A Stone's Throw Away

Act 3, Chapter 3

The unusual noise in his home so late at night had woken Logan up from his sleep. By the time he made it down the stairs to the main floor, he found that everything had gone quiet and the front door was left open with no one in sight. He adjusted his sleeping gown before approaching the front door that let the chilly night air into his home. Shivering, he looked out toward the fields surrounding his home and waited for any noise. Was there a faint shouting echoing? He couldn't tell, maybe he was imagining it.

Logan stepped out onto his front lawn before looking around. "Virgil?" He cried out. "Virgil, are you there?" His voice echoed a bit before everything grew quiet. "Virgil, please be okay."

He stayed outside for a bit, listening to the sounds of the forest around them. Something had happened and Virgil was gone. Patton and Roman either hadn't woken up or had chased after whatever had caused such a ruckus. Perhaps it wasn't the best idea for him to be outside so late alone.

Turning back to his home, Logan rubbed his arms to generate some heat in the chilly night air. As he stepped up the few steps into his home, he could see his shadow grow and stretch onto his home. Spinning around, Logan squinted and held up an arm to block the mysterious bright light that was pouring into his home before it slowly faded away. "What is going on tonight?" Logan paused and lowered his arm, staring back into the forest. He let out a huff before turning around. "If something is going on, I might as well find out what it is."

However, the last thing Logan expected after he had gotten properly dressed was to find the king being led into his home by Virgil who was simultaneously asking a million questions and making sure he was alright.

"Are you seriously making sure he's the real one?" spoke the figure trailing behind Virgil and the king.

"You just told me that someone is already masquerading around as him. Doesn't hurt to make sure!" Virgil snapped out as he led the king to an open seat. "Though, pretty sure he's the real deal."

"I'll say," Roman mumbled as he led Patton into the kitchen. "Come on, Pat. Let's get you a drink."

Logan descended the stairs, careful of the candle he was holding to light his way, and looked around the room. "Would anyone care to explain what exactly is going on?" The room froze as everyone turned toward the nobleman. "It is the middle of the night and everyone has seemingly fled before returning with two other people, one of which is apparently the king?!" Logan jumped as he realized what he was saying. "Er, good evening, Your Majesty."

"No need for formalities, Logan." Thomas waved off the comment. "It is not the time for them anyway."

"Yes, right. Please, how did you come to be at my home at such an hour?" Logan approached and circled around, staring down the other figure. "... Joan?"

"Hey, you're that noble with the shitty parents Thomas helped, right?"

"Joan! Manners!" Thomas cried out as he fell back into his chair to close his eyes. He didn't have the energy to argue further.

Joan rolled their eyes and looked back to Logan. "You were given a stone to keep protection of, right?"

Logan looked at Thomas before slowly nodding. "Yes, that is right."

"Don't have to worry about it anymore." Virgil walked up and held out his hand. Resting in his palm was a stone, dull and dark grey. It looked completely ordinary, nothing special about it. "It's pretty much just a rock right now."

Logan reached out and took it before holding it up to the candlelight. He slowly turned it, expecting the rainbow of colors from the first and last time he had looked at the stone. "Are you sure you did not simply misplace the stone for this one?"