The days that followed Ethan's victory were some of the most productive in all of Sanctum's history.

The repairs on Sanctum's buildings began in earnest. The dead were buried and funeral rites performed. It was then decreed by Ethan that two teams were to be formed – the Dixit led by Borlor who work to mine ore and ferry materials to the surface, and the Geomancers led by Caelor who go to Lucent to commence rebuilding the once only-human capital city. The plan was to have Sanctum become the industrial heart of the new Westerweald, while Lucent was to become its administrative center. The Hybrids acknowledged not only the logic in this, but the symbolic power – the new kingdom was to be an integrated one, and thus the Hybrids seat of power would be joined with the humans.

The Geomancers under Caelor found the Capital city deserted in the wake of Ethan's devastating attack, and so set to work immediately on getting it repaired and extended. The city that was once called the jewel of the West would serve as the Hybrids main base of operations on the surface world.

Underground, new developments were also underway. The tunnel systems of Sanctum were now safe to be extended. Such projects were planned and with Ethan's guidance it was estimated that in a few months the underground networks could cover all of Westerweald and breach into Eastmarch for the first time since Moratavious' reign as Archon. There was even hope that they can link up with the old Archon's tunnels in the East, and use them as a staging area for any attacks against the humans there.

Ethan's three companions were dubbed the 'Guardians of Sanctum' in a short ceremony presided over by the Archon himself. Special Onixian armor was constructed for them – armor forged from the blood of Artorious. The three of them graciously accepted the honor, though each one of them knew that behind the façade of celebration, a great decision was to be made. Whether to follow Ethan into the watchful eyes of a God or not was something each of them had to contend with. But still, they basked in their newfound, and much deserved glory. Fauna found the devotion of the Hybrids a little awkward, Klax seemed distant, and Tara, unsurprisingly, soaked it all up.

Ethan also suggested that whenever the Guardians were needed, a callsign should be used: 'Guardians – ASSEMBLE!'

It brought him no small measure of joy to simply utter this statement. The Guardians themselves were skeptical that it would catch on.

The Lamphran Mandate was spread throughout Westerweald as Ethan had decreed. Its hamlets in the Triant forest and Ashfall mountains heard the proclamation of the Archon via his new Dreamstride ability. The humans in the region were ultimately given the choice: join with the Hybrids as they reclaim the region and share their resources or leave. A compensation would be paid to all who decided to take their chances across their new borders. And those naysayers who didn't leave willingly would be leaving without the compensation.

It would take a lot of administration to enforce this, and it wouldn't work overnight. But for now, it was Ethan's decree. And the results from it would soon become the stuff of legends.

Expeditions were formed and sent to Sentinel Bay, to gather what supplies they could from the decimated Lucent fleet. There is talk of a Sanctum Naval Force – but none of the Hybrids feel confident near water. For now, the advance teams stuck to gathering up wood and weapons, also ransacking Lucent's armory to smelt down the Greycloak blades and armor for their own uses.

All of this would require oversight – and the Lamphran Mandate made it clear that the now uncontested Archon would not be here to keep up with the mundane matters of ruling and policing the new nation. A High Council was to be formed – one that would have its seat in the newly constructed Palace of Lysandus. In honor of one of the greatest heroes in the Battle of Sanctum, the newly built central keep was to be renamed 'The Maran Monolith'.

Who to pick for the Council was another matter. It was assumed by most that the Guardians of the Archon would be traveling with him, and thus heated negotiations begun among the most well respected and most senior Hybrids – veterans of both Archon Wars. It was seen as obvious that Borlor would take a place, being the chief war-commander in the Archon's stead. Beside him, the ratman Fraxx would also sit. Though still not trusted in some corners of Sanctum, the poison-maker turned underground-dungeon-maker had performed a miracle in impeding the progress of the Lightborn and his army of warriors.

Some Hybrids whispered that the most talented Thaumaturge of them all – the young Mara – may be given a place, and that she would thus serve as a bridge between monster and Hybridkind. But in spite of all that she had seen, she was still young. And youth was not meant to be spent in dreary discussion on political matters. Thus spoke Ethan, and thus the people listened. For now, the discussions would continue.

It was a time of great excitement mingled with sorrow for those who could not see the progress their society was making. The only murmurs of discontent that were heard among the people concerned what was to be done about the now defunct Lightborn. Beneath the Sanctum Keep, in the dismal dungeons that had only been the recluse of lechers and thieves, Artorious sat alone, stripped of his powers and authority. Whenever anyone brought this up to the Archon, he tended to grow pensive, assuring them that he'd 'take care of it' when the right time came.

Because there were plenty of other things for Ethan to 'take care of' right now.

Chief among his personal concerns was what to do with the Hosts he had now left behind. First, Revok, the grand and terrible chimera who had helped him topple Lucent.

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Ethan had now seen the terrible reality of what any future possessions would do to his Hosts. Sys' theory turned out to be completely true: no being could hold such power within its mortal body and still maintain a stable mind. Revok now was only able to obey commands with a half-grunt or shuffle. He'd lost the fire in his eyes. Ethan was saddened by this turn of events, but made a solemn promise to the ultimate Hybrid before he decided what was to be done with him:

"There will never be another creature like you," he said, cradling Revok's heads in his scaled arms. "You will be honored among us, as your maker never did."

He offered Revok to all of Sanctum, explaining to the warriors and workers of the city that the creature could be used in the defense of their borders. It had all the skills Ethan had, and even before he'd possessed it, it had been a formidable foe. With Revok defending their borders, the Chimera of Westerweald would still live up to its name. It would sow fear in the hearts of their enemies, should they ever be foolhardy enough to throw their forces against their new Kingdom.

The beast would have to be trained by none other than Mara, though such training would likely be long and taxing. It could wait. For now, Ethan was satisfied to let Revok join in the forging of new tunnels and helping the Sanctum expedition parties with searching for those who had been lost in the tunnels during the Lightborn's attack. The chimera's molten breath was quite useful for creating doors in the earth where there weren't any before.

But Revok wasn't the only prior Host Ethan had to deal with.

On the third day of all these preparations, he decided to visit an old pair of friends.

He found them helping to blast through the old, decimated tunnels at Sanctum's entrance. With their swift application of [Twilight Edge], frequent bursts of [Skitter] that took them into nooks and crannies the Hybrids couldn't get, and powerful [Dive] assaults on the rubble and ruin, the Dixit miners decided it was prudent to just let them get on with it alone.

For none of them could match the power of Theo, and the righteous Salamandrike that rode atop him.

He approached them silently, observing their work from afar. Within the week these tunnels would be cleared entirely, mostly thanks to just the two of them.

When he neared them they felt his presence almost instantly, practically ignoring his Tialax form and immediately focusing on his glowing crimson eye. It was like the memory of a knight acknowledging the return of his old Lord, while knowing that he would forever remain free.

"I see you found your way back," Ethan said with a serpentine smile. "Though not in the way I expected. It seems you two make quite the team."

Theo twitched in response, and the Salamandrike gave a ruffle of its strange leafy hair.

The straight-backed lizard dismounted and stepped forward with Theo, both of them keeping in step. When they were a few inches from the Archon, they dropped to a reverent bow.

It was not because they had to. But because they chose to.

"My friends," Ethan said, savoring the moment, "you kneel for no man, now."

Theo gave him a salutary twitch. The Salamandrike, meanwhile, remained bowed, broken blade embedded into the hard rock before him in supplication.

Ethan's eyes met Theo's beady bulbs, and the rat sniffed curiously at his companion who in turn snapped something back at him.

From the way Theo then looked up at Ethan and back to his brother-in-arms, Ethan somehow came to realize the reptilian's intention:

"You weren't given a name, were you?" he asked, watching as the knife-ears of the Salamandrike twitched in response. The creature seemed all too human in the nervous way its talons gripped its sword-handle tighter.

"Very well," Ethan chuckled. "I suppose I can't very well have a nameless warrior running around on a knighted steed."

As Theo bristled at little at the 'steed' comment, Ethan raised his gnarled stave and touched it to the kneeling warrior-monster's shoulders.

"I knight thee Sir Leifblade of Sanctum," he said. "May your enemies taste your green vengeance."

Sir Leifblade rose with a rather chipper clucking of his beak, straightening up so that his neck almost came up to Ethan's waist. Looking at both of them before him now, Ethan was amazed at just how much they resembled real, humanoid beings with tangible emotions like pride.

There was some sorrow in that understanding – the fact that these might be the only two Hosts he'd actually helped as opposed to hindered on this journey. But dwelling on that fact would serve him no further purpose, now. It was time to look forward. Not back.

"So, what's next for the two of you?" he asked their staring animal eyeballs. "Once all the dust and ash settle here, what will you do with your newfound freedom, then?"

They both exchanged oddly human glances with oneanother, noses sniffling and mouths chittering as they conversed through whatever means they could. Ethan, meanwhile, allowed his imagination to wander concerning these two. He thought of the tales that would be spawned from those who came across this pair – Theo, his twitching whiskers spreading fear among all undead who went bump in the night, and Leif, the wandering Salamandrike Ronin, taking contracts where he could, offering aid to beleaguered villagers for only modest prices.

And yet while Ethan was engaged in the process of writing his own spinoff series, both creatures suddenly crept forward and each lay a single paw upon his legs.

Ethan at first frowned at the gesture. Then, gradually understanding the meaning, he couldn't help but let out a dry chuckle from his lizard throat.

"You really want to stay and help, don't you?"

Incredibly, both rat and Salamandrike nodded in perfect synchronicity.

The wonders of this world just never cease, Ethan thought.

He then laid a scaled hand on both of their heads and bid them rise again. Here, in full sight of the whispering Dixit who had now stopped their labors to watch this spectacle unfold, he made another one of his famous decrees:

"Sir Theo and Sir Leifblade of Sanctum," he said. "I hereby recognize your valor and your wishes. You will serve as protectors of Sanctum and all its colonies. You will do this, not out of obligation to me, but out of your own desire to bring the glory of monsterkind to the surface world."

Both creatures swelled with pride. And if Ethan was being truly honest, so did he.

"Go forth, then," he told them. "Let only the whims of your hearts be your masters."

He wanted to cringe at the cheesiness of that line. Luckily, most people in this world hadn't heard these lines before.

He watched them both return to their duties, bowing to him in that strangely human way they did before they went. He stayed there, watching them work in silence, for quite some time.

Because in the back of his mind, he knew that there were other, less pleasant matters to attend to now.

And he also knew that he couldn't put them off any longer.

Or, more specifically, he couldn't put him off any longer.

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