⚠︎ This chapter has no significant warnings.
♬ And the Hound - Yaelokre ♬
"No matter how much pain your heart and body goes through, the days change, the time passes and the sun starts to rise alongside the chirp of the waking birds."
With the sweet sound of the birds chirping, the warmth of the early morning wakes Nikias up even before the sunrise, the sheets rustling as he sits up on his bed, a soft yawn leaves his lips as he looks at the sleeping person next to him. It's the first time since his childhood that he slept with someone else in the same bed. Differently from Zerah, Lyor's body is cold and his body is quite bigger compared to the scrawny body of his brother, the feeling, however, is quite similar, the comfort, the familiarity and the warmth even when the other's body is cold as ice. I guess the warmth of the body doesn't matter in these situations, Nikias thinks, pushing away Lyor's hair from his eyes, the man's sleeping face makes him look even more like a statue. Stunning.
''Morning'', Lyor whispers, slowly opening his eyes, Nikias stares at him for a moment, while they were in the Morke Kingdom they didn't share the room, as this world is still quite conservative when it comes to activities before marriage, especially when it comes to nobility. And not only that, but Nikias was worried that he might not be able to sleep next to someone else, and that he might make Lyor uncomfortable. I guess I worried for nothing, he thinks with a soft smile.
''Morning'', he says, his voice hoarse, deeper than usual. Lyor smiles as well, getting up from the bed, they're both still wearing their clothes from the day before, memories of his breakdown flashing across his brain, making the boy somewhat ashamed for just spewing everything the moment he suffers a little bit of pressure.
Perhaps he isn't as strong as he thought he was.
Or perhaps it's all because it was Lyor, the man's presence, comfortable, cold yet warm and safe, even if they truly have known each other for less than four months now. Well, my past relationships were all weeks long so I guess it is quite a while if you consider that, but even so, it isn't long considering we plan to have the rest of our lives in front of us. Nikias ponders as he watches Lyor stretching and opening the curtains. I can't believe I told him I'm not really Nikias, we don't even have a mana pact or a contract between us… When did I begin to trust him like this?
''I should go'', Lyor says, approaching Nikias again, placing a soft kiss on his forehead, the kiss is short but is enough to make the boy blush. ''I can't stay away long, but you can always send me letters with your worries, I'll do my best to help you with them''. He places another kiss, this time on Nikias' cheek. His lips feel soft on my skin, he thinks with a nod, he's still worried about much, but Lyor's warm words and soft touch certainly don't help him keep the doubt for long. Is this why they say the easiest way to be betrayed is to care deeply for someone? Saying it is love is too strong for now, they haven't spent enough time, but it is a fact that from everyone he met in this new reality, Lyor is the one Nikias cares about the most, and his heart that is slowly opening up to the man, is rare and still healing from past scars. ''And remember, that the one I care about is you, not a shadow, an empty body or a wandering soul, it's your sweet words, care, wisdom, soft smiles, vulnerabilities and even the frows when you're thinking too much. You said I should use your new name as this is your new life, but just this once, to get my point across…''
Lyor's cold hands coup Nikias' face, making the boy stare him in his eyes, their foreheads touching and their lips softly brushing each other's, on the background even the sound of the birds is fading as Nikias' heartbeat becomes louder, he's pretty sure his body is burning under Lyor's cold touch.
''Vahe, I swear on my never dying soul to be your solace, your home, to protect you even against your own dark thoughts, to hold your hand as you cross thorny paths, and ultimately to be your partner, husband and life companion until the death of the universe'', his words are a whisper, his voice is sweet and his breath tickles. Maybe I should start reading philosophy books as well, to be able to speak such sweet words, he thinks, fighting his own emotions, he doesn't want to cry again nor show any sadness in response to Lyor's sensibility, he's truly conflicted hearing those words. Part of him melts alongside it while the other part of him is still doubtful if what he's saying is really true.
''That sounds like a proposal'', Nikias ends up saying with a soft laugh, still embarrassed, his cheeks and ears burning and his eyes closed as he can't bear the burning gaze of Lyor, his heart is already sounding like a fanfare's drum.
Although he says his words with a playful tone, Lyor's response is nothing but serious. ''Because it is'', his words make Nikias open his eyes again, Lyor's eyes are now completely white, both of them, he can't identify the feeling behind it, however his burning passion is clear behind that brilliant gaze. Nikias feels seen, behind the silver hair and golden eyes, behind the body that doesn't belong to him, as if Lyor is gazing directly into his soul. ''Vahe, will you marry me?'' He asks, the use of his real name shouldn't make him emotional, it shouldn't bring tears to his eyes, it shouldn't quell the throbbing pain inside his heart he's had since the previous day.
His brain spins, he wants to say he's not worth it, joke around that they're already engaged, or even ask if Lyor is sure. The memory of Zerah's death is still fresh in his brain, and the pain he felt is still engraved in his heart, the guilt is still eating him away. Survive. He's doing that, but if Zerah was there, what would he say? Not the projection of Vahe's encapsulated guilt, but his real brother that loved him enough to sacrifice himself for him. Deep down, he knows his brother would want nothing but happiness for him, even if his guilt is still stopping him from fully accepting it.
So, even if he wants to dismiss Lyor's sincerity in an attempt to feed into his self-pity, he keeps his resolve to be completely honest with the King. ''Yes, Lyor, I'll marry you, after all, you're the only one I can think of as my future'', he closes his eyes, unable to end it there. ''I still need time to fully accept your affection, though'', he finishes, brushing his lips against Lyor's. ''But I've truly come to adore you during these past months'', he completes in a whisper.
The King doesn't reply, he just gently presses his lips against Nikias', their kiss is soft and short, it's not a kiss of passion or a display kiss like their previous ones, it's almost like a kiss of pure affection with the only goal of joining their hearts. Lyor backs off a bit, his hand going from Nikias' face to his hand, brushing his thumb against his warm skin and grazing the silver bracelet he gifted the Prince.
''I have a gift for you'', Lyor says, his other hand in his pocket, looking for something on his jacket. ''In a few days I'll be leaving for the conquest of the Ayru Kingdom, truth be told, it's more of a defensive move than offensive'', he continued, taking a small black box from his pocket. Is it a ring? Nikias wonders. That's… Sweet and unnecessary. ''After I gave you the bracelet I couldn't help myself from making other things'', he says, his gaze softening as his eyes go back to the normal heterochromatic color. ''To be clear, this isn't our wedding ring'', he states, opening the small box. ''But it does carry a lot of my sincerity, I made it with the same silver I used for the bracelet, and the stone I refined myself from one of our mana stone mines, it's a light stone, which I also engraved with an one-time teleportation spell, it doesn't work long distances, but it can help you escape a difficult moment'', Lyor is rambling, his voice trembling a bit, he looks visibly nervous. So even him gets nervous sometimes, Nikias thinks his expression is calm and mostly inexpressive, but deep down he finds the different emotions Lyor just displayed in front of him to be unbearably adorable.
The ring is quite simple, it's clear it was made by someone that has very little experience crafting jewelry, the mana stone is split in various small stones engraved in the silver ring, making it shine like stardust. Nikias moves his hand to grab it, but Lyor stops him, putting the ring on his hand himself. The material is soft on his skin, and due to the thin thickness, he can barely feel it, looking closely, he can see the magic circle engraved in the silver, being powered by the mana stone.
''It's not a relic like the bracelet, but it was made with just the same care'', Lyor whispers, kissing the back of Nikias' hand.
''How do you find time to make these things?'' Nikias asks. ''With the conquests, training, administrative work… Are you even human?''
''Well… For you I can always find the time'', Lyor says with an awkward smile, not wanting to say that he pushes most of the administrative work to Cypress so that he has free time to train the sword and read philosophy books.
Nikias wants to ask more, but a faint knock is heard at his door, making it clear that his time with Lyor is once again, coming to an end. His tormented heart, calmer thanks to the man.
''Your Majesty, we need to leave'', Cypress' voice is heard behind the door, he sounds tired and annoyed.
''Just one moment'', Lyor replies, leaning to place another kiss on Nikias' lips, this time a farewell kiss, leaving a sweet and bitter taste on his lips. ''I will see you next time, and don't forget to write to me'', Nikias nods alongside his words, watching as the man gets out of the bed, puts on his shoes and opens the bedroom door.
On the other side Nikias can see Cypress, the King's aide is clearly annoyed, his green long hair is down and tucked behind his ear, his clothes are still the same as the day prior but it has a drink stain on it and his seafoam eyes seem even more tired than usual. ''Your highness'', Cypress greets the Prince with a short bow, before directing an angry gaze towards the King. ''You ditched me without a word, do you have any idea what I had to deal with?'' He whispers to Lyor, but Nikias can still hear it.
Lyor smiles, closing the door behind him as he gives one last gaze towards Nikias, so the boy can't hear the rest of their conversation.
❥
The door of the meeting room in the Knight's building is rough in Nikias' hands, the worn out wood smells like mold and differently from the room they used previously, this one doesn't have mana stones to cool down the room's temperature, making it unbearably warm. He didn't have much of a choice considering all the other rooms were already occupied, probably due to the attack that happened after he left the ball.
Inside the room, all of his employees are already there, he doesn't say a word as he enters, just pushing his silver hair back, trying to air a bit his sweating forehead, his golden eyes show clear exhaustion and he's regretting wearing a long-sleeve now, even if it is raining slightly outside. It's damp here, I'm suffocating, he thinks, sitting down at the chair on the rear end of the table, grabbing the papers Fleuri left there for him to review. Slowly, in complete silence, he reads the reports, he can feel the impatient and curious gaze of his employees, but he doesn't even gaze at them until he finishes reading all of it.
''Good morning'', he says finally, raising his gaze from the papers, he doesn't wait for a reply. ''Maybe it's my fault for doing something so uncharacteristic'', he says, his gaze is piercing, his tone cold and his face is, as always, expressionless. He can feel Petal rustling around his shirt's pocket, waking up, but not even her soft warm mana can make him calm down. Slowly his voice raises and the anger is so palpable, that the room's oxygen levels drop, making the Knights feel suffocated. ''But I never thought you would fail so miserably''.
At the end of the day, the operation worked out. Of course it did, it was supposed to end well even in the book, a fake assassination attempt on the Crown Prince that had the goal of stealing the Empress' necklace, the real reason behind their goal isn't clear even for those that read the original novel several times, sure, Nikias can speculate, but that wouldn't do him any good. They successfully managed to prevent it from being stolen and even better, no one noticed their participation except for the Silver Crows' Captain Rainier Bauldry.
However, Nikias true objective with this operation was to see how his Knights performed with their tasks in a do-or-die situation, and in his eyes, they failed. The ends do not justify the means, because a lucky strike won't happen twice.
''I can't even begin to describe my disappointment'', he says, grabbing the report in front of him, reading the words again just to make sure he isn't mistaken. ''First of all, Dacre and Jiwon'', he looks at the two Knights, Dacre is wearing a worried expression, contrary to his usual cheerful one, but he's not as different as Jiwon Draeger, the man looks absolutely worn out. His previously dark obsidian eyes now have a small hint of bright pink, and lying on his forehead is a scar in the shape of a diadem. ''Leaving the ballroom without any authorization from me or your Captain, what were you thinking? Do you think I'm a joke?'' Nikias' voice is firm, not even Lowe and Raphael ever saw him this angry. ''Because I don't see any other reason that could possibly excuse your actions!'' The floor of the meeting room is covered in a shining dust and everyone there is sweating and trying to breathe properly.
''My apologies, your highness'', Dacre is the first one to speak, his voice is low, he gets up, falling on his knees next to Nikias' chair. ''I'll accept any punishment you see fit'', his words are definitely the right ones, there isn't any excuse he could give for leaving his duty, even if it wasn't his fault. His head is down, staring straight at the floor, the boy's position makes Nikias remember his past, making him even more upset.
''Get up, I never asked you to kneel'', he says, lowering his tone, a small sigh leaving his mouth. ''Explain it''.
Jiwon finally speaks, he sounds embarrassed and he can't look the Prince in the eyes. ''It's all my fault, your highness, I fell ill and Dacre only assisted me'', Nikias stares at him silently, something isn't right, they aren't telling him the whole truth, which annoys him the most.
''If you're ill, why didn't you go to the infirmary?'' The Prince asks.
The Knight opens his mouth to speak, but the one to reply is Dacre, who bends over, whispering in Nikias' ear, low enough for only him to hear. ''Nikki, a god approached us last night and Jiwon became a Saint, I'm sorry for my insubordination, but I wasn't allowed to leave him alone last night, he was out of it'', finally the truth. Nikias is a bit surprised by the way things are going. Saints weren't well-explored in 'Odd Eyes' and even being a Saint himself, he still doesn't understand it completely. He looks at Jiwon again, noticing the man's eyes on Dacre, as if it was to be a secret, but there shouldn't be these types of secrets between a Knight and their Lord.
''Understood, either way, you both disobeyed a direct order,'' he says, thinking about a proper punishment. ''Dacre, your pay will be cut in 25% for the next 3 months'', he can see by Dacre's expression that this was the right punishment, the color completely leaving his face. ''And Jiwon, write me a report on what happened in detail, if there is a single thing that doesn't match what Dacre said, I'll be sending you back to the Morke Kingdom with an extensive report of insubordination, your salary will also be cut, but in 50% for the next 3 months'', Nikias says, writing down his own words, so that he can pass those information to the Knight's orders accountant.
Of course, what Jiwon wants the most is leave this wretched Empire he hates so much and go back to where he considers his home, but an insubordination report could land him in disciplinary leave and he might even be kicked out from the Spectres, especially considering the report is coming from the future King Consort of the Kingdom. He nods slowly, he doesn't want to tick Nikias off even more, and although he planned to keep his Sainthood a secret for a few weeks until he himself adapted into it, it doesn't seem he'll be able to do it.
And most of all, after his emotions got the best of him due to his new ''powers'' as a Saint, he ended up accepting his infatuation with Dacre, and after he managed to make the boy accept to become his lover as their soul connection demands, he also can't leave the Empire, at least not until he convinces Dacre of their destined love.
His change in attitude towards the young one is clear to everyone there, but Nikias' anger is more pressing than a scuffle between two emotionally confused Knights.
''As you wish, your highness'', Jiwon answers, bowing his head.
Nikias moves towards the next topic, grabbing the next report made by Raphael. ''Moving on, although you did a good job Raphael, you did well as an individual, but you were there as a Captain, the fact that your Knights left also befalls upon you, regardless if you had an active play in it or not'', again the room is engulfed in silence, the thickness of Nikias' mana is making everyone slightly faint, he isn't controlling his mana leak on purpose, his goal is clear. To discipline his Knights and make it clear that he isn't someone to be walked all over, even if he gives them a relative freedom and doesn't care about most formalities Royals have, it doesn't make him a pushover.
Of course, the only one that thinks people see him as a pushover is Nikias himself, most of the people in that room were already fully aware that the Prince was quite dangerous. An growth of unprecedented rate, someone that never touched a bow before in their life is now able to shoot arrows in a row with very little training, read books of the ancient language of the Empire that not even the Crown Prince is able to, or even produce a mana so thick that not even the Emperor would be able to shake it off, and that is his ''few'' standing out qualities the Knights noticed in the last 3 months, not touching even the tip of the iceberg of Nikias' talents.
''My apologies, your highness'', Raphael says, his hand over his heart as he feels it tighten, he can't help but feel like a failure and that he's unworthy of the responsibilities bestowed upon him. ''I am unworthy of your compliments''.
Nikias shakes his head, another sigh leaving his lips as he massages between his eyes, trying not to frown. ''You won't be punished since Dacre's explanation alleviates your guilt, however you won't be given another chance if you come to fail again'', he says, his eyes glowing. ''And that comes to all of you. I can forgive a mishap, mistakes happen and we're all humans, but failure to follow orders isn't something I can tolerate nor will I. Most of you are here because you're desperate, whichever the true reason inside your heart, I gave you a chance to live a life above ground'', everything he says is true, sure, Nikias could be a bit more humble about it, but he doesn't find a reason to. ''However, regardless if you betray me, lie to me, hide things from me…'' he looks at Jiwon, ''Or disobeys my orders, I'll make sure you end up worse than when I extended my hand to save you from suffocating underground''.
No one there doubts that his threat is real, sure, all of them had already signed a contract that could make them lose their lives if they betrayed Nikias, but his words make it clear that a ''betrayal'' isn't just stabbing him in the back. Overall, compared to most Lords, Nikias isn't highly demanding or unreasonable. In the last 3 months they didn't even have much to do besides some recon missions, but perhaps, compared to most Lords, Nikias is, by far, the most dangerous one.
The work conditions are certainly equally proportional to the dangers, Irene thinks, playing with her finger as she tries to concentrate on her mana barrier, attempting to alleviate the mana poisoning symptoms for inhaling too much of Nikias' mana that now fills the whole room.
''I hope I made myself completely clear'', the Prince says, finally retreating all of his leaked mana, everyone gasping for air as the environment becomes lighter. ''Now, please report the progress in your other tasks'', he continued, giving Fleuri next to him the papers he finished reading and moving on with the meeting.
❥
A few days pass by without a hitch, Nikias keeps his schedule tight with training, lessons and meeting with his Knights to make sure they're doing their jobs properly, he's also taking his time planning the development of his store at the Capital, thinking about layouts, products, etc alongside Fleuri. I need to talk with Gutierre about him taking over the management of the store, he thinks as he slowly walks the Palace corridors, yawning, as he hasn't been able to sleep well since that night he slept with Lyor, the nightmares of Zerah's death haunting him. I also need to decide on a name, for both the store and the Information Guild, I'm not good with names, though, he continues to reflect as he opens the door of his mother's room.
In the Exos Empire, the Empress and Emperor sleep in separate rooms and have scheduled nights in which they sleep together. That makes sense since most of the Royal couples were arranged marriages, including father and mother's. Nikias thinks, observing the room, the Empress' chambers are darker than most rooms, the walls are navy blue and the ceiling has a painting of the goddess of the moon hugging the moon itself, the bed is twice the size of Nikias' and the sheets are also dark in color, the room also has a mirror, a dressing table, a sofa near the balcony and three doors, one leading to the bathroom, another to the Empress' closet and the third one is a door that accesses the Emperor's room. Compared to Lyor's Castle, the Palace is truly gigantic, he thinks remembering how the room he stayed at the Morke Kingdom was even half of the size of his own room, and comparing it to the Empress' one it is even smaller.
''Nikki, come on in'', the Empress voice is soft, she's sitting at the sofa near the open balcony, she's wearing a velvet red and golden long dress, her silver hair is in a fishtail braid and she's barefoot as she's laying on the sofa, her gaze on the bright sunny sky, as if the day is clear only for her appreciation since the last few days were rainy and damp. ''Would you like some wine? Or tea?'' The woman asks, just then Nikias notices the glass of wine she's drinking. Empress Else is the definition of elegance, even while she does something most women of the Empire do, she undeniably is the Empress, the highest ranking woman in the Empire and the ruler of many.
''No, thank you mother'', Nikias tries to not falter, he still feels guilty for taking the affection directed at a dead person, although the guilt of Zerah's death is still stronger, making those newer feelings of deception a backburner for now. ''May I ask why you requested my presence?'' He asks, as he was quite busy in the last days, and intends to be even busier as soon Lyor will be leaving for another conquest.
''Do you know why your father chose me as his Empress although he was engaged to someone else?'' Else asks, filling her now empty glass again, her lips already tainted red by the wine, her heart is in shambles and she's only taking a day off due to Magnus' nagging after she fell asleep in her office due to exhaustion. Being alone with her own thoughts after her son suffered so much feels wrong, and knowing she failed as a mother makes her want to give up the whole world for a chance to fix it.
''Because you were Nyx's last descendant?'' Nikias asks, not really curious, and he doesn't exactly know for sure, 'Odd Eyes' only stated that the Emperor and Empress' political marriage made love blossom for them later on after their children were born. And the fact that the Empress dies early on in the first book, doesn't help with much.
''Well, that certainly played a part, and to be fair, you, Alkaios and Magnus are descendants of Nyx just as much as Aelius','' she says, taking another sip of her wine. ''The reason is why I only enter the Temples wearing full face veils'', she continues. ''I'm the Saint of the goddess of the Moon'', she turns to face Nikias, her pink eyes fully purple, the color of hypnotic mana, the same color as Nyx's and the goddess of the Moon's full power. ''I was born with it, why she blessed me and not a child of Nyx, I do not know'', Else says, sitting down. ''Compared to other Saints I had it good, she doesn't make many demands, nor does she interfere with my choices''.
His head hurts, Nikias is having a hard time understanding his mother's words, he's trying to think, his mind a swirl of information, recalling some of Lyor's letters where he stated that the gods were sending him visions of Nikias' misdeeds, of course those weren't his own but the original Nikias' past. However, if the goddess of the Moon does the same…
''Yesterday, though, she spoke to me'', a sigh leaves the Empress' lips as she swirls the wine inside the glass. ''She said that the god of the Sun's new Saint was the same as the previous one: an anomaly''. Nikias holds his breath, his hands trembling. ''Of course I cannot assume what the gods mean by anomaly'', she says, making Nikias exhale in relief. ''But I know she was speaking of you''.
Nikias nods. ''Yes, I assume I became the Sun's god Saint after I was reborn, months ago, however I did not hear his voice nor went to the Temple to confirm it'', he can't look her in the eye.
''Yes, you shouldn't, the Priests are a pain in the ass when it comes to Saints, that's why I hide it as well…'', she says with another sigh. ''And the Sun's god is known for being mostly a passive god'', she continues, placing her glass on the floor next to the sofa. ''What I cannot wrap my head around, is why you wouldn't tell us''.
He's caught by surprise, his mother doesn't sound mad, just disappointed. It never crossed his mind to speak with his parents or brother, after all, he doesn't truly consider them family. He thinks about lying or trying to dodge the question, in the end, he decides to be honest. ''I never meant to hurt any of you, but it's hard to see all of you as family when I don't have a single memory of my time with you before these last three months'', and even if I did, I doubt the original Nikias had any fond memories of this family as well.
Empress Else nods, she can fully understand what her son is saying, but her heart hurts even so. ''I see… I can't… Demand you to love me as your mother now… I just hope you know I love you my dear son'', her words are emotional and he can see the tears shining in her eyes, but her sentimentality is wasted in him. Even if deep down he wished for motherly love, those words aren't meant for him and that love isn't directed at him. She cleans her throat and taps her eyes softly to clean the tears that never left them. ''I separated a few books from my private collection about Saints and the gods, even if you don't feel like you can depend on me, I hope you'll find them useful'', she points at a small book pile near the door.
''Thank you, mother'', Nikias says with a bow, turning to grab the books. Being there is suffocating him, the guilt creeping from his stomach to his throat. ''I'll make good use of them''.
''Yes'', she whispers softly, a sad smile on her lips. ''Nikias, if you ever need anything, please remember me and your father are here to assist you in anything, regardless of reason'', her words are sincere, but Nikias doesn't intend to get their help unless he's trapped in a well with no exit in sight. So he just says another word of thanks and leaves his mother's room, eager to go back to his own office and his own safe space.
❥
To my beloved Nikias,
Today we leave to intercept the Ayru Kingdom's army. I do think we'll emerge victorious through this ordeal even if the enemy's army is significantly larger. For this conquest there are me, Noor, Seoah and 20 of the Temples' paladins.
Paladins are Knights that exclusively serve the gods and protect the Temples from external threats, however since I'm the Saint of said gods, they also serve me, therefore I managed to convince the Priests to allow their participation in the conquest. I would say 1 paladin is equal in power to 10 regular soldiers, and if they're able to use divine power, even more so. Their training is strenuous and rigorous, they're obligated to let go of any desires and solely devote themselves to god. Being the one to take advantage of their power, I feel like a hypocrite saying that I do find their devoutness a bit unfounded considering the gods do not care about us.
The reason for our hurry to leave is simple: the Ayru Kingdom is moving to attack the Kingdom after we conquered their allies, the Wada Kingdom. But worry not, I do not intend to go there completely unprepared.
Even if we're unable to contact each other during these next weeks, I hope you still write to me, how your day went, what you've been up to and your thoughts, as I do think reading your letters give me the strength to move through these exhausting battles.
It's all for the good of the people, but sometimes I do catch myself wondering if I am doing what's right.
With my heart filled with affection,
Lyor.
❥
Dearest Lyor,
I hope this letter reaches you before you officially leave for your conquest, as I'm sending the reply right away. If not, I hope this letter does not shock you too much.
I won't dwell much on the details as I want to reply quickly.
Your Knight, Jiwon Draeger, has become the Saint of the god of Love, this happened during the ball a few days ago, and although I had received the information four days ago, only today I was able to read the report of what happened fully.
As you know, it's rare for many Saints to appear in the same region, and not only that but most gods avoid having Saints. Not only you, me and Cypress. But now Jiwon… And yesterday Nikias' mother confided in me that she's also a Saint.
What can we do? As the gods move, the reality of the world-changing catastrophe that is imminent becomes even realer. Five Saints in the same century, all with interlocking fates… It's something I do not know the cause of nor am sure if it is a positive or negative outcome.
If you come in contact with any other Saints, please report back to me, as I am quite worried about the gods' choices.
Remember to stay safe.
Truly yours,
Nikias.
❥
Dear Nikias,
I hope my letter is legible as I'm writing this quickly before mounting my horse to leave. Cypress will be the one sending this letter so I apologize in advance.
Thank you for the information, I'll think about your questions and reflect upon your worries.
I am aware of another Saint, there is a prisoner in my Castle from the fallen Beller Kingdom, her name is Firuzeh DuPont and she's the Saint of the goddess of the Ocean.
Please also inform me of any new information you come upon.
Yours,
Lyor.
❥
Dearest Lyor,
It's been two weeks since you left for your conquest and there is so little I can share of my life these past days. But I did not wish to leave you too long without a letter. I sent the report on Jiwon's sainthood to Cypress, as I've figured he must be in charge of such things. He and Fleuri - my aide - also shared letters discussing my next trip to the Kingdom, as next month I must visit again even if you're not there.
Although you mentioned you spoke to the Priests, I'm still skeptical if they'll teach me willingly. I do want to learn and respect the culture of the Kingdom I'll rule in the future, not only for the people, but mostly for you. As you've grown up there, even amongst the pain of the burden of being a Saint that tormented you during your formative years, I imagine you still have found memories there.
I was discussing with my Knights about my schedule of events for the next months, and I noticed your birthday had gone through… I can't explain how distraught I was to learn that even if we were together for a short span of time I didn't congratulate you nor gave you a gift. Gracefully and kindly you didn't get upset or complained, and although I'm already a full month late:
Happy birthday Lyor, and I am grateful for your birth. I'll give you a gift once you return from the conquest.
Remember to stay safe.
Truly yours,
Nikias.
❥
To my lovely Nikias,
The conquest extended for a while, what we expected to be an easy win was quite strenuous, and we believe it'll take at least another month. I cannot take much time writing a reply.
My birthday was never something I truly celebrated, and to be honest, I also forgot about it as it is the same date as the Light Solstice. So don't feel sad about it, however I will take upon your offer of congratulations and the gift, as anything coming from you warms my day.
With affection,
Lyor.
❥
Dearest Lyor,
It's now been 1 month and 16 days since you've left for your conquest. Nor me or Cypress have heard news about you or the conquest, he said it might be hard to reach you with my letter, however I must write to you either way.
All I can wish for is for your safety and well-judgement to return to me in due time.
As a way to quell my worries I'll share a bit of my recent activities.
Earlier this month, I went to an opera with my brother and mother. To be frank, I did not wish to attend it, but it was a nice change of pace and I wonder if the Morke Kingdom has anything similar on the arts? The opera hall was beautiful and the voice of the actors was enthralling. Later on, I went on several outings with Fleuri to my business at the Capital, the building is finally in its finishing touches, I'll probably be able to inaugurate it around January, in a few months time. What is truly troubling me is finding people of trust to work there.
I was also discussing with the Palace Magicians and my brother about the possibility of establishing an importation route between the Morke Kingdom and the Exos Empire in order to sell the Kingdom's goods in my store, we're still negotiating and Cypress mentioned we still would need your approval, so once you return let's discuss it properly, as this could prove beneficial for the Kingdom's economy long-term.
During the past month I've also been working alongside Irene and Miyuki to develop some magic artifacts, I haven't realized how hard it is to actually make what I envisioned, they've been working so hard I think Miyuki has become paler than usual, and he's a half vampire so he's already quite pale. I do feel bad for my employees, however we are in need of those artifacts soon… Once they're close to a concrete end, I will share more about it with you. I also plan on using the royalties for the formula of the artifacts to help the finances of the Morke Kingdom.
Speaking of finances, your butler, Keres, told me about the Kingdom's situation. I attempted to assist a bit with part of my allowance, however Cypress denied my help, he said you wouldn't wish for me to provide financial aid, may I inquire why? As we're partners after all, I do hope you allow me to help at least instigate the economy with what I mentioned previously, as the Kingdom will also become mine to rule as well in two years time.
My visit to the Kingdom yesterday was also quite fruitful, my worries were quelled by Cypress once we reached the Temples. The Priests only told me what the bridal rites entail and gave me a few books to read, most of it are religious in nature, and some I'm incapable of performing since I am a Saint of a different god, however I did not inform them of that, so once the time comes, please assist me with such. The drawback of entering a Temple of a different god is really strong, and I did feel a bit sick afterwards, the atmosphere in the Kingdom also pains me a bit, however one of the books Nikias' mother gave me on Saints did say that this will pass once I get accustomed to another god's mana.
The people of the Kingdom were also quite respectful and some even bowed to me as I walked the streets from the Temples to the Castle. I can see that they simply adore you, be it as a ruler or as some sort of messiah as you previously told me. My time there was short but I do think it was beneficial, even if it made me miss you even more.
I hope you don't get upset, but I did ask Cypress to lend me the last book you were reading, 'Human Essence', it's quite the title, it's probably a lot of subjective wording again, however reading the same books as you do help me with my restless heart as I await news on your conquest and your safety.
Please return soon, before I start thinking about praying to gods I do not believe in.
Truly yours,
Nikias.
❥
The bright sky devoid of any sun or clouds welcomes Nikias in his third visit to the Morke Empire, the second one without the presence of Lyor. The King's conquest in the Ayru Kingdom has proven more challenging than expected, or at least that's what the reports Cypress exchanged with Seoah said, according to her, Lyor had read Nikias' letter but was unable to answer due to the constant battles and ambushes of the enemy in their camp. However knowing Lyor is safe is enough for Nikias, the lack of contact and the restlessness that comes with it just makes Nikias wonder if this is how the wives and loved ones of other Knights also feel.
Last time he came alongside Dacre and Fleuri only as Jiwon was worried about his sainthood to go back to the Kingdom, the Prince was still doubtful and doesn't fully trusts Jiwon yet, as not only the Knight lied to him, but also is actively avoiding him after the meeting two months ago. Dacre told Nikias that the reason for the Knights weird attitude lately comes from the dreams he's been having after becoming a Saint, something about different dimensions soulmates, whatever it is, he honestly doesn't care as long as he does his job properly from now on.
''It's weird how it's clear but there is no sun'', Dacre comments, stepping away from the magic circle, already used to the atmosphere in the Kingdom as he accompanies Nikias every time he comes to it. Fleuri as well, already with his blonde hair up in a messy bun and walking away towards the Castle, for a meeting he had scheduled with Keres about the Kingdom's goods for importation. ''I wonder if they don't feel cold here'', Dacre comments, grabbing the jacket of his uniform from his hip to put it on, shivering.
The cold of the Kingdom comes from Lyor's mana that encapsulates the whole Kingdom as a protection layer, this way he knows about any changes in it and can also monitorate any hostile entities, the fact that he's able to do so in this huge piece of land that has become the Morke Kingdom is enough proof of his boundless mana and strength.
''We're honestly used to it'', Cypress says, approaching the two, he's wearing his glasses in a chain on his neck, his clothes are a bit disheveled and his already deep dark circles are even darker, the man is probably even more overworked due to the lack of communication from the King. ''When I first came here I also felt cold all the time'', Cypress says, clicking the pen he's holding, a habit Nikias noticed the man does when he's feeling anxious. ''Hayun and Anwar returned yesterday, I think your highness should greet them'', he comments while looking around. ''Jiwon didn't come today as well?''
''He's a bit grumpy due to the prophetic dreams'', Dacre comments, stretching his arms and shrugging. ''I told him that it was bullshit and he's just scared of his sisters, but he still refused to come''.
Cypress nods, a few locks of his emerald hair falling on his face. ''I figured''.
While talking about the Kingdom and the never ending conquest, Nikias accompanies Cypress towards the training grounds near the Castle. Compared to the training grounds in the Exos Empire, it is considerably smaller, having only a shed where they store weaponry and the barren sand where they train. There are around 40 soldiers doing their usual training, Nikias doesn't know them yet, however they bow as he passes around, a stark difference from the Knights of the Empire that had to be conditioned to do so. After crossing the grounds and reaching the weapons storage, he sees two figures that catch his eye, they're clearly comfortable there, and they're in an upright and firm posture, of a true Knight differently from the common soldiers around there.
''Anwar, Hayun, this is his Majesty's fiance, Prince Nikias Gregor Chrysl'', Cypress says once they approach the two figures.
''I greet the second star of the Empire'', they both say with a short bow at the same time, differently from the other Knights from Spectres that Nikias met, they have a more graceful and respectful air to them.
Hayun is the one Lyor said to be the Crown Princess of a fallen Kingdom, her posture sure exudes elegance, her clothes are simple and are dirty probably from training, her hair is the longest Nikias ever saw, almost reaching her feet, the color is deep and dark like the most pure tone of black, in the place of her eyes there is a red stripe with golden tips to hide her lack of them. Anwar on the other hand has a more rugged appearance compared to Hayun's soft and elegant one, he has a cool brown skin that is covered in the most diverse of scars, making Nikias wonder the stories behind them, his hair is black and his eyes are of a dark grey tone. He does have quite the variety of people under him… he thinks. Fallen Royalty triplets, a pirate, an exiled Prince and a guy that looks like a reformed thug.
''Nice to meet you'', Nikias says with a nod, more interested in looking around, his head in constant analysis of what he can do to improve the Kingdom and aid Lyor.
''Are you Jiwon's older sister?'' Dacre asks, smiling, although his mood seemed to take a dive after the ball two months ago, he still smiles every now and then.
Of course, Nikias knows the reason, as unprompted, Dacre shared every single detail of his private life with him, weirdly Nikias did find comfort in the frivolous conversation, even sharing a bit of his worries in his relationship with the King, confiding in the boy.
By what Dacre confided in him, it seems that he and Jiwon entered a relationship which he seems to want to keep it a secret from others, and Dacre seems troubled by the nonsense the man has been spouting lately, about their several lives and soul connection. All which Dacre does not believe in, and not only that, but apparently the two have been engaging in sexual activities that never truly lead towards actual penetration as Dacre is unsure if he wants to.
Again, all of this became Nikias' knowledge against his will.
''Yes, and you are?'' She asks, her voice is quite melodical and her words are swift like the wind.
''Dacre, a Knight of the Prince'', he answers with a smile, although the woman cannot see it, she can feel it, the fake smile creeping into his tone.
''Nice to be your acquaintance'', she replies softly.
''Cypress, did you get any news?'' Anwar speaks after introducing himself to Dacre as well, his words are careful, his voice is deeper than Nikias even, which is quite a surprise for someone his age. ''I told Noir to avoid the forests, but he's quite stubborn when the enemy charges in'', his tone is one of defeat, as if he's used to it.
''Seoah sent me a mana message yesterday saying they have reached the Castle, I'm sure his Majesty will send us news soon'', Cypress says with a sigh. ''I just hope he does nothing stupid like doing two conquests in a row like last time.''
It's amusing to see Lyor's subordinates speaking about him, they sound annoyed yet fond of him, a tone of gratitude and worship at the back of every sentence they speak.
''I wouldn't put it past him to do just that'', Hayun says, playing with her slingshot as she speaks. How can she aim without her eyes? Nikias wonders.
''You should know better than to speak ill of his Holiness the King'', a voice Nikias learned to hate speaks behind him. He turns to see Leora de Luce, from the first moment Lyor introduced her he knew she would annoy the wits out of him. Her eyes remind him of Margrave Larchier, her voice makes him shrivel and her words make him wonder how can a person older than him sound so… naively stupid?
''With no due respect, mind your own fucking business'', the one that replies is Dacre, who seemed to have fought with the woman the previous time they came here, not that Nikias knows of the details of what happened, he's pretty sure the woman deserved whatever Dacre said or did.
Leora flinches, her eyes show a hint of fear, but her stubbornness remains and she doesn't move. ''I can't forgive those that doubt the mission the Saint is in, y'all owe your lives to him!''
''Please, go pray and fuck off'', Dacre is the one that speaks again, his green eyes showing clear hostility, which is rare considering his eyes are most oftenly dull and devoid of emotions. ''You shouldn't even be listening in this conversation''.
''I have every right to be here! I'm his Holiness' childhood friend and…'' She glances at Nikias, hesitating to continue her words.
''And what?'' Dacre asks, stepping forward, his face near the woman's. ''Continue what you're saying because I would love a reason to punch your face again''.
She flinches. ''You beast''.
''That's enough Leora'', this time the one that speaks is Anwar, his eyes are calm and collected, he seems the most rational of the bunch. ''What the young Knight said is true, you're not allowed in the training grounds of the Castle, nor should you be speaking about your relationship to the King that you deluded yourself into believing you have'', his words are just as harsh as Dacre's, but his tone is calm, making him sound more… mature.
''I did not do such a thing!'' She says, her face becoming red from embarrassment. ''You'll see, his Holiness bestowed upon me the same responsibilities as a Queen, how could you tell me that he does not…'' She freezes, just then noticing what she said, yet she doesn't apologize or goes back on her word. ''Either way, I have every right to know his whereabouts and the state of the conquest!''
Nikias sighs, catching the attention of all of those present, he was going to stay silent, because he's tired, and his head is only with worries about Lyor and the Kingdom right now, however he cannot let such comments go by. If he does, he will have been rude to everything the King's showed and told him until now, every ounce of trust and reliability he was given would have been for nothing if he allows others to think they can even imagine a life by Lyor's side. Dacre flinches, he can feel the shift in the air around them, the same feeling of when Nikias intently lets his mana leak while reprimanding others or threatening someone. The sparks surrounding them don't leave room for speculation of why it has become so hard to breathe, the only one able to somewhat be fine is Cypress due to his higher tolerance as a Saint, but even him can't last long against someone that has considerably more mana than him.
''You know, for someone so insignificant, you sure enjoy provoking others'', Nikias says, his anger clear in his tone. ''If you even entertain the idea that you might be the one marrying Lyor, then cease those thoughts immediately before I make sure you're unable to ever even think again.'' He takes a deep breath, controlling himself, he's a Prince now, not the homeless Mad Dog. ''I am King Lyor's fiance, and contrary to you, I will marry him and be his family, so be cautious with your words, because where I come from, insulting a member of the Royal family is punished by death, and coveting a position you cannot and will not have, well… That's just pathetic''.
He's gone too far, he knows that she's a prestigious member of the Temple of Light and also the protegee of Priest Saurav, the one conducting the bridal rites, however there is no way he would let someone go out unscathed after insulting him so clearly.
And perhaps Nikias is just a bit jealous as well, since the woman claims a position that belongs to him so easily, as if she was precious to Lyor, even more than him. Of course he knows that to not be the truth, but it still bothers him nonetheless.
The woman flinches again, she also becomes incredibly red due to the mana poisoning, after feeling satisfied, Nikias retracts his mana. This trick is so easy and so useful, he thinks, I should thank Lowe for teaching me. After all this method was taught by Lowe when they were talking about spreading an antidote to the poison the criminals used in Alkaios and Evangelia's engagement party, as he mentioned he could use his mana to create a mist with the antidote, proceeding to teach Nikias how to also do so and how to make it seem like a mana leak and even how to make it lighter or thicker.
''My apologies, your highness'', she says, bowing quickly before running away with her tail between her legs. It's so silly, this situation reminds Nikias of other romance books he's read and didn't pick his interest, where there were stupid scuffles like this getting between the main character and the romantic interest. Rivals in love, so to say, the idea is so ridiculous that it almost makes him laugh.
Sure it annoys him, but she is no rival, and he is definitely not in love.
''Her confidence would be cute if she wasn't entering a lion's den covered in meat'', Dacre whispers to himself, Nikias nods.
''I apologize as well, your highness, I should speak with the Priest about Miss Leora again, she is too much of a religious fanatic'', Cypress says, pushing his hair back, clearly overworked to the bone. ''No offence of course'', he says towards his two colleagues.
''Non-taken'', Hayun answers with an elegant smile. ''She can be quite intense and not even I am that devout''.
Nikias takes a glance towards his watch. ''It was a pleasure, however I must go'', he says, noticing it is already time for him to go to the Temples. ''I do hope we manage to talk more next time'', he says sincerely, as he does enjoy seeing other people talking about their perception of Lyor. He turns to Dacre. ''Just don't punch anyone this time'', he says simply.
''As you wish, your highness'', Dacre answers with a long bow.
❥
To my lovely Nikias,
My apologies again for the lack of responses. We were ambushed by the Ayru army and then proceeded to engage in several battles during this exhausting month. Our rations are scarce and the morale is low, however I have decided to conquer the Aset Kingdom as well, they have aided the Ayru Kingdom and are currently fragilized.
I am aware of everyone's worries, but we will return victorious this time around as well.
Since no one is badly injured, I do think we will manage to return at the latest by the end of September.
I'm glad to hear you're doing well, there isn't a single day that goes by that I do not think of you, during the barren nights I finally understood why soldiers with loved ones suffer greatly.
My biggest solace has been the picture you've given me, I do hope it doesn't wear out until I manage to see your face again in person.
I miss you greatly.
With love,
Lyor.
❥
Dearest Lyor,
Pardon my language as I do not wish to scare you but.
Are you fucking kidding me? I am aware you wish to finish your conquests quickly and that you're a great leader and seem to have somewhat of a strategic mindset when it comes to battles, and there is no denying your strength. However, this battle already drained all of you and you're scarce in resources? How will you manage another month of battles?
Please just return home Lyor.
With a pained heart,
Nikias.
❥
To my lovely Nikias,
It seems all I've done through these letters the past three months is apologize to you. It's fascinating how reading your letter made me feel embarrassed and ashamed, yes you're completely correct. I am in a hurry and that does make me reckless, I've always been something of a hothead when it comes to the safety of those I care about.
And I do not want you to come to my Kingdom and the Continent is still suffering from this poisonous venom spreading across it.
When my thoughts go to the children being kidnapped, to the halflings being submitted to inhuman situations and those less fortunate resorting to selling themselves to disgusting nobles that want to own them, I cannot, in peace of mind, stop myself, this goal which I have been working for five years towards.
So all I can do is apologize for worrying you, for paining your heart and for making you restless. I can promise you that whatever happens, I will, always, return to you, so please, believe in me and sleep peacefully.
I adore you.
With love,
Lyor.
❥
Dearest Lyor,
It seems I spoke out of turn.
Please stay safe.
The Aset Kingdom uses a lot of poison, especially poisoned darts. If you come across any danger, don't hesitate to request help from me, or at least my servant, Lowe, who is very well-versed in all poisons.
I will not nag you any longer.
I trust you, it just worries me.
I am well…
With care,
Nikias.
❥
Dearest Lyor,
Cypress contacted me about your return, it's been more than a month, it's already early October… I won't complain about not having any news.
I feel like a clingy lover with these letters so I'll await your response.
With care,
Nikias.
❥
To my beloved Nikias,
As the birds awakened and I rode my horse towards the Castle, I thought a lot and reflected especially upon your words and letters. It appears I have been heavily neglectful towards our relationship, and most of all, you, during these three months I was away.
While you were working hard to adapt into my world, my reality and my mood, I have been taking your actions for granted. I made a bold promise that morning, but it seems all of those words weren't carried out in my actions.
How can I say 'rest assured' while you're dwelling in anxiety with my lack of response and lack of news? Even if it wasn't my intention, I dragged this conquest down and contributed to your worries which I very desperately wanted to quell. You already have so much inside your pretty brain, and I just shoved even more worries and pain inside it.
I knew about your traumas and the pain you suffer with the fear of losing those close to you, yet I answered your worries with my empty beliefs as if that was enough of an excuse. No matter how noble I believe my mission and conquests to be, they don't justify ignoring your pains and worries, and no matter how in a hurry I am, I should still take time to let you know I'm safe and that you do not need to worry.
And most of all, you were right.
It was a poor judgment to proceed with another conquest in that situation. I was blinded by my nightmares and by my own worries. Now that I'm at my office, I'm able to write to you everything that happened, so even if I do not think it'll help in asking for your forgiveness, I do wish to be open and sincere in what happened during these past three months.
Before I start, I must say I miss you very much, and that it didn't go by a day I didn't think of you and a night that I didn't dream of you.
Me, Noor, Seoah and the 20 Paladins, rode for two weeks to finally reach the border between the Morke Kingdom and the Ayru Kingdom, it took us twice the amount of time it would normally take due to the rains, the mud made difficult for our horses to move and the heavy rain clouded our vision. As we arrived, there were already around 200 soldiers waiting for us, we do not know how they knew we were coming. For 5 days we did nothing but fight to exhaustion, our only source of hydration was the rain that fell during those days. After we killed 120 of them, they retreated and we managed to rest and eat.
Killing 120 souls was difficult, probably even more difficult than the battle itself, taking lives isn't easy and everytime I do, it eats a piece of me, and it only makes me even more on edge. The strategy we got from Anwar was brilliant, but the unpredictability of the enemy didn't aid us in following the plan.
After another week of scouting, resting and healing, we moved inside the Kingdom, where we spent a full month getting ambushed, fighting until their mana ran out and barely eating. Once we reached the Castle by the end of August, I thought that was it, that we would finally go home, I managed to kill the King and take the children prisoners. However the Queen escaped to the neighbouring Kingdom, the Aset Kingdom, and with that we found out half of the soldiers were provided by them.
I could've returned home, sure, but I couldn't let go of the feeling that it would be a mistake, so even against the words of caution from you, Cypress and Anwar, I moved forward, convincing the already exhausted Paladins that it was the right choice, even using of words I would never in regular circumstances, like the 'will of god'.
Once we entered the Aset Kingdom we could feel it, they were vulnerable and the Kingdom was already suffering from civil wars for years due to the Tyranny of their King. The people did not stop us, and the already injured soldiers didn't move an inch. We thought it would go smoothly and we would be able to return home soon.
However we were wrong. No. I was wrong.
Near the Castle there was a swarm of soldiers that were located there to protect the King, they were using the most diverse of weapons, and just like you said, they were all coated in poison. Due to divine power, me and the Paladins are immune to most poisons, I wasn't even injured contrary to some of them, but we all ended up well. And inside the Castle, we assassinated all the members of the Royal family, except those under 20. I cannot, in good conscience, murder children. If I could I wouldn't murder anyone, but I still reserve this small bit of mercy when I find myself unable to follow my own moral codes for the greater good.
Ha. Who am I to talk about greater good?
Ain't I a murderer at the end of the day? Tell me Nikias, how can I sleep if all I see is blood? The sweet dreams of your soft touch are replaced by the blood painted walls of that Castle.
The fear in those children's eyes as I ordered them to be taken away as I moved my sword against their parents' throats… No wonder those who live in war for long lose their sanity.
Tell me my love, how can I keep my sanity?
I feel like I lost a part of my heart there.
And the worst part is that what made me regret that conquest wasn't all the murder or those children's fearful gazes, but the fact that Noor and Seoah ended up severely injured. They were rushed back, and Cypress said he can make the antidote to the poison they're afflicted with, but even so, they followed me, believed in me, and they're laying in a bed suffering greatly because of me.
Nikias, I should stop the conquests, I should take this as a lesson.
But I cannot.
I cannot abandon the thousands of innocent people that are still enslaved in the remnant Kingdoms.
Perhaps I am truly a Tyrant.
I wronged you, my people and my soldiers.
But I cannot stop now.
My love, I beg of you, tell me, what can I do with this ailment that afflicts me?
I miss you greatly.
Love,
Lyor.
♡
Author's Note:
I hope the chapter was good ^^ I'm a bit slow going back into writing HLWC after 2 months of hiatus. During the 2 months I worked on organizing my notes, fixing past chapters (especially plot holes) so that I can come back without any regrets and a clear mind. If you want you can re-read it all, I promise its all fixed now (if there's still typos its my mind playing tricks with me and making me not able to fix it, I swear I read it all 5 or 6 times lmao), especially the plot holes, those were bothering me hella of a lot.
During that time I also was able to think a lot about the future of the story since I was still thinking about the ending, etc, but now that I managed to think that far off the story is going to pick up the pace. I see the past 20 chapters as pure exposition as it was more of the introduction of everything, from now on there will be a lot of time skips, I'll try to make them graceful and easy to pass since I don't want it to become weird, however we still have a couple years to go through so yeah. While making the story's timeline (until now I wasn't using real dates just like '1 week' 'mid-spring' '1 month' etc, but now I have concrete dates it'll be easier to locate yourselves and myself in the story) I also noticed I have a lot of ''events'' happening in the next chapters, so much so that I'll be unable to keep my plan of only 40 chapters, so now this 1st installment will have 50 chapters, so that I don't need to make 100k words chapters to fit it all hahahaha (not really joking). So we have 30 chapters to go, since they're all planned out and well-thought about, I don't plan on taking another hiatus in-between chapters.
What I'm getting at? Hahaha sorry I ramble too much.
From now on we're back at the 1 chapter a week plan, I won't say there will have a specific date since my days off from work are always different, but 1 chapter a week will be the staple.
So I'll be seeing y'all every week for the next 30 weeks I guess (IF I don't manage to fit 2 a week every now and then, but if I do its a big chance one will be a side story so it won't help much haha).
Being completely honest, I ain't sure if this story is good enough, I tend to be quite insecure, especially when I read other works or check out other authors. But since being a writer is a big dream of mine and I never managed to finish a project since I started writing at 12 years old I really want to see this through, even if it takes me 2 or 3 years. I feel like by the end of it I might muster the courage to finally write my book project without worrying so much about external validation. And I know not many people have the patience to wait so much to read a random internet story 'till the end, so I fully understand if my story becomes boring or if you forget about it.
Yet it truly means a lot to know that at one point I did something right, I mean, I can't be a coward for too long, 14 years of self-pity was enough ahahaha
Plus, I think that now that I'm a proper ''adult'', I sorta understand what people meant about ''never being too late'' to start something you're passionate about. I might never become a published writer and I might be too shy to try to take my story to different heights, however I am glad I am able to write this and if I manage to not give up... Then I guess its enough of a win.
Sorry about this, I am just quite sentimental after doing all the planning, like none of my stories ever reached this point yk? And damn I think I started more than 100 projects in the last 14 years so that's a lot.
Well, thank you, that was what I wanted to say, for reading this, for being patient and for supporting me up 'till this point.
Btw, back about the story, there are side stories published that take place between chapter XX and XXI, please check them out.
Also, I strongly hope the way I made the passage of time in this chapter was more smooth and not too jarring, as from now on it'll probably become more recurrent (please let me know otherwise so that I can improve).
See y'all next week ^^
(on my ramblings, if you're interested in checking some of my creative process and me talking about HLWC and my other projects, please check my bluesky, I talk a lot, especially while planning and writing chapters: https://bsky.app/profile/shootystr.bsky.social)
Check out the story's playlist, I'm always adding songs that match the story's progress and all of the chapter song themes are in the playlist as well ^^: https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzQy_skC__7d7RJhTb7P_1jphprcYV7v3&si=2GP-7Oa3-5frvZd6