At the Owl House…
Belos, Blueberry Parfait, Roasted Chicken, Apple Brown Betty, Biscuit, Cornbread, Cider, Porridge, Pudding, Smoked Beef, Tomato Soup, Eda, and King were waiting as Princess and Kikimora dropped off the palisman at the Grudgby Field so that the Bat Queen could personally take them back to the palace.
Poor Luz and Hunter were barely awake as Eda and Belos collected them from the back of the dragon. Flapjack hopped on the shoulder of Belos to keep tabs on Hunter.
"I'm guessing they had a better night than I did." Belos tried a little joke as he was hoisting Hunter while Luz was giving a piggyback from Eda.
"Old man, everyone on the Isles had a better night than you, ick." Eda pointed out as Belos did remember needing medicine for his stomach after spewing out all those Palistrum seeds.
"We were able to rescue every single Palisman stolen and uncovered the culprits… you are not going to like it." Kikimora informed.
"Thank you again for retrieving them. I would like a full report when I return." Belos ordered.
"Also, sent out an alert with the Coven Scouts. Tell them to be on guard." Blue warned as she knew things were starting to get bad.
"Yes sir."
Kikimora flew off as Belos looked at the pair.
"Poor things… all tuckered out. Let's get you to bed for a lie-in." Belos smiled at them.
"Hmm… Uncle? Hey, how are you feeling?" Hunter asked sleepily while rubbing his eye.
"Oh, I'm better now. But what about you and Luzura? I heard you ran into trouble." Belos informed as the adults brought them inside.
"Yeah… There were Blood Crusaders. They wanted the Palisman for something and-and one of them was a girl, who looked about Luz's age…" Hunter muttered as Belos looked at his Flock and Eda, "Why was she with them…?"
"Hunter, the Blood Crusaders are deranged people who still cling to the belief that their way is right, and they don't care if they are dragging their children down with them. There are reasons we don't allow younglings like you or Luz to join until you are much older, children do not belong in war. As long as I am Emperor, that rule will stay." Belos informed, "But they don't care about their kids. They only see them as tools, weapons for war. They would rather shove them into the meat grinder than allow our ideals to reach them."
Belos hated talking about such things but knew Hunter would have to know these things eventually. Eda provided a room for Hunter to stay until he was fully rested. Using magic, he changed the armor into pajamas and tucked the boy in then gave a peck on the forehead. Belos then uncovered the music box he made for Hunter, wind it up, and played it so he would go to sleep easier.
After quietly closing the door, he made his way to Luz's room as Cornbread brought the gift.
"Wasn't easy, but we got what you requested. I think Luz deserves these." Cornbread informed as Roasted Chicken and Tomato Soup stayed behind to guard Hunter's room so he could get a full day's sleep.
"Indeed. Thank you again, Cornbread." Belos thanked his Palisman.
Blue then joined Belos as they entered the room to see Eda and King with her.
"Knock, knock. I hope you don't mind me barging in." Belos greeted his daughter.
"Daddy, hi. How's your stomach been holding up?" Luz greeted her father who hugged his child.
"Oh, I'm better. A little bit of medicine and then my morning Sangria without any pesky cardinal palisman trying to pilfer it from me does nicely. Now, I don't have to go through it again until next year." Belos smiled at his child, "Eda told me you were having troubles."
"Well… I don't know what I should do or what I will be."
"Princess, there is nothing wrong with that. For most of my life, I didn't know what I would be, heck most of it changed as I go through my life. Even the Palisman I crafted took years to come to completion."
"Really?"
"Yep, and it was even before I realize MPEB (Mystical Palisman Enchanted-items Bejeweling). No one truly knows where their path goes, but wherever it goes, I know it will lead you to what you are truly meant to be. You don't even have to try to achieve greatness." Belos assured then presented presents, "Because you already are."
Luz opened her gifts to see Palistrum wood and her father's Palisman carving set.
She smiled as Eda, Belos, and King hugged her, then left the room with her own music box turned on, so she can sleep.