When next Thaedric opened his eyes, it was evening, and the sun was a fading hue in the sky. Yellow light gently entered through the opened window.

Everything was so calm and peaceful. Even his body was pain-free. But Thaedric believed none of it would last. He stayed there on the bed and was just enjoying it.

Then he heard the sounds of rushing footsteps and then much slower ones outside the door.

"He’s not awake yet. He’s still weak!" A familiar voice.

A voice sneered. "Oh, I know he’s weak, all right. The Elders want him, and they want him fast. No use hiding in a room!"

There was a pause, followed by the sound of a half-drawn sword that was followed by a grunt of pain. "You think because you are a guard to him you are something, eh? You are no Hydraeus, and now I serve the High Elder! Watch yourself."

The footsteps retreated.

Thaedric waited until the door opened before he looked over. Kagerou stood there. He was surprised to see Thaedric awake, and he smiled, but he couldn’t hide the way his hand touched his sword ever so slightly.

Thaedric was reminded just how far he had fallen. As Scion, he should have influence second only to his mother here, but his previous cowardly ways had made him fall. And not only him, also his people. Kagerou above all, since that’s the only official retainer he has.

There was silence in the room. A maid entered and started to clean the already pristine room, and then she brought out a large metal bowl and a small towel. She came to his bedside and bowed.

She soaked the towel, and then after she removed the cover over Thaedric, she started to clean him. Thaedric realized then that he was naked; he wore only underwear down there.

He groaned. It felt good. The towel was warm and the way she was doing it, like a massage. He sighed. Too bad. Thaedric placed his right hand on her own. "Thank you. But I think I’m strong enough to take a proper bath now."

"But my Lord! You’ve been bedridden for four days now! You should at least rest small before you do anything," the maid said.

Thaedric took a proper look at her this time. Young and pretty, very well endowed. He sighed again. "Don’t worry. I’ve rested enough. I’m needed." Then, as if to prove that, he swung his legs over, waited a bit, and slowly stood up.

"See?" He took three steps, though, and his vision swam, but Kagerou was there to catch him with his brows raised. "All right, help me to the bathing room," he muttered.

At the end, it was the maid that bathed him.

Thaedric sat at the table in his new room, food in front of him, and he ate hungrily while he ignored Kagerou.

"You’ve changed a lot since I’ve seen you. A lot."

Thaedric continued to eat, not saying anything, but he felt a spike of panic. Have they figured out he’s not the real one? So soon?

But Kagerou continued speaking. "You are like the Thaedric I knew before... before what happened then. Before you started to push everyone away. Welcome back?" He asked it like a hopeful question.

Thaedric stopped eating then. He drank a cup of wine. So I really did make Thaedric’s memories mine. Even some of his behavior. Then I must continue!

He looked at Kagerou. The boy Thaedric pushed away. It must have hurt him, and yet here he was still protecting him. "Yes, Kage. I’m back."

Then he continued eating. This time Kagerou joined him too.

"Now! We can talk!" Thaedric said after they finished eating.

He began first, explaining all that happened beginning in the Reckoning Sanctum, of course leaving out the part where he was swapped by Liming’s friend’s soul.

He told him of Cormac’s betrayal and his short time with the Scuridae and what went down with the Ometra. Then it was his tale of the Ancient, but without including The Beyonder.

"And now I have an Ancient around me. A very weak one, but still! Although we still don’t know what they are."

"Wow," Kagerou looked at him. "You went through all that? No wonder you are changed."

Thaedric nodded, then he looked his friend in the eyes. "Kagerou... tell me what happened."

He did. His mother isn’t dead, but she has gone into a coma, and the healers don’t know how to bring her back. It was said that she would need a special potion, and the ingredients are rare.

Malak is all right, up and already causing trouble. Their losses were minimal since it was restrained to the arena and the main palace where only selected rashaka can get to anyway.

But that was just the basic. Thaedric knew it must be more than that. "Kage, is that all?"

Kagerou shrugged. "Yes... oh! And the guardian... well, you should see it with your own eyes. It’s still standing in front of the main palace."

"Maybe. Who was that that wanted to see me earlier? Something about the Elders wanting to see me."

Kagerou’s jaw tightened. "Things have been tense these few days. My father has locked himself and the Bloodscion in her room with the healers. The Blue Shields are in disarray, and everyone doesn’t know what to do."

Thaedric sighed. He could already feel the headache coming, but he pushed it away. There were lots of things to do and so little time. He stood up. The room had been furnished with his clothes, and he started to get dressed.

"What are you doing?" Kagerou asked.

"I suggest you get dressed as well, Kage. You’ve not forgotten who I am, have you? I am the Scion, and now that my mother is ill, I must do my part as the heir to Hydraeus."

Kagerou was looking at him with surprise, but still he could not hide his excitement. Things would get interesting again.

"And yes, do you have any idea where my hammer is?"