Horder carried everyone on his longship to the castle. The goblins that fought in the siege were excited to meet their families again. Once the boarding bridge was lowered, the goblins ran out from the ship and to their loved ones.

Mari and Cyrus held hands while they walk down the bridge. Sun ran to Mari and embraced his mother around his arms. "I miss you too, Sun." Mari hugged him back and kissed him on the cheek. But her happiness turned to worry when she noticed Sun's injuries up close. He was covered in bandages from neck to toe. "What happened? It's already been a month?"

"Well, it was a pretty hard-fought battle with tons of explosives. But, I'm doing fine thanks to Smoke." Sun grabbed Mari's hand and guided her up the stairs. Pagasa followed the mother and child, "And we've been busy fixing the castle. Smoke's battle with Queen and King basically destroyed half of the castle, and we don't have the manpower or experience to rebuild the destroyed sections of the castle."

Mari stared at the standing castle, impressed by its architecture. "It's amazing. I can't believe there is something like this sitting in the middle of the forest and that goblins built it and this city."

"Well, the goblins back them were not exactly like us."

"And I hope that we'll return to those glory days," Pagasa said. "Before our race regressed to monsters."

On the base of the stairs, Cyrus was sitting on the bench, hiding behind a wall from the blazing fires coming from Sun and Pagasa. The caretakers were there with her, concerned about Cyrus. She immediately let go of Mari and ran off to the corner of the docks under the shade. She never left Mari's side until now. It was a strange change of behavior.

May was among the caretakers, and she sat next to Cyrus and offered her company. "Is everything ok?" She asked. "You left Mari suddenly."

"Yeah, I just thought I'd give them time alone with each other," Cyrus said through her teeth.

May smiled and told her she was doing the same thing. She didn't want to get between the two. It's been too long, and their reunion always feels too short. It was time to let them have their peace. But that doesn't mean Cyrus should just stay in the docks waiting. "How about we explore the castle. Maybe even see Smoke."

Cyrus looked at the lake. Large chunks of ice still floated on the waters despite the summer heat beginning to set in on the land. Spring was nearing its end. Cyrus continued to stare at the ice for a few more minutes before finally answering. May jumped off the bench and grabbed Cyrus' arms. The caretakers tried to stop May and Cyrus because it was too dangerous to explore the castle on their own. May insisted and dragged Cyrus with her through the dock and up the stairs.

Cyrus had her eyes closed while walking up the stairs. The brightness coming from the castle was overwhelming her eyes. But suddenly, the whiteness penetrating her eyelids disappeared, and blackness returned. She slowly opened her eyes and saw the castle without the blinding light covering it.

It seems that Sun and Pagasa left the castle, which worried Cyrus. She wondered where they had taken Mari, but this worrying will not do her any good. May was also worried, but not for Mari. Unlike Cyrus, she was confident that Mari would be okay exploring the castle with her son. Instead, she was worried about the goblin standing on top of the stairs—her self-proclaimed love rival Bi.

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May was proud of her new body and was eager to show off to Sun, but seeing Bi diminished her confidence. Bi had a body similar to that of Sun and higher goblins, and she was beautiful. Her slender body in contrast to her white flowing hair gave her the appearance of a cold beautiful winter goddess. And her colorful blue and green feather coming from the back of her neck stood out against the pure white. May's body slumped down once they passed Bi.

Bi welcomed them, but May ignored her. She doesn't like rude goblins. "Hey, I said welcome!" Bi grabbed May on the arm.

"What?" Bi pulled her. May stumbled down the stairs and landed on Bi's rock-hard abs.

"I said welcome."

May regained her balance and bowed, "Sorry, and we are glad..."

"What are you doing?" Bi planted her palm on her face, "You are supposed to salute. Everyone knows this! The Chief, no, the King taught everyone this!"

"I'm sorry, but what?" May looked back at Cyrus, but she was equally confused.

"Nevermind." Bi said, "Where are you two going anyway. You must register at the docks first and then go to the city to your assigned homes and jobs."

"Well, I'm Cyrus and Mari's personal caretaker, and it is my task to make sure they are ok."

"And who gave you that task."

"Flute, obviously. Now, we'll be on our way."

Bi squinted her eyes, "I'm coming with you."

"What?"

"The majority of the castle is under construction, so its dangerous without a proper guide with you. Plus, I know you, May. You're now of those women aiming for the King, and I need to make sure you do not get in his way. Can't have my majesty get distracted by your attempts to seduce him."

"How dare you?" May was shocked, "I'm not here to seduce to Sun. And if he does make advancement, then so be it, but it is not because I was trying to seduce him."

"How very likely." Bi walked ahead of the two, "Now come, and I will show you the castle."

Bi lead them through the front gate. The first place they saw was the massive courtyard where the soldiers were training and the carpenters working. And across them was the grand entrance to the castle and above the large doors was a beautiful tainted glass portrait of a mysterious figure standing over a group of feathered goblins. The figure's head was painted over with the words 'no,' making it hard to distinguish the face.

Through the door was the entrance hall. The floors were burned to sunders, and the ceiling had holes. "Smoke and the enemy king battled here. It only lasted 20 seconds, and any longer could have destroyed the hall entirely. Next was the dining hall and art gallery on the second floor. The rooms were soaking wet. The ice that covered the room had completely melted and flooded the lower floors and outside hallway. And the large gaping wall on the gallery was boarded with wood.

Nearly every inch of the castle had signs of struggle. The battle that took place between Smoke and King may have been short-lived, but every second counted and every attack devasting. Touring the castle and seeing the destruction caused by King and Smoke only served to worry Cyrus more.

She was worried not only about Smoke's safety but his appearance as well. Did Smoke turn into the scorching pyre she fears so much? Will the gentle warmness coming from Smoke's soul burn her now? Bi continued to give them a tour around the castle. Some rooms had their roofs blown off and windows shattered. And flimsy attempts to mend the destruction littered the castle grounds.

May was sad to see the beauty of the castle destroyed by the battles. "Do you think they'll be able to fix the castle?" She asked Bi.

"Of course. Do not doubt our new King and my superiors. They obviously have plans to rebuild the castle and the remaining city. I have faith that they will not only rebuild but clean the city of the dirt the previous rulers dumped on the waters. I believe in them."

May stared at her. She was impressed by her loyalty and questioned if this was due to her love for Sun or just extreme admiration. Their tour ended when Smoke appeared out of the blue. Cyrus started to weep and ran to her son and embrace him. "Mom, what's wrong?" Smoke was startled by her.

The light within Smoke was still as gentle as ever. Soft and warm, it enveloped Cyrus as a mother would to its crying baby. Mari maybe is gone, absorbed by Sun's oppressive light, but Smoke was still there to light her darkness. And there is nothing in the world that would separate them.

But deep underground, below the goblin country, lies a kingdom of many secrets. Hiding from the harsh light above them, the dark elves lived in the caverns dug by the Sky People. There they had a kingdom once under a different name, now is known as the Glowen Kingdom.

And in this kingdom lived a heavy king, with a belly as round and smooth as a melon. And this king had a beastkin wife, believed to be a gift from the skies above the ground. She fell in the middle of civil war and through her fall, peace was attained. The king married her and together they ruled the kingdom in peace for a year. But now the surface was calling her name.

She sat on the porch overlooking a sea of glowing green flowers. "I think I'm remembering everything now." She told her attendant standing beside her chair.

"What do you remember, your majesty?"

"I had a son, and his name was Stick."