Cort spent most of the night with Zeto, Zora, and the Delilases. Jette had turned in early as he said he would, and Dohati was old and decided to play that as an excuse to exit the common room for some precious hours of sleep before the sun came up. Zora was giddy like a little girl and couldn't stand up for more than ten seconds at a time without stumbling over and laughing hysterically, only to yell at anyone who offered to help her back into her seat.

"Oh for the fucking name of Tieg, I can do it myself," she groaned, flustered.

Che had disappeared at some point during the night, muttering about how training began early that morning, yet Gi and Lu seemed perfectly content to stay – especially Lu. While Gi did a little dance around on the carpet, singing his rendition of a song he had heard earlier during the festivities, Lu was falling deeper and deeper into some discussion with Zeto that seemed incredibly important to both of them, though most of the conversation really wasn't making any sense. Lu laughed sweetly, blushing for furiously from combined embarrassment and alcohol, and Zeto's strange smile was even more unnerving than usual as he stared intently at Lu and she stared back.

"I think it's time we head back, Lu," Gi said shortly after he stopped his performance and noted how close Zeto and Lu were on the couch, "Che was right about having to train early tomorrow."

Lu scowled at him, her pink lips pouting, "Oh come on, you know Che is nowhere near our rooms right now. He's probably off on his nightly visits to Tieg knows where. We can stay longer, and if you don't want to stay then you can leave without me."

A deadly look passed over Gi's reddened face, but he could not force her to come. She was an adult, and he didn't have to keep an eye on here all of the time. But he refused to leave her alone like this with that creepy Zeto. Not sure about what else he could do, he gave an expectant look to Cort, raising his eyebrows as if to say, "Do something!"

Cort acknowledged Gi's mental request. He was uneasy about whatever Zeto and Lu were on about himself, "Gi, Lu," he said, trying to sound official with a slur, "I need to speak with the Secretary alone; both of you retire for the night, and I'll see you in the morning."

Lu immediately gave Gi a dirty look, but could not make the same face at Cort. He had made an order, and she could not refuse his wishes. She stood and marched out on her own without waiting for Gi.

Gi gave Cort a quick flash of a smile, quietly thanking him for helping, but he knew that Cort wouldn't be able to help every time Lu was alone with men, whether they were suitors or not.

"Goodnight, Gi," Cort said, standing, "See you in a few hours."

"Thank you, my lord," and with that Gi followed hurriedly after Lu.

When Gi had left, Cort turned to Zeto, who was looking at him expectantly with a dumbfounded look on his face.

"Are you returning to your rooms, my lord?" he asked, his voice low.

"Yes, and I suggest you do the same."

"Certainly, sir. Good evening," there was a venom in Zeto's quiet, calm voice.

Cort left and managed to walk back to his own rooms without any complications due to intoxication. He wearily collapsed into bed, exhausted from the day's events, desperately wanting so sleep for just a little while.

He had not had a dream he could remember in a long while, but as he slept he could see himself seated on the throne of Conkram, the beast Juggernaut at his feet like some massive dog, obedient to his commands. And in the back of his mind there was always the egg, always present, always radiating that iridescent light.

"You are of age now," a voice said. Maybe it was coming from the egg. Maybe it was coming from all around him, or from inside of him, "You can freely decide your own fate. Tieg cannot tell you your destiny, no matter what the prophet Hari may divine. It is only you, your power."

In his sleep Cort quietly mouthed and sighed the words, "What am I to do? How can I free myself from the gods and take my power into my hands? I want to end this war."

"How?"

"Wipe Sol off the face of the earth, make it so that it never existed. Annihilate the General Gaza and the arrogant Etora."

"How?"

"We have the technology, I know we do. I need a weapon powerful enough; I need the power in that Seru egg, to use it somehow. I could end this war if I just knew how to make the most of our technology."

There was a slight whooshing sound, like multiple objects moving around Cort's head at a fast pace. He didn't know whether this was in his dream or in reality, or where the border between the two existed. He felt the wind whipping around him. Then came the crackle of electric in the air – and then there was fire.

Suddenly the voice came, three voices now, bold and booming and androgynous, "I am the great Ra-Seru, born of Tieg into this world, I reside within my Tower in the Seru-kai. I have the knowledge and secrets you desire to achieve your goals, golden Prince. The divine Ra-Seru know all that Tieg knows, and have the grand power granted by Tieg himself. I wish to give you my aid in your quest to destroy the humans of Sol – do you accept me?"

And with all of his heart, Cort screamed. No words came from his mouth, no 'yes' or 'no' was spoken, but the passionate cry was one that reached deep into the heavens, a cry for the secrets the great Ra-Seru wished to divulge.

Cort awoke screaming and thrashing, realizing that the lantern in his room had fallen to the floor and the tapestries and carpets were going up in flames, rapidly spreading towards his mattress. For a while he stared at the smoke and fire in awe, wondering if it was really the lantern that set the room ablaze; he didn't move, too tense and shocked to rush from the room to safety.

Gi and Che were the first to arrive, Che breaking down the door with a fell swoop of his hammer, Gi dashing in, quickly followed by Lu and a few soldiers who were on duty near by, now all equipped with mass amounts of water.

Gi rushed over to Cort, wondering why Cort had not moved from the bed but sat there calmly with a blank look on his face, staring into the fire that was dangerously close to his bed now.

"What the hell are you doing? Get up!" Gi screamed. Cort still didn't budge, but rather turned his gaze to Gi, his eyes wide and luminous, a smile forming just at the corner of his lips – pure glee – immediately after he returned his focus to the fire that the soldiers and Lu were struggling to put out.

Che knocked Gi out of the way and threw his hammer aside. With as much ease as he had knocked down the door he hoisted Cort's unwilling body away from the mattress that was just beginning to burn and took him out of the room.

Zora and Zeto were both outside with King Nebular and Queen Minea, all disheveled with panic stricken looks on their faces, waiting for the confirmation that Cort was alive and uninjured. The first thing Cort thought of looking at the group was how horrible they all looked, and how Jette was probably still in his room and out like a light. Zeto's hair was sticking out at odd angles, and Zora's hair was oddly flat on one side. She hadn't taken off her makeup before she fell asleep and now eye liner was smudged all over her cheeks. His mother had the most concerned look on her face, though Zeto and Zora were both close seconds. Nebular looked forever stoic – nothing could shake him, at least not visibly.

When Cort was put down, he immediately fell over, now weakened from the overwhelming events. Gi quickly came over to help him back up, practically in tears. He had no idea that Gi could get so emotional over something like this. It was kind of comical; Gi was probably still drunk out of his mind. It had only been a few hours since they parted ways.

The sun was just beginning to come up over the pearly white marble of the courtyard walls. Cort had never seen a daybreak so beautiful.