The vast plain covered by powdered snow looked pristine. Illuminated by the pale moonlight, it cast off an iridescent silver glow. Silence reigned over all, apart from the occasional howl of the winds in the cold wintry night. A voice filled with anguish pierced the desolate night. The source of the sound was somewhere in Leben, a part of the Theocracy of Feria.

Reinhardt stood there frozen in place, not by the cold piercing snow, but due to the blade on his hands. He gripped the hilt of the sword tighter and tighter until his knuckles turned white. Yet, what he saw afterwards made his firm clutch tremble.

Crimson, the thick liquid rolled down from the tip of Reinhardt’s blade. His eyes darted to the front where a woman had her arms wide open. Clad in all white, her hair as black as the night. She had an enchanting look that in other circumstances would've captivated and mesmerized him. But something else captured Reinhardt’s attention. The mere sight almost drove him to the brink of madness. Going down across the woman’s right chest to her left waist was a huge wound that gushed with fresh blood.

Reinhardt's eyes snapped to the blade on his hand. The weight of the weapon seemed to grow heavier as the moments passed by, making it harder for him to hold it up. He knew, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that it was him who inflicted the wound through this accursed weapon. The utter realization shook him to the core of his being. It made him almost feel faint.

Reinhardt’s haunted eyes went back to the woman, searching for any sign of hatred or revulsion. But, all he saw was acceptance and...joy?

Bewilderment, shock, and anguish raced throughout Reinhardt’s face. His mouth was agape and at a loss for words. ‘Who is she?’ With all that's happened, he couldn't even remember who she was, or what he was doing there in the first place.

"Reinhardt…" her small raspy breath jolted Reinhardt back to reality.

"Thank you…" the woman said with a grimace, blood spilling from her mouth as she coughed. Yet in the end, the very same blood tinged lips still managed to curve into a smile.

"No…" Reinhardt’s voice trembled with agony, the unforgiving weather contributing to his emotions. The anguish built up and threatened to consume him. He rushed forward, his arms outstretched, trying to catch her as she fell to the ground.

Time seemed to freeze at this very moment, preventing him to inch any further.

"Nooooooooooooooooooooooo!"

And everything went black.

~*~

Reinhardt awoke with a start, his arms outstretched to the dark ceiling. The sweat poured down his whole body and drenched the sheets while more rolled down his temples.

With a murky head, he tried to recall what the nightmare was all about but couldn't seem to remember. Except for a few flashes that involved a blade, blood and ‘Was it a woman’s smile?’ he thought to himself.

He shook his head, his black hair swaying against the nightly breeze as he stood up from the bed. "You're still awake, Lumina?" He said with a voice filled with warmth and tenderness as his eyes went towards the door of his bedroom.

The door opened and a girl wearing her night robes emerged from the dark hallway. She approached him with a glass of water in her hands. "I heard you moving and screaming, my Lord, so I assumed you must have had a nightmare. So I-I brought you a glass of water." And with that she reached out her dainty hand holding the glass, offering him what she could to comfort him.

His longing eyes filled with passion raked all over the girl in front of him. Lumina’s perfectly shaped brows accompanied her almond-shaped eyes that were staring hesitantly at him. Any man who looked for too long would definitely get lost in them. Her heart shaped nose accentuated her chiseled jaw. And the rosy lips which emphasized all the qualities of her face, turned it into perfection.

He took a deep breath to still himself. She wasn't ready yet, ready for him. And unlike her who was still a budding flower, he had already matured. He would give Lumina time, and then he would take her and make her his wife.

For now, he reached out to take the glass of water from her and drank it with a few gulps. "I'll be going out now Lumina, go back to sleep." What he implied was, he will start his usual morning routine albeit a little early this time. He usually went out at the crack of dawn. But he decided to train early to release all the tension. Since he couldn't go back to sleep again after that nightmare.

"Alright. I'll be cooking your favorite food, my Lord. I’ll await your return." Lumina uttered those words as she watched him change. Her face flushed red as she peeked at Reinhardt’s hard body, sculpted from all the training he had. Steam rose from her face and she had to slap both her cheeks to keep herself sane. She bowed as her master went out of the room with a knowing grin on his lips.

~*~

Lumina hummed as the crackling fire roared to life in the small brick oven. She was currently in the kitchen preparing lunch for Reinhardt and Kristov. Today, she decided to make Reinhardt’s favorite, barbecued deer meat. It was splendid because the two men brought some home from their previous hunt. She checked the cupboard for the spices and went towards the frozen meat storage to get all the necessary ingredients.

Lumina confirmed the contents of the magical device and also found bear meat. It was perfect. She could also make bear meat stew which was Kristov’s favorite. She prepared the pots and pans needed for it and started by preparing the vegetables. The next step was to boil the meat in separate pots to soften them, remove the gamey scent and taste and to bring out its flavor. While she was waiting for the meat to boil, Lumina opened one of her books.

Learning was considered a luxury for commoners and servants alike. Yes, the three academies in Infinitia promoted free education, but it didn't mean everything would be free. It would be easy for the former since they were free citizens. But for servants like her, it was already a faraway dream, a huge impossibility.

That didn't hinder Lumina from trying to learn. With the help of Reinhardt, she had learned the basics of reading, writing and arithmetic. But her thirst for knowledge wasn’t quenched, she wanted more. She requested access to the books that Reinhardt had in his possession. Being the generous master that he was, he allowed her to do as she pleased.

Lumina didn’t want Reinhardt to know that there was an underlying reason why she chose to study. If in the event that her wish came true, she wanted him to be proud of her.

A mere commoner getting hitched with a noble was a travesty. The latter received majority of the shame as it was a practice that the aristocrats frowned upon. So Lumina wanted to uplift herself. Certain commoners in their society received adoration for their great contributions. She figured that maybe, if she was astute and eloquent, Reinhardt wouldn’t have to suffer much.

The rhythmic bubbling sounds redirected Lumina's attention. Seeing that the meat in separate pots were at a boiling point, she set to work on each of them. With the clear bear meat soup, she added spices to bring out its flavor. One by one she added the vegetables such as potatoes, onions and carrots. She also manipulated the fire to slowly bring it to a simmer.

Lumina took out the deer meat from the pot and placed it on a separate container that had marinating sauce. After the meat had cooled, she placed them on a skewer. She was so engrossed in what she was doing, she didn't notice the appearance of two men dressed in heavy armor.

Their presence was only made known when Lumina turned on her way to get something from the cupboard. In her surprise, Lumina couldn't contain the scream that came out of her mouth. No one could find fault in her reaction. Imagine staying in a secluded place in the mountains. Add the fact that you haven’t met anyone apart from the servants and the master of the house. And you only get to see other people when you went to town to do groceries. Seeing two brawny men suddenly appearing in an area of your home where guests aren’t supposed to be will elicit this kind of reaction.

"I told you gentlemen to please wait in the parlour room. This child won't be going anywhere especially since the master of the house is still not home." The authoritative tone of the old maidservant sounded from behind the knights. None of the knights missed the emphasis she placed on some of her words. In response to her chastising words, they parted and let her pass.

"Get a hold of yourself girl. Come with me to the parlor. I have a hunch that the young master will be arriving shortly." Her stiff expression belied the gentleness behind her attitude. This spinster of a woman took care of Lumina since she was a child. She trained the little girl properly in the ways of the maid. To Lumina, she was like her second mother.

Lumina had this sinking feeling at the pit of her stomach. From the way the hulking men stood there, she could tell that something wrong was about to happen. Electing to follow the orders of the old maidservant, Lumina removed the pots from the flame and silently went to the parlor room.

~*~

Within the woods, the metals clashed as two men fought each other with their drawn swords.

"You're finally getting better at this, my Lord! But too bad ‘coz you still need some practice! Ha!" A voice with an outlandish accent said with a hint of mockery at his dueling partner.

Kristov was Reinhardt's closest friend next to Lumina. He had hair the color of warm sand while his eyes had the tinge of the bright blue sky. His body was as developed and hardened by training. But contrary to the former, he gained a well-structured body through the hard life he has had.

"I may not be at your level yet, Kristov, but don't underestimate me! Hyah!" Reinhardt sidestepped the sword that slashed towards him and retaliated with a whirl of his blade. He may not be as buff, strong, or resilient as his friend, but he knew that he had the upper hand when it came to agility.

Reinhardt moved faster and his reaction time was better compared to Kristov. But the brawny guy switched gears in a split second. He dodged and parried Rein's attacks. In truth, and Reinhardt hated to admit it, he still had a lot to learn before he could beat his longtime rival.

Reinhardt, Lumina, and Kristov were from the same village.

Reinhardt didn't hesitate to befriend the two. Even though he was born of a higher standing and they were commoners. He always believed that social status was but a mere speck as compared to the whole of a person’s worth. A part of it may be due to the fact that he's a noble's bastard son from an ordinary village woman. Because of that, it made it so much easier for him to break the rules of propriety and live like a normal person.

The three of them were close, but Reinhardt and Lumina more so, because of the bond the two shared.

Their relationship grew stronger because of an event that changed their lives forever. It happened a few years ago, when Reinhardt was sixteen and Lumina was twelve. Reinhardt’s father went down with an illness that had no cure. He didn't mind. His father was always absent from his life anyway. Except for a few separate occasions wherein they got to meet.

Feria had the same patriarchal society that the Erobern Empire had. They gave more importance to male offspring. They were the ones who continued the family line. As it turned out, his father only had one child from his original wife, a daughter who won’t be able to take over the Cromwell House. If the old master’s illness turns out for the worst, the title would pass on to Reinhardt.

As it was with nobles and aristocrats, a struggle of power erupted. Since Reinhardt was one of the probable heirs, someone thought that it was the perfect time to get rid of him. Technically, he was a child from a mistress outside marriage. He was a bastard. But that didn’t stop the plot against him. Assassins attacked Reinhardt and his family to remove the competition.

At that time, Lumina's mother who worked as a maid in Reinhardt’s house got caught in the crossfire. She died trying to protect him from the assassins. With her dying breath, she asked Reinhardt to take care of Lumina. He gave her his word that he would do so, even at the cost of his own life. Reinhardt's mother also died that day and a dozen or so other servants. It was a blood bath, a massacre that became the most popular topic within the country at the time.

The feud for the title was bloody yet brief. The current mistress of the house got caught as the perpetrator. It was later found out that she had gone insane. To avoid tarnishing the family name, Reinhardt sent her to a faraway place in exile. His father's daughter vanished without a trace. As the only male and living heir, Reinhardt was proclaimed the new lord of the Cromwell House. He inherited the family's fortune and prestige.

Reinhardt’s train of thought got disturbed as Kristov outwitted him.

["Lightning Strike!"]

With that, Reinhardt's sword flew a few feet away from him.

"If this were a real battle, you would be dead by now, my Lord! Stop daydreaming and focus on the fight!" Kristov huffed, putting the sword on his shoulder, and offered Reinhardt a hand.

“I’ve already told you countless times to dispose of the formalities! There’s no one else here but us!”

Reinhardt knew his friend was right but it didn't stop him from smirking as he took the hand and stood up. Instead of stopping to catch his breath, he made way for his blade on the ground. He picked it up and poised his sword on his other hand, the blade pointed at his partner. From the different stance, one could guess what he was thinking.

Kristov's thick eyebrows shot up but he didn’t complain. He sported the same grin that his friend had and did his own stance. Both of them knew that their duel would end with the next blow.

["Secret Blade Art: Swallow Dance!"]

["Justice Sword Slash!"]

Sparks flew in every direction and the strong gust of wind created by the impact rustled the trees. Dust circled around them as they bore down on each other. The two gritted their teeth as they used their strength to take down the other.

Before their battle's climax, a scream made the two stop and look at the direction where the sound came from. They exchanged a look of surprise, alarm replacing the expression on Reinhardt’s face as it dawned on him.

'Lumina!' Reinhardt thought to himself, he withdrew his sword and placed it back on its sheath. Without any warning, he abandoned the duel and dashed back home.

"Hey Rein! Wait for me!" It was too late, Reinhardt was already out of sight. Kristov followed suit and ran after his friend as he tried not to let his emotions take control of him.

~*~

The Cromwell's owned a secluded house in the forest. It wasn't that big that you could call it a mansion, but it wasn't that small either. All in all, it was easy to find considering it was next to the country road.

"Lumina!" Reinhardt barged in from the kitchen’s back door which was closer to the forest where he came from.

"Lumina!" Calling out again, Reinhardt strode to the dining room with his hand on the hilt of his Nodachi. His hand ready to unsheathe it anytime there was a need. He readied himself for the possibility of monsters that wandered too far from the forest. It was also possible that bandits had found their house and took interest. What he didn't expect was he’d find Lumina with other people seated at the receiving room for guests.

The head maidservant sat on one of the chairs, while Lumina sobbed by her side. An old man in dignified robes, along with two men in white and gold vestments sat on the chairs opposite the women.

It was without a doubt they were from the Feria Holy Knight Corps. If you based it from the emblems emblazoned on their armaments. In short they were crusaders. And the man they were protecting, with his robes and the staff on his hand, was in fact a high ranking priest of Osiris. "What…is the meaning of this?" Reinhardt managed to say after a brief pause to calm his nerves and regain his breathing.

"Welcome back, my Lord, sorry for the cause of alarm. This little girl was a bit surprised when these men came barging in. They’ve been waiting for you. I will be checking on the refreshments." The old maid servant stood up and offered her seat before leaving the room.

The priest wasted no time once Reinhardt sat on the couch beside Lumina. "As you may have already known, I am a bishop from the Order of Osiris sent by the Holy Church. We have come here to fetch Mistress Lumina." The old man said while his arm made a move to fix his monocle.

"What...do you mean?" Reinhardt asked in confusion. For one thing, he wasn't sure why they were talking about taking Lumina with them. His eyes went to the little girl who answered his stare by gripping his arm and crying even harder.

What puzzled him was the fact that a high ranking priest of Osiris would address a village girl as “Mistress". Especially since bishops were on the same rank as nobles in their country.

Getting no answer from Lumina, Reinhardt’s eyes narrowed, and his throat tightened. If these people as much as thought of forcefully taking her away from him, they’re mistaken. There were only two guards, even if you add the old man, he knew that he could still take them on.

The old man cleared his throat to dismiss the uncomfortable feeling. By then, the refreshments were brought in by the maids, prompting them to pause their conversation. To clear away the tension, the bishop launched into his explanation. "It is not a secret that the previous Oracle of Osiris passed away. This is not a trifling matter we can just ignore. With her death, the faith of the people wavers. Without her guidance, our land is completely defenseless. But fear not! The Oracle's destiny and mark gets passed down to another. From one pure maiden to another. We have sought the help of our patron god Osiris for his prophecy. We even asked his other persona in the form of goddess Amaterasu. Her divinations point out to this girl right here." The old man finished with a flourish of his staff, its end pointing at Lumina.

"But-but you have no proof! She-she can't be…!" Reinhardt stuttered, at a loss for words. Shock was an understatement, as disbelief flooded his heart.

Not only that, but also pain.

The Oracle was always selected by prophecy. No one knew what the process was or the characteristics the Oracle should have. There was only one thing that people were sure of, and that was the chasteness of the chosen one.

Rank was not one of the criteria, since the previous Oracle was of noble heritage while Lumina was a simple servant. Oracles served as the pillar of Feria, protecting its people through her foresight. She was able to use her gift to foretell the future especially disasters and demon attacks. Millions of lives have been saved through the Oracle’s help.

The role of a revered prophet, who serves as a direct link to the God of Life, though noble and prestigious, had a catch. The Oracle has to sever all her ties with family and friends. She has to remain a maiden, untainted and pure for the rest of her life.

Reinhardt knew what the Oracle stands for. He and Kristov dreamed for a long time to become one of her personal knights. It was, by all means, a pipe dream. Yet they trained hard and persevered to be able to meet it. But now that it has come to this, Reinhardt wanted to curse the very existence of the Oracle.

The old bishop must have anticipated Reinhardt’s unfavorable reaction. He was here for a reason. The life of the people far outweighed a mere person’s reaction towards the delivered news. He switched his attention towards Lumina. "As for proof, you mean to tell me, that you haven't seen anything foretelling of the future, young lady? Something that is yet to happen? A disaster? Or a demon attack?" His eyes narrowed at this point, as if he was studying the girl under a microscope.

"No? How about in a dream? Any of your dreams coming true lately? Or have you seen something that is foreboding?" The bishop continued. His shoulders relaxed in satisfaction as the girl’s eyes widened.

"If that is not enough…" he directed his attention towards Reinhardt.

"Somewhere on the Oracle's body, a unique mark appears. The location is random and the last Oracle had hers on the back of her right hand. May I ask Mistress Lumina to please show us hers?" The old man once again turned to the girl whose destiny was about to change.

When neither of the two people he was talking to made a move to accommodate his request, the old man sighed. He would have to break some rules just to get his point across.

The clergy planned the ritual to determine the genuineness of an Oracle's mark. It involved a lot of factors to carry out this important ceremony.

The primary reason was for Spiritual Resonance. The Oracle and the patron God she serves enter a deep slumber. This awakened the dormant powers of the former. While the latter synchronized with the Oracle so she could receive their full blessing. The Oracle's mark resonated and glowed during the ritual.

The old man reached inside his robe and produced a necklace with a weird looking pendant. It resembled a cross but instead of a simple vertical head, it had a semi-circular one with a hollow middle. The old man gestured towards Lumina and all eyes in the room alternated between her and the object. "The Oracle's mark will resonate with a consecrated symbol from Osiris. This is not an ordinary cross. It is a memento, a gift from our God himself." As he uttered those words, the pendant shone golden yellow. Not any ordinary light but the kind that was strong and fearsome yet divine in every way. It was the difference between a lit candle and the curious northern lights1 in the sky.

Then something happened that only the priest seemed to expect. A bright white flashed, the kind that could almost blind anyone.

The source was somewhere below her neck, above her right breast and covered by her hair and clothes. After the light died down, a symbol glowed right before their eyes. It was an emblem that was also found on the clothes of the protectors of the Oracle, the Templar Knights. It was the sign that marked the Oracle of Feria. A curious mark shaped like an opened eye. That symbol rests on Lumina's skin, shining through her clothing. With a satisfied smile, the bishop stood up and bowed down. The knights also fell on their knees. They showed their reverence and respect to this simple village girl. "Oh holy maiden of the Church! Please protect Feria and its people!" The three visitor’s voice resounded throughout the room.