(Zack)

"Kulkul," Nik summons his familiar. "Go fetch Gold, would you?"

The demonic bear grumbles something about needing his beauty sleep before walking into the Dark Temple, and I look at the assorted beastborn. There are three monkeys, two cats, six wolves, and nine dogs.

They're all looking around in curiosity while giving Nik, the other two Dark Knights, and me nervous looks. But they all seem… hopeful. Of something? Why did he bring a bunch of slaves here? Or… wait. They're not wearing the collars. And none of them have tan marks showing the signs of them in the past…

These were free beastborn. Nik's idea was in reference to the free ones who were uneasy, who were potentially going to cause a rebellion.

Before I know it, a familiar beastborn's mind appears behind me, and a few moments later, Gold bursts out of the Dark Temple, nearly tackling me.

Actually, he does, and I know it's on purpose, too, because he sent me an impression and memory of him doing so about half a second before he did. Not 'thought about', but sent me. He warned me he was going to.

"Gold!" I groan, wrestling him off of me, looking into his happy eyes, a grin on his face. I can hear his tail swishing back and forth. "Why did you do that?"

He giggles, sending me an image of the other beastborn here, and I quickly register their thoughts.

Shock. Concern for Gold, but confusion at the fact that he's not being beaten or something.

"Alright, Gold," I shove him off of me, then stand up. "You're looking fancy, aren't you?"

He's dressed in a new tunic, red with some black trim, some black pants, and a black leather belt with red metal beaten into the form of a flame for the buckle. He's still wearing that hat of his, though. He looks adorable in it, even if he's trying to look more professional.

My comment makes his chest swell with happiness, and he stands a little straighter, wagging his tail even more excitedly.

"Sooooooooooooo, Nik," I look at the Dark Knight. "I take it you aren't giving them all permission to enter the Dark Temple? And since they don't have Access to the System, they can't become Dark Knights."

"Welcome," Nik steps forward, towards the beastborn, who all instinctively flinch back, a few doing their best to not show fear towards him. Gold steps up beside me and pokes me in the ribs with excitement. "Of all the beastborn, you were the ones who decided to see if our words were honest, the words we sent into your networks and hidey-holes. For that, I thank you."

He did what? When? Why?

What does this have to do with beastborn not having Access? That's what we were talking about, how they were probably so resentful because of how they were treated partly because of their lack of Access.

"A promise made is a promise kept," Nik says. "When given by a Dark Knight, and I promised a better life, to those who would entrust theirs to the Dark Order. The twenty of you chose to try your hands as being the servants of the Order."

Servants? Wait, that means they're… working for us? But isn't that just a paid, friendlier version of what they don't want to do? What they hate? How do you expect that to work?

The beastborn are all uneasy, and I can tell they aren't too sure about their decision. The only reason they decided to trust it originally was because it came from Dark Knights, who were the only force who didn't really do harsh treatment in the rare occasions a rare member of the Order had a beastborn slave.

"As you can see," Nik gestures to Gold, whose tail is trying to start its own wind storm, his grin preparing to break his face. "Gold here is happy working for us. His brother, Aurum, works for a member of my team, and I'm sure you can ask Gold how much the two of them enjoy their new lives."

Gold nods vigorously, and I can sense him already telling them about how much fun he has and how free he is. He's telling them about living with me and how the Dark Knights treat him like a normal person, and how the town's long-term residents are even starting to accept him.

And how I killed a man to protect him. I don't think Nik's realized the beastborn aren't paying all that much attention to him, especially after Gold says that. I start getting looks of curiosity at that.

"We'll feed you," Nik says. "Clothe you, and give you a place to stay. As you aren't Dark Knights, and we aren't going to give you permission to enter every few minutes, we'll house you in the homes here. The Dark Order has bought up the surrounding buildings specially for all of you to stay in. Gold here acts as our chef and our main cleaner, so you won't have to worry about that.

"For the most part," Nik says as they catch my name from Gold, then all start looking at me. They recognize the name of 'Zack', the kid Dark Knight. I'm apparently a hero to some of them? "Your jobs will be taking care of the homes we bought. We'll supply you with the food you need to eat, and clothes as well. Occasionally, we'll grant one of you permission to enter the Dark Temple, so that you can perform other duties. We'll also call upon you as messengers and errand boys and girls."

They're not paying attention, Nik. Gold's going into some pretty decent detail over how I protected him from the Nian, which is apparently what makes me a hero to them. Not me killing someone to protect him, but putting my life on the line to save his.

A person who nearly died to protect a beastborn. That went around the beastborn underworld, and from what I'm catching, a few of them heard of me from slaves.

"In five years," Nik says. "The Crystal of the System will select one beastborn from all those who serve the Order, one who has proven himself loyal to the Crystals and an alley to their Adventurers, and he will grant them Access."

In five years? Wait, has this been agreed upon already? When did Nik talk with Big S? Or did he talk with Big Flame, and Big Flame said 'yeah, say that, I'll make sure System knows'. It's probably the latter, since this has been since Big S went to sleep.

"This will be a recurring thing," Nik said. "With possibility for more. Unfortunately, it takes a lot of power for him to do such a thing, or there would be a guarantee for more, and he'll soon do it on another beastborn, much like he did Gold."

I project to Gold, letting him know what Nik just said, and the other beastborn stare at me with wide eyes. I chuckle as Gold quickly tells them that I can communicate with them just fine. The gist of the reason he gives is 'because he's awesome like that'. That's not what he says, exactly, but that is the gist of it.

"And-" Nik cuts off as he realizes the beastborn are paying attention to me and Gold. "Zack, what's going on?"

"Gold's telling them how much fun it is to be a Dark Knight and have Access to the System."

"…so why are they all staring at you?"

"Because I'm awesome."

"Here, Gold," I hold out my Spook Knife as some of the beastborn question whether or not he really has Access to the System.

Gold giggles, then pulls out the knife I had forged for him. I send my knife back into my Inventory as Gold happily tells the others how I had it forged just for him as a celebration. Then, he slices a shallow wound in his arm, letting them watch as it heals rapidly, a benefit of having Access.

"Gold," Nik clears his throat as the beastborn start to crowd around Gold to inspect his arm. "Did you make sure the homes were prepared?"

Gold's too occupied with telling them how his claws, when he uses them in battle, are even stronger, now. And something about being able to inflict Bleed with them.

"Wait?" I ask Gold, who gives me a shy look. "You can do what with your claws?"

He gives me a shy smile in response.

"That's pretty cool," I clap him on the back, then ruffle his hair through his hat. "I'm impressed, Gold."

He puffs out his chest with pride, beaming at my compliment, something the other beastborn take heavy note of.

"Nik asked if you had the homes prepared?"

Gold's eyes widen as he makes an 'O' with his mouth, then takes off towards the homes, telling the others to follow, and they do.

"What was that about?" Nik asks.

"Gold told them they smell," I say. "And that the baths are amazing and proper, and they can use hot water. Did you talk with Big Flame about that?"

"Yeah," he nods. "He said that he'd talk with the Crystal of the System, as that should be enough time for him to recover enough power to do it again. Most beastborn alive today will be dead before there are a dozen more granted Access, but if the theory that the children of beastborn with Access will have Access turns out true, then it won't be an issue."

"Because beastborn," I conclude. "Would realize that it pays to work for the Crystals and start doing so as word spreads, and they'd even start mating with those who have Access to ensure their children did, if possible."

It would take many generations, but eventually, most or all beastborn would have Access, if the children of the ones who do end up with Access as well.

"Yes," Nik nods. "The main concern is that it won't be 'fast enough' for some of the factions of beastborn, meaning a resistance or rebellion would happen anyway."

"And that's why you've decided to hire beastborn as servants," I say. "Feeding them, clothing them, and treating them like people."

"Correct," he nods. "Rather than using beastborn as slaves, the Dark Order will treat them as servants, much as we would human servants. Those not within our employ will hear about it, and as word spreads, it'll help calm some, even encourage more to work for the Dark Order."

"Even if they later spread out to other bosses," I say. "It would help to relieve more of the tension, as they'd know they have allies among us."

"Exactly," Nik says. "Now-"

Gold comes running out of the house, butt-naked and soaking wet. He jumps up and down in front of me, his mind much too fast at the moment for me to make things out.

"Gold," I say. "One, you forgot to wrap yourself with a towel, two, you're thinking too fast for me to keep up."

Gold shrugs, but slows his thoughts down. The shrug was for the towel comment. Once a beastborn, always a beastborn, in that respect.

"Ah, okay," I pull out two decks of cards and hand them to him. "They're not waterproof, though, so no playing them in the bath."

He nods seriously, then runs back into the house.

"What was that about?" Nik asks.

"He wants to teach them numbers," I answer. "So he's going to teach them how to play Go Fish."

"Doesn't he still have issues with a couple of numbers?"

"They'll get corrected," I chuckle. "He can count just fine, too, so I'm sure some of the older ones will catch on quickly after he shows them that each card has the corresponding number in icons as well. Come on, Nik, let's go give Jackson that paper."

Nik and I start walking, and I can sense that he's feeling a little better about something. It isn't until we're almost to the more-populated part of Maelnor that I ask him about it.

"You're doing better than you were last night and when we first met this morning," he tells me. "For that, I'm happy, Zack."

"I'm still depressed," I say. "I lost my brother before even finding out we were related, then I end up dealing with two more pairs of brothers. I know Big Flame said the Fates don't exist, but still…"

I shake my head.

"Anyway," I say. "I guess there's nothing I can do about it, and interacting with Gold usually cheers me up. Thanks, Nik."

"You're welcome," he says. "I'm willing to bet Big Flame is the reason they showed up sooner, he probably figured it'd help cheer you up, too."

I most certainly did not tell them that there was no reason to delay until tonight and that the beastborn would get to see their hero sooner if they showed up then!

"Hero?" Nik asks.

"Big Flame, you just confirmed that you did."

Did not!

"Did too."

Did not!

"Did too!"

Did not!

"Did too!"

Did not!

"Did too!"

"Children!" Nik explodes, causing Big Flame and I to laugh as the Dark Knight blushes. "Sorry, Lord-Big Flame. I-"

That was funny! Big Flame giggles before his presence fades from our minds.

"Don't be so uptight with him," I tell Nik. "Remember, he's a lot more flexible than others. Haven't you learned that in your seventy centuries?

"You know how old I am," he smacks me in the back of the head. "What did he mean by 'their hero'? I know he was talking about you."

"The Nian," I say, and he understands immediately. "That apparently got to beastborn elsewhere."

"I wonder how?" He asks. "Not many knew about it, and I doubt Gold would've told other beastborn in town? Unless he's interacted with them without us realizing, but-"

"He probably has," I shrug. "It was why they were all staring at me. He seemed to get into that incident pretty fast. Come on, let's turn in the measurements, then you can show me the Chambers of Endless Monsters."