Kalon.

According to MLBB lore, Kalon was a wicked trickster god trapped within Gusion's body. He was the curse of House Paxley, and the one thought to bring its downfall. He was also the reason Aamon and Gusion had searched for the Heart of Anima in the first place.

And now, here he was. Possessing Gusion.

Aamon gritted his teeth as he glared at his brother, eyes narrowed as he assessed the situation. "And what brings you here, fiend of darkness?" Estes said softly, stepping in beside Miya.

Gusion tilted his head back and ran a hand through his messy brown hair. "Such a grand occasion!" he exclaimed, spreading his arms wide. "I haven't got a glimpse of dear Gavana in centuries. You're looking as beautiful as ever, darling."

Miya glared at him. Holding out her hand, her bow materialized in a flash of white light. "Yes, centuries," Miya agreed, aiming the arrow at Gusion. Aamon immediately stood before his brother, shards of light hovering around him.

"Please don't get in the way, Duke Paxley," Miya said calmly.

"Listen to Gavana," Gusion told Aamon mockingly.

"I have no intention of getting in the way," Aamon said. In the blink of an eye, he turned on Gusion, shards of light dancing around him as they aimed for his brother.

Gusion immediately leapt back, and blocked Aamon's shards with his dagger. "Hasty, hasty," he taunted. "I only wanted to know more about the Twilight Prophecy! I might even be able to aid you."

"I think not," Aamon said as he slashed at Gusion again. His strikes, I noticed, weren't aimed at vital points.

"You're more likely to aid the Lord of the Abyss, you wretch," Miya snapped.

"You wound me, Gavana," Gusion said, dodging another blow from Aamon.

"Shouldn't we stop them?" I asked Estes as Aamon renewed his attacks.

You have the power to stop them. Again, I heard Miya's voice echoing through my mind. Use the Heart, imprison Kalon within the boy again.

"I don't know how," I told her, feeling utterly useless.

Let me show you. This time, it was Gavana's voice whispering through my thoughts. At that moment, I felt an overwhelming presence enter my mind. Felt my body moving on its own. Felt power flowing from that source deep within me.

And then I remembered black.

Aamon brought his shards of light down on Gusion's head, fury boiling inside him. He had promised to protect his brother, had promised to break the curse on their family. What did it say of him that he had allowed this wretch to take complete control over his brother?

"Vermin," he snarled, shards spinning about him as he lunged at Gusion.

Gusion laughed as he threw a dagger his way. He immediately dodged, and rolled to one side. He tossed his shard at Gusion who screamed in pain. The shard returned to him, and he immediately activated his Camouflage.

He danced around Gusion, nothing more than an impalpable shadow. Gusion snarled as Aamon threw off his Camouflage and struck him from behind with his shards.

"Enough!"

Aamon paused and turned to Diana. Her eyes glowed with the same unearthly light that Miya's possessed. Had the Moon Goddess possessed her as well?

"Want to play, Gavana?" Gusion taunted, tapping a dagger against his chin.

"I will tolerate you no longer, lackey of the Abyss," Diana snapped, raising a hand at Gusion. At once, the air in the room seemed to grow heavy with static. Her aura surged as power swirled around her in a brilliant haze of white light.

Aamon frowned. Was she going to kill Gusion?

"Leave that boy be, and return to the depths of his mind, leech," Diana snarled.

Gusion grinned. Without warning, he lunged towards Diana, dagger aimed at her heart. "I'll carve you up and take the Heart of Anima for myself!" he said gleefully just as Diana released the power she held back.

Brilliant white light struck Gusion squarely in the chest. He let out a roar of fury as he was pushed back against the wall. "Return to the depths of his mind, and never awaken!" Diana roared, power building around her.

Gusion screamed in fury. "I'll—have you, mark my words! I'll cut that girl up and rip the Heart from her chest! And then the Abyss shall rule!" Light enveloped him, effectively cutting off his screams of fury. A moment later, the light faded, and Gusion fell to the floor, unconscious.

Aamon immediately rushed to his side, feeling for a pulse in his neck. Thankfully, there was one. Leaving Gusion on the ground, he turned to Diana. "You—"

Diana raised her hand. "I am not she," Diana said. "The girl is asleep. I have taken her body for now. Listen closely, Duke Paxley. You and your family have a role to play in the Twilight Prophecy. Keep this girl close to the boy. As long as she wields the Heart, Kalon cannot break free. Be wary. Should Kalon break free and take the Heart, the Abyss will have won." She paused.

"Dark, trying times lie ahead for all," Diana said as she turned to Miya and Estes. Miya's eyes still glowed with white light, still under the control of the Goddess. "Find the artifacts of the Twilight orb, Duke Paxley. Restore the fractured Twilight Goddess to her true form. Only she can balance the Light and the Abyss. But you must make haste. Dark forces are amassing their army in preparation. Now is the time for all to unite. Humans, elves, leonine, and even the dark elves."

"Where do we even find such items?" Aamon asked skeptically.

Diana placed a hand on her chest. "This girl knows where each of the artifacts are," she said. "She will guide you to them. Find the Grimoire, the Scales and the Aurora. And restore the Twilight Goddess to her glory." Diana paused. "Be wary. Spies of the Abyss lurk in every corner, even amongst the Empire's most trusted nobles. And, dare I say, even among your own House, Duke."

Aamon narrowed his eyes at her. "Do you mean the elders of House Paxley?"

Diana nodded. "Have a care. Trust no one."

With that, the light seemed to fade from Diana's and Miya's eyes. Both women slumped to the floor. Aamon caught Diana in his arms as she fell, leaning her gently against his bent knee. "It seems," Estes said, cradling Miya in his arms. "You will have your hands full, Duke Paxley."

"Perhaps," he said. He frowned at the Elf King. "Can the Empire count on your aid, should we need it?"

Estes appeared thoughtful. "It is the will of the Goddess," he said. "We will muster our armies while you hunt the artifacts of the Twilight orb." Estes paused. With a gesture, several elven priestesses, lifted Miya from the ground.

Aamon lifted Diana into his arms, while other elves carried Gusion out of the room. He stared at her sleeping face, suddenly remembering how they had met the day before.

"Well, well," Aamon said. "Who would have that thought you could be so much trouble?"

What happened?

As I slowly opened my eyes, memories from the previous night came rushing back. The Invocation. Gavana possessing both me and Miya. Kalon…

I sat up. I was back in my room in the Lunar Temple. I vaguely remembered Gavana's presence easing into my mind, remembered the way she had controlled my body and used the power of the Heart. But what happened after that…was a blank.

"You're up, I see," a voice said.

I glanced towards the windows. Aamon was sitting at the chair before it, his legs crossed at the ankles, a cheek leaning almost lazily against his fist. Gusion sat opposite him. He looked glum.

"What happened?" I asked. "H-how long was I out?"

"Three days," Gusion said, shrugging. "Miya only just woke this morning. Alucard's been hovering around her since. I gather it isn't easy having a Goddess possess you."

Three days. My head felt foggy.

"What happened?" I asked. My eyes found Gusion's. "I remember…Kalon, but not much else."

The younger Paxley shrugged. "Gavana possessed you," he said. "She essentially made Kalon retreat using the power of the Heart. That's some strong stuff you got there." He tried to be nonchalant, but I could see the disturbed look in his eyes. "Thanks."

I shook my head. "It wasn't me, it was Gavana."

"The Goddess mentioned you knew where the other artifacts of the Twilight Orb were," Aamon interjected.

I stared at him, recalling the MLBB game lore. "Well, yes," I said. The Grimoire was in the Agelta Drylands, the Aurora was in the Northern Vale, and the Scales were in the Cadia Riverlands. They were essentially on different continents in the Land of Dawn.

"It's settled then," Aamon said as he stood. "We leave by tomorrow. We will return to Castle Aberleen. We will need an audience with Princess Silvanna."

"Wait, we?" I asked. My brain felt foggy. What just happened when I was out?

"We," Aamon said. "Gusion, you and I. Apparently, your presence is essential to keeping Kalon under control. And you alone seem to know where the artifacts are."

I stared at him as if he were speaking gibberish. "Did you just plan out the next few months of my life?"

"Do you have any objections?" The Duke arched an eyebrow.

"Would you actually listen to them?" I asked.

"Not really, no," Aamon said bluntly.

I shrugged. "Right then, I get to be Frodo for the next few months. Wonderful."

Aamon didn't deign to reply, his eyes fixed on me. Cold, calculating. "Gusion, what just happened?" I asked.

"The Goddess basically tasked us with finding the Twilight artifacts while you were possessed by her," he said. He leaned forward and braced his elbows on his knees. "We need to talk about that. Where they are, what you know about Lunox."

"Why do we need to return to Castle Aberleen?" I interjected. "One of the artifacts is in the Cadia Riverlands. Wouldn't it be better to take a ship to there?"

"Aamon needs to have an audience with Princess Silvanna," Gusion said. "Something about military strategy, the like. Though…it would be dangerous."

"Dangerous?"

"Gavana told us that the Abyss had spies everywhere, even among the Elders of House Paxley." Gusion frowned, and Aamon's eyes looked deadly. I could imagine that, as the head of House Paxley, this information infuriated him. "They also have spies in Princess Silvanna's court."

"I intend purge the Elders of the house, and raise the armies of the Paxley family," Aamon said, leaning back in his seat. "However…the Abyss must not catch wind of our plans. Estes thinks they will do everything in their power to get their hands on you. The same can be said of Silvanna's situation. Spies in the court of the Moniyan empire prepared to report to the Abyss."

"So, how are you and Silvanna going to raise an army without the Abyss suspecting?" I asked. "Surely, any meeting between you two would be viewed with suspicion. Heck, Balmond and Dyrroth know I'm with you."

"Not quite," Aamon said.

I raised an eyebrow. "They know what I look like, they know I have the Heart. And I'm with you."

"The cloak," Aamon said, gesturing to the cloak now draped on his shoulders. The cloak I had worn the first day they found me. "It's enchanted. The wearer will be protected, Camouflaged, and…forgettable." He gave me a small smirk. "Balmond and Dyrroth will have forgotten all about your existence as the Heart by now."

I stared at his cloak. It really was meant for assassinations. Truly living up to his in-game role.

"Okay," I said. I gripped my blankets tighter. "But…how are you going to gather the nobles and the royalty of the Empire without alerting Abyssal spies? Or even your own family elders?"

Aamon and Gusion exchanged a swift glance. Gusion almost looked as if he would rather be anywhere but here.

Aamon turned his eyes to me. I frowned at him. "You're looking at me that way again," I pointed out. It was a cold, calculating look that told me he was determined to get his way eventually.

"How would you feel about being my fiancée?"

…What?

I stared at him.

He stared at me.

I stared at him some more.

"I think I misheard you," I said, narrowing my eyes at him.

"You misheard nothing," the Duke said, leaning back in his seat. "It is a matter of convenience. Be my fiancée. An engagement would be the perfect ruse and would serve as an excuse to gather all the nobles. It would even serve as a cover if we were to travel the continents together."

I glanced at Gusion, who shrugged. "Please don't drag me into it," he said.

I stared at Aamon.

He stared at me. "So," I said slowly. "You want me to be your…fake fiancée?"

"Naturally," the Duke said. The fact that he said it so casually and with an air of nonchalance just told me how much of a ruse it would be.

"Don't you have one already?" I asked, racking my brain for the in-game lore. Ah…no, from what I recalled, Guinevere was to be wed to Eren Paxley. "I mean, you're twenty-eight. You must have a bevy of women fawning over you for the position."

"None," was the curt reply. "Besides, I need an excuse to keep an eye on you."

I opened my mouth, then closed it again. My brain felt even more muddled.

"So," Aamon went on. He leaned forward, elbows on his knees as his eyes locked with mine. "Be my fiancée."

"Would you even let me say no?" I said, sighing. Dammit, I swear this was the plot of an isekai manga or two.

"Not really, no," he said smoothly.

"Right," I said. My mind was too foggy for me to say no. "Fine. We're engaged. Now, if you won't mind, I'd like to go back to sleep." I could feel a headache coming on. A migraine.

Aamon and Gusion stood and made their way towards the door. "Goodnight, Diana," Aamon with a hint of sarcasm as he closed the door shut behind him.

I was pissed. I grabbed one of my pillows and chucked it against the door. Hard.

"Jerk."

"I take it she didn't like it?" Miya asked Gusion and Aamon later that night. They were seated at the table in the dining hall for dinner, with Alucard joining them.

"No, she did not," Aamon said.

Miya shrugged as she picked up her fork. "You have to admit, it is a good coverup for all the traveling you will do," she said. "And serves as the perfect excuse for bringing all the nobles and Princess Silvanna together."

"Diana looked as if she wanted to throttle Aamon," Gusion said. "Did you have to phrase it that way?" he asked, turning to his brother. "'Be my fiancée.' Pretty mechanical if you ask me."

"I have no intentions of sugarcoating," was the reply.

At that moment, Sara walked in followed closely by Diana who looked as if she would rather be in bed again. Sara had dressed her in a flowing dress of blue and silver, the long sleeves flowing down to her knees.

Diana sat across Aamon and smiled sweetly at him. But her eyes…if looks could kill, Gusion thought.

"Did you sleep well?" Aamon asked her.

Diana glared. "I did, thank you for asking, Duke Paxley." Each word dripped with sarcastic venom.

"Aamon," the Duke corrected. "I cannot have my fiancée referring to me in such an impersonal manner."

A vein twitched in Diana's temple. "Would you prefer it if I called you 'darling'?" Diana asked, rolling her eyes.

"I'm nothing if not thorough," Aamon said bluntly.

"I think I'll go patrol the walls," Alucard said as he stood. "Miya." Giving the Elven princess a bow, Alucard strode out of the room, and Gusion sorely wished he could follow him. The tension in the air was so thick, he could have cut it with a knife.

"Diana," Miya interjected, and Diana turned to her.

"Oh, Miya," she said, all traces of hostility immediately vanishing. "How are you? I heard you woke just before I did."

"I'm fine, thank you," Miya said, with a smile. "Please eat. I'm sure you must be famished. I was."

Diana picked up her knife. "Eat," Aamon said.

She glared at him again, and Gusion let out a long-suffering sigh. "I'd like you to know," Diana said to Aamon. "I'm a surgeon. I know exactly where to hit you so it hurts."

"Is that so?"

Diana's smile turned sweet again. She could have sworn she was getting along with the Duke a few nights ago. So why was it that she just wanted to smack him now?

"Anyway," Miya said loudly. "Estes wanted to know your plans. He plans on raising the armies of the Azrya Woodlands. The Leonine, the Elves, and even the dark elves. But we need to do so in secret. We must coordinate with Empire regarding our strategy to avoid detection. Especially with the Stormeye Wasteland being close."

Aamon nodded. "I plan to arrange a strategic meeting with the Princess's court by the next full moon," he said. "We shall hold a formal gathering for our engagement. The Princess and her court will most assuredly attend."

"An…engagement party?" Diana asked, her fork halfway through her mouth.

Aamon turned to her. "Yes," he said. "I intend to gather all the nobles and the royals at Castle Aberleen for our engagement. Alucard has assured me that Tigreal and the Lightborn troops will also be in attendance."

"Right, then," Diana said as she resumed her dinner. "It's not as if I can say no, anyway."

"Good girl," Aamon said.

Gusion had to place his hand on top of Diana's to stop her from chucking her knife.

Admittedly, if someone told me that Aamon Paxley was real and wanted me to be his fiancée while I was still in my world…I probably would have died from an overload of fangirling. As it so happens, reality is a much harsher slap to the face.

I tried to drown out the conversation between Aamon and Miya. They were discussing plans, strategizing the positions of their armies, the possible battlefields, the logistics of each army, and supply lines. Admittedly, it was something out of my depth, and I resigned myself to poking at my salad.

"You can say no if it makes you uncomfortable," Gusion whispered, leaning closer to me.

"Do you think he'd even let me?" I whispered back.

"He might," Gusion said. "He's pretty stubborn though. Still, he should have asked you properly."

I let out a sigh. I looked towards Aamon and Miya who were deep in discussion now about the Lightborn Troops. I thought back to what Gusion had told me about Gavana's message. Find the artifacts, restore Lunox…

It struck me then that I was really in this. That I was going to do this, journey across the Land of Dawn and try to save it. It was admittedly bigger than I ever was. Besides, how difficult would it be to pretend we were engaged? I could do my part, even if I didn't like it. And Aamon had a point. It was a good coverup.

Still…

"I'll just be out for a walk," I said as I stood.

"The gardens are lovely this time of night," Miya offered.

I thanked her and left. After asking for directions from passing servants, I found myself in the gardens. And Miya was right. With its swaying willow trees, gurgling founts, and beds of flowers, it was an enchanting place. The flowers in the beds were a varying shade of white and silver, and seemed to glow with a soft light that reminded me of the moon.

I sat on the bench, letting the cool night air kiss my skin. I suddenly felt overwhelmed. A few days ago, I was a normal woman. Living a rather normal, uneventful life. And somehow, by some strange twinge of fate, I found myself here. It was all still too much to take in.

A part of me wanted to go home. Back to the mundane reality of my former life. I had been an only child, and my parents had passed away. But I missed the friends that had turned to family.

The other part…

The other part admittedly brimmed with excitement. This was an adventure. I'd grown up with stories of wizards, pirates, and magic, after all. And here I was about to go on an adventure.

"It might not be so bad, Diana," I said, leaning back against the bench. Above me, the light of the moon shone gently on the garden, bathing it with an almost ethereal glow. I could have sworn it felt as though the moon was shining a gentle light at me in comfort.

Right. Suck it up.

"Diana."

I looked up. Aamon was making his way towards me. "Oh, hi," I said. I tried to sound cheerful. He was my fake fiancée after all. But dammit, I was still so mad at him.

He sat beside me. We fell silent. Just as I felt it was about to get awkward, he turned to me. "I may have gone about it the wrong way," he admitted.

I stared at him. "I don't understand?" I asked. "A little context would be quite helpful."

Before I could say anything, he reached into the inner pocket of his jacket, and pulled out a small velvet box. Wait, was that…

He flipped the box open, and my eyes widened. Nestled in silken folds was a ring. It was a gleaming silver. Its band had been delicately shaped into entwining vines studded with diamonds. At the center of it all was a sapphire gem of deep blue.

"Gusion says I should go about it in the proper manner," Aamon said. "And I'm nothing if not thorough." He reached for my hand and drew it towards him. With the other, he plucked the ring from the box.

My cheeks warmed. "Where even did you get that ring?" I asked, trying to be glib. "Don't tell me you carry an assortment of engagement rings on you."

"The elves," was all he said as he looked into my eyes. "Diana, would you do me the honor of being my fiancée?"

Considering that the whole thing was supposed to be a ruse, and he looked so serious…

I burst out laughing.

Aamon was not pleased. "Sorry," I said, giggling. Ruse or not, I highly doubted any man would want to be laughed at while proposing to their fake fiancée. "But yes, I will. To whatever ends it will serve."

"To whatever ends," Aamon agreed he slipped the ring on my finger.

The gem seemed to glow brightly, before its light faded away. "Is it…magic?" I asked. It felt warm.

"I've magicked it so as to hide the aura of the Heart of Anima," he said. "Keep it on you at all times, especially at Castle Aberleen."

I held out my hand. I'd never had a serious relationship before. Sure, I'd been out on a date or two, but most of my time had been taken up with my studies during medical school. I'd never been in a serious relationship, much less engaged.

"Say," I said, lowering my hand and turning to him. "What exactly does being your fake fiancée entail?"

"Mostly appearing together with me in public," Aamon said. "Other than that, nothing else."

"I can do that," I said, nodding. "Thank you. It was nice of you to propose." I couldn't help it, I giggled again.

"You find this amusing, don't you?" He sounded amused himself.

"It's just that…you were so serious," I said, covering my mouth with a hand as I chuckled.

Aamon leaned back against the bench. "I told you," he said, "I'm nothing if not thorough."