When Zayn wakes up, it is too many familiar faces under the quarter moon.
Amur is shaking her shoulders. Chase is feeling her pulse. Clarke is yelling to so more knights to read so first aid. Jeremiah is calmly feeling her hands and neck. Lia is scolding so unfamiliar man who is emotionless as he watches the scene before him—Zayn feels and hears too many sensations, enough for her to jolt up and heavily breath, clutching her chest in panic.
"Zayn!" It's Amur who hurries to hug her neck, her small nose huddled in the crocks of Zayn's broken tal neck. Chase isn't too far off, hugging her waist tight as he slowly breathes out like his anxiety is coming out in waves.
"Holy Gods!" Zayn said, rubbing her bare arm, where she notices her marks is gone. "Well! I-I-how did you find -?"
"There was a big beam of light." It's Jeremiah who calmly replies. "Are you alright? You don't have any visible injuries, but..."
"Besides being a little tired," Zayn said, looking at her hands. "I'm fine. But...everyone is...not so much."
Zayn softly laughs, staring at her hands until she sees clear liquid touch her scrapped palms. Zayn realizes that she's crying, welling up in sorrow as her heart suddenly is hit with dread.
"I'm sorry." Zayn weeps, covering her eyes as tears continue to fall. "I couldn't protect them." she said. "Because I was t-too late-it's all my fault-."
"Do not bla yourself." It is Jeremiah who speaks, placing a delicate hand on Zayn's shoulders. "You did what you could, Knight Zayn."
"A-and because of you, and Chase are a-okay!" Amur said, hurriedly looking between Zayn and Chase. "And even Ramon turned out to be okay...mostly."
"I couldn't even save Ramon-wait, what?" Zayn asked, sniffing hard. "W-where is she...what's that?"
The group of knights turned their heads to the large white nine-tail fox, its tails swinging with speed before it bent its head down, opening its mouth to reveal a bandaged-up and asleep Ramon.
"I-I have questions..." Zayn said.
"You're telling ." it's Lia who speaks up, a scowl on her face. "Wait until that damned church hears about this."
"It won't be a fun conversation..." It's the man with blue hair who sighs, muttering under his breath, "We lost Aliashmiazz, and a handful of the knight recruits were massacred tonight. This won't be fun at all. Bumr."
"We will deal with all that after we get everyone back safe." Jeremiah said, standing up and dusting himself off. "But I'll tell you right now, there won't be any peace for a while."
...
Jeremiah is right--there won't be peace after a while.
First ca arriving back to the Black Fawne's headquarters, leading Amur, Chase, and Zayn to their rooms, directing Clarke to take Ramon to the infirmary for further treatnt, and discussing with Clarke when they should stop by each deceased knight's ho and deliver the bad news. They decided as soon as they settled Ramon in the infirmary and made sure she was alright, they'd go.
Jeremiah is never happy with delivering such bad news, and he'd rather go by himself, but Clarke refuses not to go with him, so it takes so ti to venture to each deceased knight's ho, receiving mountains of tears, floods of curses, slaps across the cheek, and buckets of water thrown at their faces, but it is a Captain's duty, so Jeremiah silently takes the treatnt, bows his head in respects, and after the last bucket of cool water hits his hot skin, Jeremiah and Clarke arrive back to Black Fawne and silently huddle in their respected offices.
However, when Jeremiah arrives at his office, he slides in his office to find mountains of paperwork and two magical letters already delivered--one from the church and the other from the prince in response to the church. Jeremiah knew he is in for a load of crap the minute he got back, and look, he is right—again. He hates being right.
Since both are deed urgent enough, Jeremiah made sure to write a letter on his desk for Clarke explaining his upcoming absence, before he glances up, spotting both Lia and Aliane waiting by his office door in anticipation.
"You both too?" Jeremiah asked uninterestedly.
"If the church is called," Aliane said, crossing his muscled arms, his blue eyes shining with the chandelier on the ceiling, "the mages aren't that far behind."
"Yeah and since we are Master's students, it makes sense that we're summoned." Lia said, huffing and twirling one of her long ponytails in her hands. "Stupid shit, I hate etings like this. This is so going to be dragged out."
"You're right," Aliane said, his emotionless face focused on the ground in sorrow. "Such a waste of ti to take a nap..."
Jeremiah sighs, pinching his nose at the two before he stands up, gathering his coat and fixing his sleeves before he nods for the two to follow him.
"Let's et with the church, then." Jeremiah said. "Be prepared."
...
"Prince Miuoi," it's Tex's voice outside the prince's bedroom that startles him out of his daily reading of romance novels. "You have a prestigious guest-."
"No need for all of that extravagant noise." The soft, deep voice rasps out. "I'd usually just pop in unannounced, but I'm in no mood to witness the prince read one of his horrid books today."
Miuoi silently shoves his romance novel under his pillow and beckons Tex through his door.
"Let the cranky man in." Miuoi said.
His bedroom door soon opens to reveal a tall, muscular man with short green hair and matching eyes. His toned body is covered in white and golden robes, his feet in thin scandals, and two golden earrings dangle from his pale ears. The man strides over to the prince and plops down on the nearest cushion, his face set in an annoyed scowl.
"For you, Your Highness." Tex hands Miuoi a letter—its stamp of a large golden eagle the sign that it's been sent from the church—and Tex leaves without another word.
"Got into another fight with Dalia?" Miuoi asked, moving to snap his fingers to summon his pet leopard, Kronos.
"It's Ms. Dalia,God of judgnt, to you!" The man said, frowning, "Prince or not, you're still a petty human."
"You are always so protective of soone you claim to hate your entire existence." Miuoi said, a small smile on his lips, "Mr. Shivia, God of Divinity."
The man--Shivia--only snickers as he folds his muscular arms to his chest and pouts, his green eyes stuck to the ceiling.
"Whatever." Shiva pouts. "All I do is deal with bickering people. I've had enough!"
"Is that why you've co to visit?" Miuoi asked, sitting at the edge of his bed with his legs crossed. Kronos purrs from beside him, causing Miuoi to smile at the large beast.
"No-well yes..." Shiva said. "But to also ask about Excalibur. The Gods have witnessed its light from our heavens. Where art thou hero?"
Miuoi smiles, yet it doesn't reach his eyes. "We plan to have her accompany us on the expedition. Excalibur is a God's weapon and its wielder a nisf of the God of creation. We know she must attend the eting."
"It has been fifty years...I guess it is ti to review the treaty again." Shiva mutters under his breath. "So that fool chose a woman as his nisf! Oh great, more bickering in heaven will awaken."
"A bold statent you continue to make." Miuoi said. "But is that the only thing you've co to check upon?"
Shiva, at first, stays silent, staring out the large window near the prince's bed. After a few minutes, Shiva opens his mouth to speak.
"There is sothing you must know before the treaty eting." Shiva said. "But you mustn't tell anyone else."
"And why do you decide to tell ?" Miuoi said, reaching for a knife near his bed stand and opening the letter in his hands. "I am only an earthly prince."
"Because you may be able to help." Shiva said, watching as Miuoi opened the letter, his sky blue eyes widened at the contents. "Since you can-."
"We must push this conversation back, God Shiva." Miuoi said, standing up and petting Kronos, who purrs again, licking Miuoi's hands before the beast glows, transforming from a leopard to a large black fur cloak. "The church calls for urgently, and I must send Jeremiah an urgent communication."
"Right, thatguy." Shiva scoffs. "Besides you, I've never t a human so unfazed by Gods...dragons, I guess."
"He has his soft sides." Miuoi smiles, nodding his head as Shiva stands up, dusting his robes off. "He is only particular with whom he shows it to."
"Whatever you say..." Shiva said. "But I'll be in contact later."
Miuoi smiles, waving Shiva off.
"Makeup with Dalia, eh?" Miuoi said. "A way to a woman's heart is to admit your wrongdoings, even if you're right."
Shiva grumbles, his pale cheeks darkening in embarrassnt. He waves his hand, disappearing into specks of gold.
"Often wonder why he even bothers with the door... Miuoi said, reaching for a feather pen and paper.
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