I didn't know if I should continue this story because it isn't very famous but there were some people who wanted me to continue, so I did. So you have to read it! o_รด

And because I love writing this story so why not. xD

Enjoy with chapter 2!

(Reviews are always welcome ;D)

Chapter 2

"Are you ready for your audience with the Duke, Arisen?" Sir Maximilian asked with a smile. He was the one who gave Luan some missions to test him, to get to know everything better as well as to kill some time as he tried to get an audience with the Duke.

"Yes." The white-haired man said plainly, a little nervous about the fact that he was going to stand right in front of the Duke and talk to him. He was called 'Dragonsbane' because he slayed a dragon once. It was really an honor to meet such a great man. The guard, which guarded the gate to the castle stepped aside so the Arisen could enter. As he did so and his Pawn followed, Sir Maximilian stepped in front of him.

"I apologize, Arisen, but your Pawn must wait outside the castle." He ordered suddenly. The Arisen just raised his eyebrows and there was a slight panic in his voice as he spoke.

"What? Why?"

"It is a rule. Pawns don't have access to the castle." Sir Maximilian didn't know the answer.

"T'is alright, Arisen. I will wait right here for your return." Zane reassured him as he smiled at him to get him to relax again. Perfect! He had to go in there alone. That didn't really help his nervousness or his feeling that something bad will happen. Luan just nodded hesitantly at him and kept walking until the gates closed behind him again. He wasn't used to being alone. At his home town, Kassardis, he had friends around him all day. As he started this journey, he had Zane by his side all the time. Always. It felt like he was vulnerable when his Pawn wasn't there.

He opened the big castle door as he was greeted by some very short man with a clowns costume. He mumbled some weird stuff Luan didn't even bother to listen to. He didn't like him. And he was sure that this feeling was mutual. The clown stopped his play and opened the next door to the throne hall. There were many men and one woman. Lady Mercedes. He met her some time ago and helped her kill a hydra that attacked a camp. Lord Julien was there, too. As he stepped further inside, suddenly all men started to laugh. Were they laughing at him? Mercedes and Julien looked away. As if to avoid to make him feel bad. He knew something bad had to happen. He kept walking until he stood in front of the Duke, who just cocked one eyebrow at him.

"I fear your crown outshines my own." He said as he smirked at the Arisen mockingly. Everyone started to laugh again. (What the-?) Luan thought offended. He didn't get it. Out of the corner of his eye he saw the Duchess, signaling him to look at her. He knelt down in front of the Duke, then slightly turned his head so the other wouldn't notice him looking at her. She pointed at Luan, then over her head like she was wearing something on-... oh. The Duke ordered him to stand up and he quickly reached up to his 'new hat' and removed it. It was a clowns hat. (That damn little...) Luan cursed in his mind gritting his teeth.

After the audience with the Duke, Luan walked outside and saw the clown lying on the floor. It would be pretty easy to kill him now, right? Luan just sighed and walked out of the door. At the gate he saw Zane standing at against the wall with his arms crossed over his chest. Luan smiled to himself and his Pawn noticed him staring and smiling and smiled, too. The Arisen made his way to the gate as he was greeted by the Duchess with a flying hug.

"Great to see you well, Arisen. I didn't think you would survive the embarrassment our little joker was putting you through. I apologize on his behalf." She chuckled at him with bright eyes.

"Ah... yes." He slowly mumbled. He didn't know what to say. He didn't want to be here. He had the feeling he didn't belong here. The blonde woman just chuckled at him again, then took his hand and started to pull him along.

"I want to talk to you some more. You have to tell me about your journey." She smiled brightly. Luan's eyes widened and he glanced at Zane, who till stood outside the gate, looking through the grid as he frowned. The white-haired male gave him a pleading look to get him out of here somehow. Zane just just looked somewhat sad and shook his head as if to say "I'm sorry but I am not allowed in there." Luan let out a defeated sigh.

As they entered the castle again she dragged him into a bedroom with a big red curtain that hid a balcony. There was a big king size bed and two couches facing each other with a bright wooden table between, on which was placed a beautiful red rose. The Duchess took a seat and made a gesture to the Arisen to sit down as well. They sat facing each other. The woman clapped her hands together once and smiled brightly, her eyes sparkling.

"So, Arisen... tell me about you and your... guardian."

"Well... what exactly do you want to know?" He asked. She looked away, thinking about what she wanted to know.

"Everything." She said plainly as she continued to smile. He must admit, her smile was warm and honest. She surely was a fair ruler. Her crystal blue eyes and blonde hair made her look just perfect to be a ruler somehow. She really looked like a Queen. The Arisen sighed at the thought to have to explain everything. But he would make it short.

"A dragon attacked my home town and took my heart so I have to defeat him to get it back." He explained shortly and quickly, not really in the mood to tell his whole life story. He just hoped this was enough to satisfy the woman's curiousness. Seemingly not.

"And what are these Pawns for?" She made it sound like they were some tools. Luan frowned at this.

"Please, my Lady. They are many things I do not know myself yet." He pleaded with his eyes closed. There was an awkward silence filling the room for a short while until the Duchess spoke again.

"It's okay. If you don't want to talk about it, I am okay with it. Your companion must get tired of waiting at the gate." She smiled warmly at him again. Luan said nothing, he just stared at her, taking a while to understand that he was allowed to go. He stood up and bowed to her once before he left, leaving the blonde woman alone in the room.

Outside, Zane was still waiting. He leaned against the wall again with his arms crossed over his chest and one finger tapping on his arm nervously. Seemingly even a Pawn could get nervous. Luan had to smile a little at the sight. He made his way over to his companion, ready to leave as the Duchess came running.

"Ariseen!" She yelled after him. "Arisen, please visit me again when you are in the city next time." She smiled warmly and gave a quick wave. Luan just nodded and left, with his Pawn right behind him, who joined him after giving the woman a quick bow.

"We should not come here again so soon, Master." Zane suggested, not looking at his Master as they walked side by side. Luan didn't look at him either as he spoke.

"You don't like her?" He was a little surprised at this.

"It is not that I don't like her. She... seems to hide some things. I just feel uneasy around her." The Pawn explained with something like worry in his voice. Luan thought about it for a while until his thoughts trailed off to others. So Pawns could have emotions. He didn't believe it all the time. He thought they were emotionless. But maybe that was the cause why he just couldn't treat them like others did. Like tools. Weapons made to protect the Arisen. They would die for him like loyal dogs would for their owner or the knights would for the king, without anyone ever caring about it. But it was not true. They did have emotions. Zane had emotions. Since they knew each other, he got angry, sad, even worried. Should they all be fake? No.

"What are you thinking about, Master?" Zane asked suddenly in a gentle tone, ripping him from his thoughts. He didn't answer right away.

"Pawns do have emotions, right? Even if they are not human." Zane looked at his Master for a while without saying anything. He seemed to muster him like a suspicious animal or a kid that met his new brother.

"I know it sounds weird but... I really don't know what we really are. Are we human? Are we ghosts? I do not know. But I know that we learn. We can taste, we can smell and we can feel. It's like we are reborn when our Arisen calls us. You could say, it's like a baby opening his eyes for the first time. The first person it sees, it is attached to the most." Somehow that made Luan speechless and then he couldn't hold in the chuckle. Zane whipped his head around to look at him with surprise.

"Why are you laughing?"

"It's nothing. It's just funny how you keep comparing yourself with a baby." He continued to chuckle and it got even worse until he was a laughing mess that almost couldn't walk straight anymore. He apologized at the hurt look on his Pawn's face. Yes, they could definitely have emotions. One just had to give them a little time. Luan kept walking with a satisfied and relieved smile.

Fin! Chapter 3 has to wait. ;)

Also, would be great if some of you could tell me how you would like it to go on with the rating. I said I would consider it making it into M later but that depends on you guys! If you want me to put some smutty scenes in it. TELL ME! If no one tells me, then I'm going to leave it as it is.

I am good with both. ;D