Jovian walked leisurely around an unnamed city, its streets bustling with people of many diverse cultures. Suddenly, his size gradually increased until he was almost nine times taller than everyone. With each step, he unwillingly crushed five or six people. The sensation of the blood splattering and the bones crushing beneath his feet was unbearably sickening. He then fell to his face, again killing more people, who fled in terror in all directions. He heard many familiar voices in his head.

— You were one of them all along? — Said Justinus.

— You monster! I knew we couldn't trust you! — Said Albinus.

— Your blood is cursed! Get out of my sight now, titan! — Exclaimed Rosina.

Another, more calm voice, called to him from behind.

— Son... Join us...

He turned around and saw a legion of titans, his own mother among them. Her long red hair covered her breasts and pelvis. He looked down at the ground but saw only a giant pile of chewed-up and smashed corpses. While the other titans quickly ran after the humans and devoured them, she extended her hand towards Jovian.

— You bear our blood... You are one of us!

He woke up screaming. "Shit, this dream again?" It was dark, so he assumed morning was several hours away. He breathed deeply and tried to calm himself down but wasn't able to. Tears flowed from his eyes.

— Father... How could you be so selfish? I suffer because of you! If only I had never been born...

He laid down again but was unable to sleep. The sun rose some hours later and he forced himself to get up. He had important business to attend to on that day. Jovian put everything he needed in some bags but decided to carry his sheathed sword on the waist. Marcus, another half-Eldian in service of Augustus, was waiting for him outside. He looked sickly as always with that lack of muscle and fat.

— Shall we? — Marcus asked. — The Eldians are on the rendezvous point already.

Jovian nodded and followed him. The sun had barely begun to rise, and the air was not as warm as usual. At their arrival, they saw Hodritz and Gunnar looking puzzled at a camel. Without a word, he loaded the luggage, gave water to the camels, and took care of the preparations.

— Augustus left last night and will be waiting for you. I trust you know the destination, Jovian. — Marcus said.

— Leave them to me. Come on, mount the camels, you two. We leave now.

— Address us as Lord Bjorn and Lord Jung. — Hodritz remarked.

Jovian remained in silence and helped them mount the animals. They rode out of the city and were soon on the edge of a sea of sand. The sun's rays were growing ever stronger and the two shifters, more used to a colder climate, sweated profusely.

— So this is the desert... — Gunnar said to no one in particular. — It is just as Ingvild described.

Approximately one hour later, Jovian stopped his camel.

— Let's rest for a bit. I'm sure you're tired of the camel's swaying. Plus, they seem thirsty.

He knew the camels could walk much more and didn't need water. Since the Eldians were puzzled by the animals, he hoped they knew nothing of their physiology. His heart was pounding fast.

— At long last! Is there anything to eat? — Hodritz asked while dismounting the camel, his forehead filled with sweat droplets.

— Not for you. — Jovian unsheathed his sword. — But the vultures shall have plenty.

Hodritz laughed loudly. Gunnar simply observed the scene with interest.

— Finally bared your fangs, eh? Do you think an insect like you can defeat us?

— I'm not here to win. I'm here to kill you.

He lunged at Hodritz, who raised his arms defencively, and slashed, splattering blood on the sand. He stepped back and tried an overhead blow. Hodritz stopped the blade with his bare hands. While blood flowed down his arms, he asked:

— What do you seek to accomplish with this? It's useless!

Hodritz's skin began emitting a faint yellowish glow. Gunnar jumped from the camel and exclaimed:

— You idiot! Leave the poor man be! This is not worth the effort!

Hodritz forcefully took the sword from Jovian's hands and threw it on the ground. Steam was rising from his wounds.

— What will it be? We forget this ever happened and you help us out or do you prefer to die? — He asked, wiping the sand away from his clothes.

— Here's your sword. Sheathe it and let's resume our journey.

Jovian grit his teeth and stabbed Gunnar's stomach. He coughed up blood but forced the sword further inside his own abdomen until the other end protruded from his back.

— Are you satisfied? — He asked.

— Monsters! Devils! — Jovian screamed.

— Oh, shut up, I know you're one of us! — Hodritz replied. — You have the same eyes as Hildegard and Sören! It's like you're all ashamed of your people!

Jovian's eyes widened and his legs began to tremble in a mix of horror and surprise.

— Eldia will treat Tauremania well when we eventually conquer it. You have thirteen years of grace due to our queen's orders. — He explained, trying to calm Jovian down.

He pulled out the sword from Gunnar's stomach and sat on the ground, heaving. For most of his life, he resented his parents, especially his father, for bringing him to the world despite his cursed blood. The thought of living on Eldia crossed his mind for a brief moment. He smirked and got up again.

— I can't... I can't accept living as a descendant of the devil.

He slit his own throat with the sword. His lifeless corpse fell to the ground, leaving the sand beneath stained with blood. Shortly afterwards, a wounded Gunnar decided to lay on the ground to recover from his injuries. Vultures were already circling above in the air.

— Is this enough to kill you? — Hodritz asked.

— I just... Need to rest for an hour or so. Please set up... A tent or something... — He said between bloody coughs.

Laying on her bed, Hildegard looked at the ceiling with no clear thoughts. Compared to what she had gone through, it was much preferable to be at peace. There would be no meetings while most of the shifters were away. Her ministers handled most political affairs and only sought her opinion on important decisions. She was bored. Even visiting the little girl on the other world wasn't that entertaining anymore.

— The sensation I had when I touched Sören for the first time... That is certainly what I need. — She said to herself.

She ordered a slave to tell her mother that she would be waiting on the garden. She sat outside, waiting and sipping tea. Rena arrived, with braided hair and dressed in a light blue toga.

— What is it, Hilde? Do you need some company?

— Sit here and have some tea, mum. I need to talk to you.

— That much is enough. — She told the slave who poured the tea for her. — You don't call me often. I know there is something on your mind.

— I will be direct with you. Is Eckhart still on the capital?

Rena furrowed her eyebrows and quietly sipped her cup of tea.

— Did you change your mind already?

— Yes, I want to see him. — Hildegard replied with determination.

— Loneliness becomes a shining fang.

— What?

Rena held her daughter's hand tight.

— You are not like this, Hilde. It might seem that I'm the one contradicting myself, but just yesterday you told me you didn't feel ready. And now you're saying you want to see him?

— But mother, I...

— You are bored and lonely, simple as. — She interrupted her. — Why don't we go check on the half-castes on the garrisons? I bet you could brighten up their day a bit, especially with that power of yours.

Hildegard sighed and understood what her mother meant with that analogy. She was being imprudent and would likely end up hurt. Hildegard held Rena's hands again.

— Thank you for your wisdom, mother, but I can't have you concerned about me too much. — She said with closed eyes in concentration.

Rena looked around surprised.

— Why am I outside? What's happening, Hilde? — She asked in clear confusion.

— We're going to visit the half-castes. You suggested it yourself.

Hildegard erased her mother's memories of the moment before. She felt it was necessary. "She's better off confused instead of worried."