Up there, above the stairs, Terrance stood like a frozen ghost, clutched by one hella annoyed figure. It was Dreadus, and he stood on the edge of the staircase, his eyes firm and choices blazing in his heart.

  Since he had come this far, there was no going back. “Hey, Pillars, I invited myself in. Crazy, isn't it? Again... what a crazy week this has been, huh? I mean, look at me. I am clearly not thinking straight. Is that what being a father is like? Seriously... please... let it stop.”

  Old Dream sighed, feeling that this situation was getting out of hand. “What is this one doing here?”

  Dreadus paused when he noticed Mi-Yung; he didn't expect her to be here at all, so that meant another tricky situation, or... perhaps his salvation.

  “I crawled around for four days, and this is it? Well...” Dreadus tossed Terrance aside and walked down. “I was thinking.”

  “How rare.” Association Pillar said, and almost every Pillar laughed. Old Dream didn't, along with Yondu and Prime Hunter.

  Dreadus chuckled alongside those who enjoyed his trickery, and ended in a similar position as Mi-Yung; on the lower stairs, where he stopped.

  “What are you doing here?” Mi-Yung asked, half impressed by his decision, and half worried for his skin. He had wounds and spent days for nothing. Her position permitted guests, and she would have pushed him here herself if he mentioned it. He didn't, hence the current situation occurred, and he looked awful.

  “Causing a problem, I think.”

  “You shouldn't think. It could be a mistake.”

  “I agree.” Dreadus folded his arms and was more than troubled with being in this room, sized by those Pillars and rooms.

  “Explain.” Old Dream said, impatiently tapping his fingers on the roundtable.

  Dreadus went straight to the point, unlike Mi-Yung, who took a lot more consideration over her matters, but she was great at it. As for Dreadus's point, it was simple, although not very sensible for these old freaks.

  “I want that girl from my mission.”

  “Another kid... great. What a waste of fucking time.” Prime Hunter cursed, and his shadow distorted as he wanted to leave, but couldn't.

  “Must be heavy for you, Taker.” Tamara taunted him from her own little shadowy throne.

  Dreadus didn't mind the discord. “Ah, you probably don't know what I am talking about. It's about my mission, and from it came a couple of problems. I care for the cause and my position, as it involves my team, and...”

  “What is this about?” Old Dream said, slapping his palm on the table just to make a better point.

  It seemed he didn't know every detail about Dreadus's mission, which was a little surprising to Dreadus. It was a big deal, wasn't it? For the alleged leader of the Assembly, not knowing about it sounded awful.

  Old Dream got a quick overview from Yondu, a hefty shadow with a powerful voice, but he hadn't spoken much before due to sensitivity over Mi-Yung's manners. It was Old Dream's idea, and he followed it to the T.

  Now, it was different. Yondu had very direct work with his words. “He found a girl on a mission in Australia. That's the gist of it, followed by that which must've aroused all of us for days. We know it. The new Sea.”

  “You know quite a lot, Yondu.” Dreadus regarded that shadow with respect, even if there was a single Rank between them.

  “Reaz is why. Also, it is hard not to see the cause and follow the mayhem in your wake. You were brazen, Dreadus. Way too brazen. Reminds me of Mi-Yung aside from you. She did... well, not a mistake. She acted as usual and thought she had fixed it, but she hadn't. It troubles those beyond her, or below her, and she thinks she is right about everything. Sometimes, she is. Most often, she isn't, and rarely, she is completely wrong.”

  “Oh, she certainly does that a lot,” Dreadus said, poking her shoulder with his elbow which she took for a silly taunt.

  She crossed her arms and waited, and deduced that hearing this discussion might not hurt her in the slightest. Also, no one forced her to leave, which was another reason she tried to be silent and judge what was about to happen.

  “Which is why I am here.” Dreadus huffed his chest and stated no clear business.

  “And?” Old Dream asked.

  “I mean... Celeste... is that. What? I mean, why am I here?”

  “You don't even know that?” Mi-Yung asked.

  Old Dream thought about it for a second and felt that this step was lacking in comparison to Mi-Yung's problem, or reaching this room had taken much more out of him than these stairs. Dreadus even invaded this place, so that was another matter altogether.

  “Let me clarify. You found a girl outside that you want to take care of, demands that we not meddle with her and you, and... what else? Isn't it far too little for our roundtable, even with the Sea?”

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  “Yep. That's sums it up.” Dreadus nodded.

  “An orphan to an orphan...” Old Dream sighed and waved a hand. “Whatever. It is not my place to care for something like that. Do whatever you want. Not like someone is kidnapping her from you, is it?”

  “A lot of kidnapping is happening recently, doesn't it?” Tamara voiced her opinion and received just a single chuckle, which wasn't fine in her book.

  Mi-Yung got mildly infuriated by this remark. Whatever problem Old Dream had, her position was different from confused Dreadus.

  “I guess that is true, but... I feel this is about right. What about the citizenship? I'm not very good at this, considering it involves my team and that mission. I mean, who should even care about her? She is a broken kid, I fear.” Dreadus recalled one important point he couldn't touch.

  Every new citizen, let alone a Walker, had to come through formal work, or as he called it... annoyancework. What he wanted was the highest order and to do it personally, because that was the only fairness he wanted.

  “A minor work.” Old Dream pointed to Mi-Yung. “She will take care of it like usual, yes? Since you have your responsibility, time, and vacation, help this hopeless idiot out.”

  Mi-Yung nodded, turned, and left many curses in her mind to cheer her up because it sounded acceptable.

  Dreadus never imagined they would let him get away with this and do nothing. Not after, well, there was one mistake he hadn't thought of.

  Pillars were yet to realize the degree of insanity that surrounded Celeste and what Dreadus feared or wanted. Everyone had different ideas, and surprisingly, the previous topic about William and Mi-Yung created a great charm that made this discussion even less problematic.

  That, or they didn't want to think about it for the time being because it wasn't important, or it was less of an issue than Dreadus thought. Which... was kind of weird, wasn't it? It involved Australia, his mission, and if anything, this place ought to get it.

  Dreadus feared they would take her away...

  He wasn't even aware of what those lofty Walkers knew and thought, and at this point, didn't want to care about it.

  Old Dream was in the leading position of this table and gave Dreadus full rein over everything he hoped for. There were no setbacks, or pains in the ass. There was no going back, hopefully.

  Dreadus walked away with Mi-Yung and left the Assembly Round Table and those Pillars to their own devices, which he did with the utmost thanks he could muster. He didn't even wave back or say his gratitude.

  He fled without thinking.

  ***

  Down, Old Dream perked his brows and knew there was something else ahead. Unknowns, but there, waiting, or slithering in the ground and air alike.

  “How far will this Celeste girl go? Could anyone provide concrete evidence on why it is important, or has it been a mere guess so far? There is also that matter with Gales. I will want to discuss it thoroughly.”

  Prime Hunter's shadows flared as his voice echoed. “You will have my word on this matter very soon. Australia is under my jurisdiction, and that matter with Dreadus has been a fault of my shortsightedness. As for that girl, she is a variable and interesting proposal as she was there, in the Holy Land, and grew up like a sheep. It happened again, yet... she is alive and still human, and here, in the Federation, like that other brat. We should keep an eye on her simply because of the connection to Australia. She is alive and well.”

  “I heard she has an interesting dog,” Yondu said, but his remark didn't sound important.

  Tamara took this bait with gladness. “Hound! I heard it. Seems promising to take care of her, but I do wonder where and how deep this goes. Australia is a cool hell. Who is she? Where has she been out there, and how did she survive? Dreadus and most of his report are confusing and missing many parts. It is intentional, and I think Reaz has her hands on this matter. But again, dear Prime, this is also your matter, right? Do you know something we don't?”

  “I will deal with Reaz, and no. This is it. Just another kidnapped baby Walker. Details are obscure, but not forever,” Prime Hunter promised, and Tamara continued.

  “Besides that, I only heard some bits. Dreadus cares a lot about this situation, and his merits are incredible because he gave up the Sea with barely a complaint. It is an incredible mission, so his matter is massive, if not worthy of a year-far mission. He could have asked for much more, such as our support for her, resources for him, or his team. I think he has... mindful and terrific changes ahead of him, and two youths are just part of the bigger picture. Besides that, is there anything about that Gale? Its not about foreign Australia, but fucking America that is right before our eyes? How could he have slipped for a decade? I hardly heard any reports about it.”

  “There are a few ways to do it.” Prime Hunter reasoned. “I will dig something out sooner or later because Kaufman made his move. Mi-Yung's locks won't last forever, either, but if you want more, just deal with her personally because she knows much more than any of us combined.”

  “What about you, Association Head?” Old Dream gestured. “Dreadus visited Second Head, right?”

  “It is a private matter.”

  “So?”

  “He doesn't want to talk about it at all, and I respect that choice. I sent a convoy. The Second Head is too busy with new matters, while there is less time to catch anything. A lot of care is put somewhere else at the moment.”

  “They are hiding something... do they? What about checking that girl as well, if we are about that Gale?”

  “It would be suspicious,” Tamara said innocently, almost with a girly giggle.

  “Don't do what I think you think!”

  “A lot of thinking, eh?” Tamara taunted Yondu.

  Old Dream clapped his hands. “Silence. This isn't the only matter. This Examination will be crucial and greater than usual. We need it, so we have to think about the future and don't trouble our people, or others.”

  “Probably.” Association Pillar said. “But I don't see any better way than this. Let Dreadus go with this one because he deserves it and have him do it better. That girl is not an issue, and Fain showed another interest. It is not related, I judge, while Dreadus does what he does best. He pushes the situation to others, and so far, this mission has had many question marks and one massive merit. He is fine to demand anything, and we ought to accept it. Thus, I think additional rewards are feasible, if not mandatory, so have someone look at it, or let's just support that girl if that's fine with you. For now, Mi-Yung's care may be a better short-term solution. It might save us time and care. Matters before the Awakening and our Examinations will create more bonding.”

  Old Dream had a similar idea, which was why he didn't care about Dreadus all that much. However, there were personal aspects about Mi-Yung, and many things were ahead. Nodding, he believed that these choices were the best they could handle, even if they were a bit dishonest.

  Just two little, growing monsters more. Nothing less. Nothing extravagant.

  ***

  Above in the hallway, Mi-Yung walked away with Dreadus. “I think they played with you,” she argued, tapping Dreadus's shoulder.

  “No matter. The words are heavy today. I heard what I needed, and Old Dream wouldn't joke about it.”

  “Which is?”

  “A confirmation. They don't appear to be as half-interested as I've assumed, and if someone else is, I will push my position. No one will blame me if they don't. I mean... Celeste is strange but good, and I think her Emblem will be special. Is becoming her Guardian too much for me? Am I making a mistake?”

  “Oh, you are thinking again...”