Sylvia wasn't soaked with blood but she still felt stained. It was unpleasant. No matter how many times she had already done it. No matter how many she had killed them over and over again.

It was still unpleasant.

She slid down the snowy slope, snow flying off from her feet as she skid down with finesse.

There were more of them in the mountain. She could feel their presence hiding in the shadows.

No, not hiding.

Waiting.

She skid down again. She closed her eyes and inhaled.

Ah.

It still smelled of snowdrops.

That was the only thing that didn't change.

She landed perfectly on her feet.

Should she tell the boys about the dangers in the mountain? She couldn't just stow them in a cave whenever she had to vanquish some shadow soldiers.

Well, no matter. If they learn about the shadows then they shall.

She reached the cave.

Will the boys eat boar meat?

She hoped they did or if not, she would like to at least roast it by the fire and eat it before they venture out of the cave.

She entered the cave. The camp fire was still lit but where were the boys?

Oh.

THUD.

She dropped the boar she was holding by the leg on the ground.

She blinked rapidly, trying to comprehend what she was seeing but she couldn't so she tilted her head to the side and asked instead.

"Is there a way for boys to make babies now?" Sylvia asked.

*

*

*

Azmir pushed off Yuzan who was leaning down on top of him.

"N-no! We weren't! It's not what you're thinking!" Azmir said his face bright red and his clothes disheveled.

Yuzan frowned at Sylvia.

"You came early," Yuzan said in a displeased tone.

"Put on your shirt!" Azmir said to Yuzan still panicking.

Yuzan sighed and put back on his shirt and jacket.

"I apologize for interrupting. Shall I leave again?" Sylvia asked.

"No!" Azmir squeaked.

"Yes," Yuzan said.

Azmir glared at Yuzan but Yuzan ignored him.

"I suppose I should purify the poison from your body now," Yuzan said and got up.

Sylvia's expression remained impassive.

"I don't think it's been an hour since you were gone but did you feel any discomfort?" Yuzan asked feeling a bit guilty that he poisoned their guide because he didn't trust her to come back.

"No," Sylvia simply said.

"Give me your hand," Yuzan said.

Sylvia did and Yuzan held her by the wrist. His eyebrows furrowed together.

"Did you take an antidote?" Yuzan asked.

"No," Sylvia said.

"But this is impossible. I poisoned you!" Yuzan said.

Sylvia was quiet.

"You must have taken an antidote!" Yuzan said.

"Yuzan, is there something wrong?" Azmir asked and walked over to where the two were standing.

"She isn't poisoned!" Yuzan said.

"What do you mean?" Azmir asked.

"Why did the poison not work on you? Are you immune to poison?" Yuzan asked.

Sylvia's lips tilted up a bit.

Yuzan abruptly let go of her hand.

"But you came back for us. Why?" Yuzan asked.

She tilted her head to the side.

"We had a deal," Sylvia said.

Yuzan sighed in frustration. This strange woman was immune to his poison yet she still came back for them and what the hell did she bring back? Was that a dead boar? A boar in the middle of a snowy mountain? Well, it was white so maybe it was a special boar or something.

"Yuzan, she must be tired. Let's allow her to rest," Azmir said.

Yuzan wordlessly went back to the camp fire.

"Sorry about that. My companion mistrusts strangers because we were betrayed by our hired guards before. It's nothing personal," Azmir said.

Sylvia nodded.

"Come in. Oh, what's that? A white boar? Shall we cook that?" Azmir asked.

Sylvia nodded.

A few moments later, the aroma of roast meat wafted inside the cave.

"That smells absolutely delicious! Thank you, Lady Sylvia!" Azmir said.

Sylvia nodded.

"How did you kill this? I noticed that the cut was very clean. What kind of weapon did you use?" Yuzan asked.

"Something not poisoned," Sylvia said with a smile.

Yuzan glared at her.

"Don't fight, the two of you. The meat is done. Let's eat," Azmir said.

They began eating the roasted snow boar. It was really soft and juicy. It was a good thing, Azmir had spices in his magic pouch so the meat was well seasoned.

After eating, they went out of the cave and began their arduous journey up the mountain once again.

*

*

*

Glenn landed on the floor of the Imperial Palace without a sound. He came from the balcony as always but this time, he was not paying a visit to Miyu.

In front of a vanity mirror, Celestinia was humming to herself as she applied fragrant oils on her neck.

"I think I should just kill you now, Celes," Glenn said and positioned a dagger under her chin.

Celestinia dropped her perfume in shock and in shattered to pieces on the floor, making the ends of her long light violet night dress wet.

"S-Sir Jade! P-please, don't kill me," Celestinia said.

"Why shouldn't I? Thousands of lives were lost from that thing you just awakened! Your measly life will be nothing compared to the lives that will be lost now," Glenn said angrily, bringing the blade of the dagger closer to her neck.

"Sir Jade, please! Spare me. I just wanted my son to be a proper king! He wasn't made the heir by the Gold Dragon so I merely forced its heart inside him. If you think that it's a terrible idea, then you can still stop it," Celestinia said.

She wasn't really sure if Glenn could still stop it but she just said that so Glenn would go away already.

Glenn gritted his teeth.

"That thing can no longer be stopped," Glenn said.

He couldn't even if he wanted to and he was merely channeling his anger towards this human who made it happen.

"That is not the heart of the Gold Dragon you forced inside your son," Glenn said.

Celestinia's eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

"But . . . there were gold flecks on it and what else would die there and look like that?" Celestinia asked.

THUD!

He stabbed the dagger on the table. He wasn't in the mood to kill the foolish queen anymore. She may be cruel but it wasn't intentional. She didn't know.

"The legend. Do you know of it?" Glenn asked.

"I do not know any legends. I do not think they're useful to me as a lady," Celestinia said.

Glenn sighed.

"I have nothing better to do anyway. I suppose I can tell you the story," Glenn said.

"Shouldn't you be stopping whatever is happening to my son first? He's in the underground prison," Celestinia said.

"I can't. It's alive already and my power is not enough to kill it. Even if I manage to kill your son, it will just latch on to the next human it will find. The heart is alive already so any body will do," Glenn said.

Celestinia looked horrified.

"What have I done?" Celestinia murmured to herself.

"You were human. Terribly so. Selfish, greedy, and ignorant. You should have at least read the legends," Glenn said.

"So we are merely waiting for the disaster to happen? Is that why you're here with me instead of fighting that thing?" Celestinia asked.

"Something like that. As I've said, I cannot defeat that thing," Glenn said.

Celestinia exhaled heavily.

"Then tell me. What is that thing exactly my priests have found?" Celestinia asked.

"It's the heart of the Gold Dragon's twin brother," Glenn said.

"Twin?!" Celestinia said.

Glenn got up.

"I should go. Miyu might be in danger," Glenn said.

"Wait! You told me that you will tell me all about it!" Celestinia said.

Glenn walked towards the balcony.

"Just read the legend. It's true. All of it," Glenn said and leaped down the balcony.

*

*

*

Miyu couldn't sleep. Something was happening. There were whispers in the shadows she could hear and she couldn't move.

"Miyu."

"Glenn!" Miyu said and hurriedly ran towards him.

"Are you alright?" Glenn asked, noticing her pale face.

"There's something here! The shadows! They're whispering!" Miyu said.

Glenn couldn't hear what she was hearing but he had a feeling that being a Saintess, Miyu was more sensitive to the darkness that was brewing in the Imperial Palace.

"Miyu, you have to leave this place now. It's too dangerous," Glenn said.

"Why? What's happening?" Miyu asked.

"I'm sorry. I should have come sooner. I can't explain now. We must go," Glenn said.

Miyu quickly grabbed the diamond flower from her night stand to bring it with her.

"I can't pack up my dresses now, can I?" Miyu asked.

Glenn shook his head. "I'll buy you new ones."

"Okay, let's go," Miyu said.

Glenn carried Miyu princess-style and leaped off from the balcony.

"Miyu, hold on tight," Glenn said.

Miyu nodded.

Glenn ran with his inhuman speed. Miyu could feel the wind on her skin as Glenn ran. She shut her eyes and held on to Glenn tightly.

Glenn leaped on the palace wall and landed perfectly on the ground.

They were out of the palace but Glenn continued to run.

He had to bring Miyu to a safe place.

She should be far, far away from Aderlan for now. He could bring her back anyway once everything was over.

If there was even still a kingdom to go back to.