3rd person;

Kim hadn't known Duncan for long, but anyone could tell that his thoughts were troubled. She frowned.

"Duncan?"She asked warily, tired from the machine tinkering she had done. Or at least, tried to do.

"What?"Duncan lifted his head to face his apprentice.

"You've... You've been down. You look depressed. Is something wrong?"She asks innocently.

"Nothing. Nothing at all. I'm just thinking."He replied stoically.

"Thinking, huh..."Kim said, unsatisfied.

"Y-Yeah."Duncan blurted uneasily, adding to the somewhat awkward situation.

Silence followed, and not a word was said for the rest of the day. It seemed like they were working together only for efficiency, and it made Kim sad. She wanted a happy, social life... She never really did seek work. She wanted companionship. The trust, bonds and connections. And you could say that she was taking advantage of the grief in Duncan's heart... She was the shoulder he leaned on when he was in a bad time, so she felt mildly insulted that he didn't turn to her at this moment. It showed that... Maybe he didn't trust her quite yet.

It was nearing evening and Kim looked at the letter addressed to her. It had been dropped at the door and she managed to pick it up before Duncan saw. She skimmed the curly handwriting and her eyes widened. It was a letter from Lewis. He said that he wanted to meet with her. To 'talk'. Kim absorbed the information and set fire to the letter with her flint and steel.

"Hey, Duncan, I'm going to take a walk, okay?" Kim called.

"Yeah."he replied dully.

The girl hopped down the hill and slowly made her way to meet with Lewis Xephos. She saw the sun sinking and she frowned. Darkness equals monsters, and monsters equals death.

Kim ran as fast as her legs could carry her, and she could hear the growling, hissing and clanking behind her. The little wooden shack that Lewis owned was in sight, and Kim rushed toward the door. She sighed as it clicked shut behind her, separating her and the monsters.

"Hello... Nano."Lewis came into view from the shadows.

"Lewis."She inclined her head.

"How's it been with Duncan?"He smirked.

"Not great."She frowned."He seems to be sad, and I have no idea why... Rythian recently came to the castle, but it's saddening."

"I see."He replied smoothly.

"Yeah..."

"Don't forget. Don't forget what I told you when we first met."He warned.

"I would never!"She proclaimed.

Lewis straightened his back, satisfied."good."He lightly grasped a bundle of silky black hair from Kim's head, examining it closely.

"If you do not prove useful, you can be easily replaced. Tell Duncan that you slept at Hannah and Nilesy's place. You know what to do."

"Yes. I am just a replacement, easily replaced."

***

Duncan was in his castle brewery, glancing at his home brews. Moonshine, sake, cider, beer... Duncan was so worried. Unbelievably worried. So scared, grieved, depressed, used, depleted. He didn't care about feelings anymore, he needed something strong to slow his brain. He hauled his leg of moonshine up to the courtyard, open to the bright stars and moon. Duncan brought out his cup and filled it with strong moonshine. His thoughts needed to be discarded. He no longer cared. At least, he should.

Her name was circling in his mind-pestering him. He thought an thought and thought and thought... It was getting ridiculous.

Reni.

Reni.

Reni.

As the liquid touched his lips, the world began to spin. His perception turned woozy and reactions dulled. Colours leaked from their items and the world looked like a baby used MS paint to draw a portrait.

Duncan drank, and drank, and drank... His judgment plummeted and he soon passed out on the floor from the sheer amount of strong brews. And he hoped that the sadness would wash away with his sanity.

***

Kim walked back to Duncan's without another word. Mostly because Lewis was next to her. He insisted that he escort her.

"Lewis..."She hesitated."Can you tell me more about Serenity?"

"Well sure."He started."The first thing you need to know it that she is a Demi God."

Lewis kept his eyes trained ahead of him.

"And that she is a psychotic killer."