Arylos clenched his fist in defiance, staring at the withered and silent corpse of Reyz as tears clouded the Titan’s eyes. He felt his breakdown pass over him, freeing his rational mind from the chains of foreign emotion. He felt conscious of himself as he brought his breathing back under control, the sensation of venting these confusing feelings bringing him some semblance of peace. He rubbed his eyes as he tried to calm himself, rebuilding the facade of the Titan.

He felt some brief peace letting out what he was hiding inside, even if it was to the living dead that never cared about what he felt. He knew it would never change how Reyz thought of him, but he had hoped that this would be a step in the right direction.

The Titan slowly rose to his feet, taking in deep breaths as he stared at the silent corpse. He felt his shame grip at him. He wanted to help Reyz, to free him from his curse, but there was no strength that would let him. No power that could free the tormented man. He knew that no matter what he did, Reyz would still come after him.

You fight the inevitable, Titan.

Enigma’s haunting words came flooding back to Arylos as he gripped at his chest, wishing his still heart would give him some sign of life. The weight rested on his shoulders and made his legs shake. Just like with Enigma, Reyz is inevitable; there is nothing he could do to stop him. This was yet another enemy that Arylos would have to spend the rest of his eternal life fighting without end.

Arylos’s shallow breaths were replaced by growls as he slowly brought himself back to reality. His fear slowly consumed by rage as the fires within him were stoked back to life. Before long, Arylos regained his composure, standing tall and sure of himself; his doubts faded away like a morning fog.

“One day, you may just understand me,” he whispered as he turned his back and walked back towards the metal door, knocking on it loudly. After a few moments, the locks on the door became undone and the door opened, one guard off to the side with his sword ready.

“I’m done here,” Arylos told the guards as he walked through the door and the guards locked it behind him.

“Is it true?” one of the guards worked up the courage to ask. “Is he really still alive and watching us?”

Arylos stopped in his tracks as he considered what to say. “Do you have children?” Arylos asked in his usual growling voice.

“A little girl,” the guard answered nervously.

Arylos scoffed, entertained once more by humans. “Then believe whatever helps you feel better about her safety,” he explained as he walked away, making his way up the stairs. He could feel a bit of the guard’s fear; the idea that such monsters live in this city would make one unsettled. There is no secret that immortals live in the city and that they are different.

But the knowledge that something like Reyz or Arylos could be here must be horrifying.

Arylos pulled at the air and the hidden doors at the top opened with a hum, filling the corridor with the blinding light of the sun outside. The Titan stepped out into the warm late spring air and waved his hand, hearing the stone doors behind him close tight. The Titan took the warm air into his lungs, feeling a touch of relief come to him and his mind a little clearer. He felt the need to forget all of it, to let it go before it gets to him.

Arylos put his hands into his jacket pockets, feeling warm in the change of the seasons as the black colour pulled in all of the sun’s light. He made his way back towards the front of the palace, thinking about the year so far. He genuinely wondered how many more years Iris felt like staying. How much more she would put up with him.

How many more years he had left before he was alone again.

Arylos came to the southern doors and climbed the front steps in silence. He set his hand on the large doors and pushed, entering the large and ornate foyer. He chewed the inside of his cheek, feeling something odd come over him; an anxiety and drive to act. A desire to do something, and yet he couldn’t place what.

He closed the door behind him and looked up to the balcony. He smelt something on the air, something out of place in this Kaiyumian building. He stretched his hand, popping the knuckles as he prepared for a fight.

Before he could act, Iris came into view on the balcony, Eir coming up next to her while keeping her feet to the floor. Arylos felt a sigh come to him as he eased his tensed muscles.

“Arylos!” Iris called out in a cheery voice from the balcony. With a smile, she ran down the stairs and walked up to the Titan. “I was able to get Sentarus to agree to let Eir stay here,” she announced with a proud smile on her face.

“Oh? Well aren’t you becoming the little diplomat,” Arylos commented with a chuckle. “Did you get Anoron’s signature while you were at it?”

“Not this time,” Iris laughed. She turned to the valkyrie coming up behind her and her smile got wider. “This is progress though; it means we can help.”

“Are you sure you want to do that?” Arylos asked in a soft voice.

Iris thought for a moment but her smile returned as quickly as it faded. “At first I didn’t think so, but I think helping people is more important. Hell, helping Eir would be my way of getting back at Odin for now.”

Arylos laughed and gave Iris a soft pat on the head. “I was half expecting you to go to Asgard yourself just to slug him in the face.”

“One day,” Iris teased with a smile. “But for now, it all worked out.”

Arylos smiled and pulled his hand away, noticing that her hair was loose now. “When did you take your hair tie out?”

“Ah,” Iris voiced while reaching for her hair. “I don’t wear it loose often so I felt like trying it.”

Arylos saw Eir squirm a bit but remain silent. The Titan raised his eyebrow at the situation, sensing something going on. He inhaled the air and he smelt it again; a scent that felt out of place in this Kaiyumian air.

“You reek of Templarian magic,” Arylos commented while smelling Iris. “Did something happen?”

Eir groaned and raised her voice to speak. “Sentarus–”

“Gave Eir permission to stay in the city, that’s all,” Iris cut in, keeping her smile wide.

Arylos face turned to a scowl as he sensed something going on. He wondered what was going on, resisting the urge to push further. Eventually, he let out a sigh and a smile returned to him.

“Alright,” Arylos sighed as his smile widened as he rested his hand on Iris’s shoulder. “As long as everything worked out, that’s all that matters, right?”

“Yep!” Iris exclaimed with a bigger smile.

“So then, that solves the matter of if she can stay in the city,” Arylos processed aloud while turning his attention to the mortal valkyrie. “Now the only question is where in the city. I doubt Iris will want you to go back to that barn.”

“That’s actually where I don’t know,” Iris responded while turning to Eir as well. “Staying with us is an option, but I don’t know how much convincing it will take for her to be comfortable around you.”

“Don’t talk about me like I’m not here,” Eir complained with a red face.

“I’m sorry,” Iris chuckled while waving her hands. “Is that something you would be interested in?”

Eir rubbed her arms as she thought, still feeling the sting of Templarian lightning on her skin. “I don’t know,” she mumbled while deep in thought. “It’s not that I don’t trust Arylos, I just...”

“I understand,” Arylos responded while stroking his beard while catching Eir trailing off. “But maybe there is someone you can relate to; someone who feels that exact emotion and can help you.”

Iris thought as well before the realisation hit her. “Wait, are we thinking the same thing?”

Arylos laughed under his breath. “It depends, are you thinking about deep fried batter cakes with a sugary topping?”

“Maybe~” Iris voiced, feeling a sweet hunger come to her.

“Then no, we’re not thinking about the same thing,” Arylos laughed while tapping Iris’s forehead.

Iris groaned and crossed her arms, puffing up her face.

“Pouting about it won’t change anything,” Arylos returned her attitude while turning to open the door. “Come on, we’re not going that far away.”

The women followed Arylos through the doors and back out into the sun-filled streets as Arylos quickly made his way down the stairs and made a sharp turn to the east. Iris ran up beside Arylos to match his pace while Eir followed not far behind.

“Where are we going?” Eir asked while looking around her.

“Someone who wouldn’t mind a roommate,” Iris returned with a skip in her step.

Arylos couldn’t help but laugh under his breath as he walked through the streets, wondering if this was his new life now. A shepherd for broken things. He was entertained by the notion; it wouldn’t be that much different than what he really is. He wondered about the early days of Mortehksun, thinking back about how his life began. He wondered what his brothers would think if they saw him now; the great Elder Titan of Fire now offering home and refuge to a group of broken, orphaned, and scared girls.

He let out a snorting laugh that he fought back to contain.

“Is something funny Arylos?” Iris asked in a sarcastic voice.

Arylos waved his hand as he tried to contain any further laughter, choking on his own breath. “It’s nothing,” he squeezed out while fighting the tears from resisting. “Just a little nugget for me to contemplate.”

“I’m curious now,” Eir jumped in, coming closer to Arylos.

“No, really, it’s nothing,” Arylos responded while covering his mouth, plugging his nose to get him to stop. “I’m just a senile old man, don’t mind me.”

Iris blushed and slapped Arylos hard on the back of his head, knocking out any remaining laughter. “Don’t say that,” she grumbled while puffing up her face. “It makes me look insane to be living with you. Like you’re some insane eighty year old man who could die in the next cold snap.”

“Would that really be so far off from the truth?” Arylos asked in a smile that bared his fangs.

“Shut up!” Iris exclaimed while once again slapping the laughing Arylos.

Eir watched the two go at it, Arylos laughing and Iris blushing. She couldn’t help but feel that this relationship between the two was wrong in some way. She had seen Templarians form friendships and even love with mortals but this all felt weird. She couldn’t help but feel like the only sane one.

They both know that she’ll die in a few decades, right? Eir wondered, growing concerned about how unhealthy this could be for the two.

“We’re here,” Arylos’s words cut through Eir’s mind, clearing the thoughts from her. She woke up from her thoughts and saw that they had arrived at a medium single-story house with white walls and black tile. A simple abode with not even a front garden; just a stone path that led to the street.

Arylos approached the stained black door and pounded on it with his fist, giving it a solid knock that could have woken whoever lived inside. It didn’t take long before the door opened and a familiar tanned woman with black hair stood in the doorway, wearing white loungewear with gold decorated trim that Eir recognised from Abritus.

“Arylos, what brings you here?” the woman asked while rubbing her eyes and letting out a yawn.

Arylos turned to Eir and gestured towards the woman. “Eir, I would like you to meet Bellona Ausonia, fourth daughter of Jupiter and the goddess of war and conquest.”