“Nearly two decades of revenue have been donated already. With the promises of much more from most of the affluent families and guilds, though as you know I don’t put much stock in the promises of humans,” Thraxton leaned forward as he spoke, to pick up the small cup of coffee from the table that sat between us.

“Hope your vaults are big enough,” I said. I too had a cup full of coffee, but I hadn’t bothered to take more than a single drink of it yet. Even though I had requested the coffee and also the small plate of snacks sitting on the table too, I no longer had much of an appetite for anything.

“That’s another thing. One of the main reasons I’m here to request your aid, is because I can trust you with it all. What I desire isn’t just your coins, although I do need them, it is instead your people. I can trust you. So I can trust your people thru you. You’ll not steal or mismanage the funds, as all the rest will,” Thraxton said as he leaned back in the dark colored chair.

I took a small breath, as to sigh, but kept myself from actually doing so. Not that I was being mindful to not be rude to the king, or would be king, of Lumen… but rather because the man sitting before me was expecting it. He was waiting for me to grow annoyed, so he could smirk and bring up an old promise that I really wish I had never made.

How could I have known that a baby would be able to remember what I had said? He hadn’t even been able to talk yet. It wasn’t fair.

Renn probably had the same ability. I’d need to be weary around any of her children, once they were born… just in case they inherited her vivid memory.

“The council going to be happy with our company managing the resources and clean up?” I asked him.

“A few will complain, of course, but nothing too bad. Your guild is well respected, especially amongst the council. Gerald is well-liked too, even with those who your guild is technically at odds with,” Thraxton shrugged as he spoke, which told me he genuinely didn’t care if people complained or not.

His willingness to be a despot made him useful, but at the same time dangerous. Hopefully Brandy and Gerald knew what they were doing.

It was a little amusing, honestly. I have known this man since his birth, yet I would have understood him just as well even if I hadn’t.

All men with crowns end up being the same, eventually.

“By our ledger, nearly a quarter of all the coins in our vaults belong to you or your family. Kind of amusing to think you still need financial help, when taking that into account,” I said.

He smiled as he shifted and put his arm up along the back end of the chair he sat on. “I’ll need to donate most of my wealth too, yes. All my posturing and speeches will be for nothing if I don’t put my money where my mouth is. Especially with all those damn merchants on the council. But it will be a small price to pay for the city and sovereignty,” Thraxton said.

“Power over money,” I stated.

He nodded. “Exactly.” He seemed excited over it.

It was foolish, but not because it wouldn’t work. Rather it was foolish precisely because it would work.

If handled properly, which it would if Thraxton and the council really did give the position of leadership to the Society, it wouldn’t just succeed… it’d do so wonderfully.

Lumen would be able to become independent. The city would be rebuilt better than before. The environment for businesses, and the people who benefited from them, would become a beacon in this world. Wealth and power beyond the mountains and seas would pour in from all flocks of life and regions, only further empowering the city and its people.

Such wealth and prosperity was the very thing I was having issues with when I considered the Animalia Company as it was already. Too much wealth and power was just a giant bull’s-eye. A target. Something to be destroyed and laid low.

So only adding to that pile of treasure wasn’t the brightest move… but there were more positives than negatives to this plan. The goodwill from the community, and the city, towards our guild and thus the Society would only improve dramatically. Plus with the Society being given such a powerful position… not only would we as a whole be safer, it would grant us certain powers and oversight capabilities. Ones that went far and beyond anything we had now.

There was no reason to deny Thraxton’s request. Other than my own discomfort and feeling of annoyance. It would undoubtedly bring forth other disasters and issues down the road… but those could be handled then, if they ever arrived.

At the very least it would secure the Societies place in Lumen for the foreseeable future. Which was worth far more to me than any of the wealth or power it’d bring.

“I’ll send a messenger when Brandy and Gerald return. You can discuss the finer details with them,” I said, deciding to just accept it. After all, it wasn’t like I could actually tell him no. The Society would need to vote on it, and I knew Brandy and Gerald would not let this opportunity pass by.

Thraxton nodded and then took another drink of his coffee.

I sat back a little and glanced around at Brandy’s office. It was a little bigger than Gerald’s, but plainer. It lacked any fancy furniture, rugs, or paintings. There were shelves like his too, but they were more bare than not.

It was places like here that Brandy’s pious nature showed itself. It was just too bad it didn’t show itself at all when it came to her business practices.

“Might I ask of your newest member, Vim?” Thraxton brought my attention back to him. He was putting the cup back down on the table, and by the sounds it made as he did so it was empty now.

“Hm?” I frowned as I wondered how he had known of Fly… or maybe Wool?

“The adorable one. I first saw her working as a bank teller, not that tall, golden eyes, I think her name was Renn?” Thraxton frowned as he searched his memories, and I noted the way he said her name. He hadn’t heard her name said aloud, but instead had likely read it… likely from a name-tag.

Renn.

“She’s newer, yes, but not exactly a new member. What’s wrong with her?” I asked.

“Nothing? She’s just beautiful. A few of your members are, but she’s the first I’ve actually found attractive myself,” he said calmly.

Thraxton was speaking in a way that told me this was more small talk than not, but I still focused on him as if it wasn’t. The conversation was now more serious than the one we just had.

“She’s a little old for you,” I said lightly.

He smirked and nodded. “I bet! It really isn’t fair, you know!” Thraxton chuckled after he spoke, seemingly enjoying the thoughts in his head.

“What would your wife think of you chasing the tail of a woman old enough to be your grandmother?” I asked.

His chuckling turned into a full on laugh as he nodded. “She’d suffocate me in my sleep, for sure!”

Would she? I’ve never spent much time with Thraxton’s wife, but I never got that image from her. She always seemed… well... subservient. Simple. As if she had no desires of her own to speak of.

But I guess any woman got that way when it came to such things.

“Speaking of wives, do you have any Vim?” Thraxton changed the topic a little as his laughter died down.

“Not that I’m currently aware of,” I said.

He chuckled and nodded, as if he had expected such an answer. “Such a life… and to think others believe I have one of wonder. How little people know,” he said.

“Ruling a city is fun,” I admitted.

“Ah! So there is a chance,” Thraxton sat forward, suddenly more focused on me.

Woops.

“During wartime, that is,” I added quickly.

Thraxton’s smile dimmed a little, but didn’t die off completely as he leaned back in his chair and sighed. “You know, it’s only a single year Vim,” he said.

“A blink of an eye,” I said and nodded.

“Exactly! Especially for you! This would be a great opportunity. Let Brandy and Gerald run Lumen, they’ll have my full support. Surely now would be the perfect time?” Thraxton asked.

I shook my head. “I have no desire for your city, Thraxton. Why would I give up a year of my life for something I don’t even want?” I asked.

“Surely your Society could use it, at least? Think about it, a whole city! You could bring all of your members here and make the perfect environment for them! And all I’m asking for in return is just one year… For someone who has a seemingly unlimited number of them, you sure are stingy with them,” Thraxton once again tried to negotiate for me.

“You’re the odd one, Thraxton, not me. You are already at the top of the food-chain… so just what do you even want to use me for a year for?” I asked.

He didn’t need to me destroy enemies, conquer nations, or defeat monsters. So just what did he want?

“Isn’t it obvious?” he asked.

I shrugged as I shook my head.

“Why, Vim, I want you of course,” he said plainly.

Dumbfounded, I couldn’t believe the man who was nodding seriously. “You’re into women aren’t you…?” I asked, unable to believe it. After all hadn’t he just mentioned he had noticed Renn’s beauty?

Thraxton’s face contorted from a serious one to one as confused as I felt… then he broke out into a laugh. “Not for me myself, Vim, jeez!” he barely got the words out as he waved me down.

Slightly relieved, I kept myself from relaxing even more. After all, he still hadn’t answered my question.

After a moment of laughing, Thraxton contained himself and then nodded. “I do want your body, or blood I guess, but not that way. I want a child from you. Preferably a son, if I could get one,” he finally said.

Blinking, I contained my vast relief and calmed down. I was glad to hear of his true purpose, but didn’t want him to realize how comforting I found it to be.

“A son,” I said.

He nodded. “I’d take any child, of course, but I bet your sons have more chance to inherit your strength. Plus a son could then sire many more, while a daughter… well,” he shrugged, not needing to say more.

I see. So he simply wanted my bloodline. To enrich his own. To further his own agendas, even hundreds of years from now when he’s long dead and gone.

“That explains all those women you used to send to my room back in the day,” I said as I thought of those nights, long ago. Back when Lumen had first been founded.

He chuckled. “Never worked, regrettably. I’m assuming it’s something to do with your… unique self. Which is why I figure a year would be safe enough,” Thraxton said.

A year. To give birth to a child, that he could raise as his own.

And in exchange I get, or rather the Society gets, Lumen in its entirety.

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

In any other world, in any other scenario, it wasn’t a bad trade. One I might have considered... if it had been the first time someone had asked it of me.

Though I hadn’t agreed the first time either, had I?

“Nonetheless, I shall have to turn you down Thraxton. Spending a year in indulgence sounds fun, but all of the headaches I’d have to deal with afterward wouldn’t be,” I turned him down, as usual.

Thraxton smiled as he nodded, but I could see the truth in his accepting nod. He wasn’t happy. Even though he seemingly had… long given up in actually convincing me, he still desired that outcome.

Hopefully in his later years he didn’t become… desperate.

“Do you have any children, Vim?” Thraxton then asked.

“If I did you’ll not be able to convince them anymore than myself,” I warned.

He chuckled and nodded, accepting defeat.

I glanced at the window near Brandy’s desk. It wasn’t a very large one, and it was being pelted with rain. The storm was here, and had been since this morning.

“The church will arrive soon,” Thraxton said.

“They’re already here, Thraxton. Or at least, their eyes and ears are,” I corrected him.

He sighed as he nodded. “That’s the truth. They’ve been trying to wiggle their way into Lumen ever since we opened the ports,” he said.

“Coins are only strong as gods when one has enough of them. They become weak when one has none,” I said.

“Isn’t that the truth… I’ve been told that hundreds of people likely had been living in the sewers, is that true?” he asked.

I nodded.

Thraxton shook his head and he stood from his chair. He turned to stare out the window to the rain and dark clouds. “Lumen should be the wealthiest city in the world, yet I feel as if we’re the poorest sometimes,” he said.

Keeping my scornful snicker inside, I ignored Thraxton’s vain attempt of being melancholic at his own failures.

Kings were all the same.

“How would you fix poverty, Vim?” Thraxton asked.

“You don’t want to know how I’d fix it, Thraxton,” I said gently.

He smiled and nodded. “Likely not…”

Slowly standing, I decided it was best to end the conversation here. Before he really started to ask for favors, and didn’t just throw them out for small talk. “They should be back tomorrow or the next day, Thraxton. How about coming back here for the negotiations, instead of your castle?” I asked.

“Sure. May I bring my family?” he asked.

I blinked at the man’s odd request. Although I have met his wife, and children, I wasn’t aware if anyone else in the Society had. Yet…

Staring at the man who I had known since his birth, I noted the graying hair. The thin beard. The wrinkles and skin that was starting to age a little too much.

I see.

“Sure… They, like you, are always welcome in our doors, Thraxton, you know that,” I said.

He nodded as he looked down to the table between us. At the cups, his empty and mine full, and the plate of snacks that neither of us had touched. “I know. I do… Yet I feel as if I don’t, sometimes,” he said.

Frowning at him, I wondered why. He knew I was beyond his rule, as were the rest of the Society… but we’ve always been something similar to friends with one another. He’s helped us, and we’ve helped him many times over the years.

“I believe Gerald does not like me. Though not sure why,” Thraxton gave me the answer I was searching for.

“Really?” I wasn’t too surprised to hear it. Gerald was… odd. Yet it was interesting to hear Thraxton say such a thing, since it meant Gerald must have done something.

“He goes against me often on the council. Never anything too drastic, or dire, but often enough to be noticed,” Thraxton said.

Ah. “He might be doing it as to avoid anyone claiming favoritism, Thraxton. My people have to view things in such a way, especially during such negotiations,” I said.

He nodded. “That is likely the reason, yes. Yet sometimes it bothers me… also Sofia has become very short with me, ever since I asked if she’d like to marry my son,” he said.

I wasn’t able to contain my sigh as I closed my eyes and shook my head. “Thraxton…” I groaned.

“What! You won’t give in, so I need to get the next best thing, right?” he argued.

Really. He’s insatiable. Why were kings and lords always so unabashedly self righteous?

“Leave Sofia be. She has a hard past, the kind that such a request… even if made in half jest would be painful for her,” I warned him.

“I figured, based off her reaction…” he nodded.

Jeez. Poor Sofia. Children were a very… touchy subject for her. At least he only asked her to marry his son, and not give birth to one.

“You’re an odd man, Thraxton. You didn’t wish to join our Society, yet you seem very serious about joining it all the same,” I said.

He smiled at me. “I want your longevity and strength for my descendants, Vim. Nothing more.”

“At least you’re honest. Who knows, maybe one day you’ll find someone willing to play along with your strange schemes,” I said.

He nodded thoughtfully and then stepped around the table, as to head for the door. “How about that adorable one? Renn?”

About to follow him out of Brandy’s office, I paused right as I stood. “Renn?” I asked.

Thraxton nodded expectantly as he opened the door. “Not only would I get your bloodlines, I’d get her beauty too! Who knows maybe I could even do the deed myself and not wait for my sons, too!” Thraxton spoke quickly, excitedly… as if he just realized something very wonderful.

For the tiniest moment I debated killing my next monarch… then the moment faded as Thraxton turned to see why I wasn’t joining him out the office.

I coughed and gulped, and scratched my healed skin under my lips as to hide the thought that had just planted itself in my mind while I nodded. “You can try. I’ll not stop any of my members from agreeing to your request, if you can convince them to,” I said calmly, and surprisingly actually sounded so.

He smiled as I joined him out of the office. I closed the door behind me, and was glad I was able to shut it without breaking it. Though I noted the handle was dented a little upon my release of it. “One day, Vim, for sure,” he said.

“Just… cease your hunt if anyone tells you no, like Sofia, please,” I asked of him.

“Of course Vim. I’m a king, not a tyrant,” he said as we headed down the hall, heading for the main lobby so he could rejoin his entourage and be escorted out of the building.

I scoffed at his words as he chuckled.

“Keep telling yourself that, Thraxton. From one tyrant to another, trust me when I say such lies barely work even on a good day,” I said.

Thraxton laughed as he nodded, agreeing with me.

As we walked to the main lobby Thraxton made small talk. Of the city. Of the monster. Of the storm and rain… and oddly, his new pet. Some kind of squirrel one of his knights found on a hunt. Something that kept stealing his wife’s jewelry.

I obliged his small talk, returning it and adding to it until we stepped out onto the balcony in the main lobby. It was mostly empty, except for his knights and servants who were waiting for him. They were all seated and standing near the main door, and a few of the knights were stationed at the stairwell’s openings. Some were making light talk; others were just standing silently… looking bored.

They noticed their king, and quickly started moving. Some of the knights hurried up the stairs as it turned to Thraxton.

He nodded as I shook his hand. “Just one year Vim. Or even just until the birth of a child,” he said again.

This time he spoke earnestly, and seriously. His eyes held my own as our hands shook.

“For Lumen?” I asked.

He nodded.

I smiled and shook my head as I separated our hands. “Sorry, Thraxton. But a destroyed city isn’t very appealing,” I said.

He sighed, and I saw the way his eyes shifted. He didn’t like that I had answered his serious request with a lighthearted joke.

Well… I hadn’t been joking.

“Worth a shot. See you in a few days,” he said as he turned to greet the knights and servants.

I nodded as I watched Thraxton and his people pack up and leave. They left the main lobby, closing the door behind them. I walked down the lobby stairs to the ground floor, and went to lock the door they had used… but paused a moment as to stare out at the rain. It was a light storm, but heavy enough to be a pain. Chances are it would heavily interfere with the burning and disposal of the creature’s corpse.

Locking the main lobby, I sighed as I headed back up the stairs… this time heading for the Society Houses within.

No one else was in the building. Before Reatti left she and I had put up notices on the doors, to let the workers know that they would get paid time off to handle their own affairs. That the Animalia Guild would reopen in a few days, and no one would get in trouble if they didn’t show up immediately.

It was an easy explanation for us not being open. It was seen as charitable and kind, yet let us hide the fact that none of us were actually here.

“As if it matters,” I whispered as I opened one of the heavy metal doors. I closed it carefully, and momentarily stood in front of the door as I listened to the silence within the Society Houses.

It was… unnatural, to hear nothing in here. Even when everyone was out and about, working or elsewhere, this place still usually had sounds. Like leftover lingering notes hanging in the air, indicating there was life here… or rather, that there was usually life here.

Right now however it was dead silent. Empty. Cold. Devoid of life, somehow, even though it had only been a few days.

Walking down the hallway, I paused a moment to look at the doors I passed. They were all shut, some even locked, and there wasn’t a single piece of trash or debris anywhere to be found. The Society of Lumen had packed up and ran off, but hadn’t done so without diligence. Unlike the sewers, this place looked… clean. Too clean. As if they had swept and wiped down as they ran out of the building.

Maybe they had.

I didn’t wander around long, but did check each floor just in case. I wasn’t sure what I was checking for… but I was sure as to why I ended up in front of a certain door at the end.

Staring at the door that led to Renn’s room, I silently reached out and pushed on it. Unlike most of the other doors, this one wasn’t locked.

Likely because Renn hadn’t locked it herself. I had sent her back with Merit… she had been hurt.

The door to Renn’s room swung open gently, squeaking a little loudly in the silence, until her whole room came into view.

Her bed, only partly made. Some clothes draped over the side of the bed, and her dresser was wide open. Maybe she had changed clothes before leaving.

Taking a small breath, I took in what little of her scent I could smell… and stayed outside of the room. On the precipice, just outside in the hallway.

Her easel was visible, but at this angle I couldn’t make out the whole picture. It looked completely from here, but it was hard to tell. Rungle’s face was now on it.

She had mentioned she had finished it.

Blinking, I shifted a little as a bright flash lit up the room. Shortly after, the world rumbled as the sky complained.

Near the window being noisily hit by rain, were little flowers. Notably a small cactus… it sat proudly in the center of the windowsill, even though the smallest of the bunch.

They’d be back soon. Reatti had left yesterday. No matter what path they took, or vehicle they chose… boat or cart, it didn’t take long to get here from the Clothed Woman’s sanctuary, or the Bell Church.

Glancing back down the hallway, to the other rooms in the distance… I did my best to not worry.

I worried over my people. Over Reatti. Over Fly.

Yet it was obvious who I was worrying about the most.

Would Renn return with the rest?

If she even did… would she be the same Renn I knew? Would she smile and laugh the same? Or would she be different… like Tosh.

Would she still desire to be with me? To become like me?

Most gave up such a dream after they endured failure. And although Renn hadn't particularly failed in reality... I knew that was how she will interpret the events.

“I might have lost her,” I whispered.

The worst part was there was nothing I could do about it.

Even if I was willing to… favor her over the others, and dedicate time and effort towards her and no one else… there wasn’t much one could do about mental afflictions.

My only hope was that Renn would be strong enough. Strong enough to not break. To stumble, yet get back up.

A part of me thought she was… but…

“I had thought Tosh to be strong too,” I whispered.

Of course it wasn’t just Renn I should worry over. Reatti and Merit were those most affected. Reatti losing her brother… Merit for having been there during the moment it happened. Merit especially took such things critically. She held herself to a higher standard than most realized, so when she failed it took her years to mentally forgive herself… if she ever did. Fly was luckily young enough that she might be fine, but she too was someone I needed to keep an eye on. Then obviously Wool, though I was going to let those at the Bell Church handle her.

The rest… well…

“Our people are too old,” I said softly as I looked back at Renn’s room. Specifically at the painting of Rungle and Stumble.

Too old to be enduring these burdens. Too tired. Too weak.

Even Renn wasn’t a young child.

They should all be living peacefully without trials and tribulations. Living out the remainder of their long lives without a care in the world.

Instead they must now dedicate years to rebuilding a city none of them actually cared for. Just to ensure the place they called home wouldn’t be stolen from them. They must now become entangled in politics, and nobles and merchants. They must now become the very things that I usually destroyed to keep us safe. Even Thraxton, that human, who I personally didn’t mind, was going to eventually become an annoying problem. As he and his family grew more powerful, and his desires became more serious… it would be us, the Society, who would have to deal with him. Thanks to the situation the Society was now responsible for more than we needed to be. And that very responsibility, taken and accepted as to protect ourselves, would only in the end do the opposite.

All because of a few simple events. Whether they had been handled properly or not was now irrelevant. The fact that something as simple as a few non-humans and a large creature could cause such chaos… even whilst I was right in the middle of it…

I sighed as I reached into Renn’s room, just far enough to grab the door’s handle. I shut it, and didn’t like how I could still smell her even as I walked away.

All of this happened, and was happening, because I couldn’t carry the burden properly. Because I had not been strong enough, fast enough, or smart enough.

Once again I was being forced to admit and accept something that no one else would. At least… not aloud.

My single pair of shoulders weren’t enough.

Not anymore.

If they ever had been.