Gideon's eyes were puffy as he finished crying.

"Y-Young Master, do you want to go back to the Kingdom?" He asked the man who was sitting beside him.

Pier looked at their surroundings.

It was peaceful, it was calming.

"Yes."

That one answer was full of conviction.

"I still have many things to do back at the kingdom," He answered.

Pier Belmiunde's anger, the main reason why he wanted to go back to the kingdom.

He could not just sit around when he felt what the original Pier did when he was wronged by the world.

He owed this another chance of life to the original Pier. He could at the very least return the suffering Pier had experienced to those who made him feel like that.

He wasn't being hypocritical.

He could not pretend that he did not want to just let things go and make everything proceed on its supposed path.

"Then... are we going to go back tomorrow?" Gideon asked.

"No. I still need to help the people here," He spoke and Gideon's suspicions were once more ignited.

"There's more? Young master, they're not human at all!" He warned Pier.

He knew that they weren't human when he saw the cloaked stranger's eyes glow red.

It was even further confirmed when he saw the stranger change himself into another creature.

"I know," However, it was a different response from what he had expected.

"Then..."

"That person. He helped me get away from the kingdom," Pier spoke as he pushed his hair back with his hands as he laid on the ground fully.

His body was still aching in random places and his head was still hurting.

He could only pat Gideon's head as the knight cried. He could not move too much.

"How..."

"I guess you already know what the Crown Prince had said," He spoke as he laid his arm on the top of his head.

The shining stars were giving him comfort and the moonlight was providing him serenity.

"Is it true...?"Gideon wanted to assure the Crown Prince's statements coming from his master.

"That Prince Asher asked you to be..."

"It is. He did ask me to be his concubine," Pier chuckled as he remembered the time when Asher begged him to stay and become his concubine.

"Young master-"

"It's fine," Pier spoke as he closed his eyes and allowed himself to indulge the cold air.

"I was upset, of course. How could he ask me to be his concubine? Does he think I am some sort of disposable material that he can just claim anytime he wants to?" He laughed as he spoke the words.

A frown immediately made its way on Gideon's forehead as he heard the confirmation.

"That's why I went on my way to get out of the kingdom and he helped me," He lied.

It was partially true though. He did plan on getting out of the kingdom after becoming legal and going on the journey that he planned.

But instead, he was abducted by a vampire and was brought into one of the most dangerous mountains in the Eastern Continent.

"Then... is the young master doing a favor in return for helping you get out of the kingdom?" Gideon asked and Pier laughed at his knight's way of thinking.

"That's correct. We're almost done here, Gideon. After that, let's go back to the kingdom," Pier spoke and a chilly breeze flew past them.

"What is the next thing you need to do here, young master?" He asked.

He was worried for Pier.

The noble had been living his life in luxury for all of his life and he was worried Pier would not be able to adjust to a place like the mountains if he decided to stay here a bit longer.

He wanted to help Pier finish the goal that the young master had in mind so he would be able to accompany Pier back to the kingdom.

"On the fifth mountain, there is a glowing stone at the top which they have said was the cause of the irregularities happening in the monsters," Pier explained and Gideon listened carefully.

"Then..."

"That's correct. They needed my ice magic to destroy the glowing stone," He spoke and another question popped up in Gideon's mind.

"H-How did the young master acquire ice magic?" Gideon asked and Pier realized it too.

"After I performed on the Crown Prince's celebration, it just started to form and it fully manifested the day after I got out of the kingdom," He explained.

"Is that why the young master's hair turned white?" Gideon was curious as to how Pier's hair had become white.

It suited the young master perfectly.

'Not that the young master would look bad in other hair colors because everything suits him!' He protested in his mind.

"The man who brought me here said that is the case." Gideon's eyebrows furrowed again.

"Young master... what are they?" He asked Pier and the young master opened his eyes at the question.

He turned his head to look at Gideon while he was still lying down on the ground.

Their eyes met and he saw what was in the knight's eyes.

"I want you to follow whatever I say after knowing the truth," Pier spoke and Gideon did not hesitate to nod his head.

"Of course, young master! My loyalty belongs to you alone!" He spoke and Pier sighed.

He knew he could trust Gideon but he was hesitant to reveal Ciaran and the other members of Nightfall's identity.

However, even if he did try to keep it, Gideon's curiosity would only get the best of him since he had already seen Ciaran's wolf form and dark magic.

"The man who brought me here, he is a vampire."

Gasp!

'Haaah' He sighed when he heard Gideon's audible gasp.

"A... vampire?" Gideon had his eyes widened and his hands found their way on his sword.

Veins started to show as he clutched the handle of his sword and he was itching to remove it from its sheathe to battle the monster who tried to take the young master from him.

"Remove your hand from the sword." He followed Pier's orders. Gideon's hands left the handle of his sword and returned to his side.

He bowed his head as he gritted his teeth in anger.

"Y-Young Master... they are creatures of the dark... they kill humans for food!" He said with a hint of anger and worry in his voice.

How could he not be angry when such dangerous and cunning creatures were surrounding his young master?

And if he were to judge it himself, the man whom he had fought with for hours was strong enough to even take on an expert swordsman head on!

"I know, but they needed my help," Pier spoke as he returned his head in looking up at the sky again.

"Every creature needs a home to live, Gideon. They may be beings who came from the dark and had thirsted for blood but they still needed their homes," He explained but Gideon was not convinced.

"The monsters on the mountains were threatening their place and if I did not help them, their small village would have been destroyed already," Pier spoke lightly as he reached his hand in the air.

"I am simply repaying my gratitude for the man helping me get out of the kingdom and letting me breathe even for a short moment," Pier spoke as he smiled and remembered Ciaran's cold-looking face.

"But... they did not do anything bad to you, right, young master?" Gideon asked. His voice was now void of anger but it was full of worry instead.

He knew that the young master could be compassionate at times. He knew that Pier could not resist helping people who are in need.

However, he did not know that his young master was like this.

Someone willing to stay in a place where he was alone and was surrounded with creatures who can kill him at any moment just so he could help them.

"Getting out of the kingdom and seeing new views, that was enough reason for me to help them in return," Pier smiled as a single drop of tear rolled down from his eyes.

He was starting to get emotional again.

He liked the view

He liked the new scenery

He liked the thrill of having new experiences

He liked it where instead of masking himself with fake expressions and fake praises with other people, he was genuine and truthful with himself.

Though he did constantly cover his face with the cloak Ciaran had given him, not even once did he feel he was covering his identity to the entire world.

He felt like he could breathe.

He felt free.

Experiencing the suffocating atmosphere at the kingdom where each and every one of his actions is being monitored took a toll on him.

It was just like his life back as Eliam, as a prodigy who had no freedom.

He was tired of the constant restrictions placed on him.

That's why he wanted to relieve his suffering and when the opportunity came, he was so grateful to those who aided him that he was willing to help them even if it meant that any time, he could have died.

He was thankful for Ciaran in helping him experience liberty even just for more than a month.

"They helped me find serenity when I was in chaos," He spoke.

Gideon understood his master's sentiments.

He could not do anything if that's what his master had desired in the first place.

All he could do now was protect his young master.

"Please don't worry, young master. You're not alone in this place anymore!" He spoke as if to cheer the emotional Pier beside him.

It was successful.

Pier laughed lightly as his fingers wiped away the tears that were falling from his eyes.

"Thank you, Gideon," He spoke and the knight smiled widely.

"I will never leave the young master's side anymore. Where you go shall be my place too," He spoke and Pier chuckled.

"Haha, that's very nice of my knight now, isn't it?" He spoke as he half got up and faced Gideon.

"You're still the same as ever, Gideon, you're too kindhearted," Pier spoke as he ruffled Gideon's hair.

The knight blushed as he saw his master's smiling face.

There were still tears on the edge of the young master's eyes but his laugh made everything perfect.

"You're my home, young master," He spoke and Pier's eyebrows both raised.

"Really?"

"Yes," He smiled and Pier also shared the same bright smile his knight had.

"Thank you for understanding, Gideon," He spoke as he fully stood up from sitting on the ground.

Gideon followed suit but he felt that the air was still chilly even though the sky had been revealed to them now.

He removed the red cape that he was wearing and he offered it to Pier.

"Please keep yourself warm, young master," He spoke as he unfolded the cape and he proceeded to go behind Pier tie the cape around the young master's shoulders.

"Is it okay for me to have your cape, Mister Knight?" Pier asked as he tilted his head slightly to the right so Gideon can see the cape correctly tied.

"You're the reason I have this cape, young master. You have all the rights to take what's mine," He whispered as he focused on tying the cape on Pier's shoulders.

Once it was done,

"I feel like I am some sort of royalty who's walking towards the throne," Pier joked as he started to walk in an ascending landscape.

Gideon watched as his master walked towards the edge of a ground that haven't been destroyed by Pier's wind magic.

He watched silently as Pier had a calm look on his face while he trailed the path towards the upper ground. His white hair contrasted the dark and cold surroundings and the cape tied on his back followed perfectly.

Even while only wearing a shirt, rugged-looking pants, and a red cape, Pier still looked marvelous.

The clothes he wore did not lessen the beauty he possessed.

It was just like Gideon had remembered, the unmatchable beauty his master stood out.

Pier's pale face

Tall frame

The not-so black hair anymore

and his blue, captivating eyes that speak a thousand words when you look at them.

"Perfect," He whispered under his breath.

Once Pier was fully at the top of the elevated ground, his ice sword manifested on his hand and he pointed it at the horizon.

"When we get back to the kingdom, I shall let my existence be known once more!"

"I shall continue constructing my name in the records of the world,"

"I shall create a place where my enemies shall bend their knees,"

"I shall forge my name upon the torch of success!"

He spoke playfully

However, the person watching him from below thought otherwise.

Gideon was proud, he was astonished, he was amazed.

He knew that his young master would achieve the things he had just said.

"Then will you allow your knight to accompany you by your journey towards success, young master?" Gideon asked as he kneeled on the ground and looked up at the bright, shining star standing at the top.

He held his sword while he bowed his head.

It looked like a scenario where a truthful and loyal knight was bowing his head to the sovereign he served.

Pier laughed loudly as Gideon went along with him.

"Come, my knight. Let us battle our way until safe haven is in our grasp!"

It was the reunion of the master and his knight.

Gideon Woodlock, the personal knight of the successor from the House of Masters had found his calm and peace again.

He found Pier

His shelter and his comfort

His home