A cold wind stretched across the morning light over Sentinel.

From his vantage point atop the city's lighthouse, Ethan could see the entire town and its departing human populace. He could see the Druids ambling away back to their precious Grove with Malak at their head, and he could see the Drytchlings who were already patching up the town and fortifying its defenses for the greater war that was to come.

Because they were running on borrowed time, all of them. Artorious was merely imprisoned by the will of Jun'Ei. And if that will began to die…

He looked across the seas of Argwyll and heaved a heavy sigh from his oaken Host's throat. Across those choppy waters lay his destination: Griffon's Watch, its formidable towers rising out of the sea like a set to fingers beckoning him towards their evil Master.

Haylock…

Ethan felt his Drytchling fingers clench.

Out of all the enemies he'd made since coming to this world, he deserved to die the most. No, he deserved worse than death…

Ethan caught himself in that thought, shaking his leaf-covered head and trying to still the voice in his mind calling for violence. For righteous slaughter…

You know what the best thing is about you? Sys suddenly asked.

Ethan's eyes bulged. He'd almost forgotten Sys was there, even though, in a way, he always was.

You never give up.

Ethan laughed a hoarse laugh.

"I'm beginning to think that's more of a problem than a virtue", he said aloud.

It's something your predecessors didn't share, Sys stated. They – each of them – knew that when the Lightborn caught up with them, it would bring death. Karfanng because he was totally unprepared, Gelsaadra because she was she'd only been told how invincible she was, Mortavius because he'd spent most of his life hiding, and Gyko…well, I don't think she ever even cared about winning.

Ethan blinked. "I thought you couldn't remember them?"

I couldn't, Sys agreed. But recently…something's happening to both of us. I'm starting to get flashes. Flashes of past emotions. Experiences…none of them good.

"What else is new?"

You, Ethan, Sys said with conviction – more conviction than Ethan had ever heard from him. You're something entirely new. You might be just what this world needs.

"So everyone on our side keeps telling me…but…thanks, Sys. Coming from you, I should take every complement I can get."

Don't get used to it, Sys chuckled back. After all, I'm your lovable sarcastic little sidekick, aren't I? I can't very well get your butt motivated every time you come across trouble.

Ethan smiled, even as he looked out into the shadowed realm that he knew he must assault, and soon. Below him, Klax and the others were preparing their battleship to cast off – the Drytchling soldiers reinforcing the hide of the ship with their magically enhanced bark.

I think it's time for some upgrades, Sys.

He perused his myriad skills and chose Thorn Whip, upgrading it all the way to Grade B at the cost of 2000 Cores.

Thorn Whip (Grade B)

DMG Increase

Status unlocked: Thorn Channel

Thorn whip can now be enhanced with elemental effects

Choose one effect per use from (PYRO), (CRYO) or (SPRK)

Spirit Cores Remaining: 1500

Fire, ice, or lightning…even more versatility in my arsenal now.

Still, with 1500 Spirit Cores from felling the Colossus, Ethan could do even more damage. But, for some reason, he couldn't decide on another skill. He looked at them all, in this moment, with a surprising level of disinterest.

"…What's happening to me, Sys? he suddenly asked. "Why am I feeling the emotions of this Host so much more keenly than the others? Because she was human?

…I don't know, Ethan. But take my advice: keep this between you and me.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

Ethan frowned. "Why?"

Sys' reply was uncharacteristically quiet. It was as though, now that he could actually speak out loud, he was suddenly anxious that he was using his 'outside' voice as opposed to his 'inside'...

Ethan, did you see the look Faun gave you back there? And she's not the only one, believe me. They're beginning to see who you really are, bud. And they're shittin' their metaphorical breeches.

Ethan turned away. He looked down at his gnarled, oaken claws. Claws that were still covered in blood.

"They would understand...maybe help..."

Ethan...real talk: when have they ever been there for you, really? You've done nothing but sacrifice for them. They've been helpful, sure, and they're good Hybrids, sure. But this entire mission's been all on you. You're the Archon. You're the one with all the badass skills. And half of the time you're they're Kaedmon damned Councillor. Down there, y'know what you did? You gave orders. You gave commands. And - shocker - they followed them. Compared to them...hell, of course they're getting scared of you. You know what I say? Let them.

Ethan shook his head. He didn't want to believe any of that.

They've helped you get this far. Now, why don't you carry the torch by yourself? Look at them down there, man. You really think they can handle what's coming? A war? A real war? They barely survived the last one. What happens when ol' Arty gets out of his cage? You know he'll go through them to get to you. You know they're gonna be a burden sooner or later.

Silence hung in the air for a moment. Terse, and dead.

Ethan, I just don't want to see another Archon bleed for 'their people'. To them, you're just another spoke in the wheel of Archon and Lightborn. But this is your life. Don't just be what they want you to be. Be who you are.

"Sys, you've got it wrong."

...and yet -

Just then, the sound of footsteps echoed on the lighthouse's balcony. Ethan looked down to see a familiar set of serpentine eyes staring up at him.

"Lamphrey," he said. "Nice night for a stroll, huh?"

She gave him a curt nod. "Indeed it is, Archon Ethan."

"Let me guess: you're here to relay some cryptic message to me about my purpose in this world?"

The Tialax cocked her scaled head.

"I will reveal nothing to you if you do not wish me to, Lord," she said. "I – all of us – know that you exist above us all. The thunders of your mind are meant for you to navigate, not us."

She turned away and Ethan heaved another sigh.

"Stop," he said. "And tell me what you came here to tell me."

Lamphrey did as he bid, giving another nod as she came to join Ethan atop the lighthouse.

"Your mind is troubled because you are questioning your purpose," she said. "It is something that limits your power. But it is also something that promises you more."

"Power again," Ethan laughed. "You love the concept, don't you?"

Lamphrey licked her scaled lips.

"Power should not be loved or hated. It is simply force. Force that can be exerted or not. For the right reasons, or the wrong ones."

"And you want to tell me what the 'right' reasons are to do what I'm doing?"

"I wish to offer you one perspective, Lord. That is all."

Something tells me it's a little more than that, Ethan thought. But, fine. Not like I've got many better ideas.

"Go on."

She straightened up and cast her staff over the city gate, at the departing humans and druids of the Fifth-Pillar.

"You dispel these humans from their home, knowing that hatred for you still burns within their hearts. You neither choose to break their spirits through enslavement to your cause, nor their bodies through putting them to the same flame you put their tree to. Why?"

Ethan wanted to laugh. To him, the answer seemed so obvious. And he hoped that Sys was listening, too.

"Because choice is what's important here," he said. "None of them chose to hate me, or the hybrids. They were told to. Same with Malak and his people. They were taught to hate the humans who kicked them out. To me, there's only one person that needs their ass kicked in this realm."

Lamphrey nodded. "You speak of Kaedmon."

"I couldn't think of a shittier God if I tried."

The Tialax nodded. "Yet you must understand that there is a certain order to Kaedmon's world, is there not?"

"Order?"

The Tialax stood and swept her staff over the entire town now, extending her fingers to encompass all of the forest and Triant, and even Sacntum and Lucent that lay beyond them.

"Kaedmon's Law," he said. "Have you given thought to why it exists? Like all things in this world, it has its purpose."

Ethan shifted. "If I had to guess, it's because it keeps Kaedmon in power. It gives everyone a role that's beneath him, and tells them that, no matter who they are, they shouldn't rise up against him."

"Perhaps, in a sense, this is correct," Lamphrey said. "But take the example of the Druid Malak. He was born and branded a Druid of the Albion by Kaedmon's Law, charged with the protection of nature. But he chose, within that role, to interpret 'protection' in a martial sense – he conceived that, in order to safeguard nature, he must destroy that which harms it."

Ethan blinked at her.

"So you're saying that, even though he wanted to fight against Kaedmon's Law, technically…"

"He was doing exactly what he was supposed to do."

Ethan followed her eyes, looking out over the different beings who were trudging away under him, each of them performing some role in the port town.

"There is a certain…joy in obedience," Lamphrey continued. "Every single person in the world, knowing to a certainty that the job they are supposed to do is their job. Knowing that they make a contribution to the world and their society and that this is all they must do in order to live a fulfilling life. There is some comfort to be found in purpose. You understand this, do you not, Ethan?"

He noted that she didn't call him 'Archon Ethan' this time. She was talking to his old human self, buried deep beneath his demon form. She was talking to the he that once was, submerged in office work 9-5…

"So – what?" he asked. "You're saying no one can truly break the Law?"

Lamphrey looked at him long and hard before continuing.

"I am suggesting that perhaps it is only a symptom of a greater problem, Archon Ethan," she said. "One that you are so close to grasping, yet cannot quite conceive."

"Well – just tell me!" Ethan all but exclaimed. "If you know the answer, why all this cloak and dagger? Maybe you haven't noticed, but I'm pretty open to suggestions here."

She did not drop her gaze a single inch.

"I cannot. Because I know that they are listening."

Ethan blinked.

"Who-"

Creature Approaching!

Identity: Hybrid

Status…Ally

Ethan rolled his eyes as he turned, surprised to find that Sys had a nifty little alarm system like that built in…

"Faun," he said. "I know that's you. Only a rabbit with a step as light as yours could sneak up on me."

A small shimmer of light answered Ethan. Then, seemingly out of the morning dew itself, the Hopla stepped, staff clutched tightly to her breast. She was shaking. But there was determination in her eyes.

"Ethan," she said. "Don't listen to her."

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