I stared into the mirror and examined my hair. It was getting too long for comfort so I had Erebus give it a trim.

He did a good job.

I slicked the front of my hair and smelled the wax as I ran it through the strands. A more earthy scent, it wasn't exactly something I was used to, but it was needed.

Being a felkin had benefits, which included having very little personal scent since I didn't sweat. But right now I needed to be what I wasn't.

With the hair masked, I tossed on Áine's hoodie and pants combo while affixing a dark green cloak around my shoulders.

It was one of the few I hadn't worn yet.

Áine poked my cheek and I smiled. "Yeah, sorry. I'll wear it next time we go out. Just not in the city."

She huffed but gave my cheek a hug before diving into my chest. Earlier, she had healed the sleep exhaustion away, leaving me positively glowing.

Not that it mattered. I donned my mask and let the comforting weight settle in. Then I held up the other mask given to me earlier.

It was full-faced, made out of bone from a tier-two monster. Its bones were naturally gray-green along with fine lines of orange minerals.

With a click the mask settled onto my own before the weird sucking sensation started. Unlike the wolf mask I absorbed from what felt like a lifetime ago, this mask had a simple curved beak that barely protruded.

As the magic stopped I felt the mask and breathed in, easily clearing air between the solid bone. My fingers pushed through and poked my cheek before I pulled back.

The mask had four eyes made of orange lines that now looked oily. They dripped down to the chin but were still static enough to remain in place.

There. Only one last thing I needed to do.

I picked up the small glass box made entirely out of pink crystals, and grabbed the pink earring inside. As I pushed it through my ear and wiped away the blood, I ran mana through the enchanted item and waited.

Slowly the horns disappeared and I stared.

It looked wrong.

I grabbed my horns, their physical presence still there even if the mirror showed me grabbing air.

I can't believe I want my horns back. Ugh.

Someone knocked, and I opened the door. Teddy stared at my head, a slight frown creasing his face.

I crossed my arms. "What?"

"It looks wrong," he said.

Glad I'm not the only one.

"Well, at least it's temporary. Any idea how we’re getting to the castle? I'm almost afraid of what your parents have planned."

Teddy shook himself free and tore his gaze away from the top of my head. "Nothing fancy this time. The king will be teleporting you directly."

"Right. He did teleport your parents away."

"Yes. I'm sure my parents are disappointed but they were grinning evilly to themselves before I came to get you."

A chuckle escaped and I closed the door behind me. "The king's technically your uncle right? What's that like?"

Teddy shrugged. "He used to visit when I was younger, but I haven't seen him in two years."

"What's he like?"

"To me? Kind and wise. But he's known to be a stern man of few words. He's the Solar Star. The seventh king of Solunaria. I'm sure he'll try to feel you out throughout your meeting."

"At least I can cross this off my isekai bucket list."

Teddy stopped and scratched his cheek. "That word tickled. It's another word from Earth then? What does it mean."

"Uh, isekai is a japanese word. It's sort of a term for a genre of stories and shows. Person gets sucked into another world, or died and is reborn in another world and so on."

"So Reborns, then?"

"Yeah, pretty much."

"Fascinating. I bet Celenae loved that knowledge."

I groaned at the reminder. Not too long after I revealed my origins, Celenae had grilled me on just about everything Earth, and Earth-related.

It was a long week.

Teddy patted my shoulder and waved goodbye as he left for his room. I stepped into the living area and was greeted by Teddy's parents who looked godawful.

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Anastasia had a crow's nest of hair, while her dress was a literal rucksack that carried vegetables the night prior. The myriad stains that sullied her hobo-chic were thankfully odorless.

She waved with dirt-encrusted fingers.

Before I could say anything, Nathan turned around and revealed a horror show. His skin was pale, like a drowned corpse pale. His hair was goopy and slicked back, while his clothes was just a crusty towel toga tied snatched with wet yarn.

"Cyrus! You're ready! The no horns look awful on you," Anastasia quipped.

"Uhm. Why?"

"The horns suit you boy. Never be ashamed of who you are!" Nathan replied.

I shook my head. "No. I mean what's with the uh, costumes."

Anastasia flexed and Nathan collapsed to the floor with a wet gluup.

"You know what? Nevermind. Should I change?"

Nathan jumped to his feet. "No! You're perfect!"

"Don't mind us, Cyrus. We're just protesting that's all," Anastasia explained.

"Protesting wha-nevermind."

If Anastasia heard me she didn't care and struck a pose. "That silly nobles have to dress up like silly idiots just to see their cousin! If they complain we throw them off the mountain!"

They flexed their mana, the air distorting in waves of chromatic light and floating orbs of water.

Before I could react, they grabbed my wrists and led me to the door. We exited the manor and stopped directly outside the gate.

As if they planned it perfectly, a glowing blue crystal appeared, nearly the size of Nathan's torso. It flashed and a mana pulse disturbed the grass but the pair grabbed the crystal and brought it closer.

"Anastasia? Nathaniel?! No! Go back and change this isn't-" the crystal started shouting.

"Too late!" Anastasia shouted.

The pair did something and we were surrounded in a bubble of pressure that flattened the grass. I had enough time to blink before the world disappeared in a collage of colors and I stretched upward.

From one blink to the next, my feet touched solid ground and I rubbed at the weird energy that wisped off me.

We were no longer outside the manor but inside a hall of black tile and golden metal walls.

"Nathaniel and Anastasia Lightcrest! What are you doing?!" screamed an elf in long black robes.

His hair was spikey platinum and his eyes were dull golden orbs. He looked at the pair with fury rising as his cheeks turned progressively a deeper red once the pair started reaching for him.

"Oh Ulaeyes! Our poor clothes were absolutely demolished in an unseen and highly unfortunate turn of events! This is all we had on, and I'm afraid this is the best we could do," Anastasia moaned, laying it on thick.

Nathan threw himself at the man's knees and wrapped his wet, slimy arms around him, locking him in place.

"Surely, his Majesty won't begrudge his favorite people in the world for unfortunate times!" Nathan cried out.

I backed away and watched the elven man short circuit. His eyes bulged and his tongue waggled but no words came out.

Teddy's parents started another round of laments but a crystal appeared, one much smaller than before with deeper shade of blue.

"Ulaeyes retreat for now. They've won the battle."

Ulaeyes snapped his jaw shut and slipped free from his stragglers. The pair collapsed on the ground and moaned while the man walked out the door as he muttered some not-so-polite things under his breath.

"You two. Stand up already. You've already made your complaints known. Can't you play nice?" the crystal addressed the pair.

They hopped to their feet and shrugged.

"Works for me!"

"Sure thing!"

The crystal turned and lowered as it sent a wave of mana from behind it to circle around and smash into my back.

I crossed my arms. "It's poor form to scan someone so openly."

Teddy's parents lost their smiles and they pulled down their blindfolds. Their mana came in waves that distorted the air.

"Allaron. This is our warning to you. Play nice," Nathan growled.

The crystal dimmed and floated in place.

"You expected me not to scan him?"

Anastasia pointed a golden sword that appeared as she extended her arm. "We expected it, but at least be honest and not try to hide your intentions."

"Curious. You'd fight for him. And he can detect my mana."

The crystal popped and the door to the room opened up.

This time, the king's voice echoed through the long hallway. "Come in."

Anastasia tucked her sword into her waist, and growled. "If he plays games, we raid the treasury and steal his bed."

"I hear that,” the king’s voice boomed.

"I know you do!" she said while shaking her fist. Anastasia turned and smiled. "Go, and don't back down. The kingdom owes you plenty."

Nathan patted my shoulder. "We'll be nearby. So don't worry."

I nodded and walked down the hallway. The castle was surprisingly empty but that notion quickly disappeared as I entered the throne room.

A row of guards lined the edges of the room. And I detected three mana signatures behind the king's throne.

King Allaron looked young. Around the same age as Teddy's parents. Golden hair, with a well-kempt beard and piercing crystal blue eyes. When he cocked his head, the sunlight caught and scattered as if his hair was made of crystals.

He leaned back against the silver throne and waited till I stopped twenty feet away.

I nodded, and half bowed. The guard's around the room tensed but I ignored them and stared at the king.

His eyes narrowed but he smiled. "Not a citizen of the kingdom then. Otherwise you would have bowed properly."

"I'm not," I answered.

"What is your name, stranger?"

"Strax."

"Just Strax?"

I didn't reply.

"Then let me greet you in full," the king said as he stood up. "I am the current ruler, the seventh king of Solunaria. The All-seeing. The Crystal Monarch. Golden Lord, and The one who wears the Solar Crown. King Allaron Dawnguard."

Just give me my shit and we can be done with this.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, King Allaron."

A few guards glared, their mouths creasing at the corners but Allaron continued to smile. In a blink he was standing next to me, only a couple of feet apart.

"And what is it you seek, Strax?"

"Payment due for saving a city of Solunaria from certain doom. I believe the Lightcrests have already arranged the deal with his Majesty."

"Indeed," he nodded. His eyes gained golden rings around his sclera and a wave of light bathed the room in brilliant gold. "And do you seek to harm the kingdom with your rewards?"

I was briefed somewhat on Allaron's skills. The golden flames along the edges of the room indicated the skill he activated to be his Truth-Seeker's Domain.

He likely knew my name was false, otherwise why hide my face. And he could accept that. But this was a lie-detector skill.

I couldn't lie without him knowing it.

The light was warm, but it contained a searing sensation that bit below the skin and centered around my heart.

I looked the Allaron in the eye and kept my voice steady. "No."

The light vanished as did the itching feeling. Allaron nodded and snapped his fingers. At once, a beam of light shot through the ceiling and materialized a man in red robes on one knee with his head bowed.

"Your Majesty, you requested my presence?" the bowed man said.

Allaron glanced my way. "This is Strax, Hubold. We'll be visiting the treasury to retrieve a few items."

"Yes, your Majesty."

Hubold held out his hand and Allaron grabbed the two gold pins from his palm. They were shaped like a diamond with blue sapphires inlaid on each point.

Allaron tossed me one and I caught it and copied him as he pinned it along his collar.

"Brace yourself," Allaron warned.

He snapped his fingers and several crystals appeared as they lit up in blinding light.

I breathed in and the world stretched as the king teleported us out of the throne room.