A Story of Eighteen Years

by Centurious the Azure

A rewrite of A Story of Eighteen Years. "This is a love story. The story of a girl with a broken soul, and the boy who tried to pick up those shattered pieces and put them back together…only to fail in every single way."

10. God Bites Her Tongue

Disclaimer: See Chapter 1

A Story of Eighteen Years (a story of the Eighteen Chronicles: Chorus of Grace and Shadow series)

By Centurious the Azure and Storm Wolf77415

Chapter 9: The Voice of Reason I (God Bites Her Tongue)

A total mess was Ezra's thought as he entered the office with the greatest of hesitation. Truthfully that was putting it mildly. It was crowded with metal filing cabinets, overflowing with papers and bookcases reaching all the way to the ceiling, the shelves sagging under the weight of the multitude of very large, no doubt very heavy books resting on them. All kinds of loose papers were strewn about on the desk and floor. If Ezra didn't know any better he'd say the place was ransacked!

"Sorry for the mess!" A voice called from the other room. "Oh honestly, how did she ever manage to keep all this straight?" The familiar scraping sound was heard as Accord shuffled through in that bizarre way Ezra still didn't quite get. She took a seat behind the desk, sighing in annoyance.

"I'm sorry, but I've had to play catch up with your case. It took me way longer than I would have liked, I didn't want to miss anything. I may be oversimplifying things... It's simply a little intimidating to be assigned as your case worker, considering how big your file is." She gestured to the mountains of paperwork that surrounded them.

Ezra just shrugged, making a dismissive gesture. "Not a big deal to me, I'm not any different from any iteration of myself, if what you and your counterparts have said about this multiverse is true, then there's plenty of other Ezra Kanitzes out there, doing the same thing."

Accord looked dumbstruck at him, shaking her head in fervent disbelief. "You cannot be serious! You really don't have any clue as to just what you've done? What your Rose and Accord have done? All three of you are legends in our circle! You're not just any Ezra, you're the Ezra! The Prime Ezra! The one who finally cut the Gordian Knot that was the endless amount of timelines in Midgard and made it here to the World of Origins! No one else has made it that far!"

"What." Ezra said flat out, his brown eyebrows shot straight up in surprise. He wanted to think Accord was pulling his chain. "Really? All of the infinite possibilities out there and I was the only one who made it here to Terca Lumireis? I find that rather hard to believe."

"Oh, it's true!" Accord affirmed, giving him a serious look to show she was not messing with him. She held up a thick book as if it were proof enough. For all he knew, Accord did indeed have all the proof he needed. The very thought sent his mind through a tailspin of befuddlement at the infinite possibilities. "Millions of Ezras all over infinity and you were the only one. All of the others died when fighting Hawthorne or trying to bring down the Erdtree, others royally screwed up their worlds when they came to power, and the worst simply vanished into the void when being chased by the Wild Hunt during your daring escape from Tir na Lia or when the world collapsed after you killed Leviathan."

Ezra winced at that, knowing he could have died, or majorly screwed up his world if he made a single wrong move. Accord looked genuinely disheartened, her eyes sadly going over all the books and papers until she found a specific form. Accord took off her glasses, beginning to clean them with a handkerchief. She refused to make eye contact with Ezra she did. All she did was mournfully stare at that single sheet of paper as if it were the tombstone of somebody she knew quite intimately. For all he knew, they might have been close to that Ezra in the same way he was with her senior.

"Those are always the worst cases. The ones that go MIA at that stage. The Ezra I was initially assigned to observe disappeared into the ether when he fell off the unicorn while trying to rescue his Ciri. I have no idea where he ended up, and probably never will. As such, you are the unique exception." It became clear to Ezra that maybe he should give the lady a bit more respect. He took a seat across from her, taking up a relaxed pose with his right hand supporting his chin as he leaned forward in interest.

"Okay then, so what you're saying is I'm the most Ezra who has ever Ezraed." He nodded his head strongly as he came to terms with this. A part of him actually found it amusing. He chuckled under his breath. "I'll be sure to brag about that to the others. Fianna will probably get moist at the fact she bagged the Prime Me. Probably throw a huge party for it. To be honest I was a little apprehensive when you called me here. I was hoping for some good news, like finding a replacement Rose or getting a coupon for a free Naaman, but this is decent enough I suppose."

Accord tilted her head, a wry smile spitting on her lips as she placed her glasses back on her face. "Well, I see one thing all Ezras have in common is a clever wit. That's reassuring at least. Although if you really want Rose or Naaman back, I can certainly arrange it! You've certainly earned a little happiness." Ezra was truthfully gobsmacked at the implications.

"Really?" His mouth was agape as he looked at Accord as if she told him she was a god. Truly, he wondered if that were the case at times after all the things he'd seen Accord do during the final battle back home. Not anyone could stand on even terms with an Intoner. "You can snap your fingers and just do that? Isn't that against regulations or time-cop laws? I never understood just what it is your organization is or does. If that's the case," He mused, thoughtfully tapping his index finger against his chin. His eyes lit up at the very implication of seeing his loved ones again. "Then I can think of a veritable laundry list of people I would love to see again! My mother, Lehanna, Delilah, Gale, or maybe even Vesemir. I can imagine the look on Ciri and Geralt's faces then."

Ezra continued rattling off names, and Accord became very pale. Several beads of sweat formed on her brow. She quickly adjusted her glasses, the lenses catching the light even as she tried to hide how flustered she was getting. "Hold on a minute!" She raised a hand for him to hold up. "You don't need to get overly ambitious. While you may have saved existence once already, there is still a lot of work left to do."

"Taking down the Erdtree in Midgard just dealt with the problem there, but the central problem plaguing everything is still out there. The Great Enemy, not the most original thing but it's simple and it works. We wouldn't want to do anything so drastic until you've beaten them. We need you and your comrades to finish what my senior and your Rose started. What started even further back than even what we can account for. We still have you to access your memories of your past lives to get a full understanding of the situation. Speaking of which, I lost a most recent record of some recent accounts."

Ezra grinned playfully, leaning back in the chair and gesturing to her many, many papers in an animated fashion. "You misplaced one of your own records. How very Accord of you. I seem to recall that your sister was quite clumsy with her hot chocolate. Glad to see some things never change." Accord blushed in embarrassment as she pushed a few brown stained papers off the desktop into the mess on the floor with an audible flap on the ground.

"Okay, you're right on the mark…I suppose you were close with my senior if you knew that particular thing." She cleared her throat. "Getting back on track, the missing record?" She shuffled through some of the files. "I believe it has to do with Estelle. Your first meeting I believe it was. Perhaps you'd be willing to recount it for me?"

Ezra sat back up straight in the chair, folding his legs in Indian style. "Ah yes, I do remember that day very well." He smirked a little. "It was quite the impactful meeting."

(Eight Months Ago)

"What a dump!" Felecia exclaimed as we stood in the main hall of our new home. She kicked idly at a fallen timber. "Okay, I think we need to have some words with Accord, she said we were getting a manor house, but this is a trash pit!" It was a major let down to be sure. Once we had crossover from Midgard to Terca Lumireis, Accord had assured us we would have a place to start our new lives.

Phoebe looked around at it, her eyes fixated on the huge hole in the ceiling. She hoped the forecast didn't call for rain that day. We both did. "She did say it would be quite the fixer-upper, but I didn't think she would mean it would be in such a dilapidated condition. Do you think we can call customer service to complain?" At least she tried to be somewhat diplomatic about it. Another of my harem didn't feel the need to be so generous.

At first glance, she seemed like anyone else, unless you counted the fact, that she had ears that resembled a feline, and she had a long tail that was the same aqua color as her hair. Which flicked about in annoyance. I'm sure many guys are jealous of the fact that I have an actual cat girl as one of my wives. "I say we do more than complain about this disaster area!" Ah Shiloh, always so direct and blunt. She glowered through the broken windows out on the open, unmanicured lawn, her ears flattened out like she was a grumpy cat. It was overgrown with tall grass, and weeds I'd never seen before. "I say we sue them, shoot a flaming arrow of litigation straight up her pointy little nose!"

"Yeah, but can we sue someone if we don't know where they live, Shiloh?" Lanca, another of my girls who bore a striking resemblance to Rose. The same silvery-white hair and pink-hued eyes. The two of them could be considered sisters if they were in the same room together, although Lanca was much more refined than Rose, and not a gigantic potty mouth. I always did appreciate her eternal earnestness, it could be overbearing at times. Not to mention she's a bit of a sadist at times. A part of me wondered if her partner in crime Crym was somehow a disciple of Decadus in the ways of masochism.

Another woman, an elven girl with long caramel hair tied up in a princess braid, sighed as her long, elegant ears drooped in disappointment. "So much for a proper, warm bath." She winced at having to sit down on a dusty, hard chair. She crossed her arms, turning her nose up at the entire place. I didn't mind her bratty side when she looked so precious doing it.

"I don't deserve anything less, especially after what we just accomplished." Ah Niamh, one of the strongest women I know, but at the end of the day, she is still an elven princess and needed her comforts.

She loved bathing all the time, I think it has to do with her royal upbringing. The Aen Elle have a very active bathing culture, especially amongst the nobles. Niamh herself was quite the aficionado when it came to bathing. She had a very extensive collection of bath oils, candles, and bubble baths that most elven noblewomen would give the points on their ears for. She made Felecia a convert that's to be sure.

Ronye patted Niamh on the back. "I don't think this place even has running water, let alone hot water, Niamh." Ah Ronye, my junior when we were at the officer's academy. She was always so enthusiastic to learn, and not just swordsmanship either. I still wonder what I did to make her so devoted to me. The only other person who has that kind of loyalty is Raphtalia. Always so quick to offer some kind words to one of her fellow wives, although it didn't do much good here.

Niamh let out a shrill cry. "I haven't had a bath in days! I'm gross, I'm filthy, and I stink! I! Hate! It! We're still covered in all the filth after those last few battles. If I don't immerse myself in some soothing, hot water soon, I'll lose my mind!" Ronye backed away, smiling awkwardly as Niamh's rant continued. Luckily Raphtalia was there to keep Niamh from going any further off the deep end, putting a gentle hand on Niamh's shoulder.

"Niamh, please calm down. You're not the only one who doesn't want to haul around a metric ton of dirt and grime. I'm sure there's a bathhouse nearby and then we can all enjoy ourselves. We just have to make the most of a bad situation. If there's anything we're good at it's turning impossible situations on their head and making them possible. This house is no different. It will feel that much more like home because we made it that way with our own two hands." It was then a shadow rose up from behind Raphtalia, and a hand ran along the length of that furry tail.

Raphtalia squealed with the timbre of a dying rabbit as Fianna leered, squeezing her tail. The sounds coming from her mouth were quite suggestive if the way her face was turning red was any indication. "F-Fianna! Stop that right now!" She desperately tried to wrest her tail free from our resident horndog bard's grasp, but it just made Fianna more persistent as she pulled Raphtalia closer to her, stroking her tail the whole time. Everyone else just looked on with displeasure at how Raphtalia's tail was being manhandled. "Please stop, Fianna!" Raphtalia said, alternating between making weird noises and begging for Fianna to stop. "Ezra, help me!"

I hate to admit it, but I was enjoying the sight a little too much to intervene. Fianna couldn't keep the smile off her face if she tried, going from ear to ear. She nuzzled her face. "Oh, my sweet little Tali! So strong and so resolute! You're such a bright light in our lives, it makes me want to cry! It's either that, or pet my beloved Tali to ease my worries. So, I choose to be happy for all our sakes." As colossal of a perv she is, Fianna does her job well in keeping our spirits high, helps a lot when she's in her performance costume!

"Fianna!" A familiar voice caused the bard to freeze, and Noa stomped down the steps, giving her old-time partner and friend an all-too-familiar glare. "Unhand. The. Raccoon. Girl. Now!" Fianna let go so fast you'd think Raphtalia's tail was greased. She ran and hid behind me. "How can you do something like that in front of Mikhail? Honestly, I've accepted your perversion as just being part of you, but that's taking it way too far!" Damn, Noa really was mad, the veins in her neck were really throbby. Still, it was sweet she was concerned about preserving Mikhail's innocence like that. She was always tough but fair with him.

Standing off to the side, was a young woman with deep blue hair, her garb was tropical in nature, and very revealing. A statuesque beauty that stood over even Niamh and Noa, and they're amongst the tallest girls in the group. "It's nice you're trying to shield the kid, but I think it's kind of a moot point, Noa. He's still coming to terms with his humanity." Dinae, our resident oracle, put a hand on her hip and looked to where Mikhail was standing, looking down at his small, child hands. He flexed his fingers. 'Oh, so that's how it works!" It was adorable to see how his eyes lit up.

Furiae certainly thought so as well. Our resident cleric had become as good as a mother figure to him. She ran her hands through his hair, luxuriating at how soft it was. "I'll admit this is a lot to adjust to, but on the other hand you're just so beautiful now, Mikhail!" She cooed, picking him up in a huge hug. "Oh, I can't handle just how cute you are now!" Now if I was a small child again, then that would be my heaven, but Mikhail isn't me. He kicked his legs about in fear before Furiae put him down.

"I liked being big more, Furiae. I miss my wings and I miss flying. Walking all the time hurts my feet." He whined, to which Furiae picked him again. "Ah! Put me down, Furiae!"

"Aw, that's okay! You can fly all you want if you ask!" She swept him into a huge hug, and planted a gentle kiss on his forehead, lucky kid. Mikhail really did have a way of bringing out everyone's maternal side. All of the girls doted on him in their way.

Kyana got in on the action, giving her own affectionate kiss on Mikhail's forehead. "You'll still be our big, dragon-hearted chicken, Mik. It doesn't matter if you're a baby dragon, or a ten-year-old human boy. We just want you to be yourself." It was then she looked to me, her expression changing from that of a kind smile to cool seriousness. The shift from warmth to pure steel was always a beautiful thing to see. "That being said, it doesn't address our initial problem. What are we going to do to fix this place up, Ezra? I know Accord gave us a generous sum of the local money to help us get started, but I doubt it will be enough to cover all the expenses."

I did the math, and let me tell you it made me sweat. I almost wished I was slower at math because ignorance was bliss.

"Uh, maybe we have should raided the imperial treasury before we left?" I weakly offered, only to get several frustrated groans.

"And get covered in more ash, no thank you!" Felecia sounded in, shaking her head vigorously. "Besides I'm sure Niamh would complain even more if her precious, majestic hair got any dirtier than it already is." She leveled a gaze at the longer-haired girls in the harem, frowning deeply. "Seriously, I have got to question how some of you still wear your hair as long as it is, given what we've all been through. Seriously, I can't stand taking care of long hair, and I can only imagine what it's like when it's coming down to your ankles!"

Niamh clicked her tongue, not liking the way Felecia gazed at her as she said that. "That's why I cut it immediately after we left Tir na Lia! Oberon and Eredin forced me to keep it that long. They were both creeps at the end of the day. Besides," Niamh muttered under her breath, self-consciously twirling her caramel locks between her lithe fingers. "It's not my fault it grows out so quickly."

Niamh was actually right. Pure-blooded high elves like Niamh grew at an accelerated rate from a young age. That included their hair, and fingernails. Like the younger Intoner sisters, she had to put a lot of effort into maintaining her appearance. We all helped her in any way we could now that she lacked servants to cater to her every whim. Even I had given her a haircut once. Not that she was happy with the results.

That accelerated growth didn't stop until they had gotten older. Way older. Maybe a few hundred years into their eternally youthful lives. Niamh, in comparison, was merely eighteen years old now. She was a child, almost a toddler, by olden elvish cultural standards. And a legal adult by human ones. Quite the interesting dichotomy, right?

I sharply clapped my hands together, knowing that if I didn't do something then it would just lead to another round of bickering. Everyone's attention focused upon me immediately. Quickly forgetting what Felecia had said. It was honestly too late for all that. The sun dipped in the sky, and it was now late evening. We hadn't even gotten settled in yet at all due to all our bellyaching. "Focus people! We have a long to-do list. But for now, we should all focus on getting some sleep. We're all still coming down from that climatic fight. It was literally just a few days ago." I got very quiet as I looked at Lanca, it made me think of Rose immediately. A deep, icy sadness balled in my heart. Lanca could sense my feelings and gave me a gentle smile.

"You're right, Ezra." She said agreeably, her sweet rose-colored gaze sweeping over the group tenderly. "We're all tired. Some sleep would all do us a world of good. We get some rest, and then we'll attack this problem in the morning." She smirked in a way that was very Rose as she gently tugged at Shiloh's long green coat. "I'm certain our resident kitty cat would love to curl up in someone's lap right now and get purring." The catgirl yawned into her hand, before stretching out in a way that only a feline could do. It was a reminder that despite being part human, there was something so fluid and cat-like in Shiloh's every moment.

"I suppose you make a good point, Lanca. It's just beginning to hit me how high-strung I've been. Even after we destroyed that oversized weed, I was always on the lookout for something. I can't really explain it," Shiloh shook her head, grasping worriedly at her fluffy tail, and playing with the tip of it. Something our catgirl did whenever she was truly anxious. Despite its cuteness, I knew it was serious business when she did that. "Every instinct tells me that this fight isn't done yet. I know this isn't our world, but there's this great danger lurking in the shadows. I just feel it and I can't explain why." None of my girls are vapid twits. But Shiloh always was the sharpest, reading between the lines and seeing things even I couldn't see.

Fianna sidled up to me, throwing her arms around my neck as she winked at me. "I don't care if this place is as crappy as that little shack Rose was hiding in. I wouldn't turn down an opportunity to cuddle with you and the other girls, Ezra. It's simply not in my nature to turn down such creature comforts." Considering how little there was in the house, to begin with, creature comforts weren't exactly a major issue. Needless to say, it was a simple matter of finding the largest room that could hold all of us, and spread out our blankets and bedrolls. We all crashed into a huge cuddle puddle on the floor. No simple bedrolls could hold us when we needed affection, and warmth.

(Heart of the Erdtree)

It didn't seem possible, but we had done it! First Radagon, then the Elden Beast itself. We had overcome every challenge thrown in front of us and prevailed in our mission. I didn't feel any kind of joy or satisfaction as the manifestation of the Elden Ring itself faded into a sea of golden stardust. The vast ocean of golden trees that had surrounded us during the battle vanished, and an eerie gray fog rolled in around us.

That's when we saw it, the outline of a headless figure. Rose came up beside me, her expression grim. It pained me to see the cursed flower growing up out of her eye like that. Those two eyes together were more precious to me than any flower in the whole of Midgard. She just gave me a slight nod, taking hold of my hand. The two of us approached the figure. A battered, cracked statue of a topless woman on her knees wearing simply a long flowing skirt. It was missing half of its torso. I saw the head lying on the ground near its feet. I looked her in the eye, and she just gave me a slight smile to me. Both of us were beyond words at this point.

The end had come, and Rose knew her duty as a Maiden of the Ring. She picked up the cracked head and we both took a long look at it. The withered crumbling face of a woman was half obscured by stringy, greasy blonde hair was displayed with her single eye closed. Half of its visage was completely gone. Lost to the unforgiving flow of time itself. It was hard to believe that this was a depiction, or perhaps the remains, of a divine ruler of an age long past. I didn't know, and perhaps I would never indeed find out the truth.

"The old lady is quite the looker huh?" She remarked dryly, touching the face with uncharacteristic gentleness. "I wonder if she looked in a mirror would it crack?" Ah, one last cutting joke before climbing the gallows. With that, Rose took the head of the statue and put it back on her body. At that moment, she seemed totally at peace with herself.

She closed her eye for a long moment, pausing to gather herself. Then, that wonderfully pink orb opened. Shining with determination. That's how strong my Rose was. Enduring until the last.

"Ezra, thank you. It's stupid to say this, but I think I-" She didn't finish that statement as she found herself staring at a hand jutting from the bloody hole in her chest. My eyes widened in horror as a maniacal cackling rang through the air. I reached out for her, only for a stony, cracked hand to suddenly grasp me by the neck. I found myself raised into the air, by about eight feet.

"Rose…" I rasped, trying to reach out for her. Only for the hand to tighten around my throat, robbing me of my ability to speak. I saw everyone there, the girls all screaming as I tried to reach out for them, any of them. They were frozen in a tableau of sheer terror just as I was. The statue had come to life before our eyes, and I was looking at the statue lady dead in her half-cracked face. Thin, stony lips twisted in a sinister leer, revealing teeth as sharp as crystal knives.

"NoW nOW, YoU DiDN't BeLIeVe ThIs wAZ DoNe…dId yOU soN?!" That voice was Gehenna itself! Her eyes were boiling gold, bearing nothing but malice and cruelty. Within the gilded maelstrom, I could see flashes of the people I had known, a girl with meticulously cut blonde hair and a ruby gaze sharp enough to cut down even me, a girl with short blue hair and a cheerful smile, a girl with long dark purple hair and an apathetic gaze, a girl with brown hair in twin tails her expression longing for the thing missing in her heart, and a girl with a thick mane of blonde hair and lustful expression for every earthly pleasure and thing all flashed for the barest fraction of a second.

She kept speaking in the same distorted, harsh tongue. Something I knew all too well. I saw Rose clenched in her other hand. My heart was ripped asunder as her body turned ashen grey, and the girl I had loved so much crumbled to dust on the wind. This monster's face began to change, rippling a giant grey puddle of mud. A familiar face was staring back at me, those pink eyes so familiar, but now so evil. "iT WIlL NEvEr bE OvEr, LOve, noT UNtIl YoU NoRiSh mE. UtIl ALL NorIsH mE. YoU WilL bE tHe LasT. iT's siMPly A mOtHeR's jOb tO PrEsErVe hEr ChILd."

It wasn't enough for this monster to take Rose's face, she had to use Rose's voice, or at least a horrid mockery of it! There was pressure on my neck, and a sickening crack. I collapsed to the dusty ground, alive but unable to move. I could hear Felecia and Phoebe both crying my name, but I was unable to see them. The creature's face rippled again and now she resembled my mother. It was whole this time, perfect even! Too perfect. This was the uncanny valley, and I was the newest denizen!

We were all at this thing's mercy, I wasn't sure what it was, alien, demonic, straight-up eldritch, it didn't matter. I couldn't manage a single word, much less scream. I couldn't feel my damn face in that moment. I was helpless and all that remained was silence as the mockery of my mother loomed over me, and its face contorted one last time.

Splitting down the middle and cracking open into a thing that was beyond all human comprehension. A marriage of stone and flesh opening into a void blacker than black. It let out a shrill call, a horrible song that signaled our death knell. I could hear Felecia's scream and then all went silent.

I catapulted from the floor, my mouth dry as I tried to scream or something. Frantically I looked around, trying to make sense of my surroundings. I then found myself staring into a pair of pink eyes. My heart seized for a minute, remembering what had just happened when a hand touched my face. Despite all the sword swinging she'd done on my behalf; those fingertips were still baby soft. "Ezra, are you okay?" The soft, warmth-filled tone of the voice helped my brain reset and I remembered. We were in the manor house, and everyone around me was safe and sound. Thank God.

Lanca regarded me with concern shining in her pink eyes. Even in the moonlight, they shone like gems. "It happened again, didn't it? You thought I was her." Let's face it, given how similar she and Rose looked to each other, it would be easy to confuse them in a waking moment. Even with my enhanced senses, it's easy to be confused. She pulled me close to her, gently rubbing my back to help me calm down.

"I'm sorry," I said in a hoarse whisper, my mouth still completely dry. I could have gone for an ale. Anything to dull my senses. I was feeling extremely awful I had screwed up. Again. "It's not fair to you that this always happens."

I wasn't able to get any further before she put her finger on my lips. "Oh hush, don't even start with me. Be quiet and get some sleep before you wake up the others. We've got enough drama as is." Lanca's smile could be so disarming, but it was exactly what I needed at that moment. I didn't deserve her forgiving smile. Still, I had her in my corner despite it all. Calming myself, I settled down into her embrace, and slowly I fell back asleep.

(Later That Day)

Lanca and I decided not to tell anyone about last night's episode. I knew they'd just fret over me more than they already did. And we had more pressing matters to deal with any way other than my constantly flaring mental trauma. Now, all rested, we sat in what was apparently the dining room, at least that's what Phoebe and Noa determined. "Okay folks, I think our first order of business is to do some shopping," Felecia started, making an animated gesture. "We have no water, food, or general supplies at all. As dumpy as this place is, we need to focus on the basics first."

"That's a good idea, I want us to be squared away before I start looking for a professional contractor so we can get a consultation on just what exactly needs to be done to get this place in decent order." I took note of the multitude of cobwebs in all four corners of the ceiling, recalling Mom viciously attacking such things with a broom. What I would give to see her doing that again here, and now. "Besides which, by going shopping we can explore the city. If this place is going to be our new home, it will help to familiarize ourselves with it as much as possible."

"Oh, Ezra that is so cute!" Fianna cooed giving some light applause. She granted me a playfully mocking grin. "You're treating this like another mission. Did you forget this was supposed to be our retirement from all that fighting? Can't we just relax for once?"

"It is a serious matter to consider." I retorted stoically. I kept my wits about me, knowing Fianna was just teasing me to get a rise out of me.

"Uh, excuse me for a minute," Dinae spoke, looking around the dining hall, and becoming frantic as she stepped out into what should have been the foyer. She returned just as fast, sweeping a questioning if worried look all around us. "Did anyone see Leilani at all last night? I mean the girl's so quiet all the time, I didn't even think of taking a headcount for her." It took all of five seconds for us to come to the horrifying realization.

Phoebe gasped in disbelief; tears began forming in her eyes. "Don't tell me that we…"

Felecia finished the statement for her, about ready to cry herself. Tears of concern stung her eyes, "…Left her behind in Midgard!"

It was then a knocking came at the door. I sprinted and opened it up only to be met by a red blur that sent me sprawling to the ground. I found myself staring into a pair of wet green eyes, framed by shoulder-length black hair. "WAAAAA! You left there! I woke up and you guys were all gone!" Leilani, the last member of my harem, bawled her eyes out, her legs wrapped around my waist as she straddled me. "I can't believe you left MEEEEE!" I began rubbing her back and stroking her hair. I knew when we went shopping, I would definitely have to get some plushies in order to soothe her.

Leilani came from a nomadic tribe in Eastern Midgard called the Attans. A band of ferocious warriors where strength meant everything. However, Leilani was the exception to the rule. She was very shy and had a gentle demeanor, preferring to care for the horses and fishing. She preferred to play support with her shamanic style magics, providing buffs and debuffs as needed with her special staff, made from a deer's antler. She could also toss magically charged rocks with her sling. Despite not liking fighting, she was a dead shot with them.

Accord exhaled, folding her arms. "The poor thing was so despondent when I found her. I can't believe you forgot about her. So, here's your little sheep all safe and sound. Try to keep better track of her this time?"

"That's my fault." Furiae let out a guilty whimper, she was Leilani's minder and closest friend. Our resident cleric had taken the poor girl in after her partner, Lehanna, had died in battle. "I'm sorry, Lei. I got preoccupied with Mikhail being human. I mean, look at him! He's just cute!" Leilani just stuck her tongue out at Furiae blowing a raspberry, and she sighed dramatically in response, knowing there was talking to the younger girl when she got like that. It was then Leilani finally got off me and took in the general condition of our new abode.

"Wait a minute! Don't tell me you guys were attacked while I was gone!" She let out a loud whine that made everyone wince, she protectively hugged herself. The anxiousness in her body showed on her face as she shuddered. She looked left, and right, checking every dusty corner she could find for enemies. "Oh great! Those guys are here too! You know I don't do well with assassin cults, demons, eldritch abominations, or blood magic!" She was starting to get hysterical. Furiae walked over to give the younger girl a big hug. I didn't blame her since we were all under a ton of stress until very recently. It made my PTSD burst up at times. I was simply better at hiding it than others.

Unlike me, Leilani was innately a gentle soul. She didn't get on well with all the violence, and death like the rest of us did. I suppose that's also part of why I fought to protect her so from the slings, and arrows of Midgard in days past.

"You can relax, Lei. Don't be Burnie." Furiae gently stroked her hair, letting her lustrous black hair glide between her fingers. Those same fingers were also a bulwark against the world for me at my worst when she'd stroke my hair. "All of that is behind us now." She wiped away some of the tears gathering in the corners of Leilani's eyes. "We left all those terrible things back in Midgard. They can't get us ever again." This placated Leilani, and she returned Furiae's hug eagerly, a happy smile forming on her face. She then went over to Mikhail and give him a hug as well. Finally, our little group was complete, and we could look ahead to a brighter future.

"I'm pretty sure we don't need to worry about any of those guys anyway." Kyana cut in, giving Leilani a little pat on the shoulder. "Considering we did pull off a systematic culling of any group that was dedicated to that kind of nonsense. It was pretty cathartic if I do say so myself." Everyone looked at Kyana in disbelief. She just shrugged languidly in spite of the others. "Hey, I'm just calling a spade a spade guys. No point in hiding it."

Felecia shook her head, cheekily cutting in. "I think you got way too buddy-buddy with Rose at the end. That's something she'd say." Her cousin just gave a sassy smile back.

"I know things don't look all that great Leilani. But the house is just a little run down." Phoebe said, patting Leilani affectionately on the head. "We were going out to get some supplies and start to fix the place up. So, you came in at just the right time."

"Calling this place rundown is being generous, Phoebe. You have a gift for understatements." Shiloh snorted, before directing her sharp-eyed gaze to Accord. Oh boy, here come the complaints. It should be moderately amusing to watch at least. "What's the big deal here? Why is this place such a junk heap? I've liberated slave camps that were more luxurious than this place."

Niamh was next in line, stepping up to the automaton. "It doesn't have any hot water or even running water! How am I supposed to get a proper bath?" She flipped her long caramel tresses over her shoulder in a spectacular fashion. It was a princess's prime power move meant to display dominance. "You've done a lot for us Accord. I don't hold anything against you. I wasn't expecting the Glitterstone Palace in Tir na Lia, but this is simply beyond the pale. We should have something better than, this!" She indicated the dust-covered, cobweb-filled walls and ceilings with a raising of two of her genteelly manicured fingers.

Likely Lanca's handiwork, I should know since she practiced on yours truly. Hey, don't give me that look. Even I like to be pampered like royalty every once in a while.

Felecia wasn't about to be left out of this either as she stomped up to the plate. I started to feel bad for Accord despite the crap shack she'd saddled us with.

"Yeah, I thought you said we saved the universe back in Midgard," Felecia added spitefully, folding her arms as she stared fiercely at Accord. If she wasn't made of tough stuff, literally, I believe Accord would have been shattered into a thousand million little pieces on the spot. "I mean, the way you put it made it seem like we liberated the entire kit and caboodle from the tyranny of that eldritch weed. Don't you think your saviors should be treated a little more saviorly? It's just what I'm thinking that is." Accord put her hands up defensively, doing her best to placate the three angry women.

"Hey, give me a break! It took a ton of finesse on my part to get your dear hubby's position around here secured. I had to bribe a whole lot of officials to have him consecrated as a duke! That's right a duke! Your man here is assuming the identity of a dead person. This entire family has been gone for the better part of a decade. They were all killed off during a great war with a bunch of talking monsters or something like that. We only recently set up shop here, so the details are a little hazy. The first Ezra who got here was first come, first serve. And since you guys were ahead of schedule, I hadn't had time to secure the funds to fix this dump up."

"You could have left a note to explain that," Ronye suggested helpfully.

Accord made a careless shrug. "Truthfully this isn't even my department. I'm not your assigned Accord. I'm model number 2257. I'm the sassy one with a thick city girl accent and a tough girl attitude." Funny she mentioned an accent, I couldn't tell. "Your Accord." There was a deafening crash outside, and she winced visibly. "Just arrived. Model number 3356, the klutz, and the younger sister of model 3355. Our hero and the patron saint of weed pulling." We all filed out of the house to find a second Accord face planted in the ground.

Her metal suitcase was wide open. Books and other belongings were scattered all over the ratty-looking yard. Personally, I believe it made the place look way better. The shattered remains of a garden gnome lying around her. Dinae sighed mournfully. "Oh great, the gnome was one of the few things that made this place halfway decent to look at."

"Uh, I get we need a replacement Accord, but does it have to be her?" Raphtalia asked, watching as she struggled to her feet. She began picking up all of her belongings. A part of her felt sorry for the girl. "I really don't think she has it all together."

"Yeah, why can't you be our Accord?" Shiloh asked 2257, obviously she preferred straightforward tough girl to hopeless clutz.

"I'm flattered you'd ask, but I'm hunter type. My specialty is searching and destroying. I'm very good at the former, it's why the brass put me in charge of hunting down Leilani and bringing her here to you guys. 3356 is a Poindexter model like 3355. They're made for non-combat-oriented roles." She paused for a moment, staring wistfully into the sky. The dawn was a nice shade of orange-red. It was nice to see even such beauty carried into another world I was foreign to. "But I suppose that didn't stop 3355 from stepping up when she needed to. Humanity bless her, that girl was all heart. It's why she went out of her way to pull you guys out of the fire when you needed it."

I gave her a slight nod, replying with all the sincerity I could muster. After the sacrifice of our 3355, I pledged I would never forget what she did. "We all remember her sacrifice very well, given it was just a few days ago. None of us will ever let that fade away."

"Thank you all." Accord 2257 gave us a deep lingering bow. Something I felt a little awkward over, it was the least I could do for someone who gave their all for us. It was only right to keep her memory in my heart forever. It helps me remember to be grateful even for the smallest things. "She may have violated the rules, but it saved the day when needed. So maybe you can do me a favor and honor her memory by taking care of her dork sister." 2257 eyed 3356, still cleaning up all of her belongings and putting them back into her overly large suitcase. So many books, and gizmos I didn't recognize. How many of them were weapons? "She has some big shoes to fill, just give her time."

I then went over to Accord 3356, and started picking up the various objects still on the ground. She looked at me in surprise. "W-what are you doing?" She stammered, sounding all embarrassed, even as the other girls got in on the action. It was kind of cute. "You don't need to do this! You all don't need to lower yourselves to help the likes of me!"

"Oh, give it a rest!" I snorted, telling her straight out. "I'm not going to let a girl, let alone one who's an automaton, down when she's in trouble." This brought out a chorus of groans from the other girls.

"That's literally the story of his life." Felecia pointed out frankly, giving me a smack on the arm. I sheepishly grinned in response. I wasn't too hurt even though it should have been critical damage. I have max defense buffs on at all times so don't worry too much. "Don't take anything he says or does too seriously. He does this kind of thing without thinking."

"I know that!" 3356 insisted, even as she took some books from Furiae. Furiae gave her an incredulous look. Surely, they knew more about me than Accord. It wasn't a competition, though. There is always enough to go around between all of you ladies. That's why I always try to be judicious with all the slices of little old me. "I've studied all my senior's notes on your case! I know everything about him!"

Fianna giggled, admiring some of her outfit. Putting on a silly grin as she felt the material of Accord's outfit. Trust me, I know her moves. That's what Fianna did when attempting to put the moves on me. "Everything you say? Did you know he has a cute mole on his left butt cheek?" 3356 seemed to consider this for a moment, before readjusting her glasses.

"I didn't know that…" Accord 3356 thoughtfully hummed, her eyes lighting up with curiosity. "I'll just need to redouble my efforts then! Surely there are some things I've missed. If it's too much trouble to ask, Ezra, will you drop your pants so I can see to confirm this statement?" Accord 2257 groaned, shaking her head, before chopping 3356 upside the head.

To which she let out a cute ouch, I had no idea robots could feel pain. I thought it intriguing, honestly.

"Can't you see the humans are messing with you, dork?!" She glared daggers at Fianna. There was still an edge of warning to her voice despite her respectful use of titles. "Please don't confuse her too much, Lady Bard. She takes things quite literally."

"Fianna does that all the time to me as well. You shouldn't feel bad about it." Leilani said to 3356, who had finally collected all of her items and packed up her suitcase. She regarded the Attan girl for a few minutes, curiously studying her as if trying to mathematically trying to quantify the expression of compassion.

"Are you fresh out of the box like me?" 3356 naively asked after the slight pause, blinking.

"I don't get it," Leilani didn't comprehend, shaking her head. Fianna suddenly sank to her knees, laughing shrilly. "What's so funny, Fianna?" She snapped, scowling at the redhead. Even if she was on the shy side, it didn't mean she couldn't get angry when she had to. One of the reasons I fell for her.

"She's implying that you were both born yesterday!" Fianna managed between her cackles. Leilani pouted at her. Only for 3356 to pat Leilani on the head, eliciting a slight blush from her.

"Then it just means we're both works in progress." 3356 offered quietly. Leilani was taken aback; her green eyes grew as big as saucers. Someone actually understood it!

"Furiae tells me that all the time as well!" Leilani raised her hands in victory, calling out to her close friend. "You hear that, Furiae? She's trying her best, just like you and me."

The cleric softly smiled, folding her hands as if to thank the gods for the small blessing. I imagine Furiae was simply glad that one of us had already started forging connections with our new case worker. It was quite rare for our Leilani to make friends outside of our circle.

Shiloh rolled her eyes, muttering sardonically. Still, there was a glint of fondness in her neon blue eyes. "A work in progress is right. Everyone in this group is a bunch of weirdoes." This got her a dig in the side courtesy of Lanca's elbow.

"Don't be mean, Shiloh. It's actually kind of cute when you think about it." She chided lightly, hiding her tiny giggle behind her hand. Our very own Grimalkin Girl chuckled in delight at it in response. It was all in good fun.

Accord 3356 stood up, all of her belongings back in place. She looked to Accord 2257, the latter giving her sister a gentle pat on the shoulder and a smile of reassurance. Despite whatever flaws they both possessed, they were still family and looked out for each other.

"Now that you have your last lover present. I've accomplished my mission. Which means I'm heading on to my next assignment." 2257 hoisted her own suitcase. "You're in good hands with my sister here. So, I'll say my goodbyes." She was about to leave when I stopped her.

"Hold on a minute. If things are really over, then why do we still an Accord around? Where will we be able to find you if things do go bad?" I had wondered a lot about this whole mess, and why they felt the need to hang out if we weren't in danger. 2257 just gave me that familiar, half smile every Accord I had ever met did so well. It was kind of cute, but also really annoying. I find such ambiguousness to be annoying even if they are my allies.

"We'll be around, we're always around. It's just like how it was back in Midgard. If there's something we really need, we'll contact you. Odds are we may never need your services again." Sternness coloring her expression now, the inward steel of her being glinted in her dark eyes. "I will say this much though. You need to keep Mikhail safe from harm. He's way more important than just being a simple dragon now. We'll put in the effort with you guys to make sure the kid's kept in the clear. He's just that important to the shape of the universe."

With that, 2257 strutted off down our fractured, neglected pathway. She watchfully looked over her shoulder at us as her sister lingered before our group.

Our attention fell on 3356, her hands folded in front of her as that large unwieldy suitcase's sturdy-looking handle hung between her fingers. "She's really not wrong. Nothing has changed, aside from the world. Our roles never really change because we were built and programmed to be hypervigilant. We're all hardwired to keep watch for any potential threats that may doom all of reality, but enjoy yourselves and work on turning your house into a home. While I'll probably keep on wandering around Terca Lumireis. I'm going to see about setting up an office here in the capital so I have a place where we can meet if it's required." Our new Accord gifted up one final proper bow and it was her turn to shuffle away as she joined her sister on the path onto the wider road.

I considered their words for several moments. There were so many questions lingering in my mind. So many unknown variables about this brave new world. Even the info I had been given on this world of Terca Lumireis was minimal. I knew nothing of the goings on of this place. The factions and their accompanying politics came to mind first, and foremost. The unending plight of others. Such things became my concern over time. Revenge became less of my motivation over time. It just looked so petty to me when others suffered around me so.

I was a duke now so there would be a certain expectation for me to join in on it all. Which made me sick to my stomach to ponder. Politics, and their fallout were always things that left a bad taste in my mouth. I thought of simpler times when it didn't matter to me. When all that mattered was the swing of my swords, and a cast of my pyromancy at the right times.

How facing my foes made me feel alive. From the lowest monster to the highest, most fearsome god-like warriors in all of Midgard, it gave me such a thrill. It sent shivers of pleasure down my spine every time I came out on top after I had nearly lost my life.

That was then, and this was now, though. Sometimes, I thought helping others was an excuse to get my jollies. I discovered I did, in fact, give a crap over time. That satisfying my righteous anger wasn't the only thing I felt filled my heart.

So, I wondered, could I stand aside? Could I rest even though I deserved a stable, drama-free life after all the crapola I had put up with my whole eighteen years of living? There might not have been any insane fanatical cults bent on fulfilling the twisted ends of their unknowable eldritch masters in this world. There was always inequality. Suffering afoot. As well as greedy fucks who didn't give a snuff who they stepped upon as long as they got theirs.

Now that accomplished all I had set out to do at home, what was there to be done in Terca Lumireis? The World of Origins, as Accord had called it. I had said that I wanted to fix our new place up for everyone. They deserved something more than a life of endless violence, and bloodshed. Maybe it was selfish of me, but part of me still wanted the strife. Because it was all had known for my whole life.

How could I accept settling down, and starting a family with these girls when I didn't know how the hell to do it? What would I teach our children? What would I teach Mikhail? Would they be like me even without all the grief, and pain I experienced growing up? Would they want to pick up a sword like their dear old dad? Or would they choose something different?

I didn't even know what I was supposed to do right now so how could I tell the little ones made up of the parts of myself, and my precious girls how to live? How could I… It was such an irony to me because I knew at the end of the day, I wasn't much different from the bastards we killed en masse back in Midgard.

I savored violence, I think, just as much as that stupid shitfuck Nero did. Yet, I thought myself just enough to doll out retribution to those I felt deserved the end of my blade. What a joke it all was to me. A punchline to a joke told to me by a god who was by no means done with me yet.

It was all way too much to take in. Something I would have plenty of time to consider in the future. For right now, I had more immediate concerns. Like procuring supplies for our new domicile.

Mikhail was tugging on my arm, looking up at me with those big, doughy pink eyes. "Ezra! I'm starving! Can we go get something to eat? I want some fish!" Oh, those eyes! How could I say no to that? Maybe I didn't know anything about being a parent, but I suppose with Mikhail, it would be the best place to start.

I smiled warmly and patted him on the head. Little Mikhail giggled, giving me a big grin in return. I ruffled his hair to my heart's content, it was really quite soft, and luxurious as Furiae liked to hoot, and holler about. He did take his "mom" in so many ways. I'm sure Rose would have been just as captivated by our "son" if she had seen him in his human form.

"Sure kid, we've got a long day ahead of us, so we'll be sure to work lunch in there when we have the chance. You girls all have your pseudo Blastia equipped?" My gaze fell to the leather bangle on my wrist as I said that, noting the three brilliant garnets inlaid in the center. It was a true work of art, but nothing like the genuine article that people in this world used to cast magic. Each of the girls had their Blastia equipped in a piece of jewelry provided to us by Accord.

These little baubles were a needed security measure, according to her. If our ability to perform magic without them became public knowledge, it would make everyone here targets. Kyana adjusted the bronze hair clip holding her ponytail together, equipped with a brilliant emerald. My heart ached some, knowing where it had come from. However, I had to push that knowledge down. "Okay then, let's hit the town and see what Zaphias has to offer us!" And so out the door, we went.

Happily, we didn't have to go far to find the central marketplace. It was huge, never quite anything like it back home. The only thing that I could compare it to would be the great bazaars in the far eastern parts of the empire. Right from the get-go, Raphtalia and Shiloh were getting looks, heads turning wherever we walked. I'm pretty sure people thought it was some kind of cosplay or something. No way there could be people that were part animals, right? Shiloh had stopped in front of a weapons counter, looking at the bows, her tail idly twitching.

While our resident cat and raccoon girls may be the only Beastkin present. There were some elves around, manning some of the stalls. They were elves, unlike anything we had seen before. They had blue hair, much like Dinae's and their skin was extremely pale. Not to mention their ears were ridiculously long. I could see Niamh studying them very closely. A hand went up to her ear, noting they looked outright tiny compared to her distant cousins. Felecia had sidled up to our resident princess, both shooting looks at their fellow elves.

Felecia seemed to want to approach and get to know them, encouraging Niamh to do the same, but the caramel-haired girl looked reluctantly. I couldn't hear what they were saying over the hustle and bustle of the crowd, but it was clear Felecia was trying to convince Niamh to at least talk to them. Finally, she grabbed the other by the hand and dragged her toward one of the stalls. It wasn't long before they were having an animated conversation with the native elves like they had known each other forever.

Everyone was just enjoying their time shopping. Dinae and Kyana were looking through the fruit stands, taking in the strange new specimens that probably had never existed at all in Midgard. Kyana had picked up one of the fruits, inspecting it closer while Dinae was asking questions of the merchant, most likely hoping to get some more information about what conditions they were grown in and what not. Furiae and Leilani were with Mikhail, looking at a merchant's wares. It was cute how he was trying to entice both of them with some stuffed animals. Leilani always did love cute things.

Phoebe, Noa, and Fianna were at another stand admiring the musical instruments on display. Fianna, for once was behaving herself, chatting with Noa, and Phoebe about music. You wouldn't have thought, but they all shared the same interest in music. It was a given that Noa, and Fianna's lives revolved around the subject since they were both musicians by trade. Phoebe did have some musical talent as well. She was a trained pianist, and had the singing voice of an angel. Not to mention she had quite the passion for showtunes, and dancing numbers on top of it.

Don't tell her I told you that. She's quite shy about it. And she only lets me listen when she sings. I get my own private shows one-woman shows with her regularly. For once, I don't mean it in that way. It could easily go that way (sometimes it did!), but I prefer to make it about the music. Phoebe has a great amount of talent. I want to help her foster it.

I made a mental note to buy her a real piano once we got done with all this renovation business. I badly wanted to hear my dear Phoebe play again. This time without the tension of having to fear demonic invasions.

I remained in one place, with Raphtalia, Lanca, and Ronye acting as my guards. They were watching me, the other girls, and our surroundings like hawks. All of them were ever so vigilant. Still, at that moment, I couldn't help but find it to be pleasant. Moments like this were rare back home. A part of me hoped we could have more. "Hey Ronye, did you ever think we would make it this far?" I asked her suddenly, letting out a wry chuckle. I thought it was so ironic now that I had made it this far. "Let's face it, there were times when it seemed like we were teetering on the brink of oblivion, especially during the final leg of our quest."

Ronye's eyes misted up, her blue eyes half-lidded with tears. Me asking such a dumb question might have made her feel like we were descending into the depths of Leyndell, and the top of the snowy peaks above the city all over again. "It wasn't without sacrifice. A lot of people helped us get there. Melina, Accord, and yes even Rose."

She sniffled a little, grief flashed in those eyes. "But it wasn't just them. So many others died to contribute to helping us get another step. It would be impossible to list all of the people who did so." A hopeful smile manifested on those lips as tears ran down her face. I simply ran a hand up, and down her arm in an attempt to comfort her. Even happy tears were founded upon the depths of great sadness. We had all sacrificed greatly in order to enjoy such a simple thing as one another's company. "But a simple answer, yes I did. As long as you were there, Ezra, then I knew we had a chance. You were our hope! I'm sure the other girls feel the same way."

Both Raphtalia and Lanca both nodded in affirmation. I was their hope, huh? I suppose I should have seen it coming. I suppose one of my greatest weaknesses was never being able to see my worth. Seeing the admiration shining in their eyes for me made me actually start to believe it. My reality hadn't sunk into me yet fully. It just goes to show that my girls were way more emotionally mature than I was.

"You broke that cycle over your knee with your own two hands. In doing so, you brought us out of the depths of despair." Lanca had a distant expression, clearly, in the depths of the past. She wasn't in Leyndell, she was even farther back. I could remember it so clearly as well.

I hated Alabaster City with all my being. Yet, my visitation to that slice of ivory anguish had gifted me Lanca all the same. Looking back, I was so grateful for her. I was so grateful for all of their love.

"Back then, I thought the only answer to my own suffering was throwing myself on your swords. Things looked like they would never return to the way they were. What did you do? You threw your sword down and refused me the option. Crym did the same. You refused to hurt a friend. I bullied Crym relentlessly because I was so insecure with myself." Now Lanca sniffled, the edges of her eyes watered up with tears of regret. I felt a pang in my heart. Lanca was a good girl. She just had some shit to work out. Much like all of us.

Ronye, and Raphtalia held both of her hands, giving them a tender squeeze on both ends. All we had was the love, and comfort of one another at the end of the day. I wouldn't have cared if I didn't have that crapshack, or my title if I was still allowed to love every single one of them.

I gave her a tender kiss on the head, idly fiddling with the black bow holding up her hair in a ponytail as I patiently listened. I had heard it all before, but we all had our demons to work out. The best way to exorcise them was to let them be brought to the light of day via our words.

"She took it all in stride because she believed she could endure the pain for my sake. And you…" I met eyes with Lanca, as her eyes shimmered with tears. I simply nodded in acknowledgment, running a soothing hand through her hair. I thought she was the cutest thing in the world right then. I dare not say it since I didn't want to ruin the moment.

"We barely knew each other, with only a few adventures under our belts. You believed we were best friends. I thought you were kind of stupid for thinking that. Despite that, I threw myself at you because I wanted the base acknowledgment I was something. And I got so much more…" She let out a high-pitched whine, the tears intensified as they ran down her face. The sheer joy in her glad smile was enough to make me not care if the whole of Zaphias drowned in a sea of her tears. "I couldn't believe it, because it made me so happy."

She sank into Ronye's embrace, quietly bawling as Raphtalia patted her on the head. Something I mirrored, I played with her black hair band ribbon hybrid as I did. I admit I was kind of obsessed with it. But who could blame me when Lanca made such a simple accessory look so fucking cute?

I'm sure Rose would have stuck me with Dragonstar if I ever attempted that move on her. She liked me, too. So, I hoped she would have stopped with just the tip of her blade. …How I miss that easily triggered, violently impulsive mess of a woman.

"I feel the same way as them. You were always our light when things were at their worst, Master." Raphtalia said, meeting my gaze with hers. Her reddish-brown eyes shone with warmth, and strength in the noon sun. They were brighter than even the Erdtree at the height of its age of plenty. "I don't believe any of the people who died, especially your mother and stepfather, gave their lives for us unless they believed the same thing. They all believed you deserved the seat of Elden Lord. They believed you would change the world for them, for everyone! And you did, we all did."

"There's a part of me that wonders if I did the right thing," I recounted Raphtalia's words in the back of my mind, reflecting upon all the events that came before today for a few moments before continuing. "…Walking around from it all when it needed a lord so badly."

It was something that had plagued me, but in retrospect, Midgard was a dead husk of a world, and nothing would have changed if I had remained there. Everyone just needed to see that. The girls' words rang true. They had followed me because I had blazed the trail to get here.

Raphtalia gave Lanca a gentle kiss on the forehead, before coming up to gently run her silken fingers along my face. It was a sensation that never lost its novelty. "Master," She began with the emphasis on every syllable of that word. Anytime she spoke to me like that, I knew it best to listen to her counsel. "There is always a price to pay for power. You turned away from that path because you realized the value of doing so was greater than anything you would get for receiving it. A true lord isn't measured by the size of his throne, the number of jewels on his crown, or his many victories in the heat of conflict. It's by the choices he makes. You chose to blaze a different path for us to follow."

"You may not realize it, but the fact you're agonizing over this means you have the wisdom neither Godfrey nor Radagon possessed." My face was suddenly in her hands, she got very close to me. Our noses were practically touching. I could feel the sincerity of her breath. The heat of her soul. There was no wrestling from her grasp now. Nor would I ever wish to.

"Godfrey was too concerned with his warrior pride, and Radagon by his precious order. They both couldn't see the forest through the trees. You saw between the illusions and found the heart of evil itself."

Something about her words made me heat up. Maybe I was just blushing from the embarrassment of being held like this in public. Maybe it was the fact that her words' directed passion made me feel like a lord. More than any cushy throne, or godly force held between my fingers could ever make me feel.

"We plucked it out, Ezra," she said my name with such firmness, such love. Raphtalia seldom used my name without my title unless she meant it. That's how I knew it was all more than simple words. "Thanks to your unerring vision. There's nobody else that could have done that besides you. We have a new world and a fresh start. The best way to honor the fallen is to make the most of it and just live our lives well."

Damn, now that is a profound little speech! Raphtalia has some kind of vision, she's clearly found some great wisdom that I didn't know about. She's become wiser than me, that's for sure. It made it easier for me to decide what was to come next. Our shopping trip was complete, we returned home to our pigsty of a home. With mops, buckets, and brooms aplenty, we swept the place up and by sunrise, the house was at least clean. With no dining room table or other furniture, we set up blankets and had a picnic in the main dining hall. The meal was nothing elaborate, but it was fitting for our current circumstances.

My stomach was full, I got up to stretch. I let out a loud yawn, and a few bones popped back in response. I felt better than I had in a very long time. Even the tattered state of the lawn didn't bother me as much. Okay, maybe it still did. But I decided to be neurotic about it at a later date.

"Okay, ladies and dragons." I addressed the room, making an elaborate gesture to everyone present. "Now that our stomachs are full, I think we need to address our main issue. Where do we go from here?" All eyes were on me as I got up from my place, and started pacing about. "We obviously need funding to fix up the house. So, it's time for us to get back to our roots and start adventuring again. There must be a guild of some kind in this world. Joining it shouldn't be too much of an issue."

"It will be nice to do adventuring when the fate of the world isn't at stake." Felecia's eyes were glowing at the prospect of just being plain old adventurers like how it was back in Vizima and Novigrad. "Now that you say that word. I bet there's plenty of old tombs and vaults just full of treasure waiting for someone to dig it up!" Ah, good to see my queen is in her element again. I wouldn't admit it aloud. She looked stunning in her royal finery, but truthfully Felecia was like me, far more content exploring a dungeon than sitting in a room full of brown-nosers.

"I'm glad you're enthused at the prospect. There's another facet to this, and it's a big thing. I think it's best if we split up into smaller groups and spread out across the continent to do this. I will remain here in Zaphias with Mikhail, Ronye, and Lanca and check out the job scene." I could already see Raphtalia about to protest. I silenced her with the languid raising of my hand. I mustered all the training I had learned in speechcraft. I placed all the love, and care I had into crafting this little speech. I had been going over this all in my mind for hours. "Raphtalia, I want you to go out with the others because I think you truly need it. Your little speech in the marketplace inspired me. You have a vision and I want you to cultivate it."

"When I was in my darkest moments, you were always a few steps behind me." I continued, instilling myself with all the noble authority I had in me. I wasn't merely their husband right then. I was also the lord of a manor now. I had to show it if I wished for Raphtalia to blossom in the sun.

"You dedicated yourself to staying by my side when no one else would and protected me from myself. I've never once doubted your loyalty. So, it's with no regrets that I temporarily release you from your duty as my guard. I'll be fine, I have two other guards that are just as capable as you. Not to mention I'm hardly defenseless myself. Raphtalia I want you to grow," I locked eyes with Raphtalia, sharply gesturing to her for emphasis. She looked on in surprised awe at my words. "And you can't break through that limited horizon by staying with me. You need to see what's beyond me. Go and explore this world, see what it has to offer. I know you'll come back that much stronger."

"Ezra is right, Raphtalia!" Mikhail chirped brightly, chowing down on some salmon. Which he swallowed in a single gulp, bones and all as if he were Michael gulping down a whole cow during the good old days. He certainly took after his old man. "He has faith in you, and so do I!" Nothing like the dragon boy's seal of approval to give that extra bit of motivation.

Speechless, there were tears of happiness in her tea-colored eyes as her hands covered her mouth. It took a long moment for her to digest this. Finally, she slowly nodded in assent. Shiloh gave her a congratulatory thump on the back. Surely, this was a great moment for all Beastkin kind.

"You're really sure about this?" Felecia ventured, regarding me skeptically. Aside from Raphtalia, she was probably the leeriest about going off and leaving me alone. But I just ran my fingers along her ears. She giggled at the contact, her cheeks turning pink. Those tingles did it for her every single time. I gave her a gentle kiss on the cheek.

"Go, do what you girls do best." I gave a dismissive wave of my hand, giving them my best easy-going grin. Rose always said it was more of a shit-eating one, but what did she know? "I will be fine. Mikhail will be fine. Ronye and Lanca can hold down the fort. Besides, I've got plenty on my plate to deal with around here anyway. By the time all of you get back, perhaps I'll have gotten an idea of how to get this pile of wood into halfway decent shape."

"And you'll have your finger on the pulse of the political scene in Zaphias." Felecia put her hands on her hips as she gave me a knowing smile. "I know you all too well, Ezra." She reached up to take hold of my hand, and I just marveled at how soft she kept them, despite her chosen profession. Maybe thieves had a special kind of hand cream? Trade secret, I bet. "But I trust you enough, and I'm pretty sure I speak for the other girls when they share my sentiments." All of the ladies who had made such an impact on my life gave their respective affirmations. Kyana winked, Fianna blew a kiss at me, and Noa just folded her arms giving me a soft smile.

Shiloh sat there considering all the possibilities. Her tail flicked about with excitement. I considered waking her from her reverie by tugging at her tail. That would have spelled doom for my face, though. Kitty had claws after all.

Leilani's bright green eyes glinted joyfully. She talked to herself aloud about what tasty treats she'd feed our trusty steed Torrent. Torrent was Furiae's mount, but we all babied that horse (Goat/Horse hybrid, mayhaps? That would have explained his horns, and double jump.) Just because he was a good boy.

Everyone was talking among themselves before long about where they'd be going, and what they'd try doing. It was all quite sweet to me that we were uniting so quickly, and easily over this. If only running an empire was so simply done.

"It would probably do us all a world of good to get some time to ourselves and clear our heads after that last battle. Perhaps there's a magic academy in this world I could attend for a while." Furiae said, her expression so radiant despite our rather musty surroundings. "I know I want to see what the healing magic of this world is like. It could be totally different from my miracles. Not to mention their lighting attack magic could work in a totally different way." Furiae was a little too eager to smash things at times, but it was moments like this that reminded me she was still a mage and had her inner scholar.

"Hopefully their magic academy isn't a disappointment like Raya Lucaria turned out to be." Phoebe let out a long-suffering sigh. She had been so excited to see the birthplace of the glintstone sorcery she knew so well. But like so many things in our native land. It turned out to be nothing but a colossal disappointment. The once prestigious center of learning was reduced to a shell of its former self, a sad derelict ruin inhabited by shithead zombies, crazed puppets without strings, and creepy assholes who wore stone busts on their heads. That being said, both girls have the right idea. Perhaps if I had a chance, I'd look into such a place myself. Never a bad idea to add some new flame spells to the repertoire, and I would never turn down a chance to learn new ways to roast my enemies to a crisp!

(Two Weeks Later)

The house felt so much emptier with the bulk of the girls gone. The lack of Raphtalia's constant presence at my side even more so. Yet I had willingly cut her loose, wanting her to grow and become stronger. So, I would endure. Lanca and Ronye certainly didn't mind. It had been so long since it was just the three of us alone. It did make our nights fun. I had forgotten just how flexible Ronye really was. And Lanca is NOT quiet at all, another thing she had in common with Rose. Still, I wouldn't have minded hearing Fianna's dulcet tones as she sang, or relishing the feeling of Felecia's ears. I hoped they were safe, and having fun on their various assignments.

Mikhail was the one having the most difficulty adjusting to the absence of the women who had become his surrogate mothers, aunts, and big sisters. "I miss Furiae!" He said one day as we swept out of one of the upstairs bedrooms. Of all the girls, she had been the one who mothered him the most, even when he was still a dragon! Luckily, it's easy to keep his attention, just throw him some sweets and plushies and he'll forget about it for a time.

I had finally found a contractor that seemed to know what he was doing, and we were currently touring the house. Judging from the severe look on his face, it wasn't a good sign. "Hmph." The man said, shaking his head as he wrapped on the wall, causing some of the ceiling to crumble off. "Well, Mr. Kanitz. I'll be totally honest with you. I've seen some real horror stories in my lifetime, but this is a whole new level of scary."

"Is it really that bad?" I asked him uneasily, praying it would all be within my financial purview. "I just got this place and I really hoped to make a life here with my family. Just give it to me straight, what do I need to do to fix this place up?"

The contractor took a cloth out of his pocket, cleaning his glasses. "Well, the main issue with the house is its historical construction. To start off with, it's got major structural issues. It has a lot of ancient features that are woefully out of date. The Blastia that power the utilities, heat, air, water, and lighting, are all shot to shit due to the most horrible neglect I've ever seen! I don't know who was maintaining them beforehand, but clearly, they dropped the ball somewhere along the line."

I silently ground my teeth at that. The reason the house was in such disrepair was that my family personally maintained the Blastia, they were apparently real masters of the craft back in the day. I had only begun reading on the subject, so I wasn't sure if he was fucking around with me or not. "Honestly, the only reason I'm telling you not to raze the place and start over fresh is that you are a duke, and I'd rather not piss off someone with connections to the Imperial Council." Oh fuck, I was hoping I wouldn't have to deal with that crowd! It was bad enough keeping up with that back home. Oh, how I wish Leona was here, she'd be perfect to deal with them.

"What's the bottom line here?" I asked bluntly, gesturing for him to cut to the chase. I figured it was just best to go for the jugular and be done with it. Praying, fervently hoping that there was still a chance to save our little crap shack.

The way the contractor smirked made me think of Ioran when a plan of his worked out perfectly. "My best estimate, you're looking at 4 million Gald…on the low end." Again…fuck. Just proof that the universe, or multiverse I suppose, loves to make my life as difficult as possible! The contractor packed his bag. "You raise the money; I'll get the job done. You know where to find me, so I'll speak to you then." He walked out the door and I was left alone. Groaning, something I did a lot of recently, I sat down in the one good chair left in the house, trying to wrap my brain around how to raise the funding. Lanca and Ronye came down the steps.

"We heard, is it that bad?" Lanca asked gently, putting a hand on my shoulder.

"Oh yeah. The house has major structural issues, and all the Blastia need to be replaced. The contractor said it would be 4 million to fix it all, and that's the low end of the estimate! How in the hell are we supposed to raise that kind of money?!" Ronye frowned, coming up to wrap her admittedly very soft knuckles against my very hard head.

It was then I thought that Ronye had learned the finer points of bullying from Lanca as my forehead stung.

I hissed, nursing my forehead with my hand. "What's that for?"

"Ezra, think about it! What are you at your very core? You're a Witcher! And what is it that Witchers do best?" She put her hands on her hips, smirking harshly like the sun on a hot day. She stepped up to me, poking me in the chest. "Monster hunting, this place is rife with them! I did a little looking about the request boards in the town square the other day, and there are plenty of bounties to be had out there. The Imperial Knights are offering big-time payouts for some of them. If we claimed just a handful of those contracts, we'd have more than enough cash to fix the place up and then some."

"She's not wrong," Lanca added, nodding repeatedly in agreement. "I went to look at the contracts offered myself. They're talking five, six figures even! Given that monster slaying is a Witcher's bread and butter, we'll have what we need in no time. And it will go even faster if Ronye and I each take a couple of contracts ourselves, we're not lightweights when it comes to these kinds of jobs either!" Heh, what a couple of feisty minxes I have! I'm so glad that my girls are not vapid twats. They've been keeping their eyes open for opportunities, and it was right in front of us the whole time!

If there is one thing, I'm truly good at, it's slaying the various beasts that inhabit the world. After my time as High King, I had no desire to get into politics again. Cornering the beast-slaying market would be the absolute best way to build our fortune. I made a mental note to send a message to the girls traveling, telling them what it would cost to fix the place up, and maybe pick up a couple of monster-slaying jobs themselves. I was brought off my reverie by someone tugging on my arm. It was Mikhail, that cross look just too adorable on his face.

"Come on, Ezra! It's a nice day! I want to go to the park!" He cried; those rose eyes looking at me so imploring. While on an outing, we had found this magnificent playground in the center of the capital near the Imperial Palace. It was gorgeous, to say the least, and with so many kids around, Mikhail had wanted to join the fun. I figured it was a great way to let the boy run off some energy. Reasoning the fresh air would do me some good as well. I stood up, patting him on the head.

"Sure, why not?" I shrugged, knowing it wouldn't hurt. This place would have been Wormface Central, as I had dubbed it, on the Altus Plateau if I was still in Midgard. Death Blight and the gloom of depression weren't something I took lightly.

"We'll even make some sandwiches and have a picnic." I declared, holding my finger up. Mikhail beamed widely in response.

Mikhail's smile could melt the coldest heart. Pushing the worries about the house out of my mind, and with our lunch in hand, we made for the park. I marveled at the stone arch we walked under, taking in the brilliant span of emerald-hued grass sweeping through a massive circle. A sweeping fountain carved of brilliant marble was in the center, lined by a series of tall cherry trees, of which several children were climbing in. It was truly a scene out of a fairy tale.

I had even done some reading up on the local history. It wasn't hard to find a dusty ass book in the massive family library. It had seen better days, but I always had use for knowledge no matter how crusty the source. I'm sure One would have enjoyed it if she were still around.

Seventy-five years ago, the emperor at the time, commissioned the park's building. He'd lost a young son to a monster attack when the barrier around the city weakened. Grief-stricken, it was dedicated to this lost prince. But really, it could be dedicated to any children lost in a monster attack. No matter where you go, such things still happen.

Mikhail found the perfect place for us to have our picnic. "Look there!" His rose-colored eyes lit up. He tugged at my shirt as he indicated the spot. "How about we eat there! The flowers will go with the blanket Lanca packed." He pointed to a field of wildflowers, awash in every color of the rainbow. I gave him a light poke on the forehead.

"Not bad, Mikhail," I said lightly, poking him in the forehead once more. To which our boy let out a pretty little giggle. How I loved hearing such joyful noises from our boy. "You've become much more observant about these kinds of things. I want you to go through and start counting all of the yellow flowers you can find before we have lunch."

I had never seen him so eager as he ran off to start his little scavenger hunt. This was becoming a regular occurrence between the two of us. Noa and I were working on educating him, honing his observational skills and ability to do it calmly. We also taught him how to read, and he was picking it up quickly. A part of me wishes Rose had done something to contribute to Mikhail's growth…but that was wishful thinking.

Given that he's such an active thing and always on the go, I made it a point to incorporate some physical activities into his lessons as well. I was drawing on everything I had learned from my mother and the twins. I still had no idea what he was capable of in his human form, so I saw fit to begin testing his physical and mental capabilities by using these little games. I'm fairly sure he wouldn't be breathing fire any time soon, but I had to imagine he was at the very least far beyond the peak of what a child his age would be capable of. So, training and educating him would let me see how he would grow as a human.

I had to admit, this was about as tranquil as you can get. A guy, a couple of girls, and a dragon kid just chilling in a flower patch under a crystal blue sky without a cloud in sight. I figured I'd be broodier with most of my beloved ladies gone, but I'm not bothered at all. We could spend the entire morning like this, to be honest. I looked over to Lanca and Ronye, relishing the sun, and Mikhail diligently counting the flowers. I never was the religious type, but I would thank whatever powers that be existed for letting me get this far. We had earned our happy ending, and this would be the perfect capper for it.

Oh, how naive I was! Things started off innocuously enough. The air became very quiet when a young man in elaborately tailored robes, followed by a contingent of knights in full armor that clinked with every step came through the park. My eyes narrowed slightly as I sized him up. He had the poise only a royal possessed. Perhaps this is the crown prince or even the emperor himself out for a bit of fresh air? Everyone was running up to line the sidewalk, clamoring and hoping to get a glimpse of whomever this person was. I seriously considered going over there and introducing myself, since I am a duke and probably have close ties to the Imperial Family. But I quash it at once. This is my time for myself, and nothing will get me up, not even royalty!

"Oh! Ezra! Hey Ezra!" Mikhail suddenly spoke up, snapping up his gaze from a flower between his fingers. He had sure gotten fond of pointing this out to me, literally. Maybe he was enjoying the fact he hands now a little too much. "I see someone in the woods! Maybe there are some kids playing hide and seek back there!" I got up myself and focused on the thick grove not too far away.

Sure enough, there it was, a dark figure swathed in black moving between the trees. I saw the sheathed daggers on their hips, and watched them pull a steel bolt out of the quiver arrayed on his lower back. I watched the assassin take the projectile and put it into the crossbow he held, and kneel as they took aim. It took me all of a microsecond to flash from the assassin to the guy walking down the path and back again.

Instincts and training kicked in as my hand went to my steel sword. I'm sure I set a new land speed record because in one minute I was next to Ronye. The next I'm in front of the prince, there's a flash of golden light with angelic runes on the air. Maybe it was less that I was supersonic now, and that I had picked up a new short-range teleportation spell from the Golden Order's Leal Hound himself.

The all too familiar metallic clang as I slap the bolt out of the air. The prince and the guards look at me in complete shock. "Don't just fucking gape like morons, get down you idiot!" I yelled, tackling the prince and driving him to the ground. A good thing because a whole rain of crossbow bolts flew from the forest, turning several of the guards into pincushions. I was now well and truly pissed. I sank deeper into my stance, holding my hand out, and stopped a bolt in mid-air, mere inches from my face. "A little tribute to you, Mom!" I smirked, recalling her little maneuver so long ago.

I flipped the bolt in mid-air, pushing as much of my strength into it, and launching it back into the forest, where I heard several screams of incredible pain and agony. Good, I hope that ripped out the insides of their dicks and their assholes all at the same time. Ronye and Lanca were on their feet, weapons drawn. "What do you want me to do, Ezra?" The brunette girl asked.

"Smoke those bastards out!" I ordered, cutting the air with my obsidian blade. Oh, someone was going to pay for ruining my day off!

"On it!" Ronye began chanting in that classic Systinan fashion. "Sacred Call, Generate Thermal Element!" Small tongues of flames began forming on her fingertips, growing brighter with every word she uttered. "Form Element, multiple arrow shapes!" The flames formed into several flaming arrows. "Fly straight and discharge!" The fiery arrows lanced into the woods, setting the entire grove ablaze. A pity about the trees really, I'll see about replacing them when I bring in my first bounties. About a dozen of these guys high-tailed out of the tree line. I walked toward them slowly, my sword in hand, and death in my eyes.

"Okay guys, can I just say what a total dick move you pulled? This is a heavy party foul here! I was out with my family. Just enjoying myself, and you decided TODAY of all days is a great time to commit regicide! I'm pissed off! My wives are pissed off!" Cue Lanca and Ronye sidling up to me. "And even my son is pissed off and he's not usually the confrontational type!" A part of me found it cute that Mikhail looked annoyed, but it wasn't the time for that. It was time to carve up some bad guys. "You should have picked another Wednesday to try that cloak and dagger shit. We could have just made this a thing I read in the paper, but NO you had to be tough and ruin my perfect ending! That's why you're going to wish today wasn't your imperfect end, bitches!"

And with that, a fight started! I'll admit, I never get tired of watching my ladies dealing out death and mayhem to those who have it coming. Lanca is always such a dream to watch. In her left hand, she held a slim rapier with a monochrome blade and a black hilt. In her other hand was a wand crafted from yew wood, golden energy dancing along the deep, caramel sheen of the wood. She's not a bad mage in her own right, her preference is lightning and holy-based light spells. Her wand arm was raised high in the air, spinning to create a swirling dark cloud, pointing her wand downward, bolts of lightning whipped out to strike at the assassins.

One of them raised their arms, conjuring up a shield, sending the bolts arcing away. But Lanca wouldn't be deterred. She rushed the spell caster, bringing her rapier back in a stance I knew all too well. The sword turned a bright green and with a series of intense thrusts, the glowing ward shattered, and Lanca's final blow struck home, as she claimed first blood, the tip of her sword going right through the would-be assassin's neck. She raised her wand, a brilliant white light coalescing at the very end. A flick of her wrist and white bolts of pure light flashed out, catching another assassin in the shoulders and chest before a final one to the brain finished him off.

Two-thirds of their number were already dead, they started getting desperate. Another prepped a crossbow bolt, only for Ronye's sword to come down, taking off the front end of the weapon. The assassin could only look in shock at the remains of the weapon before Ronye claimed her own first blood, the tip of her sword tearing his throat out, and staining the grass red. His partner went at her with a dagger, but she neatly sidestepped him, her sword coming up to knock the dagger away. Ronye snapped her leg up, kicking him in the gut before elbowing him with her free arm, before tossing the guy twice her size over her hip like nothing, before spinning her blade, stabbing downward, ending that particular threat.

Poor dumb idiots. Ronye had made Integrity Knight before she became part of my royal guard. She was holding back something hard here. I guess she felt it wasn't worth the effort to waste time on weaklings. I'm pretty sure the guy who tried to get her from behind shit his pants when Ronye suddenly turned to glare at him. He froze in his tracks, and I took that moment to stab him in the back from behind. I idly flicked the blood from my blade. "Nice set up there," I said casually, watching as Lanca was toying with a couple of others, performing all means of graceful gymnastics.

"These guys aren't worth the effort. They ruined our nice day, so I'm not wasting time. Pardon me." Ronye said coldly, flicking the blood off of Moonlight, the blade I had given her when she was still a trainee. Niamh definitely had a hand in that. I'll admit being a Swordsman Delegate was much more fun than my other post-war job. The other Integrity Knights would always get on my case for being so reckless on the clock. But it was fun because of all the bantering. Despite how uptight they were, it was always fun when I visited from Pythagoras. Ronye most of all.

"I got to say, Ronye. You are a stone-cold fox today. to think you weren't any more than my page getting flustered about cleaning my room at the academy a few years ago. I barely recognize you from that time. How things change. Can I just say you look smoking hot when you're killing bad guys?" The confident smirk Ronye gave me was all the answer I needed. I noticed movement out of the corner of my eye, I spun on my heel, catching the dagger one of them tried to bury in my neck off my blade. I raised my hand and sent him flying back with a burst of telekinesis toward Ronye, who gladly helped by decapitating him.

It was child's play really. Ronye was enjoying herself all too much. She was glowing at the compliment I gave earlier. "You're enjoying this far too much, aren't you? I'm such a bad influence on your Ronye." She gave a slight wink, even as Lanca flipped over another assassin, sending out more lightning bolts that caught another one. "Fianna and Noa would be shaking their heads at how inept these guys are," I said, parrying another attacker, slashing through him without so much as a second thought. These guys had ruined our fun day, so they weren't paying for it.

Lanca wasn't having any of the banter. The three of us were soon back-to-back. She hadn't even broken a sweat. One of the last of the goons began chanting rapidly, slamming his palms on the ground, conjuring up a bunch of crude stone golems. She just shook her head. "What a desperation move, this is so pathetic." She brandished her sword and wand in both hands. "It's the duty of a Maiden to teach rabble like this their place. At the bottom of the trash heap when they belong!" The beasts weren't the toughest magical constructs we ever faced.

I decided it was time to bust out the pyromancy at last. There truly is nothing more glorious than the flames I wield. With a wave of my hand, a huge firestorm erupted from the ground, the heat of the flames so great it caused the golems to begin drying up, causing them to crack. Flames ripped up the length of my sword as I slashed downward through one of them, using the momentum to also throw out a Horizontal slash to make my attack stronger, taking down two of them in a single blow.

Ronye conjured up a wave of water with her Systinian Sacred Arts, the sheer force able to topple at least three of them. With Moonlight in hand, Ronye launched a perfect Vorpal Spike, cutting down a fourth. Lanca used her magic to call up a good-sized cloud that left our little patch of sky dark and she made use of her strongest spell, Ionic Storm, to reduce any golems left to little pieces of debris. Don't fuck with our day off! We were all feeling pretty good until Mikhail cried out. "Help Ezra!" We turned to see the assassin who had conjured the golems had gotten his hands on the kid, wrapped around his neck, and with a knife in hand.

"Drop your weapons right now or the kid gets it!" I could hear the assassin sneer through the cloth of his mask. The poor kid had tears in his eyes, clearly upset he had gotten himself into this position. "It would be a real pity if anything happened to such a beautiful little thing, wouldn't it? You all strike me as smart folks, so you'll let me leave without any trouble and I don't give him a second smile." He tugged hard on Mikhail's hair, our boy let out a hurt, shrill whine.

I was getting flashes of Georg pulling little Rose's hair at Rulid so many years ago. The flames within me stoked and boiled my dragon blood. This guy was dead when I got ahold of him!

My paternal instincts were roaring to the forefront. I could see the same fury building in both Ronye and Lanca's eyes. I knew that man would be bloody paste if Furiae was here.

"I'm sorry Ezra! I tried running away and I tripped! I can't even breathe fire this way or use my tail to defend myself!" Tears were growing bigger and bigger. "Why is being human so useless!" I was then his eyes flashed brilliant gold, and a massive shockwave erupted in all directions. We barely had time to throw up shields to protect ourselves. But when the light dissipated, there was Mikhail, hanging in the air, a golden aura surrounding him, his hair whipping about. The poor assassin looked ready to piss and shit himself simultaneously. He did the smartest thing possible, running away screaming like a baby, arms waving madly.

Mikhail raised his hand over his head and began chanting something unintelligible in an uncharacteristically deep voice. Our eyes widened as several golden points of light formed above Mikhail. All the kid had to do was lower his arm, and those points of light became thin beams of light and tore apart the assassin like a fury of arrows shot by a million archers at once. He manages to evade a few of them, until Mikhail waved his hand, pulling a boulder from the ground, and the hapless attacker slammed into it. The beams did the rest, and he was reduced to ground beef.

He turned to face us, still ablaze with that golden fire about him. The presence was overwhelming…and very familiar. I'll admit I felt a lot of dread because it was just like facing Radagon. On the one hand, I wanted to raise my weapon, but as I gazed at him. I realized this was no enemy of mine. It was Mikhail. I sheathed my sword, gesturing for the girls to do the same. And I slowly walked toward him. "Hey, pal." I raised my empty hands in a calming gesture as I spoke in a sotto voce. "Do you think you can throttle this back a bit? You're weirding me out, and worrying Ronye and Lanca." Both of them looked ready to cry out of compassionate concern. So have I if I had been anyone else. "Remember who you are kid."

Mikhail looked at me with that empty gilded stare, and then he blinked. The glow in his eyes suddenly faded, and the aura dissipated. The first thing that went was the levitation. He dropped onto his butt with a solid plop. Soon those innocent pink orbs were just as they should be, innocently glinting with tears. It was then Ronye ran to him, scooping him up in a huge hug. Without Furiae around, she would be the one to give him her patented comfort hugs.

Lanca stood beside me, happy tears in her eyes. We were both filled with such gladness. I put an arm around her, pushing aside the tears with an index finger. Lanca lightly touched my arm, burying her face in the nape of my neck. Two of Lanca's generous-sized lumps pressed into me. I grinned largely, knowing even I got lucky from time to time.

"Shh, it's okay Mikhail. It's all over." She whispered, gently rubbing the boy's back. Our little dragon boy sobbed quietly into her chest. I sighed, of course, douchebags had to be douchebags and ruin everyone's peaceful moment. It was then I saw the young man I rescued, flanked by two knights, approach me. Well, no point in turning back now!

Just when I thought I'd be hugging it out with Lanca for the rest of the afternoon. I can never have nice things for long, I suppose.

He seemed to be about my age. I'll admit, he has the look of a prince down. Finely tailored clothes, a green jacket with dark pants. Blonde hair framing a chiseled face with brilliant green-blue eyes. He bowed low, giving me that suave smile. I had to admit even I thought he was quite charming. "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Crown Prince Ioder Argyros Heurassein, and I am forever in your debt for thwarting that attempt on my life. You and your companions." He indicated to Lanca and Ronye, the latter still holding Mikhail protectively. "Acted quickly and decisively against those assassins. Let me commend the fine spell and blade work you used to dispatch them."

"Uh, thank you, Your Highness." I bowed deeply in response, thanking goodness that it hadn't been so long since I had cast my own royal duties aside. I still remembered the proper protocol. Lanca and Ronye offered their own slight bows, Lanca actually curtsying in the cutest way with her formerly stark white cloak. Even with crimson soaking it, it was an elegant gesture in every way.

Ronye gently tapped Mikhail on the shoulder, and he mimicked me. His technique was quite lacking as he nearly stumbled over himself. Definitely need to work on that with him.

"It was no big deal. My son just had very sharp eyes." I glanced back to Mikhail, reaching to give him a solid thump on the shoulder. "If I had to be quite honest," I bore my teeth in a sneer, gesturing to the dead bodies of the assassins with a tilt of my head. "I was upset that those pieces of refuse ruined what was supposed to be a nice, peaceful day. So, I killed them on the principle of it."

I was really torn at this point. On the one hand, I just wanted to sink back into the crowd and pretend nothing happened. But on the other hand, the shameless opportunist in me saw a golden chance I couldn't pass up. 'I'm a big wallet-wearing pants and my name is Ioder!' I pictured it in my mind, he was now a giant mouth with pants that regurgitated money. Thanks to my saving the heir to the throne, I now had a possibility to get us the cash to fix up the house much quicker than I initially thought. "I suppose I should introduce myself, my name is Duke Ezra Kanitz, and these are my wives, Lanca and Ronye Kanitz. The boy is my son, Mikhail."

Ioder looked at me with mild surprise, his golden eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Kanitz? There's a name I haven't heard in a very long time." He folded his arms after a moment, frowning in thoughtful consideration. "They were some of the finest Blastia craftsmen the Empire ever produced. However, I was under the impression your family was wiped out during the war a decade ago."

"It was, but my parents sent me off to live with some distant relatives in the Union during that time." I put on a grim expression, explaining my situation with the utmost stoicism. I thought I truly deserved the academy award for my acting chops. "I suppose I should be grateful to have avoided the worst of the massacre. I only just returned, and we're still trying to find our feet as it were."

That was the cover story Accord had us given for our sudden reappearance. We had gone over it until it was second nature. A part of me was certain Accord had already spread that story around to get the old rumor mill greased up and ready for our arrival. I just had to roll with the punches.

"I see." Ioder tapped his chin in further thought. Then, he gestured off to the side where there weren't dead guys, and blood not ruining the ambiance of all nature. "Duke Kanitz, do you have a few minutes for a little chat?"

"Sure, and if it's not too much trouble, please call me Ezra," I said in response, nodding slowly. I then looked at my family with a gentle smile. "You guys go back to the house. I get the feeling this is going to take a while." Lanca just nodded and led the others out, leaving me with Ioder and the Knights.

"Walk with me, please." The prince said placidly, motioning for me to follow. We strolled through the fields; I noted the way the trees tenderly swayed in the breeze. The way the freshly cut grass smelled always made me feel at ease. If it wasn't for me being covered in blood, I would have said this would have been a normal moment for me, for once, if I wasn't covered in blood.

"I'll be honest, Ezra." Ioder began quietly, his back to me. He glanced around superstitiously. I didn't entirely blame him since he was almost murdered. It wasn't just attempted murder. It was the attempted murder of royalty. I'm pretty sure I changed the course of history. Don't actually tell me, though. I'd prefer not to know how many futures I created with that choice.

"I'm not sure if your return is a really bad thing or a really good thing." It was then he fully turned to me when we came to a stop in the middle of the flower-filled grassy field. A grim expression distorted his handsome face. "Seeing as how you've been out of the fold for so long, I suppose you'd welcome being brought up to date on the situation here in the Empire. It's a very precarious one. The Emperor died not that long ago, and we're facing a succession crisis. I'm just one of several possible candidates to ascend the throne, and of course, everyone is at odds with each other. Which usually means murder, assassination, and blood running through the streets."

I just stared at him for a beat before shrugging. "It sounds like pretty standard shit if you ask me, your highness." Ioder looked at me incredulously. I offered a shit-eating grin, holding my fingers up playfully in a finger gun gesture. "Pardon my Toussaintian, your grace. I've been through a few things during my time abroad, long story. It's a very long story."

"Well, looks like very few things faze you then." He let out a bemused chuckle. "But I've never heard of Toussaint." He curiously tilted his head. "Is that a city in the Union?"

"Actually, it's a duchy, wine-making country! The place is legendary for its vineyards. My relatives run one such place, called Corvo Bianco, it is quite beautiful." I wasn't technically wrong. Toussaint was very real, and Corvo Bianco was real as well, given to me by Duchess Anna Henrietta for dealing with a nasty vampire problem before the war started. I gave it over to Geralt and Yennefer once the high king had been dealt with. I imagine the two of them and Ciri were going nuts trying to find me. I felt guilty at the time, but there was nothing that could be done about it now.

Ioder seemed intrigued at this, excitement gleaming in his green eyes. Clearly, he was a wine guy. It was interesting we had that in common. "Well then, if the wine is as superb as you say, I wouldn't mind trying a bottle from a place like that." He shook his head, regaining his focus. "But let's stay on topic now, shall we? Since you did me this favor, it would be very improper if I didn't pay you back in some way." Ah, gotta love the noble mentality. Even if they're the scum of the earth, aristocrats will always pay back their debts out of pride. This was my moment!

"Since you bring it up, Price Ioder…" I began carefully. I had to play this right. I just went in hoping all those perks I spent on speechcraft applied in this world. "The old homestead has fallen into a gross state of disrepair, and it's going to be pricey to restore the place to its former glory. The girls and I were going to start looking for jobs or quests. That way we would be able to raise the cash we'll need to make all the necessary maintenance. Now I'm not saying you need to foot the bill or anything, but I heard the Imperial government pays big money for taking down problematic monsters. That's one of the few things I'm actually really good at. If you could set us up with a couple of big contracts. We will greatly appreciate it."

"How much are we talking?" He asked, placing hands on his hips as he gave me an expectant look.

My shoulders sagged deeply. I was praying my arms wouldn't fall off of them. "Four million gald…and that's on the low end!" Damn, that just hurt me repeating that number!

"I think I can do more than just set you up with a couple of big contracts," Ioder smirked thinly, patting me on the shoulder. Something about that calculating gleam in his eyes informed me he had something great in mind. I was wondering if I should be concerned, or not since I wasn't in the presence of an adult. "I have an offer for you, and your wives by extension if they're so interested. How would you like to come and work for me directly as a part of the Imperial Guard? That way you'd get stable pay, and if you want to collect on those bounties, you're allowed to do that as well. I'm sure with the extra revenue you can gather all the funds you need in short order." He was giving us a pretty good deal. Despite my wanting to stay out of politics, this seemed too good to pass up!

"It's a very enticing offer, Your Highness." I drawled, nodding thoughtfully. "May I speak about it with my wives first? I do value their opinion on these things."

"But of course, my duke." He said lightly, offering me a pleased smile. I had to admit this guy had me from hello. It was a very classic "prince meet duke" kind of situation. I'm sure that not even cunning old Dandelion could have written this scenario. "I appreciate a man who's willing to step back and consider a matter. Once you've made your decision, just come to the palace and ask for me. I won't exactly be hard to find after all." Ioder gave me an easy-going wave, "until then, I'll take my leave of you, Ezra." He gracefully bowed low, walking off with his guard detail. My foot was in the door, and all I had to do was walk through it. Exhausted I returned to the house. I had a pretty good idea of what the girls would say but I figured it was worth talking it over with them anyway.

(The Next Day)

"Really? This is what you want me to wear on my first day on the job?" Judging from Lanca and Ronye's titters, they were pretty set on it. It was a set of armor they had snuck out of the armory before departing from Midgard. It was made of heavy black iron with a cape made to resemble the wings of a dragon. I was sincerely hoping no real dragons were harmed in the making of it. Runes the same blood red as the cape decorated the shoulders and gauntlets. "This is heavy, girls! It's so not Witcher armor at all!" I complained like a child, making an overly exaggerated gesture with my arms. "Do I really need something like this?"

"But you look so dashing!" Lanca clapped her hands, adoration clear in her eyes. It makes me think of whenever my mom would buy Kieran and me new clothes. She would make us try them on and it was sooo annoying! "I think it will really send a powerful message to anyone who sees you. You always identified more as a dragon than a wolf, so we thought the Drake-Knight Armor would be a nice fit for you."

"I agree, Ezra. This will let everyone know there's a new sheriff in town." Ronye came up, cupping my face with an amorous look in her blue eyes. "I'm sure if Felecia and all the other girls were here right now, they would agree with me." She looked over to Mikhail, currently sitting on the stairs. "What do you think of your dad, Mikhail? Doesn't he look positively awesome?"

The kid bobbed his head up and down, it's just so cute when he does that! Not to mention that adorable smile. "He sure does! I hope you do well today!" He gave me a thumbs up, looking so proud of me. "Furiae taught me how to do that! She said it means to do a good job!" Whatever apprehension I had about the new duds vanished. I could always count on this kid to lift my spirits up. I patted Mikhail on the head, planted kisses on both Ronye and Lanca's cheeks, and burned the lovely image of them blushing in my brain where it would remain until my dying breath.

"In that case, I'm off to the races!" The armor didn't feel as heavy as I made my way to the palace. The girls were right, the armor was sending a powerful message, the guards standing at the gate both looked at me questioningly and I think they were even a little jealous as I walked up. "Good day to you, gentlemen. My name is Ezra Kanitz, and I'm here to speak to Prince Ioder about joining the Imperial Guard, he should be expecting me." One of them picked up a clipboard, looking it over before giving me a nod of approval.

"Okay then, His Highness's chamber is in the central keep on the third floor. Be prompt, my lord." Was the guard's terse response. I suppose when his job is to stand like a statue for hours on end, I'd be on edge too. The castle was beautiful, certainly different from the stone shell in Pythagoras. The lush red carpeting on the floor, Blastia powered lights casting their light through the stained-glass windows. I soon made my way to Ioder's private chambers, lavish as befitting royalty.

"Ah, welcome Ezra! I must say that is some impressive armor you're sporting." He gave it an appreciative eye as he circled me, taking in all the little details. "I love the draconic motif. It really makes you stand out." He sat down in a plush-looking chair, gesturing for me to do the same on the equally fancy leather couch sitting opposite it. "So, I take it you've given some thought to my offer then?"

"Yes, I have, Your Highness, and all three of us accept your invitation to join the Imperial Guard," I answered promptly. My chainmail gave a slight clink as I sat down on it. It was actually hard to sit back without the spurs of the dragon wing acting as a cape poking me in my posterior. "I really was hoping to avoid any public exposure right out the gate, but I know a good opportunity when I see it." I winced slightly, leaning forward to avoid taking the business from the spurs again. "We got into your good graces yesterday, and simply put, we need all the help we can get in restoring the house. Lanca and Ronye will come by in a few days to begin their duties as well, there were a few things I needed them to take care of first, such as finding a sitter for Mikhail. If that won't be too much trouble."

"Not at all. There's plenty of work to be done around here." Ioder's appearance became serious, and I knew it was time to get down to business. "I'll get right to the point, Duke Kanitz. I know you talked about monster hunting, and that is always in the cards. But I think you'd be wasting your skills doing just that. I have a far more important job for you to perform. How do you feel about heading up security for another member of the Imperial Family?" My eyes about popped out of my skull at that, Ioder really didn't mess around. "My cousin, Estellise Sidos Heurassein. She's also vying for the throne. I want you to be her bodyguard."

I arched an eyebrow in disbelief at the assignment. "You want me to protect one of your rivals for the crown? That's certainly odd."

Ioder ran a hand through his flaxen hair. "Just because we're at odds like this doesn't mean I don't care about her life and well-being. She is still family, and what happened to me could certainly happen to her. Remember what I said earlier about murder and blood in the streets? I don't want that to occur." A fairly sound enough reason. I relented and just gave a minor nod of assent. Ioder smiled broadly, standing up straight as he dusted off his clothes. I suspected he was self-conscious about crumbs from the plate of wafers he'd devoured only moments before I got there placed on the coffee table. I immediately grasped they were vanilla based on the composition of the crumbs. They were my favorite flavor. Ioder was really a man after mine own heart. "You'll get your orders later tonight. Until then, take a look at the palace. Familiarize yourself with the place. If you have any questions, don't be afraid to ask. In the meantime, I have some matters of state to attend to."

The prince departed and I was left to my own devices. So, I decided to wander about and see what the place had to offer. It all seemed fairly mundane really, watching maids and butlers hurry about to keep the castle pristine. I saw armored knights marching about on their security patrols. In the meantime, I just walked about, taking in everything I found. The courtyard was stunning, featuring flora from every part of the Empire. I found myself walking about for almost forty-five minutes, a part of me wished the girls and Mikhail could be there, make up for yesterday.

I then found the kitchens. Which were huge by the way! The aroma of warm food is a good way to keep me motivated. I introduced myself to the very friendly cooks, who were kind enough to give me a couple of rolls stuffed with sausage, and butter to snack on as I continued looking about the place. They were light and fluffy, buttery on the tongue. The sausage was simply to die for. Perfectly cooked in the way I liked them. I had only been there for a couple of hours, and I already felt at home there. I just finished my last roll when I came to a high pair of arched double doors, surrounded by stained glass. My eyes narrowed slightly at the image on top. It was a tree…brilliant gold, with leaves sparkling all the different colors of the rainbow.

Some might call it beautiful. Me…it was just a reminder of all that I left behind! My rage barely contained; I threw open the doors to find myself now standing in a small chapel. The damn tree imagery was everywhere! Most prominently on the colorful mural at the front of the room behind the altar. At the very heart of it all was a rendition of an elaborate golden rune, one I knew all too well, the Elden Ring itself. It was surrounded by the roots of a tree painted solid white, and then from there, a second tree sprouted, shining brilliant gold, and the leaves all shining jewels.

"Of course, you would have to be here!" I snarled, this gaudy, extravagant depiction of the monster that my friends and I had stood against, that so many had sacrificed to destroy, was on full display. On the one hand, I shouldn't be surprised, on the other hand, it just reminded me of how much pain I had to endure. All of that old rage rushing back at me. Fire crackling on my palms. I could feel the flames inside begging to be released, to torch the whole thing, and damn the consequences! It was then I noticed a decidedly feminine figure with their back to me, kneeling at the mural, deep in prayer. The high priestess was here. Hate was replaced by curiosity, clearly, I had been loud enough to disrupt her meditation as she stood to face me.

My mouth dropped. Her face was simply put, cherubic. Doubly so the way the light streaming through the stained glass made that short, bubble gum pink hair glow. Her light green eyes were warm and inviting. She wore a very elaborate gown made of white silk, trimmed in golden chiffon, with layers of ruffles and frills. Around her neck was a gold pendant with an engraving of the tree. Sitting upon her head was a crown made of woven branches of pure gold, adorned with jeweled leaves. "Yeah, definitely the high priestess!" I said quietly, so taken with this woman's beauty.

"Good day to you sir, did you come to pray?" Her voice was just as kindly warm as her looks. I found myself unable to form any words in my mouth. This clearly made her concerned as she came down from the altar. "Are you alright? I can summon a cleric for you if it's required." She started fussing over me, it made me think of Felecia or Phoebe.

"No," I shook my head in quick repetition, "that's not necessary." I finally found my tongue, struggling not to lash out at her in the same way I had at Alisha all those years ago. All she wanted to do was help me and I wouldn't be such an asshole ever again if I could avoid it! "I'm a new addition to the Imperial Guard. I was looking about the palace to become familiar with it. This place is the royal chapel, right?"

The priestess seemed quite pleased with herself, giving me a proud smile. "It sure is! All are welcome to find solace in the Church of the Golden Star!" She indicated the mural itself with a poised wave of her hand. "A blessing from the one true Goddess, our dear mother Marika." Oh, how I winced at that freaking name! Nonetheless, she continued her little spiel, looking rather sad. "It's quite a sad tale really. A thousand years ago, the tree's golden rays bathed our world in the light of its divine grace. There was great peace and prosperity across all of Terca Lumireis. People ruled without worry or fear. But human nature can shift faster. People became lazy and gluttonous, our slothful indolence was our sin that lost us the favor of the tree, and dear Mother Marika departed."

She bowed her head low; the girl folded her hands to her chest in a prayer-like gesture. "And so, it has been for a millennium. Now we must endure the trial until our beloved Goddess returns, and then we can bathe within the Erdtree's honeyed rays once again. We will have to keep praying and repenting until providence returns to us. With that will come our great blessings, the magic and guidance of grace we once had. The magic we have now pales in comparison to how it was a thousand years ago." Her hand went to the tree pendant around her neck, even as she regarded the golden bangle adorning her wrist. "Blastia isn't exactly looked upon favorably by the church, but it's used regardless. Still, we all yearn for the day when Blessed Marika returns. It will be glorious, don't you think?"

My mind raced I looked at her for a good hard moment. These people weren't capable of protecting themselves without Blastia. However, they were hoping for grace to guide their hand. They couldn't see it, but I could as clear as a day. The familiar push from an unseen force. That light circling around this priestess's head like a gilded halo WAS the grace they yearned for so much! It was guiding me to this girl. So wide-eyed and innocent. This was significant to me; I hadn't seen grace since…that day in Pythagoras. It had stopped and I only had Furiae to rely on seeing grace again. What was going on here?

Regardless, the words this priestess was saying got under my skin. It pained me to do this since I had wanted to not be a total asshole like I was with Alisha. Still, I felt it was time to burst this girl's gilded bubble. "No, it won't be glorious. Because Marika's not coming back." I looked at her in those brilliant green eyes, emphatically shaking my head. "I know this is the truth of it because I saw Marika die. I made Marika die. The goddess was put down by my own two hands, and laid to rest within the depths of that cursed tree. And it wasn't just her, I got all of her demigod children and her husbands as well. Rykard, Radahn, Mohg, Morgott, Malenia, Malaketh, Godfrey, and Radagon as well."

"Ranni, she's not alive in the traditional sense, so I'm pretty sure the Lunar Princess is still floating about somewhere. But yeah, I laid all of your gods low. You know why? Because they were flighty, and they were fickle. All willful traitors down to the last of them. There is more blessing in the pursuit of power rather than merely wishing for it as one wallows in misery. The gods care not for our wishes. They want us to struggle…eternally!" I didn't hide the bitterness in my voice. Even though she was a total stranger to me, I wanted her to understand fully how I felt. The priestess looked at me like I was insane.

"How can you speak such blasphemy?!" She gaped, letting out a sharp, scandalized gasp. There was no hiding the horrified look on her face behind those dainty hands. Her bright green eyes were as wide as saucers, quivering in aghast disbelief. "They would never abandon us like that!" The poor girl couldn't wrap her mind around the concept. I had come this far, I decided it was time to go all in! My first day on the job and I just turned the whole state religion on its head! For me that's Tuesday!

"Because like I said before, it's the truth!" I snapped, taking a step forward. The naïve little priestess took a step back. "Do you know the truth of Golden Order Fundamentalism? It's to examine the Order to its very depths. Not to show blind obedience but to challenge it. Not even Marika herself took it at face value. She had her doubts, and she was a god. Let me repeat myself, think hard on it, little priestess." I poked myself in the temple for emphasis as my voice grew sharper, more condescending. "Marika was a god who doubted her own foundations. Is that not the most beautiful irony? It's the finest comedy in existence, and even more so because it's based on truth. All comedy, all irony is based on truth. The truth in the punchline is that not looking at the world critically makes us all jokes in the eyes of the very gods themselves."

I turned on my heel to leave, not able to look the poor girl in her tear-filled eyes. "If you need it spelled out to you in simple terms. Use your head, and don't just take things at face value. Have a nice day." Wow, great job me! I just shook up everything this girl understood. I wasn't even this harsh on Alisha. Then again, she at least could see the flaws in the system and wanted to fix them. This priestess was doing her duty and I ripped it all to shreds. Time to make a tactical withdrawal and return home.

(Later That Night)

The girls could see my broody demeanor the minute I walked in the door. Dinner was a quiet affair, and I was just ready to put the whole ugly mess behind me. So, it was I had settled into bed with Ronye and Lanca, Mikhail had already been put down for the night. I felt the kid deserved his own room, that way the ladies and I could have our special time together, if you catch my drift.

I had managed to get us a few pieces of furniture, nothing too fancy but we could get better stuff once those honeyed coins of gald started rolling in. For now, at least we didn't have to sleep on the floor anymore. Ronye and Lanca were curled up on either of side me, naked as the day they were born beneath the sheets, in the modest king-sized bed a neighbor provided to us. They both looked very content after our lovemaking. But my mind was anything but content. Hey, that's generally me, Mr. Strum und Drang himself.

"I don't know what came over me. I saw that damn tree and my vision went red. Just when I thought I didn't have to see anything involving the Erdtree or the Golden Order ever again, there it is all over the place!" I recounted the day's events to them. "So, I barged in there, and basically tore the poor girl that was the royal priestess to shreds." I shook my head in disgust, knowing I had been an asshole to somebody who had been entirely innocent once more. It was a wonder how Estelle ever tolerated me; let alone how she fell in love with me. "I haven't been that way since Alisha came to me with the Thronebreaker prophecy. It was so childish of me."

"I can't say I agree with your behavior either. It's about the worst way to make a first impression." Ronye's look of irritation softened in a second. "But by the same token, considering what the Order took away from you. A part of me isn't surprised you reacted the way you did." She gently cuddled up against me, pressing those generously sized mounds of hers into my side. I simply basked in her warmth like it was the golden rays of the Erdtree itself.

"I'm with Ronye on this one, Ezra." Lanca planted a gentle kiss on my cheek. She placed a dainty, soft hand on my bare chest. "We went to such extreme lengths to topple the Golden Order and to find a new iteration exists in what was supposed to be our happy ending. I suppose it would be enough to piss me off as well." She adjusted the sheet, which clearly showed off her ample curves. I grinned inwardly, knowing voicing my perverse thoughts would interrupt her musings. I was not so rude as to not let her work that big brain of hers. "I'm more interested in the fact that you saw a clear sign of grace around her. That's what got my attention."

"Yeah, I could see the grace coalescing around her head, plain as day." I felt that cold, harsh ball of ice forming in my chest again. I recalled the flashes of memory. All the blood, and the violence of that dreadful final day of the civil war. The clashing of blades echoed in my mind. A scream of pure agony ripped through the air. I saw Rose, no, her persona of Zero, standing above my mother's corpse with that triumphant grin as her lifeblood dripped off the edge of Dragonstar. That…that was when I truly lost everything dear to me. Again. "I could feel that same old compulsion to follow, driving me to her. I haven't been able to see grace since…since we failed to save Mom. Furiae was the only one who could do that once I lost the ability."

"That is very peculiar. There shouldn't be any reason why you would be able to do it now." Lanca remarked thoughtfully, bringing me out of my horrifying daydream. I simply thought of how much I loved, and appreciated her presence. I was so blessed that I wasn't alone here. "Perhaps something got knocked loose in your head by us crossing the dimensional threshold?"

"I suppose so, clearly she's going to be a major factor in what's to come, and I about tore apart everything she's believed in since birth. I can only imagine how well that went down with everyone at the palace." My head leaned back against the pillow. I let out a loud, long-suffering groan. I just wanted to go to sleep, and not wake up after all of that. "You would think I'd learn to control my mouth better after all this."

"Nothing can be achieved within a day," Ronye said softly, reaching up to comfort me by running her hand through my hair. She beamed, gifting me all the goodness, and light in her soul that she could muster. "We'll come with you tomorrow, and you can apologize to the priestess." I savored the feeling deeply, knowing she was undeniably right. "I'm sure we can come up with some kind of convincing story, and then we'll find out what part she has to play. Besides, I can't imagine she'll stay mad at you once she meets Mikhail. He's quite good at making friends."

I pulled them a little closer, cherishing the collective warmth of their bodies. "He is quite the little social butterfly when he's not all flustered."

With all of them on my side, there was no way I could lose. It was simple as that. A simple idea every demigod, every devil we laid low in Midgard learned through our combined blades. Terca Lumireis, I thought, could also stand to have us around to clean house.

(The Following Day)

The four of us approached the palace. Once again, I wore the Drake-Knight Armor, my two swords hanging on my back. It was a comforting feeling, knowing they were there. I had only worn one yesterday, but now I was going to show everyone I meant business. I could see the knights already giving me a strange eye, not just the armor, but the swords in question. Mikhail skipped alongside on my left, wearing a white long-sleeved shirt and dark pants. His white hair bounced behind him as he took in all the sights with those wide, innocent eyes.

Lanca stood to the right of me, dressed as she normally was, a thick cloak held in place by a clasp in the same of an eight-pointed star, with a silver brooch connected by a long chain over a simple dress, all in the brilliant white she preferred. Her rapier hung at her side, with her wand in a holster on her leg. Her brilliant lengthy white hair contrasted with the black silk hair ribbon that held it up. She radiated the power that a Maiden was known for.

Ronye was standing on the other side of Mikhail, she wasn't going to let anyone near him after yesterday's incident. I could tell from how she was watching everything. She had decided on making an impact of her own and donned her full Integrity Knight Armor. The ocean-green tunic and skirt were covered by the brilliant, shining white-green armor I knew so well, the gauntlets and greaves catching the early morning sun. Mikhail started making goofy faces at his distorted reflection in the breastplate, and the dark gray cape caught the wind with each step she took. Moonlight was sheathed at her side, ready to come out at a second's notice. A few of the knights were eyeing her in less than wholesome ways, but I knew she could handle it.

The dragon boy was an automatic hit with the palace staff, as I expected. The maids all stopped to fuss over him as we walked through the corridors. The cooks gave him some treats that he happily munched on while I led my little party to Ioder's chambers. A part of me was curious to see how the Crown Prince took to Mikhail. The four of us bowed in respect to him. "Crown Prince Ioder Argyros Heurassein, allow me to introduce you again to my wives, Ronye Arabel-Kanitz, and Lanca Kanitz. This adorable little guy right here is my son, Mikhail Kanitz. We are honored to be in your service."

Ioder sized up the three new arrivals. He gave a regal smile, took Ronye's gloved hand, and gently kissed it. "An honor to meet you, Lady Ronye. I recall quite well how you carved up those brigands the other day with your blade. A truly masterful dance of steel if I do say so myself. I saw you had the strength of a true knight, and that armor shows me you have the pride of one as well. I welcome you to the Imperial Guard with open arms."

"Thank you, sire," Ronye said quietly, bowing her head. For a moment she was that flustered page again, but quickly regained her professional cool.

Ioder repeated the gesture with Lanca, her pale cheeks turning red. "I don't think I've ever seen anyone make white look so fetching, fair maiden. You put on a very impressive display, not just with your magic but your acrobatic skills as well, Lady Lanca. Perhaps I could get you to train our battle mages in how to fight as you do? But just between you and me, I don't think they'd perform half as well as you would." This got a slight titter from Lanca.

"You flatter me, Your Highness! Not that I would ever turn down such praise for my hard work!" Lanca was always so desperate for acknowledgment. She wasn't going to turn down recognition from royalty.

Ioder then knelt down to look Mikhail in the eye. "Hello there, young one. I hope yesterday's incident wasn't too scary for you." The boy was silent even as the prince reached out to pat him on the shoulder. I was afraid he might shy away, but he was remarkably composed. "I pride myself on being able to read people. You have a brave heart, Mikhail. Don't ever lose it." The boy seemed to loosen up a little bit. He was good with kids, another point in his favor as far as I was concerned. Ioder resumed standing. "I will say he seems to be a little old to be your biological son, Ezra."

"Mikhail is adopted. Not that I care for him any less." I said plainly, patting him on the head. "His mother and I parted on bad terms. Although the one thing we saw eye to eye on was how special he was to both of us." I could feel Lanca and Ronye's gazes on me when I mentioned her.

Ioder's expression became serious. "Special is one way to put it, given I saw what powers he manifested. Perhaps you can tell me what that was all about?" Yeah, there was no hiding the fact that Mikhail had tapped into the power of the Elden Ring during the attack. There was no way to verbally sweep it under the rug, not when it happened right in front of the probable heir to the throne's eyes. I had no idea of how to explain the whole mess.

Luckily Lanca had me covered. "With all respect, Your Highness, that's a very difficult question to answer. It's not that we can't tell you. It's just very sensitive to us right now." She hesitated slightly. "Our departure from the Union was a very messy affair. There were losses, and the whole thing is still quite fresh in our minds." She came up to put her hands on Mikhail's shoulders. "I hope you understand that we'd like some time to let it settle before we tell you." Oh, I could kiss that woman for how quick-witted she was!

"Remember when I said it was a long story? Yeah, pretty much what she said. It's all very personal, not to mention painful. We're all still processing it. Once I've gotten my head clear, I'll gladly tell you everything. You deserve that much." This was a calculated risk on my part. I sort of had come to like Ioder, but he was still a largely unknown quantity. I didn't want to give away too much, but leaving it open-ended like this ensured he hopefully wouldn't push the matter too far.

Luckily this seemed to placate Ioder, he folded his arms and nodded in understanding. "Okay then, I'll let it rest for now. Not to mention I'll ensure that news of this incident doesn't spread too much. I can just imagine someone trying to grab the boy and do who knows what to him." None of us missed how Lanca's grip tightened on our young charge's shoulders. Ioder just shrugged. "But enough of that. I have someone here eager to meet you." He snapped his fingers at one of his knights. "Let Princess Estellise know that her new guard contingent has arrived."

Ioder led us to a small audience chamber. A pair of guards stood at the double doors while a royal herald in a colorful tunic stood before them. I watched quite intently, wondering what kind of girl my new charge would be. The doors opened and my stomach nearly plunged into my feet at the words coming out of the herald's mouth as the princess emerged. "Announcing her Imperial Highness and Head Priestess of the Church of the Golden Star, Estellise Sidos Heurassein!" There was Estelle, wearing her clerical attire, the crown, and the tree pendant. She was just as lovely as yesterday, but I was really wanting to just vanish in that moment.

"Wow, she's really pretty!" Mikhail chimed. As much I loved the kid, there were times when I wished he wasn't around, that way I could start cussing in every language I knew. Because I really wanted to in that moment. Of course, the girl I had verbally torn to shreds would also be the one I was charged with protecting! Once again, I was fate's bitch and now, I was going to get torn apart. I felt Ronye hold my hand. Ah, at least I wouldn't be going down by myself.

Ioder came up to give his cousin the customary greeting of a kiss on the hand. "Ah, so lovely as always, Estellise. Let me introduce you to your new security detail. This is Duke Ezra Kanitz and his wives, Ronye and Lanca. I can personally attest to their strength, given they saved my life a couple of days ago. You shouldn't have to worry about your safety with them around." He gently ushered the princess/priestess forward and now I was looking right into those brilliant green eyes. They were just as I remembered. The hurt was still there, but there was something else…understanding?

She gave me a warm smile. It certainly did seem inviting. "It's nice to meet you and your wives, Duke Kanitz. Thank you so much for saving dear Ioder's life." Her gaze then fell on Mikhail. "And who is this adorable little guy?" Mikhail was just himself, as she came up to him.

"I'm Mikhail! It's nice to meet you." When in doubt, throw a kid at the problem! I could tell right from the start the boy was working his magic on her if the way she was wanting to hug him like Furiae was any indication. "I like your crown. Are you a queen?" He asked, clearly not realizing how it represented the same thing that took away his mother, but ignorance IS bliss after all, so I held my tongue.

Estelle patted him on the head quite gently, gifting Mikhail a soft smile. "Not quite, as you heard, I am a princess but I'm also the head of our empire's church. It's a very important position. My job is to give our people hope in hard times. In many ways, due to my double status as a princess and a priestess, your father and mother aren't just my knights. They will also be paladins in service to the Church of the Golden Star. I'm so glad that you'll be there to give service to Mother Marika and the Erdtree." Despite how chipper her voice sounded; I could hear the needles in her words. Those jade chips in her eyes were equally as pointed. My stomach dropped further.

Ironically, I was saved by someone who would soon become a major irritant in my life. The doors flew open and in walked a rather imposing man. His gray hair framed wicked-looking red eyes, and the perpetual sneer on his face didn't help much either. He wore a reddish-orange tunic and dark pants, and a pair of gray shoulder pads while his right arm was covered by an armored sleeve. The sword hanging at his side indicated he had some martial prowess. "What is this I hear about the princess getting a new guard detail?!" He thundered indignantly as he stalked into the room. "Your Highness, I thought it was clear all such assignments are to go through me first!"

He wasn't alone, as two other men and a woman followed on his heels. The first was a dark-skinned man with brown hair covering one side of his face. He wore the same orange uniform as the first guy, with an orange pauldron covering his left shoulder. The second man wore a full suit of silvery white armor, covered by a blue tunic with a sheathed sword at his side. His flaxen hair accentuated those easy-going blue eyes. But I could feel a significant aura of power emanating from him. The woman also wearing blue…really reminded me of Felecia in some ways, given their hair was the same color, albeit with a single braid hanging from the right side of her face. Her purple eyes were narrowed in slight disdain.

Ioder remained cool, letting the angry glare the older man sent at him roll off his back. "Ah, so glad you graced us with your presence, Alexei. Let me make the customary introductions. This gentleman here is Commandant Alexei Dinoia, head of the Imperial Guard, and the one effectively in charge until we can crown a new ruler, whoever that may be. Commandant, let me introduce you to Duke Ezra Kanitz and his family, who recently returned from the Union." I didn't miss how the girl's frown grew at that. Nor did I miss how my family name made all three men react. Alexei seemed particularly bothered by this.

But the Crown Prince wasn't done. "And let me remind the good commandant that I can make such decisions without you holding my hand 24/7. Let's face it, there's much work to be done and you can only do so much by yourself. Not to mention it was thanks to Duke Kanitz and his wives that I managed to survive an attempt on my life just two days ago. So, I figured it would be a good idea to give Estellise some extra protection." Ioder was becoming one of my favorite royals with every minute! Clearly, Estelle just needed to stand aside and let him become Emperor!

"Indeed, dear cousin. I'm sure Duke Kanitz is up to the task, Commandant Dinoia." Estelle stepped up to the commandant, flashing those eyes of hers. "He just arrived here a few weeks ago, surely you can see fit to at least let him do some kind of trial run?" Man, I just could not get a handle on this girl! One minute she's shooting daggers at me, the next she's willing to step up? I suppose I needed all the support I could get at that moment.

"How do we know he's really whom he claims to be?" The woman who resembled Felecia spoke up in that same insufferable voice so many people I crossed paths with carried. She folded her arms, glaring at Lanca, who was happy to respond with her own icy gaze. One that she had spent many years perfecting during her time as a Maiden. "For all, we know they could be spies from the Union. It could very well be Don Whitehorse trying something to interfere with the succession process. It would be just like him to try something when we're still so vulnerable."

"And here I thought Felecia was the pushy one…" Ronye chimed in, whispering to me.

The dark-skinned guy in orange sighed, "I don't see what the big deal is, Sodia. You woke me up from my nap to drag me through this drama?" He stood up with a lazy gait. "That being said, I didn't think I'd ever heard the name Kanitz again. Last I heard that line was all but dead."

"Indeed, it was." Alexei clearly wasn't tickled at the fact that my family had come back on the scene. He threw his cape over his shoulder and marched up to me. Lanca was quick to pull Mikhail toward her as he got in my face. Red eyes blazing in cold fury. "Your mother was Yesenia Kanitz then, was she not?" Oh great, Mr. Military Junta thinks he's Emperor, so he's got to establish his dominance? How cute! Still, I wonder what my mother had done to step on his toes, and information is power, so I let him continue his little rant. Just keep talking, chuckling, and let all your ill intent out for everyone to see.

Whatever she had done, it was clear it had earned her Alexei's undying hatred. I didn't need any crest or magic power to see that. His fist was tightly clenched as he spoke, and the skin around his eyes tightened. But then his demeanor changed. Clearly, this guy wasn't as dumb as initially believed because he was fast trying to get himself back under control. He was actively working against his feelings. Alexei took a loud, deep breath, before letting out a dismissive chuckle, running his hand through his hair. "I knew her very well, and I see much of her in your face."

"Yeah, there's definitely a resemblance there." The man in orange piped up. "Your mom was quite a looker, as I recall. Not to mention a sharp mind and an even sharper tongue. So, tell me, Kid. How is old Sennia doing? That woman could do things with an arrow that would make your eyes pop!" So clearly Minas Tor wasn't the first time she pulled that trick! I would definitely need to look into that further once I was done here.

"I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but she died just before we departed from the Union." The smile on his face faded very quickly with those words. "It was a very tragic event. My mom had a lot of life left in her. But she was cut down quickly and without mercy." I sighed, as memories of simpler times filtered in my head. "It does seem to be the way of things." Clearly, the man in orange was a friend of my Mom, and Ioder seemed genuinely saddened to learn this news. Alexei seemed impassive, but I could see a flicker of glee in his eye for the fraction of a second, leaning into the dark-haired guy for a second.

As for Estelle, this was the moment she really understood a lot of my bitterness in the chapel. "I'm so sorry to hear about your loss. Your mother sounds like she was a very gentle soul and deserved much better than that." She came to me, taking hold of my hands. Her eyes were shining chips of freshly cut jade, glowing with gentle empathy. "I'll be sure to say a prayer to Marika for her soul then." Just for this one single time, I would let the mention of the Golden Order slide.

"That is a pity to hear about your mom, kid." The dark-haired guy said. "A sad waste, since I fancied her myself back in the day. Until your old man came into the picture that is!" There was as much bitterness in his voice as had been in mine earlier. "I was just gutted to see her strut in, on that man's arm. He looked so smug and deathly pale. The man needed more time in the sun." The entire room suddenly became much warmer, the flames within beginning to rise up. It wasn't enough to bring my mother into this, now you're going after my dad? Prepare to get burned pal!

I turned to face this man, plastering a big grin on my face. "You know, I don't think I've gotten your name, my friend. Truth is, I don't like him a lot myself. In fact, we have nothing in common!" My response was cheerful, but my smile was all too nasty…much like how my dad gets when he feels the name to make something not alive anymore. "Since it seems my competency to protect Her Highness is being called into question, how about you and I square off and I can show you what I can do? Something I've learned in the intervening years is you really don't know someone until you fight them, so what do you say?"

This seemed to perk up the guy in blue, who had remained silent through the entire exchange. The guy in orange folded his arm and gave me a rather sinister grin. "So it's a fight you want, kid? Be careful what you wish for. Because Captain Schwann Oltorain is always ready to throw down. Anytime, any place, anywhere!" That's when Lanca decided to interject herself. She hadn't liked it any less and she would make herself be heard.

"How dare you insult his father? The only man I've ever regarded as my own." Lanca poked the man named Schwann in the chest. "I suggest you rethink your words, Captain. You call him smug and pale; I think you could stand a haircut, a bath, and a major attitude adjustment!" It looked like the woman knight was about to speak up when the man in blue finally made his presence felt.

"Everyone please stop." The knight's voice radiated authority, much as Viscount Arseid did. He sent a pointed glare at his orange-clad counterpart. "Captain, please withdraw that statement. It's simply called for. Duke Kanitz just lost his mother, and it clearly distresses him greatly." Okay, at least one of these guys wasn't a total asshole.

"Ah relax, Flynn! This is the spark of competition!" Alexei cut in. "If Duke Kanitz wishes to test his skill against Schwann, then we should let it happen. Perhaps his wives would be willing to join in as well, you and Sodia could team up with the Captain." He folded his arms, looking so smug for coming up with a great idea. "If they are to be the princess's guardsmen, then an assessment of their skills is only right and proper. We can't just let anyone look after Her Highness's wellbeing after all."

Okay Chuckles, you want to see what my ladies and I can do? Be careful what you wish for because you will get it! We moved to an outdoor training arena used by the Imperial Guard. Mikhail stood with Estelle, the latter with her hands on his shoulders, looking very protective over him in a way I thought only Furiae could manage. I stood in the center, Lanca on my left, and Ronye on my right. While Flynn stood in the center with Sodia on his left, and Schwann on his right. Looks like the fight card is set.

Lanca produced her wand and rapier, small flecks of light, and tiny arcing bolts of lightning flaring off it. Schwann just gave a roguish grin as he drew his own weapon, but my Ivory Maiden wasn't fazed at all. Ronye made a deliberate show of drawing out Moonlight. It really was gorgeous, the handle wrapped in black leather, the length of the blade glowing just like the full moon in all its glory. She brought her sword up to salute. Sodia was impassive, but she returned the gesture.

Finally, it was my turn. I went for the twin swords on my back. Flynn raised an eyebrow and nodded slightly; he clearly could appreciate them. I know I did. In my right hand was what had become one of my favorite blades, Nocturne, a sliver of the night sky itself, with a ridged cross guard. The pure black color seemed to consume anything in the path of where I swung it. The sword in my left hand was also one of my favorites. A bronze handle with ornate engravings, and a series of amber gems in the blade. Elphael complimented Nocturne perfectly.

Alexei raised his hand in the sky. "Combatants ready?" Everyone gave the slightest nod of affirmation. I gave one last lopsided grin to Mikhail who just gave that adorable thumbs-up. The Commandant's hand came down. "Begin!" With that, it was time to do what I did best. Flynn had his longsword in hand and swung upwards, but I blocked it with Elphael, swinging Nocturne to try and get him in the side, but Flynn quickly twisted his body to evade it. I saw his elbow swinging at my face and I just barely dodged getting a face full of steel.

We exchanged a few sword strikes, catching his sword between my own. But Flynn was much more agile despite the heavy armor he had on. He ducked under Elphael's slash, rolling off to the side even as Nocturne caught him on the right shoulder. His armor was pretty high quality to be able to stand up to that abuse. I could tell that Flynn was quickly getting into this fight if the ever-widening grin was any indication. I saw him crouch down slightly, the tip of his sword near the ground.

"Demon Fang!" His voice resonated as the blade swung upward, sending a blue shockwave of energy at me. Never more grateful for all my training and reflexes in that moment, I flipped upward, my draconic cape flapping behind me. Oh, so he wants to bring out the fancy stuff then? I will gladly oblige! I primed Nocturne, it started glowing blue, and I swung downwards as I came down from the apex of my jump. Flynn's reflexes were pretty sharp too, as he just barely evaded the strike, catching my Sword Skill with his shield, a deep gouge carved out, the edges still smoking.

I caught Alexei's reaction out of the corner of my eye, and that rage from earlier was boiling back up. Guess he was hoping I'd be a pushover, but you don't always get what you want. Mikhail was excited to see me in action, and Estelle actually looked impressed too. The girls were holding their own, a big shocker there. Schwann was caught between irritation and a slight amusement at the way Lanca was evading with her natural athleticism, flipping and jumping about. I'm surprised Fianna never conned her into joining one of her performances. Lanca did love being the center of attention, she'd soak it up in no time.

A part of her looked almost bored as she evaded Schwann's swing, even going so far as to yawn in mid-air. Only Lanca could be that chill in the middle of a battle! She pointed her wand, letting out a huge flash of light to blind Schwann. He grimaced, shielding his eyes. His vision was still spotty as Lanca descended like an avenging angel; her rapier primed for a Linear. A blur of pure white was all anyone could see, and it was aimed right at Schwann. "Eat this!" She cried, her Linear looking to hit him dead on. He wasn't budging at all.

At that moment, Schwann pulled his hand away, sporting a big grin. His arm reared back, flames coalescing around his blade. "Apocalypse Toll!" His voice resonated as the flaming weapon swung down, just at the very moment Lanca was a few inches from him. Both of their swords connected, throwing out a huge wave of fire and light. The heat was tremendous as I could barely make out Estelle holding Mikhail protectively while Alexei seemed unmoved. the light dissipated, Schwann ad Lanca holding their respective blades at each other's throats.

"Not a bad move, blinding me and then using that charge attack." He sheathed his weapon, hand going up to his neck, smirking a little at the crimson fluid on his fingertips. "I don't need any further convincing. You folks have what it takes to defend Her Highness. So, you've got my seal of approval."

"Thanks, you've got some bite to go with your bark as well." Lanca put her sword and wand away. "I'm sure Ezra will want to learn that flaming sword swing. He's really into anything that burns his enemies to a crisp."

"The match is a draw!" Ioder declared, Alexei scoffed, not liking the outcome. And so, everyone's attention turned to the other two battles going on.

Sodia and Ronye locked blades, sparks flying off from the very friction of it. They both surged from the very struggle between them. "Just admit it! You're up to no good! The Union's been waiting for years to destabilize us, and this is a perfect opportunity. A deadline emerges in our most sensitive hour. I'm not so easily fooled." She cried out, swinging her blade, the tip inches from Ronye's chest. Only for Moonlight to come inches from taking a chunk out of the blue-clad knight's shoulder armor. Their blades clashed over and over. Clangs reverberated among them like a song of passion. Sparks lit up the atmosphere, akin to miniature flares of desire in the air. "Not to mention the fact he mentioned both of you are his wives makes me question what you were up to back there!"

Ronye just gave her a pleasant smile, although there was nothing besides jeering derision in her tone of voice. "Think it's bad now? Just wait until you meet the other eleven!" Sodia's eyes widened in shock, long enough for Moonlight to break the deadlock, and Ronye launched an uppercut at her opponent, a few straw-hued strands fell from Sodia's head as she neatly tilted her head back in a well-placed last-moment dodge. She let out a wordless scream, swinging her blade at our resident Integrity Knight's head. Obviously, the remark had gotten under the Felecia doppelganger's skin. That was going to cost her down the line.

Ronye sidestepped it, letting the blade neatly pass over her shoulder. She threw Moonlight into the air. Sodia naturally looked up, not realizing Ronye was winding up to crack her in the jaw with an armored elbow. This caused Sodia to lose hold of her sword as the blow made her recoil. I had never seen Ronye move so quickly but she did, snatching the other knight's blade with one hand, before deftly grabbing her own sword from the air, holding them both to her opponent's neck.

"I get you don't trust us, and if our roles were reversed then I would feel the exact same way," Ronye said quietly. "But I think we can both agree trust is earned." She pulled the swords away, offering Sodia her blade back. Moonlight returned to its resting place while Ronye held a hand out. "Not freely given. So, I ask you at least give us a chance to do so and not judge us so harshly when we just met?" Ah, Ronye, a raging titan one minute, and a gentle soul the next. Sodia took her sword back, before tentatively taking Ronye's hand.

This just left me and Flynn to dance. Nocturne, and Elphael resonated off Flynn's sword. We moved at speeds that most people struggled to follow. I had to admit, this was one of the more enjoyable battles I'd had in a while. I guess it was just because it didn't have the same stakes our rush to the Erdtree had. This was just two guys exchanging steel in a fairly competitive, friendly match.

Still, I thought it was time to turn up the heat in this match, literally if you know me well enough. Forcing Flynn back while sheathing Elphael, I raised my hand. The flames of entropy itself flared to life, dancing on my fingertips, granting me the blessing of their strength. Given how strong this guy really was, I figured he deserved something a bit more potent than your garden-variety fireball. I forced more mana into the construct, the flaming orb growing larger until it was the size of a small boulder. "Giantsflame Take Thee!" I chanted, hurling the blazing inferno, anyone hit by this attack would be little more than ash.

Flynn held his ground, holding up his sword parallel to the ground, and I saw a slight glow emanate from his gauntlet, as a golden glyph formed at his feet. "Power from beyond the veil, Banish Darkness! Divine Streak!" A huge blast of light shot out from his blade, meeting my Great Fireball head-on. The second outburst of light and flame caused everyone to shield their eyes again. But unlike earlier in the fight, Flynn wasn't distracted. In fact, he was charging right through the flames. I met his blade with Nocturne while Elphael was batted aside by his shield.

"You've got some real moves, not going to lie. That flame magic is pretty strong stuff, and those swords of yours are beautiful as well." Flynn said, our blades strained against one another as if speaking their own language forged in the fury of combat. His gaze fell on the dark bar of perfection I held in my right hand. "I especially like that black sword of yours. It's a true work of art!"

I allowed myself a large grin, clearly, we could connect on swords. "Thank you, it's called Nocturne, and it's one of my most precious weapons. But I've got plenty more if you want to see them." I pushed away him away with all my strength, leaping backward. I sheathed both my swords, the displeasure of denial in their fun was expressed simply by their hissing as they returned to their scabbards. "In fact, for someone like you, I think I got just the thing." I clapped my hands together and began chanting rapidly. I spread my hands out and a flowing blue light extended out. It coalesced into a giant two-handed sword with a translucent blade, thousands of tiny little sparkles running the entire length of the luminescent blue blade. The chill of the moon-forged steel was felt against my skin even beneath my gloves. "Say hello to Moonrender, it's the physical sign of my bond with the women I love."

Ronye gasped in shock as I shouldered the blade, her mouth agape. "Oh wow. He really does mean business if he's pulling that sword out."

Sodia looked at her questioningly, an eyebrow raised questioningly. "Your boss isn't just fighting against Ezra; he's fighting against all of us now. He's fighting everyone Ezra has sworn an oath of loyalty, and love to. When Ezra takes that blade in his hands, not even a god could stop him. He shows off a side of himself that he doesn't normally. He shows what a complete hero strives to be in their pursuit to become whole. He is both the moon and the sun. He is an eclipse overshadowing the battlefield with his presence." She looked at her with a mocking apologetic smile, pointing a finger right in her face. "Hate to say it, but he's about to get his ass kicked all over the arena!"

My vision skirted over to Alexei, and boy did he look pissed! Not bothering with any restraint. His bright white teeth were gnashed in anger, that sneer stretching across his entire face. His eyes blazed in silent, jealous anger. I took Moonrender in both hands, coming to a standard guard position as I fell back on some of my earliest training with the blade. Flynn slammed his blade against his shield as a taunt. I responded by dragging the tip of Moonrender along the polished stone. "Crystal Barrage!" I swung upwards sending out a spray of crystal shards. Flynn used his shield to block the worst of it, the crystals shattering with a sharp tinkling sound. The fragments caught the light as they fell to the floor.

"Demon Fang!" He swung his sword, sending a shockwave of blue energy at me. But I vanished from his sight. Flynn kept his cool, scanning everywhere. He only had seconds to react when I flashed in behind him. "Scholar's Armament!" Moonrender was covered in a sheen of brilliant azure light, cutting the air as I swung it downward. Flynn wisely leaped out of the way as the heavy sword crashed into the ground, causing the ground to shake and kicking up a huge dust cloud. Everyone was watching, anticipating the outcome. A sound came through the dirt-filled wind.

It was…laughter? Sodia gasped at the sight of Flynn lying flat on his back, spread eagle on the ground. He seemed amused. "Damn man! That's some serious heat you're packing!" He was totally unfazed, and actually seemed to like it. He sat up, beaming widely. "I can only imagine what happens when you really start throwing that stuff around!" I chuckled back, happy I had proven my point. I held out a hand, helping Flynn to his feet. I stabbed the blade of my greatsword into the ground with a sound thud. "Prince Ioder seems to think you have what it takes to protect Lady Estelle, and I'm certainly convinced. All three of you should do nicely! Good fight man."

"Glad to oblige," I replied, before turning to the royals and the commandant. Ioder looked on haughtily as he dusted off dirt from his regal garments. He was surely confident that his choice was well received. Estelle looked at me with adoration in those lovely green eyes. Mikhail just beamed in his usual way. I learned that day that Alexei's neck veins throbbed whenever he got really mad. I approached them, my women flanking me. We all bowed to them. "Well then, folks?" I asked smarmily, adding a little flourish of my arm as I bowed. "I trust we passed muster?"

"With flying colors!" Ioder declared proudly, hands on his hips. If he wasn't impressed before then he really was now! He gestured gracefully to Estelle, the motion of a true royal. "That was a truly magnificent display! Would you agree with me, Estellise? Do you think Duke Kanitz and his band are suitable enough to serve as your guard?"

"Absolutely! I feel much safer already." She exclaimed gleefully, applauding me as if I had put on the greatest show on earth. I didn't blame her for thinking that. I was just that amazing when I was motivated. She then glanced at Alexei with those innocently shining jade eyes of hers, her hands behind her back. It was a surely cute gesture. Something about everything the girl did certainly tugged at my heart. "Don't you agree, Commandant? You have the final say."

The commandant was stuck. He ground his teeth together before letting out something between a growl of rage, and a resigned lament. "Very well then…I approve of Duke Ezra Kanitz's appointment to the role of Princess Estellise Sidos Heurassein's chief of security effective immediately!" He threw a hateful glare at me, before dramatically tossing his cape over his shoulder and stalking off. Clearly, he hoped I would make an ass out of myself, too bad for him!

Flynn just shrugged, watching the ranking officer leave with unending ironic amusement. "Best of luck to you, my friend. You seemed to have angered the Commandant to no end. That's surprising, he's always in such control of himself all the time. It's not often he shows any cracks."

Schwann yawned, scratching his ear lackadaisically. "I don't care as long as I get to finish up my nap." He walked off, giving an idle wave. "If any of you guys are looking for me. I'll be in the castle dungeon, getting some shuteye."

"Ah, the joys of rank. As a captain, he can do pretty much whatever he wishes. I'm but a simple lieutenant, so I have to actually work for a living." I saw a spark of determination in those sky-colored eyes. "But that'll change once I'm promoted." He froze for a second, a luminescent blush crept onto his face. He bashfully scratched the back of his head. "Uh, I think I've said too much." He beckoned to Sodia, motioning to his second in command. "Come on, now that our little welcome party is over, we have duties to get back to. Your Highnesses, we take our leave of you." With that, he departed.

Sodia hesitated for a moment as Flynn sauntered off. There was a pep in his step. Surely, it had been a while since he had a dance like that. We were quite similar in that regard. I was simply thrilled that I had met my equal in him already. I wondered how many guys like him were in this crazy, foreign world.

She still seemed rather dubious, sweeping her annoyed gaze over all of us. "I'm still not sure what your game is. But I will be keeping my eyes on all of you." Her gaze became a rain of daggers, pointing at us sharply as it were the blade of incarnate justice itself. She directed that harsh look toward Ronye. "As for you, Lady Ronye. You better keep your blade work sharp. Because I will be wanting a rematch!" She took off after Flynn in a hurried jog.

"Well, that was ominous," Lanca said flatly, gently nudging the coffee-haired girl next to her. "I think she has it out for you, Ronye."

Our resident Integrity Knight let out a noise somewhere between a whine and a groan. "Oh joy, I have a rival now. Just what I need." She said sardonically. Ioder and Estelle approached us, the latter holding hands with Mikhail. The princess had truly become attached to the boy in just a few minutes.

The boy looked up at the princess admiringly, his rose-colored eyes sparkled. He smiled up at the princess, flashing his pearly whites at her. Estelle returned the gesture, giving our boy's hand a loving squeeze. I wondered if she'd be as fond if she knew he was formerly a stinky, stinky scaley chicken in another life.

Good going, Mikhail! I thought eagerly. Promise I'll give you an extra-large fish later! Bones, and all!

"I'm terribly sorry for all the trouble you've gone through today." She said apologetically, bowing her head. Her large bright green shimmered in the light with great empathy. I could tell she really did mean it. "Commandant Dinoia has always been extremely protective of me. He's only concerned for my welfare, so don't take anything he says too seriously."

Ioder shook his head, frowning deeply. "You're too soft on him, Estellise. The man doesn't know his place. He's become too comfortable with his regency. I fear he won't be so quick to let go of his authority once the succession takes place."

"Certainly, you can't be serious," Estelle exclaimed in disbelief. "The commandant is a good and honorable man. He will do what's right for the empire once one of us has been selected by the council to take the throne."

Ioder exhaled sharply in frustration, gazing off to the side. I could tell Ioder was too nice to call her naïve. Rose most certainly would have called her immature, dumbass virgin. "You are truly of good character to believe such things. You're a better person than me to believe in it." He snorted derisively, folding his arms. "Personally, I don't believe it for a single minute. Let's face it, Estellise, you and I are just pawns of the council and the Vermillion Cloaks of the royal guard. I want to overcome that. Father was too kind and patient. He tried to please everyone, and it led to these circumstances. It's why those vultures rose to power once he died."

"But Father was a good soul!" Estelle insisted, only for Ioder to hold up his hand. It was clear this conversation wasn't a new one. I can only imagine how irritated he was to have to put up with his cousin's naivety all the time.

"I know and I agree with you, but he was a weak leader regardless! The one who sits on the throne isn't just a figurehead. He or she is expected to lead by example. Father's example was a weak one! He weakened the crown, and he weakened the family as a result. Once he died, the two of us were left to suffer and have to pick up his mess and we both know I'm right!" Estelle looked down, no response to Ioder's harsh but true words. There was a wistfulness in her eyes, a deep longing and it made my heart ache to see her that way. This was something I was all too familiar with, heavy is the head that wears the crown.

Fortuitously Mikhail is there to make it all right. "Please don't be sad." He encouraged her, taking hold of her hand again in an effort to quell her gentle heart. "We're friends so, that means we can help out." The smile was right back on her face. She giggled, running a hand through my boy's hair. Which made him brilliantly smile and laugh in return as well. All was right in our little corner of Terca Lumireis in that moment.

"Do you understand our situation now, Ezra?" Ioder asked me, turning to yours truly. I could see the stone serious expression carved into his regal visage. There was no way I could dodge it anymore. "The Kanitz Family, your family, was a bulwark against all threats to the Imperial Family. We desperately need that now. Will you be that protective force for the Heurassein Dynasty once again?" Fuck me…I really didn't want to commit to this. If I had to be practical, I barely knew these people and they expected me to be their latest greatest hope. I had come to this place to get away from politics. Maybe it would have been better if I didn't see the grace surrounding her.

I didn't blame them. I did do some amazing shit to get to where I was currently standing. Surely, they saw I was special. Fuck me, and my showoff tendencies. Whatever happened to keeping a low profile like you promised, Ezra? You are such a great keeper of oaths.

I didn't have a chance to say anything when Lanca piped up. "But of course, we're willing to help you, your grace." She took a step forward, a hand resting languidly on her sword. "Provided we're properly rewarded. Besides it's my job as a Maiden to lend my sword and wand to those in need." Damn it Lanca! You spend too much time with me! "We will require many thank yous in the form of money and political power. We aren't working for nothing, after all. I got enough of that back home."

I glared at her as I whispered 'Traitor' under my breath. Lanca simply gave me a defiant look, sticking her tongue out at me. Darn it, despite being displeased, I actually found her attitude hot. I guess that's part of why I married her.

"While I don't quite share her opinion," Ronye advised, placing a steel-covered hand on her chest armor. "I'll agree Lanca makes a valid point. I grew up in a low-end noble family back in the Union. I've known people like the Commandant quite well. Individuals like them used their authority to abuse others. I refuse to be subject to that again. It's why I took up this armor in the first place." Ronye had always discussed laying the concept of the landed aristocracy to rest and replacing it with equality for all. Maybe we could have done that back in Midgard, but this is a different beast, we can't swing our swords aimlessly. Baby steps, my moonshine, baby steps.

Ioder and Estelle look at me expectedly. I looked up at the sky, cursing the fact it was crystal blue without a single cloud in sight. "Okay then," I assented, resting a hand on the pommel of Moonrender. "I suppose I have no choice. If the girls think it's the right course of action, then we're on board." All the while giving Lanca and Ronye a glare, we would be having a long talk about this when we get home. I thought they knew better than to be so impulsive. I suppose I'll just stick it out and once things get stabilized, I'll get that early retirement I earned with all the cash Ioder was going to give me…a lot of cash I might add that will fill my coffers to the gills.

I faced Estelle, taking her free hand, and giving it a gentle kiss. I was glad I didn't have to kiss a ring. I didn't really favor the taste of rubies especially. "And you my lady, rest assured I will be your knight and bulwark against all threats. Like the great wyrms of old did for their lords and masters." Her face turned as red as the cape of my armor. Something about the way the redness on and around her ears made me believe she was too cute. It matched all too well with her neon pink hair which was as soft, and fluffy looking like cotton candy.

I was waxing poetically on a stranger's looks. Great, I already had a man crush on Ioder, and now I had formed a decently sized real one on this strange bubble gum-haired pampered princess. I'm sure the rest of my wives would be pissed at me if they were here. Well, what they didn't know right now couldn't kill me today. Maybe later it most certainly would. I was so lucky that I was so good-looking and skilled in bed, as Fianna so glibly put it.

Ioder let out a muted chuckle, an entertained smile spitting his lips. "A very bold pledge. I expect you to live up to it." Even that simple gesture looked so refined, so dignified on him. The more I looked at him, the more I thought he would be Emperor. Most royals could take lessons from him. I know I could have especially. "I will pay you well, but only if you hold up your end of it." Auspiciously for him, I was up to the task! The way Estelle was looking at me certainly made it seem true. Her eyes shone with innocent hope and great expectations for the future. Well…at least I wasn't going to have to sit on the throne, but I suppose leaning up against it wouldn't be too bad.