Year 872, Verde Kingdom

"Come on, you zygote! I want to see you sweat! Put some muscles into it!"

The thirty-six-year-old Sirfetch'd observed his protégé with a keen eye as he struck the stone pillar. The Black Knight of Verde, Sir Artur, pummeled the pillar with fists blazing in hot black flame. Each punch left a smoldering imprint of his fist in its place, digging deeper into the pillar's center. Artur's gaze remained fixated on the target, his arms moving like pistons and his fists striking like iron clubs.

Gerard swung his wing down. "And stop!"

Artur's fist halted instantly, hanging an inch from the beaten pillar. He stepped back, cooled his fists, and knelt before the duck knight. "How did I perform, Sir Gerard?"

He smiled. "Admirably. You've been improving your control over Blackfire Soul. Striking this pillar will help reinforce the strength of your fists. Since the power grows with the strength of your opponent, improving you at your base is a step in the right direction."

Artur stood up. "Thank you again for helping me, Sir Gerard." He flexed the aching from his fingers. "I'm nowhere near as talented as my father in Blackfire Soul. It'll take me decades to reach his level, and I might not be in proper condition when I reach his age."

Gerard laughed. "You speak nonsense. I intend to remain in perfect condition when I reach my nineties."

Artur smirked. "Yes, yes, you will outlive us all. I swear, sometimes I think you're unkillable. Your skill on the battlefield is spoken of in legend."

He waved it off. "Bah, don't believe everything you hear. It's merely my duty to serve the crown and protect the royal family. That's what we all should be looking toward at the end of the day."

"Yeah!" The two adults turned their eyes to an observer of their practice. An eight-year-old Chimchar raced up to the men with fire in his eyes. He wore custom wooden armor and carried a wooden sword in hand, raising it to the sky. "When I get older, I'll serve under the oath of Blackfire and protect the Verde Kingdom with my life! Wah, woo, HAH!" He swung his weapon with childish dramatics.

Artur laughed and scooped the boy up. "Of course you will, Matthias! You'll be succeeding me one day!"

Matthias snickered. "Yeah! I bet I'll be stronger than you!"

"Maybe you will." Artur ruffled his son's head. "But for now, try to enjoy your youth. You don't want to deal with the woes of aching bones and muscles yet." He looked down at Gerard. "Perhaps you'll even take Gerard's job as head knight one day."

Gerard chuckled behind his wing. "An amusing thought. If he can get through my training without complaining, we may just see."

Matthias grinned. "I can take whatever you bring, Sir Gerard!"

"Love the enthusiasm, kid."

Artur set Matthias down. "Alright, Papa's got work to do later. Why don't you run off and play with your friends?"

The child saluted. "Yes, sir!" He sheathed his wooden sword and ran off out of the courtyard.

Artur sighed and shook his head. "He's too young to be thinking about knighthood."

"You sure? He seems to admire you," Gerard teased.

"His optimism is infectious, but I worry he's setting himself up for disappointment. Just the other day, I saw him and his friends playing an…odd game: Knights and Subterrans. Apparently the object of the game is to hunt down the 'freaky mole men' and capture them."

Gerard shrugged. "Seems perfectly harmless."

"They treat the 'Subterrans' the same way our fathers did in their heyday. I find it more inappropriate than harmless."

Gerard glared. "The Subterrans aren't exactly known for their hospitality. They're our enemy. I fought in battles against them."

Artur shook his head. "I'm aware of their animosity towards the surface, but I feel we could accomplish more if we attempted peace with our enemies. A sad reality we live in to think that's a fantasy."

Gerard sighed. "Artur, you became a knight to protect your home kingdom. Like it or not, you signed up to be a soldier of war. If called for, striking the enemy down is your main priority. You have to look them in the eye as you slay them, otherwise they will remember you. You don't want a soldier of war to remember the face of the killer that failed to slay them."

"I'm aware, Sir Gerard."

"And the Subterrans are hardly a reasonable people. They capture those that travel too close underground and barter with New Chariot slave traders. Reasoning with them isn't an option."

Artur shook his head. "That is where I differ in opinion. My family has history in the Arcania Kingdom, and we've always been an accepting people. I just feel the world would benefit from trust and understanding. There's simply too much deception in conflict."

"Warfare is deception, Sir Artur. You'd be wise to remember that should you succeed me as head knight." Gerard shook his head. "Of course, I do not dismiss your dreams. I, too, hope for one day to end the constant warring. We've barely made peace with our sister kingdoms here in the west. We hope to one day extend the hand of alliance. I hope to see it in my lifetime."

Artur smiled. "You're a man molded by war, Sir Gerard. There's much wisdom to take from your experience, as is our responsibility for molding the next generation. However, there is much to learn from the next generation as they view our history with fresh perspective. Though I fear my son's misguided interest in war, I do hope he grows into a fine young man that holds up the principles I set out for our clan."

Gerard smiled. "He'll eventually be training under my care. I'll see to it he receives the guidance of an experienced knight. He has much to learn. There's no greater honor than serving the crown, and I intend to uphold that belief until the day I die."

Gerard kicked open the door to his home and ushered the Forester trio inside. "You can park that wagon in the kitchen. Ms. Beaumont, would you mind getting the cooking station set up?"

"Aye, sir!" She bounced over to the kitchen.

Jet and Luna dropped the groceries onto the counter and wiped their brows. "Who the hell is he feeding, a building?" Jet grumbled.

"Hush," Luna huffed. She stretched her arms and took a moment to observe the ex-knight's abode.

Nothing special stood out among the furniture and stone walls. A single armchair sat in the corner next to a table and candleholder. A bookshelf stood against the same wall as the chair. There was a fireplace on the opposite wall with burnt logs and a field of ash scattered over the brick floor. The kitchen area was in plain view of the living room as Zephora opened up the cold storage unit and placed the groceries inside.

It didn't escape Luna's notice that there was a heavy layer of dust all over the living room, as if it hadn't been tended to in years. She could actually see the width of the dust building up on the fireplace's mantle. It was unlike anything she witnessed in her lifetime, having grown accustomed to homes being kept in pristine condition every day. Someone could've told her the house was abandoned, and she'd be obligated to believe them.

She distracted herself from the dust and looked above the fireplace's mantle. Mounted to the wall was a sword and shield, but not any old kind. It was the signature leek weapons of the Sirfetch'd line, proudly displayed over the living room and preserved inside a transparent film she only noticed after Gerard lit a lantern.

"Incredible," she gushed. She pointed at the leek weapons and asked, "Are these actually the leeks you used during your time in service?"

Gerard shot her a wary glare before looking away. "Yes, they are. I have to get them treated by an alchemist every year to keep them in prime condition."

Jet crossed his arms. "Clearly. I've seen these types of weapons before, and yours have lost much of their natural color. They're a few years away from bordering on brown."

Gerard sighed. "For the best. Letting the past die would do us all some good."

Luna bit her tongue, refraining from jumping to her next dozen questions, and smiled. "Oh, do not be like that. You did a wonderful service back as a knight. I'm sure many people were inspired by your actions."

"Tch. I inspired fools to take up arms and march to the sound of their funerals? Truly inspirational."

Luna frowned. "Th-That's not what I…"

Zephora finished packing the groceries away and dusted her hands off. "I think of that more as a compliment. There are some amazing traditional pieces written for funerals, some capturing the somber atmosphere or to remember the fallen for who they were and bring loved ones together to mourn."

Jet winced. "Remind me never to invite you to my funeral."

Gerard opened a hall closet and rummaged around. "Freia. Short Fuse."

Jet's face twisted into a scowl. "The hell did you call—" Luna slapped his mouth shut.

The ex-knight pulled out a couple rags, cleaning solutions, and a weird black brush on a flexible pole. "You two can start by cleaning my exterior of my house. I need the windows cleaned and the chimney cleared. You'll work until sundown."

Jet grabbed the chimney brush and glared. "So, you're just making us clean your disgusting house because you can't bother to do it yourself or hire a professional?"

"You offered to do my chores, so I'm making you work." He closed his eyes. "Once you're finished, you'll clean yourselves up in my washroom and join us for dinner. You'll be taste testing my stew for the potluck."

"Oh, lovely…"

Luna rolled her eyes and forced a smile. "Don't worry, Sir Gerard. We will have your house looking brand new before you can say—"

"Uh huh." He turned his back and walked to the kitchen. "See you at dinner."

She dropped the syrupy expression and glared. "I'm starting to think he hates me."

"You did harass him the last couple of days." Jet turned and walked out the front door.

"At least I didn't attempt to strangle him." She groaned and followed him outside. "I better not listen to you complain all day."

"If it means not having to listen to your lecturing, fine by me."

With tasks divided up between them, Zephora and Gerard got started on prepping the homemade stew. Zephora chopped up the vegetables while Gerard focused on prepping the broth. He poured canned broth until it filled halfway up the pot. Next, he grabbed some spices sitting nearby and gently sprinkled over the broth.

"Is this too much? Or too little?" Gerard asked.

Zephora peered over for a moment before returning to her chopping. "Maybe a little more so all the broth absorbs the spices."

"I just don't want to overdo it. I don't plan on throwing this stuff out if it goes bad."

She smirked. "Believe me, an acquaintance of mine would give me an earful if I let food go to waste."

"Hmm. I've been put on many assignments back in my day where I had to survive off rations. They weren't the most pleasant tasting foods, but it was enough to keep us going for weeks. The young have it lucky. When I was a kid, you'd have to be a noble to get meals like this."

"Then let's hear it for progress." Zephora finished chopping the vegetables and scooped them from the cutting board and into the pot. "For someone who hates talking about the Verde Kingdom, you do seem to hold some fondness for your days as a knight."

Gerard closed his eyes and huffed. "Fondness? Or memories that refuse to leave me alone?"

"Heh. I kind of get that."

"I've been trying to forget these last two decades. It…weighs on the mind. I've watched young knights I trained die in battle defending the kingdom from marauders and invading kingdoms. Everyone wants to become a knight because of the glory it'll bring them. I used to believe that." He grunted. "I was naïve."

Zephora frowned. "I'm…sorry to hear that."

"Tell me. You speak of death with such fondness. How do you view war?"

She shook her head. "Deplorable."

"Yet death…?"

"Death is a natural cycle of life. So many different types of people divided among class, birthright, culture, and more. However, the one thing we all share in common is death. We only have so much time on this world, and death is the final step. I was raised to believe that death isn't scary, but…the end of a satisfying existence. I think we all strive to live our best lives."

"…"

She sighed. "I've never been in a war, but I was raised in a family-owned morgue. Every corpse tells a story. The beauty of their anatomy ruptured because someone sped up their countdown. I've seen all matter of fatal injuries. I've become desensitized to morbid imagery." She glared. "Murder isn't natural. Life must be appreciated for all its worth, because we only have so long in this world."

"…" Gerard closed his eyes. "Can't say I approve of parents showing their child dead bodies."

She smirked. "We're an odd bunch, and I'm okay with that."

"Still, you're right. Knighthood isn't as glorious as most make it out to be. If you're lucky, you're put on guard duty in the castle. Probably the safest job a knight could ask for."

Zephora grabbed some flint and steel and opened the stove. "Can I say something to you?"

"Go ahead."

She struck the flint and steel together, throwing sparks into the stove. "Try to go easy on Luna. She means well."

Gerard groaned. "She's naïve."

"I'm aware, but she's got a good heart. I don't know what your history with the Verde Kingdom is about, but she's not here on their behalf."

"…"

"I'm not going to ask you about your final mission. We just…have an invested interest in the ruins."

"…" He glanced at her. "Who are you three exactly?"

Zephora struck one last time and started a fire inside the stove. She closed the grate and stood up. "Guess that's for you to find out."

"…Hmm." He shook his head. "Freia. She almost reminds me of her."

"Who?"

"Nothing. Would you help me cut up the meat?"

She smiled. "Aye, sir."

A tense silence hung between Jet and Luna as they got to work cleaning the house. Jet stood on the roof, shoving the chimney brush down the chute and cleaning out the soot building up inside. Luna worked on the windows, applying the cleaning solution thoroughly before wiping them down until she could see clearly into the dusty wasteland that was Sir Gerard's living room.

As she finished polishing the window, she narrowed her eyes at Gerard and Zephora, getting a perfect view of them within the open kitchen. In the span of a few hours, Zephora managed to do what she couldn't in two days. Though Gerard refused to open up about his past, he seemed perfectly open with the morbid-loving cactus.

Meanwhile, any time he acknowledged Luna, it seemed to be carried with a spiteful scowl.

She squeezed her cleaning rag and groaned. "What's his problem?!"

Her shout startled Jet, causing him to pull too hard on the brush and splash his face with soot. He shook it off until it was only partially clinging to his fur. He glared down at the yard. "You know, when you asked me not to complain while working, I was expecting the same sentiment from you, knight."

"I'm not talking to you," she growled.

"Then who are you talking to? Your reflection?"

"I think aloud sometimes, alright?!"

"Uh huh."

She crossed her arms and huffed. "It's bad enough he's been difficult with us, but he had the nerve to call me a second-rate—"

"Third-rate," Jet corrected.

"Whatever! I worked hard to become a knight, and he just trashes on everything I stood for because he's mad at the kingdom over…whatever he's mad about!"

Jet rolled his eyes. "Has it ever occurred to you that maybe he has a point?"

"What are you on about?"

"Your head knight is a vengeful lunatic, you defected from the Verde Kingdom to help us, and a good chunk of the other kingdoms have their own agendas of varying consequences. Is it any wonder he might think becoming a knight just means serving a greater evil?"

"Are you claiming a certain Buneary is evil now?"

Jet grunted. "She's different."

"Really? Because from what she told me, you two didn't exactly start off on the right foot."

"Because she was the enemy."

"And yet, I don't see you scowling at her, so clearly something changed. You can't just admit the fact that maybe not everyone's a deceitful jerk trying to backstab you."

He glared. "And how am I supposed to know that? You brought a spy into your kingdom."

"I didn't know she was a spy!"

"Exactly! You can't trust anyone by their word. Carpenter seems to understand that better than you. Do I need to remind you that the Verde Kingdom has done a lot of harm with increased taxes and unofficial activities?"

Luna glared. "That's only when Roscoe Fletcher took over."

"Is it, though?"

"…" She frowned. "What are you saying?"

He crossed his arms. "There is no good or evil in war. There are the winners, and there are the footnotes. The people of New Chariot herald their emperor as a champion of prosperity. That sick bastard, Darby, is loved by everyone in his kingdom, and those who say anything else are dealt with. Everyone sees their rulers as benevolent figures if they have the right façade. What do you think the Verde Kingdom is hiding?"

"…" Luna looked down and sighed. "I don't know."

Jet's glare lightened up a bit. He sighed and looked away with a huff. "If it's any consolation, I don't think Carpenter hates you because you're a female knight. I think he just sees a naïve kid who hasn't experienced war and doesn't know what she's talking about."

"…"

"I gave her a chance because I saw what she was willing to do to earn our respect. I don't believe in honesty through words. A person's actions tell a clearer story than words could ever hope to. She was privileged, just like you. If someone as hopeless as her can prove us wrong, you're not completely useless."

"…Heh." She smiled a bit. "That might just be the first nicest thing you've said to me."

"Oh shut up." He picked up his chimney brush and resumed cleaning the chute.

She rolled her eyes and returned to cleaning the windows. "…You're right, though. I haven't been in a war, and I've only known the good of my kingdom. Still, do you really think the Verde Kingdom is hiding something sinister?"

"…" Jet sighed and shook his head. "Jason used to believe in them, until he couldn't. All history books have their stains. Some kingdoms just work harder to clean the pages."

"…" She nodded and wiped down the windows. "Right…"

A few minutes earlier…

"Oi! Who stole my pie?!"

As the bewildered Sliggoo search in vain for his missing midafternoon dessert, Shale slipped on through the crowd holding the stolen item in hand. She sliced a piece with her dagger, stabbed, and munched on it. The congealed, cherry filling stayed within the piece, allowing her to savor it for all its worth.

"Mmm, now this is how you do patrol," Shale said to herself. "Keeping a low profile? Ugh, so old school. I can get shit done faster just by looking for the problem." She shrugged. "Caz's being paranoid. Slave traders in a populated area like this? You'd have to be brave or stupid to pull a stunt like that off."

She wandered off into the residential area of the town, mindlessly taking stabs out of her pie while lazily looking around for trouble. If she were a slave trader, she would probably start by scoping out the homes before making off with a new, unwilling slave to sell. Even then, she couldn't imagine how anyone could pull off an operation like that without getting caught.

She spun her dagger and chuckled. "I guess the old generation can't get their acts together. So sad that the young need to clean up their mistakes—"

"What's his problem?!"

Shale stopped and looked on ahead, spotting an Oshawott atop a roof. He had one of those brush thingies people used to tap dance with…or was it just for cleaning chimneys? Chimney sweepers were the oddest people, she told herself. Was there something enlightening or fun about cleaning the inside of a brick chute? Was it so mind-numbingly boring that they opted to spice up the routine through song and dance? She might just be remembering a play she saw when she broke into that one theatre—

Wait, what was I doing again? Oh right, people yelling.

Shale ducked behind some bushes near the property and peered through. She spotted a Snivy cleaning the windows, too. Were they a cleaning service?

"Whatever! I worked hard to become a knight, and he just trashes on everything I stood for because he's mad at the kingdom over…whatever he's mad about!" the Snivy complained.

Shale narrowed her eyes. A knight? Mad at kingdoms? Ooh, I smell drama. The good kind. She stabbed the pie again and nibbled on it. This definitely qualifies as suspicious.

Year 872, Verde Kingdom

Per standard procedure, Gerard made his rounds through the castle to examine the productivity of the knights, making sure they were committing to their responsibilities efficiently. Knights saluted the head knight as he passed by, showing their undying respect to the man who practically trained the next generation of knights single-wingedly.

As he passed by the royal library, he froze as the sound of something crashing down alerted him, followed by the fearful, familiar shriek. He kicked the doors open and dashed inside to avert the crisis.

"Princess Odolina!" Gerard shouted, reaching for his leek sword and shield sheathed to his back.

However, before he could pull them out, he paused at the mess of books piled over each other on the floor. An eleven-year-old Vulpix in a green dress breached through the top of the pile, spilling down more books onto the floor. Her tiara hung askew from her ear.

"Oooooh, that smarts," she groaned. After adjusting her tiara, she saw the baffled Sirfetch'd standing in front of her. She giggled awkwardly. "Oh, uh…good day, Sir Gerard."

The knight sighed and let go of his weapons. "Princess, you know you could use the ladder, right?"

"Heh, yeah. A thousand pardons for worrying you, Sir Gerard." She dove back inside the book pile and punched her way out the side, carrying a stack of books on her back. "My tutor assigned me to a research project of my choice, so I wanted to get a head start. I might have gotten a little too enthusiastic."

Gerard smirked as the Vulpix princess walked over to one of the nearby tables. "Most kids your age would revolt against studying, much less show optimism with a research project. Good to see you're taking your studies seriously."

She dropped her books onto the table and pulled up a chair. "If you have talked to my tutor, you would know I am not the best student. However, I have always been drawn to history, so I was excited that I could pick the topic. I want to impress my tutor with my knowledge."

"Hmm, that kind of passion assures me you will make a fine queen."

Odolina giggled. "You think so?" She sighed and pulled out one of her books. "Mother and Father worry I will be too softhearted to become queen. Rulers need to make the tough decisions others may not like."

Gerard nodded. "Such is life, Your Highness. The road ahead is not made easy, lest those that follow you will trip along the flaws and cracks."

"Believe me, I have heard the stories of my ancestors. Wars were violent." She flipped open her book. "Then again, this region's history is soaked in bloodshed. I hope to make a difference when I become queen, and that means learning from the mistakes of our ancestors."

Gerard tilted his head. "Curious, what exactly have you chosen for your research project, Your Highness?"

Her eyes sparkled with glee. "Oh, if you think I am ambitious now, just wait until I get into the study zone. I intend to focus my project on the Great Ruins!"

"The Great Ruins?" Gerard smiled. "My, my, that really is ambitious. Perhaps a little too ambitious."

She scoffed. "You sound like my tutor. I hear that tone. You do not believe I can?"

"If you will allow me to speak unprofessionally, Your Highness, we have very little in the way of information on the ruins. Ever since the ten kingdoms took control of this land—"

"A lot of the Great Kingdom's history was wiped out. I am aware." Odolina sighed. "That is why I want to try. Make it a challenge for myself. There is so much intrigue surrounding the ruins that I feel should not be ignored. I proposed to Mother that we should explore them."

He shook his head. "With the current state of affairs, that would be impossible."

Odolina nodded. "Yes, because Last Autumn is operating near the ruins, I know. Still, Mother did approve my idea. In fact, she has had a keen interest in the ruins for some time. So did my grandfather, actually. The ruins are a mysterious place that puzzles the mind with its enigmas."

Gerard chuckled. "Well, when we quell Last Autumn's terroristic acts, perhaps I will lead the investigation myself and bring back a souvenir for you."

She grinned. "I am holding you to that, old man! Er, I mean…that would be most appreciated, Sir Gerard." She turned back to her books and started reading.

Gerard shook his head. "Still, perhaps you should choose a less strenuous research topic. I assure you, we have little in the ways of reference material."

"Perhaps, but we have personal accounts from my ancestors and superstition to go off of. Sir Gerard, do you believe in magic?"

He shook his head again. "Nonsense created by the witches of the Arcania Kingdom. I try to remain cordial around the Blackfire Clan whenever the topic arises, but I am not one for magic or superstition. I am a man of faith."

"Is there a difference between faith and magic?"

He smirked. "Perhaps that should be your research project."

She spun around. "What about alchemy?"

He dropped his smirk and raised his brow. "Well, that's more rooted in science. What is your point?"

Odolina waved her paw around. "Well, be it science or faith, there is an explanation for everything. Nothing happens for no reason. The topic of the ruins fascinates me because…well, everything regarding the invasion seems too surreal. Ten armies drawing to the same region at similar times to claim its rich resources AND a war that decided the fate of the ten kingdoms and the fall of the Great Kingdom. All of it seems so fantastical."

"What are you saying, Your Highness."

"Be it through means of faith or science, answer me this. In the last two hundred years of fighting for territorial control, ten kingdoms grew and diversified into their own individual cultures. These cultures formed around different practices, beliefs, and superstitions. So, why is it that ten kingdoms so different from each other share the same fear for these ancient ruins?"

Gerard opened his beak to answer, but stopped himself. Truth be told, he rarely considered the implications of the ruins and accepted them as they were. He heard stories similar in a region called Paldea regarding an ancient crater in the dead center of the land, so it seemed so mundane to put thought into. However, one was a geological site too dangerous for most to explore, and the other was land that had been barely compromised in two centuries. With the focus of expanding their kingdoms being a commonality among the ten warring territories, for all to ignore and leave land untouched for so long…

"…You raise an excellent point, Your Highness," Gerard mumbled. "That is indeed strange."

Odolina nodded. "According to my ancestors' accounts, those who travel too close into the ruins experience a sudden sensation of dread, as if something in those lands compels them to leave. Those born within the ruins are said to have adapted to this dread, attributing to the unfortunate nickname presented to most criminals: the Freaks. Only a Freak would dare shelter or preside inside these haunted lands."

Gerard scratched his chin. "For ten kingdoms so different to have the same fear…" He shook his head. "It sounds impossible."

Odolina smiled. "See? I can make a research project out of little information."

"Then I suppose you have a theory of your own?"

She shrugged. "I do not. Maybe I will come up with one as I work."

"Hmm, I see. Well, I will leave you to your work, Your Highness. I will send for someone to clean up this mess." He bowed. "Take care, and please be more careful."

She bowed her head. "Thank you, Sir Gerard."

Gerard exited the library and closed the doors behind him. As he walked down the hall, he scratched under his beak and reflected on the princess' inquiry. It troubled him that a mere child could raise such an alarming point he failed to consider. He looked at the world with such complacency that he didn't acknowledge the obvious. It simply was, therefore not to be questioned.

"Now I wish to know what's so special about those ruins," he muttered to himself. He sighed and shook his head. "Artur was right. We have a lot to learn from the next generation."

Just as the sun started to set, Luna and Jet finished with their chores and went inside to wash up. The house filled with the aroma of cooked stew, causing their stomachs to howl from a long day's labor. It certainly smelled better than what they were expecting from a first-time cook.

After cleaning up, they sat themselves at Gerard's dining table, having to use crates as chairs since he only had the one. Zephora set bowls of hot stew in front of them before bringing over hers and Gerard's. She took her place next to Luna while Gerard sat at the head of the table.

"Well, don't just gawk. Dig in. You earned it," Gerard ordered before picking up his spoon.

Luna and Jet casted wary looks at the food before relenting. They scooped up the broth with chunks of meat and vegetables and took a bite. Almost immediately, their mouths tingled from the overload of spices assaulting their tastebuds, causing their faces to scrunch.

Gerard narrowed his eyes. "Well?"

Luna swallowed it and forced a grin. "Oh, uh…what a unique flavor."

Jet grimaced. "Did you dump a bag of salt into the pot?" Luna shot him a glare.

Gerard sighed. "Force of habit. My sense of taste isn't what it used to be, so I add spice to get some flavor out of it."

Zephora snickered. "I tried to warn you, sir."

Jet shuddered, but scooped another spoonful up. "Whatever. I'm not leaving an unfinished meal."

Luna sighed and forced herself to take another bite as well. Since she expected it this time, it didn't hit nearly as hard. After taking a few more bites, she glanced at Gerard and asked, "So, did you need us to help you with anything else tomorrow?"

He swallowed his next bite and said, "Bushes could use some trimming. House could use a dusting."

Jet glanced over his shoulder and glared at the gray wasteland behind him. "That's putting it mildly."

Luna rolled her eyes before smiling at Gerard. "We'd be happy to lend our assistance while we're here, Sir Gerard."

"Uh huh."

She pouted at his dismissive attitude. Zephora, catching this, cleared her throat and asked, "You know, Mr. Carpenter, I'm sure your days as a knight weren't all bad. Surely there were some fond memories you can recall from those days."

He shrugged. "Basic training was decent, I suppose. Hell on the body, but you pass the time getting to know your new brothers-in-arms. Pay wasn't bad."

Luna chuckled. "Heh. Basic training was pretty rough on me. I don't I would've passed had Sir Matthias not intervened."

Gerard raised his brow. "Young Matthias. Haven't seen him in ages. He was in his twenties before I left the kingdom. I've never met a more bright-eyed recruit. His misplaced loyalty was certainly something."

Jet rolled his eyes. No kidding. If that psycho ever found out he nearly offed Melissa, he'll give himself a heart attack.

Gerard glared. "I heard he succeeded his father as the Black Knight. Is…it true? Artur's dead?"

The trio shared a look. While the details of Jason's history with the Blackfires was mostly unclear, they knew the rumors surrounding his involvement with the knight's death.

Luna sighed. "Yes. He died defending a village from a rampaging…Zeraora."

"Zeraora?" He grunted. "People will believe anything if it means not seeing the truth."

"Well, yeah. He died from his injuries several years ago. Sir Matthias…never really recovered from the incident."

"…That, I have heard." Gerard sighed. "Poor lad. He reminded me of a younger me. He had hope in his eyes. He believed in the cause to keep the kingdom safe. I can't imagine him as the violent monster of Verde everyone says he is. And he succeeded his father as the head knight?"

"Correct, sir."

"Pray for mercy on that kingdom. He was scarily efficient at learning the Blackfire's signature technique. I fear what he would use that power for if he came face-to-face with a worthy foe." He cupped his wings beneath his chin. "Time's have changed."

Jet narrowed his eyes. "…The Verde Kingdom's been in dire straits since the death of the queen, too."

"Queen Odolina…" The ex-knight sighed. "Such a sweet lass. She cared more about her kingdom than any other. If there's one thing I don't regret from my service to the crown, it was protecting her. If I saw the hope of Verde, it was through her."

Luna's eyes widened. "That's right. She was still a princess while you were in service."

"I was a young man in service before she was born. I dedicated the best years of my life protecting the kingdom." Gerard closed his eyes and sighed. "Odolina was the light that kept me on the path of justice. Whatever doubts I conjured about the kingdom, I placed my hopes and wishes into her. She…was a reliable acquaintance."

Zephora frowned. "Were you two friends?"

Gerard laughed quietly. "She was a sociable one. Even if I wanted to remain professional, she treated all the knights like her friends. I would catch my squires breaking protocol to talk with her." He shook his head. "When she started getting older, I had to punish a few squires for attempting to court her. From their perspective, it was worth the risk."

Jet frowned. "She really was that amazing, huh?"

Gerard nodded before sighing. "Losing her was like losing a piece of Verde's soul. The incident with the missing princess this past year didn't help matters, though I have heard she's returned into our care." He glared off to the side. "Even after I left the kingdom, Odolina was the one and only thing that kept my hope alive. Hearing that she died, I…I have nothing but regrets for my time in service."

Luna leaned forward. "Sir Gerard, from the way you speak, it almost sounds like you…had issues with the queen at the time."

"…" His brow furrowed at the name. "Queen Temperance Penworth. That woman…"

"Did something happen between you two?"

"…" He sighed through his nostrils and picked up his spoon. "It's getting late. Finish your meals and leave. I expect you all back early in the morning."

The Forester trio shared a look with each other before obliging and returning to their meals.

"Thank you for the meal, Mr. Carpenter. See you tomorrow!"

The Forester trio left the ex-knight's house and headed down the street back to their inn. Luna glanced back over her shoulder, catching a glimpse of Gerard watching them leave. Seeing her staring, he turned away from the window and disappeared into the living room.

Luna sighed. "Sounds like he had a rough history back in the Verde Kingdom. I'm almost having second thoughts about pursuing this lead."

Zephora crossed her arms. "It's your call. I'm sure we can find another way to get intel on the ruins. Still, we have the rest of the week before Jason's team comes to pick us up. I wonder how they're doing with Har's raid."

Jet shrugged. "Knowing the rookie, causing trouble again."

Luna glared. "I never realized how much the queen's death meant to Gerard or the kingdom. I know it hit everyone hard, but to think he would have that much faith in her vision. I can see why the princess was so passionate about her cause."

Jet glared. "What's the deal with Queen Temperance, though?"

"I don't know. I was still pretty young before she passed away, and my parents never really talked about her. The king went into retirement after the throne was handed off to Roscoe and Odolina, though I haven't bothered looking into his current living situation." She groaned. "I rather not hallucinate evil pastries again."

"Huh?"

"Never mind."

Zephora scratched her chin. "I have to wonder if his issues with the queen have something to do with his last mission. That seems like where this all started."

Luna nodded. "Maybe, but why would he and Queen Temperance have an argument over that? Was it because he failed the mission?"

Jet glared. "Or maybe the queen needed him to find something."

"Hmm…" Luna closed her eyes and sighed. "Hopefully we can get Sir Gerard to trust us with his secret. There's something weird going on, and it all has to do with those ruins."

Meanwhile…

As the trio called it a night, Shale poked her head out from around the corner of the house, watching them head down the street. Her now yellow-and-green eyes sparkled with mischief as she laughed internally. Staking out the house and eavesdropping on them was totally worth the stomachache she endured after eating an entire pie.

Oh-hoho! I know Caz has an alliance with that Hakamo-o fellow, but…oh, this is just too good to pass up on. Once her targets were out of sight, she backed away from the property and headed down the same path. Riches and glory, prepare to be mine!