'I am to be cherished, worshipped, even have blood spilled for me, it is in my interest, in my worth, in my right!' The King, Steve Kimberley (2005)

The king sat upon his high throne, looking majestic and regal just as any ruler should. When he spoke, his voice was booming and deep, with a clear indication of wisdom from a life well-lived. "I'm glad you finally decided to show up." He said addressing Minnow and Shura.

Shura said nothing, assuming that, the king was speaking to Minnow. After all, he probably had no idea who in the world Shura was. "I'm so sorry my lord, I only recently got word of your request!" Minnow said dutifully, the king held up his hand silencing Minnow. The king seemed displeased with Minnow for some strange reason.

"I was not speaking to you Sir Dragoon." He said firmly, Minnow looked confused and Shura furrowed her brow. "What do you mean King Requiem?" Minnow glanced at Shura as if wondering if she knew what was going on. Shura shrugged briefly, she was as lost as he was.

The king ignored Minnow’s question and got up, stepping down from the dais, he approached Shura. “You certainly look different, but, I’m no fool.” He spoke stopping in front of Shura. Minnow’s grip on Shura’s hand tightened at that moment. He seemed nervous, frankly, Shura was too. King Requiem was frightening in the books, now standing in front of him, he was even more so. He had to be at least seven foot, but to Shura, he felt like he was larger than life.

Requiem began to circle the two of them, focusing only on Shura. In fact, he seemed to completely ignore Minnow’s existence. He seemed to have a certain expectation about him for Shura. Like he was looking for something, but Shura wasn’t sure exactly what it was. "What are you getting at?" Shura made no qualms about her curiosity and confusion being known. "…Shura." Minnow chided from the side disliking her tone with the king.

"There's only one person that could possibly take down a beast as you did." King Requiem said standing in front of Shura with his hands behind his back. "I hope you didn't think I wouldn't notice." He said leaning down to her level. Shura took a step back disliking the closeness. Minnow kept to her side like he was glued there. While before she would’ve found this annoying, right now, she appreciated the comfort.

"Look, I have no fucking idea what the hell you're talking about! So just spit it out already!" Shura shouted getting annoyed. This vague ass bullshit was getting on her nerves damnit!

"Shura!" Minnow exclaimed shocked at Shura shouting at the king of all people. "What?! He's pissing me off!" Shura snarled at Minnow exasperated that he'd be upset with her. Minnow was about to open his mouth to say something else but was cut off by King Requiem laughing.

His laugh was a deep booming laugh that echoed in Shura's chest. Requiem reached over and hit Shura on the back almost making her fall face-first on the floor from the force. "Oh, Haddock! No matter what life you're in you're the same!" Requiem laughed out.

"What the hell are you going on about?" Shura exclaimed with a wheeze to her voice, she looked to Minnow for answers. Minnow looked shocked and unable to speak for just a few moments. "He..." Minnow started, he seemed to still be gathering his thoughts. "He thinks you're the first king reborn..." Minnow explained to Shura.

That's when realization dawned on Shura. For a moment there she had forgotten all about this world being something out of a book in her own. She remembered now... Flashing back to the black and white scene of Requiem saying the same to Nandus. Though then they just called this Haddock guy the first king and never named him.

Then another realization dawned on Shura, "Wait, wasn't the first king alive like three hundred years ago? How fucking old is this guy?" Shura said mostly to Minnow. "Very!" Requiem said calming down, he had a cheerful grin on his face as he rested a hand on Shura's shoulder. Shura spared a glance at the hand irritated that he was touching her but also surprised at its size. It was about the size of her head if she'd hazard a guess.

Shura moved out of his grip and Minnow’s as well having enough of being touched by either and then spoke. "Look, I don't know what this reborn king stuff is. But I can assure you that I'm not this Haddock guy. I'm not even from here!" Shura explained trying to be much calmer. The gravity of the situation had dawned on her and she realized by taking on the identity of Haddock reborn then it could mess up things during Nandus's time.

There was no telling what kind of damage she had already caused just by meeting Minnow. Never mind taking on such a title that was supposed to be reserved for Nandus! Requiem's smile faded at hearing this and he folded his arms across his barrel-like chest. "Neither was Haddock," Requiem said still disbelieving that Shura wasn't Haddock.

At first, Shura thought Requiem meant that Haddock was a foreigner like Minnow thought Shura was. But there was something about Requiem's tone that made Shura pause. He knew something...

"Minnow I want to talk to this guy alone," Shura said still locking eyes with Requiem. "What?" Minnow asked confused, "Sir Dragoon you are dismissed." Requiem commanded. "But sir-." Minnow started to say but was cut off by the looks that both Requiem and Shura gave him.

After a moment of silence, Minnow then spoke up. "Al... Alright." He said slowly backing away. "I'll be right outside if you need me Shura," Minnow added before heading out of the door of the throne room. Once the loud clacking sound of the heavy wood door echoed through the now silent room Requiem turned away from Shura and headed towards the throne.

"Come," he ordered, motioning over to the other throne, Shura made no issues about sitting in the other seat. She was far more concerned with what Requiem knew. Both of them sat down and Requiem turned to face Shura.

"Haddock wasn't from here either." Requiem restated with better clarity, Shura remained silent but motioned for him to go on. "He wasn't from this world." Requiem clarified. Shura felt her breath hitch slightly, so she was right. He did know something.

"I met him when I was younger, I'm half-giant so that was a while ago." Requiem explained with a bit of a wink at his terrible joke, "He was just as confused and angry as you are now. Back then this country didn't even exist. Everyone was nomadic and couldn't stay in one place for too long due to monster attacks."

Shura finally spoke up at this point, "Okay, so what does this have to do with you saying I'm him?" Shura asked while this was interesting, she already knew that the first king established this country. That's why he was called the first king. She wanted to know why Requiem thought she was Haddock and if he knew anyway for her to get home.

Requiem paused giving some thought before speaking once more, "Haddock died in my arms during battle. The last thing he said to me was he'd be back. I believe that promise wholeheartedly. It only makes sense that someone who acts as much as he did would be him in some manner."

Shura spoke with much tact as she could muster, unfortunately for Requiem that was not something she was known for, "Sounds like you're hoping against hope there, buddy. As far as I know, no one comes back from the dead like that." Shura leaned onto the arm of the throne, it's smooth silky cushioned armrest provided some comfort against the hardwood beneath.

Requiem let out a sigh and leaned back into the throne, his massively long legs stretched out in front of him almost to the end of the dais. The wood of the throne he was in creaked and moaned under his weight. Letting out a low groan he hummed to himself. "I suppose I am." He seemed depressed when he admitted this. After just a moment of silence, Requiem spoke once more.

"But if anyone could do it, it'd be Haddock," Requiem said with a small smile looking up at the ceiling. Shura sat in lotus position on the rather large throne next to him. "You cared for him didn't you?" Shura asked with a sympathetic smile. Requiem chuckled sadly, "I was in love with him." He admitted surprising Shura. 

"Huh, well, that explains why you were so excited." Shura wondered aloud, Requiem shot her a look of amusement. "I'm married now." He said holding up his hand to show Shura the wedding band on his large ring finger. The ring had the circumference of a mandarin orange. Shura flushed, "Th... That don't always mean something." She mumbled a little embarrassed, she didn't mean to imply THAT. 

Requiem let out a laugh, it was less loud than his first one. It seemed more casual and less for the show of it. "No, it doesn't," Requiem admitted, "But, she's a good woman. I'd never do anything to hurt her." He added. "Besides love affairs with another woman aren't really looked kindly upon," he added earning an aghast look from Shura. "Hold up! Wait a minute!" She protested, "What about all that stuff I heard from Minnow about his wife!" 

Requiem smirked, "She was fine with it. We were all adults and we all loved each other." He said with a shrug, Shura gawked with her mouth hanging open. Requiem laughed again slapping his knee. He was clearly enjoying talking to Shura. Requiem wiped a tear from his eye and he sighed.

The two sat in silence before Requiem sat up. A sullen smile was present on the king's face. "Thank you." He said reaching over and placing a hand on Shura's. 

Clueless as to why she was being thanked she asked, "For what?" Requiem's eyes filled with tears, "For letting me pretend." He said softly. The blood rushed away from Shura's face and she looked down at Requiem's hand on hers. "It was nice for just a minute, to pretend... That he was here... Again." At this point, a few stray streams of tears trickled down the large man's face.

Requiem moved away from Shura and wiped his face. "I... I know I was hoping against hope... But I know Haddock. He'd do everything in his power to see me again if he could." Requiem took a shaky breath trying his best to calm down. 

Shura, wanting to comfort Requiem spoke up, "Just because I'm not him doesn't mean he won't ever be back." Shura said smiling sadly at him. After a moment she spoke again, "But if I were him, I'd say love the people in your life now, rather than holding on to me." She added hoping that it would give the old king some sort of strange closure. 

Requiem, facing away from her, stopped moving as she spoke. His body was as still as stone, Shura slowly got up to see if he was okay after just a few seconds concerned she had said something wrong. 

Walking around to the side he was facing, Shura regretted it. The large man had rivers of tears streaming down his face as he tried his best to stop them. "I'm so sorry." he apologized seeing that Shura had caught him. "Hey- don't be sorry," Shura said resting a hand on his shoulder. "You have every right to be sad." Requiem smiled sadly at her.

"You probably have so many questions and here I am crying because my lover didn't come back..." he grumbled clearly feeling ridiculous, Shura knew this feeling well. It seemed that she and Requiem had a thing or two in common. They both hated being seen crying. Shura let out a breath and patted his back as the large man hugged her around the waist. 

"I can ask about that sort of thing any time. It's not like I'm going anywhere any time soon." Shura comforted him as Requiem let out a sob. It seemed the flood gates were finally open. 

After a few minutes of crying Requiem finally calmed down, "I apologize for my outburst." He said with his eyes still red and his nose puffy. Sniffling a bit, Requiem spoke once more. "I'd appreciate it if you didn't--." he started to say but Shura cut him off. "My lips are sealed." She said with a small smile. She had no desire to tell anyone how she spent her afternoon with a half-giant man crying on her shoulder.

Requiem smiled and picked Shura up into a bone-crushing hug. Shura let out a loud squeak like grunt squirming her arm free and patting him on the back. "There-There big... Big guy..." She grunted out struggling to breathe. After what felt like an eternity, but really was just a few seconds. Requiem sat Shura down.

Shura let out a gasp and swallowed as much air as she could. "Oh God, I thought I was going to die." She wheezed resting her hands on her knees. Requiem patted her back a bit as she caught her breath. Once she caught her breath she stood up straight.

"Listen, I might not be Haddock. But I can still be a friend. If you need someone to talk about this. Just let me know, I'll be there." Shura said smiling up at him. She then added "I literally have no choice after all! You're the king!" She joked. Requiem smiled, the swelling of his eyes finally having settled down. Though he still had a bit of a sniffle. 

"Thank you..." Requiem said before pausing, "Oh dear..." he mumbled rubbing the back of his head. "What?" Shura questioned, "I don't know your name." Requiem was embarrassed that he cried his heart out in front of a person who he didn't even know the name of.

"It's Shura," Shura said sticking out her hand, Requiem took it. "Hi Shura." he greeted shaking her hand. Requiem took a deep breath and then spoke up.

"So," He said "I'm just going to assume you're going to join the knights right?" he asked, Shura clicked her tongue and pointed finger guns at him. "You got it, dude." She said trying to levity the situation with a bit of cheesy humor.

"I have no idea what you just did." Requiem admitted looking astonished, "It's uh... Cultural thing." Shura mostly mumbled to herself unsure how to explain it. Looking off to the side and thinking for a moment Shura then turned back to Requiem. "I basically just meant to say yes." She explained, "Oh..." Requiem hummed enlightened. 

"Well, we better go get Minnow!" Shura said turning on her heel heading towards the large doorway. "Yes, I'm sure he's excited to help you get settled in." Requiem agreed, they headed across the grandiose throne room towards the door. Standing near the door, Requiem had his hand on the handle. "Shura." he said once more looking at her.

"Yes?" She asked curiously looking up at the king, "Thank you again." he said quietly, "You don't know what having a chance to talk about this means to me." 

Shura looked down to the fading tear stains on her tunic, before looking back up at Requiem. "I think I can hazard a guess." She said cheekily, Requiem sheepishly smiled scratching his cheek with his free hand. "I'll be sure to tell you everything I know about all this," Requiem promised.

Shura shot a grin Requiem's way, "Thanks." Requiem nodded, "It's the least I can do." 

With that said Requiem then opened the door, due to his strength it swung open widely and from the other side, Minnow came tumbling down face-first onto the tile floor.

Minnow groaned before looking up at the two of them. Sheepishly he laughed, "Done already?" he asked