Levy sat in Braxill's room. The lantern flickered against the stone walls, throwing soft shadows across the small space. Braxill perched on the edge of the bed, while Levy sat opposite, his face hard with curiosity.

  BraxiIl began.

  "Gods have lived forever. Since the dawn of time, there were gods of Egypt, Ra, Anubis, Isis. Then Greece, Zeus, Athena, Apollo. Rome had Jupiter and Mars. The Norse spoke of Odin and Thor. Even in faraway lands, there were gods of thunder, gods of harvest, gods of fire."

  

  

  Levy leaned forward. Braxill continued.

  "And even in the twentieth century, humans created new gods, gods of fame. Celebrities, artists... people raised so high that they were worshipped like deities. But..." His voice lowered. "All those gods have faded. There is only one who remains. The strongest of them all. The one who has lived into infinity. The god Joy."

  

  

  Levy's eyes widened. "And that's who you called... when the parasite attacked?"

  BraxiIl smiled. "Yeah."

  "How?" Levy pressed. "I don't understand. How did you call him? Can I... can I call him too?"

  BraxiIl nodded. "Yes. Anyone can. But you have to really want to. And you have to stop saying those things about women, about Zoners. Joy doesn't like hate. He made everyone equal. We're all different, sure, but not less."

  Levy's shoulders slumped. "I... don't know what to believe anymore. I never thought gods were real. But after what I saw... he must be."

  

  

  BraxiIl gave a soft shrug. " Then search out the truth for yourself, don't just listen to what your father or anybody else says."

  Levy registered the truth of Braxll's words.

  Braxill continued "I don't even understand everything myself. Like, I don't know who my parents are. I lost my memory."

  Levy frowned. "How?"

  "I'm not sure," BraxiIl admitted. "One day, I just woke up in the Bear Tribe. They took me in as family. Maybe I hit my head, maybe something else happened. I just... don't remember."

  Levy sighed. "That's insane. Maybe a parasite stole your memory. Or maybe it was trauma."

  

  

  BraxiIl shook his head. "I think it was just me hitting my head."

  For a moment, silence hung between them. Then Levy extended his fist. "Look... I'm sorry."

  BraxiIl grinned faintly and bumped fists with him.

  "I wonder," Levy murmured, "if there's something in the Knight's Library about Joy?"

  "Maybe" BraxiIl perked up.

  Levy nodded. "Yeah. But I'm not allowed in. Mom says it's dangerous."

  Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

  "Why, is it because you're not a knight?" Braxill said.

  "Yeah, how did you know" Lavy said with a curious stare.

  BraxiIl's grin grew mischievous. "Lanni told me but I have no idea."

  

  

  Levy's eyes widened.

  Elsewhere, within the Royal District, Sephiss sat across from Jett in a private chamber lit by pale blue light. Jett explained everything, how the animal tribes were preparing for war, how Lanni was forging an alliance with them.

  Sephiss leaned back, his smile calm, chilling. "This information is critical. I thank you for your... urgency." His voice dripped with poison. "In truth, I believe Lanni doesn't deserve to lead. A reasonable man like you, Jett, you should lead instead."

  

  

  Jett bowed his head slightly. "Thank you, Elder Sephiss. But I only want to protect the Zoner people. We shouldn't be fighting. Zoners and Royals should be working together. That's what our Founding Mother envisioned, Zoners and Royals living side by side, different but equal. War isn't needed. It only breeds chaos. A man should only raise his sword when he has no other choice."

  

  

  Sephiss chuckled darkly. "Ah... but that is the language of an inferior race."

  Jett froze. "...What did you say?"

  Sephiss's eyes glimmered. "You are inferior. What do you know of peace? What do you know of the order of the world? Your Founding Mother, her mistake was believing in equality. Foolishness. The world has always been ruled by men, has it not? And what good came from her vision? Look around. This island lives in fear."

  Jett's jaw clenched. "The Founding Mother created a nation that lasted in peace for centuries."

  Sephiss's smile widened. "Peace? She bred weakness. Equal resources destroy competition. Without hierarchy, there is no strength. A capitalistic world, one built on dominance, always rises above a soft one. Jiguzo understood this, which is why he took rule. And as much as people hated him, he was right. Without hierarchy, Deer Point would have been devoured by the other floating islands long ago."

  

  

  Jett shook his head. "That's not true. Strength isn't only found in cruelty."

  Sephiss leaned in, his voice lowering. "And what of Renku? The artist who turned the world into this hell? Do you think he did it alone? No. It was because of a woman, Arkvine. His so-called muse. His love for her destroyed the world. Just as love itself is the weakness that forever cripples humanity."

  Sephiss's grin spread as Jett's face twisted in confusion and anger.

  "You, Jett, are just like her. Believing in equality. In peace. That makes you a disease. And diseases must be erased. That is why we will execute your Knights. That is why we will genocide your Zoner people. Peace is weakness. Hierarchy is truth."

  Roberta's grip tightened on her spear. The soldiers behind Jett shifted uneasily.

  Sephiss straightened. "But do not be foolish. You are in my territory, surrounded by my soldiers. If you raise your weapon, you will die here. And your people will burn anyway. Be grateful I let you walk away."

  Jett's eyes burned with shame and fury. "I came here to do the honorable thing... to prevent war. And now..."

  

  

  "Honorable?" Sephiss sneered. "There is nothing honorable about betraying your comrades. You sold them out. You handed me their plans. You signed their death."

  

  

  Jett staggered back as the Delta Robots shoved him and his soldiers toward the gate.

  "Now begone," Sephiss hissed. "And pray, when we come to execute your friends, that we spare your life. Perhaps we'll keep you as a concubine, Zoners are quite fitting for that.

  The gates slammed shut.

  Jett collapsed to his knees outside the Royal walls, tears striking the dirt. "What have I done...?"

  Roberta lowered her gaze, her voice low. "Sir Jett... I'm sorry. But Leader Lanni was right. Sometimes violence is the only way to protect the ones you love. There can be no peace... if a man refuses to see you as his equal."

  Jett's soldiers stood in silence, the weight of betrayal pressing heavy on all of them.