I shook my head, a quiet sigh leaving me before I refocused my attention on the goblin in front of me. 

“Just because someone’s ancestor is doing something wrong, just because a hundred people do something wrong doesn't mean everyone else deserves to suffer because of them." I huffed. 

“The war is getting deadlier by the hour Eos, it’s not some minor inconvenience, that little happening in the Desert? Before you and the rest of your group got back, the town had to be placed on a temporary lock-down two times due to the increased movement of Paladin armies!” Torin spat. 

“You've told me that..." I grumbled. 

“And I'll say it again. Your mate is right, the war is deadly. A battle between an ancient race and another that believes that Balerion is better off without such a powerful force is something you should stay out of.” Torin snapped, my eyes only narrowing even further as I slowly shook my head. 

“I’m a Guardian, it’s my newfound duty to help keep this world in balance Torin. You really think I'd just sit on the sidelines to let innocent people died because of who they are? No!” 

“...That doesn’t work on me, the Guardian speech.” Torin sighed. 

“I’ve known you before you obtained the position and guess what? You’re still as reckless as ever, you still want to help as many people as ever. You can’t do that anymore.” 

I rolled my eyes; I wasn’t trying to be reckless...! I knew what I was doing! Even if other people couldn’t see it, I was confident enough to say that I could! A race war never ended pretty, especially when one side was the first one to encourage people to believe that the other side was better off gone and dead! Even now...years later without being in my old world, even if a hundred or thousands of years have passed on Earth. I was still confident and knowing in exactly what people still struggled with. 

Race.

They always have and seemingly always would, after all, how could someone truly have power over the other when they didn’t have a ‘proof’ or ‘fact’ about another race to bring them down to the point they stepped on their neck with the heel of their boot? This world was kissing and just aching to go in that direction. 

If I could help it? I would do my damn best to help this world avoid that route. 

“I’m not trying to help one race anymore Torin.” I started off. 

“I’m trying to help this world avoid a path that will ultimately lead to humans and humans only being the sole successor of this world. Look, I’ve experienced it myself-” 

“Your old world isn’t like our own.” Torin interrupted. 

I scoffed. “You’re right, it isn’t, but if this war continues on? Eventually, leading to the Paladins’ victory? It will be.” I said. 

“Whether it’s magical or non-magical, I’ve experienced firsthand how bad people, humans especially, can screw things up without someone behind them pulling and reminding them to know their place. Maybe I’m saying this because my mate is one but...Daemoniums, from what I've seen, they keep the balance. Fear will stop people from doing a lot of things and, in a way, that’s necessary.” I continued, an empty laugh escaping the goblin before me as he slowly shook his head. 

“Frightening to see a Guardian saying that fear is necessary,” Torin admitted.

“Not that type of fear and definitely not the kind that leads to people being killed at random or at the drop of a hat.” I chuckled quietly. 

“I mean the type of fear that- that keeps you from doing stupid stuff. From being too bold, when you think nothing will hurt you? When you think that nothing will stand up against you? You do more and harm more in the process. Should the Daemoniums go extinct, I have no doubt that every other race that’s non-human or doesn’t resemble a human in some way will be next.”

“I’m a human first and foremost Torin. I know how things may turn out, seeing as this world is my new home? I would very much like to avoid that possibility.” I admitted with a sad smile, the sight of a single snowflake falling right in front of my eyes bringing a strange sense of nervous hope about me while I heard Torin let out a heavy sigh. 

I’ve already settled into my more...heroic take of life in this world, it suited me and I took the role happily so long as I wasn’t forced into doing something. 

Making sure Balerion didn’t take a sudden turn to becoming more like Earth? Losing its beauty and magic in the process? If I was going to live for a thousand years then I wanted to at least live all those years watching Balerion becoming more and more beautiful...not more and more hate-filled and war-hungry. 

After all, my main point since coming into this world was to practically rebel! I did it with Ibis and now? I was determined to continue doing it with the wrongs of this world. Racism struck up by fear was most definitely one of them. As the snow started to come down more and more although, the sight of people laughing and grinning at the sight while others took the time to walk off and begin going to their houses, I jumped a little at the feeling of Torin patting my head.

I looked at him with a slight raise of my brow, the sound of a defeated sigh as he looked at the ground for a second more before turning his head towards me giving a sudden burst of hope. 

“...I don’t even know why I try to go against you anymore,” Torin said. 

“Like years before, the present and until the day I die. I’m with you, you’re reckless as all the black pits will allow but...you don't have my full support." 

My hope began to die out. 

"Paladins are deadly but Beasts are deadlier. I bent a knee when the tribe came in, they don't have as much power but...haven't you ever thought about it?" 

I tilted my head. "Thought about what?" I asked. 

"What truly happens when the Paladins lose? I heard Ares talk about it once...what the Paladins were running in the Desert is atrocious but the Beasts? What they can do will dwarf that." He said, the warning in his tone sending a chill down my spine that rivaled the bite in the air. 

"Beasts are sadists, may I remind you again? They eat people! Guardian or not, you won't be safe from their wrath...why? They don't worship mortal deities." 

"And may I remind you that I know this? I have a demon mate, I spent time around them in the desert. I. Know. This." I growled. 

"Trust in me, believe in me! Damn it...my reckless nature may have gotten us into trouble a few times-" 

"A few?" 

"What I'm saying is that my recklessness brings forth results and answers. Staying back and hiding in the trees gives us nothing!" I continued. 

"The end of this war will finally allow us some peace...if the Beasts really do rise up to try something against us...we'll be ready. I can damn well assure you of that." 

Torin went silent, his fiery eyes staring at me with all sorts of confliction and trepidation swimming around in my eyes as my tail slowly but surely began to wag with some sort of growing hope. I needed him to see my way...I needed him to see that I was trying my best to make the right move! I wasn't looking for anything extra. 

No alliances. 

No trades.

And no sort of protection from the Beasts. 

I was merely trying to do my part, trying to help them end a war that was focused on eradicating them from the face of the planet as well as end a war that could've easily turned out bad for the ones who weren't human! I didn't want that reality...being woken up to see an army of Paladins armed and fully prepped to destroy the village, destroy the tribe. 

Render everything moot.

That, more than a few bold Beasts coming about, was my biggest fear. 

The sound of a drawn-out groan made me snap out of my thoughts as my ears perked a little. "...Fine," Torin said, raising his hands. 

"You win." 

"Yes!" I howled, doing a small dance where I stood as my tail whipped against the air. 

"Think I can convince my lovely horned mate to think a little similar to you then?” I giggled.

He shrugged. “You’re not exactly easy to recommend the advice of ‘settling down’ and 'staying out of things' Eos, from what I understand? Your mate’s as stubborn as you are." He huffed. 

"You may have a little trouble but...at least you have the benefit of him doting on you." 

“But I need him to understand that I can and need to participate and finish being involved in the war!” I said, before Torin turned on his heels to start walking off. 

He turned his head towards me with a snort. “Offer him a deal then! Take lessons from a Beast Fox, offer a good deal and Daemoniums will do anything!” Torin called out to me.

For a moment or two, I let out a thoughtful hum as I got up and gave myself a good shake, causing me to then turn around and trot through the lightly snow-covered streets.

A deal to make him sit down and agree with me fighting in the war? After the argument, we had earlier...? I already knew my deal had to be more than good to make him even consider letting me fight, however, if that didn’t work? My mind was already made up, I would simply go off on my own. Two was better than one but...I was prepared to walk alone. However, once I had taken a step out of the town, the sight of the forests beyond suddenly reminding me that I had planned to go and visit Ibis. 

An idea had suddenly popped into my mind, my tail beginning to tuck between my legs at the thought before I closed my eyes slowly. 

‘Jesus Christ...this world really has made my fall from grace eh?’ I thought to myself before I felt my paws slowly but surely begin to levitate off the ground. 

A gentle warm breeze began to encase me, the short second I opened my eyes revealing a flurry of brown and gold feathers beginning to form a bubble around me making me smirk to myself. How could I not be a little proud of learning teleportation?

Although the power was rather dull, only allowing me to teleport from where I was at the moment and back to the cave at any time of the day, it was a skill nonetheless! It would save me time from having to use a boat or carriage at the very least. 

‘To think of offering that and a little bit more to the Incubus in exchange for fighting? I think I’ve become Ryzel!” I continued to think to myself, my inner self beginning to favor shouting at me before I finally felt myself start to lower back onto a newly damp and rocky surface, the sounds of rushing waterfalls, crickets chirping and the even newer sounds of a crowd murmuring making my ears perk before I slowly opened my eyes to a crowd. Ibis’ spirits...or well, my spirits. 

“Greetings Luna Ibis.” They all said in a frightening unison, a whine escaping me as I shook my head slowly. 

To think...I had to deal with this for a thousand years or more, this? 

This was going to be a trip most definitely.