― You don’t want me as your enemy.

― Artur. I apologize for my rude and thoughtless behavior. ― Archie said between his teeth, angrily.

― If you have finished your beer, please, leave.

Moon and Ace watched as Archie and the group left, unwillingly. The tall, tanned guy left a few bills on the counter.

― For the work of frying the fries. ― he says before leaving.

Artur gave him a nod.

― Ace, let’s close the pub. I'll talk to Barlow later. ― he then sighed and stared at them. ― For how long is he behaving like that?

― Since… always. ― Moon answered and sat down in one of the many empty chairs.

― What brings you here, pal? ― Ace asked.

― I need my friends tonight.

Moon and Ace nodded and smiled.

Ace stood still for a few seconds.

― Damn, being rich sure is good. ― he chuckled and took off his apron. ― Let’s go, then. Night’s young.

In just a few minutes, the three friends found themselves sitting outside Artur’s home, by the pool.

The wind blew softly, bringing down some hairs to the dynami’s face. He didn’t move, though, simply staring at the dark sky, as if those thousands of dead stars could enlighten him with the answers he needed.

― So, why are we here? ― Moon asked, breaking the silence.

― Shouldn’t you be with your family, back at the mansion? I heard your older brother came back… ― Ace commented.

― The good son returns home. ― Artur dryly chuckles. ― My presence there is… unnecessary. He’s the perfect one, after all.

― There's no such thing as perfection, Artur.

― You haven’t met Gray yet, have you, Moon? ― Ace asks.

Moon shakes her head.

― Yeah, thought so… ― Ace gulps down his beer.

― Perfection doesn’t exist… ― Artur sighs. ― Tell that to my parents… Whenever Gray is here to visit, he's the center of attention. It's like they don't have other kids. It's like… whatever I do, it's never enough if compared to my brother's greatest achievements. I can't even imagine what goes through Griffin’s mind in times like these…

― Are you jealous of him? ― Ace asked curiously.

― Jealous, huh? ― Artur crossed his arms and tilted his head, thinking deeply about his feelings. ― When I was younger, I thought it could be jealousy. But I'm not. I don't wish to have his life or be like him… I'm quite satisfied with my appearance and life. And I do know my parents love me… They love us all.

― Then, what do you feel? What is it that, every time your brother is around, you leave the house and isolate yourself? ― Ace asks, coldly.

Artur didn’t get mad at him. He couldn’t.

Ace was a great friend, but he had no way with words. He was always straightforward.

― Anger. Towards all of them for thinking that Gray is a model to follow… He has flaws like everyone else. I'm just as competent and good as him. I'm angry at them for belittling me for being born as an eido. Even Griffin, that fool, is better.

Moon listened to the men attentively. She didn’t know Artur’s older brother, although she heard a lot about him.

― Well, Gray's not a dynami either. ― Ace threw the beer can away, and grabbed another one from the cooler. ― Don’t forget that your brother went through hell, for a long time, to be accepted by everyone here. They wanted him dead.

― Why? ― Moon asks.

― Long story… ― Ace sighs. ― On the other hand, you're everyone's favorite. One day, when it all gets down to choosing our next leader, trust me, our people won't vote for perfection. They'll choose you. Not Gray, not even Griffin.

― That's good… right?

― If that's what you want for your future, yeah, it's awesome.

― What if I don't know what I want?

― Go look for it. ― Moon decides to speak. She may not know Artur’s older brother, nor their relationship with each other, but she’d still console him. ― Sitting in the dark, looking at all of those beautiful stars won't do anything but make you sigh. ― she tapped his shoulder softly. ― You're lost, dear friend. It’s time to find yourself.

― And how does one find itself?

― By allowing. ― Ace says.

― Yes. Allow yourself to try new things, go to new places, and meet new people. Do what you always wanted but never could… Eventually, you'll find it… ― Moon completes her friend’s sentence.

― Just don’t forget to come back to us. ― she smiled tenderly at him.

Artur chuckled, head hung low as he stared at his intertwined hands resting on his lap.

― Before that, we’ll have a welcoming party for my brother tomorrow. Would you both come, to keep me company and prevent me from going berserk?

― Hell, yeah! ― Ace shouted. ― I’d be crazy to turn down an invitation to a rich party.

― Oh, for fuck’s sake, Ace… ― Moon shook her head, laughing at him. ― We’ll need to dress up, huh?

― Hell, yeah! ― Ace shouted again.

Before starting working at Barlows, Damion told Moon about the Sutherland family and the hierarchy within Berkshire.

The Sutherland family is the richest and most influential in the region and, as Moon already knew, philanthropy seems to be their last name. The reason why is that, years ago, when the south region of the country was attacked, the Sutherlands helped the poorest and weakest to rise again, and thus, made Berkshire what it is today: a prosperous city.

Most of the city's businesses belong to the Sutherland family or their associates. However, some people, like Barlow, have the chance to start their business (although Barlow's past is still a mystery).

Mr. Sutherland’s wife, an eido just like most, is loved throughout the city. May had four sons: Reese, the youngest at just twenty years old; Griffin and Artur, being twenty-eight and thirty years old, respectively; and, the oldest, Gray, at thirty-five years.

As far as Moon knows, both Artur and Griffin help their father a lot with the administration of their businesses and the city; Reese is still at college. But she's never heard anything about Gray.

Just a word of advice from her uncle: no matter what happens, stay away from his radar.

It could be said that the Sutherlands doted a lot on her as if she was part of the family. Therefore, when Moon appeared with Ace, linked arms, and fancy attire, the family shone with happiness.

After May hugged the witch for what seemed an eternity, the older woman linked her arms with Ace and began introducing him to several people. Moon, on the other hand, went away to find the brothers.

Knowing Reese’s personality, she went straight to the kitchen, where she found the youngest enthusiastically decorating some cookies on a tray, generously adding chocolate chips to them.

She was soon joined by Artur, so both stood still by the door frame, staring at the younger; anyone who wasn't familiar with him would think he was the happy-go-lucky type of person when, in fact, Reese was extremely introverted, serious, and quiet, and only showed this side of him when it came to cooking and baking, being the big food lover he was. 

― Stop it.

― What? ― Artur asked, not knowing what this was about. 

― You're staring at me as if I was an object to be studied. ― Reese replied, clearly annoyed at his brother's weird behavior; once he looked at his brother and saw Moon beside him, he ran to the witch.

― Moooooooooon! ― he screamed her name and jumped on her.

― I was just amused at how you change your personality when it comes to food. ― Artur said, and looked at his brother now, clinging to his friend made him laugh. ― And Moon.

― What can I say? Food is better than people… Except for Moon. She’s the best. ― he said, smiling widely as he hugged her tightly.

Moon smiled as well.

― So, do you want some help, or is it ready?

― All ready! ― Reese happily put them in the oven and started humming when he remembered something and stopped. ― Oh, Moon, I have something for you in my room. Wait a minute. ― he then ran away from the kitchen, and up the stairs.

Artur looked at him and then stared at the living room.

As a welcoming party to Gray, their father invited a few close friends. It didn't seem bad, if their father, at the moment, wasn't ignoring his other sons while proudly telling his folks about Gray’s great achievements. Their mother was doing the same, and repeating how she was anxious for him to come home, in just a few more minutes, as she was guessing.

They were forgetting the fact that Griffin, Artur, and Reese, all together raised around ten million dollars inside their community to help a neighboring city, which was going through misery after being stolen and devastated by rogues. In their free time, Griffin and Artur went to Khastas, and helped the citizens rebuild the town, while Reese would make enough food for those who survived.

Thanks to that, their new leader, Nikolas, allied with Berkshire. An alliance that, in Artur's opinion, would be of great benefit in the future.

― What a joke, right? ― Griffin said without taking his eyes off of the book he was reading, unbothered by the party while still wearing his navy pajamas.

― You're brave to walk around like this during a party in front of your mom…. ― Ace said, suddenly joining them, and punching Griffin’s shoulder.

― This, my dears, is a silent protest.

― Is it working? ― 

― What do you think, genius? ― Griffin mocked. ― Hey, Moon, tell me something…

― What, G?

― How strong are you?

Ace, Artur, and Moon looked at him, finding it weird the question, was so out of the blue.

When she was about to answer him, Reese came running.

― Fuck! Are you fucking crazy, Artur?

Artur looked at everyone, confused.

― What, now?

― How could you… Why did you bring her here, today, of all days? Are you all losing your goddamn minds?

Griffin smirked, then chuckled and put down his book on the kitchen island, now observing the scene evolving in front of him as if he could taste something delicious out of it.

― That’s why I’m asking you about your strength, Moon.