Eques Noctis: Life Affairs

Damon sat staring at the wall for a good second or two as he could not comprehend what had just happened. Even after years of making an understanding with himself of the changes he would experience with every daylight he was yet not used to it. For one moment he would be in the starry night of Atleana with his Princess and the next he would be back in the awful attic, he called his room. In a way he was tried to constantly move with time. He had hardly slept properly ever since the start of it all, but he never regretted it. If anything, he enjoyed his time in Atleana. He just didn't understand why he couldn't stay there. His name was Eques Noctis and his real name mean to conquer or subdue but he yet had no control of the travel. He shook himself out of his thoughts as he made reason with his surroundings. He knew he could trust Eques Lux. He had to. The one unspoken rule of being a Frater was to trust one another unquestioningly. But at the same time, he could not shake away his worry for the princess. She had been by his side alone. Always having the same cycle of hiding in the trees when and if he vanished before they had discussed the situation for the morning. If there was a place, he knew she could travel towards without being attacked they would promise to meet there the next night. But now he placed his complete trust into Eques Lux. Albeit it being scary to leave his Princess every oriens, he knew he had placed his trust in the right person for although not knowing Eques Lux for long to discern the truth behind his words, he trusted his Princess' judgement. As he sat on the hardwood floor of his room lost in thought he came to an understanding with regards to the beginning of the prophecy. Th prophecy clearly had stated the presence of 7 knights to guard the princess. Now that they had met one more, all that was left was to wait and watch as the prophecy unfolded gradually. Finally, he took a deep breath to calm his nerves and shaking himself out of his thoughts, steeling himself for yet another morn-mare when a nerve-wracking voice was heard,

"DAMON. COME DOWN HERE THIS INSTANT."

He opened his eyes, tiredness evident in them from lack of sleep. He really needed to catch up on his sleep that afternoon. Once Damon felt calm, he let out a breath and stood up. Walking out of the attic he was met with his mother or as she expected him to call her 'Ma'am'. He had a lingering feeling from the way she treated him that she may not be his actual birth mother but he had no proof to date. His eyes narrowed the slightest and moved his head to the side having a knowing look. He knew what she had come to him for and what she expected from him. His blood always boiled when this day came. Clenching his teeth he put a fake smile on his face and walked behind her. As they descended the staircase he could distinguish his brother's voice. He could clearly discern his brother's voice and an obnoxious giggle after everything he said. He tried to hold in his anger but each month only got more tedious as his family tested his patience. He was forced to sit through the entire meeting silently as no one made a comment with regards to the couple's behaviour. Each time this happened Damon shook his head and scoffed in disbelief. He knew there was always something up with his parents but he could never place his finger on it. Each step they took, each decision they made had conspiracy written all over it. One such conspiracy included his parents promising his hand in marriage to a girl who had a peanut brain and expected him to follow through with it to satisfy their greed of reputation. He always had the urge to annul the engagement but he had to keep quiet and let their plan play out. He knew that if he annulled the engagement they would find another and at the current moment the Princess was more important thus, he let them do as they pleased.

Taking a deep breath Damon took a seat opposite his family on a chair and waited to be noticed. Damon rested his head on the back of the chair and tried to drift off while avoiding as much confrontation as he could. He knew of his family's behaviour and intentions. They were always eager to learn more only to either currying favour for themselves or use the information for their advantage. As he drifted off thinking and formulating a plan to on how to better cover more ground while not putting the Princess in danger, he found himself deciding the next steps to complete the circle of the 7 Knights as well. Although Eques Lux had presented himself, he yet had to determine if he was worth the title of the same. It had been long ingrained into him to be the protector, leader and executioner of the Fraterhood as well. As he drifted even deeper in his thoughts he failed to notice his mother's call. He almost did not reply again when his mother words caught his attention.

"DAMON, ANSWER WHEN I CALL YOU OR SO HELP ME YOU WILL NEVER SEE ARELLA AGAIN."

That immediately caught his attention as Damon's eyes snapped open wide. He stared at his mother wondering if he had heard correctly. It couldn't be, could it? This further enhanced the mystery surrounding his family but he knew he would have to school his thoughts and actions for now. He could find out how his mother knew of his Princess later. For now, he had to focus on the situation at hand. But the shock led his mind to race as he kept thinking of the possibility for his mother knowing about his Princess. It was clearly impossible for anyone to know that name as it was the secret he protected every night. He knew he had never broken his silence, so it was impossible for her to know that name through him. Unless ...

His eyes caught the look in her eyes. Something felt odd. As if she knew everything he was trying to hide. As if he was playing her game. Either that or he was phasing between the two worlds. He could feel the anger radiating off his mother. The only thing he could do that was in his control was to quickly shake himself from his revere while making a mental note to himself to figure things out before he replied,

"Sorry Ma'am. I drifted off. It won't happen again."

"Better watch your mouth boy. You be grateful to your mother.", my father said more like commanded. 

'Grateful for what?', thought Damon. There were too many mysteries surrounding the situation but he could think on that later. Any more deviations from the current conversation could be bad not only for Damon but also for his Princess.

Although Damon tried his best to be a part of the ongoing conversation, he was always excluded from it. They would ask his opinion but then ignore him if he tried to speak up. He wanted to drift off again but he made sure to always keep an eye on his mother as he kept feeling her gaze on him. The gaze though terrifying grounded him to reality. Finally, the clock chimed 2, announcing the leave of his so-called fiancé. Damon immediately stood and bowed slightly indicating a farewell and left to his room. He knew he would receive curious glances from his family but he knew he had to stay away from their eyesight if he had to make his plans for the night. Once he was safely within the walls of his room, he let out a deep sigh of relief and brought out his notes regarding the information he had found over the years on the matter of the knights and began formulating once again. He slightly chuckled as he noticed the development of an elegance in his writings from the beginning of his time in Atleana. Contrary to the state of the book his writings emerged to be swift and showed experience. He had also learnt to write in Atleanan script to prevent anyone from understanding what he wrote. He had also developed the habit to create codes for sensitive information in case someone found a way to decipher the script. But for now, his next target was to assemble the Knights. Looking through his notes once again he identified that the path the Princess and he had taken the night before was closely connected to a familiar being. Past yet in present. The next knight was …