Naggi tied it shut, then looked at him with a soft, weary smile.
"I'll have these washed immediately," she said. "Would you like anything, son?"
Levy shook his head. "No, Mom. I'm okay."
Naggi's smile faltered. She walked closer, her voice dropping. "Son... I'm sorry for anything I've done to upset you. I know I'm not your father. I know I'm not an Artimancer. I'm just a Knight but I."
Levy lowered his eyes. "It's fine, Mother."
"No," she pressed. "I know you believe I can't compare to him."
Levy finally lifted his head. His voice cracked. "Mother, please... I don't know what to believe anymore. I don't know how to make sense of anything, I thought life was about logic, that's the artimancers way, Gods defy logic."
Her heart twisted. She sat down beside him. "What's wrong, son? Did something happen?"
Levy hesitated, then whispered. "I met a boy. We fought... I nearly died to a parasite. And then he appeared. He didn't save me, not directly. Instead, he... called on a God. And the God answered him. God killed the parasite."
Naggi's breath caught.
Levy clenched his fists. "What kind of person can call upon a God? I thought Gods weren't real. Dad said they aren't real. None of this makes sense."
The two of them sat in silence. Naggi stared at her son, words failing her. She sat beside him and hugged him. He smothered his face in his mothers arms as he sobbed.
Meanwhile, the Knights' banquet hall roared with laughter and awe.
Gravixor and Peekol sat at the long wooden table, their eyes cartoonishly wide and hypnotic as they devoured cake after cake.
Gravixor "Yellow Cake"
Peekol "Yellow cake"
"They've eaten ten whole cakes between them!" one soldier gasped.
"And they're still going!" another shouted, bewildered.
Soldiers clapped and cheered, watching the Bear and her companion indulge without shame. Gravixor licked frosting from her fingers while Peekol laughed, already reaching for another plate.
Elsewhere in the hall, Braxill wandered the stone corridors. Portraits lined the walls: Knights, Zoners, leaders past and present. He saw Lanni, Jett, Naggi, Euly, and Raffi staring down at him from polished frames.
The farther he walked, the older the portraits became, faces from centuries past. His eyes caught on one nameplate: Ibenez.
"Who is this?" Braxill asked as Lanni approached behind him.
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Lanni paused. "I'm not entirely sure. He fought in the rebellion during the age of King Jiguzo. He was an artists."
Braxill's gaze lingered. His voice dropped. "...He looks familiar."
Lanni tilted her head, but before she could ask more, another presence stirred.
From the shadows, unseen, Rasby watched silently. Her gaze fell on the same portrait, then back to Braxill.
Lanni eventually led Braxill to a small chamber.
IBENEZ
This was infact Braxill's father
The room was simple, just a narrow bed with clean sheets, a wooden dresser with a bell placed neatly on top, and a single lantern that cast a soft glow. It was modest, but it was safe.
"Well, Braxill," Lanni said with a smile, "that concludes your tour. This is your room for the night. If you need anything, ring the bell. A maid will come." She pointed to the small brass bell on the dresser.
Braxill grinned. "Thanks, Lanni."
She turned to leave but stopped at the door. "One more thing. It's very important. Please, do not use your powers here. The King despises artists. The Royals despise them even more. If they find out an artist with your abilities is here... it will be disastrous for the people."
Braxill's smile softened. "I understand."
"Thank you." She nodded, then slipped out, leaving him alone.
Braxill laid back on the bed, exhaling, staring at the ceiling, sighing.
"It's boring here... I wonder what Grax and the others are doing. Hmmm... maybe Gravixor and Peekol too," he muttered.
As the thought crossed his mind, Braxill's eyes flickered green. In an instant, his imagination sparked to life, a cartoon fox and a cartoon fish with a sword popped into existence. He created a second fox as referee. The battle floated above him.
A knock came at the door.
"Lanni?" he called.
The door opened. Levy stepped in.
Braxill's expression sharpened. "Levy."
Levy's voice was just as cold. "Braxill."
"What do you want?"
Levy's eyes narrowed. "...I want you to tell me about Joy."
Elsewhere, Jett stood outside with his soldiers, huddled under the torchlight. Roberta, one of his trusted companions, leaned close.
"Jett... are you sure about this?"
"Yes," Jett said firmly. "I've tried contacting the elders of the Zeta branch, but they refuse to answer. Lonnie is preparing to align with the animals, to drag us into war with the Royals. That will put every Zoner at risk. The best course... is to negotiate directly with the Royals."
Roberta nodded grimly. "Very well."
Jett "Tell me, who was teh child who arived on the Dragon?
Roberta "The reports confirmed he's a young artist of some sort from the Bear Tribe but he's not of any importance."
Jett "Good, you never know these days with Lanni doing whatever she wants."
Jett summoned a massive lizard, its scaled body bound to a large carriage. He and his soldiers climbed aboard. The beast sprinted forward, covering the rugged terrain of the Zoner districts at nearly eighty miles per hour. Wind tore at Jett's cloak, urgency hardening his face.
"I know the King can be reached," he muttered. "It will take reason. Direct effort. But it can be done."
They arrived at the Royal gates. Fifty Delta robots immediately raised their weapons, red optics flaring.
The carriage halted. Jett stepped out, Roberta and two other soldiers at his side.
"Greetings," Jett called out. "I've come to speak with Sephiss."
The lead Delta's voice buzzed. "Zoner Knight... you should never approach the Royal gates unannounced."
"I understand," Jett said calmly, "but this matter is urgent. It concerns Leader Lonnie and her intentions to ally with the animals against the Royals."
The robots scanned him, then after a long pause, one replied: "Wait here."
The gates rumbled, metal grinding as they slowly opened.
And there stood Sephiss, his lips curling into an evil smile.