child who has been neglected by her mother for a whole month, without so much as a letter or a single regard."

Controlling her twitching cheeks, Luna managed to speak, "Roland, you know the circumstances aren't that simple."

"Whatever the circumstances maybe, Luna, we are talking about a child who hasn't even had her second birthday."

She took a few breaths, drowning away her swelling tears, "c-can I at least see her?"

"I have no authority to stop you, Luna but I can't say for sure that she wants to see you. After all, you're not the person she wants to see."

"Just let me see her."

After keeping silent and observing the Priestess of the Nines, Roland relented.

And fate, at that moment was kind for anyone seeking convenience and coincidence.

The door opened and a little girl of black hair tied into twin pigtails, no more than two years old, trotted into the room.

"M-mama....?" the little girl called out, a trace of anticipation could be seen in the little girl's eyes.

Luna stood up from the sofa and walked towards the little girl who was looking around the room. She squatted down to match their gaze, "Hi, Zoey. Remember me?"

The little girl nodded. "Luni...."

Unaffected by an infantile mistkae, Luna smiled. "Yes, that's right."

"Um.... Luni, where's mama?"

Luna squinted her face as if she swallowed something sour. "Zoey.... I'm sorry. Mama couldn't make it."

The little girl named Zoey left her mouth opened at Luna's words. Clouds loomed over her gaze.

"Zoey?"

Grasping tightly to the hem of her skirt, sniffing sound could be heard from her.

"Zoey.... what's wrong?" Luna asked worriedly.

"Does mama not l-love Z-oee.... anymore? Does she h-hate Zoee...." asked Zoey in between her sniffs.

"No, of course not. She loves you, Zoey. There's no way she hates you."

"No!" screamed the little girl, "she hates Zoee! She don't even look at Zoe when she's here!" her weeping escalated into a bawl.

"It's not like that Zoey. Mama loves you a lot. She's just.... busy at the moment."

"Is it because Zoee is a monster?"

The air became cold in the room. Luna and Roland froze at her words.

"W-who told you that, Zoey?"

"No one....." her grasp only tightened further on the hem of her skirt. "I hear Rolly's friends and the maids talking.... they said my papa was a m-monst...."

Zoey didn't manage to finish her sentence before giving into her cries.

"Rolly....? You mean Roland?"

Zoey nodded.

Luna shifted her glare to Roland, who was watching over the two with a complex expression and clenched fists.

He returned a gesture of acknowledgement.

Luna pulled Zoey into her arms, tightly embracing the sobbing little girl, "Zoey. Listen here, you are not a monster. Mama certainly doesn't hate you. She definitely loves you, I promise."

"Zoee not a m-monster....?" she asked, "Zoee is not hated....?"

"Of course not. No one will hate you," Luna's hand didn't stop brushing Zoey's hair.

"Luni.... Luni.... Don't hate Zoee, please...." she continued crying into Luna's chest.

After a few minutes, the crying deescalated into sobbing. Luna comforted her throughout the entire duration.

"Zoey, wait for me in your room. I'll come after I had a few words with Lord Atlas, okay?"

"Mwu...."

They parted from the embrace but Zoey's hand wasn't letting go of Luna.

"Just a few minutes, okay? I'll tell you stories of your mother then, okay?"

Her eyes were red from the excessive crying. Luna's words sounded harsh for the young Zoey but hearing that she would be told the story of her mother, she reluctantly complied in defiant against her infantile instincts.

"Okay." said Zoey as she trotted back to her room. A maid was about to accompany her but she was stopped by Roland.

"Anissa, find out who was the one with the runny mouth, would you?"

"Yes, of course, my lord. At once," the head maid bowed and walked away, opposite of the direction Zoey went.

"I'm sure you noticed her wet her sleeves were." said Roland as soon as he knew Zoey and Anissa were out of earshot.

Luna nodded.

"Luna, I can only do so much for the two."

"I understand," Luna said, quietly as she stood up. "I will discuss this with her the next time we meet and please, be more careful of who you affiliate yourself with."

"Of course, I will be extreme wary of my colleagues and customers from now on." Roland gave a nudge of assent.

Before exiting the room, Luna spare one last glance at the Duke, "Is she truly a monster, Roland?"

"Hmm?"

"Is she?"

Knowing the underlying meaning in her words, he replied in kind, "Of course not. How could she be one?"

"I see...." seemingly grasping the hidden intent in his answers, Luna disappeared into the hallway.