The group did not see Rowan when they got back, the Shapeshifter likely busy. They had dinner together after the meeting… Today certainly had been… An eventful day.

Kazius would eat his dinner with quite the manners, eating with similar etiquette to Alice. As Kazius ate, he would occasionally chat with Alice, smiling warmly at her. As they talked, it was hard to ignore the stares from Azanor and Damon, it seems the meeting had failed to have even Damon forget about their questions. Troublesome, but not unexpected.

As for Alice, she seemed to be aware Kazius was acting differently, but aware and having a problem with it were two different things. Then again… She didn’t know of the vision of her death and the future… Something he intended on never telling her about. The last thing Kazius wanted was to have her blame herself for Remus’ death. She didn’t need that. He would keep that secret. It seems the two intended on doing the same. At least they did not bring it up in front of Eve and Alice.

After dinner, the group headed to bed.

“Good night.” Kazius cooed to Alice with a tender kiss to her lips. This resulting in her looking quite flustered. Perhaps his confession had also distracted her enough from asking too many questions, that could be another reason for her silence on the matter…

With that, Kazius would feign going to bed, pretending to be sound asleep for a while before slowly and quietly rising out of bed. He could easily sneak out using the shadows to disappear, but Kazius chose not to, knowing very well he was not the only one feigning sleep. Kazius would head out back silently, soon hearing footsteps right behind him. Once outside, he turned around, indeed things being as he had expected.

He would come face to face with a concerned looking Azanor and Damon.

“Kazius…” Damon trailed off in concern, the man resembling a kicked puppy with his pained expression.

“What did you do, Kazius? I thought we would discuss things together from now on. We’re all a team.” Azanor stated with a concerned frown on his face, his red eyes giving a stern expression.

Kazius sighed and then smiled at them warmly. There was almost something wicked to his warm smile. “I knew that if I told any of you what I planned to do, you would try and stop me.” He responded simply.

Azanor frowned at this, “If you knew we would have stopped you, how could you do it? What did you even do, actually?”

“I spoke to my father.” Kazius explained, much to Azanor’s horror.

“Kazius, I told you how terrifying he is, why would you do that!?” Azanor exclaimed in shock. Damon frowned as well, but he did not say anything yet, allowing Kazius to talk.

“He was here the whole time, Azanor… Even you didn’t notice him, it would be foolish to have ignored him. I… My mother didn’t drop me off at Ratier…” Kazius continued, Azanor’s expression growing horrified.

“He… He was here the whole time?” Azanor questioned, clearly more than uneasy at the idea, his eyes beginning to dart around in concern.

“My whole life.” Kazius confirmed, placing his hands behind his back, holding his hands together, his back straight. “He was in my shadow. You have been honest with me, both of you. I do consider you my friends… My closest friends… I wouldn’t hide this from you. Tell me… Damon… Azanor… As we were… Do you really think we could beat Elande?” He questioned, looking at the two with a firm gaze.

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The two seemed to look down, clearly aware of what likely would happen if they were to meet Elande again. They were quiet.

“I am supposed to be your King… Yet I couldn’t protect any of you.” Kazius stated with a scowl, “Remus is dead because of me. We were lucky to not die when we went up Mount Ulf… Yet that obvious warning was lost on me… I almost got not only Alice, but all of us killed had Remus not been there. Tell me, is that what a King does? What a friend does?” Kazius’ expression cold yet firm.

The two were surprised at his words. Damon grimaced, “None of what happened is your fault, Kazius.” He finally spoke up in dismay.

“It is. Your eye, his death… Even the injury I had on my chest… All of it is my fault… Which is why… I did what had to be done. We agreed, in our gathering of the worst… That we would do whatever it takes… I meant those words. Every bit of it.” Kazius stated firmly with a bitter expression on his face before he sighed. He let out a light chuckle, his warm expression returning.

“So, when I found out the truth, I embraced it.” Kazius stated simply, “And now I am better for it… I feel much better.”

“The truth? What truth? What did you do, Kazius? Your soul… It… It’s black… I have never… I’ve never seen one that color in person…” Azanor admitted in concern, a pained expression on his face.

“The truth that Seselis and I are the same person.” Kazius stated simply. As if to emphasize this, he would move a finger as if beaconing someone. There from the shadows around them would rise several Shadow Fiends. He would turn to look at them, motioning them towards Blossom with his eyes. “Find that Green Dragon won’t you? Keep an eye on the Lady for me as well, see who acts suspicious around her. “ He instructed, all of them heading out just as quickly as he gave the order.

At his words and what followed, Azanor only looked all the more concerned.

“To be precise… He had me to lengthen his life. My entire birth was a plot of his… He split himself in two so I could be made… Now we’re one person again… So, we’re the same person... Yet not… I am still Kazius. But… I’d be lying if I said I didn’t have memories that don’t seem like they are mine… And certain thoughts I have are so strongly opposing… they confuse me at times… Even now… I can tell half of me isn’t happy to tell you so much… Yet the stronger part of me is happy I am… Perhaps Seselis thought he would be the stronger half… But I am quite stubborn… You both know that.” Kazius stated, his eyes closing in thought as he spoke, contemplating things as he spoke. Once he opened his eyes again though, the warm smile returning to his face, but there was a pained look to his eyes.

“If you two are too frightened to be around me-“ Kazius began only to be surprised by quite the bear hug from Damon. “Don’t say anything stupid.” He stated firmly, Azanor soon joining the bro hug. “I told you I would follow you into the Abyss for all I care… And I meant it… I don’t care who you are. You’re my best friend… And my King. I will get better… And stronger… So, rely on me, will you?” Damon questioned with a slight smile. It seems he accepted the situation for what it was, he didn’t care. Then again, no matter how twisted Kazius would become, if the mirrors showed anything is that Damon indeed meant his words.

As for Azanor, despite joining in the hug, he looked uneasy, “I still can’t believe I’ve been running around with Seselis… I’ve heard of the horrors he has brought… Even experienced some through some of the memories I’ve obtained… But… If half of Seselis is you… I suppose he is a horror I can accept. You’ve helped me a lot and are my friend… You’ve accepted me for what I am… And now I am closer to Eve despite how things are… Eve herself has been treated with similar animosity… So… Despite what you choose, I will support you as well.” He admitted, opening up about why he was so afraid of Seselis.

Kazius smiled at this, feeling relieved. He hugged the two back before eventually letting go. “I am glad… I feel a lot better about it now…” He admitted before looking off towards Blossom again. “We need this place… I will help them… And eventually make them submit… I could use the help of some terrible men.” He mused with a playful chuckle and smirk.

“Terrible men or the worst?” Azanor asked with a defeated sigh before grinning a little.

“The most terrible I can find.” Kazius responded in amusement.

“Buahaha! The best of the worst, right?” Damon questioned with a hearty laugh.

“The best of the worst.” Kazius repeated in acknowledgement.

“The best of the worst… To show Ratier and our true enemies no mercy.” Azanor repeated.

“The best of the worst… Until we are able to rule over the ashes.” Kazius stated with a nod, pleased to see their resolve.

“The best of the worst… Until they are nothing but shreds.” Damon repeated, all of them in agreement.

The Church was likely cocky now after what they did, but to Kazius it would only make their suffering all the sweeter.