Chapter 2: Calm.

  In the morning, Harpya has coffee with the princess, who invites him for a walk in the garden.

  In the garden, she comments that he's wearing the same outfit from the ball and says it looks very good on him. Harpya, lost in thought, simply shakes his head. Ida says she missed him terribly and that during the war she tried to write to him, even attempting to go to the battlefield, but her father wouldn't allow it. They both laugh and seem happy chatting, and he asks what she's been doing during that time.

  Harpya

  Ida runs her hand through her braid and says: -Well... I'm planning social projects to bring technology from the capital to the inland cities and integrate them so they don't have to travel long distances, and I'm writing a book.

  Harpya:Ida:

  Harpya gives a light laugh and says it's no problem at all, and asks if she's engaged to anyone. She says she's received many proposals, but she wants to do like her father and mother, who didn't marry for arrangement, but for love.

  Harpya agrees and says that if he were a monarch he would do the same. Ida asks Harpya what he thought of her. When Harpya was about to answer, Nyx appeared and said that the king was calling him. Ida says goodbye and the maid who was bringing tea appears laughing and says: -Looks like it wasn't this time.

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  The two settle on a garden bench to have tea, while Ida tries to disguise her disappointment... and a glimmer of hope.

  Harpya approaches the king, who asks if he knew about the Saint Gorb bestiary. Harpya replies that he did, but he didn't have as much knowledge as the alchemists of the church, and the only thing he knew was about his battles.

  The king is apprehensive, but asks Harpya to be one of his guards. Harpya accepts without hesitation, saying it's the least he can do. The king thanks him and says his experience will be useful on a trip he's taking to a village where adventurers' guilds gather. He heard there was a red mist near that place and that's why he wanted the bestiary to find out what it could be.

  Harpya sounds cold, imagining it could be a mist of midnight witches, but he soon calms down and thinks they all died in Vein. Harpya takes his new uniform, now black and without a hat. The king offers him a sword, and Harpya says he already has one and it's incredible, but dangerous. The king is intrigued and asks if it's some new relic, and Harpya replies that even he doesn't know what it is. He reveals that he stole it from the voice of power, leaving the king impressed, and tells him to take it with him on the journey.

  Harpya leaves the king's room, ready to serve the new kingdom, but recent events have left him apprehensive about what is to come. It was a mixture of apprehension, fear, and perhaps anger before his eyes.

  Heading towards the training camp, some veteran soldiers question why this man, who arrived recently, has already gained so much trust from the king, but they don't have time to question and immediately set off on their journey.

  Ida asks her father to be careful and says it wasn't good for him to go since the king's health was fragile. With a light touch on his daughter's head, he says everything is alright and that it's a king's duty to see if his people are well; if necessary, the guards will fight alongside him.

  Ida looks at Harpya and gives a slight nod, and Harpya says she will protect the king. Nyx gathers the equipment and they leave for the village.