Chapter 1: A New Horizon
[November 29, 7031, 4:48]
[3rd POV]
The soft glow from the slowly setting moons bathed the land far and wide. The moonlight spilled through the curtains of the house on the hill, the light just narrowly missing the face of a sleeping figure.
Careful and quiet footsteps approached the slumbering figure. A tall silhouette leaned over the sleeping individual.
Gentle hands lightly shook the sleeping human, the tall shapeshifter’s tail brushing lightly over the human's face making him groan. The shapeshifter used his tail to draw back the curtains behind him, allowing the moonlight to shine on the human’s face. Another groan escaped the human as he turned his head and buried it into his pillow.
“Honey,” The Shapeshifter whispered, “you need to get up.” He kept gently shaking the human. “Love, you need to get up and get ready; we have a gathering today.” The shapeshifter’s hand moved some of the human's hair behind his ear, revealing three scars. One on his upper lip next to the other two going down from his left cheek down part of his neck. His scars were only slightly darker than his pale skin. The shapeshifter began to rub the human's back.
“Five more minutes…” The Human lazily swatted his husband’s hand away. He grabbed his pillow and tried to bury his head further in. Despite the attempt, his fluffy hair greatly stuck out, his hair was mostly white with only an under section being black.
The Shapeshifter sighed. “Fine, you leave me no choice.” The Shapeshifter picked up the human removing any blankets and started carrying him, bridal style.
The human groaned. “Ugh, you win Timberlain, I’ll get ready,” he whined. He sleepily opened his eyes and slumped his head back, he watched upside down as they moved towards the bathroom.
“What time is it?” The groggy human asked as he was placed down in the bathroom doorway.
“It should be almost 5:00, and if we want to leave an hour early like planned we need to leave by 6:00,” Timberlain replied, ruffling the human’s hair.
“Hey! My hair is already messy!” The human protested, using his hands to cover his unruly hair. He paused for a second. “Hmm, is Söl awake yet?”
“I don’t think so, I’ll go wake up him and the kids, you just get ready, O’ Mighty Warden Akita,” he teased with a playful bow.
“Haha, how funny. Go wake everyone up.”
“Will do and I'll make breakfast too, Your Majesty.” Timberlain’s gin widened.
“Oh Shut up and get going!” The human pushed him away, chuckling.
Timberlain exited the room, heading down the hall. He stopped at the first bedroom door labeled ‘Lucifer & Lucille’. He knocked before opening the door. He was immediately greeted by an exhilarated German shepherd. He had a wide navy blue collar with flower patterns.
“Hey Dutch, how are you doing buddy?” Timberlain pet Dutch as he jumped up on him. “Dutch, go outside boy, go outside.” Dutch trotted around the corner of the hall, the faint sound of a dog door could be heard.
Timberlain leaned back into the room. “Lucifer, Lucille, come on you two get up, it’s an early morning.”
Lucille groaned, she waited a bit before sitting up. Her white medium-length hair and fur had been messy since she just woke up. Her irises were a beautiful turkish rose. What would’ve been her eye whites were a purple-ish onyx and her pupils were white. She has ram-shaped horns, they’re grey in color. Her scales shared the same grey color, they complimented her skin. which was a couple shades lighter than Timberlain’s. The scales appeared on spots all over her, the most prominent being on her face, arms, and covering her lizard-like tail. Her tail had a kink in it just before the fur that covered the end of it. Her ears resembled that of an elf’s.
She stretched and looked over at Lucifer, who remained asleep and snoring. She reached for a smaller pillow and threw it hitting him in the face. He shot up startled before looking around then shouting at Lucille.
Lucifer looked very similar to Lucille. But some big noticeable differences were, his hair was much shorter and it wasn’t wavy like Lucille’s. A scar ran vertically, from his cheek to his forehead, over his eye. His horns went out of his head diagonally then shot up and curved inward. The right horn was broken off halfway up, he had a golden cap covering it. His tail was longer than Lucille’s, his tail was long enough some of it would drag across the ground while her’s barely avoided the ground. The one not noticeable feature while he was in his bed was his height, he was two inches shorter.
Timberlain sighed. “Okay okay, enough yelling, you two get ready and wake your siblings up.” Timberlain stood in the doorway awaiting a response.
Both teens didn't say anything but nodded. Timberlain shook his head with a lighthearted smile. He closed the door and headed further down the hall until he reached the living room.
Passing the kitchen island, located near the living room, he snatched an apple from the fruit bowl on the corner. He looked to the loft above the living room and tossed the apple up hearing the thump as it hit something.
“Ow the fuck! What the hell was that for?!” …more like someone. A thud and stumbling of steps approached the loft railing. A Demi-human with the ears and tail of an opossum leaned over the railing. His fur was long and coarse, it covered his neck and reached down his back and chest. It was a grayish-white, his fur contrasted against his dark skin and hair. His emerald green eyes narrowed and his expression was less than pleased. “What was that for? You could’ve woken me up like a normal person!” His tail flicked around in annoyance.
“Well, would you have rather had Lucifer wake you up? I say my way is much calmer than his, you freeloader,” Timberlain said, a smug smile now plastered on his face.
“Oh fuck off Timberlain. I’m not a freeloader, I actually do stuff around here!” He said with a huff.
“Timberlain!” Akita shouted from the bedroom.
“Yes, Akita?” Timberlain replied.
“Be nice to Söl-leks!”
A smug smile now crept up Söl-leks face. Timberlain narrowed his eyes at Söl-leks. A brief tension hung in the air before Timberlain and Söl-leks burst out laughing, the tension immediately dissolving.
“Whatever loser, I'm making breakfast so get ready. And you're in charge of the kids today.” Timberlain said.
“On it boss!” Söl-leks replied, disappearing back into the loft.
Minutes passed, and the aroma of food lingered in the air.
Timberlain’s keen ears twitch at the incoming footsteps. He turned to see Akita, wearing his usual formal attire.
A desaturated strawberry pink sleeveless suit with a black long-sleeve dress shirt. His pants are a darker color of the desaturated pink, brown-ish grey boots with flower engravings. A light pink cravat with an emerald stone, long black fingerless gloves, and gold arm bracelets. His colorful earrings and colorful wedding ring are the only thing he wears every day. Even his eyes were colorful, his eyes were blue besides his left eye that had a brown spot due to sectoral heterochromia. Akita had a very colorful appearance. Timberlain loved it.
Akita hummed a tune, making his way over to Timberlain. He hugged the shapeshifter from behind, taking in the smell of breakfast.
He peeked his head out to the side of Timberlain. “Mmm, that smells amazing,” he praised.
Timberlain chuckled, “Well my cooking is amazing.”
“Indeed it is,” Akita said. He looked up to Timberlain with a soft smile. “I love you, you know that? I really really love you,” he whispered.
“Of course I know that, but I love you more, dragonfly.”
Akita giggled, “Again with dragonfly?”
“You love my nicknames,” Timberlain teased and started ruffling Akita’s hair.
“No, my hair! I already brushed it!” Akita whined, pushing away Timberlain’s hand. Akita sighed, “Have you woken up the kids?”
“Yeah I did, but it seems like they haven’t gotten up yet.” Timberlain sighed. “Could you make sure they’re up?”
Akita hummed in agreement, starting to head toward the kids’ rooms. However, he was abruptly stopped when something fell behind him, causing him to lose his balance.
Timberlain turned around to see the commotion. “Whoa, what happened?! Are you two okay?!”
“Huh?” Söl-leks looked confused before noticing Akita on the floor. “Oh shit Akita! I am so sorry!” He hurriedly helped Akita to his feet.
“I’m fine, don’t worry,” Akita reassured him, dusting himself off. “Are you okay Söl?”
“Yeah, I’m okay. Still, I’m sorry for knocking you over.”
“Don’t apologize, it was an accident and no one was hurt,” Akita replied. “Though, to make up for it, could you go make sure the kiddos are up? I’ll help Timberlain with breakfast.”
“Oh yeah! Sure thing.” Söl-leks hopped around Akita and down the hall.
Timberlain chuckled.
“What?” Akita said. “It makes him feel good to know he’s helping.”
“I know. Just get over here and help me.” Timberlain scooted over, inviting Akita to stand next to him.
Akita paused, examining Timberlain's appearance. He had a few fruit bat features—ears, wings and tail. His dyed blond hair had streaks of dark brown, matching the color of his ears, wings, and tail. Timberlain’s wingspan reached 27ft, and his tail was about 4 feet long with darker brown fur that started midway down. He wore a long black medieval oriental vest, his sleeves buttoned at his elbows. He also wore black pants, with a belt tied at his waist.
Once Akita got to Timberlain’s side he wrapped his wing around Akita. Both continued to make breakfast in silence enjoying each other's company.
—————
“Food!” Shouted two childlike voices, the sources quickly emerging from the hall.
Timberlain and Akita turned their attention to the children, Akita moved to intercept them.
“Whoa, whoa! Slow down there you two!” Akita chuckled, scooping up both children, one in each arm.
“Daddy!” The demi-human child wrapped his arms around Akita’s neck, not squeezing too tight. His webbed hands and feet were a peach sorbet hue. His tail swayed gently from side to side, boasting a fish-like appearance. The same peach sorbet colored the membrane of his odd-shaped ragged tail fin and siren-like ears. His ears perked up. Sporadic brown and white scales covered his deep almond-colored skin, most prominently around his face, neck gills, arms and legs, and his tail. He had golden honey-colored eyes and curly and dark brown hair, framing his youthful face.
“Dad!” The Porchino child clung to Akita’s arm, holding on tight. Her long and fluffy pacific grove pink fur covered entirely. Her hands featured three fingers each made of keratin hooves. Her feet resemble traditional pig hooves. She had small, dull tusk poking out from the edges of her mouth, white and well-kept. Her tail and snout were short for her age. Her eyes were entirely white, from the sclera to the pupil, a pure white.
Both children giggled with excitement as Akita carried them to the dining room, Lucifer and Lucille soon followed behind Akita. Yuri and Atticus sat down side by side at the round table, surrounded by seven seats.
Dutch scampered in from the backyard, greeted by scratches and pats from everyone.
“Hey Dad,” Lucifer greeted.
“Hi Papa,” added Lucille.
After setting the youngest two down, Akita greeted the twins. “Hello, Lucifer. Hello, Lucille,” he said, offering them both a hug. “How are you both this morning?”
“I’m doing fine, Papa,” Lucille replied, taking a seat next to Atticus.
“Fine, but it’s too early to be waking up,” Lucifer groaned, sinking into his chair.
“Well, I’m glad you're both doing fine. I'm gonna go help your father—” Akita was interrupted by a timely announcement.
“Look who has food!” Timberlain declared. He and Söl-leks carried breakfast dishes to the table. Akita got the drinks and brought them to everyone. Breakfast included pancakes, beef sausage, fish, bananas, strawberries, blueberries, scrambled eggs, water, milk, and orange juice.
The breakfast was made with specific diets in mind.
Timberlain, needs fruits with his food and enjoys sweet drinks.
Atticus's diet had to consist of some fish or insects and needed water to keep well hydrated.
Yuri, couldn't stomach eating meat.
Lucifer and Lucille's, diet consisted mostly of meat.
Akita, was lactose intolerant and wasn’t fond of any sweet drinks.
Söl-leks, wasn’t picky and had no dietary restrictions.
“Well, eat up, everyone!” Timberlain grinned, proud of his cooking.
“Thanks, Lain.,” Akita smiled in return.
“Thank you, Father,” chimed Lucifer and Lucille in unison.
“Thanks, Dad!” Atticus grinned.
“Thank you, Papa!” Yuri smiled from ear to ear.
“Thanks… Timberlain…!” Söl-leks exclaimed in between bites, laughter filled the room.
—[5:56]—
[Timberlain POV]
Akita he’d gone to get his horse, Osprey, from the public stable in the hills district. It was quite a walk, and I offered to get Osprey for him, but he was insistent on going himself. I entered Akita’s office, I needed to gather all necessary documents for the gathering. After collecting a few folders and loose papers, I carefully arranged them in a messenger bag.
Examining his desk, I found it in disarray, cluttered and unorganized. Some papers even lay scattered on the floor. I took it upon myself to tidy up, organizing how he does. I stacked the report documents from the request papers, lined up pencils and erasers neatly. However, it was odd - his favorite fountain pen was missing. My search led me to find it broken in the trash. Akita loved this pen, so I was thoroughly confused. I’ve noticed he’s been rather tense the last few days. I made a mental note to ask him later.
Lost in thought, I didn't hear Lucifer call my name at first.
“Father?” Lucifer’s voice broke my concentration as he peered into the room, his eyebrow was raised looking at me. “Is everything okay?”
“Oh yeah sorry, I was just thinking. What’s up Lucifer?”
“Dad is waiting for you out front.”
“Oh, thank you for letting me know. Let's go.” I discreetly stashed the broken fountain pen in my pocket as Lucifer and I headed outside.
[3rd POV]
Akita patiently waited outside the house alongside Osprey. Osprey had a striking cloud-grey coat with white markings on his face, muzzle, and legs. Steel-grey colored his rear blending into the cloud-grey. His mane shared the same steel-grey shade.
The creak of a door opening caught Akita’s attention, he turned to see Söl-leks and the kids exiting the house. Akita led Osprey closer to everyone, and Osprey extended his head towards them. The children showered Osprey with pats on his head and neck, he leaned further into all the affection.
Akita chuckled, his hand patting Osprey’s neck, “You love getting pets, don’t you?” He began to run his fingers through Osprey’s soft mane.
Akita glanced at the front door and back to everyone else. “Where's Timberlain?” He asked.
“He said he’d be out in a bit, just grabbing something.” Söl-leks replied.
Akita let out a sigh. “I’ll go get him.”
Lucifer offered to do so instead. “I can get him.”
“Well then,” Akita agreed with a smile. “If you want, go ahead and get your father.”
Lucifer disappeared into the house while those outside talked amongst each other.
Before long, Timberlain stepped outside, with Lucifer following behind.
“Look who finally showed up,” Akita quipped, his tone light-hearted.
Timberlain chuckled nervously. “We should get going.” He stood next to Akita.
Akita nodded, then turned to the kids, embracing the twins lightly. “Luci, Lu, as usual, you two help Söl-leks out today and ensure you two and your siblings get to school, okay?”
“Of course Papa,” Lucille affirmed.
Lucifer nodded and gave a double thumbs-up, “We’ll make sure to help out and get to school, Dad.”
Akita then turned to the younger pair. “You two will behave, won’t you?”
“Absolutely, Daddy!” Atticus grinned and offered a wonky playful salute.
“I’ll be a big help, Dad!” The piglin cheerily smiled, jumping up and tail wagging.
Akita turned to Söl-leks. “Can you hold down the fort while we’re away?”
“Certainly, who do you take me for?” Söl-leks replied confidently, his thumb pointing to his chest. “I’ll have everything under control, and I'll make sure everyone gets where they need to be.”
The kids exchanged mischievous glances, causing Söl-leks to gulp nervously. Akita and Timberlain shared a chuckle.
“Very well, then. We’ll be leaving.” Akita said.
With that, Akita mounted Osprey, signaling the horse to start walking by a gentle squeeze. Timberlain swiftly joined Akita, holding on securely. As they left, Akita and Timberlain turned to wave their goodbyes. With hands raised high and shouting byes, they bid farewell, and the waving hands and returning shouts followed them as they rode off.
—[9:23]—
The warm, now risen morning sun cast a radiant glow on Akita and Timberlain. A gentle breeze blew and ruffled their hair, making it a pleasant day.
Timberlain found himself lost in thought at the base of the stairs while Akita walked Osprey to the Mountain Stables. Until a sudden tug at his sleeve brought him back to reality.
Akita looked up at Timberlain with a hint of concern in his eyes. “You okay Lain?” Akita questioned.
“Yeah, yeah, I’m fine,” Timberlain replied. “Should we head up, your majesty?”
Chuckling, Akita responded, “Hahaha, let’s go, you doof.”
The higher they got the cooler the breeze became. As they climbed, their lively chatter changed into a quieter conversation. Near the mountaintop, they spotted a large open structure with an oval stone base, a wooden domed roof, and quartz pillars connecting the two. Some overgrowth partially covered the building. The steps into the structure were clean and worn, rope railings guarded the sides. There were other steps to the right of the building, they led down somewhere else.
Stepping inside, a long round-edged table with twelve chairs, six of which were thrones. Each throne had distinct characteristics, materials, and colored cushions, as well as matching chairs placed to the right of each throne.
At either end of the table, thrones occupied the space. The throne nearest to the entrance was made from a weathered grey stone, its yellow padding contrasted against it. Overgrowth and cracks covered its surface. The throne opposite was crafted from dark oak, its cushions pristine white.
Along the longer sides of the table there, two thrones spaced equally apart each side. To the right of the yellow-padded throne, a cold stone throne a pale goldenrod hue, it had purple upholstery and petite amethyst crystals. On the right of the purple throne sat a throne made of a walnut tree, its seat a forest green.
To the left of the yellow throne, a throne constructed from deep blackstone displayed a royal red seat. Adjacent, to the left of the red throne, resided a throne made of bright white quartz, its seat draped in serene blue.
Above each throne, grand enchanted banners swayed gently. These banners matched the hues corresponding to the seats beneath them.
While the banners of the thrones along the long sides depicted a dark silhouette of a person cradling an orb, mirroring the seats’ colors, the banners above the dark oak and grey stone thrones told different tales. The dark oak throne’s banner displayed a smudged silhouette, while the grey stone throne’s banner was severely charred and barely recognizable.
Akita's attention turned to the three individuals already seated there.
“Well, I didn’t expect anyone to be here yet, but it seems we weren’t the only ones who thought of coming earlier today,” Akita spoke, shifting the attention from the three to him.
The shapeshifter, lounging in her cracked and overgrown throne, responded with disdain, “Well, well, well. If it isn’t the human and it’s pest. Surprising natural section hasn’t picked you off, yet.” She smirked.
Timberlain rolled his eyes, he paid her little mind.
“Hmm, always the jokester, Goddess Willow,” Akita remarked, standing to the right of the demi-god. His gaze shifted towards the empty sea beside Willow. “Could Paiden not attend today?” Akita inquired.
Willow stood tall at 6 feet 8 inches, matching Timberlain’s height. A pair of large, dark grey hare ears adorned her head, blending with her dark charcoal hair. Her hair was styled in a choppy mullet with a side bang that swept to her right. Concealing her face was a two-toned mask, half black and half white. Draped in a carbon-black sleeveless bodysuit, Willow wore belt cargo pants secured by a belt and zippers at the knees and lower calves. A side bag, covered with pure gold chains and silver clips, hung at her side, it contained various trinkets she had found. Her feet wore obsidian-black combat boots with heels that extended to her lower calves. Willow’s arms were enveloped in fingerless gloves, reaching up to her mid-shoulders. Her wings, resembling those of a harpy eagle, were massive and well-kept, boasting an impressive wingspan. Although she possessed a rabbit tail, it resembled that of a deer and was often hidden. In certain lighting, her form shimmered with hints of purple hues.
“Oh, please, I’ve told you there is no need for this ‘Goddess’ talk. Makes me feel old,” Willow responded with a sigh, resting their head in her palm. “Paiden got caught up with his own work, and I managed to catch Victoria on the way up here.” Willow gestured toward one of the Porchino off to her left.
“Good morning, Empress Victoria and Royal Guard Ezra. I assume you both arrived early to welcome the new Amethian Emperor?” Akita greeted.
Victoria, a 6-foot-tall Porchino, sat in her throne of blackstone. Her light pink fur faded to a fuzzy brown hue on her arms, legs, tail, back and neck. Her fur, short with a soft undercoat, concealed her body beneath a bristly upper coat. Her fingers and feet were made from keratin hooves, while her eyes gleamed pure white, a common Porchino trait. She adorned herself in a ruby red long-sleeved dress, gracefully sweeping the floor if she stood. A garnet-red organza fabric enveloped her chest and arms of the dress, accentuating her royal attire. A black silk sash encircled her waist, and her long, curled tail elegantly emerged from the garment. A golden gorget adorned her neck, engraved with simple patterns. On her shoulders, she wore epaulets, each bearing the royal emblem of her empire. Victoria garnished herself with an array of golden jewelry, including tusk studs, a nose ring, a necklace, and earrings adorned with red rubies. Her ears sparkled with small hoops and studs, while bracelets dazzled her wrist. Various braids and beads within her tail fur told her story, from birth to marital status, and even the day of her coronation.
Ezra, a mere 3 inches taller than Victoria, exuded a melanistic look with his coal-black fur. His fur mane encircled his neck, concealing any scars that may have marked his chest and neck beneath its bushy and coarse texture. His tusks, a source of immense pride in Porchino culture, were impressively long, curving almost in a complete circle. Burn scars covered the left side of his face and his left arm, while his arms and legs boasted short fur. His visible scars are outlined with golden paint. His left eye was missing, his right was a deep red featuring a golden pupil, and his tail, broken two-thirds of the way down, concluded his tail fur was like a fan. He sported a black short-sleeve shirt paired with pants extended only to his knees. A belt wrapped around his waist, crowned by a golden buckle. Gold-plated armor protected his shoulders, secured by leather straps connected to his front chestplate. Similar golden plates, fastened with dual leather straps, rested on his arms and legs. A tuft of fluffy white fur protruded from his right shoulder plate. Like Victoria, Ezra garnished himself with a multitude of golden jewelry, including bracelets, a nose ring, earrings, tusk studs, tail and tusk rings, and a plethora of braids and beads, each carrying a piece of his story, from birth to his esteemed role as a Royal Guard.
“Good morning to you too, Akita!” Victoria greeted with a cheerful smile and a wave. She comfortably sat in her red cushioned throne, with Ezra in the chair next to her.
“Morning, Akita,” Ezra’s deep, gravelly voice dominated the room. “We figured a more formal greeting was in order before Aero and Rowan arrived.”
“You know those two can be quite…” Victoria added, her voice trailing off.
Akita nodded and replied, “Of course,” as he made his way to the seat across from Willow’s. Timberlain followed suit.
The long table was decorated with several items. Four candles, matching the hue of each throne’s cushions, were placed to the left of each ruler's throne. A black table runner made of cloud cotton stretched from Akita’s end to Willow’s. In the tables center laid a map, marking the locations of the countries or their respective portal.
Willow resumed her conversation with Victoria, their interactions were very friendly. Ezra’s disapproving gaze remained fixed on Willow, a glare that Willow was unfazed by.
Soon, the sound of an unfamiliar British voice drew nearer, accompanied by persistent whining.
The approaching figures, two Wysterlings, emerging from the second set of stairs. The shorter Wysterling halted his complaining, noticing the stares he was receiving from those already present.
“Oh shit, there’s people here already? Do you lot have anything better to do? Why are you all here already?” The shorter one remarked.
The smaller Wysterling possessed very dark purple skin and tolopea hair. His bangs fell over his right eye, and the left side of his head was shaved. Light orchid scalera framed violet eyes, while lighter scars streamed down his face and neck. Short mandibles poked out of his lower jaw, sharp teeth were revealed as the edges of his mouth opened, and long ears rested on his head. Curved horns protruded from the top of his head, and his thick, long tail featured a fan of fur at its end. He wore a white, medium-sleeved button-down shirt with rolled-up sleeves, featuring a cutout in the chest that framed an Eye of Wystora resting within his chest. The eye displayed hues from cyprus to light green, with an intimidating black slit pupil. His long black pants complemented his attire, and he dressed himself with gold and silver jewelry with amethyst crystals, including snake bites, eyebrow piercings, earrings, bands, and bracelets. A crown crafted of gold, wrapped around his head, adorned with amethyst jewels.
The taller Wysterling stood silently, his tail flicking in agitation.
Victoria rose from her seat and initiated conversation to break the awkward silence. “Hello, I’m Empress Victoria Quin of The Inferno Empire. It’s nice to meet you, Emperor Soetsu,” she said, offering a respectful bow to his ruling.
“Bloody hell, that son of a bitch,” The shorter Wystering muttered with a scowl. “Yeah no, it’s Emperor Soup, first off. That royal dickhead you’ve been meeting with can’t ever listen.” He sighed. “And yeah, it’s a pleasure…”
The bitterness in his tone was palpable as Victoria took her seat, leaving an air of unease in the room.
“Soup, huh? Sounds familiar, perhaps a kind of food. Ha, typical,” Willow chimed in, their tone tinged with mockery. They huffed, raising a brow at the noticeable height difference and continued, “Seems like some got the downside of the genetics, eh? It’s something you and Shorty over there have in common.” Willow gestured towards Akita before trailing off, her attention drawn to the small fox poking its head from her lap.
Soup let out an exasperated sigh, muttering under his breath too low to decipher. His eyes narrowed, shooting piercing glares in Willow's direction.
Akita, sensing the growing tension, intervened. He rose from his seat and addressed Soup. “My apologies, for any miscommunication, Soup. Soetsu was the name we were told, we’re more than willing to use your preferred name,” Akita said, bowing respectfully. “I’m Akita Hawk, Warden of The Republic of Euphoria.” His introduction seemed to lessen some of the room’s tension.
With impatience evident, Soup responded curtly, “Yeah. Cool. I’m the Emperor of Amethium. Now is this everyone? Can we get this gathering thing started yet? I’d rather head home as soon as possible. This shit already seems dreadfully boring.”
Willow scoffed. “No, can't you see some chairs are empty? Or is that height getting to you? Two more leaders will be joining us.” She remarked, plucking a bit of moss from their throne. “So much for new ruler,” They muttered under their breath. Stretched her wings briefly, Willow then folded them down, redirecting their attention elsewhere.
Soup’s irritation boiled over, and he hissed, “Are you always a dick? This meeting is for rulers, isn’t it? Don’t you have an empire that should be worshiping you right now, Goddess Willow?” His ears pinned back, expressing his frustration openly.
Willow, seemingly unfazed, retorted with a sly tone, “What's the matter? Are you scared? Aren’t Wysterling meant to be big and scary? Then again, grumpy there looks more Wysterling than you do. He might even make a better emperor.”
Soup's growl intensified, it became more distorted, and the air around him chilled as his irritation grew apparent.
“Your majesty, I would suggest you calm down. Starting a conflict isn’t ideal for the Empire, with a Demi-god nonetheless,” The taller one finally interjected.
“Whatever!” Soup huffed, crossing his arms and avoiding eye contact as he plopped down on his throne.
For the next few minutes, hushed conversations happened among those seated near each other.
Until, Soup spoke, in his typically loud manner. “So what exactly are the candles for?”
“The candles represent each country,” Akita explained.
“So why aren’t they melting, except for that one?” Soup pointed to the yellow candles near Willow.
“Well, each set of candles are enchanted. They remain lit and don’t melt as long as a country stands and its people are alive. That’s why everyone’s candles, except the yellow ones, burn brightly.”
“Okay, so why is the yellow one still burning?”
“While the Arcanium Republic is destroyed, magic users still exist throughout the world. As long as they’re alive, the candles will never fully burn out.”
“Weird,” Soup remarked before returning to whatever he was doing before.
The room again fell into a stifling silence until the fluttering of wings disrupted the silence. Two figures landed on the edge behind Akita, with the taller shapeshifter shifting away his wings. They proceeded to their dark prismarine seats.
The moth shapeshifter, with a mild French accent, greeted everyone energetically. “Hey, everyone! How are you all doing? Me and Raven aren’t late, are we?” He asked.
“Aero and Raven, it's nice to see you! And no, you made it just in time,” Akita replied cheerfully.
Aero’s hair, a luscious shade of mulberry with grey lightly spread throughout his hair, cascaded in wavy locks, with a portion tied into a bun. He bore the features of a Luna moth, complete with antenna and ethereal wings. Dressed in a ruffled navy shirt embellished with rose and floral patterns, his lighter blue pants harmonized with his attire. Knee-high black boots added a touch of regal charm to his outfit, while his folded wings draped like a flowing cape behind him. His eyes shimmered in a pistachio hue, a striking contrast to the chestnut skin graced by the white fur along his neck. Atop his head, a golden crown rested just before his antenna, a symbol of his imperial stature.
Raven, on the other hand, had a slightly darker complexion than Aero’s. His dreadlocks, resembled the rich tones of rosewood, mostly gathered into a neat ponytail. Markings akin to a red panda adorned his body. His attire consisted of a black Sir Jones Frock coat paired with brown pants, perfectly complementing his coat color. His shoes matched in the same elegant shade. His pointed ears and the presence of a big, red, bushy, cream-ringed tail highlighted his unique features. Soft, thick fur adorned his face, chest and arms, keeping him warm upon the mountain.
As Aero glanced around the two unfamiliar Amethians caught his attention, he extended a warm greeting, “Why hello! You must be the new Amethium Emperor! Very nice to meet you! I’m Emperor Aero Reign of The Spiralis Empire.” With a polite bow, Aero took his seat, while Raven, silent but respectful, also bowed and settled into his chair.
Soup, seemingly unimpressed, rolled his eyes with his head in hand and muttered a begrudging acknowledgment. “My Nye, Yeah, nice to meet you. Though I really don’t want to be here, so don’t expect me to overflow with joy.” He snapped, waving his hands sarcastically.
Aero, taken aback, fell silent.
“Well, shall we start then?” Akita proposed.
“But Rowan and Amelia aren’t here. Shouldn’t we wait for them?” Victoria inquired.
“Well, yes, but those two are always late. We’ve started without them before; this time should be no different,” Akita replied.
Raven sighed and added, “We did warn them to be on time. It’s their fault for being late.”
“Is that a yes to starting, then?” Soup impatiently interjected.
Before Akita could respond, Willow jumped in, “You’re just awfully bitchy, aren’t you?” A taunting grin rising on their face.
Soup, baring his teeth, growled and began to exhibit signs of agitation.“You’re such a-”
“Let’s just start!” Akita intervened, attempting to diffuse the mounting tension.
“Whatever!” Soup slouched in his seat, arms crossed.
Victoria and Ezra then stood up to commence sharing the recent events and news of The Inferno Empire.
[11:06]
“Sir, we’re undoubtedly late.”
“That isn’t of concern right now, let’s just get there.”
The two individuals ascended the steps of the mountain until they reached the building. They walked behind Willow and Victoria, taking their seats between Victoria and Akita. Aero paused in his talking upon noticing their arrival.
Aero set his papers aside and warmly greeted, “Hello, Rowan! It’s lovely to see you! Where’s Amelia? And who have you brought with you?”
Rowans, standing tall at an impressive 6’4” for a human, possessed pristine pale skin. His black, shaggy, wolf-cut hair appeared both messy yet neat and clean styled, with semi-curtain bangs typically loosely pushed back atop his head, held in place by mousse. His facial hair included sideburns, a small chin beard, and a thin mustache. Streaks of grey gracefully accentuated his hair, while faint eye bags rested beneath scarlet red eyes. Rowan wore a black priest's attire with yellow accents and a blue stole adorned with the star of Amani. A golden necklace featuring the symbol of Amani’s star hung from his neck, and multiple golden and silver rings decorated his hands, with even a golden tooth to complete his ensemble.
Rowan briefly glanced at the onlookers before directing his attention to Aero. “Hello, Aero. Nice to see you too. I’m sorry for my tardiness—“
Soup interjected, “Who the hell are these guys? Are they the late ones we’ve been waiting for?”
Rowan calmly addressed Soup’s question, disregarding his blunt manner. “You must be the new Emperor of The Amethium Empire. You seem shorter than any other Wystering I’ve seen; is that a genetic problem, perhaps?” Rowan cleared his throat. “Regardless, you have a lot to live up to, and your attitude isn’t ideal for an emperor. You're just as unprofessional as everyone else here, so you’ll fit right in.”
Soup retorted sharply, showing his aversion to Rowan “You're a jackass just like that one,” gestured towards Willow, indicating he held no fondness for either of them.
Willow, from her relaxed position, chimed in lazily, “Hmmmm? Am I needed right now?” After a quick explanation from Victoria, Willow refocused her attention.
Rowan continued to press the issue, “You have an awfully foul mouth.”
The room fell into an uncomfortable silence, and Akita, once again, spoke up firmly, breaking some tension. “You two calm down; quit going for each other's throats and let’s continue.”
Rowan persisted, “Well, I’ll continue what I was saying before I was rudely interrupted.”
Akita intervened, signaling for Rowan to cease his verbal sparring. “Rowan, knock it off.”
Apologizing for his tardiness, and Amelia's absence, Rowan introduced the person seated beside him, “This is Elliot, he’s my right hand.”
Elliot has distinctive brown hair, neatly combed and reaching down to his shoulders, with a neat ponytail securing most of it. His piercing blue eyes contrasted beautifully with his lighter skin tone. He stood at 5’11”, slightly shorter than Rowan. Elliot wore attire similar to Rowan’s, although less ornate, he didn’t wear a stole. He sported a silver necklace featuring Amani’s star symbol.
Elliot greeted the assembly with a bow, expressing his apologies for their lateness, “It’s a pleasure to meet you all. I am terribly sorry for our lateness. I had some things I needed to do before we left, and our trip here isn't exactly short.”
Akita observed Elliot for a moment before leaning towards Timberlain. Other rulers greeted Elliot.
“Hey, Timberlain,” Akita whispered.
Timberlain replied in a hushed tone, “Yes, what’s up?”
Akita voiced his curiosity, “Has Rowan ever mentioned having a second-in-command?”
Timberlain responded with a sigh, “No, he hasn’t. I suppose he never saw fit to mention it? But then again, it’s Rowan, and he tends to keep things to himself.”
Akita shrugged. “Fair, still it’s just odd,”
“Well, Rowan’s an odd one.”
Their conversation was ended by a quiet giggle from Akita, but his mirth quickly faded when he noticed Elliot’s puzzled expression. In response, Akita offered an awkward smile and waved, while a Timberlain simply greeted Elliot with a wave.
Victoria, seeing an opportunity to proceed, urged, “Well, if all is settled now. Aero, please continue,”
“Of course!” Aero cleared his throat, rose from his seat and retrieved his papers once more. “As I was saying, there have been multiple reports of something lurking around the lower district, visiting each and every village within. Reports say that a heavy fog sets in before it appears, only emerging during the fog.”
Most in the room wore expressions of concern or shock.
“It has laid waste to countless shops, monuments, and even some castles. It has attacked almost every kingdom in the lower district, and it began months before it reached the villages outside the lower district. It has even targeted underwater villages and kingdoms. Its pattern is unpredictable, and we don’t know what its goal is, but many on the council believe it might be searching for something. We all fear that if it’s seeking something and doesn’t find it, it will tear the whole country apart and move on to the next.” Aero directed his gaze towards Akita and Timberlain. “Akita, Timberlain, I would advise you to keep a watchful eye in the coming months. This thing has shown aggression towards anyone who tries to stop it. So far, it has killed 267 people only injured 89. Please keep your country on high alert.” Aero’s expression was grave.
Akita, after sharing a concerned glance with Timberlain, turned his attention back to Aero. “Thank you for the warning, Aero. But may I ask if there’s any description of this thing causing terror?”
“I’m sorry, but no,” replied Raven. “Those who survived couldn’t see through the fog to identify anything. All they’ve reported is hearing distorted hisses and roars.”
“Unfortunate, indeed. We’ll be vigilant. Thank you again for the warning.” Akita said with gratitude.
Raven nodded, acknowledging their understanding.
“Of course,” Aero continued after shuffling through a few documents and other papers. “That’s the last of what I have to share today.” Aero and Raven took their seats and set aside their papers.
Akita and Timberlain stood up, ready to present their updates. Akita initiated, “To begin, I don’t have much to share today, as there’s mostly minor news not worth mentioning. One of the significant developments is that the next election is approaching next month.”
Victoria, with a touch of sadness in her voice, inquired, “You’ll be running again this year, won’t you?”
Akita smiled, though it carried a hint of uncertainty, “Yes, I will be, but the competition is tough this year, so there’s no guarantee of my return. Nevertheless, I’ll do my best.” He sighed, “I do have some troubling news to discuss, but I’ll let Timberlain take the lead, as he knows more information on this matter.”
Akita handed Timberlain a folder, who then spoke up, “A week ago, a farming village was attacked and burned down, with no survivors. We managed to apprehend the ones responsible, a group of six, consisting of two humans and four shapeshifters. We are yet to discover the motive behind this heinous act, as they refuse to speak. Our investigation is ongoing, as this could pose a significant threat. To prevent further attacks of this nature, we’ve bolstered the guard of other farming villages. Currently, we have no information about the attackers, aside from the fact that they all wore a peculiar pin.”
“The pin he’s talking about is this.” Akita retrieved the mentioned pin from his pocket and held it up for all to see. It bore a blood-red circle with two golden rings and a silver wolf head embedded. “No one on my council knows anything about this pin. Have any of you seen it before?” Akita inquired.
Aero was the first to respond, “I haven’t seen anything like it. Raven?”
“No, I haven’t either.”
Victoria requested, “May I see it?” Akita nodded, tossing the pin to her. She examined it briefly and showed it to Ezra. After a careful examination, Victoria shook her head. “I’m sorry, but neither of us have seen this before.”
Akita expressed his frustration with a groan, then turned to Rowan and Soup. “Rowan, Soup, have either of you seen this pin?”
Rowan replied, “No, I’ve never seen a pin of this style.”
Soup’s response was more colorful, “The fuck, hell no I’ve never seen it.”
Akita then addressed Willow, “Willow, I don’t mean to bother you, but may I ask you something?”
“Hm? Go ahead.” Willow’s ears perked up.
“I mean no disrespect saying this, but considering you’ve lived for thousands of years, have you come across this pin or its symbol before?”
Willow, with a playful grin, teased, “Calling me old, are you? I’m offended.” They chuckled, while Akita stammered in denial. “Hahaha! I’m pulling your leg curly, relax and stop being so formal, it’s rather tiresome. But sure, let me see the pin.”
Victoria tossed the pin to Willow, who inspected it briefly before responding, “In all my years, I’ve never encountered a pin like this nor its symbol. I can’t provide any information about it.” They nonchalantly tossed the pin back to Akita.
“Well, thank you anyway, Goddess Willow.” Akita expressed his gratitude, despite the disappointing response.
“Yeah, no problem, curly,” Willow responded casually.
With the questions regarding the pin concluded, Akita moved on to the next agenda. “Well, that was really all of what I had to share. Most of the other updates have remained consistent since our last meeting. Rowan, if you please.” As Akita and Timberlain took their seats, Rowan and Elliot stood to address the assembly.
“Well then,” Rowan started.
—[13:39]—
“…and that concludes all the reports from the last month for the Amethian Empire,” stated the taller Wysterling, setting down the binder he held.
“Thank you for the update, Oka. It seems the Amethian Empire is very well off!” Aero said with enthusiasm.
Oka stood imposingly at a towering height of 8’5”, towering over everyone in the room. His skin displayed a palette of black and grey, while his hair featured streaks of black and white. His mandible-like mouth opened similarly to Soup’s, and his long, thick tail had fanned fur at its end, mirroring the hues of his hair. Unlike Soup, Oka had shorter horns, resembling small peaks protruding from his head. His left eye was made of shades black, while his right eye was an array of white hues. He wore a black medium-sleeved shirt and pants, with fingerless gloves to match his attire. Over this outfit, he donned purplish armor, consisting of shoulder plates, chest and back piece, leg armor, forearm guards, a headpiece, and a segment to cover part of his tail. Leather straps secured the pieces together and to his body, adorned with amethyst accents. Notably, a cutout in his shirt and chestplate framed his unique Eye of Wystora, which was more desaturated than Soup’s.
Oka glanced at Aero. “Indeed it is Emperor Ae—“
However, Soup, eager to leave, interrupted, “Everyone’s done sharing now, can we leave already?”
Oka shot an annoyed glare at Soup, he sighed, taking a seat.
Rowan, growing frustrated with Soup’s impatience, retorted, “Why are you in such a rush to leave? It’s your duty as an emperor to attend these meetings.”
“Nye, you jackass, can’t you just be quiet?” Soup was sweating profusely.
“To a Wysterling not accustomed to the overworld, it’s very hot. On the mountain it’s a bit cooler so it’s more just uncomfortably hot,” Oka explained, intervening on Soup’s behalf.
“Yeah, it’s really fucking hot. Can we leave?” Soup used his hands to fan himself.
“Well, does anyone have anything else to share?” Victoria inquired.
The unanimous response, verbal or gestural, was disagreement. Before anyone else could speak, the Amethian Emperor teleported away in magenta and purple wisps, swiftly followed by Oka, who disappeared in hues of black and white.
“They’re certainly something…” Victoria shook her head.
“Those two are the epitome of misery,” Elliot sneered.
“Misery loves its company,” Raven remarked.
Rowan decided it was time to depart. “Well, there’s still business we need to attend to today. Better make our way back to Xalos.”
“Yes, sir, but give me a moment. I’ll meet you at the mountain’s base,” Elliot requested.
Rowan nodded, heading down the mountain. Elliot remained seated, sorting through a few papers. Aero hastened to catch up with Rowan as he descended. Meanwhile, Raven and Timberlain engaged in conversation. Victoria spoke with Willow, while Ezra, displeased by the two previous exchanges, huffing he walked over to Akita.
“The thing causing terror around Spiralis, has it attacked Tucan yet?” Timberlain asked.
“No, not yet, but with the current pattern, it might soon. Why do you ask?” Raven appeared concerned.
“My mother and siblings live in Tucan, and I worry what might happen. My brother tends to take matters into his own hands.”
“Well, what are their names? I’ll keep an eye on them, and if anything occurs, I’ll send you a letter.”
“Really? Thank you, that would be greatly appreciated.” Timberlain provided Raven with the names. “My mother’s name is Alissya Hawk, my brother is Corey Hawk, and my sister is Belfry Hawk.”
Raven's ears perked up. “Does your family, by any chance, own Hawks Express Delivery?”
“Yes, that’s right. My mother is the owner of the company. They deliver all over the empire, even beyond its borders.”
“That’s really cool. I use Hawks Express Delivery for all my mail. Okay, I’ll keep tabs on them. Let’s hope we can resolve this before it escalates to that point.”
“Of course, and thank you once again.”
“Anytime, Timberlain.” Raven glanced at Akita, “Not to bring down the mood, I have to ask, is Akita alright?”
“What do you mean?” Timberlain turned his gaze to Akita, who was engrossed in conversation with Ezra.
“He seems different, not as cheerful as he usually is. You must have noticed.”
“I’ve noticed he’s a bit more stressed, but there’s a lot happening lately.”
“That’s true, I just hope he’s okay .” Raven turned to Timberlain, his concern evident. “I hope both of you are alright.”
“Thank you.” Timberlain sighed, running his hands through his hair. “We should get going now; it’s a long journey home.”
Timberlain joined Akita, who was still chatting with Ezra. “Akita, it’s best we start heading back. The trip is long, and we don’t want to get caught out here too late.”
“Ah, right. Sorry to cut our conversation short, Ezra.” Akita hugged Ezra, who reciprocated.
“Don’t worry about it. I understand your trip is much longer than mine. Both of you travel safely.”
“We will.” Timberlain and Akita were about to bid their farewells to everyone when Elliot stopped them.
“Apologies for the interruption, but I don’t believe we had a proper introduction earlier.” Elliot gracefully bowed as he spoke, his voice polite, “I’m Elliot, as you’ve already heard. May I ask about both of your names?”
“Oh, that’s right. I’m Akita Hawk, Warden of The Republic of Euphoria,” Akita responded, reciprocating the bow with respect.
“I’m Timberlain, one of the shapeshifter councilmen of The Republic of Euphoria,” Timberlain introduced himself, opting not to bow, as it felt unnecessary.
“Akita, Timberlain, it’s been a pleasure meeting you both. I won't hold you any longer. Safe travels!”
“You too!” Akita waved warmly. With their final exchanges complete, Timberlain and Akita left the gathering.
—[17:23]—
Akita and Timberlain strolled along the path towards home, the conversation flowing between them.
“Finally, we’re back,” Akita’s voice carried a palpable sense of relief.
“Indeed, want me to handle dinner tonight?” Timberlain offered.
“Nope, tonight's my turn to cook. You can relax; I've got it covered,” Akita replied, patting his pockets for the house key.
Timberlain observed Akita, deep in thought. After a moment, Akita noticed Timberlain’s stare as he struggled with the key and lock. “You're staring, Lain. Everything alright?”
Timberlain snapped out of his thoughts and quickly averted his gaze. “Uh, sorry, yeah, everything’s fine.”
“Mhm, sure.” Akita finally managed to open the door and walked inside, Timberlain followed suit and closed the door behind him.
“Kids, we're home!” Akita’s voice rang through the house as removed his shoes by the door.
The sound of small footsteps grew louder, and soon Atticus and Yuri came rushing to greet them, their faces lit up with excitement at seeing Akita and Timberlain return home.
“Daddy! Dad! Your back!” Atticus squealed, hopping into Akita’s arms.
“Papa! Dad!” Yuri chimed in and leaped into Timberlain’s arms.
Dutch barked and bounded from the living room to position himself between Akita’s legs.
“Hey, welcome back home,” Lucille's voice reached Akita’s
attention through the chorus of giggles.
“Hello, Lucille. How was your day?” Akita asked as he handed Atticus over to Timberlain.
Timberlain took charge of Atticus and Yuri, leading them towards their room. Dutch followed closely behind.
“It was fine, nothing out of the ordinary,” Lucille replied from the kitchen while she fetched some water.
“Also where’s your brother?” Akita wandered into the kitchen and leaned against the counter.
“He’s out with friends. He said he’d try and be back by seven.”
“Well, as long as he’s home for dinner,” Akita remarked with a smile.
—[19:07]—
Akita’s attention shifted towards the front door as it unlocked and swung open, revealing Lucifer. A warm smile crossed Akita’s face, and he turned his attention back to preparing dinner.
“Hello, Lucifer. How was your day?” Akita questioned.
Lucifer nonchalantly replied, “Uh, it was fine. School was as boring as usual. After that, a few friends and I hung out.” He dropped his backpack by the front door.
Akita continued cooking, nodding in understanding. “That sounded fun. Come on over.”
Lucifer joined Akita in the kitchen, standing beside him. “What are you making?”
“Salmon and pork with alfredo pasta and roasted asparagus.”
Lucifer's eyes lit up with curiosity. “Can I help?”
“Absolutely, but first, please wash your hands.” Akita gestured towards the sink.
Lucifer eagerly complied, washed his hands while his tail wagged energetically against the floor, and he tapped his foot repeatedly with anticipation.
Akita couldn’t help but smile at Lucifer’s enthusiasm. “Here, can you…”
—[22:46]—
—[Akita POV]—
I sat alone in my office, the late hours of the evening stretched on. The house was quiet; the kids and Söl-leks were peacefully asleep. I diligently worked on the paperwork before me, a focused determination to get it done driving me. Completing it tonight would grant me some relief tomorrow. I hated my job, and the constant stress it brought, but I had chosen it, and I had to live with that decision.
Then, unexpectedly, a voice broke my concentration.
“Akita.”
I jumped in my seat, startled by the sudden interruption. Timberlain had silently entered the room, standing behind me. I hadn’t even noticed him.
I turned in my seat to face him, my heart still racing. “My Amani. Timberlain, you scared me,” I admitted.
His expression carried a weight of concern that sent a shiver down my spine. Something was clearly amiss.
“Can we talk?” Timberlain’s voice wavered with a mix of emotions.
I couldn’t ignore the worry in his eyes. “Of course. What’s wrong?” I asked, growing increasingly anxious.
Timberlain retrieved a broken pen from his pocket. It was my favorite fountain pen, the one I had tossed into the trash. Confusion gnawed at me. Why did he have it?
“Where did you find that?” I questioned, my voice uneasy.
“I found it in your trash this morning. I knew this pen meant a lot to you, so I was concerned when I found it broken.” Timberlain handed me the pen, his eyes searching mine for answers.
My mind raced for a plausible explanation that didn’t involve sharing the details of what truly happened. “It was an accident, and I threw it away. Thank you for your concern though. I plan to get another one tomorrow.” I placed the pen on my desk, avoiding his gaze.
“An accident? Seriously?” Timberlain arms crossed, and his frustration became evident. He didn’t seem convinced by my words.
“Yes, I’m serious. It was an accident. I was upset and broke it. So, please, just drop it.” I replied, my voice strained.
A heavy silence hung between us, neither of us eager to continue the conversation. A knock on the office room door interrupted our tense moment.
“Come in!” I called out, wondering who else was awake at this late hour.
Lucifer slowly pushed the door open and peeked inside. “Hey, Dad, can you help me with…” He trailed off as he saw Timberlain in the room. “Am I interrupting something?”
“No, Lucifer, we were just talking,” Timberlain assured him, lowering his arms.
I smiled warmly to reassure our son. “What did you need help with, kiddo?”
“My horn chipped, and I’m having trouble sharpening it,” Lucifer explained, pointing to the top of his horn where a piece had broken off.
“Sure thing, kiddo. Give me a moment, and I’ll meet you in the living room, okay?” I stood up from my chair.
“Okay!” Lucifer left the room, closing the door behind him.
Once we were alone again, I decided to confide in Timberlain. “Look I’m sorry. I broke the pen about a week ago during our failed attempt to gather information from the people who destroyed the village. I was angry and upset, and I broke it.”
Timberlain remained silent for a while before he sighed. “I’m sorry, too. I just wanted to make sure you were all right because I knew that pen meant a lot to you. I couldn’t imagine it breaking for no reason, so I was concerned.”
I nodded in understanding. “I’m doing better now. It’s still a troubling situation, but I’ll manage.”
“Okay. Don’t worry; we’ll figure this out eventually.” Timberlain came closer and embraced me, and I returned the hug.
“I’ll come to bed after I help Lucifer. I really don’t want to deal with more paperwork tonight.”
Timberlain chuckled. “All right, Akita.”
We parted ways, heading down the hallway in different directions. I entered the living room, where Lucifer sat with a bowl of water and his oil stone on the coffee table. He was picking at the scales on his arms.
I settled onto the grey couch behind him and greeted him with a smile. “Hey, kiddo.”
“Hey, Dad.”
Taking the oil stone, I moistened it slightly and began rubbing it against the tip of his horn, curious to hear how he had chipped it.
“So how did this happen?” I inquired, my curiosity piqued. Lucifer was typically meticulous about his horns, and he took great pride in them.
“Well, I don’t know exactly how it happened, but I think it was when a few friends and I were goofing around and playfully pushing each other,” Lucifer explained.
“Just some roughhousing, then?”
“Yeah,” he nodded.
————
We chatted about random topics while I sharpened his horn. I made sure not to overdo it; I didn’t want any accidents to happen.
“There, all done,” I declared, setting the oil stone and cloth aside.
“Thank you, Dad!” Lucifer expressed his gratitude and headed towards the hallway.
“Of course, kiddo. Now, off to bed,” I directed him, pointing to the hallway.
“Okay, good night!” He vanished down the corridor.
“Good night!”
I decided to linger here for a little while longer. I had no regrets about the choices I’d made. I couldn’t imagine life any other way. Despite its occasional chaos, it was perfect to me.
The people I had met, my friends, my family — this life is truly perfect.
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