Kepnes Rodfold breathed deeply as gasped for fresh air to fill his ashen, dry lungs. It was torture to reach the rooftop of Port's View, an inn he was staying at because it involved two flights of stairs. He was always breathless when he arrived at the rooftop, nonetheless, he was longing for the view of the sea and salt-filled air. Jakob and Pitt were right behind his heels silent as stones. They were good lads, Rodfold was just in a foul mood. He cannot roam this city freely without those cursed Watchers silently following him like he will burn the city to the ground. He can't flaming wave a fireball, burning a grand city like Betelgeuse was like a dream. A dream that would never come true.

Port's View rooftop was surrounded by steel railings all around. In the center were three washing lines hanging white sheets. The air itself was filled with moisture and a lavender fabric softer.

Rodfold leaning on his cane as he walked to the railings. He had chosen an hour where servants won't be bursting around the rooftop. The rooftop was only occupied by him, his lads and flapping sheets against the wind. Rodfold didn't need the silence, he knew it was hard to come by at Betelgeuse. He needed air under the sky filled with countless stars.

"The city somewhat looks strange to me, it's not like other cities," Pitt said looking directly at the Sea of Gods.

"What do you mean, Pitt?" Jakob asked.

Rodfold turned and faced the lads. He leaned against the railings, trusting the steel will support his weight, he looked at Pitt who shrugged his shoulders.

"I don't know. It looks like it wants to carve out its own society."

Jakob stared at Pitt blankly. Rodfold was lost, he was not grasping what Pitt was saying. To him, Betelgeuse looked like any other city he had visited, the rich don't mix with the poorer, Watchers made it so for thousands of years.

"Pitt takes us, five-year-old boys, who don't understand anything about Sky Kingdoms," Rodfold said calmly. He was always interested in what the lads have to say as long as it was not giving him advice.

"Eh, well...sir here at Betelgeuse there is Sun Walking, Crown Hill, and Council Merchant Square," Pitt said sweeping his hands midair. "Well, those are elite residential areas. All three of them."

"Yes?" Rodfold nodded however he was still lost.

"Sun Walking has no Minister, Crown Hill has only House de'Mist. But Words of Civilians state ruling should be in the center of the city or town and neither is at the center. If we deduce the center of Betelgeuse it will be where we are standing."

"The city is evolving Pitt," Rodfold said.

"But sir! Looked at Sun Walking, no Minister has a claim of land nor any place at the city expect Crown Hill and Wright Resident."

"Scorpius has no king nor queen for that matter," Jakob said. "I doubt they care so much about the land, I am certain smallfolk have rights of their land."

"And yet they pay tax," Pitt supported his argument.

Rodfold watched Jakob nodding his face frowning possibly thinking of a quick response.

"And you are wondering where the tax goes since there is no king? Let's first go back to the original discussion of why Betelgeuse is different than other major cities at Sky Kingdoms."

Pitt sighted. "Simply everyone has a free will to do anything without fearing hiding from Watchers. The city's evolution is a clear indication of that. I am certain if Vulcan Aamon had exile Watchers at Betelgeuse there would have been war already."

"I have not thought about it to that extent," Rodfold said thoughtfully.

"Regardless," Rodfold said after a moment, "it will be in our advantage because the Ministers will stop at nothing to find the blacksteel."

Rodfold watched the lads nodded, however, there was a concern on their faces.

"Lads speak your minds freely."

"Why you did tell Skylady Asandria the truth, I am certain it would have helped more than Luke Stoneheart chronicle," Jakob spoke looking at these boots.

"It's best she learns the truth by herself, I am sure if she does she will make a better ally."

"If that's wise sir," Pitt murmured. He leaned on the railing and stared at the Sea of Gods.

Rodfold turned his back and face the sea. He closed his eyes and let the wind embrace him. He had not much time to live, he knew time was everything but he cannot move in haste, and being cautious was a second breath to Radiation in the city filled with close to five hundred Watchers. He will be patient, soon Skylady Asandria de'Mist will learn the truth.