It was still dark, but day would come soon. Cormac wanted to be inside by then.

The family manor felt eerie in the moonlight. The high walls were imposing and a multitude of guards patrolled all across the walkways.

Cormac felt many things, but being glad to come back home was not one of them.

With each step he took in the cold night, he felt himself get smaller. He felt his courage slowly trickle out of him. Felt his bones and muscle shape back into the form he had before. The place reminded him too much of what he was for most of his life.

It was enough to make him stop in his tracks. He had to calm himself again. As he breathed in and out fully, Obscurno continued surveying the patrols from above. It's dark feathers the perfect cover in the shadow of night. Cormac could hear the rustling of its feathers in the wind, the gentle sound comforting him somewhat.

Obs understood. He felt Cormac's fears, understood the weight of what stood before him. Obs would never have to face the discrimination of his nest again, he never planned to return. But Cormac had no such option, if he wanted to continue what he started.

The crow sent flashes of experiences and impressions again. Some of their rigorous training, the strain Obs had to go through to heft the rocks. Some of the simple times were Cormac and Obs played together, some from the meals they shared.

It was enough to make Cormac's legs move again.

He motioned for Carl and Nery to follow him,

They used the gap between the patrols that Obs told Cormac about and sneaked through the gate. Now they found themselves in the inner part of the complex.

"Ok, about half-way there." Cormac whispered to his group. Carl kept looking around stiffly, his brow deep.

"Seems…too simple."

Cormac echoed the sentiment. Even if there were a lot more guards than usual, it still felt understaffed here for some reason. It really was too easy, there were too many chances for them to sneak about, evade the eyes of the guards. A sense of foreboding added itself to the pile of Cormac's fears. He stifled all of the feelings deep into his gut with difficulty.

Nery did not say anything, her bright yellow eyes just searched everywhere, looking for anything out of place.

They moved along one of the walls, when she made a gentle hissing sound. The boys turned to her with surprise.

"There is something here!" she whisper-yelled. Then she started moving her hands about the stone wall. The boys looked at each-other worryingly, but then something snapped.

One of the stones fell from the wall, followed by another, then another. All the stones turned to dust as they fell on the ground and revealed a dark tunnel, leading into the castle.

Nery turned to them with a smile on her face and Cormac nodded with his thumbs pointing up.

The tunnel was reminiscent of the one in the Academy, Cormac thought. It reminded him of his run, of how he became the journey he was on now. The bad things that made it so. But he remembered more than that.

It has been some time since he saw her, but he thought of her whenever he felt down. Even now, when he knew she was not here. It was as if she held his hand and led him through the tunnel still. He felt her presence, cold have sworn that he smelt her scent for but a moment.

His hands balled into fists with his newfound resolve. He would get his answers first and then…then he would free Aviana from the confines of her home.

Suddenly, he almost ran into Nery, as she abruptly stopped dead in her tracks.

"It ends here." she whispered.

Cormac just barely managed to squeeze by her, only to see that there really was the ending to the tunnel. He reached for the end wall and felt…something softer. Something that was giving to the pressure. Before he could convey his findings, Carl drove a fist through the wall. Piercing it with ease.

The punch was so much without resistance, that Carl's body followed after the strike, tumbling into the well-lit room. Cormac followed after.

It was their parents common room, where they would drink wine and talk with their friends. The room had three high windows, with pink linen curtains. There were big opulent armchairs, tables adorned with precious metal and bookcases reaching the very ceiling of the room.

But most importantly, there was a person in the room, already waiting. He had a few empty bottles next to him, with another in his hand.

"There was no need to destroy the painting, Cormac. You could have used the door. It was generations old.

" Leon said, as he drank from the bottle. His white mane was stained brown, he did not wear his armor and his usual noble posture and tact where gone.

"What is going on?"

"I knew you would come Cormac. I hoped, against my better judgement, that you would not, but I knew you would sculk around and get here. I won't lie about the fact. I also know that you came here seeking something." Leon let his thoughts trail without clarification, but none was needed. Cormac needed answers and Leon knew, he knew what he wanted to ask. He knew, but he wanted the question to be said.

"Who is my mother?"

"Right to the point? A man should be patient Cormac, I taught you better than-"

"Answer." Cormac interrupted.

Now, when he was face to face with his father, Cormac's mind raced with the possibilities. Maybe his real mother might have been still alive, Nery seemed to know her after all. Maybe she would accept him again. Maybe he could have a family that loved him, instead of what he had up until now. Maybe she lived in a small house in the middle of nowhere and he would live there with her. Maybe he could have a normal family for once, when all of this was over.

"Your mother? Truthfully, I never knew your mother well, only met her once or twice. We never even had a conversation." Leon said.

Cormac did not expect such a response. It did enough to make him completely lose all of his composure. Nery flashed Cormac a worried expression, while Carl still observed the man before him diligently.

"What do you mean?" he asked quickly, the terrified desperation clear in his voice. "What do you mean you don't know my mother? It makes no sense!" Cormac yelled. "You need to know my mother! You are my father!"

Silence took hold of the room. Leon's gaze was unflickering. He watched Cormac, watched him long enough to see the spark of realization.

"You are named after your very father Cormac. Your father was a close friend of mine once. We used to train together. He had a much greater gift than I, he was a born ruler, one of the last descendants of the Darkwing bloodline no less. He could move crowds of people with his voice easily, he could make a fallen tree move from his carriage's path. It was incredible." Leon took a another swing of the wine, after which he hurled the empty bottle out of the window.

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"But that is not why I looked up to him. He was everything a man should be. Kind, strong, understanding. All around incredible. But he had the curse of his bloodline and gone crazy by his power. I saw it myself. He was lost in wrath, he stood above the princess and he wanted to swing…" Leon looked up from under his brows, watching Cormac intently. His eyes glistened with only a few shameful tears.

"I drove my sword through his back…"

A band of musicians played songs of Cormac's magical prowess, as the three young men walked down the street.

"What do you know, maybe I'll even manage to take control of this very kingdom." Cormac boasted loudly, smiling at his friends.

"You should not say things like that Cormac, they say bad things about the princess, you know? That she is envious, overprotective and ambitious. You don't want to anger her for nothing." Leon replied while looking over his shoulder.

"If he wanted to, he'd already have it. Something that the royal family should be keenly aware of." said Erwin as he watched a random man count out his coins.

"Still. Picking a fight where one isn't needed is not wise."

"You are just a scaredy cat little Leo. An itty bitty kitten, afraid that it's claws will attract attention of the big boy cats."

Leon glared at Erwin.

"Leon is right Erwin. I do not plan to take the throne or anything. Honestly, I am much more interested in what is outside these walls, rather than what is inside. Climbing the mountains, exploring the wilds…"

"Shouldn't have gotten married if you had such wishes, m'lord." said Erwin mockingly.

"Just have to wait a few years. Young Cormac is sure to inherit the strength of his papa." Cormac flexed his muscles.

"I still think that naming him after yourself is just prideful."

"I think that it's nice. I might name my son Leon too."

"Don't destroy that boys childhood. He will have his hands full just being your son."

"Hey!" Leon yelled at the laughing Cormac and Erwin, but he slowly started laughing too. His pride seemed to lose way to the friendly jesting atmosphere.

"Erwin, I need you to go to my fair lady. She had been in a sour mood since morning and I need you to take her shopping."

"Why me?" Erwin asked with wide eyes, jerking away quickly as if Cormac attacked him.

"Who else can I trust but my right hand man!" Cormac replied as he slapped Erwin across his back. Erwin just sighted loudly, than began walking slowly down the road.

"Shouldn't he have come with us? The queen expects all of us to attend."

"It shouldn't be a problem. He is my vassal after all. I can tell him everything afterwards."

They spoke less and less as they walked through the citadel. Nervousness and stress grasped Leon's heart and squeezed it with his every step. Compared to him, Cormac looked carefree. He walked about like he owned the place. Only when they were standing before the giant metal doors, did a few beats of sweat form on his face.

Still, Cormac looked at his friend and showed him a wide grin. The kind that made Leon's muscles relax and his nerves calm down.

"Shall we go?" Cormac said as he knocked loudly at the doors.

The doors opened at the queens beckoning and the two men walked inside.

The queen sat on her high throne, her long hair flowing all the way down to the floor of the chamber. Her two daughters sat by her sides, on thrones much smaller, yet still positioned above the heads of the two nobleman.

They required no bodyguards and so they had none present.

"Cormac Blackwing, Leon La Bor, I welcome you." the queen's voice sounded throughout the room. She was an older woman, but she was still beautiful. Her kind green eyes had the hue of a fresh cut grass and the sparkle resembled the raindrop of spring. She was a good ruler and both Cormac and Leon appreciated her as a monarch.

Her two daughters both inherited parts of her, though they were completely different.

The one on the left, the older of the sisters, was the very epitome of beauty. Leon lost himself in the crimson-red hair that flowed the length of her mother's. She moved with grace and every and each of her movements betrayed the gentle and soft aspects of the female constitution.

Her sister on the right, was still fairly pretty, though her hair has been cut short and was reminiscent of rust, rather than the blood-like hue of her mother and sister. But her eyes were those of the calculating sort. She observed them, examined them. It sent a chill down Leon's spine, when she flashed him a look.

"I want to congratulate and reward the amendable effort you showed in defending the east-most gate to the underworld. You have stopped the incoming invasion and thus I would be honored to award both of you, the title of the head of your respective families, along with introducing these families into the sacred ones."

"Thank you terribly, your highness." Leon said quickly, prostrating himself across the ground.

"…may I, decline?" said Cormac awkwardly.

"Decline?" the queen asked, surprised. She seemed curious, rather than offended.

"Yes I-"

"I think it'd be best if mister La Bor would leave the room for a moment." Trisna Veron said, looking up at her mother. The queen seemed a little put off by the idea, but she allowed it.

"I apologize lord La Bor. Would it offend you to leave the chambers for a little while?"

"No, your highness. I would not be offended in the least."

"Thank you for the understanding. Melissa, by daughter, please keep company to the nice gentleman."

Melissa perked up at the mention of her name, but she did not seem to mind. Surprisingly, she seemed glad to come with Leon. On the other hand Trisna's brows deepened again.

He took his leave and he found himself outside of locked giant metal doors, with the prettiest of the women alive.

That day, his desire and childish yearning turned to the blazing fire of love. As he learned of her hobbies, he learned how gentle and kind she was. He learned of the family of bunnies she owned and how often she played with them, but he also learned of her incredible interest in historical tomes and texts. Of the endless nights she spent studying on various things. Of the number of theories she had on the rulers of old, beginning with the very king Hurrig.

He lost himself in their conversation, in the tone of her voice, in the way that she looked, but most importantly, he lost himself in the glistening emerald eyes.

He had no idea how long they had been walking, talking. He wanted the moment to never end.

But then, the screams came and his battle instinct took over. He ran to the chamber as fast as he could, fearing what he would find if he got there too late…which he did.

When Leon ran inside, the queen still sat on her throne, but her body was limp, lifeless. The ever-present sparkle of her eyes gone.

Cormac was standing above the second princess. His hands were stretched to his side, his fingers curling up to a form of a claw with anger. His eyes threatened to leave his skull, as they went wide. His lips bled as he bit them in the anger stupor.

Leon moved quickly. He unsheathed his sword and pierced Cormac's back in the same movement.

Cormac coughed out as the blade entered his body, the accumulated energy he held disappearing quickly.

He turned his head slowly, with blood rushing down the sides of his mouth.

"She…" Cormac pointed at the princess, but that was all he managed to say. Before falling to the ground. Dead.

"I had to protect the princess, but mainly…he was gone. The man I knew was gone Cormac. My best friend and the best man to ever live, killed by my hand. I never forgave myself for that. Even if there was nothing else to do. I still think about it sometimes, what if I-"

"…what about my mother…" Cormac asked weakly.

"I truly do not know. One of your father's vassals took her away. I've set out to find her many times, but I never tracked her down. I thought that both you and her disappeared from the very world we live in…until she brought you to me." Leon's expression was hard to read, sadness, regret, feeling of need and duty fought a hard battle, to win over the control of the man's face.

"I stumbled into her by accident, on one of my hunting trips. Some years after. She was cut and bruised, freshly. I offered her a place to stay, to protect her if need be, but she relented, saying that I could not. That the forces after her were too strong. She gave you to me, in hopes that I will take care of you."

"You were so small at the time Cormac, so very little. I was supposed to kill you there and then. Was ordered to eliminate the rest of the Blackwings, so the accursed bloodline may finally be laid to rest. But I couldn't. I hoped that you…that you would not venture this path of your father Cormac. For a long time, I hoped that you will grow up to be a normal mundane person. I hoped that you would be given a chance to live out your life in peace and quiet. I really believed it too." Leon stood up. As his long robe straightened, a sword that was hiding under the fabric has been revealed to the group.

"It is time I fix my mistake."