The atmosphere lightened after the battle, primarily due to Zeek, who sat proudly and unashamedly in all his naked glory. Lydia, his maid, was nowhere to be found, and he assumed she had gone to get him a new set of clothes. The dinner ended in a flurry of activity as servants hurried to clean the table and serve drinks to everyone. Zeek, growing increasingly curious, wondered what was taking her so long. Angela was burning a hole in his crotch ever since his clothes were burned off, and while he didn't mind. He worried for her sanity.

Then, all of a sudden, Lydia entered the dining hall, her face flushed with sweat as if she had sprinted a marathon, and she handed Zeek a towel to cover himself. The tension in the air was palpable as she uttered, "Please follow me, master. I have a new set of clothes for you to change into," her voice solemn and her eyes downcast as if she was bracing for Zeek's disappointment.

Zeek nodded, covering his waist with the towel as he stood up," What took you so long, Lydia? I was starting to get a little cold." His voice held a teasing note, but Lydia's gaze didn't stray from the ground in shame as she replied, "The head maid held me up. She said I didn't deserve to serve you and wouldn't let me leave." Zeek glanced around the room and spotted the head maid peeking from the dining room door, a smug smile on her lips as if she was expecting Zeek to scold Lydia.

 

Zeek smiled widely, his face beaming with self-satisfaction as he dropped his towel to the ground, exposing his toned body to the room. He confidently snatched the clothes from Lydia's grasp, his gaze daring anyone to speak up. Every man in the room averted their eyes while the women tried to remain composed and couldn't help but admire the free show Zeek was giving them. His movements were precise, and his body moved with an effortless grace, making his performance all the more captivating. He dressed himself with an almost palpable pride, and as he finished, he glanced around the room, a smug smile curling his lips as he savored the attention.

 

Zeek was deeply conflicted; he had always been taught to protect and bring order to the other races without tyranny, but he was overwhelmed by his natural inclination to conquer and do as he pleases. He felt the urge to take charge and impose his will, but he feared that he was drifting away from what he was taught. He knew his parents would have scolded him if he acted on his desires, but he also knew that he would deny his true nature if he didn't. He was at a crossroads, and he didn't know which way to turn.

 

He smoothed his clothes and patted Lydia on the head, saying," Don't sweat it, Lydia. It was out of your control." His warm hand sent a wave of relief and security through her body, and Lydia blushed and smiled.

Angela coughed and mumbled," Are you really going to be intimate with your maid in public? How shameless." No one heard what she said, but luckily, Zeek, with an acute sense of hearing, picked up on her comment.

His eyes narrowed, and he leaned in, his voice low and intense. "If there's anything you need to do before the night ends, go ahead and take care of it, Lydia. Thank you again for bringing me clothes." His eyes softened as he continued," Don't worry too much about the head maid. If she tries to bug you again, ignore her. There's no way I'm giving you up as my maid after all."

 

Lydia nodded with a smile, feeling a warmth and strength settle within her. She left the dining hall to prepare his room for the night, feeling confident in his protection.

 

Zeek sat back down next to Angela, who seemed to be in a foul temper after seeing how well he got along with Lydia. He couldn't help but chuckle as he asked, "What's wrong, Angela?".

She puffed her chest out and scoffed, "Nothing at all," her voice dripping with contempt. Zeek was about to tease her, but the room was suddenly filled with the clanging of the King's glass.

" Now that we've eaten, why don't we all stand and mingle about? I'm sure many of you have questions for our hero." King Jora sipped his wine and said to Zeek," Have your maid escort you to my reading room in the morning. Angela mentioned some things that I wish to discuss with you. I'd also like to get you situated with the scheduled tournament."

With that, the king left the room, and Everyone swarmed Zeek like moths to a flame, eagerly vying to ask him questions. Angela stood tall, her eyes blazing and a chill radiating from her body, sending a magical aura that stopped the crowd in their tracks. "I will be asking him questions first!" She declared, her voice ringing with authority. In her mind, she wanted to be the first to question him about his abilities. But really, a fierce possessiveness surged through her veins; she had summoned him to her world, and she would not let anyone else have him.

 

The crowd dispersed, most leaving the room in a hurry, while a few remained behind, sitting back in their seats to wait for their chance. Zeek chuckled darkly at the display of power as if he had witnessed something like this before. She reminded him of his mother. She preached peace and often had a gentle demeanor but didn't hesitate to unleash her power when angered.

Angela sat back down, and her chilling aura dissipated. She coughed, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment at what she had just done. "I probably should have asked you earlier in the day, but what kind of powers do you have, Zeek? Did you use magic to enhance your body and fly in that duel?"

 

Angela tilted her head in confusion, her cheeks flushing a light pink. "Physiology?"

"Yes," Zeek said confidently, his eyes twinkling. "It's just how my body naturally functions. Simply put, my race just evolved to be this way, and it's rooted in my genetics, like how your ability to wield mana is."

"Oh, okay," Angela breathed, her heart fluttering. "So if you had a child with someone who carried the mana gene, they could potentially have your power and mine?" She felt her cheeks heat up even more as she realized what she had just said," Sorry, I didn't mean to say mine."

 

"Correct," Zeek said with a smirk, his voice low and intimate. "In fact, my genes are so strong that they will override any other race's genes. However, some of the other race's genes still linger after the child matures. So it is a possibility." His gaze shifted to her, a playful expression on his face. "Why? Are you already thinking about having a child with me?"

"No, you brute!" Angela pinched Zeek's side, but he remained unfazed. Curious, She continued, "Could you tell me about your other abilities?"

 

Zeek closed his eyes and contemplated. Revealing his secrets seemed unwise, so he’d only explain his power of flight. "The flying power you witnessed is part of my body's balancing system. I can create a balance of gravity anywhere and make my own foothold," he said in a measured voice.

 

He then fell silent, keeping the rest of his knowledge to himself. His face gave away his thoughts - it would be best to keep some things hidden until he fought in the tournament.

 

"I think that's all I will share with you today," he finally said.

 

Angela glanced at him, her intuition telling her he was holding something back. But she let it go, assuming he had a good reason for doing so. She smiled and thanked him before rising to her feet.

"I'm feeling tired, so I'm heading to bed. Come see me tomorrow after you speak to my father." With that, Angela left the room, her mind buzzing with the information she had gained.

 

Zeek leaned back in his chair, and the swarm of curious nobles moved in with Angela gone. The first to approach were two twins, their brunette hair glistening in the light and weaving down their backs in perfect harmony. They wore beautifully embroidered dresses, and they looked awfully similar to Angela.

 

"Hello, Sir Mora. My name is Lora," said the first twin, her voice like a gentle breeze, her eyes twinkling with anticipation.

 

"My name is Arial. We are the second and third princesses of Estaria." They both curtsied, their movements graceful and rehearsed.

Zeek stood, took each of their hands, and kissed the backs of their hands before saying, "It's my pleasure, Arial, Lora. What is it you would like to ask?"

The two girls looked at each other and giggled, their laughter ringing out in the room like a chorus of bells. Lora spoke," We were just curious about why you agreed to fight for us so quickly. I've read about the tournament's history, and most take quite a lot of convincing. Some even threaten the kingdom that summoned them to send them back immediately."

 

Zeek leaned on the table, his face deep in concentration. He hadn't thought too deeply about it either. He had lost everything recently, so there was no reason for him to make a fuss about returning. And the superiority of his race gave him a sense of security that masked any doubts he felt.

 

"I honestly think it's because I have nothing to lose except maybe my life. And I doubt anyone from your race could do me harm. I'm also curious to see the strength of the other heroes that have been summoned." The force of his conviction and courage filled the room with a sense of awe.

 

The twin princesses blushed, their cheeks rosy with anticipation. Arial spoke, her voice full of eagerness, "Is it true you asked for Sister Angela's hand in marriage as a reward?"

 

Zeek smiled, his eyes gleaming with admiration. "It is true. Her beauty captivated me from the first time I saw her. You two are quite the gems yourselves. Maybe I'll ask the King for you two as well," he said mischievously with a wink.

 

Arial and Lora's faces burned with embarrassment, their eyes wide with surprise. In a flustered tone, Lora stammered, "Th-thank you for giving us your time, Sir Mora. We need to head to bed." They both curtsied before hurrying out of the Dining hall.

 

"I was just kidding, though," he said, his voice full of amusement and delight.

 

Zeek looked at the others waiting their turns to question him. A line of ten or eleven people had formed, most of whom were women. He glanced at the sky to see how late it had gotten; the sun was now beyond the horizon. He didn't feel physically fatigued, but the mental exhaustion from the eventful day had worn him down to his core.

" I hate to disappoint you all, but I think I will head to bed, too. If you have any questions, please speak to Lydia, and she'll set up a time for me to meet with each of you. Goodnight." Zeek bowed and flew out the balcony window.

The giant moon of this planet shone brilliantly in the night sky, radiating an ethereal beauty that took his breath away. " What a beautiful Moon! If only I had the energy to fly up there and get a better view of the planet. Another time, though, I want to lay down."

 

Zeek glided through his open window and landed beside his bed, anticipation and hope surging. Lydia lay asleep on the bench at the foot of the bed, her delicate features illuminated by the moonlight streaming through his bedroom window.

 

He reached out to touch her face but stopped when he heard her cry out in her sleep, "Mother, I'm sorry." Tears streamed down her face, and Zeek's heart ached with empathy. He had felt the same pain when he lost his mother.

Gently, he scooped her up into his arms, careful not to wake her, and laid her on the bed. "Sleep well, Lydia," he whispered, gently brushing away her tears. Zeek lay beside her, and he closed his eyes, feeling her warmth against his skin as he drifted off into a peaceful slumber.