"Who should I send to assure the safety here?" I asked Luna when we sat back in our Royal Carriage.

After I finished laying down the fortress city plans and making sure Kirin was going to follow Queen Lavender's orders, we were on our way back to Avalon.

"Captain Thiule," Luna proposed.

"Forget about him. I won't allow Lanka out of the Capital." Irene smiled at Luna, who burst into laughter.

"Sorry, sister! I was joking!"

"What about sending some big guns here?" I mused and rubbed my chin.

"Are you thinking about Drake? Or Ban?" Luna's eyes went wide.

Amber yawned and leaned her head over my shoulder. "I have a better idea. Ban and Drake are important figures in our current campaign. Sending one away is just asking for all kinds of trouble." Then she looked at her nails and said a single name. "Blair."

"Hmmm... But isn't he happy as a teacher at the University?" Luna hesitated, and she looked curiously at Amber.

"Not really. His students respect him, and while he is diligent, he surely isn't happy," Amber giggled. "However, I had to push him through this all to make sure he would unlock his full potential. He always was a valiant and intelligent man, but even at his current age, he lacked something. I simply... Provided him with the entire University and Academy to find that thing. He found whatever that was and right now Lord Dastra Blair is a commander whom we can entrust to the entire western region of the Kingdom."

"Sister, you are scary sometimes..." Irene blinked in shock at Amber, who was smiling mysteriously, while Luna, Hestia, and Aoi were just nodding silently in agreement.

"So Blair." I accepted with a smile.

We fell silent for a moment, broken only by Amber's poorly masked laughter after she had looked out of the window.

"Are you sure you don't want Lavender as your next wife?" Amber finally asked with amusement. "She had a bigger crush on you than even Irene had."

"Amber, Sweetheart, can you slow down?" I asked with a sigh, rubbing my temples.

"Hmmm... I’d rather not, but I'll think about it." She grinned and, with a sigh, I teleported us back to Avalon.

•••

"He left..." Queen Lavender slowly sat in the chair on the balcony of her palace.

"I know he tried to be polite and friendly, but for Heaven’s sake! That Dungeon is a monster! Not a monster but the Monster, capitalise that M! The Deamon Lords of old would be like children playing with pebbles compared to him." Kirin was absolutely terrified. "Have you seen his Queens?!"

"Well... I can't blame him for ignoring my charms..." Lavender laughed and slightly turned red. "If he just asked me, I would become his sixth, Kirin. Without any hesitation."

"Hahaha, girl... You can always dream," Kirin laughed.

"Thank you very much! I am going to do exactly that!" She pouted.

"Sure..." Kirin sent her an equivalent of a shrug. "Anyway, his Queens are monsters in their own rights!" Kirin's voice trembled a little and only after a while, he continued. "Lord Galahad informed me that Legio Fulminata will stay here until the construction of the outer walls is finished."

"That's rather good information..." She yawned, so tired after the recent events. "Why are you so excited, anyway?"

"Oh... Tons of reasons! But I'll give you three, maybe up to ten basic ones." She could swear that her old friend was grinning. "First of all, and this is the most personal for me at least, you all are safe. Secondly, we can now talk freely, which you hadn’t even noticed while you were devouring that Monster with your lustful gaze while he was not watching." Kirin hesitated for a moment, realising that Lavender was all red by now and he wondered if she was going to blossom some red flower or something. Still, he felt obliged to tell her the entire truth. "I just wanted to tell you that he knows about those stares. He most probably decided to pretend otherwise to not embarrass you; maybe he even felt flattered."

Lavender's heart started pounding like crazy, and she very slowly covered her face in her arms. She started screaming into her bent arm after she realised how embarrassing and awkward it would be during their next meeting.

•••

Destra Blair looked sadly at the young commanders as they were leaving the class after attending his lectures. He knew he was a poor teacher for these bright people, but he would at least fulfil his duties until the end of this year.

"Sir!" The voice of young Thiule suddenly stopped his thoughts. "You are expected in Avalon's War Room as fast as possible, Sir!"

The young Captain saluted him, and Blair just smiled, saluting him back. Then he realised what the Elf had just told him and he abruptly stood up. His today's classes ended a while ago, so he immediately sprung to action.

"Right away, Captain!"

They swiftly left the University buildings and reached the main road where they entered one of the empty military wagons. Finding themselves alone as they drove the wagon quickly through the busy streets, Captain Thiule gave him a letter with the wax-seal bearing the coat of arms of Queen Amber. After he read it, he put it in his pocket with reverence.

"You know about that, boy?" Blair tapped his pocket and looked at Thiule. A sudden change in the old Lord's tone slightly alarmed him.

"Well... I don't think I know all of it. Queen Amber told me some things and a few I figured out on my own, Sir!" Thiule replied as safely as he could while caught off guard. "Congratulations on returning to duty, sir!"

"Hahaha! Queen Amber the Greatest!" Blair smiled genuinely and looked towards the Palace, and soon after, his voice became serious. "She is probably the most powerful woman in the world, Thuile. Never underestimate her. Among all of Queens, she looks almost like a nobody due to her past, but that would be a foolish way of thinking." His voice was cold as ice when he looked at the young Captain. "Tell me, what have you all managed to find about her past?"

"I don't know what you are talking about, sir..." Thiule replied dryly, but Blair's eyes were piercing him already.

"Don't give me that bullshit. I know you are loyal, kid. Only because of that, we are having this conversation," Blair grinned. "Ban and Drake are not morons. They investigated Queen Amber and Irene, at the very least. Queen Luna is a Kitsune, so she is too mystical, and Queen Hestia is a Goddess. So she is even more mystical than Queen Luna. Queen Aoi is too fresh, but even I know she lived her entire life amongst brutes in a secluded village. So? What do you know?"

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"Sir..." Thiule tried to maintain his poker face but the seasoned commander was far too good to be deceived like that.

"Please... She knows." Blair patted the pocket where he put the letter. "You are alive just for two reasons. One, her skills allow her to see the loyalty of any citizen of the Kingdom and even residents of Righteous Dungeon. Two, she is even more curious about what you can find than you or your superiors."

Thiule paled and felt cold sweat covering his back. He looked in horror at the old Lord, who was still coldly smiling.

"We did it only..."

"She never condemned you for doing that. She was even happy that there were finally people with some foresight to do so. She just doesn't want any misunderstanding; there was and there will be only the will of the King. If anyone has ulterior motives, she won't tolerate that, Thiule. I won't tolerate that as well." Blair looked at the pale Elf for a little while and he added much softer. "Avalon is not Cridia, Captain. Yes, the vows and gaesa we pledged were simply terrifyingly powerful. We lost any ability to revolt, but look outside. The people are laughing and smiling, the children can play on the streets, in parks and playgrounds and their parents know they are safe. No one is hungry, no one is begging or is homeless."

Thiule looked outside, ingesting every single word. None of it had ever occurred to him before, so he wanted to protest. "Sir, we are not slaves. We can leave Avalon anytime!"

"So? Would you go?" Blair asked him with a cruel smile.

"I... No. I couldn't..." Thiule sheepishly replied.

"It was Queen Amber's influence that created this paradise. She is by far the most important person in this world for us, the simple people of this world. If not for her, King Theon would never have been born. You could have a Demon Lord or an Immortal King who wouldn't care at all about mortals, which would be the same for us. We could only obey him and pray he simply wouldn't start caring about us in the wrong way..." Blair rubbed his beard and smiled. "The rules of geasa are that we can't betray the Royal Family or the Kingdom of Avalon, we must inform the King wherever we learn about any enemy plotting against the Royal Family or the Kingdom of Avalon, and we must protect Avalon in time of need... King Theon created these gaesa to protect her. Not him. Just her, Queen Amber va'Theon. Later on, the formula only shows his foresight to protect his next wives."

"How? How could she be so unassuming and dangerous?" Thuile looked at his trembling hands. "And how did you know this much?"

"Son, if Korkas had given me just crumbs of intel I received here as a teacher, trust me, that war would be far harder for King Theon. Most of it I deducted for myself. The rest I read from the secret reports you were trying to smuggle and put together conclusions that you had overlooked. Listen to me, boy. Queen Amber is our biggest ally. She was our Saintess and Benevolent Spirit far before we learnt about her existence. She doesn't want to be dangerous, but if you force her hand, she will just execute you. So what have you learnt about her?"

"We learnt only her old name, part of which she wasn't even aware of. Hrrin'a Na'laar."

"It cannot be!" Blair stood up and lifted Thiule by his cape collar. "Say that one more time!"

"We managed to learn that her name was Hrrin'a Na'laar."

"If that's truly the case, then she has in her veins the blood of Elven Royalty from the destroyed Kingdom of Balantica..." Blair slowly let go of Thiule, who sat down in deep shock.

•••

Blair entered the War Room with a grim face and completely caught us off-guard. Very timidly behind him was walking Captain Thiule, who looked so miserable that I started wondering what happened. I forced a smile and stood up, holding the official documents designating Blair as the region commander, but I was surprised as hell when he dropped to his knees before Amber.

"My King, My Queens! I bring urgent news." Blair took a deep breath. "Queen Amber, they managed to uncover your past. However, I am afraid that it is not the story you would like to hear..."

"Tell me anyway," Amber replied. "I need to know the truth."

"Truth? That is lost to the sands of time, my Queen. I can tell you only a legend because no one would dare to assume the name your family had. However, this version of the legend is as close to truth as it could be. Your family name is Na'laar." Blair lowered his head so much that he was close to falling down.

I sat down, but just one gaze told me that Irene knew something, while Luna and Hestia were fully aware of even more details than probably even the old Lord. Nonetheless, no one spoke up.

"I never knew... My parents told me we had no family name," Amber replied sadly.

"I... My Queen, at the dawn of the Age of Heroes, a nation was founded on a large island in the middle of the ocean. The Hero of Odin, Til Na'laar, created a country that eclipsed every other nation in the world. The Kingdom of Balantica. Their magitech and scientific arts were unparalleled and surpassed even what we have in Avalon. Under his reign, his people created marvels and miracles such as flying ships and spears that shoot fire." I looked very closely at Blair and couldn't believe my ears. Has someone really introduced aeroplanes and firearms to this world?

Meanwhile, Blair continued. "For thousands of years, his lineage ruled that mighty kingdom until they grew too arrogant and challenged a Fearsome Kraken known as the Living Disaster. About a thousand years ago, overnight, the entire kingdom fell. Most of its wonders were destroyed, but many of its people survived. There is nothing left but ruins in a place where once the pride kingdom stood. Ru'ilia Na'laar, the second princess of the Kingdom, had warned everyone and begged the King to stop the madness before the attack, but no one listened to her. Eventually, the angry Kraken arrived, and she evacuated as many people as possible. But instead of gratitude, her people turned on her and banished her as one of the cursed Na'laars who brought the wrath of Kraken upon them. Then, if that wouldn't be enough, their hate made them send murderers. She and her descendants were hunted ever after. I believe that your parents, Lady Amber, wished to protect you from the curse of that lineage." Lord Dastra Blair fell silent for a moment and clenched his fist, as the flashes of rage gleamed in his eyes.

"My Queen! My family has more than one life debt owed to Na'laar's name. It was Princess Ru'ilia Na'laar, in exile, who saved my ancestors long before they achieved their status. Then once again, we were saved by her son, Victor Na'laar, hundreds of years later. We vowed back then to find the truth about the fall of the Kingdom of Balantica. My story is a testament to my family's calluses. We hunted every single assassin or bounty hunter that even knew that name. Bit by bit, year after year, we finally found the survivors that exiled the benevolent Princess and we learnt the truth. All of it. Their Elders had this..." Blair took out the journal from his ring of holding. It was old but perfectly preserved.

Blair then continued. "It was my grandfather who found those bastards. By that time they had no wondrous technology, no advanced magic- they were just like normal dwellers of the continent. He found the Elders, descendants of those who exiled the good Princess. They deliberately put all the blame on Princess Ru'ilia. It was them who finally vilianised her and sent bounty hunters. Everything is in this journal, written by one of those corrupt elders. But they are no more. My grandfather killed every single Elder and their families. He razed their city. Their people were cast among the Cridia cities and villages to never rise again."

"Why?" Amber asked, terrified. Thiule, who was kneeling behind Blair, was visibly trembling.

"Because back then, my grandfather failed to save Illa Na'laar. She died right in front of his eyes, in our home, where she was supposed to be safe." Dastra Blair raised up on one of his knees. "I won't deny that my grandfather was brutal, but now, when I see you, Queen Amber, safe and sound in Avalon, I will gladly tell him when I die he saved the Na'laars. However, until I die, my Lady, I will serve you with absolute dedication."

"I had no idea..." Amber looked with an empty gaze in front of her. I took her trembling hand and felt her desperate grip. "I had no idea how much your family protected mine..."

"My King, there might still be people who hunt the descendants of the Royal Family of the Kingdom of Balantica. Maybe even the Black Dragon Tiamat, who is said to be the brother of the Kraken, is holding a grudge."

"May they come... I will fight the vile gods of void and chaos if they come. I will fight dragons and conquer dungeons. I will protect my Queens." My voice was cold. "Lord Dastra Blair, thank you for sharing your knowledge. Now I know that you are not only perfect, but the only person for this duty." I stood up and Amber, still holding my hand, stood up with me. She looked at me with a new fire in her eyes. "Lord Destra Blair, would you accept our request and take a post as military commander of the Western Province?"

"Western Province?" His eyes went wide. "But..."

"Lord General Destra Blair, this was my idea, before you told me all of it..." Amber looked at the Lord. "Will you and your family lend me your strength to protect our Kingdom?"

"Always, my Queen!" Blair responded with zeal, but then his voice weakened. "I am the last of Blairs and I am sixty-five years old... If I were just ten years younger..."

"How about forty?" Hestia rose from her throne, and after raising her slim hand above her head, she snapped her fingers.

Zeus, Hera, and Zephyr manifested in the room. Zephyr put his hand on Blair's right shoulder. Hera, who was standing behind him, put her hand on the back of his head, and Zeus firmly grabbed his left shoulder, leaving Blair absolutely stunned. Suddenly, a bright ray of light engulfed Blair, lifting him up from kneeling, and I immediately recognized Eriar's power. Hestia, without any hesitation, put her hand on Blair's chest.

"As the one chosen by the Gods, take our gift!" Hestia commanded.