Ayumu was almost there. Sweat trickled down his back as he ran down yet another flight of steps. If he could just make it past the front door without being seen, he would be free…

"Dear, what are you doing up?" Oh no. Ayumu turned to face Yuki, his primary caretaker. He hadn't seen her, there was no moonlight that night.

"Gonna see Ren." Yuki smiled and enfolded him in her arms. Her robes smelled, as always, of lilac.

"Ren is gone. He won't harm anyone now, you know that."

"No, no!"

"Ayumu, calm down."

"No! Ren is nice!" Yuki sighed and carried Ayumu back up the steps. Once in bed, Ayumu made for the door again. Yuki held him down gently and enfolded him in the sheets.

"Ayumu, I promise, once you're old enough, I'll take you to him."

"Y—you will?"

"Yes, but you need to sleep." She brushed his black hair back and smiled. "I promise."

Ayumu nodded. "He's not bad. He's really not."

"I know, but it's late and you need to rest. You'll see him soon."

"Story!"

"A quick one. Once upon a time, moonlight covered Cerasis every night. Then the Alvilaes came. They were blind and jealous of Cerasis's moon, because in Lumea, there is no light. So they stole our moon's light, filling their eyes with it. They could see, but our nights are now eternally dark. The End."

"Boring."

"Go to sleep."

Twelve Years Later

"Will there be water for our crops?"

"Yes."

"My h—husband, he's at sea. W—will there be storms?"

"No, he should be fine."

Ayumu lounged on the wide couch. The Questioning was always the same. People worried about food, money, family… Ayumu was never completely right, but with each question asked, he got a gut feeling of what to say. These people knew that no answer was guaranteed, they knew too well that the future could always change.

Servants lined the walls, sitting cross-legged on tatami mats. Ayumu's seat was decorated with jewels, all white, just like the couch he laid on.

Once the Questioning was over, Ayumu rolled off his couch and stretched. Yuki, his primary caretaker, touched his shoulder. She was still the same as when he was small, only her black hair was now silver and laugh lines creased her cheeks.

She was the closest thing to a mother Ayumu had. His parents had a larger house, beside his own, and the most he had interacted with them was watching them occasionally pass through the hall outside his bedroom.

"My Lord," she said. "Lunch is ready. Would you like to eat in your room?"

"Yes," Said Ayumu. He brushed his bangs out of his eyes. "Yuki you can always call me Ayumu." He always told her this and she always refused.

"It's not proper, My Lord." She smiled. "I'll bring a tray up to your room."

"Thank you."

Ayumu walked back to his room and kneeled in front of his closet. Tonight he would leave. He was sick of this place. The farthest he'd been away from home was in the small garden they had in the back. He slid the closet doors open and pulled out his small satchel.

He had stuffed as many coins and jewels into it as possible, along with spare clothes and some food. Before he left the city completely, he had someone else to save.

"My Lord?" Yuki tapped gently on the door. "May I come in?"

"Yes." Ayumu shoved his satchel into the closet and perched on the bed. Yuki walked in and set the tray on his lap. Miso soup and meat dumplings, as always.

"Anything else, My Lord?"

Ayumu bit his lip. This would probably be the last time he ever saw Yuki. He was leaving before dinner. He set the tray beside him and hugged her. "You are my mother. Thank you for everything."

After a moment, Yuki hugged him back. She ran her fingers over his hair. She drew away and looked down.

"You are my son, Ayumu."

Ayumu watched as she wiped her eyes with her kimono sleeve. "This is silly." She smiled. "I'll see you at dinner."

Now this time it was Ayumu who looked away. He nodded. After patting his shoulder, Yuki left.

Ayumu opened his window and examined the drop. Not too bad, the bushes would break his fall. He craned his head out. Nobody there. Satchel over his shoulder, Ayumu climbed out of the window.

Cool air blew his hair back. He held onto the edge of the window and looked down. He hoped the bush wouldn't hurt.

It did.

Ayumu rolled out of the bush and rubbed his arms and what he could of his back. Although the bush had cushioned him, its branches still hurt.

Escaping was easier than he thought it would be. All of the servants were still inside preparing dinner and the guards assumed Ayumu was still in his room, so they were still on guard.

The gate creaked open and for the first time in his life, Ayumu was free.