Family does not end with blood.

"Brothers in arms, brothers in blood." — White Cloaks unofficial motto.

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"What—Uncle?!" Poor Arnold forgot all about etiquette the moment his eyes landed on Hunter. She did not blame him in the least, soft-hearted as he was.

But fainting because of the shock was a little ridiculous. Totally out of proportion, especially when Arnold knew the stories about the second prince as well as any other citizen and encountered many other people with green eyes and black hair during patrol.

"Aiya, this boy." Hunter sighed, kneeling and slapping his face. Not even a flinch. Good thing she had stopped him from hitting his head but… she could not carry him. Nor did she wish to.

"Priest, could I use your services for a minute?"

"Of course, Dusan."

Hunter grimaced, "Don't call me that, please."

"As you say, Dusan."

Hunter's eyebrow twitched, the audacity! No, no. She needed to keep calm, starting an argument was the last thing she wanted. Especially over something this mundane. The sooner she could see Erden, the better.

"Many thanks, priest." The smile on Hunter's face couldn't be more fake.

The priest nodded magnanimously and kneeled, their hand glowing green as they touched Arnold's forehead.

Even as annoyed as Hunter was, he could take a moment to appreciate the Faith's renowned 'healing touch'. A miracle said to be capable of healing every sickness known to the realm and even healing wounds that otherwise would kill a man.

It was a lie.

The Faith was powerful but there must always be a balance and the Seven expected their rules to be followed to the T. In Hunter's experience, Agni more than anyone else, for his line were the protectors of the realm.

As the priest worked, Hunter braided her hair. Emulating what she used to do for her older sister when she was still alive, her fingers were clumsy though. It had been years since she had done this.

She put the helmet over her head just as Arnold opened his eyes.

"Wha— Ew. Priest aftertaste." Arnold shivered, making faces and trying to scrape his tongue.

"Hypersentisive, is he?" The priest doesn't take offense. If anything, they sound amused at the dramatics.

"Very," Hunter says, deepening her voice so it sounds a little more masculine. Grimacing as it comes out like she has a bad cold instead of the rich tone she had before today. Well, it would have to do for the time being.

Hypersensitiveness to magic was not uncommon, especially in children that had a powerful magician as their primary caretaker. Hunter's sister had been at the top of her class in the Silver Tower and for Arnold's first two years, she was the only one around him.

"We're very thankful for your help." Hunter nods at the priest, receiving the same gesture in return, marking their business as finished. "Nephew, please stop doing that. We're in public."

"Captain, please have mercy on me!" Arnold sent her a wounded look, "My mouth tastes like soap. Plus, I think Wan Shi showed me a mirage. No, a nightmare! Some kind of punishment for not doing my laundry, I'm sure."

Hunter snorts.

"I will admit your stinky clothes are a crime on other people's noses but I doubt they count as a crime against nature itself, nephew." She tries very hard to not smile at the mortified expression her squire was wearing, "Nor I think it was a nightmare. Just a surprisingly hard pill to swallow."

Really, the dramatics were unnecessary.

Hunter rolled her eyes as Arnold's skin lost color as fast as he had gained it, going from red to white in less than two seconds. A little impressive, if she was being honest. She didn't know people could change colors so fast.

"B-But, but— Why would you do that?!"

"I'm not allowed to say."

Arnold's blue eyes narrow, "The Crown Prince?"

Hunter allows herself a moment of paternal pride at the correct assumption.*Not bad, kid. Not bad at all.* She had implied she was under royal command, and while many would immediately assume the King for the White Cloaks belonged to him, Arnold had immediately recognized that Hunter's loyalty was to Erdem first.

Hunter shrugged.

"Come on, up you go." She pulls him up, cleaning imaginary dust from his armor. "We must be quick, I have important business to discuss with his royal highness and would rather not be trapped by the giggling crows that have been trying to get his attention lately."

Now it's Arnold's turn to snort, "I don't think you must worry about ladies trying to get your attention anymore, Captain."

"Oh." Hunter says intelligently. "Yeah, I guess that's no longer a problem."

Weird to think about, though.

Truth was that Hunter hadn't processed the idea just yet. She imagined that when she did, there would be a major breakdown with ugly tears and body-shaking sobs as she mourned what had been his life.

But that could only come after she had the Crown Prince in her pocket, after returning to the Hansen and confronting her father for what would hopefully be the last time.

"Does… does this mean you'll be no longer a Knight, Uncle?" Arnold's voice is small, almost covered by the metallic sound of their steps.

"That's not for me to decide," Hunter answers honestly.

In the best case scenario, no. She will not. There's enough time to build rumors, to make her new persona strong enough -frivolous, enough- to throw shade over her past as a Knight.

But it depends entirely on what Erdem (or Danuja) thought was the best course as it was their father who was in danger, after all. Plus King Alfor had his own Golden Guard, thus, Hunter had no right to take action beyond informing the heirs of the throne of the danger hiding in the shadows.

"But no matter what his royal highness decides, I'll continue to train you. You will become a Knight, Arnold. This I vow to you as the Sword of Marmorra."

Anyone who wanted to take her nephew away was going to get their ass kicked. She would be the one to gift him his title and put the white cloak over his shoulder. She would make sure the boy grew into a man, this time she would keep her promise to her older sister.

Arnold's shoulders lose some tension, his relief evident. It makes her frown, did he think she was going to throw him to the side? Zhe, silly boy. Hunter claps him on the back, earning a squawk.

"Captain! What was that for?"

"Thinking useless things."

"What? No, no, no. I would never— Ouch. Ouch. Captain, please have mercy on me!"

"The moment we return to the palace, you're to run ten laps around the training grounds."

"But I already ran today!"

"Too little, you say? Well, let's make it twenty."

"Mercy, mercy!"

It warmed her heart to be able to banter with her nephew. These were really peaceful days, huh?

"Sword of Marmorra! Welcome back, sir. " A guard smiles, opening the entrance for them to pass. "Was your visit to the city fruitful?"

"It was. Fruitful, that is." Hunter said awkwardly.

Not much better at knowing how to interact with normal people than ten years ago. Thankfully. Arnold took over. Covering for her lack of social skills with his sunshine personality and saving her from doing small talk.

Spirits, give her snotty nobles any day. At least she knew what to expect from them. Civilians were just… odd. It was like they lived in another reality; a place where she with her bloody hands and burning soul would never fit.

Like, how could they be so carefree? How could they go about their days without watching for danger? How could they get so close to a sword and trust the owner to not stab them?

Hunter shivered, they were all so weird.

"Do you know where is the Crown Prince, brother?" Hunter asked a fellow Knight, shooing Arnold and ignoring the puppy eyes sent her way. That kid needed to learn to mind his own business.

"The Crown Prince is holding a small court on the Eastern Wing, brother." The Knight answered, "You sound weird. Are you feeling alright?"

Hunter concealed a wince, feeling a pang of displeasure at the place Erdam was and the immediate discovery. It wasn't as if she thought she would get away with it in the first place, Knights usually had keen eyes and even sharper ears, but still jarred her pride.

"Thank you, brother." Hunter forced a smile, "Yes, I already visit the temple today. The priest suggested rest, though."

"I'm sure the Crown Prince will not oppose giving you a few days off." The Knight's voice softened, taking a grandfatherly undertone. "There's nothing more important than your health, brother."

"Of course," Hunter said, trying to not sound as disbelieving as he felt.

"Go now," The Knight clapped his shoulder, "Before the court finishes and all the crows start screaming."

"I will." Hunter nodded, "Thank you again, brother."