Chapter 221: Hamilton’s Visit
Aveline returned to her room and fell asleep almost the moment her head touched the pillow. For the first time in days, her dreams were quiet.
Theron, too, retired for the night. As he closed his eyes, he allowed himself a rare sense of satisfaction. The trap had been laid. Soon, the cotton would reach the people before winter stole any more lives.
Elsewhere within the Arcanum, Aelion drifted to sleep with a small smile lingering on his face. Though the rebels had lost possession of the cotton, he believed they had not lost their purpose.
Not everyone found rest.
King Kevran lay awake, turning from one side to the other as unease gnawed at him. He could not shake the image of that impossible floating landmass disappearing into the dawn and the reckless confidence his son had found. Something was changing within his kingdom, and for the first time in many years, it was happening beyond his control.
In another corner of the capital, Hadrian Sylvarien sat alone beside an open window. Moonlight spilled across the room as he slowly swirled the amber liquor in his cup, his thoughts arund Aveline.
"I need to bring her to my side."
Deep beneath the Arcanum, Lucien remained oblivious to the passing hours, bent over the strange metal contraption that had consumed decades of his life. Sparks danced through the darkness as another piece clicked into place.
And then there was Lord Terravain.
Sleep never came to him.
He paced his study long after midnight, every step echoing through the silent room.
He did not know what the Crown Prince had recovered from the warehouse.
A ledger?
A receipt?
A seal?
A witness?
He could not afford to gamble.
Before dawn, discreet orders slipped from his estate into every corner of the capital. Old account books vanished into the flames. Accountants received heavy purses—and heavier warnings. Merchants were instructed what they had seen... and what they had not.
New ledgers were drafted. Old dates were rewritten. Royal seals were painstakingly copied.
If evidence existed... He would bury it beneath so many lies that no one would ever find the truth.
Lord Terravain stopped before the darkened window and looked toward the royal palace.
"No..."
His voice was scarcely louder than a whisper.
"I will not fall."
-----
Aveline awoke to sunlight spilling gently across her bed.
For the first time in what felt like an eternity, she had slept through the night without nightmares, without jolting awake at every imagined sound. She stretched lazily beneath the blankets, her shoulders loosening as a contented sigh escaped her lips.
"That felt wonderful..."
A tiny weight landed on her stomach.
She blinked down.
Hamilton stood proudly atop the blanket, his little wings flapping furiously to announce his arrival despite the fact that he had only flown the length of the room. His tail wagged so enthusiastically that his entire body swayed with it, and a tiny pink tongue poked from the side of his mouth as though he had accomplished something truly magnificent.
Aveline couldn’t help laughing.
"Oh? Is this how you greet people every morning?"
Hamilton chirped happily before launching himself forward. He landed somewhere between a hug and a face-plant against her cheek, rubbing his little head against her as if demanding proper morning affection.
"You shameless little thing."
She scratched beneath his tiny chin with a fingertip.
Hamilton immediately leaned into it so dramatically that he nearly tipped himself over.
"You really are impossible."
The smile lingering on her lips slowly softened.
Her thoughts drifted back to yesterday’s conversation with Lucien... to the underground chamber... to the strange machine... and to those impossible fragments of memory.
Her father. The metal corridors. The scent of oil and iron. She still had no answers to the questions she had.
She released a quiet breath. "...Perhaps not today."
She wasn’t ready to return to the laboratory. Not until she understood what she truly wanted to ask him.
Instead, another thought crossed her mind.
The sanctuary.
She had promised herself she would visit the creatures again.
As she reached for her cloak, her gaze fell upon Hamilton, who was now busy chasing his own tail with unwavering determination.
"...Want to come with me?"
Hamilton froze.
His little amber eyes grew round before he began bouncing excitedly in place, his wings beating so quickly they became little more than a blur.
Aveline smiled. "I thought you might."
She scooped him into her hands. "You’ve spent all your time with me." Her expression became thoughtful as she looked at the tiny creature.
"Maybe it’s time you met others like yourself."
She remembered the great beasts from the sanctuary—the one whose thoughts she had heard so clearly.
Hamilton, however... She had never once heard a coherent thought from him.
Only feelings, excitement, curiosity, hunger... sleepiness. He was like an endlessly enthusiastic child.
Perhaps spending time with his own kind would help him mature...Or at least become slightly less ridiculous.
Then another worry surfaced.
She knew animals. Especially hunting animals. They could be merciless toward one that appeared weak.
Hamilton had been pampered, cuddled, carried around in pockets, and fed treats whenever he looked particularly adorable.
She wasn’t entirely convinced that qualified him for surviving introductions with creatures several hundred times his size.
"Listen carefully."
She placed him gently inside the pocket of her cloak, leaving only his little head peeking out.
"When we get there, you must act strong."
Hamilton blinked.
"And dignified."
His head tilted.
"No sticking your tongue out."
The tiny tongue immediately disappeared.
"No flapping your wings like you’ve forgotten how flying works."
The wings folded obediently.
"And don’t let anyone think you’re weak."
Hamilton puffed out his tiny chest with such exaggerated determination that Aveline had to bite back another laugh.
"There you go."
She gently tapped his little nose.
"That’s much better."
Completely unaware that the "tiny lizard" tucked into her pocket was anything but ordinary, Aveline stepped out of her room and made her way toward the sanctuary.
The sanctuary was unusually quiet.
Aveline frowned as she stepped through the gate.
Usually, the creatures greeted her the moment she arrived. Some would wander over, others would simply watch her from afar, while the larger beasts dipped their heads in quiet acknowledgment. They had long accepted her as one of their own.
Today... Not a single creature moved. The entire sanctuary had fallen silent. Even the birds had stopped singing.
Aveline slowed her steps. "...What’s wrong?"
Then, as though responding to an unheard command, the creatures began to move, toward her.
Even the skittish creatures that normally fled from the larger beasts emerged from their hiding places.
They formed a wide circle around her, without growls, cries, or fear. Only a reverent silence.
Aveline instinctively placed a hand over the pocket where Hamilton sat. ...Hamilton?"
One of the elder creatures lowered its head.
Then, slowly... It knelt.
Aveline blinked.
Another followed.
Then another.
The creature that looked like a great bear bent one knee before bowing its massive head. The ones, like a horned deer, folded their legs beneath themselves.
One after another...
Every creature in the sanctuary knelt.
The mothers gently nudged their young forward until the little ones awkwardly copied the gesture as well, stumbling over their own legs before lowering their heads.
The entire sanctuary had bowed.
Aveline’s breath caught.
"...They’re not doing this for me."
Slowly... Very slowly...
She looked down at the tiny head peeking from her pocket.
Hamilton stood there with his little chest puffed out.
For one brief heartbeat, there was something strangely noble about him.
Ancient. Almost... Royal.
Then he noticed her looking.
His amber eyes immediately sparkled.
His tail began wagging so hard that his whole body wobbled, his tiny wings buzzed with excitement, and his little tongue slipped out proudly as if asking,
Did you see that?
Aveline stared.
"...Don’t tell me..."
Hamilton chirped happily.