The castle was surprisingly small, but the people inside seemed to know Abdul very well. During the short walk to the third floor, at least three men stopped
them, greeting the man. They were so happy to see him return that Trowa knew the man was well liked. Then they reached the throne room and he knelt,
following Abdul's motions. He hadn't had time to look at the king, but he got a very nice view of the dark red carpet beneath them.
"I am the head of the First Knighthood, Abdul, back from the field." Pale blue-green eyes smiled at him and Abdul watched the young king stand and move
forward.
"Abdul!" Remembering his place, Quatre straightened, calming his tone. "I was uneasy when I heard you were missing. Please, make yourselves
comfortable, all of you." The two strangers didn't look up and he hid a sigh, looking at Abdul's bowed head.
"Your Majesty, it's more than I deserve," Abdul murmured, his eyes downcast. He smirked when soft laughter sounded and he glanced back up to see Minister
Noish move next to Quatre. The man did so enjoy teasing the blonde boy.
"It was true!" Noish laughed, nodding to Abdul. "His Majesty was so dismayed about your disappearance that he couldn't see to his affairs of state." The
young king turned to him and Noish's eyes twinkled at the light flush on those pale cheeks.
"Noish, please." Quatre gave a frown to the man, noting that the man didn't look the least bit guilty. Abdul was smirking at him and he shook his head, resting
his hands on the railing that separated them. "Abdul, where have you been?"
"My Knighthood was wiped out," Abdul said, his shoulders tensing when the boy's eyes widened. "I was captured by Sandora and held in Hellena Prison..."
The King's face had gone pale and he dropped his gaze.
"No...Abdul..."
"However," Abdul interrupted quickly, gesturing to Trowa and Catherine, "thanks to the act of this young man, I managed to break out. Your Majesty, let me
introduce Trowa and Catherine. They're from Seles."
Quatre forced a smile when the two finally looked up, a bit of color returning to his face. "Thank you both. I appreciate it from the bottom of my heart. In
return, please tell me if you need anything, anything at all."
The King was nothing like he'd expected and Trowa stared at him in surprise, the soft voice not quite registering. He didn't look a day past fifteen, short with
his slender form clothed in silky green robes. The long green cape made him look even smaller and Trowa blinked twice before glancing at Catherine quickly.
The girl nodded to him, urging him to ask his questions. But that wasn't the request he had and he stood slowly, meeting the young King's pale blue-green
eyes. "I do have a favor to ask," he said slowly, careful not to look at the girl beside him as he straightened his shoulders. "Could you shelter Catherine
here?" He could feel the girl glaring at him immediately, his words not having been the question she'd expected.
"What?!" Catherine cried softly, her hands on her hips. If she hadn't been in the presence of royalty, she'd have slapped him. He was so eager to get rid of
her.
Trowa kept his eyes on Quatre's, pretending not to hear Catherine's objection. "The Imperial Sandora attacked Seles in order to take Catherine. They could
try again at any time."
"Is that the reason you brought me here?" Catherine demanded, her eyes narrowing even more.
She was so furious, but Trowa wasn't about to change his mind. Despite his determination, he winced when he finally glanced at her. "Cathy..."
"Do you think I'm just a kid?" Catherine asked, her voice low. "Five years is a long time, Trowa. I don't need to be protected."
Quatre blinked, his eyes moving between the two of them. He felt as if he'd intruded on a private conversation, as if he'd walked into the wrong room. It was
an odd feeling for him and he had to shake his head before he could remember himself. "Unfortunately, you cannot leave her here." Dark green eyes flicked
to him and he shook his head again, his expression regretful. He hated to deny their only request, especially since they'd helped Abdul. But there wasn't
anything he could do about it. "Imperial Sandora obtained a Dragon and went on the offensive. We're holding the battle line in Hoax, but if the Dragon can fly
at low altitudes and directly attack the castle, we have nothing to defend it...even with the high ramparts. I would love to be able to grant your request, but
there is no place safe in Serdio now. If we were to shelter her here, we might actually be putting her into even more danger."
Trowa frowned, glancing at Abdul. The man was watching the young king and Trowa followed his gaze, reading the regret there. "Well, I take back the
request, then. But there is something else you could do for me." The blonde boy nodded quickly and Trowa looked to the tall man standing at the king's
right. "I have a question for Minister Noish."
"Ask me anything," Noish said quickly, smiling when Quatre glanced at him. The young green-eyed man took a step forward and he redirected his gaze, his
chin rising in mock conceit. "My head is filled with all the legends and history of the Continent of Endiness. Ask me anything."
"I was on a journey to pursue the Black Monster," Trowa said softly, watching the man's face.
"The Black...Monster..." Noish's eyes widened and he leaned against the railing, staring at Trowa in surprise.
"Yes," Trowa said sharply. "The monster that attacked Neet eighteen years ago. The only thing I know is that he destroyed the entire village, killing everyone."
"Hmm! You were a victim of the devil!" Noish grimaced when Quatre winced at his enthusiasm and he reigned in his excitement. "There is hardly any
information left about the Black Monster," he said slowly. "Everything that was related to him was reduced to ashes. The only thing I know is that the Black
Monster is called the devil that disobeyed the great existence, and it is also known for devouring the god."
"Devouring the 'god'?" This was something he'd never heard and Trowa's hands curled restlessly.
"Yes," Noish nodded, "and surprisingly, the Black Monster shows up in history beginning 11,000 years ago."
"11,000 years ago is the time the Dragon Campaign ended," Quatre said, looking at his advisor in surprise. The man smirked at him, no doubt proud he'd
remembered that lesson.
"You're exactly right, Your Majesty. While I cannot speak much of the Black Monster, I can tell you the story of the Dragon Campaign." Trowa nodded to him
and Noish folded his arms. "11,000 years ago, Winglies ruled the earth. As if they were Gods they ruled over all living creatures and used them as slaves.
The enslaved suffered a terrible domination and injustice. But a human rose from that, Emperor Diaz. He drew the enslaved together, uniting them beneath
the seven incarnations of Dragons. These were the Dragoons, humans with the power to control dragons and they served the Emperor. Their bravery
inspired people to take up arms and the Dragon Campaign began. It was a harsh war. Both humans and Winglies suffered countless injuries and fatalities.
Finally, after a long period of suffering, it was the humans who acquired the future." He'd closed his eyes during the telling, but Noish opened them now,
taking in Trowa's frown.
"The Black Monster appeared after the Dragon Campaign," Trowa said. The minister nodded, but Trowa stopped himself from asking more when a soldier
came up the stairs behind them. Stepping aside, he watched the man kneel briefly before addressing the King.
"Excuse me, sir," the knight said, "but it's time for the war meeting."
"I see," Quatre sighed. "Tell them we will come soon." The man nodded and he turned to Abdul's guests. "Trowa, Catherine? This war will be a particularly
harsh one for those who no longer have a home to return to; I heard about Seles. The castle is very quiet now. I think it would be the best place to think
about your future. There is a place with a great view next to this room. Please enjoy yourselves."
Catherine nodded, glancing in the direction he'd indicated. "Yes, I would like to see the view from the castle." After excusing herself, she left them.
She was still angry that he'd tried to leave her behind, Trowa was sure of it. Abdul had gone up the stairs and was talking with the king so he stepped through
the doorway Catherine had exited. This led to a balcony and he looked at the view, frowning when the only thing he could see was an expanse of orange-gold
fields. There were mountains behind them, but he still didn't know what the king had thought was so great about the view. But Catherine seemed to like it, at
least he thought she did until she turned and he saw her expression.
"Seles is over the mountain," Catherine murmured. "We can't see it anyway, though, because we're so far... I hope everybody's safe."
"...I'm sure they're safe," Trowa hedged, not meeting her eyes. The people he'd seen still alive were surely safe, but she hadn't asked about those who'd
died. He wasn't going to volunteer the information, not now when they were kept from going to the village. There was no point telling her now.
"Yes, they are safe," Abdul said, pausing in the doorway. He gave a distracted smile when Trowa turned in surprise and he stepped onto the balcony.
"According to the brief by my aide, most of the people in the village are safe."
"I'm relieved to hear that," Trowa said, glancing at Catherine's bright eyes.
"But it will take time to rebuild the village," Abdul warned, also glancing at Catherine.
"Still," Cathy said quickly, "it's good news. That they're safe."
"Yes, but we also have bad news." Trowa turned to him and Abdul glared at the balcony's railing. "Sandora is now readying itself to attack us. They're
planning to use the Dragon for the offensive on Hoax."
"The Dragon! If they release that monster in battle, it will be total genocide." Trowa's eyes narrowed as he wondered what could possibly be used against a
dragon.
"Our role," Abdul continued, "as the Knighthood, is to stop it. I'm heading to Hoax now. Maintaining the battle line will determine the future of Basil."
Shaking his head, Trowa looked at Catherine before stepping towards the doorway. "I've only lived for myself," he said softly, "I believed it was something I
had to complete by myself even if I had to leave the people of the village without any protection. But when I came back... I almost lost everything again." His
eyes hardened and he turned to face Abdul. "I'm going to Hoax with you. I won't allow anymore senseless bloodshed."
"What about the Black Monster?" Abdul asked, his eyes wide. He welcomed the help and the support, but he knew the young man had spent years on his
quest.
Trowa jerked his arm back, showing a rare display of anger. "We have to end this war first."
Smiling at the teen, Catherine shook her head. "Once Trowa makes up his mind, he never changes it. Of course, I'm going too." The boy turned to her and
she was careful to keep looking at Abdul. "I cannot stand the war, either. And it's not like I can't fight." Sliding her gaze to the side, she smiled when Trowa
looked away. She didn't doubt that he wanted to argue, but he knew better than that.
"You guys..." Abdul's eyes moved between them and he sighed when Trowa nodded sharply.
"Everything is decided," Trowa said, his eyes glancing off Catherine's smug expression. He still wanted to argue, but it *would* be better if he kept her where
he could protect her from attacks. He just wished she didn't have to follow him right onto the battlefield. "Now, we just have to prepare." Abdul looked
touched by their joining him and Trowa almost smirked at the man's expression.
"Th-then, let's go into Bale, now," Abdul said quickly. "There are item shops, weapon shops." Trowa nodded and he did smile. He'd told Quatre that the two
were worthy friends, and he'd just been proven right.
.-.
PART 5
.-.
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