They stopped by Hoax on the way back. Although Dart was increasingly frustrated with their slow travel, having only made it this far after ten full days on the road, he had to admit that he appreciated the opportunity to see the small town again. It had changed drastically over the past month, slowly edging its way back to a calm city in the middle of the Serdian wild, a convenient stop for hot food and a warm bed on the way to bigger places. The protective wall had been repaired from the damage it had sustained from multiple attacks, and the front gate had been rebuilt, though neither were truly in good condition. Many of the wooden structures designed for lookouts had been torn down, and there was no longer a barracks tent snuggled up against the church.

The most heartening thing that Dart saw, however, was that the little town was no longer silent and tense, but awake and bustling as many people milled about. It helped that King Albert himself had come to visit, heralding news of an end to the Serdian War, carting behind him the very "savior" that had narrowly rescued Hoax from utter destruction some months before. Somehow, every person in Hoax seemed to want a word with both the king and Dart, and although Albert never seemed to tire of such ridiculous demands, Dart quickly found himself wishing for a quiet room with a single bed just for himself.

With only one night to spend in Hoax, Dart got busy that afternoon visiting the few soldiers who had stayed behind after the greater part of the troops had left. Upon hearing the news of the attack on Bale, Kaiser had taken most of the soldiers and left to garner more support, hoping to be able to purge the enemy from the capital, and was now there waiting for King Albert's return. As a result, only a dozen men remained in Hoax to help those few still recovering from their wounds.

A couple hours after arriving in the little town, Dart and Shana made their way together to visit the wounded. Only three were occupying the beds on the second floor of the inn, and only one remembered Dart from before. The others got excited nonetheless, having heard the stories of the great fire dragoon defeating the fearsome giganto. For several hours, they talked with the soldiers, giving very brief and amended versions of what had happened with the dragon and then Hellena Prison and Kazas. Thankfully, they were all so focused on Dart the Dragoon that they didn't bother to ask about Lavitz. They did, however, press Shana about what she could do, and soon enough she was putting on tiny, palm-sized light shows for them before reluctantly garnering enough attention to warrant a display of her healing power. Although her strength was still limited in human form, she healed the lighter wounds the soldiers carried, and was able to speed their recovery by several weeks.

The next day, Albert gathered the few remaining troops in Hoax and had a small ceremony by the graves of the fallen soldiers that lay outside the city. Dart had decided that he hated such formal occasions and loathed the idea of what kinds of things he'd be forced to attend in Bale, but that didn't stop him from standing with the other soldiers reverently, wishing peace to those that had fallen. The bitter realities of the Battle of Hoax were stamped into his mind with utter clarity, and he doubted that he would ever forget these people or what happened here.

By lunch, they were on the road again. As they continued the trek north, they stopped at only a few little towns just off the road, often spending little more than an hour in each one; it was clear that the king was now eager to be home. As a result, they traveled faster, and it was only three days before they reached a landmark signaling their proximity to the city. Off to the east branched a road that led to the cave passage.

All at once, Dart, shrank from what was to come. In a few short hours, they would be walking through the gates of the capital city... Lavitz's home. With a rush of dread and nausea, he looked down and gripped the reins tightly. This city had been the anchor of Lavitz's heart, and now it was going to learn of his permanent absence.

"Dart," said Shana's gentle voice.

He shook his head. "I'm fine."

"I know this isn't going to be easy," she said so quietly that only he could hear. "He's all I think about, too. But we'll make it through."

He answered only with silence, fighting back tears and turning away so she wouldn't see.

All too soon, the city lay sprawled before them. Dart clenched his jaw, and Albert gasped.

"What happened?" breathed the king, gazing mournfully at the scene.

The siege on the city had left its mark. The strong, towering wall had been pocked with black scorch marks and multiple holes. The beautiful stone buildings showed many signs of fire damage, even from this great distance, and many of the lush trees had browning or missing limbs. One or two were completely bare. Dart was almost grateful for the change; somehow, it felt like a different city, and he was able to push his thoughts of Lavitz back just a bit further.

"Your Majesty," said the commander. "I'm deeply sorry for any part that I may have played in this brutality."

"No, my friend," replied King Albert. "What is done, is done. The attack happened, and that cannot be changed. All we can do is look to the future and how we might rebuild from here. All of us across Serdio have suffered; it is not just my city."

Slowly, they approached the city. The last time they'd been here, it had been with Lavitz. Dart remembered how excited he'd been to show them his home and share his life with them. Now, that life was gone.

As soon as they were sighted, a shout echoed from the wall, and then everything happened at once. Five guards rode out to meet them and escorted them to the gates. Innumerable cries lifted over the walls as bells pealed and people flooded out of their houses, eager to see their king, and Dart thought he saw a horse charge away toward the castle. Albert sat just a little straighter, if that were even possible, and grinned widely to see his people.

The next several minutes were a blur as they were surrounded by a throng of people, most of them crying and scrambling to get a glimpse of the returning king. It was impossible to discern all the shouts that came from them, but mostly, they seemed happy to see that he was alive and overjoyed that he had ended the war and saved their city. Dart was intensely grateful for the five guards that had joined them, as they, along with the commander's guards, now formed a protective circle to keep the people at bay.

At last, the crowd thinned, and the people lined up in a more orderly fashion along the sides of the street as they paraded their way toward the castle. Dart was shocked to see that most of the houses were damaged even this far into the city, but when they finally arrived at the castle, it seemed untouched; Albert's knights had done their job well. Indels Castle towered up stately as ever, with its fine, polished stones unmarked.

Lavitz would be happy, thought Dart dismally.

In the castle courtyard, several knights wearing the green of the captains awaited the king in a sophisticated line, all with grins on their faces. Two lines of servants stood on either side of the envoy as they rode forward until the king finally dismounted and hugged each of the captains in turn.

"My friends!" he exclaimed, the others dismounting while servants came to take their horses away to the stables. Dart let Luna go reluctantly, feeling as if the last bit of Lavitz he had with him were walking away. He glanced over to the lance still hanging from Albert's back and swallowed.

"It is so good to be back!" continued Albert, dramatically throwing out his arms in greeting as he raised his voice to address everyone in the courtyard. "Serdio has been through a difficult time, but we are now entering a brighter future, promising a long and lasting peace!" Cheers echoed off the walls of the courtyard. "Let us come together as brothers and sisters and rebuild!" Albert thrust his fist into the air as the crowd erupted once more.

Dart glanced up, and far above him, he could make out the balcony leading out of the throne room. He remembered standing in this very spot when they'd come with Lavitz to inform the king about the dragon. Lavitz had been so urgent in his desire to protect his people and his king.

Soft knuckles brushed his hand, and he turned to Shana, who was eyeing him with concern. Pulling his hand back from hers, he gave the slightest shake of his head before forcing his attention back to Albert, who was still calling out victorious announcements. But Dart's mind wandered. He wasn't sure how long he could stay in this city without Lavitz. It was as if something was eating away at his soul, and soon he would be completely hollow, only an empty shell.

Finally, Albert charged forward into the castle, up several staircases, and into the throne room. Any soldiers or guards who hadn't seen him outside found him on the way, and somehow the king managed to shake every one of their hands and call them each by name. If Dart hadn't been fighting so much with himself, he may have been impressed.

As they came into the throne room, yet another host of people awaited them, among them Minister Noish, who stood beaming next to the throne. Dart recognized him as the man who'd given them information on the Black Monster, and Albert hugged him tightly before turning to address the people once again.

It was strange seeing Albert in his natural environment after so many weeks of traveling with him. Within mere minutes, it was clear that this was where he excelled; stately words came to him naturally, and he held himself with such poise and dignity that Dart's back hurt just watching him. But more than this, Dart was struck by the sheer kindness of the king as he talked with these advisors. Despite having been through an ordeal himself, he stayed focused on the difficulties of his people and the state of the city. His first thought was not a bed and a bath, like Dart's, but rather how to help those around him. As much as Dart hated to admit it, it was obvious that Albert was born to be a benevolent king.

Eventually, enough attention was put on the Great Commander from Kazas and the rest of the party that Albert took several minutes to introduce them all. Dart was slightly startled when the king declared them as the "dragoons that saved the nation," but managed to school his features back into submission after a quick glance to Haschel told him just to go with it. Dart, Haschel, Shana, and Rose were greeted with cheers and applause that didn't feel deserved.

The tension between Dart's shoulders had his entire body crying for relief, and he struggled to relax amidst the bustle and attention as captain after captain and advisor after advisor came forward to shake his hand and thank him for all he'd done for the country. Although he did his best to appear happy and grateful, more than one concerned eye told him that he'd failed. However, he ignored the worried looks from his companions and turned respectfully back to the king as the room quieted down, secretly hoping for a prompt reprieve.

Albert's keen eyes scanned over the group, eyes lingering on Dart, before calling a servant from the corner of the room. A pretty girl only a few years older than Dart stepped forward and curtsied, her eyes flitting over to meet his for a moment as her cheeks flushed. Then focusing on Albert, she awaited his orders.

"Our honored guests are weary from their travels," he announced. "Please show each of them to a room in the castle and ensure that each is as comfortable as possible. We owe these individuals a great deal, and they are our honored guests. Grant them whatever they wish."

"Yes, Your Majesty," the woman said, curtsying. "And may I add, it is very good to have you back, sir."

Albert smiled. "Thank you, Angela. It is very good to be back."

She turned to the ragtag group of travelers and indicated that they follow her as she turned and charged out of the hallway, gesturing to several other servants who fell in line with her on the way. They whispered furiously as Dart and the others followed mindlessly down the halls. Dart was impressed with the warmth that radiated from the walls as they marched past decorative tapestries, many of them depicting great historical moments or the ancient kings of Serdio. One caught his eye: two armies perpetually at war, one side showing people floating in the sky, raining down dark magic, and the other countless dragons led by seven colored warriors with wings.

They came upon another corridor, and the servant named Angela swept to the right, continuing furiously until she stopped abruptly and spun to face them. She announced each of the five doors on the right side of the hallway as their rooms and directed the other servants to escort them. One by one, they filed away until he and Angela were all that remained.

"Right this way, sir," she said, averting her eyes and moving toward the last door in the hallway.

"You can just call me Dart," he mumbled awkwardly. Somehow, it felt wrong to be addressed the same as Lavitz.

Stopping before his door, she glanced back and said with a small smile, "Of course, Mr. Dart."

He shook his head as she pushed the heavy oak door into the room. When he said nothing else, she left and shut the door behind her.

And with that, Dart was alone for the first time since the morning of the final match in Lohan. He glanced around him, listening to the silence press in on him. He took a couple tentative steps forward, his boots thudding loudly on the stone floor.

The room was small and simple, at least for being in a castle, but it was cozy. A sizeable window on the far side of the room bathed him in light, and he could see the northeast edge of the city from his vantage point. Edging toward the window, he scanned over the buildings, following the roads as well as his memory would allow, until he managed to spot the great mansion that was the Slambert home. At that moment, his gut twisted so hard that he thought he might collapse, and he stumbled onto the bed, trying to catch his breath.

This is impossible, he thought. He couldn't stay here. He simply couldn't.

Quickly, he jumped up and slammed the heavy curtains shut, abruptly cutting out the light, forcing his eyes to adjust to the darkness. He summoned a small flame in his hand and glanced around for a lamp or candle. Spotting an oil lamp on the bedside table, he lit it with the flick of his wrist and fell back onto the bed, rubbing his face with shaky hands.

"This isn't fair," he said breathlessly to the empty room. "He wasn't supposed to die. It was supposed to be Albert, or even me, but not..." He drew a shaky breath, felt the tears start to push their way through his eyelids. "Not Lavitz."

Just then a knock sounded on his door, and he jumped, wiping his eyes quickly before rushing to open it. He hoped that it would be Shana, or even Rose, but instead it was only the servant named Angela.

"So sorry to interrupt, sir," she said sweetly. "But His Majesty King Albert has requested your presence at dinner tonight."

"What time?"

"Seven o'clock."

"Okay. Thanks," he muttered, closing the door a little too promptly before flopping once more onto the bed, eyes fixated on the ceiling, mind forcibly blank.

He lay in complete stillness and silence for some hours, all thoughts and feelings forced away from him. Something about the pain that struggled for release was too familiar to him, and he searched for ways to suppress it deeply enough that it would never find its way out. Finally, he realized that it would not happen in the castle; Lavitz had spent so much of his life in this building. Still fully clothed and armored, Dart pushed himself off the bed and toward the door, swinging it open and stepping into the hall. He looked in either direction but saw no movement. He heard nothing. Unsure of where he wanted to go, he turned and started walking.

He'd only gotten three doors down when he heard a noise coming from the door to his left. He paused and tried to make out the sound before silently stepping closer and pressing his ear to the boards. Faintly, from the room inside, he could hear crying – Shana's sobs.

A voice in the back of his mind screamed that he should enter and comfort her, but anxiety of his own grief swallowed that voice, pushing him past the door and farther down the hall. He knew that he was making the wrong decision, and yet his footsteps carried him away, step after step placing more distance between them. Wherever he went, he just wanted it to be far from here.

As he meandered, he eventually found himself somewhere slightly familiar and followed a faint memory until he emerged into the sunlight of the courtyard. Several servants scuttled around to tend to the plants, but Dart walked past them, over the drawbridge, and into the city. Glancing up at the sun, he guessed he had about two hours until sundown – three if he was lucky.

If I come back at dusk, I can still make it to dinner, he mused before scoffing at himself. Dinner with a king and his prim and proper advisors was the last thing Dart wanted right now.

He shook his head and charged forward, delving into the city and following the main road until he reached the city gate. With an awkward nod to the guards, he followed the road up the hill and turned left, plunging into the forest.

At first, he walked with purposed steps, but after half an hour or so, he relaxed into a quiet meander. He wasn't sure what he was here to find. He only hoped that the woods would quiet his mind.

For a time, it worked. Being alone and among the trees took him back to his times in the east, hunting down cold leads about ferocious monsters only to find a dark-colored wolf or an empty cave. Old ghost stories about anything reminiscent of a "black monster" had frustrated him time and time again for five years, until he had effectively given up on his quest. He'd come home, back to Seles, hoping that the reprieve would give him some incentive to begin his quest anew and hunt down the beast that had taken his family from him.

He shook his head. What a journey his new quest had become! It had led to nothing but more pain.

The grief pressed against his mind once more, but he fought back. Abruptly, he plopped to the ground and held his head in his hands. For several moments, he warred with himself until he heard a sizzling sound near him, and he jerked his head up in alarm. All about him, charred, black foliage sizzled in the intense heat that he now realized had emanated from him, and he jumped to his feet and stumbled several feet away, eyes wide as he stared at the burned circle before him.

How could he be so careless? Lavitz would never have done this.

He exhaled.

Could Dart ever hope to be even half the man Lavitz was? He used to think it was possible.

With a cry of anger, Dart lunged at a tree next to him, meeting it with a flaming fist. Pain spread through his hand and up his arm at the impact, and he drew back his bloodied knuckles with a hiss. Still, he found some amount of satisfaction in the black, smoldering scar he'd left behind. Stepping back, he shook his right hand to dispel the pain, flicking drops of blood onto the forest floor, and held his palm out. He summoned an intense flame that sat in his hand, radiating enough heat that Dart could see the air distorted above it.

Now, at last, he could test his limits. With no one else around to worry about, he could finally let loose, and he pushed more energy into the flame, making it hotter and hotter.

For several moments, he stood there, the fire growing ever warmer, until the branches above him started to catch. When at last he was satisfied, he set the flame before him, hovering, growing until it was an all-consuming ball of fire. Focusing on it, he expanded it in all directions, feeling the power flow from his dragoon spirit, lending to him its anger. Soon, the magic had grown to be taller than he was, pressing the limits of what he was able to control. But then all at once, he lost his hold on it.

With a deafening boom, the sphere exploded and threw him several feet backward. Heat washed over his face, arms, and neck, and air rushed past him. A short second later, pain arced through his head and upper back as he slammed into a tree. As he struck the tough bark, stars danced before his eyes, and his vision dimmed. For a moment, he was unable to process his surroundings. But then his vision returned, his breathing heavy as he beheld the scene before him.

At least thirty feet from him lay the epicenter of the explosion. Several trees, including three that Dart guessed were at least a century old, had been destroyed, splinters of wood all around, and there was nothing but ragged and blackened stumps in their places. All the green in a twenty-foot radius had been instantly turned to cinders, and much of the foliage had been vaporized. At the edges, several trees and bushes were being consumed by flames.

He stood, panting, and winced at the ache in the back of his head. Glancing down, he saw multiple sizable splinters piercing his arms and legs, and he could feel several small ones in his face. Rather than trying to pull them all out, he did his best to focus his heat until one by one, they burned away, their ash floating into the breeze.

He took several tentative steps forward, unfazed by the intense heat still radiating from this spot.

Was this what he was capable of? Was this the strength that lay within him?

He held up his right hand, ignoring the multiple lines of blood running down his hand and arms.

Multiple times, he'd experienced the power of a dragoon, but this was something entirely different. In his dragoon form, his power was focused, precise. This power was impulsive and flailing. Raging. Intriguing.

Dart suddenly became aware of the smoke lifting into the sky from the leaves burning around him, and he focused and pushed his mind out until he could feel the tongues of fire. Taking hold of them, he tugged until they swirled toward him, leaving behind the smoldering leaves and wood until they sat before him, waiting for his orders.

He watched them burn for a long moment, eyes becoming lost in the tempest of heat. Perhaps if he'd known about these reserves of power before… the scene atop Hellena Prison might have ended differently.

At the sharp emotion that accompanied this thought, Dart furrowed his brow and shot his arm into the air, pushing the flames above him until they crackled and sizzled and finally exploded thirty feet high.

His hands fell to his sides as he watched the last of the flame disappear. Thoughts of Lavitz pushed at him once again, and he clenched his fists, ignoring the pain in his knuckles before summoning more fire. He stared in fury at the sky as he realized how he could avoid his pain. Flames wreathed about his fist, growing in intensity as he prepared to spread them.

If this was how it had to be, then so it would be.