The twin wooden doors stared at Darius for what felt like hours, though only minutes went by. Soon, Cassandra’s maid came from behind the door and bowed to Darius, “His and Her Majesty Knightley are ready to see you now.”

“Of course,” Darius replied.

The doors opened, and he found himself in what looked like a conference room, no more than that, a war room. Darius had some intimate familiarity with the layout, The long table meant to house the generals for discussions, the bulletin boards meant to sketch plans of attack. Even the décor reflected the purpose of this room with weapons draped on the walls and imagery of battles being fought painted overhead.

Sitting at the head of the table, seemingly arguing with Cassandra, were who looked like Krista’s parents. Krista’s mother had slightly lighter skin that her daughter but had a much fiercer face. She was also a head taller than Krista, dwarfing even her husband.

“Is this the boy Kristhalla was traveling with? I am Cynthia Knightley, Queen of New Dawn, and this is my husband George Colten Knightley. What is your business with us, and how do you know of Jerimiah Grayson?” she demanded to know, her eyes fiercely locked with Darius’s.

Incredibly blunt! Luckily, the man beside her, Krista’s father, was quick to calm her down, “Now Light, from what I could gather, the boy has come a long way to speak with us. I believe that we should let him speak his mind before an interrogation. He did bring our daughter back to us.”

Her dad stood much closer to Krista in height, but he was a fairly stocky man. George sported considerably paler skin that his daughter along with a clean-shaven face.

“Fine George, I’ll let him speak.” She spoke with a definite sense of impatience; Darius could see how living with this woman could drive someone insane. “You have 10 minutes, begin.”

“Y-Yes, of course, Lord and Lady Knightley.” Darius was left at a bit of a loss here, he was expecting a polite conversation, or at least one of interest, but it seemed that Cynthia wanted to hear what she wanted to hear, and then she wanted him gone. “It is true that I have traveled quite a distance to be here. I have come here to formally request your military assistance.”

The two rulers of New Dawn looked at each other in disbelief. Some random nobody just asked them to move their great military for them, and Cynthia let her frustration be known.

“Are you serious?!” she cried, “Excuse me, that’s not right. Are you insane?!”

“A request for our assistance?” George interjected. “Is there any precedent for you to ask? We appreciate you bringing us our daughter, but requesting our military seems fairly, well, asinine, but if you have any other requests, we would love to hear them.”

It was here, that Darius knew it was time, “My grandfather used to tell me stories of a magical utopia that could be found across the Torrential Seas. A place full of incredible and valiant warriors, and that they were our allies. When my kingdom was left in ruin, it became my only goal to reach you, to give my story and plead for help.”

“Across the seas you say, and it was your grandfather who told you about this place across the sea?” asked George.

“My name is Damien Grayson, grandson of Jerimiah and Elizabeth Grayson, the only son of Mariah and Johnathan Grayson, heir to the throne of Acumenos! My-”

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

“You are not Damien!” shouted a familiar voice from behind the woodeb door, Krista’s. She burst through the doors, past the guards that attempted to stop her, past Emily who didn’t even try to stop her, and she stepped right in front of Damien.

“Krista, I think I would know best-” He started but was quickly cut off by Krista.

“You can’t be Damien, it would be too unreal, too unfair. Why wouldn’t you remember my name, and your eyes, they’re not even purple!”

“Krista,” Darius wasn’t sure how she knew who he was, and when he tried to think about it, he felt his head start to ache, but he was more than ready to prove it. “May I have some water and a bowl?”

With it, Darius took his contacts out, revealing his eyes. Something he hadn’t done for anybody except his grandfather for quite some time. Krista couldn’t believe her own eyes, flinching at a burning sensation that she felt on her back.

“You… it really… you really…” Krista stammered. She looked faint, similar to what Damien looked like before he entered this room. When Damien tried to touch her, she pulled away, retreating to her parents. “I-I need to think.”

“Damien Grayson, it’s been some time since we’ve heard from your family, too long in fact,” George said, “I was worried that the worst had happened since Shining Twilight arrived in your lands.”

“Then you have to already know why I’m here!” Damien cried, “Shining Twilight must atone for their actions! With your aid, I can return to Acumenos and reestablish the rule of the Graysons, rebuild our own military. Then together we can crush their organization.”

“No,” Cynthia stated.

“Excuse me?” Damien asked incredulously, “I don’t think I heard you correctly. Shining Twilight is a thorn in both of our sides, are they not? At least that’s what I heard from Grandmagi Cassandra.”

“He speaks the truth Cynthia,” Cassandra explained, “Everyday Shining Twilight grows in power and numbers. The coup in Soaring Sun is probably just the beginning for them. Then again, giving them too much attention could pose its own problem in itself.”

“Wait, you’re speaking in circles,” Damien started.

“I’m well aware of the threat Shining Twilight might pose in the future,” Cynthia argued, “All the more reason that we do not have the resources to give military aid to the young Grayson. Between our battles with Falling Starlight, the closed trade route with Soaring Sun, and the sudden rise in Shining Twilight, we are stretched too thin.”

“But we will still offer sanctuary to you and any of the other Graysons. Our doors are open, and in time, I hope we can do more to help one another,” George added.

Damien had to bite back his rage as he spoke, “There are no other Graysons other than my grandfather, but by now he…” Darius couldn’t finish that sentence, instead turning to leave the room with a few parting words. “It’s just me left.”

“Dar- Damien!” Krista shouted unsure of what she even wanted to say, “I… It’s not over, there should still be hope for you. I can tell that you’re in pain, please don’t just leave.”

Damien heard her words and stopped moving, his hand on the door of the exit. Honestly, he didn’t want to leave, there wasn’t anything he could do anyway. He was at a crossroad, Damien could leave now and go back into the Don’s clutches, work his way up the ladder, maybe even have a good life until the Don got tired of him, or he could bide his time here, watch as the people he needed help from sit idly as his greatest enemy continued to grow stronger.

With so few options left to him, Damien relented, “I’m not going anywhere, sorry, but I think I’m going to indulge in your hospitality for a bit longer. Lord Knightley, Lady Knightley, thank you for this audience you have given me. You have done so much, especially you Princess Knightley.”

Krista could see that Damien spoke with a smile, but she knew his heart wasn’t in his words. His usual cheerful expression felt soured or even devoid of any light, instead filled with what seemed like apathy.

"Damien,” Krista started, but he had already left. “I’m sorry.”