Kashi and Lunette followed the maid through the manor's beautiful hallways, through a flight of stairs, to the second floor, where they finally stopped in front of a large pair of ornate double doors.

A pair of guards stationed at the doorway cocked their heads in greeting and then proceeded to push the doors open, revealing a lavish, dining hall with a long white and rose-colored table at its center.

Kashi and Lunette walked into the hall, shocked to find that they were the last to arrive as everyone else was already seated. King Chu sat at the head of the table, with King Parissius and King Xafier seated at either side of him. Two seats were left open next to King Parissius, most likely intended for Kashi and Lunette.

Leila, Absalon, Jade, Stryke, and Larsial sat next to King Xafier in that order, whereas, Shadow, Miote, Syèl, Shokō, Asha, followed Kashi and Lunette's empty seats. Both Rosendun's and Aygorzi's ministers sat at the remaining seats following the Maggots.

Upon entering the room, Kashi's new look caught the eyes of all the Maggots present, leading to several thumbs-ups getting sent Lunette's way. If it were not for the solemnity of the royal dinner, there would have definitely been quite a few whistles and cheers.

Thankfully, King Parissius was eager to set the mood for the evening. The king took one look at Kashi and immediately shot to his feet clapping as he praised, "Ms. Lunette Falsetto, I never thought it possible to turn Kashi into a respectable gentleman." He mock-bowed as he continued, "I will forever be in awe."

Lunette barely had a chance to respond when King Xafier left his seat and walked up to Kashi. The dwarf clapped his hands around the daeben cheeks and exclaimed with a loud guffaw, "Never thought I'd get to see yer forehead. You look mighty proper. Wouldn't have recognized ya were it not for the beautiful lass." King Xafier beamed as he looked at Lunette and offered a bow, "Miss, you are a woman of miracles, if I've ever laid eyes on one."

With the ice officially broken, King Chu also rose from his seat and approached the couple. His aging lips cracked into a small smile as he confessed, "Earlier I doubted such a man could truly be the famed Kashi of the Hopeful Maggots. Now, he does look a man of import." The king winked at Lunette as he praised, "Truly, women do bring out the best in us ruddy men."

"Your Majesties, please do not tease me so," Lunette responded with an embarrassed chuckle. "All I did was give him a little makeover. The looks are all his."

King Parissius snorted as he glared at Kashi. "Who cares if the looks are his if he can only cover them in mud." Thrilled at the opportunity to put one over the daeben, he emphasized, "A diamond is only beautiful because it shines. Stick it in mud and no one will appreciate its value."

Kashi, meanwhile, snorted in reply and grumbled, "It's still diamond though," causing the room to erupt in raucous laughter at his expense. He intended to say something to get back his dignity, but a certain halben vampire suddenly showed up in front of him and pushed him to the side.

"Forget Kashi," prompted Syèl, and then asked he pointed at his curly hair which was securely tied into a ponytail, "Can I get a makeover too? I've got some ideas for this hair of mine."

"Ooh, me too," exclaimed Jade as she popped up beside the halben. "I've been stuck with this hairstyle since I got here! I need a change! Or, no wait. You might be busy. Where did you learn then? I need to get change this style! Also. That dress. By God, it's lovely! Who made it? Where? Do they take custom orders?"

Kashi could only stand off to the side as several Maggots surrounded Lunette, praising her fashion sense and her role in Kashi's makeover. The daeben shook his head, smiling to himself as he walked over to his chair and took a seat.

Opposite him, Leila flashed a small smile as she admired his new look, "You do look good. I should get Lunette to design all your clothes moving forward."

Kashi visibly shivered and tugged at his sleeves, "No way. I'm not wearing this outside this building."

"Why not? It looks good," Leila teased.

Kashi only snorted in reply, pleased when King Chu clapped his hands and guided everyone back to the table. The mood was warm and friendly as several maids approached the table with the first course. The Maggots and chiefs heaped praised on the chefs as they dug into the delicious food.

After a while of eating, King Chu looked at Kashi and asked, "So, Kashi. I am happy to have finally made your acquaintance after all this time. I have heard a lot about you."

"Not all bad I hope," joked Kashi as he looked up from his meal.

"No. No. Certainly not all bad. There was some good in the mix," replied King Chu, drawing a round of laughter and amused chuckles from the room.

Kashi smiled as he took a bite out of the scrumptious meat. He washed down the morsel with a cup of juice (he didn't like wine), and then looked at King Chu with a knowing smile. "I'm glad to hear that. Is there something you'd like to know? You look like you've had something on your mind for a while."

"Hehe, was it that obvious?" King Chu questioned as he placed his mug on the table. He took a long look at Kashi, a stern gaze in his eyes as he asked, "I wanted to meet the man behind the Hopeful Maggots for a long time, just to ask a single question." The hall turned silent as everyone paused to look at the king. "What is your end goal? What is it you want to achieve?"

Kashi paused, setting his fork down as he focused on King Chu. "Our end goal, is it?"

"No. Not the Hopeful Maggots' end goal," clarified King Chu. "Yours. As a man, what is it you want to have achieved by the end of your life. For some, it's glory, some it's love, and for many, wealth." King Chu gazed at the daeben with an amiable, but probing smile as he asked, "You can often surmise the measure of a man by what he hopes to achieve."

Kashi's lips spread in a light smile as he looked at King Chu. "What I hope to achieve... I suppose you could call it my dream?"

"Yes, your dream," King Chu agreed with a nod. "That is an apt way of putting it. What is your dream, Kashi?"

"My dream, huh?" Kashi's smile stiffened somewhat as he looked at the food on his plate. "Want to know the truth?" offered the daeben as he subconsciously tapped his fork against the food. The daeben turned to look at King Chu, his smile turning wry as he said, "I do not know what my dream is. I am at a stage in my life where I am still trying to figure out who I am as a person, let alone having some grand dream to aspire to." The daeben released a self-deprecating chuckle. "I hope that does not disappoint you."

King Chu shook his head, a bright smile on his face as he observed the daeben. "On the contrary, I find your answer to be quite refreshing. There are countless men and women who decide to pursue a grand idea without taking the time to master themselves first. Such people are often wont to give up when they find out they are not suited for that path after wasting countless precious years." King Chu's gaze narrowed slighly as he looked at Kashi. "You, on the other hand, are different. You have taken the time to explore what makes you, you before choosing your final destination. I applaud that."

"Thank you," Kashi replied with a somewhat forced smile. The daeben could not tell the truth. What dreams? Like he was allowed to have something like that. He was well aware of his own life expectancy. Having dreams would truly be foolish for someone like him.

Lunette, catching the strain in Kashi's smile, reached under the table and squeezed his arm in support.

Kashi looked at Lunette with a smile of appreciation, and then, with his mood reset, turned to King Chu and asked, "I sense deeper reasoning behind this question?"

"Mmm. There is one," confirmed King Chu with a nod. "I am curious. What makes a man undertake the path you've chosen to tread? Despite fierce opposition from every corner, you seem determined to usher in a new age of peace, even if it's through conquering other nations. That kind of zeal is quite uncommon. If you do not have a particular dream, may I ask what drives you? Could it be one of those quests, Summoned always talk about?"

Kashi froze for a moment, sending a stunned look at the King. Was that just an informed guess? If so, there was much more to this man than met the eye. However, more importantly, the daeben suddenly found himself stuck at the center of a crossroad in regards to King Chu's last question.

On the one hand, Kashi could lie, leaving King Chu none the wiser, or he could speak the truth, face the challenge head-on, and still steer the conversation towards victory.

Really, there was only one path the daeben was going to choose.

"Initially, it did start as a quest, yes," admitted Kashi with a nod. "Early on, I received a daunting task to somehow unify the entire continent under a single flag. Luckily, the quest isn't concerned with whose flag flies over the continent as long as I am instrumental in ensuring the final victor. I chose Rosendun's flag because her King happened to be a friend of mine, and for a long time, the quest was all that mattered." The daeben paused, hands tightening around his cup as he added, "However, somewhere along the line, things changed."

Kashi looked at the Maggots gathered around the table, a warm look in his eyes as he said, "I do not think there is an exact moment I can pinpoint to, but at some point, I found myself surrounded by people I could trust; Men and women I would happily go into battle with. People with unique and interesting train of thoughts which often differed from mine." The daeben wrung out a wry smile and then added, "Suddenly, it wasn't about the quest anymore. I just wanted to see how far we could go as a Guild." Kashi laughed, revealing with a light shrug, "To be honest, I have always preferred to do things on my own, which is why this feeling of relying on others is quite new and refreshing."

Kashi leaned back in his chair, revealing an embarrassed smile as he admitted, "So, yeah. If you ask what drives me right now, I'd say it's a desire not to disappoint those who are and have been watching and supporting me. If that makes sense..."

"Imagine that," Syèl mock-exclaimed from down the table as he stared at the daeben with a strange expression. "Little Kashi has grown into a man. Look at him confidently belting out sappy essays in public."

"Did I say I don't want to disappoint those watching me?" Kashi muttered with a teasing smile. "Clearly there are some exceptions to that rule."

"Ouch!" Syèl mock-winced and clutched his chest. "That was harsh, Cash. You shouldn't discriminate!"

King Chu laughed as he looked at Kashi and said, "A man who is loved by and motivated by his guild. The future is truly in good hands." The King gazed at a portrait of his wife that hung on the walls, a warm smile on his face as he advised the daeben, "Listen. As long as you do not lose that pure heart of yours, your guild will always prosper. Do not let success taint your perception of you comrades later in life. It will only lead to disaster."

"You do not have to fear that with Kashi," Leila teased with a fraction of a smile at the corner of her lips. "He doesn't stay around the guild long enough to have an idea of how successful or not we are, nor would he care really if he knew. Kashi has many vices, but pride luckily is not one of them."

"Hah! That's good to hear!" exclaimed King Chu with a happy grin, after which, the King then looked at Kashi and said, "I am—"

Bam!

Before King Chu could finish his address, the dining hall's doors busted open. The loud noise attracted all eyes to the doorway where a beautiful, but disheveled red-haired beautiful woman stood, eyes rapidly scanning through the room.

"Ling-er, are you not going to greet our guests!?" King Chu heavily reprimanded, cheeks red with embarrassment at his daughter's rude behavior.

"Oh? What's that?" Chu Ling muttered absent-mindedly as she glanced at her father. Luckily, despite not actively listening, she had subconsciously paid attention to her the king's voice – a result of his hardball training methods when she was a child. Realizing her error, Chu Ling immediately clasped her hand to her chest and offered a short bow as she said, "Chu Ling, daughter of King Chu Tianjo, ruler of Serisis welcomes you all to this beautiful land. I apologize for my rude manners, but there is a matter that requires urgent attention."

Leila, instantly deducting the most likely reason Chu Ling was here, shot up from her chair. "Is the Orc with you?"

"No," Chu Ling stated with a shake of her head. "He's outside. We cannot risk bringing him into the manor without confirming how toxic he is, and the chances of his poison being spread onto others."

"Wise call," Leila praised and then turned to Kashi with a stern look in her eyes. "It's your turn. Are you certain you're up for it?"

Kashi looked at Leila with a confident smile. "These kind of situations are much more up my alley." The daeben rose to his feet, and then said to King Chu with an apologetic smile, "My apologies, Your Majesty. I must take my leave. It would seem my services are required."

"It is of no concern," King Chu assured with a wave of his hand. "This has been a productive dinner already. I am glad we were able to have this conversation." He then turned to Chu Ling and said, "You will report when this is concluded, I trust?"

Chu Ling nodded once more and then turned to look at Kashi and Lunette, "Please, hurry. It seems there was a complication with the orc's condition. He's far worse than our shaman initially prescribed."

Kashi bade Lunette goodbye, excused himself from the dining hall once more, and then left the room with Leila and Chu Ling. The daeben cast a curious glance at Chu Ling as they rushed down the hallway, intrigued by the half-midi.

Chu Ling felt his gaze and asked as she looked over her shoulder, "What's the matter?"

"Excuse me," Kashi apologized. "It's just I haven't seen many half-beastmen around. It's fascinating."

"No surprise there," Chu Ling replied with a nod. "Inter-species relations is still heavily frowned upon, and there's also the fact that most beastmen are incapable of reproducing with other species. My sister and I are a very rare case."

"Oh, wow," Leila murmured in adoration. "Was there any particular reason, or just a miracle?"

Chu Ling shrugged, revealing an unsure expression. "I am not sure," she admitted. "I heard my mother found a herb while exploring the Forever Sea that increased the chances. But there was no confirmation as she was the only case." The princess revealed a rare bitter smile as she expanded, "My mother was trying to find ways to make beastmen more appreciated in the continent. She figured if there were as many half-beastmen as there were half-elves, then relations between the races would improve."

"I hear she passed," Leila murmured in a soothing tone. "She sounds like a real visionary. I'm sorry."

Chu Ling shook her head. "There is no proof she passed. She never returned after returning to the Forever Sea to once again seek out and study the herb. Legends say the Forever Sea is endless with countless islands. She might have gotten stuck somewhere. Someday, when I've settled all my royal duties, and ensured Serisis is stable, I'll venture out myself and find her."

"Exploring the Forever Seas?" Kashi asked with a smile. "Make sure to call me when you're ready. Or who knows, I might be the one who ends up calling you."

"Oh?" Chu Ling happily exclaimed as she looked at Kashi. "You're the adventurous type?"

"You could say that," Kashi replied with a laugh. "Though I think Paris might even be more of a rogue than I am. You should take him with you."

Chu Ling laughed as they approached the manor's entrance. "Paris was a restless soul as a Prince. I wonder if he's still got that adventurous streak with the weight of the crown on him."

Leila chuckled as she advised, "Give him a valid reason to ditch the capital and you'll find out soon enough."

"Hehe, I'll keep that in mind," Chu Ling stated as they walked through the main doors. She led the duo to an abandoned barn at the outskirts of the compound, where they saw a massive, intimidating orc, the beautiful Chu Ming and a herbalist standing over an unconscious, frighteningly skinny orc, and a traditionally short dwarf.

Chu Ming's brows were matted with sweat as she struggled to maintain a healing bubble around the unconscious Durst, while the herbalist rapidly poured prepared concoctions into Durst's mouth with an aim to slow down the corruption of the orc's internal organs.

Chu Ling quickly carried out introductions between the Maggots and the rescue party, before making way for Kashi.

Chu Ming, the herbalist, Rudega and Ragnaf stared at the daeben with suspicion and wonder. They could not help but wonder how this daeben could salvage the situation. Unfortunately, they were out of options. They could only accept whatever help they got.

Kashi reacted to the disbelieving gazes with a smile. He raised his hand, and a portal appeared in front of him, out of which stepped a clearly discontent Rayatha Thorn.

"I was on the verge of a breakthrou—" Rayatha started to complain, but then spotted Durst on the ground. A brief sniff of the air alerted the druid to the orc's severe condition. Looking at Kashi, he asked, "Is he the orc you were asking me about?"

Kashi nodded. "Are you confident?"

Rayatha snorted. "A few days ago, this might have been impossible. Now," he said as he pulled out some vials from his inner coat. "Now, this can serve as a fine test for my Blight-infused antidote..."

A/N: Sorry it's been a while since the last upload. I'm done with Masters and I've been preparing to go back home. Lots of shopping, meeting with councilors and all that good graduation stuff :)

Thank you all for being with me this whole time. Now, I can finally pour 110% into pushing my career forward. Remember to subscribe to my Youtube Channel: Renoe_K, where I plan on posting daily topics surrounding anime, gaming, and movies I enjoy.

Love y'all!!!