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That status quo lasted for nearly two thousand years, all the way up until the empire began slowly eroding that autonomy away from the Rainlords, as it had been doing with many other groups during that time period. And when the Mohssian emperor sent his new “Rain King” to rule over them, the bastard didn’t last long before the Redwater Twins declared full independence by killing him in his own throne room.

Zeff, therefore, was supremely uncomfortable with comparisons being made--even tenuous ones--between Hector Goffe and Rhein Ricardo.

But... goddammmit, he did have to admit that the legendary tales did have some... resemblance to what he knew Hector had been through.

What Zeff had himself been through, alongside the boy.

Ugh.

What a terrifying thought.

He rubbed his forehead and took a deep breath.

What was to become of his kin, now? Where were they going?

He’d heard plenty of loose talk, but the heads of all the Houses had yet to properly sit down and discuss it at length. Nor would they, Zeff figured, until they all returned to Warrenhold and fully reunited with everyone. Only then would each House have all of its most influential members present for such conversations.

But the temptation was certainly here, already. To Zeff’s mind, there was really only one route forward. The recapture of their ancestral homeland.

That probably would not require much discussion, other than deciding how soon they should attempt it.

But afterwards? What then?

Zeff couldn’t ignore this disturbing feeling in his stomach that things had already changed for his people in ways that could not be undone. That even after retaking Sair, the Rainlords would never again be the same.

Agh.

He was letting his mind wander too much. Letting the pre-battle anticipation get to him. An all too familiar feeling. He needed to--

“Water Dragon,” came a dark voice.

One he recognized.

He turned to his left and saw a monolithic figure there next to him, barely recognizable as human in the encroaching darkness of the evening.

He should have been surprised. Shocked, even. And yet somehow, Zeff Elroy was not. For a few moments, he merely maintained a flat expression on his face as he sized up the mountainous man, feeling abruptly as though this was a meeting that he had been expecting all along.

“...Scourge,” said Zeff. “I see you are indeed not dead, just as Graves said.”

“Mm.”