Fly Til Dusk (boyxboy) (CANCER - BOOK 2)

Whoa, I never thought I'd see the day that I write a sequel (kinda?) to The Great White Lion. I'm super excited to share with you all that of a new story of more gods, demons, magic, evil emperors, and let's not forget DRAGONS! I haven't forgotten Raja and Noble either. They'll appear, I promise!

Thank you all for coming to read my books. It means a lot to a writer like me. Please feel free to follow me for updates, vote, and comment positively!

But serious thought, Thanks.

"We're losing him!" One voice shouted. Another replied, but it was all too much for him to focus on listening. All he heard was ringing, constant ringing in his head. Black spots littered his eyesight before he would eventually accept death freely.

He had never felt something so painful before.

He drifted in and out of consciousness, unaware at how much blood stained his lips or his robes. The poor seventeen year old hadn't a clue to where he was. All he remembered was talking to his father in their carriage back to capital. They were debating politics, sadly the usual topics his father was only interested in. Then, his little sister Charlotte, at the age of seven years, started to scream.

It was all just a blur from there.

Though he did remember those bandits shouting in language he barely studied. They were of the elvan dialect, but he did understand "Arm" and "Cut". They also said something about an Sagittarius offering, and that definitely came to mind. Of course, every noble in Valider's court was of Lunar religion. It only made sense; the emperor was of Luna's faint bloodline.

His silver eyes cracked open three days later. His mother, whom was very injured, lay in a chair across the room, resting her eyes. A healer, with the collar wrapped around her neck, walked inside to find that he had awoken. She dropped her bowl of herbs before approaching the teenager.

"Don't over exert yourself Milord, " The healer rested her hand on his chest, pushing him back down onto the bed, "You have grave wounds that must not be moved until it is healed."

"What has happened?" The teenager asked in a low voice, careful not to wake his mother up.

"I do not think it is I that shall be the barer of bad news, " The healer replied, "Perhaps, your bride will inform you? Or do you want me to wake the lady of the house for you?"

"If you insist." He was against the idea, but he needed to know what happened in full. There were only bits and pieces in his head, but he seemed none the wiser thinking upon it. It hurt his head just to think. Come to think of it, his right arm was numb as well as his left. He wasn't able to move even if he tried.

"Oh, you're awake!" The sound of his mother's high pitched voice entered his ears, and he winced. She noticed before setting herself in the stool next to the bed. She turned to the servant, "Please, finish your job, so I can explain what happened to my son."

The elf nodded before mashing the herbs quickly and sliding the mixture into a noticeable gash on his stomach. She bowed respectively before running off to who knows where.

"What happened to me, Mother?" His voice cracked. It was rough, hoarse, weak.It was not his usual strong, respectable tone he was so use to hearing himself. Something had happened, and it was bad, very bad. He could even see it in the sadness of his mother's eyes. Not even the warning from the healer could have prepared him for the explanation his mother gave him.

"Bandits raided our carriage." She said simply, "They stole all the books we were going to store in our library just for a quick gold coin on the market. Then, they had the nerve to come into our carriage. . . It was all bloody, my child. I could only see the dead bodies of your father, Charlotte, and Laura. You were hanging onto life, gasping for air. There was so much blood." She paused, tears running down her face, "They even went as far as to cut off your arm, clean in half. They were going to sell noble blood on the black market. You would be dead if one of the servants of house Avalen hadn't found our carriage in shambles."

The sight was horrifying.

That's why it was so numb. He didn't have a right arm. All that stood was a nub wrapped in bloody bandages and cloth. How he couldn't feel it? He didn't know. He didn't know what to feel right now. It was all. . .life-changing for the teenager. Never again will he be able to write perfect cursive ever again nor ever swordplay with his father once more. What, all for a bloody birthmark? Is that why that they decided to chop off his limb for spare coin? Now, all his friends were going to laugh at him, call him names, and leave. He just knew it.

All to make his mood worse, his bride-to-be stepped into the room with a fake worried expression.

"Oh my heavens! You're awake!" She went for a hug, but his mother held out her hand, signalling his lack of arm, "Oh my. . . Y-You, OH MY BLOODY LUNA, That is DISGUSTING." Her weak stomach could not handle to gruesome sight, and her stomach contents spewed out in the bucket shoved in the corner. The wounded teenager looked away, fearing his worst thoughts coming true.

"I'm sorry to bother you, Lady Aria." Kelin, his father's knight commander, stepped into the room. He turned his head over to the boy and nodded his head, "I have come from the emperor's request to perform the ceremony here. It was a direct order."

"That's quite alright, Kelin, " His mother ushered the commander in before closing the door shut.

"I am sorry for your losses, and I do hope you will heal in time." The two guards that followed Kelin stationed themselves near the door while Kelin himself pulled out a familiar sheathe. He instantly recognized it as his father's own sword. Kelin pulled it out with the hilt that bore a Ruby gem, and a frown enveloped his lips.

It was all too painful for him to imagine.

"I bestow onto Idos Caeles, eldest son of Xavier Caeles and only living heir, the lordship as proclaimed by Xavier Caeles when claiming his son for the first time. Idos Caeles shall inherit the Caeles estate, all businesses in ownership of the house, and the Lunis Library of History and Magic. From this day forth, he will make every decision, command every soldier under his ranks, and gain all lands and serfs from Xavier Caeles, " Kelin sheathed the sword back into it's holder before propping against the bed, "As Knight-Commander, you have full reign to order me to do your biddings. Congratulations, Lord Idos, you have become a very powerful person."

Two years later. . .

"Milord, you have serfs requesting your audience, " Charles, the head butler, informed as he walked into the main hall of the house. There sat Idos in his chair with Knight-Commander Kelin to his right and Head Priest Miller to his left. They were all discussing public affairs that resulted in a number of mounts they will have this year.

"Why was I not informed of such an appointment?" The nineteen-year-old Lord glanced up with glasses low on the bridge of his nose. Kelin and Miller ceased their talking.

"It is a sudden visit from the serfs out in the fields. They request the permission to marry from the Lord of the house." Charles added.

"Bring them in then." Great, more time placed on top of his shoulders. Already, Idos had to go to a meeting in town that he really did not want to attend. After that, he would listen to requests from the people who lived on his lands. Why didn't they wait til then? He didn't know. He was beyond annoyed, and the aching nub of his right arm was sore for unknown reasons.

The two serfs, one elven woman, and a human male walked inside the large room. Idos dismissed his butler until the two stopped at a suitable distance. They lowered their heads in respect before returning to their normal positions. The human male spoke first.

"I am sorry to bother you, Lord Caeles. We have come to request permission to marry in the church. We need approval before we are able to wed."

"I am aware." Idos said coldly. Kelin snatched the piece of paper from the man's hands before setting it in front of Idos. Serfs of their class were never suppose to come near their Lord or even touch him. Valider's rule of thinking that everyone below him is pathetic in anyway he sees it. Idos hated the rule, "Please tell me why this paper requests from visitors as well? Why is it that you wed when you are as old as yourselves?"

"Zoey's mother here is fairing well, and she wants to see her daughter wed before she passes into Luna's hands. She also wants to see the birth of her first grandchild, " The man, named Thomas on the papers, patted the elven's stomach, signifying that they were expecting. Zoey smiled with hope in her green eyes.

Idos scanned the papers once more.

Church of Sagittarius under House Caeles :

Zoey Tashuce and Thomas Trevellon request to be wed at this specific location under the graces of Luna and permission from the Lord of House Caeles. They will be wed in three weeks time. They also request that Zoey's mother, Gracie Tashuce visit on LORD CAELES land until the two have officially binded together.

This has been approved by HEAD PRIEST MILLER MICUE and KNIGHT-COMMANDER KELIN STOMMER.

Idos glanced at her stomach and back at the papers, coming to a conclusion.

"I will approve of this marriage, " Idos started, but the couple already started to celebrate, "BUT when the child is born, He or She will be a serf on my property as you are. I will provide food, clothing, and shelter in return for the child to be binded to the land. Only then will I sign this."

"Thank you, Lord Caeles. We accept!" Zoey had tears in her eyes, and Idos wasn't going to smile now. The sight brought him a rush of happiness, but he couldn't show it yet. With the paper signed in an almost perfect signature, they skipped out of the room with grins on their faces.

"You can breathe now, Idos, " Kelin chuckled, and Idos let out a breath he surprisingly was holding in for the whole duration of that deal. Only Kelin, Charles, and Miller were able to see Idos as he normally was. The rest saw him as a strong leader, but most of the soldiers he commanded saw him as a teenager not able to handle an army. They mocked him behind his back, but he ignored it. He knew that they would always follow his orders or else Kelin would strike them with an iron fist.

"Have I ever told you this job is tiring?" Idos complained, and Kelin shrugged.

"That's the seven hundredth time if I'm counting correctly, " Kelin replied. He got up from his chair, much smaller than Idos', and bowed to him, "I cannot stay long, I'm afraid.The new shipment of trainees have arrived that I am suppose to whip into shape. I will see you when dinner is served."

"If I don't, then you might as well see to it that I eat your apple pie slice before you arrive, " Idos joked.

"I wouldn't have it any other way." Kelin laughed before finally excusing himself from his presence.

The last two years have been a rough spot for the young lord. Many saw him unfit for the role of being in charge of more than half the city. He inherited the Bank, in which held every Noble, commoner, and middle class savings as well as the library that housed him in his time of need. His estate was built in the capital city bounds, so most of his soldiers, serfs, and workers lived in houses in the cities with the serfs in built shelters out in the fields. House Caeles was the biggest House still to this day.

When he returned to his schooling after he recovered, he was immediately branded as the freak. No one has survived having their limb sawed in half. It was a miracle that he was still breathing to this day like some unknown force refused to let him die. Some days he wished he died on that bed as he suffered through all that pain. Others he was grateful for his mother would be dead of alcohol poisoned if he were to have passed the three truths and into Luna's arms.

Idos also grew introverted, unpredictable. He would be cold, mean, grumpy one hour and be shy, giggly, and a blushing mess the next. The trauma had itched its stone cold hands into his skin and never left him without making him feel paranoid at times. Even one time, he had a panic attack, because he thought those elven bandits were going to return to chop off his left arm or even a foot. His mother would whisper to him those days, holding him in her arms. When she was out performing foreign business, Kelin would even step in to hold him tightly.

Kelin was like a father to Idos. He was that one person that understood that life sucks, but it gets better. Kelin never left his side after he was appointed Lord of House Caeles. He was loyal, even go as far as to defend him with his death.

Sometimes, just having one friend wasn't enough.

Idos only socialized only when forced to. He would never speak in court unless the emperor had asked him on his input, which was rare. Often times the other lords that were a good forty years older would look down on him, and that there decreased his self esteem drastically.

Idos spent his time reading and when a year passed after the grave incident, Idos started to learn swordplay with his left hand. Surprisingly, he was better with his left hand than he was with his right. His father's sword never left his waist, only to put down when he slept. The professors at his school had even approved of it, despite the first time around they despised it. They slowly learned to accept that it was apart of who he was today.

In those times. Idos grew lonely. Bella, his fiance, didn't count. Everytime he would try to talk to the crazed lady, she would go on a rant that he had finally limited her allowance to two thousand gold coins from five thousand. It was crazy how much she spent in only a day. If she kept binging on these shopping spree, he would have to take the money away from her. He was allowed to do that until they got married. He was trying to stall as much time as he could from marrying her, always using the excuse of politics and upcoming rebellion.

Luckily, Emperor Valider was visiting a village not far from the Lunis border, so Idos would have some breathing time from court meetings for this week. Meridth was the village's name. Why he was visiting? He wanted to expand the territory into the mountains, but the villagers and animals living inside begged to differ on the matter.

Idos decided alone time would do him best. He organized all the paperwork about the mounts in a pile next to this chair before exiting the house. Once he entered the outside, the many grunts and calls of soldier's toughening up sounded from the left. A row of soldiers ran past him while Kelin lead the troop. The stables were not far from the entrance, and in no time, Idos finally arrived to the smell of horse poop and burnt hay.

Lee, the stable boy, caught Idos walking into the stables and ran to him to greet him.

"Heya', Lord Caeles. I was wondering when you would drop by! I got Moonwing all saddled up and ready! She's itching to get some wind under her feathers." Lee directed Idos towards the enlarged portions of the stables until a completely black Griffon jumping at the sight of its master.

The eagle lion hybrid had been a solace of sorts to Idos. Not even six months ago, he came across a cave where a ruined nest lay with an abused black Griffon weeping inside it. The mother had thrown out the rejected runt and left her own nest, so Idos decided he would take the hybrid under his wing. With special care, Moonwing grew into a fine bird to call an powerful weapon and mount. The melanistic griffon was a blessing to say the least.

"Yes, yes, I missed you too." Idos whispered as Moonwing nuzzled the soft part of her head into his chest. He rest his hand on her beak before rolling his body around to mount the lion bird. She trusted him with anything, because you can't just force a griffon to cooperate. You have to earn their trust through bonding.

He had about two hours before dinner comenced and requests started. Moonwing walked carefully out of the stables lead by Lee before being released from her restraints. Idos learned how to handle to rush of the wind and the pace with just on arm. He would twist the reigns around his left arm and pray to Luna that he would stay. of course, Griffons were intelligent enoug to realize that their rider was disabled.

With one loud squak, Moonwing zoomed through the air and to the city center where his library stood.

*

"What the hell happened to him?" A random teenager whispered to his friend. Idos had three books stacked to his left side as he read a book about how to preform a healing ritual to snap bones back together. He read to most random topics, intrigued by the concept either way, but the teenagers were unaware that he could hear every word.

"Dude, don't go talking crap about him. He can behead you if he could!"

"Pft, sure he can. He hardly looks the type to even touch a sword. I bet he would even scare a wench with that disgusting nub." The teenager held in his laughter while his friend glared at him.

"I've never talked to him, but you're on his property, dumbass. He's the Lord of this land." The friend smacked the teenager in the back of his head, earning an wince.

"Oh shit, is he? Can he even hear us?"

"Just because I am disabled does not mean I am helpless, " Idos joined in and looked up from his healing tome, staring him straight in the eyes, "I suggest you go back to studying and listen to your friend. He is wise enough to not insult a Lord, especially the most powerful."

Turns out, they moved to the opposite end of the library. Idos didn't bat an eye as these kinds of insults were normal when he was out in public. He had slipped off his outerwear where his lack of arm was on display to see. He didn't care for the crowd as this was his library. He could do whatever he wanted with his library.

"Ah, Caeles, glad to see you here today. Lord Alaven donated some tomes to the library if you want to have a look." Jessla, the librarian hand picked by Idos himself, smiled at him. Her white hair neatly wrapped around her head with a wrinkly smile that melted anyone's heart.

"Did he?" Idos again sat his book down to join Jessla, "What's he donated this time? How to clean a clock with a tissue only? How to grow a tree properly? Maybe even the adventures of Captain Snappy and his trust firstmate, Chipper. I was hoping he would have the third book for me to read, even if it is a kids book."

"Ah, no. Nothing of the sorts." Jessla laughed, "He requested that these tomes be placed high so no man could reach. One of em' looks kinda creepy though, all black tome with weird text on the front."

"May I have a look?" Idos asked politely. Jessla lead him to the storage room where a trunk of books unfamiliar to Idos lay on the floor. He opened it up to see an array of tomes from how to summon a animal spirit to even a chemistry textbook. Then, he spotted the book Jessla was talking about. She was spot on with her description as it was a black leather bound with strange lettering on the front.

"Explore those books, Caeles, and I will be back to add them to your collection." Jessla encouraged before setting off back into the library to find a stan to roll them around in.

The pages of those mysterious book were made of parchment and smelled of must. This book was most likely older than Idos himself, but curiosity killed him like the cat. He opened up to the first page to see nothing until he randomly turned to an interesting page. It was definitely a tome since the language was immediately try to adjust the language to match his own. Idos had known for a long time he had mage blood, but he didn't tell a soul. Mages were the only ones able to read a tome successfully.

However, the contents of the two pages in front of him alerted him greatly. The left page read:

How to summon a MORPH DEMON

Basic information: These demons are usual are able to mimic human appearances, and ever morph demon is different, depending with their environment. They tend to like to show off, play, and often try to get humans to join them in their fun. When under a contract, they are loyal til the end. Once the contract is completed, the Morph demon will take the soul of the one it struck a deal with. Morph demons are the quickest and easiest way to enter the REALM OF SHADOWS (Lust Demons being the second), the portion of stars CANCER has claimed. Then there, they will serve as CANCER's citizens of light in the darkness of the REALM OF SHADOWS.

WARNING: If you EVER break the contract of a Morph demon or it is not fulfilled, then they will use your skin as a part of their body. It is a memento of betraying the demon's trust as they wear it proudly.

HOW TO SUMMON A MORPH DEMON:

SIX RED CANDLES IN A CIRCLE

GRIFFON FEATHERS LINING THE CANDLES

A BOWL OF INCENSE PLACED IN FRONT OF THE CIRCLE

THE DEALER'S BLOOD TO BE POURED INSIDE INCENSE BOWL (MUST BE WITH A KNIFE!)

The page had a picture depicting where to put each item, but the next page had gotten even more interesting.

How to summon the ALPHA MORPH DEMON

Basic information: The alpha is the most powerful as with other alpha of other breeds of demons. He is playful, loyal, and the only morph demon able to steal DRAGON parts to stitch to his body as a memento. Usually seen with a dragon tail, horns much larger than a normal morph demon, he is able to adapt instantly to any situation, even go as far as to be able to look human himself. He will always be found with people of high rank or wealth until he is summoned once more.

HOW TO SUMMON THE ALPHA MORPH DEMON:

SIX RED CANDLES IN A CIRCLE

GRIFFON FEATHERS LINING THE CANDLES

A BOWL OF INCENSE PLACED IN FRONT OF THE CIRCLE

THE BLOOD OF THE GOD, CANCER, TO BE POURED INSIDE INCENSE BOWL (MUST BE WITH A KNIFE!)

"Thank you for the help, Caeles, " Jessla nodded her head in good graces, "Would you like to take any home for keeping? Of course, these are all your books, after all. . ."

Idos had quickly slipped out of the back to hide that shadow tome under his robe where he was originally sitting. He rushed to grab a tome about summoning fae sprites during battle and a history tome about the ruling of Willow the Merciful, "Yes, I do believe I will take these home with me. I'll be sure to run an errand boy to return them."

They both found their way back to the studying spot before Idos could finally slip the three tomes into his leather bag. Jessla seemed none the wiser, "No, no. I think you have more than enough to make someone not notice one is missing. Please request that Miller to return the Lunar Pact for me. I know we have a lot, but he seems fixated on this specific copy."

"Will do. I will see you later." Jessla helped Idos wrap his bag around his shoulders before waving off to the young lord. She knew he had grabbed three tomes instead of two, and sooner or later, she'll find out what he did steal. Of course, she couldn't stop him. She has been running this library for centuries now, under his exact order. She chuckled to herself before returning to the back.

Moonwing was happy to see Idos walk out of the library finally. She even squawked with happiness. She was always eager to move, play, exercise. Sadly, Idos had work to do as usual, and often times he couldn't fulfill those requests. Nobody else couldn't either. She let no one touch her except Idos and Lee when she was in a good mood. The sight of a fish heading for her made her more hyper than usual.

"Yes, yes, I know. You deserve it, and you will get more if you don't make me fall off like a few weeks ago." Idos smiled, but he felt like he was being watched. Then again, that was a normal feeling. If he wasn't being stared at by his disability, then he would be looked for his expensive wear and the rare griffon, showing the crest of his house on the saddle.

Idos handed the reigns to Lee as soon as he slid off his griffon. Idos was silent, his eyes cold and murderous. He knew it then that he was having a mood swing. He wanted to hit the closest thing nearest to him, and that wasn't going to be his prized friend being pulled away from him. He had around a half hour to himself before dinner was served.

He didn't care for the men walking in his way. He literally pushed them to the side, resulting in one actually falling to his side. They knew that ice cold look anywhere, then on, those trainees knew not to mess with the lord of the house right now. He ripped the doors open, and the echo of his boots sounded through the halls. The mood of the estate grew as cold as his stare.

The maids grew scared every time they passed him. Around this hour, they were preparing dinner while most tidied up the halls for any unexpected visitors. Idos even found one in his own room, and it took her a few minutes before she finally noticed her master was leaning against the door frame.

"Oh! I am so terribly sorry, Master--I-I!" She tried to collect her words together, but the stuttering was too much. Her black hair was wrapped in a bun on her head while she was on her knees cleaning the wood floors. A collar that branded that she could perform magic squeezed her neck while her ears were as sharp as a knife, an elf.

"I suggest you leave before I turn my anger on you. I do not want to hurt my staff." Idos voice ran as cold as Aries' heart. All he wanted was to be alone. He knew what he felt, and he knew that if he wasn't alone for it that he would hurt someone.

The elf ran out like the wind took her. Idos walked over to his dresser, pulled out a key, and locked the door. Then, he raced his way over to the curtains to block out the intense rays of the two suns outside. He was almost done. When every source of light was out except the candle in his hand, he sat in the middle of the rug with the lush chairs pushed to the side. With one last breath, he blew out the last of the light and into the darkness.

The dark felt. . . empty. But when Idos was in the darkness, he felt as if he was filling that void. He felt that the darkness was his own, and it was his safe haven. After his mother would calm him from his fits, he would pull the blankets over his head, plunging into darkness. Kids his age were still afraid what the darkness could become, but Idos felt that the darkness was lonely in some need of company.

He guessed that's how he felt.

Darkness was a beautiful thing. It was mostly unseen by the common eye, but with closer inspection, it had more to it than just no sight. Without darkness, the light wouldn't exist. Some of the biggest figures were born out of darkness. The Moon Goddess was born out of the darkness of night, and with that came her son, Cancer, the Shadow Exalt.

Idos was hammered on religious figures in school as he went to a school located in a high church deep within the city. His teacher talked about how the first son of Luna was Leo, the God of Royalty, and how he was given a share of the night sky called "The Northern Lights". Pisces was supposed to be assassinated the last cycle in their rebirth process, but Leo jumped in the rush of the sword, saving his younger brother. It used to be called "The Northern Stars" until Pisces gifted his people the floating lights in the sky that would appear every year on Leo's birthday.

Cancer, however, was the most misunderstood god of the twelve brothers. While all the brothers rejected the dark, he accepted it for what it was. In the Lunar Pact, all he did his first cycle was hide the moon every month, resulting in Luna being hidden in the day until the night came. He was the offspring of day and night. He was often called "The Bringer of the New Moon". Yet, he was pegged for being evil for creating demons. Without demons, who would clean up the mistakes of sinners? Without them, none of their lush emotions of desire and lust would exist.

Idos was misunderstood. He was seen as a freak of nature, unfit for a role as big as his. No one would listen to him if Kelin wasn't there, an adult who has been living for over fifty years now. He was just as capable of running this than any other lord out there. Though, what was a reality without these questions?

Idos blinked his silver eyes to the left as a book landed in his lap. Without an ounce of energy, the book opened as it flipped through hundreds of pages. The text lit up for him to read it in the dark, and the INDEX OF DEMONS entered his line of sights. He was really thinking of doing this. He truly believed that this was going to change his life for the better. What did he have to live for? Easily, he would give Kelin his lordship if Luna takes him away from the physical realm and into the Realm of Shadows.

The thought was nice. . . Living in constant darkness while still in the light.

Pride Demon? Betray him in a heartbeat. Lust Demon? It was pretty clear that getting his soul literally sucked out of him wasn't pleasant at all. He didn't want just another wench either. Elemental Demon? It doesn't look too bad, but all the text about them was of their power and use in war. Messenger Demon? Probably not the best Idea. Solar Demon? Idos didn't know that kind existed. The more he flipped through the pages, the more frustrated he got. One side held a regular breed while the other held the alpha details. The only one that seemed in his standards was the Morph Demon.

Loyal til the end, He remembered.

"Lord Caeles, Master Kelin has sent me to remind you that dinner will be starting in five minutes." A voice said through the door. Idos blinked before the book fell back into his lap. Must of been too into it. He ran to the door, hastily unlocking the door before stopping the elf boy, "Yes Master?"

"I need you to go into town, " Idos pulled the boy in, clearly scaring him, before closing the door again, "I have a list of items you must buy as soon as you can."

"Yes, sir, whatever do you need?" The elf asked before Idos quickly wrote down the ingredients to summon his demon. He folded it and gave it to the boy with a sack of gold coins following.

"Go put on the cloak and ride on a horse in the stables. Show this, " Idos gave him a piece of paper he surprisingly already had on hand the permission of the lord for a mount, "to Lee and he will give you one. I ask you to keep this between you and me, and if any word of it spills to any other ears, I will not hesitate to put you on duty with Lee cleaning poop. Do you understand?"

"Right away, Master! I will be as quick as I can. Where shall I drop the items when I return?"

"Drop it in Moonwing's stable. She will be dead asleep when you return, I assure you." The servant flew off towards the servant quarters, most likely to retrieve his cloak. Idos just sighed to himself as his heart began to pound. This was the most adventurous he has felt in such a long time.

His actions weren't going unnoticed because the head butler, Charles, knew something was up. It was only when Idos pushed his apple pie around that he was guilty of something. That thing? He didn't know what, but he had a dreadful feeling about it.

*

"I'll see you later? Tomorrow, maybe?" The boy in front of him gave him a smirk, clearly feeling better after talking with his best friends.

"Totally, didn't I say you're never getting rid of me?" Mylo laughed before Daley exited the home with a small grin of her own. he waved off his best friend and walked a small distance in silence with the girl beside him. Today was exhausting, to say the least.

"They're getting closer, you know." Daley finally said, "I saw him in the forest being the curious little kitty he is."

"Well, it's good to know you're looking out for Tharros. We need to make sure they make contact." Mylo added, "The usual pains are coming, but something's gonna happen when the stuck-up preppy asswipe shows up on our door. We have to do something."

"Don't think I know that?" Daley brushed her 'rabbit' off her shoulders as the magic dust flew with the winter wind, "I contacted Milo, and he's got the stone. All he needs is a dumb backstory and some coins, a lot of coins. Ten thousand is way too much."

"I have a bad feeling about this, Daley, " Mylo whispered to himself, follow bowing Daley down the dirt and snow path, "Something's gonna happen. It's gonna be something to push Leo forward, but it's gonna be bad, real bad."

"Don't worry too much, " She giggled, stopping at her back porch door, "I think it's gonna work out. Now, go do what alpha demons always do. By the way, tell Callum to do a better job at confessing. I know he likes me and all and it went with our plans, but he needs to improve on his confessing skills." and with that, she closed her door.

Mylo found himself teleporting to his own housing for the time being. The demon posing as his "mother" glanced back with a stern expression.

"I should be saying you go to your room and think about how late you are, but if I did, I'll be banished for a couple months." Tesla was her name, and a pride demon was her game. She took everything as a challenge before boosting that she was better after she lost.

"Oh, I wouldn't mind calling up Minu and telling him that you're misbehaving. He'll send you back in a heartbeat." Mylo joked as he slid into a chair. He let his magic release for the day before he found himself in his normal form. He stretched out his two tails and lifted his two feline feet onto the table. He felt his two long horns grow back with a satisfying 'pop'.

"How's the progress? When can we finally get out of this run-down village?" Tesla stirred something in the pot before spilling it onto a plate, placing it in front of Mylo, "I hate being here. Everyone is insecure, and I can't get my fill in for the month."

"It's gonna be done when it's gonna be done." An unlikely face arrived back. Callum took the liberty growl at the pride demon before sitting next to Mylo, slowly returning to his own natural state. The face of this jock changed into many different faces--or pieces of different faces. He had a feminine nose with lips to match while one eye was from a cat shifter along with the brow and piece of a forehead. The other was a normal blue eye and a blonde eyebrow. His nose Mylo didn't know where he got it from.

"Ah, how was being humiliated in front of the whole village?" Tesla teased, and Callum's dog tail whipped right and left in excitement, "Good doggy then?"

"I had to do it. I got the task done even if my alpha was wheezing his brains out watching." Callum glared at Mylo before he could choke out a chuckle.

"I couldn't help it, " Mylo flicked his fork full of deer meat towards the lesser morph demon, "It was hilarious, and no one can deny it. Though you will get rewarded, I promise you."

"Yeah, yeah. 'Once Cancer summons me again, I will have anything I wish for. Blah, blah, blah.' I doubt he could find something that I want." Callum pouted, sinking in his seat.

"I know you want some feathers from a griffon so you can finally get some wings, " Mylo glanced over to him as Callum swallowed whatever he had in his mouth, "Doesn't beat the dragon wings I have, but it comes pretty close. I'll see what I can do. Lay low, stay here, and I'll get it done."

That's when Mylo began to walk off, but he was cut off. He hadn't expected it, but when he felt the rush of the wind past his furry legs and his shaggy hair, he could feel it. It was time, it was finally time.