SISTERS OF THE MOON

Kojo lay in bed, unable to sleep, as thoughts swirled in his head. The repercussions of the war with goblins, Sasha's destruction of the Savage Lands, and the goblin... Kamau's submission to her will all weighed heavily on his mind.

He turned to face the open window, where the cloudy night sky was illuminated by the three moons. Two shone brightly, while the third was partially obscured by clouds.

Kojo closed his eyes; his thoughts turned to the upcoming Rulers Council, Cassandra, and the potential interactions with the Holy Land of Ezkanur. He let out a deep sigh, feeling the weight of his responsibilities.

The sound of his door creaking open broke the silence, and Kojo turned to see someone slipping into his bed. The person snuggled close to him and wrapped her arms around him, holding him close.

Kojo's eyes fluttered open.

"What are you doing?" Kojo asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Sharone's smile was soft and soothing.

"It's been a while since we spent some time alone together," she said, her voice equally quiet.

Kojo nodded, and they fell into a comfortable silence. The only sound was the gentle rustling of the wind outside and the soft creaking of the wooden bed.

After a while, Kojo broke the silence.

"You're not going to ask what's on my mind?" he asked, his eyes searching Sharone's face.

Sharone's gaze drifted away, and she was silent for a moment. Then, she spoke up. "Did you know that the moons have names?" she asked, her voice gentle.

Kojo raised an eyebrow.

"No, I didn't."

Sharone's smile returned. "According to legend, the three moons are named after three sisters who lived in a time of great adversity. Aethera, the eldest, her name meaning the moon that shines brightest. Lunaea, the middle sister, whose name means the moon that glows with a soft, gentle light. And Nyxoria, the youngest, whose name means the moon that is sometimes hidden.

Despite the challenges they faced in life, the sisters supported each other, and their bond grew stronger with each passing day."

Kojo's curiosity was piqued. "What happened to them?" he asked.

Sharone's eyes sparkled with a soft, otherworldly light. "The sisters stayed together and even faced a tyrant for the sake of the youngest, who was about to be taken away. They managed to fend him off but eventually passed away, but their spirits did not rest. They were reborn as the three moons: Aethera, symbolizing wisdom and guidance; Lunaea, representing compassion and nurturing; and finally Nyxoria, embodying mystery and resilience.

They are the three moons who watch over the world and guide those who seek wisdom and comfort with their light."

Kojo's gaze drifted away, lost in thought. Sharone's hand found his, and she gave it a gentle squeeze.

"I'm not here to pry, Kojo," she said softly. "I've seen that a lot is happening, and you're the one everyone is looking up to. But I know your mind works differently from everyone else's. If you want to talk about it, I'm here to listen. Otherwise, I'm just here to support you, just like a moon in a starless sky."

Kojo's eyes returned to the three celestial bodies drifting in the skies, and he felt a surge of gratitude for everything. A sense of gratitude to the first friend he'd made in this world and the ones who were supporting him. There was a moment of silence, and then Sharone adjusted her arms, wrapping them around his neck.

Kojo buried his face in the crook of her elbow, feeling a sense of comfort and security wash over him.

"It's just...the problems facing us right now are just getting bigger and bigger," he said, his voice muffled.

Sharone's hold on him tightened.

"What do you mean?" she asked softly.

Kojo lifted his head, his eyes locking onto Sharone's.

"I have to fight for a Chaos Lord," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "And it's not just that. I'm doing all this so I won't have to do anything."

Sharone's gaze was puzzled.

"What do you mean?" she asked again.

Kojo's smile was wry.

"It's just...I'm a lazy person, Sharone. And lazy people are creative because they come up with easy ways to do things efficiently so they'll have time for the things they like."

Sharone's face lit up with understanding, and she turned Kojo, hugging him tightly to her chest.

"I know, Kojo," she said softly.

"You're a different kind of person, and that's what's so great about you. I just want you to know that I'll personally be accompanying you for this period, so you can count on me, just like in the old days."

Kojo relaxed in Sharone's bosom, feeling a sense of peace wash over him.

"Thanks, Sharone," he said softly, his eyes finally closing as he drifted off to sleep.

Sharone smiled, listening to the sound of Kojo's gentle breathing. She stroked his hair, her eyes shining with a soft, loving light.

Just as it seemed like the night would pass peacefully, the door to Kojo's chamber burst open, and Sasha strode in, followed by the sleepy-eyed trio of Adriana, Lin, and Koniko. Lin was yawning, Adriana was rubbing her eyes, and Koniko was basically sleepwalking.

Sasha opened her mouth to say something, but Sharone raised her finger to her lips, silencing her. Adriana and Lin then dragged Sasha out of the room, with Adriana grabbing Koniko and Lin shutting the door behind them.

Sharone smiled, laying down beside Kojo and hugging him tightly. She closed her eyes, once again listening to the sound of his gentle breathing, and let the peace of the night wash over her.

Kojo woke up to an empty bed, but a smile spread across his face as he remembered Sharone's presence the night before.

(Wipe that stupid grin off your stupid face. You had a beautiful girl sleep next to you and yet you couldn't do anything.)

Kojo's eye twitched.

"It's too early in the morning for your pestering, Sysia."

(Loser. Hmf)

"Oh yeah, Sysia, I need some information."

He sat in the bed for a while, going through the data and statistics Sysia brought up. Her processing power was fast, so even though they had a lengthy discussion within Kojo's head, it didn't take more than a minute in real time.

He then got out of bed and made his way to the dining area, where the others were already seated and having breakfast.

Sharone saw him and greeted him with a warm smile and a gentle "good morning." She served him a plate of food as he sat down beside her.

"I've had some time to arrange my thoughts," Kojo said, "and I've come to a decision."

The others looked at him with interest, awaiting his announcement.

"Eden, have you sent the letters as requested?" Kojo asked.

Eden, who had just walked into the room, nodded. "Yes, I have. And I've received a response from the Duke of Carnelia, Mikael Listowell. He'll be coming to see us tomorrow."

Kojo nodded thoughtfully. "What about Tessaloni and Adonis? Any response from them?"

Eden shook his head. "Not yet."

Kojo's expression remained calm.

"Alright, we'll move ahead with the plan regardless. We can't wait for their response indefinitely."

Lin frowned.

"But won't that cause a ruckus during the Rulers Council?"

Kojo shrugged.

"It might cause a disagreement, but not a war right from the get-go. Tessaloni is relatively peaceful, and if we're successful, it'll take a lot of effort for the Adonisians to cross over and invade. Besides, the river is within our kingdom's territory, so it's just like we're reinforcing our border."

Lin nodded, seeming to understand Kojo's reasoning.

As for the Duke, Kojo turned to Adriana. "Can you speak to your uncle about this? Even if we do proceed, his lack of cooperation could prove to be problematic in the future."

Adriana nodded.

"I'll take care of it. Leave it to me."

Kojo got up from his seat. "I'm going to see Lloyd and Glenn concerning the renovations. Sharone, would you like to come with me?"

Sharone nodded, and the two of them prepared to leave.

The others looked at each other, unsure of what to do. "What's our role in all this?" Lin asked.

Kojo hesitated.

"Uh...for the time being, there's not really much you can do. Take the day off, relax."

Noticing Nefaria emerging from her room, her nightgown hanging loosely over her body, Sharone spoke up.

"Actually, why don't you all show Nefaria around town? She hasn't really seen it since the last time she was here. I'll come see you once Kojo and I are done with our...rounds."

Nefaria yawned and looked at her with a puzzled expression.

The others looked at her, and Sharone's face turned bright red as she realized what she had just said. "I didn't mean those kind of rounds. I meant rounds as in... I meant... Though I'm not against it, but..."

Kojo burst out laughing, and the others followed suit. Sharone glared at him then hit him on the arm, her face still flushed with embarrassment. She folded her arms and turned away, pouting.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," Kojo said, still chuckling. "I'll try to behave."

"Just eat quickly so that we can leave."