Chapter 13: False Friends and True Kings
The morning after that horrible expedition or excursion that had happened the night before, especially for a certain pegasus knight. The group, now with the droll merchant, Merlinus, slowly headed towards Laus. It was a slow and arduous trek, especially since Hector would stop the group once in a while to make sure that Farina followed along with her slow pace. Lucas was still thinking of what may happen to Lyn and had an ominous feeling that totally preoccupied his mind. He was lost in his thoughts until Hector interrupted them by calling the tactician over to where he and Eliwood were. Begrudgingly, he decided to follow their request and was near the hilltop where they could see that soldiers were marching out of the castle and headed towards the plains.
"What do you think of that, tactician? Hector asks while gripping Wolf Beil, his signature axe, harder than before.
"Well, Milord, I believe that is standard battle formation." Lucas says, stating the obvious to the heir of Ostia.
"Don't call me that, I hate the formalities," Hector points out to the stoic strategist of the group.
"Sure, Milord." Lucas amusingly replies just to make sure that the Ostian lord was frustrated.
"..." Eliwood left uneasy from gazing at the enemies' numbers and formation until he noticed Marcus along with Ren, Guy and Matthew conversing with a cavalier of Laus. "Marcus? What are you doing?"
"Milord, Lord Erik wishes to hold an audience with you. He is right here waiting now with our scouts," Marcus relayed the message of the emissary.
"Say what!? No, count me out, I can't stand that buffoon of a man. I'm just gonna go check on Farina, then survey the area. Lucas can be there in my stead," Hector replies as he taps on Lucas' shoulder. "Right, tactician?"
"..." Lucas didn't even bother voicing his acceptance knowing that Hector hates this more than he and he was curious about the heir to Laus' domain with 'pretty boy' at his side. Something about him sounded familiar, wasn't one of the people he beat back at Bern from this area?
Slowly, the heir to the marquisdom of Laus, Lord Erik, trots atop his steed while wielding his vainly-fashioned silver lance to the Pheraean lord and the stoic tactician, making the tactician partially envy the shrewd looking lord as he observes the shiny lance he wields.
"Ah, well if it isn't my old friend, Eliwood. It has been a long time," Erik replies as he looks down on Eliwood atop his steed. Lucas, in response, spit on Laus' soil, disgusted about meeting another typical nobleman. Erik noticed the actions of the tactician but kept it to himself
"Oh, and who is this commoner in your meagre army?" Erik arrogantly asks from seeing the infuriated tactician spitting on his domain's soil, making the tactician's anger start to boil..
"Oh um Erik, this is–"
"Just call me Lucas," he cuts off Eliwood, out of annoyance and maybe anger that he felt for the arrogant young master of Laus.
"Hmph, such arrogance, you have my respect for your confidence, plebeian," Erik jests with his arrogant smile. While Lucas was observing the young Lord of Laus, thinking that an intervention was due.
"Well then, let's cut to the chase: what brings you to Laus? Are perhaps travelling to, possibly, Ostia?" Erik asks with a hostile tone as he brandishes his silver lance.
"Uh no, why would you think that?" Eliwood asks with concern.
"Well, you were always such good friends with the marquess' brother, Hector, who is someone that I cannot bear to properly get along with that brute of a brain he has and his crude personality. Makes it hard to believe that he is a noble in the first place, much less the younger brother of the marquess of Osita, " Erik gossips, soliciting unwanted attention from various nearby members.
Lucas moves closer and places his arm to block Eliwood, making sure that he couldn't do anything, knowing clearly that this is a way to provoke him. "I doubt talking to other Lords in such a way is rather disrespectful for you, Erik of Laus. I doubt that you can be any better in any other way."
"Hey little princey, that is uncalled for my client. And I don't like it, " Ren calls out from overhearing and readies his killing edge for hostility.
"Yeah, buster. I don't like your tone towards the big guy, " Farina, now fully recovered thanks to Serra's quick healing, replies after a short surveying around the area and overhearing the conversation.
Lucas motions Ren and Farina to go warn the villages, knowing that a fight may draw near as he wanted as little civilian involvement as possible.
"Well, as long he is not here–"
"Who were you hoping to not be here?" Hector gallantly answers from appearing behind Eliwood and Lucas, catching Erik off guard.
"Oh hello Lord Hector of Ostia," Lucas says, putting emphasis on the words of his title and domain. "I assume the surveying went well?"
"Hector!? You're here too!?" Erik exclaims as he was caught off guard on the sudden appearance of the second heir to the Ostian throne.
"Yes, I am why would I not be here for my friend, during his hour of need? And tactician Lucas, it is as you say, they are making a mounted attack on us."
"Don't tell me, Pherae and Ostia already made a pact!?" Erik warily interrogates as he readies his silver lance for battle out of pressure and fear.
Lucas immediately pulls out his lance in self defense, just making sure that the 'pretty boy' is not hurt in any way possible, before realization dawns on his face as he realizes that he did recognize the fool that entered their presence. "Wait, I remember you now. You were the noble who was so busy talking shit about the other nobility. What a jest that he is able to still be able to lead his troops after he had walked out so fast after losing to a commoner in a game of chess."
"Thought you'd never recognize me. I was wondering if that same arrogance of yours was that of the one that I've crushed many years ago, " Lucas pridefully spat back, shocking Eliwood from his answer.
"Wait, you knew him!?" Eliwood asks, surprised at how Lucas would meet such a man.
"Eh, more like forced to be acquainted with, but who are we to discuss that? That was in the past already."
"Soldiers, reinforcements, whichever you choose. After all, it's not like your troops are not ready with the number of ambush spots that we've been spotting thanks to a flier friend of ours. You won't get away that easily, " Hector gallantly predicts with Wolf Beil ready for combat.
"Grrrrgh, hehehehahaha! It is unfortunate that you are in enemy territory, old friends. Your graves will be here to stay, in the battlefield! Eliwood, I can finally settle the score with you and you only once and for all! After that, I'm not done with you two!" Erik arrogantly laughs and curses to the three leaders before trotting away to give the signal of making his soldiers to pop out from their ambush locations and cavalier units exiting the castle gates and making the formation with Erik at the hind center of the cavalier troupe.
"That damn cur!" Eliwood curses from his fake friend's great betrayal and shocks both Hector and Lucas from his cursing until they just chuckle and shrug it off.
"Ah yes, still thinking that the quantity of the unit is better than basic tactics and the quality of every unit." Lucas muses while seeing the formation of the young Lord of Laus. "Looks like he also learned a little bit from me, well, from what I did at the school anyway."
Lucas even takes a little time just to watch from afar with his spyglass on how each of the units were positioned. He chuckled a little bit before starting to command the rest of the group. "Oh wow, This is cake. Send a small detachment to the left, preferably riders, among the beach as to make sure we do not get flanked. Eliwood and I will be the vanguard. The rest of us will be in the front taking the brunt of it all. The cavalry will go around the village and flank us."
Shortly after Lucas finished thinking and strategizing the battle plan, Ren and Farina return from warning the villages with good news, but more importantly, good allies on their side, one of which is a familiar face to see.
"What took you guys so long?" Lucas blatantly asks, looking at the energetic Farina with her passenger and a worn-out Ren dismounting off the steed of a noble-looking woman in noble robes.
"Hey! Easy for you to say! I had to deal with an enemy archer and an armored knight! If not for my armor slayer, it'd take longer for me to return here! Besides, you're gonna wanna meet this girl here, " Ren protests while panting hard and lying on the grass for a few moments while not forgetting the new ally they've recruited.
"H-hello, kind sir. My name is Priscilla, daughter of Count Caerleon, and an emissary from Etruria. I have been held captive in this land for quite some time by the marquess of Laus. If it weren't for your friend, I would have eventually become a lost cause, " the lady named Priscilla introduced as she dismounts from her horse and courteously bows.
"Another bishop...? Interesting." Lucas mutters noticing the "mending" staff that she holds. "Can you cast offensive magic?"
Upon seeing her head shake in disappointment, Lucas shrugs it off.
"A shame, but no matter, welcome aboard Priscilla. Now, what about your end Farina?" Lucas turns to Farina as she lets her passenger dismount and reveal his familiar cool and composed face, slightly catching the tactician off guard.
"Gods in the west, Erk!? You're here too!?" Lucas exclaims upon seeing him in Laus.
"In the flesh, " Erk deadpans. "I was dispatched again to be an escort to– lady Priscilla!"
Erk reacts wildly after finding his lost employer, getting her swift attention to him.
"Oh Erk! Thank goodness you are safe. I was troubled especially after the marquess hindered you from visiting and finding me here. I believe you know who this kind man is with how you talked familiar with him, " Priscilla answered calmly with gratitude.
"Looks like someone has a crush…" Lucas replies, mentally making sure that Erk would regret meddling in his affairs with Lyn. Making both Erk and Priscilla blush at the thought, Erk glares at the tactician for embarrassing him in front of his employer.
Not long after the short reunion with another member of the legion, an old lady in dark robes went to Lucas and tugs on his favorite green cloak to get his attention.
"Hm? Hey! Quit it!" Lucas warns as he pulls his cloak out of the old lady's hand. "I like my coat…"
"Now now, young man, that is not the best manner to treat the elderly. I suppose you seem to be in a jiffy with the enemy you're about to face, " the old woman deadpans, silencing the tactician with her tone.
"State your business here, " Lucas warily tells out of suspicion, somewhat upset that his green cloak was touched.
"My name is Hannah, and I am a mistress of mystic arts. I can tell what your enemy is capable of even without looking and foretell the future of the battle, " the old lady explains.
"So you're a fortune-teller?" Lucas asks, as this has piqued his interest. "What is the rate of your services, wise one?"
"I do not come free of course. My services are available at the price of 200 gold coins. A small price to pay to change the tides of war, " Hannah sneakily answers back.
"I see, I will keep that in mind, " Lucas replied, not intending to ask for an augury yet at the moment before turning to Eliwood, who still looked like he wanted to .
"Pretty boy, I know you are in shock but I will explain what happened later. But for now, let us prepare for battle. Our enemies do not wait for you to get ready."
"Right, it's your call Lucas! Give your orders!" Eliwood complied as he unsheathes his rapier for battle.
Lucas smacks Eliwood on the head with the blunt part of the spear. "Did you not listen to me earlier? We are the vanguard, since Erik of Laus would be focusing on killing us. The others will cover the back and support us. A king actually listens to his subjects and advisors before making his own judgement."
"Right, my bad Lucas. Thanks, " Eliwood replies with an embarrassed, but shiny smile, internally blinding Lucas with his innocent righteous being. Making Lucas want to punch him in the chest before Hector called out.
"Let's get ready fellas! Here they come!" Hector rallies with Wolf Beil in hand, along with Ren, Farina, and Oswin at his side.
"I'll just stay where it is safe, and accompany our scared little friend here, " Matthew replies while helping Merlinus check the group's supplies and set up a small tent.
"Coward, " Guy grunts as he readies his iron sword and stands with Erk to protect Priscilla.
"Actually, It's best that he does that." Lucas says, thinking wistfully. "Although Dorcas would also have to stay there too as he needs to protect the merchant for any backstabbing tactics that oaf will pull."
"Hey! He can handle that! I'm open for roles over here!" Bartre barks with excitement and thrill for battle.
"Mhm, " Lowen responds alongside Rebecca.
As the rest were busy, Farina taps on Ren with a simple present she got from warning the village in the north.
"Hey Ren, I got this huge sword from a nice old guy in the northern village. Thought you'd need it since you broke one of your swords, " Farina replies as she hands a broad iron longsword to Ren.
"So this thing does not come in with a sheath or scabbard? Okay?" Ren thought to himself before trying to use the heavy sword with two hands to attempt his double slash combo with two hands.
"Yeah, this can somehow do. Just gotta be mindful with where and how I cut someone, " Ren smirks as he holds the blade over his shoulder.
"Alright, all the cavalrymen and riders go through the beaches and use it to flank from behind. The rest of us will have to take the brunt of the damage. Got that? Good, now move out!"
With hasty and careful steps, the vanguard of the team make their way to the open plains to engage with the enemy cavalry. Among the enemy horsemen are mostly soldiers wielding lances with only a few of them wielding swords. From that observation, Lucas calls out for Hector and Bartre to tank the hits from the lances of the enemy cavalry whereas Ren and Lucas engage with the sword-wielding cavaliers along with ranged support aided by Erk's magic thunder and Rebecca's swift arrows and Eliwood cutting down man after man with his sword.
Lucas jumped over a crashing horse before landing and brutally impaling an enemy infantry unit with his sharpened emblem lance before getting surrounded by two pairs of sword-wielding and lance-wielding enemy cavaliers. However, that was until Oswin rushed to the scene with Ren hopping over him from behind and kicked one of the cavaliers off of his mount, accompanied with a flying javelin from Oswin, impaling another cavalier to the grass.
"Seems like I've gotten carelessly reckless again," Lucas comments as he kicks an enemy soldier off his balance and impales him with a good backstab, causing him to bleed in his damaged armor. "I should really stop doing that."
"Don't push it. It's starting to get nasty from here on out," Ren warns as he notices more enemy cavalry heading to their direction.
"There's too many of them!" Eliwood points out with worry.
"I don't think we can last long out here," Hector adds.
"Patience, milords," Lucas muses with a smirk and his arms crossed in content while counting the seconds on his head when the cavalry would arrive. "3...2...1…"
Suddenly, a number of the enemy cavalry were pushed to the side and flanked by Marcus and Lowen and taken by surprise with their great strength. Behind the two allied horsemen was the graceful Priscilla using her intermediate healing magic called Mending, upon them to replenish their stamina and heal their wounds and bruises. With this chance, the tactician rallied the others as they pushed through and destroyed a great portion of Erik's army.
"No, nononononono! Where are the rest of the troops?!" Erik turns to a nearby soldier to inquire of their reserve forces.
"Milord, your father wouldn't send any more. They…all accompanied him as he left the castle." The soldier answered in fear with his downcast face.
"WHAT?! Has my father left me to die?" Erik explodes in anger. "No matter, as long as that tactician or the cursed Pharaean heir, Eliwood, are dead then it serves no more purpose!"
In that moment, Erik charges forward with a remainder of his cavalry squad to engage with Marcus and Lowen, only to keep moving forward while his men distract Eliwood's retainers as he aims for Eliwood and Lucas.
After Lucas impales one soldier and instantly kills him, he sees the heir of Laus come toward him as he prepares by pulling off his lance and twirling it again and again. With the final move, he decides to take another gamble and rushes to him as well.
"Lucas! What are you–!?"
"Hahahaha! Bring it LOSER!" Lucas taunts jeeringly while charging at the pompous noble. "Entertain me as you see your hubris kill you."
"I will not lose! Not today! Now die!" Erik roars with his silver lance ready for a heavy thrust aimed at the tactician.
Lucas managed to deflect it with his spear, not without it taking more damage as Lucas turned around using the momentum of the spear to throw it at the horse, startling it to rear over and making the young Lord fall on his back as the horse galloped away.
"Oh, good effort, learning from your mistakes. However, kings don't ride their horses just to miss their target, you should have used a sword." Lucas says picking up the new silver spear and aiming it at him.
"Grrgh," Erik growls as he stares at his defeat with his spear laid down on the grass.
"Give it up, you lost now Erik," Eliwood pleads as he tells Marcus, Lowen, and Bartre to restrain the remaining enemy troops.
"Haha, victory is ours!" Hector rallies as Ren and Oswin make the other surviving soldiers to lay down their arms.
As the battle concludes in favor of the two lords and their cold tactician, the surviving soldiers of Laus, carry their comrades' rotting corpses and bury them in respectful funeral sessions while their arrogant young master is held prisoner under the custody of Eliwood and Hector as their tactician leads the front of their company into the castle. Hector and Eliwood start searching every nook and cranny for Erik's power-hungry father: Lord Darin, the marquess of Laus. In the meantime, Lucas decided to take the opportunity as he immediately headed towards the library to look for anything regarding the Black Fang along with his, and by extension Farina's, tattoos. To avail, however, there is nothing in his great library about the mysterious organization or clues that explain the tattoos' purposes. Upon finding almost nothing about it, he curses quite loudly and drinks a sip of his alcohol before calming himself down and leaving the room for some loaves of bread.
Lucas walks toward, watching the hallways with paintings of the Lord of Laus and his family. Farina is strolling along the same corridor they're in and collides with each other again.
"Owww! Hey man, either this is anything but a coincidence or you are really doing this on purpose!" Farina groans while holding her sore forehead.
"You should watch where you're going," Lucas frankly answered before silently excusing himself and walking away.
"Oh, forgot to mention! Lords Hector and Eliwood request your immediate presence. Something important seems to have sprung up back there," Farina tells as he walks away.
"Got it, thank you," Lucas replies as he sips from his small cask of alcohol while making his way to the throne room. There he meets with the two lords and their retainers interrogating their prisoner, Erik, with some answers that Lucas might find interest to hear about.
"Ah, the tactician's made it just in time, " Hector comments.
"Lucas, um, there might be things that you must hear from him, " Eliwood sternly implored.
"Okay? About what exactly? They better be important or else, " Lucas replies as he keeps his cask in his satchel.
"C'mon cur! Spill it!" Hector barks as he roughly nudges Erik to the wall.
"Argh! Fine! I'll talk!" Erik groaned before recomposing himself. "Look...it's about this strange man named Ephidel. He appeared in the castle a year ago."
From that same name, Lucas' eyes opened widely upon hearing that strange name again. "Go on, " he says as he starts scribbling down the words he says word per word on his notes.
"Because of him…my father changed. He convinced my father to take up arms and go to war against Lycia to rule it. He did it after being disturbed by Ostia's position. Never thought that he'd really go through with this, " Erik continues before exhaling from the pressure and turns to Eliwood with a grin.
"Your father, Lord Elbert, along with a few other marquesses, had approved of this idea."
"You lie! My father would never agree to such a thing!" Eliwood denies, despite not knowing all of the facts about the matter at hand.
"Well, it's your choice to believe or disbelieve. First was Marquess Santaruz, then your dear marquess of Pherae. He happened to arrive here six months ago and was uneasy at the sight of that shrewd man Ephidel. Even with all the warnings your father pleaded to my father, he was rejected. Not long after he decided to leave, he then disappeared, as you have heard already. I doubt he is still alive, " Erik grins upon seeing Eliwood's uneasy composure until getting punched in the face by Lucas, who had long dropped his quill since he heard of the rejection of Marquess Pherae.
By his collar, Lucas lifts him up and rams him into the wall upright, making him scream from the pain before fiercely interrogating him.
"Which of the other marquesses have your father informed of his motives? Answer me!" Lucas barks while choking him by his collar to the wall.
"Lucas, take it easy, " Hector warns, knowing when to inflict pain and when it is unnecessary to do so.
Lucas slightly loosens his hold on Erik, giving him time to gasp for air and talk once again.
"Now, I ask you once more: who else did your father tell of this big plan of his? I'm not asking again," Lucas sternly replied before going back to the quill, eyes hardening. "If you lie to me, you are as good as dead."
"Well, the others in the south-eastern states have refused his offer to join him. One of whom was truly against my father's ruthless ambition: the marquess of Caelin, Lord Hausen," Erik honestly answered with his windpipe gasping for air.
"Caelin? How do you know what's happening to Caelin? Tell me! Now!" Lucas slams the table with his palms, making the other Lords look at him in slight fear and confusion.
"Other than my father marching to Caelin, I don't know anything else! I swear!" Erik pleaded.
"Then you are useless to me right now." Lucas says keeping all of his notes and leaving almost immediately but he stopped when he heard something that made him extremely angry.
"He intends to usurp that tiny state, from what I have overheard in his meetings with Ephidel. You could say that that frail old man is done for as we speak," Erik ends with a smirk.
Lucas then pulls out a small knife and throws it at the wall beside Erik's ear by an inch. Lucas then moves back to the room, stride overtaking his forgotten notes as Erik tries to squirm his way out. He pulled the knife from the wall beside the spoiled noble son. "How dare you speak ill of Lord Hausen. I should slit your throat so that others will follow the example that I will set."
"Hahahaha! It's futile either way! The true culprit is Ephidel. My father is nothing but a puppet, as I was after all we've been through," Erik replies arrogantly.
Lucas stabs the knife on Erk's leg, making him scream in pain as Lucas punches him in the face until his nose is bleeding, both eyes are black and quite a few missing teeth before Hector uses his strength to pull Lucas off him.
"Let me kill him. He should die for what he said…" Lucas hisses, struggling to pull himself away from him. "...I will make sure that he will pay for what he said about Lyn and her grandfather."
"Lucas stop!" Hector orders restraining Lucas' body with his overbearing strength to prevent him from killing Erik any further.
"We should not kill him! He's the last heir to Laus!" Eliwood adds, ordering Marcus and Oswin to restrain a bruised Erik with bindings before taking him out of the throne room, as far as possible from Lucas' rage.
"That heir is as good as dead if he says any more slander." Lucas says as he is still trying to stab him with the dagger.
"Look, I may not know…"
"You don't." Lucas interjects before making Hector unhand him, sheathe the dagger and leave the room furiously, without forgetting his bag full of notes.
"Why did he lose his composure just like that?" Hector wondered from the sudden change of their stoic tactician.
"Perhaps you were not recently informed, but the marquess of Caelin, Lord Hausen, has formally declared a new knight to enter into his household. They seem to call him, "The unspoken knight". And rumor say that apparently it was–"
"Him? I see… However, I believe both Hausen and your father wouldn't agree to aid in a rebellion like this. I trust them enough as I trusted you and him back there, albeit that last scene earlier, " Hector understands and assures.
"I hope Lucas can cope with this for a while. After all, everyone is completely drained and famished from the battle earlier, " Eliwood prays.
Lucas was then seen talking to Dorcas, Matthew, Ren, Serra, Erk and all of the members of the former legion, along with members in "Eliwood's Elite" and "Hector's Horde", informing them all of them of what could be happening to Caelin and what he planned to do about it.
"...And I plan to return back to Caelin. I need to return, immediately, " Lucas declares with his face downcast and his fist tightly-gripped.
"Why? What's up now?" Ren asks with concern.
"Personal business." Lucas replied back. "If you want details, ask the pretty boy."
"Well, whatever is your personal business, can be mine as well, " Dorcas protests as he stands up with worry.
"No Dorcas, from what I hear, you are going to follow the pretty boy." Lucas says sharpening his spear and tying his bag
"Lucas, for another day, you sound unreasonable with this sudden change in plans. You're going out after a whole day out there fighting, so your chances of survival will dwindle into single digits in just moments later. Just tell us the situation right now, " Erk asks straightforwardly.
Lucas starts to think about the odds, especially now there are no guarantees of safety during the road at dark. As much as he wanted to run out and rush towards Caelin, he had to tell them, especially the former members of the legion, as they too have the right to know before explaining everything, except the part where he was worried about Lyn for obvious reasons.
"Say what?!" Ren responded hysterically upon hearing Darin's aim in travelling to Caelin.
"Now this will be truly difficult, especially with how our current condition is in no shape of travelling right now, " Erk bitterly admits with crossed arms.
"I hope lady Lyndis will be okay when that happens, " Dorcas laments as he scratches his hind temple anxiously.
"Lucas, I understand your great altruistic sentiment to go out there and save your home, but not at your current condition with whatever that is out there. Especially if these "Black Fang" assassins are still around here in the marquidom, " Matthew protests with concern for Lucas' welfare while making Ren nervous upon mentioning the name of the Black Fang.
"Lyn and Lord Hausen will be fine." Lucas tries to assure the group, but it sounds like him trying to convince himself. "She's got Kent, Sain, Wil and Florina to back them up. Not to mention, Eagler's presence to protect his Majesty."
"Um, Lucas, I may not truly know all the details, but whatever that may be, it is important to all of us as it is to you, " Lowen sternly interjects.
"Yeah, we got your back too!" Rebecca tries to lighten the mood with encouragement.
"Heck yeah! Especially since I hear that my li'l sis Florina is in Caelin, that gives me enough of a reason to lend my expensive services, free of charge!" Farina muses while having concern for her little sister.
Lucas starts pacing around, a habit that he seemed to pick up ever since he started travelling with the group as he walks around the area muttering to himself, worried for Lyn and the others in Caelin.
"What's he doing?" Rebecca asks from observing Lucas' odd mannerism.
"Leave him to himself. That's what he does to clear his mind gradually, " Ren answers before yawning from fatigue. "Well, I'm going to doze away tonight, see you all tomorrow."
With that, Ren exits the room and walks through the corridor to find a vacant chamber, muttering to that very familiar and silly word that brings music to his ears: hooligan.
Slowly, one by one, each of the occupants either left or stayed to find a comfortable spot to rest and retire for the day while ignoring the anxious Lucas, doing his paces to think and focus his mind. Eventually, his pacing slowed down gradually and calmed down before heading through the corridors to find a vacant room to retire for the night.
"Lyn...I miss you...don't die before I go home, " Lucas muttered with his pained tone while wallowing in anxiety on a huge bed till he slowly doses off to rest but was interrupted by the resident pretty boy before retiring for the night.
Chapter END