IS THAT TOO MUCH TO ASK GOD?

The first sensation was softness, like clouds were beneath him. No he was not dead, yet.

Then came the scent, a complex blend of bitter herbs, salves with sweet and heavy incense. The overwhelming stench of blood was no more present.

Memories slammed into him like a war hammer, the bloody scene replayed in his mind.

'The crimson moon, fangs glinting, corpses around him. The rage, that terrible feeling which consumed him.'

Elijah's eyes snapped open, a vaulted ceiling came into his view. His body and limbs still ached from the heaviness of battle.

Elijah lifted up his body with effort and urgency.

"Easy, young master," came a familiar voice, "It's over, you are safe." The tone was filled with relief and residual tension.

A firm hand grasped his shoulders before he could overstrain.

Elijah turned his head, Sebastian sat in a high back chair beside the bed.

"Sebastian…" Elijah's voice was rough and his throat felt parched, " what happened? Where's the Woman?",

" She's no longer a threat, you collapsed…" Sebastian paused for a moment, his voice was flat and hard, " But, not before you brought her down, young master."

Elijah's memory was hazy, all he remembered was laying down on the bloody ground as he stared at the moon, his body being engulfed by the anger and hatred. Everything after that was a blur.

I collapsed after taking her down ?

Elijah tried to recall the events, suddenly, feeling a sharp headache.

He observed his surroundings, his head throbbing in pain. He could observe a lavish room, sunlight filtered through velvet curtains illuminating the walls.

The walls were decorated with many tapestries depicting violent scenes, glorious heroes and hunting scenes with monstrous creatures among others.

He observed the crest above the grand hearth which dominated the opposite wall. It wasn't the Fenice phoenix but a Hawk, a golden hawk stooping with its wings wide spread and talons extending out.

"This isn't home?" Elijah murmured.

Sebastian offered a cup, Elijah drank from it, not tasting anything but his parched throat felt relieved.

"No," Sebastian spoke taking the cup from Elijah after he finished drinking, " we are guests, under protection of Duke Armstrong. He's bound to your father by an old debt."

Elijah's headache started to subside after drinking from the cup and he rested his back against the canopied headboard of the bed.

"I brought you here after it all ended, the messenger Conan sent had informed the Duke of our arrival.

When we did not arrive by the appointed time, he sent a party to intercept us. We met them on our way and they helped bring you here.

This is Duke Armstrong's Hunting lodge, you slept for three days and three nights."

Sebastian explained the situation to Elijah.

Elijah sat there letting the situation sink in, the silence filled the room,

After some time Elijah spoke,

"The guards and servants, what happened to them?" Elijah's expression was pale and his hesitation was evident from his voice.

After thinking about everything that had happened he felt overwhelmed, the heavy weight of realisation settled onto his chest.

He remembered the words of his father when he left for the capital,

He already knew what had happened to the guards but he felt compelled to know details about the others. His life felt indebted to them.

He now realised his position in this world, he was no longer a nobody like he was in his life on earth.

His life was not cheap, he now lived at the cost of others. He was breathing because of their sacrifices.

He came to realise the weight that the word, 'young master' came with. He realised the meaning of being a noble in this world.

He waited for Sebastian's reply,

The weight of his position overshadowed the grief and every other emotion.

"The servants and maids were all brought back safely, they are currently receiving treatment. As for the guards…" Sebastian paused to observe Elijah and continued, " you don't need to feel guilty, young master. They fought and perished with honour, they fell upholding their oaths."

What use is such honour. I will never let such thing happen again in my life.

What about me, do I not have any honour?

"Young master," Sebastian spoke, breaking Elijah's thoughts, "Duke Armstrong will visit you soon, he requested an audience as soon as you woke up.

I'll inform him of your condition. Would that be okay?"

"Yes, and express my gratitude to him." Elijah's complexion was still pale, however, he was showing his poker face once again.

"Yes, young master." Sebastian felt relieved after observing Elijah.

He was concerned deeply about Elijah. After observing his berserk state and emotional breakdown during the fight, he was prepared to face a breakdown from Elijah.

He felt amazed and a new feeling of respect emerged in his heart for Elijah, who was still an eight-year-old child in his eyes.

Sebastian stood up and left the room.

Elijah's headache had subsided and he became calm, he once again observed his surroundings and the lavish room.

Something felt different, something unnatural which he never felt before. He could sense something unfamiliar filling up the room and surrounding himself.

This unknown presence was reacting to his body and was gathering around him as if slowly trying to invade into his skin.

Elijah felt something new was flowing through his veins as it reached deeper into his body. It started to accumulate around his chest, just beside his heart.

Elijah remembered something, something that Sebastian had told him. When he visited the spirit pool in the Fenice family's magic tower.

He concentrated on the unfamiliar matter around him and started absorbing it into his body, just as Sebastian told him three years ago.

Soon, the unfamiliar matter started to condense inside his body, slowly transforming into a marble sized sphere, just beside his heart.

Elijah didn't stop, he continued to absorb it until dusk. He didn't even noticed the maids who brought him food or Sebastian who had returned after sending a messenger to inform the Duke.

He sat still on the bed with his eyes closed, concentrating solely on absorbing the unfamiliar matter.

At Dusk, The guard standing outside Elijah's room announced the arrival of someone,

The door to his room opened, a tall man with muscular build entered the room. Sebastian bowed to the man as he paid his respects.

The man's gaze turned towards Elijah, who was sitting still on the bed with his eyes closed. He motioned his guards to leave, moving inside he made himself comfortable on the couch.

Couch, which was already bigger than the normal chairs felt tiny when the man sat on it.

The man sported a thick, blonde handlebar moustache. His blonde hairs were long and voluminous resembling a lion's mane.

Sebastian poured a drink for the man,

The man drank and kept observing Elijah with a firm gaze, not speaking even once.