➨ Zora had little—nearly zero—idea where the hideout was, so the walk back nearly took a whole hour. Even then, no complaints left your mouth since you weren't in the mood for arguing with him, or anybody for that matter. So you kept positive remarks throughout the hour-long goose chase.

When you got back, everything was in ruins. It appeared like their hideout was in pieces in a clearing of a deep forest. You were told that the Eye of the Midnight Sun came and basically tore everything down and dipped. Coincidentally, their hideout was also the giant mechanical bull you saw standing around which was being controlled by some guy with an extremely horrible blue bedhead.

Since you and Zora were late to the party, you were cued in by Yami since everybody else had gone off on some mission to find his pets; magical beasts. The bedhead guy was called Henry, and he was taking suggestions for how to rebuild the hideout since he forgot what it looked like. He gave you a piece of paper to suggest something, but you respectfully declined it.

Yami inhaled the smoke from his cigarette and waved Zora off. "Okay Mr. Mask, go help look for my pets and I'm gonna talk to the new recruit."

"Um, no." Zora let out a laugh as if the suggestion was insane. "I'm not pet control. Let the kids handle it. I'm gonna get a much needed nap in."

In response to that, Yami puffed the plume in his direction which made him start coughing and fanning it away from his face. Which also was enough to get him out of the makeshift room. With that Yami scrubs a hand over his face and looks at you with a lifted brow. "You got any different clothes?"

You looked down at yourself. No Golden Dawn cape but since part of that uniform was to wear the standard royal looking under attire, that's what remained. "Yeah, but not with me. And it doesn't look like I'm gonna be able to go back and get them."

He pulled out a chair and sat down. "Guess I can arrange someone to grab 'em because this," he gestures to your attire, "isn't gonna work. Anyway, you should know that we don't do things in a prissy and clean way around here. We're misfits, freaks, weirdos, the list can go on depending on who you ask."

"That doesn't bother me. And by that description I guess I'll fit right in."

"Yeah well I always figured you weren't really the typical golden child." He crosses his arms and leans back. Maybe he wanted you to sit too, so you did, at the opposite end.

Captain Yami was the other one besides Vangeance to raise his hand at the entrance exams. Anybody would have chosen to be on the best squad in the kingdom, that's just how it is. You only made it through half a year with one squad before getting booted to the next. There's nowhere else to go after this but a kick in the ass right out of the knights.

"Listen, I won't ask you to explain anything you're on trial for, frankly, it's not my business. But if you want to go back, you have to play their game. So with that, all I want is a yes or a no. Did you really kill a man?"

Your body runs cold and you rub your fingers together. It's never black and white with something like this. Actually, everything seemed so gray you didn't know how to pick it apart.

You did the act, yes. It was in self defense.

Or, you didn't do the act, because the attack you used isn't a killing move. It was the elven magic that did something to you. Still self defense.

Still, that way can still be twisted. Somebody could argue that no elf would've killed one of their own.

If that's the case, what the hell happened?

But in the end... you felt like Yami was one person you wouldn't mind coming clean to. "I think I did."

"You think?"

"I did." The wording changed completely. "I killed him."

The tone in your voice didn't exactly match up to what you were saying. Admitting to murder isn't something you should be saying freely without a hint of remorse. While there was no remorse, there was a certain ambivalence in it.

"That's gonna be hard to work around then." He said. "Since the Parliament told you to find the killer or get cleared of suspicion. Since you are the killer, that won't work. And if Marx goes through your memories, you'll be convicted."

"I know." You let out a struggling sigh. "So I'm just counting down the days until that happens. Or I could just leave."

The cigarette shifts against his lips. "And you'd go where?"

You shrugged. "The Heart Kingdom. Live with my mom or something." It's just a suggestion, and you hadn't even thought it all the way through. If the time really came down to it, that's always an option, but you haven't been there in a few years now.

"Don't think that'll be necessary." He adds. "If Asta is getting a second chance for conspiring with the devil, I'm sure we can figure out a way to... finesse your innocence."

Finesse sounds like a fancy way of lying in this situation. "Yeah but the thing is Asta didn't actually conspire with anybody. I did slice somebodys head off."

"But usually there's some wiggle room in there. Don't know where, but we have time." He states raising a hand. "For starters, the first thing you said was you think you killed somebody."

"My word isn't going to do anything in a room full of nobles."

"No duh," he said rather annoyingly. He tapped his own head a few times. "So we get creative. Listen, the Black Bulls are going to figure out whatever the hell is going on with the devils. In the process, I'm sure we can figure your situation out. Patience is key here. Really, all you gotta do is listen to the rules they gave you and be quiet."

Listen and be quiet. Sounds easy enough.

"Can I ask a question?" Your tone switched, and Yami gave you a blank look that urges you to keep going. "How come you care about it? You could've said no and let them kick me out."

Yami's eyebrows furrow. He looks confused, which makes you equally, if not more confused. He leans forward with a tired sigh. "My squad would tear me to pieces if I didn't help. While you and Zora were out, they told me you saved them with some fancy new trick. So it's only right to help in return I guess."

You sat there trying to remember what fancy new trick they could've been talking about. Then it hit you that while you were fighting with the Black Bulls, you used something called Ragdoll. The strange feeling came naturally though, and you weren't even completely sure why it happened.

It must've been because of the possession. That was the only abnormal event that's happened within the last week. So you felt that if you were to try it now, you would end up not being able to draw out that energy. Besides, was it even possible to call on a power that isn't even yours? The idea itself sounds absurd.

"Well, I should thank them then." You concluded. "I don't think I've ever had someone defend me like that before. Especially not in front of a court of royals and nobels."

Yami shrugged as if the idea was completely below him. "We don't get much leeway with them. I also know that we can't get what we want from them by shit-talking." You felt a strong emphasis on that bit. "Oh and another thing."

He sits up a little straighter. "You mentioned earlier that your mother was from the Heart Kingdom. That might be a start in proving your innocence."

A pause. "How so?"

"Well, they have different resources than we do here. If you were to reach out, maybe you can ask if she knows anything. Could be hereditary."

"What could be hereditary?"

He narrows his eyes. "Damn, I didn't think you were dense." He ruffles his hair. "Look, I don't really know you, but from what I can tell, there's something more going on than just this little incident. I mean, you barely can process the fact that you might've killed someone. So it wasn't you, was it?"

You thought you were being vague enough since you didn't want to spill your life to Yami, but it seems he's already figured you out. A little terrifying actually. "Could she actually know something?"

"Just a hunch. Unless you have other people to pull from."

If by that he means another parent, then no. No you don't. "Guess the one is worth a shot."

He gives a short nod. "That settles it then. Give me like a day or two. I'm sure the Wizard King can help me out."

"The very same Wizard King who ordered me to never step foot in the capital or breathe around the Golden Dawn members?"

"Yeah, that's the one." He stood up from his seat. Right when he did, you heard a faint vibration coming from his pocket. He fished around before pulling out a similar communication device to the one you had. Except his looked slightly more scratched up than yours. "I'm assuming it's for you." He tossed it into your hands while he walked out of the makeshift shack.

You watched him leave before you looked down at the name. Goldiguts.

With a click, you brought his face up into a hologram in front of you. Just seeing him there made you sick with disappointment. "Captain Vangeance." Your breath was a little shaky.

He stared at you through the helmet and you felt your exterior cracking little by little. Out of all the people to disappoint in this Kingdom, you can't believe it was him.

"I'm sorry–"

"Please do not apologize, Y/N." He didn't let you finish whatever it was you were about to say. "It does indeed sadden me that you are currently no longer a member of my squad. But knowing Julius, he didn't write that statement about you without leaving room for redemption. He's forgiving. A little too forgiving, as I've experienced first hand."

There was a melting pot of emotions in your stomach. Bubbling anxiety, crackling rage, simmering saddness, and roots of disappointment. "It just feels like the Golden Dawn is taking hit after hit. And I never wanted to make more trouble for you."

"You didn't. As you may know, I'm dealing with the aftermath of the elves as well. Langris is still in question too. So don't feel like what happened to you is on your shoulders alone."

You sighed, not knowing what else to say to him. "Thank you. While it lasted, you know."

Vangeance gave a warm smile. "You can thank me when you come back. But while you're with the Black Bulls, don't be afriad to ask them for help. That's your team now."

"It's not the same though."

"I understand that. But it's good to interact with new people. You might as well get comfortable and acquainted."

He was so calm even after everything that's happened to him. If you were in his shoes, you'd be panicking and a hot mess. "Understood." Then you crossed your arm over your chest, giving him the standard salute.

He chuckled. "I will definitely miss you pretending to care about formal greetings."

You rolled your eyes putting your arm down. "You could've just said thank you and hung up."

"Guess I'll get to it then." He jokes back and gives you a wave before the line disconnects. When that happens and you're left in the silence of everything. Taking a shaky deep breath in, you hold it, before letting out a more stable breath.

Yami suggested calling your mom, but how exactly do you start a conversation like that? It's not like you can just say, 'hey mom, it's been a few months, but I'm a convicted murderer and need your help to get me off of what is basically death row!'

Not only would you send her into a definite heart attack, your mother was not a woman who just let anything slide. She'd probably march down to the Clover Kingdom and break down the Wizard King's regal doors. And nobody wanted to see that. Once she gets upset, nobody is safe.

When her and your dad would get into arguments, he was usually the first to apologize. Although that was because he respected her, and knew how she would get. So he always beat her to the apologies even if she was planning to do it first.

Actually, now that you're really thinking about it, there is someone else you could ask. The only thing is he's dead. You think so at least. Unless he's only existing in that realm with your puppets. But you don't recall how you got there, or how to get back. Crossing dimensions isn't something you were taught. Nor did you know it was a real thing you could do.

You'll put it on the back burner and wait until it comes down to that. For now, you should focus on contacting the family member that you know is alive. And if anything, would be beyond delighted that you decided to pick up the device and call.