Lifting his face up out of the dense forest of fur, Lucien was finally able to lay his eyes on the actual forest around him without having to worry for his life. It amazed him just how quickly they had left the Eternal Forest. It took him so long to reach there by foot, but it only felt like a few moments while on the wolf’s back. Albeit, a few terrifying moments that he wouldn’t want to experience ever again.

He shifted further up the body, pulling himself closer to the wolf’s head so that he could see where he was. A pang of jealousy hit him, as he watched the giant wolf effortlessly dance between the trees with unmatched grace. Smaller critters ran hither and thither around the wolf, and Lucien watched in amazement as it somehow avoided trampling on any of them.

Much like in his youth, he wondered what it would be like to have mana coursing through his body. Would he be able to be like this wolf? Running through the forest without causing any harm. What would he be able to achieve if he had magic? Could he have...

The wolf looked up at him, and for a moment, he thought he had seen something human in its eyes, but he couldn’t quite tell what it was. He tousled the fur on its neck wistfully. “If only I was like you.”

The wolf barked back at him in response.

The two continued their journey through the forest in silence. Until they left the forest behind, and Lucien was once again faced with the ruins of Locham. Stopping at the gate, the wolf gently lowered itself to the ground so that Lucien could get down.

Climbing off its back, Lucien took the pack off the wolf’s side and was about to walk into the village when he felt something pressing against his side. Looking down, he saw the wolf’s snout gently nuzzling into his ribs. He smiled. “Thanks for the help, but I need to go now.”

The wolf licked at Lucien’s stub caringly. Showing the same amount of gentleness and care as it did for the forest and the animals.

Lucien stayed with the wolf for a few more moments. Tousling its fur. Scratching behind its ears. The wolf was exceedingly gentle with him, so he treated it in kind. It was kind of funny, just how different his past two encounters with wolves had been. This one, despite its size, strength, and ability, was so gentle and kind. Like an old friend.

It was only a short while, but he already felt a connection with this animal.

“You can go back now. I’ll be fine on my own. I promise,” he sighed. “I’ll come and visit sometime.”

After a bit of convincing, the wolf reluctantly stood up and started on its walk back to the Eternal Forest. Lucien stayed at the gate, watching until its figure disappeared amidst the trees.

Shouldering the pack, he began his walk through the village once more. His rested mind took in everything, capturing every little detail. He wouldn’t be back here for a long time. He had to fulfill his duty.

Lucien found himself outside his home, but he couldn’t bring himself to head inside. With his family no longer inside, it felt, hollow... The countless memories they shared in between its walls were tainted by the sight of them that day.

He continued around to the back of the house and into the backyard. Mumbling a prayer, he blessed their graves. He hoped their journey into the night sky was going well. Was she watching them? He hoped she was.

The grass rustled behind him, catching Lucien by surprise. He turned around to see what made the noise, and came face to face with a rabbit. The same rabbit Roddy saw with his friends. The very same one that guided him to Adam’s camp.

It’s fur remained a deathly white, untouched by the dirt and the dust. Its large ears trailed behind it as it stared into Lucien’s eyes.

Once again, he found himself unable to look away. It’s eyes were like a portal to a world he had not yet touched. He lost himself in its gaze. He couldn’t move. He didn’t want to move. Tears welled up in his eyes and streamed down his face.

Just like his first encounter with it, the rabbit opened its mouth impossibly wide as if to scream at the world.

“Don’t be sad papa.”

A familiar voice echoed in Lucien’s ears, worming into his very core and rooting him to the spot. He sunk to his knees as his tears flooded the ground. His gaze turned hollow, before a spark lit up behind his eyes, shattering the rabbit’s hold on him. The spark grew into an inferno, an inconsolable rage blazing in his soul.

“WHAT ARE YOU?” He hurled the pack at the rabbit with all his fury and might as his very soul screamed at it.

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The pack rocketed through the air, but the rabbit was already gone before it even came close. Somehow, the rabbit appeared in front of the shed in an instant. An unknown force acted on the pack, slowing it down before it crashed into the wall, protecting what was inside.

The rabbit sat there in front of the shed patiently waiting, as if beckoning for him to follow it.

That throw had quelled some of his rage. He felt his body come back under his control, and so he followed the rabbit down into the cellar. He hooked the lantern to his waist just like every other time he entered the cellar, but when he climbed down the ladder, he realised he didn’t need it.

Lucien felt like he had stepped into the sky itself. Little twinkles of light scattered across the corridor as the rabbit moved. And the rabbit itself was the centre of attention. It’s body glowing like the brightest of stars, a beacon guiding Lucien forward.

The portraits on the walls were slashed through and destroyed. Each and every one of them. Those vulgar brutes left nothing of value, and destroyed whatever they couldn’t carry. Just like they did everywhere else.

Walking through the starlight, Lucien’s mind was cleansed of its anger at the rabbit. He knew better than to provoke a magical creature. Especially one as strange and mysterious as this.

Looking at the destruction those vulgar brutes had brought upon his ancestor’s legacy, it only helped to firm his resolve. They didn’t leave any part of his family untouched. They had to pay.

Reaching the end of the corridor, he found the pedestal pushed over, and the morningstar gone. But of course he did. They came here for the morningstar. That useless hunk of metal was why they did all of this.

If he had just known, he would have given it to them. This bloodshed was not worth it. None of it was worth it.

The plaque on the pedestal was facing him, leaving him with the words of his legendary ancestor:

‘...For it took everyone else from me.

That was the cost of greatness.’

“Why are we still paying for your greatness?” Lucien questioned, hoping Earnest was somehow listening to him. “Is this our family’s lot? To suffer and die for something that has been collecting dust for centuries? This... This is not worth it.” The more he spoke the more passionate he became.

His impassioned cries echoed through the corridor, only to be heard by the rabbit that was sitting calmly where the pedestal once stood. It sat there, calmly taking in his cries.

“They can keep that morningstar for all I care. I don’t want your greatness.” Lucien gasped for air, his words taking more out of him than he expected. Like a weight was lifted from his shoulders. Finally, he didn’t have to bear his ancestor’s burden.

He would get Roddy back, and leave that piece of junk behind where no one would be harmed by it ever again.

The rabbit perked up, its ears and whiskers twitching, as if listening to something that Lucien could not hear. The next second, it disappeared. The lingering starlight the only evidence of its existence.

What is that thing? I’ve never heard of anything like it. The rabbit seemed to disregard all that Lucien knew about magical beasts. The way in which it used its mana was as varied as any human.

It was also the most intelligent magical beast he had ever heard of. And that scared him. This was the type of creature he would want to deal with the least. He had no idea what the rabbit was capable of, nor how intelligent it was. If it wanted to, it could probably kill him before he even knew what was happening.

But for some reason, the rabbit seemed to have taken a liking to him. And honestly, he didn’t know which was worse. But at least it was helping him for now.

Lucien reached out towards one of the bits of light, trying to figure out what it was and how it worked. He felt no warmth from it. In fact, he felt nothing. His hand phased right through it, as if it didn’t exist. The starlight continued to shine, unaffected by his actions.

Lucien took one final look at the paintings on the walls and left the cellar before the starlight could fade away.

Stepping out into the backyard, he picked up the pack that he had left outside. Thankfully nothing came along, otherwise he would have had to go searching for his own food. Looking back at the graves, he said goodbye to his family before setting off.

He had one final stop to make before he left the village. The map in Uther’s shack would help him on his journey. Entering Uther’s home, Lucien took a moment to immerse himself in the room’s energy.

He had spent many a night here since his youth. This place was like a second home to him. The amount of conversations he had had discussing the future of the village with Uther was more than he could count. He had learned so much from Uther. Almost everything he knew was taught to him by that man.

Looking down at the map, he charted his journey to Whitmore Castle. This journey would be a long one. Whitmore Castle was located northwest of Locham, in the very centre of the region. Locham was one of the farthest villages still under Lord Whitmore’s rule.

But at least that meant there were many stops for him to make on this journey. Several villages were scattered between Locham and Whitmore Castle, including a large town. If he ran out of supplies, there would always be a place for him to get more.

Stopping to think for a moment, he added markings next to Locham, adding it to the list of villages that had been attacked, and destroyed. He rolled the map up and stuffed it into the pack. This could be useful.

Taking one final look around the simple shack, he stopped in front of Uther’s sword. Lucien had taken the time to pick it up from the battlefield, clean it off, and hang it up on the wall. He kissed the blade, swearing to himself to never forget Uther’s teachings, and left.

Walking through the village, he took the time to say one final goodbye to everyone, and wished them well on their journey into the stars. He hoped that everyone would be able to stay safe up there, and that they’d be able to return to Stellara’s embrace quickly.

He stopped in the centre of town, kneeling in front of Uther’s grave. “Thank you. For everything.”

Lucien had a long journey ahead of him. And he had delayed it long enough. He walked quickly to the northern gate, which was in just as bad a state as the southern one. Leaving the village behind, he didn’t turn back, and he didn’t stop.

The long journey to Whitmore castle was waiting for him.