The capital city was being rebuilt slowly with more and more people moving in. Not just humans but grey skins as well started to build their homes there.

The city started to get two districts. The human and grey skin districts. The two races still felt uncomfortable living among each other even though their leaders had accepted each other but their people hadn't yet.

Rufus had tried to help ease the tension by mingling with both races in the capital. He was liked among the humans and grey skin alike. He was starting to get known for another reason. He was started to be called the king who helped rebuild houses when asked or the Raja who helped grey skin women in weaving cloth. Even if Rufus was a king and Raja, he still was the same kind-hearted pushover.

"Where is Rufus?" Haley asked Edward inside the palace.

"Last time I saw him he was helping some roofers in the city."

"That idiot. He was supposed to meet some nobles around an hour ago," Haley said and ran outside.

"Hey. Have you seen Doreen?"

"She went back to her home. Her house was not burnt down during the riots. That's what I heard at least"

~ ~

Doreen was sulking alone in her home. She was sitting at the table with a glass of wine in her hand. Her normally tied hair was all messed up. Her rings that housed her shield and spear lay on the floor. Her eyes had large and dark circles under them.

Someone knocked on the door. Doreen got up and went to open it.

"Wow. You look like shit," Edward said and made fun of Doreen as he always used to.

Doreen didn't care about the comment.

"What do you want?"

Edward looked over Doreen and saw her apartment a mess and dusty. Very different from the usual Doreen who always took care of everything.

"May I come in at least?"

"Why?"

"Well…...because."

Doreen didn't have the energy to argue with Edward as she usually did. She let him inside her home.

Edward looked around the dusty apartment. Her home was only one room with one kitchen table at the center with three chairs around it. There was one large bed in the corner where at least three people could sleep in.

On the wall was a silver plate that had a picture of a woman with a shield, spear, and Olympus-style Corinthian helmet. The woman looked very much like Doreen. It stood out in the room since it looked very expensive and like it was handcrafted.

"Wow. Is that you?" Edward said and took a closer look at the silver plate.

"No, it is a family heirloom. It depicts the goddess Athena from Olympus. Goddess of wisdom and war."

"Hmmm…. interesting. I thought Ares was the only god of war from there."

"Stop blabbering. What do you want?"

"Well I first came here to drag you out, but it now looks like you need sleep and a wash more based on how you look."

Doreen didn't seem amused by Edward's jokes.

"I am not in the mood to be with people now."

"I understand that. I know how you feel."

"How can you understand. All my life has been for the prince. Now I don't have anything. How can you know what I feel?" Doreen said with a tired voice.

"Don't I? My life used to be my family. From childhood, I was groomed and trained to be the perfect weapon. To be useful to my father and family. All that came down when I saw my parents trying to kill each other. After that I had nothing. The only thing that kept me alive was revenge. Now that I have it do you know what prevents me from drinking myself to death?"

Doreen didn't answer. She knew the answer very well.

"It's Rufus. He may think that he needs us, but no. We need him more than he needs us."

Doreen avoided eye contact.

"My mother once told me we should choose who we follow and give our loyalty to. You chose wrong on your first time. So did I. I think you know if you choose again, it won't be wrong."

Edward left the house. Before he left, he turned around he looked at Doreen.

"Rufus won't change. He is now a king and he still is the same idiot pushover. He is running around the city doing menial jobs like he used to. So don't be afraid that he will change. He won't."

"How do you know.....?"

"I know. He is my captain, my king, my friend."