Sloan Verne has always been slightly conflicted all his life. It was not that he was not grateful. He didn't necessarily hate being among the 10 possibly to have the spot of the King when he comes of age. He found it useful that he was gaining combat prowess and war knowledge even in a peaceful era and it was certainly interesting at times.

It was just that there was a... certainty with the stuff he was doing, as if he was destined with it. As if it was preordained, for most of the children of the wolfmen to be a certain type. Strong, cold, ruthless... a soldier, and especially for the people who are destined to be king.

But shouldn't there be options? Shouldn't there be something else waiting for him in the wings? Shouldn't he be free to choose whatever he liked?

That was the doubt, the question that had always lingered in his mind but then, someone said:

"Huh? Why are you thinking so much like that? We are still kids, you know? Don't you want something more out than just that?"

It was Zelda, who he had been hanging out after he saw her did something questionable with an invention that will never be spoken about. Afterwards, with their first hang out with someone so freeing, reckless and open which refreshed Sloan in so many ways, he had hung out with her many times going back and forth their countries, into adventures after about a year later that they found themselves under a huge tree after a grind with monsters throughout a forest.

When they were resting below the tree, Zelda praised Sloan for his battle prowess and Sloan played it down, in turn praising Zelda and saying that it was because he was among the 10 destined to battle for king of his country when he came of age. Sometimes, he still didn't like that but he started learning to live with it. He had expected Zelda to go off the tangent and say how awesome that was and a bunch of praises. He was surprised by the statement she gave out to him, so the only response he could give out was "What?"

"Oh, did I open my big mouth and said something insensitive? Sorry," Zelda quickly apologize.

One thing about Zelda is that she also speak aloud her thoughts without thinking much about what the other party thought. It wasn't that she was insensitive or mean spirited, it was that she lacked a filter, much like she did with her actions. Which was the reason for such a reckless and rash personality, but Sloan had been helping Zelda rein in and she had been trying but there are times she can slip like this.

"No... I'm just surprised. Why would you say something like that?" Sloan asked.

Over the short years of his life, he had met a lot of people, wolfmen, elves, humans, fairies and demons... and from simple acquaintance to being friends, whenever they hear about his destiny, they were always at awe and congratulate him. This was the first time someone didn't, instead saying similarly to 'Is that it? Don't you want more?' Something that he thought to himself all the time.

"I mean..." Zelda said, abashed as she rubbed her neck and then continued, "The future you spoke for yourself is great... but we are kids right now. Shouldn't we enjoy childhood much longer? You shouldn't let what's coming to you affect how you are going to live now. Don't you want to explore the world, keep an open mind, enjoy the unknown?"

... Yes... Yes... Sloan wanted that very much. Maybe that's why he spent a lot of time with Zelda. Maybe that's why he was having those little adventures.

"I don't know about you, but I don't really care about the future. I just want to live in this moment... and enjoy it. Sure I guess you have your responsibilities and sooner or later, I will have my own, but they don't define your life. There's no reason not to do what you have to and what you want at the same time. ...Yeah, that's what I will do when I grow up and become forced to do something I don't wanna, if my parents want me to... Haha," Zelda said, now laying on the grass and looking up the sky.

Sloan lied down next to Zelda as she mused, "The sky sure is limitless. I want to be like that too. Don't you?"

Sloan was still processing Zelda's words by then, looking at the endless blue sky dotted with clouds as he smiled.

"Yes," Sloan said, "I do too."

He had his duty but that doesn't define his life.

He should have realized that sooner. Sloan was overthinking it. Just because something in his life is preordained does not mean that the rest of it is...

***

That doesn't make him any less conflicted in the years to come. Sure Sloan tried to search for something that he wanted to do, but his duties have restricted it further, the missions given in order to stay true to the kingship to be and encouraged by his parents.

In the end, Sloan had become quite listless in the line of duty, the act of a soldier becoming king. It's an honor but he didn't want it. He wanted something else, he wanted to find that something else and become limitless as the sky, but he just couldn't find it.

Sloan doesn't throw a tantrum or complain about it as it's unbecoming, but there was still a certain sense of annoyance in doing these stuff. After all, he was still a child, but he was still forced to do such things, keeping him up his toes via his parent's expectations of being a child of the elite, a potential person to kinghood. It was all too much to ask of a child, even if most, curious and in love with the idea of power, would do anything for it.

Sloan just wasn't like them, wanting a better life than just power. But still, he can't turn down the obligation, as his sense of filial piety to his parents go, for they raised and expected and he reciprocated, although he completes the simple missions that train him in nearly monotone and callous tone.

Even if it was annoying, he still didn't hate it. Maybe the better word was that he was slowly being fed up with it. It's kinda like studying. Some students don't hate studying nor like it. They just find it an obligation to do so and there were no feelings toward it, but every so often they get frustrated, annoyed or bored. That's exactly what Sloan felt. An obligation with no enjoyment, no sense, no motivation.

Until the Lust Choker.

When it was uncovered, the King and his commanders feared it, in due to it's history and the Savagery. Thanks to that, and no repeating of history, they tasked Sloan to guard it. He thought it would be mundane, boring just like all his other tasks... until Zelda interfered.

In actuality, Zelda had interfered in his duties at times when they concern more than just wolfmen and Sloan stopped her every time, because it was his duty and he had to finish it alone. Whenever he asked why, she simply answered:

"I just want to help you, after all the times you have helped me."

Sloan was oddly touched by this, but the one thing with his duty, with his tasks to grind him for kingship, to stay at the top... not for himself, just because basically and his parents but once again... obligation, all of it had to be done by himself. Still:

"You have helped me enough."

Even if he didn't exactly find something definite he wanted out of his life, his time with Zelda was irreplaceable filled with a vague want that fulfilled him in many ways his duties did not. Her presence helped him, and that was enough.

Unfortunately, Zelda was not simply satisfied with that, and well... things came one after another. The robbery, kidnap, involvement, Beast and the prophecy... and then the Savagery making their move with Zelda of all people!

As a friend for years, he knew Zelda. So he wasn't exactly surprised to see her sneaking out at night. Especially after everything that happened...

'I just want to help you.'

Sloan, as a soldier aiming king whether he liked it or not, became proficient at reading people which was a useful tool during his tasks and adventure involving people when it came down to simple information fishing and helping the distressed after a monster attack.

Because he knew Zelda, coupled with his proficiency to read people especially her... he didn't stop her. Knowing her recklessness, he decided to help her. Because not only it was what she wanted, it was something that could help get the Lust Choker back and finally deal with the Savagery. Which concocted a plan.

Which finally brought forth to the day where he was now being stared down by Ash Tempest, the son of vice president for this 'folly', with his other friends as to why he let such a thing.

Truthfully, on the surface he never knew why. Deep down, it was because duty and want intersected and it was becoming less of an annoyance, something motivating that he maybe done it.

***

So he explained to all them, about everything right down to the details of the plan after Zelda left.

"It's been a week ever since and all I have been waiting is for her signal. The moment I can ambush them, save Zelda and bring in reinforcements," Sloan continued after explaining Zelda's flight and why he involved himself instead of dissuading her.

Ash was completely enraged, Alex looked confused, John's stare bore holes into Sloan and Ro was simply thoughtful as if processing this whole situation.

The one who spoke, take action, was Ro herself. It did not surprise Sloan as once something gets going, she's the type to take action immediately so to damage control the entire situation and get the immediate results before anything else could happen. That's what she did during that discussion with Black Blood, quick and direct.

Like she was doing now.

"Since we are already involved with this, let's help you. The more people, the less likely of failure. So what can we do with you, and don't you dare say you don't need our help."

John and Alex nodded. Ash spat out:

"I can't believe you let Zelda do something so stupid but it can't be helped. Because it involves her, I will help out too. But never again Verne, you got me?"

Unsurprising. The prejudice of elves and wolfmen have gone way back. Some people cling to it still.

In the end, he told them the finer points of his plan and when the day came, it went like this:

'First, we have to shadow the place Zelda was staying via tracker.'

This time was an inn in Kingdom Kyogre, where Sloan, John, Alex, Ro and Ash headed when nighttime arises.

"Then, what do we do after that?" Ash had demanded.

'Second... we would wait for Zelda's signal while they keep track of the in and outs of the inn, but do nothing until the signal is given.'

Sloan had watched many shady people coming in and out of the places during some of those recon, but didn't do anything even if they were possible Savagery. Just like now, as he stopped Ash from doing anything reckless when he noticed the same shady people.

"But those are definitely Zelda's kidnappers! And you are telling us to let them go?" Ash demanded.

"We attack them now, but we don't get the Beast. It's not worth it," Sloan said blankly, already going to work mode in these types of situations.

"Hmm... but at least get their faces so we can identify them if they ever escape," John commented.

"You don't think I have done that?" Sloan asked, proficient with this from a few mistakes and quickly correcting them during such missions.

"Of course I did, but they aren't eager to show their faces. Always in cloaks, they are," Sloan said. Ash grumbled about that, but it still stands that there was nothing to be done. And then he said:

"I hope today's the day something happens," Ash continued grumbling, "The republic won't stand for the fact that Zelda is missing any longer. After all, the President wants her back and when he finds out..."

Yes, those consequences are quite dire. Even if... no, especially that Zelda threw herself in this, who knows what the President would even think or do...

So, hopefully, something happens soon before this ruse would inevitably be found out.

That wish was eventually granted, when an explosion happened and a wall was busted down.

"And that's our signal," Sloan cued, and everyone nodded, time to carry out that part of the plan which was already run through in Zelda's room hours ago.

'When a signal... something big, loud and give us an entrance to Zelda, comes, we call in the authorities as we all bust into that entrance, quickly save Zelda and try to knock out as much of the enemy as possible. If not, at least distract them until help arrives. Whatever happens, we will have to lie why, like we were in the area and it was a happy coincidence or something. Just follow my lead.'

Exactly what they did, although Ash was reluctant. Calling the nearest CB station about an explosion and they should arrive quickly, giving the location, but they will be there half an hour tops so they have to stall as long as possible...

Zelda fell into Sloan's arms and as the rest tried to knock down the wolfmen one by one with every shock advantage they had left. Considering their priority was first and foremost the Beast, second the Savagery although they did picture the faces as such to send to the rightful authorities.

Anyway, once John and Alex knocked down the two that were pinning down the Beast, that's where things went wrong.

The Beast was a real feisty one although he couldn't be taller than any of the rest of them, still trashing and still wanting to be free.

"Ugh..." Alex said, "Help us!"

Sloan has his hands full of piggybacking Zelda while fending off the wolfmen. Same with Ro and Ash, but...

Immediately, Ro set an ice wall between herself and the wolfmen as she rushed toward the Beast who was growling at her all of a sudden.

Sloan didn't know what happened afterwards. Neither did anyone else, but there was a bright flash and suddenly both Ro and the Beast went unconscious.

"What... what do we do?" John asked, now panicking at the sudden turn of events. Even if Sloan was surprised, the hardcore training of a soldier despite his young age was the only thing keeping him a cool head and shouting orders.

"We have done what we came for!" Sloan shouted, "Someone, carry Ro! Now, everyone, get out!"

"You think we will let you?" A cloaked wolfman growled out, and Sloan knew that their only hope was that the authorities came through. A bit more time... Sloan was sure, and they are home free.

"We can try," Sloan barked back, and he could sense the cloaked wolfman grinning, as if it was simply a courageous ruse. Then, the wolfman spoke slowly...

"Sloan Verne..." the wolfman said, "You are going to regret interfering with us and helping this elf scum. Give us the Beast and we will overlook this once when we get in power."

"You seem pretty confident that you are going to get what you want," Sloan said, prolonging the conversation.

"I will take that as a no? You won't give the Beast?" The wolfman suddenly directed. Sloan wondered... could he know about his stalling?

"And what if I gave up the Beast? I know about the Lust Choker, but it's ancient history. Do you really hope to resurrect what happened all those centuries ago?"

Wickedness somehow seeped into the wolfman's voice as he said, "Its certainly possible but it's such a shame that you won't see it soon. I see that you have no intention of handing over the Beast. We were actually merciful to give you one chance but we will just take him from you by force just the way we love it!"

And immediately, the wolfmen already started running towards them, most toward Alex who was currently carrying the Beast.

No... Sloan can't let his duty fail.

He shielded Alex, did everything he could.

Until one aimed at Zelda and immediately Sloan dodged it. Now worried for Zelda.

Because he can't let anything happened to Zelda and the others...

And for the first time, his duty became personal, like it mattered, but...

Slash.