After tempers had cooled, Alba had seats brought into her office. Or, instead, she had a chair brought into her office and offered it to me. All while giving Sora the most self-satisfied cat-smile, to which I just rolled my eyes and sat down. As Alba sat in the chair behind the desk, I sat across from her with Sora and Kato standing at my flanks, looking as comfortable as if they were born to do so.

“The current societal climate between humans and Beastkin is tense, to understate it to a frightening extent.” Alba started as she pulled out a few files and handed them over to me. “Ever since the events at Nyrill last year, more and more Beastkin have been removed from their former workplaces.” She paused, cocking her head to the side. “Barring a few exceptions of course, as you’ve noticed in my gardens.” A wry, dark smile appeared on her face. “And the Twin Flag Company. The two of us, and an even smaller number of other groups, the Guild included, are the only ones in Xadria, and other surrounding towns, willingly employing Beastkin.”

I flipped through the pages, feeling less and less pain as symbols shifted from illegible to English for me when I read. “Political unrest. Societal tensions…” I murmured as moved from paper to paper. “What of other nations, then?” I asked her, handing a few documents to Sora.

“Melia is more accepting, considering the Elven nation is most capable of treating Madness to a certain extent, though the specifics are unknown to us.” Alba sounded frustrated at that specific point, sifting through her papers. “Kohinoor has booted them from their borders, outright banning an entire species of people from returning. Dwarven-kind isn’t accepting of most things, not like their stonework or metalsmithing. That in and of itself didn’t surprise us.”

When Alba paused, I looked up from the papers to see a complicated look on her face. “What of the Holien Empire?”

“I don’t know.” Her reluctant answer caused me to frown, placing the papers on the table. At my look, she turned her attention to Sora. “Have you found anything about them, Soralynn?”

“No,” Sora answered with a shake of her head. “Which is concerning.”

“Why? Beyond the obvious.” I asked her.’

“Because Eir is hiding within Holien borders.” Both Sora and Alba answered me at the same time.

I blinked at their answer. “Well, I’m afraid you both share a talent you’ve neglected to mention.” At their mutual confused and outraged expressions, I held back the amused snort that threatened to come forward. “A skill for the understatement, because that’s fucking terrifying, not concerning.” I shook my head. “Let’s shelve that for now and get back to the fact that we don’t know anything about Beastkin in Holien. Something else that’s terrifying.”

Alba blinked as I heard Sora hum in amusement. The woman at the desk closed her eyes and sighed. “Anyway, we’ve been trying to send agents through their borders for years now, but we’ve lost contact with them every time.” She flipped through a few more papers. “Aside from a few unsubstantiated rumors, we have nothing about the political climate between humans and Beastkin.”

“Do you have anything that would be helpful?” Sora snipped at Alba but flinched when I threw a withering glare at her.

The corner of Alba’s mouth twitched, but she didn’t react to Sora’s words. “Unfortunately, my role is restricted to the mercantile politics of Xadria, so I cannot offer any direct aid to you, Milord. However…” She smiled and reached behind her desk, pulling out a drawer and lifting a silver bell. Ringing it three times exactly, she replaced the bell and closed her drawer. “I can offer you help in another way.”

Not a few seconds later, the door to the office opened slowly. “Lady Luvian, you called?” Oxton stood at the entrance, hands clasped behind him.

“Oxton, please bring Arce here. I believe I’ve found her ideal task.”

Oxton bowed at the waist. “At once, Milady.” He silently closed the door.

I frowned in thought as I looked back to a smirking Alba. “Who’s…Arce?”

“I’ll leave it to her to introduce herself, Milord.” She answered playfully, a broad smile on her face.

“O…kay.” I mused as I gave her a confused look. Shaking my head, I turned my attention to another topic. “About my registration, what places do you best recommend for us to use?”

Alba waved a hand. “For tonight, you’ll all stay here. It’s too late in the afternoon for you to be able to find adequate room and board.” She then pointed to the bag I was carrying. “The guild should’ve handed you some cards, yes? They should have a list of places to stay and go.” I pulled them out and held them to her. Alba took them and flipped through them with a critical eye. Her lips curled as she hummed in discontent. “They’re steering you towards the better choices, at least.” She handed them back to me. “The first two on each card are the best options, though try to keep them balanced. Don’t use the first option on all of them; even with the funds that Soralynn has, it wouldn’t give a positive impression on your financial skills.”

“Makes sense.” I mused as I studied the cards, taking in the names on the cards. Sliding them into a pocket, I turned my attention back to Alba, who examined me intently. “Is there anything else I need to know during my stay here?”

At that, a distressed look crossed her face. Her brow furrowed and lips scrunched, eyes narrowing. She looked to the side, towards Sora. I turned to see Sora with a similar expression. As I waited for an answer, none were forthcoming.

“Well?” I tried not to repeat myself, turning my attention between the pair of them, as they seemed oddly in sync with their reactions.

A few uncomfortable moments passed until Alba finally replied. “At the end of the week, when you’re due to return to the guild, there’s a festival that scheduled to begin.”

“A festival?” I asked her, cocking my head to the side and arching a brow. “Do I need to ask what it’s for?”

Alba didn’t reply, pursing her lips as she studied me. After a few seconds, she shook her head and looked up to Sora. I looked to the Witch to see her eyes dancing in amusement as she stared at Alba. The Wight scowled at her, leaning back in her seat to cross her arms. The two of them entered into a pointless staring contest.

I closed my eyes and sighed in exasperation. “You’ve got to be kidding me,” I muttered and placed my head in my hand, shaking it. “Kato. Please explain what they’re too afraid to.”

“A week from now is the start of the Fallen Hero Festival.” I nodded at Kato’s explanation but stiffened when the words finally settled in my thoughts. “It is a three-day celebration in honor of Milord’s sacrifice to protect Nyrill. During those days, out of city jobs are temporarily put on hold, and people come in from all around Veritas to aid in the celebration.”

“What.” Breathless, I stated more than asked.

Alba fidgeted beneath my stare. “The Royal Family is unable to join Xadria’s celebrations this year due to circumstances outside of their control.” A hint of smugness bled into her features before she flinched at my furrowed brow, my stare darkening.

“Also, the Heroes still affiliated with Veritas do not take part in the celebrations, for ‘personal reasons.’” Sora picked up from where Alba stopped, before stiffening when I turned my stare onto her.

I maintained this intensity before I closed my eyes and relaxed into my seat. Pinching the bridge of my nose, I couldn’t keep the exhaustion out of my tone when I resumed talking. “Is there anything in this festival that could potentially bring attention to me?”

“So long as you do not dominate the various games that take place during it, then no,” Alba answered.

I nodded to her words, but before I could ask anything else, the door to Alba’s office opened. “Lady Alba? You asked for me?” A young woman’s voice pulled our attention to the doorway.

The waifish young woman stood in the open doorway, dressed in a set of form-fitting white trousers that hugged her slender legs like tights, while she wore a knee-length black skirt that flowed around her legs. She wore a loose tunic with a scaled, leather jacket over it. She had faintly rounded cheeks and a youngish looking face, with dark grey eyes. Her reddish-amber hair fell a few inches past her shoulders, though a braid tied around the back showed me that it seemed longer than the first appearance. What caught my attention, though, were a pair of white triangle ears that rested atop her head, reminding me a fox. I noticed movement behind her, seeing a greyish-white bushy tail that twitched at the sudden attention. Walking inside, she shut the door and fidgeted as her eyes met mine.

Before she could continue, though, another flicker of movement pulled my attention. A black blur raced around her as Marishka practically leaped onto my lap, sticking her head under my left arm, as if to hide. Bewildered, I looked down at her for a few moments of silence, before I closed my eyes with a heavy sigh, pushing my fingers through Marishka’s thick fur. “I missed you too, girl. Glad to have you back.” She shook faintly in my grasp, but I said nothing about that, giving her the attention, she needed.

Alba watched us in silence before she cleared her throat. Without stopping, I looked towards her. “Arce. Introduce yourself.”

“I am called Arce, Milord.” She bowed at the waist, her voice hitching as she stuttered subtly. “How may I be of service?”

“Should Milord accept you, Arce, I will be turning your services as a scout over to him,” Alba explained to the girl, turning her gaze towards me.

Meeting her gaze for a moment, I debated standing to approach Arce properly, but with Marishka in my arms, that would be too difficult. Making do, I turned around my seat as Sora stepped aside to offer me a clear line of sight to the newcomer. “Arce, yes?” She nodded minutely, shoulders hunched, clearly nervous if her shaking, entwined hands told me anything. “Tell me about yourself. Alba recommends you, but I don’t know anything about you.”

Arce stiffened, her cheeks losing color, but she closed her eyes tightly. A breath escaped her as her shoulders loosened, tension seemingly leaving her. After a few seconds of silence, her eyes opened once more. “I’ve been an on and off adventurer for the past two years. I’ve taken most jobs in and around Xadria, with maybe one or two that are led out of the city.” She paused, pursing her lips. Her silence passed for a few moments. When I blinked, however, she vanished from sight. Jerking to the side, I faced Alba’s direction once more to see Arce standing next to her, hands clasped in front of her. “I excel at moving through and exploiting blind spots.” She explained when I stared at her.

Alba smirked in triumphant, leaning back in her seat in self-satisfaction. “Arce’s been with me for the better part of four years. She’s never failed a task that I’ve given, and I don’t feel like she’ll start now.” Said girl blushed bashfully at Alba’s words, looking down with a small smile. The Wight leaned forward in her seat. “Milord, if my situation were any different, I’d personally join you in your journey across the continent, but I’m to remain here.” She threw a glare at a self-satisfied Sora. “Soralynn’s perspective of the world is…flawed and biased, more than anyone else’s.” She offered my first companion a half-smirk, turning her gaze back to me.

The fact that Sora said nothing to defend herself told me far more than a direct answer ever would.

“Thus, my aid will have to come through indirectly.” She towards the fox-eared girl. “Arce, I am officially turning your employment from me to Joseph Blaine. Serve him as you’ve served me over these years.”

Arce gave her a shaky smile, nodding to her words. “Of course, Lady Alba. I feel honored that you’ve taken care of me as long as you have.”

Alba’s expression softened; the smile she gave the girl resembling that of a sister with pride in her sibling. “You deserved nothing less.” Her gentle tone brought an even brighter blush to the younger girl’s face.

Still, Arce sucked in a breath and turned directly to me. “Lord Joseph Blaine, I am honored to follow the man chosen to become the King of Terras.” She bowed to me, her upper body practically parallel to the ground, holding that position, apparently until I replied.

Complicated feelings welled within me upon hearing her words and seeing her actions. Pride and satisfaction for her subservience, much to my frustration; exasperation for the theatricality, though I can understand why considering the circumstances that could be between them. Youthful exuberance, since this all reminded of so many fantasy stories I’ve experienced back home. Regardless, for us to continue, Arce needed me to reply.

“Arce.” The girl straightened her posture, looking to me with a hesitant gaze. “In public, my cover name is Lyall, so be sure to call me that when we’re around others.” She nodded to my words. “In private, though, when it’s only us, call me Joey.” She stiffened as if the implied informality terrified her, but I lifted a hand. “We’re going to be fighting alongside one another. I won’t have the people putting the lives in my hands be anything less than people I consider friends and comrades.” I offered her a soft smile. “I hope you come to feel the same.”

Her cheeks darkened as she nodded to me, her lips curling into a minute smile. “I do, as well.” After her response, Arce closed her eyes and sucked in a breath, as if to gather herself. “As a scout, my specialty is approaching and stalking my targets stealthily, as well as mapping out areas for my party to safely traverse.” She lifted the left side of her jacket outwards, revealing the hilt of a dagger. “I’m skilled with the dagger, but I’m also capable with a bow.”

“That, combined with your ability to exploit blind spots, make you a terrifying sniper, as well.” I finished for her when she paused, getting a blushing nod from her. Unable to hold back a grin, I leaned back in my seat and looked from her to Sora, then to Kato. “An archer, a vanguard, a flanker and a caster. We’ve got a whole team already.” As Sora smiled playfully at my words and Kato inclined her head, Marishka groaned at me, narrowing her red eyes at me as she pulled back. I rolled my eyes at her, pushing my fingers through her fur. “You’re still too small, Rishka. Wait until you grow into your heritage, then you’ll find your place.” She grunted at me, turning and hopping off my lap.

Alba watched the Amarok with a critical eye, curiosity dancing in her icy blue eyes. “I’m still in disbelief that you managed to bond with an Amarok. They are remarkably independent.” She mused as she leaned back in her seat. “Even Penemue has difficulty convincing them to move to areas lacking humans.”

Marishka snorted as I offered a shrug. “The circumstances behind it aren’t what I’d like to repeat, if only for Marishka’s sake.” Alba nodded at my answer. With that, the rest of the meeting continued without fanfare. Alba told me the information I needed to know about staying in Xadria; what I needed to avoid considering festival preparation is going to begin in earnest tomorrow, and an assortment of other pieces of info that I’d need on a rainy day.

When we finally ended the meeting, the sun was still high in the sky but seemed to be dipping towards the horizon. I’d been out and about all day, so I felt somewhat comfortable with Xadria. I’d probably still need help finding places, but that’ll resolve itself with time. Currently, Alba had Oxton show us to the rooms that we’d be staying in for the night while she returned to whatever tasks she had for the day.

Needlessly extravagant, the room I now stood inside of seemed just as encompassing the living room in the apartment I shared with my sister. Pressed against a back was, rested a bed with a black canopy; next to it stood a bed-stand with an elaborate lantern. A bookshelf stood across the entrance, filled to the brim with texts that I felt curious about when I saw them. An ebony wooden dresser was across from the window in the room; the window covered by a set of drawn, black curtains. I looked down to see a white rug atop the dark blue carpet. Humming to myself, I shrugged off my jacket and tossed it onto the dresser. Removing Kato’s knife from the back of my belt, I placed her next to my coat.

Sitting on the edge of the bed, I put my face into my hands and let out a heavy sigh. “I wonder…how is Maggie?” I spoke aloud, leaning backward on my hands to feel the comfortable give of the mattress. “These five days have been nonstop, without a chance to sit back and just…let go.” I laughed and shook my head. “Here I am, talking to myself.” I paused and closed my eyes. “I don’t know what to feel; aside from being in over my head.” Another laugh escaped me, though it sounded far more tired than I showed.

“Politics, societal shifts, espionage. I’m seventeen fucking years old, and I’m expected to fix all of this?” Clenching my fist tight enough for my knuckles to crack, I slammed it onto the bed. “Yet, why do I feel relief?” I gritted my teeth and leaned forward. “Why am I relieved, knowing that I’ve been forced to abandon my sister? The only family I have left.” I placed my free hand on my face; eyes scrunched shut. “Why, dammit? Why?!”

I’ve held it back for so long, this festering anger that simmered just beneath the surface. It had started with the attack in the merchant quarter by Jeanne, became more apparent with her death; seeing with my own eyes the bigotry against a mere child; coddled because of my asthma; before it ultimately culminated with Luke’s betrayal.

I didn’t know what to do anymore. Bottling it up would only make things worse. I’ve already been on a knife’s edge since waking up, but I could tell that it’d only take one mishap for me to lose control. My transformation had only made it more difficult, fraying the edges of my consciousness with a desire to command, to conquer what stands in front of me.

I needed someone to talk to, someone to vent about this; it couldn’t be Sora. For all her stated loyalty, I didn’t know her; I didn’t trust her enough to let everything out. It had to be one of my old classmates because they understood. They knew from where I’d be coming from, where we’d be coming from.

A year, though. My friends have been forced to live on Verum for an entire year, while I was dead. How much had they’d changed? How much have I missed? How much-

I abruptly stood, shaking my head quickly. “Stop moping.” I scolded myself. “Action. Duty. You have a goal and a destination. Focus on that.” This life stopped being a game and had become real life for me. No more games. No more hesitation. “Get out of your head and focus on the task at hand.” I needed to fight, to just let go and burn through this excess energy. I needed a moment to myself.

Walking over to the window, I parted the curtains and opened the window. It opened into a small balcony with a black railing. Feeling the gentle breeze of the wind kissing my face, I closed my eyes and basked in the afternoon air.

“Joseph?” Sora’s gentle voice caught my attention. She must’ve been given the room next to mine. I turned my head to see her standing on the balcony, having removed her corset and only dressed in her flowing cloth dress. She no longer held her weapon, just standing on the open terrace. “What are you doing out here?”

“Getting some air.”

She hummed at my answer, looking over the horizon of the city in front of us. The dimly lit stone and marble building before us basked in the late afternoon air. I leaned against the metal and stone railing, staring forward with an exhausted hunch. “Do you wish to know something, Joey?” Sora asked as I studied the horizon, taking in the faintly smoky air from the distant forge. I turned my gaze to her as she continued to look forward, her mien almost unnatural with her stoicism. She took my silence as consent. “I hate this world.” I blinked, caught off guard by her sudden statement. “I hate these people, so easily swayed by ignorance and fear.” Her gaze rolled over to me slowly, expression a blank mask that reminded me of a mannequin. “Sometimes I wonder what the point of all of this is; why I do what I do.” Her lips slowly curled upwards, though her eyes remained cold, like chips of ice.

I didn’t answer her for a few moments before I inclined my head forward. “Then, why?” My voice came out a faint whisper, almost lost in the ambient breeze around us.

Sora closed her eyes, leaning her head back. “Penemue convinced that there was something worth protecting in humanity. Something that stands out as deserving of dedication and hope.” She snorted, lips curling in disdain as she bared her teeth. “I’ve yet to see what she meant; yet to see the trait that humanity carries that makes them ‘worthwhile.’” She sneered the final word with such hatred and distaste that it felt like a chill had settled on my shoulders, a figurative cold slime dripping down my back.

However, it surprised me when her eyes suddenly locked onto me, glowing iridescently with curiosity. “But when I observed you, during your first two months on Verum, I noticed something different.” She leaned towards me, a franticness to her growing smile. “Even as you fought and learned and trained, I could sense growing anger in you, Joey. Oh, you remained close with your classmates, but there was always a feeling of dissatisfaction, a desire to break away.”

I won’t lie. I did feel such things during my time with the Royal family. After having lived on that island with my sister for the past decade, I wanted to feel…free. I had felt tired of being trapped within a gilded cage. While I hated my abduction, I managed to see it as an opportunity to be free. A chance to live my life the way I wanted to, rather than by the whim and will of another.

“With a will and instinct of someone who had seemingly been born on Verum, you took to your new environment with no complaint, only a steely determination,” Sora spoke softly, her voice barely above a whisper; yet her intense stare made it feel like she declared it to the heavens. “Even facing Lady Jeanne, you showed no hesitation, only a tired resignation of an old soul trapped in his circumstances.”

“And what does this tell you?” I asked of her, already feeling exhausted. This whole day felt like it had gone on for too long, and I just wanted it to end.

“That even amongst your class, an already impressive coterie with astounding potential, you were the only one who could shoulder this burden,” Sora stated with finality, meeting my eyes with hers. Stern and unmoving, she pushed her resolution towards me, clearly in the hopes that it would move me. Even as I felt my heart pound at her words, I maintained my stoic gaze, meeting her eyes without hesitation. “The role of the Demon Lord is a weight that not many can carry, because of the foes he must face and the duties he must fulfill.”

I took in her words with a frown. A feeling of frustration welled within me, just the same as when Emelina used to speak of my class and me as Heroes. An expectation of becoming something specific; an expectation that I had to do that very thing, with an unspoken threat of disappointment. A twitch in the corner of my mouth was all I gave as I pushed away from the railing. “Goodnight, Sora,” I abruptly said as I left the balcony, shutting the window behind me.

“Joey?” Sora’s confused voice, muffled by the window between, ended up being the last thing I heard before deciding to go to bed.