31st Noble Lion Moon, 908 – Umbra Clock Capital

"Put your backs into it, maggots!"

With only a month's time remaining, training on the new knights was being pushed to its limits. With his newfound resolve to help, Jet took command of training the recruits who were falling behind, pushing them through the wringer. He had them doing laps around the capital carrying all their standard equipment and more. He forced them to endure a gauntlet of obstacles to test their agility. He had them jumping across rooftops in heavy armor. He pushed and pushed them to their absolute limits even if it meant he had to break them.

Jet scowled at the armored recruits as they lay restlessly on the ground. "Get up! You think the enemy will give you time to sleep? This is war! You still have five laps to complete! I won't let you slackers die on my watch, you hear me?!"

"S-Sir! Yes, sir!" Despite their bodies screaming out in agony, the recruits pushed themselves back onto their feet and continued with their laps.

Jet huffed through his nose. "That's what I wanted to hear." He jogged after them, keeping to the rooftops to keep a better watch over their progress.

From afar, Percival and Valentine watched the otter command his group with amused grins. "Never thought I'd see the day Jet would cooperate with knights," Percival said.

"Is that what you call cooperating? He's barking at them like every Forester he trained," Valentine joked.

"A better outcome than him sulking. I'm glad he's finally taking this seriously." Percival snickered to himself. "There's no one I trust more to keep us alive on the battlefield than him. He'd rather die in action himself than see his own fall in battle."

"Let's hope that isn't ominous foreshadowing," Valentine said. He glared. "Still, he easily tripled our progress. We might actually be ahead of schedule."

Percival nodded as he sipped his coffee. "We could launch an early assault, but we would have to pass the idea off to Tadhg first. We don't want to take chances with this. Everything needs to play out perfectly."

"How do you suppose Jason, Mels, and Lillia are holding up?"

"Haven't had much info on Melissa's situation yet, though no report on her status doesn't necessarily mean anything terrible. Safe to say she's handling her side of the operation fine on her own. Our team up in Fort Gladius should be planning out the distribution of the explosives."

Valentine crossed his arms. "So for now, it's just a waiting game while we finalize the preparations."

"Exactly."

The Spinda chuckled. "So, this is what it feels like to go to war? Wow, I'm actually quite nervous."

Percival shrugged. "You get used to it after a while. I've seen it all the time, even as a kid." He guzzled down more of his coffee and wiped his mouth. "Ah. I'm more worried about how everyone else is handling the stress."

Valentine rolled his eyes. "Well, we know someone who isn't stressed out over this."

Percival groaned. "Speaking of which, how's she coming along on Jason's request?"

BOOM!

Without even flinching, the duo turned around and saw smoke coming out from the castle courtyard out back. They shared an annoyed grimace with each other.

"Yeah, that sounds about right."

"Oh yeah."

Once the smoke cleared, Pandora and Enoch poked their heads out from behind their cover, examining the results of their latest experiment. The results were a pile of ash in the cobblestone pathway with a sizable crater left behind.

Enoch nodded thoughtfully. "Hmm, do you suppose using high grade explosives would be unfavorable?"

Pandora crossed her forelegs and nodded sagely. "Sadly, yes. Most Pokémon would complain about having their heads blown off."

"Shame. Renfield, take a note!"

The Eiscue hurriedly waddled out from hiding and produced a quill and paper. "Y-Yes, sir!"

"Explosives? Not a good way to remove collar from neck."

"Very good, sir."

Pandora held up the collar that was sent to them by Petra and examined it. "Well, now that we've taken care of that question, what do you suppose we do about unlocking this?"

Enoch took it from her and inspected the lock. "It'd be rudimentary to craft a key, but potentially hundreds of collars? We would need something to unlock all of them at once." He snapped his fingers. "Brilliant! We'll gather a swarm of Klefki and—"

"From where?"

"Drats! My plan has failed!"

Pandora scratched her chin, staring intensely at the collar. "Do you suppose there is a way to unlock it from afar?"

Enoch mirrored her pose and nodded. "Hmm, I see the theory cooking in my brain. Brilliant observation, me!"

"Hey, I said it first!"

"Not now, I'm having a stroke of brilliance—YOW!" Enoch recoiled after a swift bite from Pandora to the arm. "Confound it, beast!"

She smirked, snatching the collar back from him. "As I was saying, this collar reacts to the vibrations of a gong, right? What if we found a way to turn that sound against itself?"

"You propose finding a frequency that'll use the collar's own internal mechanisms to shatter itself?"

"Precisely!"

"Brilliant! Renfield, take a note!"

The Eiscue hurriedly scribbled their mad ramblings. "Y-Yes, sir!"

Enoch snatched the collar back. "We have precious time left for testing! Renfield!"

"Y-Yes?!"

"Fetch us some coffee! We're pulling an all-nighter on this one!"

"Y-Yes, sir!"

"Renfield!" Pandora barked.

"WAH! Ma'am?!"

She grinned. "Sorry, your name is so funny to shout."

"Oh. Uh…thank you—"

"RENFIELD!"

"AH!"

"My king, please reconsider this plan of yours. We cannot risk confronting the New Chariot Empire like this."

Despite all the efforts made with the Foresters and their assistance, Tadhg still had one battle to conduct before the time of invasion: the restlessness of his council. His gaze remained cool and collected as the elder council went over their concerns with the planned invasion. Though he was able to calm their nerves over letting the thieves guild stay in the castle, he continuously pushed against their reluctance for the war.

Joined by his sides, watching in silence, were Blackwood and Sidney. Blackwood rested his chin on his hands, grinning as the council stumbled over themselves trying to dissuade Tadhg from further action while Sid awkwardly shifted in her chair while cradling Rusty in her arms.

"We've dedicated a sizeable portion of our military into protecting the kingdom's borders," the Carbink elder explained. "If this invasion fails, we may be looking at serious repercussions to the kingdom's defenses. We're putting newly recruited squires on the frontlines."

The Pyroar elder huffed. "And we can't forget that you're aiming to launch a terroristic assault on Telo Martius by diverting their water supply on top of the city. That flood could potentially kill thousands."

Dragonite groaned. "Then again, given their culture, would it really be so bad to wipe them out?"

Squawkabilly preened at his feathers before grunting. "I don't necessarily see an issue with drowning Telo Martius, but we're still putting our manpower at risk."

"…" Tadhg closed his eyes. "New Chariot specializes in ground-based combat. Their formations are impeccable. They can brave any storm that comes their way, and they won't weather in the face of danger. That is precisely why we're aiming to flood the city. If we take away their ability to stand their ground, we'd be much more equipped to invade with fresh squires. And we'll do it without sacrificing a single innocent life, not even the people of Telo Martius."

Pyroar growled. "Foolish. Even if somehow manage to manipulate the water to perfectly strike down on the city, the sheer magnitude of the floods will crush the outer walls and anyone caught in the waves."

Tadhg nodded in Sid's direction. "Hence why she'll be appointed as captain of the assault."

Squawkabilly…well, squawked in protest. "You're putting this thief in charge?!"

Sid whimpered, but then shot a glare at Rusty. "Hey! Don't use that kind of language in front of the king."

"…" The parrot glared intensely back at Tadhg. "Scratch that, this deranged child in charge?!"

Tadhg smirked. "I've spoken with her teammates, and they can attest to her skill in terrain manipulation. I place my trust in her skills. Ms. Acworth?"

"Oh! Uh…" She stood up in her chair and cleared her throat. "Well, since we're aiming to spare the innocent, I've proposed diverting the water under the city, then creating pathways for the water to be released. The outer wall will be used like a bowl as the water erupts from underground, slowly filling the city with water and eliminating their terrain advantage."

Tadhg grinned. "And since the Foresters are training the squires to maneuver around higher vantage points, we'll be the ones with the terrain advantage."

Carbink glared. "This is completely insane. You're still risking everything on a treaty with Emperor Nero! Do you have any idea what you're exposing us to? If this invasion fails, he's not going to just whittle down our forces anymore. He's going to level everything! No one has successfully invaded Telo Martius and lived! Not even the Algus Kingdom was successful, and they're perhaps made up of the strongest warriors in the east!"

Blackwood finally made his presence known with his deep laughter. "You old geezers really know how to bring the mood down. Playing it safe is what got us into this position. King Tadhg has performed spectacularly in keeping our kingdom afloat in his father's passing. Now that we have a veritable ally in the form of the Foresters, we have another advantage Telo Martius can't prepare for."

Carink growled. "Still—"

"I assure you, gentlemen, I have been overseeing the king's work. I promise that we won't lose this war. Besides, humor us for a moment. What do you suppose will happen if we convince Nero to sign the treaty? Imagine the restoration and advancements on the Umbra Clock Kingdom. With their assistance, we'll be able to rise back to our former glory in the old ages."

"…" The council shared conflicted glares with each other.

Tadhg glared back. "I will not let the Umbra Clock Kingdom fall. Though I will move on with this invasion with or without your permission, I ask for your cooperation regardless as a final service to my father. This is what he fought for before his time came."

"…" Carbink groaned. "All in favor—"

"Aye!" the council exclaimed, if not somewhat begrudgingly.

"Motion carried." He glared at Tadhg. "You better know what you're doing, boy. This is not something we do with ease."

Tadhg bowed his head to them. "I assure you, by the end of the invasion, Emperor Nero will no longer be a threat to us."

"…See to it."

Not a second wasted, Tadhg marched out from the war room and through the halls with Blackwood and Sid hot on his trail. Books and papers floated around Tadhg, his eyes wildly taking in every bit of information he could.

Sid frowned. "Uh, Your Majesty? Maybe you should get some sleep. You've been working awfully hard these last few days."

Blackwood glared. "Kid's right. You won't be in much condition to lead your army if you keep this up."

Tadhg waved them off. "My health is far less important compared to the future. I still have documents and orders to finalize, and I need to make sure supplies have been properly registered into inventory. After that, I'll need to look into the backup procedures during my absence as well as prepping Moira to handle my duties—"

"You're doing the work of fifty men all on your own," the Obstagoon reminded. "A king is only as effective as his subjects. Sound of mind and body."

"I am the one who'll be upholding the principles of my kingdom. I cannot afford to rest when there's still work to finish. Now, if you'll excuse me…" The Meowstic hastened his pace, disappearing around the corner.

Sid stopped and grimaced. "And I thought Jason was the workaholic. Is it wise to leave him like that?"

Blackwood groaned. "He's still mortal. He'll collapse eventually. Let it be Una and Leitis' problem." He crossed his arms. "Still, he is the best choice for leading the kingdom. He's done so much to keep the kingdom afloat even after the developments in the war. Everything he does is purely for the good of his people."

Sid smiled. "Guess that shows how much he cares."

"…" Blackwood hid a devilish smirk. Indeed. And hopefully he'll have time to…consider my offer.

Three Months Prior…

"A way to save the Umbra Clock Kingdom from disaster?" Tadhg asked, never taking his eyes off from his writing desk.

Blackwood loomed over the young king with a cunning grin hanging across his maw. "Think of it as an opportunity of a lifetime. The world can be so cruel, Your Majesty, and it could benefit from your superior genius. After all, so many undesirable factors get in the way of progress, and one such undesirable is differing objectives."

"…" Tadhg narrowed his eyes. "I suppose there's a certain frustration in having another's opinion attempting to overshadow mine."

"Exactly. Just look at your father's council. They're relics of the past, still clambering to traditional beliefs. But you and I see that the world would benefit from development and progress. Though the circumstances are unfortunate, you being made into our king would spark a new generation. We don't need a powerful king to lead us. We need a genius. A prodigy of the new age."

Tadhg subtly glanced over his shoulder. "What is it that you're proposing, Blackwood?"

The Obstagoon's grin grew wide. "I have many powerful connections, and among them is someone who could provide you the means to achieve power beyond your wildest theories. Think of it as an experiment that you and only you would be able to delve into."

The Meowstic smirked. "An untapped well of knowledge?"

"That is one way of looking at it, yes."

He leaned back in his chair, twirling his quill in hand. "And what exactly is this untapped power, Blackwood?"

"Unfortunately, I can't simply just tell you. There are certain…lines one must cross, you understand. I have to know if you're willing to abandon certain decorum to achieve power. After all, no great power comes cheap, and morals can be so fickle."

Tadhg tutted in disappointment. "You dangle a great discovery over my head like a carrot on a stick? Shame. You pry at my weaknesses."

Blackwood snickered. "I assure you, it'll be worth your while. Of course, this has to stay between us. Even your darling wives cannot know about this. They might influence your judgment."

"…" Tadhg closed his eyes. "Give me some time to ponder on your proposal. No decision must be made hastily. I must be absolute in my decision."

Blackwood bowed to him. "I'm sure you'll make the correct choice, Your Majesty. The Umbra Clock Kingdom's future will be set in stone…once we become this region's true master."

No time for rest.

No time for weakness.

After finishing his training routine with the recruits, Jet moved on to his next training session: himself. With his scalchop in hand, he violently slashed into the wooden post set up in the courtyard, striking with non-powered slashes without a break between swings. Slash after slash, his arm flailed like a ribbon in a hurricane.

Jason and Melissa were counting on him to succeed in the invasion. Disappointing either of them was unacceptable. His duty as their righthand wouldn't allow himself to falter in the face of insurmountable odds. No matter the forces that came his way, he would cut down anyone who opposed their goals.

That was the role of a weapon.

"Jet."

The Oshawott didn't look away from the wooden post, only acknowledging the Charmeleon walking up to him. "What?" he growled.

Blitz crossed his arms. "Don't you think you're overdoing it with the training? You hardly take breaks, and you're already pushing yourself training the recruits."

Jet hissed. "This is nothing compared to our training in the ruins. I need to keep my skills sharp."

"A sword doesn't sharpen striking stone recklessly. It only chips the blade."

"Tch. Just means more teeth to rip through the enemy."

Blitz sighed. "You would be the first person among the Foresters to go on the warpath without hesitation. Jason gave all of us permission to kill if we deem it necessary. He doesn't want any of us doing something we're uncomfortable with. I have no issue with such things. I'm blind to the world, and a sniper's job is to make their kills impersonal. But you? You don't even revel in killing. You just deem something in front of you an obstacle to the greater objective."

"…" Jet stop cutting into the post and glared at him. "What are you rambling about?"

"I often worry about the kind of person you would've become had Jason not picked you up all those years ago. He told me you resembled a savage with the way you reacted to everything that moved. You were untamed even after you were brought into our little group." Blitz chuckled. "I'm saying…it's funny how much you've grown."

"…" Jet glared at the ground.

"It was just our small little group at the time. Jason, you, me, Eadwulf, Sadie. Then our little group just kept growing and growing as word of the mysterious swordsman started to spread. Then soon we were gathering people all over the region to join our cause. In all those years, you've become a tamed beast. You were a sword that would only draw blood when Jason commanded you to."

"…" Jet sighed. "I serve no other purpose than to serve my superiors. That is who I am."

Blitz frowned. "It's that kind of thinking that has Jason worrying about you. You're far too dependent on others to order you around. You've admitted a handful of times that you would kill if Jason told you to. Not a shred of guilt because, in your own words, you were just a sword."

Jet groaned. "Where are you going with all of this?"

"…I'm just surprised by how much you've lightened up since Melissa came along."

Jet's eyes widened briefly. He clutched tightly to his scalchop as he placed it back on his chest. "…Have I really?"

"You look at her the same way you do at Jason, but not exactly. There's a softness buried underneath all that gruff. You respect her. I haven't seen anything like that from you since…forever."

"…" Jet finally let go of the breath he was holding. "I don't know how to describe it, but she makes me feel like more than a weapon. Even from the countless times Jason told me off for thinking that way, getting to know Melissa has put things into perspective. I still want to be their weapon, but…"

"Hmm?"

"Do you think I've been holding myself back? Suppressing my potential to serve their will?"

"…" Blitz shrugged. "I'm not the one who decides that. You've always been strong. Do you think you're holding yourself back?"

"…Yes. I do."

Blitz nodded. "Well, I'm sure you'll find your inner strength eventually. Just try not to overdo it with the training. You wouldn't want Jason or Mels worrying over you, right?"

"…" Jet sighed. "I'll train for a half hour and call it a day."

"Good. Take care, buddy." Blitz turned and walked away from the otter as he continued his vicious chopping against the post.

Blitz, however, stopped when he looked back at Jet for a moment. Though he was nearly completely blind, he could still see faint smears of color, and he saw something that caught his attention. However, it was so brief and sudden that he felt as if it was never there. Deciding it must've been nothing, he shrugged it off and continued on his way.

For a second, I could've sworn Jet was glowing.

So much to do.

So little time.

Standing in the epicenter of a whirlwind of papers and books, Tadhg busied himself with the invasion preparations in the sanctuary of his room. Books on moves and their attributes, research notes into enhanced moves, documents related to the war prep, letters from the faraway knights defending the borders requesting provisions; everything fluttered around the young king as his mind raced hundreds of kilometers a second.

He didn't hear the sound of his door opening, nor the sound of his wives and sister entering the room. Moira crossed her flippers and sneered at the dense cyclone of paper. "Yeah, that checks out."

Leitis grimaced. "Tadhg, you haven't slept in four days. Maybe you should take it easy for today."

"Sign, sign, sign, deny, sign—can't take a break now—ah, this move might help with completing my formula—send this to the council—not when we're so close to the invasion—drats, this move might not work out as intended. Reconfiguring original design—but I appreciate your concern—"

Una giggled nervously. "Come on, Tadhg, you've been hogging all the work for yourself. Leitis, Moira, and I can contribute to some of your work. We can't have our fearless king making his rousing speech half-dead, right?"

Tadhg narrowed his eyes. "I can't rest. I uphold the burdens of my people on my shoulders. This is my responsibility…alone," he stuttered through a yawn. The paper cyclone falter, dropping some books onto the floor.

Moira scoffed. "Getting winded, dear brother?"

"Must…keep working…"

"…" She groaned. "Just so you know, you brought this upon yourself." She took a deep breath and stood up on her tail. "Siiiiiiiing~!" Her voice reverberated out through the room with Una and Leitis immediately covering their ears. The sound flowed like water, passing through the paper cyclone and assaulting Tadhg's ears.

His eyes widened. His body began to grow sluggish, his weary mind growing heavy. He lost his concentration, dropping his books and notes onto the floor. He teetered in place before dropping to his knees. "M…Moi…ra?" He collapsed face first into a pile of books.

Moira finished her song and dropped back onto the floor. Una was the first to respond, approaching her unconscious husband and kicking him gently in the side. She heard his soft purring as he snored against his books. "…Oh yeah, he's out cold."

Moira groaned. "Finally. You two, get him to bed."

Leitis reached down and scooped Tadhg into her arms. She smiled at his slumbering expression. "Heh. And I thought I was attracted to his scholarly charm."

Una peeked over the Buizel's shoulder and giggled. "D'aww, he looks so precious while he's sleeping."

Moira rolled her eyes. "Oh yes, a precious little kitten." She shook her head and smirked. "My foolish brother…"

Light peeked through Tadhg's eyes as his mind drifted out of his slumbering state. Wearily, he cracked one eye open, finding himself tucked tightly under his bedsheets. Soft lantern light flickered by his bedside. He could see the moon shimmering out his window.

"…Wha?"

"Oh, you're awake, dear?" Tadhg's eyes widened. He lifted his head a bit and saw his mother sitting in a chair at the foot of the bed. She smiled gently at him. "How do you feel?"

"M…Mother?" He groaned and pushed himself up into a sitting position. "W…What are you doing out of bed? You should be resting."

Mairead smiled sadly. "How could I possibly rest knowing my son has been working himself to death?" She stood up and limped up to his side. "I took the liberty of cleaning your room. I didn't organize everything the way you liked it, so I'm sorry."

Pushing aside the minor bubble of anxiety knowing his books and research weren't arranged properly, Tadhg said, "But you have been ill. You shouldn't be exerting yourself so much."

She giggled softly. "Sound familiar?"

"…" He blushed awkwardly, sinking back under his sheets. "Point made."

"Your father would be proud of how much you've done to keep our kingdom afloat, but please understand that your health is just as important as our people's. You are a brilliant young man, Tadhg, but even you have your limits. You've been pushing yourself harder and harder for this invasion, and I'd hate to see you collapse from the stress."

"…But I have so much work to get done—"

"Moira is handling the documents for provisions and such. Blackwood will be representing you in the council and overseeing your responsibilities until you've recovered." The motherly Meowstic giggled. "And Una and Leitis will be overseeing training progress with the recruits and our guests."

"…"

"Take pride in the people who lend you support, my son. You are strong, and you seek to earn your worth through hard work. For that, I am proud. Now take pride in the people you inspire with your leadership and let them ease the burdens of responsibility for you. You may be a king, but no king can accomplish everything on his own."

"…" Tadhg sighed and pressed his head back into his pillows. "I have been overworking my mind too much. A short respite would suffice."

"Take the entire day off tomorrow. The invasion is still some time away." She leaned down and kissed his cheek. "I know these last several months have been tough times, but the Umbra Clock Kingdom will stand strong through any adversity. We have our pride to keep us going."

"…" Tadhg closed his eyes and smiled. "Thank you, Mother."

She smiled before stepping away from the bed. "I shall have a servant bring a meal up for you, then I'll return to my room. Will you be fine on your own?"

"I will be, yes."

"Always so assured of your answer. Be proud of that self-confidence." She let herself out of the room. With a flick of her wrist, the flames extinguished from the lanterns, plunging the room into darkness. "Sleep well, Tadhg."

"Goodnight, Mother." As soon as the door closed, Tadhg turned onto his side and let his mind drift. I guess I have been working too hard. I just…can't help myself.

2nd Noble Lion Moon, 908 – The Night Before Departure…

There was rarely a time when Tadhg wasn't absorbed into his studies and work. Either he took the time to relax himself in the castle springs or gaze off into the distant sky. Other than that, it was busy work after busy work.

But tonight, he felt strangely devoid of ambition. A rare sight, but he couldn't help standing outside his chamber's balcony and gazing up at the starry night sky. The time to enact their plan against New Chariot was underway. Soon, the Foresters will depart and forge a false alliance with their enemy, luring them into the upcoming invasion. Everything was planned out precisely. No details were spared. No surprises will catch them off guard.

However, Tadhg couldn't shake the…fury bubbling in his chest.

"Tadhg?"

He glanced over his shoulder, half-expecting to see Una or Leitis. Instead, it was the young Buneary thief letting herself into his room. He smiled softly before looking back out at the night sky.

"Harlow. A pleasure."

She walked up to his side and leaned forward onto the balcony. "Can't sleep?"

"My mind never rests. It's always stirring with ideas. I'm quite use to sleepless nights."

Melissa giggled. "Yeah. I've been there before. Those weren't…pleasant times, though."

"The night draws upon our worst fears. We hide in the protective rays of the ever-present sun, then fall prey to the curtain of darkness when at our lowest." Tadhg chuckled. "The mind truly is a frightening place. I take it you're nervous?"

She nodded. "A little. I've had my fair share of big battles, but…never anything like this. I'm anxious."

"Hope you're not planning on turning your back when we're so close."

She closed her eyes and sighed. "I made a promise to everyone that I'd lead them to salvation from this terrible war. I won't abandon them, not when they're placing their hopes and dreams onto me."

"Why are you so determined to protect such intangible concepts? It seems illogical."

She glared. "Because I understand the fear of feeling powerless in a hopeless situation. I nearly succumbed to my own despair when I had to face a cruel reality about myself: the fear of being without purpose. Useless. Unimportant. Forgotten."

"…"

"…" She glanced at him. "I was in a dark place several months ago, and I thought I'd never crawl back out. Actually, even before that, I was questioning why I ever joined the Foresters. The circumstances were awfully selfish. I never imagined becoming…all of this. Someone everyone looks up to." She sighed. "But I've always wanted to do good. I was just blind to how bad the region really got. I'm learning new things about my home every day."

"…" Tadhg gazed back out at the night sky. "A sheltered life. Some would consider you lucky. Unaffected by the stress and despair, living in blissful ignorance."

"Is living in ignorance really any better?"

"I'm sure you can find a few people who would say so. Me? I wish to simply understand everything. I want for knowledge. I crave understanding of the greater world. Every possibility in the palm of my hand to be studied and realized. That is my life's ambition. That is why I research enhanced moves. I want to know how far creatures like us can go."

"That so?"

Tadhg smirked. "Tell me, have you ever wished you were born a different Pokémon? Or have you ever wished you could have any natural ability?"

She raised her brow. "Well, I certainly wouldn't want to be stuck with Klutz—"

"I don't mean your own, I mean ANY ability. Would you wish to have the unbound strength of Huge Power? The limitless freedom of Levitate? The endless endurance of Regenerator?"

She stared at him in surprise. "I…never considered something like that."

"Such possibilities are just a fantasy, but maybe something will come of it in the future." He closed his eyes and sighed. "It's a real curse wanting to understand everything. It makes the limitations of life all the more tragic, knowing there will be discoveries you'll never get to experience. I wish to learn all that I can before my time in this world expires."

She frowned. "That's…quite a sad thought."

"But that is life. I choose how to live mine acknowledging such inevitability, much like how you choose to dedicate your life to helping others."

Melissa smiled softly. "Yeah." She looked out at the night sky. "It's crazy, but I want to unite the whole of Virdis under one banner. A banner of peace and hope. Even if it means I have to do it as the co-leader of a group of thieves…"

"Or as the queen of a kingdom."

Her eyes widened. She shot a startled look at Tadhg, who didn't take his eyes off the sky. She coughed into her fist and awkwardly laughed it off. "Uh, yeah. S-Something like that. Craziest idea I've ever—"

"You can cease the façade, Harlow." He faced her with a cheeky smile. "Or…should I address you as Princess Melissa Penworth?"

"…"

"I'll take your silence as confirmation."

She carefully backed away from him, reaching for her hidden dagger. "W-Where did you h-hear…?"

He raised his hands. "Disarm yourself of suspicion. I'm not your enemy." He chuckled. "No one informed me, nor did I hear anything from your allies. Actually, I had my suspicions on the day you stumbled upon my doorstep."

"Th…That long? What? H-How?"

"You spoke quite differently compared to your allies. You carried yourself with decorum and elegance, and you spoke with confidence despite your timidity. Plus, the suspicion of you being a Buneary who got involved with the kidnapping of a Buneary princess. Granted, that's merely a coincidence. Buneary are a common species in some areas, and I'm sure there are plenty of young ladies who would try to pass themselves off as you, either for recognition or flattery." He narrowed his eyes. "And with your recent recuse, it almost seemed confirmed you were two different people."

"…" She narrowed her eyes. "But…?"

He smiled. "But I am a third party in your drama, thus I can see the full picture without the bias. If you ask me, the entire situation seemed a bit too perfect." He looked out at the night sky. "But why would your allied kingdoms know that? After all, what reason would they have to trust the Foresters? Perhaps they would go that far and hold a princess hostage. No, the moment you started talking about your goals, I could tell you had excellent education, and the way you conduct yourself in your gesturing and table manners speaks of royal etiquette. These are all subconscious habits you still carry. Still, I admit I was only ninety-nine percent sure. Nothing is ever guaranteed."

"…" She glared. "What do you intend to do with this information?"

"That's entirely your call. I can't help learning new things. Information is meant to be shared, not misused for such trivialities as blackmail. What would I gain from holding your secret hostage?"

"…"

Tadhg folded his arms over the balcony railing and rested his head into them. "How long do you plan on keeping this façade up, though?"

"…" Melissa mirrored his pose and stared out over the city. "I don't know. I'm worried about what will happen when the rest of the region discovers who I really am. If I ever intend to take my throne, I…would have to eventually come clean about my actions. And it's undeniable there will be controversy for my affiliation with the Foresters. I've caused so much stress in my absence."

Tadhg sighed. "No good deed isn't without some degree of trouble linked with it. Someone will always take issue with something no matter how minor. Your name holds weight. So long as you hide behind the façade of Skill Hunter Harlow, your name becomes that much more powerful as a weapon of destruction."

"That's what I'm afraid of."

"…But you will still take that risk even if it meant destroying your reputation."

"…Yeah."

He snickered. "You're as greedy as me."

She frowned. "I'm not greedy."

"There's nothing wrong with greed. Everyone wants something. The difference between my greed and the sin? I work to satisfy my greed. It is my own burden, thus it is my curse to satiate."

"Your curse?"

"Greed is a dangerous trait if left unchecked, especially when you can't satisfy its appetite. Have you ever longed for something so badly that you would tear apart the world for it?"

She snorted with a laugh. "I could tell you so many things about my escapades in the time I've been with the Foresters."

"Heh." He lifted his gaze up to the shimmering stars. "I won't tell your secret to anyone, not without your say. We are allies. I never lie, and I mean no deception in our alliance. I want what's best for my kingdom."

She nodded. "Thank you, Tadhg." She smiled. "You know, you're not as bad as I first thought. You're actually very understanding."

"Eh, I do have my moments. I get so caught up in my logic that I tend to ignore my emotional intelligence. Keeping your name secret is just another logical move. Misusing it would just bring me trouble. Conclusion: don't blackmail your allies."

"Heh. Good to know."

"…Still…"

"Hmm?"

"I think you can understand better than most the position I'm in. I had to take the throne so suddenly that I've barely had time to…process everything."

She frowned. "Tadhg?"

"You want to know one of the major pitfalls of bottomless greed is? Especially as the people's king?" He sighed through his nose. "I must not show weakness, for I am a symbol of my people's future. I must not shed tears. I must not collapse. I must never stray from the righteous path. I am their beacon of hope."

Melissa's eyes widened as she saw Tadhg staring up at the sky, eyes shimmering with a clear sadness. No tears, but the pain within them conveyed more than tears ever could.

"You understand?" he whispered. "The pain of knowing the one thing I can never obtain, cursing me to endless longing for my greed? Because until the day I bring honor back onto his name, I mustn't grieve for my father's passing."

"Tadhg…"

"Heh." He covered his face, laughing quietly as he shuddered. "It's a real mess. No matter how hard I try, the one thing I'll be cursed with wanting…is for my father's return."

"…"

"I must look so pathetic right now. A king crying over his father?"

"…" Melissa moved closer and drew the Meowstic into a hug. She felt him tense up briefly before relaxing in her embrace. She rubbed his back gently and whispered, "I am not one of your subjects. I know that pain all too well."

"…"

"Even if it's for a moment now, please…please grieve for him. Don't hold that pain in."

"…" Hesitantly, Tadhg hugged her back and closed his eyes. He sniffled softly, his whole body trembling against her. "Does this pain ever go away?"

"It never fully does. The pain will lessen, but it'll always be there."

"…I don't like this feeling."

"I don't, either."

"…Thank you for your kindness, princess."

"No one should have to suffer in silence."

"…Thank you. Thank you." He sighed shakily, hugging her tighter. He couldn't bring himself to tears, but this was enough. The pain inside wasn't as burdensome anymore. "Thank you. Thank you…"