“You ok?” Quizlivan asked.

He and Morgani were the only ones still awake, sitting by the fire that flickered in the darkness. Morgani’s bag was full of the meat they had cut away, as well as large chunks of hide, which they had rolled and stuffed inside, and even bone, which they would use to make tools. None of it should have fit inside.

Morgani stared into the flickering firelight.

“It’s always strange… this place. I’m not supposed to be here. I keep forgetting that… the death… the way you live is… predicated on death.”

“Oh,” Quizlivan frowned, “You coulda… there was a much better time to bring this up. Before we killed the dragon.”

“You need to eat, Quizzy.”

Quizlivan made a sound of agreement, scooted closer and watched Morgani watching the fire.

“I… don’t think I can die,” Morgani said instead of answering. “I’m not like them. We’re not like them. I’m… very nearly human, don’t you think? When you cut me, I bleed. I’ve tried it. I’m solid. If you cut me open I have organs, I’m just not sure how to use them. My heart beats. I can feel it.”

Quizlivan gently slid a hand under the skin they had given Morgan to drape around his shoulders over his ridiculously impractical outfit and pressed the palm against his chest in the middle. He felt his cold skin, his sternum, so he pressed harder, and felt the beating of his heart.

“You do,” he agreed, “I can feel it too.”

Silence stretched between them until it began to hurt, so Quizlivan tried desperately to find something to fill it.

“Morgani… why are you alone? Where’s the rest of your tribe? Aren’t they looking for you? Aren’t you looking for them? They have to miss you. They have to love you. You have to love them. People aren’t meant to be alone.”

“I… don’t know how to do that.” Morgani admitted, “For you love is… a series of chemicals meant to form social bonds, sometimes in an attempt to get you to mate. You have to preserve your species. I don’t. We don’t have to stick together for safety or make more of us. We simply… are. And we will be. Forever.”

“Love isn’t just for mating,” Quizlivan argued, “There are a bunch of different kinds of love. I love my family. I love my friends. I love kids. I love all kinds of people I’d never mate with. Love does more than you think it does.”

“Then maybe I did,” Morgani said.

“Did… the people you’re running from, the ones you say can see you-”

“There’s only one left,” Morgani said. “But they...”

“You can’t keep running your whole life,” Quizlivan said, and he did not realize how strongly he had been pressing until he felt Morgan slide a hand up to tug at his own, so Quizlivan balled it into a fist, and Morgan allowed him to rest it over his heart.

“You’re right,” Morgani said, “I have to go back.”

“Go back where?” Quizlivan asked.

“To the…” Morgani looked up at the clouds that never seemed to part, “moon? He can’t still be there. He’ll be on the demigorge. Probably picking up where Lapus left off. Or… calling for the others.”

“More are coming?” Quizlivan asked.

“No, they shouldn’t be… but maybe… I don’t know. He can be making others. He makes people. They make people. They made me.”

“They made you? They’re your parents?” Quizlivan knitted his eyebrows in confusion.

“No, I wasn’t born. I am Morgani Magnus, first of the elves, guardian of Xren. I was born of no mortal woman, but of the very beating heart of the planet herself. I was not born, I was created.”

The way Morgani had said this sent Quizlivan’t heart beating faster than it needed to, pumping blood to places that would do him absolutely no good.

“Neat,” he said.

Then, Xaxac was standing on the beach again, watching the waves lapping at the shore. He glanced up, but the moon was not on fire in the firmament. It was a clear, cloudless night, and for a moment, everything seemed perfectly tranquil.

Then a form rose from the water.

The helmet emerged first as the monster calmly walked onto the beach.

It stood easily ten feet tall, and the armor it wore moved, rustled, breathed, as if it was alive. A light emanated from its chest that lit up the world around them in a blinding green hue, and Xaxac instinctively threw his hands over his face.

The monster did not seem to notice him; it moved past him, walking towards the land.

It was holding a silver cup, tinted blue, and inset with crystals.

It paused, and Xaxac froze with fear.

The Emerald Knight stared at the cup in its hand, and when it spoke, its voice stilled the blood in Xac’s veins.

“No.” It said. “I never did this. I never got this one.”

The helmet rose, and Xaxac knew that whatever was inside that thing, it was staring into his soul.

Xaxac opened his eyes, stared up at the sixty flowers, and thought about how the Emerald Knight went after people who ran away.

He wondered if Lapus had tried to run away.

He wondered what the squiggles in the wardrobe said.

Agalon threw an arm over him and let out the sort of happy hum that let Xaxac know he was awake.

“You’re shakin,” He murmered and pulled Xaxac into his chest.

“I had a bad dream,” Xac admitted, quietly, and burrowed himself as far into Agalon’s undershirt as he could. “About the Emerald Knight.”

This utterance did far more than he had anticipated, because it prompted Agalon to shove himself into a sitting position and stare down at him.

“You had a bad dream about the Emerald Knight?” Agalon asked, and Xaxac was afraid of the way he said it, as if the concept insulted him or made him angry in some way, “Why?”

“I… I dunno,” Xac scooted farther to his side of the bed and stared up at Agalon, took in the far away look in his eyes, “I’m sorry, master, I… I didn’t mean… I dunno why I… dream stuff…”

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

Agalon studied him as if he was looking for something, his face wrinkled with thought as his eyebrows tried to meet in the middle of his forehead.

“He’s wrong,” Agalon said eventually, “You don’t… you’ve never been on a battlefield. And you’re human. You couldn’t… I’m thinking too much. Did you hear a story? Get scared?”

His voice and his face had softened, so Xaxac used his best judgement and decided to snuggle into his side again.

“I’m sorry I get scared so easy, master,” he whispered, “I… I dunno what’s wrong with me.”

“You ain’t scared in the cage,” Agalon said as if it would be a comfort.

“I… I reckon it’s ok to be a monster… in the cage,” Xaxac confessed, “Right? It’s… it’s ok…”

Agalon laid back down on his side and took to stroking Xaxac’s scalp and playing with his hair, the way he liked, the way that calmed him down.

“You’re ok,” he promised, “You’re perfect, Honey Bunny.”

“Aggie,” Xaxac leaned into the touch and cuddled closer, moved to link their legs together, “will you… hold me down and… I feel… I always feel real safe when you’re… on top a’ me like that an… I got scared. I had a bad dream an… I’m sorry.”

“I’m sorry you had a bad dream, darlin,” Agalon smiled softly and kissed his forehead, “them fuckers’ll getcha.”

Xaxac rolled onto his stomach as Agalon dug around in the nightstand for the tiny bottle they kept there.

“Alright, gentlemen!” Takashito proclaimed as he paced before the fighters in their enclosure, “I am happy to see your progress! I am… trying to practice as well. I have, over the past century, developed a great deal of patience, and I will be putting it to good use, but we do have a limited time frame. I would like for you to know the poses I have taught you, as well as the strike points, by the end of the week so that we may move on. Pair up and go through them. Xaxac, come with me. I made a schedule last night, and I would like for us to work at an advanced pace. We will go through the motions you used yesterday, then I am putting you on a regime designed to promote flexibility.”

“A’ight,” Xac shrugged.

“Rabbits are known for their jumping ability, correct?” Takashito asked, “I did some research, because your master told me that you are very much like a rabbit, even as a human. Rabbits have coiled muscles in their legs for extra strength that allow them to cover large distances. They do not run somuchas they hop.”

“Yeah,” Wyatt teased, “Go learn how to bunny hop.”

“Come to the bathhouse again after the next match,” Xac grinned, “I’ll show ya’ how to bunny hop.”

He had expected someone to at least say the word ‘cute’ but instead Takashito spoke as if he was a man running out of time.

“Come along, Mr. OfAgalon,” he demanded, “I want to get a baseline for your flexibility.”

Xaxac followed him a little ways out from the group, until they were standing by the fence made of logs that ran around the enclosure. It was after lunch, and he was the tiniest bit tipsy, so he could not help focusing on Agalon, who was sitting at the table talking to Ara.

“Oh, darlin,” Xac purred, “I am hella flexible. I can put my legs behind my head.”

“Really?” Takashito asked, sounding impressed, “Why did you say it like that? Xaxac… you should not… drink so much. Not only because it makes it more difficult to learn but because you are very small, that is… you are physically small but you are also very young. Drinking so much is not good when you are young. It makes your mind grow incorrectly.”

“I’m grown,” Xac huffed, balancing on one leg and trying to get the other behind his head. He leaned forward in an attempt to recreate what he only before done lying down, but Agalon often bent him nearly in half, and he had become quite flexible. He did manage to tuck his foot behind his head, and though he had difficulty straightening back up, he managed it with a smile. “See? If I was drunk could I do this?”

“Why can you… do you do stretching exercises?” Takashito asked.

“Yeah!” Xac leaned forward to undo his contortion and felt his thighs burning, so in an attempt to quiet the pain he stretched that leg upward against the wall and leaned into it, stretching for his toes with his hands. “All the time! It made my back not hurt when I get in weird positions. I like it!” He smiled, took in the worried expression on Takashito’s face and asked, “Am I… am I not supposed to?”

“I simply did not know you did,” Takashito said, “But I suppose in… in your line of work… I spoke with your butler last night in my chambers after…” he glanced at the table and seemed to be thinking of something, then turned back to Xac, speaking so softly Xaxac could barely hear him, “After Ara had fallen asleep. She seemed to… sleep more soundly here than she usually does. I believe your butler pours strong drinks. Mr Lee told me quite a bit about you. I like him. He seems to be a respectable gentleman. You are a pleasure slave?”

“Yeah!” Xac said chipperly, “I like Lee too! He’s really nice to me! I knew you would like him!”

“I have… I believe correctly, guessed what that is,” Takashito said, and Xaxac did not understand the pity in his eyes, “And… you do not write very well.”

“Humans can’t write,” Xaxac hissed.

“Fear the white rabbit,” Takashito whispered, “It said, ‘Fear the White Rabbit’.”

He stared at Xaxac as Xaxac continued to stretch, processing the information. What did it mean? Was the White Rabbit a shifter? Another person?

“Mr Lee said it came to you in a dream,” Takashito said, “What does it mean? What was the rest of the dream?”

“I dunno,” Xac shrugged and switched legs to stretch the other one, “I have a lot of weird dreams. I dreampt that I was standin’ on a stage, and there was a crowd shoutin for me, but they was all humans, and that was… not exactly wrote on the wall, but it was on the wall like how when water forms on windows, sometimes? Like when it gets cold?”

“Condensation,” Takashito said, “You have a lot of ‘weird dreams’?”

“Yeah,” Xac glanced back to the table, saw that Agalon was looking at him so he waved, “I have a lotta weird dreams.”

“Do that on the ground,” Takashito demanded, which made Xaxac think he had also seen Agalon, “Do those splits on the ground, see how far apart you can get your legs.”

“If I had a copper for every time an elf told me to spread my legs I could buy myself,” Xac giggled, but Takashito either did not understand the joke or did not think it was funny, because he frowned.

“You… you are very flexible,” He said, “How long can you hold that position? Are your thighs burning?”

“They used to but now it’s kinda comfy,” Xac said, “I sit like this sometimes. I can touch my toes too, look!”

He bent forward to demonstrate and Takashito leaned in to observe. He had leaned in so close Xaxac thought he might be able to talk to him without being overheard so he risked a question.

“You know anybody named Lapus?” He glanced up, to look into Takashito’s beautiful blue eyes.

“I know many people by that name,” Takashito said, “It is a common name on the big island. It is short for Lapis Lazuli, a precious stone. It is similar to a Urillian naming a child Ruby, as they are apparently want to do.”

“I think he’s talkin to me,” Xac admitted, wishing he could see Agalon, but he could not because Takashito was standing in the way, “In my dreams. Is that a thing that can happen? With magic?”

A look of deep concern passed over Takashito’s face, but it moved away quickly and he asked, “What does he look like?”

“I dunno,” Xac shrugged, “Like a water elf. But you’re the only other water elf I ever seen. He wants to give me a cup.”

For a moment, Xaxac thought that Takashito had been poisoned again. He had turned to a very pale blue, almost the color of his hair, and his face appeared to have turned to stone.

“A cup?” he asked, stood upright and glanced around the field, then spoke loudly when he said, “switch legs.”

Xaxac contorted to reach for the toes on his other leg.

“Yeah, a real pretty cup, made outta some kinda metal,” Xac whispered.

“Xaxac,” Takashito implored, “in your dreams, where is this cup?”

“I dunno,” Xac shrugged, “I think it was in a cave or something, but like, underwater? With a bunch of other cups? And Lapus was there with it or something? He was there for so long the uh… rock things? From the ceiling? Which one is the top and which one is the bottom? They’re two words and they sound almost just alike… anyhow, they changed on accounta he was there for so long. With a buncha cups. But this’in’s like… I dunno, special or somethin I guess?”

“Xaxac,” Takashito asked, “How do you know about the Sacred Chalice? Do the Urillians know about the Sacred Chalice? Did someone tell you?”

“What?” Xac asked. The fear in Takashito’s voice had frozen him; he was unaccustomed to it. Takashito hadn’t even shown fear around Ara, around Agalon. “No, no, I swear. Nobody told me nothin. I don’t know nothin.”

“If the Urillians knew about the Sacred Chalice…” Takashito said as if he was thinking aloud, “That would explain how they slew a god. That would explain how they could control the sea. But… they would have to… only the Chosen One can find… One must be called. You cannot just walk into the Sacred Water Temple and find…”

The cup was sacred to the water elves? That had to mean something. That had to mean it wasn’t a coincidence. Maybe dreams meant something.

“The Emerald Knight couldn’t find it,” Xaxac said, “in my dream. He went to look for it, and he had it in his hand, in the dream, but he said he never found it in real life.”

“It is… forbidden… dark magic,” Takashito said, “to enter the mind of another. If one was going to do that, why… why speak in riddles? Why risk so much and give so little? When did this happen?”

“My last dream was… I dunno,” Xac shrugged then went back to stretching, “Last night or this mornin.”

Takashito frowned.

“Whoever this Lapis is, I need him to stop,” he begged, “If… if the guards can detect water magic… powerful, dark water magic… they will… she will…”

“Think it’s you,” Xac finished.

“Get up,” Takashito demanded, “Let us spar. Then I will show you some new stretches I would like you to do. If you are doing it wrong you will hurt yourself.”

“Neat,” Xac said and wondered what it all meant.