The Griffonstone Serenity Gardens is a place where the nobles of griffon society go to have a leisurely safe and not have a care in the world nor have to worry about their troubles. That and from what I have seen it is also a place where nobility have their little chats with double speak and underlying threats all the while looking like happy friends to the public.

Designed and built by the first griffon king after his reign has been secured, this garden district was a sign of the prosperity and future he sought for his kingdom, a symbolic symbol that all within his domain will enjoy peace and harmony with their fellow griffons and that all will share in the bounty of the kingdom's coffers and treasures. Now, it is still a symbol that the first king designed, but now it has a second meaning, a place for the nobility to frolic and enjoy themselves. Sure, the peasantry also come here on occasion, but it is mostly the nobles and their families.

The paths were made out of marble bricks tightly packed together in place with the most minimal amount of grout or cement to hold it all together to make it appear seamless, flowers of rich and beautiful hues intermixed with one another for beauty factor, hell, they even had specially designed and crafted hedges to look like griffons from the heroic age and fountains of marble and gold filigree!

Walking through the park I soon found an empty bench well away from the other benches and griffons so I can think in peace.

‘Serenity now. Peace of mind, just think of happy thoughts and let the stress fall from my shoulders.’

Sitting on a bench in the park in the noble district I let out a sigh of middling relief as I looked at the passing griffon lords and ladies walking by, some of them with their children as I waved and nodded at them, a few of them even returned the gesture which raised my hopes that these nobles can learn to treat those beneath their station as equals instead of rabble to be tread upon. Even though I am now considered a ‘noble’, I am considered a low-born noble who was elevated to the position by the king, which naturally means I am 'New Money' while the rest of these griffons are 'Old Money', if I am translating medieval lingo to modern lingo correctly.

It has been barely a day since I returned to Griffonstone after leaving it months ago to fulfill my king’s request, and in that time, it was apparently all it took for both Gilda and Greta to figure themselves out and agree to consummate our love for each other by waiting to ambush me at the height of their heat cycle. Now don’t get me wrong I loved every second of it, but now I am somewhat worried that I may or may not be biologically compatible with them and that I may or may not have just knocked them up to kingdom come.

And while a part of me has been yearning to finally have a family, have a kid or two, and raise them right and proper so they don’t end up like a little hellion that winds up getting killed by some punk who they pissed off or by some higher ranked noble who they slighted, another part of me is ungodly worried that they will either be a stillborn because of the sheer difference in our biological makeup or that when they are born that they may be a horrifying twisted amalgamation that is begging for death. Or even worse than that, it turns out that me being human results in creating some sort of 'super griffon' that is far better than the baseline griffons are in every way possible, and someone finds out about this and has me captured and strapped to a bed and be extracted of my seed for the end of my days for their super soldier army.

As these thoughts and worries ring and bounce within my head, the somewhat loud din of happy griffon families and political intrigue of the nobility slowly fades away into the background as it gets replaced with the hustle and bustle of griffon squawks and words of the citizenry.

That is not even stating the fact that I am a knight of the realm, I very may well be sent out on a task that can probably end in my death and leave them without me. There are times where I fear that my random chances of dodging death may run dry and the next fight I get in will result in me being ran through and left bleeding to death on the ground or my head being caved in to a pulpy mess.

And don’t even get me started on the fact that by taking into account the repercussions of bringing the knowledge and technology of humanity onto this world. Small and minor things like techniques and methods of improving yields for agricultural and industrial production may just get me asked on how it’s done by foreigners, but if I were to introduce far more sophisticated weaponry and machinery… other nations may seek to silence me to ensure that Griffonia stays weakened and vulnerable. I may have had some thoughts on introducing the ideas on either airships (which is just a boat with a hot-air balloon lifting it up and propellers by the rudder to give it thrust), cars (I have no idea how to make one nor got any files nor blueprints on those, just pictures of cars that I wished I would one day own), and tanks (same thing as cars so that is a no go), but what I can say that since this world has magic I am sure there is a workaround or an alternative means of producing and creating humanities greatest ideas.

'I would fucking love a god damn toaster right about now, so tired of cooking my bread on a skillet to toast it. Or waffles, waffles would be so awesome right about now.'

So, as I sit upon this bench with my thoughts running rampant with worry and fear of the future for both myself, I realize that I was no longer in the park nor was I even outside.

Instead, I found myself to be sitting on a wooden bench alone in the very front row of what looked like three statues, beautifully carved from solid slabs of marble and designed by master artisans, almost lifelike in nature and surrounded by burning and burnt-out candles. The low tones of words being chanted caught my attention as I saw several griffons on my left, all of them wearing white-ish beige robes, kneeling in prayer at an alter depicting a griffon wearing what looked like chainmail and wielding a warhammer in their talons. Turning to my right I saw even more rows of empty pews, a few more alters depicting brave griffon warriors in various poses and stances, all of them armed with some weapon or with just their claws out, my guess they were important knights and warriors of the realm that have been idolized by the people. And then finally I looked up and saw the griffon-equivalent of the Sistine Chapel and nearly fell over in surprise at what my eyes were seeing.

Row upon row of beautifully painted works of art dot the ceiling, history of the griffon people was laid out before me in mosaic patterns and swirls of color that I could never hope to comprehend, I had originally thought that all of their history was lost to time and from what I was told when Discord was unleashed upon the world and made books either fly away or had the letters on them disappear. But it would seem that I was wrong, the griffons do know their own history and that their past was preserved at least in some fashion, but how much of it is true and not embellished though is another matter.

“Excuse me my wayward child, but may I sit here for a moment?” The voice said in a low, elderly, yet kind and caring tone, a voice I did not recognize as I lifted my head to look up at them.

I was expecting some noble's grandparent to be standing there to ask me for the bench so that they and their spouse can rest here, or even better, a young couple asking me to relocate so that they can commune and pray to their gods to see if their relationship will work out in their favor.

What I was not expecting to see out here was the Archon of Boreas himself to be standing in front of me with a warm, gentle smile on his beak.

Giving a startled gasp of surprise I scooted over to the right I nodded at the elderly griffon. “Of course, Archon Eros, you can sit here. I’d just be on my wa- “I said and as I was about to leave and say my goodbye to the head of the holy order, but he raised a talon to stop me.

“There is no need for that my child, nor is there any need to leave. I wish to share some words with you, if that is alright with you.” Eros says this as he slowly sits himself down onto the bench, his advanced age clearly showing as I hear the sounds of muscles lightly popping over the sounds of feathers being ruffled.

“No, no, it’s no trouble at all.” I said as the old griffon continued to smile as his two papal guards moved into position on either side of the bench.

Watching the elderly griffon walk over and sit down I noticed that he was moving a bit slower since I last saw him. My guess is that his age is catching up with him or that his old bones is just aching from moving a little more than normal. Or it’s just the weather forcing him to be more careful as to not agitate his muscles and bones.

“So, my child, what thoughts and ruminations ails you?” Eros said as I sat up a little straighter, the old bird seemingly knowing that I was in deep thought, or at the very least knew that something was troubling me.

“How did you-“ I started to ask him how he knew but he cut me off by raising a talon at me.

“My child, I’ve been alive on this earthly plane for far longer than most griffons have been around. You have been in a contemplative state when I first cast my gaze upon you from the other side of the cathedral. Something deep is troubling you, something that has you afraid and unsure of your life. Whatever that is ailing you, I wish to hear it, maybe this old saint can lend assistance to this matter?” Eros said as he spread out his wings a bit and flapped them before rebalancing himself on the bench and turned himself to face me.

Letting out a sigh before slowly lowering my head to gaze at the ground beneath us I simply stared at the bricked pathway beneath my boots and started to wonder just what exactly had been eating at my soul as of late.

‘Why am I sad? I have two wonderful hens who love me, my best dog friend who is almost akin to my brothers, a well-paying job that has its risks but is just as rewarding, I have the ear of the king and queen along with a tentatively perilous friendship with their daughter, a lot of friends both here and in Talons End, friends with a changeling queen, and buddies with my diamond dog clan. So why am I so unbalanced and troubled?’

‘Oh…right…that thing.’

The piles of bodies I left behind back in Talon's End and in Tazul's forest manor.

Lifting my head up I stared at the statues and paintings away from the archon before opening my mouth.

"I thought I could handle it, your holiness," I said as the words started to tumble out, my voice trembling slightly. "I told myself it was my duty, that I was protecting the innocent. But when those raiders came to the town... to Talons End… when I had to draw my sword, I saw the fear in their eyes, just like my own. They were men, desperate, broken. And I... I had to kill them."

Truth be told I was hoping that they would have kindly fucked off after seeing that the town was moderately defended and within griffon territory, and that the only ones I would have to kill were those griffon bandits who were holding the princess hostage.

Oh how wrong I was.

The old archon seated beside me, rested a gentle talon on my shoulder. His face was lined with age, his eyes deep pools of sympathy. "My son, such is the burden of a knight. To hold your blade when others need your strength, but to feel the weight of each life you take—it means you still have your soul.”

I swallowed hard, my voice barely above a whisper. "How do I hold on to it? How do I stay... me, when every day I feel a little more of myself slipping away? I have some people waiting for me here. Two hens. They smiled at me when I got home, even after knowing what I did and the blood on my hands. And I-I fear for them, for what it means if they wait for me."

The archon gave a slow nod, understanding dawning in his eyes. "You fear that they might become another part of the cost of your duty. That the life you lead might one day bring them sorrow instead of joy." The elderly griffon said, his words carrying notes of sagely wisdom in them.

I looked up at him, my eyes pleading, desperate for answers, any answers that he could give me to ease my fears. "How can I ask them to wait? How can I build a future, knowing that any day, I might be taken from them or worse, that I might return to them as someone unrecognizable, hardened or disfigured by what I must do?"

The old griffon sighed deeply, his gaze moving towards the grand altar and its wooden dais holding the sacred idol on its bark. "Love is a brave choice, perhaps braver than wielding a sword. But it is a choice nonetheless, young hawk. The fears you carry are a sign that you value them, that you cherish the life you might share. You cannot shield them from pain, nor yourself from loss. But if you love them, and they love you, then perhaps that love is worth every risk, every doubt."

I closed my eyes as my shoulders sagged, the weight of my fears is eased just ever so a fraction. "But what if I can never forgive myself for what I do in the name of my king? How do I live with the choices I have made... the lives I have taken? The griffons I have failed?"

I couldn’t save everyone in Talon’s End, I still see their faces haunting my dreams whenever I lay my head down to rest sometimes. I still see that angry nurse hen glaring at me for nearly getting her lover killed in the last skirmish that day.

His eyes lowered as he spoke. "You find peace by remembering why you do what you do, and by seeking forgiveness—not just from Boreas, Eyr or Arcturius, but from yourself. You fight not because you desire conflict, but because you wish to protect. That is a noble thing, even if it does not always feel that way. Remember, young knight, we are all but mortal beings, flawed and fragile. To live is to struggle, and to love amidst that struggle is the holiest act of all."

Dragging a hand over my face, my fingers trembling slightly as I looked away from the altar and towards the ceiling. "It's not just the fighting, your holiness. It's everything that comes with it. The expectations, the endless demands, the sense that I'm never enough. I was trained to wield a sword, but no one ever told me what to do with the doubts that come after. How to carry the weight of being more than just myself—being a symbol, a knight of the realm. I am expected to be fearless, yet I am afraid of almost everything."

The archon listened intently, his eyes filled with a deep empathy that spoke of his own struggles in days long past. He leaned back slightly, his voice steady. "The weight of your station is a burden only those who carry it can truly understand. They see your armor, your title, and they expect certainty, unwavering resolve. But beneath that armor, there is still a hawk, fragile and finite. It is not the lack of fear that makes a knight, but their courage in the face of it. The strength to keep going, even when doubt gnaws at the edges of your heart."

I nodded slowly, but my face twisted with another wave of frustration. "But where does that leave me? My duty demands so much. I’m meant to be a protector, a leader, and even a husband one day. But how can I protect my family when I can barely protect myself from these fears? How can I be a good husband when my heart is constantly torn between the battlefield and home? The first time I left Griffonstone to carry out my orders it nearly ended with me getting killed by an alpha dog. Now I fear that every time I leave, I will wonder if it will be the last time I see their faces. And if we have children… how could I put them through the uncertainty of waiting for a father who may never return?" I said as I threw my gaze to the ground as I remembered all those times when my own father was constantly gone at sea, his career in the navy nearly consuming his life away from his own family.

‘Will I become just like him? Rarely home and a different person entirely?’

Sighing deeply, his gaze distant for a moment, as if remembering a lifetime of similar doubts. "The fear of losing those we love is as ancient as love itself. It is the cost of caring deeply. You wonder if you can be the husband and father they deserve, but that question is not yours to answer alone. It is for them as well, to choose if they are willing to share in your journey, wherever it may lead. The bonds we forge are not meant to be free of risk, my son. Love itself is a promise to stand beside each other, come what may. Your fears are valid, but do not let them blind you to the joy that love brings, however fleeting it might sometimes seem."

I felt my shoulders slumped further, as if the weight of everything I carried pressed harder with each word. "I fear I am becoming numb, Eros. With every fight, every life I end, I feel a part of myself fade. I used to believe in my cause without question, but now… I fear I am standing on the precipice of the abyss. On one side all the assistance that I have done will upset the balance on this continent and it will lead to war on a scale never seen before, and the other is that I stop trying to bring my peoples creations to this land to save it from destruction." I said to the old bird, my fears coming out for the archon and his guards to see.

The archon’s expression softened further, his voice almost a whisper now. "It is true, the shadows we gather along the way do try to consume us. And it is easier, so much easier, to close your heart, to turn away from the warmth of others in the belief that it will protect them, and yourself, from pain. But that numbness you feel, that distance—is only an illusion of safety. True strength is in allowing yourself to feel the pain, the joy, the hope, and the love. It is what keeps the darkness at bay."

He paused, allowing his words to settle in my heart before continuing, placing a wrinkly talon on top of my knee, "The world is not divided simply into right and wrong, good and evil. Often, you will find yourself walking in the spaces between, doing what must be done, even if it tears at your soul. But what will save you from losing yourself is the reminder of what you fight for—not for glory, nor even for the crown, but for the people. The ones you love, the innocent faces that look to you for protection. Let them be your light."

My eyes glistened as I looked away, trying to hide the emotion that threatened to break free that I have kept locked up for so long. "I want to believe that, Eros. I want to believe that love is enough, that I can still be worthy of it. But some days, I look at myself and see only the blade, a weapon, a tool for knowledge, something that only knows how to take and be used until discarded for serving its purpose."

And I fear that I may be right, that once I have given enough human ingenuity and our creations that the king will just have me executed so that nobody else can have it.

Eros moved closer, his voice almost fatherly now. "You are more than the sword you wield, the gifts you give, and much more than the title you bear. You are a creature who questions, who feels, who fears— and that makes you worthy of love, worthy of a future. If you were truly nothing but the weapon you fear, you would not be here now, pouring your heart out. Trust in those who love you to help remind you of who you truly are. They see what you struggle to see—your goodness, your soul, even when you cannot."

Letting out a shaky breath that I didn’t realize I was holding in, I felt my heart feeling both heavy and lighter all at once, a conundrum for the ages. I closed my eyes and nodded, a small, tentative smile touching my lips. "Thank you, Eros. I don’t know what tomorrow will bring me, but perhaps… perhaps I can find the strength to face it. For them."

I watched Eros slowly smiled warmly, his eyes filled with a mix of pride and compassion. "That is all any of us can do, my son. Take each day as it comes, and when the burden grows too heavy, let others help carry it. You are not alone—never alone. Let that truth guide you through whatever darkness may come."

I nodded once more, a sense of resolution forming within me. The fears would not vanish overnight, but perhaps, for now, I had enough to keep going, to keep loving, and to keep hoping that the future won’t be as dull and grey as I had feared.

"Thank you, Eros. I think... I think I needed to hear that."

The archon squeezed my shoulder, his voice kind and warm. "You are not alone in this burden, my son. Come to me when the weight is too much, and I will help you carry it. As long as you have love in your heart, there is hope. And as long as there is hope, the darkness cannot claim you entirely. Now go, and let Boreas's light guide your path, let Eyr's love fill your heart, and Arcturius shield your soul, my child."

And with that said I stood up from the pew and turned to bow to the archon, the old bird giving me a sagely nod before I walked away from him and the twin guards standing beside the pew, not even giving them a glance as I did not want to accidentally earn their ire for looking at them.

‘He reminds me so much like my grandfather.’

My boots echo loudly across the marble tile-work, clacking loudly with each step but they grow quieter as I approached the main doors leading out of the cathedral and headed back home.

‘Maybe… just maybe… I can make everything work out. For me and for my family.’

For a while my thoughts and dreams have been plagued by my actions I have committed since coming to this world.

The taking of not one but several lives back in Tazul’s manor in the forest, while warranted and most likely necessary it still leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Then there is the battlefield that is Talon’s End, the many, many bodies that I left behind on that day along with those who fought alongside me and the innocent who couldn’t escape it in time…

So many faces haunted me at night, making me suffer for what I have done, but now…

Now, now I can finally move past it, to accept it and move on with my life. I know from my dad still has his monsters in his mind when he was overseas during the early 2000s, I guess that the only difference between us is that his was at a distance while mine is up close and personal.

Now I can finally sleep at right and not wake up screaming or gasping for breath from reliving the battle at Talon’s End.

Looking up at the evening sky, the orange hue on the horizon signaling that it is nearly nightfall and that it was time to stop stalling and to get it over with.

Returning to the tavern I waved at my dogs and told them that it was time. When they asked me time for what, I simply hinted at them that it was time for them to meet my alpha.

Naturally they started to shake in fear, thinking that they were somehow in trouble for something that they did, I had to tell them that they aren’t in any kind of trouble and that it was a meeting of sorts.

Still didn’t do much to help them but it did get them to stop shaking in fear for themselves for a bit but are now worried about me.

Lovable pups, just wish they didn’t show their fear about my king. Maybe in time they would be happy to see him as they are to see me. Going upstairs I knocked on Moss’s door and told him that it was time. When pressed time for what, I reminded him about our task granted to me by his queen.

The sound of scrabbling hooves, clinking glass jars and hushed whispers tells me all that I need to know as I stand back and wait for the door to open.

Within seconds Moss opened the door as I watched three more glass jars, held in a green glow, get pushed aside behind the bed as the little disguised changeling smiled sheepishly up at me.

All I could do was smirk, chuckle and shake my head before I wave at him to follow me.

“So you got some more jars to offload your cargo?”

“No. I do not know what you are talking about.” Moss said as his muzzle scrunched up and his eyes shifted back and forth in an adorable manner.

Tussling Moss's mane and laughing at his snort of a response, we both walked downstairs and signaled for my dogs to follow us out. The sounds ofa multitude of dog paws tiptaping across the wood flooring brought a smile to my face as it reminded me of home with my pups.

"Come on pups, let's get a move on. We have royalty to greet."

It was time to meet the king.

Author's Note

Forgive me if there any errors or oddities, running in vapors.