After their chat, there was a change in Azanor and Damon. Training together in a field wasn’t enough for them. Azanor would leave with Eve to go circulate the area, saying he was going to go train more seriously. As for Damon, he left with a similar goal, though his word choice was different. Damon argued that as long as he needed his eyes to wield a spear properly, he still lacked skill in the art.

This left just Kazius, Alice, and Rowan.

While Alice wanted to get stronger, her main issue was a mental one. Whatever block she had in terms of being unable to picture her family sword as anything other than Ratier’s sword was something only she could overcome. Something that needed time. Not like Kazius minded, he found her to be the only flesh being that was lovely. He would defend her forever for all he cared, but he knew that Alice would likely not be happy with just that.

“Well, that sucks… And here I closed shop for today and everyone is running around training. Even Azzy is gone.” Rowan stated with a pout, a hand on his hips.

“They are doing what they have to… Speaking of… You said you would help us… But I believe during the meeting with Lady Sakura… You gave me very little information… You would think something as important as a rebellion would have crossed your mind to tell me about.” Kazius pointed out to him, his expression an unamused one.

“Well can you blame me? I am helping you, but anyone would want to know how capable a new leader of theirs is… Especially after following one as inept as I once did.” Rowan explained with a playful shrug.

“Speaking of secrets … You asked a question, now it is my turn. What are you? I am the shapeshifter here… Yet here you are… Looking all different… I thought most other species can’t do that… “ Rowan questioned with a raised brow.

“I’m a Shadow Fiend.” Kazius answered with no hesitation, “Does it matter?” He questioned back.

Alice seemed to perk up at his answer, but otherwise said nothing.

“I’ve heard stories about your kind, but I suppose not… We are on the same side after all. Not like I can judge… My kind can be quite frightening under the right motivation… There is a lot we can copy… Though I choose to use my powers for love. Though I do tend to make exceptions, since I did promise I would help… So, tell me, darling. What can I do for you?” Rowan questioned with a coy smile.

“Well, you tested me... So don’t blame me for doing the same now. I need information and you are the best to coax it out of people… I am to believe that someone in Lady Sakura’s palace is plotting against her… I need you to go around and blend in with the people there and try and figure out who is spreading nefarious information about her… This is not a simple rebellion though; I will tell you that. This niece of yours is lucky… If you want her happy, if you truly do see her like a niece… You would do well to be proactive with this. Once you find anything useful, come straight to me.” Kazius stated firmly.

There were a lot of uses for someone like Rowan, but he decided this would be best. Shadow Fiends could spy on anyone… But that is assuming they talk about the information you need… At times, having someone in disguise to coax it out is more efficient. Of course, unlike his friends… Kazius wasn’t sure if he could trust Rowan…

Sure, the Shapeshifter has helped them and promised to continue to do so even further… But in the end, Kazius had little reason to believe him. He needed proof of loyalty, this would apply to Sakura as well once things were in order. He would protect his friends… And Kazius didn’t care who he had to kill to do so.

“I can do that. I will look into it… If what you say is true… It would make a lot of sense.” Rowan admitted, “alright… I think I know who to pretend to be…” He stated with a grin.

With that Rowan would change appearance. She was now short, a girl with dog ears and the same outfit as the maids in the palace. “This should be good. She works on the main floor. A cute little customer of mine. I know enough about her to copy her well.” She explained, her voice even changing entirely.

“I will leave you to it then.” Kazius stated, walking away, taking hold of Alice’s hand as he did so. He hope Rowan would indeed succeed… And that she was loyal… She could indeed be useful.

Once far away, a Shadow Fiend would rise from the ground, the appearance surprising Alice if her expression showed anything. Kazius could tell she wanted to talk to him about things, but was holding back.

“Ah, so you found the dragon. Good… Have one of you trail the shapeshifter… If she betrays us, kill her.” Kazius stated with zero hesitation before the Shadow Fiend would leave just like that. His order indeed getting another reaction from Alice.

Alice was silent still, looking down. Still, she would follow for a while, into the forest, finally speaking up after a bit.

“I’m not stupid, you know?” She told him with a frown.

“I know, you are a very smart and beautiful woman.” Kazius responded back with a warm smile.

Alice looked conflicted at his words, a bit flustered, but it was clear she would not let compliments change the subject. “Are you really Kazius?” She finally asked. “The way you talk, your table manners, the way you walk, your expressions, even your posture. It isn’t just your appearance that is different… The other night I woke up and Azanor, Damon, and you were gone. I know you don’t need a lot of sleep, but Damon does, what were you all doing out at that hour? Where were you? Do you… How do you feel about me?” She questioned with a frown.

Kazius’ smile grew gentler, sighing a little. Perhaps it was time he showed her some more honesty… It wasn’t fair to her… Even if there were some things, he rather her not know. He told Damon and Azanor that he didn’t want to tell her the truth… But perhaps it was inevitable… The idea of her blaming herself for what happened to Remus left a bad sentiment in him though. He could always lie… Lies were simple… But now that she had actually confronted him on things… He wasn’t sure if he could bring himself to lie to her. Not when she looked so distressed…

“How I feel about you? Honesty? I love you more than how I know how to deal with.” Kazius admitted. While trying to save her, indeed he realized how much she meant to him. Even now, when his heart felt colder, she was there in it.

Feelings such as pity and mercy seemed foreign now, but some clearly remained.

His words did seem to fluster the woman a bit, but she kept listening as he continued.

“As for if I am Kazius or not… That was something Azanor and Damon wanted to know too, which is why they followed me out while I was sending Shadow Fiends to look for the dragon. Though the answer to that question isn’t so easy… I told them I was, but in reality, I don’t really know. I… We… We’ve been keeping a lot from you… And I’m sorry.” Kazius admitted with a sigh. He wanted her to be his queen, but he wasn’t sure how she would react to the truth.

“To be honest, I really wanted to not tell you… I confessed when I did because of my genuine feelings… But I also wanted to try and get you to not ask any questions… As for what I’ve been keeping from you… I suppose I should start from the beginning…” Kazius trailed off, “When we went to the mirror temple… Remember when you couldn’t see the future? Well… Damon and I knew why… I don’t know exactly how you were killed… But we saw a future where you were dead… Likely killed by Elande… And I was… I was the same as I am now. I was spending this future trying to get you back. That is when I realized I loved you… After seeing you like that… After that… Damon, Azanor, and I were trying to figure out how you die… But really we only had how long your hair was as a time estimate… Anyway… I knew from the vision I had a talent for necromancy… So that is why we went to the cemetery when we did…” he finally admitted.

Alice looked horrified at his words. Her expression looked panicked and pained. It was clear she was realizing a lot of things. “So… Wait… Did grandpa… Was grandpa alive in the original future?” She questioned in dismay.

“I don’t know… But none of what happened was your fault… I couldn’t protect you… That is how we ended up here… In the end… The only one to blame is me. I knew the future yet I was still useless.” Kazius admitted with a frown, “That is why when I found out the that I was half of Seselis and the other half was hiding in my shadow… I suppose you could call him my father. Having me be born was just one big scheme, a well-thought-out one that worked. To extend our life. With this… I can protect all of you, no matter what… I won’t allow Elande to continue living.

Alice seemed very saddened at his words, nodding a little to herself. “So you were taking everything upon yourself… Kazius… You may be a King… But… You shouldn’t have taken such a burden so personally… We are in this together… I… This is my fault… I should have known something was wrong… I saw your face, but I didn’t want to bother you… I could tell you were not okay… Yet I did nothing… None of us… Did… You always made sure we were okay… But no one ever made sure you were okay… And now you went and did something hasty… I never had control in my life… I wasn’t allowed to ask questions… I got braver after meeting everyone, but when it mattered most…I said nothing… I…” She stated in dismay, tears streaming down her face.

“What you accepted… And did to yourself… It should have… I should have..” Alice trailed off, upset with herself.

“I don’t regret anything, Alice… This was what it was always meant to be… I was an incomplete being… And now you will be safe, Alice… Of course… Whether you accept me or not… It is up to you. I care too much about you to turn you into a caged bird.” Kazius assured with a softened expression as he gently help her face. Indeed he loved her, what he had become… What he will do… It was all out of love…

Alice only seemed to grow sadder while looking at him despite his words. It was clear she held a lot of regrets. She seemed to think for a bit, smiling weakly at him afterwards. “I will get my hands just as dirty… You wanted me safe… But… I hope you know I want you safe as well… I… I don’t care what you are… Who you are… All I know is… You are my Kazius… And I am your Alice… So… Whatever it is you do… I will support you.” She told him with a determined gaze, she looked pained by her words, but also determined, perhaps even hopeful… She would hold his face in return, despite the fact she was the one still crying.

“I love you… I’m sorry… For failing you…” Alice stated in dismay, crying as if someone had died.

“You never failed me, Alice… I love you too…” Kazius replied to her warmly.

“I know…” Alice trailed off, seeming to be contradicting herself, but unknown to Kazius, she wasn’t.

….

….

….

Alice understood after meeting Elande, Remus was not the only one that died. The Kazius she knew and cherished. The kind hero… He was dead.